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March 12, 2005
It's A GOOD Ache
I've been home for two hours. An apple juice and about six lozenges later, my throat has stopped crying out in itching pain. The redness on my hands is receding. And my knees aren't creaking when I stand up anymore.
And I've had a little time to reflect on the absolutely UNBELIEVABLE game I witnessed tonight at the Garden (we can call it the Garden again now, right?). The Celtics took everything the champs had to offer, outlasting Detroit in a double-overtime game that was probably...nah, it was...the best regular season game I've seen in the modern Celtics era.
Let's start with the highlights: The reanimated corpse of Mark Blount getting 17 points in 35 minutes, to the point where I actually wouldn't have minded seeing him take the last shot at the end of OT#1. Paul Pierce playing like the Paul of old, coming up clutch in the 2nd OT (even if he telegraphed the shot at the end of regulation that would have won it)...getting to the line...playing with a little swagger again. Lafrentz keeping Ben Wallace in check under the basket in the first quarter. GP and Antoine bumping chests and dancing a little as the Celts took a lead. And a notice to the defending champs that the Atlantic Division will actually have a WINNER this year, not just a Least Mediocre.
The lowlights? Well, 'Toine went 4-for-19. Eegads. And the C's kept falling for Detroit's "let's let Rip Hamilton drive the lane and shoot 2 free throws which take six minutes apiece" offense. Larry Brown bitching about every call that went against the Pistons, to the point where he killed his team by finally getting a technical called on him in the 2nd OT. Ben Wallace airballing a free throw.
A personal highlight? Our buddies from Section 324, who abandoned their season tickets after last season's snoozefest, made their first visit of the year, so we got to catch up.
Look, I know this team is flawed. But I think the C's can play with any team in the East, and almost any team in the West. Considering we were projecting a 35-win season back in October, it's a pleasant suprise that they're in the driver's seat for the #3 seed in the East (and don't look now, but they're only a game and a half back from legitimately owning it), and more to the point - they're fun. I haven't felt this sore after a game in a while. I like it.
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Comments
Friday's game as a regular season highlight ranks right up there with
(1) beating the defending champion Bulls on opening night, the first regular season game in the Rick Pitino (spit!) era. Who knew that was going to be THE highlight of Pitino(spit!)'s tenure with the Celtics? It was all downhil after opening night.
(2) Larry Bird popping a then-record 53 points on the Indiana Pacers in 1983.
Posted by: Vin | March 14, 2005 09:24 AM
