Celts inch past the Bulls ... again

By Brendan Hall
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Does anybody want to win these games?

Seriously, though, this is like the third ESPN Instant Classic game we've had to endure in the last eight days. This time, the Celtics showed resilience, winning, 106-104, after trailing by 11 in the fourth quarter.

This is the Paul Pierce we know. He made three straight jumpers in the final 77 seconds to clinch it. Money, just money.

But that said, they almost blew it several times.

First, in regulation, Stephon Marbury passed up a wide-open 3 to give the ball to Rajon Rondo on the baseline, which he subsequently missed (because at the end of the day, he's still an average shooter) on an opporunity to make it a two-possession game. At the other end, Ben Gordon tied it up with a 3.

Big ups to Kendrick Perkins for a near-career night on the boards (19, one off his career-high of 20). He provided the physical presence down low to combat Brad Miller and John Salmons. (What's that he's playing? Playoff basketball, thank you.)

That said, that second bad decision -- Rondo's forearm on Brad Miller from behind with three seconds left in overtime -- was a nail-biter. Great idea by Vinny Del Negro, using Ben Gordon as a decoy to draw the double-team and clear the lane for Miller. If he makes it, I think I'd have to take a chill pill. This series has already driven me bonkers enough.

"That wasn't a flagrant foul, that was a playoff foul," Perkins said in the press conference, drawing laughter.

Amen, brother.

-- First off, let's quell the historical comparisons before they start. This isn't even top 10 greatest series of all-time. Not top 15, maybe top 20. Way too storied of a history, and way too many great playoff series to even THINK of drawing comparisons to series from the past.

Think about it...Bird/Parish/McHale, Cowens/Hondo/Jo Jo, Hondo/Russell/Jones, Cousy/Heinsohn/Sharman.

People this day and age are wayyyyy too quick to draw comparisons to the game's greats. I'll never forget ESPN last fall running a graphic on SportsCenter comparing Matt Forte's rookie stats through four games to Walter Payton and Gale Sayers. I understand why we do it -- because in this day and age of short attention spans, sensation equals ratings -- but I don't agree with it.

Comparing a first-round 2-7 series against anything from the banner years is ridiculous.

I won't even get into the question of whether Glen Davis can be an All-Star in the future (who cares right now?).

Settle down people.

-- First Perk's "oops, I tripped" foul, now Ray Allen's foul-out. Ray said he was "extremely upset", and it's hard to argue with him. Hate to fixade on the refs, but this is getting out of hand. Referees need to loosen the reigns when a game is tight in the waning minutes.

-- In hindsight, I can see Marbury's thinking on passing up the 3 attempt. Rondo was open rolling to the baseline, for a higher-percentage shot. If Marbury misses that 3, how many of you would be screaming at the TV?

-- Now I see why we miss James Posey and PJ Brown. Think about it, if we had fourth-quarter stoppers like Posey, Brown and Powe in the lineup, how much more effective would the Celtics be at closing these games out? Instead, without KG, Powe, Posey, PJ and with a lanky 7-footer who can't stay out of foul trouble, I feel like we're giving away crucial points.

-- Classic Heinsohn...Out of that final timeout, before the Miller play, Mike Gorman points out that there are six Bulls on the court.

Gorman: "Looks like Noah will sit."
Heinsohn: (sarcastically) "Figures."

-- I'm calling it right now. If this series goes to 7, Garnett will suit up.