So, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum put up 46, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett could only be found, offensively, on the back of a milk carton and the Lakers attempted 15 more free throws than the Celtics. And Boston still walked away with the victory?
That was due, largely in part, to Ray Allen’s superfluous shooting performance. In case you missed it, you missed one for the record books. In addition, we were again treated to the emergence of Rajon Rondo, who has officially crashed the penthouse party of the league’s premier floor generals.
Rondo finished with his fifth playoff triple-double, 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 dimes, while Jesus Shuttleworth connected on a finals-record eight three’s in route to his 32 points.
The confidence and swagger that Boston derived from Ray’s lights-out performance cannot be overstated. The momentum he provided propelled the Celtics through the second half, even when Phil Jackson’s defensive adjustments cooled him off.
So sit back, relax and enjoy his Machine Gun Funk and Rondo’s 3-D masterpiece. Cue the music, then watch the show.
Given his timely display of marksmenship, coupled with his sustained excellence as one of the league’s premier shooters of all-time, don’t be surprised to see Sugar Ray, if he’s not part of this Celtic team next year, doing the same thing on the perimeter for Dwayne Wade or LeBron James in the near future. I’m sure that after the show he put on last night, Ray Allen is saying, “I think I’ll Go Around Again!”
June 7th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
ali says:
ray is a certified first ballot hall of famer, no doubt, with some incredible numbers. but why does he not get mentioned along with the sub-jordan’s in terms of all-time, shooting guard excellence? when people mention the top 2-guards of all time, we hear about jerry west, iceman, sidney moncrief, kobe, dumars, earl the pearl, drexler, hal greer, sam jones, bill sharman, iverson, reggie miller, etc.
people who’ve seen his awesome body of work and know the numbers undertsand, but for the most part, i don’t think ray’s accomplishments will be fully appreciated til he hangs up the hi-tops.
man, i remember him and iverson going at it in the big east.
June 7th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
CasUno says:
‘Cause cats didn’t really keep their eyes peeled for the Sonics or Bucks like that….
…It wasn’t until he got on the C’s for one of the most celebrated purchased season’s in NBA history that cats batted eyelashes at Brother Ray since “He Got Game”….
Seriously.
Ya mans superstar discog looks like:
-UConn
-Spike Lee Joint
-Title with Celtics
Sorry to bear bad news, I see ya mans brillance as well, but until you catch center stage, everyone tends to look elsewhere….
June 7th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Blk Caesar says:
Yo know what man.. Its true most heads don’t mention Sugar when they talk about shooting guard excellence.. I was listening to Colin Cowherd this morning and I am starting to realize how much the “experts” don’t know much.. He kept saying that Sugar wasn’t a great player just a great shooter… The first thing that popped into my head was “WHAT???, who is this clown?”… He also said “If he didn’t get screens he would be nothing as a player”.. Maybe at this stage in his career.. But I was like dude did you even watch him at UCONN or in his early years with the Bucks and Seattle?? Can’t create his own shot? He did that for years before father time caught up to him. I swear these dudes know nothing about ball.
June 7th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
CasUno says:
Guess big defense doesn’t count or how Ray is one of the illest cats that moves without the ball!
Quick releases need no screen.
I think he proves this on most nights.
June 7th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
illest says:
mark jackson said ray cant get his own shot off the dribble either. these guys become the media and get stupid.
June 7th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
ali says:
first and foremost, colin cowherd is a clown who has as much business talking about ball, and judging ray allen’s place in the pantheon, as cadillac anderson has pulling paula patton. in mob parlance, “fuhgetaboutit!”
that frustrates me to no end, that you have bozos like him on national tv and radio, spewing off about that which they have no comprehension. makes me wanna holla and throw up both my hands!
there wasn’t anything ray could not do for most of his career. he just so happened to more proficient at banging the jimmy. but his overall offensive portfolio was well diversified.
i feel you CasUno. he didn’t get an opportunity to do it on center stage, so the masses don’t know. but as we can attest, he’s been certified since killing it at hillcrest high school in south carolina.
first team all american, big east POY, 9-time all star. if people were paying attention, they would have seen him tearing ish up in 2000-2001 when milwaukee made it to the conference finals with him, sam-i-am and the big dog.
i must admit that i’m not so sure about the “purchased season” in terms of beantown’s ‘08 chip.
ray came over that summer in a trade, along w/ the sonics pick at #35,which turned out to be big baby, for delonte, wally sczczczerup and the jeff green pick.
and garnett came over in another trade for al jefferson, theo ratliff, some cash, bassy, ryan gomes and gerald green. those seem more like deft moves by GM danny ainge than a “purchased season.”
June 7th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
e says:
never been a rondo fan but the kid has improved so much tip my hat to him
June 7th, 2010 at 6:13 pm
ali says:
i remember being intrigued by rondo watching him at the closed door, 2004 jordan classic practices down in maryland, the last year before they moved the game to the garden, when russell robinson, jordan farmar, aj price, joe crawford, rudy gay, boobie gibson, al jefferson, josh smith, lamarcus alridge, corey brewer and those guys played. the big fish that year was dwight howard.
but whoever says they predicted this for rondo is buggin’. he had some tantalizing athleticism and potential, but you got to remember, that was the year of sebastian, so alot of those guys like him and farmar were not top billers.
yo! the things he’s doing right now, like you said e, you gotta tip your hat. the move on bynum, with the ball fake like jamelle holloway running the qb option for the oklahoma football sooners back in the day, c’mon! the kid is niz-ice!
June 8th, 2010 at 8:58 am
CasUno says:
Yeah…
My “purchased” season comment was geared toward the big (3) moves the Celtics made to acquire a championship all in one year’s time…I mean, they made said moves to get a chip, no?
It was sourcasm.
I live in MA so….
My question is, would the C’s have gotten further in the playoffs last year had Garnett not been a hurtin’ unit (pause)?
I mean, I see his contributions have been lesser than expected this year, but his presence alone is the caliber of champions (mentally, audibly, just not so much physically)….
Think about it.
I’m also lovin’ the ‘08 Celtics victory, the ‘09 Lakers victory, and this year they battle out the new millenium tie breaker….
‘Cause next year there will be some serious uneven odds…
Rumor is Miami wants Ray.
Ray needs something because his role of team superstar/go-to-player will be absolutely over after this season.
They can’t all be Grant Hill (I kid, I kid)….
peace.
June 8th, 2010 at 9:25 am
ali says:
i definitely think the defense of their crown was derailed, in large part, due to KG’s injuries. he missed the entire playoffs last year. despite not being the same player now, you cannot underestimate how his presence alters the competitive dynamic. tonight’s game can’t come soon enough.
June 8th, 2010 at 9:43 am
ali says:
congrats to monty williams on getting the hornets coaching gig. now, does izzo leave michigan state to take the cleveland gig? two weeks until the draft, john wall is about to have DC jumpin’ off like the hoya paranoia and rayful edmund days. between this draft and the free agency maneuverings, this offseason is gonna really elevate an early fervor for next year.
June 8th, 2010 at 11:29 am
CasUno says:
Tom Thibeault anyone?
Heh….
June 8th, 2010 at 11:31 am
CasUno says:
Tom Thibedault anyone?
Heh….
My bad, I’m a bit too spell check dependant.
June 8th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
ali says:
van gundy has been singing his praises for years. he’s got a nice, young nucleus to work with in chicago and should have some success in getting them to take that next step CasUno.
June 8th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Blk Caesar says:
I am wondering after the last two games if KG is hurt badly.. Doc keeps saying he is not, but he was alot more fluid in that Cavs series than he has been against Orlando and now LA.. Ali, I agree just him being out there is plus for the psyche of the C’s, but if he (and Perkins) can’t put up some sort of resistance to the LA bigs who are dominating the paint right now this series could be tough for the C’s to pull out.. Also, Pierce has to get it going tonight. What’s the scoop on Arenas down in your area? Is he ready to finally just play and quit with all the shenanigans?
June 8th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
illest says:
the only celtic who can guard gasol well is wallace. garnett is playing old. as the playoffs progress that knee is giving him more issues.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
CasUno says:
Over emphasis of bigs in this series….
LA has the bigs plus one.
Beantown has so many weapons, starting and non…
It’ll come down to player fould trouble and who’s bench is deeper.
Garnett isn’t hurt per say, he’s just ailing from playing a longer season than the previous 2….
At 34 ya body doesn’t react to non stop action like it did as a kid….Man, Rondo looked tired last game….
Tommy T in ChiTown is the move, Ali, just not sure IF? it’s enough to lure the likes of LeBron like that….
Black Ceas, Arenas and John Wall combo could stand to be something raw daddy, but hopefully Minnesota takes advantage of their pick yumping off before Sacramento and scoop the Gawd Wes Johnson so my fellow SU alum (with Johnny Flynn) can keep it Cuse on ‘em….
Next year looks beastly regardless.
June 8th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
ali says:
sheeeeeet! kendrik perkins is their best interior defender and can handle gasol as well. i’m hoping gil can settle into a newfound maturity and less bizarre, less unpredictable persona, putting all of his energies into his on-court legacy. he still has time to put the past nonsense behind him. getting bizmark w/ john wall is his perfect opportunity.
and it looks like wes johnson has a great chance to wind up playing w/ flynn in minnesota. wall and evan turner are locks at 1 and 2. and the nets seem pretty set on derrick favors. so the wolves are gonna be lookin’ at johnson, patrick patterson, greg monroe and demarcus cousins for that 4th pick.
June 8th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
CasUno says:
Cousins is the logical pick IF? you’re into physically inconsistant cats that might not stand the test of time….
Perk gets one more tech and everything you just stated is nill.
Don’t forget, Rubio’s teasing stating he’ll be back for next season….That will no doubt change things…
My fams Ryan Gomes might have to get used to that pine but to me it’s Jefferson that needs to be out like that…
He was a bum here (Boston) and he’s still a bum…One that catches DUIs at that!
T minus 5 hours, pah.
June 8th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
ali says:
if he’s hungry to succeed though, as opposed to some hot plate williams hunger, demarcus cousins could do some extensive damage. think it’s gonna be feast or famine with him. he’s either the next benoit benjamin or wes unseld.
June 8th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Blk Caesar says:
Wow.. Benoit Benjamin.. I have not heard that name in years… Hey if they can handle Gasol they sure have a funny way of showing it.. I agree with Illest.. Right now only Sheed can really guard Gasol well..
June 8th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
ali says:
no doubt warden and blk, they have not shown an ability to slow down an inspired gasol. but i see perkins as having the ability to give him problems when he’s not dealing with kg or rasheed. i’m amped to see that interior match up tonight, along with the response of ron-ron, odom, garnett and paul pierce from their atrocious offensive output the last time out.
word, benoit benjamin! my b-ball recall is a curse and a gift.
June 10th, 2010 at 8:26 am
illest says:
larry brown said john hot plate williams was the smartest basketball palyer he ever coached.
June 10th, 2010 at 10:22 am
ali says:
hot plate had the skills to pay the bills, an awesome talent with the size of a power forward and the skills of a point guard, but he wasn’t determined enough to follow the nutritionist, chef or personal trainer.
his sophomore year at LSU, leading them to the Final Four, my goodness! he was a bird-magic type player. great hands, great body control, illmatic footwork and fakes on the pivot, big fella handling the break and dishing off no looks, ooohhhh, an incredible understanding and mastery of the game.
his potential was HOF level. mark jackson called him the most talented big man he’d ever played with.
June 10th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
illest says:
i always thought hot plate was dope. he just loved to eat.
June 10th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
ali says:
me too warden. i loved watching him operate. he got LSU to the final four and the bullets and the clippers to the playoffs. wonder what he’s up to today. i might have to track him down.