Boston Celtics and Game 7 Have Become Synonymous: Fan’s Take

Few things rival the intensity, excitement and uncertainty of a Game 7 in professional sports. Players all dream as children for that pinnacle moment in sports, where the stakes are highest, and the slightest misstep can result in a season ending.

Whether it is the MLB, NHL, or NBA, as the playoffs progress to their respective championship round; the anticipation and pressure increases. As has become customary with the Boston Celtics, there seems to never be a time where playoff basketball comes easy. For the past five seasons, Boston has played in more playoff games than any other team. The Celtics had several dramatic moments in their march towards a 17^th, and now 18^th NBA title; beginning with the 2008 championship season, where Boston had to survive two Game 7s on their way to the championship.

The following season, the Celtics played perhaps one of the most closely contested opening rounds in playoff history, defeating the Chicago Bulls in seven games; highlighted more so by four overtime contests. Boston would be eliminated in the next round to the Orlando Magic; in seven games no less.

In 2010, a healthy Celtics team advanced back to the NBA Finals; eventually losing to hated rival Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7. The game held significant painful memories as Boston let a double-digit lead whither in the final minutes of play, losing out on a second title in three seasons. This season is no different, as Boston always seems destined to grind out each playoff series; this time playing in their second consecutive Game 7 in Miami Saturday night.

For a team that prides itself on its ability to rise to the occasion, there is no more fitting setting than Game 7 on the road. After letting a golden opportunity to advance to the NBA Finals slip through their fingers at home Thursday night, the Celtics again are faced with a do-or-die moment; this time though the end of an era may be on the line as the Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen prepare to play in perhaps their final game together.

Despite the outcome of Saturday night's contest, fans will again be treated to great drama as it unfolds; with the more senior Celtics looking to put together one final stand, vanquish the Heat, and make one final grasp for the brass ring.

As a lifelong fan of the Celtics, I always am of the belief that this team has it within themselves to pull out a win, as they did in Miami just two games prior. For whatever inexplicable reason, the intensity and stakes have to be elevated for Boston's band of brothers to play at their peak level. Game 7 is when the lights are hottest and the stakes are highest and if that is what is needed to get Boston's optimal performance, Celtics fans will be in for a treat as Saturday night approaches.

Scott Duhaime is a passionate fan of the Boston Celtics and avid follower of the NBA for over 30 years; witnessing five of Boston's 17 championships. His professional career includes a solid foundation of analytics that contributes to a better appreciation of player and team contributions.

Boston fans cheer Big 3 off to Miami after Celtics blow chance to win at home, lose 98-79

By Associated Press, Updated: Thursday, June 7, 9:54 PM

BOSTON — The shots weren’t falling, the fans were streaming out of the building and Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers had long ago conceded defeat by lifting his starters.

That’s when the crowd gave the Big Three one last sendoff.With Boston trailing the Heat by 20 points in the final minutes, the fans remaining in the half-full building rose to their feet and began a nonstop chant of “Let’s Go, Celtics!”

“They understand the situation that is before us, and we understand it. And that was basically them sending us off, letting us know, ‘Hey, this is still alive. We need you guys to go down there and get a win for us,’” Celtics guard Ray Allen said Thursday night after Miami won 98-79 to send the Eastern Conference finals to a Game 7.

“We all felt it on the bench,” Allen said. “It seemed like that 3 minutes lasted forever. It was special. I’ll talk about that forever, just knowing being down 20 and these people are still standing up, cheering us on, because they know we just have to win one game.”

Entering the night needing just a win at home to advance to the NBA finals for the third time in five years, the Celtics fell behind by double digits in the first quarter and never again got within seven points.

LeBron James had 45 points and 15 rebounds for the Heat, who can now clinch their second straight Eastern Conference title at home on Saturday night.

The winner of Game 7 will play the Thunder in the finals starting Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.

“That was a great opportunity, but we have another opportunity. We get to play another game, Game 7,” Rivers said. “We won a game at theirs, they won here. Now we get to play for all the marbles. This team has not done it the easy way this year. Maybe this is justified for us, go in there and do it.”

Rajon Rondo had 21 points and 10 assists for the Celtics, but otherwise Boston had few highlights as it squandered its best chance to eliminate the Heat.

Paul Pierce scored nine points on 4-for-18 shooting, missing all six of his 3-point attempts. Kevin Garnett was 6 for 14 from the field, missing a handful of shots in the lane, and scored 12 points with five rebounds — by far his worst game of the series.

In all, the Celtics went 1 for 14 from 3-point range and shot just 43 percent from the field. And it wasn’t just the starters: Boston’s reserves had just one basket before the fourth quarter, when the game was already out of reach.

“There was a great sense of disappointment. But I know my guys will be ready for the next game,” Allen said. “This was basically our Game 7 on our floor. We knew we had two games to win one, but obviously your greatest chance is on your floor. Any time you lose an opportunity like that, you’re angry with yourself.”

With 17 NBA championship banners hanging in the rafters alongside retired numbers from six decades of Celtics Hall of Famers, Boston fans have grown accustomed to — and perhaps even complacent with — success. So when the Heat opened a 20-point lead early in the fourth quarter, many of them found little reason to stick around.

With 8:26 to play, Rivers began clearing his bench. Garnett left the game first and, after consecutive layups by Dwyane Wade, Pierce followed. James added a layup to make it a 25-point game with 7:15 to play, and fans scurried for the exits.

When little-used reserve Sean Williams went to the scorer’s table to check in for just the second time this postseason, he couldn’t quite stifle a yawn. But the fans that remained suddenly came back to life.

And they decided a more fitting sendoff was in order.

Clapping and chanting until the final buzzer, the building shook for perhaps the last time this season. Allen and Garnett, who are both eligible for free agency, sat on the bench and reminded each other how lucky they have been to play for the NBA’s most-decorated franchise.

“That was crazy. It was (expletive) crazy,” Garnett said. “I want to say to all the fans: ‘Thank you, guys.’ I’ve never in my life experienced anything like this in any sport, and I’m just truly blessed to be a Celtic and to be a part of the city of Boston. So, that’s what’s up to all the New Englanders around here, coming from your boy.”

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Boston Celtics squeak past Miami Heat in Game 4 OT thriller

BOSTON – Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade's final shot of the game, a three-point attempt, hit the front of the rim, hit the backboard and did not fall in.

The Boston Celtics won Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals 93-91 in overtime.

"Red wasn't going to let that go in, you know," Rivers said of late Celtics icon Red Auerbach. "Not in the Boston Garden."

• BLOG: Video: Rondo takes shot at 'crying' Heat

• BLOG: Doc Rivers late to game after watching Tiger

• PHOTOS: Highlights from the 2012 NBA playoffs

You can believe that, or you can just believe the shot didn't fall. But know this: This incarnation of the Celtics refuses to fade gently into the twilight. Where ever they are going — perhaps to the NBA Finals, perhaps not — it will be with a fight.

So it was that Game 4 devolved from an offensive exhibition to a physical struggle. Star forwards LeBron James of the Heat and Paul Pierce of the Celtics fouled out in overtime, and six others finished the game with four or five fouls.

The best-of-seven series is tied at 2-2, with the home team winning each game, as it has been in the Western Conference finals between the Oklahoma City Thunderand San Antonio Spurs.

The Celtics-Heat series has been reduced to a three-game series. Game 5 is Tuesday in Miami (8:30 p.m. ET,ESPN). Boston still faces an arduous task. It must win at least one on the road. Only 14 teams in NBA history have come back from a 2-1 deficit.

"We haven't put together a 48-minute game yet," Boston forward Paul Pierce said. "We're hoping we can put together a full game in when we get down to Miami."

Facing pressure, Miami may be close to bringing back All-Star forward Chris Bosh. Bosh hasn't played since straining his a muscle in his lower abdomen against the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals May 13, three weeks ago. ESPN reported Monday morning that Bosh will be activated for Game 5 and would play barring a setback.

Before Game 4, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said there was no update on Bosh, who has been listed as out indefinitely.

Sunday's game will be known for wild swings: Boston had an 18-point lead that evaporated in the fourth quarter. It will be known for Rajon Rondo's 10 first-half assists, and James' three-pointer with 37.5 seconds that sent the game into overtime.

It will be known for great offense and great defense, for bad offense and bad defense and for two important offensive rebounds by Boston's Mickael Pietrus on the same possession, a scoreless Boston possession that took more than 60 seconds off the clock in overtime.

"An instant-classic type of game," Pierce said. "A good old class bar fight."

It will also be known for the two leading scorers fouling out. Pierce, who had 23 points, picked up his sixth foul 38 seconds into overtime. James, who had 29 points, fouled out with 1:51 left.

James sat at his locker postgame flabbergasted. In 794 regular-season and playoff games, James has fouled just four times - three times with the Cleveland Cavaliers. His last before Sunday was April 2, 2008.

"I don't foul out," James said. "If I'm going to foul out, that sixth foul, I wish I would have earned it, and it had actually been a foul on me. Whatever."

On the play that sent James to bench, he tried to post up Pietrus near the basket. Pietrus fell to the ground and James fell on top of him. Referee Joey Crawford immediately called the foul on James.

"It's very difficult because I know how to play the game of basketball, and I don't need an advantage of holding somebody or pushing somebody down," James said in the locker room. "But whatever, we lost."

Fifty-eight fouls were called, 12 of them on the offenses. It was not a pretty game. Boston dropped 61 points in the first half but 32 total in the second half and overtime. Miami shot 42.5%, Boston 41.2%.

"The play-calling was all over the place, as far as the refs," Celtics forward Kevin Garnettsaid.

Rondo gave another advanced-level seminar in point guard play. He carved up the Miami Heat's defense with another brilliant performance, dominating the game by directing an impressive offensive game plan in the first half. He finished with 15 points and 15 assists.

Spoelstra changed his lineup for the fifth time, moving Joel Anthony into the starting lineup at center instead of Ronny Turiaf. The lineup favors defense, as Anthony is more athletic and versatile.

It had been a productive lineup during the postseason. Entering Game 4, the lineup of Anthony, James, Shane Battier, Wade and Mario Chalmers had outscored opponents by 35 points in 80 minutes during the playoffs.

Miami also rode forward Udonis Haslem's hot hand. Haslem missed a tough shot at the end of regulation, but he finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds in 36 minutes.

"As the series is getting tougher, more physical, it's not a coincidence that I'm increasing (Haslem's) minutes. Same thing with Joel," Spoelstra said.

However, the new starting lineup didn't matter. Rondo notarized the game early with his unique imprint in the first half. The Celtics jumped to a 21-6 lead with 5:17 left in the first quarter on 7-for-12 shooting on three-pointers.

The Heat have no answer for Rondo's ability to create for himself and others, mostly others. He delivered precision passes to cutters near the basket, and when Miami's defense collapsed on him, he found open shooters, many at the three-point line.

Six Celtics scored in double-figures: Pierce, Garnett (17), guard Ray Allen (16), Rondo (15), forward Brandon Bass (11) and guard Keyon Dooling (10).

But leads — even Boston's early 34-23 edge — meant nothing. Boston led 61-43 late in the first half, and 65-49 early in the third quarter.

"Our execution in the first half was flawless," Rivers said. "It was as good as maybe we've had, and we completely got away from it."

Miami's defense gets credit for that. The Heat increased the defensive intensity as they made a push to get back in the game.

"You have to collectively be willing to get into the pit and get your hands dirty for however many minutes it may be," Spoelstra said. "Often times, it won't necessarily be pretty. Both teams defend, both teams get after it and you have to find different ways to come out ahead."

Wade again started slow but finished with 20 points, 12 coming after halftime. Miami cut Boston's lead to 73-68 by the start of the fourth quarter and took the lead for the first time, 76-74, on guard Norris Cole's layup.

However, it was the second consecutive game in which the Heat were down big early. They trailed by 24 in Game 3, which Boston won 101-91.

"We waited until the second half, which we can't do," James said. "We can't wait until we get down and then make a big push."

Both teams had chances to win it in regulation and overtime. After James tied the game in regulation, Garnett was called for an offensive foul. Miami called a timeout and ran a play for James, but as he began his move to the basket, three Celtics defenders prevented James from getting into the lane. He passed to Haslem, who missed a shot at the buzzer.

Rondo outscored Miami 3-2 in overtime.

"Let's lean on our defense," Rivers said of his overtime game plan.

It worked. Miami was 1-for-8 in the final five minutes.

"No one said this was going to be easy," Spoelstra said.