1-on-1: Bulls-Celtics, Part 1
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THIS WEEK'S TOPIC It's Chicago vs Boston. Bulls vs Celtics. And Donovan vs Dave. How do you size up Games 1 and 2? |
Donovan: I am at the center of the sports universe
Donovan: honestly, Saturday night this city was like mardi gras. all four teams won, people were all out, it was a ton of fun
Dave: the difference is that mardi gras doesnt usually last 48 hours
Dave: but the chicago euphoria has sadly come to an end
Dave: at least in the basketball realm
Donovan: no, this one looks like it's going seven
Donovan: I don't think I've ever seen the fans of the defending champion literally run out on the court after a first-round win
Dave: what? they did no such thing
Donovan: some did, across from the C's bench
Dave: really? I missed that
Dave: but it's probably with cause
Dave: because I really think by winning that game, they effectively won the series
Donovan: That was my initial thought as well.
Donovan: But then I remembered that the Bulls were coming home having stolen one in Boston and having outplayed the C's in both games
Donovan: not saying the Bulls are going to cruise, or even advance to the next round, but it's far from over
Dave: I agree that it's far from over
Dave: and I even agree that the bulls have outplayed the celtics in each of the two games
Dave: but I believe the bulls have played far over their heads to this point
Dave: ... and still were within a paul pierce free throw of being down 0-2
Donovan: a free throw he never should have had
Dave: it was a good call. tommy heinsohn told me so
Donovan: ha. trust your eyes next time
Dave: I would, but they gave a few gifts to derrick rose a couple minutes before that, so I just assumed my eyes were lying
Dave: the bulls could prove me wrong, and play this well for seven games ... but if they don't, game 2 will go down as a hugely missed opportunity
Donovan: Game 2 was definitely a huge loss for the Bulls. as I believe I texted you at the time, about two defensive rebounds for the Bulls and it's not even a game
Donovan: hopefully someone's figured out that you need to box out Rondo on every shot
Dave: yeah, he's been unbelievable in this series
Dave: without him, the celtics are easily down 0-2
Dave: probably blown out twice
Donovan: yeah, he's been very impressive
Donovan: I feel like Pierce has been largely invisible, particularly in Game 2
Dave: I agree with that
Dave: and it's been guys without great defensive reputations — salmons, heinrich — who have shut him down, too
Donovan: he even got a jump shot blocked by Rose, which is not easy to do
Dave: that's been disappointing
Dave: but, looking forward, i'm encouraged by that if i'm a celtics fan
Dave: and by if, I mean because
Dave: right
Dave: but I think we can both agree he could explode at any second
Dave: and on the other hand, I don't think either rose or gordon is going to pop off for 36 every night
Donovan: I think one of them will come close, actually. Gordon, if only because he'll take 30 shots a game if he has to, and it's pretty clear no one can guard Rose off the dribble
Donovan: I don't think they both will, but one will each game.
Dave: I don't see it
Dave: if it was that easy, the bulls wouldn't be 41-41
Donovan: I mean, one will have to, because the Bulls don't have many scorers
Donovan: I don't see Tyrus Thomas continuing his scoring ways, but on the other had Salmons hasn't played up to his offensive role yet.
Donovan: and speaking of Thomas, one of the most underrated skills is the ability to control a blocked shot. He had several monster blocks that made everyone go "ooooh!" ... and I think the Celtics got the ball back each time
Dave: yes, and I think he was told about that, because he blocked one out of bounds the other night and looked kind of pissed afterward
Dave: like he'd been told to keep balls alive
Dave: between he and noah, though, the bulls are a tough team to penetrate against
Donovan: yeah, both those guys have come a long way this season
Donovan: and obviously having KG on the bench—very well-dressed, I might add—helps that
Dave: KG is a stuf
Dave: stud
Dave: (i must've been overcome a little, and in my excitement hit the f by accident)
Dave: from this view, however, noah remains as annoying as ever
Donovan: that's pretty much the same from here, don't worry
Donovan: although it is easier to take when he's blocking Pierce's last-second shot
Donovan: cleanly blocking
Dave: it's not a clean block when there's a hip check involved
Donovan: Bennet Salvatore has a history of making phantom calls against the Bulls at key playoff moments
Dave: please
Dave: there have been no key playoff moments for the bulls since jordan left
Dave: and we all know how the calls went in those days
Donovan: Hey, Bulls beat the defending champs in the first round two years ago
Donovan: you might keep that in mind
Dave: oohh! i'm shaking in my boots!
Donovan: woah, an arrogant boston fan? that's a first
Dave: i'd be a lot more scared if I thought there was any chance the bulls could stay as hot as they've been in the first two games
Dave: rose, then gordon, hardly missed
Dave: I don't see it happening again
Donovan: well, the defense has been what's let them have the series tied right now, and that's a lot less likely to cool off
Donovan: and as I said, between Gordon, Rose, and Salmons, someone will bring along the offense
Donovan: it'd be nice if Brad Miller was allowed to shoot, but there you go
Dave: didn't the bulls defense allow 118 points last game?
Donovan: second-chance points skew that, I don't think you'll see the Celtics getting 35 of those a game
Donovan: I mean, that's part of defense, of course
Dave: true, though it's pretty amazing that they did
Dave: considering three of their top five big men were injured for or during that game
Donovan: I agree, it made me want to put my fist through my 42-inch 1080p HDTV
Donovan: it appears we can officially start referring to Rose by his new nickname: ROY
Dave: he deserves it
Dave: and at least he'll get a chance to win something this week
Donovan: thanks to the NBA playoff schedule, no one can win anything this week
Dave: ok, smart ass
Donovan: it's such a cliche to say, but why do they need two off days between games at the same site?
Donovan: a gift for the older teams in the league, I guess ...
Dave: haha
Dave: perhaps
Dave: or just the evil lords of television dictating things once again
Donovan: that's probably more likely, but you can't underestimate the influence of the Boston sports media elites
Dave: yes. I heard they were considering having the playoffs in august so KG could come back
Dave: ultimately shot down, but came close to passing
Donovan: that wouldn't surprise me
Donovan: so is there a sense that this is it for the Celtics?
Donovan: this year is their last shot with this group?
Dave: nah, one more
Dave: they're all under contract for one more
Donovan: yeah, but it terms of age
Donovan: best player coming back from knee surgery
Dave: people are beginning to acknowledge the possibility, though I think they're willing to wait and see until the middle of next year
Donovan: how's Marbury doing, by the way?
Donovan: I saw a guy with a tattooed head briefly as Rose was driving to the hoop, was that him?
Dave: yes
Dave: the best thing I can say about him is that the head tattoo doesn't appear infected
Dave: aside from that, he's done nothing good
Dave: the whole acquisition was much ado about nothing
Donovan: it hasn't really been a series for role players yet, unless you count Rondo as a role player
Dave: nah, rondo is beyond a role player now
Dave: perkins and big baby have been factors, as have miller and the shot blockers
Donovan: that's true, Big Baby has been good
Dave: but marbury looks afraid
Dave: he doesn't penetrate, he doesn't shoot, he doesn't defend particularly well ... he just kind of exists
Donovan: you laughed when I compared Deng to Garnett, and of course I was joking, but I think the Bulls really miss Deng's scoring ability
Dave: agreed; but would salmons be on the floor if deng was?
Donovan: rarely, but the depth would still be there. Noah, Thomas, Miller, those guys aren't offensive threats, and that sort of leaves you with Gordon, who can't penetrate, Salmons, who hasn't done much, and Rose
Dave: I would venture to say the c's miss KG's defense more than the bulls miss deng's offense, though
Donovan: well, yeah
Dave: I can't imagine rose would've been able to penetrate quite as much in game 1 if kg was waiting there; and in game 2 they gave up 118
Dave: 115, sorry
Dave: (118 was the winning score)
Donovan: I remember
Dave: just wanted to remind you
Donovan: but hey, you build a team around a guy with a lot of mileage, that'll happen
Dave: yup
Dave: it will
Dave: especially after he plays 26 extra games in taking you to an NBA title the first year
Dave: so how do you see game 3 playing out?
Donovan: Game 3: I see this as a bit of a reverse of Game 2. Bulls jump out to a lead, maybe double-digits, thanks to the home crowd, but the Celtics make a game in the 4th before the Bulls pull away, led by Gordon
Donovan: and I think Pierce wakes up
Donovan: but Rondo's triple-double days are over
Dave: so how many for gordon?
Donovan: I'll give Gordon 30
Donovan: Rose with 24ish
Donovan: your thoughts?
Dave: I agree that rondo comes back to earth a little bit, and that the bulls storm out early. they may even lead by double figures at the half. but gordon and rose ultimately cool off some, while allen stays hot and pierce comes alive. gordon and rose don't combine for more than 40 points, while allen scores 25 and pierce scores 35. celtics tighten things up at the defensive end, and win 100-88.
Dave: I was really encouraged by the way the celts played in game 2, and had gordon not been en fuego they'd have won that game easily
Dave: as he cools, so do the bulls
Donovan: if he cools
Donovan: regardless, it's been a fun series thus far
Dave: it certainly has
Dave: two terrific games
Dave: and I think there will be a couple more among the four that'll be played
Donovan: no doubt
Donovan: so Bulls in 6 is your pick?
Dave: cute
Donovan: I'll go Bulls in 7
Dave: Celts in 6.
Dave: and they'll stick a cigar in the mouth of the jordan statue on the way out of town
Donovan: in homage to the greatest? that's classy
Dave: yeah, red really was the greatest
Dave: nice of you to acknowledge
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