National Basketball Association: Where “It Was Over Before It Started” Happens
The MSG scoreboard before the opening tip says the Knicks had a chance – I beg to differ, they never did.
“He Got Game” (Ray Allen) was on fire. They (Knicks) couldn’t handle “The Truth” (Paul Pierce). And finally, they (anyone who tried to defend Rajon Rondo) had no answer for “Maestro” (Rondo’s new nickname). It was an absolute clinic on display at the mecca of hoops, starring the Celtics three-man wrecking crew. The show was an encore performance led by Paul Pierce, who went for 38 points (six threes) on just 19 shot attempts. That’s two points per shot! Remarkably, that wasn’t all, as the picture also featured Ray Allen, who was 8-11 from distance; good for 32 points. And last but not least, the director of it all, the producer, too; Rajon Rondo, who dished out 20 dimes, to go along with 11 rebounds (six offensive) and 15 points. Messed around and got a triple-double. Oh, it was a “good day”. Well, for the guys in green, that is – not Spike Lee.
31 assists on 42 field goals made. The best passing, finely orchestrated team in basketball. The Celtics were clicking on all cylinders, while the Knicks on the other hand, were running up and down the court like they wanted the series to be over -they have to wait until Sunday. Boston’s two leading scorers went an astounding 25-37 (14-19 from 3), while Melo and Amare joined forces to shoot a woeful 6-24, gathering them only 22 points. I think “Pearl” and “Clyde” just passed out.
Maybe you could say the dynamic duo was missing their set-up guy, Chauncey Billups, to feed them the rock like Allen and Pierce had with Rondo. Either way, their effectiveness could be overlooked without Chauncey when you consider the Celtics shooting performance from the 9:45 mark in the 3rd quarter onward. During that stretch, Boston made 13 of their 18 shots, outscoring New York 31-16. Complete domination, a total one-sided affair in every sense of the imagination. A complete 360-degree turnaround, in what appeared to have the makings of a seven-game series; a la Boston-Chicago ’09.
From the 6:52 point to 2:48 left in the 3rd period, the Knicks did not generate a single point. It took them to 1:51 of the third to even make a single basket from the field. Coach D’Antoni’s boys missed 12 out of their 18 shots in the quarter. It seemed like the Knicks melted under the jam-packed, full capacity Madison Square Garden crowd, while the C’s flourished amidst the noise of basketball’s greatest arena. “If you really want to bother us, tell no one to come. Then that’ll freak us out,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said before Game 3. No affect whatsoever on a “been there, done that” championship-mentality squad stacked with winners. You could not have scripted it any better for Doc’s gang, and a storybook ending for Round 1 is awaiting his veteran-laden team, on Easter Sunday at 3:30 ET, in the Big Apple.
Allen, Pierce Combine For 70 Points In Celtics 113-96 Trashing Of Knicks
National Basketball Association: Where “It Was Over Before It Started” Happens
The MSG scoreboard before the opening tip says the Knicks had a chance – I beg to differ, they never did.
“He Got Game” (Ray Allen) was on fire. They (Knicks) couldn’t handle “The Truth” (Paul Pierce). And finally, they (anyone who tried to defend Rajon Rondo) had no answer for “Maestro” (Rondo’s new nickname). It was an absolute clinic on display at the mecca of hoops, starring the Celtics three-man wrecking crew. The show was an encore performance led by Paul Pierce, who went for 38 points (six threes) on just 19 shot attempts. That’s two points per shot! Remarkably, that wasn’t all, as the picture also featured Ray Allen, who was 8-11 from distance; good for 32 points. And last but not least, the director of it all, the producer, too; Rajon Rondo, who dished out 20 dimes, to go along with 11 rebounds (six offensive) and 15 points. Messed around and got a triple-double. Oh, it was a “good day”. Well, for the guys in green, that is – not Spike Lee.
31 assists on 42 field goals made. The best passing, finely orchestrated team in basketball. The Celtics were clicking on all cylinders, while the Knicks on the other hand, were running up and down the court like they wanted the series to be over -they have to wait until Sunday. Boston’s two leading scorers went an astounding 25-37 (14-19 from 3), while Melo and Amare joined forces to shoot a woeful 6-24, gathering them only 22 points. I think “Pearl” and “Clyde” just passed out.
Maybe you could say the dynamic duo was missing their set-up guy, Chauncey Billups, to feed them the rock like Allen and Pierce had with Rondo. Either way, their effectiveness could be overlooked without Chauncey when you consider the Celtics shooting performance from the 9:45 mark in the 3rd quarter onward. During that stretch, Boston made 13 of their 18 shots, outscoring New York 31-16. Complete domination, a total one-sided affair in every sense of the imagination. A complete 360-degree turnaround, in what appeared to have the makings of a seven-game series; a la Boston-Chicago ’09.
From the 6:52 point to 2:48 left in the 3rd period, the Knicks did not generate a single point. It took them to 1:51 of the third to even make a single basket from the field. Coach D’Antoni’s boys missed 12 out of their 18 shots in the quarter. It seemed like the Knicks melted under the jam-packed, full capacity Madison Square Garden crowd, while the C’s flourished amidst the noise of basketball’s greatest arena. “If you really want to bother us, tell no one to come. Then that’ll freak us out,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said before Game 3. No affect whatsoever on a “been there, done that” championship-mentality squad stacked with winners. You could not have scripted it any better for Doc’s gang, and a storybook ending for Round 1 is awaiting his veteran-laden team, on Easter Sunday at 3:30 ET, in the Big Apple.
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