I just re-read my postgame ramblings, and man, I even confused myself. I thought about taking it down, but whatever, that’s kind of how I felt after that game. A little emotional, a little exhausted, but happy, and more than anything, rewarded.
There’s all kind of Celtics praise to go out, and I fully plan on getting to that in a minute. But first, the Lakers. More specifically, Kobe. Here is where we can finally learn about Kobe’s character. He’s been taking some heat this morning, but I think a lot of it is undeserved. He’s not Michael Jordan, but nobody else is either.
Kobe’s numbers weren’t that good, maybe, but I don’t think they really reflect what happened in the game. He played the distributer, running the ball through him, and setting up his teammates. In the first half, they got open, and they couldn’t miss. In the second half, they couldn’t get open, and also shrank from the big moments, leaving Kobe out by himself on an island.
Sunday night we’ll learn a lot about Kobe. If he’s able to rally his team, and win that game, it will lift some of the recent tarnish from his resume, and confirm some of the “Kobe’s a great teammate” story lines from this season. If he reverts to his gunner ways, throwing petulant temper tantrums and throwing teammates under the bus… Well, that will tell us something else.
Now to the Celtics. As well as the Big Three played, as well as Eddie House, and Posey, and Powe played… This game goes to Doc Rivers. When you get to this level of the NBA, quite a bit of the job is to be a motivator. Clearly, when the Celtics came out after halftime, they were motivated and ready to go. All season long, the Celtics have owned the third quarter. Last night, the only chance for them to win was to come out and play the best third quarter they’d played all year. Doc preached defense first… And defense won that game. Furious, stingy, sweaty, old-fashioned grind it out defense won that game. When it came time for personnel decisions, Doc deftly pulled strings he’d tangled all year. Never underestimate Doc’s role in keeping bench players motivated. Eddie House being ready to play? Tony Allen not pouting on the bench? Good reflections on them, for sure. But also good reflections of a coach who motivates his guys to play hard.
I think to finish, I’ll post the text messages sent back and forth between my brother and I last night.
Jeff (10:19) This game is f***ing awful
Me (10:19) Sure is
Me (10:20) Not over yet though
Jeff (10:21) True, but who’s going to step up?
Me (10:23) Allen maybe?
Jeff (10:27) It would have to be vintage Ray
Me (10:29) Be sweet to see
Me (11:50) Wow
Jeff (1:44) I still can’t believe that just happened!
Filed under: basketball, sports
