Atlanta 103, Boston 100 (3-3)
The fight, the desire, the will of a champion were all on display tonight.
Except it was the Hawks displaying it.
Nobody saw this coming. Nobody saw the Hawks winning, let alone taking this game to seven. This is the hardest series to figure out right now, but I’m going to try.
Atlanta won tonight for a few reasons. For one, they were way more aggressive. The Hawks were in attack mode all…night…long. They shot 47 free throws tonight, making 36 of them. They made 11 more than the Celtics even shot. Zaza Pachulia shot 3 more than Pierce.
Hold on…..I have to interrupt myself. Stephen A Smith and Jon Barry are absolutely insane right now. I don’t remember all the words but they are acting like Games 1, 2 and 5 didn’t take place. It’s one thing to get swept up in the series, its another to start talking silly. Atlanta won for a couple reasons. For one they were more aggressive attacking the basket. Secondly, Joe Johnson hit a big shot. Third, Rajon Rando started peeing down his leg for some reason. And last, Paul Pierce fouled out so the C’s were slightly confused who to give the ball to. That’s it. That’s all. To listen to people exaggerate the game is just ridiculous.
Boston is going to win this series. Can you really rely on Marvin Williams having the same effort in a pressure Game 7 on the road, with a sore knee? Do you really believe in Bibby, Josh Smith and Josh Childress on the road. Boston has won every game at home in this series by 20+. It has yet to be close. Let’s all remember that before we get carried away.
And even thought I just typed that paragraph, and that’s how I truly feel…you can’t help but have that feeling in your gut. That ‘what if?’. That feeling that maybe the Hawks could pull this off.
Game 7.
Cleveland 105, Washington 88 (CLE 4-2)
I knew Cleveland was advancing at halftime.
They were only up 56-48, but here were the cold hard facts. LeBron had 10 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Both Wally’s World and Boobie Gibson were in double figures and had hit 3 three-pointers. You’re not beating Cleveland if Wally and Gibson are in double-figures at the half. LeBron is LeBron and will put up LeBron numbers. If you let the role players step out of their shell and get major points, Cleveland will win everytime. Case in point Wally had 26 and Gibson had 22 in a rout. The sooner people realize that they need to shut down the supporting cast, the sooner the Cavs will be gone.
Utah 113, Houston 91 (UTAH 4-2)
Rafer Alston went down and so did the Rockets’ playoff chances.
They went on a run after and cut the lead at halftime, but it wasn’t to be. The Rockets with Alston were dangerous. The Rockets without Alston were horrible. With Skip to my Lou: 2-1. Without him….0-3. Bobby Jackson can’t guard Deron Williams and if you saw his personal highlight reel you just had to feel bad for Bobby. It wasn’t even close and he had no choice.
The only entertaining part about this game was watching T-Mac shoot towards the end. Me and my friend tapped each other and said ‘T-Mac is trying to go off right now’. Sure enough after a scoreless, semi-passive third quarter, T-Mac exploded in the fourth. When the game was gone. And we knew exactly why he was doing it: so people wouldn’t blame him. You can’t blame the guy…but let’s be honest. Is it surprising he left right when he got 40? You tell me. We imagined the locker room conversation went something like this.
Reporter: “So Tracy, hows it feel losing another first round series.”
T-Mac: “I had 40.”
Reporter: “…..Ok. It had to be heartbreaking to watch another team that you’ve led fail in the playoffs.”
T-Mac: “Have you seen the boxscore? Take a look at it. How many did I have? 40? Yeah. Not my fault.”