The Boston Celtics lost to the Orlando Magic 101-82 last night in game 7 of the 2009 Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs. The Magic led by as many as 20 toward the end of the game, but mainly held the Celtics to a 14 point deficit throughout the game. Boston did bring the game within 4,5 and 7 points on occasion, but the Celtics didn't have enough to ever take the lead.
The game made for many "F-bombs, What are they doing's?, and Oh my God's". Boston just didn't seem to be playing as if the game meant anything to them. The Celtics were sloppy, slow and showed a lack of heart. Last night's game was more disappointing than getting denied for a car loan. For the first time ever, the Celtics were out-hustled, out-muscled and completely outplayed at the Garden in a game 7 of the NBA Playoffs.
The BIG 3
The Orlando Magic showed last night that the Boston Celtics are not a World Champion team without all of our cards in play. With Kevin Garnett out, the Celtics defense was completely absent. If Ray Allen has an off night (game 6), we can't piece together a win. When Paul Pierce doesn't have any points over a stretch of 20 minutes, Boston can't get it done.
Ray Allen shot much better in game 7 than he previously did in game 6, while Paul Pierce was 2 for 9 in the first half. Kevin Garnett didn't even seem like himself on the bench. When the camera panned over to him, he had a look of disgust on his face as opposed to the normal look of "We're gonna kick their asses".
Where Nothing Happens
Even when Dwight Howard picked up his fifth foul with about 7 minutes left in the game, his Magic had a 17 point cushion while he took a seat. At this point anyone watching was waiting for the eruption at the Garden and a 22-2 run by the Celtics to come up big in game 7 of the NBA Playoffs (a dream scenario). That didn't happen at all. Howard sat for about 3 minutes, and Hedo Turkoglu shot the lights out the whole time.
The Raising of the 2008 Celtics World Champions Banner
With a few minutes left in the game the Celtics put in their subs, most likely to prevent what everyone was thinking would happen (a hard foul out of frustration). Eddie House did not give up and threw up three 3-pointers and missed all of them, it was just a display of how the entire night went.
With that, I'm all out of describable words, it was an awful game and an awful feeling. The only silver lining was the applause all the starters got from the fans, which they absolutely deserved for this season and last. Start getting ready for next season, we still want banner #18.
Thanks to Adam Pieniazek for the picture of the Boston Celtics 2008 World Champions Banner #17.
Good post man..Paul Pierce was running in quicksand all night. no legs left.. way undermanned. Good year though considering the injuries.
You’re right Chuck. Pierce couldn’t get anything to fall in the first half and seemed like he was trying too hard to make shots he would normally hit. It was a rough night for him as wlel as the rest of the team.