[BOS/CHI] Round One - Game 7

[VF21]

This series is one that will easily go down in history. And it's been mentioned before it should have had its own thread. Since we're a few hours away from the tipoff for the game to decide who moves forward, I thought I'd start a fresh thread and, of course, the poll.

 

[tradepeja]

The old Celtic legs aren't holding up in this 8 game series, the Bulls have it. This should be an easy pick because Rondo should not be playing in this game after back-to-back uncalled flagrant 2's. But, then the NBA wouldn't be getting its highest ratings in the first round ever over again.

Nah, that didn't effect the decision at all.

 

[Bricklayer]

The old Celtic legs aren't holding up in this 8 game series, the Bulls have it. This should be an easy pick because Rondo should not be playing in this game after back-to-back uncalled flagrant 2's. But, then the NBA wouldn't be getting its highest ratings in the first round ever over again.

Nah, that didn't effect the decision at all.

Neither of them being flagrant 2s might have had something to do with it too.

 

[John Galt]

I wish I was a Celtics fan with a ticket to this game! I'm not especially a Celtics fan, but I'm rooting for them tonight (especially after Rome said so emphatically before the series started that the Celtics would be road kill without Garnett).

 

[tradepeja]

Neither of them being flagrant 2s might have had something to do with it too.

Right, I forgot that arm bars are now a legal defensive move in the NBA.

 

[4cwebb]

I'd like to see the Bulls win this game to knock the Celtics off the perch they've been sitting on all season since winning last year, and presuming KG doesn't play I think they have a shot, but I don't think Pierce will shoot as poorly in Boston as he did in Chicago in Game 6, and unless VDN has devised a scheme to get the ball out of Pierce's hands in the middle of the court in a close game, I think the Celtics will prevail.

 

[Oprostaj]

Keep in mind that both Allen and Pierce must be running on fumes. I don't think the Bulls are favorites, but in some ways this is their game to lose. Unless they truly lay an egg, solid defense and execution should take care of Boston. Considering their top three subs are Moore, Marbury and Scalabrine... Bulls have the momentum, the energy and the hunger. Then again, I'm remembering that blowout and wondering whether the coaching staff can instill some urgency to the players. Fully expecting Rondo to shank somebody. Technical foul though only, as he will get Miller as he is trying to set a pick instead of in the act of shooting.

 

[Oprostaj]

What a block by Rose on Scalabrine!!! I know it's Scalabrine but still wow... reminiscent of Prince on Miller.

Is there any other player that looks less like he belongs in the NBA than Scalabrine?

Notes - Gordon playing well on offense, within the flow of offense. Defense is another story, but he just needs to keep this up.

Noah/Thomas are playing well, even though Perkins has been playing just as well.

Pierce has been torching Salmons. Needs to step it up and not sulk. Don't force bad shots.

 

[SacKings7]

Right, I forgot that arm bars are now a legal defensive move in the NBA.

Yeah. I think it's more of the fact that he did that right after he whacked Miller in the face (not to mention the trip on Hinrich earlier in that game, think it was accidental though). If both of those (or 3 if you count the trip) were done by different players then I wouldn't be complaining so much, but it was done by the same player in back to back games

 

[Amory]

What a block by Rose on Scalabrine!!! I know it's Scalabrine but still wow... reminiscent of Prince on Miller.

Ya, that was pretty amazing.

 

[Tmassfan4life]

what a quarter...

ps who thinks the reggie miller phone commercials are annoying?

 

[Rose2Thomas]

Scalabrine arguably the best Celtic so far. Can't believe I'm glad that he's in foul trouble.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

I love how hard these two teams are playing .. just a great game so far.

 

[RKid]

How is Micky Moore in the NBA? It boggles my mind.

 

[Oprostaj]

Jesus ****ing christ... why the **** are Thomas and Gordon on the bench? Miller and Noah think they are PGs, and Rose is just standing around doing nothing. Where is the hustle? The heart? I don't care if we have nobody left, Miller should not be back in this game, period. Sucks that Hinrich isn't playing well, unless he steps it up and Gordon and Thomas come back Bulls are done

 

[Rose2Thomas]

That was some terrible execution, terrible coaching, terrible defense. Put Gordon back in, and hope he's still hot.

 

[Oprostaj]

I don't get it... team has no passion from about the 8 minute mark of the second quarter. Gordon is hitting and Thomas is blocking and rebounding everything in sight, and he keeps them on the bench... foul trouble be damned, there won't be a reason to conserve fouls if we're down by 20 in the middle of the third

 

[VF21]

I love how hard these two teams are playing .. just a great game so far.

I totally agree, MKF. I feel almost as though I have secret insider information, though, since I find myself cringing when I see John Salmons doing the same kinds of things that drove us nuts when he was on the Kings.

I cannot understand how anyone can fault the heart or the hustle of the Chicago Bulls. Major congratulations to Vinny D. His team has no real stars, except for Derrick Rose, and yet they're sticking in there.

I remember now what it was about Joakim Noah I liked - and I think he's going to be a major star in the league.

I know you're a Celtics fan but I find myself having a lot of admiration for the Chicago Bulls.

 

[Rose2Thomas]

Celtics almost tried to give away the game, but the Bulls didn't feel like playing good enough defense or taking care of the ball enough to take it.

 

[Oprostaj]

Even though Gordon did not shoot well, he was agressive and a killer from the FT line. Why he and Thomas were on the bench at all is a very good question. Miller was inneffective and should not have been in.

House was MVP, hands down. Hit every open shot, stopped rallies and did everything asked of him. Terrific series, and sucks it had to end this way. Mad props to Boston for holding on and winning, but I really hope Dwight shoves that ball down their throat.

 

[VF21]

Bulls didn't feel like playing? They took the reigning champions to game 7, didn't give up even though they were trailing at the half and played their hearts out. You really can't ask for much more than what the Bulls gave... this was a brutal series and they kept fighting with a game 7 in hostile territory. All in all, they really deserve a lot of credit for what they accomplished. They fill a couple of holes in their lineup this off-season and Chicago is right back in the hunt.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

Another good game tonight for these two teams .. gotta love the respect some of the players had for each other after it was over even though the games were as physical as they were ... Seeing Vinny Del Negro give Rondo, 'the antagonist' a hug and talk to him a bit was cool ... Bulls have a tough decision to make with Gordon .. He is a limited player but a GREAT shooter.

Noah showed alot. Its interesting looking back at the draft were we missed out on Noah by one pick. He is pretty much the opposite player Hawes is and both of them have bright futures .. I find myself thinking Noah would have been a better fit for this team that lacks defense and energy.

 

[Rose2Thomas]

I had no illusions about the Bulls winning the championship this year, and maybe it sounds bad to say this. My hopes for these playoffs was for the Bulls, specifically Derrick Rose to get as far as possible, so that as immediate as next season, he would get the Dwyane Wade treatment. Sure he probably gained tons of fans during this first round, but imagine if they got past Orlando and the entire world is saying "Derrick Rose, as a rookie, lead his team to the conference finals".

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Dwyane Wade's first playoff appearance was against a Hornets team whose second-best player was Jamaal F. Magliore. A repeat of that scenario was not likely to take place.