The hometown crowd loved how Paul Pierce came through in the clutch for the Boston Celtics in their Game 5 win Tuesday night against Chicago.
With Game 5 between the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics tied 104-104 in overtime, drama was sure to ensue.
It did.
With the series tied 2-2, Boston took the ball out on its end. Ray Allen was on the bench after fouling out in the fourth quarter. Kevin Garnett has been out all series due to injury. So somebody needed to make a shot.
Paul Pierce made the shot.
With the ball in the middle of the floor, Pierce dribbled right and hit the 17-foot jumper over the shorter John Salmons to put Boston ahead with 3.4 seconds left.
Two questions I have here:
1. Why didn’t the Bulls trap Pierce and make someone else make a shot. 2. Why was Salmons, who can’t guard Pierce, guarding Pierce?
Chicago center Brad Miller got whacked in the mouth by Rajon Rondo in his attempt to tie the game.
Then it’s Chicago’s turn.
The Bulls ran a series of screens and all the sudden, center Brad Miller was wide open. He takes the ball, drives down the lane and got whacked in the face by Rajon Rondo.
Got two more questions:
1. Is Miller really that slow to where he couldn’t get to the basket in time to score before getting fouled? 2. Did Rondo’s hit across the mouth deserve a flagrant foul since the result of it left Miller looking like he got popped by Manny Pacquiao.
So with a bloody lip and mouth and a possible tooth missing, Miller missed the first free throw. Although he’s an 85 percent free throw shooter, Miller was thinking more about his mouth than making the free throw.
At least it appeared that way.
Miller missed the second free throw on purpose, but since the ball didn’t hit the rim, Boston got the ball back with two seconds left.
Pierce got fouled on the inbound play. He missed the first free throw, bricked the second on purpose, but his teammate, Glen “Big Baby” Davis, got the rebound to close out the game for the Celtics.
So I leave you with two more questions:
Will the Celtics close out the series Thursday at Chicago or will the Bulls force a Game 7 on Saturday at Boston?
Paul Pierce was all smiles after the Boston Celtics pulled out an 106-104 overtime win against the Chicago Bulls in Game 5 Tuesday night. Boston has a 3-2 series lead.
