It's About Time, Part II

For the second time in the month of May, the Mighty C's have been taken to a Game 7 by an inferior opponent and won, thus making the Celtics perfect at home and winless on the road in the 2008 playoffs. As a fan, this has been quite unnerving, especially with the Pistons and one the three best from the West on the horizon. The story of Sunday's game was Pierce and Lebron, with Cleveland living up to the moniker I game them here, the Cleveland LeBron James'. His team is pitiful. James scored 48.9 percent of the team's points. This guy is one Pau Gasol away from leading a bad team to an NBA title. In the end, it was Pierce's 41 that won the day (FYI-Larry Bird's career high in a Game 7 was 39), relinquishing Lebron to Dominique Wilkins status. Wilkins' 47 points and fourth quarter duel with the aforementioned Bird (34 for the game, 20 in the fourth quarter) in Game 7 of the 1988 Conference Semifinals in the Boston Garden is still the standard bearer for great performances in a losing effort in a Game 7. Pierce's performance was certainly one that will be remembered as one of the greatest in the storied playoff history of the Mighty C's. He has been the only constant on a team that has overachieved for most of his career (the 2002 trip to the Conference Finals exemplifies this point most clearly), thus as a fan, watching Pierce dominate a Game 7 on a great team is extremely gratifying. Worth noting is the performance of P.J. Brown in yesterday's game. He played 20 minutes, going for 10 and 6 on 4-4 shooting from the floor, including a super-clutch 17-footer in game's waning moments. I did not think the old man had it in him, but credit to Doc for acquiring him late and recognizing how effective he could be when provided the opportunity.

Another Game 7 tonight with the Pesky Hornets trying to KO the champs in the Big Easy. My prediction was Spurs in seven and I will stand by that pick, for I still cannot see this very talented young team taking out the veteran Spurs. Picks that are sure to be wrong, Conference Finals Edition coming tomorrow.