One word would signify this morning game and that is "Speechless". Before we get into that, lets talk about some other aspects of Game 1.
First Quarter:
Boston started game 1 really slowly, and got whopped 11-21 at the end of the first quarter. Committing 4 uncharacteristic turnovers by Rajon Rondo, shooting was poor, basically everything didn't went well for the Celtics. Lebron had a great first quarter went 6 for 9 in shooting (need to clarify on this), and had 13 points already in the first quarter.
Second Quarter:
Boston Celtics owned big time in this quarter. And I felt this was the only quarter that Boston ever showed up in the game at all. Great defense, good solid offense, Garnett doing his things, Pierce started to assert himself in the game and managed to tie the game at the end of the second quarter 46-46. In short, it was all Boston.
Third Quarter and Fourth Quarter:
There is a reason why I merged this two quarters together because it was a replica of the first quarter and no second quarter type basketball from Boston. Boston started the third quarter really slowly again. Heats went on a 9-2 run early and basically never looked back ever since.
Why I am speechless:
There are several reasons for this:
1) The officiating was horrible mainly in the sense at which the technical fouls were given "SPEECHLESS" and probably some nitpick fouls here and there. Come on man this is the Eastern Conference Finals! Not some regular season game!
2) The Boston Celtics looked clueless and flat from the start of the third quarter all the way to the end of the game, which actually made the game unbearable to watch. Their offense looked clueless and repetitive, everyone was so disorganized I don't really know what to make of it, speechless man!. Their defense looked tired, I know they switched to zone-esque defense late in the game that is probably the move they should have done earlier and not later. This is actually probably the first time I seen the Boston Celtics played this bad on a big time stage.
3) Ray Allen. He looked like a man dejected with no confidence in his shooting, an area which he have tirelessly worked to perfect on. He made only 3-7 from the free throw line which is completely uncharacteristic and eye popping of him. In short, he really need to find his stride soon, I do not know if the ankle injury is bugging him or anything but this was one night he would want to forget and should just put it all behind him and get fired up for the second game. Really disappointing night for him, and his run in the playoffs so far.
4) The Celtics free throw shooting tonight. One word "horrendous", it is something that I don't even feel like writing about it.
5) Boston had no idea what to do when Wade and Lebron took turns to guard Rajon Rondo. Credit to Wade and Lebron for the defense but Boston didn't know what to do with it seriously. Come on man, this is the Eastern Conference Finals, you have to be prepared Boston! By the way I was just remarking to my brother yesterday before the game, that Miami should just put Lebron on Rondo and that would be it for Boston. If even I can see that, even more so for the Celtics! They should came up with something in anticipation when the situation arise, this is not the first time they are playing against each other, so no excuse for them to look clueless and had no idea what to do.
Conclusion
It turned out both Lebron and Wade didn't even need to elevate their game at all to win this game. Boston simply just died out from the third quarter to the end, maybe it is the fatigued that is setting in from the one six game series and one seven game series they experienced so far. But whatever it is, as past champions, they have to put it all aside and step up.
Lebron have an alright game, started really well in the first quarter. Kind of fade away in the second quarter but kicked it up a notch in the third and fourth quarter. Wade too had an alright game, consistent throughout.
Shane Battier came up big for the Heats on both ends on the floor tonight. Great in defense great in offense, overall a great game by him tonight.
The Big Four (Garnett, Pierce, Allen, Rondo) and Co better get recharged and come up with something during this one day of rest that is coming up, if not we would have a shorter than expected Eastern Conference Finals series.
No comments:
Post a Comment