NBA Playoffs Rundown

Boston 97 Cleveland 92: This was a great game to watch as Paul Pierce and Lebron James went toe-to-toe and put on a great show for all the basketball fans out there. You really can't ask for more in a Game 7 because the game was close and you had two All-Stars going at each other the whole game and both putting up 40+ points. This one had fans comparing it to the Shootout in Boston Garden between Larry Bird and Dominque Wilkins 20 years ago.

Paul Pierce was the man in this game for the Celtics, no ifs ands or buts about it. Pierce, who has struggled throughout the series, saved his best game for when the Celtics needs it most and dropped 41 points on the Cavs. He shot 13 of 23 from the floor, including 4 of 6 from downtown and 11 of 12 from the line. Without Pierce putting up such a great performance in this game, then the Celtics most certainly would have lost this game because nobody else on the team was really effective. I have to say I will probably remember Pierce for this game as one of his defining moments. The other would have to this Game 3 in 2002 when he led the Celtics past the Nets by scoring 19 points in the 4th quarter after the team was down by 21 entering the last period.

The rest of the Celtics really struggled in this game. Kevin Garnett shot only 5 of 13 from the floor and finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Ray Allen shot a miserable 1 of 6 and finished with only 4 points. Rajon Rondo had 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists but shot only 4 of 11 from the floor. However, one other Celtic also stepped up big with some plays down the stretch and that man was PJ Brown. Brown was a surprise hero in this game as he had a couple of putbacks late in the 4th and a deep jumper with 1:21 left in the game, which was a huge shot for the Celtics.

For the Cavs, Lebron James was just as impressive as Pierce and even though I wanted the Celtics to win this game, I was loving the back and forth these two guys had going. I was openingly routing for James and Pierce to score everytime they touched the ball. Lebron finished with 45 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds but in the end it was not enough to lead to Cavs to victory. Delonte West was the only other starter to play well in this one for Cleveland and he finished with 15 points on 4 of 8 shooting. The Cavs were also outrebounded 39 to 29 by the Celtics.