Just when you thought it can't get any better, the Bulls-Celtics series just did. The series went from featuring 3 OT games in the first 5 games to 4 out of 6. And this one was a triple OT beauty. The series has now featured 7 OT sessions. It's not just that the games have been close, the quality of play has been tremendous. The talent on the floor is spectacular and the series has featured everything. Ray Allen has just been clutch. He had a 51 point game shooting 18/32 from the floor and 9/18 from downtown. He has been strictly alternating between on and off - bad game 1, 3 and 5 and great game 2, 4 and 6. He didn't get any help from Rando today.
The Bulls on the other hand, got another great game from D-Rose and John Salmons gave them the 35 that they usually get from Ben Gordon, who had an off night. All in all, the two teams are evenly matched and there is no quit in either of them. Can't wait for game 7, though the home teams have a great edge in those games usually. We have seen a lot of blowouts in game 7's, but it's hard to imagine a blowout in this series. The edge definitely goes to Boston and there are even some rumors KG might suit up. That would drive the home crowd nuts. Either way, it should be a fun one Saturday.
Orlando put the Sixers to bed today. I was kind of concerned that this series might go 7. Every year, you see a bad series or 2 go to 7 and you are like, why can't the other fun series go 7? That might still happen with Miami-Atlanta, but so far, we only have one quality game 7 lined up. All of the Western series are over. Houston made it to round 2 by beating the young Blazers today. The Blazers are probably disappointed, but they are a young team and they can learn from this. The Rockets were a tough matchup for them and the Rockets may even cause the Lakers some trouble. They have a huge guy in Yao to cause some issues for the Lakers in the paint and they can throw a couple of good defenders at Kobe in the form of Shane Battier and Ron Artest.
Speaking of Ron-Ron, a great series for him. T-Mac has never gotten out of the first round and this year, he gets injured and Ron and Yao get tot he second round. How ironic is that? T-Mac should be pissed. Of course it's not all his fault and T-Mac thinks they have a great team this year. But still, there is something about the overall toughness and the complete game that Artest brings. Overall, it probably helps a team more than T-Mac's offensive powers. Ron Artest now says Brandon Roy is the best player he has ever defended. He adds that he is the only guy to have scored 40 on him. He ranks him higher than even Kobe and that should be interesting to watch next series. He is essentially challenging Kobe to score 40 on him.
It was funny listening to Ron. The guy says Roy is the best player and refuses to acknowledge anybody else. Then he says somebody from his hood who is in jail used to be the best player he has ever played against and now Roy is the best. You can tell the dude is a little out there in the left field. Not that we didn't know it already, but who talks like that? But he looks genuine and sincere. There is something genuine about this guy. He is genuinely nuts and what can you do? He speaks his mind and does his thing. Plays hard and the fans love him as long as they are winning and he is reasonably under control. But then he can flip out anytime and go completely bonkers. An interesting character for sure.
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