Observations from the Stands - Game 7

[ma11l]

My sister graduated from Suffolk Law School this morning.  We were sitting at brunch in Quincy Market, with the plan being to watch the game at a bar around there after.  Instead we decided to get some tickets outside the Garden.  We spent $125 for $18 seats, 13th row balcony right behind the hoop.  It was one of the best investments I've ever made.  Some thoughts:


- Best game of Paul Pierce's career.  The 46 to close out the Sixers in '01 was great, but there was so much more on the line this afternoon.  He took it to LeBron, what a great duel between the two.

- P.J. Brown's been doing his job all series long, being a big body, grabbing some boards, and knocking Cavs on their butts.  Today's throwback performance will finally get him much deserved praise.  I will admit that shot he made was one of those "oh no, oh no, oh YES" shots.

- EDDIE! EDDIE! EDDIE!  Energized the team, the building, and anyone else who needed it with that diving play.  Made a jumper or two, played some decent defense, played a great game for what he was asked to do.

- LeBron James will win many championships in this league.  He makes it look so easy.  When his long jumpers are falling like they were in the fourth quarter it really put everyone on edge.  Great performance, overshadowed by Paul's simply because we won the game.

- Tom Brady is a jerk.  Would it kill ya to acknowledge the crowd Tommy?  I decided I don't like him when it's not football season and he's not setting crazy records.

- The rest of the Pats, (who all sit in the same area, needless to say Tommy Boy needed to be front row next to the Cavs bench instead of with his team.  They're some very loyal fans, especially Wilfork, Maroney, and Seymour.  Randy Moss got a big rise out of the crowd when they showed him as well, although they really should flash some names on the jumbotron because it can be tough to tell who these guys are when they're not in uniform.  Either that or make them wear their unis to the game.

- The guy sitting behind me was at Games 4 and 5 of the 2004 ALCS and said that this was the greatest sporting event he had even seen live.  The place was AMAZING tonight.  We had the help of the jumbotron and the fireworks and all of those shenanigans, but they weren't needed today.  All the chants were on point from MVP, EDDIE, and BS.

- Speaking of BS, my final point is about the refs.  We won, but they still suck.  We didn't get TV replays but CelticsVision was right on point showing us the bad calls.  Some of mine included LeBron grabbing Paul's shirt, Delonte kicking the ball out of bounds and somehow the Cavs kept possession, and finally the phantom push they called on KG getting a rebound.  I'm really glad we got past LeBron with all these bad calls, I expect an evenly called series against Detroit.

- All in all, probably the most memorable game in this building ever, (the only game I could think of comparing it to would be the ECF Game 3 Nets comeback, but I wasn't there live to experience that.)  Bring on Detroit, and keep that place rocking.

[Redz]

Great report Ma.  Glad you made it to the game.

Dead on right about Eddie and the dive. 

Super competitive game by those teams and both teams stars.

And, yes, I believe there should be a law that football players be required to wear their uniforms in public (pad and all )

Brady is a wiener - I mean winner, well I guess a bit of both.

[ma11l]

I Tivoed the game so I'm watching it over again on TV now ( A lot easier to watch when you know you're gonna win).  Glad to hear Van Gundy giving to the refs a little bit.  Especially harping on LeBron James traveling.  He does that about 80% of the time he touches the ball.


Also I forgot to mention the smoky haze.  It seemed a lot worse today, and you can tell on TV.  It seemed to hang around longer and it seemed to be lower.  I don't know if they gave it the old Game 7 special treatment with more fireworks or what. 

[CoachCowens]

I wish we had Celtic vision at home. The abc telecast is awful from a replay standpoint. Always showing the replay of the play before the play you really want to see.

I believe it was JVG who agreed with foul on KG. I was disappointed because usually he is spot on. It was barely a touch never mind a push.

[D Dub]

- Speaking of BS, my final point is about the refs.  We won, but they still suck.  We didn't get TV replays but CelticsVision was right on point showing us the bad calls.  Some of mine included LeBron grabbing Paul's shirt, Delonte kicking the ball out of bounds and somehow the Cavs kept possession, and finally the phantom push they called on KG getting a rebound.  I'm really glad we got past LeBron with all these bad calls, I expect an evenly called series against Detroit.

I thought the very audible edited chant worked against us.  Did you notice how the Cavs got every close call/no call following that?  The refs were not happy about being shown up, clearly.  Granted, they were blowing the calls, but b/c of the outspoken crowd, they made no attempt to make up for their errors. 

[Bahku]

- Speaking of BS, my final point is about the refs.  We won, but they still suck.  We didn't get TV replays but CelticsVision was right on point showing us the bad calls.  Some of mine included LeBron grabbing Paul's shirt, Delonte kicking the ball out of bounds and somehow the Cavs kept possession, and finally the phantom push they called on KG getting a rebound.  I'm really glad we got past LeBron with all these bad calls, I expect an evenly called series against Detroit.

I thought the very audible edited chant worked against us.  Did you notice how the Cavs got every close call/no call following that?  The refs were not happy about being shown up, clearly.  Granted, they were blowing the calls, but b/c of the outspoken crowd, they made no attempt to make up for their errors. 

Did anyone else notice LeBron blatantly step out of bounds when he drove the baseline? He was about 2 feet from Kenny Mauer when he did it, it was clear as day on TV, right in front of him, and yet Kenny blew the whistle for a foul and put LeBron on the line ... it was absurd!

Honestly, half the calls LB got, Mauer was blowing the whistle before the fouls even took place! If LeBron had the ball and was heading to the basket, that's all Ken had to see, and he'd bail LB out time-after-time. I think Kenny's got a man-crush on the Le Ballerina!

[ma11l]

- Speaking of BS, my final point is about the refs.  We won, but they still suck.  We didn't get TV replays but CelticsVision was right on point showing us the bad calls.  Some of mine included LeBron grabbing Paul's shirt, Delonte kicking the ball out of bounds and somehow the Cavs kept possession, and finally the phantom push they called on KG getting a rebound.  I'm really glad we got past LeBron with all these bad calls, I expect an evenly called series against Detroit.

I thought the very audible edited chant worked against us.  Did you notice how the Cavs got every close call/no call following that?  The refs were not happy about being shown up, clearly.  Granted, they were blowing the calls, but b/c of the outspoken crowd, they made no attempt to make up for their errors. 

Did anyone else notice LeBron blatantly step out of bounds when he drove the baseline? He was about 2 feet from Kenny Mauer when he did it, it was clear as day on TV, right in front of him, and yet Kenny blew the whistle for a foul and put LeBron on the line ... it was absurd!

Honestly, half the calls LB got, Mauer was blowing the whistle before the fouls even took place! If LeBron had the ball and was heading to the basket, that's all Ken had to see, and he'd bail LB out time-after-time. I think Kenny's got a man-crush on the Le Ballerina!

Both interesting points here.  It did go through my head that if I was a ref (if this was true we would've swept the Cavs in record fashion) I'd be a little peeved by being shown up by 18,000 plus.  They definitely did keep making some questionable calls at best against us. 

For the second point, LeBron stepped on the baseline at least three times without being called.  Once after a defensive rebound, and twice while driving to the basket.  The refs are usually spot on with that call from what I've seen, but apparently not when it's LeBron.

[TerreHaute]

I am sure this got mentioned on another thread, and I was not even in the same time zone as the game, but did Pierce's first free throw in the waning seconds remind people of Don Nelson's playoff winner? I think maybe Red batted that ball straight down while sitting on top of the backboard

[BASSTHUMPER]

I am sure this got mentioned on another thread, and I was not even in the same time zone as the game, but did Pierce's first free throw in the waning seconds remind people of Don Nelson's playoff winner? I think maybe Red batted that ball straight down while sitting on top of the backboard

and that smile on his face after he made it..he might have saw Red....angel on the hardwood..

[ma11l]

I am sure this got mentioned on another thread, and I was not even in the same time zone as the game, but did Pierce's first free throw in the waning seconds remind people of Don Nelson's playoff winner? I think maybe Red batted that ball straight down while sitting on top of the backboard

and that smile on his face after he made it..he might have saw Red....angel on the hardwood..

My friend who was a few sections away texted me "thank you Red" as soon as that shot went in.  They focused in on the retired number 2 in the banners on the jumbotron.  Pretty cool moment.

[dark_lord]

i was at the game as well.  one word.....AMAZING!!!!! this is a game that i will one day tell my son about!  Thanks celtics

[jdpapa3]

Did you spend 125 for both seats combined?

[fairweatherfan]

I am sure this got mentioned on another thread, and I was not even in the same time zone as the game, but did Pierce's first free throw in the waning seconds remind people of Don Nelson's playoff winner? I think maybe Red batted that ball straight down while sitting on top of the backboard

Nelson's shot was front rim and in, Pierce's back rim and in, but it did feel a little magical - I just want to know what evil spirit made that one ugly FT of Wallace's clang its way in.  Maybe the ghost of Ted Stepien?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Stepien

[PerkinsERA43]

My sister graduated from Suffolk Law School this morning.  We were sitting at brunch in Quincy Market, with the plan being to watch the game at a bar around there after.  Instead we decided to get some tickets outside the Garden.  We spent $125 for $18 seats, 13th row balcony right behind the hoop.  It was one of the best investments I've ever made.  Some thoughts:


- Best game of Paul Pierce's career.  The 46 to close out the Sixers in '01 was great, but there was so much more on the line this afternoon.  He took it to LeBron, what a great duel between the two.

- P.J. Brown's been doing his job all series long, being a big body, grabbing some boards, and knocking Cavs on their butts.  Today's throwback performance will finally get him much deserved praise.  I will admit that shot he made was one of those "oh no, oh no, oh YES" shots.

- EDDIE! EDDIE! EDDIE!  Energized the team, the building, and anyone else who needed it with that diving play.  Made a jumper or two, played some decent defense, played a great game for what he was asked to do.

- LeBron James will win many championships in this league.  He makes it look so easy.  When his long jumpers are falling like they were in the fourth quarter it really put everyone on edge.  Great performance, overshadowed by Paul's simply because we won the game.

- Tom Brady is a jerk.  Would it kill ya to acknowledge the crowd Tommy?  I decided I don't like him when it's not football season and he's not setting crazy records.

- The rest of the Pats, (who all sit in the same area, needless to say Tommy Boy needed to be front row next to the Cavs bench instead of with his team.  They're some very loyal fans, especially Wilfork, Maroney, and Seymour.  Randy Moss got a big rise out of the crowd when they showed him as well, although they really should flash some names on the jumbotron because it can be tough to tell who these guys are when they're not in uniform.  Either that or make them wear their unis to the game.

- The guy sitting behind me was at Games 4 and 5 of the 2004 ALCS and said that this was the greatest sporting event he had even seen live.  The place was AMAZING tonight.  We had the help of the jumbotron and the fireworks and all of those shenanigans, but they weren't needed today.  All the chants were on point from MVP, EDDIE, and BS.

- Speaking of BS, my final point is about the refs.  We won, but they still suck.  We didn't get TV replays but CelticsVision was right on point showing us the bad calls.  Some of mine included LeBron grabbing Paul's shirt, Delonte kicking the ball out of bounds and somehow the Cavs kept possession, and finally the phantom push they called on KG getting a rebound.  I'm really glad we got past LeBron with all these bad calls, I expect an evenly called series against Detroit.

- All in all, probably the most memorable game in this building ever, (the only game I could think of comparing it to would be the ECF Game 3 Nets comeback, but I wasn't there live to experience that.)  Bring on Detroit, and keep that place rocking.

I agree completely. you hit the nail on the head. I was at the game as well, and I have NEVER had so much fun. PJ's shot is the only sports moment i've experienced, other than the end of game 7 against the yankees in the ACLS, that has made me literally jump for joy. Best game I've ever been too, and the best atmosphere. Fabulous.

[Scribbles]

Man I wish I could see a game in the Garden right now.  It sucks living in the midwest where everyone here (well at least my school) is hoping the Celtics loose.  (I think they just do it to...grind my gears haha) The Garden looked to be rocking though from on tv. Anyways I'm really contemplating buying tickets for the game and air fair to fly out there and see the Celtics play Detroit.  I think it may be worth the money haha.