Game 5 MVP Poll: BOS 105 MIL 102 (OT)

[Fafnir]

Crazy game, the bench really didn't bring it tonight. Foul trouble plagued Davis and O'Neal forcing Semih into action. The starters built a moderate lead but a unit of 5 subs gave up much of it and the Bucks sprung back from there. Ray was our best offensive option for most of the game, he should have had more points but several shots just rimmed out.

A late surge from Garnett and Pierce should have won the game for us. But poor defense, two rim outs on good shots, and a Ray Allen free throw miss forced OT.

The Captain abused the Buck's Corey Maggette for 2 lay-ups, and a trip to the line. Maggette also didn't box out Ray Allen who got an offensive rebound and then Ray threw up a quick shot that Jermaine tipped it. After that the Captain made a lot of free throws to ice the game.

Oh and Rondo got another ridiculous assist total, and also picked up some of the scoring burden late in the game.

Pierce 3
Rondo 2
Ray 1

[rondo987]

Pierce 3
Rondo  2
Allen  1

11/11 from the line, the truth pretty much closed out the game for us tonight, and had an overall solid performance. Obviousy gets 3 of my votes in part because his milestone, but also for making every free throw down the stretch. Rondo was his usual self. I feel like when the ball is in his hands, the celts roll. The only game he had under 15 assists, they ended up losing. Obviously that won't happen for a full season, but still speaks volumes about how important he is to the team.

[Kwhit10]

3 Pierce
2 Ray
1 BBD

Congrats to Pierce on 20,000! No small feat.

[Spilling Green Dye]

Rondo 3
Ray 2
Pierce 1

Rondo was playing superb defense and completely disrupting the Bucks, especially in the 4th quarter.  He also attacked the basket or made his corner shots too.  I really thought he was the difference.

Pierce on the other hand was the big reason the game went to overtime... b/c he force about 3 straight possessions, including one that was stolen for a layup.  I didn't like those hero mentality plays.

I'd give a vote to Davis for drawing the charges and hitting the open baselines with good consistency, but I thought his defense (outside of the charges drawn) was very supbar for him.  A good part of it was his fault, but the other half was that he's not built to guard guys like Delfino.  He needs to improve on this aspect if he's going to be playing major minutes with the starters.

[Drucci]

Pierce 3
KG 1
Rondo 1
JO 1

[paul]

Two for Rondo.  It seemed to me that this game ended up in the w column because Rondo willed it there.  Very few players can do that, and I think Rondo is one of them.

One each for Pierce (who had the huge milestone AND closed the door on the Bucks), Ray (who carried the Celts for much of the game),  Garnett (who seemed a bit lost for much of the game but came alive when we really needed him) and Davis (you want him to rebound more, but he brings that x factor - the charges, the clutch shots - and without him as the main performer off the bench and the versatile big, where would we be so far this season).

I'd like to give an honorary point to O'Neil.  It's such a relief to see him contributing, and the blocked shots are so great, and that late putback was huge...

But one has to have some forboding from this game, even though it turned out to be an (unexpectedly) exciting and gutsy win,  and from some other games recently where the bench seems to have folded quick when given the chance to hold a lead.   If this team this year is about anything, it's about blending of experienced talent and young talent.  The older guys cannot do it by themselves this year.  We need a strong second unit, not just Big Baby and glimmers from Marquis and others.  Doc needs to keep playing them.  And they need to keep working on gelling as a unit, as well as on being able to mix with the starters.  Every team needs a strong bench every year, but it's essential to this year for this team.