CELTICS IN EAST FINAL
(Image taken from NBA.com)
The 2010 NBA playoffs was reaching it's latter stages. The Western Conference Finals had already been set up. The Eastern Conference semi final between the Cavs and Celtics had still to be decided though. The series started in Cleveland with the Cavs winning Game 1 101-93 only for the Celtics to respond with a 104-86 win in Game 2. The series then switched to Boston where the Cavs retook the series lead with a 124-95 win in Game 3 only for the Celtics to reply with a 97-87 win in Game 4. That meant that the series switched back to Cleveland for Game 5 for what was effectivly the start of a three-gamer with Game 6 to follow in Boston.
Well Game 5 was a must win for the Cavs and though they weren't firing on all cylinders they certainly had the edge over their opponents in the opening quarter. Amazingly there was only one bucket in the final two minutes of that period but when the dust settled there, the Cavs were 23-20 up. However when your main man isn't hitting shots then you're going to have a job taking care of business. The Celtics in the meantime stepped up a gear and smooth as you like turned the game around halfway through the 2nd. By half time they were clearly running the show. Paul Pierce had hit 14 points by then and the Celtics were leading 50-44.
Early in the 3rd and it was pretty clear that the Celtics weren't in a merciful mood - it wasn't long before their lead hit double figures. By the end of the quarter we were already getting into "circus ugly" territory, the Cavs were barely in the game with a period left. They were pretty much killed off in the early stages of the 4th quarter with the Celtics lead hitting 20 despite the Cavs main man desperately trying to make up for lost time. In the closing minutes of the match, there was no way back for the East's number 1 seed, in the game or possibly the series. Ray Allen grabbed 25 points, leading the Celtics to a 120-88 win, the most jaw dropping result of the playoffs. They led the series 3-2.
That results left the Cavs with their backs against the wall for Game 6. Well they matched the Celtics' opening bucket but then the home side took over. The Cavs were able to close the gap before the end of the opener though - the Celtics wouldn't have things 'that' easy. The home side did manage to extend their lead to double figures early on in the 2nd though and though the Cavs again came back, they were never able to take the lead...untill 3:45 left in the half when they were able to grab a 43-42 edge. The Celtics were able to shut that insurrection down though to lead 51-49 at half with Rajon Rondo on 12 points. The Celtics couldn't rest easy yet though.
As if to prove that, the Cavs took a 55-51 lead with 10:21 left in the 3rd. The following few minutes turned out to be pretty scrappy but the Celtics did eventually retake the lead. By the end of the quarter the Cavs had been reminded whose house they were in. The Celtics lead was back in double figures early in the 4th and though the Cavs rallied they never quite got close enough to worry the Celtics who always found an answer. In the last few minutes the Cavs were treading water at best. One year, assuming LeBron doesn't bail out, they will win an NBA trophy. Not this year though. Kevin Garnett led the Celtics with 22 points to a 94-85 game win and a 4-2 series win. They will face the Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals.