Long after Game 5 finished, I was left staring at the television before me and echoing the call of the Prince of Denmark. “Bloody, bawdy villain!” I would have exclaimed, if I had better vocabulary, diction, and sense of phrasing. In reality my cussing was much less eloquent – think more fishing wharf than The Barb – but cuss I did alright.
My MFs and GDs were directed at everyone and everything related to what I had just watched. My frustrations overwhelmed me – my hatred for Paul Pierce and Nate Robinson were only outweighed by my disgust with Ron Artest and disappointment with Lamar Odom.
I’d like to tell you that the inner monologue running through my head read as such: “Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!” But the reality is that my revulsion was reduced to a sad, simple “…goddammit.” After an eight month journey, it looks like this season will meet its end Tuesday night in Los Angeles, and I’ll have to concede that the Celtics truly do deserve this. (Sigh.)
Top 5 Takeaways:
- Kobe Going Solo: Mamba’s run in the third quarter reminded me more for Slash’s solo in “November Rain” – not the best of all time, but a highlight in the genre. This was the Kobe Bryant we know to be the game’s greatest singular talent.
- PP Rises to the Moment: It may have taken five games, but Pierce has figured out Ron Artest it seems. Pierce is perhaps my least favourite player in the league, and yet as a basketball fan first and foremost there is nothing I can question about his performance in Game 5. This was Paul Pierce circa 2008, and if he plays like that once more this year the C’s will win Banner 18.
- Ron-Ron is…Ron-Ron: I have no words. None. Trying to describe how angry Ron Artest has made me this series would be a pointless exercise, because it defies all explanation or means of expression I possess. I refuse to say Queensbridge Ron, at least until you start to deliver.
- Tony Allen’s Block Party: For your block on Gasol in the third quarter, I stand and applaud you, Sir. I am a diehard Laker fan and concede that was the play of the series.
- Rondo in the Clutch: Say what you will about the number of risks Rajon Rondo takes every game, but acknowledge that it is precisely that fearlessness that allows him to excel the way he does. Through five games, I think he is the Finals MVP (assuming Boston closes out).
Low 5 Takeways:
- Donkey: Shut up, Nate Robinson. No, seriously. Stop jawing. It’s tired.
- Replay Refusal: Whatever your take on Ray Allen’s brick of a three late in the fourth (for the record I still have yet to see a replay where it looks as though it hit the rim), the inability of the referees to go back and review the call using replay is ridiculous. If you are going to make replay available, it is all or nothing. You cannot make it available to check out of bounds calls and ignore its relevance on shot clock questions.
- Milk Carton Gasol: Someone please remind Pau there is a game Tuesday night. I’m not sure he was made aware there was one happening Sunday until we reached the fourth quarter. You want to be called the best big man in the league? Play like it.
- 47-1?: Please don’t tell me my favourite stat of all time is going the way of the Smoke Monster…Phil can’t lose a series he was up in after Game 1, can he?
- Again, Ron-Ron: I still don’t have any way to illuminate how angry I am with everything Artest did in Game 5, but trust me that it is angry enough to mention it twice. Pathetic.
Original Story:
http://theondeckcircle.net/2010/06/14...
