Detroit Pistons @ Boston Celtics: 06-07 Finale

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Apr 18 2007, 10:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Oh yeah... and Doc... WHY WAS AL NOT IN AT THE END OF THE GAME?!?!</div>can we chalk it up to Doc being Doc.. or is it Doc being Manny ????

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ Apr 19 2007, 07:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>can we chalk it up to Doc being Doc.. or is it Doc being Manny ???? </div>
You just never know with these 2.

 

Fitting end to your season - as Doc said. I would've dreaded going into overtime - thank god flip made that.I really like Al Jefferson.

 

thats not even Al at his best..he was pretty off shooting tonighthe's got so many moves though and I love it

 

The Celtics 2006-2007 finale was a good hard-fought game, just like we all expected and wanted. The kids showed a lot of heart, displayed great effort, but once again they came up short as the final buzzer sounded off. It's something we're somewhat used to by now, but it was still disappointing to see our season end on a note like that (Flip Murray hitting the game winner in our own building). It was, however, nice to see Rondo come up and excel in the clutch with his weakest attribute, his shooting. It was great to see him nail those two big free throws.

Player-by-Player Analysis
Rajon Rondo was great, once again. He was playing outstanding defense, making beautiful plays in transition and in a halfcourt set, he was getting to the basket at will, and he knocked down his free throws and a couple jumpers from mid-range. He's a playmaker, he's a game changer, and he's a workhorse. The kid does absolutely everything, he's clearly the point guard of the future. If we don't go out and get a good veteran point guard this summer, I won't necessarily be "mad."

Big Al Jefferson had another productive night. He started off really hitting those short jumpers, he was an animal on the glass on both ends of the floor, and he really worked hard. Why he wasn't in the game in the closing minutes is beyond me, that has to do with poor coaching. I guess you could make a case that "you don't want to risk injury," but I say let the kid play and make sure we end with a win. Regardless of the win/loss column this season, Al Jefferson is the real deal.

Ryan Gomes had himself a nice offensive outing, after shooting pretty poorly in the previous three games. Since he is playing more at the 3 lately, he hasn't been as productive in the rebounding column as he has been before, but I'm not concerned about that (especially when Jefferson/Perkins combine for 23 rebounds). I'm concerned with the solidity and consistency of his game, which has been great this season.

Allan Ray put on a very nice shooting display in the first half of the ballgame. That's his job, and he did it well in this one. Will he be doing that job in a green uniform next year? Only time will tell.

It was very nice to see Perk do his job, yet again. His job is to go out there and play tough, rebound, play defense, and make smart passes. He did all of that in this game, and that's what I like to see. I know this has been said plenty of times lately, but Kendrick Perkins really turned it on the last couple months of the season. Hopefully he can put that plantar fasciitis behind him and continue next season where he left off this year, and keep building from there.

Leon Powe was yet again the only effective player off the bench in this game. He did the usual (hustle, rebound, play aggressive), nothing spectacular. Gerald Green had his fourth straight horrid shooting display. That is most certainly not a good way to end this season, whether he was feeling a little ill or not. Sebastian Telfair just didn't do anything impressive. In fact, his decision making was horrid.

Player Stat Lines
<span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo: 19 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 6 steals on 7-11 FG, 5-5 FT
Al Jefferson: 17 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block on 7-17 FG, 3-7 FT
Ryan Gomes: 19 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block on 7-15 FG, 2-5 3FG, 3-3 FT
Allan Ray: 18 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists on 7-15 FG, 4-6 3FG
Kendrick Perkins: 4 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal on 2-3 FG
Leon Powe: 5 points, 6 rebounds on 1-4 FG, 3-3 FT
Gerald Green: 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist on 2-10 FG, 0-3 3FG, 1-2 FT
Sebastian Telfair: 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist on 1-4 FG</span>

It was a dreadful year, for the most part, but we also saw a lot of good things and saw a lot of young players make big strides. The front office has a lot of work to do this summer, but I'm more confident about the future of this team than I thought I would have been three months ago.