Clock Running Out on Celtics' Season

ORLANDO -- Kevin Garnett can't score any real points, so he tried to make a theoretical one Friday night.

The Celtics were disintegrating, but Garnett got up during a timeout, looked at Orlando's bench and pointed at his watch.

"We got time!" he said.

Yeah, two more games like this one and they'll have all summer. Doc Rivers summed it up nicely when he sat down at the podium following Orlando's 117-96 win.

"Well, uh?"

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He held up his hands in a befuddled way that happens when Eddie House suddenly becomes your go-to guy. Nothing against House, but he's not going to make anyone forget Paul Pierce or Ray Allen.

At this rate, Pierce and Allen are making people forget Pierce and Allen. And ever since Garnett hobbled into the sunset, a lot of people have been waiting to dance on Boston's grave. I don't want to say it's time to put on your tap shoes, but you might want to get them shined.

The Celtics look tired, undermanned, overmatched and ready to fall after Orlando beat them to take a 2-1 series lead. We were writing the same thing after the first game, but at least Boston had the excuse of being flat after its epic series against Chicago.

On top of that, the Celtics rallied from 28 points down to almost win. On Friday, they cut a 20-point deficit to nine at the start of the fourth quarter.

The Magic were unraveling. Stan Van Gundy went to get in Anthony Johnson's face, only to be elbowed away by the 11-year veteran. If Ron Artest had pulled that stunt, the league would have suspended him for Game 4.

"They made a big run back at us," Van Gundy yelled at his team. "What are we going to do now? What are we going to do?"

If only Polish center Marcin Gortat had said, "We're going to shoot 71 percent from the field, make 12 of 14 free throws and do it with me filling in most of the quarter for Dwight Howard."

Nobody would have believed Gortat, but that's exactly what happened. The Magic hit the gas and the Boston just looked gassed.

The painful truth racing through New England is that the Celtics can't delay the inevitable much longer. Their pride was enough to get them past Chicago. It won't be their heart that fails them against Orlando. It'll be their entire body, or the lack of entire bodies.

We all know Garnett is toast, though expect the usual falsely rumored return today. This time he'll be spotted playing H-O-R-S-E with one of the Seven Dwarfs at Disney World.

With no Garnett or Leon Powe, Boston has to depend on Glen Davis, Kendrick Perkins and Brian Scalabrine. Bird, Parish and McHale they are not. Especially when they get into foul trouble like Friday.

At one point, Rivers looked at his bench for a big man and was down to Mikki Moore or Clifford Ray, an assistant who hasn't played in 28 years. After a moment of thought, Rivers reluctantly opted for Moore.

A bigger problem than big men is Pierce, Allen and Rajon Rondo. They are great one game, disappear the next. After scoring three points in Game 2, Pierce had 27 points Friday but made only six of 15 shots.

Allen hit three of 13 to finish with eight points. That means he'll probably go for 30 on Sunday night, but it won't matter if Boston can't resurrect a little defense.

"Everybody was just awful tonight," Rivers said.

He obviously forgot about House, who made six of seven shots after scoring 31 points in Game 2. But give Boston this much -- it will be defiant to the end. At least if Garnett has a say.

He started pointing at his watch during the timeout with 5:37 left in the game. I'm no lip reader, but I'm pretty sure he was mouthing "We got time," and not "When do the bars close around here?"

Two minutes later, Rivers called timeout and cleared his bench.

"We don't have a lot of bodies right now," he said. "We need our legs."

Unlike Van Gundy a few minutes earlier, there was no use yelling "What are we going to do now?"

The Celtics know what they have to do, they just seem less and less capable of doing it. They are down to pointing at their watches and saying they still have time.

If things don't change in a hurry, however, time is up.

David Whitley has been a sports columnist at the Orlando Sentinel for 10 years. He previously worked at the Tampa Tribune, San Antonio Light and Tallahassee Democrat. Like all journalists, he has won numerous awards, though most of his have been at state fairs when he dressed as various farm animals. He lives in Orlando with his wife, two daughters, two dogs, two cats, all of whom are forbidden from owning a fantasy team in any sport.

Boston Celtics Photos

Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic defender Rashard Lewis (L) during the first quarter of Game 3 of their NBA Eastern Conference basketball playoff series in Orlando, Florida May 8, 2009. REUTERS/Kevin Kolczynski (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Reuters

Orlando Magic's Marcin Gortat (13), of Poland, blocks a shot by Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce (34) during the second half of a second round NBA playoff basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Friday, May 8, 2009. Orlando won 117-96. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins (43) posts-up against Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis (9) in the paint during Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, May 8, 2009. The Magic defeated the Celtics, 117-96. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) tries to get around Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins (43) during the first half of a second round NBA playoff basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Friday, May 8, 2009. Orlando won 117-96.(AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu (15), of Turkey, drives around Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce (34) during the second half of a second round NBA playoff basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Friday, May 8, 2009. Orlando won 117-96. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Referee Scott Foster, left, listens as Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy argues a call during the second half of a second round NBA playoff basketball game against the Boston Celtics in Orlando, Fla., Friday, May 8, 2009. The Magic won 117-96. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis, right, goes in for a dunk in front of Boston Celtics forward Glen Davis during the first half of a second round NBA playoff basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Friday, May 8, 2009. The Magic won 117-96. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) grabs a rebound in Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, May 8, 2009. The Magic defeated the Celtics, 117-96. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard stops a drive by Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce during Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, May 8, 2009. The Magic defeated the Celtics, 117-96. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

MCT

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, right, is fouled by Boston Celtics center Brian Scalabrine while going for a dunk during the second half of a second-round NBA playoff basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Friday, May 8, 2009. The Magic won 117-96. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-09-2009 @ 8:22AM

swcash said...

It's the LAKERS all the way gang. Boston blows this season.
Squido

5-09-2009 @ 8:53AM

Janice said...

Since they don't have Kevin Garnett, they have resorted to playing like a bunch of thugs. I hope they lose quickly.

5-09-2009 @ 9:26AM

Bubba said...

Hey Janice......I have a news scoop for you. THEY ARE A BUNCH OF THUGS! You think all those shootings, drug arrests, spouse abuse, and fights outside the court are just coincidences. Hey, why do you think you see an "NBA Cares" commercial about 10 times in every game. Their trying to resurrect a good image to counter all the bad behavior of these guys.

Why do you think the refs are calling the games so close....it's crazy when now we have two kinds of flagrant fouls, and ejections are just a normal part of the game now. The refs and the NBA commissioner are scared to death of another "fight in the stands" or even fights on the court that they have literally destroyed the game.

You bet these guys are THUGS........and getting obscenely paid for it.

5-09-2009 @ 9:40AM

Michigan Man said...

The Celtics appeared tired and not really into the game. The looked like they have conceded that their season is over (and it very well may be). Paul Pierce's face says it all with his disconsolate look. Without Garnett, they cannot win.

5-09-2009 @ 9:57AM

An. said...

Bubba, are you talking about the NFL, right? 'cause it's the NFL the league that has players who keep getting arrested almost every week because of the things you mentioned.

And no they aren't thugs. Basketball is a highly-emotional game so things can get out of hands during a heated playoffs contest. This has nothing to do with being thugs or not.

Gosh I hate ignorant people like you. The I.Q. level in the comment section is extremely low because of people like Bubba.

5-09-2009 @ 10:51AM

muggsy3658 said...

As a Bulls fan, my contention after that series was that, entertaining though it was, it was two average teams slugging it out, and that without Garnett the Celtics would be exposed as an average team in the next series. So far the Celtics have been making my case.

5-09-2009 @ 11:32AM

shulawt said...

I kinda wish they'd pull this series outta their *ss just to see the Cavs beat them like step-children. Question... Why is it 2/3rds of that team feels its cool to look like a freaking billy goat and grow twelve hairs on their chins?

5-09-2009 @ 1:37PM

Giles said...

Billy Goats ARE cool, and horny! And goats give good fur. And Nanny Goats give usable milk. We desperately need a half a dozen team expansion in the nba so the vacant top 30 or so markets growing and double didgets can have teams. Though if the nfl also expands by 4, a franchise named after goats would be more suitable there. Goats rule! As for Derek Fisher, Luis Scola started his flop too early, so should have been called for the foul. That is why his head came down where Fish`s hit was intended for his chest, it wasn`t Fish`s arm goin up. Still, Fish tagged him in the face, even though it was Socla`s fault, so I`m content with the call made. Bryant wasn`t suspended because the rule protects against head shots, and Kobe`s shot was to Artest`s body, so while it was assessed rightly as a flagrant it was also assessed rightly for no suspension. The Celts wouldn`t even be in this series if fouls were more rightly assessed against Rondo. The first flagrant, which wasn`t assessed, and wasn`t a flop, came at the decisive point of that very close game. The right call would have given game and series to Chicago, without Loul Deng. But the Celts are playing with heart, especially Rondo and House, and that is good. Perkins and Pierce should be leading the Celts inside, even if Garnett were healthy. You depend on lightweights inside, you tend to lose, especially in the playoffs. Just too exhausting having to depend on little guys throwing around what little weight they`ve got. Garnett is not expected back, but if Pierce and Perkins were to take over from House and Rondo, they might threaten to take over this series. As is, more likely the Magic in 6. Rondo is a better point guard than Howard, but Howard is a much better center than Rondo is.

5-09-2009 @ 4:58PM

yatchmo said...

they arent the defending champs without garnett people!! take kobe off the lakers or lebron off the cavs and see how they do.

5-09-2009 @ 7:16PM

rokknjonz said...

I am a Boston Celtic fan, but I dont see ANYONE beating the Cavs this year. The Lakers are included. If Boston cant win, then I hope Clevland takes it.