Celtics-Magic Game Seven Log

Since I got home late for the Lakers-Rockets Game 7 and that was an absolute sleeper of a game, I decided to do a game log for the match-up between the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic. So here goes.

5:08 - The TD Banknorth Garden is hopping in Boston. Although I really wonder what the old, un-sponsored venue in Boston would have been like under these circumstances.

5:10 - Rondo hits a three for the first points of the game and the Garden explodes. Say what you will about March Madness but the collective experience of a home crowd in the NBA playoffs beats a half-empty football stadium any day.

5:14 - Dwight Howard gets away with a foul on Rondo. I love the collective crowd "we just saw what you got away with on the jumbo tron" noise. You know, the "awwww-AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!" It's classic.

5:15 - Somebody might want to guard Howard. The Magic are getting him the ball now and he thinks this is the All-Star dunk contest.

5:22 - The sideline reporter lets us know that Dwight Howard apparently dreamed about hitting the game-winning three of Game 7 and missed practice because of this. If only Alan Iverson had used that excuse.

5:27 - Brian Scalabrine checks into the game, surely sending shivers down every Magic fans' back. He promptly passes up a wide open three and give it to a teammate who bricks the shot.

5:32 - What NBA coaches say during timeouts: You're passing the ball. Good job. We will win if we pass the ball.

Fantastic Xs and Os here in the NBA.

END OF 1st QUARTER - MAGIC 27, CELTICS 17

5:40 - Stephon Marbury is in the game and apparently has one speed: out-of-control. That guy looks terrible out on the court and probably could barrel over a kid on the sidelines after a game-winning shot if he tried.

5:41 - I just want to say now that Paul Pierce has been heavily underrated his entire career. He's been fantastic in Boston. And he got stabbed or shot in the face. Anyone who has that happen to them and can still play basketball, well they deserve a sticker in my book.

5:51 - I love when a crowd sarcastically cheers when a ref gives them a foul. Where else in the world does this happen. Like would you sarcastically celebrate if you worked at McDonalds and got a ten cent raise? Seriously, give me a instance where you've done this...

6:00 - 39-33 Orlando, timeout called. Momentum seems to be shifting towards Boston, and TNT just flashed the obligatory "81 percent of home teams have won games 7s" which basically jinxes the Celtics.

6:11 - Ray Allen always seems to be able to hit those "big threes" that gets the crowd really into it. He sinks one to make it 42-38 and cause pandemonium in the Garden. Orlando looks lackluster.

HALFTIME - MAGIC 45, CELTICS 38

6:34 - Apparently Orlando is employing the "let's bunch up four of our guys together in one spot and look like the Keystone Cops" defense. Boston gets some backdoor plays because of this.

6:41 - 54-50 Orlando, although the Magic aren't really playing that great of defense. The Celtics really aren't a hugely athletic team without Garnett and they certianly don't have the advantage talent wise. However, they keep finding a way to stay in this game.

6:42 - 57-50. Timeout. The Celtics apparently are taking a page out of the Gonzaga playbook and not guarding the three.

6:51 - What's it with Smirnoff commercials. They keep showing loads of guys drinking the stuff. In all my years of drinking, you wouldn't be caught dead with a Smirnoff.

6:57 - 66-61 Orlando. Rondo buries a three and you have to think Boston will have momentum going into the fourth quarter.

END OF THIRD QUARTER, MAGIC 66, CELTICS 61

7:03 - I was wrong, Orlando has made it 74-61.

7:07 - I love when TNT pans to the "celebrities" in the Boston crowd. You get shots like these...


Not so sunny and happy in Boston compared to LA. What the hell is wrong with Ben Afleck and why does he look like he's got some incurable disease from an after-school special? And why is Jennifer Garner not wearing any makeup? Ladies and gentlemen, your Boston celebrities!

7:11 - Marbury is back in the game. God help the Celtics.

7:20 - I noticed that Eddie House had "E-house" tattooed on his shoulder. Put that on the list of "things that only professional athletes can pull off." That's like one of those moves that frat house idiot would do and then always show it off at parties.

7:23 - I guess Marbury has a tattoo on his skull of his discontinued shoe line logo. That's worst that House. By the way, the Magic lead 90-73.

7:32 - How is Marv Albert looking younger these days? Herbalife? It's like the Curious Case of Benjamin Button and in about three years he's going to look like Bob Costas.

7:35 - Doc Rivers takes out Pierce and Allen. This game is Ova!

ORLANDO 101, BOSTON 82

Lebron James is licking his chops now.