Four instant classics and four overtimes weren’t quite enough for the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics. On Thursday night, the two teams got tangled in what many are saying is the greatest playoff game ever, as the two teams made their fifth instant classic of the series, and tacked on three more overtimes in the triple overtime thriller.

With 10:16 left in the game, Tyrus Thomas slammed in a dunk to give the Bulls an 88 to 76 lead. Surely this time they would hold onto the league? Not quite….following a Tyrus Thomas jumpshot, which gave the Bulls a 91 to 81 lead, the Celtics went on an 18 to 0 run to take a 99 to 91 lead with 3:38 left in the game. The Bulls had just let their season slip away.

But the Celtics would only make one more shot in the fourth quarter, and the Bulls would not let their season end this way, giving up another double digit lead in the fourth quarter. They fought back. Brad Miller even made another three to make it a 101 to 99 game. Then Miller made a layup, somewhat reminiscent of the one at the end of game 5, only this time it went in, to tie the game at 101 a piece.

Paul Pierce missed the game winning attempt for the Celtics, and then the Bulls got their chance to tie it up. The Bulls put it in Ben Gordon’s hands, and he just put up a horrible shot. It’s not so much the actual look, but more so the shot. He just put up a really flat shot, that was an airball. He needs to get arch on that shot. That type of shot won’t go in when it’s that flat.

The Bulls took a 107 to 103 lead with 2:13 left in the overtime period. Gordon would foul a few moments later, fouling Pierce. The Bulls would be going on without their usual clutch savior. And of course, the Celtics come back, and take a 109 to 107 lead. John Salmons gets the score to tie it up, and once again, Paul Pierce missed the potential game winner. Onto double overtime for the second game in this series.

Glen Davis came out in the second overtime made his third straight shot to give the Celtics a 113 to 111 lead. John Salmons then hit a big three to give the Bulls a 114 to 113 lead, and followed it up with a layup for the 116 to 113 lead. Kendrick Perkins fouled out in between the Salmons scores. But Ray Allen answered with a crazy fall away shot over Joakim Noah to make it a 116 to 115 game with 20 seconds left. The Celtics were forced to foul, and Brad Miller made both free throws. But Ray Allen would respond by making a three from the left wing to tie the game at 118 a piece. Brad Miller turned it over on a pass as time expired…onto a third overtime.

Glen Davis and Derrick Rose scored the early points in the third overtime. Ray Allen hit a jumper to tie it at 123. The score would remain here for over a minute. But Joakim Noah stole the ball from Paul Pierce, and beat Pierce down court for a powerful slam, that Noah drew the and one foul on. Pierce fouled out of the game here, and Noah hit the free throw to give the Bulls a 126 to 123 lead.

Eddie House made a jumpshot to make it a 1 point game, but Brad Miller made two free throws after the intentional foul to give the Bulls a 128 to 125 lead. Rondo would miss a layup but get the tip in to make it a 128 to 127 game.

It looked like the Bulls were about to choke this away. Kirk Hinrich missed a layup, which is unacceptable in the clutch. Upon further review, it looks like Rondo committed goaltending here, touching the rim. He should have made it regardless of the small contact Rondo made with the win, but a goaltend is a goaltend, and it should have been called.

Rajon Rondo tried to be the hero, and took a fallaway jumper, which Derrick Rose blocked. Kirk Hinrich knocked the ball to Rose in a skirmish for the ball. Rose here missed two free throws, Rajon Rondo missed a half court shot, and the Bulls won 128 to 127.

Now time to break down the players.

I will start with Ray Allen tonight. He was phenomenal, scoring 51 points. Absolutely unstoppable. What makes Allen’s performance even more impressive is that he has made all the big shots.

Kirk Hinrich had a pretty nice game with 11 points and 7 assists. In the first quarter, Rondo grabbed Hinrich by his arm and threw him into the scorer’s table. Kirk Hinrich went right back at Rondo and shoved him. Rondo was lucky that the ref jumped in right away, as it looked like Kirk Hinrich was about to beat him up.

I thought the way Kirk Hinrich went at Rondo, he was just trying to get a fight going, and trying to take Rondo out of the series as the result of a fight. But upon further review of this, Rajon Rondo threw an elbow at Kirk Hinrich, which missed, and that is why Hinrich went after Rondo in the way he did. If the NBA has any type of consistency, Rajon Rondo will be sitting out Game 7 with a suspension, just as Dwight Howard sat out Game 6 in the Magic vs. 76ers.

Rondo was called for a flagrant one. It was originally called a flagrant two and ejection on the court.

If Rajon Rondo is sitting out game 7, he will have no one to blame but himself.

Brad Miller finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds. He was big, hitting the clutch three, the layup, sinking his free throws. I was glad that Miller was able to redeem himself after Game 5. It wouldn’t have been fair for Miller to have to take blame for losing the series. Rondo should have been called for a flagrant there, and Miller should have been subbed out, as he was in no condition to be playing basketball, and Gordon would have made his free throws, and the Bulls may have won game 5. But the refs made the wrong call, putting Miller in this bad situation. Miller redeemed himself in Game 6, and I hope no one blames him for losing us this series.

Derrick Rose finished with 28 points, 7 assists, and 8 rebounds. He also had 5 turnovers, which looks bad on the surface, but really isn’t that bad when you consider he played nearly 60 minutes. Rose was great in the first half, but horrible from there on out, barely being able to hit a shot. He did come up with the big block in the third overtime, but missed the two free throws. Rose’s efficiency wasn’t all that great tonight. A similar scoring night efficiency wise to Gordon’s 26 in Game 5. I’d like to see an efficient game from Rose scoring the ball to close out the series.

Joakim Noah with 9 points and 15 rebounds, and the big steal and dunk. I won’t say this is by itself the most important play of the season. Gordon’s game winner against Detroit to guarantee avoiding Cleveland, Gordon’s game tying three are very important. This is in a way the biggest play of the season, it’s just tied with a few others. Just a great play for Noah, we are going to be talking about this play for years to come. If it hasn’t become clear to Bulls fans yet, Joakim Noah is a winner. He makes big plays, and does the little things that are important in winning. No wonder Florida won two straight national championships.

John Salmons stepped up with the big scoring night, with 35 points on 13-22 shooting. We needed a big game from Salmons, especially with Gordon in foul trouble, and Salmons delivered.

Ben Gordon finished with 12 points on 4-14 shooting and 4 assists. Gordon again didn’t have an efficient scoring game. He seemed to drive to the hoop more often than normal. I thought he had some really nice passes. I think this was an example of the refs taking a player out of the game. Gordon was called for touch foul after touch foul. I think the refs had a vendetta set out from the beginning to foul out Ben Gordon after Ray Allen fouled out in Game 5. Gordon drew a technical after he was in disgust over one of the fouls called on him.

Paul Pierce had 22 points. I think the refs assisted him to his 22 points. He was the recipient of a lot of these ticky tack fouls.

Kendrick Perkins finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. Another good game from Perkins. I like Perkins game a lot. He gives what I like out of a center, which is a tough guy, who can’t be moved in the paint, who takes up a lot space in the paint. Celtics have a keeper at center here.

Rajon Rondo finished with 8 points, 19 assists, and 9 rebounds. Another near triple double. I don’t think this game was as good as the others. I think a lot of the assists were the result of playing 57 minutes, and also Ray Allen just being on fire. Nothing special really that Rondo did.

Glen Davis had 23 points on 10-18 shooting. He was hitting some big shots for the Celtics, but fouled out.

With the win, the Bulls even the series at 3-3. Game 7 will be Saturday in Boston at 7 PM.

Closing Comments

Great win for the Bulls. No one is going to be saying the Bulls don’t have playoff experience anymore. What more could you experience in a playoff series. Game tying shots? Check. Game winning shots? Check. Overtime? Check. Double overtime? Check. Triple overtime? Check. A guy dropping 50+ points on you? Check. The Bulls have experienced just about everything you can in a series.

I think the Ben Gordon fouling out could end up being a blessing in disguise, as the Celtics’ big three and Glen Davis all played over 50 minutes, while Ben Gordon should be relatively fresh, only playing 31 minutes. Tyrus Thomas should also be pretty fresh, as he hasn’t really logged big minutes at all this series. Brad Miller, also only played 34 minutes, and Kirk Hinrich played 42 minutes, which isn’t all that much given Kirk’s limited burn. Derrick Rose and John Salmons were the only two guys that logged major minutes, both playing nearly 60 minutes in the game. The Bulls should be much fresher than the Celtics going into Game 7.

Hopefully Game 7 doesn’t end up being a let down, like Game 7 of the Hawks vs. Celtics series last year. But this one is a bit different, as we were in it down to the final possession in all three games in Boston, winning one of them. Atlanta never really competed in Boston.

I think it is clear that this is probably the greatest playoff series ever. So many overtimes, so many big shots, and some chippy play. I don’t remember anything like this in my 11 years of watching basketball as a hardcore, and don’t remember seeing anything like this on ESPN Classic or Sports Century. The drama is just too great.

I would love for the Bulls to just go in and blowout the Celtics in Game 7, but it doesn’t seem fitting for it to end that way. It seems like another overtime thriller would be more fitting, with Gordon hitting another game winner, or Derrick Rose hitting his first game winner of his career.

I am really excited for Game 7 and I think the Bulls will come out and compete hard.

Go Bulls!

Similar Posts:

• 2009 Playoffs First Round - Game 5: Boston Celtics 106 vs. Chicago Bulls 104 OT
• 2009 NBA Playoffs First Round - Game 4: Chicago Bulls 121 vs. Boston Celtics 118 2OT
• 2009 Playoffs First Round - Game 1: Chicago Bulls 107 at Boston Celtics 105 OT
• 2009 Playoffs First Round - Game 2: Boston Celtics 118 vs. Chicago Bulls 115
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Tags: 2009 First Round, 2009 Playoffs, 50 point game, Ben Gordon, Boston Celtics, Brad Miller, Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, flagrant, flagrant foul, Glen Davis, Joakim Noah, John Salmons, Kendrick Perkins, Kirk Hinrich, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Tyrus Thomas

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