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Re: [Celtics' Stuff ] Joe Gallagher, finds a student.-Globe

I noticed that as well.
Besides Pierce being on fire, and the great win, my lasting memory of that game was the taunting by Walker as he passed the the Philly bench. Say what you want about Larry Brown but he has always shown great sportsmanship qualities through his long and well traveled career. I guess respecting your opponent is not for everyone. I believe it was Pierce and Walker together that danced on the scorer's table after the amazing comeback vs Jersey a couple weeks later. I guess it's better to "showup" the opponent at the end of the series.




On Friday, January 2, 2004, at 12:55 PM, Tammo29@xxxxxxx wrote:


Wow. That's how you remember that game? My recollection is entirely
different.
However, knowing how personal biases can taint perceptions, and having a
couple of hours to spare, I went back and rewatched that game.

This is what really happened.
It was the fifth game of the five game series.
The Celtics came out the aggressor. They were making shots and playing tough
defense.
Despite that, the sixers were getting the whistles (the Celtics had three
fouls in the first 2 minutes, 2 of them against guys guarding Iverson 22 feet
from the basket). Antoine had the Celtics first five points (one 3 pointer) and
took 4 of their first 6 shots. The free throw line kept the Sixers in the game
the first 10 minutes. Then it turned into the Allen Iverson and Paul Pierce
show. They were matching each other shot for shot. However when Allen cooled
off a little Paul just kept on going. He finished the half with 29 points on
8 of 13 shooting and 4 of 5 from the line. Iverson had 20 points on 6-13
shooting and 5 of 8 from the line. The Celtics were up by 12 points and had hit
8 of 13 three pointers. Antoine was 2 of four at that point. Walter had
zero. Eric Williams and hit 2 of 2.
The 3rd quarter saw both teams struggle for points. Paul was taking it to
the basket but not getting any calls. As a result he was 1 of 7 from the floor.
However, the defense had become so keyed on him that other guys were getting
wide open shots. Eric Williams hit a wide open three. Kenny Anderson had a
wide open shot from the free throw line, which he missed, however Antoine got
in the lane untouched for the put back. Tony Battie had a wide open shot from
the elbow, which he missed, but once again Antoine got the put back untouched.
By the end of the third quarter the Celtics were still up by 10 despite
getting to the free throw line only 6 times (making 5) to the Sixers 27 (making
23). The Celtics were 10 of 19 from 3.
They finished the game hitting 19 of 29 three's, but that isn't how they
pulled away. Six of the nine three's in the quarter came in the final six minutes
of the game, two by Pierce, two by Walker, one by Kedrick Brown and Walters
lone three of the game (1 of 4). The Celtics were already up by 18 points by
then. Three of those, including one of Walkers, came after Larry Brown had
already conceded the game and Pierce had already gone to the bench.
No, we won that fourth quarter by playing tough defense and hitting our open
shots. Rodney Rogers had two steals that lead to breakaways. Tony Delk put
the clamps on Iverson.
Paul had some great help defense on Iverson and also held Snow to 2 of 12
shooting including a key blocked shot on Snow during the Celtics game clinching
run. We also had some big offensive rebounds.
There was only one wiggle, on Walkers next to last shot. When he hit his
fourth and final three of nine try's with two minutes left there was no wiggle,
only taunting aimed at Larry Brown, which gained him a T and sent him to the
bench as well.
Paul finished the game with 46 points, 15 in the final quarter, 16 of 25 from
the field, never got to the line at all in the second half, and was 8 of 10
from the arc.

It wasn't Walter and Walker hitting from outside that brought that win home.
But thanks for giving me a reason to rewatch that game. It was spectacular.
TAM