It's the Pierce and Rondini Show: The Celtics Escape Again

I had been kicking the question around my head the last day or so and PTI was kind enough to ask it for me this afternoon: Will the Celtics-Bulls Game 5 be a dud or a classic?

Well we got out answer tonight. You'd be forgiven for thinking your Tivo was on the fritz when Paul Pierce hit what seemed like three identical pull up jumpers to keep the Celtics in the game, keep them in again, and then finally to put them ahead for good to take a 3-2 series lead over the Bulls.

This was not pretty basketball, folks. You probably didn't need me to tell you that. Missed free throws, an ugly foul by Tony Allen. Joakim Noah. Nothing about this game was good looking.

But it sure was exciting and, for Celtics fans, satisfying. It seems like basketball in 2009 has been a war of attrition for the Celtics as the roster is slowly wittled down, looking less and less like the 2008 championship team and more and more like a first round bust.

Still, this year has given fans something else to cheer about. Last year was about synergy and history. Could three historic talents, all ring-less, come together and meld into a collective unit to win? We got that answer.

This year, it's been, can this great team cope with adversity? Can it continue to win without Kevin Garnett, without its bench, with everyone exhausted mentally and physically? Then, can it continue to win with this patchwork crew up against a rookie point guard who just doesn't know how to do anything but come up big? Then tonight, can it do it with Ray Allen fouling out and against the incredible hot shooting of Ben Gordon? There are a lot of questions left to answer.

But that's playoff basketball for you. In these short series, heroes come and go. Tonight it was Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon for the Bulls most of the game for the Bulls and then basically just Pierce in the fourth and overtime. (apologies to Rondo, I'll get to him in a moment) In Game 6, it could be just about anybody. Davis might hit a big shot. Stephon Marbury may finally stop playing like he's afraid he'll executed for missing an open jumper. Hell, Brian Scalabrine may come up with a clutch dunk over Noah in an ugly vs. ugly matchup for the ages. Anything can happen. But a dud? I don't see it. I couldn't see it going into Game 5 and I don't see it for Game 6 (or 7) with the series on the line. Not with these teams.

What I have been pleased to see, though, is the development of Rajon Rondo. I think any Celtics fan would agree with me there. It's been a pleasure to watch his game. Bob Ryan raved about it the other day, saying nobody's quite had his blend of talents before in the history of basketball. I'm inclined to at least hear Bob out on that one, he's got a few more years in this game than I.

The truth is that the Celtics lost Garnett, but they've gained Rondo. Yes, Garnett is a better player than Rondo right now, obviously. But I don't think you could make much of an argument against saying Rondo is the most important player the Celtics have available right now, and he's certainly been the best in this series. Give Rose the plaudits, but Rondo has this team on the verge of escaping The Team Nobody Really Wants To Play Against with his phenomenal play.

The biggest problem has been the complete absence of the bench in this series. There's nobody left. House can play but he can't lead that unit. The only one who can contribute like that, who isn't currently pressed into a starting role, is Marbury. Stephon hasn't developed nearly the way we might have liked. I think the passed jump shot tonight is a big indicator of that. That, once upon a time, was his shot.

The shot may be there, the speed may be there, the mind may be there. But the confidence isn't, and without a killer "I can win this game" attitude coming off the bench, the Celtics are, at best, reeling into a Game 7 or Round 2 punch drunk and one solid hook from hitting the mat.