Rondo runs over "Ghosts of Showtime Past" in key Game 2 win

First appeared on June 8th, 2010
in The Lebanon Reporter

In case you missed it Sunday night, the Boston Celtics rose from the dead to grab control of a Finals series so many had handed to the Lakers. We say “rose from the dead” because the Celtics were conveniently old again after their Game 1 loss. Well somebody call the marketing department at Geritol because Boston has split the series and now has a chance to win the whole thing at home.


So many agreed Los Angeles appeared to have this thing wrapped up. Game 1 was a complete and utter disaster for Boston. The Lakers appeared unbeatable while the Celtics appeared ready for assisted living. It was as if the “Ghosts of Showtime past” had paid the Lakers a visit prior to Game 1 because Los Angeles didn’t just play like they were the best team in the league, they played like they were the best team in league history. The stat sheet was stained Laker purple as Los Angeles won all the key areas: Rebounding, field goal %, three point %, three pointers made, steals, blocked shots and points (Somewhat obvious, I know).

Simply put the Lakers dominated. They looked to be insurmountable, unhittable, literally capable of anything. This includes throwing a perfect game officiated by Major League Umpires.

But then Game 2 happened. Ray Allen jumped in the way back machine and played like it was 2002 again. After scoring 12 points on just 8 field goal attempts in Game 1, Allen bounced back with a sizzling performance in Game 2. This included 8 of 10 from three point range as the nine time All Star scored 27 points in the first half alone. In a little over three days Boston fans went from scrambling for the life boats to placing mass champagne and cigar orders from Celebrations.com.

As great as Allen was, Rajon Rondo is still everything to Boston. The wind in their sails, the gas in their engine, the Rusty Crawdad Clackin’ Rap in their tackle box; however you put it Boston is only going as far as this kid can take them. Sunday night was a perfect example of how dominating the 6’1 Rondo can be as his line read 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

The 24 year old point guard’s performance becomes magnified as Superstar Kevin Garnett is nearing the end of his career and playing like he’s already retired. Ron Artest took the “Greatest living Celtic in waiting” (Paul Pierce) out of Game 2 and as far as Boston’s bench goes, all Rasheed Wallace can do now is argue calls and hit the occasional 3 pointer (wait that’s all he’s ever done).

Now, ironically, the only long faces in this series are found in the plastic surgery capital of the world. Fans in Lakerland are especially nervous considering the NBA’s goofy 2-3-2 format. This means Boston controls everything. If the C’s play their cards right the only reason they will go back to Los Angeles this summer will be for a vacation or to shoot an “I’m going to Disneyworld” commercial.

Conspiracy theorists were out en masse Monday claiming the NBA wanted a split series. And, while I’ll admit four of Kobe Bryant’s fouls were strange in a “Tim Donaghy” sort of way, I think the last thing the NBA wants right now is to get caught staging more games. As crafty as officials can be however, they aren’t the ones who had 28 assists. This was a product of the Celtics playing as a team. A performance that no doubt had Red Auerbach and John Wooden both smiling somewhere.