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“Pure grit,” Kevin Garnett said. “I told him after the game, that was the play of the
playoffs for me. It was just pure hustle. Pure basketball. Pure, I want
it more than you. I thought it was a foul too, but that’s just me.”
WEEI: How the Celtics are demoralizing their opponents
Ray Allen: “It was probably one of the toughest plays defensively I’ve
seen in my career. Its one thing to have the ball and make something
miraculous happen, but not having the ball and making some miraculous
happen, then score with it, that was awesome.”Doc Rivers: "If that doesn't give your whole team energy, nothing will.
I don't know if it bumped our energy; we were pretty high at the time.
I didn't think he could get to it. It was him and Jason Williams.
He's thinking, I got a chance with my speed. But it was just an
unbelievable play. I don't think Jason Williams thought he could get to
it, honestly. That's probably why he got it. I don't know how he got
it. It was a great play. I think it's great for our whole team to see
that."
The Garden damn near exploded when Rondo made that play.
The comparisons to Havlicek and Bird and to the all time great hustle plays in Celtics history are dead on. This was an iconic moment. When Rondo is giving a speech in Springfield some day, this will be among his highlights. When you run down all the great plays in CELTICS history, this will be among the highlights.
Rajon Rondo had one of those "Rondo" kind of games. Not the one that gets the folks at 4-letter networks gushing. It's the kind that makes all of us just turn and look at each other, tilt our heads slightly, squint a little, and giggle at the thought that this kid is just getting started.
Forget the 4 baskets he made (he shot 4-14). Yeah, they were some of the prettiest baskets you'll see. But Rondo controlled that game with his defense and ball distribution. He had 2 more assists than all of the Magic combined. He was one steal away from matching the Magic's total. He was the conductor of that symphony. Everyone (again) was following his lead.
You thought the Chicago series last year was a breakout series for Rajon Rondo? Welcome to the 2010 playoffs.
On page 2: BEAT LA! BEAT LA! BEAT LA!
"I understand the fans, how much [they want LA]," said Davis. "Beat
LA … We've got one more game to play and [Orlando] is highly capable
of winning [four] in a row. We've been playing great, but at the same
time, this is not finished until we win the next game."
ESPN Boston: Fans want LA, C's want Game 4 win
I just love this team's focus right now. We were going nuts in that building. And yes, we got ahead of ourselves with the chant… but we all know what's coming.
We all know.
In all honesty, if I'm on the Phoenix Suns, I'm one pissed off SOB today. Can you imagine being a Sun, watching that game, and hearing that chant.
"Beat LA, huh? We'll see about that."
Too bad LA is just better.
The rest of the links:
Herald: Celtics haymaker leaves the Magic out cold | Night to treasure | Rondo really "wanted it" | Big Baby up for big game | Orlando hopes just disappear | Perkins still center of attention | Ewing yearn for more on the sideline | Embarrassing for Stan Van Gundy | Magical season turns to misery | Globe: Disappearing act | C's smoking hot | Davis provides energy | Magic on brink | Doc's orders followed | Pierce shows he's not all talk | Fans swept up in Green wave | ESPN Boston: 3 point play: Rondo, Baby, Magic | Postgame notes: Coming into focus | CSNNE: Baby shines | MWDN: Long, strange journey could lead to rematch | Job has its Perk | Bench coming through for C's | WEEI: Baby dances all over Magic | 5 reasons why the Celtics won game 3 | Doc keeping it all in the family | Celtics have left Magic shell shocked | Barnes: "Most embarrassing situation"
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