Thoughts On Game 6

Tiger Woods proved he's better than most with one good pin, Willie Randolph got fired by the Mets, and Broncos WR Javon Walker proved yet again why Las Vegas is no place for professional athletes. I cannot elaborate any further on those issues because my entire focus is on tonight's Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

Despite the Celtics losing Game 5, I wasn't all that worried late Sunday night. Unfortunately I'd had 48 hours to sit on that loss and now I'm more worried than ever. Boston may have been nothing short of dominant at home during the playoffs and regular season. Yet even while having two shots left, at home none the less, I don't feel great about this.

For starters, the Celtics have one healthy one and he looked the worst on Sunday night. Paul Pierce dropped 38 points on L.A. but his knee is speculated to be more damaged than we thought and could even need surgery after the season. Kendrick Perkins shoulder was roughed up so bad he had to miss Game 5 and subsequently is being called a game-time decision for Game 6. Rajon Rondo played in spurts during Game 5 and at times his ankle looked worse than led on. While no physical injuries apply to guard Ray Allen, his youngest son was taken to the hospital Sunday night and Ray was forced to take a later flight to meet his team in Boston on Monday. Playing with a sick child on his mind may not be the best thing for Ray or the Celtics. So we are left with Kevin Garnett; two-clutch free throws bricked Kevin Garnett, instant foul trouble Kevin Garnett, and no rings Kevin Garnett. Terrific. (optimism has faded entirely)

The last 48 hours hasn't been completely absent of humour:

Jemele Hill (admitted Pistons fan) wrote, “Rooting for the Celtics is like saying Hitler was a victim. It’s like hoping Gorbachev would get to the blinking red button before Reagan.” Goodbye ESPN.Com, and hello East Cupcake Times.

With the optimism leaving me the doubt of how "fair" the NBA is enters even now more than ever. The best thing for the league is a Game 7 in Boston to decide the championship between the two most storied franchises in NBA history. TV ratings through the roof on America's most watched TV night; Thursday. The games best player, Kobe Bryant, attempting to pull of what no other team has ever done in the Finals. Ring less Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett playing for their legacies. David Stern has to be licking his chops for this one.

My other questions are, how many of these comebacks do the Celtics have left? Can a team with so many injury questions continue to place themselves in hole after hole and continue to come out? Does the Zen Master have a plan after 5 games to get his team to hold a lead? Whould the entire state of Massachusetts be able to function on Friday morning after possibly losing a Game 7? They've already had their football team lose a shot at history in the worst possible way, then the Celtics losing after being up 3-1 and Banner 17 ripped away only six months later, not even a third World Series ring could stop that bleeding.

Ok breath . . . . that is a worst case scenario. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!