No Pot of Gold Here Boston: Wizards Survive Overtime Scare Versus Celtics

For all Wizards fans out there.  It’s pretty exciting in D.C. as the Wizard faithful are thinking Finals.  I write for a website, thewatercooleronline.com where I cover the team.  I go to games as a member of the media so check me out.“I know how they feel.  You have the green light to do whatever you want.  Those are the best games I’ve played in.  That’s how I made my name.”

That is what Gilbert Arenas had to say when asked if the Boston Celtics, the team that he had just helped defeat 115-110 in overtime, reminded him of the Warriors squad he played on his first two seasons in the NBA.  

Boston came into this game inexperienced and in a sense, under-aged.  Their starting lineup’s average age was under 23 years old; and not to mention, missing All-Star forward Paul Pierce and sharp shooting Wally Szczerbiak.  

On paper this was going to look like the Varsity team scrimmaging the JV.  Both teams had played the night before, so there was no real advantage there, but coach Eddie Jordan wanted to make sure his players didn’t overlook the Celtics (12-27) in lieu of their meeting with the Phoenix Suns (31-8) at home on Tuesday.

“They’re all hard.  No matter what that record says for the other team; it’s going to be a quality team.”

Boy was Eddie right….for about half the game.  It looked like it was over before it even started, but the comeback kids of Boston gave the Wizards’ a dogfight in their attempt to set a Verizon Center record, tenth win in a row.

DeShawn Stevenson took the opening tip from Brendan Haywood directly to the rim for an easy lay-up and the Wizards were off and running.  They started white-hot from the field, connecting on 10 of their first 12 field goal attempts.  Gilbert Arenas had 11 of his 22 points and led the Wiz to a comfortable 39-26 lead at the end of one.

The only thing that didn’t go Washington’s way was when Antawn Jamison went to the locker room with an apparent knee injury.  But he returned in the second quarter and finished the game tied with Caron Butler for a team high 23 points.  

Butler, by the way, had a phenomenal game, with 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals to go along with his 23 points.

Washington took a 62-49 lead going into halftime, but Boston came out a different team in the third quarter.

Forward Al Jefferson exploded for 15 points in the third frame and the Celts outscored the Wizards by 12 to cut the lead to 1 point heading to the fourth quarter of a game, that at one point, the Wizards led by 21.  

Boston took their first lead with 8:06 left in the game when Allan Ray (not Ray Allen) made 2 free throws.  Ray scored 20 points off the bench in 32 minutes of work.  

The Celtics’ lead grew to 6 points but the Wizards quickly responded with a 7-0 run.  The game went tied into the final minute of the game but neither team was able to score.  Arenas had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but missed a three-pointer that would have absolutely blown the roof off of the arena.

After the game he admitted that he was surprised it didn’t go in.

So was everyone watching the game including myself.  To be honest, I even think the Celtics were a little shocked.

The Celtics were overpowered in the extra period, but had a chance to tie, down three, but Butler stole the ball from Ray and fed Arenas down court for a lay-up that sealed their 115-110 victory.

For the Celtics, Ryan Gomes scored a career-high 31 points and Al Jefferson added a double/double with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

All five starters for the Wizards scored in double figures for the seventh time this season, and Antonio Daniels chipped-in off the bench with 12 points and 5 assists.

Washington’s next game is Tuesday against Phoenix.  A game that holds no significant meaning to Arenas; even though he’s going head-to-head with two-time MVP and fellow MVP candidate this season, Steve Nash.  “It’s just another game…you know?”  

No Gilbert, I don’t.  Everyone knows that this match up will be in the national spotlight and some MVP votes might be determined by the outcome.  

Arenas’ ballot is already punched…

“At the end of the day, he’s (Nash) MVP…period”  

We’ll see about that.