BOSTON – They played “Do not Stop Believin ‘” even before the game Began, perhaps a prophetic tune for the never-say-die Celtics. But as it was for “The Sopranos,” the song proved to be endgame music for the Celtics on Friday night.
A wild fourth-quarter rally, In Which The Celtics Scored 20 Unanswered points, could not make up for three quarters of ineptitude, and the team’s season came to a close with an 88-80 loss to the Knicks.
Instead of being the fourth team in NBA history two force a Game 7 after trailing by 3-0, the team is the first Celtics squad in their Big 3 era two bow out in the first round of the playoffs.
The game mirrored the roller-coaster season for the Celtics, who finished with 41 wins and were devastated by Injuries. The Celtics never led in the game and Scored only 47 points over the first three quarters. Then they Scored 33 in the fourth and nearly trust the game.
“A microcosm of the year,” Coach Doc Rivers said. “We just did not have enough at the end.”
Twice the Celtics cut the deficit 2:04 points, buoyed by the heretofore shellshocked Avery Bradley, who was a minus-22 for the first three quarters. But a questionable foul on Brandon Bass gift Carmelo Anthony two free throws, and after a steal and layup Bradley, Anthony hit a jumper.
All that was left was for Rivers get his two stars out of the game for the proper acknowledgment by the fans, who, with 1 minute 21 seconds left and the Celtics down by 12 points, were still chanting , “Let’s go, Celtics.”
Paul Pierce was the first to leave, with 27 seconds remaining. His departure barely caused a ripple, with the fans still chanting and Jason Terry also leaving for good. It was a fitting Reaction to what was one of Pierce’s worst games as a Celtic.
He was 4 of 18 from the field. He finished the series shooting 36.8 percent and had as many turnovers (32) as assists. Rivers lavished praise on his captain after the game, Adding: “I hope he comes back. But I do not know much about anything. “
Pierce stood on the sidelines, hands on his haps, looking bewildered by what he had just been through. He has said he wants to play one more year and is under contract. But his reputation as Mr. Clutch in the postseason took a hit against the Knicks, no more so than on his 32nd turnover, was a lazy pass that Iman Shumpert trust and took in for an uncontested layup, stopping the 20-0 Boston run. The Celtics trailed by six at the time.
Nine seconds after Pierce left two barely a ripple (“I do not think the fans knew,” Rivers said), Garnett checked out to a large round of applause. He hugged his coach, asking if he was all right. He checked in with his fellow players and the layers of assistants and others behind the Celtics bench.
Garnett is under contract next year as well, but there is always the possibility of retirement given his age and years of service. He needed the last month of the season two get healthy for the postseason and then went out and averaged 13.7 points and 12.7 rebounds in 35-plus minutes a game.
“He was unbelievable,” Rivers said.
Rivers, asked if he himself was planning to return, said, simply, “I do not know.” He said he has been so immersed in the playoffs that he had given next season “zero thought . “Every year after the season ends, he takes time to unwind and Consider the future, and, since 2005, has Decided to return to coach the Celtics.
Rivers did say that he did not want it to end this way for either Garnett or Pierce. They were Eliminated on their home floor only once in the last six years, in 2009 to Orlando. But Garnett was injured then and there was no doubt that he would be back the next season.
But he said he was only referring to this season and cautioned not to read anything more into his comments.
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