GARDEN...VARIETY

Celtics' Hearts' (hope their legs) are clearly willing

To make history--they were encouraged by Curt Schilling.

'Melo made his first shot--then KG, 

Felton is a problem for every C.

Prigioni scored on his first three, 

On no close-out by AB (?).

Knicks went on an 11-0 run, 

Shumpert's D so tough early Q1.

Captain P on the three point line did park, 

But he's trying to make that shot with no arc.

Of AB's ball handling Doc had his fill, 

Mid Q1 in came T. Will.

Prigioni had three threes just in Q1,

KG returned early to stop the Knicks' run.

Two early fouls on 'Melo, to the bench went he,

Chandler and KMart together, rare to see.

Turnovers, tough shooting, Cs down 14 start Q2,

Green twisting, turning, drew a foul--oh, what he can do!

Doc needs a spark, tonight a chance for Lee, 

Stole the ball, running hard, playing his good D.

Q2 Cs running hard all the way down the floor, 

AB doesn't look confident, only KG can score.

Pierce keeps turning the ball over, he's handling it lots,

Way more turnovers than he has good shots.

AB's come alive, some signs of his D, 

Cs walking up the court which Doc hates to see.

Jeff Green For Three, buzzer! ThenThree For JET, 

Time for the crowd, which hasn't been into it yet!

Doc says trust each other, move the ball,

'Melo flopped, then Prigioni, both got the call.

1 for 10 from the field is Captain P, 

11 turnovers, Cs down 12 to start Q3.

We found out second half Pierce's elbow is sore, 

Just one explanation why the Cs couldn't score.

Pierce can always draw a foul with the clock running down,

An answer for Raymond Felton the Cs haven't found.

Two games in this series (history) Cs perfect from the line, 

Several Knicks are shooting their threes just fine.

Shooting woes for the Cs, shots and free throws awry, 

Pierce and KG getting going--crowd a collective sigh.

Cs went on a 10-3 run, 

Cs out of bounds calls? Not just one.

In transition, JET For Three,

Felton lost the ball, then earned a T.

17 Cs turnovers, just through Q3,

Surprised that Crawford we did see.

Cs down 20 to start Q4,

Prigioni and Shumpert the guys who did score?

Another moving screen called on KG, 

Looking exhausted, Jeff Green For Three!

Cs went on an 20-0 run!

AB (steals!) showed up to get this done!

AB ANOTHER STEAL! 'Melo answered back. 

You can never say it is Heart that these Cs lack!

Cs came all the way back, they got within four, 

A valiant effort--needed just a little more.

Green fouled out. Is this the last game for PP?

Sweet moment with Doc--will he retire,  KG?

BOSTON STRONG. BOSTON STANDS AS ONE.

Crowd cheering, "Let's Go Celtics," tho the Knicks won.

HOLD THE MSG

First scorer is 'Melo, fouled by Bass--at the line, 

Can't "hear" the game over Stevie Kerr's whine.

Knicks started out on a 11-0 run, 

Cs missed shots and had turnovers early Q1.

First Cs score by Bass--at the line, then the hoop, 

Seems Felton's the first problem in this Knicks group.

The length of the court, great pass by KG, 

Bass hard to the hoop, plus he's playing great D.

For play-by-play info one could starve, 

Non-stop blathering by Stevie Kerr and Marv!

When he came in, crowd booed, a smile we did see, 

All the more stunning: JET For Three!

Doc feels point guard shoes by committee they'll fill,

Early minutes tonight for--the coast to coast!--T. Will.

After a Cs shaky start, Cs down 2 to start Q2,

"Tighten the screws" is what Doc says we'll have to do.

KG drew two fouls on Chandler, three on KMart, 

No flagrant on the latter--chippiness did start.

Cs have been having trouble with the traps on KG, 

Almost halfway through Q2, (first FG) Pierce For Three!

Brandon Bass is a Man under the hoop--plus on D!

And then, again...Paul Pierce For Three!

Pierce to KG, alley-oop, 

AB: ball stolen, got it back, scored (7 seconds to regroup).

Pierce to KG, we never saw the pass!

Cs 6-0 run, but third foul on Bass.

Shumpert aggressive, on the ground Captain Paul, 

Good thinking--The Truth--Cs timeout the call!

Camby's first appearance, tipped in the ball did he, 

Clock running down, JET For Three!

On an 11-2 run, Cs up 6 start Q3,

More of Jeff Green we have to see.

Paul Pierce For Three, on a pick from KG, 

Cs three turnovers in four possessions early Q3.

Pierce lighting  it up, along with JET, 

Cs haven't shut down Raymond Felton yet.

He's better in the playoffs! JET For Three!

T. Will blew by Shumpert and the rest of the Knick D.

Paul Pierce For Three! JET For Three--again!

Nothing but respect for these Boston Men.

Cs up 9 to start Q4,

T. Will at the point, AB's not on the floor.

Knicks struggling on offense, silent crowd, 

Green to the hoop with a dunk so loud!

Cs went on a 16-6 run, 

Cs a little careless trying to get this game done.

Double techs on Smith and JET the call, 

Doc's ATO plan, give Bass the ball!

Doc used just seven players, including T. Will and JET, 

Knicks made a run when on the bench was Garnett.

Jeff Green For Three! Wait, Jeff Green For Three!

Knicks a 7-0 run--finally stopped by the 17-rebounds-KG!

In poor taste, and not at all cute, 

The Knicks each brought a Cs funeral suit.

BOSTON STRONG. BOSTON STANDS AS ONE.

Celtic Pride--by 6 the CELTICS WON

WIN OR GO POEM

(sorry) POEM IS LONG, 

BOSTON STRONG!

The day begins with Avery Bradley For Three!

Bass starting again, his first shot made he.

KG muttering, "Right now, right now!"

Practiced with Rondo (one one one) to remember how.

Cs an inspired start including Pierce For Three!

That sometimes-moving-screen-call on KG.

With a hand in his face, a Three For JET, 

In this series he and Bass haven't busted out yet.

Bass is playing 'Melo as well as can be, 

Cs' turnover led to Novak for three.

Good balanced scoring for the Cs, 

Crowd is into it, need four quarters--please!

Green hard to the hoop, no stopping him, 

Scoring all different ways, finding his rhythm.

(love these words) Cs up 5 to start Q2,

Crawford For Three, that crazy shot he can do.

Doc says every coach should have the honor to coach KG, 

He is The Man, makes the right plays, the court he can see.

JET to KG, alley-oop, 

8-0 run by the Cs group.

Gave Chandler a hoop, foul before, took it away, 

Tech on Woodson, offensive foul, Chandler, next play.

Q2 three fouls on KG, three on Green, two Captain P, 

Signs of the "old" JET we are starting to see.

Shumpert is annoying, deflections and steals,

Green took a charge, to the crowd this appeals!

Green is sharp,  Bass is playing great D, 

Standing O from the crowd, glorious sight to see!

Forgot Cs drafted Green, traded to Sonics for Ray, 

Tho we got him from OKC, with Perk we did pay.

Shaking his hand, won't say a word, is T. Will,

Surely he's just grateful to be in this game still.

The Captain, The Truth, For Three! For Three!

JET knocks it down, Cs up 19 start Q3.

Woodson wants transition D to stop Jeff Green, 

Fourth foul on KG, that problem with his screen.

Jeff Green For Three! Deflections and steals, AB, 

Now four fouls on Green, Bass and KG.

Prigioni was knocked down, phew, common foul on JET, 

Prigioni fell like it was flagrant, the call he didn't get.

Cs' lead is cut to 12, Doc giving it to Green, 

Doesn't like sloppy ball handling in Q3 he has seen.

Knicks had a run of 13-2,

Bass 5th foul, Prigioni flopped--again--deserves review!

Pierce did his fake, then a loud jam, 

Pierce took the charge from a 'Melo slam.

Knicks think the calls are bad, feeling some pain, 

Jason Kidd told Felton not to complain.

Pierce great block led to Felton for three, 

First time at the line, made 'em both--KG.

Cs 20 point lead is down to 8,

Struggling 'Melo on the bench, Felton playing great.

Prigioni for three and Felton for three, 

Saw a 30-14 Knicks run in Q3.

Cs up 3 to start Q4,

T. Will great block flying down the floor.

Great ball movement, The Truth For Three!

Shumpert steal, for the tie, a pest is he.

KG, over K. Mart, he did score, 

Green made two free throws, aggressive on the floor.

'Melo with the drive, the ball he flushed, 

Cs' lead is 2, crowd for a moment was hushed.

Green for two, how did that shot go in?

Bass fouled out...'Melo's irritating grin.

Once again in this game there is a tie, 

Felton-Knicks their first lead, collective sigh.

Cs second half--offense disappeared, 

Even up 19 at the half, so we feared.

Pierce and KG working together,

Onslaught from the Knicks we must weather.

End of game, the ball's in the hands of PP,

.4 second left is what the refs did see.

Deflection by Wilcox! Easy rhyme,

We are going to OVERTIME!

Pierce the first to score in OT, 

Clock expiring, score by KG!

'Melo at the line, another tie,

JET For Three, then two--do or die!

'Melo tried a three, foul on Novak the call,

JET stepped up, he's all over the ball.

In my heart these men I will always keep, 

Because they averted a Knicks sweep.

Game 5 Wednesday, what a ride, 

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE CELTIC PRIDE!

DIS-HEART-ENED

Honoring First Responders before the Anthem Song, 

Is the very  definition of "Boston Strong."

Announcers: Breen, and Van Gundy (whom I prefer),

Both better than the annoying Little Stevie Kerr.

JET (scored first)--to get him going?--got the start,

Along with Green, who is quite literally all Heart!

Two threes for Prigioni, 'Melo with his jump shot, 

Rough stretch for the Cs, someone has to get hot.

Pierce turned the corner and attacked the rim, 

Because of KG's screen--we should all thank him.

Best cutter in the NBA? No one would argue it's AB,

Back in the rotation--good for him!--is Courtney Lee!

From the bench, together--Bass and Lee, 

Beautiful words: Jeff Green For Three!

Knicks good start just on threes, so unforgiving,

Live or die by the three? They are clearly living.

Cs only down 5 (somehow) to start Q2,

Lee on Smith, good D, what he has to do.

15 seconds, two fouls, on Knicks' KMart, 

KG rebounding, and rebounding, talk about Heart!

At the shot clock buzzer, Crawford For Three!

Turned the ball over, then took a charge--Captain P!

Knicks on a roll--every other three is good, 

Crowd want to applaud--if only they could!

Cs few flashes of brilliance, some from Green, 

But some of the worst turnovers we have seen.

Doc told guys not to give up, keep spirit, gotta fight, 

Missing easy lay-ups, good shots. They WILL fall tonight!

'Melo scoring, still raining threes, Knicks biggest lead, 

Where does Doc begin at halftime with what the Cs need?

Cs down 16 to start Q3,

Maybe, opposite of last two games, strong 2nd half we'll see.

Scary stat from the season re: games lost and won, 

Cs down 10+ at the half, we're 3 and 31.

7-0 run by the Cs, JET For Three, Pierce is scoring, 

The crowd has been anxious for the chance to be roaring!

Prigioni, a rookie, at age 35,

With steal after steal, he's kept the ball alive!

4:57 left Q3 til first free throw for Captain P, 

Too few moments of greatness from Green we see.

Cs down 16 at the end of Q3,

Before Q4 Doc said need shots, need D!

The air has gone out of the Garden tonight,

Early Q4 Cs "fans" are taking flight.

JET For Three, but we can hardly cheer, 

Hard to even recognize the Cs who are here.

Smith elbowed JET, up very high, 

JET took exception, Flagrant Two on Smith--goodbye.

We must remember whether games are lost or won, 

BOSTON STRONG. BOSTON STANDS AS ONE.

HOMEWARD BOUND

GAME TWO: Cs led off with a hoop by KG, 

More of him Doc says he wants to see.

Doc had nothing but praise for Brandon Bass, 

On which Bass said, without a win, he would take a pass.

Cheap early fouls on KG, Wilcox came in, 

Can't establish KG early, makes it harder to win.

J. R. Smith, off the bench, 6th man of the year, 

(Words Clippers' Jamal Crawford did not want to hear).

Rondo's the (not player) coach working with AB, 

Helping him add good passes to his excellent D.

Last game: in 11 minutes, first time Crawford took NO shot, 

In his second playoff game--will he show what he's got?

Because there's been no game from this one guy yet, 

It was particularly thrilling to see a big Three By JET!

Doc played only eight players in game one, 

Tonight deeper into the bench to try to get it done.

The degrees of difficulty go to Smith, that's J.R.

Especially the buzzer beating three, end Q1, from so far.

Knicks went on an 11-0 run, 

Cs down 6 at the end of Q1.

AB steal, scored twice, aggressiveness from KG!! 

Music to our ears: JET For Three!

Cs went on an 16-4 run,

JET For Three...another one!!

Cs causing Knicks turnovers, themselves making few, 

Third foul on KG, restricted area, what could he do?

Extra long pass by Pierce, to Jeff Green--alley-oop, 

Captain P, Green, JET leading scorers Cs group.

Cs Q2 28-16, Cs up 6 start Q3,

Could have done without Shumpert for three, and three.

KG early Q3 (talking to himself), 4th foul on him, 

Must be why he can't seem to find his rhythm.

4 fouls each, Green and KG, 3 on Captain P, 

Struggling to find his shot--finally KG.

Then called for a travel, not like him at all, 

He doesn't even seem comfortable handling the ball.

Pierce hard to the hoop, just tossed the ball up, 

Drew the foul, ball went right into the cup.

Smith, Anthony, Felton--all got hot, 

Best Cs had? The occasional KG shot.

Knicks 32-11 Q3, Cs down 15 start Q4,

Cs jump shots, no one going to the hoop to score.

Crawford leading an 8-2 run, Cs playing some D!

Then those words we love: Paul Pierce For Three!

Knicks never let up, then 5th foul on KG, 

Seemed there were no answers by any C.

Lee, Randolph, T. Will in toward the end of Q4,

No Q3, Q4 energy--the Cs couldn't score.

By 16 points the Celtics came up short, 

Now we'll have to take care of our home court.

Lowest half score, playoffs, the Cs have ever had, 

Just when we thought the last game was really  bad. 

The tragedy of the Boston bombings does resound.

First time since then the Cs are homeward bound.

(Still) Boston Strong....

"COME TOGETHER, RIGHT NOW...." The Beatles

IT IS PLAYOFF TIME--the Celtics vs. the Knicks,

Will we  see KG and 'Melo up to their usual tricks?

Best guys for the Cs: KG, Pierce and Green.

Knicks: 'Melo, Smith...Prigioni (ankle) won't be seen.

Wildcard players from both teams we will see, 

Of course, sitting front and center, will be Spike Lee.

KG very aggressive, the first (then AB) to score, 

Cs played Match Up/Zone all over the floor.

Copeland in for Prigioni? It is his first start.

'Melo started 4 for 4, clearly doing his part.

Ks went on an 11-3 (AB) run, 

Chandler pushed KG, extra shove--Tech One.

Guarding 'Melo--two early fouls on AB,

A Q1 sighting of Jordan Crawford we did see.

JR Smith (best 6th man?) a monster jam.

Love the intro--"That Power"--from Will. I. Am.

Cs ended the quarter on a 10-2 run, 

Green For Three at the buzzer, Cs up 3 end Q1.

Shot clock expiring, Green For Three...then two, 

Kidd back-to-back threes, he's 3rd all-time, it's true.

Second foul (for 'Melo) on KG, a cheesy call, 

He went straight up and got all ball.

Felt better after the Pierce to KG alley-oop, 

Love to watch AB cut (3 in a row) through the Knicks group.

Excellent defense on 'Melo, especially by Bass, 

Cs great ball movement--with the extra pass.

Pierce, with the advance passes,  energized Jeff Green, 

Best playing with KG and Pierce we have seen.

Green 20 first half points, Cs up 4 start Q3,

Welcome to The Playoffs and Boston Celtics D!

'Melo for three, Smith two--and a very loud crowd, 

Cs' slowed down their offense, shouldn't be allowed.

Four fouls on Shumpert, terrible call (3rd) on AB, 

Crowd restless until  Carmelo made a three.

AB is playing D, and offense, too.

"Spread the floor, attack!" is what Doc said to do.

Pierce is 10th all-time in free throws made, 

Cs 11-1 run, with all Heart they have played.

Cs up 3 to start Q4,

To start, Bass, AB, Pierce not on the floor.

Knicks scoring despite Cs' excellent D, 

Silly save by Lee, 4th foul on KG.

Cs went five minutes, from Q3, no score, 

KG and Pierce found some rhythm on the floor.

On a J.R. Smith play, 5th foul on KG, 

Hope JET will eventually connect with his three.

Cs are struggling second half trying to score, 

Kidd, the vet, deflecting, rolling around on the floor.

In Q4 the Knicks their offense they have found, 

Tho' cold from downtown--Cs turnovers, can't rebound.

KMart scored, on 'Melo's first assist, 

Cs just 8 Q4 points, not aggressive, jump shots missed.

Celtics' theme today, "Boston Stand As One,"

Which they did, tho' this game was not won.

Cs' game can be fixed--not that much wrong, 

Keep in your Hearts: "Boston Strong!"

"TONIGHT, WE ARE ALL BOSTON FANS." Raptors PA Announcer

Both teams gathered mid-court, of solidarity a sign,

After the national Anthem, Diamond's "Sweet Caroline,"

Played every game at Fenway since '97 at least.

Yankees played it in tribute--as will teams even not in the east.

No JET tonight, limited minutes Green and Bass, 

No KG. Pierce, battling flu, wouldn't take a pass.

"You don't stop the spirit of Boston..." so said Doc.

Cs must play this game tho 7th seed is a lock.

Raptors back court violation right off the tip, 

AB was fouled, scored on the Celtics' first trip.

Cs' new guys/bench players must show what they've got, 

So on the playoff roster they can secure a spot.

Valanciunas--must be able to spell this guy's name, 

He's a 20 year old rookie, and can play this game.

9 points first 11 minutes by the no-resting Captain P,

Bass quietly good, great offense and D by AB.

T. Will and Jordan Crawford--each can be a wild card, 

Crawford half court at the buzzer--didn't look that hard!

Cs down 1 to start Q2,

Doc anxious to see what the Cs' Zone can do.

Need more of these words, "Courtney Lee For Three!"

9-0 run by the Raptors, in came AB and PP.

Speaking of the Knicks...a rumor one often hears:

Rasheed Wallace Retires! Second time in three years.

Cs down 10 to start Q3,

Tonight no more Shav and Pierce will we see.

Jeff Green For Three! Q3 20 + Raptors lead, 

Brandon Bass sat down, for the rest he does need.

628 games, 3rd in NBA, til a first playoff sighting

For Chris Wilcox! In this opportunity he is delighting!

Speaking of sightings, in came Fab Melo,

Two quick, sloppy fouls--he won't be Doc's fellow.

DeMar Darnell DeRozan (great name), what a night,

Along with Gay--and Lucas, who can only go right.

Cs down 26 to start Q4,

T. Will, White, Crawford, Melo, Lee on the floor.

Raptors had a scoring flurry,

Celtics seemed to have no worry.

Bruins at home--"Boston Strong" video, emotional night, 

Raptors beat the Cs by 24--does that sound right?

TONIGHT, WE ARE ALL BOSTON FANS....