HARD IN THE PAINT: C’S REIGN AT THE TOP OF THE EAST IS OVER

The Heat exercised their demons in more ways than one last night by knocking the Celtics off of their perch at the top of the Eastern Conference. The Celtic triumvirate of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce had been the proverbial thorn in the side of Dwyane Wade and Lebron James(as a Cav), from formation up through the regular season.

Last night the Heat owned the court late, like they have in many of the games this series. Lebron James was 5 – 7 from the 3-point line last night, and two of those three pointers were clutch. James took over the game late, after D.Wade had held them down much of the first half. The two combined for 67 of the Heat’s 97 points (Wade 34-17, James 33-7), and the Celtics had know answer. Paul Pierce, usually a challenge for James, played off late due to foul trouble. In fact Allen, Garnett, and Pierce had a dismal fourth quarter accounting for all of 2 points combined. Rondo tried to gut it out, but he was so visibly bothered by his elbow injury that he couldn’t even take an open shot when presented with one. That fact allowed the Heat to basically play off of Rondo all night, and focus their defensive efforts elsewhere.

In the end, the Heat celebrated a 97 – 87 series closing win, and await the next challenge in their efforts to bring another championship to the M.I.A.