Monday “Morning” Links

Posted by Brendan Jackson on Apr 27, 2009 17840 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2009%2F04%2F27%2Fmonday-morning-links-3%2FMonday+%22Morning%22+Links2009-04-27+17%3A58%3A50Brendan+Jacksonhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D1784

For your perusing pleasure:

Some words flying, too:The Celtics and Bulls nearly crossed some lines on physicality early in the fourth quarter of the Bulls’ 121-118 double-overtime win yesterday. The Celtics held a 73-72 lead as Glen Davis grabbed a defensive rebound, then lost possession to Chicago center Brad Miller. Davis was losing his balance and threw a pass directly to Miller, who attempted a layup and was fouled by Davis with 10:02 remaining. Miller reacted by appearing to forearm Davis in the head. [Boston.com]

Bulls’ Gordon awaits MRI on hamstring:Bulls guard Ben Gordon was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday after straining a hamstring in the first half of Sunday’s double-overtime victory over the Boston Celtics in Chicago. Gordon, who knocked down a 3-pointer to tie it with 4.5 seconds left in the first overtime, tweaked his left hamstring on a drive to the basket in the second quarter of the 121-118 victory. [ESPN.com]

Un-Celtics like lack of focus, execution causes trouble:Admittedly, the following sentence is as specious and unfair as it is true: If Paul Pierce makes two free throws, the Celtics’ series with the Chicago Bulls is over. That the set is 2-2 is more honestly a product of an overall failure to do as told in key situations, but the statement serves to point out just how fine is the line that separates victory from defeat, from sitting home and waiting for the end of the Orlando-Philadelphia series to a Game 5 tomorrow at the Garden and a Game 6 at the United Center on Thursday. [BostonHerald.com]

Game 4: Epic redemption:And to think, I was ready – several times — to dub this baby ”The Free Throw Game.” As in, “Missed free throws cost the Bulls the chance to tie this series at two games a piece.” It wasn’t just the nine misses (26-for-35). It was when some of those misses occurred. You know, at the worst possible times. First, Tyrus Thomas shanked a foul shot with 16 seconds left in regulation that could have given the Bulls a four-point cushion. Ray Allen responded by drilling a cold-blooded three-pointer to force overtime. Then, with 26 ticks left in the first overtime, Kirk Hinrich blew a freebie that could have tied the game at 107. After Paul Pierce pushed Boston’s lead to 108-106 (although he too missed a free throw), Ben Gordon got the whistle but was able to hit only one of two at the stripe, thereby failing to tie the game with nine seconds to go in that first OT. Joakim Noah had to foul Allen, who knocked down both of his foul shots to give the Celtics a 110-107 lead. [By The Horns]

Sometimes, Classics Go the Wrong Way:It might have been a bit hard to appreciate it amidst the haze of finding a series that sat tantalizingly close to 3-1 in the green’s favor suddenly tied at two games apiece, but the Celtics and Bulls played a great game on Sunday afternoon in Chicago. Yesterday’s double-overtime thriller at the United Center epitomized what playoff basketball is all about.[CelticsBlog.com]