Even a hobbled Ben Gordon is better than none at all.
And when the Chicago Bulls guard snaps into his nightly trance and starts hitting those downtown bombs, the Celtics have to give up something in the defensive end. ``Yeah, I can, except for that last one,'' C's coach Doc Rivers said of Gordon's trey at the end of the first overtime in Game 4. ``But he's a tough shot maker and taker. When he beats us with his right hand that's what bothers us the most, because that's where he's going; he's going to the right.
``But he's a terrific player. I've always said that if he was easy to shut down, then he wouldn't be a terrific player.''
Gordon, despite a pulled left hamstring, was back on the floor last night at the Garden for Game 5, and didn't exactly look worse for wear. He came out firing, and though the guard hit a pair of deep jumpers early, including a 3-pointer, Gordon finished the first quarter shooting 2-for-8 from the floor.
The Celtics , with Paul Pierce off to a solid seven-point, 3-for-7 start, thus carried a thin 23-21 lead into the second quarter.
Kirk Hinrich, who had given Pierce such a tough time in Game 4, expanded his role from stopper to jump shooter last night. The Bulls guard hit a pair of deep jumpers, including a 3-pointer for Chicago's first lead of the game at 28-27.
The Celtics continued to slide despite some big shots, including treys from Stephon Marbury and Ray Allen, the latter assisted by a sharp Brian Scalabrine swing pass.
But the Celtics , looking tired, started to fire blanks at an alarming rate. Rajon Rondo, who finished with a rather roughshod 10-point half, missed three straight free throws. Paul Pierce air-balled a 3-point attempt, and a minute later missed an open layup. Rondo came back with his own missed layup.
Ultimately the Celtics missed six straight shots, and the Bulls corresponded with a 6-0 run for a 40-38 lead.
The Bulls built some momentum, and with Hinrich checking in at the half with 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting, nailed down a 47-44 halftime lead.
The margin could have been greater if the Celtics had not bailed their way out of a brutal final possession.
Ray Allen, bobbling the ball under the basket, threw a desperation pass to Rondo with the clock about to expire. The Celtics point guard hit the fadeaway at the buzzer, finishing the play on his back.
- mrmurphy@bostonherald.com
