Both teams were clearly exhausted, and the play suffered a bit in the fourth quarter… but it was still a very dramatic Game 7, IMHO - and undoubtedly an excellent series.

As for the Magic, I just don’t see how the Celtics are going to contain Howard. Perk could play decent-enough defense on him, but in so doing, it seems clear to me he will necessarily get into early foul trouble. No way Big Baby can guard him, which leaves… Brian Scalabrine. Seriously. And when Scal inevitably fouls out… um… well… is Greg Kite walking through that door?!

It’s possible the Celts can get by the Maqic - but it will require a terrific coaching job by Doc, outstanding efforts by Pierce and Allen (on both ends of the court), consistent contributions from the bench (unlike the Chicago series, where the bench only showed up for Game 7), and a bit of luck (in that Howard’s likely averaging 25+ ppg and 15+ rpg for the series will somehow not be enough for the Magic to advance).

I understand ENeu’s cautiousness, but I’m jumping on the Lebron Bandwagon now… before it gets too full. I truly believe he (and his teammates) will not be denied this June.

* Living here in Boston now, I can avail myself of listening to Tommy Heinsohn on occasion and I just don’t have the words to describe it. The best analogy I can offer is that he’s like listening to my slightly bitter uncle riled up on his sixth tumbler of Dewars, with just a splash of soda (not too much! whaddaya doing for Chris-sakes?!?!) using his outdoor voice after Christmas Dinner. For about 20 minutes - he’s great. But, that’s about all I can do. Afterwards, I flip over to TNT or ESPN.

* I’m not a Celtics fan, but these games have had me pacing all over my living room nerviously chewing on my shirt like Jerry Tarkanian. I’m an utter mess during and afterwards. I’m an old man with a weak heart and I can’t take any more of this.

* I have absolutely, positively, no freaking clue what is, or is not, a foul in the NBA. None. Not at all. After watching about a dozen playoff games, if someone asked me to explain the NBA rules to them - I couldn’t do it.

* Lots of people (e.g., Cliffy) think that the Cavs and LeBron are now a lock to win the title. I’m not one of them. Maybe it’s because I still shake with an atavistic tic every time I see John Elway, Michael Jordan or Craig Ehlo, but I think the Cavs are doomed to get coldly and efficiently beaten down by the merciless Lakers and terminator Kobe. I can’t stand Kobe. But, I think he’s got a huge revenge chip on his should from last year. And, I thpnk the loose happy go lucky Cavs will be on the receiving end. Once again, the mighty Cuyahoga will go smok’in through my dreams. Burn on big river, burn on,….

Last night’s triple-OT, along with the previous double-OT, and two single-OT games… let’s see, my abacus says that’s *four* OT games in a single series. And yes sports fans, that’s the most OT games in any NBA series… e-ver.

If you haven’t watched any of this series, you are worse off for it. But there’s still time to tune in Saturday night at 8PM for Game 7. I’m gluttonous… so I’m hoping for yet *another* OT thriller… or at the very least, a game that goes down to the last possession in OT.

As an aside, I have the luxury of listening to the Celtics normal broadcast guys do the play-by-play on local cable, while the rest of the country gets the TNT guys. I’m not even sure who’s doing the TNT telecast, but I assure that Mike Gorman and (specifically) Tommy Heinsohn are *far* more entertaining… hmmm, yes, I assure you.

Heinsohn is no Johnny Most, only cuz… well, *nobody* can be *that* much of a screaming maniac of a homer. But Heinsohn is the closest I’ve ever heard. Unlike Most, he does occasionally allow that the refs made a correct call against the Celtics (or for the opponent)… but it is rare. Otherwise, he sounds like he’s jumping out of his seat to go chase down the offending ref himself for the bodacious and outrageous inaccuracies in the officiating of the game.

Just one example: If you saw the highlights, you saw Rondo’s forearm shiver to Brad Miller’s face at the end of OT to prevent an easy layup (and Miller, still reeling minutes later from the assault, understandably missed the FTs - even though he’s a very good FT shooter, especially for a big man). According to Heinsohn, Rondo barely touched him and Miller flopped. Even Gorman had to interject, “Um, Tommy… he clobbered him.” So Heinsohn relented (sort of) and concluded something to the effect of, “Well, serves him right - for that crap he pulled to get Ray Allen fouled out of the game. I *still* can’t believe *that* call!!!”

Pure entertainment.

When I was a kid, my dad and I would watch the Celtics on TV - but put the volume down so we could listen to Most on the radio. It was as if Most was watching an entirely different game than us, but it was exceedingly entertaining, as a result. Now, again even though Heinsohn isn’t Most’s equal, I get the best of both worlds on the TV telecast. I’m watching one game, and listening to Heinsohn tell me about an entirely different game… all on the same channel. What more could I possibly ask for?

(Well… I *could* ask that the Bruins take home the Cup this season, so that I can see all four local teams take home championships this decade… or more specifically, in the past five years - but that’s probably asking too much.)