Trust the Pass
“Trust the pass,” said Doc Rivers afterwards. “I tell my guys all the time, trust the pass.”
The Boston Celtic coach was reflecting on the last play of Sunday’s NBA playoff game with the Orlando Magic. Paul Pierce trusted the pass and it saved the Celtics from a loss that would have put them behind in the series 3-1, a deficit only 25% of teams ever overcome.
The Celtics were on the verge of defeat. Orlando was ahead 94-93 and there were only 11.3 seconds left in the game. Boston had one more possession left and you would expect one of their go-to guys, Pierce and Ray Allen, to attempt to pull out the win.
It looked like it would be Pierce. He took the in-bounds pass and dribbled around the top of the key, trying to get an good look.
But he was double-teamed. Instead of forcing up a contested shot, Pierce trusted the pass.
When you trust the pass, you are also trusting your teammate. And in this case, Pierce’s teammate Glen (Big Baby) Davis came through big time.
Davis took the pass from Pierce and sunk a game winning jump shot. Davis, who is only in his second year in the league, launched from about 20-feet, a few steps inside the 3-point line near the left corner of the court. The shot swished through just a tick before the red light on the backboard lit up signaling game over.
That evened the series 2-2 with game 5 scheduled for Tuesday night in Boston.
Boston knew this was a must win for them but it was a back and forth battle most of the way. There were 13 lead changes in the first half and Boston went into the locker room with slim 48-46 lead.
The Celtics built a small lead in the third quarter, finishing on top 79-71. But the Magic fought back in the fourth.
Orlando rookie Courtney Lee and Dwight Howard led the comeback. Lee hit three key shots, including one with 3:10 left that brought the Magic within one, 91-90.
The two teams battled for the next two minutes without scoring.
Howard then sank two free throws to put the Magic ahead 92-91 with 49.6 to go.
Then Big Baby Davis hit a jumper from the free throw line to put Boston back ahead, 93-92.
Rachard Lewis answered for Orlando, driving the right side of the lane, drawing a foul, then sinking two free throws for a 94-93 Orlando lead with 11.3 left.
There was only time for one more try for Boston, the defending champions. Even though Orlando smothered Pierce and had Allen well-covered on the final play, Pierce was able to get the ball to Davis in time for the game winner.
While it was Davis who had fouled Lewis seconds earlier that led to the free throws that gave Orlando the lead, he kept battling. His game winning shot was dead-on. He finished 9-14 in field goal shooting, scoring five the Celtics last six points.
Davis is a different type of force than Kevin Garnett, the injured Celtic he was filling in for. Davis is a 6-9, 289 pounds tree trunk with the baby face of a 15-year old. Plus he has this sweet jump shot. That he can make under pressure.
His confidence is on the rise now. That should make game 5 Tuesday even more interesting. How will Orlando’s Superman Dwight Howard respond?
