C's/Pacers - 1/10/07

The Celtics headed into the game knowing they would be without Paul Pierce (at least 2 weeks), Wally Szczerbiak (1-2 weeks) and Delonte West (day-to-day). Yet they played hard against a more talented Pacers team for the better part of three quarters. Late in the third Indiana started to pull away and then Tony Allen went down trying to throw down a dunk after a foul on the floor. That injury devastated the team and the crowd as an eerie silence hung over the TD Banknorth Garden for several minutes and the C's fell behind by 18. Boston did rally to within 4 until Danny Granger and Jermaine O'Neal slammed the door shut. Some points on the evening:

- Szczerbiak's absence seems to reinforce the belief held by many that he came back to soon.

- Ryan Gomes touched on how devastating Allen's injury was as #42 had emerged as a leader.

- I always hate to see a guy get hurt. But it was worse in this case as Allen was coming into his own and playing with such reckless abandon. I sat in silence for at least 5 minutes after it happened.

- Having said that about Allen, he and Michael Redd might have to do some sort of infomercial on the risks of meaningless dunks.

- Granger's 3 down the stretch was cold blooded.

- It was nice to see the C's rally and pull within 4. However, I couldn't help but think of Bob Cousy's argument that the Orlando Magic did what they had to do to beat the C's on Sunday. They knew they could throw it in cruise for a while and pull out a victory. It felt like the Pacers did the same tonight.

- This is the first time all season that I felt awful watching the C's. Maybe the 20+ replays of Allen's injury that FSN felt obligated to show made matters worse. Although it was nice to see Boston rally and the crowd make some noise. I'm going to watch game 7 of the 1988 eastern conference semifinals. If you don't know what that game is about I've got two words for you: Larry Bird. And Dominique Wilkins. Okay that was 5 words.