Comeback for the ages

I still don't really believe what just happened. Before I even start let me just inform you I'm going on about four hours sleep and it feels like somebody is continuously gut-punching me.

I was around when the Celtics did this to New Jersey in 2002. Down 21 points in the fourth quarter, they found a way to come back and win what was dubbed the greatest comeback in NBA playoff history. I actually missed the entire first three quarters of that game because of work. I remember my dad picking me up and informing me we were down by about 20. I kept saying, "It's not over ... we can do this". The same thing happened last night, and the Celtics did it again. Now when you google "greatest comeback NBA playoff history", not only does the 2002 game come up but a certain game from June 12, 2008 appears as well. I'm still in shock.

It's almost time to celebrate a championship, old friend. (Globe Staff Photo / Barry Chin)

Last night there were so many opportunities to give up on this game. At one point I thought about turning it off and writing what would've been one of the angriest posts the Internet has ever seen. It was going to be Lewis Black sans the comedy. Somehow, I stuck with it. The first half was brutal and almost too much to take. I sent out texts saying I wanted to stab my eyes out because it would be less painful than watching this; my friend told me he wanted to drive into a tree. Everything was in the depths of despair. I kept trying to stay positive; saying we could do this. Eventually - it happened. Let's break it down quarter by quarter.

First Quarter

The Celts started off slow, only if slow meant absolutely atrocious. It didn't take long for the game to get out of hand, all while Kobe hadn't even made a field goal. Guys like Radmonovic were burying threes while I was burying my fists in the wall. I tried so hard to get into the game but every time the Celtics managed a basket, the Lakers would storm back and score six unanswered. KG picked up two quick fouls and I continued my internal monologue questioning whether or not he will ever lead us to a win in this series. I was thinking poorly of him and really of the entire team at that point as the quarter drew to a close. As ABC went to commercial, the graphic emerged letting us know this was the largest Finals deficit EVER after one quarter. That one hurt, luckily my co-worker just informed me they probably did this on purpose just so they could make the comeback. Too bad she wasn't around to tell me that last night as I shattered everything within reach from my couch.

Second Quarter

The first quarter was bad but this was almost harder to take. The Celtics found a rhythm at one point and went on a 12-0 run. Still, the Lakers kept making shots. Kobe wasn't scoring but he was doing a great job facilitating the offense. I kept trying to talk myself into this game. I love the NBA; one of the main reasons is because I know no lead is safe. I won't lie though; when Farmer hit that three-pointer as the half expired I felt like that might be it. An 18-point deficit at halftime is tough to swallow, much like throw-up in my mouth after watching the Celtics' despicable performance.

Third Quarter

This was our quarter. It had been all series, and all season for that matter. I told my friend we needed to cut the lead in half by the fourth quarter. They got it down to 12 (seriously though, DOWN to 12, is that an oxymoron?) and I started believing. The Lakers called an immediate timeout and came back strong pushing it back to 20. The Celtics wouldn't quit though; not on this night. Pierce hit a three, then made a layup. House hit a three; Posey got a layup. Ray Allen hit a couple of free throws and a layup and all of a sudden it was an 11-point game with three minutes remaining in the third. At this point I think my ears started bleeding - but maybe it was the 14 tomatoes I just devoured (have you heard they've been linked to salmonella - yeah, me neither). I would've been comfortable with anything in single digits, but when P.J. ended the quarter with an emphatic dunk to cut the lead to two I almost clapped my hands into stubs. I like to pretend I'm Scalabrine and cheering on the sidelines from time to time. My hands still hurt.

Fourth Quarter

With everything on the line for both teams, they came out sluggish in the first two minutes. Soon thereafter Kobe and Pierce started battling. I can't say enough about Pierce's defense on Kobe in the second half, and specifically the fourth quarter. He was playing lockdown defense. Of course Kobe still scored but he wasn't carving out the defense and creating offense for his teammates like the first half.

E-House hit some big shots and brought some very necessary energy on the road. Pierce, KG, and Allen all added some offense in the final minutes and James Posey hit some HUGE threes, including one fade-away with a minute to go to stretch the lead from two to five. Ray Allen's layup was big, but that Posey off-balance three was the definition of clutch and why we signed the proven winner.

15 Down; 1 To Go

It's not entirely over yet. The Lakers are still a good team and I'm not counting them out; I'm way too superstitious for that. The popular split-screen NBA commercial ends with "there's only one," and now that holds true for the Celtics. One more win from this season's destiny. After everything Paul Pierce and the fans have gone through the past 10 years; the Celtics have three chances to end it. I don't want to jinx anything but I think it's pretty safe to say we're the better team and we've been down the longest road. The Celtics will tie an NBA record for most games played in a season on Sunday with 107. They've been counted out by almost everybody in the national media for the past two series, but they have three big opportunities to prove all of them wrong and add a necessary exclamation point to this season.

Bullet Point Mania

• I know I do more badmouthing of Doc than most, but big ups to him for coaching an incredible series up to this point. Besides the whole Sam Cassell debauchery, he has out-coached one of the greats in Phil Jackson. If the Celtics can pull off one more victory in this more-than-memorable season then maybe I'll pass on all the "fire Doc" chants at the Garden next year. Unless he doesn't play Scalabrine 35 minutes a game in which case I'll be calling for his head on a platter.
• The NBA debuted the newest split-screen commercial full of this year's playoff stars. Truly impressive commercial. If my body wasn't frozen I would've been rewinding that bad-boy on the DVR. Why was my body frozen you ask? Well, when my team makes a big run I don't move a muscle. If I do I will ruin everything. I've convinced myself of this. I have problems. Help.
• I'm pretty sure Vujacic killed somebody trying to console him on the bench during the timeout after Ray Allen burned him for the game's last field goal. That's a three-game suspension, right?
• I still can't get over the emotional rollercoaster we were taken on last night. I need about 30 valiums right now just to get back to normal. Anybody have Rasheed Wallace's number?
• A lot of people are saying Ray-Ray should be the Finals MVP up until this point. I'm still going with Pierce. He has done it all this series; even providing the breath-taking moment in the Garden when he ran out of the tunnel after we thought his season and our lives were over. His defense on Kobe in the second half last night was second-to-none. He's been the leader of this team throughout the playoffs.
• Can we stop all the Kobe/Jordan comparisons now please? You think MJ would ever go out and tell the media his team "wet the bed" after a big loss. For that matter, would MJ ever let his team fail and not take all the blame for it? Kobe is not MJ. Kobe is Kobe - an incredible player and an even more incredible jerk.