Montage moment

I thought it was over.

I had flashbacks to January 2007, Tony Allen writhing on the floor of the Garden, after the ligaments in his knee had pretty much exploded after he came down awkwardly after a failed dunk attempt.

In the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, I saw Paul Pierce clutching his knee in much the same way, that same grimace that Tony wore almost a year and a half ago on his face.

Much like Tony Allen in January 2007, Paul Pierce seemed to suffer a serious knee injury. (Top: AP Photo, Bottom: Getty Images Photo)

It was over. Pierce was done for the season … possibly next season as well, if Tony's recovery was any gauge. In fact, if Tony's injury was a benchmark, then maybe Pierce would never even be the same player.

The cruelest twist of all. It was over. Seeing Paul being carried off the court and wheeled through the tunnel in the wheelchair, I was convinced of it.

All over.

So, naturally, what subsequently happened was pretty much like winning the lottery. First, finding out that Pierce was headed back to the court … he can walk! Then, seeing him rush to check into the game as soon as he got to the bench … he can play! Finally, getting set up beautifully twice consecutively by Rajon Rondo on the break for momentum-changing threes … he can still take over!!

It was the greatest swing in emotions in an emotionally draining 21 playoff games thus far. And the greatest moment.

Sure, everyone in Lakerland is trying to downplay the emotional lift the C's benefited, convinced it was all a big act and basically calling him a charlatan. Whatever, they can say what they want. I have no doubt that when Paul went down, he, like everyone in the arena, was convinced it was the worst-case scenario. Paul saw Tony blow his knee last year. He saw how bad of an injury it can be for a career. He knew that if it was the same thing, he'd be done for the playoffs. You can't blame the guy for getting lucky, for not having sustained a career-threatening injury. Gimme a break.

At the same time, it's not like he was being heroic by coming back into the game. He was doing what he had to do once he found out he could actually put weight on his leg. Once he found out it was likely only a sprain and not a torn ligament, as was feared, he laced 'em back up and played basketball.

Still, those images of Paul Pierce coming back from the locker room after what – minutes earlier -- looked like it may be the end, the sound of the Garden crowd erupting when he checked in, and the game-changing fast-break threes he hit in the ensuing minutes … those were special. You knew, as soon as he came out of the locker room that something unique was happening. You knew when hit that second three and the Garden urupted, that those images will be played again and again with all of the great Celtic moments of the past 50 years.

Whenever such a series of clips is called for, Pierce's return will be in there, sandwiched between Larry Bird stealing the ball underneath to DJ who lays it in, and Cowens crawling, scratching and diving on an impossible-to-get loose ball.

It was a great moment in Celtics history, and considering what we all felt when Pierce went down, and considering it was against Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and the Lakers, it made it all the more special.

Let's hope that more of them are coming.

More Game 1 thoughts:

• Well, my first wish for the series didn’t come through when Sam Cassell checked into the game at the start of the second quarter. He then goes on to make me look stupid and hit a few big shots, having success backing down Derek Fisher and shooting those 10-foot fall-aways. He even drew an offensive foul on Kobe. Of course, he then resorts to the bad-shot taking, momentum-killing Sam in the second half. So it's a wash. I still don't feel comfortable any time he's on the court.
• I'll admit, I was king of surprised to see Leon get some early burn. And of course, Leon got the most out of his limited minutes, hitting a big shot in a crowded lane early in the second, swishing two free-throws, and grabbing four rebounds in nine minutes. He was late on a defensive cover of Lamar Odom, fouling Odom in the process, so of course Doc will probably sit him for the rest of the series.
• Aside from Pierce's return and dagger threes, I thought the biggest play of the game was KG improbably saving that back-court pass, leading to a Sam Cassell hoop. Instead of a Celtics turnover and a chance for the Lakers to cut it to 1 or tie it with a three-pointer, the lead was five, and minutes later, after a James Posey three, was comfortable at 8. If KG doesn't save that ball, who knows how the momentum swings there?
• Derek Fisher is still a dangerous player. He was doing everything in Game 1, hitting shots, stealing passes, getting his hands on the ball among the Celtics bigs, throwing perfect alley-oop passes … he was the Lakers' best player in Game 1. Rajon has to do a much better job of following him around the court at all times.
• Kobe and Pau Gasol had the pick-and-roll working to perfection in Game 1. It makes you wonder, after Kobe successfully navigated double-teams and found Pau for wide-open layups and dunks early in the game, why he started launching off-balance contested shots later in the game. Oh yeah, I forgot, he's Kobe Bryant. You just knew after set up his teammates for some easy shots that he'd eventually want his, and go away from what was working. That's fine with me. Apparently, fadeaway 18-footers with a hand in his face are "bunnies." Keep it up Kobe, I'm sure the Celtics are fine with you taking those shots.
• Did you catch that NBA, split-screen commercial with Larry and Magic? I couldn't tell if it was a promo for the NBA playoffs or a preview of the next Toxic Avenger movie. That was disturbing. Thank God I don't have an HDTV. I may have fainted.
• What can you say about P.J. Brown besides that the man just keeps getting it done when it's needed. I haven't seen a role-playing big man step up his game this much as each game gets bigger in as long as I can remember. One request though, P.J., I know you hit the biggest shot of the Cleveland series, but it's not a race to get the ball to the rim. The line-drive 12-footers aren't the prettiest or most effective shots. Put a little arc on those bad boys.
• Notice all thee "Ray Allen is back" talk is now old news? He has officially put the slump behind him. That semi-crossover three he had in the first quarter confirmed that. And while hit shooting line wasn't overwhelming (5-13) in Game 1, you can tell how he still has the confidence to hit any shot he takes. And his D on Kobe was sensational.
• One down, three to go. Yeehaw!