Putting aside any rooting interest for a moment -- I know, not the easiest thing to do in the hours before the fifth game of an unexpectedly grueling playoff series -- let me just reiterate what is plainly obvious to any genuine hoops junkies who have been paying attention to this Bulls-Celtics playoff showdown:

Man, this has been one wildly enjoyable series.

In fact, purely from the perspective of someone who savors watching two evenly matched but entirely dissimilar basketball teams punch and counter-punch each other possession after possession, I wouldn't be devastated if this series goes seven games. And I say that knowing full well that the Celtics need all the rest they can get in their noble (and most likely ill-fated) attempt to defend their title. I'm enjoying this, and I'm not sure I want it to end before it has to.

Consider what we've seen so far, through just four games: rookie Derrick Rose's arrival as a star in Game 1, the Ray Allen-Ben Gordon epic shootout in Game 2 . . . Rajon Rondo's emergence as the Celtics' most indispensable player while averaging a triple-double in the series . . . a lengthy series of what-ifs (Pierce's missed free throw in Game 1, Rondo's rock of a jumper at the end of the first overtime in Game 4) that make you mentally replay the game long after the final buzzer . . . and of course, the highlight reel's worth of plot twists and crucial plays in the double-overtime grind of Game 4. (That game belongs on an endless loop on ESPN Classic. You know, if it showed something other than bowling and poker reruns.)

As for tonight's pivotal Game 5 (you can't mention a Game 5 without "pivotal" preceding it -- unwritten rule), I'm going to stay away from my usual overly hopeful proclamations. You know, these sorts of things:

Paul Pierce is gonna drop 40 tonight. Maybe 45. Why? Because he is The Truth, that's why!

Mark my words: Tonight's the night Mikki Moore is on the court for more than 30 seconds without completing the silly foul/failure to box out/unforced turnover trifecta!

No, for once we'll wisely hold off on the hyperbole here. (Especially on that last one.) Instead, I'm focusing on the smaller things, sweating the details, pondering the logical ways the defending champion Celtics can prevail in this basketball game tonight.

Mostly, it's stuff that's as fundamental as Red on Roundball. They need to play consistent, unyielding, inspired defense, not only against the dead-eye Gordon on the perimeter (assuming he plays, and I am, despite his claim that he needs a "miracle"), but on the interior as well, where Kevin Garnett's absence is lamented with every late rotation by the Celtics' big men and every easy put-back by the likes of Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas. If they play as well defensively as they are capable of -- even sans KG -- they will return to Chicago up a game. It's that simple.