Wednesday night’s game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals saw the Milwaukee Bucks steal one against the Boston Celtics. For Boston, playing at home, having a double-digit late, breakdown defensively, it was just an awful way to lose.

Tonight, it was on to game 6 in Milwaukee, with the suddenly millions of ‘diehard lifelong Bucks fans, prime-time game on ESPN, presumed verbal ball washing of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the ‘scrappy, gutty’ Grayson Allen, whom I loathe (cough overrated, cough dirty player, cougu protected because he played for Duke), my coughing fit aside, it has the markings of a game best viewed with the sound muted.

Then, the game started. I must admit, for all the reasons above, and not having Robert Williams at Center, to try, yes I try to stop Giannis, (he is an incredible player), I wasnt too optimistic.

In thinking about, Game 5, I felt the Celtics settled for the 3 too often. I know that’s a big part of their game, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, they all are proficient from deep. But, I felt like, go inside, go at Giannis, make him overcommit, get him in foul trouble, let his over agression and recklessness take him out of the game, then start raining threes. But, that didn’t happen, they blew a big lead, and here we were at Game 6.

The game began with the Celtics launching threes, you can mail me that arm chair Coach of the Year Award, but this time, the threes were going in!!! It was hard not to get that excited sense of ‘Game 7’ very early on.

Now, I fully expected Giannis to get his. I expected a big game from him, I expected the cut aways to the crowd going nuts inside and outside the arena. I expected it all and my predictions came true, Antetokounmpo was a beast, he had 44 points and 20 rebounds, the last person to do that in a playoff game was Shaq, pretty impressive company. And, oh by the way, Antetokounmpo finished with 6 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks! He’s like a taller version of Brian Urlacher, size, speed and quickness with the strength and physicality of Steve Atwater, he’s just built so solid. I’m smirking now, remembering, a bump to backdown Marcus Smart last night, poor Marcus went flying and Antetokounmpo dunked hard. It was one of those moments, were you just said, ‘wowwwwww’

BUT

Remember, the hot start the Celtics had? Well, they continued to shoot well for the majority of the game, and do all the things necessary to stave off elimination, win game 6 on the road, and get to a game 7, at home on Sunday. It was truly a team effort in all phases.

Ultimately, the Cs were led by Jayson Tatum. Now, Tatum, like Giannis, is the ultimate team guy. A star that does everything, but he doesn’t have to lead the stat sheet or be the center of attention on or off the court, I’m looking at you, Kyrie.

On this night, Tatum did it all, took his team on his back, and led them, willed them to be victorious. 46 points, including 7 shots made from deep, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. It was just punch, counter-punch, all night long, and the shots and the effort by both stars and teams, it was awesome to watch.

And, oh by the way, the New York Rangers won their Game 6, yes on the road, forcing a Game 7 at home Sunday night against Pittsburgh. Please spare me, the ‘well Crosby didn’t play!!!‘ whining of Penguin fans, the Rangers were better and luckier than Pittsburgh on this night.

Sooooooo, Sunday from 3:30 till about 11 should be fun in the Connery household! Be back next week with recaps of it all. Have a great, happy and safe weekend all.