I touched on this yesterday, but only because I knew I wanted to do more on it today. Stephon Marbury saved the Celtics last night with an amazing 12 point burst in 6 minutes in the 4th. The first basket was scored at 11:04. The last point came on a free throw at 5:54, after he drove it right at Dwight Howard and drew the and-1.
He took the shots with confidence. He might have been the only one on the floor not wearing #34 to do so. He did what Rajon Rondo couldn't do: make Orlando pay for its defensive strategy.
For all of Rondo's progression, he's still too tentative when there's a big defensive presence in the middle of the lane and when he misses a couple of shots. Steph taught Rondo a lesson in this one: play with confidence, and your game will come.
“When I got into the game Paul (Pierce) had just kicked me out two shots and I missed both so when I went back in I was locked in,” said Marbury, who after going 0-for-4 in the first three quarters was five-of-six during that pivotal six-minute stretch. “The timing was right for me to go in and do what I did.
“My mindset was to try and create something to change the flow of the game.”
Stephon Marbury changed this game for the Celtics. He deserve a lot of credit today.
Herald: Rally in 4th allows Celtics to take advantage | Taking a shot proves worthy | Magic make themselves disappear | Baby apologizes | Globe: Magical comeback | Game 5 photos | Defensive buzz | Allen's best has been missing | Souza: Magic disappearing act | Celts shock Magic | Megliola: C's get it done the hard way... again | Camerato: Howard points the finger at Van Gundy | Petraglia: Starbury to the rescue
