If there's anything more annoying than the increasingly weaselly behavior of Rajon Rondo in the Bulls -Celtics series, it's the speculation that Kevin Garnett will play ''Willis Reed-style'' tonight in Game 7.
No. 1, if Garnett is allowed to risk his career on a relatively meaningless first-round series -- and on the spectrum of NBA life and Boston's three-year ''championship window'' with Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, this is a relatively meaningless series -- managing partner Wyc Grousbeck should hijack the TNT sideline microphone from David Aldridge and immediately fire Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers and medical staff. No. 2, the Willis Reed moment occurred in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, not in Game 7 of a first-round playoff series. The Reed moment was one of mythic courage and inspiration for a franchise and rabid major-market NBA fandom that had never won a championship before and has won only one since -- not the ring-heavy Boston Celtics.
Longer-memoried fans will also recall Reed limped out, scored the Knicks' first two baskets and never scored again. Still, his ultra-stoked 'mates buried the Lakers of Chamberlain, West and Baylor 113-99.
Garnett playing tonight would be pathetic and would detract from a series that can only be termed ''supernatural.'' Some force has carried the Bulls this far, and why would that force desert them tonight? Maybe it's Johnny Kerr, maybe it's Norm Van Lier, maybe it's endless Del Negro family novenas back in Springfield, Mass. Something other-worldly has gotten them here.
The Bulls have given away double-digit leads in this series and still stand deadlocked. They've missed layups and free throws, blown defensive assignments and come out of timeouts with offensive and defensive strategies more worthy of Red Klotz and the Washington Generals.
And yet, here they are -- Game 7 against the defending world champions. Micro-business: Hopefully, Vinny Del Negro and staff have finally realized that their most effective quintet is Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Joakim Noah, Brad Miller and John Salmons. Ben Gordon has quite possibly hop-stepped his way out of town. Air-sock Tyrus Thomas might be more impacting with the Jesse White Tumblers.
It is a moment of growth. It is a moment of destiny. Tonight, the Bulls can't lose.
The line: Celtics by 6?.
Jim O'Donnell's prediction: Bulls 108, Celtics 103.
