Bulls-Celts: Whoah

I don't even know where to start with this one. If you have been in a cave for the last week and a half, the Chicago Bulls (7 seed) and Boston Celtics (2 seed) have been locked in a unbelievably exhilarating first-round playoff series in the NBA Eastern Conference.

Tonight was Game Six, and down here in Indiana, we had to listen on ESPN1000 while delivering pizzas. Grainy AM radio reception on a rainy night just makes for quality basketball listening, don't you think? I really like the Chicago radio team, which consists of Chuck Swerski and former Bull Bill Wennington, and tonight they got to call what was no doubt the game of their lives.

The Bulls beat the Celts 128-127 in triple overtime to force a deciding Game Seven. This series has, so far, had seven overtime periods in six games. Aside from the snoozer of a Game Three, no game has been decided by more than three points either way.

Here's Gene Wojciechowski's take on ESPN, entitled "Please let this series keep going". Also, ESPN's AP copy with accompanying highlight video from SportsCenter.

The Tribune has Celtics veteran Ray Allen quoted as saying that this is the "best series I've ever played in," and other observations here. Allen scored 51 tonight and still somehow lost to the Baby Bulls.

Here's what Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald had to say (picture from Herald website, thanks guys).

Look. There have been a lot of playoff series in the history of the NBA. A lot. Tons of good Finals games, tons of good conference finals matchups, even some very exciting first round series.

I don't think there has ever been a series, in ANY sport, let alone the NBA, that has been as tightly contested, nerve-wracking, and exciting as this one. Period.

These guys, on both sides of the ball, are absolutely playing their hearts out. So a toast to Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and John Salmons, Ray Allen and Ben Gordon (the UConn Gunners), Perkins, Big Baby, Tyrus, Kirk, and Big Goofball Brad Miller, and of course to Joakim "Juwanna Man" Noah. You guys are freakin' amazing. Here's to a quadruple-OT game on Saturday night.

EDIT: I gotta link to the Sports Guy here. A great article. And another photo from espn.com that I just had to throw up. Any guesses as to what KG is saying?