by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni
The Boston Celtics didn’t get the memo about their funeral supposedly taking place last night in Game 5. Instead, it was the New York Knicks who were buried, and now have their backs firmly up against the wall facing a pivotal Game 6 back in Boston.
Jason Terry, never one to shy away from a big basketball moment, says the Celtics won’t be declared dead until their casket is closed.
That day is not soon, according to Terry. Per WEEI:
The “Game 7″ theme repeated itself before, during and after Boston’s 92-86 win in Game 5 Wednesday night. As a result, Jason Terry and the Celtics have a Game 6 on Friday night at TD Garden. Terry led a blazing [11-for-22] effort from 3-point range, drilling [5-of-7] from beyond the arc as the Celtics overcame an early 11-0 hole to beat the Knicks and become the 11th team in NBA history to force a Game 6 after being down 3-0.
“We know every game for us is a Game 7,” Terry said. “We played with tremendous resiliency. The last two games we were able to make shots and play solid defense.” As for his inspired 17-point effort off the bench, Terry said he felt the same as he has all series. “I am pumped every game whether I am making or missing [shots],” he said. “It is all about being resilient. ‘Do you want to pack up your things and go home or do you want to play another day?’ Every playoff series takes a life of their own. Nobody in here is going to quit. It shows you how resilient we are. We know we are starting to jell as a team. Injuries have plagued all season long, but in this series it is all about heart. I believe in this team, the coaching staff. We have a lot of basketball left in us.”
The pressure is now squarely on the Knicks’ shoulders, as they try to avoid becoming the first NBA team in Playoff history to squander a 3-0 series lead.
Boston appears to have gained the mental edge heading into Friday night’s Game 6. The Celtics aren’t dead yet, and New York will have a tough time closing that proverbial casket.
