Dallas 89, Boston 87

This game bore some resemblance to the Oklahoma City game the night before -- only, unfortunately for the Cs, in reverse.

[recap] [box score]

On Sunday, the Thunder dug themselves an early hole, a hole too deep to climb out of. Worn down after cutting a 21-point deficit to six, they faltered in the fourth quarter. Last night, Boston fell behind by as many as 14 in the first half. Unlike OKC, they did manage to fight all the way back, holding a five-point lead late. But they appeared to run out of gas, going scoreless on their four possessions in the final two minutes, while Dallas scored the game's final seven points to steal a victory.

I haven't had a chance to read what people are saying about Rajon Rondo's decision to take a three-pointer down two points with just a few seconds left. (You can see the play at the end of the video found here.) I imagine, however, that many didn't like the decision, given his struggles with his shot.

I am fine with it. It's obviously not the first option, or one of the handful of top options given normal circumstances. But these didn't appear to be normal circumstances. The Mavs had left Rondo wide open. They had blanketed Ray Allen on the right wing. Paul Pierce was posting up Jason Kidd at the foul line, but Shawn Marion was lurking in the lane -- if Rondo passed to either Allen or Pierce, Marion was going to double whoever got the ball, possibly fouling since Dallas had one to give. Rondo's three, with plenty of time to set his feet, may well have been the best shot Boston was going to get.

Moreover, it sure seemed like Boston was hell-bent on shooting a three-pointer on that possession, the philosophy in that case being that they'd either win or lose on that possession, rather than endure their third overtime period in five days. That doesn't explain Pierce posting at the foul line, but that could have just been a decoy. It's worth noting that Pierce, who has never been shy in those situations, didn't appear to be calling for the ball even with the much smaller Kidd on his back. It also may explain why Allen, after rebounding Rondo's miss, dribbled out to the three-point line instead of shooting a mid-range jumper. (Dallas gave their foul as Allen was trying to get out to the three-point line.)

Additionally, if Rondo makes that shot, it quite possibly opens up the floor for future possessions in similar situations. I have a hunch that had he made it, most coaches would not have left him open the way the Mavs did. I know, I know, one made shot does not turn the kid into a good three-point shooter, but I doubt that most coaches are comfortable with the idea of leaving an NBA player wide open for a game-winning look -- particularly when that same strategy had just backfired.

Rondo didn't make it, though, and now the Boston's faced with the possibility that another team might employ a similar defense the next time the Celtics are in that situation. I personally believe that Rondo has to have the green light to take that shot when it is so obviously available. Most important, however, is that Doc be clear with Rondo regarding whether he has permission to take it. Rondo can't be indecisive if he's in that spot again.