Could anyone ask for more from this series between the Celtics and Bulls? It is by far the most entertaining and exciting to watch. Game 5 was another nail biter as the game was once again won in overtime, the third out of the five games that have gone into overtime, with Paul Pierce hitting 3 jumpers in just over a minute to push the Celtics past the Bulls 106-104. This is like watching the world’s best chess match. These two teams are about as even as it comes and anyone who has been lucky enough to get tickets to see these games, whether in Boston or Chicago, has gotten their money’s worth.

However, from a Celtics’ fan point of view, this win and series has been too close for comfort. I never expected Chicago to be this big of a hurdle for the Celtics. Sure, with Garnett out no game was going to be an easy win but they are hanging on by a thread. The Bulls could have tied this game up and sent it to double-overtime, which would have been very reminiscent of Sunday’s game, but Miller missed both of his free-throws to end the game. It seems like every game either comes down to a last second three-pointer or last second free-throws. Sure that makes for great television, as I’m sure the networks are loving it, and keeps the fans happy but it also begs the question: why are the defending champions having so much trouble with a team that barely made it into the playoffs?

The answer is obvious but comes off as an excuse…injuries. Yes, having KG on the bench is killing the Celtics. Having Leon Powe out for the playoffs is killing the Celtics. There are no big men to match up with the opponents. The Celtics have to play small ball with Pierce, Rondo and Allen hitting the clutch shots. Not to mention that the starters are playing an average of 50 minutes per game. It’s amazing that they still have the legs to keep going. I give them a tremendous amount of credit. Rondo has been playing like a true all-star, getting triple-doulbes, out rebounding just about everyone on the court and scoring more than 20 each game. (Tonight he had 28 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds) Pierce has proven why he is the leader by hitting the important last second shots and Ray Allen continues to display that magical touch of his. The problem is that anytime one of the big men steps on the court, such as Scal, Davis and especially Perkins, he tends to foul out because he is targeted right away. The Bulls know that without Perk or Scal that there is no one to match up with their big guys so they use that weakness to their advantage. The Celtics only answer is to move the ball around and use their veteran experience to find the open guy and hit the big shots. Unfortunately, in this day of top tier basketball, big men are essential to winning. I hate to say it, I really do, but considering the problems that Boston is having with Chicago and the consistency with close games and buzzer-beating shots, as exciting as this series is, I don’t see the Celtics going much farther. I still believe that they can beat Chicago but it will most likely be a game 7 situation, probably ending in overtime with a last second shot by Pierce or Allen. After that, the competition gets steeper and the problems worsen. I love the Celtics. Until the end of these playoffs they are still the defending champions. But this is not their year. Until they get knocked out though, I am going to continue biting my nails, screaming at the television and watching with great anticipation as this series continues because it truly is the best series in the playoffs so far.