If we could read his berry: “Not this year.”

Boston 96, Cleveland 89: What really hurt was the end of the first half. Rondo hit two three’s and Ray Allen hit one and a 13-point lead with about four minutes left in the half was whittled to three at recess. The entire first half was wasted. Props to Rondo for a very strong game – 20 points, 13 assists and one turnover – and even more go out to Doc Rivers, who was wise enough to sit the vastly overrated Sam Cassell. We kept scratching our head when the Celtics went after him – for whatever reason, Celtics fans badly wanted the guy – they were treating Rondo like he was Jameer Nelson or something. We’d take a young, defensive-minded Rondo 9 times out of 10 over a mouthy, belligerent, heat-checking defensive sieve. LeBron was a monster in the first half, and in the second half the shots just weren’t falling. Still not ready to count the Cavs out, because other than two hot streaks for Boston – end of the first half and the first six minutes of the second half – this game was even. The Cavs will need to erase that 11-assist, 16-turnover performance to take game seven, that’s for sure.

Los Angeles Lakers 111, Utah 104: Had to bail after the first quarter. Like the Jazz, love their talent, and think they’d probably beat the Spurs or Hornets. But winning a clutch game in LA just isn’t happening. Beating Kobe (and David Stern) at home in a game seven? Ha. The highlights show Pau Gasol scoring layup after layup, and it actually sickens us because that dolt Chris Wallace gave him to LA for next to nothing. In two years, when the Lakers have a title or two, and when his little brother and Javaris Crittenton have done nothing in Memphis, this may go down as one of the most lopsided deals in NBA history. But before we crown the Lakers champs, Gasol-KG would make for a glorious slugfest. Bynum-KG would have been better, though.