Most folks were nervous in the 8th inning with two on and no bullpen to go to. Not me, and my faith was not in thanks to Buckholz. See, the Celtics had just closed out their series with the Heat (a game later than they should have, I know...) but as I said in my last post...ever since the very first night of the 2010 season, when the C's win, the Sox win.
I've got to admit, I didn't watch much of the Sox game, though I was lucky enough to tune in for the key moments, such as Lowell pinch hitting for Ortiz, and then drawing the walk with the bases loaded for the go-ahead run. Then I was back for Ramon Ramirez remembering how to pitch. Really, this was the best he's looked all season, and on a night when Papelbon, Okijima, and Bard were all unavailable, his performance was nearly as impressive as Buckholz himself going 8 and giving up just 1 run.
I won't say much about that Celtics/Heat game, or even the series. Miami was out matched. plain and simple. The Cavaliers are going to be a very difficult opponent, but they're the number one seed in the East, so I'm not telling folks anything they don't already know. However, Lebron shooting with his left hand because his right elbow felt numb and like he hit his funny bone, and he doesn't know what's wrong... Well, I do. See, he's pinching his ulna nerve, and that's bad. I've had three surgeries to repair that very same nerve. My injury ended my little-league career. Lebron's is probably not that bad. However, it can be a debilitating injury, as not only will the elbow sting like bee, but that tingling might travel all the way to the ring and pinky fingers of his shooting hand. That, I assume, would be a problem.
So we'll see how this injury is handled. I hope to see Lebron try another half court shot in Game 1, as its shots like those where he's really throwing that arm out to a full extension, and in my experience, that's when the nerve is most likely to tweak, pinch, or worse. I'd hate for the NBA to lose its star player and for the Celtics to advance because of that, but I will hope it bothers him enough to at least be a factor in the series. GO C's.
Joe Franciosa, Jr.
Copyright 2010
