Garnett is MVP: most vital presence

The fact is the Celtics could increase their 2006-07 victory total by a record number, and it all begins with Kevin Garnett, who graciously made a case for his teammate as the MVP. Pierce had 27 points (closing the deal with 12 in the fourth quarter) as his own magnificent season rolls on, and Ray Allen had another solid evening (14 points and a game-high eight assists), and Rajon Rondo made a statement against two-time MVP Steve Nash, and Kendrick Perkins had a nice 13-10 evening, and those hustling young bigs put on another show (Leon Powe by drawing a shooting foul from his knees and Big Baby Davis by winning a couple of what Johnny Most would have called "muscle tussles" with the Great Shaq himself). It was a great team performance.

But this game was won in the third quarter, and the man who changed the game was Kevin Garnett.

It was 57-all at the break and the Suns had just hit the Celtics with a 14-for-17 second quarter that featured nine made jumpers by five people. And Amare Stoudemire was doing whatever he wanted.

Amare Stoudemire is a fairly amazing player. Just ask Sam Cassell, who in the course of a 15-year NBA career has seen a few players come and go. And Sam Cassell is here to tell you that Amare Stoudemire is something new and different. Really. Sam says he has never seen another young big offering up this particular package of size (6 feet 10 inches), quickness, explosiveness, outside touch, and take-it-to-the-hoop ambidexterity.

"No," Sam said. "N-o-o-o-o-o-o, no!"

One reason the lad went for a 22-point first half was the fact that Garnett spent so much of it as a spectator. Doc Rivers had to pull him after 5:21 when KG picked up his second personal, and Doc was not pleased. "There should be two fouls on Stoudemire," Doc said to referee Sean Corbin.

When the third quarter began, Garnett was back on the floor and he had a rather determined look in his eye. It was apparent that if Mr. Stoudemire had any ideas about matching that first-half point total, he'd have to answer to Garnett.