"His Rock is His Thing"

The Chicago vs. Boston series is already being discussed in certain circles as the greatest non-championship series in the history of the NBA. There were seven overtimes in 6 games, 65 ties, and 108 lead changes. The passion and determination on both sides were unmatched, and the "greatest ever" talk might very well have some creditability. Rondo and Rose gave glimpses of the future of the point guard position in the NBA. Peirce and Gordon brought their effortless workmanship type game every night. And a guy named Glen Davis stole ODB's nickname, truncated it, and continues to pass it off as his own. It is not disputed that each game every team, every player, toiled with intensity and diligence. But who prevailed?

"There is no more dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labor."

Both the Bulls and the Celtics (minus KG) have little more then a glimmer of hope versus the Magic, and even less versus the daunting Cavs. Perhaps the answer is both teams found victory in their masterful series. They both must have been oblivious of the Herculean task set before them. And in this unawareness they found their joy.

In the mythology of Sisyphus he is condemned to roll a massive rock up a mountain. Once Sisyphus and his rock reaches the top the rock rolls back to the bottom and he must repeat the task. Albert Camus contends that Sisyphus is only tragic when he becomes conscious of his task.

"A face that toils so close to stones is already stone itself!"

The Bulls in their defeat found hope and victory. Utilizing the sum of their parts and forcing the defending champions to a seventh game was the rank victory. The Bull's, like Sisyphus, next journey lies in the descent of the mountain and resurrection of a new season.

"If the descent is thus performed in sorrow, it can also take place in joy. "

The toil of the Celtics continues, but not in vain. Their eternal hope is present and latent. Their peregrination will continue and then conclude. And again they will roll the rock.

"I leave Sisyphus at the foot of the mountain! One always finds one's burden again. But Sisyphus teaches the higher fidelity that negates the gods and raises rocks. He too concludes that all is well. This universe henceforth without a master seems to him neither sterile nor futile. Each atom of that stone, each mineral flake of that night-filled mountain, in itself forms a world. The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy."

All quotes: Albert Camus, " The Myth of Sisyphus"