Celts Beat Pistons 4-2, Advance to Finals!

LA Lakers lie in wait for Eastern Conf winner

Ladies and gentlemen, I hate to say it but the Los Angeles Lakers are on a roll. They advanced to the NBA Finals after finishing-off the San Antonio Spurs last night and now can rest up for the winner of the Pistons vs. Celtics series. The Lakers outplayed the defending NBA champs (beating them 4-1) and have been playing the best of any team so far in the playoffs.

If they had their choice, Lakers' fans would like to face the Celtics in the Finals. Many think a Boston vs. LA match-up would be a return to the NBA glory days, but I just don't feel the series would be all that good for the league. The Lakers are just playing too good right now and the Celts are still struggling to find their playoff mojo.

Plus the Celts don't match up well with the Lakers. Who could guard Kobe? Who can keep up with Odom along the baseline? Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are already exhausted from guarding the likes of Joe Johnson, LeBron James, and Rip Hamilton this post season. Also, Doc Rivers hasn't managed his bench well in the playoffs, so the team isn't playing the same stellar team defense as it did during the regular season and the Lakers' have the best offense in the league! In contrast, Phil Jackson has gone to the same rotation he did during the regular season and as a result everyone knows their role and the Lakers have been humming like a well-oiled machine.

Believe it or not, the Detroit Pistons probably match-up better with the Lakers than the Celts. They have cagey veterans who have played together for years, they play more a more intense, pressing defense, and their offensive movement could cause a lot of problems for the Lakers.

Don't get me wrong. I would love to see the Celts in the Finals again, but not if they're going to get rolled! It's one thing if a young, Cinderella team like the Cleveland Cavs makes it to NBA Finals and then gets swept by a dominant team like Spurs last year. But an uncompetitive series between the two top historical franchises only dilutes the entertainment value of the league. If a top rival doesn't even stand a chance against the best team in a league, then why bother to watch the sport? Then again, that's why they play the games...because anything can happen in sports.

Game 5: Let's not repeat history

In 1991 the Celts faced the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Semis. It was Larry Bird's second-to-last year as a pro and the year Dee Brown pumped up his Reeboks to win the slam-dunk title. Just like in 2008, the Celts held a 2-1 series lead after winning the all-important Game 3, but then the wheels came-off and Detroit won the next 3 games to take the series 4-2.

1991 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Detroit Pistons over Boston Celtics; 4-2)

• Game 1: Pistons 86 Celtics 75
• Game 2: Celtics 109 Pistons 103
• Game 3: Celtics 115 Pistons 83
• Game 4: Pistons 104 Celtics 97
• Game 5: Pistons 116 Celtics 111
• Game 6: Pistons 117 Celtics 113

2008 Eastern Conference Finals (2-2)

• Game 1: Celtics 88 Pistons 79
• Game 2: Pistons 103 Celtics 97
• Game 3: Celtics 94 Pistons 80
• Game 4: Pistons 94 Celtics 75
• Game 5: @ Boston
• Game 6: @ Detroit
• Game 7: @ Boston

The Grim-Ripper

He's a great player and seems like a solid citizen, but how does Richard 'Rip' Hamilton get away with all the hand checking and holding game after game? He plays well over 40 minutes and barely gets 4 fouls, yet he's aggressively slashing to basket and picking up his guy at half court all game long.

Pierce picked-up 2 questionable blocking calls when Hamilton drove the lane in Game 2 and Ray got called for a foul when Rip jumped into Allen while taking a shot from the baseline, yet Hamilton gets the benefit of the doubt. Plus he's even more aggressive on the defensive end. Hamilton constantly hand checks, hip checks, and swipes at the ballhandler but doesn't get called for a foul when on D. In Game 1, he gave KG a forearm to the head while fighting through a pick yet didn't get called but the best was when he held onto KG's arm with two hands and it was Garnett who picked up his second foul in the first quarter of Game 3!

I'm not sure what's worse, Chauncey Billups' leg kick to draw a foul when he shoots or Hamilton's hand checking? Maybe it's because he's so skinny and non-threatening looking or maybe it's the fragile protective mask he wears that makes the Refs think he's really not that aggressive? Either way, the Refs have to stop protecting the Pistons and letting them get away with this crap or the Celts won't have a chance this series!

Game 3 Shockah!

Who knew the Celtics could win again on the road, in the playoffs, and in Detroit? More importantly, who knew they could do it with House, Powe, and TA logging DNP's and Ray and Pierce only combining for 25 points?

After losing for the first time in the playoffs at the Garden Thursday night to the Pistons, the Celts lost their home court advantage. But they turned right around and took it back Saturday with a dominating 94-80 victory at the Palace in Auburn Hills, MI.

Led by KG's 22 pts/13 rebs and a double-double from Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics won their first road game since April 14th! James Posey, Rajon Rondo, and Perkins each had 12 points and PJ Brown, Sam Cassell, and Big Baby all played crucial minutes. However, when KG and Ray both picked up their 2nd fouls in the first quarter, it was the energy and stellar play by two 23 yr olds, Rondo and Perkins, that lifted the team and kept Detroit at bay.

Now the percentages are in he Celtics' favor as 76% of the time the winner of Game 3 goes on to win the series. There was no particular formula for the road victory last night, but it does seem that as Rondo and Perk play, so do the Celtics. Who knew?

Round 3: Celts Beat Pistons, Clinch Play-offs

Celtics Get Revenge- Beat Pistons in Round 2

Wow, what a game! Saturday night the two best teams in the NBA Eastern Conference squared-off in the second match-up of the season and this time the Boston Celtic beat the Detroit Pistons 92-85 at Auburn Hills, MI. First year player, Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis contributed 16 points down the stretch to defeat a Pistons team that won 11 straight games.

This game was not on National TV but too good to pass up, so I cancelled my HBO (luckily ‘Entourage’ doesn’t start up until June) and forked over the big bucks for the NBA Package. I never thought I would be spending any money on NBA entertainment but the 2007-08 Boston Celtics are a special team and on a record breaking pace, so every game is a must see event.

These games are fun to watch but also important for Boston GM Danny Ainge. With two open roster spots, Ainge must determine what assets are needed for the Celtics to compete for a title down the stretch. Before ‘Big Baby’ stepped up in the second half, the Celtics struggled when Kevin Garnett got into foul trouble. The challenge to back-up Garnett and to support Rajon Rondo at the point may be addressed January 10th when teams have to decide whether to guarantee contracts for the rest of the year. After that date, the Celtics may be able to pick-up a couple needed pieces that could lead to their first championship in 21 years. In the meantime, with a 29-3 record the entertainment value is well-worth the price.