At Boston March 5 7:30PM tv: tv20 This is the rubber game in the 3 game seasonal matchup between the Easts leaders. Pistons won the last time in Boston on that controversial last sec foul call and the Celts won one at the Palace. So this is it. Will a win challange the Celts confidence if both teams keep pace and play each other in the ECF? We will see. Be nice to get this one. Injuries: Detroit: none Boston: Tony Allen SG - day to day Garnett returned from his abdominal strain on Sunday and put up 20 points and 16 boards. The Celtics have not played since then. ESPN Preview
Both games were defensive battles with the losers scoring only 85 points each time. The Pistons IMO need to score at least 94 points to secure a victory and need to protect the paint so that there is no free chilli or layups/put backs. I am not worried that much about KG... just don't leave Ray open beyond the arc and don't let Pierce penetrate. We can get few boards out of Dice, but when it is time to stop them Flip cannot be afraid to put in Amir and Max. Sheed needs to duplicate his performances in Phoenix and Los Angeles and play as this is a playoff game since that is supposedly what he is looking for. I am not looking for the # 1 seed here. I just want the Celtics to worry for the rest of the season that we beat them on their parquet floor twice this season...
Amen...... The seed in meaningless, as been stated we are 0-2 in the Conference Finals with the number one seed. But want to keep the pressure on them to keep winning and playing there big 3 big mins while we keep winning playing the young guns....
This game means nothing to me. I'm ready for the playoffs. Pistons can win by 50 points and it will not keep them from getting swept in the EC finals if they don't "bring it" (as MadHatter likes to say).... I will take nothing from any win or loss garnered here... Let the playoffs begin!
I am burnt out on the regular season already, but this is one game I am definitely looking forward to. I hope we crush the Celts.
I know this used to frustrate me too, got to get the league pass next year my friend. BTW, i feel like we have this year and the next to win a title with our young effective bench.
Personally I think living for the playoffs is what got this team in trouble in the past. Play the games on the schedule and work your game plan. No need to shorted the rotation or treat it as a playoff game because its not a playoff game. Win or lose this one should be pretty close and very entertaining. If there is one game you want to watch this has to be one of them.
Tough play and tough loss. KG is certainly the difference in this game. But I don't see this as dominance, just experience for the Zoo and now we see how they will play us. Great game.
Ugly loss at both ends, the first six minutes and the last five minutes. Down 10 halfway through the first quarter, the Pistons managed to get back to within 1 with about 5 minutes left in the game, but then a total collapse led to a 12-0 Boston run to clinch it. Bad shooting, horriffically poor officiating (both ways)...no fun to watch. A whopping 5 points off the bench was one of the reasons for the loss, as was giving up 20(!!) rebounds to Kendrick Perkins. Celtics pretty much clinched the #1 seed with this win. They're 5 up on the Pistons in the loss column, and with the season series 2-1 in their favor, it's effectively a 6 game lead with the tiebreaker. Pistons have an easier schedule down the stretch, but making up 6 games is very far-fetched.
Humor - ha ha ha I would not take much from this game. They are not going to have one team with 2 days rest at home facing a team who flew in on a back-back during a snow storm in the playoffs. Pistons lost out on all the hustle plays, low FG%, lack of hops on the glass. I agree with Blaha in that you can't fault the effort just the circumstances. Plus Garnett killed us.
The #1 seed could end meaning who gets to play LeBron in the 2nd round. The Pistons might not even see Boston in the playoffs.
