Detroit Pistons @ Boston Celtics: 06-07 Finale

<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span>
April 18, 2007 - 7:30 pm ET
<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">The 06-07 Grand Finale</span></div>

<span style="color:#0000FF">Detroit Pistons</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">(52-29)</span>

<span style="color:#FF0000">PG</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Chauncey Billups</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SG</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Rip Hamilton</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">SF</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Tayshaun Prince</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">PF</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Rasheed Wallace</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">C</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Chris Webber</span>

<span style="color:#FF0000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Jason Maxiell, Flip Murray, Carlos Delfino, Amir Johnson, Lindsey Hunter, Antonio McDyess, Nazr Mohammed</span>

<span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(24-57)</span>

<span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#009900">Kendrick Perkins</span>

<span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green, Leon Powe, Sebastian Telfair, Allan Ray</span>

Injury Report
<span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce is out for season (elbow, knee, foot, eye)</span>
<span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak is out for season (recovering from ankle surgery)</span>
<span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Tony Allen is out for season (torn ACL/MCL)</span>
<span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Brian Scalabrine is out for season (strained left hamstring)</span>
<span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Michael Olowokandi is out for season (fractured bone in left foot)</span>
<span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Theo Ratliff is out for season (recovering back surgery)</span>

Who To Watch Out For

<span style="color:#0000FF">Chauncey Billups</span>
<span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 17.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 7.2 apg</span>

<span style="color:#0000FF">Rip Hamilton</span>
<span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 19.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.8 apg</span>

<span style="color:#0000FF">Rasheed Wallace</span>
<span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 12.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span>

<span style="color:#0000FF">Tayshaun Prince</span>
<span style="color:#FF0000">Season Stats: 14.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.8 apg</span>

<span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span>
<span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 16.0 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 1.5 bpg</span>
<span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 17.1 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span>

<span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span>
<span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 12.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.4 apg</span>
<span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 13.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.1 apg</span>

<span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes</span>
<span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 12.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.6 apg</span>
<span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 12.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.8 apg</span>

Rookie Watch
<span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</span>
<span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 21</span>
<span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">6.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.6 spg</span>
<span style="color:#000000">As A Starter:</span> <span style="color:#009900">10.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.7 apg, 2.3 spg</span>
<span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Leon Powe</span>
<span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 49</span>
<span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">4.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg</span>
<span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Allan Ray</span>
<span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span>
<span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">5.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg</span>

<div align="center">Key Matchup
<span style="color:#000000">vs.</span>
<span style="color:#3333FF">Chauncey Billups</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</span></div>
<span style="color:#000000">Chauncey is clearly a top 5 point guard in the NBA, and he does it night in and night out on both ends of the floor. Should be a nice little matchup for Rajon. Billups probably won't play all that much tonight, but I'm still interested to see how well Rondo can do.</span>

CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes
The end is here. It has been a tough season, but it's only gonna get better.

CelticBalla's Prediction
I don't know who's gonna win this one. Detroit will more than likely play the bench quite a lot of minutes, so we could definitely steal this one. I hope we do, we need to end this season with 2 straight wins. I want to hear the arena cheer when the final buzzer goes off, not a mixture of boo's and dead silence. LETS GO CELTICS!

 

Yeah, Detroit most likely will play their bench big minutes so I could see Boston coming out with the win in this one. Unless Detroit's bench just comes alive, but being led by Flip Murray should make an easy one for Boston.

 

I hope we win this...we need to end the season on a good noteBut the way this season has gone this last loss would just symbolize the entire season

 

This brings a tear to my eye. :no1:

 

happy that the shitfest known as this season is going to be over, but no celtics is no good even if they do suck.I'm possibly going to take the train into the garden to see if I can steal some last minute seats, I really wanna go to this one. win this last one boys. fight and never give up like you have all year. gotta love and respect the fight these kids have put up through all of this.

 

the season from hell is almost overI can almost here those ping pong balls rattling now...

 

I kinda want them to get blown out tonight and for everybody to blame it on Doc in the media, with the fans etc etcIt might make him choke and quit

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Apr 18 2007, 12:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It might make him choke and quit</div>Doubt it, he is most likely gonna get a new contract next season as it has been reported. I'm sure he wont chock or quit even if they lose by 50.

 

The end is near.It's been a good season. We've had our ups and downs, lets win this one for Red and DJ.

 

Gerald is ill, literally

 

That just made me sick. Rondo had a two on one with GERALD GREEN, selfishly he dunked it himself, I MISS TONY ALLEN

 

Go Amir! :dribble: :rock: :yahoo: He is having a good game, 18 pts, 8 Rebs(5 Off.Rebs), 3 blocks, 3 steals

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (arnob_detroitbasketball @ Apr 18 2007, 09:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Go Amir! :dribble: :rock: :yahoo: He is having a good game, 18 pts, 8 Rebs(5 Off.Rebs), 3 blocks, 3 steals</div>AGAINST OUR 9TH STRING :worthy:

 

Wow, good game.. I hope Pistons can get the Buzzer beating game winner.

 

yeah...they're playing their bench too you retardRONDO THOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

yay Flip.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (arnob_detroitbasketball @ Apr 18 2007, 09:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow, good game.. I hope Pistons can get the Buzzer beating game winner.</div>I hate you....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Apr 18 2007, 09:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>yeah...they're playing their bench too you retardRONDO THOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div>why do you have to hold grudges, kid?

 

My game recap and all that good stuff will have to wait until tomorrow afternoon. I was working late and I didn't get home until 9:25 or so, so I only got to see the last 5-6 minutes of the ballgame. For the first time, I didn't get to watch the whole game live. Ugh. Oh well, I'll still watch the replay of it tomorrow and write up my recap after that.

But, I will say, that Flip Murray shot was a KILLER. So reminiscent of Rip Hamilton with the buzzer beater with 0.8 left. Great to see Rondo make huge plays and hit the big free throws, though.

Oh yeah... and Doc... WHY WAS AL NOT IN AT THE END OF THE GAME?!?!