The Boston Celtics (15-17, 3rd in the Atlantic) welcome former Celtic Chauncey Billups and the rest of the World Champion Detroit Pistons (17-14, 2nd in the Central) into the Fleet for tonight's matchup. A couple of streaks are on the line as the Celtics have won the last 5 games in the Fleet and the Pistons have won their last 4 road contests. This is the second meeting in less than a week for the 2 teams, which met last Sunday in Detroit. The Pistons won that game, 100-88. Tony Allen was one of the few bright spots for the Celtics, notching a career-high 18 points. Gary Payton missed most of the second half after aggrevating a hamstring. The Celtics are inching closer and closer back to .500, having won 3 of their last 4 games. The managed to survive a last surge by the Warriors and hang on for a 84-83 win. Paul Piece led the way with 19 points and Al Jefferson added in a double double, going for 10 points and 11 rebounds. Detroit comes into tonight's game off a loss at Memphis last night, 101-79. Former UConn Huskie Rip Hamilton led the Pistons in scoring despite not recording a field goal by going 14-14 from the free throw line. <div align="center"><font color="DarkGreen">Celtic Keys to the Game</font></div> 1. <u>Commit to Running</u>. They're catching the Pistons on the second night of a back-to-back set and should use their fresher legs to their advantage. Fast break points will be a huge factor in this game. 2. <u>Match their Intensity</u>. While this is the second night of back-to-back games for the Pistons, they lost last night and will be looking to make up for that blunder. Larry Brown is one of the best coaches in the NBA, so look for his guys to be very motivated to put on a good show tonight. 3. <u>Go right at them</u>. Scoring over 33 points a game, the Celtics bench is one of the best in the league. The Pistons are near the bottom of the league in bench scoring. If the Celtics can get their starters in foul trouble early, its to their advantage. <div align="center"><font color="DarkGreen">Key Matchup of the Game</font></div> Richard Hamilton vs Jiri Welsch Coming off an abysmal shooting night (0-10 from the field) Hamilton will be looking to get his touch back tonight. Jiri has to stay with him through all the screens that the Pistons set for Hamilton and get a hand in his face. Jiri doesn't need to match him in points, but his defense on Hamilton is the key in this game for the Celtics. Prediction: The Celtics were embarassed last game out against the Detroit and I expect them to come out with fire and intensity, trying to keep the home winning steak alive. I think they pull it off, too: Celtics 98, Pistons 93.
man that Richard Hamilton is SOMETHING ELSE!! He makes EVERY big shot and makes it look easy. The celtics dont belong in the same building as this team. In the two games theyvve played youve seen every example of why the celtics are where they are and why the Pistons are world champions: talk about toughness and knowhow and leadership in key situations. That said, this was a really awesome game to whatch for about five minutes when the celtics went on that run to get within one in th 4th. EVery game for the celts seems to be pretty much the same story. They stay in it and show BRILLIANT flashes of potential along the way, and then the celtics lose
It was an amazing display down the stretch by the Pistons. I don't care what anybody says, that was a strong showing by Boston. Detroit hit clutch shot after clutch shot, and Boston failed to execute down the stretch. Did anyone else notice GP, when one of those refs tried to call a backcourt violation on Blount, after the ball was tipped away by a Detroit player? I'm surprised that ref didn't start running away. EDIT How could I forget? A Letter To Doc Rivers Dear Coach Rivers, It would certainly be fantastic if you could take a minute to teach some of your players how to actually keep control of the ball when they are trying to catch a rebound. Maybe you could inform them that they don't actually get credit for a rebound if they only have control of the ball for one second. It would also probably be a little bit better for the team if the other team gets a little bit less than 764 offensive rebounds per game. I know you like to preach ball movement, but I think your big men need a refreshment course. Tell them that their sneakers are not on the team, so that means they shouldn't be throwing outlet passes to them. Sincerly, All Celtics Fans.
Great game to watch. Both teams played well. Home Win Streak Over <font color="DarkRed"><font size="1">(I love being able to copy myself. I always have permission!)</font></font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I want to talk about 2 particular plays in the first quarter that I think help ememplify the way this game was played. <font color="DarkGreen">Play 1:</font> Raef LaFrentz makes a big block, the ball gets collected and pushed up the floor by Paul Pierce, who feeds a cutting Gary Payton for a layup that ended up being goaltended by Tayshaun Prince. <font color="DarkGreen">Play 2:</font> Ball pushed up by Jiri Welsch. He feeds Blount at the right top of the key elbow, who then passes to PP at the top of the arc. Blount then sets a screen for PP, rolls off the pick where PP feeds him the roll. The Detriot defense sees this and steps in front of Blount with a double team, to which Blount responds by dropping a pass to a cutting Al Jefferson who rewarded the ball movement with a nice 2 handed rim rocker. By the time both of these plays had happened, it was 22-20 Celtics with 2:57 left in the 1st. The two teams were just operating at almost pure proficiency. I don't want those who didn't see this game to think that everytime Detriot made a run in this one, it was because of defensive lapses <font color="DarkRed">(well, sometimes it was, but....)</font> The defenses for both teams were playing, for the most part, right up in thier mans faces. The offensive players on both sides just didn't seem to notice. The scoring opportunities being created by both teams good passing and team play would have made the shooting percentages go up anyways, but not only were the shots falling, but most of the shots that were being made were "earned" besides. The shooters just seemed to be dominating the efforts of defenders. Both teams shot 59% FG.</div>
Very entertaining game, probably the loudest the Fleet has been all season. As OlSkool said you can see the difference between where the C's are and where they need to be. Every time the Celtics made a run, they couldn't make that one play to get over the hump and take control and the Pistons came right back down and pushed the lead back up. Despite the outcome, I thought it was one of the better game the Celtics have played all year. They fought hard all game, but like I said, just couldn't make the critical basket. Big difference for most of the game seemed to be the fouls called. I know they're the world champs and get the benefit of the doubt, but Jefferson especially was called for some of the most ticky-tack crap. Welcome to the NBA, rook.
definetly some chicken-**** calls in the pistons favor <font size="1"><font color="Blue">Edited for vulgarity.</font></font>
It was a good game, the Celtics played with the Pistons for most of the game...........the costly stretch was right before half when Pistons went on a run to get up 10............the Celtics came back strong, but the Pistons played like what they are, World Champions, because they hit EVERY SINGLE big shot down the stretch.............I cant say the Celtics played a bad game, just the Pistons refused to lose it....................I didnt think the World Champs would lose after getting there asses whipped at home by Memphis, and after having Larry Brown chew them out over effort. Celtics were there with them most of the game. Just cant wait to get to that point where Im not just hoping the Celtics can stay with them, but to that point where Im EXPECTING them to stay with them and even beat them. Patience, patience.....
