Celtics/Pistons Preview
I was a lot more excited for this series one month ago. Nonetheless, it should still be an all out war, very physical, half court style of play, exactly what the Eastern Conference is all about. That just may not translate so well to the average NBA viewer. Everyone expected these two teams to be here, battling it out for a trip to the Finals; we just assumed the Celtics road would have been a lot easier.
Some things to consider-
Chauncey’s Health
Billups’ ability to come back at 100% from his hamstring injury will be a huge factor in this series. Chauncey is the engine that makes this Detroit team function at its highest level, and his presence on the court makes them a different team. My boy Rodney Stuckey filled in admirably in the Orlando series, but this is a different ballgame, and Billups’ leadership and intangibles will be necessary for Detroit to succeed. Expect him to play physical against the young Rajon Rondo, backing him down to the post and bodying him up any chance he gets. If he can take Rondo out of his comfort zone, the Celtics will have a difficult time initiating the offense.
On the Road Again
The Celtics have been playing with fire. They may have been able to get away with it against the 37-win Hawks and the unimpressive Cavs, but it won’t work with the Pistons. Boston has given their opponents too many opportunities to steal a game in the Garden, an opportunity that the veteran Pistons will capitalize on if given the chance. The C’s need to step up their intensity and show that they can play at the high level we thought they were capable of all season, and that means defending their home court (which they’ve done but without authority) and being able to win on the road.
How will the Celtics Score?
The Pistons bring some excellent individual defensive players to the table in this series. With Tayshaun Prince guarding Paul Pierce, and Rip Hamilton on Ray Allen’s corpse, the Celtics may have trouble scoring from the perimeter. Pierce is a tougher match up for Prince than Iguodala or Rashard Lewis were in the first two rounds, but Tayshaun is still an all league defender who has lock down capability. KG should be able to get his 20ppg against a montage of Rasheed, McDyess, and Maxiell, but the Celtics will need to get scoring out of their wing players to have a chance here. Someone other than “the big 3”, and I use that term very loosely, will have to be a regular contributor in the scoring column.
Boring
These are probably the two best half court defenses in the league, and therefore, expect a slow paced series, with not much up and down action. The Celtics have held opponents in the playoffs to 86ppg on 40% shooting, while the Pistons defense is at 87ppg and 44% respectively. This style of play should limit turnovers, as the pace will not be frantic. The ability for either team to take advantage of turnovers and turn them into easy transition baskets will be key, as they should be few and far between.
Although this series will lack highlights, it should be a well-played contest. Will the Celtics season of destiny continue? Or will the Pistons put an end to KG and the boys’ season, showing them who the real best “team” in the East is? The two teams come into the series from opposite ends of the spectrum, with Boston struggling to get here while Detroit handled their opponents with ease since they decided to turn it on midway thru the opening series vs. the Sixers. If Chauncey is 100%, I think the Pistons have too much for the Celtics to handle. I don’t see Detroit taking any games lightly in this series, and will be able to match, and even surpass, Boston’s intensity level. The Pistons will steal one of the first two games in Boston, and hold court at home.
Detroit wins 4-2