Bring on the Celts

[silkystud21]

What are your predictions??

Ill say Pistons in 6.

[Ferris_StateHunter]

Tough series thats for sure, the pistons will be playing both the celtics and david stern who more than likely wants the celts to win for better ratings in the finals.. Hmm does that remind you of the league wanting "king james" in the finals last year.. but I hope pistons in 6

[Nascar31Fan]

I'll go Pistons in 6 also. Wouldn't have thought so at the start of the playoffs, but Boston looks vey beatable.

[Can't Touch This]

Going to have to agree with Pistons in 6. Boston has been horrible these playoffs, simply put. They had 2 clearly inferior teams take them to 7. They are either wore out or just aren't a good playoff team. I am not even worried at this point, Pistons can pretty easily take this series. Pistons have proved over and over again star power is irrelevant...

[Blueump]

We have to win one on the road first...then not let them back in with a loss at home, and its in the bag! Pistons in 6.

[farmlegend]

C's in 7. I expect some cheesy whistles going against the Pistons in the 4th quarter of the final game.

I don't expect Allen to have the same POS series that he did against the Cavs.

I'd like to see us have Maxey come in and use up all six fouls per game, putting some beef on Garnett; given all of the minutes KG's put in so far in 14 playoff games, I think we can wear him down.

[MEL]

I dont see any reason that the stones shouldnt be able to go in and steal game #1. Celts should be tired (2 game 7 series), big games over the Cavs. Celts should be pretty tired. If we take game #1 that should set the stage for us. We need to come out strong, foot on the pedal and never let up. If we bring in our best game, we can take the wind out of their sails. That being said, I dont ever know what Pistons team will show up? The one that can beat any team on any day? or the team that will play down to an opponates level. I hope Sheeds head is screwed on right for this series.

[ahasiec]

It really depends what Pistons team shows up~

The team from early in the Philly series, or the team that is taking the underdog role with a chip on theirt shoulders....can't use the Flip was out coached card because he might actually be better than Doc Rivers...

Game #1 should be a good one for the Pistons to snatch....as far as Ray Allen, I think his legs are starting to give out, it's a long season and all three stars have logged long minutes, in addition to playing the max amount of games in the playoffs so far...reminds me of the Pistons a couple of years ago when they flat out were worn out playing in the Conference Finals..

[silkystud21]

C's in 7. I expect some cheesy whistles going against the Pistons in the 4th quarter of the final game.

I don't expect Allen to have the same POS series that he did against the Cavs.

I agree, but I think the cheesy calls are going to come throughout the series. Hard denying that the front office wants a Boston/LA final. No doubt the "big 3" are going to get their share of calls. Stones need to find a way to play thru this and not get caught up i.e. Sheed.

Allen looks tired but I am still afraid he is going to blow up some game. But I dont think he will catch fire the entire series. If hes tired now, wait until he has to chase Rip around for a few games. Expect to see more of Posey.

[GVSUKUSH]

Boston has played 2, hard fought, 7 game series......I think that gives Detroit a BIG advantage, Detroit in 6.

[Boardman Brookies]

It is going to be a hard fought series. I can see this one going 7. The Pistons have the clear advantage. The Celtics have made it this far but they are slowing down. They were up and the Cavs pushed them to seven. This long time off should prove enough for the Pistons to push to the Finals. GO PISTONS!!!!

[sweatyspartan]

I hoping for Pistons in 6 but I can see this going 7 and if that happens its anyone's game

[DaveW731]

First game winner wins the series. If Sheed's head is in the first game, we win. Therefore, the series is all in Sheed's head.......:dizzy:

[MEL]

I cant freakin believe it...I have to freakin work tonight!!!
I HATE RETAILING!!! Cant watch the game.
Well i got tickets to game #4, Monday at the Palace. Told the boss that im not working...and dont even call me in, cause im not answering the phone (gotta love answering machines).

Gotta agree with Dave w731. Sheed will be on KG. He needs to step up and play some tough D and make KG work hard when Sheeds on the O.
I do like the matchups tho. They have a 3 headed monster, we have a 4.
As much as im counting on Sheed, and i hope he plays a great series, They can do a couple things to help win the series:
Run Rip all day to tire out Allen. Feed Tay alot to make PP
play D. C.Bill should be able to punk Rondo over a 5-7 game series. I'd also like to see Stuckey take it to the rack EVERY time he has a spot, this helps break down their D and brings easier points and Fouls against their bigs.

Oh well, enjoy the game fellas.

[Connor4501]

That "tired" Boston team shot 52%. I was impressed with that. I expected them to be dragging tail something fierce. Oh well, can they muster up enough energy to win this series? We shall see.

As for the Stones, a better coached team would have been a little more ready to play at the outset. Sorry to always pin it on Flip, but it is the way I see it. This was the game they desperately needed to steal on the Celts home court...

[Can't Touch This]

Well, someone brought this up and i agreed with it. Boston had all the momentum and confidence in the world going into this game and the Pistons hadn't played in over a week. The lack of rest will likely show up later in the series, but, not really the first game. Heck, the 2 days they had off were the most they had off all playoffs.

IMO, it would've been nice to steal, but, not a big deal. Just come out and play better in the 2nd game and try and steal one then, the Pistons played horrible and were still within 6 with a few minutes remaining and with Boston playing very good. If Detroit plays like they should, IMO, they can steal this game.

Billups.....please wake up and take this Rondo kid to school son, this kid has no buisness playing with you deep in the playoffs and you just allowed him to outplay you. Show him next game why your name is "Mr.Bigshot" just take him to school.

[MEL]

Well i didnt see the game, but the reports ive heard say we lost it in the 3rd qtr. From the sound of it we looked a little rusty and didnt shoot very well. I hope that we come out strong in game #2. No matter what happens, we must win one game in Boston. I was thinking the 1st game would have been the easiest one to win. I hope as the series wears on that the rest will favor us. And wear them down. C.Bill didnt have a very good game, but he hasnt played in a while so he was bound to be rusty. Lets hope they take this loss as a kick in the axx and go out and get it done.

[SpawnSac27]

"Mr. Bigshot" needs to start hittin' some big shots!!!

[Salmonous Maximus]

"Mr. Bigshot" needs to start hittin' some big shots!!!

Clearly C.Billups is not 100%, or even 75%.....it's gonna be tough I think..:(

[Connor4501]

My opinion is that home court will mean as little in this series as it has in any series played in these playoffs this year. I think either team can win on each other's court. So going down 2-0 to Boston would not be in the Stone's best interest. Boston beat us at home during the regular season and the Stones got a win in Boston. Every game will be a toss up and entertaining to watch...

[Can't Touch This]

Clearly C.Billups is not 100%, or even 75%.....it's gonna be tough I think..:(

You know, he has been saying he was 100%, then he had a bad game and NOW he says he is not quite 100%, sounds like bs to me personally. I doubt he is 100% but from the little bit of the game i caught he didn't looked slowed by his hammy too much. He only took 6 shots and only went to the line 4 times...that is more of a sign of being unassertive and not being aggressive than being injured. I think he will start tearing it up like he should vs this team.

Billups really irks me sometimes when he disappears like this, like last year vs. the Cavs, he could've easily scored 20 a game on them. He has to be aggressive and be a scorer first in this series...

[ahasiec]

I don't think Chauncey can score 20pts anytime he wants, but then again I think Chauncey is the most overrated player on the team...

[Can't Touch This]

I don't think Chauncey can score 20pts anytime he wants, but then again I think Chauncey is the most overrated player on the team...

Vs. Boston with Rondo guarding him, yes he certainly can. There are only a few select PG in the league that can guard him, and Rondo ain't one of them, we saw in the regular season when Chauncey took him to school over and over again.

I am just hoping it was rust from not playing in nearly 2 weeks, i am thinking Billups will definitely play better. If he can't score like he can with the injury, he should still be able to run the offense by setting up teammates. I think tonight Billups either scores 20+, or has one of his 12/12 or 15/12 games. I would also like to see Rip get it going as Ray Ray can't keep up with him.

[Can't Touch This]

Here is a good read for all Pistons fans, definitely so true...

Pistons/off (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=jackson/080520&sportCat=nba)

[Boardman Brookies]

What a great game 2 tonight. The Pistons played great D. RIP had a great game to lead the in scoring. Once again Mcdyess played like a man on a mission. Chancey had a much, much better game tonight than the last. Stuckey came of the bench and had a great 3rd. They started shooting lights out in the fourth to pull out the 6 point win. Back to the PALACE!

[Steve]

Yes sir.

[Can't Touch This]

Great game, great b-ball on both sides. Both teams played great D, but better offense. The big 3 combined for 75 points, and despite that the Pistons still pull of a victory. Now to take care of homecourt....

[silkystud21]

I loved when the ESPN announcer lady said "Thanks" to Rip at the end of the both interviews and he replies with "Yessir".

[Blueump]

Everyone came up big tonight! All starters in double figures, and huge contributions from the bench. It seemed we just couldn't miss sometimes. Rip looked spectacular, and Stuckeeee off the bench looked like a veteran. My only concern is still with CB. He came away hobbling again; I don't like the looks of this.:rant:

Lets just hope they don't relax at home. My "steal" one in Boston and then hold out for the rest of the wins at home looks like it just may pan out!:corkysm55

[William H Bonney]

Are you guys really seeing "great" defense :confused:?? I can't get it through my brain that that's what I'm seeing:dizzy:. I see stupid mistakes and turnovers by the offense's.

[Blueump]

Are you guys really seeing "great" defense :confused:?? I can't get it through my brain that that's what I'm seeing:dizzy:. I see stupid mistakes and turnovers by the offense's.

I don't think I've ever seen "defense" played in the NBA. Its usually about who can score the most in the time allowed. That's why I love college ball so much more.

[MEL]

Good D will force turn overs and cause mistakes!!! I havent seen "Great" D played in years, from any NBA team. Its just that the Stones can play D better than most every other team out there. Its not great, but i guess if you compare it to teams like the Suns, than it is great D. Compare it to the Bad Boy years and this team wouldnt have a chance. Just the nature of the league now.

But all in all, i dont care how they win, just as long as they win. I liked seeing 5-6 guys step up and have good games. Stuckey was key here and played a real nice game while he was in. Lindsey, played like Lindsey. He put on the pressure like only he can, and hit some shots.
If we can continue to get 5-6 guys going every game thats gonna be hard to beat. The Celts arent good enough to stop everyone we have, when ther-re hitting. Our ball movement looked realy nice and the extra pass helped to get us some easier shots. I'd still like to see out guards take it to the rack alittle more. Points in the paint are higher percentage and helps to break down their D. Not to mention the chances for the fouls!!! Get PP or the Ticket in foul trouble and they will have to play a different
game.
But a nice win, we needed to win one in Bostons house
to win the series. Now its back to our crib. Lets see how we play with home court.
I'll see ya all at the game on Monday!!!! (got me some of those cheap nose bleeds)

[D-Fresh]

First off, great game by the pistons last night. Secondly, this is the time of the year when I absolutely love to go to the opponents home newspapers and read columns by their sportswriters. Most of the time they whine and complain about bad calls and that their team got screwed. Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe (who kind of annoys me on ESPN's "around the horn") actually wrote a decent column on last nights game. Very well written IMO and respectful, something you cannot say about the freep most of the time...:lol: I just wonder how Boston feels right now, they pretty much played their best game (minus bench production) but they still lost. Now we will see what they are made of, and see if they can suck it up and actually win a road game.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/05/23/playoff_class_was_on_display/?page=1

[Connor4501]

49-30 Boston...Maybe the Stones will "decide" to play in the 2nd half. Lord knows with this team, the players make the decisions, not the coach...

[Boardman Brookies]

What a great game tonight! The ballers from the D win 94 to 75. Mcdyess played the game of his playoff career tonight. The bench played great as well. There was a point when Maxiell scored 6 straight and really helped them push the lead. All tied up now.

[ahasiec]

Game 4 had to be the worst officiated game I have seen in a long time...at one point, the Celtics had 3FG made and 18 points on the scoreboard...sooner or later the officiating is going to catch up with the league...if anyone thinks that the NBA doesn't want the Celtics and Lakers in the Finals, just watch this game....but tonight, even the officiating could not bail out the C's......

[Can't Touch This]

Game 4 had to be the worst officiated game I have seen in a long time...at one point, the Celtics had 3FG made and 18 points on the scoreboard...sooner or later the officiating is going to catch up with the league...if anyone thinks that the NBA doesn't want the Celtics and Lakers in the Finals, just watch this game....but tonight, even the officiating could not bail out the C's......

Yeah, it wasn't necessarily bad officiating, but, really really soft officiating allowing no contact. I am hoping that doesn't continue in Boston. Also, Billups has to find his shooting touch for the Stones to win this series, but it was good to see him shooting and being aggressive nonetheless.