Eastern Conference Finals - Preview

(1)Boston Celtics vs (2)Detroit Pistons: So after a couple of 7 game playoff series that saw that Celtics taken to the brink, we finally get the Eastern Conference Finals match-up we have been waiting for all season. Sorry Cavs fans, but this match-up is much more intriguing than a Cavs-Pistons finals would have been. I full expect this series to go 7 games because these two teams are so even that I can't really even pick a favorite.

One of the biggest factors in this series is going to be the health of Chauncey Billups. We know he is going to play but is he going to be 100% and will he be effective? I'm sure he will have some lingering effects from his injury but he has more than a week of rest and I think he will be productive throughout the series. If for some reason he is not effective, then Detroit could be in big trouble but for now I am going to assume he will be healthy.

So now that we got that out of the way, I can touch on what I think will be the key for the Detroit Pistons if they want to win this series. The key to me is going to be the energy and hustle that Detroit brings each game. If Detroit can out hustle the Celtics then they will have a great chance to beat Boston. Boston has shown at times in these playoffs that they have not always been the team on the floor with the most energy.

The problem for Detroit is that they are a team that takes games off sometimes and doesn't always bring their A-game. So how do you ask a team like this to bring it every possession for all 7 games? I'm not so sure and that is something the Pistons will have to look for inside of themselves to see if they have what it takes to be up to the challenge. I'm pretty sure the Pistons have been waiting to play the Celtics all season in the Eastern Conference Finals, so if they can't find it in themselves to bring it every possession then they only have themselves to blame if they lose.

Another key to this series is going to be the rebounding. Boston took 2 of 3 during the regular season against Detroit and out rebounded them in all 3 games. In the game they lost, they only out rebounded Detroit by 3 but in the two victories they murdered the Pistons on the boards, 50 to 36 and 50 to 38. This goes back to the Pistons having to be the team with more energy and make all the hustle plays. They probably weren't the more energetic team in the two games where they got out rebounded and if they are not in this series either than I'm sure they will get killed on the boards again.

For the Celtics, they need a productive Paul Pierce offensively. Pierce did not play particular well all season against the Pistons, so he will have to step his game up in this series. I have felt all season that it's all well and great that the Celtics share the ball and play this great team game, but there are gonna be times in the playoffs when they need one of their players to take over on offense. That guy needs to be Paul Pierce because he's really the only one capable of doing so on the Celtics. He showed it in Game 7 against Cleveland what is he is capable when he's aggressive and I think he should take the ball to the hole against the Pistons early and often. He couldn't really take Lebron off the dribble because Lebron is more athletic than him but he should have a little more success against Tashaun Prince.

Ray Allen has struggled mightily for the Celtics in the playoffs so far and he will definitely be an X-factor in this series. If Allen can find his shooting stroke, then that is an added bonus for the Celtics who have been winning despite of him so far. If Allen struggles early in games, you can pretty much expect to see James Posey get some more minutes and I wouldn't be completely surprised to see Tony Allen emerge from the bench and play a key roll in this series. I feel bad for Ray Allen that he has played so badly in the playoffs so far but part of me believes he will have a big moment or game at some point in this series that will make up for it.

Prediction: Celtics in 7