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Detroit 103 Boston 97: The Detroit Pistons became the first team to beat the Boston Celtics at home in the playoffs, after Boston had won 9 straight playoff games at home. This puts the pressure squarely on the Celtics, who now have to win on the road if they want to win this series, a place where they are 0 and 6. This loss has to be especially hurtful for the Celtics because their best three players finished with a combined 75 points and they still lost the game. The Detroit Pistons are now 4-0 following a loss in these playoffs and now they head home, a place where the Celtics will find it difficult to win.
I thought the key to this game was the bench play. The Celtics got next to nothing from their bench, who only scored a combined 8 points. However, the Pistons had got a big performance out of rookie guard Rodney Stuckey. Stuckey finished with 13 points on 5 of 8 shooting and hit some big shots in the 4th quarter. I don't think the Pistons win this game without Stuckey and I was definitely impressed with the rookie. I saw him play in the summer league and I knew he was going to be good and that he would really help the Pistons this season, but then he got hurt and missed a few months, and that really hurt his development in my eyes. If he started the season from the beginning without any injury, he might be even better by now but he is definitely performing well at the right time.
The starters for the Pistons all brought their games in this one as well, as all 5 scored in double figures. Rip Hamilton led the way with 25 points on 7 of 16 shooting from the floor and more importantly 10 of 12 from the free throw line. The one thing about this Pistons team is that they have some great clutch free throw shooters and when I saw that the Pistons were going to the line alot in this game, I knew that Boston would be in trouble because they were giving the Pistons free points. Detroit finished the game shooting 28 of 32 from the line.
Chauncey Billups looked much better in this game then he did in Game 1. He was more aggressive and finished with 19 points and 7 assists. A healthy Billups is key for Detroit if they want to win this series and right now I would say that he should be good to go for the rest of these games. I also thought Antonio McDyess was huge in this game, as he hit a number of big 15-18 foot jump shots for Detroit with a hand in his face, and finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds.
For Boston, Ray Allen finally snapped out of his shooting slump and joined Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to combine for 75 points scored. Allen, who has been beyond horrible in the playoffs, really got going in this one and finished with 25 points on 9 of 16 shooting. Kevin Garnett had another big night and it doesn't look like Detroit is going to be able to stop him. He finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Paul Pierce also shot the ball well and led the team with 26 points.
The problem for the Celtics is that they didn't get much production out of the rest of the team. Rajon Rondo was the only other guy on the team to score more than 4 points as he finished with 10 points but shot only 2 of 9 from the floor and repeatedly passed up open looks. He did however add 9 rebounds and 8 assists.
With the series headed back to Detroit, I definitely have to favor the Pistons right now. I'm not really sure how the Celtics can expect to beat the Pistons at home after Detroit played them so well in Boston. They are really going to have to dig down deep on defense if they want to win a game in Detroit but the problem is they have been giving up close to 20 points more on the road than at home.
On the plus side for Boston, it looks like the Pistons can't stop Kevin Garnett, if there is ever a time for KG to step up and get a 40 point game in a big moment, well this is that time. With the looks he is getting, it may be his time to carry this team on his back. Paul Pierce has also been effective in both games so far and if Ray Allen has finally found his stroke then the Celtics should be encouraged offensively. Rondo really hurt them in Game 2, so he will have to play better in Detroit.
I thought the key to this game was the bench play. The Celtics got next to nothing from their bench, who only scored a combined 8 points. However, the Pistons had got a big performance out of rookie guard Rodney Stuckey. Stuckey finished with 13 points on 5 of 8 shooting and hit some big shots in the 4th quarter. I don't think the Pistons win this game without Stuckey and I was definitely impressed with the rookie. I saw him play in the summer league and I knew he was going to be good and that he would really help the Pistons this season, but then he got hurt and missed a few months, and that really hurt his development in my eyes. If he started the season from the beginning without any injury, he might be even better by now but he is definitely performing well at the right time.
The starters for the Pistons all brought their games in this one as well, as all 5 scored in double figures. Rip Hamilton led the way with 25 points on 7 of 16 shooting from the floor and more importantly 10 of 12 from the free throw line. The one thing about this Pistons team is that they have some great clutch free throw shooters and when I saw that the Pistons were going to the line alot in this game, I knew that Boston would be in trouble because they were giving the Pistons free points. Detroit finished the game shooting 28 of 32 from the line.
Chauncey Billups looked much better in this game then he did in Game 1. He was more aggressive and finished with 19 points and 7 assists. A healthy Billups is key for Detroit if they want to win this series and right now I would say that he should be good to go for the rest of these games. I also thought Antonio McDyess was huge in this game, as he hit a number of big 15-18 foot jump shots for Detroit with a hand in his face, and finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds.
For Boston, Ray Allen finally snapped out of his shooting slump and joined Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to combine for 75 points scored. Allen, who has been beyond horrible in the playoffs, really got going in this one and finished with 25 points on 9 of 16 shooting. Kevin Garnett had another big night and it doesn't look like Detroit is going to be able to stop him. He finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Paul Pierce also shot the ball well and led the team with 26 points.
The problem for the Celtics is that they didn't get much production out of the rest of the team. Rajon Rondo was the only other guy on the team to score more than 4 points as he finished with 10 points but shot only 2 of 9 from the floor and repeatedly passed up open looks. He did however add 9 rebounds and 8 assists.
With the series headed back to Detroit, I definitely have to favor the Pistons right now. I'm not really sure how the Celtics can expect to beat the Pistons at home after Detroit played them so well in Boston. They are really going to have to dig down deep on defense if they want to win a game in Detroit but the problem is they have been giving up close to 20 points more on the road than at home.
On the plus side for Boston, it looks like the Pistons can't stop Kevin Garnett, if there is ever a time for KG to step up and get a 40 point game in a big moment, well this is that time. With the looks he is getting, it may be his time to carry this team on his back. Paul Pierce has also been effective in both games so far and if Ray Allen has finally found his stroke then the Celtics should be encouraged offensively. Rondo really hurt them in Game 2, so he will have to play better in Detroit.
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