Celtics-Pistons Redux: Boston Seeks Revenge in Detroit

As we all predicted, the first game between the two best teams in the Eastern Conference came down to the last possession. 

Paul Pierce had a chance to win the game and missed, giving the Pistons the last shot. 

Doc Rivers decided that Tony Allen was the best bet to stop Chauncey Billups. 

A pump fake (that everyone knew was coming) and an Allen foul (that sadly, everyone also knew was coming) later, and Billups was sinking the game-winning free throws. 

Round One, Pistons.

Round Two is tonight at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Tonight’s game is as good as it gets in January in the NBA. The Celtics and Pistons are a combined 54-10. The Celtics have won eight straight games; the Pistons have won 11 straight.

Something has to give...

What the Celtics have to do to win the rematch

1) On the final possession, James Posey covers Chauncey Billups.  Tony Allen cheers him on from the bench. 

If Doc looks towards Allen again, Kevin Garnett should pull a Jonathon "Mox" Moxon from Varsity Blues, pretend Doc is the mascot, and "accidentally" take him out with an "errant" pass.

2) The Celtics need to keep Rajon Rondo out of foul trouble. 

Rondo is critical to the Celtics offense against good defensive teams that can press.  Eddie House and Tony Allen are nice players, but they can’t bring the ball up the court against pressure. The Pistons know this. 

3)  The Celtics need to defend the perimeter. 

The Pistons hit nine three-pointers in the first game.  They had issues getting inside on the Celtics’ bigs, but had no trouble at all getting open looks on the outside. 

The Celtics need to get hands in the faces of the Pistons’ perimeter shooters.

4)  The Celtics need to dictate matchups. 

Paul Pierce can score on Tayshaun Prince. Kevin Garnett is a much better player than Rasheed Wallace. Ray Allen can get his shots against Rip Hamilton.  The only decided advantage the Pistons have is Billups against Rondo. 

The Celtics need to take advantage of the good matchups and do a better job of staying away from the bad ones.

Who’s better?

Until the Celtics (or someone else) knock them off, the Pistons should be considered the best team in the East—no doubt, no argument. 

But man for man? Outside of point guard, the Celtics are either evenly matched or just plain better at every starting position.

So why do the “experts” think the Pistons are a better team?

The arguments I hear most are experience and depth.

Can’t argue the experience factor. The Pistons have been there and done that. They’ve played big games; they’ve won big games. 

As for depth, though, it’s a myth. A fallacy. An untruth.

Fact is, the Celtics are arguably deeper than the Pistons. I mean, Lindsey Hunter or Eddie House? Jason Maxiell or James Posey? Arron Afflalo or Tony Allen? Primoz Brezec or Glen Davis?

So why the perception that the Celtics have no bench?

The Celtics traded five guys for Kevin Garnett.  After the trade, they literally had no bench. 

Literally.

The only guys they had under contract were the immortal Leon Powe, an injured Tony Allen, Brian “Garbage Time” Scalabrine, and a couple of second-round draft picks.

Predictably, the “experts” seized on depth as the reason the Celtics wouldn’t win the Eastern Conference. Funny thing happened, though—while everyone was talking about their thin roster, the Celtics signed Scot Pollard, Eddie House, and James Posey.  

Then Tony Allen got healthy and Glen “Big Baby” Davis ended up being a much better player than expected. 

Those five guys formed what has turned into a pretty decent bench. 

As a matter of fact, you’d be hard pressed to find another team, Pistons included, with a more productive second unir. 

But the perception, for some reason, hasn’t changed. 

Who wins tonight’s game?

Keeping in mind that I accurately called the Pistons’ win in Boston back in December (just pulled a muscle patting myself on the back), my prediction for tonight’s game is a Celtics win. 

I think, as they’ve done with their other three losses, the C's learn from their mistakes, make the appropriate corrections, and get their revenge.

Does this mean anything outside of a regular-season victory? 

To the Pistons, no.

They don’t need this game any more than they need any other regular-season game.   They have nothing to prove. They're good, and they know it.

To the Celtics, yes. 

They need to prove that they can beat the other best team in the East. 

Forget convincing you and me—they need to convince themselves.

No team has ever started 28-3 and not won an NBA championship. But in the East, the road to the NBA finals goes through Detroit.

I'm SeanMC.

http://bostonsportsrants.blogspot.com