[box score] The Celtics’ chest pounding, jersey popping, and primal screaming is sure to be at an all-time high after coming into the Palace and ending the Pistons 11 game win streak.
“They were a little more happy then I know we were when we beat them out there (in Boston),” said Chauncey Billups, who was amused by Pierce’s boast. “When we won, it was just another game for us. They kind of played it like it was the Super Bowl. It’s just a regular game, man, with two good teams playing. This probably means a little more to them and their psyche than it was for us. But they won, man, they won. “(via: Detroit News)
Watching this game I said to myself I’d be writing on how I was disappointed in the Pistons’ performance even if they won and I’m even more so that they lost. I’ll credit the Celtics for their defense playing well and disrupting the Pistons offense. But, that’s no reason to be jacking up long perimeter shots nearly every time down late in the game. To me it looked like Jason Maxiell (and occasionally Rasheed even though he wasn’t hitting) was the only Piston not having an allergic reaction to the paint.
This game resembled none of the previous 11 that were included in the win streak. We were badly out rebounded (50-36) giving up too many (27) second chance points. The sharing of the ball and execution wasn’t there in the second half which it usually is. The bench was outplayed (Thanks in LARGE, pun intended, part to Glen Daivs) 39-23 points and 16-9 on the boards. Because we didn’t get inside enough we shot 39% from the field which the 7/21 from beyond the arc surely didn’t help. To further illustrate how uncharacteristic Detroit’s play was Mr. Big Shot, a 90+% free shooter missed 3 clutch free throws late in the 4th. I hate to sound like a player hating Pistons’ fan but this game seemed like one of those where it was more us beating ourselves than Boston.
I had flashbacks to the Cavs series, but then I remember this was one game in early January. I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t get upset that the Pistons didn’t run these jesters out of the Palace because God knows they had opportunities to do so. But, hopefully they’ll use this game tape to see the numerous break downs.
I will say it was fun to have such a big game in January though. It just sucks that the Pistons have to wait until March to deflate the heads of the Celtics Nation.
Glen frick’n Davis?: Sure, technically he’s “big”, but he’s not one of Boston’s “Big Three” and shouldn’t be a one man wrecking crew in the 4th quarter. The guy can’t even jump! Seeing his big sloppy butt owning the paint had me yearning for “The Soup!” That’s right baby, Elden Campbell. Well, maybe not Elden Campbell, but a player like Elden Campbell that would have prevented the The Stay Puff Marshmallow Man from running a muck in the Palace. Seriously, 16 points in the fourth and it seemed like every bucket was an and one.
Kevin Garnett is a punk: I’ve said it 1,000 times and last night was further confirmation. When Maxy blocked his shot (cleanly I might add) he talks some smack to Max and then tries to shuffle off to the free throw line and clearly wanted none of Maixell who didn’t back down a bit to him. Why only Maxiell got a tech had me puzzled. It appeared, like usual, Garnett was the instigator.









