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The only thing you can say is that the Pistons did not show up, and that’s pretty inexcusable for an Eastern Conference Finals game IN YOUR OWN GYM. The Celtics weren’t dominant, this was a very winnable game. The Pistons got down 11-0 to start the game and made a nice run in the first quarter to briefly get the lead. From that point unfortunately they played the rest of the game uphill being down as many as 24 and in the end losing 94-80. [Box score]

We got next to nothing from 3/5 of our starting line up. Dice (8 pts, 8 rbs) and Rip (26 pt) were the only ones who looked interested. I have to think there’s more to Chauncey’s injury than we’ve been led to believe because it seemed as he tried to run the offense from beyond the 3pt arc. He didn’t look to cut or force the defense’s hand, he was seemed very tentative out there.

A hat tip to Rodney Stuckey (17 tps, 4 asts) last night. He was the most aggressive player on the court, the only one looking to take the ball straight into the teeth of the Boston defense. I think the vets owed a little more to Stuck then what they gave last night. Stuckey’s a rookie, and it shouldn’t be up to him to try to keep us in the game while the others watch.

So, here we are again. Down in a series with our backs against the wall. I have no doubt the Pistons will come out blazing and take game 4, it’s just frustrating that that’s the way it STILL is with this team.