I can't lie and say I wasn't praying to the NBA gods for this matchup, because I was. We love to say how the Eastern Conference has lost its edge, its intrigue, its aura...and largely we're right, but the 2008 playoffs have shown that the Atlantic, Central, and Southeast divisions have new life.
Enter Boston vs. Detroit, the remix! Since the days of Larry Joe and Isiah Lord, this bitter rivalry has since sweetened since the departure of each teams respective hall of famers, dud draft picks, injuries, and just plain ol bad basketball.
Albeit Detroit has rebuilt faster than Boston (thanks to former Bad Boy, Piston GM Joe Dumars),
the Pistons still haven't had that true Eastern Conference rival that fans could clearly choose a side with. Well now Motor City will have their contemporary and LIKE IT!
Point Guard
Chauncey Billups vs. Rajon Rondo
Chancey Billups is banged up...really banged up. That hamstring injury won't hold up against Rondo, one of the faster guards in the league. However, Chauncey may not have to guard him. They may switch Tayshawn Prince to cover that assignment, matching Billups with slower, and unproductive Ray Allen.
Rondo wasn't very consistent during the Cleveland series and is too young to deal with the pressure of a late game situation, so I don't know how he'll deal with Eastern Conference Finals type scenarios.
What it really comes down to is, which pg will hit the shot their team needs them to hit? Even though Rondo has done it this playoff series, Chauncey has made 46 million off of those types of shots.
Advantage: Detroit
Shooting Guard
Ray Allen vs. Rip Hamilton
Okay, not gonna spend much time here...
Ray Allen totalled the following points in the last three playoff games
Game 5: 11 (4 for 11)
Game 6: 9 (3 for 8)
Game 7: 4 (1 for 6)
He averaged 9.3 per game, shot 32% from the field, and 16% from beyond the arc in the Eastern Semi Finals.
Rip Hamilton totalled the following points in the last three playoff games
Game 3: 24 (7 for 20)
Game 4: 32 (12 for 24)
Game 5: 31 (7 for 20)
Ray will have to chase his fellow alum all day...Rip never gets tired and plays just like Latrell Sprewell (Pre-New York). He never gets tired, his mid-range game is all day, and he'll rip you for 25 and you won't even know it. Any questions?
Advantage: Detroit
Small Forward
Tayshaun Prince vs. Paul Pierce
Tayshaun, you've got no chance against this guy. The Truth is too good and is playing at a very high level right now. Last year, you had your hands full with LeBron, Paul just gave him 41...Imagine what he's going to give you!
Granted, Tayshaun Prince is an above average defender with a nice mid-range game, bit of a streak shooter (That's that Kentucky in him), and looks good coming off a backscreen for an easy lay up, or alley oop. But this guys gonna have his hands full guarding one of the leagues most prolific scorers.
Advantage: Boston
Power Forward
Kevin Garnett vs. Rasheed Wallace
Of course it's marquee (we've been simulating this head to head since these guys were playable on NBA Live 95!). But these games aren't going to be pretty... they're gonna be won on second chance points, points in the paint, and offensive rebounds. KG and Sheed will have to show fundamental big man skill to get their teams over the proverbial hump. That's where things get interesting.
Rasheed Wallace doesn't like to go down low, especially LATE IN THE GAME and he's averaging 6.5 rebounds this playoff series. Truth be told, he'd rather patrol the perimeter, like he's Steve Kerr and shoot 3's. Also, Wallace doesn't want to be the hero, and shies away from big plays.
KG is different, he's the Defensive Player of The Year, he knows he's the man, and doesn't mind the ball when it counts. Not only is he averaging 20 per to Wallace's 13.9, he's averaging 10 boards per game too.
Don't get me wrong, sometimes Garnett fades out to that 3pt corner too...buttttttt, he has kept his seven foot frame in the paint when its counted in the previous two series.
Advantage: Boston
Center
Jason Maxiell vs. Kendrick Perkins
Advantage: Tie
Bench
Celtics Role Players
Ok, here's where it gets interesting again. Boston Celtics Head Coach, Doc Rivers has basically spent the entire year working on the development of his role players. Honest to say, he's done a pretty damn good job.
If I need James Posey off the bench, I know the Celtics do. He guards your 1, 2, or 3, can rebound, and hit the three. Not a bad spark.
PJ Brown hit some big effin shots during the last series. Quite honestly, I don't think he minds the mood out there.
Leon Powe is a BALL PLAYER! If this guy can keep himself out of foul trouble this series, look out!
Sam Cassell can be either asset or liability depending on his ability to hit the mid range jay. I mean the dude doesn't play any defense, so if he's not scoring what's the point?
Detroit Role Players
Ok, Detroit's already got one of the deepest benches in the league. Rodney Stuckey is emerging and plays both ends of the floor well. By the way, he's 6 foot 5, so he matches up well with Boston's big guards and small forwards.
Antonio McDyess wants a ring NOW! In the closeout game against Orlando, he gave them 17 and 11. In the previous game, he only had 8 points, but brought down 14 rebounds. You get the feeling that this guy wants to win?
Like Boston's Sam Cassell, the Pistons' have their own resident Wiley Veteran in Lindsay Hunter. The difference between the two: Hunter plays D!
Advantage: Detroit
At the end of the day, Detroit may be a bit much for Boston. Consider that the Celtics have learned to play together during THIS season; the Pistons have been playing together, and in tough situations, for about 5 years. Although talent may favor Boston, the Pistons will be able to identify and overcome challenges as they get late in the game. The longer the series, the more the outcome will favor Detroit.
Can't wait!
D-Con
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