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May 25, 2008

More Celtics postgame reaction

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – If there’s been one consistent fault with the Celtics this season, it’s the lack of production from their bench on the road.

That all changed Saturday night as the Big Three got plenty of help and the Celts won for the first time in seven playoff road games, beating the Pistons 94-80. While Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Piece combined for 47 points, the rest of the team also put up 47. That balance added up to six double-figure scorers as the Celtics overwhelmed the sluggish Pistons.

The Celtics received strong games from starting center Kendrick Perkins (12 points, 10 rebounds) and starting point guard Rajon Rondo (12 points, 4 assists), but it was the play of the bench that made a bigger difference. When Allen and Garnett picked up two fouls apiece in the first quarter, Doc Rivers went to his bench early and the Celtics didn’t collapse. In fact, they provided the kind of energy and production that’s been missing during the playoffs on the road.

James Posey had 12 points and P.J. Brown, Sam Cassell and Glen Davis all chipped in.

"They were great," Rivers said about his bench. "The first couple of minutes we struggled and then we caught our wind. It’s amazing that the game is strange sometimes. Sometimes you’ve got to get two of your big three in foul trouble to get the others to play."

Detroit coach Flip Saunders agreed that Boston’s bench hurt his team badly.

"In Game Two, what we did is we choked off their role players, and tonight their role players really are the ones that really hurt us," said Saunders. "Garnett had a huge game and Paul did some steady things, but you look at what Perkins did, you look at the guys off the bench when the score is a close game and Cassell comes in and makes a couple big shots, and they go on a 10-0 run to finish the quarter. They took the game over at that point."

* * *
Some of the offensive numbers for the Pistons were downright ugly. Tayshaun Prince hit 2-of-11 shots for four points. Chauncey Billups made 1-of-6 shots and the Pistons managed only 15 assists on 28 baskets. Only Rip Hamilton (22 of 26 points in second half) and Rodney Stuckey (17 points off the bench) played well on offense.

"We kept our bodies on them and tried to keep from fouling," said Allen. "We were aggressive defensively and that really makes a difference."

Saunders agreed that his team’s offense never got into a flow, especially Billups. The veteran point guard has been battling a hamstring injury, but he said his health wasn't an issue,

"On offense, we didn’t execute all the way through," Billups said. "We ran some sets but broke a lot of plays. We didn’t get the ball from the strong side to the weak side."

"I think more than anything he just didn't have a real good game. He didn't play well,” Saunders said of his point guard. "I think when he sat out for a long time, maybe sometimes what happens, the first thing you need to get back when you've been out for a while at times is consistency. He didn't have it, whether he was a little bit slow or sore or whatever from the last game, I don't know. But I'm sure by his own admission he didn't play the type of game that he needs to play and keep the pace we needed at the pace we needed."

* * *
The Celtics began the game with an 11-0 run and the first quarter was filled with emphatic plays. As in dunks.

"They came out and KG got a dunk. Perkins got a dunk. P.J. Brown got a dunk," said Hamilton. "You can’t give up dunks at this time of the year."

The jams were part of the Celtics’ game plan. With the Detroit defense shading Garnett and Pierce, Rivers made a point of getting Perkins chances close to the basket.

"Doc had been mentioning to us about just being active," said Perkins. "They double on Paul, they're going to double on KG. I've just got to make myself available, and when I catch the ball, just got to make sure I finish and dunk."

The early jams spurred Perkins on to his best game of the series.

"The thing for a big man is when you get an early basket or a dunk or something, you kind of get going. It makes you play both ends of the court, so you get a little confidence with your offense when you get an early basket," said Perkins.

* * *
While they both carved out legendary careers as Connecticut Huskies, Allen and Hamilton aren’t exactly friends. Friendly enemies, maybe, but not friends.

Allen was a high-scoring star at UConn from 1994-96. His junior season was one of the best in Jim Calhoun’s years at Storrs, as the Huskies finished 32-3. Hamilton, however, was even better. Not only did he score more points (2,036) in his three years but he also was the leader of the 1999 team that won the school’s first national championship with an upset of Duke in the title game.

With Allen playing the bulk of his NBA career in the Western Conference and Hamilton starring in the East with Washington and Detroit, their paths haven’t crossed much in the pros. But the two Huskies are seeing an awful lot of each other in this Boston-Detroit series. Allen is guarding Hamilton most of the time he’s on the floor. Hamilton made several big shots late in Game Two, helping the Pistons secure a huge win. Last night, the two battled for loose balls and Allen did a much better defensive job.

"I just want my team to beat his team and be able to move forward," said Allen. "If it requires me lying on a grenade, that’s what it’s going to take."

Saunders says he notices the two UConn stars "going at it a little bit. I’m sure they want to show who’s the best from Connecticut."

* * *
It’s rare for two teams from the same city to play this deep into the playoffs in both winter sports. The Celtics and Bruins almost always kept sports fans busy back in the days of Larry Bird and Ray Bourque, but their teams never played in the finals the same season. The last time it happened in Boston was 1974, when the Celtics beat the Bucks for the NBA championship and the Bruins lost to the Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals. (Both series, incidentally, concluded on the same Sunday afternoon in May.) The most recent city-state to turn the double was New Jersey with the Nets (who lost) and the Devils (who won) in 2003.

If the Pistons are able to beat the Celtics, they'll make it a Detroit double. The Red Wings are already in the Stanley Cup finals.

"It shows how huge sports is in this area," said Saunders. "It’s a great sports area and the people here are lucky to see the teams that they do."

The Celtics are not exactly big hockey fans. Asked about the finals, Pierce said "I’m kind of pulling for the young guy, (Penguins star Sidney) Crosby."

kmcnamar@projo.com /401-277-7340

Posted by Kevin at 1:15 AM to Celtics | Permalink

May 25, 2008

More Celtics postgame reaction

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