Boston Bruisers

[Redz]

Game 5 was easily the most physical pounding the Celtics have dished out in many years.  They were beating up on the Pistons pretty heavily all night.  Two very hard fouls from PJ & Pierce, plus KG got away with a pick on Hunter that was along the lines of the one he threw against ZaZa in game 7 of the Atlanta series.  Perkins was banging hard on the boards all night long.

That's playoff basketball by the C's, and an excellent message to send to the Pistons.  Game 6 is going to be a bloodbath. 

A great win despite the late game jitters.

[Celtic]

I think Perk proved tonight that he can single handedly out-bruise the entire Pistons team. And if there's one thing we know about PJ Brown, no one will get an easy lay up when he is around.

[Redz]

This thread got lost in the post game shuffle last night, but I really would like to hear more on this.  As much as we like to think of Detroit as the "dirty" team, I think the Celts did more dishing than receiving last night.  In terms of defining a presence to their team I think it was a huge step for the Celtics and (if we get there) it sets up more of a classic Lakers/Celtics matchup than we could have imagined. 

All I know is that Detroit seemed to be bellyaching about the Celtics quite a bit during and after the game. 

There has been a ton of talk all year about the Celtics needing to be more physical.  Last night they left the Pistons battered and bruised.  This, to  me, is a really positive sign of learning playoff basketball on the fly by Boston.

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

Love what I'm seeing about the physical nature of the Celtics play. PJ got screwed with that stupid foul call... that was a strong play and almost even a borderline foul, and Garnett actually got some of the ball on his flagrant foul as well. It was still a foul, but no way it should have been what it was called.

The Celtics are doing way more dishing then receiving in this series. They are playing very tough, and the Pistons can't handle it. There is a lot of whining going on, and Sheed's tirade confirmed that the physical nature of this series will be tough for Detroit to maintain with their injury situations (Billups, Hamilton).

KG's pick on Hunter was exactly what the team needed at that time. Hunter has been way too comfortable in this series in the backcourt, harrassing the point guards and forcing Cassel turnovers consistently. KG dropping him (which was exactly the same as the Pachulia pick... even look at the approaches he took going upcourt and then tracking back to deliver a barely stationary pick) might make him think twice about setting up shop in the backcourt and just swiping at the ball. 

[kozlodoev]

I for one dislike the fact that this series is not officiated more tightly. Seriously, this is supposed to be a basketball game, not a bunch of folks mugging each other. When I want to watch that, I switch the channel to professional boxing.

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

I for one dislike the fact that this series is not officiated more tightly. Seriously, this is supposed to be a basketball game, not a bunch of folks mugging each other. When I want to watch that, I switch the channel to professional boxing.

Not officiated more tightly??? Never has basketball been officiated tighter at the pro level! There's no such thing as a good hard foul anymore... they are all flagrants now. Add flopping and all the other ridiculous embellishments, and you have a league that is a wimpy shell of what it used to be. If you hate the mugging nature of these games, you must HATE film of the Bird/Magic/Isaiah era.

[EJPLAYA]

We had 3-4 individual plays where we hit them pretty hard last night, but in general nothing near what Detroit gets away with. Hamilton holds and grabs and pokes and slaps the ball handler every single time right in front of the ref and never gets called for it. Its no wonder we have a tough time coming down and getting into our offense. I don't feel sorry a bit for them.

Did you see that play at the end where Ray was trying to get loose to get the inbound so he was taking the shots and they eneded up passing it up to KG? Ray was being physically held down by two guys before the inbound right in front of the ref and he said nothing. That's a shot and the ball on the side fouling before.

They let Detroits bigs shove KG, Perk, and whoever is in there down low while we get called for cheap stuff. If they complain about us being physical they are insane.

[RonJohn]

I thought the Physicality of the Game was pretty even. We definitely got the more noticeable shots in but Rip Hamilton pushes, grabs, and chokes (play where he hurt his elbow) on every play on either the offense or defense end. Lindsey Hunter fouls on every play. Maxiel is very active and physical.

Our bigs (PERK, PJ) definitely sent a message to the Pistons Bigs last night but it wasn't lopsided affair at all.

[Bahku]

I find it a bit amusing when I see threads like this ... the games today are so much less physical than they were 15 or 20 years ago. True, basketball is classified as a "non-contact" sport, and it's getting so that may soon become the literal truth. Frankly, I would never use terms like "bruisers" or "battered" or "mugged" to describe most of the physicality that takes place today.

The type of "physicality" referred to here, is nothing like what it was. Then of course you have a choice few who take it to the opposite extreme, (like Bruce Bowen, Ron Artest, Jermaine O'neal), who, were it not for the behavior taking place on a basketball court, would be arrested and charged with assault, and should be doing a bit of time, instead of being allowed to keep earning millions at a position they clearly abuse. 

[ScoobyDoo]

I completely agree with EJPLAYA and the others on this thread about the Pistons. These guys grab, poke, push and shove from minute on to minute 48...non stop. It may not look as bad as a single hard foul but it is non stop.

This Piston team is a bunch of wiley Vets who know how to try and intimidate and know how to get away with "alot".

Also, don't forget maxiell's foul on Rondo earlier this year nor Billups elbow to Rondo's back.

The Pistons know the celts are inexperienced and are trying to intimidate.

Celts aren't standing for it.

not only that, our main advantage over their expereince is that they cannot hang and bang with us aroudn the glass. no way. Therefore we need to use that. Not dirty, just physical.

Rasheed cannot hang with Perkins
Nor Mcdyess with Garnett
nor Maxiell with Big baby
nor Tayshaun with Pierce

To me the Pistons are getting exactly what they dish out every game pushing, holding and shoving and bumping every game.

Remember, the thing a bully or someone tryign to intimidate you hates most is getting intimidated back.

Result: Rasheed's tirade.   

[Redz]

I find it a bit amusing when I see threads like this ... the games today are so much less physical than they were 15 or 20 years ago. True, basketball is classified as a "non-contact" sport, and it's getting so that may soon become the literal truth. Frankly, I would never use terms like "bruisers" or "battered" or "mugged" to describe most of the physicality that takes place today.

The type of "physicality" referred to here, is nothing like what it was. Then of course you have a choice few who take it to the opposite extreme, (like Bruce Bowen, Ron Artest, Jermaine O'neal), who, were it not for the behavior taking place on a basketball court, would be arrested and charged with assault, and should be doing a bit of time, instead of being allowed to keep earning millions at a position they clearly abuse. 

No doubt, things were rougher, tougher, and meaner in the bad old days, but this level of physical play by this era of Celtics is something new - and I like it.

[ScoobyDoo]

You combine that constant physical harrassment with the poking, pulling, shoving and holding for 48 minutes with a very talneted and mentally tough Veteran team, you've got a real challenge on your hands.

The Celts cannot back down. They are responding exactly as they need to.

[Bozo]

They ought to nick name Perk:  the Texas Bull.   He is both built like one, and he always has that irritated look in his face: Coming into my territory is like waving the red flag. It just plain tics me off.

[kozlodoev]

I find it a bit amusing when I see threads like this ... the games today are so much less physical than they were 15 or 20 years ago. True, basketball is classified as a "non-contact" sport, and it's getting so that may soon become the literal truth. Frankly, I would never use terms like "bruisers" or "battered" or "mugged" to describe most of the physicality that takes place today.

The type of "physicality" referred to here, is nothing like what it was. Then of course you have a choice few who take it to the opposite extreme, (like Bruce Bowen, Ron Artest, Jermaine O'neal), who, were it not for the behavior taking place on a basketball court, would be arrested and charged with assault, and should be doing a bit of time, instead of being allowed to keep earning millions at a position they clearly abuse. 

You'd excuse me if I take a rain check on what basketball was like 20 or 25 years ago. I am 30 years old myself, and lived in Europe until I was 26.

However, when I played basketball in high school I was, indeed, taught that basketball is (or should be) a non-contact sport. So while some degree of contact is probably unavoidable, what I've seen in this series is not acceptable, at least to my sense of how the game should be played. This is not hockey.

For example, I don't think a player can use his body or hands to impede, herd, or shove the opponent to the extent that this has been happening in this  series. Especially when it happens away from the ball. This is not playing defense. Playing defense is moving your feet and being in position.

For what I care, European basketball is much closer to the definition of the game as a non-contact sport (or at least was, 10 to 15 years ago, when I still followed it).

[timepiece33]

The officials are letting handchecks get out of control in this series regardless of Wallace's tirade.