ECF Game 2 Pistons at Celtics 5/22 8:30 PM ESPN

[kevingamble34]

If we play like we did tonight 3 more times, we win 3 more games and take this series in 5.  The Pistons made tons of huge shots, the refs also gave them every benefit of the doubt, and gave us none, and they got every break. 

We are the better team, and we will prevail.  I am now expecting the C's to take 2 in Detroit.  If we get an even shake from the refs, I even expect both of those games to be 20-point blowouts.

Positives: 1) Good to see Ray shoot well.  2) This Detroit team will never shoot this well again.  3) The refs couldn't possibly be worse.

Negatives: 1) Tony Allen - gave us nothing.  2) Doc's rotations still screwy 3) The refs were laughably bad.

[rrc589]

Why did we lose?

2 interrelated reasons . . .

1. Poor Defense
2. Rodney Stuckey singlehandedly outscored our entire bench.

[ma11l]

Hey Boston, especially Comcast SportsNet, the Pistons are a great basketball team.  Let's stop overlooking them please, you would think a lesson would've been learned from the first two rounds.  This is a different animal, a proven winner.  Game on, let's see if we're championship material or not.

[Celtic]

Hey let's not forget, Rocky had to lose one to Clubber Lang to get his mind right.



But what did he do? He came back and won in the end.

[Las Vegas Asian]

Tonights Officials:

                        Home W/L Record     Home Record ATS(Against the Spread)
Sean Corbin            48-20                         45-23
Steve Javie               42-33                         32-43
Tom Washington    52-26                         47-30

Keeping true to the "Home-Cooking" playoff format for Game 2. The one thing that sticks out to me is Steve Javie actually has a winning record for the road team against the spread. Not to accuse Mr.Javie of being in cahoots with Donaghy, but to me every little thing concerning the NBA's officials is magnified in light of the betting scandal. Just something to think about if we see any questionable calls tonight.

Javie still keeping Donaghy's legacy alive!!! 

[kevingamble34]

When Rondo plays bad, and Eddie plays just OK, why didn't we see Sam a little bit in the second half?

I hate losing to the Pistons so much, I hate the way they play, this stings big time.  I wish Robert Parrish could go out there and punch Rip Hamilton and Billups like he did Laimbeer.

[tanner]

Good news is that Ray's back.  Bad news: We have to win one on the road.

Detroit's D was excellent.  Ours wasn't anywhere as good.  But then again Pistons don't have two non-shooters on the floor that the Celtics can cheat off.  All of their starting five can shoot. We must be on top of our defensive game to beat these guys.  We can't run if they keep making shots.

Rip hurt us the most down the stretch.  His motion initiated all their offense and they got open looks.  I don't think we're making him and Billups work at the other end as much.  Rip looked like he had plenty energy to keep going and run around screens for another quarter or two.  Billups played like he's not hurt anymore. He still is but  we didn't attack him enough. Their rookie Stuckey came up big. Rondo was all over the place--had 8 assists and 9 rebounds but not the smartest performance.

[Who]

Hmmm ... first game the Big Three combined for 75 points. That's their season high.

Pierce had 26, Ray 25, KG 24.

[Aussie Celtic]

Tough loss, but this series is now officially out of the bag.

It will be interesting to see how we respond now that the "comfort" of home has been taken away.

If we really are good, then this should just be a set back, not a fatal blow.

I still believe.

Ray's back, Paul and KG never went away and the defense will return.

Go the Green !!!!

Cheers

Aussie

[CelticBalla32]

Tough, tough loss. You guys can check out my game recap at this link.

[ma11l]

"I can't think of anything better than to make 50,000 people from New York shut up" - Curt Schilling


50,000 or 20,000, New York or Detroit, it's all the same.  Max has said the Celts from the 80's prided themselves on winning on the road.  If this team is gonna be champions like them then they have to learn how to do it sometime.  Have the right attitude, bring some confidence, we have the talent, especially if Ray can bring that performance to Auburn Hills, we can win one, not "steal" one, but WIN one on the road.  Let's prove that we're a championship caliber team and go in there and beat the Pistons on Saturday night.

[Bahku]

Hmmm ... first game the Big Three combined for 75 points. That's their season high.

Pierce had 26, Ray 25, KG 24.

Yup ... and the bench did nothing! Many reasons for this loss, but the biggest is the bench ... they really let us down in this one. Other than KG, the "Bigs" were pretty lame in this one as well.

The one best thing to take away from this is Ray, obviously ... this team does not play it's best ball without him, and having him back in a groove could be the one thing to really get this team back to playing their best ball, (which they haven't played since the first series).

[tanner]

Hmmm ... first game the Big Three combined for 75 points. That's their season high.

Pierce had 26, Ray 25, KG 24.

Big 3 scored but it was mostly jumpshots and many of those were not the wide-open variety they had last game. It's good they made their outside shots.  Detroit defended and trapped Pierce better in the pick-and-rolls. How many times was Paul able to attack the basket?  3 times.  Detroit doubled KG at times, also made it harder for him to get good position and the ball at the post.  How many points did KG score in the paint?  8 points.

[Edgar]

Hmmm ... first game the Big Three combined for 75 points. That's their season high.

Pierce had 26, Ray 25, KG 24.

Big 3 scored but it was mostly jumpshots and many of those were not the wide-open variety they had last game. It's good they made their outside shots.  Detroit defended and trapped Pierce better in the pick-and-rolls. How many times was Paul able to attack the basket?  3 times.  Detroit doubled KG at times, also made it harder for him to get good position and the ball at the post.  How many points did KG score in the paint?  8 points.

just for the record ray and pp works a LOT for their scores
a little very little to say poor box out
and second oportunty shots given
that killed us

[tanner]

Hmmm ... first game the Big Three combined for 75 points. That's their season high.

Pierce had 26, Ray 25, KG 24.

Big 3 scored but it was mostly jumpshots and many of those were not the wide-open variety they had last game. It's good they made their outside shots.  Detroit defended and trapped Pierce better in the pick-and-rolls. How many times was Paul able to attack the basket?  3 times.  Detroit doubled KG at times, also made it harder for him to get good position and the ball at the post.  How many points did KG score in the paint?  8 points.

just for the record ray and pp works a LOT for their scores
a little very little to say poor box out
and second oportunty shots given
that killed us

No, wasn't alluding to that.  Was just explaining to Who why I thought Detroit's D was excellent.  They took away the things that killed them in Game 1.