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March 6, 2008
Celtics Grind out a Huge Win; Beat Detroit 90-78
The Boston Celtics are the first team to clinched a play-off spot and added home court advantage against the Pistons, their adversary last night, and expected rival for the Eastern crown. They are now 47-12 and riding a 6 game winning streak.
Paul Pierce had said that this team would be scary if Perkins played as big as he did the other night. He did. It was.
Kevin Garnett had a monster game with 20 first half points in the face of a defense that is as tough as their own, and a season high 31 for the game. Kendrick Perkins turned into a 20 rebound eating beast, with 10 in the crucial 4th quarter, also a season high. The Celtics owned the boards once again as they grabbed 50 to Detroit's 38. They ran out to a big early lead (17-3) and made Detroit play catch up all night.
It was a highly physical game. Playoff atmosphere? Hmmm....that depends on who you asked.
The Celtics jumped out to an early 17-5 lead and held on for a 23-13 1st quarter.
Chauncey Billups said.....
It's going to be a grind every time. It's going to be a grind. It's great basketball. They're not going to surprise us and we're not going to surprise them.
A grind it was. As mentioned, a very physical game was allowed by the refs. But it wasn't a play-off atmosphere for Rasheed Wallace.....
Nah, not for us....not for me. I have been in more intense play-off games. That was a good regular season match up though.
Statement game for the Celtics? Though many players were asked, no one on the Celtics was willing to utter that 'statement'. Why? They already know better. Most every player called it a big game for themselves, and it was. But they know that Detroit isn't going to lose their confidence and fold up their tent because they lost 2 out of 3 regular season games to the Celtics.
Paul Pierce knows about that from past experience as well....
You don't want to get too over confident against them. I remember in 2002 when we were , I think, like 3-1, or 4-0 against the New Jersey Nets (during the regular season) and lost to them in the Conference Finals.
The player that propelled this win on both ends of the floor was Kevin Garnett. We received a sampling of what to expect from him come play-off time. When the game began, he came out firing...and hitting, and setting the tone for his team. From the very first shot, a straight up 16 ft jumper and then a little baseline jumper that dropped right through, the Celtics had the Pistons playing catch up.
Perkins and Garnett are looking...uhmmm...frankly...scary in the middle of late....as in 'scary good'. Perkins has had the best three game stretch, by far, that I have ever seen him have. He has upped his rebounding to the next level, is passing very well, is a little more offense conscious, and still plays tremendous defense.
I asked him about it...
I think it's about the best game I've played all season. It's big. It's big for my confidence. But I can't just get caught up in one game. I think I've been up and down this season, so I'm just trying to keep the consistency.
You seem to have really elevated your game over the last three games. Is that intentional?
Like I said, I just have to be consistent...let you know what I'm going to give you every night. My goal from here is to get 10 or more rebounds a night, throughout the playoffs.
Defensively, this team was as good as they get last night.
Kevin Garnett exhorted Kendrick Perkins a number of times during the game. Kendrick responded with his career high in rebounds, and made life difficult for Rasheed Wallace for much of the night. Wallace tied with Billups for team scoring honors with 23, but was 10-24 from the floor and 3-10 from the 3 point line.
Garnett took 22 shots and Rondo was 2nd with 16 attempts, while Pierce and Ray Allen each took only 9. Paul hit 5, including 3 big three pointers for 15 points.
Rajon made some mistakes (5 TOs and a few questionable shots), but played a bonafide big time, and courageous game overall. He was the team's 2nd leading scorer with 16 points. Rajon Rondo brought the house down in the 3rd quarter when he bolted to the rim for an explosive highlight film dunk, was fouled hard to the head by Jason Maxiell and hit the deck.
While it electrified the team and fans, the Pistons actually managed to recover to tie the game at 69 all in the 4th quarter and get to within 78-77 with 5:38 left, before Pierce hit a clutch 3 pointer to spark a 12-1 finishing kick to the hard earned win.
Ray Allen qualifies as the team's unsung hero. Though scoring only 3 points on 1-9 shooting, he chased RIP Hamilton around all night and did other things that help win a game like grabbing 8 rebounds and distributing 5 assists to the cause.
Glen Davis acquitted himself well, after coming in to guard Rasheed Wallace. He played solid defense, and added 7 points on 3-5 and 4 boards.
The Celtics are now 47-12, have won 6 consecutive games, and play the Bulls at home on Friday.Posted by Tom on March 6, 2008 1:49 AM
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