MVN - Most Valuable Network

Boston Bakes Pistons 88-79

Image details: Detroit Pistons v Boston Celtics, Game 1 served by picapp.com

So much for the “rest versus rust” argument.

Dispatching Orlando early enough to take a week off didn’t do the Pistons any favors as they looked like the tired team, the out-of sync squad. The idea that Boston would be beaten before they even showed up was nice to fantasize about, but far from the truth. They came out hungry and aggressive and Detroit played the gracious guest; shooting horribly and supplying the turnovers.

The Celtics went right at them, feeding Kevin Garnett (26 points, 9 rebounds) who went right to work scoring eight in the first and 14 in the half. He got the better of Rasheed Wallace (3-12, 11 points) at both ends of the floor gave Boston an aura of control all game. We kept waiting for the Pistons to “turn it on”, but the lines were down throughout the Celtic storm.

Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo were just as lethal in their key match-ups as well. Tayshaun Prince (16 points), the Piston stopper, played lethargic against Pierce who gave Boston a solid all around game with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists and would quash any hope the Pistons could muster with his clutch shooting. While he had some nice assists, he did throw the ball away on occasion, something Detroit can perhaps capitalize on later in the series.

The return of Chauncey Billups landed with a resounding thud. While his mere presence brought about a calm for the team, his play was erratic and he sat for what I felt was extended periods of time for someone who proclaimed himself 100% ready to roll. What was suppose to be a decided advantage against Rondo, it was the Celtic guard who captained the game with precision point play.

While Billups (9 points, 2 assists, 2 steals in 31 minutes) looked to have some go in his game, he often times looked hesitant and cautious, things Rondo was not as he compiled a solid 11 points, 7 assists and 5 steals with a single turnover. The Pistons often switched defensive assignments putting Rip Hamilton (5-13, 15 points, 6 rebounds) on Rondo to protect Billups, who would take the struggling Ray Allen.

Antonio McDyess played solid offense (14 points) and had a game-high 11 rebounds, but still is lost on defense and is killing momentum with untimely turnovers and bad decisions. Time and time again, his help side defense was too late or too soft, allowing too many open lanes to the rim and if fouling, not hard enough to make Boston earn it from the line.

Both Lindsey Hunter and Rodney Stuckey played well at times, but it will have to be better if Billups remains a question mark. Boston is going to put the ball in Pierce’s hands to initiate the offense and he needs to be pressured out top as he can be forced into turnovers as we saw Tuesday night. Detroit simply did not match the defensive intensity of the Celtics and while they are out to a 1-0 series lead, the Pistons need to steal one in Boston at some point.

Were the Pistons sucked in to the favorite’s role? One they would rather not have? Maybe. Fact is the pressure was on the team that succumbed to it. Flip Saunders dressed both Amir Johnson and Jarvis Hayes, and neither saw a minutes action, something I was a little surprised at, but perhaps felt a shorter bench was wiser. I disagree. Johnson’s athleticism and Hayes’ offensive game should have been at least explored in this game.

Boston needed to keep winning at home because they have struggled on the road; they did. Detroit needed to come out and make a statement and show that they would be rested, not rusty. They didn’t.

Game two on Thursday is critical for Detroit and getting a win may shift that pressure to the Celts heading back to the Palace. While inactivity may have a part in the poor shooting, it shouldn’t have been a reason for the poor defensive play, something that will have to change quickly.

“We had just too many mistakes defensively,” veteran Lindsey Hunter stated. “There were just too many coverages blown. Rust has nothing to do with coverages blown.”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at 9:38 am and is filed under Chauncey Billups, Ray Allen, Rodney Stuckey, Rajon Rondo, Amir Johnson, Lindsey Hunter, Paul Pierce, tayshaun prince, Boston Celtics, NBA, Detroit Pistons, Basketball, Richard Hamilton, Blogroll. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.