CBW Review, 1st half Game 32 Celtics at Detroit Pistons Sat, Jan 05 2008

[Snoopy the Celtics Beagle]

PREGAME:

The buildup to this game was a lot like a fight.  It didn't have the 
cachet of a Celtics/Lakers game--yet.  But both teams to this point 
have been destroying their opponents like Godzilla vs. Bambi.  The 
last game was decided on a fluke last second play that put Chauncey 
Billups at the free throw line with essentially no time left.  A two 
point loss that had the C's many detractors insisting they weren't 
among the NBA elite.

Time and records since then have proven those idiots wrong, and now 
the two teams come together again, with nearly identical seasons thus 
far.  This time, they would meet in Auburn Hills, where there's a 
history of rugged basketbrawl being played, dating back to the days 
of Bill Laimbeer's pathetic attempt to intimidate Robert Parish, 
which ended with Laimbrain in the third row.

Both teams came in off wins the previous night, and both teams were 
riding a winning streak.  This time, the Good Guys were determined to 
show everyone who the best team in the NBA really is...the Boston Celtics!

The Celtics started the expected lineup of Kevin Garnett, Paul 
Pierce, Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo, and Ray Allen.  The Pistons, 
responded with a lineup of Tayshaun Prince, Antonio McDyess, Rasheed 
Wallace, Chauncey Billups, and Rip Hamilton.

FIRST QUARTER:

Perkins won the Tipoff and the Celtics advanced into the offensive 
end of the court.  Ray Allen's initial attempt was partially blocked, 
but the ball came back out to Garnett, who froze the defense at the 
free throw line, then whipped the ball into Perkins who slammed the 
pumpkin down through the hoop to give the Good Guys the opening score 
and a 2-0 lead.

The Celtics played excellent defense on the Piston's opening 
possession, forcing Billups into a deep shot clock three, which, drat 
it all, went in.  Boston wasted no time going back on offense, as 
Garnett drew McDyess into an early foul.  As Pierce tested Prince's 
defense, he dropped the ball to Perk, who nailed a sweeping hook shot 
to give the lead back to Boston.  If Perkins can consistently make 
that shot, he's going to be damn near impossible to stop on the box.

A quick shot by Billups was as quickly rebounded and back came the 
Celtics again.  It was clear that Detroit's defense was focusing on 
Allen, Garnett and Pierce and they were leaving Perk absolutely wide 
open, so he scored again, prompting Tommy Heinsohn to quip, "After 
the first minute of this game, he's gonna make the All-Star team!"

The Pistons early offense was focused on opening up the three point 
shot, and Boston was doing a nice job making that tough for 
them.  Meanwhile the Celtics offense was to take whatever the Detroit 
defense left open.  Pierce faked the pass then drew a 2nd foul on 
McDyess while shooting.   Jason Maxiell entered the game for McDyess 
as Pierce went to the free throw line, making both.  This continued 
the recent trend of the Celtics doing extremely well overall at the 
free throw line.

Maxiell promptly went to the hoop, eschewing the three point line, 
and getting Garnett to foul him on the shot as the C's continued 
their policy of no easy hoops.  Justice prevailed, though, as Maxiell 
missed both free throws.

The C's continued to run and attack the basket, though I think 
they're still a little too quick to throw it back out to the arc if 
the defense stiffens up.  But their speed up the court allowed Rondo 
to nail a jumper before the Detroit defense knew he was 
there.  Detroit was also moving the ball up quickly, though they 
tended to stand around more once the ball was in the 
frontcourt.  They nearly had a 24 second violation after a backcourt 
violation wasn't called.

Maxiell was keeping the Pistons in the game early on, making another 
hoop by storming into the lane.  He was the only Piston so far really 
looking inside, and it was paying off.  Garnett then picked up his 
second foul on a drive to the basket of his own, ironically, running 
over Maxiell.  KG sat with 7:34 left in the first quarter, as James 
Posey took the court.

Billups drove the baseline and Rondo just couldn't avoid the foul, 
but it was ruled before the shot so it was a possession foul...which 
is good, given Chauncey's free throw shooting percentage.  It still 
irks me that we actually drafted this guy and then threw him 
away.  Somebody whomp Rick Pitino for me, ok?

But Maxiell was making himself a Celtic killer, blowing by Perkins 
and scoring another basket.  Ray Allen was trying to atone for the 
previous night's lack of offense and turned it over on an offensive 
foul.  Meanwhile, no foul was called as Rajon Rondo was bleeding from 
a trip to the hoop.  They cleaned him up and sent him back to the 
front...er, into the game.

Maxiell continued to make a pest of himself, forcing a turnover, and 
the pace of the game slowed considerably, to where the Pistons liked 
it.  Finally, time out was called with 5:36 left in the opening 
quarter and Boston leading it, 10-9.

Following the timeout, the C's tried to play a faster pace, to no 
avail, as Detroit came back and took their first lead with 5:05 left 
in the first quarter, 11-10, which capped an 8-0 run by the Pistons.

Boston really showed their offensive problems without Garnett in the 
middle and Detroit was poised to make a run.  Only the Celtics 
defense stood between them and a huge deficit.  A 24 second violation 
showed the Celtics holding their ground as Tony Allen came in.

But without Garnett, Rasheed Wallace muscled his way to a basket, 
increasing the Detroit lead to 5 points with 2:52 to go in the 
quarter.  Timeout was called with Detroit holding a 15-10 lead.

When play resumed, the Piston continued doubling Pierce, gambling 
that his teammates on the floor couldn't make up the offense with KG 
on the bench.  So far, it was working all too well, as Rondo was 
taking far fewer shots than in the previous game and few of those 
were going in.  The minute Garnett was out of the game, Detroit went 
inside and that was working far too well.

Boston couldn't score any points, and Detroit's big men were getting 
to the basket far too often.  Finally, Tony Allen hit a shot clock 
jumper for the first Boston points in over seven minutes.  the first 
quarter mercifully ended as Detroit controlled almost every aspect of 
the game from pace to style of play, and took a 22-12 lead into the 
second quarter.

SECOND QUARTER:

Scot Pollard and Glen "Big Beagle" Davis entered the game at long 
last, as the C's hoped to at least put up a speed bump en route to 
the basket for Detroit.  Maxiell immediately ran into Pollard and got 
fouled.  Well, at least it was better than getting a 
layup.  Unfortunately, he made both free throws.  Mike Gorman made 
reference to the fact that the Piston were celebrating "50 years of 
Detroit basketball", despite the fact that the game is played about 
an hour's drive away from the city of Detroit.  But I suppose it's 
too late to change the name of the team to the "Michigan Pistons".

Eddie House scored a basket, which was a great relief to thousands of 
sweating Celtics fans.  Both teams torqued up their defense, and the 
Pistons stopped making the game look like a layup line.  Pierce 
finally ditched Prince on a switch, and scored a basket as he was 
fouled.  His free throw went in.  I've noticed that recently, Pierce 
is taking a lot more time on his free throws, and the results are 
quite positive.  I'm glad, because he's probably going to spend a lot 
of time there this season.

As Tommy Heinsohn explained why the pick worked so well, he mentioned 
Dave Cowens, who is now an assistant coach with Detroit.  The camera 
cut to him, and I swear, the guy looks like he could suit up and play 
today.  Is he aging well, or is he a Muppet?

Maxiell continued to annoy the living hell out of me, and I was 
wondering if someone could get Lamar Odom to take this guy 
down.  Coming off the bench, he was already in double digits and 
hadn't missed a shot!  AARGH!

Detroit gambled and put McDyess on the court with Maxiell, hoping he 
wouldn't pick up a quick third foul.  Doc hopedthat Pollard and Big 
Beagle could handle the tandem so Garnett could sit until the third 
quarter, now a long 10 minutes away, as Detroit maintained a 26-17 
lead.  But another Maxiell basket had Kevin headed back into the game.

It was pointed out that the Good Guys were outscored 23-7 whilst 
Garnett warmed the bench.  Not to emphasize the "I told you so" 
aspect in the midst of a game, but I HAVE been saying we need another 
Big Man on the C's.  Just so we could present a better defensive 
presence against some of these really, really tall guys.  Timeout was 
called with 8:50 left in the half, with the Detroit lead reduced, to 28-19.

Play resumed as Pierce hit both free throws, closing on the Detroit 
lead.  Despite tightened Celtic defense, the Pistons were still 
scoring.  But Big Beagle scored for the Celtics, using that wide 
frame to get into the lane.  Eddie House then hit a jumper off a 
Piston miss, and the lead shrunk to five points as Detroit missed 
again.  Maxiell ran into Garnett, then picked up a T for 
taunting.  Garnett went to make the technical free throw, and made 
it.  Then,  Garnett stepped up to take the regular free throws, missing both.

McDyess picked up his third foul trying to stop Garnett in the lane, 
and timeout was called to calm things down.  During the timeout, Doc 
encouraged the team to keep getting into the Detroit player's faces, 
after which, Garnett went to the line, making both.  The teams both 
exchanged hard fought possessions, and when the starters returned for 
Boston, the Detroit lead was one measly point, 34-33 with 3:54 left 
in the half.

Time resumed and the Pistons made 2 free throws courtesy of Billups, 
and the C's responded with a travelling violation for their 5th 
turnover.  Rondo went to the floor next trip up, drawing a foul on 
Billups and earning a Tommy Point.  Rondo went to the line and made 
one of two, but in the rebounding action, Garnett picked up his third 
foul with 3:10 left in the half.

Big Beagle came in and continued his strong defensive play.  the C's 
were running sporadically, which was frustrating because when they 
ran, the Celtics did better, and when they walked, the Pistons did 
better.  Maybe if Doc had a cattle prod as they went by...

Prince took advantage of a double on Billups to sink a shot, and at 
the other end, Ray Allen hit a shot clock three.  Big Beagle was 
making his presence felt at both ends of the court, and i wondered 
why the heck Doc didn't put him in the game sooner.

Pierce tied the game with a three, but the Pistons got two back at 
the other end.  After a 20 second timeout, Posey got a good look at a 
three that didn't go.  Detroit's last second heave didn't go, as the 
half ended with Detroit leading 43-41.

HALFTIME:

So far, the game had played so close that any deficiencies were 
magnified.  If the Celtics didn't have either Garnett or Davis on the 
floor, they were in tough shape.  If the Pistons didn't drive to the 
basket, they were vulnerable.  Big Beagle Davis and Tony Allen shored 
up the defense and allowed the Celtics to gradually even the keel.

It was imperative that Garnett stay on the floor in the second half 
as much as possible, but with three fouls already, that was going to 
be a tough road.  Also, if Boston was going to kick the ball outside, 
they HAD to make more of those shots.

But barring a total collapse, this game was looking to be just as 
close as the last one.

Next:  The Second Half


Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
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