Game 4 is a pivotal game. If the Celtics win, they have the Pistons down 3-1 and need only 1 more game to advance with 2 tries at home to get it. If the Pistons win, they are right back in it with the series tied 2-2. The Pistons are 4-0 in games after a loss in the playoffs. They are a veteran team but they also have a habit of letting up and not playing hard after big victories. They seem to feel that they can turn it on whenever they need to. We know they are going to come back with more intensity than they showed in game 3 and the Celtics must be ready and match it. We will see a lot more pressure from the Pistons' defense tonight and the Celtics have to be ready to beat it with their passing game. They can't dribble through that kind of pressure. They have to move the ball and find the open man. And, when that open man is Perk or Rondo, which it will be once again, those two must once again make the plays.
I have said this throughout the playoffs, but the Celtics can beat any team anywhere when they play their game. When the Celtics lost in Atlanta and Cleveland, the Celtics failed to play defense. They didn't move the ball. They didn't play their game. But, when the Celtics play defense like they have played all season and when they move the ball and when they are aggressive going to the basket, they can beat anyone in any building. The only team that can beat the Celtics now is the Celtics. That being said, the Pistons are going to come out a lot more aggressive and the Celtics have to match that. They need to get off to another strong start to take the crowd out of it once again.
Speaking of the Detroit crowd. How tacky is it to boo your own team in a big playoff game. That's supposed to get your team fired up? If I was the Pistons, I would have figured that these fans don't deserve a win, nor do they deserve a championship. I have never bood the Celtics even in the confines of my own home watching the game. I love the Celtics and whether they win or lose, whether they put out great effort or look tired, I still love the Celtics and they are my team. I never like to hear fans boo their own team. It is classless and those are the true bandwagon fans: love them when they are up and boo them when they are down.
I really, really hate the Lakers. It goes back to the classic rivalry of the 80's and I have never gotten past that. The Lakers are the enemy no matter who they are playing. It is amazing to see how Kobe has become the darling of the league now. How quickly we have forgotten his rape scandal and the fact that this past summer he was throwing everyone under the bus he could as he was demanding a trade. Now, those same teammates he was ranting against as not being good enough are his "brothers". I just can't stand his smirking face. The Lakers took advantage of an inept Chris Wallace ans virtually stole Gasol from the Grizzlies and now, they are the favorites. I really hope the Spurs stomp them. A Lakers Celtics finals is everyone's dream matchup, but I would rather face the Spurs and beat them in the finals to exorcise the demons once and for all from that missed draft in 1997. It has to come full circle. Besides, to want a Celtics Lakers finals I would have to hope for the Lakers to beat the Spurs and no way can I cheer for the Lakers to win, period.
Paul Pierce is being the leader and Captain on this team. After Sam came into game 3 and had a shot blocked and then lost the ball, Pierce chastized him on the court and told him to run the play. We hear all the time how KG sets the tone for this team and is the leader, but Pierce has been a leader in a quieter and not so obvious way. He has done whatever the team needs whether it be scoring like in game 7 in the last series, or defense as he did on LeBron and on Prince, as he held him to 4 points in game 3, or taking a teammate aside and telling him to run the play (around 0:56 of the clip below. After that, Sam settled down and played very well. Thanks to Odenized for the clip.
Speaking of whatever it takes to win, James Posey has been big for this team. He takes the tough defensive assignmants. He is one of the best wing defenders in the league. He hustles for loose balls. When there is a loose ball, it is usually Posey chasing it or diving into the stands to save it. He can hit long jumpers to spread the floor out. He can rebound and he is definitely a glue guy. I love seeing him standing at mid court and giving the starters those hugs before the game. It has to get them fired up. Shaq said that the Heat wouldn't have won the championship without James Posey and when all is said and done, when the Celtics raise #17, I am sure his teammates in Boston will be saying the same thing.
Finally, everyone who has been around me for even a short period of time knows how much I love Perk. I have been a big Perk fan since we drafted him. I love his intensity and his work ethic. KG may have been the Defensive Player of the Year, but Perk has been the anchor on that interior defense all season. In game 3 he was hitting jumpers, and he made that huge steal from Chauncey Billups. Perk has been one of the best defenders on the Celtics all season. It doesn't show up in the box score other than you can see that the Celtics end up with more points in the paint than their opponents most of the time. I love Perk and love that he finally got some recognition after game 3 as he and Rondo got to sit at the podium afterward for interviews. Keep up the good work Big Guy!
I have said this throughout the playoffs, but the Celtics can beat any team anywhere when they play their game. When the Celtics lost in Atlanta and Cleveland, the Celtics failed to play defense. They didn't move the ball. They didn't play their game. But, when the Celtics play defense like they have played all season and when they move the ball and when they are aggressive going to the basket, they can beat anyone in any building. The only team that can beat the Celtics now is the Celtics. That being said, the Pistons are going to come out a lot more aggressive and the Celtics have to match that. They need to get off to another strong start to take the crowd out of it once again.
Speaking of the Detroit crowd. How tacky is it to boo your own team in a big playoff game. That's supposed to get your team fired up? If I was the Pistons, I would have figured that these fans don't deserve a win, nor do they deserve a championship. I have never bood the Celtics even in the confines of my own home watching the game. I love the Celtics and whether they win or lose, whether they put out great effort or look tired, I still love the Celtics and they are my team. I never like to hear fans boo their own team. It is classless and those are the true bandwagon fans: love them when they are up and boo them when they are down.
I really, really hate the Lakers. It goes back to the classic rivalry of the 80's and I have never gotten past that. The Lakers are the enemy no matter who they are playing. It is amazing to see how Kobe has become the darling of the league now. How quickly we have forgotten his rape scandal and the fact that this past summer he was throwing everyone under the bus he could as he was demanding a trade. Now, those same teammates he was ranting against as not being good enough are his "brothers". I just can't stand his smirking face. The Lakers took advantage of an inept Chris Wallace ans virtually stole Gasol from the Grizzlies and now, they are the favorites. I really hope the Spurs stomp them. A Lakers Celtics finals is everyone's dream matchup, but I would rather face the Spurs and beat them in the finals to exorcise the demons once and for all from that missed draft in 1997. It has to come full circle. Besides, to want a Celtics Lakers finals I would have to hope for the Lakers to beat the Spurs and no way can I cheer for the Lakers to win, period.
Paul Pierce is being the leader and Captain on this team. After Sam came into game 3 and had a shot blocked and then lost the ball, Pierce chastized him on the court and told him to run the play. We hear all the time how KG sets the tone for this team and is the leader, but Pierce has been a leader in a quieter and not so obvious way. He has done whatever the team needs whether it be scoring like in game 7 in the last series, or defense as he did on LeBron and on Prince, as he held him to 4 points in game 3, or taking a teammate aside and telling him to run the play (around 0:56 of the clip below. After that, Sam settled down and played very well. Thanks to Odenized for the clip.
Speaking of whatever it takes to win, James Posey has been big for this team. He takes the tough defensive assignmants. He is one of the best wing defenders in the league. He hustles for loose balls. When there is a loose ball, it is usually Posey chasing it or diving into the stands to save it. He can hit long jumpers to spread the floor out. He can rebound and he is definitely a glue guy. I love seeing him standing at mid court and giving the starters those hugs before the game. It has to get them fired up. Shaq said that the Heat wouldn't have won the championship without James Posey and when all is said and done, when the Celtics raise #17, I am sure his teammates in Boston will be saying the same thing.
Finally, everyone who has been around me for even a short period of time knows how much I love Perk. I have been a big Perk fan since we drafted him. I love his intensity and his work ethic. KG may have been the Defensive Player of the Year, but Perk has been the anchor on that interior defense all season. In game 3 he was hitting jumpers, and he made that huge steal from Chauncey Billups. Perk has been one of the best defenders on the Celtics all season. It doesn't show up in the box score other than you can see that the Celtics end up with more points in the paint than their opponents most of the time. I love Perk and love that he finally got some recognition after game 3 as he and Rondo got to sit at the podium afterward for interviews. Keep up the good work Big Guy!
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