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For the first time since 1987, the Boston Celtics have reached the NBA Finals, where they’ll undergo yet another nostalgic matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers.

• CELTICS! Hoorah! CELTICS! Hoorah! CELTICS! Hoorah! One, two, three, UBUNTU!

• BEAT LA! BEAT LA! BEAT LA!

• Green 17

Game 1 of the NBA Finals: Thursday (6/5/08) at 9:00 pm ET on ABC.

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Wow… just wow. Of all games played in the 2008 postseason, Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals may have been the most eventful and entertaining, yet awkward at the same time. In fact, it was reminiscent of Game 3 of this very series. The Celtics held a 17-point lead at one point in the third quarter (as opposed to the 24-point lead they held in Game 3), but somehow let up for a stretch and let Detroit back into the game. If it weren’t for Ray Allen’s baseline jumper with 1:02 remaining, which conveniently followed a Rodney Stuckey three-pointer on the other end, the Celtics may have thrown away a heartbreaker.

Regardless, let’s not dwell on the negative shoulda’s and coulda’s. Ray did knock down that jumper. He did make those free throws, as did Kevin Garnett. The Celtics won the game and took a 3-2 series lead, and that is all that matters

• First and foremost, let’s get right to the MVP of the game: Kendrick Perkins. Perk was an absolute monster from start to finish. The fifth-year enforcer racked up 18 points (12 coming in the first half), 16 rebounds (13 coming in the first half), and two rejections in what may very well have been his most impressive professional outing. He may have picked up an unnecessary technical foul in the process, but let’s now allow that tiny mistake to overshadow his performance. “KP43″ (courtesy of Jeff Van Gundy) outworked every player on the floor, dominated the glass, protected the paint defensively, and hell, even showed a relatively surprising offensive touch from multiple spots. The big fella’ was remarkable for the green, and despite Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen combining for 62 points, Perk was undeniably the most important factor to the victory.

• While Perk was doing his thing, make no mistake about that fact that Ray Allen and his left arm sleeve came up big alongside him. Producing flashbacks of Jesus Shuttlesworth, Allen poured in five of six from deep and went for 29 huge points on 9-15 shooting. Ray simply had the touch going for himself in this one, and it paid dividends (especially with Paul Pierce shooting just 11 times). Four of those 29 points came in the final 62 seconds of the ballgame, which virtually sealed the deal for the C’s.

  I hate to steal some credit, but allow me to point out that I wore my Ray Allen t-shirt throughout the day and game. The same shirt I inadvertently sported during Allen’s 25-point Game 2 performance, his game-winning shot in Toronto, and his game-winning shot in Charlotte. That is comforting irony at its finest.

• Rasheed Wallace had the feel as well, as he hit 6-9 from beyond the arc and made the Celtics pay for sagging off of him. “Sheed” poured in 18 points (all from distance), swatted three shots, and provided a colorful venting session regarding the officiating (we won’t go there). Kevin Garnett answered him on the other end, however. “The Big Ticket” led all scorers with 33 points, most of which coming in the form of his sweet mid-range stroke. Granted, five turnovers came with that production, including a costly one down the stretch, but his two free throws in the closing seconds made up for it.

• Despite Ray Allen’s showing, Detroit’s guards were far superior to Boston’s. Flip Saunders’ starting backcourt of Chauncey Billups and “Rip” Hamilton combined for 51 points on 48.4% shooting, adding to strong contributions from Rodney Stuckey and Lindsey Hunter off the bench. On the other end, Rajon Rondo put together an up-and-down game alongside Allen. The second-year guard dished 13 assists, grabbed six boards, came away with four steals, played aggressive defense, and committed just one turnover – all positives – but was completely unable to finish at the rim. Rondo shot just 3-14 from the floor, and didn’t counter with baseline jumpers. While it was far from his worst game of the postseason, the term “erratic” sums it up. That word is also often used to describe Sam Cassell, who contributed a turnover and a passed up layup (I know what you’re thinking – what?). Thank God for Ray Allen, because Detroit’s perimeter play was killer.

• Boston’s bench was virtually nonexistent, combining for just three points on 1-5 shooting and four turnovers. Detroit, however, (surprise, surprise) got another productive night out of rookie guard Rodney Stuckey, who scored 13 points and hit the giant aforementioned three-point shot to cut Boston’s lead to one late in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for the promising youngster, he bricked a free throw with under five seconds remaining that ruined any chance Detroit had of busting out a miracle. Regardless, without Stuckey, Detroit wouldn’t have cut into the lead that quickly. Lindsey Hunter was also a big factor for Flip Saunders, as his pressure defense was second to none as usual.

  Theo Ratliff worked hard in his 14 minutes of action, but his efforts will be overshadowed by the giant poster he was put on, thanks to Kevin Garnett. Watch the highlights to check that one out.

• Thanks to Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics dominated the glass from the opening tip to the final horn. How badly, you ask? 42-25.

• Neither team played as crisp as they would’ve liked, as each team put together sloppy stretches to combine for 32 turnovers.

• Rip Hamilton sat out the final eight seconds of the ballgame, after injuring his right elbow (yes, his shooting arm) in a tangle-up with Ray Allen. X-rays came back negative, but the All-Star guard was reportedly having trouble tying his shoes and changing his clothes as a product of the pain. He left the TD BankNorth Garden in a sling, and was diagnosed with a strained right elbow. Whether he toughs it out for Game 6 or not, it’ll be interesting to see if it affects his game, mainly his shooting.

Get your popcorn ready for Friday night, ladies and gentleman. We’re in for quite a show, as the Detroit Pistons are in a win or go home situation.

Box Score

Player of the Game

Kendrick Perkins
18 PTS, 16 REBS, 2 BLKS, 2 STLS, 8-11 FG

Series Standings: Boston leads series 3-2
Game 6: Friday (5/30/08) at 8:30 pm ET.

2  @ 2
Eastern Conference Finals, Game 5
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 – 8:30 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)
Game aired on ESPN

After an unsatisfactory showing in Game 4, the Celtics will look to take care of business on their home floor tonight, as the series shifts back to the TD BankNorth Garden tied up at 2-2.Game 4 may not have gone as planned, but let’s not get too greedy, here. Expecting the Celtics to win back-to-back road games was a bit out of the question. At the end of the day, they got the monkey off their back in Game 3 and this series is exactly where everybody thought it would be at this point: 2-2.

Tonight’s Game 5 is a must-win if I’ve ever seen one. The Celtics don’t want to put themselves in a position where they are down 3-2, facing elimination on the road. That’s not where they want to be. The green need to come out with fire in Game 5, play every possession like it’s their last, and take care of business at home.

CELTICS! Hoorah! CELTICS! Hoorah! CELTICS! Hoorah! One, two, three, UBUNTU.

Projected Starters

C Rasheed Wallace / Kendrick Perkins
PF Antonio McDyess / Kevin Garnett
SF Tayshaun Prince / Paul Pierce
SG Rip Hamilton / Ray Allen
PG Chauncey Billups / Rajon Rondo

Key Matchup: Tayshaun Prince vs. Paul Pierce

Pierce shot just 7-20 from the field in both Games 3 and 4 combined. Expect the captain to come out with more oomph and some additional offensive aggression in Game 5. On the other end, Tayshaun Prince is just about due for a big offensive outing himself. Through the first four games of this series, Prince has shot a gruesome 31.5% (17-54); you’ve got to expect him to break out of his shell at some point, right?.

Celtics X-Factor: Sense of Urgency

Initial sentiments restated: The Celtics don’t want to put themselves in a position where they are down 3-2, facing elimination on the road. That’s not where they want to be. The green need to come out with fire in Game 5, play every possession like it’s their last, and take care of business at home.

Injury Report
BOS – Scot Pollard (torn tendon in left ankle – out for season)

Celtics Keys to the Game

• Sense of Urgency
• Defensive Rotations
• Rebounding
• Attack
• Ray Allen
• Ball Movement
• Ball Control
• Bench Play

Yeah, basically everything. Go get ‘em, green.

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NBA.com recap:

The Detroit Pistons provide plenty of fodder for those who want to criticize them for only playing their best when down or doubted.

Antonio McDyess doesn’t.

He often plays with the most energy on a team that traditionally peaks and flops depending on whether its up, even or behind in a series.

Playing his best game playoff game in perhaps a decade, McDyess had 21 points and 16 rebounds to lift Detroit to a 94-75 series-evening win over the Boston Celtics on Monday night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The 33-year-old McDyess rejuvenated his injury-plagued career when he signed with the Pistons in 2004 – shortly after they won the NBA title – and refused to let a broken nose slow him down this postseason.

“You only have so many opportunities, and they’re limited, especially for me,” he said. “I’m at the end of my career, and I just feel like leaving everything out on the floor.”

McDyess did just that, beating the Celtics to loose balls, defending them with strength and quickness and making most of his shots.

“Dice has been our best player in the postseason, and we’re all feeding off his energy,” teammate and close friend Chauncey Billups said. “You see how hard he is working, and you can’t help but play hard.”

Playing hard probably won’t be a problem for either team or any player as the Eastern Conference finals becomes a best-of-three series.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Boston, then the Pistons will host Game 6 on Friday night. If necessary, the Celtics will be back at home Sunday night.

Boston’s Sam Cassell wasn’t surprised the Pistons played the way they did.

“When you’re down 2-1, you’ve got to be desperate,” Cassell said.

The Celtics desperately need their stars to play better than they did Monday.

Boston’s Big Three shot awfully as did most of the Celtics, but the NBA’s top-seeded team stayed competitive for much of the game thanks to a stark disparity in free throws.

Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen combined to miss their first seven shots and finished 11-for-38 from the field.

Allen said it was a disappointing performance from the trio.

“We pride ourselves on making our teammates better and allowing them to make us better,” Allen said.

Garnett and Pierce both scored 16 points and Allen had 11.

“They bumped us off spots and were more physical and aggressive all night,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “Usually the winner is the team that was more aggressive.

“They had a no-layup rule and that’s why we made it to the line so much.”

McDyess led the Pistons’ balanced attack, going 8-of-14 – mostly long jumpers.

“He’s really comfortable right now,” Rivers said. “We have to get him out of his comfort zone.”

Richard Hamilton had 20 points, Rasheed Wallace scored 14 and Billups added 10.

Reserve Jason Maxiell filled in well when Wallace was in foul trouble by scoring 14 points and playing tough defense on Garnett, notably on a come-from-behind block on a dunk attempt.

“I thought he bodied him and didn’t give him anything easy,” Pistons coach Flip Saunders said.

Detroit scored the first 10 points of the game and started the second quarter with an 11-2 run, but led just 43-39 at halftime.

The Celtics stayed in the game by making 17 of 20 free throws in the first half while Detroit was 5-for-9.

Boston had more points from the line (32) than from the field early in the fourth quarter when it pulled within 67-62.

“We didn’t play well, but we hung in there by getting to the foul line,” Rivers said. “Then, we just couldn’t make plays.”

Billups essentially sealed the win with a 3-pointer with just under 3 minutes left, making some forget the offensive struggles he had much of the game on his sore right hamstring.

Detroit improved to 5-0 in games following losses in the playoffs.

“No one likes it, the way our team personality is,” said Saunders, referring to the Pistons’ penchant to play their best when down or doubted.

The Celtics fell to 1-7 on the road and 0-6 when trailing after three quarters.

Boston reserve James Posey scored 11 points and Kendrick Perkins, who fouled out, had 10.

The Pistons attacked Boston at both ends of the court as they got off to a strong start.

They led 10-0 thanks to McDyess’ eight points and swarming defense that led to Boston missing its first four shots and later having more turnovers (3) than points (2).

“We put a lot of emphasis on the start because that team is so good when they get on top,” Billups said. “We didn’t want to let them do that again.”

Box Score

Player of the Game

Antonio McDyess
21 PTS, 16 REBS, 1 BLK, 8-14 FG, 5-6 FT

Series Standings: Series tied 2-2
Game 5: Wednesday (5/28/08) at 8:30 pm ET.

2  @ 1
Eastern Conference Finals, Game 4
Monday, May 26, 2008 – 8:30 pm ET
The Palace of Auburn Hills (Auburn Hills, MI)
Game aired on ESPN

WGame 3 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals couldn’t have been scripted much better for the Celtics, as they came away with a 14-point road victory to finally get the monkey (or as Paul Pierce said, the gorilla) off their back. No longer can the critics say that the Celtics are unable to win on the road, and no longer can they suggest that the C’s cannot tame the Detroit Pistons.

With a 2-1 series lead, the Celtics will give their best shot at back-to-back road victories tonight back at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Should the Celtics shock the world with two straight road victories, they’d head back home to Boston for Game 5 holding a comfortable 3-1 series lead and the chance at closing the series out convincingly. Should the green lose tonight, they’d head back home all tied up at 2-2, with two of the final three games (if necessary) of the series at the TD BankNorth Garden.

You’ve got to expect Detroit to come out throwing their best punch in tonight’s Game 4, and you’ve got to assume that they will not allow the Celtics to get off to another 15-4 start. Regardless, as Doc Rivers would say, the Celtics need to worry about running their stuff rather than worrying about what Detroit is going to do. As long as the C’s “run their stuff” and match their first half intensity level from Saturday night, they’ll be in good shape.

Projected Starters

C Kendrick Perkins / Rasheed Wallace
PF Kevin Garnett / Antonio McDyess
SF Paul Pierce / Tayshaun Prince
SG Ray Allen / Rip Hamilton
PG Rajon Rondo / Chauncey Billups

Key Matchup: Rajon Rondo vs. Chauncey Billups

Thus far, Chauncey Billups has been “wax on, wax off.” In Detroit’s Game 2 victory, Billups put up 19 points; in Detroit’s two losses this series, he has put up stinkers. Rondo needs to make sure Billups doesn’t bounce back from Saturday’s loss with a big outing, because a red hot Chauncey is the last thing the Celtics need on the road.

Celtics X-Factor: Supporting Cast

In Game 2, the supporting cast shot just under 29% from the field, resulting in a six-point loss for the Celtics. In Game 3, they scored 47 points on 51.6% shooting, helping the C’s come away with a 14-point victory. Asking them to duplicate Saturday’s performance may be a bit over the top, but if the Celtics want to have a chance at stealing another game on the road, the role players are going to have to step up big again.

Injury Report
BOS – Scot Pollard (torn tendon in left ankle – out for season)

Celtics Keys to the Game

• Defensive Rotations
• Rebounding
• Bench Play
• Attack
• Sense of Urgency
• Ball Movement
• Ball Control

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Seventeen games into the 2008 postseason, the Boston Celtics have finally gotten the monkey off their back with a road victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Detroit gave the Celtics quite a scare to begin the fourth quarter with their superior energy level and staggering trap defense, but at the end of the day, the men in green uniforms came out victorious. Prior to Detroit’s fourth-quarter mini-run, the Celtics made their presence felt and theoretically dominated the majority of the game through three quarters. At one point, Boston’s lead was 24, and fans at The Palace of Auburn Hills reverted to booing their club.

The main factors for tonight’s victory were as follows:

• Defense: While Detroit simply missed a wide range of open looks, the Celtic defense made a drastic improvement from Game 2’s disappointing home loss. For the most part, rotations were rarely missed, the effort was apparent, and fatigue didn’t seem to plague their fortunes.

• Offense: Boston’s offensive tempo is always a product of their play on the defensive end of the floor, and as mentioned above, they were on-point. That translated to the offensive end of the floor in this one, where the Celtics were able to capitalize off of their stops and show a great deal of offensive aggression. Rajon Rondo led the charge by initiating the tone, and the rest of the guys followed suit. The green shot over 46% from the floor, and based on their attack mindset, were able to get to the free throw line, where they shot 25-30. In addition, the ball movement was excellent as Celtics dished 20 assists on 32 baskets.

• Rebounding: Boston 44, Detroit 28. Enough said, really.

• Supporting Cast: The biggest problems in Game 2 were undeniably the defense and the lack of support from the role players. In fact, it was the only time throughout the postseason that Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce simultaneously had big offensive outings. The issue was that the role players didn’t step up, but they couldn’t have played any better in this one. The supporting cast, meaning everybody outside of “The Big Three,” combined for 47 points on 51.6% shooting, giving the C’s a huge lift on a night where Paul Pierce and Ray Allen shot a combined 9-22 from the floor for just 25 points.

Perhaps the biggest booster for Boston’s supporting cast was starting center Kendrick Perkins, who certainly put together his best road outing since the start of the playoffs. Perk tallied a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, while giving as much effort as anybody on the floor and playing superb defense throughout. Kevin Garnett may have had an MVP-like stat line of 22-13-6, but Perk deserves the game ball as much as anyone for his efforts.

On Detroit’s side, the number one thing that jumps out at you is the lackluster performance from Chauncey Billups. After a big Game 2 performance in which “Mr. Big Shot” lived up to his title and looked to have made physical progress, there isn’t any question that he was completely out of whack in Game 3. The obvious reasoning could point to his hamstring, but in the playoffs, excuses aren’t to be sympathized. Billups shot just 1-6 from the floor in this one, while rookie guard Rodney Stuckey was called on to fill the void for over 28 minutes of floor time. Luckily for Flip Saunders, the impressive rookie answered the call once again, as he put up 17 points, played aggressive defense, and attacked the basket more than any other player in the building.

Stuckey and “Rip” Hamilton combined for 43 points and 20 free throw attempts, but it wasn’t enough to pull out the W. The Pistons shot just 38.4% as a team, and connected on just one of their 13 three-point attempts. Additionally, Rasheed Wallace found himself in foul trouble, giving Detroit little to turn to defensively on the interior. Granted, that caused Flip Saunders to go with a small lineup to set up an aggressive trap defense that got them back into the game at one point in the fourth quarter, but that effort came bit too late.

Therefore, the Celtics have taken a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4 back at The Palace. It’s great to get the monkey off their back (or the gorilla, as Paul Pierce put it), and hopefully that triggers an extra gear of confidence going forward, but this series is far from over. The job is just half-done, and you’d have to expect Detroit to come out with a better effort on Monday night.

Stay tuned.

Box Score

Player of the Game

Kendrick Perkins
12 PTS, 10 REBS, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 6-7 FG

Series Standings: Boston leads series 2-1
Game 4: Monday (5/26/08) at 8:30 pm ET.

1  @ 1
Eastern Conference Finals, Game 3
Saturday, May 24, 2008 – 8:30 pm ET
The Palace of Auburn Hills (Auburn Hills, MI)
Game aired on ABC

With the series tied up at 1-1, the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals has shifted to The Palace in Auburn Hills, where the Detroit Pistons will host the Boston Celtics for the next two games.Tonight, the Celtics will face something they have yet to come across as a group: the possibility to trailing in the playoff series. Throughout the first two rounds against Atlanta and Cleveland, the Celtics were never down in a series. They were either in possession of the series lead or it was all tied up. Should they lose tonight, however, Detroit would take a 2-1 series lead. The scariest part about that? Game 4 is in Detroit as well, where the Celtics would have all of the pressure in the world on their shoulders to avoid a 3-1 deficit.

Games 3 and 4 of this series will not only provide the Celtics with their biggest test of the year, but it will also reveal their true colors. Heading into tonight, the green have an abysmal 0-6 road record throughout the postseason, and with Detroit snatching away the crutch of homecourt advantage, the Celtics have no choice but to finally win a game away from the TD BankNorth Garden.

Let’s go, green. Show the world what you’re made of.

Projected Starters

C Kendrick Perkins / Rasheed Wallace
PF Kevin Garnett / Antonio McDyess
SF Paul Pierce / Tayshaun Prince
SG Ray Allen / Rip Hamilton
PG Rajon Rondo / Chauncey Billups

Key Matchup: Rajon Rondo vs. Chauncey Billups

Rondo got the best of a banged up Billups in Game 1, but Game 2 was a completely different story. Rondo filled the stat sheet as always, but the numbers were deceiving, as the second-year guard put together one of his worst games of the postseason from a mental standpoint. Billups undeniably got the best of him, and looked much better than he did in the initial meeting, despite tweaking his hamstring again late in the second quarter. This time, “Mr. Big Shot” is home at The Palace, where he elevates his game nearly each time (especially down the stretch). Rondo is going to have to play his best game of the series, at least defensively, to contain Billups in this one.

Celtics X-Factor: Supporting Cast

Game 2 was the first time of the postseason that all of All-Star Boston’s trio were on offensively at the same time, but they still dropped the game. Part of the reason was awful defense down the stretch, but another big reason was the supporting cast. Outside of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce, nobody on the roster stepped up to provide a lift. Rajon Rondo didn’t do it, Kendrick Perkins didn’t do it, Eddie House didn’t do it, James Posey didn’t do it, etc. P.J. Brown was the only one to make a big play/shot down the stretch. That cannot happen on the road. The supporting cast needs to provide some help when they are on the floor.

Injury Report
BOS – Scot Pollard (torn tendon in left ankle – out for season)

Celtics Keys to the Game

• Defensive Rotations
• Rebounding
• Bench Play
• Attack
• Sense of Urgency
• Ball Movement
• Ball Control

Marc Spears of the Boston Globe reports:

General manager Danny Ainge and his scouting staff will be rooting on the Celtics from Orlando, Fla., during part of the Eastern Conference finals.

The NBA pre-draft camp is Tuesday through Friday. The Celtics have the 30th pick in the first round and the 30th and last in the second. The draft is June 26. Ainge, assistant GM Dave Wohl, assistant director of basketball operations Leo Papile, director of international scouting Ryan McDonough, and brain doctor Jon Niednagel are expected to represent the team in Orlando. About 70 NBA prospects are expected to play.

“There is a really good chance a player we draft will be in Orlando this year,” Ainge said. “Last year, it was a long shot we’d find a player in Orlando. This year, both picks could be in Orlando. You never know. That’s why I’ll probably be in Orlando instead of [at some playoff games]. We will watch a lot of this Detroit series on TV.”

If the Celtics make the NBA Finals, Ainge and his staff could miss some games while they work out prospects at the Celtics’ Waltham training facility. Ainge said about 50 players will be worked out, and scheduling is in the works.

“We’ve worked out that many before,” Ainge said. “We’ve worked out more. We’ve worked out 75-80 before. Now the window’s a little bit shorter. We’re in the process of confirming dates, workouts.”

Ainge said there are no plans to share workouts with other teams to reduce costs. The Celtics won’t have a summer league team, but tentatively have rookie and free agent camps in Waltham scheduled July 3-7.

I personally like our chances of getting a helpful player at 30. I think the depth of this draft class is better than last year’s draft, especially on the wing (which we may need). Eddie House’s contract expires this summer, Tony Allen’s contract expires this summer, and James Posey has a player option. House’s track record of being on eight teams in eight years suggests that the odds are against him to return next season. Allen’s erratic mental attitude and on-court play may have cost him. As much as I like “TA,” I’m not one to vouch for his return.

Going into these draft camps and workouts, I’ll say that I want a swingman (or a 2-guard). Guys that I like, who we may have a legitimate shot at, are:

• Chris Douglas-Roberts (Memphis)

• Bill Walker (Kansas State)

• Courtney Lee (Western Kentucky)

• Kyle Weaver (Washington State)

• Wayne Ellington (North Carolina)

I also wouldn’t necessarily be mad if we drafted a center like DeVon Hardin (California) or Jason Thompson (Rider).

But overall, I want a swingman to replace “TA” and House.

If Danny trades up a few picks, which could absolutely be plausible, an excellent option would be Brandon Rush (Kansas). I think he’s gonna make a very solid pro. He does just about everything, and he plays both ends. He would be a great addition to our bench right away, and I think he can be a guy who could step in and start for us when Ray Allen goes.

At the end of the day, it also wouldn’t be much of a surprise if we traded out of this pick, sold it, or used it to select a European player to stash overseas. I hope not though, because once again, I think we can get ourselves a nice role player here at 30.

In Danny I trust.

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For the first time this postseason, the Boston Celtics have lost a game at the TD BankNorth Garden. Game 2 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals didn’t go as well as the Celtics had hoped. Just by looking at the score, you may be able to figure out what the main issue was: defense. The C’s gave up 103 points and played as shaky defensively as they have all season long on their home floor.

Defensively, the C’s were inconsistent throughout, but down the stretch, they gradually got worse. While the Celtics were capitalizing out of timeouts offensively, they were blatantly missing rotations on the other end of the floor, thus allowing Detroit to counter nearly every bucket in the waning moments of the ballgame. Most notably, Chauncey Billups was left wide open for an uncontested reverse layup at the 18-second mark to put the Pistons up by six and virtually seal the deal.

It was evident that the Celtics made a plethora of mental mistakes throughout this game, but the argument also could be made that fatigue played a role in those missed/late rotations.

Offensively, “The Big Three” was phenomenal for the majority of the game, as they combined for 75 points on 56.8% shooting. Kevin Garnett tallied another double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds, Paul Pierce put together a solid 26-4-5 line on 9-16 shooting, and finally… finally… Ray Allen showed up. Allen looks to have reestablished his feel, as the seven-time NBA All-Star poured in 25 points on 9-16 shooting, and also managed to knock down multiple big shots down the stretch.

The problem on the offensive end had nothing to do with either of the three All-Stars. The problem was the limited production from Boston’s supporting cast, especially off the bench. P.J. Brown deserves some love for knocking down a pair of mid-range jumpers in the fourth quarter, but other than that, the role players did not play up to par in Game 2. Rajon Rondo may have filled the stat sheet with 10 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, but those numbers are deceiving. He also shot 2-9 from the floor, made as many mental mistakes as anybody on the floor, and may have put together his worst defensive outing of the postseason. In addition, Eddie House struggled with Detroit’s ball pressure, Kendrick Perkins let his frustrations get the best of him, and the supporting group (meaning everybody outside of Allen, Garnett, and Pierce) shot a combined 6-21 from the field (28.6%).

Detroit, on the other hand, got a big time contribution off the bench from impressive rookie Rodney Stuckey. The first-year guard scored 13 points on 5-8 shooting, and was the major proponent to Detroit’s early-fourth-quarter scoring burst, where he scored six points within the first four minutes of that final frame.

The starting backcourt put Detroit over the top, though. First and foremost, Chauncey Billups played a much better game than he did in Game 1, where he shot 3-6 from the floor. In Game 2, “Mr. Big Shot” came up huge with 19 points and seven assists, and scored the aforementioned game-clincher at the 18-second mark of the fourth quarter. His running mate “Rip” Hamilton led the Pistons in scoring with 25 points on 7-16 shooting, and did a terrific job of drawing fouls (specifically against Ray Allen), in which he shot 10-12 from the free throw line. In Game 1, the All-Star duo combined for five costly turnovers. In this one? Just two.

This puts the Celtics into a position they have never been in before as a group. Should the Celtics lose Game 3 on Saturday night, it would become the first scenario where the Celtics have trailed in a series all postseason long. With that pressure, along with Boston’s 0-6 road record thus far in the playoffs, comes the possibility of heading back to Boston for Game 5 down 3-1. That cannot happen.

Simply put, the Celtics no longer have homecourt advantage as a crutch. If they fail to win on the road, they will be watching June’s NBA Finals from their couches at home. It’s time for the Celtics to answer the call and get the monkey off of their back. They need to go to The Palace and take one from the Pistons, and at least bring this series back to Boston for Game 5 tied up at 2-2.

It’s make or break time; we will now officially find out what this team is truly made of.

Box Score

Player of the Game

Ray Allen
25 PTS, 2 REBS, 2 ASTS, 2 STLS, 9-16 FG, 2-4 3FG, 5-5 FT

* It feels wrong to award the player of the game to a player on the losing end, but this was a special circumstance. Ray Allen finally broke out of the most abysmal shooting streak of his professional career, and despite the loss, it was a relief to see.

Series Standings: Series tied 1-1
Game 3: Saturday (5/24/08) at 8:30 pm ET.

NBA.com reports:

The Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett has been named the recipient of the NBA Community Assist Award for April, in recognition of his outstanding efforts in the community and for his ongoing philanthropic and charitable work.

The 11-time NBA All Star and 2007-08 Defensive Player of the Year presented by Kia Motors is being honored for donating more than 600 Celtics tickets to Boston Public School students during the month of April through his Big Ticket Challenge. Garnett’s passion to help young people overcome obstacles prompted him to create a new initiative that encourages local at-risk students to excel in school, while offering them the opportunity to attend Celtics games and the chance to meet the “Big Ticket” himself.

The Big Ticket Challenge involved having students to sign a contract declaring their commitment to improve their school performance. The students that improved the most, as determined by school officials, were then hosted by Garnett at a Celtics game. In addition, one student from each participating school was awarded a special meet-and-greet with Garnett after the game.

Garnett mailed more than 1,000 contracts, accompanied by personalized letters, to students at 14 schools throughout Boston, encouraging students to participate in the challenge and to follow his personal mantra, “Anything worth having is worth working for.”

The program was greeted with great excitement by Boston school officials, “Some of the kids are in a behavioral program and I’ve been trying to find ways to convince them to get their act together so that they can be mainstreamed,” said Andy Tuite, principal of Rogers Middle School. “I believe that the Big Ticket Challenge and Garnett are going to be what helps move these kids forward.”

As April’s NBA Community Assist Award recipient, Garnett will receive the David Robinson Plaque, with the inscription, “Following the standard set by NBA Legend David Robinson who improved the community piece by piece.” Also, a $5,000 donation will be given to Garnett’s charity of choice.

The league presents the NBA Community Assist Award monthly to recognize players for their charitable efforts. The award honors the NBA player who best reflects the passion that the league and its players have for giving back to their communities.

0 @ 1
Eastern Conference Finals, Game 2
Thursday, May 22, 2008 – 8:30 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)
Game aired on ESPN

Game 1 couldn’t have gone much better for the Celtics. They came out with energy, attacked the basket, moved the ball well, forced turnovers, knocked down big shots, and played suffocating defense. The 88-79 victory may have been Boston’s most impressive win of the postseason.That’s all fine and dandy, but this series is far from over. Detroit has been in worse situations than this before, and they’ve proven that they can win on the road on any given night. It may be cliché to call a playoff game a “must-win,” but Detroit knows that they need to take care of business tonight in Game 2 and head back home with a split series.

Likewise, Boston needs to make sure they clean up their homecourt and head into Detroit with a 2-0 lead. With the way they’ve played on the road thus far in the postseason (0-6), it’s imperative that they don’t leave the possibility open for Detroit take a 3-1 lead heading into Game 5.

The Celtics threw the first punch, but the battle is not over. Detroit hasn’t even swung back yet.

Projected Starters

C Rasheed Wallace / Kendrick Perkins
PF Antonio McDyess / Kevin Garnett
SF Tayshaun Prince / Paul Pierce
SG Rip Hamilton / Ray Allen
PG Chauncey Billups / Rajon Rondo

Key Matchup: Tayshaun Prince vs. Paul Pierce

In Game 1, Pierce murdered Detroit’s defense in pick n’ roll situations. You have to expect the Pistons to make adjustments to make life tougher for Pierce tonight in Game 2, so it will be crucial for the captain to maintain his current flow and improvise when they counter defensively.

Celtics X-Factor: Rajon Rondo

Something tells me that Chauncey Billups is going to take more than six shots tonight, and something tells me that he’s going to look a lot better out there. As Paul Pierce said, Chauncey is a gamer. He’s gonna come out and gradually get better physically each game. Rondo “won” the point guard battle in Game 1; he needs to make sure he doesn’t let Chauncey loose in this one either.

Injury Report
BOS – Scot Pollard (torn tendon in left ankle – out for season)

Celtics Keys to the Game

• Defensive Rotations
• Rebounding
• Attack
• Sense of Urgency
• Ball Movement
• Ball Control

79 88

Game 1 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals was everything a Celtics fan could hope for, and then some. This was hands down the best team performance from the Celtics since Game 7 of the Atlanta series in the first round of these playoffs. Tonight’s effort gave flashbacks of the Boston Celtics team we witnessed win 66 games throughout the regular season… the team we’ve only seen a few teams throughout their 15 postseason outings.

First and foremost, the Celtics came out of the gate with a far superior level of intensity than the Detroit Pistons. The men in green threw the first punch, and Detroit never punched back harder. Overall, the pace of the first half of this game was in Detroit’s favor, but it was a completely different story following intermission. Doc Rivers’ club began the second half similarly to the first few minutes of the ballgame, and put together a 28-17 third quarter advantage to shift the tempo more to their liking. Detroit gave the C’s a minor scare throughout the middle segment of the final frame, but Boston rose to the ocassion by knocking down the clutch shots to seal the deal. Rajon Rondo, specifically, knocked down back-to-back jump shots (one of them coming from outside the arc) to put a stamp on his 11-point, seven assist, five-steal effort.

On the defensive end, where Boston’s attack always starts, they scrapped. They denied position, they played the passing lanes, they closed off penetration, and Rajon Rondo was the catalyst of the defensive effort by coming away with multiple pokes and steals. Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Garnett controlled the defensive glass, as well, as the frontcourt duo combined for 16 defensive rebounds. P.J. Brown provided a lift with the second unit as well, as the 38-year-old veteran gave Doc Rivers over 17 minutes of solid defensive play.

Offensively, the Celtics absolutely demoralized Detroit’s defense with their pick n’ roll sets in the high post with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Pierce used his body to his advantage when rubbing off, and got to the spots he wanted to get to at will. When the defense collapsed on him in the paint, he made the necessary kickout passes to open shooters, who made the most of their opportunities. “The Truth” may have very well played one of his most complete games of the 2007-2008 season in Game 1, and his defensive effort was just as impressive as his 22-6-6 line.

Kevin Garnett was the beneficiary of a bundle of those kickout dishes, but that’s not all the 32-year-old stud did. On post isolations, “The Big Ticket” lived up to his name and played the role of the aggressor with the ball in his hands. Garnett put together a terrific balance between his mid-range game and his interior presence on the offensive end, and connected on 11 of his 17 shot attempts to tally and efficient 26 points.

The near-forgotten member of Boston’s illustrious trio, Ray Allen, was not able to follow up on Pierce and Garnett’s stellar performances. Allen struggled from the field for the ninth straight game, and continued his streak of offensive putridity by shooting just 3-10. Luckily, he was aggressive on the defensive end of the floor, where his one-on-one opponent “Rip” Hamilton hit just five of his 13 attempts from the field.

All of the credit is not warranted towards the Boston Celtics, however. The C’s absolutely put together one of their better postseason efforts, but this also was not a replica of “Deeetroit basketball.” Their offensive attack was as stagnant as ever and lacked a sense of urgency, which could be attributed to their seven-day layover from their Semi-Finals series. Another issue was undoubtedly the health of guard Chauncey Billups (six points on 3-6 shooting), who claimed to be 100% during an ESPN TV interview on Monday, but was blatantly proven otherwise in Game 1 of this Eastern Conference Finals series. Billups’ sore right hamstring disallowed him to penetrate to his comfort zone going left, and that may have tied up their entire offensive gameplan. Detroit was unable to get to the spots they wanted to reach in the painted area, where Boston held a convincing 44-22 advantage. Additionally, when contact was indeed initiated on Detroit’s end of the floor, the Pistons were unable to capitalize at the charity stripe by missing eight free throws as a team.

It’s virtually inevitable that the Pistons will put together better efforts as this series goes on. As convincingly dominant Boston may have been at the TD BankNorth Garden, Detroit may have a chance to end their 9-0 postseason home streak if they can make the proper adjustments necessary to put a better product on the floor.

It was exciting to see the C’s come out and play this way, but don’t get too excited yet, Boston fans. A 1-0 lead is terrific, but bigger goals are on the horizon and this series has yet to truly begin.

Box Score

Player of the Game

Paul Pierce
22 PTS, 6 REBS, 6 ASTS, 5 TO, 9-18 FG, 0-4 3FG, 4-6 FT

Series Standings: Boston leads series 1-0
Game 2: Thursday (5/22/08) at 8:30 pm ET.

0  @ 0
Eastern Conference Finals, Game 1
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 – 8:30 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)
Game aired on ESPN

For the first time since 2002, the Boston Celtics are back in the Eastern Conference Finals. It may have taken two long, grueling seven-game series’ in order to do so, but at the end of the day, “the green is back on.”Boston’s opponent is no surprise, the Detroit Pistons, who have reached the Conference Finals for the sixth straight year. Throughout the regular season’s three-game series with Detroit, the Celtics held a 2-1 advantage, winning one at The Palace. One of the biggest reasons for the Celtics’ regular season success against Flip Saunders’ crew was the rebounding column, in which the men in green virtually dominated. In those three games, Boston held a combined +29 difference in their favor, and managed to reach the 50-rebound mark in two of those contests.

Regardless of the regular season results, the Pistons will be ready, and well-rested too. While the Celtics have been playing playoff basketball every other day since April 26, Detroit has gotten a full week of rest since closing out the Orlando Magic last Tuesday. That rest may have benefited Pistons guard Chauncey Billups the most, who sat out the final two games of the Semi-Finals due to a strained right hamstring. The question remains: does that mean Detroit will come out with a great deal of energy and outwork the C’s, or does it mean that they will be a bit rusty and off-base due to not playing in seven days?

All in all, isn’t it ironic that one year ago, we were scrapping for a victory in the 2007 NBA Draft Lottery, yet here we are on the night of this year’s lottery preparing for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. My, what a difference a year makes.

Projected Starters

C Rasheed Wallace / Kendrick Perkins
PF Antonio McDyess / Kevin Garnett
SF Tayshaun Prince / Paul Pierce
SG Rip Hamilton / Ray Allen
PG Chauncey Billups / Rajon Rondo

Key Matchup: Tayshaun Prince vs. Paul Pierce

Tayshaun Prince is amongst the class of long, athletic small forwards that has given Paul Pierce some problems in the past, along with Chicago’s Luol Deng and Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala. The plus side for Pierce, however, is that he doesn’t have to worry about carrying the scoring load as well as containing a 6’8’’, 250-pound monster like LeBron James in this series. “The Truth,” who willed his team to victory in Game 7 of the Semi-Finals with 41 points, may be more inclined to focus on his offensive game rather than using up the bulk of his energy on defense. Let’s hope he can find his niche somehow, some way, because Prince surely will not make life easy for him.

Celtics X-Factor: Rajon Rondo

For Celtics fans, the scariest matchup of these playoffs for Rajon Rondo is undoubtedly Chauncey Billups. “Mr. Big Shot,” as they like to call him in Detroit, has a chance to have one of his most dominant playoff series’ he has ever had. December nineteenth’s initial 2007-2008 Boston-Detroit matchup told the whole story: Rondo came out of the gate going full-blast and attacking the rim at will, but once the second half came, it was a completely different story. Billups absolutely took over from there on out, and it carried through to the final possession of the game, where he nailed two free throws to give Detroit the one-point victory in Boston. Let’s hope Billups isn’t as close to 100% as he publicly proclaims, because this truly is one of those series’ where our young point guard has a chance to be exposed.

Injury Report
BOS – Scot Pollard (torn tendon in left ankle – out for season)

Celtics Keys to the Game

• Defensive Rotations
• Rebounding
• Attack
• Sense of Urgency
• Ball Movement
• Ball Control

By: Dustin Chapman

The “other Allen” has tallied just 40 combined minutes throughout Boston’s first 14 postseason outings, and has not hit the floor since Game 3 of the Semi-Finals series vs. Cleveland (May 10). Even then, “TA” played just over three minutes of “garbage time” in that game due to blowout circumstances.

With all of that said, there may be room for Allen to make a slight impact on this Eastern Conference Finals matchup with Detroit. One could present a strong case that the erratic fourth-year guard may be the best option to defend each of Detroit’s top three backcourt players in a limited role.

First and foremost, “Rip” Hamilton is well-known as one of the better conditioned athletes in the NBA, who has an extraordinary level of stamina while running his opponent ragged. To begin each game, Ray Allen will get the initial look at attempting to check his fellow Uconn Husky. Needless to say, he is not Jesus Shuttlesworth any longer, and likely does not have the legs to stick with Hamilton cutting and running around screens. Paul Pierce will be matched up with Tayshaun Prince more often than not, and does not possess the lateral quickness to contain Hamilton either.

That leaves James Posey and our buried friend Tony Allen. Posey will get his share of looks at the masked man wearing 32, but the question of lateral quickness stands for him as well. Tony Allen, however, is built for defending guys such as Hamilton. He’s quick, rugged, strong, and possesses terrific defensive anticipation skills – the ingredients needed when dealing with Rip Hamilton.

Next in line is promising rookie combo guard Rodney Stuckey, who did a marvelous job filling in for the injured Chauncey Billups in Games 4 and 5 of Detroit’s Semi-Finals matchup with Orlando. Sam Cassell certainly is not quick enough to guard him, and Eddie House is simply too small to legitimately bother him. When Rajon Rondo is taking a breather, Tony Allen may be the next best option to close out a quarter defending Stuckey.

And finally, Chauncey Billups. Yes, we saw what happened on December 19 when “TA” fell for a nation-wide anticipated up-fake. Yes, Billups sank both free throws to give Detroit the one-point victory at the TD BankNorth Garden. Regardless, if Rondo finds himself in a situation where he is continually getting abused by “Mr. Big Shot,” then Doc Rivers needs to turn to another direction. Once again, Tony Allen could be a wise option to turn to (assuming he learned from his previous mistakes).

At the end of the day, it is likely that Allen will be left on the bench for the majority of this series, and it is probable that Rivers will turn to James Posey for most defensive assignment adjustments. But for short stints to close out quarters, isn’t it worth a shot? Isn’t it time for Tony Allen to get one last shot to contribute?

It will be interesting to see how Rivers shakes the perimeter rotation out. God knows we rarely ever know what to expect with his rotations.

92 97

For the first time since 2002, the Boston Celtics have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.

This afternoon’s Game 7 showdown between Paul Pierce and LeBron James will go down as one of the most exhilarating head-to-head matchups in playoff history. Celtics history, at the very least.

James led all scorers with 45 points on 14-29 shooting to go along with six assists, five rebounds, and two steals. However, the so-called “King” was unable to make the big plays his team needed down the stretch. His shot selection was more than questionable, as number 23 shot just 3-11 from beyond the arc and got too trigger-happy once he buried a pair of jumpers. In addition, James missed five free throws throughout the game, some coming in the closing minutes.

Paul Pierce, however, did not fold in crunch time. “The Truth” lived up to his name in this one, and was feeling so good that he got an extraordinarily lucky bounce at the free throw line to make it a two-possession game with under eight seconds to go. The Celtics captain put up an efficient 41 points (13-23 from the field, 4-6 from 3, 11-12 from the line), five assists, and four rebounds to will his Celtics to the Conference Finals.

Next in line for the Celtics comes their biggest test yet: the Detroit Pistons, who have reached the Eastern Conference Finals six straight years. Rest will not be rewarded to the C’s, however, as Game 1 will take place on Tuesday night back at the TD BankNorth Garden.

Enjoy it, Celtics fans, but also realize that the job has not yet been completed.

Box Score

Player of the Game

Paul Pierce
41 PTS, 4 REBS, 5 ASTS, 2 STLS, 13-23 FG, 4-6 3FG, 11-12 FT

Series Standings: Boston wins series 4-3

Game 1 vs. Detroit: Tuesday (5/20/08) at 8:30 pm ET.

3  @ 3
Round 2, Game 7
Sunday, May 18, 2008 – 3:30 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)
Game aired on ABC

Here we go again – Game 7, version 2.0.

A Kevin Garnett quote from 2004 should sum up the current feelings from both sides:

“This is it,” he responded. “It’s for all the marbles. I’m sitting in the house loading up the pump, I’m loading up the Uzis, I’ve got a couple of M-16s, couple of nines, couple of joints with some silencers on them, couple of grenades, got a missile launcher. I’m ready for war.”

Needless to say, following those quotes, Garnett tallied 32 points and 21 rebounds to lead his Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals.  Similar results today would be nice.

69 74

Once again, there isn’t much more you can say, other than “it happened again.” You can blame Boston’s lack of offensive execution, you can blame Doc Rivers, you can blame the officials, and you can blame anything else that comes to mind. Regardless of who/what you feel shoulders the burden, the Celtics did not get it done for the sixth straight time on the road.

Game 7 of this series, scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET this Sunday (5/18/08) afternoon, is a do-or-die situation for both clubs.

Box Score

Player of the Game

LeBron James
32 PTS, 12 REBS, 6 ASTS, 2 STLS, 8 TO, 9-23 FG, 13-15 FT

Series Standings: Series tied 3-3

Game 7: Sunday (5/18/08) at 3:30 pm ET.

89 96

Random notes:

• Rajon Rondo was remarkable. His line of 20 points (9-15 FG), 13 assists, two steals, two blocks, and just one turnover is outstanding, but that also doesn’t measure the constant energy he brought for all 42 minutes he was on the floor. Heck, he even hit back-to-back three’s in the waning moments of the second quarter to shift the momentum our way when we were down.

• The Celtics were down by as many as 14 in the first half, but were able to cut Cleveland’s lead to three by intermission. The Celtics, with that momentum, came out with fire in the third quarter, where they held a 29-17 advantage.

• LeBron James looked as though he was going to put an individual stamp on this game in the first half, where he scored 23 of his 35 total points. James Posey, who played face-to-face on LeBron rather than backing off, got the worst of it. Boston’s defense throughout the second half of the game, however, refused to allow LeBron to get to where he wanted to go. By the middle of the fourth quarter, he grew visibly frustrated.

• The Celtics got extremely sloppy near the end of the game, and virtually begged Cleveland to capitalize and make a late run. The Cavaliers failed to do so, and especially went ice cold from the free throw line late in the game. Ray Allen, following a crucial turnover, came away with a huge tip rebound at the 19-second mark that helped seal the deal. Paul Pierce, who led the Celtics in scoring with 29 points, then proceeded to connect on four of five free throw attempts in the closing seconds to finish the job.

• Kevin Garnett’s night may be overshadowed by Rondo’s excellence, but “The Big Ticket” may very well have had his most complete game of the series. His 26 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks filled the stat sheet, and he was especially unconscious from mid-range territory in the third quarter. Living up to his Defensive Player of the Year title, as usual, he anchored a suffocating second-half defense that aggravated LeBron James and made tight rotations.

• As a whole, the bench was nothing to write home about. Posey struggled on both ends, Sam Cassell had nothing going for himself in the 5:29 he played (kudos to Doc Rivers for sitting him the entire second half – kudos for Rondo to allow him to), Leon Powe missed defensive rotations early on, and P.J. Brown played limited minutes as well. Glen “Big Baby” Davis, however, provided a spark in the second half with his relentless hustle and soft touch around the basket. He even managed to leap-frog over Wally Szczerbiak standing vertically, which may very well have been the funniest moment of the 2008 NBA Playoffs.

• Ray Allen struggled, once again, as he shot 4-11 and made numerous mental mistakes. Luckily, Wally Szczerbiak didn’t make him look bad in this one. The former Celtic started off hot, but ended with just 10 points on 3-8 shooting. Delonte West put together another solid outing, though, by putting up 21 points and four steals. Unfortunately for him, there was nothing he could do to contain Rajon Rondo in this one, no matter how hard he worked.

• The Celtics attacked the basket more throughout this game than they did on the road, which was a positive sign. Let’s hope they bring Game 5’s second half mindset to Cleveland for Game 6, where they’ll have a chance to close out the series and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2002.

Box Score

Player of the Game

Rajon Rondo
20 PTS, 13 ASTS, 2 REBS, 2 STLS, 2 BLKS, 9-15 FG, 2-3 3FG

Game 6: Friday (5/16/08) at 8:00 pm ET (last game aired on CSN this season).

Adding to Boston’s 2007-2008 award shrine, Celtics General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge has won the NBA’s Executive of the Year award.

ST. LOUIS - Sporting News has named Boston Celtics Executive Director, Basketball Operations and General Manager, the 2007-08 NBA Executive of the Year.Sporting News polled general managers and other executives from all 30 teams, and Ainge received 18 of the 47 votes cast. He beat out Los Angeles Lakers general manager, Mitch Kupchak, who had 14 votes, and New Orleans Hornets general manager Jeff Bower who had 12.

“He orchestrated a stunning and record setting turnaround of a struggling team with two great trades and various other roster acquisitions.” said Brian Colangelo, President and General Manager of the Toronto Raptors and the 2005 Executive of the Year.

Pat Williams, Senior Vice President of the Orlando Magic added, “Ainge was the architect of the most dramatic NBA turnaround ever.”

Danny Ainge is the first member of the Boston Celtics to receive the Executive of the Year award since its inception in the 1972-73 season.

Stan McNeal, Sporting News NBA writer, will present the Executive of the Year award to Danny Ainge prior to Wednesday’s game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Celtics and Cavaliers.

2 @ 2
Round 2, Game 5
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 – 8:00 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)
Game aired on TNT

Here we are, heading into Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, winless on the road. Both Boston and Cleveland did their job of taking care of their home court throughout the first four games, knotting this series at 2-2. It is virtually a three-game series at this point, with two of those games (should this series go seven) in Boston.

Every playoff game is a must-win, but tonight’s game is absolutely the most important of the season for the Celtics. Should they allow Cleveland to steal tonight’s game at the TD BankNorth Garden, they would head into Cleveland for Game 6 with the possibility of elimination dawning upon them. That is not the situation the Celtics need to be in, as they, along with every other second-round team not named the Detroit Pistons, are winless on the road in the Semi-Finals.

Let’s go, boys.

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Projected Starters

C Zydrunas Ilgauskas / Kendrick Perkins
PF Ben Wallace / Kevin Garnett
SF LeBron James / Paul Pierce
SG Wally Szczerbiak / Ray Allen
PG Delonte West / Rajon Rondo

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Key Matchup: LeBron James vs. Paul Pierce

It’s a legitimate concern for a Celtics fan to be cautious about LeBron James, for the simple fact that this series is tied and he has yet to go off. James is due, and the Paul Pierce and company need to make sure they don’t allow him to single-handedly steal this game from them.

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Celtics X-Factor: James Posey

As previously mentioned, the Celtics need to make sure LeBron doesn’t take over this game. One of the guys individually responsible for defending “King James” is James Posey, who has done a respectable job throughout the series. Let’s hope he can keep it up.

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Injury Report
CLE – Eric Snow (sore left knee – out for season)
BOS – Scot Pollard (torn tendon in left ankle – out for season)

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Celtics Keys to the Game

• Defensive Rotations
• Rebounding
• Attack
• Sense of Urgency
• Ball Control