Celtics learning that Pistons' resiliency is unmatched
BOSTON -- On an evening when the Celtics initiated a hard-target search for Ray Allen, checking every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse -- finally finding Allen and removing him from witness protection -- it didn't matter.
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| Rip Hamilton shakes off a poor performance in Game 1 to lead Detroit. (Getty Images) |
They won't die, these Pistons.
They just won't die.
Punch them, stab them, kick them, shove them, launch them into deep orbit with a rocket. They get up, smile, Rasheed Wallace takes a technical and they keep on fighting.
They might -- might -- have also stolen this series with a 103-97 win over Boston in Game 2. Of course, Detroit won the second game. They now have nine, Game 2 wins, which is second most in NBA postseason history.
"Well, one, these guys have been through a lot," Detroit coach Flip Saunders said. "Our players, they've been here six times and what we did was we kept our composure. We had some guys that made some big shots whether it was Rip making a big shot in the fourth quarter, (Antonio) McDyess made a huge shot out of the corner, we got big-time offensive rebounds late in the game. Rip had one, Tay had one, Dyess had one."
Sounds like a jazz band: Rip, Tay and Dyess.
Except these Pistons are hard-core rock and roll.
Although it might seem nonsensical declaring a series nearly dead after only the second game, remember, the Celtics have yet to win a road contest in these playoffs. The Celtics treat the road the way Big Baby does a house salad.
The Pistons are mind-boggling. They're the San Antonio Spurs of the East. They're so mentally tough they handed the Celtics their first home playoff loss this season.
Although Richard Hamilton led the Pistons with 25 points the key to this game -- and the epitome of toughness and grit -- was Chauncey Billups, playing basically on one leg as the other still only has half a hamstring.
Billups looked aged going against the sprightly Rajon Rondo in Game 1. He was clearly showing the effects of that injured leg. Well, either Billups is a quick healer or he discovered the miracle of Percodan. He was like a different player. He had 19 points, seven assists and made his two 3-pointers.
