Boston Celtics Back to Eastern Conference Finals

About the Boston Celtics, what can I say? They did it. The Celtics have advanced to the NBA eastern conference finals for the first since 2002. They pulled off a nail-biting win over the Cleveland Cavaliers despite a 45-point effort from LeBron James and more shooting woes from Ray Allen.

By the way, where in the heck has Allen been during the playoffs? He sure hasn't bothered to show up in any of the games. Body language speaks volumes and Ray Allen seemed to be mentally, physically, and emotionally out of the game series against both the Atlanta Hawks and Cavaliers.

To guarantee a trip to the NBA finals, "The Big Three," Pierce, Garnett, and Allen, are going to have to bring their A game against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. So far in this year's playoffs, the Celtics are 8-0 at home but 0-6 on the road. The Pistons, on the other hand, are 5-1 at home and 3-2 on the road. With Chauncey "Mr. Big Shot" Billups and the rest of the Pistons well-rested, the Celtics will need the big three to all show up. Of, in the words of Inside the NBA analyst Kenny 'The Jet" Smith and Charles Barkley, they will be "gone fishin'." I'm huge fan of both but a little partial toward the Celtics.

I would love for the Celtics to make it to the Finals for the first time since 1987 but everyone knows you have to win on the road and they haven't proved that as of yet. But who knows, they were awarded home court advantage for possessing the best record during the NBA regular season and are undefeated at home so far in the playoffs.

Nonetheless, this will be an exciting series and I look for a battle to the end.