Celtics vs. Pistons: It's Now Game Time!

The Celtics are still feeling the burn from their seven game series with the Cleveland Cavaliers, or is it the other way around? Even though the Celtics won the series, it wasn't an easy one towards the end. LeBron James gave the Celtics all he could give, and his team almost pulled off the upset. Now it's off the Detroit, where the Pistons are well rested and ready to take on the Celtics. There is no doubt that the Celtics will be ready to play against Detroit, but if I may state that the Celtics showed a great deal of flaws in their last game of the Cavs/Celtics series, and if they take that to Detroit, they won't have a chance to win.

I hope this is a great series because the Celtics and the Pistons and the East's two top teams, so it should be a nail biting series, IF the Celtics aren't wiped out from their series against the Cavs. There certainly is a lot of playoff experience between these two powerhouse teams. Boston defeated Detroit in the 1968, 1985 and 2002 semifinals, as well as knocking them out in seven games in the 1987 East finals. But it also needs to be noted that Detroit has had their fair share of victories against the Celtics, including the 1988 East finals, as well as round one in 1989, and the semifinals in 1991.

During the season, the Celtics won the series 2-1, which was the first time since the 2000-01 season that Boston had done so. Overall in the playoffs, the Celtics and Pistons have played a total of 39 games, with the Celtics holding a slim 20-19 lead over the Pistons. Whichever way it goes, many people predicted this matchup for the Eastern Conference Final, so entertaining it should be.

Player Matchups for the probable starters are as followed:

PG

Chauncey Billups (Detroit): PPG:17.0; RPG: 2.7; APG: 6.8
Rajon Rondo (Boston): PPG: 10.6; RPG: 4.2; APG: 5.1
Both PGs are great, and they both have high talent levels. The edge would have to go to Billups though, seeing that he certainly has more playoff experience. He also scores more points per game than Rondo, as well as his assists ratio. Rondo nearly doubles Billups in rebounds per game though, which can make things a little more difficult for Mr. Billups.

SG

Richard Hamilton (Detroit): PPG: 17.3; RPG: 3.3; APG: 4.2
Ray Allen (Boston): PPG: 17.4; RPG: 3.7; APG: 3.1
Such a great matchup in terms of two elite shooting guards. Richard Hamilton and his famous mask definitely know how to get things going when the time is needed. The Pistons look forward to his great shooting. As for Ray Allen, he probably has the absolute nicest jump shot in the NBA, but his shooting percentage against the Cavs was just dismal. If Allen continues to shoot this way against the Pistons, they might as well just allow a bench player to shoot in his place. I would have to give the edge to Hamilton, until Allen improves on his shooting percentage. The Celtics really are lucky to have a few bench players who can pick up the slack, because their so called "Big Three" has recently became a Big Two, or even Big One...

SF

Tayshaun Prince (Detroit): PPG: 13.2; RPG: 4.9; APG: 3.3
Paul Pierce (Boston): PPG: 19.6; RPG: 5.1; APG: 4.5
Another solid matchup, and it should be an entertaining one for fans as well. Prince is a solid player for the Detroit Pistons, and there is no doubt that he will continue providing an A+ game, but against Pierce? Paul Pierce has been playing on and off during the playoffs, but his last game against the Cavs was an All-Star display. If Pierce can even put up half of what he put up against the Cavs every game against the Pistons, than it can spur trouble for Prince. Tayshaun needs to play the stifling defense that he is used to playing in order to have a shot at Pierce. Edge goes to Pierce in the battle of the Small Forwards...

PF

Rasheed Wallace (Detroit): PPG: 12.7; RPG: 6.6; APG: 1.8
Kevin Garnett (Boston): PPG: 18.8; RPG: 9.2; APG: 3.4
Should probably be the premiere matchup of the series. Both Wallace and Garnett are two powerhouses when it comes to putting the ball on the floor and going strong to the hoop. But the Pistons needs to hope that Wallace hits his outside jumper as well, seeing that Garnett's defense is stifling, and he is averaging nearly 19 PPG, so he has a bit of an edge over Wallace in that category, as well as his RPG at 9.2, and APG at 3.4. The numbers don't say it all, and if it's up to Wallace to contain Garnett, he will. As to who has the edge as of right now, that one is simple, Kevin Garnett by a mile, although his performance in the final game of the CavsCeltics series wasn't anything TOO special...

C

Antonio McDyess (Detroit): PPG: 8.8; RPG: 8.5; APG: 1.1
Kendrick Perkins (Boston): PPG: 6.9; RPG: 6.1; APG: 1.1
An interesting matchup, but McDyess should have his way with Perkins. I am definitely not bashing Perkins at all, he is a great role player, and if he does what he did in the final season matchup between these two teams, grabbing 20 rebounds, McDyess will then have a major problem on his hands. As of right now, Antonio has the edge. Remember that the playoffs are a totally different story, and what players did in the regular season is long gone...
*Thanks to ESPN.com for the stats

Starting Frontcourt

There are six really good frontcourt players in this matchup, and each player knows their role(s). Prince, Wallace, and McDyess of the Pistons will certainly have their hands full with Pierce, Garnett, and Perkins, but you don't get closers matchups than this in the NBA. As stated before, the Pistons better hope that Wallace hits his jump shot, while keeping the aggressive Garnett away from the basket. Even though Garnett can hit a shot anywhere on the floor, it's important to contain him as best as possible. The Prince/Pierce matchup is going to be very entertaining, and Prince's defense better be on full alert against Paul Pierce. The McDyess/Perkins matchup probably isn't as popular as others, but it still should be entertaining, although Perkins needs to play like an All-Star in order to go up against Antonio.

Both of these teams can and will play major head games with each other, and as much as either team can't allow that to happen, I believe that it's a bigger problem for the Celtics. The Piston's defense is solid, and they have a great blocked shots ratio. During the regular season, the Pistons averaged nearly 6 blocks per game, which can certainly help them in their series against the Celtics, who averaged just under 5 blocks per game. While Paul Pierce is a great player, he can't allow the strong defense of Tayshaun Prince to bother him mentally, Pierce just needs to bring his A game every time and stick it to him. Garnett will most definitely make things tough on Wallace, and if Garnett brings his A game, there is no stopping him. Wallace is an emotional player, if Garnett can frustrate him enough, the Celtics will have a much better chance of winning this series.

The NBA's Defensive Player of The Year will be the major difference in this series, but if anyone can put a stop to his carnage, Wallace can. The winner of who has a better starting frontcourt goes to the Boston Celtics, but not by that much. Like I said, Garnett is the big difference maker.

Winner: Celtics

Starting Backcourt

Ray Allen has hit a stone wall in the postseason. It's simply like he isn't even involved in any of the games. His pathetic shooting needs to greatly improve in order to lead the Celtics to victory over the Pistons. Even though the Celtics are a higher seed than the Pistons, Detroit has had more experience as of lately. Rajon Rondo has been inconsistent during the playoffs, but he is a great player and can turn it on when the Celtics need him. Going back to Allen, let's just hope he isn't ready to end the season quite yet, he looks fatigue and totally out of it, so let's hope this little rest helped him.

Billups and Hamilton should cruise through this series if the rest of the Pistons can do their part. The Pistons backcourt is a lot stronger than the Celtics, and both of the Piston's starting guards have an extensive amount of playoff experience. Edge goes to the Pistons in the battle of the backcourts.

Winner: Pistons

Bench

Boston's bench should be a lot better than it already is. There is no doubt that the Celtic's bench is a bit deeper than the Piston's bench, but the "not so hot" play of Sam Cassell has Doc Rivers a little worried. Cassell has already won two rings in his career, but he hasn't shown what he is truly made of. Leon Powe and James Posey have contributed on the offensive end when it counted most during the postseason, so Rivers is happy about that, seeing that they are now in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Veteran P.J. Brown has been playing really well, and his play in the last game against the Cavs certainly put his name at the top of River's list. Another player for the Celtics who can shoot and handle the pressure of any team is Eddie House. House can deliver the ball to anyone on the court, but his jump shot is what counts the most. House's release is ultra quick, and it's hard to block, so when he is on, the Celtics can breath a sigh of relief. Rookie Glen Davis adds more depth on the bench for Rivers.

As stated before, Detroit doesn't have as deep of a bench as the Celtics, but each player on Detroit's bench has contributed well in some way during the postseason. Rodney Stuckey, the rookie on the Pistons, filled in when Billups was injured against Orlando played decent at best. Stuckey is averaging 7.3 PPG and 3.7 APG in the playoffs, and even though he struggled a bit in the semifinals, he should definitely get better as the playoffs roll along.

Jason Maxiell, forward for the Pistons has a bright future ahead, and he has even started some games in the playoffs. Maxiell is averaging 5.4 PPG and 5.3 RPG in the playoffs, and he has been playing well on both sides of the court. When he enters in the game against the Celtics, they shouldn't take him lightly. The four other bench players that the Pistons have are rookie Arron Afflalo, Jarvis Hayes, Lindsey Hunter and Theo Ratliff. All of these bench players have great potential, and when their numbers are called, they will be more than ready.

It's hard to choose who has a better bench, but I have to choose one of them. Even though Cassell isn't proving why he is a great player as of right now, the Celtic's bench is deep and Rivers can call to whomever he needs.

Winner: Celtics

The Celtics have home-court advantage in the series against the Pistons. So most people would give the Celtics the benefit of the doubt, but we all have to remember that the Pistons have been here before, and they certainly know how to win on the road in the playoffs.

I am really putting my head out there by predicting this team the winner, but if their players are hot, I don't think they can be stopped. I choose the Celtics to win in six games. The deep bench and strong play of their starters could potentially wear out the Pistons. Even though it can go either way, I'd like to see a Celtics vs. Lakers NBA Finals matchup!

Prediction: Celtics win in six

*Thanks to NBA.com for the information