Jonathan Lee    AccuScore Analyst
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The two Eastern Conference favorites have reached the finals.  The Pistons and Celtics have been the two dominant teams in the East this season so it is only fitting that they meet now in the playoffs for the right to play for the big prize. 

AccuScore simulations have the Celtics as 53.5% favorites to win the series with the most likely outcome occurring in seven games.  Because of this scenario it is clear that homecourt advantage, as it has throughout the playoffs, will be extremely important.  Boston, by virtue of its 66 regular season victories, will get to host four games on the parquet including a possible Game 7.

Even though both teams are laden with veterans, Detroit is the team filled with playoff experience.  The Pistons are making their sixth consecutive appearance in the conference finals.  The core of Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton, and Chauncey Billups have been together for years, and they understand what it takes to win having previously won a championship.  The stars for the Celtics conversely have famously little title experience.  Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett all have never reached the NBA finals, and all three have reached the conference finals only once each.  Their struggles in the first two rounds being pushed to seven games each time might be a sign of the mounting pressure each feels in this postseason. 

Both teams play excellent defense, although Detroit has slipped noticeably in this area since the Larry Brown era.  Boston had the best team defense all season, and continued to do well on that side of the ball in the playoffs outside of the three road games in Atlanta.  The key here is that the Celtics, although very good as a whole, can be exploited in one-on-one match-ups.  Garnett is the only premium defender is the starting five.  Point guard Rajon Rondo is long and athletic, but is prone to mistakes and mental lapses.  Detroit is much more diverse offensively than Boston with the ability to post up several players including Wallace, Prince, and Billups against smaller guards.  All five of the starters are excellent perimeter shooters as well.  The Celtics are almost exclusively a jump shooting team.  Pierce is the most important player for his team as he can score in a variety of ways, but he will likely draw Prince as his personal defender for the entirety of the series.  Because of all this, Detroit has clear advantages on both offense and defense.

The Pistons have been known recently for losing focus and allowing a game or two to slip away.  This happened just this year when they lost twice to the Sixers including once at home.  I believe this will not be a problem because of the quality of their opponent.  Detroit has heard for a full year how the Celtics were the conference favorite even though they were the team that had been consistently good for so long.  The Pistons will wear that chip on their shoulders very well, and use that to propel themselves to a win in this series that I see ending in six games.

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mrue said:

This will take atleast 6 games the question is will Boston be able to win two on the rd. Why would things change now? Id hate to agree but the Pistons may very well take this series.

May 24, 2008

TPiranha said:

I'll take the Celts in 5. My opinion is somewhat biased having lived in Boston for 30 years.

May 20, 2008

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