ECF Game 1 Celtics vs Pistons Tues May 20 8:30PM

tv :ESPN

Well, here it is. Series starts in Boston. More to follow

This is a game Pistons can win. They have to be ready and play hard and try to speed up the tempo a bit. Boston did look tired and Pistons will be well rested coming off that 5-gamer against Magic.

Normally, I woulda said Celtics in 7, but the first two series Boston has played have been less than stellar. They, like the Pistons, have some old dudes in the starting lineup. I wonder if fatigue will be a factor.

I hope Billups is back to 100 percent because he will need to abuse Rondo, if Doc plays a lot of Rondo, which might not be a good idea for the C's.

With any series, I want to see the Pistons get out and run. Their half-court offense plays right into the C's defensive mindset.

Ok, guys all this run and gun stuff is going overboard if you ask me.

The Pistons need to play like what got them here, run when the opputunity presents itself.

If the Celtics are as tired as we think/hope they are, they will produce about 15 +turns in game 1. Detroit needs to turn those into about 14-20 points.

Nice crisp ball movement on offense will also create easy scoring oppurtunities, making the C`s move on defense, thus making them exhausted by the 2nd half!

Nobody is talking about run and gun, as it is not really Pistons game. But they do have to make some opportunities bringing the tempo up here and there and tiring out Boston team.

Exactly. Celts will be fatigued. Why let them set up in half-court D the entire game? Celts will probably miss plenty of shots. Play a 94-foot game instead of a 25-foot game once in a while.

Just win. I beg of you.

This series will be a glorious one. Think 2004 against the Lakers. Pistons in 4...

How long has it been since the Pistons were considered the underdogs?

This series is going to kick ass.

The key to beating the Celts is to match their energy early. They want to put you away in the 1st or the 3rd. If you match their energy, they tend to wilt.

My biggest concern with our team this year is that Sheed and Dice are 33 and to some extent Billips 31. We are on the older edge. But we are younger than the Celts at key positions. Tay and Rip are in their young prime. Stuckey and Maxiel are live bodies. We are more athletic than they are. They needed a big contribution from 38 year old Brown.

The key to me is matching their energy. Then our youth, depth and athleticism should take hold. This looks like the Lakers 2004 series. Stay with them, Stay with them and good things should happen...

On strategy, we have to get out on Garnett. Sheed has been slow to go out and cover but you have to do that and make him work. He then will tire in the 4th. No Le Bron thank goodness. We have to make a conceted effort on Garnett. No easy looks.