ECF Game 5 Celtics/Pistons Wed. May 28th, 8:30 PM

TV - ESPN

With the series deadlocked at 2-2
the pivotal game 5 will be played in Boston.

Which Piston team will take the floor?

Which Celtic team will take the floor?

Can Dyess continue his tear?

Are Bostons` Big Three tired?

So many questions will be answered on Wednesday night..........

Pistons take this one. They need to shed the "switch" label. They go out and with 100% effort, make the Celtics call them DADDY. Pistons 88-85 over the Celtics...

Pistons take this one. They need to shed the "switch" label. They go out and with 100% effort, make the Celtics call them DADDY. Pistons 88-85 over the Celtics...


How many points will the refs score?

How many points will the refs score?


Mostly just tip-ins for the Refs...

They're gonna slump. They're tired. Unless the rotation flip made last game worked on all levels.... I want to, but... I dont think so, sadly.

Lets remember one thing here? Flip has never won game 11 in the playoffs and has two opportunies to do it on Wednesday and Friday. The problem is, we can't afford to wait until Friday to get a victory # 11. It has to be done tomorrow or we will in the same position we were in the last two years down 3-2 and possibly losing in game six. The only difference is we will be at home and we don't want to get closed out a home.....:messer::gettinghanged:..

We know the Celtics will get all the calls that Stern has already paid for in advance, so the Pistons will just need counter it by staying aggressive to the hoop and running in fresh bodies while the old Big three gets winded.

9.9 DR
game 5 on the road.
If they keep it close it means they've figured out the Celts and can do them in 7.
If they lose by 6 or more. I don't think they can win a game 7 there.
-
Dre I hope you voted "Oh He!! yes"

As long as we once again hold the best team in the NBA to a record low number of FG's, I think that we can possibly pull it out at the end if the ball bounces our way. I'm 49% confident.

Which Piston team will take the floor?

Which Celtic team will take the floor?

Can Dyess continue his tear?

Are Bostons` Big Three tired?

So many questions will be answered on Wednesday night..........

I like that, thats a good question. When the Pistons have a bad game its the switch and lack of effort. When Boston has a bad game its because they had a bad game.

Simple fact is the Celtics have not proven anything yet.

Its a big game, no doubt about that. Ironic thing is that neither team has ever been further than a game 5 win if you consider the Pistons as they now post-Ben Wallace/LB.

Thing is though, the 3-pt shooting has been off for both teams so someone is bound to heat up and I hope its us. Not that either team lives from the 3 but making your normal amount of 3's is a difference of around 10-15 extra points.

Last game the Pistons outplayed the C's in every way possible so I do like our chances going into this. Only dark cloud is how will CB play?

Also Flip did Sneak AA into the last game, I missed it think I stepped out for a smoke at that time but he did play so the good luck charm still holds true.

Did anyone happen to see how energetic Amir looked in that 2 minutes of garbage time? He closed out on a jumpshot and came back for the rebound.

That stallion is ready to run. Figure out a way to get him and AA into the game with Stuckey and those three will reek havoc on the big three. I think they are starting to feel the amount of games they have played big minutes in. They look slow and tired.

Just ten minutes of the young guns while the Celts are a step slow could be enough to get us over the hump.

Did anyone happen to see how energetic Amir looked in that 2 minutes of garbage time? He closed out on a jumpshot and came back for the rebound.

That stallion is ready to run. Figure out a way to get him and AA into the game with Stuckey and those three will reek havoc on the big three. I think they are starting to feel the amount of games they have played big minutes in. They look slow and tired.

Just ten minutes of the young guns while the Celts are a step slow could be enough to get us over the hump.


In the words of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, "Dream, dream, dream, dream, dream."

In the words of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, "Dream, dream, dream, dream, dream."

It's beautiful weather in MY world. :nerd2:

Lets remember one thing here? Flip has never won game 11 in the playoffs and has two opportunies to do it on Wednesday and Friday. The problem is, we can't afford to wait until Friday to get a victory # 11. It has to be done tomorrow or we will in the same position we were in the last two years down 3-2 and possibly losing in game six. The only difference is we will be at home and we don't want to get closed out a home.....:messer::gettinghanged:..



Flip cannot get win number 11. That is an interesting observation. Flip's last 4 playoff runs:

2004: 10-8
2006: 10-8
2007: 10-6
2008: 10-5

Flip is simply stuck on 10. What can be done to overcome this hurdle?

Flip cannot get win number 11. That is an interesting observation. Flip's last 4 playoff runs:

2004: 10-8
2006: 10-8
2007: 10-6
2008: 10-5

Flip is simply stuck on 10. What can be done to overcome this hurdle?

Play the bench and run them into the ground!!!!!

Flip is simply stuck on 10. What can be done to overcome this hurdle?

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1926/383421mo4.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/9392/amirjohnsonjackiechanzp1.jpg

Spellcheck, DooRag and Jackie Chan should be enough to get Flip win #11.

Let's hope he doesn't have a similar problem with the number eleven.

Flip shouldn't play safe tonight on the road.

Go for broke!!

this is the game of the year!!

and i have to miss the first half :( ugh

GO PISTONS

Tonight's game to me is all about heart and desire. Who is ready to take control of this series. I don't see this as a wall that Flip must negotiate through. I believe the Piston's switch is on and they will win. In all honesty, I worry more about game six, and the home court letdown...

Flip cannot get win number 11. That is an interesting observation. Flip's last 4 playoff runs:

2004: 10-8
2006: 10-8
2007: 10-6
2008: 10-5

Flip is simply stuck on 10. What can be done to overcome this hurdle?

Well if we don't win tonight, then the pressure will be on to get # 11 on Friday.. Do we have all the fans show up with Isaiah Thomas jerseys with # 11 on them and parade in front of Fliphttp://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ZaxwUvtFCMDneM:http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513ujKK8ZjL._AA280_.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513ujKK8ZjL._AA280_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.amazon.com/Isaiah-Detroit-Pistons-Throwback-T-Shirt/dp/B000O1EHHW&h=280&w=280&sz=15&hl=en&start=41&tbnid=ZaxwUvtFCMDneM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3Disaiah%2Bthomas%26start%3D40%26gbv%3D 2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN)

Maybe we suit up Zeke in place of Billups as he looks in shape....oops no longer under contract or on the roster:MusicBigGrin:

Seriously though,they need to get off to a good start and close out all quarters on a positive note. Also put in your good luck charm AA as they won every game where he made a token appearance. :sssh:

Seriously though,they need to get off to a good start and close out all quarters on a positive note. Also put in your good luck charm AA as they won every game where he made a token appearance. :sssh:


Token appearance? Let's not under-estimate what Afflalo can do in 8 seconds....

Token appearance? Let's not under-estimate what Afflalo can do in 8 seconds....


AA can have a major impact if he plays extended seconds.

Token appearance? Let's not under-estimate what Afflalo can do in 8 seconds....

I must admit he is a game changer when he takes those sweats off and checks in at the scorers table.... no matter how fast he is sent back to the bench....:sssh:

Lets play the whole game with Afflalo at the scorers table with his warmups off.


The mere threat should have them shaking in their shoes.

Boston is famous for it's HISTRIONICS!

Remember this Celtic?

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5553/medium511walker5ot5.jpg

Walker grew tired of being constantly questioned about his three point shooting, so one day when a reporter asked him why he shot so many threes, he replied, "Because there aren't any fours."

Walker being robbed...

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5893/walkerrobbedcopycw5oj1.gif

Walker @ the Boston Philharmonic

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/5756/fatconductor1enwl6.jpg

Walker dancing to Thriller!

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/4811/web1pn6.jpg

Did anyone happen to see how energetic Amir looked in that 2 minutes of garbage time? He closed out on a jumpshot and came back for the rebound.

That stallion is ready to run. Figure out a way to get him and AA into the game with Stuckey and those three will reek havoc on the big three. I think they are starting to feel the amount of games they have played big minutes in. They look slow and tired.

Just ten minutes of the young guns while the Celts are a step slow could be enough to get us over the hump.

please please please :fingerscr

I've been offline for 2 days or so, and there's 250 unread posts. I'm not even going to try to catch up with it all.

AA can make an impact in 8 seconds :)

I agree with the sentiment go for broke, play the bench, RUN THEM INTO THE GROUND. They are tired, but so are we. We have the advantage. It's sitting down right now.

No Jarvis. Why don't we try Max at SF and go big? He was abusing Pierce (potential foul trouble), and i think he can stay with him.

Sheed/Amir/Rip/Stuckey/Max, sub AA or Tay in there and that's a dream line-up.

Sheed/Amir/Rip/Stuckey/Max, sub AA or Tay in there and that's a dream line-up.

Flip would point out that a sub-category of dream is nightmare.

Boston is famous for it's HISTRIONICS!

Remember this Celtic?

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5553/medium511walker5ot5.jpg

Walker grew tired of being constantly questioned about his three point shooting, so one day when a reporter asked him why he shot so many threes, he replied, "Because there aren't any fours."

Walker being robbed...

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5893/walkerrobbedcopycw5oj1.gif

Walker @ the Boston Philharmonic

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/5756/fatconductor1enwl6.jpg

Walker dancing to Thriller!

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/4811/web1pn6.jpg
:pound::pound::):nod::eyebrows::yo::first::bounce: :evil::whoo::caked::thumb::good:

New poll:


What has Roscoe been drinking this afternoon?


:sssh:

I think Roscoe got into the catnip again.

Fatoine did allright at the Philharmonic though.

New poll:


What has Roscoe been drinking this afternoon?


:sssh:
First day back on caffeine since a hiatus last Friday. Of course, I'm already on impulse thrusters, warp drive is down and we might have to refurbish the plasma injectors.

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/2423/spockfx5.jpg

I think Roscoe got into the catnip again.

Fatoine did allright at the Philharmonic though.
Rajon Rondo is the lovechild of Fatoine and Juwanna Mann.

I hope Flip subs in the lineup of Stuck, AA, Hermann, Amir, and Samb. That would be a dream lineup! If they all played 30 minutes we would be unbeatable.

You know what...as much as the "Amir/Afflalo" stuff is overthought at times, I think the bench getting subbed in...platooned if you will....( cola style) might be the key to tonights game.

For sure the refs are going to come out aggressive.... and we need to match that intensity.


I know that was about the dumbest sounding and likely the most hilarious paragraph of the day (thus the bold/ital.) but I feel that it will bear some truth. The Pistons will need to play through the calls, and stay aggressive despite the whistle circa game 4.

The young guns on the bench may be counted on early to fill in for foul-riddled vets. It may be the first real action guys like Amir and Afflalo see. No excuses like "they haven't played up until now" will be accepted. There is a reason a vet like Dixon is on the IR instead of Afflalo and Johnson. They need to be ready. I have a strong feeling this will be their time.


See you all in chat!

The key will be how much energy Sheed brings to the pre-game dance. He needs to bust a move. If he just goes through the motions with the running man and the dice shaker, then it's going to be a long night.

I'm personally hoping to see him with Ben's red goggles doing a modified robot.

The key will be how much energy Sheed brings to the pre-game dance. He needs to bust a move. If he just goes through the motions with the running man and the dice shaker, then it's going to be a long night.

I'm personally hoping to see him with Ben's red goggles doing a modified robot.

If there was ever a night we could use the red goggles...this is it. Hell, I'd like to see the whole team and Flip in red goggles tonight.

Rasheed need to do tribute to Rufus Henry pregame dance


Something in the way of the funky chicken, and the happy rooster, coupled with a curious tortoise

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v725/strifepoge/bwrg.jpg

:MusicBigGrin:

:pound: I loved Ben's goggles. So random.

CHAT IS OPEN!!!!


http://www.pistonsforum.com/playoff-chat/


:)

anyone else having trouble with the forum?

Well, that was weird...I have no idea how they were even able to make it close at the end, but I never thought they really had a chance despite the big comeback. That was just WAY too big a deficit to make up. This game was lost down the stretch of the 2nd quarter and most of the 3rd, not at the end.

All we can hope for now is a good win in Game 6 and to somehow put a complete game together in Game 7, with the Cs possibly seizing up if they can't get out to a lead in the decisive game.

Man that was too bad. Coulda woulda shoulda game. But it shows we can do it if they just keep the pressure on.

That 16-4 run at the end of the half and those three clutch buzzer beaters by Garnett were huge.....especially that three in the second qtr during that run.

Allen and Perkins kick our arses too.

They drubbed us on the boards 42- 25

Can Flip when game six and get to the game 7???

pistons is not spurs
celtics is not hornets

nuff said.

It figures. Wings lose...Pistons lose...and the Tigers are up 5-0 in the 7th :P

Totally winnable game down the stretch.

Turnover during last possession when score was needed, then at missed shots from close in, can't ask for much more than that. Think of where we are if Dice doesnt go to the line and brick 2 in a row. Anybody else and I'm super-peeved, but it's Dice so he gets a pass.

It looks to me like game 7 is an inevitability.

Perkins playing good b-ball. Ray Allen making 3 pointers. Pierce playing 45 minutes. All celtics having lucky bounces on the FTs.


Damn man, we could have won this one. But that Billups "fault" over Rondo... that one was David Stern calling it, not the ref. Cant fool me.

We can win in Detroit... but if we do, we would have 3 good games in a row... who wouldnt think in a slump for Game 7? I dont want to... but oh well.

Save this post:


I PROMISE YOU. THE CELTS ARE SPENT.
1. MENTALLY, THEY WILL THROW IN THE TOWEL IN GAME 6 TO KIND OF REST UP FORGAME 7. PISTONS 111-89.

2. THEY WONT HAVE ANY LEGS FOR GAME 7 AND PISTON EXPIRIENCE COMES THROUGH. PISTONS 97-90.

ON TO FINALS.

Your faith is admirable, HQ. Let's hope you're right.

All we can hope for now is a good win in Game 6 and to somehow put a complete game together in Game 7, with the Cs possibly seizing up if they can't get out to a lead in the decisive game.
That will be a tall order, but not impossible. Of course, with Sheed 1 T from a suspension, he will have to keep his cool from here on out.

Flagrant 2 for Pierce, and the Pistons should have an easier time with the next game.

:gun1:

Unfortunate that we lost our early lead and then dug ourselves a huge hole. But the valiant comeback may give us a lift going into game 6. The rebounding disparity is really hurting the Pistons. We've been weaker in that department since Ben left, but this seems to me to be the first playoff series since then in which it has become a major factor.

That 16-4 run at the end of the half and those three clutch buzzer beaters by Garnett were huge.....especially that three in the second qtr during that run.

Allen and Perkins kick our arses too.

They drubbed us on the boards 42- 25

Can Flip when game six and get to the game 7???
Agreed Dre.

The board war - especially their offensive rebounds combined with the Celtic's luck - KGs buzzer beaters and a few lucky rim shots, were the difference in this one.

Was Rip seriously hurt? It was hard to tell what happened from the replay of him and Allen getting tangled up. But he was really hurting.

All we can hope for now is a good win in Game 6 and to somehow put a complete game together in Game 7, with the Cs possibly seizing up if they can't get out to a lead in the decisive game.

It doesn't matter if they seize up or not. They will always have that 20 rebound advantage to fall back on.

can't blame the pistons for lack of trying, like they did in game 3...but it goes to show, if they don't make the Finals they will look back on game 3 and kick themselves in the rear.

we're a tough team to close out. we'll take game 6 at home and then anything goes in game 7.

wow this was disappointing. i thought when stuckey hit that 3 we were going to take the game. chauncey's missed layup hurt badly.

Agreed Dre.

The board war - especially their offensive rebounds combined with the Celtic's luck - KGs buzzer beaters and a few lucky rim shots, were the difference in this one.

Hard to fight for rebounds when your entire front court is in foul trouble early.

:messer:Starting front court?? Sheed made six buckets>>>>> all threes

Dice was taken out of the game altogether with the foul trouble and took only 2 shots and grabbed 5 boards.

Can someone check to see if the real Tay was left down in Disney world? I am not sure if he has been in double figures but possibly once this whole series. he has to be the x factor in game six and seven to secure a trip to the finals.

We were big from beyond the arc hitting 11 threes, but as bad as they killed us on the boards, they duplicated the effort in the paint to the tune of 39-19.

I am not sure who was the star their team tonight: Allen hit 5 threes, KG hit a prayer 3 and Posey hit a three, which was the only points off their bench. unsung here would be perkins setting the tone in the paint offensively and defensively in the first half as we had no answer for him inside.

rondo 13 assists:messer:

Some other keys > when Theo went up there and bricked two FT and when Dice bricked the two FTs during the run prior to him fouling out. We got to the line more than them but missed 9 FT's

Other keys... SHeeds tech...without that maybe it would be 99-99 instead of 100-99 when ray hits his 2 pointer..which we let him have with six seconds on the shot clock....

Rip...gets hit in the eye and we burn a time out that we could have used later. Flip said his elbow is hyperextended..lets hope he can play Friday or we are toast..

Lot of what ifs tonight, but we came up short again when most though it was over in the third.

One thing for sure, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy will celebrate with the Celtics on the plane over to Detroit tomorrow.

Was Stuckey trying to miss the second of his two free throws at the very end with a few seconds left? He made that free throw, but one of the announcers thought he intended to miss it, in order to give the Pistons the opportunity for a board and a three-point shot. I understood the argument for having a deliberate miss at that stage, but there is an argument the other way too, and it is hard to believe that made a free throw he was attempting to miss.

Sheed played down low early, but picked up a couple of quick fouls. Same with Dice and Maxiell. I think some of the perimeter shooting was because they couldn't be agressive in the paint.

I could be wrong and just looking at things through Pistons colored glasses, but I really felt the refs set the tone in the first half with cheap calls on the Pistons and/or no calls for the Celts.

Maybe my feelings are just hurt by the loss, but I don't think so. I think our team was jobbed by the refs.

Flagrant 2 for Pierce, and the Pistons should have an easier time with the next game.

:gun1:

What happened? I miss this.

The calls seemed about even to me by halftime. The Pistons got some breaks early from the refs but then the Cs got some in the 2nd quarter. I didn't watch enough of the second half to have a complete opinion, but the Pistons did end up with more FTs than Boston, didn't they? I think it's tough to complain too much when that happens on the road.

How many games would these guys have to play before DET gets a hugely favorable whistle, 100?

This game turned in the 2nd quarter when the C's really turned up the pressure on Hamilton and Billups. Getting rough with Rip took him totally out of the game well into the 3rd quarter. Flip should have taken him out sooner and gone with Stuckey. Maybe the lead would not have hit as high as it did. Rip did bounce back in the 4th, but I think he would have any way.

100% BS T on Sheed (No 2 pt fg?). Unreal. How can the announcers not realize that Perkins' T was a makeup?

Flip actually got in the refs face.

What he did worked, but I think Flip should have gone offense for D and brought Hunter in with less than 2 to go.

DET will get what passes for them as hometown calls on Friday. Other teams would consider this getting screwed. I see Mr. Magoo and Bozo the Clown working if there is a game 7. The sad part, as Roscoe has been saying, is that BOS is not that good. I guess that is the price you pay when you don't take advantage of earlier opportunities. Come to think of it, Ed F. Rush and Ken Mauer do a pretty good impersonation of Messrs. Magoo and the Clown. I was waiting for KG to hit them with the confetti bucket.

Actually, looking it up, I see that the Pistons were called for 9 more fouls than Boston, but shot 8 more FTs? That's a pretty weird disparity.

The perimeter defense is horrible, which keeps exposing our bigs to foul trouble. They are not picking up fouls on Perkins and KG. The fouls are coming on penetration.

Tay has been horrible. I remember how LB used to yell at him, and people would feel sorry for Tay. When he passed up those 2 (or was it 3) open treys tonight, I wish LB was there to scream at him. His play has been horrible, and he should be embarrassed.

Flip has actually been pretty decent on the sideline, except he still lacks any feel for changing a bad lineup until it costs the scoreboard badly.

If CB was healthy, we would have won this series in 5 or 6. We still can win it in 7, but not with the lousy refereeing. Tonight was the second straight game the Pistons got a raw deal.

We have to stop playing Theo. He's been -4 and -5 in his last two games. He's terrible. There is no way any other big could be any worse, and in fact, I think Hermann gives us more offensively (and between the ears).

Theo's not making plays, he's not getting boards, and tonight, his time on the court may have been the difference. I can't understand why he is getting the call over Max. Max has been working his butt off, and getting results at it.

The perimeter defense is horrible, which keeps exposing our bigs to foul trouble. They are not picking up fouls on Perkins and KG. The fouls are coming on penetration.

Tay has been horrible. I remember how LB used to yell at him, and people would feel sorry for Tay. When he passed up those 2 (or was it 3) open treys tonight, I wish LB was there to scream at him. His play has been horrible, and he should be embarrassed.

Flip has actually been pretty decent on the sideline, except he still lacks any feel for changing a bad lineup until it costs the scoreboard badly.

If CB was healthy, we would have won this series in 5 or 6. We still can win it in 7, but not with the lousy refereeing. Tonight was the second straight game the Pistons got a raw deal.

We have to stop playing Theo. He's been -4 and -5 in his last two games. He's terrible. There is no way any other big could be any worse, and in fact, I think Hermann gives us more offensively (and between the ears).

Theo's not making plays, he's not getting boards, and tonight, his time on the court may have been the difference. I can't understand why he is getting the call over Max. Max has been working his butt off, and getting results at it.

Mystery of the series. Theo is hurting us. He commits fouls like a rookie, and like you said doesn't rebound. WTF is he out there? Play Amir, Hermann, whoever. I even read articles talking about his contrivutions, and Flip praising him. I feel like i'm watching a different series.

And your right about our peremiter defense being BS, but that's all i'll say on it because at this point repeating it is just useless. The fact that Tay needs so much help on Pierce is hurting us, and the fact that we put Rip on him is ??iable. We don't even give him different looks. Why not use Max in a Corliss type role? How does he end up with less min than Theo? Logic need not apply i guess.

Gee, I would much rather be talking about Stuckey being the hero tonight. That 3 got us to within 1 with a bit over a minute to go. But it was not to be.</p>


<p>Lets start with Prince. Some people don't think Prince needs any rest during the playoffs. They don't care that we don't have a backup for him. Prince defends their best players. He was said up until a few games back to be our best playoff performer. Flip Saunders failure to ever establish a backup for Tay, given a whole season to do so, is inexcusable. Afflalo repeatedly showed him he could do the job, and yet Saunders opted for nobody, just because Afflalo is a rookie. This is not reason at all, just a poor excuse, from one of the very worst coaches in the league. I hate to say it, but even Doc Rivers seems to have passed the guy, putting Flip at 2nd worst in the league.</p>


<p>Yes, even in the playoffs, Tay needs rest. This is playoff intensity basketball, which negates the longer timeouts and longer halftimes.</p>


<p>We got outrebounded very badly. It was 28-11 in favor of Boston at one point, about a three to one advantage in Boston's favor. But our best rebounder, Amir Johnson, does not play for us. Why? He is young. No reason at all not to play him. Again, just a poor excuse, from a poor coach.</p>


<p>Some want me to say Sheed had a bad game, despite making 6 three pointers. Yes, I wish he went inside more too, but hey, those were wide open 3's, he kept making them. In contrast, Tay would not take wide open triples when he could have, and that hurt us. Now, in case anyone does not know this, you get 3 points for making a 3 pointer. I do not like Dyess's long two pointers, which he generally does not score enough points for us to negate the fact he draws no fouls from those shots. Tonight, Sheed scored a lot of points, so he had a decent game. And he did a credible job guarding Garnett. In contrast, they actually guarded Dyess tonight, and he got virtually nothing for us. And his defense was non-existent. Worse, Boston pretty much announced that they would be attacking Dyess, and Flip did nothing at all about it.</p>


<p>Having a deep front line makes attacking the players on a frontline pointless. But we don't have a deep front line. We would, if Flip played Amir. But Amir is young, so Flip won't play him. And you also saw Flip's real stripes in regards to Maxiell. He really does not like playing him either, as he is also a young player.</p>


<p>Theo sure played a lot. Nothing great. Nothing all that bad except for those two badly missed free throws by him. Speaking of missed free throws, those two missed by Dyess turned out to be huge as our comeback in the fourth stalled just short.</p>


<p>Hunter played a lot too. He made a couple of nice plays. But he played too much. For the third game in a row, he did not score. Now, if someone out there thinks that Afflalo should not play, despite being our best perimeter defender, because he does not score enough, then why cheer for Hunter to play. Hunter gives you a few good plays on the ball, and then nothing otherwise. Afflalo gives you a good solid perimeter player every play. Afflalo gives you a guy moving well without the ball on offense every play. Much more consistent play from Afflalo. But Afflalo is young, so does not play.</p>


<p>Stuckey had a pretty darn good game. Not great, but he made outside shots, got to the line, and was a pest on D here and there.</p>


<p>JMAX played fine while in, but Flip, in his utter wisdom, played him only 11 minutes as someone pointed out. He did come out for foul trouble initially, but he ended up having a couple of fouls to give.</p>


<p>Billups is not healed. Our team did poorly for the most part while he was in. Billups did though have quite a good spurt there in the 4th to help make it very close at the end. But I doubt him playing is going to heal that hamstring any faster.</p>


<p>Rip started out pretty cold, got hot in the 2nd half. He suffered a pair of minor injuries late in the game and kind of disappeared on us. A poke in the eye not caught by the officials was one, and some kind of arm injury from an entanglement with Allen was the other. Neither injury kept him out for long, but he was really scoring well before these injuries.</p>


<p>Well, now we are down 3-2 in the series. We are fully capable, with Billups not even playing, to drub this team the next two games. Thats the good news. But the bad news - our coach is Flip Saunders. Which means most likely he will exclude our best rebounder and our best perimeter defender from the next game. Most fans don't seem to notice that we won all year with Afflalo in the rotation. Most fans don't seem to notice that our best stretch in the playoffs so far has been the four straight easy wins while Afflalo was in the rotation. This team is not nearly as good without him. Oh well, if the fans don't care, don't pay attention, don't speak up, then how can they complain about Flip giving this series away.</p>

Lee I hear ya. Most feel that Amir and Afllollo won't make a difference, but we will never know if we get ousted in game six without either of them seeing any action on the floor.

We are getting out rebounded almost 3 to 1 and getting beat to the paint and you don't even put them in there for 2-3 minutes??? Sometimes these players make a difference Flip.. Might as well as have left them at the hotel..:yellowprison:

Mistake 1: We take Maxiell out and lose his energy.

Mistake 2: Again, we are incredibly slow to stop Perkins and make an adjustment.

Mistake 3: Our rotations are too slow. We need to sub more quickly in and out to keep up the pace.

Stuckey has now earned major minutes. Hunter was great on defense.

Tay has to take the open look. He has disappeared. Billips has to look for the 3 ball. We need to take the open jumpers. We got killed on the boards. Dyss didn't have it so get some energy in there.

If Rip is ok, we will be fine...

I will continue to repeat: the Celtics are extremely beatable, if we run them into the ground. Which means Prince has to sit and CB/Stuckey combination continues to drive. Let us not forget, their run was with Prince on the bench.

Hunter looks to have his role: the freelancer who hassles everything in sight. He keeps his own players challenged to give more on defense.

Game turners:

KG hitting at least 3 desperate shots with no time left.
Big time threes by Allen and I can believe he had 29 points!
Perkins will not have another game like this, since Dyess will come out strong and the weakness of Prince should make way for JMax.
Rivers will no longer play his bench and if we are unfortunate, then the Laker's should thank us.
Rondo and their point guard problems have been exposed. With his translucence IQ, the attenuation of putting away opponents will never be there for the Celtics, no matter what their lead. Again, if we are unfortunate, then Phil Jackson should thank us.
CB has finally stepped it up. He had only one timid moment where he choked on finishing.
Stuckey should have sent a rocket up there on his last free throw. But my, my, my...what an education he is getting.
Bad luck with some time outs. Rip with his eye poke, and Prince calling that last time out with slightly less than a minute left. Flip will never be out coached under two minutes. The luck of the Irish this time around.coda: Can someone please relay to Sheed that in order to win the brass ring, we don't need his attempts to dominate his presence outside of the 25 foot range throughout the entire game. His constant picks in this area does not legitimize his staying presence...making Dyess forelornly looking for the stairway-to-heaven.

Very dissapointing. I really thought the Pistons would pull that one out.

Its really quit amazing comming back like that but in the end Garnett continued his %1000 FT shooting and Ray Allen hits that prayer of a shot. Then of course the Pistons pick that time to stop executing.

I am fairly confident of a game 6 victory but the Pistons have to start rebounding better. It was like Boobie Gibson all over again with Perkins there ( Did he have to pick game 5 of the ECF to have his career game? )

Nice job by the refs effectivly neutralizing our star of game 4 Dyess with cheap fouls. Just when I thought they were on the up and up.

Our frontcourt size is just getting exposed. Could not believe Prince was playing PF, did a decent job. Goes to show how much more powerfull Duncan was as he ate Tay for lunch when LB tried that.

I don't know if we are going to win this series, would be nice to at least get past win #10.

We have to stop playing Theo. He's been -4 and -5 in his last two games. He's terrible. There is no way any other big could be any worse, and in fact, I think Hermann gives us more offensively (and between the ears).

Theo's not making plays, he's not getting boards, and tonight, his time on the court may have been the difference. I can't understand why he is getting the call over Max. Max has been working his butt off, and getting results at it.

The day the Theo story came out, I knew it was going to be a big mistake. Amir had really just firmly planted himself into the rotation. The bench was rolling. Remember the Stuckey - Afflalo - Hayes - Amir - Sheed lineup that did so well for a while there? The rotation was finally good. The Pistons were streaking (won 16 of 19 leading into Theo's first game). Then as soon as Theo came into the picture the rotation fell apart. He had one or two solid games when he got here and was instantly handed the backup job. Even in front of Max at times, who has earned that spot over the last 3 years.

I guess a young guy doesn't earn the coach's trust over Vet scrubs until they're carrying the team in the conference finals (See Stuckey, Rodney).

It's quite frustrating that they're killing us on the glass and in the paint, yet our best rebounder/shotblocker (by the numbers) rides the pine. Can't stop penetration? Let's glue the guy who contains it the best on the team to the bench.

To me, 2-3 was further than where I estimated in this series the Pistons could capable to go with Flip at the helm.
Correct me if I'm wrong, to be in The Finals are rewards / compensation from the league to teams who did the best to attempt to buy a champion which is not likely in the Pistons' case that I would credit most.

I just watched the pressers. Can someone explain why KG and Pierce look scared?

Rip...gets hit in the eye and we burn a time out that we could have used later. Flip said his elbow is hyperextended..lets hope he can play Friday or we are toast..


According to CSN, he can't untie his shoes, or button his shirt, and had to leave with his arm in a sling. X-Rays were negative, but there's a good chance that his SHOOTING arm is going to swell way up.

------------------

Don't know the reliability, but I'm nervous. I remember the last time he hyper extended it, and his shooting was miserable.

I didn't see any hyperextension on the replay. Who knows how bad Rip really is. Right now he looks like the guys on the playground that miss shots and then immediately start limping.

At this point in time, I wouldn't be surprised if the mentality to have an excuse for losing is so great that Rip decided to make one up.

No rebounds no rings.

I'm hard pressed to feel bad about last night other than about the losing part. They played hard and with some exceptions played well. Boston is just really good.

Choices now are to give in to "we played as well as we could" stuff and let them roll on in Detroit, or to build on last night, knowing you can score on them, and take the last two.

I don't think it's over.

No rebounds no rings.

I'm hard pressed to feel bad about last night other than about the losing part. They played hard and with some exceptions played well. Boston is just really good.

Choices now are to give in to "we played as well as we could" stuff and let them roll on in Detroit, or to build on last night, knowing you can score on them, and take the last two.

I don't think it's over.


I heard about people like you....giving credit to the team that won. There will be no more of that!

Being down 3-2 to these guys is unacceptable. I just don't know anymore if we can put together two wins in a row. Rip's arm has to be a concern now as we head home. I just don't see the Celtics rolling over and playing dead. We have to hold the wooden stake over their hearts and...pound them in game six..Pistons 106-93...:gun1:

The day the Theo story came out, I knew it was going to be a big mistake. Amir had really just firmly planted himself into the rotation. The bench was rolling. Remember the Stuckey - Afflalo - Hayes - Amir - Sheed lineup that did so well for a while there? The rotation was finally good. The Pistons were streaking (won 16 of 19 leading into Theo's first game). Then as soon as Theo came into the picture the rotation fell apart. He had one or two solid games when he got here and was instantly handed the backup job. Even in front of Max at times, who has earned that spot over the last 3 years.

I guess a young guy doesn't earn the coach's trust over Vet scrubs until they're carrying the team in the conference finals (See Stuckey, Rodney).

It's quite frustrating that they're killing us on the glass and in the paint, yet our best rebounder/shotblocker (by the numbers) rides the pine. Can't stop penetration? Let's glue the guy who contains it the best on the team to the bench.

I think you and other board members commented at this time how the pickup of Theo would compromise playing time for Amir (and Max). It was unfortunate because Flip's knee always jerks in the direction of playing a mediocre veteran over a better younger player, and not even giving spot minutes to the younger player as a game-time adjustment to what is happening on the court. The acquisition of Theo by the Pistons just played into Flip's stubborn conservatism. If we had not picked him up, Flip would have been forced to give Amir and Max more minutes. While Theo seemed decent during the few regular season games he played for us, he is over the hill for playoff intensity basketball.

No rebounds no rings.

I'm hard pressed to feel bad about last night other than about the losing part. They played hard and with some exceptions played well. Boston is just really good.

Choices now are to give in to "we played as well as we could" stuff and let them roll on in Detroit, or to build on last night, knowing you can score on them, and take the last two.

I don't think it's over.

I feel the same way. I like the way we are playing this year compared to the last two years. No shame in losing if you give it all you've got.

Why did Dumars bring in Theo the Rattler ?
Did he shoot himself in the foot ?

I could be wrong and just looking at things through Pistons colored glasses, but I really felt the refs set the tone in the first half with cheap calls on the Pistons and/or no calls for the Celts.

Maybe my feelings are just hurt by the loss, but I don't think so. I think our team was jobbed by the refs.

It wasn't just you. I've managed to turn my mother, who lives in CA, into enough of a Pistons fan that she watches a few games a year. During the game she called me and said, "the judges are being really unfair to the Pistons."

So it looked that way even to untrained eyes: hers and mine! :laugh:

I think you and other board members commented at this time how the pickup of Theo would compromise playing time for Amir (and Max). It was unfortunate because Flip's knee always jerks in the direction of playing a mediocre veteran over a better younger player, and not even giving spot minutes to the younger player as a game-time adjustment to what is happening on the court. The acquisition of Theo by the Pistons just played into Flip's stubborn conservatism. If we had not picked him up, Flip would have been forced to give Amir and Max more minutes. While Theo seemed decent during the few regular season games he played for us, he is over the hill for playoff intensity basketball.

But Amir might pick up a ton of stupid fouls in a hurry... oh wait that is what Theo, and come to think of it most of the vets are doing.

But we get sick shot blocking with Theo that we don't get from... Oh wait no we don't.

Well at least Theo is better at guarding screen rolls than ... Oh wait.

Well at least we are getting some crucial seasoning for a guy we have locked up for a couple more years under contract... oh wait.

Well at least we are winning in spite of raping the future... oh wait.

Clearly giving Amir and Spellcheck (I can't believe I'm on the spellcheck bandwagon now, but only because guys (TAY) need rest) about 5 mins a game and keeping our vets fresh wouldn't help keep them fresh or out of foul trouble.

Nope, not at all.


FAIL = TWITCH SAUNDERS

Son of a %%%%%, this gimp really is only good for a 4-2 conf finals loss AT BEST.



Glad Prince is tired now, and didn't take games or more minutes off at the end of the regular season like we all were begging for.

I'm as frustrated as the rest of you, so I needed a little cool down period before commenting on this game.

Here are just a few troubling stats:

Rasheed Wallace attempted 3 shots from inside the arc and missed them all. He also attempted 0 free throws, got 4 rebounds and had 5 fouls. You wonder why we were outrebounded? That is a big part of it.

Our other inside stud, McDyess, had 2 FG attempts, 5 rebounds and 6 fouls. Oh yeah, and 3 turnovers. Sucky.

No worries though, cause we have a whole stable of capable bigs who can save the day. Ratliff- 2 rebounds in 14 minutes. Maxiell- 1 rebound in 11 minutes. What??? Samb could have got better position that these guys.

Lindsey seemed to play great though, right? Well, even though he was hyper active, it only resulted in 1 steal compared to 4 fouls. He put up 1 shot and bricked it. 2 assists were his major contribution. Let's see, 4 fouls in 11 minutes... this rookie sure is foul prone. Why not just play him 14 minutes and let the refs put him back on the bench?

Rip- pretty nice game. Except that he played 18% of the team's minutes and was responsible for 40% of our turnovers. 6 to's? Get a grip Rip. Don't ever throw that eyes closed cross-court crap ever again.

And a comment on the calls.
We shot more free throws than they did, 37 to 30. However, we committed 30 fouls and they only committed 21. Isn't that a little strange? The explanation is that the vast majority of Boston's fouls were because they were fouling our shooters. Most of the calls against us were off the ball ticky tack crap. Those calls got them in the bonus and eventually contributed to giving them free throws.

The good news is that the NBA says they will punish flopping next year with fines. The bad news is that they will never actually enforce it to a degree that makes any difference.

I think you and other board members commented at this time how the pickup of Theo would compromise playing time for Amir (and Max). It was unfortunate because Flip's knee always jerks in the direction of playing a mediocre veteran over a better younger player, and not even giving spot minutes to the younger player as a game-time adjustment to what is happening on the court. The acquisition of Theo by the Pistons just played into Flip's stubborn conservatism. If we had not picked him up, Flip would have been forced to give Amir and Max more minutes. While Theo seemed decent during the few regular season games he played for us, he is over the hill for playoff intensity basketball.

Hasn't this been the case the last 2 or so years? It was Max last year, and Arron+Amir this year. They always tantalize us with vows of "it'll be different this year", and in the regular season, it is. But when the playoffs roll around, it's always the same old crap. Theo's not a bad player - in moderation. An old, washed up vet hoping to catch a coattail ride to a championship should not be playing ahead of players who are supposedly projected to be big parts of this team's future, especially when they are a net negative.

Pistons did not play a full 48 minutes. Disappointed in the loss as the end of the 2nd and full 3rd the mistakes i.e. TO's, hesitant to shoot, stagnant O, lack of reb, allowed the Celts to take a solid lead. Granted the Celtics made some lucky shots but the implosion from the Stones was very difficult to stomach. Yes the 4th qtr comeback was heartening but the Pistons still struggle to put in either consistent effort and/or keep their composure when challenged. This same trend has gone on years and it is frustrating to see it.

This series could have been over in 6 at worst.

According to CSN, he can't untie his shoes, or button his shirt

This isn't a big deal, I don't think he could do those things before he hurt his elbow.

Hunter had for fouls to one steal, but he also had some dubious calls go against him. He had near steals on Pierce where he stole the ball and it went out of bounds on both sidelines. Hunter has played well.

The rebounding is more than one player. They had the same problems in '05 with Ben. They are getting beat from rotating to help on the wings.

What about the play late in the 4th when KG hip checked Hunter (I think) or Hamilton on a screen and (SURPRISE!!!!) it was a no call?

You think the media could find out why Sheed got T'd up rather than giving us the blanket can't have that at that moment BS? They must be too busy making up their stories. The makeup T on Perkins might have been bigger.

If you want to dwell on one play, what if CB shot the 2' lay-up instead of passing to Flip?

I am sorry, but at what point will BOS have to sit important players for long stretches due to foul trouble? When will DET be in the penalty with 10 minutes to go in the quarter, game 1000? They apparently are the quickest most agile guys in the history of the league. DET needs to be making an issue of this organizationally.

OK, am I just a homer or did anybody else think that the Flagrant 1 call on PJ Brown was justified? He came from behind the play, never left his feet, never saw the ball, and pushed Maxiell out of bounds while he was airborne.

I could *not* believe how long JVG and Jackson blathered on about that stupid call. When Tay was called for a foul later then JVG was challenging Mike Breen to justify how that's not the same, when (a) Tay was in front of the play and (b) Tay left his freakin' feet and made a play on the ball. Sorry, just had to vent on that one.

As far as the game goes, how many times now does it seem like the Pistons start out slowly in the 1st and 3rd quarter, and then end up using their big pushes simply to even up the score?

I just view the game from a layman's perspective, but to my eyes it appears that the Celts know how to shut down the Pistons' offense when the starters are out there. It's either that and/or the Pistons' offense is too deliberate when the starters are all on the floor. I really think if Flip subbed earlier/more often it would keep the Celts off guard.

What happened to Dyess? I noticed that a few times he caught the ball in his sweet spot that a Celtic was already in his grill, but to only get off two shots the entire game? And no Piston had more than 5 boards?

I also think Flip is effectively fouling the bigs out earlier by insisting on benching them along the lines of conventional wisdom. Who cares if Maxiell has 3 fouls in the 2nd quarter? He's not a start playing 35+ minutes. He finished with 11 minutes and the *same* 3 fouls!

OK, am I just a homer or did anybody else think that the Flagrant 1 call on PJ Brown was justified? He came from behind the play, never left his feet, never saw the ball, and pushed Maxiell out of bounds while he was airborne.

That should have been a flagrant b/c the defender was not making a play on the ball and was putting the offensive player in danger, as he was already airborn.

I could *not* believe how long JVG and Jackson blathered on about that stupid call. When Tay was called for a foul later then JVG was challenging Mike Breen to justify how that's not the same, when (a) Tay was in front of the play and (b) Tay left his freakin' feet and made a play on the ball. Sorry, just had to vent on that one.

Yes, you are correct. They are trying to copy Bill Walton's devil's advocate shtick. Notice that on every single call, one announcer took one view and the other took the opposite position. It is annoying as hell and it makes the NBA's officiating seem very arbitrary. After all, how can 2 reasonably well informed men, like those announcers, disagree on all NBA calls?

As far as the game goes, how many times now does it seem like the Pistons start out slowly in the 1st and 3rd quarter, and then end up using their big pushes simply to even up the score?

They just can't summon that ferocity when they aren't in danger. They are the opposite of Tiger Woods.

I just view the game from a layman's perspective, but to my eyes it appears that the Celts know how to shut down the Pistons' offense when the starters are out there. It's either that and/or the Pistons' offense is too deliberate when the starters are all on the floor. I really think if Flip subbed earlier/more often it would keep the Celts off guard.

Joe is currently filling out the necessary paperwork to "fix the glitch."

What happened to Dyess? I noticed that a few times he caught the ball in his sweet spot that a Celtic was already in his grill, but to only get off two shots the entire game? And no Piston had more than 5 boards?

Dyess choked.

I also think Flip is effectively fouling the bigs out earlier by insisting on benching them along the lines of conventional wisdom. Who cares if Maxiell has 3 fouls in the 2nd quarter? He's not a start playing 35+ minutes. He finished with 11 minutes and the *same* 3 fouls!

If Flip were a band, he's be a Matchbox 20 coverband. No imagination.
.......

This isn't a big deal, I don't think he could do those things before he hurt his elbow.

Hunter had for fouls to one steal, but he also had some dubious calls go against him. He had near steals on Pierce where he stole the ball and it went out of bounds on both sidelines. Hunter has played well.

The rebounding is more than one player. They had the same problems in '05 with Ben. They are getting beat from rotating to help on the wings.

What about the play late in the 4th when KG hip checked Hunter (I think) or Hamilton on a screen and (SURPRISE!!!!) it was a no call?

You think the media could find out why Sheed got T'd up rather than giving us the blanket can't have that at that moment BS? They must be too busy making up their stories. The makeup T on Perkins might have been bigger.

If you want to dwell on one play, what if CB shot the 2' lay-up instead of passing to Flip?

I am sorry, but at what point will BOS have to sit important players for long stretches due to foul trouble? When will DET be in the penalty with 10 minutes to go in the quarter, game 1000? They apparently are the quickest most agile guys in the history of the league. DET needs to be making an issue of this organizationally.

I think i've become so numb to the refs that i except us to get screwed every game, and just focus on other stuff within our control. I'm really starting to question why i watch the NBA.. I wish there was another league. They could title it "Not as good players as the NBA, but hey we're fair!!"

I'd watch that.

I think i've become so numb to the refs that i except us to get screwed every game, and just focus on other stuff within our control. I'm really starting to question why i watch the NBA.. I wish there was another league. They could title it "Not as good players as the NBA, but hey we're fair!!"

I'd watch that.

Is that the WNBA?

In games like these, where one team has the other "on the ropes", and then the losing team gets a remarkable surge of energy long enough to make things interesting only to ultimately come up short, it reminds me of some of the pro wrestling I used to see on Saturday mornings after the cartoons were over. As soon as I was told pro wrestling was fake I stopped watching. I could never watch pro basketball again if I was convinced it was rigged.

The Pistons actually pulled within 1 point late in the game but I never really expected them to take the lead.

No rebounds no rings.

I'm hard pressed to feel bad about last night other than about the losing part. They played hard and with some exceptions played well. Boston is just really good.

Choices now are to give in to "we played as well as we could" stuff and let them roll on in Detroit, or to build on last night, knowing you can score on them, and take the last two.

I don't think it's over.

Hard to get rebounds when Dice is in trouble on the bench, Tay and Sheed are outside on the perimeter, AJ is nailed to the bench and Ben Wallace is sitting at home in Cleveland....:sssh:

Hard to get rebounds when Dice is in trouble on the bench, Tay and Sheed are outside on the perimeter, AJ is nailed to the bench and Ben Wallace is sitting at home in Cleveland....:sssh:

Maybe Flip can give Ben a call for Game 6?

I think it was worth the $25K

Rasheed Wallace (http://www.realgm.com/src_playerfile/172/rasheed_wallace/) of the Detroit Pistons (http://pistons.realgm.com/) has been fined $25,000 for his use of profanity and criticism of the officiating following last night’s game, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Wallace made his comments to the media following the Pistons’ 106-102 loss to the Celtics in Game 5 of the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Finals in Boston.

RealGM: Wiretap Archives: Rasheed Fined $25,000 For Actions Following Game 5 (http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/52756/20080529/rasheed_fined_$25000_for_actions_following_game_5/)

I think it was worth the $25K


Not when you factor in the wonderful calls he's bound to get in the next 2 games.

Just as soon as Sheed feels we're out of the POs. He'll get his final technical, just like last season. Could happen in game 6 in a glorious blaze of idiocy.

But Stern agreed and will try and fine faking floppers next year. Go figure.