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If all goes according to plan tonight, the lay-up line will be the only action that Darko Milicic sees tonight as the struggling Celtics face off with the Pistons. The Pistons are also struggling a bit having lost their last three. Of course, the Celtics are 13-20 on the road and shot under 40% in the last two games, so how much do the Pistons' recent struggles matter?
Rasheed seems to not know how much that matters.
That's right Larry Brown. It ain't worth two ****s because the Celtics can't hit a shot either.
Richard Hamilton leads the Pistons in scoring, which isn't exactly a feat, with 19.3 ppg, which goes with his 4.5 apg. Chauncey Billups averages 16.9 ppg to go with 6 apg, while shooting 42% from three and 90.4% from the line. Rasheed Wallace averages 14.6 ppg and 8.3 rpg while also blocking 1.5 shots a night. Tayshaun Prince averages 14.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg while shooting 48% from the field and playing terrific defense. Ben Wallace averages 8.9 ppg, 12 rpg, 1.33 spg, and 2.42 bpg. Antonio McDyess is the best bencher for the Pistons with 9.7 ppg and 6.3 rpg in just 23.6 mpg, while also shooting 51.3% from the floor. Carlos Arroyo averages 5.8 ppg and 3.6 apg backingup Billups, but shoots just 38.3% from the floor and 12.5% from three. Carlos Delfino has done well since moving north with 5.0 ppg in 16.4 mpg in just 18 games.
The Celtics defeated the Pistons in double overtime, 115-113, at home on March 11. That game featured 30 lead changes and 19 ties and neither team led by more than 7 ever at any point. The Pistons were led by Tayshaun Prince's 27 points on 11-24 shooting, which went with 7 boards, 4 assists, and 2 blocks. Richard Hamilton shot just 5-15, but finished with 24 points, 5 boards, and 6 assists, before fouling out. Chauncey Billups also shot 5-15 (2-7 from three) and finished with 5 boards and 9 assists. Rasheed Wallace went for 18 and 10 boards. Ben Wallace had just 9 points in 45 minutes, but also pulled down 19 boards (only three offensive). The Celtics were led by 38 points and 12 boards from Paul Pierce, who shot 11-25 from the field and 14-15 from the line. Ricky Davis hit 9-16 for 23 points, before fouling out. Mark Blount shot 8-12 and blocked two shots to finish with 17 big points. Gary Payton just missed a triple double with 12 points, 9 boards, and 8 assists.
The Celtics shot just 43% from the floor (2-14 from three), but got 10 more shots than the Pistons and outrebounded them 54-52 (16-13 offensive). Paul Pierce's 9 points in the second overtime, as well as the winner over Rasheed Wallace.
This came could be bloody awful if the Celtics come out without intensity as they did in the last two games. If they bring it from the opening tap to the end of the game, we could be in for another terrific viewing experience.
