May 31, 2008 12:24 AM EST
The Boston Celtics reached the NBA Finals on Friday night with an 89-81 win over the Detroit Pistons.
The victory was just the second road win for the Celtics this postseason - with the first coming in Game Three in Detroit - and allowed them to avoid a third Game Seven back home in Boston.
Paul Pierce had 27 points and 8 rebounds, and Kevin Garnett added 16 points and 6 boards in the win for the Celtics, who shot 44% from the field and attempted six more free throws than Detroit.
Ray Allen added 17 for Boston on 6-for-12 shooting.
The Celtics trailed by six heading into the fourth quarter but outscored the Pistons 29-13 over the final twelve minutes to advance to their twentieth NBA Finals.
Chauncey Billups, 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Richard Hamilton, 21 points despite a bum elbow, were fantastic for the Pistons, but everyone else struggled.
Rasheed Wallace was just 2-for-12, finishing with 4 points and 5 fouls in the loss.
With Wallace in foul trouble, Theo Ratliff brought his defense to the floor but was unable to help the Pistons offensively.
Detroit Coach Flip Saunders replaced Ratliff with Jason Maxiell to bring some semblance of an offensive attack to the paint, but the Celtics withstood Maxiell's 7 points.
Antonio McDyess, a huge factor through the first five games of the series, was just 2-for-3 from the floor as defenders like Kendrick Perkins, Garnett, and Pierce combined to keep him out of the game.
The last time the Celtics made the Finals was in 1987, when they lost to the same team they will play next week - the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Finals will begin Thursday in Boston.
Via Andrew Perna/RealGM
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Richard Hamilton claims that he's "ready to go" in Detroit's Game Six battle with Boston on Friday night despite a strained right elbow, according to a report on ESPN.com.
"I have no choice. This is do or die," Hamilton said after the team's shootaround Friday.
He admitted that he felt discomfort in his elbow after shooting around.
"Once I get out there and the adrenaline is going, I'll be fine," Hamilton said. "I told my teammates, 'Don't look at me as handicap.' ... I'm fine. I'm ready to roll."
Via ESPN
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May 30, 2008 11:22 AM EST
Having lost two Game Sixes already this postseason, the Celtics and Head Coach Doc Rivers are viewing Friday night's battle with the Pistons as a must-win, according to The Boston Herald.
The team would love to avoid a Game Seven showdown back in Boston, which would be the third game of its kind over the last month.
"Yeah, we have (been in this position before)," Rivers said. "We have a chance to end it. But, you know, we’re playing good teams - and good teams in their place - and they’re tough to play."
The Pistons could be without leading scorer Richard Hamilton, who strained his right elbow in Game Five.
"We just have to come in and have great focus and play. We can’t worry about if we win or if we lose. We have to just focus on the game and just stay there," Rivers added.
Via The Boston Herald
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Celtics May 2008 Archive
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | May 28, 2008
Boston is one win from the NBA Finals after defeating Detroit 106-102 on Wednesday night.
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Detroit News | May 28, 2008
Despite being traded to Boston in 2004, Lindsey Hunter knew that he was not going anywhere.
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AP | May 27, 2008
The Pistons defeated the Celtics 94-75 on Monday night to even their Eastern Conference finals at 2-2, heading back to Boston for Game 5.
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The Boston Herald | May 26, 2008
Celtics' reserve guard Sam Cassell is frustrated with the lack of playing time Coach Doc Rivers has given him during the playoffs.
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The Detroit Free Press | May 26, 2008
Struggling point guard Chauncey Billups will be on a shorter leash against Boston in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night.
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ESPN | May 25, 2008
Chauncey Billups will continue to play against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals despite a lingering right hamstring injury.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | May 24, 2008
Boston earned their first road win of the playoffs against Detroit on Saturday night, 94-80.
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The Detroit Free Press | May 24, 2008
Piston's forward Jason Maxiell started six games for the team earlier in the postseason before being moved to the bench.
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The Macomb Daily | May 24, 2008
Pistons' forward Tayshaun Prince knows that the team can't worry about the Celtics' road issues this postseason while simply focusing on getting the job done at home.
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Detroit News | May 23, 2008
If the Pistons are to win the championship this season, they are going to have to do it without a healthy Chauncey Billups.
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The Boston Globe | May 23, 2008
Celtics' General Manager Danny Ainge and his scouting staff have headed down to Orlando, Fla. to being preparing for the pre-draft camp that will begin next week.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | May 22, 2008
Richard Hamilton led the Pistons to a 103-97 win over the Celtics on Thursday night to even their best-of-seven series.
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Detroit News | May 22, 2008
The NBA has fined Pistons guard Richard Hamilton for his flagrant foul on Boston's Kevin Garnett in Game 1 on Tuesday night.
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RealGM Staff Report | May 22, 2008
Kevin Garnett has been named the recipient of the NBA Community Assist Award for April.
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Boston Herald | May 22, 2008
Celtics' point guard Rajon Rondo isn't overly excited about his Game One performance against Detroit's battled-tested point guard Chauncey Billups.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | May 20, 2008
The Boston Celtics drew first blood against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night with an 88-79 win in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | May 20, 2008
Larry Bird acknowledged the fact that he's going to receive a lot of questions about his former team, the Boston Celtics, as they are just four wins away from the NBA Finals.
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The Boston Globe | May 19, 2008
Sam Cassell failed to play in Game Six and Seven in the Celtics' second round series against the Cavaliers and claims that he's rested for the Pistons.
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AP | May 18, 2008
Paul Pierce scored 41 points on Sunday to lead the Boston Celtics to a 97-92 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of their playoff series.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | May 18, 2008
The Boston Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals with a tight, 97-92, win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon.
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Detroit Free-Press | May 17, 2008
No team has lost its first five road playoff games and gone on to win the NBA title, according to Stats, Inc.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | May 16, 2008
Cleveland downed Boston, 74-69, on Friday night to force a Game Seven on Sunday afternoon.
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HoopsWorld | May 16, 2008
The Cavaliers will look to both Damon Jones and Devin Brown to replace the three-point shooting of injured guard Daniel Gibson in Game Six against the Celtics on Friday night.
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The Akron Beacon Journal | May 15, 2008
The Cavaliers took special precautions to avoid Boston's pollen, which is at it's height right now, prior to the team's Game Five against the Celtics on Wednesday night.
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RealGM Staff Report | May 15, 2008
Daniel Gibsonis currently listed as out for Friday night’s game versus the Celtics.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | May 14, 2008
The Celtics are just one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals after defeating the Cavaliers, 96-89, on Wednesday night in Boston.
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The Boston Globe | May 14, 2008
Doc Rivers had some choice words for TNT Analyst Magic Johnson after the legend commented that the Celtics appeared to lack "mental toughness" during their Monday night loss to the Cavaliers.
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Press Release | May 14, 2008
Sporting News has named Boston Celtics Executive Director, Basketball Operations and General Manager, the 2007-08 NBA Executive of the Year.
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HoopsWorld | May 14, 2008
Cleveland Coach Mike Brown thinks that his team needs to play better in order to defeat the top-seeded Celtics at home in Game Five on Wednesday night.
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ESPN | May 14, 2008
Larry Bird has filed a lawsuit against a couple who bought his Southern Indiana home and have been using his name to promote a bed and breakfast.
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HoopsWorld | May 13, 2008
LeBron James is thrilled that his Cavaliers were able to hold down home court in Games Three and Four and now hopes Cleveland can steal a win in Boston.
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ESPN | May 13, 2008
NBA Commissioner David Stern is not a fan of the pre-game noise and fireworks which have become increasingly common in the NBA.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | May 12, 2008
The Cavaliers tied up their semifinal series with the Celtics on Monday night with a huge win, 88-77, as the series shifts to the Northeast.
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The Boston Globe | May 12, 2008
Former Celtics' guard Dana Barros is considering a comeback to the court as a member of Cape Verde's Olympic qualifier team.
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RealGM Staff Report | May 12, 2008
Bruce Bowen, Tim Duncan and Marcus Camby joined Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant on the NBA All-Defensive Team.
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Boston Globe | May 12, 2008
Before their Game 7 matchup against the Celtics, the Hawks stayed at the Liberty Hotel on May 3rd in Cambridge.
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The Boston Globe | May 12, 2008
Guards Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen are looking for fresh starts when the Celtics resume their semifinal series against the Cavaliers on Monday night in Cleveland.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | May 10, 2008
The Cavaliers jumped out to an early lead against the Celtics on Saturday night and never looked back en route to an important Game Three victory at home.
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The Plain Dealer | May 10, 2008
Daniel Gibson understands that LeBron James hasn't been shooting very well in the semifinals against the Celtics, but he still believes that he's the team's best option.
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The Plain Dealer | May 10, 2008
The Cavaliers will likely be without forward Ben Wallace against the Celtics in Game Three on Saturday night because of allergy-related issues.
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ESPN | May 9, 2008
The NBA players union plans to file a complaint after an official was denied access to the Boston Celtics' locker room ahead of Game 2 on Thursday night.
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ESPN | May 9, 2008
Cavaliers' forward Ben Wallace was forced from the court during the team's 89-73 loss in Boston last night with what was originally labeled dizziness.
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AP | May 8, 2008
Boston's Paul Pierce and Ray Allen found their shooting touch on Thursday night, as the Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 89-73 to take a 2-0 lead in the East semifinals
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | May 8, 2008
The Cavaliers jumped out to an early lead, but the Celtics stormed back in the second quarter and ran away with Game Two, 89-73, to take a 2-0 series lead on Thursday night.
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The Boston Globe | May 8, 2008
Celtics' guard Sam Cassell doesn't understand why the NBA is protecting Cleveland's LeBron James with favorable foul calls.
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The Detroit Free Press | May 7, 2008
Pistons' head Coach Flip Saunders has compared small forward Tayshaun Prince to Boston star Kevin Garnett, who he coached for several seasons in Minnesota.
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Christopher Reina/RealGM | May 7, 2008
Game one of the Boston/Cleveland series featured some of the worst performances by three All-Stars in any game they have ever played, let alone a playoff game.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | May 6, 2008
Garnett led the Celtics to a 76-72 win in Game One against the Cavs with 28 points and 8 rebounds. LeBron, Pierce and Allen all struggled combining for just 16 points on 4-for-36 shooting.
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HoopsWorld | May 6, 2008
Heading into their semifinal series with the top-seeded Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers aren't in awe of the storied franchise.
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AP | May 4, 2008
Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce combined for 40 points on Sunday as the Celtics pounded the Hawks 99-65 in Game 7 of their playoff series.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | May 4, 2008
Hawks forward Marvin Williams claims that he's ready to play in Game Seven against the Celtics on Sunday afternoon.
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The Boston Globe | May 3, 2008
Celtics Coach Doc Rivers wasn't happy with the way Paul Pierce reacted to fouling out in Game Six of the team's loss to the Hawks on Friday night.
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Andrew Perna/RealGM | May 2, 2008
The Atlanta Hawks used a strong fourth quarter to beat the Boston Celtics, 103-100, and force a dramatic Game Seven this weekend.
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The Boston Herald | May 1, 2008
Joe Johnson refuses to believe that his Hawks are done in their best-of-seven series against the Celtics.
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ESPN | May 1, 2008
Paul Pierce has denied that the sign which cost him $25,000 and was labelled a 'menacing gesture' by the NBA was gang related.
