The Three Point Play 05.27.08: Celtics-Pistons Series Tied at Two, Spurs Take Game 3 From Lakers

Posted by Blake Lovell on 05.27.2008

The race for the NBA Finals is starting to heat up, as the Celtics and Pistons take their series back to Boston tied up. Meanwhile, the Spurs answer their blowout loss in L.A. with a blowout win in San Antonio against the Lakers. And will the Bulls and Suns ever hire a coach? All that and more inside this edition of the Three Point Play!



Hello everyone and welcome to another exciting Conference Final edition of the Three Point Play! The Spurs were able to bounce back and pick up a Game 3 victory, and the Celtics finally won on the road. But the Pistons answered in Game 4, and now we have a series on our hands. Let's get right into the action.

1. A Look At Celtics-Pistons Games 3 and 4

Let's first look back to Game 3 before we discuss Game 4. The Celtics finally got the road monkey off their back, as they picked up the victory in Detroit. Sooner or later you knew these guys had to win one. They are too good of a team to continually lose on the road, and they finally figured out how to pick up a win away from Boston in this postseason. What really helped the Celtics pick up the win was a great start. That was something they had struggled with on the road, as they had always seemed to get out to slow starts, and they were really never able to recover from those. But they got the good start they needed and really had just an excellent game overall. Kevin Garnett had a period in the second quarter where he looked like a league MVP, which helped the Celtics push the lead out quite a bit. The bench play for the Celtics was a hundred times better than it was in Game 2, as guys like Sam Cassell and James Posey came in and had success against the lackluster defense for the Pistons. The Pistons have to play great defense to win. They're not going to score 110 points a night, and they just didn't play the type of defense they were capable of playing, which led to the Celtics getting a road win. Rodney Stuckey had another breakout game for Detroit, as it was clear that Chauncey Billups was not himself. The injury was bothering him without a doubt in this particular game.

As for Game 4, it was an ugly game overall, but the Pistons were the ones who took it to the Celtics early. Antonio McDyess played a huge role in allowing the Pistons to take a 10-0 lead to start the game, and eventually picking up the victory to tie up this series. As I said, it wasn't a very pretty game to say the least, but it was another defensive battle you would expect from these two teams. The Pistons defense was much better than in Game 3, which is why Boston shot a very low percentage from the field. The game was close throughout, and the Celtics were never really able to take control of the lead and put the Pistons in a pressure situation. The bench played well for the Pistons, as Maxiell and Stuckey made great contributions as they have the entire series. Billups also looked much better than he did in Game 3, and although I'm sure the injury hasn't fully healed, he still made great strides in this game. It was an overall good performance for the Pistons, as this was a game they absolutely had to have. They made key plays down the stretch, and were able to hang on to the lead despite a few small runs by the Celtics. As we talked about in Game 3, the Celtics got out to a quick start which resulted in their victory. But they once again dug themselves another hole, which was pretty steady for most of the game. It was a good win for the Pistons, as they looked more energized than they did in the previous game.

These two teams now head back to Boston for Game 5, with things all square. This situation is a little different than what we've been seeing in this year's playoffs, as both teams have won on the other's home floor. So now it comes down to who wants it more. These two teams are evenly matched as we've said from the very beginning, and it'll be interesting to see who comes out on top. The Celtics should bounce back well, as they are the ones who are in control right now. They win at home, and they are one game from advancing. But if they lose at home, they face an elimination game on the road, and despite their Game 3 win, they still probably aren't completely confident in their play on the road. Billups' health will be key for the Pistons, and the big three will be key for the Celtics. The bench play will also be important for both teams, as that's been an indicator of who's won the games so far this series. Great depth usually equals wins in the postseason. Without question, Game 5 is the biggest game of the series for either team. Now we just have to wait and see who comes out on top. I'd expect a close game, and another great defensive battle from both teams.

2. Different City, Different Result

Game 3 was clearly a different story for both the Spurs and Lakers in comparison to Game 2, as the Spurs got back into the series with a 103-84 victory. After the beating they took in Los Angeles in Game 2, there had to be some speculation as to how the Spurs would respond. Sure, they are the defending champions and have all the experience in the world, but getting hammered by 30 in the playoffs isn't something that happens every day. However, they did a great job of bouncing back and protecting their home floor, and cutting the Lakers' series lead to 2-1. It was really the kind of game we've been use to seeing from this San Antonio team, especially after the big road losses they took in the series with the Hornets. The Spurs are still undefeated at home this postseason, and you've got to believe at this point that they should take Game 4 as well, and send it back to L.A. tied up. They are just a different team at home, and that was clear on Sunday night.

Speaking of different at home, Manu Ginobili finally came alive and had a huge game for the Spurs in Game 3. Ginobili was hitting shots from everywhere on the floor. He had guys in his face, had two guys in his face, it didn't matter to him. He was on fire the entire game, and really set the tone for the Spurs with 22 points in the first half of the game, as the Spurs took a ten point halftime lead. Tim Duncan also stepped up and had a big game, which is no surprise as he is one of the more consistent players in the league. He had some struggles early in the series with the Hornets, but has steadily gotten better each game as he had 22 points and 21 rebounds against the Lakers in Game 3. There were a lot of questions coming into the series about the Duncan-Gasol matchup, and even though the Lakers have the lead, Duncan has been more effective at times than Gasol. Tony Parker also had a solid game for the Spurs as he bounced back from a forgettable Game 2. San Antonio's bench wasn't that effective, but they didn't have to be. The big three for the Spurs really controlled the game from start to finish, so the bench didn't have to do a whole lot. But, the Spurs' bench is really the only thing that concerns me at this point, as they tend to be inconsistent.

On the Laker side of things, it was Kobe and that's about it. Bruce Bowen did a nice job defending Kobe in the first half, but couldn't really keep up that same type of intensity in the second half. Even though #24 had 30 points, it really didn't seem like it. I guess you could say it was a quiet 30 point performance. Only good players can have those types of nights. Gasol contributed 15 points, but not much more than that. Lamar Odom only had 7 points, and never seemed to get in any type of rhythm the entire game. It was just one of those games for the Lakers. I'm not exactly sure what it was, but they didn't seem to ever get a whole lot of energy going, except for an early lead in the first quarter. Maybe that was to be expected though, given the beatdown they handed the Spurs in Game 2. It was a classic letdown situation. It was probably more of the Spurs playing very well as opposed to the Lakers playing terrible though. The Spurs had the type of fire they needed given the circumstances, and they won the game pretty handily.

The series stays in San Antonio for Game 4, and I'd probably expect more of the same, although it will likely be a close game either way. Again, the Spurs are a different team at home, and that's why they haven't lost in San Antonio this postseason. And the Spurs know the Lakers are the same way. L.A. hasn't lost at home this postseason, so Gregg Popovich and his staff know how important this next game is. Going back to Los Angeles down 3-1 is not a place the Spurs want to be, even if they are the defending champions. Ginobili needs to bring his best again in Game 4, as does Parker and Duncan. These are the three guys who make this team go. You can compare them to the Allen, Pierce, and Garnett trio in Boston. If they all play well, they will give their team a great chance of winning. Bowen will also be key in limiting Kobe's opportunities at the basket. It should be a great game, and I'm going to say the series heads back to Los Angeles tied up.

3. Vacancy

The Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns are still in the process of filling their vacant coaching positions, and some people have made inquiries as to why it is taking so long for them to hire someone. I'd say there are probably several reasons why this has become a lengthy process for both teams. Both of these teams are proven winners in this league. Both have plenty of talent, and in several pre-season publications, they were picked to meet each other in this year's championship. That turned out not to be the case at all. The Bulls had a dreadful season, and now hold the NBA Draft in their hands. The Suns had another playoff disappointment, and are still in search of an NBA title. So there's a lot riding on these hires for both teams. That's why this process is taking so long. Neither team wants to jump right in and make a mistake. I'd say both teams want a guy they believe can stay there for many years, and bring lots of success to the organization. Even though it has taken a while up to this point, I'd expect both teams to fill the coaching vacancy within the next week or two. With the draft coming up at the end of June, the teams have to have a head coach in place so they can begin to talk strategy for the draft and the upcoming NBA season. I'd be surprised if either team waits too much longer, as they'd like to have a foundation set a few weeks leading up to the draft.

There are several good candidates who are still out there. Avery Johnson is probably the best out there right now, and he's interviewed with both organizations. Mark Jackson is another guy who hasn't coached in the league for a while, but he's the kind of guy that would provide good teaching to young players. At one point, Lakers' assistant coach Kurt Rambis was considered to be high on the Suns' list. Not sure where that stands as of now. It's hard to really predict where each team goes. Personally, I think Avery Johnson will get one of the two jobs. I find it hard to see him going to Phoenix, so Chicago would be more likely at this point in time. But really there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of information out there one way or the other. It's taking so long because these are teams that can compete for a title. They need to find the right guy for the job, and they seem to be trying to interview everyone under the sun to make sure they get the best possible coach. That's all you can really ask for if you're a Bulls or Suns fan. If a decision comes after the next week or two for either team, I'd be very surprised.

THE BONUS

- Speaking of the Chicago Bulls, forward Joakim Noah was arrested for possession of marijuana and having an open alcohol container in Gainesville, Florida. Let's just leave it at that. I'm sure people will have plenty to say about this one.

- And let's finish this off with a debatable question. Who is the most underrated player left in the playoffs? That is, of the four teams remaining, who's the player that gets overlooked the most, but is a key to his team's success?

That's it for this edition of the Three Point Play. Tune in next time for more playoff coverage.