Why aren't I more excited about the potential of a Lakers-Celtics NBA final? Let me put it this way – I'm excited about the possibility of that happening, but I don't think there is much potential that it will actually occur.
In particular, I think the Boston Celtics are at the end of the road. They have looked less than convincing in winning seven-game series over the Hawks and Cavs, and now they're up against a Pistons team that is undoubtedly sick of hearing about how the Celtics are a lock to win the East. In case you hadn't noticed, this is the Pistons' sixth consecutive Eastern Conference championship. That's on some Atlanta Braves kind of consistency of excellence tip. They aren't nervous about heading into Boston for Game One tonight. They're like, "Is it Tuesday already? OK, let's ball."
The Celtics' celebrated "Big Three" has become "The Big Two plus The Artist Formerly Known as Ray Allen." I don't know if Ray Allen growing old before our eyes or if he's just in a rut, but 12.7 points per game on 38 percent shooting is not what Celtics' GM Danny Ainge had in mind. As for Sam Cassell, he's dunzo.
As for the Pistons, what can you say? They're the Detroit Pistons, same as they've been for years. There isn't a more cohesive starting unit in the NBA, and starting point guard Chauncey Billups is back from his injury break to torment his Celtic counterpart, Rajon Rondo. And while you could make the case that the Pistons and Celtics starters are dead even – if only because Boston has the two best players in Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce – it's not even close when you look at Detroit's far superior bench strength.
Can the Celtics win a playoff road game? They're going to have to answer that question when the Pistons take one of the first two games in Boston. If you want to know my answer, let me just say this – Pistons in six.
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