Pistons model for the Celtics

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. -- Paul Pierce has seen the Celtics' future. And it looks a lot like the Detroit Pistons.

Go ahead, laugh.

It seems ridiculous to compare the Pistons (29-5) and the Celtics (14-22) in any way before they play each other today at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Coming off Thursday's 15-point win over defending NBA champion San Antonio, Detroit solidified its standing as the most dominant, most complete team in the league this season. The Pistons appear poised to repeat as Eastern Conference champions and finish what they could not last June. Under new coach Flip Saunders, Detroit is undeniably on a mission to reclaim the title. That much was clear when it held the Spurs to a season-low 68 points.

Meanwhile, nothing about the Celtics is clear, except that they will be lucky to make the postseason as the No. 8 seed in the East. Upon reviewing a triple-OT loss to Philadelphia Friday night, coach Doc Rivers said he believed Boston is improving, because it ''should have won," even with Pierce going 4 for 20 from the field. But it was hard to see progress, with turnovers, defense, and decision-making still big problems. Having lost eight of their last 11 games, the Celtics are more easily mentioned in the same breath as the Hawks and Raptors, not the Pistons.

So what would make Pierce see similarities? Part of it was how close the Celtics have played the Pistons this season. Part of it is the way the teams match up. If not for a buzzer-beater by Richard Hamilton Nov. 4 at the TD Banknorth Garden, Boston would be 1-1 against Detroit. When the teams played Nov. 15 at the Palace, the Celtics led by as many as 13 points before collapsing in the second half.

''We play them pretty tough, and they're the best team in the league right now," said Pierce. ''I don't know if it's because they don't get up for us or because we match up well. You've got me and Tayshaun [Prince], and Ricky [Davis] and Richard Hamilton. [Kendrick Perkins] is like a young Ben Wallace to me. We don't know if he'll be a great offensive player, but he's taken his strengths and worked to make the most of them. He has long arms. He knows his role getting rebounds. Delonte [West] reminds me of Chauncey [Billups]."

After practice yesterday at Oakland University, Rivers said he planned to keep Perkins in the starting lineup, recognizing the lift the big man provided with his 10 points and 11 rebounds against the Sixers. Perkins returned to the starting lineup in Philadelphia for the first time since Dec. 30 at Sacramento, replacing Al Jefferson. Rivers remains unhappy with Jefferson's all-around play and effort. Although it is uncertain how much Perkins will play today at the Palace, it should be more time than he saw earlier this season. Perkins played 7 minutes in the Nov. 4 meeting and 1 minute Nov. 15.

In many ways, Perkins sees Wallace as a model for the type of player he can be. Other Celtics see a Wallace-like hunger for rebounds and meanness on the court in Perkins.

''I'm a young Perk," said Perkins, half-jokingly shrugging off the title of a young Wallace. ''But he's a good, undersized center that goes hard every night. So, that's nice.

''You've got to work him first. You've got to be the aggressor with [Wallace]. You can't be the retaliator. If he gets off to a good start, it's hard to slow him down. The most important thing is that I get out to a good start on him and beat him to the glass before he beats me."

Since the teams last faced each other, perhaps no Celtic has improved more than West. The second-year point guard found his comfort zone in early December and has not left it since, shooting better than any player in the league since Dec. 1 (58.5 percent).

''I don't think Perk is as athletic as Ben, but I think he'll be able to do some of the things that Ben can do," said Rivers. ''I've used the Chauncey-Delonte comparison a lot with our coaches. It's interesting that [Pierce] picked up on that as well.

''They're the same type of shooters. Chauncey early on could only go one way. Now he's going both ways, and that's what Delonte has to develop. Chauncey is ahead, and he should be, as far as running the team. He knows how to get guys shots, when to get shots, where to get them at. Delonte doesn't know that yet, but that's fine. Chauncey didn't know in his second year, either. That's why he kept getting traded. Delonte has shown more earlier than Chauncey did in his career."

Celtics rookie Gerald Green had 10 points in 24 minutes for the host Fayetteville (N.C.) Patriots as they fell to the Florida Flame, 109-86, in the NBA Development League's Martin Luther King Jr. Showcase last night. Green, who shot 4 for 11, had 6 rebounds and no assists, with 2 turnovers. ''Watching him, you can see what kind of potential he has," said executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge of Green's debut. ''At the same time, he's young, he's raw, and needs experience. I thought he did well."

Peter May of the Globe staff contributed to this report.