James: Tough call after hard loss

Doc Rivers felt the Cavaliers were holding Paul Pierce's jersey, so he decided to demonstrate for the referees what to look for. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff)

So who will win the Celtics-Pistons Eastern Conference finals? The question was one Cleveland star LeBron James hoped he'd never have to answer.

After the Celtics eliminated James's Cavaliers with a 97-92 victory in Game 7 of their second-round series yesterday, he wasn't sure whom to pick. But he felt a showdown was on the horizon.

"I know Detroit is a very, very good road team," James said. "I think Detroit takes a lot of pride on the road, even more than they do at home. They're a very locked-in, zoned-in team. They've been to the conference finals, what, six straight years?

"I think Boston is going to take the challenge. It's going to open up here, and it's going to be a great series. And I'm looking forward to seeing it. It's going to be pretty good."

The Celtics won the season series against the Pistons, two games to one, but there hasn't been a meeting since March 5.

The Pistons won the first game, 87-85, at the Garden Dec. 19 after Chauncey Billups nailed two free throws with 0.1 seconds left. The Celtics defeated the Pistons Jan. 5, 92-85, in the lone meeting at the Palace of Auburn Hills, after reserve forward Glen Davis scored 16 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter. And in the final meeting, the Celtics beat Detroit, 90-78, as Kevin Garnett scored a season-high 31 points.

"That's definitely a big plus that we have won there in a season where they pretty much have won most of their home games," Billups said to reporters after practice in Auburn Hills, Mich., last night. "We draw confidence from that, but we know that we're a great road team in anybody's building."

Said Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince, "Obviously, by them having a great regular season, everybody expected them to be there. I think people expected us to be in the Eastern Conference finals just because of what we've done in previous years. I guess this is what everybody wanted."

Detroit beat Philadelphia in six games in the first round, Orlando in five games in the second, and hasn't played since last Tuesday.

"A lot of people picked Boston to be there," said Detroit coach Flip Saunders. "Whether we were going to be there or not, some people didn't know. It should be a good series."

"Our mind-set is to go in there and win Game 1 [tomorrow night]," said Billups, an ex-Celtic. "We win Game 1 and we'll reevaluate what we do. But it's all about Game 1 now."

Strong House

The Celtics' Eddie House stepped on the court yesterday against the Cavaliers bursting with energy. He was diving and sliding across the court and fighting for loose balls.

In the second quarter, he was in an all-out sprint with Cavaliers guard Wally Szczerbiak for a loose ball, and somehow got a pass up to James Posey that ended in Szczerbiak fouling and putting Posey on the line.

House played 15 minutes and chipped in 4 of the 23 bench points.

House saw his playing time increase beginning in Game 6 when coach Doc Rivers decided to sit Sam Cassell.

"I went with Eddie not because of Sam's offense, it was because they were running guys off of screens and Eddie could be better defensively," Rivers said. "We never thought that's what we would be doing with Eddie as a defender."

Players were fans

The fans weren't the only ones entertained by the offensive showcase of Paul Pierce and James. Celtics center Kendrick Perkins said he was just as caught up in the action.

"Man, that was unbelievable," Perkins said. "It was like a video game. You know how Paul and LeBron were going at it, man, that was like NBA 2K8, man. They were hitting some unbelievable shots. I was just happy to be a part of it."

Added Celtics forward P.J. Brown, "It was something. You paid a lot of money for tickets, but you got your money's worth. The shots they were hitting were unbelievable, man. I guess it's another legendary Game 7 in Boston. They definitely gave everyone a show today."

"Pierce was great," executive director of basketball operations and general manager Danny Ainge said.

"He was obviously spectacular in his shooting and everything today, but maybe the play I liked the most was getting that loose ball on that jump ball [with 58.1 seconds left]. Those kind of plays are winning [plays]. That was the biggest play of the game at the time, and that's the kind of stuff I loved about Paul today."

Cassell sits again

Cassell had one of the best seats in the house at the Garden and he never left it, registering his second straight DNP-Coach's Decision.

Games like yesterday's were one of the reasons the Celtics signed Big Shot Sam, but Cassell said Rivers told him ahead of time he was going to go with House. Cassell, who averaged 16 minutes and 5.4 points during the first five games of the series, turned it into a positive, saying he's well-rested for the next round.

"[He] told me I might not play the last two games just to get ready for the Pistons, so that's what I came here for, to play against the Pistons, and hopefully the [NBA] Finals," said Cassell.

Cassell said he appreciated that Rivers explained the situation to him.

"He played for [Gregg ] Popovich. I know that Popovich does the same thing. He gives guys rest," said Cassell. "I got four days of rest. I'm cool. I'm ready to take on whatever role I get. I'll play a little bit more next series. Four days of rest, I'm fresh. I'm cool."

Wohl Hawk target?

ESPN.com reported that Celtics assistant general manager Dave Wohl is on the Hawks' short list for their GM opening. Wohl declined comment yesterday about the Hawks' possible interest. Wohl was a Celtics assistant coach for three seasons before becoming an assistant GM this season . . . Injured center Scot Pollard attended his first game of the Cleveland series since having right ankle surgery in Indianapolis May 9. Pollard was ruled out for the season after having surgery on both ankles, and he returned to Boston from Indianapolis last Friday. The 6-foot-11-inch, 265-pounder said the surgery went fine on the right ankle and he should be out of a walking boot in a week . . . The Celtics will have a limited amount of tickets for Games 1 and 2 against the Pistons available today at noon. There is a two-ticket limit per customer. Tickets can be purchased by visiting Celtics.com, calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX, by visiting the Garden ticket office, or Ticketmaster outlets. Random-number distribution will begin at 11 a.m. at the Garden.

Monique Walker, Michael Vega, and Christopher L. Gasper of the Globe staff contributed to this report.