Beware the danger game

Rivers warns of letdown at home

WALTHAM - Many thought that with the Pistons going a week between series and the Celtics having to go seven games to dispatch the Cavaliers, then turning around two days later and starting the Eastern Conference finals, Boston was at a disadvantage. But that proved to be false as the Celtics took Game 1, 88-79, Tuesday night.

However, coach Doc Rivers, speaking after practice yesterday, sounded the letdown alarm for Game 2, saying his team will have to raise its game tonight to head to Detroit with a 2-0 lead and move to 10-0 at home in the playoffs.

"I wasn't concerned about Game 1 whether we were going to play or not. I just thought the intensity of a Game 7, the quick turnaround was in our favor," said Rivers. "This is the game, Game 2, I've always thought that for the home team is the danger game because of that false sense of security. We have to come out with great intensity.

"Detroit will be better. Chauncey Billups will be better, so will Rasheed [ Wallace]. We have to be ready for that, but we can be ready as well."

The Pistons, who practiced yesterday at Emerson College, agreed with Rivers - they'll be better in Game 2.

"We turned the ball over too much. We beat ourselves," said coach Flip Saunders. "We came off a playoff low of three turnovers and have seven turnovers in the third quarter. When it's a close game and we turn it over seven times, we don't give ourselves a chance."

Rivers lauded the crowd at TD Banknorth Garden, but the Celtics know they can't rely on home-court advantage to carry them against a team such as Detroit.

"You don't want to come out and think the same thing is going to happen, that you're going to get the same results," said Ray Allen. "The away team is thinking we just want to get one of two and they'll get home court switching to their favor."

With Boston winless on the road in the postseason (0-6), winning tonight takes on greater importance.

"Hopefully, things will stay well at home and [we'll] see what this series brings to us as far as our road [record]," said Paul Pierce.

Standing by their man

Rivers and several Celtics, including Kevin Garnett, professed no concern about the prolonged shooting slump of Allen, who was 3 for 10 and finished with 9 points in Game 1 and is shooting 38 percent for the playoffs.

He is shooting just 33 percent in his last 10 games, during which he is 6 for 38 (15.8 percent) on 3-pointers. Allen said with his shot flagging, he's looking to take the ball to the basket more.

"I'm not worried about it. I'm really not," said Rivers. "The thought is to win games. We're winning games and Ray is making plays. He got great looks [Tuesday] night and they didn't go in, but you can see him getting more comfortable."

Garnett pointed to the defensive job Allen did on Richard Hamilton in Game 1, holding Hamilton to 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting. "I'm sure it's not his first shooting slump and it's not his last," said Garnett. "I'm not worried about it. He's a basketball player. He's making plays for other guys. He's not one-dimensional."

Cassell ready, willing

Isn't this series why the Celtics signed point guard Sam Cassell? It didn't seem that way in Game 1, when Cassell registered his third straight Did Not Play - coach's decision.

"I've just got to stay sharp, but it was definitely surprising," Cassell said. "I didn't talk to Doc [Tuesday]. But I'll talk to him. What can I say? I'm not complaining. We won. We got a step closer. But it's definitely surprising.

"I've matured. Five years ago, it would have definitely been a problem. But five years ago, I would have been playing, I would have been starting. I can't look at it that way."

Rivers acknowledged it's not easy benching a veteran of Cassell's caliber.

"It is hard emotionally because you know who he is, what he's done, and what he's capable of, so that's a little harder," said Rivers. "It's tough. He's a good guy. He understands. You just know that at some point he's going to help us."

Great expectations

Rajon Rondo got the better of his matchup with Billups in Game 1, but he expects Billups, who was playing his first game since straining his right hamstring against Orlando May 7, to be more aggressive tonight. "He shot six times [Tuesday]. Maybe his hamstring was bothering him, but I'm sure he'll be more aggressive [tonight]," said Rondo . . . Billups said the Pistons have to do a better job of containing Pierce and Garnett, who combined for 48 points in Game 1. "On the pick-and-rolls, at the point of attack, we have to be a lot more aggressive, especially with Paul. He played good, and he's a great player, but he had it a little too easy," said Billups. "KG played well. They're great players and they're going to figure out a way of being effective, but I think we have to make them work a lot harder than that." . . . Talk about detailed scouting. Saunders said that according to the Pistons' count via video, Garnett set 53 on-the-ball screens in Game 1.

Marc J. Spears of the Globe staff contributed to this report.