Pistons put it on the line

Physical defense led the way to win

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Free throw is a misnomer because nothing in life is free. Sure, the Celtics went to the charity stripe a playoff-high 39 times last night, but there was nothing charitable about the Detroit Pistons' defense in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Pistons, who took a 94-75 victory at The Palace of Auburn Hills to send the series back to Boston knotted at 2-2, contested nearly every Celtics shot, bumping, banging, and bodying up to take the Celtics out of their rhythm and out of their offense. The result was that Boston shot a playoff-low 31.8 percent from the field, its primary offense coming at the free throw line, where it made a playoff-high 32 free throws, led by Paul Pierce, who was 10 of 11 from the line on his way to 16 points.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Detroit was determined to be more physical last night. In stark contrast to Game 3, when the Celtics opened the game with a pair of easy dunks, the Pistons pummeled the Celtics with 32 fouls and allowed few layups.

"Give them credit because I just thought they were so much more physical than us the entire game," said Rivers. "They bumped us up the floor, every cut we made there was a body. Every time we had a chance to get to the basket they threw us down. They had a no-layup rule clearly. That's why we [relied] on the line. Even though we got to the line, they were the more physical team by a long shot."

After three quarters, the Celtics were 28 of 32 from the line, tying their previous playoff high for free throws made, which they had accomplished twice, most recently in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Cleveland. However, they had made 15 of 45 shots from the field and trailed, 65-58. Exactly half of the Celtics' first 60 points came on free throws.

Point guard Rajon Rondo said that one positive the Celtics could take from last night is that, unbowed, they kept attacking the basket, taking their bumps and heading to the line.

"We weren't going to back away. We got to take that positive and continue to get better," said the point guard, who had 4 points and 4 assists.

The Pistons nearly paid the price for their physical play, as Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton had five fouls and Tayshaun Prince and Antonio McDyess finished with four.

But it wasn't just Detroit's rough play that limited the Celtics' scoring. A lack of execution aided Detroit's defense. The tone for the Boston offense was set from the start, when it turned the ball over on two of its first three possessions and failed to score on its first four.

The Green hit just 2 of their first 10 from the floor and finished with just three field goals in the first quarter, yet only trailed, 22-17.

Garnett, who had a monster Game 3, was scoreless in the first quarter, taking only two shots. His first points came on - what else? - a pair of free throws with 7:01 left in the second quarter. Detroit did a good job of keeping Garnett from setting up in the post, pushing him out of the paint and doubling him when he did get the ball in a position to score.

"There were times where I just thought we didn't get it to him, and then he ended up floating out because of the ball being on the other side," said Rivers. "He was running out setting picks, but we didn't do a good job of establishing him in the post, and we have to do a better job of that, and then we have to do a better job of spacing."

The Celtics had to consider themselves fortunate to be down just 4 at intermission (43-39) after Detroit, which scored the first 10 points of the game, dominated the first half. Boston, which trailed by as many as 14, made a living at the line, hitting 17 of 20 free throws to offset 36.7 percent shooting and 11 turnovers. They finished with 14.

Boston cut the lead to 2 twice early in the third quarter, but couldn't get any closer. However, the parade to the free throw line kept them in the contest late into the fourth quarter.

The Celtics were within 5 with 4:50 left in the game, but Pierce missed one of his patented pull-up jumpers and Rondo's reverse layup spun out. Detroit pulled away from there, turning the game into a blowout.

"The shots weren't falling, but I thought we stayed aggressive and that was what pretty much kept us in the game in the first half," said Pierce. "If we can knock down some shots, keep the turnovers down and continue to be aggressive we should come out on the other end of the stick."