He posed a problem for Pistons in the end
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - When the Celtics signed James Posey as a free agent before this season, it was seen as a move that could pay dividends in the postseason because Posey had something Boston's Big Three didn't have - a championship ring he won with the Miami Heat in 2006.
The theory proved true last night when Posey logged major minutes (11:30) in the fourth quarter, most of his time spent trying to slow down the red-hot Chauncey Billups. But his time also included a key steal that helped the Celtics beat the Pistons, 89-81, for the Eastern Conference championship.
"Posey was phenomenal on defense," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers.
Posey, at 6 feet 8 inches, found himself matched up against Billups, the Pistons' 6-3 point guard, hunkering down in the open court trying to slow Detroit's best offensive player as the Celtics clawed back from a 10-point deficit.
Billups already had 24 points and six assists as the fourth quarter started, with the Pistons leading, 68-60. With Posey playing Billups tough, the Pistons looked inside for their points with center Rasheed Wallace - and it didn't work out.
Billups was 2 for 6 in the final 12 minutes and didn't get another assist.
"With Chauncey, you just have to try to bother him," said Posey. "If he got by me, that wasn't such a bad thing, either, because that took him off the 3-point line."
However, it wasn't Billups he bothered with his biggest play. Rajon Rondo had just missed a jump shot, Piston Tayshaun Prince grabbed the rebound and Detroit had a chance to cut the deficit to 4 points. Prince, however, held onto the ball too long while looking upcourt and Posey sneaked in from the side and snatched the ball away.
Paul Pierce was fouled nine seconds later and made both free throws to give the Celtics a 6-point lead with 1:35 left. Detroit never got closer.
"Tayshaun had the ball and wanted to get it to Chauncey," explained Posey. "I just denied, denied, denied. Then he looked the other way and I ran over and took it."
To Rivers, this type of contribution was even more than he could have expected.
"I knew I liked him," said Rivers. "I knew I wanted him on my team. He'll tell you stories about when he was about to sign, I think with the Nets. And we were having a coaches' retreat, me, Tibs [Tom Thibodeau], Armond [Hill] and all my coaches. Danny called me and told me Pose was about to sign with the Nets and I told Danny to give me his number.
"I wouldn't let him off the phone. I talked to him for a long time, then I put Tibs on and I put Armond on, and I told each of them what to say, and then they put me back on. By the end of the conversation you could tell he was wavering. Then I called Danny and Danny closed the deal.
"But I still at that point didn't know. I didn't know he was going to give us this much. Defensively, making big shots. Hell, he guarded Chauncey for the last five minutes of the game. He's just the ultimate, in baseball terms, utility player."
