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'A step slow'

Email|Link|Comments (1) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff May 23, 2008 12:09 AM

The Big Three of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett combined for 75 points tonight. Sounds like a formula for a win.

Think again.

While Boston's offense ran on all cylinders, the defense stumbled in tonight's 103-97 loss to the Pistons. Detroit shot 49 percent from the floor and 50 percent from beyond the arc. The Pistons committed just 9 turnovers.

"I thought we were a step slower than we were in Game 1," said Celtics forward Paul Pierce. "I think they did a great job at getting the ball from strong side to weak side because we're a strong‑side defense. So it was tough once they reversed the ball and made us rotate those guys. We were a step late and those guys knocked down shots."

There are always two sides to the story, and Pistons coach Flip Saunders credited his team for their play on offense.

"I think we ran our stuff better," Saunders said after the game. "We kind of went back to more of our basics, actually...Our guys are starting to understand a little bit how they help out. They're such a good defensive team on the strong side. We emphasized spacing and ball movement, and if we do that and not turn the ball over, we've got a chance to have some success, which we did tonight."

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1 comments so far...

Please can someone tell me what the He** happened to Boston's defense last night? The only person who decided to play defense was Rondo. KG had 13 rebounds, but all other Celtics were able to count rebounds on one hand. With the big three scoring an average of 25 points a piece, how could they possibly lose. I again blame defense, but I also wonder why Rondo won't take an open shot. It was completely arbitrary to watch him give up the ball over and over. They also had 10 turnovers in the first half campared to 11 total in game one!!! It was pitiful. But the worst, absolutely worst basketball I've seen is by the big men, Perkins, Big Baby and Powe. Where the he** did they learn to play switch defense. They left the Pistons open for easy lay ins at least four times. Pistons are a great team, they don't need any help making a defense look piss poor. That is xactly what Billups and Hamilton did to Powe, Perkins and Biig Baby.

I sure hope they watch some film from the other night and figure out what the he** the rest of the team needs to do to support the big three!

Posted by Ralynn May 24, 08 07:03 PM