If you allow Delonte West to score 21 on you with still 9 minutes left in the 4th, you deserve to lose. I'm not sure what it is with the Celtics on the road in the playoffs, but with the exception of Game 4 in Atlanta, they've been fucking awful. They've played okay in this game since the first quarter, but that quarter looks like it might kill them tonight. That's unless they all of a sudden can come up with some stops and make some 3's.

Nope, not tonight. They can't even get a free throw rebound.

Two wide open three pointers and nothing doing.

I have no idea what the expect from the Celtics in Game 4. You'd think after losing all three to Atlanta, then winning the first two at home, they might have come out to try and make a point. And then they proceed to lose by 15+. The good news is that they're still up 2-1, but they need to start taking the ball inside. I don't care how many gimmie's they miss, or how many layups/dunks Lebron blocks, they can't stop taking the ball inside, especially Garnett. They just stopped going to him for whatever reason. And I have no idea what was with Rondo tonight. No assists? That'll get it done.

As I said, I have no idea what to expect, but if they come out with a similar Game 4 start like the one they had in Atlanta, they should be able to hold on this time. I don't see them blowing a 10 point fourth quarter lead again.

in a year or two he'll be back playing with Dirk.

Pistons barely eeked out a win, but I'll take it as long as they finish up in game 5. Then let Boston and Cleveland suffer a full seven games.

Great game... Fisher, Odom, Gasol, Okur, Williams all with "big balls" down the stretch. Funnily enough Kobe was the one with "small balls" today. I didn't like his decision to keep shooting when it was clear he was bothered by his back and the other 3 guys were all super pumped up and hitting everything. He should've just let them continue to carry it.

Why do I get the feeling I doomed the Lakers when I said I'd be really surprised if they didn't win the title.

Just like with Orlando yesterday... you have the best chance to win if your all star makes the final shots.

Dwight Howard didn't get the final shot yesterday. Kobe got the final shots today, and I wholeheartedly agree it was the right call. That's why I don't get the "selfish" talk around big stars. They're the best players, even if they play like crap, I would still give THEM the ball on the final shot.

Is it me or is Popovich just a despicable human being?

Just have to win one on the road now.

the mighty Cavs defense held Garnet & Allen to ZERO points in the last period.

This is why I'd rather have Lebron than Kobe... it's like he's the point guard of the Cavs. With Kobe when he facilitates, it seems like he's doing it because he'll get a bad rap if he doesn't. Bron Bron is all natural.

Plus he's just cooler/more bad-ass.

did u see tell his mom to SET YO ASS DOWN!!!



That was pretty badass!

@ Ms. James

damn c's...even with lebron playing like crap they cant win!

LeBron to Mom: "Sit yo *$*% down"

The Celtics are an odd team right now... I've never seen anything like this in the playoffs. They're so dominate at home, and so miserable on the road. It's like two completely different teams.

They're really playing with fire... one screw up at home now and they could be in real trouble. I can't imagine they'd feel to good about having to win a game 6 in Cleveland about now.

Either way, I'm happy... this series is going 6 games at minimum. Detroit *should* be done tomorrow and can get some rest while these two teams smack each other around some more!

Celtics fucked that up royally, because even though they were down by three heading into the fourth, they had so many opportunities in the quarter that it was sickening. With that said, I have no idea what the hell Doc was thinking with the lineup he started the fourth with.

Pierce
Davis
Cassell
Brown
Posey

Hmmmm, which one doesn't fit and should only be in there when the game is out of reach and has been doing just that up until this game? What the fuck was Glen Davis doing in this game at the start of the fourth quarter? Now, I know they had to rest Rondo, Allen and Garnett, but it took two timeouts and five minutes off the clock to get Davis out of the game. He iced his those three and it killed them. Cassell couldn't hit a damn shot if he wanted to and Pierce was doing all the work. And when the other three came back in, they couldn't do anything. Why did it take them so long to get back in the game?

The Celtics were in the game throughout the entire game and then with about four minutes left, they just stopped playing.

Cavs will steal game 5.

I've seen nothing yet to suggest a road team can win in this series. Everytime I start to think Boston's psyche is damaged from road losses, they come back and post a bagillion point victory at home. So, I'm betting they'll win game 5.

However, *if* they lose... it's going to be fascinating to see how they react for a must win game 6 in Cleveland. They do look really tight in most pressure games, and a must win on the road is about as much pressure as you can get. They're great when they can get a 30 point lead at home, but when they get a pressure game on the road and it is close, they shrivel up terribly.

The celtics chemistry got fucked up...cassel needs to play a lot less; powe, house, n tony allen need to play a lot more.

That's what confused me about the lineup Doc put out there at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Why did he decide to go with Davis who hadn't played a minute and ended up missing a key jump shot, instead of Powe who although didn't have much of an impact on the game to that point, has been playing well overall?

Cassel needs to stop playing he can't hit a shot to save his life, but even if he could he's still taking way too many. He's the essence of the setteling for a jump shot mentality (something Rondo has been falling into much too much latley)

6 straight ECFs for Detroit... pretty impressive achievement. Squeezing out another title would really cement their place in history, though.

I think Billups getting injured might end up doing them well, made them work hard for those wins. I like this Detroit team more than the last couple, Maxiell and Stuckey are real good supporting players. I totally love Maxiell actually.

I've always loved Maxiell, but Stuckey has really grown on me the last couple games. He had a great night filling in for Billups. He makes good decisions (zero turnovers) and made two clutch shots near the end - he never looks rattled. He's no Billups, whose basketball IQ is a lot higher, but Stuckey is going to be something special in a few years. Detroit has quietly been building a great future team with Stuckey, Affalo, Maxiel, and Amir Johnson. Heck, I bet that team alone could make the playoffs right now.

Now hopefully they don't crap out in the ECF for the 3rd straight year!

Im rooting for a Spurs vs Pistons final.

Mainly because that's the absolute last thing the NBA wants and would make me laugh and laugh.

That would be hilarious... after months of hearing about Boston, LA, NO/Chris Paul, Lebron, the studly west conference... a Pistons vs. Spurs finals with the Pistons winning 4-0 with every game scoring under 75 points for each team... that would be awesomeness!