NBA Playoffs: Protecting Home Turf

May 29th, 2008 at 8:26 am
By Chris

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In what turned out to be a great game, the Boston Celtics held off the Detroit Pistons last night to the tune of 106-102 (who says they can’t score in the East?). Both teams overcame double-digit deficits — Boston in the first half, Day-Twah in the second — as the game came down to the closing moments before it was decided.

Thankfully, Game 5 was not marred by any call/non-call hijinks. No, instead it was decided by big shots, clutch free throws, and running out of timeouts a little early than expected. Had the Pistons not blown their last one trying to inbounds the ball underneath their own basket, they would have had a chance to advance the ball for a better look at a much-needed 3-point bucket.

Alas, Boston’s in-bounds defense deserves the credit for Detroit’s timeout management.

For Boston, the game was punctuated by big performances from KG, Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins who had a double-double in the first half. Oh yeah, it was also punctuated by this particular play:

The YouTube listing says it’s on Jason Maxiell when, in fact, the dunk was delivered to the face of Theo Ratliff. Whatever the case, KG definitely got up and announced to all that were listening that the paint was indeed his.

Game 6 is in Detroit on Friday night.