NBA Eastern Conference Finals

Well, at least we didn't have to wait long for the start of this series like we had to wait for the game 7s the last two nights. The less tested but more rested Detroit Pistons head to Boston tonight for the Eastern Conference Championship against a Celtic team that has played 14 playoff games in 29 days. Detroit, the only playoff team of the four left to defeat their semi-final opponent in less than seven games, looks to be the favorites in everybody's eyes in this series. Can I ask why? To answer my own question the only answer that keeps coming up is the playoff experience the Pistons have "as a team". The core of the Pistons are playing in their 6th straight conference finals winning only two thus far, think that they are not hungry to get to the finals? Only the Celtics can hope not as much as them. With that being the only answer I can come up with some of you might say, "Deez, your not worried about the way the Celtics have been playing?". I am really not at all worried. The Celtics have had some problems this playoffs, but they have still won their series. One problem has been the lack of wins on the road, which is none. So what?! Yeah, championship teams are suppose to win on the road, but now it is time to prove it. I don't think of this as a really big deal especially with the way they win at home in the playoffs. Now another problem has been the play of Ray Allen. For those of you that watched the E60 episode this past week, Boston columnist, and ESPN reporter Michael Smith reported that Allen has been going through some rough times off the court since the start of the playoffs. His stepfather, a Middletown CT resident, had a murder contract over his head from his ex-wife, and the decision in court of the man accused was at the end of the Atlanta series. The decision in court was guilty and the man, who is the currently the husband of his stepfather's ex received 26 years in prison from a judge that Allen has had a business relationship with in the past. So Ray has been receiving much criticism from the accused family and local media because they are saying that there was "special treatment" in the case because of the judge's relationship with Allen. Here is a video below that the children of the accused sent to Allen.




That being said, you can kindof understand why Allen has been in a funk. Allen has refused to even talk about this subject with the media, hoping that this story just fades away. And now Allen has to read about how he has been stinking the court up throughout the playoffs. It is safe to say the Allen mentally needs one good game to get the enormous monkey off his back and his confidence back in check. If that happens, sooner than later, the Celtics will not be beaten. The NBA needs the Celtics to win, and having the home court advantage in this series I thoroughly expect the C's to return to form and be the 66 win team like they were during the regular season. I hope that it will be a tight 7 game series, but I am going to say that the Celts will finally win a road game and defeat the Pistons in six. This isn't the first time the Celtics and Pistons have faced off in the Conference Finals. Just listen to the video below, one of my favorite calls ever!