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| KG leads Celtics to Game 3 win | Saturday 5/24, 10:55 PM CT |
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Kevin Garnett led the Celtics to a Game 3 win over the Pistons Saturday, scoring 22 points to go along with 13 rebounds and six assists.
Our View: The Celts blew a huge lead but hung on to win, gaining homecourt advantage back from the Pistons. |
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| Rookie Stuckey making his presence felt | Saturday 5/24, 10:36 AM CT |
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Rookie Rodney Stuckey has taken on a bigger role than expected for the Pistons in these playoffs including scoring 22 points in the first two games of the team's series against the Celtics, according to the Boston Globe. "You see his maturation from the beginning of the playoffs to where he's at," said Pistons coach Flip Saunders. "He basically carried us at times . . . making shots and making plays."
Our View: Stuckey has helped to bring some life to a sometimes stagnant offense, and he has scored at least 13 points in three of the last five playoff games for the Pistons marking him as someone who is worthy of praise even if many don't even know who he is. |
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| Billups sore but practices | Saturday 5/24, 10:26 AM CT |
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Chauncey Billups was a little sore at practice on Friday due to his injured right hamstring, but he was still able to make it through the entire practice, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Our View: Billups should be fine for Game 3 after playing 32 minutes in Game 2, though it is clear to anyone watching that he is operating at less than 100% with the main issue being a lack of quickness. |
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| Allen rediscovers stroke | Saturday 5/24, 10:24 AM CT |
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Ray Allen, in a shooting slump most of the playoffs, seemingly rediscovered his shooting touch in Game 2 when he scored 25 points on 9-for-16 shooting, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Our View: Allen is a sorely needed piece of the Celtics attack as his ability to keep the defense spread allows his mates to have success in the paint. |
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| Maxiell falling out of favor | Saturday 5/24, 10:17 AM CT |
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Jason Maxiell started six games in the playoffs for the Pistons before being moved back to his sixth man role, but it appears that he has also fallen out of that role as well, according to the Detroit Free Press. "We've tried to match Theo up on (Kevin) Garnett at times when we've taken those other guys out to get him a little rest," HC FLip Saunders said. "Really, right now, (Antonio McDyess) is playing unbelievable. There are only so many minutes to divide up."
Our View: Maxiell played only five minutes in Game 2, and based on the statement you just read from the head coach, it certainly doesn't seem like Maxiell is anywhere near recovering some of his lost minutes. |
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| Gasol has worst game of playoffs | Saturday 5/24, 10:14 AM CT |
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Pau Gasol was held to 10 points and seven rebounds on Friday night as he took only nine shots against the Spurs.
Our View: Everyone lays an egg at some point, and Gasol picked a good night for his with the rest of his mates playing so well. Expect a rebound in Game 3. |
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| Parker ineffective in loss | Saturday 5/24, 10:09 AM CT |
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Tony Parker hit just six of 15 shots on his way to 13 points and four assists in the Spurs Game 2 loss to the Lakers.
Our View: Parker turned the ball over four times and didn't pull down a single rebound, and like the rest of his teammates, he will have to substantially lift his level of play to avoid heading home earlier than hoped. |
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| Ginobilli dealing with injured ankle | Saturday 5/24, 10:03 AM CT |
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Manu Ginobili was held to just over 23 minutes on the court and 2-for-8 shooting due to a sprained ankle, one that was so bad that he almost didn't play in Game 2, according to the Los Angeles Times. "You know, we wanted to take Manu out earlier," HC Greg Popovich said, "and then he made a mistake and made two good moves in a row [in the third quarter] and then I got all excited again.
Our View: The report states that if the Spurs had won Game 1, Manu likely wouldn't have played in Game 2. We can't see Manu throwing in the towel, but it's obvious that he just isn't physically right with that injured ankle. |
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| Duncan and mates smoked in Game 2 | Saturday 5/24, 9:59 AM CT |
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Tim Duncan scored 12 points with 16 rebounds and four assists for the Spurs in their Game 2 loss to the Lakers 101-71.
Our View: The Spurs scored only 37 points in the first half which when compared to their 34 point second half actually wasn't that bad. Duncan will have to help his teammates to elevate their level of play in Game 3, or this series will be over. |
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| Ariza back on the court | Saturday 5/24, 9:55 AM CT |
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Trevor Ariza, out since January 20th with a broken foot, returned to action on Friday for the first time playing 5:53 seconds, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Ariza made his only shot and hauled in two boards so this is obviously better news for Ariza than it is about his ability to influence the game on the court. |
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