The Final Four of the NBA tips off tonight with Game 1 of the Celtics-Pistons series 8:30 on ESPN.
If the Pistons win the series, it's just one step closer to David Stern tossing himself off a balcony if he gets the Spurs and Pistons in the Finals.
There's a good piece from the Krista Jahnke of the Detroit Free Press that breaks down the individual matchups and I tend to agree. But if I had to pick one matchup that's going to be key it's going to be Garnett and Wallace. Garnett has not really taken over in the playoffs and they're going to need him to step up and attack Sheed in the post and try to get him in foul trouble. Likewise Sheed is going to have to attack KG in the low post and bring him out along the three point arc.
There's a lot to prove in this series for both teams. Boston needs to prove that they aren't as weak as they looked against Atlanta and Cleveland. Ray Allen needs to prove that he hasn't been abducted by aliens and is in actuality Tyronn Lue, and Kevin Garnett needs to prove that he can get to the Finals.
Detroit needs to prove that they can maintain their focus in the Eastern Conference Finals. Let us not forget that this group is 2-3 in ECF's. Likewise Flip Saunders needs to prove that he can coach in the playoffs all the way though. So far this post season he's been doing a better job than anyone expected and here's to hoping he doesn't turn back into a pumpkin.
Even with all of this, I think it's going to be hard for Boston to win at the Palace and Detroit can get it done on the road. Not to mention I think the matchups favor the Pistons slightly.
My Prediction: Pistons in 6
Need 4 Sheed's thoughts
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