1. We were not surprised that Boston won, rather, we were surprised how they won. Limiting the Pistons to 36 percent shooting? Kendrick Perkins (20 rebounds) nearly out rebounding the entire Detriot team (29 boards)? Rajon Rondo dogging Chauncey Billups into a 4-12 shooting night?
2. A good bench is only good if it produces in big games. We have heard all season about the athleticism and depth of the Detrot bench. Well, last night Genius Flip Saunders played his starters major minutes. And this after Billups (37 minutes), Rip Hamilton (34), Rasheed Wallace (36), Antonio McDyess (31) and Tayshaun Prince (39) played the night before against Seattle and did not arrive in Boston until 4 AM yesterday. The bench of Amir Johnson, Jason Maxiell, Juan Dixon, Jarvis Hayes and Rodney Stuckey combined for... wait for it ... FIVE (repeat: five!) points. (Boston's bench combined for 15 points -- a bench that did not include newbies Sam Cassell and P.J. Brown.)
3. When did Prince turn into George McGinnis during Big Games with the Celtics? For someone who is known as a good shooter, his field goal percentage against the Celtics this year is, like, 20 percent. If he does not step it up, you can book the Celtics winning in five games come playoff time.
4. So now what? Boston clearly has the edge -- in the standings, psychologically and, perhaps, even in terms of talent. The common cry from the Pistons (and many NBA observers) is that Detroit's starting five have been through enough wars that they are merely marking time until the playoffs start. And that may well be true. But unless at least two guys can help off the bench, it won't matter how much experience the first unit has.
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