Celtics hold on with home advantage, catch a blow before the Pistons hit Beantown

[SpiralHawk]

Congratulation Celtics - just like the old days - home court advantage made all the difference in beating Cleveland.

The Detroit series should be great. Bring it on -- and warm me and the Celts up for the Lakers.

Yeah, Baby !

[joeybee12]

1. Thank God for home court advantage...

...but the Pistons have both won on the road and lost at home...Boston hasn't...does this mean anything?

[SpiralHawk]

2. NYT: Celtics reclaim lost glory. Balance of power shifts.

Celtics 97, Cavaliers 92
Pierce Wins Duel; Celtics Take Series

By HOWARD BECK
Published: May 19, 2008

BOSTON — Paul Pierce and LeBron James chased each other, harassed each other, traded hip-checks and jump shots and admiring glances for a long, glorious afternoon, while historic comparisons flew and the balance of power in the Eastern Conference shifted hard toward the Northeast.

There will be much to remember about Sunday afternoon’s taut Game 7 between Boston and Cleveland, but the most significant was this: The Celtics, with a series-clinching 97-92 victory, finally seem ready to reclaim the franchise’s lost glory.

In one of the greatest playoff performances of his career, Pierce scored 41 points to put the Celtics in the conference finals for the first time since 2002. They open the series Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons at TD Banknorth Garden.

(snip)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/sports/basketball/19celtics.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

[SpiralHawk]

3. Nice quote from LeBron: “Paul Pierce is one of my favorite players.”

Now this is class from a professional athlete (quote from the NYT article):

“I love going against the best and Paul Pierce is one of those guys.” - LeBron James

Thanks LeBron and all the Cavaliers for a great playoff series!

See you next year.

[MaineDem]

4. I don't follow basketball but I watched part of the Celtics game yesterday

Man, that James is one big dude!

Is he the kid who into the NBA directly from high school a number of years ago?

[SpiralHawk]

5. King James (Wikipedia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeBron_James

LeBron Raymond James (born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Commonly nicknamed "King James," the Akron, Ohio native was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA star while still in high school, and was named Ohio's "Mr. Basketball" three times.

At the age of 18, he was selected with the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cavaliers and signed an unprecedented US$90 million shoe contract with Nike before his NBA debut. He has since set numerous youngest player records. In his first season, he received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and in the following four seasons received All-NBA and All-Star honors. He has led the Cavaliers to consecutive playoff appearances in 2006, 2007, and 2008; in 2007, the team advanced to the Conference Finals for the first time since 1992 and the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

James is listed as a small forward, but often handles the ball and runs the Cavalier's offense as a point guard would. James was a member of the United States men's national basketball team that won the bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics in Athens and he finished second in the league Most Valuable Player balloting in 2006.

(snip)

[bluescribbler]

6. That game was exciting

Reminiscent of the Larry/Dominique shootout 20 years ago. Think Danny Ainge is glad he signed P.J. Brown in February? I know I am.

[underpants]

7. 3 1/2 hours. That game took 3 1/2 hours and I am only counting the playing time

for a basketball game?? No a ballgame should take 2 hours.

[spoony]

8. This is the series I've been hoping for all year

I wasn't here in the old days, so I'm looking forward to these guys establishing a new era of rivalry!

[drdtroit]

9. Home advantage, DETROIT PISTONS!

Best of 5 now.

[drdtroit]

10. Uuuugggh! n/t