Author: Inside Hoops

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May 24: Celtics 94, Pistons 80

The AP reports: The Boston Celtics insisted they weren’t worried about winning a road game, knowing their time would come in the playoffs. Perfect timing. Kevin Garnett scored 22 points to lead Boston to a 94-80 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night and a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals… Boston’s Big Three scored as much as its supporting cast… Two of the Pistons’ starters had awful games. Tayshaun Prince scored four points and Chauncey Billups had six, combining to shoot 3-for-17… The Celtics led 50-32 after holding Detroit to a playoff-low in the first half and getting at least two points from each of the nine Celtics who played… Detroit rallied to pull within 87-78—its smallest deficit since midway through the second quarter—with 3 minutes left, but couldn’t get closer in a game in which it trailed by as many as 24 points.

InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: The Celtics shot 46.4%, the Pistons just 38.4%. And the Celtics nailed a decent 5-of-14 three-pointers, the Pistons an awful 1-of-13. Free throws were close. The Celtics dominated the glass, 44-28 rebounds, and dished a few more assists. The Pistons did get more steals, and won blocks, 9-3.

For the Celtics, Kevin Garnett (7-of-16) had 22 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals. Ray Allen (awful 5-of-16, 1-of-6 threes) had 14 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists (so at least he stepped up in the non-shooting department). Rajon Rondo (5-of-10) had 12 points but more turnovers than assists. Kenderick Perkins (6-of-7) had 12 points and 10 rebounds. James Posey on just 5 shots had 12 points off the bench. Pierce Pierce (4-of-6) was off with 11 points, a few steals, and 5 turnovers.

For the Pistons, Richard Hamilton (8-of-18, 10-of-10 free throws) had 26 points, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Rodney Stuckey (4-of-12, but 9-of-10 free throws) had 17 points, 4 assists and 4 steals off the bench. Rasheed Wallace (6-of-13) had 12 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups were both lousy. Jason Maxiell had 7 with 2 blocks off the bench.

Rodney Stuckey getting noticed

The Detroit News (Joanne C. Gerstner) reports: Rodney Stuckey, the No. 15 overall pick in last year’s draft, no longer is flying under the NBA’s radar. He’s drawn rave reviews and amplified attention for ably starting two games during the Magic series, taking over when Chauncey Billups was sidelined because of a strained hamstring. Stuckey has been coming off the bench during the Eastern Conference finals, averaging 11 points, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals over 20 minutes. For the playoffs, Stuckey is averaging 7.8 points, 3.4 assists and two rebounds in 21.8 minutes. He’s a very confident guy, but not to the point of obnoxious, youthful cockiness. Stuckey, 22, is sure he’s the man for the task at hand, and that he has the right guys backing him up.

May 23: Lakers 101, Spurs 71

The AP reports: The San Antonio Spurs appear to be a tired, beaten-up team in trouble. Perhaps the fact that they just survived a similar predicament will give them hope. Kobe Bryant scored 22 points, Lamar Odom added 20 points and 12 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers took command late in the second quarter to rout the Spurs 101-71 on Friday night for a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals over the defending champions… Los Angeles had to rally from a 20-point third-quarter deficit to win the opener 89-85 Wednesday night, and didn’t take its first lead in that game until the final 3 minutes. The Lakers never trailed in Game 2—the third time in their last four playoff games that happened. After a basket by Duncan enabled the Spurs to forge the only tie, the Lakers scored the final nine points of the second quarter for a 46-37 halftime lead… It was 74-57 entering the fourth quarter, and the Lakers made it a blowout by outscoring the Spurs 14-3 to begin the final period and make it 88-60… Manu Ginobili, who had started San Antonio’s previous six postseason games, was used in a reserve role, as was the case most of the season when he won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award. It didn’t make any difference.

InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: The Lakers shot 54.9%, the Spurs just 34.5%. Both teams launched 20-something threes and shot badly from outside. The lakers hit 18-of-20 free throws, the Spurs had just 10 attempts and only hit 5. The Lakers had 8 more rebounds. Assists and turnovers were even.

For the Lakers, Kobe Bryant (10-of-17) had 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Lamar Odom (7-of-10) had 20 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks. Jordan Farmar (5-of-7) had 14 off the bench. Derek Fisher (4-of-5) had 11. Pau Gasol (4-of-9) had 10 with 7 rebounds and 2 steals.

For the Spurs, Tony Parker (just 6-of-15) had 13 points, no rebounds, and the same assists as turnovers. Tim Duncan (just 6-of-14, 0-of-4 free throws) had 12 points, 16 rebounds and 4 assists. No other Spurs even reached double-digit points. And other than Duncan no Spur had more than 5 rebounds. And the entire Spurs team had just one block (Duncan).

Richard Hamilton speaks after Game 2

In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Detroit Pistons won 103-07 on the road against the Boston Celtics. Pistons shooting guard Richard Hamilton took 16 shots for 25 points, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Here’s what he said after the game:

Question: Everybody is talking about how the Boston overloaded the strong side in the last game and managed to shut you guys down pretty well. How did you attack that defense tonight?

Richard Hamilton: Well, I thought that, you know, everybody knows what they do defensively, how they load up on the strong side. But I thought the thing that we did tonight that was different than Game 1, when we made cuts and we made moves, it was all in motion. It wasn’t just like a guy got the ball on the wing, allow them to set their defense, one guy on the corner, now they’re good at that. But we just kept motion, coming off screens, coming off curls, making them react. I thought the guys did an excellent job of moving the ball.

The full interview is here.

May 22: Pistons 103, Celtics 97

The AP reports: Richard Hamilton bounced back from a poor series opener with 25 points, and the Pistons beat Boston 103-97 Thursday night, tying the conference finals at one game apiece and seizing the home-court advantage that has meant everything to the Celtics… Kevin Garnett had 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Celtics, who lost at home for the first time since March 24 against Phoenix. No team has reached the finals without a road victory, and there’s no longer a chance for Boston to be the first… Chauncey Billups had 19 points and seven assists, and his rookie backup, Rodney Stuckey hit some clutch jumpers in the fourth quarter and added 13 points for the Pistons, who host Game 3 on Saturday… Paul Pierce scored 26 points for the Celtics, who had won 15 straight at home and gone 9-0 in the playoffs. But the only record that matters now is 0-6— their playoff road mark… Ray Allen broke out of a shooting slump with 25 points, his best performance in three months. But he was limited to 29 minutes by foul trouble, picking up his fifth foul with 3:09 left in the third quarter after his flurry had given Boston the lead.

InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: Both teams took almost the same number of shots, and shot within half a percent of 49%. The Pistons were better from three-point range, and while both teams shot around 88% free throws, the Pistons got to the line a bit more. Boston grabbed more rebounds, Detroit dished a few more assists.

For the Pistons, Richard Hamilton (7-of-16) had 25 points, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Chauncey Billups (5-of-10) had 19 points and 7 assists. Antonio McDyess (7-of-12) had 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Tayshaun Prince (just 5-of-15) had 14 points and 8 rebounds. Rasheed Wallace (4-of-7) had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Rodney Stuckey (5-of-8) scored 13 off the bench.

For the Celtics, Paul Pierce (9-of-16) had 26 points and 5 assists, but 4 turnovers. Ray Allen (9-of-16) had 25 points and 2 steals. Kevin Garnett (11-of-19) had 24 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks. Rajon Rondo (just 2-of-9) had 10 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. But no other Celtics had more than 4 points.

The Pistons had more of a total team effort.

Wade still hopes to play in Olympics

The Miami Herald blogs the following: Dwyane Wade said he recently updated national team coach Mike Krzyzewski on his conditioning. Wade said Tuesday the goal is still to work his surgically-repaired knee into shape in time for USA team training camp in July in advance of the Beijing Olympics. There is a chance that Wade could be replaced on the 12-man roster in favor another player – possibly Chris Paul – if his knee is not ready in time. “I’m meeting with Jerry as soon as I get back from here, and I’ve talked to Coach K. already,” Wade said. “His main thing is my health and to make sure I’m doing good. He also talked to my trainer, Tim Grover in Chicago, and we’re all on the same page. All I can do is continue to get stronger and leave the decision up to them.”

Nuggets once traded Kiki Vandeweghe

The Denver Post (Terry Frei) reports: The Nuggets not only listened to offers for Kiki Vandeweghe after the former UCLA star averaged 29.4 points in 1983-84, they took one. They broke up the entertaining Alex English-Dan Issel-Vandeweghe triumvirate, sending Vandeweghe to Portland in June 1984 for Fat Lever, Calvin Natt and Wayne Cooper, plus first- and second-round draft choices. As I remember it, in announcing the deal, Nuggets GM Carl Scheer kept saying: “But wait! There’s more!” And the press release disclosed that the Trail Blazers even threw in a nifty set of steak knives. Vandeweghe’s stunning first step and move to the basket, coupled with a deadly pull-up jumper, seduced Portland into believing he could be a difference-maker. In part because of back problems, he wasn’t.

Will LeBron ever leave Cavs?

The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Bill Livingston) blogs: James is not going to be leaving for Milwaukee, San Antonio or even Detroit. The challenge will come, I think, from the New York Knicks. Many believe the biggest pitch will be made by the New Jersey Nets when they relocate to Brooklyn, N.Y., in time for James’ free agency year. James is a personal friend with Nets part owner Jay-Z, the rap artist. The Nets also might trade for James’ pal Carmelo Anthony. But offensive mastermind Mike D’Antoni is the Knicks’ new coach. He will put in a fluid system that could let a player like James average almost unheard-of numbers. The Knicks are the big team in the media capital of the country, and they will be clearing salary-cap space for the next two years. The Lakers wooed Shaquille O’Neal away from Orlando by challenging him to match Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s legacy and restore the Lakers’ greatness. Orlando did everything it could to no avail.

Bulls coaching search continues

The Arlington Heights Daily Herald (Mike McGraw) reports: This week figures to be important, with four interviews scheduled. Paxson plans to meet with Utah assistant Tyrone Corbin, former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey, part-time Utah assistant Jeff Hornacek and Sacramento assistant Chuck Person. Paxson also acknowledged that he has spoken to some candidates whose teams still are alive in the playoffs. According to a league source, ex-Bulls coach Phil Jackson worked out a time for Paxson to visit Los Angeles in recent days, where he most likely spoke to Lakers assistants Brian Shaw and Kurt Rambis. Among the teams playing in the conference finals, other candidates for the Bulls’ job include Boston’s Tom Thibodeau, Detroit’s Michael Curry and Terry Porter, along with San Antonio’s Mike Budenholzer.