The Pistons were run out of their own building the last time they met the Celtics. But that was just two games into Allen Iverson's career in Detroit, and with four wins in their five games heading into last night's rematch, the visitors planned to turn the beating around.
As legendary actor Moe Howard from the Three Stooges would say, ``Not so fast, porcupine.''The Celts took the Pistons' punch - a 13-2 opening left hook - and roared back to lead by as many as 29 in an eventual 98-80 victory, their fourth straight over Detroit dating back to last year's Eastern Conference finals.
This one seemingly went from zero to blowout in 60 seconds at the Garden.
The Celtics were ahead by a modest nine in the third quarter before flooring it. With judicious use of a 16-4 run/haymaker that took all of 4:36, the locals were ahead by 23 - their biggest lead from the Nov. 9 game in Auburn Hills. It was a 20-point game by the end of the third quarter last night, and when Gabe Pruitt made the trip in from the far end of the C's bench and threw in a jumper, the Celts were pretty much in scrimmage mode.
``When we put our foot on the gas, I don't think we looked back,'' Kevin Garnett said. ``It was a huge game for us. This is probably one of the better teams, not only in the Eastern Conference but in our league. It's a team that we might see later on, so the more the merrier. We knew that we had to bring it.'' The most striking numbers belonged to the Rajon Rondo-Iverson matchup. The latter is unquestionably headed to the Hall of Famer; all that was certain of the former last night was that he was headed for Minneapolis for this evening's game against the Timberwolves.
Yet the third-year Celtic outscored Iverson, 18-16, and had eight assists to the annual All-Star's four. Rondo hit 7-of-11 shots from the floor (with two of the misses on end-of-quarter flings), while Iverson made 5-of-13. And the kid did it all playing some eight fewer minutes. That meant it was more than all right for Paul Pierce to have a quiet nine-point night. Garnett added 15 for the C's, with Ray Allen and Eddie House accounting for 12 and 11, respectively.
``We think Rondo matches up with Iverson quickness for quickness,'' Pierce said. ``You know, especially when you don't expect him to outscore Iverson, it's a big plus on a night like this. It just takes a lot of pressure off a lot of other guys. Nobody really had to have a huge night. It was a great team effort with Rondo leading the charge.''
Calming one of Doc Rivers' biggest concerns was the fact the Pistons had just two fast-break points through the first three quarters (to the Celts' 18). ``That was huge,'' the coach said. ``The key to the game on the board before the game (was) if we can force them to play against our half-court defense, then we like our chances. If they get into fast-break basketball, I like their chances.''
He had to like his team's chances even more once the second quarter began with the game even at 21. The Celtics put five reserves - Tony Allen, House, Leon Powe, Brian Scalabrine and Glen Davis - on the court at once. The result was a 7-0 jump start, with Scalabrine igniting the crowd by hitting a 3. ``Things started going the other way, but then we started making subs,'' House said. ``We were playing well together.''
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