ALMOST FAMOUS
The first time Henrik Zetterberg set foot in Joe Louis Arena, the Red Wings were in the playoffs. Against Colorado. He was a new draftee; he wore a suit, and he felt like an idiot. “Who wears a suit at a hockey game?” he recalls thinking.Afterward, he and...
Pistons Prove Good Play Mows A Garden
BOSTON – It might not be the old Garden, with the rats and the bad air and the leprechauns, but this new Garden has been magical to the Boston Celtics. Now that magic is gone. Whatever role the parquet floor played in the 2008 playoffs – allowing the Celtics to go a perfect 9-0 – was smashed Thursday night by the only team these days that seems unaffected by geography, or anything else for that matter.
Beat the House. The Pistons had to do it at some point if they wanted to win these Eastern Conference finals, and they did it in Game 2 the old-fashioned way: They tried harder.
Hey, Now That’S More Like It For The Pistons
BOSTON – It may not be the old Garden, with the rats and the bad air and the stifling summer heat, but this new Garden has been magical to this year’s Boston Celtics. And now that magic is done. Whatever role the parquet floor played in the 2008 playoffs – allowing the Celtics to go a perfect 9-0 – was smashed Thursday night by the only team these days that seems unaffected by geography, or anything else for that matter.
Beat the House.
The Pistons had to do it at some point if they wanted to win the series, and they did it in Game 2 the old fashioned way: They tried harder.
Even In Boston, You Can’T Go Home Again
BOSTON – Twenty years ago, I took a walk with Joe Dumars through the streets of Boson’s North End, an Italian neighborhood not far from the highway overpasses, small restaurants, row houses, residents sitting outside on chairs or leaning from their windows. The Pistons still were trying to win their first title, and we did an interview while walking the streets.
“DUUUMAHS!” some guy yelled out the window, “YAH GONNA LOSE!” and Joe shyly smiled. He was a young shooting guard, I was a young sportswriter. It was a warm day, and everything felt fresh and ahead of us.
That’S Not The Way To Start Off A Series
BOSTON – Well, if that was rust scraping off the Pistons on Tuesday night, it was the Celtics who were scraping it. Don’t just blame the six-day layoff. Too many times in Game 1 of these Eastern Conference finals, the Pistons moved to the hoop and suddenly were without the ball – because a Boston player swiped it, poked it, swatted it or just plain took it. Steals? It was like watching a police video on purse snatchings.
BOSTON EDGE THIS TIME LOOKS DETROITISH!
BOSTON – Well, if that was rust scraping off the Pistons on Tuesday night, it was the Celtics who were scraping it. Don’t just blame the six-day layoff. Too many times in Game 1 of these Eastern Conference finals, the Pistons moved to the hoop and suddenly...
Finally! The Finals!
DALLAS – It was steaming hot outside American Airlines Arena, temperatures in the 90’s, bad ice weather, a bad omen for a northern team, and the Red Wings didn’t need any more bad omens. But unworthy teams stumble and fall, while worthy champions stumble but come back harder. And so the Wings, after two losses in trying to close this series, came down to Texas, stood tall against the fire, then threw themselves into it Monday night.
Fated Date: Mitch Albom
It might be strange, when picking your poison, to have a preference. But if you’re a Pistons fan, you might regret Sunday’s departure of LeBron James and the Cavs. They may have been the defending Eastern Conference champs, but they sure looked more beatable than Boston.
Yes, I’ve heard the reasons the Celtics might be a better foe for Detroit. They’ve yet to win a playoff game on the road. They needed seven games to finish each of their two series. They’re still gaining playoff experience – while Cleveland has been there.
BIG NAMES, BIG GAME MUST MESH FOR WINGS
The Red Wings didn’t skate Sunday. They gathered at Joe Louis Arena. They worked out. They talked to the media.Then they flew to Dallas to play the most important game of their season.I don’t know how they sat on the plane, but they should have had Nicklas...Stay Connected
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