Celtics and Pistons showing their age

If anyone wagered on Boston to win the Eastern Finals, chances are the feeling is becoming increasing more comfortable, given the fact Boston is 29-0 all-time in the playoffs when leading 3-2 in a series. While bettors under 30 years old will scream, they don’t care about Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Bill Russell or Red Auerbach, the guys that built this streak, facts are facts and have yet to see anyone in the last three decades or so that has an A.D. after their name that wasn’t associated with a job.

In watching this series, you can’t help but notice the window of opportunity is probably closing for both teams after this season, if they don’t produce a NBA championship. General Manager Danny Ainge was looking very much like a man needing a new job after falling to fifth in the NBA draft, from top spot last season, being more immediately crestfallen than a 16-year old being told they could not take the family car by them selves after receiving drivers’ license the same day. After dusting himself off, Ainge and coach Doc Rivers, put together a plan which saw them acquire Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, to go along with Paul Pierce and quicker than a cheesy magician can yell “Presto!” Boston was rebuilt. They went on to have the best regular season record in the league at 66-16, with 54-28 ATS record.

A review of the Big Three shows Garnett and Allen at 32 years old and Pierce coming in at 30. The grind of the postseason is tough on any player, but each of these players has shown the affects of a long season in the playoffs, far more often than one might expect and each will have a short turnaround leading to next season. This places additional urgency on each player, since they understand why they were brought together in the first place. The Big Three, along with Kendrick Perkins enabled the C’s to win Game Five. The three elder statesmen were 7 for 10 beyond the arc and Boston was 8 for 15 overall, leading Boston backers to really like the Celtics, who are 12-2 ATS after a game where they made 50 percent of their three-point shots or better this season.

In spite of a noble fourth quarter comeback, Detroit has not played with the passion associated with championship teams. A perusal of the Pistons roster shows Rasheed Wallace and Antono McDyess will both be 34 before the start of next season, Chauncey Billups will be 32 and Richard Hamilton is 30 years old. The youngest core player is Tayshaun Prince at 28. That is not to say Detroit or Boston is going to age years overnight, yet when players of this basketball life span have a hard time getting up for playoff games, what will the regular season for next year bring as far as emotions?

The Pistons return to The Palace, 14-5 ATS off a road loss this season, also knowing Boston is 0-7 ATS on the road when leading in a playoff series the last six weeks. All the key members of the Detroit roster disappeared for significant lengths of time in last outing, if this happens again, they’ll be leaving the locker room as well, headed for unwanted summer vacation.

Detroit 5.5-point home favorite at most reporting wagering outlets with Total having risen to 175. The Pistons have covered 14 of last 19 home games and will face a Boston outfit that is 2-8 against the spread in last 10. The Celtics have managed to crank up the effort after teams have broke the century mark against them, with 40-13 ATS record.

In Game Six on ESPN, Detroit tries to continue the dream, while Boston pushes to advance. The tip will be after 8:35 Eastern, with the road team up to 10-3 ATS when these two veteran teams collide.