Live from the Palace…
8:40: And we're underway. Rip Hamilton's in the starting lineup. We'll see how good he looks.
8:41: Billups misses his first free-throw attempt, and Ray Allen buries his first 3-pointer. Neither is a good sign.
8:42: Hamilton drains a mid-range jumper. That made every Pistons fan breathe a bit easier.
8:46: Celtics just had a possession where neither Pierce nor Perkins got across half-court. Nice hustle there. Still only 10-9 Pistons, though.
8:48: First Automotion routine of the night. They are in all white, because Automotion always makes you think of vestal virgins.
8:50: Speaking of white, why did the Penguins do a White-Out for Game 3? Did they not notice that it was the Red Wings that were wearing white for the game?
8:52: To clear up a common misconception, Rip Hamilton doesn't keep wearing his mask because he likes it - he actually hates it. Unlike Antonio McDyess, who got to ditch his fairly quickly, Hamilton is stuck with his permanently. He has broken his nose so many times that another break would require surgery and mean he would miss several weeks of action.
8:55: 17-13 Celtics. Anita Baker is here ... and Rip scores in her honor. 17-15.
9:01: If you find my blog boring, or you want some idea of what it is like sitting between Dana Wakiji and I on press row, you can read hers at http://info.detnews.com/redesign/blogs/pistonsblog/index.cfm.
9:02: Two more baskets for Ray Allen. He's got 10 points in 11 minutes, which, as I mentioned, is not a good sign.
9:03: Rodney Stuckey at the buzzer to pull the Pistons within 24-23. I've been asking this since training camp - how did that kid fall to the 18th pick?
9:05: Or maybe not. Refs just looked at the replay and ruled the shot came after the shot clock expired, so it is 24-21 at the first quarter.
9:07: There's a fan behind me screaming that he hates the media, and they need real fans in these seats who will make some noise instead of watching TV.
9:11: Good lord, these quarter breaks last forever. Kid Rock is here - no idea if any of the Pistons will score a basket in his honor. Besides, he's never told me to tie my shoe, like Anita did.
9:13: Jason Maxiell with a turnaround jumper, just before Hamilton and Sam The Alien bank knees.
9:15: Ray Allen 3-pointer. Still not a good sign. Also might help if Rasheed Wallace scores a point in here somewhere.
9:17: Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is here. The drummer from the RHCP (Flea?) once played the national anthem for a key Pistons playoff game. On the drums. Just him. That was very odd.
9:20: Sam The Alien is matched up against Stuckey. If I've done the math correctly, Sam was 97 years old when Stuckey was born.
9:26: They are already breaking out the Rip "Rocky" video - he's from Philly, you see. And he has 13 of their 28 points. Prince, McDyess and Wallace have a combined three, which is not what you are looking for.
9:29: Billups hits a 3-pointer. Now he has 13, and the Pistons are down 32-31 ... except that Paul Pierce scored before I could finish typing. 34-31.
9:31: OK, this could be big. Garnett picks up his third foul with 3:11 left in the half. Pistons need to make a run right here.
9:33: And they start their big run with a 24-second violation. Nice job.
9:39: Billups hits one of two free throws to pull the Pistons within 39-36 with 1:11 left in the half. He's missed more free throws in the playoffs than he misses in four-month stretches of the regular season.
9:41: Detroit's starting guards have 31 points. The starting frontcourt? Three, on 1-of-11 shooting. McDyess and Wallace have 14 rebounds between them, which is something, but not much.
9:44: Boston leads 40-37 at the half.
9:47: The Pistons held Boston to 36 percent in the first half, outrebounded them 23-22 and had KG on the bench for the last three minutes, so they should be winning. But Prince and Wallace's combined 0-for-10 is killing them.
9:49: Kevin "Big Game" Garnett is 2-for-10 with one rebound and three fouls, and none of the Boston Big Three have gotten to the free-throw line. How is Boston winning this?
10:04: The second half is about to start. Way to market a game to East Coast viewers - a second half starting after 10 p.m. between two Eastern Time Zone teams.
10:06: Garnett and Prince start the second half by hitting jumpers, which should please fans of both teams.
10:10: Someone on press row just asked if we are seeing Rasheed's last half as a Piston. It's possible, although that's what we all thought after his meltdown last year. And, as I type this, he hits a 3. 50-47 Boston.
10:12: KG picks up his fourth foul, and a T on Perkins. A fifth on Garnett would be massive.
10:14: Sheed's bitching after getting his fourth. He needs to shut up before he gets the magic technical that would mean a suspension for Game 7.
10:19: Prince 3-pointer gives the Pistons a 56-54 lead - their first since 10-9. Garnett's on the bench - can they take advantage this time?
10:24: 62-58 Pistons, and the Celtics pick up an offensive foul. Garnett's still out - this is a key moment in the game.
10:30: Wow. I have no idea how the refs just called an offensive foul on Paul Pierce. It was the same play as the Brent Barry-Derek Fisher contact from the other night, but if they had given Barry a foul. To make it worse for the Celtics, he hit a 3-pointer that was taken down, and then the Pistons got two free throws at the other end. So what could (should?) have been a 64-61 game became 66-58.
10:33: Sam the Alien just called for traveling. He might want to retire right now. During the game.
10:34: Rip's late jumper makes it 68-60 at the end of the third. 15-6 run with Garnett on the bench.
10:39: Celtics start the fourth with a shot-clock violation. Garnett's back in, but can he take over a game? Actually, yes, he can, but will he?
10:41: Ten-point lead. Can the Pistons, to use their own phrase, step on Boston's throat?
10:42: Just for the record, Doug Collins is going to be Chicago's new coach. That's the most bizarre decision since the Pierce foul call a few minutes ago.
10:45: Rasheed picks up his fifth foul, and KG makes two free throws. 70-67 with 9:05 left, and Boston's throat is definitely unstepped upon.
10:46: Wallace is 1-for-8 with five fouls. Yes, he has nine rebounds, but this is a very small effort from him. On the other hand, he hasn't gotten ejected.
10:51: Pierce splits a pair of free throws, and it is 70-70 with 7:35 to go. Your Detroit Pistons, always making life difficult.
10:54: Maxiell with back-to-back baskets. Rasheed who?
10:58: Celtics, 75-74 ... make that 77-74.
11:00: Rasheed's back. Turnover and a missed layup. And two more points from Pierce. That's seven straight, and the Celtics lead 79-74. A 19-4 run, sparked by Pierce and Garnett, and the Pistons appear to be done.
11:07: Anyone put it past Rasheed to hit a huge shot in the last minute?
11:10: Celtics call timeout with 1:07 left. It's 85-79, and they have the ball. Sheed may never get a chance at a big shot.
11:13: Boston turned the ball over, but Hamilton missed a 3-pointer and this game is practically over ... except that KG just missed two free throws. Still six points.
11:16: That was Sheed's chance. Terrible miss.
11:20: Game and the season are over. See you in November.