Celtics and Pistons to Battle for the East

With nine teams over .500 to the East's five, there's no doubt that the West was the stronger conference in the 2007-08 season. But what many forget when comparing the two is that the East had to the two best teams in the NBA. No Western Conference team had as many wins as the Celtics (66) and Pistons (59).
The road that these two teams took to get to this Conference Finals series was not was clear as many thought it would be, but they're here. And it's a matchup that we've been anticipating since November.

But it won't be pretty. These are two teams that play slow and play great defense. They've each flexed their defensive muscle throughout the postseason to date, and they've each had an offensive drought or two as well.

But if their three regular season meetings are any indication, we're bound to have some knock-'em-down, drag-'em-out battles in the next two weeks. Look for more drama like we saw in their Dec. 19 instant classic in Boston.

The Pistons, in the Conference Finals for the sixth straight season, are the traditional power. The Celtics, losers of 58 games last year, are new to this. They're hungry and they want to go where Pistons have already gone. And you know the Pistons, probably a little resentful of the Boston lovefest that has permeated the media since the arrival of Kevin Garnett, would love to keep them from it.

And while the Celtics have needed a total of 14 games to get past the Hawks and Cavs, the Pistons have needed just 11 to dispatch the Sixers and Magic, and have been resting since Tuesday. With Chauncey Billups having missed the final two games of the Orlando series with a strained hamstring, the rest has been beneficial.

The series tips off from Boston on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

THey are at their best, they are the favorites, but they don't know your heart. ive seen it even in the last season, emotionally.

This Tuesday night you got to lay that heart on the field and take the gamble, with that you cannot lose, yes you are behind the scoreboard but soon you will rise from the ashes and take the lead and win it all.

This is your time to rise up from the ashes and an oppurtunity for you guys to be remembered.

WE ARE!!! PISTONS!!!

WE ARE!!! PISTONS!!!!!

DEEEETROIT BASKETBALL!!!!