The Celtics next face Minnesota, a team coached by Boston Hall of Famer Kevin McHale. On Friday, they met the Pistons, a team with another Celtic Hall of Fame big man on its bench.
Dave Cowens obviously tries to help his team beat the Celtics whenever he plays them, but old habits are hard to break. After the Celtics knocked his Pistons out of the playoffs last season, Cowens had no trouble rooting for the Green. "Especially when they're playing the Fakers," he said, maintaining his hold on the old Boston-Lakers rivalry. Cowens also appreciates the way the Celts play the game.
"I thought they deserved it from start to finish," he said of the 2008 title. "They were the ones who set the pace for the whole league. And pretty much they've come out of the blocks trying to play the same way.
"They bully people, they play really physical, and I like it. I think that's the way you should do it. I watched a lot of tape on them all year long, and I just thought defensively we were good but they were just a little more consistent in terms of executing defensively what they wanted."
CELTICS 86, PISTONS 78: Kevin Garnett had a game-high 22 points and the Celts held off the Pistons down the stretch to win their 10th straight game. The win Friday at Auburn Hills also gives the Celtics a 3-0 mark against the Pistons this season.
The Celtics never trailed, but Detroit got within three points in the last quarter. Kendrick Perkins was ejected for a flagrant foul, but the Celtics came back after that to score seven straight points and take control.
The Celtics scored just five fast break points.
"It was a good win because it was hard-fought, almost a playoff atmosphere," said Doc Rivers. "You know, a lot of banging and shoving, and we just hung in there. We didn't play great. I don't know if they did either, but we still got the win on the road against a very good basketball team."
