"It has been six years since I've been to the Eastern Conference finals and it's my second time in 10 years," said Pierce, who will try to earn a trip to the championship series Friday night at Detroit. "This opportunity isn't guaranteed. A lot of players don't even make it that far, so it's a tremendous opportunity, and I want these guys to realize that."

He went on to put the onus on the Celtics' "Big Three".

"It has to come from all of us, but definitely your All-Stars have to step up, meaning me, Kevin (Garnett), and Ray (Allen)," Pierce said. "We have to play better basketball, but it's a combination of all of us, from one all the way down to 12. There is definitely a lot of pressure, but, hey, we're more than capable."

The three have each been to the conference finals once, and that's as far as they got. The same goes for veteran P.J. Brown.

"You don't know if you're ever going to get a chance to get back," said Brown, who went with Miami in 1997. "I know that with my 15 years. Paul knows that with his 10, but guys who are younger think you're going to be there forever. It's just hard. If I could implant my knowledge and experience, hey, it would be different, but I can't do that.

"What I try to tell guys is, 'Don't look at the scoreboard. Don't worry about us being up in the series. Just play every game, every moment, every possession like it's your last.' That's the way it's got to be in playoff basketball."

CELTICS 106, PISTONS 102: The Celtics played about as well as they can in Game 5. Unfortunately for Doc Rivers' cardiac health, they also played very poorly.

They led by as many as 17 points, and were still ahead by 13 with nine minutes left. But before they could take a 3-2 lead in the conference finals series, the Celtics had to survive the Pistons getting within a single point with 1:23 left.

Ray Allen, arising from a rough postseason with 29 points, then stuck a jumper to provide a little relief. The Celtics then took it home by hitting their free throws.

Overall, Kendrick Perkins was key with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Kevin Garnett went for 33 points, and Paul Pierce added 16.

The Celtics had a 42-25 rebound edge.

"It was a huge game," said Pierce. "I mean, (if) we don't get this game, we put ourselves in position to have to win another road game. We know how tough it is to win out there in Detroit. It's one of the biggest games we've played all year long."