The Matchup: No. 3 Boston vs. No. 2 Detroit

Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay provides analysis for ESPN on SportsCenter and NBA Today. Here he breaks down the playoffs for ESPN.com. Also a former color analyst for the Heat, Ramsay's impressive résumé includes making the playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons as coach and winning an NBA title with Portland in 1977.

Throughout the 2002 playoffs, Dr. Jack will break down each series from the backcourts to intangibles. Look for his analysis from the first round all the way through to the NBA Finals.

BACKCOURT

EDGE

I like the matchup between Chucky Atkins and Kenny Anderson at the point. A year ago everybody was ready to send Anderson packing out of Boston, but he came back to have a consistent season. He was very good for the Celtics in the Philadelphia series. He defended Allen Iverson surprisingly well. He forced Iverson to his left and helped keep him under reasonable control. He also took advantage of Philadelphia's defensive efforts on Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce to get open and get to the basket. I give Anderson an edge, although one can't ignore Atkins, who is underrated. It will be a great matchup between Pierce and Jerry Stackhouse. It was shocking to see Stackhouse go 1-for-10 from the floor and 3-for-5 from the free-throw line in Game 5 against Toronto, but I've always found that good players who play bad games come back really strong the next time. Pierce was superb in Game 5 against the 76ers. It wasn't just with his shots; he moved the ball well when the defense forced him to, which was in contrast to Game 4 when he had seven turnovers. Pierce is a great offensive player, but he has to recognize when to give the ball up, not force his offense and trust his teammates.

FRONTCOURT

EDGE

Walker will battle Cliff Robinson in a terrific matchup at small forward. Robinson is an excellent defender who is fluid enough to go out and guard Walker and stay with him when he puts it on the floor. Robinson is not a great scorer, but he will work hard to stop Walker and keep his numbers down. At big forward, Tony Battie will match up with Ben Wallace. Wallace is very quick off the floor; Battie is taller, but he doesn't react as quickly. Celtics coach Jim O'Brien will give Battie, Corie Blount and Rodney Rogers at shot at trying to contain Wallace, who had 13 points and a season-high 28 rebounds against Boston in March. The Celtics can't afford Wallace to have that kind of game again. O'Brien will use Rogers at the center position and use him in high screen-and-rolls to draw the big man outside with him. That will open up the basket area. Wallace can't afford to drop off Rogers and let him shoot 3-pointers; Boston hit 19 threes against Philadelphia in Game 5. At small forward, the matchup between Eric Williams and Michael Curry is a wash, although Curry will not play many minutes. The Pistons will bring in Corliss Williamson, a very good low-post player. Williams, as a tough defender, will go to war against Williamson.

EVEN

BENCH	EDGE
Detroit uses Williamson, the NBA's Sixth Man Award winner; Jon Barry, a great catalyst in the backcourt; and Zeljko Rebraca. The Pistons will sometimes use Damon Jones as well. Boston goes with Rogers, Erick Strickland, Tony Delk and Walter McCarty, who has come on strong lately. He is a high-energy player who can make threes, hustle and get rebounds.	EVEN

INTANGIBLES

EDGE

The Celtics gained huge confidence in beating Philadelphia, especially after the 76ers tied the series. They came back to finish the series with a strong Game 5. I think their confidence level is high. Detroit, however, may have been shaken by its struggles against Toronto. The Pistons did not play especially well. Stackhouse had a nightmarish game in Game 5. They have got to turn it around or they will be in trouble.

PREDICTION

Celtics in six. Their success is contingent on Walker and Pierce playing like they did in Game 5 against Philadelphia. The Celtics had chances to win Games 3 and 4 and let them both slip away with poor play down the stretch, most of that coming from Walker and Pierce. If they play as well as they did in Game 5, they will beat Detroit and just about anyone else in the East. It's important for Boston to win one of two in Detroit. Meanwhile, the Pistons must get back to playing with the confidence and effort that earned them the Central Division title. They seemed kind of uncertain in their series after Game 1 against Toronto.