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Celtics hoping to regain series lead at home

May 28, 2008 - 1:49 PM Detroit at Boston 8:30 pm EDT Eastern Conference finals Series tied, 2-2

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics are happy to be home.

The Celtics try to push the Detroit Pistons to the brink of elimination when the teams meet in Game Five of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday.

After losing Game Four, 94-75, in Detroit on Monday, Boston looks to regain the lead in the best-of-seven series by taking advantage of its strong play at the TD Banknorth Garden.

The Celtics are 9-1 at home in playoffs and are averaging just over 95 points per game while allowing only 81 to the opposition here.

"It's 0-0 again, a three-game series," Celtics guard Ray Allen said. "We've got to protect our home court. We lost the last game at home and definitely have to win on that court to send a message."

Boston's only home loss this postseason came during Game Two when the Pistons claimed a 103-97 victory.

The Celtics need an improved offensive effort from emotional leader Kevin Garnett on Wednesday after the NBA Defensive Player of the Year was limited to just 16 points on Monday after averaging 24 over the first three games of the series.

"He'll be fine," said Boston coach Doc Rivers of Garnett. "He'll be tough on himself, which is always good. Self-motivation is the best.

"All our guys were disappointed because they knew they didn't play well (in Game Four). Yet they knew they had a chance to win the game. That in some ways, gives them a little bit of confidence, even though the score wouldn't justify having that."

Garnett struggled against an inspired Antonio McDyess, who had 21 points and 16 rebounds for the Pistons and is the only Detroit starter without an NBA championship ring.

"We couldn't start like we did last game," McDyess said. "I felt that if I started knocking down shots the team would feed off of it. I thought I did a good job of doing that."

McDyess' success may have come from Boston's defensive rotations, which left the veteran forward wide open.

"They always leave me for some reason," he said. "They're a big help team on the strong side and the weak side is always open. They've been doing that since day one. (Coach) Flip (Saunders) emphasized that (in the) last practice, 'Dyess is going to be open at the top of the key,' and the players have been getting me the ball."

Game Six is in Detroit on Friday.