After two listless performances in Atlanta, Paul Pierce woke up, took charge, and carried the Celtics in their 110-85 Game 5 victory over Atlanta to grasp a commanding 3-2 series lead.

In the first quarter alone, Pierce was able to curl-and-fire for a jumper, knock down a J over Josh Smith, take advantage of Atlanta’s penchant for switching by posting and toasting Mike Bibby for two layups, follow his own missed layup for a stick back, make three wonderful assist passes (plus several other passes that resulted in or led to open looks), corral four rebounds, and let everybody know that PP is the best player in the series.

Surprise, surprise! With their 95-75 victory over the Pistons in Game 3, Philadelphia, not Detroit, has played like the second best team in the Eastern Conference. As is the case in nearly all big games, the difference starts at the point of attack.

When Detroit trusted their offense and executed, they had complete success. In fact, after a Rip Hamilton jumper early in the second half, the Pistons were shooting 60% for the game. Hamilton (9-18 FG, 23 PTS) was getting open off screens and curls, while Tayshaun Prince (8-9 FG, 18 PTS) was hitting jumpers and floaters at will.

With so much at stake for Phoenix, credit Mike D’Antoni and his Suns for coming up with the right gameplan to attack the Spurs.

Indeed, D’Antoni’s ability to get his big men rolling early put serious pressure on the Spurs.

Game 2 Jazz-Rockets was the epitome of playoff basketball. The physicality was brutal—screens were set with malicious intent, cutters were obliterated on their paths, and each and every layup attempt was fraught with punishing body blows by the defense. And with the intensity ratcheted up, each side had its share of heroic players and moments.

Tracy McGrady was spectacular for the first three quarters of the game. Utah singled him with various defenders except when he posted up and Utah was forced to send an extra man. Still, McGrady had tremendous scoring success against Brewer (5-8 FG 11 PTS), Matt Harpring (0-0 FG, 2 PTS), Andrei Kirilenko (2-3 FG, 5 PTS), and Kyle Korver (1-2 FG, 2 PTS).