Reason number 1 why I have a lot of hope for the Finals is Paul Pierce's development as a leader on this team. Consider this (via ESPN):
It was a night when the Celtics could have given up mentally after a highly questionable offensive foul call with 1:35 left in the third quarter. Referee Bennett Salvatore called Pierce for a charge as he drew contact from Richard Hamilton behind the 3-point line, while making the shot. Then on the next Detroit possession, Pierce fouled Tayshaun Prince, who made two free throws to give Detroit a 66-58 lead. These two huge plays added up to a six-point swing for the Pistons.
"I didn't let it frustrate me like I probably would in the past. I probably would have lost my poise, lost my cool, got a technical. But that would have been selfish of me," Pierce said.
Instead, he refocused. And when the Celtics used a 10-0 run to tie the game at 70 with 7:35 left in the game, the momentum was theirs.