Boston will have center Robert Parish, who was suspended from Game 6 and fined $7,500 for punching Pistons center Bill Laimbeer, and head coach K.C. Jones, who missed Thursday night's game because of his mother's funeral.
"Parish was in good enough shape to play (in Game 6)," said Boston assistant coach Jimmy Rodgers, emphasizing that although Parish's ankle was sore, the suspension amounted to more than a slap on the wrist. "He'll be there for Game 7."
So will the rest of the Celtics and a screaming mob of 14,890, who hope to see an NBA final series between the Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, winners of the Western Conference.
The Pistons had Game 5 sewed up before Bird swiped Isiah Thomas' inbounds pass with 4 seconds left and set up Dennis Johnson for the winning basket in a 108-107 Boston victory, and they believe they can break the Celtics' hold on supremacy at the Garden.
"It's still five against five and 12 against 12, however you want to put it," said Detroit coach Chuck Daly. "There are only 48 minutes left, and I say let it all hang out."
The Celtics have defeated the Pistons 17 straight times in the Garden, and the home team has won every game so far in this series.
But while the Celtics didn't even come close in the Silverdome, where they were blown out in Games 3 and 4 and in the fourth quarter of Game 6, the Pistons - except for poor shooting in Game 1 and Bird's steal - have hung in with Boston at the Garden.
"We've just got to go into the Garden and play our game," said Detroit forward Rick Mahorn. "We know we can win. Now all we have to do is go get it."
To do that, the Pistons must force the tempo and lure the Celtics into a running game.
Of course, the Celtics will probably try to play more of a half-court game and utilize the inside one-two punch, if you'll pardon the expression, of Parish and Kevin McHale.
"Who knows?" wondered Vinnie Johnson, who rallied the Pistons by scoring 12 points in the final quarter of Game 6. "Sooner or later you have to get a victory there. I don't think it matters that much whether you play at home or away in the playoffs because of the level of intensity. We're real confident we can win at the Garden, but we're going to have to play one of our best games. We have to deny Parish and McHale the inside post-up position."
The Pistons have several different weapons and modes of attack that the Celtics have to worry about.
Adrian Dantley has caused Boston problems, Thomas always has the potential to break loose, Laimbeer's outside shot adds another dimension to the offense, and Johnson is like a time bomb once he enters the game.
"We're still trying to figure out why Vinnie gets so hot against us," said Dennis Johnson. "We're still trying to work on it, and we'll try to figure it out, hopefully, on Saturday."
