The Boston Celtics marched through the regular season with an NBA best 66 regular season wins.
After beating the Atlanta Hawks by an average of 21 points in Game’s 1 and 2, most people had them penciled in for their first NBA Finals appearance since 1987.
But the Hawks aren’t going down without a fight.
After shooting 38 percent in the first two games of the series, Atlanta has shot 47 percent in the last two games.
How have they managed to get back into the series?
By playing fast perimeter oriented basketball and getting down the floor before the Celtics can set up their defense. [Read]
I've been saying all season that boston is the most overrated team in the league. They are very beatable. Their defense isnt that good and they rely to get lucky on 3's the whole game.
You're right Hoffman. The Hawks have learned to run the court before the Celtics can set up their halfcourt defense because the Hawks really don't have a halfcourt offensive game. Makes for an interesting series. That's why the Wiz were so successful against them during the season because that is their whole game...run, run, run the floor.
titansfan...the Celtics are the number 1 ranked defense in the league! how can you say that they're defense isn't that good?
Yeah, I guess you can say that the Hawks have done a decent job of running the floor against the Celtics transition defense and bein successful with it. They're making their shots when it counts and that's to be commended. If those shots don't go down, the Celtics win Game Four.
But I think the main factor in the Celtics road lapse has been their lack of experience playing together as a group in big games. They may not be totally familiar with each other's tendencies in crucial situations, considering they pretty much blew out the opposition the entire season.
Because they have three superstars, one problem the C's may face down the road is that when the game is on the line with under a minute left, Allen, KG, and Pierce may be tentative and hesitant in taking key shots. They might be indecisive down the stretch because one will want the other one to take the shot.
JDIZZLE...good points. But I saw the Celtics' big 3 on espn sunday conversation and that exact question was asked, "final seconds on the clock and who takes the last shot?" KG and Pierce both agreed it will be Allen.
The 2 games the Celtics won, they dominated. The 2 games the Hawks won, they squeaked a victory over Celtics. Pretty obvious who will be the victor of the series.
I think people also forget that they clinced everything with 2 weeks left in the season. Something that can also be said for Detroit and look both teams struggled in their opeing series.
I think because of that both team were out of sync and its taken them a few games to get back in rhythm. The only reason the Celts didn't struggle more in the first two games, is that the Hawks were absolutely horrible. The Hawks played so poorly in the 2nd game the Celts only shot 40% and still won by 20.
I'm sure the fans of the other playoff teams hope both Detroit and Boston continue to struggle, but I expect both teams to play much better in the second round.
Also, As someone pointed out the Hawks had to shoot extemely well in the 4th to win game 4. It also took a total brick fest in the 4th quarter by the Celts. If neither of those happen the Celts could have won game 4 by 20 and we wouldn't be having this talk.
Back to the big win tonight. Game 6 will be closer but Celtics will close out the series. After the Cavs' horrible game againt the Wizards, that series may go seven and the Celts may end up more rested.
Daniels had a great game for the Wiz, Butler was great, and they are clearly better without Arenas on the floor.
Boston's defense has been excellent this season but I find it interesting that they've accomplished what they have without the luxury of a lock down guy on the perimeter.
That may come back to haunt them...especially against an attacking scorer like James.
ATTITUDE70 - thanks. Boston did an excellent job with their transition defense last night. We'll see if the Cavs/Wizards can push the tempo in the next round.
kellyscott - lol. Me too.
slshusker - the C's responded well but who would have thought they would be threatened in the East...much less in the 1st round? Not me.
ATTITUDE70 is right about the ESPN spot where Garnett and Pierce both said the last second shot should go to Allen.
But I think you're right when questioning the hierarchy on that team. Garnett is the emotional leader and the defensive quarterback but the Celtics are led by all three of those guys.
They don't look to just one person to lead them on both ends of the floor.
WrZlt - I think the Celtics will win the series too. But I think their inability to close Atlanta out and the success that Smith and Johnson have had is exposing flaws in their team.
Celtics will lose in the finals to which ever team wins in the west. The regular season means nothing ask the Mavs, Suns, etc. from the past. Teams with the best regular season do not win as much as you think. Playoffs is all about adjustments and Doc will be out coached by either Phil or Pop. Coaching makes a difference in the playoffs. Good luck you will need it just to make it to the finals. No parade in Beantown for the Celts old big 3 LOL
The Celtics are a solid team, the fact that they lost a couple of games doesn't change that. Any team, on any given night can beat another. It is alarming that it happened two games in a row, but Atl held home court...they're supposed to win at home.(I didn't see it coming, but theoretically...)
Last night seemed more to form for Boston.
Let's not forget, despite the fact this is a veteran team, with lots of star power...the stars that are the nucleus have never won anything...as a unit or with prior teams. ( other than Cassell in Houston )
They remain unproven.
They are obviously capable of losing...as are all teams, but the Hawks wins have really enabled the championship dreams of Lakers fans.
Boston no longer seems as intimidating as they did a week ago.
I think pkrew's comment stems from my sign off.
( I've had more than one blogger mock it )
Hoffman I for one believe that the Celtics and Pistons have taken their opposition too lightly. It's shown by the way that each individual series have played out thus far.
It wouldn't surprise me if one of the two fail to make it into the next round.
And in watching LeBron and the Cavaliers . I'm beginning to wonder if that team really wants to play a physical team at all ?
And am I the only one who feels that Ben 'The Stiff' Wallace is being overpaid and a none factor in their series against the Wizards ? I'd like to read what you think of it at this juncture ?
Chimin' out .
PKREW says, "The Celts are fine. Lakers lose #15 in June.'
I say Celtics fans are already getting worried and thinking about the Lakers, who have won 12 of their last 13 games while the C's struggle to find a rhythm.
Hoff...I know this sounds cliche, but the Hawks DO match-up well against the Celtics. They are young and athletic. I think the Celtics played down to their competition, at least I hope so. Game 6 ought to do it, and hopefully, they will have learned a valuable lesson...never underestimate the strength of your enemy. Just as the Patriots. Nice blog! :)
this is why I dont like Garnett. He's a fake tough guy. Someone called him a "blowhard". that sounds about right. He screams profanities and talks trash and beats his chest all game but he disappears in crunch time. People give him a pass...oh, he's playing with emotion. BS. Tim duncan plays with emotion, thats the reason he comes up big in big games.
The Celtics can compete with anyone but they don't look as invincible as they did before this series do they?
I agree with your assessment of Rivers completely. It's something I detailed in my 'Championship Characteristics blog last month. Doc is unproven still. He shouldn't have any difficulty matching wits with Mike Brown and Flip Saunders but P.J. and Pop are on another level.
While I believe Kobe is the best player in the game, he's not the attacking scorer that LeBron is. James really puts pressure on the defense with his penetration skills.
It will be interesting to see how Boston counters that. Pierce and Allen don't have a prayer. They can attempt to put Posey on him but they'll sacrifice offensive output in the process.
The Pistons playing to their competition is nothing new. They've been playing that way the three seasons. Detroit needs an attitude adjustment and it needs to come in the form of a coaching change.
'Big Ben' needs to take the money and retire. He just doesn't have it any longer.
The game is all about matchups and the Celtics have had a tough time of keeping Johnson and Smith out of the paint. They just don't have any great individual defenders on the perimeter.
That's what makes San Antonio's defense so great. They can attack you with Bowen playing menacing on-ball defense and on the chance he is beat, Duncan is waiting under the hoop.
That's why I think KG is going to have to be their first, second, and last line of defense versus James.
And you're right, he doesn't show up in the clutch.
But you can't diminish the intangibles he brings to the game. He's one of the top ten power forwards of all-time.
The only criticism I have of him is that he suffers from the Rasheed Wallace syndrome. He's content firing up midrange jumpshots rather than getting in the paint and going to work.
But, the Celtics are a very good team. They are not overrated. They just got a little overconfident. I think that this series could be good for them as they won't relax in the playoffs the way they thought to.
Cassell should get less minutes as he ruins the chemistry and the dynamic of the team when he is in.
Defense wins championships. Celtics have the number one defense in the league. Allen, Garnett, Rondo, Piece will get the job done.
Hoffman I'd have sent his #### to a hosp*ice but they wouldn't want him anyway.
I've seen physically disadvantage kid with more athleticism than what Ben Wallace posseses at present.
Do you really wanna' piece of me ? First let me go on and put on my ballet shoes and leotard. Then we can pirouette around the room.
rampant' aka tophatal .........
Last edited by rampantfanatic on May 2nd at 11:07 AM.
Series tied 3-3. Yes the Celtics have plenty of weaknesses and they are certainly being exposed. Doesn't matter if they come back and win game 7, they will be eliminated sooner or later. You know the Cavs coaching staff and players are all over the films of these games already.
Hoffman. Dont worry about the celtics playing the cavs. Because they arent going to get by the hawks. I'm sad that the wizards lost. But Good Luck to the Hawks. I'm proud of those guys. The Underdog can do anything.
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