The Celtics -- 66-16 -- will not win a single road game in their first-round series ... and there's still a chance they miss out on a trip to the second round completely. Similarly, the Atlanta Hawks -- 37-45 in the regular season -- will not lose a single home game in their first-round series ... and there's still a chance they win a trip to the second round. Both of these matters are absurd on their own legs. Combined into one series of events? Holy crap.The smaller moments in the series shouldn't be surprising -- Joe Johnson drilling a dagger as the shot clock expires late in the fourth, Al Horford being a tough mofo and goading Paul Pierce into stupid technical fouls, Marvin Williams having one good game out of six by attacking the basket at will. The smaller moments already experienced in Games 1-6 would be fine in a 4-2 Boston series win, great building blocks for the future.
But in a series that goes all the way? They take on a lot more importance (says Captain Obvious). Forget about chinks in the Boston Armor -- these are full-blown flesh wounds, and there's a possibility they could be fatal. I mean, look at how Atlanta won Friday: good defense, and they got to the line a ton. The top seven Hawks in the rotation all got at least 6 FTAs; only Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe got at least that many for Boston, and the Hawks ended up with 22 more attempts.
It's pretty indicative of how the Hawks have played in Atlanta: aggressive, fearless, tough. If they can duplicate that just once in Boston, they'll be the victors in the (new) Greatest NBA Upset Ever, and the world will implode. I can't wait.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Boston was going to sweep :
Atlanta got lucky in 5;
Atlanta got lucky again in 6;
Atlanta got lucky yet again ???
The fact is Atlanta has a very good team and very, very young and with the best rookie in the world Al Horford and Mike Bibby the only veteran in this group that at 29 yrs old has a lot in the tank to mesh with this kids even the bench with Childress and Pachulia is solid a power house coming next year!
Give them some credit!
Posted at 8:49AM on May 3rd 2008 by frank
2. Another fact, if the series go 10 games (not) then Atlanta will win and the reason ( fresh legs) they are a lot YOUNGER :
Josh Smith, Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams all of them not even 24 years old yet plus the rookie of the year Al Horford 21 yrs old plus the bench Childress and Pachulia of course they will finish in Boston and hurry up Boston is running out of fresh legs!
Posted at 9:14AM on May 3rd 2008 by frank
3. This former Mariettian (Georgia, not Ohio) is braced and ready for impact. Go Hawks.
Posted at 9:18AM on May 3rd 2008 by Carolyn
4. I love this, Boston is doomed not matter how you look at it. Should the win sunday afternoon, they will not make it through the next two rounds that are necessary to be eastern conference champs. Why? well as so astutely stated below the are old bags of waning aspiration. There is no way the will beat another team should the series go 6 or even seven, they just plain old don't have the legs to do it. I for one am rooting for the Hawks, mostly because I have been in love with Smith and JJ for a few seasons as a result of their stelar production on my fantasy teams, I used to hate Zaza and thought he was a big thug, guess what he is still that but has proven that he has an even bigger heart. How can you not cheer for that. And Horford what can you say the kid is a natural born vet, a leader for years to come. To bad Portland didn't get him, Horford and Roy would be a great core. Well I guess LmA and Roy already are, but still.
Okay I never was a Boston fan, I hate danny ainge b/c I am from Oregon and know what a punk he is. I sure as hell was not going to jump on the band wagon when the got the Boston "three party" haha losers....
Go Hawks, you guys make watching the playoffs that much better.
Posted at 12:41PM on May 3rd 2008 by subliminimal
5. In the Garden, the Celtics look like the Celtics that played all year long. In the ATL, it is completely different. Is the problem that the Celtics can't play well on the road? Unlikely. They had a great road record this year, and they won playoff intensity games all year long (Down by 22 to San Antonio in the AT&T Center, snapping Houston's win streak, beating LA in the Staples Center).
I think it is more likely that the Celtics have an Atlanta problem than a road problem. I expect them to win game 7 decisively then shut down Cleveland in 6. Are still my favorites to win it all.
Posted at 12:58PM on May 3rd 2008 by Ben-T
6. Ok so the Hawks have pushed this to 7. Boston is not playing their game at Atlanta. They are taking poor shots and are not driving to the basket. Rivers is not making the adjustments needed during the game to pull it out. I love how everyone is saying that Boston is not very good now. Yes this series should be over, but remember how bad they have played and still were only beat by a few points in each game. Atlanta is fired up and playing way above their abilities. This will end up being good for Boston in the long run believe it or not. This series I should hope will wake them up. I find it ridiculous how the Hawks are suddenly up and coming. Lets see what they do next year before we start making claims based on 3 games. I remember the Suns being taken to 5 by the Lakers and still went on to the Finals. It's not like this is the first time a lesser opponent put the screws to a superior team. And by the way, Boston doesn't need to win on the road this year, they just have to win at home and they will be just fine.
Posted at 3:48PM on May 3rd 2008 by angryguy77