(http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_384000/ff_384074_xl.jpg) at (http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_384000/FF_384045_xl.jpg)
Atlanta Hawks (40-32) at Boston Celtics (37-34)
Friday, March 29, 2013
7:30 PM ET
Game #72 Home Game #36
TV: CSNNE, SPSO, NBA-LP 753(ATL)/754(BOS)
Radio: WEEI, WCNN
TD Garden
(http://mall.ballparks.com/images/normal_boston_9086.jpg)
Probable Starting Matchups
Point Guard
(http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4750.jpg) vs (http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4624.jpg)
Avery Bradley vs Jeff Teague
Shooting Guard
(http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3253.jpg) vs (http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3754.jpg)
Paul Pierce vs Kyle Korver
Small Forward
(http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4247.jpg) vs (http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4371.jpg)
Jeff Green vs Anthony Tolliver
Power Forward
(http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3959.jpg) vs (http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3834.jpg)
Brandon Bass vs Josh Smith
Center
(http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3606.jpg) vs (http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4245.jpg)
Chris Wilcox vs Al Horford
(http://www.insidearenas.com/eastern/pictures/td08900.jpg)
(http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/boston/00-Celticslogos.gif)
Celtics Reserves
Jason Terry
Jordan Crawford
DJ White
Terrence Williams
Shavlik Randolph
Injuries
Rajon Rondo (knee) out
Jared Sullinger (back) out
Kevin Garnett (ankle/foot) out
Courtney Lee (ankle) game time decision
Red Claws
Fab Melo
(http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/atlanta/00-atlHawkslogos.gif)
Hawks Reserves
Dahntay Jones
John Jenkins
Mike Scott
Shelvin Mack
Ivan Johnson
Johan Petro
DeShawn Stevenson
Injuries
Lou Williams (knee) out
Zaza Pachulia (achilles) out
Devin Harris (foot) questionable
Key Matchups
(http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3959.jpg) vs (http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3834.jpg)
Brandon Bass vs Josh Smith
Smith is a very athletic and quick power forward and Brandon must box out and keep Smith off the boards along with slowing him down on offense. Smith is averaging 17.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game so Bass will need to be aggressive on defense to keep Smith from having a big game.
(http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/3606.jpg) vs (http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4245.jpg)
Chris Wilcox vs Al Horford
Al Horford is playing well and is averagin 17.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Wilcox will have his hands full keeping him away from the basket. Horford is strong and is always a threat around the basket. Celtics bigs must box out to keep Horford from grabbing rebounds.
Honorable Mention
Avery Bradley vs Jeff Teague
Jeff Teague is capable of putting up big numbers. Bradley's defense will be key, not just to contain Teague, but also to slow their offense down and keep them from getting into their sets until late in the shot clock.
Game Notes
Boston hosts Atlanta for the second time in the fourth-and-final showdown between these two teams. The teams split two games at Philips Arena this year, with Boston winning 89-81 after coming back from a 19-point deficit. The Hawks evened things up with a 123-111 double-overtime win at home, coming back from 27 down for the victory. The Celtics not only lost the game, but lost Rondo for the season in that game as well. The Celtics took game three, a 107-102 home decision, in overtime on March 8. It seems that overcoming big deficits (or losing big leads) and overtimes are recurring themes in the games between these two clubs.
The Celtics have won their last three home games against the Hawks, with Atlantas last win in Boston coming on 1/11/10. Boston leads the all-time series 220-133 with a 118-34 record at home. Both teams come into this game off a win and both are looking to put together a 2 game win streak.
The Celtics have played well at home for the most part this season with a 24-11 record at the Garden. The Hawks are playing .500 on the road with a 19-19 record. The Celtics are just 3-7 in their last 10 games, avoiding a 6th straight loss when Jeff Green hit the game winner against the Cavs on Wednesday. The Hawks are 6-4 in their last 10.
The Celtics remain in the 7th spot in the East and have a 2.0 game cushion over the Bucks, who are in 8th. The Hawks are 2.5 games ahead of the Celtics in the 6th spot and just percentage points behind the Bulls, who are in the 5th spot. Every game from here on out could have playoff implications.
Doc said on Thursday that he has no idea who he's going to start in this game. I've listed the starters from the last game, who are listed in the game notes, but we could very likely see a different lineup as Doc plays mad scientist with the lineups in the absence of Kevin Garnett trying to find one that works. It would be nice to get Courtney Lee back, at least, but he's still listed as a game time decision. One thing is certain, whoever plays, has to play with energy on both ends of the court for the Celtics to win.
Keys to the Game
Defense - Defense is key to every win. The Celtics need to play tough team defense. They have to guard the perimeter as the Hawks have good 3 point shooters like Korver and Teague who can kill a team from beyond the arc. They also have to defend the paint because players like Smith, Horford and Johnson can get to the hoop and score there, especially on tip ins and second chance baskets.
Rebound - The Celtics must make an effort to go after rebounds. They must box out and prevent tip ins and to prevent the Hawks from getting second chance baskets. The Hawks are a good rebounding team, but not great. The Celtics have moved up to 29th in the league and the Hawks are just 24th. If the Celtics put out effort on the boards as a team, they should be able to win the battle of the boards.
Be Aggressive - The Celtics must be the more aggressive team. They have to go after rebounds and loose balls. They must be aggressive in going to the basket and not settle for jumpers. They also have to be aggressive on defense and get stops. When the Celtics are the more aggressive team, they get the benefit of the calls and they also are tough to beat. They must play with energy and play like they want it more.
Ball Movement - The Celtics have made up for the loss of Rajon Rondo by moving the ball and advancing the ball with the pass. Hero ball rarely wins games. They need to continue to move the ball and play unselfishly and find the open man. But, in moving the ball, they also have to make careful passes and not turn the ball over. Over their recent losing streak they have been very sloppy with their passes and they have turned the ball over way too much.
X-Factor
Home Court and Final Stretch
The Celtics are at home and they have played well there. They need to get a boost from the home crowd. They know they are entering the final stretch. It is important for the Celtics to get into a rhythm and go into the playoffs playing well. That needs to start here.