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Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« on: February 25, 2014, 10:01:46 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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at
Atlanta Hawks (26-29) at Boston Celtics (19-39)
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
7:30 PM ET
Game #59 Home Game #29
TV: CSNNE, SportSouth, NBA-LP 754(DTV)/752,753(Xfinity)
Radio: WZLX 100.7, 92.9 FM
TD Garden



Probable Starting Matchups

Point Guard
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Jeff Teague

Shooting Guard
vs
Gerald Wallace vs Shelvin Mack

Small Forward
vs
Jeff Green vs Kyle Korver

Power Forward
vs
Brandon Bass vs DeMarre Carroll

Center

vs
Kris Humphries vs Elton Brand





Celtics Reserves
Kelly Olynyk
Jerryd Bayless
Joel Anthony
Chris Johnson
Phil Pressey

Injuries
Keith Bogans (personal) out
Vitor Faverani (knee) day to day
Avery Bradley (ankle) day to day
Jared Sullinger (head) day to day



Hawks Reserves
Mike Scott
Dennis Shroder
Lou Williams
Dexter Pittman
Cartier Martin

Injuries
Gustavo Ayon (shoulder) questionable
Pero Antic (ankle) out
John Jenkins (back) out
Al Horford (shoulder) out
Paul Millsap (knee) questionable

Game Notes
The Celtics face the Atlanta Hawks at home after a winless road trip.  This is the 3rd of 4 meetings between these two teams.  The Celtics won the first game in Atlanta 94-87 and then fell to the Hawks in Boston on New Year's Eve 92-91.  They meet once more in April.   

The Celtics hope to get Avery Bradley back in the starting lineup after he missed the road trip to rehab an ankle injury.  They may also get to see Vitor Faverani once again.  It would be great to see Jared Sullinger in this game but he needs to pass the NBA's concussion tests before he can get back on the court.

The Hawks have some injury problems of their own with 5 players either out or questionable.  They are also playing in the second of back to back games after hosting the Bulls on Tuesday night.  The Celtics have had a day off after their 4 game west coast swing but the first game back after a road trip is always a tough one to win.

The Celtics are 4-6 in their last 10 games and have lost their last 5 games.   The Hawks are 2-8 in their last 10 games.  The Celtics are 11-17 at home while the Hawks are 9-19 on the road.

Atlanta is tied with Charlotte for the 7th and 8th spots in the East.  They are just half a game behind the 6th spot and 1.5 games back of the 5th seed.  The Celtics have the 4th worst record in the league and are 2 ahead of Orlando and 2.5 games behind the Knicks.  They are also 8.5 games out of the playoffs. 

Key Matchups
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Jeff Teague
Rondo returns from a rest in the last game along with a nice birthday party.  Teague is a good young point guard and leads the Hawks with 15.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 7.1 assists.  This should be a good matchup

vs
Jeff Green vs Kyle Korver
Korver is always a threat to put up big numbers.  He is especially dangerous from beyond the arc where he has a record 124 consecutive games with at least one 3 pointer. 

Keys to the Game
Play 48 Minutes - The Celtics have yet to put together an entire game where they play well. They have periods where they play great and then they have periods when they can't hit a shot and can't defend.  They have to find some way to be consistent from start to finish. 

Defense - The Hawks depend on the three to score. They are 3rd in the league attempting 24.9 3 pointers a game and they are 2nd in the league, making 9.4 3's per game and are making 37.7% of their shots from beyond the arc. They have several good shooters from distance and the Celtics must up their perimeter defense.  They also have to defend the paint better.  They have been allowing way too many easy points in the paint. 

Rebound - The Celtics must crash the boards as a team, especially the guards. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics must be the team that wants the win more and the team that wins the rebounding battle.

Set the Pace - The Celtics have to run on every possession. The Celtics have built leads in games by pushing the ball and getting easy shots before the defenses set up.  Part of the reason they have given up those leads is that they stop running, stop pushing the ball inside, and stop moving the ball. They have to keep up the pace for the entire game.

Be Aggressive - The Celtics have to be the more aggressive team in going after loose balls, in rebounding, in defending, and in rebounding.  They have to be aggressive in taking the ball inside and not settling for outside shots, especially when they aren't falling. 

X-Factors

Injuries and Back Home
Both teams have been hit with the injury bug.  Who plays and who is still out could determine a lot in this game.
The Celtics are back at home and that should give them a boost. 
« Last Edit: February 26, 2014, 02:41:16 PM by FLCeltsFan »

Re: Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2014, 10:34:15 AM »

Offline Jonny CC

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I am taking my son and a couple of his friends to the game tonight.  Atlanta on a Wed night = cheap tickets.  He was hoping that Sully would play but I don't think that's going to happen.
Before a game on Christmas against the Pacers, Bird told Chuck Person that he had a present for him. During the game, Bird shot a 3-pointer in front of Person. Immediately after releasing the ball, Bird said to Person, "Merry F!#*ing Christmas!" and then the shot went in.

Re: Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2014, 11:04:50 AM »

Offline letsgoblue86

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Expecting a blowout for us tonight. Bradley goes for 25 and Rondo gets 15 assists

Re: Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2014, 11:09:02 AM »

Offline Clench123

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I'd be surprised (and happy) if we lose this one but who knows. 

I always said when I left the Celtics, I could not go to heaven, because that would
 be a step down. I am pure 100 percent Celtic. I think if you slashed my wrists, my
 blood would’ve been green.  -  Bill "Greatest of All Time" Russell

Re: Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2014, 01:47:10 PM »

Offline LatterDayCelticsfan

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As for BOLD PREDICTIONS, Bradley to set a league record for corner 3s, Green to hit 40 points
Banner 18 please 😍

Re: Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2014, 02:14:49 PM »

Offline henr1k

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As for BOLD PREDICTIONS, Bradley to set a league record for corner 3s, Green to hit 40 points

According to twitter, Bradley and Sully are out tonight, you need a new prediction  :D

We win this one regardless, Atlanta is free falling and on b2b

Re: Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2014, 02:19:25 PM »

Offline D.o.s.

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Bold prediction: Celtics win their 20th game.
At least a goldfish with a Lincoln Log on its back goin' across your floor to your sock drawer has a miraculous connotation to it.

Re: Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« Reply #7 on: February 26, 2014, 02:42:24 PM »

Offline FLCeltsFan

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I updated the thread with Wallace probably starting instead of Avery.  Darn!  I thought some positive thinking might bring him back for this game.  Oh well.

Re: Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« Reply #8 on: February 26, 2014, 03:18:39 PM »

Offline Birdman

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Might win this one  ::)
C/PF-Horford, Baynes, Noel, Theis, Morris,
SF/SG- Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Smart, Semi, Clark
PG- Irving, Rozier, Larkin

Re: Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« Reply #9 on: February 26, 2014, 03:48:35 PM »

Offline csfansince60s

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There's NO WAY we lose this game. I guess its a win-win (or lose-lose if you're a half-empty guy).

We win, the Hawks record gets worse and enhances their draft position from which we gain. Hurts our own pick a little, but March will come in and go out like a lion, so hopefully our draft position isn't hurt too much.

We lose, and our draft position gets better, but theirs gets worse.

Their entire frontcourt, except for Brand is OUT.

http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/atlanta-hawks-injury-update-feb-26-2014

Antic, Ayon, Milsap and of course Horford as well as SG Jenkins.

Our frontcourt will destroy them. I think we win by 25. We'll be pretty angry after an embarrassing West Coast 0-fer and their so beat up, there's no way they can win.

Caveat: These were the types of games I would go broke on when I used to gamble.

Re: Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« Reply #10 on: February 26, 2014, 05:51:07 PM »

Offline SHAQATTACK

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KO......has 25 points and 12 boards

Rondo ...20 point and 12 assists

No Milsap

We destroy the Hawks

Re: Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« Reply #11 on: February 26, 2014, 05:54:26 PM »

Offline Sievers81

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Boston Twitter:

"Olynyk is out tonight due to a sprained toe. Brad Stevens says team feared it was broken, but it's only sprained. In boot for a couple days."

Starters will be:

Rondo, Bayless, Green, Bass, and Humphries

Re: Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« Reply #12 on: February 26, 2014, 06:27:13 PM »

Online Neurotic Guy

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Disappointed to hear Olynyk not playing.  One of the fun aspects of this season is to watch the progress of young guys and I think KO has been slowly improving his comfort level out there.  I know it is bad form on this thread to discuss rooting for a loss, so I'll just say I won't be disappointed by a loss.  Atlanta is irrelevant (IMO) in the race for the pick -- it's really all about Brooklyn.  I am very confident the Hawks will fall to the lottery with or without a win tonight. 

Anyway, I hope JG continues to be aggressive and Rondo continues his climb to get back to 100%. 

Re: Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« Reply #13 on: February 26, 2014, 06:32:10 PM »

Offline SHAQATTACK

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Oh......no KO.........He is tanking us big time........change prediction to failure and loss

Not seeing how we win .   No sully , KO , no Avery ......no scoring

Re: Hawks (26-29) at Celtics (19-39) Game #59 2/26/14
« Reply #14 on: February 26, 2014, 07:13:58 PM »

Offline 2short

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Boston Twitter:

"Olynyk is out tonight due to a sprained toe. Brad Stevens says team feared it was broken, but it's only sprained. In boot for a couple days."

Starters will be:

Rondo, Bayless, Green, Bass, and Humphries
if this is the real starting lineup i'm glad
wallace plays hard but 25 or so minutes and no shooting or scoring is a waste of a spot
does korver look like ashton kutcher?