Atlanta beat us fair and square

[walker834]

They basically took Isaiah away and we had no one else. They trapped him and posted him up.  The last 2 games were blowouts for that reason. Tommy loves this stuff and taking away the other teams best player and using it against them.  It was us this time around.  I don't know if we should trade Isaiah and build around Marcus or Keep isaiah and build around him at this point. If we had another option to score it may have been different.  I think that can be looked at a lot of ways though.  It's like Tiny Archibald vs Dennis Johnson to me.  If we had Durant to go with Smart and a big front line its the same thing. I don't think anyone is untouchable on this team.

[Evantime34]

They beat us fair and square but 3 of our best 4 three point shooters being out did make it easier for them to swarm IT and take him out of the game.

I think we win that series if we are healthy.

[walker834]

I agree but I don't think anyone on this team is untouchable. Having Marcus and Bradley with Durant and love and a center would win a championship.  IT and other options would as well.  Either way we have to improve other positions.  I feel like IT or Smart will be gone in a trade possibly. I feel like IT is ainge's binky though. 

[crimson_stallion]

We played horribly, simply as that. 

Atlanta won because they played with heart when it mattered most - while Boston spent way to much time in way too many games standing around and watching on defence, and allowing wide open threes and layups. 

When you play in the regular season against scrub teams, maybe you can play that way and still win games.  You cant get away with that in the playoffs, especially when you have key players out.

If the Celtics lost, but did so laying everything on the line, then I'd be proud of that.  But they lost thanks to incredibly inconsistent levels of effort and execution.  They really did dig their own grave, as the saying goes.

[walker834]

We would have gotten out of the 1st round maybe if healthy though.  That's an if though our team broke down.

It's like saying i could have made it to cali if my car didn't break down.  It's still a great car though!

[walker834]

We are like Phoenix in ways.  Two really good pgs and not much else. Ainge is kind of stacking the deck that way.  He did it with Rondo and Telfair too.  We need talent at other positions.  Bradley and Crowder were both hurt  yes. So was KO.

[Dino Pitino]

Atlanta is good. Really good. They're an incredible defensive team. They're very fast. They're full of good shooters. They really play like one superstar the way our Celtics were supposed to. Here's hoping they shock the world and win it all.

[celts55]

Have to give Atlanta the credit. While the Celtics did not shot well, Atlanta wouldn't allow them to get the shot they wanted. They did a fantastic job of taking IT out of the game, after he had his 42 point night. I truly do not believe Bradley would have been a difference maker.
On offense, Hawks shots the ball very well and their movement was terrific.
Hopefully they give Cleveland a series.

[straightouttabahstun]

I agree but I don't think anyone on this team is untouchable. Having Marcus and Bradley with Durant and love and a center would win a championship.  IT and other options would as well.  Either way we have to improve other positions.  I feel like IT or Smart will be gone in a trade possibly. I feel like IT is ainge's binky though.

IT isn't going anywhere. Smart is more likely but I have a feeling he won't be gone either.

[Celtic_Pride777]

Not to take any credit away from Atlanta. They clearly player better than us. What's frustrating is how, at crucial moments, our guys didn't play up to their true ability.

After having a great regular season, that last game at home was just a major let down...after the first half, we never really put up a strong, consistent effort.

[mctyson]

They basically took Isaiah away and we had no one else. They trapped him and posted him up.  The last 2 games were blowouts for that reason. Tommy loves this stuff and taking away the other teams best player and using it against them.  It was us this time around.  I don't know if we should trade Isaiah and build around Marcus or Keep isaiah and build around him at this point. If we had another option to score it may have been different.  I think that can be looked at a lot of ways though.  It's like Tiny Archibald vs Dennis Johnson to me.  If we had Durant to go with Smart and a big front line its the same thing. I don't think anyone is untouchable on this team.

We didn't have Avery Bradley.  Not fair and square.

[LGC88]

Fair is not the word. They execute their game plan accordingly (no AB, other players struggling on the perimeter). As a result their defense look optimum.
If AB and Crowder were at 100%, Hawks couldn't have plan this type of defense and we would have a chance in the paint and around the perimeter.
Besides all this, Hawks deserves to win. Game 3 & 4 remains a great memory for us Fans. What a noise, I still got chills   

[droopdog7]

They basically took Isaiah away and we had no one else. They trapped him and posted him up.  The last 2 games were blowouts for that reason. Tommy loves this stuff and taking away the other teams best player and using it against them.  It was us this time around.  I don't know if we should trade Isaiah and build around Marcus or Keep isaiah and build around him at this point. If we had another option to score it may have been different.  I think that can be looked at a lot of ways though.  It's like Tiny Archibald vs Dennis Johnson to me.  If we had Durant to go with Smart and a big front line its the same thing. I don't think anyone is untouchable on this team.

Honestly, there are maybe 3-5 players in the entire league that are untouchable.  So yeah, nobody on this team is untouchable.  Problem is you get what you give.  So don't expect huge differences using just trades.

[Celtic_Pride777]

In the playoffs, the Celtics shot 38.4% vs Hawks - the WORST shooting percentage in the postseason (min. 6 GM) since the Hawks in 1998-99 (38.3%, 9 GM). YIKES!

The Hawks were fortunate to face a very offensively-challenged team

[saltlover]

Injuries are part of the game, so yes, they beat us fair and square.  But if Korver gets hurt at the end of game one instead of Bradley, I think we sweep the Hawks.  It was a real bit of bad luck that Bradley went down.  He was an integral part of our success this season, and his loss changed our team on both ends of the court.