JEFF ALLEN GAME PREVIEW: CELTICS at HAWKS GAME I
The NBA playoffs start today and while all four matchups in the Western Conference would appear to be mere
formalities, all four matchups in the Eastern Conference figure to be much more competitive. The Pistons have
played Cleveland tough all year and the Raptors have not won a playoff series since 2001. The 3-6 and 4-5
matchups figure to be ultra-competitive as all four teams managed to finish 48-32 with seeding determined by
a complex series of tiebreakers. Our feature game tonight pits the No.5 seed Boston Celtics at the No.4 seed
Atlanta Hawks. The opening number of Atlanta -5 and 204.5 looks to be about right as there has been solid two
way action with only a handful of house moving the number to Atlanta -5 1/2. The 7:05 PM EST tip is the front end
of the ESPN doubleheader with Dallas at Oklahoma City.
Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens have done an excellent job in molding this Celtic team into a dangerous outfit that
nobody wants to see in the playoffs. Last year was a transition year with Ainge bringing in people and sending others
out. This year the roster has been stable and the offense formidable with six players averaging double-digits and the
Celts 105.7 ppg. first in the East. The defense has been sketchy at times but Stevens uses his deep bend and has
kept almost everyone involved. Isiah (22.2, 3.0, 6.2) has proven to be a quality scorer and steady floor general from
the point which as we all know is essential in the second season.
People quickly forget that pretty much this identical Atlanta Hawk team won 60 games in the regular season last year
and ran away with the Eastern Conference regular season title. Injuries left the ATL with no chance against the Cavs
in the final and a slow start this year management looking to blow this group up with EVERYBODY available via trade
at the All-Star break. A solid second half has righted ship with the usual suspects PF Paul Milsap (17.1, 9.0, 3.3) PG
Jeff Teague (15.7, 2.7, 5.9) and C Al Horford (15.2, 7.3, 3.2) getting it done on a nightly basis. Kyle Korver is still a
dangerous outside threat that can shoot you back into a game in three possessions. Kent Bazemore (11.6, 5.1, 2.3)
has taken the departed DeMarre Carrol’s minutes and despite battling recent knee problems, has established
self as a solid small forward.
After losing in Boston the opening week of the season, the Hawks have won the last three games in the series easily
including a 118-107 (ATL -5.5, 207.5) spanking on this floor just seven days ago. The Celtics are in the playoffs for the
eighth time in nine years but have not got out of the first round in the last two years. Boston is just 1-3 ATS in their L4
visits to the Philips Center and just 1-5 ATS in their L6 road games, the win/cover coming at Golden State. The Hawks
have lost four of five down the stretch and are just 3-2 ATS in their L5 home games. While the last three in the series
have gone over the total, the under looks like a possible way to go here as the grind of the final ten days to get a seed
is over and the teams have had a couple of days off and should have fresh legs to play defense where playoffs series
like this are won.