Celtics vs Hawks Preview

So far the Hawks have made the Celtics into their bitches this season and made us look downright bad. They have a young, athletic, fast paced team and the Celtics do not match-up well against them. I'm hesitant to call this a rivalry, but the way the Hawks play against us, they certainly think of it as one. Three nights after that defeat, Boston seeks revenge against Atlanta at TD Garden on Monday, with the Hawks looking to bounce back from a lopsided defeat that followed their win over the Celtics. Here are the starting line ups:
PG M. Bibby 9.7 R. Rondo 13.7
SG J. Johnson 20.8 R. Allen 16.5
SF M. Williams 10.3P. Pierce 18.2
PF J. Smith 14.9 R. Wallace 10.2
C A. Horford 13.7 K. Perkins 12.4
the way the Celtics will win this game is if they just slow the pace down to their style of play. They can't run against them, they are without KG, so when they come down the court they need to make the extra pass and take smart shots. Rondo and Rasheed are coming off strong games, and they will need to keep it up if they want any shot of winning this game. The guy who obviously scares me the most on the Hawks is Jamal Crawford. he is instant offense and it seems like the Hawks don't miss a beat when the second unit comes along. If the Celtics play within their boundaries they should be able to pull this one off, but I'm not too confident to be honest.

Celtics 101-95
Tommy Award: Paul Pierce

Celtics Vs Hawks Preview

Lately 'Hawk Night' has meant something completely different than it used to. Especially when the game is in Atlanta. The Hawks are an up and coming squad that is becoming more and more impressive as the season progresses. And even though everyone wants to knock off the champs, i feel like Atlanta REALLY wants to. They have a huge chip on their shoulder after last season first round playoff series and then when they met early this year and lost to a Paul Pierce buzzer beater.


the Hawks have won 9 of their first 10 home games including the last 7. KG said "I've played 13 years, and I've been here every year for 13 years," Boston forward Kevin Garnett said after Boston 103-100 loss in Game 6. "This is the first time I've seen this atmosphere like this (in Atlanta)." (celtics.com) Not only that but its as if the Hawks are eyeing the Celtics from a game back. their last game they shot just 3-20 from 3point range and still pulled out the win 83-79 victory over the Bobcats. The Hawks want a piece of the champs, and hopefully we can put all of our squad out there.

We remember how Pierce tweaked his knee last game, well the outlook is promising. Paul said it should be fine and he has been putting some weight on it and it felt ok. He plans to seriously test his capabilities during pre game warmups to make sure everything all good.

Honestly, Hawk night makes me nervous. These guys are young and hungry and the Celtics are going to have to play top notch ball to best them this evening. By the way, if they win tonight, they have Chicago and New York this weekend. Whys that significant? because if they win the next 3 games they set a franchise record for consecutive wins. tonight is a big hurdle, and I for some reason am more nervous about tonight than i was for the Hornets, or Denver.

Its going to take an all around effort from the whole squad to get the W tonight, and i anticipate Rajon having another big game and making things happen all night.



Prediction: Celtics 99 - Hawks 91
TA: rajon

99 Celtics, 65 Hawks

I had a number of pictures to choose from, but I felt this one most fitting, Mike Bibby feeling like an asshole as his team got absolutely dismantled in Boston. It was a good ending for the Celtics, however, this series should have been over in 4 games. There is no reason you can constantly beat a team like this at home but lose all away games. Luckily for the C's they have home court throughout. For the Celtics KG (18), Paul (22), Perkins (10 points, 10 rebounds), Rondo (10) and Powe (12) all scored in double figures while only Joe Johnson and Salim Stoudimire scored in double figures for the Hawks. As for Mike Bibby he had a measily 2 points and 2 assists. I am glad this series is over but playing against the Cavs next we are going to need to play better and not like a bunch of pussies on the road.

Box Score

P.S.
Fuck Mike Bibby, Fuck Al Horford, Fuck Marvin Williams, and Fuck Zaza Pachullia

I bet this felt good for Kevin


ESPN Highlights:


You're Next Cleveland

Celtics vs Hawks

Game 7, Lets see what we are made of. No excuses, no blame, only them and the Hawks.

Here are some motivational speeches:

103 Hawks, 100 Celtics

Listen I'm not going to blame it on the 47 free throws compared to 25, I'm not going to blame it on the bogus call Paul Pierce got his last foul on, or the stupid plays Doc drew up late in the game, or Joe Johnson's ridiculous three. The Celtics just got beat. Game 7 will be held on SUnday at 1 in Boston and hopefully the Celtics will show up to play. Actually, I am adding to this now, I blame Donnie Marshall, fuck him, he is the bad luck guy, I don't care if Tommy is old, he needs to be there, enough Donnie Marshall.

Box Score

As you can tell I am still fuming over last nights game.

Celtics vs Hawks

I love the Paul Pierce commercials (thanks Redsarmy) But tonight the Celtics take on the Hawks in Atlanta. So far we have lost both games in Atlanta, game 3 we gave away, game 4 we just got beat thanks to Joe Johnson. I would love nothing more than to beat Atlanta in Atlanta, just to see Horford and Bibby's faces. The Celtics were able to beat Atlanta in game 5 by 25 and since they are a better team should be ale to repeat that again. I would really like to see the Celtics out muscle the Hawks (Perk and Garnett, talking to you) and out quick the Hawks (Rondo and Pierce I'm talking to you).

Tonights Tommy Award winner: Perkins, yea I said it, Perkins

110 Boston, 85 Atlanta

Well finally the Celtics got their shit together and dominated and showed the youthfulness of this Atlanta Hawks. The Celtics went back to playing the way we were used too. Even though the free-throws were lopsided for much of the game the Celtics persevered and was able to ruin this Hawks team. Mike Bibby struggled again with 6 points (2 for 8 shooting) and Joe Johnson was held in check for the most part with 21 points (however, he was double teamed and not given an easy lane all game) For the Celtics Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, KG, Rondo, Leon, and Sam Cassell all scored in double figures. Rondo has had a 40-4 assist to turnover ratio which is ridiculous. Fridays game will be held in Atlanta and hopefully the Celtics can finish this series there.

Box Score

Celtics vs Hawks

No more talk, no more "blood, sweat, and tears", no more excuses. This series should have been over Monday, but instead the series is tied at 2. The Big 3 need to step up and play unselfish basketball this game, Doc Rivers needs to stop fucking with the rotation so much, and for them to communicate on defense. Also, for fuck sake if Joe Johnson proves to be superman again, double team him or put Tony Allen on him. The Celtics need to make the Hawks shoot jump shots rather than getting to the hole. Also, hopefully the refs will swallow their whistles this game. It is in Boston tonight so we got the crowd as an advantage, but we need to stop playing like assholes.

No Suspensions for Celtics vs Hawks

I am obviously happy about this. KG, Zaza Pachullia, Kendrick Perkins and Marvin Williams will all be playing tonight for this fight. But you have to look back to last year in the Phoenix/ Spurs fight, which caused Amarie Stoudimire to be suspended, ultimately caused the demise of the Suns. I don't really get David Sterns logic because Marvin Williams and Kendrick Perkins blatantly got off the bench and headed towards the fight, which is technically an automatic one game suspension.

92 Celtics, 97 Hawks

1rst Quarter
The Celtics started off extremely fast with a 21-9 lead, however the Hawks went on a tear with a 21 to 3 run with the Celtics losing their intensity. The Celtics were getting every foul called on them while the Hawks were getting every call for them. At one point Josh Smith mugged Rondo and there was a no call. KG, Rondo, and Pierce all had 2 fouls by the end of the first quarter and the Celtics were down 29 to 24.

2cnd Quarter
At the end of the first the Cs were not playing team basketball, there was no defensive talking and the players all were playing very selfish making it a one on one game, rather than a team game. The more and more I watch this series the more and more, I am beginning to despise Al Horford, which is funny because he was the only one out of the Florida bunch I liked. Right now with the foul trouble the line up is Cassell, Paul, Posey, Leon, and Big Baby. Also the Hawks free throws are 13 to 4. And a fight broke out, KG and Pachullia both got in a squabble, Sam Cassell was the first to defend his superstar, which is nice to see. Technical fouls on KG, Cassell, Pachullia and Johnson. What I think the Celtics problem has been offensively is the fact they haven't trusted Rondo with setting up the offense.
Speak of the Devil, the Celtics have done exactly that the past couple of minutes and the score is 39-36 Hawks. With the Celtics finally getting to the line, they are not capitalizing at all going 4-8. Mike Bibby has had a hell of a game so far with 18 points in the first half.

3rd Quarter
With the start of the third quarter you can see the Celts have uped their intensity defensively with the hawks starting out shooting jump shots and drawing an offensive foul. And with 9:03 the Celtics took the lead 55-53. I love the fact KG being very aggressive shooting the ball. With 5:37 in this very quick third quarter Perk gets called on a phantom offensive foul, which cost the Celtics two big buckets with them being down 57- 55. The more and more I watch this game, I think what if Joe Johnson didn't get traded for Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers that year, and would they have been better off with him that play-off run? I am also questioning Doc Rivers rotation at this point, why no Eddie House? Why does Leon play one game than not another?(same thing with Big Baby)
Anyways, back to the game. I am very impressed by Ray Allen defensively this year, his big knock was playing zero defense but he has shown me he can be a force defensively. The Celtics are having a real tough time hitting the twine on free throws but lucked out as Posey got his own miss and eventually Ray Allen hit a jumper to make the score 67 to 63. It's nice to see Rondo have his confidence back with a behind the back pass to KG, earlier in this game we wouldn't have seen that from him but as the game has progressed and the more and more the Celtics have let him play "his" game. With that being said the Celtics have gone on a 11-0 run. The score is 75 to 65 Celtics.

4th Quarter
The Hawks started off hot and cut the lead to 5 points. With 10:27 in the quarter finally Eddie House is in the game. Thank God for Ray Allen who hits a huge three to make it a 6 point lead with 8:30 left. Paul Pierce needs to shoot better than 50 percent from the line, 4-8. BLOCKING FOUL, Josh Smith charged into Leon and they call a fucking blocking foul? Fuck you, refs. I am getting infuriated with the refs, its bad enough the Hawks have shot 24 to 16, Mike Bibby has his right arm blocking Rajon from defending him all game and it's killing the Celtics. 5:53 is left on the Clock and the Celtics are up 79-78. Fucking Joe Johnson come back from 10 points in the 4th to be leading by 5. Joe Johnson is playing out of his mind hitting every time he touches the fucking ball, Atlanta is now up 84 -79.

JOE JOHNSON, REBOUNDS, FREE THROWS, 4-15 IN THE FORTH QUARTER, REFS, SHITTY PLAY, UNACCEPTABLE


FUCK

2-2

Box Score

Celtics vs Hawks

Remember this? I am sure Paul Pierce, KG, and Ray Allen will. What the fuck was Hortford thinking, he just awoke a giant. I know the Celtics lost and I was wrong about "fo, fo, fo" But rookies really shouldn't be talking. I expect Pierce to get about 35-40 tonight and the Celtics go back to beating the Hawks by 20.

Tommy Award: Paul Pierce

Game 3 Preview

The Celtics travel to Atlanta for game 3, and Paul Pierce said he's ready to go. That means you can pretty much put this one in the books. The key match-up of the game will be Rondo - Bibby, Rondo is averaging 13 points, 6 rebounds and 8.5 assists while Bibby is averaging 8 rebounds, 3 rebounds, and only 1 assist. I would love to hear some Rondo's better chants in Atlanta.

Tommy Award winner, "Hard Work" Leon Powe of course

96 Celtics, 77 Hawks

Oh my God. Did you see Bruce Willis tonight? Boy, he's a stud.

Oh yea, the Celtics destroyed the Hawks tonight.

Rajon again filled the stat. sheet with 12 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. As for his counterpart Mike Bibby, he had 12 points on 2-7 shooting, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. Those numbers certainly don't back up his mouth. KG, Pierce, Allen, Rondo, and Sam all had double digit points, but everyone on the C's played really well.

The Hawks are down 0-2, heading home for Saturdays game, but I don't think they'll win a single game.

Get your brooms out.

Box Score

Celtics vs Hawks

Mike Bibby's Comments:
Bibby called Boston's backers "fair weather" fans who jumped on the "bandwagon" when the Celtics grew from one of the NBA's worst teams last season into the one with the best record in the league this season.
"It's good that they know I'm here," he said before practice Tuesday on the same floor where he missed all those shots. "Fair weather fans if you ask me."
Sunday's crowd was "kind of loud at the beginning," Bibby said calmly, "but a lot of these fans might be bandwagon jumpers. They try to get on this now. Because I played here last year, too. I didn't see three-fourths of them so it might be that.

"I remember them having bags on their heads," he said. "Are they the ones that had bags on their heads last year? It's just a different look, but I guess that happens when you win." For more click here

I'm sorry Mike Bibby if we weren't loud last year but we won 34 games you fucking homo. Mike is just jealous because the kid he mentored (rondo) seriously fucked him up in game 1. Mike Bibby not only has sealed the Hawks fate because now the Celtics will probably have their starters in the whole game, and the fans are going to seriously be so obnoxiously loud it will be ear piercing. He obviously doesn't know what he is talking about because the garden is always loud, even last year. Fuck Mike Bibby and his stupid over-rated ass.

104 Celtics, 81 Hawks

Tonight is exactly what I wanted to see, a 23 point crushing. 6 Celtics scored in double figures including KG 16 pts, 10 reb, Paul Pierce 16 pts, Ray Allen 18 pts, Rondo 15 pts, 6 rb, 9 assists, Powe and Cassell each had 10. The thing that sticks out to me is how Rondo dominated the Hawks Mike Bibby 5 pts, 1 assist. The Celtics looked like champions in their first game, and hopefully will continue it on wednseday. Atlanta's Al Hortford had 20 points and 10 rebounds but other than him, the Hawks looked lost and anxious.

Box Score

Also Philly beat Detroit
Orland beat Toronto
Lakers beat Denver

Celtics vs Hawks

POS ATLANTA BOSTON
PG M. Bibby R. Rondo
SG J. Johnson R. Allen
SF J. Smith P. Pierce
PF M. Williams K. Garnett
C A. Horford K. Perkins

Those are the starting line-ups folks, and that says it all. Throw out the regular season records and start a new stat sheet because everything that happened before this game means nothing.... kind of.

Tonight the Celtics take on the 8th seeded Hawks team. I personally believe the Celtics will not lose a play-off game and will sweep everyone they face. Last year the Golden State Warriors upset a number 1 seed in Dallas but in a week Eastern Conference I don't see that happening. The Hawks are a very fun team to watch, young, athletic, and fast, and with veteran point guard Mike Bibby being added halfway through the season made up believe the Hawks were actually serious. However, Mike Bibby nor any player on the Hawks can rise to level of the Boston Celtics and the Celtics should win tonights match-up at home easily.

Some people believe our young players will have some first round gitters but let me tell you Rajon will absolutely own a slow Mike Bibby and that is why I am selecting him for the Tommy Award.

99 Celtics, 89 Hawks

Last night the Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks, that are trying to make a play-off spot and the Celtics denied them for at least one more night. The Big 3 and Sam Cassell scored in double figures. Sam had 20 points and 5 assists, this is great that he has had 2 good games in a row going into the play-offs. This will probably be the first round match-up and we saw a little bit of a preview last night. Although the Hawks have Bibby, Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, I believe the C's will make them show their age in the first round.

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Hawk Night in Bean Town

DP was right, the feeling of “Hawk Night” in the garden is slightly different this year. But regardless of what the feel is, the Celtics felt-and looked- very comfortable in their 98-88 win last night.

The score was actually back and forth up until the 3rd quarter…then Pierce took the reins. Your boy dropped 17 of his 30 points in that quarter and gave the C’s that final boost they needed to grab the W. But it was a joint effort by the whole Boston cast (minus pollard) through most of the game: Garnett continues to look better after each game, takin home 20 pts and 16 boards, Ray Allen and Perk also combined for 28 pts-as Perk notched in a new season-high with 12 rebounds. The following was proven to be factual by real courts and other credible sources like that:




I vote that this matchup forever be known as “Hawk night”…until the Hawks can come into Boston and dominate the green machine.

Holla.

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Celtics vs Hawks

On any other year, I would have called it "Hawks Night" and chalked it up as a W, but this Hawks team is a very dangerous team and can explode on any night. Led by ex-Celtic Joe Johnson and super athletic Josh Smith, this team has the potential to upset the Celtics by catching them off guard. The acquisition of Mike Bibby makes them an even more dangerous team. The Celtics are a better team than the Hawks, and if they play their game and not make it a sprinting match, this game should be in the bag.

TA winner Rajon Rondo