With the series still rolling in Atlanta for Game #4, the Celtics are looking to get back on track to bring the series back to Boston 3-1 instead of a tie. The Celtics allowed the Falcons to play with more energy and effort in Game 3 and the Celtics failed to rebound and play defense. They need to play with more energy and effort in this game, and they also need to play strong defense for 48 minutes and go every rebound if they hope to pull off a win this game and avoid going back to Boston with the series tied.
Since 1984, when the playoffs moved to a 16-team format, the team that wins its first two games at home has gone on to win the series 93.9% of the time (184-12). When a team leads the series 2-1, they go on to win the series with a 79.2% percentage (210-55). When a team leads a series 3-1, that team continues to win the series 95.6% of the time (152-7). Now, with 76ers By sweeping the nets, it is critical that the Celtics finish this series quickly and not allow it to stretch out to 6 or 7 games.
This is the thirteenth time these two teams have met in the playoffs. Boston has won 10 of the 12 series to date. Their last meeting was in 2016 when the Falcons won the series 4-2. In the off-season, the Celtics signed Al Horford away from the Hawks in free agency. The Hawks’ only other victory over the Celtics was in 1958 when the St. Louis Hawks won the series in 6 games. Since the Hawks moved from St. Louis to Atlanta in 1968, the Celtics have won seven of their eight playoff series in this game.
The Hawks still have no one listed with injuries. Marcus Smart and Robert Williams both had heavy falls in the third match. Timelord is not on the injury list but Marcus Smart is listed as a suspect due to a lower back contusion. His condition will be the match time decision. I know if he can play, he will. If he is unable to play, I think White will move to point guard and Sam Houser will move to the starting lineup. Danilo Gallinari (knee) is still off the knee.
Potential Celtics appetizer
Celtics reserves
Malcolm Brogdon
Grant Williams
Sam Hauser
Luke Cornet
Blake Griffin
Mike Muscala
Peyton Pritchard
Robert Williams III
Justin Champagne
2 players way
JD Davison
Mviondo Capangel
out / injuries
Exit by Danilo Gallinari (ACL).
Marcus Smart (back) is questionable
Coach
Joe Mazola
Hooks likely beginners
Falcon reserves
be honest with you
Bogdan Bogdanovich
Bruno Fernando
AJ Griffin
Aaron’s holiday
Galen Johnson
Vit Craigsey
Therese Martin
Garrison Mathews
Mr. Okongwu
2 players way
Trent Forrest
Donovan Williams
out / injuries
Nothing included
Coach
Quinn Snyder
major matches
Marcus Smart vs. Tra Young
In the first two games of the playoffs, Young averaged 20 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals. He shot only 34.4% from the field and 22.5% from outside the arc. In Game 3, he elevated his game and finished with 32 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1 steal. He shot 54.5% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc in Game 3. Hopefully Marcus will be good at this as they will need his defensive energy against Young and leadership of the team as well.
Derek White vs. DeGonte Murray
Murray has played well in both matches so far. He averaged 26.5 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3.5 steals in his first two games. He shot 42.9% from the field and 36.8% from outside the arc. In the third period, he finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal. He shot 53.4% from the field and 33.3% from outside the arc. As with Young, Murray will go into this game with a lot of confidence and the Celtics need to defend him well to prevent him from having another big game.
honorific
Celtics seat vs. Hawks seat
In Game 3 on Friday, the Hawks had 44 points off the bench while the Celtics reserves contributed only 35 points. The Falcons also had 18 rebounds from their reserves to just 9 for the Celtics reserves. Sadik Bey (15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 71.4% shooting), Bogdan Bogdanovic (15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 possession, and 1 block, shooting 75% from the field) and Jalen Johnson (10 points, 1 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal, shooting 60% from the field) all came big for the Falcons off the bench. The Celtics need to defend them better and also get better production from their reserves.
game keys
defense Defense is always the key to winning matches and defense becomes even more important in the qualifiers. The Celtics’ defense was very good in the first two games, but that defensive intensity just didn’t quite pan out to Atlanta. They let Atlanta score 74 points in the first half, and although they played a little better on defensive end in the second half, the first half gave the Hawks confidence. The Hawks shot 56% from the field and 44.1% from outside the arc for the game. Game 3 should be proof enough for the Celtics that they won’t beat the Falcons in a shootout. They need to make defense a priority and play solid defense on every possession of the game.
recovery Besides defense, rebounding is key to winning. In the three regular season games, Atlanta outscored the Celtics 143-136. The Celtics bounced back from the Hawks 54-45 in game one but the Falcons outscored the Celtics 49-44 in game two and beat the Celtics 48-29. The Celtics can’t let the Hawks get 19 more rebounds than them and expect to win the game. The Hawks had 19 offensive rebounds for 13 second chance points in Game 2 and had 11 offensive rebounds for 23 second chance points in Game 3. They can’t afford to give the Falcons extra possessions by letting them grab rebounds.
Be aggressive The Falcons are playing hard and they beat the Celtics in Game 3. The Falcons were the more aggressive team and they were playing harder and with more energy. The Celtics should be the team that plays harder and wants to win more. They must be aggressive in diving for loose balls, in going to the basket, in getting stops on the defensive side, and in pursuit of rebounds. The Celtics need to play hard and aggressive for 48 minutes in this nonstop game. They can’t allow the Falcons to be the most aggressive team around.
Go to cart The Celtics hit 21 triples in Game 3 and shot 43.8% from outside the arc. However, they had only 40 points in the paint to the Falcons’ 54. In the Celtics’ Game 1 victory, both teams had 54 points in the paint. In the Celtics’ Game 2 win, the Celtics had 64 points in the paint to just 40 for the Hawks. The Celtics need to get to the basket more and not rely so much on 3 pointers. They’ve been successful in this series when they drive and reach the basket but not so much when they don’t.
X-factors
On the road The Celtics are on the road for the second game in a row. They let the Falcons play harder than them and lost Game 1 in Atlanta. They have to stay focused on playing their game and not be distracted by travel and hostile crowds. The Falcons play better at home so the Celtics have to work even harder to get a win in their building.
training The Hawks have a very veteran coach in Quinn Snyder, but he only coached the Falcons for 25 games. Snyder was the head coach Utah Jazz For 8 seasons before resigning there. This is Snyder’s seventh straight playoff, and the longest streak by any active head coach. Joe Mazzola won the first two games in Boston but Snyder won the first game in Atlanta. Snyder made adjustments to Game 3 and they were clearly a hit. Now it is Mazola’s turn to confront those and make amends of his own.
The verdict Synthesis is always an x-factor. All the game staff describe the game a little differently with some describing it as aggravating and others as letting it play. Some referees make head scratch calls while others try really hard to get it right. In many games, they call the game tight in the first half and then ease calls in the second half or vice versa. The Celtics have to adjust to how the game is called and focus on playing the game and not on bad or no calls.