Through the common season, the Atlanta Hawks shot 48.3% from the sphere and 35.2% from 3 level land. In recreation 3, they shot 56.0% and 44.1% respectively. Rather a lot goes into these stats, together with the Celtics protection (or lack thereof), enjoying at house, and easily getting sizzling. However that’s the story of the sport (together with rebounding).
If the Celtics permit this to develop into a pattern, it will be very regarding. Nonetheless, I’m not overly involved as a result of I don’t imagine it will likely be a pattern. The Celtics had been caught off guard by the Hawks attacking the paint and setting their picks up greater. That permit them get right into a rhythm and construct a lead that was simply an excessive amount of for Boston to beat. I’m fairly certain that the teaching employees and gamers will make the suitable changes and produce the best power to recreation 4.
I don’t make that assertion primarily based on blind religion. I say it primarily based on historic information. The Celtics have certainly turned in some horrible defensive performances at instances this season. Nonetheless, on the combination, they had been nonetheless the 2nd ranked defensive crew in the entire league. They’ve defenders up and down the rotation, most of whom have playoff expertise from final season.
The Hawks, in the meantime are a crew that may run cold and hot on offense. They’re higher than they confirmed in video games 1 and a pair of, however they aren’t pretty much as good as they confirmed in recreation 3. Over a 7 recreation sequence, water finds its stage (and I don’t assume it’ll take greater than 5 video games to get there).
As badly because the Celtics defended and rebounded, they had been nonetheless just a few pictures away from stealing the win anyway. I anticipate a convincing win in recreation 4 adopted by closing out the sequence again in Boston. Possibly that’s misplaced overconfidence however I’m additionally unwilling to panic after one dangerous recreation. The Hawks, for all their faults, are a proficient crew that may get sizzling and go on runs. That occurs within the playoffs. It’s as much as the Celtics to reduce these runs and show that they’re the higher crew.
Sport 3 felt just like the Hawks greatest shot. I’d be shocked if they might repeat it in recreation 4 or for the remainder of the sequence. Celtics in 5.
