I requested the employees to preview the upcoming sequence in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks by asking them for what they believed the important thing to the sequence was. I wished to go away the topic imprecise sufficient for them to be inventive of their responses they usually got here by means of as you will notice under.
Tim Sheils
I really feel like this sequence in opposition to Atlanta goes to return right down to the battle of the bigs, and the way Boston exploits them. Clint Capela was feasting on the boards in opposition to Miami, and whereas the Celtics heart depth has improved considerably, I nonetheless wish to see how the crew tries to assault the glass in opposition to a man like Capela. Outdoors of Robert Williams, all of Boston’s bigs are able to stretching the ground, which will probably be essential in softening up Atlanta’s inside protection and opening up the ground for guys like Brogdon, White, Sensible, and the Jays to assault the basket. I believe Al Horford will probably be an enormous a part of Boston’s plans in opposition to ATL, and in addition to Boston’s three-headed monster of a guard rotation going up in opposition to Trae and Dejounte, the bigs matchup is one I’ll be preserving my eye on on this first spherical sequence.
Benjamin Torbert
Whereas I believe later playoff sequence will come right down to the margins (X-factors, position gamers, bench manufacturing, matchups, teaching, and so forth.), this primary spherical in opposition to an inferior crew within the Hawks is one the place I believe Tatum and Brown can overwhelm them with star expertise if they arrive out with a killer mentality. The Hawks have undersized guards and an absence of actual wing stoppers with plus dimension. DeAndre Hunter is their greatest guess for a Tatum or Brown matchup and there is just one of him. Capela and Okongwu are strong inside defenders, however they don’t have the flexibility of a Bam Adebayo or the sheer dimension of the Bucks entrance line to essentially deter Tatum and Brown from feasting on the rim. Tatum and Brown needs to be studying the scouting report, having a look at one another, committing to averaging a mixed 60+ factors and 15+ free throw makes an attempt per recreation, and placing the Hawks to sleep in 4 or 5.
Robbie Hodin
Honestly, there’s no world (barring accidents) wherein we lose 4 video games to the Hawks. So, the important thing to this sequence is definitely nearly making ready us as successfully as doable for the following spherical, seemingly in opposition to the Sixers. In opposition to them (and any good crew for that matter), ball motion and participant motion are key. Boston is a special crew when they’re enjoying scorching potato on offense versus once they’re going to Tatum and Brown isolation ball, and what sort of crew we see in opposition to Atlanta will probably be indicative of the crew that we’ll see in following rounds.
Jack Simone
The important thing for the Celtics is for them to not play like they’re enjoying the Hawks. By the numbers, the Hawks have been the definition of common this season. They stayed at .500 for the complete yr and confirmed few indicators of true playoff competitiveness. Their Jap Convention Finals run was two years in the past, and it appears to be like like an entire flash within the pan. The one world wherein the Celtics lose greater than a recreation (if that) on this sequence is that if they play right down to their competitors. You noticed it in opposition to the Washington Wizards late within the season, you noticed it once they blew three double-digit leads in a row, and you could possibly see it within the playoffs if the Celtics go on the market and play lazy basketball. In the event that they keep away from that entice, they’ll be simply effective.
Invoice Sy
I believe for probably the most half, Boston gained’t swap as a lot as they usually do, so it’ll all come right down to how the Celtics’ three-headed monster of Malcolm Brogdon, Marcus Sensible, and Derrick White can chase the two-headed monster of Trae Younger and Dejounte Murray round screens, contest within the mid-range, and most significantly, not foul.
Nonetheless, what I’m actually specializing in is who’s Joe Mazzulla’s eighth man within the rotation. Due to Atlanta’s athleticism and dimension on the wings, my intestine tells me that it’ll be Grant Williams as a 3rd huge/wing, however in addition to Sam Hauser has shot the ball in opposition to the Hawks, I simply don’t know the way you retain him off the ground.
Trevor Hass
I agree with every thing above. I believe the important thing to this sequence – so simple as it sounds – is for the Celtics to not underestimate the Hawks. In the event that they fake they’re enjoying the Warriors or Bucks, every thing will fall into place. Atlanta might steal a recreation, however I don’t see the sequence going longer than 5. Boston has an excessive amount of expertise and stability on each ends.
Daniel Poarch
Realistically, I don’t assume the Hawks are going to have the ability to push this sequence additional than six video games on the absolute most. They’ve been the essence of mediocrity, hovering inside a recreation of .500 for months, they usually appear to be a large number behind the scenes amidst stress between Trae Younger and the group. It sounds reductive, however I believe that is merely going to be a matter of the Celtics having a postseason mindset and taking Atlanta significantly as an opponent. Aside from 2021’s shorthanded loss to Brooklyn sans Jaylen Brown, the Celtics have persistently taken care of enterprise within the first spherical of the playoffs within the Jayson Tatum period, together with three sweeps. In the event that they keep away from an early letdown and any wild swings in capturing variance, there’s a robust likelihood they might earn a fourth this yr.
Mike Dynon
What’s the one factor the Celtics try this’s assured to perturb the followers? Everyone knows it’s once they “play right down to the competitors.” That’s a situation marked by lack of tempo and ball motion, little to no defensive stress, and pondering they’ll flip it on within the fourth quarter and win even with out enjoying the fitting method. We’ve seen the outcomes too usually, resembling permitting 150 factors at OKC, being uncovered by the lottery-bound Rockets and Wizards, and dropping three of 4 to the well-under-.500 Magic.
The Celtics are one of many favorites to win the title in June. They have been 3-0 versus Atlanta this season. Nobody expects the Hawks to win this sequence. ESPN’s panel, for instance, picked the Cs unanimously (15-0) to advance. Solely three of the consultants stated it will take as many as six video games. So the important thing to the sequence is, how will the Celtics strategy Sport 1? Will they play right down to the competitors and put themselves in a gap? Or will they arrive out targeted and ruthlessly dominate the lesser crew, as a real contender ought to? Within the playoff ambiance, I imagine it will likely be the latter…however I’ll really feel higher after I see it.
Adam Taylor
I believe this sequence favors the Celtics in each place. Nonetheless, I’m actually focused on seeing the battle between Dejounte Murray and Jaylen Brown, as I believe that will probably be the most effective battles over the course of 4 or 5 video games (sure, I’m calling sweep or gentlemans sweep.)
I’ll say, I’m additionally to see if Mazzulla makes use of smaller defenders on Clint Capela, in a bid to get beneath his hips and preserve him out of the paint – thus limiting his offensive rebounding. I’m not offered that Capela can do to Boston what he did to the Warmth – as they’ve had heart points all yr by way of high quality backup behind Bam Adebayo.
After all, discovering methods to restrict Trae, and uplift Jayson Tatum are each going to be excessive on the issues I am watching out for on Saturday
