The Celtics and Hawks begin their first-round series on Saturday at 3:30 EST in Boston. The Garden Report previewed the series on Thursday night and provided some predictions ahead of the beginning.
Bobby Manning – Celtics in 5
I’m searching for something that could surprise us. Quin Snyder made tangible changes in the Hawks’ approach to offensive rebounding, pace and three-point shooting that set Atlanta up well to bother the Celtics in certain areas. They struggled to execute those consistently, though, and an 11-11 finish under their new coach continued a record .500 trend that began under Nate McMillan. Defense remains the root of all their issues, and only eight teams ranked worse than them defensively, seven of them finishing as lottery teams. The Hawks escaped becoming one themselves by stunning the Heat with solid bench play, enormous pressure on the boards and strong showings from their back court. They could replicate that against Boston, but not if the Celtics go all out.
The Celtics quietly ranked No. 1 in defensive rebounding during the regular season, limited their opponents to the fourth-fewest free throw attempts per game and the fifth-worst shooting percentage. The Hawks could sneak a four-factors win in the turnover department, Boston didn’t force many this year and Atlanta generated nearly two more per game than the Celtics. They’ll also need to protect Trae Young against mismatches, withstand Al Horford’s floor spacing and limit Malcolm Brogdon’s second unit. It’s quite a bit to ask for.
What the Hawks can do is pull Boston into an up-and-down game, try to get hot by hitting threes (they need to generate at least 10 more attempts per game to keep up with the Celtics there) and limit Boston’s overall shot attempts. From there, Young, Dejounte Murray and the team’s cast of role players need to shoot consistently and not completely fold defensively. They have enough talent to steal a game or two if they focus on balancing the statistical mountain in front of them, but a team only ranked 26th in three-point attempts, 27th in assist rate, 17th in effective shooting and with Young allowing 48.4% shooting on defense, now lined up against a mismatch machine. They’re good enough to push this series to five if the Celtics fall asleep for a game. If Boston goes all-out, this one could be over faster.
Look out for Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu, though, against the Williamses.
Josue Pavon – Celtics in 4
This is the test most NBA champions go through at the start of a title run. The trick is wrapping up the easiest best-of-seven series that you’ll see in the postseason as soon as possible. The Celtics are equipped with enough to beat the Hawks in four games, given Boston’s favorable matchups and production that extends beyond its starting five.
Jimmy Toscano – Celtics in 5
The Hawks have a bit of talent on their roster, but haven’t been able to string anything together this year. I used to love Trae Young, but I’m wondering if there’s an attitude problem. He and Dejounte Murray haven’t been as dynamic as I thought they’d be. Clint Capella and John Collins can make it physical, but I still like Boston to easily handle these guys. Who is covering Jayson Tatum? He should be dropping 35+ points every game. I’m hoping it’s at least a somewhat interesting series but Celtics should roll.
John Zannis – Celtics in 4
A. Sherrod Blakely – Celtics in 4
