I'd be angry too if I was almost taken out of the series on a Josh Smith hack-job in the first play of the series. And the Celtics, if you watch Horford and Bibby during and after the games, have definitely been out-smack-talked.
These Hawks, if they protect their defensive board better and dont throw away the ball so often, they should have the lead.
This is why Celtics won't win the Championship; how can the best record team in the league have so much trouble with the Sparrow Junior Basketball Club.
The problem I can see is that their defense isn't hitting Atlanta hard. Why? Because Atlanta's not a jumpshooting team so they're not going to fall back on just chucking up shots all night. They drive, penetrate and go right at Garnett/Perkins in the paint. This either gets them the easy buckets or get they shoot FTs (and they shoot pretty well a the line collectively to boot). And Josh Smith is playing some great D against Kevin Garnett.
Even if Celtics win this series, you have to figure that their confidence took a hard hit. I dont see them beating Spurs in the Finals. Spurs defense would choke them.
Hawks have alot of good athletic skilled players to run with anybody. To me they have underachieved with all the talent they have. They are the Nuggets of the East. I think this team is perfect for Mike D'Antoni's style if Mike Woodson gets the axe.
Holy moly, the Hawks just got themselves a 4 point play (would've been 5 if Zaza hit his FT)! Pierce losing his cool! I thought the Celts were supposed to be the veteran, under control team? :/
