Series Thread: #1 Boston Celtics vs. #8 Atlanta Hawks

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Round 1, Game 2
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 8:00 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)
Game aired on TNT & CSN (HD)</div>

Game one of the Celtics’ first round matchup against the young and athletic Atlanta Hawks was just what the doctor ordered, a 23-point blowout. Atlanta made a couple of runs in the first half, but Boston’s defense put the clamps on everything they wanted to do offensively throughout the entire third quarter. After the third frame, the game was virtually decided, and Doc Rivers got a chance to give his big guns an extended rest (as if they needed it, with an eternity between each game).

The only true bright spots for Atlanta were rookie Al Horford (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Josh Childress (10 points, seven rebounds), who each brought a great deal of energy and aggressiveness to the table. However, their stars did not answer the call. Mike Bibby, who is supposed to be their veteran leader, in particular, had a rough night. The ten-year NBA vet tallied just five points and one assist, while getting his butt handed to him by Rajon Rondo on the other end of the floor.

Bibby may not have been able to walk the walk in Game 1, but he certainly has been putting forward an effort to talk the talk. As the majority of the Celtics’ fan base may already know, the Atlanta guard recently made public remarks about Boston’s fan base being “bandwagon jumpers.” As we all know, the fans at the TD BankNorth Garden can make a night miserable for an opponent who has some “extra curricular” comments about the team, city, or fan base. Right, Gilbert? Good luck with that, Mr. Bibby.

All off-court comments aside, let’s hope the Celtics take care of business once again and head to Atlanta with the a comfortable 2-0 lead.


Projected Starters
C Al Horford / Kendrick Perkins
PF Josh Smith / Kevin Garnett
SF Marvin Williams / Paul Pierce
SG Joe Johnson / Ray Allen
PG Mike Bibby / Rajon Rondo


Key Matchup: Mike Bibby vs. Rajon Rondo

In Game 1, the playoff debut of Rajon Rondo was absolutely no match for seasoned veteran Mike Bibby. Rondo was so effective on Bibby that Atlanta’s head coach Mike Woodson decided to make a switch, putting Joe Johnson on him. After minutes of that defiantly not working out, another switch was made. Rondo ended his first postseason outing with 15 points (6-9 shooting), nine assists, and six rebounds. Bibby, you ask? Five points, one assist, 2-10 shooting, and a lackluster defensive stand. For all the talking he does about the fans of Boston, he has yet to back it up on the court. It’ll be interesting to see if Rondo plays as effective as he did in Game 1 tonight, and it’ll be interesting to see how the crowd responds to Bibby’s comments.


Celtics X-Factor: Ball Control

In Game 1, the Celtics did a good job of taking care of the basketball and limiting mistakes, as they turned the ball over just 10 times. They need to keep it up in Game 2, and make sure they don’t get careless through any stretches.


Injury Report
ATL – Speedy Claxton (left knee – out for season)
BOS – Scot Pollard (torn tendon in left ankle – out for season)


Celtics Keys to the Game
• Ball Control
• Defense
• Contain Atlanta’s Offensive Glass
• 48-Minute Energy

 

oh man I'm going to the game tonight. It's gonna be intense in the Garden.

 

7 games is too long, especially for a series like this. Get the brooms out and lets move on.

 

Can't wait for the game tomorrow.


Celtics by 15+ pts.

 

^^ Wrong, looking more like Hawks by +15!

 

Posey you just got postered!

 

Enjoy it while it lasts, since the next two will be losses.


GO CELTICS!!!!!

 

Does anyone know exactly what Horford said to Pierce when he was on the floor?

 

Looked like it was bad enough, and then to make it worse, he spat on the floor as Pierce was laying down on the floor.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumpman @ Apr 26 2008, 11:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Does anyone know exactly what Horford said to Pierce when he was on the floor?</div>

My friend told me he kept saying "WHAT'S MY NAME??!!"

Still, I thought it was hilarious.

 

If any one should be punish it, it should be Peirce for putting up a fake gang sign

 

Wow, nice win by the Hawks. Does anyone have a video of what Horford said to PP?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Apr 27 2008, 02:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumpman @ Apr 26 2008, 11:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Does anyone know exactly what Horford said to Pierce when he was on the floor?</div>

My friend told me he kept saying "WHAT'S MY NAME??!!"

Still, I thought it was hilarious.
</div>

Indeed it was. Horford is a comedian.

 

Is there anywhere I can watch the game again, cause I missed a good part of it.

 

OMG peirce is gonna drop 40 on us tomorrow, even tho Marvin has locked him up all series.

 

Can't wait for tomorrows game.


This time the Celts by 20+.

 

Wow. Boston was up 16-3 at one point, now the Hawks are up 3.

I'm impressed.

 

Hawks are resilient. Up 3 at the end of the first quarter. I love how they're playing and I hope they can keep it up.

 

Hawks up 35-29! Bibby and Smith with great games so far.

 

Atlanta should learn from Philadelphia yesterday. Never let up on a team like Boston, because a double digit lead one quarter could easily dimish into a double digit deficit