Hawks (24-32) at Celtics (45-12) 3/2

[FLCeltsFan]

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Atlanta Hawks (24-32) at Boston Celtics (45-12)
Sunday, March 2
6:00 pm ET
Game #58, Home Game #30
TV: NBA LP ch 751, CSNHD, SportsSouth
Radio: WEEI
TDBanknorthGarden



Probable Starters
PG: Rajon Rondo PPG 10.6 | APG 5 | STL 1.7
SG: Ray Allen PPG 18.8 | APG 3.1 | 3P% .394
SF: Paul Pierce PPG 20.3 | RPG 5.4 | APG 4.7
PF: Kevin Garnett PPG 18.4 | RPG 9.7 | BPG 1.4
C: Kendrick Perkins PPG 7.2 | RPG 5.6 | BPG 1.3

Off the Bench:
Eddie House, Brian Scalabrine, Scot Pollard, Leon Powe, James Posey, Big Baby Davis, PJ Brown

Injuries
Tony Allen, calf, day to day




Probable Starters
PG: Mike Bibby PPG 13.5 | APG 5.6 | SPG 1.1
SG: Joe Johnson PPG 20.5 | APG 5.3 | 3P% .373
SF: Marvin Williams PPG 15.3 | RPG 5.7 | APG 1.8
PF: Josh Smith PPG 17.5 | RPG 8 | BPG 3.1
C: Al Horford PPG 9.5 | RPG 10 | BPG 1

Off the Bench:
Josh Childress, Zaza Pachulia, Salim Stoudamire, Mario West, Jeremy Richardson, Solomon Jones

Injuries
Acie Law, wrist, day to day
Speedy Claxton, knee, out

vs
Kevin Garnett 6'11", PPG 18.4 RPG 9.70 APG 3.7 EFF + 25.31
Josh Smith 6'9", PPG 17.5 RPG 8.00 APG 3.7 EFF + 20.91 KG has the height advantage and the experience advantage but Josh Smith is quicker than KG and is a very good defender. Smith typically has a good game against the Celtics. KG is close to 100% again and should get the better of this matchup.

vs
Rajon Rondo 6'1" PPG 10.6 RPG 4.40 APG 5.0 EFF + 14.58
Mike Bibby 6'1" PPG 13.5 RPG 3.50 APG 5.6 EFF + 13.50
Once again Rondo has to match up with a veteran point guard in Mike Bibby. Neither has a size advantage but Rondo had a significant speed advantage. I expect Rondo to pick up where he left off in the last game and control the game.

Honorable Mention
Ray Allen PPG 18.8 RPG 4.00 APG 3.1 EFF + 16.64
Joe Johnson PPG 20.5 RPG 4.50 APG 5.3 EFF + 17.32
Joe Johnson is younger and quicker than Ray Allen and has a height advantage. JJ is a good defender and so Ray will have to work to get his shots in this game.

Keys to the Game
Be Aggressive The Celtics need to be the aggressor, taking the ball to the hoop, hustling for loose balls, and crashing the boards. They need to come out strong and play aggressively all game. They need to be aggressive on the boards to prevent second chance points for the Hawks.

Defense The Celtics must play tough defense from start to finish. Even though they have a very good offense, the game will be won on the defensive end.

Ball Movement The Celtics have been moving the ball well and need to continue to do so to find the open man. If they move the ball and move without the ball to get open, the offense is very strong.

Game Notes:
The Celtics have to be careful not to overlook the Hawks while thinking about Wednesday's game against the Pistons. Atlanta has some very talented players and with Mike Bibby running the show, they are a dangerous team. The Celtics can't take them for granted and will have to bring their A-game as you can be sure the Hawks will bring theirs.

The Hawks are 7-21 on the road and 3-7 in their last 10 games. They have won 2 in a row, however and have been playing well since the trade for Mike Bibby, who incidentally is Eddie House's brother in law.

[FLCeltsFan]

Picking up with Atl up 4-2 and 10:55 left in the first Perk backs in on Horford. He fakes and gets Horford in the air. He hits the short jumper and is fouled. He missed the FT. Hawks rebound. Kicked ball called and Hawks inbound with 20 on the SC. Smith misses a jumper. Perk rebounds. PP hits a jumper. Hawks miss from the corner. Horford rebounds. Hawks miss and Celtics rebound. KG hits a baseline jumper. Johnson hits a fall away over RA on the baseline. KG's pass inside is slapped out of bounds by Horford. Celtics inbound with 8 on the SC. RA misses from the corner and Williams rebounds. RA called for a hand check foul. Smith's shot is way off and KG gets the rebound. PP misses a step away jumper. Horford rebounds. Smith takes it down the lane for a dunk. KG with a couple of fakes and his jumper is blocked by Smith. Celtics inbound with 9 on the SC. 5 second violation as Rondo can't get the ball inbounds. Bibby turns it over as he steps over the line on the inbounds. Celtics inbound on the baseline. RA hits a 3 from the corner. Hawks miss from the corner and Celtics rebound. Williams with a steal and he takes it to the hoop for a layup. Pierce is fouled by Williams as he drives. Celtics inbound on the side. KG takes it to the hoop but is called for an offensive foul. Hawks inbound in the back court. Bibby shoots an airball as Rondo plays him tough. KG rebounds. Rondo misses a jumper but KG is there for the rebound and put back. Johnson pulls up and hits a jumper from the FT line. Rondo hits a baseline jumper. Johnson misses a fall away. KG rebounds. Rondo's jumper goes in and out and Hawks rebound. Smith misses in the lane and Celtics rebound. KG misses a shot in the lane but gets his own rebound and lays it in. Time out with Celtics up 17-12 and 4:51 left in the first

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics seemed to be getting caught up in the Hawks game and were taking quick shots. PP with a steal. PP hits a 3 from the top of the key on a feed from Perk inside. Perk called for a foul. Hawks inbound on the side. Bibby misses a straight away 3. Childress rebounds and Bibby hits a jumper. RA finds Perk all alone under the basket for a dunk. Horford lays it up and a goal tend is called. Perk gets the ball inside and is blocked by Horford who comes away with the ball. Pachulia misses and Celtics rebound. KG with a touch pass inside to Perk for a dunk. Hawks miss and Pierce rebounds. RA misses a 3 and Horford rebounds. Bibby gets away with a shove on RA and hits a FT. Bibby comes up limping. Rondo misses a jumper and Childress rebounds. Rondo deflects a pass out of bounds. Time out called with Celtics up 24-18 and 1:22 left in the first

[FLCeltsFan]

Hawks inbound. Bibby on the bench. Hawks miss a jumper and Pierce rebounds. Celtics miss a jumper and rebound goes out of bounds. Stoudamire takes it to the hoop for a a layup. PP's shot is blocked and he gets it back. Powe's shot is blocked. Hawks comeaway with it. House gets a steal. Perk gets the ball inside to House for a layup. Stoudamire hits a jumper. Posey misses a 3 and Williams rebounds but doesn't get a shot off. Score at the end of 1 is Boston 26 and Atlanta 22

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound to start the second. House shoots an airball from the corner. rebound goes out off Hawks. Posey hits a jumper. Smith hits a jumper on the baseline. Tony, Posy, Baby, House, Powe on the floor. Celtics called for a 3 second violation. Hawks miss and Celtics rebound. Powe misses a layup and Hawks rebound. Williams misses a jumper and Baby rebounds. House with a bounce pass inside that goes out of bounds. Stoudamire misses a jumper. Powe rebounds. Tony takes it to the hoop and has it blocked out of bounds. Celtics inbound with 3 on the SC. Celtics with a 24 second violation for the Celtics 7th turnover. Smith hits a jumper. Hawks pull to within 2. House misses a 3 from the top of the arc. Smith rebounds. Hawks turn it over. Time out with Celtics up 28-26 and 8:21 left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

Hawks inbound and turn it over. Good defense by Powe. Pachulia called for a foul. Celtics inbound on the side. RA hits a baseline jumper. Williams misses a jumper. Powe takes an elbow to the head from Baby and shakes it off. Baby misses a floater in the lane. Baby hustles for the rebound and puts it back. Time out with Celtics up 32-26 and 6:48 left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

Hawks inbound. Davis called for a foul. Williams at the line. He hits both FTs. KG hits a turn around jumper over Smith. Hawks miss but Smith rebounds. He has it slapped away and it is picked off by RA. House misses a jumper off the catch. Hawks rebound. Williams is fouled by Posey. He hits the first. Rondo and Pierce come in for House and Posey. Williams hits the second. KG misses and Baby keeps it alive but Hawks come away with it. Hawks turn it over. Hawks with a steal. Williams hits a jumper and it is back to a 2 point lead. Rondo takes it down the lane but misses the layup. Hawks rebound and Bibby hits a 3 to give the Hawks the lead. 35-34. KG misses a jumper and Hawks rebound. Smith hits a 3 from the corner and Hawks go up 38-34 and time out called with 3:45 left in the half.

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound. KG turns it over as he loses the handle. Hawks chase down the loose ball and take it in for a layup. Celtics turn it over but Johnson loses the handle. Celtics inbound with 6 on the SC. KG fouled by Williams as he takes it into the lane. Celtics inbound on the side, RA misses a 3 and Rondo flies in and steals the rebound from 2 Hawks and feeds it inside to KG for a 2 handed dunk. Perk called for a foul inside. Horford hits the first and misses the second. Rebound comes out to KG. Rondo misses a layup and Perk fights for the rebound and is hammered when he goes up for the put back. He misses his first FT. Hits the second. Johnson misses a jumper and rebound goes out off Hawks. Celtics inbound and Rondo brings it up. No pressure from the Hawks. Hawks deflect the ball out of bounds and Celtics inbound with 11 on the SC. KG misses a jumper off the catch and rebound goes out off Boston. Smith misses a jumper as Perk plays him tough. KG rebounds. KG misses a short jumper in the paint. Perk fights for the rebound and is fouled as he goes up for the shot. He hits both FTs. Johnson throws it into the backcourt and Bibby called for a violation as he chases it Celtics inbound at midcourt. Rondo called for an offensive foul. Hawks turn it over. Rondo takes it to the hoop and misses an up and under layup. Hawks rebound. Johnson lays it in and is fouled by Rondo. Time out with Hawks up 43-39 and 11 seconds left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

Johnson at the line He hits the FT. Hawks extend the pressure into the back court. Rondo with a pass inside to KG for a one handed dunk. West called for a travel. Celtics inbound with 2 in the half. Rondo with an alleyoop to KG who can't get the handle to dunk it. Score at the half is Hawks 44 and Celtics 41.

[FLCeltsFan]

Tom Thibodeau is very intense on the sidelines. Celtics inbound to start the 3rd. Hawks come out with pressure in the back court. PP misses a jumper. KG rebounds. Pierce turns it away but KG tracks it down. Rondo with a turnover on a bad pass. Horford takes it in for a dunk. RA hits a 3 from the corner. Smith misses a jumper and KG corrals the rebound. RA hits a 3 and the Celtics take a 1 point lead. Hawks turn it over. PP takes it to the hoop for a layup. Johnson has it blocked by Perk and PP comes down the lane for a dunk. Time out with Celtics up 51-46 and 9:32 left in the 3rd.

[FLCeltsFan]

Hawks inbound on the side. KG deflects the ball out of bounds with 7 seconds on the SC. Johnson misses a 3 and Williams tips it out to Bibby who misses a 3. KG rebounds. PP hits a 3. Smith takes it hard to the hoop and is fouled by Perk. Smith hits the first and misses the second. Perk rebounds. PP pulls up at the FT line and hits a jumper. Rondo with pressure on Bibby in the back court as he brings it up. Smith misses and Perk rebounds in a crowd. PP pulls up and hits a jumper on the run. Johnson misses a jumper and Perk rebounds. Perk called for an offensive foul, his 4th. Baby comes in for Perk. Childress takes it down the lane and lays it in. KG is fouled by Johnson. Celtics inbound on the side. PP misses a jumper over Smith. Bibby rebounds. Baby is called for a foul inside on Horford as he tries to put back a miss. He hits both FTs. RA hits a 3 off a pick by Baby. Smith misses and PP rebounds. KG with a great behind the back pass to Baby for a layup. Childress takes it hard to the hoop for a layup. Rondo takes it baseline and lays it down to Baby who passes to KG for a layup. Childress is fouled and hits both FTs. Rondo takes it to the hoop and misses a layup. Hawks rebound. Bibby with a fake and hits a 3 from the corner. KG called for a travel as he spins around Horford. Horford misses a layup and rebound goes out off the Hawks. KG misses a jumper and Bibby rebounds. Pachulia hits a jumper on the baseline and is fouled by Baby. he hits the FT. Hawks pull to within 3. PP Misses a jumper and Johnson gets the rebound. Hawks miss and Celtics rebound. PP hits a 3 with 4 on the SC. Time out with Celtics up 67-61 2:45 left in the third

[FLCeltsFan]

Bibby at the line. He hits both FTs to cut the lead to 4. Hawks with pressure on the inbounds pass. Pachulia deflects a pass out of bounds. Celtics inbound with 8 on the SC. PP Misses from the corner. Pachulia rebounds. Perk in for KG. Childress takes it to the hoop and Powe is called for a blocking foul. That was a bad call. Should have been an offensive foul. Childress hits the first and misses the second. Perk rebounds. PP takes it to the hoop and draws the foul. He misses the first FT. hits the second. Bibby misses a 3. Pachulia rebounds and misses the put back. Powe comes out of the pack with the rebound. PP takes it into the paint and hits a short jumper. Pachulia gets the ball inside from Bibby and lays it in. PP has it stripped by Horford in the lane. Childress takes it hard to the hoop and is fouled. Childress misses the first. House and RA come in Powe and Perk also go out. He hits the second. Rondo brings it up looking for the finals shot. Posey misses a 3 at the buzzer. Score at the end of 3 is Celtics 70 and Hawks 67

[FLCeltsFan]

Hawks inbound to start the 4th. Haws miss and Perk rebounds. RA takes it down the lane and lays it in. Johnson fumbles it out of bounds. RA brings it up. RA takes it baseline and kicks out to House who misses a 3. Johnson rebounds. Horford misses and House tracks dwon the rebound. Powe gets it inside and is fouled by Smith. Powe hits the first and misses the second. Smith rebounds. Perk with a block. Horford is fouled by RA and goes to the line. He misses the first and hits the second. RA brings the ball up again. RA misse a 3 and Horford rebounds. Smith puts it in off the glass. House hits a 3 on a feed from Perk inside. Celtics deflect the pass out of bounds. Time out with Celtics up 76-70 and 8:53 left in the 4th

[FLCeltsFan]

Hawks inbound with 16 on the SC. Perk blocks Childress' shot out of bounds. Haws inbound with 4 on the SC and miss off the pass. Perk rebounds. House misses on the baseline and Hawks rebound. Childress takes it to the hoop and lays it in. KG is grabbed by Smith as he takes it to the hoop and will go to the line. KG hits both FTs Perk deflects the ball from Johnson. Hawks recover. Bibby splits the defense and a foul is called on perk not a good call as Bibby initiated the contact. Childress gets to the hoop for a dunk. KG drives to the hoop and lays it in. RA with a steal. House pulls up and misses a 3. Hawks rebound. Hawks miss and KG rebounds. KG drives baseline and is fouled by Smith. Time out with Celtics up 80-74 and 6:26 left in the 4th.

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound. KG spins to the hoop for a tomahawk dunk. RA called for a foul underneath after a block by KG. Smith hits both FTs. House brings the ball up. KG misses a turn around jumper. he ws hit but no call. Childress rebounds. Hawks miss from the corner and House grabs the rebound. House to Baby who misses a layup. Gets the rebound and is fouled. He hits the first. PP comes in for Posey. Baby hits the second. Pierce called for a reach in foul. Hawks inbound on the side. Horford takes it to the hoop and lays it in. House misses a 3 and Smith rebounds. Smith drives to the hoop and is fouled by House before Smith flattened RA in the lane. Smith misses the first and hits the second. Hawks have taken 25 FTs to only 13 for the Celtics. KG misses a jumper and the rebound comes out to RA. Ray drives to the hoop and lays it down to Davis who is called for a travel. Hawks get it back down 5. KG picks off a pass. PP drives to the hoop and draws the foul. Perk comes in for Baby. Starters back on the floor. PP hits both FTs. Horford takes it right to the hoop and lays it in. KG with a pass inside to rondo. His shot is blocked but Perk is there to grab the ball and dunk it. Horford rebounds a miss and lays it in. RA hits a runner in the lane as the SC winds down. Smith misses a layup. KG tips the rebound out to Rondo. Time out with Celtics up 90-83 and 2:01 left in the 4th.