Celtics take Game 2 with ease - Series shifts to Atlanta

The Hawks were a great story this season. Seeing their young players gel and give the franchise their first playoff series in years, there were some that thought their athleticism would give the Celtics fits in their First Round match-up. That has been hardly an issue in this series thus far as the Hawks find themselves down 0-2 in the series.

The Hawks look entirely overmatched and just have no answers for an extended amount of time against the Celts. The Hawks have been hanging around in both games, but always seem to be behind by low double digits for the most part. They have not been able to put together any runs to really scare the C's. The final score ended as a 96-77 victory for Boston as the Celts were consistent all night leading after 1 by 4, at the half by 10, increasing that to 18 after the 3^rd and then just playing on par in the 4^th to win by 19. 

When the Celtics want to do something against the Hawks, they can. When they want to drive to the bucket, they can get that. When they want to play the inside game, that is there for them. When they want to shoot from the outside, their quick ball movement is too much for the Hawks and the result is plenty of wide open looks. When the Celts want to flip that switch and play lights-out suffocating defense for a time, they do it. In other words, the Celtics are doing whatever they want to do in this series and the Hawks just have nothing to counter it with.

Atlanta attempted to come into Game 2 with the mindset of playing more physical. They definitely achieved this. With barely a minute and a half gone into just the 1^st Quarter, 2 Atlanta players gave Pierce a hard foul as he was driving to the basket. The Refs did not call the hard/flagrant foul even though Pierce got shellacked and was dazed afterwards. After that, everyone knew this game would be a battle and was going to be interesting how the C's would respond to such tactics and also the adversity of Pierce now having to leave the game with an injury. Pierce was diagnosed with a lower back strain and missed the rest of the 1^st Quarter. The Celts rallied immediately and got up 20-9 to start, but Atlanta hung around to close the quarter only behind 24-20 to Boston.

One of the key notes about this game had to do with Atlanta point guard, Mike Bibby who was smack talking in the days leading up to this game. With Rondo completely outplaying him in Game 1, Bibby who seems like just a shell of himself felt the need to mix words with the media having negative things to say about the Boston fans and even some players. As if the Celts needed any more fuel for their fire. I half-expected Bibby to have a big night in Game 2, as maybe game 1 was just a fluke with a really bad night for him. Well his Game 2 stat line was not much better with 12 points and only 1 measly assist. Sorry folks, but if your point guard cannot create and only get one assist, that team is in trouble. He had another rough night with all eyes on him and the crowd booing him every time he simply touched the ball. All night, every quarter, he got booed and it looked like it affected him. Once again, the speedier Rondo outplayed him with 12 points of his own to go with 8 assists, 4 steals and only 1 turnover which is his only turnover in both games.

Pierce was back for the start of the 2^nd Quarter and the C's just kept rolling along increasing their lead to 10 at the Half by the tune of 52-42. The key stat of the 2^nd was Cassell scoring 8 in the quarter and leading a run to increase the lead to 15 at one point.

The 3^rd Quarter was where the Celts really upped the defensive intensity lead by KG and held to Hawks to only 16 points, while scoring 24 themselves for a 76-58, 18 point lead going into the 4^th. The final frame was just more of the same consistent play from the Celts never allowing Atlanta to even sniff a comeback.

Five Celtics scored in double figures with KG leading the charge scoring 19 and pulling down 10 boards. KG even excited the fans with his first 3-pointer of the season late in the 4^th. Player of the Game award would have to be given to KG on this night as he was intense all night and really was the anchor for the team. Pierce added 14 with Ray Allen adding 15. Cassell had 10 off the bench and Posey played solid as usual with 9. The Celtics are still getting key minutes and contributions from whoever Doc plugs in off their bench in addition to Cassell and Posey including Leon Powe who is still playing like a madman and Big Baby Davis who got some good quality minutes in. Still conspicuously absent was Eddie House who only entered into the mix for the final 3 garbage time minutes of the game. He and Tony Allen have been non-factors in this series. But that is not a complaint. Doc Rivers has a very talented and deep team here and his job is tough juggling all those minutes of playing time for everybody. Right now he has found the right combination against these young Hawks.

The series now shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Saturday night. Atlanta goes home licking their wounds and scratching their heads wondering how in the world they can even eek out one win in this series. For the Celtics, they are hot right now and on top of their game at the moment. Their countdown moves along with 2 wins down and 14 to go now.