Celtics (0-0) at Hawks (0-0) Game 1 4/29

[clover]

“They move Josh to (center) and go Marvin (Williams at power forward) and Tracy (McGrady at small forward) and Joe at (shooting guard). That’s a tough lineup and they do it against us more than any other team for a reason, obviously, because it creates matchup (problems) for us and we’re going to have to deal with that.’’

Is this true or is Doc playing mind games and planting a seed in the minds of the Hawks that this would work against the Celtics?

Avery couldn't handle Johnson the last game, so Doc genuinely expects to see more of it.

[Celtics18]

“They move Josh to (center) and go Marvin (Williams at power forward) and Tracy (McGrady at small forward) and Joe at (shooting guard). That’s a tough lineup and they do it against us more than any other team for a reason, obviously, because it creates matchup (problems) for us and we’re going to have to deal with that.’’

Is this true or is Doc playing mind games and planting a seed in the minds of the Hawks that this would work against the Celtics?

Avery couldn't handle Johnson the last game, so Doc genuinely expects to see more of it.

I'm sure it's true.  Playing Johnson at the two represents the best match up advantage for the Hawks.  This is why it's nice to have Pietrus, Sasha, and Marquis--a trio of solid wing defenders on our bench. 

Also, for those times where JJ is in the back court against our starting back court of Rondo and Bradley, our guys will have to use their speed and aggressiveness to work the advantages that they have. 

[letsgoblue86]

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html

Refs for tonight....wasn't Marc Davis one of the refs for the last time we played the Hawks in Boston?

[SHAQATTACK]

winning the first in a series is so important .   Can't let what happened to the knicks happen to the C's.

[WeMadeIt17]

Need dooling and Pietrus to show up tonight big time. Lets GOOOOO!!!!

[Trifecta]

Come out strong tonight. One game at a time.

[thestackshow]

Last time we played the Hawks Bradley had a career high 28 points, I expect him to play big yet again.

[Fafnir]

Last time we played the Hawks Bradley had a career high 28 points, I expect him to play big yet again.

He was the main offensive option and ball handler that game, he could easily have a nice game but he won't be taking so many shots tonight.

[LB3533]

I remember 2 years ago we went into Orlando and won the 1st 2 games on their homecourt.

That Orlando team was a better team than this currently injured Atlanta Hawk team.

Let's go get those 1st 2 games and then go home and sweep them out on our home floor.

[thestackshow]

Last time we played the Hawks Bradley had a career high 28 points, I expect him to play big yet again.

He was the main offensive option and ball handler that game, he could easily have a nice game but he won't be taking so many shots tonight.

Which is fine, but he should have lots of confidence playing against the Hawks.

[syfy9]

So pumped for this game. Got my jersey, got my Doritos, got my TV. All I need is some good, OLD fashioned CELTIC BASKETBALL!

[clover]

Need dooling and Pietrus to show up tonight big time. Lets GOOOOO!!!!

Dooling?  I don't want to see Dooling in the game!

[SHAQATTACK]

Need dooling and Pietrus to show up tonight big time. Lets GOOOOO!!!!

Dooling?  I don't want to see Dooling in the game!

LoL.....

[clover]

Last time we played the Hawks Bradley had a career high 28 points, I expect him to play big yet again.

He was the main offensive option and ball handler that game, he could easily have a nice game but he won't be taking so many shots tonight.

Which is fine, but he should have lots of confidence playing against the Hawks.

Didn't he give up more points to Johnson than he got?

[FLCeltsFan]

Official Report

Mike Callahan

A veteran of 21 NBA seasons, Mike Callahan has officiated 1,265 regular season and 110 playoff games and 11 NBA Finals games. He was a member of the crew that officiated the 2007 NBA All-Star Game, 1994 Mexico Challenge and the 1996 Schick Rookie Game. Prior to joining the NBA, Callahan spent three years officiating in the CBA, including the 1989 and 1990 CBA Finals. A member of the Cardinal O’Hara High School basketball team for four years, Callahan also coached the freshman basketball team after graduating. Callahan has run a clinic for referees called "Hoops4Heros" that benefits local fire departments and maintains strong ties to the Philadelphia community through his volunteer work with the Don Guanella School for developmentally disabled boys. Callahan is one of 4 refs to come out of Cardinal O'Hara High School in Pennsylvania. The other 3 are Joey Crawford, Ed Malloy and Tim Donaghy. The Celtics are 10-0 over their last 10 games with Callahan officiating. They are 2-0 this season, including one preseason game against Toronot where the Raptors shot 36 free throws to 34 for the Celtics. The other win was against Detroit where the Celtics shot 19 free throws to 15 for the Pistons. The Hawks are 6-4 with Callahan in their last 10 and 1-1 this season. He usually lets the teams play and isn't a tyrant with the whistle. His home W/L record this season is 26-24.

Marc Davis

Davis has been an NBA official for the past 14 seasons, working 802 regular season games and 35 playoff games, and the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. Davis officiated his first two Finals games during the 2010-11 season. In addition to his NBA experience, Davis has three years of CBA officiating experience, and three

years of collegiate basketball officiating experience. Davis was investigated for threatening to whoop Allen Iverson's a** when AI complained about a call in a game in 2005, but was not suspended for it. The Celtics are 1-2 this season and 8-2 in their last 10 games with Davis officiating. One loss this season was a 1 point loss to the Cavs in which Davis and friends ignored a very obvious foul committed against Paul Pierce in the final seconds of the game and in which the Cavs shot 20 free throws to 14 for the Celtics. The second loss was to the Thunder in which the Celtics shot 34 free throws to 35 for the Thunder and the game was tightly called. The win was against the Hawks where the officiating was terrible. The Hawks shot 23 free throws to 13 for the Celtics. KG fouled out in that game on a terrible call. They were holding his jersey and had an elbow in his back and they called the foul on KG. Stiemsma fouled out shortly after on two more terrible calls. In the 4th quarter, 12 fouls were called on the Celtics and only 4 on the Hawks. In OT, 4 fouls were called on the Celtics while none were called on the Hawks, even through there were several very obvious fouls committed. Donny Marshall usually doesn't comment on the officiating but said that the Celtics needed to send the tape of this game to the league because Davis made it all about him. The Hawks are 2-2 this season and 5-5 in their last 10 games with Davis on the court. His home W/L record of 27-22.

John Goble

Goble enters his fourth season having officiated 259 regular season games and seven playoff games. He also officiated the 2010 NBA All-Star Rookie/Sophomore game. Prior to working in the NBA, Goble officiated 104 games over four seasons in the NBA Development League and was selected to officiate the 2007 D-League Finals. He also officiated in several college conferences. Seems odd that Goble already has worked the playoffs with just 3 years of experience and others have been in the league 12 years or more and haven't cracked the playoff rotation yet. The Celtics are 4-0 this season and 8-2 over their last 10 games that Goble has officiated. The officiating was fairly even in all 4 games this season. The Hawks are 0-1 this season and 3-7 in their last 10 games with Goble. His home W/L record this season is 28-27.