Poll: Hawks vs. Celtics Series Predictions

[liam]

Before the trades, I thought Murray was the better player but now I think it's White. It may be that White is just a better fit. The Talent difference between the two teams is huge. We got back to where we wanted to be and here's the chance to really turn it on. I can't see the Hawks winning even one game but a hot shooting streak could give Atlanta one game. I can't see more than that but that's why they play the games. I picked the Celtics in four but I could see it going 5.

[Vermont Green]

I am too superstitious to make an outright prediction involving the Celtics for something like this, but I will say that I like the match up from a Celtic's perspective.  There are only two things that could potentially undo the Celtics, Trae Young and rebounding.  I think we can hold our own rebounding if RWill is playing and is right.  He makes us a much better rebounding team.  And we can throw out the likes of Griffin and Muscala for spurts if there is foul trouble.

With Trae Young, we have people to cover him but there are going to be stretches where he piles up buckets.  Nothing you can really do about that.  He can't cover Marcus Smart though.  Smart will be able to see over him to make passes, post up, really do whatever he wants.  So I am pretty confident we can negate Trae Young.  Derrick White too but I expect him to just do what he always does.  It is Smart that I am looking for to have a solid impactful series.  Hopefully to get himself back in rhythm. 

[Surferdad]

I'm the one who voted Celtics in 7. I'm too superstitious to predict a short series. Some folks here may be underestimating the Hawks.

[liam]

I'm the one who voted Celtics in 7. I'm too superstitious to predict a short series. Some folks here may be underestimating the Hawks.

I am definitely underestimating the Hawks. They haven't looked all that good this year and a healthy Celtics squad should crush them. We still have to play the games.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I think it should be Celtics in 5—I'm allowing for one game in which the Cs are bad and the Hawks play over their heads.

That said, I think the Hawks could give Boston some problems inside, as Capela and Collins are very active on the boards and on interior defense. If Rob plays a lot, that should mitigate much of what Capela/Collins can do, but if Rob misses time, Atlanta could wreak some havoc inside and prolong the series.

[Phantom255x]

Maybe someone could give a better scouting report, but for me, I just don't see what the Hawks can do to neutralize Tatum AND Brown. Do they have the players to even do that? That's the huge advantage we have. The Hawks defense is also bad so teams can put up points on them. The C's have as well in the recent past. There'll be stretches where Young and the Hawks score a bunch, but opponents typically are also able to score against them. Young is an awful defender.

[Vermont Green]

Maybe someone could give a better scouting report, but for me, I just don't see what the Hawks can do to neutralize Tatum AND Brown. Do they have the players to even do that? That's the huge advantage we have. The Hawks defense is also bad so teams can put up points on them. The C's have as well in the recent past. There'll be stretches where Young and the Hawks score a bunch, but opponents typically are also able to score against them. Young is an awful defender.

If you like advanced stats, the Hawks DRTG this season was 115.4.  The only playoff team that was worse was SAC (116.0).  The last time ATL was good was in 2020-21.  That season they lost to MIL in the ECF.  The team really isn't so different.  Gallinari and Huerter gone.  Murray has been added.  Trae Young is still Trae Young.  Clint Capela is pretty much the same player.  Saddiq Bey was a nice pick up.  But the main difference is that Collins was a 17.6/7.5/40% from 3 emerging star player, with a decent DRTG.  Now he is a shell of that.

[Phantom255x]

Maybe someone could give a better scouting report, but for me, I just don't see what the Hawks can do to neutralize Tatum AND Brown. Do they have the players to even do that? That's the huge advantage we have. The Hawks defense is also bad so teams can put up points on them. The C's have as well in the recent past. There'll be stretches where Young and the Hawks score a bunch, but opponents typically are also able to score against them. Young is an awful defender.

If you like advanced stats, the Hawks DRTG this season was 115.4.  The only playoff team that was worse was SAC (116.0).  The last time ATL was good was in 2020-21.  That season they lost to MIL in the ECF.  The team really isn't so different.  Gallinari and Huerter gone.  Murray has been added.  Trae Young is still Trae Young.  Clint Capela is pretty much the same player.  Saddiq Bey was a nice pick up.  But the main difference is that Collins was a 17.6/7.5/40% from 3 emerging star player, with a decent DRTG.  Now he is a shell of that.

TP,  thanks. This really does feel like a series that should be an easy "C's in 5". But we'll see. The C's also have to treat it like that and not mess around

Getting off to a good start and winning tomorrow would be an encouraging step

[Vermont Green]

Maybe someone could give a better scouting report, but for me, I just don't see what the Hawks can do to neutralize Tatum AND Brown. Do they have the players to even do that? That's the huge advantage we have. The Hawks defense is also bad so teams can put up points on them. The C's have as well in the recent past. There'll be stretches where Young and the Hawks score a bunch, but opponents typically are also able to score against them. Young is an awful defender.

If you like advanced stats, the Hawks DRTG this season was 115.4.  The only playoff team that was worse was SAC (116.0).  The last time ATL was good was in 2020-21.  That season they lost to MIL in the ECF.  The team really isn't so different.  Gallinari and Huerter gone.  Murray has been added.  Trae Young is still Trae Young.  Clint Capela is pretty much the same player.  Saddiq Bey was a nice pick up.  But the main difference is that Collins was a 17.6/7.5/40% from 3 emerging star player, with a decent DRTG.  Now he is a shell of that.

TP,  thanks. This really does feel like a series that should be an easy "C's in 5". But we'll see. The C's also have to treat it like that and not mess around

Getting off to a good start and winning tomorrow would be an encouraging step

Agree 100%.  If they mess around and have to play and extra game or 2 in this round, that is that much less rest for the next round, and then you are that much less rested for the finals.  I hope they learned that from last season.  It is a long haul.  You can't waste anything along the way.

[Phantom255x]

Maybe someone could give a better scouting report, but for me, I just don't see what the Hawks can do to neutralize Tatum AND Brown. Do they have the players to even do that? That's the huge advantage we have. The Hawks defense is also bad so teams can put up points on them. The C's have as well in the recent past. There'll be stretches where Young and the Hawks score a bunch, but opponents typically are also able to score against them. Young is an awful defender.

If you like advanced stats, the Hawks DRTG this season was 115.4.  The only playoff team that was worse was SAC (116.0).  The last time ATL was good was in 2020-21.  That season they lost to MIL in the ECF.  The team really isn't so different.  Gallinari and Huerter gone.  Murray has been added.  Trae Young is still Trae Young.  Clint Capela is pretty much the same player.  Saddiq Bey was a nice pick up.  But the main difference is that Collins was a 17.6/7.5/40% from 3 emerging star player, with a decent DRTG.  Now he is a shell of that.

TP,  thanks. This really does feel like a series that should be an easy "C's in 5". But we'll see. The C's also have to treat it like that and not mess around

Getting off to a good start and winning tomorrow would be an encouraging step

Agree 100%.  If they mess around and have to play and extra game or 2 in this round, that is that much less rest for the next round, and then you are that much less rested for the finals.  I hope they learned that from last season.  It is a long haul.  You can't waste anything along the way.

Yeah, and for a guy like Timelord it's probably best to cruise in the early rounds at least. IIRC, Timelord didn't play 2 games in the ECF because of "knee management", and I felt like they gambled that they could win Game 3 at home without him, and they didn't which let MIA go up 2-1. I'd like to avoid that.

The good news though is, it seems we're mostly healthy going into the playoffs (hoping Jaylen's hand isn't too serious). Last year, we went in with Timelord still hurt and while he did come back later in the Nets series, he clearly wasn't 100% and still missed some games here and there.

[gouki88]

Celtics in 5. 

Gentlemen's sweep

Inclined to agree.

Yeah I think Trae is a lesser version of Iverson,  I think he gets the hawks one.

Yeah.

Also, somehow the fact that Landry Fields is the GM of the Hawks has eluded me up to this point. That's wild.

Wait, what?! It feels like just yesterday he was crushing it as a rookie in New York. He's the same age as Blake!

[Neurotic Guy]

Bums me that the game is 3:30 and I won’t be able to watch. 3:30 on a Saturday in the spring.  Sorry, terrible time for a game.

[SHAQATTACK]

Winner of game 1 takes the series 

[jpotter33]

Bums me that the game is 3:30 and I won’t be able to watch. 3:30 on a Saturday in the spring.  Sorry, terrible time for a game.

Yeah, I’m coaching my son’s little league team, and their first game is at 4 on Saturday 😑

[Phantom255x]

Bums me that the game is 3:30 and I won’t be able to watch. 3:30 on a Saturday in the spring.  Sorry, terrible time for a game.

Yeah, I’m coaching my son’s little league team, and their first game is at 4 on Saturday 😑

Good luck to your son's team!

Yeah truth be told I wish Game 1 was Sunday. But I wonder if it has something to do with TD Garden logistics. Bruins are also playing games at TD Garden this week (Monday and Wednesday).

IIRC, last year we played Sunday 3:30 in a 2 vs. 7 matchup as well against BKN