Hawks (16-10) at Celtics (20-4) 12/16

[NoraG1]

hawks are missing their 2 best players and doing what they want tonight...boston needs to pick it up

Celts have 5 guys out of their 10 man rotation out injured. Give it a rest, man.

come on man...everyone has injuries. Cs still have enough talent to win games

i highly disagree that ATL has any advantage tonight

How many teams start a 4th string center. LAY OFF

[MaxAMillion]

hawks are missing their 2 best players and doing what they want tonight...boston needs to pick it up

Celts have 5 guys out of their 10 man rotation out injured. Give it a rest, man.

come on man...everyone has injuries. Cs still have enough talent to win games

i highly disagree that ATL has any advantage tonight

The C's are an older team playing back to back games with no bench. My guess is you are upset unless they go 82-0

[USG]

I have to admit that's a flagrant by definition. Davis didn't go for the ball, just wanted to stop his man from shooting.

That's not the definition of a flagrant.  It's excessive force without a play for the ball.  Davis didn't use excessive force.  Guys wrap people up all the time.  It;s called an intentional foul.

the way they call it consistently for the last few years is if the guy goes for the ball or not. Excessive force makes it a flagrant 2.

Have you ever seen an intentional foul?  Shaq gets about 4 of them a game.  No play is made on the ball.  They are not flagrant.

I've seen every game for the last 10 years, and I knew right away that it was a flagrant when it happened based on how the refs call flagrants. Interpret the rule as you like, but I call it like I see it.

Well of course it was. Because Zaza had flashbacks to a bad night in a dark alley. But the actual action of the foul was neither technically nor practically a flagrant.

[vinnie]

that was impressive. Worst team the Celts have put on the court in ages and they are still up at the half. Half their rotation missing -- not point guard and no center -- and they are still winning.

[celticinorlando]

hawks are missing their 2 best players and doing what they want tonight...boston needs to pick it up

Celts have 5 guys out of their 10 man rotation out injured. Give it a rest, man.

come on man...everyone has injuries. Cs still have enough talent to win games

i highly disagree that ATL has any advantage tonight

How many teams start a 4th string center. LAY OFF

Hawks started Jason Collins at center tonight. Boston has enough to win tonight. And their increased effort at the end of the half shows that

[hpantazo]

hawks are missing their 2 best players and doing what they want tonight...boston needs to pick it up

Celts have 5 guys out of their 10 man rotation out injured. Give it a rest, man.

come on man...everyone has injuries. Cs still have enough talent to win games

i highly disagree that ATL has any advantage tonight

How many teams start a 4th string center. LAY OFF

yea both teams are injured, but the celtics are missing 2 starters at the two most important positions, and half their bench. It's a good thing we are a deep team.

[DRJ1]

This Celtics team is unbelievably great. They have almost no team left... they've got Nate making crazily stupid plays... Ray throwing the ball away at almost every opportunity... a bunch of rookies playing half the time...... and they end the half with a lead. Wow. Kudos to these guys. Really... amazing.

[Atzar]

For once, I'd like to see an end-of-quarter iso play end going to the rim instead of a contested stepback fadeaway off-balance longrange jumpshot.  I don't care that Pierce is the one making the move, but he's better at getting to the rack than that.

[vinnie]

hawks are missing their 2 best players and doing what they want tonight...boston needs to pick it up

Celts have 5 guys out of their 10 man rotation out injured. Give it a rest, man.

come on man...everyone has injuries. Cs still have enough talent to win games

i highly disagree that ATL has any advantage tonight

Is every team missing 5 of their top 10 players? Is every team missing its point guard and top 3 centers? Really hard to be critical of this team right now.

[fairweatherfan]

Well of course it was. Because Zaza had flashbacks to a bad night in a dark alley. But the actual action of the foul was neither technically nor practically a flagrant.

Eh, I think it was less about Zaza's reaction and more about Baby grabbing him above the shoulders.  Wrapping a guy up is usually around his arms.  The league pretty consistently clamps down on anything near the head and neck.

[NoraG1]

hawks are missing their 2 best players and doing what they want tonight...boston needs to pick it up

Celts have 5 guys out of their 10 man rotation out injured. Give it a rest, man.

come on man...everyone has injuries. Cs still have enough talent to win games

i highly disagree that ATL has any advantage tonight

How many teams start a 4th string center. LAY OFF

Hawks started Jason Collins at center tonight. Boston has enough to win tonight. And their increased effort at the end of the half shows that

Seriously. You are being ridiculous. C's have no bench

[snively]

hawks are missing their 2 best players and doing what they want tonight...boston needs to pick it up

Celts have 5 guys out of their 10 man rotation out injured. Give it a rest, man.

come on man...everyone has injuries. Cs still have enough talent to win games

i highly disagree that ATL has any advantage tonight

Do you really think Crawford is the Hawks' 2nd best player?  Heck, I'd argue that Horford and Smith are their best 2 players with Johnson coming in 3rd and Crawford 5th behind Marvin Williams.

[vinnie]

hawks are missing their 2 best players and doing what they want tonight...boston needs to pick it up

Celts have 5 guys out of their 10 man rotation out injured. Give it a rest, man.

come on man...everyone has injuries. Cs still have enough talent to win games

i highly disagree that ATL has any advantage tonight

How many teams start a 4th string center. LAY OFF

Hawks started Jason Collins at center tonight. Boston has enough to win tonight. And their increased effort at the end of the half shows that

Go away seriously. You are being ridiculous. C's have no bench

+10000000000000000000

[DRJ1]

Well of course it was. Because Zaza had flashbacks to a bad night in a dark alley. But the actual action of the foul was neither technically nor practically a flagrant.

Eh, I think it was less about Zaza's reaction and more about Baby grabbing him above the shoulders.  Wrapping a guy up is usually around his arms.  The league pretty consistently clamps down on anything near the head and neck.

You're right. The league does do that. And it sucks. Much better the old way.

[celticinorlando]

hawks are missing their 2 best players and doing what they want tonight...boston needs to pick it up

Celts have 5 guys out of their 10 man rotation out injured. Give it a rest, man.

come on man...everyone has injuries. Cs still have enough talent to win games

i highly disagree that ATL has any advantage tonight

Is every team missing 5 of their top 10 players? Is every team missing its point guard and top 3 centers? Really hard to be critical of this team right now.

they came out slow...picked it up at the end of the half and played defense. i understand they are winning despite injuries and I applaud them for it.