positives from game 1

[cman88]

the celtics had a HORRIBLE shooting night tonight

pierce: 5-19
KG: 8-19
Bradley: 4-12
bass 3-7

i dont see Pierce/KG shooting that poorly for game 2, or bradley for that matter. we couldnt hit a shot early on which put us in a big hole...

likewise, the Hawks shot lights out the first half and we were able to bring it within 4...that bodes well that if pierce/KG get going and we can actually hit a 3 pointer(the c's were 0-11 on 3s)

its not the first time the C's have lost game 1 of a playoff series

on to game 2!

[Onslaught]

I wasn't worried about game 2 up until the Rondo thing. Now I'm not so sure.

[mctyson]

Game 1 was a complete statistical abberation. We didn't hit one 3 pointer (first time in 20 years.)  Kirk Heinrich hit 4, 2 as the buzzer was expiring in the face of a Celtics charge. 

Actually, I think it is that simple.  Strip away all of the crazy negative crap from Game 1:  if we shoot equal to Atlanta from 3, the game is basically a tie.

We can beat them without Rondo.  We just have to shoot better and keep forcing Josh Smith to beat us with 20 footers.

[clover]

The Hawks' scoring was aided by the C's weak defense in the first half and I expect Joe Johnson to get going in game two.

But I think Bradley and Bass settle down in game two and Pierce could hardly be as dreadful as in game one.

The biggest positive out of game one was probably Stiemer's play, with his relative composure balanced with aggressiveness and 9 boards in 19 minutes.

[cman88]

As long as we don't put ouurselves in a 20pt hole in the first quarter we should be fine imo..

And usually pierce plays some of his best ball when rondo is out

[Celticsfan336]

The celtics held the hawks to 18,16,18 points in the 2,3,4 quarter.

Take away the first quarter and sluggish start, and we win this game easily.

We were still only down 4 with 40 seconds left, and 2 seconds left on the shot clock before the game got laid to rest with a foul call on bass.

Rondo, no Rondo, I am not concerned with this series getting out of reach

[mctyson]

The biggest positive out of game one was probably Stiemer's play, with his relative composure balanced with aggressiveness and 9 boards in 19 minutes.

Stiemer was great.  I'd also say that Rondo was awesome - without his aggressiveness on offense we lose by 20.