Boston Celtics (2-0) at Atlanta Hawks (0-2) Spherical 1 Sport #3 4/21/23

The collection strikes to Atlanta for Sport 3 of the opening spherical with the Celtics main the collection 2-0. The Celtics have appeared very sturdy within the first two video games at house, however the Hawks will possible play a lot better at house with their followers behind them. Within the common season, the Hawks have been simply 17-24 on the street however they have been 24-17 at him, displaying that they’re a a lot better group at house.

This recreation is vital for the Celtics probabilities to win the collection. Groups that win the primary two video games of a best-of-seven collection at house go on to win the collection 94.0% of the time (236-15). Groups that lead a best-of-seven collection 2-1 go on to win the collection 79.8% of the time (308-78). Nevertheless, groups that win the primary three video games of a best-of-seven collection go on to win the collection 100% of the time (127-0).

That is the thirteenth time that these two groups have met within the playoffs. Boston has received 10 of the 12 collection thus far. Their final assembly was in 2016 when the Hawks received the collection 4-2. That low season, the Celtics signed Al Horford away from the Hawks in free company. The one different Hawks playoff win over the Celtics was in 1958 when the St. Louis Hawks received the collection in 6 video games. Because the Hawks moved from St. Louis to Atlanta in 1968, the Celtics have received seven of eight playoff collection on this matchup.

Each of those groups have been lucky to have good well being going into the collection and after 2 video games, nonetheless are largely wholesome. The largest well being concern is Jaylen Brown who has been taking part in with a reduce on his capturing hand that has been therapeutic but additionally giving him some issues. Right now solely Danilo Gallinari (knee) is on the damage record for the Celtics whereas the Hawks haven’t any gamers listed.

Possible Celtics Starters

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Celtics Reserves
Malcolm Brogdon
Grant Williams
Sam Hauser
Luke Kornet
Blake Griffin
Mike Muscala
Payton Pritchard
Robert Williams III
Justin Champagnie

2 Method Gamers
JD Davison
Mfiondu Kabengele

Out/Accidents
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) out

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Possible Hawks Starters

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Hawks Reserves
Saddiq Bey
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Bruno Fernando
AJ Griffin
Aaron Vacation
Jalen Johnson
Vit Krejci
Tyrese Martin
Garrison Matthews
Onyeka Okongwu

2 Method Gamers
Trent Forrest
Donovan Williams

Out/Accidents
None listed

Head Coach
Quin Snyder

Key Matchups

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  Marcus Good
  
  
  Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs
  
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  Trae Younger
  
  
  Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs
  

Marcus Good vs Trae Younger
Younger averaged 26.2 factors, 3.0 rebounds, 10.2 assists and 1.1 steals per recreation within the common season. He shot 43.0% from the sector and 33.5% from past the arc. In two video games in opposition to the Celtics this season, Younger averaged 31 factors, 4 rebounds, and 11 assists per recreation. Nevertheless, within the playoffs thus far, he has averaged 20 factors, 3 rebounds 7 assists and a couple of steals. He shot simply 34.4% from the sector and 22.5% from past the arc within the first 2 video games. He has mentioned that he’ll play higher on this recreation and the Celtics have to be prepared for him to play tougher and certain shoot higher.

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  Derrick White
  
  
  Picture by Jason Miller/Getty Photographs
  
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  Dejounte Murray
  
  
  Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports activities
  

Derrick White vs DeJounte Murray
Murray averaged 20.5 factors, 5.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.5 steals per recreation within the common season. He shot 46.4% from the sector and 34.4% from past the arc. In 2 video games in opposition to the Celtics this season, he averaged 16.5 factors, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and a couple of.0 steals per recreation. Murray has performed effectively in each video games thus far. He averaged 26.5 factors, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and three.5 steals within the first two video games. He shot 42.9% from the sector and 36.8% from past the arc. The Celtics might want to work exhausting on each ends of the courtroom to get the higher of this matchup.

Honorable Point out
Malcolm Brogdon vs Bogdan Bogdanovic
Within the common season, Bogdanovic averaged 14 factors, 3.1 rebounds, and a couple of.8 assists off the bench. He shot 44.7% from the sector and 40.6% from past the arc. Within the playoffs thus far, he’s averaging 13.5 factors, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. He’s shot 47.6% from the sector and 42.9% from past the arc within the first 2 video games. He’s an excellent 3 level shooter and is a participant the Celtics have to defend effectively as he might warmth up rapidly if left open. Malcolm Brogdon is the newly topped sixth Man of the 12 months and the Celtics will want recreation from him.

Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection is all the time a key to successful video games and protection turns into much more essential within the playoffs. The Celtics have a defensive ranking of 110.6 which is 2nd whereas the Hawks have a defensive ranking of 115.4, which is twenty second. Despite having the 2nd finest defensive ranking within the common season, no Celtics acquired votes for defensive participant of the yr. Their protection has been good within the first two video games and so they should proceed to make protection a precedence on this recreation and so they should play that powerful protection for 48 minutes and never let up.

Rebound – Subsequent to protection, rebounding is a key to successful. A lot of rebounding is effort and need. The Hawks averaged 44.4 rebounds per recreation within the common season (tenth) whereas the Celtics averaged 45.3 rebounds per recreation (seventh). Within the 3 common season video games, Atlanta out-rebounded the Celtics 143-136. The Hawks out-rebounded the Warmth 63-39 within the play-in recreation. The Celtics out rebounded the Hawks 54-45 in Sport 1 however the Hawks out-rebounded the Celtics 49-44 in Sport 2. The Hawks had 19 offensive rebounds for 13 second likelihood factors in Sport 2. The Celtics have to aggressively go after each rebound. They will’t afford to offer the Hawks further possessions by permitting them to seize rebounds.

Take Care of the Ball – The Celtics averaged simply 13.4 turnovers in the course of the common season (seventh). Final yr within the playoffs, they turned the ball over 353 occasions, which was essentially the most of all of the playoff groups. That they had over 30 extra turnovers than Golden State. In Sport 1, the Celtics had 17 turnovers, which led to 19 factors for the Hawks. In Sport 2, they they’d 16 turnovers for 14 factors. The Celtics have to remain centered and never make careless passes and watch out to not permit the Hawks to get steals as a consequence of careless dribbling. They should maintain the ball and never give Hawks simple factors by turning it over.

Be Aggressive – The Celtics can’t afford to return in anticipating a simple win after out-playing the Hawks within the first 2 video games. That will be a giant mistake as a result of the Hawks play exhausting and can come on the Celtics exhausting, particularly since they’re taking part in at house. The Celtics have to be the group that performs tougher and that wishes this win extra. They should be aggressive in diving for unfastened balls, in going to the basket, in getting stops on the defensive finish, and in going after rebounds. The Celtics have to play with power and aggressiveness for 48 minutes on this recreation with no let up.

X-Components
On the Street – The Celtics are taking part in on the street for the primary time in these playoffs. They received their two house video games and now they’ve to remain centered on taking part in their recreation and never be distracted by taking part in on the street and on journey and on the hostile crowd (though the final time the Celtics performed in Atlanta, there have been nearly as many Celtics followers within the crowd as Hawks followers). The Hawks play a lot better at house and so the Celtics should work even tougher to get a win on the street.

Teaching – The Hawks have a really veteran coach in Quin Snyder, however he has solely been teaching the Hawks for twenty-four video games. Snyder was head coach of the Utah Jazz for 8 seasons earlier than resigning there. These are the seventh straight playoffs for Snyder, which is the longest streak by any lively head coach. Joe Mazzulla received the primary 2 video games in Boston, however Sport 3 is the place teaching turns into much more essential. Snyder will watch movie and make changes and it will likely be as much as Joe Mazzulla to counter these changes.

Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport slightly in a different way with some calling it tight and others letting them play. Some refs simply make head scratching calls whereas others strive very exhausting to get them proper. In lots of video games, they name the sport tight within the first half after which loosen up on the calls within the second half or vice versa. The Celtics have to regulate to how the sport is being referred to as and deal with taking part in the sport and never on the unhealthy calls or no calls.