Adios, Atlanta

The Celtics weren't blatantly more talented than the Hawks. This wasn't a case of a clearly superior team outclassing an inferior opponent. This was about being clutch, about putting yourself in position to make big plays and then executing. The Celtics were clutch in this series. The Hawks weren't. Just look at the last minute of Game 6 as Exhibit A.

The Celtics needed a big game out of Kevin Garnett and they got one. 28 points, 14 rebounds, he was a monster. And he made the shot that gave the Celtics the lead with 30 seconds left. Pierce, Rondo, and Garnett have each taken turns carrying this team. They take the pressure off each other, and they step up when the others need them.

The last time Rondo didn't have 10+ assists was March 9th. He only had 8 last night. But like I said, when one of the stars is off, the others step up. It's like having a car with three engines.

Bradley, Bass, and the bench didn't provide much offense, but the defense was able to hold Atlanta at bay. That's KG again. The Celtics missed their three-pointers, but they got to the line (and made their free throws). They didn't put the Hawks on the line. That was a big difference maker.

Because the NBA doesn't re-seed after each round, the Celtics face the 76ers in the Conference Semifinals. That means the Celtics have home-court advantage (3-0 against Atlanta at home, 24-9 at home in the regular season). It's a silly system, but I'll take it this year. That series starts tomorrow in Boston.

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Atlanta Stays Alive

This was a game of runs. Until the last few minutes when it became a game of back-and-forth execution. The Hawks won that end game. They executed just a little bit more than the Celtics did.

The Celtics gave themselves chances to win. That's what winners do. They made some huge steals and had the ball when the clock expired. Even before that, Paul Pierce had a chance to give the C's an 88-87 lead, but didn't quite get high enough to land his jumper. Then Rondo stole an inbounds pass, but wasn't able to find an open teammate or get a shot off himself.

To me, the ultimate result of this series is not in doubt. The Hawks need to play at 100% of their capability just to barely beat the Celtics. When the Celtics are playing at 100%, they win with ease. Even last night, one more play made by a Celtic and the series is over.

That's how the Celtics won in 2008 and got to the Finals in 2010. They didn't dominate their opponents, they put themselves in close games and made the important plays. They lost 10 times in the '08 playoffs. It's okay for Championship caliber teams to lose. Because they're usually already ahead in the series and they'll usually win the next game.

That next game is Thursday in Boston.

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The Hawks Have No Heart

Before yesterday's game, I was worried about the status of Avery Bradley's shoulder. Did it go back into its socket?

The medical question I should have been asking was, do the Atlanta Hawks have a heart? The answer, thoroughly demonstrated last night, is no.

The Celtics hit their shots in the 1st, pulled away, and it was all over after 12 minutes. The Hawks tried to come back by forcing shots, failing to realize the basic fundamental principle that basketball comebacks are made with defensive stops, not quick offensive scoring. The Celtics pulled even further away.

By halftime it was 64-41. The Hawks would have to outscore the Celtics by more points in a half than they'd manage to score on their own in a quarter. Everyone in the Garden knew that wouldn't happen, especially the Hawks themselves.

Here are some of the more obscene stats from Sunday's win: Pierce had 24 points, despite only playing 17 minutes. He scored 10 points in the 1st, and was a big reason why the Celtics pulled out to such a big lead. He was +33 in those 17 minutes.

No man has burned Atlanta as ruthlessly as Pierce since General William Tecumseh Sherman in November 1864.

Rondo had a double-double, 20 points, 16 assists. Just another day at the office for him.

Bradley was able to play, and he scored 6 points in 19 minutes.

The Celtics were able to give their starters some rest and give minutes to their bench. KG only played 27 minutes. Ray Allen was in for 19.

The Hawks are dead. I wouldn't be utterly surprised if they pulled a win out of their ass down in Atlanta. But this series is over. I'm not lighting the cigar yet, but I'm taking it out of the humidor, and reaching for my lighter.

Game 5 Tuesday night in Atlanta.

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Celtics Clutch Again

At the start of the 4th quarter last night, I contemplated turning the game off. Not out of boredom or frustration, but because I already knew how the game was going to end. Even though it did take 5 extra minutes to determine the outcome.

It's a matter of character and experience. That's what wins in the 4th quarter of a playoff game. Talent becomes less relevant. The Hawks and Celtics have similar levels of talent, but not similar levels of character.

The Celtics have experienced pressure before. They play in one of the most sports crazed cities in the country. Most of them have played in Game 7 of an NBA Finals. The C's have played 76 playoff games since 2008. This was Paul Pierce's 113th career playoff game. Compare that to the Hawks, who play in the sports-apathetic city of Atlanta. And who do have some playoff experience, but not much as a group. And most of their playoff experience ends early.

Ray Allen returned. Which provided an emotional boost to the early part of the game, and more tangibly, 13 points off the bench. The Celtics' can't catch a break with their injuries, though, as Avery Bradley left the game with an injury to his left shoulder. It's been a problem all season and last night it "went out" according to Doc Rivers. They'll know more about that injury today, but hearing Rivers talk about not being able to "put it back in" was not a promising prognosis.

Another triple-double from Rondo in a big game. I wonder if he'll continue to get criticism for only getting those in nationally televised games. Because I guess performing your best in the biggest games is a bad thing now?

20 points and 13 rebounds from Garnett. He started this series very cold, but has returned to form. If the Celtics are going to make a run in these playoffs, they need consistency from KG. They need all their big players to play big.

Paul Pierce only shot 3 for 12 from the field but had 21 points. That's because he got to the line. 14 for 14 on his free throws. Free throws were a difference maker in this game. The Celtics had 10 more attempts, and 1o more made. Free throws kept the game close in the middle stages.

As the pressure increases on Atlanta, the quality of their performances should decrease. However, the Bradley injury could be a significant setback for the C's.

Game 4 Sunday night at 7:00pm.

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No Rondo, No Problem

Somebody had to step up in Rajon Rondo's absence. Paul Pierce has built a career on stepping up when it matters the most. 36 points, 13 rebounds. We've seen this kind of night from Pierce before in postseason play. He is, without a doubt in my mind, a member of the prestigious Best Celtics Ever club.

He scored 13 points in the 4th quarter. The Hawks, as a team scored 14.

Garnett also showed up. 15 points from him along with 12 rebounds. Bradley added 14. And the bench contributed 14.

Although the Celtics didn't look like the superior team for the first three quarters, they kept themselves in the game. Atlanta pulled out to a lead, but the Hawks haven't been very good at maintaining leads, let alone building on them.

Then in the 4th quarter, the Celtics demonstrated the difference between a talented team and a Championship team. Atlanta faced pressure and failed. The Celtics faced pressure and excelled.

And speaking of pressure, all of it is on the Hawks. Rondo will be back for Game 3, and the Celtics now have home court advantage in this series. The Celtics were 24-9 in the Garden this season. The Hawks were 17-19 on the road.

Game 3 Friday night in Boston.

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Rondo Suspended 1 Game

We knew it was coming. At least most of us did. Some Celtics' fans were hopeful it wouldn't.

I love Rondo. He has his haters here in Boston and I find them to be simpleminded. Trading a good point guard because he can't hit free throws? Or trading him because he's not the absolute best at his position (and not acquiring the absolute best to replace him)? It doesn't make any sense.

Rondo's haters are having a field day with this incident. "This is what I was talking about." His haters will also see his value tonight as the Celtics try to win a pivotal Game 2 without him.

I like Rondo, but he deserved this suspension. You can't touch an official. Period.

I love the arguments some Celtics' fans are making, about the poor quality of the officiating, and how that instigated Rondo's actions. That's just dumb. And what Rondo did was inexcusable, no matter how bad the refs were.

And shouldn't he and we be accustomed to seeing bad refs? Is this his and our first taste of NBA basketball?

Rondo acted like a child. The NBA hands out automatic suspensions for intentional contact with an official. There is little grey area here. Little room for debate. It sucks, but Celtics' fans really have no grounds for complaint.

Celtics Bumped Off in Game 1

Up until the final 41 seconds of the game, I was actually feeling quite positive about the Celtics. They'd played below their capability, fell into a deep hole, yet nearly pulled themselves out of it. Rondo had been playing great (20 points, 11 assists), KG was hitting shots (after starting 1 for 9), and Pierce had just sunk a tough 17 footer that was vintage Paul Pierce.

Then Rajon Rondo acted stupid. He screamed into the ref's face, got a technical, then bumped the ref in the back and got ejected.

I don't know if he deserves to be suspended for the bump. He does deserve to be suspended for being a moron. Hopefully the NBA won't punish him for that. It puts the Ron Artest thing into perspective. If Rondo gets 1 game for a slight bump and Artest got 7 for a vicious elbow, what does that say about the NBA's disciplinary process?

Anyway, Rondo acted like an idiot. Whatever you may think about what punishment he may deserve, he put himself in the situation to be suspended.

It was an ugly game for most of the Celtics, well before the bumping incident. They didn't play defense in the 1st quarter. KG was useless until the 2nd half. They missed all 11 of their three-point attempts. Pierce was 5/19. Garnett was 10/18. The bench only scored 4 points.

Ray Allen was missed. Especially in that bench department, and the three-point department. When one of your best players is sidelined with injury, though, it's up to the other good players to step up. Garnett and Pierce didn't. Not until very late in the game.

Rondo was by far the Celtics' best shooter last night.

Atlanta didn't pull too far away. The C's were able to reel them in a few times. The Celtics outscored the Hawks 56-52 after the 1st quarter. So this was shaping to be a loss, but a promising loss. Until Rondo put himself at the mercy of David Stern.

Game 2 is Tuesday night. And without Rondo, the Celtics don't have much of a chance. He's that important to this team, which is why what he did was all the more moronic.

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AP Photo

Celtics Win With Heart

Down in Miami, the Celtics shot the lights out. It was a pretty to behold, high scoring, high flying win. This was tougher, grittier, harder. The Celtics showed their heart in this game.

Think about this. The Celtics shot 19% worse last night than they did in Miami. And they still won. Thanks mostly to Rajon Rondo. Who recorded yet another triple-double. 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 20 (yes, 20) assists. That's 19 straight games with 10+ assists for Rondo.

He made all four of his free throws.

The Celtics could be the most dangerous team in the NBA once the playoffs start.

They're up in Toronto Friday night, the start of back-to-back-to-back games and 4 road games in 5 days.

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AP Photo