The collection strikes to Atlanta for Recreation 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 residence, however the Hawks will doubtless play a lot better at residence with their followers behind them. Within the common season, the Hawks had been simply 17-24 on the highway however they had been 24-17 at him, displaying that they’re a a lot better staff at residence.
This recreation is essential for the Celtics probabilities to win the collection. Groups that win the primary two video games of a best-of-seven collection at residence 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). Nonetheless, 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 gained 10 of the 12 collection thus far. Their final assembly was in 2016 when the Hawks gained 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 gained the collection in 6 video games. For the reason that Hawks moved from St. Louis to Atlanta in 1968, the Celtics have gained 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 minimize on his capturing hand that has been therapeutic but in addition giving him some issues. Presently solely Danilo Gallinari (knee) is on the damage record for the Celtics whereas the Hawks haven’t any gamers listed.
Possible Celtics Starters
Celtics Reserves
Malcolm Brogdon
Grant Williams
Sam Hauser
Luke Kornet
Blake Griffin
Mike Muscala
Payton Pritchard
Robert Williams III
Justin Champagnie
2 Approach Gamers
JD Davison
Mfiondu Kabengele
Out/Accidents
Danilo Gallinari (ACL) out
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Possible Hawks Starters
Hawks Reserves
Saddiq Bey
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Bruno Fernando
AJ Griffin
Aaron Vacation
Jalen Johnson
Vit Krejci
Tyrese Martin
Garrison Matthews
Onyeka Okongwu
2 Approach Gamers
Trent Forrest
Donovan Williams
Out/Accidents
None listed
Head Coach
Quin Snyder
Key Matchups
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Marcus Sensible
Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photos
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Trae Younger
Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photos
Marcus Sensible 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 sphere and 33.5% from past the arc. In two video games towards the Celtics this season, Younger averaged 31 factors, 4 rebounds, and 11 assists per recreation. Nonetheless, 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 sphere and 22.5% from past the arc within the first 2 video games. He has stated that he’ll play higher on this recreation and the Celtics should be prepared for him to play tougher and certain shoot higher.
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Derrick White
Picture by Jason Miller/Getty Photos
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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 sphere and 34.4% from past the arc. In 2 video games towards 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 nicely 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 sphere 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 sphere 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 sphere 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 must defend nicely as he may warmth up rapidly if left open. Malcolm Brogdon is the newly topped sixth Man of the Yr and the Celtics will want a great recreation from him.
Keys to the Recreation
Protection – Protection is at all times a key to profitable video games and protection turns into much more necessary 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 obtained 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 profitable. A lot of rebounding is effort and want. 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 Recreation 1 however the Hawks out-rebounded the Celtics 49-44 in Recreation 2. The Hawks had 19 offensive rebounds for 13 second probability factors in Recreation 2. The Celtics must aggressively go after each rebound. They’ll’t afford to provide 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 probably the most of all of the playoff groups. They’d over 30 extra turnovers than Golden State. In Recreation 1, the Celtics had 17 turnovers, which led to 19 factors for the Hawks. In Recreation 2, they that they had 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 resulting from 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 come back in anticipating a simple win after out-playing the Hawks within the first 2 video games. That will be an enormous mistake as a result of the Hawks play exhausting and can come on the Celtics exhausting, particularly since they’re taking part in at residence. The Celtics should be the staff that performs tougher and that desires 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 must play with vitality 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 highway for the primary time in these playoffs. They gained their two residence 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 highway and on journey and on the hostile crowd (though the final time the Celtics performed in Atlanta, there have been virtually as many Celtics followers within the crowd as Hawks followers). The Hawks play a lot better at residence and so the Celtics should work even tougher to get a win on the highway.
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 gained the primary 2 video games in Boston, however Recreation 3 is the place teaching turns into much more necessary. Snyder will watch movie and make changes and it is going to be as much as Joe Mazzulla to counter these changes.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport slightly in another way with some calling it tight and others letting them play. Some refs simply make head scratching calls whereas others attempt 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 known as and deal with taking part in the sport and never on the unhealthy calls or no calls.