This is it. 82 games in the books. Playoff basketball is back in Boston, for real this time. While it was fun playing those four games vs LeBron last year, this time its legit. In the summer, this team was labeled as a ‘promising’ team for the future, but 48 wins later we see this teams ‘promising’ future has arrived much sooner than expected.
Needless to say, Atlanta is not an ideal first round matchup. The C’s will have their hands-full from start to finish, but lets take a look at who needs to step up and how they’re to do it.
Atlanta is a team that is not afraid to get into a shootout, as we saw the last time these two met just about a week ago. Boston’s perimeter defense will need to do their part on Atlanta’s shooters, specifically Kyle Korver. In the previous meeting Jae Crowder did a solid job on Korver, but Atlanta can be very creative in how they get Korver his shots, so much of what Boston needs to do defensively relies on their ability to communicate. It’s important to not let Korver get comfortable, and obviously limit as many open shots as possible.
Another player who could make a huge impact for ATL is Kent Bazemore. Bazemore seems to always play his best ball vs the Celtics including 21 points in their last meeting. Most of his shots come from around 20 ft out, so it will be up to Evan Turner to lock him down.
Atlanta, much like Boston, plays exceptional team basketball, thanks in large part to the production of Paul Millsap. Millsap should be the biggest concern for Boston, as he is among the most versatile players in the game today, an
d perhaps the most under appreciated as well. Nothing too flashy or too special about his game, but everything he does he does right. It will be up to the Boston bigs to try and limit him. Millsap can be a dominant player in the pant and on the glass as well as a very efficient shooter. I look at Boston’s Jared Sullinger as a poor man’s Paul Millsap, so it will be up to him to try and shut him down.
As it was all year, the Celtics success is not determined by any one player, but if it were it would be on the shoulders of Isaiah Thomas, who has been nothing sh
ort of spectacular all year. IT averages close to 23ppg and 7apg and has proven he can play with the best of ’em, as we saw in his duel with Steph Curry on the first of April. Standing at just 5’8, Isaiah lives by the saying “Heart over Height” which has really applied to this entire team. While Thomas was an All Star, the C’s really don’t have one of those marquee super stars, that hasn’t stopped them all year, and it wont stop them now.
If the Celtics hope to make any kind of deep run this spring, I believe it will be in large part due to Marcus Smart. It’s very possible for Smart to score no more than 4 or 5 points and still be the best player on the floor. Any one who has watched the Celtics this year know how special he can be, although his stats can be very underwhelming. He has
certainly has the ability to score 20+, but thats not what he does. Diving for a lose ball, pass to assists, lock down defense, all things that don’t appear on the stat sheet but nonetheless, playoff basketball is something Marcus Smart should thrive in. Most players “turn it on” come playoff time, but Smart has had it on since opening night. One thing I can guarantee about Smart, he will never be out-hustled. Never.
They got here playing as a team, if they wanna go anywhere, they need to continue to play as a team.
My pick: Celtics in 7.
C’s up.
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