NBA Playoffs Basketball Matchup: Hawks vs Celtics
Well, the Hawks had all of the momentum in the world for a game. Plus another two and a half quarters. They had an 11-point lead with under three minutes to play in the third as they were looking to hold serve at home in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Date/Time: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, May 3, 2012
Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Broadcast: ESPN
Spread: OFF
Over/Under: OFF
But the Celtics beat Atlanta 87-80 in Game 2 to tie the series at one game apiece, giving them a chance to take control in Game 3 on Friday.
Josh Smith was in and out the game. Playing in short spurts until he finally had to leave the game for good with a little over four minutes remaining.
The Celtics were also without Rajon Rondo, so the Hawks had every chance to take a commanding 2-0 lead in this one without Rondo and Allen on the floor. If Smith is forced to miss this one and beyond though, the Hawks do not have much of a chance here. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Atlanta would already be up against it seeing as the series has transitioned back to Boston now as they stole home court advantage with their Game 2 win. They are going to need a max contract effort from Joe Johnson in here if they want to get back into this thing.
Boston has been nearly unbeatable at home during the playoffs since Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen arrived in Boston in 2007-08, which epitomizes why the Hawks’ home court advantage was so crucial.
Free Pick : Boston- Thanks to their loss of Game 2, and potentially Josh Smith, losing home court may prove to be the crushing blow to Atlanta’s hopes of advancing. Barring a miraculous healing, the Celtics should win Game 3 in convincing style.
