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What the Celtics Say They're Focused on as Series Moves to Atlanta
In Game 1, the Hawks' largest lead was two, and after the Celtics went ahead 8-6, Atlanta played from behind the rest of the contest, trailing by as much as 32 points in a 112-99 loss.
Boston produced 54 points in the paint. Defensively, the hosts did an outstanding job executing their drop coverage, and with their guests not shooting well from the start, the Celtics' energy and activity made it even harder for the Hawks to find their rhythm.
In Game 2, it was like watching a layup line as Boston generated 64 points in the paint in a 119-106 victory.
Defensively, the Celtics again did an excellent job staying in front of drives, pairing that with swarming help defense, pressuring their visitors into 16 turnovers. It also led to Boston blocking 12 shots, including three apiece by Al Horford and Derrick White.
But the Celtics also coughed the ball up 16 times. And they gave up 19 offensive rebounds, leading to 13 second-chance points for the Hawks. The combination resulted in the latter taking 101 shots to the former's 86, again outshooting Boston by double digits.
It's an area of concern the defending Eastern Conference champions repeatedly brought up after Tuesday's win, with head coach Joe Mazzulla stating, "As good as it feels, we haven't gotten better in two games because we haven't been able to control the shot margin."
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Jaylen Brown, who registered 18 points, swiped three steals and swatted two shots, expressed, "We've gotta keep the same mentality and the same mindset. We took a great shot from Atlanta tonight. I thought (that) we responded well by moving the ball; different guys stepped up and made plays. And that's what we're gonna need in the playoffs. And now, going on the road, we've got to take that same mentality and look to be aggressive in a tough Atlanta environment.
"So, this is a part of the journey, two games up is great, taking care of home, but being able to win games on the road is gonna ultimately make you a championship team, so this is the first test, and I'm looking forward to it."
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Jayson Tatum, who stuffed the stat sheet, matching Dejounte Murray with a game-high 29 points, a team-best ten rebounds, six assists, a block, and a steal, conveyed the following about what Boston needs to improve as the series shifts to the Peach State.
"I think turnovers. I think they had 19 offensive rebounds; we've got to do better than that. I think they shot the ball more than we did. Things like that, we've got to do better at going into Game 3 or 4 because they probably feel like if they had made some more open shots, that the series might look different. So, that's some things that we can control; turnovers and getting more shots up, essentially."
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Derrick White, who took on a starring role offensively, pushing the pace in transition and capitalizing on the Hawks loading up against the Celtics' stars, put 26 points on the board.
He also played outstanding on and off-ball defense, with his three blocks a testament to both, including when he stayed in front of Trae Young, swatted his shot, and the ball wound up with Malcolm Brogdon, who drilled a shot from about half-court to beat the first quarter buzzer.
Post-game, White discussed his teammates empowering him, and they expressed how important he is to their championship pursuit.
White also addressed the reality that Atlanta will likely play better at home, meaning Boston has less margin for error, and losing focus could prove costly.
"We did what we were supposed to do; held home court. And now we've got the real challenge of the playoffs, which is winning on the road. We know they're gonna play better at home, and we're gonna have to step up our level of play."
Further Reading
The Celtics Give Their Evaluation of Battle on the Boards in Game 1 Win vs. Hawks
The Celtics Discuss Their Game 1 Win vs. the Hawks: 'We Can't Take Our Foot Off the Gas'
The Celtics Are Pushing Robert Williams to Take His Offense to the Next Level
