On Friday night the Atlanta Hawks completed the regular season sweep of the Celtics. Apparently they are still stewing over that first round exit we handed them two seasons ago, as they clearly raise their level of play when given the opportunity to silence some of the C's biggest trash talkers in Garnett, Pierce, and Rasheed Wallace. What a difference a few years makes. In the 2008 playoffs, after the Celtics trounced the Hawks in Game 7 at the Garden, the C's snickered at the notion of a renewed Hawks/Celtics rivalry. It turns out the Celtics may have been on to something, because two years later and it still isn't a rivalry because the Hawks officially own the Celtics. Two games at home, two on the road, four extremely dibilitating losses that have left the Celtics looking for answers. Unfortunately, there isn't much time to dwell with the defending World Champion Lakers coming to town on Sunday.
At this point, most Celtic fans have either hit the panic button or have their hand in the ready position. Aside from Marquis Daniels, the team is almost completely healthy, yet at the end of some of these recent games they look like a banged up, and tired group. It is concerning that this team can't seem to finish a game, especially after playing so well through the first 3 quarters or so. Two years ago the Celtics would suffocate teams before they could show any signs of mounting a comeback against them. They would enter halftime up by 15, and finish the third quarter with a 25 point cushion. They literally never stopped imposing their will. Recently they don't have that same mentality. Maybe it's health, maybe it's not being hungry, or maybe their just gettting older. I really don't know at this point. But, I do have a hard time believing that this team is just going to completely fall apart. I mean, they came out of the gates as the best team in basketball, and there is way too much character, and pride in that lockerroom for things to derail this abruptly.
So, it's two games into the C's most crucial 3-game stretch, and their 0-2. If KG and Co. are tired of hearing that their window of opportunity is closing, they will need to beat the Lakers tomorrow afternoon. If Eddie house makes a few shots, Rasheed actually plays in the paint, and they eliminate the fourth quarter turnovers things might be a whole lot easier for them during tomorrow's matinee. Time for the Celts to get some of that "swag" back that helped them become the most hated team in the association. Another loss could be devastating, especially with the trade-deadline looming, and a GM who is always willing to listen to offers.
