Friday: Boston 29-14 (16-7 V) @ Atlanta 29-15 (18-5 H)

[HMFFL]

Thursday: Boston @ Orlando


ALL-STARS





Favored to Win:
Atlanta by 4 points

Over/Under:
191

Recent Meetings:
01/11/10 BOS 96 - ATL 102
01/08/10 ATL 93 - BOS 85
11/13/09 BOS 86 - ATL 97
04/03/09 BOS 104 - ATL 92
03/27/09 ATL 93 - BOS 99
12/17/08 ATL 85 - BOS 88
11/12/08 BOS 103 - ATL 102
05/04/08 BOS 99 - ATL 65
05/02/08 ATL 103 - BOS 100
04/30/08 BOS 110 - ATL 85

[evildallas]

I am torn on tonight Boston @ Orlando game. I'm not sure who I desire to lose more.

[raleigh]

I'm not sure who I desire to lose more.

The one in the same division, but I'm hoping for overtime first.

[ATL DirtyBird]

Overtime heartbreaker in favor of the Celts. Should be a doozy. Hopefully Josh comes out energized and does work.

[HoopsGuru25]

Vince Carter picked a great time for the rest of the East to go on a massive decline.

[raleigh]

Vince Carter picked a great time for the rest of the East to go on a massive decline.

Just gets you all excited about a five-year contract for JJ, huh?

[DeShaunRed]

I am torn on tonight Boston @ Orlando game. I'm not sure who I desire to lose more.

I'm rooting for the Magic to lose this one.

[evildallas]

Unfortunately the Magic win in a comeback. There is a silver lining however faint. The Hawks now control Woodson's ASG coaching destiny. If somehow we can win both of the next 2 games then Woodson is the ASG coach. It's a long shot as we've yet to show that we can in play Orlando close let alone win and you got to figure that Boston is going to come out motivated. We lose either game and then someone else likely gets the nod because the records are that close.

So come on guys WIN 2 FOR WOODY!!!!

[MaceCase]

Celts are really at a crossroads. Do they continue playing tired legs in order to maintain homecourt advantage or do they rest those legs and hope that they can survive the playoffs, healthy but playing on the road? IOH, they are screwed either way.

[raleigh]

Celts are really at a crossroads. Do they continue playing tired legs in order to maintain homecourt advantage or do they rest those legs and hope that they can survive the playoffs, healthy but playing on the road? IOH, they are screwed either way.

They play defense well enough that they can win on the road in the playoffs. If it were me, the choice would be easy.

[killbuckner]

Personally I think they are going to go with plan C- trade expiring contracts for Jeffries and Nate Robinson to give them some more depth and energy.

[evildallas]

Personally I think they are going to go with plan C- trade expiring contracts for Jeffries and Nate Robinson to give them some more depth and energy.

The problem with that is they only have one sizable expiring deal and that's Ray Allen. Other than that they would have to package Scalabrine, House, Tony Allen, and Marquis Daniels for Robinson, Jeffries, and Landry. It would gut their depth unless some of those guys were bought out and returned.

They'll probably sign a buyout gift wrap to augment the bench, but if they make a trade I can see the Nate one working out.

[killbuckner]

House, Allen, and Scalbrine for Jefferies and Robinson works no problem. To me thats a huge upgrade in depth- not a downgrade in depth. Robinson is worlds better than House and Jeffries is better than Allen. Scalabrine is just worthless.

[evildallas]

House, Allen, and Scalbrine for Jefferies and Robinson works no problem. To me thats a huge upgrade in depth- not a downgrade in depth. Robinson is worlds better than House and Jeffries is better than Allen. Scalabrine is just worthless.

That was my first thought, but I tried it in the Trade Checker and it said it didn't work. If it is in error and it would actually work then I agree that is a good trade. Scalabrine would probably be bought out and return anyway if they wanted him.

Edit: ESPN's trade machine was ok with it, so maybe it would work under the cap.

[evildallas]

I know this sounds weird, but will Boston be looking past us to their Laker game on Sunday? They were hyping it on SportsCenter and it made me wonder.

[Hawkeyes]

I know this sounds weird, but will Boston be looking past us to their Laker game on Sunday? They were hyping it on SportsCenter and it made me wonder.

I highly doubt it. They know they're 0-3 vs us for the year, and this is their last chance to get a win vs us, and i'm sure they desperately want revenge. Plus, they lost a game they had no business losing last night, so they'll want to makeup for it tonight. I fully expect Boston to give Atlanta their best shot tonight. We really need the win, because I'm far from confident about our chances vs the Magic tomorrow based on the previous two performances vs Orlando.

[MaceCase]

They play defense well enough that they can win on the road in the playoffs. If it were me, the choice would be easy.

Well that's what makes me wonder. Back during their championship run they boasted one of the historically best defenses yet they would have barely made it out the east without HCA. Many blamed it on the fact that they were a team that was relatively new to each other but I wasn't buying it.

This year they are older, battling injuries, not as good on defense (yet still damn good) and I question whether even their bench is as good as it was 2 years ago. They have a great record on the road so far and wins against quality opponents but I sincerely doubt that even if they were to have their core as healthy as humanely possible for men of their certain age......That they'd be able to close out a series traveling to either of Cleveland, Atlanta or Orlando for a game 7.

[MaceCase]

I know this sounds weird, but will Boston be looking past us to their Laker game on Sunday? They were hyping it on SportsCenter and it made me wonder.

I highly doubt it. They know they're 0-3 vs us for the year, and this is their last chance to get a win vs us, and i'm sure they desperately want revenge. Plus, they lost a game they had no business losing last night, so they'll want to makeup for it tonight. I fully expect Boston to give Atlanta their best shot tonight. We really need the win, because I'm far from confident about our chances vs the Magic tomorrow based on the previous two performances vs Orlando.

Completely agree. A lot of what makes this Boston team what they are is their swagger. They are bullies and a lot of what allows bullies to do what they do is the psychological advantage they have over their victims. Right now all the momentum and confidence is on our side. They just lost a game to another upstart team in their conference that knocked them out last year and are facing a possible season sweep by a team that gained all of it's confidence from taking them to 7, 2 years back. At this point in time the C's need to be far more worried about facing confident east teams in the playoffs before they worry about any meaningful matchups against the Lakers.

[evildallas]

I agree with both your takes. If we weren't 3-0 against them this year they might look ahead, but given the way the year has gone they should be focused on us. I'm hopeful that whomever is guarded by KG makes him move laterally to test his knee. I'd assume he's exploitable until he proves he can do it defensively on those wheels.

[420greg]

GO HAWKS!

Hoping for a good, long, tough, hard fought game tonight, maybe Quad OT, and lots of minutes for your starters.