With the Atlanta Hawks beating the Heat, they advance to face the second-seeded Boston Celtics. The Hawks broke expectations, with all 17 ESPN experts picking the Heat to win the game. The Hawks look to tackle a big challenge ahead of them: the Boston Celtics.

Celtics’ Scouting Report

The Celtics are a tough matchup for the Hawks. They rarely have any weaknesses on both ends, having the second-best offense and the third-best offense throughout the whole NBA. They also have plenty of playoff experience, coming short by two games in the NBA Finals. NBA Head Coach of the Year Finalist Joe Mazulla has done an excellent job in game planning and leading the Celtics, persevering through the loss of previous head coach, Ime Udoka. Like the Hawks, the Celtics have a deep lineup. They have two stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, to lead the attack. In addition, they have Derrick White, Al Horford, Marcus Smart, Grant Williams, and 6MOTY Finalist Malcolm Brogdon. The Hawks will have a tough time containing Tatum, Brown, and their excellent bench. 

Hawks Keys to Winning

For the Hawks to upset the Celtics, everyone needs to be shooting the 3-pointer well, especially Hunter and Collins. Hunter has been in a slump, struggling to shoot from the 3-pt line. He needs to be aggressive on offense. He needs to shoot the 3-pointer better and go downhill and attack the rim using his size. Hunter needs to have an outstanding series and outplay his match-up, which will likely be Brown or Tatum. Collins also needs to become more aggressive and ready to shoot, as it will help stretch the floor as Horford will be on him. Trae is an honorable mention, as he is had a down year in his 3-pt percentage, but if he keeps knocking down the open ones, it is not a big deal.

Final Verdict

With everything all said and done, I have the Boston Celtics winning in five or six games. The Celtics are a terrible match-up for the Hawks. They would have matched better with the Bucks, as they have better personnel dealing with Giannis, Holiday, and Middleton. The Celtics will tear up the Hawks’ defense, as they have too much firepower like the Hawks. The Hawks can still steal games, as they have the necessary firepower on offense. Theoretically, the Hawks can beat anyone in seven games if they steal one game due to their pattern of keeping a .500 record.