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It always amazes me when there is a team like the Hawks that is playing well and yet their fans aren't really behind them.    Unlike the Raptors, who aren't playing so well, yet have over a hundred pages on  3 or 4 different boards,  it's hard to find an active game thread for the Hawks.  I mean, even the Bobcats have a more loyal following than the Hawks.  I say, move the Hawks to Seattle and then everybody's happy.   Most telling are the comments about Josh Smith.  I don't want him on the Celtics.  Hawks fans, who have watched him day in and day out don't like him, so, why would we want him?  Enjoy today's comments....

We need to smash these guys. It all comes down to which Jeff Teague shows up tonight.

We need to play through Horford tonight, Bass won't have a chance at guarding him

Magic and Simmons gave the Hawks a little credit. Hope we don’t make them look stupid.

Wow, the crowd really went nuts over a Paul Pierce three Maybe Atlanta really is a crappy basketball audience.
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Tonight, the Celtics won a thriller over the Hawks in overtime, 107-102. In overtime, the Celtics made big shot after big shot to rally back from a four-point deficit. Pierce had a dominant performance tonight, leading the Celtics with 27 points including big jumpers late in regulation and a clutch, go-ahead three in overtime. Jason Terry also came up big as he scored the last five points of the game and 19 overall. This one didn't turn out the way I thought it would, but I'll take this any day.

Tonight's USOTN goes to the horrible offensive-rebounding by the Celtics. At one point, the ESPN commentators joked that Boston had just one more offensive board than they did. They even mentioned that the record for worst offensive rebounding game was 0, held by what I believe to be the '07 Spurs. The Celtics finished with just 2, with Atlanta having 10. However, on that last three by Terry, Avery Bradley came up with the team's second and final offensive board of the game.

Like I said, I expected tonight to be a lot different. Usually when the Celtics host the Hawks it's a casual, 10-15 point win. Tonight's game brought me memories of a playoff game between these two teams last year at the Garden, where the Celtics did exactly what they did tonight by blowing a big lead to Atlanta and then pulling it out in overtime. But in both of those games, they still won. If they had won this game by 30, the standings wouldn't be any different.


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8:34: So far at the Garden, the play has been very competitive. Both teams are making all their shots and making a lot of turnovers. The first quarter showed the Celtics take a 28-26 lead over the Hawks, highlighted by a rare three pointer by KG. Pierce has also made two threes while Green, Wilcox, and Bradley each have 4. Those five players that I just named are the only ones to have scored so far for the C's.

9:09: Going into halftime, the Celtics have a solid, 52-47 lead over the Hawks. However, their lead should be much larger. At one point in the quarter, the Celtics went on an 8-0 run to take a 41-31 lead. Immediately following that, Atlanta went on a dominate, 13-2 run to take a one-point lead. That lead didn't last long, but the Celtics could've prevented it. One the bright side, they have the overall lead.

9:52: The Celtics and Hawks continued their competitive play in the third. The quarter just ended and the C's lead 72-68. Pierce leads the C's with 18 while KG has 15. Jeff Teague has had a huge game for Atlanta, with 18 points and 7 assists. Josh Smith leads the Hawks with 20.

10:29: The Celtics and Hawks are heading into overtime tied at 94.

10:46: Tonight's OT period was absolutely unbelievable. After the Hawks scored the first four points of overtime, the Celtics rallied back for a 107-102 victory. The C's got three clutch threes by Jeff Green to give them a one-point lead, Pierce to give them a one-point lead, and Terry to give them a three-point lead. Terry would also hit two free throws in the final seconds to clinch the game. Stay here at CG, post game and USOTN coming soon.
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After their thrilling win over the Pacers, the Celtics will head home for a meeting with the Hawks. The Hawks currently sit a game ahead of Boston for the six seed in the east, so this one will be very important. Recently, the C's have looked unbeatable at home, and I kinda expect that to continue. The only reason why I won't guarantee a win is because you can't. Last week, the Celtics won a home game over an equally good Warriors team. If they play like that on Friday then they have the big win. Here are Friday's five things:

5. GET SOME MORE FREE THROWS:
In Indiana, the Celtics only managed to get nine free throws. Free throws are really easy points, so it's nice to get them. When you're contested, don't fade away, lean in.

4. GET STOPS AFTER POINTS:
This may seem like an obvious one, because it is. But the Celtics struggled at doing this a lot against the Pacers. When you make a big shot, get back on defense. Don't give it right back.

3. GET BASS MORE SHOTS:
Brandon Bass is a guy with a solid shot and big guy body. For some reason, he never gets shots. I think he deserves more because right now he is nothing but wasted talent.

2. GET PIERCE HOT:
On Wednesday, Paul Pierce scored a solid 13 points but only shot 4/15 from the field. He's been a very inconsistent player this year and he needs to have more stretches of good games.

1. DON'T FEEL ANY PRESSURE:
Against the Pacers, the Celtics trailed basically the whole game. The reason why they won: they stayed focused. They didn't care what the score was and naturally won the game.

Tip-off for Friday's game will be at 8:00 pm ET. Live Game Updates will be available here.
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Great win by the Celtics.  Loved that pick by Pierce on the last play.  And loved Jeff Green's shot.  Such an exciting win.  The refs weren't helping the Celtics any either.   It wasn't completely one sided, but there did seem to be a bias.  Enjoy today's Comments.  I've highlighted my favorites in bold.  What are yours? 

Could be a first round preview. I hope so anyway.

The Celtics scare the hell out of me. I don't know why they have been written off by the national media. They are still a very good very dangerous team that can easily make a deep playoff run. If the Pacers were to meet them in the playoffs they could bow out in the first round.

I think they're going to miss Rondo come playoff time. I think the Pacers would beat them in 5.

I figure if the C’s are going to be as big a threat as some are saying now, they won’t be anywhere near the 7 seed by the end of the season.

Highlight reel of Bradley eating Augustin alive Not a great way to start the night off.
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The Celtics faced off against the second best team in the Eastern Conference Wednesday on the road in Indiana. This was the team's second of back to back games after coming off a solid win against the Philadelphia 76ers. The team faced a tall task literally and metaphorically against a Pacers team that hold's the best defense in the NBA. The Pacers also have one of the best frontlines in the NBA with great big men in Roy Hibbert and David West.

In order to win this game the Celtics needed to control the paint and limit the Pacers big men on the boards. In the first half the team really struggled both offensively and defensively. They gave up a lead early and continued to trail throughout the game. Nevertheless the Celtics never game up, remained aggressive, and showed tremendous heart getting stops down the stretch and tying the game with just minutes left. In the final possession of the game Doc Rivers drew up a great play for an open lay-up for Jeff Green who finished the play with just .5 left on the Clock.
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Tonight, the Celtics won a thriller in Indianapolis, 83-81. The C's trailed pretty much the whole game before a huge rally in the fourth quarter. Few words can describe the feelings that we all felt heading into last play. Boston executed the play perfectly, finding Jeff Green wide open in front of the rim for the go-ahead layup. The Pacers couldn't complete the pass on the last play and the Celtics had won.

Tonight's USOTN goes to the poor three-point shooting by the Pacers. While the Celtics shot a decent 7/17 from behind the arc, Indiana shot a horrendous 6/27. It's easy to say that this costed Indiana the game. One more make, and the C's lose. As always, leave your USOTNs below.

Tomorrow, the Celtics will have a well-deserved off day. On Friday, they will be back in Boston to play a huge game against the Hawks. The Hawks currently sit one game ahead of the Celts for the six seed, so that one will be crucial for the standings. Home-court advantage should help the C's, but I wouldn't count on it too much. The Hawks are a semi-ok 15-16 on the road.
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7:36: The Celtics couldn't keep pace with the Pacers in the first quarter. After twelve minutes, they trail 27-19. KG leads the C's with 7 points. They'll need a lot more out of him and Pierce in the final three quarters. Keep watching.

8:11: The Celtics made a very small comeback in the second. In the quarter, the Celtics outscored the Pacers 23-22 to make it 49-42 Indiana at halftime. Garnett still leads the C's with 8, despite scoring just 1 point in the last twelve minutes. Avery Bradley is second with 7, but is shooting just 3/9 from the field. Jeff Green also has 7, including a three-pointer.

8:43: We may have to accept that the Celtics are gonna lose tonight. The third quarter just ended and they are down 68-58. Garnett still leads with 12 despite doing nothing in the last few quarters. Pierce has 10. Bradley has 9.

9:18: In the fourth quarter, the Celtics made a huge rally. At one point late in the quarter, the C's were down 81-72. After that, they ended the game on a 12-0 run including a game-winning layup by Jeff Green with .5 seconds left. The final score: Celtics 83, Pacers 81. The C's are now 33-27. Stay here at CG, post game and USOTN coming soon.
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Good road win for the Celtics.  The Sixers have had it rough with injuries this season.  Poor Sixers fans want to root for a loss for more ping pong balls but they hate the Celtics so much that they are torn about it. Great game by Bradley.   I've highlighted a few favorites.  What are yours? 

All the teams are tanking right now. Very hard to make progress in draft order. Every loss is important. Still don't know why we beat GS, and then we were happy about it.

I SOOOO want us to lose every game, but even I am debating hoping for a win because I despise the Celtics

I know that feeling... Its like supporting the tank route tonight would on some level require me to cheer for the Celtics.... I just don't think I can do it.

I don't care how bad our team may be this season. The disdain for the likes of Pierce, Garnett, and the rest of the green is strong.

F*** you, Boston and more specifically you, Danny Ainge.

Hey guys, let’s talk about everything “relevant” in basketball, oh and by the way, I guess there’s this sixers/Celtics game.
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On Tuesday night the Celtics opened up their first of back to back games with a trip to Philadelphia. The Celtics came in looking to extend their win streak to three games while effectively resting their veterans to prepare for their game tomorrow night in Indiana. The 76ers have had a rough year going 23-35 coming into tonight. They've also haven't had their All-Star Andrew Bynum for a single game after acquiring him in an offseason trade.

The Celtics were able to get in some much needed rest and practice this past week playing just one game in seven days. Philadelphia on the other hand is a midst a tough schedule playing five games in nine days. The Celtics needed some of their young players to step up big and shoulder the scoring load. Doc Rivers and the team got just that, led by Avery Bradley who topped all scorers with 22 points. Thanks to their offensive execution and great team defense the Celtics won their third straight 109-101.
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After tonight's fun win in Philadelphia, the Celtics will continue their short road trip when they visit the Pacers tomorrow night. The Pacers have played very well recently, having won 7 of their last 10 games. Since All-Star Weekend, the Celtics have gone 4-3 with a 3-3 record on the road. Last Monday, the Celtics had a very high-quality road win when they beat the Utah Jazz. Let's hope that they can repeat that kind of play. Here are tomorrow's five things:

5. GET LEE SOME MORE SHOTS:
Tonight, Courtney Lee scored just 5 points on 2/7 shooting. The reason why everyone else scored more points was because they got more shots. Get Lee the ball more. He deserves it.

4. HAVE TERRY SHOOT THE BALL MORE:
I like how Terry is selfless and all, but he needs to shoot the ball more. In some situations tonight he would pass up an open shot and end up turning it over. Sometimes it's better to be selfish.

3. GET WILLIAMS MORE SHOTS:
Terrence Williams was the only Celtic that didn't score tonight. Williams has a great shot and I know that a few of them would go in if he got some. He only got one tonight, and missed it.

2. KEEP THE "OLD GUYS" HOT:
Tonight, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce each scored a solid 18 points. These guys played a huge part in tonight's win and need to stay hot. Because when one of these guys starts missing his shots, the whole team falls apart.

1. GET A GOOD START:
I'm not gonna lie, the Pacers are a very tough team to beat. The Celtics will need a good start, middle, and finish tomorrow if they're going to win. I'm not saying that they have no hope, but I'm kinda favoring Indiana in tomorrow's game.

Tip-off for tomorrow night will be at 7:00 pm ET. Live Game Updates will be available here.
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Tonight, the Celtics continued their great play with a 109-101 victory over the Sixers. They didn't dominate as much as I thought they would, but I won't complain about this one. Going into it there was no guarantee that they would even win, so I'm happy. Avery Bradley was definitely the C's best player, with a team-high 22 points. The old guys Garnett and Pierce continued to age with 18 points each.

Tonight's USOTN goes to the performance of Jordan Crawford. Crawford has started his Celtics career a little slow, but scored a nice 12 points tonight. He shot 4/7 from the field, with two of those makes being three-pointers. I look at this as his turning point, and I expect him to do this every night from now on. Thanks for the effort.

There wasn't really anyone who played bad tonight. Even Terrence Williams, who didn't score, was able to get two assists. Green seemed to make a lot of shots, as he had 16. He seems to have evolved into a very good player. It was a great night for Celtics-Nation, and let's do it again tomorrow.
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6:30: Tonight, the Celtics will finally play another game of basketball when they visit the Sixers. The Celtics have looked pretty good in their last few games, and I expect them to continue their good play tonight. Wells Fargo Center is never an easy place to win, but the hometown team has struggled lately. I fully expect the C's to win the game solely because of Philly's struggles. I can't predict the future, but it's just my opinion. Remember that updates will be available here after each quarter. Check them out.

7:47: So far in Philly, it has been a game of runs. At one point, the 76ers went on a 10-2 run to take a six point lead. Later on, the C's would go on an 11-2 run to take a three point lead. No matter how you look at these mixed results, the Celtics still lead after one quarter 26-23. Keep watching.

8:18: The Celtics played at a very high level in the second quarter. The Sixers struggled to keep up as the Celtics took a 53-46 lead heading into the half. This game has been very entertaining and I'm looking forward to the second half. They just gotta keep up the good work. Keep checking in.

9:50: The Celtics have defeated the 76ers, 109-101. They could never put the Sixers away, but eventually time just ran out. Anyway, it was a solid victory that should give them some momentum heading into Indiana. Stay here at CG. Post game and USOTN coming soon.
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Tomorrow, the Celtics will head back on the road for a matchup with their division-rivals, the 76ers. So far this season, the Celtics are just 1-3 against Philly and 0-1 on the road. Despite those bad numbers, the Celtics have played well recently with two consecutive victories over the Jazz and Warriors. I'm not sure that the C's will be favored tomorrow night, but I do believe that they have a decent shot. In order to pull of a somewhat upset, they'll have to follow tomorrow's five things:

5. FIX TERRY:
In Utah, Jason Terry had arguably his best game of the season. But against Golden State, Terry scored just 7 points on 2/11 shooting. He's been inconsistent all season, and I really want him to improve.

4. BETTER OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING:
Against the Warriors, the Celtics were out-rebounded on the offensive boards 13-2. This has been a recurring problem all season and it's become unacceptable. They simply need better effort.

3. GIVE CRAWFORD MORE SHOTS:
On Friday night, Jordan Crawford scored just four points on 2/6 shooting. I feel like he could score a lot more if he would get an average of 10 shots a game. But so far it just isn't happening.

2. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SIXERS RECENT STRUGGLES:
In their last ten games, the 76ers have gone just 2-8. Obviously they aren't on the hottest streak, so the Celtics should be able to take advantage of their struggles. It doesn't guarantee a win, but it does increase their chances.

1. FIX KG:
Against Golden State, Kevin Garnett shot a terrible 2/10 from the field. This team usually follows his lead, so he has to play well. They'll need him to be big tomorrow night.

Tip-off for tomorrow's game will be at 7:00 pm ET. Live Game Updates will be available here.
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