Celts Cast Out Hawks: Boston 114- Atlanta 90

[Bill Cooper <wfcooper@tiac.net>]

	It sure seemed like we were watching franchises going in 2
different directions.  The Hawks are certainly deteriorating, and
while the sample size is still very small, the C's seem headed in the
right direction.  At least by the numbers this was the strongest Celts
road performance of the year, as they just rolled over the Hawks.

	The Celts actually looked like they had a plan to deal with
Mutumbo (of course they didn't stick to it, but it's a start).  They
were clearly looking to penetrate, and then dish to Dikembe's man,
when he closed and tried to block the shot.  It resulted in Battie and
Pots accounting for 14 first quarter points.  Vitaly got a quick 8,
but seemed to be having a hard time keeping contact with Mutumbo (not
all his fault, certainly).   Walker was getting off to a very fast
start from the field, while Pierce was continuing his recent outside
shooting slump.  The Celts looked as though the might blow the Hawks
out in a huge way, as they jumper out to a 24-12 lead midway through
the period.  As the starters, went to the bench the pace of the Celts
offense began to slow (and the efficiency decreased).  By the end of
the period, the C's lead had been reduced to 33-25.

	The C's were really cold at the start of the second, and were
only able to score one basket (pierce) over the first 5:50.  The Hawks
took advantage (a bit) to cut the lead to 36-32.  Walker hit a three,
and Fortson made a nice contribution on the offensive board, to help
the Celts regain the momentum.  Mutumbo picked up his third foul of
the period, and had to sit down (though it actually seemed to upset
the Celts that they couldn't execute the drive and dish plan with him
out of the game).  The C's pushed the margin up to 54-43 at the half.

	The Celtics came out determined to put the game away at the
start of the third.  They pushes the lead up to 66-47 with some nice
ball movement.  Then Mutumbo picked up his 4th foul, and after Pierce
found Dana for a three the Celts were up 71-49 and had the game in
hand.  At this point, the Celts seemed to lose some of their focus.
Fortson (who otherwise played quite well) got into the game, and
immediately got in hot water with the refs.  After picking up his
first foul of the game (?) he got called for a T after he didn't get a
foul call he thought he deserved (he also gave Mutumbo a bit of a love
tap).  Meanwhile the Celts began to shoot some outside shots, and make
some low percentage decisions.  They got into the penalty, and rather
than pull in their horns and try to play fundamental defense they
continued to try to steal the ball, and basically dug the hole deeper.
Against a good team it might have cost them, but against the Hawks, it
just knocked  a few points off the lead.  At one point Atlanta cut the
lead to 14 (77-63).  The Celts righted the ship just before the end of
the period, and it ended with the score standing at 83-67.

	The Celts continued to let the Hawks hang around at the start
of the 4th.  Finally it was the Hawks who lost their cool, as both
Ellis and Wright got called for technicals after they thought they
received less than just treatment from the refs.  Walker went from hot
to incandescent and pushed the Celts lead up to 106-81, with about
4:00 to go.  Pitino got the starters off the court.  The rest of the
game was garbage time.  The final was 114-90.

     Another FG% advantage for the Celts (.495-.431)  When you combine
that with 6  fewer turnovers and 6 more offensive boards , Dr.
Naismith sez, "you win the game".  No matter whet the refs think.  The
refs did think that the Hawks should get 34 trips to the line compared
to the C's 11.  But the Celts had 27 more field goal attempts.

Lineups:
Celts: Anderson, Cheaney, Pierce, Walker, Potapenko
Hawks: Terry, Jackson, McLeod, Henderson, Mutumbo

Players:  Where can I get some of that stuff they're giving Toine?  He
was out of his mind tonight.  12-18 from the field.  And they were not
easy shots at all.  He was 4-5 on threes, was putting in all sorts of
shots with Hawks hanging, banging and clawing him, and went 2-2 from
the line (and he should have been there at least 10 times).  He had a
finished FG% of .833.  And he also had 6 boards, 6 assists and 2
steals in 31 (!) minutes.  That had to be the best shooting game of
his life.

Pierce: kind of a glass half full\half empty deal for Paul.  He
continues to struggle with the jumper, and continues to find other
ways to help the team. He was 1-4 on threes, but 7-15 overall.  He
made some nice drives to the basket.  And in 33 minutes he had 4
boards, 3 assists , 5 steals and 2 blocks. 

Anderson: The Josh Ozersky inspired "K.A. would be better if he
couldn't shoot the ball at all" theory continues to gain validation.
Kenny shot 3-9, and had one of his best games of the season with 9
assists, 6 boards and 2 steals in 28 minutes.  Made a number of fine
passes.  He and Toine combined on a beauty, as Walker hit a cutting
Kenny with a behind the back pass out of the post, and then Kenny
found Battie slashing for a huge jam. 

Potapenko: they got him his looks and he was back in the groove again.
8-11, most of the 12-15 foot jumpers.  Mutumbo would not challenge him
out of the paint, and Vitaly cleaned up.  Also had a respectable 7
boards in his 15 minutes.

Battie: another solid effort with 10 points and 5 boards in 23
minutes.  I still hate to see him facing up for jumpers from 20 feet.

Fortson:  hate to see him get into it with the refs, especially when
he seems to have gotten past the stage where they whistle him just for
stepping onto the floor.  That said, another strong effort with 11
points and 9 boards in 24 minutes.  He also picked up some major floor
burn brownie points, when one of the Hawks through a pass that skipped
about 8 feet away from Danny.  Fortson threw himself across the floor
and grabbed the ball before it could bounce off the knee of the Hawk
it was intended for.

Barros: continued to shoot the ball with much increased confidence.
10 points and 2 assists in 15 minutes.

Griffin: I love Adrian, and every game I look for signs that he's
returning to his November form.  I thought I saw a few tonight, but I
may just be delusional.  Scored 4 points and had 3 steals in 23
minutes.

Williams: I think he missed all his jumpers tonight.  If you think
about it, Eric is like a poor man's Antoine Walker.  He needs to mix
it up.  Shoot the jumper, go to the low post or drive depending upon
who is defending him.  In general, this season, he has relied to much
on the jumper.  

Cheaney: Brutal 1-6 shooting.  I can't understand why a guy with this
kind of history is having so much trouble finding the basket.

Overton: 10 minutes mostly in GT.  Did get three assists.

Coaching: Nice prep for the Mutumbo menace by Pitino.  The best game
the Celts have played against a shot blocker in the PitinoEra.  Also,
while you'd have to be an idiot to locate the reason for the C's
resurgence anywhere but with Toine, the C's are getting pretty
consistent play at the center spot.  In 62 minutes (nice in and of
itself) they had 37 points and 21 boards.  And most nights, at least 2
of the three have been playing pretty well.  

	The most any Celtic played tonight was Pierce with 33 minutes.
Going into Dallas won't be easy, but they should have a legitimate
shot at the first back to back road win of the year.

The Celts are now 29-36.  They play tomorrow night in Dallas.  A very
merciful 8:00 start.

Bill Cooper
wfcooper@tiac.net