Maybe 4-0 wouldn't have been so great

[Snoopy the Celtics Beagle]

Back at the start of the playoffs, like everyone else except the 
Hawks themselves, I predicted a 4-0 sweep by the Good Guys.  Get the 
tuneup games done and then play the winner of 
Cleveland/Washington.   Back then, that series looked to go 5 games.

But now, it's different.  Cavs/Wiz is heading into game 6 tonight, 
right alongside the Celtics/Hawks.  Now, suppose, for a moment, that 
the Celtics had done as expected in Atlanta and summarily destroyed 
the Hawks in 4 straight.

That means the Celtics would have been waiting around since Monday, 
April 28, with Cavs/Wiz still undecided today, May 2.  If the Cavs 
win, the earliest that the C's could play them is next Sunday, which 
would mean the C's would have not played a game for nearly a 
week.  If Washington takes game 6, that puts the start of round 2 
several days later, with Boston having no idea which team they'll be 
facing, and having to do half-assed preparation for both.

Instead, the C's have an unexpectedly longer series, but are getting 
a real taste of how desperate a team in the Playoffs can get.  You 
think they'll look past the second round as they did the 
first?  Nope.  Since they have to focus on Atlanta, they don't really 
have time to worry over which team they might face in round 
two.  They have to put Atlanta away before anything else can happen.

Yes, it's a tad embarrassing to be taken this far by the Hawks.  But 
it's also a vivid demonstration of one of Doc Rivers' concerns--not 
closing out games.  By every reasonable measurable means, the most 
Atlanta should have done is won game 3, and that's giving them credit 
for the youth, athleticism, and playing at home for the first time in 
9 years (plus Violet the Incompetent being an official at that 
game).  But the C's didn't close out the Hawks in game 4, and here we 
are, awaiting Game 6.

Boston has to show it can close out a game, and a team, 
tonight.  They need to come out the way they have in the home games, 
pedal to the floor for 48 minutes, playing crunch-time defense the 
whole way.  Let teams shudder at the thought of getting disassembled 
by that defense.  While I'm certain that if Phillips Arena is nearly 
full, it'll be because Boston fans showed up in droves, they still 
won't be the majority, so make your voices heard!  The team needs our 
support, now more than at any time yet this season!

We can do this.

Celtics win this one by double digits and celebrate on the Atlanta court.

Banner #17, coming to the Boston Garden this June.

Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
Please visit the <http://www.celticsbeagle.net/>Celtics Beagle Website