NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference – Round 1
Tip-off: Saturday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: Atlanta -5.0, Total: 204.5

Two of the best offensive teams in basketball meet when the Hawks host the Celtics in Game 1 on Saturday.

Both the Celtics and Hawks struggled a bit heading into the postseason, but they are both serious contenders to emerge out of the Eastern Conference playoffs. These teams both play beautiful basketball and there should be plenty of points scored in this series. Boston and Atlanta met four times during the regular season and three of those games went OVER the total. It’s also worth noting that the Hawks were the team that got the best of this series. Atlanta was 3-1 both SU and ATS when facing Boston this season and that includes a win-and-cover on the road in December. The Hawks are also 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS when hosting the Celtics over the past three seasons. One trend worth keeping an eye on is the fact that the Celtics are an impressive 5-2 ATS when playing a team that has defeated them three straight times this season. That is especially important because it means that Boston really knows how to adjust. Both teams are expected to be at close to full strength in Game 1, so hopefully injuries do not play a major part in determining the outcome of this series.

The Celtics played very good basketball during the regular season and they are a team that can really get it going offensively. Boston averaged 105.7 PPG (5th in NBA) this season and the team moved the ball well, averaging 24.2 APG (6th in NBA). In order to keep that type of play going, PG Isaiah Thomas (22.2 PPG, 6.2 APG, 1.1 SPG) will need to have a big series for the Celtics. Thomas struggled against the Hawks during the regular season, though. In four meetings with the team, Thomas averaged 20.5 PPG, 6.0 APG and 2.3 SPG on 38.3% shooting. The scoring was there, but Thomas will need to be more efficient on Saturday. He is the leader for Boston and needs to set an example by taking good shots in this one. Two guys that could really swing this series in Boston’s favor are SG Avery Bradley (15.2 PPG, 1.5 SPG) and SF Jae Crowder (14.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.7 SPG). Both guys are very good defenders and will need to do their best to slow down a Hawks team that is outstanding offensively. They’ll also need to contribute on the offensive end, and there’s no reason to believe they won’t be able to. Bradley is a 36.1% shooter from the outside and Crowder knows how to score from anywhere on the floor. Two question marks heading into Saturday are Cs Kelly Olynyk (10.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG) and Jared Sullinger (10.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG). The Celtics need production from the center position, so one or both of these guys will need to step it up in this series. Both players can score, but they’ll need to compete on the defensive end in order to make a positive impact.

The Hawks were one of the most surprising teams in the league a year ago, but they flamed out in the playoffs. They’ll now be looking to find some success in the postseason and that starts with this tough matchup with Boston. Atlanta, like Boston, is a very good offensive team. The Hawks averaged 102.8 PPG (12th in NBA) during the regular season and they also moved the ball well, averaging 25.6 APG (2nd in NBA). The Hawks are, however, very good defensively as well. They allowed just 99.2 PPG (6th in NBA) this season and will need to find a way to slow down the Celtics on Saturday and in the rest of this series. If the Hawks are going to make a run in the postseason then guys like PF Paul Millsap (17.1 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 1.7 BPG), C Al Horford (15.2 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.5 BPG) and PG Jeff Teague (15.7 PPG, 5.9 APG, 1.2 SPG) will need to be at their best for Atlanta. Millsap and Horford will have the luxury of going up against a Celtics team that does not defend the post very well. They should be able to get some easy buckets at the rim, but they’ll also have no trouble stepping out and knocking down some outside shots in this one. Teague, meanwhile, will need to hold his own in his matchup with Isaiah Thomas. He has the speed to stay with him defensively, but he’ll also need to make an impact on offense. He averaged just 13.0 PPG against the Celtics this season and is capable of playing a lot better than that. An x-factor for Atlanta might just be SG Kyle Korver (9.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG), though. Korver struggled a bit with his shot this season, but he is still a 42.9% three-point shooter in his career and is good enough from the outside to swing a game by himself. If he can get it going from deep then the Hawks will be in good shape moving forward.