Celtics @ 7: Can C's Steal Home Court With Game 2 Win In Atlanta?
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Celtics have an uphill battle if they want to even their playoff series with the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night, with Avery Bradley (ankle) out for the near future and Kelly Olynyk's status unknown.
The C's didn't do themselves any favors in their Game 1 loss, getting off to another slow start that led to a 19-point deficit. But they stormed back to take a fourth quarter lead, only to fall 102-101 after Atlanta went on a late push.
But while losing Bradley will hurt, that shouldn't end any hope of the Celtics taking the series. Adam Jones & Rich Keefe discussed Boston's chances going forward on Monday night's Celtics @ 7, and both are feeling confident after that second-half surge in Game 1.
"The slow starts, they have to stop. The Avery Bradley injury is significant -- not insurmountable in my opinion, but significant. I still feel good about Game 1, because they showed Atlanta and they showed themselves that, even when they're down they're not out," said Jones. "That piece of their identity, against Charlotte and in the regular season in Atlanta, they lost that identity a little bit.
"They lost Game 1, but I do feel good about their performance, especially if they come back in Game 2 and get a split in Atlanta," added Jones. "If they never picked themselves up off the mat after that first half I'd feel terrible, but they continue to show backbone and now Atlanta knows you cant put this team away. I think that's important."
Rich Keefe agrees that there is a lot of positive to take out the second half of Game 1.
"The Hawks had such a big lead and the fact they couldn't just coast to a win, even they have to know they're in for a hell of series here. They saw that lead disappear and here come the Celtics late in the fourth like they did at the end of the regular season [against Miami]," said Keefe. "I feel OK as far as any kind of loss is concerned, especially when you look around the NBA this weekend and the teams that lost got embarrassed.
While the Bradley injury hurts the team's depth, it shouldn't keep Boston from winning the series.
"The way the Hawks play and their personnel, it's not as bad as if they were playing Toronto. They have one good scoring guard in Jeff Teague, so Marcus Smart will have to step up more," he said. "It sucks, there's no way around it, but I don't think it will keep them from winning the series."
Jones & Keefe also discuss Boston's slow starts, which have plagued them the last three games going back to the regular season:
Tune in to Celtics-Hawks Game 2 on 98.5 The Sports Hub -- the flagship station of the Boston Celtics. Pregame coverage with Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell begins at 6:30pm!