Celtics-Hawks Playoff (Game 7) Highlight

Playing at home court, the Celtics' defence have suffocated the Hawks to shooting 29.3%. Another impressive stats is the foul-calls, allowing only 16 free-throw attempt, which takes away any chance of closing-in the score. So the Hawks have been completely blown out.

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Kendrick Perkins has eight points, six rebounds and two blocks in the first quarter.

Doc Rivers said, "I thought (Perkins) set the tone defensively as much as anyone. I thought Kendrick and P.J. Brown, in the stretch he played in the second quarter, was as good as you're going to get."

'Sleepless in Boston ...'
Several guys could not sleep after the loss in game 6. Ray Allen finds himself sending text message to teammates at 12 the night before the game. Perkins couldn't sleep until 2:30 Sunday morning. Garnett likewise. Doc Rivers needs to take Ambien. Paul Pierce is so happy that the game was at 1pm. He said, "there was no way I could of sat at home today all day today because of my anxiousness to get back on the court after game 6 from the way I been feeling the past couple days."

Celtics-Hawks Playoff (Game 6) Highlight

The Hawks have forced game 7. They are down by 12 in the second and nine in the third, but play a strong fourth quarter.

The Celtics continue to double teaming Joe Johnson every time, but he is able to set up all his teammates for open looks all game long. That lead to a huge run in the fourth that put Celtics on its heals.

The Hawks continue to enjoy the foul-call advantage (47-25 free throws). Pierce fouls out on a disputed call and spends final 4:44 minutes on the bench.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV, ESPN).

Celtics-Hawks Playoff (Game 5) Highlight

Doc Rivers get Paul Pierce into offence right from the start. Despite running a gauntlet of shoves, bumps and elbows on every move to the hole, Pierce regains his aggressiveness, looking for his shot and in the flow.

Defensively everyone turn up the intensity, doubling Joe Johnson on every possession and holding the Hawks to just four fast-break points.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV) and Pierce's highlight (NBA TV).

(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Celtics-Hawks Playoff (Game 4) Highlight

Celtics have a 10 points lead to begin the fourth quarter, but these young Hawks refuse to go away. Joe Johnson is un-stoppable, scoring 20 of his 35 in the fourth. He combined with Josh Smith scores all of Hawks points in the quarter. Smith also has 7 blocks.

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One stats which stands out is the foul-call disparity (33 to 18 favouring the Hawks). And the Celtics making only 10 of 18 doesn't help either.

Paul Pierce seems still bordering by sore back, unable to score inside the paint. He still gets 18 points, but misses 4 of 8 FTs.

(Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

Celtics-Hawks Playoff (Game 3) Highlight

The lost will serve a valuable lesson to the Celtics in terms of playoff experience. As Doc Rivers summarize, "they want to win the game individually ... and not as a team".

Credit to the Hawks as well (47.4% FG and 55.6% 3P). They are all fire-up from the start, motivated by the pre-game video, showing of Muhammad Ali's stunning win over George Foreman in 1974's "Rumble in the Jungle."

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Celtics-Hawks Playoff (Game 2) Highlight

The Hawks play a more physical game, looking to match Celtics' intensity. Paul Pierce hurts his low-back, having collided and hit the deck hard, and then Hawks' Josh Smith landed on top of his sternum and rolling over his head.

Watch game highlight (TNT), Pierce's collision (TNT) and post-game press (NBA TV).

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Celtics-Hawks Playoff (Game 1) Highlight

After settling in the second-half, Celtics' defence force the Hawks shooting 38.2% FG and 21.4% 3-Pts.

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Rajon Rondo, in perhaps the most anticipated matchup of the night, thoroughly outplayed the man who has tied the Hawks together into a cohesive unit - Mike Bibby. Rondo finished with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, nine assists and six rebounds. He also applied enough pressure to frustrate Bibby, who had just one assist.

(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

In his first playoff game, Rondo is pretty poised (more). The Hawks repeatly dare him to shoot in the third quarter. Rondo takes the bait, and his first baseline jumper is an airball. He didn't back-off. Rondo makes his next three shots.

Kevin Garnett, who scores 16 points with 10 rebounds, and Ray Allen, who has 18 points, leads the team in rebound and scoring.

Celtics-Hawks Game (Round 3) Highlight

The Hawks are likely to face the Celtics for the first-round playoff. Doc Rivers said the Hawks will not be an easy playoff opponent. "They’re athletic as heck. We’ve struggled with athletic teams ..."

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It is Sam Cassell (20 points, 5 assists) and Celtics' second unit help to win the game, combined with some regrettable substitution by the Hawks. For the past 4 out of 5 games, Rivers have played the second unit for the entire fourth quarter (keeping the starters minute to down to below 30).

(Photo by Matt Stone)

"I am going to play next year, right here," Cassell said. "As long as Doc is running this ship, I ain't going nowhere. "When asked why he is confident Boston will re-sign him, Cassell said, "If they can find a better backup point guard than me, I'd like to see it."

Celtics-Hawks Game (Round 2) Highlight

The Hawks could possibly be Celtics' first round playoff opponent (playoff projection). Watch highlight (NBA TV, ESPN).

The most encouraging is to see how well Kevin Garnett plays, an good indication of his recovery from the abdominal strain.

Garnett has 20 points and 16 rebounds in 35 minutes, blocking no shots but altering several Hawk forays to the hoop. He is the anchor of a defense that held the visitors to 39.5 percent shooting.