Boston Celtics face Achilles’ Heel as Atlanta Hawks pounce in Game 3.
1. Introduction
The Boston Celtics faced a Game 3 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs. Despite this setback, the Celtics are still favored to advance to the second round in five or six games. However, the game did expose a potential weakness for the Celtics: their inability to maintain their edge as front-runners.
Boston Celtics' Championship Aspirations in Jeopardy After Game 3 Loss
2. Celtics Not Great Front-Runners
The Celtics demonstrated their tendency to struggle as front-runners in Game 3 against the Hawks. With a 2-0 lead in the series and the opportunity to put the Hawks away, the Celtics let their guard down, allowing the Hawks to capitalize on their momentary lapse. This trend has been present throughout the regular season, where the Celtics had a worse winning percentage against the NBA’s bottom-10 teams compared to the top 10.
3. Hawks Capitalize on Celtics’ Momentary Lapse
The Hawks took advantage of the Celtics’ brief loss of focus and surged ahead with a 20-3 second-quarter run. The Celtics attempted to fight back but ultimately lost 130-122 as the Hawks’ stars Trae Young and Dejounte Murray hit clutch shots in the closing moments of the game. The Celtics’ lack of defensive intensity allowed the Hawks to shoot 65 percent from the floor in the first half and make a series-high 15 3-pointers.
4. Celtics Must Play Championship-Level Defense
If the Celtics want to make it to the NBA Finals, they must play championship-level defense as they did in the 2022 postseason. During that postseason, the Celtics held their opponents to just 102 points per game and bulldozed their way through the Eastern Conference. To do so, they need to re-establish their edge and determination to shut down their opponents.
5. Expect Celtics to Bounce Back in Game 4
The Celtics’ players know they let their guard down and allowed the Hawks to get back into the series. However, they are a resilient group and are expected to bounce back in Game 4. With their backs against the wall, the Celtics are likely to play with greater intensity and focus, which could prove to be the difference in the game.
6. Conclusion
The Boston Celtics need to maintain their edge as front-runners if they want to win the NBA championship. The loss in Game 3 exposed their Achilles’ heel, but they have the talent and determination to overcome it. Expect the Celtics to come out firing in Game 4 and re-establish their dominance over the Atlanta Hawks.
