Both teams are coming off huge losses, but at least the Hawks can take solace in knowing they were dumped by the top team in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics, meanwhile, couldn’t get anything going in their loss to Brooklyn. Atlanta lost six times at home all last season and the Hawks are halfway to that number following Saturdays drubbing by the Cavaliers.
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LETDOWN
The Celtics will move forward for the next several weeks without starting point guard Marcus Smart, who injured his knee Friday in a win over the Nets. The injury will not require surgery, but coach Brad Stevens said the team will reevaluate Smart as he starts his rehabilitation. He’s averaging 9.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals over 27.2 minutes per game, but his presence is felt more on the defensive end for Boston. His absence was noticeable Sunday when the Nets scored 59 first half points while shooting 55.8 percent from the floor. Smart is a big reason that, through Friday, Boston was on top of the league in defensive rating. Much of his impact can be overlooked and his presence allows Boston to utilize either Isaiah Thomas or Avery Bradley in a reserve role to add scoring punch off the bench, which has allowed the second unit to thrive.
INJURIES
Smart is expected to miss a minimum of two weeks and likely more with his knee injury. Bradley, Thomas and Evan Turner will assume a bigger role but at least one of those three will need to pick up the slack on the defensive end.
Hawks guard Kent Bazemore is out indefinitely with an ankle injury that has already cost him three games. Reserve forward Tiago Splitter left Atlanta’s last game with a hip injury and is questionable to play against the Celtics.
Also, starting point guard Jeff Teague returned Saturday from an ankle injury that forced him out of action for three games. He came off the bench and scored 13 points in a loss to Cleveland.
KEY MATCHUP
Teague returned from his ankle injury and looked smooth even though the Hawks were overmatched by the Cavaliers on Saturday. After missing three games he should be close to the form that made him one of the best attackers in the game last season. And without Smart to defend him, Teague will have some takes to the rim. This also allows him to draw defenders for a clean dish, much like the Nets did to Boston on Sunday. Jarrett Jack sliced through the Celtics defense for 22 points and four assists. Teague saw only 25 minutes of action Saturday because the Hawks were getting plastered by the Cavs and he was back on the floor for the first time in a week. His minutes will increase as will his numbers. He also looks for redemption after scoring just six points in a 106-93 loss to the Celtics on Nov. 13.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
It would be hard to expect the Hawks to replicate the success they had last season when everything just seemingly came together. They have a target on their back after winning 60 basketball games and claiming the No. 1 seed in the East and the rest of the conference is vastly improved. But Atlanta isn’t going anywhere and at 9-6 they’re right about where we thought they’d be. Injuries have limited the games of Teague and Bazemore, and coach Budenholzer took some time off for personal reasons, all having an effect on the teams start. The Hawks are fundamentally sound and shoot the ball extremely well and that will play a major role against the Celtics. With Smart out of the lineup, the Hawks will take advantage of Boston minus their top defender and sparkplug.
Atlanta 103, Boston 97
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