Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
It is difficult to pinpoint one moment that caused the Celtics to collapse so quickly, but this is a good place to start. With 10 minutes left in the first quarter and Boston already trailing, 8-2, Hawks forward Kent Bazemore drove through the lane and inadvertently kneed Smart in the ribs.
Hunter, who had played just 315 minutes during the regular season, replaced Smart. On the ensuing inbounds pass, he briefly had his back to Korver, who came sprinting around Al Horford’s screen of Thomas, toward the right corner.
Stevens noticed this danger before Hunter did, as he desperately clapped his hands and yelled for Hunter. By then, though, it was too late. Korver caught the pass and swished the three, and Stevens slapped his hands together in frustration.
It is never good to give up a 3-pointer, but the greater danger in this case was that it was a harbinger. The Celtics had held Korver to 1-for-10 shooting in Game 1, and suddenly he was already on the verge of finding a rhythm in Game 2.
Globe – In just minutes in Game 2 the Celtics were doomed
The whole point of the playoffs is to win each game. Some may call that an oversimplification; fair point. But it’s the logical conclusion that flows from the conventional wisdom that every possession matters in the postseason. If you screw up even a few possessions in an NBA playoff game, you not only can lose that game, but the entire series.
That’s how it looks in Boston vs. Atlanta, which has proven that the Celtics’ margin for error is as wafer thin as the after-dinner mint in Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life. (Warning: Link is NSFW or for weak stomachs.) One wrong move by the Celtics in this postseason and everything blows up.
Hot take: Except for the first 6:32 of Game 2, the Celts have played the Hawks pretty evenly. Atlanta is not dominating. Game 1 was a one-point loss, and if the Cs had missed only 38 or 39 shots in the first half instead of 40, maybe Boston wins. Game 2 was a debacle, but after that opening stretch the Celts outscored the Hawks. Again, a play or two here and there, or a few minutes of falling asleep while the opponent takes advantage, makes the difference in the playoffs.
As an example, look at the Mavs-Thunder series. Oklahoma City won the opener by 38. Dallas won Game 2 by a single point, after both Durant and Westbrook missed point-blank looks and a putback was 0.1 second too late. Rick Carlisle doesn’t care about the blowout loss now because the final scores don’t matter. What matters is, it’s now 1-1, not 2-0. The seven-second sequence that ended Game 2 altered the entire Dallas-OKC series. Wafer thin.
Same situation for Boston. They may be in a hole, but if they start the game well and gain confidence, finally hit their normal shots, and are lifted by the home crowd, the Celts could close to within 2-1. Will they? Considering their personnel situation, it will be difficult. But one win on Friday could change everything.
Related: CBS Boston – Historically Bad Start Dooms Celtics In Game 2 | Herald – Bulpett: Dominique Wilkins knows not to count out Celtics
On Page 2: The series so far, summed up in two tweets
Despite the optimism in the item above, the harsh reality is: Players have to play better, coaches must coach better.
Hawks OK with Marcus Smart from long range. pic.twitter.com/0aOuF87icc
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) April 20, 2016
Brad Stevens saw Kyle Korver coming and RJ Hunter didn’t. Watch Stevens before and after. https://t.co/rjIbJnAvDh
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) April 20, 2016
On Page 3: If nothing else, it’s time to save face
The Celtics are one loss away from another terrible benchmark. They’ve currently lost seven straight in the playoffs: Game 6 to New York in 2013, four straight in 2015, and the first two this season. The only worse stretch was consecutive sweeps in 2003 and 2004 to the Nets and Pacers, respectively.
This is the era of Twitter, hot takes and 24/7 talking heads, so we all know the overreactions are coming. Brad Stevens is 0-6 in the playoffs; if he doesn’t get off the schneid Friday, his rising-star image will take a big hit. The Cs overachieved all season, but if they fail to compete in Game 3, all the good vibes will be swept away by criticism. If they don’t show up ASAP, no one will be calling Boston a team on the rise where free agents might want to play.
So, no pressure, except a win Friday is mandatory.
On Page 4: Best/worst flop of the playoffs
No, it’s not by Marcus Smart. It’s by Tyler Zeller’s brother, who must be the devious one in the family. And another stellar job by the refs to fall for it.
Uproxx – Cody Zeller Should Be Shamed For This Ridiculous, Foul-Drawing Flop Against Hassan Whiteside
And, finally: Nate Robinson wants to play football
“The biggest challenge is probably all the haters, everybody counting me out, somebody not really giving me the opportunity,” he said. “That’s what I think the biggest challenge will be, getting somebody to give me that chance. If somebody gives me that chance, I know they’ll fall in love with the fierce competitor that I am because I catch on quick. Once I do that, then the sky’s the limit. I don’t know. It seems like they wouldn’t want me to be the first one to do something like this. That’s a huge challenge.”
Pro Football Talk – NBA journeyman Nate Robinson wants to play in the NFL
Nate Robinson is a piece of work. He played football a bit at the University of Washington, but that was more than a decade ago. Nate’s pretty old to try out for the NFL. If he does hit the gridiron, he’ll need to tackle better than this:
The Rest of the Links:
MassLive – Avery Bradley ruled out for Games 3 and 4 against Atlanta Hawks | CSNNE – Stevens: Smart Will Practice Thursday, Play Game 3 | Five most pressing matters for Celtics heading into Game 3 | Hawks Not Giving Celtics Anything in the Paint | Thomas: C’s Need Confidence Heading into Game 3 | ESPN Boston – Kelly Olynyk questionable for Game 3 vs. Hawks | ESPN – The Celtics’ synergy can’t handle losing Avery Bradley | Al Horford was great in Game 1 and 2 against Celtics | CBS Boston – Brad Stevens On Celtics’ Early-Game Struggles Vs. Hawks | Herald – Down 0-2, no-doubting Isaiah Thomas believes | Bulpett: This Celtics stinker completely unexpected | Atlanta Journal Constitution – Hawks have blocked way to series advantage over Celtics | SB Nation – The Hawks shut down Isaiah Thomas by pretending the rest of the Celtics didn’t exist | Providence Journal – Trailing by two, Celtics searching for answers | Globe – What adjustments must the Celtics make?
