Swamigp’s Weblog

Joe Johnson, double teamed all night, got a glimpse of daylight and hoisted a three pointer over James Posey. It went in, the only made three point basket of the game for the 8th seeded Hawks. Josh Smith and Zaza Pachulia raised their arms in triumph, Atlanta was ahead by five, 100-95 with just over a minute to play. As remarkable as the Hawks run this series had been, the Celtics were bound to bounce back. After all they won 66 games during the year and have Garnett, Pierce and Allen. What are the 37-win Atlanta Hawks doing in their way? Well, the tremendously athletic and talented Hawks have nothing to lose while all the pressure is on the Celtics and their Big Three.

That three by Johnson proved to be the dagger as the Hawks will decide if the Celtics get out of the first round in a Game 7 after a 103-100 win. Atlanta clawed back from a double digit deficit in the first quarter, keeping the game close throughout the next three quarters to eke out the win. Even though Johnson had only two points at halftime, he worked hi magic in other ways, finding the open man by taking advantage of being double teamed. Despite the lack of offensive production from Johnson, the Hawks were only down by one, 50-49 at halftime. They kept up the competitiveness in the 3rd quarter, sticking within 7 points after the Celtics went on a run to start the quarter. Atlanta went on a mini 7-3 run to end the quarter, including a tip in by Josh Childress at the buzzer to cut Boston’s lead to three, 82-79 entering the 4th.

The final period is really when the Hawks started to take off, exploiting the Celtics weakness’s by getting continuous contact on the offensive end and forcing turnovers on the defensive end. Marvin Williams, who led the team with 18 points, started the quarter with 4 straight point, including a offensive rebound and put-back to give the Hawks their first lead since 2-0. After Paul Pierce made a basket on the Celtics next possession, Atlanta’s rookie center Al Horford converted on a three point play after making a lay-up while drawing the foul to give the Hawks a 2-point, 86-84 lead. Boston came back with 5 straight points, a three by James Posey and a lay-up by Leon Powe, to retake the lead by three. The Celtics wouldn’t see a shot go in for the next five minutes as Atlanta went on a 10-0 run capped off by the most pivotal sequence in the game. Josh Childress drove to the hoop for a lay-up, and when the whistle blew a foul on the Celtics, he was presumably in line for a three point play. The foul though had nothing to do with who was guarding him, it was away from the ball on Paul Pierce, his 6th foul. It was the correct call, as Pierce had his arms wrapped all over him, but Boston’s bench was livid. Pierce threw his headband to the floor as he headed to the bench where he would watch the rest of the game, picking up a technical. The free throw was made by Johnson, completing the run and getting perhaps Boston’s most lethal threat out of the game.

Kevin Garnett ended the Celtics drought with a basket to cut the Atlanta’s lead to 5, 96-91. Ray Allen brought them even closer after a steal by James Posey, to make it a three point game. One Mike Bibby made one of two free throws, Bsotn had a prime chance to cut the lead to two ore even one point. James Posey missed a three pointer, but the Celtics kept fighting. After three missed shots off of offensive rebounds, center Kendrick Perkins grabbed his third rebound of the possession and was fouled. A mediocre free throw shooter on the year, Perkins, surprising the announcers, made both, dwindling the Hawks lead to two, 97-95, with a minute and a half left.

That set up the aforementioned dagger in the heart by Johnson, giving the momentum back to Atlanta after Boston had sliced the lead down. The game wasn’t over yet though as Posey answered Johnson’s three with a three of his own, making it a two point contest once again. Johnson then missed a shot with the shot-clock winding down to give the Celtics a chance to tie or take the lead. With 13 seconds left, Ray Allen missed a off balanced three pointer. Johnson snatched the rebound and was fouled. He made both free throws, only to see Boston score quickly on the other end, with a shot by Garnett. Still a two point game, Mike Bibby was immediately fouled with 8 seconds left. He made 1 of 2 shots from the line giving the Celtics a chance to tie the game. Rajon Rondo, the teams’ point guard, took too much time off the clock, eventually hoisting up a three pointer that fell short of the rim, sending Atlanta into celebration.

Williams got his 18 points on 6-9 shooting but sprained his knee late in the game. His status is uncertain for Game 7. Mike Bibby added 17 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Al Horford kept his strong series going, scoring 16 points to go with 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. Joe Johnson finished with 15 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in a well balanced effort by the Hawks. The Hawks scored on 16 straight possessions in the second half and made 36-47 free throw attempts.

Kevin Garnett led Boston with 22 points 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce chipped in 20 and 17 respectively in the scoring column for the Celtics.