Oh Oh Co Co…Are Josh and the fellas ready for this?

Everyone who knows, or thinks they know, anything about basketball will be getting into someone else’s ear this week saying who’s going to advance in the ‘08 playoffs and why. The truth of the matter is we don’t know. I’ll just give you my take and leave it up to you to decide TSF nation.

I can’t remember a playoff draw having this much parity. Although the East is weaker than the West the potential for upsets remains. That being the case let’s start with the series that many assume will be the least competitive.

Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks

Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. These men symbolize multiple All Star appearances and yet a singular focus. A highly effective bench has accepted their roles and specialists have allowed themselves to excel in their roles. Short and simple Atlanta doesn’t have a chance. Next.

Ok, ok, ok, maybe it’s not that simple. IF Boston takes this team lightly due to the fact that they beat them handily during the season and IF Joe Johnson goes Dominique Wilkins vs. the Celtics in ‘88 four different times, and IF Mike Bibby and Josh Smith can stay out of foul trouble while maintaining aggressiveness then the Hawks have a punchers chance. IF.

I live in Atlanta and I’ve seen the Hawks at their best. I’ve also seen them at their worst…. hence the IFs. God help the Hawks, because Boston is on a mission; a mission that Atlanta has the opportunity to undertake in the near future.

The Hawks should look at these Celtics and say, “that’s what we will become.”

Imagine a big three consisting of Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Mike Bibby terrorizing the League with a combination of ability and chemistry.

Imagine Josh Smith anchoring a top notch defense that challenges every shot, locks down the three second area, and ends possessions b controlling the defensive backboard. Imagine Salim Stoudamire accepting his role as a bench scorer (a la Eddie House). Envision Josh Childress as a combo defensive stopper/ energy player (James Posey) that invigorates the team every time he steps on the floor. Consider Zaza Pachulia and Solomon Jones rebounding and defending every night as if their contracts depended on it. (Glen Davis, Leon Powe)

After you finish imagining such a team, realize that such a team does exist and the Hawks have to figure out how to beat them.

Give me Boston 4-0

Sphere: Related Content

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 20th, 2008 at 1:20 pm and is filed under Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Co Co, Eddie House, Glen Davis, James Posey, Joe Johnson, Josh Childress, Josh Smith, Kevin Garnett, Leon Powe, Mike Bibby, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Salim Stoudamire, Solomon Jones, Zaza Pachulia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.