보스턴의 엉성한 호크스 시리즈 승리가 숨긴 플레이오프의 깊은 결함

The Celtics Flirted With Disaster

Look, the Boston Celtics got past the Atlanta Hawks in six games, 4-2. That's the main thing on paper. But anyone who watched that series, especially the Hawks winning Games 3 and 5, knows it felt a lot closer than it should have. This wasn't the dominant Eastern Conference top seed we saw for most of the regular season, the one that finished 57-25.

Jayson Tatum had some brilliant moments, sure, like his 30-point, 14-rebound, 7-assist line in Game 6. But there were stretches where the Celtics looked disengaged, too comfortable. They let Trae Young go off for 38 points and 13 assists in that Game 5 win, including a logo three to seal it. That kind of defensive lapse against a legitimate scorer should scare Boston fans heading into a matchup with Philadelphia.

Atlanta's Euro Talent Shined

Here's the thing: while Boston was messing around, Atlanta’s international players actually elevated their game. Bogdan Bogdanović, the Serbian sharpshooter, was a consistent threat. He averaged 16.5 points per game in the series, shooting 44% from three-point range. In Game 3, when the Hawks snagged their first win, Bogdanović dropped 15 points on efficient shooting, hitting 3 of 5 from deep.

And let's not forget Clint Capela, the Swiss big man. He battled hard on the boards, grabbing 12.3 rebounds per contest against a tough Celtics frontcourt. He had a 17-rebound night in Game 3. His rim protection and rebounding were vital in keeping the Hawks competitive, even when their offense sputtered at times. This is the kind of effort EuroLeague teams expect night in and night out.

A Warning Shot For Boston

Real talk, Boston needs to tighten up. They blew a double-digit lead in Game 5 and nearly did it again in Game 6. They finished the regular season with the second-best offensive rating in the league (117.3), but against the Hawks, their offense looked stagnant at times, relying too much on isolation. That won't cut it against Joel Embiid and James Harden.

Their defensive effort, which was ranked second in the NBA (110.6 defensive rating) during the regular campaign, slipped against the Hawks' relatively limited offensive firepower. Giving up 119 points in Game 5, even with Young’s heroics, is unacceptable for a championship contender. If they play like that against the 76ers, this series will be over faster than people think. I'm telling you, the Celtics will struggle to contain Embiid if they don't bring more consistent defensive intensity. Boston wins in 7, but it's going to be a brutal grind.