Okay, now it’s the Boston Celtics’ turn to take care of business at home. It’s win or go home for them, when the Atlanta Hawks come to town tonight for Game 6. Can the Celtics succeed in forcing a do-or-die Game 7? Or will the Hawks finally move on to the semifinals, where the Cleveland Cavaliers are waiting?
Read on below for everything you need to know about this Eastern Conference matchup. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to check out our 2016 NFL Mock Draft Predictions piece.
Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics Game 6 Preview
Where: TD Garden, Boston
When: Thursday, April 28, 2016, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Atlanta Hawks (-2) vs. Boston Celtics (+2); total: 197.0– view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
Betting on the Atlanta Hawks
What a huge turnaround in Game 5 by the Atlanta Hawks. They only managed to rack up 19 points midway throughout the second period, but suddenly, every shot they took began falling and falling. It’s almost like they couldn’t miss, and the Boston Celtics were eventually blown out in the end.
Kent Bazemore got the Hawks going offensively. He finished with 16 points, including three-straight three pointers in the first half which ultimately started their scoring surge. Besides him, the team also got a surprising boost from Mike Scott, who poured in a game-high of 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting off the bench.
However, the Hawks can’t afford to go another slow start in tonight’s crucial Game 6, which will be held at the TD Garden. Hence, the pressure is indeed on Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap and Al Horford to make sure that they locate their flow offensively as soon as possible.
Teague, needless to say, is going to be really crucial here. After all, he’s the team’s floor general and part of his role is creating opportunities for himself and his teammates. Throughout this series, Teague’s done a relatively good job in doing so with averages of 17.6 points and 6.2 assists per game.
Millsap and Horford, meanwhile, are going to be crucial down in the paint. Both have to take advantage of Boston’s much smaller and less-experienced front court. Millsap, in particular, ought to replicate his ridiculous performance in Game 4, wherein he exploded for 45 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. He was limited to just 10 points in Game 5, and that cannot be the case again.
Finally, the Hawks’ defense needs to continue focusing on Isaiah Thomas all the time. It did a good job in the previous game, holding him to single-digits. But of course, that’s going to be easier said than done on the road. Thomas racked up 72 points combined in Game 3 and 4.
Atlanta is 3-7 SU and ATS in its past 10 games at the TD Garden.
Betting on the Boston Celtics
As mentioned earlier, Isaiah Thomas was held below 10 points in the loss in Game 5, and you have to give a lot of credit to the opposing defense. But nevertheless, the Boston Celtics don’t need to worry too much about it because a player like him knows how to respond especially when his team’s back is against the wall.
Expect Thomas, who is averaging 35.0 points their two home games in this series, and the rest of the C’s to step on the gas and immediately set the tone like in Game 3. In that game, they outscored the Atlanta Hawks by 17 points in the first period.
But ultimately, the biggest key for Boston will be its supporting cast. The trio of Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart and Evan Turner can’t allow Thomas to carry the team on his own. They really have to wear their big-boy pants in this one and Crowder, in particular, has got wake up from his slumber.
Crowder has yet to make his mark throughout the series, tallying just 8.4 points on 26.3 percent shooting from the field. In the regular season though, he was one of the top point-getters for the Celtics, piling up almost 15 points per contest. Tonight will really be the perfect time for him to go on a major outburst.
Turner and Smart, meanwhile, will be just as important in this game. The two have done a solid job in stepping up in place of the injured Avery Bradley. They are averaging 14.2 and 11.8 points, respectively, in the series overall.
Boston is 4-1 SU and ATS in its previous five home games.
