Boston Celtics: 3 Keys to Maintaining Control of Their Series with the Hawks

The Celtics dodged a big bullet on Tuesday night in Atlanta, surviving the absence of their entire starting backcourt, overcoming a double-digit deficit in the third quarter and stealing home-court advantage away from the Hawks with an 87-80 win.

The Hawks have proven over and over again throughout the first two games of the series that they are severely flawed and very beatable. The Celts, as they have all season, have shown that they are as tough as it gets, a proud, mentally sound team that doesn't ever stop fighting and rises to challenges when faced with adversity.

Simply put, the Celts have a major advantage right now despite the series being tied 1-1. Here are a few things they need to remember as they head into this weekend's series in Boston.

1. Paul Pierce

Pierce was so bad in Game 1 that you had to wonder if he was under the weather or maybe an impostor had kidnapped him, put on a Paul Pierce mask and suited up in the C's locker room.

In Game 2, the Celtics needed him to bounce back regardless of Rajon Rondo's status, and the captain did just that with a performance for the ages. 

Pierce scored 36 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out four assists on Tuesday night, taking over the game down the stretch and leading the Celts to the win. Pierce outscored the entire Hawks team from the 3:08 mark of the fourth quarter when the Celts trailed by 11, up until the final gun by an 18-15 margin.

Either the Hawks don't have the defensive manpower to handle Pierce one-on-one, or just don't feel like making the effort to do it. Many of the open looks he had in the fourth quarter of Game 2 were also there in Game 1, he just wasn't making them.

If Pierce continues to be able to take over, the Hawks will be playing golf by next Wednesday morning.

2. Defense

It's not surprising given the Celtics' status as a top-three defensive team in the regular season, but it's still worth noting that the Hawks shot just 35 percent from the field in Game 2 after barely cracking the 40 percent barrier in Game 1.

The only Atlanta player who managed to shoot 50 percent on Tuesday night was center Jason Collins, and he was 1-for-2. Joe Johnson, the Hawks "star," followed up his 3-for-15 in Game 1 with a 7-for-17 in Game 2.

Josh Smith, who was lauded for his 22-point, 18-rebound line in Game 1, was just 8-for-21 in Game 2 and failed to get to the line a single time (absolutely mind-boggling for a player with his post ability) before leaving with a knee injury late in the fourth quarter.

Again, just as they don't seem interested in guarding Pierce down the stretch, the Hawks also don't seem to feel like making adjustments to their offense, which mostly consists of either Johnson or Smith trying to take his man on-on-one and settling for a long, contested jumper.

This plays right into the hands of the C's, who make teams with far more intricate, evolved offenses work extra hard for what they get. It's not hard to defend such flawed, unimaginative offensive sets, but you still have to go out and do it and there's never any doubt the C's aren't ready and willing to do just that.

If Boston keeps up its defensive intensity, this series will be over fast.

3. Bench

Other than a couple rebounds, blocks and bad calls on Greg Stiemsma, the Celtics' bench was completely invisible in Game 1.

Four Celtics combined for four points, 14 rebounds and an assist in the loss, which is why the performance of the Boston's second string in Game 2 was so refreshing. 

Keyon Dooling and Marquis Daniels (in mothballs since the first week of the season) carried the second unit. They combined for 10 points and both played excellent defense, particularly Daniels, whose D on Johnson in the third and fourth quarters represented a huge contribution in the midst of the Celts' comeback from that 11-point deficit.

Obviously, the Celtics are going to ride Pierce, Rondo and Kevin Garnett as far as that trio will take them, but the ability to keep guys like Dooling, Stiemsma and even Daniels (who earned himself some more time thanks to his solid Game 2) in the game for an extra minute or two here and there is huge. 

The Celtics are an old team, remember? Any extra time-off for Pierce, KG and, when he returns, Ray Allen, helps. When the reserves are playing like they belong, it's easier to give the Big Three that extra rest.

The Hawks are fairly thin on their bench as well, with the shadow of Tracy McGrady and former draft bust Marvin Williams seeing the most time.

This is yet another matchup in the series that swings in favor of the Celtics despite their lack of depth. Should Boston continue to take advantage in this area, they will take it sooner rather than later.