Boston Celtics: Prevailing in the Face of Adversity

The Boston Celtics defeated the Atlanta Hawks for their second straight postseason victory. The series will now head back to Atlanta for Game 5 tied at 2-2.

If the Boston Celtics did not have you pounding your coffee table with excitement and covering your face with your hands in frustration at the same time, then you must have been watching a different basketball game.

Last night’s victory over the Atlanta Hawks was the most thrilling Celtics game I have seen in years. I have not been on the edge of my seat like I was last night for a Celtics game since the Big 3 era. There was never a dull moment and no matter how frustrated I got with watching Paul Millsap dominate the paint and Jared Sullinger looking like a bonehead, I couldn’t bring myself to change the channel. Not for one second.

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I have to give credit where credit is due, and Paul Millsap deserves credit. He took over the game last night for the Hawks, scoring 45 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. No Hawks player has put up those type of numbers in a playoff game since Dominique, so my hat’s off to Millsap. It was an incredible performance and had it not been for him, last night wouldn’t have been as exciting as it was.

Despite Millsap’s monster game the Celtics were able to pull off a 104-95 overtime victory over the Hawks. The Celtics found themselves down by as many as 16 at one point but like they have done time and time again in this series, they kept fighting and clawed their way back into the game.

Last night the Celtics were able to get something out of their roster that they have struggled to get all season – secondary scoring. Isaiah Thomas carried the team offensively in the regular season averaging over 22 points per game, and while he has by far been the Celtics best offensive player this postseason as well, the team needed to get some offense going around him and they were able to do just that in Game 4.

Second year guard Marcus Smart had a career defining game last night. A guy known for his defensive presence, tenacity, and hustle – found a way to take over the game on both sides of the ball in a crucial postseason game. At one point in the fourth quarter, Smart scored 11 straight points for the Celtics, including a pair of 3 pointers and a tenacious baseline slam.

Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Smart was also the only Celtic who had success slowing down Millsap. While Smart guarded Millsap for much of the fourth quarter and overtime, Millsap shot just 1-5 from the field. The Hawks as a whole, shot 1-10 when Marcus Smart was the primary defender. Quite impressive numbers given the fact that Marcus had the responsibility of guarding Kent Bazemore, Kyle Korver, and Paul Millsap.

The Boston Celtics also got solid production from Jonas Jerebko for the second consecutive game.

Coach Brad Stevens inserted Jerebko into the starting lineup in Game 3 and the 6 foot 10 Swede responded by notching a double-double and leading the Celtics in minutes. In Game 4, Jonas played even better. He recorded his second straight double-double, scoring 16 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Jerebko, aka The Swedish Chef, also shot 67 percent from the field including 3-6 from beyond the arc.

I don’t know who to credit more in this situation, Jerebko for his play or Brad Stevens for his decision to start him?

Evan Turner, who also started his second straight game chipped in with a solid 17 points and Amir Johnson contributed with 9 points and 9 rebounds.

The supporting cast played extremely well for the Celtics but it was once again Isaiah Thomas who led the Celtics offensive charge.

Isaiah finished the game with 28 points, including a driving layup in the final 20 seconds to tie the game and send it to overtime.

In overtime with the Celtics up by 4 and only 30 seconds remaining, Thomas hit a game clinching three from the corner that sent the Garden into a frenzy.