Celtics lack of defensive urgency was Hawks’ biggest weapon in Game 3

It’s the NBA Playoffs man!  Cruising into Atlanta with a 2-0 lead in this Eastern Conference first-round matchup, the Boston Celtics expected to receive the Hawks best punch, but that punch wasn’t supposed to be enough to even win a game in this series.

But, with home cooking, hot shooting and pour defensive energy from the boys in Boston, Trae Young and the Hawks find themselves right back in this series with a high-scoring 130-122 victory over the Celtics.

In scoring 13 of his game-high 32 points in the fourth quarter, Young proved he is not underrated although this Hawks team continues to play their best basketball when he is on the bench.  But this is not about Young or the hot-shooting Hawks, this Game 3 loss is about the Celtics and their lack of defensive energy in this game.

Atlanta simply too hot to handle for Celtics in Game 3

Although the Celtics weren’t too shabby offensively themselves, as they were lights out behind the stripe in that first half, the defense allowed the Hawks to do whatever they wanted.  At the end, Jayson Tatum and the Celtics couldn’t outscore the Hawks, which looked like the approach in this game given Atlanta still didn’t give the Celtics any resistance on the defensive end either.

At the end of the day, it was the Hawks making shot, particularly down the stretch.  For the C’s, no one decided to show up with the defensive energy except for Marcus Smart.  Now the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics need to make a statement in Game 4 to relinquish any thoughts the Hawks have of making this a long series.

Jayson Tatum take the blame for Celtics loss in Game 3, but it’s not all on him

In leading the team with 29 points, Tatum is doing what any superstar do following a playoff loss, he is putting it all on him.

Again, takes a team effort to bring the energy defensively, but the best player on the court needs to make sure these types of games result in a Celtics win.

"“This one tonight is on me,” Tatum said following the game.  “I know I get a lot of credit when we win and I take the blame when we lose.  Rightfully so.”"

Tatum had a chance to tie the game with a 3 last in the fourth, but it was his overall 9-of-22 shooting from the field that told the story.

Aside from that, Jaylen Brown contributed just 15 points in the game which if you think about it, the Celtics scoring 122 points and still having a chance to win the game should be a bright spot for the Celtics and one that spells dome for Atlanta in Game 4 as they aren’t holding both players to poor offensive showings in back-to-back games.

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Again, this one was more about the defensive side of the court.  Notice a theme here?

In this Celtics Game 3 loss, the Hawks just wanted it more

At the end of the day, Celtics fans, let’s give the Hawks their props.  They simply wanted this game, had to have this game, and perhaps did the boys from Boston a favor.

While Atlanta isn’t supposed to be a test for the Celtics, a loss like Friday night should shift the C’s focus…right Marcus Smart?

"“It’s just a matter of will and they wanted it more tonight,” Smart said via NBC Sports Boston.  “They go every night, and we gotta be able to stop that.  They get second-chance shots, they get to feeling good.  So we do a good job of our first-shot defense, just gotta clean it up with the rebounds.”"

In giving up 23 second-chance points in the game, the Boston Celtics were out-hustled in this game and still came close to winning.  But the fact is they lost and Smart, Tatum, Brown and them boys took the jab in stride.

Game 4, it’s time to deliver a punch that will put the Atltanta Hawks against the ropes and right in the position of a knockout punch.