Middle of the Pack First-Round Opponent: Atlanta Hawks (28-34)
Like the Miami Heat, the Atlanta Hawks seem to consistently find themselves in the Play-In Tournament since it was introduced in 2020.
After losing their rising star Jalen Johnson to a season-ending shoulder injury in January, Atlanta has been just under .500 for what feels like the whole season.
Led by their crafty point guard Trae Young, one reason Atlanta could pose more of a threat to Boston is their fast-paced style. The Hawks average 116.9 points per game, while the Celtics average 117.
The downfall of this Hawks team comes on the defensive side, where they are allowing 119.7 points per game to opponents, the fourth-most in the NBA.
The Hawks want to keep the game as fast-paced as possible due to their struggles on the defensive end. Knowing that the Celtics haven't been the same team defensively this season as they were last, high-scoring affairs could prove to be concerning for Boston if they were to match up with Atlanta.
Amidst the ups and downs of the season, Trae Young's enjoying a renaissance as the League's assist leader, dishing out 11.5 dimes a night.
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 6, 2025
After a few challenging seasons in the A, the four-time All-Star has been locked-in on righting the ship. pic.twitter.com/cI6bvJHAIH
Believe it or not, the Hawks won the season series over the Celtics, 2-1, and the two teams will not meet again for the remainder of the regular season. The first game ended in a 30-point win for Boston, followed by two close wins for Atlanta at TD Garden, 117-116 and 119-115.
Outside of Trae Young, Atlanta relies on first-overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, Dyson Daniels, and big man Onyeka Okongwu to fill the stat sheet. In trading away De'Andre Hunter to Cleveland, Atlanta received Caris LeVert and Georges Niang to provide scoring off the bench.
For a Celtics-Hawks first-round matchup to become a reality, Atlanta would have to secure a spot as either the seventh or eighth seed at the end of the regular season. They are a half-game back from 8th-seeded Orlando and 1.5 games back from No. 7 Miami.
In what would be a rematch of the 2023 first-round, the Celtics have too much scoring while Atlanta has too little defense. Boston would be able to slow down Trae Young with elite perimeter defenders Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, and the Celtics would be able to score at ease against one of the NBA's worst defenses. Boston would realistically outlast the Hawks in five games.