What Hawks coach Quin Snyder said about Celtics, NBA Playoffs matchup
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While it took an extra few days, the Celtics now know their first-round opponent. The Hawks upset the Heat in Miami on Tuesday as part of the play-in tournament. That means the C’s will take on the Hawks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Boston will likely be slated as heavy favorites as the Hawks have struggled throughout the season, finishing with a 41-41 record and eighth in the East. But as they showed Tuesday, the Hawks can be a dangerous offensive team when they’re clicking with plenty of talented players. Atlanta coach Quin Snyder spoke Tuesday about what makes the Celtics dangerous after their win.
“They’re really connected defensively,” Snyder told reporters in Miami. “I think it’s more than them just having like a lot of weapons. I think they have a feel for one another and how they play together. You can see that in the way they play. Their reads are terrific and they got a lot of guys that can make plays and they want to do that for one another. Makes them really, really hard to guard.
“I think their versatility defensively is unique also. Some of the different lineups they can put on. I don’t know who the Defensive Player of the Year will be this year, but I know Marcus Smart — I have tons of respect for him. I just think he’s one of those guys that’s a heartbeat. They’re just really good.”
Game 1 of the first-round series tips off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at TD Garden. The Hawks were just in Boston to close the regular season in what amounted to a 120-114 C’s victory. Of course, neither team played at full strength with seeding already decided, so there weren’t many takeaways from that game. But the Celtics did beat the Hawks twice in Atlanta earlier this season.
The Celtics and Hawks will now shift their attention to game-planning for their next foe. Boston does have the advantage considering it didn’t have to play Tuesday, but the No. 2 seed should get those edges. The C’s will have to slow down the Hawks, who had the fourth-best offense since the All-Star break. That’s what the next few days will be all about for Boston.
“Joe (Mazzulla has) done a terrific job,” Snyder said. “He doesn’t need to hear that from me. But having a chance to see their group. I’ve gotten to know him a little bit. They’ve hit a lot of marks this year. It’s going to be hard, but it’s the playoffs.”
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