Atlanta Hawks In Boston To Play Celts For Second Time This Week
By Deke Lloyd
For the second time this week, the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics will play one another. On Monday, the Celtics took down the Hawks in Atlanta. This time, the Hawks will be looking to repay the Celts in Boston.
The Atlanta Hawks are coming into tonight’s game with the Boston Celtics as a different team that played the Celtics just this Monday. Since Monday, the Hawks have completely transformed the identity of the team by trading Alex Len, Jabari Parker, and Evan Turner for Clint Capela and Dewayne Dedmon. Due to the trades still pending, Dedmon and Capela likely won’t be with the team. As of Friday afternoon, Capela is listed out while Dedmon is questionable to join the team tonight in Boston.
Dedmon and Capela won’t be the only Hawks missing in action for tonight’s game with the Celtics. Cam Reddish and DeAndre’ Bembry are out for tonight’s game. Trae Young is probable. Bruno Fernando is listed as doubtful. Of all the names listed, the only I expect to see playing in Boston tonight is Trae.
The Hawks won’t be the only hobbled side in tonight’s game. Tim Bontemps, of ESPN, has already confirmed Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, and Daniel Thesis will be sitting out tonight’s game after all three played in Monday’s game. However, Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart, two guys who sat Monday’s game out, will be back on the court for the Celtics tonight.
The Celts are red-hot coming in tonight’s game. Including Monday’s win over Atlanta, the Celts have won five in a row and eight of their last nine games. After making no trades before the deadline, the Celtics will ride the rest of the season out with the core of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, and Gordon Hayward. At the moment, the team is clicking on all cylinders.
On the other side of the court, the Hawks are in the midst of reconstructing this roster. With the two new big-men to line up beside Trae and John Collins, the Hawks are hoping to have a better season post-All Star Break. The Hawks are big underdogs coming into tonight’s game after having won their last game against the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. It’s going to be an uphill battle tonight for the Hawks to get their second win in a row.
The Hawks and Celtics will tip-off from Boston tonight at 7:30. Go Hawks!