Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics Prediction: Will the Celtics win the third game?

The first-round series with Atlanta has gone very easily for Boston so far, with the Celtics confidently taking both home games. Will the third, and first road game for Boston, also end in a win for the Celtics? It should be noted that Joe Mazzulla's team didn't lose to the Hawks in the 2022/23 regular season either.

The Hawks were not at all ready to put up any kind of resistance against Boston. In both of the series' first two games, Atlanta had already lost by the end of the first half. The team conceded 74 in the first half of the first game, giving them a 30-point lead. In the second, it was 61, losing by 12. Understandably, even after dropping back-to-back games in the second half, Boston confidently led both to victories, 112:99 and 116:97.

Atlanta's poor defensive play was no surprise. But the fact that Trae Young and company couldn't reach the 100-point mark in both games at the TD Garden was surprising. Perhaps NBA players are right in naming Young as the league's most overrated player.

The Celtics still have a tough road ahead of them - the Boston Celtics will face Philadelphia in their second game already. And then, by all appearances, they'll face Milwaukee in the Conference Finals. For the Celtics, a weak first-round opponent should be a big help. After all, they may not even use their starting lineup to the fullest extent, saving their strength for more important matchups. That's not happening yet, though - Joe Mazzulla is playing a rotation of virtually seven men. That said, Jason Tatum spends nearly 40 minutes on the court, while Jalen Brown spends 36.5. But maybe the coach is right and plans to end the series with Atlanta in four games without too much trouble.

Atlanta and Boston have the most predictable series so far regarding results. The Celtics picked up both home games without any problems and are sure to pick up two away games, closing the confrontation in four games. At this point, it's just not clear why the Hawks can stop Boston, who seems to be the primary contender for the league title this season. Our money is on the Celtics, and we expect a productive encounter. Atlanta failed to produce a solid offensive performance at the TD Garden, and they'll be more productive at home. The Hawks are likely to concede far more than they'll score.