The Celtics started their playoff run with a 112-99 victory over the Hawks in Game 1 on Saturday.
Here are the takeaways.
1. The Celtics showed both their lofty potential and one of their troubling tendencies on Saturday.
The Celtics’ potential is clear when the ball is zipping all over the floor, the defense holds the opponent to a minuscule 3-point percentage, and every possession is treated with the requisite attention to detail. The first half was a masterclass – the Celtics created mismatches and attacked them with fervor. Defensively, they held the Hawks in check and forced 10 consecutive misses from 3-point range before Trae Young finally connected.