Boston Celtics: Three Takeaways From Game 2

The Celtics worst game of the season happened in Game 2 of the playoffs

That was rough. How else would you describe it?

In a game where the Boston Celtics literally never had a chance from the opening tip, it was tough to watch. The Celtics at one point trailed the Atlanta Hawks 24-to-3 in the first quarter. The Celtics didn’t reach 10 points in the first quarter (7 points), 30 points in the first half (28 points) and finished with a brutal 72 points. The seven-point first quarter set a record for the fewest first quarter points in NBA Playoff history.

Kyle Korver had 12 points in eight minutes to start the game and nothing was working for the Celtics. Brad Stevens rolled with Marcus Smart in the starting lineup but quickly brought Evan Turner in for Amir Johnson after the early struggles. Whether it was a small ball lineup or not, Boston couldn’t hit anything, couldn’t speed up the game or get in the lane.

The Hawks dominated the Celtics from the get-go and never let them sniff any sort of comeback. Sure, the Hawks and Celtics would have tied if the first quarter didn’t count, but that doesn’t take away from possibly the worst offensive game in NBA Playoffs history.

Both teams shot under 40 percent from the field (Celtics shot 31.8 percent) and the Celtics shot 5-of-28 from behind the arc (17.9 percent). Some of it can be credited to the Hawks playoff franchise record-setting 15 blocks, however, neither team had any flow on offense and misses were a lot more common than makes in Game 2.

The poor shooting is personified when thinking that Atlanta, who led 24-to-7 at the end of the first quarter, didn’t score in the last 5:28 of the quarter. Both teams also ended the half by not scoring in the final 3:54 and Boston was once again held to zero fast break points in the first half. They had their chances to go on a run and get back into things, however, when your best player, Isaiah Thomas, starts out shooting 1-for-12 from the field, it’s hard to get anything going.

Thomas, Jae Crowder and Marcus Smart combined to shoot 6-for-35 from the field (17.1 percent) and 2-for-16 from three (12.5 percent). It was really hard to believe, and watch, Boston play this poorly in this big of a game. Well, they did, and here are three takeaways from Game 2, other than they stunk it up.

Next: Does Brad Stevens Know What to do Without Avery Bradley?