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Boston Celtics Survive Defensive Lapse Against Hawks

By Joshua Bateman

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 6: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on November 6, 2017 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 6: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on November 6, 2017 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics didn’t let their worst defensive performance of the season keep them form getting their ninth straight win

The Boston Celtics continue the remarkable streak they are on, with their ninth straight victory against the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks kept the game closer than most expected, and had a legitimate chance to win the game. The Celtics had other plans, as they continue to show how many different ways they can win games.

For the first time during this stretch, the Celtics put up a defensive dud. The Celtics hadn’t given up more than 94 points during this win streak, and no one was expecting the Hawks to be the team to break that streak.

The Hawks shot lights out, hitting 48 percent of their shots, and 50 percent from three point range. The Hawks could not miss from deep in the fourth quarter, and both Dennis Schroder and Marco Belinelli were scoring comfortably all game long.

The Celtics allowed the Hawks to get 24 assists, making this the least amount of resistance they have put up in a long time. It became clear in the second half that this game was not going to be won by defense, and that is unfamiliar territory for this Celtics team.

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The defense has been much better than the offense this season, and this was the first time the Celtics really needed their offense to carry the team. Kyrie Irving’s timing could not have been better, with his best offensive performance in the game they needed it most.

Jayson Tatum showed up when it mattered most too. He is keeping up his unsustainable three point shooting, and hit one of the most clutch shots in the game. Al Horford struggled from three point range, but played a crucial role with 15 points and nine assists.

The Celtics still should have shot better from three. They left a lot of points on the board on wide open shots, but everything came together when it mattered most. They closed quarters well, and hit the most important buckets of the game.

The most exciting part is that the Celtics really could have been much better. This was the first time that the Celtics needed their offense to win the game, but it still may not even be the most impressive performance of the season. This was the game that Irving and Horford had to carry them the most, and we are starting to see the kind of devastation these two are going to unleash on the league this year.

The Celtics continue to win games where they are not playing at their best, and they keep this win streak alive in what was almost the worst kind of trap game for them. The Celtics were about due for a bad game on defense, and now there is the confidence that they can still win on those nights.

The offense is still going to be a work in progress, but the roles are starting to get a lot more defined. We are seeing how well these players are now able to work together, and they are looking better and better every time they take the court on offense.

Next: Celtics Becomming a Dominant Rebounding Team

The Celtics are proving that they have a chance to be near the top in the league on offense and defense, and there is no one else in the Eastern Conference that can come close to that kind of balance.

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