Boston Celtics: 3 takeaways from dominant road victory over Hawks

The Boston Celtics improved to 12-3 with an emphatic 126-101 road victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. This victory is the Celtics’ eighth in a row, and they dominated the game.

The Cs led throughout the game, and they received contributions from everyone. The bench stepped up as Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Luke Kornet played excellently. Boston’s offense also exploded in this game as they shot 54.5% from the field and 45.7% from three-point range.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown struggled shooting tonight as they were a combined 4/16 from 3-point range. The role players stepping up was huge, and it shows how dangerous this squad is. Without Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon, the Celtics did not miss a beat, and they beat a good Hawks team.

The Celtics remain the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, and they are rolling. Boston will look to continue their momentum on Friday night when they take on the Pelicans. Here are three takeaways from the dominant road win:

Boston Celtics Takeaway No. 1: This was a statement victory for the Cs

Without Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon, the Celtics beat the third seed in the Eastern Conference by 25 points. That is quite absurd in today’s NBA, and it shows just how dangerous this team is. The Hawks are top five in the league in offensive efficiency, and they have beaten the Milwaukee Bucks twice this season.

The Celtics completely dominated the game and led by as many as 31 points. They also held the Hawks to 21.9% shooting from the 3-point line, which is impressive considering their offensive firepower.

The importance of these big wins over Eastern Conference threats can not be stated enough as it sends a message moving forward.

Boston Celtics Takeaway No. 2: The bench stepped up in a big way

The Celtics bench needed to step up if they were going to win tonight, and they did in a big way. Derrick White set the tone for the bench as he was inserted into the starting lineup. White finished with 16 points, five rebounds, and 10 assists, which are great numbers for him. Payton Pritchard also contributed 14 points off the bench, and he hit a deep 3-pointer to end the first half. The guard depth the Cs have at their disposal is great to see.

Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet were also phenomenal off the bench for the Celtics. Hauser scored 15 points, and he shot 5/6 from 3-point range. Kornet had his best game of the season as he had 15 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks. The Celtics were able to trust the second unit in the third quarter, and they did their job. Boston’s bench unit closed the third quarter strong and put the game away.

The Celtics bench contributing when Tatum and Brown have off nights is what makes this team special.

Boston Celtics Takeaway No. 3: We are witnessing the evolution of Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum, for the second game in a row, had an off-shooting night. Instead of sulking, Tatum contributed in other areas and had an impact on the game. Tatum shot 6/19 from the field and 3-10 from 3-point range for a season-low 19 points. However, Tatum had seven rebounds, a season-high eight assists, one steal, and one block.

Tatum’s ability to impact the game in other areas has contributed to him being mentioned in the MVP conversation. It’s not always about how many points you score, it’s how you impact the game. Tatum has taken the next step in terms of impacting the game, and it has made him a top player in the league.

Tatum of years past would have had a terrible game tonight. Instead, he contributed in a big way to a dominant Celtics victory.