Josh Smith Dunk Punctuates Atlanta Loss
December 18th, 2008 at 9:49 amBy Chris
Oh well, at least the Hawks went down with style to the Celtics, who won their 16th-straight, 88-85. The win, which puts them at 24-2, continues the best start to a season by a defending NBA champion. Ever.
While Smith’s Dominique-esqe dunk brought the house down (on Kendrick Perkins’ head), Smith missed the subsequent free throw, which, in my eyes, nullifies the possession because even though the Hawks crowd was buzzing like mad after Smith’s dunk, the Celtics came right back and scored with Kevin Garnett in the post.
While his baby hook wasn’t has crowd-pleasing as Smith’s dunk, it gave the lead right back to the Celtics and took whatever crowd momentum a dunk like that provides and squashed — with that typical Kevin Garnett cussing-at-everyone-after-he-scores aplomb. To say the game was reminiscent of last year’s playoff match up is correct except for one thing: The Celtics never beat the Hawks on the road during that series.
Garnett carried the Celtics in the fourth, shooting 5-5 and scoring 10 points. He was asked after the game if Atlanta/Boston was a good rivalry for the Celtics. His response was telling:
“This is not a rivalry,” Garnett said. “[The Hawks] are a very good team, they play with a lot of confidence and swagger. Joe Johnson is one of the best in the business and they cause a lot of hell and havoc. But you have to win for it to be a rivalry.”
I see his point, but considering the fact the Hawks took the Celtics to seven games last season proves at the very least, Atlanta isn’t afraid of Boston. In fact, it looks like the Celtics bring out the best in the Hawks, especially in Hotlanta.
