8:25 - I think the last two games have maybe made us forget just how good the Celtics are. I swear to you, the Hawks are playing by far their best game in Boston in this series, and it hasn't made a lick of difference. I wouldn't pretend to assume we will win Game 6 at home, but if we do, we are going to have to really work hard to figure out how to do better in this building. To move on, we know we have to win one here, it's that simple. But let's worry about Game 6 before we ever entertain any notions of how to prepare for Game 7.

7:56 - One person who has played well tonight (who didn't do so well the first two times here) is Joe Johnson. That's not a surprise of course, but he does have 16 points despite sitting out 11 minutes in the first half.

5:19 - The Hawks made a mini-run to cut it to 13, but two straight buckets by the Celtics have it back to 17. And with that, I'm going to cut the live blog short here so I can get some post-game stuff done before we have to leave for the plane back to Atlanta. I know we are losing, and I know it's by as much as the other two games, but I feel MUCH better about our chances here. We've played well - the Celtics have just played better. Back to Atlanta we go...

10:24 - The offense starts out the second half pretty stagnant, as the Celtics force a 24-second violation. We need to try to go inside out again, running the offense more through Horford to get some open looks. Bibby hasn't had a shot in what seems like forever.

9:29 - Good ball movement by the Hawks gets Marvin an open look, and they force a turnover in the backcourt and get a Bibby 3 to cut it back to 12. More of that! Yeah!

8:39 - Joe Johnson hits a pair at the line after another Celtics turnover. While he is at the line, a Celtics heckler yells at him: "Joe Johnson, you have a boring name!" I give him points for humor.

7:29 - It's 60-50, but it feels like it should be closer. The last two possessions have not been crisp for the Hawks, who can't afford not to take advantage of every opportunity. They messed up a bit of a fastbreak, and then again failed to corral an obtainable offensive rebound which resulted in the Celtics stealing it back for a fresh possession. They didn't score, but it's symptomatic. On the road, you can't make small mistakes like that, because the margin of error is so much slimmer. Still, it's 60-50, and the Hawks are as close as they've been in a while.

6:20 - The Celtics are not crisp right now either, and the Hawks are finally taking advantage. A Horford jumper reduces the deficit to six, 60-54.

5:00 - And just like that, Ray Allen hits a three to push it back to 11, 65-54. This will not be easy.

3:30 - That one hurt. A forced 22-footer by Horford as the shot clock expired, and then Ray hits another 3 on the other end. It's 72-56 now, the largest lead of the game for the Celts.

3:14 - And we're playing the feud again. Rajon Rondo pushes Joe Johnson, who (understandably) takes exception. They both get techs (though I may be wrong, it appears they have called the tech on Garnett, who doesn't seem real happy about it), but nothing escalates any further. What an intense series this has turned out to be.

2:30 - Frankly, when Ray Allen is hitting like this, it's pretty hard to win. He's got 3 3's in this quarter alone, and looks like he could hit anything from anywhere right now.

29.5 - I'm going to complain about the officiating now, but not how you may think. Paul Pierce just went barreling into the lane, where Al Horford, standing completely still, got called for a foul. I don't agree with that call, but it's more on the macro level than the one just called now. I hate it that players get rewarded for blindly careening into the post. I don't like it when the Hawks get away with it, and I don't like it when other teams get away with it. It's just not basketball. Ok, I'm off my soapbox now.

0:00 - I gotta tell ya - the Hawks played really, really well in that quarter, and yet the Celtics lead increased from halftime by two to lead 81-64 at the end of three. You just have to tip your hat to Boston right now, who has hit three-pointer after three-pointer to quell every Atlanta attempt to get back in the game. There really isn't much you can do about it other than continue to play hard.

9:44 - The Hawks are picking  it up on offense a bit to start the second, but the Celtics continue to get easy buckets inside. Atlanta has got to do a better job on the defensive glass, especially with Garnett and Perkins out of the game right now.

7:00 - Ok, gut check. 41-28 Celtics, and the crowd is as loud as it's been in the game. Joe Johnson is back in, and we need him badly.

4:30 - Crap! Joe had a great look at a 3, but it goes long and the Celts get a fastbreak layup from Rajon Rondo going the other way. It's 45-30 bad guys, and right now I'm once again in the position to root for the team just to get the lead back to single digits at the half. The Celtics are tough at home, boy.

3:45 - Josh Smith has taken a few jumpers tonight, but he is also being very aggressive attacking the basket. It's working too, as he has gotten to the line three times and made all 6 FTs. 47-34 Celtics.

2:45 - You have got to be kidding me. Josh Smith just made an amazing block on Rondo on one end, and while the Hawks were fast-breaking down the other way for an easy deuce, the refs called a foul on Rondo for keeping Smoove from getting up on the baseline. The Celtics fans are booing the call, but the foul saved a basket on the other end. There needs to be an advantage rule like in soccer for a play like that - the foul is on the Celtics, but the Hawks are the ones who are penalized by the situation. UPDATE: At least Smoove made the foul shots. It's 48-36.

2:17 - JJ goes to the line as he's fouled on a three-point attempt, and once again the charity stripe is keeping the Hawks in play. It's down to 9 now, 48-39.

1:45 - Another defensive stand by Atlanta, but another dagger from Boston as Rondo nails a trey with 1 on the shot clock. Back to 12, 51-39.

57.0 - Calm down, Celtics fans. Al Horford commits a hard foul on Garnet to be sure, but there was no harm intended. The second it was over Al started to go over to help KG up, but I guess his help wasn't wanted. I understand, but I don't think the flagrant was warranted, and KG took advantage by hitting both FTs.

0:35 - That hurt. The Hawks get a stop, but no one can corral the loose ball and Ray Allen ends up with an open look for 3 to push it back to a 15-point lead. These are the kinds of breaks you make for yourself, and Boston has been the team making them tonight.

0:00 - Pierce hits another shot-clock beating jumper, and we are 58-43 at the half. This game reminds me more of Game 1 than 2 - I think the Hawks are playing ok - not great, but not bad - but the Celtics are playing at an incredibly high level and therefore lead by 15. The defense is the main culprit tonight - they are really going to have to tighten up in the second half if they want a shot at coming home with a lead in the series.

11:19 - The Hawks win the tip and get Al Horford a decent look from the baseline, but it goes awry. It was a pretty decent shot given the Celtics suffocating D. We've got to try to get our offense going earlier in the clock tonight than we did in the first two games here.

9:39 - Mike Bibby for 3! It's 3-3 in the early going, but that was a huge shot for the Hawks, not just to get them on the board but because Bibby struggled so much here earlier in the series.

9:00 - And Joe adds a three of his own for good measure, and the Hawks lead 6-5. No matter the outcome of this game, I will say this - the Hawks are no longer scared.

8:00 - I just had a laugh - the Celtics played great D against Joe, who forced a tough shot in the paint with the clock running down, only Josh Smith was there to tip it in. The Garden crowd then collectively went, "Awwww."

7:07 - Hawks timeout, as they trail 11-8 after a couple baskets by KG. The Celtics, if we somehow figure out a way to win this series, are certainly not going to go down without a fight. KG and his legendary intensity are out in full force, but again - the Hawks do not seem rattled - at least not yet. The crowd here is still boisterous and loud when the Celtics score,  but overall not the factor yet that they were the first two games.

6:00 - Marvin Williams just took Paul Pierce off the dribble for a basket to cut the lead back to 3 at 13-10. With the attention being paid to the other starters, the Hawks definitely need Marvin to have a good game tonight. 

4:26 - Everyone said (cynically) that the NBA had Dick Bavetta here to officiate tonight to protect the league's interests (namely, the Celtics in the finals). Well, he just called an offensive foul on Joe Johnson, sending JJ to the bench with two. We'll see how long he stays there.

2:51 - And an offensive foul for Horford as well. I won't complain about the officiating too much though. First of all, you expect home cooking in the playoffs, but more to the point - if the Hawks lose this game, it won't be because of a few calls. It's 19-14 Boston right now and for once, I don't blame the offense. The O isn't doing exceptionally well, but the D is giving up too many lay-ups. That's going to have to get fixed before too long, because it's always going to be hard to score.

1:03 - Josh Childress drives to the basket and the refs call a block, and the crowd goes bonkers. Not to say the call was wrong per se, but they really shouldn't complain after the last two.

46.6 - Zaza Pachulia is in the game and gets called for a foul on Leon Powe. As expected, the crowd boos him lustily.

0:00 - End of the first, and it's 27-19 Celtics. The game has followed a pretty similar path to the first two in Boston, as the Hawks are struggling to score while the Celtics are red hot. Home court appears to mean more in this series than any other in the playoffs so far.

The Celtics may win this game, but I'd really like to see the Hawks get back in this and at least make them sweat. Three more quarters to make that happen.

The video board just showed a montage of highlights from the last time the Hawks and Celtics faced off in the playoffs, 20 years ago, in the famous Bird-Nique duel. They are showing several clips of Larry Bird scoring at will on the Hawks, despite constant defensive pressure from the opposition. The Hawks couldn't stop him, no matter what they tried.

Man, that sounds so familiar, I could swear I saw someone else do something like that recently...

This trip to Boston is so different than the first one was. I know I said this the other day, but it really is amazing how things can change in a matter of days. When the Hawks were here for the first two games of the series, they may as well have been invisible. The only real attention they got from the media was after Bibby's comments about the Boston fans - if he'd never said that, I'm not sure anyone would have talked to them.

Now, after two wins in Atlanta to tie the series, we are back in New England, and believe me, people are paying attention now. The Hawks are a story! Or at least, they are part of the story. As I figured, the focus is less on the Hawks standout play and more about Boston choking, Doc Rivers' decision-making and the playoff pedigrees of the Big Three. But it's a start, right?

That's the fun of being cinderella - there is no pressure. Heavy lies the crown on the head of the top-seed, especially after Dallas-Golden State, but it's quite easy being the team with no expectations.

I don't know if the Hawks will win tonight. Certainly, they struggled in Boston the first time around. But that was before Boston knew they had to respect their opponent. They can't take for granted that they are going to win this series now, the Hawks made sure of that.

In previewing tonight's game with Hawks assistant coach Larry Drew today at shootaround, we talked about the things the team has done right the past two games that they didn't do well in Boston - mostly on the offensive side of the court. If the team can find a way to continue getting baskets like they did at home, who knows what could happen.

Both Drew and Joe Johnson talked as well about the need to avoid giving up the kind of run the Celtics started Game 4 on. It's all well and good to do that at home where the crowd can help you out, but if it happens in Boston, it may be too much to overcome.

I expect the Boston crowd to be a huge factor again tonight, unless the Hawks can get off early and make them sweat. I expect they will harrass Bibby again, but I don't think he'll be the only object of their (dis)affection. Al Horford, he of the yelling and pointing at Paul Pierce in Game 3, and Zaza Pachulia, he of the up-close-and-personal conversation with Kevin Garnett in Game 4, will both have big targets on their backs tonight.

I asked Zaza about dealing with the pressure, and he seems prepared for it. Zaza has played in huge games in Europe for his national team, and the stuff he's seen there may make the Boston fans seem like amateurs.

It would be phenomenal for the Hawks to get a win tonight and come home with a chance to close it out at a sold-out Philips Arena, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Celtics didn't win 66 games in the regular season by accident, and it's not like they had much trouble winning at home last week. But the pressure is on them, and it will be interesting to see how they react to it.

It's a best 2-of-3 now - anything is possible.

What a game. I'm sitting here at my apartment finishing up my postgame duties, and I am just amazed at what has happened the past 3 days. From where we were coming home after Game 2 to where we are now, it's just night and day. I'm trying to think of an adjective to describe the win and the energy in the building, but the Thesaurus is failing me, so I am forced to make up my own words. It was spectnomenal. It was fantasterful. It was ricoculous.

I don't ever want to hear anyone questioning Joe Johnson's credentials again, not that you'll hear much of that after tonight's performance. 20 points in the 4th? Against the best defense in the league with Defensive Player of the Year roaming the middle? It's not like JJ was coasting for uncontested layups (though he did hit a memorable 3-pointer after putting Leon Powe on the deck with a crossover). As Kenny Smith said on TNT's Inside the NBA, those were Kobe-esque shots he was hitting. But boy did he hit them, one after another until the game was over and the scoreboard read Good Guys Some, Bad Guys Less.

You know what the best part of all this is? People are paying attention to the Hawks. No one is talking about us in negative way, cracking jokes at our expense, they are simply talking about the basketball being played on the court and how the team is performing.

Let me share something with you. I have worked at TNT during the playoffs the last two seasons logging postgame audio, and I watched literally every single press conference after each game. Every game was basically the same - each coach would come to the podium, and then one, two, or sometimes three players from each team would follow if it had been really crazy.

After Game 1 of this series in Boston, Doc Rivers came to the podium, as did a couple Celtics players, and Mike Woodson - but no Atlanta players. None. It made me mad. I started asking people jokingly, "if the Hawks played in the forest and no one was around, would they make a sound?"

Well guess what - people are paying attention now. We are it - we are the big story in the NBA Playoffs right now. Check the front page of ESPN, SI.com, you name it - we are the team everyone is looking at and trying to figure out where they came from.

I'm not surprised the Hawks won tonight. They played well in Game 3, and with yet another raucous crowd on hand, I didn't think a win was out of the question. What did amaze me was the WAY they won. Between coming back from Boston's opening 16-3 salvo (it didn't even take a quarter!), and then battling back the way they did in the fourth, Atlanta showed some intestinal fortitude I'm not sure I've seen from them this season and I am certain Boston didn't think they had. Zaza Pachulia's dust-up with Kevin Garnett may not have lasted more than a few seconds, but it perfectly encapsulated this series. The Celtics tried to push the Hawks around, but Atlanta showed they weren't afraid to go toe-to-toe.

Success in the playoffs is a fickle thing. Boston leaves home after two straight wins full of confidence, fully expecting to come to Atlanta and finish the series. Now they head back to Beantown and they've got to be questioning themselves just a little. Outside of the big three and Rondo tonight, no one really stood out. Their bench gave them nothing save a couple threes from James Posey, and the Hawks looked fresher, quicker, and more athletic.

Meanwhile the Hawks are the underdogs with nothing to lose. Getting one win was already a victory - getting two? Forget about it. It's house money now. If they can figure out a way to get something (anything) going early in Game 5, it will be very interesting to see if that thought starts to creep into the Celtics collective psyche - "What if we really did lose?"

It's far from over, and the Celtics have the homecourt advantage in their favor. But it's much more interesting than it was a few days ago, isn't it?

Congrats to the Hawks on a huge win, and hopefully they can keep the momentum rolling in Boston on Wednesday night.

8:35 - Ray Allen cools a 7-0 run by the Hawks by sticking another 3. I'd give anything to be able to shoot like him. It is one of the prettiest shots in the history of the league. 78-72 Celtics.

5:53 - Joe with a tough runner in the lane for 2, and after a stop, it's Hawks ball with a chance to take the lead. This is one of those times - you have a chance to take the lead in a game like this, with the crowd going nuts, and it's the launching point to a victory. Each possession here is so critical, and if you don't score you can only come back so many times. Take the lead here Hawks!

4:33 - Signature moment of the series for Joe Johnson. JJ crosses Leon Powe over, Powe falls down, and Joe is left all alone to calmly sink a 3-pointer to give the Hawks a 5-point lead, 84-79. Joe has 11 points in the quarter. This place is going crazy. DEFENSE!

4:16 - KG goes to the line (and misses the first). I have just reminded myself who is on the floor for the Hawks right now. Mike Bibby, 4th Quarter Playoff Killer.

3:25 - Huge offensive rebound by Horford, and Joe sticks another basket to open it up 86-80. 13 for Joe in the 4th now...

2:15 - The Joe Show Fo Mo! Another trip, another deuce for JJ and the Hawks lead 88-82 as the Celtics are forced (well, I don't know if they were forced, but they did it anyway) to call their last timeout. I don't know if we will win or lose this game or series (win? please?), but hopefully this game will show the world what Joe Johnson is capable of. He has been on a mission this game - but it ain't over yet, not with shooters like Ray Allen and Paul Pierce on the court.

1:31 - Ummm, another JJ basket? By the way, the last 4 I think have all been at the rim. Where is KG? Where is the Celtics defense to keep Joe out of the lane? 90-84 Hawks.

39.7 - Offensive rebounds have been absolutely crucial to the Hawks efforts in this game. Josh Childress just grabbed the biggest one yet, and a foul on Paul Pierce sends JJ to the line - he hits one, and its 91-87.

26.2 - The Celtics fail to convert as Pierce inexplicably loses the handle on his way to the rim. Josh Smith is fouled and hits em both to make it 93-87. Holy lord god, this may really happen...

18.7 - Ray Allen dunks, and it's back to four. Gotta avoid turnovers and hit some foul shots.

14.3 - Garnett fouls JJ - 1 down - 2 down. 95-89. Hawks still have a foul to give, and they use it with 10.9 left.

4.3 - Posey hits another 3, it's 95-92. One successful inbounds play, 1 free throw.

2.6 - Inbounds, check, Josh Smith goes to the line and he can finish it off. Hits the first! Game. Set. Match. 2-2.

6:50 - Josh Smith shows his diverse offensive repertoire, tossing in a left hook to tie the game at 57-57.

5:37 - Joe splits the defense with a crossover and finger rolls the Hawks back in the lead at 59-57. I don't really know what to think right now. On the one hand, if the Celtics could score at all (aside from Garnett that is, who has 6 of their 9), they might have a sizable lead on the home team. On the other hand, the Hawks have missed several wide-open looks at 3s, and if a couple of those had dropped, it might be Atlanta with a big advantage. Aaaaaah, I can't handle the swings!

4:27 - Marvin hits another jumper to regain the lead, 61-60, after another late 3 from the Celtics. They are hitting daggers in this series. You play good defense for 22 seconds, then they drop one in. It's very discouraging to me, but the Hawks seem to be handling it well.

2:55 - Ok, first real gut check time for Atlanta. The Celtics are on a 7-2 run, and have a jumpball upcoming between Kevin Garnett and Mike Bibby. The crowd noise has faded a bit, but one big basket will get them right back in it.

2:28 - Are you kidding me? Another jump ball between Bibby and Garnett? Can he get on Horford's back to get a fighting chance?

0:00 - 12 minutes to play, and the Hawks trail 75-65. I don't know why, but they have totally gone away from what was working in the first half. Mike Bibby was held scoreless in the quarter and took only 2 shots, and the team as a whole was 6-17 from the field. The defense is doing ok, but the offense has to get it going in the final stanza if the Hawks want to send this back to Boston tied.

The Celtics are shooting 40% from the field right now. Take out their fiery start when they broke out to a 16-3 lead, and it's even worse. I said in Boston I didn't think our defense was the problem, and it hasn't been in Atlanta either. Now that the offense is scoring, we are seeing much more competitive games.

Mike Bibby in Games 1&2 = 17 points total. Game 4? 18 in the first half. We are much better when he is on his game, there is no doubt about it.

Fouls - Pierce has 3 for Boston and Zaza has 3 for Atlanta. Several have 2 for each team.

10:08 - Acie Law checks in for Mike Bibby - I'm hoping for a good game from him off the bench tonight. Al Horford takes it strong to the rack, gets fouled, and immediately flexes for the camera. Who is this guy? Al sinks them both, and the Hawks lead 35-26.

8:54 - I haven't really mentioned his name yet, but Josh Childress has been a huge factor in this game so far. Chills has but 2 points, but has 7 rebounds already (3 offensive) and 2 assists. For the game so far, he is +17. Paul Pierce hits a 3 at the end of the shot clock for the Celtics (man they do that a lot), and its back to six at 35-29 Hawks.

8:00 - Here is a subtle tweak the Hawks have made that I like - Acie Law is picking Cassell up full-court. It makes him work just a little bit harder.

7:24 - Well, things just got a little interesting. In the scramble for a rebound, Kevin Garnett appeared to just elbow Zaza Pachulia in the throat. Big Z took exception, and got right in Garnett's face (literally - they were head-to-head). Things escalated, but cooler heads eventually prevailed (sorta) and no blood was spilled. Zaza, Garnett, Cassell, and Joe Johnson all picked up techs, but no one was ejected. It is getting really, really physical down in the trenches.

5:33 - A high risk/high reward play that pays off with a high reward. Ray Allen hit a wide-open 3 from the corner to cut the Hawks lead to 37-36, but on the inbounds Josh Smith fires it the length of the court to Joe Johnson for a lay-up to push the lead back to 39-36. A big play to stop some momentum that was gathering for the visitors. Lang Whitaker is next to me again tonight, and he made a comment that I agree with - the Celtics look tired right now. It may not mean anything, but right now I definitely think the frenetic pace of this game favors Atlanta.

4:37 - A turnover by the Hawks, and the Celtics give it right back. Both teams seem a little shaken by the near altercation right now.

3:31 - Bibby takes it strong to the hole and gets fouled by Kendrick Perkins, and I notice as he sinks his two FTs the huge edge the Hawks have in foul shots so far. Right now Atlanta is 14-16 from the line, while Boston is just 3-6.

2:56 - Afroooooooooo Power! Josh Childress brings the house down with a dunk off a pass that reminds me of J-Smoove's dunk in Game 3 - when he took off, I was like there is no way he gets to the rim from there. I guess I need to stop judging their athleticism using my own as a reference point. It's back to a five-point Hawks lead at 46-41.

2:33 - JJ is on fire, which I may not have mentioned to this point yet either. I would rather have him getting some open looks, but he is at least making the high-degree-of-difficulty shots he is taking.

53:5 - Paul Pierce reaches in on Bibby and picks up his 3rd foul, and Mike makes 1-2 from the line to give the Hawks a 51-46 lead. I would really like to see the Hawks take a lead into the half, as long as anyone is taking requests.

0:00 - Ladies and gentlemen, Solomon Jones! Solo, who played the last 3:30 of the first half to protect Horford from foul trouble, blocks Rajon Rondo on a lay-up attempt at the buzzer to preserve a 51-48 lead at the break. Everyone is pitching in tonight - it is just amazing.

8:11 - Many people claimed Boston didn't bring their A game defensively Saturday night. I personally think the Hawks helped make it look that way, but either way they have definitely stepped it up so far. The Hawks are oh-fer in the game from the field, and the Celts have kept them from getting a single clean look at the basket.

5:49 - Mike Bibby takes and makes his first shot of the night. He hasn't had a good shooting night yet - I say tonight's the night. 18-9 Celtics.

3:38 - Philips Arena comes alive! A terrific stretch for the Hawk s as Josh Smith makes a tremendous block on a Rajon Rondo layup attempt. Joe Johnson dropped in a little floater in the lane, the Hawks got a stop, and then Bibby drained a three right in Rondo's face. The Celtics take a timeout as the fans roar their approval, and it's 21-14 Celtics.

3:30 - Big possession here - Paul Pierce goes to the bench with two fouls...

1:59 - Oooooooh boy - Josh Smith just made Kevin Garnett look silly. He gave him a pump fake at the rack that had Garnett off his feet and nearly out of his shorts, then scored on an up-and-under plus one to cut the lead to 23-21.

1:18 - This just in - Bibby is on fire - he hasn't touched the net yet, and has 10 points on 2 three's, a J and two FTs. Tie ballgame, 24-24, and the Hawks are on a 21-8 run.

48.1 - You just can't believe how much the fans are affecting this game right now. Boston, 66 wins and all, is rattled. Josh Childress tips in a Horford miss, and the Hawks lead 27-24!

0:00 - This is in-sane. It is unbelievable in here right now - Joe Johnson just crossed James Posey over twice at the end of the quarter and sank a fallaway jumper in his face to give the Hawks a 29-24 lead at the end of one. I didn't think it was possible, but it's true - this place is louder now than it was on Saturday. Hawks fans are totally killing it tonight. And if I may mention this again, the Hawk took a timeout down 16-3 at the 8:32 mark of the first quarter. From that point on, the Hawks outscored the Celtics 26-8 the rest of the way out. What a performance so far by the team - they deserve a ton of credit for taking the opening shots from Boston and coming right back. As we go to the second, Garnett, Pierce, and Rondo each have 2 fouls.

The crowd is here just like it was on Saturday - way to bring your A-Game ATL. Let's get this thing done tonight, what do you say?

This is written on the whiteboard in the Hawks locker room - it went up straight after the Hawks 102-93 win on Saturday, as a reminder that the series has only just begun.

It's 2:20 am, and I'm just finishing up postgame work from Game 3. It's late, but it doesn't feel that way - my adrenaline is still pumping.

The way the Celtics won the first two games of this series, I have to be honest, I didn't have a ton of confidence going into Saturday night. Shows me what I know. The Hawks showed tremendous heart in winning this game, basically taking everything they didn't do well earlier in the series and turning it around.

Can't shoot well? The Hawks shot 47.4% tonight, which is pretty solid when you are playing the NBA's number 1 defense.

Not getting open shots for your teammates? The Hawks had only 10 assists all game in Game 2, but had 10 on their first 11 baskets tonight on their way to 28 in the game. 4 Hawks had 6 assists or better.

Getting outrebounded? Atlanta took that title 43-35 overall and grabbed 12 on the offensive end after only 5 in Game 2.

3-pointers not falling? The Hawks were 10-18 from downtown, including 5 from Joe Johnson and 3 from Josh Smith.

Everyone contributed, but I have to go back to the guy I've been touting all season for Rookie of the Year, Al Horford. I was talking about this with someone the other day, but I continue to be amazed at how Al has become the emotional center and leader for this team (and as a rookie no less). When we drafted him out of Florida, I knew what he was capable of on the court in terms of his offense and defense. But at Florida, he was always portrayed as the quiet, steady type, content to let teammate Joakim Noah be the one to speak for the team and get them riled up. And while Al isn't exactly loquacious, he has asserted himself over the course of the season as the guy his teammates feed off of throughout the game. Tonight was as fired up as I've ever seen him, especially after his victory-sealing basket over Paul Pierce in the last minute.

If you've seen the highlights of it, you saw Horford point right at Pierce and deliver a message. It's a bit out of character for Al to gesticulate so much, but I am a believer - if he felt it was necessary, then it was worth doing.

I have been working for the Hawks for 4 seasons, and I've always wondered what it would be like to be at Philips Arena for a playoff game. Tonight was everything I hoped for and more. The crowd was into it the whole time, and every big basket just made them rowdier and rowdier. It was amazing.

All I can say is, if you weren't there tonight and have a chance to be there Monday, you have to take advantage.

Congats to the Hawks players and coaches for a huge, huge win, and let's get ready for Game 4 on Monday as we try to even this thing up at 2-2.

9:45 - My reaction just now to josh smith's three-pointer: "no, no, no, no, YES". The Hawks have their biggest lead of the game now, 89-74. It's pretty impressive, and they've definitely got the Celtics rattled.

8:19 - I'll give this to the Celtics - they are a team that shares the ball well. They seemingly just made a dozen passes before James Posey nailed a 3 to cut the lead back to 10 at 89-79.

6:58 - This has just gone officially insane. Josh Smith just had basically the best dunk I've ever seen from him, and that is saying something. On the break, Joe Johnson passed up Josh Childress for a trailing Smoove, who took off from what felt like the free throw line before he rammed it home. On the ensuing possession, he calmly nailed a three pointer, his FOURTH OF THE GAME. Seriously. Josh Smith. Four Threes. The Celtics take another timeout, and the Hawks are up 94-79 with 7 left to play. Josh Smith has 27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. My. Gawd.

6:58 - By the way, the shot-clock and game-clock now appear to be working. I guess we have to have them available if they are working, but maybe we've found the key to success? The Hawks outscored the Celtics 38-23 while they were inoperable. Maybe it's the melodious tones of Ryan Cameron's voice...

5:40 - To prove my point, the Hawks just had 2 straight shot clock violations. We've got a nice lead, but we've got to keep our foot on the gas pedal. 94-84 Hawks.

4:07 - I just remarked to Lang that we had 3 straight possessions where Mike Bibby didn't touch the ball. Well, he did on the fourth, hitting a runner in the lane to stop a potential Boston run.

2:47 - Mike Bibby, 4th quarter playoff killer. Bibby may not have shot or scored much throughout most of the game, but now when his team needs him most he's hit two straight shots to keep the pressure on the Celtics. Rajon Rondo followed that with a circus-shot layup that I could swear hit the shot clock, but I guess not. Timeout Atlanta, and a 98-86 lead as we head to the finish line.

2:00 - Al Horford scores on a terrific pass from Josh Smith, and I'm about ready to call this thing as it's 100-84 in favor of the home team. I won't though, because it ain't over till it's over...

22:2 - Ok, I have to (happily) shut down and head to the locker room to get some interviews with what should be some incredibly happy Hawks players. Al Horford just put the final nail in the coffin, hitting a jumper at the shot-clock buzzer to push the lead back to 102-93. What a tremendous performance by the Hawks. I'll obviously have much, much more on this later tonight.

GO HAWKS!!!

9:43 - Whatever we pay Ryan Cameron, he is earning it tonight. There are apparently some technical difficulties, and the clocks are off on the court, so Cameron is having to announce the shot clock in addition to his regular duties.

6:45 - Smoove knifes his way through the lane for a nice up-and-under layup to keep the Hawks ahead 68-66. We need to keep getting him looks inside instead of from the perimeter.

6:04 - I was just about to mention the fact that Horford is having a tough night shooting when he made that little half-hook from the right block that he loves so much. It never looks pretty, but it generally goes in.

4:51 - Timeout Celtics! Philips Arena is absolutely rocking right now. Josh Childress swatted a shot by Paul Pierce, and JJ found a streaking Josh Smith for another tomahawking windmill dunk. Off another rebound, Smoove pushed it up the floor and made a sweet interior pass to Horford for a lay-in and a 6 point lead at 74-68. I really want to give it up to the fans, who are really helping set the tone with their enthusiasm tonight. When we can get this kind of thing going on a nightly basis, Philips Arena is going to be a tough place for opponents to come in and get a win.

3:45 - Again, putting the ball into Horford in the post pays off. After backing Kendrick Perkins down, Ray Allen comes over to double late and Horford finds a wide-open Joe Johnson for his 4th triple of the night. Al is +17 in the game right now, and has 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists for the night. I can't believe he's not going to win Rookie of the Year.

2:35 - As Dennis Scott would say, get that shot outta here! You could make a Josh Smith highlight DVD from this game and have enough to fill a pretty good amount of space on it.

0:00 - I'm having some technical difficulties of my own right now, but at the end of the 3rd it's 84-74 Hawks. Al Horford found Joe Johnson for yet another trey bomb, and Atlanta's defense is making Rajon Rondo look a bit more like a player making his first postseason appearance. A great quarter all around, with everyone contributing to help give the Hawks a nice cushion going into the final stanza.

8:43 - Timeout Hawks, and they lead 36-30 after another Childress layup (that's 3 for him so far). Looking at the box score, Al Horford has a nice little game going so far with 4 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds. Of course, as I write that, he just picked up his second foul and will have a seat. JJ is back in with his two now, but that is it for foul problems so far.

6:13 - Now that's what I'm talking about! Boston closed the game back to 36-33, but two straight 3-pointers by Joe Johnson put the team back up 9 at 42-33. The Hawks are doing a much, much better job in this game getting open looks for JJ, who had, I don't know, 3-4 total in the first two games. Meanwhile, the Philips Arena crowd is electric. If you aren't here tonight, you gotta get down here for Game 4.

4:31 - The last few offensive possessions haven't gone as well, and the Celtics have cut the lead back to 44-42. We are starting to play the Celtics game, and the fouls are piling up just a little (Zaza just picked up his 3rd). We need a good stretch to carry the momentum of the first quarter into halftime here...

2:18 - Al and Marvin hit a pair of FTs each and the Hawks go back up 50-46. Solomon Jones comes in to give Al a break for the last two minutes to keep him out of foul trouble, and promptly gets hosed on a clean block of Kendrick Perkins. Grumble grumble grumble.

1:15 - Mike Bibby for threeeeeee! Bibby hasn't been looking for his shot much in this game so far, choosing to be a facilitator for his teammates (6 assists), but he just buried a huge 3 to give the Hawks a 54-50 lead and stop a Celtics run to get back in this.

0:00 - The Celtics make a run, but a Marvin Williams lay-in with 5 seconds left makes it a 56-56 tie going into halftime. Overall I am very pleased with the team's effort so far, but they let Boston back into the contest in the late stages of the second quarter with poor shot selection and a few turnovers. Still, it's a ballgame, and the crowd has been great so far, so hopefully the best is yet to come in the second half.

10:59 - I like what we've done out of the gates - got an open look for Marvin Williams (though he missed it), and then went straight into Al Horford on the low post the next time down. If we get the ball to Big Al a lot tonight, it will be a very positive development. By the way - pre-game intros were awesome.

10:59 - Off two made free throws by Joe Johnson, the Hawks show a little press and force Boston to call a timeout. So far, we are showing that we aren't just going to stick to the same tricks from the first two games. By the way, I'm sitting next to Lang Whitaker for this game, so if I say anything funny, he probably gave it to me.

9:54 - JJ hits a nice runner in the lane and has 4 early points for the Hawks. I like that we are trying to get him going early.

9:08 - Ok, that was sick! Josh Smith just threw down a filthy alley-oop from Mike Bibby, eliciting the biggest reaction from the Philips Arena crowd so far.

8:04 - Make that two ferocious dunks for Josh. The Celtics are hitting though, so it remains 13-10 Boston.

7:13 - Are you kidding me? Bibby gets a steal and slings it ahead to Josh Smith for ANOTHER thunderous dunk. He is averaging one per minute right now, and the crowd gets louder with each one. I am very happy with the way this game is going right now.

6:25 - Josh Smith is straight up killing it right now. First he passed up a jump shot (good), driving into the lane for a baby hook. He missed it, but got the rebound and converted the And-1 to give the Hawks their first lead of the game at 17-16. Smoove has 9 points so far and the Celtics have no answer to him.

5:11 - You put the ball in the post to Al Horford, and good things happen. The defense collapsed on the big man, and he promptly kicked it out to Joe Johnson for a big three to give the Hawks back the lead at 20-18.

3:40 - Josh Smith - did I say he was playing well? Though I don't love it when he lets 'em fly from downtown, Smoove nailed a three from the top of the key to give the Hawks a 25-20 lead, then immediately stole the inbound pass to get another possession for Atlanta, which in itself was great, but add in the fact that he didn't press the action and held up to let his team reset and it was even better.

2:15 - Horford gets two straight buckets, both off assists from Mike Bibby. I haven't mentioned his name much yet tonight, but he already has 5 assists in this quarter. The Celtics are forced to take a timeout, as Atlanta is on a 9-0 run to make it 29-20 good guys.

1:25 - The first real test of the night - Joe picks up his second foul (cheaply, I might add), and goes to the bench. How will the team respond?

0:00 - 32-26 ATL at the end of one. To put in perspective how good this first quarter was, the 32 points was the highest output in a quarter for the team this entire series, and taking out the 26 they scored in a garbage-time fourth quarter in Game 1, it's 10 points more than they've scored in any other quarter so far. The team did everything well - they defended well, they passed well (10 assists on 11 baskets), and they took care of the basketball (only 2 turnovers). This game is a long way from being over, but this is the Hawks team we saw beat the likes of Dallas, Utah, and the Lakers during the regular season.

I'm feeling cautiously optimistic. The two losses in Boston were tough, but seeing the guys at practice the last two days and at shootaround today, they don't appear fazed at all. Maybe it's the optimism of youth, but I guess if it were me, I'd maybe be a little rattled. They aren't though, and that bodes well for their performance tonight.

As we saw this week, going down 2-0 in a series has not been the death knell one might think. Aside from Phoenix, every team in the playoffs that started out 0-2 on the road came home and won Game 3 in their own building (except for Houston, which somehow lost both games at home but won at Utah).

The key tonight, as we've said all series, is for the Hawks to get it going offensively. If they can use their advantage in youth and athletic ability to push the pace and get some baskets in transition, they have a shot. If they get locked into a halfcourt struggle, it's going to be tough for them to win.

Either way, I am excited to hear the home crowd rooting on the Hawks after seeing what it did for the Celtics in the first two games in Boston.

Let's go Hawks!

10:19 - I think Chills is taking exception to the fact that it took him so long to score, so he knifes into the lane again for another bucket. It's back to a 14-point game now, by the way.

8:39 - After the physical start to the game, it kind of died down a bit for awhile. But James Posey just tossed Josh Smith to the deck, drawing a flagrant foul, and the intensity has returned. I don't know if the foul deserved a flagrant, but my guess is the refs want to keep the game (and series) from getting out of hand - kind of like warning both benches in baseball.

7:07 - I maintain the reason the Hawks are losing these games are offensive and not defensive problems. It's not shutdown caliber defense necessarily, but it's enough to keep them competitive for sure. Looking forward, the Hawks are going to have to hope the hometown rims are kinder to them tan the ones here at the Garden.

5:40 - Things are getting a little chippy, as every foul now seems to be met with several stares in an opponent's direction. You gotta love playoff basketball.

3:15 - Joe and Mike just left the game, and with that I am going to shut down to get ready to head to the locker room. We are leaving pretty soon after the game, so I probably won't have much of a recap until tomorrow morning. A tough loss, but we'll just have to get it back in Atlanta.

10:45 - Josh Smith is playing terrific defense tonight, as he just recorded his 3rd blocked shot of the game. He followed it up with a lay-up at the other end, and now leads the team with 12 points.

5:26 - The Hawks are getting a few more stops, and if we can get some more easy baskets like the one Mike Bibby just got, we can get back in this. Joe Johnson has gotten a few buckets so far, and hopefully that layup by Bibby will get him going as well.

3:19 - Turnovers. They are bad. They have led to 19 Boston points, which just so happens to be the difference in the game right now. This just isn't shaping up to be our night.

2:06 - Acie Law hits another shot late in the shot clock. His performance tonight has been by far the biggest bright spot.

0:00 - 76-58 Boston. I want very badly for us to make this game interesting,  but much like in Game 1 we can't seem to hit the broad side of a barn. If the score stays where it is, I hope we get a lot of PT for Acie Law to continue to build his confidence for the rest of this series and beyond.

A few other thoughts on the first half:

- Acie Law played terrific basketball in 9 minutes of action, keeping the team afloat while some of his teammates sat on the bench with foul trouble. I realize it's only one game, but I loved his aggression in attacking the basket. I know it's been a tough year for the rookie, but I still have great confidence in his future contributions to the team.

- Again, the fact that we only trail by 10 when Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, and Al Horford have combined to take just 11 shots from the field is actually pretty impressive. We have got to get them more involved in the second half. Josh Childress has only 1 shot as well.

- Defensively, I think the Hawks are doing a better job against Rajon Rondo than they did in Game 1. Sam Cassell continues to do damage though - he is just a thorn in our side.

- Boston is in a bit of foul trouble, as Pierce, Perkins, and Powe (sounds like a law firm) each have 3 fouls. That's a good bit of the Celtics frontline, so hopefully we can take advantage by attacking inside with Horford and Josh Smith.

Again, this game is not over, but I'd really like to see a little run to start the half to really get this thing going. We'll see what happens in just a few minutes...

9:03 - Umm, Acie Law is kinda killing it. He just crossed Cassell over for another layup and now has a team-high 6 points. Unfortanately, Cassell is making up for it on the other end, scoring 6 points of his own to give the Celts their largest lead of the game at 34-24.

7:25 - Joe is taking the offense on his shoulders, which is good because it's getting us some points. He just completed an old-fashioned 3-point play and now has the team's last 5 points.

6:24 - Josh  Smith makes a pair of free throws, which highlights something the team is doing well so far tonight, as they are currently 9-10 from the line.

4:36 - Marvin Williams gets his first jumper of the night. That just shows you the job the Celtics are doing on the Hawks right now defensively. I'd be more impressed with it, if I wasn't so frustrated by it!

3:18 - In addition to making it difficult for the Hawks to get good shots, the Celtics are also forcing a lot of turnovers which is really making it hard on Atlanta. The Hawks have 11 turnovers in the half, to only 4 for Boston.

2:01 - Timeout on the court, and it's 52-37 Boston. The Hawks are not out of this, but the last two minutes of this half will  be very important if they want to make this game a contest. If they can get a few stops and convert offensively they will have a chance to build some momentum going into halftime. I'd love to see them get it back in single digits at the break...

0:00 - The Hawks defense holds strong, and the team battles back to within a free throw of single digits to trail 52-42 at the half. A good closing run to get back in it.

11:00 - The Boston fans are letting Bibby know exactly how they feel, and in the meantime, we are seeing our first real sign of playoff intensity as Josh Smith went barreling into Pierce on his way to the basket. Words were exchanged before cooler heads prevailed, but this game is already off to an incredibly physical start.

9:00 - Bibby makes his first shot. Thank you. It's 5-5.

8:15 - Josh Smith throws one down with authority. 7-5 Atlanta, and the Hawks look much more at ease in this game. Unfortunately, Joe Johnson just picked up his second foul, so he'll come out for Josh Childress. It will  be very interesting to see how long we can afford to keep him on the bench.

7:01 - Mike Bibby is at the FT line, where he calmly sinks a pair of foul shots. If the crowd was supposed to affect him, it hasn't so far.

6:11 - Kendrick Perkins is losing the battle with Bibby so far, as he just picked up his second foul and heads to the bench. I don't know if this helps or hurts the Hawks, as I think his replacement, Leon Powe, is a better player.

5:20 - It's a timeout, and the Hawks offense is sputtering a bit as the Celtics just forced them into a 24-second violation without even a shot attempt. We just got a release on press row saying Paul Pierce has a lower back strain, but he is expected to return. Umm, good for him?

4:41 - Crap - Horford just picked up his second foul. One thing he's going to need to learn as he moves forward in this league is how to sell his post-moves better to officials. I don't necessarily think he deserves some of the charges he gets called for, but when he lowers his shoulder into his defender the contact is so deliberate it's rare the call will go in his favor. The Celtics just got a wide-open dunk for Rajon Rondo, and it's now 15-9 in Boston's favor. No reason to panic, but Atlanta has got to get some offense going.

2:49 - It's not going well right now. The Celtics just reeled off 13 straight points before Marvin Williams got a putback jam. 20-11 Celtics.

1:21 - Acie Law is in for Mike Bibby, and just had a nice drive into the lane for an off-hand layup. The Hawks have gone on a mini-run of their own with their bench in the game, and have cut the deficit back to 22-17.

0:00 - Give it up to the Hawks bench ladies and gentlemen! After a stop (and a non-called push off by Ray Allen), Josh Smith hit a streaking (yes, I said streaking) Zaza Pachulia right at the basket, and the big man converted a high-degree-of-difficulty lay-up for the hoop and the harm. Just when it looked like things were going off the rails a bit, Atlanta has climbed back into it and trail 24-20 at the end of 1.

And with that, it's time to get this thing underway...

Boston's Kendrick Perkins had some choice words for Bibby in response to his comments yesterday, saying "Coming off a 2-for-10 shooting performance, you expect a guy to say something like that."

I wasn't there to hear it (my press badge seems to have inexplicably torn in half,  so I'm in the process of getting a new one), but according to Sekou, Bibby responded to Perkins by basically saying, "Ummm, who is Kendrick Perkins?"

You gotta love Bibby's confidence and intestinal fortitude when he is smack-dab in the middle of enemy territory. It just makes me even more certain that he's going to come out guns blazing tonight.

Tip off is just an hour away!

Bumped over from Playoff Central... 

1. Use the whole floor. A recurring theme I heard in talking to the Hawks over the last couple days (and repeated in my Breaking Down Game 2 segment with David Fizdale today) is that the team fell into a rut of only using one side of the floor on offense, which allowed the Celtics to dictate what the team did offensively and kept them from having to expend a ton of energy on defense. If the Hawks can play from sideline to sideline on offense tonight and make guys like Ray Allen and Paul Pierce expend more energy running around screens and picks, they'll have a much better shot of winning.

2. Get out in transition. As we've talked about before, the Celtics defense is the best in the league but it's most effective in the half court. If the Hawks can get out and run some, it will lead to easier baskets and again make the Celtics expend more energy on the defensive end.

3. Get Mike Bibby going. Bibby was a non-factor in Game 1, but the playoff veteran is too good to struggle two games in a row. Throughout his tenure with the Hawks so far, he's followed up bad games with good ones, and I expect he'll do the same tonight. Getting him going will get Joe going as well, and with those two scoring the Hawks should be able to make this a much closer contest.

Talking to the guys in the locker room, they all think they need to try to get out and run more. The Celtics defense is the best in the NBA, but it is most effective in the halfcourt. If the Hawks can get some cheap ones by beating Boston downcourt, it may help them loosen things up and not find themselves in a situation where they are fighting tooth and nail for every bucket.

Bob Rathbun and I did a little playoff mini-podcast today, and we talked about the importance of taking advantage of every possession. The Hawks had a tough time scoring in Game 1, due in part to cold shooting. The inability to put the ball in the basket put a lot of pressure on Joe Johnson, who was really the only player able to get his own offense going throughout the game. If the team can get JJ and Mike Bibby untracked a bit early in Game 2, it will open things up for everyone else.

A few other interesting notes to pass along from practice today. First of all, during Bibby's conversation with some of the local media, he took a couple shots at the Boston fans. I have a feeling it'll probably get some play in the media up here as people love to look for bulletin board material, and I'm sure it will mean some boos for him in the game tomorrow, but that doesn't mean he was wrong. Apparently the Hawks were getting it pretty heavily from some fans behind the bench during Game 1, and Bibby's memories of fans dressed as empty seats from the Celtics' 22-win season a year ago haven't faded. Personally, I think Mike knew exactly what he was doing, and I think whatever response his comments end up eliciting will just give him fuel to redeem himself for the tough outing he had on Sunday.

Aside from practices, there's been a lot of time to kill the last couple days. I've seen several players walking around the area surrounding the hotel, and Salim Stoudamire and I each spent 20-30 minutes wandering aimlessly around a Whole Foods (seriously - there are way too many options there). But maybe the coolest thing anyone has done has been to hang out at David Ortiz's house, which is what Al Horford did last night. Big Papi and Big Al are both Dominicans, and have become familiar with each other over the past couple years though they've never really had the chance to hang out. So Ortiz had Horford over last night, and according to Al it was as if they'd known each other for years. Big Papi had some words of encouragement for Al, and Al invited him to visit him in Atlanta some time (though the Red Sox don't play in Atlanta any time soon). I wonder if Boston fans will take kindly to a Boston athlete potentially rooting for an enemy player?

Horford isn't the only one who spent some time with the stars though - while I was running on the treadmill this morning at the gym, none other than Bruce Willis came in to work out with his trainer. Not bad, eh?

Check out his gallery of photos from Game 1 - I think they are a little bit better.

A good night's sleep down, and it was back to the drawing board today for the Hawks. We didn't get back to the hotel last night until after midnight, and the bus for practice left this morning at 9:45 (I realize that doesn't seem that short of a rest, but trust me, it took some time to wind down from the game, and I didn't even participate).

Talking to the guys before practice this morning, I didn't get the sense that their confidence was down. They felt mostly the way I felt after Game 1 - namely, that the game was closer than the score would indicate, and that if they can find their stroke, maybe things will be different next time around.

Josh Smith admitted the atmosphere surrounding his first playoff game affected him, but that shouldn't be a surprise. The TD BankNorth Center (can we please just call it the Garden?) was electric last night - it was far and away the loudest arena I've ever been in. Say what you want about Boston fans, but they know how to give their teams a homecourt advantage. But the Hawks have seen it now, and hopefully they will adjust going forward.

One player who didn't seem affected by the noise was Al Horford, who seems impervious to distractions. According to Hawks sideline reporter James Verrett, Horford became only the third rookie in NBA history to put up a double-double in his first playoff game. I'm going to see if I can look that up, because that's pretty impressive - and I am curious if any of them had 20 points as well.

I'll be back later on with some thoughts about where we need to head in order to get this series squared away.

The Hawks make their way into the Garden for practice

Joe gets taped before practice

Al Horford talks with the media about his performance in Game 1

At this stage in the season, almost everyone needs some sort of treatment

The Garden floor, empty save for the AJC's Sekou Smith

Going forward, there are definitely adjustments to be made. I'll be at practice tomorrow to check in and see what the team has in mind, but if it's up to me, it's going to heavily involve Al Horford that's for sure.

I'm going to grab a few hours of beauty sleep while I can...

• Everything You Need To Know
• Playoff Central

10:45 - I know, I know, I shouldn't complain about the officiating, and it certainly isn't making much difference in this game. Having said that, it would be nice to see us get a call every now and then on the inside - they are just killing Josh Smith and company with seemingly no repercussions.

9:53 - Sorry for that last post.

9:19 - Leon Powe makes an impressive driving lay-up to give Boston a 20-point lead, the largest of the game. During the regular season, this game would pretty much be over and you'd start focusing on the next opponent on the schedule. In a series though, you can't afford to just pack it in and go home. Even if the Hawks lose this game, they can still make a statement by making a comeback in this game, even if it's only to cut the deficit to 10 points. This time can be used to try different things, give the Celtics different looks, and focus on trying to come up with the necessary tweaks the team will need to make before Game 2 on Wednesday night. Yes, this game may well be over, but the series isn't, and if we can concentrate on winning the last 9 minutes, there can still be blocks to build on going forward.

6:34 - Ah, I see we have a commenter, who has voiced their displeasure with this game so far. I have to respectfully disagree. This game has not been an embarrassment, no matter what the scoreboard says (though that dunk by Leon Powe was probably a little cringe-inducing). The Hawks haven't given this game away, the Celtics have just played that well. There haven't been a ton of turnovers or terrible stretches. The Hawks just haven't shot well enough to stay in this one, unfortunately. But it hasn't been embarrassing by any stretch of the imagination.

4:30 - Al Horford isn't giving up, that's for sure. He just got a put-back for his 20th point of the night, which ties his career-high. If you want to find the biggest positive in this game, it's clearly been the play of Horford, who has held his own and more. Keeping him out of foul trouble and in the game will be hugely important as this series moves along.

3:26 - Both teams are beginning to empty their benches, so with that I will take a break to close up shop and get ready to head to the locker room. I'll be back with more later on tonight. This was rough, but at the end of the day it's only one game.

9:00 - The Hawks are still struggling offensively, but one thing they are doing well is crash the offensive boards. Both baskets they've had so far have come via an offensive rebound.

6:15 - I guess it's Jesus Shuttlesworth's time to shine. Ray Allen picked up where Paul Pierce left off in the first half, scoring 7 straight for Boston to give Boston a 67-48 lead.

5:15 - Mike Bibby gets a clean look at a 3 and buries it - we need a few more of those.

2:54 - This is a time for the Hawks to make their run. The Celtics have (finally) gone slightly cold, and a couple Atlanta baskets in a row could make this a much tighter affair. As I say that, Joe nails a jumper to cut it to 12 at 67-55.

1:04 - It's interesting watching the game within the game sometimes. Rajon Rondo came down the floor three possessions ago and given the opportunity to shoot a jumper, promptly fired an airball. The next trip down the Hawks gave him some space, and this time he made them pay. The next trip he was afforded the same space, and once again he made the Hawks pay. For the record, I am fine with almost any shot taken by a Celtics player not named Garnett, Pierce, or Allen, but on those two possessions it didn't quite work out.

0:00 - Rondo hits another to end the quarter, and the Celtics are back up 18 at 73-55. Atlanta scored only 15 points in the quarter. They've certainly got their work cut out for them in the final period, especially with so many different Celtics players doing damage offensively. But you gotta believe, right?

SIDENOTE: It must be nice to be David Ortiz. Several of the Red Sox players are on hand for this game, but no one gets a response from the crowd quite like Big Papi. During the timeout between the 3rd and 4th quarters, the Celtics mascot did a trampoline dunk with an assist from Ortiz, who stood under the basket and held the ball in the air for "Lucky" to snare. Definitely a big reaction from the crowd.

- We need to get Mike Bibby going and soon. Bibby only has 2 points on 1-5 shooting, which isn't great but isn't terrible, but he hasn't been able to get his teammates going yet either as he has but one assist. The Hawks in general need to do a better job sharing the basketball, as they have only 8 assists on 15 made baskets.

- Joe started slowly, but came on strong as the second quarter wound down to finish the half with 9 points and 5 assists. The Celts are pretty much double-teaming him at every turn, so as long as he keeps finding his open teammates it's something we can live with.

- Al Horford has been the biggest recipient of the attention to JJ and Bibby, as he is 4-5 from the field and has 11 points to lead the team.

- Foul trouble cost Josh Smith the second quarter, but with 4 fouls to work with I anticipate seeing him much more after halftime.

- The Hawks have to do a better job guarding the perimeter, as the Celtics are 5-7 from downtown. I don't think they can keep that pace up over the course of the game, but each one they've hit has drawn a huge reaction from the home crowd.

- I know the Hawks have been down for all but a few seconds of this game so far, but I feel good about how they've played overall. They aren't getting blown out, and though I realize that's a lame goal to try to achieve, in my opinion it's the first step to getting a victory in one of these games in Boston. The crowd calmed down a good amount after the opening salvo, and the Hawks had a couple nice runs that took the crowd out of it for several minutes. I'd love to see Atlanta come out strong to start the second half and close the gap to a one or two possession game, and then we'll see what happens.

9:32 - The Hawks are battling - another basket by Chills and a jumper by Marvin and we've got a two-point game. The crowd, collectively, seems to be saying, "Whaaaaaaaaaaa?"

8:14 - And just as I say that, KG comes back in the game and hits a fadeaway and Tony Allen gets a putback to make it 33-27 Celtics. Salim got a pretty decent look at a 3, but it was just off. It was off the dribble though - I'd really like to see someone drive and kick it out to him, set and ready to fire.

5:35 - Is it too late for people to change their vote and make Al Horford the Rookie of the Year? He just hit a running hook over Garnett's outstretched arms that was pretty darn impressive. He followed it up with a putback on a JJ miss, and now leads the team with 8 points. Sam Cassell is in, and he just hit a big 3 to get the crowd back into it and stretch Boston's lead back to 7 at 38-31. I'm telling you though, at least so far, the Hawks are showing they have no intention of going quietly in this series.

4:04 - I officially hate Sam Cassell. He's on a personal 7-0 run to stretch the lead to 42-31, though Doc Rivers just did us a favor by taking him out (to be fair, Rajon Rondo is having a pretty good game as well). We were getting some nice baskets in transition, but Boston has done a good job putting us back in the halfcourt more in the past few minutes. Marvin just drew KG's third foul though, so hopefully we'll take advantage of his absence before the half.

3:08 - I am pretty sure I said this on the podcast this week, but if I didn't I'll say it now. I think these playoffs, no matter the result, are going to be the coming out party for Al Horford. He just got a hoop-and-the-harm on Perkins, putting him back on the bench with his 3rd foul as well. The Celts' foul trouble could be worth watching as this game goes along.

2:10 - Big Al's offensive continues to pay off, as the Celts are forced to double him down low, at which point he fires a pass back out to Joe Johnson, who gets his first clean look at a jumper all night and buries a 3. We haven't seen much inside-out offense this season, but I think it is something we'll see more and more as Horford's game continues to develop.

0:27 - Joe stick a jumper in Ray Allen's face - he is starting to heat up just a bit. It's a 9-point game right now, and if the Hawks can get a stop and keep it under double-digits at the half, I'll say they've acquitted themselves pretty well.

0:00 - The Hawks force Pierce into a turnover, and Mario West misses a jumper at the buzzer to keep the score 49-40 at the half.

8:40 - We are going to have to get better offensive possessions - the Celtics get open looks for two straight Paul  Pierce 3's, while we got off-balance jumpers from Joe and Josh that were nowhere close to going in. This is the part we talked about before the game, weathering the first run. We can do it too, but we've got to take better shots than we've gotten so far. Timeout Hawks, and its 8-2 Celtics.

7:52 - The ref just called an offensive foul on Kevin Garnett. That takes cojones in this building tonight, I'll tell you that much.

6:54 - Kendrick Perkins gets called for the foul, his second. That will help a little, as Leon Powe is much smaller (though he plays pretty big). Paul Pierce is on fire right now, as he's put three 3's right in my face. It's 14-6 Celts.

5:10 - Did I say Paul Pierce was on fire? How about all the Celtics. They cannot miss. It's 23-10 C's, as they are shooting 9/14 from the field (64%) to our 3-9 (33%). I actually feel like we've settled down a bit offensively, but there's not much any team can do in the NBA when their opposition is as hot as Boston is right now.

4:38 - Josh Smith - my god! He just stuffed Leon Powe at the rack, then took it coast-to-coast for a righty lay-in. It silenced the crowd for about 6 seconds, which is saying something on a night like this.

2:53 - It's a timeout, and the Hawks trail by 13. So far the Celtics have done a pretty good job keeping our scorers from getting going, as JJ and Bibby have combined to take only 5 shots. Boston seems pretty content to let the other guys take shots, so hopefully Marvin and Al can help make them pay to get us back in this game.

1:57 - Garnett goes over the back for his second foul, so he'll take a seat. Josh Smith is really being a difference maker defensively on the interior, as he is pretty much owning Leon Powe. The defense is really picking it up, as the Hawks are on an 8-0 run to close the gap to 26-21.

0:50 - Josh Smith picks up his second foul on a charge, a really unnecessary play. As well as he is playing defensively, we need him to let the guards handle the ball and try to get his points in the flow of the offense. As a result, he'll go to the bench.

0:00 - That's the end of the first quarter, and the score is 29-21 Celtics. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the way we've played. Boston came out smoking, but the Hawks hung tough and are very much alive despite trailing by 8. The scoring for Atlanta has been pretty well distributed, as three players have 4 points. Hopefully we'll see a little more Joe in the next quarter...

We have got to get Philips Arena rocking like this for Games 3 and 4, no matter the series score.

I'm not going to lie, I've got a pretty good seat tonight - I'm directly behind the basket adjacent to the Celtics bench, so I'll have a pretty solid vantage point for tonight's live blog.

I've heard it said several times over the past few days, and I completely agree that one big key to tonight's game will be for the Hawks to weather the first storm. With this kind of crowd, the Celtics are going to be pumped up to put it on the Hawks early. Even if Boston does come out of the gate smoking, if the Hawks can keep their composure, they can make this a game. I'm going to look to Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, and Al Horford to help keep the team's emotions in check.

Playoffs baby - playoffs!

Ah, the playoffs. Yesterday saw several great games in the NBA (Seriously? Tim Duncan hit a game-tying three?), and the intensity was through the roof. That's what we are hoping to see tonight when the Hawks and Celtics open their best-of-seven series at the TD BankNorth Center.

It already seems like the psychological games have begun here in Boston. At shootaround today on the main court, it felt like it was about 45 degrees. I'm not casting aspersions (oh who am I kidding - I'm definitely casting aspersions), but let's just say it was a little too cold to seem like just a coincidence. The Hawks were taking it in stride though (it probably didn't affect them as much as it did those of us sitting motionless on the sidelines, shivering). Al Horford grinned about it after shootaround, clapping his hands and saying, "That's what I'm talking about!" Even though these are his first playoffs, he knows the game.

In other news, Josh Smith decided to get on the postseason haircut train, join his teammate Mario West with the fro-hawk. It's kinda hard to tell (hopefully the pics below will give you a glimpse), but as the series goes perhaps it will become more distinct. Whatever gets you revved up, I say.

I spoke with Mike Bibby after shootaround to get his thoughts on the start of the series. Bibby is a man of few words, and while he didn't say anything of particular note, it was the way he said it that piqued my interest. He sounded confident. I don't know how confident the rest of the team is going into this series, but Bibby isn't scared, that's for sure.

Confidence was also a theme mentioned by Hawks assistant coach David Fizdale. He said the Hawks have to believe that they can get a win in Boston, then go out and execute a gameplan to make that happen.

We'll see if they can do it in just a few hours...

JJ talks with the Boston media

I set out today to get lots of pictures of the guys on the plane, getting ready for their first playoff experience as Hawks (or for any team for that matter), but I'll admit, I got sidetracked. Sometimes, you just have to roll with the punches.

Instead of snapping photos of Joe napping and Al eating, I ended up sitting next to Dominique Wilkins and listening to him wax philosophic about the playoffs, basketball, and the difference between the league he played in and the league we see today. Pardon my hyperbole, but it felt like the equivalent to talking to Picasso about painting or Hemingway about writing.

It was an education. Nique has forgotten more about basketball than I'll ever know (I love that expression), and it was a treat to listen to him talk about what it takes to succeed in the playoffs.

The biggest thing he mentioned was that you have to be hungry. You can't just be happy to make the playoffs, or else your stay will be over in a hurry. This is obviously particularly relevant in the case of the Hawks, who are in the postseason for the first time in 9 years. Nique also talked about the importance for the Hawks to try to match the mental toughness of the Celtics, a team with tons of veteran leadership and guys who've been through the playoff wars before. They can't get frustrated early - if the shots aren't coming their way or just aren't falling, they've just got to be patient and let it come.

We both agreed that if the Hawks could somehow steal a game in Boston, it would turn the pressure up even further on the top-seeded Celtics, who are most people's pick to rep the East in the NBA Finals.

Nique expects the Hawks to be a little nervous at the start tomorrow night, but if they can just weather the first surge by Boston, they can be ok.

Only 24 hours until game-time, and if today's games are any indication, these playoffs should be one heck of a ride.

The Hawks charter

Dominique Wilkins chats with Hawks broadcaster Steve Holman before takeoff

The players touch down in Boston

After practice today, everyone got their first glimpse of Coach Woodson with his freshly shorn noggin'. Everyone on the team got a big kick out of it, and Woody had a pretty good sense of humor about the whole thing. I think it's great personally, because it's the kind of thing that keeps everyone loose in the locker room as they prepare for the biggest set of basketball games of the season (and for many, their careers).

Looking around the locker room, there seem to be several postseason rituals going on. Josh Smith is growing out his beard, Mario West is sporting the fro-hawk a bit, and in response to Woodson's dome, Josh Childress promised he'd shave his head too - if the Hawks win the title.

For those that want to know what Woody used to look like back in the day, here's a little comparison:

Is it just me, or did everyone have a fro of some kind in the 70's?

T-minus 58 hours and counting until tip-off of the Hawks-Celtics series, and we are starting to get pretty pumped up. Game 1 tips off Sunday night at 8:30 on TNT and SportSouth (which will be broadcasting the first six games of the series if you want to get that home flavor), which marks the first time these Hawks have been on that network since the Joshes got here.

Around the internets, there have been several previews of the series, including some that even spell out what it would take for the Hawks to win (beyond mine for Ball Don't Lie).

Mike Moreau of HoopsWorld doesn't just think the Hawks can win, he even played out the entire scenario of how it might go down. There are also the obligatory previews by many of the top sports sites, including SI.com, The Sporting News, and ESPN.

Yes, the odds are against us, but that's not going to keep us from getting excited. You just never know what could happen.

Here at the home office, every employee was given a t-shirt to wear to support the team. I gotta say, everyone around here is excited to get this thing going. Have your own pics of yourself getting fired up? Send em in, and they may get posted here on Hawks.com as well!

My game face is on.

The Hawks finish the regular season tonight in what should be nothing more than a glorified exhibition game in Miami. The Heat packed it in months ago, and I imagine the Hawks will operate in a similar manner to last night's game against Orlando. A few minutes for the starters to keep them from accumulating any rust, with the bulk of the time after that going to Salim, Acie, Zaza, and others.

If you want a prediction, here's one for you - Stoudamire hits for 20+ tonight.

We'll have much more in the next couple days as we prepare for the upcoming playoff series against the Celtics, including the dates and times of the games as soon as we get them.

More later, but for now the links:

I know I said earlier today I wanted to see the team clinch at home, but I'll happily take it. The Hawks worked hard to get to this point, and they deserve a couple games to get their heads right and their bodies healthy for Boston.

We'll start looking ahead at the first-round matchup with the Celtics in the next few days, but for tonight let's all enjoy the good news and celebrate tomorrow night with the Hawks home finale against the Orlando Magic.

Congrats to the players and coaches!

Let us hear what you think in the comments!

I am conflicted about tonight's game. While I realize it's best for the Hawks to clinch by any means necessary and not have it come down to the last possible game, I will admit there is a part of me that wants to see the Pacers beat the Wizards tonight. I think it has to do with wanting to see the team clinch at home, and clinch with a win as opposed to another team's loss.

I say that now of course, and if the unthinkable were to happen and the Hawks missed the playoffs, I'm sure I'd regret this line of thinking (this won't happen by the way. Even if the Pacers won out and the Magic beat them on Tuesday, there is just no way they could lose to Miami on Wednesday).

Everyone around me is telling me I'm nuts, and I totally understand why. I just like the idea of taking something, rather than having it given to me.

Still, if you are a Hawks fan, you are no doubt watching tonight's Wizards-Pacers game with great interest.

Game time is 7:00 ET for those who can watch it, otherwise follow along on NBA.com.

The Hawks took care of their side of things Friday night, beating the Knicks 116-104 on the road to sweep New York for the first time in franchise history. The game was never really close, as the Hawks jumped out to a 9-0 lead and led by double-figures for nearly the entire game. The Knicks closed within 5 at one point in the 4th, but Atlanta capitalized on several turnovers to push the lead back out and come away with a crucial road victory.

As expected, Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby were clutch when the team needed them, combining for 58 points in the game including 9-15 from beyond the arc. Josh Smith was a force as well, chipping in with 24 points and making several spectacular plays on both ends.

The magic number is now 2, as the Pacers kept pace by beating the Sixers 85-76 in Philadelphia. The Hawks could clinch tomorrow in theory, if they can beat the Celtics and have the Bobcats take down the Pacers in Indianapolis. Both games are at 7:00 ET, so there won't really be the opportunity for much scoreboard watching (at least not for the players).

It goes without saying that tonight's victory was important, but what impressed me the most was how the team came out and attacked from the get go and never let up.

New Jersey, by virtue of their loss to Toronto, was eliminated earlier in the evening, but the Hawks win would have taken them out of play anyway.

Tomorrow should be something else at Philips, I recommend being there if you can.

What a weekend of intrigue we have in store for us. If things go well tonight, we could be staring at playoff-level intensity tomorrow night at Philips Arena, when a sold out crowd will watch the Hawks take on the Celtics.

Our magic number to clinch is three - a win tonight coupled with a Pacers loss in Philly would bring it down to one. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Tonight is what it's all about. The Hawks take on the Knicks in New York, a place they've won once already this season. Atlanta has beaten New York three times already this year, but all have been closer than you'd think given the relative strength of each squad. In fact, the easiest win came at Madison Square Garden, as the Hawks won there by 11 back on March 16.

So what is the key to tonight? The same thing that's been the key to several Hawks wins and losses over the past few weeks: Mike Bibby. Bibby has been outstanding in the team's wins, but in a few losses he has been missing in action.

That's not entirely true - even in the games the team has lost he's been a good distributor - it's been his scoring that has been absent, and that's what the Hawks need desperately if they are going to have any chance of clinching this weekend (or in general).

My friends and family have been asking me what I think about the Hawks chances, and to be honest, despite the team's roller-coaster ride of a season, I'm still pretty confident. As I've said before, a 2-game lead with 4 to play is relatively safe, provided the team doesn't go in the tank.

I don't think they will. With Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson leading the way, Atlanta has a playoff-tested backcourt that is capable of carrying the team, and I'm not worried about them shrinking in the limelight. We all know what Mike Bibby does in the clutch, and Joe's not too shabby himself.

Still, the Hawks can't stroll into the Garden tonight expecting the Knicks to lay down. Isiah Thomas is fighting for his job, and with Donnie Walsh on board to try to right the ship, most of the players are auditioning for him as well. This isn't the squad that sleptwalked (sleepwalked?) through most of the season, and their 3 straight wins is evidence of that.

Atlanta should win tonight, but it won't be easy. They have to show up and put it to New York, something they failed to do Tuesday in Indiana.

We've said for years we wanted to see the Hawks play for something meaningful in April - well, it doesn't get much more meaningful that tonight.

Catch all the action on FSN - game time is 7:30.

A big night tonight for the Hawks and Pacers, with each team in action on the road. Atlanta plays New York, a team they've beaten 3 times this season, while Indiana plays at Philly, who they've beaten twice. A win by the Hawks and a loss by the Pacers puts Atlanta in position to clinch a playoff berth with a win tomorrow night over the Celtics at home. With that game sold out, I can only imagine the atmosphere surrounding the game if we can take down a postseason berth.

We'll preview it more in depth later today, but for now, here are the links:

We are getting closer and closer to the 2008 Playoffs, and I gotta admit, I'm getting a little excited. I know we haven't clinched yet, but we are close.

If you've been around the Hawks site of late, you've probably noticed our slogan for the 2008 Playoffs: Get Fired Up!

We are getting fired up as we speak, as the season is in its final week (hey that rhymes!), and we want to get you involved as well.

That is why today we are launching the Hawks Get Fired Up Video Contest. Here's the dirt on what you need to enter:

We are looking for the best videos of Hawks fans getting everyone fired up for the playoffs - you can address it to the players, the coaches, the fans, whoever you want. If you want to speak from the heart, do that. If you want to recite your favorite movie pep talk, have at it!

It's so easy to enter, you'd be silly not to, really. And the prizes ain't too shabby, either.

The Grand Prize winner will receive 2 tickets to the first home playoff game, dinner at Center Club, and their video will be shown on the jumbotron to all the fans who come out to support the team on their playoff run. Runner-up will receive an autographed Hawks basketball.

Seriously, have some fun with this. All you need is a camera, a face, and a voice, and you are good to go.

So record your message, upload it to YouTube, join the Hawks group, and email us at hawks.mailbag@atlantaspirit.com with your video link so we can post it on Hawks.com.

Good luck, and Get Fired Up!

Sufficed to say, tonight's game will be a test of wills. The Hawks have a chance to (virtually) clinch a playoff spot with a win. The Pacers know that they are done for the season without one. Something has to give.

The way we have been playing of late, I don't think it's out of the question that we win this game. We are a better team than Indiana, but of course, that hasn't mattered several times this season. This is the kind of game we have lost in the past, but with Mike Bibby running the show, there is no doubt this team's will is stronger than it's been in quite some time.

I won't make a prediction, other than to say it's right there for the Hawks to take if they bring the effort.

Tune in tonight at 7:00 on FSN to catch all the action.

Joe Johnson was on fire in winning Player of the Month honors for the Eastern Conference for March. Well, the JJ train keeps on rollin', as today the league announced he has been named Player of the Week for Mar. 31- Apr. 6. It's the second time he's won a POW award this season; he also won the honor back on December 24.

I can't believe there was ever a time this season when we thought Joe was struggling. The way he's playing right now, he's more likely to leap tall buildings in a single bound than have a bad game.

Congrats again on the award, JJ - it's always nice to see your best players play their best when the season's on the line.

Onto the links from over the weekend:

There is a picture on HawkSquawk of the play in question, for those that want to check it out.

My two cents? The Toronto players said it right last night in post-game interviews. If they had held onto the lead, late-game heroics never would have come into play.

I talked to Josh Smith today about the Hawks comeback, and he said the team's confidence in themselves and each other played a huge role in coming back from the 17-point deficit.

I for one am still incredibly jazzed about the win, but am shifting my focus to the hugely important home-and-home with Philly on Friday and Saturday. As noted by Sekou Smith, John Hollinger, and others, the Hawks are now closer to the 5th spot than they are to 9th.

No time to let up now!

But, with a 5-game winning streak and a 4-game lead with only 7 remaining on the calendar, I think it's safe to begin making some preparations for the playoffs.

If you want to catch the action at Philips Arena when it comes to town (we don't know specific dates yet, but I'm guessing Games 3-4 of a first round series would probably be held in Atlanta somewhere between April 26-30), then go ahead and get your playoff tickets now. Beat the rush people!

If you were at the Toronto game last night, you heard the excitement in the crowd - it was a playoff atmosphere if I've ever seen that.

So get your tickets, and be a part of it when it really counts - in the postseason.

Confidence. It's a beautiful thing. I've been saying all along that I felt that if the young Hawks could just string enough wins together at a time, the effect would start to multiply and good things would start to happen.

After winning four in a row over some of the lesser lights of the NBA, the Hawks finally took down a team with as much at stake as they had, and did so in incredibly dramatic fashion.

A month ago, could you have seen the Hawks overcoming a 17-point second-half deficit against a playoff team? I wouldn't have bet on it. But the success of the past couple weeks has clearly given this team faith in themselves, leading to what was arguably the season's biggest win tonight at Philips Arena.

Everyone played a role tonight. The stars were who you'd figure, with Joe showing off the form that made him Player of the Month for March and Mike Bibby reminding everyone why he's known as one of the top crunch-time players in the League. But it wasn't just them, either. Marvin Williams hit big shots in the first half, and Josh Smith picked it up where he left off in the second. Josh Childress and Zaza Pachulia were each productive off the bench. Al Horford had another ho-hum double-double (his rookie-leading 22nd).

And back to Josh Smith for a moment. I won't pretend to agree with his shot selection all the time, and I can't say I was particularly pleased at the point of release for each of his three three-pointers tonight. But when each of them dropped through the nets, I was shouting applause (in my mind of course, I am precluded from doing that on press row) just like everyone else. Why? Because at this time of year, it doesn't matter how it goes down, just as long as it goes down.

People can dismiss the Hawks wins over the past few weeks as less impressive because of who they beat, or because the Hawks blew big leads, whatever, but the fact is those wins over New York and Milwaukee count every bit as much in the standings as earlier ones over Dallas and Phoenix.

It doesn't matter how it happens - a basket is a basket, and a win is a win, and the Hawks have been getting them at a more rapid pace of late than at any other time of the season.

It couldn't have happened at a better time.

I'm not positive, but I think I can remember the exact day when it occurred to me that Al Horford was having the kind of season that deserved Rookie of the Year consideration. It was against the Sonics back on January 25, when Big Al notched one of his typical double-doubles, going for 10 points and 16 rebounds in a 99-90 Hawks win.

I already knew Horford was having a good season before then; he'd won Rookie of the Month honors for November after all. But in watching him play in the same game as Kevin Durant, and watching Durant struggle to adjust to the league, it dawned on me the situation that was at hand. Namely, that Durant was most likely going to win Rookie of the Year honors despite the fact that Horford was having a much better all-around season.

In that time, nothing that has happened has changed my mind. Horford continues to help lead the Hawks to a playoff berth, leading all rookies in rebounds, double-doubles, and efficiency in the process.

I still think Horford should win Rookie of the Year, I still think he is playing better than Durant, and I still am sad that Durant will probably win the award.

Hawks fans, it's up to us to try to change that opinion. As part of that effort, we are happy to announce we created a website to show off Horford's exploits. Al4Roy.com is our brand new baby - check it out for the latest links, photos, and video showing off the Hawks rookie big man.

Let us know in the comments what you think of the site, and let everyone know exactly how you feel about Al Horford!

• Al4Roy.com

Should the Hawks win tonight and the Pacers lose, then Atlanta's magic number would move to 4 for both teams.

I hope that explains it all...

Onto the links:

From the start, we all said the person who would benefit the most from the acquisition of Mike Bibby would be his backcourt mate, Joe Johnson. That wasn't a difficult assessment to make, as playing with a top flight point guard makes life easier for any scorer of JJ's caliber, especially one fighting as many double-teams as he does.

Tuesday, we got some confirmation about just how successful Joe has been with his new running mate, as Johnson was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for March after averaging 24.9 ppg and 7.0 assists to help lead the Hawks to the brink of a playoff berth.

JJ took his game to another level in March, leading the team to 8 wins in their last 10 games and putting up his best statistical month of the year in minutes, scoring average, assists, blocks, steals, and FT%.

Of course, that wasn't the only good news for the Hawks.

Al Horford continued to show why he is a serious contender for NBA Rookie of the Year honors, as he won Rookie of the Month honors for the second consecutive month and third time this season overall.

Horford dropped six double-doubles on the competition during the month, leading all Eastern rookies in scoring and rebounding in the process.

The NBA season is incredibly long and grueling, and it's a testament to the talents of both Johnson and Horford that they are both playing their best ball of the season at its most critical juncture.

Congrats to both!

I know the Grizzlies threatened to make it a game for a few minutes in the fourth, but let's not kid ourselves. The outcome was never really in doubt. It was a minor annoyance that they had to bring the starters back in, but it would be silly to focus on that and not on the overall outcome, specifically that Atlanta won for the 8th time in 10 games and picked up two wins on a back-to-back for the second time in two weeks.

As you can see to the right, the Hawks magic number to clinch is down to 6 - any combination of Hawks wins and Nets and Pacers losses totaling that number will put Atlanta in the playoffs for the first time since 1998-99.

This thing is starting to get rolling!