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.