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