The Boston Celtics had a competitive game against the Atlanta Hawks but were unable to win in overtime. Jayson Tatum paced the squad with 31 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists. However, it wasn’t sufficient. Despite Boston’s commanding lead in the Eastern Conference playoff race, Paul Pierce appeared dissatisfied.
During an Undisputed segment on Fox Sports 1, Pierce chastised the Celtics for losing to the Hawks twice in a row. With Boston looking to secure the No. 1 seed, Paul Pierce believes they should dominate opponents such as Atlanta.
“You should start preparing your mind for the larger picture. “Teams like Atlanta should be crushing it every time.”
The Celtics have an 11-game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks, who are in second place. Even yet, losing two in a row to the Hawks is unusual. Atlanta is set to compete in the play-in tournament, while Boston has looked like the league’s top squad this season. So it’s understandable that Paul Pierce chastised them for losing two consecutive games.
On the other side, it is the last stretch of the regular season, and the Celtics have already clinched the top seed. Being fit and prepared for the postseason is much more crucial right now. Furthermore, even if Boston faces Atlanta in the first round, it’s difficult to imagine the Hawks beating them in a seven-game series.
The Celtics’ playoff outlook
Boston is in a fantastic position to make a strong postseason run this season. Even if Paul Pierce blames them for their regular-season losses. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown appear as terrific as ever, and the arrival of Kristaps Porzingis has increased the team’s offensive production. Additionally, the appearance of Derrick White is beneficial.
However, depending on how the play-in tournament goes, the Celtics may face a difficult challenge in the first round. The Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers are currently seeded seventh and eighth, respectively. Those two teams have the potential to surprise Boston right away.
So, depending on who Boston faces in the first round, they could be in for an upset. If the Celtics can get over that hurdle, there’s no reason they can’t advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. But given how good this squad is performing, it’s championship or bust.
Alabama’s 2025 Conference Opponents
- vs. LSU
- vs. Oklahoma
- vs. Tennessee
- vs. Vanderbilt
- at Auburn
- at Georgia
- at Missouri
- at South Carolina
As a result, expect Tatum and Brown to really turn on the jets once the postseason starts. They have all of the resources needed to win a title. If they can pull it off, the Celtics will win their first title since 2008.
