Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics Kick Off Eastern Conference Finals

2023 NBA Playoffs

The Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics will face off in the Eastern Conference Finals, a rematch of last year’s second round series won by Boston in seven games. Atlanta advanced to the conference finals by defeating the top-seeded Miami Heat in five games. Boston advanced by defeating the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks in seven games. The Celtics have won the NBA Championship 17 times. The Hawks have won the NBA Championship once. The Celtics have made the most NBA Finals appearances with 21. Both teams are tied with 2 NBA Eastern Conference Championships.

Atlanta Hawks

Trae Young Leads Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks are led by All-Star point guard Trae Young, who averaged 28.8 points and 9.5 assists per game in the regular season. Young is one of the most dynamic scorers in the league and is a threat to score from anywhere on the court. He was named an All-Star for the third time this season.

Atlanta Hawks Strengths and Weaknesses

The Hawks have a number of other talented players, including All-Star forward Dejounte Murray, sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanovic, and veteran center Clint Capela. They are a well-rounded team with a good mix of youth and experience. However, they can be inconsistent at times and have a tendency to turn the ball over.

Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum Leads Boston Celtics

The Celtics are led by All-Star forward Jayson Tatum, who averaged 26.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game in the regular season. Tatum is one of the best young players in the league and is coming off a breakout season in which he was named to the All-NBA Second Team.

Boston Celtics Strengths and Weaknesses

The Celtics have a number of other talented players, including All-Star forward Jaylen Brown, veteran point guard Marcus Smart, and former Defensive Player of the Year Robert Williams III. They are a deep and experienced team that is well-coached by Ime Udoka. However, they can be prone to turnovers and have struggled with injuries at times this season.

Matchup

The Hawks and Celtics are both evenly matched teams with a lot of talent. The series is likely to be a close one that could go either way. The Hawks will need to find a way to slow down Tatum and Brown, while the Celtics will need to find a way to contain Young. The team that can make the fewest mistakes and execute their game plan will likely come out on top.