Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 3/1/2022

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA

Where to watch: TNT

DraftKings: Celtics -6

BetMGM: Celtics -5.5

Caesars: Celtics -6.5

Hawks: 29-31

Celtics: 36-27

A rather interesting start coming out of the All-Star break for the Atlanta Hawks, with one win and one loss on the record book and the wind coming in very emphatic fashion. Led by a ridiculous 41 points from Trae Young, who only took four three point attempts and made one of them, Atlanta wiped the brakes off the Toronto Raptors 127-100 the other night.

That might have been the most bizarre 40 point game that we will ever see from young. How he can only take 4 threes the entire game, make only one and still shoot 17 of 24 in the field is pretty damn remarkable. Kevin Huerter had 14 points, as did DeAndre Hunter, and Onyeka Okongwu had 17 points and seven rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench while shooting 6 of 6 from the floor.

It was a very solid effort from Atlanta a couple of days removed from playing at rough game against the Chicago Bulls, losing that game by just four points in Chicago. The Hawks are still in the playoff hunt, but still have a ways to go before getting to those top six seeds. As it stands right now Atlanta would be in the play in tournament, but considering their coming off an appearance in the Eastern Conference finals last year, an appearance like that would not be ideal in this situation.

Overall, Atlanta has won three of four and are playing very well at this time period they will not have forward John Collins or shooting guard Lou Williams in the lineup, but as we've seen against Toronto, this team is very capable of putting up an effort worthy of competition without some of their key names.

Although if you are a fan of young superstars in this league, you're going to love this matchup considering who is also on the opposition. Young is certainly a talent worthy enough of just watching by himself, but when you add the talent that Boston has on the other side, it's going to make for a very entertaining night.

All things are sunny and rosy once again for the Boston Celtics after pretty much trudging through the first half of the season and only registering a 500 record. But Boston has regained form and it's sitting at 36- 27 coming out of the All Star break having played three games and winning two of them.

The most recent game was kind of a clunker after playing the second night of a back to back. Boston lost 128- 107 to the Indiana Pacers on the road for their third straight road game to begin the second half of the season.

It was not the best night shooting for Boston, who was held to 42.9% from the floor. Jayson Tatum shot just seven of 22 despite a team-high 24 points, Jaylen Brown actually had the best efficient night going 10 of 16 for 23 points, and Marcus smart had just 13 points but took 13 shots to get there. There aren't going to be many nights when the Pacers actually can outshoot an opponent like Boston, so the Pacers should take full advantage of this night.

What's gotten Boston back towards Eastern Conference contention has been the evolution of Tatum becoming a bonafide superstar. And we knew that was actually going to happen at some point, but it's good to have the reassurance now that he's throwing down 50 point games and making clutch shots and just being an overall dominant force on the wing. The same could be said for Brown, who was not an All Star unlike his counterpart but should have been in the consideration.

This matchup will always remind me of the 2008 playoff series between the top seeded Celtics and the 8th seeded Hawks. Remember the days when Josh Smith turned into an actual star with this franchise because Atlanta was the peskiest eight seed we've ever seen outside of the "We Believe Warriors?" I always wonder what would have happened if Atlanta actually upset Boston in that first round. Something crazy would have happened like Atlanta would have gone to the finals because the whole city of Atlanta would have packed that arena. Maybe it's not that extreme but it would have been fun.

Nowadays I don't think we're gonna get that kind of scenario in the playoffs, but Boston definitely has the number of Atlanta going into this game. With Atlanta hovering around 500 and not really knowing what kind of team it's become, it's been a very wild rollercoaster for the Hawks trying to get back to where they need to be. And for Boston, as long as brown and Tatum are healthy, there's really no way in stopping them right now and when those two get going and make their shots, it can be for a very eventful time. So give me the Celtics in a victory. Celtics by 12

The Hawks are 31-47 ATS as a road dog.

The Hawks are 10-19 ATS on the road this season.

The Celtics are 10-15 ATS as a home favorite this season.

PG: Trae Young

SG: Kevin Huerter

SF: De'Andre Hunter

PF: Danilo Gallinari

C: Clint Capela

PG: Marcus Smart

SG: Jaylen Brown

SF: Jayson Tatum

PF: Al Horford

C: Robert Williams III

Points: Trae Young -- 27.8

Rebounds: Clint Capela -- 12.1

Assists: Trae Young -- 9.3

Points: Jayson Tatum -- 25.7

Rebounds: Robert Williams III -- 9.7

Assists: Marcus Smart -- 5.3