Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics 3/1/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions

Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics Matchup Preview (3/1/22)

For the second time in just over two weeks, the Atlanta Hawks will face off with the Boston Celtics, one of the hottest teams in the league. With that being said, Boston has still dropped some suspect games recently, including to the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers. The C’s still have not got their offense to play quite as well as their defense; however, it is still much better than it was earlier in the season.

Atlanta has survived the past five games, winning three of them, despite being without star forward John Collins. Gallinari has played decent in his absence and could be in line for yet another start if Collins cannot go. The key to this game for the Hawks will be their defense; if they fail to lock down on defense, they do not stand a chance against such an impressive Celtics team. Check out the betting odds section below with my best bets and who I think will win this Eastern Conference duel!

Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics Betting Odds

This game could be determined by whether or not John Collins can play for the Hawks. Collins recently injured his heel, but the Hawks have held on, winning three of their past five games. Those two losses are against the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls. The big question for this matchup revolves around whether or not the Hawks would have won in their last matchup against Boston if they had Collins. I personally believe that they would have, but the more important question is whether the Hawks will step up on the defensive end. My mind leans towards Boston here because it will be eager to bounce back after a nasty, double-digit loss to the Indiana Pacers. As long as the spread is around four or five, I’ll grab the C’s against the spread.

For the point total, I may entertain betting on it based on where the line is placed. In the most recent meeting, the Celtics squeaked out a home win in an incredibly low-scoring game: the final score was 105-95. When looking at the score and considering how well both teams have been playing on the offensive end, it is easy to convince yourself that the game was a fluke in terms of scoring. Atlanta has played decent defense in its past five, so perhaps the trend will continue. Obviously, that makes the under a desirable bet.

How To Watch

Date: 3/1/22
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Arena: TD Garden – Boston, MA
Channel: TNT

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Atlanta Hawks Starting Lineup

PG: Trae Young
SG: Kevin Huerter
SF: De’Andre Hunter
PF: Danilo Gallinari
C: Clint Capela

Atlanta Hawks Analysis

Despite the Atlanta Hawks only being 5-5 in their past ten games and 3-2 in their past five, they continue to produce on the offensive end. Their losses during the latter span have been acceptable; they beat the Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Orlando Magic. However, they did just drop matches to the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics, but those are far from bad losses at this point in the season. Over the past two months, Atlanta has posted the fourth-highest offensive rating, ranking just behind the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, and Denver Nuggets. We have also discussed in the past how impressive this team is from behind the arc; they are shooting the highest percentage from three in the entire league. If the Hawks can solve a few issues, like their major inconsistency on defense, and avoid the injury bug, they could squeeze into the playoffs, despite an abysmal first third of the season. It all starts with getting John Collins healthy again, so let’s hope he returns soon.

Boston Celtics Starting Lineup

PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Robert Williams III
C: Al Horford

Boston Celtics Analysis

Few people truly recognize how amazing the Boston Celtics have played since the beginning of the New Year. To give context, the Celtics have by far the lowest defensive rating in the NBA since January 1, 2022, and it’s not close. The next closest team is the Dallas Mavericks, who are just shy of three points higher (worst); however, the third-best team is the Golden State Warriors, with a defensive rating of an additional three points more. This is nothing short of astounding. Another impressive stat from Boston is that it has allowed just over 42% shooting from the field to opponents. The point differential between Boston and the next closest team is roughly 60 points since the beginning of 2022, so this “new look” Celtics looks like it is here to stay and is climbing the Eastern Conference ladder quickly. While the Celtics can still get cold on the offensive end every once in a while, evidenced by recent losses to the Indiana Pacers on the road and Detroit Pistons at home, they have found an identity, and it could potentially carry them to the Eastern Conference Finals. Anything can happen after that.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics Daily Fantasy Picks

For the past few months, I have been quite hesitant on Boston Celtics players because of how well they have moved the ball around offensively. If Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are not constantly shot-seeking, then it becomes difficult to predict what will happen on any given night. If you really want to take a risk, consider Danilo Gallinari, assuming that John Collins is again out due to the heel injury. If Gallinari gets the start, then he could go for 20+ points. He has scored at least 25 points in two of his past four games and has been in double-digits for three of them. However, Gallinari dropped merely three points on 1-for-9 from the floor in his most recent game. He’s a huge hit-or-miss player in DFS right now, but he should be very cheap and has the potential to give you the advantage if he goes off.