The Celtics walked into the Hawks series like Lex Steele walks onto a set:  fully expecting everyone there to bend over and take it however we give it.  But the Hawks weren't the fluffers we thought they'd be.  Powered by the real bandwagon fans, the Hawks used their athleticism and emotion to band together and give us a fight.  Yes... in the end they took it right in the eye... but they earned our respect... and maybe knocked the mighty Celtics down a much-needed peg. 

Enter LBJ and his band of merry men.   They are not the high-flying, athletic, shot-blocking Hawks.  They are the slower, plodding, wait for LeBron to make his move and nail the open three when he decides to pass kind of team.  They use more power, and less finesse (They're the top offensive rebounding team in the NBA).  And if you think the fact that the C's went to 7 against Atlanta has any bearing at all on this series... forget it.

NBA players have very short memories.  This is a new team and a new challenge.  Atlanta is already a distant memory.  The fact that they didn't win in Atlanta has no bearing on whether they'll win in Cleveland.  The reasons they didn't win in Atlanta don't apply to a new series, against a new team, in a new arena.  The situation may not be the same in Cleveland.  Maybe the Celtics will be the ones making a furious comeback.  Maybe they'll use the Atlanta series as a lesson on how to hold a lead.  Maybe LeBron will get cold at the wrong time.  Get my point?  Losing in Atlanta doesn't mean they'll lose in Cleveland.

Another by-product of this Atlanta series has people saying "if they couldn't stop Joe Johnson... what's going to happen against LeBron?"  Again... it doesn't translate.  They play different positions... and thus there will be a different matchup (one idea I presented on Red's Army:  Start James Posey instead of Ray Allen so he can check LeBron).  The approach will be different... and the C's will know what to expect.  Obviously... LeBron is LeBron... but when you're fighting Kimbo Slice... you know what you're up against.  When some guy you know is good starts fighting like Kimbo Slice... you duck and cover and think "where the fuck is THIS coming from???"  Either way... you're up against a bad motherfucker... but at least with LeBron you know you're facing the baddest of them all... and you can prepare yourself.

In the end... the matchups favor the Celtics.  The defense is just way too much.  LeBron is good for a win by himself.  Their shooters can get hot and win another one.  But I don't see it happening here.  But then again... I'm an arrogant Boston fan that never thinks we're going to lose... the blogger version of the Black Knight, if you will.

Celtics in 6. 

John - Red's Army