Inside The Matchup: Celtics vs. Hawks, Game 1

Tommy and or Max

Whether you watch the games on TV or listen on the radio, or maybe a combination of both, you get to hear legends in Tommy Heinsohn and Cedric Maxwell. 

Both offer insightful analysis while neither shows any love to the referees. 

That's a "Tommy Point"

Photo courtesy of goholycross.com

R.J. Hunter

The Celtics selected 6'6"guard R.J. Hunter with the 28th pick in this past summers NBA Draft out of Georgia State. Hunter averaged a career high 20 points and five rebounds per game for the Panthers.

Hunter is best known for his shot in the NCAA Tournament that helped Georgia State beat Baylor in the first round, and also saw his father fall off of his seat. 

Hunter could turn out to be one of the steals of the NBA Draft as he is a good shooter, something that the Celtics need. 

Big Games

The Celtics should be competitive this season and should be very much in playoff contention which means big basketball games will return to the TD Garden, which got a taste of them last season. 

Games against the Cavaliers, Warriors and division foes will be major games during the season. 

Then there are games against the Lakers with Kobe Bryant, and the returns of Paul Pierce and Doc Rivers with the Clippers and Rajon Rondo with Sacramento. 

These games, amongst others, are something to be excited about. 

Avery Bradley

While his offense continues to come along, Avery Bradley's on ball defense is always fun to watch.

Last season, Bradley averaged 1.1 steals per game, second best on the Celtics behind Marcus Smart, who averaged 1.5. 

The question surrounding Bradley is, can he stay healthy? 

Bradley played 77 games last season for the Celtics, however, in the two seasons prior, he only played 60 and 50 games respectively. 

Higher Expectations

Last season, the Celtics finished 40-42 overall and got into the playoffs as a 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. However, the C's were quickly swept in the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers who would go on to lose in the NBA Finals to Golden State. 

This season, expectations are higher, going from "hopefully they make the playoffs," to "they should make the playoffs this season." 

With higher expectations, the pressure will begin to build on third year head coach Brad Stevens. 

David Lee

The Boston Celtics acquired 6'9" forward David Lee on June 27 in a trade with the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors that saw Boston give up Gerald Wallace and Chris Babb. 

In 2014-15 with the Warriors, Lee averaged eight points per game on 51 % shooting from the field while also pulling down five rebounds per game in 18 minutes of play. 

Lee is a 10 year NBA veteran and a two time all-star with career averages of 15 points and 9 rebounds per game in 695 games played. 

Photo courtesy of Keith Allison/flickr

Isaiah Thomas

The Boston Celtics acquired 5'9" guard Isaiah Thomas at the trade deadline last season in exchange for Marcus Thornton and a 2016 first round pick they got from Cleveland. 

Once coming to the Celtics, Thomas averaged 19 points per game off the bench, leading Boston to a 20-11 post all-star break record and into the playoffs. 

Thomas returns to the Celtics for a full season, following a full training camp and will be a major part of any success Boston has this season. 

Photo courtesy of Neon Tommy/flickr