The Celtics have won two home playoff games for the first time in the postseason since 2003 and just the third time in 15 years. The C’s haven’t been perfect at the Garden in the playoffs since going 10-0 on their way to winning their 16th championship in 1986.
NBA. Earlier this season, it was almost too easy for opponents to get into the Celtics’ heads. Whether it came by way of a hard foul or bating them into a verbal spat, the word around the league was the C’s were quick to let their emotions get the best of them.
With the Hawks desperate to even the series during Game 2 Wednesday, they tried rattling the Celtics by nearly decapitating Paul Pierce 1:22 into the game. But coach Doc Rivers almost immediately entered the fray to keep his team on the straight and narrow.
“I don’t mind the hard foul by either team,” Rivers said. “I just don’t like the trash talk and the silly stuff where after the foul everybody gets in everybody’s face. We don’t need to do that.
“We just have to be smart because we can’t afford to get a guy suspended or lose a game, but we’re not going to back down from anybody. There’s a line you have to walk. I think we’re doing a good job of that.”
The C’s have fed off their natural intensity on the defensive end all season, but it spilled over in a negative fashion too often. Since Pierce was ejected against the Knicks during a testy game on Jan. 21, though, the C’s have done a better job to keep things in check.
And that will be key down the road, especially with potential playoffs matchups against the Cavs and Pistons looming.
“They’re coming at us a little bit, and for all of us, we just knew what time it was,” Ray Allen said. “That’s playoff basketball. When you play a team over and over again, everybody gets chippy.”