
The Boston Celtics will soon get their first test of the 2023 NBA postseason in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs when they host the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden on Saturday afternoon. While the Celtics are heavy favorites to win the series and advance to face the victor of the Philadelphia 76ers – Brooklyn Nets series, the Hawks are a better team than they have played for much of the season.
Can the Hawks steal a game? And if Boston advances to the next round and beyond, what is their outlook against considerably more dangerous opponents, presuming the Sixers and Milwaukee Bucks are the teams the Celtics end up facing?