Atlanta 97, Boston 86

There haven't been too many nights over the past two-plus seasons where I've been disappointed in this team's effort. Tonight was one of them.

[recap] [box score]

I don't expect 100% effort every night; I know enough about the modern NBA to understand that you're not getting guys to play all-out 82 nights a year. So I understand when we have games like last week against New Jersey. What I don't understand is not coming to play from the start against an opponent worth paying attention to, and then not showing any fight as you get shown up on your home floor.

Almost from the getgo, Boston didn't seem interested in doing the work that would be necessary to win this game. On the Hawks' second possession, Atlanta got the first two of its 16 offensive rebound on the night, with Al Horford tipping in a Marvin Williams putback for the night's first points. It was a recurring theme for the evening.

It was not, lest you be misled, one of those nights where a younger, more athletic team simply beat a hard-working Boston club. The Celtics actually played pretty good "first-shot" defense, but simply stood around and watched the Hawks go around them for rebounds once that shot was missed.

Offensively, the only guy who was at all assertive was Paul Pierce, who by the end was fighting through a bruised knee suffered in the third quarter. (Pierce also played excellent defense on Joe Johnson when matched up against him). When Pierce went out for a few minutes in the third, no one stepped up. I'm particularly frustrated with Rajon Rondo, whose four shot attempts included a half-court heave at the end of the first half, as well as a driving layup with 4:30 left after the Hawks had taken their biggest lead of 12 points. Rondo blew by Bibby on that play, like he should have been doing all night. Rondo seems overly concerned with his assist totals and getting other players shots early in this season. Tonight was a night we needed his offense, and he never even tried.

That's all from me on this one. No use spending too much time in a game like this wondering "What went wrong?" The answer is obvious, and Boston will look to do better tomorrow night vs. Indiana (no national TV).