January 29th Game Thread: Boston (29-14) @ Atlanta (29-15)

TIP-OFF: 7:30pm (EST)

TELEVISION: SportSouth, NBA TV

CHAT: Daily Dime Live

RADIO: Hawks Radio Network, Audio League Pass

GAME NOTES: Hawks/Celtics

ATLANTA INJURY REPORT: None.

BOSTON INJURY REPORT: Marquis Daniels is out.

BY THE NUMBERS

Team	Poss	Off Eff	eFG%	FT Rate	OR%	TO%
BOS (off)	90.2	1.096	52.9	24.7	23.4	17.2
ATL (def)	89.9	1.075	49.7	28.4	27.3	16.0

Team	Poss	Off Eff	eFG%	FT Rate	OR%	TO%
BOS (def)	90.2	1.032	47.5	31.7	27.0	17.5
ATL (off)	89.9	1.132	50.6	21.1	28.1	13.3

FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY: Atlanta -4, 191 o/u

OTHER PERSPECTIVES: Celtics Hub, CelticsBlog

PREVIOUSLY, THE BOSTON CELTICS...lost 96-94 in Orlando last night. It was Boston's first loss (also their first road game) in the three games since Kevin Garnett returned to action last Friday. Garnett did not appear healthy last night. John Hollinger from today's Daily Dime:

Garnett was invisible, and not just with his defense on the final play. He finished with six points and seven rebounds in 33 minutes and twice failed to finish alley-oop plays at the basket. On the crucial play against Lewis he played his customary in-your-grill defense, only he lacked the dexterity to stay in front of him on the drive -- a recurring pattern during Orlando's second-half comeback.

Playing his third game since missing 10 games with what was diagnosed as a hyperextended right knee, Garnett appeared to favor his leg noticeably throughout. Afterward he insisted that nothing was wrong -- "I just played like [expletive]," he said, "pure [expletive]." Few observers believed him -- at least the part about nothing being wrong with his leg.

Garnett's health is neither the least nor the total of Boston's problems. Paul Pierce hasn't looked nearly as spry as he did before he missed five games with a knee infection, Ray Allen has begun to show his age, Rasheed Wallace has not been rejuvenated upon his arrival in Boston, and Doc Rivers nightly faces a no-win decision as to how to replace or supplement Kevin Garnett with Glen Davis, Shelden Williams, and Brian Scalabrine as his options.

The Celtics don't want to get swept by the Hawks. Should they avoid that fate tonight, I suspect they'll find the joy short-lived as the team's uncertain future remains. I take no joy in seeing the core of Boston's most recent championship show the signs of age.

Consider this an open thread for all pre-game, in-game, and post-game (but pre-recap) thoughts.