Celtics have chance for redemption on road

As the Celtics put the finishing touches on their dismantling of the upstart Atlanta Hawks Wednesday, the city of Boston took a collective sigh, a deep breath, and began the slow climb back down from the Tobin Bridge.For one night, order was restored, the calls for Doc Rivers’ head were silenced, and the Celtics did what they were supposed to do: win decisively and show that they are the best team in the NBA.After the game, there were no streamers, no balloons, no mid-court celebrations, and no misinterpreted hand gestures. For the first time this series, the Celtics behaved like the 66-win veteran team that they are. Following the game, Kevin Garnett made it clear: “It’s obvious, hands down, when you watch both games, the level of intensity that we play with at home, and for some reason we haven’t carried that intensity on the road.”That is precisely why home-court advantage plays such a large part in determining the eventual NBA champion. But the Celtics cannot rely on this edge alone to hang Banner 17.Five games into Round One, neither team is yet to win a road game. The Celtics get their next shot tonight (8 p.m., Philips Arena). Ultimately, the Celtics know that it is in their best interest not to allow the Hawks the chance at a “Russian Roulette,” winner-take-all Game 7 at the Boston Garden.”Don’t count the Hawks out just yet,” says former Celtic Joe Johnson, now with Atlanta. “I don’t think the team we’re playing is that much better than us. I don’t think they have much more talent than us.”Johnson appeared defiant at times, refusing to give the Celtics credit.”It’s nothing they’re doing, we’re just not executing,” he said.There is no doubt; Philips Arena will once again be a loud and boisterous environment. Rivers knows that the Celtics haven’t accomplished anything yet.”We have to do it again, and we have to do it on the road now,” he said. “It’s going to be an amazing atmosphere down there, and we’re going to have to go in and play like (Wednesday night).”If the offense isn’t as good as it was tonight, then we still have to win the game with our defense,” he said. “The thing I liked is that both were good tonight. But at some point we have to win when our offense isn’t as good, and our defense has to be great.”It is a combination of intense offense, and especially their stifling defense that has made the Celtics what they are today. They are the best team in the NBA, and they get their chance to prove it, on the road, tonight.