This NBA postseason isn't suffering from any lack of demonstrative on-court behavior, and the Hawks and Celtics have certainly contributed their fair share.

There's Kevin Garnett's nonstop chatter, to himself or anyone else willing to be engaged. There was Al Horford brushing the ball off after Josh Smith blocked Rajon Rondo in the fourth quarter of Saturday's Game 3 win. And Horford jawing with Paul Pierce late in the game.

Emotions are stirring in the Eastern Conference playoff series. Expect it to continue tonight in Game 4.

"It's already a physical series. Bodies are going everywhere, so I'm not telling my guys not to do it," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said after his team's practice Sunday at Philips Arena. "I guess it's their thing. As long as they play hard and do what they're supposed to do on the floor, I guess I'm OK with it. I'm not trying to add fuel to the fire, but I want our guys to relax, have fun and play."

Tempers overheated several times Saturday, most noticeably late in the game when Horford and Pierce exchanged words before a timeout.

Horford has said repeatedly that it was strictly in-game emotions, nothing personal.

Time will tell.

Woodson said he hadn't even seen Horford's ball-polishing routine until Sunday morning when he caught glimpse of it on SportsCenter.

"I'm not into all that," Woodson said. "As a coach, I don't tell guys to do that. I think players today get so caught up in the moment, which is OK, but you've got to be ready to meet the challenge each and every time up the floor. That's what it's all about in the playoffs."

That and a little extra curricular yapping.

There's no question Garnett's relentless verbal barrage has energized the Hawks' retaliatory talents.

"That's all he does is talk. He talks probably every play," Hawks captain and All-Star Joe Johnson> said Sunday when asked about Garnett's running dialogue.

When asked if Garnett was asking for suggestions about dinner hot spots around town, Johnson just smiled. "A lot of times he talks to himself," Johnson said. "It's crazy."

Woodson says no letdown for Celtics

Woodson didn't want to hear any of the talk about the Celtics easing up on the Hawks on Saturday with a comfortable 2-0 series lead.

That, he said, would be an insult to a team that hasn't let up since before training camp began.

"I just don't look at it like that," he said. "They're too good to even think that way. They have some wonderful professionals. [Pierce], Ray [Allen] and Garnett, they don't get much better than that. I don't think they'd go into a game with that idea or even telling the guys around them to think that way."

Around the rim

After averaging 79 points and 13 assists through the first two games of the series, the Hawks finally found their offensive rhythm, putting up 102 points and 28 assists in Game 3. ... The Hawks shot 3-for-19 from beyond the 3-point line in Games 1 and 2, going 0-for-5 in the latter. They rebounded with a 10-for-18 showing Saturday. ... The Hawks held the Celtics to 36 percent shooting and eight assists in the second half Saturday, their best defensive performance in weeks.

Quote of the day

As to whether he thought Boston gave up late in Saturday's game, Johnson delivered an honest answer that is certain to make the rounds in Boston's locker room. "I did," he said. "I think in the fourth quarter they really couldn't make a run on us. They'd come down and we'd get a stop and then get a score. We kept making big shot after big shot, and I thought they just finally gave up a little bit."