Perhaps the comforts of Philips Arena will provide the Hawks with a boost desperately needed in their Eastern Conference playoff series against Boston.

The road certainly wasn't kind to the Hawks, who were blown out in Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven series at TD Banknorth Garden.

Now they have to see if they can make a stand in Game 3 Saturday at Philips Arena.

"This third game is crucial for us because we can't put ourselves in a situation where we are three games down and think we have any chance of reeling off four straight wins to come back and snatch this series," Hawks forward Marvin Williams said. "Everybody knows we've been a better home team [25-16] than road team [12-29] all year.

The Celtics expect as much.

"You have to expect a better team," Celtics captain and All-Star small forward Paul Pierce said. "Most teams in the NBA play better when they're at home. They'll have their home crowd behind them. They'll be better prepared. So we have to bring our 'A' game. I don't think we've played our best game yet. So we've got to be ready for a test down in Atlanta on the road."

Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, making his first postseason appearance, said his veteran teammates have made it clear to him when the playoffs really start.

"They told me the playoffs don't start until you win on the road," Rondo said. "Hopefully, we start it on Saturday."

Moves to be made?

While most of the pundits have already written the Hawks' epitaph for this series, coach Mike Woodson is convinced there are adjustments that can be made that can help his team turn things around.

But if his players can't shoot any better (they shot under 40 percent from the floor in Games 1 and 2) or execute their offense any better, there will be little else left to work with against the Celtics.

"We have other sets we can put in," Woodson said, "but I think if we come down and call a play, we need to attempt to execute it. It cannot just be one or two passes and then the shot goes up. We had good movement earlier in the game [Wednesday], and then guys just got selfish.

"When you get triple-teamed, you have to let the ball go. It is my job. I must put it on my head. They need to move the basketball and trust each other, and they're just not doing that now."

No regrets

A night's sleep in his bed didn't do anything to change Mike Bibby's mind about the fans in Boston or what he said to draw their ire before the Hawks' Game 2 loss.

When asked after practice Thursday if he regrets calling the fans "bandwagon jumpers" because of the furor it caused, Bibby stood by his comments.

"Never," the Hawks point guard said. "I said it. I meant it."

Reality check

TNT analyst Charles Barkley has provided some of the most hilarious commentary on the Hawks-Celtics series.

After Pierce went down with a back injury early in Game 2, Barkley responded with this, "If [Pierce] has got a back strain, hamstring, hemorrhoids, migraines, it doesn't matter, [the Hawks] still can't beat the Celtics."

That wasn't his best one-liner, though.

In discussing the Hawks' plight against the league's best team, Barkley said, "Atlanta's got a bright future, but we live in the present."

Tickets still available

The Hawks have yet to sell out Games 3 and 4 at Philips Arena on Saturday and Monday. Tickets are still available for both games, according to Ticketmaster.

HAWKS VS. CELTICS

Celtics lead series 2-0

All games on 790 AM

Game 1: Celtics 104, Hawks 81

Game 2: Celtics 96, Hawks 77

Saturday: at Atlanta, 8 p.m., ESPN, SportSouth

Monday: at Atlanta, 8 p.m, TNT, SportSouth

April 30: at Boston, TBA*

May 2: at Atlanta, TBA*

May 4: at Boston, TBA*

* if necessary