Beantown, I get what you're saying. You are talking sense and clearing know what your on about. My only beef is the LA having trouble with Atlanta thing.
I know this sounds like a cheap way out, but the answer is Kobe Bryant. His best, or one of his best, assests is his poise. He never panics. They were down big to the Spurs twice in that series and he was the only reason they got back. Odom, Gasol, their bench, they all start panicking and try get the lead back in 3/4 possessions, where as Kobe is just so patient, he just takes over and scores (without being stopped) whenever they need a basket. It would take a lot more than Atlanta being athletic and fired up to stop that, in fact, nothing they could do could stop that. And the big thing is, it rubs off on everyone else. Odom starst playing with confidence and makes big plays, they start passing better, their bench starts nailing their threes etc.
Now, you look at the Celtics big 3, they are 'inexperienced big game players.' I mean Ray Ray is a great shooter, a good scorer, same with Pierce and KG, but in the first round, with expectations all of a sudden so large for these guys, they kind of shat themselves under the intense pressure and 'nothing to lose' attitude of the Hawks. NO WAY in hell does that get to Kobe, and no way do they stop him at all. I watched Bowen play him, and theres no better way you could play defense on him than that, I mean he gave him no room whatsoever, and the guy shoots his career best % from the field, unreal.
I like your insight though