Did Zaza Pachulia permanently ruin Star Wars Day for the Atlanta Hawks?

If that title doesn't make you curious, I don't know what will (and no, Zaza Pachulia is not a Star Wars character, he's an NBA center).  Here's my maybe-not-quite-lucid train of thought that led to this blog:

In Game 2 of their second-round series Wednesday night, the Hawks trailed the Cavaliers 74-38 at halftime.

Nice job by the Hawks to avoid getting doubled up. https://t.co/mUg9TFCO9j

— Mark Van Deusen (@LucidSportsFan) May 5, 2016

Cleveland eventually won 123-98, while hitting a league-record 25 three-pointers.  The blowout prompted this tweet from former Celtics reporter Jessica Camerato:

Eight years ago today, the Hawks lost 99-65 to the Celtics in Game 7 of the first round.

— Jessica Camerato (@JCameratoCSN) May 5, 2016

I was at that game and I remember it well--it was an absolute mauling.  The top-seeded and eventual-champion Celts somehow failed to win on the road in that series against the eighth-seeded Hawks, which prompted this absurd premature celebration from Atlanta big man Zaza Pachulia after his club's 103-100 victory in Game 6:





Kevin Garnett was not amused (start watching this clip at 3:35).

Pachulia may have tempted the force with his antics, as the Hawks are 0-5 in playoff games on Star Wars Day (May the Fourth) since his ridiculous outburst, with an average margin of defeat of 24.2 points.

5/4/08 - Celtics 99, Hawks 65
5/4/10 - Magic 114, Hawks 71
5/4/11 - Bulls 86, Hawks 73
5/4/12 - Celtics 90, Hawks 84
5/4/16 - Cavs 123, Hawks 98


Follow @LucidSportsFan