The Celtics know better than to overlook the Hawks after the team almost ousted them in the first round of the playoffs last spring.
"Oh, for sure we know they're better," said Kendrick Perkins of the Hawks. "I saw them knock off Cleveland's winning streak, so we know we've got our hands full. They're a great team."
Paul Pierce suffered a left knee contusion against the Jazz on Monday but expects to play.
"This is going to be a whole different ballclub than we saw last year during the regular season," Pierce said. "It's going to be more like the team we saw in the playoffs. We have to come with our 'A' game or we won't be walking out of there with a win. The way they're playing at home (9-1), they're playing at a high level."