"What people don't know about their series was they was been very disrespectful" - Josh Smith on going up against the Boston Celtics in the 2008 Playoffs

The Boston Celtics were the cream of the crop during the 2007-2008 NBA season. After acquiring superstars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen and adding them to a core led by All-Star Paul Pierce, the Celtics ran roughshod over opponents and finished the regular season with a league-best 66-16 win-loss record.

With their firepower, veteran savvy, and chemistry, Boston was expected to breeze through the Eastern Conference playoffs. In fact, they looked poised to prove pundits right when they won the first two games of their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks by an average of over 20 points.

According to then Hawks forward Josh Smith , that's when the Celtics started feeling themselves a little too much and nearly paid for it.

Josh said the C's began acting disrespectful

The NBA Playoffs are a time when teams and their players hone in on their focus and determination. Every game counts, and one slip-up could have dire consequences. Additionally, during this time, players tend to get as much rest as possible, as the physical demands of the playoffs can take a toll on their bodies.

But "J-Smoove" said the Celtics didn't think the Hawks were threats and spent nights out on the town rather than focusing on the upcoming games. This lack of respect and focus almost cost them the series.

"What people don't know about that series was they were being very disrespectful during that series. Yeah, they were going out the night before the games, you know what I'm saying? Like it was gonna be easy," Smith revealed on the "Knuckleheads" podcast.

Josh added that when the Hawks learned about the Celtics' behavior, they took it personally.

"I heard about it. So I was like, 'Hold on, man. They got us messed up, you know what I mean? They got us messed up.' Ain't no way in the world they're gonna be doing that and think they're just gonna dog walk us the next day, you know what I mean?" Smith said.

Showing incredible resolve, the Hawks pushed the Celtics to the hilt, forcing a Game 7, which Boston won in convincing fashion. Smith, a rookie at that time, finished as Atlanta's second-leading scorer, averaging 15.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.7 steals, and 2.9 blocks per game.

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Got a taste of the playoffs

Smith said battling a tough Celtics squad with seasoned veterans helped him toughen up. From dealing with the physicality of KG and Kendrick Perkins to the verbal assaults of Pierce and Rondo, Smith was forced to elevate his game and adapt quickly.

"Dealing with Paul Pierce and KG alone, their trash talk alone—you know what I mean? It got you ready. Oh man, it got you going, you know what I mean? Then they put the battery in my guy Rondo's back—he's talking trash, too. So, it's like you don't even know... I didn't know this man was my friend, you know what I'm saying?" Josh stated.

Smith had seven more playoff appearances and was part of the Houston Rockets squad that came back from a 3-1 deficit to stun the heavily favored Los Angeles Clippers in the 2015 playoffs.

Related: "We made history" - Josh Smith recalls the Rockets' historic comeback from a 3-1 vs. the Clippers in the 2015 NBA Playoffs