Celtics at Hawks, AKA For Some Reason Hawks Are Really, Really Up For This
Star power and rings ought to get Hawks' attention. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images North America)
So why is it that the Hawks seem to get up for the Celtics more than any of the other members of the East Elite Tri-Council?
Well, when you consider that the Celtics boast three stars, won a championship in 2008 and owned the Hawks until this season, the real question is: Why wouldn’t the Hawks bring a little something extra against the C’s?
“We know we have to play on a totally different level against that team,” J.J. said. “They’ve got so many threats you can’t have no letdowns.”
If you are so inclined–and I know some of you are–you could take all the things that theoretically are working for the Hawks tonight and turn them around into signs of danger:
1. There’s that 3-0 record against Boston this season. That means the Hawks either a) have Boston’s number or b) can expect the Celtics, with prideful KG back, to do everything in their power to avoid their first four-game season sweep by the Hawks since ‘95-’96.
2. The Celtics left their energy in Orlando, where they blew a 16-point lead last night. That means the Celtics either a) will be too spent to do battle with the Hawks even if they really, really want this one especially since KG is still gimpy or b) will re-focus behind KG, who is ticked about giving up a game-winning layup to Rashard Lewis.. From the Boston Globe:
“I’ve got to be better. I told the guys it was on me and I’ve got to be better defensively. I’ll remember it, it fuels me, it will motivate me, so I’m better [tonight]’.’
Or maybe none of that plays a factor and the Hawks really are just better than the Celtics right now. Woody doesn’t think so.
“I still think they are the best team in the East,” he said.
– Woody said Al Horford , who got six stitches for a gash on his left thumb Monday at Houston, never complained about the injury that night or during the shootaround at San Antonio on Wednesday. Before the Hawks played the Spurs, Horford said he had trouble dribbling with his left hand but that’s about it.
Today, though, Horford acknowledged that when he returned to the game at Houston the thumb was “numb, I couldn’t really feel it” and “it was really bothering me” vs. the Spurs.
“Today, it feels a whole lot better,” Horford said. “I’ll be good to go tonight.”
Though he never used the thumb as an excuse, the injury might explain Horford’s 2-for-10 shooting against the Spurs. He still managed to get 10 rebounds vs. Houston and nine vs. San Antonio.
– The Hawks must win to keep alive Woody’s chances of joining Al and J.J. in Dallas for All-Star game. If the Celtics win tonight, the Hawks won’t surpass them for second place in the East by the end of Sunday.
– Talk amongst yourselves, Hawks fans.
MC
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371 comments Add your comment
Jody
January 29th, 2010
9:05 pm
When a guy picks up his dribble that far from the basket, keep your feet Marvin.
Melvin
January 29th, 2010
9:05 pm
Josh get that bum Kendrick Perkins…
BONE
January 29th, 2010
9:05 pm
Did they give Boston pts when JJ scored or was that just me?
Big Ray
January 29th, 2010
9:06 pm
Kinda splitting hairs, but I felt that most of Joe’s moves were good, but his shots were weak.
However, I think he just got his groove back with that layup. GREAT way to get it turned around, and hopefully it continues.
Meanwhile, Crawford continues to mix gunning it with passing it. Me likes.
JB
January 29th, 2010
9:07 pm
Rondo is so overrated. He’s a creation of this system. I can’t see him running his own team.
BONE
January 29th, 2010
9:07 pm
Perkins is b_tch
bigdave
January 29th, 2010
9:07 pm
thats a leader…
see real dudes dont talk.. they just square up
niremetal
January 29th, 2010
9:09 pm
Sautee,
Don’t lie. You criticize JJ regularly, regardless of whether he’s playing well or not. You couch it in ways that you’re criticizing his general game instead of particular performances when he’s doing well, but you criticize him all the time.
And Ray, I never said JJ was playing well. Just that it’s sadly predictable that we can count on Sautee to pipe up when he’s doing poorly but not give him credit when he’s doing well. Same as Rod with Marvin or Clyde with Horford.
Big Ray
January 29th, 2010
9:10 pm
And to think of some of the complaints people made about Flip being much cheaper than Jamal. This is one of those nights (and there have been several) where you just can’t roll with that argument at ALL.
bigdave
January 29th, 2010
9:10 pm
how was that flagrant?
bigdave
January 29th, 2010
9:11 pm
Mo Evans summer work out on display…
Blast
January 29th, 2010
9:12 pm
That was a bad flagrant on Josh. Refs were calling the game well initially.
Melvin
January 29th, 2010
9:12 pm
Big Al is fired up….
JB
January 29th, 2010
9:13 pm
Horford needs to play Perkins like that all the time. Face him up instead of backing him down. He can’t handle Al’s step.
Blast
January 29th, 2010
9:13 pm
Game is getting testy!
bigdave
January 29th, 2010
9:14 pm
Rowdy in there it seems…
Big Ray
January 29th, 2010
9:14 pm
Nire ,
Ok, I’m just going to back out and away from this one. Wasn’t trying to light your fire.
Blast
January 29th, 2010
9:15 pm
Hawks getting a lot of ref breaks right now. Was it because of the Cleveland protest?
vava74
January 29th, 2010
9:15 pm
this is a crucial possession… we need to score
vava74
January 29th, 2010
9:16 pm
Blast,
What game are you watching??
Sautee
January 29th, 2010
9:18 pm
By the way who makes the biggest salary on this team?
Vava, I have never given serious credence to the “JJ is jealous of Jamal” thing. I feel it’s more that his role has diminished from a few years ago, and he has yet to adjust.
I see it more as typical of a player in a contract year. Many players, not just JJ.
KevinA
January 29th, 2010
9:19 pm
what is JJ doing – pass the ball
bigdave
January 29th, 2010
9:19 pm
we could sweep the Celtics.
bigdave
January 29th, 2010
9:19 pm
seriously.
niremetal
January 29th, 2010
9:19 pm
Sautee,
Show me the post where you gave credit to JJ after his performance in Boston earlier this month.
I’ll give you a hint: You never made one.
You did say this on the night JJ put up 36 against Boston though, though:
“Kid, why would NJ trade two starters, including their best inside player, for JJ?
WHY?????????????????”
That was the only thing about JJ you could say that night.
But tonight, you managed to post twice to criticize JJ.
Funny, that.
Sautee
January 29th, 2010
9:20 pm
Yes, I’m criticizing him. Is he above that in your eyes?
BONE
January 29th, 2010
9:20 pm
We gotta hit the free throws
niremetal
January 29th, 2010
9:21 pm
Just admit you don’t like JJ, Sautee. Admit you’re hating on him. Admit that you think he’s a selfish arrogant player who doesn’t care about his teammates, considering that’s the gist of all your posts concerning him.
Admit that, and I’ll shut up. But you won’t. You’ll pretend that you’re being fair to him despite the fact that you rarely mention him except to criticize him. And then you’ll pretend that it’s no worse than I am towards Josh despite the fact that the worst thing I’ve said about Josh recently is that he isn’t going to be as good as Kevin McHale. You won’t admit that, for whatever reason, you’ve devolved into a hater.
BONE
January 29th, 2010
9:22 pm
Even Bob and Nique are tellin Joe to pass it
BONE
January 29th, 2010
9:23 pm
Wtf is Joe doin!!!!!!!!!!!
BONE
January 29th, 2010
9:23 pm
Joe is keeping the celtics in it.
bigdave
January 29th, 2010
9:24 pm
Melvin… was that not a sell… or maybe he’s not light enough where he goes flying…
James
January 29th, 2010
9:24 pm
Joe is icing jamal out and I dont care what anyone says
niremetal
January 29th, 2010
9:24 pm
No, he isn’t above criticism Sautee. No one is. But why not give him credit when he does well?
Hmmm?
bigdave
January 29th, 2010
9:25 pm
wow.. KG hand out of bounds while touching the ball…
this ref is the celtics boy boy.
Blast
January 29th, 2010
9:25 pm
Jamal gets more free throws than Joe does.
Hawk n the Ham
January 29th, 2010
9:25 pm
I’m tired of these refs babying KG when Zaza is in the game.
Big Ray
January 29th, 2010
9:25 pm
Pierce is pretty much single-handedly keeping his team in the game. Wonder if that reminds him of the days before Allen and Garnett came to town?
niremetal
January 29th, 2010
9:26 pm
And yes, JJ is playing like ish tonight. And he should focus more on being a distributor when his shot isn’t falling, as is the case tonight (but he isn’t doing that).
There, that wasn’t hard for me at all. Funny that the reverse would be like a root canal for Sautee.
Melvin
January 29th, 2010
9:26 pm
Celtics trying to slow walk the Celtics down…
Melvin
January 29th, 2010
9:27 pm
Celtics trying to slow walk the Hawks down…
BONE
January 29th, 2010
9:27 pm
Joe needs to sit next to Bibby on the bench
Melvin
January 29th, 2010
9:28 pm
bigdave,
Sorry, i didnt see the play. my nbatv feed is so bad right now until i can’t tell whats going on….
James
January 29th, 2010
9:29 pm
Joe is not even thinking about passing Jamal the ball even though jamal has been the hottest guy on the team . Hes wont even drive to jamals side or even pass the ball ahead . I know Im not the only one who sees this.
Big Ray
January 29th, 2010
9:29 pm
Holy crap guys. Nire and Sautee at it again….
I meant Zaza and Garnett…….
niremetal
January 29th, 2010
9:30 pm
Oh Zaza…
Sautee
January 29th, 2010
9:30 pm
nire, did you see my post last week when I said that we’d be a MUCH better team if he re-signs?
You’re going off the edge bud. Yes I’ve been critical. But I’ve been fair, too.
Do you remember the game a couple of weeks ago when he started hot and I posted ‘keep shooting Joe”.
No, because you are convinced I’m a hater. OK, go with it.
Just scroll when you see my handle.
BONE
January 29th, 2010
9:31 pm
James no I see it too. Joe is freezing Jamal out.I gettin sick of Joe
Big Ray
January 29th, 2010
9:31 pm
Ouch. Rathbun and ‘Nique giving JJ the business as well.
Meanwhile, this isn’t about Jamal getting frozen out. When was the last time Al or Josh got some plays run their way consecutively? Or at all?
BONE
January 29th, 2010
9:33 pm
Big Ray it’s just that Jamal had a huge 1st Half and Joe is ball hoggin like a madman