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
bigdave
January 29th, 2010
9:58 pm
wow… KG sets a moving screen the entire play… yet Marvin is called for a loose ball foul…
Melvin
January 29th, 2010
9:59 pm
What an acting job by Ray….
nvnvnv
January 29th, 2010
9:59 pm
f ray allen
KevinA
January 29th, 2010
9:59 pm
Josh shows how to trust and pass – then a jumper by JJ. Entertaining.
Big Ray
January 29th, 2010
9:59 pm
Melvin ,
I was being hopeful because he hit a few shots. Now….well….
BONE
January 29th, 2010
9:59 pm
What Jamal did in the first half is not the same as what joe has done in the 2nd.
bigdave
January 29th, 2010
9:59 pm
what happen to the so called fine the NBA was going to put in effect on flopping…?
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
January 29th, 2010
9:59 pm
time to get a stop and bucket and put these old men away
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
January 29th, 2010
10:00 pm
there it is
nvnvnv
January 29th, 2010
10:00 pm
jamal!
Melvin
January 29th, 2010
10:00 pm
Finally somebody scored besides Joe in this 4th qtr…
James
January 29th, 2010
10:00 pm
Jlewis -Jamal did not score all his points one on one . he usually scores off screen and roll in fact the majority of his points have come from using a screen and driving or spotting up for 3 .
They score nothing alike except at the end of a quarter when a clear out is used .
niremetal
January 29th, 2010
10:01 pm
That’s when you know you’re on…a poorly selected shot turns into a 3-point play.
jlewis
January 29th, 2010
10:01 pm
How is it different Bone, every shot Jamal takes is one on one with the ball in his hands. It is no different, i’m watching the game too.
nvnvnv
January 29th, 2010
10:01 pm
Rasheed cries too much.
BONE
January 29th, 2010
10:02 pm
James just Xplained it jlewis
Melvin
January 29th, 2010
10:03 pm
Again, Joe is taking some terrible shots….
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
January 29th, 2010
10:03 pm
If only sheed took as much time combing..brushing or whatever df he can do with his hair….as he does complaining about foul calls….buddy out there lookin like the missing link…..cave man face a_ _
Big Ray
January 29th, 2010
10:03 pm
You’re right, ‘Sheed. The ball does NOT lie. Ball says you have 5 points, 4 fouls, and 2 rebounds. Ball says Josh Smith is whippin’ your azz.
BONE
January 29th, 2010
10:04 pm
wtf is joe doin
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
January 29th, 2010
10:04 pm
what was joe doing???
niremetal
January 29th, 2010
10:05 pm
Yup.
BONE
January 29th, 2010
10:05 pm
SEE JAMAL DOESN’T DO THAT. THATS WHAT I’M TALKIN ABOUT JOE IS A BALL HOG
Blast
January 29th, 2010
10:05 pm
Joe is trying to throw this game.
nvnvnv
January 29th, 2010
10:05 pm
haha BRICK
bigdave
January 29th, 2010
10:05 pm
jlewis he’s been hating on Joe… Jamal has been 1 on 1 tonight as well… they just havent run Joe off any screens…
jlewis
January 29th, 2010
10:05 pm
The same screens they run for Joe to go one on one also. The hawks do not play with cutters, everyone knows they are a screen and roll team
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
January 29th, 2010
10:05 pm
nah seriously…wdf was that?? that kind of play will cost us late in close ball games in the playoffs
Joe has to do better
BONE
January 29th, 2010
10:06 pm
Man bigdave get off Joe’s nuts. Did u not just see what JOe Ballhogger just did.
nvnvnv
January 29th, 2010
10:06 pm
Joe is for sure shooting too often this quarter. Pass the ball.
jean
January 29th, 2010
10:06 pm
jamal is so much better then joe its funny
niremetal
January 29th, 2010
10:07 pm
(That was funny. The stream I’m watching is about 30 seconds behind real time. So I was like “Huh?” JJ wasn’t even near the ball on that play. And then I saw that shot. Yeah….)
jlewis
January 29th, 2010
10:07 pm
I just saw the highlights of his points, every one of them was one on one or off of a screen, it is no different.
welikebaseball2
January 29th, 2010
10:07 pm
And this is where, while Joe & Jamal shoot us into the lead, they shoot the lead away. Pass the ball!!! Uh. Sickening how consistently our ball movement comes to a screeching halt in the 4th quarter of close games.
nvnvnv
January 29th, 2010
10:07 pm
What’s his shooting % this quarter?
Big Ray
January 29th, 2010
10:07 pm
Heh….Joe hasn’t been run off any screens because when he goes 1 on 1, the whole court clears out. Jamal welcomes the screen.
Having said that, I think we just saw the best shot by Joe all night, just now.
bigdave
January 29th, 2010
10:08 pm
yessir….
say what you want but that ball hogging sob hit some key baskets to put this one away when it was in the balance…
Melvin
January 29th, 2010
10:08 pm
Glad to see Joe guard Paul. He force Paul to pass which lead to Jamal steal and dagger dunk…. Go job Joe…
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
January 29th, 2010
10:08 pm
Joe’s thoughts after that last bucket he made
“only one more deuce for me to be the leading scorer for the team…yes!!!”
Joe’s thoughts after that last bucket by crawford
“atleast I’m an all-star”
Najeh Davenpoop
January 29th, 2010
10:09 pm
Wow. Iso-Joe is annoying most of the time, but when he’s in the zone like that, he’s as unstoppable as Kobe and LeBron. That was as good of a 4th quarter as I’ve seen anyone play this year.
Blast
January 29th, 2010
10:09 pm
Joe needs to take a chill pill. He is still an All Star and Jamal is not. If it wasn’t for Jamal, Hawks would have lost this game.
BONE
January 29th, 2010
10:10 pm
If Joe does his ballhoggin act against the Magic were gonna lose. They’re not old like the celtics.
bigdave
January 29th, 2010
10:10 pm
Ray…
im talking about when Joe is off ball… when he does not have the ball ya know… during that home stretch they were doing that consistently…
and that last 3 was to all you haters.
James
January 29th, 2010
10:10 pm
People dont understand what one on one is .
Jamal can go iso with the ebst of them but he rarely clears it out unless its a end of the quarter shot
he uses teh screen… why ? because it forces the entire defense to move and is much harder to guard .Once he comes around that pick he has options that are created by us now having a 4 on 3 advantage .
Joe when he takes soo many dribbles forces no one to move and basically forces himself into tough shots
nvnvnv
January 29th, 2010
10:11 pm
This makes me happy…. now if only we could beat Orlando ONCE!
Blast
January 29th, 2010
10:11 pm
Hawks did it! A sweep!!!!!!!!
niremetal
January 29th, 2010
10:11 pm
4-0.
4-0.
4-0.
vava74
January 29th, 2010
10:11 pm
Sautee,
Now go tell Mrs. Sautee to wash the dishes and stop nagging about JJ!!!
Melvin
January 29th, 2010
10:11 pm
Somewhere Astro Joe spilled his popcorn when he saw Jamal to stole that pass for Ray….
bigdave
January 29th, 2010
10:11 pm
man BONE get off the blog you are annoying.