Atlanta Hawks at Celtics: Can they do it without J.J. and Jamal?
Boston–Jamal is out with a sore back. J.J. is back in Atlanta.
Is there any chance the Hawks can go back home with a W?
Under the best circumstances, it would be difficult for the Hawks to do it; it will be dang tough while missing an All-Star and Sixth Man Award winner. Then again, somehow win this one and it really would mean redemption for that Nov. 22 surrender at Philips.
On Boston’s side, Rondo says he’s in despite a balky ankle. (Update: Celtics GM Danny Ainge says Rondo to miss “weeks” with injury.) Shaq says he’s out. Even if Shaq plays, L.D. said plans to send out the big lineup with Twin at center.
“I want to play Al at the four,” Drew said. “The rookie [Semih Erden] is real long. I like the matchup better moving Smoove to three and Marvin to two; it gives us an advantage on the offensive end. We will match up Smoove on Pierce [to] put a little length on him to see if that bothers him. We will try to do some thing offensively with Allen having to defend Marvin. See if we can create an advantage size-wise with that.”
Maybe the Celtics will be sapped after that hard-fought W at Madison Square Garden last night. Perhaps the Hawks will chapped by that ugly L at Detroit and motivated to save face against the C’s. Of course Boston beat down the Hawks on a back-to-back last time with energy ball Nate Robinson doing the damage early.
The Celtics did show some vulnerability last night. It was shocking to see the Knicks working the pick-and-roll so easily. Doc noted he couldn’t put KG or Big Baby on Amar’e too often because the power rotation is thin without Shaq, J. O’Neal and Perkins. Can the Hawks take advantage, too? Note that the Knicks only have two Ls since Nov. 16, to the Celtics and Hawks.
Granted, the Hawks don’t have Amar’e pogo sticking as their roll man but Al is deadly on the pick-and-pop and Smoove is a load when he gets the ball going to the rim. Together, they are like a composite Amar’e. Gallinari was a weapon for the Knicks–ESPN talker Jeff Van Gundy noted that the C’s couldn’t “short close” on him at the 3-point line because he’s so big he can shoot over them, and once they closed hard Gallinari went by them to the hole. Dare I say Smoove should try to do the same if he makes the first couple (inevitable) 3-pointers he launches?
The Knicks did enough to get some respect from the Celtics, who aren’t the types to give it easily:
“They test our defense,” Pierce said. “There are few teams in the NBA that test our defense. That’s one of them because they go small ball and they put four shooters on the court. Then when you got a big man who’s an elite scorer in this league, who can shoot from everywhere, they’re a tough guard.”
“I’ll say one thing about the Knicks, they’re confidence is obviously through the roof,” Garnett said. “Definitely a team to reckon with.”
Obviously L.D. watched Knicks-Celtics, too, and he noticed some things. He said the Hawks would run a lot of pick-and-rolls and also try to run with Teague and JC2 getting some burn looking to do both.
“They struggled with [the pick-and-roll],” L.D. said. “New York, they picked up the pace, too. In that fourth quarter a few times Boston scored and New York got the ball out, came right back down and scored. It’s that type of tempo we have had success [with] in the past playing at that pace. At the same time, you have got to be smart coming down and not jacking up that ill-advised shots, especially on the road.”
MC
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782 comments Add your comment
JeJe
December 16th, 2010
9:19 pm
Have Teague Damien Marvin ZaZa and Powell out there those last 5 minuets and we’d actually be up.
Horrendous lineup choices
how do you take out Teague after what he did?
Jo-Craw? Let Jo-Craw play against Charlotte – not Boston
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
December 16th, 2010
9:20 pm
Okay. LDis crazy for taking out Teague for Bibby who was off and giving us nothing. That was the beginning of the Celtic run.
Sautee
December 16th, 2010
9:20 pm
Turrible shot selection by Josh. Had to say it before Chuck does.
dap01
December 16th, 2010
9:20 pm
The NBA refs SUCK!
YoDaddy
December 16th, 2010
9:20 pm
Josh Smith needs to sit on the bench…I do not like his attitude this game…he’s really stinking it up
Josh Powell should also be on the bench….
let Zaza and Al Horford man the blocks….Teague, Marvin and Damien….and lets get it
drmaryb (*_*)
December 16th, 2010
9:20 pm
NOW do yall See why you don’t put Rookies in BIG Games on winning teams?
JC2 with two turnovers evaporates the lead to close out the half!
He comes in and Boston goes on a 10 – 2 run!
Play, Bibby at that 2 and let Teague run the point. Tell JC2 – Don’t Pass it! Shoot it!
JeJe
December 16th, 2010
9:21 pm
What’s up with Powell’s butter fingers?
SteveW
December 16th, 2010
9:21 pm
I know LD’s 2 foul policy – but it put Wilkens, Al, and Marvin on the bench the last few minutes of the half. Playing Mo, Jordan, and Powell, were fortunate to only be down by 1.
cp
December 16th, 2010
9:21 pm
I haven’t liked LD’s sub patterns all year and this is yet another game where he had guys out there that should have been sitting on the bench. Teague and Damien should have been in the game. Mo is garbage and Powell has hands like bricks.. Bibby came in and they started to attack him off the dribble. WTF LD
JeJe
December 16th, 2010
9:21 pm
Jo-Craw looked terrified out there. Do not play him in the 2nd half.
Horford needs to beast
J.J.M.
December 16th, 2010
9:21 pm
lmaooooo@sautee thats how charkes be saying it too
SteveW
December 16th, 2010
9:22 pm
I said before the game Josh’s whining was 1 of the keys to this game – what a crybaby!
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
December 16th, 2010
9:22 pm
JeJe, I totally agree with you on JCraw being in this game. LD’s substitution patterns is a huge antecedent for their sporadic, unpredictable play.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 16th, 2010
9:22 pm
My only big beef with LD’s lineup decisions is the fact that Mo has played more than Damien. The Damien/Mo split should be like 4 to 1 in Damien’s favor.
Melvin
December 16th, 2010
9:23 pm
Hawks outplayed the Celtics for 22 of the 24 mins in the 1st half but the Celtics has a 2pt lead.
SteveW
December 16th, 2010
9:23 pm
We still got this game if Josh quits whining, and LD keeps Al, Wilkins, Marvin and Teague consistently in the game in the 2nd half.
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
December 16th, 2010
9:24 pm
TNT ridin Nate Robinson’s ****……lets see if they even mention Jeff Teague at all
Wabe
December 16th, 2010
9:24 pm
Man, you guys are hilarious.
JC2 hasn’t played in how many games?
Now, Jamal goes down, and you turn to this kid in hopes that he lights it up.
He made rookie mistakes. But how many people bashed Woody for pulling rookies ASAP after mistakes?
He made mistakes. Let him play through it. How many of yall really saw the Hawks beating the C’s minus JJ + Jamal?
JC2 didn’t spark that C’s run.
Also, where are J.Smith and Mike Bibby? Your vets aren’t getting it done.
SteveW
December 16th, 2010
9:25 pm
Najeh – that has to do with LD’s 2 foul policy in the 1st half of games. 2 fouls and your out of the game.
Jae Evolution
December 16th, 2010
9:25 pm
Hopefully this team starts the second half how they started the game, give Marvin the ball let him create some offense for himself with the mis-match on Allen and let them double him on the wing or block and kick it out or hit the cutter then in transition RUN, hopefully Teague starts the second half also.
Wabe
December 16th, 2010
9:25 pm
Barkley…”You’ve gotta play this kid…”
JeJe
December 16th, 2010
9:25 pm
Teague needs to get minutes in the 2nd half. He was pulled too early
Blast
December 16th, 2010
9:26 pm
Listening to Kenny on TNT talking about Josh Powell, you get the idea he doesn’t watch a lot of Hawks basketball.
SteveW
December 16th, 2010
9:26 pm
Al, Marvin, and Damien – 2 fouls and they were out of the game.
Jae Evolution
December 16th, 2010
9:26 pm
You guys are pressuring Jordan too much, he had two turnovers in a BIG game, but he also almost knocked down all 3 of his looks they were in-and-out give the kid a break…
JeJe
December 16th, 2010
9:26 pm
LOL @ Barkley thinking Woody should still be coach
Najeh Davenpoop
December 16th, 2010
9:27 pm
Of course, Barkley says the Hawks “gotta play” Teague, and in the same sentence says they shouldn’t have fired Woody.
EmirS.
December 16th, 2010
9:27 pm
Josh needs to go on the inside. Davis and KG can not guard him on the inside…why is he settling for jump shots. It dumbass moves like that, that makes me furious as hell. If your jumper is going then alright, but it’s not take it the hell inside!
JeJe
December 16th, 2010
9:27 pm
Using the 2 foul rule on THREE players? Wow
LD better do some damn good subbing in the 2nd half
Hopefully this is like the game @MIA where Horf makes like 5 shots in a row in the 3rd qtr
Najeh Davenpoop
December 16th, 2010
9:28 pm
“Listening to Kenny on TNT talking about Josh Powell, you get the idea he doesn’t watch a lot of Hawks basketball.”
I got the exact same feeling. I highly doubt Kenny or Chuck have seen five games this year that didn’t involve the Celtics, Magic, Heat, Lakers, or Spurs.
SteveW
December 16th, 2010
9:28 pm
Teague has the 3rd best PER of our players available tonite. I think LD plays Bibby to protect the vet from saying he needs to be traded or retire because he makes 6+mil. I don’t think it has anything to do with his lack of offensive skills like LD told MC. Teague was an offensive beast in college. Now he does need to be more aggressive, granted.
JeJe
December 16th, 2010
9:30 pm
Well SteveW if that’s true, then let Bibby go. He is one of the 5 worst starting PGs in the NBA. Indiana (an 8 seed at best) has TWO point guards better than Bibby. So does Houston
SteveW
December 16th, 2010
9:30 pm
I think LD plays Bibby, to clarify my last post, so people won’t call for Bibby to be traded or retire here at the end of his career. I don’t think it has to do with JT not having an offensive game or anything. I think it is one vet PG (LD) protecting another.
Wabe
December 16th, 2010
9:31 pm
The Hawks are down by a point…
Minus JJ + Jamal…
Horford’s didn’t even see the court in that 2nd quarter.
But the Hawks are down 1 at halftime.
I don’t care how bad you are on the back end of a back to back. That’s no excuse for the C’s considering they’re playing a team minus as many key peices as the Hawks went without in that 1st half.
Sautee
December 16th, 2010
9:31 pm
We should be driving to the rim EVERY trip. KG is their only shot blocker.
Why isn’t Josh slashing instead of shooting jumpers?
SteveW
December 16th, 2010
9:31 pm
JeJe – According Hollinger, 6 teams have 2 PG’s better than Bibby.
Blast
December 16th, 2010
9:32 pm
LD needs to play and trust Teague more, especially tonight!
JeJe
December 16th, 2010
9:33 pm
Exactly SteveW.
Bibby even said if Teague wins the starting spot, he’d respect that.
Let the guy go if he’s unhappy. We need better PG performance than we are getting [most of the time]
Sautee
December 16th, 2010
9:33 pm
SteveW,
Trust Hollinger at your own risk, LOL
SteveW
December 16th, 2010
9:33 pm
Sautee – because LD said he could shoot jumpers unlike Woodson last year, and shooting jumpers are less physically demanding than being in the paint when your undersized like Josh.
SteveW
December 16th, 2010
9:35 pm
Sautee – Co-sign on Hollinger! But in this case, he is close to being correct I’m afraid. And I like Mike Bibby, I think it’s time to put JT in and let him learn on the court, and let the whining begin about how overpaid Bibby is coming off the bench at 6+ mil per yr.
But Bibby is probably our smartest BB player.
Sautee
December 16th, 2010
9:36 pm
What were the odds that Teague would be the leading scorer at the half and we were within a point?
LionHearted
December 16th, 2010
9:37 pm
The 1st teague dunk is already on youtube lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdQ7m6QTEa0
Najeh Davenpoop
December 16th, 2010
9:38 pm
Bibby and Al need to knock down shots to start this half. The bench provided energy in the first half; the starters gotta start scoring. And Smoove has to get his offensive game going too, whether that involves passing or scoring.
bigdave
December 16th, 2010
9:38 pm
powell has been solid all season.. most production ive seen from a big off bench in yrs..
J.J.M.
December 16th, 2010
9:39 pm
horford with a foul already
Samuel
December 16th, 2010
9:39 pm
LD made a huge mistake taking Teague out. That was the turning point of the ballgame.
LionHearted
December 16th, 2010
9:39 pm
LOL @ Nate lil punk
Rev in Tampa
December 16th, 2010
9:39 pm
cup check!
LionHearted
December 16th, 2010
9:40 pm
Uh Oh Ray Allen