Atlanta Hawks: Sixers 95, Hawks 90
Vivlamore reporting from Philadelphia. Here is my updated game story with quotes.
PHILADELPHIA — If the Hawks meet the 76ers in the playoffs they will have a body of work to study — and it’s not good.
Despite a game- and season-high 34-point effort from Josh Smith, the Hawks lost all three regular-season games to the Sixers. The latest was a 95-90 Sixers victory Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Hawks (31-23) lost for the third time in four games as they concluded a stretch of seven games in nine days. They have three days without a game before hosting the Bobcats at Philips Arena Wednesday.
Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala made back-to-back 3-pointers as the Sixers built six-point lead, at 83-77, with 5:05 remaining. Led by Elton Brand’s season-high 25 points, the Sixers (29-23) won an important game in the Eastern Conference playoff race a night after losing to the lowly Wizards.
“Coming down the stretch we didn’t make the plays,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said. “We missed a couple of defensive assignments and left 3-point shooters open. [Also, there were] the two and-ones by Brand where we gambled in the post and he got the angle on us and got to the basket. It comes down to making plays when you are playing that hard and are right there at the end. You have to make the plays.”
Brand’s basket with 1:30 remaining gave the Sixers a 90-86 lead that all but iced the game. Iguodala added 18 points.
Smith added nine rebounds for the Hawks. Joe Johnson finished with 15 points.
“They beat us to a couple loose balls in the fourth quarter,” Smith said. “It seemed like every time we were a step slow, they capitalized on all of our mistakes.”
The Sixers won the previous two meetings against the Hawks by 11 and 14 points.
Philadelphia is the top defensive team in the NBA, entering the game as the league leader in scoring defense (87.7 points per game) and field-goal defense (42 percent). It was a concern for Drew and the main lesson for the Hawks going forward.
“Right now, they seem to have our number,” Drew said. “We played well in stretches but we haven’t been able to put together consistency in any one game. … We seem to implode against this team. When a team is a good defensive team you have to be prepared to grind it out. All three ball games we were in similar situations where we self destructed at the wrong time.”
Smith scored 13 of the Hawks’ 25 third-quarter points as they erased a narrow halftime deficit and went into the final quarter leading 66-62. Smith picked up four personal fouls during the quarter and spent the final two minutes of the third and start of the fourth on the bench. He returned with 7:30 remaining. Smith fouled out with five seconds remaining after making a 3-pointer that pulled the Hawks within 94-90.
“I sat and I think they took advantage of it early in the fourth quarter,” Smith said.
The Sixers tied the score at 70-70 with 8:31 remaining in the fourth quarter, setting up the decisive final minutes.
The Sixers took a two-point lead, 43-41, at halftime after erasing a nine-point Hawks lead in the second quarter. Iguodala scored nine points in the second quarter to spark the comeback. Brand and Iguodala each scored 12 points in the first half.
The Sixers were 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) in the second quarter, after being held to 8-of-20 (40 percent) in the first.
Smith led the Hawks with 13 first-half points, nine in the first quarter. The Hawks ended the opening period on a 10-0 run to turn a four-point deficit into a 23-17 lead. Seven of Smith’s nine points came with Sixers center Spencer Hawes trying to guard the forward.
“I didn’t want to settle,” Smith said. “I knew he had me length-wise so I wanted to be quick on it. I was able to make some quick moves to the basket and get my rhythm going. But it would have been great if we could have gotten this win.”
The Hawks are sixth in the Eastern Conference and trailed the Pacers, who played at the Spurs Saturday, by a half-game entering the day. The Sixers are battling the Celtics for first place in the Atlantic Division and the fourth seed in the conference. A No. 4 vs. No. 5 playoff matchup between the Sixers and Hawks is a possibility with a month remaining in the season. If it gets to that, the Hawks have a lesson plan to study.
“It could be,” guard Willie Green said of the potential matchup. “They’ve got our number right now. This team, I’m sure, believes they can beat us and they’ve shown it but we’ve got to learn that it’s going to be a physical game. … We lost focus for a little bit down the stretch and they took advantage of it.”
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
218 comments Add your comment
SteveW
April 2nd, 2012
12:15 am
Oh, I forgot our series vs. the Cavs 3 years ago and against Orlando 2 years ago under a different Coach mean something about this season.
Like the Mavs terrible playoff runs for many consecutive years meant something on the way to winning the Championship last season maybe?
It is not computing
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 2nd, 2012
12:24 am
So freaking what? We lost THREE STRAIGHT HOME GAMES to non-elite teams a month or so ago. That is a disgrace. That is something CHA or NOH does.
Miami is just bored amd ready for the postseason…just like the Pistons and Celtics teams over the last decade. Get real.
Miami had a point last year where guys were crying about the losses, then won an astronomical number of games thereafter. They coasted to Finals and severely dismantled Chicago after game 1.
Done and done
And Najeh you helped me move up a spot to #5…thx
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 2nd, 2012
12:26 am
We lost by 21 AT HOME to a Bulls team without its best player. Plz explain that one. Or are you just a “oh they were tired” sympathizer?
SteveW
April 2nd, 2012
12:29 am
JeJe – Weren’t we missing JJ and Al when we lost those 3 Home games? Or maybe I’m making too much out of that.
But that is what I’ve been asking, is Miami just coasting. You think they are. Maybe we’ll see.
I still have Miami going to the Finals vs. OKC, but they have sure looked human lately.
And I also have Miami beating ATL in 5 if they play a series. But that doesn’t look like a sure thing by any stretch.
SteveW
April 2nd, 2012
12:31 am
JeJe – Are you a Heat fan or a Hawks fan? Which do you like better? Or are you just convinced that the Heat kill us even though you are a Hawks fan above the Heat?
jeppz23
April 2nd, 2012
12:34 am
I think the hawks would push miami to 6 and maybe even 7 with a healthy al and our bench contributing..
jeppz23
April 2nd, 2012
12:49 am
anybody think the hawks have a chance of getting dwill in the summer? Get the player we missed out on by drafting marvin?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 2nd, 2012
1:02 am
SteveW
April 2nd, 2012
12:31 am
JeJe – Are you a Heat fan or a Hawks fan? Which do you like better? Or are you just convinced that the Heat kill us even though you are a Hawks fan above the Heat?
****
Hawks fan.
Moreso, I am a realist. I am not picking us in a series just because I am a fan. We have a slim shot vs. Chi, provided LD doesn’t fall asleep. We have zero shot vs Miami
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 2nd, 2012
1:05 am
The Hawks have shown nothing the last 2 years to prove they would compete with Miami in a 7 game series. Lose at home in 3OT (at full health) to a team on the 2nd of a b2b without its 2 best players. ROFL. 2-6 in last 8 vs them
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
April 2nd, 2012
2:09 am
Wake me up when the playoffs start.
*Yawn*
EmirS.
April 2nd, 2012
2:59 am
ATLpaul had one of the best rosters in the league…if only he decided to show up at all and manage his roster.
On the brighter side things…as a last minute push….I think I was able to keep a first round bye!
Is it sad that I’ve been more into my Fantasy Team then the Hawks thus far?
brigadierjerry
April 2nd, 2012
7:44 am
Drmaryb,
You mentioned in previous blogs about Mcgrady acting like Christian Laetner did when he was on the Hawks. Could you or anyone more elaborate because I don’t remember that.
JeJe,
I would agree with you in regards to having a chance against Chicago but I only think that happens if Rose is less than 100% as well.
Do you have a preference as far as which seed do you like for the Hawks to end up with?
SteveW,
How do you see the East standing out as far as which teams will be making the playoffs and what seedings?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 2nd, 2012
8:19 am
Jerry
SteveW
April 2nd, 2012
12:31 am
JeJe – Are you a Heat fan or a Hawks fan? Which do you like better? Or are you just convinced that the Heat kill us even though you are a Hawks fan above the Heat?
LinkReport this comment
Not really. Anything higher than 7. We need CHI in rd 2 although our chances are still slim vs them. You?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 2nd, 2012
8:21 am
Bulls have best record in league and that’s without Rose for almost half the season wow…thins really needs an extension
Slimjr
April 2nd, 2012
8:36 am
BJerry, when healthy the assembled Knicks squad could make a serious run in the playoff if they make it..Hmmmm.
Lin and Amare’ being hurt now seriously impacts their chances with this brutal schedule they face the rest of the way..But we shall see….
7-5/6-6 for the Hawks..Who do they match up with in the 1st round? Expect a 1st round exit if they do not secure home court…
Doug Collins owns the Hawks.. Whose their Daddy? LOL!
Slimjr
April 2nd, 2012
8:37 am
Anthony Davis for Vice-President 2012!
Slimjr
April 2nd, 2012
8:40 am
Miami in 4…..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz= zebras (5 on 8)? Darth Vadar would not except anything less..lol
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 2nd, 2012
9:11 am
Briggs
Can you paste where I said McGrady acted like Laettner when he was on the hawks?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 2nd, 2012
9:26 am
*Thibs
O'Brien
April 2nd, 2012
9:39 am
You cannot underestimate the effect of coaching. If Doc Rivers was coaching this team in the playoffs, I think we would be a legit contender for the ECF.
vava74
April 2nd, 2012
9:40 am
I could not watch this game, but it looks like:
a) We could have won and we can win against PHI (first defeat we were also up by a lot and then melted in the 2nd half);
b) LD keeps on making horrendous rotation decisions which he then converts in players not delivering.
““Coming down the stretch we didn’t make the plays,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said. “We missed a couple of defensive assignments and left 3-point shooters open. [Also, there were] the two and-ones by Brand where we gambled in the post and he got the angle on us and got to the basket. It comes down to making plays when you are playing that hard and are right there at the end. You have to make the plays.”
Is this guy f..king unbelievable or what? It’s NEVER his fault. NEVER!
Brand plays the whole 4th quarter, goes 5/6 FG 3/4FT, snatches 5 rebounds (3 offensive) gets 2 assists and 1 block… whilst Josh is in foul trouble on the bench for the first four and half minutes and he does not play Zaza a single minute??
JJ plays 45 minutes?
Teague spends the first 7 minutes of the 4th quarter on the bench? The guy who consistently post the most regular and consistent ± stat on the team and keeps the perimeter D tight??
vava74
April 2nd, 2012
9:51 am
OB,
co-sign
doc
April 2nd, 2012
10:01 am
vava, i guess you missed the mismatch he created that helped us by leaving zaza on the bench. heh heh
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 2nd, 2012
10:09 am
Wednesday will be another game where, after 3 days rest, we will come out sluggish, be down 16 in the 3rd quarter, and have to claw back and give our top players big minutes just to beat a horrendous basketball team.
*Yawn*
vava74
April 2nd, 2012
10:24 am
doc,
yeah, we clearly did not need a post defender and rebounder on the floor…
i’ve seen Brand abuse Zaza’s D a bit in past occasions, but that does not mean that with Josh in foul trouble (and not being a bona fide one on one post defender against burly dudes like Brand) our options should be limited to playing Ivan (who is 6′8” and not that long armed) or only Josh who probably was a bit tentative to body up Brand (in particular because on away games the refereeing is typically pretty bad against us*).
* by the way, in the NYK game, there was pretty lousy foul calling going against us.
Even when they seemed to start to get it right (with Chandler’s moving screen call), the fact is that in the following possession they “compensated” immediately and called a completely bogus call against us.
vava74
April 2nd, 2012
10:26 am
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 2nd, 2012
10:09 am
“Wednesday will be another game where, after 3 days rest, we will come out sluggish, be down 16 in the 3rd quarter, and have to claw back and give our top players big minutes just to beat a horrendous basketball team.
*Yawn*”
IF, we pull through and win. I am very very afraid of a let down defeat.
As you say, after more days of rest our performance is usually horrible.
Slimjr
April 2nd, 2012
10:46 am
Elton dismantled the Hawks interior defense..This dude looked like an AllStar playing the Hawks….
Doug owns Larry…
doc
April 2nd, 2012
11:09 am
i didnt see the sixer game but would have hoped that dampier would get a chance to pound on brand if he got out of control. maybe larry is out smarting them and saving it for later as a surprise. i still dont understand why damp hasnt gotten any time as he does collect rebounds and plays defense or at least clogs the lanes some. none of that falls in twin’s jpb description i guess. that is why i dont make the big bucks.
yup vava, i was at the game friday and there was some fishy refs stuff going on. josh was clearly ball only by the trajectory the ball took after it left the hand and no body on the replay on one great play and got called, problem is when he is now in foul trouble donw the stretch. when you are at the games you dont get to see the replays but you cant flat out see misses even from a distance. it is different than watching at home in slo mo, just the same i have known teague has been up to get a block and get clean ball and get called.
i think it is the refs dont believe they can do those things and it is an expect call. sad part is we get slammed and they swallow the whistle. i think larry and woody are responsible because they never ride the refs. look at Doc who nags on every call and gets away with it. in fact they could get a t every quarter.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 2nd, 2012
11:17 am
vava74
“As you say, after more days of rest our performance is usually horrible.”
Against all bad teams our performance is usually horrible for 3 quarters. I just don’t get why it’s so damn hard to get an early 10 point lead against a sucky team like Washington or Cleveland or New Jersey
vava74
April 2nd, 2012
11:17 am
doc,
In the first half Ivan also had a beautiful block on ‘Melo (I think it was ‘Melo) which was ruled a foul just because his hip bumped ‘Melo’s hip when he was already palming the ball away.
It was a clean play for me but it ended up being one of the 755 times ‘Melo went to the line on Friday…
SteveW
April 2nd, 2012
11:28 am
A multi, multi, multi millionaire who is also a business analyst on multiple TV newsites said he quit watching the news when he was on the set of CNN one time and the producer said of the news “more filler between advertisements” meaning the news was irrelevant, it was all about money. This dude still does the news, he just doesn’t watch once he figured out the game.
Same with the NBA. The NBA will give Boston, Chicago, NY, LA any breaks they can, just for the TV market, just so the ad revenue will go up for the TV deals they sign.
So yes, expect NY and those guys to get the calls. Them in the playoffs mean ratings. And ratings mean money. And money’s the goal.
SteveW
April 2nd, 2012
11:33 am
BG – Ok, I have a somewhat weird theory for the conclusion of the season. Here it goes:
Seeds:
# 1 Chicago
# 2 Miami
# 3 ATL
# 4 Philly
# 5 Orlando
# 6 Milwaukee
# 7 Indy
# 8 Boston
Somehow, and it is probably not logical, I think the Bucks get hot to close out the season, and make the #6 seed on a tear.
The Knicks, Boston, and Indy falter in April, with the Knicks missing the playoffs.
And I think we beat the Bucks in 6, the Bulls in 6, and lose to the Heat in 5.
Again, those are picks based on gut, and not empiricism like I normally like to do.
SteveW
April 2nd, 2012
11:35 am
Nobody laugh too hard at the above picks…
SteveW
April 2nd, 2012
11:37 am
Oh, and I messed up my picks – I think the Heat catch the Bulls somehow for the #1 seed. Maybe Boozer or somebody goes down while DRose stays out.
SteveW
April 2nd, 2012
11:40 am
Empirically I would say:
#1 Chicago
#2 Miami
#3 ATL
#4 Philly
#5 Orlando
#6 Pacers
#7 Boston
#8 Knicks – But I still haven’t ruled out a Bucks run or a Knicks collapse.
And I keep thinking the Celtics will have an old age collapse – their next 6 games will tell the tale.
SteveW
April 2nd, 2012
11:41 am
But I keep thinking ATL wins the next 3, with bunches of rest sandwiched between, and really makes up some ground on some teams. And are then rested up for the remainder of the regular season.
vava74
April 2nd, 2012
11:44 am
The NYK have an horrible schedule to close the season.
I think that there is a huge possibility that they miss the playoffs (virtually ending Woody’s HC career for good).
They have 13 games left and face CHI x2, ORL, LAC, ATL, BOS, MIA, IND and MIL…
vava74
April 2nd, 2012
12:06 pm
My prediction:
#seed / TEAM / REMANING GAMES / FINAL RECORD
#3 ORL (7/6) – finish 39/27
IND (8/6) – finish 39/27
#5 ATL (7/5) – finish 38/28
#6 BOS (7/7) – finish 37/29
PHI (8/6) – finish 37/29
#8 NYK (6/7) – finish 33/33
MIL (9/5) – finish 33/33
I have no idea about the tie breakers, so I can’t tell who will be #3, #6 and #8 between the ball clubs which believe will end up tied.
Astro Joe
April 2nd, 2012
12:07 pm
NYK haven’t won a playoff series in a decade and Woody likely would have had to make that happen for him to keep the job. With Amare and Lin missing for the rest of the regular season (if not more), he will most likely be gone. But he may have done enough to get another chance when some jobs open in the summer.
vava74
April 2nd, 2012
12:29 pm
AJ,
Regardless of personnel situations, if he fails to hold on and go to the playoffs he will be fried by the media…
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 2nd, 2012
12:32 pm
I had no idea Hawks Casino night was last night.
ASG’s marketing consists of outdated billboards off I-285
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 2nd, 2012
12:35 pm
Vava … How fair is that?
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 2nd, 2012
12:38 pm
Mr. Woodson!
He was not a players coach, granted. But, he did take this roster from 13 wins to 53 wins. Regardless of how he got there, how can you not appreciate that feat alone?
I just don’t get it.
HHZ
April 2nd, 2012
12:44 pm
Only Hawk still on this team next season may be JJohnson, and Horford…
unless Howard comes here…this team will be re-built..again.
Rod from College Park
April 2nd, 2012
12:49 pm
“LeBron was a -30 today btw in the +/-. Are we sure these guys are as invincible as some on this blog make them to be? Are we just 100% sure we couldn’t beat them in a 7 game series?”
As Grandmaster JeJe says, NO. We would be lucky to even win a game. We would be lucky in the playoffs to even win a game against Miami, Philly or Chicago. All are better teams than we are, and they have much better coaching than we do. Notice I did not say their talent is better, but their teams are. We might be able to win 2 games against Boston, but we would lose the series.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 2nd, 2012
12:53 pm
“Najeh, how again does the auction draft work?”
Everyone gets a certain amount of fake money (usually $200).
Instead of taking turns drafting players, you take turns nominating players for bidding. So, for example, if I’m going first and I nominated LeBron, it doesn’t mean I get him, just that everyone can bid for him. Whoever puts in the highest bid gets the player.
You can budget your $200 however you want. If you want to spend $180 on LeBron and Dwight and fill in the rest of your roster with $1 scrubs, you can do that. If you want to distribute your money more evenly, you can do that too.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 2nd, 2012
12:56 pm
“We lose the 7th game of a brutal 7 game in 9 nite stretch at Philly to a good team by 5 points.
Miami loses their 3rd straight road game by 15+ points to Boston.
We are terrible and the Heat are nearly unbeatable to some.
I’m not following the logic.”
They have FAR more talent than us. Do you really think they won’t turn it on when the playoffs start? You can take a five-game regular season sample to draw pretty much any conclusion you want to draw. Ultimately, if you are going to beat superior talent in the playoffs, you better have superior coaching, and the Hawks don’t have that.
doc
April 2nd, 2012
12:59 pm
najeh, if i play with you im going the luxury tax route.
true fan i am and not cheap, if it is someone else’s or make believe. heh heh
O'Brien
April 2nd, 2012
1:10 pm
doc,
U wouldnt be satisfied if your fantasy team was putting out an entertaining product hehe
SteveW
April 2nd, 2012
1:15 pm
Najeh – I guess that’s been my question. Is Miami really 15 plus point blowout losses 3 straight on the road bad? Or are they conserving energy aready, and going to turn it on for the ‘offs?
Most think they are in possum mode already. I guess we’ll see.
I just know 3 straight 15+ point losses for the Hawks and it would be Armeggedon on this blog. The Heat do it, and they are the team to beat in the East.