Atlanta Hawks vs. Pistons: Game thread
Vivlamore reporting from Philips Arena before Hawks-Pistons game.
Five games to go in the regular season and Hawks fans still aren’t sure which team they will see on a given night. There is the Hawks team that got drubbed by the last-place Raptors on Sunday – at home – by 16 points on Sunday. There is the Hawks team that defeated the18-games-under-.500 Raptors the following night – on the road – by 22 points.
Dr. Jekyll, meet Mr. Hyde.
With such dramatic differences in effort and result from one night to the next, it’s worth asking if these Hawks are ready for the playoffs.
“For us, we have to approach each game in a smart fashion,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said Wednesday morning before his team hosted the Pistons. “We have not shown the consistency throughout the board across the season. … For that [home Toronto] game to happen at this time of the season was a little surprising.”
Unlike last season, when the Hawks had the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference wrapped up down the stretch, there is still much to play for. The Hawks have an outside shot at catching the Pacers for the third seed and are in neck-to-neck race with the Celtics and Magic for the right to host a first-round series. Coming up is Friday’s huge game against the Celtics and contests with three other teams fighting for playoff position in the Knicks, Clippers and Mavericks.
“I think it’s more important to carry momentum into the playoffs and carry a good taste in your mouth going into the playoffs, regardless of what the games mean,” Drew said.
Even Hawks players recognize the inconsistent play this season and the need to straighten out any issues in the final games.
“I think we are one of those teams who can be scary in the playoffs because you don’t know what kind of team we can really be,” guard Willie Green said. “I think that’s scary for opponents. It is also a little scary for us. We want to make sure over the last five games we try to be consistent with our play, and a high level of play on both ends of the floor, because when we get into the playoffs we can be a very dangerous team.”
Joe Johnson noted that the Hawks did indeed turn around and “redeem” themselves against the Raptors. Most important, with the games remaining, the Hawks can control their playoff fate and seeding if they finish strong.
“We have to take care of home,” said Johnson of all five remaining games at Philips Arena. “We’ve shown we can be a great team. These last five games we have to come out and show that we can be one of the best teams in this league, try to get some momentum going into the playoffs.”
So Hawks fans, are you comfortable where this team is? Are you willing to chalk up Sunday’s loss to the Raptors as a bump in the road? Can this team turn up the energy level come playoff time, much like in last week’s overtime loss at Boston?
UPDATE: Hawks will also be without backup center Erick Dampier, who is out with a calf injury.
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218 comments Add your comment
TMACfan
April 18th, 2012
9:11 pm
TMAC ballin
DawgNole
April 18th, 2012
9:12 pm
Luke Cage
April 18th, 2012
9:09 pm
Pistons tired from beatin’ down the cavs last night maybe??
__________________
Probably. Will Hawks be tired Friday night from beatin’ down the Pistons tonight???.
Melvin
April 18th, 2012
9:12 pm
Josh needs to hurry up and get 1 more rebound so he can sit on the bench for the rest of the night.
terrell
April 18th, 2012
9:13 pm
Not as dumb as Chills @ #6, Marvin @ #2, and Shellhead at #5 Najeh.
Big Lou
April 18th, 2012
9:15 pm
“Probably. Will Hawks be tired Friday night from beatin’ down the Pistons tonight???”
There is a difference between playing a back-to-back and having a day off.
Slimjr
April 18th, 2012
9:15 pm
Bucks going to lose to the Wizards. JC2 with 24pts..
Melvin
April 18th, 2012
9:15 pm
I love the way Ivan assaults the rim….
Najeh Davenpoop
April 18th, 2012
9:16 pm
Ben Gordon fell off really quick. He was one of the stars of that Bulls-Celtics classic first round playoff series. Now dude can’t start for a lottery team.
terrell
April 18th, 2012
9:16 pm
Ivan knows how to finish. Hope you’re watching Zaza. You too Marvin. lol
Sautee
April 18th, 2012
9:16 pm
“Not as dumb as Chills @ #6, Marvin @ #2, and Shellhead at #5 Najeh.”
I dunno, terrell. Dumars DID pick Darko at #2 in front of melo, Bosh and DWade. That’s at LEAST as bad as Marvin, given the careers of the 3 behind Darko.
Luke Cage
April 18th, 2012
9:16 pm
So Willie went to Cooley High
Big Lou
April 18th, 2012
9:18 pm
Lol @ Slimjr coming in to talk about the Knicks.
Do you only post to j!rk them off and talk crap about the Hawks?
Slimjr
April 18th, 2012
9:18 pm
Check that: JC2 with 30! Rod, we could have used him in this playoff run..Those scoring droughts are coming…
Runner-
April 18th, 2012
9:19 pm
“Ben Gordon fell off really quick. He was one of the stars of that Bulls-Celtics classic first round playoff series. Now dude can’t start for a lottery team.”
He got his money and the effort stopped…
Najeh Davenpoop
April 18th, 2012
9:19 pm
Marvin and Shellhead are all time dumb picks. Chills at #6 was not a good pick, but Chills was at least a decent player when he was here.
Daye got picked ahead of four point guards who would each be the best point guard on the Pistons right now (Lawson, Teague, Holiday, Collison).
terrell
April 18th, 2012
9:19 pm
Im sure Ben Gordon would be revived if he wer playing on a playoff team like the Hawks. Would love to have him coming off the bench instead of Marvin, Hinrich, etc..Trade perhaps? lol
Luke Cage
April 18th, 2012
9:21 pm
1st team to 100pts wins.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 18th, 2012
9:22 pm
If Detroit amnesties Gordon — which is a possibility — I’d love to have him here at like $2 million a year or something. Right now, though, dude gets paid Al Horford money, which is just insane. The contracts he and Charlie Villanueva got that summer would each be the worst contracts on the Hawks if they played here, and that’s saying something.
terrell
April 18th, 2012
9:23 pm
Marvin over cp3 or Deron tops all of Dumars dumb picks, considering we NEEDED a pg, and already had a gazillion wing players. smh
TMACfan
April 18th, 2012
9:23 pm
I know the Hawks are up by 423423 points but TMAC should be touching the ball every time on offense.
Big Lou
April 18th, 2012
9:24 pm
Lol
Tmac schooling Damien.
Slimjr
April 18th, 2012
9:24 pm
Carmelo with 31 points through 3 quarters…
TMACfan
April 18th, 2012
9:25 pm
THAT WAS AN OLDSCHOOL MOVE HE USED TO PULL OFF IN HOUSTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TMAC PLEASE DO MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Melvin
April 18th, 2012
9:25 pm
TMac with the And-1 move…
terrell
April 18th, 2012
9:26 pm
And Shellhead over Rudy Gay is laughable to say the least. Oh yeah, we didnt need Rudy, we had Marvin. lol
bigdave
April 18th, 2012
9:27 pm
Al sounds nowhere near ready..
terrell
April 18th, 2012
9:27 pm
And dont forget about Horford over Mike Conley Jr. Just kidding Al fans. lol
TMACfan
April 18th, 2012
9:28 pm
Does this look familiar???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3jTaT3pYFE
Ree Roe
April 18th, 2012
9:29 pm
Doesnt sound like Al is coming back friends.
-REEspect Roe!!!
Slimjr
April 18th, 2012
9:29 pm
Ivan has got to start!
Luke Cage
April 18th, 2012
9:29 pm
I’m sure every team has missed on great talent before
terrell
April 18th, 2012
9:30 pm
Get Ivan the uck out of the game. Clown. Already almost out of centers. smgdh
Slimjr
April 18th, 2012
9:33 pm
The Hawks even passed on Charles Barkley for Jon “CONTRACT”…40million for 1 point and 1 rebound avg……Sheesh!
A history of incompetent management!
Luke Cage
April 18th, 2012
9:35 pm
Best bench the Hawks have had since the 80’s by far.
Slimjr
April 18th, 2012
9:39 pm
Tmac has got to play 25-30mins per night in the playoffs..He will be very effective against all comers!
DawgNole
April 18th, 2012
9:40 pm
Big Lou
April 18th, 2012
9:15 pm
“Probably. Will Hawks be tired Friday night from beatin’ down the Pistons tonight???”
There is a difference between playing a back-to-back and having a day off.
___________________
Does that mean you think the Hawks will win Friday night–and that if they lose they won’t use “tired” as an excuse?
DawgNole
April 18th, 2012
9:42 pm
Ree Roe
April 18th, 2012
9:29 pm
Doesnt sound like Al is coming back friends.
____________________
Never did sound like he was coming back. Shouldn’t count on him in any event. Even if he’s on the court, he’s not likely to be in playoff condition.
Slimjr
April 18th, 2012
9:43 pm
Good win Hawks.. Keep it up!
terrell
April 18th, 2012
9:44 pm
Ivans still out there. Wow. Dude has busted azz all game long. Give him a rest for crying out loud. Hell, let Marvin go out there and run around and try to lose a few pounds.
smh
April 18th, 2012
9:44 pm
we whipped that butt
Slimjr
April 18th, 2012
9:46 pm
Yea Marvin could have used an extra 10minute burn! lol
Big Lou
April 18th, 2012
9:47 pm
“Does that mean you think the Hawks will win Friday night–and that if they lose they won’t use “tired” as an excuse?”
The Hawks have played the Celtics well the past two games(lost by a shot). They might not win, but I seriously doubt they will get routed like Detroit. Hawks don’t sleep on their rivals.
Big Lou
April 18th, 2012
9:49 pm
terrell
I think Ivan can handle the extra minutes just fine. He’s been on the bench most of the season.
Slimjr
April 18th, 2012
9:49 pm
Friday Night is a STATEMENT GAME! Cannot let Boston sweep you…
Runner-
April 18th, 2012
9:50 pm
“The Hawks have played the Celtics well the past two games(lost by a shot).”
Keep in mind that was with Zaza. I don’t see how they stand a chance in a 7 game series with no true center on their roster (Twin and Damp don’t count, they’re complete garbage, I’d rather see Ivan start at C).
Slimjr
April 18th, 2012
9:52 pm
Collins will be a match up nightmare for the Hawks.. Ivan must Start!
Slimjr
April 18th, 2012
9:54 pm
Our favorite point guard Mike Bibby @ +18 tonight? WTF?
Big Lou
April 18th, 2012
9:54 pm
“Keep in mind that was with Zaza. I don’t see how they stand a chance in a 7 game series with no true center on their roster (Twin and Damp don’t count, they’re complete garbage, I’d rather see Ivan start at C).”
I bet that they will do just fine without Zaza. The Celtics do not have a dominant big man. I think Ivan will handle Garnet just fine. I just hope LD doesn’t start Collins on him…
Also, with Tmac getting extended minutes, he can be the x factor that sparks that bench unit. Remember that the bench didn’t do crap against the Celtics their past two games. Joe won’t be cold either since Pietrus is out for the game.
Runner-
April 18th, 2012
10:06 pm
” The Celtics do not have a dominant big man. I think Ivan will handle Garnet just fine. I just hope LD doesn’t start Collins on him…”
You’re right about that, it’s not so much the defensive presence we will miss but the physicality and the rebounding presence, which is why I think Ivan would be a huge improvement over Twin
DawgNole
April 18th, 2012
10:15 pm
Blog monster’s got me.