Atlanta Hawks vs. Clippers: Game thread
Josh Smith didn’t want to talk much about tonight’s matchup with Blake Griffin.
He didn’t want to dwell on the Highlight Factory vs. Lob City.
“I’m not worried about the matchup,” Smith said following Tuesday morning’s shoot-around in preparation for the Clippers. “My main concern is winning the basketball game.”
Both teams have plenty to play for. The Hawks’ magic number to clinch home-court advantage is two. They can clinch tonight with a victory and a Celtics loss to the Heat. The Hawks must finish with a better record than the Celtics (by virtue of Boston holding the tie-breaker and winning the Atlantic Division). So they must either win both remaining games or win one and have the Celtics lose one to host the Eastern Conference matchup.
“We do have an opportunity to get home-court advantage,” Marvin Williams said. “It will be huge for us and I think everybody understands that.”
The Clippers are a half-game behind the Lakers for the Pacific Division lead and the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
The Hawks’ offense has been effective the past several games. They have shot over 50 percent in their last two games against the Knicks (54.4) and Celtics (51.4) and were very near the mark in wins over the Pistons (49.4) and Raptors (48.8).
However, it’s the defensive effort that is of concern for Hawks coach Larry Drew.
“I like the fact that offensively the numbers have been good,” Drew said Tuesday morning. “My concern will always be with defense. I don’t think I could ever be satisfied defensively. There are times when we’ve show major improvements in areas and times where we fall back into a lapse of defending. Going down the stretch, it’s about trying to get as fine-tuned as we can going into the playoffs and when you go into the playoffs make sure you dot every I and cross every T, particularly from a defensive standpoint. That’s going to be your staple in any playoff series, how well you can defend. We are going to have to go into these last two ball games, playing against two teams who are playoff bound, it’s a great opportunity to finish this thing on a positive note against two good teams. I’m always stressing and emphasizing defense. I’m a big defense guy. I want our defense to be ahead of our offense. As of lately, we’ve done a good job offensively but we have to get that consistency defensively.”
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467 comments Add your comment
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 24th, 2012
8:42 pm
Metta World Peace!
7even game suspension. I was expecting the rest of the post season for him, but he will play in round 2. What a nut job! Why hurt your team with all that foolish-ness?
_______
Hawks win the half, despite the hot Blake Griffin. Thing is jump shots don’t get your team fired up like dunks with ANd-1’s! (Josh?)
So, keep shooting those jumpers Blake! The farther you play from the rim – the smaller you appear.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 24th, 2012
8:43 pm
Teague and Josh are going to have to step up in the 2nd half on both ends. Marvin isn’t going to score 11 points in the 2nd half. Props to him for a good game so far though.
High-sider
April 24th, 2012
8:43 pm
Joe Johnson is still the number one option for the Hawks currently, not Josh. Don’t forget that, bloggers.
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
8:44 pm
Feels like we’re gettin’ our butts whipped, but we’re actually ahead. There’s some positive for you, Katie.
TMACfan
April 24th, 2012
8:44 pm
Celtics with 10 points in the first half?
IS THIS A JOKE!?!?!
TMACfan
April 24th, 2012
8:44 pm
*1 Quarter
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 24th, 2012
8:47 pm
Miami 17 – 10
The Heat DEFENSE is stiffling scary! Don’t wanna’ see them in round 2. Wow! Lowest offensive output for Boston ever! 10 points.
Doc, might be over coaching over there? Taking my Hawks and HC for granted? I sure hope so, we need every angle we can muster. Or, is that team that banged up and worried about their health for round 1?
I hope we are just hiding Zaza. I hope he has a pool noodle around his chest and is kick paddling in the pool day and night, to heal those ligaments and get those foot muscles rehabbed. I hope he is getting ultra-sounded three times a day as well.
Blast
April 24th, 2012
8:48 pm
17-10, Heat leading the Celts in the 2nd. Pierce insisted on playing.
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
8:49 pm
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 24th, 2012
8:42 pm
Metta World Peace!
7even game suspension. I was expecting the rest of the post season for him, but he will play in round 2. What a nut job! Why hurt your team with all that foolish-ness?
Hawks win the half, despite the hot Blake Griffin. Thing is jump shots don’t get your team fired up like dunks with ANd-1’s! (Josh?)
So, keep shooting those jumpers Blake! The farther you play from the rim – the smaller you appear.
________________________
Artest: Shoulda been 7 years behind bars. Aggravated assault. Repeat offender.
“So, keep shooting those jumpers Blake!”
Just don’t keep making ‘em.
Blast
April 24th, 2012
8:50 pm
Apart from Paul, both teams playing their scrub teams, though Boston’s scrub gave Hawks all they could handle.
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
8:52 pm
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 24th, 2012
8:47 pm
The Heat DEFENSE is stiffling scary! Don’t wanna’ see them in round 2.
____________________
And that’s WITHOUT “the big 3.”
TMACfan
April 24th, 2012
8:52 pm
No, Pierce has 5 turnovers
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 24th, 2012
8:54 pm
Ha Ha!
Doc Rivers going back and forth about HCA? Sounds like he is bankong on Hawks losing these last two, three? Trust me fellas, he really does want that HCA, he is hoping that the Hawks just hand it to him with losses.
IDK Doc, me thinks you are over coaching, don’t underestimate these Hawks, that’s when they will surprise you all. LOL!
Hawks hungry.
Old Man Peabody
April 24th, 2012
8:55 pm
Enter your comments here
Luke Cage
April 24th, 2012
8:55 pm
Gloom & Doom, then find another team to boo lol
Big Lou
April 24th, 2012
8:56 pm
Another horrible game tonight by Josh.
Blast
April 24th, 2012
8:56 pm
Joe still holding the ball too long. Allows the Clips to re-organize. Would rather have Joe coming of screens and just launching a jumper. He has been making them for the most part.
The Teager steal!
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
8:56 pm
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 24th, 2012
8:54 pm
IDK Doc, me thinks you are over coaching, don’t underestimate these Hawks, that’s when they will surprise you all. LOL!
_____________________
They’ll also surprise you when you overestimate them.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 24th, 2012
8:57 pm
Kirk sucks.
Luke Cage
April 24th, 2012
8:58 pm
Joe has to hold on to the ball, the rest of the starting lineup playing a step behind
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 24th, 2012
8:58 pm
clippers getting all the calls…
Blast
April 24th, 2012
8:58 pm
Starters sucking it up again!!!!!!!
Blast
April 24th, 2012
8:59 pm
Kirk finally made a shot. And another 3!
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
9:00 pm
Five straight for KH. Must’ve read your post, Najeh.
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 24th, 2012
9:00 pm
DawgNole!
We don’t care if Blake makes those long twos, as long as he is limited to 2 points and no And-1’s we win, wven if he scores 50! No Hawk will be in foul trouble if, he is shooting jumpers.
If Blake is not in the paint, we win! Tell Josh that too! You never want your big man playing small on the perimeter. That was my problem with Horford, no rebounds from 16 feet. Fools Gold!
Let the guards rain jumpers, you always want your bigs in the paint, banging, playing big, rebounding, drawing fouls. It’s how you play the game!!!
Big Lou
April 24th, 2012
9:00 pm
F!ck these refs.
Big Lou
April 24th, 2012
9:02 pm
Kirk > Teague tonight so far.
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 24th, 2012
9:03 pm
joe got fouled…
Big Lou
April 24th, 2012
9:03 pm
No foul on Joe?
F!ck these refs.
S!cking the other teams’ dicks the past two games.
TMACfan
April 24th, 2012
9:04 pm
That is why I hate Blake Griffin. He flops sooooo much.
Refs have no love for JJ.
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 24th, 2012
9:04 pm
Najeh in Da House?
Yeah!!! Now the blog is legit.
Blast
April 24th, 2012
9:05 pm
What do the Hawks have to do to get a legit call from the refs?
How many games have the refs screwed us over in the past years?
Blast
April 24th, 2012
9:05 pm
What do the Hawks have to do to get a legit call from the refs?
How many games have the refs screwed us over in the past years?
TMACfan
April 24th, 2012
9:05 pm
Joe is playing with a nice mix of shooting and driving.
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
9:05 pm
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 24th, 2012
9:00 pm
DawgNole!
We don’t care if Blake makes those long twos, as long as he is limited to 2 points and no And-1’s we win, wven if he scores 50! No Hawk will be in foul trouble if, he is shooting jumpers.
If Blake is not in the paint, we win! Tell Josh that too! You never want your big man playing small on the perimeter. That was my problem with Horford, no rebounds from 16 feet. Fools Gold!
Let the guards rain jumpers, you always want your bigs in the paint, banging, playing big, rebounding, drawing fouls. It’s how you play the game!!!
____________________
I don’t disagree. Hawks haven’t done much wrong against Griffin; he’s just hittin’ everything he’s throwing up there. Usually not a good sign when the opponent’s big is hot from outside.
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 24th, 2012
9:06 pm
ciroc peach!
Dept. Of Redundancy Dept.
April 24th, 2012
9:06 pm
Blast at 9:05
Big Lou
April 24th, 2012
9:07 pm
How is that a foul?
Lol
Okay
Punanny Jones
April 24th, 2012
9:07 pm
Trade Al Horford for Blake Giffiin and Chris Paul.
TMACfan
April 24th, 2012
9:08 pm
That looked like good defense by Josh….
Big Lou
April 24th, 2012
9:08 pm
Does Joe ever make a technical?
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
9:08 pm
Here we go with the missed FTs again. NEVER an excuse for that.
Melvin
April 24th, 2012
9:08 pm
Hawks wasted two roster sport on Twin and Diamper. They signed these to defend Dwight. Howard only played 2 games against the Hawks this year… That’s just terrible asset management…
Luke Cage
April 24th, 2012
9:08 pm
Man get off his Nutz, “now the blog is legit” LOL!!
TMACfan
April 24th, 2012
9:08 pm
Punanny Jones is an idiot
Blast
April 24th, 2012
9:09 pm
Two techs in two games Joe has missed. Maybe somebody else should shoot it?
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 24th, 2012
9:09 pm
josh needs to make a move soon as he catchs the ball
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
9:09 pm
Punanny Jones
April 24th, 2012
9:07 pm
Trade Al Horford for Blake Giffiin and Chris Paul.
_____________________
Yeah, right. Good luck w/that.
Lon Stotts
April 24th, 2012
9:09 pm
Wow, Nique is really being supportive of some questionable officiating by these refs tonight, against the Hawks no less.
See how Griffin has an easy run-out and finds his point guard to bring it up the floor regardless? The thing that frustrates people the most about Josh is his Everest-like learning curve.
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 24th, 2012
9:10 pm
man I hope teague dont struggle this bad against rondo