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
Luke Cage
April 24th, 2012
9:31 pm
Took off too soon Willie, your a Stroker
Najeh Davenpoop
April 24th, 2012
9:32 pm
There isn’t any difference between DeAndre Jordan’s skill set and Tyson Chandler’s skill set. In fact if anything Jordan is a better shot blocker. But Chandler has much better defensive awareness and understands the game better. I guess from the Clippers’ point of view, they have to hope Jordan develops that awareness over time.
Luke Cage
April 24th, 2012
9:33 pm
DEBO taking more bikes again
TMACfan
April 24th, 2012
9:33 pm
DANG TMAC
Legs are looking goood
Big Lou
April 24th, 2012
9:33 pm
Debo to Blake:
Gimme dat bike white boi!
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
9:33 pm
Now Ivan looks like Griffin. Nice work on the off. glass.
TMACfan
April 24th, 2012
9:34 pm
I meant springs in his legs lol
Luke Cage
April 24th, 2012
9:34 pm
@Najeh,
Thats for any player at any position.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 24th, 2012
9:34 pm
Don’t think I’ll ever fully get over passing up CP3 for Marvin. Damn, that guy is good.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
April 24th, 2012
9:34 pm
BIG IVAN FOR PRESIDENT
FIRE SUND
Luke Cage
April 24th, 2012
9:34 pm
LMAO@Big Lou
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
April 24th, 2012
9:35 pm
WHY THE CLIPPERS GOT THEY STARTERS IN AND WE DON’T?
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
9:35 pm
TMac!!!!!!!!!!!
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 24th, 2012
9:35 pm
Rim Blocked!
“Marvin need to stop settling for the jumpshot and attack the rim”
_____
Naw bruh, you don’t want that! All Marvin’s dunks are misses, blocked from behind by the “mugsy bouge’s” or, blocked by the rim. Let Marvin shoot jumpers, that’s a better bet.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 24th, 2012
9:35 pm
T-Mac’s knees are feeling good today. When his knees are not feeling good, he leaves those shots short.
Big Lou
April 24th, 2012
9:36 pm
So…
No starters?
Luke Cage
April 24th, 2012
9:36 pm
CP3 getting the calls now
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
9:37 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
April 24th, 2012
9:34 pm
Don’t think I’ll ever fully get over passing up CP3 for Marvin. Damn, that guy is good.
___________________
Ditto.
Big Lou
April 24th, 2012
9:37 pm
So…
Blake jumps on Pargo’s back and it’s a foul on him?
F!ck you refs!
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
9:38 pm
Heat up by 7. Still long way to go though.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 24th, 2012
9:40 pm
Damn Debo, great move!
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
9:40 pm
Pretty move by Ivan!
Lon Stotts
April 24th, 2012
9:40 pm
Still no starters? The bench has carried us this game, but at least get Joe out there.
Man, Ivan must have had some major ‘tude problems, cuz the guy has got major skillz to go with it.
Luke Cage
April 24th, 2012
9:40 pm
DEBO, just crawling into windows stealing $200
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
9:40 pm
CP’s cold-blooded.
Punanny Jones
April 24th, 2012
9:40 pm
GET JOSH AND JJ BACK IN THERE NOW!!!!
Big Lou
April 24th, 2012
9:40 pm
What’s LD waiting for?
TMACfan
April 24th, 2012
9:40 pm
TMAC and Kenyon Martin talking…. I wonder if it was about this the fight they had back in 2002 LOL
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 24th, 2012
9:41 pm
starters are ice cold
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
9:42 pm
Time to put this one away.
Luke Cage
April 24th, 2012
9:42 pm
LD 2 min. too late
TMACfan
April 24th, 2012
9:42 pm
TMAC is closing out a game?!?!?!
Najeh Davenpoop
April 24th, 2012
9:43 pm
Hawks did a really good job on pick and roll defense that last possession. Wish they could do that with consistency
Big Lou
April 24th, 2012
9:43 pm
Quack!!!
Luke Cage
April 24th, 2012
9:43 pm
Marvin??
Melvin
April 24th, 2012
9:43 pm
Here come Josh playing C again, I dont like it…
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
9:43 pm
Marvin’s futility around the rim is astounding.
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 24th, 2012
9:43 pm
lol josh what was that
KevinA
April 24th, 2012
9:43 pm
Josh….why?
Big Lou
April 24th, 2012
9:43 pm
LD = garbage coach.
Lon Stotts
April 24th, 2012
9:44 pm
Marvin= sooo weak
Griffin didn’t even look at the basket for a shot he’s been hitting all game. He’s a fringe superstar and doesn’t have that clutch/killer instinct.
Luke Cage
April 24th, 2012
9:45 pm
Where’s the Tech on BG?
High-sider
April 24th, 2012
9:45 pm
Marvin sucks!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
April 24th, 2012
9:46 pm
If Marvin would just look for contact and use the glass every time he would be so much more effective around the rim, instead of just throwing up those prayers.
DawgNole
April 24th, 2012
9:46 pm
Lon Stotts
April 24th, 2012
9:44 pm
Griffin didn’t even look at the basket for a shot he’s been hitting all game. He’s a fringe superstar and doesn’t have that clutch/killer instinct.
_____________________
I’d take 30-plus from my fringe superstar any night.
KevinA
April 24th, 2012
9:46 pm
Better than Woody and Bibby hehe
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 24th, 2012
9:47 pm
“Man get off his Nutz, “now the blog is legit” LOL!!” -Luke Cage-
_____
Wassup? Jealous? Don’t worry, I’ll save some for you. You can have the left one, I got the right one on lock down!
The Monger
April 24th, 2012
9:47 pm
I HATE LARRY DREW!!!!!!! I mean I absolutely HATE THE MAN….He waits until 4:00 left in the 4th quarter to put his starters back in the game after the clippers already cut the lead to 8 points after leading by 14 at one point. he played ZERO starters for 2/3 of a very meaningful game in the 4th quarter.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 24th, 2012
9:48 pm
Wow, what a block!
KevinA
April 24th, 2012
9:48 pm
JT for president