Atlanta Hawks vs. Mavericks: Game thread
Vivlamore reporting from Philips Arena.
The Hawks will be without Al Horford for at least the first round of the playoffs. This we know. It’s looking more like they could be without Zaza Pachulia. That’s the All-Star center and his backup not in the lineup versus the Celtics.
Horford, rehabbing from a torn left pectoral muscle, said he isn’t ready from a physical standpoint.
Pachulia, who will miss his seventh straight game with a sprained left foot, was wearing a walking boot when he left Philips Arena following shoot-around this morning. That’s something that he hasn’t been wearing the times I’ve seen him since suffering the injury against the Magic. Coach Larry Drew continues to term Pachulia as day-to-day. He is scheduled to be re-examined this weekend. The Hawks open the playoffs on Sunday.
I wanted to get a better idea of how the Hawks offense with differ without the two big men.
Drew made it clear this morning that it won’t be the first time they have played short-handed in such a way.
“We’ve been without both guys before,” Drew said. “We’ll just have to go out and play solid basketball, number one, and number two we’ll have to be prepared to make some adjustments. Not having your starting center and your backup center throws a monkey wrench into things but you have to keep moving forward. We hope and wish that we could have had a full squad this season, and at this point in the season, with injury being part of the game. You can’t sit around and mope about it. You have to keep moving forward and that’s what we plan to do.”
From a technical standpoint, the Hawks have been without one of their man scoring options without Horford. That has put more pressure on Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Jeff Teague.
“One thing I have tried to exploit, at least since I’ve been here, is putting [Horford] in more pick-and-pop situations,” Drew said. “I think he is one of the better pick-and-pop big men in our league. I’ve really tried to put him in more situations like that.”
While Pachulia wasn’t a primary scoring option, he knew when and how to get his points. It is his defense and rebounded that will be missed.
Without the two centers, the balance of scoring shifts according to Willie Green. That is why the Hawks’ deep bench has been such an asset this season.
“When you have Al, when you have Zaza, when you have those guys implementing your offense you are going to have a few guys dominate more – you are going to have Al, Joe and Josh. It’s going to take some shots away from other guys.
“Without those guys, you have to have substitution guys step up. It also creates a bigger role for Josh, creates a bigger role for Teague, creates a bigger role for Joe. Those three guys we are really leaning on to carry us in the starting lineup. The substitution guys can come in, get points, get some steals, create some ruckus on both ends of the floor. It’s a balance situation when you have guys in and guys out. You try to pick up the slack where you can.”
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375 comments Add your comment
High-sider
April 26th, 2012
9:59 pm
40 is the new 50!
Dallas Mavericks’ announcer, Mark Followill, said “40 is the new 50 this year.” If the Hawks win tonight, this [Atlanta Hawks] team will end this lockout-shortened regular season with a win-loss record of 40-26 – that’s a winning percentage of 0.606 [or 60.6%]. In a normal 82-game NBA regular season, the Hawks would be on pace to win about [approximately] 50 games. [82 x 0.606 = 49.692]
Let’s hope the Hawks finish strong, win this game vs. the Mavericks tonight, and get home court advantage in the round of the playoffs. Go Hawks!
Najeh Davenpoop
April 26th, 2012
10:00 pm
GREAT PASS T-MAC
DawgNole
April 26th, 2012
10:00 pm
Fine pass by TMac! Glad he’s not hurt.
Rev in Tampa
April 26th, 2012
10:00 pm
McGrady needs to run the clock before heaving the 3pt shot.
Big Lou
April 26th, 2012
10:01 pm
Hawks would have lost this game last year. Good job.
TMACfan
April 26th, 2012
10:04 pm
Good Game.
We got HC
Luke Cage
April 26th, 2012
10:05 pm
Man I hope my STEELERS go OL, gotta protect my Franchise QB better!!
High-sider
April 26th, 2012
10:06 pm
a Dampier sighting?
tom
April 26th, 2012
10:07 pm
hawks taking care of business!
tb hawk fan
April 26th, 2012
10:08 pm
hope this is the team that plays in playoffs
Big Lou
April 26th, 2012
10:08 pm
Falcons got Asante for only 3.25 mil against cap this year. TD is a genius! Go Falcons! Good win, Hawks!
Sautee
April 26th, 2012
10:09 pm
40 wins with the most injury minutes missed in the league. I know LD still makes some stupid decisions, but you gotta give him his due. This formerly weak-minded team overcame a bunch to reach the point they did. Irrespective of how they do in the playoffs, they have made me proud for the most part this year.
Now let’s see what they can do in the playoffs.
Slimjr
April 26th, 2012
10:09 pm
Ben should be locked up for 30…Amazing this guy is free..Then again…
KevinM
April 26th, 2012
10:10 pm
Congrats to LD and the team finding a way to win 40 and get a mental advantage vs the Celtics.
If this team can lay like they played tonight, there’s not much room for complaints.
DawgNole
April 26th, 2012
10:10 pm
Good, solid finish to the season. But for a one-pt loss to the Knicks, would’ve been superb. Gotta keep it up for battle-tested Boston, which will never roll over.
Can’t believe Bob acts like Hawks are the only team that had injuries, travel, tough schedule, etc.
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
10:11 pm
DawgyNole!
“Dirk’s newest name is “Derrick Nowinski.”
I know, ’cause Nique said so”
________
Ha Ha! That was my brother’s name (RIP). Nique’ gave my sweet brother a shout out! LOL
I wonder, does Nique’ even know his kid’s name? He just don’t give a damn what your name is.
Admittedly, I’m terrible with names myself but, I do say them correctly when I do know them. (smh)
I would hate to see his spelling and reading.
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
10:11 pm
Yi Jin LIan is GARBAGE!
My Grand-Daddy likes that fool – smh.
High-sider
April 26th, 2012
10:11 pm
Jason Collins was serviceable tonight?
Jason Collins’ stat line tonight – 3/4 from the field, 6pts, 1reb, 1pf [personal foul] and a +/- of +12 in 16:19 of playing time
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
10:12 pm
Good to see Eric and Stack get some burn in front of Mark Cuban.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 26th, 2012
10:12 pm
Vlad Rad with the throwdown?
Luke Cage
April 26th, 2012
10:12 pm
Honestly I don’t see much impact players from the draft this year, its not much of a drop off from one guy to the next.
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
10:13 pm
The road to the ECF comes through Atlanta, GA.
Love it or Leave it.
Slimjr
April 26th, 2012
10:13 pm
Now it gets interesting..On to the playoffs were the stars become legends…. Sometimes.
High-sider
April 26th, 2012
10:13 pm
Why can’t Vlad play with that kind of intensity all [of] the time. Did y’all see that dunk by VladRad?!?!?
Slimjr
April 26th, 2012
10:15 pm
40 games in 40 night! Gotta love the NBA!
DawgNole
April 26th, 2012
10:15 pm
Ol’ Bob’s pourin’ it on now. Wonder why “those national guys” would pick the Celtics? Enough homerism, Bob. Let the Hawks prove their worth in the playoffs FIRST, then you can feed us the rah-rah. And at that time, we’ll be happy to take it. Not before.
Luke Cage
April 26th, 2012
10:15 pm
Been a fun ride fellow bloggers, now time to take it up 2 notches starting Sunday, we will get past the 2nd rd this year.
Shamrock
April 26th, 2012
10:20 pm
Only four more games left of the Hawks season.
LOL
April 26th, 2012
10:21 pm
hamrock
April 26th, 2012
10:20 pm
Only four more games left of the Hawks season.
_________________________________________
Slimjr
April 26th, 2012
10:21 pm
“Mike Woodson has a 17-6 record as the Knicks’ interim head coach after Wednesday night’s win against the Los Angeles Clippers. His fate will not be determined until the off-season, and the Knicks’ playoff performance will surely have an impact. But when that time comes, it will be Grunwald — Woodson’s longtime friend and former Indiana University teammate — who will make the most important recommendation.
The Knicks lifted Grunwald’s interim title on Tuesday, while also promoting him to executive vice president.
“Woody’s done a fantastic job,” Grunwald said Wednesday. “I can’t give him enough credit for the job he’s done.”
18-6, Will beat the BobCats tonight!. Great coaching job Woody.. Give Miami heck!
High-sider
April 26th, 2012
10:21 pm
One [Dallas] Mavericks’ post-game analyst described the Mavericks’ performance tonight vs. the Hawks as “Odom-esque.” [LOL]
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
10:22 pm
“Jason Collins was serviceable tonight?
Jason Collins’ stat line tonight – 3/4 from the field, 6pts, 1reb, 1pf [personal foul] and a +/- of +12 in 16:19 of playing time”
______________
My eyes say yes, but your stats say it better. Jason is known for boxing out and, his teammates clean the boards. We need Twin badly, who’s left standing?
Encouragement – Pass It On!
TMACfan
April 26th, 2012
10:22 pm
Did anyone imagine we would finish with 40 wins this season?
DawgNole
April 26th, 2012
10:22 pm
Sautee
April 26th, 2012
10:09 pm
40 wins with the most injury minutes missed in the league. I know LD still makes some stupid decisions, but you gotta give him his due. This formerly weak-minded team overcame a bunch to reach the point they did. Irrespective of how they do in the playoffs, they have made me proud for the most part this year.
Now let’s see what they can do in the playoffs.
_______________________
Sadly, their reg-season accomplishments will be long forgotten if they make yet another early exit from the postseason.
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
10:23 pm
“One [Dallas] Mavericks’ post-game analyst described the Mavericks’ performance tonight vs. the Hawks as “Odom-esque.” [LOL]”
_________
Well, they can’t blame Odom for this one. He never wanted to play there anyway.
DawgNole
April 26th, 2012
10:25 pm
Luke Cage
April 26th, 2012
10:15 pm
Been a fun ride fellow bloggers, now time to take it up 2 notches starting Sunday, we will get past the 2nd rd this year.
__________________
I’m gonna hold you to that rewriting-history prediction, Mr. Luke Cage.
Blast
April 26th, 2012
10:26 pm
Hawks showing some grit!
High-sider
April 26th, 2012
10:26 pm
Thanks, DrMaryB.
Sautee
April 26th, 2012
10:32 pm
“Sadly, their reg-season accomplishments will be long forgotten if they make yet another early exit from the postseason.” – DawgNole
For you maybe. For me I’ll remember how much they overcame without relenting to weak-minded excuses like they had done in the past (see Orlando series 2009). That in itself is memorable for me irrespective of the playoff result.
Luke Cage
April 26th, 2012
10:34 pm
Love My STEELERS Pick, got a Mauler & a nice pass protector
Grandad
April 26th, 2012
10:35 pm
Response to Ra`mon from earlier today:
I still like Kendall Marshall better than A.R.
The Aus.Riv. suggestion was tied to the Doc for GM / Coach idea.
Sautee
April 26th, 2012
10:36 pm
Excuse me, it was 2010 when they lost to the Magic in epic fashion. My bad.
High-sider
April 26th, 2012
10:38 pm
Correction: “Let’s hope the Hawks finish strong, win this game vs. the Mavericks tonight, and get home court advantage in the [first*] round of the playoffs. Go Hawks!”
Grandad
April 26th, 2012
10:39 pm
If Zaza is out;
T-Mac should start @ the Center position.
Let Ivan back him up & [split time].
Marv should back uo Josh.
Joe at the [3]
T-Mac = Secret Weapon at Center !
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
10:42 pm
I Love my Grand-Daddy!
DawgNole
April 26th, 2012
10:46 pm
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
10:11 pm
DawgyNole!
“Dirk’s newest name is “Derrick Nowinski.”
I know, ’cause Nique said so”
________
Ha Ha! That was my brother’s name (RIP). Nique’ gave my sweet brother a shout out! LOL
______________________
Well, I’m happy to see you were able to gain something positive out it.
phil
April 26th, 2012
10:48 pm
Fire LD!!
Might as well do it now as the playoff collapse is inevitable…
Rod from College Park
April 26th, 2012
10:49 pm
The Real season starts now. Good luck Hawks. Hope our guys can step it up.
phil
April 26th, 2012
10:51 pm
They can’t, Rod….
Never have before. Why now?
Rod from College Park
April 26th, 2012
10:54 pm
I agree. Just wishing.