Atlanta Hawks: Video: Hawks finish strong

(( smh . . . sigh ))

Josh Smith is not Kenneth Faried. Josh Smith plays offense, and is one of the leading scorers on the team, as well as the only rim protector. You can’t expect him to do everything. He raised his rebounding almost 2 rebounds per game this year alone.

People are touting Josh to be the #1 guy on this team now. He took more shots per game than JJ AND had a career high 28.4 usage% ( damn, another advanced metric ). So yes, I do expect more out of him. Just like more should be expected out of Joe Johnson.

The playoffs are the time in which star or superstar players PLAY like stars or superstars. If the Hawks have a limited Zaza vs the Celtics, then Josh just very well may have to do more. Joe Johnson will have to do more too. If this team is going to get to the next level, it is going to be on the backs of the 2 star players we have on this team.

Josh should prepare himself to have some 15+ point – 15+ rebound – 5+ block games. Joe should prepare himself to have some 30+ point – 6+ assist games. It’s what stars and superstars do during the playoffs.

Josh is what he is at this point. He is not all the sudden going to become Dennis Rodman. Kenneth Faried is only averaging 7.7 rpg, and Josh is at 9.5 rpg. I have no idea why you keep posting those stupid per 36 minute stats. They mean nothing.

Asking Josh to rebound more in the Celtics is not asking him to be “Dennis Rodman”. However . . it is not out of the question to expect him to grab 12 rebounds a game vs the Celtics, especially if Zaza isn’t healthy. He just needs to simply strap up and make a commitment to do it, if he’s “the man” now. Same goes for Joe Johnson. Take matters into your own hands as to why the Hawks can and will beat the Celtics.

As for the per 36 numbers, this is why I don’t get into long drawn out discussions with you. It’s almost as if stuff like this flies over your head. I do it this time for entertainment purposes.

No relevance? OK.

- Jeff Teague ( last year ), had per 36 numbers of 13.5 pts and 5.2 assts. His numbers this season . . 12.6 pts and 4.9 asst in 33 minutes. His per 36 numbers of last year were an indication of what he could give us IF he played at or close to those 36 minutes. Almost dead on.

- Kenneth Faried grabbed 7.7 rebounds in 22.5 MINUTES of play this year. Josh Smith grabbed 9.6 rebounds in 35.3 minutes. The “blind” only see that 9.6 is > than 7.7 —— but the “seer” can see that grabbing 7.7 rebounds in 22.5 minutes is damn impressive. OR in other words . .

Faried: 7.7 rebs in 22.5 minutes = 1 rebound every 3 minutes
Smith: 9.6 rebounds in 35.3 minutes = 1 rebound every 4 minutes

In “real time” as a starter playing only about 25 minutes a game, Faried is averaging 11 pts and 8.2 rebounds. So is it a great stretch that Faried can average 12 rebounds if he got close to 36 minutes a game?

Is it a surprise that during April, Faried averaged 11.6 pts and 9.1 rebs in a little less than 27 minutes of play. Give him 30 minutes a game, and the trend says that he’s a 10+ rebound a game guy, which the per 36 minute numbers point out.

But I see why you don’t want to believe it . . smh

Also, Josh does not play well against the Celtics, because he is being guarded by, and having to defend a first ballot HOF, who is still probably one of the best big man defenders in the league, and is a full two or three inches taller than Josh. Josh is not the X factor in this series. If he can play KG to a stalemate, he has done his job.

You’re all over the place Rod. In one breath, you say that Josh doesn’t play well because KG basically shuts him down. In the other breath, you say that if he plays KG to a stalemate, he has done his job.

So what do you think KG is going to average in this series? The future Hall of Famer. And doesn’t that mean that Josh has to play well, to match KG? If KG averages 20 ppg and 10 rebounds this series, Josh will have to match or exceed that . . or be completely dominant in other areas ( rebounding and defense ).

Or go the other way. The Hall of Famer may have to be limited to 12 ppg – 7 rebounds. So Josh either has to match his output offensively, if KG is going off . . or shut down KG with his defense and make him a non-factor. As “the man”, this must be the mentality of Josh.

The 20 million dollar man, and guys like Marvin and the bench will be the guys who will have to take advantage of mismatches in order for us to be successful. don’t look for Teague to have a big series either, having to guard, and being guarded by Rondo.

So Josh is a non-factor? Is that what you’re saying, because that’s the way you’re talking.

He’s the #1 guy now. No way can he disappear from this series, like JJ did in the Orlando series back in 2010. This is why HE’S the X-Factor, and not the other people. If Josh truly wants to be an All-Star, guys like Garnett can’t single-handedly shut him down. If anything, it’s JOSH that has to shut him down or make live a living hell for anybody coming into the paint.

To win a title, you normally need 2 guys playing at All-Star level + a 3rd guy playing at a very high level. If Josh can’t play at All-Star ( or at the very least All-Defensive level ) vs the Celtics, we’re dead in the water.

Funny how you trash Marvin left and right, basically calling him a scrub . . but now you’re looking for him to take advantage of mismatches? If he’s a scrub, how can he do that?

If Josh is to prove his All-Star status, the time for him to perform is NOW. He doesn’t have to average 20 ppg, but he does have to control ( or dominate ) the boards and make his impact known on the defensive end.

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Wow, a virtual tie between Joe and Josh as top team scorers! I will say this, Josh took more shots (just 1 attempt more) while Joe took nearly all of the technical free throws so those even out. Actually those free throws are more advantageous than one more field goal.

Also, Josh shot one of his worst percentages at the line while Joe shot a career best at the line. Once you even those out toward their career averages, Josh was the better scorer this season. Remember, Josh established himself as a bonafied scorer once it was thrust upon him to carry the team. Drew finally realized this and is now giving Josh much much better scoring responsibilities.

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The Great Debate!

Mr. NortyCyde makes one “hella” debater, that’s for sure. This guy really knows how to communicate his Big Idea, effectively. Just go back an read my “morning vitamin” @ 912 AM titled (( smh … sigh )).

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Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks:
This is the least intriguing series in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. In what will probably be the last hurrah for the trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, look for the Celtics to try to turn it up a notch in this series. The Celtics rested some players down the stretch in hopes they would be healthy for the postseason.
Atlanta is led by the talented duo of Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, who can both put points on the board in a hurry. The one negative aspect about this team is they tend to play stretches of one-on-one basketball, which often gives their opponent a decisive edge. The Celtics won in seven games when these teams met in the 2008 playoffs, but the Hawks have the home-court advantage this time around. Being that that the Celtics are the more desperate team, I see them winning this series in six or seven games.
　
James Tillman is a resident of the Chicago-land area, who has been a Bulls’ fan since the 1987-1988 season. James is also a Featured Sports Contributor for Yahoo and a Sports Journalist for Sports Rantz Magazine. Follow him on Twitter @jtillman9693.
　
Sources:
TNT Sports
2012 Eastern Conference Playoff Predictions

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northclyde,

your 9:22am post was on point about Josh. I didnt think about it but most of the reasons most are picking Boston in this series is because they dont think Josh can get it done against the Celtics and he has shown by his stats against the Celtics he hasnt gotten it done. ALso as you stated the Hawks need two guys to get it done to beat the Celtics. I stated before who is going to make plays when Joe Johnson is going to get doubleteamed in the last 5 minutes of a close game?

Josh Smith is really the key to whether the Hawks advance past this round or not because I fully expect Johnson to do his thing. Teague will contribute and the rest will get their points here and there but gonna come down to Smith and Smith playing Garnett to a wash. If he can do that, Hawks win series

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Fading hopes for Ray Allen in Game 1

By Dan Duggan / Celtics Notebook
Saturday, April 28, 2012 – Added 10 hours ago
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WALTHAM — As the playoffs draw closer, Doc Rivers’ confidence in Ray Allen’s availability is heading in the wrong direction.

Allen missed the final nine games of the season with a right ankle injury that has bothered him for more than a month. Throughout Allen’s absence, Rivers maintained a belief the sharpshooter would return when the playoffs began.

But with Game 1 of the first round set for tomorrow night in Atlanta, Rivers backtracked yesterday when asked about his confidence Allen will be ready.

“I don’t know if I’m confident or not,” the Celtics [team stats] coach said. “I don’t have an answer. I don’t know how to answer that.”

Before Thursday night’s regular-season finale, Rivers termed Allen’s status as “probable.” He changed his tune yesterday.

“If (75 percent) is probable, I would probably lower to 60 percent,” Rivers said of the likelihood of Allen playing in Game 1.

Allen didn’t practice yesterday and has limited his workouts during his absence to an anti-gravity treadmill, which eliminates the pounding on joints. Rivers wasn’t sure if Allen would participate in today’s practice session.

“It’s always frustrating when you’re sitting out and you’re hurt,” teammate Paul Pierce [stats] said. “You want an opportunity to help your team. Ray is one of the great competitors in this league and I’m sure it eats at him every day he can’t practice and every day he can’t play.”

Even if Allen is able to return tomorrow, spending nearly three weeks on the shelf is hardly ideal for a player so reliant on rhythm.

“His rhythm’s not going to be good,” Rivers said. “If he’s ready to play we’re going to play him. Whether he has rhythm or can make shots, the game will dictate that, our eyes will dictate that and we’ll go from there.”

Classic rematch

The Celtics and Hawks engaged in a memorable opening-round series in the 2008 playoffs. The Celts outlasted a young Hawks squad in seven games en route to winning the title.

The Hawks core has grown up together since that series and Pierce knows they won’t fear the Celtics.

“They feel like they’re better than us at this point,” Pierce said. “They probably felt like they were better than us a few years ago when we went seven games. Definitely this is a team that’s more than capable. They’ve been together a long time so this is not going to be a cakewalk.”

Lofty company

Rajon Rondo led the NBA in assists this season, averaging 11.7 per game. That achievement put the 26-year-old point guard in exclusive company, as he became the first Celtic to lead the NBA in assists since Bob Cousy in the 1959-60 season.

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brigadierjerry
April 27th, 2012
11:58 pm

Dawgnole,

Who do you like in this sries and what are your keys?
_______________________

I WANT the Hawks–badly (and both my daughters and their beaus live in Boston). But until they prove they can win consistently in the postseason, I have to go with the Celtics in a close, hard-fought series (say 4-3), kind of a repeat of ‘08. The Celtics are aging and past their prime, but they’ve rested some late in the season, and I think they’ll summon enough to get by the Hawks–strictly based on their experience in big games. I don’t see them going much further though.

The keys in my mind are hitting FTs, keeping Rondo and Pierce under control (to the extent possible); getting Josh loose inside (to reduce his propensity for taking the outside jumper/set shot); penetration by Teague and (hopefully, but not likely) by Joe; and pushing the pace to wear out the Celtics elderly legs. I think it’s good that we’re not counting on Horford for this series; just hoping Zaza makes it back.

We abolutely have to maintain homecourt advantage; it’ll be a huge struggle to beat them up there with the refs, media, and their crowd against us. Just have to hope the deciding game is down here. That said, our crowd needs to be supportive and loud–no guarantees there, as most of us know. Someone else on the blog said they’ll be there for us the first game, but if we lose that one, look out. That’s what I mean about maintaining hc advantage.

Utopia says the Hawks. Reality says the Celtics. Lord, let me be wrong.

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Steve W, without digging up the dirt from last night’s exchanges, I’d recommend we follow Section 303’s advice and lay down our arms.

I know I’m ready to move on, and I hope you are as well.

I see you picked the Celtics in the first round; so did I. Let’s just hope we’re both dead wrong.

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WE NEED TO SIGN BIG IVAN TO AN EXTENSION BEFORE THE SEASON IS OVER

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No Kendrick Perkins, No Ray Allen, No Eddie House, No Mike Bibby = Hawks in 6

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Luckily the Celtics are playing the Hawks in the first round and thus can afford to rest Ray Allen so that he will be ready to go when the Celtics move on to real competition in the second round.

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My playoff predictions, for what it’s worth:

CHI over PHI in 5
MIA over NY in 6
IND over ORL in 4
ATL over BOS in 7 (assuming Allen doesn’t play or barely plays)

CHI over ATL in 6
MIA over IND in 6

MIA over CHI in 4

SA over UTA in 6
OKC over DAL in 6
LAL over DEN in 7
MEM over LAC in 4

MEM over SA in 6
LAL over OKC in 6

MEM over LAL in 7

MEM over MIA in 7

I know these look astonishingly similar to Bill Simmons’ picks, but I swear I came up with them before reading his article the other day.

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Shut Down!

Shamrock, like I said two days ago. Ray Allen should hang up his jock strap, I prognosed him as done for his career. He is a HOFer for sure, but the game has passed him by. I haven’t heard those words from his medics, but that is my professional opinion.

He may need surgery, but I don’t reccommend that, as a first option. I would advise him to stop all running activities on hard surfaces and try hollistic and, chiropractic remedies to try and re-absorb those spurs, though highly unlikey in weight bearing joints.

Surgery may very well be an option he should seriously consider at this point, he is still very young in relative terms, at 35 years of age. His whole life is ahead of him, no need to end up in a wheel chair.

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Najeh Davenpoop
April 28th, 2012
1:17 pm

My playoff predictions, for what it’s worth:

CHI over PHI in 5
MIA over NY in 6
IND over ORL in 4
ATL over BOS in 7 (assuming Allen doesn’t play or barely plays)
___________________________

Remember, Naj, it’s more fun when you’re a Hawks fan to pick the opponent and be wrong than to pick the Hawks and be wrong. Obviously, it’d be great to pick the Hawks and be right, but I gave up on that a long time ago. I agree that the loss of Allen could help our side immensely.

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Surprise … Surprise … Surprise! (in Gomer Pyle’s voice)

“I have no evidence for this, but my guess is that both Al Horford and Ray Allen make surprise appearances around Game 3 or 4 of the series. I think a lot of this is smoke screens and posturing.” -Najeh-
________

Any instincts from the guts about – Zaza in game 1?

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In other news, I think the NBA should institute a rule in the next collective bargaining agreement that all Eastern Europeans are required to address the crowd at least once per season. First Zaza with his Nothing Easy speech, now Enes Kanter.

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“Any instincts from the guts about – Zaza in game 1?”

MC just tweeted that he’s out for Game 1. Twin is running with the starters in the workouts open to the media, although MC thinks that’s just a smokescreen. I’m guessing they go with a small lineup of some sort.

Another hunch I have with no evidence to back this up: I think T-Mac plays 25 minutes per game this series and possibly starts. I just get the feeling that after T-Mac’s outburst earlier in the year, LD probably told him he was saving him for the playoffs and promised him some playing time. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Hawks started Game 1 with Teague-Joe-TMac-Marvin (or Ivan)-Josh.

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“Remember, Naj, it’s more fun when you’re a Hawks fan to pick the opponent and be wrong than to pick the Hawks and be wrong. Obviously, it’d be great to pick the Hawks and be right, but I gave up on that a long time ago. I agree that the loss of Allen could help our side immensely.”

Haha. I knew you would call me out. Honestly, I am not that confident in the Hawks’ chances even without Allen, but I am just tired of everyone else picking the Celtics in 6. Bleacher Report is the only place that is picking the Hawks, and Bleacher Report has no credibility on anything.

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After the Celtics end the Hawks season, I heard Danny and Doc are going to give the Hawks this years Celtics Division Champs banner as a consolation prize. The Celtics have no room for such a banner and, oddly enough, the Hawks have lots of room in their rafters.

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Wow, no Ray Allen…that would be huge for us…..but it is still about Rondo, no matter who else is on the court. They still have enough to steal the series from us.
And all the pressure has to be on Joe. He has to play as a leader and not as his previous playoff self.

And seriously, does anyone think LD is gonna change our lineup? You will see Kirk and Jason starting like its a regular season game and then LD making adjustments to match up with Boston instead of them having to match up with us.

Game 1 and Joe……huge this time around.

And let me make a statement about being at Philips…..I have never been part of such a special time like that ‘07 run against the Celts. No one in that building was sitting down. That is going to be very hard to duplicate, but it is possible.

If anyone has a chance here to go see the Hawks/C’s in person, do not pass it up. You will be totally satisfied more than any other team we could play against. We owe no team like we owe this team.
As G’Dad says, the Bill Russell curse is still in effect. If the C’s can pull this off, you won’t be able to explain it any other way. That was a huge historical event in Hawks basketball.

Kudos to you G’Dad for recognizing the impact that trade made on both franchises.

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