Atlanta Hawks: On Doc Rivers punting home-court advantage
“Whether they play in Boston, Atlanta or Tokyo, the Celtics are going to beat the Hawks.”
That’s what Charles Barkley said the other night. It’s also what Doc Rivers implied over the final two weeks of the season.
Wasn’t that the message when Rivers started resting his players with home-court advantage against the Hawks still at stake? Didn’t Doc send out his “C” team against the Hawks at Philips Arena–and nearly win the game anyway? Certainly Doc earned the psyops W at that moment when Joe Johnson trudged back into the game because Atlanta’s reserves couldn’t finish off the likes of JaJuan Johnson.
“That’s mental,” Josh Smith said. “He’s a great mental coach. He plays mental games with his players and the other team. He’s a great coach. He knows what his team can do.”
The Celtics didn’t have to go all-out to get home-court advantage, either. The Hawks opened the door with that ugly home loss to the Raptors. Doc just shrugged.
“I’m taking rest and rhythm over home court,” he said over and over.
The unstated implication, of course, is that the Celtics don’t think they need home-court advantage beat the Hawks.
“I’m not going to be politically correct: Yes, I am a bit offended by that,” Jannero Pargo said. “I think it also shows the confidence they have in themselves, which is a good thing for them. But, yeah, I feel some type of way about that. They feel like they are going to win the first round whether it’s here or there.”
I suppose Boston’s nonchalance about home court is understandable for a group with championship rings and three players headed to Hall of Fame. The Celtics are 13-22 in playoff road games since 2008 so it’s not as if they don’t know they can do it (though it’s worth noting is they didn’t win at Philips in 2008 when they were much better and the Hawks not as good).
I’m sure supreme confidence is the default disposition for a franchise that has nearly as many playoff victories in the last four years as the Hawks have managed since 1988.
“They’ve won a championship,” Jeff Teague said. “They’ve won on the road in the playoffs. They are confident. We are confident, too. We don’t take offense to it. They feel like they can win on the road.”
Larry Drew: “They won a championship with a team a few years ago and they have a core of guys that are used to playing on the road in big-time situations. I’m sure that doesn’t faze them at all. Being a veteran ballclub, I can see where health is probably a little bit more important than home court. For us, it’s totally different.”
I’m not one to throw shade on Doc’s approach with his team. Not many coaches are more in tune with what their players need. Perhaps it’s less about Doc taking the Hawks lightly and more that he felt he had no choice but to ease his guys into the postseason.
Still, Doc’s strategy is not without risk.
It starts with the math: According to the NBA’s postseason media guide, teams with home-court advantage have won 76.3 percent of series since 1984. The Celtics were a mediocre road team this season–even their surge to end the season included a loss at Toronto when they were actually trying to win. And if the Celtics expect they’ll get their usual robust support from fans at Philips Arena, they may be out of luck: word is the Hawks expect the ratio will be much more in the home team’s favor for Game 1.
Also, it’s not as if the Celtics have overwhelmed the Hawks this season. Boston is a poor offensive team and an even worse rebounding team.
In other words, the Celtics have plenty of warts for a team that seems so unconcerned about home-court advantage. But I’m all for playing this series in Tokyo.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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244 comments Add your comment
TeamRondo
April 29th, 2012
9:59 am
Did it ever occur to any of you or your team’s coach that the Celtics are old and injured(Rondo back, Pierce toe, Ray Allen ankle)? Of course they’re going to rest their starters. Home court is overrated too.
JSS
April 29th, 2012
10:40 am
“there is only one “Big Three” and that is Bird, Parish and McHale”
Ha, you mean Jones, Russell, and Havelick… That was a big three!
Sautee
April 29th, 2012
10:46 am
Yes, Barkley is too mouthy, but to say that Josh at 26 is better than Barkley at 26 is totally absurd.
And the idea that Barkley had more help is equally as absurd. His best teammates when he was 26?
Mike Gminski, Ron Anderson, Cliff Robinson, Hersey Hawkins, an old Mo Cheeks, and an even older Gerald Henderson.
I’d take Josh’s teammates over that group any day.
BIG DOG
April 29th, 2012
10:54 am
Time to rise up Hawks Fans!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
April 29th, 2012
10:56 am
Teague, Joe, Josh, Ivan, Collins
Pargo, Green, Tmac, Marvin, Dampier
would sweep Celtics
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
April 29th, 2012
10:58 am
Josh would shut down Pierce
Ivan would shut down Kevin
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
soullrenaissance
April 29th, 2012
11:06 am
Hawks in 6.
I feel like will will eek out a victory in Beantown.
This is Ali versus Liston all over again. As the 08 Playoffs proved, sometimes its good to be overlooked and written off albeit, this time we brought it on ourselves with lackluster play in downright embarrassing fashion on nationally televised games this year.
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 29th, 2012
11:23 am
Briggs, GM-JeJe:
Ha Ha … no, I really don’t want anyone on the Celtics to be hurt so, when we beat them, I don’t want to hear any excuses.
I just know that the Celtics have a ton of injuries right now and, when you play injured it causes the injury to worsen of things begin to snap loose like ACL’s.
Briggy Bear, I believe that when a large group of muscles like the ones in the thigh (quadriceps and hamstrings) are contracted, (flexed and pulling) on the joints, then the ligaments will roll up like a lamp shade and pop loose.
DRose just came back too soon from his injury and was over played by his coach and trainers. He should not have been playing the last 1:23 of a game that was clearly already won. Coach Thibbs was just being greedy and, was trying to demoralize his opponent. Look what that ego cost him.
Coaaches who try to run up the score on people is not showing sportsmanship characteristics. IMO
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 29th, 2012
11:32 am
*typos galore
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 29th, 2012
11:37 am
zaza broke something…damn marvin try not falling down on the floor all the time and you wont hurt your teammates
Mr Beantown
April 29th, 2012
11:39 am
Celtics will win this series and against the Philly-Bulls winner. They may just go to the finals. They give Miami major problems. They just sign Sean Williams. A shot blocker and rebounder like steisma. Doc did a great job resting the veterans. Celtics will have a lot of fans in Phillips arena but there will be more Hawks fans.
KevinM
April 29th, 2012
11:46 am
Sautee, its not about who Barkley’s teammates were at 26….its who he learned from as he came into the league. By the time he was 26, he was the leader of that team without doubt or question.
Barkley was a 1st team all-star by that time.
Can Josh climb to elite level going forward as fast as Barkley? i say he can become an all-star, but he won’t sniff the 1st team.
He has to play elite for us to beat Boston……he takes on more roles than this team has elite starters.
My favorite Hawk is Josh and I like how he Jeff and Joe are playing together. We have a shot to ’stun’ the critics.
KevinM
April 29th, 2012
11:48 am
Buddy, you put Marvin on Pierce and we are in trouble. Marvin averages 5 rpg and you cant twist those ‘nimbers’.
Keep his minutes limited to the 2nd unit and we’ll be happier with the results.
Buddy Grizzard
April 29th, 2012
11:49 am
“DRose just came back too soon from his injury and was over played by his coach and trainers.”
Thibs may be CoY but leaving Rose in a decided game was the dumbest coaching move of the year.
DawgNole
April 29th, 2012
11:54 am
KevinM
April 29th, 2012
8:07 am
DawgNote, how about the ‘07-08 team in the ‘08 playoffs?
Is that better?
______________________
I assumed you were referencing the 7-game Hawks-Celtics playoff series in ‘08. I questioned it only because you said ‘07.
Buddy Grizzard
April 29th, 2012
11:55 am
KevinM, how am I trying to twist the nimbers? Rebound rate is the percentage of rebounds that are available when a player is on the floor that the player goes and gets. When Marvin is on the floor, he’s one of the 10 best rebounding small forwards in the NBA. Among small forwards in the playoffs, he’s top 6.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 29th, 2012
11:56 am
Miami’s first 2 rounds will be far easier than Chicago’s. They will sweep that wack Knicks team. Curious how they’d do of Indy advances.
Lol @ updates on Lin injury. There will be no rd 2 for NYK. don’t risk bringing him back early
DawgNole
April 29th, 2012
11:59 am
KevinM
April 29th, 2012
8:10 am
Is this a 2-3-2 series or is this 2-2-1-1-1?
Sounds like the latter, but i dont expect the Hawks to win any games in Boston?
______________________
It’s the latter. Hawks will have a tough row to hoe in Boston, with their fans, the refs, etc.
DawgNole
April 29th, 2012
12:01 pm
KevinM
April 29th, 2012
8:25 am
. . . history shows we have nothing on our side. This team has been together for how long and now they’re in their prime? As much as i want to offer that we have the capability. that capability somehow seems to go away when:
1) we play teams over .500
2) when we are on national TV
There’s a reason there is so much skepticism by the media; its because the Hawks always back it up.
_______________________
My sentiments exactly.
DawgNole
April 29th, 2012
12:08 pm
KevinM
April 29th, 2012
8:58 am
Spud, Barkley at 26 was way beyond Josh. He was on the Dream Team! Come on, now.
Barkley averaged 25/11 at age 26….Josh is good, Barkley was great in comparison.
_________________
Barkley was a remarkable player and a rebounding animal–especially considering his bulk (252) and relative lack of height (6′6″). He averaged 22 and 12 over his pro career.
Spud’s memory is suspect at best.
DawgNole
April 29th, 2012
12:18 pm
TeamRondo
April 29th, 2012
9:59 am
Did it ever occur to any of you or your team’s coach that the Celtics are old and injured(Rondo back, Pierce toe, Ray Allen ankle)? Of course they’re going to rest their starters. Home court is overrated too.
__________________________
Homecourt might be overrated, but the numbers alone–particularly in the Hawks’ case–tell you all you need to know about how important it was for ATL to earn HC advantage.
Whether they’ll be able to do something with it is against the Celts another story.
Vino
April 29th, 2012
12:19 pm
Teague, Joe, Josh, Ivan, Collins
Pargo, Green, Tmac, Marvin, Dampier
would sweep Celtics
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
you tottaly right we will have advantages evrywhere
sit hinrich or play him sparingly like we did teahue last year in the first round
Vino
April 29th, 2012
12:20 pm
TEAGUE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shamrock
April 29th, 2012
12:22 pm
Josh Smith is feeling good after sleeping in his lucky Celtics jersey last night.
Shamrock
April 29th, 2012
12:31 pm
Joe Johnson has to leave early for the arena because he has to first stop at Dunkin’ Donuts to pick up coffee and donuts for Paul Pierce.
Buddy Grizzard
April 29th, 2012
12:33 pm
You seen him wear his Celtic green headband Shamrock?
Shamrock
April 29th, 2012
12:34 pm
I heard that Rondo is getting sick of Jeff Teague begging him for his autograph.
soullrenaissance
April 29th, 2012
12:36 pm
Nothing can stop us!
http://youtu.be/mfXYyCJYY40
check out Doc River’s Stevie or Ray Charles impression at 3:53.
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 29th, 2012
12:51 pm
How far can we really go without any centers? I wish we had more medical information regarding Zaza’s foot.
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 29th, 2012
12:53 pm
Shamrock
Good Afternoon buddy, but do you have anything insightful to say about the serie? You sound like a child on here, do the Celtics have a blog for you to go play on?
Shamrock
April 29th, 2012
12:54 pm
ESPN just ran an interview with Paul Pierce, I heard the let Josh Smith operate the camera for it.
Vino
April 29th, 2012
12:54 pm
Hey BIG DOG Chill out wit that RISE UP STUFF NO AFFLIATION WIT DA FALCONS
Vino
April 29th, 2012
12:57 pm
you didnt over hear rondo tell rose ill see you in the second round…. we all know what happen
Shamrock
April 29th, 2012
1:12 pm
drmaryb.(*_*) , I obviously have no insight into this game, I actually give the Hawks some chance at winning this series, unlike all the professional analyst, they are discussing the Celtics chances against the depleted Bulls, without mention of the Hawks.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
April 29th, 2012
1:16 pm
Time to shut these Boston fans up. After we beat them Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen can retire.
BIG IVAN FOR PRESIDENT
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
April 29th, 2012
1:20 pm
Celtics fans like to come on our blog just like Celtics fans like to move to our city. Get your own sh**.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
April 29th, 2012
1:24 pm
Big Ivan ain’t gonna let Rondo drive to the basket. If Rondo comes into the lane he’s gonna get put flat on his back.
BIG IVAN FOR PRESIDENT
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 29th, 2012
1:28 pm
Spurs Reoccur!
_____________
“Allen needs postseason ankle surgery
Link|Comments (1)Posted by Gary Washburn Globe StaffApril 28, 2012 08:11 PM
By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff
WALTHAM — Ray Allen revealed Saturday that he will need offseason surgery to remove bone spurs from his right ankle, the same procedure he underwent in 2007 on both ankles just months before joining the Celtics.
Allen missed the last nine games of the regular season and is questionable for Sunday’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks. He said he underwent a cortisone shot Thursday but it is only delaying the inevitable.
“I know it’s weak but I still have pain in it,” he said. “It feels better. If I could I would get surgery tomorrow. If it was the beginning of the season, I would have surgery. It’s just inevitable talking to a couple of different doctors.” -Ray Allen-
_______
DawgyNole, this is what you and I were discussing earlier this week. Treating symptoms with surgery does not address the root causes. Therefore, the symptoms always reappear. From this article here, Ray Allen had this same surgery on both ankles in 2007 when, he joined the C’s.
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 29th, 2012
1:40 pm
Looking Ahead!
“drmaryb.(*_*) , I obviously have no insight into this game, I actually give the Hawks some chance at winning this series, unlike all the professional analyst, they are discussing the Celtics chances against the depleted Bulls, without mention of the Hawks.” -shamrock-
_________
Shamrock, ha ha …you are a funny kid. You are right about the celtic’s fans looking ahead. I just visited several blogs and on the SBNation Blog, they are all picking their western conference opponent. One guy said he hopes to play the Spurs for a title.
What about the C’s getting out of the east and, beyond the Bulls and Heat? The Bulls should not be totally overlooked because there is no Rose.
But, Shamrock, beginning today the C’s have to first get past an evenly matched Hawks roster. When we get Zaza back, it’s on! Just look at the record.
The hawks and Celtics are the #4 and #5 team. The seedings don’t tell the whole story because we have HCA. The C’s road record is 13 – 18 and The Hawks are 17 – 16. Barkley said this his first year on TNT, “The good teams win overwhelmingly at home and .500 on the road.” The C’s have not done that this year. The Hawks have, injuries notwithstanding.
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 29th, 2012
1:42 pm
Another Missed Opportunity!
Sund should have gotten Boris Diaw for the SF spot when he had the chance at the trade deadline.
A bigger missed opportunity was not getting Kaman, when the whole world knew Horford was gone for the year.
CamiloAtlanta
April 29th, 2012
1:49 pm
We’ve lost all six playoff series to Boston. Something’s gotta give. This year, our time to shine. Go Hawks. Bye Celtics, too old now. Sorry dreamers who think otherwise.
Michael Cunningham
April 29th, 2012
1:50 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.
Game 1: Sifting through the Issues. | Boston Celtics
April 30th, 2012
12:55 am
[...] The Celtics came out flat, and the Hawks were clearly energized by their home crowd. In addition, the fact that the Celtics were so intentionally apathetic about home court (sending the JV squad to Atlanta last Friday despite only being one game behind the Hawks in the standings) cannot have played well in the Hawks’ locker room and probably only added fuel to the “nobody believes in us” fire. Jannero Pargo confirmed that this weekend. [...]
Game 1: Sifting Through The Issues | Boston Celtics
April 30th, 2012
1:10 am
[...] The Celtics came out flat, and the Hawks were clearly energized by their home crowd. In addition, the fact that the Celtics were so intentionally apathetic about home court (sending the JV squad to Atlanta last Friday despite only being one game behind the Hawks in the standings) cannot have played well in the Hawks’ locker room and probably only added fuel to the “nobody believes in us” fire. Jannero Pargo confirmed that this weekend. [...]