Celtics at Atlanta Hawks Game 1: Game thread
- Zaza Pachulia (foot) is out. Doc Rivers said Ray Allen (ankle) is out for the Celtics.
- Zaza says his recovery has been “slow motion” and he’s uncertain if or when he will be able to play during the series: “I don’t have an answer about that. I really don’t. It would make it easier for you guys, me, the coaching staff and the team but I don’t have an answer.”
- More Zaza: “It doesn’t matter if me and Al [Horford] are going to be out for the series, we are still a good team. We are going to confident. We are going to fight.”
- Larry Drew is sticking with Jason Collins at center: “The lineup has been good for us, first of all. It hasn’t been a situation where it hasn’t worked out for us. Even with those first two losses against Boston, lineup-wise, it has been good for us. At this stage [I] don’t really want to rock the boat with that. It’s been good for us. I want to stay with it through the course of the series. If things call for change, we certainly will evaluate that and make a decision on that. But for right now that’s what we will go with.”
- The Hawks were +9 in 34-plus minutes with this lineup during the regular season, according to BasketballValue. They were pretty much worse across the board statistically with Collins on the floor vs. Boston.
- Drew: “Playing against a guy that’s more mobile whether we match him up against [Brandon] Bass or [Kevin] Garnett, that will be a challenge for him. But Jason is a very smart basketball player, particularly defensively. He knows how to play people, from a big guy who is more stationary in the post to a guy who moves around a little bit. He has shown he has the ability to adapt either way. We are counting on his his smarts and his know-how to defend people.”
- Joe Johnson on the Hawks frontline without Horford and Pachulia: “We are down a few bigs so that means us guards and forwards, our play has to get a little nastier.”
- Ivan Johnson on the Celtics: “I am pretty sure they are going to try me but we played them already so I know what to expect.”
- Ivan on the previous meetings with the Celtics: “KG tried me. [Keyon] Dooling, he tried me.” What did KG have to say? “Just regular KG. Talking [bleep].”
- Ivan: “I know what to expect from them so I’m just going to keep a level head and play my game.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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799 comments Add your comment
High-sider
April 29th, 2012
10:24 pm
Rondo on NBA TV lying with a straight face. Damn, he’s a good liar! [LOL]
Rev in Tampa
April 29th, 2012
10:25 pm
WOW. Rondo saying he tripped and it was accidental. He is a hothead and a liar. If he accidentally bumped the ref then he should have turned around and apologized. STAND BY YOUR ACTIONS. BE ACCOUNTABLE.
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
10:25 pm
RA
April 29th, 2012
10:21 pm
Boston did what great teams do, they made runs. Atlanta did what winners do, they beat them back, again and again. Contrary to what will be said in the media, Boston didn’t lose the game, Atlanta won it.
****************
I agree. The Hawks definitely won this game tonight. And these are the type of games that they must continue to win in the playoffs. Most of the teams now are good defensive teams, so 100 point scoring games aren’t going to come on a regular basis. Gotta win those 80 point grind it out type games.
phil
April 29th, 2012
10:25 pm
Horford and Za Za are hardly the equivalent of Ray Allen and Rondo…
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
10:26 pm
Yes, NBA TV is a 24 hour channel..Its part of the digital sports package on Comcast..I watch it in HD on Channel 882.FYI, Hawks are in HD on 884…
NBA TV thinks Rondo is gone for game two….
Rev in Tampa
April 29th, 2012
10:27 pm
NBATV calling Rondo out for trying to say it was accidental. Good for them.
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
10:28 pm
2 games for the repeat offender!
Stick a fork in them..Up next DA BULLS!
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
10:28 pm
If Rondo said that, then that’s that. No suspension.
It’s crazy that you accidently trip and don;t try to brace your fall, other than by sticking out your chest.
The league doesn’t have the guts to suspend Rondo. They’ll probably show the ref the play, and the ref will say “oh . . he tripped into me? OK. Don’t suspend him then.”
Not only will he not be suspended, the league will take back one of the technicals that he received.
DawgNole
April 29th, 2012
10:29 pm
atlchris77
April 29th, 2012
10:18 pm
Where can you get NBATV? IS IT A CHANNEL? Or only online?
_____________________
It’s a channel (”NBA TV”). I know DirecTV has it; maybe Comcast, too. Not sure about the other providers.
phil
April 29th, 2012
10:30 pm
Rondo showed his true colors tonight….
What a sleeze.
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
10:30 pm
Whoever wins game 1 in a 7 game format, wins 80% of the series…
Up next Da Bulls!
atlchris77
April 29th, 2012
10:30 pm
Thx slim
I have tried to get it on charter. No luck.
Big Lou
April 29th, 2012
10:31 pm
It was no accident. Rondo bumped that ref in anger. Saw it with my own eyes. What a liar!
phil
April 29th, 2012
10:32 pm
Next up for Rondo?
The obligatory arrest for some kind of domestic dispute.
That guy is angry.
Bojack
April 29th, 2012
10:32 pm
Rondo is a damn lie..Two games is not enought.Go Hawks!
phil
April 29th, 2012
10:33 pm
Slimjr…..
Whoa, nellie.
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
10:33 pm
10-4 Sir..
DawgNole
April 29th, 2012
10:33 pm
Big Lou
April 29th, 2012
10:23 pm
Fan attendance was embarrassing tonight. I can’t imagine how bad Tuesday will be. Good game by the hawks! Lol @ Rondo
______________________
Hate to hear that. Hopefully tonight’s gritty win will bring ‘em out in better numbers Tuesday night.
Luke Cage
April 29th, 2012
10:34 pm
phil
April 29th, 2012
10:25 pm
Horford and Za Za are hardly the equivalent of Ray Allen and Rondo…
They are important to us…
They have no choice but to suspend him, dude is straight lying on national tv that he tripped, I guess he forgot to mention he flexed his chest and bumped him, I remember when Magic did that a long time ago, he was suspended but he MANNED up before the word came down and said he did it. Rondo just like the cheating patriots have no class.
High-sider
April 29th, 2012
10:34 pm
FYI – I have NBA TV on Channel 632; my cable provider is AT&T U-verse.
atlchris77
April 29th, 2012
10:34 pm
The Hawks are well structured this year. I am so excited to be a fan.
phil
April 29th, 2012
10:34 pm
Rondo deserves 2 games for lying alone.
How stupid does he think we are?
Of course, kenny, shaq and charles agree with him, but then, they have manure for their brains apparently.
Just like Rev in Tampa.
LT
April 29th, 2012
10:34 pm
NBATV (Comcast) = 482
Buddy Grizzard
April 29th, 2012
10:34 pm
“Honestly, if Jason Collins scores 6 points and grabs 5 rebounds, while playing good defense, that;s almost an A game for him.”
A+++ game from Collins. I’m not writing the recap for Hoopinion so I’ll say it here. Collins made me eat crow tonight. drmaryb you have the floor.
“saying that the Hawks “squeaked” out this victory” is innacurate”
Respectfully disagree. Down by 4, if a jump ball is called, the Hawks only have two seconds to get a shot up IF they win the tip. Most likely it’s a shot clock violation and the Celtics have a chance to get it to 2 or 1. Momentum was completely in Boston’s favor. It was looking like major choke time for the Hawks.
Rondo’s inexcusable actions cost the Celtics a real chance to win this game. I don’t care how much the Hawks led by… if they didn’t foul Josh on that play but instead tied him up, very strong possibility the Hawks lose this game. That’s what we call a squeaker.
Luke Cage
April 29th, 2012
10:35 pm
@DawgNole,
didn’t you mean to say “nimbers” lol
Rufus1
April 29th, 2012
10:36 pm
Tortoise vs Hare…
74pts for OLD green
Race 1 … The Hare…
This will get tougher for the Tortoise…. Their locker room is full of DEPENDS and BenGAY
DawgNole
April 29th, 2012
10:36 pm
phil
April 29th, 2012
10:32 pm
Next up for Rondo?
The obligatory arrest for some kind of domestic dispute.
That guy is angry.
______________________
And a liar. Maybe they’ll suspend him a game or two for lying. They should.
DawgNole
April 29th, 2012
10:38 pm
Luke Cage
April 29th, 2012
10:35 pm
@DawgNole,
didn’t you mean to say “nimbers” lol
______________________
Oops. My bad.
Big Lou
April 29th, 2012
10:38 pm
DawgNole
Yeah man, I hope so. I’ll be there cheering again Tuesday night no matter what. At least the Boston fans didn’t have much to cheer about, being down the whole game and all. Anyone know why LD closed with Collins? Lol
Luke Cage
April 29th, 2012
10:39 pm
2 seconds on shot clock, we win tip throw up a shot and hit the rim, now what if we got the offensive rebound, thats not being discussed. In the NBA you never know what can happen.
They lost, We Won, its 1-0 Hawks thus far, time for game 2!!
If rondo plays then it shows what we already know about the NBA, its about favorites & ratings, celts are a bigger draw in the 2nd rd than the Hawks,
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
10:40 pm
Rondo CHOKED!
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
10:41 pm
Hawks win by 30 in game two…No Rondo!
phil
April 29th, 2012
10:41 pm
The Savannah Polecats would be a bigger second round draw than the hawks…
DawgNole
April 29th, 2012
10:42 pm
christopher mehegan
April 29th, 2012
10:17 pm
u guys may have won game 1 but understand this come game 2 your 1-0 will be an even steven 1-1 u bunch of of depends scratching pants pooping referee biyatching fake parque diva floppers the celtics will crush the horfordless hawks right out of the building hahahahah suck on these boston nuts ya atlanta loafer go celtics
________________________
I brought this dork’s comment over from Schultz’s blog to help us all better appreciate what we have here. This guy wrote the book on dumb.
Paradise Lost
April 29th, 2012
10:43 pm
Big Lou, I thought attendance was actually pretty good tonight–by Philips Arena standards anyway. We had fun drowning out the Celts fans in ou section…all two or three times they had something to cheer about.
Tuesday’s game will likely see more fans after tonight’s game. Let’s get this series, Hawks!
Kudos to NBA-TV announcers for calling out Rondo! “Rondo, the leader, has to be the coolest head on the floor.”
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
10:43 pm
Rondo killed their chances..He’s getting dismantled on NBA TV…And rightly so..They called it an inexcusable meltdown….
Up next Da Bulls.
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
10:44 pm
Rev makes a good point. Not only did Rondo NOT try to apologize to the ref for bumping into him, he basically glared at the ref as he was walking away.
No remorse whatsoever from Rondo. Most players would at least run back to the ref to plead his case to stay in the game. Even Ron Artest plead his case after he intentionally elbowed James Harden in the head.
But no remorse from Rondo. NONE.
League won’t suspend him though. He’s “too important”.
Had that been Kenyon Dooling, he’d be gone for maybe 2 games.
phil
April 29th, 2012
10:44 pm
Wow. That Celtic fan needs intensive counseling, along with Rondo…
Luke Cage
April 29th, 2012
10:44 pm
@DawgNole,
I guess little Chrissy’s got anger issues just like rondo lol.
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
10:45 pm
NBA TV is based in ATL. Don’t know who is talking on there. Maybe Gary Payton? If so, Gary always keeps it real.
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
10:47 pm
LOL @ Memphis playing “Whoop That Trick” at the game . . . but we can’t even get any ATL songs played at Philips . . unless it’s on an organ.
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
10:47 pm
Bones and the former Raptors coach tonight! They are giving props like crazy to the Hawks! Good Stuff!
Sly Ty
April 29th, 2012
10:47 pm
@Phil, HawksFan, and Rev…The real discussion here should be the unsportsmans like conduct of Rondo. It was worst than Tiger Woods, and Dennis Rodman like. You can’t touch the Refs. This is a mandatory suspension. He lost his compolsure, therefore he must pay for his crimes like any other INMATE.
Big Lou
April 29th, 2012
10:48 pm
“Big Lou, I thought attendance was actually pretty good tonight–by Philips Arena standards anyway. We had fun drowning out the Celts fans in ou section…all two or three times they had something to cheer about.”
The bottom section should be filled to compactly in a playoff game. I understand the nosebleeds… but jeez. Our section was outnumbered by Celtics fans. I did enjoy the Boston Sucks chant on my way out, though. Lol
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
10:48 pm
LOL @ the Clipper defense. They look shellshocked right now. How do you forget to guard Gasol on a pick and roll, with 2 seconds remaining?
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
10:49 pm
“Collins made Ivan obsolete in the 2nd half by the superior defense he played against KG”!
Wow, that was a statement from Bones on NBA TV..
Larry is on now…
Rufus1
April 29th, 2012
10:50 pm
2 games at Philips for the BIG 4= 74pts
Maybe the Celtics should start their scrubs…Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
doc
April 29th, 2012
10:50 pm
gonna test stern now but the guy has a history even though he got the pass into the all star game. we have seen it before so i expect it again stern funny rules to the rescue.
sorry jj has got to become a money player and score some points in the clutch against the big boys.
josh is the money player here, has been and will be, he just delivers. not perfect but who is? loved how the guy went out there and picked those greens weeds. the clover left with their heads down.
one of twins better games however, he was destroyed by kg. that almost got them back into it until rondo blew a fuse. twin is like a dope addiction for larry.
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
10:53 pm
Bones= Brent Barry, the same guy who won a dunk contest back in the day by repeating what Dr J did by taking off from the free throw line and dunking the ball! He had mad hops!
Who is the former coach of the Raptors? I have to look him up..Those two are doing a great job breaking down game 1 and giving mad props to the Hawks!
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
10:53 pm
“I deserved the first tech,” Rondo said. “I didn’t intentionally chest-bump him, but that’s what it appears to be. It’s out of my control.”
Getting in some immediate lobbying, Celtics coach Doc Rivers saw things a bit differently than the replay showed. Not surprisingly, he doesn’t think Rondo deserves a suspension.
“I’m always worried, but I would be surprised if that happens,” Rivers said. “I thought Rondo was walking toward Marc, and Marc turned back toward him, and that’s when Rondo bumped him. … That’s all it was, in my opinion. But we’ll see.”
********************
LOL @ both of them.
I’ll say this right now. IF Rondo IS suspended, look for Game 2 to be called EXTREMEMLY tight. Either JJ or Josh will get a few phantom foul calls. The refs may even bait Josh into an outburst, prompting them to eject him out of the game.
LOL @ Barkley . . finally admitting that Rondo was lying with his explanation.