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
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
9:04 pm
Hawks have to be shooting around 33% since the 1st quarter. They’re down to 41% FG right now, while Boston is at 38% FG
yodaddybrother
April 29th, 2012
9:05 pm
Ride the horses. Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Jeff Teague….get it done
Mac-Town (478)™
April 29th, 2012
9:05 pm
we’ve been lost on offense for awhile now after Boston started chipping away. We’re just gettin bailed out jump shots.
Buddy Grizzard
April 29th, 2012
9:05 pm
Collins back in he’s already played 21 minutes, double his season average. Last time he came out he looked like he needed smelling salts. Let’s see how he looks in this final appearance with the lead on the line.
CaptCaveman
April 29th, 2012
9:05 pm
just checked the ESPN blog out of curiosity and it might as well be the Celtics Fan Club blog………..LOL they think they are showing their greatness by only being down by 8 points……..
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 29th, 2012
9:05 pm
leave joe on the bench
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
9:05 pm
0 – 7 for three for JJ
TAKE THE BALL INSIDE, OR STEP IN AND TAKE A 20 FOOTER
Walt Frazier
April 29th, 2012
9:05 pm
I don’t understand why Larry gets mad at Ivan, but gives Marvin free range for the 3(brick)?
Melvin
April 29th, 2012
9:05 pm
Has Joe hit a 3 tonight?
Mac-Town (478)™
April 29th, 2012
9:06 pm
keep these guys at arms length
DawgNole
April 29th, 2012
9:06 pm
Joe just locks up at playoff time.
Pargo saved us.
Melvin
April 29th, 2012
9:07 pm
Pargo always take a shot when he see he’s about to be sub… He makes the shot and LD calls Teague back to the bench
DawgNole
April 29th, 2012
9:07 pm
Standing around on offense.
TMac saved us on that one.
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
9:07 pm
Big fumble by the Celtics right there. Glad that McGrady was there for the easy pick up and dunk
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
9:08 pm
NO Melvin. He hasn’t. And he doesn’t need to take another 3 the rest of the game.
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
9:08 pm
0 for FUGGGIN 8
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
9:09 pm
Iso has all but disappeared! You know Pietrus is known as an ISO lock down specialist! sigh…..
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 29th, 2012
9:09 pm
come on joe
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
9:09 pm
Pierce and JJ . . . 7 – 27 FG
coacht
April 29th, 2012
9:09 pm
Love McGrady and Stackhouse will help us in this playoff eventually.
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 29th, 2012
9:10 pm
are you kidding me…
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
9:10 pm
smh . . what a horrible call. Collins was there all day.
coacht
April 29th, 2012
9:10 pm
Collins playing as well as he has all season. Coach D good job…gonna be a tight series.
DawgNole
April 29th, 2012
9:11 pm
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
9:09 pm
Pierce and JJ . . . 7 – 27 FG
____________________
How long can it last?
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
9:11 pm
Iso struggles against similar size and quick defenders..Just the nature of his game…
yodaddybrother
April 29th, 2012
9:11 pm
Come down to crunch time….Hawks about to be up only 6…can we execute???
O'Brien
April 29th, 2012
9:11 pm
JJ might be playing well on D, but 0-8 from 3? Ouch.
And despite Josh’s great overall numbers, he only has 3 pts, 6 rebs this half.
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
9:11 pm
Slimjr . . . JJ is locking his own self down, by settling for 3s. All he has to do is take the 18 – 21 footer that he can make even with people on him, but he’s not even doing that.
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
9:12 pm
JJ 0 – 5 FG in the 2nd half . . . three of those misses have been threes.
STOP SHOOTING THE 3 Jamal Johnson.
rob
April 29th, 2012
9:13 pm
If hawks lose this one, their minds will be shot
Mac-Town (478)™
April 29th, 2012
9:13 pm
not lookin good right……thanks to the early big league, we just have to hope we can hold them off until the click hits 0:00
Walt Frazier
April 29th, 2012
9:13 pm
Ivan was doing the dirty work-getting in the paint for offensive rebounds. So what Larry-if Ivan goes up again, but got blocked. If he hesistated-he may have been called for the 3 sec violation. Don’t regress. You said you had all the confidence in the world in your men. Don’t make yourself out to be a liar.
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
9:14 pm
I sure hope the Hawks can get one or two in Boston?
KevinA
April 29th, 2012
9:14 pm
Collins is dripping saturated fat. Needs a bath in the fryer to reload.
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 29th, 2012
9:14 pm
celtics starting to run some great plays…wish we can d the same…simple screen plays
Walt Frazier
April 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
Teague: this game is in your hands. The Celtics slowed the Hawks momentum and has made this game to be an ugly basketball game. That what the Celts were hoping for-and they got it. The game has slowed down tremendously.
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
6?
Blast
April 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
Dangerous times for the Hawks right here.
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
For all of the clowning we did of the TNT crew, this is the exact situation they were talking about.
What will the Hawks do, if this game got close down the stretch? Well . . we’re here.
And another turnover.
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
BENCH JOE
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
celtics bout to win
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
How is the worst rebounding team getting offensive rebounds?
yodaddybrother
April 29th, 2012
9:16 pm
Joe Johnson….no show Joe???
bigdave
April 29th, 2012
9:16 pm
Damn joe
Hawkfan
April 29th, 2012
9:16 pm
Get Collins out. He’s played well but done now
northcyde
April 29th, 2012
9:16 pm
So Josh had 3 points in the 2nd half . . and JJ has ZERO.
Stars have to step up in the playoffs. So STEP THE (( BLEEP )) UP!!
MattP
April 29th, 2012
9:16 pm
I think Joe has money on Boston.
Walt Frazier
April 29th, 2012
9:16 pm
Larry: I hope you prepared for this; you knew what you were getting against these Celtics. What is your plan B?
Mac-Town (478)™
April 29th, 2012
9:16 pm
another bail out
Slimjr
April 29th, 2012
9:16 pm
5, 21-7 run by the stinking Celts?