Atlanta Hawks at Celtics Game 4: Game thread
Boston–Josh Smith is testing his left knee pregame but said he will play tonight after no setbacks during this morning’s shootaround. He plans to wear a brace during the game. “When the adrenalin kicks in I probably won’t feel it,” he said. “I’ve just got to go out there and not even think about it. Play hard, play the way I’m capable of playing and not worry about re-injuring it.”
- Josh said if the Hawks were up 2-1 instead of down “I would probably be more cautious with the decision. But this is a must-win game for us tonight.”
- Larry Drew on Smith’s movement at shootaround: “Once he loosened up he looked pretty good.”
- Tracy McGrady (ankle) said he’s fine: “I feel great. I’m not worried about it.”
- Al Horford (pectoral) warmed up before the game and decided he feels good enough to be put on the active list. The Hawks say he’s a game-time decision.
- Drew said he would monitor Josh and T-Mac’s minutes: “I will certainly try to keep an eye on their minutes and we will use them accordingly depending on what the matchups are. If we get into a situation where we have to play one or two gys extra minutes, then so be it. We are in the fourth game of the playoffs and we want to put our best foot forward and play as well as we can and put ourselves in position to win.”
- Drew on playing without Josh: “Without him, we lose a big part of what we’ve been. He’s a guy that, now, down in the low block he commands double teams. He plays out of double teams really well, he’s an extremely good passer, he gives us stability defensively. We just miss his leadership out on the court.”
- Jeff Teague has been the most efficient shooter for the Hawks in this series, (non-Erick Dampier category) but he’s fourth in usage percentage. Teague’s 16.5 points per 36 minutes are second to Josh Smith (17.1).
- Drew wants Teague to be more aggressive offensively late in games even if his number isn’t called. Teague’s chances in the halfcourt still will have to come by playing off of Joe and Josh. Drew said Teague is the No. 2 option in those situations when Josh is not on the court; with Josh in the lineup tonight, Teague presumably slides back down to third in the pecking order.
- “When we get into that stretch run, particularly not having Josh, obviously we are gong to go through Joe a lot and I know they are going to keep a couple guys around him at all time with double teams and making sure he can’t get away,” Drew said. “But when Joe does give that basketball up, and that ball is swung out to Jeff, we need him to be in aggressive mode. You can’t be passive at that point because the shot clock is winding down and he is probably the only one on the floor that has that break-the-defense-down type speed. We just need him to be aggressive and be smart with his decisions.”
- Drew on Teague playing off Joe and Josh: “He’s growing. You can definitely see where he’s starting to understand how to play off those guys and how to get those guys involved. He’s not going to be perfect at it because he’s a scoring point guard. But he has gotten so much better in that area. The one thing is I want him to continue to be himself and stay aggressive and staying in that attack mode and just allow his natural instincts to come out.”
- Avery Bradley (shoulder) is a go for the Celtics.
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870 comments Add your comment
smh
May 6th, 2012
8:42 pm
7 shots for joe johnson and 9 points smh if you see him in public please cuss his ass out
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 6th, 2012
8:42 pm
Doubt wewould even beat PHI in a series.
LD will be back next year. Sund if he wants,
ASG,
PLEASE sell the team
tyger
May 6th, 2012
8:43 pm
Who gave Teague the green light???
Tired Tired Tired
May 6th, 2012
8:43 pm
I have watched this sorry excuse for a basketball whatever(not a team) for thirty seven years. I am Tired of watching millionaire pretend to be players collect a check and do absolutely NOTHING. Lousy players, Lousy coaching, Lousy management, Lousy ownership about sums it up. Get out of town LOSERS. Don’t let the million dollar door hit you in your sorry a$$ on the way out of town. Go embarass some other city LOSERS. Tired Tired Tired
TMACfan
May 6th, 2012
8:43 pm
BLOW UP THE CORE, BUILD AROUND JOSH
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 6th, 2012
8:43 pm
Now the Celtics go cold
Big Lou
May 6th, 2012
8:43 pm
I know this is a blowout, but the refs rigged this game big time. They’re still calling bs sh!t.
WHOCARES
May 6th, 2012
8:43 pm
How bout these “Low” flying Hawks! And they wonder why no one gives a $hit about them!
northcyde
May 6th, 2012
8:43 pm
smh @ JJ with the Kobe fadeaway. Too late for that.
Should’ve been taking those type of shots, instead of making the “right play” and passing to wide open teammates
RA
May 6th, 2012
8:43 pm
I’m sorry, I’m with Justin, the Celtics are hitting everything that they’ve put up, and Pierce could have bounced a ball off his backside from three point range and hit it tonight. I’m sorry, but the 1988 Lakers wouldn’t have won this game.
Meebo Bar
May 6th, 2012
8:43 pm
Click on me below! Add your comments to FaceBook and Twitter!
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 6th, 2012
8:44 pm
LD will blame this loss on lack of energy and call out Jeff Teague
phil
May 6th, 2012
8:44 pm
Justin…..
Where stupid is as stupid says…..
We’re down 3-1 now, you moron.
CamiloAtlanta
May 6th, 2012
8:44 pm
Can you imagine a Doc Rivers-coached team bring down almost 40 in a must win game? No, never!! Why? Cause he isn’t a blue-light special like we have. The Hawks will always be lousy until they get a real owner that cares about winning, not just black and red ink.
tyger
May 6th, 2012
8:44 pm
Braves sweep Rockies 7-2….
Freeman-Uggla HRs…
WHOCARES
May 6th, 2012
8:44 pm
Ref’s don’t have a team down by 35!
justin
May 6th, 2012
8:44 pm
The Hawks are a very good defensive team. All evidence points to that. The Celtics struggle to get 80 points against us. We gifted them early turnovers and then they had an unbelievable jump-shooting night. This is an aberration, and the odds are the Celtics will be much more human the next game.
5150 UOAD
May 6th, 2012
8:44 pm
The REAL HAWKS are playing tonight.
Meebo Bar
May 6th, 2012
8:44 pm
Big Lou
May 6th, 2012
8:43 pm
I know this is a blowout, but the refs rigged this game big time. They’re still calling bs sh!t.
______________________________________________________________________
It is always the Refs…Blame the Refs….
Luke Cage
May 6th, 2012
8:45 pm
Unless there is a draft day trade this team will basically stay intact.
Big Lou
May 6th, 2012
8:45 pm
Maybe if Authur Blank buys the team, the Hawks can get some real superstars.
phil
May 6th, 2012
8:45 pm
At least LD will finally be fired…
I’m tired of begging.
He couldn’t coach our cats to use a litter box.
northcyde
May 6th, 2012
8:45 pm
Turnovers:
ATLANTA: 14
BOSTON: 6
Field Goal %
ATLANTA: 44%
BOSTON: 64%
justin
May 6th, 2012
8:45 pm
Now on the offensive side of things, the Hawks can’t be so sloppy with the ball. That’s what has killed their offense. And Al Horford’s return is a good thing. Anybody who blames this game on Al is delusional.
RA
May 6th, 2012
8:45 pm
I’d like to say that I’m surprised at the lack of class shown by Celtics fans and the lack of loyalty on the part of…Hawks fan, but now, this is about right.
LakeDawg
May 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
Drew is mediocre, but he’s still better than Woodson. Doesn’t really matter who is the coach with this bunch. It has to be blown up and start all over. Smooove is fool’s gold. A lot of talent, but selfish. More interested in his numbers than progressing to the next level. JJ is a good 2 guard, but not a leader. Marvin is the biggest bust in NBA history. He should be in the CBA. I like Horford. Get him away from these losers and get him a coach and he will shine.
kevkat
May 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
Well today is not a total loss. I did see some real professional athletes from Atlanta play today and win. On to Chicago for the Bravos.
Larry
May 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
And do I need to pull up my blog where BEFORE the series started I said the Celtics in 6?
Specifically, I said the Celtics would come into game 5 with a 3-1 lead and the Hawks will win a desperation game 5 followed by a Cetic clinch in game 6 at home.
This team and its coach are an absolute joke around a joke of a league that lets 16 of 30 teams in the playoffs.
northcyde
May 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
Keep grinding Josh.
phil
May 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
Since Doc once was a Hawk, astounding he was able to overcome it.
Same ole Hawks.
May 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
May 6th, 2012
8:40 pm
If a Hawk starter gets injured in this second half, LD should be fired. WHY ARE THEY STILL IN THE GAME WHO CARES YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN EMBARRASSED REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME YOU ARE NOT COMING BACK PLAY THE SCRUBS AND STAY HEALTHY
_____
For what? This series is OVER.
5150 UOAD
May 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
Big Lou…………If HOWARD didn’t want to come to his HomeTown what STARS do you think the HAWKS can EVER GET?
northcyde
May 6th, 2012
8:47 pm
Damn . . turnover #6. Just drive or shoot Josh.
Big Lou
May 6th, 2012
8:47 pm
How many turnovers does Josh have?
Mike D
May 6th, 2012
8:47 pm
AAl Horford is f$$$ing it up for everyone an where is JJ he not doing nathaniel for the hawks! T Mac still not in the game!
bbfan
May 6th, 2012
8:47 pm
I wonder what the national tv rating right about now ??
Robbie
May 6th, 2012
8:47 pm
Al and Pargo have been the only ones playing hard.
HERE COME THE WHINERS FOR JUMPSHOT JOSH AND HIS MIGHTY TURNOVERS!
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 6th, 2012
8:47 pm
Is there a worse coach than LD when it comes to rotations and giving guys minutes?
phil
May 6th, 2012
8:48 pm
Sure.
Arthur Blanks’ boys are just as bad in crunch time, if not worse.
TMACfan
May 6th, 2012
8:48 pm
TMAC still can’t get out of the first round… DANG
Same ole Hawks.
May 6th, 2012
8:48 pm
The Hawks blew the series in Game 2.
northcyde
May 6th, 2012
8:48 pm
Teague looked like Spud Webb right there on that assist to Josh.
Big Lou
May 6th, 2012
8:48 pm
“Big Lou…………If HOWARD didn’t want to come to his HomeTown what STARS do you think the HAWKS can EVER GET?”
He doesn’t want to come here because of horrible ownership. If Blank buys the Hawks, then people will want to play here. Trust me.
northcyde
May 6th, 2012
8:49 pm
There you go #1 option . . . carry the team.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 6th, 2012
8:49 pm
Put in the whole bench and see who looks like he wants to be in game 5 the most
phil
May 6th, 2012
8:49 pm
Idiot Josh…
WHOCARES
May 6th, 2012
8:49 pm
Oh Wow! Dominique says the Hawks have it down to 29! You homer! They suck!
phil
May 6th, 2012
8:50 pm
Fire everyone!!!
RA
May 6th, 2012
8:50 pm
Nothing’s over, not yet. Hawks need to run them for the rest of this game, and run them, and run them some more. Unless they’ve found the fountain of youth, they can’t keep this pace up.
Tank
May 6th, 2012
8:50 pm
Hawks blew the series in winnable games in game 2 and 3