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
BIG DOG
May 6th, 2012
10:03 pm
Me and pointgurdslim have said all year if you move Josh to SF and go with the big lineup you become a bigger team on defense, plus having and advantage at SF no body can guard Josh in the post at SF.
LD IS JUST CLUELESS.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
O'brien
May 6th, 2012
10:05 pm
Northcyde,
When JJ gets doubled, the right basketball play is to find the open man..
And he does. The problem is there is not much time left on the clock because he pounded it too long. He needs to go quicker (shooting or passing).
Going forward, can JJ and Josh co-exist with josh as the #1 option? I’m not so sure.
Rod from College Park
May 6th, 2012
10:06 pm
You Big Dummy,
“They held the Heat to 72 in early April with all of their big 3 playing. Do we have more talent than the Heat?”
Key phrase EARLY APRIL. This is EARLY MAY. It’s called the PLAYOFFS. End of the regular season and playoffs are two different things.
Robbie
May 6th, 2012
10:08 pm
And yall are in here arguing semantics about a team WITH NO HEART.
DID YOU SEE THEM GET TOTALLY EMBARRASSED OUT THERE?
Idiots.
northcyde
May 6th, 2012
10:09 pm
So 8 teams all time have come back from down 3 – 1. The ONLY good thing about being down 3 – 1, is that we have 2 games at home. Had it been the reverse, there’s no shot of us pulling this off.
The only 2 I vividly remember, were the 2006 Suns, who came back on Kobe and the Lakers . . and the Rockets in either 1994 or 95, who did it against the Suns. The infamous Kiss of Death
Slimjr
May 6th, 2012
10:11 pm
doc
May 6th, 2012
6:50 pm
just barely dn …..
“Two sources close to the hiring process have confirmed to FanHouse’s Sam Amick that Drew will in fact become the Hawks’ next head coach, and that his contract will be for two guaranteed years between $1.2 and $1.3 million per year. That will make Drew the lowest paid coach in the league, supplanting Sacramento’s Paul Westphal ($1.5 million per year next season).”
“sadly, the bottom of the list maybe still. anyone wanting a new coach i.e. nate mcmillan, ld is gettimg the most out of their dollars spent per win than any other coach in the league.”
Well congrats Hawks fans: THE STREAK WILL CONTINUE FOR YEARS TO COME!
13-24
45
2058
Don
May 6th, 2012
10:11 pm
Joe “Choke” Johnson still has it all going. Great game Choke. I speak for all of Atlanta thank-you not only for this game, but for everything. I want expecially recoginze the wonderful efforts made by Hawks management to totally hose up the Hawks with respect to Cap Space with what has been consistently been voted the worst contract in NBA history.
Rusty
May 6th, 2012
10:12 pm
Nortcyde brighten up JJ’s 4-8 was better than his 8-28 the last game
Rod from College Park
May 6th, 2012
10:13 pm
Wow. Javale McGee does not look like the dummy so many of you thought he was. I wonder why?
Slimjr
May 6th, 2012
10:13 pm
Read my LIPS: NO SHOT!
CELTS IN 1! Yawn….Might as well start All Whatever and lose by 25…
BIG DOG
May 6th, 2012
10:13 pm
BIG LINE UP IS A MUST IF THE HAWKS ARE GOING COMEBACK
http://youtu.be/Y3yKwuzR4fU
bigdave
May 6th, 2012
10:14 pm
But in all honesty his game does not call for the the number of shots I used to suggest. Mostly because they aren’t coming from agressive moves or catch and shoot situations. Joe simply has to stop it with the excessive ball handling and especially against defenders of equal size. He no longer possessthe ability to get by his defender, and I don’t think that’s his objective anyway in most cases due to his inability to finish at the rim.
As a joe fan what bothers me most about our situation going forward is bang for your buck. As his abilities decline, and role reduces I can no longer use the lead by example argument. This guy won’t even become that veteran voice, I just don’t see it. So you basically have a non factor spot up shooter making 19 plus, and being content with it.
BIG DOG
May 6th, 2012
10:16 pm
Teague, Joe, Josh, Horford, Collins.
Big lineup is must in game 5.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Slimjr
May 6th, 2012
10:16 pm
13-24= P_A_T_H_E_T_I_C!
Yea, 1st rd exit has been earned..Nice job the “THE STOOGES”..You already know who you are…
Rod from College Park
May 6th, 2012
10:16 pm
Great game 120 million dollar man. The playoffs. Where stars are made. LOL
Clarification
May 6th, 2012
10:17 pm
“Key phrase EARLY APRIL. This is EARLY MAY. It’s called the PLAYOFFS. End of the regular season and playoffs are two different things.”
Yes, and scoring is down in the playoffs for the entire league. Not just us.
northcyde
May 6th, 2012
10:20 pm
Rusty . . he was 11 – 28 . . and I’ll take that type of game over JJ’s 4 – 8 any day of the week.
@ O’Brien . . . people clown Charles Barlkey, but he pretty much predicted this 2 years ago. The Hawks simply have to make a decision on who they want to roll with. JJ or Josh.
Both can play with each other, but the problem is that Josh takes the same types of shots that JJ takes. If Josh is going to be mainly a mid-range jumpshooter that posts up, we may as well move him to SF and get a Reggie Evans type PF to rebound the ball when he misses the shot.
It’s like I was saying before Friday’s game though. Josh is a great talent, but his cons sometimes are major ones. The mid-range shooting and the risky passes being 2 of them that can kill the Hawks. When those things are minor issues, he and the Hawks are very good.
Most of the fan base would rather choose Smith over JJ, and that’s cool. But if that’s the case, we better assemble a team around him that can overcome some of his flaws.
And if he doesn’t let Teague run the team, we’re not going to improve anyway.
Everybody knows that Josh is the great talent and loose cannon on this team ( at the same damn time . . as Future would say ).
Hawks v Celtics
May 6th, 2012
10:21 pm
“Celtics blast Hawks”
lol man the Hawks are pathetic in the playoffs this year.
BIG DOG
May 6th, 2012
10:23 pm
http://youtu.be/tuklWpNBhE0
Smith GUARDING Pierce
LD NEED WAKE HIS A$$ UP
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Slimjr
May 6th, 2012
10:25 pm
Here comes the excuses.. For some they are experts..45 years to hone that skill set makes some an honorary DR of the bullch$t.. Add the three Stooges and you have a picture of long human nails scratching a black board or [ green board]…Just repulsive…….
Abandon ship! It’s 1912 all over again…
“THE SHIP BE SINKIN” -Michael Ray Richardson[ New York Knick two guard]-
hawkfan
May 6th, 2012
10:27 pm
well horford wasn’t the reason we lost today, without him we still get blown out, so it’s better for him to get actual gametime minutes so he will be more productive the next game, celtics were just on fire and to be honest even when we lose this series at least I know this is the last season for the celtics big 3, so from here on out the hawks can just take their place if they want to, nothing to feel sad or mad about
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 6th, 2012
10:29 pm
Celtics can go and talk as much ish as they want in the media right now (if they so like) and we won’t respond or do anything. No fines, no technical fouls.
We’re quietly going into our grave as we speak
Fan of T.S.
May 6th, 2012
10:29 pm
Its easy to shoot a high percentage when you got Al protecting the rim. I would have rather gave that time to Ivan than Al. Ivan is a better player than Al
Give me a break.
Slimjr
May 6th, 2012
10:34 pm
All Whatever had the defensive presence of camel _____. Fill in the blank @ your convenience…
Hey Joe, say it aint so?????????????????????????
Rod from College Park
May 6th, 2012
10:35 pm
“Rod,
Aren’t you the one who always says the playoff is a different animal? And you are right. Denver averaged 104 ppg in the regular season. but in games 1 and 2 against the Lakers, they averaged 94 ppg. In game 3, they scored 99.
But you keep harping on the Hawks should be able to score their season average against Boston, who is top 3 in defense. Let it go.”
Never said they need to score their season average. You can’t go from 96ppg to 81ppg. That’s a 15 ppg difference. Either way it goes I was correct because I also told you that this team was not built for the postseason and most on the blog disagreed. We are not built for the playoffs because we cant score. We allowed 93 ppg during the regular season, and Boston is averaging 88 ppg, even after tonights game. Defense has been better than it was in the regular season, and offense has been much worse. I wonder why?
Slimjr
May 6th, 2012
10:37 pm
IN this corner we have Larry Leisure and in that corner they have the doc!
enough said
Rod from College Park
May 6th, 2012
10:38 pm
You Big Dummy,
“Yes, and scoring is down in the playoffs for the entire league. Not just us.”
Not by 15 ppg. Please name another team whose ppg is that drastic.
coacht
May 6th, 2012
10:39 pm
Anybody going to the next game?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 6th, 2012
10:40 pm
Pierce has destroyed us since game 1. Dude could have dropped 50 tonight
flightman
May 6th, 2012
10:40 pm
We need Doc Rivers as the Hawks coach. He could beat the Celts with Hawks players.
On the other hand, this team needs major restructuring. This team just doesn’t play with any unity\chemistry. Just watch the Grizzlies, no real Super Stars but they play together.
Rusty
May 6th, 2012
10:41 pm
I’m sure JJ is very happy with his 19m when he’s not worth 6m. He is really crap.
Rusty
May 6th, 2012
10:41 pm
I’m sure JJ is very happy with his 19m when he’s not worth 6m. He is really crap.
HilariousOo
May 6th, 2012
10:42 pm
Enter your comments here
Slimjr
May 6th, 2012
10:42 pm
“Anybody going to the next game?” Why?
I’d rather be balling at the local gym showing the Locals how a real midrange jay looks against 6-8 stiffs…lol
Rusty
May 6th, 2012
10:42 pm
Can we stand another year of LD being the coach?
LL
May 6th, 2012
10:44 pm
Hawks need to get blown up. It only goes downhill from here with our pathetic ownership, front office, and coaching. We are paying Joe Johnson a max contract? We traded 2 first round picks for Kirk Hinrich? The ownership group is pathetic. Do they think the fan base is going to get excited for repeated first- or second-round playoff exits? I’d rather sell off our valuable parts, and look to 4-5 years from now to put together a solid young team and make a real run. It can be done, and quickly, if we can get management who knows what they’re doing. Just look at OKC. But we have plodded along with Joe Johnson and Josh Smith for 6 years!
PATHETIC. I won’t spend another dime on the Hawks until this crap changes.
Robbie
May 6th, 2012
10:44 pm
“Its easy to shoot a high percentage when you got Al protecting the rim. I would have rather gave that time to Ivan than Al. Ivan is a better player than Al”
Get off the drugs. Your boy Josh had SIX TURNOVERS in this game. Guess what blew the game open? EARLY TURNOVERS.
Yall suck him off because he’s from Atlanta but the boy is TRASH and KILLING the hawks with all his whining and dribbling.
Slimjr
May 6th, 2012
10:44 pm
Looks like we get two more years of Larry Leisure, if doc sources are correct? sigh….
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 6th, 2012
10:45 pm
At least 20 minutes of the 2nd half were garbage minutes and we didn’t even score 80 points. This is 2 nights after we went to OT and scored 84.
Boston was making EVERYTHING- contested and uncontested
BIG DOG
May 6th, 2012
10:45 pm
http://youtu.be/cvyD9sABGCY
Pierce is happy when Hawks play smallish lineup.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Jesse
May 6th, 2012
10:45 pm
JJ earned his massive salary tonight……
Oh well
May 6th, 2012
10:45 pm
Good thins Atlanta spirit are basketball guys and not hockey guys. This is where they know what they are doing. SELL the team, move from the city(leave hawks here even though you caused thrash to be moved) and go back under a rock..
Bruce
May 6th, 2012
10:45 pm
Maybe we can stop having to hear the Atl Spirit Group or whatever they call themselves now stop crowing about the Hawks being only one of 3 teams to make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs the past 3 yrs. No support will be given by me to anything owned or controlled by the ASG.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 6th, 2012
10:46 pm
Slimjr,
What’d you see about LD?
Hope that guy goes back to west coast and leaves this city already
Reality
May 6th, 2012
10:46 pm
NO MORE BLACK COACHES. DONE.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 6th, 2012
10:47 pm
Get off the drugs. Your boy Josh had SIX TURNOVERS in this game. Guess what blew the game open? EARLY TURNOVERS.
Yall suck him off because he’s from Atlanta but the boy is TRASH and KILLING the hawks with all his whining and dribbling.
***
he was pretty out of control
Kudzu Wildcat
May 6th, 2012
10:47 pm
Another WASTED SEASON for the Hawks. “Turn out the lights, the party is OVER”.
Rusty
May 6th, 2012
10:48 pm
I wonder if Stupid Larry gave hugs to Ivan & TMac after the game.I sure KH & MW kissed his butt after the game.
bigdave
May 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
I don’t think the turnovers are that big of an issue with Josh. If you are assigned a playmaking role, you will turn the rock over. I think cp3 leads the playoffs in turns. You have to take the good with the bad with Josh, and I’m willing to take potential superstar like stat lines. A lot of Josh turns come with him seeing the game differently and being ahead of the play while others aren’t. Bad offense is bad offense whether turns or too much ball handling.
AP ticker
May 6th, 2012
10:53 pm
Al houdini… 12 pts 5 rbs no blks hawks lose boston dominated the paint early, hawks fall behind by 13 pts while Al played and JJ and Josh on the bench early poor coaching and he team chemistry issue resurfaced with Al’s return to the line up….
Why am I not surprised. ?
This is a better team without Al