Celtics at Atlanta Hawks Game 5: Game thread
7:24 pm May 8, 2012, by Michael Cunningham
- Hawks starters: Jeff Teague, Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith and Al Horford. Zaza Pachulia (foot) is out. All Celtics players are available.
- Larry Drew on why he’s using this lineup: “One, just to give it a different look and see if it will kind of jump start us a little bit. It gives us an opportunity to move Joe back to some two. It makes us bigger so we can do a few more things defensively in making some adjustments in Game 5. And I just think its’ time. After you play four games in the playoffs, obviously it’s a game of adjustment, and you try to do things to benefit your team. It’s time to give us a different look and see if it will jump start us with Al back in the starting lineup, Marvin in the staring lineup, bringing Kirk [Hinrich] off the bench.”
- Drew on Horford’s condition: “Physically he feels fine. I wouldn’t say he’s in tip-top shape but he’s in playing shape. He didn’t experience any discomfort with the pec the other day [Game 4]. There was a play early he went for the ball and it was pulled back. I thought that would be kind of the test with him. He said after the play he was fine and he wasn’t sore after that. That was kind of the test. I know coming back he was waiting for that moment to see if he could withstand a collision or pull-back with the injury.”
- Drew on how he’ll use Horford: “He’ll only play a certain amount of minutes. I could have brought him off the bench but instead of letting his shoulder and chest stiffen up while he’s on the bench elected to throw him out there while he’s warm. We want to get off to a fast start and he certainly brings an energy.”
- Drew on the benefits of the lineup for Joe: “He’s had to defend Paul [Pierce] all four games. I kind of want to give it a different look and see if that can generate more offense out of him. He’s been chasing Paul around for four games and that can put a little wear and tear on you. We’ve decided to give it a look.”
- Drew on pushing the pace with this lineup: “When we are at our best is when [Al] and Josh rebound the ball and bring it out on the dribble. We’ve been missing that with him out of the lineup. It makes us a much better running team when we have all five guys involved in the break.”
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Drew on switching defensively: “Whether we start the game with our switching remains to be seen but it does give us a flexibility. The sets we defend we are in more switchable situations. A lot of the things they do run we can play it a little differently now going a little bit bigger at the two spot.”
- Drew on matchups: “They will have to make a decision who they match up with against Joe and Marvin. If they stay with Pierce on Joe, there’s a size advantage with Marvin on [Avery] Bradley.”
- Drew said Josh (knee) won’t be on limited minutes: “This is a do-or-die situation. Al we will definitely keep an eye on, but those other guys probably will play extended minutes given the situation.”
- Josh on his knee: “It’s pretty good. I’m in it to win it. I’m here to play so I can’t worry about my knee.”
- Joe on if the new lineup will help: “I don’t know. Hopefully it works out for the best for us. At this point we really don’t know. I guess it’s just a gut feeling.”
- Joe on if moving to shooting guard will result in more touches: “I don’t know. We’ll see.”
- Josh on Boston’s D: “With the defense they play they tend to over-help at times and we haven’t made them pay yet. We’ve got to be able to take our time and knock down the open shot.”
- Joe on Game 4: “We haven’t had a game like Game 4 in quite some time. It was mind-boggling, honestly. I couldn’t get why we came out and played so poorly after we were so close in Game 3. I’m still puzzled from that. Hopefully Game 5 will be different.”
- Joe on if he thinks Game 5 will be different: “Honestly I’m not sure. I just have to wait until we get between the lines. It’s easy to talk it but it’s different when you get on the court. Hopefully we will take a sense of pride and a sense of desperation and try to make it back to Boston.”
- Josh on Game 4: “To me, to be honest, we played pretty good defense. We was with them on every shot, every catch, and they shot the ball extremely well, especially Paul Pierce in that third quarter when we were trying to make a push. We have got to to try to meet them right before they past halfcourt i guess to give ourselves a chance.”
- Drew on Game 4: “When you lose a game like that, it’s deflating. But like I told our players I think we’ve had a great season in spite of that one game. That game is no reflection on the rest of our season. It happened. We’ve watched film, we’ve learned form it and now it’s time to move on. Yesterday I was still sensing guys were a little down. After our meeting we had yesterday it seemed to kind of rejuvenate them again. And then coming into shootaround today they were back to themselves.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
1,176 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
9:29 pm
Josh is the next emotion-showing player who is going to get shipped out, in accordance with ATL sports standards, by the way.
I don’t listen to sports talk radio, because I don’t want to get brain cancer, but I am pretty sure all those players with “fire” that I mentioned earlier got repeatedly criticized by the Steak Shapiros and Buck Belues of the world. Josh is just the latest on that list. Meanwhile, the quiet, corporate, nice guys will get only a fraction of that criticism.
A large section of the ATL fan base — not saying the majority, but definitely a significant percentage — likes these “nice guys”.
JSS
May 8th, 2012
9:29 pm
Chipper has all the emotion of a 3rd grade art project, now back to basketball
northcyde
May 8th, 2012
9:29 pm
If TNT said the hawks are too soft, they’re right. JJ not going straight up for that shot to at least draw the foul, opting instead to back it out and shoot a fadeaway jumper, is the softest play of the season
And Josh flat out refuses to put a body on people and fight for rebounds
The hawks are definitely soft, and it begins with 2 of our captains.
Had to go damn near outside to get a connection. Sorry azz AT&T.
What's gone rondo?
May 8th, 2012
9:30 pm
At least Andruw was gettin bjs in the Gold Club
Elf
May 8th, 2012
9:30 pm
THAT NICE GUY SH@T ONLY WORKS IN SAN ANTONIO BUT THE LAKERS FANS STILL TAKE OVER THEIR ARENA WHEN THEY COME TO TOWN SO…..
Luke Cage
May 8th, 2012
9:31 pm
Screw TNT, most teams in the NBA is soft!!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
9:31 pm
“And Josh flat out refuses to put a body on people and fight for rebounds”
Josh is the game leader in rebounds so far. Al is second. Josh has been bad in many respects, but rebounding is not one of them.
Watch the game, dude. Forget about the blog until you get back to Tennessee or wherever the hell it is you live.
Melvin
May 8th, 2012
9:31 pm
Although Marvin hit those two 3’s, he need to attack the rim when the ball swing to the weak side…
JSS
May 8th, 2012
9:31 pm
Why let the cancer of all cancers John Kincade off the hook?
Rob
May 8th, 2012
9:32 pm
Who else is at work on the blog? It gets me through work especially when I cant watch the Hawks live.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
9:32 pm
Reggie is right. Quit shooting 3s. Keep taking the ball inside. Marvin isn’t going to keep knocking down open shots for you.
Rod from College Park
May 8th, 2012
9:32 pm
The real Marvin’s back.
Melvin
May 8th, 2012
9:32 pm
About time the Celtics are call for an illegal screen…
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
9:33 pm
GREAT sign to see Al knock down a mid range jumper.
Elf
May 8th, 2012
9:33 pm
PERSONALLY I DON’T CARE ABOUT ATTITUDES. I JUST WANT THE TROPHY RAISED.
BUT THIS ROSTER, HELL THIS WHOLE ORGANIZATION IS ALL WRONG AND NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED OUT. EVEN ARTHUR TRICHE LOL
Blast
May 8th, 2012
9:34 pm
I hate Paul Pierce, always pretending to be injured.
Luke Cage
May 8th, 2012
9:34 pm
Damn Joe just can’t finish
Rod from College Park
May 8th, 2012
9:34 pm
“And Josh flat out refuses to put a body on people and fight for rebounds”
Josh is the game leader in rebounds so far. Al is second. Josh has been bad in many respects, but rebounding is not one of them.
Watch the game, dude. Forget about the blog until you get back to Tennessee or wherever the hell it is you live.”
Not only
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
9:34 pm
HELL YEA AL KNOCK IT DOWN
Rod from College Park
May 8th, 2012
9:35 pm
Not only that Josh is the leading rebounder in the playoffs.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
9:36 pm
Josh is battling. Dude isn’t playing well on offense at all, but he is fighting hard on the glass and on loose balls.
bigdave
May 8th, 2012
9:36 pm
Here’s our chance… turn up!
Rod from College Park
May 8th, 2012
9:36 pm
Like the aggressiveness from Teague
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
9:37 pm
Ryan Hollins and Keyon Dooling are the only Celtics in the plus.
Astro Joe
May 8th, 2012
9:37 pm
Hawks won;t win this game without something from the bench in this half. Doc is just waiting for his opportunity to steal this game (like he did in Game 2).
DawgNole
May 8th, 2012
9:38 pm
Near-perfect floor-length pass from Josh to Jeff.
Luke Cage
May 8th, 2012
9:38 pm
Defensive 3 seconds ref, KG just living in the paint defensively.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
9:38 pm
Can’t let KG get post position that easily.
5150 UOAD
May 8th, 2012
9:38 pm
How big of a Condom does it take to keep all the Georgia Teams (wearing Red & Black) from actually winning a Championship? The GYM Dawgs are the ONLY champions in this state that wear Red & Black.
DawgNole
May 8th, 2012
9:38 pm
Blast
May 8th, 2012
9:34 pm
I hate Paul Pierce, always pretending to be injured.
_________________
That may be, but he is a PLAYER.
O'brien
May 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
For the record, I predicted earlier today that Marvin would score in double digits
Melvin
May 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
Josh may not be shooting it well but he’s passing and rebounding it well…
Tremaine
May 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
Nice start.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
Been a long time since the Hawks played someone at center who could be counted on to finish at the rim.
Astro Joe
May 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
There’s that pentangle ish.
Luke Cage
May 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
Leg looked fine there lol
What's gone rondo?
May 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
Awwwwwwwww! The Celtic defense is confused
DawgNole
May 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
There you go, Josh–FINALLY!
Hawkfan
May 8th, 2012
9:39 pm
Josh bringing the effort right now
Elf
May 8th, 2012
9:40 pm
“#Hawks now appear to be running actual offense”
CUNNINGHAM TROLLIN’ ALONG LOL
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
9:40 pm
Love seeing Al make quick post moves. Even though he didn’t finish, he needs to keep doing that.
Luke Cage
May 8th, 2012
9:40 pm
Same song,!! Josh
O'brien
May 8th, 2012
9:40 pm
Good dunk by Josh.
But I really wish he would give up the ball!
Melvin
May 8th, 2012
9:40 pm
Josh give the ball up son…
Rev in Tampa
May 8th, 2012
9:40 pm
awful possession
Astro Joe
May 8th, 2012
9:40 pm
“At least he was trying to make something happen”.
smh
May 8th, 2012
9:40 pm
josh 1 turnover 1 dumb shot
DawgNole
May 8th, 2012
9:41 pm
So Josh raises the roof with a slam–then tries to dribble length of the court before booting it. That’s a big moment in this game, I predict. Haven’t scored since.
Tremaine
May 8th, 2012
9:41 pm
Momentum killer
Big Lou
May 8th, 2012
9:41 pm
Josh is such a dope.