Celtics at Atlanta Hawks Game 5: Game thread

  • 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.”
  • 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

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
10:11 pm

Luke Cage

May 8th, 2012
10:11 pm

Surely you’re not surprised. They’ve been doing it for 44 years, most recently in Game 2 of this series–in nearly identical fashion.

(YAWNS) we know we know, lets try to win this game ok

Astro Joe

May 8th, 2012
10:11 pm

We want I-VAN.

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
10:12 pm

How the f-ck do you lose Ray Allen on the perimeter? This team deserves to lose

Grandmaster JeJe (GM)

May 8th, 2012
10:12 pm

Surely you’re not surprised. They’ve been doing it for 44 years, most recently in Game 2 of this series–in nearly identical fashion.
***

is this all you ever have to say? At least say something about the team or a player besides the same f’ing line every single day

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
10:12 pm

19-5 run Sautee!

High-sider

May 8th, 2012
10:12 pm

I’m surprised Hinrich hasn’t played in the second half. He’s actually played pretty decent tonight.

Kingd92

May 8th, 2012
10:12 pm

Why would you leave him marvin?

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
10:12 pm

Celtics’ transition D has been really good.

Josh starting to heat up.

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
10:13 pm

19-9 run Sautee

JSS

May 8th, 2012
10:13 pm

Can’t trade baskets for empty trips, score and stop!!!

J.J.M.

May 8th, 2012
10:13 pm

celtics=real motion offense

Astro Joe

May 8th, 2012
10:13 pm

Teague should constantly push the pace… on every missed Celtic shot.

What's gone rondo?

May 8th, 2012
10:14 pm

No more Joe. I want more duck butt

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
10:14 pm

Of course, the tradeoff for having great transition D is that nobody on their team tries to offensive rebound.

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
10:14 pm

Luke Cage

May 8th, 2012
10:14 pm

Watch Pierce milk this “mysterious knee” injury

DawgNole

May 8th, 2012
10:14 pm

Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 8th, 2012
10:07 pm

Last 2 min of 3rd qtr was worst bball I’ve ever seen
______________

Since Sunday night.

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
10:14 pm

High-sider

May 8th, 2012
10:14 pm

O’brien, what’s frustrating is this damn blog. Is it my notebook or is this blog slow tonight?

Rev in Tampa

May 8th, 2012
10:15 pm

Al Horford having his Willis Reed moment

tank

May 8th, 2012
10:15 pm

Have any of you guys met in real life off this blog?

bigdave

May 8th, 2012
10:15 pm

Luke Cage

May 8th, 2012
10:15 pm

Give it up, give it up, oh nice pass LOL!!

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
10:15 pm

Wonder what the reaction will be now to a perfectly executed Josh fast break.

M

May 8th, 2012
10:15 pm

If the Hawks somehow pull this one out, would it be possible to clone four more Horfords for Game 6?

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
10:15 pm

20-13 run..ATL up 3..nice pass Josh!

What's gone rondo?

May 8th, 2012
10:16 pm

Tell me Josh can’t pass

Atl teams = CHOKE

May 8th, 2012
10:16 pm

Not choking no mo

Rod from College Park

May 8th, 2012
10:16 pm

“No one is covering Williams”

Iv’e been saying that all year.

This is Gonna Get Ugly

May 8th, 2012
10:16 pm

There is Marvin!!

Sautee

May 8th, 2012
10:16 pm

slim, if you are a Hawks fan why do you seem to delight in their troubles?

Rufus1

May 8th, 2012
10:16 pm

That is why i hate Josh…..2 bad plays, 3 great plays.

kwooden

May 8th, 2012
10:16 pm

LD being out coached but Josh just got himself back in the game. A block, rebound and assist in one sequence!

bigdave

May 8th, 2012
10:16 pm

Sit al? Huh.. he hoopin!

Astro Joe

May 8th, 2012
10:16 pm

Joe has been resting the past few minutes. He is on the floor, but he is resting. Let’s hope that he (and the others) have enough in their gas tank to finish this thing.

Grandmaster JeJe (GM)

May 8th, 2012
10:16 pm

Smoove looked like middle schooler at end of 3rd. Now he looks like an All Star

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
10:16 pm

Props to Marvin for running to the basket on that break, too. Way too many players on this team like to camp out on the 3 point line on fast breaks as if this is the 2006 Suns.

yodaddybrother

May 8th, 2012
10:16 pm

IDK Y Hawks fans are getting excited. We know what’s about to happen. Boston will crank up the D….leading to turnovers…then they will execute with surgeon like precision on offense.

This is Gonna Get Ugly

May 8th, 2012
10:17 pm

Enter your comments here

Luke Cage

May 8th, 2012
10:17 pm

Nice pass Josh, but still rather you give it up and fill the lanes to finish.

DawgNole

May 8th, 2012
10:17 pm

Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 8th, 2012
10:12 pm

Surely you’re not surprised. They’ve been doing it for 44 years, most recently in Game 2 of this series–in nearly identical fashion.
***

is this all you ever have to say? At least say something about the team or a player besides the same f’ing line every single day
______________________

Guess you haven’t been reading tonight’s blog. Go to hell.

Ray

May 8th, 2012
10:17 pm

“Have any of you guys met in real life off this blog?”

Me and Dr Mary B got a thang goin’ on ;)

Mac-Town (478)™

May 8th, 2012
10:17 pm

stop and a basket plz

Kingd92

May 8th, 2012
10:17 pm

Why can’t marvin do this every game. No one ever guards him.

MistaGamer

May 8th, 2012
10:17 pm

Josh and Al are definitely gutting it out today. Not too bad for playing on one leg and with one arm.

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
10:18 pm

Gotta close them out. They already blew their momentum and the lead back in the 3rd. Gotta step on their throats for a change. Mental toughness. Make Charles, Kenny, and Shaq say something nice about you, at least for one night.

Mr.E

May 8th, 2012
10:18 pm

So how long before they choke?

I say 2 more tops

Harry Hawk

May 8th, 2012
10:18 pm

The Hawks are a perfect team for fans to complain about. There’s also enough there for homers to support. Just a weird crew, man.

Hawkfan

May 8th, 2012
10:18 pm

Celtics screwed there and didn’t stop the ball. Didn’t give josh time to screw up