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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,176 comments Add your comment
Cee
May 8th, 2012
10:52 pm
This is Al’s team point blank
Astro Joe
May 8th, 2012
10:52 pm
That was the very definition of an ENSEMBLE win… which is the way this team MUST play. T-E-A-M. It may not be trendy, but this is the way this group MUST play. Boring, team oriented ball with many heroes emerging at different times of the game.
JSS
May 8th, 2012
10:52 pm
They got a little from everyone tonight, and a lot from Al (circa 2009 version) and the Crazy Train J-Smoove!
justin
May 8th, 2012
10:53 pm
willie green -11 in 7 minutes is a fair reflection of his contributions tonight
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
10:53 pm
Josh is now averaging 15 boards, 5 dimes, and a block per game for this series. Shooting percentage is still terrible and he is still turning the ball over too much, but he is really finding a way to make an impact in every other way possible.
Mr.E
May 8th, 2012
10:53 pm
Woah wait a minute…
Did Chuck actually just say “Gotta give it up for the Hawks”??
DawgNole
May 8th, 2012
10:53 pm
And the Bravos make it icing on the cake!
High-sider
May 8th, 2012
10:53 pm
Najeh,
Josh Smith made several bad decisions and bad plays tonight at some of the most inopportune times of the game. Josh Smith’s errors gave the Celtics a lot of momentum and that steal by Rondo off his [Smith's] inbound pass almost cost the Hawks the game tonight.
Rev in Tampa
May 8th, 2012
10:53 pm
I still can’t understand why Willie Green was in teh game (when the Hawks lost the 11 point lead) and no appearance from Hinrich. It makes no sense when Hinrich played effectively in the first half.
justin
May 8th, 2012
10:54 pm
This lineup gives us a clear rebounding edge. If we cut down on the turnovers and thus the points off turnovers, we will be in really good shape.
Slimjr
May 8th, 2012
10:54 pm
Lets see what the one handed pt. forward dribbler has in store on the road? Hmmmmmm
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
10:55 pm
“Najeh: I hear you on that. I don’t know though, the bench has given us next to nothing this whole series. All they’ve done is blow leads. I would like to have seen T Mac & Ivan get some minutes. But the other guys…I would’ve left them on the bench too.”
I’m not complaining, don’t get me wrong. I think T-Mac, Ivan, and Damp should probably get about 15 minutes each, more if one of them is playing well, but this is definitely an improvement over playing the entire bench together. Willie Green shouldn’t play at all the rest of this series.
What's gone rondo?
May 8th, 2012
10:55 pm
Can’t you see the difference in the game? No Joe! The more Joe, the less we do. The less Joe, the better we do. Let’s go through Joe!
Slimjr
May 8th, 2012
10:55 pm
[#15] one handed handle…dam
justin
May 8th, 2012
10:55 pm
When a guy can miss 4 months and be your best player in his second game back, that says something.
Harry Hawk
May 8th, 2012
10:55 pm
Josh is gonna look good in a different uniform next season.
MistaGamer
May 8th, 2012
10:56 pm
High-sider,
Josh also made timely dimes, led the team in assists and rebounds and played 46 minutes on a bum leg.
Oh and that last pass was bad but he turned around D’d up Rondo down the court didn’t allow the drive in the lane forced the switch to Al.
So please, Cut it out….
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 8th, 2012
10:56 pm
Josh: Smart passes
Joe: Give the damn ball to Al
=
We win series
christopher mehegan
May 8th, 2012
10:56 pm
HAHAHAHAHA JUSTIN@JUSTIN YOUR NOT WELCOME ARSEHOLE COME THURSDAY THE CELTICS WILL CRUSH THE ATLANTA PLAYOFF STEPPINGSTONE FOOTNOTE CHOKERS RIGHT OUT OF BEANTOWN BOSTON STYLE SO U BUNCH OF PANTS POOPING DEPENDS SCRATCHING REFEREE BIYATCHING FAKE PARQUEE DIVA DIVE ARTIST’S UR TEAMS SEASON ENDS THURSDAY CELTICS TAKE GAME # 6 AND THE SERIES 4-2 NOW U BETTER GO TELL UR MUDDER ON THAT ONE SON
Slimjr
May 8th, 2012
10:56 pm
14-24..C’mon lets get excited now!
High-sider
May 8th, 2012
10:57 pm
northcyde’s attendance at the game tonight must have been Marvin Williams’ good luck charm. Hey, northcyde, please drive to Boston [from Tennessee] for Game 6 and then to Atlanta for Game 7, if necessary.
Kingd92
May 8th, 2012
10:57 pm
Smh that the whole fan base is extremely excited with Marvin’s play today. C’mon man you’re supposed to hit open shots and dunk uncontested drives.
Sautee
May 8th, 2012
10:58 pm
slim, why does it sound like it KILLS you that Horford had a good game?
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
10:58 pm
Yeah, Josh made some bad decisions, especially early in the game, but he literally carried the Hawks for the first 8 minutes of the 4th quarter before they went to iso-Joe. Without that, they wouldn’t be in position to win the game.
Game ball to Al, though. He was the MVP of the game from the opening tip.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 8th, 2012
10:58 pm
“Guess you haven’t been reading tonight’s blog. Go to hell.”
***
That’s not something I’ve done in the last 45 years, so why now?
DawgNole
May 8th, 2012
10:58 pm
Alright, Najeh, please pick the Hawks in Game 6 so I can ridicule you again for picking them and you can win again. Please!
Geno
May 8th, 2012
10:58 pm
Hawks woulda won by 20 if it wasnt for joshes relentless turnover marathon…
W. R. Terrell
May 8th, 2012
10:59 pm
The “AGONY” continues in Boston thursday night.
Slimjr
May 8th, 2012
10:59 pm
C’mon Larry just let the one handed handle, handle your pt play..Its indefensible..Boston has no answers for it..They’ve never seen a center do that move…He’s reinventing the position!
Brilliant Larry!
Geno
May 8th, 2012
11:00 pm
Ima hawkamaniac!!… Lol
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 8th, 2012
11:00 pm
Josh in the last 3 minutes of that 3rd quarter…Just wow
Someone HAS to get open on that inbound at the end.
And Josh shouldn’t have stayed back for that Pierce 3. No way Marvin could’ve recovered (yes I’m siding with Marvin here)
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
11:00 pm
Haha DawgNole you make me sound like I’m Miss Cleo. Sh-t, if only my predictions had that kind of power, I would use that on Wall Street or something, not here.
Luke Cage
May 8th, 2012
11:00 pm
AL’s only mistake in the game was trying to run the fastbreak, don’t know why Hawks bigs just don’t give up the ball???
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 8th, 2012
11:00 pm
STATS FGA 3PFG PTS +/-
Josh 6-16 0-1 13 0
Al 8-15 0-0 19 +10
Joe 6-17 1-5 15 + 2
Jeff 5-11 2-3 16 + 5
Marvin 5-9 3-6 15 + 14
_____________
Kirk 3-4 1-1 7 – 5
Eric 1-1 0-0 2 – 5
Green 0-0 0-0 0 – 11
_________
Tight Rotation & 9 Bench Points
Hawks are resilient! Hawks in 7.
I can not believe Horford is back and is dominating!
Game BALL goes to MARVIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bump
May 8th, 2012
11:01 pm
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 8th, 2012
10:48 pm
Welcome back Al!
May not be as talented as Josh or Smoove, but dude has HEART…Loads and loads of HEART
=======================================================
U getting old! Josh is Smoove
Harry Hawk
May 8th, 2012
11:01 pm
This game felt like a game the Hawks should have won easily and also probably should have lost but didn’t.
Typical Hawks game.
Hawkfan
May 8th, 2012
11:02 pm
Josh certainly made a lot of mistakes tonight but we have no chance without his effort, rebounding and defense. He is a very good, but flawed player. Glad he’s on my team.
Al was tremendous tonight. Should be the story of he night but I’m sure they’ll find a way to talk about he great Celtics. F&$@ em
DawgNole
May 8th, 2012
11:02 pm
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 8th, 2012
10:58 pm
“Guess you haven’t been reading tonight’s blog. Go to hell.”
***
That’s not something I’ve done in the last 45 years, so why now?
________________________
So you won’t make ignorant posts like the one that prompted my response.
Slimjr
May 8th, 2012
11:04 pm
Naw game ball goes to Mr Heart..Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh…Ya happy Sautee?
Geno
May 8th, 2012
11:04 pm
@christopher M… Sore looser…. Your karma will comtinue for game 6 and 7…. Law of attraction… Bwahahahaha!!!
Slimjr
May 8th, 2012
11:05 pm
He has a ton of heart…Heck, he’s had 4 months to collect them….lol
Luke Cage
May 8th, 2012
11:05 pm
Nice to see both Ja Vale McGee & Nick Young playing good for their teams after getting ridiculed & blasted in Washington.
DawgNole
May 8th, 2012
11:06 pm
christopher mehegan
May 8th, 2012
10:56 pm
HAHAHAHAHA JUSTIN@JUSTIN YOUR NOT WELCOME ARSEHOLE COME THURSDAY THE CELTICS WILL CRUSH THE ATLANTA PLAYOFF STEPPINGSTONE FOOTNOTE CHOKERS RIGHT OUT OF BEANTOWN BOSTON STYLE SO U BUNCH OF PANTS POOPING DEPENDS SCRATCHING REFEREE BIYATCHING FAKE PARQUEE DIVA DIVE ARTIST’S UR TEAMS SEASON ENDS THURSDAY CELTICS TAKE GAME # 6 AND THE SERIES 4-2 NOW U BETTER GO TELL UR MUDDER ON THAT ONE SON
__________________
Can you imagine trying to talk with this guy in person?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 8th, 2012
11:06 pm
Game 6: If Boston builds a lead of 5 points in the first 6 minutes, call a timeout immediately. Cannot afford to get down
Luke Cage
May 8th, 2012
11:06 pm
Stephanie Ready’s series with Pacers/Tragic is over, hope she works more, missin’ my baby.
Sautee
May 8th, 2012
11:07 pm
slim, just letting you know how you were sounding.
christopher mehegan
May 8th, 2012
11:07 pm
HEY, W.R. TERRELL HAHAHAHAH OH THE AGONY OF DEFEAT WILL CONTINUE IN BOSTON COME THURSDAY THE CELTICS R GONNA RID THE PARQUEE FLOOR CLEAN OF THE ATLANTA PLAYOFF STEPPINGSTONE LAUGHINGSTOCK FOOTNOTE CHOKERS RIGHT OUT OF THE 1ST ROUND AND RIGHT OUT OF BOSTON HAHAHAHA THE FUNERAL PROCESSION OF THE ATLANTA CHOKERS ARRIVE THURSDAY NIGHT CELTICS TAKE GAME 6 AND THE SERIES 4-2 CLOSING TIME ATLANTA THURSDAY UR SEASON WILL END AND U WILL BS SHOWN THE 1ST ROUND PLAYOFF SERIES EXIT AND INTO THE OFFSEASON U GO GREEN AND WHITE FOREVER GO CELTICS
High-sider
May 8th, 2012
11:07 pm
Slimjr,
I liked your “Houston, we have a problem” skit/post with dialogue that you posted the other day. LOL
Bump
May 8th, 2012
11:07 pm
Lets get something straight about Green,he like many players whether its regular season or playoffs,will need PT on a more consistant level and are not the type who can come in and step in right away on most nights!
Its LD’s fault on this one.He should know his players.He and his coaching staff and so should most of you on here.
Im not contradicting myself when i would also say that you should be ready to go in and play up to playoff level in the playoffs. I understand that. But lets face it,he is not of them players.He may do it 1 out of every 5 games.But if he is consistent in playing(not the same regular season minutes) in each game even if its 5-7 minutes a half,at least he knows he will be in and he would be more in game shape mentally than he is now..
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 8th, 2012
11:07 pm
“So you won’t make ignorant posts like the one that prompted my response.”
Whatever. We won!!! Being a sports fan is 100% about emotion.
FIRE LD
FIRE SUND
FIRE GEARON