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

bigdave

May 8th, 2012
8:27 pm

J.J.M.

May 8th, 2012
8:28 pm

teague is not a true point guard…

Luke Cage

May 8th, 2012
8:28 pm

Hawks just need to settle down a bit

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
8:28 pm

Good Dampier in for All!

smh

May 8th, 2012
8:28 pm

at least dampier took the open lay up wish i could say the same for no show joe

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
8:28 pm

Damp has been decent in every game where he has played more than 10 minutes for this team. No idea why it took so long for him to jump over Twin on the depth chart.

drmaryb.(*_*).

May 8th, 2012
8:29 pm

Secret Weapon?

Looks like Damp is in shape now, a lot slimmer or, his shorts are XXXXL?

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
8:29 pm

All is not a point power forward either….

Luke Cage

May 8th, 2012
8:29 pm

steven a smith

May 8th, 2012
8:27 pm

Trade Marvin for Draft rights to Brittany Greiner(Baylor U)

Baylor wouldn’t win 15 games if that happend

ntrigue

May 8th, 2012
8:29 pm

Tmac should’ve started over Marvin drew is a dummy! Ivan wont play tonight either!

DawgNole

May 8th, 2012
8:29 pm

Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
8:26 pm

It took five games, but Damp has finally leapfrogged Twin.
_____________________

Five games?! Took all season, didn’t it?

Rev in Tampa

May 8th, 2012
8:29 pm

at least the hawks are responding after the slow start. Still not playing too well

J.J.M.

May 8th, 2012
8:29 pm

wonder who all is

Luke Cage

May 8th, 2012
8:30 pm

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
8:28 pm

Damp has been decent in every game where he has played more than 10 minutes for this team. No idea why it took so long for him to jump over Twin on the depth chart.

LD & Collins are BFF’s thats why

steven a smith

May 8th, 2012
8:30 pm

Can’t wait for “Dancing with the Stars” Double elimination tonight LADIES…

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
8:30 pm

“Damp has been decent in every game where he has played more than 10 minutes for this team. No idea why it took so long for him to jump over Twin on the depth chart.”

Its simple..Looks whos coaching….

Big Lou

May 8th, 2012
8:31 pm

All this is for nothing. since LD will not get fired.

Another year of mediocrity next season. Wonderful.

DawgNole

May 8th, 2012
8:31 pm

Joe makes that floater look so easy; can’t understand why he’s afraid of it.

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
8:31 pm

Damn Josh gotta finish that

drmaryb.(*_*).

May 8th, 2012
8:31 pm

I see Nique’s fiance’ is sitting courtside! Red Bone, red shirt, long wavy hair … she was on the kiss cam just a minute ago.

Luke Cage

May 8th, 2012
8:31 pm

Damn, Tmac not running the point

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
8:31 pm

Josh WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Old Man Peabody

May 8th, 2012
8:31 pm

Atl teams = CHOKE

May 8th, 2012
8:31 pm

Tremaine

May 8th, 2012
8:31 pm

steven a smith

May 8th, 2012
8:31 pm

Damp looks about 59 years old tonight..

Melvin

May 8th, 2012
8:32 pm

Josh is playing on one leg

DawgNole

May 8th, 2012
8:32 pm

Josh looked bad on that one. He should’ve gone for it the first time.

steven a smith

May 8th, 2012
8:32 pm

Joe Johnson is an overpaid SCRUB!!

bigdave

May 8th, 2012
8:33 pm

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
8:33 pm

Josh 0/6 from the field

J.J.M.

May 8th, 2012
8:33 pm

clearly playing on one leg

DawgNole

May 8th, 2012
8:33 pm

Josh looked bad underneath; should’ve gone up the first time sted of head faking.

steven a smith

May 8th, 2012
8:34 pm

Hawks need special agreement with commisioner Stern,, Amnesty Joe and Marvin after the game tonight.

Elf

May 8th, 2012
8:35 pm

YAWN…

HOW MANY JUMPERS HAS “OSH” TAKEN?

Rob

May 8th, 2012
8:35 pm

Why is Joe Johnson so laid back and nonshalant about his playoff performance. Must be an Arkansas thing

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
8:35 pm

They need to put Kirk on Allen on D. Whoever is chasing him around now is not doing a good job.

smh

May 8th, 2012
8:35 pm

josh you r a fckin bum!!!!!!!!

Grandmaster JeJe (GM)

May 8th, 2012
8:35 pm

15 point quarter!!!!!

Defense is the problem!!!!

Luke Cage

May 8th, 2012
8:35 pm

Josh arguing with the ref and got back late which allowed KG to shoot a 3

Tremaine

May 8th, 2012
8:35 pm

The old whining Josh is back.

Melvin

May 8th, 2012
8:35 pm

Take Josh out….

Big Lou

May 8th, 2012
8:35 pm

Josh crying like a baby left that shot open.

J.J.M.

May 8th, 2012
8:35 pm

that shot desnt go in for kg if josh dont complain and getback on defense

steven a smith

May 8th, 2012
8:36 pm

It is officially over LADIES..K freakin G for 3.

drmaryb.(*_*).

May 8th, 2012
8:36 pm

gotta’ get Josh going. calm down Josh, take your time, Hawks playing very rushed and jittery.

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
8:36 pm

Hawks 6/21 from the field, 2 dimes, 6 turnovers

DawgNole

May 8th, 2012
8:36 pm

Makes you wonder how good we could be when these guys who seldom contribute (KH) nail one.

Not a good sign at all when KG hits his first 3 of the season at the buzzer.

What will ASG’s excuses be this go-round?

smh

May 8th, 2012
8:36 pm

josh whines about a call and gets toreched on the other end

Luke Cage

May 8th, 2012
8:36 pm

Rob

May 8th, 2012
8:35 pm

Why is Joe Johnson so laid back and nonshalant about his playoff performance. Must be an Arkansas thing

120 million bucks would make me the most laid back cat here in Florida.