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
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 8th, 2012
8:50 pm
In postgame intvw, will Joe take any blame?
Rod from College Park
May 8th, 2012
8:51 pm
“We’re averaging about 1 point per minute.
Will be lucky to break 55″
But remember defense is what’s killing us. LOL
Astro Joe
May 8th, 2012
8:51 pm
At least the PGs are playing foarly well. And Dampier should get a bonus for that screen he set on the frenchman. Best screen since Estee Batista left the Hawks.
northcyde
May 8th, 2012
8:51 pm
Like I said. If you blow up this team, BOTH JJ and JOSH has to go. Both are playing like complete crap. JJ doesn’t let that jumper fly
If you don’t shoot the ball SHUT THE F— UP!!!!
steven a smith
May 8th, 2012
8:51 pm
No need to over criticize this coach. He is, after all, working with “LEMONS” for lack of a better phrase.
Slimjr
May 8th, 2012
8:49 pm
LARRY THE CLUELESS
HIGHSCHOOL COACH!
DSGB
May 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
And still no Ivan
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
MORE TOUCHES FOR JOE LMAO
TMACfan
May 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
Ray Allen is gifting us by missing free throws..
Mac-Town (478)™
May 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
lol wtf
Slimjr
May 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
8-27
MistaGamer
May 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
Unfortunately we are playing with all of our strengths gone. Al can’t shoot the pick and pop – rust. Josh can’t run – injured. Joe can’t shoot – don’t know what’s his reason.
kuhndog
May 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
Wow the refs arent in grey they are in green,I like the celtics D but man no calls and ray allen is golden
Slimjr
May 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
9-27
Mac-Town (478)™
May 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
these dudes shootin around like they’re at the gym
steven a smith
May 8th, 2012
8:53 pm
Joe got fouled on that one..
Astro Joe
May 8th, 2012
8:53 pm
northcyde, yep… they both need to go. If one stays, nothing much will change.
Slimjr
May 8th, 2012
8:53 pm
10-27
DawgNole
May 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
Celts missed a dunk; we must be rubbin’ off on ‘em.
Rev in Tampa
May 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
LD says to himself, “Team needs a spark. I better put marvin back in”
Slimjr
May 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
10-28
Elf
May 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
I’VE HAD SPADES GAMES WITH MORE PHYSICALITY THAN THIS HAWKS TEAM.
Mac-Town (478)™
May 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
Joe tryin to do too much…
steven a smith
May 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
Joe missed an easy a– shot..
Slimjr
May 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
10-29
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
Hawks are sooooooo lucky the Celtics are missing these wide open easy shots. Better take advantage when you have the chance to get back in the game.
Wide open brick for Marvin as usual.
Rusty
May 8th, 2012
8:55 pm
Ivans on LD’s doghouse.
Slimjr
May 8th, 2012
8:55 pm
10-30
Rev in Tampa
May 8th, 2012
8:55 pm
dang it teague. shoot the open three.
Luke Cage
May 8th, 2012
8:55 pm
That damn Leprechan has a lid on the Hawks basket
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
8:55 pm
“I’VE HAD SPADES GAMES WITH MORE PHYSICALITY THAN THIS HAWKS TEAM.”
LMAO
kevkat
May 8th, 2012
8:55 pm
Astro Joe
May 8th, 2012
8:53 pm
northcyde, yep… they both need to go. If one stays, nothing much will change.
Can we throw in the coach as well
bigdave
May 8th, 2012
8:55 pm
Keep slowing the c’s down… nothing early. I like the tempo, sloppy… but that’s our game
steven a smith
May 8th, 2012
8:56 pm
Mac-Town (478)™
May 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
Joe tryin to do too much…
He is the Highest paid and the LEADER of the team, HE IS SUPPOSED TO TAKE OVER(DUH)
Elf
May 8th, 2012
8:56 pm
Joe Johnson 1/5 FG, Josh Smith 0/8. #Hawks
HAWKS BEST PLAYER’S RIGHT GUYS??????????????????
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
8:56 pm
35% shooting for Boston, 29% shooting for the Hawks. Good news is they have only turned it over once this quarter. Bad news is they are still getting horrible shots and giving up easy shots on the other end that the Celtics just haven’t started converting yet.
Rob
May 8th, 2012
8:56 pm
Marvin and Joe have been the same players for the last 6 years… Marvin should slap himself
Luke Cage
May 8th, 2012
8:56 pm
DEBO is a free agent after the season I believe, so he will go sign elsewhere because LD is such a MORON!! We need his energy & hustle at this point
Astro Joe
May 8th, 2012
8:56 pm
LD is thinking “I don;t have a guaranteed contract next season and I’ll be danged if I’m putting my next paycheck in the hands of Ivan Johnson. Keep shooting, Josh”.
Slimjr
May 8th, 2012
8:57 pm
LARRY MUST GO!
PUTS HIS PERSONAL FEELINGS AHEAD OF THE TEAM…
WHERE IS IVAN IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rusty
May 8th, 2012
8:57 pm
If JJ scores 15 points tonight nortcyde will have an orgasm & try to tell us how great JJ is.
Michael
May 8th, 2012
8:57 pm
take out marvin put in tmac and leave it like that
steven a smith
May 8th, 2012
8:57 pm
TEAGUE and HINRICH are actually better jump shooters and should get the majority of the shots.
yodaddybrother
May 8th, 2012
8:57 pm
This is our last night posting together…..see yall draft night
TMACfan
May 8th, 2012
8:57 pm
Give TMAC the green light to shoot
Rob
May 8th, 2012
8:58 pm
From Larry’s comments, “Ivan hasnt played very well this series.” I believe Ivan will not play today. Larry is an idiot
ntrigue
May 8th, 2012
8:58 pm
Marvin only needs to shoot if its 2 secs or less if not just pass
Buddy Grizzard
May 8th, 2012
8:58 pm
Even if the Hawks lose in 6 or 7, they seriously damage Boston’s chances of going to the ECF or Finals. This BOS team is banged up and needs a quick close out and an extended ORL IND series. Refs are doing all they can to help out. The foul call on Green when Allen got three free throws was a phantom call and they have been calling it tight inside on the BOS end and letting them hack all day on def.
honest_abe
May 8th, 2012
8:58 pm
how are they only down 5?
Michael Gearon Jr
May 8th, 2012
8:58 pm
Yabba dabba dooooooooo! Contract extension for youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 8th, 2012
8:58 pm
David Stern would actually consider a shorter season. This is GREAT news.