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

Rev in Tampa

May 8th, 2012
8:59 pm

Marvin, you big dummie

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
8:59 pm

Luke Cage

May 8th, 2012
8:59 pm

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”.

So he leaves his fate in the hands of Marvin????

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
8:59 pm

Joe has bricked at least 3 wide open shots so far. Still hasn’t made a 3.

Hawks playing well on the boards. That’s the only thing they have consistently done well.

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
9:00 pm

Rob

May 8th, 2012
9:00 pm

@ Yodaddybrother
Hope we get some action on draft night, like trades…

DawgNole

May 8th, 2012
9:00 pm

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
___________________

I’d rather throw him out.

MistaGamer

May 8th, 2012
9:00 pm

Josh has absolutely no lift out there

Mac-Town (478)™

May 8th, 2012
9:00 pm

man we gotta take advantage….Celtics are effin up too.

Luke Cage

May 8th, 2012
9:01 pm

Joe can do that every game if he wanted to

steven a smith

May 8th, 2012
9:01 pm

Bad night tonight “DawgNole only one with common sense 2-night”

What's gone rondo?

May 8th, 2012
9:01 pm

The Celtics couldn’t show them a wall if the Hawks!ad a 3 point threat

Rev in Tampa

May 8th, 2012
9:01 pm

Thankfully the celtics are playing poorly

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
9:01 pm

THAT SET SHOT LOOKS OBSOLETE

Rev in Tampa

May 8th, 2012
9:02 pm

Enter your comments here

bigdave

May 8th, 2012
9:02 pm

Josh moving poorly

smh

May 8th, 2012
9:02 pm

Al horford stop shooting please

Luke Cage

May 8th, 2012
9:03 pm

Damn Horford is way short

Grandmaster JeJe (GM)

May 8th, 2012
9:03 pm

28 freaking points

steven a smith

May 8th, 2012
9:03 pm

Donald Driver can really dance. 2 Girls are not bad either.

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
9:03 pm

12-34

FADE AWAY SET SHOTS ALL WHATEVER? YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING? OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
9:03 pm

Al has played well on D and on the boards but his offense is clearly still rusty.

Hawks need to be running post ups every possession. They are not giving Teague that lane to drive inside off the pick and roll.

Astro Joe

May 8th, 2012
9:03 pm

87 points wins this game. Don;t worry about FG% in the playoffs, just play tough defense and good shot attempts.

Tremaine

May 8th, 2012
9:03 pm

Horford and Smith do not play well together. One has to be traded this offseason.

yodaddybrother

May 8th, 2012
9:04 pm

Our offense is PUTRID

MistaGamer

May 8th, 2012
9:04 pm

I think Larry should take Josh out. He’s clearly gutting it out and hobbling around. Put Ivan in. At least he can move.

DawgNole

May 8th, 2012
9:04 pm

steven a smith
May 8th, 2012
9:01 pm

Bad night tonight “DawgNole only one with common sense 2-night”
_____________________

Hey now, that ain’t such a bad night then.

Melvin

May 8th, 2012
9:05 pm

Horford and Josh can’t throw it in the ocean and Marvin is completely useless on offense. LD need to come back with TMac or Hinrinch for Marvin.

What's gone rondo?

May 8th, 2012
9:05 pm

The Hawks have NO 3 point threat

Jo Bling

May 8th, 2012
9:05 pm

Hawks have ZERO (0!) chemistry since Al is back.

tyger

May 8th, 2012
9:05 pm

Is LD “mandated” to play money players in finale?
Seems so, you cant throw injured, rusty guys together…
And expect to win…

Collins, Tmac, Ivan, Dampier out playing Josh/Al but…

Slimjr

May 8th, 2012
9:06 pm

CAN U SAY CHEMISTRY ISSUES?

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
9:06 pm

FINALLY MARVIN MAKES THEM PAY ABOUT DAMN TIME

northcyde

May 8th, 2012
9:06 pm

Remind me to change cell phone carriers when I get home. Posts taking 10 minutes to post, if they post at all.

Hawks need to keep grinding.

Rusty

May 8th, 2012
9:06 pm

Did Ivan stick his finger up LD ‘ ass when they were in the shower.

Kingd92

May 8th, 2012
9:06 pm

OMG he can score!

steven a smith

May 8th, 2012
9:06 pm

BAD OBSERVATION…It would work if the Hawks started a TRUE CENTER..

Tremaine

May 8th, 2012
9:03 pm

Horford and Smith do not play well together. One has to be traded this offseason.

Melvin

May 8th, 2012
9:06 pm

About time Marvin does something…

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
9:06 pm

But then Bass gets an offensive board on the other end between Al and Marvin.

DawgNole

May 8th, 2012
9:06 pm

Hawks are luck Celts are cold.

Al got bumped on Marvin’s 3.

At least Marvin banged on Bass.

Grandmaster JeJe (GM)

May 8th, 2012
9:07 pm

OFFENSE!!!!!!!

Rev in Tampa

May 8th, 2012
9:07 pm

Get’em Marvin. Go all zaza on him.

bigdave

May 8th, 2012
9:07 pm

No time to make friends marvin

Grandmaster JeJe (GM)

May 8th, 2012
9:07 pm

Hope Pierce or Ray don’t make us their b!7ches in the 2nd half

Najeh Davenpoop

May 8th, 2012
9:07 pm

HELL YEAH MARVIN ABOUT DAMN TIME

Luke Cage

May 8th, 2012
9:08 pm

Whoa!! Marvin

Melvin

May 8th, 2012
9:08 pm

Marvin two 3’s in a row… OH my

smh

May 8th, 2012
9:08 pm

about time duck booty

Kingd92

May 8th, 2012
9:09 pm

DawgNole

May 8th, 2012
9:09 pm

Cmon, Marvy. Give us your second solid game of the season. We need it badly now.

And Joe for 3 ties it. Gotta do it now.