Celtics at Atlanta Hawks Game 5: Hawks 87, Celtics 86
- So Al Horford sits out four months because of the first major injury of his career and then comes back and has what is, under the circumstances, probably his best postseason game. But the Hawks didn’t win until Horford prevented Rajon Rondo from driving to score after they nearly gave the game away with a terrible turnover.
- Yeah, that sounds about right for the Hawks.
- Larry Drew: “Al Horford was absolutely huge tonight. His ability to move around at times when we were forced to make switches on defense, and his foot speed enabled him to sta with the ball. Offensively, his gives us a presdence down there, and he made some big shots for us tonight.”
- After sending out Jason Collins, Erick Dampier, Ivan Johnson and Rusty Al Horford for four games, the Hawks suddenly now another bona fide big man to play alongside Josh Smith. The difference was somewhat noticeable
- Watching Horford run the floor for dunks in Game 4, I realized it had been so long since I’d seen him out there I kind of forgot how good he can be. “That was the team they started the season with,” Doc Rivers said. “They now have it, so now we have to deal with it.”
- The Hawks survived some tense final moments after Rajon Rondo stole Josh’s pass. “I didn’t think he was going to get it,” Josh said. “He’s got that long wingspan and long fingers. He was able to make a huge play for them. We came back down and I quickly washed the memory out of my head.”
- Josh did at least have the awareness to cut Rondo off from the middle of the floor and make him turn left before Garnett took him out with a pick. Al stepped up to corral Rondo along the baseline and then stayed in front of him as Rondo tried to set him up with a move.
- “Al sat down on him pretty good,” Josh said. “They tried to throw it to KG and I was able to deflect it, and the game was over. Thank God.”
- “I didn’t want to lose the series that way, so I didn’t want to let Rondo shoot a jumper over me,” Horford said. “You’re fighting for your life out there.”
- “Al makes a big difference,” Rondo said. “He can guard anybody on the floor. Other than that, it’s the same Hawks we’ve been playing the last four or five years.”
- Zaza Pachulia did a fine job in place of Horford this season, and the Hawks certainly could still use him now. But Horford does so many things well, and he did them all tonight against the Celtics.
- Al ran screen-rolls with Jeff Teague to get scores at the basket or pop outs for Js. He collected offensive rebounds. He switched on screens and defended guards. He blocked shots. He collected defensive boards and ran the break.
- Al ended up playing 41 minutes after Drew abandoned his plan to limit him. “I was tired a little bit but right now I feel fine,” he said. “Maybe it’s the adrenaline from the game and tomorrow it will be a different story.
- The screen-roll element alone with Al is a big boost for the Hawks. They were missing that badly. “Definitely,” Teague said. “He’s a real athletic guy, athletic roller. And his presence to be able to pick-and-pop and he can switch it up and roll, that’s big.”
- The Celtics now go from being able to ignore Atlanta’s centers to perhaps having to consider doubling him. All of that freelancing by KG has to end now, opening up the floor.
- Joe Johnson didn’t see it that way, though: “The court wasn’t necessarily more open with Al out there tonight. I was just trying to make the right play out there. It feels great to have him back on the floor.”
- Sure, because otherwise the Hawks lose this game and the story might be about how Joe managed just four points on six shots in the second half and bogged down the offense by constantly being indecisive until help came and he dribbled away from the basket.
- Teague was terrific. He scored efficiently again (16 points on 11 shots, five assists against three turnovers) and subjectively much better defending Rondo than before.
- “I just feel like sometimes I have to be aggressive, pick-and-choose my shots, try to get Joe going a little bit,” he said. “I really couldn’t get anything going in the first quarter so I thought I’d be a little more aggressive as the game went on. Got the guys going and tried to make the shots when I was open.”
- I supposed he made Joe happy by helping him get 17 shots for his 15 points while Teague made due with six fewer shots for his 16.
- Marvin Williams finally was back to the confident catch-and-shoot game that had looked so good late in the regular season. The points are so hard to come by for the mainstays in this series he has to knock down those open looks. He still looks less solid on defense than usual.
- Josh found his burst at times to collect 16 rebounds. He’s a tough guy but he sometimes tries to play the same way gimpy as when he’s well. The jump shots weren’t falling and there were some bad turnovers while trying to run the break but the six assists highlight his ability to make diagonal passes out of the post and interior passes to cutting teammates.
- With Horford back, Drew almost had no choice but to keep good players on the court and shortened the bench considerably. But he still managed to find a way to play Willie Green over Kirk Hinrich in the second half after Hinrich had seven points on four shots and played solid D in the first half.
- Drew also found minutes eight minutes for Erick Dampier and the way he handled him is typical. Dampier had a decent stretch in the first half, grabbing a couple rebounds and scoring on a nice catch around the basket. But instead of being happy/relieved that this happened, Drew went back to Dampier for a less-successful stretch in the second half.
- Credit Drew, though, for getting Horford back in the game after Ryan Hollins beat Dampier down the court for an oop dunk. “At the end of the third quarter I asked coach if he could sit me down for four or five minutes to I can come back and leave it all out there,” Al said. “But I had to go back in earlier than that.”
- The Hawks go back to Boston for what’s sure to be another slog with the Celtics.
- “Whatever we did [tonight], ball it up in a cup and take it with us,” Teague said. “We have just to come out and play hard again. It’s going to be a hostile environment. We’ve just got to get past those first five minutes and we’ll be fine.”
- “I wish we could have a game like they had on us, where nobody missed a shot in Game 4,” Josh said. “Unfortunately we haven’t had a game like that. The Boston Celtics are going to make you grind for every bucket, every point. You have to think and outsmart them on a lot of plays because their defensive I.Q. is almost perfect.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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91 comments Add your comment
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
12:48 am
1st again!
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
12:48 am
2nd!
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
12:48 am
big hug for drmaryb!
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
12:49 am
Yea All NBA was the difference…..
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
12:51 am
Hey Paul…..
Karma?
Hows that knee? Tough to make shots on one leg.. No Te-bowing for you Genius!
High-sider
May 9th, 2012
12:56 am
Game balls to Horford, Teague and Marvin, yes Marvin Williams. Honorable mention[s] to Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Kirk Hinrich.
Anonymous NBA Official
May 9th, 2012
12:56 am
Did anybody see Willie Green foul Ray Allen twice? Green didn’t touch Allen, but I made the calls because, well, it’s Willie Green.
JSS
May 9th, 2012
12:58 am
Man, stop saying Willie Green, I’ll be seeing him in my sleep!!!
i_am_soulstar
May 9th, 2012
12:58 am
Willie Green gets no love in this series. JJ’s secretly mad at him for missing that last shot in Game 3.
christopher mehegan
May 9th, 2012
1:00 am
HAHAHAHAHA U GUYS MAY HAVE WON THIS GAME TONIGHT BUT UNDERSTAND THIS U BUNCH OF ATLANTA PLAYOFF STEPPINGSTONE FOOTNOTE CHOKERS COME THURSDAY NIGHT THE FUNERAL PROCESSION FOR THE CHOKERS WILL BEGIN WHEN THE CELTICS WIPE THE PARQUEE FLOOR WITH THE ATLANTA CHOKERS RIGHT OUT OF BEANTOWN AND OUT OF BOSTON STRAIGHT INTO THE OFFSEASON CLOSING TIME HAWKS TIME TO PACK IT IN CAUSE UR SEASON WILL END THURSDAY FOR GOOD GREEN AND WHITE FOREVER BIYATCHES GO CELTICS C’S WIN GAME 6 AND THE SERIES 4-2
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
1:00 am
If ZaZa comes back.Hawks in 7!
Mike D
May 9th, 2012
1:04 am
@Big Lou no racist shid Im mixed talk to ya man Buddy Grizzard!
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 9th, 2012
1:04 am
Remember When?
Speaking of only 8 of 202 teams have come back from 3-1 to win a series, wasn’t Ray Allen on the losing end of one of those 8 teams?
Didn’t the Dikembe Mutombo led Denver Nuggets upset the Ray Allen lead Seattle Super Sonics around 1992 or 1993. I recall visions of a #8 seeded (Nuggets) upsetting the #1 seeded (Super Sonics) and, seeing Dikembe laid out and sprawled in the paint, with tears streaming and the ball clenched on the floor over his supine head.
Ray Allen had a look of disbelief in his eyes, I wonder if he had a De JaVu moment tonight as the game slipped away. If my memory serves me correct … The Hawks could make history repeat itself and, reset the record books to read:
9 of 202 teams have climbed back from 3-1 in a 1st round series. The Caveat is those 1st round series were only 5 games.
______________________
LETS GO HAWKS and MAKE HISTORY repeat ITSELF!!!
JSS
May 9th, 2012
1:06 am
It is what everyone expected from Horford after the 2009 playoffs… Assertive, confident, elevating the player next to him!
TMACfan
May 9th, 2012
1:07 am
RAY ALLEN DID NOT PLAY IN 1992. HE IS NOT 60 YEARS OLD.
TMACfan
May 9th, 2012
1:07 am
You are talking about Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton
najah dappenfart
May 9th, 2012
1:07 am
Great performance to take it to Game 6!
Mike D
May 9th, 2012
1:08 am
@drmaryb. You must work for espn or nbatv cause you stay coming with the stats! I see why everyone is in love with you on this blog:)
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 9th, 2012
1:10 am
Perhaps that was 1995 or 1996?
MattP
May 9th, 2012
1:10 am
Sounds like someone is pissed the Celtics lost a game they should have won.
Rusty
May 9th, 2012
1:12 am
Great game to win. LD tried his earnest to lose the game.putting Willie in was really stupid.going to iso Joe at the game almost gave the game away.JJ played poor Al was just unbelievable having that kind of game after the injury & not being in game shape,a great effort from a man with a big heart.Josh was just Josh,good game inspite of many errors.it throwing away the pass to rondo was on LD,wanting to give the ball to iso Joe,coming out of a timeout it looked like a cluster fk.what kind of play was that,I think that the hawks didn’t have any timeouts & time was running out.it’s funny I’ve seen more praise for KH on here than for JT.jt played a great game ,steady as a rock on offense & defense.for a guy practically a rookie,he shows great poise.He would be much better if LD would put an end to iso Joe,iso Joe almost cost us this game & if we keep that up we will get eliminated by the celts. Great win but it was so hard because of LD & iso Joe.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 9th, 2012
1:14 am
tmac fan … i didn’t see your post, but i adjusted my calculation without provocation. i see you cant add either … 60 years old? you’re worse off than me.
anyway, in your negativity, you missed the whole point.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 9th, 2012
1:17 am
Grand Mama & The Glove … Tmac Fan? That sounds about right. The only player I remember from Seattle was Rashard Lewis & Ray Allen though. But Shawn and Gary does ring a bell now.
I had a lot going on in my life back then, I was clubbing hard! LOL
EmirS.
May 9th, 2012
1:18 am
So can we win in Boston?
A win there and we come back to Atlanta with HUGE momentum!
shua
May 9th, 2012
1:21 am
Hawks need fi go sit down! Celtics GOT THIS….they just had to make it more interesting…MOST OF ATL ARE BOSTONIANS ANYWAYS…lol
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 9th, 2012
1:24 am
MikeD
HaHa … I used to watch ESPN 24/7 9 years ago. I haven’t watched that crap one minute since. I got burned out on the same re-run every 30 minutes. Thank God i moved on from that. I was starting to hear that tune in my sleep.
I did become a walking stats troll of every thing sports. from hockey to baseball and everything in between. medical school put a end to all that noise.
(no grammar tonight, im too tired to hit the shift key) LOL im just so glad we won!!!
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 9th, 2012
1:28 am
Nice-ities!
“big hug for drmaryb!” -slimjr-
_______
and, a soft wet kiss for slimjr. Mmmm Good!
CamiloAtlanta
May 9th, 2012
1:30 am
Christopher Mehouligan, nobody doubts your precious Celtics. You guys have the superior team and coach. I’m amazed we won. How could the Celtics lose two to the lowly psychotic Hawks, it’s scary. Lebron is gonna feast on your old bones.
doc
May 9th, 2012
1:35 am
Refs called a lot of phantom fouls tonight wanting change the flow of the game but failed whenn pp air balled it at the end. They also swallowed the whistle on the other end. It is really hard to be an atl fan playing against these odds.
soullrenaissance
May 9th, 2012
1:41 am
On to the next one! A fitting way for the game to end was for Horf to get the defensive stop after a Smoove gaff. We needed that hustle in the worst way. I feel we can win game 6. With Horford back the Cs better be very afraid. Saved LD his job.
Tom
May 9th, 2012
1:48 am
Was JJ an iso player in Phoenix? I think he was more of a catch and shoot kind of guy with the suns.
soullrenaissance
May 9th, 2012
1:48 am
Great job Teague!
TMACfan
May 9th, 2012
1:55 am
@drmaryb.(*_*).
I was exaggerating lol
TMACfan
May 9th, 2012
1:56 am
GO HAWKS!! TAKE IT TO GAME 7 and WIN IT ALL!!!!!!!!!
High-sider
May 9th, 2012
2:07 am
Buddy Grizzard
May 9th, 2012
12:31 am
KH is awesome! Plus he’s white! We watch all the games at our Klan meetings!
———————————————————————-
Josh Smith, Al Horford, Joe Johnson, and Jeff Teague are all awesome because they’re black! The Hawks are back to its all-black starting five – great! The Hawks have a great black head coach in LD – hip hip hooray! The Hawks would be immensely better if the [Hawks] team had Jamal Crawford, who’s black [smile], instead of Kirk Hinrich, who’s white [frown]. We watch all the Hawks games at our [New] Black Panther Party and NOI [Nation of Islam] meetings. It’s fun to be around [other] black racists and black supremacists [who think] just like me [dripping with sarcasm].
High-sider
May 9th, 2012
2:16 am
In addition, the Hawks need a black owner [or black owners], a black GM and an all-black executive management staff. That would be just dreamy; right Buddy Grizzard [sarcasm]? I know you were just joking Buddy Grizzard and so was I or was I [just joking]? Just kidding. [LOL and LMAO] I may disagree with you, Buddy Grizzard, northcyde and vava74 but it’s all good. I’m cool.
paul
May 9th, 2012
2:21 am
celtics lost this game when they took their foot off the gas in the second quarter. Gotta put Stiemsma in the game over this Hollins guy too. A good block can change the flow of the game. Anyways, Rivers wasn’t prepared for containing Horford in this game. Clearly he is a gamechanger for the Hawks. Back to the drawing board so we can close it out at home. Go celts. Tough series guys, may the best team win
northcyde
May 9th, 2012
2:23 am
Smh. I thought drmaryb typed “nice-t!ties”.
I just left Pin-Ups an hour ago, so my mind is playing tricks on me.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 9th, 2012
2:53 am
“Sure, because otherwise the Hawks lose this game and the story might be about how Joe managed just four points on six shots in the second half and bogged down the offense by constantly being indecisive until help came and he dribbled away from the basket.”
Haha. Real talk. Tell it like it is MC.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 9th, 2012
2:59 am
“Was JJ an iso player in Phoenix? I think he was more of a catch and shoot kind of guy with the suns.”
He was entirely a catch and shoot guy, and played some backup PG for them. I really think the playoff series when he broke his face, and the season ending injury he suffered in 2006 with the Hawks, changed his identity as a player. Both of those made him significantly less willing to drive inside and absorb contact.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 9th, 2012
3:00 am
drmaryb, you got everything right about that Sonics-Nuggets series except the presence of Ray Allen. Allen only made it to the Sonics in like 2005 or something. He played the first seven or eight years of his career in Milwaukee, and made it to the playoffs with Sam Cassell and Glenn Robinson several times.
vava74
May 9th, 2012
3:11 am
Rebounding and Defense wins games.
We out-rebounded BOS for the second time on a tight defensive game and got the second win.
The other time the Hawks out-rebounded BOS is not relevant since they did not play any D and were routed, but the bottom line is always: play D and out-rebound your opponent and you win games.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 9th, 2012
3:11 am
Triple doubles are a great indicator of a versatile player, but they can also be a little overrated, especially when talking about the other team’s defensive effort. Rondo’s game today (6/17, 13 pts, 12 dimes, 5 boards, 5 steals, 5 turnovers) is in many ways similar to his game during the Game 3 triple double (7/22, 17 pts, 12 dimes, 14 boards, 4 steals, 6 turnovers), with the obvious exception of rebounding.
A big difference between Game 3 and Game 5, though, is that Game 3’s starting Hawks center collected 3 rebounds, while Game 5’s starting center collected 11 rebounds.
The Hawks in general, and Teague in particular, took some heat for the way Rondo was defended after that Game 3. I don’t think the Hawks as a team defended Rondo poorly in either game, despite the fact that Rondo put up a triple double in Game 3. He had an inefficient game tonight just like he did in Game 3. That is a good thing for the Hawks, regardless of what the final stats show.
hawkfan
May 9th, 2012
3:19 am
well like I said before about bringing Horford back early, he clearly won the game for us today and without him tonight I don’t think we would have won, even charles on tnt gave a shoutout to the hawks for “showing up” tonight haha
Mate.
May 9th, 2012
4:20 am
christopher mehegan takes it up the ass.
if you’re anything by which to judge celtics fans then i judge you to be a f***ing idiot. toggle caps lock off and take your stupid ranting to the celtics’ fan page where you can all have a big, stupid, uneducated, inbred orgy together.
ATL <3
Editor Superior
May 9th, 2012
4:29 am
Holy shnikes, Michael Cunningham! Are you proofreading these articles AT ALL before you post them? I had an extremely hard time reading it because there were so many words that were misspelled, missing, doubled, or in completely the wrong place in the sentence.
JustAThought
May 9th, 2012
6:01 am
So…………….the hawks decided they want to die a slow long death. But know and understand people, they will not get out the 1st round. As I said they are just prolonging the inevitable.
Mark
May 9th, 2012
6:02 am
We won this Game INSPITE of Larry Stupid Drew! What a waste! I mean for IVAN JOHNSON who was the Rookie of the Month to see no playing time is pathetic especially since he gives you extra rebounding. Drew is a DUFUS!
Buddy Grizzard
May 9th, 2012
6:16 am
MC getting all his licks in.
Splackaveli
May 9th, 2012
6:18 am
*sighs* 1992-1993 would be 19-20 years ago. It’s 2012. Someone really believes Ray Allen is a TWENTY YEAR NBA vet? Besides, he was with the Bucks until 02-03.
This why women shouldn’t leave the kitchen to attempt to talk sports.
Buddy Grizzard
May 9th, 2012
6:24 am
Haha great stuff High Cyder!
Buddy Grizzard
May 9th, 2012
6:56 am
I’m a big George Muresan fan btw:
http://www.truthaboutit.net/2009/07/the-washington-wizards-and-the-white-man.html
Najeh Davenpoop
May 9th, 2012
7:28 am
By the way, it is spelled Splackavellie. He spells it out like 15 times in that song.
Mike D
May 9th, 2012
7:29 am
@High Sider
Get em, Buddy Grizzard dude you are a joke!
Jamaaliver
May 9th, 2012
7:34 am
We gotta get rid of Josh Smith. That dude is killing us.
ajk
May 9th, 2012
7:37 am
AJC – please buy a spell check module so your writers can do a better job with their articles.
Buddy G
May 9th, 2012
7:39 am
By the way, I have a new nickname for Josh Smith. He shall henceforth be J-Swiss! Because he shoots himself in the crotch so much it’s like Swiss cheese down there!
Jimmy Crack
May 9th, 2012
7:46 am
A gutty win for the Hawks.
Section 303
May 9th, 2012
7:55 am
I’m still not sure what I actually saw the final 10 seconds last night. Hawks kind of won inspite of themselves.
I respect the h#ll out of him for playing on his injured knee, but old Josh Smith came back last night. He made awful decisions with the ball. His chuck-and-duck inbounds pass, late in the 3rd, started the Boston run. The Hawks literally gave them 10 pts. Game never should have been so close.
Part of why I get so frustrated with this series…..if both teams are at full strength, the Hawks are better than the Celtics.
O'brien
May 9th, 2012
8:06 am
Good team win for the Hawks. 2 issues with LD though. 1) Why leave Willie Green out there? 2) Iso-JJ down the stretch.
Just say no to Iso-Joe.
Northcyde,
Your boy JJ was 6-17, and 1-5 from 3. Maybe he is saving his monster game for game 6 in Boston, which I think the Hawks will find a way to win.
Section 303
May 9th, 2012
8:11 am
Also….anyone want to have a debate on Al Horford’s worth? Waiting…….
O'brien
May 9th, 2012
8:19 am
Vava,
Any comments on Al’s game?
FTPB,
Ra’mon,
Good to see you give Al some props (although its only one game). I like Zaza’s physicality, but he is not the threat on offense that Al can be, and he doesn’t have the chemistry with Josh that Al has either.
If Al commits himself to being physical in the post, I think him and Zaza is a good center combination, and I prefer Dampier as the 3rd center over Twin.
However, the challenge for this team will be JJ’s contract, and Marvin’s contract, because everybody else is tradeable, but nobody wants Marvin or JJ.
Fireld!
May 9th, 2012
8:25 am
Bad win if there is such a thing. 3 questions?
1.Why does Horford (6″10 245) and Josh Smith (6″9 240) wave Teague off(4TIMES AND 1 CRUCIAL TO IN 4TH QTR), come down turn the ball over and it’s ok?
2.Why did we run the pick and roll with Teague and Horford in the last 4 min and it resulted in a dunk and then run iso joe the next to plays and ended with Horford shooting a long jump shot with one second left of shot clock.
3. When we need to in bound the ball, why is Teague(our fastest player) planted on the other side of the court in the corner instead of using his speed to recieve the inbound pass and it results in a TO.
Last night we won in spite of flawed coaching and we can not beat good teams like that. I can’t be the only person seeing this, why are people allowing LD’s inability to coach make this team look bad?
Cwebb
May 9th, 2012
8:39 am
Michael Cunningham,
It’s so obvious you don’t like Joe Johnson. I think it becomes a little unprofessionnal. You’re a journalist, not a fan. Your have to be fair in your judgements. You have the power to influence people and it is what you do. You’re dividing the fan base by bashing a player. We are Hawks fans. We’re supposed to stay united. Stop trying to divide us and be act like a real journalist
The True #7
May 9th, 2012
8:51 am
Don’t say much but gotta say this… If you’re a big guy running the break the ball GIVE THE BALL UP AND BE PREPARED TO RECEIVE IT AT THE BASKET! Points run breaks!
7
Fireld!
May 9th, 2012
8:51 am
“going to iso Joe at the game almost gave the game away.” “jt played a great game ,steady as a rock on offense & defense.for a guy practically a rookie,he shows great poise.He would be much better if LD would put an end to iso Joe,iso Joe almost cost us this game & if we keep that up we will get eliminated by the celts. Great win but it was so hard because of LD & iso Joe.”
Rusty you rock! I thought it was just me.
mountain_jim
May 9th, 2012
8:54 am
I agree with Doc above that the officiating in this series, and the last 2 games, is nowhere close to even. The Celtics constantly are allowed to hack away on dribblers and bump shooters, with no calls, and the Hawks get called for the slightest touch on D…
That’s one reason why the Celtics defense is so good – no fouls get called.
How many times were Hawks fouled on drives to the hoop with no call? Teague was getting killed with no call.
It’s clear who the NBA and networks want to televise in the next round.
vava74
May 9th, 2012
9:00 am
OB,
A couple of days ago I mentioned here on the blog that the main reasons we were not beating the Celts was the fact that we were missing:
Horford;
Zaza;
J-Smoove for crucial 4th quarter minutes during game 2 and game 3
ie. we missed completely or significant chunks of 3 of our best 4 front court players, so there was absolutely no reason to consider that the situation in which we were in (down 3-1) was unacceptable and shameful.
That post was also a response to the same nincompoops (and to some agreement on the blog directed at them) that continuously say that we are missing Jamal or any other kind of no-defense gunner.
My criticism of Al never overruled the fact that we obviously are better if we can count on him to be on the court (PLAYING C).
Also, I NEVER said (like others do) that Al does not play D and I have always credited him for being a mobile C who shows up in the perimeter on defensive rotations and drops back really well back into the paint.
My criticism of Al was ALWAYS focusing on his preference to play PF and his preference to shoot from the outside, which is something that was bound to become less effective since scouting picked up on him.
Having said that above, Game 6 will be the litmus test since I think that Al was an ace which LD had on his sleeve and that was already played and for which Doc did not have an IMMEDIATE answer.
Let’s see if Doc makes adjustments, but it is obvious and clear that in a game in which even Marvin re-emerged from the dead, we had 5 offensive options on the floor (with Al playing at least a decent level of D), only LD and our talent to self-combustion could prevent us from winning.
Clowns at work
May 9th, 2012
9:02 am
Josh Smith handling the inbounds play with the game on the line. Bwahahaha. Only an idiot for a coach would have him passing the ball…..oh well that explains why the Hawks are the Hawks.
Big Daddy
May 9th, 2012
9:04 am
Great win last night but I echo that is should not have been that close. Fireld!, you are right on the money that too often our bigs, especially Josh decides to run the break down the floor. As soon as Boston gets a rebound it goes into Rondo’s hands. I have seen Josh give the ball up more in the last several weeks but not nearly enough. In game 3 I saw Jeff above the top of the kep with his arms out demanding the ball and being ignored. The result was a turnover.
Iso Joe is detrimental. It always has been and always will be. There is too much dribbling and not enough passing. Look how the ball gets passed around when Boston has it. If you are going to run it, at least get most of the team over ot the other side of the floor where they can’t come and make double teams quickly. Right now, they just stand around wherever they are.
We have a chance on Thursday to do what we have never done, put ourselves in a real postion to oust Boston in a playoff round. GO HAWKS.
MsDee
May 9th, 2012
9:05 am
northcyde,
I see your streak continues..what, is it 6-2 when u attend a Hawks playoff game? Any chance u could make a surprise entrance there in the Garden?
. We should could use it up there.
As much as I like Josh, he is a complete IDIOT sometimes. He speaks soo very well too, ““I wish we could have a game like they had on us, where nobody missed a shot in Game 4,” Josh said. “Unfortunately we haven’t had a game like that. The Boston Celtics are going to make you grind for every bucket, every point. You have to think and outsmart them on a lot of plays because their defensive I.Q. is almost perfect.”
SO WHY IN CARNATION DO U HAVE AN ‘IQ’ OF A SQUIRREL? The 1st 2 or 3 possessions of the game and your crazy BUTT jack up shots after shots. Even if you make those, Josh, IT STILL ISNT A GOOD DECISION! This is the main reason why u never get chosen into the All-Star. Stop trying to make it based on your ways but base it on the way games SHOULD be played!
If I had to choose only 2 starters from the Hawks to keep, it would be, HANDS DOWN, Teague and Horford. Why? Because they are the ONLY 2 starters with basketball IQ’s!
Ray
May 9th, 2012
9:09 am
Got to say hate on me if you want Hawks dodge a bullet they realize that up to those last 2:39 of the game it was a miracle they even beat Boston.
In a way it seems more like Boston defeated themselves last night.
Still as it stands Marvin and Joe can both GTFO neither one of them are good Joe is still a fake all-star and Marvin is still Marvin the Duck.
O'brien
May 9th, 2012
9:11 am
I know it’s only one game, but 1) Marvin showed up 2) We did not miss Jamal
Rod from CP must be shaking in his boots
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
9:14 am
Yes, why is the one handed dribbler waving off the guard and running the break?
He may have been watching to much NBA classics with Magic running the break in rehab perhaps? Hmmmm..
A sign of lack of leadership at the HC position? Possibly…
Just Keep Big Ray off the ledge when its all said and done cause it cant hold his big azz…. LOL!
Go Fal-cons! Dx3———>
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
9:19 am
And just for the record chest pumping Big Al cheerleaders, if Paul had two good knees he hits that wide open midrange jumper with 10sec left and puts a dagger through the hearts of many last night…Whew….
Lacsho
May 9th, 2012
9:21 am
Watching Horford run the floor for dunks in Game 4, I realized it had been so long since I’d seen him out there I kind of forgot how good he can be. “That was the team they started the season with,” Doc Rivers said. “They now have it, so now we have to deal with it.”
Exactly, I’d forgotten how good Al was. Al and Teague ran the pick and roll perfect. Now if we can get Josh and Joe to stop competing for shots, we’ll be good to go. This team could be so much better if we had a legit coach. During different stretches in the game, I’d love to see Al and Ivan in at the same time.
Great win in typical Hawks fashion!!!!
KevinM
May 9th, 2012
9:23 am
OB, great Marvin double figures prediction….did you base that on the odds that Marvin has 1 good game/week?
Can we all agree that with Al we match up much better with Boston than without him? I think Zaza would have made us better and we could be up 3-2 instead of down 2-3 with either of them.
790thezone already looking forward to the possiblity that we could ‘STEAL’ a win tomorrow night and make Game 7 one of the biggest ever in Hawks’ history this weekend. Anyone else thinking that?
I predicted at best Hawks in 7 before the series, but that was based on HC alone. For tomorrow night, if we keep our rotation short and I mean very short, we have a shot. But you can’t let Marvin play big minutes again. He just isn’t dependable enough for that.
Give me a sprinkle of Marvin, and an handful of T-Mac on the road in Boston and I think we might have a shot.
And for gosh sakes, tell the big men to give up the ball in the open court to JT!
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
9:23 am
#15, a newer version of Magic? What a coaches dream..Larry must be ecstatic?
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
9:25 am
Hey Larry, Marvin shot his load..Hes done for game 6…He’ll have on the cloak again for sure….
Ray
May 9th, 2012
9:25 am
Al Horford did play lights out yesterday, but still I want Marvin and Joe gone they are the two players we don’t need.
Sorry to disappoint many hawks fans we’re not pulling a win out in Boston tomorrow just saying.
KevinM
May 9th, 2012
9:26 am
Slim, I am basing Al’s success on him sitting for so long. He is refreshed and is hungry….throw that and the fact that Boston is not that dominant on the inside.
I like our chances, and that’s better than what I thought after the implosion in Q3-Game 2.
KevinM
May 9th, 2012
9:29 am
Al with some swagger at 0:00 last night with a ‘MF’ acknowledgement…was that directed at motor mouth KG?
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
9:30 am
Its all about match ups…Indiana would be All’s worst nightmare right about now…..
MsDee
May 9th, 2012
9:30 am
Only way we and a CHANCE at winning in Boston is if Paul Pierce has another game like he had last night. Other than that, WE CAN FORGET IT! Just hope we lose with class and not like game 4..yuck!!
MsDee
May 9th, 2012
9:32 am
correction: Only way we HAVE a CHANCE at winning in Boston
MsDee
May 9th, 2012
9:35 am
Oh and MC,
Why don’t you respond to our comments anymore? (not sure why Im writing this, as if u are really going to respond)
KevinM
May 9th, 2012
9:40 am
Does Philly get it done in Game 6? Dang, Deng must still be hurt, because he looks bad.
You gotta think Philly gets it done tomorrow night.
Grandad
May 9th, 2012
9:51 am
Gm JeJe (GM)
Morose … I think not … irascible suits me better.
Boston att 92 FTs … PP & KG:
had been called for only 12 fouls ea. Avg 3 per … prior to last eve
also ea had played the most min = 160 & 159
Game two & three respectively PP att 27 FTs – making 25 …
game two 26 of 31 – PP=11 of 13 … game one 10 of 13
Game three … 22 of 25
Atlanta att 73 FTs
Game two 16 of 20 … Game one 14 of 21 … 12 of 15 …
Someone please read this out loud to JeJe
so he will understand the words on the page.
Last eve;
Our hawks held a 12 point lead and with our plyrs psyche,
precarious comes to mind.
Suddenly Teaguer is fouled twice going to the hoop = no call;
Two illegal screens *[more on that later] / (Damp / Horford);
An obvious
[I counted the steps in slo-mo = five]
walking call on Boston … missed or ignored;
and the 12 pt lead has been cut to 10 by the end of the 3rd qtr.
Yes, we made two egregious turnovers, admittedly.
*note – the psyche thing
My greater point
and anyone contesting what I say must read Donaghy`s book.
*[corraberated by the FBI, specifically - Special Agent Phil Scala]
The NBA sends out memos prior to games with the intent to influence;
Such as:
*directive – watch the hawks for illegal screens … (hypothetical exp)
*directive – a foul was missed on LBJ last nite …
(make sure that doesn`t happen again) ! … another hypothetical exp
*directive – We received a complaint from Boston …
” watch the Hawks ”
& make sure they are –not- being overly physical with Pierce
(another hypothetical)
Plus it is well known from Donaghy`s insider info:
Certain officials hated:
*Iverson – when _______ was officiating …
TD passed info to bet against Philly.
*All officials hated Cuban … one in particular …
-this particular fella officiated last eve for our game-
***It would not surprise me to find out that certain refs
have an agenda against T-Mac.
Clearly I am not saying the refs cost us game four.
Plus, neither am I saying that officials [referees] are the root cause
of the Hawks problems, which are in order:
1. ASG
2. Sund
3. Joe – not entirely his doing; he just cannot live up to his contract.
4. Josh- 90% not his fault = the fault lies in coaching
5. Past mistakes [drafting] … BK
6. Larry Drew
*post script – My feeling is;
With a Josh, Al, Teaguer, Zaza … dynamic,
Including wise drafting and $ management this summer,
Including ‘`one`’ brilliant FA signing, plus an additional Big
-then-
This club can make a run for a championship.
Did I address your issues JeJe ?
Lacsho
May 9th, 2012
9:55 am
I agree with Teague ; the hawks have to withstand the initial run in Boston, and the Hawks need to sustain the third quarter run.
Welcome back AL, he’s the true team leader. If Al and Josh give Teague the ball on the break, they would average 6 more points per game. If I’m a big man, I’m following up on Teagues drives to the whole. Some of those misses should be easy put backs.
Boston looks tired to me!!!
Grandad
May 9th, 2012
9:55 am
My apologies for that !
I didn`t want JeJe to think I forgot about him.
Also my games 2 through 4 research was a bit scattered.
I was transferring to word and back to the blog
-and-
I type *’`real`’* s l o w .
Michael Cunningham
May 9th, 2012
9:56 am
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.