Atlanta Hawks at Celtics: Game 6 thread
Boston–The Celtics said Paul Pierce has a sprained left MCL. Doc Rivers: “It’s not the best situation but he’s going to play. We have to find out what he can do on the floor. We have to find the most effective way he can score. He said he has more life energy-wise [than Game 5], but the knee is the same.”
- Same starting lineup for Hawks. Larry Drew on the lineup in Game 5: “It did pretty much what I expected. We’ve been waiting on Marvin [Williams] to make some shots. He’s had some good looks.”
- Drew on Hawks’ health: “They are holding their own. We have got some guys that are a little banged up. But looking around the league, other teams do as well. It’s playoff time. The play has been very physical. We have just got to push through it.”
- Drew on Josh Smith: “I think he’s getting better. He’s been battling a sore knee pretty much the whole season. He’s been quiet about it. He knows we need him and he has to play hurt, so that’s what he’s doing. I give him a lot of credit for that. I do think he’s showing signs of the knee improving.”
- Josh said he would spend extra time pregame getting warm: “I feel a little better. It takes a little bit of time for the knee to get warmed up.”
- Zaza Pachulia got up some shots at shootaround for the first time since he injured his foot. “It went well,” he said. “Honestly I wasn’t expecting to participate in the shootaround. Mindset leaving hotel was kind of watch it. Went up to doctor, he ran a couple tests and said, ‘Why don’t you try to shoot?’ Body was feeling great. I was able to finish.”
- Zaza said a return in the second round if the Hawks advance is “more realistic” than playing in Game 7 Saturday if they win tonight.
- Drew on minutes for Al Horford and the other starters: “These guys have been piling up a lot of minutes. It’s just a situation where we are trying to win a game. If the game is getting away from us, I have got to get my starters back in there. This is do or die for us.”
- Al said he feels like his defensive timing is off in help situations but “on the ball I feel strong.”
- More Al: “For sure I have fresher legs but I don’t know if that’s totally an advantage. These guys have been in a rhythm. I’m just trying to make it work for me.”
- Josh on Al: “He has fresher legs than everyone in the series. Why not play him?”
- Drew on Kirk Hinrich’s limited playing time after halftime in Game 5: “I anticipated playing Kirk more in the second half. But Jeff [Teague] has the speed and we needed that. As long as [Rajon] Rondo is in the game, Jeff will be in there defending him.”
- More Doc Rivers on Pierce’s knee: “He’s not going to get to the line as much. That’s just the way it is. We have to create other ways. We can get Kevin to the post more but they are doubling him so it makes it hard for him to get to the line, too. We have to create other ways.”
- Don in Mickael Pietrus’ shooting struggles: “When your shot doesn’t go in and you are not a great player, then it can cause your confidence to drop.” Doc said Marquis Daniels could take some of Pietrus’ minutes: “He can guard Joe [Johnson] almost as well. But the thing with ‘MP’ is they still guard him at the 3-point line. With Marquis, they would not. It would be another guy they could leave.”
- Drew on the keys to getting off to a better start here than in Game 4: “Shot selection and not turn the ball over. We were in a hurry last game. We made a lot of early, ill-advised passes. We didn’t explore our options. We were looking to one side, and Boston is too good for that.”
- Josh on the Celtics: “I see them trying to come out early and establish themselves and get the crowd into it and try to make it into a physical game.”
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
1,540 comments Add your comment
Big Ray
May 10th, 2012
11:15 pm
Najeh ,
Well, I can’t argue with that. But if Joe’s around, Josh wants out, I’m thinking. I can’t prove it, but I just know it. And I say that Josh can’t keep up what he did in the second half of the season with these same team issues.
Agree or disagree? Interested in your view. What do we do if he wants out?
soullrenaissance
May 10th, 2012
11:15 pm
We got jobbed by the refs bigtime (especially that inbounds play) but JJ not dunking, Smoove thinking he was Rashard Lewis in the end and the missed FT by All NBA Al…Still proud of this team for the fighgt they displayed. Can we get Sloan and Nash up in here this off season?
Peace to the blog fam – its been a good year.
Big Ray
May 10th, 2012
11:16 pm
This core’s ceiling is the Eastern Conference Finals, and that is with good coaching.
Yeah. REALLY good coaching. Which we won’t get, given our track record with picking coaches the last 6+ years.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2012
11:16 pm
“And Josh DID have an option. I show that Shawn Kemp dunking on Alton Lister play all the time. It took Kemp all of 2 seconds to get to the rim.
The point is if Josh catches that ball and attacks the rim, they either have to foul him, or he’s going to have one of the more spectacular playoff dunks in history . . in the Boston Garden.”
You need to watch that play again. Bass is right up in his grill. There are 5 seconds on the clock. And most importantly, Josh’s handles are not that good.
Boston was literally bear hugging Josh and Al that entire possession. You really think Josh is getting a foul call if he goes to the rim? Get real.
Most likely scenario if Josh tries to drive: he tries to go left, Bass cuts him off, he drives right, a guard collapses, and either a) the guard strips Josh of the ball, or b) Josh kicks it out to a shooter who doesn’t get the shot off in time.
Nobody in this league is going to not shoot in that situation. Not Blake Griffin, not Kevin Love, nobody.
MistaGamer
May 10th, 2012
11:17 pm
W.R. if we died because of Josh… then what affect did Al’s 7 turnovers have? Or your $120M guy managing to barely score 17 pts a game and shot 37 pct for 6 game series?
You guys kill me.
Bstr
May 10th, 2012
11:17 pm
Getting rid of josh is the only way to move forward. I can not watch him shoot another 20 ft jumper. He is obviously not coach able.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 10th, 2012
11:17 pm
Northcyde said Boston is not that good. And I agree.
But they have a better roster, better staff, and better fans than us.
We freaking blew that 4th qtr. just like we always do.
Ready for Sund’s “separate emotional from analytical…we had injuries- you cannot evaluate…we are young and veteran bench” remarks
Loserville USA
May 10th, 2012
11:17 pm
Can’t believe what I’m reading. Some of you have no clue.
Time for the offseason and to reflect on how this core blew it because of stupidity and selfishness.
Josh Smith taking an outside shot with the season on the line. Yeesh. Some of you actually like that guy. Joke.
brigadierjerry
May 10th, 2012
11:17 pm
At least the Celtics fans on their blog are admitting that that the refs gave them the benefit of some calls ans basically the game
The Celtics looked absolutely gassed tonight. They might get smoked by Philly or swept by the Heat.
I thought the two keys were when the Hawks I believe had a three point lead late and then let Paul Pierce go inside for a layup to cut it to one. Also, not getting that key offensive rebound up one letting Hollins get an offensive rebound which setup the Kevin Garnett turnaround shot.
Lets be honest Garnett won this game by himself. Rondo didnt do much neither did Allen or Pierce or anyone else.
Poor execution down the stretch by the Hawks. Why did Joe Johnson take a jumpshot up 3 i believe with Ryan Hollins guarding him? Also Josh Smith had some questionsable shots down the stretch. Horford was the best player down the stretch minus the free throws.
northcyde
May 10th, 2012
11:17 pm
Speaking of “cores” . . . My Cincinnati Bengals basically got rid of their 2 core players a year after making the playoffs in 2010.
- Carson Palmer
- Chad Johnson
The result . . . we got two good young players in Andy Dalton and AJ Green to replace them. 2 guys who actually played BETTER than those 2 did in 2011.
We Bengal fans went from uncertan despair, to “hell yeah, we have something to look toward the future to”.
With the right moves, the Hawks could have that same future. I just don’t want Sund pulling the trigger on those moves, or Drew coaching that future team.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2012
11:18 pm
By the way, when Shawn Kemp receives the ball for that Alton Lister dunk, there is a wide open lane in front of him with nobody checking him. Bass was right up in Josh’s grill. There is no comparison.
MistaGamer
May 10th, 2012
11:18 pm
Najeh… don’t suffer fools, it’s futile
soullrenaissance
May 10th, 2012
11:18 pm
Joes gotta go – soft arse.
thomas d
May 10th, 2012
11:18 pm
Hawks need to adjust ….we have 5 supporting role players and not 5 “NBA” starters. Josh’s mental mistake with the tech came at a bad time the momentum had shifted in our favor-
Joe Johnson-$120 mil might need another look
Marvin is a good guy but has lost what little NBA swagger he had and will likley be trade.
They need to give the ball to teague and let him lead the break-
Al Horford is always a class act-it’s unfortunate his missed FT came during the end of the game
i agree with a lot of posters here- it’s time to break up the team in some fashion-we’ve been down this road the last 5-6 years
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2012
11:18 pm
“Speaking of “cores” . . . My Cincinnati Bengals basically got rid of their 2 core players a year after making the playoffs in 2010.
- Carson Palmer
- Chad Johnson
The result . . . we got two good young players in Andy Dalton and AJ Green to replace them. 2 guys who actually played BETTER than those 2 did in 2011.”
Football is an unfair comparison. Andy Dalton was a 2nd round pick. The Hawks are not going to get better with 2nd round picks after jettisoning key players. That’s not how basketball works.
yoursporthousedotcom aka Sam from the Swats
May 10th, 2012
11:19 pm
http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_12.html
Section VII, B Personal Fouls, number (8) two free throw attempts if a personal foul is committed by a defender prior to the ball being released on a throw-in.
SO WHY ARE WE NOT TAKING 2 FREE THROWS AND THE BALL ON THE DEAD BALL FOUL. IN ADDITION, HOW IS THE HORFORD FOUL NOT FLAGRANT? NBA IS A JOKE, A COMPLETE JOKE!!
Big Ray
May 10th, 2012
11:19 pm
Nuking these guys could send the team into the lottery for the next 5 years. As it stands they are at least a playoff team. Would you rather have the Wizards??? True enough there are changes needed but a complete meltdown would be insane. New voice in GM office needed BAD. Coach needed BAD.
At which point do you not get that the GM and Coach choices are all about ownership?
I’d love to have the lottery for the next year or two….or have you forgotten how we fared in the lottery chances we’ve had over the last several years? Want a do-over? I damn sure do!
Bstr
May 10th, 2012
11:19 pm
I wish we could move joe, but no team in their right mind will take that contract. Not if you left it at the end of the driveway with a take me sign on it.
Shamrock
May 10th, 2012
11:20 pm
I am about to take a dildo up the rear
Lacsho
May 10th, 2012
11:21 pm
Damn Northcyde, I have to give you respect, since Cincy is my hometown, and the Bengals will make it to the Big Dance soon.
Problem Solver
May 10th, 2012
11:21 pm
Can we bring back Salim Stoudemire?
rob
May 10th, 2012
11:21 pm
The only move I would like to see happen is Rick Sund and Larry Drew not being offered jobs to come back.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 10th, 2012
11:22 pm
HIRE JERRY SLOAN
Big Ray
May 10th, 2012
11:22 pm
Football is an unfair comparison.
agreed…imagine that
mykhalc
May 10th, 2012
11:22 pm
same as it ever was is FINALLY over for ‘11-12 season…KA BOOM is just too much to ask for as a fan!!???!!!
Big Ray
May 10th, 2012
11:22 pm
I’m out. Can’t take this sorry franchise…let’s see what the offseason brings.
rob
May 10th, 2012
11:22 pm
well at least after today, no one will mention the Hawks on TNT anymore
Al Bundy
May 10th, 2012
11:22 pm
Would rather not blow up the team and stink out loud for 5 years. Little improvements are whats called for.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2012
11:23 pm
“Well, I can’t argue with that. But if Joe’s around, Josh wants out, I’m thinking. I can’t prove it, but I just know it. And I say that Josh can’t keep up what he did in the second half of the season with these same team issues.
Agree or disagree? Interested in your view. What do we do if he wants out?”
If they can’t pull off a two for one Dwight trade, I would just roll into next season with Teague, Al, Josh, and the first-round pick as the “core” and let them take the Hawks as far as they can go (with a midseason acquisition thrown in maybe).
If Josh walks, he walks. I just don’t like this idea that if you have a good team and a key player says he wants to test free agency, you just trade him and don’t even make an effort to compete for his services in the offseason. I can’t think of a single organization that pursued that route and got better.
If Josh stays after next year, great — and the Hawks may even have the cap space to pursue another free agent to add to the squad along with Teague/Josh/Al. If he walks, you can still sign-and-trade him and get the trade exception and low draft picks that you likely will get at the trade deadline for him anyway.
High-sider
May 10th, 2012
11:23 pm
Did you [Hawks' fans and AJC bloggers] really expect to win this [first round playoff] series against the Celtics without the Hawks’ “Boston Strangler” [Jamal Crawford]? Did you, really? Hell, I didn’t. What goes around, comes around. The Hawks did Crawford sh-tty, so the Celtics and [the] refs did the Hawks sh-tty [tonight]. I don’t understand why you all can’t see that. With Jamal last year, the Hawks advance to the second round. Without Jamal this year, the Hawks do not advance to the second round and are eliminated in the first round. Jamal led the NBA in FT% this year and Al Horford misses a FT to tie the score in a playoff elimination game. That’s not irony; that’s justice and I’m not talking about the “basketball gods.” That is/was the “universal law” playing itself out. The Hawks franchise was “weighed in the balance” [on the scales of justice] and came up “wanting” [or at fault or in the wrong]. It’s as simple as that.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2012
11:23 pm
^All assuming that Joe gets traded and Marvin gets amnestied, of course, and I acknowledge that neither one is necessarily likely to happen.
Bstr
May 10th, 2012
11:23 pm
Josh has value to a team with a strong head coach and a point guard who can distribute
reality
May 10th, 2012
11:24 pm
Refs, injuries, ___________________ insert whatever other excuse you have. Hawks Basketball History. BAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Go Green – Garnett is a man.
BIG DOG
May 10th, 2012
11:24 pm
Bstr – Joe could go 2 Knicks or Magic pick and choose ?
Specially with Woody coming back as a Knicks head coach, he love him self some Joe, JUST DAM
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Bstr
May 10th, 2012
11:24 pm
How bout the celtics
northcyde
May 10th, 2012
11:24 pm
Watch the play again Najeh
Although he did have Bass “in his grill”, he caught that ball with 7 seconds left. Gotta put that ball on the floor, or tell JJ to come get it so he can heave up a shot.
Josh was simply taking what the defense gave him . . his favorite 20 foot shot.
Gotta try to take Bass to the hole though and get to the line. If he drives right, he can maybe get to the hole. If he drives left into the paint, Ray Allen moves to cut him off, and he has a wide open Marvin.
Don’t act like he didn’t have options on that play. He had 7 seconds . . plenty of time.
But once again, I’m not going to kill Josh for that play. Just don’t defend him against having no other options but to shoot the ball either.
Problem Solver
May 10th, 2012
11:24 pm
Can somebody frame Josh so we can get out of the contract? Maybe Godfather II style?
mykhalc
May 10th, 2012
11:25 pm
didn’t even watch the game ’cause i KNOW this team is brain dead!!!
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 10th, 2012
11:25 pm
T-Mac was just allergic to shooting in 2nd half smh
christopher mehegan
May 10th, 2012
11:25 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHA GUESS WHAT U BUNCH OF DEPENDS SCRATCHING REFEREE BIYATCHING PANTS PORTOPOTTY POOPING ATLANTA PLAYOFF FOOTNOTE STEPPINGSTONE CHOKERS A 1 WAY TRIP BACK HOME TO CHOKELANTA FREE EXPENSES PAID TRIP OF THE BEST GOLFING YEAR ROUND AND ALL THE ICE FISHING UR PEACHHEAD SCUSBUCKETS CAN ASK FOR IN AN ENTIRE OFFSEASON YEAR ROUND HAHAHAHHAHAH NO MORE PLAYOFF GLORY FOR U JUST AN ENTIRE OFFSEASON OF MEDIOCRITY AND UNCERTAINESS HAHAHHAH GREEN & WHITE FOREVER GO CELTICS ENJOY UR OFFSEASON CHOKELANTA AS THE OLD SPORTS SAYING GOES WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR:)
yoursporthousedotcom aka Sam from the Swats
May 10th, 2012
11:25 pm
NBA IS A FCKN JOKE!!!
Darkness
May 10th, 2012
11:25 pm
Kevin Garnett needs to go jump off a cliff along with the referees. That in bound play in the final seconds was a huge blown call and would have allowed us to even the score and take the lead. Go Philly, please sweep these boston clowns.
reality
May 10th, 2012
11:26 pm
Don’t blame the Hawks, blame yourself for being a Hawks fan. What have they given you to cheer about?
prison mike
May 10th, 2012
11:26 pm
They fought hard but the Celts have Doc and we have Drew. The offense just sputtered just as bad as with Woody.
We need to go after Andre Miller in the offseason and pick up the best big available in the draft.
Bstr
May 10th, 2012
11:26 pm
Big dog- the Knicks can’t be interested in another guy who can’t play anything but iso
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 10th, 2012
11:26 pm
Can one of those billionaires in Cali who were interested in the Dodgers please buy this team?
Luke Cage
May 10th, 2012
11:27 pm
ya’ll coming up with trades that just won’t happen, I know something has to be done with this roster but I just don’t want to come out on the short end of the stick….Josh & Al will only get better, too bad Hoe Johnson has this team hamstrung.
starting to think maybe Hoe wanted to lose so he could just chill someplace and count up his ends.
Angry fan
May 10th, 2012
11:27 pm
Trade Joe & Josh to the Knicks for Amare, Shumpert/Fields
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2012
11:28 pm
“Gotta try to take Bass to the hole though and get to the line”
Joe drove to the rim and got mugged by Pierce two plays before that and there was no call. Josh is not going to get a call in that situation. No way.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 10th, 2012
11:28 pm
Series was lost in games 2 and 3..