Atlanta Hawks game thread: Rebounds matter vs. Pacers
Vivlamore reporting from Philips Arena.
Watch the Hawks’ rebounding totals tonight against the Pacers. It might well be a good indicator of which Hawks team we will see.
As we have documented, the Hawks were killed on the boards in the season-opening loss to the Rockets. They bounced back (pun intended) to out-rebound the Thunder in a win Sunday.
Now, here come the Pacers. Even without All-Star Danny Granger, who may miss three months with knee problems, the Pacers lead the NBA in average rebounds (53.3) and defensive rebounds (38.0) per game. The Hawks, by stark contrast, are 27th in rebounds (37.3) and 26th in defensive rebounds (27.5). The Pacers will be playing their fifth game while the Hawks will be playing only their third.
Rebounding will be a point of emphasis for the Hawks, according to coach Larry Drew.
“Their size has always been a problem for us,” Drew said. “(Roy) Hibbert is a big body in the middle, does a great job posting up, does a great job sealing in the paint. He always poses a problem for us. We are going to have to do a good job, collectively, in trying to defend him in the post.
“That being said, they do good job on the boards. With their size, they’ve got some guys who can rebound the basketball – Hibbert, (David) West and when (Tyler) Hansbrough comes into the game he’s known for his aggressive play and his ability to rebound the ball. We are going to have our hands full tonight. As I told our big guys we have to bring a physical mentality to the game tonight because it’s going to be physical. Our games with them have always been physical.”
The Pacers have three players in the top 40 in the NBA in rebounding. Guard Paul George is seventh (10.5), West is tied for 15th (9.3) and Hibbert is tied for 36th (7.8). The Hawks have only Al Horford in that group, tied for 25th (8.5).
Josh Smith returns after missing the last game with a sprained right ankle. The forward said now, more than ever, the team must adhere to its team rebounding approach.
“They have Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough coming off the bench, David West,” Smith said. “Their guards come in and rebound too. They definitely crash the boards and we are going to need everybody healthy and everybody in attendance tonight so we can gang rebound. It has to be a team effort.”
The Pacers (2-2) also lead the NBA in holding opponents to just a .389 field goal percentage.
- Chris Vivlamore
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447 comments Add your comment
terrell
November 7th, 2012
8:46 pm
Is Al guarding West?
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
8:46 pm
Nice of Horford to box out Granger. Sweet shot by JSmoove Groove.
Melvin
November 7th, 2012
8:46 pm
Does Al plan on playing in defense tonight?
Najeh Davenpoop
November 7th, 2012
8:47 pm
They need to do WAY more of that. Cut off the ball and you get an easy layup.
MattP
November 7th, 2012
8:47 pm
Holy Smith
Rod from College Park
November 7th, 2012
8:47 pm
David West destroying Al Horford at PF. But remember Horford is a great man to man defender. There is a reason the Pacers decided to exploit that matchup.
terrell
November 7th, 2012
8:48 pm
Korver with the BRICK.
cp
November 7th, 2012
8:48 pm
Korver cant buy a bucket
terrell
November 7th, 2012
8:49 pm
I bet Jenkins would hit one of those 3’s. smfgdh
Melvin
November 7th, 2012
8:49 pm
I really think that’s Ashton Kutcher wearing #26 for the Hawks
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
8:49 pm
I think Korver was a brick mason when Hawks signed him.
bigdave
November 7th, 2012
8:50 pm
Good low post position Al and entry from Jeff. Keep pounding..
Najeh Davenpoop
November 7th, 2012
8:50 pm
Zaza is the only Hawk with any rebounds so far.
J.J.M.
November 7th, 2012
8:50 pm
Korver defense better than his 3 point shooting so far lol
Smokey
November 7th, 2012
8:51 pm
korver still building a house…
Anyone else having issues with league pass freezing up?
Melvin
November 7th, 2012
8:51 pm
West is wearing AL out on offense….
cp
November 7th, 2012
8:51 pm
Sit Korver and get Morrow in
bigdave
November 7th, 2012
8:51 pm
Al is just not quick enough to hang with these PF’s.. been saying it for years.
Runner-
November 7th, 2012
8:51 pm
Good first quarter, great ball movement, gd D, Pacers just making their shots, some good basketball out there
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
8:51 pm
Where are the fans ? It looks like a high school basketball game.
Rod from College Park
November 7th, 2012
8:51 pm
Please get Korver out of the game LD. Guy looks like Marvin out there missing open shots.
Runner-
November 7th, 2012
8:52 pm
Hejan Poopnevad,
Why aren’t you at the game?
Atlhawksfan
November 7th, 2012
8:53 pm
Jenkins or morrow with this line up please take korver out
bigdave
November 7th, 2012
8:53 pm
He needs to absorb the contact like Josh, stop defending with his arms..
Najeh Davenpoop
November 7th, 2012
8:53 pm
Zaza is doing a really good job defensively.
That mini-Dream Shake that West put on Al to draw the foul before the timeout is exactly what I’d like to see Al can do. That doesn’t take fantastic athleticism or anything, just some practice, commitment, and decisiveness with the ball.
J.J.M.
November 7th, 2012
8:53 pm
Fans probably home playing halo 4
terrell
November 7th, 2012
8:53 pm
Al’s best position is at center. Been saying it for years.
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
8:54 pm
50 empty seats right behind Hawks bench. I would sell tickets for $5 each to fill up arena for tv.
JR
November 7th, 2012
8:54 pm
I think someone on the bench could make some of those open threes.
bigdave
November 7th, 2012
8:54 pm
Murder!
Najeh Davenpoop
November 7th, 2012
8:55 pm
Josh draws the double, kicks it out, and the resulting ball movement ends with a layup for Al (which he missed, but the point is it got the Hawks an easy shot).
Josh then gets single covered and owns his defender.
MsDee, Ken Strickland, I hope you are watching. This is why you run the offense through Josh and not Al.
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
8:55 pm
I loaned my cousin $50 bucks to buy an I-Pod. I’m broke as a joke.
J.J.M.
November 7th, 2012
8:55 pm
Lol nobody have korver dap
bigdave
November 7th, 2012
8:55 pm
Jeff not used to getting the whistle..
terrell
November 7th, 2012
8:55 pm
Al’s just too slow footed to stay with the pf’s. Not hatin on him. Just calling it like I see it.
Rod from College Park
November 7th, 2012
8:56 pm
LD. Lou Williams is not a POINT GUARD.
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
8:56 pm
But if I was there the crowd total would bump up to 975 from 974.
cp
November 7th, 2012
8:57 pm
Smh come on Josh
J.J.M.
November 7th, 2012
8:57 pm
*gave
bigdave
November 7th, 2012
8:57 pm
Devin has looked like starter quality early folks..
J-bone
November 7th, 2012
8:57 pm
Hibbitts!… everybody drink!
MattP
November 7th, 2012
8:58 pm
Love this Harris-Williams backcourt on offense.
bigdave
November 7th, 2012
8:58 pm
How its done.. Al can’t be scared of contact.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 7th, 2012
8:58 pm
Huge defensive play by Josh to draw foul #2 on West, who was murdering the Hawks until then.
Melvin
November 7th, 2012
8:58 pm
Way to take the charge Josh….
Rod from College Park
November 7th, 2012
8:58 pm
Josh checks West in the post and draws a charge. Hmmmm.
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
8:59 pm
People stayed home saved money for future because Obama was re-elected. Recession # 2 on the way.
DawgNole
November 7th, 2012
8:59 pm
Blast
November 7th, 2012
8:36 pm
Yep, they never reset their clock when time went back one hour.
_____________________
I’m sure they’ll take care of that by March, when we return to EDT.
JR
November 7th, 2012
9:00 pm
It took 8 minutes for Josh to launch a stupid shot. Is he not bright enough to know where he should be playing? Uh, Josh, where have you scored at will tonight? You are not and will not ever be Lebron.
michael
November 7th, 2012
9:01 pm
ivan in before tolliver