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
cp
November 7th, 2012
9:19 pm
Lazy defense right there
phil
November 7th, 2012
9:19 pm
Put Idiot Josh in, lead evaporates….
Only 79 more games til we’re rid of this guy.
tank
November 7th, 2012
9:20 pm
The personality of this team is changing with the new guys, but old ways still remain (Josh complaining and putting his hands up when things dont go right)
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
9:20 pm
If Zaza gets any slower moving up & down court he gonna need a wheel chair.
Sautee
November 7th, 2012
9:20 pm
“Melvin, are you refusin to spell Korver’s name correctly?”
AJ, are you refusing to spell refusing correctly?
Hawkfan
November 7th, 2012
9:21 pm
Devin Harris and Lou Williams look like the real guards and JT0 and KK look like the scrubs.
phil
November 7th, 2012
9:21 pm
Fire Rathbun!!
tank
November 7th, 2012
9:21 pm
I want Josh out of here, sick of his personality he will never change. Did any team sign Jannero Pargo? i know willie green is on clippers
Ghost of Woody
November 7th, 2012
9:21 pm
Can’t push the pace with Zaza starting.
terrell
November 7th, 2012
9:22 pm
Why not give Jenkins a shot? Cant be any worse than Korver.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 7th, 2012
9:22 pm
Nice shot Al. Hibbert giving him a lot of space, apparently more scared of him driving than his shot.
cp
November 7th, 2012
9:23 pm
Good shot Jeff
phil
November 7th, 2012
9:24 pm
At least Al is trying…
Hawkfan
November 7th, 2012
9:24 pm
Take him Al
Najeh Davenpoop
November 7th, 2012
9:24 pm
I wish Al did that about five times a game.
cp
November 7th, 2012
9:24 pm
I would love to.see Al do.more of that
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
9:24 pm
Hibby got dunked on @horford
cp
November 7th, 2012
9:25 pm
Pargo is with the Wizards
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
9:26 pm
No defense @Zaza
tank
November 7th, 2012
9:26 pm
Teague needs to work on those threes
Najeh Davenpoop
November 7th, 2012
9:26 pm
Teague has to hit that shot. Josh is consistently finding open teammates when he gets doubled. Those opportunities have to be converted.
cp
November 7th, 2012
9:27 pm
Where is the defense smh
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
9:27 pm
No defense @Zaza @horford @korver…
Melvin
November 7th, 2012
9:27 pm
Al is playing this 2nd qtr
J.J.M.
November 7th, 2012
9:28 pm
Lmfao zaz
Hawkfan
November 7th, 2012
9:28 pm
ZaZa with a vintage Duck like move
Najeh Davenpoop
November 7th, 2012
9:28 pm
Zaza does a lot of things well but I hope I never have to see him post up Hibbert again.
Ghost of Woody
November 7th, 2012
9:29 pm
Zaza is not a good enough defender at center to sacrifice our speed advantage
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
9:29 pm
Hawks wanted the 604 fans to see a close game so they quit playing defense for 6 minutes.
tank
November 7th, 2012
9:30 pm
I agree if Teague can hit those shots he could probably drive inside even more than he does.
Runner-
November 7th, 2012
9:30 pm
“Teague needs to work on those threes”
I could care less if Teague could hit a 3. I just want to see him driving like he was against the Thunger
cp
November 7th, 2012
9:32 pm
Not a good shot by Jeff
J.J.M.
November 7th, 2012
9:33 pm
Teague still has no jumper…same as last season
Najeh Davenpoop
November 7th, 2012
9:33 pm
Hawks as a team have 19 rebounds (5 offensive). Pacers have 19 rebounds (6 offensive). Not bad as a whole. Zaza has outrebounded Hibbert 8-2, but on the flip side, Paul George has 5 while Josh, Al, and Korver have 4 combined.
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
9:33 pm
Suit up Nique & Rathbun. Nique at PF and Rathbun at super small/old guard.
Hawkfan
November 7th, 2012
9:33 pm
Might want to shake that starting lineup 2nd half. Harris for Korver
Astro Joe
November 7th, 2012
9:35 pm
Great half by Josh. LD may want to see if Morrow is ready to knock down some open jumpers in the second half.
terrell
November 7th, 2012
9:35 pm
We get rid of $100,000,000.00 worth of salary, and we’re no better or no worse as a team. And I actually like watching this squad a lil better. Great Job Ferry.
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
9:36 pm
Foreman at Jack’s Brick Co. needs Korver and Teague to get back on the job.
Runner-
November 7th, 2012
9:36 pm
Morrow lookin depressed on the bench, but what can you do with this guard heavy team, someone has to sit, its either him or Korver and LD decided to go big today
terrell
November 7th, 2012
9:38 pm
Morrow cant get any min, with Korver missing errthing? Not good for Morrow. Maybe there’s a deal in the making and they wanna make sure he can pass a physical. lol
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
9:39 pm
Go to Lou Williams shooting 2nd half. Get Zaza some roller blades.
terrell
November 7th, 2012
9:40 pm
Why cant the Hawks or Falcons put teams away early? Never happens around here. Always gotta make a game out of it. No matter the opponent.
Ghost of Woody
November 7th, 2012
9:42 pm
The big lineup does more bad than good. Josh is just as good at rebounding than Zaza. The big and slow lineup causes Teague to defer and not play his fast paced game. Josh is not a good perimeter defender and Horf does better against C’s than PF’s. West is having a field day on Horf.
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
9:42 pm
Zaza on one fast break was at half court as Hibbert dunked.
Runner-
November 7th, 2012
9:43 pm
“Never happens around here. Always gotta make a game out of it. No matter the opponent.”
Makes it fun to be an ATL fan, huh?
terrell
November 7th, 2012
9:43 pm
Lou needs to start, AND FINISH games. Jus sayin.
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
9:46 pm
Somebody give Zaza about 14 one hour energys.
Hejan Poopnevad
November 7th, 2012
9:48 pm
In a race between a snail,sloth,turtle,and Zaza, Zaza came in 4th place
Jae Evolution
November 7th, 2012
9:49 pm
Josh first 2 FT’s of the season, believe it or not.