Atlanta Hawks: Here come the Heat
Vivlamore reporting. Here is my story advancing the Heat game that will appear in the Friday edition of the AJC.
The Hawks are about to get fire tested.
For here come the Heat.
The defending NBA champions will give these new-look Hawks an indication of just where they stand early this season. With back-to-back dramatic victories, a short-handed road win over the Thunder and a comeback home victory over the Pacers, the Hawks have shown some resiliency. That resolve will be challenged against the Heat and their Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and a strong supporting cast.
“Certainly, Miami is as good as it gets,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said. “We’ll have to play a really solid game on both ends of the floor. I’m excited and anxious to see how our guys respond to the challenge.”
The Hawks (2-1) want to use the lessons learned from their first three games, including the season-opening loss to the Rockets where despite being outrebounded by a large margin they had a chance to win late.
“That would be a great identity for us to develop,” center Al Horford said the team’s resiliency. “We don’t want to have the reputation that we fold as a team. We are going to keep fighting. We are going to keep playing hard.”
The Heat (4-1), winners of three straight, enter with the Big Three all in the top 14 in the NBA is scoring average. James is fifth at 22.4 points, Wade is 12th at 20.4 and Bosh is 14th at 19.4. James is also tied for ninth in the league with 9.8 rebounds per game.
And the Heat have those rings.
Horford leads the Hawks with 17.7 points per game, tied for 29th in the NBA. However, the Hawks tout a team game, both offensively and defensively. They will need it against the Heat.
Drew said the Hawks match the Heat in their style of play. Both teams are going to look to push the ball in an up-tempo game. The Heat have speed and quickness and are excellent in the open court, especially with James and Wade, Drew said. So, how do you stop them?
Drew said the key will be limiting the Heat and their momentum plays. The Hawks can’t afford to let the Heat reel off points in bunches. The Pacers went on an 18-0 run against the Hawks Wednesday that left them bickering about the officiating and taking ill-advised shots. Josh Smith and Zaza Pachulia were hit with technical fouls before the Hawks won the game with an 18-0 run of their own.
“We can’t respond to a run in a negative way,” Drew said. “We have to know how to mash runs and make sure that we maintain our focus. This game is a game of runs. They are a team that is very explosive. They have guys who can go off on any given night. We just have to make sure we go out and focus on what we have to do. Defensively we want to be solid. We want to play our style of ball, getting up and down and getting into an open-court game. We have to be smart with it. We have to be in an attack mode.”
The technical fouls came in the middle of the Pacers’ run that pushed their lead to 12 points. The Hawks managed to regain their focus and start their winning run. That won’t be so easy against the Heat.
Smith said he took responsibility for the call against him and addressed the team about it during a timeout.
“I let the officials get in my head a little bit,” Smith said. “It was a carryover affect. I let the team know that was on me. That was my bad. Everybody just closed our mouths and let our games speak for ourselves.”
Drew said he has yet to decide on a starting lineup against the Heat, who have won three straight against the Hawks. He he is still deciding whether to go with a smaller, quicker unit as he did against the Thunder or a bigger group as he did to match up against the Pacers.
- Chris Vivlamore
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124 comments Add your comment
ag
November 8th, 2012
9:32 pm
I have looked over and over and I just don’t like the match ups tomorrow. Maybe starting Jenkins and Stephenson will help…Jenkins on Battier, Stephenson on Wade. I did mention, Stephenson looks like he is a little to slow in his career to check guards. I guess either Tolliver or Josh gets LBJ. I actually would like to see Ivan on LBJ. He can be our Oakley – just foul the crap out of LBJ.
ag
November 8th, 2012
9:41 pm
Okay, I know Jenkins will get a DNP unless the game is a blowout. LD will with Tolliver (if he fouls out, so what). I think Ivan is the best choice. If you put Ivan on LBJ, then Josh is on Battier, Stephenson on Wade. Just got to pick your poison. I would pound the ball inside with Josh and Ivan on offense. I think even starting Morrow tomorrow will be even better at SG! Gives us more size and range to stretch the defense. Very excited about tomorrow.
hawksordie
November 8th, 2012
9:44 pm
go hawks!!!!!!! turn up
hawksordie
November 8th, 2012
9:46 pm
al josh ivan ..morrow or korver and teague that should be the starters then THEY CAN PICK THEIR POISON I WOULDNT CARE IF BRON GIT 50 LONG AS WE SHUT EVERYONE ELSE DOWN WE WIN
ag
November 8th, 2012
9:53 pm
So, two are in agreement. Don’t really like Korver or Wade, that is why I said Morrow.
C – Horford
PF – Smith
SF – Ivan
SG- Morrow
PG – Teague
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
November 8th, 2012
10:01 pm
Astro Joe
November 8th, 2012
6:12 pm
Imagine going to the game to hook up with Lebron and leaving with Clyde.
————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Sometimes the groupies gotta settle for the next best thing. After the game take them to the Piano Bar off Old National and its a good night.
Ok basketball. Morrow needs to see more minutes. Those open looks Korver was getting last night Morrow would have hit. Bring Korver off the bench.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 8th, 2012
10:06 pm
“Why you worry about other team, Like Ken say let teams adjust to you instead of the way around.”
Easy to say “let teams adjust to you” when you have superior talent. In this game, the Hawks don’t.
sameba
November 8th, 2012
10:14 pm
I also think it might be better if Korver comes off the bench. If someone is accustomed to come off the bench, it would be difficult for him to adjust mentally to be a starter. Like Lou was saying recently – he prefers coming off the bench. At least it would not hurt to try – might LD consider this?
lewis
November 8th, 2012
10:43 pm
Grandad
November 8th, 2012
5:23 pm
-sarcasm alert-
I think LD oughta start Toliver [guard LBJ],
and start DHarris [guard DWade],
in order to “mash those runs” early on.
27 and counting.
____________________________________________
Instead of always matching and countering everyone else;
why not establish an identity,
then make others counter-attack us ?
Ken Strickland
November 8th, 2012
10:59 pm
The Hawks can beat the Heat if they can put together a full 3-4quarters like last nights 4th quarter. We also need to utilize their speed and quickness to play more zone, since Bosh is their only starter that’s capable of consistently hurting a team from the outside.
lewis
November 8th, 2012
11:32 pm
damn watching deng makes me wish we had an sf
lewis
November 8th, 2012
11:39 pm
take that back watching durant makes me wish we had an sf
Grandad
November 9th, 2012
12:06 am
Big Ray
Thanks.
I`m not always right but I always know what I`m talking about ?
That`s kinda like I always know where I`m going;
even if I don`t know it `til I get there.
TOTO
November 9th, 2012
12:29 am
TO Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde SHUT THE F***k UP! FIRE YOUR LAZY A**. IF YOU CANT SAY SOMETHING GOOD, SHUT UP!., LET’S FIRE YOUR STUPID A**.. NOW —–GO HAWKS!
Slimjr
November 9th, 2012
12:37 am
JC1 is playing solid ball on TNT. He fits in nicely with the Clippers.
High-sider must be pleased… hehehehehe
Slimjr
November 9th, 2012
12:39 am
3 game sample. Long way to go.. But so far so good Big Al…
Hawks by 5 Friday night!
High-sider
November 9th, 2012
1:07 am
@Slimjr
Slimjr
November 9th, 2012
12:37 am
JC1 is playing solid ball on TNT. He fits in nicely with the Clippers.
High-sider must be pleased… hehehehehe
——————————————————————————————————-
I just hope he [JC1] can keep it up in the second half. [LOL]
EmirS.
November 9th, 2012
2:43 am
The Heat beat you on the drive, the dish, outside, half court, and full court.
Their weakest area is back to the basket. If we are to beat the Heat, either Horford or Josh need to work inside. I’d assume somewhere of 20 points, 10 rebounds. 5 assists, and 3 blocks with 2 or less turnovers for one of them. If Josh and Horford can work the inside, then this would be the perfect opportunity to insert John Jenkins to be the perimeter threat alongside Korver OR Louis WIlliams.
We need to draw double teams on the inside. We can not and will not win this game if we try man to man on the perimeter. We can beat them on the inside. And we can beat them outside if we draw double teams inside.
As for defense, we have got to play zone on them.
I think this game might show an area where we miss JJ. The ability to score man to man. If they lock us up on the inside, then it’s game.
ag
November 9th, 2012
7:38 am
Again, a lot of matchup problems. I do agree, we must focus working the inside then kicking it outside. If we try to get in a jump shooting contest, we will lose big.
Sam
November 9th, 2012
9:32 am
Whatever happened to Greg Oden? He would be a good option with a lot of potential for growth (if he can stay healthy). If he can’t stay healthy, he’s a backup, use him when he is available. It’s not like we’d be counting on him to dominate every game.
Just Joe
November 9th, 2012
9:38 am
Teague (Chalmers), Stevenson (Wade), Korver (Battier), Smith (James), and Horford (Bosh).
Harris (Cole), LouWill (Allen), Tolliver (Lewis), Johnson (Haslem), and Pachulia (Anthony).
Good news – we match up with Miami better than a lot of teams. Bad news – they match up with us better than a lot of teams. Two similarly constructed teams, but Miami has the skill advantage in too many matchups.
Miami by 12, with a slight “not so fast” depending on which team can get the 3-ball rolling.
doc
November 9th, 2012
10:32 am
you got to love it! folks chase bigs with names like:
okur, now retired;
curry, failed another test with the spurs who DF knows intimately and can get the low down on besides the fact after ten years he has failed all tests from chitown to nyc to miami to san antoine;
benson, very undersized and unskilled and not road tested on any nba court in any season and
oden, an alcoholic now “recovering” from that and bilateral major knee op of micro-fracture, one being the second to one of them.
these are the names they are calling out as back ups to zaza, so he can start? is it psychosis, dementia, delusion or simply being out of touch? then they say LD is stupid?
if miami gets its wingers going and we cant close the spaces, it could be ugly. if we grind, play smart and aggressive with energy on defense it might be close.
Buddy Grizzard
November 9th, 2012
10:38 am
Ivan Johnson leads Hawks in +/- for the season. RELEASE THE KRAKEN!
http://www.nba.com/statistics/plusminus/plusminus_sort.jsp?pcomb=1&season=22012&split=9&team=Hawks
Westurd
November 9th, 2012
10:43 am
Let IVAN take a bite out of Miami
prison mike
November 9th, 2012
10:53 am
We are of the few teams that match up with the Cheat. DS has to start he can guard battier, lebron, wade, and ray. Lou should have a field day on offense.
Ivan should figure heavily in this game.
Slimjr
November 9th, 2012
11:41 am
The Hawks have a great shot at Miami, [IF] the Refs let them play. The Hawks will control the boards, which gives them a legit shot..
Zone up all day…..Defend the pick and roll, slip screens, and back cuts..
Rebounding Rebounding Rebounding
Larry, let Ivan play major minutes tonight!
Ken Strickland
November 9th, 2012
12:07 pm
GRANDAD-I don’t have anything against Korver. My complaint if over LDrew’s obsessing over him at the expense of the team. Drew’s insistence on starting and giving more MPG to Tolliver and Korver, neither of whom are good rebounders, rather than better rebounders like Ivan and Scott, puts a lot of undue pressure on Josh, Horford and Zaza.
We can’t contunue riding their backs and expect them to carry the team rebounding load the entire season without some additional help at SF and PF. The way Drew is using his players, we’re going to see more rebounding gms like the Houston gm as the season progresses. We might also see more injuries to Josh and Horford if something isn’t changed.
We not only depend on Josh and Horford for the bulk of our OFF and DEF rebounding, but also our interior DEF and OFF scoring. That’s an awful lot of responsibility to place on these 2 players, and playing Korver and Tolliver ahead of Ivan will only make things harder for them rather than easier.
We really need a player that can be used at C and PF more than we need a stretch 4. I love having Korver as a Hawk, just not as a starter at any position. I like him coming off the bench along with LWilliams, Ivan, DHarris, and Zaza. Starting Morrow gives us the same type and caliber of shooting that Korver provides, excet he provides more speed, quickness, athleticism, and a little better DEF.
We are 3 deep with 3pt shooters at PGs with Teague, Harris, and Williams, and 4 deep with 3pt shooters at SG with Morrow, Korver, Stevenson and Jenkins. Korver, Tolliver, Stevenson and Morrow can also play SF while Williams and Harris can also play SG. That’s a helluva lot of 3pt shooters and versatility to for a HC to go overboard with playing a stretch 4.
What’s being done isn’t the fault of any of our players, so I’m not being critical them. Neither Korver nor Tolliver is responsible for keeping Ivan off the court, especially when he’s needed most. It all falls in LDrew’s lap, and that’s where I’m directing my disappointment. If it comes off as me being critical of Korver, then I apologize for not making myself clearer.
Ken Strickland
November 9th, 2012
12:08 pm
SLIMJR-Co-sign 11:41am.
Ken Strickland
November 9th, 2012
12:26 pm
DAVENPOOP-You made a point earlier that made a lot of sense. I said we should start the same frontline we started against the Thunder, and you wisely pointed out that it would create a mismatch in their favor with Zaza trying to guard Bosh. I know Drew would never do it, but starting a frontline of IJohnson at SF, JSmith at C, and Horford at PF against the Heat would provide us with an overall matchup advantage.
Ivan has the size, strength and foot speed to effectively defend Lebron, and he would certainly keep Lebron busy on the DEF end. Josh can certainly matchup with Bosh at C, and Horford would be a load for anyone they put at PF. When they come with their shooters(MMiller, NCole and RLewis)we can match them with our shooters(LWilliams, KKorver, DHarris, ATolliver, AMorrow).
My starting lineup against Miami would be
SF-IJohnson
C-JSmith
PF-AHorford
PG-JTeague
SG-DStevenson
I’d use Josh, Horford and Ivan to consistently attack their frontline and interior DEF.
soullrenaissance
November 9th, 2012
12:31 pm
Tolliver has got the to get the boot to the end of the bench somehow. His numbers don’t justify him getting a lion’s share of minutes. For all the talk of LD’s indecisiveness, he is stern and decisive when it comes to get Tolliver playing time.
keith
November 9th, 2012
12:47 pm
Great line-up vs. Heat.
ag
November 8th, 2012
9:53 pm
So, two are in agreement. Don’t really like Korver or Wade, that is why I said Morrow.
C – Horford
PF – Smith
SF – Ivan
SG- Morrow
PG – Teague
I MUS WRITE
November 9th, 2012
12:52 pm
KS -I was thinking about the same line up I think a frontline of Ivan Josh and Al will give teams trouble. Zaza Lou Korver Harris off the bench.
Clyde looking for left over groupies huh? I jus got my club level tickets -there will be plenty of thirsty chics happy hunting bro.
Astro Joe- surely u jest a woman would be crazy to choose bron bron over a world wide legend like CLYDE. Pretty got nothing on this dude.
Ms Dee -im not surprised about the improve chemistry Joe was a fuggn ball hogg -cant create his offense without dribbling the shot clock away. Teague looks alot more comfy now that he doesnt hv to defer to Joe. I read where Teague Smoove and Joe would all have seperate tables at clubs whe they went -Joe just put up a wall and didnt really interact with the other tem mates. O well he gone so maybe these guys feel better about playing together.
I MUS WRITE
November 9th, 2012
12:53 pm
Prett Tony
I MUS WRITE
November 9th, 2012
12:53 pm
Pretty
Rod from College Park
November 9th, 2012
1:05 pm
CP3 and Jamal Crawford = Best backcourt in the NBA.
darrell starks
November 9th, 2012
1:09 pm
LD have finally woke up.
STARTER Stevenson in front of Korver is my biggest ?
Korver is starting to get rolling i think he should be starting tonight for outside shooting, but i also agree with his decision starting Stevenson on Dwade for defense.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Astro Joe
November 9th, 2012
1:11 pm
Ricky Fontaine. Pretty Ricky is what they call him.
Clyde, sounds like your game plan is better than what LD often uses. Good luck tonight. And check for the Adam’s apple.
Grandad, great post around midnight. I ain’t never been lost, I just spontaneously opted for a more leisurely route to my destination.
I expect the Hawks to hang tight with the Heat for a good 3.5 quarters. Will likely lose the game by around 8 points.
darrell starks
November 9th, 2012
1:15 pm
Stay big with this starting front court of Josh, Horford, Zaza, this team will finish in top 3 seed in the east.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
November 9th, 2012
1:21 pm
STARTER TEAGUE, KORVER, JOSH, HORFORD, ZAZA
BENCH DEVIN, LOU, STEVENSON OR MORROW, IVAN, ? I LIKE THE IDEA OF BRINGING BENSON BACK.OR SIGNING KENYON MARTIN.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
O'Brien
November 9th, 2012
1:48 pm
Ken S,
Ivan has the size, strength and foot speed to effectively defend Lebron,.
I am a big fan of Ivan, but you’re giving him way too much credit imo. Plus the minute Ivan breathes on LeBron, the refs will call a foul.
I look for the Heat to have 25+ FTA tonight.
Jason S
November 9th, 2012
1:50 pm
Ivan at SF? Why?
I like Ivan on Bosh or Ivan on any of the Heat’s backup big men. Ivan has no business playing the 3. If the Hawks can help it, Ivan should not be on LeBron.
With that said, Ivan should log a decent amount of minutes. He should be effective tonight. ( … just not at SF or in a situation where he has to guard LeBron).
Just Joe
November 9th, 2012
1:53 pm
With the Heat shooting 45% from 3 (which they are through 5 games), there’s no way to beat them. If they have an off shooting night, then we’ve got a shot.
Right now, Bosh (14%) and Wade (33%) are the only two shooting under 36%. 8 different guys shooting over 36% for the Heat.
Knicks beat the Heat by inducing 21 turnovers and grabbing 13 offensive rebounds.
Jason S
November 9th, 2012
1:54 pm
And if the Hawks go with the big lineup (i.e., starting Zaza, Al, and Josh), think about what the matchups would look like … Al on LeBron? Al on Battier? Al on Bosh (which would force Zaza to Lebron? Battier?)?
Josh and DeShawn Stevenson are the only two that have any business guarding LeBron for any extended length of time …
Shoot them into the ocean!
November 9th, 2012
1:59 pm
Starters:
Teague
Harris
Morrow
Smoove
Horford
Bench:
Lou
Jenkins
Korver
Ivan
Zaza
Shoot them into the ocean!
November 9th, 2012
2:05 pm
Miami plays intense defense. You can’t have teague out there as the only ballhandler against Miami’s starters. As you saw in game one, if LD gets D.Harris play his game, he will give Miami headaches in transition.
Shoot them into the ocean!
November 9th, 2012
2:06 pm
Ivan punked Bosh on natioal TV last season. LD would be wise to let him do it again.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 9th, 2012
2:16 pm
Mike Brown has been fired by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 9th, 2012
2:17 pm
T.I. will be doing color commentary for tonight’s Hawks-Heat game.
Buddy G
November 9th, 2012
2:20 pm
Should Mike Brown not make it through the season it’s safe to assume Danny Ferry will hire him 2 coach Hawks (Drew lame duck) next season.
https://twitter.com/PeterVecsey1/status/265140448551653376
Buddy G
November 9th, 2012
2:24 pm
Danny Ferry resigned as Cleveland GM after ownership fired Brown over his objection. Ferry felt Cleveland fired Brown to placate LeBron and try to get him to stay (by giving him his choice of head coach). Ferry walked away from that job on principle. LD better coach his ass off, starting tonight, because there’s a coach out there that Ferry has a strong working relationship with and he’s available.