Atlanta Hawks game thread: Big lineup vs. Clippers
Vivlamore reporting from Los Angeles.
The Hawks will go with their big lineup at the Clippers today, starting Jeff Teague and Kyle Kover at guard, Josh Smith and Al Horford at forward and Zaza Pachulia at center. According to coach Larry Drew he was concerned with the early matchup with Clippers center Deandre Jordan.
“Matchup wise it will do us much better to go bigger on Jordan at the start,” Drew said. “I don’t want to put ourselves at a disadvantage.”
Jordan, the 6-foot-11 center, has 41 points and 19 rebounds in the past two games. He also is fifth in the NBA in blocks.
The Hawks will still have to run. The Clippers have tied a franchise record by starting the season with six straight 100-plus point games.
“They are a team that can really get up and down the floor,” Drew said. “Our whole mindset on going on the road is that we have to play our style but we may have to make some adjustments as far as being able to control the tempo. We want to run, get out in the open court and get easy baskets but at the same time we have to be a little more selective with our shots. To not allow them to get out and run, we have to do a good job of getting back and getting matched. Their bigs really run the floor so it will be a challenge for our bigs to really get back and get matched.”
On the issue of shot selection I asked Drew about Smith, who was very candid following Friday’s loss to the Heat about being more efficient offensively, and whether he has spoken to the forward.
Smith is 20 of 52 ( .385) from the field and 2 of 10 (.200) from the free-throw line in his three games this season.
“We had a brief talk,” Drew said. “We got on the plane yesterday and we had a brief talk. We had another just before this game. Yeah, we have to be more efficient offensively. I thought going back and watching the Miami game we certainly had our opportunities. We had some breakdowns defensively but more importantly when you play a team like Miami you have to be efficient offensively going down the stretch.”
- Chris Vivlamore
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142 comments Add your comment
Fort Valley Wildcat
November 11th, 2012
6:25 pm
Josh Smith air ball
J.J.M.
November 11th, 2012
6:25 pm
If josh hasn’t learned to take a dribble or 2 for a easier shot I doubt he will ever
Sautee
November 11th, 2012
6:25 pm
Turiaf should be careful, bumping Ivan on the way off the court.
paian
November 11th, 2012
6:25 pm
smh i tolliver in the game
Jae Evolution
November 11th, 2012
6:25 pm
Clippers have only seen the Crawford that makes them unstoppable, they’ve yet to see Iso-Jamal who throws up horrible contested shots.
northcyde
November 11th, 2012
6:27 pm
MattP . . Drew needs to start making teams match up to US . . not us to THEM.
Seriously . . Korven isn’t exactly shooting lights out today. Devin is having a subpar game. Put Morrow in to see if he can knock down a few shots to get us back in this game.
northcyde
November 11th, 2012
6:28 pm
Kristina Pink is lovely.
( watching the Clippers announcers/feed online )
Smokey
November 11th, 2012
6:29 pm
Game over, no inside presence and josh jacking up 3’s.. die by the J
Fort Valley Wildcat
November 11th, 2012
6:29 pm
Josh Smith led team
Tremaine
November 11th, 2012
6:29 pm
Dude garbage!
J.J.M.
November 11th, 2012
6:29 pm
Trade josh…
northcyde
November 11th, 2012
6:30 pm
OK Drew . are you going to continue to have Korver on Jamal? Don;t let that dude get hot.
High-sider
November 11th, 2012
6:31 pm
@northcyde
northcyde
November 11th, 2012
6:13 pm
Stephanie Ready ( Bobcat sideline reporter ) . . vs . . Kristina Pink ( Clippers sideline reporter )
Pick one
——————————————————————————————————–
Erin Andrews; I’m having “Jungle Fever.” My apologies Minister Farrakhan.
Jae Evolution
November 11th, 2012
6:31 pm
Waited too long Drew, our bench was giving us little and now their bench has blown it open.
northcyde
November 11th, 2012
6:32 pm
20 – 5 run . . down 14.
smh
Oh well.
Fort Valley Wildcat
November 11th, 2012
6:32 pm
sprinkling a block here and a dunk there makes up for countless bad shots, air balls, failed ball handling, etc.
- Josh Smith Fan Club
northcyde
November 11th, 2012
6:33 pm
High . . this ain’t football. I’m talking NBA basketball sideline reporters.
keith
November 11th, 2012
6:33 pm
I wish we had kept Jamal. He probably has 2-3 great years left in him.
northcyde
November 11th, 2012
6:34 pm
And Erin is working the desk as lead sports anchor for FOX’s college football coverage now. No more sideline walkin for her.
Slimjr
November 11th, 2012
6:34 pm
I’ll take Ms. Pink northcyde! LOL!
Keep shooting mid-range Shawty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
keith
November 11th, 2012
6:35 pm
Jamal is killing us. You can not allow this much scoring from the opposing teams 6th man!
northcyde
November 11th, 2012
6:35 pm
LOL @ the Clipper announcers
“I’m surprised Anthony Morrow hasn’t been seen.”
Yeah, we Hawks fans are wondering the same (( bleepin )) thing.
Slimjr
November 11th, 2012
6:36 pm
Hey hows Allstar Al holding up? Got the cloak on?
Fort Valley Wildcat
November 11th, 2012
6:36 pm
Josh Smith spin move………..ALL STAR
Tremaine
November 11th, 2012
6:36 pm
Trade Josh.
High-sider
November 11th, 2012
6:37 pm
Clippers’ announcers are wondering why Anthony Morrow is not playing. All they have to do is look at the head coach for the Hawks.
Slimjr
November 11th, 2012
6:37 pm
Jamal is killing the whole League keith..Where you been? lol!
paian
November 11th, 2012
6:38 pm
smh there goes tolliver again
northcyde
November 11th, 2012
6:39 pm
Smh . . so we’re going to lose by 20+ points now?
OK . . I want to see Jenkins and Scott now. NO EXCUSE for them not seeing some action now. Take the starters out and play the kids.
Oomp Camp
November 11th, 2012
6:39 pm
This is what happens when you go from one wannabe superstar (Joe Johnson) trying to lead your team to even more of a wannabe super star (Josh Smith)
High-sider
November 11th, 2012
6:39 pm
The Clippers [team] has played terribly and still have a 20-point lead [over the Hawks]. LOL
Slimjr
November 11th, 2012
6:40 pm
2-6
Rod from College Park
November 11th, 2012
6:40 pm
“Clippers have only seen the Crawford that makes them unstoppable, they’ve yet to see Iso-Jamal who throws up horrible contested shots.”
You won’t see that Jamal because they have other good offensive players, namely Chris Paul.
Slimjr
November 11th, 2012
6:41 pm
Hey Wheres our Allstar? Got the Cloak on?
northcyde
November 11th, 2012
6:41 pm
It’s like Drew is using a preseason mindset to these games. He already has in mind who he is going to play, and not play.
Rod from College Park
November 11th, 2012
6:42 pm
“Hey hows Allstar Al holding up? Got the cloak on?”ugh shot eno
LOL. Get used to it. But the Josh bashers will say Horford did not get enough shots.
Mookie Blaylock
November 11th, 2012
6:43 pm
lol@people arguing over Al Vs. Josh….when both are trash
Slimjr
November 11th, 2012
6:43 pm
Brian Shaw, Danny.. He’ll be an upgrade for sure…
NORRIS CHUCK
November 11th, 2012
6:43 pm
It really baffles me that Josh Smith continues to do whatever he wants on the court!
northcyde
November 11th, 2012
6:44 pm
Show em how to shoot Jenkins. Good headfake and the long 2
Rod from College Park
November 11th, 2012
6:44 pm
I’m only on Josh Smith’s cashews because he’s from College Park like me.
keith
November 11th, 2012
6:45 pm
I agree. Trade Josh for picks, player, and a box of krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Make it happen DF. I think he reads this blog.
northcyde
November 11th, 2012
6:45 pm
Look at Ivan handle that damn ball in the open floor.
And HE can’t get more time?
He looked better than Josh Smith handling it and going right to the rim.
Mookie Blaylock
November 11th, 2012
6:48 pm
FACT: Neither Josh or Al are real allstars. Your arguments for why one is sucking cant be “because the other sucks worse” Typical Atlanta Fan loser mentality.
High-sider
November 11th, 2012
6:48 pm
@northcyde
northcyde
November 11th, 2012
6:33 pm
High . . this ain’t football. I’m talking NBA basketball sideline reporters.
————————————————————————————————
Haven’t you heard of “levity”? [LOL]
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/levity
Slimjr
November 11th, 2012
6:48 pm
Ivan the Great , maybe the most offensively skilled big on the Hawks roster at this time? Hmmmmmmm
northcyde
November 11th, 2012
6:49 pm
Light it up Jenkins.
Since Morrow wasn’t in the game with that scrub group, I’m going to assume that he was hurt.
W.R. Terrell
November 11th, 2012
6:49 pm
I think Danny Ferry is a very smart man. He’s made sure that the “Smoove” has all the kudos that’s needed so He can evaluate and see if it would be wise to spend 14 mill on him. What we saw tonight will be an ongoing event. I think we are headed for the “LOTTO” and that’s a good thing, the HAWKS will also have a ton of money.
Keep Lou Williams, Al, Zsa Zsa, resign Teague, the young players Jenkins and Scott will have a year of practice time, resign Ivan and with the departure of the “Smoove” and LD the HAWKS future looks bright, very bright. What’s happening is a good thing and the rest of the dead weight will be gone by seasons end. I’m having a ball watching the unraveling of POTENTIAL
keith
November 11th, 2012
6:50 pm
Jeff Teague stat line:
8pts. 6 assists 1 rebound
Jeff, we need more from you. You should average 15pts. 10assists 4rebounds per game. You must step up against elite point guards.
Slimjr
November 11th, 2012
6:52 pm
Wow those Clippers [BALL SO HARD], our Hawks, not so much……Yawn……
2-6
Woody 22-6