Atlanta Hawks game thread: Rebound and run against Cavs
Vivlamore reporting.
Rebound and then run. That will be the Hawks game plan against the Cavaliers Friday night at Philips Arena.
The Cavs featured Anderson Varejao, who leads the NBA in rebounding. The Hawks must contain the center, especially from keeping possessions alive on the Cavs’ offensive end.
“We just have to make sure we put on body on him as much as we can,” coach Larry Drew said. “He is the best rebounder in the league right now. The numbers speak for themselves. We just have to make a conscious effort to make sure we get a body on him every single time. He has a knack for getting to the glass and keeping balls alive. He’s just a guy you have to be concerned with and know where he is at all times. It’s going to be important the our big guys are conscious about putting a body on him.
Varejao leads the NBA with 14.9 rebounds a game.
According to Hawks center Al Horford, his team will also need help from the guards, including starters Jeff Teague and Devin Harris. With Kyle Korver (back spasms) out, the Hawks will be smaller in the backcourt.
“For those two guys it’s going to be a challenge to get those long rebounds,” Horford said. “Kyle is a good rebounder, under-rated. He’s a really good perimeter rebounder.”
Harris told me following the morning shoot-around that the Hawks will look to push the tempo even more with two point guards on the floor at the same time. But first they most control the rebound.
“Instead of leaking out to emphasize the fast break we really have to make sure we secure the ball first,” Harris said. “(Varejao’s) a guy that keeps a lot of balls alive, tips a lot of balls out. Those 50-50 balls, we have to make an emphasis on getting the majority of those.”
Then the Hawks will run. Harris will be making his fourth start of the season. Drew is expecting the Teague-Harris tandem to start the game with the energy that was lacking in Wednesday’s win over the Bobcats.
“It doesn’t change a whole lot,” Harris said of the offense with the point-guard tandem. “We still want to push the ball. Obviously, Kyle is a focal point in transition trying to get him open shots, open looks. We’ll still push the tempo. We might be a little quicker within our transition offense.
“We want to play a little faster. Obviously we want to get as many easy buckets as we can. With two point guards I think that will probably happen a lot more tonight.”
* Drew said his biggest challenge of the night is preventing his team from looking past the struggling Cavs. Without Kyrie Irving, the Cavs are 3-12 and have lost four straight. Coach and players are aware that the Cavs lost a two-point decision at the Heat earlier this week.
“We can’t take their record for granted,” Josh Smith said. “We have to go out there and play aggressive and play up to par or otherwise we’ll lose this game.”
* Anthony Morrow, who suffered a quad contusion is Thursday’s practice, is still a game-time decision.
* Drew said the loss of Korver and the questionable status of Morrow could lead to some minutes for rookie guard John Jenkins.
“We’ll see how the game is going,” Drew said. “We also have to see Anthony Morrow’s status. There is a possibility that (Jenkins) could get some minutes tonight.”
* The Hawks are going for their seventh straight victory tonight. Trivia question. When was the Hawks last eight-game win streak? It’s something they will go for Wednesday against the Nuggets should they defeat the Cavs tonight. The answer – The start of the 1997-98 season (Oct. 31-Nov. 18, 1997) when the team started with 11 straight victories.
- Chris Vivlamore
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129 comments Add your comment
vava74
November 30th, 2012
7:09 pm
Apparently the blog monster like Varejao and does not let me say I don’t …
Blast
November 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
Let’s get it!
Blast
November 30th, 2012
7:26 pm
2nd and 3rd!
Points
November 30th, 2012
7:30 pm
8 game streak, maybe during the Mookie days?
Smokey
November 30th, 2012
7:31 pm
hopefully this will be a solid win.. go hawks!
Points
November 30th, 2012
7:32 pm
Haha, I see you already posted the answer. Guess I should have kept reading.
Slimjr
November 30th, 2012
7:32 pm
250k Fine? Outrageous act by the godfather!
Funny thing is Miami only won by 5 against the Spurs bench at home? Hmmmm
Pops is no joke! Best coach in the game today..
Slimjr
November 30th, 2012
7:34 pm
Korver will be missed for sure..Morrow too.
Lets see if Jenkins will “D” up..We know he can shoot already….
Jamaaliver
November 30th, 2012
7:40 pm
I’d trade Josh Smith for Varaejao any day of the week.
Smokey
November 30th, 2012
7:44 pm
no real shooters in this lineup..bit of a worry
bigdave
November 30th, 2012
7:51 pm
Nice
Rev in Tampa
November 30th, 2012
7:56 pm
First Row Sports is running really slow tonight. Wish I could watch the game.
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
8:05 pm
Teague coming back in for Devin means we will not see Jenkins tonight….
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
8:05 pm
Morrow with his 2nd foul. Will we see Jenkins now?
Blast
November 30th, 2012
8:07 pm
Now, these refs will T you for staring them down these days.
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
8:08 pm
No playing time for Ivan again tonight.
J.J.M.
November 30th, 2012
8:08 pm
Lol my girl said josh is a poor man lebron
bigdave
November 30th, 2012
8:13 pm
Everything that leaves A-Mo hands looks good
Astro Joe
November 30th, 2012
8:17 pm
FUGLY game so far.
bigdave
November 30th, 2012
8:22 pm
Sloa with the young euro step
Jae Evolution
November 30th, 2012
8:22 pm
Please don’t let this bum Waiters go off.
J.J.M.
November 30th, 2012
8:27 pm
Cavs make it look so easy getting to the basket
J.J.M.
November 30th, 2012
8:28 pm
Another drive…and why can’t teague do this again?
Mokeysho
November 30th, 2012
8:29 pm
IVAN
Astro Joe
November 30th, 2012
8:29 pm
This Waiters guy ain’t no joke.
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
8:30 pm
Ivan comes in and immediately draws a charge call… Nice
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
8:33 pm
Beautiful move by Josh
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
8:36 pm
Boss
bigdave
November 30th, 2012
8:37 pm
Liking this scrappy group
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
8:37 pm
Ivan comes in the game and makes an immediate impact
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
8:38 pm
Ivan Johnson is a beast….
bigdave
November 30th, 2012
8:39 pm
Check that,
Love this scrappy group..
Hawks playing well.. good team ball.
Blast
November 30th, 2012
8:39 pm
I cannot believe Drew drew up that Ivan 3.
Jae Evolution
November 30th, 2012
8:39 pm
Ivannnnnn!
Mokeysho
November 30th, 2012
8:39 pm
Ivan “the hammer” Johnson for 3!!
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
8:40 pm
Ivan 5pts, 1ast, 1stl and 1 charge call drawn(force turnover)…. All in 3mins…
Mr.E
November 30th, 2012
8:40 pm
I came
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
November 30th, 2012
8:40 pm
Big Ivan For President
They started the clock late though.
Blast
November 30th, 2012
8:59 pm
Josh has taken two bad hits tonite.
Blast
November 30th, 2012
9:04 pm
Hawks in a dog fight. Cavs ain’t gonna quit. Hawks miss Korver.
Big Ray
November 30th, 2012
9:16 pm
Devin’s block was nice. Teague with back to back crap plays, but then the trey…
Smokey
November 30th, 2012
9:18 pm
Z was slow giving Jt a screen which mucked up the play
Big Ray
November 30th, 2012
9:21 pm
Varejao is annoying just to look at.
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
No Morrow in the 2nd half…
Jae Evolution
November 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
Shoot the three Ivan, lol
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
Ivan was going to take off from the free throw line on that last shot…
Big Ray
November 30th, 2012
9:24 pm
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ivan smile before….
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:27 pm
Sometimes Lou will shoot the other team back into the game….
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:27 pm
So tired of seeing ZaZa tip the ball instead of grabbing it…
Jae Evolution
November 30th, 2012
9:31 pm
Ivan +18 in only 9 minutes, lol.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 30th, 2012
9:34 pm
Byron Scott with that mustache looks a little like Dave Chappelle in the Great New York Boobs sketch.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
November 30th, 2012
9:36 pm
Horford just slid out of the way
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:37 pm
Time to take ZaZa and Lou out. Come back with Teague and Stevenson.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 30th, 2012
9:38 pm
Hawks’ rebounding problems continue. Al 11, Josh 7, nobody else higher than 3. Teague 0 rebounds in 32 minutes. Harris 0 rebounds in 30 minutes. Stevenson 1 rebound in 25 minutes.
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:41 pm
Why is Lou still in the game?
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:42 pm
Teague got foul….
Najeh Davenpoop
November 30th, 2012
9:42 pm
That three-big lineup with Ivan was really good for the Hawks defensively, where they are clueless right now.
J.J.M.
November 30th, 2012
9:42 pm
Pargo>teague
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:43 pm
Comeon Teague, you have to play better defense than this…
HawkFan
November 30th, 2012
9:43 pm
Terrible defense. Too many layups and offensive rebounds
Smokey
November 30th, 2012
9:45 pm
if they had kyrie we might be getting blown out right now
Najeh Davenpoop
November 30th, 2012
9:46 pm
Teague is not playign good D but Pargo has also hit some insane shots.
HawkFan
November 30th, 2012
9:46 pm
JT
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:47 pm
Big 3 by Lou
HawkFan
November 30th, 2012
9:48 pm
Yeah, louuuuuuuu
Disgusted
November 30th, 2012
9:48 pm
Gutless Hawks are cowards letteing this Cleveland team hang around — Disrgaceful 4th qtr.
They are going to lose Congrats for zilch.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 30th, 2012
9:49 pm
Rebounds: Cavs 48 (17 offensive), Hawks 27 (10 offensive). That is your game right there.
Jae Evolution
November 30th, 2012
9:49 pm
I swear that play works 90% of the time too…
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:49 pm
Dumb pass by Josh
Mokeysho
November 30th, 2012
9:50 pm
game over
Disgusted
November 30th, 2012
9:50 pm
I hate Pargo — hope he falls to the floor and kets knocked out of commission for a while
FACTS
November 30th, 2012
9:50 pm
Dumb a** pass by Josh
J.J.M.
November 30th, 2012
9:50 pm
Come on josh make that type of pass in the first quarter idiot
HawkFan
November 30th, 2012
9:50 pm
Well deserved loss. Very poor defense tonite
keith
November 30th, 2012
9:50 pm
tied up!!!!!
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:50 pm
These Cavs have took it to the Hawks tonight.
Disgusted
November 30th, 2012
9:50 pm
Cowardly performance tonight is why this Hawks team is not playoff caliber — they have quit on the season and an embarrassment to the league.
This is the worst team in the NBA.
bigdave
November 30th, 2012
9:50 pm
Damn.
FACTS
November 30th, 2012
9:51 pm
Low bball IQ
Rey
November 30th, 2012
9:51 pm
Josh Smith drives me nuts.
FACTS
November 30th, 2012
9:51 pm
Josh Smith’s Low Bball IQ cost the Hawks the game, which is why he needs to go.
Disgusted
November 30th, 2012
9:51 pm
The Cavs > than the Hawks — embarrassment to the league.
Smokey
November 30th, 2012
9:51 pm
we do we let scrub teams drag us down to their level smh
Disgusted
November 30th, 2012
9:52 pm
I wnt Josh Smith out of here at the trade deadline.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 30th, 2012
9:52 pm
Hahahahahahaa
Smokey
November 30th, 2012
9:52 pm
why ^
bigdave
November 30th, 2012
9:52 pm
Lol
MattP
November 30th, 2012
9:52 pm
sounds like someone is mad and trolling.
HawkFan
November 30th, 2012
9:52 pm
Wow. Smoove
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:52 pm
Josh hits a big 3
FACTS
November 30th, 2012
9:52 pm
Josh stans will get a hard on for Josh Smith’s lucky 3…..like it’s a regular occurrence or something you can depend on nightly.
Disgusted
November 30th, 2012
9:53 pm
Josh Smith is the most fundamentally dumb player in the NBA.
Leon
November 30th, 2012
9:53 pm
I don’t know what to make of Josh Smith other than when he is focused he is amazing. Truly Amazing. We need to keep him, Teague and Hoford together.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
November 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
Horford not even trying to protect the rim. That was the weakest attempt at a block I have ever seen.
Disgusted
November 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
Hell dam yea I am mad — This loss shold make you and everyone else around here mad.
Season over — worthless team.
ECF or Bust
November 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
trade osh for Vareago.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
Is Morrow hurt, or are they just not playing him tonight? Not that he was all that great, but they will need him if the Cavs hit both of these free throws.
Smokey
November 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
missed korver big time tonight still no excuse to lose here
Disgusted
November 30th, 2012
9:54 pm
This team deserves to be Booed out of the arena.
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:55 pm
Even the mop head can hit his free throws
MattP
November 30th, 2012
9:55 pm
time to see smith take the last 3. lol
FACTS
November 30th, 2012
9:55 pm
A team with Josh and Al as your post presence will never get past the 2nd Round.
HawkFan
November 30th, 2012
9:55 pm
Quick 2 and foul is best play
Najeh Davenpoop
November 30th, 2012
9:56 pm
For whoever said earlier that the Hawks would have lost if Irving had played, keep in mind that the Hawks beat Irving’s Cavs 3 times last year, including two blowouts.
Jae Evolution
November 30th, 2012
9:56 pm
WOW
HawkFan
November 30th, 2012
9:56 pm
Or that
Najeh Davenpoop
November 30th, 2012
9:56 pm
Say what you want about LD but the man draws up plays out of timeouts as well as anyone in the league. Time and time again.
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:56 pm
Lou another Big 3…. Nice play by LD out of the timeout
bigdave
November 30th, 2012
9:56 pm
Big shot.. LD like Doc out of a TO
HawkFan
November 30th, 2012
9:57 pm
Say what you will about LD but he is pretty good with inbounds plays
Najeh Davenpoop
November 30th, 2012
9:57 pm
I’d like to see Ivan in the game here on a defensive possession.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 30th, 2012
9:58 pm
Now THAT play is entirely on Josh.
Melvin
November 30th, 2012
9:58 pm
Got damn, terrible way to lose the game…. Didnt block out…
J.J.M.
November 30th, 2012
9:58 pm
Not the wizards
FACTS
November 30th, 2012
9:59 pm
WOW, what a POST PRESENCE….Put back 2 for the win. Al and Josh want to be small forwards.
ECF or Bust
November 30th, 2012
9:59 pm
if only osh would have boxed out on that last shot.
knuckle head…
Rey
November 30th, 2012
9:59 pm
For a big man, Horford is a weak presence under the rim. Nice D Horford and Josh Smith.
bigdave
November 30th, 2012
9:59 pm
Ready, aim, fire….
MattP
November 30th, 2012
10:00 pm
Wow rebounds 49 cavs 28 hawks.
Disgusted
November 30th, 2012
10:00 pm
Why did the fans not Boo this collection of cowards off the floor after this half assed night?
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
November 30th, 2012
10:00 pm
Can’t get the last rebound. Blame it on the guards.
Disgusted
November 30th, 2012
10:01 pm
Ten game losing streak in the making.
I predict a 12 game losing streak and a 55 loss season.
Boss
November 30th, 2012
10:02 pm
Get us a damn center
Najeh Davenpoop
November 30th, 2012
10:03 pm
This team is good at nearly everything except rebounding. Rebounding is the one thing they absolutely suck at, and it cost them this game.
Rev in Tampa
November 30th, 2012
10:03 pm
Disgusted = Jilted lover
keith
November 30th, 2012
10:04 pm
Horrible defensive performance, just plain horrible. A playoff team cannot lose to the HAPLESS Cavaliers!!! We need to UPGRADE our FRONTCOURT as soon as possible.
Honesty
November 30th, 2012
10:06 pm
Wow
Jay Dubu
November 30th, 2012
10:07 pm
Bad loss for the Hawks tonight. They can not afford to lose to teams like Cleveland, at home, epecially when you go into the 4th quarter with a 9 point lead!
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December 4th, 2012
4:25 pm
[...] Atlanta Hawks game thread: Rebound & run against Cavs Atlanta Hawks game thread: Rebound & run against Cavs. 6:43 pm November 30, 2012, by Chris Vivlamore. Vivlamore reporting. Rebound & then run. That will be the Hawks game plan against the Cavaliers Friday night at Philips Arena. The Cavs … Read more on Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]