Atlanta Hawks game thread: First place on the line vs. Heat
Vivlamore reporting from Miami.
The Hawks will need a physical and strong rebounding effort against the Heat with first place in the division on the line tonight, according to coach Larry Drew.
The Hawks (12-5) trail the Heat (13-5) by just a half game for the Southeast Division lead and second place in the Eastern Conference.
“We have to play with a physicality coming into this building,” Drew said following morning shoot-around at American Airlines Arena. “It’s always a tough place to play, a tough place to win. We have to do not a good job but a great job a great job with our tempo. That is going to be determined with our shot selection. That is going to be how well we take care of the basketball. But more importantly, we have to rebound the ball. We have to come up with all the loose balls tonight. We have to limit them to one shot and then we have to a good job of running basketball.”
Based on my research on five of the Heat’s losses coming in the top seven highest opponents’ 3-point shooting percentage games (see earlier blog), Drew said he didn’t want his team firing from long range solely on such a reason.
“If we are shooting the 3-ball well, that’s one thing but I don’t think we can rely on it,” Drew said. “I don’t think we can come in here and totally be at the 3-point line. We have to make sure we play inside out. Hopefully we can establish ourselves in the low post. If the 3-pointer is there, I want it to present itself. I don’t want us to come into this building and think the way to win it is to launch a bunch of 3s.”
Al Horford said that while it’s early in the year, the Hawks realize that this is a big game.
In other items:
* Drew said the starting lineup is a game-time decision as he and his staff are still discussing options.
* Kyle Korver (back spasms) had a workout in Atlanta on Monday and a decision has not been when he will join the team. It could be Tuesday in Orlando for a practice before Wednesday’s game against the Magic.
* A decision has not been made on bringing rookie Mike Scott back from the NBA Development League. The Bakersfield (Calif.) Jam play Monday and not again until Friday. In his three games, Scott has averaged 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 28.3 minutes.
- Chris Vivlamore
LATEST NEWS
* Josh Smith named Player of the Week
* 3-pointers may be key to defeating Heat
* Harris not settling for jumpers
* Korver out vs. Wizards, Grizzlies
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325 comments Add your comment
J.J.M.
December 10th, 2012
8:00 pm
Lmao at the ryan deep ball
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
8:01 pm
They need to feed Al inside more. Heat don’t have an intimidating inside presence, but Al only has one shot attempt.
kevkat
December 10th, 2012
8:03 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
8:01 pm
They need to feed Al inside more. Heat don’t have an intimidating inside presence, but Al only has one shot attempt.
I agree Najeh, but they need to make good passes, the Heat swarm a lot as a team and can cause turnovers.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
8:05 pm
Morrow has to hit those shots. Wide open 3, come on man.
Sautee
December 10th, 2012
8:05 pm
Like I said before, Josh’s teammates have faith in his shot. Nice pass Lou.
J.J.M.
December 10th, 2012
8:05 pm
Wow morrow
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
8:07 pm
LeBron whining about a foul when he carried it. LMAO
By the way, Josh is now shooting 43.5% from 3 this season and 52.3% from the line.
cp
December 10th, 2012
8:07 pm
And like I predicted earlier, its going to be a long night with the refs smh
Blast
December 10th, 2012
8:07 pm
That was carry by Lebron.
Jae Evolution
December 10th, 2012
8:08 pm
Lou has to get going, he has to make Ray Allen work.
Sameba
December 10th, 2012
8:08 pm
Morrow cannot shoot today. Neither he could yesterday. It is time to try Jenkins…
Sautee
December 10th, 2012
8:09 pm
If we can’t step it up on D, it’ll be a looooong night. Heat shooting 67%.
kevkat
December 10th, 2012
8:09 pm
Morrow, barely hit rim. Nice 3’s by Josh, however I hope it don’t cause him to start jackin them up too much.
soullrenaissance
December 10th, 2012
8:09 pm
Smoove is that you?
Smokey
December 10th, 2012
8:10 pm
Morrows been out of sync last 2 games no rhythm on the shot.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
8:11 pm
Al had the baseline wide open for a spin move to the basket but he shot an airball turnaround instead.
kevkat
December 10th, 2012
8:12 pm
That was a horrible shot by Al, he doesn’t have a fade away jumper
J.J.M.
December 10th, 2012
8:12 pm
Bad shot by al…you have to take it to bosh
Sautee
December 10th, 2012
8:13 pm
Horford needs to lose the fade-away.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
8:13 pm
It’s going to be tough to get Ivan in this game. When the Heat go to the bench, they have five guys on the floor (Bosh included) who have to be guarded out to the 3 point line. That is asking a lot from Ivan. It’s asking a lot of Zaza, too, for that matter.
soullrenaissance
December 10th, 2012
8:14 pm
Yeah why is Al playing finesse with Chris Posh?
HawkFan
December 10th, 2012
8:14 pm
Heat are playing well and it is a tough matchup for Hawks. Keep playing like we air playing and they will come back to us.
Blast
December 10th, 2012
8:15 pm
Shut up Battier. You fouled Al. Heat players never believe they ever foul anybody!
HawkFan
December 10th, 2012
8:15 pm
Nice rebound for Morrow there.
HawkFan
December 10th, 2012
8:17 pm
Big Al!!
Blast
December 10th, 2012
8:17 pm
Big Boss Al.
Old Man Peabody
December 10th, 2012
8:17 pm
Teague has the worst touch around the rim i’ve ever seen for a penetrating guard.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
8:17 pm
At some point the Heat are going to stop making these jumpers, right?
HawkFan
December 10th, 2012
8:19 pm
Really weak D by Mlller. Thought that guy was thru last year
Martin
December 10th, 2012
8:20 pm
Could I get a score, I am sitting in class right now.
Deadpool
December 10th, 2012
8:20 pm
The Heat aren’t missing anything right now. The Hawks should be thrilled to only be down by 1.
Sautee
December 10th, 2012
8:20 pm
“At some point the Heat are going to stop making these jumpers, right?”
One would think.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
8:20 pm
Hawks are out-rebounding the Heat, winning the turnover battle, and have even gotten to the foul line more. They are trailing only because the Heat have been lights out shooting the ball, and not a lot of those jumpers were uncontested either. I like the way this game is going so far for the Hawks.
Deadpool
December 10th, 2012
8:21 pm
Martin
42 – 41 Heat leading
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
8:21 pm
42-41 Heat, Martin.
kevkat
December 10th, 2012
8:22 pm
Feel sorry for ZaZa, but he can’t really guard anyone on the Heat
HawkFan
December 10th, 2012
8:22 pm
I feel a Hawk run coming here
Old Man Peabody
December 10th, 2012
8:23 pm
Don’t know what game you guys are watching, but the Heat have had 7 fouls called against them compared to 3 for ATL, ATL 8 FT and Heat 4 FT
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
8:23 pm
Would have liked to see Al try to power that up. Again, Miami doesn’t exactly have an intimidating inside presence.
Deadpool
December 10th, 2012
8:23 pm
Wow
Deadpool
December 10th, 2012
8:24 pm
Josh 3 for 3 on threes
soullrenaissance
December 10th, 2012
8:24 pm
Dayum Smoove is hot.
HawkFan
December 10th, 2012
8:24 pm
J Smoove = Larry Bird
MattP
December 10th, 2012
8:24 pm
Wow at Smith 3pt shooting.
Jae Evolution
December 10th, 2012
8:24 pm
Keep shooting it then boy.
Grimey
December 10th, 2012
8:25 pm
What the heck has gotten into Josh tonight shooting over 60 % what?!
keith
December 10th, 2012
8:25 pm
We should be posting Al against Bosh all night. He has to make Bosh play defense….
HawkFan
December 10th, 2012
8:26 pm
Great ball movement
Deadpool
December 10th, 2012
8:26 pm
Deshawn stroking it too
J.J.M.
December 10th, 2012
8:26 pm
Great game