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
kevkat
December 10th, 2012
8:26 pm
Where’s the damn defense?
Old Man Peabody
December 10th, 2012
8:27 pm
Funny to see most of the Hawks players wearing some form South Beach designed shoes.
J.J.M.
December 10th, 2012
8:28 pm
Come on teague u got to know to pass it to josh early than that
2 FOR JOHN DREW
December 10th, 2012
8:29 pm
That’s normal for Miami crowd ….. Go to Ocean Dr, Collins Ave first get full of eats & drinks then come back to American Airlines ….Fun, Fun, Fun
Jae Evolution
December 10th, 2012
8:30 pm
Wow……….
J.J.M.
December 10th, 2012
8:30 pm
Who just mention teague has the worst touch at the rim for a guard
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
8:30 pm
Josh trying a little too hard not to pick up foul #2.
keith
December 10th, 2012
8:31 pm
Watch out…
Deadpool
December 10th, 2012
8:31 pm
How the hell is that even legal. The pass is clearly headed out of bounds and the damn ref saves it for the Heat
Jae Evolution
December 10th, 2012
8:31 pm
That’s some bullsh*t ref jump over the god damn ball.
J.J.M.
December 10th, 2012
8:32 pm
Is josh scared to block lebron shots?
kevkat
December 10th, 2012
8:32 pm
As if they needed any help, the refs with kick saves now
soullrenaissance
December 10th, 2012
8:32 pm
LeBron is a beast. But beast are made to either tamed or slew.
Honesty
December 10th, 2012
8:32 pm
Lebrons foot was on the line!
High-sider
December 10th, 2012
8:32 pm
The Heat team is currently shooting 64.7% from the field. The Heat is smokin’ [pun intended].
J.J.M.
December 10th, 2012
8:34 pm
Wtf…josh can’t get up like he used to lol
keith
December 10th, 2012
8:35 pm
The Boys came to play 2-night–No doubt!!!
Blast
December 10th, 2012
8:35 pm
Game is fast and furious and the refs, with the Commish should be investigated by the FBI for game fixing.
Don’t like it when Josh fades away on his jumpers.
soullrenaissance
December 10th, 2012
8:35 pm
That dunk woulda been all over the highlights on ESPN.
HawkFan
December 10th, 2012
8:36 pm
Great half for both teams
kevkat
December 10th, 2012
8:36 pm
bad defense..make him shoot a jumper
Mokeysho
December 10th, 2012
8:36 pm
The Heat just keep on making their shots. Everything thrown up goin in.
cp
December 10th, 2012
8:37 pm
Good game so far but man Teague has been terrible tonight. He really needs to step it up in the second half
bigdave
December 10th, 2012
8:37 pm
I see Jay in attendance
J.J.M.
December 10th, 2012
8:37 pm
Enter geez teague
Sameba
December 10th, 2012
8:38 pm
Very weak game by Teague…
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
8:38 pm
Can’t feel too bad about that half, although they blew some easy scoring opportunities in those last couple of minutes. Still think if they stick to the game plan and keep forcing the Heat to shoot jumpers they can pull this one out. Nothing wrong with the game plan or effort so far, just a lot of made jumpers by the Heat.
kevkat
December 10th, 2012
8:38 pm
Hanging tough though..good half
Huh
December 10th, 2012
8:38 pm
Did LeBron Blow the refs b4 this Game??
HORRIBLE OFFICATING!!! >.<
2 FOR JOHN DREW
December 10th, 2012
8:40 pm
Love the offensive pace of this game ….. Let’s Go Hawks
cp
December 10th, 2012
8:41 pm
Like I said the other day, Teague needs to dunk more when he gets that close to the rim. He is a lot better at finishing than he was years ago but he still struggles with it.
Honesty
December 10th, 2012
8:41 pm
Heat will still finish under 50% shooting for the game.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
8:41 pm
Don’t think officiating was that bad except for the ref kick save. Hawks got their fair share of calls. Free throw attempts and fouls are split pretty evenly.
keith
December 10th, 2012
8:42 pm
Jeff Teague needs to step it up. He is shooting horribly right now!!!
drmaryb.(""_*).
December 10th, 2012
8:42 pm
Nyce Game Fellas!
What a torrid pace! No more dribbling the air out of the ball and, Marvin helping the ball boys mop the sweat off the floor.
Whata breath of fresh air with, The disappearing 8 feces throwing Orangutans, Rick Sund & et.al.
- good writtens – to the old regime. Bye – Yawl!
High-sider
December 10th, 2012
8:43 pm
Hawks [team is] holdin’ its own against the Heat. In the words of Bone Crusher, this [Hawks] team is showin’ this season it “ain’t never scared” [of elite competition].
keith
December 10th, 2012
8:43 pm
Jeff Teague seems to “shrink” in games against elite teams. This is where we need you most Jeff. Come on man!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 10th, 2012
8:43 pm
One thing I would like to see is Josh and Al going up strong in the paint instead of kicking it out to shooters all the time. Kicking it out is good if they get doubled, but sometimes they catch the ball in the paint in transition or on a secondary break and only have one man to beat to get a layup or a foul and they still kick it out. They are good enough finishers that they don’t always need to do that.
Sameba
December 10th, 2012
8:44 pm
We will need elite PG if we are to contend. Imagine if we had e.g. CP3 what the score would be by now?
HawkFan
December 10th, 2012
8:45 pm
We’ve taken 5 more shots than Heat, made 5 more free throws and still trail cause they shot the lights out. I don’t think the Hawks matchup at all defensively against the Heat but surely they can’t keep making all these shots.
tyler
December 10th, 2012
8:45 pm
Yeah Hawks playin tough- refs aren’t helping. Nice move by the ref there to save the ball for the Heat. And apparently it’s perfectly legal to dribble the ball around your head and/or set moving screens. What’s not legal though is to attempt to play any kind of defense against Lebron.
cp
December 10th, 2012
8:46 pm
I dont think its against the elite keith because he played well against the Grizz, OKC, and the Clippers. He was good in the first game against the Heat. I dont know whats going on with him tonight though but he definitely needs to get it going. He should be having his way with Chalmers. I remember in the last game they had to put Lebron on him at some point because Chalmers couldn’t guard him.
paian
December 10th, 2012
8:46 pm
Great half by the hawks, the heat can’t keep shooting 64% for the rest of the game. It can only go down unless they are still making every shot that is.
paian
December 10th, 2012
8:47 pm
@keith teague didnt shrink in the previous game vs the heat so stop with the nonsense..
Honesty
December 10th, 2012
8:48 pm
I wish ivan could get time to do some damage but I understand why he’s not.
cp
December 10th, 2012
8:48 pm
You mean the same CP3 that the Hawks beat with Teague outplaying CP3? . I love Paul’s game but sometimes folks act like this dude has a bunch of rings or something.
HawkFan
December 10th, 2012
8:48 pm
Agreed Najeh. However kicking to Deshawn is pretty good right now
Sameba
December 10th, 2012
8:49 pm
CP3 is mostly consistent, Teague is not…
keith
December 10th, 2012
8:49 pm
I’m not sure Chris Paul is worth a max deal at this point in his career. His history of injuries are a serious concern for me…
Honesty
December 10th, 2012
8:51 pm
Devin seemed to be in LD’s dog house in the first half. I didn’t really see what he did to get the short leash. I’m assuming it was some sort of defensive breakdown though…