Atlanta Hawks: Celtics 89, Hawks 81 (updated)
The Hawks got off to a fast start, but fell apart and lost to the Celtics on Saturday night, 89-81. Josh Smith finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The AJC’s Chris Vivlamore reports.
Vivlamore reporting.
The Hawks had a chance.
They could have served notice to the nemesis Celtics that they are that team anymore. The team the Celtics have owned in recent years.
However, the Hawks let a 19-point second-quarter lead evaporate – in less than 12 minutes – in a 89-81 loss to the Celtics Saturday night at Philips Arena.
The Celtics got physical with the Hawks and they did not respond – a fact that had coach Larry Drew ‘concerned’ following the game.
“This is a very, very disappointing loss,” Drew said. “Probably, for me, the most disappointing loss of the season for the mere fact of playing against a team we have battled in the past and we’ve seen this type of scenario before where we have played well and then when it starts to get a little bit physical, when they start playing a little bit rougher, when they start make things a little more difficult for us, we don’t respond. That was clearly what happened tonight.
“I’m concerned because this is the NBA and you have to expect that. When you play against teams that do smack you, you have to respond. It’s just the way it is. Everybody has to do it. Every team in this league has to do it. When you don’t’ do it you get labeled. You get a tag on you. That’s the last thing I want to happen to my ball club.”
The Hawks lost six of nine game games against the Celtics last season, including a first-round playoff defeat (4-2). The only regular-season game the Hawks won came when the Celtics played without Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen. The Celtics also won the memorable seven-game playoff series in 2008 when much of the history between the teams began.
The Celtics entered the third quarter trailing by 15 points. They came out of the period leading by nine points, 71-62. They used a 33-9 third quarter run to erase the deficit as the Hawks shot a meager 14.3 percent (2 of 9) coming out of halftime.
“You can’t compound things,” Drew said. “You can’t keep turning the ball over. You can’t have bad shot selection. You can’t have defensive breakdowns. That just adds more and more problems to the equation. And then you sense the body language. And I sensed it, honestly, at the end of the second quarter because they were playing us a little bit physical. I’m sure they went into halftime and said ‘Guys, all we have to do is keep climbing, keep pushing up in them, and we’ll get back in the game.’ That’s exactly what happened.”
The Hawks (20-12) have lost two straight and three of their past four games. After managing to cut their deficit to five points, 79-74, in the fourth quarter the Celtics scored six straight points to regain a comfortable margin.
Lou Williams led the Hawks with a season-high 28 points, 21 coming in the first half. Jeff Teague added 17 points and Josh Smith had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
“Defensively, I think they did a great job of making it tough for us to catch,” Williams said. “They were pressuring everything. They made it tough for Jeff to get us into plays. They made it tough for us on our in-bounds plays. That’s been their makeup for a number of years. They’ve always been known as a defensive team and tonight we got the worst of it.”
The Celtics (16-17) have won two straight after a four-game losing skid.
Rondo had his 25th career triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds. Pierce had 26 points and Garnett added 14 points.
Rondo escaped a possible ejection and fine when he made contact with official Rodney Mott while arguing a called for a charge with 3:19 remaining in the third quarter.
The Hawks led by as many as 13 points in the first quarter and 19 points in the second quarter. They took a 53-38 lead into halftime.
Williams’ 21 first-half points tied the team record for most points in a half this season. Smith also had 21 in a Dec. 26 game against the Pistons. Williams scored 17 of the Hawks’ first 23 points, all in the opening quarter, as the team shot 60 percent (12 of 20) from the field. They ended the half shooting 52.5 percent, including 7 of 15 3-point attempts.
The big lead was for naught – gone in minutes. The Hawks are left licking their wounds it what could have been a statement game.
Drew canceled a planned day off Sunday and called a team practice.
“I don’t really get it how an opponent can get (us) out of the game for 48 minutes,” Zaza Pachulia said. “I don’t know what else to tell you. It’s all about us. We should all look in the mirror, all of us, the whole team.”
- Chris Vivlamore
LATEST NEWS
* Stevenson needs medical clearance to play back-t0-back
* Hawks wary of Pistons’ bench
* Williams to remain in starting lineup
* Behind the scenes photo gallery
* Drew named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month
* Drew looking for more minutes for Jenkins
* Drew concerned Hawks settling for 3-pointers in transition
* Harris, Morrow not on trip to Houston
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @AJCHAWKS
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
192 comments Add your comment
northcyde
January 5th, 2013
9:51 pm
Just say the word Stinger
Larry Drew was calling his team ( namely his star players ) . . . SOFT
They’ve been a soft team for years now, which is why teams like Boston can bytch slap us.
keith
January 5th, 2013
9:51 pm
Jazz look pretty good right now…Not sure their starters are the right group…Marvin Williams just jacked up a 3 and bricked it…LMAO….
NUNNA!!
January 5th, 2013
9:56 pm
U got this post up might quick Mr.V. lol..U must have left the game early lol..
Hey,i agree with Najeh that its mostly coaching.
But i also think that Teague(although not the main culprit)has a big part in this..He played with more aggression and attitude with Wake Forest. Did the NBA wake him up and B—- slap him into reality?
Or was woody doing the slapping that has made this guy seem to lose confidence quick and is not really a floor general..
Now,he was more of a scoring PG in college..He did not have any consistent 9 to 15 apg at all,but you would think he has learned his teamates by now that he would know who can shoot 3’s and who can’t..
When and where his mates range is and to get them the ball in those situations..
When to demand the ball in his hands and direct the team,especially when we get a defensive rebound and my PF is bringing the ball up the floor..
And,I really do think that Ferry is looking hard at LD now. Looking at how he handles the play of his team and if he thnks a change is needed now..
A good GM always has an ace up his sleeve and i believe Ferry hand is up his sleeve waiting on the time he see’s fit to pull it out..
keith
January 5th, 2013
9:56 pm
UTAH JAZZ MANAGEMENT ARE SUCKAS……
Maybe we can make a move with the Jazz again…They were dumb enough to take Marvin, maybe they would take Josh as well????? I mean “The artist formerly known as Smoove”
BIG K IN DA HOUSE….
ATMAN
January 5th, 2013
9:59 pm
I’m feeling sick……..nice 3rd quarter!
TBhawkfan
January 5th, 2013
10:00 pm
9 points the 3rd qtr. wow.
Rev in Tampa
January 5th, 2013
10:01 pm
The Celtics will be checking Paul Pierce out of the nursing home 50 years from now to come play against the Hawks and he will be scoring 25+
keith
January 5th, 2013
10:04 pm
Ashton Kutcher was in Phillips Arena tonight….
Cause Al and Josh collectively “Got Punked” by the Boston Celtics AGAIN…. Our Starting Bigs are so scared of the Celtics, i would not start the starters next time out against the Cs just to make a point. I would start:
PG-Lou Will
SG-Kyle Korver
SF-Stevenson or Morrow
PF-Ivan
C-zaza
Big K in Da House!!!!!
keith
January 5th, 2013
10:09 pm
Big Al Jefferson on Pace for a 20/10 night….Danny..can you give this Brotha a call? Please?
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
10:11 pm
I believe its mostly the Bigs who cant score in the low post..Guards can’t win them all from the perimeter..
The Bigs have to carry the team at times and close out games at times..
Frankly these Bigs do not have the talent to do such..Not enough fire power..As the season progresses we will see the Guards tire and the Bigs will do what they do..Get beat down..
Danny will dismantle this front line to become elite..
As presently constructed not even close…
But c’mon Larry you got play Ivan at least 22-29 mins a night to assist these SOFT BIGS!
ATMAN
January 5th, 2013
10:14 pm
DF, please make a trade before deadline.
Please Amswer This
January 5th, 2013
10:16 pm
Question:
Why did we bring in “all these new shooters” this season?
Answer:
So they could watch Josh and Al jack-up outside shots.
The entire NBA game would be much better-off if the 3-point shot was eliminated.
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
10:19 pm
AL and Josh would dominate the D-league..hehehehe
They played like Alena and Josephine tonight…LOL!
Big Ray
January 5th, 2013
10:23 pm
Bigs showed up on the glass…but got spanked on offense. NO game whatsoever.
Horford a weak 2 for 8. Josh a disgustingly ineffective 4 for 18….with 6 turnovers. Yuck.
Nice game by Lou. Teague scored decently.
Zaza had a bad game due to foul trouble.
Ivan puts up 4 points and 4 boards in 6 and a half minutes….LD doesn’t play him more than that. Idiot.
Yep.
Can’t wait for this offseason.
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
10:24 pm
Vikings getting stomped like the Falcons in last years playoffs..
They have one more point at 3..The Falcons scored 2 points on a safety..
Please Answer This
January 5th, 2013
10:25 pm
Tonights game was just another good reason for Atlantan’s to……
Not support this franchise.
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
10:26 pm
LARRY FIRE YOURSELF
Big Ray
January 5th, 2013
10:31 pm
Big Al Jefferson has post game. If we want scoring in the post, he’s a guy you could go with. That said, here are some facts to digest:
Al Jefferson for the season – 16.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 47.7 FG%
Al Horford for the season – 16.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 54.1 FG%
The question isn’t production, it’s “FIT”. If Jefferson fits this team better, then he’s the guy you want. But if he doesn’t…then you see the stats above. He shoots a lower percentage and averages less than a point per game more than a guy who has no real post game to speak of.
Gotta think this through.
I think there are better options on the horizon if a little patience is exercised.
Big Ray
January 5th, 2013
10:35 pm
I have to say that O’Brien has come up with the most interesting and credible trade proposals.
And though I recognize Demarcus Cousins as a head case, that would be a guy you could roll the dice on as far as talent goes. Dude can ball.
He needs a situation with better team cohesion, better coaching, better locker room, etc.
F@ck it. Make that trade. You could do worse.
Only thing is, you better get a good head coach in here. I can see Cousins and Ivan the Terrible getting into a fight in practice, LOL. LD would flee the scene in abject terror…and so would some of the team .
Peter
January 5th, 2013
10:35 pm
Josh Smith trying to lead the league in 3 pointers. 1-5 tonight.he has the basketball intelligence of a five year old.
keith
January 5th, 2013
10:35 pm
“NED THE WINE-O ” DREW must have had a little sauce tonight before the game.
2nd half was a failure in all 3 phases…Offense..Defense..and …Coaching…
BIG K in DA HOUSE
Big Ray
January 5th, 2013
10:36 pm
Lester Connor and the rest would be right on LD’s heels trying to get the hell out of there…
keith
January 5th, 2013
10:38 pm
Big Ray
January 5th, 2013
10:35 pm
DITTO….Zaza and Ivan are the only ones who would stick around….
Peter
January 5th, 2013
10:39 pm
Our bigs don’t have a post game…… Then again we don’t have a legit center.
Is Tim Duncan a center ? He is bigger then Al.
Huggies
January 5th, 2013
10:42 pm
Then Josh starts hugging those Ba$tards after the game? That’s why you can’t hang around with Boston F@ggots in the summertime!!!!
Big Ray
January 5th, 2013
10:42 pm
Yeah but you won’t hear Mid-range Shawty’s “boys” call him out for all this three point shooting on this blog, no sir….
Well…oh wait…he’s hitting 37% from beyond the arc, which means he’s a bonafide 3 point shooter of course…don’t explain all the 21 footers that are BRICKS, hence that blazing hot 44.8% shooting from the field overall…
But it’s all good because he blocks shots and assists on every single one of Horford’s baskets, ya know….
Speaking of which, Horford going 2 for 8 made Josh look really bad. Josh could have had 8 assists if not for Al.
Man, Al…what you doin’ out there, trying to keep my man from making the all-star team? You made him have 6 turnovers you lousy bastid!
Charmin Ultra-Soft Tissue Paper
January 5th, 2013
10:44 pm
Huggies
January 5th, 2013
10:42 pm
Then Josh starts hugging those Ba$tards after the game? That’s why you can’t hang around with Boston F@ggots in the summertime!!!!
—————————————–
^TRUE!
Big Ray
January 5th, 2013
10:45 pm
Keith ,
I’m tired of this up and down shiz with Josh and Al. Get punked way too often. If it isn’t one thing it’s another, I swear. If it’s not rebounding, it’s scoring, or vice versa, or the usual:
1) Al not defending
2) Josh not rebounding
3) Both not scoring
4) But at least they don’t fight and say cryptic stuff after the game like JOOOOEEEEEEEE
Peter
January 5th, 2013
10:46 pm
By the way can Al Horford jump ?
He has the funnest looking shot as well…… why does his legs always go out ?
Big Ray
January 5th, 2013
10:46 pm
And I’m out…
Pampers Supreme
January 5th, 2013
10:48 pm
They really wet their pants in the second half!
Bunch of sissies!
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
January 5th, 2013
11:11 pm
FIRE LD
FIRE JOSH
Josh will never grow up. He threw his obligatory fast break alleyoop pass off the backboard to no one tonight. Can’t finish in post
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
January 5th, 2013
11:12 pm
We all understand Teague suffers from Marvinitis, but can LD please call out Smoove too? That dude is so damn aggravating
JaeEvolution
January 5th, 2013
11:17 pm
Dwight Howard publicly ripping his Laker teammates and questioning Kobe’s leadership?
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8817247/dwight-howard-says-los-angeles-lakers-play-each-other
Rusty
January 5th, 2013
11:18 pm
I wrote a long post that would not go through.I will say it again which I have said for 2 years LD is a horrible coach & we have won games inspite of him,this team will never be a contender no matter who we would add with him as our coach.
BiggieT
January 5th, 2013
11:21 pm
Someone in the organiz. needs to grow some ’stones’ & tell Mr. BrainFreeze aka ‘Smooth’ : You are NEITHER a guard nor an O/S shooter, PERIOD ! He has the habit at times of getting the opponent back into the game… OK, BigAl had a bad game as well, but he understands what he can & can’t do.
kuhndog
January 5th, 2013
11:23 pm
I was concearned with our schedule, and hoped we would respond better. This is one game but becoming a trend, when Boston clamped doen and started to play aggressive FOULING defense the Hawks started complaining Josh for one. When you allow a good team to play aggressive D and not get enough calls they continue this and momuntum sets in. No adj. by LD on the PP KK matchup and it cost us. This team gets no respect for getting fouled, and LD is going to have to show some emotion and get thrown out of a few. I will reserve my opinion until I see if the Hawks can respond to adversity.
Rusty
January 5th, 2013
11:24 pm
LD always blames everybody but him self.
Rusty
January 5th, 2013
11:33 pm
Listeten to LD & tell me he is not an idiot. The stinger is also a suck azz idiot.
Duluth Joe
January 5th, 2013
11:43 pm
Are Celtics to Larry Drew, what Orlando was to Woody?
Would Celtics be the reason Larry Drew gets fired?
If the coach of the team is going to call the team’s play soft, the Northcyde’s point is fair and valid. Why not play Zaza and Ivan? Why should Tolliver have more minutes than Ivan? How can you expect a team to be tough if Korver is your small forward? Did Larry Drew not learn that Pierce can score, even at this late stage)from last year’s playoffs), if not defended. Korver is specialist in this league. Not a starting Small Forward. At least play him at shooting guard along with Teague.
As for Josh, let’s remember, he can’t get his inside shots against the length of the likes of KG or Bosh. We have this before. And Al vs. Bass, I just don’t get how Al is not better than Bass.
To not go with the big lineup, to lose the rebounding edge to a Celtics team that is horrible at rebounding when Zaza who may be the best pure rebounder on the team and Ivan the toughest guy on the team are getting a total of 21 minutes, leaves Larry Drew open to second guessing by all.
To not replace Korver when Pierce is attacking him and getting him in foul trouble with Ivan and not putting Josh on Pierce is a joke, when we all know Zaza can defend KG.
And to hear their fans again get loud in Atlanta, absolutely sucks. ABSOLUTELY SUCKS
Ferry, at least get a small forward that can defend if you can’t find a center and your coach insists on playing Al as a center.
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
11:43 pm
Danny should go after Cousins before the trade deadline in February then in the off season go after D12..
Sell him that Cousins and Josh along with himself makes them Elite in the East! They would be young enough to start a legit run at the Finals for several years.
The Hawks are the young guns..The Lakers are the has been…
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
11:57 pm
“And Al vs. Bass, I just don’t get how Al is not better than Bass.”
Bass moves his feet well. Is he not a 4? Hmmm.
KG and Brandon Bass are Allstar Al’s worst nightmare…
He is on lockdown against those two and the other the one shooting blanks?
Its a freaking disaster…. Yea we are calling out the BIGS!
I
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
11:59 pm
Josh you are costing yourself a boat load of dough if you do not get a shooting coach to help you with that shot of yours..
uga-brave
January 6th, 2013
12:01 am
first of all larry drew is a great coach.
he has total coach killer in Josh.
uga-brave
January 6th, 2013
12:02 am
another night of him thowing up 17 shots.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 6th, 2013
12:03 am
In a vacuum Al is much better than Bass. His problem, like the rest of this team, is mental. Al is scared (like the rest of his teammates); Bass is confident (like the rest of his teammates).
uga-brave
January 6th, 2013
12:03 am
Enter your comments here
uga-brave
January 6th, 2013
12:05 am
please get rid of josh. build this team around aL and teague.
Duluth Joe
January 6th, 2013
12:08 am
Najeh you may have a point. I was thinking the breakdown in the third was mental. I can’t remember such a reversal of fortunes in a quarter.
Leading by 15 and then being down 10 or so by end of thrid. As a Hawks fan not getting a chance to shout for anything positive is a total downer. I think the only time I had a chance to scream at the game in that quarter was when Teague got fouled by Pierce in the third, and I wanted Pierce thrown out. Such was the absolute and total collapse we saw in the third. Unreal.
uga-brave
January 6th, 2013
12:09 am
what eight years in the league and he still cant go right. he cant post up. trade him.
he has zero post up game.