Hawks, Josh Smith bounce back in major way over Bulls
Evidence of improved defense: Derrick Rose is surrounded. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
(UPDATED: 11:45 p.m.)
This is what effort looks like. This is what defense looks like. This is what Josh Smith taking over in the fourth quarter with his feet in the paint and not near the three-point line looks like (quick, somebody take a picture!).
Imagine if every game was like this.
The Hawks rebounded from a miserable performance again Sunday night, and the only reason to see it coming was because there was no reason to see it coming. Throw a whiffle ball in a wind tunnel and guess which direction that sucker will fly. That’s sort of like predicting the Hawks. But they showed us something again: potential.
After flopping in Game 3 and failing to lead after any quarter in consecutive games, the Hawks’ 100-88 win over Chicago at Philips Arena showed us how good they can be. They showed us what happens when an occasionally dysfunctional bunch plays hard and plays smart.
Remarkably, they have evened this best-of-seven series at 2-2 wins each against the team that finished with the NBA’s best record (62-20).
Go figure.
“We played with energy, that was the difference,” coach Larry Drew said. “And we shared the basketball. When we do that, we’re an effective ballclub.”
How did it happen? Well, start with players crashing the boards and diving on the floor. Start with effort. And yes, start with Josh Smith.
He had his best game of the postseason. He finished with 23 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists. He took over the game in the fourth quarter, when he scored 11. This is what he is capable of.
“I’m going to bring the tape in and bring him in the office [Monday],” Drew said. “And he knows. Josh and I have a number of talks and I know what he brings to the table. He just sometimes finds his way out on the perimeter and lets it go. When he’s rebounding and running the floor and pushing the basketball — that’s who he is. He has a unique ability to impact the game at both ends of the floor.”
Smith had some of those oh-no moments early in the game when he fired up jumpers, although not to the extent of his Game 3 performance.
“There are people who don’t understand the game, who don’t know the game, but that doesn’t faze me,” he said. “My teammates matter more than anybody else. They believe in me. They have confidence in my game. When I was in my rut, they told me to stay positive, to stay in the game, just do what I’d been doing all season long. I stayed with it.”
Even before tip-off, the Hawks could be comforted by one thought: No matter how the rest of this series went, they were assured of winning one more game in the second round of the playoffs than the Los Angeles Lakers (who were swept by Dallas). In most years, that would be considered a monumental success.
But even at this point of the season, the Hawks are still trying to prove something that shouldn’t even be a question in May: a beating heart. Their propensity to not show up for games, let alone playoff games, is maddening. After splitting two games in Chicago, they returned home for Game 3 and, in Drew’s mind, made one huge miscalculation: They suddenly thought they were good. They lost by 17 points.
It was different Sunday. They came out with energy and attitude – defense even. They led after the first quarter (28-26). They led at halftime (47-46). The significance: They hadn’t led after any quarter since winning Game 1.
Things went so well at the outset, Drew didn’t feel a need to use his first timeout until 12:40 into the game, slightly behind the 49-second pace the last time around.
Joe Johnson, who hit only 4 of 12 shots in the last game, hit his first four on this night. His 15 points at halftime exceeded his 10 on Friday. The effort on the boards were better, thanks in part to Drew’s pregame decision to “go big” with his lineup and start Jason Collins at center.
The defense against Derrick Rose (44 points in Game 3) also was superior, partly because Jeff Teague was better but also because he received far more help from teammates. There was one play in the first quarter when Rose drove to the basket and was surrounded by four Hawks: Teague, Collins, Smith and Al Horford. If the Hawks brought that kind of focus and intensity all the time, there wouldn’t be nearly as many skeptics in this town.
The game was tied at 84-84 with four minutes left. Then Teague and Horford hit runners and the Hawks led the rest of the way. Horford scored the next two buckets, both on assists from Smith.
Suddenly, five players were working in unison. They shared the ball on offense, with five players scoring in double figures. Imagine if it was like this all the time.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Earlier: Collins starts but will Hawks show up?
Earlier: Hawks’ constant Sybil act reaffirms changes are needed
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128 comments Add your comment
hawkfan
May 9th, 2011
12:04 am
I said it before and I’ll say it again – For the Hawks to be successful and continue their playoff drive they need JSmith to play at a high level. People can boo all they want … 23 pts 16 rbs 8 assists … and not to mention highlight plays that bring the crowd to a frenzy. The occasional mid-range jumper (if he can regain some confidence and knock it down every once in a while) will not hurt the team when he plays up to his potential.
I loved the 2-man traps on DRose … sort of giving them a taste of their own medicine. But the difference is that the Hawks have other playmakers aside from Joe, whereas the Bulls do not.
PALM BEACH BARON
May 9th, 2011
12:10 am
Keep Marvin’s minutes to less than 10 and we’ll win – GO WITH THE BIG LINEUP AT ALL TIMES – Don’t worry about 3 fouls on 1 on of our bigs or even if they eventually foul out – PLAY BIG LINEUP!
JASon
May 9th, 2011
12:10 am
1)Pass the ball more, check
2)Pound the paint, check
3)Contest all scoring opportunities on defense, check
Win, check. They are finally realizing that just taking jump shots will not equate to wins most of the time. Way to go, coach and team.
CGThree
May 9th, 2011
12:15 am
Just think about it. If Kirk Hinrich hadnt gotten injured. Jeff Teague wouldnt be getting his chance. Im happy for Jeff he was a great player in college. Also just if we can get by chicago and get to the next round we get kirk back comming off the bench behind teague it just makes them that much stronger.
Derek Rose
May 9th, 2011
12:16 am
Ya’ll suckas don’t even know. I’m bout to drop the real ish on you…
Al Horford
May 9th, 2011
12:17 am
Dumbass. Can’t even spell your name right.
Kelvin Frazier
May 9th, 2011
12:18 am
You are right Jeff, if the Hawks played this way all the time there wouldn’t be nearly the amount of skeptics in this town and in the national media. But, let me just make two quick observations. 1.) Josh Smith, if everyone knows and is telling you to attack the basket and play in the paint, why do you insist like in game 3 on playing out on the perimeter where your FG% is extremely low? It drives me and other Hawks fans crazy. 2.) Why hasn’t Jeff Teague been playing more? Are you telling me that Mike Bibby was better than Teague? I don’t know what the coaching staff was looking at, but it seems to me that Teague has been wasting away on the bench when he clearly should have been playing a lot more.
Kobe Bryant
May 9th, 2011
12:19 am
I checked with the league, and I think I’d like to be traded to Chicago now. D Rose can go sit on his ass, cuz I’m the Black Mamba!
MitchC
May 9th, 2011
12:25 am
Jeff, I dont want to sound negative, (and once again I’m guilty of not watching the whole game, because of channel surfing between the Hawks game, and the Braves game).. but.. all that tonight really did is guarantee us a Game 6 in Atlanta.
This team has been absolute Jekyll-Hyde in this series. So good in Games 1 and 4, pitiful in Game 2, and not good in Game 3.
I will be shocked if the Hawks win this series. I think they have the potential to get smashed on Tuesday night.. or.. even if they lose Tuesday.. “honorably”, as Mark Bradley likes to say, and win Game 6, I think they will still lose Game 7.
I think it will be Bulls in seven. Hawks will probably lose Tuesday, win Game 6, and drop Game 7.
I wish I could have more confidence, but, in spite of tonight, the efforts in Games 2 and 3, just dont make me feel very confident.
M
May 9th, 2011
12:29 am
Now this was a great game. Please, please do this in Chicago. Way to go Josh, and team. Stay in the paint Josh and kick A** dude. About time coach Drew. Man stop Rose from running in the middle and we got the series man. Those other Bull players are punks man as you can see> lets Goo!
Section 212
May 9th, 2011
12:36 am
Just got home…..JSmoove is the most maddening player in the league. When he does what all 19K in Philips wants him to do, he can dominate games with plenty of highlights. Also, Horford finally made a positive impact on a game. I’m sure the discussion on here was great.
captguitarman
May 9th, 2011
12:38 am
Schizos, bi-polar poster boys, manic-depressives, AC/DC, Jekyll and Hyde . . . all apply . . . but I’m totally behind them, and they did themselves proud tonight. Like all Hawks fans, I don’t know what team will show up in Chicago for the next game. But, I thought the refs were not fair tonight. I’m not complaining about fouls called on the Bulls, but come one, some of the things the Bulls got away with were ridiculous. Smith was pounded to the floor on a rebound, tip end near the end . . . but nary a peep from the refs. The zebras should call them at both ends, but they didn’t. The Hawks got a good no call at the end on a possible charge, but that was the only break I saw. In Chicago, it will be worse because Chicago is favored. If you watch the NBA, you know that certain players and teams get all the breaks from the refs. Jordan, as great as he was, without doubt, owed a lot to the zebras during his career. Poor Kobe, once a zebra darling, is learning is learning a tough lesson what it’s like to fall from their favor. Rose has his best zebra years ahead of him. Whaddayagonnado? It’s the NBA. I hope tonight’s version of the Hawks shows up in Chicago. Wouldn’t it be something to see them behind 3-2 and coming back to Atlanta?
Section 212
May 9th, 2011
12:40 am
Also, crowd was great tonight. No MVP chants at the end of the game. Bulls fans around us left early, still talking trash though.
djthescorpian
May 9th, 2011
12:43 am
The Hawks have to realize their potential, just as well, they can’t go around thinking that they are that good. The only way to prove it is a ring. Until you prove that-you are on an even playing field. That being said-only fear the Dallas Mavs. What does this mean? The Hawks have the potentail to be able to get to the Eastern Conference Finals. This is what L.D. should be stressin to J.Smooth Monday morning in his office. Oh yea, & it helps the city of Atlanta bring in more revenue.
Winston
May 9th, 2011
12:46 am
HEATH – Thanks for not saying first. Class.
Hawks61
May 9th, 2011
12:50 am
Speaking of Bi-polar…Has anyone scene the real Joe Johnson. He by boi but, dannnng…lol It may be time for him to move on…Wonder how much we can get for him?
Hawks61
May 9th, 2011
12:51 am
sorry…meant seen…LOL…I was typing maddddd.
Mama Juana
May 9th, 2011
12:53 am
Just saw the highlights on ESPN… 90% was Derrick Rose this Derrick Rose that, then at the end oh by the way the Hawks won?!?! ATL teams get no respect on ESPN…
Hawks61
May 9th, 2011
12:57 am
LOL..@Mama U know why? And the Oscar goes to Derrick Rose, best play actor in an NBA game. That dude loves to hit the floor like he’s been fouled…LOL
Mama Juana
May 9th, 2011
1:02 am
I mean, I understand he’s the MVP but THEY LOST!! And another after thought to them was that the series is tied at 2… Nothing new though, it’s the same with the Braves and Falcons, The announcers sounded upset tonight when the Phillies lost…
Hawks61
May 9th, 2011
1:05 am
Yeah, ESPN considers ATL to be TNT’s baby…LOL it’s all good, I like TNT better anyway better game coverage.
Slim
May 9th, 2011
1:13 am
Jason Collins anybody, Zaza Pachulia playing even better off the bench anybody?
give the bigs some credit. It goes against “logic” but when you have bigs you have more energy. You get stops and allow your other players to run.
With Josh at the 3 instead of Mr. Williams, Bogans could not switch it up. Deng stayed on Smith and JJ capitalized. Everybody played big.
No rebounds, no rings! Good Tough wins and cohesion Hawks.
Slim
May 9th, 2011
1:14 am
onto the next game go Hawks.
Hawks61
May 9th, 2011
1:20 am
@Slim, so true…so let’s be straight what’s your take on Joe? Top paid Hawks player. I’m sorry but Joe gotta step it up and play with more heart.
chs98
May 9th, 2011
1:21 am
they need take the whole team to some falcons games and show them how a team plays. but a couple more performaces like this and they could win this round.
Licas3
May 9th, 2011
2:25 am
Josh shoots the jump shot because statistically he should. At end of regular season, he had a better FG% and 3pt% than Joe. He has not shot well in the playoffs. Good players keep doing what they do, in spite of slumps. He has given a solid defensive effort and good stats every night. When he is gone, he will be missed.
And Al, can’t find him since Allstar weekend!
P. Bull Terrier
May 9th, 2011
2:25 am
If Josh Smith would just play like this every night, the Atlanta Spirit Group might want to trade those Kobe Bryant jerseys they have been selling at Phillips Arena for #5 Atlanta Hawks jerseys.
d max hawk
May 9th, 2011
3:22 am
The Hawks are back! Mark this down—the hawks will upset the bulls in game 5 and finish them off in game 6 in Atl! Josh and JJ—the bulls don’t match up!!
tjhook
May 9th, 2011
4:54 am
Two thoughts for Josh Smith: 1) Thank you for entertaining us Sunday Night- it was a great performance.
2) although you have considerable talents, will you focus on the rebounding and flashing in the paint. Al did a great job following your moves and forces the opposing defense to pick what offensive threat to concentrate on: our perimeter guys or Al underneath. Al totally benefitted from your effort. Again, good job and continue to GO HARD IN THE PAINT!!
Davy Dmx
May 9th, 2011
5:53 am
Much better effort tonight. As i stated before when Josh attacks the basket and hustles defensively he is as dangerous as any player in The NBA. We have to take this same type of intensity to Chicago and try to steal another game on the road..
Tia
May 9th, 2011
6:02 am
The Hawks are like a box of chocolates. You never know which one you are going to get. The Bulls may win the series but the Hawks VERY WELL could win it also. They have the skill and the talent–they just haven’t found the right psychologist to help merge their many personalities.
heartofdarkness
May 9th, 2011
6:21 am
Gentlemen, we saw BASKETBALL being played at Philips on Sunday night. Congratulations to the Hawks.
Larry
May 9th, 2011
6:49 am
Al Horford needs to step it up!
RA
May 9th, 2011
6:59 am
The sad part in all this, if there is one is the fact that critics, nationwide are going to look back to that no call on Rose as the defining point in the game. Well, you know, to the extent that he should have gotten the call by jumping into JC (an old shooters trick), and by virtue of his superstardom, maybe he should hasve, but here’s the thing, there were a lot of defining moments in that game. When the Atlanta Hawks when out there without feeling that the outcome of this series was a fargone conclusion, defining moment. All those times when Teague and Smoove finished shots, ended up on the ground, got up and sprinted to the other end of the floor without wasting time complaining, defining moment. When Josh Smith decided to play within the context of what he can actually do, as well or better than anyone in the game, defining moment. Jeff Teague, playing the role of D-Rose in the last two minutes of the game, defining moment. There were a lot of defining moments in last nights game, and most of them belonged to A-T-L.
Paddy
May 9th, 2011
7:07 am
Cousin Vickers…………….”how great is it to be in the second round with a chance to win.” If you were in my dressing room and made that remark; you would never play another game for me. Teams that are just happy to be there, ALWAYS LOSE! It is not great to get there. It is great to win there!
RB
May 9th, 2011
7:20 am
I’m hard on Josh when he plays bad so I now commend him for a GREAT game. He did it all Sunday. His hussle was contagious. Josh, If you give that same effort throughout the playoffs no one will be able to critize you win or lose. Go Hawks, Go Josh!!
RMikel58
May 9th, 2011
7:59 am
I thought the Hawks would cave in and let Chicago pull away in the end but last night it was a dose of Hawks medicine that prevailed.
Theyre defense was 150% better than previous game, didnt just let Rose have easy lay ups. Not so many open shots from the paint, double teamed and great rotation. Without Rose Chicago’s just another mediocre team, they have to get alot of offensive rebounds and second shots to win.
With Miami you have Wade and Lebron and with the Celtics theres 3-4 players who might shoot lights out but not Chicago. Atlanta has more than 1 guy that can step up and have a great game because they have JJ, Josh Smith, Teague, and others who can get 20 plus pts.
These Hawks are more talented than Chicago and if Chicago goes on and wins the series, they have a less chance to beat Miami and Boston in the Finals.
Atlanta if they can keep this up for games 4 and 5 will win this in 6 but if they have to go back to Chicago for game 7 that would not be good at all. They must win 2 in a row ands if they take game 5 on chicago’s turf then chicago will have a big letdown and this will improves Atlantas chances.
This was the case with Orlando getting beat by the Hawks, because they thought it was gonna be an easy series like before and just prance into the semi-finals.
Just show up Atlanta and do the same thing and if you beat them in game 5, game 6 should be easier.
Truth
May 9th, 2011
8:01 am
That was Josh Smith? passing up 18 footers to pass or drive?? WTH??
I think the whole arena was shocked
TRADE J-STUPID
May 9th, 2011
8:01 am
Smith (AKA J-Stupid) is a walking time bomb. They should have traded this idiot on the day he told Drew to go _uck off. Let him be a good player somewhere else – he has zero class, is the dumbest guy in the league and is about as consistent as a butterfly in flight.
BOB FROM ACCOUNT TEMPS
May 9th, 2011
8:10 am
SMITH QUOTE -“There are people who don’t understand the game, who don’t know the game, but that doesn’t faze me,” and smith is at the head of the line of those people!!
hey josh – listen to the coaches and not your daddy.
Trojan
May 9th, 2011
8:10 am
Teague is the difference. He allows the Hawks to use their athletic skills. If LD was not forced to, Teague still would not be playing. Teague is the man that can get our team to a new leve. Josh is best when running, running, running.
JROLL1
May 9th, 2011
8:13 am
KEY WORDS FOR JSMOOVE…FEET IN THE PAINT! WHEN HE PLAYS LIKE THIS, THE HAWKS ARE GONNA BE HARD TO BEAT. IT TOOK NOAH HITTING AL IN THE FACE TO WAKE HIM UP! GREAT GAME GUYS, DO IT AGAIN!
JROLL1
May 9th, 2011
8:14 am
ANYBODY SEEN MARVIN?
JChikara
May 9th, 2011
8:26 am
Credit should go to Coach Drew for how he has made the adjustments necessary for this team to even up the series. Although the move for Teague was born out of necessity, props to the young man for stepping up after playing timid in the first half.
Collins may have only racked up 12 minutes, but his presence is more about the beginning of the game than at the end. Remarkable poise on the part of Atlanta when Rose was getting into a groove late in the game.
I have to agree with my fellow bloggers on the board that Josh Smith is the most enigmatic player on the team. As he goes so does the rest of the Hawks. Notice how Joe Johnson was able to quietly put up 24 points while Smith, Teague and Horford were making the big plays down the stretch. Honestly, I think that’s how he prefers it, similar to when he was the fourth option in Phoenix.
The key will be how they respond when the Bulls turn up the pressure in Game 5 (because you know they will) and whether or not Atlanta is apt to meet the challenge.
Columbus
May 9th, 2011
8:49 am
Have they FINALLY seen the light and learned their lesson? If so they can beat ANYONE in a 7 game series or one game….Sadly I was at Friday’s embarassment…..I can understand Rose hitting a lot from outside but letting him drive in time after time without making him pay? If I had ANY say so, he would be shell-shocked before halftime from getting hammered and would not be so fast to drive in the rest of the game! I like Rose, his attitude and his game but he would be getting up off the floor more times than not when he came driving in the lane…..!!!! Then the series would be over.
TheAntiMe
May 9th, 2011
8:49 am
” When I was in my rut, they told me to stay positive, to stay in the game, just do what I’d been doing all season long. I stayed with it.” – Josh Smith
So your teammates told you to just keep on tossing up bricks from the parking lot like you’ve been doing? Somehow, I think not.
But more importantly, congrats to Josh on a very clutch, all-around playoff performance. Hopefully, the light bulb finally came on for you to realize that it isn’t likely that shooting jumpers is going to get any front court player out of a rut. Only by taking it to the hole can you reasonably expect to give yourself a fighting chance to get out of said rut. Once again, great game to Josh and all the dudes for stepping up and getting it done in Game 4.
Columbus
May 9th, 2011
8:57 am
One more thing….I like Drew for the 1st time this year. He is showing to be a good coach when it counts. He stood up to Joe Johnson also when he said he had to shoot no matter if he was double-teamed or not. I REALLY liked that! If Josh will listen to his coach and to the crowd! and NOT his teammates and forget shooting jumpers in the postseason…..Hawks just might make it to the Eastern Finals! 2 games away!!! Can you believe they are this close even with the terrible games 2 and 3? I think Drew was right on…They thought they were actually good after winning game 1…no they werent, Chicago was cold and they made adjustments and home court was not what Atlanta expected….I was sitting around so many Bulls fans Friday but the worst part was that the Hawks gave the home crowd little to shut the Bulls fans up and they took over the joint….just like they did when Jordan was with them and they came here in the playoffs. Just wrong!
Rabbit
May 9th, 2011
8:57 am
great strategy. if Rose can’t come out, wear him out with a fast transition game.
Jim
May 9th, 2011
9:00 am
In an interview prior to last nite’s game with Marvin Williams all he wanted to talk about was what a great player Rose is–what a crock–Williams doesn’t have a competitive bone in his body–get rid of the guy and go get a decent center and this team looks pretty good.
feudfinder
May 9th, 2011
9:05 am
Finally, Josh Smith has accepted to attend Jeff Schultz’s basketball 101 class. And it showed yesterday at the highlight factory. I hope it stays in his muscle memory because he (Josh) dictates the tempo for this team. THANK YOU MR. SCHULTZ. THANK YOU JOSH