Hawks barely hang on to defeat Celtics Lite (Updated)
Josh Smith and the Hawks found the second-string Celtics a little more difficult to handle than expected. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
(Last update: 10:17 p.m.)
Dwight Howard, once again reaffirming that there is no “team” in “I,” decided this week to have back surgery now rather than get an injection, bite a bullet, look away from the vanity mirror and wait until after the NBA playoffs to have his procedure.
This decision will not only submarine Orlando’s postseason aspirations, it fairly cemented that the Hawks and Boston will finish as the Eastern Conference’s Nos. 4 and 5 seeds and ensure they will meet in the first round of the playoffs. So at least in some sense, Friday’s Hawks-Celtics game was a postseason preview.
But the Hawks had better hope what we just witnessed will bear little resemblance to what happens next week.
The Celtics played their second string. The Hawks merely looked second-rate.
Facing a Boston lineup that was missing Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Mickael Pietrus – cue Rick Pitino: “Nobody of worth is walking through that door” — the Hawks started well enough (led 19-9 five minutes into the game), toyed with the Celtics for two quarters, got sloppy on offense, soft on defense, looked desperate, saw their lead dwindle to one point several times in the fourth, and then eventually stumbled across the finish line with a 97-92 win.
So. Feeling confident about next week now?
“As far as I’m concerned, Boston accomplished what they wanted — t0 have their reserves come out and compete at a high level and take us down to the wire,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said.
He wasn’t celebrating, even though the Hawks (38-25) all but clinched home-court advantage in the first round. They lead Boston (37-37) by 1½ games. They have only three to play and the Celtics have two.
So there’s the comfort of that. But everything else Friday made you want to run headfirst into a wall.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers explained his team’s lineup before the game as so: “We would like home-court advantage in the playoffs, but it’s more important to be healthy and fresh.”
Let me translate: “Take this game. We surrender.”
I mean, does anything wave a white flag more than a starting lineup of Avery Bradley, Keyon Dooling, Sasha Pavlovic, Brandon Bass and Greg Stiemsma?
Rivers gave us Celtics Lite. The Hawks had a chance to bury their likely first-round opponent and maybe dent their egos just a bit. Instead, they came close to getting humiliated.
The lone bright spot was Joe Johnson, who finished with 30 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals. His drive-and-one with two minutes remaining stretched a one-point lead to 90-86. His feed to Josh Smith with under a minute left gave the Hawks some relative comfort at 94-88.
“We were just careless,” Smith said later. “When you get geared up to play a team with the high potential of Boston and you come out right before the game see that [their starters] are not going to play, I don’t know if it does something mentally to you but … it makes it unpredictable.”
It was easy to understand Rivers’ mindset Friday. The ridiculous post-lockout schedule, courtesy of commissioner David Stern, has prompted coaches to rest banged up starters all season. But Rivers’ lineup also suggested he either had supreme confidence in his team in the playoffs or he just didn’t fear the Hawks much, regardless of where the games are going to be played.
A slight ‘dis’, perhaps?
Drew said before the game he wasn’t insulted by Rivers’ decision. Nor with Smith.
“I don’t think it’s a slap in the face,” he said, repeating a reporter’s question. “They have a good team, a veteran team. They know how to win on the road and win in the postseason. If they don’t want [home court], we’ll take it. We’ll definitely take it.”
Drew intended to keep his offensive and defensive sets vanilla Friday so as to not tip off Rivers on any changes he had planned for the playoffs. That thought process would’ve worked if the Hawks hadn’t turned the ball over 18 times, given up some easy buckets and generally played down to the competition.
The fourth quarter was pure desperation. It’s not the last memory the Hawks wanted before the playoffs. Fortunately, the slate is wiped clean before next weekend. They will be glad to let this one go.
By Jeff Schultz
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
137 comments Add your comment
JSS
April 20th, 2012
7:47 pm
Dawg… That ain’t mentality of the town stuff, the Hawks (in Atlanta) went through three stretches where they could barely beat a bad old CBA full of coke heads (1971-1977, 1983-1985, and that good awful run through the beginning of this millenia… Only being down games 10 in a freakin’ miracle!
Runner-
April 20th, 2012
7:48 pm
Jeff,
What’s the ratio of Celtics to Hawks fans in the building tonight?
Nanny
April 20th, 2012
7:49 pm
Jeff,
A win tonight all but assures nothing. The Hawks could easily lose their 3 or 2 out of 3 remaining games with the Celtics winning both at home. I wish we could all be as confident as you, but if we both end in a tie they hold the tiebreaker and would get home court.
rob
April 20th, 2012
7:52 pm
I wonder what happened to Alex Meruelo when he didnt get the team
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 20th, 2012
7:54 pm
Vlad is a pretty decent rebounder, we’re gonna’ really need that from the bench in to post season even, if his shot is off.
I thought doc’s bench was coming here to foul hard and, try to hurt somebody. They are being quite physical for a team that claims rest and health for their stars is so important. They did not come in here to lay down, they really want this win and that HCA.
Don’t drink the kool-aid.
atlchris
April 20th, 2012
7:55 pm
The hawks have had their back ups in for alot of minutes.yet espn keeps pointing out how close the game is with boston only having their scrubs in.
rob
April 20th, 2012
7:57 pm
I hate the AHHHHHHHH’s from when another player scores in Atlanta
JOSH SMITH FOR 3!
April 20th, 2012
7:59 pm
Anyone that paid for tickets to this game is a moron.
atlchris
April 20th, 2012
8:00 pm
Our starters our puttingit down well.
DawgNole
April 20th, 2012
8:00 pm
JSS
April 20th, 2012
7:47 pm
Dawg… That ain’t mentality of the town stuff, the Hawks (in Atlanta) went through three stretches where they could barely beat a bad old CBA full of coke heads (1971-1977, 1983-1985, and that good awful run through the beginning of this millenia… Only being down games 10 in a freakin’ miracle!
______________________
Only in ATL would it be a miracle. Of course, that’s the problem with this city and its pro sports legacy.
atlchris
April 20th, 2012
8:01 pm
I feel you Rob.
rob
April 20th, 2012
8:01 pm
Yea they are morons. On twitter Roddy White and Ray Edwards said they were going to this game.
Jeff Schultz
April 20th, 2012
8:02 pm
Joe has 19 pts on 7-of-9 shooting. (Desperately was seeking a note. There you go.)
DawgNole
April 20th, 2012
8:02 pm
atlchris
April 20th, 2012
7:55 pm
The hawks have had their back ups in for alot of minutes.yet espn keeps pointing out how close the game is with boston only having their scrubs in.
_____________________
It’s called disrespect by the national media. Respect will come only with championships. Even one title after 44 years would get us on the path toward national respect. Any chance it’ll happen this year? NOT (again)!
Jeff Schultz
April 20th, 2012
8:06 pm
Hawks 58-49 at the half. … Johnson with 23, next closest Hawk is Josh with 10.
JOSH SMITH FOR 3!
April 20th, 2012
8:06 pm
This live blog is quite dead. Wonder if ASG has anything to do with that.
DawgNole
April 20th, 2012
8:07 pm
What a brain cramp by Joe there. He could’ve stuffed that one.
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 20th, 2012
8:07 pm
Mr. Schultz,
Thanks for ineractively blooging with us, we NEVER get that on our Hawks blog.
Neither during games nor through out the week. You’re out working the beat writers. LOL
Shamrock
April 20th, 2012
8:09 pm
I like the idea of the Celtics fodder getting slapped around by the Hawks starters, it will make the Celtic bench all the more hungry to contribute next week when their big boys are back to carry the load.
Hard In The Paint Like Josh Smith
April 20th, 2012
8:11 pm
everyone is on the other hawks blog
atlchris
April 20th, 2012
8:11 pm
They need to crank it updefensively, and win this by 20. Lets hold them below 85. A-town
Jeff Schultz
April 20th, 2012
8:22 pm
Dr. Maryb — It’s hard for MC to live-blog during games because he’s writing game story. Sometimes I need to do same with column, but tonight a little easier.
Jeff Schultz
April 20th, 2012
8:24 pm
AtlChris –Agree .. Hawks need to open up big lead in 3rd so they can rest guys. Need to get tougher defensively. Celtics shooting 60.5 percent (same as Hawks).
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 20th, 2012
8:25 pm
Mr. schultz,
Oh … Ok. I see. But, you’re great on here tonight. Thanks again.
Runner-
April 20th, 2012
8:26 pm
Jeff,
You think the Hawks can take on the Celtics with no real center?
Jeff Schultz
April 20th, 2012
8:28 pm
I think this would be a fine time to introduce Jeff Teague to the bench.
Jeff Schultz
April 20th, 2012
8:28 pm
Runner — Don’t know. Seriously, no feel for it.
atlchris
April 20th, 2012
8:38 pm
Hawks are toying with them.
atlchris
April 20th, 2012
8:41 pm
The pressure should get to the celtics young guys.
atlchris
April 20th, 2012
8:42 pm
Marvin just keeps missing.
Big Lou
April 20th, 2012
8:44 pm
“You think the Hawks can take on the Celtics with no real center?”
What a silly question.
The Celts don’t have a real center either.
Jeff Schultz
April 20th, 2012
8:45 pm
It’s a good thing LD isn’t pulling out all the stops tonight because Hawks playing sloppy, soft defensively, given the opposition.
Nanny
April 20th, 2012
8:45 pm
Jeff Schultz @JeffSchultzAJC Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
If the Hawks lose this game, I’m picking Celtics in 3 in 1st round.
I hope that was a joke and you know it is a 7 game series.
Runner-
April 20th, 2012
8:45 pm
“The Celts don’t have a real center either.”
The Celtics don’t need a center. They have more than enough PF’s that can play solid defense to make up for that. The Hawks don’t.
Jeff Schultz
April 20th, 2012
8:46 pm
Nanny. Yes, it was a joke and I know it’s a 7-game series. I’m a funny guy. Didn’t you know that?
Jeff Schultz
April 20th, 2012
8:49 pm
Ri-dunkulous…. Hawks determined to keep Celtics in this. 12-point lead down to 72-71.
R. Royce
April 20th, 2012
8:49 pm
What is Marvin doing in the game?
Nanny
April 20th, 2012
8:49 pm
Marvin is a disgrace.
Big Lou
April 20th, 2012
8:50 pm
“The Celtics don’t need a center. They have more than enough PF’s that can play solid defense to make up for that. The Hawks don’t.”
Hawk’s 4th in the league defense says otherwise.
MattP
April 20th, 2012
8:51 pm
Another 3rd quarter meltdown.
R. Royce
April 20th, 2012
8:52 pm
This is where earlier I was thinking to myself; self, the Hawks should, could win against these Celtics tonight, but. And a big but indeed. It’s like this: Larry Drew and the Hawks don’t like the big spotlight. They are on two networks. They cannot deal with the idea that the whole nation may be watching. And I hold LD accountable. He’s not making the substitution/rotations like he’s used to making when they play for example, a lesser team. What’s the difference? LD should know better, but he chokes. That’s why I say-Hawk lose in the first round to Boston.
Hard In The Paint Like Josh Smith
April 20th, 2012
8:54 pm
hawks need a point guard that can drve the ball…
DawgNole
April 20th, 2012
8:56 pm
R. Royce
April 20th, 2012
8:52 pm
This is where earlier I was thinking to myself; self, the Hawks should, could win against these Celtics tonight, but. And a big but indeed. It’s like this: Larry Drew and the Hawks don’t like the big spotlight. They are on two networks. They cannot deal with the idea that the whole nation may be watching. And I hold LD accountable. He’s not making the substitution/rotations like he’s used to making when they play for example, a lesser team. What’s the difference? LD should know better, but he chokes. That’s why I say-Hawk lose in the first round to Boston.
____________________________
It might be LD and the Hawks this year, but what you see going on out there tonight is just a repeat of ancient (45 years) history.
Paul in NH
April 20th, 2012
8:57 pm
I saw some of Q2 in a tavern in Newmarket, NH having dinner with my wife. I didn’t recognize any of the guys in green so I waited to see the start of Q3 to see the regulars – I didn’t recognize any of those guys either.
R. Royce
April 20th, 2012
8:57 pm
Now you see LD making the subsitutions/rotations, but too little, too late. He kept his starters in for too long, because he was assuming that his starters were going to get him that 15-20 point lead, which never happened. LD should have subbed at the beginning of the 3rd quarter. Given the fact that the Hawks bench had played well over the last couple of games, LD just ain’t got good sense when it comes to big game such as this.
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 20th, 2012
9:00 pm
We need zaza and, put the starters back in, tell Josh to play inside and stop throwing up all those bricks. Marvin is useless.
IlliniDawg
April 20th, 2012
9:01 pm
ESPN announcers calling out Hawks. Using words like “embarrassing” and “lazy” and “inexcusable.” WOW!
DawgNole
April 20th, 2012
9:04 pm
IlliniDawg
April 20th, 2012
9:01 pm
ESPN announcers calling out Hawks. Using words like “embarrassing” and “lazy” and “inexcusable.” WOW!
___________________
And their assessments are accurate tonight. Candid assessments of the home team–something you’ll never hear from Bob/Nique.
IlliniDawg
April 20th, 2012
9:05 pm
Also commending the “coaching prowess” of Doc Rivers. Not sure the words “coaching prowess” and Larry Drew have ever been uttered in the same sentence.
R. Royce
April 20th, 2012
9:08 pm
Larry, get Marvin out of the game! First Marvin makes a weak pass that Ivan can’t handle. Then again-on offense Marvin is wide open and has missed all night long. You clearly see that this dude has no confidence in his game, yet you keep him in the game? What is the definition of insanity?