Official Game Thread: Celtics at Hawks GAME 5

[lethalweapon3]

 

 

“Marcus, when’s the next 2-for-1 Special at Supercuts?”

 

The fine folks in the produce section at Whole Foods would want nothing to do with the Atlanta Hawks after coming up empty in their last trip to Boston. Rotten-tomato shooting for the better part of 3.9 quarters, wilting like lettuce on both ends of the floor as the outcome hung in the balance, and just one playoff performer (finally!) earning his celery. Add to that yet another corny overtime effort, this latest one enough of a carrot to entice the host Celtics into easily evening up this first-round NBA Playoffs series at two apiece.

It’s hard for Hawks fans to be cool as cucumbers as the scene shifts back to the Highlight Factory tonight for Game 5 (8:30 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast, 92.9 FM in ATL, CSN New England, TNT). Particularly when their whole team looks like they could’ve had a V8.

As far as Game 4 goes, to put it in my best Stefon voice, “This Game Had Everything!” Botched rebounds, botched ball handling, botched assignments, botched closeouts, botched cross-court passes, botched substitutions, blown technical free throws, blown open jumpers, blown layups, blown double-digit leads, a shumble… You know, a shumble! That thing where you have a chance to take a game-winning shot in the closing seconds, but don’t run anything resembling a play and fumble away the shot as time expires. A shumble! Atlanta’s hottest club is D’OH!

But you can’t blame Paul Millsap, not this time, anyway. Awakened by the Spirits of 1988, Sap shook off his notorious playoff shackles and dropped a playoff-career-best 45 points (19-for-31 FGs) on the C’s in the Gahden, while also taking time to register 13 boards (five O-Rebs) and four swats. And thank goodness Regular Season Paul Plus finally bothered to appear on the floor, because his teammates (combined 18-for-69 FGs) were seemingly still stuck in the showers.

It’s been like this for quite awhile now for the Hawks, who talk as good a game as anyone about playing together, sharing the ball and getting things done as a team instead of leaning on one or two dudes to carry the day. For all of that All for One, One for All shpiel, all you get lately is Moe, Larry, Curly and Aramis on some nights; Porthos, Athos and Shemp on others.

A normally wayward jumpshooter, second-year guard Marcus Smart (7-for-15 FGs in Game 4, 3-for-8 3FGs) has stepped up and is swishing the types of shots the Hawks (9-for-37 FGs) were supposed to be making, leaving the door cracked open for Isaiah Thomas (Playoff-high 28.2 PPG, 9-for-16 FGs in Game 4) to blow through it in the clutch.

The Celtics guards’ success at one end tends to discombobulate the Hawks at the other, as Jeff Teague and Dennis Schröder (six TOs, 7 made and 24 missed FGs in Game 4) strive to go it alone offensively. Teague’s dish to Millsap with just over nine minutes to go, widening Atlanta’s lead to six points, was the last assist either Hawk guard could muster. In that same span, Boston’s trio of Thomas, Smart and Evan Turner connected on six dimes together, helping the Celtics turn the tables in their favor and salt the game away.

Teague’s shumble (fumpshot?) shouldn’t have even been necessary, but for poor “strategery” on coach Mike Budenholzer’s part to have Kyle Korver in the game, ostensibly, for defensive purposes, while Teague sat after giving Atlanta the lead with 20 seconds to go. From the top of the key, Thomas screened around Thabo Sefolosha and treated Korver like a lamppost along his way to the hoop for the acrobatic game-tying basket, all in a manner of five seconds.

The disparity in dribble-penetration, unburdened lane access, and in-paint production between Atlanta’s and Boston’s guards set the stage for the Celtics tying up this series. Despite the Hawks limiting Boston’s star to five free throws, 16 of Thomas’ 28 points came in the paint in Game 4. Smart was 3-for-6 on field goals inside, including a crucial fourth-quarter dunk while knifing unimpeded across the baseline. Meanwhile, Teague was 1-for-6 on FGs in the paint, Schröder 2-for-4 but susceptible to untimely turnovers on his drives. To flip this series back in Atlanta’s favor, the Hawks’ execution on drives and halfcourt defense by their perimeter players needs to improve significantly.

While Jonas Jerebko and Amir Johnson (7-for-8 combined FGs in-the-paint in Game 4) were feasting inside, Al Horford (1-for-2 FGs in-the-paint, zero shots around the rim, 1-for-6 outside the paint) was content with being a center hovering around the periphery. That also needs to change for the Hawks, particularly given the iron is so unkind to Al and Paul’s teammates. Boston outscored Atlanta 52-40 in Game 4 on paint points, after being outscored by an average of 45.3-38.7 in the first 3 games of the series.

While Atlanta’s transition defense has been imperfect, the Hawks did outscore Boston in points off turnovers in Games 3 and 4 (45-37 combined) despite the turnover margin being relatively even. While taking care of the rock on offense is crucial, Atlanta needs to better pressure Thomas and his mates into putting the ball on the floor, fostering the kind of indecisiveness that results in simpler strips, deflections, and interceptions. The Hawks managed just 16 points combined off Celtic turnovers in the first two games of the series at home, as did Boston.

It’s unfair for anyone to rely on Millsap for another Herculean offensive performance in Game 5, but his paths to the hoop will be eased if Boston has to take Atlanta’s jumpshooting wings (Kent Bazemore 1-for-5 3FGs in Game 4; Sefolosha 0-for-3; Korver 0-for-4 in second half plus OT) seriously. Brad Stevens slipped Smart onto Millsap in the fourth quarter and slowed his roll (1-for-5 FGs) enough to give Boston the chance they needed.

Coach Bud seems to have fallen back out of favor with Tim Hardaway, Jr. (four seconds in Game 4, four more than Kris Humphries) but he needs to rely on a deeper rotation in this series, exploiting what ought to be a depth advantage and minimizing the risk of foul trouble for Atlanta’s top performers.

The Celtics’ media crowed about how the Hawks will fold like a crepe when it matters, but things technically won’t matter until one team gets their 3rd win tonight. Time is even more of the essence for both teams, now that LeBron is kicking back in his lair, drumming up clever ways to troll the folks who are dead certain he doesn’t drive a Kia.

After blowing two chances to build an insurmountable series lead, Atlanta comes into Game 5 disappointed, yet knowing they can turn Game 6 in Beantown into an elimination game for their opponents. The problem is the visiting guys in greens know they can do the same, if they can coax the Hawks into another vegetable of a performance. Which players have the onions to shine under the pressure of primetime? Which team wants to “turnip” and produce when it really counts? Lettuce find out.

 

Let’s Go Hawks!

~lw3

 

View full record

 

[ATLSmith]

I'd drive a Kia too if someone paid me.

Go Hawks!

[Guest]

Sounds like @lethalweapon3 'bout to get turnip for this game.

 

[Guest]

Awesome as always lw3!!! I think Horford and Teague show up tonight but it's gonna take a team effort cuz that's who we are. LETS GO!!!! I say we blow them out tonight!

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, Spud2Nique said:

Awesome as always lw3!!! I think Horford and Teague show up tonight but it's gonna take a team effort cuz that's who we are. LETS GO!!!! I say we blow them out tonight!

How about some bench help tonight. 

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

Boston shooting nearly 50% in the 4th quarter.....smh.

[Gray Mule]

MUST WIN GAME TONIGHT !  Win tonight or forget it.  It's all over but the crying.

Unless, the Celtics win tonight, they get drunk celebrating and two or three of their

key players have season ending injuries, then Atlanta MIGHT have a very slim chance.

GO ATL !  GO HAWKS AND BRAVES TOO  VS  BOSTON !!!

[Guest]

 

[AHF]

15 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

Wow.  Nique should have had more time to add to his total.

[Guest]

50 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

I actually like this crew. I would hate if we were playing Miami because John Goble is a Florida guy, but since no Miami maybe Goble can be an Al Horford guy :-)

[Dnice]

Game at 8:30? Shh, maybe the fans will still think it's at 8 and might be on time.

 

Those are some sad tweets by Bob.

 

Edited April 26, 2016 by Dnice

[Alex]

I expect a quick start for the Hawks.  Taper off through the second quarter and face a halftime deficit of 6-10 points.  Back and forth through most of the third quarter.  Boston gets it up to 14 or so, but Atlanta claws back to end the period down by 6.  I think Atlanta finally plays a fourth quarter tonight.  

 

Hawks find a way to get it done albeit in an ugly fashion.  

 

Boston 85

Atlanta 88

[Lurker]

Not watching. Going to join y'all at chat at 9:00 though. By way of chat and twitter will be how I know what's going on in this game.

[DrReality]

Pitiful start

[cam1218]

You aren't going to score when your offense is basically Schröder taking the ball up and either driving/shooting and missing. Other guys are struggling but the PG has to show some patience.

[ATLien_]

I'm staying out of chat tonight. We lost  both games when I was in the chat. Just doing my part no need to pat  me on the back. 

[cam1218]

Scott is giving us what we need from Horford. Glad we turned it around. 

[benhillboy]

Next time y'all go to the local grocerer pick up some Cooked Perfect® Fire Grilled Premium Wings.  I didn't think it was possible to make frozen wings taste like they've been slow-cooked by your grandmama and seasoned by your aunt but indeed it is.

[AUhawksfan]

That's a little more like it!

Celtics look deflated.