Hawks v Pacers Game 1

[tcorbin]

i'm sorry, but 90% of those fouls that Paul got was just pure BS. i know Korver is horrible on defense, but two of those fouls that Korver got, he didn't even touch Paul.

The Hawks didn't play good, but they didn't play horrible either. the free throw differential and ghost calls was just LA Laker bad. in addition, their was like 3 clear fouls Hibert had on Josh and Horford, so their was probably like 5 no calls on Hibert that should have been made.

in addition, their was about six plays were Harris and Teague got hammered in the lane and no calls, but Paul and Stevenson got a bunch of ghost calls and touch fouls.

Ya, Horford should have played better and not played so soft and done a better job at rebounding, and both Josh and Horford need to actually make free throws when they get to the line, but all in all, if they just called a fair game, then Hawks would have won this one easily.

Sad the refs made the game about them in this one, and not about the players

[parson]

Horford played great . . . while he was in there. Don't know where the "soft" idea came from. In the minutes he was actually playing, he was our best player.

[azuresou1]

Horford played great and should have got more minutes.

SOMEONE on our team should have picked up a technical early on to send the message to the refs that it's not okay that Paul George kept getting all these nonexistent foul calls. Seriously, I counted a block and two strips that were ruled as fouls when they clearly weren't.

I think our team's problem is that no one is vocal to refs in the right way. Our guys will complain, but not tell the refs what's going on, or what to look for, or even that they're not going to take it. And if words don't get through, then I would expect to see some legitimate hard fouls to let everyone know that if we're going to get called for fouls, we're going to make it COUNT.

[azuresou1]

Horford played great and should have got more minutes.

SOMEONE on our team should have picked up a technical early on to send the message to the refs that it's not okay that Paul George kept getting all these nonexistent foul calls. Seriously, I counted a block and two strips that were ruled as fouls when they clearly weren't.

I think our team's problem is that no one is vocal to refs in the right way. Our guys will complain, but not tell the refs what's going on, or what to look for, or even that they're not going to take it. And if words don't get through, then I would expect to see some legitimate hard fouls to let everyone know that if we're going to get called for fouls, we're going to make it COUNT.

[Rip2137]

We got hit with the "rep" curse.

Basically I think NBA officials buy into the rep of players more than they should.

George is considered a very good offensive player. Korver is considered a very bad defender. Because of this when George missed shots as he was guarded by Korver, they just blew the whistle because there was NO WAY Kyle could have stopped him. Korver got completely screwed in the calls.

And since Tyler Hansbroh is a rough and tumble "physical and hard working player" he was allowed to (in one sequence) elbow Ivan in the face with his off hand when he took a shot, saw he missed it so used his elbows in Ivans face AGAIN to move him out the way to get a rebound, had not shot so he shot out his elbow to clear room to get the shot off then they called a foul on the Hawks.

And you know what, I have no PROBLEM with that if it goes both ways. But in the first half the Hawks had 30 points in the paint, and nearly no freethrows. In the 2nd half, when our guards went to the rim, nothing(until the game got out of hand and I am sure one of the refs noticed and said "Hey, we should probably do something about these free throw numbers.'

I don't think we win game one regardless. But Horford played great, Korver was off, Teague and Harris looked fine, Suprisingly good minutes from Mack, but the rotation was broken and Drew's sub pattern was insane when he not once, not twice but THREE TIMES took our player that had it going off the court.

His asinine, "the group had it going" nonsense has got to end. Because Mack hits a three and and Harris makes a layup does not mean the GROUP has it going. You sub in the better players along with the guys that have it going.

[parson]

Seriously, I counted a block and two strips that were ruled as fouls when they clearly weren't.

You're talking about when Korver blocked George at the rim? I saw that. It was a clean block, even on the replay.

They SHOULD have stopped the game to throw a tickertape parade for Korver. How often does he block ANYONE at the rim, much less a much bigger and faster (and better leaper . . . you get the idea) man like Paul George?

[Geaux_Hawks]

Ferry needs to have a good long talk with Drew first thing tomorrow morning, ridiculous. And why don't we put Dahntay Jones on George? He's our best perimeter defender and he got no PT in this game

So the consensus is that this 17 point loss is Drew's fault?

Seems the blogosphere isn agreement. AJC, Soaring Down South, HawksHoop all are pointing the finger at Drew for misplaying Korver and Horford.

Let's see what Game 2 holds in store?

It was obvious that he deserved all the fingers pointed at him. How can you keep throwing your worst defenders at a guy like George who is so versatile and long? ATL Boy his the nail on the head. Ferry knew we needed perimeter defense and at least pick up a guy who can provide that, and Drew still doesn't play him. Then you got Josh, who is hurt, but still played 35 minutes, while Horford only played 28.

Can't blame the players for this one. As a team, we took good shots, and distributed the ball as well as we always do. We shot 50% from the field and 41% from 3 and ended the game with 23 assists. We lost it on the defensive end, but mainly because we fouled George. Some of those calls were BS, but that still doesn't justify keeping your worst defender on him and not even playing your best wing defender.

[Jamaaliver]

Anyone think the layoff from significant playing time hurt at all?

Korver's poor shooting. The team's poor rebounding. The poor perimeter defense.

[Jamaaliver]

Vivlamore reporting a slight ankle injury to Josh.

Smoove has injured ankle!

ATLANTA -- Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith has missed practice because of a sprained right ankle.

Smith received treatment on the ankle Monday and the team is hopeful he will be able to go in Game 2 against Indiana on Wednesday. The Pacers won the opener.

Coach Larry Drew says Smith sustained the injury late in Game 1. He scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds in Atlanta's 107-90 defeat.

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2013/story/_/id/9200681/2013-nba-playoffs-atlanta-hawks-josh-smith-misses-practice-sprained-ankle

[Rip2137]

HOW he got injured infuriated me. He was defending (someone) on the block and Harris came down to double and just....watched. He just stood there. Josh challenged the shot and Harris didn't go for the rebound, he didn't challenge, didn't swipe at the ball and just stood there. Josh landed on him and it looked like he never knew he was there.

If you are going to double, DO SOMETHING.

[GrimeyKidd]

Yeah lots of refs need to respect both teams attitude from hawks. But that would sound too much like right

[tcorbin]

I honestly cannot get mad at anyone on the Hawks (except for Josh and Horford for missing free throws this late in the season)

like i said, the Hawks played good, but not great, good shooting, good pass, and even good defense by Korver. Honestly, every time the Hawk cut it to 9pts, the very next play, the refs gave Paul a foul call, the refs would just give two points to the Pacers and kills the Hawks momentum.

Foul calls usually balance out in the end of games, but game one was just so lop sided in favor of the Pacers. I really don't know why the refs wanted to kill the Hawks run, every time the Hawks cut it to 9pts.

[Jamaaliver]

Quick refresher of what we were saying after (during) Game 1 of last years Pacers/Hawks series!!!!

Ah, memories.

[PandaKidd]

I no longer question the HEART of the Hawks. Now we need the talent to match that HEART.

[Jamaaliver]

I no longer question the HEART of the Hawks. Now we need the talent to match that HEART.

Well, said!!!!

[azuresou1]

We also need not to be punked by the refs again...