Peachtree Hoops - Jan 8: Hawks 97, Pacers 87The place to read about/discuss the Atlanta Hawks.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/8811/peachtree-fave.jpg2014-01-09T07:38:57-05:00http://www.peachtreehoops.com/rss/stream/50505072014-01-09T07:38:57-05:002014-01-09T07:38:57-05:00Defense fuels offense in win over Pacers
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>The Atlanta Hawks came up with one of their best defensive efforts of the season in defeating the Indiana Pacers to snap a three-game losing streak. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> snapped a three-game losing streak with a 97-87 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Indiana Pacers</a> thanks to a spirited effort defensively and the return of a free flowing offense.</p>
<p>The Hawks defeated the Pacers for the 12th straight time in the regular season at Philips Arena in rather dominating fashion. Atlanta began the game with a 12-0 run and led 25-12 at the end of one and never really looked back leading wire-to-wire over the Eastern Conference leader.</p>
<p>The Hawks were able to pick up their offense by picking up their play on the defensive end of the floor. Atlanta took advantage of 20 Indiana turnovers and turned them into 21 points. Atlanta came up with eight steals in the game and finished with 14 fast break points. <span>Mike Budenholzer</span> <a href="http://www.nba.com/games/20140108/INDATL/gameinfo.html?ls=slt">talked about the defensive performance after the game</a> and the effect it had on the offense:</p>
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<p>"It was one of our best defensive games. <span>DeMarre Carroll</span> really set the tone for us with his defense and his activity . . . I think the defense fueled the offense and fueled the energy that we played offense with."</p>
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<p>Carroll's energy was apparent from the outset. He battled <span>Paul George</span> from the tip and looked like he was flying all over the court. He finished with 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals but the stats don't really do his night justice.</p>
<p>The good defense from Atlanta allowed them to elevate the pace and never let Indiana settle in where their big size advantage would have paid off. That faster pace forced the Pacers into some unwanted matchups and the Hawks were able to spread the floor and knock down some shots from distance.</p>
<p><span>Kyle Korver</span> had his best performance in over a week finishing with 17 points on 6-8 shooting. He knocked down another four-point play and extended his consecutive games streak with a made three to 105.</p>
<p>You could see the reluctance on <span>Roy Hibbert's</span> face every time that <span>Pero Antic</span> caught the ball on the perimeter. The Hawks were able to exploit that matchup thanks to some good shooting from Antic who scored eight of Atlanta's first 12 points. Antic finished with 16 to go along with four rebounds and did a nice job defensively while he was in there.</p>
<p><span>Paul Millsap</span> struggled again from the field finishing with four points on 1-10 shooting but he did grab six rebounds and hand out five assists while playing good defense on <span>David West</span>. Jeff Teague also had a good night despite going 5-14 from the field but finished with 15 points and six assists. Its good to see the Hawks turn a good offensive performance without explosive nights from Millsap or Teague.</p>
<p>The Hawks win despite being outrebounded 46-34 and 14-6 on the offensive glass. Atlanta was able to limit Indiana to just seven second chance points on those 14 offensive rebounds. Millsap led the Hawks with six boards. At some point they have to get better on the boards but on this night they were able to make it work.</p>
<p>Paul George led the Pacers with 28 points and 12 rebounds but was just 11-25 from the field. <span>Danny Granger</span> added 14 while <span>George Hill</span> finished with 10. David West left the game early with an apparent hand injury but returned and finished with eight points and 11 rebounds. Roy Hibbert was largely ineffective finishing with two points and four rebounds in 22 minutes while going 1-8 from the field.</p>
<p>Its important to point out that Indiana was on the second night of a back-to-back and played the game without Lance Stephenson. They looked lethargic to start and Atlanta took advantage. However, the Hawks deserve credit for snapping out of their doldrums and finding a way in the second half when Indiana made their run. Atlanta didn't blink and closed out a much needed win in a way that hopefully builds some momentum going forward.</p>
<h3>Notebook</h3>
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<li><span><span>Mike Scott</span> deserved much more than a bullet point because he continued his strong play off the bench and once again provided some offensive punch. Scott finished with 15 points in just under 17 minutes going 5-9 from the field and 4-4 from the free throw line. He grabbed four rebounds and finished with zero turnovers. </span></li>
<li><span><span>Elton Brand</span> added eight points and four rebounds but like Carroll that stat line doesn't really tell the whole story. Brand was a presence on the interior defensively and played a big part on that end of the floor. </span></li>
<li><span>Atlanta tied Indiana for points in the paint at 34-34. The Hawks converted on 17-33 opportunities down low while holding Indiana to 17-39. </span></li>
<li><span>The Hawks made the most of their opportunities at the charity stripe going 19-22 while Indiana was just 8-9.</span></li>
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https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/1/9/5291178/hawks-vs-pacers-recapKris Willis2014-01-08T22:40:21-05:002014-01-08T22:40:21-05:00Hawks take out Pacers 97-87
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<figcaption>Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Atlanta Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak as they lead wire-to-wire in a 97-87 win over the Indiana Pacers.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> showed Wednesday night that they still have a few surprises in their bag. After looking dead in the water during a three-game losing streak, the Hawks came up with a spirited effort in a 97-87 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Indiana Pacers</a>. Atlanta led wire-to-wire and by as many as 25 points. When the Pacers made their inevitable run the Hawks didn't flinch and closed out a much needed victory.</p>
<p>I talked about what was missing from Atlanta's offense earlier this week and a lot of that returned Wednesday night. They played with a faster pace, moved without the ball and most importantly knocked down some shots early to settle into a rhythm. The Hawks were much more active defensively and scored 21 points off of 20 Indiana turnovers.</p>
<p>The Hawks set the tone early jumping out to a 25-12 lead after one. They extended the lead to 17 at halftime and then led by as much as 25 in the third before Paul George went to work. A 14-2 run by the Pacers late in the third closed the gap to just 11. Indiana continued to threaten but Atlanta got key buckets from Kyle Korver and Jeff Teague to hold them off and grab the victory.</p>
<p>Korver led five different Hawks players in double figures with 17 points on an incredibly efficient 6-8 shooting. Pero Antic scored eight of his 16 in the first quarter to help get Atlanta off to a good start. Jeff Teague added 15 points and six assists while Mike Scott chipped in 15 of his own off the bench. DeMarre Carroll finished with 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. The Hawks win despite another tough night by Paul Millsap who finished with just four points on 1-10 shooting.</p>
<p>George scored 21 of his game-high 28 points in the second half. Danny Granger added 14 points while George Hill finished with 10.</p>
<p>Atlanta wins despite being out rebounded by a 46-34 margin. Indiana grabbed 14 offensive rebounds but the Hawks did a great job holding them to just seven second-chance points.</p>
<p>The Hawks improve to 19-17 with the win and are back in action on Friday when they host the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a>.</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/1/8/5290324/pacers-vs-hawks-final-scoreKris Willis2014-01-08T18:31:01-05:002014-01-08T18:31:01-05:00Pacers vs Hawks game thread
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<figcaption>Andy Lyons</figcaption>
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<p>The Atlanta Hawks look to put a halt to a three-game losing streak when they take on the Eastern Conference leading Indiana Pacers Wednesday night at Philips Arena. Discuss all of the action here:</p> <p></p>
<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" cellspacing="5" border="1" align="center" cellpadding="5"><tbody> <tr> <th align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver">2014 NBA Regular Season Game 36</th> </tr> <tr> <td width="240"><center><center> <a target="_blank" href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/1567305/Pacers.gif"><img src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/1567305/Pacers_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Pacers_medium"></a> <br id="1383311452377"><strong>()</strong> </center></center></td> <th align="center" width="20">vs</th> <td width="240"><center> <center> <a target="_blank" href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/991577/hawkslogomedium.png"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/991577/hawkslogomedium_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Hawkslogomedium_medium"></a> <br id="1383957918576"><br> </center> <center><strong>(18-17)</strong></center> </center></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"><strong>Wednesday, January 8, 2014</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>7:30 p.m. </strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>SportSouth, 92.9 FM "The Game"</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <th align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver">Probable Starters</th> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>George Hill</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PG</th> <td width="240"><strong><span>Jeff Teague</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Paul George</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SG</th> <td width="240"><strong><span>Kyle Korver</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Danny Granger</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SF</th> <td width="240"><strong><span>DeMarre Carroll</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>David West</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PF</th> <td width="240"><strong><span>Paul Millsap</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><font color="#292929"><span><span>Roy Hibbert</span></span></font></td> <th align="center" width="20">C</th> <td width="240"><strong><span>Pero Antic</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <th align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"><strong>2013-14 Advanced Stats</strong></th> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">94.95 (24th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">Pace</th> <td width="240">97.20 (13th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">102.0 (T17th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">ORtg</th> <td width="240">103.5 (13th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">92.9 (1st)</td> <th align="center" width="20">DRtg</th> <td width="240">102.2 (11th)</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
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<h4>For in-game updates be sure to follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/peachtreehoops">Peachtree Hoops on Twitter</a>.</h4>
<p><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" data-widget-id="381763477364150272" href="https://twitter.com/peachtreehoops" class="twitter-timeline">Tweets by @peachtreehoops</a></p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/1/8/5286242/indiana-pacers-vs-atlanta-hawks-game-threadKris Willis2014-01-08T08:00:10-05:002014-01-08T08:00:10-05:00Hawks host east leading Pacers
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>The Atlanta Hawks hope to snap a three-game losing streak when they host the east leading Indiana Pacers. </p> <p>The road doesn't get any easier for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> who return home to Philips Arena to take on the Eastern Conference leading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Indiana Pacers</a>. The Hawks have lost three-straight games in large part due to an offense that is struggling to replace the injured <span>Al Horford</span>.</p>
<p>Atlanta dropped both games of its road trip including Monday's 91-86 defeat by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Brooklyn Nets</a>. The Hawks are now 18-17 on the season and showing signs of frustration. <span>Paul Millsap</span> has seen the brunt of opposing defenses in the paint and the Hawks have had little answer. <span>Kyle Korver</span> is going through a season worst stretch while <span>Jeff Teague</span> has been plagued with turnovers. It all adds up to a sputtering offense where players are indecisive and back on their heels instead of attacking.</p>
<p>The Pacers are certainly not the team to face under those circumstances. Indiana comes into Wednesday's game having won three straight and in first place in the Eastern Conference. Their 86-79 win over Toronto on Tuesday improved their record to 28-6 on the season. They entered Tuesday leading the NBA in defensive rating averaging just 93.1 points per 100 possessions. In short, this Pacers team is on a mission to capture home court advantage in the playoffs and barring injury are going to be a handful for whoever they see in the playoffs.</p>
<p>Tough matchup or not, the Hawks need to find themselves and quickly. They are still searching for answers offensively without Horford but would be well served to try and pick up their pace. This team needs easy looks to help them find a rhythm offensively and those have been few and far between during their losing streak. This Hawks team isn't big enough to play at a grind it out pace against the league's best teams so they must look for answers elsewhere.</p>
<p>Other than the season ending injury to Horford, both teams come into Wednesday's matchup relatively healthy. The Pacers have Danny Granger back after he missed several games due to issues with his knee. Granger came off the bench on Tuesday and finished with 13 points in the win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Raptors</a>.</p>
<p>The Hawks will be without <span>John Jenkins</span> who remains out indefinitely due to a back injury. Atlanta waived <span>Cartier Martin</span> on Tuesday and now has 14 players on their roster. With Horford and Jenkins both sidelined due to injury the Hawks could elect to recall <span>Jared Cunningham</span> from the D-League to provide some emergency depth in advance of Wednesday's game.</p>
<h3>Game Info</h3>
<p><b>Game date/time:</b> Wednesday, January 8, 7:30 p.m.</p>
<p><b>Location: </b>Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia</p>
<p><b>TV: </b>SportSouth</p>
<p><b>Radio: </b>92.9 FM "The Game"</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/1/8/5286374/pacers-vs-hawks-preview-start-time-tv-radio-infoKris Willis