Peachtree Hoops - October 18: Pistons 104, Hawks 100The place to read about/discuss the Atlanta Hawks.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/8811/peachtree-fave.jpg2014-10-19T10:30:02-04:00http://www.peachtreehoops.com/rss/stream/67620582014-10-19T10:30:02-04:002014-10-19T10:30:02-04:00Horford working his way back for the Hawks
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<figcaption>Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Al Horford is still working his way back from last season's pectoral injury but is pleased with the progress he has made. </p> <p><span>Al Horford</span> returned to the court for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> last week and is slowly working his way back into form. Horford scored six of his 12 points in the fourth quarter of Saturday's loss to Detroit and appears to be getting more comfortable each time out.</p>
<p>"It's going to take, for me, just time," Horford told reporters following the game. "I will keep getting in game situations, start that chemistry again with Jef and get it going. I need to catch up with everybody else. I'm confident that we'll figure it out."</p>
<p>So far this preseason, Horford has appeared in three games and is shooting 41 percent from the field going 9-22. He played 21 minutes against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Pistons</a> and that was the most minutes he has seen during the preseason. "I felt really good. I was pleased with the way that I felt."</p>
<p>"Al continues to take steps forward," said head coach Mike Budenholzer. Getting Al up over 20 minutes, him making a few post moves and he was able to score." The Hawks went to Horford early in the fourth and he responded with a series of scores in the post. One of which came over the outstretched arm of <span>Andre Drummond</span> whom Horford battled for much of the game.</p>
<p>His perimeter touch has been a bit slow to come back and he was 1-4 from that range on Saturday. His value to the Hawks was once again on display in the loss to the Pistons. The first time he exited the game Detroit went on a 12-0 run. When he first went to the bench in the second half the Pistons quickly ripped off an 8-0 run. Horford left the game for good with 7:41 remaining and Atlanta leading 90-79. They were outscored 25-10 the rest of the way.</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/10/19/7002349/al-horford-injury-return-atlanta-hawksKris Willis2014-10-19T09:08:13-04:002014-10-19T09:08:13-04:00Hawks can't finish off Pistons
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<figcaption>Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>More thoughts from Saturday's 104-100 loss by the Atlanta Hawks to the Detroit Pistons. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> used a big third quarter to take control of Saturday's game but they ultimately couldn't hold on as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a> rallied late in a 104-100 loss. There was somewhat of a somber mood in the locker room afterwards but the players were keeping the loss in perspective with the regular season just over a week away.</p>
<p>Here are more thoughts from Saturday's game:</p>
<h4>This preseason loss hurt a bit more than the others</h4>
<p>Its still the preseason but <span>Mike Budenholzer</span> ran with his starters in the fourth quarter for the first time this preseason. <span>Al Horford</span> started the fourth quarter before eventually giving way to <span>Pero Antic</span>, but the rest of the starters were on the court during the game's final moments.</p>
<p>"Finishing games in our league is really important," said Budenholzer after the game. "I think we will be able to learn a lot from looking at our defense in the fourth quarter." Coach Bud went on to talk about some of the positive contributions he saw from individual players but you could tell he was not happy with a second straight fourth quarter collapse.</p>
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<span>DeMarre Carroll</span> had a really nice game at both ends of the floor</h4>
<p>Carroll finished with 14 points and five rebounds on 4-8 shooting in 34 minutes. He turned in a fine defensive effort and even found himself matched against Detroit point guards <span>Brandon Jennings</span> and <span>D.J. Augustin</span> at times.</p>
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<span>Kent Bazemore</span> is starting to round into form</h4>
<p>Bazemore's line of three points and two assists may not jump off the page at you but I thought this was his best performance of the preseason. He's starting to look comfortable on the offensive end and displayed a quick step to the basket. Unfortunately he struggled at the free throw line going 1-4. His versatility stood out on the defensive end of the floor where he spent time guarding Augustin as well as chasing bigger wing players.</p>
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<span>Mike Scott</span> turned in another solid performance</h4>
<p>Scott looks like he is ready for the season to start after finishing with eight points and five rebounds in 15 minutes of action Saturday night. He is shooting 50 percent from the field during the preseason and appears to have picked up where he left off last season.</p>
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<span>Andre Drummond</span> is a beast</h4>
<p><span>Stan Van Gundy</span> wasn't pleased with the way his bigs played in Friday's loss at Orlando and said he let them know that prior to Saturday's game against the Hawks. Drummond responded with a 19 point, 17 rebound performance to go along with three blocks and a pair of steals. His game wasn't perfect as he was beaten down the floor by Al Horford twice in the fourth quarter that prompted "teaching point" timeouts from Van Gundy but he seemed to get the message. Drummond was just 1-7 from the free throw line but he is a difficult matchup for any team and is just getting better.</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/10/19/7002261/pistons-vs-hawks-mike-budenholzer-demarre-carroll-kent-bazemoreKris Willis2014-10-18T22:50:14-04:002014-10-18T22:50:14-04:00Fourth quarter struggles doom Hawks
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<figcaption>Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Atlanta Hawks suffered their second straight preseason loss falling 104-100 to the Detroit Pistons.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a> saw a lead slip away in the fourth quarter for the second straight game in a 104-100 loss to the <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Pistons</a>.</p>
<p>Atlanta led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter but a 24-5 run by the Pistons proved to be more than the Hawks could overcome. Atlanta was its own worst enemy late with a pair of untimely turnovers and missed free throws. <span>Paul Millsap</span> missed four straight free throw attempts in the game's final moments and the Hawks finished just 17-29 in the game. Following the game, Head Coach Mike Budenholzer talked about the importance of finishing the game and wasn't pleased with surrendering 35 points in the fourth quarter.</p>
<p>"Tonight is a good learning experience for us. Defensively, to give up 35 points in the fourth quarter is obviously not something we want to do," said Budenholzer. "We've done it a few times here in the preseason. Finishing games in our league is important. It's something that we need to improve on, all of us."</p>
<p><span>Jeff Teague</span> led Atlanta with 16 points and 10 assists but was 0-5 from the field in the fourth quarter. <span>Kyle Korver</span> added 15 points while <span>DeMarre Carroll</span> chipped in 14. <span>Shelvin Mack</span> hit four three pointers off the bench to finishe with 12. <span>Al Horford</span> finished with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes.</p>
<p><span>Andre Drummond</span> put up a monster game for Detroit finishing with 19 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks and two steals. <span>Brandon Jennings</span> scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter while <span>Kyle Singler</span> added 15. <span>Josh Smith</span> and <span>D.J. Augustin</span> added 14 points each.</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/10/18/7001561/pistons-vs-hawks-final-scoreKris Willis2014-10-18T18:46:17-04:002014-10-18T18:46:17-04:00Teague, Millsap return to starting lineup
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<figcaption>Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Mike Budenholzer will go with his regular starting lineup for tonight's preseason game against the Detroit Pistons. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> are entering the final stretch of the preseason and head coach <span>Mike Budenholzer</span> will go with his regular starting lineup against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a>. Budenholzer rested <span>Jeff Teague</span> and <span>Paul Millsap</span> on Thursday but said that he would likely play his starters into the third quarter on Saturday. The Hawks will have two preseason games remaining after Saturday's game.</p>
<p>Budenholzer said that center <span>Elton Brand</span> would dress against the Pistons but was unlikely to play. That could mean more minutes for guys like <span>Pero Antic</span>, <span>Mike Muscala</span> and rookie <span>Adreian Payne</span>.</p>
<p><span>Stan Van Gundy</span> took a similar stance to Budenholzer in saying that it was time to start preparing for the regular season opener. Van Gundy will go with a starting lineup that features <span>Brandon Jennings</span> and former Hawks guard <span>Cartier Martin</span> in the backcourt. <span>Kyle Singler</span> will start at small forward with <span>Josh Smith</span> and <span>Andre Drummond</span> up front. <span>Greg Monroe</span>, whom Van Gundy said had been the team's most consistent player this preseason, will come off the bench against the Hawks.</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/10/18/7000971/pistons-vs-hawks-starting-lineup-mike-budenholzerKris Willis2014-10-18T07:55:38-04:002014-10-18T07:55:38-04:00Hawks return home for matchup with Pistons
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>The Atlanta Hawks enter the final stretch of the preseason with a matchup against the Detroit Pistons at Philips Arena. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a> return to Philips Arena on Saturday to face the <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Pistons</a> as the exhibition season enters its final stage. Atlanta hosts Charlotte on Monday and the wraps up the exhibition season in San Antonio on Wednesday. Atlanta will open the 2014-15 regular season against the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Raptors</a> on October 29.</p>
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<p>Atlanta has gone 2-2 thus far in the preseason and just completed a 1-2 road trip with an 85-84 loss to the <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bulls</a>. For <span>Mike Budenholzer</span> and his coaching staff, preseason wins and losses mean little and he has used the opportunity to <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/basketball/budenholzer-loves-fourth-quarter-experience-for-yo/nhmMT/">get his young players some meaningful minutes against other team's frontline starters</a>.</p>
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<p>"We have things that we are looking for going into each of the preseason games," coach Mike Budenholzer said. "There is an idea of how we want to play our guys and rotate them. It really has very, very little to do with winning or losing the game. I tell guys at some point they are done for the night. We stick to the plan and learn from things we don't do great."</p>
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<p>By most accounts, the preseason has gone well for the Hawks. Al Horford, <span>Kent Bazemore</span> and <span>Pero Antic</span> returned to action during the road trip and are working their way back to full strength. They have escaped so far without any other injuries and young players like <span>Mike Muscala</span>, Dennis Schröder and <span>John Jenkins</span> have played well.</p>
<p>Atlanta rested Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague in Thursday's game and we likely won't find out what their plans for Saturday are until shortly before tipoff.</p>
<p>Detroit has gone 3-2 during the preseason under new coach <span>Stan Van Gundy</span> but <a href="http://www.detroitbadboys.com/2014/10/17/6994367/pistons-vs-magic-final-score-box-score-highlights-stan-van-gundy-return">suffered a 99-87 loss to the Orlando Magic</a> on Saturday. Following the game, Van Gundy <a href="http://www.nba.com/pistons/features/slow-start-d-dooms-pistons-orlando">questioned his team's effort in the loss</a> saying they only played well for about an 18 minute stretch.</p>
<p>"“We weren'’t in position to win that game from the minute it started,”" he said. “"We didn’'t put anything into the game for the first 18 minutes, then we played well for 18 minutes and that was it. You'’re not going to win games playing a quarter and a half out of four on an evening.”"</p>
<p>Saturday's game also marks another return of former Hawks forward <span>Josh Smith</span> to Philips Arena. Van Gundy and the Pistons have spent the preseason looking for the right starting combination for their front court that also features <span>Greg Monroe</span> and Andre Drummond. All three started on Saturday with Smith at small forward and the results weren't good. Smith finished with three points on 1-7 shooting to go along with one rebound in just under 25 minutes. Smith did lead the team with seven assists. Monroe led the Pistons with 24 points and 10 rebounds.</p>
<h3>Game Info</h3>
<p><b>Game Date/Time:</b> Saturday, October 18, 7:30 p.m. ET</p>
<p><b>Location:</b> Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia</p>
<p><b>TV:</b> None</p>
<p><b>Radio:</b> 92.9 "The Game" FM, <a href="http://www.nba.com/broadband/alp_schedule.html?registration_url=ALP%7C14-15%7CNBA%7CLeague%7CAudioLeaguePass%7CMain" style="background-color: #ffffff;">NBA League Pass Audio</a></p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/10/18/6997969/pistons-vs-hawks-preview-time-tv-radio-infoKris Willis