If Magic coach Stan Van Gundy's complaints about what he considers "flopping" by the Hawks was meant to get the attention of referees, then Atlanta coach Larry Drew has his own objections.
Responding to Van Gundy's charges that centers Jason Collins and Zaza Pachulia take dives at the slightest contact, Drew said, "Maybe that evens up all of the illegal screens that have been set."
During Game 2 at Orlando, Drew and players complained that Magic center Dwight Howard was getting away with the violations.
“I think clearly looking at some of these games they are moving on their screens,” Drew said before Game 4 on Sunday at Philips Arena. “We haven't gotten the whistle. We are not going to cry and complain about it. We are just going to keep playing.”
Van Gundy said Collins and Pachulia beat up on Howard but then took dives after slight contact.
Pachulia said, “Of course he is going to defend his player. I am not surprised. But I know I am not [flopping].”
Van Gundy said he's not "posturing for calls" but just doesn't like what he considers to be flopping.
"I am talking about 7-foot, 270-pound guys falling down like they are grade-school kids out there,” he said. “It's not just our series. You see it all the time in the NBA. It's something I don't like. I think it's bad for the NBA and I wish it would stop. I don't have any problem with how the series is being called.”
Plan in action
After the Magic swept Atlanta from the 2010 playoffs, the Hawks wanted a surplus of big men in case they faced Orlando again. They signed minimum-salaried free agents Etan Thomas and Josh Powell, and acquired Hilton Armstrong as part of a multiple-player trade in February.
“Our whole focus last summer was to make sure we had enough big bodies that we could use in the playoffs,” Drew said.
Atlanta's center depth was tested Sunday with Pachulia serving a one-game suspension for his fight in Game 3 and Collins hobbled by a sore tailbone. They had been the only centers able to slow Howard.
The Hawks caught a break when Howard went to the bench early with two fouls, allowing Al Horford to shift to center for a stretch. Powell was the primary backup to Collins.
Etc.
Collins, who suffered a bruised tailbone on Game 3, was moving stiffly before the game but was in the starting lineup. "Just keep it warm and play through any discomfort," he said. ... The Magic started Quentin Richardson in place of Jason Richardson, who was suspended for his scuffle with Pachulia. ... Pachulia was not allowed at the arena after the morning shootaround. He said he would watch the game on television at home. ... NBA commissioner David Stern and former Hawks owner Ted Turner were at the game.
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