Hawks coach Larry Drew said he plans to stay with the same starting lineup for Game 2 Tuesday against the Celtics at Philips Arena.
That's not surprising, considering how the Hawks got good things out of their big lineup Sunday in the 83-74 victory in Game 1.
With Zaza Pachulia sidelined with a foot injury, Drew started 7-footer Jason Collins at center. Collins had a tough primary defensive assignment against Boston's Kevin Garnett but Drew was pleased with the results.
“He held his own,” Drew said Monday. “I think he is a type of guy that, first of all, he knows players and he understands them. He positions himself well, particularly against guys that may be a little bit more mobile, guys that are faster. But I think his experience over the years allows him to defend those type players.”
Collins, 33, hasn't been a full-time starter since 2006-07 with New Jersey. He's earned a niche with the Hawks as an effective post defender against opposing big centers but Drew decided to send him out against Garnett, a natural power forward.
Garnett tried to play to his strengths and take Collins to the post, but Atlanta's center held his ground.
“What we told Jason is just try to make him work for everything he got and he did that,” Drew said.
Garnett made 6-of-11 field-goal attempts with Collins on the floor (though Collins had switched away from Garnett for one of those baskets). Garnett couldn't score over Collins in the post early but later had success with spot-up jump shots and flashing to the basket on pick-and-rolls.
Drew said Garnett may try to take Collins off the dribble more often in Game 2.
“Possibly,” Drew said. “We will have to cross that bridge when it comes. For the most part, with K.G. out on the perimeter, we will take our chances and try to force him into tough shots.”
Quick hook
Drew substituted for rookie forward Ivan Johnson early in the fourth quarter after the two had a heated discussion. Johnson, who has a hot temper, had just been called for a foul and was arguing with an official.
“I probably overreacted,” Drew said Monday. “I grabbed Ivan after the game walking through the tunnel and told him to give me a hug. I'm not afraid to admit when I'm wrong about something.”
Drew said he also replaced Johnson because he wanted Collins to guard Garnett.
Johnson said the conversation with the official wasn't acrimonious.
“The ref made a bad call, he admitted it and I let it go,” he said.
Johnson said Garnett tried to rattle him, as expected.
“Garnett, he's a dirty player,” Johnson said. “He gives me a lot of elbows. I can handle that.”
Johnson said he doesn't retaliate because he feels like officials watch him closely because of his reputation.
“I try not to because I'm usually the one that gets caught,” he said.
Not about the name
After Boston's Game 1 defeat, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he had to remind his team that it takes more than tradition and championship history to win in the NBA.
“I think [the Hawks] came out with the right attack mode and I think we came out thinking that our jerseys were going to win the game – we are the Celtics,” Rivers said. “You have to play basketball.”
Rivers said it’s a message he delivers to his players on occasion.
“When you’ve had success it’s easy to lean back on your past success and forget that no one really cares,” he said. “It’s what you do tomorrow. It’s not what you did yesterday.”
Injury report
Pachulia (foot) is expected to miss Game 2. He's still wearing a boot to keep pressure off the injury though he's now able to do some light walking on a treadmill.
Rivers said he doesn't expect guard Ray Allen (ankle) to play Tuesday. Allen sat out Game 1 after missing the final nine games of the regular season.
“He said he felt a little better, but I don’t see it right now,” Rivers said Monday before Boston's practice on the Georgia Tech campus.
Staff writer Chris Vivlamore contributed to this report.
About the Author
