Paul Millsap answered a question with a question.
“That’s his first one?” the Hawks forward asked when questioned about teammate DeMarre Carroll’s first career double-double Wednesday night.
To the news, Kyle Korver jokingly added “It’s about time.”
Carroll had 11 points and 12 rebounds to go along with three assists, two steals and two blocks in a 95-83 victory over the Pistons. The rebound total was a career high, set just nine days after he established a best of 10 on Nov. 11 against the Bobcats.
Carroll, entering his fifth season, has seen a jump in his offensive numbers since getting an expanded role as a starter with the Hawks. He also set a career-high in points (21) and 3-pointers made in a game (5) Nov. 15 against the 76ers.
Often a late-night visitor to Philips Arena, Carroll uses the off-hours to get in extra jump-shot work.
The offense is extra. The “Junkyard Dog” is all about defense.
“Coach (Mike Budenholzer) sat me down and told me he wanted me to be that defensive guy, defensive stopper, and he thinks I can make an (all-NBA) defensive team,” said Carroll, who is fast establishing himself as the Hawks’ top defender. “He thinks I can have a super long career if I focus on that aspect and let the offense come. That’s what I’ve been trying to do.”
In the past three games, Carroll has helped hold the Knicks’ J.R. Smith to eight points, the Heat’s LeBron James to 13 (although he only played 30 minutes) and the Pistons’ Josh Smith to 11.
Carroll was on the floor for all but 21 seconds of Smith’s 35:39 of time Wednesday. He helped hold the former longtime Hawks player to 5-of-15 shooting. He will get another chance to defend Smith when the teams meet again Friday night in Auburn Hills, Mich.
“My main thing was to try to lock down Josh Smith,” Carroll said. “Like I always tell you, I just want to focus on my defense and hopefully make a (all-NBA) defensive team.”
Carroll said, at Budenholzer’s urging, he has become a student of defense. He now uses video study to breakdown an opponent in preparation for a game.
“DeMarre, his activity and his energy, it’s almost always there,” Budenholzer said. “You can count on DeMarre. We’ve talked to him about how he brings an edge to us defensively.”
The Hawks signed Carroll, 27, as a free agent Aug. 3 after he spent a season and a half with the Jazz, where he played alongside Millsap. The Hawks are Carroll’s fifth team in his fifth NBA season after being a first-round pick (No. 27 overall) in the 2009 NBA draft. He appears to have found a home in Atlanta. He has started all 12 games this season at small forward. His ranks fifth on the team in minutes (30:59) and points (9.5) per game. Carroll, 6-foot-8, ranks third in rebounding per game (5.8) behind only Al Horford and Millsap.
“That is good for him,” Millsap added about Carroll’s double-double. “Coach has been on him hard about getting rebounds. He has taken it upon himself to really get out there and do it. You see him crashing the glass every time. … For DC, that is going to be his niche. He’s always going to be around the ball, whether it’s steals, blocks or rebounds, he’s always going to be around the ball hustling and trying to make things happen.”
Williams stays home: Guard Lou Williams did not travel to Detroit and will miss Friday's game against the Pistons. He will be available for Saturday's home game against the Celtics.
The veteran guard will not play in back-to-back games as he returns from a torn right ACL. The Hawks have two more sets of back-to-back games next week. They host the Magic and play at the Rockets on Tuesday and Wednesday and host the Mavericks and travel to the Wizards on Friday and Saturday.
Williams played 16 minutes in his season debut last Friday against the 76ers and 14 minutes Wednesday against the Pistons.
