2014 Playoffs - Eastern First Round - (1)Pacers v. (8)Hawks

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

This is reminding me of when Boston was upset, in 2009: the Celtics had a team that was built to beat the gd lakers. Unfortunately for them, the Magic had a team that was built to beat the Celtics.

I see a lot of that in this series: Atlanta is about to go up 3-2 against Indiana, and I don't think that they could have won two games against any other team in the playoffs, not even the Bobcats. And it annoys me because, as busted as they've looked since the All-Star break, I still think that they're the only team in the east that could have beaten Miami. Atlanta putting the Pacers out pretty much guarantees the Heat fourth-straight trip to the Finals.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

And, to follow up on that last bit, per Bob Rathbun: the Pacers have only lost at home eight times this season, regular season and playoffs, combined. They've lost to the Hawks three times.

Astonishing to look back on the poll, and see that more people thought that Indiana would sweep, than thought that Atlanta would even win a game...

 

[HndsmCelt]

It's like the Hawks keep waking up forgetting they are the Hawks or something. Of course Indy seems more than willing to help out.

 

[KingMilz]

Hibbert with the legendary statline of 0points 0rebounds

 

[Kingster]

This could be a situation in which small ball wins. If your center can't shoot (Hibbert) it makes it ideal for the opposing team to go small, particularly is they have an abundance of 3-point shooters.

 

[Tetsujin]

This could be a situation in which small ball wins. If you're center can't shoot (Hobbert) it makes it ideal for the opposing team to go small, particularly is they have an abundance of 3-point shooters.

Yeah. This may be the rare case in which not having Horford has helped the Hawks. While Antic is nowhere near the player Al Horford is, his perimeter oriented Raef Lafrentz-esque offensive game is like Hibbert kryptonite.

 

[jalfa]

the real trouble is twofold, imo. a) Hibbert can't punish the Hawks for going small since his post-game has completely disappeared. he was never brilliant as a low-post option, but fairly reliable and, as Miami found out last year, competent at exploiting smaller guys. what happened there is anybody's guess. b) drawing Hibbert outside and attacking the Pacers in transition has rendered his one elite skill, rim-protection, pretty much irrelevant. the Pacers were really good at contesting threes in the regular season, but they were always relying on Hibbert cleaning up behind them when they contested a three pointer, which he can't do if he's on the perimeter, keeping an eye on Antic/Millsap/Scott. pretty bad match up for them, all things considered, although I'm not sure if there's a single playoff team the Pacers would actually win against in their current state.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Egad.

 

[kingsnation]

The level of sucking Hibbert continues to reach this year just amazes me. It's a mental game right now. His head's been out of it for the last 3-4 months and I think the Indiana team in general isn't helping him.

 

[KingMilz]

PG might get suspended similar to Diaw/Amare (for stepping onto the court) back in the Suns vs Spurs series for leaving the bench during a altercation between Mike To Hot Scott and George Hill. What a terrible rule that is honestly.

 

[Bricklayer]

Yeah. This may be the rare case in which not having Horford has helped the Hawks. While Antic is nowhere near the player Al Horford is, his perimeter oriented Raef Lafrentz-esque offensive game is like Hibbert kryptonite.

I always get amazed at teams that let other teams mess up their entire schemes with that stuff. You know how I would play Antic? I wouldn't. I would shut down the paint, as I always do. I would station Hibbert inside, let everyone else crowd their men, and then if the Atlanta Hawks wanted to try to beat me in the playoffs on 30 shots a night out of Antic, hey be my guest. You don't let teams dictate to you with scrubs. Ever.

 

[Bricklayer]

PG might get suspended similar to Diaw/Amare (for stepping onto the court) back in the Suns vs Spurs series for leaving the bench during a altercation between Mike To Hot Scott and George Hill. What a terrible rule that is honestly.

And yes, I saw that clip too. Looks like trouble. That rule in the past has always been absolute. Even one step on, and you kill yourself. Which is a ridiculous overreaction by a league scared of its own shadow of course. But still, that's how its been. And George and Butler made those steps. Bit of a late reaction/failure by the coaches actually. One of them is always supposed to be there to jump in front of guys. That may have been Nate McMillan's fault if that was him following Vogel into the fray. Too used to being the top man maybe, should have got in front of George and pals. Went toward the fray instead.

 

[KingMilz]

And yes, I saw that clip too. Looks like trouble. That rule in the past has always been absolute. Even one step on, and you kill yourself. Which is a ridiculous overreaction by a league scared of its own shadow of course. But still, that's how its been. And George and Butler made those steps. Bit of a late reaction/failure by the coaches actually. One of them is always supposed to be there to jump in front of guys. That may have been Nate McMillan's fault if that was him following Vogel into the fray. Too used to being the top man maybe, should have got in front of George and pals. Went toward the fray instead.

Yeah the role is beyond a joke but in some ways it's kind of karma considering the Hawks are without there best player and the Pacers even thought it is 3-3 have been the worse team in the series imo.

I always get amazed at teams that let other teams mess up their entire schemes with that stuff. You know how I would play Antic? I wouldn't. I would shut down the paint, as I always do. I would station Hibbert inside, let everyone else crowd their men, and then if the Atlanta Hawks wanted to try to beat me in the playoffs on 30 shots a night out of Antic, hey be my guest. You don't let teams dictate to you with scrubs. Ever.

He's been completely shocking as well, he's literally been as bad as Hibbert he's airballing wide open shots I don't understand as well why when a guy is playing so poorly you take Hibbert out instead of letting him patrol the paint. It's not like Ancic is raining 3's he's made like 1 out of 15+ (don't knwo exact) and his finishing around the rim is complete garbage.

 

[jalfa]

maybe it's also got something to do with not having enough traffic in the paint and Hibbert thus not being able to tab other players to avoid a 3-second violation? usually you'd have the opposing big at least somewhere close to the paint, setting screens and whatnot, but if there's nobody to pretend to guard, you have to always be on your toes in order to not fall afoul that dumb 3-second rule.

 

[Bricklayer]

maybe it's also got something to do with not having enough traffic in the paint and Hibbert thus not being able to tab other players to avoid a 3-second violation? usually you'd have the opposing big at least somewhere close to the paint, setting screens and whatnot, but if there's nobody to pretend to guard, you have to always be on your toes in order to not fall afoul that dumb 3-second rule.

good observation, although all you really have to do is step outside the paint every few seconds to reset that. A player being in there just lets you camp without observing the formalities.

Whatever it is, neither the Pacers nor Hibbert has had a clue what to do about it. And intriguing as a Boogie/Hibbert pairing is, its worth some thought about how much running around on the perimeter you want Boogie to be doing if Hibbert is just this completely unable to function that way. Boogie being the vastly better rebounder you want to keep around the glass too.

 

[Hadlowe]

good observation, although all you really have to do is step outside the paint every few seconds to reset that. A player being in there just lets you camp without observing the formalities.

Whatever it is, neither the Pacers nor Hibbert has had a clue what to do about it. And intriguing as a Boogie/Hibbert pairing is, its worth some thought about how much running around on the perimeter you want Boogie to be doing if Hibbert is just this completely unable to function that way. Boogie being the vastly better rebounder you want to keep around the glass too.

Another part is the long caroms on 3's somewhat favor the shooting team vs. the team boxing out. Hibbert's normal role is to clog the paint and prevent opposing bigs from getting boards. When those rebounds are tracked down at 18 feet on a three attempt vs. within 5 feet on a botched layup, Hibbert's lack of mobility is a serious problem.

 

[kingsnation]

If the Pacers somehow manage to lose this game - it would just be the icing on the cake of an epic 1 seed collapse.

 

[kingsnation]

Atlanta hanging around and hanging around... the longer they do - the more the Pacers begin to battle in their heads whether or not they can close this out.

 

[kingsnation]

Paul George beginning to play like a legit star should.

 

[KingMilz]

Has anyone ever shot worse than Pero Antic during a playoff series? 7/42 for 16.7% and 3/25 from 3 for a whopping 12%