Ivan Johnson News

After advancing to the second round of the playoffs three straight years, the Hawks were eliminated in the first round with Thursday night's Game 6 loss at Boston.

Atlanta Hawks 28-year-old rookie Ivan Johnson offered a heroic "Did Not Play - Coach's Decision" for last night's season-ending Game 6 in Boston.

2. The Atlanta Hawks' season ended with a first-round playoff loss. Afterward, Ivan Johnson flipped off a Celtics fan, which will not go over well but which makes for a pretty entertaining picture .

In the end, Game 5 was one that the Atlanta Hawks still could have fumbled away.

The reserves have not been a factor in the playoff series with the Celtics through the first four games.

The Boston Celtics haven't played exceptional basketball during their NBA Playoffs series against the Atlanta Hawks, but they've got the job done well enough to take a 2-1 lead heading into Sunday evening's game at the Garden.

Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks Friday, May 4, 2012 7:30 PM ET Game #3, Home Game #1 TV: ESPN, CSNNE, SNET1, SPSO Radio: WEEI TD Garden Referees: Monty McCutchen, Ron Garretson, Zach Zarba Game Thread l Chat The Celtics return home with the series tied 1-1. They have wrested home court advantage back from the Hawks and now they must hang on to it ... (more)

Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith was injured late in the fourth quarter of Game 2 on Tuesday against the Boston Celtics; his status for Game 3 on Friday is uncertain Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith could be inactive for Game 3 on Friday after suffering a knee injury late in the fourth quarter of Game 2 on Tuesday.

The news certainly wasn't as bad as it could have been. An MRI exam revealed no structural damage to Josh Smith's knee according to a report by the AJC .

Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith scores as Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett watches during the first half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Atlanta.

If someone told you then that Johnson would be playing a key role in the NBA playoffs six years later ... well, insert your own what-are-you-on joke here.

Hawks coach Larry Drew said he plans to stay with the same starting lineup for Game 2 Tuesday against the Celtics at Philips Arena.

Add another name to the ever-expanding list of Kevin Garnett's critics. Hawks rookie forward Ivan Johnson became the latest to join the chorus this afternoon after Hawks practice.

Hawks beat Celtics Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce looks for a call from an official after colliding with Hawks' Ivan Johnson, left, during the first quarter of Game 1 of an opening-round NBA playoff series Sunday in Atlanta.

On offense Teague looks to drive and score while Rondo focuses on setting up teammates for easy shots.

With center Zaza Pachulia expected to miss at least one game of the first-round playoff series, Hawks forward Ivan Johnson will play a big role against the Celtics.

The union confirmed Friday it has received a subpoena for documents from the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan and says it will cooperate with the investigation.