Is Marvin done for the season?
Will a back injury sideline Marvin Williams for the rest of the season?
HAWKSVILLE - No one came out and said it.
They didn’t have to for everyone start talking about it. But everyone wants to know, is Marvin Williams done for the season? Is the lower back injury that the cost him Monday’s game against New Orleans going to cost him the rest of his season?
We were told he will be out “indefinitely,” with more opinions from specialists being sought.
Yet Hawks coach Mike Woodson’s entire demeanor changed when speaking about Williams in the postgame session after the Hawks’ 89-79 defeat of the Hornets.
“He’s going to seek a few more opinions about his back and then I’m sure he’ll make a decision after that and then we’ll know,” Woodson said when asked about his starting small forward’s status.
Make a decision about what?
Hawks captain and All-Star Joe Johnson kicked the door wide open a few minutes later when he was asked about Williams.
“If he’s out for the rest of the season we can’t worry about that,” Johnson said. “We have to move forward with what we’ve got. Injuries are a part of the game, they happen. And unfortunately it’s a tough loss for us, but we have to be strong and be strong for Marvin as well. And everybody will have to step their play up.”
When pressed about it after his initial comments, Johnson admitted that he didn’t know if Williams was done or not.
“I’m just saying worst case scenario,” Johnson said. “You have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”
That doesn’t sound terribly hopeful.
So in the meantime, the tough question remains, is Marvin done for the season?
And if so, what can the Hawks do to replace him?
It’s obvious the Hawks can ill afford to lose Williams, or any of their starters, for the remainder of this season.
Not only is Williams their fourth leading scorer (14.0) one of their top rebounders (6.4), he’s also been their best defender of wing forwards all season, with Johnson concentrating on opposing point guards most of the time.
The Hawks also lack a backup small forward with the size and range of Williams (6-9, 240), who also shoots 35 percent from beyond the 3-point line (where’s Josh Childress when you need him? Oh yeah, dude’s in Greece).
JChil is in Greece!
Facing the likes of LeBron James, Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony and others this season, Williams has more than held his own. In this, his fourth season, he finally started to shed some of the grief (most all of it unwarranted) he’s taken over the years for not being Chris Paul or Deron Williams.
So how wacky is that Paul was in the house Monday (24 points, 10 assists and dazzling the entire night) and Deron Williams and the Utah Jazz will be here Wednesday?
Remember me?
The Billy Knight bashers out there couldn’t have asked for a better scenario (and I imagine they were going to be out in full force whether Marvin was injured or not).
If he is done for the remainder of the season, which at least appears to be a possibility at this point, things change dramatically not only for the Hawks but for the entire Eastern Conference.
Hanging on to that fourth spot becomes an even taller order for the Hawks. And teams eye-balling the Hawks in a potential first round matchup know that they’ll face a much different crew than the one they’ve seen all year with Williams playing a huge role.
However you twist it, things are going to take a major turn if we get the “worst-case” answer to our question.
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121 comments Add your comment
Astro Joe
March 11th, 2009
9:58 am
Melvin, doc had some Raquel Welsh-looking “dame” doing all of his typing for him back in the day. Probably wearing some short little nurse outfit with some red pumps, hair flowing from her little white hat and, and… OK, I think I better stop now. Anyone have a bag I can breath in?
doc
March 11th, 2009
10:22 am
lol i cant believe tsk tsk had the nerve to challenge me does he understand how important i am i am the smartest person ever to come across ajc and i know more about the hawks than anybody else so for him to chalengl me is definitely wrong melvin i did have my coffee this mroning but it doesnt realy make a difference lol jsut trying to make sure i keep everything here in order and that no one makes any unmerited comments towards me you understand
so onto the hawks tonight will be a tough game but i think we can win last year we won and the previous year we squandered what was it a 20 point lead in the 4th quartre so im optimistic we can pull it out again i will be in my season seats again so i hope to see everyone there then on friday we paly indiana which shiould be winnable since granger isnt coming back til after friday so we win tonight and friday we will be fine the ultimate test is portland who is the exact mirror image of us in the west ern con ference and has a better coach so itll be interesting to see hwo they do
Astro Joe
March 11th, 2009
10:38 am
<>DING!<>
ILL-logical
March 11th, 2009
11:17 am
THREE Things that absolutely must happen this off- season:
1. Add new investors to the (B)ASG. Chris “Ludicris” Bridges is a strong candidate because of his wealth and interest.
2. Trade Joe Johnson. While he still has value and the team can get a solid 5/ draft picks. Bibby is gone , so don’t expect Joe or Woodson to stick around either. To many young guys running around.
3. Whoever is deemed the face(s) of the franchise, please have them interact with the community in a more visible and substantive manner. Joe did not do this and that fact ,along with the reduction of the marketing staff, hurt the Hawks with respect to developing a better fan base.
Astro Joe
March 11th, 2009
11:44 am
If we trade JJ for draft picks and Bibby leaves, it won’t matter who is doing community work, no one is interested in seeing this team return to 20-25 wins and start all over again.
Jamal
March 11th, 2009
11:52 am
ILL-logical your 2nd point is very dumb.
doc
March 11th, 2009
12:02 pm
no melvin, not until i went down to serve soup this morning. slow crowd this am and a few extra volunteers so i got to get some of the real stuff rather than the decaf i usually drink. i cant claim caffeine is the instigator of my arrogance and sense of superiority. just keeping it real. how is your day going?
seems like someone had some fun while i was away. heh heh, no harm, no foul, right?
Astro Joe
March 11th, 2009
12:46 pm
Kind of sad that I know a real doc from a phoney one… thus my “DING” after the bogus one.
Hawks need to run tonight. Only way to netralize the Boozer/Millsap tandem is to turn the tempo up. Woody needs to think GA-400 on a Saturday (as opposed to I-85 on a Friday afternoon). Speed.
jt in dallas
March 11th, 2009
12:46 pm
I was back in the ATL early this week and was able to catch the Hornets game. It was great to see Woody actually use his bench this game. I guess he was just forced to do so. Although Acie didn’t score much, I thought his penetrations provided some great looks for the scorers. Also, his penetrations took some of the focus off Joe from a Hornets defensive scheme.
I really wish that Woody had the sense to realize that he can actually change the offensive & defensive schemes according to who is in the game at the time. This way he plays to his players strengths (not bending his players to his assinine philosophy). Anyways, I hope this is the last year of the Woody Show.
doc
March 11th, 2009
1:24 pm
yeah, aj, pretty obvious, children at play. maybe we need a sign up to warn us when they are around so we watch what we say.
jt, you got it. doubt you get your wish.
Melvin
March 11th, 2009
2:29 pm
Doc, everything is fine. nice to know that you and others are still doing community service in these challenging times. Also, my previous comment was hinting that the Fake Doc comments was out of character for the Real Doc…
The Flash
March 11th, 2009
7:29 pm
I’m betting that Marvin will be fine and within a week, maybe two at the outside. Instead of seeing a surgeon, I think he ought to see a really good osteopath, one who is skilled at cranial sacral work.
Actually, I got a guy, and I’m not kidding now, who is UNBELIEVABLE with backs. He’s trained in three very well respected modalities and has done wonders.
He’s a longtime friend of mine and went to see the 83 grandmother of one of my son’s friends at my request. She had been to the best orthopods and PTs in DC and could not go downstairs, doped up all the time. After he worked on her once, she was almost off the drugs, and was doing the stairs (we’re talking a row house here). After the next visit, she took the bus to see him for the third and last time.
My kid has a minor scoliosis; back issues during soccer. The osteopath who he saw reglarly was out of town. He went to Royal once, and that was it for the osteopath, even though the osteopath had my kid working on a project for which he earned close to eight grand in three weekends. Steven is a full inch and a half taller.
Send MW my way and I’ll get him fixed up.
Rollins Tree
March 11th, 2009
10:58 pm
Still don’t think Woodson is the one to take us to the promise land but if the team continues to play hard like this every game I won’t be disappointed even in a loss. This is what we were expecting all season. Nice win tonight!!
Also – did I see a player on the Jazz team with blue lips? Whats up with that?
lawyer dave
March 12th, 2009
12:16 am
Seeing the Jazz reminds me that Billy Knight not only passed on Deron Williams but less mentioned is also took Solomon Jones over Paul Millsap.
Lets see Chris Paul or Deron Williams
Brandon Roy
Paul Millsap
But Billy did a great job right Terrance!
Marvin Williams Injured « nbaroundtable
March 12th, 2009
8:49 am
[...] Williams Injured In General NBA on March 12, 2009 at 7:49 am The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports No one came out and said [...]
theJoeJohnsonEffect
March 12th, 2009
11:31 am
What a game last night, I am glad Acie Law is starting to look somewhat comfortable (even though he had some awful shots)…and how about Joe, thank the lord he is playing at an elite level again (I just hope we don’t overwork him, he needs rest Woodson!!). Also, the one thing that I was most impressed with was MARIO WEST, did you see that dunk he made flying in from the 3 point line???? Woodson needs to give him more playing time, this guy can develop into a formidable bench player that can D up on almost anybody!!!
snaddermen
March 12th, 2009
12:52 pm
Sekou… don’t act like you were a Billy Knight supporter. I think you’re trying to hit on something else. Just come right out and say it.
snaddermen
March 12th, 2009
12:53 pm
Enter your comments here
Barry
March 12th, 2009
1:35 pm
Hey Y’all;
This is still Round 8 of a great fight. The Hawks have landed lefts and rights and have the opposition staggered. The opposition is trying to figure out which hand they are going to get hit with in fear of the Hawks knock out punch. However, the Hawks, knowing their capabilities, are just jabbing and jabbing away hard dazing their foe. Nonetheless, holding the knockout punch for the end. POP! POP! POP! goes the punches off the head of our foes. They swing, but the Hawks duck and smile a mighty grin with their eyes focused on the prize and their adrenaline pumping in excitement knowing that the end is comming to the opposition in due time. And wait! WE HAVE NOT EVEN DONE THE SHUFFLE YET!!!!
To be continued………………………………….
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a HAWK FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See Y’all at PHILLIPS.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“SHOCK THE WORLD!!!!!”
Ringold
Gumby Williams
March 12th, 2009
3:33 pm
I dont understand why people are so enamored with Marvin Williams. I am somewhat impressed with Marvin with his much improved attitude, better shooting skills and overall high powered energy that he has displayed in most of the games this season. However, he is certainly no Deron Williams or Chris Paul (CP3) and we could have drafted either of those two standouts (potential future hall of famers) instead of Marvin Williams. No one can tell me that the Hawks are better off with Marvin Williams instead of CP3 or Deron Williams. I believe that if the Hawks had drafted either of those two point guards, the Hawks would be on the level of Cleveland, Boston, Lakers, and Orlando (superpowers of the NBA). You have those four teams and then you have everybody else. The Hawks would clearly have been a perennial championship threat had they landed either Chris Paul or Deron Williams in the draft instead of Marvin Williams. I believe those two guys will impact their teams as much or more than the way Magic Johnson impacted the Lakers in the ’80s (five titles). That is only my opinion but I am convinced after seeing those two guys play (Williams and Paul), that they will certainly be two future hall of famers and I am absolutely convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that Marvin Williams WILL NOT MAKE THE HALL OF FAME SOMEDAY. NO WAY POSSIBLE unless he somehow, miraculously transforms himself into the INCREDIBLE HULK and then there will be a chance for him to make it.
Dan Laroushe
March 20th, 2009
8:55 am
hey dod do you have my wallet? and marvin is a marshin