Injury concerns for Hawks?
Smile Joe, you're rocking the new red jersey my man. And for once, an alternate uniform actually looks good.
HAWKSVILLE – After a reasonably injury-free preseason the Hawks came crashing back to reality Sunday.
Al Horford sat on a corner table with wires hanging from his ankle (courtesy of a twisting in Friday’s loss in Orlando) and Mike Bibby joined him later on wire duty (on his non-shooting wrist) after jamming it during a drill in practice.
That scowl on Hawks coach Mike Woodson’s face, also a product of Friday’s dismal showing against Magic, immediately turned into a look of worry.
Woodson hadn’t planned on either his starting center or point guard being questionable for Wednesday’s regular season opener against Indiana at Philips Arena.
But as of this morning there’s some concern that one or both of them will be forced to play at less than 100 percent against the Pacers.
“Al tweaked his ankle and he tried to go a little bit [Sunday], but he said it wasn’t responding,” Woodson said. “I hope both of these guys are ready.”
Woodson said he would know more after today’s practice, which wraps up early this afternoon (check back here for more updates as the day goes on).
I asked Woodson what he would do if either one of them isn’t ready to play Wednesday night and he admitted that he hadn’t thought about that yet; he’s understandably holding out hope that both will be fine (and in all likelihood, they should be able to play).
But what happens if they do have to sit?
What would you do?
Mario West isn’t around anymore to insert into the lineup on those crazy nights when you need a fill-in starter and want to keep your bench rotation the way you like it. So it’s a dilemma the Hawks surely aren’t interested in having to deal with on the eve of the season.
My easy answer to fix this problem, if it actually becomes a problem, is to go with Jamal Crawford at the point and Zaza Pachulia as fill in starters.
NEW UNIFORMS?
So the Hawks unveiled their new red, alternate uniforms (above) at the Paint the Town affair Sunday, huh?
Funny, I remember seeing these things in the summer. Or at least a very real knock off. I like the red joints. I even like the ATL on the chest (even though I’d have loved to see the Pac-Man logo brought back just to clown). I’d much rather they come with the red stuff than one of those two-tone alternate sets like the Wizards sport or a silver get up like the Mavericks sport every once in a while. And they’re much better than those pale yellow joints that the Hawks rocked a couple years back.
If you’re not a fan of the new stuff, don’t fret. From what I understand the Hawks won’t be wearing these new uniforms much this season.
VIDEO SELECTION OF THE DAY
Injury news aside, Horford is caliente in the streets these days. Not only is he a part of the NBA’s new Hispanic marketing campaign, there’s some fresh video circulating of him being interviewed for CNN’s “Latino in America” series. In case you missed it:
MAGIC REDUX
As you might imagine, the Magic game was the topic of discussion for several observers. The recurring theme was that they were glad the Hawks got smacked around a little bit and that it served as the wake-up call needed for a team that had gotten a little comfortable abusing other teams during the preseason.
“That game was a perfect illustration of what we can’t do this season, against anybody,” one keen observer pointed out. “Orlando is so good inside and out that you have to pick your poison and just deal with it. We doubled Dwight Howard in the first half and did a pretty good job of limiting him but they shot lights out from deep and buried us. After halftime we stopped doubling Dwight and he ate us alive. That was a tactical error on our part. By then the shooters were already in a rhythm and we couldn’t do anything to slow them down inside or out. They just took us apart. That’s what will happen to you against a great team like that, and I don’t care what anybody says, that’s a great team. Orlando making [the NBA Finals] was the worst thing that could happen to the rest of us. They didn’t even need Rashard [Lewis] the other night and they ran away with it. They’re going to do that to a lot of people this year.”
I mentioned that I thought the Hawks’ strategy to play the Magic in a half court game was as flawed as always, only to be reminded that the Hawks couldn’t run with the Magic making nearly 70 percent of their shots during on stretch. But my point remains, the Hawks will never have a half court advantage against the Magic. Dwight is too big and dominant. And Jameer Nelson can probe the defense and find shooters all day long if you’re working just half the floor. The Hawks waxed the Magic to start last season by beating them up and down the floor and forcing the action. I said it then and I’ll say it again, that’s the blueprint they need to use every night. Every single night.
HOT TRACKS
Veteran big man Joe Smith (aka Joe Beast) is a bit of a lyrical star himself, having owned his own record company for years and showing off MC skills some of his NBA brethren wish they had. He’s whipped up an intro song for the Hawks that he played in the locker room after Sunday’s practice that had a menacing sound to it (there were heads bouncing as it played. It had me bouncing, too, for pure clown effect, of course). Seriously, it sounds good. I’m working on locating a bootleg copy of the track for you to hear before it hits the charts. In the meantime, check out this playoff track he cooked up for Cleveland last season:
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255 comments Add your comment
poot-ommeter
October 27th, 2009
4:41 pm
Hortford aint hurt. His sorry azzse in playing hurt so he can get a free hamburger, mother frocker.
Im down with F_ck sund,98 bottles of beer on the wall,Truth-Serum is the man.
Shout out to Dezz Nuttz, the monitoring the voice of ignorance and keeping it real. Dont let the BUBBA CREW- A NATION OF WHINERS, run you guys off the blog. Its still Hawks nation!
WHAT
October 27th, 2009
4:53 pm
WHY IS BIG RAY ACTING LIKE HE IS SEKOU BY HIGHLIGHTING EVERY ONE OF HIS POSTS? NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU SAY!!!
Ariose
October 27th, 2009
5:05 pm
Sautee, Are you confessing?
Sautee
October 27th, 2009
5:10 pm
Monitoring the voice of ignorance
October 27th, 2009
8:27 am
“The Hawks have only a second tier allstar in Joe Johnson and a bunch of rejects from other teams, an unproven rookie and a few vets on their last legs.”
Sounds like WHINING to me!
monitoring the voice of ignorance
October 27th, 2009
3:50 pm
“not that the hawks are so good as much as the other teams are so bad”
More WHINING?
Sautee
October 27th, 2009
5:12 pm
Ariose,
Oh, no, just stick poking.
hawks_4_life
October 27th, 2009
5:51 pm
It is the night before tip off,
And for our Atlanta Hawks,
Only hate was being written,
In the words we talk.
Ken Strickland
October 27th, 2009
5:54 pm
VOICE OF IGNORANCE-All of these bad teams you mentioned, didn’t elite teams like the Celtics, Magic, Lakers, Nuggets, Mavericks, Cavaliers etc, play those same teams? If we use your flawed logic, since you claim the Hawks, and all of the teams we outperformed, are bad teams, wouldn’t that mean the teams that outperformed us are also overachievers and bad as well?
Only 8 teams from each conference make the playoffs, and only 3 finished ahead of the Hawks in the East. Only 2 teams from each conference can advance beyond the 2nd rd. Losing in the 2nd rd certainly isn’t a goal, but it’s definitely nothing to be ashamed or anything to be criticized for. The Hawks should envy only 2 Eastern conference teams from last yr, and that’s Orlando and Cleveland. On the other hand, there are dozens of teams that envy the success the Hawks experienced last yr. You have to be awfully slow on the uptake if you can’t comprehend that logic. OH, AND PLAYERS DON’T GET FIRED, BUT HC’s DO.
TYGER-Joe Smith didn’t play in the Orlando gm, and neither did JCollins. Since Collins is big and tall just like Siler, plus he’s probably had more NBA starts than Siler’s had gms played for his entire career, there’s no guarantee he would have played against DHoward either. How will signing a former Allstar like Stackhouse help us stop DHoward?
When we doubled DHoward, we successfully held him in check. When they started hitting a high percentage of their jumpers, Woodson panicked and abandoned the double team. That allowed Howard to abuse us inside, and they continued hitting a high percentage of their jumpers. That wasn’t an intelligent decision. I guess if you worship the jumpshot, like Woodson seems to do, you also fear it as well. If a team has an inside scoring monster like DHoward, you don’t abandon what’s working against him to worry about a bunch of jumpshooters. Orlando might not shoot like that again for the entire season, but DHoward will destroy us everytime if we back off and allow him the freedom to operate like we did.
I agree that Smoove has to increase his basketball IQ and start making better basketball decisions. However, we have to start seeing that same increase in basketball IQ and decision making from the sidelines as well.
poot-ommeter
October 27th, 2009
5:56 pm
WHAT
October 27th, 2009
4:53 pm
It is a fair question you ask. Some times people assume themselves to be right and absolute. Highlighting text or stationary is a way of saying my word has more authority than yours.
Personally I like to read and make my own evaluation of writers blogs. Some times they are insightful and often on this blog page they are whiney. One guy just whined about another guy who stated fact about the Hawks teams make up. I wish he wouldnot b!tch. But hes just being himself. Please stop b!tching B!tches.
poot-ommeter
October 27th, 2009
6:03 pm
I appreciate your hopeful nature, Ken. You really told that guy off! Some times I pretend that My ford escort is a Mercedes C class. I only have to envy the lotus and the lambangini.
What wrong with that guy? I guess he cant count. He said we only have 1 allstar and hes a second tier one at that. Im sure you straightened him with facts! How many allstars do we have Kenny?
Any way I appreciate your….Hmmm. I appreciate you any way you get a 7 on my poot o meter!
Sautee
October 27th, 2009
6:36 pm
“I wish he wouldnot b!tch. But hes just being himself. Please stop b!tching B!tches.”
Sounds like b!tching to me! Or more whining.
LOL, it’s like the bloggers who come on and criticize the blog for not being more positive, while missing their own negativity.
Big Ray
October 27th, 2009
8:16 pm
Truth-Serum ,
Sorry for the highlighted posts. That just shows that I’m logged into Word Press, which means I’m working on a post for the Hawks Fan blog. Invariably, I like to take a break and see what’s going on in this jumpin’ spot. Sorry if I offended you, but the highlighted thing is something I’m not even thinking about when I post. However, I don’t see how that can be interpreted as me thinking I’m right about everything. I never make such an asinine assumption. I will admit to having strong opinions, however. Maybe some people see that as a character flaw.
Big Ray
October 27th, 2009
8:28 pm
Ray you now you straight with me. Do you my peep. We don’t always agree but you recognize my views, I recognize yours . You step to me like a man, I reciprocate. Handle your business. I m good. I often get credit for bloggers not a part of my posse. But hey, I can live with it. Between me and you, some one did voice a grievance and I just gave him a bloggers fist bump.
As always I appreciate the shout out!
Clyde
October 27th, 2009
8:32 pm
WHO GONNA BE AT THE GAME 2MORROW? MEET ME AT THE JACK DANIELS BAR
Truth-Serum
October 27th, 2009
8:37 pm
*Ray you Know (correction)
Monitering the voice of ignorance
October 27th, 2009
8:39 pm
When you have no inside game you have no choice by to try an score outside. One thing is for sure….You aint getting Sh!t out of Horford and Zaza. Hamburger and his helper.
Big Ray
October 27th, 2009
8:52 pm
Truth Serum ,
It’s all good, man. We’re havin’ fun, and you are straight killin’ me with the “Hamburger and his helper” references. I laugh every time, I swear. That ish is too funny!
Big Ray
October 27th, 2009
8:59 pm
Close game between Cleveland, Boston.
Waiting to see how Washington does against Dallas. We have them after Indiana, and this is the team so many pundits say will be fighting us for the 4th seed.
Melvin
October 27th, 2009
9:07 pm
When Boston wants to play defense, there isn’t a team in the league that is better.
Monitering the voice of ignorance
October 27th, 2009
9:10 pm
Ken I believe Josh has and will improve his basketball IQ…Now if we could just get your sorry aizze to improve your lame aizze IQ…In any subject but particularly basketball.
Big Ray
October 27th, 2009
9:11 pm
You know, the Mavs are one dysfunctional bunch. Between that and Gilbert Arenas acutally playing point guard, the Wiz may win this game.
Sautee
October 27th, 2009
9:13 pm
“One thing is for sure….You aint getting Sh!t out of Horford and Zaza. Hamburger and his helper.”
OK, let’s compare them to a “true center” Brook Lopez, and his backup Josh Boone. Of course we’ll use last years stats since we haven’t started the 09-10 season yet:
Points:
Lopez 13.0 Boone 4.2
NJN Combined: 17.2 pts.
Horford: 11.6 Zaza: 6.2
ATL combined: 17.6
Hmmmm…. maybe rebounding would be a fairer comparison:
Lopez: 8.1 (for a 7 footer?) Boone: 4.2
NJN Combined: 12.3
Horford: 9.3 Zaza: 5.7
ATL Combined: 15.0
Boy, it’s a good thing we have Al and Zaza.
If they are Hamburger and helper, what are two centers giving even less?
Monitering the voice of ignorance
October 27th, 2009
9:16 pm
Al and Zaza the dynamic do,do!
Melvin
October 27th, 2009
9:23 pm
Ray,
Looks like the Hawks aren’t the only team that has problems defending Jose Barea.
Sautee
October 27th, 2009
9:27 pm
Good one. So what then are Lopez and Boone?
I know, the Dynamic Doo-wop. It IS Jersey, after all.
No, it’s not a non-PC comment. It’s a form of street corner music from the 50’s.
Sautee
October 27th, 2009
9:33 pm
Sautee
Shout out to ALL of my aliases. LOL!
Sautee
October 27th, 2009
9:39 pm
I could have SWORN that I posted that earlier.
Big Ray
October 27th, 2009
9:41 pm
Melvin ,
So it would seem.
Mybe it was you alias
October 27th, 2009
9:41 pm
Enter your comments here
Maybe it was your alias
October 27th, 2009
9:43 pm
could it have been your alias posting?
Sautee
October 27th, 2009
9:45 pm
Funny how all of MY aliases post as Sautee. And obviously there are OTHERS posting as Sautee as well. But that’s ok. At least I know who I am. Well, tonight, anyway. At my age, I may NOT know tomorrow.
What did you just say?
Melvin
October 27th, 2009
9:47 pm
Look like Rasheed is about two inches taller than Perkins and folks want to company about AL Horford height…
Big Ray
October 27th, 2009
9:50 pm
Sautee ,
LOL…
Melvin ,
Yep…
Sautee, Are you confessing?
October 27th, 2009
9:50 pm
I dont think you should. Just act normal
Melvin
October 27th, 2009
9:55 pm
Now if Josh complain to the ref like Lebron just did, people who say he’s whining. What do you call it when Lebron does it? Cross examining….
Sautee
October 27th, 2009
9:57 pm
Normal. Now THERE”S a subject for debate.
But not tonight. ‘Night all.
Big Ray
October 27th, 2009
9:57 pm
“Now if Josh complain to the ref like Lebron just did, people who say he’s whining. What do you call it when Lebron does it? Cross examining….”
Yep ….
Melvin
October 27th, 2009
10:01 pm
*people would say he’s whining…
Big Ray
October 27th, 2009
10:08 pm
Heh. Lebron is still initiating the offense, the rest of the team is still feeding off of him, and he’s still the best scorer on the team. Sound familiar? It’s not a winning forumla…as is evidenced by the score.
Yeah, ummmm…may be the first game of the season, but if this is Cleveland’s game plan (I’m not seeing a difference from last year), then hold up on giving them the crown already…
O'Brien
October 27th, 2009
10:13 pm
Washington playing at Dallas, leading 65-58 in the 3rd quarter.
Boston was down 13-2, and 19-5 at Cleveland in the 1st quarter. But it looks like they’re going to win the game. Thats the kind of mental toughness I want from the Hawks. Down 14 in Cleveland, but come back and win. Thats toughness.
macaroni tony
October 27th, 2009
10:18 pm
we need Washington to lose tonight.
macaroni tony
October 27th, 2009
10:20 pm
KG just gave us props, that means a lot.
Big Ray
October 27th, 2009
10:25 pm
Cavs aren’t winning a title like that. Oh wait, I forgot. Shaq is just playing possum, Lebron really isn’t the team’s best pg, and Mike Brown is a COY. That’s an automatic championship!
ILL-logical
October 27th, 2009
10:25 pm
Just saw a PROFESSIONAL basketball game between two of the top teams in the NBA. Enjoyed it.
All of you think that Woodson learned anything about beating the Cavs tonight, raise your hands.
O'Brien
October 27th, 2009
10:32 pm
ILL,
What I liked about Boston’s game is that Rondo would push the tempo when they get a rebound. And that led to a couple easy 3’s for Ray Allen, and a couple easy shots at other times.
And thats what I would like to see the Hawks do. Push the tempo, maybe get JJ or Marvin an easy shot sometimes. But no…Bibby just walks it up, so that him and JJ can get in position for the iso JJ, or 2 man game.
Big Ray
October 27th, 2009
10:34 pm
O’Brien ,
Agreed…
macaroni tony
October 27th, 2009
11:08 pm
Greg Oden is a bust.
Ken Strickland
October 27th, 2009
11:19 pm
It looks like more and more of you are speaking out about some of the same issues I’ve been chastised for continuously making an issue of for the last 2+yrs. It’s a matter of cause and effect. Some of you are still misguided and continue to blame the cough(the Hawk players)for causing the cold(poor OFF/DEF system and philosophy), rather than the other way around.
kwooden1
October 27th, 2009
11:25 pm
Wizards looked good tonight, the HAWKS will be fighting with those guys all year. Arenas has almost all of his athletic ability and explosiveness back.
GO HAWKS!!
Mike Woodson
October 28th, 2009
12:03 am
Everybody has to look at now. I don’t know if I’m going to be here or if Joe’s going to be here or whatever. So it’s now.” ….Hmmmm if you dont sign me joe wont sign. Joes my son and Im his coach. We will look back and be happy for the time weve had and what weve built no regrets. Ill get another Job and Joe another team. Thanks Ken for your support. Good luck to the Hawks. Now that Im got the way ken can step in and led the team the way he leads the Bubba Crew.
Mike Woodson
October 28th, 2009
12:07 am
Good luck ken and Bubba crew. Im sure The hawks will now will a championship… Hey Ken, is it true youve never play for or coached on any level of basketball? Is it true you sole experience is being a blog site jockey? Can you share with us how you be came a blog site jockey and how thats going to help you and the bubba crew run the hawks?