Johnson back in lineup for Friday
Hawks guard Joe Johnson will return to the lineup Friday night after missing the past three games with a sprained right thumb.
Johnson practiced with the team Friday morning at the team’s shootaround at Philips Arena in preparation for the game against Toronto. His thumb was heavily taped.
“It’s alright,” Johnson said of his thumb, which he injured last week in the team’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers. “It’s not where I really want it to be. It’s still sore, but that soreness is going to be there for quite some time. Just trying to help the team reach one of our goals, that’s trying to solidify the third spot.”
With four games remaining, the Hawks are tied with Boston for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference at 49-29. The Hawks need to finish ahead of the Celtics in order to take the third spot, as Boston owns the tiebreaker by virtue of being a division champion.
Without Johnson in the lineup, the Hawks went 1-2, beating Detroit last Saturday to run their home winning streak to 10, but then losing to Charlotte Tuesday and Detroit Wednesday, which ran their road losing streak to six games.
Coach Mike Woodson also said that backup center Jason Collins will miss the remainder of the regular season as a result of a foot injury sustained before Wednesday’s game at Detroit.
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317 comments Add your comment
Sybil's bane
April 9th, 2010
9:44 pm
He just happy his boy Joe is playing so he can say thats why the Hawks are winning.
drmaryb
April 9th, 2010
9:45 pm
N-CYDE
I feel you maane! These haters are like the opposing team fans – they get silenced & STFU when the home team is winning! Sssh! LOL!
J.J.M.
April 9th, 2010
9:45 pm
lmao didnt the hawks just have a 20 point tlead?
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
9:47 pm
I hate it when a village loses its idiot. Then the idiot gets loose here …
drmaryb
April 9th, 2010
9:48 pm
N-CYDE
While they’re blogging, they probably are wearing a BOSH jersey. Even, if we win? They still bitch & moan.
I actually feel sorry for miserable people! This is ENTERTAINMENT people – Enjoy!
Nique's Revenge
April 9th, 2010
9:48 pm
cmon deadwood u still got time to blow it!
Nique's Revenge
April 9th, 2010
9:49 pm
glue for 3!
J.J.M.
April 9th, 2010
9:49 pm
crawford sucks in the 4th i just realized that
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
9:49 pm
I’ll take 17 and 7 from a guy with a sore thumb.
When Al Horford decides it’s time to grab some rebounds, nothing stops him.
VenomSpitter
April 9th, 2010
9:50 pm
another scoring drought. But woodys offense is sooooo great
northcyde
April 9th, 2010
9:50 pm
No dobut drmaryb. That’s why I call these dudes out all the time. They do things, thinking it’s “cute”.
Venom . . . I’m happy anytime the Hawks win a game, I don’t care if it was against Georgia Southern. But I know that some of you “so-called” fans are nothing but trolls from other teams. No way a true Hawk fan wouldn’t be pleased with the performance tonight.
With Big Ray being a Moderator on the board, I’m sure he could EASILY expose some of you dudes with multiple names. LOL . . it’s all good though. I’m a Hawks fan regardless of who we play.
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
9:50 pm
Actually, Crawford is known for doing well in the 4th, which is why Sund signed him.
It’s just that lately he hasn’t done so well in the 4th. Then again, the entire team has struggled in the final quarter this season.
Nique's Revenge
April 9th, 2010
9:51 pm
hawks can beat georgia southern?
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
9:51 pm
Washington still up by 13 over Boston. Lose this game, and we deserve the 4th seed is all I can say.
northcyde
April 9th, 2010
9:52 pm
JJM .. . Crawford doesn’t suck in the 4th. He just gets into modes where he takes wild shots.
wow . . great block by Horford.
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
9:53 pm
But I don’t see us losing it.
Blast
April 9th, 2010
9:54 pm
Expect Hawks to win this home game tonight.
Hawks are great at home, but sucks on the road. I think that is just a mental thing. Tonight shows that if Hawks move the ball, shore up on defense, make good substitutions, they will do well. But they have to bring in the mental focus to win on the road.
northcyde
April 9th, 2010
9:54 pm
Mario . . . WTF?
Don’t do that man.
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
9:54 pm
Northcyde ,
Nique's Revenge
April 9th, 2010
9:54 pm
yay hawks
but another alarming scoring drought in the 4th
with bosh they may of won
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
9:55 pm
This is why he doesn’t play that much. He’s a pet guided missile.
J.J.M.
April 9th, 2010
9:56 pm
I realized crawford misses lots of jumpshots in the 4th mainly 3s and misses them
drmaryb
April 9th, 2010
9:56 pm
BLUE-RAY
(Light – Beam!Y
Get ‘EM! Send the Retards on their way! LOL!
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
9:57 pm
Thankyou Hawks for win #50.
Meanwhile, a minute and a half left in Boston vs. Washington.
Washington is up 93 to 78. Yes!
On another note, we need to be thinking about that. We have Washington next. IN Washington. Won’t be an easy game.
VenomSpitter
April 9th, 2010
9:57 pm
If u think a fan from another team Northcyde than u are dumber than I already thought lol.
U are one of those people who thinks that folks like Woody or Bibby or Joe are above criticism. Well guess what u lil rat they aren’t.
What makes u think there aren’t fans that are frustrated becuz they know that this team can be even better than what it is, but won’t be becuz a certain SOMEBODY is holding them back?
U and Dr. Quinn Medicine woman need to answer that. That is if u can get your heads outta each other’s azzes.
Ree Roe
April 9th, 2010
9:57 pm
Nice to get 50 wins. Disappointed with the lack of 4th Q scoring & disappointed to see Mario West in the game, but it’s always good to win. Let’s go Wizards
-REEl em in Roe!!!
VenomSpitter
April 9th, 2010
9:59 pm
*If u think I’m a fan from another team
J.J.M.
April 9th, 2010
9:59 pm
wow they still playing
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
10:00 pm
Now why are we letting this drag out? Come on, guys. Enough already. Send the dinosaurs home.
Blast
April 9th, 2010
10:00 pm
Who cares about the Braves? They cost us a half of Hawks basketball!
Sleepy
April 9th, 2010
10:00 pm
Woodys situational subs are just horrible
drmaryb
April 9th, 2010
10:01 pm
Lakers playin awfull!
Boston sucks!
Miami – Losers!
Everybody tired all around the league. 82 games w/travel is a LOT!
Hawks Fans keep your heads up! We really have a nice team. Just got to get ready for the
PLAY-OFFS now! Many teams can’t say that. We gotta be proud of our team even if we don’t get to the
ECF! We’ll be back next year w/a deeper bench hopefully!
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
10:02 pm
U and Dr. Quinn Medicine woman need to answer that. That is if u can get your heads outta each other’s azzes.
Okay, I am sorry, but I just had to laugh at that. Where in the hell did that come from?
Venom , he must have really struck your nerve to make you go there . Too funny. I hated that show.
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
10:03 pm
Hawks were excellent from the line tonight. Now if we could just figure out how to take some of those magic beans and use them in other games.
drmaryb
April 9th, 2010
10:04 pm
BLAST
Do you have a computer? Because the game was on USTREAM @ ATDHE.net for free.
VenomSpitter
April 9th, 2010
10:05 pm
now if we can start winning on the road
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
10:05 pm
If you think Woody’s subs are strange, try being a Toronto fan. Weems is out of the game, but rookie DeRozan is in. Bellineli? Yeah he can shoot, but he stunk tonight. Whatever.
Glad we won!
Ree Roe
April 9th, 2010
10:07 pm
@ sleepy, I agree 100%. I STILL don’t kno what Mario West’s purpose on this team is. Please don’t tell me it’s b/c he’s a “defensive stopper”. That can’t be right
-pREEview of Roe!!!
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
10:08 pm
Washington 105, Boston 96. Game got tighter, but there’s only 8 seconds left. Wiz pulled it out.
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
10:09 pm
Told you already. Mario is a pet guided missile.
Ree Roe
April 9th, 2010
10:13 pm
How does Mario as a “pet guided missle” help this team?
-Roe’s cREEk
northcyde
April 9th, 2010
10:13 pm
Good all around game by the Hawks tonight. Defense wasn’t great, but it was good enough in that 2nd quarter run, so that we could break the game open and coast to victory.
50 wins for the first time in 13 years . . . congrats guys.
4 other teams in Hawks history have won exactly 50 games. 3 made it to the 2nd round . . one lost in the 1st round.
It’ll be interesting to see how this team approaches that Milwaukee game ( if we beat Washington tomorrow night ). LOL . . . IF.
drmaryb
April 9th, 2010
10:15 pm
Blue-Ray
(Clear Image)
If your mamma named you Venom-Spit? The future looks like Doom & Gloom!
Instead of sucking her nipple? She stuck him on her azz!
I actually feel sorry for the guy/girl whatever IT is? He probably has to ride MARTA every where he goes!
Melvin
April 9th, 2010
10:17 pm
Congrats to the Hawks for their 50th win…
kwooden1
April 9th, 2010
10:21 pm
Good Win, but the play late in the 4th was terrible. We’re not playing good defensive late in the 4th. We need to understand that the game is over when the other team gives up, no matter what the score is!! We have to continue to play good aggressive defense all game long. The other thing is, guys have to come in the game ready to play!! Woody is very consistent in the way he handles things, you may not agree with his methods, but you have to say he does the same thing. When you come in the game Woody expects you to play good defensive and not turn the ball over. I don’t know what the guys were thinking but they definitely didn’t come in and do that!! Mario made a terrible play in fouling a 3pt shooter. I didn’t see the game, but I suspect that the guys weren’t ready. I put the blame on the players first and the coaches 2nd.
At least the Celtics lost!! (At HOME TO THE WIZARDS!!) I really think that Garrett is hurt
GO HAWKS!!!
northcyde
April 9th, 2010
10:22 pm
If u think a fan from another team Northcyde than u are dumber than I already thought lol.
U are one of those people who thinks that folks like Woody or Bibby or Joe are above criticism. Well guess what u lil rat they aren’t.
What makes u think there aren’t fans that are frustrated becuz they know that this team can be even better than what it is, but won’t be becuz a certain SOMEBODY is holding them back?
U and Dr. Quinn Medicine woman need to answer that. That is if u can get your heads outta each other’s azzes.
LOL Venom . . . bleed some of that snake venom out of those fangs man. I would believe your criticism of JJ and Woody and Bibby . . . if you also gave them praise.
But you don’t. Just like Marvin haters rarely praise the kid. Or Horford haters.
I’ll always be positive, for the most part, because you guys come with so much negativity about certain players/coaches. So I’ll serve as that “ray of positivity” on this board, even if you guys don’t like it.
Question: Did Woody coach them to a win tonight? If your answer is no . . . then he wasn’t responsible for some of those other losses either.
The fact is that coaches AND players are responsible for the wins and losses that this team goes through. But when you guys continuously and PURPOSELY trash certain players and coaches . . even in a win . . I’m going to come in and defend those guys. If you don’t like . . lol . . oh well.
Now . . . I definitely won’t be on here tonight discussing all of this with you guys. It’s time to party a little. But if this win didn’t at least put a little smile on your face, I don’t know what to tell you.
Just stay mad and huff and puff around like Marvin the Martian on that old Bugs Bunny cartoon, always plotting to blow up the Earth.
northcyde
April 9th, 2010
10:23 pm
And once again . . this team REFUSES to lose 3 in a row. Everytime they’ve lost 2 in a row, they’ve won the next game, regardless of who we played or where.
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
10:28 pm
And once again . . this team REFUSES to lose 3 in a row. Everytime they’ve lost 2 in a row, they’ve won the next game, regardless of who we played or where.
Dang good point.
LMAO@ Drmaryb . I’m sorry, that ish was funny.
Big Ray
April 9th, 2010
10:29 pm
Ree Roe ,
I didn’t say it helped. In fact, I thought it was stupid to bring him back and then not play him, if he had improved. Either he hasn’t (which makes re-signing him look stupid as hell), or he has (which makes not playing him look stupid as hell). Either way, something stupid as hell is happening.
Clear enough?
Blast
April 9th, 2010
10:31 pm
Hawks get 50 wins. Nice, though 50 should have come many games ago. Boston lost, so Hawks back up the 3 seed, for what that matters.