Atlanta Hawks: Drew faces ‘dilemma’ with Marvin and Mo out
Marvin Williams thinks he could return Sunday vs. the Suns. (Hyosub Shin / hshin@ajc.com)
Marvin is to get an MRI on his right knee today. He’s not making the trip to Minnesota. Neither is Mo (knee).
“It puts us in a little bit of a dilemma because both of our threes are out,” L.D. said.
Jamal (toe) will be on the team flight today but he’s questionable. Even if he plays, L.D. said he’s leaning against putting him in the starting lineup.
“Him off the bench just gives us such a weapon,” he said. ” If I don’t have to disrupt that, I don’t want to.”
So what are his options with the starting lineup?
“I am looking at different things. I am looking at Minnesota and because they have such a big lineup with Beasley, Milicic and Love, I may have to go bigger at the three. If Jamal is at the two, and Joe is at the three, then Joe has to guard Beasley, and I don’t want that.”
Translation: The likely starting lineup will be Bibby, Joe, Smoove, Al and Zaza. That’s how the Hawks finished last night against Detroit, and it worked. Josh will have to hound Beasley the same way he did Tayshaun because Beasley also is a crafty, natural scorer.
Marvin limped into the locker room today but sounded as if he didn’t expect the final prognosis would keep him out for a long time.
“I’m doing OK,” he said. “Still the same as last night. It’s really sore. I’m getting treatment the next couple days and hopefully shoot for Sunday. I’m young. I always heal fast.”
Jamal also said his injury felt the same today as yesterday. He’s not sure if he will play.
“It’s day-to-day,” he said. “It depends on how it feels when I wake up tomorrow.”
MC
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133 comments Add your comment
KevinM
November 5th, 2010
9:13 am
Just a couple of blips for tonight’s game:
Tuesday, Dec. 22 ‘09 at Minnesota L87-112
Wednesday, Feb. 24 ‘09 at Atlanta L92-98
The Hawks’ 25-point win last year at Target Center was their biggest
ever vs. Minnesota. Atlanta has beaten the Wolves eight straight times.
The streak should continue as Minn comes off their worse loss in franchise history to the Magic.
big sam
November 5th, 2010
9:22 am
MC have you herd anything on the hawks aquiring “C Melo”
vava74
November 5th, 2010
9:34 am
A vast majority of the bloggers around here spent the WHOLE FREAKING SUMMER asking for Sund to SIGN and DRAFT bigs.
Only a FEW pointed out that the roster was thin at the SF and PG spots.
THE SAME GUYS WHO WANTED SUND TO SIGN AND DRAFT BIGS ARE NOW SAYING THAT WE HAVE TOO MANY BIGS AND THAT SUND IS AN IDIOT BECAUSE WE DID NOT SIGN A BACKUP SF…
What a bunch of ….
Freshfromatl
November 5th, 2010
9:35 am
Big Sam,
It ain’t happening.
vava74
November 5th, 2010
9:38 am
KevinM:
“But JC1 has to quit sulking and just go out and play his game. He has to show that this team can’t go forward without him. The types of 4th quarter plays that he is known for………”
For the FREAKIN 1000th TIME: Jamal’s stats in the 4th Quarter last year were horrible.
Check http://www.82games.com//0910/CSORT11.HTM
Look at Jamal’s stats in the clutch: last 5 minutes of regulation and/or overtime.
Last year (and this year again) Jamal broke games open during the first 3 quarters.
The impression that he was a good 4th quarter performer is COMPLETELY OVERRATED due to the dagger against PHO. One shot in one game and there you have it: a complete miss conception.
O'Brien
November 5th, 2010
9:38 am
KevinM,
If I’m not mistaken, Josh had big games against Minny too, didnt he?
But I agree about PG play. If Teague can provide any kind of offense consistently (whether that be the floater or a jumper), and learn to stay with his man and not reach in or jump in, this team will be so much better.
ant banks
November 5th, 2010
9:41 am
man, larry drew played 10 yrs in the league, has been an assistant for 20 yrs…who designs his suits and when was the last time he bought a new one? omg. he has to be the worst dressed coach. lol. i love what he is doin’ with the hawks, though.
Nate ArchiBALL
November 5th, 2010
9:43 am
@ Clyde “Ken Norman > Marvin Williams” That’s a low blow. I’m not a Marvin fan but Ken Norman….Wow.
vava74
November 5th, 2010
9:47 am
a coat hanger > Clyde
doc
November 5th, 2010
10:12 am
vava74, most of us yelling for bigs were yelling for quality bigs to fill the roster. that box was not filled out by powell, collins or etan, thank you. maybe one quality big instead of two to three inferior ones would have left us plenty of room for another swing man.
also these same people like me, were not aware of the injury to mo that was apparent to the organization weeks before camp when the uninformed masses like bloggers became aware of the problem. that should have motivated the higher ups to reevaluate their objectives and what they could afford for an even greater and immediate pressing need. to leave yourself hanging on a guy coming back in two weeks from knee surgery was either stupid of the organization or the docs who said he would be back that soon. knees and surgery are too unpredictable. so umm, get off your high horse, as my dad used to say, please. the issue is greater than how you frame it this morning. the box to cover mo’s possible and potential absence was never filled either.
can i say i wanted chills for three years now and he could have filled that slot easily, along with two or three more slots that mo couldnt fill? talk about capability to play different positions, anywhere from 1 to 4 but still got no respect from rick sund?
Ted M
November 5th, 2010
10:24 am
Injuries aside they better pound Minn.
KevinM
November 5th, 2010
10:25 am
Vava, I don’t live here nor do I plan on reading everything that comes out. What you say about JC1 makes sense, but I still think he plays well in the 4th. If he didn’t, why would Woody or LD have him out there?
Relax, its just a blog, and its misconception….and him not on this roster does not make this team better.
O'Brien
November 5th, 2010
10:56 am
KevinM,
All vava is saying is that Jamal was not as productive in the fourth quarter as the perception may be, especially compared to his production earlier in the game.
However, we needed him on the court down the stretch in the fourth for various reasons including:
1) it makes defenders think twice about double teaming Joe
2) Marvin was a disappearing act
3) Unlike Marvin, Jamal can take guys off the dribble and score in a variety of ways, making him very good for Woody’s ISO offense.
Of course the team is much better with him on the roster. But I would like to see Marvin step up offensively so that he can play down the stretch in the fourth, because his defense is much better than Jamal, and LD wants us to win games with our defense.
ILL-Logical
November 5th, 2010
11:04 am
Have to wonder w/not Jamal playing politics with the BASG is wise or not? These guys have a set of favorites that includes Joe and Al. Period. Anyone else can and will be dealt with at their discretion.
O'Brien
November 5th, 2010
11:07 am
Doc,
Ever since Chills left, the Hawks have not brought in a legit backup SF.
Last year, Woody played Mo as the backup SF, and he struggled against a lot of bigger SFs, plus even his offense was off (I can’t forget his blown layup against Orlando in the playoffs).
But this year, even with a new HC, Sund once again decided not to sign another wing.
I think their reasoning is they figured JJ would play some backup minutes at SF, which would allow Jamal to still get his minutes at SG, so they would still have Jamal and JJ at the court at the same time.
doc
November 5th, 2010
11:11 am
marvin and the bloggers need to look at what fire he needs to bring to become a closer rather than our degrading or deciding if jamal isnt a finisher is my thought on it. what would it have looked like if jamal had not been there statistically and would the team have suffered more losses? isnt that more appropriate to discuss? let us focus on marvin, who seems comfortable in the role of not being the man. sorry, it is what it is. when chills was here marvin started and chills finished. who did we keep as the starter rather than the multi-dimensional cheaper guy who wore many hats? geez, why?
doc
November 5th, 2010
11:12 am
o’b just read your thoughts, once again and echo appears, mine this time.
O'Brien
November 5th, 2010
11:17 am
But I’m with you. Given Mo’s injury, and the fact that he is an expiring contract and better suited as a backup SG, why not sign another wing?
I think Rodney Carney or Chris Douglas Roberts would have been good minimum wage pickups. I would also have liked us to make a run at Matt Barnes.
I guess next year when Mo Evans leaves after his contract expires, they will be forced to bring in a backup SF then.
cp
November 5th, 2010
11:28 am
Did Jamal catch turf toe from walking to the bench in the 4th quarter? smh . I dont know if he is pouting or what but first it was his back now its his toe. Dude was moving around pretty well but as soon as he was removed he started pouting like a little kid. If this contract situation is going to cause him to do this whenever he feels like sitting out then go ahead and move him and get a sf in here.
Astro Joe
November 5th, 2010
11:39 am
I’d like to see Marvin rest that leg until Monday’s Orlando game… even if it means that we struggle against Phoenix Sunday evening. If Jamal is conducting some “leveraged negotioations” with this toe injury, he certainly has the team over the barrel with Marvin and Mo out. Ultimately, the Marvin injury may speak more to the big man depth of Zaza, Collins and Etan than anything else… as LD is forced to play those guys more. Al vs. Love will be fun to watch tonight… can Al defend on the perimeter? How about Sunday against Turkaglu? And potentially Monday against Rashard?
KP
November 5th, 2010
11:40 am
If you are going to try this lineup….tonight is definately the night. Will be interesting to see how Smoove plays at the 3 and Al at the 4. Go Hawks!!
dap01
November 5th, 2010
11:51 am
For those who suggest that Chills is the answer, look at his stats and consider his long term salary.
I look suspect that Jamal C. is being less that the ideal team player right now.
doc
November 5th, 2010
12:12 pm
dap, with bloggers there is no real answer.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 5th, 2010
1:25 pm
“I’d like to see Marvin rest that leg until Monday’s Orlando game… even if it means that we struggle against Phoenix Sunday evening.”
Phoenix is strong at SF between Turkoglu, Grant Hill, and Childress. The Hawks are going to need Marvin to help check those guys, because Joe Johnson will have his hands full with Jason Richardson on the perimeter. Smoove can help out on them to an extent, but Al is going to be occupied with putting a body on 7 foot tall Robin Lopez. I think the Hawks would have a hard time defeating Phoenix without Marvin.
And again, that’s more of an indictment of the way the roster is constructed than it is an endorsement of Marvin’s ability.
truthspitter
November 5th, 2010
1:27 pm
Jamal is doubtful meaning he is most likely out and Marvin is out, Mo is out. Beasley is questionable meaning it is atleast 50-50 that he plays. Seriously, the TWolves are a NBA team. They have to win sometimes and I think tonight will be a win for them. Darko atleast plays defense which I can’t say for Zaza. Love and Horford is a good matchup and Beasley could dominate Josh. Joe will have to carry this team tonight and they bench is garbage. Teague and Jordan are not ready, Powell is decent, Collins is not worth discussing and we have no type of backup SF to speak of. This is bad.
Astro Joe
November 5th, 2010
1:36 pm
Najeh, i agree, that’s why I suggested thatthey would struggle against Phoenix. But this team needs to be “all in” against Orlando much like they have been in the past against Boston. Since it’s a back-to-back situation, I’d rather try to win the 2nd game than risk bringing Marvin back early against the Suns.
One of the guys on the radio described Jamal’s toe injury as “contract toe”.
Gilley
November 5th, 2010
1:39 pm
I thought Josh handled Beasley pretty good for the most part. Beasley is a scorer so he will get his but for the most part Josh Smith didn’t allow Beasley to dominate or even score uncontrollably. I guess I must have amnesia if that is not the case. But we will be just fine.
darrell starks
November 5th, 2010
1:50 pm
With JAMAL, MARVIN, MOE, HURT.
STARTER BIBBY, JOE, JOSH, HORFORD, ZAZA.
BENCH TEAGUE, JC2, POWEL, COLLINS
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
November 5th, 2010
1:55 pm
WHEN THE HAWKS PLAY MAGIC
STARTER BIBBY, JOE, JOSH, HORFORD, COLLINS
BENCH TEAGUE, JAMAL, MARVIN, POWEL, ZAZA
RESERVE MOE, JC2
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
November 5th, 2010
2:04 pm
We all no that horford can’t handle howard but my opinion you always have match up size against him, COLLINS 7′0 VS HOWARD 6′11
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!
darrell starks
November 5th, 2010
2:16 pm
ASTRO JOE I can’t see JC1 faking and injury for a contract the guy has to much pride 2 do so, plus he my second fav. player on the team behind josh, so i can’t see him disappointing the fans over a contract.
GO HAWKS!!!!!
Gilley
November 5th, 2010
2:23 pm
No one in the East can really handle Howard but we just can’t slow him down. Josh Smith checks him great and the best but he is too small and always gets fouled & causes a mismatch for Horford when he is guarding Rashard Lewis
Ken Strickland
November 5th, 2010
5:48 pm
SAUTEE-that statement about Jamal possibly hurting his toe pouting as he walked to the bench was cold, but sooo valid. My belief is as much as he wants a contract extension, he wants to stay in Atlanta just as much. Now that Horford has been extended, he’s probably upset that he still hasn’t been contacted by the ASG about his status, and I’m not certain the Hawks want to resign him.
At some point in the near futue, we’ll either trade him, or let him walk and replace him with JoCrawford. That will avail us of his services this yr, and get us some cap and salary relief if he walks. With JoCrawford already under a rookie contract, losing Jamal’s annual salary will be a 100% net gain. If we trade him at the trade deadline, it will likely be for someone with a short term or expiring contract.