Horford still sore, Hawks lineup changes on hold
- Al Horford said that, as of Thursday, he isn’t planning on playing Saturday. Said Horford, “It’s not really getting any better.” Horford tried to shoot at Thursday’s practice, but was still sore. He’ll give it another try Friday.
- Horford’s injury will preclude coach Larry Drew from implementing any lineup changes that he has talked about since the 34-point loss to Philadelphia Tuesday. “It is definitely still weighing on my mind,” Drew said. “The decision has not been made yet.” The team scrimmaged but didn’t have any out-of-the-ordinary lineups, Mo Evans said.
- Drew said the team is not actively pursuing a trade but is in a stance of keeping its ears open. Said Drew, “We’ll continue to talk about different things, look if there’s something that could potentially make us even a better ballclub.”
- If Drew was using his public comments about making lineup changes or considering a trade to get his team’s attention, it apparently wasn’t entirely effective. When the topic was broached with Evans and Horford, it was the first both had heard of it. Said Horford, “If Coach Drew needs to shake something up to make us better, I’m for it, and I hope everybody on this team is for it and understands it.”
- Evans believes the team’s success on the road and recent problems at home have to deal with a difficulty in playing as a unit at Philips Arena. The Hawks have an “us against the world” attitude on the road, but not at home. Said Evans, “I feel like guys play more lethargic and we play sometimes for our individual fans or whatever. … It seems like we’re more 12 individuals than we are as a team at home.” Guard Joe Johnson noted the distractions of playing at home. “We just have to block them out and just go out and play,” he said.
- Guard Mike Bibby feels he is getting out of a recent shooting slump when he said he “couldn’t throw it in the [darn] ocean.” After a run in which he made at least one 3-pointer in 27 consecutive games, Bibby has shot 10-for-37 (27.0 percent) from 3-point range in the last nine games. Said Bibby, “I felt like I was back today.”
Ken Sugiura, Hawks beat
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270 comments Add your comment
slimjr
February 10th, 2011
3:24 pm
The move the Hawks need to make asap is to FIRE SUND!!!!
Thanks JeJe……
Double Zero Eight
February 10th, 2011
3:25 pm
Sund has no plans of approving a trade. Drew knows he can not
complete a trade without Sund’s and ASG’s approval. Read between
the lines. We are being delusional if we believe that Sund will
approve a trade of any consequence that is an upgrade.
newkid
February 10th, 2011
3:26 pm
LD’s comments are straight out of the chump’s (i.e., Sund’s) tired playbook. Oh something’s afoot for sure. Sund realized last night that the rhetoric he had LD spew yesterday could compromise his bargaining position in a couple deals he’s working, so he had Drew ‘revisit’ the rhetoric today. Boy would I love to sit on the opposite side of the table from this chump in a high stakes game of poker. He’s the epitomy of transparency.
STRETCH
February 10th, 2011
3:30 pm
RUFUS,,
Your 2:51 is right on the mark my friend!
slimjr
February 10th, 2011
3:31 pm
790 the Zone two lives stews are reporting that DWILL caused Jerry to resign..They got into an argument in the locker room last night.. DWILL is pissed at everbody for their downfall this year!! Jerry was overrated any way but he was better than any Hawks coach past or present.Also the assistant coach Jerry Jr. quit also….Sund and LD need to quit…………..too…..
Rod from College Park
February 10th, 2011
3:34 pm
ILL-Logical,
I have to agree with your post. You made some valid points. Remember, Al is the only leader on the team. (LOL)
Sautee,
I think the points are valid. We have not heard from his dad in the media since he has been here. Why now? Al is an all-star center, not power forward. You know I like Al, but this new revelation that Al is the leader of the team, and everything should revolve around him is absurd (NOt saying you said that). He is the 2nd best center in the eastern conference, and he would be the 5th or 6th best power forward in the east, just like Josh.
hawkville
February 10th, 2011
3:35 pm
Coach the entire team instead of catering to individual players.
Dr. D.
February 10th, 2011
3:39 pm
Send Joe pack-in. Joe to NJ for Favors/Murphy/Draft picks. Jamal/Zaza to Orlando for J. Rich. Take a step back & be a playor in the summer. Al and Josh are the defensive back-bone add to that group. Play defense/rebound change the approach. A front line of Favors/josh/Al is a good start.
northcyde
February 10th, 2011
3:39 pm
I don’t want to see Horford play until the All-Star game. Just sit out these remaining games vs teams we should beat anyway, and be ready for the All-Star game and the west coast road trip. No need to even play him for another 2 weeks. Save him for the stretch run.
hawks_4_life
February 10th, 2011
3:54 pm
Dr. D. that solves nothing, with Al at center we are still small up front.
Astro Joe
February 10th, 2011
4:00 pm
Man, LD could say that he is going to return in time and stop ‘Nique from being traded and some of you all would laud him for 5 days. Then he will come back and say he couldn’t find the right batteries for his time machine and you’ll be picking up your faces (again). Sounds like a whole lot of back-tracking to me. He must have looked at his options during practice and realized that his first 6 players are about 500 miles ahead of the rest of the team.
Get well soon, Al.
I MUS WRITE
February 10th, 2011
4:01 pm
From the last blog- KS are we watching the same player, Teague deserves the minutes he’s getting. this is a big boi league and you hv to earn playing time. Besides being fast what has he done to earn Bibbys playing time. if terague could run a team and actually shoot the ball he would get minutes.
LD gave him the reigns in preseason and early in the year but the man just doesnt have it right now -maybe he will get better but im not holding my breath.
Watch how the offense moves when teague is in vs JC1 or Bibby……..
Somebody mentioned it earlier but T Prince/Will Bynum for Marvin and filler would be a good move.Too bad detroits front office knows that marvin stinks……Dam
Trojan
February 10th, 2011
4:03 pm
Will someone write an article titled, “How can the Hawks management NOT make a trade to improve this horribly imbalanced team?”
I MUS WRITE
February 10th, 2011
4:03 pm
Get well big al we need you homie…….. Did i mention mo evans is hot garbage. i dont think he would stand out if he were playing for Georgia tech right now…..DAM
Rufus1
February 10th, 2011
4:06 pm
“He must have looked at his options during practice and realized that his first 6 players are about 500 miles ahead of the rest of the team.”
Astro…sad but true.(Lol)
I MUS WRITE
February 10th, 2011
4:06 pm
DING DING DING-Ladies n Gentlemen we have a winner ……….Trojan collect your prize
MC probably doesnt want to ruffle any feathers so that article probably wont happen, besides they might band the man from the facility etc and we immediately go back to 14 /15 page blogs
I MUS WRITE
February 10th, 2011
4:08 pm
BAN
Rufus1
February 10th, 2011
4:11 pm
Great interview..
http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2011/2/10/1985751/larry-drew-needs-to-do-more-than-talk
KevinM
February 10th, 2011
4:13 pm
Sund=puppet and Gearon=puppetmaster…Larry isn’t getting any help….he probably told the ASG he can bring out the best in these guys, and he’s about to have a team that will be booed unmmercifully going forward if they can’t find some consistency.
You would think we were 19-30 instead of 30-19…
I MUS WRITE
February 10th, 2011
4:14 pm
What is the obsession with Nash and Hill- they are 37 abd 38 years old ….just stop it
KevinM
February 10th, 2011
4:14 pm
Correction: 33-19
Doesn’t matter, 4th seed at best, probably a 6th seed when playoffs start.
ILL-Logical
February 10th, 2011
4:17 pm
My point in this discussion is to determine why ASA is seen as indispensible with redpect to the improvement of the team. To clarify my earlier post why would a 2 time all-star want to change positions if the team is having success with him at his current position? He can’t be doing badly if he is an all-star and the team has improved their record since he was named a starter at the center position. So in my mind I see a personal agenda at work.
Now most of professional sport is for entertainment purposes only so egos will be a major part of the equation from the top to the players. But ASA has been packaged as the ultimate team guy-the ant- NBA stereotype if you will. Now all of a sudden ,beginning last summer -after his less than sterling play in the playoffs- he starts with the I’m really not a center and I need to play my natural position stuff.
Now his father is in the mix. Did he ask Tito to this; don’t know but I haven’t heard ASA say Dad:STFU!
So here we stand , ASA with the ink barely dry on a brand new $ 60 million contract complaing. SMH
I MUS WRITE
February 10th, 2011
4:21 pm
Joakim Noah/ Brewer for JC1/Smoove/ZAZA
drmaryb (*_*)
February 10th, 2011
4:21 pm
Back To The Future!
Yeah … Slimjr …. Sund needs to go upgrade his scouting tools! Does he even know what a PER is? Where is he getting his information from a Stork at his window! Aye Sund! Get yourself a hard drive and “Come Back to The Future!”. Man!
____________________________
“I noticed that Coach LD was playing Al alot more minutes, and that may be contributing to his injuries:
Al played 45 and 46 minutes on the 15th and 17th of Jan., then sprains his ankle on the 18th.
LD then plays Al 39, 45, 40, 36, and 42 on Jan. 26, 28, 29, Feb. 2 and 4 and he injures his back”
___________________________
What in the world does this have to do with a turned ankle or a hard foul?
When Al goes to the bench for a 2-Foul Rule? They B!tch!
When Al plays more minutes? They B!tch!
_______________________
I guess, they are just B!TCHES!
mykhalc
February 10th, 2011
4:22 pm
this is just how bad the ASG and Sund are…even if trades are made SOMEHOW they will still own the majority of the salaries of the players they just traded!!! /sarcasm SMH
hawks_4_life
February 10th, 2011
4:25 pm
I think DWILL would be a perfect fit for this team, that said we would have to part with JSmith, dont know how I feel about that.
Rufus1
February 10th, 2011
4:35 pm
STRETCH
This has been discussed for a couple of years on this blog, who’s team will this be Al or Josh. THE TIME FOR CHANGE IS COMING!
One of the least talked about issues on this team is a DEFINED LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE. So when things start to fall apart, who will you turn too for direction.
Their is only one person on this team who we refer to as “BOSS” or “LION”…Is that a subconscious acceptance of his leadership….I don’t know, but my money is on him.
O'Brien
February 10th, 2011
4:37 pm
I MUS WRITE,
”What is the obsession with Nash and Hill- they are 37 abd 38 years old ….just stop it.”.
Nash is 37, but he is averaging 17 pts and 11 assists per game. Hill is 38 but he is averaging 14 and 5. So don’t let age fool you…
O'Brien
February 10th, 2011
4:41 pm
Ken Sugiura,
It sounds to me like LD is backpedaling already. Thats why he should not have said anything. he just needs to go out and DO something.
He has said all the right things from his introductory press conference including;
1) Less jumpers for Josh until he establishes himself in the post (has not happened imo)
2) More accountability on defense (guard your man or else). Has not happened imo.
Rufus1,
Thanks for the link. For those who havent listened to the Jason Walker interview, its a good listen.
craig
February 10th, 2011
4:45 pm
WHY NOT GO AFTER IVERSON….. he want to be wanted and the hawks has a want! we’re ashamed by the crowds and lack of efforts (Bibby). please show this to the ashamed coaching staff…. we need; not want, Iverson
craig
February 10th, 2011
4:47 pm
and I forget to mention, he’s available (Iverson)
Dr. D.
February 10th, 2011
4:48 pm
Hawk-4-Life, eliminating Joe’s and Jamal’s contracts would free us up salary to OVER-PAY for Deandre Jordan in free agency. A front line of Josh/Al/Jordan/Favors is mean both 1st and 2nd unit. If Josh gets out of line let him sit for a while. You can get shooting guards, heck J-Rich will stick around for peanuts.
craig
February 10th, 2011
4:49 pm
Joakim Noah/ Brewer for JC1/Smoove/ZAZA
FROM I MUST WRITE,…. ARE YOU CRAZY
drmaryb (*_*)
February 10th, 2011
4:51 pm
Trading Places!
Why would Utah trade an All Star PG for a PF/SF? Josh is Kirelenko reincarnated and kirelenko is paid gobs of money before he disappeared. The already got a great PF – Al Thornton? … They don’t need Josh, but they do need their PG!
Uggggh! Ok I’m done here! Sund isn’t looking to make any trades? That means he does not have a Green Light to operate! No money!
__________________
To hell with the ASKG! I’m done cheering and jeering! I’m outy!
My pro football team is getting ready to play Dallas Diamonds in TX in a few weeks!
__________________
Good Luck Hawks Fans! Have Fun being Entertained.
Just give me reason to turn this car back around?
terrell
February 10th, 2011
4:51 pm
Different tone today, huh Drew?
terrell
February 10th, 2011
4:53 pm
So what if they play well on Sat, will he still make the NECESSARY changes to lineup?
slimjr
February 10th, 2011
4:54 pm
This road trip will be huge for the Hawks!! They could be a third seed or a 6th seed afterward…If I were a betting man I’d pick the latter….Especially if Al can’t go which would not surprise any of us..That was a much worse fall than Marvin’s and you see how long he was out,10 games….
Get ready folks it’s fixin to get ugly………
bigdave
February 10th, 2011
4:55 pm
Jason Walker: “w/ out Al Horford back there to mitigate the damage that penetration creates”
lol.
———–
“trade Josh ” left and right..
you trade Josh and watch the oppositions pts in the paint sky rocket. im not sure who you guys feel will protect the rim once you trade the EVIL Josh Smith.. the best damn (team) defender we have.
smh.
craig
February 10th, 2011
4:55 pm
A trade not needed, just pick up Iverson
terrell
February 10th, 2011
4:57 pm
lol! The players didnt even know about the threat of trades and lineup changes. This team is something else.
Brian
February 10th, 2011
4:57 pm
In years past I would go to 10-15 Hawks games a year…………haven’t been to one yet in 2010-2011. I am disgusted with the Atlanta Spirit Group. These guys have no right to own an NBA team, it is a complete mess and we are the laughing stock of the owners in the NBA. I say go ahead and make some major changes via trade because the roster we have right now is at salary cap capacity (thank u Joe Johnson) and we will never make it past the 2nd round with what we have today! Damn, I can’t believe we paid Joe Johnson money like he is Kobe or LeBron!! That move alone will set up back for 6 years!!
proffish
February 10th, 2011
4:58 pm
I love the statement: “four good players and a lot of filler.” http://www.hawksquawk.net/community/index.php/topic/354912-hollinger-on-hawks/
It’s funny that idjits think someone on this team not named Joe, Josh, Al, or Jamal is worth anything in trade. You could make a better argument than none of these four players would bring equal value back. And none is going to bring two good players in exchange.
That means if Rick Sund pulls off a trade, it will have to involve some combination of filler for someone who can become a top five player on the team. That’s a challenge.
I think we’re heading toward another blow up the team and rebuild. That will mean losing the small loyal fan base that exists in Atlanta, but might give the millionaires who own the Hawks a chance at building something of value and saving lots of dollars while they wait.
As an aside, when the party talk starts, I think of Zaza first. He was once a very serviceable 1 off the bench and occasionally had impact. He can’t even seem to hold onto the ball any more. He needs his head checked for damage first, then his work ethic and lifestyle challenged. When the Hawks were featured on ESPN during pre-season a couple years ago, he was an embarassement, obviously working hard not to work.
terrell
February 10th, 2011
4:58 pm
And why do you guys always ask sorry azz Mo Evans questions? I mean really! He’s the LAST person I want to hear from.
Brian
February 10th, 2011
4:59 pm
to everyone setting up mock trades involving Joe Johnson…………not gonna work! No NBA team will take him for his 6yr/120+ million dollar contract. He is ours for keeps Hawks fans!
terrell
February 10th, 2011
5:00 pm
LMAO @ Art. Give Phoenix a copy of the roster……………. Now that was funny.
slimjr
February 10th, 2011
5:02 pm
I can get free tickets and I am not going down to the low lite factory. Plus I could probably out shoot half the scrubs on that team….Yawn……………….My remote works great!! NBA TV is a good for ya…….
bigdave
February 10th, 2011
5:02 pm
and another thing..
i just watched LD interviewing days ago on Hawks live about a “sign” that the “team is beginning to gel”
smh. which is it Coach? yet, “i’ve been having this feeling for a while now.. i dont feel totally comfortable w/ where we are after 52 gms… we’ve had some bad losses @ home, that may be a (sign)”
terrell
February 10th, 2011
5:02 pm
Can we hire Woody back as the Home coach? LD can be the Coach on the road. Might work.
terrell
February 10th, 2011
5:04 pm
Or maybe we should shoot for a lower seed? That way we wont have homecourt advantage. Just a thought.
northcyde
February 10th, 2011
5:04 pm
I Mus Write . . . I agree with you. I hope for everyone’s sake that Teague lives up to people’s expectations. I hope that at the very least, he can be a defensive alternative at the PG position.
All I know, is that while he was in college, he didn’t run his own college team, nor was he known as a good on the ball defender Yet, people toss out Rondo and Deron Williams as the level of PG he has the potential to be.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
The guy playing well in blowout situations is not indicitive of how good he can be. Heck, Salin scored 24 pts in a quarter once. Shelden averaged a double-double in April of his rookie year . . when JJ went down and the Hawks were completely out of it. Zaza had an 18 rebound game @ Miami in the playoffs 2 years ago ( which probably led to that contract he got ).
Sporadic great play means nothing. Consistently doing the job night in and night out means much more. That’s the argument against Marvin, right?
If Teague is unable to take advantage of Bibby struggling, and parlay that into proving that he deserves more PT, then the dude might as well stay on the bench.
I’ve said from the jump that Jordan Crawford shows more leadership skills, and frankly more playmaking skills, than Teague.
Drew can only do so much with this personnel. So he’s the guy that I blame the least.