Hinrich to start, Smith out for Hawks
After coming off the bench for his first two games, new Hawks guard Kirk Hinrich will make his first start Wednesday night at Philips Arena. He’ll do it against his old team, the Chicago Bulls.
Hinrich won’t have the benefit of having forward Josh Smith in the lineup, however. Smith, who sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee against Denver Monday, tried to practice at the Wednesday morning shootaround but was in too much pain.
Since acquiring Hinrich in a trade that sent Mike Bibby to Washington last Wednesday, coach Larry Drew had been starting Jeff Teague to give Hinrich time to acclimate. Drew said he felt Hinrich had learned enough of the team’s plays and defensive schemes to start.
“I want him to get acclimated as fast as he can,” Drew said. “He’s going to be my starting point, so I kind of want to throw him not the fire and get him into a role that he’s going to be in for the remainder of the season.”
Hinrich missed the Denver game with a sore right calf, but practiced Wednesday and said he will play against the Bulls, for whom he played his first seven seasons in the NBA before getting traded to Washington last summer.
“We’ve got a tough schedule coming up this month but we have a lot of home games,” Hinrich said. “Hopefully we can take care of business. If we hang our hat on our defense like we did there the last three games of the trip, we should be O.K.”
Drew did not have a timeline for Smith’s return. He is considered day-to-day. Drew said he actually thought Smith would be able to play Wednesday prior to the shootaround.
“He said some of the swelling has gone down from [Tuesday], but he went out there and shot a little bit and it didn’t feel right,” Drew said.
Not having Smith in the lineup complicates matters against Chicago, which has a formidable front line with center Joakim Noah and forwards Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng. The Hawks will start Jason Collins at center, Al Horford and Marvin Williams at forward and Joe Johnson and Hinrich at guard.
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218 comments Add your comment
Tremaine
March 2nd, 2011
1:46 pm
Plenty of point guards that have came into the league without a shot (Kidd, Rondo, Sessions). Give the guy time.
MsDee
March 2nd, 2011
1:50 pm
@Najeh on Teague!!
I hate LD wont continue to at least give Teague the ‘Royal Ivey’ treatment. Yeah, so what he offensive sucks right now, HIS DEFENSE IS INCREDIBLE. He traps very well, knows how to cut off his man, block shots on fast breaks…just dont understand why LD has to ALWAYS refer to offense over defense. MAYBE THAT’S WHY WOODSON IGNORED LD AT TIME..HE REALIZED LD ONLY CARED ABOUT OFFENSE AND NEVER DEFENSE. Remember those famous words by Woodson, “DEFense..THAT $HIT WORKS!!”
Fundamentals
March 2nd, 2011
1:54 pm
Teague should get more than 13 tonight to help protect Hinrich’s calf. Dude needs some time to work into major minutes. He needs time to adjust to this team. Teague showed good defense last few games. Felton went off on Jamal, not Teague.
I still say we need to play Hilton to see what he’s apt to give on a nightly basis. Dude is too young, athletic and has shown he can defend and rebound when he wants to. Unlike ZaZa he doesn’t get 5 million a year for the next two. Dude is fighting for another contract. I predict he’ll produce more than Collins, ZaZa or Powell if giving the chance.
I still like Powell, when he’s focussed on D & rebounding.
ZaZa can be an icon here in Atlanta if he brings the hard nose rebounding he did the other night consistently.
Collins is a great defender/glue guy in the right situations. Noah and Boozer will run circles around him.
Fundamentals
March 2nd, 2011
1:55 pm
Woody never could decide which D to switch to though? So maybe Larry never learned which “$h!t actually worked?
Astro Joe
March 2nd, 2011
2:03 pm
I will be interested to see if LD plays Teague against Rose. Don’t be surprised to see Teague only play when Rose is resting.
And remember (for those thinking that a quick PG is needed to guard Rose), that the MVP candidate put up his career high in points against Tony Parker a few weeks ago. And I heard somewhere that Parker has a little quickness to him.
Free Hilton Armstrong, Our Center of the Future!
MustangSalley
March 2nd, 2011
2:11 pm
Marvin Williams should be told that he has been relieved of his job. Marvin should be cut from the team and given his walking papers. Both Marvin along with Smith are the two players who are ruining the team. Josh Smith is a walking turnover waiting to happen. As soon as Smith is given the ball, he immediately makes a poor pass that results in a turnover. Or, if Smith is given the ball out-of-bounds he dribbles down the court as if he is a guard, subsequently turning the ball over foolishly and giving it to the opposing team. The Hawks brass used to say that “THEY WILL LIVE WITH SMITHS LIABILITIES”. But we no longer can afford to because its costing us too many wins. How many more games would the Hawks have won had Smith not continued to turn the ball over repeatedly. Smith is now becomming more of a liabiity than an asset and I say we take Marvin Williams and Josh Smith and package a trade for Dirk Norwinski. That move would benefit the Hawks greatly and move them to the next level of excellence.
AG
March 2nd, 2011
2:13 pm
NorthClyde, I disagree with you. Teague should start and Kirk should come off the bench. With Teague with the starters, they are not looking for his offense. Yet, Powell, ZaZa, Wilkins, Crawford and Teague…..1 vs. 5 for offense production. Teague did a good job in setting up his teammates and running the floor. The Denver game the guys just wore down. Again, use Teague like Woody used Royal Ivey.
tony
March 2nd, 2011
2:18 pm
@KC
Teague was a shooter and dunker at Wake…….I guess you can say he is just a defending guard since most are so fascinated with his defense. He didn’t have much pg skills in college but Mr Sund elected to draft the young man anyway. I was screeming for them to draft Darren Collinson or Eric Maynor. OH WELL!
Point Guard:
Point guard (PG), also called the play maker or “the ball-handler”, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, they are expected to run the team’s offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right players at the right time. Above all, the point guard must totally understand and accept his or her coach’s game plan; in this way, the position can be compared to a quarterback in American football.
A point guard, like all player positions in basketball, has specific characteristics that are essential for them to help guide their team to a victory. The Basketball Handbook by Lee Rose describes a point guard as a coach on the floor, who can handle and distribute the ball to teammates. It also states that the more speed a point guard has, the more likely he will be able to create separation and space off the dribble, which allows the point guard room to work. Point guards should also be vocal floor leaders, and should discuss rule interpretations with officials. A point guard must always know the time on both the shot clock and the game clock, the score, the number of timeouts for both teams, and whom to foul late in the game.
Most current NBA point guards are between 5′11″ and 6′4″ (1.93 m) or shorter in height. A true point guard’s job is to create scoring opportunities for his team. The role includes passing and running the offense: setting up plays on the court, getting the ball to the teammate that he feels is in the best position to score, and dictating the tempo of the game. This also means knowing when and how to instigate a fast break and when and how to initiate the more deliberate sets.[1]
Hire BILL LAIMBEER!
mykhalc
March 2nd, 2011
2:19 pm
this team has NO BB IQ..PERIOD!!!! that is the biggest problem. doesn’t matter who is the smartest…the fact is, as a team, they continue to show how they haven’t learned ‘jack squat’ on playin’ smarter ball…PERIOD!!! and this over years NOT just this season!!!
on JT…he hasn’t earned NOTHIN’!!!! the cat looks scared on offense…PERIOD!!! granted his defensive effort is there but when he CANNOT do the main job of a PG, run the offense ( tho that word is a oxymoron for the Hawks) then why should he start??? i can only hope Hinrich brings some ‘real’ stability to the PG position.
speakin’ of BB IQ…LD ain’t showin’ too well either!!!
AG
March 2nd, 2011
2:19 pm
MustangSalley,
Please never post again. The trade deadline is over. Dirk will retire in Dallas. You will see how valuable Josh is after tonight.
Astro Joe
Hilton did not get any playing time with the Wizards. He is not very good.
Fundamentals
Only agree with your comments about Teague. Against Lawton he did very well, only remember he scored 4 points against him. Felton did not do much against Teague either,most of his scoring came against JC and Wilkins. We only need Teague to score 10-13 points when he starts. If the guys would have converted all those assist, Teague would have had 8-10. Maybe he needs to stop throwing the ball to Marvin.
Puzzled
March 2nd, 2011
2:21 pm
Is Collins the best big man option to fill in while Smith is out?
The Truth
March 2nd, 2011
2:24 pm
I think Teague issues have more to do with his head then anything else. He is still carrying the old baggage of being pulled from games when he makes any mistakes. LD has once again confirmed those fears. With Bibby being traded, the young Teague should no longer be viewed as the student intern learning from his master. His role should be extremely vital to the team now that Sund has inadvertently made him pivotal when he traded Bibby away. With no meaningful upcoming draft picks, a bunch of bad contracts and a tight budget, the Hawks will have to live or die with Teague as their future PG. LD hasn’t done the best job nurturing his confidence recalling it was Teague that played an indirect role in LD hiring. Reflecting back, LD used Teague development as his main talking point during his HC interview knowing the owners’ hot buttons. If Teague could shed his fears of making mistakes and rekindle the swagger he once had, his maturation would go to a new level. Right now, he can only complete his training on the big stage of the court and not on the bench. Until then, like his current game the Jedi reward will be deferred.
The Hawks will be the big losers if they’re not cognizant of this. Hinrich , a 30 age old PG, may be a short term fix, but I doubt he’s the long term answer.
mykhalc
March 2nd, 2011
2:30 pm
oh yeah…forgot…Marvin is a bum…PERIOD!!!
Grandad
March 2nd, 2011
2:40 pm
tony
I went down to the library and checked out that same book;
[when I was in the 6th grade];
“The Playmakers Handbook” by Bill Cousey:
with illustrations of:
[between the legs & behind the back]
You should try:
“Dominating the Keyhole” by Bob Russell
Never mind…I got mixed up;
those were two *dirty books that my ma’ma found in my satchel.
joey
March 2nd, 2011
2:42 pm
josh smith has improved his jump shot alot this year, he does need to drive to the basket more but with out josh we are a completley different team definsively.
Grandad
March 2nd, 2011
2:42 pm
My friends tell me:
Grandad…you ain’t right.
JeJe
March 2nd, 2011
2:45 pm
“Plenty of point guards that have came into the league without a shot (Kidd, Rondo, Sessions). Give the guy time.”
Sure has worked out for Acie Law (who spent 4 years in college and was a lottery pick).
LOL
joey
March 2nd, 2011
2:48 pm
1
Fundamentals
March 2nd, 2011
2:48 pm
Hilton has size, youth, defensive skills. The bad rap comes from his “small” hands often losing the ball on offense. Like Teague, we don’t need Hilton for offense, just for scrappy play on the defensive end and garbage put backs on offense. Dude has the physical gifts. He was a lottery pick. Surely someone can use him. He wasn’t a bust NO, just in WAS. Maybe he can be the next Darko, late blooming center.
Fundamentals
March 2nd, 2011
2:51 pm
JeJe – Royal, AC, Teague are much in the same, but what else do we have. Trade deadline is gone. Dude’s gotta produce or we’ll begin a long summer which most likely will end in a lock-out.
Win now is all we got, with what we’ve got…which is essentially nothing at 8-9 of our slots.
SteveW
March 2nd, 2011
3:05 pm
Teague – 0 TO’s and 2 TO’s in the last 2 games. Held Ty Lawson’s game in check with good defensive intensity. Did I miss something? Of course, it’ll take awhile to be a floor leader like Hinirich, who is a natural.
And I don’t think Denver lost Teague the starting job. LD said from the start Hinrich was his starter as soon as he was ready. Started Sunday night didn’t he?
I start Al on Noah
Etan of Boozer – and only excpect Etan to play 15 minutes, but Boozer doesn’t know that. Collins 10 minutes on Boozer, Josh Powell with the rest.
Marvin on Deng
JJ on whoever
Hinrich on Rose – But Teague is going to have to play him alot. I know Hinrich, and he will play at far less than 100% to the detriment of the team. Hope LD realizes this.
I of course bring ZaZa in on Asik and Kurt Thomas, with Hilton helping some on Askik and Taj Gibson.
We can beat these guys even without Smoove, we match up well with them, if LD will do his rotations correctly.
Forget Collins on Noah. It will never work. But for a couple of short stretches on Boozer after Etan works him over, you can mess with Boozer.
Give Boozer the D12 treatment tonite LD. You do a great job with that.
SteveW
March 2nd, 2011
3:08 pm
JeJe – Acie never had 1/2 the quickness Teague has. Teague is in a whole other League athletically. And this team is athletic. Teague just fits.
And if Marvin doesn’t wake up, if a team with a big trade exception wanted him for a lottery pick, like the Cavs, I might take that trade after the season, especially if we’ve scouted and like a 3.
Tremaine
March 2nd, 2011
3:10 pm
The critics of Teague need to remember the point guard we had in the lineup before him. Defensively challanged Mike Bibby. The hawks looked like trash before Teague got a chance.
JeJe
March 2nd, 2011
3:12 pm
The critics of Teague need to remember the point guard we had in the lineup before him. Defensively challanged Mike Bibby. The hawks looked like trash before Teague got a chance.
^Aren’t you scared of Bibby when we play Miami? LOL Bibby still thinks he’s a relevant player in this league
ant banks
March 2nd, 2011
3:12 pm
MUSTANG SALLY,
must be on that CHARLIE SHEEN ISH. lol
SteveW
March 2nd, 2011
3:14 pm
Guys, if you doubt Teague’s value to the team, think this, when Hinrich is hurt, we have only 1 true PG healthy on the roster.
And Sy is on the team looking for the time when our playoff seeding is confirmed, which may be sooner than you think. If we can get some seperation from NY, the last 5-8 games are going to see alot of Sy, Hilton, Powell, Etan, etc. I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t sign a vet PG for that stretch, just so we can give Hinrich and Teague some rest before the playoffs.
SteveW
March 2nd, 2011
3:16 pm
The Hawks have looked like a totally different team with Teague in the lineup – for the better. Who were the only 2 Hawks with a + in the +/- stat against the Nuggets? Josh and Teague with +6’s.
craig hendricks
March 2nd, 2011
3:17 pm
somewhere along the line Teague lost his aggressiveness. I remember him going to the hole trying to flush on someone. i I know he is no westbrook but he is athletic. His problem is in his head. van excel was a beast, no fear. Until Teague’s demeanor changes he won’ t play.
Melvin
March 2nd, 2011
3:18 pm
Hawks are under the luxury tax by 167K. They can only sign a player who prorated salary will be equal to or less than that amount to avoid paying the luxury tax penalty.
In other words, they will have to wait around the 12th of March to sign a player to the vet min for the remainder of the season to avoid the luxury tax…..
SteveW
March 2nd, 2011
3:19 pm
Wilkens should get some decent time tonight also. Hope TT doesn’t school LD. Coach’s matter.
Tremaine
March 2nd, 2011
3:22 pm
JeJe, Miami is going to show the Hawks how to use Bibby, from off the bench.
Gwalk
March 2nd, 2011
3:26 pm
I personally think J. Smith could play tonight. If I was a player making all that $$, you would have to break my frekin’ legs before I would not play. Josh could be one of the BEST players in the NBA and COULD even go down as a legend but he has no HEART! He plays at half speed about 80% of the time and the other 20% he’s whining about something. I just wish all the Hawks players would play to their potential and we could/would be an elite NBA contender. But until that happens…
Astro Joe
March 2nd, 2011
3:27 pm
If Teague could be the PG of the Future (despite shooting 28% during this period of defensive dominance that the league has never seen), then surely Hilton Armstrong can be our Center of the Future. I’m quite sure that if Hilton shot less than 35% from the field while defending well in about 20 minutes of ball, that all will join my band-wagon.
Free Hilton Armstrong, The Hawks Center of the Future!
Astro Joe
March 2nd, 2011
3:29 pm
Je-Je, you know who else thinks that Bibby is still a relevant player? That team that just cut a player to make room for him in their line-up.
Sautee
March 2nd, 2011
3:31 pm
Jeje,
“RealGM puts word in peoples’ mouths all the time.”
LOL, so you would like to have the “credibility” that a fantasy site has?
Jeje, you can be better than that. Just pay attention to your words. It matters.
Grandad
March 2nd, 2011
3:31 pm
Fundamentals
Where have you read Hilton has “small hands” ?
I have read every scout rep I can find & no mention of small hands.
* great hands / catches everything…..source: nbadraft.net
My wish is for young Mr Armstrong to get a chance as well.
Astro Joe
March 2nd, 2011
3:35 pm
Gwalk, I’ve criticized Josh a lot in the past but I would NEVER accuse him of missing a game that he could play. He has been OUTSTANDING over his career when it comes to playing hurt and bouncing back from bumps and bruises. If he is missing a game, it is ONLY because he is truly unable to play. History shows that you can count on Josh playing when able every bit as much as you can count on Josh to take a shot that leaves you shaking your head. They are both absolutes (IMO).
hawksfancent95
March 2nd, 2011
3:42 pm
bibby off the bench or possibly starting is better for the heat than mario or obviously carlos, hes relevant
i originally didnt like teague but when we start him he moves the ball up court and he penetrates and give guys good looks and defensively he is moderate and takes good gambles
hinrich will play great tonight in his phillips aka josh smith factory debut, if marv can hold deng to modest numbers 15< the hawks can start great on a crucial home stretch
craw 21 powell 14
-can someone name some possible 7+ big man will be free agents this summer?
prec-hfc95
Grandad
March 2nd, 2011
3:43 pm
@ whomever said Collins is a bad match-up -vs- Noah;
Noah is not offensive minded,
but…he must be boxed out / blocked off the boards.
J.Collins is one of our better boxer-outers!
Dept. of Unintended Irony
March 2nd, 2011
3:43 pm
“van excel was a beast, no fear.”
Yeah, he could really dominate using a spreadsheet.
drmaryb (*_*)
March 2nd, 2011
3:44 pm
“Take it to the basket and make a play. That is what this team needs. A driver. Force the issue and both sides of the floor. Teague can do it…just give him a chance!”
____________________________
How many chances does he need? 2, 15, 20?
Every chance you get LUCKY to get on the floor – IS your chance!
-drmaryeb-
This is the NBA man, not the developmental league. If you’re Teague? You don’t get to be walking the ball up and handing it to Jamal – Ever.
Be a PG and tell that b!atch to run a curl and he might get a pass.
In fact, tell the whole damn team what you need them to do, to get the ball! Be a Leader.
Jeff Teague is not that man! He may learn top become that man someday. Meanwhile, get him in – where he fit in. He should see at least 15-20 mins/per, only if he takes it and do something with it.
As of right now, Jeff is NOT a starting PG on a play off team.
___________________
Hey NothCyde! How’s my man? See yall tonight at the game!
Sautee
March 2nd, 2011
3:49 pm
O’Brien,
I’ll say 17 on your over / under. Of course if DRose gets Kirk in foul trouble early (could easily happen) then all bets are off.
Tremaine
March 2nd, 2011
3:51 pm
If Jamal Crawford plays the point tonight we are guaranteed to lose.
Sautee
March 2nd, 2011
3:52 pm
Grandad,
“J.Collins is one of our better boxer-outers!”
Is that a technical term from one of those basketball books?
LOL, it’s better than “boxers outers” which described my son in high school a few years ago.
myrak43
March 2nd, 2011
3:57 pm
are you guys serious…. Teague is not ready to be a starting point. he may never be. he has the talent he just doesn’t have the heart. and he was awful in the Denver game. it is not so much his defense he played good D at Portland and Golden State. But he is no where on par with Kirk. this is only his second year in the League and I liked what I saw in Teague in Oakland and Portland but he laid an egg in Denver plan and simple. and when we had Royal Ivy playing here we had no other point guard on the team worth a damn. But Ivy was a top notch defender more so than Teague is right now. and he didn’t turn the ball over. Teague is a sometime good defender but he always turns the ball over. I hope teague plays no more than 15 minutes tonight. and to the ones saying Josh Smith is a dump basketball player and a cancer, that is just not true. Josh is one of the main reasons we win. don’t believe me, just ask the fans of any team in the league they would love to have Josh Smith on their team.
J from the A
March 2nd, 2011
3:59 pm
“can someone name some possible 7+ big man will be free agents this summer?”
prec-hfc95
Unless some of these guys signed extensions in the last week or so:
Nenad Krstic 7′0″ potentially MLE-type money
Joel Pryzbilla 7′1″ potentially MLE-type money
Tyson Chandler 7′1″ $10+ million per year
Nene (player option) 6″11′ $10+ million per year
Yao Ming 7′5″ ???
DeAndre Jordan 6′11″ MLE or under-type money
Marc Gasol 7′1″ possibly MLE-type money
Zydrunas Illgaskas (player option) 7′3″ bi-annual or vet minimum-type money
Eric Dampier 6′11″ bi-annual or vet minimum-type money
Eddy Curry 6′11″ bi-annual or vet minimum-type money
Dan Gadzuric 6′11″ possibly MLE-type money
Greg Oden (restricted) 7′0″ MLE or less-type money
Samuel Dalembert 6′11″ ???
I am possibly missing a few.
Source: HoopsHype
J from the A
March 2nd, 2011
4:01 pm
Dept. of Unintended Irony
March 2nd, 2011
3:43 pm
“‘van excel was a beast, no fear.’
Yeah, he could really dominate using a spreadsheet.”
i lol’d irl
mykhalc
March 2nd, 2011
4:04 pm
free Sy and Armstrong!!!!
mykhalc
March 2nd, 2011
4:05 pm
and imprison Marvin…PLEASE!!!
MsDee
March 2nd, 2011
4:06 pm
@myrak43,
JJ & Jamal both make dumb turnovers but u still find them in games esp when they throw a penny in the ocean..Teague make 2 TO’s in 3 games and u say he isnt worthy of more starting time??? WOW!!