Blazers at Atlanta Hawks: Horford out; Zaza and Teague in
Teague and Zaza have been in and out of L.D.’s rotation this season. Now they both will start tonight with Hinrich at shooting guard, J.J. at small forward and Josh at power forward.
Zaza gets the nod because Al, according to a Hawks spokesman, hurt his left ankle (not the one he injured before) when he came down on Deng’s foot at Chicago last night. Teague will start and Marvin goes to the bench because Atlanta’s free fall has prompted the lineup tweak that Drew has hinted at since before the All-Star break.
“We’ve lost four in a row,” Drew said. “I’ve got to shake things up. We’ll see if we start with more energy.”
Teague didn’t play at Chicago until garbage time despite Hinrich’s foul trouble and D-Rose’s easy (for him at least) drives into the lane. Now Teague gets Andre Miller, a matchup that Drew had concerned when Teague started at Portland while Hinrich got up to speed.
Zaza had one of his best games of the season at Portland, a couple days after L.D. indicated he favored Josh Powell and Zaza said he was unhappy. Two games later Zaza got just six minutes against the Thunder and then one minute against the Knicks.
After playing 22 minutes against the Lakers, logging 17 at Chicago and now starting tonight, Zaza presumably is back in Drew’s rotation.
“He’s done a good job,” L.D. said. “Looking back at our last game we played them, he played pretty well. Hopefully he will bring that type energy tonight. With Camby and Aldridge, they are pretty long. I was toying with the fact of starting Twin but elected to go with Zaza just [for] more of an offensive presence. It gives me a bit more flexibility.”
As for Al (who was in the training room pregame), L.D. said he thinks he’s still favoring the right ankle after suffering the injury at Miami on Jan. 18.
“I know he’s been a little sore,” Drew said. “I can tell he’s not moving as well as he has in the past. I saw it early in last night’s game. He tried to turn and shoot and had nothing, no lift on it as if he didn’t want to put any kind of pressure on it.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
380 comments Add your comment
SteveW
March 12th, 2011
8:07 pm
I really think Sund and Gearon Jr met the Hawks plane at the airport and said unless Teague starts, your fired. LD may have just been trying to set things up so he could coach his son as a starting PG, you never know
Jae Evolution
March 12th, 2011
8:07 pm
Jordan Crawford 10 points in 8 minutes of play.
Sautee
March 12th, 2011
8:07 pm
I’m glad that we are competing tonight, but do y’all realize that we’ve only scored 61 points in our last 4 quarters of play?
That’s kinda frightening, eh?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 12th, 2011
8:08 pm
Teague/Kirk/Joe/Smoove/Al against smaller teams. Teague/Joe/Smoove/Al/Collins against big teams. I’d be cool with that.
jwdog8
March 12th, 2011
8:09 pm
that is frightening
Najeh Davenpoop
March 12th, 2011
8:09 pm
Apparently it’s Pedophile Night at Philips Arena. A bunch of 10 year old girls dancing to some African sh-t is the halftime entertainment.
jwdog8
March 12th, 2011
8:10 pm
SW, i don’t buy that conspiracy theory. his son is a scrub. who would quit an NC team that only got better when he left the team?
Booger
March 12th, 2011
8:11 pm
I think Joe Johnson has been infected with “Marvin” disease.
Tremaine
March 12th, 2011
8:11 pm
“You really have to salute Larry Drew.” Yeah one finger salute.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 12th, 2011
8:12 pm
“I’m not sure what Marvin is”
A solid backup SF for the Atlanta Dream.
Or, alternately, the main entree at a Chinese restaurant.
Harpie
March 12th, 2011
8:12 pm
Josh Smith and Larry Drew both make me sick! They don’t have a brain between them..
Sautee
March 12th, 2011
8:14 pm
Booger,
Joe is trying out Marvin’s invisibility cloak. Marvin had an extra.
MsDee
March 12th, 2011
8:14 pm
Teague and Damien should for now on start! Kirk & Marvin off the bench with Jamal. That way, you have defensive minded players in the game at all times!! Teague, Damien, Joe && Josh (with his blocks) are great for starters and AL holding down the fork, while Marvin, & Kirk can help out with Jamal for the 2nd string. Also, it allows Teague to play with starters since Kirk can hold his on with Jamal (ball-hog) Crawford.
O'Brien
March 12th, 2011
8:14 pm
The funny thing is, once Al comes back, Hinrich will start, and Teague MIGHT get some consistent minutes off the bench.
But Teague’s problem is he needs to be more assertive when he comes off the bench.
Tremaine
March 12th, 2011
8:15 pm
I agree MsDee.
W.R.Terrell
March 12th, 2011
8:16 pm
Well Jeff Teague has gotten some serious playing time and has produced. YES, I knew that. I also know that LD has not put a stop to that “smoove”fella shooting STU-PID shots. Bench him everytime he does it and you will see a changed player but then he still looks over to the coach and see if the shot he just threw up there is a good one. MOZO and BOZO working together(LD and smoove). Josh Smith will lose this game for us if LD don’t harness his silly ass. Marvin needs to sit down, lye down, stand down or GO HOME! Hilton Armstrong should get some playing time for both Zsa Zsa and Marvin and that “smoove” thing. Betcha you will see more STU-PID and DUMB SHOTS from that wannabe superstar smoove. This first half has been more entertaining then the last few games but were’re heading into the home stretch and that’s the time that “smoove” nutcase blows it for us, watch and see. I hope I am wrong tonight, for Teagues sake. He is playing quite well with a lot of heart.
O'Brien
March 12th, 2011
8:18 pm
Where has the hawks offense gone? These have been their points the last 4 quarters;
10, 16, 19 (which should be 16 if it wasnt teague’s steal and late 3), 16. 4 straight quarters under 20 points. SMH at LD and the Hawks.
Booger
March 12th, 2011
8:18 pm
MsDee for coach! Only one change – Marvin should sit next to you as your assistant coach.
Tremaine
March 12th, 2011
8:18 pm
Announcers trying to give Larry Drew credit for starting Teague. Blog has been asking for Drew to start Teague for the longest.
drmaryb (*_-)
March 12th, 2011
8:21 pm
Teague is in a League of his own!
He must have been disgusted watching that game last night too.
Wonder what Coach Drew told the team in the locker room?
Teague is:
Electric Company
Georgia Power
Atlanta Gas Light
Scana Energy
Boy, did this team need a jolt.
ShaZam!
MsDee
March 12th, 2011
8:21 pm
@O’Brien,
May not be cut-and-dry starting Kirk when Al gets back after a performance like Teague has. Whether Teague can keep up his good play offensively or not, HE HAS GREAT DEFENSIVE..HE’S BLOCKING SHOTS AS WELL. LD cant just ignore what Teague as to offer. Rondo had no shot either but that didnt stop Doc from playing him. He needs time on the court to get comfortable with his shots..trust me, those shots WILL fall since they are always a little short and thats due to no confidence in them.
Alex
March 12th, 2011
8:21 pm
“Teague, Damien, Joe && Josh (with his blocks) are great for starters and AL holding down the fork…”
I don’t know which fork Al is holding, but you may want to correct that before the “Dept. of Unintended Irony” guy has a field day.
ole hawk's fan
March 12th, 2011
8:22 pm
I said on here last year, If Rondo had been drafted by the Hawks………..he would be riding the Bench here under Woody and now LD. It’s a shame that young players aren’t developed here.
jwdog8
March 12th, 2011
8:22 pm
MsDee, that’s the problem. The coach don’t trust the players to play their game.
O'Brien
March 12th, 2011
8:22 pm
Wow. 3 on 2 fast break, and Hinrich pulls up for a jumper.
Booger
March 12th, 2011
8:23 pm
Kirk “Brick” Hinrich.
EmirS.
March 12th, 2011
8:23 pm
Jordan Crawford……
slimjr
March 12th, 2011
8:24 pm
Yeah we have a pg???????? Man we have Marvina???????????????
Booger
March 12th, 2011
8:24 pm
Joe is god-awful tonight.
O'Brien
March 12th, 2011
8:25 pm
haha. Nique said JJ needs to get to the FT line. That’s funny ‘Nique.
JJ is not a guy who gets to FT line very much. And this is one of his worst years in terms of getting to the line.
hawks_4_life
March 12th, 2011
8:25 pm
SIGH
MsDee
March 12th, 2011
8:25 pm
Sit Joe & Kirk and bring in Damien & Jamal…see what happens
Jae Evolution
March 12th, 2011
8:26 pm
I’m seriously confused as to what is wrong with JJ, his head is gone right now, nothing seems to bother him.
O'Brien
March 12th, 2011
8:26 pm
Jordan Crawford is balling again. 12 pts, 3 steals in 10 minutes in the first half for Washinton
slimjr
March 12th, 2011
8:29 pm
“I’m seriously confused as to what is wrong with JJ, his head is gone right now, nothing seems to bother him.”
243k per night!! He aint worried about nothing.. Give him a mop!
O'Brien
March 12th, 2011
8:29 pm
LD needs to tell Josh to GIVE THE BALL TO THE PG
Tremaine
March 12th, 2011
8:29 pm
Josh trying hard to lose this game.
Jae Evolution
March 12th, 2011
8:30 pm
Lol, Nique Josh wouldn’t listen to anyone that told him to pass it.
drmaryb (*_-)
March 12th, 2011
8:30 pm
“Teague, Damien, Joe && Josh (with his blocks) are great for starters and AL holding down the fork,”
___________________
Ms. Dee, you’ve been hanging out with Nique and Sir Charles ?
LOL! Ms. Dee on fire! Do yo thang gurl!
Sautee
March 12th, 2011
8:30 pm
‘Nique must have said “Josh needs to give the ball to the guards and fill the lane” at LEAST 50 times the last two seasons.
I wonder if he’s ever told Josh that in person.
Jae Evolution
March 12th, 2011
8:31 pm
Josh, wtf are you crying about, damn shut up man.
Blast
March 12th, 2011
8:31 pm
How many techs does Josh have this season?
hawks_4_life
March 12th, 2011
8:31 pm
JOSH SIGH
Tremaine
March 12th, 2011
8:31 pm
Drew scared to take Josh out.
Sautee
March 12th, 2011
8:32 pm
slim,
LOL it’s only a little over $199,000 per game.
EmirS.
March 12th, 2011
8:32 pm
This is where we get pissed off at Smith. Despite the fact that we know he’s a good player…its stupid things like this that makes us hate him at times.
Co-Sign the Sigh.
SteveW
March 12th, 2011
8:33 pm
LD wouldn’t play JC2 either usually.
And I didn’t say LD was doing that, but having observed human nature long enough, it wouldn’t surprise me.
Little Fawkers
March 12th, 2011
8:33 pm
I hate Bibby even more now. What a leech.
Tremaine
March 12th, 2011
8:34 pm
Co-Sign the Co-Sign of the Sigh.
MsDee
March 12th, 2011
8:35 pm
Josh makes me SICK even though he just cut the lead to 1…