Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson to return to lineup as Hawks look for ‘mental edge’ over Magic
J.J. practiced today and said he “definitely” will play against the Magic after missing a game with a sprained right thumb.
“A little sore but it will be all right,” he said. “I have had a couple days to rest so I am sure it will be ready to go.”
Joe said he would probably wear some kind of protective device on the thumb. He said he was able to shoot the ball without problems while participating in the full session.
“He was actually pretty good,” L.D. said. “I asked him how the thumb was and he said it was much better than a couple days ago. That’s good to hear. I thought he shot the ball pretty good today.”
Smoove missed the final portion of practice to get treatment on his sore right knee. He’s not listed on the injury report.
If Joe returns to the lineup and if Jameer Nelson (knee) is able to play, it would be the first Hawks-Magic this season in which both teams had all their regular starters available.
Nelson sat out the Magic’s 93-89 victory on Nov. 8 at Amway Center. J.J. and Nelson sat out the Dec. 6 rematch in Orlando won 80-74 by the Hawks (a game in which several Orlando players were getting over a virus). The Magic had just added Turkoglu and J-Rich to the lineup when they lost 91-81 on Dec. 20 at Philips.
As Chicago, Boston, Miami fight it out for the top three spots in the East and Philly and New York meander at six and seven, it looks like the Hawks and Magic will tangle in the first round of the playoffs. John Hollinger’s latest playoff odds projections have it that way.
“It’s highly probable they will be our first-round opponents in the playoffs and I am sure they are looking at it the same way,” L.D. said. “They’ve always been a tough team for us to play, going back to what they did to us last year. So the energy is going to be there, the energy and the intensity. I think there will be a sense of urgency on both team’s parts to establish themselves.”
L.D. said he probably would again use the Twin lineup again Orlando. With Gortat gone the Magic now are forced to play small with Brandon Bass or Ryan Anderson at center when Dwight goes to the bench. That lack of front court size, in addition to Hinrich now checking Jameer instead of Bibby, theoretically makes Orlando a more favorable matchup for the Hawks.
Of course the Hawks can’t think about match ups when they have yet to prove their worth against the league’s best. Getting a W tomorrow would be a good start.
“We feel confident going up against any team,” J.J. said. “But I think we understand the significance of this game and the psychology of it, as far as this is more than likely be our first-round opponent. This is definitely a statement game, a game that we really need to come out and take seriously. We can go up 3-1 and have the mental edge on them as well. It’s definitely important.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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175 comments Add your comment
frank sinatra
March 29th, 2011
11:47 pm
then git the puck on beitch
slimjr
March 29th, 2011
11:54 pm
A STATEMENT GAME WED NIGHT!!!
drmaryb (*_-)
March 29th, 2011
11:56 pm
Blow The Hand!
I’m sorry, that was for SlimJr and Najeh. Blow your typing hand fellas – ’cause you HOT!
_______________
Looks like TS jacked Ken Stricklnad’s I’d tonight.
So, it’s definitely time to log off. Coward on the Board.
frank sinatra
March 29th, 2011
11:59 pm
Youll blow anything mary.
JSS
March 30th, 2011
12:05 am
@ DrMaryB…
Don’t worry, it is endemic across the AJC blogs today… The jackyouknowwhats are just gone straight daffy…
I had to bring my Flamethrower out retirement on the Schultz blog today…
JSS
March 30th, 2011
12:08 am
I have 400 pages of breakdowns to read to tonight until Noon… Enjoy the game Wednesday night, I hope the Hawks do the right thing!
Ole Hawk's Fan
March 30th, 2011
2:22 am
If we had a REAL NBA COACH…………………Teague would start @PG to combat Nelson…………Capt Kirk @ SG………………..JS……………Twin and Al. Let JJ, Marvin and JC1(Not @ Point) come off the bench………….. But with a coach with NO BBIQ………………TEAGUE will get a DNP-CD! With LD on the sideline, MAGIC by 20 or more.
Worldwide Clyde
March 30th, 2011
3:15 am
*yawn*
I need to Trademark that phrase.
FIRE LD
vava74
March 30th, 2011
6:49 am
The hawks’ brass are insane.
Building up tonight’s game publicly is the precise opposite of what they should be doing.
They should be saying that it would be good to win tonight’s game but that it does not matter towards the playoffs.
Even if they win they should play possum. Our guys don’t play well under pressure, they are too soft to react well to these brash statements.
JustAThought
March 30th, 2011
7:02 am
Ken S. no apologies needed bro, we all get some wrong. I’m glad you “man-up” and admitted it. I myself is at wit’s end with this whole hawks situation. The Majic will be ready tonight, if only to send a message to the hawks………
tremaine
March 30th, 2011
7:31 am
First off “GIVE TEAGUE A CHANCE!”
Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson to return to lineup as Hawks look for ‘mental edge’ over Magic
Tomorrow is April Fools Day.
joewhite
March 30th, 2011
8:43 am
Hope joe went to see the wizard cause howard is home tonight. Go Hawks
drmaryb (*_-)
March 30th, 2011
8:59 am
No Parking!
Allegedly, LeBron’s home boys (30 ppl deep), from Cleveland pulled up to the arena for the game and hollered, “we’re LeBron’s guests! Can me park in our usual spots?” The valet crew said, “move along! No paoking here.”
Looks as though there were no premuim parking passes for these clowns!”. Now, had they been at Philip’s Arena? They probably could have parked curb-side and got FREE LeBron Jerseys.
____________________
ASKG would have called it – Southern Hospitality!
Anything to sell a ticket. With this group, it’s all about ticket revenue.
SMH
drmaryb (*_-)
March 30th, 2011
9:22 am
Dan Gilbert
Oh yeah! Allegedly, LeBron’s 30 people did show up in two Limos.
But, Mr. Gilbert was not impressed. He had seen all these people before, in fact 6 years straight. Word is, part of the issues with LeBron’s tenure in Cleveland is he routinely had key people in the hallways, locker rooms, team facilities and some even traveled on the team plane to various games and what not.
Dan Gilbert was really glad to see them all go after The Decision was aired. Allegedly, Dan instructed his security and parking attendants
to cut these people off at every turn.
No Access is the new rule of the day, in Cleveland.
__________________
I sure wish we had an owner like Dan Gilbert in Atlanta.
Dan Gilbert does not drink “Brown Kool-Aid”! Not a drop of it.
He doesn’t need money so bad, that he will accommodate those fans who cheer for the opponent. See ASKG for all that noise.
_____________________
I’ve been surfing the net, but there is no information re: the sale of this franchise. I just pray those wheels are turning.
Grandad
March 30th, 2011
9:53 am
For the ” JC2 Fan Club ” :
Yawl need to check out his shooting %’s.
Seems we keep getting reports on how well the young lad is doing.
In his last 5 game he had two 25 pt games. *sounds good, but wait;
* [combined 3 for 19 from behind the arc in those two games]
* [combined 19 for 50 overall in those two games]
* [last 10 games 37 % overall FG%]
* [last 5 games it dropped 33% overall FG%]
* [ Last 5 games 21% from 3 pt line]
Sure he’s putting up points, but he’s jacking up mucho shots !
JC2 is the “poster boy” for volumn shooters.
Trend = the more he shoots the lower his %’s get.
Just the facts ma’am.
Grandad
March 30th, 2011
10:08 am
What if Josh Smith were launching (9 or 10) 3 pointers every night?
—And—
What if Josh were shooting 21% on those (9 or 10) 3 pointers ea. nite?
—Whewee—
Yawl would want to hide strap Josh’s ass to a pine rail and send him up
the Monon Line.
editors note:
*[above post .....^..... r.e. JC2]
Barton
March 30th, 2011
10:09 am
Noooooooooooo!
Rufus1
March 30th, 2011
10:20 am
Grandad- Josh is not a rookie or shooter.
Sautee
March 30th, 2011
10:32 am
JSS,
about this: “@ Sautee…
“How do you explain Magic and the Lakers in 1990-91?”
Why do I need to? My post was about the fact that the great players mentioned not only had mental toughness, but had HOF teammates. I expressly did NOT say anything about that guaranteeing a title because you have multiple HOFers..
My main point again: If the Hawks had multiple HOF players they would be winning a lot more games. I’ll stand by that. Duh!
Sautee
March 30th, 2011
10:33 am
Grandad,
Good point about Josh.
JeJe
March 30th, 2011
10:34 am
FIRE LD
FIRE WOODY
FIRE JOE
lewis
March 30th, 2011
10:42 am
we’re screwed.
orlando, boston, houston, san antonio, indiana, miami, lol
Joey
March 30th, 2011
10:48 am
Howard in the middle?
We may set a record for jump shots in one game . . .
Rufus1
March 30th, 2011
10:56 am
The playoffs start today….
This is the 1st game of the series and LD should coach the game that way. If Jamal isn’t scoring, he shouldn’t play.
doc
March 30th, 2011
11:04 am
grandad had to call rev on jc2 hysteria yesterday
agree as we cant stand a vet doing it better in jc2 or lesser extent jj
doc
March 30th, 2011
11:06 am
meant jc1
slimjr
March 30th, 2011
11:14 am
“orlando, boston, houston, san antonio, indiana, miami,” WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you Spell 0 for 6?????????????????????????????? SHOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a way to fininish the season……………………..
slimjr
March 30th, 2011
11:15 am
^^^^^^^
finish……..
Marcus
March 30th, 2011
11:27 am
Question: Is Dwight ballin’ tonight?
Dwight Howard’s tech upheld by league
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6272222
“Howard was called for his league-leading 17th technical Monday with 1:17 left in the Magic’s 113-106 loss at New York. After fouling out while going for an offensive rebound, Howard tossed the ball into the backcourt.”
“…Howard already served a one-game suspension once he accumulated his 16th tech. Players are then suspended another game for every other technical received after that.”
Marcus
March 30th, 2011
11:31 am
nevermind …. I got giddy and read it too fast…….. he only will get tossed after the 18th tech (e.g every “other” technical after reaching No. 16)
drmaryb (*_-)
March 30th, 2011
11:40 am
Winnable Games!
orlando, boston, houston, san antonio, indiana, miami:
Orlando L
Boston W
Houston W
San Antonio W
Indiana W
Miami W
___________________
Orlando – we don’t play well at home. No fans.
Boston – ZaZa will, will us to victory.
Houston – we owe them one.
San Antonio – they’re hurt bad. (No Tim, Manu)
Indiana – child please!
Miami – we owe them one.
Think positive people! We like our position. We got these wanna be winners right where we want them! -wink-
Mike is back
March 30th, 2011
11:43 am
Ken Strick, if that is you…don’t feel bad bro…Ole FlipSide got a lot of us. lol
Now if only the D/BASG could come to the same conclusion…and sell the fing team already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
drmaryb (*_-)
March 30th, 2011
11:54 am
Mike is Back!
He’s back! And, I for one, am glad.
Man that’s not Ken Strickland. Content reveals character, in this case a lack thereof. Once a troll, always a troll. Anyway, how are you baby?
Are you ready for some B-ball? Let’s Go Hawks!
I hope the bench come to play and we go 10 deep.
Maybe we see some: teague, damien, armstrong and thomas?
O'Brien
March 30th, 2011
12:10 pm
Josh is a PF, whose best position is in the post. JC2 is a SG, so it is more acceptable when he is jacking up shots instead of a PF.
That being said, so far, JC2 has needed tons of shots to get his points, and he takes alot of bad shots on offense, while not giving much on defense.
However, the guy is a rookie who is just getting consistent PT, playing on a bad team, so it will take time (and coaching) for him to be more selective with his shots. But he has more “inner dog” than Teague has, and he has shown potential in year 1.
Assuming he works on his shot selection and improves his defense, he can nice be a nice role player in a couple years (imo) while still on a rookie salary.
drmaryb (*_-)
March 30th, 2011
12:31 pm
OB
You just described 3/4 of all the players in the NBA.
That’s the equivalent of a white woman saying she was carjacked by a black man, about 5′8″ and 185 LBS, wearing a black hoodie, black face mask, with a white “wife-beater” (I.e. a tank top), and pants on the ground.
Oh yeah, and Timberland Boots. LOL! Come on OB, can you give us a better, more colorful description? That lady just described 3/4 of every black man in Atlanta. The APD will round up the whole south-side over in SWATS.
_____________________
All jokes aside, that is a fair description of Jordan. At least he has heart and like many rookies is not afraid to shoot the damn thing. He has to
be willing to learn how to fit that aggression into a team’s concept.
Or, he will be packing his bags every six months and living out of hotels eating so called “Back Yard Burgers” from room service served by a gay man on the daily.
Too many shots, not enough balls. Can he do it? That’s the real question.
IDK.
The Truth
March 30th, 2011
12:35 pm
vava74
“Building up tonight’s game publicly is the precise opposite of what they should be doing”
Agreed
They’re definitely hyping this game LD could lose the war for the sake of winning a battle. Why play JJ now and risk further injury since it is highly unlikely that the Hawks can catch Orlando for the 4th seed. Why show all your cards for the sake proving a point that really has no value? They have a very soft schedule ahead. If we win tonight, it will mean nothing if we are subsequently swept by them in the playoff or even lose in a tough series.
LD needs to show us he has some balls and demonstrate playoff gamesmanship. Playing possum may indeed be the best move tonight.
JeJe
March 30th, 2011
12:44 pm
Why exactly does Joe wear the headband? Did he get hit in the head a few weeks ago?
Hawks Hack
March 30th, 2011
1:16 pm
@Najeh Davenpoop… perfect post. You have summed up the suffering all ATL sports fans have suffered over the years. Thats all tha matters to me. I have experience nothing but losing by supporting my city. I will never stop my support which realistically means I will never stop suffering
Catch 22!!
ROBERT
March 30th, 2011
1:37 pm
LD,wake up.Tell Joe to quit dribbling the ball for 20 seconds,tell Josh to quit shooting 3’s and put Teague in the game,he is the only one fast enough to break down the defense.
ROBERT
March 30th, 2011
1:39 pm
get rid of LD in the off season and hire Mike Fratello again.
pierre Reeves
March 30th, 2011
1:44 pm
I BELIEVE IN MARVIN WILLIAMS !!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHEN JOE IS NOT PLAYING
Daniel
March 30th, 2011
1:46 pm
OH, how has this blog not lit up with jokes about Joe Johnson using the statement “mental edge”?
Could the fact that the clearest and biggest issue with this collection of players (not fit to call a team) is their “fragile psyche” be so misunderstood by the team’s highest paid player? Does Joe think we are dumb or is he really that dumb? I used to think he was stoic, then maybe he didn’t “let things bother him”, then he wasn’t interested in pandering to the fans, but now I wonder if he really IS as clueless as he sounds?
Talk about sports misery!!!
Hawks Hack/Najeh- great posts, I am right there with both of you. Hey, at least baseball season starts tomorrow.
BillS
March 30th, 2011
1:47 pm
with all due respect — why does any of this make any difference??? The Hawks will lose in the playoffs, management will make few changes, and next year will be much like this one. Bottom line: Why should anyone care. Hawks who????
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
March 30th, 2011
1:56 pm
That’s The Truth! Why play JJ tonight when we are likely catching the magic in the standings. Once again WED, MAR 30, 2011 putting the regular season pride over post season legacy. Joe needs to sit his arse down. ASKG is probably forcing him to play and earn his excessive pay.
Booo!
March 30th, 2011
2:07 pm
True Hoop Network Talking about the wort signings and trades of this season. Guess whos 123mill contract made the list lol.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6272339
Now I was FOR the JJ signing as it really doesnt make an impact for another couple of years. Just putting that out there.
Booo!
March 30th, 2011
2:14 pm
Free the Teague!
drmaryb (*_-)
March 30th, 2011
2:16 pm
Coach Em’ Up!
The only problem I have with The Mike Fratello Coaching Style?
Well, at least in Cleveland they played at a snail’s pace, I could run to Wal-Mart and back two times and I wouldn’t miss not one possession of the game.
The game scores were typically in the 50’s. Scoring on that team was the equivalent to 12 innings of baseball with the score tied at 1!
To be fair to the Czar of the Telestrator, maybe it was a reflection of the talent level he had. But his PG’s (and Doc Rivers can attest to this) would look more to the sidelines for step by step instructions before bringing the ball up to half court in 8 seconds.
IDK if I could tolerate that here and perhaps is why Mike is still working that Telestrator. I hear he will be coaching in Finland? Somewhere, this Summer. He must really be desperate to coach again.
__________________
I like Jeff Van Gundy myself! He would be perfect for this team!
What is he: Hofstra or Rutgers pedigree? I know he hails from NY.
I like him for a million different reasons.
Mike is back
March 30th, 2011
2:17 pm
Drmaryb, what’s going on folk…sorry to say…I don’t expect to see much of Teague and Armstrong…maybe Damein…I think ole FlipSide got his rotation set…However, I do think the Hawks will/might pulled out a win tonight.
Heck, LD is just the FlipSide of Woody…daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
northcyde
March 30th, 2011
2:33 pm
People still don’t get the REAL REASON why JJ got that contract.
It was not only to keep a guy who had just made All-NBA 3rd team, it was prevent him from going to one of our contenders . . namely Chicago. That was the real reason.
You let JJ go to one of our rivals, and we don’t get anything in return ( because we didn’t have the money in free agency to re-sign anyone of significance ), we STILL don’t win a damn thing.
In essence, Jamal Crawford would’ve have to been the “go-to guy” on this team, because he’s the only one who could’ve consistently created his own shot.
Meanwhile, we give a team like Chicago JJ, to pair with Derrick Rose. That would’ve been the nightmare scenario for the Hawks. We would’ve instantly given them the best backcourt in the NBA, with JJ playing the so-called “Robin” role alongside Rose. But in reality, it would’ve been Batman ( Rose ) and Green Lantern ( JJ ) playing.
Or he goes to NY, with them having enough room to get JJ and Amare . . which may have ended up being a better mix for them, seeing that they’d get to keep all of the guy that they traded in the Melo deal ( minus Raymond Felton . . if they couldn’t afford to give him 7.5 million . . but maybe he accepts less ).
So instead of people talking about the Hawks being the 5th seed, we’re probably the 7th seed, seeing that we’re probably hovering around being a .500 team without one of our top players.
The fact is that the Hawks STILL wouldn’t have been a bad enough team to secure a top lottery pick, even if JJ wasn’t re-signed. The Hawks minus JJ, probably would be a 37 – 42 win team, that would pick somewhere around #14 – #18 in the draft.
And to get the cap room we’d desire, we’d have to STILL let go of Jamal Crawford at the end of this season, and HOPE that a decent free agent would want to come to Atlanta.
The 2011 – 12 roster:
PG – Teague
G – ???
F – Marvin
PF – Smith
C – Horford
PG – Bibby ( because he would not have been traded )
G – Jordan
F – ???
PF – ???
C – Zaza
When people say that they don’t have enough confidence in the ASG/Sund to improve the team without JJ, this is what they’re talking about. Viewing the moves this team has made in free agency, that didn’t involve the trade of expiring contracts, do people REALLY think the Hawks would be better in the short term . . or the long term, for that matter?
Instead of overpaying for JJ, maybe we give Jamal a 4 year – 70 million deal.
Or we fill those spots with journeyman vets, and hope that Horford and Smith can become the offensive stars of the team.
Don’t get it twisted folks. While JJ didn’t deserve the monetary deal that he got, it was a deal that kept us at least in the playoff conversation for the next 2 – 4 years.
Without doing what we did, we risk becoming the Charlotte Bobcats. A bad team that isn’t good enough to draft an impact player. And not under the cap enough to bring in an impact free agent ( unless we jettison one of our best players like Smith and Horford . . . like what they did with Gerald Wallace )
sam'l
March 30th, 2011
2:35 pm
Where’s Mcunningham and Ga Peach when you need ‘em?
After a slow start and total lack of empathy, MC learned that the Hawks are a talented bunch of guys with a terrible mental dysfunction. Now he reports as honestly as he can and that is cool.. Way cool! I even get the feeling he would like to see them succeed. Plus I suspect he now understands what we have put up with for years. Hey MC…who’s buying the club…and are they leaving for sure or what? Ask Mike Fratello when you see him.
GaPeach…..I could see your point but obviously you haven’t been following very closely. We ain’t just whistling Dixie. The Hawks will drive you insane if you start caring about them. Hard to explain it, but after a while, you just want to shake these players and tell them what to do because they just don’t know. Watch a few years; then blog us from the asylum.
Who else…no that’s it….. damn, still a Hawks fan……but if they get down by 30, I’m out!. .