Atlanta Hawks: Would they be hopeless without Hinrich? (Update: Hinrich doubtful for series)
7:30 p.m. UPDATE: Hawks say Kirk Hinrich is doubtful to play in series vs. Bulls because of “significant strain” to hamstring.
Kirk Hinrich had an MRI this afternoon. The Hawks haven’t released the results yet but say they expect to announce something today. I’m told it didn’t look good for Hinrich last night but there was more optimism today because he was moving better.
If Hinrich can’t play or is very limited, the Hawks are in serious trouble against the Bulls. I’m assuming they can’t suddenly change their offensive habits to the point where they can score efficiently against the league’s best D. They need Hinrich for scoring, too, because if you are going to be a jump-shooting team it’s best to send out as many jump shooters as possible, especially one capable of getting his own.
So it seems Atlanta’s best chance in this series is to play rugged defense and pull out some grinding games. They did that against the Magic but the Dwight Defense is null against Chicago, which plays through D-Rose instead of the post. Among Atlanta’s guards, Hinrich is their best chance to slow D-Rose–if not by staying in front of him, then by going under screens and then recovering to challenge his (so-so) jump shot. As Hinrich showed during the Orlando series, he’s pretty good at that.
Hinrich’s availability is so crucial, in fact, that L.D. and his staff couldn’t really make a lot of decisions on their game plans today because they didn’t know if they’d have Hinrich.
“It certainly changes things,” Drew said. “Hopefully he will be able to go but if he’s not we will have to make an adjustment. Not knowing what we will do at that point, we will talk about it as a staff and then make a decision. We are looking at matchups to see what will work best for us and not really knowing if Kirk can go, can’t go, play some or can’t play at all—a lot of that will change things.”
If Hinrich can’t play or is ineffective, the other options to defend Rose are Teague, J.J., Jamal, and Damien.
L.D. hasn’t put much trust in Teague all season and now would be asking him to guard the best offensive point guard in the league.
“We’ve been talking to Teague already, getting his mind prepared,” Jamal said. “He understands the challenge at hand. I think he’s prepared himself for the opportunity. I think he got a little down when he was not paying as much. Sometimes things work out in strange ways. Now he gets his change to play.”
J.J. doesn’t like checking points and has proven to be effective at it only in small stretches. Plus the Hawks are going to need all the points they can get and tasking J.J. with chasing Rose through screens and also carrying his usual offensive burden is a lot to ask.
“I am sure through course of the series he will spend time on [Rose],” Drew said. “There is a high probability a few guys will see time on him. [The Bulls] put you in a situation where they do force you to switch. Joe has guarded point guards before; he’s comfortable defending point guards. Hopefully it won’t be much. I’d like to keep him off of him.”
Damien generally has fared better against opponents he can body up rather than those who require quick feet. Jamal had his moments playing acceptable team defense against the Magic but clearly this is not an assignment for him.
The pick-and-roll alignment the Hawks used against Jameer and the Magic probably doesn’t make sense. Noah isn’t a big threat on the roll–he’s scored 1.09 points per possession, according to Synergy Sports Technology, but only had 61 attempts. Rose is generally less concerned with kicking out to 3-point shooters than with getting to the basket for scores (he was third among point guards in field-goals per game at the rim with 3.8 and averaged five against the Hawks) or drawing fouls (.35 free-throw rate overall, .32 against the Hawks).
And, anyway, Rose has been much more efficient scoring in isolation (1.09 points per possession, ranked No. 4 in the league) than on screen-rolls (.87 ppp, ranked 45th). It could get ugly for the Hawks if the Bulls clear out for Rose and an Atlanta guard is forced to defend him in space.
There’s some sentiment in the Hawks’ locker room to play a zone against the Bulls. Good luck keeping the Bulls off the glass with that strategy. They were the fourth-best offensive rebounding team this season and they hammered the Hawks on the board in all three meetings this season.
“We have to come up with a game plan to try to slow down the potential MVP,” L.D. said. “It won’t be an easy job; it’s going to be tough. He’s seen probably every conceivable defense there is. One guy won’t do it. It will take a total team effort.”
True, but that effort would appear to be doomed without Hinrich.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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425 comments Add your comment
brigadierjerry
May 1st, 2011
9:17 pm
drmaryb,
He was on the Friday after next movie not the original Friday one. I used to party too. I partied a lot too in my younger days but once i got married and had a son and the good thing is you can see these old shows either on stations like tvland and stations that play old sitcoms on demand online or just buy the dvd’s.
Seems like it has been a week since the Hawks last played!!.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 1st, 2011
9:18 pm
White Chics!
IDK Terry Crews was in that movie. Wasn’t that the Wayan Brothers starring In that. After Living Color cancelled? Very funny stuff!
ant banks
May 1st, 2011
9:26 pm
DRMARYB, ‘POOP, JEJE, J FROM THE A, BRIGADIER, ET AL,
teague GOTTA have one of those games when he goes into THAT zone. do y’all remember when d’antoni was HATIN’ nate robinson? he put nate in the game against the hawks and nate SCORCHED us for 40pts!!! teague gotta go the eff off!!!
GILBERT RENFRO, JASON GARRETT to name a few, are some guys who star shined brightly, when called upon and they became legends.
this ish is all on teague. the bloggosphere already loves and supports teague. all he needs to do is have one of those games and become endeared in all our hearts.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 1st, 2011
9:33 pm
B-Jerry!
Yeah baby, I know. Looks like we all travel the same path to wisdom.
I dragged my self through medical school and had no life whatsoever.
Those classes were so – information overloaded, I had to schedule time for sleep and bath room breaks.
Now, I get to play a little. Because I have OCD real bad, the blog and the Hawks are like my latest obsession and – I LIKE IT!
vava74
May 1st, 2011
9:40 pm
drmaryb,
Yep, it’s a Wayans flick and you ought watch it NOW. Do a search and see if it is on anywhere.
If not, get it on demand, video, torrent, you name it.
Crews is dynamite on that movie and owns it top to bottom.
vava74
May 1st, 2011
9:41 pm
In the meantime, I don’t know if you all saw this but Meyes nailed it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YGITlxfT6s
The Real Mandingo
May 1st, 2011
9:42 pm
To: drmaryb, vava74, brigadierjerry and others interested:
FYI, Terry Crews has appeared in the following:
Filmography
Film
Year Film Role Notes
2000 The 6th Day Vincent Bansworth
2001 Training Day Black P. Stones Nation Gang Member Uncredited
2002 Serving Sara Vernon
Friday After Next Damon Pearly
2003 Deliver Us from Eva Big Bartender
Malibu’s Most Wanted 8 Ball
BAADASSSSS! Big T
2004 Behind the Smile Big James
Starsky & Hutch Porter
White Chicks Latrell Spencer
Soul Plane Bouncer
2005 The Longest Yard Cheeseburger Eddy “89″
2006 The Alibi Crazy Eight
Harsh Times Darrell
The Benchwarmers Poker Guy #1
Puff, Puff, Pass Cool Crush Ice Killa
Click Singing Guy in Car Uncredited/Cameo
Idiocracy President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho
Inland Empire Street Person #3
2007 Norbit Big Black Jack Latimore
How to Rob a Bank Officer Degepse
Who’s Your Caddy? Tank
Balls of Fury Freddy “Fingers” Wilson
2008 Street Kings Detective II Terrence Washington
Get Smart Agent 91
2009 Terminator Salvation Captain Jericho
Gamer Hackman
2010 The Expendables Hale Caesar
Lottery Ticket Jimmy the Driver
Middle Men James
DVD Films
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Get Smart’s Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control Agent 91
[edit] Television work
Battle Dome – T-Money (1999–2001)
Everybody Hates Chris – Julius (2005–2009)
My Wife and Kids – Trainer (2005; Guest star)
The Boondocks – Multiple characters (voice) (2006; Guest star)
Are We There Yet? – Nick Kingston-Persons (2010–present)
The Family Crews – Himself (2010–present)
[edit] Music videos
blink-182 – “Down” – Police Officer (2004)
I know this may sound offensive to some but Terrence Alan “Terry” Crews like Thomas “Tiny” Lister aka D-Bo, Michael Clarke Duncan, Irving Rameses “Ving” Rhames, and to some extent Shaquille O’Neal, who has also acted briefly, exemplifies/propagates the Hollywood image of the stereotypical big, black, buffed, muscle-bound, controlled, field-hand, buck slave type of Negro. I’m sorry but that’s my opinion. I’m such a bitter, angry dude. LOL
brigadierjerry
May 1st, 2011
9:49 pm
The Real Mandingo ,
Good point on what you talk about the stereotypical actor such as terry crews. Tiny was like that too from Friday and other movies but he is a born again christian
drmaryb (*_-)
May 1st, 2011
9:52 pm
The Distinguished Gentleman!
On BET now. Never saw this movie before. Eddie Murray is a straight up fool! I personally met him in 1986 when I worked at:
The Ritz Carlton – Buckhead. 8 Years as Banquet Captain & picked up extra work in Room Service. Eddie’s brother called up an order of
assorted English Teas. Eddie was like 5′5″ short and signed the check with NO tip. I had to write it in, I had to. Ms. Mary wasn’t serving rich teas for free. I had to get mine. LOL!
Eddie was dating Mayor Andrew Young daughter back then and their room was in her name. I met a ton of celebs, never asked for one autograph, unless it was on a blank check with:
Pay to the order of: Me!
I met The Detroit Pistons Basketball Team, Bill Laimbeer and all those guys. They looked tired from playing ball, tipped well and were very professional. And, very tall. Those guys were Champions for real.
Best, most fun job I ever had. I was never star struck and always felt like I was a star myself, an unknown star in my own rights.
vava74
May 1st, 2011
10:01 pm
Mandingo,
Just check Meyers and relax man. Just relax.
Crews on white chicks does not fulfill the stereotype you described.
Yes, he is buff and that is part of the part, but it is ALL THE REST that he brings to that part which make it hystorical (hysterically historical).
The Real Mandingo
May 1st, 2011
10:08 pm
brigadierjerry,
I’m glad to see you understand my perspective.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 1st, 2011
10:08 pm
Type – Casted!
Mandingo!
Wow! Thanks for that research on Crews.
I see a lot of independent films work and I was just wondering, “Has this
man ever turned anything down?” Straight hustling, I ain’t mad at nobody.
Type-Casted for real. The thing I loved about Madonna and Michael Jackson, was that they were ultra-selective when it came to songs, music, performances and venues. Extremely selective and control maniacs at the highest level.
Genius!
__________________
The Real Mandingo is keeping it real! LOL!
The Real Mandingo
May 1st, 2011
10:16 pm
vava74,
Just for you, I’ll take a chill pill and chillax (chill and relax) for now but tomorrow I’m go’n be talkin’ again. LOL
drmaryb (*_-)
May 1st, 2011
10:20 pm
Mandingo!
You can’t keep a good Man-ding-o down! They always come up, just when you’re ’bout to throw in the towel. Always, in the nick-of-time.
The Real Mandingo
May 1st, 2011
10:25 pm
drmaryb,
As much as I would like to take credit for the research on Terry Crews, I can’t. That’s just the magic of copy and paste. LOL
The Real Mandingo
May 1st, 2011
10:35 pm
drmaryb,
You know what they say about real leaders. Real leaders are not propped up; real leaders are pushed down and, then, they pop up like hot slices of bread toasted in a toaster.
The Real Mandingo
May 1st, 2011
10:41 pm
drmaryb,
Your not-so subtle references to the m_le anatomy are killing me. LOL
brigadierjerry
May 1st, 2011
10:45 pm
wow is this true president about to say bin laden is dead?
You Cant stop the bullies!
May 1st, 2011
10:52 pm
Bulls in four!
You cant stop the bullies
May 1st, 2011
11:03 pm
BIN LADIN IS DEAD!!! i guess he is with his 40 virgins now…
Slimjr
May 1st, 2011
11:25 pm
I just watched Lottery Ticket, with Bow Wow, Mike Epps, Ice Cube, Eddie Murphy Brother! Terry Crews is a hilarious….They all are….It was raining JOKES.LOL
Slimjr
May 1st, 2011
11:28 pm
“BIN LADIN IS DEAD!!! i guess he is with his 40 virgins now”
They just brought him out of the cooler…Elections coming???Ding..Ding..Ding..
Next!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yawn…….
Slimjr
May 1st, 2011
11:31 pm
Roosevelt once said quote” nothing in politics happens by chance.It’s all planned”. Unquote..
Walt Clyde Frazier
May 2nd, 2011
9:59 am
The stage is set. If the Hawks want to play in the Eastern Conference Finals this year, they must do exactly what they did in the Orlando series. Go on the road in Chicago and split by taking one game in Chi-Town. By doing that you have taken the home court away from the Bulls. Then go to your home court and win the next 2 game, putting you up in the series 3-1 AND THUS giving you a 95% chance out of 100 to win the series. Trust me folks, that formula works every time. Then if you slip in Chicago and you are down 3-2, close out your opponent in game 6 at home and you have wrapped up the series. This strategy worked well in Orlando and I trust it will be duplicated in Chicago. Oh, one other thing. Make sure you double and triple team Derrick Rose and thereby taking the ball out of his hands so that he wont beat you by himself. Boozer is as cold as ice so you wont have to worry about him. Hawks should win the series in 6. Go Hawks.
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[...] Hawks. However, this series went from really challenging to “X-Factor” challenging as Kirk Hinrich got injured and is doubtful for the entire series. Larry Drew now has the tough task to figure out the lineup and the rotation. LD usually struggles [...]