Atlanta Hawks at Rockets: Game thread
- The Hawks are using their normal starting lineup. All players except Kirk Hinrich (shoulder) are available.
- There could be a Twin sighting tonight. “The first three games we didn’t play Jason Collins, who was a big part of what we did last season,” Larry Drew said. “I want to preserve him but at the same time I want to make sure I keep him in basketball shape. I take it game by game. It’s pretty much given who will be the first 10 players.”
- The Rockets will see the Hawks’ fourth game in five nights and raise them the last leg of a back-to-back-to-back. The Rockets also had their flight diverted from Hobby airport to Bush International because of dense fog that was still lingering when my flight landed at Bush this morning. The Hawks’ charter was the last flight to make it into Hobby last night.
- Both teams figure to be tired but Houston should be downright exhausted. Drew said the Hawks plan to attack: “That’s our whole objective. When you play against a team that has played a back-to-back and has done a lot of traveling, we definitely want to go into this game with an attack mentality. At the same time, on the road, we have to control the tempo. We attack when we can attack. Sometimes a relentless attack is not always the answer.”
- Josh Smith on Atlanta’s perimeter D: “It definitely helps when you are able to have perimeter defenders who take pride in sitting down on their man and not letting him get past them easy. It definitely takes a lot of pressure off me and Al [Horford] from having to contest a lot of shots and it keeps us out of foul trouble.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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655 comments Add your comment
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
7:27 pm
Houston announcer: Josh is not making them, but he continues to shoot. If you’re a Rocket fan, that’s a good thing
Bad that the entire world knows about that.
MattP
December 31st, 2011
7:27 pm
our best offensive player right now gets benched…
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
7:28 pm
The shot selection has been bad, from Smoove especially, but the problems in this game start and end on D. Houston is getting wide open lanes to drive to the paint.
BoneKollector
December 31st, 2011
7:28 pm
Houston announcer: Josh is not making them, but he continues to shoot. If you’re a Rocket fan, that’s a good thing
Bad that the entire world knows about that.
Exactly northcyde
MattP
December 31st, 2011
7:29 pm
Why were Williams and Teague the first to get subed?
Blast
December 31st, 2011
7:29 pm
Hawks gotta wake up, man. They’re sleepwalking right now. And let Marvin play until he starts missing shots.
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
7:29 pm
C’mon Gearon we need D12 ASAP!
terrell
December 31st, 2011
7:29 pm
Josh and Al for Dwight.
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 31st, 2011
7:30 pm
“Judging by the 1st 3 games, it looks like our weakest positions are pf and center. Wow! What a difference a year makes.”
Horford’s defense = impeccable.
Its funny… If smith is such a bad shooter then why do people keep passing it to him. One time Marvin was wide open trailing for 3… and no one passed it to him. Leuer woulda got the ball.
And Marvin is not protecting the rim on penetration. “Small” forward indeed.
Scola is assaulting Al.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
7:30 pm
Take Smoove out. Smh
Blast
December 31st, 2011
7:31 pm
Get Pargo of there!
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
7:31 pm
Overrated All “1950’s set shot” being exposed? What else is news around the parts?
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
7:32 pm
really need T-Mac to give us something. If not, get Marvin right back in this game.
LOL @ me saying that about Marvin. The team actually needs marvin these days
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
7:32 pm
Nobody is boxing out and everyone is too slow to rotate on D. Recipe for disaster.
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
7:33 pm
Where is our RIM PROTECTOR?
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
7:33 pm
poor job on the box out by JJ and RadMo
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
7:33 pm
What up Twin.
Hmmmm
December 31st, 2011
7:33 pm
Smith.Leuer.Bogut,
Because there are a lot of idiots who think Josh can be a reliable offensive weapon. Some in uniform, some on this blog.
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
7:34 pm
LOL @ this lineup . . wtf Drew
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
7:34 pm
Wow, Willie Green did something useful. Nice shot.
MattP
December 31st, 2011
7:34 pm
is that Green’s first 3 with the Hawks? so many misses I forgot.
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
7:34 pm
Wheres Chuck Hayes? All Whatever’s nightmare…..lol
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
7:35 pm
The western conference owns the Hawks..Somethings never change…….
Astro Joe
December 31st, 2011
7:36 pm
Pargo thinks that he is this year’s version of Jamal. Someone done told him wrong.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
7:36 pm
As horrible as they played, it could be worse than a 9 point deficit.
Defense and rebounding have to improve by a lot. Hopefully Teague gets back in the game.
Houston somehow manages to get the most out of their talent every time I see them play.
Hmmmm
December 31st, 2011
7:36 pm
Looking forward to another 5-16 outing from Smith, and silence from all his apologists.
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
7:37 pm
Didnt Josh work on his game this past summer???
kevkat
December 31st, 2011
7:37 pm
Enter your comments here
kevkat
December 31st, 2011
7:38 pm
so much for attacking a “tired” team Mr. Drew
BoneKollector
December 31st, 2011
7:38 pm
“Didnt Josh work on his game this past summer???”
Yea more jumpers lol
Astro Joe
December 31st, 2011
7:38 pm
Bynum returned from his suspension with a quiet 29 & 13.
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
7:39 pm
BEAT HOUSTON,DENVER,OKC, et al for once will ya?
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
7:39 pm
We cannot be conservative wih starter minutes
BoneKollector
December 31st, 2011
7:39 pm
damn refs
Ra'mon
December 31st, 2011
7:39 pm
I am probably the biggest Josh fan on the blog. But Josh has been playing terrible! His defense is good. But he keeps taking bad shots! Its aggravating because they give him the lane to drive!
Hmmmm
December 31st, 2011
7:40 pm
Drew: “Josh I need you to work on your game.”
Smith: “No problem.” *goes outside to shoot 10 jumpers every other day*
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
7:40 pm
Josh thinks he’s former Mr. Kris Kardasian…lmao!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
7:41 pm
Houston is getting second chances every time down the floor. Hawks are getting none.
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
7:41 pm
Bynum helped me out big time in Fantasy . . . still a long shot to win the week though.
BoneKollector
December 31st, 2011
7:42 pm
Josh’s idea of a good Porn movie is to watch videos of Ray Allen and Reggie Miller shoot jumpers all day
Josh: Aww yea show me that jumper
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
7:42 pm
The western conference is the measuring stick for your Atlanta Hawks…Need help!!!!!
Gearon get D12 in hear ASAP!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
7:42 pm
Haha. People are still talking about Josh who hasn’t been on the floor for nearly six minutes of game time.
Someone on this team has to step up on D and on the boards, regardless of what kind of shots are being taken.
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
7:42 pm
Houston announcer: “The problem with the hawks, is that they’re a perimeter offensive oriented team. They don;t have a consistent low post threat”
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
7:43 pm
Put in some f’ing starters.
Where the hell is Duck?
MattP
December 31st, 2011
7:43 pm
I want Ivan!
bigdave
December 31st, 2011
7:43 pm
Stro Joe..
when he got the ball he scored.. he looked like he added muscle..
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
7:43 pm
Get Marvin and Horford back into this game.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
7:43 pm
And it would help if the Hawks got to the line more frequently, which they have not done in this game like they did the previous three games.
Hmmmm
December 31st, 2011
7:44 pm
If they don’t get Dwight, I see no reason for Josh to remain here, honestly.
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
7:44 pm
D12 D12 D12 D12D12 D12 D12 D12…broken record ………Huh?