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
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
7:58 pm
Has Teague even shot yet? He was 9/12 last night vs elite PG
bigdave
December 31st, 2011
7:58 pm
all day long young man. all day.
Hmmmm
December 31st, 2011
7:58 pm
ZOMG Josh took it to the rim!!!!!!!!!!
Big Ray
December 31st, 2011
7:58 pm
That’s more like it, Smoove!
Ole Hawk's Fan
December 31st, 2011
7:59 pm
Does Jeff Teague have a attempt @ a basket tonight?
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
7:59 pm
I hate to say it . . but Josh is actually helping me get back in contention in the fantasy league. I’d rather for Smith to pick it up though and lose the fantasy week
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
7:59 pm
“It’s times like this wonder how Bob Knight would have dealt with Josh if he went to Indiana.”
Wasn’t Mike Davis there by that point?
Good drive by Smoove for the and-one. Doesn’t make up for what he’s done on offense most of this game, but hopefully it’s a start.
Melvin
December 31st, 2011
7:59 pm
Josh make you wanna pull your hair out… Now he attacks the basket and make a AND-1
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
7:59 pm
There you go Josh . . . just do that. Is that so fuggin hard? Damn.
bigdave
December 31st, 2011
7:59 pm
yikes Joe..
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
7:59 pm
Joe just got his ankles broken.
Big Ray
December 31st, 2011
7:59 pm
Nice hustle by Al.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
7:59 pm
How has Marv not gotten some offense run thru him? He has been killing it this yr
Smh
Big Ray
December 31st, 2011
8:00 pm
Joe….damn…
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
8:00 pm
LOL @ JJ . . stay on your feet dog.
Yeah Marvin. pad those stats.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
8:00 pm
OFFENSIVE BOARDS
Cbenj
December 31st, 2011
8:00 pm
Not rebounding very well….
bigdave
December 31st, 2011
8:01 pm
nice Al..
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
8:01 pm
Great post-up by Al. He looks a lot better with his back to the basket so far this year.
Melvin
December 31st, 2011
8:01 pm
The Hawks are hanging tough….
Astro Joe
December 31st, 2011
8:01 pm
Al needs to stop drinking whatever Josh drinks and keep his hindpott in the paint.
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
8:01 pm
Hawks are battling though. I gotta give it up to them. They’re right back into this game.
Mac-Town #maconchevyrider
December 31st, 2011
8:02 pm
Drake killin us
Cbenj
December 31st, 2011
8:02 pm
Would someone like to guard Martin?
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
8:02 pm
Another BOSS MOVE by Al!
Melvin
December 31st, 2011
8:02 pm
Boss…
BoneKollector
December 31st, 2011
8:02 pm
They killin these 3s
Mac-Town #maconchevyrider
December 31st, 2011
8:02 pm
lol@Drew
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
8:03 pm
Gotta quit helping so much on D and stay with your man on the perimeter.
Edward Nigma
December 31st, 2011
8:03 pm
It seems our bigs are coming out of the coma.
Can we defend the perimeter though?
Mac-Town #maconchevyrider
December 31st, 2011
8:03 pm
Dalembert??? sure glad we picked up pargo instead ____________________
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
8:03 pm
Houston gets wide open shots every time because the Hawks keep doubling the ball handler on every screen.
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
8:04 pm
Basketball is so easy when you play it right. They can’t guard either of you in the paint @ Josh and Al
LOL but no defense on the other end.
Melvin
December 31st, 2011
8:04 pm
Nice block by AL to end the half….
Nique's Revenge
December 31st, 2011
8:05 pm
Happy New Season and Happy New Year everyone!
So, we still have Josh, and he still can’t play basketball. Why. Please trade.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
8:05 pm
Even with all the dumb shots and passes by the Hawks, the halftime deficit still comes down to defensive breakdowns and poor rebounding. If they play exactly like this on offense but contest shots and don’t allow second chances, they will probably win this game.
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
8:05 pm
The doubling and trapping is part of the “new defense” of the Hawks. A good shooting team will exploit that though. And that’s what Houston is doing right now.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
8:05 pm
I predict a 10-0 Houston run to start half
Big Ray
December 31st, 2011
8:05 pm
Hmmmmph.
Astro Joe
December 31st, 2011
8:05 pm
Sometimes that scrambing, gambling defense works and sometimes…
Kind of like blitzing on every down in football. If you don;t disrupt the QB, you have only left a teammate more vulnerable.
Oh well, with some good adjustments, we should be able to steal a win in the second half.
Melvin
December 31st, 2011
8:06 pm
Teague didn’t take a shot in the first half…. WOW
MattP
December 31st, 2011
8:06 pm
Thank Drew for taking Marvin out when he was making his shots…
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
8:07 pm
Yeah, it is inexcusable for the fastest player on the floor not to get any attempts. Run some damn pick and rolls Hawks.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
8:08 pm
Hou is playing 3rd of b2b2b smgdh
BoneKollector
December 31st, 2011
8:08 pm
Marvin Tikvah: Josh
Josh: what
Marvin Tikvah: Josh
Josh: WHAT
Marvin Tikvah: COME ON!!!
ThePro,
December 31st, 2011
8:09 pm
Well only down 7 at half….could’ve been a whole lot worse!!!!!
kwooden
December 31st, 2011
8:10 pm
Defense looks a little weak this game. Houston shooting well from 3
SteveW
December 31st, 2011
8:10 pm
As I was saying about Teague earlier today – best +/- among starters, good on Assists and TO’s but no points. Good job Jeff!! Really, I’m serious. Don’t expect 20 and 10 out of him every game. Expect Solid D, Solid ball handling, and he’ll score when he can.
Edward Nigma
December 31st, 2011
8:11 pm
Teague will finish this game with 12 points and 10 assists.
SteveW
December 31st, 2011
8:11 pm
Houston Coach been keepin’ fresh though, spreadin’ the playing time around.
TMac, Collins, and Zaza are our only + guys tonite in +/-.
The Rockets sure wanted ZaZa last year.