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
Astro Joe
December 31st, 2011
8:11 pm
So I wonder if Teague is pouting about something. Like the comments that MC reported last night about not finding teammates on drives to the basket. I think the young man may be a tad bit sensitive. Maybe he just had one of those Kobe-like meltdowns.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
8:12 pm
The defense was suspect last game too, but New Jersey wasn’t good enough to take advantage. Houston is.
SteveW
December 31st, 2011
8:13 pm
Kyle Lowery is 0-4 tonite – but 9 dimes. But JT has done a good job on him for the most part
Mr. Obvious
December 31st, 2011
8:14 pm
“New Jersey wasn’t good enough to take advantage. Houston is.”
Keep it coming, this is great!!
SteveW
December 31st, 2011
8:15 pm
AJ – I don’t think you’ll be happy until Teague fails. Teague hate from last season from you man. What’s the beef with JT? Nevermind, shouldn’t of asked, we went thru this last season
Sautee
December 31st, 2011
8:15 pm
Let’s see if Martin and Lowry start losing their legs late in the game.
If the Hawks keep scrapping, Houston might just fade.
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:16 pm
These western teams expose our Hawks.. C’mon Gearon!
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:18 pm
W/O Chuck Hayes in there..All NBA should grab 20 bds tonight?
Ole Hawk's Fan
December 31st, 2011
8:19 pm
Why is PARGO on this TEAM? He STINKS!
Astro Joe
December 31st, 2011
8:19 pm
Steve, the half ended without a shotblocker on the floor for Houston. As the guy with the ball who successfully killed a team last night on drives to the paint, what did you want Teague to do? Pass to Josh? You can call it hate, I call it expecting him to do his job. Y’all wanted him to play, now he’s playing. A half without a FGA with some minutes on the floor with no shotblocker in sight and his team struggling to score? Give me a break. Drive to the effing hole, young man.
Runner-
December 31st, 2011
8:19 pm
Here we go, here we go, let’s get this intensity started!! We got this Hawks!!
Hmmmm
December 31st, 2011
8:20 pm
How can anyone hate Teague? He and Zaza are the only ones on this team with the heart to take it strong to the rim consistently.
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:20 pm
Joe has got to bring the energy!
Ole Hawk's Fan
December 31st, 2011
8:20 pm
Weak Marvin……..pass the BALL!
Astro Joe
December 31st, 2011
8:21 pm
Thank You!
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:21 pm
C’mon Al!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
8:21 pm
Bad pass Teague.
Bad start to the half in general.
Ole Hawk's Fan
December 31st, 2011
8:21 pm
Do Da Hawks want to PLAY?
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:22 pm
Stop playing soft in the paint!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Runner-
December 31st, 2011
8:22 pm
good timeout call… bad that he had to call it…
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:22 pm
C’mon Gearon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Trade Watch
December 31st, 2011
8:23 pm
I checking to see if Horford plays down his abilities to hinder the trade. Tonight his opposite is Hill. Al should go for 22-26 pts and 12-18 rebounds against a scrub like Hill. Lets see if Al finish him off in the second half.
jerry
December 31st, 2011
8:23 pm
Marvin is getting smashed by Budinger
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:23 pm
terrible post by Al on that 5′6″ guard in the block..
BoneKollector
December 31st, 2011
8:24 pm
“As we come back Josh MISSED a jumper”
SMH
Joe
December 31st, 2011
8:24 pm
I really like Teague’s aggressivness when he’s going to the basket, and his ability to penetrate and finish is great. However, one thing he really needs to improve is his playmaking for others. He seems to be really struggling with trying to hit the open man, especially after coming off of a pick. I’ve been seeing him do this over and over, and it’s a bit annoying at times. When you come off of a screen, you have to read the defense, and your top 2 options are typically to either finish the play for yourself or hit the man who set the pick. Teague usually just uses the pick to finish his own shot attempt, which is fine, however, when that shot is not there, Teague needs to do a better of job at making the right play. It’s common sense to typically hit the guy who set the pick for you first, he’s usually the one who is open if you aren’t right after you come off of a pick. We’d have a lot of wide open looks if Teague would just learn to do that.
Just to be clear, I’m not putting Teague down. I’m just saying that there are a lot of little things like what I mentioned above which Teague needs to work on improving. Teague seems to be at his best when he’s being aggressive looking to score. However, when defenses are preventing Teague from scoring, he needs to be prepared to make plays for others.
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:24 pm
Al should get 25 and 20..
Trade Watch
December 31st, 2011
8:24 pm
Yeah Slimjr, good inside. All NBA should take over any minute now.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
8:25 pm
Jordan Hill may not have much of an offensive game but he is not bad on D.
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:25 pm
Hey Al that new turnaround fadeaway aint for you Sir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trade Watch
December 31st, 2011
8:25 pm
Agreed Al = 25 pts and 20rbs tonight. No competition
kevkat
December 31st, 2011
8:25 pm
Al needs to give that shot up..
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
8:26 pm
Put a body on him Al.
Hmmmm
December 31st, 2011
8:26 pm
Josh for THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
8:26 pm
Donald Sloan > Josh
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:27 pm
Our #4 and #5 are killing this team….
Trade Watch
December 31st, 2011
8:27 pm
Next time Al gets a 5′6″ guard on his back I hope he does better than that. I wonder if the pending trade is eating at Al.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
8:27 pm
Smoove singlehandedly saved that last possession from being a score for Houston, something nobody else on this team does regularly, but I expect that will go ignored by the herp derp trade Smoove now crowd.
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:27 pm
#4 and #5 for D12!
Astro Joe
December 31st, 2011
8:27 pm
Horrible fast break, no spacing, just horrible.
Hmmmm
December 31st, 2011
8:27 pm
JOSH IZ DRIBBLING
jerry
December 31st, 2011
8:28 pm
Get tmac in there
Runner-
December 31st, 2011
8:28 pm
What the hell are the Hawks doing out there? First two games they were passing the ball about on offense now it looks like they have no idea what they’re doing
BoneKollector
December 31st, 2011
8:28 pm
Now Nique is telling Josh to give it to the PG
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
8:28 pm
Rockets ARE PLAYING THIRD NITE IN ROW. TAKE JOSH OUT
bigdave
December 31st, 2011
8:28 pm
i dont understand taking Jeff out..
Rev in Tampa
December 31st, 2011
8:28 pm
Even though Marv got the 3-sec call against him I still like the way he went up strong in traffic
bigdave
December 31st, 2011
8:29 pm
put a pg on the court!!
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:29 pm
Josh offense is just brutal…..
Melvin
December 31st, 2011
8:29 pm
Why sub Willie for Jeff????