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
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:36 pm
Amnesty LD! #2,#4, AND #5! LOL
Nique's Revenge
December 31st, 2011
8:36 pm
smh. same ole hawks. we should be past this by now. get rid of drew and josh. and the sorry owners.
Black Power
December 31st, 2011
8:36 pm
Somebody tell Josh Smith that the Hawks’ jersey he’s wearing means he plays for Atlanta and not Houston.
Trade Watch
December 31st, 2011
8:36 pm
Leuer Watch I dont know if a blogger wanted to trade for the scrub or not, I just know Al should be getting 25/20 and we should cruise. If not then bench Al to after the trade so he doesnt lose any more trade value
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:36 pm
CAN WE BEAT THE THUNDER OR CHICAGO?
Astro Joe
December 31st, 2011
8:36 pm
I think TMac turns into Gerald Green after 20 minutes of playing time, that is likely why he isn’t in the game.
Joe
December 31st, 2011
8:37 pm
I have to agree that Josh has hurt the team more than he has helped the team tonight. His man has been all over the boards, and on offense Josh has take more bad shots than one can count. Yes, he’s done some good things too, but the good don’t outweigh the bad tonight.
If I were L.D., I’d sub in Zaza for Josh. Zaza will keep whoever he is guarding off of the glass, and he and Al typically play well together. I don’t have much confidence in L.D. to make the right move though.
jerry
December 31st, 2011
8:37 pm
I bet tmac wishes he was back with the pistons where he was getting minutes. lol
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
8:37 pm
LOL @ Najeh . . I was just thinking the same thing. I know this party will be lame, but it may be better than watching the rest of this game.
Melvin
December 31st, 2011
8:37 pm
LD is scared to bench Josh.
Trade Watch
December 31st, 2011
8:37 pm
Houston has 3 players in double figures and Atlanta 2 with Josh and JJ, Al is some where smoking weed.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
Someone tell Josh Smith that the Hawks’ jersey means he plays for Atlanta and not Josh Smith
Hmmmm
December 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
Josh earns the 2nd highest salary on the team: Shouldn’t Drew be able to depend on him to not take stupid umpers?
HAI GUYS!
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
HEY AL SET SHOT TRY THAT TURNAROUND FADE AWAY AGAIN? TRY AND HIT THE RIM!
Joe
December 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
I cannot believe that last play. Josh was literally right in front of the ball.
jerry
December 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
astro retard, he has only played 9
Black Power
December 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
Rockets announcer, ” Josh Smith…Scola giving him a lot of room.” lol
yoursporthouse.com
December 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
Horford is now the clown on the team. Marvin is slowly being let off the hook. See told you, let Lowry shoot, he’s a bum.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
TAKE JOSH OUT
Runner-
December 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
SMOOOVE, GET AT HIM
Trade Watch
December 31st, 2011
8:39 pm
LD is trying to win thats why josh is in, but I agree he is scared to bench that sorry azz Al Horford.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
8:39 pm
LD STOP P*55ying AROUND AND SUSPEND JOSH SMITH
northcyde
December 31st, 2011
8:39 pm
smh @ Josh.
Dr Jeckyl – Mr. Hyde
Astro Joe
December 31st, 2011
8:40 pm
Hawks run some of the ugliest fast breaks ever. Even when they convert, just fugly.
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:40 pm
IS THAT COLLINS OUT THERE? NO ITS NUMBER 15…
Blast
December 31st, 2011
8:40 pm
No way Hawks win this game playing this passive, disinterested.
yoursporthouse.com
December 31st, 2011
8:40 pm
Let Lowry shoot..let Lowry shoot..
Melvin
December 31st, 2011
8:40 pm
Nique said ‘Dalen-bear”
Runner-
December 31st, 2011
8:40 pm
here we go, we’re finally getting some breaks and taking advantage. maybe there’s still hope, nothing coming easy though…
kevkat
December 31st, 2011
8:40 pm
Dang..even we they score it’s ugly…
Trade Watch
December 31st, 2011
8:40 pm
bout time Al did something. His a – 17 against the over and under right now. Trade his … oh we are already working on that .
Hmmmm
December 31st, 2011
8:40 pm
YO JOSH #OCCUPYTHEPAINT
Joe
December 31st, 2011
8:40 pm
Nique probably wants to deck Josh by now. I wonder how he maintains his composure while watching some of these games.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
8:40 pm
Season is over.
JEFF TEAGUE R U PLAYING TONIT?
HOUSTON IS PLAYING THIRD NITE IN ROW ANS WE HAVE DONE JACKSHT TONITE
yoursporthouse.com
December 31st, 2011
8:41 pm
GET A REBOUND!!!!
Astro Joe
December 31st, 2011
8:41 pm
jerry, if you play him extensively in the second half, then the number exceeds 20. Now stop using your mother’s PC and go to bed.
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:41 pm
THIS IS PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Runner-
December 31st, 2011
8:41 pm
pass it to Vlad, hes open on the wing…
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
8:42 pm
REBPUND. WHERE IS THE DEFENSE
TROTTINGHOME
December 31st, 2011
8:42 pm
lol poop, smoove also went 0 for 8 jump shots…and is not slowing down the Rockets. smoove will not lead them to a championship nor will he ever learn to give up a wide open jump shot so someone else that can make will.
But at the end of the day…its just poor draft picking that has done them in…along with poor free agent signings.
Hmmmm
December 31st, 2011
8:42 pm
The people blaming Al are mysteriously quiet about Jumpshooting Josh. And Al has clearly played better than Josh. HMMMMMM.
doc
December 31st, 2011
8:42 pm
time to get some champagne or anything.
Runner-
December 31st, 2011
8:43 pm
wow, great hustle at the end there, game’s still within reach i guess…
Slimjr
December 31st, 2011
8:43 pm
GOTTA FIND ANOTHER TEAM TO ROOT FOR TILL WE GET D12..THIS ISH LOOKS THE SAME….
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
8:43 pm
Enter your comments here
TROTTINGHOME
December 31st, 2011
8:43 pm
The real Hawks have just shown up.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 31st, 2011
8:43 pm
PUT THE STARTERS IN
Joe
December 31st, 2011
8:44 pm
I’m I the only one who doesn’t like Drew playing a full bench unit? Maybe when Kirk gets back, it will be fine to have 5 bench guys on the floor at once in a meaningful game, but I don’t feel comfortable with that at this point. I think one of the core players (Joe, Josh, or Al) needs to be on the floor with the bench unit at all times. Drew has more options this year to mix and match the pieces, but he has yet to do so.
Cbenj
December 31st, 2011
8:44 pm
Can we get Gerald Wallace for Josh Smith? Some one who is consistently competitive?
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2011
8:44 pm
“Hawks more interested in going to a NYE Party hosted by Kirko Bangz, Mike Jones”
Who?