Atlanta Hawks at Heat: Game thread
Miami–All Hawks except Kirk Hinrich (shoulder) are good to go. Donald Sloan is inactive.
- Hinrich is to see his doctor tomorrow but Larry Drew still isn’t sure when he will return. “Hopefully we will get him back soon,” Drew said.
- Mike Miller (hernia), Eddy Curry (hip) and Mickell Gladness (foot) are out for the Heat.
- Josh Smith has some swelling in his right knee. He had an ice pack on it at shootaround. Reminded of the spectacular dunk he had during Atlanta’s 93-89 victory here last season, Smith said: “I have to try to re-live it.”
- Marvin Williams said he suffered nose bleeds while sleeping in two of the past three nights. “I thought my nose was running, so I wipe and there is blood everywhere,” he said. “It used to happen me to when I was a kid but it’s been a long time.”
- Drew on Williams: “He’s playing much better basketball than last year. He’s looking for his shot more. I’ve given him more freedom to be a little bit more creative with his shot. When he’s on the floor making shots he’s a big weapon for us. Chances are teams are going to double team us a lot with Joe [Johnson] so it’s important we spread [with] the shooting.”
- Drew on splitting minutes between Williams and Tracy McGrady, who finished the game at Houston: “I’ve been just kind of going with feel. It seems like T-Mac is starting to get his legs under him a little bit. I thought he played really well in the Houston game. At the same time I have to be mindful of the minutes he gets. I don’t want to wear him down.”
- Drew said the Hawks should draw confidence from winning at Miami last season but cautioned: “We are looking at a different [Heat] team. From the games I’ve seen they look like they are a team on a mission. You can’t get into a run-and-shoot game with this team. They run with force. They run in waves.”
- Al Horford on winning here last season: “It’s a new season. If we can take anything from it, we have done it here before. But obviously we have to validate it this season.”
- This is the fifth game in seven days for the Hawks. “Physically, I think we are OK,” Drew said. A little mental fatigue may start to settle in a little bit. Something we talked about before we started is it’s something you have got to push through. All teams are going through it. We cannot and will not use that as an excuse. We will play the hand that has been dealt to us. It can take a toll on you if you allow it to. It’s imperative that they take care of themselves.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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969 comments Add your comment
O'Brien
January 2nd, 2012
9:14 pm
Can our bench players keep the game close? Our starters need a break in order to finish strong, and we do have a game against the Bulls tomorrow.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
9:15 pm
Regarding Joe’s efficiency, I may be wrong, but I don’t think Bibby and Kirk ever handled the ball as much as Teague has handled it in this game and in the 3 wins this season. As much sh-t as Joe gets sometimes, much of it undeserved, he looks like a totally different player when he just has to focus on scoring. Can’t double him with the point guard when the point guard can actually play.
TMACfan
January 2nd, 2012
9:15 pm
When JJ is feelin it, it’s so pretty to watch
Black Power
January 2nd, 2012
9:15 pm
Correction: JJ with the And-1…sweet.
RethinkPossible
January 2nd, 2012
9:16 pm
Where the F is ZAZA?
BoneKollector
January 2nd, 2012
9:16 pm
free throws
Melvin
January 2nd, 2012
9:16 pm
Uh oh, here comes Pargo…
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
9:16 pm
Nice to see Josh take the lead on the glass. His rebounds have been hustle rebounds moreso than blocking out, but who cares.
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
9:16 pm
GD-it Pargo….
BoneKollector
January 2nd, 2012
9:17 pm
pargo can’t shoot 4 shiit
Wabe
January 2nd, 2012
9:17 pm
LD’s really clockin’ Joe some minutes here…
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
9:17 pm
Heat getting away with more BS. That was a foul.
Here we go….
Mr.E
January 2nd, 2012
9:17 pm
Vlad is embarassing
bigdave
January 2nd, 2012
9:17 pm
Vlad you can go up stronger than that sheesh.. how tall are you?
yodaddybrother
January 2nd, 2012
9:17 pm
lol @ Vladimir
Blast
January 2nd, 2012
9:17 pm
Refs swallowing the whistle…
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
9:17 pm
“As a former Josh Smith apologist, I can define what the condition means – when you avidly magnify the positives a person brings and minimize the negatives (or act like you’re ignoring them). There are times when the positives do NOT outweight the negatives.”
Fair enough. I don’t think most of the people throwing that word around use it in the same way though.
Josh Smith is the team’s leading rebounder, second leading shot blocker, and second leading assist man. His shot selection sucks.
#TeamDon’tMakeTradesJustForTheSakeOfMakingThem
#TeamLookAtTheGoodAndTheBad
#TeamEvenKeel
#TeamDon’tOverreact
Melvin
January 2nd, 2012
9:17 pm
Hawks will not get a foul call
Ron
January 2nd, 2012
9:17 pm
Radmanovic really isn’t much of a finisher at the hoop. We should give Al the ball in the post, he’s being defended by the smaller Haslem. That’s a good matchup to attack.
BoneKollector
January 2nd, 2012
9:17 pm
Well we had a chance
Wabe
January 2nd, 2012
9:18 pm
Here comes the dry spell…
Because there’s literally one threat on the floor.
Where’s the bench squad at?
Melvin
January 2nd, 2012
9:18 pm
Vlad is struggling….
yodaddybrother
January 2nd, 2012
9:18 pm
Free Zaza
Black Power
January 2nd, 2012
9:19 pm
The Hawks would be winning if Jamal was playing tonight.
Wabe
January 2nd, 2012
9:19 pm
Should’ve just rested Joe to end that quarter…
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
9:19 pm
Missing Hinrich again….Pargo stinking up the joint on offense.
gusman354
January 2nd, 2012
9:19 pm
THE HEAT IS ON.
yodaddybrother
January 2nd, 2012
9:19 pm
Zaza should always play before Vladimir
cp
January 2nd, 2012
9:19 pm
Vlad has been terrible these past few games
bigdave
January 2nd, 2012
9:19 pm
Marvin has to come in ready to assert himself..
Melvin
January 2nd, 2012
9:19 pm
If the Hawks would finished the qtrs better, they would be have the lead.
Tremaine
January 2nd, 2012
9:19 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
9:15 pm
Regarding Joe’s efficiency, I may be wrong, but I don’t think Bibby and Kirk ever handled the ball as much as Teague has handled it in this game and in the 3 wins this season. As much sh-t as Joe gets sometimes, much of it undeserved, he looks like a totally different player when he just has to focus on scoring. Can’t double him with the point guard when the point guard can actually play.
Cosign!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
9:19 pm
Down by 4 going into the 4th. Not bad, but given that they outplayed the Heat for most of that quarter I hoped they would be tied.
gusman354
January 2nd, 2012
9:20 pm
heat 6-0
gusman354
January 2nd, 2012
9:21 pm
hawks 3-2
northcyde
January 2nd, 2012
9:21 pm
Radmo = 0 – 5 FG
Drew shouldn’t keep him in the game long in the 4th. No way you come with the full bench here. Get Teague and Horford/Josh/Marvin back in the game
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
9:21 pm
The bench is 3/17. Starters are shooting over 50%.
Grandmaster JeJe
January 2nd, 2012
9:21 pm
Amnesty Josh
Wabe
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
SMH @ Willie Green
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
Big, possibly momentum-saving offensive board by Al.
Ron
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
Willie Green should have just passed that to Al. I never like it when he shoots.
yodaddybrother
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
finally call a foul….gee whiz
northcyde
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
way to rebound Al
Drew . . get Teague back into this game.
Grandmaster JeJe
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
Radman has done jacksht lately
bigdave
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
this dude.
Wabe
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
Dude can’t even buy a FT
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
Najeh ,
Fair enough. I’m bothered that Josh leads the team with 7.3 rpg. Not because HE leads the team, but because it’s such a low number. I mean, Marvin should be averaging close to that if he’s so damn healthy. Al Horford should be WELL above that, he’s been a near 10 rpg guy for his entire short career.
Josh can do better, but being lighter (which is good for him) and not being a great fundamentals guy, he has to get those hustle-and-jump boards. And you know what? I don’t care. Get ‘em however you can. Just get him.
Al has no excuse. He knows the blocking out fundamentals really well, has more weight and strength, and has enough athletic ability to get hustle boards. Same for Marvin…
yodaddybrother
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
Hawks are poor at the free throw line
Melvin
January 2nd, 2012
9:23 pm
Please get Gilbert Arenas agent on the line….
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
9:23 pm
No Hawk has played over 35 minutes in a game this season. That is going to change tonight. LD is playing with fire going with the no defense playing bench to start this 4th quarter.