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
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
8:32 pm
Can’t have everything I guess, but only 2 free throw attempts for the Hawks this entire game so far.
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
8:32 pm
At this rate, we can trade Josh and keep Teague and there may not be too many complaints
Don’t bank on it. New targets can be picked daily. around these here parts.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 2nd, 2012
8:33 pm
Two in the caboose
All Aboard!
I got two one way tickets at the Amtrack window downtown.
Willie Green got one, but who else on the bench should join him?
Anyone?
Wabe
January 2nd, 2012
8:33 pm
That’s too easy…
Gotta cut off that penetration.
Hawks2012
January 2nd, 2012
8:33 pm
We’d be winning by 10 if Josh would stop shooting with 15+ left of the shot clock…
Tremaine
January 2nd, 2012
8:33 pm
Jeff Teague MVP!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
8:33 pm
WTF happened to Al’s jump shot?
Black Power
January 2nd, 2012
8:33 pm
Just like that, right on queue, Josh takes a jumper that leads to a Heat fastbreak.
bigdave
January 2nd, 2012
8:34 pm
if you aint cheating you aint trying..
RethinkPossible
January 2nd, 2012
8:34 pm
At least there is ball movement.
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
8:34 pm
Great hustle by Al. Nullified by Josh grabbing the net, but he was pushed in the back (nobody saw THAT, though).
Meanwhile, if Horford hits that shot, Tegaue looks very smart for the would-be assist.
d.carter
January 2nd, 2012
8:34 pm
AL HORFORD IS THE WORST HELPSIDE DEFENDER IN THE NBA
Harry Hawk
January 2nd, 2012
8:34 pm
All the Heat have to do is keep taking it to the rim.
yodaddybrother
January 2nd, 2012
8:34 pm
keep playing
Astro Joe
January 2nd, 2012
8:34 pm
That Josh long ball when it was tied kind of came at the wrong time, huh?
Blast
January 2nd, 2012
8:35 pm
Hawks get a rare offensive rebound, and turn it over!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
8:35 pm
Hard to watch the Heat and not come to the conclusion that it is Wade’s team, not LeBron’s team. He is their catalyst.
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
8:35 pm
We’re letting Lebron get all the positions he wants. Stop that, and he stops making these lead-rallying plays.
cp
January 2nd, 2012
8:35 pm
Come on Josh smh. stop with the jumpers
BoneKollector
January 2nd, 2012
8:35 pm
As long as Josh is in the game the Hawks will not be productive
bigdave
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
bow!
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
The best help side defense will never overcome the worst position defense.
Read between the lines….
Wabe
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
Yessir
Astro Joe
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
Give LD some credit for pulling out the zone defense in the 2nd quarter.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
Big shot Joe! Bailed out the Hawks for an otherwise lackluster last two minutes of the half.
Runner-
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
atta boy jj
Tremaine
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
NICE!
yodaddybrother
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
Joe Johnson earning a paycheck
Harry Hawk
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
“Right when the Hawks needed it badly.”
Okay, Rathbun. It’s halftime, chump.
Ryan
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
J-J-J-Joe Johnson!
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
Meanwhile Joe earning just a piece of his paycheck on that last shot.
Melvin
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
Nice to see Joe and AL pick it up in the 2nd qtr….
BoneKollector
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
Joe with the bail out shot
Hmmmm
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
STOP SHOOTING JUMPERS JOSH. WE MIGHT STICK AROUND.
Ron
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
Nice shot by Joe.
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
8:37 pm
The best help side defense will never overcome the worst position defense.
Read between the lines, folks….
FreshFromATL
January 2nd, 2012
8:37 pm
Good shot Joe but man, Josh may single-handly keep us from winning this game. I warming up to the idea of trading that dude.
Wabe
January 2nd, 2012
8:37 pm
Joe, Al, Teague holding it down offensively.
Smoove and Teague makin’ it happen defensively…
Outside of that one shot, Marvin is back to being Marvin.
Astro Joe
January 2nd, 2012
8:37 pm
Big Ray, it took you more than a minute, but you are clearly seeing the light (as I read between the lines).
Black Power
January 2nd, 2012
8:37 pm
Still a close game at half…Hawks down 50-47…it could’ve been worse…decent showing…positive sign.
Lacsho
January 2nd, 2012
8:38 pm
Jooeee Jooohhhnnnssssooonnn!!!!
Mark
January 2nd, 2012
8:38 pm
And they have the NERVE to question Teague’s PLAY. Josh needs to SHUTUP!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
8:38 pm
Considering they were out-shot from the field and from the free throw line, being down 3 at the half is not so bad. Their best stretches came when they were forcing turnovers and not letting the Heat have second chances. Gotta keep up the intensity on that end of the floor if they want to pull out this win.
Runner-
January 2nd, 2012
8:39 pm
Hawks still shooting 48% despite Josh being 1-6 from the floor, Green 0-2, and Rad 0-4
Mark
January 2nd, 2012
8:39 pm
Please TRADE Josh!
Astro Joe
January 2nd, 2012
8:39 pm
I would comment about the first half shooting stats of the starters, but Jimmy Craig doesn’t like it when folk point the fingers at him.
Mark
January 2nd, 2012
8:40 pm
Maybe DREW should start CALLING OUT Josh and his PATHETIC JUMPSHOOTING! Never mind, he is SCARED of him.
yodaddybrother
January 2nd, 2012
8:41 pm
lets get one thing straight. The Hawks aren’t “letting” the Heat do anything. That’s what the Heat do. They get out and get easy points and they do it on every team in the league. Lebron James MVP, D. Wade Finals MVP, Bosh All Star. They will get in the crevaces (sp?) split the defense and get dunks and layups. Deal with it.
The key is not to back down and capitalize when they make mistakes. The Hawks have done a nice job of this so far although it could be better.
BoneKollector
January 2nd, 2012
8:41 pm
If Josh had a brain we probably could be winning this game
Runner-
January 2nd, 2012
8:42 pm
Right now, Smoove is simply bringing negativity to the Hawks, and a trade should definitely be considered by the Hawks. Despite a few flashes here or there each game, Josh is not playing like he wants to remain a Hawk. His negativity on and off the floor can only be hurting the Hawks and we should trade him now before it’s too late