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
9:04 pm
That was a great cut by Marvin on the previous play. If only the entire team did that more often.
yodaddybrother
January 2nd, 2012
9:04 pm
We are starting to believe
bigdave
January 2nd, 2012
9:04 pm
there you go J!
BoneKollector
January 2nd, 2012
9:04 pm
thank u for driving Josh finally
MattP
January 2nd, 2012
9:04 pm
That is what you need to do Josh!
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
9:04 pm
Great move, Josh.
Can you please, please, please, please, please….look to do that more?
Tremaine
January 2nd, 2012
9:04 pm
Keep doing that Josh.
cp
January 2nd, 2012
9:04 pm
There you go Josh. Attack the rim
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
9:04 pm
First good offensive play by Josh in a long time (of course if I point out his good defensive plays, that makes me an “apologist”)
Spyro
January 2nd, 2012
9:04 pm
Keep doing that, Josh!!
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 2nd, 2012
9:04 pm
Skills!
Teague has nice handles and amazing dribble penetration skills too. He can go any where he want to, whenever he feel like it. I just love this kid!
Hmmmm
January 2nd, 2012
9:04 pm
OMG HE TOOK IT TO THE BASKET AGAIN.
NO DRIBBLING, JOSH. ONLY SHOTS WITHIN 3 FEET OF THE RIM.
OTHERWISE, JUST PASS IT.
terrell
January 2nd, 2012
9:05 pm
There you go Josh. TAKE IT TO THE HOLE!
Mr.E
January 2nd, 2012
9:05 pm
lol even the Heat announcer are mystified by why Josh takes so many jump shots despite what he can do when he drives the ball
Blast
January 2nd, 2012
9:05 pm
Lol @ Big Ray!
Teague defended Lebron and got a turnover.
Hawks up 3.
The Miami Heat are not unbeatable.
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
9:05 pm
Lebron is not used to that kind of ball pressure that far from the basket. It’s a weakness for him, and something he probably never really works on.
Black Power
January 2nd, 2012
9:05 pm
Hawks up by three at the timeout 61-58…good sign.
Mark
January 2nd, 2012
9:05 pm
A SMART move by JOSH
Melvin
January 2nd, 2012
9:05 pm
Teague is 1-4 on layups in the first 4mins of the 3rd qtr. I still like his aggressiveness.
Spyro
January 2nd, 2012
9:06 pm
Being an “apologist” is the new “hater”, Najeh.
northcyde
January 2nd, 2012
9:06 pm
Miami announcers: “It’s amazing how much better he is when he attacks the basket . . but all too often, he’d rather take the jumpshot”
Everybody in the damn world knows this . . but Josh Smith.
When will he finally get it? Or better yet, when will Drew FORBID him from taking jumpers?
Good play Josh.
RethinkPossible
January 2nd, 2012
9:06 pm
Can we ask again, why did Teague not play at all last year?
Black Power
January 2nd, 2012
9:07 pm
The Hawks’ new core: JJ, Horford and Teague and not necessarily in that order.
Melvin
January 2nd, 2012
9:07 pm
I didnt like that shot by Joe.
Tremaine
January 2nd, 2012
9:07 pm
Teague is a beast. The guy should have started last season.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
9:07 pm
Damn, the Heat turn a bad play into a good play really quick.
northcyde
January 2nd, 2012
9:08 pm
Mr. Floater
RethinkPossible
January 2nd, 2012
9:09 pm
Great….JOE is injured.
O'Brien
January 2nd, 2012
9:09 pm
Blown assignment.
Hawks needto finish this quarter strong
RethinkPossible
January 2nd, 2012
9:09 pm
Is Teague getting double teamed?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
9:10 pm
Another efficient game for Joe.
BoneKollector
January 2nd, 2012
9:10 pm
Josh back to jumpers
that dummy
Spyro
January 2nd, 2012
9:10 pm
OK Josh, if those “end of the shot clock” jumpers were the only one you took, I would be fine with that.
Melvin
January 2nd, 2012
9:10 pm
If Joe play like this in the playoffs or on National TV he wouldn’t have to worry about the casual fan talking about his contract….
Ron
January 2nd, 2012
9:10 pm
That was like a triple team on Al lol. I didn’t think he got that much respect in the post.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
9:11 pm
Free throw attempts #3 and #4 for the Hawks in this game. That is the ENTIRE TEAM.
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
9:11 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.
You know, like when normally we could point to Josh’s incredible shot-blocking prowess and steals as something that overcomes the occasional turnover and bad jumper. Only problem is when you look up and suddenly its that “no rim defense” center that wants to play PF who happens to be leading the team in blocks. And instead of leading in that category, you’re vying for the lead in turnovers and missed jumpers.
So now people like me get to be labeled “bashers.” What a twisted world we have in Blogland.
Black Power
January 2nd, 2012
9:11 pm
Josh with another jumper. This guy thinks he’s an all-around player…likes to dribble the ball up court…damn.
Blast
January 2nd, 2012
9:11 pm
Josh didn’t want to come out of the game.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
9:11 pm
LeBron on Vlad… maybe not the greatest matchup for the Hawks.
BoneKollector
January 2nd, 2012
9:12 pm
bad shot
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
9:13 pm
And that is exactly what you want – forcing Lebron to shoot from deep at the end of the clock.
He only hits those when he’s gotten on a roll from drives and what not. Lebron rarely comes into a game shooting hot from deep.
Hawks2012
January 2nd, 2012
9:13 pm
Terrible shot selection currently….
bigdave
January 2nd, 2012
9:13 pm
kill em wit d flow!
Melvin
January 2nd, 2012
9:13 pm
Another nice move by Joe…
cp
January 2nd, 2012
9:13 pm
Joe with the sick cross over
Black Power
January 2nd, 2012
9:13 pm
JJ with and-1…sweet.
Mr.E
January 2nd, 2012
9:13 pm
Good s’t Joe
northcyde
January 2nd, 2012
9:13 pm
LOL . . that wasn’t Joe Johnson. Who was that that went all the way to the basket?
Big Ray
January 2nd, 2012
9:13 pm
Hell yeah.
Joe showing why he’s still the team’s best player once he decides to get into a groove.