Atlanta Hawks at Bulls: Game thread
Chicago–Regular lineup for the Hawks. All Hawks except Kirk Hinrich (shoulder) and Donald Sloan (inactive) are available. Ronnie Brewer is starting in place of Rip Hamilton (groin) for the Bulls.
- Hinrich had his eight-week checkup today. “Good news,” Hinrich said. “They are going to let me start doing all of the non-contact stuff with the team. A couple weeks from now, we will see how it goes from there. It’s one of those deals where I’m excited to do some things. Hopefully I can get my conditioning right and keep strengthening. I have some weakness. I need to get stronger before I get out there.”
- Larry Drew said he hasn’t decided on Hinrich’s role when he returns: “We will see how that goes with Kirk. We are certainly going to bring him along slowly. But as far as who is going to be the starter, I haven’t made a decision.”
- Drew doesn’t think a zone defense can be as effective against the Bulls as it was against Miami: “You are talking about two totally different beasts. With having to defend Wade and LeBron I think it’s totally different from having to defend Rose. With Rose I think he may be more explosive. Both LeBron and D-Wade are very explosive but Rose’s explosion is a little bit different. His ability to get into the paint is more of a havoc than LeBron and Wade. LeBron and Wade are more open court. Rose can get into the basket open court and half court.”
- Jeff Teague is back in the building where he started the best run of his young career. He said he’s not still drawing confidence from those moments against Rose, though: “I’m a confident player, anyway. I don’t really get into the matchup last year. He’s going to come back with something totally different.”
- Vladimir Radmanovic is 0 for 10 from the field in the last two games, including 0 for 4 on 3-pointers. He passed up a couple open attempts at Miami. Drew wants him to keep shooting. “We brought him here to shoot when he’s open,” Drew said. “He hasn’t had his typical type games but I am not going to instruct him to stop shooting. He’s got to keep putting them up.”
- Al Horford had a productive game around the basket against Chris Bosh. Joakim Noah is tougher by multiple degrees. “I think you have to try to match his energy as much as you can,” Horford said. “He is going to bring that every night and I think that’s what makes him such a great player.”
- Josh Smith was 1 for 7 on long 2s against the Heat before settling down. “He got into a jump-shot mode,” Drew said. “When he came out that first time, we spoke to him at that time. Then he just kind got it together and started putting it in the floor and getting to the basket, which is a strength of his because he’s long and he can elevate. He did settle down.”
- The Hawks are playing their sixth game in eight days. “We are doing OK,” Horford said. “At this point everybody has got something that is wrong with them. That’s just a part of it. Tonight is a big game for us so we are going to come out here and focus on tonight and tomorrow hopefully we will get to rest and recover.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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1,299 comments Add your comment
Melvin
January 3rd, 2012
10:39 pm
That last play was just awful… Marvin and Josh standing together behind the 3pt line. Teague coming off the curl which was totally ignored by the defense. Should have had Josh running toward the goal for a possible lob at least it would have cleared out the defense then Joe would have had clean look. Don’t know why Marvin was in the game over TMac. At least TMac would have drew defense attention.
tckr83
January 3rd, 2012
10:39 pm
Northcyde –
We’ve been talking about J-Smoove jacking jumpers, JJ not getting to the line/disappearing against good teams for years… they’re not going to change no matter how much they swear they have.
Hollywould
January 3rd, 2012
10:39 pm
Nice Joe, crap defense the play before/air ball from 19/ same ol same ol
Luke Cage
January 3rd, 2012
10:39 pm
Yes we did play the 2 best teams in the East, beat 1 and shoulda beaten the other, missed FT’s was the real killer but letting Rose go off on your 2nd unit was even bigger.
Saying we wen 1-1 against the 2 best teams is no consolation prize, Hawks and Hawk fans should be tired of moral victories. Like Ric Flair says, “In Order To Be The Man, Ya Gotta Beat The Man”
truth
January 3rd, 2012
10:40 pm
TeamTradeJoshSmith TeamFireMarkRicht == dumpster dweller
Wabe
January 3rd, 2012
10:40 pm
When dude’s making 3-point bombs the way he did in that 4th quarter…
You’ve gotta respect his jumper.
That opens up those penetration lanes.
Then you see him getting calls in the lane or getting guys like Deng get involved.
Teague may have missed those FT’s, but who made them tonight?
Who made any clutch shots going down the stretch?
Grandmaster JeJe
January 3rd, 2012
10:40 pm
DID NO ONE ON THIS TEAM PRACTICE FREE THROWS THIS OFFSEASON?
YOU GUYS MAKE MILLIONS A YEAR AND CAN’T HIT AN F’ING *****FREE****** THROW
IT’S F’ING FREE
northcyde
January 3rd, 2012
10:40 pm
Greg Anthony made a great point before that last play.
He said that he’d like to see JJ get the ball in the “Carmelo Anthony area” . . which is 10 – 17 feet from the basket. At least for there, he could catch and turn toward the goal, and have a chance to get to the rim or draw the foul.
But when you’re 25 feet away, it’s hard to get any type of quality shot . . especially since JJ isn’t the fastest guard in the world.
JJ’s last 4 shots of that 4th quarter were from 22 feet and out. Just can’t have that.
Spyro
January 3rd, 2012
10:40 pm
Another stat to pay attention to: All the starters were positive +/-, and the entire bench was negative.
This game could have used some IVAN JOHNSON during that 4th quarter stretch by the bench. GIVE THE GUY SOME PT!
Michael Crespo
January 3rd, 2012
10:40 pm
best believe the hawks are going to be shooting free throws and running suicides each time they miss one ALL DAY tomorrow…. can’t believe this
Grandmaster JeJe
January 3rd, 2012
10:41 pm
HORFORD 7 REBOUNDS IN 40 MINUTES. IS THAT A FREAKING JOKE?
stizz
January 3rd, 2012
10:41 pm
I know Teague missed some FTs tonight, but if Drew even thinks about replacing him with KH in the starting lineup I will personally slap the s*** out of Drew.
Hawvks vs Bulls
January 3rd, 2012
10:41 pm
10 pts for Joe, that means his 16 million earned this season equates to $1,632,450 per point tonight
northcyde
January 3rd, 2012
10:41 pm
@ tckr83 . . . you’re right.
FreshFromATL
January 3rd, 2012
10:41 pm
Sautee,
I lot of the people running in here posting now are just trolls posting under different screen names.
Rose got hot while Pargo was guarding him and brought them back. T-Mac obviously didn’t have his legs anymore or Drew would have had him playing instead of Marvin. Teague missed two free throws when the game was on the line (he’ll learn from that trust me). Suit up and get ready for the next one.
Moses Cologne
January 3rd, 2012
10:42 pm
Its really time for a change…the Hawks have been blowing games in this fashion since the days of Dominique Wilkins…missed free throws, missed defensive rotations, ZaZa giving up the ball intentionally to Luol Deng…maybe its time that the Hawks change the name of the Franchise…maybe its time the NBA quit fixing games..honestly David Stern would’ve never allowed the Hawks to beat the Heat and the Bulls two nights in a row.there may be a spirit in the air, but there is a curse on the ground and the Hawks are forever being affected by that curse.
northcyde
January 3rd, 2012
10:42 pm
JJ will actually make 18 million this season . . so re-calculate
Hoopster
January 3rd, 2012
10:42 pm
Question regarding the replay overturn……..the official on the sideline AND the official on the baseline ruled it Hawks ball. What is the justification or need for a review when the 2 closest to the play both indicate Hawks ball?
Luke Cage
January 3rd, 2012
10:42 pm
WE LOST, bulls didn’t beat us, not encouraged by that, want to be taken serious, win these kinda games, don’t care back to back on the road or not, peace i’m out!!
Ray
January 3rd, 2012
10:43 pm
Tough loss but at least they stayed in the thick of it this team looks to be one that won’t roll over and die it may be only 6 games but da*mit call me a happy fan tonight.
ntrigue
January 3rd, 2012
10:43 pm
Worset coached game in history…….I have never witnessed such madness…Why did we have Joe bringing the ball up the court making the offense stagnant…..then we have Josh smith check rose on the inbound pass taking him away from the basket just terrible dont understand it……This is just terrible totally unacceptable…….We seem to always miss free throws in clutch situations terrible….Joe Johnson is not Lebron, he is not D-Rose, he is not D-Wade- he is nothing but Joe “dribble the ball till the shot clock goes down” Johnson… stop trying to put him in positions to create when that is not his strenght. Wake up Coach Drew and get a new suit this is just terrible these are the type of games we should win but we dont and we end up with the 4th and 5th seed because of it!!!! I still love the Hawks but this was the worst coached gm from the fourth qtr on that I have EVER SEEN IN MY 33 yrs ON THIS Planet!!!!! Larry Drew needs to be slapped!!!!
Melvin
January 3rd, 2012
10:43 pm
This lost sucks…
bigdave
January 3rd, 2012
10:43 pm
“losing the 6th game of the season isn’t “back breaking” ”
having a 2nd half 18 pt lead on the back end of a road trip against the eastern conference finals and not putting them away sure isnt soothing..
at some point you have to be mentally tougher.
Wabe
January 3rd, 2012
10:43 pm
Just chalk it up to a bad loss.
This teams talented enough.
Mentally tough enough though? Don’t know.
They can play with Miami and Chicago.
They’re still the 3rd best team in the East, IMO.
It’s a matter of whether this team can overcome their mental lapses.
Long season. Pretty heated about tonight’s outcome, but can’t do ish bout it now. We get another shot at em’ on Saturday.
If they take 3 of 4 from these clubs, it’s still pretty convincing. Take Miami out twice, and the Bulls at home, and it’s still a pretty strong statement.
Smith.Leuer.Bogut aka Other Options?
January 3rd, 2012
10:43 pm
Josh Smith is more valuable to ATL than anyone else. Deal with it.
bigdave
January 3rd, 2012
10:44 pm
sets up nicely for blow out losses at home.
doc
January 3rd, 2012
10:44 pm
disappointment
tckr83
January 3rd, 2012
10:44 pm
It doesn’t matter where JJ catches the ball… he doesn’t know how or refuses to get to the line.
Section 303
January 3rd, 2012
10:45 pm
FT’s are just concentration. That’s all.
They can run, they can hide, but they will still be the Atlanta Hawks.
Grandmaster JeJe
January 3rd, 2012
10:45 pm
Weren’t we a top FT shooting team last year?
IDIOTS
THEY’RE ******************Free*************************THROWS. U MAKE 10 MILLION A YEAR + AND CAN’T HIT A ***********fREE********** THROW
Astro Joe
January 3rd, 2012
10:45 pm
Free throws were likely a result of hard-fought game last night. You can’t ask guys to play a ton of minutes and then expect perfect free thow shooting at the end of yet another hard fought game. The bench came up short in the 4th quarter and starters were forced to return a little early.
Some of y’all act like the Hawks were going to go 66-0. Surely no one penciled in two wins in these last two nights, right?
Harry Hawk
January 3rd, 2012
10:46 pm
I doubt Teague’s so much of a wuss that his confidence can be shattered so easily.
Well, I should say that I hope he isn’t. Larry Drew is the best coach our money can buy, so if you have a problem with him, do like thousands of others in the ATL and complain about the idiot owners running this thing.
Grandmaster JeJe
January 3rd, 2012
10:46 pm
Hawks will never recover from this loss the next time they play Chicago. Lose by 18 on Sat
yodaddybrother
January 3rd, 2012
10:47 pm
Don’t overreact though….the Hawks are the 3rd best team in the East from my eye test of the first few weeks of the season.
They can give the Bulls all they want any time. We just need to learn exactly what we want to do in those late game/4th quarter possessions. The Bulls know Rose will have the ball. The Hawks don’t really KNOW who will have the ball or what plays to run. And that’s the difference.
This team has some SERIOUS upside though so Hawks fans should be optimistic.
Please stop with the trade talk too. Josh Smith was the Hawks Player of The Game and yall talking about trading him yeah right.
darrell starks
January 3rd, 2012
10:47 pm
When Teague play aggressive and attack the Hawks win, when Teague don’t they lose i guess Joe was right after all.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
doc
January 3rd, 2012
10:47 pm
303 and legs and nerves. you make it sound so simple.
omar
January 3rd, 2012
10:48 pm
this is loss on on coach drew, iso joes, and missed free throws. that’s why we don’t get too excited about this team
Section 303
January 3rd, 2012
10:48 pm
Can’t wait for the massive letdown at the Highlight Factory on Thursday night. You know these a$$holes are just going to roll over for a week after losing tonight.
I defend none of these guys after tonight. Hate being so down after just one loss, but we all know we are going to see games like this a bunch of times this year.
This group simply can’t do it. They just can’t. Born losers.
kwooden
January 3rd, 2012
10:49 pm
Very tough loss, but I’m not as upset as I thought I would be. The HAWKS actually didn’t play that great, except for the start of the game. They had some nice plays and some good ball movement, but the bench really gave up the lead at the beginning of the 4th. Teague’s misses were big, but I’m partial to Jeff so I’m not going to hammer him. Hopefully this loss will help the team with its mental toughness and let them know that the top 2 teams in the East aren’t that much better than them. The mental toughness also goes for LD. He should have used more timeouts early in the 4th and also brought back the starters. He could have tried to sub Tracy back in the game late for a short stretch, but I do appreciate him leaving his best defensive team in the game. Clearly the Hawks are very good when they run their offensive, hopefully this will be another step towards being able to execute under pressure. I think we’re a Playoff team, so all these games are just dress rehearsals, for the really games in April!
GO HAWKS!!
bigdave
January 3rd, 2012
10:49 pm
“He said that he’d like to see JJ get the ball in the “Carmelo Anthony area” . . which is 10 – 17 feet from the basket. At least for there, he could catch and turn toward the goal, and have a chance to get to the rim or draw the foul.”
Joe doesnt look to draw contact enough to be effective in there.. he prefers to work in more space. thats Paul’s spot too.. right in that elbow intermediate area. i always defend Joe, but he goes to the hole with no authority what so ever.
Uncle Tom
January 3rd, 2012
10:50 pm
What a collapse! I wish the AJC would start up a[n Atlanta] Dream blog. At least the Dream can win the [WNBA] ECF and play in the Finals. The Hawks need Marynell Meadors to replace LD and Rick Sund as Head Coach and GM. Mrs. Meadors fills both roles with the Dream. BTW, the Dream are only four years old as an organization [franchise] and have been to two Championship Finals, wtf.
Astro Joe
January 3rd, 2012
10:51 pm
ESPNChiBulls Nick Friedell
Rose had more points (17) than the Bulls scored in the first (15) second (11) and third (16) quarters.
MattP
January 3rd, 2012
10:53 pm
yodaddybrother,
Josh was the player of the game because they all sucked on offense. This will be the one game out of 20 that he gets the player of the game for the Hawks. He almost always looks good on defense but his offense really hurt us, bring the ball up like he is a PG, shooting jumpers like he is a sharpshooter. Is it really that hard to drive an open lane? And yes, he had his share of those problems this game.
Wabe
January 3rd, 2012
10:53 pm
Agree with what Astro Joe said on the last page…
I know it stings…
But no need to overreact about one game.
Ish happens. Onto the next game.
Prison Mike
January 3rd, 2012
10:53 pm
Drew should of went with Al or Josh for the game winner not an overpaid guy that went 3-17. They both played hard on both ends and deserved the chance.
darrell starks
January 3rd, 2012
10:53 pm
Somebody please tell Nique to be quiet, seen like every game listening to him there is a premature bias on his behalf.
GO HAWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SteveW
January 3rd, 2012
10:53 pm
I’m not bummed – we beat Miami handily in Miami, and should have beat these guys in Chicago. Pargo stayed on Rose too long, jj was way off tonite, and no TMac at crunch time – and Chicago had yesterday off while we had a 4+ hour flight after the game in Miami.
I think Chicago know we can beat them. Asik and Gibson off the bench are a handful. And Deng and Rose are playing 43-44 minutes – wow
moboman
January 3rd, 2012
10:54 pm
We let Rose rest on defense by having Joe bring the ball up. Iso Joe means rested Rose on offense. Teague standing around while Joe dribbles out the clock is no way to win. Should have won this game. Poorly coached, poorly executed 4th quarter. No excuse. WE quit playing our game and went into same old Hawks mode.
Section 303
January 3rd, 2012
10:54 pm
doc, shouldn’t it be that simple, though? FT’s have killed this team for years. Not just tonight. It’s a concentration issue. And, if nerves are what got in their way tonight, we might as well give up.
Of course, nerves might be it. Can’t even count how many times we’ve seen this group wilt whenever faced with adversity. If things don’t go 100% their way, this team just folds.
SteveW
January 3rd, 2012
10:54 pm
Glad Asik is a RFA after this season – he’s probably gone