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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,299 comments Add your comment
Ken Strickland
January 3rd, 2012
9:12 pm
Just a reminder to all of those who were so afraid of the Bulls DEF. THE ATLANTA HAWKS CAN PLAY DEF TOO, AND WE ARE THE ONES LEADING THE NBA IN TOTAL DEF. I also said the Bulls were as vulnerable to a zone DEF as the Heat, and we’ve seen that so far in the 1st half. They are bigger, but we’re quicker, faster, more versatile, and have more OFF weapons. And our DEF is definitely better, because we have a SOLID perimeter DEF, with Pargo, Green, JJ and Teague. GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
northcyde
January 3rd, 2012
9:12 pm
Speaking of Brand . . I think I;m about to cut him from my fantasy team. I might give him one more game, and he’s gone.
Dont Brick It
January 3rd, 2012
9:12 pm
Just 26 poinst for the Bulls.. Wow.
JaeEvolution
January 3rd, 2012
9:12 pm
Chris Webber is praising us like no other right now.
MattP
January 3rd, 2012
9:12 pm
“RT @HawksPRGuy: Tracy McGrady bumped knees earlier, but he’s expected to return. #Hawks”
Glad he is coming back.
Runner-
January 3rd, 2012
9:12 pm
Yea T-Mac limped up after a collision under the basket, he looked OK though, not sure
Dont Brick It
January 3rd, 2012
9:12 pm
*points
Uncle Tom
January 3rd, 2012
9:12 pm
I guess the Hawks are giving the Bulls a taste of their own medicine – good defense.
Big Lou
January 3rd, 2012
9:12 pm
Tmac isn’t injured. Don’t listen to the hype.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 3rd, 2012
9:14 pm
Boozer had knee problems in Utah too, and there are too many examples of players for whom knee problems never really go away. Maybe if he had worked harder on his rehab he would be a better player now, but maybe not. One thing about him is that even when he was healthy in his best years in Utah, he struggled mightily against taller players. I remember one year when the Jazz and Lakers played in the first round and Boozer was damn near invisible.
Hawks4Eva
January 3rd, 2012
9:14 pm
FreshFromATL
January 3rd, 2012
9:07 pm
said “better hope tmac not hurt
northcyde
January 3rd, 2012
9:14 pm
Ken . . you may as well apply to be GM of the Hawks. Everything that you’ve been saying for the past 2 years has FINALLY came to pass.
Big Ray
January 3rd, 2012
9:14 pm
Again – love what Josh is doing on the glass. He’s really fighting and hustling for boards, and it shows. Very much needed with Al not getting a lot done in that area (but he is tying up guys, which helps Josh), though he’s gotten a good bit of help from Marvin.
Speaking of which, Marvin is having a nice game.
Rusty
January 3rd, 2012
9:14 pm
Why does ld take. JT out for long periods of time. This kid doesn’t need to taken out for long periods of time,he needs to be out there to keep in the flow of the game,pargo shouldnt be getting big minutes. JT needs big minutes to mesh with the team.
Ignition
January 3rd, 2012
9:15 pm
That tat on the back of Rose’s neck = über Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy
He got a “Tramp Stamp” on the back of his neck !!!!!!!!!!
Big Ray
January 3rd, 2012
9:16 pm
Najeh,
True, good point.
Slimjr
January 3rd, 2012
9:16 pm
T-Mac will be okay..
FreshFromATL
January 3rd, 2012
9:17 pm
I got it from MC’s Twitter http://twitter.com/ajchawks
“MT @AschNBA: T-Mac heads to ATL locker room. Had something going on w/ left leg when came out of game earlier.”
But he just posted this:
RT @HawksPRGuy: Tracy McGrady bumped knees earlier, but he’s expected to return. #Hawks
So I guess we can breath a sign or relief…
Najeh Davenpoop
January 3rd, 2012
9:17 pm
“Everything that you’ve been saying for the past 2 years has FINALLY came to pass.”
I can appreciate Ken’s eternally glass half full approach, but it has only been six games. Maybe it’s best to wait until the playoffs before declaring that something has or has not come to pass.
Joe Piskepo
January 3rd, 2012
9:18 pm
jamal who
Najeh Davenpoop
January 3rd, 2012
9:19 pm
Grandad’s boy Byron Mullens had a pretty nice game off the bench for Charlotte.
Hawks4Eva
January 3rd, 2012
9:19 pm
Hey guys, I know its early in the season, but the fact of the matter is, we seem to have a team that we can have confidence in going forward. Last night effort against the number 1 team in the conference, and now what we are showing in against the number 2 teams is a great sign of what we can do….
Looking forward to a great year,.
Luke Cage
January 3rd, 2012
9:20 pm
NBA TV obviously wants the bulls to win, very little props for the Hawks!!
Joe Piskepo
January 3rd, 2012
9:20 pm
t-mac knees must have been in a hot tub time machine
Wabe
January 3rd, 2012
9:21 pm
The Hawks defense seems pretty legit. The Bulls aren’t shooting well, and they’re missing some makeable looks, but the Hawks are doing a good job making it a tough on them. Every shot is contested.
Continue to hit the boards, and slow down D.Rose in transition.
Jeff Teague had a rough half, but even when dude’s ineffective offensively, he plays good defense.
Big Ray
January 3rd, 2012
9:21 pm
Gotta stay focused, gotta buy into the defense, even when we’re down, which will happen in some games.
Can this team show some mental toughness when they’re down? Teams will get better as the season wears on. Become more focused. Will the Hawks do the same?
Joe Piskepo
January 3rd, 2012
9:22 pm
Luke if you want props watch the game on sports south buddy
Uncle Tom
January 3rd, 2012
9:23 pm
The initials L.D. are an abbreviation for _____
A. Losing Dummy
B. Lame Duck
C. Legally Dumb
D. Larry Drew
E. Long-term Deal (as is contract or contract extension)
F. Limited Deal (as is contract or contract extension)
G. Lethargic Decision-maker
H. Long-head Dunce
I. A, B, C, G and H
J. D, E and F
K. None of the above
L. All of the above
Ken Strickland
January 3rd, 2012
9:23 pm
NORTHCYDE-This is exactly what I expected from this team before the season started, which is why I was so positive about how they would perform, regardless of the schedule. But the thing that got me really excited about our current roster was our ability to get SOLID PERIMETER DEF out of our 4 man guard rotation. I knew it would cause our interior DEF to noticeably improve. LDrew’s MOTION OFF is really giving the Bulls DEF fits. Even though we’re not hitting our outside shots, we’re executing our half court OFF well enough to maintain a comfortable lead. Let’s hope we can keep it up, because we’re in the same position Miami was in last night before we came back and won.
northcyde
January 3rd, 2012
9:23 pm
7 – 39
Najeh Davenpoop
January 3rd, 2012
9:23 pm
Take that jumper next time Jeff.
Big Ray
January 3rd, 2012
9:23 pm
I was ready to see Horford take that shot instead of trying to drive into the thick of the defense.
Astro Joe
January 3rd, 2012
9:24 pm
Brewer has really worked on his jumper. It used to be flat and off.
Joe Piskepo
January 3rd, 2012
9:24 pm
be quiet najeh i am trying to watch the game stat nerd
Big Ray
January 3rd, 2012
9:25 pm
Wow look at that ball movement.
bigdave
January 3rd, 2012
9:25 pm
Marvin!!!
Luke Cage
January 3rd, 2012
9:25 pm
Let it fly Teague
Astro Joe
January 3rd, 2012
9:25 pm
Marvin to the hole.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 3rd, 2012
9:25 pm
Great job by Al on the offensive glass to start this half.
Wabe
January 3rd, 2012
9:25 pm
Teague’s looking a little passive here.
Big foul there on Noah. That’s 4.
Big Ray
January 3rd, 2012
9:25 pm
Looks to me like it is still off….LOL
northcyde
January 3rd, 2012
9:25 pm
horford and smith manning up on the boards.
Good drive by Marvin. Pad your stats sir
SteveW
January 3rd, 2012
9:25 pm
Way to go Josh!!
JT – 2 pts, 1stl, 0 assists – Best +/- on the team – Just win baby, win!
hawks_4_life
January 3rd, 2012
9:25 pm
Good drive Marvin, bye bye Noah lol
Najeh Davenpoop
January 3rd, 2012
9:26 pm
LMAO I didn’t know I was a “stat nerd”.
Shake it off Josh
Wabe
January 3rd, 2012
9:26 pm
Ankle braces smoove…
Big Ray
January 3rd, 2012
9:26 pm
Teague looks like he’s out there trying to make the right pass. And several times he has, but guys have either passed up shots or missed them, which of course means no assists.
There have been some shots Teague could have taken.
Astro Joe
January 3rd, 2012
9:27 pm
Nothing like giving up 29 points in the half to make you forget that your team only produced 38 points in 24 minutes.
northcyde
January 3rd, 2012
9:27 pm
Marrrrrvinnnnnn
BoneKollector
January 3rd, 2012
9:27 pm
Marvin