Atlanta Hawks at Pacers: Game thread
Indianapolis–At shootaround Tracy McGrady said he was feeling good. Not so much tonight: He’s a late scratch with back spasms. It wasn’t announced until after the locker room was closed to media types so don’t have details.
- Danny Granger (ill) and George Hill (back) are active for the Pacers after missing Monday’s 96-86 loss at Philly.
- Yes, Larry Drew showed the players clips of Charles Barkley’s criticisms of the Hawks during the loss to Miami. I’ve never liked reacting to what Barkley says because smack talking is his schtick and I don’t think it makes much of a difference. Plus, while the loss to the Heat was a bad one it wasn’t enough to draw a conclusion about this team. Don’t get me wrong: I love Barkley. He’s fun and entertaining. His act is good for fans and talk radio (and Web hits, apparently) but has no real bearing on basketball so I tend to just laugh it off.
- And, sure enough, word is Hawks players aren’t going around talking or thinking about sticking it to Barkley. Nevertheless, Drew thought it might do some good for players to hear Barkley’s barbs, so he replayed some of them before the Hawks played at Charlotte Friday. “I wanted them to know, wanted them to hear what the perception is. Most guys take it for what it’s worth and say that’s what he gets paid to say. Those that want to change the perception, they will step up.”
- However, L.D. extended the lesson beyond Sir Charles’ smack talk into areas I think are relevant: “With the officials, if you whine a lot then people will start to say you are a soft team. If you don’t play through adversity, then you will get the label of a soft team. I want guys to play through adversity, when things aren’t going good. I’ve always said it’s easy when things are going good.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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540 comments Add your comment
Runner-
January 11th, 2012
7:03 pm
No T-Mac or Marvin means Vlad Rad needs to keep up the sharp shooting. If he doesn’t, we’re screwed
Luke Cage
January 11th, 2012
7:07 pm
SWEET CHRISTMAS!!! Almost 1st
leedsatlantadeepdirtybench
January 11th, 2012
7:10 pm
We will see if Stackhouse has anything left tonight!
Ivan needs a good 20 minutes tonight rather than LD riding the starters balls.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
7:10 pm
FTPB, the offense has generally been good, but there’s no reason this team should be 18th in transition points per possession. They screw up way too many transition looks considering the kind of players on this roster.
Luke Cage
January 11th, 2012
7:10 pm
Lets Get Hawks!!!
FreshFromATL
January 11th, 2012
7:11 pm
Let Get It!
bigdave
January 11th, 2012
7:13 pm
throw it down Al!
J.J.M.
January 11th, 2012
7:13 pm
dunk the ball
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
7:14 pm
Al missed that layup, but that’s EXACTLY what he needs to do against bigger players. Face up and drive. No way Hibbert can hang with him when he puts the ball on the floor.
Sautee
January 11th, 2012
7:14 pm
What’s the over/under on Nique saying “Hibbits”?
Runner-
January 11th, 2012
7:14 pm
awkward shot by josh, lazy as well
bigdave
January 11th, 2012
7:15 pm
and1
Luke Cage
January 11th, 2012
7:15 pm
Should be an interesting game, pacers are a pretty solid team
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
7:16 pm
Love seeing the Hawks get out on transition and FINISH.
Damn that Pacers crowd looks small on TV.
FreshFromATL
January 11th, 2012
7:17 pm
Hibbert is a bum.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
7:17 pm
“What’s the over/under on Nique saying “Hibbits”?”
Al is doing a good job not letting him put up nimbers in the paint so far.
leedsatlantadeepdirtybench
January 11th, 2012
7:18 pm
good pressure there
Runner-
January 11th, 2012
7:18 pm
lol @ Al passing to Smoove on the break then Smoove returning the favor!! 2 big men running down the court, i love it
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
7:18 pm
FTPB
“How you feel about Joe Lombardi (the Saints QB coach) as the OC? I looked him up on the Saints website, and I think he is an intriguing possibility, plus he has a connection to ATL.”
He is really young and hasn’t done much other than coach Brees, but being Brees’ QB coach and working under Payton definitely makes him a good candidate.
Sautee
January 11th, 2012
7:18 pm
LOL @ Najeh
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
7:20 pm
Thought Teague had a look for the alley oop on that possession. Good steal though.
Runner-
January 11th, 2012
7:22 pm
oh no
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
7:22 pm
Well it looks like we may see Collins, not for the reasons we wanted…
bigdave
January 11th, 2012
7:22 pm
wow.
Luke Cage
January 11th, 2012
7:23 pm
I’m at work watching on NBA Broadband and have to listen sorry Quinn Buckner who thinks everything is a foul
Luke Cage
January 11th, 2012
7:23 pm
(Wonders how the Horford Haters feel now)
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
7:24 pm
Hawks could use the post-trade deadline Zaza, who hasn’t made an appearance for a full game yet this year.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 11th, 2012
7:25 pm
Uh Oh!
Hawks4Eva
January 11th, 2012
7:27 pm
Looks like the “Hyde” side of the Hawks tonight. No energy it appears. Sluggish. Guess the next game they will show there “Jekyll” side.
MattP
January 11th, 2012
7:27 pm
LMAO at Zaza
Runner-
January 11th, 2012
7:27 pm
lmao two white guys fighting over the ball
bigdave
January 11th, 2012
7:27 pm
we need a big who can catch and finish.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
7:28 pm
F-cking Zaza screws up a Teague pass again…
ANDRE IGLUODALA
January 11th, 2012
7:28 pm
BIG GAME AT THE GARDEN TONIGHT 76ERS AND KNICKS!!!!!11
76ERS LEAD DIV BY 2 GAMES AT 7-2 ON A 6 GAME WINNING STREAK!!!!!
TIP OFF IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I WILL AS ALWAYS KEEP YOU ATLANTAONIANS INFORMED WITH GAME AND SCORE NOTE,
GO 76ERS LETS MAKE IT 7 IN A ROW!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
7:29 pm
Hawks have been the better transition team, but the Pacers have clearly been better in the half court.
No idea why LD is taking Teague out.
bigdave
January 11th, 2012
7:29 pm
step up J!!!
Wabe
January 11th, 2012
7:29 pm
there ya go josh
bigdave
January 11th, 2012
7:29 pm
was an and1
Runner-
January 11th, 2012
7:30 pm
good tech josh, officials were getting out of hand
Runner-
January 11th, 2012
7:30 pm
if LD won’t talk, someone has to
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 11th, 2012
7:30 pm
Wait a dam minute? Didn’t Al get fouled on that play? Wassup with the refs?
bigdave
January 11th, 2012
7:30 pm
Joe has to want to defend every possession.
NUNNA!!
January 11th, 2012
7:30 pm
Teague could have a higher assist ratio if these guys just make there shots..
BoneKollector
January 11th, 2012
7:30 pm
Josh back to being Josh
Wabe
January 11th, 2012
7:31 pm
feels like another one of those nights…
Wabe
January 11th, 2012
7:31 pm
josh crashing those boards
ANDRE IGLUODALA
January 11th, 2012
7:31 pm
LOOKS LIKE A SELLOUT AT THE GARDEN TONIGHT
Trent
January 11th, 2012
7:31 pm
Sounds like Horford might have dislocated his left shoulder. I hope not. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious.
bigdave
January 11th, 2012
7:31 pm
get around those screens Joe! fight!
Big Lou
January 11th, 2012
7:32 pm
Zaza is such a klutz.