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
Big Lou
January 11th, 2012
8:08 pm
Al’s injury has to be a level one sprain. He was barely touched. He should be back in a couple games.
Captain Obvious
January 11th, 2012
8:08 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
8:05 pm
Congratulations on making obvious and stupid comments every day
Sautee
January 11th, 2012
8:09 pm
Once again, I’d much rather end a period with Teague creating.
northcyde, you’re right that we need Joe to put up a big number, but we need to run the offense through Teague and let Joe work without the ball, where he’ll have an advantage against Granger.
Rod from College Park
January 11th, 2012
8:09 pm
Joe never scores at the end of the quarter, so why do we keep going iso with him?
GMAN
January 11th, 2012
8:10 pm
@ANDRE IGLOUDALA
How are you such a big sixers fan yet can’t spell Andre’s name right? It’s IGUODALA
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
8:10 pm
“Congratulations on making obvious and stupid comments every day”
Thank you. I’m glad I’m having my intended effect. The more obvious and stupid, the better.
MattP
January 11th, 2012
8:10 pm
It’s funny how the Hawks have 3 front count guys out and LD is still not wanting to play Ivan. This guy is doing the same thing he did to Teague but who do have to see out so Ivan can play?
The Spook who sat by the door
January 11th, 2012
8:11 pm
Runner,
I’m saying Vlad-Rad is a worse defender than Jamal.
Blast
January 11th, 2012
8:11 pm
Despite injuries, Hawks have a chance of stealing this road game.
Big Lou
January 11th, 2012
8:12 pm
No way that JC is a better defender than Vlad. If you say that, then you didn’t watch one hawk game last year.
northcyde
January 11th, 2012
8:12 pm
All in all, being down 3 isn’t bad to this team. This is a good squad we’re playing tonight. Both JJ and Josh will definitely have to go for 20+ points. JJ may have to go for 30+ ( if his shot is still falling ).
Don’t know if we can rely on great defense to bail us out, seeing that Horford won’t return. Surely Drew will use Ivan in the 2nd half, and he’ll at least need to make an impact on the boards. This is NOT a game for Collins.
It’ll be interesting to see how he coaches this.
Big Lou
January 11th, 2012
8:14 pm
MattP
LD is stubborn like Woody. The only reason Teague is even starting is because of Kirk’s injury last year. The guy has no clue when it comes to talent.
Trent
January 11th, 2012
8:14 pm
Better hope that Josh doesn’t pick up another foul in the third quarter, otherwise, L.D. will almost certainly sit him down, without even weighing the pros and cons.
Runner-
January 11th, 2012
8:14 pm
just wanna ask everyone here, how many games do you think T-Mac will end up playing this year?
northcyde
January 11th, 2012
8:14 pm
GMAN
January 11th, 2012
8:10 pm
@ANDRE IGLOUDALA
How are you such a big sixers fan yet can’t spell Andre’s name right? It’s IGUODALA
**********************
LOL
Runner-
January 11th, 2012
8:16 pm
Spook, did Jamal defend the type of players that Vlad was facing at the end of this half? No, Vlad was defending West and co because he was playing as an undersized PF, of course he’s going to play bad defense against the bigger guys
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
8:17 pm
“how many games do you think T-Mac will end up playing this year?”
45
As long as he’s healthy for the playoffs, though, I don’t mind him missing games here and there during the regular season.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 11th, 2012
8:17 pm
Barkley Video!
“Ivan gets minutes and balls out. What does LD do? Sit his azz right back on the end of the bench. Makes no sense whatsoever.” -terrell-
__________
Perhaps the players should play that Barkley “quip” where he said, “drew should have his head checked for saying he will have to FIND some minutes for Ivan.” -paraphrased-
If no IVAN now, then when?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
8:18 pm
I didn’t think it was possible, but from the sound of it, whoever is responsible for the music in the Pacers’ arena is actually worse than the Philips Arena organist.
Big Lou
January 11th, 2012
8:19 pm
Perhaps the players should play that Barkley “quip” where he said, “drew should have his head checked for saying he will have to FIND some minutes for Ivan.” -paraphrased-
If no IVAN now, then when?
————————————————————–
Are we surprised, though? This is LD we’re talking about.
Andrew
January 11th, 2012
8:19 pm
why wont coach play Ivan Johnson I mean really he cant find any mins for him really ?
northcyde
January 11th, 2012
8:19 pm
I’ll say T-Mac will miss 15 games . . so he’ll play in 51 games.
Sautee
January 11th, 2012
8:21 pm
Hell, Ivan guarded Bosh. And did well. Why not West?
The Spook who sat by the door
January 11th, 2012
8:21 pm
Sautee,
I meant to say Vlad-Rad can’t rebound in my earlier post and I see you got that. Vlad-Rad has only 3 rebounds in 20:52 of playing time. I would say that’s low for a 6′10″ forward with the starting center [Horford] out. He’s on pace to grad 6 boards in nearly 42 minutes of playing; that’s poor rebounding efficiency in my observation.
Andrew
January 11th, 2012
8:22 pm
really
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
8:22 pm
If the Hawks start the 2nd half looking sluggish, LD definitely should play Ivan. But if they start out playing well on offense, I don’t know that bringing him in is a good idea, considering how much he turns the ball over.
BoneKollector
January 11th, 2012
8:23 pm
Collins>>>zaza
northcyde
January 11th, 2012
8:23 pm
LOL @ starting collins
Sautee
January 11th, 2012
8:23 pm
Spook,
Let’s see how the rest of the game plays out. But it’s safe to say that rebounding has not been his focus in the league.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 11th, 2012
8:23 pm
“It’ll be interesting to see how he coaches this.” -norty-
_________
Drew said the team has to deal with adversity. That spotlight he was holding is now shining on himself.
BoneKollector
January 11th, 2012
8:24 pm
no jumpers
go to the basket
The Spook who sat by the door
January 11th, 2012
8:24 pm
Big Lou,
I watched just about every Hawk game last year and I have watched every Blazer game this year.
Nate ArchiBALL
January 11th, 2012
8:24 pm
Post of the night goes to Najeh Davenpoop –
“I swear to God if I see Zaza fumble a rebound out of bounds and point the Hawks’ direction again, instead of just catching it, I am going to go burn down Buckhead Bottle Bar” …….Too funny!!!
Strick
January 11th, 2012
8:24 pm
Joe u r wide open make a shot
Wabe
January 11th, 2012
8:24 pm
wide open in transition…
common JJ
northcyde
January 11th, 2012
8:24 pm
That was easy money JJ . . . gotta knock that down.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
8:24 pm
Twin with a stop and a charge taken already.
Wabe
January 11th, 2012
8:26 pm
Rad is very streaky…
BoneKollector
January 11th, 2012
8:27 pm
not looking good
Strick
January 11th, 2012
8:27 pm
Defense has been terrible tonight. And now the offense looks bad.
northcyde
January 11th, 2012
8:27 pm
Hawks look like they’re about to mail this in.
Wabe
January 11th, 2012
8:27 pm
that’s pretty pathetic how they just gave up on trying to close out…
i know dude missed…
but still
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2012
8:27 pm
Not a good start to the half for Teague on either end.
The Spook who sat by the door
January 11th, 2012
8:28 pm
Sautee,
It [rebounding] should be one of his [Vlad-Rad's] foci tonight with the starting center [Horford] out with injury. [I believe the plural for focus is foci [sp.]; correct me if I’m wrong.]
Wabe
January 11th, 2012
8:28 pm
pretty dumb foul on West…
no way Josh could stop and scoop that in.
his momentum was taking him out of bounds…
Big Lou
January 11th, 2012
8:28 pm
About F’in time!!!
Strick
January 11th, 2012
8:28 pm
Free throws damn
MattP
January 11th, 2012
8:29 pm
Once Pacers have a 20+ point lead in this 2nd half blowout LD will play Ivan.
northcyde
January 11th, 2012
8:29 pm
OK Ivan . .here we go man.
BoneKollector
January 11th, 2012
8:29 pm
*facepalm*