Timberwolves at Atlanta Hawks: Game thread
- I’m not at the game tonight. The AJC’s Chris Viviamore is on the scene.
- At shootaround today Marvin Williams (ankle) told C-Viv he plans to play tonight. Tracy McGrady (back) is out and is shooting for a Monday return.
- Larry Drew said the Hawks are in no hurry to make a roster move in the wake of Al Horford’s injury.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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641 comments Add your comment
Bigman needed
January 14th, 2012
9:37 pm
Ivan johnson said it best rebounding and fts
bigdave
January 14th, 2012
9:37 pm
yea Willie stepped up too..
atlantadeepdirtybench
January 14th, 2012
9:37 pm
Great Scott
20 points and 10 assists and 8 TURNOVERS
6 Turnovers actually! Stop being Negative and padding bad stats Troll!
Section 212
January 14th, 2012
9:39 pm
Hey Bigman, Smoove carried us earlier this week. Bball IS a team game.
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
9:39 pm
Complain all you want about Marvin, but I’ll take 8 and 8 in 19 minutes every game from him – that’s a 16 and 16 game for 38 minutes.
Ivan’s a beast – nothing else to say. He may save the season.
Josh with 4 blocks. Good
Teague with a 20 and 10 against a couple of good PG’s – I’ll take that – too many TO’s though. Rare for him.
Our schedule – The first time we have more than 1 nite off between games is Feb.16-17, we have 2 nites off on a long West Coast road trip. Indy and Miami keep getting the multiple nites off it looks like.
But the last month of the season, we get 3 days off in a row twice. That may help us if we make the playoffs.
A win is a win. Ugly, but I’ll take it.
Blast
January 14th, 2012
9:39 pm
Ivan and Jeff and Willie and Joe won this game for us.
atlantadeepdirtybench
January 14th, 2012
9:40 pm
Where are all the Willie Green Haters from his first couple of games before he had even settled in?
You goons are so Negative. He is shooting lights out over the last 5/6 games and playing tough D.
Prison Mike
January 14th, 2012
9:40 pm
Congrats to Ivan for his first of many double doubles to come. Nice job goon.
Great Scott
January 14th, 2012
9:40 pm
MattP I dont disagree with anything you said. every player will have an off night or 2. especially when getting a tough assignment.
The bottom line is this was a team, win. and these guys showed fight and no quit grit. It is a much better union that when players dont want to play this position or that position, or dont want to defend here or there.
Ivan Johnson is not as Tall as Al or as Heavy as Al but hes better than Al because of the attitude about the game. . It ,makes a big differences.
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
9:42 pm
Again, Ivan is a beast. Maybe that other DLeaguer could come in and help us. 7-0 (supposedly), 265 playin’ well in DLeague right now. Can’t remember his name. 27 years old, just like Ivan.
Ivan comes in old to the NBA like Charlie Criss did. Hawks find these types once every 30 years or so.
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
9:43 pm
Willie has been there for us. And Vlad’s 7 boards is good for him.
Great Scott
January 14th, 2012
9:43 pm
Josh Carried us for 5 games in a row. if this was an off night 8rebounds 8 pts and 4 blocks Ill take it. Thats about what Al does minus the 4 blocks when he is at his best.
More important than the box score was the fighting spirit of the team who did what they had to to wins.
Great win Hawks. You can build on that . I’m proud of you tonight.
Bigman needed
January 14th, 2012
9:44 pm
I agree section. smoove has been all world for 5 games. Off tonight, and joe still passed to him for game winning shot. Ivan thankfully got the board and sank the fts.
Ivan johnson
Sautee
January 14th, 2012
9:44 pm
Hey, TS, you never did answer about Dwight. 500 more turnovers than blocks for his career.
Didn’t you criticize Horford for having more TO’s than blocks?
Is it OK when it’s D12, but NOT when it’s Al? Or is the hate that specialized?
Gee, I hope that doesn’t screw up the trade.
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
9:45 pm
IF we get TMac back for 20 minutes a nite, we’re still going to be a tough team to handle. Just a balanced team right now.
Josh plays like he did before tonite – like he did the previous 5 games, he’s a handful and so are we.
JJ stepped up and scored 25 – that’s what the 18 million dollar man is supposed to do.
Prison Mike
January 14th, 2012
9:45 pm
Minnesota has a nice core. Trade and draft around Rubio and Love. Everyone else shouldn’t be getting major minutes on an NBA team. Derrick Williams looks to be drafted way too high.
Section 212
January 14th, 2012
9:45 pm
Hawks are ahead of Heat in standings…
MattP
January 14th, 2012
9:45 pm
I just hope LD learns from this and stop letting Joe holds onto the ball.
atlantadeepdirtybench
January 14th, 2012
9:46 pm
Read my name! When was the last time our bench had 22 rebounds in a game? WIthout T-Mac too.
Blast
January 14th, 2012
9:47 pm
1 blogger said Hawks should be blowing this team out.
Well… I don’t know how you can do that when Minny is knocking down every shot in sight, stealing offensive rebounds from the Hawks, and even getting defensive rebounds after Hawks forced a miss, in the first 3 qrts..
I’m glad Hawks won this game, wasn’t easy, they would have lost it last year with Josh clanking things up, but Hawks are growing up, man, with the core.
Minny might be young, but they are scary good. Hawks were lucky to win tonight.
Great Scott
January 14th, 2012
9:47 pm
“Maybe that other DLeaguer could come in and help us. 7-0 (supposedly), 265 playin’ well in DLeague right now”
Who is this Guy SteveW? Post a link if you would.
Just Joe
January 14th, 2012
9:48 pm
Tough night for Josh. 30% shooting. 5 turnovers. He will take out his frustrations on the Raptors on Monday.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 14th, 2012
9:49 pm
The Middle!
Jeff’s middle penetration is money. Then right and last is left.
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
9:50 pm
24-2 run is good by anybody’s standards, even against the ‘Wolves.
Gotta quit playing Teague 42 minutes and JJ 38 minutes though. Maybe when TMac gets back, the minutes for those two can go down.
O'Brien
January 14th, 2012
9:51 pm
SteveW,
Miami just played 3 games in 3 nights, and they lost all 3.
DMB,
I think its too early for a trade. But there is no excuse for not bringing in the best available FA center to work out/audition. Hawks can cut Stackhouse if they need to sign somebody.
O'Brien
January 14th, 2012
9:54 pm
DMB,
ZaZa: 6 points, 5 rebs,
Twin: 2 pts, 3 rebs.
I love what Ivan the terrific brings to the table, but Hawks need another center, even if its Pryzbilla or Dampier, just to have another big available when needed.
Just Joe
January 14th, 2012
9:54 pm
My understanding is that the Hawks will have to cut a couple of the non-guaranteed guys just to stay under the tax. Any kind of signing would cause us to pay the tax. I expect a trade within the next week.
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
9:55 pm
Chris Daniels 17.0 points, 8.9 rebounds per game. 54% shooting, 48.4% from 3 point range, 70.8% FT
2.15 blocks per game, 2.4 assists.
That’s in 13 games, 31.7 mpg.
Listed 7-0 265, but they say he’s really only 6-9.5 with shoes on.
yodaddybrother
January 14th, 2012
9:56 pm
Black Beard saved the day
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 14th, 2012
9:58 pm
Corn Dog Saturday!
Prison Food
_____
“Derrick Williams looks to be drafted way too high” -prison mike- (I’m innocent!)
Hey Mike, did Derrick even play tonight?
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
9:59 pm
OB – Yes, but they’ve already had 1, two nite rest, and are now taking a 3 nite rest after their 3-peat, whereas the Hawks had 1 nite rest after their 3-peat of games. And the Heat get 2 nites off after their next 3-peat in Feb. also.
Not complaining, just sayin’
yodaddybrother
January 14th, 2012
10:00 pm
“Derrick Williams looks to be drafted way too high.”
He had one great game against Duke then everyone wanted to catapult him above Kyrie Irving. Kyrie was a number one pick straight outta high school. He’s just a great player that understands pace and can score from anywhere on the floor at pretty much anytime.
Derrick Williams is just athletic and that’s it.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 14th, 2012
10:02 pm
OB!
Wassup honey cakes!!! Hey, do you like the D-Leaguer: Chris Daniels? I’m intrigued.
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
10:03 pm
OB – After the Hawks next 3-peat – off 1 day, then a back/back, off 1 day back/back. That’s after a 3-peat mind you.
And the Hawks 1st 3-peat – off 1 day, then game. And before it was back/back, 1 day off, then 3-peat.
Again, just observing the possible primadonna treatment of the marketable Miami Heat. TV ratings do equal money.
Hawkfan
January 14th, 2012
10:04 pm
Great win. Too much criticism on this blog though. How about credit for all these guys stepping up and doing things to pick up their teammates Josh is not a natural scorer but he had 5 straight high scoring games. Off night tonite but he still stayed aggressive and rebounded and defended Ivan and Willie raise their games to cover so it’s all good. I’d rather watch a team like this than Miami anyday. Hawks will finish no worse than 4 seed if they keep playing D like this.
Section 212
January 14th, 2012
10:06 pm
I agree that the Hawks need another big, is Dampier avail?
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
10:08 pm
OB – And Orlando is getting some primadonna treatment right now also – lot’s of multiple nites off right now.
But maybe it is all just objective, and sent into a computer or something, this scheduling thing. I don’t know.
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
10:10 pm
Chris Daniels has pretty much always had NBA skill, just conditioning is what the concern has been for him. Just like Ivan’s attitude was his big obstacle to the NBA. Maybe Daniels has decided at 27, it’s time to get in shape and earn some big money the next few years.
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
10:11 pm
Dampier is available.
Big Lou
January 14th, 2012
10:12 pm
Can’t wait to have Kirk back.
Great Scott
January 14th, 2012
10:13 pm
Thanks Steve here’s the scoop and link.
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/6482/chris-daniels
Prison Mike
January 14th, 2012
10:14 pm
Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reports that the Celtics had an interest in Erick Dampier during free agency. It’s possible the team revisits Dampier with a real size problem inside, but the team will likely wait a little longer to make a decision.
Good news is Damp is available, the terrible news is he has nothing left in the tank.
Ron
January 14th, 2012
10:14 pm
I wouldn’t get too excited about this win. We barely beat a very poor team in our own home. Also, we needed Ivan to save us. If he wouldn’t have made some big plays at the end, we probably would have lost. I was actually disappointed with this game. I know we are less effective without Al, but we should still beat the most of the sub-.500 teams without struggling.
brigadierjerry
January 14th, 2012
10:15 pm
slimjr,
u still high on derrick williams of minnesota?
Great Scott
January 14th, 2012
10:17 pm
MY BAD wrong link
http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/chris_daniels/index.html
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
10:21 pm
Chris Daniels and Ivan have been teammates. Excerpts from an article in the Erie Times (he plays for Erie on the DLeague):
“Chris Daniels hasn’t wasted any time re-establishing himself with the Erie BayHawks..
The 7-foot center scored a career-high 32 points Thursday in his second game back with Erie since being waived from the training camp of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Erie (5-9) lost 117-112, but Daniels played with high energy and effort in defeat against, ironically, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, who are owned by the Lakers.
“I want to win,” he said. “At the end of the day, I want to win.”
Daniels shot 11-of-14 from the field and grabbed nine rebounds against the D-Fenders. He’ll look to play at that high level again in today’s 5 p.m. game at Canton (7-5).
“I have no problems scoring 30 every night if I can get the ball that many times,” Daniels, 27, said. “If I don’t have to score 30 and I can score 18 or 19 points, but we still get the win and it’s coming through me and I’m finding open people, I have no problems with that either.”
“The Cavaliers released Goldcamp Dec. 18. Four days later, the Lakers cut Daniels.
“He had a great chance of making the team, I thought,” said 2007 NBA Slam Dunk champ Gerald Green, who was also cut by the Lakers during training camp and is now with the D-Fenders.
“I thought he was a good big,” Green said. “He could pick and pop and shoot the ball a little bit. Skilled guy. Could score. He played good in camp against some really good players in (Andrew) Bynum and (Pau) Gasol.”
Daniels was disappointed, but didn’t hang his head.
“I told (Lakers general manager) Mitch Kupchak I appreciated the offer and bringing me there,” Daniels said. “Of course I was upset, but I wasn’t upset to the point of I couldn’t handle it.”
Although Daniels didn’t make the Lakers, he was happy his friend and former BayHawks power forward Ivan Johnson made Atlanta’s final roster.
Johnson was a first-team all-D-League pick and led Erie to the 2011 D-League playoffs. He and Daniels each are from San Antonio.
“I was so glad he got that opportunity,” Daniels said. “I know his background a little bit. He deserved it. He worked hard for it. He worked his butt off for it. I tell him that every day he deserves to be where he’s at and to keep pushing.”
He and Sloan were also teammates at Erie.
“Already intense, a slimmer Daniels seems to be playing with even more zeal. He’s finishing more interior baskets with dunks instead of lay-ins and expressing himself vocally on the floor.
“The one thing he has to understand is, how (he) can implement those every day and not just on days he might be feeling good,” Houston said. “He’s talked about that. He’s in good shape. He plans on staying in good shape, but I think for him it’s about habits — keeping habits intact on and off the court.”
Daniels said he learned quite a bit on how to play defense from the Lakers and picked up few things from Gasol and Bynum.
“(Gasol) has a soft touch around the rim,” Daniels said. “Just his knowledge of the game. Where to pick up the ball as far as crowding your man on defense.
” … (Bynum) was basically telling me how what type of defense he doesn’t like to play against. What kind of move should I make against a smaller person.”
Daniels also kept an eye on superstar Kobe Bryant and noticed his splendid footwork.
“He stays ahead of the game,” Daniels said. “While everybody is thinking probably one step ahead, he’s thinking three or four steps ahead.”
Got to learn from Gasol and Bynum. Slim and energized. Green said he had a great camp. Already knows Sloan and Ivan. Hmmm…
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
10:24 pm
The Lakers had Chris Daniels in camp, I think expecting that Gasol trade with Paul to go through. Worth a look anyway
Great Scott
January 14th, 2012
10:29 pm
you got my antenna up with that report SteveW. How do we get the powers that be to take a look see?
Sautee
January 14th, 2012
10:30 pm
TS,
Is the question too difficult for you?
Ron
January 14th, 2012
10:31 pm
It’s a good thing that we’ve had an easy schedule for a bit following Al’s injury (our next game is against another sub-.500 team at home). It gives the team a bit of time to get used to playing with some new lineups without Al before we have to actually face a winning team. The chemistry with the second unit looked great tonight. That was one big positive.
I’d really like to have seen what our team would be like at full strength this season (with both Al and Kirk healthy). I guess we’ll have to settle with what we have. At least Kirk will be back soon, and I’m guessing T-Mac will be also. If everything goes well and we manage to make the playoffs this year, maybe we’ll get to see what our full team looks like in the post season. I’m not sure if Al will even be back by then though, and if he is, he’ll probably be rusty.
I just hate it when you never get to see what your team is truly capable of due to injuries. What the Blazers have had to deal with over the last few years has been terrible, luckily, our situations is not as bad as their situation has been. I’m assuming we will still be above .500 this season, beating most of the sub-.500 teams and a some of the winning teams. I don’t think we’ll have a top 4 seed, but with the way this conference is (week beyond the top seeds), I think we have a great chance of getting between a 5 and 8 seed still, even if our record is barely over .500 at the end of the season. New York is insanely overrated, and without Horford, there are still only about 4 teams that are legitimately better than us (Miami, Chicago, Orlando, and Indiana). Philly may be better, but I can’t really judge them yet, as they have had a pretty easy schedule so far. I’ll be able to learn more about them once they face some quality opponents and not just the Wizards.
I think we can still have an edge on New York and Boston. Boston looks like Father Time is finally imposing his will on them, and New York just looks like a lot of talent and a mess of a system. Most of the other teams in our conference which I did not mention are not a significant threat to make the playoffs. If we can at least stay in the mix with Philly, NY, and Boston, we should make the playoffs without too much of a problem. I don’t expect our record to be very impressive though, but maybe I’m wrong.