Trail Blazers at Atlanta Hawks: Game thread
- Larry Drew is using the “big” lineup with Jason Collins at center. Marcus Camby plans to suit up for the Blazers but Nate McMillan said he’s an emergency option. Hawks nemesis Kurt Thomas will start at center. “It’s a good matchup with Kurt Thomas who plays a physical game, Twin who plays a physical game,” Drew said.
- Tracy McGrady (back) said he’s good to go.
- Jamal Crawford on how things ended with the Hawks: “I feel like they had over a year to make something happen. I was part of their core and I was the only one that wasn’t under contract past last year. Teammates, coaches, the city, the fans—it’s all good. No hard feelings. But kind of deep down inside last year I knew it was the end of the line for me. I had a feeling.”
- Crawford on his slow start with the Blazers: “I’m still figuring things out a little bit. It’s similar to when I first came here. Eventually I got it and the same thing will happen here. It’s hard when you go to a different team, a different system,. Everything is already in place. It will come.”
- Drew on Crawford: “I will remember always having that guy when we needed instant offense off the bench. He was a guy, once he got in the game, you knew there was a guy who could put numbers up in a hurry. When you go back and look at teams that have had success they have kind of had guys like that. Back in my day, I remember a guy like Vinnie Johnson. Once he got in the game, you knew it was going up, you knew he could get in a groove, get in a rhythm and turn bad starts into good starts.”
- Drew on not having that kind of guy on the bench now: “When Tracy gets in the game, yeah, we run plays for Tracy. But we try to do things now that involve every player and just let them get what they can out of it. With Willie [Green], who can score the ball, he’s not a guy we run plays to, he just gets his in the offense. Vladimir [Radmanovic] is the same way. The way our team is structured now these guys kind of gets theirs with what we do, where with Jamal everyone knew we were running plays for him.”
- Crawford said he might “rope-a-dope” the Hawks and not look to light them up as L.D. has suggested. Drew is on the lookout: “That’s normal for any player that comes back to face his former team to be motivated to come back and play well. We don’t treat it any different than normal. We have a game plan and we have to go out and execute it. Jamal is a scorer and he can go out and score in bunches. Just like against any other scorer, you have to make sure you are prepared to defend him and have a backup plan.”
- Drew on Josh Smith’s free-throw slump: “Just keep practicing. He’s going to get fouled a lot. He’s just got to get focused on the free-throw line. With him, a lot of his free throws are long. From time to time I shout out to him, ’soft,’ so he can take a little bit off of it. It’s just something he’s got to spend more and more time with because he’s going to get to the free-throw line a lot and he’s got to step up there and knock them down.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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738 comments Add your comment
X factor
January 18th, 2012
8:38 pm
Sautee they only person you fool int the one you see in the mirror. But on another note. Im glad you are entertained. Me too!
Keep up the good work.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2012
8:39 pm
Pargo isn’t really good at much else, but he’s a pretty decent shooter.
The Monger
January 18th, 2012
8:39 pm
lets take a look at the pathetic Collins stats shall we???
In Collins last 5 games including so far tonight he is shooting 20 % from the field (1-5), 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, and 2 points in 50 minutes. WOW! He has as many turnovers as points scored…2 points in 5 games….We dont have any BETTER options??? REALLY??? Zaza and Ivan are on the bench and this guy gets their minutes to score 2 points in 5 games and contribute nothing on defense!!
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 18th, 2012
8:39 pm
does lamarcus play inside anymore?
Luke Cage
January 18th, 2012
8:39 pm
neva mind, going to enjoy the games no matter who’s playing
FreshFromATL
January 18th, 2012
8:39 pm
Man, why the hell is ESPN’s broadcast so biased against the Hawks?
Hawks4Eva
January 18th, 2012
8:41 pm
@ northcyde “f Collins was an NFL player, he’d be a 4th string blocking TE. A guy that gets no passes thrown his way, with his main function being to block for the RB in short yardage situations . . and be the blocking TE on the field goal and extra point team.”
LOL…dyning laughing at that comparrison!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2012
8:41 pm
I see the organist has added “Round Of Applause” to his list.
northcyde
January 18th, 2012
8:41 pm
LOL @ Zaza
Luke Cage
January 18th, 2012
8:41 pm
Aldridge game is just like Al’s almost, but he gets love from Blazer fans
X factor
January 18th, 2012
8:41 pm
Thats what im talking bout…Lets start a fight. Fck the mother Fckers. go hawks!
BoneKollector
January 18th, 2012
8:42 pm
I guess Pargo’s feelin good
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2012
8:42 pm
Zero free throw attempts for the entire Hawks team so far.
northcyde
January 18th, 2012
8:42 pm
drmaryb . . . LaMarcus is the modern day Patrick Ewing these days.
Pargo on FIRE
Katie
January 18th, 2012
8:43 pm
Hahaha, for weeks I’ve been harboring this dislike for Pargo. When I finally voice my opinion on here, he finally shows up.
FreshFromATL
January 18th, 2012
8:43 pm
SMH @ Jamal Crawford’s defense. I see some things will never change.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2012
8:43 pm
“Aldridge game is just like Al’s almost, but he gets love from Blazer fans”
Al gets a ton of love from Hawks fans too, Leuer’s mom and T-S notwithstanding.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2012
8:43 pm
I see the Department of Redundancy Department licking his chops at northcyde’s 8:42 PM post.
X factor
January 18th, 2012
8:44 pm
Blazers going to have to draw blood if they think they can win this one. Its on. I hope poot butt azz Larry Drew dont Fck it up.
Hawks4Eva
January 18th, 2012
8:44 pm
What we get between Zza Zza and Twin combined on a game-to-game bases surely we can get that same production from Mel on 680 the Fan!
Kevkat
January 18th, 2012
8:44 pm
No one currently on the floor can play defense
northcyde
January 18th, 2012
8:44 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2012
8:41 pm
I see the organist has added “Round Of Applause” to his list.
*************************
haha Najeh . . . he played that Monday at the Raptors game. I was laughing to myself when I heard that.
I hate that damn organ though. It’s even worse at the arena.
Boondox
January 18th, 2012
8:44 pm
nobody really respects the hawks i just hope we win on national t v this time the commentators can kick rocks
Hawks4Eva
January 18th, 2012
8:45 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2012
8:42 pm
Zero free throw attempts for the entire Hawks team so far.
————————————————————–
I’m telling you, we are seeing FOOLS GOAL with these hawks. Live by the jump shot…dye by the jump shot….
Rob
January 18th, 2012
8:46 pm
I hate ESPN commentators.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2012
8:46 pm
Sh-t, I was at that Raptors game and I didn’t notice. Only noticed it this time because of the claps. At least they should have the dance team out there acting it out when they play that song.
northcyde
January 18th, 2012
8:46 pm
Around the league:
Magic and Spurs tied at 50
Philly losing by 7 to Denver
Boston up 6 at halftime over the Raptors
Knicks losing by 3 at halftime
northcyde
January 18th, 2012
8:46 pm
Zaza with the great defense.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2012
8:47 pm
Zaza is, so far, playing one of his best games of the season. Now is a good time to point out he put up that monster game against Portland last year right after the trading deadline.
X factor
January 18th, 2012
8:47 pm
Nuttzz on their azz Tmac
Summer Sautee
January 18th, 2012
8:47 pm
Zaza stays keep Kaman / We are building a Scrappy Dog House team. Scrappy not scruffy
Slimjr
January 18th, 2012
8:48 pm
LaMarcus game is no where near All NBA’s game..
LaMarcus has handles and a jumpshot, not a set shot. Can shoot from distance!
He has not showcased his post game yet…Why? Hmmm….
Blast
January 18th, 2012
8:49 pm
Kind of a good, weird feeling seeing TMac playing for the Hawks. I remember when he and Vince were tearing the league up. Not the same all star TMac, but he still got game, man!
X factor
January 18th, 2012
8:49 pm
Teague! on both ends
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2012
8:49 pm
Still no Vlad. Hawks have been offensively challenged a little in this game, and the Blazers are playing zone. Vlad might help with that.
northcyde
January 18th, 2012
8:49 pm
Great pass from Teague to Zaza. Looking like a PG
MattP
January 18th, 2012
8:49 pm
Why was Pargo taking out?
northcyde
January 18th, 2012
8:49 pm
Enter your comments here
Slimjr
January 18th, 2012
8:49 pm
Teague is playing more and more like Kevin Johnson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
FIRE LARRY DREW AND SUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 18th, 2012
8:50 pm
winnable game here
The Monger
January 18th, 2012
8:50 pm
Serious question who would you rather have shooting free throws…. the Hawks or a 6th grade girls basketball team?
northcyde
January 18th, 2012
8:50 pm
Teague with the great pass. Looking like a legit PG.
One of Zaza’s unsung worths, is his ability to make FTs at a much higher rate than most big men.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2012
8:50 pm
I meant to say the starters have been offensively challenged. The bench has been solid.
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
January 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
Lamarcus Aldridge is garbage. I remember I thought he was going to be a mix between Garnett and David West.
He’s one of those guys who’s so big he’s too slow. And he doesn’t have the power to use it to his advantage.
Consistently. More center than power forward.
Check his rebounding rates.
Good steal on Aldridge Josh.
Blast
January 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
Portland fouling a lot!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
Hawks attacking the basket in the 2nd, unlike the 1st.
X factor
January 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
Z bringing his A game. Hawks can go physical with these boys.
J.J.M.
January 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
leave marvin on the bench
Najeh Davenpoop
January 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
Marvin blows the Teague dime. Between Marvin and Zaza, Teague probably deserves 10-15 more assists this year than he actually has.
northcyde
January 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
Two no calls on Marvin’s shot attempts. Good aggressiveness by him though.