Atlanta Hawks at Sixers: Game thread
Philadelphia–The Hawks are using the “big” lineup with Jason Collins at center. Larry Drew said that before Spencer Hawes (Achilles) so it could change before tip off.
- Then again, maybe it won’t change since the “big” lineup apparently has become the standard lineup. “That’s the regular lineup,” Drew said. “For right now that will be pretty much how we go. That was basically the lineup last year when we went bigger. Right now that will be the starting lineup.”
- Why does Drew like that lineup? “With Jason, we really are able to play a lot more at home in the post, particularly against big guys who do have a strong low-post presence,” Drew said. “We play them head up. He gives us a little bit more size, a little bit more physicality at that position. Jason, he is a smart pro. He knows how to play his position. He does a good job playing individual and team defense. We all know with him in the lineup it’s defense-first with him. ”
- Drew on the fluctuating minutes for his reserves: “That is something I do have to manage. Given what our schedule is, guys are going to be in a situation where maybe one night they play more than others. One thing I don’t want to do is wear guys out given what our schedule is. [Vladimir Radmanaovic] hasn’t played a lot the last couple games, I’ve spoken with him, and that could be a plus for him now with this stretch coming up he will be a little bit more rested. Minutes will vary particularly with the way our schedule is. ”
- Vlad Rad: “It all depends on how you look at it. Knowing that we have such a compressed schedule, it can be a positive thing if you look at it that way. But we are all competitors here. We like to be on the court and contribute but obviously not everybody can play. It is up to the coaches to make decisions. We have to fit in that system.”
- Vlad Rad on players preferring consistency in playing time and roles: “It’s easier when you know when you are going to play and how long you are going to play. When you have certain pattern, it’s easier to prepare. You just sometimes have to deal with different things. Fortunately for me I’ve been in different situations through the course of my game. I know how to deal with it and take positive things out of it.”
- Drew on how he decides who finishes games: “I look at the matchups. If we have a group that is in a rhythm I will try to ride that, but I look at the matchups and how the game is flowing. We are a team that, at times, we get stagnant with the starters and the reserves. What I’ve tried to focus on a lot more is focus on matchups that are in there in the fourth quarter just to make sure we don’t leave ourselves open to where they have an advantage on us. We have to make sure start of fourth quarter we get off to a good start.”
- Drew on All-Star consideration for Josh Smith: “I can’t see why he wouldn’t be. He’s impacting both ends of the floor. His numbers are up offensively but defensively he’s done a good job guarding bigs and guarding smalls. He is playing with a high energy. The level he’s playing, he should be considered as an All-Star. His discipline he’s shown over the summer with losing the weight, you can see his energy level has gone up since losing that weight.”
- Tracy McGrady left the Blazers game because of cramping. He’s good to go tonight. Drew on T-Mac’s impact: “You put him in his sweet spot, he can still make plays. He’s a phenomenal passer and still with his length he causes problem. We have been trying to use him in different places on the floor, put the ball in his hands and take advantage of the matchup problems teams have against him because of his size.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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704 comments Add your comment
Just Joe
January 20th, 2012
9:57 pm
Atlanta’s shot chart in the 3rd quarter shows 3 shot attempts in the paint, and one of those is just inside the FT line.
Scrooge McDuck
January 20th, 2012
9:58 pm
Larry Drew doing his best Phil Jackson impersonation, eh? Trying to call out his team via the media. Well, Shaq and Kobe and walking through that door lol
prison mike
January 20th, 2012
9:58 pm
Varejao is the guy the Hawks need to target. Broke down players like Kaman and Turiaf are not reliable.
Looking at the Cavs roster it’s really no reason they trade him. I’ll even take Ryan Hollins right about now.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2012
9:58 pm
“All that boycott did, was make us look REAL BAD every time we played a home game. 20 – 30 thousand empty seats for some games.”
I am no Bengals fan but I didn’t blame them at all. I truly feel sorry for Bengals fans. If you can’t field even an occasionally competitive team in a league that is designed for parity, you are really trying to suck as an owner. I am surprised there are even 40,000 Cincinnati residents who are still willing to fork over money to Mike Brown.
Grandmaster JeJe
January 20th, 2012
9:59 pm
This is the most predictable team in the NBA. I knew we would lose this game.
We will finish the month okay then by the end of February barely be above .500.
THIS IS WITHOUT HORFORD. WITH OR WITHOUT HIM WE WILL HAVE THE EXACT SAME RECORD
Slimjr
January 20th, 2012
10:00 pm
Apple
January 20th, 2012
9:56 pm
“Honestly, the fact that this city is still divided, mostly along racial lines, about the Falcons because of the last two starting QBs is proof that Atlanta is a terrible sports town.”
News Flash Apple, your whole Country is still divided for the most part because Human Nature never changes for the last 6000 years and its easily deceived by the enemy…Jim Crow lasted for almost a full century..The affect don’t just go away after 45 some odd years.
It may take another 100 years for this ish do die off….
northcyde
January 20th, 2012
10:01 pm
Slimjr
January 20th, 2012
9:56 pm
. LaStarya’s ass > U got link?
********************
LOL . . I was about to ask the same thing. Show us LaStarya. LOL @ that name.
Slimjr
January 20th, 2012
10:01 pm
to^
doc
January 20th, 2012
10:01 pm
gjeje, 3 wins in february?
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 20th, 2012
10:01 pm
Here is some Good News!
_________
Google Collected 4.5 Million Anti-SOPA Signatures Today (TechCrunch)
Apple
January 20th, 2012
10:02 pm
Yeah, keep convincing yourselves that Horford has no positive impact on any games. LOL
Look at that box score.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2012
10:03 pm
“But if we had more passionate fans who raised hell, we would get BIG changes, instead another year with this same “core.””
You really think so? Philadelphia Eagles fans have been raising hell calling for Andy Reid’s firing for a good five years now, and even after a season where they would be totally justified in cleaning house, they are bringing back Reid and the rest of the staff. Ultimately owners do what owners want.
The Red Sox have a human owner who is shelling out a league-high payroll and is willing to win. The Braves have a corporate owner for whom the Braves are a tax write-off. That is the reason why the Red Sox made big changes, not the fans.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2012
10:04 pm
“LaStarya’s ass > U got link?
********************
LOL . . I was about to ask the same thing. Show us LaStarya. LOL @ that name.”
I don’t have the inside sources that entertainment reporter drmaryb has, so I may have confused LaStarya with someone else, because although she is a stripper I don’t think she is from Magic City. But since you asked, here are some pics.
Bigman needed
January 20th, 2012
10:05 pm
Hawks played a nice first half, but just could not defend the penetration, got tired chasing those guys and twin got tired. Elton brand 16 rebounds.
This was a fatigue compressed schedule no al horford loss.
Get okafor in here for marvin and heinrich
Start tmac or vrad
And we’ll be fine
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2012
10:05 pm
In keeping with her name, she has a series of star tattoos on her back leading down to her ass.
prison mike
January 20th, 2012
10:06 pm
Cyde…
Last thing on this ownership thing. The Falcons lost Vick for absolutely nothing. No picks, players, nothing but bad press. Even loss a coach that quit with money still on the table.
Blank was the only thing that kept his franchise from going back to the old Falcons. It’s that simple. No one else but him. All he cares about is bringing a Super Bowl trophy to Atlanta. ASG is scarred to spend one red cent over the luxury tax.
Slimjr
January 20th, 2012
10:06 pm
Bigman NEEDED!!
Apple
January 20th, 2012
10:07 pm
“News Flash Apple, your whole Country is still divided for the most part because Human Nature never changes for the last 6000 years and its easily deceived by the enemy…Jim Crow lasted for almost a full century..The affect don’t just go away after 45 some odd years.
It may take another 100 years for this ish do die off….”
And…. what does that have to do with winning a Super Bowl? It ain’t my country, I’m a minority and couldn’t care less about the past. Just a fan of the team, don’t care who suits up for them or what race they are.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2012
10:07 pm
Varejao’s contract has four more years on it and would seriously interfere with any plans to extend Josh or Teague. But I can get you Ryan Hollins AND Semih Erden for Kirk. That is a lot of fouls to use, if nothing else, and Hollins provides a shot blocking presence that Zaza doesn’t provide.
Slimjr
January 20th, 2012
10:08 pm
It will take 25 years and new ownership for the FAL-CONS to win a SB…Bank on it……
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 20th, 2012
10:09 pm
Slick Rick!
“Larry Drew doing his best Phil Jackson impersonation, eh? Trying to call out his team via the media. Well, Shaq and Kobe and walking through that door lol”
__________
Lol is right! The jokes on you – Scrooge .. Ha Ha:
Those famous words belong to Rick Patino with the Boston Celtics …. When he was trashing Chauncey Billups and , Paul Pierce and ‘Nem.
Apple
January 20th, 2012
10:10 pm
Slimjr, serious question, are you one of the people who stopped supported the Falcons when Vick got himself in trouble? Seems like a lot of anger.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2012
10:11 pm
I doubt Phoenix goes for this — if they do, it will almost certainly require sending them a first rounder — but Kirk for Robin Lopez.
Slimjr
January 20th, 2012
10:12 pm
Just responding to your quote about the City being racially divided.
That is all…..
Grandmaster JeJe
January 20th, 2012
10:12 pm
LD doesn’t realize that any tiny bit of criticism from the coach will probably make these guys cry.
Well Marvin won’t cry. He doesn’t care.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2012
10:12 pm
The race angle regarding Vick is way overblown. If they had replaced him with Aaron Rodgers nobody would be complaining. People complain because Matt Ryan is the Falcons’ version of Joe Johnson — paid elite money and given elite billing by the team’s marketing department for less than elite production.
Slimjr
January 20th, 2012
10:12 pm
D12 with 20 rebounds! 7:33 left in the game!
Scrooge McDuck
January 20th, 2012
10:13 pm
DrMaryB,
LOL exactly. He doesn’t realize a team that quits is a reflection of the coach.
tb hawk fan i think
January 20th, 2012
10:13 pm
well the lakers did not help us last night. and they are not helping us tonight.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2012
10:13 pm
With that said, Joe >>>>>> Ryan
Slimjr
January 20th, 2012
10:14 pm
Big Difference with Iso is that he’s won playoff games..
The other guy????? Crickets………Never……Zilch.Nada.Zero
Rod from College Park
January 20th, 2012
10:15 pm
Nothcyde,
“Going into this game, Marvin had the highest win score per 48 minute number amongst all of the regular rotation guys ( .208 ).”
If you post another stupid stat about what Marvin is the best at on this team, any credibility you have left will vanish. Marvin is probably the 9th or 10th best player on this team. He is good at shooting free throw’s, and he is a decent rebounder. That’s it. Willie Green, Ivan, Joe, Josh, Teague, Vlad, Hinrich, Horford, and even Zaza are better basketball players than him. I’m not a Zaza fan either.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2012
10:15 pm
Lakers were down 20 in the first half, on the second game of a back to back, and have fought back to make it an 8 point game in the 4th quarter.
Hawks were up 9 at halftime, after a day of rest, and not only blew the lead and lost by double digits.
This is not a question of talent. It’s a question of mental toughness that the Lakers have and the Hawks don’t.
Jase
January 20th, 2012
10:16 pm
Can we get a center please.
Slimjr
January 20th, 2012
10:17 pm
21 rebounds 5:19 left…
Slimjr
January 20th, 2012
10:18 pm
Orlando up 14 and cruzin against them Lakers…
O'Brien
January 20th, 2012
10:18 pm
Hawks have done some good things this season, the biggest of which is beat Miami and Chicago. But Everytime you want to believe in the Hawks, they do something like this;
1) Lose to Miami w/o Wade and LeBron
2) Fold against the Pacers
3) Fold tonight
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2012
10:19 pm
I doubt that San Antonio would go for this even if given a first rounder, but Kirk for Tiago Splitter. San Antonio’s main motivation would be getting under the tax line.
Slimjr
January 20th, 2012
10:19 pm
Blank shooting Blanks….
Apple
January 20th, 2012
10:20 pm
I disagree Najeh because many of those people would not have wanted any QB following Vick to succeed. I think Ryan is overrated and I haven’t been a fan, but the venom from some folks leads me to believe even Rodgers or Brees would get criticized here because Vick is their hero and they will not let go even though it was his fault that any of this happened. That’s the only conclusion one can make from people bashing Arthur Blank, when he is clearly putting more into his team than the Hawks and Braves combined, yet he’s getting as much heat as those other two.
Bigman needed
January 20th, 2012
10:20 pm
Larry drew why did ivan not see minutes until garbage time?
Why did you quit using our best physical enforcer?
Rod from College Park
January 20th, 2012
10:21 pm
Najeh,
“I don’t have the inside sources that entertainment reporter drmaryb has, so I may have confused LaStarya with someone else, because although she is a stripper I don’t think she is from Magic City. But since you asked, here are some pics.”
She’s the chick that Ray Edwards was dating all year, until a week before the playoffs. Body is on point, but the face leaves nothing to be desired.
http://theybf.com/2011/11/14/hes-taken-nfler-model-ray-edwards-brings-dancer-girlfriend-lastarya-to-falcons-game
Slimjr
January 20th, 2012
10:22 pm
22 rebound 4:10 left!
O'Brien
January 20th, 2012
10:22 pm
One of the things that happen in the 3rd is we get jumper happy. When that happens, Teague needs to step up and take control of the offense. But I don’t think he does.
I dont know if he is afraid to speak up or what, but Josh had 6 jumpers in the 3rd. Was there somebody in his face telling him to drive to the basket?
Also, LD should have brought Ivan in early in the 3rd, because it was clear the Hawks had no energy.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2012
10:22 pm
Kirk for Jordan Hill
Apple
January 20th, 2012
10:23 pm
Slimjr,
You felt motivated to respond to the earlier quote about race with a long paragraph yet won’t admit if you have ever supported the Falcons?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2012
10:24 pm
LaStarya’s on Worldstar a lot. Don’t need much of a face with an ass like that though.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
January 20th, 2012
10:24 pm
Why is Marvin starting?
FIRE LD
Bigman needed
January 20th, 2012
10:25 pm
Since injury marvin has no explosion to finish at the rim. Trade him already or DL him toget him right.
Heinrich is an expiring deal. Marvin still has some upside. What are we waiting for? Get the guys some help.
And start tmac.
northcyde
January 20th, 2012
10:26 pm
Wow @ LaStarya
ATL is a dangerous city