Atlanta Hawks at Pistons: Game thread
Auburn Hills, Mich.–Hawks will use same lineup as last game with Zaza Pachulia at center. “It’s not set in stone,” Larry Drew said. “We will stay with it for right now.”
- Drew said Kirk Hinrich had no issues after his first game back from shoulder surgery. “We are going to ease him back into it,” Drew said. “He still has to get into that playing shape where he can play on a nightly basis. I don’t want to pile too many minutes on him.”
- Drew said “for right now we will keep [Hinrich] at the one. He could play off the ball some. There are a couple of things I possibly want to experiment with as we move forward: him at some two, Joe [Johnson] at some three, that type of thing.”
- ESPN.com’s Marc Stein runs down a list of teams who will compete with the Hawks for Kenyon Martin’s services and says K-Mart is looking for a major role on a contender.
- Drew on the Pistons: “They play a very physical style. That has always been a problem or us in the past. They really bang the boards. I told the guys by no means can we come in here and think these guys are going to lay down. They’ve had some close ballgames that they could have won. Looking back at their last game against Miami they were in perfect position to win.”
- Damien Wilkins is starting for the Pistons tonight. “Our effort has been a lot better, our fight has been a lot better,” he said. “To me, that’s what we had been lacking the most. We had kind of a glass jaw. Now we have a lot more effort, a lot more fight.”
- Wilkins on not getting an offer from the Hawks: “It was disappointing. They basically told me they weren’t bringing in anymore perimeter guy and I’d have to fight [for a spot] with Pape Sy and [Jerry] Stackhouse. And then I look up and here they are with Willie Green and two other wings, and I’m like, ‘Wow.’ It was fun. I appreciate the opportunity they gave me initially. But I miss the guys.”
- The rec center in northwest Detroit Willie Green came up is now called the Willie Green Center for Physical Fitness. Green attended a ceremony yesterday. “My uncle [Gary Green] was coaching a team up there,” Green said. “He used to open up the gym for us, so we were going up there every day. That’s where I first started playing basketball. It was awesome when I walked in the place. I couldn’t believe the gym was so little. I came from humble beginnings like a lot of us.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
662 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
January 27th, 2012
9:34 pm
Good D Kirk. Hawks need some damn defensive stops.
Buddy Grizzard
January 27th, 2012
9:34 pm
LD getting embarrassed by Lawrence Frank in this game. If the Hawks win it was because Joe got hot. If they lose it’s because Joe wasn’t hot enough. No matter the outcome, Larry Drew being a legitimate head coach will not be a part of the conversation.
Big Ray
January 27th, 2012
9:35 pm
Trade Kirk Hinrich though….put Willie Green and Pargo in there….at least they can knock down some shots
What? These are the same two guys everybody wanted traded, fired, cut, whatever at the beginning of the season…
LOL…..
Najeh Davenpoop
January 27th, 2012
9:35 pm
GET A DAMN BIG MAN.
Big Ray
January 27th, 2012
9:35 pm
You mean he fell out the boat and missed the water?
Exactly!
yodaddybrother
January 27th, 2012
9:36 pm
thank the lord Collins is out the game
Najeh Davenpoop
January 27th, 2012
9:36 pm
Yeah, Zaza gets those rebounds that come right to him all right. He gets them and has them slapped out of his hands by Jerebko.
GET. A. DAMN. BIG. MAN.
Buddy Grizzard
January 27th, 2012
9:36 pm
GIVE IT TO COLLINS WITH THE GAME ON THE LINE… HE’S YOUR FOURTH QUARTER GO TO SCORER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big Ray
January 27th, 2012
9:36 pm
No matter the outcome, Larry Drew being a legitimate head coach will not be a part of the conversation.
This has been true since day 1…
northcyde
January 27th, 2012
9:37 pm
Now all of you Marvin critics tell me this.
Why in the hell is Marvin NOT in this game?
Section 303
January 27th, 2012
9:37 pm
Josh back to being Josh. Still a stupid player, I see.
Big Ray
January 27th, 2012
9:37 pm
Good ball movement that time, started by Joe.
truehoops
January 27th, 2012
9:37 pm
Got to give Marvin credit for putting on a clinic and Drew credit for keeping his team up for games like this.
Drew COY
Buddy Grizzard
January 27th, 2012
9:37 pm
TRADE ZAZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big Ray
January 27th, 2012
9:37 pm
Northcyde,
Ohhhh, ohhhh! Can I play? It’s because LD is a fooooooooool……
Grandmaster JeJe
January 27th, 2012
9:37 pm
WHY IS EVERYONE WHINING? WE HAVE 3 CENTERS AND 3 PGS. GREAT TEAM SUND
HOW DOES THIS IDIOT STILL HAVE A JOB? HE HASN’T DONE ANYTHING IN 4 SEASONS AS OUR GM
Najeh Davenpoop
January 27th, 2012
9:37 pm
Good shot Zaza.
The Pistons are a bad offensive team when they do anything other than post up Monroe. They are completely out of sync offensively right now. Hawks have to take advantage.
Rob
January 27th, 2012
9:38 pm
What Big Man is out there to trade for?
truehoops
January 27th, 2012
9:38 pm
I cant figure it out. Marvin is what got us here. Marv needs to be in the game and with the ball. WTF
bigdave
January 27th, 2012
9:38 pm
“Detroit moves the ball and gets open shots. Hawks try to fan him and feed him and inevitably throw up bricks.
Joe is not good enough for that.
If you are going to force the ball to Joe, at least run plays that get him the ball in favorable positions.
This game is looking like a loss, and it’s primarily because the Hawks spent more time trying to get Joe shots than trying to get good shots.”
im not seeing that…do to his scoring prowess im seeing him open up the floor for others. so you’re saying Joe isnt a willing passer?
who do you want creating the bulk of the offense? who is capable? Detroit has some shooters on the floor, but not one guy who can create good shots for others w/ out f-ing up.
Melvin
January 27th, 2012
9:38 pm
TMac will learn not to pass it to Josh that far from the hoop unless its a clear path for him on the break.
Big Ray
January 27th, 2012
9:38 pm
I did have to laugh at Josh all set to do his victory dance for hitting the 3….right as he CLANKED it…
Buddy Grizzard
January 27th, 2012
9:38 pm
ZAZA IS TERRIBLE… GET KAMAN IN HERE EVEN IF HE GETS HURT THE FIRST 5 MINUTES THAT 5 MINUTES WILL BE GREATER THAN ZAZA’S WHOLE CAREER!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 27th, 2012
9:39 pm
Yeah, Marvin has played well enough to be in the game right now.
Big Lou
January 27th, 2012
9:39 pm
Here’s the offensive game plan: give it to Joe Johnson.
Spyro
January 27th, 2012
9:39 pm
Good lord, we have a fanbase comprised of complete whiners.
Grandmaster JeJe
January 27th, 2012
9:40 pm
THE ATLANTA HAWKS: THE ONLY TEAM IN THE NBA THAT LETS CAREER BENCH PLAYERS HAVE CAREER NIGHTS VS. THEM
bigdave
January 27th, 2012
9:40 pm
nice “ball movement” detroit..
Section 212
January 27th, 2012
9:40 pm
Another layup…
bigdave
January 27th, 2012
9:40 pm
i dont see ball movement. im seeing taking it to the man in front of you.
northcyde
January 27th, 2012
9:40 pm
Fortunately, I didn’t get the privilege of seeing the first 30 game time minutes of this game, and only picked it up in the middle of the 3rd quarter.
I see JJ was ice cold, but is now red hot.
I see Marvin is arguably having his best offensive game of the year, and is perfect from 3.
I see Teague is a non-factor, and may be hurt?
I see Greg Monroe killing us.
I see Jason Maxiell killing us.
Is this an accurate summary?
Buddy Grizzard
January 27th, 2012
9:40 pm
TRADE ZAZA AND KIRK DO IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
De Ja Vu
January 27th, 2012
9:41 pm
SuperSonics fire coach Hill, remove GM Sund
Associated Press
SEATTLE — The Seattle SuperSonics began overhauling their basketball operations today, firing head coach Bob Hill and removing Rick Sund as general manager following one of the worst seasons in franchise history.
Seattle went 31-51 in Hill’s only full season as head coach, the Sonics’ worst record since they finished with an identical mark in 1985-86. Only three times in the Sonics’ 40-year history have they finished with a worse record.
Section 212
January 27th, 2012
9:41 pm
Hey JeJe…similar to how the Braves make rookie pitchers look like HoFamers
bigdave
January 27th, 2012
9:41 pm
“Another layup”
exactly .. relentless attacking. like spurs.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 27th, 2012
9:41 pm
“im not seeing that…do to his scoring prowess im seeing him open up the floor for others. so you’re saying Joe isnt a willing passer?”
Joe is a willing passer. He’s just not good enough at creating his own shot to where giving him the ball and clearing out is a good offensive strategy. If they want to get him shots, run some plays for him to get him the ball in favorable positions. The kind of shots he’s been getting in this game — even during the stretch when he was making them — is not a sustainable offensive strategy.
Post him up on Stuckey, have him coming off curls, or let Teague drive and kick to him. But the sh-t they were doing in the first half, where he would catch it at the high post and back it out to the 3 point line and dribble the clock down, is a recipe for failure.
Big Ray
January 27th, 2012
9:42 pm
Josh….clannnngggg….
Section 212
January 27th, 2012
9:42 pm
Why Josh?
bigdave
January 27th, 2012
9:42 pm
lol..
Hawks playing around. ball should be going through Joe.
J.J.M.
January 27th, 2012
9:42 pm
josh miss=pistons score what a idiot
Big Ray
January 27th, 2012
9:43 pm
Josh was waiting for Maxiell to do that.
Section 212
January 27th, 2012
9:43 pm
Thanks Josh. Now get in the paint on offense!
Section 303
January 27th, 2012
9:43 pm
F’ing Josh Smith! The dumbest player I have ever seen! Bad shot, after bad shot. He does good and then counters with four bad.
Spyro
January 27th, 2012
9:43 pm
That was a goaltend.
bigdave
January 27th, 2012
9:43 pm
but Joe has gotten offense from a multiple of areas tonight.. 1st half missed shots he makes..
i dont get it..
bigdave
January 27th, 2012
9:44 pm
rather see Josh shooting from 18? ill pass.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 27th, 2012
9:44 pm
Maxiell got that offensive board over the best backup center in the NBA.
Tiago Splitter >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Zaza
yodaddybrother
January 27th, 2012
9:44 pm
Hawks lose another winnable game right here…..weak loss….oh well play again sunday hope they make itup
Buddy Grizzard
January 27th, 2012
9:45 pm
That 8-0 Pistons run with Jason Collins playing extended minutes in the 4th quarter hard to come back from. The sorry way the Hawks closed out the first half hard to come back from.
MattP
January 27th, 2012
9:45 pm
we lost