Atlanta Hawks at Hornets: Game thread
Jeff Teague will start at point guard for the Hawks tonight against the Hornets. Teague said he felt “fine” despite the sprained ankle that limited him during Friday’s win against Pistons.
“Jeff is a go,” coach Larry Drew said before the game. “He was moving around on it pretty good yesterday. He hasn’t mentioned that it is bothering him to the point that we have to limit him. We’ll keep an eye on him. Right now, he is a full go.”
Drew said he would split reserve minutes between Kirk Hinrich and Jannero Pargo.
“He has been playing really well for us,” Drew said of Pargo. “That’s why we got him.”
Hinrich, who played 31 minutes against the Pistons after Teague left late in the third quarter, said he is working to regain form as quickly as possible.
“I want to get my game back,” Hinrich said. “I feel rusty and I just want to help any way I can right now and get my rhythm back.”
* Austin Barker, a 17-year-old high school student from Mississippi scheduled for a bone marrow transplant this week, was the guest of Hawks trainer Wally Blase Sunday.
Barker, who is at Tulane Children’s Hospital, attended the game with his father and two friends. He received a hat signed by the Hawks.
The non-profit organization Sunshine Kids brought Baker’s situation to Blase’s attention. Blase worked with the Hornets to organize the outing.
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1,578 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
5:24 pm
If Kaman has a trade restriction, the trade machine doesn’t know about it. There is a restriction on trading players who were signed before the season, but I don’t know of one that applies to players who were acquired via trade. If such a restriction existed, wouldn’t it have stopped the Hawks from trading Sheed after one game back in 2004?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
5:26 pm
Well, if David Aldridge says it, I believe it. I guess the trade machine is wrong. (No sarcasm)
Speaking of David Aldridge, he will be on NBA TV with, among others, everyone’s favorite GM Rick Sund at 6 PM.
yoursporthouse dot com
January 30th, 2012
5:27 pm
Horford, Hinrich, and Marvin for Nene and the rights to Wilson Chandler.
yoursporthouse dot com
January 30th, 2012
5:29 pm
Starting lineup:
1 Teague
2 Joe
3 Chandler
4 Smoove
5 Nene
Bench:
1 Pargo
2 Green
3 McGrady
4 Ivan
5 Zaza
Rufus1
January 30th, 2012
5:31 pm
http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-power-rankings-week-five
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
5:31 pm
” I’ll just say that yo-yo-ing a kid in and out with no apparent regard for his previous performance is NOT a way to inspire confidence. There’s a right (Pop) and a wrong (Woody / Uncle Larry) way to inspire confidence. His good outings should have been rewarded by equal stints, but more often were rewarded by a dnp-cd. ”
All good points, but even putting aside the impact on Teague’s confidence, the fact is that the Hawks had one of the worst defensive back courts in the league when they would run Bibby and Jamal out there, which directly resulted in leads being blown and winnable games being lost. Playing Teague wasn’t just the right move for developing him; it was the right move for winning games. I wouldn’t be nearly as bent out of shape about the Teague treatment if he had a good player playing ahead of him.
Rufus1
January 30th, 2012
5:32 pm
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/1/30/2757387/nba-power-rankings-thunder-heat-bulls-clippers
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
5:36 pm
“Only 5 players in the NBA are in the top 10 in playoff rebounding rate in two of the last three postseasons. Zaza Pachulia is one of them. Chris Kaman is not.”
This is like saying Robert Horry is better than Charles Barkley because he has a handful of rings and Barkley has zero. I guess it’s Kaman’s fault the dysfunctional, lottery-pick-whiffing Clippers missed the playoffs, and the Hawks wouldn’t have made the playoffs without Zaza. What a useless stat.
I want to know Zaza’s rate of missing layups, getting his shot blocked, fumbling easy passes to the other team, etc. Without those, judging him solely on his rebound rate is useless.
Ken Strickland
January 30th, 2012
5:37 pm
ASTRO JOE
Despite all of the accusations about the ASG being incompetent and foolish, I’m certain they aren’t foolish or incompetent enough to trade away one a starter, plus a 1st rd pick, for a fragile under producing backup center. Until he learns our OFF and DEF systems, and we won’t have enough practices to make it happen anytime soon, there’s no way he can start for us without disrupting the team.
The Hawks have done quite well so far considering our difficult schedule and the loss of Horford. Therefore, until the team collapses, or proves it can’t continue to hold up under the pressure of these to situations, I don’t see us making any trades or signing any FAs, at least not before the trade deadline.
Rufus1
January 30th, 2012
5:38 pm
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-01-30/nba-power-rankings-kobe-bryant-76ers-schedule-michael-jordan-zach-randolph
Sautee
January 30th, 2012
5:40 pm
AJ,
“Sautee, I agree with your confidence argument. But isn’t there a relationship between confidence and preparedness?”
Probably for you and me, but maybe not for LD.
I’ll ask this: Did the dnp-cd’s that happened immediately after a productive outing happen because LD thought Teague was unprepared? And if so, why was he prepared on the previous productive outing?
honest,
I saw what you did with that TO. I still put that off to lack of confidence (and awareness).
As far as Acie… well, I posted many times showing that his longer stints (15 min and over) were BY FAR his most productive (even by per 36, or whatever). Once again, I still think he was a victim of a scared coach, who lacked the long range thinking of, say a Popovich. Not that Acie was EVER gonna be anything but decent, LOL.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
5:41 pm
Zaza is top 5 in playoff rebounding rate over the last few years. Kevin Love is not. #BuddyGrizzardStats
Rufus1
January 30th, 2012
5:41 pm
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/powerRankings/2011-2012/5
Buddy Grizzard
January 30th, 2012
5:45 pm
That’s correct Najeh… you don’t get rated in playoff stats unless you go to the playoffs.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
5:45 pm
Pretty cool to see the Hawks flying up the power rankings this week. I’d be even more encouraged if they are still around that high when the All Star break comes along.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
5:45 pm
” you don’t get rated in playoff stats unless you go to the playoffs.”
Would you trade Zaza for Kevin Love?
Buddy Grizzard
January 30th, 2012
5:48 pm
“Zaza is a very good back up but he never shuts down anyone.” – Vava74
He shut down a healthy Bogut… you must have missed that game.
Buddy Grizzard
January 30th, 2012
5:48 pm
Yes… Kevin Love, unlike Chris Kaman, has been pretty durable.
Buddy Grizzard
January 30th, 2012
5:49 pm
Also, we recently watched Kevin Love badly outplay Josh Smith with our own eyes. Can’t judge Chris Kaman with our own eyes because NO is hiding him to protect his trade value.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
5:50 pm
“Kevin Love, unlike Chris Kaman, has been pretty durable.”
That has nothing to do with playoff rebounding rate. The fact is that Zaza’s playoff rebounding rate over the last three seasons is higher than Love’s playoff rebounding rate of zero. Forget durability for a second. Is Zaza better than Kevin Love?
Rufus1
January 30th, 2012
5:51 pm
Sautee,
All we needed from ACIE was to be an above average PG…
I still believe Woody was one of the worst coaches in the league…This is the 7th year with this core and Woody wasted about 3 of those years. If LD would have been the coach 5 years ago, I think we would have had better results…
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
5:56 pm
Antoine Walker’s playoff scoring average over the last three years is greater than LeBron’s playoff scoring average. #BuddyGrizzardStatsFrom2003
Buddy Grizzard
January 30th, 2012
5:57 pm
“We have won 2 games out of those 18 in Round 2 and Zaza was a part of them or he was just sitting and watching.” – KevinM
He was sitting and watching in the first quarter of Game 6 when the Boozer and Noah attacked Collins to put the Hawks in a hole they would never recover from. He was sitting and watching from the 10:22 mark of the fourth quarter of game 5, when he checked out with the Hawks trailing 71-70. Meanwhile Jamal Crawford played the whole fourth quarter until he was replaced by Pape Sy with 1:05 to play and the game decided. Crawford was 1-for-9 on the night. So yes, Zaza was sitting when those games were decided.
Buddy Grizzard
January 30th, 2012
6:00 pm
Najeh Zaza’s stunning playoff rebounding rate is a reason to KEEP Zaza. Kaman’s lack of durability is a reason NOT TO TRADE for Kaman. See what I did there?
Ray
January 30th, 2012
6:02 pm
With the way things are working out the hawks might be that high @ Najeh.
Honestly looking back at the 09 draft again I think we have the biggest steal of it all with Teague. Then again it’s a little too early for that, but still it’s finally fun again to watch the hawks.
Thing is what do we do about eitehr Horford or Josh depending on how this goes could determine many things if Smith keeps playing this well, and we obtain a legit C where does that leave Horford?
In fact just bringing back Benson would help the C position a lot I think.
terrell
January 30th, 2012
6:04 pm
Rick Sund interview on the Beat at 6:30. NBA TV. Cant wait. Haha
terrell
January 30th, 2012
6:05 pm
“6:00″. My bad.
Buddy Grizzard
January 30th, 2012
6:06 pm
Zaza’s last 3 games with big minutes: 29 mpg / 8.6 ppg / 7 reb
Kaman’s last 3 games with big minutes: 27 mpg / 11.3 ppg / 7.6 reb
You completely made my point for me. The difference between Zaza and Kaman is 2.5 ppg and half a rebound. The difference is also a very real danger of Kaman getting hurt and contributing nothing. And for that, Najeh would trade the very durable and playoff-proven Zaza Pachulia, PLUS the very utilitarian and playoff-proven Kirk Hinrich… two rotation players for an unreliable guy who gets you 2.5 ppg more than Zaza.
Ray
January 30th, 2012
6:11 pm
Ok just saying I’d rather have Mcgee than Kaman if you’re going to give up Kirk and Zaza that’s as bad as the trade last year with us and the Wizards giving them all that for one person a PB&J sandwich.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
6:13 pm
Sund just said they surrounded Jamal with “physical” and “defensive” players on the bench last year. I hope he’s not talking about Josh Powell…
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
6:14 pm
Sund just compared LD to Nate McMillan.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
6:17 pm
Lang Whitaker asked Sund about replacing Al, and Sund seems pretty content with Zaza and Twin holding down the fort. Doesn’t sound like a guy who thinks upgrading the big man rotation is a real priority.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
6:21 pm
” Zaza’s stunning playoff rebounding rate is a reason to KEEP Zaza. Kaman’s lack of durability is a reason NOT TO TRADE for Kaman. See what I did there?”
Yeah. You pointed out one thing Zaza does well and one drawback to Kaman, omitting any discussion of all the other positives and negatives of each player.
Joe Johnson being a more willing passer than Kobe is a reason to KEEP him. Kobe’s fragile knees are a reason NOT TO TRADE for him. See what I did there? You can take individual attributes about two players and make comparisons to support whatever ludicrous position you want.
In any case, the point of my previous messages is that comparing one guy’s playoff rebounding rate to another guy’s playoff rebounding rate, when the second guy hasn’t even played in the playoffs, is not just foolish; it is an outright lie. If you have to lie to make Zaza look better, then clearly Zaza isn’t all that great.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
6:23 pm
Mike Bibby has more assists in the playoffs over the last three years than Jeff Teague. #BuddyGrizzardStats
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
6:29 pm
Josh Smith averaging more rebounds than LeBron is a reason to KEEP Josh. LeBron choking at the free throw line is a reason NOT TO TRADE for LeBron. See what I did there? #BuddyGrizzardComparisons
Sautee
January 30th, 2012
6:30 pm
Blog’s newest catch phrase: ” See what I did there?”
doc
January 30th, 2012
6:30 pm
etan not josh powell, maybe? come on sund who is kidding who? what was the look on lang’s face who knows the hawks well, najeh as he said this crap?
doc
January 30th, 2012
6:37 pm
Sund just compared LD to Nate McMillan.
see what he did?
Buddy Grizzard
January 30th, 2012
6:38 pm
“I want to know Zaza’s rate of missing layups, getting his shot blocked, fumbling easy passes to the other team, etc. Without those, judging him solely on his rebound rate is useless.”
Well Najeh, even with all the missed layups, getting his shot blocked and fumbled passes, Zaza still lead the team in +/-. Therefore, obviously all those rebounds he’s getting and extra posessions he’s giving his team outweigh the bad plays we all see him make. But by all means lets trade two productive players for Chris Kaman and watch him go down to injury and produce nothing.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
6:38 pm
To be clear, I was much more enthusiastic about Kirk + Zaza for Kaman before Al went down. Right now, the Hawks would be more benefited by acquiring depth at center, rather than upgrading the one they have. While Kirk + Zaza for Kaman would make the starting lineup better, it wouldn’t solve the problem of Collins and Ivan playing all the backup center minutes, so the better move is to keep Zaza and trade Kirk for a big man.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
6:40 pm
” Zaza still lead the team in +/-.”
Link?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
6:41 pm
“what was the look on lang’s face who knows the hawks well, najeh as he said this crap?”
Haha somehow he managed to keep a straight face, but I’m pretty sure he’s followed the Hawks long enough that he probably expects the BS at this point.
Buddy Grizzard
January 30th, 2012
6:42 pm
“Joe Johnson being a more willing passer than Kobe is a reason to KEEP him. Kobe’s fragile knees are a reason NOT TO TRADE for him. See what I did there?”
YES! I SEE what you DID there! You said we’re better off with Joe than Kobe. And considering that Kobe’s team is .500 even with Bynum and Gasol on the roster, I think you take a pretty strong position there Najeh! Well done!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 30th, 2012
6:48 pm
Wait, so are you trying to say you actually wouldn’t trade Joe for Kobe? Are you sure you’re not Rick Sund?
KevinM
January 30th, 2012
6:49 pm
Buddy, 2-16 the last 3 years, and putting Zaza in the starting lineup for major minutes isn’t making this team any better than having Al last year.
I know I would rather see Kaman in the post as opposed to Zaza. Kaman’s numbers will always be better than Zaza’s, and having him play with better players will only help this team. To go along with that, I’m willing to give up someone else with Zaza to get Kaman for this year.
And if you can get anything for Marvin, you get it while he is doing ’something’ on the postive side. Will fantasy owners go out there and crank out Marvin trades now that he has had a few productive games?
The C position needs upgrading….I don’t need to hear Sund defend his position that we are fine. His interviews are completely a waste of time. I give him credit with retooling the bench, but he still hasn’t improved the starting 5. Teague did that himself when we were forced to go to him. That alone should have gotten LD his walking papers.
When Rick Carlisle let Tayshaun sit the bench as a rookie when he was at the helm in Detroit, and they were stuck not progressing in the playoffs, Larry Brown came in and gave Tayshaun minutes and whaddya know? They improved their starting lineup and improved their playoff results.
Watch and see if LD will try to take minutes away from Teague going forward. No one should be surprised to see it happen. LD plays it as safe as Sund does and really doesn’t have a long term goal to achieve.
KevinM
January 30th, 2012
6:55 pm
Najeh, are you thinking that once Al is cleared, he won’t help much this year? Because I don’t think Kirk should go anywhere this year at least. If Teague or Joe go down, we don’t have enough leverage.
If we acquired Kaman, and Al can give us something, that is a better spot to be in than with Zaza. System knowledge or not, you get Kaman in here to learn the system in enough time to help come playoff time because that is what he should be coming here for. A big man should be able to come in and learn his roles/responsibilities in 2 months of the regular season.
Not sure whatever big man you get for Kirk would be much anyway.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 30th, 2012
7:03 pm
Astro Joe, so when Kaman goes to his next team he will be iron-rusty.
EmirS.
January 30th, 2012
7:06 pm
“Will fantasy owners go out there and crank out Marvin trades now that he has had a few productive games?”
You should ask northcyde about that.
Btw, would it be possible for us to try and acquire Greg Monroe from the Pistons?
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 30th, 2012
7:13 pm
4 Points of Pressure!
“I want to know Zaza’s rate of missing layups, getting his shot blocked, fumbling easy passes to the other team, etc. Without those, judging him solely on his rebound rate is useless.”
___________
Perhaps Zaza and Marvin should train @ Flowery Branch this off season and practice the “4 Points of Pressure” on the basketball. That way when they grab a rebound, they can hold onto it, until more qualified help arrives.
The last thing we need to see is those guys going up to score. Zaza will fumble it and Marvin will get his shot blocked by the bottom of the rim or from behind by a 2′ PG.
SMH
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 30th, 2012
7:20 pm
See what I did there? LLL