Heat at Atlanta Hawks Game Thread
Vivlamore filling in for tonight’s game against the Heat.
Here is your report from the morning shoot-around.
Josh Smith insists he is not playing with a chip on his shoulder.
However, in the past two games the forward has put up impressive numbers – despite again being snubbed from the NBA All-Star team
In wins over the Pacers and Magic, Smith is averaging 25.5 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and 2.5 steals. They are all above his season averages, especially his 15.9 points per game.
“I’ve just been playing,” Smith said Sunday morning before taking on the Heat in a nationally televised game. “I’ve been playing like this since the season started. It’s really not a chip on my shoulder. I’ve been blessed to be able to step in in Al [Horford’s] absence and just been playing some good basketball.”
Smith is averaging 15.9 points and 9.8 rebounds in the 16 games since Horford was lost to a torn left pectoral muscle. The Hawks are 11-5 without Horford.
“I’ve always stated that he is a guy who can impact the game on both ends of the court, which he clearly did in our last game against Orlando,” coach Larry Drew said. Smith had 23 points and 19 rebounds in the overtime win over the Magic Friday.
* With the Heat in town, the million dollar question is how do you go about guarding LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Here is Drew’s take: “They lead the league in fast-break points so the first thing you have to do is get back on defense. How do you do that? That is going to be controlled by your shot selection and that you are not turning the basketball over. Secondly, obviously in a half-court game, you are taking about LeBron [James], you are talking about Wade, you are talking about Bosh. All three guys are very capable of having huge nights. You just set your defense where you don’t put yourself at a disadvantage. Going into a game like this, playing against a team like Miami, you have to play solid on both ends of the floor. You have to do a good job of taking away easy transition points but on the other hand you have to do a good job of moving the basketball.”
* Horford attended the team’s morning shoot-around Sunday as a spectator. The center had his left arm in a sling.
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
1,002 comments Add your comment
Big Lou
February 12th, 2012
7:53 pm
Get Green out of there.
Hawkfan
February 12th, 2012
7:53 pm
That D Wade guy is not bad
Runner-
February 12th, 2012
7:53 pm
game, nice try hawks
Big Ray
February 12th, 2012
7:53 pm
Josh….this is what hurts your all-star chances….
IceColdATLien
February 12th, 2012
7:54 pm
Gotta get Goggles on Wade. Everyone else is just gettin’ shook
Loserville USA
February 12th, 2012
7:54 pm
Down 13, the MORON Smith takes a 3-pointer.
This is an old script.
Anyone who thinks this team can win a playoff series is in the same category as Smith/
There is nothing elite about this team. They don’t shoot well, they don’t hustle back on defense and they don’t have a chance in hell.
Runner-
February 12th, 2012
7:54 pm
Josh doesn’t take that many long 2’s or 3’s anymore, but boy do they come at the WORST possible times
vava74
February 12th, 2012
7:54 pm
No energy
kevkat
February 12th, 2012
7:54 pm
Is there ever a nationally televised game outside of the playoffs where they don’t get blown out?
Big Lou
February 12th, 2012
7:55 pm
If Wade is in, then Joe should be in. Come on LD. Utilize your players!
Rod from College Park
February 12th, 2012
7:55 pm
This one is over. Game was lost in the first 8 minutes.
Melvin
February 12th, 2012
7:55 pm
This look like one of those games where the Hawks will tighten their defense and start driving the ball to the basket when they are down 20pts in the 4th qtr to try to make a comeback….
OH
February 12th, 2012
7:55 pm
Are yall seriously blaming the refs? The Hawks aren’t even TRYING to get into the paint LOL
Stop making excuses for garbage.
The Monger
February 12th, 2012
7:55 pm
Josh Smith shooting 3’s is about as cringe-worthy as finding a Norweigan rat in your bed, while sniffing some spoiled milk, while some guy scratches his nails on a chalkboard….
Heat Fan
February 12th, 2012
7:56 pm
Wade is a scorer not a shooter, I’ll take him over any jump shooter all day
northcyde
February 12th, 2012
7:56 pm
20 mill man can’t make an impact if he’s not in the game.
Drew should’ve subbed JJ for T-Mac, not Marvin. Now the lead is 15 again. This is a 40+ minute type game for JJ, yet Drew is saving him again for some reason.
IceColdATLien
February 12th, 2012
7:56 pm
It’s a bit early to call it “game” but Drew gonna need to make some adjustments, obviously
Slimjr
February 12th, 2012
7:56 pm
Josh has transformed and disappeared…
Time for the Grammy’s..I want to see Rhianna and Chris bang it out! Oops that did not transcend properly. My apologies to the Elegant Ladies of this awe inspiring blog!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2012
7:56 pm
Hawks are working so hard for every shot.
Big Ray
February 12th, 2012
7:57 pm
Good fighting, Josh/Zaza
Slimjr
February 12th, 2012
7:57 pm
Should be down by 25 at the half….
OH
February 12th, 2012
7:57 pm
JOSH FOR THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
IceColdATLien
February 12th, 2012
7:57 pm
Finally a call on Miami!!! Stop the presses!!!
Big Lou
February 12th, 2012
7:58 pm
That’s game. I just don’t see it happening. Later guys.
Heat Fan
February 12th, 2012
7:58 pm
Wade out scoring Teague, Smith, and JJ combined
Loserville USA
February 12th, 2012
7:58 pm
Men vs. boys. Good night.
DawgNole
February 12th, 2012
7:58 pm
Unless the loser mentality of ownership, players, and fans changes, the next half-century will be about the same as the past one.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2012
7:59 pm
At least Teague gets somewhere near the paint when he throws up a brick, unlike every other Hawk who prefers to throw them up from 20 feet away.
Slimjr
February 12th, 2012
7:59 pm
iso game has transmuted and evaporated!!!!!!!! They wan to go home and watch the Grammys YALL!
Tootsi
February 12th, 2012
7:59 pm
Could Marvin Williams be any more useless?
IceColdATLien
February 12th, 2012
7:59 pm
Here’s where Ivan can come in handy: go take Bosh and just scare the hell out of him
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2012
7:59 pm
Joe is nonexistent on both ends.
Blast
February 12th, 2012
7:59 pm
Has Joe scored in this game?
falCans
February 12th, 2012
7:59 pm
why is LD pretending SMOOVE a 3??? His shot off tonight THROW HIS ASS IN THE POST
High-sider
February 12th, 2012
7:59 pm
RCP [Rod from College Park]
Your post @ 7:36pm had me trippin’ harder than a bid dog. You’re right; the Hawks [team] doesn’t have enough scorers. I can’t understand why a lot of these bloggers don’t [or didn't] value Jamal Crawford as a prolific scorer.
The Monger
February 12th, 2012
7:59 pm
What is more pathetic….William Hung’s singing career or Marvin Williams trying to finish in the paint?? I would have to say Marvin. because at least Hung has completed several albums, whereas Marvin has yet to finish a drive to the basket without losing the ball, getting rejected, or flat out missing the shot.
Big Ray
February 12th, 2012
8:00 pm
Joe is playing like absolute trash.
Slimjr
February 12th, 2012
8:00 pm
Its has transitioned into a wrap men…
Melvin
February 12th, 2012
8:00 pm
These Refs should just wear Heat jerseys….
OH
February 12th, 2012
8:00 pm
They can’t rebound? Welp, don’t miss Horford, right?
northcyde
February 12th, 2012
8:00 pm
Smh @ JJ. Just shoot the damn ball. Stop all of that dribbling. Let that thang fly.
LOL then he gets fouled but no call.
MattP
February 12th, 2012
8:01 pm
And they wonder why no one wants to pay and see the Hawks…
Slimjr
February 12th, 2012
8:01 pm
its 20:00! My flat screen has transitioned to the Grammys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Calvin
February 12th, 2012
8:01 pm
Whoever was saying that the Hawks have been better than the Falcons is a complete moron.
Big Ray
February 12th, 2012
8:02 pm
Your post @ 7:36pm had me trippin’ harder than a bid dog. You’re right; the Hawks [team] doesn’t have enough scorers. I can’t understand why a lot of these bloggers don’t [or didn't] value Jamal Crawford as a prolific scorer.
Yes, by all means. Let’s see if Portland will be willing to take our entire bench back in exchange for Jamal.
IceColdATLien
February 12th, 2012
8:02 pm
It’s basketball, y’all. Still at home. Generally a streaky team. Have a chance IF Drew makes those line-up changes he was talkin bout a few days ago.
The match-ups just aren’t working right now, so there’s no reason not to try a different look (as far as line-ups go).
phil
February 12th, 2012
8:02 pm
LOL at anyone who thought this would ever be a game….
We aren’t in the same zip code with these guys.
It’s embarrassing how bad we actually are against good teams.
Slimjr
February 12th, 2012
8:02 pm
Fire eveybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hit the remote…
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2012
8:02 pm
“Smh @ JJ. Just shoot the damn ball. Stop all of that dribbling. Let that thang fly.”
How about driving inside and drawing fouls instead of shooting the damn ball or dribbling? I guess that’s asking too much.
OH
February 12th, 2012
8:03 pm
Josh the all-star! Best player! Joe the all-star! 100M!
HAWKS FANS MAKE SOME NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIIISSSSEEEEE! LOL