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.
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1,002 comments Add your comment
Loserville USA
February 12th, 2012
8:30 pm
AN OWNER WENT INTO THE LOCKER ROOM?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2012
8:30 pm
Hawks coming out flat in the 3rd quarter as usual.
Runner-
February 12th, 2012
8:30 pm
how did he trip him? he was standing in front of him?
Grandad
February 12th, 2012
8:30 pm
unfathomable ? whatever
yodaddybrother
February 12th, 2012
8:30 pm
REf whats with the fouls????
KevinM
February 12th, 2012
8:31 pm
Didn’t we just have this conversation about FTs and lane shots?
Melvin
February 12th, 2012
8:31 pm
2 fouls in 18 seconds to start the 2nd half… My goodness these refs don’t missed anything for the Heat.
Slimjr
February 12th, 2012
8:31 pm
Train wreck? Why SPOCK????? WHY??????????
Slimjr
February 12th, 2012
8:32 pm
Phasers on stun!
Loserville USA
February 12th, 2012
8:32 pm
What a clankfest. Maybe the owner should have put on a uni.
Runner-
February 12th, 2012
8:32 pm
Marvin opts not to take the open 3 only to move slightly to the left and take a leaning long 2… why not try and drive it in?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2012
8:33 pm
Good ball movement, and Marvin misses another open shot.
Slimjr
February 12th, 2012
8:33 pm
2063= will be about 100 years between ECF participants, the Hawks…
Runner-
February 12th, 2012
8:33 pm
TAKE IT TO THE BASKET MARVIN!!!!!!!!
Melvin
February 12th, 2012
8:33 pm
Is Marvin scared to drive the ball to the rim?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2012
8:33 pm
“Marvin opts not to take the open 3 only to move slightly to the left and take a leaning long 2… why not try and drive it in?”
Because he knows he’ll get his shot blocked or fall down as usual.
northcyde
February 12th, 2012
8:34 pm
Knock your shots down Marvin
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2012
8:34 pm
The organist is playing “F-ck You”. Is that directed at the LeBron bandwagon fans in the building or the Hawks’ players?
kevkat
February 12th, 2012
8:35 pm
anyone wanna guess L.D’s comments after the game…
Nique's suit bill
February 12th, 2012
8:35 pm
This is the kind of game where the starters need to play big minutes. Momentum was lost once the subs were put in
And why not go to a zone defense?
Runner-
February 12th, 2012
8:35 pm
lol @ Zaza falling
Loserville USA
February 12th, 2012
8:35 pm
TIME FOR ALL 5 STARTERS TO TAKE A SEAT.
For as many games as it takes to get their attention.
The lazy Smith is the poster child for this team. Prima dona.
yodaddybrother
February 12th, 2012
8:35 pm
somebody…anybody…take the ball to the basket
LakeDawg
February 12th, 2012
8:36 pm
Has there ever been a bigger flop than Marvin Williams?
Melvin
February 12th, 2012
8:36 pm
The Hawks are so frustrating to watch…
yodaddybrother
February 12th, 2012
8:36 pm
zone it up Larry….it’s obvious we can’t stay in font of anyone tonight
northcyde
February 12th, 2012
8:36 pm
One of the things that the Heat are doing, is doubling Teague as he comes around the pick.
Runner-
February 12th, 2012
8:36 pm
man this game can’t get into any kind of rhythm, the refs are calling every single contact. This is why the NBA is sucking ass right now, let them play some basketball out there!!
Rod from College Park
February 12th, 2012
8:36 pm
“Jamal would be 1 – 7 for 2 points right now, with Wade still having a field day. People all on that dude like he showed up in games like this. His clutch stats last year were HORRIBLE”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxKEou4vPHk.
Slimjr
February 12th, 2012
8:37 pm
”””… ”””’
|
— |—— = Larry Drew
|
/\
Nique's suit bill
February 12th, 2012
8:37 pm
Miami isnt even that good! But will get to the finals against ok c
yodaddybrother
February 12th, 2012
8:37 pm
Chalmers is murdering the Hawks
Heat Fan
February 12th, 2012
8:38 pm
Hawks suck on pick and roll defense
yodaddybrother
February 12th, 2012
8:38 pm
hard headed Larry Drew….zone it up man…we are getting blown by every possession
Rod from College Park
February 12th, 2012
8:38 pm
Lebron, Wade and Bosh are all all stars. So is Joe Johnson……
LakeDawg
February 12th, 2012
8:39 pm
NBA refs have always been the worst in sports. You can’t breath on the “stars.” Never any consistency within a game, much less from game to game.
Runner-
February 12th, 2012
8:39 pm
”””… ”””’
|
— |—— = Larry Drew
|
/\
I lol’d so hard at this
Slimjr
February 12th, 2012
8:39 pm
1st Round? Yea right…
crazy_88
February 12th, 2012
8:39 pm
Hawks down by 23 pts and LD’s great coaching move to stop the bleeding is to bring in two 6′3 guards in Hinrich and Green ? Wade and Lebron are feasting all day…simply pathetic !!!
Loserville USA
February 12th, 2012
8:39 pm
Down 30.
THE OWNER DEFINITELY GOT THE MESSAGE ACROSS.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2012
8:40 pm
“NBA refs have always been the worst in sports. You can’t breath on the “stars.” Never any consistency within a game, much less from game to game.”
A smart ownership group would realize this and go out and acquire stars, instead of trying to convince the Atlanta fan base that Joe Johnson and Josh Smith are stars.
northcyde
February 12th, 2012
8:40 pm
Going zone wouldn’t even matter in this game. Heat are out and running after every rebound.
Just a terrible all around performance tonight.
Disappointing but predictable for this team.
OH
February 12th, 2012
8:40 pm
BEST TEAM IN ATLANTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yodaddybrother
February 12th, 2012
8:41 pm
yep….time for the scrubs to get some PT for both teams.
Another sad day for Atlanta Sports fans
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2012
8:41 pm
“THE OWNER DEFINITELY GOT THE MESSAGE ACROSS”
What are you talking about? I’m watching Bob and Nique… did ESPN say Gearon went to the locker room or something?
Rob
February 12th, 2012
8:41 pm
Whatever round we make it through or out of, this will be the last time this “core” gets that chance.
Slimjr
February 12th, 2012
8:42 pm
Larry=discombobulated? WTF?
OH
February 12th, 2012
8:42 pm
“The Hawks are so frustrating to watch…”
The don’t watch, just like the rest of Atlanta! LOL
northcyde
February 12th, 2012
8:42 pm
For Rod
http://www.82games.com/1011/CSORT11.HTM
Slimjr
February 12th, 2012
8:43 pm
C’mon Laryy lets lose by say 50??????????????