Atlanta Hawks at Suns: Game thread
Phoenix–Tracy McGrady did not dress. “We are just going to rest him up,” Larry Drew said. “This is one of the things we knew we were probably going to be doing given the [truncated] season. He will be resting on back-to-back, whether the first night or second.”
- All 13 Suns are dressed and available.
- Jason Collins (elbow) saw his doctor today. “From what I was told, it’s feeling better but it’s not completely healed,” Drew said. “It’s going to be a little bit longer.”
- Drew didn’t commit to another 10-day contract for Erick Dampier. “It’s a possibility given that Jason won’t be back soon,” Drew said. “We are certainly going to need the body.”
- Drew expects to use Dampier tonight against Marcin Gortat and Robin Lopez after he played 16 minutes against Andrew Bynum. “Watching ‘Damp,’ it seems like every day he’s getting into some playing shape,” Drew said.
- The Suns sliced the Hawks on pick-and-rolls in the last meeting. According to Synergy Sports Technology, Suns pick-and-roll ball-handlers scored 1.5 points per possession and roll men scored 1.14 points per possession. On their 21 pick-and-roll possessions used, the Suns combined for 12 of 19 shooting, including 3-for-4 on 3s.
- “We are going to see tons and tons of it,” Drew said. “They run multiple pick-and-rolls. They run a lot of random pick-and-rolls. We are just going to have to do a good job against it. It’s not something we haven’t had seen before. The guards are going to have to do a good job of fighting over it and everybody is going to have to be in position.”
- The league selected Joe Johnson to participate in the 3-point shootout during All-Star weekend. “I guess they needed a fill-in,” Joe joked.
- Joe finished fifth of six players in 2005 when he repped the Suns. “I’ve always wanted a chance to redeem myself,” Joe said. That field included Hawks teammate Vladimir Radmaonovic, champion Quentin Richardson, Kyle Korver, Voshon Leonard and Ray Allen.
- Johnson and Minnesota’s Kevin Love are the two All-Stars who also will participate in the 3-point shootout this year. The other contestants are defending champion James Jones of the Heat, Miami teammate Mario Chalmers, Orlando’s Ryan Anderson and New Jersey’s Anthony Morrow.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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776 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2012
12:16 am
Portland isn’t anywhere near the same team without Aldridge. A lot of dribble penetration but no post presence, no go-to scoring option, and inconsistent outside shooting. The Hawks can only hope Aldridge sits out through the weekend. They can definitely beat Portland without him.
HawkEye
February 16th, 2012
12:16 am
Grandmaster
Indeed. But Teague still plays better than Kirk on defense (IMO).
Pargo does the things that Kirk does at about the same rate and at least he attempts to drive inside unlike Kirk.
Big Lou
February 16th, 2012
12:17 am
Joe can play in Marvin’s place; he’s big enough.
Teague, Green, Joe, Josh, and Zaza should be starting. Imagine the firepower in that lineup. lol
The only reason I don’t pick Vlad is because his D is atrocious.
Big Lou
February 16th, 2012
12:19 am
“Portland isn’t anywhere near the same team without Aldridge. A lot of dribble penetration but no post presence, no go-to scoring option, and inconsistent outside shooting. The Hawks can only hope Aldridge sits out through the weekend. They can definitely beat Portland without him.”
Agreed. Let’s also hope they leave Jamal C. out there so we can get easy baskets on his horrible defense. He’ll also chuck up fifty shots and only make a third of them. lol
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2012
12:24 am
JAMAL CRAWFORD
doc
February 16th, 2012
12:24 am
nice win on another career night by josh. he is rackng a few up this year. we needed it bad or no win.
now portland to mayeb pull out another win to get to four for tye month by my count if indy, magcand suns. aldridge out is a necessity.
prison mike
February 16th, 2012
12:27 am
Drew hopefully will get a lucrative offer after this season from the Wizards. Josh on the post produces when you call the play. And when you have him on the elbow he will shoot.
Giving it to Joe when he’s on the rag nearly lost this game like the Orlando game in the last 2 minutes. The sooner we move from the JJ era as no. 1 iso plank is when this team can advance further in the playoffs.
Big Lou
February 16th, 2012
12:29 am
Joe Johnson has ALWAYS been a number two guy. He’s the guy you create screens for and get open Js while the number one draws the defense.
Rusty
February 16th, 2012
12:30 am
No way JJ is an all-star,no way LD can call him self an NBA coach.
Big Lou
February 16th, 2012
12:31 am
FIRE LD. HIRE DUANE, THE HAWKS SUB ANNOUNCER!
Big Lou
February 16th, 2012
12:38 am
Big Ray in da house!
northcyde
February 16th, 2012
12:39 am
As much as Marvin may deserve “scrub of the night”, I gotta give it to JJ. Simply an unacceptable performance tonight from him. Horrible shot selection, no aggression, let an old man abuse him.
Unacceptable.
HawkEye
February 16th, 2012
12:40 am
Man. What is it about these Hawks? It always feels good when they win, but when they lose, it feels like they lose 2 games in one.
Game ball: Josh and Willie
Ghost ball: Joe and Marvin
High-sider
February 16th, 2012
12:41 am
Trail Blazers out-battle the Warriors 93-91. Jamal Crawford hits a big, clutch 3 [pointer] late in the 4th quarter to put Portland up by one point and later makes to clutch free throws to give the Blazers a two-point lead which in the end was the winning margin.
Big Lou
February 16th, 2012
12:42 am
T-Mac showing his health/age, but hey, we didn’t bring him in to be a starter or play starter’s minutes….no matter how bad we need somebody to take minutes from that guy who starts at SF but shouldn’t ….
I said it once and I’ll say it again. TMAC didn’t come to ATL to start. That’s why he was rested today.
Now, why don’t we move JJ to SF?
Teague, Green, JJ, Josh, and Zaza? Bueler? Bueler?
northcyde
February 16th, 2012
12:44 am
And I see that Jamal used up one of the two clutch shots a year that he makes. That three he took with 10 seconds still on the shot clock was a horrific shot. But he made it. That’s all that counts.
He’ll go back to his schizophrenic self when we come to town.
Big Lou
February 16th, 2012
12:46 am
Jamal will go 9 for 25. And will be -20 by the end of the game. Lol
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2012
12:47 am
“Now, why don’t we move JJ to SF?”
The major problem with this is rebounding. With the Hawks already a little undersized and thin at PF and C, they need rebounding out of the SF position. For all of Marvin’s other faults, he has consistently done a good job on the boards this season. Joe, on the other hand, not so much.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2012
12:48 am
” let an old man abuse him”
From the AP recap:
In the last three games, Hill has held Tyreke Evans, Monta Ellis and Johnson to a combined .205 from the field (8 of 39).
Old man can still ball.
Big Lou
February 16th, 2012
12:51 am
“Joe, on the other hand, not so much.”
You’re acting like the rebounds Marvin gives the Hawks offsets his downsides. It doesn’t. The guy can’t even make a layup!
prison mike
February 16th, 2012
12:52 am
Gotta offer up something for Kaveman. Looks like NO could buy him out and he could choose some bandwagon team.
Offer something like Marv, Duck, and a heavily protected first round pick.
Andrew Lipham
February 16th, 2012
1:01 am
Just gonna throw this out there. How would everyone feel about a Horford/Hinrich for Paul Pierce deal? Then we could flip Marvin and Zaza for an above average center afterwards.
Donte
February 16th, 2012
1:02 am
So in order to beat this under 500 team, we needed key Josh Smith 3 pt field goals, a costly technical foul by the opponent, and wide open misses from them as well???
Honestly, How can you be happy with this win? Is this what we can depend on in the playoffs or against good teams? That dependable Josh Smith 3 point stroke?? Guys for the other team missing wide open shots?? The other team’s superstar getting a costly tech at a crucial point in a game??? Nothing good came of this game from a standpoint of being comfortable with how we will fair in the playoffs. It actually confirms the doubts.
Andrew Lipham
February 16th, 2012
1:10 am
@Donte, that is why we need to trade Horford ASAP
sam
February 16th, 2012
1:14 am
Josh Smith is clearly the most underappreciated player in the NBA. Somehow, his terrific energy (that drives the entire team), emotion and will to win seem to be totally misunderstood. Have any of you doubters actually watched him play? If you haven’t noticed, he can do it all – score, rebound, block, steal, assist – not to mention all the shots he “changes” by his awesome defense. And he cares!!! If you would take the time to look at him, you would see the obvious. Joe an allstar? HA!
On another note, Drew really lucked out tonight in Phoenix, because in spite on Josh’s great, great effort, we almost lost this game. It sure was cute watching Kurt chasing Steve around the court.
Stop taking so many minutes away from Teague – Kurt’s good for a few and then the age shows – he is clearly not Steve Nash. And remember, for all practical purposes, this is really Teague’s rookie year, as he has been screwed over in playing time the last time. He is doing a heck of a job!!
Give him some confidence, Larry!!!!
Michael Cunningham
February 16th, 2012
1:16 am
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.