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 15th, 2012
9:58 pm
“Then you remember we just feast on awful teams like Charlotte and New Jersey”
The sad thing is even this is an improvement over past years, when those teams would routinely give the Hawks all they could handle.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 15th, 2012
9:58 pm
Joe Johnson had 0 rebounds vs. Orlando Friday
Joe Johnson had 0 rebounds vs. Miami Sunday
Yet no one here besides me EVER mentions his rebounding
Luke Cage
February 15th, 2012
9:59 pm
Going to actually do some work, holla back, hope Hawks wake up
Astro Joe
February 15th, 2012
9:59 pm
IMO, Willie is playing better (and more consistently) than TMac, so I hope we see more of this line-up, with Willie & Joe playing together.
Jase
February 15th, 2012
9:59 pm
This team is funny!!!!
Melvin
February 15th, 2012
9:59 pm
Astro,
What’s your excuse for Joe and his 3pts in the 1st half tonight? The Hawks are playing a weak defensive team and Joe is not being double team.
Sautee
February 15th, 2012
10:00 pm
Jeje,
And to make it worse, he’s played some at the 3 tonight with no rebounds.
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 15th, 2012
10:01 pm
This team is lost
Zaza Play Like Grandma
February 15th, 2012
10:01 pm
Absoulutely nobody under goal and Hawks hoist up a 3. Four Suns standing under goal.
Spyro
February 15th, 2012
10:01 pm
Josh, stop it.
Old Man Peabody
February 15th, 2012
10:02 pm
Is JJ really an all star, seems he gets a sympathy vote since the Hawks need to be represented in the game
Big Lou
February 15th, 2012
10:02 pm
Why? Why pass to Josh on the perimeter? Garbage team. They are never running any offensive schemes.
TMACfan
February 15th, 2012
10:03 pm
JOE!!!! WAKE THE **** UP!!!!!!
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 15th, 2012
10:03 pm
“The sad thing is even this is an improvement over past years, when those teams would routinely give the Hawks all they could handle.”
They have given us all we can handle this year. We almost lost that Friday night game to Charlotte (the night after we lost at home to MIami minus D.Wade LBJ and the night before we inexplicably owned Chicago). The Friday NJN game in the first week of the year we almost lost too.
It is still completely unacceptable to lose 3 straight home games, no matter how bad the team is. We lost to 3 straight NON-ELITE teams.
We just have no heart. It’s the same damn core every single year. I am getting tired of supporting this team to be honest.
JaeEvolution
February 15th, 2012
10:03 pm
Semih Erden with 18 and 8 tonight, one of the best bigs that can be gotten for cheap out there.
terrell
February 15th, 2012
10:03 pm
Josh still hoisting.
Zaza Play Like Grandma
February 15th, 2012
10:03 pm
Pick & Miss
Astro Joe
February 15th, 2012
10:03 pm
Melvin, I think he’s missing his shots… what’s your theory, he’s not trying hard enough?
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 15th, 2012
10:03 pm
gotta be kiddin me
MattP
February 15th, 2012
10:03 pm
Terrible!
terrell
February 15th, 2012
10:03 pm
wtf
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 15th, 2012
10:03 pm
couldnt get the shot off?
Melvin
February 15th, 2012
10:04 pm
Bench Joe…. LD would bench any other player if they play sorry, he needs to bench Joe…
bfatt
February 15th, 2012
10:04 pm
Enter will someone tell me why Marvin Williams still starts
Slimjr
February 15th, 2012
10:04 pm
Prediction: They start slow in the 3rd again and get blown out!
Suns up 9 at the half….
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
10:05 pm
“Semih Erden with 18 and 8 tonight, one of the best bigs that can be gotten for cheap out there”
Would have been a much more realistic target before Anderson Varejao got injured. I doubt that Cleveland wants to get rid of him now. Still, it would have been smart to target him.
Zaza Play Like Grandma
February 15th, 2012
10:05 pm
Hawks made the run with Joe on bench. That tells you a lot.
TMACfan
February 15th, 2012
10:05 pm
MAKE A TRADE SUND!!!! DO IT!!!!!!!!!
STRETCH
February 15th, 2012
10:05 pm
Lou,
Thats the case with this team. Has always been the case even when Woody was coaching them. No discipline, no BB IQ and then they start to get beat down and thats when they “CHECK OUT” of games.
This group is a very gifted group but DUMB. Every game they will find different ways to lose a game. Also, when things start going wrong, they start shooting jumpers and when the jumpers stop falling, they start crying and flailing and throwing their hands up, while the so called leader JJ runs to the bench and hides under a towel.
5th or 6th seed at best. Another 2nd round ouster. The good news…we might finally see Marvin and Josh banished. I keep saying it, those two need to go in the worse way!!!!!!
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 15th, 2012
10:05 pm
3 pt contest joe will bring us back
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
10:05 pm
Once again, over those last 1:38 when Kirk played the point, every shot by the Hawks in the half court was a jumper.
Old Man Peabody
February 15th, 2012
10:06 pm
JeJe
Need Pat Riley to come here and blow this team up like he did the Heat 2 times before he finally got a SHIP down there
Sautee
February 15th, 2012
10:06 pm
MattP,
Could you send me links to MCs multiple stories about T-Mac wanting more playing time?
I never saw them, and I’d love to read about it. Thanks.
terrell
February 15th, 2012
10:06 pm
Should i stay up or should I go to bed? Decisions, decisions. lol. Should know by the middle of the 3rd qtr, thats for sure.
Astro Joe
February 15th, 2012
10:07 pm
It also doesn’t help (Melvin), that 67% of his FGAs have been from 3. One of the reason’s I stated that I HATE that he is in the 3-ball contest. I think that contest affects shooters much like the home run contest usually fouls up hitters.
On the positive side, he’s taken as many FGAs as Zaza, so he (again) isn’t hoisting shots just for the sake of hoisting shots.
Marvin Masonman Williams
February 15th, 2012
10:07 pm
Somewhere Billy Knight is laughing about picking Marvin over CP3.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
10:07 pm
Pretty sure Teague only took 2 shots after reentering the game. Need to keep going back to what was working.
Also, considering how much this team loves the 1-2 screen, you’d think if they want to get Joe going, they would run that and try to post Joe on Nash.
Section 303
February 15th, 2012
10:07 pm
Just about done with Hinrich. Pargo is better.
Suns are simply too smart for the Hawks. It impossible for the Hawks to beat this team. They just can’t do it.
By the way, former Hawk great Royal Ivy has 10 tonight for Thunder.
Slimjr
February 15th, 2012
10:07 pm
The schedule has finally caught up to these pretenders!
23rd easiest sched. through the 1st 28 games! Yep!
hawksfancents95
February 15th, 2012
10:07 pm
LD’s halftime sppech
“alright guys keep it up good intensity, lets keep the pressure on nash and continue to go over screens and leave weakside 3’s to help the paint. in transition josh you take the ball upcourt and look for marvin running at the rim. when we are in a half court situation we need to get the ball to joe and let him survey the defense and drive and kick it to josh for the 20footers they are open all night we just gota hit those shots. lets go fellas, we can do this”
Big Lou
February 15th, 2012
10:08 pm
I refuse to blame the players, because their talent is the only thing that gets them in the playoffs. If they actually had a competent coach, who knew how to demand respect and run the offense, they would of been in the ECF years ago. They are playing with heart; they are just playing undisciplined, which makes us think they are not trying. Yet, one thing I can say with confidence, is that they are giving their all. LD is just THAT horrible of a coach.
Melvin
February 15th, 2012
10:08 pm
Astro,
He could try driving to the rim. Oh I forgot, maybe he’s practicing for the 3pt shoot contest b/c 4 of his 6 shots have been from 3.
TMACfan
February 15th, 2012
10:09 pm
Anyway we can get Gortat that doesn’t involve Horford but involves Marvin?
terrell
February 15th, 2012
10:09 pm
At least Indiana is reeling. lost 5 str8 i think. NY’s about to pass the Hawks tho Im afraid. Have to check out the schedules . lol Philly losing too btw.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 15th, 2012
10:10 pm
LD said before the year he would hold Joe and Marvin accountable for their sub-par rebounding. As much as I hate Marvin’s game in general, he manages to get rebounding (although it could be better).
WHEN IS LD GOING TO CALL OUT THE SACRED COWS OF THIS TEAM? JOE JOHNSON DOES NOT REBOUND
terrell
February 15th, 2012
10:11 pm
I wouldnt give up a double cheesburger for Marvin. Are you kidding me???
terrell
February 15th, 2012
10:11 pm
Enter your comments here
Dollar Value
February 15th, 2012
10:11 pm
Joe Johnson makes $18,038,573.00. That’s $219,982 dollars per game.
For his $109,991 dollar half game, he gave us 3 points, 0 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 turnover.
I’d say the ASG is getting bilked. Can you say amnesty?
TMACfan
February 15th, 2012
10:12 pm
If the Suns intend on trading away Nash to a contender, we could somehow do a 3 team trade maybe and send Marvin and Kirk for Gortat.
Astro Joe
February 15th, 2012
10:12 pm
Melvin, yeah, because the only way to work on your skill set is during real games.
I’d love if he would find his floater in the paint again. We’ve seen Joe have a bad first half and then get himself toether this season. Let’s hope we see more of it.
Still don’t know what you want me to say… dude is missing his shots and I wish that he wouldn’t. Feel better?