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
IceColdATLien
February 15th, 2012
10:27 pm
GM, of course the player begged to have be coach cuz they knew they could get away with whatever they want without any consequences.
Josh continues to shoot something like 28% from 18+ feet but keeps firing away cuz there’s no penalty for him for doing so. It’s gotta be tough for Drew to pull him given how much Josh impacts the game in other ways… but something has to be done about those shots.
B-Dub
February 15th, 2012
10:27 pm
I agree, Joe is a tough one to figure out.
Though if Nash played on this team, Joe’s average would go up 5-7 points per game.
This is a tough one to watch. Talk about energy but there is a point where we just say that Drew is continually being out coached.
TMACfan
February 15th, 2012
10:27 pm
I kinda miss our old second unit with Pargo. That was a money bench.
Section 303
February 15th, 2012
10:28 pm
This is going to be a brutal month for the Hawks. Whole lot of losing to look forward to.
Big Lou
February 15th, 2012
10:28 pm
Let me ask you a question. Would you respect a coach that doesn’t know offense? Then complains about ‘energy’.
Spyro
February 15th, 2012
10:28 pm
Good pass, Joe.
Lame Larry
February 15th, 2012
10:29 pm
They wouldn’t need to run the pick & roll with a big man on Nash. They’d just dump it to their big man being guarded by a small for a dunk.
Luke Cage
February 15th, 2012
10:29 pm
Damn, I leave in the middle of the 2nd, come back in the mid 3rd and Hawks still getting choked out.
Section 303
February 15th, 2012
10:29 pm
TMACfan, I agree. Pargo played well. Should still be getting minutes. Hinrich has done nothing to warrant the time he is getting.
Melvin
February 15th, 2012
10:30 pm
That should have been a flagrant foul on Frye. He didn’t make a play on the ball.
IceColdATLien
February 15th, 2012
10:30 pm
Zaza with the sweeping hook… and it’s so sad it was just bout the nicest shot for ATL all night.
That’s gotta be flagrant!!!
Slimjr
February 15th, 2012
10:30 pm
8th hardest just got harder this month..
Slimjr
February 15th, 2012
10:30 pm
bench #24
Lame Larry
February 15th, 2012
10:30 pm
What was Marvin doing when Gortat hit layup ? Watchin like you & Me. !
MattP
February 15th, 2012
10:30 pm
“I kinda miss our old second unit with Pargo. That was a money bench.”- TMACfan
I agree, I think Pargo and TMac ran the 2nd unit good together
Big Lou
February 15th, 2012
10:31 pm
And to think Josh was going to drive after that fake. Fools gold.
Slimjr
February 15th, 2012
10:31 pm
bench #24
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 15th, 2012
10:31 pm
It’s now obvious:
Joe gets his numbers vs. bad teams early in year (our early schedule is always really soft), makes the All Star Team, and then he disappears soon-after
Luke Cage
February 15th, 2012
10:31 pm
What does Larry do to these guys during the break where they just can’t do jack in the 3rd qtrs??
Spyro
February 15th, 2012
10:31 pm
If still not sure why Larry Drew runs this many plays where Josh is 15 feet away from the basket. I wish he would go back to running the offense out of Josh in the high post. That was working.
hawksfancents95
February 15th, 2012
10:32 pm
we need to hire paul depodestra, the guy that helped billy beane see that you need to use sabermetrics to analyze players and get the most cost effective players for the money. if we had some insight theres no way we would of kept marvin. prob let joe walk too.
wow nash is showing how you find the open man. i think he still has 3 good years left in him. i hope he signs with LAL in the offseason to get him a shot at a championship.
Slimjr
February 15th, 2012
10:32 pm
need T-mac tonight!
Section 303
February 15th, 2012
10:32 pm
Josh Smith is awful tonight. Can’t hit the jumper tonight and refuses to stop taking bad shots.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
10:32 pm
The Hawks’ offense against the zone just looks horrendous. Teague’s dribble penetration is the only thing keeping them from jacking up more out of rhythm jumpers against the zone.
Derrick
February 15th, 2012
10:32 pm
Dominique Wilkins, Mr. Obvious.
Luke Cage
February 15th, 2012
10:33 pm
Green going for the ole gorilla slam
Lame Larry
February 15th, 2012
10:33 pm
Teague gotta do Harlem Globe Trotter moves by himself while other 4 Hawks watch. Pathetic.
TMACfan
February 15th, 2012
10:33 pm
TMAC played 72 games last season. I know this is a condensed season but LET HIM PLAY!
Astro Joe
February 15th, 2012
10:33 pm
Half way through the 3rd quarter and Joe hasn;t taken a shot. He needs to get into the paint and get his game going. Can’t be a decoy all night long.
Rocky
February 15th, 2012
10:33 pm
BLOW IT UP!!!
Slimjr
February 15th, 2012
10:33 pm
Hey Marv did ya see how Willie attacked the basket?
Hes 6 inches shorter than you buster!
MattP
February 15th, 2012
10:33 pm
Section 303,
That’s always how Josh is, lol..
Big Lou
February 15th, 2012
10:34 pm
Offense for the Hawks in a nutshell:
Pass around the perimeter until the clock dwindles down, then take an ill-advised shot. Or give it to JJ, let him dribble until he makes a brick or air ball.
Melvin
February 15th, 2012
10:34 pm
Marvin played 6mins in the 3rd qtr and didnt attempt a shot. Willie attempted a dunk within 30seconds of being in the game…. and 2 within 1min
Lame Larry
February 15th, 2012
10:34 pm
Joe sucks !
Luke Cage
February 15th, 2012
10:34 pm
Say It So Joe, 1 shot made.
Derrick
February 15th, 2012
10:35 pm
Joe Johnson doesn’t look like an All-Star to me. Dominique Wilkins refer to Joe as a “Superstar.” Laughable.
The Hawks shoot more jumpers than a Little League team.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
10:35 pm
I would really like to see other Suns games to see how other teams shut them down. As far from perfect as the Hawks are, they are a good defensive team by the numbers and actually did a good job against the Lakers yesterday. It’s not like they don’t have the personnel to defend Phoenix. It can’t be that hard to defend them.
Astro Joe
February 15th, 2012
10:35 pm
Rare bad pass from Nash… giving it to Gortat 10 feet away from the basket.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 15th, 2012
10:35 pm
How the hell did Teague play so well in that Playoffs series vs. Chicago? From the beginning of Game 1, he was on point.
He looks pretty bad right now. No homo.
TMACfan
February 15th, 2012
10:35 pm
Joe doesn’t suck, he just needs to WAKE THE **** UP!!!
Rocky
February 15th, 2012
10:35 pm
“Josh Smith is awful tonight. Can’t hit the jumper tonight and refuses to stop taking bad shots.”
Same ol’ same ol’…
Slimjr
February 15th, 2012
10:35 pm
Josh will not be denied reference his J! He will keep hoisting till he makes one!! Then start another brick feast!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
10:36 pm
“Half way through the 3rd quarter and Joe hasn;t taken a shot.”
He did take that one highly idiotic transition 3 that led to a transition opportunity for Phoenix.
MattP
February 15th, 2012
10:36 pm
Grandmaster JeJe (GM) ,
Teague doesn’t look that bad.
Slimjr
February 15th, 2012
10:36 pm
Bench Joe! Just Brutal tonight!
Big Lou
February 15th, 2012
10:37 pm
Rebounding for the Hawks in a nutshell:
Everyone sit on the out of the paint, and watch them grab the offensive rebound. Or, try to help block on shots to rack up stats to allow their un-bodied man to get the easy layup.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
10:37 pm
Teague has 12 and 5. He looks fine on offense. He has looked bad on defense like the rest of the Hawks, because he doesn’t know how to get around screens properly.
Slimjr
February 15th, 2012
10:37 pm
The 39 year old has Joe on lock down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Derrick
February 15th, 2012
10:37 pm
Why doesn’t Josh DRIVE THE BASKETBALL TO THE HOLE? Get into the paint for once! This dude can jump out of the building, yet he takes long jumpers all of the time. Drive the basketball!
I suppose the problem is that Josh isn’t that great of a ball-handler.
Dominique Wilkins playing Mr. Obvious again: “Just get some stops.”