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
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
776 comments Add your comment
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 15th, 2012
10:45 pm
depending on Josh jumpshots is not a good thing, but at least he’s trying. Where’s Joe?
Boss
February 15th, 2012
10:45 pm
Just image if our 124 million dollar superstars decided to show up tonight
terrell
February 15th, 2012
10:45 pm
Earth calling Joe Johnson. U copy?
Big Lou
February 15th, 2012
10:45 pm
If the Hawks win, it’s pure luck or talent. This coach has no clue how to run an offense.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
10:46 pm
8 huge points for Josh — probably should have been more if he got a foul call — to close out that quarter.
He does some things that drive a coach crazy, but the bottom line remains that he’s one of the two best players on this team. As long as the roster is constructed in this way, the Hawks have no choice but to rely on him and hope for the best. Can’t bench him for doing one stupid thing, because the positives still outweigh the negatives.
Astro Joe
February 15th, 2012
10:46 pm
A virtual miracle that Hawks cut the lead to 4 without Teague on the floor. LD needs to play Jeff for the rest of the game since that lightening surely won’t strike again.
Lame Larry
February 15th, 2012
10:46 pm
So Josh sucks for 2 1/2 quarters but shows up late 3rd & he’s your hero ?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 15th, 2012
10:46 pm
It’s Steve Nash time. Better leave Hinrich in whenever Nasty Nash is in
kwooden
February 15th, 2012
10:47 pm
Nice run by the guys, good rotation by LD. Vlad was missing shots and making turnovers but played tough.
Melvin
February 15th, 2012
10:47 pm
Hawks made another run with Joe on the bench….LOL
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
10:47 pm
“A virtual miracle that Hawks cut the lead to 4 without Teague on the floor. LD needs to play Jeff for the rest of the game since that lightening surely won’t strike again.”
Seeing as how they cut it to 4 thanks to two Josh 3s and a Josh putback off a bricked jumper, I’d say you are right. Can’t rely on Josh jumpers and putbacks to carry your offense.
62-39-5
February 15th, 2012
10:47 pm
If the Hawks dont get it together soon they’ll be looking up at the Knicks.
Slimjr
February 15th, 2012
10:47 pm
its luck when he makes a jump shot! Unbelievable…..
Big Lou
February 15th, 2012
10:47 pm
If only Atlanta played with this much heart all the time….
Lol. Make a couple of lucky baskets and they are playing with heart all of a sudden. Just goes to show that ‘heart’ is based on scoring, rather than playing hard.
IceColdATLien
February 15th, 2012
10:47 pm
Willie should play the rest of the second half, excepting a lil rest here or there. One of my big complaints bout Drew is that he doesn’t normally stick with bench guys when they’re playing well. This would be a great time to go small with Joe at SF and Jeff/Kirk alongside Willie. But that would entail some creativity from Drew… and we all know better than that.
bigdave
February 15th, 2012
10:47 pm
1-7 .. 0-0 ft.. 0 rebs.
at 120 mil 6′7 240 is unacceptable.
u will have to report before this game is over Joe.
Spyro
February 15th, 2012
10:48 pm
I think the play there, but you have to finish that Kirk.
Rod from College Park
February 15th, 2012
10:48 pm
This Kirk Hinrich guy is awful
Astro Joe
February 15th, 2012
10:48 pm
I’d like to see LD make the super bold move and not play Joe anymore tonight.
Lame Larry
February 15th, 2012
10:48 pm
Put Joe Johnson on the bench. Go with Teague,JSmith,Green,Pachulia,and Hinrich
Dollar Value
February 15th, 2012
10:48 pm
OK Joe value update:
For $164986 (3 quarters) Joe has given us: 3 points, 0 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, and 1 PF.
Let’s see that’s $54,995 dollars per POINT. Just for perspective.
northcyde
February 15th, 2012
10:48 pm
Lol. Incredible we’re only down 3.
Josh Smith is like a canoe riding down a river rapid. We just have to hope every bad play is followed by 2 good plays.
JJ on that Ciroc tonight I guess, just a spectator.
And Leu
Melvin
February 15th, 2012
10:48 pm
F* these Refs…
Derrick
February 15th, 2012
10:48 pm
“Just another brick in the wall…”
Section 303
February 15th, 2012
10:48 pm
The Hawks will be down 15, again in a few short moments.
Hinrich sucks
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 15th, 2012
10:48 pm
Kirk Bibby
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 15th, 2012
10:49 pm
3 chances to cut it to 2. Empty each time.
Derrick
February 15th, 2012
10:49 pm
“For $164986 (3 quarters) Joe has given us: 3 points, 0 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, and 1 PF.”
Makes me not want to watch these millionaires…
bigdave
February 15th, 2012
10:49 pm
lol.. Joe on the ciroc. he seems disinterested enough.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 15th, 2012
10:50 pm
Are we going to score again in this game?
Big Lou
February 15th, 2012
10:50 pm
Great job, Smith. Post move!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
10:50 pm
I will give Kirk this — he hasn’t played man to man D much better than Teague, but he’s been more active getting his hands on loose balls and breaking up people’s dribbles.
Meanwhile Josh is on fire.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 15th, 2012
10:50 pm
Smoove
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 15th, 2012
10:50 pm
leave HINRICH IN
bigdave
February 15th, 2012
10:51 pm
this is about the time were Joe comes back to normal.. after his all star selection. dude always kills for a couple weeks January..
Rusty
February 15th, 2012
10:51 pm
Who the hell is guarding grant hill. I swear after JT shooting good in the first quarter LD must tell him to stop looking for his shots & get very one else into their game,after all your a pg.he just stopped shooting. What the hell is K H bringing to this team for 8 million.
TMACfan
February 15th, 2012
10:51 pm
It seems like JJ plays just to get in the AllStar game then takes the month off to rest.
Slimjr
February 15th, 2012
10:51 pm
Kirk what was that?
Derrick
February 15th, 2012
10:51 pm
Michael Redd, Mr. Slingshot shooter.
Ra'mon
February 15th, 2012
10:52 pm
Kirk is 1 for 6 compared to Joe’s 1 for 7. And you’re saying leave Kirk in? Take Kirk out! His trade value is dropping.
Big Lou
February 15th, 2012
10:52 pm
Here comes the BS offense again. Let’s see of my prediction is right and they start missing jumpshots, which will lose them the game, since they don’t penetrate.
Can we put in Teague?
Slimjr
February 15th, 2012
10:52 pm
Kirk was not worth two 1st round picks!
bigdave
February 15th, 2012
10:52 pm
Joe receives the ball.. catches and holds, all to pass to Josh who turns it over.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
10:52 pm
So we’re running plays for Josh 3s now?
HawkEye
February 15th, 2012
10:52 pm
It’s mystifying how Kirk can get these guaranteed minutes and Pargo cannot see the floor at all. Kirk has done seemingly nothing to earn those mins. It’s the Woody/Drew effect all over again. Give mins to these old vets for no reason.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 15th, 2012
10:53 pm
Nash time. Watch us be down 12 points very very soon
Lame Larry
February 15th, 2012
10:53 pm
I guess Joe’s saving his energy for the 3 point contest ? He ain’t trying tonight…
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 15th, 2012
10:53 pm
Kirk Bibby chasin’ his man down from behind and not staying in front of him.
Melvin
February 15th, 2012
10:53 pm
Too many turnovers….
Boss
February 15th, 2012
10:54 pm
Where is Joe Choke Johnson