Atlanta Hawks at Blazers: Game thread
Portland–Hawks center Jason Collins (elbow) got bad news from his recent checkup: “Another two to four more weeks. They showed me the MRI on the screen and the severity of the tear and highly recommended I stay in this brace so I can get back to the court as quickly as possible.”
- Collins will wear the brace around the clock and won’t be able to do any rehab until it comes off. “We started testing how the scar tissue is, the joint is still loose and cracking so there’s no scar tissue yet,” he said. “Got to give it more time to heal.”
- Erick Dampier’s 10-day contract is up after tonight’s game. Larry Drew said the team hasn’t decided if it will sign Dampier to another 10-day, add him for the rest of the season or seek a different free agent. “Rick Sund is here and we’ll visit after the game,” Drew said.
- Joe Johnson is wearing a soft brace on his problematic left knee. Johnson, as is his nature, shrugged it off: “It’s no big deal. Tendenitis flared up on it, but we’ve got to go up with what we’ve got. I’ve got tendinitis real bad right here [around patellar tendon]. Its’ tough at times but I had a couple days of rest so I should be all right.”
- In the eight games since scoring 30 points to lift Atlanta to the W at Toronto, Johnson averaged 13.8 points and shot 38 percent from the field. He scored a season-low six points and missed eight of 10 shots at Phoenix.
- Drew: “The last game I thought he was a little tired. His shots were a little short. When that happens, usually it’s the legs. When the physical fatigue sets in, usually the mental fatigue is not far behind. Hopefully those days off will help. We didn’t do much yesterday. He was moving very well yesterday so hopefully he had a chance to get some rest.”
- Johnson is playing 36 minutes per game after averaging 35.5 last season. Both are lows for his time in Atlanta but of obviously the minutes this year are exacerbated by the busy schedule.
- Drew on Josh Smith: “It’s kind of weird because he’s one of those guys when he gets it going, I do run plays for him, but he’s come to me and said, ‘Don’t run plays for me, just get everybody else going and I will try to find my own offense.’”
- LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) is starting for the Blazers.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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379 comments Add your comment
Astro Joe
February 18th, 2012
11:32 pm
Felton doesn’t look like a PG aboiut to lose his starting gig to Jamal tomight.
I don’t know why LD doesn’t have Teague do more than just step toward Aldridge in the post… why not go down there and actually try and strip the ball, like Felton and Nolan have done to our post players? Josh has been left on an island too many times.
Slimjr
February 18th, 2012
11:32 pm
LaMarcus has got a beautiful game at 6′11″! Has a J and can post up with the best of em.. What a player!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ntrigue
February 18th, 2012
11:33 pm
Stop doubling Lamarcus let him beat us 1-1 not like its helping contain him its just leaving felton open
Astro Joe
February 18th, 2012
11:33 pm
Ather 3 out of a TO.
IceColdATLien
February 18th, 2012
11:33 pm
My favorite thing bout Drew is that he won’t change anything about his lineup or minutes or lineup combos, regardless of how bad the beatdown is. I understand that the rebounding issue is tough considering the injuries, but isn’t that why head coaches are head coaches, so they can make strategic adjustments based on extenuating circumstances? He hasn’t come up with anything creative AT ALL to compensate for the lack of big boys, the inability to score or run the break, or to get dumba$$es out of the game for shooting outside their range.
bigdave
February 18th, 2012
11:33 pm
“As for “1906″, I know all about that. My best friend is a part of that organization, and I’ve dated or been engaged to 3 AKAs in my lifetime.”
i think section 212 is referring to the the Alpha’s..
High-sider
February 18th, 2012
11:33 pm
Teague should be roasting Felton, not Felton roasting Teague.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
February 18th, 2012
11:33 pm
How many times will the Hawks starting unit get blown out before LD makes some changes?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2012
11:33 pm
About damn time Teague drove inside and drew a foul.
Section 303
February 18th, 2012
11:34 pm
Sorry effort tonight. Making the walk back to our condo. Glad we all had drinks. Made watching this hot mess tolerable.
Melvin
February 18th, 2012
11:34 pm
This is probably the worst 19pt lead i ever seen. The Blazer are not even playing well….
northcyde
February 18th, 2012
11:35 pm
Glad you pointed that out O’Brien.
With the lack if rebounding on this team, its critical that Josh rebound the basketball. We need him some on the glass. If he’s not rebounding, this team may be toast.
Joe and Marvin need to make open shots and Josh needs to control the boards.
Slimjr
February 18th, 2012
11:36 pm
Playoffs????????
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2012
11:36 pm
4 fouls on Zaza. If Damp doesn’t get in this quarter, he’s gone.
bigdave
February 18th, 2012
11:36 pm
Josh shouldve made the extra pass to Marvin.
Melvin
February 18th, 2012
11:36 pm
ZaZa commits the dumbest of fouls…
TMACfan
February 18th, 2012
11:37 pm
First round exit…
High-sider
February 18th, 2012
11:37 pm
Josh taking bad shots once again.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2012
11:37 pm
Of course, with the Hawks already struggling to rebound, Vlad replaced Zaza. Great idea LD.
Slimjr
February 18th, 2012
11:37 pm
In a 7 game series Portland wins in 6!
northcyde
February 18th, 2012
11:38 pm
Our ace in the hole may be Jamal. Hopefully he comes out firing and missing, and lets us back in the game
Slimjr
February 18th, 2012
11:38 pm
Playoffs??
TMACfan
February 18th, 2012
11:39 pm
Start TMAC and bench Marvin from now on. HUGE upgrade.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2012
11:39 pm
I’m surprised it took until midway through the 3rd quarter for northcyde to make an anti-Jamal post. Hopefully you are right.
O'Brien
February 18th, 2012
11:40 pm
Which is why Josh needs to give the ball up
Rocky
February 18th, 2012
11:41 pm
No complaining about All-Star snubs tonight for Josh?
Slimjr
February 18th, 2012
11:41 pm
Josh j is broke
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2012
11:41 pm
Gerald Wallace isolates on Vlad, the Hawks double, and the Blazers get a layup due to the ensuing defensive scramble. The genius of LD at work.
O'Brien
February 18th, 2012
11:42 pm
haha. butter finger marvin
TMACfan
February 18th, 2012
11:42 pm
MARVIN YOU SCRUB!
Slimjr
February 18th, 2012
11:43 pm
Josh has been real quiet
smh
February 18th, 2012
11:43 pm
how can people keep watching this?
Rocky
February 18th, 2012
11:43 pm
Josh sucks vs good teams, but dominates bad teams. UNTRADABLE!
Slimjr
February 18th, 2012
11:43 pm
Portland too good for these Hawks tonight…
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2012
11:43 pm
So Marvin can hit that layup, but he can’t just go up strong and hit normal layups?
steven A.
February 18th, 2012
11:44 pm
Marvin should be the eleventh guy off the Hawks bench, any night!!!
TMACfan
February 18th, 2012
11:44 pm
HAWKS, use this momentum.
Section 212
February 18th, 2012
11:44 pm
Time for us to start our come back….
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2012
11:45 pm
If LD would play Ivan or Damp next to Josh right now, the Hawks might actually make a run. Portland isn’t playing well, but the Hawks have nobody to get boards.
Melvin
February 18th, 2012
11:45 pm
Blazers announcer said Marvin has a nice contract…LOL
IceColdATLien
February 18th, 2012
11:45 pm
Astro, why do you keep expecting Drew to actually make a decision? I cannot recall any strategic decision that he’s made, other than guarding D12 straight up in the playoffs last year.
I mean, the Blazers have been running this zone on us all night, but has LD made any strategic adjustment? Does he adjust the lineup to get some shooters out there?
We’re getting killed on the boards, but does he get the scariest guy in the NBA out there to help out?
Marvin’s getting abused out there, but does Drew sit him?
Teague has played 25 minues, shooting 1-7, with 3 assists, no rebounds, and no steals, but Hinrich has played only 6 minutes and Pargo is a DNP-coach decision.
It just seems like Drew is overmatched when it comes to making decisions on the fly.
steven A.
February 18th, 2012
11:45 pm
Start Willie Green at the “2″ and Joe at the “3″
Rocky
February 18th, 2012
11:46 pm
Teague looks like a d-leaguer ever since Hinrich got healthy and Drew started jerking with the minutes. Another PG prospect down the drain, the Deron/CP3 miss looms larger.
bigdave
February 18th, 2012
11:46 pm
lol.. and to think LD didnt take Jeff out..
steve a smith
February 18th, 2012
11:46 pm
bad shot selection
TMACfan
February 18th, 2012
11:47 pm
FIRE LD!
Slimjr
February 18th, 2012
11:47 pm
Trade Larry for a jelly sandwich…
IceColdATLien
February 18th, 2012
11:47 pm
@section 212: “Time for us to start our comeback”… do you mean “comeback home”? Cuz that’s the only “comeback” I see happening with these fools.
Astro Joe
February 18th, 2012
11:47 pm
At the risk of hurting his precious feelings, Teague should sit for the rest of the game. Let’s see what Pargo or Hinrich can do in the 4th.
TMACfan
February 18th, 2012
11:48 pm
Trade Marvin for Tuna Sandwiches and LD for Jelly Sandwiches!