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
Najeh Davenpoop
February 19th, 2012
12:30 am
“Of all the playoff teams in both the East and West, Hawks have the worst winning percentage against teams .500 or better”
I don’t know who tweeted this the other day, but if I’m not mistaken, every East team except Miami and Chicago is below .500 against winning teams.
Section 212
February 19th, 2012
12:31 am
Slimjr
February 19th, 2012
12:32 am
This team stood around and played iso ball, then swung it around for missed J after missed J?
Any pick and rolls tonight?.
playoffs
Spyro
February 19th, 2012
12:35 am
Any pick and rolls tonight?
You say that like we ever run PnRs.
Slimjr
February 19th, 2012
12:36 am
The Eastern Conference has been the weaker conference for years….
These elite teams in the east get exposed by these Western teams all the time..Especially your Atlanta Hawks…..Pretenders indeed….
tjhook
February 19th, 2012
12:39 am
I didn’t watch or follow the game, but I believe the Hawks need a legitimate second scoring option. Smith is not it and it’s too unreasonable to ask Johnson to create his own shot under pressure time after time, game after game. I believe the Hawks should pursue Stephen Jackson (by trading Marvin Williams) and just dedicate the next year and a half to that CORE. By that time, Jackson and Josh Smith’s contracts will be expiring and you can use amnesty on Joe Johnson if that choice is wild. Mostly though, this year needs to be salvaged before things begin to seriously unravel. Get Jackson now before Drew loses the team emotionally.
HawkEye
February 19th, 2012
12:41 am
10+ rebounds usually spells defeat, especially when you’re missing shots. Don’t know why the Hawks don’t run more pick-n-rolls.
Is it possible to be dumber than L.D.? Why can’t Pargo see any meaningful minutes with Teague struggling and Kirk non-existent? This coach is getting worst and as a result, the Hawks are too.
Rusty
February 19th, 2012
12:41 am
LD has really fk up this team.same thing happened last year, as the season progressed they fell apart. I can’t believe for the sake of some money that they don’t go out & get a real coach.
HawkEye
February 19th, 2012
12:42 am
meant 10+ Offensive rebounds
O'Brien
February 19th, 2012
12:42 am
Yeah, Bulls (7-6) and Miami (11-4) are the only East teams with winning records against teams over .500
Slimjr
February 19th, 2012
12:42 am
Joe needs help!
O'Brien
February 19th, 2012
12:44 am
Najeh,
Of the top 8 teams, Hawks do have the worst winning % against teams over .500 though
O'Brien
February 19th, 2012
12:46 am
Miami:11-4
Chicago: 7-6
Philly: 6-9
Orlando: 7-9
Hawks: 5-11
Indianna: 8-9
Boston:5-8
New York: 4-9
HawkEye
February 19th, 2012
12:47 am
Hmm. No clear proverbial “Energy” excuse from L.D., but I think he said something along the line of “we were a step slow or they outworked us.”
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 19th, 2012
12:51 am
Kirk Bibby just shot another air ball….
Rusty
February 19th, 2012
1:00 am
We don’t have a workable offensive or defensive plan.look like a bunch of dogs running wild.
tyger
February 19th, 2012
1:04 am
We need a PG bad!!!
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
February 19th, 2012
1:06 am
Somebody has to held accountable. We can keep losing like this. Either somebody has get fired, changes have to be made in the lineup, or the team has to be sold. ASAP
V Dub
February 19th, 2012
1:09 am
The play unintelligent basketball. Teague has to get the ball from Josh when bringing the ball down more often. Josh causes more turnovers every game when trying to bring the ball down. For all the good that Josh does it’s. Canceled out by making bad decisions that lead to missed points for the Hawks, but points for opposing teams. This team hasn’t crashed board since KEVIN WILLIS and MOSES
It starts with coahing but this team plays like every game is just a pick game
I’m a long time fan but I can really see now this can’t get any better.They are not improving at all with just basic fundamentals from year to year.
MattP
February 19th, 2012
1:11 am
Big Ray,
Sloan is no longer with the Hawks, he is on a 10 day contract with the Hornets now.
Tmac fan
February 19th, 2012
1:17 am
Do yall see what happens when Larry Drew doesn’t give Tracy Mcgrady his minutes. He needs to be fired. Just waisting talent
Rusty
February 19th, 2012
1:29 am
LD performance rating = F. We are regressing quickly.there might be a chance of not making playoffs.
NUNNA!!
February 19th, 2012
1:34 am
Whoa!! Some of yall beat me up on here last week after a win and said that we’re still in need of a true center,prago with more minutes,letting LD go,etc..
I know that most feel that firing a coach this far into the season could be a disaster but poor LD game time decisions are no freaking good..
Wittman,Rivers are 2 former hawks who are decent coaches..
Shoulda hired Nique!!
Sund,its not too late!!
Get Nique away from da mic and on da bench and lets increase our win “nimbers”!!
Go Nique!!
NUNNA!!
February 19th, 2012
1:35 am
p.s. hey jason collins,don’t rush yourself..Really..Don’t!
Harpie
February 19th, 2012
1:39 am
Larry Drew stinks!
HawkEye
February 19th, 2012
1:42 am
New blog up guys.
World B Free
February 19th, 2012
1:44 am
Some body has got to say it.
TEAGUE IS HOLDING THIS TEAM BACK. TIME FOR TEAGUE TO GO BACK TO THE BENCH!!
World B Free
February 19th, 2012
1:45 am
JOSH WAS 1 ASSIST AWAY FROM A TRIPLE DOUBLE!!
Michael Cunningham
February 19th, 2012
2:22 am
new blogs posted. shutting down this thread.