Atlanta Hawks at Bulls: Game Thread
Vivlamore reporting from Chicago.
Tracy McGrady met with Hawks coach Larry Drew and general manager Rick Sund about the forward’s publicly expressed displeasure over a lack of playing time.
Both sides say they are ready to move on.
“We talked,” McGrady said before Monday’s game against the Bulls. “Players get frustrated. I was frustrated. We talked and ironed things out. Now, we move on.”
Drew would not disclose the details of the meeting but said “we addressed the problem.”
After playing just 4:39 during a 97-77 loss to the Blazers Saturday, McGrady told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “I’m tired of this [bleep]. You can put that in the paper, I don’t give a [bleep].”
Drew has been mindful of McGrady’s minutes this season. The two-time NBA scoring champion has suffered through injuries, which includes a herniated disk in his back. He suffered back spasms on Jan. 11 and sat out three games.
“I’m sure everybody wants to play,” Drew said. “I want guys who want to play. I don’t want guys content to sit on the bench. But the way it was handled, you don’t handle it that way. We will keep looking at the situation of each game. I’m always looking at matchups. I’m always looking at it if it puts us at an advantage, if it puts us at a disadvantage. My job is to coach this team and I’m going to try to put us in the best position as possible. Sometimes it will jeopardize minutes when guys want to play but that is the way it is.”
Entering Monday’s game, McGrady has played in 26 of 32 games this season with average of 18 minutes. Last season with the Pistons McGrady averaged 23 minutes in 72 games.
“If you don’t feel I can help, come tell me that,” McGrady told the AJC. “He ain’t told me nothing. I just want to help these guys win, man, which I know I can. But, damn, four minutes?”
McGrady did not get a start Monday after Marvin Williams left the team Sunday due to the death of a relative. McGrady usually is the substitute for Williams.
* Drew did not know details of the personal situation or when Williams would return to the team. The Hawks end a five-game road trip against the Knicks on Wednesday.
Willie Green got the start in place of Williams.
“Willie has really been playing well for us,” Drew said. “I think the one thing we will miss about Willie is the punch he provides off the bench. In this situation I will juggle the guys coming off the bench but I just felt from a matchup standpoint he gives us a better chance.”
* The Hawks signed center Erick Dampier to a second 10-day contract Sunday with Jason Collins out up to another month with a torn ligament in his left elbow.
The 15-year veteran has appeared in four games for the Hawks after signing his first 10-day contract on Feb. 9. He has not scored but is averaging 2.5 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.3 steals and 0.3 blocks in 6.5 minutes.
* Drew said he expects no issues with Joe Johnson’s left knee. The All-Star wore a soft brace to protect his problematic the knee Saturday, saying he is suffering from tendinitis around the patellar tendon.
“We will keep an eye on it,” Drew said.
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812 comments Add your comment
Melvin
February 20th, 2012
9:51 pm
If Marvin rumors are true (or not), I think the Hawks should trade his azz… Get him outta here. Maybe him complaining about his role in the offense could increase his trading value.
Hello fellow GM, i would like to trade you Marvin Williams b/c we are not using him correctly here in Atlanta and he’s not playing up to his full potential. I’m sure he could avg 20pts with a better coach and bigger role in your offense. We will gladly take a bag of Fresh Doritos chips for him…
Markieff
February 20th, 2012
9:51 pm
Marvin Williams is a superstar caliber talent, people. He is second only to Lebron James in his overall ability. Let the offense run through him and he will lead you to the promise land…
… the lottery.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 20th, 2012
9:51 pm
People who think losing Al affects this team need to remember he was healthy last year and we quit and got blown out countless games AT HOME WITH HIM on thencourt
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
9:54 pm
Marvin requesting a trade is like if Sam Baker requests a trade from the Falcons because they don’t play him enough snaps at tackle.
Randolph Boris
February 20th, 2012
9:56 pm
Josh Smith is the best pure shooter in the NBA, he is second only to Ray Allen in pure shooting, and only Dirk Nowitzki is better shooting off the dribble than Josh.
Josh Smith is the greatest player the NBA has seen since Michael Jordan himself. His incredible efficiency is unparalleled. He is virtually unguardable. To achieve the ultimate goal, we must let Josh Smith take over the team and run things though him. This, of course, is assuming that the ultimate goal is acquiring the number 1 pick in the draft.
TMACfan
February 20th, 2012
9:59 pm
All I can say is FIRE LD!
phil
February 20th, 2012
10:01 pm
The Hawks are exactly what those with brains have known all along the would be.
Awful when it counts.
It’s not new.
phil
February 20th, 2012
10:03 pm
Lol at Marvin…
The guy is awful and demands a trade? Seriously?
For what? A pair of season tickets?
High-sider
February 20th, 2012
10:03 pm
Astro Joe [and Rod from College Park],
“Rod, don’t me mad at me because you said something stupid 48 hours after your boy was a no show. Jamal has been a better scorer over his career, that is obvious, but that doesn’t mean he still has it. What may have happened 2+ years ago isn’t terribly relevant.” – Astro Joe
The top six leading scorers for the Portland Trail Blazers this [regular] season going into tonight’s game vs. the Los Angeles Lakers are as follows:
LaMarcus Aldridge – 22.5ppg
Jamal Crawford – 14.0ppg
Gerald Wallace – 13.8ppg
Nicholal Batum – 13.6ppg
Wesley Matthews – 12.6ppg
Raymond Felton – 10.1ppg
As the second leading scorer while coming off the bench for a new team under a new head coach in a new [basketball] system in new city is pretty good for Jamal Crawford in my opinion.
High-sider
February 20th, 2012
10:06 pm
^should have been “Nicholas Batum”
phil
February 20th, 2012
10:07 pm
And it’s a shame rajon rando can’t hold a candle to Teague…..
We are truly pathetic….
The Big Bo
February 20th, 2012
10:10 pm
The Hawks should try and pursue Pau Gasol if he’s really on the market. I doubt he’d want to come here though. It would be great to get some added size and skill with Gasol though. We could offer the Lakers another forward in Josh Smith and a point guard in Kirk Hinrich, as well as whatever else they might like to have from the team.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 20th, 2012
10:13 pm
LOL Knicks -16 with Melo in and lose
JaeEvolution
February 20th, 2012
10:13 pm
We should trade for Cole Aldrich every big they’ve traded this year has made the most out of another team giving them minutes, and he only sits on the bench.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 20th, 2012
10:14 pm
I’d trade Hinrich Duck and Josh for Gasol and any 2 or 3 LA was offering
Walt Frazier
February 20th, 2012
10:28 pm
Hawks lose to bulls. Oh, ho hum. What else is new? If Bernie Mac was still with us I’d personally escort him to the board room with Sund and L.D. and ASG and would pay him to cuss dya ass out for this sorry Hawks team.
JaeEvolution
February 20th, 2012
10:32 pm
Trevor Booker is another guy that would be very good off the bench.
Brian
February 20th, 2012
10:33 pm
What a great sports city we live in!
SuburbanFan
February 20th, 2012
10:40 pm
My company, a very small company has owned two season tickets for 24 years. We are five rows behind basket on Hawks end. I SWEAR this is the FINAL season I buy them. My wife and I LOVE the NBA. I want to say we love the Hawks, but how can any fan love this team? I’m a reasonably bright man, but I cannot figure out how can this organization can be so consistently incompetent every season? I mean from the front office on down.
We have only missed two home games this season, and they were due to our travel. However, we’ve offered the tickets to the remaining games to company office staff. My assistant, who was embarrassed, turned me down, even after offering free parking. $112/ticket. Geeeez…….
abuzar
February 20th, 2012
10:45 pm
Tmac played very well in the second half. he was very good defensively and picked his spots on the offensive end. He moved the ball and probaly could have had 7 or 8 assists if his teammates knockled down their shots. He and Pargo started the revival.
seth
February 20th, 2012
10:46 pm
Tmac>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.Marvin. let him go.
Rusty
February 20th, 2012
11:03 pm
Look last year the hawks started strong and then played 500 ball.they were getting blown out almost every time in the last 10 games & then played Orlando in the playoffs.Orlando played horrible & we got pasted them. Then we played chicago & did not play good the only reason we won 2 games was that jT played great. The hawks started great this year & are just repeating last year . This coach doesnt know how to run an offense,worst yet he has terrible judgement on every other aspect of the game. The only players game that hasnt declined under his leadership is Josh & that is debatable. This team is so messed up with his pattern of substitutions. He has gone out of his way to destroy JT who is the only one he holds accountable. Josh & Joe will not let JT run the offense as neither will LT. We all certainly know that KH is not the point guard of the future,LDwill screw upJT ,caused us two 1st round draft picks. This team is doomed with this nitwit in charge.
Grandad
February 20th, 2012
11:06 pm
I just realized my pre-game post did not appear until 5:08 pm.
I missed the game and am glad.
Haven’t even seen the stats yet.
Be back after awhile.
Grandad
February 20th, 2012
11:07 pm
Well at least that came up in a timely manner.
High-sider
February 20th, 2012
11:12 pm
His name is actually spelled “Nicolas Batum.” I can’t believe I misspelled it twice. LOL
Ra'mon
February 20th, 2012
11:16 pm
Seattle already has Seattle Seahawks. Will it be Seattle Hawks in 3-4 seasons?
JaeEvolution
February 20th, 2012
11:17 pm
We got blown out…by a team that scored 7 pts in the first quarter against another team that blew us out, LOL.
Rusty
February 20th, 2012
11:22 pm
We are screwed.
B'Red
February 20th, 2012
11:24 pm
this team has nobody that plays aggerssively in attacking the basket which creats pressure and adjustments by the defense. All they do is stand around looking for a jump shot and they are not a good jump shooting team. All you have to do is play zone defense against the Hawks and beat them every time. I dont know why Josh Smith wont post up on the low block, he is always calling for the ball 15 and 16 ft from the basket.
BumpBump316
February 20th, 2012
11:41 pm
What is up with Teague? How is it that he only took 3 shots the entire game? He sucks, he is not aggressive enough, and please don’t blame the coach for him not being aggressive. Teague has no confidence in himself, and needs to be coming off the bench. It is frustrating because fans want Teague to take hold of this team, but he refuses to do so. Where is the Teague that played in the playoffs last year?
BumpBump316
February 20th, 2012
11:47 pm
Also, Sund either needs to fire the coach, or trade players, or maybe do both. As of right now this team is on the downward slope.
Who Me?
February 20th, 2012
11:48 pm
Really?? Really??? You people act like you care.
MMMMmmm – news flash. ASG doesn’t. Get the picture?
Rod from College Park
February 20th, 2012
11:48 pm
Kenny just said on TNT that if you leave NBA players open, they will knock down shots. Has he watched Marvin Williams?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 21st, 2012
12:05 am
Kenneth Faried — the guy the Hawks would have/should have picked with their 1st rounder that they dealt in the Kirk trade — put up 14 boards, 2 steals, and 3 blocks while holding Kevin Love to 7/22 shooting in the Nuggets’ win today. I’d gladly trade Kirk for Faried straight up right now, let alone for Faried and Jordan Crawford.
northcyde
February 21st, 2012
12:20 am
I believe Faried was already gone by that time. The guy that was on the board that could’ve helped us wad Chris Singleton from Florida St.
I’ve been watching Faried since Galinari went down. He’s been very good. Should’ve added him to the fantasy squad last night, but wanted to see one more game out of him. I’m sold now.
Bye bye Eric Gordon. I gotta make my last move right now.
Grandad
February 21st, 2012
12:31 am
The game from an Abstract View:
Since I did not see the game; my only analysis is from stats.
My conclusion.
*Josh Smith & Zaza remain the only two starters who are effective
Josh = double / double while Zaza plays ‘`up`’ to his ability level.
*We left 6 or 7 points on the table – missed FT’s.
*We lost the game in the 1st Qtr. / Mental Preparation; Pure & Simple.
These are grown men & professionals; this is on the players.
*Out-Rebounded (again) However; this is different;
the bench was out-rebounded by the starters 22 to 19.
Yet the starters played 148 min; bench only 92 min.
Once again Josh and Zaza did all the rebounding for the starters.
_____________________________________________
*Teague = 1 asst; defense on Rose ?
*Willie -spit the bit- as a starter; I guess ?
*Ivan still in doghouse ?
_____________________________________________
New Coach anyone ?
Trades a comin’ – reckon; nah ? ASG
Has this team quit ?
Trade our chips while we still can ?
We’re they enjoyable to watch tonite ?
I haven’t enjoyed watching them for a couple wks ?
Grandad
February 21st, 2012
12:36 am
Yes I did notice that Pargo;
(the smallish [2] guard who masquerades as a pg)
had a rather good nite shooting the ball.
Big Ray
February 21st, 2012
12:42 am
Joe didn’t play in the 4th quarter due to a bad knee. It would seem unlikely that the knee wasn’t bothering him in any game previous to this one. But $20M annual is supposed to guarantee that dude is never baned up
Oh yes, I forgot about super tough Joe who plays through injuries all year long and never tells anybody (including the trainers), he just suffers in silence.
yawn ….Joe was never more than two thirds of what McGrady USED to be. So the $20 million still doesn’t make sense. Unless you remember who the owners are.
Big Ray
February 21st, 2012
12:46 am
Wait, I forgot to caveat the above statement with the comment that I was speaking with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek…..
In the meantime, I agree with Melvin . I’m glad Marvin is speaking up about his role. It might fool other teams into thinking he’s worth the money we’re paying him, and worth a prominent spot on their squad.
Nevermind the fact that we are likely to get jobbed (again) by what we get in return…..
Tracy!
February 21st, 2012
12:56 am
Get Tracy the ball—or he be mad again next game. He want more minutes and more touches, or he walk after this season
Najeh Davenpoop
February 21st, 2012
1:20 am
Nah, Faried was available. The Hawks had the #17 pick, which the Wizards used on Singleton. Faried went #22. Dude could really help here.
Man in Black
February 21st, 2012
2:08 am
This bricklayer Rad had another 0-5 night – another goose egg with more than 10 minutes on the court – another o-fer from 3-point land – missed 4 3’s – this guy has not had one decent 50% shooting game in 6 weeks. HE SUCKS! Thank god Marvin didn’t play – together they would have thrown up more bricks than a car hitting the wall at Indy.
hawkfan
February 21st, 2012
2:15 am
i think the big reason josh keeps getting heavy minutes lately is b/c we keep getting blown out early and have to climb back so LD so goes with the players he feels will give him energy ala the suns game, also due to this month being against tougher competition, it’s not like we are playing a lot of sub .500 teams and blowing them out by 3rd quarter to rest our starters, plus our rebounding deficiency is at all time high now
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 21st, 2012
2:16 am
Mix and match any lineup combination on the floor that consist of Josh Smith + the bench players of Willie Green, Pargo, T-Mac, Ivan Johnson, Damp, VladRad (Or Pachilia–need a big body)…..and they out perform the starting 5 lineup. Watch the Hawks play better or at least with more energy without Marvin and Joe.
Grandad
February 21st, 2012
2:16 am
At least V-Rad had 5 boards in limited minutes.
northcyde
February 21st, 2012
2:31 am
Lol @ people talking about Marvin in a game he didn’t even play in. And as for his alleged unhappiness, I don’t blame him. He’s the Hawks deep threat, yet, Drew acts like everyone but him can make a three.
In a year in which Marvin has improved his play, he gets less minutes, and more blame.
People want him to “step up”, but can’t even get enough shots per game to show if he can or not.
Marvin has no doubt been a huge disappointment for a #2 pick. But history will show that he isn’t the garbage player that people make him out to be. It’ll show that he was just a consistently average player. Nothing special in any area. Just average all the way around.
If the reports are true, he’s just tired of people ragging on him all the time, even when he plays well. Like he’s the sole reason for the Hawks not reaching the next level. Dude is just a role player who isn’t even allowed to play his role at times.
northcyde
February 21st, 2012
2:37 am
Mac-Town, this team isn’t going anywhere without JJ or Marvin. People always have these snap reactions after a game like this. Like Pargo is going to be raining 3s every game.
This team needs all the help they can get. And that includes significant contributions from JJ and Marvin.
Grandad
February 21st, 2012
2:55 am
Quote from LD by CV:
I wish to dissect this here quote if I may.
____________________________________________
‘`When you are playing a team like Chicago,
ESPN game and there is no motivation there.
If you can’t get inspired to play a game like that
something is wrong with you.”
____________________________________________
‘`When you are playing a team like Chicago,
ESPN game and there is no motivation there.
____________________________________________
Let’s just omit that whole sentence … unnecessary !
____________________________________________
‘`If you can’t get inspired to play a game like that`’
____________________________________________
Let us omit … `’ a game like that `’ … once again; unnecessary !
____________________________________________
‘`If you can’t get inspired to play;
something is wrong with you”
Now; That’s Better – Why put all that other Crap in there ?
I love the part;
“Something is Wrong with You !
Hells Bells; they should not need to be in Chicago;
on espn;
They are gettin` Paid to Play !
That’s Moti.dad.burn.vation enough; ain’t it ? Huh ?
____________________________________________
There’s sumthin’ wrong with this team
and it’s been wrong with this team
for a good long while.
It ain’t -all- coaching;
It ain’t -all- Sund/ASG;
*[as far as I know the players get their checks on the 1st & the 15th]
It’s High Time ‘`these`’ Players take Responsibility !
They don’t want to play together.
They don’t like each other.
They flat out don’t care.
Get out the Broom.
____________________________________________
Do Not Put a Band-aid on this Team.
The Hawks need a Heart Transplant !!!!!
northcyde
February 21st, 2012
3:04 am
Yoh wanna shake this team up? Sund needs to make these 3 moves
- Fire Drew and promote Bob Bender
- Trade Smith and Hinrich to the Lakers for Pau Gasol
- Trade JJ + 1st round 2012 for Deron Williams
( if they also want Teague, give him to them )
You have now traded 2/3rds of “The Core” for a top 5 PG and a top 5 PF. Both who may make the Hall of Fame. Once/If Horford comes back for the playoffs, this will be your team.
Deron
Green
Marvin
Gasol
Horford
Teague
Pargo
T-Mac ( 6th man )
Ivan
Zaza
northcyde
February 21st, 2012
3:10 am
Grandad. Good dissection. But once again, Drew takes no blame whatsoever for the Hawks problems. He’s just as big a part of the problem as anyone else.