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.
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
812 comments Add your comment
Rod from College Park
February 20th, 2012
4:38 pm
“Joe has officially turned into Allen Houston”
Don’t disrespect Allen Houston. He would never miss an open jumper. Maybe a layup, but not a jumper.
terrell
February 20th, 2012
4:38 pm
LD trying to play tough guy with Tracy. Bout to get his azz fired. lol. How are you gonna act all hard when you let Josh bomb away whenever, wherever?
yodaddybrother
February 20th, 2012
4:38 pm
fire Larry Drew immediately
I’m hearing Willie Green started and not T-Mac….what a crying shame
Chris Vivlamore
February 20th, 2012
4:38 pm
35 first-quarter points allowed by Hawks is most of the season. Tops 33 points these same Bulls scored in opening quarter on Jan. 7.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
4:38 pm
29-6 run to close the quarter by the Bulls.
By the way Kirk’s amazing intangibles were -14 in 4 minutes. Not his fault by any means, but just saying. I know intangibles are by definition something that can’t be measured, but they have to manifest themselves somehow in order to exist.
soullrenaissance
February 20th, 2012
4:39 pm
Welcome to Larry Drew’s Dog House McGrady!
Rod from College Park
February 20th, 2012
4:39 pm
“35 first-quarter points allowed by Hawks is most of the season. Tops 33 points these same Bulls scored in opening quarter on Jan. 7.”
This team is much better defensively without Jamal Crawford. LOL
MattP
February 20th, 2012
4:39 pm
What is with this coach? How many season was he an assistant coach?
John Drew
February 20th, 2012
4:39 pm
I’ve never seen a team quit in the first quarter of a basketball game, until now. This team has totally quit on Larry Drew.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
4:40 pm
Pargo-Kirk-TMac-Vlad-Josh to start the 2nd quarter. Hey, we are getting killed on the glass and the Bulls’ big men are having their way with us, so let’s go as undersized as possible!
LD is the Albert Einstein of coaches.
Lon Stotts
February 20th, 2012
4:40 pm
I mean, Thibs’ voice is already GONE. Probably from chewing out his team after the embarrassing Nets loss, and LD sits there quietly, pursing his lips, while his team is down 18 after one quarter.
They were both career assistants before last year, but one of them came in and asserted himself and infused his style of coaching into the play of his team, and now they’re probably the best defensive team in the league. The other passively makes comments about a lack of energy, commands zero respect, and essentially reminds me of the kid in little league who was afraid of the ball so he’d close his eyes and swing, hoping he’d hit something…
crazy_88
February 20th, 2012
4:40 pm
Another great coaching job….you expect your bench to save you from 20 pts down…
TMACfan
February 20th, 2012
4:40 pm
Sooner or later LD will get fired!
soullrenaissance
February 20th, 2012
4:40 pm
James is beasting man.
Harpie
February 20th, 2012
4:41 pm
Lock Larry Drew and Josh Smith in a closet somewhere….
Big Lou
February 20th, 2012
4:41 pm
LD is a piece of crap. He’s keeping Tmac on the bench on purpose. I hope that guy dies from a stray bullet. What an arrogant POS. I bet that’s why the team isn’t trying. They are on TMAC’s side.
terrell
February 20th, 2012
4:41 pm
Trade Kirk and Joe tom LA. Gasol and a pick. Gotta do something if they want to compete. This team is awful.
yodaddybrother
February 20th, 2012
4:41 pm
what kind of stupid lineup is this??? Vlad Rad at the 5….tragic….put Ivan Johnson in the game…
coach is so stupid….I can’t stand Larry Drew
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
4:41 pm
Every possession the Hawks double, because of the lack of size, and every possession the Bulls pass it out to the open guy. Not that hard to figure out.
Vlad misses a layup. Why is he playing ahead of Ivan at PF again?
crazy_88
February 20th, 2012
4:41 pm
Can Tracy please touch the ball guys…damn!
terrell
February 20th, 2012
4:42 pm
Pargo better than Kirk right now.. Been saying it for a while.
Old Man Peabody
February 20th, 2012
4:42 pm
Rod
I mean Allen Houston after he got the contract like Joe, he checkout but his was because of injuries.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
4:42 pm
T-Mac finds the open man after driving inside. Couldn’t have used him in the first quarter, huh?
yodaddybrother
February 20th, 2012
4:43 pm
T-Mac in the game….offense starts flowing
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
4:43 pm
On a positive note, nice to see Kirk run a fast break that actually works.
TMACfan
February 20th, 2012
4:43 pm
TMAC, please don’t leave the hawks!
yodaddybrother
February 20th, 2012
4:44 pm
Vlad Rad is a useless basketball player
KevinM
February 20th, 2012
4:44 pm
What’s wrong with Pargo? I like what I see from him.
And Bob, T-Mac provided the block on Noah, not Josh.
soullrenaissance
February 20th, 2012
4:44 pm
TMac should have been in the game.
Get Vlad outta there coaching staff!!!!
terrell
February 20th, 2012
4:44 pm
Radmo?? Where the f is Ivan?
crazy_88
February 20th, 2012
4:44 pm
Tracy should be the first option on the second unit…curl..screen..post…whatever…I’m tired of seeing Vlad shoot the ball off the side of the backboard..
TMACfan
February 20th, 2012
4:44 pm
Is TMAC seriously the 9th man?!?!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
4:44 pm
Vlad’s roster spot should have been used to re-sign Damien. Not saying Vlad has been all bad, but he is redundant as a perimeter playing non-defender. Damien could score on post ups and play perimeter D. Nobody on the bench right now can do that.
yodaddybrother
February 20th, 2012
4:45 pm
fire Larry drew right this instant
Big Lou
February 20th, 2012
4:45 pm
Why is vlad in the game? Where is Ivan Johnson? I swear LD is a clueless, worthless sack of meat.
KevinM
February 20th, 2012
4:45 pm
“yodaddybrother
February 20th, 2012
4:43 pm
T-Mac in the game….offense starts flowing”
Obviously, LD is the only one who doesn’t see this.
yodaddybrother
February 20th, 2012
4:46 pm
where is Ivan Johnson????? Worst coach in the league
MattP
February 20th, 2012
4:46 pm
Why doesn’t he put in Ivan?
terrell
February 20th, 2012
4:47 pm
Cant imagine Sund and the asg being happy with LD.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
4:47 pm
4 offensive rebounds that possession. Josh at center, Ivan on the bench. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
yodaddybrother
February 20th, 2012
4:48 pm
please put Ivan Johnson in th egame coach
soullrenaissance
February 20th, 2012
4:48 pm
Vlad Rad channeled his inner Josh Smith! Still get him outta there, lol.
terrell
February 20th, 2012
4:48 pm
Pargo keepin us in it. Whos laughing now?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
4:48 pm
Pargo 3/4, 7 points. But yeah, the Hawks would be totally screwed if he was the backup PG.
soullrenaissance
February 20th, 2012
4:48 pm
We are on national tv – please play like we have some pride.
yodaddybrother
February 20th, 2012
4:48 pm
got Vlad Rad trying to rebound against some headbangers…..NOT GONNNA WORK LD…..STUPID LD!
Astro Joe
February 20th, 2012
4:49 pm
Why do the Hawks only have 7 boards in this game? How does that even happen, especially after the Blazers game? Between the players and the coaching staff, how is it that no one has determined the value of rebounding in the past 48 hours?
Big Lou
February 20th, 2012
4:49 pm
Is there anyways we can boycott this team to fire LD?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
4:49 pm
Not just Ivan, but where’s Dampier? You’re playing against a team that goes 4 deep in quality big men and neither of them can get on the floor? WTF
KevinM
February 20th, 2012
4:50 pm
DRose won’t be sitting much longer.