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
KevinM
February 20th, 2012
5:00 pm
LD keeping Teague and T-Mac fresh for the 2nd half.
Runner-
February 20th, 2012
5:00 pm
Joe -21… lol, Iso- Joe type offense isn’t going to work against these Bulls. Also, his 1 rebound simply shows his lack of hustle on the defensive end
O'Brien
February 20th, 2012
5:00 pm
northcyde,
What’s up with JJ, again?
KevinM
February 20th, 2012
5:01 pm
T-Mac going to get 7 out of 24 avail minutes.
Can this guy not go more than this? This is crazy.
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:01 pm
Kirk f’d up the rotation. We were better b4 LD forced him back in. Clown. Dude cant even hit a free throw anymore.
Runner-
February 20th, 2012
5:01 pm
A trade with Hinrich has to be made, we can more than survive with Pargo and Teague at the point for the rest of the season. Trade Kirk for a big man and we can kill 2 birds with 1 stone…
KevinM
February 20th, 2012
5:01 pm
Bulls 11, Hawks 1 = offensive rebounding
That is humorous with Ivan and Damp on the bench.
crazy_88
February 20th, 2012
5:02 pm
I said it once …I said it before….once teams go up by 15 in the first or second quarter…Drew starts coaching desperate….Vlad is not a Steve Novak…He isn’t deadly from 3 If you give him space and let his feet plant….Vlad is a streak shooter from 3…and he does very little else…
Pargo is so happy to be getting time..he’s shooting every chance he gets….I want Tracy to start being a lil selfish and look for his shot more..
Runner-
February 20th, 2012
5:02 pm
STOP RUNNING THE OFFENSE THROUGH JOE, IT’S NOT WORKING!!!
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:02 pm
JJ ans allstar. Are you kidding me? Must be d league.
KevinM
February 20th, 2012
5:02 pm
Zaza wasting his time out there.
yodaddybrother
February 20th, 2012
5:02 pm
@Obrien
“Although the Hawks are flawed as a team, I really think they win “in spite” of LD.”
I said that a few weeks back when LD decided to put Josh Smith at center during whatever game that was and then sat him out the rest of the 2nd half.
The team has plenty of talent but they’ve never had a good coach. LD is buns
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:02 pm
Josh still shootin.
KevinM
February 20th, 2012
5:03 pm
VRad smiling on the bench……while the bottom falls out.
yodaddybrother
February 20th, 2012
5:03 pm
put Ivan in when we’re down 20 great job coach Stupid LD
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:03 pm
NOW he puts in Ivan. Clown
Rod from College Park
February 20th, 2012
5:04 pm
Paging Joe Johnson….. Paging Joe Johnson. Could you please report to Chicago. Your team is playing a game right now.
Runner-
February 20th, 2012
5:04 pm
There is absolutely no one around the rim even TRYING to get the rebound.. pathetic
soullrenaissance
February 20th, 2012
5:04 pm
I hate lack of effort and hustle deficiencies.
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:05 pm
Joe is a jumpshooter. Thats it. Btw, We’re about to get linbarrased on Wed.
crazy_88
February 20th, 2012
5:06 pm
LD doesn’t know how to manage minutes or make in game adjustments…I keep saying it like a broke record…..He keeps doubling Rose every time and guys are wide open on the follow up and put backs…
Its not complicated…play Rose straight up and If he drops 30 he drops 30…the point is to not let the other guys beat you..
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:06 pm
Bulls not even playing great and we’re still down 20 AGAIN.
Big Lou
February 20th, 2012
5:06 pm
Would you give effort when your coach is a moron? This team is falling apart like it did with Woody before. LD is useless.
Runner-
February 20th, 2012
5:06 pm
Bulls average 11.5 offensive rebounds A GAME. They have 13 already…
soullrenaissance
February 20th, 2012
5:07 pm
what gives JJ the right to pound the ball? He has not been ballin’ as of late.
Jase
February 20th, 2012
5:07 pm
I’m done with this team really.
Luke Cage
February 20th, 2012
5:07 pm
SWEET CHRISTMAS!!
yoursporthouse dot com
February 20th, 2012
5:07 pm
We need ZERO, we would be down 16 right now. He’s good for 4 points and 2 rebounds in a half.
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:07 pm
Love the energy LD.
Runner-
February 20th, 2012
5:07 pm
LD’s job has to be in jeopardy right now… these types of losses simply won’t cut it
KevinM
February 20th, 2012
5:07 pm
Willie should touch the ball every time down the court.
Yep, T-Mac 9th in minutes….wanna bet he doesn’t get 20 min tonight?
Grandad
February 20th, 2012
5:08 pm
20 is the magic # ::
Bulls Win by (20+)
T-mac plays (+20 min) – {{~ LD scared not to ~}}
(20) is the over/under # by which Hawks get Out-Rebounded
Rose goes for (20+)
Joe = (20+) pts; rebs; assts.; steals; turnovers
Josh = (20) – ‘`turnovers`’ … just kidding … *under
Zaza = (20) pts; rebs; *[gets fouled / goes uncalled];
hard screens; fouls, FT attempts; illegal screens; head butts;
(I just love Zaza) … He’ll make his twenty.
Josh – (20) different facial expressions
________ ________ ________ ________ ________
20 Questions minus a few ?
*Why Is LD starting a guard in place of Marv; who is supposedly a sf ?
*Who will show emotion 1st Joe or LD ?
*If Josh and Boozer got in a fight & nobody was there to hold them back;
does it make a sound ?
*Does Noah show up that is the question ?
Besides Al; [he's hurt] who within our core, would yawl trade for Noah ?
*Thibodeau or LD ? … -just kidding-
*Ivan & Joe for Boozer & Asik ?
*Josh gets a quadruple double / Rose goes for 30/10 / who wins
**[Josh; pts, rebs, assts, turnovers]**
**Think about it** 30/10; what does that mean ?
______________________________________________
I could have thought of twenty but I had to go.
-no need to answer all-
Pick & Choose !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rod from College Park
February 20th, 2012
5:08 pm
Another low scoring first half where we can’t rebound or score the basketball. 37 points. LOL
Chris Vivlamore
February 20th, 2012
5:08 pm
Willie Green jumper in final seconds of first half allow Hawks to avoid tying season low of 35 first-half points (set Jan. 27 vs. Detroit). Hawks trail 55-37 at end of first half.
Runner-
February 20th, 2012
5:08 pm
Starting Line-up:
PG – Pargo
SG – Green
SF – McGrady
PF – Josh Smith
C – (Trade Hinrich for a Center!!!)
soullrenaissance
February 20th, 2012
5:09 pm
Good point Big Lou. No respect from the players for Larry8. When Tom called that time out early and rallied the troops, they responded. That’s leadership.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
5:09 pm
Atlanta shot a better percentage than Chicago that half. They only turned it over one more time, and only shot three fewer free throws. But the Bulls got 13 extra field goal attempts, and had as many offensive boards as the Hawks had TOTAL boards.
Ivan 2 minutes, Dampier less than a minute, Vlad 10 minutes at power forward.
FIRE LD
Luke Cage
February 20th, 2012
5:09 pm
The players we have aren’t bad, they just have bad coaching, our CORE has never been coached up since entering the NBA, time to can this fake coach and hire someone that these players will listen to and respect. But that won’t happen because they won’t spend money on a good coach….
Some of this is on the players but it mainly falls on the coaching or lack thereof.
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:10 pm
Imagine giving Joe Johnson 120 million dollars of your hard earned money? Sick yet?
crazy_88
February 20th, 2012
5:10 pm
The Hawks have reverted to dribbling the air out of the ball…..This is why they need Tracy in the starting lineup so that he can create open looks and be that playmaker that the Hawks desperately need….Green is a decent scorer but he isn’t going to create shots…
yoursporthouse dot com
February 20th, 2012
5:10 pm
0 for 5 from the free throw line, being outrebounded 30 to 13. Put Damp in the game!! You can’t do no worse.
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:10 pm
How many times have we been down 20 this year?
Luke Cage
February 20th, 2012
5:11 pm
Why do they pull these beatdowns on National TV?
Runner-
February 20th, 2012
5:11 pm
This many blowouts can not be as a result of the team… it’s time to get on the FIRE LD AND RICK SUND bandwagon…
Runner-
February 20th, 2012
5:12 pm
Next year the Hawks will have 2 games on National TV at BEST… nobody wants to see them choke every time they get a chance…
Luke Cage
February 20th, 2012
5:12 pm
Sad to say LD won’t get fired this season, but on a positive note he won’t be resigned.
Grandad
February 20th, 2012
5:12 pm
The ‘`?`’ disappeared ‘` `’ … up ^ above ^ …
‘` ? `’
*Josh gets a quadruple double / Rose goes for 30/10 / who wins ?
soullrenaissance
February 20th, 2012
5:12 pm
crazy 88 COSIGN!!!!
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 20th, 2012
5:12 pm
so Willie Green is our best player now? lmao
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 20th, 2012
5:13 pm
“Next year the Hawks will have 2 games on National TV at BEST… nobody wants to see them choke every time they get a chance…”
Wishful thinkin’
…dont deserve any right now