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
soullrenaissance
February 20th, 2012
5:13 pm
(8) Larry Drew. 8 ball corner pocket.
kingd92
February 20th, 2012
5:13 pm
Runner lets not go too far.
PG- Teague
SG-JJ
SF-Mac
PF-Smith
C- (trade hinrich for center/ or pick up jeff foote)
Bench- Pargo, Green, Marvin, Ivan & zaza
doc
February 20th, 2012
5:14 pm
are there any better teams at getting down by twenty early in a game as our guys.
dont worry guys, rick is there saying to al that will listen … DONT PANIC! this team was never deep where it needs to be to compete.
KevinM
February 20th, 2012
5:14 pm
I hear Gearon is okay with the results today because Marvin and Al are not in uniform. Once we get them back……
Runner-
February 20th, 2012
5:14 pm
I don’t understand why LD feels like it is necessary to put the starters back in as soon as they get their rest. If the bench is playing well, let them play it out and sub the starters in when the time is right!! Stop taking out all of our hot players. I have a feeling LD comes up with the minutes BEFORE the game begins and he doesn’t go with the flow of the game…
yoursporthouse dot com
February 20th, 2012
5:14 pm
Sign Wilson Chandler and get rid of ZERO and Kirk for a big. Play Pargo off the bench.
Big Lou
February 20th, 2012
5:14 pm
Hawks organization, you get what you pay for.
You want to be cheap on coaches? This is what you get. Horrible substitutions, horrible offensive playcalling, and incompetent awareness of the flow of the game.
Take notes from the Falcons. Coaches don’t preform? Get rid of them. That’s why they have a new OC and DC. Hawks won’t get rid of a coach unless they get blown out in the playoffs three years in a row. Then, they hire a POS assistant.
northcyde
February 20th, 2012
5:15 pm
How are Marvin’s replacements doing?
Runner-
February 20th, 2012
5:15 pm
@kingd92,
After this run of losses, I say give the bench players a chance. None of the starters except Smoove have shown they want to play
kingd92
February 20th, 2012
5:15 pm
the ball movement has to pick up, way to much dribbling, either make a move or keep it movin
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 20th, 2012
5:15 pm
latest tweets
“Willie Green was open on weakside, neither Johnson, Smith or Teague looked his way 53 mins ago”
how terrible, both of our points guards smith and teague missed him.
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:16 pm
I’m really tired of JJ in a Hawks uniform. No emotion. No nothing. And this is the guy whos labeled as our franchise player. Just keep making the Hawks look bad on nat tv year after year after year. Tired of it. Amnesty his azz. And for the love of God, trade Kirk and Marv(if possible) for a big.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
5:17 pm
The Jeremy Lin coverage has reached nauseating levels. I am starting to root for the dude to fail just so people will shut up about him, even though he’s on my fantasy team. ESPN talks about this game for less than a minute before bringing up Lin. Calm the f-ck down, he’s not God.
Lon Stotts
February 20th, 2012
5:17 pm
Not to beat a dead(beat) coach, but a team takes on the personalities of its leaders and coach. Joe is lifeless, LD is clueless, and it’s painfully obvious that no one really plays with any level of confidence. Just a bunch of deferrals until the ball winds up in Smoov’s hands 20 feet from the basket with 5 left on the shot clock. As dumb as Josh plays at times, at least he plays fearlessly all the time. Everyone else just seems like they’re afraid to fudge it up.
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:17 pm
At least the Jet showed heart when he was here. Joe looks like he could care less. Damm I miss Smitty and Mookie.
kingd92
February 20th, 2012
5:18 pm
Runner- fair enough
Btw everyone should look up jeff foote, this is a legit 7 foot frame that can play. kind of like a pau gasol. he’s the d-leagues best center. this would be much better than guys who are out of shape (dampier, fesenko)
Runner-
February 20th, 2012
5:19 pm
Man would the Hawks be better off not resigning Joe and having all that cap space… I mean even Willie could produce as much as Joe has this season, both on the defensive and offensive ends of the floor. The contract will easily be remembered as one of the worst in history after it is over
Hawksgoingbackward
February 20th, 2012
5:19 pm
Why talk about the Hawks lack of effort, Joe Johnson getting another undeserved Allstar nod ahead of Josh and all around horrible effort when you can talk about a feel good story.
There is a clear reason the Hawks are never on Primetime, Horrid!
prison mike
February 20th, 2012
5:20 pm
I hadn’t seen Duck the entire first half and was bewildered hoping he was getting traded.
Hawksgoingbackward
February 20th, 2012
5:21 pm
If Joe got hurt this team would play so much better.
KevinM
February 20th, 2012
5:21 pm
G-Dad: Let me try to resolve these burning questions:
Why Is LD starting a guard in place of Marv; who is supposedly a sf ?
Because our team is so versatile
*Who will show emotion 1st Joe or LD ?
It’s a tie; both are cool under pressure, and blowouts.
*If Josh and Boozer got in a fight & nobody was there to hold them back;
does it make a sound ?
Josh will blame the politics of the NBA
*Does Noah show up that is the question ?
Noah punks us aplenty…simply embarrassing based on hustle alone. The guy has little skill, but effort out the wazoo.
Besides Al; [he's hurt] who within our core, would yawl trade for Noah ?
I give our entire starting frontcourt…..effort over no-rebounders anytime.
*Thibodeau or LD ? … -just kidding-
You answered that yourself G-Dad
*Ivan & Joe for Boozer & Asik ?
Chicago isn’t answering the call from Sund.
*Josh gets a quadruple double / Rose goes for 30/10 / who wins
Josh will never get a q-dup…..odds to Rose all day
**[Josh; pts, rebs, assts, turnovers]**
**Think about it** 30/10; what does that mean ?
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:21 pm
Is it possible to amnesty a team? lol But seriously, cant stand looking at Joe anymore.
yodaddybrother
February 20th, 2012
5:22 pm
Fire sorry Larry Drew and maybe the team will look competent…..it was a bad hire when he was hired…..go after a big name good coach not an assistant with no fire in his belly and no gameplan.
E43
February 20th, 2012
5:22 pm
Starting Green doesnt work for me considering Joe Johnson has struggled against length. LD should’ve started Ivan and taken his chances with brewer on joe and deng on josh smith. That length is making joe passive.
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:22 pm
When Joe plays well Nique is all over his balls, but when he’s lifeless, not a word. hmmmmm?
Dollar Value
February 20th, 2012
5:22 pm
OK, time for a Joe report. Joe makes approximately $109,991.00 per half game. So for the Hawks 109k+ they got a sum total of: 4 pts, 1 reb, 2 ast and 1 to.
Let’s see that’s about $27,500.00 per point. Good work if you can get it.
Amnesty Joe Johnson this summer.
yodaddybrother
February 20th, 2012
5:23 pm
for real though….we should amnesty Joe Johnson…..his production is tragic….absolutely tragic
KevinM
February 20th, 2012
5:24 pm
Our versatility is the Bulls medicine for a blowout.
LD’s next lineup: 5 guards, Joe/Willie/Teague/Kirk/Josh……all excellent jump shooters who will mismatch the opposition to death.
yoursporthouse dot com
February 20th, 2012
5:24 pm
Kevin M,
Josh has come real close to getting a q-dub, don’t say never. Albeit all of these naysayers, the guy fills up the stat sheet.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
5:24 pm
In fairness to Joe, LD is an abject fool playing him at SF against the bigger Deng, when he should be at SG playing against Brewer. But it still doesn’t excuse him missing layups and open shots.
aytunstopable
February 20th, 2012
5:24 pm
I’m tired of larry drew. Noah and boozer aren’t soft like bosh was Ivan Johnson should not have came in before dampier damn it. and I’m tired of this blowouts the first few maybe its the players but when it becomes a habit its the coach. Fire LD right now damn it. Get us a coach thats gonna get josh ass inb gear about his shot selection. and if Josh doesn’t freaking like ship his out of here too. Idc if JJ is over paid and i don’t care if josh might be the best player on the team but his ass does not need to be having more attempts than JJ. Atleast his shot selection isn’t terrible. Everything josh oes right he screws us over with terrible shot selection and terrible lazy ass passes. i am ready for him to go damn it. i maybe wrong but i doubt it.
Rod from College Park
February 20th, 2012
5:25 pm
How are Marvin’s replacements doing?
3 points and 4 rebounds away from his production at the half. (Willie Green/TMac.)
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
5:25 pm
“Not a lot of fried chicken outside of that paint,” says Nique. Now there’s something Bob can’t say.
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:26 pm
Shows you what bad contracts and bad drafts can do to a franchise.
Hawksgoingbackward
February 20th, 2012
5:26 pm
Amnesty Joe Johnson?
You signed the man to the contract knowing he didnt earn it and wouldnt live up to it, so why would you expect the same people who gave him the contract to do something responsible about it.
I see Joe Johnson sticking with the Hawks because the owners and management will hope that one day hell wake up and decide to try and earn it.
terrell
February 20th, 2012
5:26 pm
Enter your comments here
KevinM
February 20th, 2012
5:26 pm
Funniest line of the night from Nique…Josh not getting any fried chicken outside the paint…..
That illlustration is there any night of the week, yet Josh isn’t listening or LD isn’t enforcing it.
High-sider
February 20th, 2012
5:27 pm
Najah,
I’m sick of Lin, too!
Atl teams = CHOKE
February 20th, 2012
5:27 pm
Hey look ANOTHER ATL embarrassment on National Tv.
Hawksgoingbackward
February 20th, 2012
5:28 pm
For the ASG to amnesty Joe Johnson they would have to admit a mistake. They cant even admit that getting out of the first round doesnt equate to a Championship.
So no, Joe will be a Hawk until he is 40 years old. The Hawks might even extend him again, lol!
TMACfan
February 20th, 2012
5:28 pm
LOOK AT LD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE IS PLAYING WITH HIS TONGUE!!!
High-sider
February 20th, 2012
5:28 pm
I meant Najeh.
kingd92
February 20th, 2012
5:28 pm
deng did not even attempt a shot when tmac was on him, we need length out there
KevinM
February 20th, 2012
5:29 pm
“yoursporthouse dot com
February 20th, 2012
5:24 pm
Kevin M,
Josh has come real close to getting a q-dub, don’t say never. Albeit all of these naysayers, the guy fills up the stat sheet.”
Agree, and Josh has been close to hitting those jumpers of his too!
yoursporthouse dot com
February 20th, 2012
5:30 pm
Kevin M,
Doesn’t matter. He’s the only one out there besides Ivan that play with some heart.
kingd92
February 20th, 2012
5:30 pm
btw how is that not a shooting foul for zaza?
yodaddybrother
February 20th, 2012
5:30 pm
@terrell
why are you watching the game on Fox Sports????? Game is on ESPN
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
5:30 pm
That arena sounds really quiet.
aytunstopable
February 20th, 2012
5:30 pm
Jope johnson isn’t the problem.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 20th, 2012
5:31 pm
Let the record show that at 5:29 PM on February 20, 2012, Joe Johnson actually drove the ball inside and drew contact to get to the free throw line.