Atlanta Hawks at Knicks: Game Thread
NEW YORK — Much of the news of the day was reported earlier with the news that Joe Johnson is out of the All-Star Game because of his ailing left knee and Marvin Williams response to a report he wants out.
As the game thread, here is coach Larry Drew’s take on the adversity affecting the Hawks as the limp home from another 10-day, five-game road trip and the loss, at least temporarily, of their second all-star.
* “I want to see us respond to the fact that we have two all-stars who won’t be here. … I want to see our guys respond in a positive way and that means playing consistently from start to finish, four solid quarters.”
* “I just personally feel that this is a true test to see what our team is made of, where we are at this point. We said all along in bringing in help off the bench, veteran guys, can come in and help us in these types of situations. You lose key guys and it opens up opportunities for other guys to play. It’s a matter of us responding to the challenge.”
* “We can’t allow any adversity to step in to the fact where we fragment when the situations are what they are, given our schedule, that we have key players out. We have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep marching on.”
Also:
Drew said his team will not get caught up in the Jeremy Lin hype that is sweeping New York. In the Knicks’ last 10 games – nine with Lin as a starter – the guard has averaged 24.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 2.9 steals and 5.6 turnovers.
“The one thing that I won’t allow to happen as we prepare for New York, or any team, we don’t focus on just one guy,” Drew said. “Too much focus, too much attention on one guy and then you leave these other guys open. Our approach to the game tonight will not be to stop Jeremy Lin. It will not be that. We know what we have to do against him. We know what we have to do against the rest of their team but we will not just focus on one guy.”
As a final note, former Hawk Mike Bibby paid a pre-game visit to his old team’s locker room before the game.
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
774 comments Add your comment
smh
February 22nd, 2012
8:19 pm
Pargo couldnt hit Stone Mountain
Runner-
February 22nd, 2012
8:19 pm
Why have Vlad in there if he’s not a 3 point threat?? Why not sign an actual PF?
crazy_88
February 22nd, 2012
8:19 pm
12 TURNOVERS IN 15 MINUTES..
honest_abe
February 22nd, 2012
8:20 pm
ugh such ugly basketball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
honest_abe
February 22nd, 2012
8:20 pm
people already know what i think about pargo. bah
The Monger
February 22nd, 2012
8:20 pm
Hawks commit their 11th turnover before halftime. Down 15 in 2nd quarter..I think we have seen this before MANY times this year. The only question is how much longer will we have to put up with this embarrassment before something is done…
Joe
February 22nd, 2012
8:21 pm
And the rout is on!
TMACfan
February 22nd, 2012
8:21 pm
If Vlad is not going to shoot, he needs the GTFO!!!
smh
February 22nd, 2012
8:21 pm
And Melo hasnt even got it going and were down double figures smh
Runner-
February 22nd, 2012
8:21 pm
Both LD and Sund’s jobs have to be in jeopardy here. Sure the injury to Horford hurt us but this type of basketball was being played even before Joe was injured. No motivation, stagnant offense, no help from the GM
terrell
February 22nd, 2012
8:21 pm
I better see Teague on the floor after the timeout
Najeh Davenpoop
February 22nd, 2012
8:22 pm
I’m still laughing at the suggestion that Kirk directs the half court offense. Give me a break. Show me one game he has played this year where he set up a teammate with a shot within 15 feet in the half court. Every close range shot the Hawks have got this year with Kirk at PG has been the result of Josh posting up.
smh
February 22nd, 2012
8:22 pm
The hawks willcontinue to stink until Joe Johnson’s contract is up how many years does he have left ?
The Monger
February 22nd, 2012
8:22 pm
Kirk Hinrich…6 minutes, 3 turnovers, 2 points….Why is he getting ANY playing time AT ALL?
richbrave
February 22nd, 2012
8:22 pm
Sorry to see the HAWKS are down, but with HORFORD and JJ down, I’m not surprised I guess. Wizzies had a good half against the KINGS.
bigdave
February 22nd, 2012
8:22 pm
get this guy off the floor.
Luke Cage
February 22nd, 2012
8:22 pm
Still no Teague???
Sautee
February 22nd, 2012
8:23 pm
So will LD use the two foul rule for Kirk
STRETCH
February 22nd, 2012
8:23 pm
The Knicks will pass the Hawks up within the next couple of weeks. This “Ducks” team WILL be a 7th or 8th seed!!!1
Runner-
February 22nd, 2012
8:23 pm
What a genius lineup by LD. He has 3 capable centers in Zaza, Ivan, and Dampier but he chooses to let Smoove play C and T-Mac PF
High-sider
February 22nd, 2012
8:23 pm
So much for the “Let Josh be Chief Cog” theory. What an a*s-inine [asinine] theory!
crazy_88
February 22nd, 2012
8:23 pm
I thought Kirk Hinrich was suppose to be a good defender ??? He is fouling guys at the worst times..why doesn’t LD go big with Tracy at the 1 and take advantage of the Knicks lil guards ???
terrell
February 22nd, 2012
8:23 pm
Too late LD.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 22nd, 2012
8:23 pm
Chandler is in the game for them, and neither Dampier nor Zaza is in the game for the Hawks. Once again, LD goes small, preferring offense over defense.
Over under 5 offensive boards for the Knicks until the Hawks’ next substitution.
Luke Cage
February 22nd, 2012
8:23 pm
Finally!!!
richbrave
February 22nd, 2012
8:23 pm
I think KIRK’s NBA magic is over since that last injury.
smh
February 22nd, 2012
8:24 pm
This is why people come to Phillips and cheer for the visting team
Runner-
February 22nd, 2012
8:24 pm
Great effort Smoove, the ONLY Hawk still trying out there
crazy_88
February 22nd, 2012
8:25 pm
The Knicks are taking advantage of the Teague and Green…why is LD running this lil lineup…..Jesus Christ…
hawks_4_life
February 22nd, 2012
8:25 pm
Blow this crappy team up please
terrell
February 22nd, 2012
8:25 pm
Damn Marvin. Dive yo azz after the ball. I thought you liked being on the floor.
TMACfan
February 22nd, 2012
8:25 pm
USE THE MOMENTUM NOW!
ntrigue
February 22nd, 2012
8:25 pm
Why was Zaza on the bench so long?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 22nd, 2012
8:25 pm
Keep doing that Teague.
honest_abe
February 22nd, 2012
8:25 pm
teague needs to step it up big!
Luke Cage
February 22nd, 2012
8:25 pm
Bricks really havent done alot tonight, Hawks helping them out with turnovers and missed fast break opportunities
northcyde
February 22nd, 2012
8:25 pm
Drew has to reduce this rotation to 8 + 1. We need 3 starters on the floor as much as possible. Put Kirk and Vlad in the doghouse and nail the opening shut.
Runner-
February 22nd, 2012
8:25 pm
there we go Teague…
Najeh Davenpoop
February 22nd, 2012
8:26 pm
Zaza has two fouls, which is why he was on the bench.
The Monger
February 22nd, 2012
8:26 pm
Hinrich -13 +/- in 7 minutes
Jeff Teague +2 in 10 minutes
Numerous decisions such as this are proof Larry Drew is THE WORST coach in the NBA and should be fired immediately
Runner-
February 22nd, 2012
8:26 pm
Our offense is basically relying on Teague and Smoove right now since none of our other players’ shots are falling ( Vlad, Pargo, Green)
smh
February 22nd, 2012
8:27 pm
Teague missed an open 3 and got dunked on
Runner-
February 22nd, 2012
8:27 pm
3 on 1 PLAY THE BALL INSIDE TEAGUE!!!!!!!
TMACfan
February 22nd, 2012
8:27 pm
That was an ESPN top 10
terrell
February 22nd, 2012
8:27 pm
Marvin just out ther in the way. lol
smh
February 22nd, 2012
8:27 pm
There goes Lin
honest_abe
February 22nd, 2012
8:27 pm
mofung lin… damn
crazy_88
February 22nd, 2012
8:27 pm
There is absolutely NO OFFENSE SPACING….WTF…..
smh
February 22nd, 2012
8:28 pm
They are disrespecting our so called interior defense like were a jv team
IceColdATLien
February 22nd, 2012
8:28 pm
Najeh, it’s not just the “last five minutes” that anyone should make a decision. Look at the larger picture, say the entire month of February. Kirk, while still rounding into shape, has played with bench guys while Jeff plays with our best players and averages 8 minutes a game more:
Kirk has same number of rebounds (both Off and Def), just 0.7 fewer assists, 0.10 more steals, 0.1 more turnovers. The shooting is worse, but that’s expected of a guy coming off shoulder surgery. So, I’m confused as to why Kirk gets lit up so bad but Teague is looked at as the savior.
Y’all just aren’t looking at things objectively. And you can’t measure the intangible aspect of Kirk having so much more respect from the vets on the team than Teague. Also interesting how we start so slowly in both halves of these games while doing much better in 2nd and 3rd quarters. Facts are facts, y’all