Atlanta Hawks: Practice report: Joe Johnson on mend
The Hawks got back to work today and their moods seemed noticeably improved from last week. They had a spirited scrimmage session near the end of practice (Kirk Hinrich, Joe Johnson, Tracy McGrady and Erick Dampier were among those who looked to have more pep).
“I can see our guys needed [the break] not just from a physical standpoint but from a mental standpoint,” Larry Drew said. “It’s good to get away from everybody. I’m sure they were glad to get away from me, and now we will look to finish up the second half of the season.”
Notes
–Joe practiced with soft braces on both knees and said he “feels great” after a “much-needed” physical and mental break. But he stopped short of declaring himself ready to play tomorrow after sitting out two games last week and failing to finish the Bulls game: “I think so. I don’t want to get everybody’s hopes up.” Drew: “Game-time decision. He was moving pretty well.”
–Zaza Pachulia watched the end of practice with a wrap around his left calf. That’s the same calf he hurt during last summer’s European Championships and again while playing club ball in Turkey. Pachulia said he tweaked it during the third quarter of the Orlando game last Thursday. He said he plans to play tomorrow: “It was bothering me a little bit. It looks like it’s not a big deal. I just pulled I guess a little bit. Bad thing was it happened, good thing was that I had four days off.”
–Yesterday Al Horford ditched the sling he’d worn since he had surgery Jan. 17 to repair a torn left pectoral: “It feels a little weird. It’s good to at least have it off. Tomorrow I see the doctor to make sure he fully clears me to start doing rehab. I’ve been doing cardio and stuff pretty consistently and a couple excercises he told me to do. I need him to tell me I can start expanding on my range of motion and then lifting with my legs and building [up] slowly. The most important thing for me is to get the range of motion back.”
–Does Horford think he can return before the end of the season? “I would say after I do [rehab] for two weeks, two weeks from Wednesday, I will be able to get a beter feel for where I’m at. He’s been pretty strict with me not moving my arms in [certain] ways so the muscle can heal. I’m hoping right now I will be back befor ethe end of the season. That’s my exepectation but I want to see how I feel once I start rehab.”
– Drew on the season so far: “Right before the break we were trying to finish up on a strong note. It didn’t go quite as well as we wanted to on the road trip. But given the schedule and the [injury] situation, I was very pleased with the first half of the season. One thing I wanted them to do during the break was get away and clear their heads out and get a chance to rejevunate. It looked like it helped a little bit.”
–Drew on his biggest concern going forward: “Injuries. We’ve been a little banged up. As we move into the second part of the season, the schedule doesn’t get any lighter. We have got to go out for another 10 days. If you are healthy, you give yourself a good chance. When you are a little banged up, a little nicked up, it kind of puts a damper on things. We’re a little short-handed, a little limited. That’s my biggest concern right now. But we will be competitive in every game we play. We will go out and put our best foot forward everry game. We won’t use injury as an excuse because it’s part of the game. We’ve already talked about that as a team.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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179 comments Add your comment
O'Brien
February 29th, 2012
4:50 pm
Ra’mon,
Given Horford’s injury, I think his trade value is very low, because he won’t pass a physical. Therefore, I don’t think Boston would trade for him right now.
And despite the many rumors, I have a hard time seeing Boston trading Pierce. He is their captain, and has spent his entire career there. They are already losing $31 mil in salary after this year (Ray Allen and KG), and they are way under the cap next year already ($35 mil). Therefore, I think the only guy they might trade is Rondo.
pointguardslim
February 29th, 2012
4:51 pm
Kaman trade
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=74ney8j
Hollinger’s Analysis: You have not effected the winning % of this team.
Kaman can score but he takes a lot of shots and is a shodddy help defender.
We don’t need a center just to have one (we have Zaza).
We need to replace Marvin.
Jeff
Joe
Josh
Marvin
Kaman
You still get weak production from Marvin’s forward spot. And people saying Pierce for Marvin + expiring, remember they still want Pierce over Marvin so we’d have to give up a pick to let them further invest in a rebuild. WIth Horford for Rondo they get a young asset that they can trade for further picks or keep for youth and we don’t have to give up our pick.
pointguardslim
February 29th, 2012
5:07 pm
Horford’s value is as high as it will ever be O’Brien. I said that a year ago and now look what happened. It dropped.
The league saw the play where Horford got injured. Can’t dribble vs Roy Hibbert & can’t finish over him with a tear drop, or a dunk, or a fadeaway. Awkward post player.
The league has finally said, you know what this guy is undersized and he’s average offensively. He is a good passer/defers a lot and rebound and can run and lead the break a bit for a PF/C.
A point forward he’d be a nice role player at PF next to a superstar.
We’re not getting a superstar, ie Durant or Lebron to play the 3. We got Josh Smith at the 3.
So what help does Horford bring to us that isn’t replaceable. His value is not getting bigger at age 25/26.
You think keeping Horford would raise his value? Like it did with Kirk? Or Josh? Or Marvin?
Bottom line is Horford is what he is. A) smart hustle + role player B) big man C) awkward.
Which of that is going to change in the next year? 2, 3, or 4 years of his contract?
That has value on the market and it’s only going down as he ages.
Especially if he A) gets another injury banging inside the paint B) goes off for his standard playoff averages of 9ppg and 10rpg in 40 minutes. He’ll be labeled soft and mediocre.
His value peaked a while ago. Lets not act like Horford is going to become a scorer after 4 years in college, & 4 years in the league.
pointguardslim
February 29th, 2012
5:14 pm
*edit: by Horford becoming a scorer, I mean lets not assume that hes going to raise his value any more now that its apparently dropped.
I said his game and value peaked early and people said he’s too young to not show anything new.
Overlooking the fact he had a shorter learning curve than most rookies.
Now we’re moving the goal posts and saying Horford’s value has dropped, so its not good to trade him? Ignoring the fact he hasnt improved and isnt as impactful as people thought he was.
What? No one listens. If we had Garnett last year against the Bulls we would have been in the ECF vs Miami. Period.
Garnett can do everything Horford does (even lead breaks) and do it better and more consistently even at this age.
TMACfan
February 29th, 2012
5:20 pm
MAKE A MOVE SUND!
Grandad
February 29th, 2012
5:54 pm
Shaq was not immature !
He was fun-loving.
Shaq was a serious basketball player who worked at his craft
and was professional concerning his approach to the game.
I ever saw shaq quit on his team.
Shaq = one of the best five players of all-time.
* note – he took a lickin` & kept on tickin` ! *[like a good Timex]
Shaq = sense of humor
sense of humor does not equate to immaturity
Sorry; that had to be said.
Grandad
February 29th, 2012
5:55 pm
I *Never saw shaq quit on his team.
Buddy Grizzard
February 29th, 2012
6:03 pm
“Boston could look at Teague, Horford, and Green (Jeff Green) as a great starting point to a team .” – Ra’mon
I look at that as a great starting point to a team as well. So why don’t we dump Marv and Kirk and sign Green as a free agent instead of trading our future for Boston’s dinosaurs who can’t hack it any more, even with their All Star point guard? Teague is a better outside shooter than Rondo… one of Boston’s biggest problems is that teams can ALWAYS clog the lane because who ever is guarding Rondo can sag 5 feet off him… teams encourage Rondo to shoot from the outside the same way they encourage Josh. Rondo the most overrated All Star since Al?
Grandad
February 29th, 2012
6:04 pm
Kobe ……… mature are you serious ………;
have you ever read the court case in Colorado ?
Rape ain’t mature !
Ask his wife how mature he is ?
Does $ million dollar rings buy maturity ?
*[I ain't talkin about NBA Champ rings]
*(rather, husband is a chump ring)
Kobe is a great, great player; let’s end it at that.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 29th, 2012
6:04 pm
“Then the Marvin lovers will talk about how Marvin stepped up because he scored 12 points, not understanding that Marvin should be a mismatch all night long in the post.”
Those are just the Marvin apologists. The Marvin lovers, like Marvin’s grandma, or Antawn from two blogs ago, will say he only scored 12 points because the Hawks didn’t run plays for him.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 29th, 2012
6:06 pm
“if ld cant keep tmac happy why do you think jackson will be happy, here? to that, he has never found a good fit for his ego. he probably needs a bigger stage than the hawks and atlanta to find his meaning.”
I think he will be happy that a) he is starting, and b) he is on a playoff team. He was fairly happy in Charlotte, where even though they were losing, at least he had a starting job and guaranteed minutes. He went to Milwaukee and started pouting because Skiles wouldn’t hand him a starting job.
I think he’s a head case regardless of what kind of stage he’s on, but the main thing is he’d be a short term rental here. I’d get him for the rest of this season, let him increase his trade value, and aggressively shop him over the offseason.
KevinM
February 29th, 2012
6:12 pm
Marvin isn’t a key piece even with Joe and Al out….I believe he is still seen as the 4th/5th option…how sad is that?
We aren’t going to be able to give that albatross contract away. It is as bad as some or Orlando’s contracts.
Kirk, Zaza and Josh are our only values to deal with, but seriously, do you trust Rick Sund getting this right?
Grandad
February 29th, 2012
6:13 pm
Tonite after midnite – Sund … Innovate & innervate / go for it !
Josh Smith to Chicago Bulls + filler Ivan Johnson + 2nd round pick
Hawks get …Joakim Noah + Jimmy Butler
______________________________________________________
Why Not ?
-motivation-
It [perhaps] induces Dwight to wish for a Chi reunion with JS;
plus a super-team = Dwight / Josh / Rose ! ! !
______________________________________________________
Would Thibs go for this ? hmmmmmmmmm ?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 29th, 2012
6:15 pm
I am reluctant to endorse any trade that involves trading for one of Boston’s Big 3. Trading for one of them makes sense for a team that’s a player away from a championship. The Hawks are not that team. Trading Al or Josh for some combination of Pierce, KG, or Ray Allen isn’t going to make this team better than Miami or Chicago.
The one Boston trade that would make sense is if the Hawks packaged Teague and somebody else to get Rondo. Teague is my favorite Hawk, but Rondo is a better player, also pretty young, and locked into a very reasonable deal. To be honest I really have no idea why they are shopping him so hard.
Grandad
February 29th, 2012
6:19 pm
terrell
Kaman may have taken some J’s last eve;
he’s a very good mid-range shooter.
On the other hand – he has a very highly developed low post game.
Perhaps one of the best in the NBA.
Whether or not he utilizes his low post game … is on the HC.
Grandad
February 29th, 2012
6:20 pm
Joe for KG – would Ainge bite ?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 29th, 2012
6:30 pm
Alex Kennedy @AlexKennedyNBA Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
The Los Angeles Lakers have expressed interest in Kirk Hinrich, according to sources. No deal is imminent.
MAKE IT HAPPEN SUND
Grandad
February 29th, 2012
6:31 pm
G-dad’s ~> I`m slingin’ `em right & left
____________________________________________
Boston gets:
Josh; Teague; + *[Cap'n Kirk] -or- *[Marvin] *their choice
ATL gets;
Rondo & Ray Allen
____________________________________________
both work on tr mchn
pointguardslim
February 29th, 2012
6:35 pm
KG’s a huge expiring. This offseason we got Duncan, we got Dwight, we got Ryan Anderson.
Rondo ($12M)
Joe ($18M)
Josh ($12M)
Anderson ($7.5M aka Marvin money)
Dwight ($18M)
——-
$67.5M
Amnesty Marvin. Reunite the BFFs, PG Rondo, SF Josh, C Dwight
and live with Joe Johnson as your pressure release
for the next few years and Draft wisely.
Where there’s a will there’s a way. This unwillingness to think past Horford is holding us back.
Grandad
February 29th, 2012
6:41 pm
Let `er Rip … Sund !
____________________________________________
LAL gets – Josh Smith; Cap’n Kirk
Hawks get – Pau Gasol; Matt Barnes; + filler [tr ex] + # 1 pick
____________________________________________
doc
February 29th, 2012
6:46 pm
najeh, huge if there to ship a guy like that tor anything of value beyond excess baggage which jackson is, bottom line.
Grandad
February 29th, 2012
6:46 pm
Horford is inj
No one is gonna give full value for Al at this point in time
due to inj; w/o waiting to see the result of his surgical repair.
I do not wish to trade Al;
but if I did, I would meed to exercise patience
in order to get maximum value for an valuable asset.
STRETCH
February 29th, 2012
6:47 pm
Grandad,
Best trade offer i have seen all month and it comes on the last day of the month! LOL! But is it gonna happen? Hope so!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 29th, 2012
6:48 pm
“Rondo ($12M)
Joe ($18M)
Josh ($12M)
Anderson ($7.5M aka Marvin money)
Dwight ($18M)”
This would be the greatest team in Hawks history, but how exactly do you plan on getting Anderson from the Magic and Rondo from the Celtics? If all you’re trading is Teague and Al, one of those teams is getting shafted.
I still find it hard to believe the Celtics actually want to trade Rondo. Considering his contract and his production, he’s one of the best values in the league.
Just Joe
February 29th, 2012
6:55 pm
Sund’s got something up his sleeve if we’re really going to sign Damp for the rest of the season.
Ra'mon
February 29th, 2012
6:55 pm
Buddy, Jeff Green isn’t a free agent. He’s already signed with the Celtics. He’s injured for the season.
G’dad, when it came to the game and being in shape, Shaq was quite immature. How many interviews did Shaq admit that he normally wouldn’t get into basketball shape until March of the season? And that was why he would often have nagging injuries throughout his control. Its amazing how closely being in the best of shape helps prevent injuries or recover quicker than being in average shape.
And on the personal note, I haven’t followed either of them around. But I do think in court documents Shaq has cheated just as much as Kobe. That is why Shaq IS divorced and paid even more to his ex, than Kobe would have had to if not for the reconciliation. And as far as rape case, I wasn’t there so I don’t know what happened. But there are also rumors of Shaq settling under the table for sexual harassment cases.
Either way, on the court both are great players. And though I believe Shaq is one of the SMARTEST players ever to play the game. But personality wise, I do see a lot of Shaq in Dwight. Dwight just isn’t as talented as Shaq offensively (not even close actually).
pointguardslim
February 29th, 2012
6:55 pm
What do you mean full value for Al?
Last year it was Deron Williams for Al+filler. You think anyone would do that now? Now you’re saying he can’t get Rondo and 35yo KG’s expiring?
Lol you overvalue Horford Grandad. Just like Sund did last year and now Dwight wants to go play with his buddy Deron.
So Horford was really worth Deron Williams and a shot at Dwight Howard? Is that what you are saying?
Or are you saying Horford is injured so he can’t get Rondo+ 35yo Kevin Garnett’s expiring? Either way: Shaking my head.
And then you have the gall to say Josh Smith to LA so the Lakers can get a shot at Dwight and another superteam.
Horford is doing the same thing Marvin is doing. A role player who got far playing with Josh and Joe and is now overvalued.
Ra'mon
February 29th, 2012
6:57 pm
If the Josh was traded to the Lakers, they would become devastating on defense.
Michael Cunningham
February 29th, 2012
7:10 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.