Atlanta Hawks at Pacers: Game thread
Indianapolis–Larry Drew ruled out Al Horford returning before the end of the regular season: “What I’ve been told he’s definitely out for the regular season and there is a possibility [of return] for the playoffs.” Al has said he should know more about his timetable when he returns to see his doctor next week.
- Joe Johnson (knee) and Willie Green (back) are out. Tracy McGrady (knee) and Jerry Stackhouse (ill) are active. Jeff Foster (back) is out for the Pacers.
- Joe plans to play at some point during the trip. Drew: “Right now we don’t know [when]. We are just going off how he feels. He has his good days, he has some bad days. It was his decision and our decision to allow that thing to heal to at least get to the point where he can play with a little bit more consistency [and] where the knee feels good. Since we shut him down it feels better. Right now the focus is to get him stronger.”
- McGrady said he has to manage his surgically-repaired left knee: “It doesn’t do very well on the back-to-backs. I didn’t have my balance and planted it wrong [vs. the Thunder]. It was already sore before the game.” Drew: “I don’t think he’s 100 percent but he feels like he can go. We will see how he looks.”
- Stackhouse ended up traveling with the team Monday. “It was some kind of food poisoning or something,” he said. ” Yesterday was not a good day.”
- I’ve covered a lot of games in this building, both with the Heat and Hawks, and I can tell you what’s likely going to happen: The Pacers are going to beat up on the Hawks and there are not going to be many whistles. That’s just how it is.
- Drew: “This team, they play very physical at home. The last time we were here at this building, they physically took us out of what we wanted to do. Our last meeting at our place we kind of turned the tides. Anytime you play against an Indiana team, because they are so big and athletic, you have to match the physicality. That certainly will be the case tonight.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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566 comments Add your comment
pointguardslim
March 6th, 2012
6:42 pm
Josh Smith Northcyde’s ever convenient scapegoat.
And even worse is that Ivan Johnson has lately been coming in for Zaza to play center in LD’s smallball lineups. Not coming in for Josh. When Ivan plays forward the spacing changes he’s taking “camping out at the top of the key” aka making the proper rotation.
Here’s Ivan at PF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX_M_UAtKQw
You dont know what you’re talking about.
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 6th, 2012
6:43 pm
uh oh!
Slimjr
March 6th, 2012
6:50 pm
4th?
Melvin
March 6th, 2012
6:56 pm
Will we see Diamper tonight?
Slimjr
March 6th, 2012
6:56 pm
“I’ve covered a lot of games in this building, both with the Heat and Hawks, and I can tell you what’s likely going to happen: The Pacers are going to beat up on the Hawks and there are not going to be many whistles. That’s just how it is.”
Isn’t this the building where All NBA got tore up? Yep….
Look out? That Hibert dude is dangerous under the basket because of his size alone!
soullrenaissance
March 6th, 2012
6:59 pm
High-sider
I don’t watch Fox News but Harris Faulkner is worth a look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkt9AFuVOX0&feature=related
Nothing to report for the Hawks in the area or trades – typical. Quality GMs are wheelin’ and dealin’ and Sund is just chillin?
Drew: “I don’t think he’s 100 percent but he feels like he can go. We will see how he looks.”
Genius!!! No one is 100 percent at this point. Play the man!
Buddy Grizzard
March 6th, 2012
6:59 pm
We need Ivan to play a lot of minutes at center… he’s the only player available with enough size and speed to counter Hibbert when Zaza goes to the bench. Hibbert is a dirty player who has caused several injuries to opposing players this year. The Hawks have got to put a big body on him. Ivan may give up height but he can push Hibbert away from the basket and make him work.
Buddy Grizzard
March 6th, 2012
7:00 pm
Also, Hibbert won’t play his tough guy act with Ivan… he’d be scared to.
Slimjr
March 6th, 2012
7:01 pm
No sense camping out at the top of the key if ya cant shoot from there? Move without the ball and trust your guards will find you on the pick and rolls and back door cuts cause they will..
Teague will improve if he see’s people cutting instead of standing around and watching him take his man off the dribble from the perimeter…
Trust your Guards…..
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:02 pm
This feels like one of those games where the Hawks fall behind in the late 1st/early 2nd quarter and spend the rest of the game trying to claw back into it, only to fall short in the end.
Pacers by 11. Kirk is giving up a half a foot to Paul George at SG. Not a good matchup for him.
Nique just said “nimbers” and “Hibbits” in the same sentence.
Tremaine
March 6th, 2012
7:03 pm
Dunk of the year Dominique? Get real!
Luke Cage
March 6th, 2012
7:03 pm
SWEET CHRISTMAS!!!
Slimjr
March 6th, 2012
7:04 pm
cant count? lol 3rd!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:06 pm
Leuer’s mom, since you seem to have footage of that Hawks/Thunder game, can you post Ivan’s halftime interview on Youtube? I heard it was hilarious, but I couldn’t see it because I was in the arena.
pointguardslim
March 6th, 2012
7:06 pm
No we need to play big lineups and win the battle of the paint. Please keep Ivan vs Hibbert to a minimum
Slimjr
March 6th, 2012
7:07 pm
If your afraid of getting whacked because of your cuts than go sit down! This is the
NBA where hard fouls are common place in the paint!
Luke Cage
March 6th, 2012
7:07 pm
Ivan was a man of many words being interviewed by Jerome
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:07 pm
“Dunk of the year Dominique? Get real!”
He’s not the only one who has said something similar. I’ve seen many places that rank it at least #2 behind Griffin over Perkins.
Buddy Grizzard
March 6th, 2012
7:08 pm
Key subplot: Hibbert is the most obvious target about agents “making a bid” for All-Star selections. If Josh ever wanted to make a point about being an All-Star snub, this is the game to do it, while the Hawks are missing two other All-Stars and he is practically the only option.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:09 pm
The Pacers’ home record is not that great as to reflect some kind of special home court advantage. They are 11-4. If they lose tonight their home record will basically be tied with the Hawks.
No small ball LD. Play Damp at C before you play Vlad at PF.
Buddy Grizzard
March 6th, 2012
7:09 pm
Perkins is not a leaper… Ibaka is one of the most athletic shot blockers in the game… yeah the dunk was one for the ages.
pointguardslim
March 6th, 2012
7:09 pm
Ivan’s halftime interview on Youtube
- hilarious? idk about that. At all.
I guess it’ll be on Youtube…
——-
“I’ve covered a lot of games in this building, both with the Heat and Hawks, and I can tell you what’s likely going to happen: The Pacers are going to beat up on the Hawks and there are not going to be many whistles. That’s just how it is.”
fucccccc
Luke Cage
March 6th, 2012
7:10 pm
LD going with the no tie look tonight
Slimjr
March 6th, 2012
7:10 pm
Lets hope Josh hits his first long two to get things rolling for him!
An airball would suck immensely!
Melvin
March 6th, 2012
7:11 pm
Bubby,
Uh, Josh didn’t make a point when lead the team in a victory over the team that had the NBA best record on Saturday
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:11 pm
Oh yeah, and hopefully they have a bounty on who gets to commit a flagrant foul on Louis Amundson.
pointguardslim
March 6th, 2012
7:11 pm
No need one already up
http://hawksquawk.net/community/topic/365268-ivan-johnson-halftime-interviewthis-isnt-itbutcheck-it-out/
scroll down and there’s even a download
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:13 pm
2 games in a row that Josh hit the right handed hook. If this is more than just a fluke, that is a long overdue positive step in Josh’s offensive game.
pointguardslim
March 6th, 2012
7:13 pm
Ivan Johnson Halftime Interview vs Thunder 3/3/12.avi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kKrEB8oEJE
Slimjr
March 6th, 2012
7:13 pm
Larry, go small and get stomped on….kapeesh?
Buddy Grizzard
March 6th, 2012
7:13 pm
Kirk Hinrich… the next starting point guard for the Lakers?
Buddy Grizzard
March 6th, 2012
7:14 pm
Can’t even make a f’ing entry pass.
Tremaine
March 6th, 2012
7:14 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:07 pm
“Dunk of the year Dominique? Get real!”
He’s not the only one who has said something similar. I’ve seen many places that rank it at least #2 behind Griffin over Perkins.
It’s number 3 or tied for number 2 with Lebron.
Luke Cage
March 6th, 2012
7:14 pm
May need Dampier to play big minutes
bigdave
March 6th, 2012
7:15 pm
inside.. inside.. inside.
the gm didnt lie about Josh.. if he committed himself inside. he’d be a much improved overall player.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:16 pm
Teague with a nice drive and dish, and Zaza actually finishes the assist.
smh
March 6th, 2012
7:16 pm
why is hinrich checking george? he’s 6′8 hinrich cant be 6′3
bigdave
March 6th, 2012
7:17 pm
well.. i’ll say if he got most of his scoring opportunities inside. part of the blame is scheme.
smh
March 6th, 2012
7:17 pm
zaza bad feet pachilua with the foul
pointguardslim
March 6th, 2012
7:18 pm
More of that Teague
bigdave
March 6th, 2012
7:18 pm
a late ugly whistle.
soullrenaissance
March 6th, 2012
7:19 pm
Cheating refs
pointguardslim
March 6th, 2012
7:19 pm
TEAGUE!!!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:19 pm
Another nice look by Teague. What was that about him not being able to run the offense?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:20 pm
Kirk is checking George because both are starting at SG. Hawks have a small back court with no Joe.
bigdave
March 6th, 2012
7:21 pm
“Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:07 pm
“Dunk of the year Dominique? Get real!”
He’s not the only one who has said something similar. I’ve seen many places that rank it at least #2 behind Griffin over Perkins.
It’s number 3 or tied for number 2 with Lebron.”
if yall talking about the Josh dunk.. shhhhhid, i said dunk of the year when it happened. that was a filthy dunk. over the premier shot blocker in the league. not over some guy who is a good post defender (perk). lotta elbow, almost like Josh was trying to hurt dude.. all that was missing was Serge falling.
Melvin
March 6th, 2012
7:21 pm
Nice ball movement by the Hawks to start the game.
Buddy Grizzard
March 6th, 2012
7:23 pm
Damp with a nice assist to Marv cutting baseline… did I just see Marv participate on the offensive end? We really need Teague to carry some of the scoring load… I think he’s got a mismatch with Collison.
pointguardslim
March 6th, 2012
7:23 pm
Another nice look by Teague. What was that about him not being able to run the offense?
LD giving Joe Johnson the rock and letting him run offense and post up all day.
We ran a damn pick and roll!
Ra'mon
March 6th, 2012
7:24 pm
The Hawks look like they’re actually running offensive sets tonight. And they’re winning. Who would’ve ‘thunk’ it?