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
Luke Cage
March 6th, 2012
7:42 pm
DEBO!!
High-sider
March 6th, 2012
7:42 pm
Mr. 9 to 5 [Ivan] puttin’ work.
Sautee
March 6th, 2012
7:43 pm
bench is delivering
High-sider
March 6th, 2012
7:43 pm
Mr. 9 to 5 [Ivan] puttin’ [in] work.
Ra'mon
March 6th, 2012
7:43 pm
How does Joe feel seeing the team is playing better without him right now, like they did without Al when they first got him?
Melvin
March 6th, 2012
7:43 pm
I’m really liking the Hawks ball movement to start this game….
Big Lou
March 6th, 2012
7:43 pm
Wow. Debo taking the Pacers’ chains all day!
bigdave
March 6th, 2012
7:44 pm
guts and grit have taken the soul of our lazy Hawks.. what game was that when Pargo came in and went crazy when Kurt couldnt hit squat..
Big Lou
March 6th, 2012
7:44 pm
Hope they don’t try to interview Ivan at halftime. Lol
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:45 pm
Ramon, Joe has no emotions, so he probably doesn’t feel anything.
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 6th, 2012
7:45 pm
How many more wins would the Hawks have IF Drew had played the bench when the starters were healthy?
Can the bench sustain their energy level, without a bench of their own?
bigdave
March 6th, 2012
7:45 pm
How does Joe feel seeing the team is playing better without him right now, like they did without Al when they first got him?”
like he better not come back w/ that lazy, halfhearted effort..
Luke Cage
March 6th, 2012
7:46 pm
Vladi Dadi
bigdave
March 6th, 2012
7:46 pm
but Joe can fit right in folks.. if coaching allows it.
Big Lou
March 6th, 2012
7:46 pm
Lol. Even Vlad is dunking. Wtf
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:47 pm
Amazing what happens when players move off the ball aggressively toward the hoop. Vlad ran the same play that Joe runs from time to time, coming off the curl and catching the ball, but instead of shooting a jumper or a floater he goes in for the dunk.
Big Lou
March 6th, 2012
7:47 pm
Kirk fail.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:48 pm
No-tie day for the Hawks coaching staff I guess…
Ra'mon
March 6th, 2012
7:48 pm
LD must did have something to drink, because he’s complaining to the ref more tonight. He never does that.
High-sider
March 6th, 2012
7:49 pm
After the foul on McGrady, the shot clock should have been re-set to 14 seconds.
Big Lou
March 6th, 2012
7:49 pm
LD finally realizes, but isn’t even angry.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:50 pm
Ivan has been learning some tricks from Zaza. That was a legit foul, but nice flop by Ivan to sell it.
High-sider
March 6th, 2012
7:51 pm
Dahntay Jones is dumb player.
Ra'mon
March 6th, 2012
7:51 pm
I think Peyton Manning stole their ties, lol.
High-sider
March 6th, 2012
7:52 pm
Dahntay Jones is [a] dumb player.
Ra'mon
March 6th, 2012
7:52 pm
High-sider a lot of people on this blog wanted Jones just 3 seasons ago.
Big Lou
March 6th, 2012
7:52 pm
Refs are on crack tonight. Kinda touchy, eh?
Luke Cage
March 6th, 2012
7:52 pm
Damn all these fouls
Ra'mon
March 6th, 2012
7:53 pm
Why has Josh been out so long though?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:53 pm
Well, the small ball lineup didn’t hurt tonight. Hawks actually added a couple of points to the lead. Damp comes back in so no more small ball.
Big Lou
March 6th, 2012
7:54 pm
That was good D. Refs are full of sh!t.
High-sider
March 6th, 2012
7:54 pm
Put Josh back in.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:54 pm
Looks like I spoke too soon, since Damp replaced Ivan. Vlad still playing PF, and West draws a foul on him. Time to get Josh back in.
Big Lou
March 6th, 2012
7:55 pm
Refs are rigging the game. BS
pointguardslim
March 6th, 2012
7:55 pm
Vlad still in at the 4 vs West? wtf
Ra'mon
March 6th, 2012
7:55 pm
Referees have some money on this game.
Melvin
March 6th, 2012
7:55 pm
Refs are giving the Pacers some BS calls….
Big Lou
March 6th, 2012
7:56 pm
LD needs to get a tech and get this team pumped up. first the refs screw them on the shot clock, then a horrible foul called on Vlad, and a crap foul on Pargo. 8llllllD~~ Refs.
soullrenaissance
March 6th, 2012
7:57 pm
Fantom foul calls got them back in the game.
High-sider
March 6th, 2012
7:58 pm
“High-sider a lot of people on this blog wanted Jones just 3 seasons ago.” – Ra’mon
Why?
SteveW
March 6th, 2012
7:58 pm
We haven’t won yet – but if we do – I called it on the previous blog
And I also called a 10-14 pt loss tomorrow nite also.
I’ve been calling it pretty good lately – but have I ever blown it also!
Luke Cage
March 6th, 2012
7:58 pm
Teague drawing fouls, who woulda thunk it.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
7:59 pm
Pretty empty looking arena up there in Indy. Where is the criticism of the Pacers’ fans? I distinctly remember that place being more than half full of Bulls fans during the playoffs last year too…
The return of the Bubba Crew.(republicans too)
March 6th, 2012
8:00 pm
I agree, this is a much better team with out Al,.
Ra'mon
March 6th, 2012
8:00 pm
Why LD won’t play McGrady with Marvin and Teague?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 6th, 2012
8:01 pm
Several Hawks sitting because of the 2 foul rule, resulting in Stackhouse coming into the game.
Hawkfan
March 6th, 2012
8:01 pm
Quack
soullrenaissance
March 6th, 2012
8:01 pm
Great hustle and pressure by Teague!
High-sider
March 6th, 2012
8:02 pm
Are the Pacers overrated?
The return of the Bubba Crew.(republicans too)
March 6th, 2012
8:02 pm
Hard to believe that teague has 5 assist. If he could average 6 or 7 hed be a very good guard instead of a bone head ball hog.
He is being shopped on the market.