Atlanta Hawks at Pistons: Game thread
Auburn Hills, Mich.–Joe Johnson returns to the starting lineup after missing six of the last seven games with left knee tendinitis. Joe had been working out daily. He got the go-ahead to play after a workout during today’s shootaround. “It feels great,” he said. “I don’t have any pain it so that’s the main thing. As the game goes on, that’s the only concern. We’ve got to test it.”
- As for the strength in the knee, Joe said: “Not to where I want it to be but from the last time I tried to play, 10 times better than that.”
- Willie Green will miss his fifth consecutive game. In addition to a sore back, Green said he tweaked a hamstring while working out today.
- Ivan Johnson is to leave the team after the game because of a death in the family. He’s expected to return for the game at Sacramento Sunday.
- After an intense game against the Heat, the Hawks face a Pistons team that’s still last in the Central Division behind Cleveland in spite of showing signs of life since the start of February. It will be interesting to see if the Hawks are as spirited against a struggling opponent as they were at Miami.
- Larry Drew: “You say struggling but this team has won 9 of its last 15. They’ve got some healthy bodies back, they have been playing well. They are coming off a big win against the Lakers, which they have to be feeling good about. It’s always a physical game when we play this team. That’s one thing we have emphasized with our players. This may be the most physical games of this road trip and that’s the mindset you have to have going into this game.”
- Pistons forward Charlie Villaneuva (ankle) is expected to play for the first time since Jan. 4.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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600 comments Add your comment
yodaddybrother
March 9th, 2012
8:11 pm
Hawks aint got it tonight….everyone looks so tired
Ra'mon
March 9th, 2012
8:11 pm
Jlewis, MC said according to a SOURCE CLOSE TO JOSH. That’s not Josh. According to a source to Lebron, he was going to be a Knick, Bull, Cavalier, and even a Maverick. D12 came out and said he wanted to be traded. Iverson said he wanted to be traded. Even Kobe said on Stephen A Smith that he wanted to be traded. Melo said he wanted to be traded. When a player REALLY wants to be traded, they’ll say it for themselves, they won’t use a source.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
8:11 pm
Kirk for Damien + Maxiell
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
March 9th, 2012
8:12 pm
kirk sucks ass
Runner-
March 9th, 2012
8:12 pm
Take Hinrich’s sorry ass out of the game
Big Al "ALL NBA" Horford
March 9th, 2012
8:12 pm
Pac is good, but all this greatest of all time crap, really
Ra'mon
March 9th, 2012
8:12 pm
Rod From CP, if you had to choose out of Kirk and Marvin, who would be your choice? lol
Buddy Grizzard
March 9th, 2012
8:12 pm
Najeh check out the D from Damien on the guy who replaced him in the Hawks lineup.
ntrigue
March 9th, 2012
8:12 pm
Hope we can trade Kirk for anything!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
8:12 pm
Now Kirk gets burned by his old teammate Ben Gordon.
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
8:12 pm
Man. LD is a moron.
terrell
March 9th, 2012
8:12 pm
Lakers dont want Kirk. No way
Spyro
March 9th, 2012
8:13 pm
Huh, Hinrich and Vlad came in and we lost the lead. Color me surprised.
Buddy Grizzard
March 9th, 2012
8:13 pm
Kirk ball watching.
Luke Cage
March 9th, 2012
8:13 pm
Hawks are losing??? Should be up by 12 at least
STRETCH
March 9th, 2012
8:13 pm
From ESPN:
Some interesting thoughts:
5. Should the Atlanta Hawks buy or sell?
Herbert: Sell. The Hawks are pretty good, but there’s no way they’re beating Miami or Chicago in the playoffs. With Al Horford out for the rest of the regular season, it’s a good time to tank. Try to package Josh Smith with Marvin Williams or Zaza Pachulia, then exercise their amnesty rights on Joe Johnson in the summer and start over.
Lynch: Sell. With Kirk Hinrich reportedly on the market and Smith’s trade demands, the Hawks will be moving at least one player. Whether they can get real assets and build around Horford — while still having Johnson on the books — will determine how good they are going forward.
Nowell: Sell. The Hawks probably should unload Smith for some depth and size, but we’ve been saying this for years, right? I figure that, whether they buy or sell, they’ll be doing what they always do: treading water as a first-round team.
Varner: Buy. The Hawks should trade the edges of their roster, including Williams. Atlanta’s core of Smith-Johnson-Horford is enough to remain competitive in the East, but the team’s surrounding talent needs to change for the Hawks to overcome their constant honorable mention status.
Windhorst: If they can sell Johnson, then they must. The Hawks have scored wins over Orlando, Oklahoma City and Indiana without Johnson (and Horford) and nearly pulled off a win in Miami. Smith is blossoming, and Larry Drew is doing one of the best coaching jobs in the league right now. If they could somehow turn the biggest contract in the league into some supporting players who aren’t owed $100 million over the next five years, it could be huge for them.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
8:13 pm
Pac isn’t the greatest of all time but you are crazy if you don’t think he’s top 5. He’s got more than enough material to be top 5. I can understand saying Biggie is overrated, some of that is NY media hype, but I’d still put him up there.
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
March 9th, 2012
8:14 pm
bench is playing really bad
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
8:14 pm
Funny thing is… if Teague had 2 fouls, he would be taken out the game. BS.
ntrigue
March 9th, 2012
8:14 pm
2nd unit not on tonite get Teague and Josh back in maybe even Marvin!
Luke Cage
March 9th, 2012
8:14 pm
Keep saying the more Kirk plays the worst his trade value becomes.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
8:15 pm
“check out the D from Damien on the guy who replaced him in the Hawks lineup.”
Yeah I know. The Hawks miss his perimeter D.
Kirk for Damien + Maxiell
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
8:16 pm
1. Big L
2. Biggie
3. Pac
4. Lupe Fiasco
5. Canibus
Big Al "ALL NBA" Horford
March 9th, 2012
8:16 pm
I’m more old school because I still rock “Paid In Full” in my ride, loves me some Rakim. I give Pac a top 5 mark though.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
8:17 pm
Canibus? haha
Ra'mon
March 9th, 2012
8:17 pm
Kirk should be playing at the YMCA on Johnson Ferry Rd, not at the Palace.
drmaryb.[A_A].
March 9th, 2012
8:17 pm
KaBoom!
Is that, that purple stuff? LOL
Pargo is a little off with his shot tonight.
ntrigue
March 9th, 2012
8:17 pm
rather have Stack in then hinrich!
Sautee
March 9th, 2012
8:17 pm
Interesting that Windhorst thinks LD is doing one of the best coaching jobs in the league. He must not read this blog, LOL.
Big Al "ALL NBA" Horford
March 9th, 2012
8:18 pm
Lupe & Can I Bust, not in top 25
ntrigue
March 9th, 2012
8:19 pm
see this is where Teague should be back in too!
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
8:19 pm
Pargo shooting 53% from 3333333333333333
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
8:20 pm
Are you talking about lyrics are popularity?
Canibus and Lupe has metaphors for days. You need to look up their words to even get half of them. Get real.
ntrigue
March 9th, 2012
8:20 pm
Ill trade Kirk for an extra cheerleader at this point!
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
8:20 pm
Or*
northcyde
March 9th, 2012
8:21 pm
Crickets when Marvin makes a play. Armageddon when he doesn’t.
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
8:21 pm
Josh for Stephanie Ready
drmaryb.[A_A].
March 9th, 2012
8:22 pm
Palace is empty! The Motor City is struggling in this down job market, they’ll be back soon. They got Obama looking out for the folks in the auto industry. We can’t hate on that crowd.
My Hawks looking inspired and sharp. That trade rumor got everybody on their heels. Josh just need some hugs, that’s all.
jlewis
March 9th, 2012
8:22 pm
Yall finally figuring it out, the problems with the Hawks in the past was no bench, JJ begged them to get veterans in here. The problem this season has been the Coach, not knowing how to distribute minutes and playing Hinrich at the expense of the bench. The hawks with a bench can beat any team in the East, dont believe the bs.
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
8:22 pm
Waive Marvin
ntrigue
March 9th, 2012
8:22 pm
Bout time Kirk!
Big Al "ALL NBA" Horford
March 9th, 2012
8:23 pm
1. Rakim
2. Nas
3. Big Daddy Kane
4. Pac
5.KRS-One
Thats a top 5.
drmaryb.[A_A].
March 9th, 2012
8:23 pm
Like MC said, “Shoot more threes!”
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
8:23 pm
Pistons are shooting good. It won’t last.
Luke Cage
March 9th, 2012
8:24 pm
Man I only look at the Bobcats just to see my baby Stephanie Ready.
ntrigue
March 9th, 2012
8:24 pm
Why is teague always last too come back in? Marvin sucks!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
8:24 pm
Kirk has played a lot better in the last few minutes after initially looking like sh-t.
terrell
March 9th, 2012
8:24 pm
Marvin is the WORST player in the NBA.
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
8:24 pm
What did Marvin just throw up!!!!!!!!!!!!
Waive Marvin
hawksfancents95
March 9th, 2012
8:24 pm
teague for marvin