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
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
600 comments Add your comment
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
8:25 pm
Rakim and Nas are really good too. Agree on that.
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
8:25 pm
it was a brutal pick
Rev in Tampa
March 9th, 2012
8:26 pm
I’m not really worried about this game. Detroit is so bad that eventually the Hawks will awake from their slumber and take control of the game.
Luke Cage
March 9th, 2012
8:26 pm
I’ve run out of words for Marvin, to me he’s on this team for comical purposes only.
Ra'mon
March 9th, 2012
8:26 pm
Marvin just fell so he won’t get traded. He’s going to be down for the next two weeks.
northcyde
March 9th, 2012
8:26 pm
Lol….see?
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
8:27 pm
Nasal seems not pumped tonight?
Whats his problem?
ntrigue
March 9th, 2012
8:28 pm
Will somebody tell drew to stop whistling!
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
March 9th, 2012
8:28 pm
I can hear josh and the ref whole convo
Big Al "ALL NBA" Horford
March 9th, 2012
8:28 pm
See I would have a double double by now. When your ALL NBA you do that
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
8:29 pm
ISO is rusty?
Rev in Tampa
March 9th, 2012
8:30 pm
Nice steal by Ivan. But Hawks looked bad on the break.
Big Al "ALL NBA" Horford
March 9th, 2012
8:30 pm
Josh playing timid, thought he was a beast on defense, more like a puppy
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
8:30 pm
Metaphors are great, but if stringing metaphors together was all it took to be a good songwriter, the greatest rappers of all time would be a bunch of no-name battle rappers on Youtube.
1. Andre 3000
2. Pac
3. Big
4. Nas
The 5 spot changes a lot but to be honest I can’t think of a great argument to not put Krit there. I know he hasn’t been around long enough, but after the mixtape he dropped a few days ago I don’t really care.
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
8:31 pm
Josh getting mad at them not feeding him in the post. I don’t blame him.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
8:32 pm
Josh has 2 fouls, which explains the lack of aggressiveness on D.
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
March 9th, 2012
8:33 pm
krit new mixtape is dope
Buddy Grizzard
March 9th, 2012
8:33 pm
Damnit… LD drew up another turnover.
Hawkfan
March 9th, 2012
8:33 pm
Dammit Teague. Get your head in the game
Rod from College Park
March 9th, 2012
8:33 pm
Ra’mon,
Kirk. I was take almost every player in the league before Marvin. He is a good 3 point shooter, that is it.
Spyro
March 9th, 2012
8:33 pm
Come on, Teague! Can’t do that!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
8:33 pm
3rd fast break Teague has blown tonight. Come on dude, gotta shake the Marvinitis.
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
8:33 pm
Andre 3000 is decent, but a bit overrated IMO.
Anyone can list Big Names, but lyrics mean more to me. Whatever floats your boat.
Hawkfan
March 9th, 2012
8:34 pm
The Duck!!!
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
8:34 pm
They took Josh out of the game? Wtf?
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
8:35 pm
Rakim is the godfather of rap music…
Hawkfan
March 9th, 2012
8:35 pm
2 fouls Big Lou
bigdave
March 9th, 2012
8:35 pm
Andre 3000 is decent, but a bit overrated IMO.”
whatt….?
nice list Najeh, but id sub Jay at your 4 spot..
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
8:36 pm
10 rebounds total in that half for the Hawks. Pistons missed 14 shots, Hawks missed 20.
And despite that the Hawks got more shot attempts than the Pistons because they forced 13 turnovers.
Luke Cage
March 9th, 2012
8:36 pm
Now they playin some Doug E. Fresh
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
8:36 pm
Watching Josh pat Teague on the head going into the lockeroom shows me that he’s the heart of the team. Without him. Hawks have no chance. No vocal leader.
Melvin
March 9th, 2012
8:36 pm
I hope Marvin can keep the good shooting touch. Maybe that would help in trading him outta here.
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
March 9th, 2012
8:36 pm
lol@3 sracks being overrated…Lets just hope he sticks to his word on a solo album this year
Buddy Grizzard
March 9th, 2012
8:36 pm
LOVING the confidence from Ivan.
Rev in Tampa
March 9th, 2012
8:37 pm
Ivan is playing a good game. He is active on the boards, making steals, and making some nice passes. Glad one Hawk came ready to play.
Luke Cage
March 9th, 2012
8:37 pm
Teague sat on the bench too long again, thanks LD.
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
March 9th, 2012
8:37 pm
*stacks
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
8:39 pm
Oh. Okay. Didn’t know he already had one. Thanks for the heads up.
Andre is great with wordplay, but his metaphors are child’s play at best. I like to learn something from the music I listen to. Jay, Andre, and most mainstream doesn’t do that for me.
Don’t get me wrong. Jay’s Resonable Doubt was a classic album, but he just raps about the same ignorant crap.
Big Al "ALL NBA" Hordford
March 9th, 2012
8:40 pm
Josh will never make ALL NBA, mainly because of what you guys like to say, oh yeah his low Basketball I.Q. Haha.
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
8:41 pm
18TH Letter……..
Rod from College Park
March 9th, 2012
8:42 pm
Pac
Jay Z
Andre 3000
Biggie
Nas
Honorable Mention: Pimp C
Sautee
March 9th, 2012
8:42 pm
How do you have a 9 point lead when you are being out rebounded by a 2 to 1 margin?
13 TOs by DET leading to 10 Hawks points. Thank you, Pistons. Keep it up.
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
8:43 pm
The “Black Album”, track #6.. Back Masking going on..Yea we know who he works for….
youtube it…
Ra'mon
March 9th, 2012
8:44 pm
Najeh, the rebound difference comes from Zaza only playing 4 minutes, and Josh not wanting to pick up that 2nd foul. Not to mention, a lot jump shots lead to long rebounds that the guards are supposed to collect.
Rev in Tampa
March 9th, 2012
8:44 pm
The “top-five rappers” discussion is a metaphor for how the Hawks are viewing this game against the Pistons. If we on the blog were hanging on every possession like we would against the Heat, Bulls, etc. then there would be no opportunity to carry out a side discussion.
The Hawks aren’t taking the Pistons that seriously either.
I don’t know who any of the rappers are, but I don’t mind the side discussion.
Big Al "ALL NBA" Hordford
March 9th, 2012
8:44 pm
Today’s Hip Hop artist = Business Men, thats why its almost dead, its not about the craft anymore its about marketing.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
8:45 pm
Lupe is dope though. I can understand having him in your top 5, even if he isn’t in mine. My biggest beef with him is that too many of his songs sound like Linkin Park produced them, but he is a great lyricist.
northcyde
March 9th, 2012
8:46 pm
Damn shame. Can’t even give Marvin his props. 12 pts. 3 – 3 from deep, and nothing. But let him miss a box out and the blog goes crazy. How about being Hawks fans for a change and root for EVERYBODY.
Ra'mon
March 9th, 2012
8:46 pm
Pac
Nas
Talib K.
Big L
Jay Z
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
8:46 pm
R.I.P. Pimp C
I miss that King of the ‘Soawf’.