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
DawgNole
March 9th, 2012
9:10 pm
Oh yeah, it was a good block by Marvin in any event.
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
9:10 pm
Pargo needs to replace Kirk, LD. Stop being retarded!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:11 pm
No Josh on the floor and the lane opens wide for Stuckey, and Josh wasn’t even playing that great on D before he went out. Welcome to life as a Hawks fan if Josh is traded for Gasol.
ntrigue
March 9th, 2012
9:12 pm
Good get Kirk out fast!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:12 pm
LMAO Totally forgot about Dylan.
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
9:12 pm
LD is going lose the game… again. Why the heck is he getting a paycheck?
Melvin
March 9th, 2012
9:12 pm
LD is going to ride Joe until his wheels fall off in his first game back.
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
9:13 pm
Dylan said he made a deal with “chief captain of this world and the one unseen”….He said that’s why he’s still working in an interview on 60 mins. years ago…
O’Brien, look it up…Sorry dude…
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
9:14 pm
O’Brien, look up the term “crossroads”
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
9:14 pm
Where’s Pargo?
Fire LD!!!!!
Rev in Tampa
March 9th, 2012
9:16 pm
JJ with a post-up. It looked ugly but got him to the line
DawgNole
March 9th, 2012
9:16 pm
He might be a card shark, but he sure as hell ain’t an announcer.
ntrigue
March 9th, 2012
9:16 pm
Teague should be back in or he should play whole 4th qt!
Hawkfan
March 9th, 2012
9:17 pm
The Duck falls down. Down goes he Duck
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
9:17 pm
Anybody else want to punch LD in the face?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:17 pm
Everyone on the Hawks looks to pass outside after they start driving, except T-Mac. Look for the rolling big man instead of kicking to the perimeter all the time.
Melvin
March 9th, 2012
9:17 pm
Where is Pargo. LD is so stupid….
terrell
March 9th, 2012
9:17 pm
“Brandon Knight coming to life” AFTER KIRK CAME IN.
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
9:18 pm
Who said LD is doing one of the” best coaching jobs in the NBA” this year?
“crack is whack” WH
DawgNole
March 9th, 2012
9:18 pm
Meanwhile, the birds are blowing this one bigtime. Bout time for Nique to declare that the Hawks are in control of the game and have it in the bag.
ntrigue
March 9th, 2012
9:18 pm
Its official Drew hates Teague1
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
March 9th, 2012
9:20 pm
smh kirk needs to shoot damn open shot
terrell
March 9th, 2012
9:20 pm
Wtf Hinrich??
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
9:20 pm
Hawks -14 in the 3rd! LD is a brutal Head coach…..
ntrigue
March 9th, 2012
9:20 pm
No way Teague should be on the bench so long this is terrible coaching from Drew !
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:20 pm
Pistons pass it inside every time. Hawks pass it outside every time.
Josh left the game and everything fell apart. No post presence, no help defender in the lane.
Melvin
March 9th, 2012
9:21 pm
Hawks score 12pts in the 3rd qtr…. My goodness. How many 3rd qtrs meltdowns have this team had this year
Sautee
March 9th, 2012
9:21 pm
12 point quarter for the Hawks. Visions of Woody’s last year, eh, O’Brien?
tb hawk fan
March 9th, 2012
9:21 pm
boy when we g o cold we freeze
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
March 9th, 2012
9:21 pm
what will teague do other than turn the ball over
Rev in Tampa
March 9th, 2012
9:21 pm
I beginning to get worried about this game. Detroit is coming to life defensively and the Hawks are going to start shooting jumpers.
Hawkfan
March 9th, 2012
9:21 pm
Horrible Qtr. gotta go get it now. Can’t really say anybody playing well right now. Need a spark
terrell
March 9th, 2012
9:21 pm
Team playing with Joe’s “energy” now.
High-sider
March 9th, 2012
9:22 pm
If the Hawks lose tonight, this will be a bad loss. They will be blowing yet another chance to climb up the Eastern Conference standings in order to get the 3 seed.
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
9:23 pm
They didn’t have 3rd qtr meltdowns when Joe was injured and Josh was in the game. Just saying.
tb hawk fan
March 9th, 2012
9:23 pm
what do they do at halftime drink?
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
9:23 pm
2-15 FG’s in the 3rd! Huh?
Rod from College Park
March 9th, 2012
9:23 pm
Word on the web is that Gasol has been traded. Assumptions are to Houston for Scola, nad K Martin or Foye
Melvin
March 9th, 2012
9:23 pm
Why is Marvin playing PF?
tb hawk fan
March 9th, 2012
9:23 pm
another stupid turnover
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:24 pm
More layups for the Pistons. No help defense. The same layups Gasol would be standing and watching if Josh was traded for him.
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
9:24 pm
-17 last 12:35mins of this game….Huh?
Rod from College Park
March 9th, 2012
9:24 pm
Told everyone yesterday that we would still have problems with teams like Detroit. We will have problems with Sacramento also.
kwooden
March 9th, 2012
9:25 pm
Offensive looks terrible!
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
9:25 pm
Why does LD keep costing them games with his horrible coaching? Josh is out of the game with 5 fouls because of this idiot.
kwooden
March 9th, 2012
9:25 pm
Offense
Just Joe
March 9th, 2012
9:25 pm
LD can’t figure out why a frontline of Ivan, Marvin, and Tmac can’t protect the rim. Just silly.
terrell
March 9th, 2012
9:25 pm
Back to the old Hawks. Welcome back Joe. And LD should be fired for giving Hinrich extended min.
ntrigue
March 9th, 2012
9:25 pm
Why is Hinrich still Wtf i just dont understand what Drew sees in him Teague was playing decent and good D let him loose coach Hhinrich is terrible! Guarented hinrich still in after timeout!
O'Brien
March 9th, 2012
9:26 pm
Hawks have 16 rebounds so far? 2 for ZaZa, 4 for Josh. Come on guys.