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
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:36 pm
Good things happen when Teague drives inside.
O'Brien
March 9th, 2012
9:36 pm
Good points total so far, but not enough rebounds for Josh.
And I would prince over Marvin right now (although that is not sayng much).
terrell
March 9th, 2012
9:36 pm
Damn put TMac on Prince.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:36 pm
I see you Marvin. Big shot.
phil
March 9th, 2012
9:37 pm
And this is why no one with sense takes this team seriously…..jeykyl and hyde.
bigdave
March 9th, 2012
9:37 pm
big 3 ball from Marvin
High-sider
March 9th, 2012
9:38 pm
Josh Smith has 5 fouls?
Luke Cage
March 9th, 2012
9:38 pm
LD is an imposter
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
9:38 pm
So, my question is… why did LD allow them to get the Hawks down so much with his horrible subs?
Why was Kirk left in the game?
Why is he coaching?
Bueler?
Hawkfan
March 9th, 2012
9:39 pm
Maybe the drunken tieless LD was the smart version
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
9:39 pm
Josh fixin to foul out…Yawn
The Monger
March 9th, 2012
9:39 pm
I must say in my 27 years on Earth I have never been more embarrassed of a team than the Atlanta Hawks tonight. Josh Smith and Joe Johnson get paid millions of dollars and they have COMPLETELY given up and are giving ZERO effort in the 2nd half tonight. It is disgusting and I would trade BOTH before they stepped on the plane tonight. If I couldnt find a partner for these clowns I would just straight up release them. I cant believe I saw Josh Smith, a multimillionaire thanks to the Hawks organization, just stand still as a rebound was 6 inches away from him and let someone just reach over and take it, that was the 4th play of the game I honestly was shocked at the lack of any effort or hustle from him, and Joe has just completely checked out. Pathetic… Oh my God ASG (I know you guys are just as big a joke as these clowns), but just DO ONE GOOD move in your entire existence and get these two bums out of town ASAP and let the healing begin. Get a team full of Ivan Johnson’s and Jannero Pargo’s and a decent coach and start the healing…
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
March 9th, 2012
9:39 pm
wow…
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:40 pm
The Pistons keep passing it inside and good things happen. Don’t see why the Hawks can’t do that.
And on cue, on the other end, the Hawks make it a point to go inside and Joe gets a 3 point play. KEEP GOING INSIDE STOP SETTLING
bigdave
March 9th, 2012
9:40 pm
good strong move Joe..
Rev in Tampa
March 9th, 2012
9:41 pm
at least the third post up by jj. Scored five points on his three post-ups. Effencient.
Hawkfan
March 9th, 2012
9:41 pm
Hell yeah
O'Brien
March 9th, 2012
9:41 pm
Its funny how Josh tends to make those long jumpers in crunch time.
Meanwhile, Detroit is back to being Detroit. Remember, they let us steal one last time in OT
bird
March 9th, 2012
9:41 pm
Smoove
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:41 pm
I want to know Josh’s FG% on jumpers in the last 5 minutes of games.
The Monger
March 9th, 2012
9:42 pm
I understande that Josh may be mad at the organization, but lots of atheletes are and have been mad at other organizations, and don’t take it out on their teams. Tell me Joe, I understand you are coming back from your “knee injury” but how do you check out of so many games while taking $120 million from your employer and go to sleep easy at night… I’m guessing you dont…
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:42 pm
Nique is a damn fool. Who the hell predicts with 4 minutes left that Joe will hit a buzzer-beating game tying 3. You are dumb. So dumb. Really dumb. For real.
O'Brien
March 9th, 2012
9:42 pm
Wow. Maxiell.
Maxiell’s 2 season highs came against the hawks
bigdave
March 9th, 2012
9:43 pm
Jason looked like throwback Kevin Willis on that put back..
bird
March 9th, 2012
9:43 pm
I wish Nique would shut up sometimes. He always jinx the Hawks.
phil
March 9th, 2012
9:44 pm
No one ever said Nique was smart.
I haven’t forgotten the stupid stuff he did for yrs on the court.
Sautee
March 9th, 2012
9:44 pm
As I said in the first half… the next Hawk to block Maxiell out will be the first.
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
9:45 pm
CORE BREACH………..Nique should stop drinkin before duty….
DawgNole
March 9th, 2012
9:46 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:42 pm
Nique is a damn fool. Who the hell predicts with 4 minutes left that Joe will hit a buzzer-beating game tying 3. You are dumb. So dumb. Really dumb. For real.
_____________________
Like I wrote a few minutes ago: “Nique the Nincompoop” (which has nothing to do with Davenpoop, by the way).
bird
March 9th, 2012
9:46 pm
Hawks will be up by a point with 2 minutes left in the 4th and Nique will say some BS like, “The Hawks can end this one with a bucket right here”.
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
9:46 pm
Game over
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:47 pm
Good D Ivan. Out of his comfort zone guarding Prince on the perimeter and he still got in his grill.
phil
March 9th, 2012
9:47 pm
Nique is a brilliant manager of money….
Slimjr
March 9th, 2012
9:47 pm
Bench Marvin
The Monger
March 9th, 2012
9:48 pm
I dont understand alot of you guys on here though, I understand you are passionate about your team and enjoy watching all the action intently, and pointing out positives and hoping. I guess I just lost any hope in this team, and mostly the whole Hawks organization and management in general So I find conversing about game situation and Hawks stats, what’s the point in the end? EVERYBODY KNOWS this team has the same limited ceiling it has for the past 5,10, and 20 years. We will lose in the first or if we are lucky 2nd round, and that is it folks… some good regular season wins and a few ugly ones. So is a win over Detroit even meaningful in any way?
terrell
March 9th, 2012
9:48 pm
Marvin clanks another big shot.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:48 pm
Free throws.
Rev in Tampa
March 9th, 2012
9:49 pm
This is the first game that I have noticed that the Hawks are missing Al. the Pistions have been feeding the ball into the paint all night long.
terrell
March 9th, 2012
9:49 pm
TEAGUE!
Rev in Tampa
March 9th, 2012
9:50 pm
Finally! Nice to have that lead back
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
9:50 pm
Defense!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:50 pm
Like the first half, the Hawks keep giving up rebounds, but the Pistons keep returning the favor by turning it over.
Great play by Teague, but as he continues to grow as a point guard he’ll learn to look for Josh for the alley oop (he had him open).
Sautee
March 9th, 2012
9:50 pm
Ivan got away with fouling Monroe. Hawks got lucky.
phil
March 9th, 2012
9:51 pm
Release Al Horford!!
DawgNole
March 9th, 2012
9:51 pm
Off the mat! Gotta hold on now–and not waste this effort. Course it never shoulda been close. I mean, we are talking about the Pistons here–hardly amongst the NBA elite.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2012
9:51 pm
“what’s the point in the end?”
What’s the point in watching sports in general? It’s only entertainment. We don’t get paid if they win, so what’s the difference?
Big Lou
March 9th, 2012
9:51 pm
Looks like the Hawks are going to make LD look good again.
Luke Cage
March 9th, 2012
9:51 pm
Maxiel with season highs.
Hawkfan
March 9th, 2012
9:52 pm
Monger, by your logic nothing matters so why bother. I get into this hoping Hawks overcome the hand they are dealt. Go Hawks
bird
March 9th, 2012
9:52 pm
Pistons have been fouling Hawks all night with no call.