Updated: Atlanta Hawks at Cavaliers: Game thread
Vivlamore reporting from Cleveland. Just arrived at Quicken Loans Arena.
We start with the Hawks ever-growing injury report. Add Jannero Pargo to the list of injured who will not play Sunday against the Cavs. Pargo has a stomach virus, according to coach Larry Drew. UPDATE: Pargo was sent to the Cleveland Clinic for further tests and will have surgery for appendicitis Sunday night. Will miss at least several games. The Hawks will also be without Willie Green (hamstring), Marvin Williams (hip flexor) and Vladimir Radmanovic (back) versus the Cavs. That’s the bad news.
The loss of Pargo leaves the Hawks thin at guard and Drew must continue to monitor the minutes he gives Joe Johnson, who missed six games with left knee tendinitis.
“I will keep an eye on it,” Drew said. “We have to continue to monitor Joe as far as his knee is concerned. He hasn’t said anything about it as far as experiencing any more discomfort. I will have to pay particular attention to that. We have a back-to-back and play again tomorrow. I can’t pile the minutes on him given the schedule.”
Johnson said following Friday’s win over the Wizards that is knee “feels 15 times better.”
Jason Collins, who missed the past 21 games with a sprained left elbow, will return today. That’s some good news, although Drew is not sure how much he will use the center.
Collins said he is looking forward to returning to the lineup but needed to let the injury fully heal. He was told by doctors that if he did further damage to the elbow surgery could have been required and that would mean a 6-9 month recovery time.
“It’s a ligament tear and you have to let scar tissue form in there and really let it heal,” Collins said.
The Hawks will see a familiar face with the Cavaliers as they have signed Donald Sloan. The guard who broke camp with the Hawks before being waived on Jan. 26. The Cavs signed Sloan on Friday for the remainder of the season.
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141 comments Add your comment
Melvin
March 18th, 2012
3:39 pm
Josh is drop dimes (assist) all over the court…
MattP
March 18th, 2012
3:39 pm
I do agree with TMACfan, Josh is not our best. He does look like our best but he does have a good bit of stupid passes.
steven a smith
March 18th, 2012
3:39 pm
Can this Roster win a Championship even when healthy???
O'brien
March 18th, 2012
3:39 pm
Melvin,
JJ last 5 games he has really picked it up. One disclaimer though is he needs to do it against the top teams too
Big Lou
March 18th, 2012
3:39 pm
Why does LD have a lineup where nobody can score? Lol
High-sider
March 18th, 2012
3:40 pm
Y’all don’t appreciate Joe Johnson.
Big Lou
March 18th, 2012
3:41 pm
Refs suck. Clearly a charge.
steven a smith
March 18th, 2012
3:41 pm
Joe Johnson is like the Stock Market “Unpredictable” (Dow Jones Johnson)
Melvin
March 18th, 2012
3:45 pm
Obrien,
I agree but I have given him a hard time this year. I would really like to see him and Josh continue at this level for the rest of the season and into the playoffs.
High-sider
March 18th, 2012
3:47 pm
@steven a smith
“Joe Johnson is like the Stock Market “Unpredictable” (Dow Jones Johnson)” – steven a smith
You can call him [Joe Johnson] “The Dow Joe” or “The Dow Johnson” but I’m goin’ to call him “Joe Baller.”
Melvin
March 18th, 2012
3:47 pm
Debo….
steven a smith
March 18th, 2012
3:48 pm
Zsa Zsa must be the fulltime starter at the 5.
Big Lou
March 18th, 2012
3:48 pm
Debo’s stock going up due to taking of the Cavs’ collective chains.
steven a smith
March 18th, 2012
3:50 pm
Time to trade “Scrub Horford”
steven a smith
March 18th, 2012
3:51 pm
Joe should be “averaging” Nique like Nimbers. 28ppg.
northcyde
March 18th, 2012
3:54 pm
March numbers:
Josh Smith:
25.2 ppg
9.4 rebs
4.1 asst
1.7 stls
1.6 blks
50.6% FG
42.9% 3FG
68.6% FT
( all percentages are monthly season highs )
*****************
Joe Johnson:
25.2 ppg
2.8 rebs
4.6 asst
1.8 stls
50.6% FG
50% 3FG
95.8% FT
(( praying to God )) . . . can we PLEASE keep both of these guys playing like this for the rest of the season?
steven a smith
March 18th, 2012
3:58 pm
Problem is that Miami, Chicago, and New York, tends to SHUT DOWN our ” BIG 3.”
steven a smith
March 18th, 2012
4:00 pm
Miami, Chicago, and New York, usually “SHUT DOWN” our Big 3.
KevinA
March 18th, 2012
4:00 pm
13 assists already. a good sign
Admirable Snackbar
March 18th, 2012
4:03 pm
Joe’s got to do something about that hitler mustache.
Big Lou
March 18th, 2012
4:04 pm
“Miami, Chicago, and New York, usually “SHUT DOWN” our Big 3.”
Beginning of the year says otherwise.
tyger
March 18th, 2012
4:06 pm
The lack of vision in ATL kills me:
Randolph Morris added 27 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks for the Ducks.
Atlanta kid, on the roster, true BIG, played top team in college basketball, good offense…
Just another dumb move in re. young talent…now we scramble for BIGs, just stupid…
ntrigue
March 18th, 2012
4:07 pm
We play better when we post josh in the inside and force teams to double then use good ball movement to get to the player with the open shot!
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
Roles!
“JJ last 5 games he has really picked it up. One disclaimer though is he needs to do it against the top teams too” -OB-
_________
To add to what OB is saying: Joe’s role has changed in the last 5 games. Marvin is ghost, Kirk is the SG and guarding the perimeter. Now, Joe can go to his spot and knock down open jumpers from Josh and Kirk.
I think, the injuries have put everybody in their correct roles. Don’t forget Teague is getting more time to make plays for everybody with his defense, penetration and passes top Joe for the 3!
Too bad, Drew didn’t do this on his own.
Chris Vivlamore
March 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
Hawks sent Jannero Pargo to the Cleveland Clinic for further tests. Unsure if we will return to Atlanta with team.
tyger
March 18th, 2012
4:10 pm
JJ at SF makes him “catch/shoot” like in Phoenix vs…
Dribbling Joe
Big Lou
March 18th, 2012
4:10 pm
ntrigue
We are using the same scheme D12/SVG use in Orlando.
steven a smith
March 18th, 2012
4:11 pm
Come on ASG. Make a run at Oden. He will eventually get healthy.
Admirable Snackbar
March 18th, 2012
4:13 pm
I would give Oden the minimum to come here and prove that he can contribute to a playoff team.
steven a smith
March 18th, 2012
4:13 pm
BEST POST OF THE YEAR!!!
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
Roles!
“JJ last 5 games he has really picked it up. One disclaimer though is he needs to do it against the top teams too” -OB-
_________
To add to what OB is saying: Joe’s role has changed in the last 5 games. Marvin is ghost, Kirk is the SG and guarding the perimeter. Now, Joe can go to his spot and knock down open jumpers from Josh and Kirk.
I think, the injuries have put everybody in their correct roles. Don’t forget Teague is getting more time to make plays for everybody with his defense, penetration and passes top Joe for the 3!
Too bad, Drew didn’t do this on his own.
northcyde
March 18th, 2012
4:14 pm
Kyrie helping my fantasy team out big time with those FTs and steals. Keep putting up the numbers boy, but make sure your team loses . . lol.
I still say I can win 3 of these categories ( FT% – 3PTM – REB ). But I’ll need some of bigdave’s players to mail it in and have bad games.
Would love to see Jordan Crawford and OJ Mayo have big games from 3 point range today. But that is wishful thinking.
steven a smith
March 18th, 2012
4:15 pm
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
Roles!
“JJ last 5 games he has really picked it up. One disclaimer though is he needs to do it against the top teams too” -OB-
_________
To add to what OB is saying: Joe’s role has changed in the last 5 games. Marvin is ghost, Kirk is the SG and guarding the perimeter. Now, Joe can go to his spot and knock down open jumpers from Josh and Kirk.
I think, the injuries have put everybody in their correct roles. Don’t forget Teague is getting more time to make plays for everybody with his defense, penetration and passes top Joe for the 3!
Too bad, Drew didn’t do this on his own
BEST POST OF THE YEAR!!!!!
TMACfan
March 18th, 2012
4:16 pm
59 points in one half, keep it up Hawks!
northcyde
March 18th, 2012
4:18 pm
Admirable Snackbar
March 18th, 2012
4:13 pm
I would give Oden the minimum to come here and prove that he can contribute to a playoff team.
***************
Next year? Because he’s done for this year.
northcyde
March 18th, 2012
4:21 pm
Selfish play by Josh there. Pass the dang ball to Teague so he can get the ball back to you in the paint. Don’t force up a jumper like that.
doc
March 18th, 2012
4:22 pm
you know i wonder if woody would call ivan rook?
or would it have been rook sir?
northcyde
March 18th, 2012
4:22 pm
LOL . . that floater is so smooth coming out of JJ’s hands.
Big Lou
March 18th, 2012
4:22 pm
Josh making houses today with those bricks.
northcyde
March 18th, 2012
4:25 pm
Keep your head Josh. Don’t get out of control and get T’d up
northcyde
March 18th, 2012
4:26 pm
Too easy for JJ
Admirable Snackbar
March 18th, 2012
4:26 pm
northcyde
si
after all the Hawks are an elite team one of only 3 to have made it to the 2nd round 3 years running.!
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
March 18th, 2012
4:26 pm
Triple Double for Josh today?
High-sider
March 18th, 2012
4:26 pm
Joe Johnson is letting y’all know this is still his team.
Big Lou
March 18th, 2012
4:28 pm
Josh… 9 assists. Wow.
northcyde
March 18th, 2012
4:28 pm
Great pass by Josh, though they should’ve called a foul. He’s getting killed down on the block.
terrell
March 18th, 2012
4:34 pm
Josh shootin to many jumpers. Take it to the hole man.
doc
March 18th, 2012
4:36 pm
so many of us have been waiting for jj in this role at sf. nice to see his success and hope it continuez against defensice minded C’s tomorrow.
tyger
March 18th, 2012
4:37 pm
Oden??? Please…
Who know’s Oden’s condition better than Portland?…
If there was hope on the horizon, they wouldnt cut him…
He was only on a min. contract and they still cut him…
If he can come back, then sign him when he can play…
why keep giving a roster spot to kid who cant play?…
Big Lou
March 18th, 2012
4:37 pm
JJ shot an air ball? Wow.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 18th, 2012
4:37 pm
I don’t pay attention to PER.
Pretty sure Freije amd Bozeman are worse than Twin. LOL