Nets at Atlanta Hawks: Game thread
- Zaza Pachulia (Achilles) and Vladimir Radmanovic (back) are out. Marvin Williams and Ivan Johnson return.
- Larry Drew is starting Jason Collins in place of Zaza. The Nets have Shelden Williams starting at center with Brook Lopez (ankle) out.
- Drew on starting Twin: “He’s been a starter before and he gives us a defensive presence. I like getting him back into the starting lineup. I hate doing it under these conditions but at least he gets back into a rhythm against the starters. Since he’s just getting back I think it will be getting him back with that starting group. I’m excited to see how he responds to it.”
- Zaza says he was worried about his Achilles because it was hurting yesterday but it felt better when he woke up today. He said he plans to make the trip for tomorrow’s game at the Wizards.
- Drew said Vlad Rad shot around at yesterday’s light practice: “He still won’t be available to play. It sounds like the back is getting better. He still will be day-to-day.”
- Ivan’s new baby, born Wednesday, is named Ivan Kaydan Johnson Jr.:“It’s a new start to my life. Hopefully I can get him to where I’m at right now without all the extra journeys. Everybody congratulated me so it made me feel good to be a new pop.”
- ESPN dropped the April 11th Hawks-Celtics game in favor of Knicks at Bucks.
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
362 comments Add your comment
Hawks fan 76
March 23rd, 2012
10:04 pm
Post of the year from Jason Collins: “I would just like to gloat on how close I came to my stats tonight. At 7:18 tonight- 17 minutes before the opening tip- I said this: ” I will play 32 minutes. I will grab 2 rebounds. I will score 0 points. I will go 0-4 from the field, and 0-2 from the FT line. I will have 0 blocks and 0 steals. I will commit 5 fouls. I will have 4 turnovers”
Well I was 0-2, not 0-4…. but I did play 13 minutes and did have 2 rebounds, and 0 blocks, and 0 steals , as well as 0 assists. I didnt commit a turnover tonight (luckily), and I only had 3 fouls, as opposed to 5. I did score 0 points though as I predicted. Pretty close prediction.”.
Nice….Couldn’t have said it better myself…
Jerry J
March 23rd, 2012
10:05 pm
-I would just like to gloat on how close I came to my stats tonight. At 7:18 tonight- 17 minutes before the opening tip- I said this: ” I will play 32 minutes. I will grab 2 rebounds. I will score 0 points. I will go 0-4 from the field, and 0-2 from the FT line. I will have 0 blocks and 0 steals. I will commit 5 fouls. I will have 4 turnovers”
Well I was 0-2, not 0-4…. but I did play 13 minutes and did have 2 rebounds, and 0 blocks, and 0 steals , as well as 0 assists. I didnt commit a turnover tonight (luckily), and I only had 3 fouls, as opposed to 5. I did score 0 points though as I predicted. Pretty close prediction.-
LOL!!!
doc
March 23rd, 2012
10:06 pm
drink a padron or 1800 margarita for me big lou. i got mine at home.
DawgNole
March 23rd, 2012
10:06 pm
Big Ray: “In all seriousness, if Marvin played to a fraction of his physical potential as a starter, this would not be a problem.”
___________________
You nailed it there. The guy really could be a heck of an asset to this team. He’s long and athletic–and he can run the court and shoot the 3. I’ve always wondered why he consistently vanishes.
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:08 pm
Doc – i don’t mess with those who don’t mess with me or those who don’t senselessly or needlessly attack others i “know”. Pretty simple.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2012
10:08 pm
No northcyde, not an apology, just pointing out that he was a much bigger part of the solution than the problem tonight. You know, like how you do when you stick up for Marvin night after night.
northcyde
March 23rd, 2012
10:08 pm
LOL @ Najeh.
I guess you overlooked what Wallace shot from the field. Was the 3 – 14 FG he shot from the field the reason why the Nets were in the game, or the 9 rebounds ( with only one of them being an offensive rebound ).
But I get it. People point out something negative against Josh, and Josh supporters have to fire back. Fine. We can play that game.
JJ doesn’t rebound like he should. And Josh takes a ton of ill-advised jumpers, especially when he’s ice cold.
Slimjr
March 23rd, 2012
10:09 pm
Can Marvin do 1 military pushup without his knees touchin the ground?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2012
10:09 pm
Great game for Teague, too. 17 points on 8 shots, 6 dimes, 1 steal, zero turnovers. Keep it up Teague.
doc
March 23rd, 2012
10:09 pm
phil got to get ready for tomorrow for a win on the road before coming back home for the jazz on the b to b to b.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2012
10:11 pm
“People point out something negative against Josh, and Josh supporters have to fire back.”
Just playing your game, northcyde. People point out something negative about Marvin, and you have to fire back. Every night.
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:11 pm
Here’s my marvin theory…
He’s got a strange, somewhat inflexible build. Maybe it’s his back.
At any rate, he plays stiff, which means other than hitting the jumper now and then, he’s simply limited. He can’t move with anything approaching quickness, no lateral movement anymore. He’s old before his time.
He just ain’t got “it”. Period.
The Monger
March 23rd, 2012
10:12 pm
I will have to say this recent run by the Hawks will make the postseason dissapointment all that more bittersweet, because we have seen this side of the Hawks so often against lesser opponents. Against weaker teams like the Nets and Cavs… Joe and Josh play inside out, hustle on defense, make accurate fast passes all hoop while driving to the basket, push the transition game and find some good easy looks for easy baskets….basically the exact opposite of what we will see against better defensive teams in the East like the Celtics, the Bulls, and the Heat. The Hawks may once again win the first round again, but will definately lose in the 2nd to one of those teams. They need to find a way to play with this aggression and urgency against elite competition. Josh looked like a beast against Kris Humphries in the 4th quarter, and whoever else guarded him. The question is why can’t he do it against Carlos Boozer or Kevin Garnett, who aren’t even that elite of defenders anymore….I think the mental makeup for the Hawks just isn’t there. Until Joe, Josh, Kirk, and even Marvin can have shooting games like this against elite competition then they won’t get anywhere…
DawgNole
March 23rd, 2012
10:13 pm
phil: “But i still want em to fire someone….”
_________________
Now there’s the phil we’ve come to know and love.
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:13 pm
We’re on a b to b to b?
Good grief.
Josh won’t be heard from again for a week.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2012
10:14 pm
“najeh do you think the other 3 we have as a starter is going to do any better against hawks killer g wallace? i dont think the other alternative would do any better rebounding. ”
I definitely think Marvin would have rebounded better than Joe did tonight, but Joe played well in other aspects of the game, so I’m not complaining.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I’m sitting here crying like Marvin’s grandma that he’s not in the lineup. I think this lineup (with Zaza instead of Collins obviously) is good for the most part, but rebounding is the one big question mark.
The Monger
March 23rd, 2012
10:14 pm
Even when Al gets back for the playoffs, if Joe, Josh, Marvin, and Kirk don’t ball out, and Teague doesn’t push the tempo, and play like tonight with 0 turnovers while still driving the lane and being aggressive with passes, then the Hawks won’t win. They need ALL of that stuff happening, plus ZaZa attacking the boards and Al getting healthy to have a good chance against Miami or Chicago to get to their first NBA Finals…
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:15 pm
Yeah, that firing thing just grew out of the constant cries around these blogs to dump anyone and everyone at the first sign of trouble. So dang silly.
But i do want FG canned. He makes my hair squirm.
DawgNole
March 23rd, 2012
10:15 pm
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:11 pm
Here’s my marvin theory…
He’s got a strange, somewhat inflexible build. Maybe it’s his back.
At any rate, he plays stiff, which means other than hitting the jumper now and then, he’s simply limited. He can’t move with anything approaching quickness, no lateral movement anymore. He’s old before his time.
___________________
Pretty accurate assessment, although I still think the guy could help us–if he just would.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2012
10:16 pm
“In all seriousness, if Marvin played to a fraction of his physical potential as a starter, this would not be a problem. Instead, he goes out there game after game and freakin’ disappears.
We need at upgrade at SF, and we could then leave SG to Joe.”
CO-SIGN
In a perfect world, Kirk and Marvin would both be bench players and someone better would be starting at the other wing position for the Hawks.
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:16 pm
Monger, are you on drugs? Finals? Conf finals? Second round? No.
Manny the Man
March 23rd, 2012
10:16 pm
Man Jason Collins can’t get any worse!!! Can any of you Hawks fans fill me in…I just can’t grasp how a guy who is that bad at both ends of the court can get playing time or even be in the NBA at all?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2012
10:17 pm
If the Hawks draw the right matchups and Al gets healthy, they can get to the conference finals. That is their ceiling. They are not beating Miami. No way.
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:18 pm
Dawgnole – it’s got to be physical with him, like it would be if Big Ray was out there floundering around….
He CAN’T do it. The guy has sense. Just not capable. Butt too huge, too hunched over, like a gnome.
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:19 pm
Najeh – 1970
We ain’t making no conference finals with this crew either.
The Monger
March 23rd, 2012
10:19 pm
phil, man. I said “IF ALL THOSE THINGS above happen, they WILL HAVE A SHOT, not for certain, but A SHOT…. at advancing past the first round and MAYBE a FINALS…. only IF Al Horford comes back, AND they are playing like TONIGHT against ELITE competition like Miami and Chicago, then and only then….
get it now?
Rusty
March 23rd, 2012
10:21 pm
Slimjr I guess I might as well forget about TVO knick games.
Rusty
March 23rd, 2012
10:25 pm
That LD is so stupid with his substituions. Talk about helping the opposing team,I sweat he must bet against the hawks.
The Monger
March 23rd, 2012
10:26 pm
Phil- Are you telling me that Al Horford coming back into the mix with a hot team where Josh Smith is averaging 25 a game and 10 rebounds, Joe is averaging 20 points and shooting 50 percent from the field , and 40 percent from 3, and Jeff Teague is playing like he did against Chicago in the 2nd round last year… stealing passes, getting good assists, and scoring at a high rate…with this team we can’t at least compete with Chicago and Miami? Not even taking into account if Kirk plays good defense and starts knocking down shots like he has for the past few games, and Marvin plays up to his abilities and starts averaging 15 ppg instead of 10. Plus if ZaZa can keep up the intensity once Al returns, that will be a great Center rotation with Al and ZaZa. I know this is a bunch of IF’s, but all if takes is to get hot at the right time, just ask the Mavericks last year….they had a team that had up’s and down’s during the regular season, and just got hot towards the end last year…now they are NBA champions.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2012
10:27 pm
Kevin Love might drop 50 tonight.
High-sider
March 23rd, 2012
10:29 pm
Kevin Love is going crazy on OKC. 48pts, 14rebs., I think?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2012
10:31 pm
ESPN thinks Serge Ibaka belongs in the top 5 for DPOY and Josh doesn’t. Ibaka is about to give up 50 points to Kevin Love.
High-sider
March 23rd, 2012
10:32 pm
Kevin Love just scored 50 points!
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:35 pm
Monger – i’d love nothing more.
But that stuff isn’t going to happen. Some will but some doesn’t win playoff series.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 23rd, 2012
10:36 pm
Jeff Teague said his brother will be better than he is. What a winner’s attitude
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:38 pm
50. Wow.
And he’s. Well, you know.
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:39 pm
I loved that winner final shot Teague took against Boston….
Hall of fame effort, that one was.
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:42 pm
True enough about Dallas last year….
A rare, rare surprise title in this league.
We would be an upset on the order of the 70s supersonics or golden state.
Hawkfan
March 23rd, 2012
10:42 pm
Who was the last “well you know” to score 50 in a game? Nash, Bird, Tom Chambers, nowitzki, Koncak?
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:44 pm
Probably Nash?
Lol at koncak!
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:44 pm
Tom chambers….
A long time since i thought about him.
Or jeff hornacek
Slimjr
March 23rd, 2012
10:45 pm
Kevin Love goes for 50 tonight @OKC??? Nice….
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:46 pm
What about the nazi, detlef shrempf? Kidding about the nazi part of course but that guy was tough.
Hawkfan
March 23rd, 2012
10:46 pm
Don Majerle
High-sider
March 23rd, 2012
10:47 pm
@phil
“50. Wow.
And he’s. Well, you know.” – phil
You [phil] can go ahead and say he’s [Kevin Love] white. Hell, I don’t mind if you call him [Kevin Love] the/your “Great White Hope.”
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:49 pm
Do i see Rod Strickland on the Kentucky bench? Couldn’t stand that bum….
phil
March 23rd, 2012
10:50 pm
Lol.
I was gonna say Love is fat…
Melvin
March 23rd, 2012
10:51 pm
Grandad,
I hope you are watching my boy CJ Leslie play against your guy Thomas Robinson…
northcyde
March 23rd, 2012
10:51 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2012
10:11 pm
“People point out something negative against Josh, and Josh supporters have to fire back.”
Just playing your game, northcyde. People point out something negative about Marvin, and you have to fire back. Every night.
****************
People “hate” on Marvin. That’s the difference.
It would be one thing if they actually pointed out something wrong that he constantly did throughout the game. That’s not the case with Marvin. Him just stepping onto the court causes people to “hate”.
With Josh, it’s mainly people just wanting him to stop doing one simple thing. But he refuses to do it.
He gets props for a great game tonight, especially coming up big in the 4th quarter. But people know that there’s no way he can jack up all of those jumpers when he is cold, and expect the Hawks to advance in the playoffs.
He could’ve had a career high in points tonight, had he just stayed in the paint. Kris ex-Kardashian couldn’t even begin to guard him.
northcyde
March 23rd, 2012
10:54 pm
Durant and Westbrook combine for 81 points . . and counting.