Atlanta Hawks vs. Bulls: Game thread
Vivlamore reporting from Philips Arena.
The Bulls will be without Derrick Rose tonight against the Hawks, the eighth straight game he has missed with a groin injury.
For the Hawks, Vladimir Radmanovic is a game-time decision with a back injury. The forward has missed five of the past six games with “tightness” in his back. UPDATE: Radmanovic will not play.
Without Rose, Hawks coach Larry Drew said his team will not change the way they approach playing the Eastern Conference leader. Rebounding and controlling the paint will be the key.
“Still a very, very capable ball club of winning without Rose,” Drew said. “We will attack them the way we have in the past. We have to control the boards. We have to control the paint. They really play an aggressive style in the paint area. We are going to have to bring a playoff intensity against this team because they are not going to hand it to us. They are not going to roll over because Rose is not in the lineup.”
Turnovers will be another issue facing the Hawks. They committed 22 turnovers in Tuesday loss at the Bucks, tying their third most this season. Ten of those turnovers came in the first quarter when the Hawks fell into a deficit they spent much of the game trying to erase.
“That is totally against the way we want to play, particularly on the road,” Drew said. “We talk about controlling the tempo, limiting our turnovers and how important it is to win the board game. At the end of the first quarter we had 10 turnovers. We were at a pace that wasn’t very good for us. Here we are 15 games until the end of the regular season and we are still talking about the same things we were talking about the first week of the season. It is something we will continue to harp on. As a coach, you hope at this point of the season, we are past that point where we are turning the ball over that many times. It’s the way we are turning the ball over. A lot of those errors are unforced, where we are trying to force the issue. Hopefully, we’ll just get better at.”
Jeff Teague had seven of the turnovers, but Drew’s message to his young point guard was simple.
“The only thing he needs to learn is how to bounce back,” Drew said. “… At this stage the last thing I want Jeff to do is play cautious.”
Finally, Drew expects to go deeper into his bench tonight against the Bulls, the fifth game in six nights. He had wanted to play more reserves against the Bucks but didn’t want to stop the momentum the starters had in erasing a 17-point deficit. Tracy McGrady played just 6:50, Willie Green played just 6:23 and Jerry Stackhouse did not play.
“I thought we had exerted a lot of energy to tie it and take the lead and I really wanted to ride the warm guys,” Drew said. “I was hoping I could rest both Josh [Smith] and Joe [Johnson] momentarily, which they did the start of the fourth, but I thought it was important to hang on to the momentum that we did have.
“Tonight, may be a little different story. I might have to go deeper into my bench.”
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413 comments Add your comment
Sautee
March 28th, 2012
8:58 pm
“way to get pissed and take a jump shot josh.”
Yeah, he was trying to bait Boozer and block the shot, but he whiffed.
Luke Cage
March 28th, 2012
8:58 pm
Damn, Ref closest wasn’t going to make that call
Slimjr
March 28th, 2012
8:59 pm
Enter your comments here
DawgNole
March 28th, 2012
8:59 pm
Turnover Teague
March 28th, 2012
8:39 pm
I think Noah’s really a chick.
_________________
How would you like to sleep w/that?
Sautee
March 28th, 2012
8:59 pm
If Deng can get in Joe’s face and bother him, why can’t Joe do likewise?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2012
9:00 pm
Hawks’ half court offense is ugly. Only one post up, and they posted up Josh on the wrong end of the floor.
Slimjr
March 28th, 2012
9:00 pm
Deng is a nightmare for ISO
Samuel
March 28th, 2012
9:01 pm
Woody=COY
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2012
9:01 pm
Teague is taking those Kirk early in the clock 3s, and they are not any better of a shot when Teague takes them.
The Monger
March 28th, 2012
9:02 pm
Can we start a fan petition or ask a reporter if he will ask Larry Drew as to how he can play Collins consistently when he is so awfully bad at both ends of the court. Instead of nothing he actually does more for the other team, and hurts our team. Its bad enough he scores 0 points and 0 rebounds every game, and gets beat on defense every time, but he always disrupts whatever rythym the offense has and commits turnovers as well. I can’t imagine a player who hurts his team more than Collins. He had a +/- of -9 this game, and pretty much every game is -10 or more. Can we fans get some answers about whether some blackmail or something is happening in this Collins situation? Why has no reporter inquired about this Collins situation, and why have we fans recieved no answers?
Sautee
March 28th, 2012
9:02 pm
Samuel, is that REALLY you?
Luke Cage
March 28th, 2012
9:03 pm
Noah is just all about hustling and out working
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2012
9:03 pm
Only one post up for Josh this entire quarter.
Slimjr
March 28th, 2012
9:04 pm
Deng is a Hawk KILLER!
Luke Cage
March 28th, 2012
9:04 pm
Another time out 2 possesions 2 late by LD
bigdave
March 28th, 2012
9:04 pm
out worked.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2012
9:05 pm
The Bulls cooled off, and the Hawks failed to take advantage. ONE post up for Josh. Seriously, you deserve to lose if you absolutely refuse to go to what works.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 28th, 2012
9:05 pm
Getting sonned against a team without its MVP.
LMAO
Slimjr
March 28th, 2012
9:05 pm
BK thought Deng was a scrub and took the other scrub…
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 28th, 2012
9:05 pm
EVERYONE,
DON’T BE NEGATIVE. WE BEAT A BUNCH OF SCRUB TEAMS (BARELY + USED UP A TON OF OUR STARTER MINUTES TO DO IT)! THIS GAME DOESN’T MATTER! WE’RE TIRED!
BLAH\BLABHALBHALBAHBLABHLA
LOSERVILLE
ntrigue
March 28th, 2012
9:06 pm
Why are we running ISO Joe that’s killing offense
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2012
9:06 pm
Deng is not that great. He’s got long arms and is a good shooter. Big deal. He’s just Mike Dunleavy with better defensive instincts. Just because the Hawks make him look good doesn’t mean he is that good.
bigdave
March 28th, 2012
9:07 pm
good strong post up Joe.. led to a wide open 3
Walt Frazier
March 28th, 2012
9:07 pm
Dang to LD: In your face. There-my predictions were on cue. It shouldn’t be surprising; this is what the Hawks do. Just look at the expression on LD’s face. He knows his gig in Atlanta is just about over. The gravy train he’d be riding with the biscuit wheels are about to come off real soon.
DawgNole
March 28th, 2012
9:07 pm
Slimjr
March 28th, 2012
8:55 pm
We Hawk fans have become very good at backing up Gearon Jr and Sund with excuses…
_____________________
Now you’re seeing the light.
bigdave
March 28th, 2012
9:07 pm
weak put back attempt from Josh..
Buddy Grizzard
March 28th, 2012
9:08 pm
WOODSANITY!!!!
Rod from College Park
March 28th, 2012
9:08 pm
“Atlanta continues to struggle in the half court.”
I wonder why?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 28th, 2012
9:08 pm
LOSERVILLE
Slimjr
March 28th, 2012
9:08 pm
Deng a Hawk KILLER!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2012
9:08 pm
Now the Bulls are just playing harder.
Low Flyin' Buzzards
March 28th, 2012
9:08 pm
Nobody can guard Deng
Slimjr
March 28th, 2012
9:09 pm
A WRAP!
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 28th, 2012
9:09 pm
WE NEED TO KEEP THIS GAME CLOSE SO RONNIE AND BOOZE GET MINUTES.
#FANTASYTEAM
Luke Cage
March 28th, 2012
9:09 pm
Hawks about to TAP OUT!
bigdave
March 28th, 2012
9:09 pm
just not focused.. not giving any effort. at this point give it to Joe and see if he can make some long 3’s to at least give the team some energy.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 28th, 2012
9:09 pm
THIS IS EMBARRASSING TO WATCH
nick g.chgo.
March 28th, 2012
9:09 pm
Think u all to tuff on hawks…there good need a s star..
Rod from College Park
March 28th, 2012
9:10 pm
Deng is an allstar, so is Joe.
Slimjr
March 28th, 2012
9:10 pm
Out coached and out worked= Playoff DISASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2012
9:10 pm
JeJe, you’re playing against someone who hasn’t updated their team in 2 months, what difference does it make?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 28th, 2012
9:10 pm
THIS GAME DOESN’T MATTER.
THROW IN THE TOWEL AND GET READY FOR THE KNICKS FRIDAY.
SINCE IT IS OBVIOUS WE ARE NOT CONTENDING FOR ANYTHING, AT LEAST SPOIL [FIRE] WOODY’S RETURN TO ATL
Walt Frazier
March 28th, 2012
9:11 pm
If the Hawks playere stay intact-the core for next season without LD and Sund. Plus the Hawks hire an experienced winning NBA coach-who has control over player/personnel, then and only then would I consider taking this team seriously.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 28th, 2012
9:11 pm
“JeJe, you’re playing against someone who hasn’t updated their team in 2 months, what difference does it make?”
He still has won 41 categories.
I was 1st in our league, then lost like 9-2 to one of the worst teams.
I finally got rid of Amare and Pekovic.
M.Gasol is hurt too.
If those 3 are healthy, I win this league. Now I am not sure
yodaddybrother
March 28th, 2012
9:11 pm
just got it…..damn looks like we getting our a$$es kicked
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 28th, 2012
9:12 pm
*43
bigdave
March 28th, 2012
9:12 pm
i refuse to slight Deng. dude has just improved, consistently gotten better form a skill set stand point. can defend, drive, and shoot. this isnt Marvin we’re talking about here..
Low Flyin' Buzzards
March 28th, 2012
9:12 pm
Noah giving Ivan a Woody….
DawgNole
March 28th, 2012
9:12 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2012
9:06 pm
Deng is not that great. He’s got long arms and is a good shooter. Big deal. He’s just Mike Dunleavy with better defensive instincts. Just because the Hawks make him look good doesn’t mean he is that good.
____________________
Well, he’s damn sure that good tonight; nearing his season high. So it is a big deal.
Ever notice how when you’re watching old highlights covering record-setting pro sports performances that the opponent often seems to be the Hawks, Facons, Braves, etc.?
Luke Cage
March 28th, 2012
9:12 pm
Deng is being put in perfect positions by his coach to shine, LD is not a coach, so therefore most times Joe & Josh are out of positions to score, as usual LD is getting schooled like a mug.