Raptors at Atlanta Hawks: Game thread
- Jason Collins will replace Zaza Pachulia (foot) in the starting lineup. Tracy McGrady (rest) will not play. For Toronto, Amir Johnson (ill) is questionable and Andrea Bargnani (calf), Jerryd Bayless (oblique) and Jose Calderon (eye) are not with the team.
- Zaza won’t travel to Toronto for tomorrow’s game. He said he’s still not sure if he will be able to play Wednesday: “It’s better. I can walk without a limp. I’m getting treatment. It’s still a little bit swollen. It could be worse. I was really worried because most of the time I’ve seen a lot of other guys have torn knee, ligaments. Thank God it’s just strained foot. The bad thing is once you are getting close to the playoffs you want to be rolling. Hopefully it doesn’t take me too long.”
- Joe Johnson on setting out practice yesterday and getting treatment: “I was just trying to do the necessary things to keep my body feeling good and just staying on top of this knee. That’s about it. I feel good. This season has worn a lot of people down, not just physically but mentally as well. To get somewhat of a break, when you have a day or two between games, you try to cherish them and really take that time off. I think the best thing for the body at some point is rest more than anything. These little ‘nick-knacks’ and injuries we always get, you have to play through them unless it’s something serious. But you have to rest and let these wounds heal up a little bit.”
- Larry Drew has said he wants to get some bench players more minutes over the final few games. Which guys does he mean? “I’d like to give Willie [Green] more,” he said. “Certainly would like to give Vladimir [Radmanovic] more. I would like to get [Jannero] Pargo more, too, [after] that little stint he was out. He looks like he is starting to get back in a rhythm. I’d like to get Twin more. I would love to get [Erick Dampier] out there some more. And then probably Ivan [Johnson].”
- Mitch Lawrence of the Daily News reports the Hawks have offered Rick Sund a “deal to stay” but he told the team’s owners he will decide after the season if he wants to continue as GM. Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. has said any contract talks for Sund would happen after the season.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks
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314 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
April 15th, 2012
7:24 pm
Apparently Livan Hernandez is sitting courtside. Bad luck charm.
yodaddybrother
April 15th, 2012
7:25 pm
This BS did all start with Jason Collins being inserted into the starting lineup though…..That sends a horrible message that you don’t care. Those players know that Jason Collins is dead last in PER for the season.
Sautee
April 15th, 2012
7:25 pm
I wonder if Teague could be bi-polar? Some games he’s just a different player. Not aggressive at all. Other games he takes over. Odd dynamic.
yodaddybrother
April 15th, 2012
7:26 pm
@Sautee
you’ve seen many Hawks games I’m sure….you know the outcome
Najeh Davenpoop
April 15th, 2012
7:26 pm
Ivan starts over Twin. Slowly but surely LD is learning.
Sautee
April 15th, 2012
7:26 pm
Twin on the bench. Let’s hear it for LD all you haters.
Grandad
April 15th, 2012
7:27 pm
yodaddybrother
” this loss is embarrassing ”
We haven`t lost yet !
-ydb-
” lack of focus ”
a most intelligent observation !
yodaddybrother
April 15th, 2012
7:28 pm
They were at Magic City last night…or Onyx
Najeh Davenpoop
April 15th, 2012
7:28 pm
Nice flop Ivan.
As usual the Hawks refuse to post up Josh. Dumb.
Sautee
April 15th, 2012
7:28 pm
yodaddybrother,
Hawks are 24-4 vs. patsies. I’m just saying the odds are in the Hawks favor.
DawgNole
April 15th, 2012
7:29 pm
Big Lou
April 15th, 2012
7:18 pm
DawgNole
I believe the word you’re looking for is arrogance, since ignorance is not knowing.
____________________
Arrogance, might be accurate as well, but I actually meant ignorance–as in, anyone who knows anything about this team wouldn’t be flatly predicting a victory when they’re down 14 at the half.
northcyle’s a pretty knowledgeable veteran on here, though, so I’m sure he knows better. Plus, he had a solid explanation for his prediction in a followup post. Sure hope he’s right about the victory, but it’ll take a dramatic about-face to pull it off.
yodaddybrother
April 15th, 2012
7:29 pm
Josh was at home getting focused obviously….but the rest of the squad was at Pin Ups off Ponce De Leon…getting it in
Najeh Davenpoop
April 15th, 2012
7:30 pm
Congratulations to Antonio Cromartie on the birth of his 10th child.
yodaddybrother
April 15th, 2012
7:33 pm
@Sautee
They are about to be 24-5 if someone other than Josh Smith and Ivan Johnson don’t wake up. Joe Johnson spent his money at Strokers and is sluggish as hell.
northcyde
April 15th, 2012
7:33 pm
Wow Josh. We had a chance to cut it to 3 there. Play smart man.
DawgNole
April 15th, 2012
7:33 pm
Nice pass by Teague; Josh rewards him with a near airball.
yodaddybrother
April 15th, 2012
7:33 pm
Alan Anderson and Demar DeRozan are OWNING Joe Johnson.
northcyde
April 15th, 2012
7:34 pm
Then JJ does the exact same thing.
smh.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 15th, 2012
7:34 pm
Is Joe tanking?
WTF is this garbage
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 15th, 2012
7:34 pm
Josh had open 3, dribbled in, then faded away
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 15th, 2012
7:35 pm
“I wonder if Teague could be bi-polar? Some games he’s just a different player. Not aggressive at all. Other games he takes over. Odd dynamic.”
Go look at how he plays against Milwaukee
Embarrassing
northcyde
April 15th, 2012
7:35 pm
Ivan with 13 points – 6 rebs – 3 steals . . . 5 – 7 FT
northcyde
April 15th, 2012
7:37 pm
Lead down to 5 DawgNole . . . just like I said. A run got us back in the game.
These are the Raptors, not the Heat.
And our bench ( Marvin, Pargo, Green ) will play much better when they get in the game as well.
Rev in Tampa
April 15th, 2012
7:37 pm
Glad I napped through the first half. Looks like I didn’t miss anything except frustration.
If Josh would stop taking jumpers out of rhythm the Hawks would already be even with the Raptors.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 15th, 2012
7:37 pm
T-Mac looks bored as phug on the bench
northcyde
April 15th, 2012
7:38 pm
Hinrich really locking down Derozen now.
Rev in Tampa
April 15th, 2012
7:38 pm
Kirk Hinrich is playing good defense on DeRosen.
Blast
April 15th, 2012
7:38 pm
Oh yea of little faith.
Game ain’t over yet.
yodaddybrother
April 15th, 2012
7:38 pm
I just saw that Eddie Rush is officiating tonight….explains a lot smh
Najeh Davenpoop
April 15th, 2012
7:39 pm
Kirk had help in the middle and he funneled his man to the baseline instead.
Dude tries hard and is scrappy but he is not anywhere near as smart as he gets credit for being.
Rev in Tampa
April 15th, 2012
7:39 pm
northcyde, looks like we jinked Hinrich
northcyde
April 15th, 2012
7:39 pm
Naw Rev. This game is about JJ playing like a D-Leaguer on both ends of the court. Josh and Ivan have played well, despite their mental blips.
northcyde
April 15th, 2012
7:40 pm
Spoke too soon. Derozen waking back up.
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 15th, 2012
7:40 pm
hawks will not win this game…
Sautee
April 15th, 2012
7:41 pm
Another time out two possessions late.
Rev in Tampa
April 15th, 2012
7:41 pm
Hawks offense disappeared.
yodaddybrother
April 15th, 2012
7:41 pm
IDK why yall are in getting all excited…These are the Atlanta Hawks….we know what they are about.
They mailed this game in and it’s obvious. I don’t need to see the second half to know that if they are down 14 at halftime to the Raptors then it’s a done deal.
It was really over as soon as Larry Drew ran Jason Collins out there for the first 8 minutes and dug us a hole.
Blast
April 15th, 2012
7:41 pm
Not looking good, though. Raps are hitting everything in sight!
But playing a lot of minutes.
northcyde
April 15th, 2012
7:42 pm
OK . lead back up to 12. Let me go to the store right quick and come back and watch the end of the game. Hopefully we’ll be back in striking distance by then.
I still say we win 93 – 89
ntrigue
April 15th, 2012
7:42 pm
Why isn’t Joe checking derozan? Hinrich is getting destroyed!
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
April 15th, 2012
7:42 pm
Collins and Dampier = a waste of money
yodaddybrother
April 15th, 2012
7:43 pm
How can we prevent Joe Johnson from getting to Magic City before games???????????????
Najeh Davenpoop
April 15th, 2012
7:43 pm
“Why isn’t Joe checking derozan? Hinrich is getting destroyed!”
Disadvantage of going with a small lineup. You’re right, the Hawks need to slide Joe over to the 2.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 15th, 2012
7:44 pm
Josh’s jumpers are the Hawks’ best offensive option in this game.
yodaddybrother
April 15th, 2012
7:45 pm
Josh Smith and Ivan Johnson are the only two worth anything tonight. GUARD play has been atrocious
Najeh Davenpoop
April 15th, 2012
7:46 pm
Ivan had his head turned. Gotta be more aware in help defense situations.
Am I crazy for saying I’d rather Josh take that 3. Joe has just been atrocious.
yodaddybrother
April 15th, 2012
7:46 pm
Joe Johnson stays in front of strippers more than he stays in front of his defensive assignment
Najeh Davenpoop
April 15th, 2012
7:47 pm
I’m going to go ahead and say this will be a loss.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 15th, 2012
7:47 pm
Hawks have 2 National TV games this coming weekend.
Damnit. Hope these guys show up
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
April 15th, 2012
7:47 pm
LETS GO ORGAN PLAYER
PLAY SOME OF THE CAKE BY RIHANNA ON THE ORGAN FOR THE LADIES