Atlanta Hawks vs. Mavericks: Game thread
Vivlamore reporting from Philips Arena.
The Hawks will be without Al Horford for at least the first round of the playoffs. This we know. It’s looking more like they could be without Zaza Pachulia. That’s the All-Star center and his backup not in the lineup versus the Celtics.
Horford, rehabbing from a torn left pectoral muscle, said he isn’t ready from a physical standpoint.
Pachulia, who will miss his seventh straight game with a sprained left foot, was wearing a walking boot when he left Philips Arena following shoot-around this morning. That’s something that he hasn’t been wearing the times I’ve seen him since suffering the injury against the Magic. Coach Larry Drew continues to term Pachulia as day-to-day. He is scheduled to be re-examined this weekend. The Hawks open the playoffs on Sunday.
I wanted to get a better idea of how the Hawks offense with differ without the two big men.
Drew made it clear this morning that it won’t be the first time they have played short-handed in such a way.
“We’ve been without both guys before,” Drew said. “We’ll just have to go out and play solid basketball, number one, and number two we’ll have to be prepared to make some adjustments. Not having your starting center and your backup center throws a monkey wrench into things but you have to keep moving forward. We hope and wish that we could have had a full squad this season, and at this point in the season, with injury being part of the game. You can’t sit around and mope about it. You have to keep moving forward and that’s what we plan to do.”
From a technical standpoint, the Hawks have been without one of their man scoring options without Horford. That has put more pressure on Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Jeff Teague.
“One thing I have tried to exploit, at least since I’ve been here, is putting [Horford] in more pick-and-pop situations,” Drew said. “I think he is one of the better pick-and-pop big men in our league. I’ve really tried to put him in more situations like that.”
While Pachulia wasn’t a primary scoring option, he knew when and how to get his points. It is his defense and rebounded that will be missed.
Without the two centers, the balance of scoring shifts according to Willie Green. That is why the Hawks’ deep bench has been such an asset this season.
“When you have Al, when you have Zaza, when you have those guys implementing your offense you are going to have a few guys dominate more – you are going to have Al, Joe and Josh. It’s going to take some shots away from other guys.
“Without those guys, you have to have substitution guys step up. It also creates a bigger role for Josh, creates a bigger role for Teague, creates a bigger role for Joe. Those three guys we are really leaning on to carry us in the starting lineup. The substitution guys can come in, get points, get some steals, create some ruckus on both ends of the floor. It’s a balance situation when you have guys in and guys out. You try to pick up the slack where you can.”
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375 comments Add your comment
DawgNole
April 26th, 2012
7:38 pm
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
7:11 pm
“Jannero Pargo is out tonight with sore back.” -ChrisV-
_______
This is the same reoccurring injury that caused Pargo to be out for what 2-3 weeks last time. Or, was that Green? Who had an appendectomy? Oh well … just forget it. I’m confused with all these injuries.
I was gonna’ say that Pargo had more than a sore back last time. After getting more info, I diagnosed him with bilateral sciatica due to the groin pain and hamstring weakness complaints. That is why it took so long to come back from, a sore back makes it sound so minimal, when it really is more serious and nagging.
I just forgot who had what?Errrrrr!!!
Stop with all these injuries – please! Coach – stop practicing these guys and just give them IV Fluids and Rest!!! Leave Them Alone!!! They already know the 5ive plays you got up your sleeve!
____________________
Speaking of injuries, I responded to treatment suggestions in the previous blog. Thanks again for your feedback.
tyger hater
April 26th, 2012
7:40 pm
this will be a huge game for teague
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
7:40 pm
Big Lou
Thanks for those comments re: My Falcons.
DawgNole
April 26th, 2012
7:42 pm
Big Lou
April 26th, 2012
7:36 pm
“I believe much of the hate on Ryan is the result of his failure in the playoffs. It’s similar to the Hawks situation in that fans want to see victory in the BIG games–when it REALLY counts–and that’s in the postseason.”
Not when you have people shouting noodle arm, or saying Vick would have been better. That’s just plain BS.
I understand Matt Ryan needs to step up this year, but I watch football hardcore. I know it takes years to develope a QB–great rookie season or not.
____________________________
A lot of that stuff you cite is just straight-up racist–on both sides; I’m sure you’re aware of that. If/when Ryan proves his mettle in the playoffs, his blog fans will far outnumber his detractors.
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
7:48 pm
DawgyNole!
WOW man! you have had a lot of trauma to your extremity joints. You played football in college? Ouch!
Ha Ha … don’t tell the wifey about the shoes just yet. LOL
Feel Better!
Big Lou
April 26th, 2012
7:49 pm
“A lot of that stuff you cite is just straight-up racist–on both sides; I’m sure you’re aware of that. If/when Ryan proves his mettle in the playoffs, his blog fans will far outnumber his detractors.”
That’s the point I’m trying to make. That’s why I said Ryan has a lot of the same haters that Vick had only different skin colors.
Anyone judging a QB based on his first four years is insane. Name a current QB, either than Tom Brady, that had huge post season success in that time frame? Heck, even Peyton Manning/Eli Manning lost their first three post season games. This isn’t the NBA. It take time to build a dynasty, not only a couple of star players.
I do hope you’re right, though.
Big Lou
April 26th, 2012
7:50 pm
drmaryb
Yeah, no problem, sweetheart.
Sautee
April 26th, 2012
7:50 pm
Which of these two statements is more neutral?:
“Laying a goose egg against the 27th ranked defense on National TV is.”
“Laying a goose egg against the Super Bowl winning defense is”
methinks someone has an agenda here.
Rob
April 26th, 2012
7:50 pm
Ray Allen’s bone spurs might keep him out early in our series,Avery Bradley been doing work on us, Joe gonna have to guard him
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
7:53 pm
Threat!
Our three point shooting should loosen the paint.
Rod from College Park
April 26th, 2012
7:56 pm
Big Lou,
You put words in my mouth, and called me a liar. I never compared Vick to Ryan. I simply stated Ryan has 10 times the talent as Vick had. I really was not that much of a Vick fan either. I just am not impressed with Matt Ryan. All those stats mean nothing if you can’t win in the playoffs. Vick won in the playoffs with much less talent. Be glad to debate with you. I’m in section 118.
Shamrock
April 26th, 2012
8:00 pm
Go Mavs!!!
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
8:02 pm
“Name a current QB, either than Tom Brady, that had huge post season success in that time frame?”
Rothlisberger. LOL
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 26th, 2012
8:02 pm
zaza had to break something
Luke Cage
April 26th, 2012
8:03 pm
Booing Roger Godell LOL!!
Big Lou
April 26th, 2012
8:03 pm
I called you a liar for calling Matt Ryan a game manager, while being a season ticket holder. I don’t see game managers doing what he does. I think you’re thinking about QBs like Mark Sanchez. Matt Ryan had to overcome the defensive flaws most of the years he played. 2011 was the first season where the offense was hugely inconsistent with him in the game.
Vick was just a comparison used as an example of how he couldn’t do more with the same talent. He wouldn’t make it through the season without injury and he won’t this year either.
Anyways, cheers.
Go Hawks!
Keep it interesting or I’m watching the draft! Lol at the Saints fans booing.
Slimjr
April 26th, 2012
8:04 pm
Sautee, you like numbers? I got one right for a change? Huh? LOL!
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
8:04 pm
Well Done!
Even if Ray comes back, he will be ineffective with that injury and, his style of play.
Slimjr
April 26th, 2012
8:05 pm
Indie is up!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slimjr
April 26th, 2012
8:05 pm
Luck is smiling taking to the owner!
Slimjr
April 26th, 2012
8:06 pm
They took Luck! Good Luck, Luck!
Luke Cage
April 26th, 2012
8:06 pm
I agree with the fans BOOING Roger Godell, guy comes off as pompus!!
Slimjr
April 26th, 2012
8:06 pm
talking^^^
Slimjr
April 26th, 2012
8:07 pm
Did he win the Heisman? Wow…
Najeh Davenpoop
April 26th, 2012
8:07 pm
The strange thing is, ESPN has done like 100 times more draft coverage this year than in previous years, with their hour-long NFL Live shows every day, and yet I know less about the draft this year than I did in any of the last 7 or 8 years. Other than the top 5 picks I haven’t seen most of these players play and don’t know much about them.
Big Lou
April 26th, 2012
8:07 pm
drmaryb
Nice one, girl. But that’s still only two.
Eh, I forgot about him. Maybe because I feel the refs cheated the Seahawks that Superbowl. Also, because he sucked horribly and the defense carried him that year.
Luke Cage
April 26th, 2012
8:09 pm
Heard my man Ashlon Jeffrey is dropping, whoever gets that guy is getting a steal, best hands in the draft, goes across the middle and snatches almost everything thrown his way.
Slimjr
April 26th, 2012
8:10 pm
Now he’s being compared to Cam?
Luke Cage
April 26th, 2012
8:10 pm
Got Wife Beater Deion Saunders interviewing these guys
Sautee
April 26th, 2012
8:11 pm
LOL @ Nique: “Nowinski”
Big Lou
April 26th, 2012
8:12 pm
At least we don’t have to worry about Woody being on the sidelines. Lol
Blast
April 26th, 2012
8:12 pm
1st and only game against the champs this evening.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 26th, 2012
8:12 pm
Pretty good-sized crowd from what I can see on TV.
Slimjr
April 26th, 2012
8:13 pm
RG3, girlfriend on his right has got a huge smile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
8:13 pm
RG3 might be the better QB tho. Can RG3 read defenses too?
Najeh Davenpoop
April 26th, 2012
8:14 pm
Weird looking shot by Collins, but effective.
Luke Cage
April 26th, 2012
8:14 pm
LOL@Collins
Luke Cage
April 26th, 2012
8:14 pm
this draft is going quick
Najeh Davenpoop
April 26th, 2012
8:16 pm
Hawks pushing the tempo and looking good doing it.
Luke Cage
April 26th, 2012
8:16 pm
Dirk should more dominant than he has been in his career.
Big Lou
April 26th, 2012
8:17 pm
Who are these Hawks?
They are playing with fire!
Sautee
April 26th, 2012
8:17 pm
Nice two man game with Joe and Josh
Slimjr
April 26th, 2012
8:17 pm
“RG3 might be the better QB tho. Can RG3 read defenses too?”
Not only can he read them, he can out run them….lol!
Runs a 4.3 in the 40…Fast as Vick was…
Blast
April 26th, 2012
8:17 pm
Great Start!
Luke Cage
April 26th, 2012
8:17 pm
Nice start Hawks, lets get this homecourt
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 26th, 2012
8:17 pm
When did Deion beat his wife?
Didn’t Pillar get arrested and court ordered to stay away from their house for 61 days last week?
DawgNole
April 26th, 2012
8:18 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
April 26th, 2012
8:12 pm
Pretty good-sized crowd from what I can see on TV.
______________________
I was noticing that. Pretty good by Hawks standards at tipoff anyway.
Big Lou
April 26th, 2012
8:18 pm
Joe is actually driving to the basket. Lol
Najeh Davenpoop
April 26th, 2012
8:18 pm
Now the draft starts getting interesting.
Luke Cage
April 26th, 2012
8:18 pm
Stephanie Ready #1, Suzy Kolber #2