Atlanta Hawks: Exhibition season gets started
Vivlamore reporting from Philips Arena.
While I will no doubt be wrong about many things, I was right about at least one thing. The Hawks starting lineup today against the Heat will be Jeff Teague, DeShawn Stevenson, Kyle Korver, Josh Smith and Al Horford (see yesterday’s blog).
Two players, nursing injuries, will not play today. Center Zaza Pachulia (groin) and guard Devin Harris (knee) are being held out. Both have been limited practice participants during training camp. Coach Larry Drew said he was “almost certain” each would be able to play during the exhibition season.
“Both guys are feeling really good,” Drew said. “I personally want to keep it like that.”
Drew said he plans to use several different starting lineups during the preseason. On starting the preseason with Stevenson and Korver, Drew said “I really want to see those guys work together. We have two new guys in the starting lineup. … I really want to see how guys work with different combinations.”
For the Heat, the starters will be Norris Cole, Mike Miller, LeBron James, Shane Battier and Chris Bosh. Dwyane Wade will not play. As of an hour and a half before the game, coach Eric Spoelstra said he was still deciding who else would be available.
- Chris Vivlamore
THE LATEST NEWS
* Practice report: Starting lineup preview?
* Korver had eventful journey to Atlanta
* All 19 won’t dress for exhibition opener
* Morrow and Muhammad reunited
* Hawks react to NBA’s anti-flopping rule
* Q and A with DeShawn Stevenson
* Healthy Horford part of revamped roster
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65 comments Add your comment
HueyFreeman
October 7th, 2012
4:06 pm
And Horford scores down low right on cue haha.
Astro Joe
October 7th, 2012
4:13 pm
John Hollinger @johnhollinger
If I were Damion James, I’d start brushing up on the Cyrillic alphabet.
I assume Hollinger is suggesting that James is headed to a bad Euro league?
High-sider
October 7th, 2012
4:14 pm
I’m not impressed with Austin Rivers and, frankly, I’m sick of the “basketball love affair” with him [A. Rivers].
steven a smith
October 7th, 2012
4:28 pm
Hope this is a goal of the Hawks center. Focus on shot blocking and rebounding. This is extremely encouraging.(4 Blocks). If he Avgs 15pts/10Reb/3 Blocks. Those “nimbers” should be the goal, definitely Allstar worthy…
northcyde
October 7th, 2012
4:33 pm
Wins and losses aren’t that important during preseason, although winning does indicate depth on your team . . or cohesion amongst your starters. In preseason, you need to see if guys can do what they’re supposed to be able to do.
Lou Williams scored 18 points on just 6 official shots, because he was able to get to the FT line 9 times. Great game by him.
It’s going to be very interesting to see which PGs closes out games. Teague, Williams, or Harris? Two of them may be out on the floor at the end of games. Someone will get left out.
northcyde
October 7th, 2012
4:35 pm
Yeah . . Damion got a lot of rebounds today, but his offensive game isn’t much to be desired. Not really even halfway impressed with him.
Astro Joe
October 7th, 2012
4:36 pm
northcyde, I think Devin is the odd man out, unless Teague fades into the woodwork.
jlewis
October 7th, 2012
4:50 pm
@random. There is no hate on my part, this blog has been all hate, from MC hating on JJ, to hating on Horford etc., there isnt anything I said that wasnt true. I’ll tell you this, and its not hate, they have gutted this team to sell it, Josh wont be re-upped at big dollars, so when its moved the new owners can operate on the cheap for a couple of years and make money.
The fan base is virtually non existent, they cheered more for the heat today. Truth is sometimes associated with negativity.
Buddy Grizzard
October 7th, 2012
5:06 pm
Oh yeah forgot… AJC.com blocks all posts from my iPhone. Post up soon at repatl.blogspot.com.
vava74
October 7th, 2012
5:10 pm
I just saw a few minutes of the 4th and I loved Damion James.
Who cares that he doesn’t have any offence. The guy is a dynamo and built solid.
5 minutes that I saw, 2 steals, 2 half steals (knocked ball out of the hands, battled for it but didn’t get it and had dunk with an authority that Marvin couldn’t even imagine.
AG
October 7th, 2012
5:34 pm
V.. need your nuggets, the good, the bad and the ugly…
AG
October 7th, 2012
5:42 pm
Considering it is preseason, it is odd that the rookies did not play. I guess some of the guys fighting for a job got the most PT
Grandad
October 7th, 2012
5:42 pm
Obsevations – Thusly, I have decided:
[based strictly on reading between the lines & studying the box]
1. D.James is a Hustler / = upgrade > Marv / def stopper perhaps
2. Lou is gonna get to the line
3. It appears LD is gonna bury JJenkins; similar to Teaguer`s rook yr
4. I still say Benson doesn`t make the cut
5. Morrow shot poorly -yet- still had a … +12; on his (+/-) … stat
Ken Strickland
October 7th, 2012
5:42 pm
I’m wondering who’ll make the final roster between Korver/Morrow and Petro/Benson. If James and Anderson make the active roster, especially with 4 guards already certain of making the active roster(Teague, Harris, Williams, Jenkins), it’s doubtful if we’ll keep two 3pt specialists(Korver/Morrow). With Zaza back at his old backup C position, I doubt if both Petro and Benson will make the active roster.
In fact, if Stevenson continues to have a good camp and preseason, and makes the active roster, it’s a good chance that neither Korver or Morrow will make it. Even without them, we’ll still have decent 3pt shooting with Williams, Harris, Jenkins, and Teague.
Grandad
October 7th, 2012
5:48 pm
Ken S:
My good friend;
I believe both KKorver & AMorrow make it. [value]
Benson will not – Petro may not either ?
Perhaps DSteph being show-cased ?