Atlanta Hawks game thread: Smith, Williams ill and may not play vs. Blazers (updated)
UPDATE: I’m told that Josh Smith and Lou Williams will play tonight vs. Blazers.
Vivlamore reporting from Portland.
Josh Smith and Lou Williams are questionable for tonight’s game against the Trail Blazers. Each was sick Monday. While they participated in the team’s walk-through practice at the Rose Garden they were sent home early.
Coach Larry Drew said he will wait to see how each was doing later in the day before making a decision on their playing status. I will update you on their conditions prior to game time.
In other items:
* DeShawn Stevenson will play, and likely start, against the Blazers at small forward. Stevenson sat out Sunday’s game at the Clippers. Stevenson, a 13-year veteran, told me he did not play because of the back-to-back games situation.
Drew confirmed Monday that he does not want to overwork Stevenson and his aging knees.
“We are going to play it by ear but for the most part he won’t be playing back-to-backs,” Drew said. “One thing we really want to make sure we do is keep a close eye on him and his knees. There may be some cases where he may be able to play some back-to-backs. Right now, it’s out of the question.”
Drew said he planned ahead with the team’s schedule and wanted to use Stevenson against the Blazers.
“On this particular road trip, I thought tonight’s game was a game we really need him,” Drew said.
* The Hawks will likely start a lineup of Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver at guard, Stevenson and Smith (if he is able) at forward and Al Horford at center. Anthony Tolliver will start at power forward if Smith can’t play.
* Anthony Morrow also did not play Sunday, one game after he scored 17 points off the bench against the Heat. Drew said he had a determined rotation for the Clippers game and Morrow was not in the plan. Once the game got out of hand in the fourth quarter, he didn’t want to use Morrow in such a situation.
“I’m going to play him when I feel it’s a game that I really want to use him in,” Drew said. “Going into last night’s game, I already had my mind made up on the rotation that I did want to use. I didn’t want to throw him in there when the game is out of reach. I don’t want to do that.
“There are going to be some games when I’m going to be using him, particularly in needing his offense. We started with the big lineup last night. We got good mileage out of bringing Lou (Williams) and Devin (Harris) off the bench and trying to keep a big three position-wise out on the floor.
“I couldn’t find minutes for him in last night’s game. I am aware of the productivity he has brought when he’s been in there. He’ll be playing more.”
* Drew finally got a chance to use rookies John Jenkins and Mike Scott Sunday with the Hawks trailing by 20 points late in the game. They played the final 3:48 of the contest.
“Both guys, I’ve always said, bring an NBA skill to the table,” Drew said. “I understand they are going to be a little rusty because they have not been playing. I still love my rookies. I think both of those guys are going to find minutes and have a really bright future in this league.”
Scott said he was happy to make his NBA debut. His only regret was missing his two shot attempts. Jenkins finished with six points, going 2-for-4 from the field and hitting two free throws.
- Chris Vivlamore
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452 comments Add your comment
The Truth
November 12th, 2012
8:33 pm
“Jeff Teague and Al Horford both rank in the top 11 in the NBA in FG % (Teague – 11th at .566 and Horford – 10th at .567″
Read more: http://hoopshype.com/twitter/tag/atlanta_hawks#ixzz2C3ueJnTF
Tremaine
November 12th, 2012
8:34 pm
Would be nice if Josh didn’t play tonight.
ntrigue
November 12th, 2012
8:41 pm
We need to cut ties now Ferry witb Drew…I hope I see Ferry at the GM so I can let him know how dumb a coach drew is!
Slimjr
November 12th, 2012
8:41 pm
The 64 million dollar question:
Who guards LaMarcus tonight?
If that be Anthony Tolliver, do expect Aldridge to put up at least 25 and 13..
Slimjr
November 12th, 2012
8:44 pm
If Danny hires Woodlylite Jr to replace WoodyLite, it maybe time to cut Danny..
Brian Shaw should get a look…
Buddy Grizzard
November 12th, 2012
8:50 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
November 12th, 2012
8:32 pm
Co-sign
Just Joe
November 12th, 2012
8:55 pm
Budenholzer from the Spurs will likely get a look.
Chris Vivlamore
November 12th, 2012
8:57 pm
90 minutes before tipoff and Smith and Williams are still “game-time” decisions.
Buddy Grizzard
November 12th, 2012
8:58 pm
Omer Asik tearing Miami up down low. Must be nice to have a center.
Buddy Grizzard
November 12th, 2012
8:59 pm
Thanks C-Viv.
Buddy Grizzard
November 12th, 2012
9:00 pm
Furthermore Najeh, I attribute Josh’s problems to start this season to the fact that he is playing out of position at small forward.
kojak
November 12th, 2012
9:05 pm
Great Idea–put a one of those stun dog collars on Josh and have the coaches zap his a$$ every time he shots outside the paint. Better yet let the fans do it.
Slimjr
November 12th, 2012
9:10 pm
” The Hawks will likely start a lineup of Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver at guard, Stevenson and Smith (if he is able) at forward and Al Horford at center. Anthony Tolliver will start at power forward if Smith can’t play.” -C-Viv-
Anthony will likely go up against LaMarcus? Do not like that match up at all! Put Ivan or Al on him.
He will feast on Anthony..
Reggie
November 12th, 2012
9:13 pm
The coaches dont control Josh…he controls them. Josh got mad and blew up earlier at the ref right in front of the bench and nobody said anything. Larry Drew and an assistant blew up an Josh grabbed both behind the head and guided them back to the bench….TELL ME SOMEONE ELSE SAW WHEN THAT HAPPENED!
Chris Vivlamore
November 12th, 2012
9:17 pm
I’m just told that Josh Smith and Lou Williams will play.
kojak
November 12th, 2012
9:19 pm
I saw it Reggie–someboday needs to grab his slow-minded butt and send him home.
Trade Josh while you can. Dumbest player ever. He could be agreat low post player or Rodman type if he had half a brain. We don’t need him to shoot–we need him to play defense and rebound–the end. what a dumb a$$
W.R. Terrell
November 12th, 2012
9:24 pm
Hopefully the “Smoove” is to ill to play for the next 3 games. Lou Williams will come thru more often then not and I want him to play. Watching the HAWKS play without the “Smoove” has not bothered me in years. I find the HAWKS more entertaining without him, even in a blowout. One thing is for sure and that’s when the “Smoove” returns he will continue to do and go where no ball player has gone beforeeeeeeeeee and that’s out there somewhere.
Slimjr
November 12th, 2012
9:29 pm
Thanks C-Viv for the update!
Josh is back to guard the Allstar! Whew….
FreshFromATL
November 12th, 2012
9:29 pm
Man, unless this dude Larry Drew is fired, I won’t be spending a DAMN penny of my money at Philips not time soon. There is absolutely no excuse to have this dude coaching an NBA level basketball team, SMH!
Astro Joe
November 12th, 2012
9:30 pm
OB, Josh has ofen started seasons slowly. In fact, i could recall several seasons when it seemed like he used his birhday (early December) to get things ramped up. I honestly believe that he will get his free throw shooting at least back in that 6 range again… hopefully sooner than later.
Teague has been terrific this season. Teague and Al have clearly been the most consistent players… at least when Horford’s teammates remember to feed him the ball more than 10 times/game. Josh is too talented and too audacious to go down in flames in the last year of his contract…. he’s trying to pull the old “banana in the tail pipe” joke on his haters… I ain’t falling for it.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 12th, 2012
9:31 pm
Where did Josh and Lou eat last night that they both came down with a stomach bug at the same time? Better avoid that place next time they go to LA…
Najeh Davenpoop
November 12th, 2012
9:34 pm
“Furthermore Najeh, I attribute Josh’s problems to start this season to the fact that he is playing out of position at small forward.”
That may have something to do with it, but this team’s big men as a whole (other than Ivan) don’t seem to understand that more than one of them can be in or near the painted area at a time. I was watching the Bulls and Timberwolves the other day on WGN and they kept running a play when Boozer got the ball around the free throw line and threw a bounce pass to Noah who cut to the basket along the baseline for a dunk. With two good passing big men in Josh and Al, this team should be killing it with the high-low passes.
W.R. Terrell
November 12th, 2012
9:42 pm
Josh starts off slowly? I do appreciate a good laugh and that one is a hoot. He needs to stop with the dumb play or LD needs to bench him but this time I think Ferry is hoping and praying that the “Smoove” impresses a team so he can dump him but that’s not going to happen. I doubt if there’s any team in the NBA that would do it. Remember Philly took a broke Elton Brand over a young energetic, jumping jack Josh. As far as playing out of position that’s an excuse. Lack of intellect or B Ball IQ is his problem.
kojak
November 12th, 2012
9:51 pm
you can’t fix stupid
Melvin
November 12th, 2012
9:51 pm
“*Anthony Morrow also did not play Sunday, one game after he scored 17 points off the bench against the Heat. Drew said he had a determined rotation for the Clippers game and Morrow was not in the plan. Once the game got out of hand in the fourth quarter, he didn’t want to use Morrow in such a situation.”
What happen to making in game decisions/adjustments? Get LD outta here….
Najeh Davenpoop
November 12th, 2012
9:55 pm
Marvin Williams ended up on the right side of a poster today.
Rod from College Park
November 12th, 2012
9:55 pm
” Lack of intellect or B Ball IQ is his problem”
There is that famous word again. B Ball IQ. How do you measure it?
AnotherGM
November 12th, 2012
9:56 pm
Sure would be nice if Woody was still the Hawks coach!
Just Joe
November 12th, 2012
10:01 pm
Bold Prediction: 6+ threes for Kyle Korver tonight.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 12th, 2012
10:01 pm
Game hasn’t even started yet and Nique said “nimbers” twice already.
Rusty
November 12th, 2012
10:02 pm
The blame is on Ferry if he lets LD continue.
Rusty
November 12th, 2012
10:04 pm
Low basketball IQ means no feel for game &LD has none.
Rusty
November 12th, 2012
10:06 pm
God bless Woody even tho I didn’t think he was a good when he was here.
doc
November 12th, 2012
10:09 pm
slimj, please stop the references of people on the blog liking ld. i see little of it. i am not convinced that ld is better than woody but not worse based on records the past two years compared to woody with same team. ld is far cheaper, which was a qualification going against woody. he was wanting a raise for his work to about 4 mil a year. doubt woody would have done significantly better with that roster since it wasnt going to change and it was no longer rising in victories.
i am convinced as much as i hate it that the asg, because they dont deserve it, are getting more of their money’s worth with ld and were good businessmen in their decision. i really dont think you can argue these points. you may not like reality, a lot of people dont as well but it is what it is.
we will find out more of what df has when the decision comes in sumeer.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 12th, 2012
10:13 pm
Josh the “lazy defender” jumps out on the pick and roll ballhandler and recovers in time to block Aldridge’s jumpshot.
Just Joe
November 12th, 2012
10:13 pm
There’s one.
Melvin
November 12th, 2012
10:16 pm
The Hawks are looking quick to the ball tonight.
Rod from College Park
November 12th, 2012
10:17 pm
“Josh the “lazy defender” jumps out on the pick and roll ballhandler and recovers in time to block Aldridge’s jumpshot.”
Wonder why the All star on out team does not match up with their All star. Hmmm……
Spartacus
November 12th, 2012
10:17 pm
If Josh stays down there tonight, he can dominate the game. Let’s see if he can stay away from the jump shots in this game. If he can break his addiction and stay on the block, he could become an all-star player. However, I don’t have much confidence that he can do it.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 12th, 2012
10:17 pm
Finally some nice interior passing! Stevenson ended up with the 3 but the Al-Josh inside passing combo set it up.
Spartacus
November 12th, 2012
10:18 pm
The worst thing in the game just happened, Josh just made a jumper!
Melvin
November 12th, 2012
10:18 pm
Teague has really step his game up this year. His court vision and awareness has really improve…
Rod from College Park
November 12th, 2012
10:19 pm
Terry Stotts in his 3rd head coaching stint. If you were terrible in Atlanta, and terrible in Milwaukee, why would you be good in Portland?
cp
November 12th, 2012
10:20 pm
Teague’s passing ability has improved so much
Slimjr
November 12th, 2012
10:20 pm
Josh looking sharp!
Spartacus
November 12th, 2012
10:20 pm
Man, Jenkins and Scott look like brothers!
Slimjr
November 12th, 2012
10:21 pm
Get’em JOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
cp
November 12th, 2012
10:22 pm
Josh stay in the paint
Rod from College Park
November 12th, 2012
10:22 pm
“However, I don’t have much confidence that he can do it.”
Especially when the play called does not call for him to be down there.
Melvin
November 12th, 2012
10:22 pm
Yeah Josh…