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
michael
November 13th, 2012
12:19 am
aldridge yells at every shot and gets every call..
Slimjr
November 13th, 2012
12:20 am
Josh= Player of the game!
Najeh Davenpoop
November 13th, 2012
12:20 am
Thanks, LaChokeus
cp
November 13th, 2012
12:20 am
Thank you Aldridge
northcyde
November 13th, 2012
12:21 am
Look at LA choking.
See . . that’s why YOU’RE not an All-Star either.
Buddy Grizzard
November 13th, 2012
12:21 am
Quality win.
waltbellamy
November 13th, 2012
12:21 am
kyle korver rebounding machine
kwooden1
November 13th, 2012
12:22 am
Great passes by Josh to get those two baskets by Horford!
Rod from College Park
November 13th, 2012
12:22 am
shut up Nique.
Buddy Grizzard
November 13th, 2012
12:22 am
Nique said that’s going to do it right there…. Portland comeback??
Najeh Davenpoop
November 13th, 2012
12:22 am
Smart play by Korver to hold on to the ball as long as possible to try to get fouled. By a wide margin I’d rather see him at the line than any other Hawks starter.
Reggie
November 13th, 2012
12:22 am
Take the win..less Tolliver and no Devin…more Morrow and Ivan,,,im happy. Goodnight Hawks fans
Buddy Grizzard
November 13th, 2012
12:22 am
Yeah that’s the only play Korver has made in the 4th quarter.
Slimjr
November 13th, 2012
12:23 am
Brilliant passes Josh!
kwooden1
November 13th, 2012
12:23 am
LA did choke! I actually feel bad for the guy. I really like his game!
northcyde
November 13th, 2012
12:23 am
LOL @ JJ Hickson having the game of his life, and Aldridge choking at the same damn time.
#thankyoujesus
Steve Nakasone
November 13th, 2012
12:23 am
Why is Larry Drew always shuffling his lineup? It’s almost like he’s not confident in his system. A good team has the same offense and defense system every game. He always talks about finding an identity but it seems like he has no idea what identity he wants. His identity changes with each game and each opponent. No wonder the Hawks are so inconsistent. How does a guy score 17 points one game and then the next game, he’s not even part of the game plan? It doesn’t take a doctor to realize that somethings a little off with Drew. Why can’t we get a coach like Popavich? I can only dream.
cp
November 13th, 2012
12:24 am
Teague has done a good job on Lillard
kwooden1
November 13th, 2012
12:24 am
Lillard just playing like a Rookie, I think he’s going to be a really good PG in a few years.
northcyde
November 13th, 2012
12:24 am
Hawks deserve this win. It would’ve been bad if they had lost this game.
Melvin
November 13th, 2012
12:24 am
Josh just took Al double double away…. Uh oh, Al bashers are going to get him for that….
bigdave
November 13th, 2012
12:25 am
Tough win..
Baby
November 13th, 2012
12:25 am
My god.
First half, outstanding. 2nd half, a Freaking Circus.
But Al and Josh in those last 2 minutes saved us.
Melvin
November 13th, 2012
12:25 am
Opps, Al just secured the last reb to get his double double… All is well now.
Reggie
November 13th, 2012
12:25 am
Terry Stotts still is terrible
cp
November 13th, 2012
12:25 am
Good win
Najeh Davenpoop
November 13th, 2012
12:25 am
Lillard looked a lot better the other day against the Clippers. He is solid.
I don’t know how sick Josh was, but he made some huge plays down the stretch on both ends of the floor. I doubt they win this game without him.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 13th, 2012
12:27 am
Josh – 11 boards
Al – 10 boards
Zaza – 9 boards
The rest of the team combined – 11 boards
16 offensive boards for the Blazers in this game, too. The whole team has to get better on the glass.
Rod from College Park
November 13th, 2012
12:27 am
Good way to start off the rod trip. Good win.
Melvin
November 13th, 2012
12:28 am
That the win and get the hell out of there….
Mokeysho
November 13th, 2012
12:29 am
Yeah, Al with the HORRIBLE game. Hmmmmm…. Nahhhh!
High-sider
November 13th, 2012
12:29 am
Josh Smith and Al Horford put 19pts, 11rebs and 15pts, 10rebs, respectively. Can the Smoove vs. Horford groups have a “truce” tonight?
http://www.nba.com/games/20121112/ATLPOR/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0021200102#nbaGIboxscore
High-sider
November 13th, 2012
12:29 am
Oh yeah, good win by the Hawks.
tyger
November 13th, 2012
12:30 am
LD: How u like me now?
Melvin
November 13th, 2012
12:30 am
Horford and Josh played well down the stretch…. Now can we end this silly debate about who is better or who should be traded…. They can be effective together….
Baby
November 13th, 2012
12:31 am
“should have been more assists (Josh), he was giving it to me but i was giving it off to other guys” – Al
High-sider
November 13th, 2012
12:32 am
Correction: “…put up*…
kwooden1
November 13th, 2012
12:33 am
Nice win! Nice game by Josh, especially with the passing at the end. Good to see Jeff play aggressive the entire game.
Baby
November 13th, 2012
12:33 am
Melvin,
i know that last comment is just going to fuel the flame.
But i agree can’t single them out. They’re great together.
W.R. Terrell
November 13th, 2012
12:33 am
We won……And no, i’m not allocating victory signs to the “Smoove”, he’s happy to lead all scorers and I will leave it at that. A game we should have won by 20 and squeaked thru by 8. A win is a win I guess but the “Smoove” was the “Smoove”…no more and no less.
Mookie Blaylock
November 13th, 2012
12:34 am
All is well in Hawks land. Al and Josh with the BIG GAMES!!!!!……………against the lowly trailblazers.
Mookie Blaylock
November 13th, 2012
12:36 am
Al, Josh and Joe Johnson always perform against .500 and below teams…..let’s see how
Josh and Al perform against playoff teams and contenders, or give them the BOOT like Joe.
Ra'mon
November 13th, 2012
12:38 am
Guys, this third quarter and early fourth quarter shows that Lou Williams isn’t a POINT GUARD! Devin Harris going down, or not being available was huge. We are in need of a third point guard even more so than a small forward.
Baby
November 13th, 2012
12:42 am
Devin going down really messed up our offense. And the their defense shut williams down when they went on that run. He only could get 7 shots off.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 13th, 2012
12:42 am
It is still incredibly early, but so far Lou is averaging a career high in turnovers, a career worst in FG% and assist/turnover ratio, and is tied for the fewest FTA/game in his career since he started getting real minutes. Hopefully things pick up for him soon.
Baby
November 13th, 2012
12:42 am
The entire 18 minutes i mean.
Rusty
November 13th, 2012
12:47 am
LD said he called the big plays for al down the stretch
Mookie Blaylock
November 13th, 2012
12:50 am
7 out of the next 8 against completely trash teams.
Rusty
November 13th, 2012
12:55 am
JT had 13 PTs with 11 shots,had 8 assists,3 steals,3 to,played good defense against Lilliard & played good down the stretch.
Buddy Grizzard
November 13th, 2012
1:04 am
http://repatl.blogspot.com/2012/11/introducing-mid-range-shawty-meter.html