Atlanta Hawks game thread: Morrow out, Stevenson questionable (updated)
Vivlamore reporting from Washington, D.C.
UPDATE: Anthony Morrow will not play against the Wizards as he continues to experience soreness in his back. “We are going to rest him tonight due to the soreness in his back,” coach Larry Drew said. “We’ll take the extra precautionary measures.”
I asked Drew if the loss of Morrow would tempt him to play DeShawn Stevenson, whom he would like to rest for tomorrow’s game against the Thunder. Stevenson will dress. “In terms of the game plan of (Stevenson) playing or not playing, I was hoping (Morrow) would be able to play. So, we’ll just see how the game goes.”
—-
The Hawks will go with a starting lineup of Jeff Teague, Devin Harris, Kyle Korver, Josh Smith and Al Horford against the Wizards tonight.
There are two reasons for the unit, according to coach Larry Drew.
With a game at home against Oklahoma City tomorrow, Drew may not play DeShawn Stevenson. The veteran swingman and defensive stalwart does not play in back-to-back games and Drew would likely rather have him against the Thunder. By not starting Stevenson, Drew can monitor whether he needs to use him.
“There is a possibility that we will limit his minutes,” Drew said. “There is a possibility he will not play. We will make that decision right before game time.”
Drew also likes the lineup for matchup reasons.
“We have two guys who really push the basketball,” Drew said. “Kyle gets up and down the floor and is a spot-up guy. I think our matchups are pretty good with both Jeff and Devin. They are not very big at the 3 so we can go a little smaller.”
* Drew said the status of guard Anthony Morrow would be a game-time decision. Morrow, who has been suffering from a sore back, went through the team shoot-around Tuesday. Drew said he was still experiencing some soreness.
* The Hawks enter the game having won 17 of the past 18 games against the Wizards, including both games this season. Drew is wary that his team does not take the Wizards lightly.
“They are a very physical team with Nene, (Emeka) Okafor and (Kevin) Seraphin,” Drew said. “They have guys who can score the ball. … They are a very capable ball club. The last thing you can do is come into a game like this and underestimate this team. Forget the record. You have to go out and play this team with a sense of urgency. That is going to be the message tonight.”
Chris Vivlamore
LATEST NEWS
* A look at the Hawks at the season’s quarter mark
* Hawks look to put worst loss behind them
* A share of first place on the line vs. Bobcats
* Morrow to start vs. Magic, Pachulia warned for flop
* Smith on Smith: Steve says ‘travesty’ Josh never All-Star
* Video: Hawks look to sustain winning ways
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @AJCHAWKS
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
390 comments Add your comment
keith
December 18th, 2012
8:39 pm
Teague FINALLY making positive plays..
bigdave
December 18th, 2012
8:39 pm
Back to back rim punches…
Blast
December 18th, 2012
8:39 pm
Josh Smith!
Luke Cage
December 18th, 2012
8:39 pm
Hawks are now playin Hawk Defense
Najeh Davenpoop
December 18th, 2012
8:40 pm
Looks like that rejection fired up the team a little bit.
drmaryb.(""_*).
December 18th, 2012
8:40 pm
Head Banging!
That fool got a concussive headache. i hope B.Real is ok but, son better get cable and, learn to keep that ISH out of the paint, where the Big Boy’s play.
Let’s Go Hawks! Put these scrubs away!
Duluth Joe
December 18th, 2012
8:40 pm
Who was it that was saying Josh should play a lil defense?
His block changed the game
keith
December 18th, 2012
8:41 pm
Randy Whittman could flat out shoot-it back in the day. He was Kyle Korver before Kyle Korver. Whitman was probably the Hawks best shooting guard ever!
Vino
December 18th, 2012
8:41 pm
Josh and Teague going off
keith
December 18th, 2012
8:42 pm
Al Horford needs to be more assertive tonight.
Vino
December 18th, 2012
8:43 pm
Josh has shown rookies this year who is!!!!
keith
December 18th, 2012
8:43 pm
Nene has that “Girly” RGIII look tonight minus the headband…
keith
December 18th, 2012
8:44 pm
We should be blowing these scrubs out tonight. Devin will give us a lift…
drmaryb.(""_*).
December 18th, 2012
8:44 pm
Jelly Legs!
“Harris is out for the rest of the game” – Naj -
_________________
That boy need to do some – seated incline leg presses, twice his body weight. Or, something.
J.J.M.
December 18th, 2012
8:45 pm
Got a feeling hawks will lose…coach drew doesn’t know what he’s doing and the players seem to be thinking ahead
Blast
December 18th, 2012
8:45 pm
Stevenson gonna get a few minutes here.
keith
December 18th, 2012
8:46 pm
Stevenson, please get rid of that “Messed-up” hair-do!!
TBhawkfan
December 18th, 2012
8:46 pm
it is so hard to watch.
Luke Cage
December 18th, 2012
8:47 pm
Love Zsa Zsa but gotta be the worst finishing big man out there lol.
MattP
December 18th, 2012
8:48 pm
Stevenson but no Jenkins…. Clueless Drew at it again. I am going to laugh if Stevenson doesn’t play tomorrow.
keith
December 18th, 2012
8:48 pm
Ivan”Debo” Johnson,,,time to regulate ladies…
J.J.M.
December 18th, 2012
8:48 pm
Nobody on the hawks can guard nene
High-sider
December 18th, 2012
8:48 pm
Nets lead Jazz at halftime, 57 – 44.
“Duck” has five points and five rebounds in 15:28 of game time. I guess M-arv-I-n willi-A-ms is not totally M.I.A. at this point.
http://www.nba.com/games/20121218/UTABKN/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nbahpgt0021200358
keith
December 18th, 2012
8:49 pm
Ivan rejected??
drmaryb.(""_*).
December 18th, 2012
8:49 pm
Here Comes The Boss!
The “Worst MoHawk” in the world. [smh] My father was the most talented Barber in NYC, [RIP] and, too bad Mr. Burton isn’t around to tighthen the young fella up. [lol]
Najeh Davenpoop
December 18th, 2012
8:50 pm
Tolliver was a -7 in 8 minutes of playing time.
Nate ArchiBALL
December 18th, 2012
8:50 pm
Randy Wittman was no Kyle Korver. Randy was known at the reluctant shooting guard. Shot 51% from the field as a Hawk but would pass up way too many open shots. I remember one game Mike Fratello was in his face for about 5 minutes on the bench about not taking shots. Fratello forgot there was a game going on…
keith
December 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
What’s up with these grown men with “PUNK” hair-dos tonight??? Is this the WNBA???
Sautee
December 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
That was a heat check for Zaza.
Hawks_4_Life
December 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
Like I said this team is too three ball happy, now even Ivan.
Melvin
December 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
I wonder if the play was design for Ivan to stand at the 3pt line? If so, now you know Josh stands at the 3pt line.
Hawks_4_Life
December 18th, 2012
8:53 pm
Already tired of seeing JJ in that bouncing basketball commercial.
drmaryb.(""_*).
December 18th, 2012
8:53 pm
K. KORVER #26 F 25:25 4-4 3-3 1-2 -2 0 2 2 2 3 0 2 1 0 12
J. SMITH #5 F 29:54 5-10 0-1 3-6 +6 1 5 6 0 3 2 2 3 1 13
J. TEAGUE #0 G 26:03 5-10 1-2 2-2 +6 0 3 3 6 4 2 1 1 0 13
Z. PACHULIA #27 11:12 0-2 0-1 0-0 +1 1 4 5 2 1 2 0 0 0 0
L. WILLIAMS #3 22:56 3-8 1-3 6-6 +6 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 13
bigdave
December 18th, 2012
8:54 pm
That trouble man not bad…
keith
December 18th, 2012
8:54 pm
THAT’S WHY I WOULD TRADE AL…
Slimjr
December 18th, 2012
8:54 pm
NeNe is AllStar Al’s nightmare! lol!
keith
December 18th, 2012
8:55 pm
Stevenson is the “REAL DEAL”
Najeh Davenpoop
December 18th, 2012
8:56 pm
That was DeShawn Stevenson’s first made 2 point basket since November 21 against the Wizards.
keith
December 18th, 2012
8:57 pm
GREAT TRANSITION DEFENSE HAWKS!!
bigdave
December 18th, 2012
8:58 pm
3rd time Al has caught the ball at the basket and passed.
keith
December 18th, 2012
8:58 pm
ZSA ZSA COME ON MAN???
drmaryb.(""_*).
December 18th, 2012
8:58 pm
Damn ZaZa!
Can you JUMP & DUNK in traffic? [Geezus]
Najeh Davenpoop
December 18th, 2012
8:58 pm
Al is doing way too much passing tonight. A shot by Al is nearly always better than a shot by Zaza. Power that up and try to draw a foul instead of passing it to Zaza just to see him get stripped.
Hawks_4_Life
December 18th, 2012
8:58 pm
No hustle at all….
Slimjr
December 18th, 2012
8:59 pm
Trap game Admiral?
keith
December 18th, 2012
8:59 pm
Should be Catrice Martin….
Najeh Davenpoop
December 18th, 2012
8:59 pm
He did it again. Passed up an open jumper to get it to Zaza in the post, and the possession ended with a contested Lou 3 at the end of the clock. He needs to understand that on this team, especially when Josh is not on the floor, he needs to look to score.
drmaryb.(""_*).
December 18th, 2012
9:00 pm
Nepitism! – sic
Joey Crawford for Jordan Crawford?
Melvin
December 18th, 2012
9:01 pm
LD player rotations sucks. These unbalance lineups are not working. Should have played Jenkins instead of forcing Tolliver/Ivan and Josh to play SF.
Sautee
December 18th, 2012
9:01 pm
“He needs to understand that on this team, especially when Josh is not on the floor, he needs to look to score.”
Co-freakin’ sign.