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.”
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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
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390 comments Add your comment
keith
December 18th, 2012
9:01 pm
Horford playin “Chump” Basketball tonight… What’s up AL???
Slimjr
December 18th, 2012
9:02 pm
Is AllStar Al playing power forward? hmmmmm
Smaller, quicker defenders are crowding him so he cant take em off the dribble..
And since he cant create his own shot he passes up shooting opportunities..It will continue if he plays the 4!
Slimjr
December 18th, 2012
9:02 pm
JC2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Najeh Davenpoop
December 18th, 2012
9:02 pm
SportSouth needs to quit playing around with these weird camera angles for entire possessions at a time.
Melvin
December 18th, 2012
9:02 pm
Lou at PG tonight is a train wreck
Rod from College Park
December 18th, 2012
9:02 pm
Will someone inform Horford that he is the all star. Stop passing the sot up and getting it to Zaza. SMH
keith
December 18th, 2012
9:03 pm
AL is playing more like “Alania…2-night
J.J.M.
December 18th, 2012
9:03 pm
Omg korver
drmaryb.(""_*).
December 18th, 2012
9:03 pm
Spent Money!
No way we should need the Mohawk tonight, to beat the Wizzles! [smh] coach?
Rod from College Park
December 18th, 2012
9:03 pm
Thanks Al.
Slimjr
December 18th, 2012
9:04 pm
He will not be as effective at the 4..Not going to be at all.
keith
December 18th, 2012
9:04 pm
We need another point guard on our roster…Watch Josh miss both free -throws,,,
drmaryb.(""_*).
December 18th, 2012
9:04 pm
Street Cred!
No way should an elite team lose to this scrub-club. [smh]
Najeh Davenpoop
December 18th, 2012
9:05 pm
The high-low game between Josh and Al has been pretty nonexistent in this game.
Slimjr
December 18th, 2012
9:05 pm
Whos 14-7?
Najeh Davenpoop
December 18th, 2012
9:06 pm
Rebounding issues strike again.
Slimjr
December 18th, 2012
9:06 pm
JC2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
J.J.M.
December 18th, 2012
9:06 pm
Hawks deserve to lose
keith
December 18th, 2012
9:07 pm
Bad call Joey Crawford?? Horford could not get a rebound!!!!SMDH
Slimjr
December 18th, 2012
9:07 pm
JC2 is killin Lou!
4 3-balls in the 2nd half? Huh?
drmaryb.(""_*).
December 18th, 2012
9:08 pm
Boss Hog?
A. HORFORD #15 C 33:35 2-8 0-0 0-0 +1 1 7 8 6 1 1 1 0 2 4
————-
SMH … The Duke of Hazard.
Melvin
December 18th, 2012
9:08 pm
The Hawks are playing sloppy and allow this team to take the lead this late in the game.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 18th, 2012
9:08 pm
Wizards 38 rebounds (13 offensive); Hawks 34 rebounds (6 offensive).
keith
December 18th, 2012
9:09 pm
We need a D-_____ real NBA Center!!! Sick and tired of this BS!!! Our Bigs, and i use that term “loosely” ARE WEAK!!!!!
Slimjr
December 18th, 2012
9:09 pm
JC2= 22 and 10!
Sautee
December 18th, 2012
9:09 pm
slimjr,
Why does it feel like you root for the other team so often?
Najeh Davenpoop
December 18th, 2012
9:09 pm
Earl Barron has 10 rebounds in 16 minutes for Washington. The Hawks don’t have a single rebounder in double figures.
Rod from College Park
December 18th, 2012
9:10 pm
Remember Grandad thinks Lou and Korver are good defenders. LOL
keith
December 18th, 2012
9:10 pm
HORFORD STINKS TONIGHT…HORFORD CANNOT REBOUND THE BASKETBALL…
keith
December 18th, 2012
9:11 pm
Al Horford is our WORST DEFENDER….PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slimjr
December 18th, 2012
9:11 pm
hahahaha @ drmaryb!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 18th, 2012
9:12 pm
Wizards bench: 23 rebounds
Hawks bench: 12 rebounds
Slimjr
December 18th, 2012
9:12 pm
AllStar Al should be feasting on against this opponent! Hmmmmm
keith
December 18th, 2012
9:13 pm
Maybe we should get Dr. Phil for Al… Al needs to refund ASG some money!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 18th, 2012
9:13 pm
Hawks come away empty on that possession after Al passes up an open mid range shot AGAIN.
keith
December 18th, 2012
9:14 pm
KYLE KORVER OUR NEW MVP BOYS!!!!!
Slimjr
December 18th, 2012
9:14 pm
Jc2 from Atlanta!
Sautee
December 18th, 2012
9:14 pm
“HORFORD CANNOT REBOUND THE BASKETBALL…”
WTF? Tied for the team lead with Josh tonight. Top 12 in the league among centers. Top THREE in the East among centers.
Of ALL the things Horford is weak at, it’s certainly NOT rebounding. LMFAO.
MattP
December 18th, 2012
9:14 pm
Hawks are playing Horrible
keith
December 18th, 2012
9:15 pm
STUPID DREW HAD TO UNDERUSE JORDAN CRAWFORD….FIRE LARRY DREW…
Slimjr
December 18th, 2012
9:15 pm
Sometimes it feels like AllStar Al is overrated by this blog
Najeh Davenpoop
December 18th, 2012
9:16 pm
Teague needs to chill. This isn’t a one on one game between him and Jordan Crawford. That last drive when he got blocked seemed like he was trying to get Jordan back. His role is different. He needs to be setting up his teammates with good shots right now, not trying to match Jordan bucket for bucket.
keith
December 18th, 2012
9:16 pm
Sautee
December 18th, 2012
9:14 pm
HORFORD IS GETTING PUNKED TONIGHT BY OKAFOR AND NENE…..
J.J.M.
December 18th, 2012
9:16 pm
I wonder if the player we traded crawford for is still on our team(sarcasm)
Wabe
December 18th, 2012
9:17 pm
hit that 3 right in LD’s face…
not saying JC2 is a superstar or anything…
but I’m glad that dude’s showing LD that LD’s a bum, not him.
Slimjr
December 18th, 2012
9:17 pm
JC2 shot that last 3 ball from Douglasville!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
keith
December 18th, 2012
9:17 pm
You woul think Amare is on Al tonight…
keith
December 18th, 2012
9:18 pm
GREAT FLOP BY JOSH SMITH…
Najeh Davenpoop
December 18th, 2012
9:18 pm
Josh with another clutch defensive play in crunch time. One on one D in the post, for those of you who still think he doesn’t do that.
keith
December 18th, 2012
9:18 pm
WEAK MOVE AT THE RIM BY AL….