Game thread: Lou Williams stays in starting lineup (updated)
Vivlamore reporting.
Lou Williams remains in the starting lineup for a second straight game as the Hawks take on the Pistons tonight. Williams got the start at shooting guard in Saturday’s win over the Bulls and coach Larry Drew elected to go with the hot hand.
“Being smaller, it has its advantages and disadvantages,” Drew said of a backcourt that features 6-foot-2 Jeff Teague and 6-1 Williams. “The way we feel we need to play we want to go a little smaller with the quickness. He had a really good game our last game. With he and Jeff in there it makes us a lot quicker, a lot faster and it puts us in a more up-tempo style. We had success with it our last game and we are going to go with it again.”
Drew was pushed in the direction to start Williams against the Bulls, his first in 173 games, with Devin Harris (sore left foot) unavailable and DeShawn Stevenson needing rest on the second of back-to-back games.
Drew said he spoke to Williams about his role with the Hawks after he was signed this summer as a free agent.
“We had the conversation and I think he was happy to hear that,” Drew said. “He’s been a guy who pretty much came off the bench his whole career and, at least I can tell, he understands his role but he embraces the fact he won’t be pigeon-holed as a guy just coming off the bench.”
Williams will be joined in the same starting lineup used against the Bulls with Teague, Kyle Kover, Josh Smith and Al Horford.
* Harris is doubtful for the game. He spent some time on the court prior to this morning’s shoot-around but left before it really got started.
This would be the fourth straight game Harris has missed due to the injury. He also missed two games earlier this season with turf toe and a stomach illness.
* Drew said before tonight’s game he will show his team clips of Saturday’s dominant 92-75 victory over the Bulls to reinforce what they did so well.
* Drew said the key to victory over the Bulls was the early play of point guard Teague. Although Williams started in the back-court and scored 14 first-half points, Teague set the tone.
“It all starts with Jeff Teague,” Drew said. “He got us going against Chicago. His defense was really good. He was active. He was pushing the basketball and he got everyone else going. That is something that we will continue to emphasis and point out with Jeff the importance of his aggressive play early in the game to get us going.”
* The victory over the Bulls was especially key as the Hawks wouldn’t play for three days after that game and had lost three of their previous four.
“I thought it was important to get a win, particularly because of the way we played against Philly,” Drew said. “You go into the Christmas break with a better taste in your mouth after a win than a loss, I’ll tell you that. I was really proud of the way our guys came out and how they sustained for all four quarters of high energy and high intensity.”
* Finally, I hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday. I will update this blog with any new lineup information following my pre-game interview with Drew.
- Chris Vivlamore
LATEST NEWS
* Hawks have lost two of past three
* Williams ready for return to Philadelphia
* Morrow out, Stevenson questionable vs. Wizards
* A look at the Hawks at the season’s quarter mark
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361 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
December 26th, 2012
8:07 pm
“Notice all the high-low, even with Zaza. Good to see. They need to make it a staple.”
Definitely. Hawks have the best passing front court in the conference.
Rev in Tampa
December 26th, 2012
8:07 pm
Zaza threading the Pistons interior defense like Jeff Teague
Duh
December 26th, 2012
8:09 pm
I’d really rather see Jenkins get subbed in at the SG spot instead of stevenson. Lou, Jenkins, Morrow would be deadly right now.
Duh
December 26th, 2012
8:09 pm
As soon as I say that stevenson dunks -_-
Najeh Davenpoop
December 26th, 2012
8:10 pm
Lawrence Frank didn’t use Villanueva the entire first quarter but he has him start the 2nd.
High-sider
December 26th, 2012
8:11 pm
@vava74
“If you were a Hawks fan instead of a Jamal fan you would remember that Teague inured himself and his averages were substantially higher before the last game.” – vava74 @7:36pm, 12/26/2012
Jeff Teague points totals vs the Bulls in the 2011 EC Semis:
Game 1 – 10pts
Game 2 – 21pts
Game 3 – 21pts
Game 4 – 12pts
Game 5 – 21pts
Game 6 – 4pts
In Games 1 – 5 , Teague averaged 17ppg. In Games 1 – 6, Teague averaged 14.8ppg. The difference is ppg (points per game) average is/was 2.2ppg. Is that difference of (2.2ppg) “substantial”?
Najeh Davenpoop
December 26th, 2012
8:14 pm
Pistons moving the ball a little better in the 2nd quarter and cutting into the lead. Only one turnover for them in this quarter so far. I’d like to see them continue to pressure the Pistons’ ball handlers.
High-sider
December 26th, 2012
8:15 pm
Josh ballin’ (on both ends of the court).
Blast
December 26th, 2012
8:15 pm
Josh playing like the All Star he deserves to be.
HawksFan
December 26th, 2012
8:16 pm
Josh having a great game so far. Knocking down J’s defense, psssing
Smokey
December 26th, 2012
8:17 pm
I think playing Lou at the 2 fixes LD’s rotations and will help everyone else get more comfortable with their roles, especially when Harris is available.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 26th, 2012
8:19 pm
Pistons 20 rebounds (7 offensive), Hawks 16 rebounds (2 offensive). Didn’t matter so much in the first half when the Hawks were forcing turnovers, but it’s starting to catch up with them. Even a bad team will take advantage of second chances eventually.
Blast
December 26th, 2012
8:19 pm
Shoot, even Lou deserves some All Star consideration.
Swingman912
December 26th, 2012
8:20 pm
Smoove with 16 and 4 early. This is Good Josh.
Slimjr
December 26th, 2012
8:21 pm
Derrick Rose – 29.8ppg, 9.8apg and 4.3rpg
Jeff Teague – 14.8ppg, 4.2apg and 2.8rpg
On paper it looks like ah wrap…
Najeh Davenpoop
December 26th, 2012
8:21 pm
Keep going to that high-low action again and again.
Sautee
December 26th, 2012
8:21 pm
“In Games 1 – 5 , Teague averaged 17ppg. In Games 1 – 6, Teague averaged 14.8ppg. The difference is ppg (points per game) average is/was 2.2ppg. Is that difference of (2.2ppg) “substantial”?” – high-sider
Well, let’s see. By my figures, that’s a 12.9% difference. If your boss offered you a 12.9% raise, would you NOT say it was “substantial”? LOL.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 26th, 2012
8:22 pm
Nique just called Villanueva “Villanova”. The Pistons have an entire university playing for them and they still can’t win.
HawksFan
December 26th, 2012
8:23 pm
Villanueva is terrible
High-sider
December 26th, 2012
8:24 pm
@HawksFan
—————————————————-
HawksFan
December 26th, 2012
7:51 pm
Nice start and playing good. Merry Christmas to all the bloggers and special shout out to High-Sider for identifying his issue with excess. LOL
—————————————————–
Happy Holidays to you, too (HawksFan). I want to say that on behalf of me and my multiple personalities, “Ex” and “Cess.”
HawksFan
December 26th, 2012
8:26 pm
We have to box out better. Too many easy rebounds
HawksFan
December 26th, 2012
8:27 pm
High-Sider
Don’t forget “Genius”
High-sider
December 26th, 2012
8:27 pm
Josh for 3! (Three-point Shawty!!!)
High-sider
December 26th, 2012
8:29 pm
HawksFan,
He (”The Genius”) says/said Happy Holidays, too!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 26th, 2012
8:30 pm
Too much Lou and not enough Teague at PG this quarter. Teague is +11, Lou is +/- 0.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 26th, 2012
8:32 pm
As well as the Hawks played in every other phase of the game, the inability to rebound has kept the Pistons in this. The Hawks should be up by way more than 5 at this point.
HawksFan
December 26th, 2012
8:33 pm
Josh 21 pt half. Hard to believe only up by 5 as bad as the Pistons have played defnse
Slimjr
December 26th, 2012
8:34 pm
Hawks should be up by 25 on this squad at home.
I see Al put back on those restricting knee pads. Oh well..The Rim is your friend Hawk opponents.
High-sider
December 26th, 2012
8:34 pm
^Correction(s):
“Jeff Teague [point] totals vs the Bulls in the 2011 EC Semis:”
“The difference [in] ppg (points per game) average is/was 2.2ppg.”
NORRIS CHUCK
December 26th, 2012
8:36 pm
Tough call for the Kings. Cousins new agent will be pushing hard for a trade. They, along with the rest of the NBA, think the Kings ownership/management is dysfunctional and they want him out of there. The problem for the Kings is that Cousins is their best player, but given his frequent issues with coaches/teammates, teams aren’t willing to give equal value back in return. ESPN.com
Sautee
December 26th, 2012
8:36 pm
“As well as the Hawks played in every other phase of the game, the inability to rebound has kept the Pistons in this” – najeh
Yeah, and that’s with them having 9 first half turnovers. They had 11 second chances. Even at 40%, that’s giving points away.
High-sider
December 26th, 2012
8:37 pm
I would like to see Teague “get in” on the scoring. He’s scoreless in the first half but he does have five assists.
Smokey
December 26th, 2012
8:37 pm
Yep we need Harris to keep the lineup balanced when Teague is out. We got lazy after getting that lead, cant do that on good teams, have to keep pressing on both ends.
Slimjr
December 26th, 2012
8:40 pm
Al will get his 20 and 10 tonight for sure..
He’s got 10 and 3 at the half..
Slimjr
December 26th, 2012
8:41 pm
Somebody said Teague has no confidence in his jumper.
I do not either..
Melvin
December 26th, 2012
8:42 pm
Josh is balling…
Buddy Grizzard
December 26th, 2012
8:42 pm
Way to close out the half! Not.
Slimjr
December 26th, 2012
8:43 pm
“The problem for the Kings is that Cousins is their best player, but given his frequent issues with coaches/teammates, teams aren’t willing to give equal value back in return. ESPN.com”
Question: What would Danny have to give up to acquire one the most talented Bigs in the game today.
Gorila
December 26th, 2012
8:50 pm
Slimjr,
Do you really think that LD has enough authority to control with Cousins?
Najeh Davenpoop
December 26th, 2012
8:51 pm
Josh has that baseline drive all night if he wants it. Maxiell has nowhere near the lateral quickness required to hang with him.
Melvin
December 26th, 2012
8:53 pm
Josh is playing big boy ball tonight….
keith
December 26th, 2012
8:54 pm
Jeff “Scrub” Teague… Get him out of there!!!!!!
Melvin
December 26th, 2012
8:55 pm
Teague has setup Horford nicely for several layups and shoots at the rim
keith
December 26th, 2012
8:56 pm
If Josh played this way every night???? We would be in 1st place!!!!
keith
December 26th, 2012
8:57 pm
I am really impressed…Al Horford is playing defense…..
Najeh Davenpoop
December 26th, 2012
8:57 pm
Bill Simmons made a great point in his NBA trade value column before the season. DeMarcus Cousins and Greg Monroe are nearly identical in terms of both their skill sets and production, but Cousins consistently gets talked about as this immense talent while Monroe doesn’t get anywhere near the same props.
So here’s my question — if Monroe is what Cousins would be if his head was screwed on straight, is Cousins really the caliber of player who is worth trading for with the risk he carries? My point is, I don’t think Cousins’ talent necessarily justifies the risk. He’s a great scorer, yeah, but even at his best, he’s not a defensive difference maker. It’s not like you’d be trading for someone of Duncan or Garnett’s caliber talent-wise, at least from what I have seen.
HawksFan
December 26th, 2012
8:58 pm
Teague tearing it up and keeping em at bay
keith
December 26th, 2012
9:00 pm
Kyle Korver being on the floor is opening things up for his team mates, even with him being off tonight…..
Rev in Tampa
December 26th, 2012
9:00 pm
Right on Que,
Keith calls Teague a scrub and Teague shreds the Pistons defense
Najeh Davenpoop
December 26th, 2012
9:02 pm
After a solid defensive first half, Korver has been taken advantage of a few times this quarter.