Game thread: Smith back in Hawks lineup (updated)
Vivlamore reporting from Houston.
Josh Smith returned to the Hawks lineup Monday against the Rockets. The forward missed the team’s last game, a win over the Pacers Saturday, with a strained right hip flexor.
According to Smith the extra day of rest was beneficial.
“I’m going to play,” Smith said. “It always helps when you have an injury and you can get some extra treatment and extra therapy.”
But is Smith still in pain?
“I’m going to play,” he said. “I’m all right.”
The Hawks didn’t hold a shootaround Monday but Smith warmed up prior to the game and declared himself ready.
“Prior to our last game we wanted him to rest and treat it,” coach Larry Drew said. “It’s feeling better. We wanted to wait and see how he did when he got over to the gym today. He went out and warmed up and he felt pretty good.”
* With Smith back, the Hawks returned to a starting lineup of Jeff Teague and Lou Williams at guard, Kyle Korver and Smith at forward and Al Horford at center.
* Guard Devin Harris (sore left foot) and Anthony Morrow (right hip strain) did not travel with the team to Houston. According to Drew, they will also miss Tuesday’s game at New Orleans. They remain in Atlanta and a further evaluation will be made when the team returns.
* The Hawks will be looking to avenge their season-opening loss to the Rockets with James Harden went for 45 points. Williams will draw the initial defensive assignment on Harden.
Drew said the Hawks’ defensive lapses were the main issues in the 109-102 loss at Philips Arena.
“We are going to have to do a good job stopping dribble penetration,” Drew said. “That was the one thing that just killed us the last time we played this team. They just continually got to the basket. A lot of was just off of our pick-and-roll coverage. We didn’t do a good job on our pick-and-roll coverage. They are a team that plays a real up-tempo style, make or miss. Our last game they really pushed the ball down our throat. We didn’t get back and get matched (up defensively). It’s going to be important that we try to control the rhythm of this game and not try to get into a jump-shooting contest or run-and-shoot contest with this team. This team is built for that.”
* I asked Drew if he would take a different tactic with Harden considering his 45-point effort in November.
“I remember. Don’t remind me,” Drew said of Harden’s game. “We just have to be better with our defensive coverages. That’s where we had the breakdown. I think defensively we are in a better place that the first game of the season.”
* The Hawks will be looking to avenge another home loss with a win on the road. The Hawks defeated the Cavaliers Friday after Cleveland won at Philips Arena in November.
- Chris Vivlamore
LATEST NEWS
* Harris, Morrow not on trip to Houston
* Williams wants to remain starter
* Drew acknowledges Smith’s ‘poor shot selection’ late vs. Pistons
* Johnson doubtful vs. Cavs with stomach illness
* Drew speaks to Teague about energy level
* Hawks 126, Pistons 119 (2OT)
* Williams remains in starting lineup
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211 comments Add your comment
Duluth Joe
December 31st, 2012
7:33 pm
Al and Zaza been playing excellent ball
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2012
7:33 pm
James Harden is a pretty special passer.
W.R. Terrell
December 31st, 2012
7:38 pm
The HAWKS are hanging, they do have the capability of beating Houston. Turnovers must be eliminated and the defense has to pick up. This looks like an entertaining game. The Rook JJ may get a chance to unleash tonight and Deshawn kept us in the 1st quarter. So far not too bad.
EmirS.
December 31st, 2012
7:39 pm
Once again….Nikola Vucevic….
This Heat/Magic game is epic.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2012
7:40 pm
Didn’t realize before the game that Houston plays the fastest pace in the league, but it’s not surprising watching them play. They really push the tempo as much as possible.
Sameba
December 31st, 2012
7:41 pm
Teague is a also non-factor …
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2012
7:42 pm
Looks like the Heat are going to win and the Hawks will have to win tonight to stay 1 game behind.
Melvin
December 31st, 2012
7:44 pm
Jenkins didnt even get a shot attempt while on the floor
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2012
7:45 pm
No reason why Lou should be playing PG with Teague on the floor.
Admiral SnAckbar
December 31st, 2012
7:45 pm
osh jackin up long j’s again. tsk tsk. will he EVER learn?
High-sider
December 31st, 2012
7:46 pm
Heat dispel Magic in OT, 112 – 110.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2012
7:47 pm
Houston is shooting 67%.
Rod from College Park
December 31st, 2012
7:47 pm
If Houston does not cool off this will be a blow out.
Admiral SnAckbar
December 31st, 2012
7:47 pm
Douglas flop on that 3. think he;ll get fined?
LouWill83
December 31st, 2012
7:48 pm
goodbye ATL
Admiral SnAckbar
December 31st, 2012
7:49 pm
you’d think pros could learn to use their left hand on layups from the left side.
smh
Melvin
December 31st, 2012
7:49 pm
Houston is picking the Hawks apart on offense…
W.R. Terrell
December 31st, 2012
7:50 pm
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo comment!!!!!!!
EmirS.
December 31st, 2012
7:50 pm
Wow and all of this with Harden on the bench.
LouWill83
December 31st, 2012
7:51 pm
HAHAHAHAHAH 13 PT LEAD WITH HARDEN ONLY 2 FTS HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH THIS ONE WILL BE DECIDED 2 MINUTES INTO THE 3RD. BETTER GET OUT AND START PARTYING CZ THIS RESULT IS ALREADY OUT. HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKS..oh and go hawks
Honesty
December 31st, 2012
7:51 pm
They made that run with Harden on the bench? Might as well call this one right now…
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2012
7:52 pm
Rockets 7/12 3FG, Hawks 3/7 3FG.
Melvin
December 31st, 2012
7:52 pm
That was a nice dunk by Josh
HawkFan
December 31st, 2012
7:52 pm
Damn, leave for a second and come back to this. Houston is a lot like Golden State in h way they matchup with us. Harden is really good. We can’t make a shot. They can’t miss
Admiral SnAckbar
December 31st, 2012
7:53 pm
IT’S A TRAP!!!
Blast
December 31st, 2012
7:54 pm
Game turning into a one-sided affair. 3’s not going in, stop jacking them up. Play good defence and stick to what worked in the 1st quarter.
Melvin
December 31st, 2012
7:54 pm
I guess LD is fine if he uses his timeouts
Admiral SnAckbar
December 31st, 2012
7:55 pm
GOOD D BY JENK. ROOK CALL
EmirS.
December 31st, 2012
7:55 pm
Kid can shoot….
LouWill83
December 31st, 2012
7:55 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2012
7:56 pm
Rockets 65.7% FG%, Hawks 40.5% FG%. Hawks taking a lot of jumpers and not getting second chances. Rockets pushing the tempo every possession and catching the Hawks on their heels. I expect the word “energy” to be used a lot in the post game press conference.
Rod from College Park
December 31st, 2012
7:56 pm
Bottom line is when we are hitting the 3 we are good, when we are not we are not. Does not matter if Al is there and Josh is out or the other way around. The only other thing that makes a tremendous difference for our team, is if Teague is being aggressive.
LouWill83
December 31st, 2012
7:57 pm
hey switch channels guys at least joe is keeping brooklyn in their game. Where are you joe?? come to our rescue
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2012
7:57 pm
Jenkins barely touched him on that foul. Looks like Harden is enough of a superstar to get superstar calls now.
Blast
December 31st, 2012
7:57 pm
Houston can’t miss a shot or free throw while Hawks can’t buy none.
High-sider
December 31st, 2012
7:58 pm
Hawks’ players look like they got their minds on Dreams and Harlem Knights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY1eJs9gmXo (starting @3:00)
keith
December 31st, 2012
7:59 pm
BENCH JOSH SMITH…………..YOU BIG DUMMY!!!!!
3-9 8 Points…..Need I say more….Bench this guy ASAP…………He is the problem rather than the solution…LARRY…
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2012
8:00 pm
A healthy Josh would have at least 8 points in the post against Morris so far.
Honesty
December 31st, 2012
8:03 pm
These Texas teams really grind my gears. Why are they always ho hen we play them?
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2012
8:04 pm
Wow, that was a pretty terrible time to get called for a moving screen.
Honesty
December 31st, 2012
8:04 pm
*Hot
Admiral SnAckbar
December 31st, 2012
8:05 pm
Hawks not prepared tonite. unusual so far this year.
Melvin
December 31st, 2012
8:05 pm
Terrible 2nd qtr by the Hawks.
LouWill83
December 31st, 2012
8:06 pm
Yes Najeh because according to drew the game plan doesnt matter its just the energy. Obviously he had no plan whatsoever coming into the game. Get us a real coach
Sameba
December 31st, 2012
8:07 pm
The only solution, at least partial, I see in benching Josh. Everyone is looking for him rather than play a damn basketball!!
JaeEvolution
December 31st, 2012
8:08 pm
“I remember. Don’t remind me,” Drew said of Harden’s game. “We just have to be better with our defensive coverages. That’s where we had the breakdown. I think defensively we are in a better place that the first game of the season.”
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2012
8:08 pm
Kevin McHale was a pretty terrible GM but he is an underrated head coach. Harden is a great player but that team overall plays above its talent level.
MattP
December 31st, 2012
8:09 pm
What a second quarter meltdown
EmirS.
December 31st, 2012
8:10 pm
@LouWill83
Ironically enough, it seems to be pretty damn close to being true. Teague isn’t playing with energy tonight. We don’t seem to have a plan B, C, or D. If we lose this, does Teague get blamed for not playing with energy tonight? Do we single out one specific person?
Yea…you bet your ass we do.
Heh.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 31st, 2012
8:10 pm
John Jenkins played more minutes than anyone else on the bench in that first half.