Game thread: Medical clearance needed for Stevenson to play in back-to-backs
Vivlamore reporting.
As the Hawks take on the Celtics tonight, they will have swingman DeShawn Stevenson available. Coach Larry Drew did not use Stevenson against the Pistons last night in order to have his services tonight.
It will be a boost for the short-handed Hawks, who do not play Stevenson in back-to-back games due to the 13-year veteran’s ailing knees.
I asked Drew if Stevenson truly can’t play in back-to-back games. Friday night against the Pistons, the Hawks were without guards Devin Harris and Anthony Morrow. They couldn’t buy a basket early on from anyone other than Al Horford or Josh Smith. The Hawks went 15 minutes, a full quarter plus, before another player scored. With their early trouble shooting from the outside, certainly they could have used Stevenson and his long-range shooting.
It turns out, according to Drew, the team needs clearance from the medical staff to use Stevenson two straight games.
“We are really just taking real precautionary measures with him,” Drew said. “We went into the season with our mind made up (not to play Stevenson in back-to-back-games). Now, it could change if the knees are feeling better but we have to get medical clearance in order to play him a few minutes one night and a few minutes the next night on a back-to-back.”
Drew said the situation was discussed before the season as a team and with Stevenson.
Stevenson was not in the locker room prior to the game but I will speak with him after the game to get his point of view on the situation.
In other news:
* Harris (sore left foot) and Morrow (right hip strain) are out versus the Celtics. Harris has missed the past 10 games with his injury and Morrow has missed the past five games. Center Johan Petro (stomach illness) is available. I spoke to Harris before the game. He said it is still painful to push off the foot. There is no timetable for his return, although he has been working out. “That remains to be seen,” he told me.
* There are no limitations on Smith, who played just 12 minutes in the second half against the Pistons after aggravating his strained right hip flexor.
* Drew will stay with the same starting lineup used in the past six games with Jeff Teague, Lou Williams, Kyle Korver, Smith and Horford.
* On Saturday, Smith filmed a commercial as part of the NBA’s year-long BIG promotion. LeBron James and Kevin Durant have also been featured in similar commercials.
* According to Drew, the Teague-Rajon Rondo matchup will be key tonight.
“Jeff has to be in the attack mode all game long,” Drew said. “You can’t play passive against a guy like Rondo. If he does, that won’t get it done. He has to be very aggressive on both ends of the floor. He’s got to be relentless on both ends of the floor. The ball is going to be in Rondo’s hands a lot. He is going to get to the basket. He’s going to score some points. He’s going to get some assists. We need Jeff to do the same thing.”
- Chris Vivlamore
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258 comments Add your comment
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
9:09 pm
ITS TIME TO CALL OUT THE HAWKS BIGS, NOT THE GUARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DISMANTLE THIS FRONT LINE
keith
January 5th, 2013
9:09 pm
NEW SHOW BASKETBALL APPRENTIC NEEDED…..PAGING DONALD TRUMP..
We need Donald Trump to come in here and “fire some of these Scrub Basketball Players”
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
9:10 pm
THIS UNBALANCE FRANCHISE WILL FAIL MISERABLY IN THE PLAYOFFS
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
9:10 pm
IVAN THE GREAT!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 5th, 2013
9:10 pm
Could have used Ivan a long time ago in this game. Thanks LD.
Melvin
January 5th, 2013
9:11 pm
Nice follow up by Ivan
Honesty
January 5th, 2013
9:11 pm
Zaza, Horford, Josh, Ivan and Teague
That lineup should be on the floor. I don’t give a damn!
MattP
January 5th, 2013
9:11 pm
Wonder if LD is wishing he played Ivan earlier.
Rev in Tampa
January 5th, 2013
9:11 pm
I thought that Nique had put on a uniform and dunked the put-back
J.J.M.
January 5th, 2013
9:11 pm
Dumbest point guard in the nba
keith
January 5th, 2013
9:12 pm
Jeff Teague…this dude is flat out scared in crunch time….
NUNNA!!
January 5th, 2013
9:12 pm
Teague still has no clue on where his mates best scoring chances on the floor is.
..He will kick out to Josh camping at da 3..He will pick up his dribble at the wrong time and look for anyone except LD to bail him out..
Yes he has his good games where he looks like a mini Rajon in flashes,but over the past week?
I don’t know//
lanorris39
January 5th, 2013
9:13 pm
Without Josh. We have zero chances of getting D. Howard. So any trade involving Josh, completely eliminates D. Howard.
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
9:13 pm
AL with only two fouls? Soft
Rev in Tampa
January 5th, 2013
9:13 pm
What was Al yelling about?
Astro Joe
January 5th, 2013
9:13 pm
If the Hawks go .500 after jumping out to a great record, they may still wind up with a 46-36 record. And that would be 3-4 wins more than I anticipaed and probably will get them a #6 seed.
W.R. Terrell
January 5th, 2013
9:14 pm
LD should have never put the “Smoove” back in
Honesty
January 5th, 2013
9:14 pm
Go get the ball from Rondo Jefff! WTH is with this weak azz pressure!
Melvin
January 5th, 2013
9:14 pm
Oh well, Game Over….
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
9:14 pm
Josh and Teague need to sit down now……………..
High-sider
January 5th, 2013
9:15 pm
“Osh” Smith is 3 of 15 from the field with six turnovers (smh).
Najeh Davenpoop
January 5th, 2013
9:15 pm
This team, as a whole, is scared of the Celtics. Pierce and Garnett are in their heads. Josh and Al are scared of KG, Teague is scared of Rondo, and the team as a whole just sh-ts their pants every time they see green. Pretty pathetic.
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
9:16 pm
“If the Hawks go .500 after jumping out to a great record, they may still wind up with a 46-36 record. And that would be 3-4 wins more than I anticipaed and probably will get them a #6 seed.’
one and done..
Allstar Al is upset cause his soft azz is on lock down…LOL!
keith
January 5th, 2013
9:16 pm
THIS WAS ATROCIOUS BASKETBALL TONIGHT…..
Poor Coaching….Poor Playing….Just plain POOR….
Outstanding effort by Lou Williams, but once again, OUR SOFT BIGS, let us down…We need to send them to “Iron Man School”
MattP
January 5th, 2013
9:17 pm
Lou is 9-11 shooting and we lose. lol
Honesty
January 5th, 2013
9:17 pm
What more could Lou Do? 26PPG is his HS average and he’s eclipsed that. Front line didn’t show up tonight.
SOFT
keith
January 5th, 2013
9:17 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
January 5th, 2013
9:15 pm
DITTO all day long!!!!!
SteveW
January 5th, 2013
9:17 pm
Najeh – Bottomline that is true
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
9:17 pm
ITS OVA CAUSE THE BIGS ARE SORRY!
WE HAVE A BETTER SHOT AT GETTING COUSINS THEN GO AFTER CP3 AND D12 IN THE OFF SEASON,
THIS FRONT LINE AS PRESENTLY CONSTRUCTED MUST GO
MattP
January 5th, 2013
9:18 pm
I think Drew tells everyone to look for Josh.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 5th, 2013
9:18 pm
Al passes up an open mid range shot to kick to Josh for a 3 (which he makes). Teague hasn’t played well lately but kicking to Josh isn’t his fault — it’s the way this team is coached. The rest of the team clearly doesn’t mind Josh taking those.
W.R. Terrell
January 5th, 2013
9:18 pm
@Ianorris. Howard could have come to Atlanta this year, the HAWKS have the funds. Why do folks believe he wants to play with Josh? In reality he simply does not.
JaeEvolution
January 5th, 2013
9:19 pm
Josh is really falling in love with the three lately…
Honesty
January 5th, 2013
9:19 pm
Jeff is pissing me off tonight. He is to damn scared to take over! Sacrifice your body and draw a damn foul!!! Smh!!!!
Slimjr
January 5th, 2013
9:19 pm
JOSH BRICK 3 JUST FINISHED THEM OFF..
keith
January 5th, 2013
9:20 pm
If this was a Prison…Hawks would be the Celtics’ B……s all night long!!! Man-up Al and Josh and defend your HOUSE!!!
They need a Ray Lewis Speech or SOMETHING…
MattP
January 5th, 2013
9:20 pm
Wish this coach would not play Smith as the #1 option on offense.
Honesty
January 5th, 2013
9:20 pm
Passing the ball to Josh out there!!! Can’t even be mad at josh!!! Everybody else is scared!
NUNNA!!
January 5th, 2013
9:20 pm
I DON’T CARE!! JOSH MADE THAT 3!!
But Teague has to know not to pass him that ball when his is that far out!!!
Teague is freaking pissing me off!!
Buddy Grizzard
January 5th, 2013
9:20 pm
Zaza Pachulia… not scared of green… 13 min
Ivan Johnson… not scared of green… 4 min
Old Man Peabody
January 5th, 2013
9:20 pm
Why in the hell is Josh launching 5 3pt att in a game
SteveW
January 5th, 2013
9:20 pm
ZaZa and Ivan are not scared of the celts. Deshawns not either. Lou must not be. Other guys seem to be
harpie
January 5th, 2013
9:21 pm
Larry Drew = World’s Worst Coach!!!!!!
SteveW
January 5th, 2013
9:22 pm
JT is starting to remind me of Sanchez with the jets. Something’s in his head ought not to be there
Najeh Davenpoop
January 5th, 2013
9:22 pm
“Wish this coach would not play Smith as the #1 option on offense.”
They don’t have a choice. He creates shots for others better than anyone else on this team.
Melvin
January 5th, 2013
9:22 pm
Why does LD take a timeout now? No need to prolong this meltdown.
High-sider
January 5th, 2013
9:22 pm
Hawks have scored 26 points in the 2nd half (thus far).
W.R. Terrell
January 5th, 2013
9:23 pm
Damn shame the HAWKS lose a game they should have clearly won, a 29 point turn around but folks believe the “Smoove” is the HAWKS savior….lolololololol
Najeh Davenpoop
January 5th, 2013
9:23 pm
“Zaza Pachulia… not scared of green… 13 min
Ivan Johnson… not scared of green… 4 min”
True. They are the only ones, though.
keith
January 5th, 2013
9:23 pm
If i was Danny Ferry and ASG….LD would be clearing out his office tonight….Larry..You’re Fired(Donald Trump Voice)…