Game thread: Morrow out vs. T’Wolves with back stiffness
Vivlamore reporting from Minneapolis.
The Hawks will definitely be without Anthony Morrow and likely without Devin Harris tonight against the Timberwolves although the injured guards accompanied the team on the two-game road trip.
Morrow, who has missed the past five games with a right hip strain, is now experiencing lower back stiffness. He did not practice Tuesday’s morning and coach Larry Drew ruled him out against the T’Wolves.
Harris, who has missed the past 10 games with a sore left foot, took part in Tuesday’s shootaround. However, Drew said he is inclined to hold Harris out in favor of Wednesday’s game at the Cavaliers.
“We don’t want it to flare up a little bit so we are being cautious,” said Drew, who added that the game in Cleveland was the original target date for Harris’ return.
* Drew will stay with the same starting lineup of Jeff Teague, Lou Williams, Kyle Korver, Josh Smith and Al Horford. Much of the reason for staying with the unit is the absence of Kevin Love for the T’Wolves. Love is out after breaking his right hand for the second time this season.
“I kind of like it against this team,” Drew said of the lineup. “It’s a situation of whether matchups are good. The matchups are OK. From their perimeter, which is I think a big strength for them, their guards can really score the basketball. With our matchups with Lou in the lineup, I think we are able to match up pretty good with them. On the other end, we are playing two point guards and it may force them to make some decisions with us.”
* Drew said the key to the game will be how the Hawks respond to the Love-less T’Wolves.
“Will we have a mental letdown coming into this game knowing that their other guys are really going to step their games up?” Drew said. “How will we respond with Love not playing? Will we be up for the challenge or will we come out and think this is one of those games where we can turn it on at any time? That’s going to be the biggest challenge.”
* From a technical standpoint, Drew is concerned with the T’Wolves guards, including Ricky Rubio who could return tonight.
“Their guards are a big part of what they do,” Drew said. “They run a lot of pick-and-rolls for (Luke) Ridnour; Rubio is back tonight; the kid (Alexey) Shved, I really like. And once that ball goes up on the glass can we keep (Nikola) Pekovic off that glass. He’s a big-time offensive rebounder. A lot of that is because you are put into certain actions based on what they do. We are going to have to do a good job on their guards.”
Drew also pointed to forwards Andrei Kirilenko and Dante Cunningham as players the Hawks will have to watch.
* In other news, it appears that former Hawks player Marvin Williams will miss Friday’s game, his first trip to Atlanta with the Jazz after being traded in the offseason.
Williams is expected to miss the next three Jazz games with right knee inflammation. According to a report, Williams will travel but not play.
- Chris Vivlamore
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476 comments Add your comment
O'Brien
January 8th, 2013
9:46 pm
Najeh,
You spoke to quickly. Houston outscored LAL 32-18 in the 3rd
Rev in Tampa
January 8th, 2013
9:47 pm
I am only just able to join the game. I have one question:
Did the “team talk” make any differences in how the Hawks have played tonight?
Slimjr
January 8th, 2013
9:47 pm
This game is [OVA] unless Al switches into beast mode?
Yea its over……
Astro Joe
January 8th, 2013
9:47 pm
LD preaches defense but substitutes based on offense. That is why Scott and Tolliver are playing and not Ivan. He is hoping Scott or Tolliver start knocking down 3s. At his core, LD is an offensive coordinator.
keith
January 8th, 2013
9:47 pm
I would be shocked if “Ned the Wine-O Drew” returns to this Basketball team next season…
High-sider
January 8th, 2013
9:48 pm
FIRE D’ANTONI!
I’m sorry – wrong blog.
jo
January 8th, 2013
9:48 pm
Dominque is trying to be upbeat and kind but even he is hard pressed to sound upbeat. We are down to trying to steal the game lol. So which allstar team do we play tomorrow Cleveland? Their players will transform into allstars before the hawks arrive. Lol
Rod from College Park
January 8th, 2013
9:48 pm
“And that’s in spite of getting routinely abused by Kirilenko. He’d be in positive territory if the Hawks had an actual small forward to guard the opposing team’s small forward so our shooting guard didn’t have to play a mismatch.”
Then he would get torched by whoever is playing SG. Same difference.
Sautee
January 8th, 2013
9:48 pm
“Zaza still hasn’t played in the second half.”
Ivan hasn’t played, period.
Clueless.
Slimjr
January 8th, 2013
9:48 pm
Rev, they forgot to show up tonight..
Hawks= Pickup game down at the y…
Reggie
January 8th, 2013
9:49 pm
Bucks fired Scott Skiles today I would take him over LD all day everyday and twice on Sunday
Ken Norman
January 8th, 2013
9:49 pm
LD needs to be fired immediately after this game.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 8th, 2013
9:49 pm
“LD preaches defense but substitutes based on offense. That is why Scott and Tolliver are playing and not Ivan. He is hoping Scott or Tolliver start knocking down 3s. At his core, LD is an offensive coordinator.”
The funny thing is Ivan is a MUCH better offensive player than Tolliver or Scott. He shoots jumpers better and finishes inside better. I honestly can’t think of one thing Tolliver does better than Ivan.
Buddy Grizzard
January 8th, 2013
9:49 pm
Kyle Korver aggregate +110 for the season, second on the team. John Jenkins aggregate -45 for the season, last on the team. Jenkins a game-worst -18 in this game in 20 minutes. Korver 24 minutes, -6.
W.R.Terrell
January 8th, 2013
9:50 pm
wow
High-sider
January 8th, 2013
9:50 pm
T-Wolves showin’ the Haws “no love.” (pun intended)
High-sider
January 8th, 2013
9:50 pm
^Hawks
Buddy Grizzard
January 8th, 2013
9:51 pm
Actually Rod from C.P., Korver is a plus defender. Study up before you speak:
http://hawkshoop.com/kyle-korver-plus-defender/
Najeh Davenpoop
January 8th, 2013
9:51 pm
“Kyle Korver aggregate +110 for the season, second on the team. John Jenkins aggregate -45 for the season, last on the team. Jenkins a game-worst -18 in this game in 20 minutes. Korver 24 minutes, -6.”
What percentage of Korver’s minutes have come with Josh and Al on the floor, and what percentage of Jenkins’ minutes have come with Josh and Al on the floor?
Jay Dubu
January 8th, 2013
9:51 pm
Stevenson has been invisible the last few games with his back to back game limitations, Harris has been on vacation, half of the season (as he typically does, that’s why he’s always on the move), Teague needs guidance, Josh does what he wants, when he wants, and Krover has been drasticlly overrated.
LD doesn’t use Ivan enough, and has little control over what is going on with this team. Time to Avery Johnson LD.
O'Brien
January 8th, 2013
9:51 pm
Rev,
The team meeting did not appear to make any difference
Rev in Tampa
January 8th, 2013
9:51 pm
Nice play by Scott. Made the move with confidence.
Slimjr
January 8th, 2013
9:51 pm
Grasshopper: coach Drew speak with forked tongue…
Haven’t you heard?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
January 8th, 2013
9:52 pm
Heat lose again and we are losing to team without its coach and highest paid player
“We just didn’t have the energy”
Lakers will lose to every team but when we play them we will probably get owned
WE NEED A SMALL FORWARD. I SAID THIS AFTER THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON
Rev in Tampa
January 8th, 2013
9:52 pm
Zaza running the break
Rod from College Park
January 8th, 2013
9:52 pm
“The funny thing is Ivan is a MUCH better offensive player than Tolliver or Scott. He shoots jumpers better and finishes inside better. I honestly can’t think of one thing Tolliver does better than Ivan.”
Shoot 3’s
jo
January 8th, 2013
9:52 pm
Great hawks energybut too sloppy to be of value.
BIG DOG
January 8th, 2013
9:53 pm
Big Dog Ivan still not play, I BE DAM
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
bigdave
January 8th, 2013
9:53 pm
Damn ZaZa
O'Brien
January 8th, 2013
9:53 pm
Two things you can count on from Zaza. Pump fakes, and illegal screens
BIG DOG
January 8th, 2013
9:53 pm
FIRE LD
Melvin
January 8th, 2013
9:54 pm
Did I just see Bob Weiss on the Hawks bench?
BIG DOG
January 8th, 2013
9:54 pm
I FOR GOT 2 SAY.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Sautee
January 8th, 2013
9:54 pm
“I honestly can’t think of one thing Tolliver does better than Ivan.” – Najeh
I think Tolliver is a better cheerleader from the bench.
Buddy Grizzard
January 8th, 2013
9:54 pm
I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE HIGH-SIDER!
Slimjr
January 8th, 2013
9:55 pm
We got a game?
Hawks cut the lead to 12? YESSSSSSS
keith
January 8th, 2013
9:55 pm
Game over Boys….Going to bed…..If the Hawks come back tonight..,,,then Eddie Long is really NOT FREAKY…Wayne Brady is not really a nerdy black guy…..Rhianna really can sing…
Rod from College Park
January 8th, 2013
9:55 pm
“Actually Rod from C.P., Korver is a plus defender. Study up before you speak:
http://hawkshoop.com/kyle-korver-plus-defender/”
When will you guys ever learn. SMH
BIG DOG
January 8th, 2013
9:55 pm
Bob Weiss the worst coach in Hawks history, SMH
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Najeh Davenpoop
January 8th, 2013
9:55 pm
Ivan is 1/5 from 3 this year (20%). Tolliver is shooting 21.9% from 3 this year (awful) and 31.3% for his career (below average). Considering how consistently Ivan knocks down long 2s, I don’t think it’s out of the question that he can match Tolliver’s pathetic numbers from 3 if he tried. Of course, he’s too busy hanging around the basket, getting buckets in the paint, collecting rebounds… all those things nobody else on the Hawks does.
Mookie Blaylock
January 8th, 2013
9:56 pm
Lou left that bum Tolliver hangin lmfao
Najeh Davenpoop
January 8th, 2013
9:56 pm
“Did I just see Bob Weiss on the Hawks bench?”
He’s been there all year.
jo
January 8th, 2013
9:56 pm
Needs stops and consistent scoring.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
January 8th, 2013
9:56 pm
LD will blame the loss on energy level and Jeff Teague
Buddy Grizzard
January 8th, 2013
9:57 pm
LD has thrown in the towell.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 8th, 2013
9:57 pm
Hawks cut it to 10 and Lou promptly throws an AWFUL pass to start a fast break for Minnesota. This team doesn’t want it.
BIG DOG
January 8th, 2013
9:57 pm
LD some time look like a Babby tadpole, SMH
FIRE LD
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Reggie
January 8th, 2013
9:57 pm
Starting lineup should be Teague Korver Josh Al and Za Za
Buddy Grizzard
January 8th, 2013
9:58 pm
All of the Hawks’ top 8 5-player combinations include at least two of Al, Josh and Zaza.
http://www.nba.com/statistics/plusminus/plusminus_sort.jsp?pcomb=5&season=22012&split=9&team=Hawks
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
January 8th, 2013
9:58 pm
FIRE LD