Atlanta Hawks vs Portland Trailblazers gamethread

[ATL Boy]

Starting lineups: Atlanta Hawks
PG: Jeff Teague
SG: Joe Johnson
SF: Marvin Williams
PF: Josh Smith
C: Zaza Pachulia
(lineups subject to change, if they do please inform me and I'll change them)
Bench: Kirk Hinrich, Willie Green, Tracy Mcgrady, Jannero Pargo, Jerry Stackhouse, Ivan Johnson, Vladimir Radmonovic
Injuries: Jason Collins, Al Horford
Starting 5: Portland Trailblazers
PG: Raymond Felton
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: Gerald Wallace
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge
C: Kurt Thomas
(lineups subject to change, it they do please inform me)
Bench: Nolan Smith, Jamal Crawford, Marcus Camby, Craig Smith, Elliot Williams, Armon Johnson, Chris Johnson, Luke Babbitt
Injuries: Greg Oden
Stat Leaders: Atlanta Hawks:
PPG: Joe Johnson: 17.8
RPG: Josh Smith: 9.5
APG: Jeff Teague: 4.7
Other Stats: Josh Smith: 2.1 BPG, Jeff Teague: 1.8 SPG
Portland Trailblazers:
PPG: LaMarcus Aldridge: 22.6
RPG: Marcus Camby: 9.7
APG: Raymond Felton: 6.5
Other Stats: Marcus Camby: 1.6 BPG, Gerald Wallace: 1.6 SPG
What happened last game:
Atlanta: Atlanta 101 - PHX 99
Portland: Portland 74 - LAC 71
Key to the game: Take control of Portland's offensive struggles: They scored 28 points the entire second half vs LAC, we have to take advantage of their offensive struggles.

We need to go into Portland and be unstoppable, not even a 7 nation army should be able to stop us
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J2QdDbelmY&ob=av2e[/youtube]

[MaceCase]

Did I really sleep an entire day or is this thread just a day early?

[DirtybirdGA]

It's early but I guess it's good to get it squared away.

[HMFFL]

LMA will probably return for this one.

Today is a much needed day off for Portland since they played three straight games.

[ATL Boy]

Did I really sleep an entire day or is this thread just a day early?

Yea it's early, I just had some time today so I decided to do the threa

LMA will probably return for this one.

Today is a much needed day off for Portland since they played three straight games.

Alright, I'll edit LMA into the starting lineup

[HMFFL]

I hope he sits of course.

While the team is hoping he can play on Saturday, he has said that he should be fine by the All-Star game, which is more than a week later.
The Blazers play the Hawks on Saturday and are then at the Lakers and Spurs on Monday and Tuesday, their last games before the break. While it's entirely possible Aldridge could play in all three of those games, he also has a chance of missing all of them. Keep him benched until we get more concrete information about when he might play again. Feb 17 - 9:56 AM
Source: Ben Golliver on Twitter

[Skyhawk1]

I'm impressed with Batum's improvement. He's so active and has such an easy time letting the game come to him. I have a hard time understanding why Portland has struggled so much, they got a great roster, it may be the chemistry and/or coach of this team. Now, we will need to play a good game to pull this one off. If Aldridge doesn't play, at least we don't have to worry so much about any of their big man in Wallace/Thomas/Camby... good rebounders but not a threat to score down low.

[HMFFL]

Portland is favored to win by 3 points.

I give Portland the edge even if LMA sits out.

[HMFFL]

LMA took part in the morning shootaround but continues to be a game time decision.

[Superiorblogman]

Line jumped to 5, Aldridge will probably play

[parson]

Marvelous shooting sideways again. I really wish he'd learn to square up. It always looks as if he's in too much of a hurry.

[MaceCase]

Marvelous shooting sideways again. I really wish he'd learn to square up. It always looks as if he's in too much of a hurry.

He's taken two jumpers, one flush the other was the first of 3 targets where he could actually reach and prevent the ball from going out of bounds......as I type he flushes the third jumper when he was hit square.

[MaceCase]

Teague just doesn't have it tonight. Inside, outside, wide open, contested, same story....brick.

[parson]

We ran a fast break!!!! This game is officially a win for me.

[MaceCase]

LD willfully stat padding, leaving Josh in with the deep bench to get his 10th assist to complete the Trip-double.....

I guess if you're not going to coach to win the game you might as well coach to get your boys their stats (unless they're named Marvin).


Edit: ah, he took him out at the 2 minute mark after he tried to force a pass into Ivan. I thought it was an assist but maybe the Portland stat keepers are feeling salty.

[ATL Boy]

Well it was just one of those game where the shots weren't falling, but I think taking Josh out would've been the wrong move as it would've made the relationship between Josh and LD even more hostile

[parson]

I guess if you're not going to coach to win the game you might as well coach to get your boys their stats (unless they're named Marvin).

I've decided that Drew's on a time limit with Marvelous. Trying to take care of his back is the only thing that explains it to me. I've seen Drew pull Marvelous in the middle of good play.

[parson]

Let's face it, if you're not trying to fast break, if you're not trying to score inside, if you're not trying to set picks to get your teammate open, it's awfully hard to score.

We are a jump shooting team.

[Superiorblogman]

I don't see the light.

[ATL Boy]

Let's face it, if you're not trying to fast break, if you're not trying to score inside, if you're not trying to set picks to get your teammate open, it's awfully hard to score.

We are a jump shooting team.

exactly, and we need a coach that can emphasize doing all that stuff, a good veteran coach like Adelman (who was available) but the cheap ownership doesn't wanna pay for a good coach.