Atlanta Hawks (7-4) vs Charlotte Bobcats (2-8) gamethread

[ATL Boy]

Starting 5: Atlanta Hawks:
PG: Jeff Teague
SG: Joe Johnson
SF: Vladimir Radmonovic
PF: Josh Smith
C: Zaza Pachulia
Bench: Jannero Pargo, Ivan Johnson, Willie Green, Donald Sloan, Jason Collins, Jerry Stackhouse.
Injuries: Kirk Hinrich, Al Horford, Marvin Williams, Tracy Mcgrady (terrible list of players to be in this category)
Charlotte Bobcats:
PF: DJ Augustin
SG: Gerald Henderson
SF: Derrick Brown
PF: Boris Diaw
C: Desagana Diop
Bench: Matt Carroll, Cardiac Kemba, Bismack Biyambo, Byron Mullens, DJ White, Eduardo Najera.
Injuries: Corey Maggette, Tyrus Thomas, Reggie Williams.
What happened last game:
Charlotte: Charlotte 70 - Houston 82
Atlanta: Atlanta 84 - Indiana 96 (more importantly Al Horford tore his Pectoral Muscle)
Key to the Game/rest of the season: Everyone needs to step up: Horford is arguably our best player and whenever a team's best player goes down everyone else needs to step up their game especially when 2 other key players are out as well.

Al Horford tore his Pectoral Muscle: This is some of the worst news a Hawks fan could hear, but even with the injury the show goes on!!!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmp6zIr5y4U&ob=av2e[/youtube]

[MaceCase]

Man, you are a trooper. Sucks but the key will be to see how the team picks up with the loss of a major contributor. Their already well questioned mental toughness will be on display over the next few weeks; will the guys gut it out and show determination even with a major talent blow or will I be dusting off my old diesel drums and fueling up the tank.

[Ruhiel]

So who's the backup. We're so f***ed.

[joe56755]

should be an interesting game tonight . after losing their last game and starting center this team could come out determined and play well . even without horford atlanta is still the better team .

[Superiorblogman]

I am kinda happy in a weird way. Good year to be in the lotto

[ATL Boy]

I am kinda happy in a weird way. Good year to be in the lotto

I agree with u

[Superiorblogman]

No T-Mac, Marvin, Kirk, or Al. The Bobcats are the better team tonite

[MaceCase]

The real Big Three of Josh, Teague and Joe will handle them.

[johnny878]

josh is attacking the rim really well tonight

[HMFFL]

Nice first half for Joe and Josh. I hope it carries over to the second half.

Both will need to step their level of play up and score more during Horford's absence.

[johnny878]

Nice first half for Joe and Josh. I hope it carries over to the second half.

Both will need to step their level of play up and score more during Horford's absence.

i dont know why everyone has been posting about how joe and josh are just going to use this as an excuse to ballhog and act like how that will drag the team down.

I dislike Joe as much as any atlanta athelete this side of roddy white.

But, who else is going to take the shots now? the only way the hawks stay competitive if joe and josh take al's shots over.

[parson]

Agreed. This is the time for players to step up. Smith and Johnson and company need to shoot more than they're used to shooting.

[parson]

How can anybody not love Ivan Johnson?

[ATL Boy]

How can anybody not love Ivan Johnson?

IVAN THE TERRIBLE lol

[joe56755]

the hawks really stepped up and played well tonight . i know its only the bobcats but after the bad news on horford this does make me feel a little better .

[ATL Boy]

The Hawks made a statement tonight!!! Man it feels good to watch these guys step up with Horford going down, this makes me feel a little better about getting to and making a run in the playoffs (hopefully Al will be back by then) Good to see I was wrong about the guys ball hogging, they played like a team tonight, Josh with 30 and 13 WOW!!! Of course it was only the Bobcats lol

[Ruhiel]

But f course it was only the Bobcats...

[HMFFL]

We scored 52 in the paint, 24 fast break.

Charlotte had 38 in the paint, 10 fast break.

It's was a good effort tonight and win considering we needed some positive vibes after finding out Horford's most likely out for the season.

[Skyhawk1]

Nice win. Now, when you watch a team like the Bobcats play it's hard to believe the Hawks are a lottery team even without Horford. They flat out suck.

[Superiorblogman]

Messing up our lotto pick. Nothing special just a worse team. Josh jumpshot and his 30 were not impressive unless you think he is going to make them consistently and I know he will not.