Kirk Hinrich Injury: Hawks Guard To Begin Non-Contact Drills In About Two Weeks

by Kris Willis on Jan 4, 2012 8:01 AM EST

Prior to their game on Tuesday, the Atlanta Hawks received some good news on injured guard Kirk Hinrich who had his eight-week exam with his doctor. Hinrich has been out of action after off season shoulder surgery.

"They are going to let me start doing all of the non-contact stuff with the team. A couple weeks from now, we will see how it goes from there. It's one of those deals where I'm excited to do some things. Hopefully I can get my conditioning right and keep strengthening. I have some weakness. I need to get stronger before I get out there."

Hinrich hasn't played for the Hawks since injuring his hamstring in the Game 6 win over the Orlando Magic last season during the playoffs. He missed the entire second round series against Chicago which gave the opportunity to run the team to Jeff Teague who has started every game since Hinrich's injury. When asked about Hinrich's role after he returns, Hawks coach Larry Drew was non-committal.

"We will see how that goes with Kirk. We are certainly going to bring him along slowly. But as far as who is going to be the starter, I haven't made a decision."

More tough love for Teague? Perhaps, but it is highly unlikely that he is replaced by Hinrich in the starting lineup. Kirk will no doubt need some time to round into shape once he returns and provides the Hawks with a reliable option off the bench at either guard spot once he returns.

Teague has been a catalyst for the Hawks' good start to the season and rebounded from a sub par outing in Houston on Saturday to score 15 points in Atlanta's road win over the Miami Heat on Monday.

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Good news

You can be confident that he’ll put in the extra wok to strengthen the shoulder quicker than expexted. That’s how true professionals operate.

Definitely see his most suitable role on the team is being able to slot in at the 1 or the 2 off the bench.

Will making it back to the Eastern Conference Semis give Larry Drew another year at the helm?

by Nique Fan on Jan 4, 2012 10:14 AM EST reply actions

You know what's going to suck...

Is that all the frustrations we have with LD substitution patterns will be increased once Hinrich returns. Hinrich will end up cutting Teague’s playing time in half and all the things we love aboute Teague will only be seen 20 something minutes a night.

by BravesFanScout on Jan 4, 2012 10:37 AM EST reply actions

I hope he takes all of willie green or pargo minutes

"A ‘No’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble."
Mohandas Gandhi

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
Winston Churchill

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"
Jesus

"We were real solid on both ends of the floor today and had positive energy coming from the bench tonight."
Jeff Teague

by Throw on Jan 4, 2012 11:15 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I think he can do the non-contact now, and is about 2 weeks from contact drills

He still isn’t sure when he will return to play for the Hawks this season.

“[Monday] would have been my eight weeks,” he said. “I’ll be able to do non-contact for two weeks. I guess when I get to the 10-week mark I’ll try and start doing some contact hopefully. If it’s still going the way it is now … You want to be sure, but I don’t know how sure you can be.”

From a Nick Friedell article. It’s worded a little awkwardly in the above quote, but this one definitely sounds like non-contact now.

by wjb1492 on Jan 4, 2012 12:55 PM EST reply actions

thank goodness

"A ‘No’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble."
Mohandas Gandhi

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
Winston Churchill

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"
Jesus

"We were real solid on both ends of the floor today and had positive energy coming from the bench tonight."
Jeff Teague

by Throw on Jan 4, 2012 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks for the clarification

I actually re-read this twice last night but if I was going to be wrong I wanted to say the worst possible scenario. I apologize for the mistake.

@Kris_Willis
+Kris Willis
facebook.com/krisawillis

by Kris Willis on Jan 4, 2012 4:21 PM EST up reply actions

I said it before

and I’ll say it again. I don’t like even playing with Teague like this. Some people think this is the light a fire type of stuff a coach should do to keep Teague on edge, but if you’ve watched – Teague has never performed well when he’s looking over his shoulder, but he has when he knows its his team. This – I’m not sure who the starter is stuff is absolute bunk. Whether he means or not (and from the last 2 years – I think he means it) – it’s just ridiculous to say. I keep harping on it – Drew can be excused for some of the tactical stuff, but his out of game coaching sucks as far as I’m concerned. If I’m a 23-24 year old point guard who thinks he just got his stint at point guard, the last thing I want to hear is – yeah, you looked good, but it’s still not your team when you know you have the most talent at the position. I just hate Drew’s media savvy…

Hawk Str8Talk

by Hawk Str8Talk on Jan 4, 2012 5:25 PM EST reply actions

+1

This team will only go as far as Teague takes them. Hinrich does not deserve to start over Teague, especially if he is not in the long-term interest of the team.

by jdewayneatl on Jan 4, 2012 5:43 PM EST up reply actions