Peachtree Hoops - March 27: Trail Blazers 100, Hawks 85The place to read about/discuss the Atlanta Hawks.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/8811/peachtree-fave.jpg2014-03-27T21:47:26-04:00http://www.peachtreehoops.com/rss/stream/53180152014-03-27T21:47:26-04:002014-03-27T21:47:26-04:00Hawks drop 5th straight, 100-85
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<figcaption>Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Atlanta Hawks battled for 48 minutes, but in the end, the team fell victim to their 5th consecutive defeat in a 100-85 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. </p> <p>For the fifth consecutive game, the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a> found themselves at the wrong end of the decision when the buzzer sounded, as they fell victim to the <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Portland Trail Blazers</a> by a score of 100-85.</p>
<p>The Hawks were viciously undermanned in the game, as both <span>Pero Antic</span> and <span>Kyle Korver</span> were ruled out just prior to game time, and although they battled valiantly, it wasn't nearly enough. Atlanta fell behind by 16 points at the half thanks to a 51% shooting clip by the visiting Blazers, and despite a valiant comeback effort in the 3rd that saw the team draw within 6 after a 13-3 run, Portland was able to hold off the Hawks, even by a slimmer margin than some would have expected until the final moments.</p>
<p>After a scoreless night on Thursday, Hawks point guard <span>Jeff Teague</span> had a nice bounceback effort in this one, as he finished with 22 points on 10 for 18 shooting. Teague was visibly aggressive in a way that he didn't flash in Minnesota, and that alone is encouraging. In support of Jeff, <span>Elton Brand</span> put up a monster night with a 11-point, 12-rebound double-double in 29 minutes, and <span>Lou Williams</span> added 16 points (including 13 in the 4th), 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in 29 minutes off the bench. Unfortunately, the Hawks were unable to knock down a decent percentage of their threes in Korver's absence (4-for-22, 18%) and in order to pull the "upset", that wasn't going to fly.</p>
<p>On the Portland side, the full-strength Blazers were just too much, and they were led by their returning superstar, LaMarcus Aldridge. In his first game back in nearly two weeks, the All-Star forward scored 25 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, and when you couple that with strong play across the perimeter for Portland, the undermanned home team was unable to counteract their charge.</p>
<p>The Hawks will travel to Washington to face the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> on Saturday night, and with Atlanta's lead over New York down to just 1.5 games after this defeat, the urgency level is rising by the moment.</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/3/27/5555566/blazers-vs-hawks-final-scoreBrad Rowland2014-03-27T17:55:29-04:002014-03-27T17:55:29-04:00Kyle Korver remains out against Blazers
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<figcaption>Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Spo</figcaption>
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<p>For the fifth consecutive game, the Atlanta Hawks will be without the services of Kyle Korver when they take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> swingman <span>Kyle Korver</span> has missed the past four games as a result of reported back spasms, and the team received a bit of poor news on Thursday, as <span>Mike Budenholzer</span> announced that the sharpshooter would still be out of the lineup as the team faces off with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blazersedge.com/">Portland Trail Blazers</a>.</p>
<p>The team is just 1-7 without Korver in the lineup this season, and while it certainly too aggressive to suggest that the losses are all a result of his absence, there is a reasonable argument for correlation. Korver is one of the best floor spacers in the entire NBA with top-5 rankings in true shooting percentage (67%) and effective field goal percentage (64.3%), but more than that, he is a quality team defender who is always in the right place, and that has been sorely lacking on the wing for Atlanta.</p>
<p>Without Korver available, Budenholzer has turned to starting lineups that included <span>Shelvin Mack</span> and even <span>Mike Scott</span> (at the small forward spot), and things get even more interesting with center Pero Antic on the shelf (per Bud's announcement in pregame) as a result of an ankle injury. The starting lineup has yet to be released as of this post, but it is a good bit that we will see a great deal of guys like Elton Brand, Mike Scott, and Cartier Martin. Stay tuned.</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/3/27/5553062/kyle-korver-injury-back-atlanta-hawks-portlandBrad Rowland2014-03-27T17:53:03-04:002014-03-27T17:53:03-04:00Pero Antic out against Blazers
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<figcaption>Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Spo</figcaption>
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<p>The mounting injury woes for the Atlanta Hawks are set to to continue on Thursday, as starting center Pero Antic will miss the game against the Portland Trail Blazers as a result of an ankle injury.</p> <p>The hits keep on coming for the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a>, as starting center <span>Pero Antic</span> has been ruled out of Thursday's game with Portland as a result of a sprained right ankle. The injury was first reported by Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution following the disappointing loss in Minnesota on Wednesday, but his Antic's absence for Thursday was announced by <span>Mike Budenholzer</span> in the pregame press conference.</p>
<p>Antic has been a revelation in place of <span>Al Horford</span> this season, averaging 7 points and 4 rebounds per game in 18 minutes, but his play has been much more significant than the statistics indicate, and this is a tremendous loss. With Pero out of the lineup for a 17-game stretch in February and early March, the Hawks went a disastrous 4-13, and without him available, <span>Elton Brand</span> and <span>Mike Muscala</span> will be the only healthy options at the center position.</p>
<p>Antic's timetable for return is still unknown at this stage, but we will bring updates as more information becomes available.</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/3/27/5554196/pero-antic-injury-ankle-atlanta-hawks-portlandBrad Rowland2014-03-27T15:30:02-04:002014-03-27T15:30:02-04:00WANTED: DIVINE INTERVENTION
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<figcaption>Lose in the ATL? Um, here's my answer. | Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Atlanta Hawks have lost many, many games in the last couple of months and hope to stop the pain at home against the Portland Trail Blazers.</p> <p> </p>
<table cellpadding="5" align="center" border="1" cellspacing="5" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table"><tbody> <tr><th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center">2014 NBA Regular Season Game 71</th></tr> <tr> <td width="240"> <center><img src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/1725643/blazers_medium.gif" alt="Blazers_medium"></center> <center><strong style="font-size: 12px;">(45-27)</strong></center> </td> <th width="20" align="center">vs</th> <td width="240"><center> <center> <a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/991577/hawkslogomedium.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Hawkslogomedium_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/991577/hawkslogomedium_medium.png"></a> <br id="1383957918576"> </center> <center><strong>(31-39)</strong></center> </center></td> </tr> <tr><td bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><strong>Thursday, March 27th</strong></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center"><strong>VERIZON CENTER – WASHINGTON, DC</strong></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center"><strong>7:30 p.m. </strong></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" align="center"><strong>SportSouth, 92.9 FM "The Game"</strong></td></tr> <tr><th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center">Probable Starters</th></tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><strong><span>Damian Lillard</span></strong></td> <th width="20" align="center">PG</th> <td width="240"><strong><span>Jeff Teague</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><strong><span>Wesley Matthews</span></strong></td> <th width="20" align="center">SG</th> <td width="240"><strong><span>Shelvin Mack</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><strong><span>Nicolas Batum</span></strong></td> <th width="20" align="center">SF</th> <td width="240"><strong><span>DeMarre Carroll</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><strong><span>Dorell Wright</span></strong></td> <th width="20" align="center">PF</th> <td width="240"><strong><span>Paul Millsap</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right"><font color="#292929"><span><strong><span>Robin Lopez</span></strong></span></font></td> <th width="20" align="center">C</th> <td width="240"><strong><span>Elton Brand</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr><th bgcolor="silver" colspan="3" align="center"><strong>2013-14 Advanced Stats</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right">95.0 (12th)</td> <th width="20" align="center">Pace</th> <td width="240">94.9 (13th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right">111.6 (2nd)</td> <th width="20" align="center">ORtg</th> <td width="240">105.7 (18th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="240" align="right">107.7 (19th)</td> <th width="20" align="center">DRtg</th> <td width="240">106.9 (17th)</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
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<h4>Our old friend, <span>Terry Stotts</span>, brings his <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Trail Blazers</a> currently holding the fifth seed in the playoff race in the West. They are 2.5 games ahead of the ninth seed.</h4>
<h4>So the need this game.</h4>
<h4>In that vein, <span>LaMarcus Aldridge</span> is trying to join the millions of players in NBA History who have fought to come back to the court to play the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a>. He is currently questionable but those who have watched the Hawks know that between POR fighting in the West and the Hawks current defensive position, Aldridge may as well play 40 minutes tonight.</h4>
<h4>The Hawks are still without <span>Kyle Korver</span>, who is proving his importance to this team every night he doesn't play. Pleeeeeeeease come back soon, Kyle. Pleeeeeeease. Pero Antic is also expected to miss the game tonight, leaving Elton Brand, <span>Mike Muscala</span>, you and me as bigs off the bench.</h4>
<h4>But hey, it's the NBA so, you know, there's a chance.</h4>
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<h5><strong style="font-size: 12px;">For in-game updates be sure to follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/peachtreehoops">Peachtree Hoops on Twitter</a>.</strong></h5>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/3/27/5554142/atlanta-hawks-vs-portland-trail-blazers-game-threadJason Walker2014-03-27T13:16:35-04:002014-03-27T13:16:35-04:00LaMarcus Aldridge to return against Hawks
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<figcaption>Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Spo</figcaption>
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<p>Portland Trail Blazers star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge now expects to return from injury when the team faces off with the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night.</p> <p>While the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a> still have questions surrounding the health of <span>Kyle Korver</span> (back spasms) and <span>Pero Antic</span> (reported sprain ankle), their opponent for Thursday night, the <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Portland Trail Blazers</a>, received an injection of life into their active roster earlier in the day.</p>
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<p>Team said last night that <a href="https://twitter.com/aldridge_12">@aldridge_12</a> would be a game time decision, but he just said he WILL play tonight vs. Hawks</p>
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) <a href="https://twitter.com/CHold/statuses/449209637590794240">March 27, 2014</a>
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<p>All-Star power forward <span>LaMarcus Aldridge</span> stated that he will play in the game against Atlanta, and it would mark a return from a 7-game absence for the 28-year-old. Aldridge has been one of the best players in the NBA this season, averaging 23.4 points and 11.1 rebounds to lead the team in both categories, and to be honest, this was the biggest fear for any Hawks fan prior to tip-off.</p>
<p>There could be a decent amount of rust surrounding Aldridge, who hasn't played in a game since March 12th, but even at 80%, he will be a significant threat on the offensive end, and that spells trouble for the possibly shorthanded Hawks.</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/3/27/5554164/lamarcus-aldridge-injury-back-atlanta-hawks-portlandBrad Rowland2014-03-27T08:00:08-04:002014-03-27T08:00:08-04:00Tall task continues as Hawks host Blazers
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<figcaption>Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Spo</figcaption>
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<p>The Atlanta Hawks have lost 4 consecutive games, but they return to the friendly confines of Philips Arena to take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.</p> <p>After a gutting, blowout defeat at the hands of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canishoopus.com/">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> on Wednesday night, there is no rest or "break" for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a>, as they get set to take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blazersedge.com/">Portland Trail Blazers</a> on a back-to-back on Thursday night in Atlanta. The 24-point demolition in Minnesota serves as the fourth consecutive loss for the Hawks, and more importantly, the defeat allowed the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">New York Knicks</a> to climb within 2 games of Atlanta for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.</p>
<p>Thursday night's action has a very interesting twist to it, and that wrinkle centers around whether Portland's best player, <span>LaMarcus Aldridge</span>, will be able to suit up. The All-Star power forward has missed Portland's last 7 games as a result of a back injury (sound familiar?), and the Blazers enter Thursday having lost their last three straight as a result. Reports have swirled that Aldridge could be available for the game, and if he is, <span>Paul Millsap</span> and company will have their hands full up front.</p>
<p>Even aside from Aldridge, though, the Hawks have a difficult task ahead of them. Atlanta is now 1-7 on the season without <span>Kyle Korver</span> in the lineup, and there is no guarantee that the league's top shooter will be available with his own back issue. On the bright side, the Portland defense has been somewhat suspect over the last couple of months, but after a turnover bonanza on Wednesday, it would be difficult to project anything in the way of efficient offense, no matter the opponent.</p>
<p>The point guard spot represents the "match-up to watch" in this game, as <span>Jeff Teague</span> will be forced to deal with big-time scorer Damian Lillard. The 2nd-year guard from Weber State is averaging 21.1 points and 5.6 assists per game this season, and he personifies a unique blend of ball-handling with a top-tier jumper that has seen him knock down 38.5% on 6.9 3-point attempts per game. Teague is coming off of a complete flop in which he went scoreless on Wednesday, but the competition level certainly doesn't soften here.</p>
<p>With a trip to Washington looming on Saturday, Thursday's match-up with the Blazers looks to be one that the Hawks simply can't afford to lose in their current state. It would be highly encouraging if Kyle Korver was able to go, but if he can't, the rest of the team will be called upon to step up, and hopefully, <span>Mike Budenholzer</span> and company can piece together a victory.</p>
<h3>Game Info</h3>
<p><b>Game Date/Time:</b> Thursday, March 27, 7:30 p.m.</p>
<p><b>Location: </b>Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia</p>
<p><b>TV: </b>SportSouth</p>
<p><b>Radio: </b>92.9 "The Game" FM</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/3/27/5552824/blazers-vs-hawks-preview-time-tv-radioBrad Rowland