Pac's Resurrection: The Official 2014-15 Atlanta Hawks Season Thread

[ATLien]

...Praise Him on a Sunday. God be with us!

 

[AVXL]

[
Horford admits discomfort with dislocated finger
9:53 p.m. Sunday, April 19, 2015 | Filed in: Hawks


Al Horford said his dislocated right pinkie finger is uncomfortable but the Hawks center does not expect to miss any time with the injury.

Horford was suffered the injured fighting for a rebound with 10:50 remaining in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s Game 1 playoff victory over the Nets. He left the game, had an x-ray and returned with his finger taped. The x-ray was negative and he returned to the game with 5:52 left.

“It definitely affected me,” Horford said. “Having it taped like that around my finger, especially on my shooting hand, was very uncomfortable to shoot the ball.”


Curtis Compton
Trainer Wally Blase checks Hawks center Al Horford’s hand after he dislocated his pinkie finger against the Nets during an NBA playoff basketball game on Sunday, April 19, 2015, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
Horford finished the game with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. However, he was 1 of 6 from the field after re-entering the game.

Horford said there is no question he will play in Game 2 on Wednesday.

“I’ve had something similar to this, not as bad as this,” Horford said. “But we’ll see. The good thing is that the x-rays came back negative.”

Horford finished 5 of 12 from the field for the game.

“We are hopeful he will be fine going forward,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said.

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[AVXL]

Hawks announce Ludacris performance
9:26 a.m. Monday, April 20, 2015 | Filed in: Hawks
HAWKS

Robb D. Cohen/ www.RobbsPhotos.c
Atlanta native Ludacris will perform during Game 2 of the Hawks playoff series against the Nets on Wednesday. Robb D.. Cohen /www.RobbsPhotos.com

The Hawks announced that Grammy Award winning artist Ludacris will perform during Game 2 of team’s first-round playoff series against the Nets at Philips Arena on Wednesday. The performance will be similar to those of T.I. and 2 Chainz from earlier this season. Ludacris will take part in player introductions and perform at halftime and following the game.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Ludacris would perform last week.

“As an Atlantan who has supported the Hawks for years, I jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with the organization in a memorable way,” Ludacris said in a statement released by the team. “This has been an incredible season for the city of Atlanta and the team, and I’m excited take the energy in Philips Arena up a notch for the playoffs.”

Ludacris, who has attended several Hawks games this season, will also be promoting his recently released album “Ludaversal.” The album and t-shirs will be available for purchase.

“There are very few entertainers who connect with a city the way Ludacris connects with Atlanta,” Hawks CEO Steve Koonin said in a statement. “He’s the perfect superstar performer to inspire our team and fan base as we remain ‘True to Atlanta’ throughout the postseason and beyond.”

Game 2 tips off at 7 p.m.

 

[AVXL]

@Prynce if you trying to be down with #Hawkset post up here

 

[Rickdogg44]

At least the xray was negative.

Should we rest him and/or Trillsap? Give them a ~ week to rest.

 

[Rickdogg44]

^^^^ to elaborate. ...we can beat these bums with moose and Scott

 

[AVXL]

At least the xray was negative.

Should we rest him and/or Trillsap? Give them a ~ week to rest.

I don't think you can afford to rest Horford or Sap in the playoffs. They can get rest if we handle our business vs. BK. I don't think either one of them are seriously hurt, people forgot that this is only Sap's 2nd game back and Horford will be ok.

 

[Rickdogg44]

I don't think you can afford to rest Horford or Sap in the playoffs. They can get rest if we handle our business vs. BK. I don't think either one of them are seriously hurt, people forgot that this is only Sap's 2nd game back and Horford will be ok.

I hope we can sweep. I should have said just rest for game 2 only. We definitely need them.

 

[Prynce]

next game needs to come faster. I can't take the suspense.

 

[AVXL]

I hope we can sweep. I should have said just rest for game 2 only. We definitely need them.

I think they both need to play as much as possible...gotta get Sap in a rhythm b/c were not advancing past the 2nd round if he's playing like he did in Game 1. I think Horford will be ok...his right pinky is bothering him, but he should be good to go

 

[AVXL]

Update on Trillsap & Horford

• 
  
  Kevin Arnovitz, ESPN.com

ATLANTA -- Hawks center Al Horford said Monday that "there's still some question" whether he will play in Game 2 of Atlanta's first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.

Horford dislocated his right pinkie in the fourth quarter of the Hawks' 99-92 win over the Nets in Game 1 on Sunday at Philips Arena. He immediately left the game to get treatment in the Hawks' locker room and returned to action with just under six minutes remaining in the game, missing both of his shot attempts.



Hawks' problems not worth sweating --€” yet
The Hawks have problems, but they're first-seed problems that can be addressed with time and attention, and won't come due for another few weeks.

• 
  
  Nets encouraged, but still winless vs. Hawks
  The Nets showed heart against the Hawks in Game 1, but they are going to need a lot more than that if they have any hope of pulling off an upset.

"It's sore," Horford said. "I've just been doing a lot of treatment on it last night and this morning."

Coach Mike Budenholzer said the Hawks will gauge Horford's status over the next 48 hours as he continues to work with coaches and the training staff to manage the discomfort.

"We'll see how he kind of makes progress today and again tomorrow," Budenholzer said. "We'll see what he can do in practice and kind of continue to monitor him and hope for the best."

Horford thanked his wife for playing nursemaid, providing him with ice and Epsom salts during a fairly sleepless night after the game. He said he was encouraged by his work in Monday's practice and by the improved condition of the finger but said the heavy tape around the finger and hand compromised his shot.

"I've been able to deal with pain and soreness and stuff like that, but to me it's just the taping, the mechanics of it, because the way that I shoot the ball, it kind of disrupts how I grab the ball," Horford said. "I just have to get used to it. With the coaches today, I worked on shooting and getting a feel for having my fingers taped."

Paul Millsap continues to recover from a right shoulder sprain suffered April 4. He missed five games before returning to the lineup Wednesday at Chicago.

Millsap struggled in Game 1, scoring six points on 2-for-11 shooting -- well below his season averages -- in 33 minutes. He attributed his performance more to the heavy padding he is wearing on his shoulder than any residual pain from the injury.

"Right now it's because of the pad," Millsap said. "I'm trying to protect it. It kind of restricts it a little bit."

Millsap said he and the team's training staff have experimented with altering the pad, at one point cutting a hole in the cloth for a better range of motion in his shot. He is considering forgoing the pad in Game 2, assuming a greater risk of pain in exchange for better mobility.

Both Horford and Millsap noted that the two days off between Games 1 and 2 was a pleasant happenstance that will buy them a little extra time to heal and adjust to playing with their respective injuries.

"Normally you want to keep [the momentum] going, but we've got a few days in between to get some reps up, to get our conditioning up," Millsap said. "So it's a good thing for us."

 

[Rickdogg44]

Update on Trillsap & Horford

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

@VonteMB @jmspro @Napoleon @ATLien @#1 pick @JBoy @The next in line @steezy @AVXL @charmander @Atlrocafella @The ADD @Rekkapryde @Bruh Man 5th Flo @FutureGOAT @O.iatlhawksfan @Stone @JBoy @The_Sheff @Sly Cookin @Rickdogg44 @Tuc2DaBoot @Anbessa725 @Hollywood Co @Born2BKing @Atlboss @bigmanharris @Mook @I Got Werk @Captain_Crunch @BDot5483 @FreshFromATL
@Big Jo @Motife43
tag more of the #HawkSet

@Big Jo @Motife43

 

[I Got Werk]

Someone from the Hawks organization gets some national recognition

I'ma a lil' in his honor tonight

 

[AVXL]

Gregg Popovich had to convince Mike Budenholzer it wasn’t a prank phone call.

Popovich, the long-time Spurs head coach and mentor to Budenholzer, reached out to the Hawks head coach to be the first deliver some important news Monday afternoon. He was the one to tell his long-time assistant he had been named NBA Coach of the Year.

Budenholzer might not want the spotlight but it shone brightly on him Tuesday after the league announced the award.

An emotional Budenholzer choked up several times in a televised press conference as he thanked his family, father, players, coaches, staff, management, ownership and Popovich.

“I’m very, very thankful for everybody who put me in this position, who put me in this place,” Budenholzer said. “I am forever thankful for this opportunity.”

Budenholzer was honored after leading the Hawks to a franchise-record 60 wins and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. He is the first Hawks coach to be honored since Lenny Wilkens in 1993-94.

In in second season with the Hawks, Budenholzer oversaw a number of impressive accomplishments including a 22-game improvement over last season. The Southeast Division champion Hawks also had a 19-game win streak, the fifth-longest in NBA history, which included a league-first 17-0 month on January. Budenholzer was named the league’s Coach of the Month in January. At one point, the Hawks won 35 of 38 games en route to their best record in the conference and second best in the NBA.

“This award has a permanent spot on his desk in San Antonio,” Budenholzer said of Popovich, who gave him his start 21 years ago as a video assistant with the Spurs. “He shares it every couple of years and lets us take a picture with it. I might be able to sneak back into his office and put it back down.

“I was very, very fortunate to be so close to a coach who has done so much for our league, done so much for so many coaches and shared so much with me. I can’t even begin to articulate how thankful I am and all the things I’ve learned. The thing that Pop did for me, and did for a lot of coaches, is he let me coach. It seems really simple. That is part of the beauty of being around Pop. Sometimes the things that are most successful are very simple.”

Budenholzer finished with a total of 513 points, including 67 first-place votes for the Red Auerbach Trophy. He edged out the Warriors’ Steve Kerr with 471 points, including 56 first-place votes. The Bucks’ Jason Kidd was third with the only other first-place vote. Budenholzer got a vote on every on ballot but one.

A panel of 130 sportswriters and broadcasters vote on the NBA’s postseason awards. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution does not participate as a matter of newspaper policy. Coaches were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.

Budenholzer first got emotional when he mentioned his father.

“Winning this award evokes a lot of emotions,” he said. “It’s very, very humbling. As the son of a coach, it means a lot. I just want to thank my dad. He was a high school coach in Holbrook, Arizona forever. Winning a lot of games, winning a state championship with my brothers, he gave me a love for the game. My dad taught me a lot about life and basketball.

“My most vivid memory I have for my dad is passion for the game. Hopefully, our players see that passion in how we coach every day - the passion for the game, the passion for each other, the passion to play unselfishly, the passion for competing.

The Hawks’ team-concept approach leaves little room for individual awards. The Hawks had six players average in double figures with the starting five scoring from 16.7 to 12.1 points per game.

“(He brought) the mindset of working as a team,” center Al Horford said. “That goes a long way. Guys here, one through 15, feel like they can help and they can contribute and they can step in at any moment and do big things for our team. That’s because coach has given us that confidence.”

Before joining the Hawks, Budenholzer spent 19 seasons with the Spurs, working his way from video coordinator to lead assistant under Popovich. Budenholzer made a point to thank general manager Danny Ferry for having the faith to hire him in Atlanta.

In two seasons with the Hawks, he has a 98-66 record. The Hawks were second in the NBA is assists per game (25.7), fifth in fewest points allowed (97.1) and 10th in points scored (102.5). The Hawks were one of two teams, along with the Spurs, to finish in the top 10 in the league in most points scored and fewest points allowed.

Budenholzer ended his speech by thanking each member of his family.

“Thank you for allowing me to follow my passion,” he said. “Thank you for allowing me to coach.”

When Coach choked up talking about his Dad

to Bud