The Hawks are frustrated.
One injury after another has prevented the team from any manner of consistent play. Yet despite season-ending injuries to Al Horford, John Jenkins and Gustavo Ayon and several other players missing time because of various ailments, the Hawks cling to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
What else can happen?
Well, just as the Hawks got one starter back they lost another before Saturday night’s game against the Wizards. Small forward DeMarre Carroll came down with an illness that caused him to be hospitalized for IV fluids. Shooting guard Kyle Korver missed his sixth consecutive game because of back spasms. Center Pero Antic returned from a one-game absence because of a sprained right ankle.
General manager Danny Ferry said the injuries have been frustrating, but the team is working toward the bigger goal of building a consistent winner.
“Losing Al Horford early was obviously tough and then on top of that, with four or five players at a time missing big blocks of games during the second half of the season, our group certainly is frustrated,” Ferry said Saturday. “We are on a good path right now. We are very well-coached; when healthy we were a very good team that played with a substance and a clear system-based identity that I really like.
“Being the eighth seed in a playoffs is not ever going to be our goal. We want more than that as a team. Our group will keep focusing on finding ways to get better every day. Again, (coach Mike Budenholzer), our players, (co-owner) Bruce (Levenson), we are all going to do good things going forward.”
The Hawks used their 22nd lineup against the Wizards and have lost 172 games because of injury.
Shelvin Mack started in place of Korver, and Cartier Martin started in place of Carroll. The Hawks are 1-10 in games this season without Korver, including five consecutive losses before Saturday. They are also 1-6 in games without Carroll.
Hudson update: Hawks great Lou Hudson continues to be hospitalized in Atlanta after suffering a stroke this week. His condition continues to be grave as he has been placed on life-support systems.
Hudson, one of three Hawks players to have his number retired, played 11 of his 13 NBA seasons for the Hawks. He was a six-time All-Star.
Holocaust Museum visit: The Hawks visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., on Friday as a team event. Horford, Jenkins and Ayon all traveled with the team to be part of the tour.
“It was a great experience, a very powerful experience being able to go there and see the images,” Horford said. “I’m a history buff. I love history, and I was able to learn a lot more.”
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