With Thursday's NBA trade deadline looming, it looks more and more like the Atlanta Hawks won't be making any major moves and will instead focus on trying to get healthy for a playoff run. Hawks general manager Rick Sund talked with the AJC's Michael Cunningham before Tuesday's game in Denver saying that health was the primary issue with the team.
"What this team needs is for everybody to be healthy. What we need is no more injuries. That's what we need."
Despite Atlanta's injuries the Hawks enter play on Wednesday sixth in the Eastern Conference but just 3.5 games behind Orlando for third place. Atlanta has a much more favorable schedule down the stretch and could be in the mix for home court advantage in the first round if they can put together another good stretch.
"We've been happy with the way the season has progressed [considering] injuries. We've had more injuries already than we had all last year. Every time we get hit, other guys step up, and that's been a real plus. Defensively we've been really good. With a little over 40 games played, we're the fourth-best defensive team and we've allowed the least points in the fourth quarter. Zaza [Pachulia] and Joe and Josh [Smith] deserve a lot of credit for keeping us in the playoffs. Our bench, every night it's someone else, which is what we wanted when we put it together."
So despite persistent rumors involving both Josh Smith and combo guard Kirk Hinrich don't be surprised if the Hawks are one of the teams standing pat as Thursday's deadline passes.
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