Hawks' Johnson Ready Despite Strained Groin

Hawks guard Joe Johnson is expected to be ready for the team's opener on Wednesday despite a strained groin.

"I’m definitely where I need to be. But around this time I don’t think anybody can really say they are 100 percent," Johnson said. "There are always those little bumps and bruises that everybody deals with in this time of year and throughout the rest of the season.

"I guess if you didn’t do anything during the preseason, you might be stress free. But that’s probably the only way. Other than that, it’s just little bumps and bruises but nothing that will keep you out of a game. All you can really do is nurse it everyday and play through whatever pain you might be dealing with at the time."

Teammate Josh Smith left the team's exhibition finale with a sprained right ankle, and sat out the scrimmage portion of Sunday’s practice.

Via Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Hawks' Woodson Calls Out Josh Smith

Hawks' Coach Mike Woodson called out Josh Smith by name on Tuesday during practice when giving a speech to the team about taking their game to the next level.

The speech prompted Smith to react by saying he was willing to "take all the blame."

Smith bolted for the locker room after the huddle, shattering his mouthpiece. Woodson, who was apparently smiling the entire time, cautioned his staff not to worry about the forward.

"Listen, it’s getting close to that time, and we can’t go into this thing being cool about anything," Woodson said. "We had a good run last year, and that run is over. You’ve got to build on that run. And the only way you do that is through hard work, on the floor and that carrying over into games.

"I’m not letting these guys off the hook. They can think I’m tough or whatever, but we’ve got to be ready. We’ve got to be ready."

Via Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Nash Leaves Preseason Game With Sprained Ankle

Steve Nash turned his right ankle late in the first half of the Suns' game against Atlanta on Wednesday night and did not return, according to a report by ESPN News Services.

He was later seen walking around the locker room with no limp, just an ace bandage on his ankle.

He may be held out of Friday's game against the Nuggets at Syracuse, N.Y., as a precaution, according to Suns spokeswoman Julie Fie.

Via ESPN

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