Hawks have (internal) moves to make
New York – Joe Smith. Drew Gooden. Luther Head.
With all these players suddenly showing up on the waiver wire, someone emailed today asking where the Hawks were in their pursuit of one of these soon to be (they have to clear waivers first) free agents.
Maybe someone lost the memo, but it’s the same situation as before the trade deadline last month, the Hawks are simply not in a position to make any moves.
They already have 15 men on the roster and under contract, so there aren’t any moves to be made. The team that took the floor against Cleveland Sunday night and then again last night in Washington will be the same one that hits the floor come playoff time.
Whether or not that’s good enough to get through a first round playoff series against the likes of Miami, Detroit or Philadelphia remains to be seen. I don’t know why it wouldn’t be, especially if those teams are set roster-wise, as well. But no one can be sure right now.
That means the Hawks (Hawks coach Mike Woodson to be exact) have to find some ways to tinker and tweak what they already have to give this team a boost. It certainly helps when they can fend off teams like Washington with a shift in production like they had Monday, when Marvin Williams assumed the alpha-dog role normally played by Joe Johnson.
But what about when the big dogs come calling, as will be the case in later this month? Solid playoff teams and playoff contenders won’t be as easily vanquished as the lowly Wizards were at Verizon Center.
Over the course of the next six weeks it would be nice to see Al Horford, Josh Smith, Mike Bibby, Flip Murray and even Mo Evans or Zaza Pachulia try that costume on for a night or two. Anything to throw off the masses before the playoffs, when a team’s every flaw is magnified a million times under the spotlight of the postseason crush.
The more the Hawks spread the wealth the better. And is it me or does Johnson always seem more effective when someone else cranks it up and he can sneak up on a team and smash them with big shots late (as he did to the Wizards)?
There are just too many defenses designed to stop him these days. The two- and three-man pressure sets like Denver used last week are going to be the norm between now and April 15. The Hawks’ best recourse is to spread the responsibility around and allow Williams and others to assume more of a scoring load or at least run the offense through someone other than Johnson for stretches.
The best move the Hawks can make at this point is to stretch that roster out (I know teams normally shorten the rotation this time of year, but the opposite could work in this case) and throw a few trick plays at teams scouting them.
Because up to this point they’ve been an open book. Teams know it’s Joe Johnson left, Joe Johnson right and Joe Johnson up the middle on nearly every play. An advance scout for a team the Hawks could meet in the playoffs told me as much before Sunday night’s game against Cleveland.
“They’re like one of those three yards and a cloud of dust football teams,” my scout friend said. “Clear out this side and clear out that side and we’re going to run that sucker right up the middle and dare the other team to stop us. That’s the way they play offense under Woody. When it works, you can’t do anything to stop them. But when it doesn’t, they have a hard time. And in the playoffs, teams are going to do whatever they can to take away your main stuff and try and force you into your alternative options. Right now, I really can’t tell you what those other options are. When they’re at home they feed off their crowd and they run more, they share the ball more and they play more up-tempo. But on the road, it’s not as easy. And correct me if I’m wrong, they beat Boston all three games at home during that series last year but couldn’t find their footing on the road, right?”
That’s exactly right.
So it turns out that the Hawks do have a few moves to make. Just not the kind that seem so sexy right now with all the talk about contenders adding players for the playoff push.
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263 comments Add your comment
jhan
March 4th, 2009
9:56 pm
Acie just makes a good defensive play. Must be a mirage.
bigdave
March 4th, 2009
9:57 pm
i woulda kept that TO coach.. dont let them set up D…!!! we just need a quick 2 and foul.. use your 20 if they miss 1. pro-long the game…!!!
Big Ray
March 4th, 2009
9:57 pm
Wow, Acie is making it a game. Don’t know that we can pull this off, but this kid is giving it all he’s got. And he should have been in this game a long time ago. Even a “COY” should know that..
Astro Joe
March 4th, 2009
9:57 pm
We lost this game because we took too many 3s (everyone except Horford) and too many tiurnovers. Oh yeah and because we allowed a team to score over 100 points. Once again, we tend to talk about offense but the VAST majority of our losses come as a result of playing poor defense. Our offense is not nearly as pathetic as many seem to think. If the Hawks put up 105, they’re supposed to win.
Melvin
March 4th, 2009
9:58 pm
Reggie, so if Joe is having a bad game. Can we not critic his play. Besides why am I following you up. It’s even NOT ME who’s criticizing Joe play…
niremetal
March 4th, 2009
9:58 pm
Wow…Acie Law singlehandedly has made this interesting. A three-ball, four assists, and forcing a turnover. Makes you mad that he’s had so many DNP-CDs, don’t it?
otrhawksfan
March 4th, 2009
9:59 pm
when you down by 8 with 3 to 4 mins to go a good post play or a high % shot would be suggested. Why all the 3’s fellas!!!!!
kgbsfinst
March 4th, 2009
10:00 pm
Melvin,
Your right! I am(was) watching the game with the Knicks announcers and they are ripping the Hawks for settling on jumpers and dribbling the ball too long. Its funny that he said “scouting report,” looks like its not just us that has figured out the Hawks game plan. I hope management realizes this and takes a hard look at WHY that is our game plan.
Can anyone really defend Woodson on this? Does anyone really think he is still COY?
Reggie
March 4th, 2009
10:01 pm
I think I have jumped on the (GET ACIE LAW SOME PT) bandwagon after that.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 4th, 2009
10:01 pm
I’m repeating myself from the first time the Hawks lost to the Knicks, but when you are playing against a team that has ZERO SHOT BLOCKERS, why wouldn’t you drive the ball to the basket ON EVERY POSSESSION?!??!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!
Seriously. The Knicks are probably the easiest team in the league to game plan against. Take the ball inside on offense, make them beat you off the dribble on defense, and don’t leave shooters open. I have never coached a basketball game in my life and this is incredibly obvious to me. Why the HELL were the Hawks not driving the ball in the 4th quarter? What was up with the jumpshots with 15 seconds left on the clock?
Oh yeah, and WOW MAYBE ACIE LAW SHOULD PLAY MORE?!??!?!??!?!?!!?
O'brien
March 4th, 2009
10:02 pm
Bibby played 36 minutes, and we got nothing out of him. Even Nique mentioned that when playing the Knicks, you need somebody to penetrate. But Woody brings Acie in the game when it’s too late.
How many games this season have we played with no intensity? I can’t wait for Woody’s comments.
bigdave
March 4th, 2009
10:03 pm
got a tough Charlotte team coming up…
jhan
March 4th, 2009
10:03 pm
Pathetic defensive showing. They scored plenty of points but put forth zero effort on defense. What happened to our great defensive COY?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 4th, 2009
10:04 pm
This whole Josh Smith situation is really killing the Hawks too — he’s not playing nearly well enough to be left on the floor during crunch time, but at the same time when he’s out of the game the Hawks don’t have any shot blockers on the floor either, which makes it a lot easier for the likes of Larry Hughes to get shots near the basket. I have no clue what’s up with him but he looked completely out of it in the 2nd half.
Samuel
March 4th, 2009
10:04 pm
Woody’s saving Acie for the playoffs. His legs will be fresh.
Now we know these guys do read this blog. They got drunk(bold) on Doc’s Koolaid. Thanks Doctor for being so convincing.
Ando,
Can we get your mom to Coach Nique up with some of that Advanced Language Arts?
Melvin
March 4th, 2009
10:04 pm
Watchout KG, Reggie and bigDave may boot you off the blog for agreeing with me…lol
bigdave
March 4th, 2009
10:04 pm
like i said, Acie should have been in the game with 2 mins left in the 3rd…
Najeh Davenpoop
March 4th, 2009
10:05 pm
By the way, the Heat are on the brink of beating the Suns in a shootout. Out-f*cking-standing.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 4th, 2009
10:06 pm
“Woody’s saving Acie for the playoffs. His legs will be fresh.”
That was good for a loud, hearty laugh from me.
Reggie
March 4th, 2009
10:06 pm
Melvin Joe didn’t have a bad game. His FG % was average at 6-14. He had 18 points 7 boards and 6 assists. He shot 6-7 from the line and his net points while on the court was +2. Josh Smith gets the criticism because of how he has played lately. On the floor he just looks lost and out of place just like Marvin looked last year. Maybe next year he will improve like Marvin did this year. I still believe in Smith but lately I have been so disappointed in his play.
bigdave
March 4th, 2009
10:06 pm
Davenpoop…
he looked sick… maybe he has Bibby’s flu.. they showed him on the bench near the end of the game and he was rubbing his face, looking sick… we cant afford to miss him and i doubt he will take time off…
Reggie
March 4th, 2009
10:08 pm
Melvin I do agree with you about we should have been driving the ball and penetrating. Woody did nothing that game to change it up. The only thing I disagree about is the Joe and Josh thing.
tiger woo
March 4th, 2009
10:10 pm
Acie Law had the same number of assists (4) in 3 minutes that Mike Bibby had in 38 minutes.
O'brien
March 4th, 2009
10:11 pm
JJ played 43 minutes. Why? And a sick Bibby still played 36. Only Woody knows, while Acie plays 3 minutes.
Melvin
March 4th, 2009
10:12 pm
Reggie, this may sound funny but Joe stats looks good but he didn’t have his normal dominant performace. And yes, Josh is struggling right now. I agree with Najeh on the catch 22 with him. He’s not playing with the confidence needed to finish the game but our interior def lacks when he’s out of the game…
Najeh Davenpoop
March 4th, 2009
10:13 pm
It’s a lot easier to get dimes when you can GET IN THE LANE, LIKE EVERY GREAT POINT GUARD.
I realize Acie doesn’t fit Woody’s outside-in offensive scheme, but that’s what bench players do on good teams — they come in and provide something you CAN’T FIND in the starting lineup, as a change of pace.
(I hate having to capitalize everything now… I miss bold and italics)
Melvin
March 4th, 2009
10:15 pm
Reggie, don’t get it wrong. I’m not saying Josh is better/more important than Joe. I like Joe just as much (ok a tab bit less than) Josh..lol.. But I want the best for both of them. Matter fact, I want the best for the Hawks team.
Big Ray
March 4th, 2009
10:16 pm
Put me on record for a few things.
1) If Josh doesn’t get his head out of his butt, and continues to play like this for the rest of the season (I’m talking about rebounds/all-around effort, not free throws), then trade him for the best thing we can get , even if it’s the aforementioned tall son of a goat herder. But upgrade our Doritos to a party-sized bag of Tostidos Chips and Pace Chunky Salsa.
2)Acie has some skills. Bibby is sick, tired, and off of his game. Woody rides him for over 38 minutes tonight, and that should be a prosecutable crime. Acie does in 2 minutes, 45 seconds what none of our guards could all game long. I do not understand why this is the case. Yes, I do: Woody is a dolt. And he’ll glue Acie to the bench for the next game, just to keep him from getting “uppity.” Watch.
3)If Josh is going to sit when he’s not producing (as Astro Joe correctly noticed, Marvin was usually the first to sit…but he’s producing), then I think Solo should get some burn. Why is he not playing? It’s not like he hasn’t proven himself worth it nearly every time he’s stepped on the floor!
4)It makes no sense for Al Horford to dominate the Knicks for the better part of a half, shooting 8-13 from the field…and then only get one shot attempt in the majority of the second half. I applaud his 13 rebounds, but he should have had 25-28 points. The Knicks couldn’t stop him. Marvin had a nice game too, but he threw up 5 threes after they quit giving it to him near the hoop. That’s what happens when the guards start playing “catchup” with the shot selection.
5)We are not going to win against good teams, or even dangerous teams (like the Knicks) by playing bad defense, or trying to dominate the game from the perimeter. It’s just not going to happen. And I don’t know why our coach doesn’t seem to be getting through to his players on that point. If they’re not listening to him, then why is he here?
6)Add Add some Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum and a few liters of Coke to that Josh Smith trade. I want to be drunk when I find out which Ukrainian we’re trading for who just started playing basketball last month.
otrhawksfan
March 4th, 2009
10:17 pm
we should take josh out and put solo in the game to defend the lane/rim if the bad play doesnt stop.
O'brien
March 4th, 2009
10:18 pm
Ray, I agree. We need Josh to step it up. 2 rebounds from your starting PF?
By the way, Woddy said we had some turnovers from fatigue because he played some guys heavy minutes. But then he said that’s no excuse.
Woody Woody Woody.
Ed
March 4th, 2009
10:18 pm
Acie only plays a few minutes because Woody didn’t want to draft him & he therefore lives in Woody’s doghouse. Acie has All-Star potential, he demonstrated that at A&M, but he will never get his chance playing for Woody.
404atlhoops
March 4th, 2009
10:24 pm
This was a pretty pathetic effort by the Hawks tonight. When is this team going to learn they have to play at a higher intensity level on the road then they do at home? The Hawks can’t wait until they get down 14-15 points in the 2nd half on the road and then decide to “turn it on”. Its just very frustrating watching this team.
Reggie
March 4th, 2009
10:25 pm
Melvin I understand you but the fact is even with Joe is off of his game he can still put up good numbers and help his team with assists and good teamwork. It seems lime Josh has no ideal what to do out there right now. He actually shot well tonight and ended up I think about 7-10. What he doesn’t understand is that he needs to stay down low and just attack the basket from there. Every time he gets the ball on the perimeter he feels he has to go piling through the lane like a fullback and throw up some crazy shot or turn it over. I also don’t understand why when the other team shoots he is trotting down to our side of the court. He isn’t a point guard who runs off to the other side for a fast break. I think both of his rebounds today were just long ones that bounced his way. He has got to wake up and realize what he needs to do. I think his main problem might be his basketball I.Q.
Heat bench tonight had 55. Wow we will never do that.
tiger woo
March 4th, 2009
10:25 pm
Reggie,
6-14 is not average – it’s not very good. Joe is supposed to be our all-star – our superstar, but he doesn’t show up every night like a true superstar – like a Dwayne Wade, who doesn’t take nights off – Wade averages 38.2 minutes per night – you don’t hear anyone crying about his minutes and saying he’s tired.
Big Ray
March 4th, 2009
10:27 pm
Reggie,
My patience is run out. That fool is not lost. No way, no how. He’s acting up. No way can you be lost, yet go 7-10 from the field. He had 4 turnovers and 2 rebounds. There are no excuses for that, not when you can jump out of the gym. And screw all these “he’s not a true PF” comments. Shawn Marion isn’t either, and in his worst times, he still rebounds way better than that. He’s not even as strong as Josh is. No excuse.
The guy is clowning. And if he’s gonna clown, then he can sit down. This is as good a time as any to let him play 25 minutes, and give the rest of it to Solo. Then tell him, “when you can start producing and playing with a sense of urgency, you can go back to playing 35+ minutes.” Matter of fact, sit his butt and let him play 20 minutes. If he gets mad, so what. Let RandMo and Othello play. Bet you they’ll give you some decent minutes/fouls at least. Then see if that doesn’t motivate his butt. And if it doesn’t, then we don’t need him. Simple as that.
I’m not giving up on the guy. I’m just really pi$$ed about his pi$$ poor performance.
Harry Hawk
March 4th, 2009
10:30 pm
Acie was awesome tonight, man.
Big Ray
March 4th, 2009
10:30 pm
And it has nothing to do with his IQ. He routinely makes good passes out there when he’s playing in the flow of the game, and playing where he should be playing.
It’s lack of effort and concentration. He’s just NOT getting it done. And I’m sick of it. I think the only mental “block” he has is at the line. Guess what, Josh? Cowboy the hell up and get over it, Shaq still is a stinker at the line. Do you see him fading out to the arc? No.
Reggie
March 4th, 2009
10:31 pm
Tiger Joe shot 43 % tonight and that’s what he has shot for the season. That’s why I called it AVERAGE.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 4th, 2009
10:31 pm
Harry Hawk, how did you make “awesome” bold?
O'brien
March 4th, 2009
10:31 pm
Woody and Josh have had issues in the past. I wonder if it’s only a matter of time before they resurface, especially with Josh not giving 100% every night.
Big Ray
March 4th, 2009
10:32 pm
Right on, Tiger Woo…
Najeh Davenpoop
March 4th, 2009
10:34 pm
And “Acie” italics, for that matter…
Big Ray
March 4th, 2009
10:34 pm
Jersey is taking Boston to the limit tonight. All tied at 111. The wonderful Sean Williams has two points, 4 rebounds and a block.
Harry Hawk
March 4th, 2009
10:35 pm
hahahaha…
alright, let’s see if you can follow this…
In order to italicize something, use a less than sign, type “em” (not in quotes), and follow that with a greater than sign. Then, type whatever you want to italicize. Next, type a less than sign, a forward-slash, then “em” (not in quotes), and follow that with a greater than sign.
In order to bold something, type the word “strong” instead of “em”. Again, not in quotes.
I’m looking around for a page that has the instructions. I had it bookmarked for DOB’s blog, but I learned how to do it after a few minutes and removed it.
Big Ray
March 4th, 2009
10:37 pm
Golden State is getting pounded by Chicago.
**Clyde**,
Noah has 12 points, 15 boards, and 4 blocked shots. Now THAT I can get down with. Put him next to Horford and Marvin….
bigdave
March 4th, 2009
10:37 pm
Woo look at the design of Miami’s offense and look at ours… there’s a big difference when u playing 39.2 when you take a player and make him account for 80% “of what we do” on the offensive end… trust me… how many ball screens do you see for Joe… not that guard guard mess im talking bout 2 bigs picking defenders…
your boy Woodson mis-manages his players… point blank period.. Joe is different this year, cause this scheme is different… Coach Woodson is still star struck from game 4 Boston…
Big Ray
March 4th, 2009
10:37 pm
He’s no scorer, but that ain’t in short supply around here.
Reggie
March 4th, 2009
10:38 pm
Ray it’s not surprising he shot well from the floor. He is our leading player in FG percentage. Josh has a problem with basketball I.Q. with no doubt. While focus and effort is a problem he still has no idea of what is going on around him sometimes. He will drive it straight to the hole when he is outnumbered 3-1. He shoots jumpers when there are wide open people around him who can shoot it better. He makes bad decision after bad decision. He has a lot of things wrong right now but I don’t think Woody will be the one to straighten it up for him.
jt in dallas
March 4th, 2009
10:38 pm
WOW!! I’m glad I had a chance to see Acie Law almost single-handedly bring this team a victory. Stupid Woody made the mistake of letting him get garbage time and he almost won the game. See what the Hawks can do when they stop running that idiotic outside-in offense that features predominately jump shots.
That brings me to another point. Perhaps if the Hawks actually let a point guard RUN the offense and create, maybe we would get much better shots. Those penetration assists provided great looks that were hard to miss shots. Even the 3’s when the defense was sucked in by a driving (did I write “DRIVING?”) point guard.
It’s very depressing knowing that we have a coach with such a low NBA acumen. What a dumb@$$ he is.
Well, as they say, if you don’t have anything good to say about someone, don’t say anything, so I’ll let Woodrow rest for now. However, I’m still thinking “F-I-R-E W-O-O-D-Y!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 4th, 2009
10:39 pm
Italics
Bold