Show Flip the Money
Rod Tidwell and Hawks sixth man Flip Murray both rolled the dice and won.HAWKSVILLE - Flip Murray's made his case.
HAWKSVILLE -Flip Murray’s already made his case.
The Hawks aren’t yet done with this regular season or even the playoffs.
But one thing has become clear, the Hawks’ sixth man of the present needs to remain their sixth man for the future.
Flip MurrayMurray is the Rod Tidwell of this Hawks' season and they'll have to show him the "Quan" this summer.
Someone just jokingly asked me if I was Murray’s agent for writing something like this. Of course, I’m not. But if I were, this would be one client I wouldn’t be worried about heading into the summer.
Some team will show Murray the “Quan” this summer. And the Hawks need to be that team.
After all, Murray’s performance this year isn’t that of some mercenary on his latest job. I asked him after his season-high 30-point night against Minnesota Monday if he was upset about coming out before he could get one more bucket and set a new career high.
He gave me an are-you-serious look I wish I could have frozen and shown to you.
“I don’t care about nothing like that,” Murray said. “That wasn’t about me showboating or trying to get stats. We were trying to win that game and take care of our business. That’s all.”
Murray’s affinity for this team and for Atlanta has been obvious from the start. He was on his way to Russia before the Hawks had to scramble for replacements when Josh Childress bolted for Greece (they got Murray and valuable veteran pick up Mo Evans).
Murray’s history with Hawks GM Rick Sund (in Seattle, which isn’t nearly as colorful as his rise from Philly playground legend to NBA regular ) no doubt played a role in his choosing to remain stateside and play on a one-year deal (at a bargain basement price of $1.5 million). But give Murray credit for making the most of the opportunity.
And as for this summer, when suitors will be lining up to inquire about his services for the future, the Hawks will have one major chip on their side (not that these things are always valid once negotiating time begins).
There weren’t 29 other teams calling him and asking him to delay his departure for Russia.
There was only one.
HAWKS AND SPURS GO AT IT LIVE HERE IN JUST MINUTES
No Tim Duncan for the Spurs as the Hawks try and extend their home winning-streak to nine games and clinch a playoff berth on the same night against the four-time champs.
Duncan is sitting out the second night of a back-to-back for the second time this season, per my Spurs counterpart Mike Monroe. Something about resting the big fella to make sure he’s feeling just right come playoff time.
What a novel approach!
Game time.
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262 comments Add your comment
Melvin
March 25th, 2009
7:27 pm
Resign Flip ASAP….
Melvin
March 25th, 2009
7:30 pm
Did I mention we need to resign FLIP…
Blast
March 25th, 2009
7:34 pm
Hope Mike is crazy. What a crazy 1 quarter.
KevinA
March 25th, 2009
7:36 pm
Flip comes in to save the half.
Sekou K. Smith
March 25th, 2009
7:37 pm
Right on cue, Flip comes in and clowns the Spurs. Dude has crazy swagger.
Melvin
March 25th, 2009
7:39 pm
Timely blog Sekou….
welikebaseball2
March 25th, 2009
7:40 pm
So let me get this straight, Flip contests the shot by throwing his arms up & jumping AWAY from Manu? The Hawks’ help defense is non-existent tonight. ZaZa was guilty on the drive by Parker when he got by Horford. Defensive lapses dig huge holes!
welikebaseball2
March 25th, 2009
7:42 pm
Oh yeah, thanks for the fresh blog Sekou!
welikebaseball2
March 25th, 2009
7:44 pm
There’s the help defense ZaZa! Good contest…as if he can hear me
.
Blast
March 25th, 2009
7:45 pm
Bibby should be fine. As I blogged earlier, Sekou, I want to see Flip retire a Hawk. Hawks haven’t had a bench gunner like him for years.
Prediction? Hawks beat Spurs tonight.
Whaddup, Melvin?
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
7:47 pm
leave Bibby in the locker room…
MAC-TOWN
March 25th, 2009
7:48 pm
I’d rather have Flip Murray than Josh Smith
welikebaseball2
March 25th, 2009
7:49 pm
Earth to Josh: We could use a little interior defense tonight!
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
7:50 pm
boy Mario needs more mins…
MAC-TOWN
March 25th, 2009
7:50 pm
I couldn’t even get finished typing my previous comment before josh smith took another ugly shot, hittin the deck and complaining
Sekou K. Smith
March 25th, 2009
7:50 pm
Matthew Stafford is here sitting two seats over from me (he’s the dude in the Reds hat that you should see every time they show Mike Woodson on the broadcast). And he agrees with my Flip Murray theory.
Melvin
March 25th, 2009
7:54 pm
Mario… the defensive stopper…
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
7:55 pm
DA BOY NEEDS BURN!!! HE’S GETTING A REP AND THE REFS ARE LETTING HIM PLAY…
JMar
March 25th, 2009
7:56 pm
Does Josh honestly believe he is fouled on every poor shot he takes? Or is he just trying to deflect blame for taking those shots in the first place?
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
7:56 pm
I saw him Sekou…
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
7:57 pm
not a Lions fan but will be once he teams up with Calvin, a UGA GT connect…
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
7:57 pm
Awesome steal! First lead of the game. Then got schooled, but that is okay. Love Mario.
Hawks are hanging in against a true professional basketball team. No street ball tonight. More of a cerebral affair.
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
8:02 pm
Hawks matching the intensity and physical play…
Blast
March 25th, 2009
8:02 pm
Josh getting hammered tonight, but he’s drawing fouls. Needs to make the free throws.
MAC-TOWN
March 25th, 2009
8:05 pm
Josh Smith has such a pure stroke
cp
March 25th, 2009
8:15 pm
Yea give Flip his money. Great game so far but man Josh is struggling. I hope he gets it together in the second half or stops shooting and focuses on rebounding and defense.
Blast
March 25th, 2009
8:18 pm
Tony Parker is on a mission tonite. Spurs need to win thie game as much as Hawks do. If Tony stays hot and gets some help from Manu or Finley, Hawks will be in trouble.
KevinA
March 25th, 2009
8:20 pm
I hope Bibby gets a little more bench time. Eleminate a couple of mistakes and Josh gets the ball to fall and give Al a few more atempts – we can win this one. lol Great game against a very good team. Can someone tie Parkers shoe laces?
Melvin
March 25th, 2009
8:20 pm
Blast, just read your post on the last blog and Agreed with it all….
At what point to do we double team Parker to force the ball out of his hands. The Spurs clearly not as effective on offense when the ball is out of Parker’s hands..
Sekou K. Smith
March 25th, 2009
8:20 pm
Josh is 0-for-6 and and that includes a missed dunk. Dude has to finish stronger to deal with these Spurs, because they are not afraid to foul someone (whether the officials call it a foul or not).
KevinA
March 25th, 2009
8:22 pm
Guys like Parker and Nash, what do you do.
ben
March 25th, 2009
8:24 pm
WTF!! We can’t even beat the Spurs without Duncan! Get it together Smoove you clown! There is no excuse to lose this game whatsoever
O'brien
March 25th, 2009
8:24 pm
I wish JJ complained half as much as Josh does (to the refs). The ironic thing is I think one reason Josh doesnt get some of these calls is because he complains too much. And JJ would get more calls if he complained some more.
The Hawks need to find a way to slow Tony Parker down. And we need Josh and Al to step it up, because I dont know if they realize this or not, but there is no Tim Duncan.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
8:26 pm
Just sit Josh for a little while, PLEASE!!! Let him get his head together.
A-TownDown
March 25th, 2009
8:29 pm
“Plus, the market is going to be extremely tight this summer. Bibby’s greatest value was at the trade deadline, when a team could have used his expiring salary to facilitate other things. As a free agent, there’s going to be a limited number of teams interested in a guy that still shoots as well as Bibby does but is a defensive liability. They certainly won’t be able to find a replacement in free agency that’s already entrenched in that system and has that kind of chemistry with the rest of those guys that Bibby does. So why risk it?”
It’s a tough call either way. Had the Hawks groomed Law the way they needed to, they might have avoided this dilemma altogether. But they didn’t. And now they don’t have that luxury.
This sure sounds like something Mr. Loudmouth HB Ando was saying back before the trade deadline. A loud mouth he is, but it looks like he isn’t as stupid as the people who said he was wrong. Watch, we end up paying too much for a no defense point guard who can shoot some of the time but will brick you to death at other times. All because that woody woodpecker doesn’t like Acie Law. How stupid is that. Yeah we are going to win big this year if we get past the first round of the playoffs but what if we have a letdown next year. Its not like the no defense bibby is going to get better. Something to think about if folks is into thinking about winning more than just one year. Me for one I don’t like one year winning teams.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
8:30 pm
Dude is drilling us like we are desperate housewives!
MAC-TOWN
March 25th, 2009
8:30 pm
Roger Mason is a nice player….I noticed that while with the Wizards as well.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
8:32 pm
A-TownDown, I hear you, but “Me for one I don’t like one year winning teams.” What is with that?
Are you some kind of front runner? Why not wait until late June, then you can pick the team you like.
MAC-TOWN
March 25th, 2009
8:32 pm
Smith cryin again about a free throw HE missed.
ben
March 25th, 2009
8:34 pm
Why in the world do we keep giving this team WIDE OPEN shots!! The only way they can beat us without Duncan is from outside. We have the DUMBEST coach in the NBA. Good grief.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
8:35 pm
Tony Parker needs to start kissing this guys as he _____s them. He is putting on a clinic, and using 22 seconds every time down the floor.
Blast
March 25th, 2009
8:35 pm
Who in hell is guarding Mason?
Spurs are winning this game by making an incredible numbers of jump shots. All jump shots.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
8:36 pm
The outside is open because Parker is breaking us down and the defense is having to help leaving the wing open. We do not have the dumbest coach, possibly a few of the dumbest fans.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
8:37 pm
Josh passed it!
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
8:38 pm
Man, do we miss Marvin on the defensive end
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
8:38 pm
Bring back Mario and Za Za…
welikebaseball2
March 25th, 2009
8:39 pm
Think Woody will make the adjustment to keep Horford off of Parker on the switch before the final buzzer? You’ve got to be kidding me…
MAC-TOWN
March 25th, 2009
8:40 pm
On a night where Smith is struggling so much, why is there not much of Solo?
Blast
March 25th, 2009
8:41 pm
Well, plus a few drives by Parker.
Fred
March 25th, 2009
8:42 pm
I agree Mac-Town, was just thinking the same thing.
What a bunch of scrubs San Antonio has put together. It is amazing what a great coach can do.
By the way, our coach sucks. It is so evident on nights like tonight. He is just in over his head.
welikebaseball2
March 25th, 2009
8:42 pm
ValdostaMike:
We can all appreciate you enlightening us “dumb” fans, but have you noticed that the Hawks actually have NOT helped much on defense tonight? See: Horford continuously ending up in man coverage against Parker.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
8:42 pm
Finally
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
8:45 pm
welikebaseball2, was not referring to you, but if you are one of the “few”…
The pick and roll is a killer, they do not play street ball, and it creates mismatches. But many of the outside shots are uncontested because the pick and roll leaves 2 guys on the pick or because Parker is breaking ankles and defenders are closing on the lane.
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
8:45 pm
give the ball up Mike geesh!!
Fred
March 25th, 2009
8:45 pm
man, how can that stat be true about the Spurs fouling so little? They look like a bunch of goons to me.
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
8:47 pm
thats how you give the ball up…
MAC-TOWN
March 25th, 2009
8:47 pm
SA is loving all of those jump shots. Odds just tell me they cant knock them down for the rest of the way in the same manner as just did when they stretched the lead. We have to capitalize when they start bricking them. I would hate for us to make it close then get KILLED by daggers from Finley and Mason. Good players to have on your team but absolutely dreadful when they are the opposition.
A-TownDown
March 25th, 2009
8:48 pm
All I’m saying is I dont like teams that win and do good for just one year. I want teams that win year after year. the falcons have been like that win one year then lose like crazy the next. The hawks are my team and no one else but if they aint careful they will not win next year. They have bibby and murray up for contracts in the offseason and neither has to come back because they are unrestricted agents. does it make you feel good to know that you might have for point guard next year just acie law and mario west. Rick sund will do what he did with the josh boys and wait too long but neither guy has to wait on him so they will go to other teams. Then we are left looking stupid trying to play acie law for a guy that dont even like him. Thats what I’m saying.
But sign bibby and watch us still have trouble anyway because he only gets slower and older. Who is guarding tony parker right now, al horford thats who. bibby is a waste.
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
8:50 pm
“things are happening here”
-Bob Rathmun
Fred
March 25th, 2009
8:50 pm
Why bring Joe back in for :20? Let him have his rest.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
8:50 pm
I am not sanctifying Bibby, but he is better than Speedy Claxton.
Fred
March 25th, 2009
8:51 pm
there you go,
Fred
March 25th, 2009
8:52 pm
Nice job by Woody with the subs there, worked out nicely, I am so glad we did not go with the Flip iso play to end the 3rd. I really hope that we do not see that the rest of the season. It works about 15% of the time.
KevinA
March 25th, 2009
8:52 pm
Anybody think Flip should play 36 min every night? For the Josh bashers, this team would go no where without him.
welikebaseball2
March 25th, 2009
8:55 pm
ValdostaMike: Fair enough. Wasn’t picking a fight with you. Just mad that it took us 3 quarters to adjust to the same pick & roll play. Parker is indeed breaking ankles. It’s just inexcusable for him to have so many uncontested layups. Push come to shove, guys have absolutely got to leave their men to prevent layups.
Blast
March 25th, 2009
8:55 pm
Brand new ball game going into the 4th. Can the Hawks pull it off? I didn’t think the Spurs could continue to make every shot they throw up at the perimeter, but we’ll see. parker is gonna want to drive.
Watch out for Parker in the 4th. Hawks need to stop switching the pick and roll. Parker is killing us when he has AL.
Hawks must guard the 3 point line.
Hawks keep driving. SA will foul you. Put them over the limit early.
A-TownDown
March 25th, 2009
8:56 pm
that is only because claxton cant stay healthy to play so I guess I see your point. But claxton does say he is healthy again. I would rather see rick sund pay flip murray the money next season than bibby. he is better on defense and can actually penetrate unlike bibby who does neither and is awful defending anybody. When you centers are guarding point guards it is so stupid obvious that bibby is no good on defending. I thought woody woodpecker likes defense so much but guess not cause bibby plays thirty eight minutes of no defense.
Sekou K. Smith
March 25th, 2009
8:56 pm
How the Hawks are even in this game is a mystery to me. The Spurs have shot the lights out and the neither Josh Smith nor Al Horford has played particularly well, and the game is tied going into the fourth quarter.
welikebaseball2
March 25th, 2009
8:58 pm
Sure Flip’s shooting lights out, but think we’ll get an assist out of him at the point guard position tonight?
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
8:58 pm
Mario for Bibby PLEASE!!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 25th, 2009
9:01 pm
It is amazing how the Spurs manage to find the most favorable matchup on the floor every single time. I just wonder how good the Hawks would be if Popovich was the head coach. It’s not like the Spurs make every shot, but they ALWAYS seem to be either taking open shots in rhythm or isolating a bigger player on a smaller player or a quicker player on a slower player. Coaching like that is what makes this team elite, and is also why going on the road in a tough environment doesn’t phase them.
Sekou K. Smith
March 25th, 2009
9:02 pm
He’s got two bigdave!
Fred
March 25th, 2009
9:02 pm
Sekou, are you serious?
The Spurs are playing with a bunch of scrubs off the NBA scrap pile. The Hawks should win this game by 15. Mike Woodson is so over his head its unbelievable.
What a terrible start to the 4th quarter. My frustration level is through the roof. If we lose to this bunch of scrubs with no Duncan and an out of shape Ginobli, I will start to have serious concerns about our playoff future.
A-TownDown
March 25th, 2009
9:02 pm
The spurs are beating the hawks without duncan because horford and pachulia have to guard parker. How crazy is that because the hawks should be winning. Instead bibby jacks one bad shot after another and tries to hide at the back of the defense zone. he sucks
welikebaseball2
March 25th, 2009
9:02 pm
Same story, Parker breaks down his man then drives to the hole for an uncontested layup. Flip runs the offense on the other end & either hits a shot or takes everyone else out of the flow with a missed shot from one-on-one.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
9:03 pm
We are playing a bunch of veteran pros tonight, glad Duncan is in street clothes.
A-TownDown, if my dumb-ass was running things we would still have Childress and I wouldn’t have know who Flip Murray was.
welikebaseball2, being a fan is very frustrating. I love baseball!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 25th, 2009
9:03 pm
Joe Johnson may not draw many fouls when he throws up those floaters, but he’s got that floater game working today, and it looks great.
welikebaseball2
March 25th, 2009
9:04 pm
Keep the big man out of one-on-one against Parker out of the pick and roll!!!!!! (insert scream here)
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
9:04 pm
Carry us Joe…!!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 25th, 2009
9:04 pm
Haha just as I say that, Joe draws the and-1 on the floater…
Fred
March 25th, 2009
9:07 pm
We are about to blow the “gimme” game of the next 3…all the good will this season will go out the door by Sunday afternoon if we do not find a way to beat a mediocre Spurs team, right now.
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
9:08 pm
Tony Parker is impossible to defend cause he drops low and drives into his defender in penetration all while being able to finish… he’s like a mini (emphasis on mini) LBJ…
KevinA
March 25th, 2009
9:08 pm
Ladies and Gentleman, now you see what a real point guard is. While everybody screams for a big, we need one of them parker type fellers.
Melvin
March 25th, 2009
9:09 pm
At what point do you run 2 guys at Parker…
welikebaseball2
March 25th, 2009
9:09 pm
Hey Mike Woodson, you should see the game. Parker is killing in one-on-one matchups. Wish you could catch it. They’re not even double-teaming him. You should see it!
O'brien
March 25th, 2009
9:09 pm
Teams like this show what Bibby is truly worth. We need a PG who can defend his position so JJ doesn’t have to. If Bibby is not hitting shots, he is totally ineffective.
MAC-TOWN
March 25th, 2009
9:10 pm
embarrasing…atleast the heat are losing
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
9:10 pm
scoring point guards will murk us…
see… Devin Harris, Moe Williams, Billups
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
9:12 pm
see… thats what happens when u have to put your defensively challenged pg on a big… b/c ur big has to defend a guard… u get killed on the glass…
Najeh Davenpoop
March 25th, 2009
9:13 pm
There is never a “gimme” game when you are playing the Spurs coached by Gregg Popovich, even if Duncan is out.
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
9:13 pm
why is Bibby in the game… bring in Mario, we need stops… Joe, Flip, Josh is all we need on the offensive end… Bibby is just going to chuck em up, bad shots and all…
KevinA
March 25th, 2009
9:14 pm
If the Heat loses, no harm no foul.
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
9:14 pm
Obrien i said what he was useless a looooooooooong time ago…
KirkinGa will defend u to death that he isnt…
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
9:15 pm
he is short, slow, and cant jump to even contest…!!
KevinA
March 25th, 2009
9:16 pm
They are just a better team with a better coach, if A, Josh or Bibby would have hit a higher percentage – who knows.
welikebaseball2
March 25th, 2009
9:16 pm
In defense of Bibby, there aren’t too many guys in the league that could guard Parker one-on-one tonight with the zone he’s in. He’s hit shots over more than just Bibby tonight. See, he just took Flip. Can’t say that I disagree with Bibby being a defensive liability overall though.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
9:17 pm
I really do not think the ONLY difference is coaching. Pop’s is a top 5 coach, but his players are also coachable. Some of our guys are great athletes but not mental giants. Horford understands the game, but he has been befuddled tonight. Josh looks like he is taking the SATs.
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
9:17 pm
1 guy killed us the whole night…
Blast
March 25th, 2009
9:18 pm
Ball game!
This sucks, man.
Spurs played great though. They have a very good road record.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
9:18 pm
$12 milllion dunk by Josh
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
9:19 pm
BS!!!!!!!
a job on us all night!!! i cant believe the NBA!!! we are at home dammiit who cares if its the spurs….!!!
Fred
March 25th, 2009
9:19 pm
Najeh, I am sorry, but if you cannot beat a team featuring Bonner, Kurt Thomas, #5 (whom I have never heard of) and Roger mason coming off a late night back-to-back thriller, then you have serious problems.
It was so obvious that the hawks felt like that tonight to. Usually Woodson saves his bed-wetting “we did not have enough energy” games for on the road, but he brought a full dose of it tonight.
The Spurs are a mediocre to bad team without Duncan and Ginobli, and tonight is an absolute embarrassment for the hawks.
rick
March 25th, 2009
9:20 pm
Is it just me or does anyone else see Flip floating open around the three point line and JJ now wants to imitate an aggressive player.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
9:21 pm
Fred, we had a bad night against a good team. That’s why they play 82.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
9:22 pm
“He went by Bibby like he was standing still. And Josh misses a three”
From bad to worse
Melvin
March 25th, 2009
9:23 pm
Bring on the Celtics…
A-TownDown
March 25th, 2009
9:23 pm
See this is where woody woodpecker will say gosh golly gee we sure miss acie law tonight. But he wont play him on other nights. Well why do we need him. Oh yeah because bibby cant defend other guards and like bigdave said he is guarding the other teams power forward or something stupid like that and they get an easy two points. Is this who we are paying some fourteen million dollars for I ask you. man please where is jarret jack or somebody. woody woodpecker still wont play mario because bibby hit one luck three point. man this is so crazy and there goes the game with parker gettin another layup. that dominique wilkins says we have to take a hat off to the spurs for winning the game with no tim duncan. Duh that is what good teams do not lose to teams when their best player is out. I like the hawks but philly is going to catch them and the heat both. see yall later
MAC-TOWN
March 25th, 2009
9:24 pm
Big Board by “J-Smoove” with 1 sec left. Thats what he gets paid the big bucks for.
Mark
March 25th, 2009
9:25 pm
We can beat the good teams, but not the elite ones. Joe ISO, Joe ISO, Joe ISO. What great coaching!
welikebaseball2
March 25th, 2009
9:25 pm
Wow. No answer for Parker all night. Hate to reek of coach bashing, but good coaches make adjustments. It’s not like Parker was scoring from a variety of sets. It was the pick & roll all night! I don’t know if Woodson ran ONE double team at him the whole game! Wow…
Mark
March 25th, 2009
9:27 pm
We need to trade Marvin and Josh for Chris Bosh immediately. Joe needs some help on a consistent basis. Let BIBBY GOOOOOOO! He sucks defensively.
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
9:27 pm
Rick,
Joe was taking high% shots and making them…
Mark
March 25th, 2009
9:28 pm
Valdosta Mike, we have bad nights against most of the great teams. Why, because we are nothing more than mediocre.
A-TownDown
March 25th, 2009
9:28 pm
Fourty two points AND ten asissts you will never see that from a hawks point guard thanks to bibby and woody woodpecker. Too bad because joe johnson and flip murray played really good. Now where is that stupid rod guy who keeps saying that we dont need no marvin williams sure could have used him this time around, huh?
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
9:29 pm
i swear, Acie Law can be the same type player…
Mark
March 25th, 2009
9:29 pm
Melvin, Did you say bring on the Celtics? Why?
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
9:29 pm
if he had a coach that believed in him… Pop built Tony up…
Fred
March 25th, 2009
9:30 pm
Mark, we did not lose to an elite team tonight. We lost to a mediocre team who has a vastly better coach than we do.
If any other team in the league featured a starting lineup of matt Bonner, Roger mason, Tony parker, and whoever the other two are, they would not go .500.
This was a terrible, terrible loss, and it could well be 3 in a row by Sunday afternoon, and the 4 seed will be slipping away.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
9:30 pm
From Mark: “We can beat the good teams, but not the elite ones. Joe ISO, Joe ISO, Joe ISO. What great coaching!”
hard to disagree
kirkinga
March 25th, 2009
9:31 pm
Tough loss tonight. The Hawks really could’ve used Marvin tonight.
No time to sulk, they have another tough opponent ahead and have to let this one go.The heat loss so it could have been worse.
Go Hawks!!
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
9:31 pm
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…. snnnnnnnnapppp…
a Kevin Willis sighting…!! and his arms still havent grown…
Mark
March 25th, 2009
9:31 pm
I don’t know A-TownDown, even with Marvin we would have lost. We are just an OK team that glad to make the playoffs and hopes to GET (Yeah you heard me GET) to the second round.
Mark
March 25th, 2009
9:35 pm
Fred, they still had Parker and Ginobli. With those two, they are just as good as we are.
Astro Joe
March 25th, 2009
9:36 pm
So I stayed for the first half and watched Smith act like he was taking a Sunday stroll as he seemed determined to play like Smooth and not Smash. And the result was a stat line that looked like he was playing SG and not PF. Popovich decided to hack Smith everytime he got the ball down low and watched him miss free throws. I wonder if we’ll see that again?
Woody needs to learn the expression “situational substituions” or more specifically, “situational activation”. Unless the ASG has mandated that he not play Speedy this season, how does he NOT activate the one and only player on the team capable of guarding the opposing team’s best offensive weapon? The result was that either Joe or Flip had to guard Parker in the tight 4th quarter (at least tight at the beginning) which kept them from having energy to perform on the other side of the court. Bibby has yet to have a big game against an elite PG… maybe because he ends up checking a non-PG in those situations and expends too much energy chasing guys beyond the free throw line. Or maybe he just wilts against superior competition. Whatever, dude needs to find a way to excel against above average PGs.
One more criticism… Joe has this “hero complex” that kills this team too often. Team fights back to tie the game and Joe decides that he alone will make the shot to give them a lead. So he comes down, refuses to pass the freakin’ ball, takes a contested shot, misses and we lose our ability to maintain momentum. I’ve seen him do it for 304 years, He’s a tremendous player but often, he’s not the catalyst for our comebacks. It’s amazing the number of possessions this team has when Joe is the only one who touches the ball. And against a team like the Spurs (who are experts at team-ball) it really sticks out. Joe can’t beat these teams by himself and when he tries he really hurts his team.
Smith played real soft, Joe played selfishly, Bibby came up short and Woody never considered using his one option who could slow down the oppsoing team’s best weapon (again, unless ownership has his hands tied, how do you expect some combo of Joe, Bibby and Mario to guard that Frenchman?) and the Hawks looked like pretenders for most of the night. But alas, that’s probably who we are. Pretenders.
Mark
March 25th, 2009
9:37 pm
I am a big Josh Critic, but he has been doing well lately and was due for a night like this. He still has to improve his ft shooting and so does the REST OF THE TEAM. That is gonna hurt us in the playoffs.
Big Ray
March 25th, 2009
9:38 pm
Okay, so we could have used Marvin tonight. Not! What was he going to do, guard Tony Parker? The problem was once again Mike Bibby. Woodson says he tried to use a double team on Parker but I did not see one. Woodson sure has a lot of excuses. But Marvin was not going to help one bit. Get off his jock already.
Fred
March 25th, 2009
9:39 pm
Ummm, Ginobli barely got a sweat going. Look at who played the minutes for San Antonio. That was a garbage team they had out there besides Parker.
Mark
March 25th, 2009
9:41 pm
Astro Joe, you said it. We are nothing more than PRETENDERS! We won’t be CONTENDERS, until a
major move takes place. The great teams have to 20 point scorers or at least two scorers that people respect. Lakers (Kobe, Gasol) Celtics(Pierce, Garnett, and this year Allen), Magic(Howard, Lewis) or even Cleveland (James, Williams)
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
9:42 pm
Woody “woodpecker” just cooks the meals, he doesn’t buy the groceries.
It was tough to watch. Worst thing was they kept the crowd out of the game all night (maybe not at the end of the 2nd and 3rd) but it was a LARGER crowd than normal but QUIETER.
I agree Bibby is not the future. But right now I do think he is our best option. I do wish we would play more players. Mario needs more 2nd half minutes. I never really appreciated Marvin until we didn’t have him. I sure do miss Childress.
niremetal
March 25th, 2009
9:44 pm
I love the Spurs…they were my adoptive team throughout the Hawks’ dark years. So I won’t take anything away from Pop’s team, but this definitely was a winnable game for the Hawks.
In fairness, Bibby actually had a few good defensive sequences against Parker. Once, Parker started a drive, and Bibby totally cut him off and forced him to give up the ball. Another time, he funneled Bibby right into J-Smash, again forcing Parker to give it up. The problem is consistency. He takes entire plays totally off, or makes a half-hearted attempt at a steal, allowing his man to blow by him. Or he funnels the player in the general direction of the lane, but not towards a specific defender to effectuate a double-team. Frustrating.
JJ shot well and tried to take over in the fourth, but he still had a couple plays where he dribbled around and held the ball for too long.
We tried to run the offense through the frontcourt a couple times, but Horford and Smoove were just ice cold. More importantly, the Spurs are so good with their defensive rotations that they never leave a dangerous shooter totally open when they double down – which means that going inside never actually opens up the floor. That’s why they’re an elite defensive team even when Duncan and Bowen don’t see the floor.
I’ll bet anyone here $5 that the Spurs will win the NBA title this year. I know the Lakers seem unbeatable now. But with Duncan fresh, Manu healthy, Parker being Parker, and Gooden getting their backs, I honestly think that they can take the Lakers out.
niremetal
March 25th, 2009
9:45 pm
*Bibby funneled Parker. Whoops.
Mark
March 25th, 2009
9:45 pm
Ray you can say it again. Bibby is a LIABILITY! The good teams with any type of scouting will expose
us on that all night. Our pick n roll defense is shaky with Bibby because everybody has to give him help.
This may sound dumb, but why can’t we start Flip instead of Bibby or if we have to play Bibby, why not Flip at SG, and Joe at the SF. We may get off to better starts every night.
Big Ray
March 25th, 2009
9:46 pm
…..getting past the sarcasm, and trying to beat the usual multiple personality haters to the punch…
I sure wouldn’t have minded having Marvin in the least bit. Hello….that’s more scoring. Joe needed more help than just Flip Murray. Where was he getting it? Everybody else was missing. That’s right: EVERYBODY. The Spurs were fouling Josh Smith like crazy when he was going to the basket. He went 6-11 from the line. What do you think Marvin would have done?
Funny how Acie wasn’t available for this game. Poetic justice if you ask me….You never miss them until they’re gone. Like Chill, Marvin, etc…
Well, I have to agree with Astro Josh-basher. We weren’t playing, we were pretending. I’m not disgusted with the team. I continue to be disgusted with the coach, who will face harder challenges in the playoffs. I continue to be disgusted with his love affair with Bibby, who has less defense than a Pac-Man Jones court case.
But I love this team. I have to agree with A-Town Down as well. Watch out for the 76ers, especially since Miami seems to be determined to lose when we lose. We could end up being matched up with those guys. Oh joy.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
9:47 pm
Astro Joe, why wasn’t Mario an option to defend Parker. He played him tighter than anyone else.
TheHawksFan
March 25th, 2009
9:47 pm
There was an answer for Parker. He was on our Bench. He added Parker to his list of rips. But Mr. West didnt sniff the floor in the 2nd half. Can we take the sandbags off pleaseeeeee!! Damnnn. There is NO excuse to NOT play this guy. If Bibby didnt get bruised up, he proabably would have not played at all and we would have lost by 20. Bibby is falling off fast. Teams are tight on him and he doesnt have the speed or strength to get spacing for his shot. We plain just gave this one away. This could be our PLAYOFF team AS IS right now. Who knows if Marvin or Acie will come back to form this year. But if we are gonna play 6 guys on D and 7 on offense just piss the rest of the season away right now. Tightened UP WOODY!!!!!! Beat Beantownnnnnn… Goooo HAWKS!!!
Mark
March 25th, 2009
9:47 pm
Niremetal, Bibby isn’t our best option. We need to start Flip and bring Bibby off the bench, but Woodson doesn’t have the Balls to do that.
Reggie
March 25th, 2009
9:48 pm
Mark: I believe we were doing iso Joe iso Joe because that was working. I’m not sure why you’re going to point out Joe when he is the only reason we were scoring in the 4th quarter. He is absolutely amazing in the lane and just toying with people. He maybe could also be a threat outside if some people could get penetration other than him and kick it out. /the reason we were doing that was not Woody, it was just plain Joe knowing he was the only one who could score and took maters in his own hands. Horford has no true offensive game and can only score when other people find him. Josh Smith amazes me to this day with some of the things he does. He still shoots outside shots and tries to have a savvy post game when he doesn’t. I don’t understand why he can’t develop and offensive game with all the years he has had a chance. Bibby looked like a 50 year old man tonight with how slow he was moving. Flip still thought he was shooting like he was the other night and shot about 6 bricks in the second half. The only guys I was satisfied with was Zaza and JJ. JJ really had some energy tonight but too bad nobody else cared (including Woody).
Fred: We won’t lose the 4th spot or 5th. The bigger problem is knowing we can hang with a team that has a good point guard, which would be 2nd round vs. the Cavs. We’ve seen what Mo has done to us and he isn’t even one of the top PG’s. If Woody doesn’t play Law or West in that series if we get there then his job should be taken away. I’m pretty sure that Mario could have contained Tony to under 40 if he was on him.
Mark
March 25th, 2009
9:51 pm
What must we do to be able to win it all! This team will never win it all, they’ll just be what they are. A possible 50 win team that loses in the 2nd round every year.
J.J.M.
March 25th, 2009
9:54 pm
i agree we should start flip but this game wasnt josh fault as people may think. this was just bad coaching. Tony Parker made majority of his shots because the hawks kept switching, horford and zaza kept playing off giving parker a open jump shot. but its also funny how these fans in here cry and say josh or the hawks suck but when they won 7 in a row fans were all on their banwagon. i mean come on they will be ok acie playin pretty well. just let them fight it off and hopefully they get the 4th seed.
SWAT Native
March 25th, 2009
9:54 pm
REUP FLIP, PLEASE! What I never understand about teams playing Tony Parker (Antoine as I call him) is they let him sail to the basket rather than putting him on his back and making him pick himself and make free throws. The Lakers had success with this in the playoffs a few years ago. Hammer him whem he goes to the hole and let’s see how bad he wants it!
Mark
March 25th, 2009
9:54 pm
Here you go again Reggie, trying to be the best HOMER you can be. I believe there was a man named Flip Murray who was having a good night. I guess Flip doesn’t get penetration in to the lane, probably just as good as Joe. Parker scored 42, but he had other guys that contributed in that 4th quarter. So Reggie spare me that delusional homer crap!!
darryl allen
March 25th, 2009
9:55 pm
the hawks should have put parker on his ass. it was a joke how he drove the lane and nobody gave a hard foul. they better get in playoff mode or they wont make it out of the first round.
falcon21
March 25th, 2009
9:57 pm
If this team only had a fair coach they would have won 50 games already. Mark says no balls, I say no brains.
Mark
March 25th, 2009
9:57 pm
SWAT Native, I agree. We should be a little more tougher. Horford and Josh are tough, but they need a little bit of that ANTHONY MASON and CHARLES OAKLEY mentality. Josh was getting pushed around and knocked down all night. He or Horford should have done the same to Parker.
Mark
March 25th, 2009
10:00 pm
falcon21, I agree no brains.
Darrell Allen, you are also right. This team has to beat people up when they go to the lane, even if it means taking a flagrant foul. Heck put Randolph Morris or Solo ( who should be playing more) in to do that.
Mark
March 25th, 2009
10:02 pm
Woody doesn’t have balls or brains, he has OVARIES!!!! Don’t LOL!! I am serious!!
hawkfan
March 25th, 2009
10:02 pm
CELEBRATION TIME COME ON! THE HAWKS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS! but we still lost, oh well the heat lost too, so it’s all good
Patrick
March 25th, 2009
10:04 pm
People tend to over-react after bad loses. Couple of things.
1) This loss was bad. But this was one regular season loss.
2) Parker made Bibby look foolish. Fortunately, Mario Chalmers is not Tony Parker.
3) Josh played like crap. Plenty of Hawks played poorly tonight. Just because he is more frustrating to watch when he is playing poorly doesn’t mean that this a better team without Josh or any nonsense like that.
4) Woodson is a bad head coach. That this would be pronounced against the league’s best coach should not be a surprise.
So, yeah. Bad loss to a good team. Fortunately, this team has evolved to the point where it can have bad losses to good teams. Brush it off and move on.
-Patrick
SWAT Native
March 25th, 2009
10:05 pm
Pat Riley would fine every player on the floor for all the layups they gave ‘Toine tonight. Oh well, bring on the C’s – I know I’ll be there!
Mark
March 25th, 2009
10:05 pm
Hawkfan, I would be happy, but I know what is gonna happen when they get in their. You see right now they are fighting for this SO CALLED HOME COURT ADVANTAGE, but when they get into the playoffs they will probably lose GAME 1 or 2 and screw that up as well. All we are gonna do is JOE ISO, JOE ISO, BIBBY THREE and maybe FLIP and MORE MISSED FTs.
Reggie
March 25th, 2009
10:05 pm
Mark: Why do you bring up Homer every time you talk to me or Ray? What does me telling you things have to do with being a Homer? Flip had a good first half but was ice cold in the second half. He had about 4 BRICKS in the 4th quarter. Flip drives okay but it is usually out of control. Joe is smooth and has the balance and control to get it back out. Joe had nobody else in the 4th quarter and that is why HE decided to take over in the 4th quarter. The problem wasn’t offense in that quarter cause he covered it. the problem was we couldn’t get a stop. The few times they did miss Bibby was trying to get the D rebound over Bonner while Smith and Horford were sitting outside. Although Horford was stuck on Parker a lot of the time so he didn’t have a choice.
O'brien
March 25th, 2009
10:06 pm
Mike Bibby, 41 minutes, 13 pts, 4 assists, bad defense.
Al Horford, 41 minutes, 7 pts,
Josh Smith, 40 minutes, 12 pts
JJ 44 minutes (I understand JJ, because he was hot).
Maybe this was the kind of game where Marvin would have helped. But with Josh, Al and Zaza not having their best game, where was Solo?
Smitty
March 25th, 2009
10:08 pm
Having been a b ball coach for thirty years(all High school) I am especially wary of criticizing a coach w/out really knowing what’s going on in the locker room and at practice,but I was very disappointed in Woodson’s lack of any adjustments v. the Spurs. The first rule of defense has to be “take away what the opponent is doing best”. Double team Parker, guard him for awhile w/ Mario.something. We don’t know what the Spurs would do next cause they didn’t have to adjust at all.
Mark
March 25th, 2009
10:09 pm
You are right Patrick, this team has evolved into something. What, I don’t know. All I know is when it comes to the ELITE teams we Lose. Look at the home losses CELTICS, MAGIC, CAVALIERS, SPURS. (probably the Lakers and Celtics Again)
SUNS and NETS got lucky
doc
March 25th, 2009
10:09 pm
you and me nire adoptive parents we are.
we got schooled tonight, even without the big fundamental. seemed like bowen and ginobli didnt have to break a sweat to get the victory tonight against the hawks,
Astro Joe
March 25th, 2009
10:12 pm
Yeah, Ray, that’s me… Josh Basher. My previous post was exclusively dissing our PF. There was nothing balanced in my game analyst. I’m busted.
Anybody who thinks having one less quality player available (Marvn) against the elite teams in the league is straight stupid.
Funny watching the Celtics with Mikki Moore. I’ve probably watched him play all of 6 on-court minutes since he joined the Celtics and everytime he makes a bone-headed play that seems very un-champion like (like fouling a 3-point shooter).
bigdave
March 25th, 2009
10:13 pm
SWAT NATIVE,
your name is fitting bruh b/c i felt we should have adopted the Laker strategy after he got to 15..
I mean Pop had no problem with making sure Josh earned em, and Bonner gave Bibby his issue. The Hawks have to get nastier… i said a long time ago, our team, and our C is too “nice” smiley faces, all that… please.. guys need to get there game faces on..
Boston is going to come in here and try to bully us, and Kobe might try to roll a big number just cause he’s in the A and will have a large Laker turnout. Hawks need to develop a “chip on his shoulder” mentality.. let the lack of respect from officiating, opponents, and other external forces drive them…
Mark
March 25th, 2009
10:14 pm
Reggie what game were you watching in the fourth. Joe scored all of our points because we were running one play. At about the 4 or 5 minute mark, we had only scored 11 points. Yes our defense sucked, but that is a given versus good teams because of Bibby. There was no movement on offense because they were trying space the floor for Joe. The fact is, we need another prolific scorer and we don’t have one. Hell teams know what we are gonna do. Go to Joe. Flip maybe out of control, but usually when he comes in, good thing happen.
Reggie
March 25th, 2009
10:17 pm
Dave: That’s true. I’m not sure why the only time I’ve seen that mentality was in the playoffs last year. We did have the chip and it showed and the result showed. Well Hawks this in kind of like the playoffs right here. These next two game are big to get momentum and it would be huge to win them. If we beat both these teams we would get people talking. But we never seem to have that mentality.
Melvin
March 25th, 2009
10:28 pm
Mark, I said bring on the Celtics b/c there’s no use in dissecting this game…
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
10:28 pm
Mario and Solo should have gotten a taste in the 4th. We got blistered when it mattered. But I still believe this team and this coach can do something special. First, we utilize all the talent we have. Players need to be unselfish, and coach needs to forget about Bibby’s, or Josh’s feelings, and stick the guy in there that is going to get the job done. I am not saying we can win it all, but we can advance. I bet no team wants to play us in the playoffs, especially if we have home-court.
darrell starks
March 25th, 2009
10:28 pm
WHY do WOODY THINK the way he think it makes no sense why is it so hard to bring in FLIP, MARIO, ZAZA, AND SOLO, of the bench and have a nice rotation thats how you devolop strength in numbers your not going to beat the good team especially ON THE ROAD not utilizing your bench when is WOODY GOING TO LEARN. GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reggie
March 25th, 2009
10:30 pm
Mark: I agree that we do Iso Joe too much but is it the players faults that they just stand around watching Joe go to work or does Woody really tell them to stand around. If he does then he is an idiot. Tonight though that’s all we truly had though and it was working in the fourth. At about the 8 minute mark Joe was flawless. On most nights we don’t need this. But tonight we sadly had no other choice. I do agree with you though that we just stand around on offense too much. That’s like what rec kids do is stand around and watch the best player on the team score all the points.
Rod from College Park
March 25th, 2009
10:31 pm
Smitty,
It’s amazing isn’t it. All you had to do was double Parker, and make sure you don’t leave Finley.. Woody couldn’t figure that out. WOW. As I see above, the Marvin lovers actually think he would have shut down Parker. (LOL)
Reggie
March 25th, 2009
10:35 pm
Rod: He wouldn’t have shut down parker. But he would have maybe given us somebody else that could actually score the basketball tonight. Maybe he also would have had the guts to try and stop Parker when he went in the lane instead of everybody else playing soft and letting him in there.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
10:36 pm
I do think Marvin would have made 8 out of 10 free throws.
Melvin
March 25th, 2009
10:36 pm
Rod, I was asking at what point would Woody double Parker all nite… Go figure. How many times did we see Parker run the pick and roll with Big AL’s guy????
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
10:38 pm
I guess they don’t shoot free throws on asphalt. Cheap shot, I know, but we have to develop a half court game if we are going to go deep in the playoffs.
MannyT
March 25th, 2009
10:44 pm
I can only assume that the Hawks were so in love with the idea of not playing against Timmy that they treated Tony like he was handing out autographed pics of the wife all night.
This is the roller coaster ride that we call the Hawks. I suspect that they will play much better against Boston and/or LA even though this was the game they should have won.
On the road, without Duncan, the Spurs play 10 guys and shoot well over 50% from the field. Maybe Woody will go to TX for the summer and get some time at the Popovich School for Coaches. He and Josh can get together on the weekend and have spats just to keep their relationship in mid season form.
BWAF
Sworn Secrecy
March 25th, 2009
10:52 pm
If “Thomas Gardner” gets 30+ mins a game he’ll be a 20 ppg guy.
ValdostaMike
March 25th, 2009
10:53 pm
Tony should have kissed us, as any gentleman should do as he has his way with a ….
Sworn Secrecy
March 25th, 2009
10:58 pm
“Thomas Gardner” is the answer to all of our problems, he has a drive and excellency to his game that only D-Wade, Lebron and Kobe can compare too.
The almighty “Thomas Gardner”
The Bird
March 25th, 2009
11:00 pm
Mark you continue to amaze me with your stupid points and comments.
pinoy hawk
March 25th, 2009
11:15 pm
Defense is a team play. However, in this game there was too much switching on defense especially when AL switched to parker on several occasions. The result easy points by the ultra fast frenchman against the big guy.
With respect to bibby’s deficiencies on defense, he worked like a dog running around to cover parker, mason and finley but I think his age and health (maybe overweight) is catching up on him. Starting flip may be a good option but I doubt if woody would change his starting lineup this late in the regular season.
RLP
March 25th, 2009
11:52 pm
Kudos to the Hawks for being the fifth team in the NBA to secure a playoff spot.
cp
March 26th, 2009
12:14 am
Pop showed us why he is considered one of the best coaches in the game and Woody showed us why he is Woody…. Pop had great plays out of the timeout, made adjustments, saw that we could stop particular plays so he exploited those mismatches all night…..Woodson made no adjustments and looked mad all night…. At least I wont have to hear Nique during the playoffs. I thought he was going to shoot his wad the way he was gushing all over Parker tonight.
Big Ray
March 26th, 2009
12:47 am
Astro Joe,
It was a joke. A JOKE. You know, rhymes with COKE? Otherwise I wouldn’t have said I agreed with you. To hell with it. No more joking.
Big Ray
March 26th, 2009
12:59 am
You know, I thought ol’ ATownDown was trippin’ and my eyesight was getting bad…’til Jerome Jurenovich and the Stinger started talking during the post game show.
They actually talked about he fact that Zaza Pachulia and Al Horford spent large quantities of time guarding Tony freakin’ Parker at the top of the zone, and how that was certainly not a way to be successful on defense.
Ladies and Gentlemen, instroducing the brilliant strategies and tactics employed by your local Coach of The Year…
Oh, and before the excuses start raining down, I know Acie Law wasn’t available, due to back injuries.
Oh wait a minute….THAT Law? The one who can’t make a single mistake on the court or he gets yanked? The one who Woody-philes said wasn’t seeing the floor because he wasn’t GOOD ENOUGH to play? The same guy who Woody refused to develop and groom for the majority of the season? The same guy Woody says he now misses because they need him against the better teams, who have the better point guards?
Surely you jest.
Mark
March 26th, 2009
12:59 am
The Bird, please just be quiet and post your comments on the game, not me. THanks
Ray do you think this team could trade something for Chris Bosh.
We could give resign Joe and give Bosh, Bibby’s money.
What are your thoughts?
Can we win it all with this squad?
Mark
March 26th, 2009
1:17 am
I will admit that Woody makes many questionable decisions, but Rick Sund will look at his body of work this season and say it was a success. He will base it off the fact that this is are first winning season in ten years. He will also look at the fact that Horford, Josh, and Marvin have missed significant portions of the season. Based on that, Woody not going anywhere. This team is OK with mediocrity because based on the last ten years, that is improvement.
I hate Woody’s decisions sometimes, but I also have to look at the fact that this man never really had a chance to build his own team like most coaches. He basically had to try and win with another man’s vision which was Billy Knight. Billy Knight’s vision was terrible. This man blew several drafts (Marvin and Shelden Williams), signed terrible free agents like Speedy Claxton (not to mention he tried to sign Eric Dampier who took less money to be with Dallas which I am glad). Woodson also took a job where there was no promise of winning from the start. He knew when taking this job that it was gonna take BK at least two years to clear off cap space, so I really can’t blame him for the
first two years. Coaches should be given an opportunity to build their own teams. Look at Larry Brown and Dantoni. Both of those guys when given jobs have been given the opportunity to build their teams. When Larry Brown was faced with the situation that Woody was in, he simply quit. He did not let Isaiah give him the players that he wanted him to have. Woody has been forced to try and
teach these players the game and then coach. He has never been given many significant pieces besides Joe. Look at Rivers up in Boston, he was on his way out the door before he was given some real talent. Now he could win two championships in a row. Woodson has had to do it with youngsters the whole way. My point is that these Hawks aren’t gonna get to a finals unless they make some moves. I just don’t feel that are nucleus is good enough.
Mark
March 26th, 2009
1:20 am
correction= our nucleus
niremetal
March 26th, 2009
1:54 am
Probably can’t get Bosh unless we’re willing to give up Horford.
I was the guy pulling for us to make a run at Bosh a year ago in a Smoove sign-and-trade. But Smoove’s stock has come down quite a bit this year, since he hasn’t lived up to the $10M/yr price tag that he carries – indeed, he has regressed in every single statistical category this year, and hasn’t shown a single new wrinkle in his game compared to last year. Now stats lie sometimes, heaven knows, and Smoove brings more to the table than are shown by his stats. But we’ll be hard-pressed to find a team willing to invest in his contract at the end of the year. We might have better luck next summer, using him as bait for the teams that strike out on LeBron, D-Wade, Bosh, etc.
The offseason will be interesting. The most interesting thing will be to see if a team like Detroit, Toronto, or Utah tries to do with Marvin a miniature version what we did (or rather should have done) with JJ – sign him to a higher-than-expected contract that the Hawks will be afraid to match. I use those teams as examples of teams that will have cap room to work with this summer and will be willing to spend it because they realize they have no shot of getting anyone from the elite 2010 free agent class. You heard it hear first – Marvin is the type of player who seems like he’d settle in very well in a place like Utah. And if Boozer bolts and they want a reasonably priced player to replace his offensive production, they may well call up Marvin’s agent and make an offer higher than the Hawks are willing to match.
niremetal
March 26th, 2009
2:00 am
Btw, here are other teams that will have cap space being created by departing players this summer and who might not be afraid to spend it:
Cleveland (Szczerbiak – $13M)
Dallas (Kidd – $21M)
Houston (Artest – $8.5M)
Indiana (Nesterovic – $8,5M)
Lakers (Odom – $11.5M)
Memphis (Antoine Walker – $8.8M)
Minnesota (Juwan Howard – $7.4M)
Fred
March 26th, 2009
6:55 am
Poor coaching killed us last night: http://www.examiner.com/x-2723-Atlanta-Hawks-Examiner~y2009m3d26-Parkers-42-Woodsons-coaching-doom-Hawks
dap01
March 26th, 2009
8:34 am
Bibby would be a very good role player. Someone who could come in an put up a 3. But he does not have enough game to start and play significant minutes.
We need a PG (AC), we need a center, we need a coach.
The Truth
March 26th, 2009
8:38 am
When the Hawks lose, they lose ugly don’t they? I used the word ugly relative to our 4th seed standing. If we were not playing for anything, then this would have been a satisfying loss. Also, this was an easy game to analyze. The players didn’t execute and the coach didn’t coach. At times the Hawks look so mediocre to be a fourth seeded team with poor free-throw shooting, turnovers, defensive break-downs and poor coaching. They still have not learned how to capitalize on turnovers or missed-shot opportunities by the opponents. Flip is the only exception. Even though AL did not score well on open looks, I will give him a slight pass because of his rebounding performance. Other then that, thumbs-down to the other front-court players. For us to have won this game Josh needed a monster night, particularly on the defensive end and it didn’t happen. The coaching strategy for this game should have been similar to the Wade Miami game. Every time the slasher Wade thought about slashing, he saw 2 or 3 defenders in the lane. But that was not the case. Every time Parker thought about finding a lane, he just needed to beat his man and it was clear sailing to the basket. Josh and Al were always a day late (and a dollar short) in contesting his shot and getting goal tending calls. The trick was not letting him see the lane in the first place. Hell, even a few zone looks might have done the trick in this game. I would rather have been beaten with jumpers then easy lay-ups. Once again, Woody didn’t make those kinds of adjustments. Even Mo Evans echoed the point in a post interview.
One more thing that’s troubling; the Hawks don’t typically recover from losses like this very well. So, I’m not expecting a miracle turn-around against Boston or the Lakers. I Hope I’m wrong. Those wins will depend on Josh since he is the enigma on the team. Marvin being out doesn’t help either. Marvin contribution would was missed at least on the free throw line, rebounding and interior play. That presence was missing down the stretch especially with Josh and AL struggling on offense. Other than Joe, we had no interior offense game. So ISO Joe was force to become, well, ISO Joe which is never a good thing for Joe. He doesn’t handle doubles and treble-team defense well at all. Joe reverted by to razor-back hog ball. Despite that fact, however, the margin of defeat was small enough such that a few made free throws, a few dunks, and a few stops could have made the difference in winning this game.
Since I never doubted us making the playoff based on our current record, I’m not that hyped that we actually made the playoff by default. This is how we done it last year even though our overall record is better by comparison. However, the clear mission is to obtain the 4th seed and host the 1st round. The way our temperamental Hawks play, at times, they will surely need the extra help; more than any other playoff bound team.
doc
March 26th, 2009
8:38 am
the hawks were not showing any toughness last night whereas the spurs without tim were. it was like their home game, rather than ours. who was going to swat down little parker? no one seemed to be able to even catch up to him to lay a hand on him as he repeatedly drove through and around guys twice his size for easy layups. on the other end kurt thomas made his fouls count laying out josh on at least two occasions for fouls and having several mix ups where they both ended up on the floor with no calls made. they owned the middle, we went back to the play defense of old, O-LAY.
better get ready to rumble on friday or it is going to be the second of a three game losing streak against the best at home. dont be fooled, it is a strong measuring stick. as bad as they were last night and even though they were tied starting the fourth quarter our hawks were never close to being in control of the game. nicely put manny t.
doc
March 26th, 2009
8:43 am
nicely put truth, as our remarks are on the echo side. you seemed to see the same major faults with the same concerns going forward. this team continues to surprise, i hope it continues.
JMar
March 26th, 2009
9:27 am
We could have the best defenders on the planet, but when Acie is the only player willing to fight through screens (and then get benched for it), we’d be stuck with Al Horford on Tony Parker all night long. Good coaching, Woody.
Elijah
March 26th, 2009
9:29 am
I am !@#$ing pissed.
Play Speedy on Parker last night and we win.
Bibby lose some !@#$ing weight, you fat old fart. You do nothing but shoot jumpers and let other PGs kill you on the court. I can’t even imagine how much Chalmers and Mo will destroy Bib in the playoffs.
Woodson, learn how to coach.
Josh grow up you idiot. You destroy our team and my fantasy etam.
The Spurs players said they are never satisfied even after big games like last night.
I think that’s why we aren’t an elite team.
Ric Roc
March 26th, 2009
9:43 am
Was at the game last night. So frustrating to watch Woody get outcoached by one of the great ones… Like, seriously. Pops out-coached the pants off Woody last night. The Spurs ran the same play offensively for 48 minutes: pick and roll with Parker to create mismatches with the Hawks while they continue to play man-to-man defense and sloppy/slow switches on defense.
How many times was Al or Zaza gonna have to guard Tony? What’s amazing is that Woody finally realized his strategy wasn’t working and opted to go zone late in the third. The Hawks create turnovers and stops and get back in the game to tie it. Woody decides that’s the perfect to back to man defense and the switch. Hawks never get close again.
The Hawks had the more talented team on the floor but could do nothing against the better coached team. The way they looked in the third, I was amazed to see the game tied.
ILL-logical
March 26th, 2009
9:47 am
First(and foremost),congratulations to the Hawks organization for their second consecutive playoff appearance.Many are called but fewer are chosen
Now that that hurdle has been cleared some strategic considerations might be considered:
1. Lost in the bashing/ scapegoating frenzy is the fact that Josh ’s ankle is in very bad shape. Why not rest him until the playoffs because if it gets worse, he may not be able to play at all in the playoffs. Plus he can spend the time working on his free throw shooting and watch game tapes.
2. Solo and Acie need some burn. The road through the playoffs is a long and winding one ; filled with twists and turns,many of them unexpected. Having these guys better prepared for those unexpected events cannot be a bad thing.
3. Give Flip the money. He has done it the old fashioned way: he has EARNED it!
kwooden1
March 26th, 2009
9:52 am
I didn’t get a chance to see this game, but I was looking forward to a win. From what everyone has said the HAWKS were doing their normal defense and the Spurs took advantage of it by ISOing Tony once a forward/center switch off on him. Tony is the best in the business at finishing at the rim for a guard so it’s almost impossible to close down the lane on him. I agree with the post about this being a loss because of coaching, the strategy should have been to layoff Tony so he’d have take a lot jump shots. I would have lived with Tony beating the HAWKS with all jump shots. Bonner, Mason and Finley are very good shooters, so double teaming is very difficult against the Spurs.
Also, our biggest issue is scoring points. The HAWKS aren’t going to be able to hold teams under a 100 every night, they need to have an offensive system that will allow them to score more points.
But I guess I’m just along for the ride like everyone else. Its going to be bumpy. Bring on Boston!! Their coming whether we want them to or not!
GO HAWKS!!!
The Truth
March 26th, 2009
10:09 am
Elijah
Your remarks are the exclamation points.
To steal some lines from the poem entitled, “THE MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN”
If you think you’re outclassed, you are:
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.
If the struggling Hawks, don’t quickly recover from this loss and subconsciously think that they are inferior to the elite teams, they will set the stage for a very disappointing playoff run; even with home court advantage. At the end of today, it is the mental thing that makes the difference.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 26th, 2009
10:13 am
“We didn’t get stops. And at some point you’ve got to make an adjustment. To let a guy get 42 points on a back-to-back, you’ve got to look at yourself. It wasn’t just an effort thing. You let a guy get 42 points, almost all on layups, what can you say?” — Mo Evans
Sounds like a subliminal shot at Woody to me…
O'brien
March 26th, 2009
10:17 am
I remember in last year’s playoffs, when Bibby struggled against Rondo. Acie played a couple minutes, and played well. During his half-time interview, Woody said he needs to play Acie more, because he is bigger and faster, and keep up with Rondo better. And what happened the second half and the rest of the series? Acie still got no playing time.
The Hornets played the Nuggets last night, and George Karl had them trap CP3 from the start, and he ended up with 6 turnovers (although he did have 19 and 10), but Woody makes no adjustments until the 3rd quarter?
Also, the 76ers might overtake the Heat for the 4th seed. Would we prefer to play Miami or Philly? Philly has Andre Miller (who will post up Bibby all night), and Dalembert with his length could be tough. Plus Iggy and Thaddeus Young, they might be the tougher team to beat.
Ric Roc
March 26th, 2009
10:26 am
doc and The Truth,
Both great points made and I echo those sentiments. Marvin was definitely missed for the Cavs and Spurs games. There are guys that say Woody should stick b/c of his overall body of work…when I view his body of work, I see that he has failed to properly develop Acie or Josh Smith; has never effective utilized his bench for any extended period of time; is slow to make in-game adjustments; and despite the Hawks overall record improvement from year to year, they have largely under-achieved during the regular season.
He keeps hanging his hat on taking the C’s to 7-games last year. They don’t give trophies or hang banners for that.
It’s like how Charlie Weiss’ biggest accomplishment in ND thus far is ALMOST winning against USC three years ago…
Ric Roc
March 26th, 2009
10:36 am
O’Brien,
You have certainly given some food for thought…who would make the tougher matchup? Philly or Miami. Philly has always given us fits as they can match our athleticism.
Ken Strickland
March 26th, 2009
10:57 am
In last nights loss, the Spurs were minus Tim Duncan and the Hawks were minus Marvin Williams, Acie Law and a HC. There wasn’t one ounce of strategy used by the Hawks. TINY TIM would have had enough sense to abandon a DEF strategy that consistently isolated TParker, the NBA’s most dynamic penetrating PG, against our C and PF. It seems everyone that attended the gm, everyone except Woodson that is, or watched it on TV, saw the fallacy in switching on Parker.
(1)Why didn’t we double Parker to get the ball out of his hands and limit his scoring opportunities, like they did JJ?
(2)Why didn’t we take advantage of TDuncan’s absence and pound them inside by rotating Zaza, Solo and Morris at C, and Horford and Smoove at PF?
(3)Why did we overplay our key players, Smoove-39.33mins, Bibby-40.41mins, Horford-41.02mins and JJ-44.02mins? The Spurs played 10 men and all except 2 got meaningful mins. We played 8, with only 7 getting meaningful mins.
(4)How stupid does a HC have to be to think he can play his best player 44.02 mins against a solid DEF team like the Spurs and expect him to be the DEF stopper against TParker, provide the bulk of the OFF and take over PG duties?
(5)We saw how effective our fullcourt press was in the loss against Cleveland. So, why didn’t we use it at least once against TParker and the Spurs?
WE PLAYED THE SPURS WITHOUT A HC. WOODSON EXPECTS CONSISTENCY FROM HIS PLAYERS, BUT HIS PLAYERS CAN’T GET ANY CONSISTENCY FROM HIM, UNLESS YOU COUNT HIS CONSISTENT DISAPPEARING ACT AND WITHDRAWING TO HIS OLD HABITS. I WANT TO HEAR FROM ANYONE THAT DOUBTS WE COULD HAVE WON THIS GM WITH A COMPETENT HC AND SOME BASIC STRATEGY.
doc
March 26th, 2009
11:06 am
ill, where is it said josh is injured. i said long ago he was coming back too early for the injury he has and suspected we wouldnt, couldnt and shouldnt expect him to do or see him do night in and night out what he did last year. tell me your sources. there are some hatas that need to wake up to reality.
terrell barron
March 26th, 2009
11:14 am
Mark, how can you blame the Hawks for losing at home to Cleveland, S.A., Orlando etc…..?? Every team in the league has probably loss to those teams at home. THE HAWKS ARE JUST NOT AS GOOD AS THOSE TEAMS!!!! THOSE TEAMS ARE CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER TEAMS. WE’RE NOT THERE YET!! But wait a minute, didn’t we beat Orlando in ORLANDO, Cleveland at Philips,(shoulda one BOTH games. Lebron got a bogus call), N.O. in N.O., Houston at Philips, Miami in Miami, and Detroit in Detroit? They seem to play better vs. good teams. IMO I worry about them more against bad teams. Are you sure you’ve been watching the ATLANTA Hawks? To say that we cant be the Elite teams is just not true. Houston is 3rd the West, Cleveland is 1st in the East, Orlando is 2nd in the East, and N.O.is 5th in the West. I’d say they were ELITE teams right now. And we lost to Boston both times by a combined 4 points.
terrell barron
March 26th, 2009
11:17 am
And I still say, we’re going to end up playing Philly. I wont no part of the Sixers. They’ll probably come in here and steal one. No WADE = letdown. We seem to play up to our competion.
newkid
March 26th, 2009
11:56 am
Nice poem (and sentiment) The Truth. Was saying the same to a colleague earlier this morning. Seems we ‘run for the hills’ (coaches and players) when looking at jerseys imprinted with Spurs, Celtics, Lakers, Cavaliers, and a few others. Put the local middle school team in those black San Antonio jerseys last night, and we lose. Flip seemed to be the one exception to this ‘rule’.
STRETCH
March 26th, 2009
12:12 pm
Just by looking at the remaining ten games coinciding with the way this team melts at certain times. They could limp into the playoffs. They have 4 road games against sub-500 teams, PHILLY, MIL, MEMPHIS and TOR that they should win, but the wont. They have MIA and IND at home in which they should win. 2 games with BOS with LA and ORL are in town as well. Would be nice if they go 7-3 in that span or even more realistic if the go 5-5, but knowing this team, they go 2-8 leaving thema at 44-38. Not bad, but not impressive with the talent base.
Next season, the expectations are going to to be tremendous.
O'brien
March 26th, 2009
12:14 pm
Terrel, I agree with you. I want no part of Philly.
The Hawks have improved every year under Woody, but does anyone think the Hawks would not have improved regardless of who the coach was?
I think games like last night show how far Woody has to go to be a good coach. That being said, I think the Hawks will win their first round series (as long as they have home court).
Blast
March 26th, 2009
12:30 pm
Hawks in playoffs! But who do we play in the first round? I would rather see Miami.
Although he has had a lot, last night might just be Woodson’s worst coaching job. He said after that they tried to double Tony, but that is a blatant lie. I did not see one double all night. Someone did a terrible scouting job on the Spurs. I don’t think Woodson was prepared to see Parker go off like that, and it cost them.
Let’s be real, though. Last year Parker was the best point guard in the league at scoring in the paint. He scored more points in the paint than most centers. So give him his due. He is a baller. Hawks didn’t play him well, I would have loved to see Tony get knocked down on his butt a couple of times, but knock Woodson for that. Hawks played bad, Spurs played great in a game Hawks should have won.
And I think some fans have unrealistic expectations from the Hawks. This is their 1st winning season in a decade! They won 37 games last year! They are no where close to being an elite team yet, so I think people need to cool down and enjoy the ride. No one expected the Hawks to win the trophy this year. No one expected them to win the East. No one thought they would be 4th in the East, have secured a playoff spot with several games left to play. No one expected them to be 12 games over 500 at this point in the season. The team is still flawed, the coach is definitely flawed, but the team still has a winning season. We need to temper our expectations with reality. Hawks are good, but they are not an elite team yet. So fans, hold down your breaches and just enjoy the ride!
Cavs have won 10 in a row. Wow! Could they win it all?
Go Hawks Go, even though y’all sucked last night.
GuntherWilson
March 26th, 2009
12:56 pm
It is true that Flip should be shown the money. But dont make the mistake of thinking that the Hawks should stand pat with their roster. The Hawks are close, but as I mentioned in a previous BLOG, and Im not being negative, every single time the Hawks play either a division winner or one of the elite teams, the Hawks lose, plain and simple. The Hawks have recently played the caviliers and the spurs. The Hawks record against them is 0-2. Most fans will blame those losses on Marvin Williams being out. I dont buy that one bit. I see the Hawks making some of the same mistakes they made last year. They are definitely overconfident and do not play well against the better teams. Against the doormats, the Hawks struggle to get the W. I really think in evalating the Hawks that they desparately need a premier point guard. Did you see Tony Parker last night distribute the basketball over and over again when he didnt have a shot. I know that Mike Bibby used to play as well as Tony Parker but I believe that Bibby is past his prime and cannot consistently recapture his greatness that he had with Sacramento. On a few infrequent nights, Bibby looks as good as the old Mike Bibby. But it is too few and far between that we ever see that Mike Bibby and the Hawks would need THAT Mike Bibby to show up consistently in the playoffs if the Hawks are to win the title this year, which they can. Bibby is good, but not great as Deron Williams, Chris Paul or even Tony Parker. Those three are probably the three BEST point guards in the game today. The sad part is that the Hawks could have had Paul or Williams and either could have been in a Hawks uniform without the Hawks spending one dime for either of them. Of course as you all know, Billy Knight foolishly drafted Marvin Williams AHEAD of both Deron Williams and Chris Paul. Both of those brilliant point guards were on the board when the Hawks had their draft pick and Knight felt that Marvin was the second coming of Jesus Christ and went ahead and drafted Marvin instead of the gifted Chris Paul or the amazing Deron Williams. Now the Hawks must continue to struggle because they dont have a premier point guard to distribute the basketball to the open players. Its really a shame because I guarantee you that if the Hawks had either Chris Paul or Deron Williams on their roster right now instead of Marvin Williams, IT IS THE HAWKS WHO WOULD HAVE THE BEST RECORD IN THE LEAGUE. Oh it really hurts and I think this is why Billy Knight had to step down because he realized how foolish and such a coward he was by overlooking the next two hall of fame point guards in the NBA in Deron Williams and Chris Paul. Oh what a mistake!
GumbyWilliams
March 26th, 2009
1:14 pm
Marvin Williams loss was really felt last night against the Spurs. Tony Parker patrolled the lane and continued to dance in the lane all night long as he toyed with the Hawks for 42 points. If Marvin Williams had been in uniform last night the Hawks, Marvin “the eraser” would have contained Parker and held him down considerably and would have won the game. Marvin plays tenacious defense and blocks the lane as though it is a brick wall. Marvin would have shut down the lane last night and prevented Parker from continually coming through the lane untouched. Without Marvin against some teams, the Hawks have no chance. But with Marvin I say the Hawks are a better team, how good we’ll never know.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 26th, 2009
1:24 pm
From a ref standpoint, I’d much rather play the Sixers in the first round, since they don’t have a D-Wade who will draw foul calls every time he drives to the hoop. But D-Wade’s supporting cast is much worse than the Sixers, so it may be harder for the Hawks to get a road win at Philly. I think if the Hawks have home court they will beat either team in six games.
Elijah
March 26th, 2009
1:36 pm
Najeh, You want to play in Miami with those Miami Superstar Treatment refs? We already have to play LeBron in round 2, so it’s a tough choice. Philly really scares me with their great PG Andre Miller and Iggy makes every wild shot he takes against us. Dally has a 342598 foot wingspan, which doesn’t help either. I’d rather play Miami, give Wade his 35-40 points, and hope that Joe scores 30 to keep up
$k19$
March 26th, 2009
1:49 pm
atlanta we killin yeah da hawks in da playoffs-dats anotha reason coach woody wont get laid off-in da 1st round ya know we cant get beat-not by them pistons or the miami heat-got in da playoffs but the finals is wut we aimin fo-the bobcats neva get in like a josh smith free throw(lol)-hawks are numba 4 dats wut it say on wikipedia-so why we still aint gettin attention from the media-flip murray is great yes he do wut it do-but the superstar iz da 1 wearin number 2-callem joe johnson not joe jackson-gotta good bench but where da hell is speedy claxton-competition just gets blows away in a gust -and the first team we play gets swept like dust.
K19younggreat
myspace/people/k19younggreat@yahoo.com
jhan
March 26th, 2009
2:13 pm
Mark – I don’t think Woody should be allowed to build his own squad. That’s what Rick Sund is for.
Woody hasn’t shown me that he can make a simple in-game adjustment to help this team. Do you really want him picking & trading players?
Sautee
March 26th, 2009
2:46 pm
Ken Strickland,
I hope you’ll send that 10:57 post to Rick Sund.
Excellent!
DeadManWalking
March 26th, 2009
2:48 pm
I’ll take Miami all day. Philly scares me. They have momentum as well. Not hitting the panic button, as Philly would have to win several more while we lose several more for them to overtake us. But that’s not the only danger. The real danger is them overtaking Miami, which they probably will do. We can’t do anything about that besides try to keep home court advantage. But it’s obvious that we will have some serious problems to overcome in the playoffs.
Better start praying that Acie and Marvin are able to return, though the latter may not be all that likely. Better pray that Josh can keep his head together. Better pray Woody has something he can pull out of his butt, coaching-wise. May not be able to rely on that either if the players we need just aren’t there. After all, the guys left over haven’t been used, and we have no idea how they will play. Get ready for an ultra short playing rotation, and all the usual problems that come with it.
george hild
March 26th, 2009
2:48 pm
i definetly would not single out mike bibby,he went around jj like he was not there. what kind of defense do we have when jj & mb are under the boards on defense. half way thr the 4th quarter jj had more shots than the rest of the whole team, this just takes us out of our offense.
jj does not need to force his shots.js is not the player he was last
year & you have to blame woody for this. this team is badly coached & has a flawed offense & defense. why are we always playing a slowed down
offense & not running the ball. why is mw not playing flip more,why does he not start him in the third quarter when he has played so well
Mike is back
March 26th, 2009
3:07 pm
Sekou, your article on Acie couldn’t have been more right…we are going sorely miss Acie this week… has Acie status changed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Didn’t bother to slam Woody after the deflating loss last night. Pov has as many rings as Woody has years of coaching, and it showed. Woody will have better days. I new the match up with Parker would be crucial, this game reminded me of the Spurs and Cavs Championship series when Parker put on a clinic in that series too. Some how I didn’t see Woody beating Pov, even without Duncan. Not an excuse, just a fact.
Mario was slowing Parker down, but Woody went away from it. This game is a reminder that the Hawks still have ways to go before they can join the elite teams in the NBA. It was also a painful reminder of how poorly the Hawks execute offense, and how poorly conceived Woody’s offensive scheme is. Surely, his assistance can come up with something better than this.
Big Ray, it appears Nique has stepped his game up at the mic. He seems to be improving by leap and bounds. Now I’m not nominating Nique for Broadcaster of month or some in, be he clearly has keen understanding of the Hawks shortcoming on offense, no matter who the team is. Also Been checking you and the fellas out on the O.DLed show. I’m impressed, I will be in the mix as the draft draws near.
CONGRATULATION TO HAWKS FOR CLINCHING A PLAYOFF SPOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Melvin
March 26th, 2009
3:21 pm
$k19$, you need to send that rap to the Hawks Marketing department..lol
Melvin
March 26th, 2009
3:28 pm
Good post Mike is back, except for the Nique part. Not sure if being an analysis is his calling…
Dominique Wilkins
March 26th, 2009
3:29 pm
A winning season will be a “welcoming addition” for the Hawks.
You have to take advantage when you have “nimbers”.
Heat check!
BosnianBaller
March 26th, 2009
3:34 pm
I like this team we have now.The only part that has to improve is the Center Position.I would trade Marvin for Haseem Thabeet.Why? Because it would allow everybody to fall down a place and into their regular position.Horford is a PF Smith is a SF.Also it would give us a shot blocking center which is what we need.If we had that type of player we wouldn’t have given Parker 30 points on lay ups.This team is close to becoming a real great team.Re-sign Bibby,Zaza,Flip,and Joe Johnson
Mike is back
March 26th, 2009
3:40 pm
Melvin, I agree with Ya on Nique. I would much prefer him as an assistant with the team. Hopefully SSmith will come back, just messing with Ray.
Mike is back
March 26th, 2009
3:47 pm
BosnianBaller, I agree with Ya, I think Thabeet is going to be a beast. However, if we are going to trade Marvin, I rather put a package together and make a run at Brook Lopez first. But I would be happy with either guy.
PenelopeJones
March 26th, 2009
3:50 pm
I agree with Mike is back. I am hopeful that SteveSmith, Mike Glenn (Stinger), Dominique Wilkins and Josh Childress will ALL COME BACK AND PLAY FOR THE HAWKS IN TIME FOR THE PLAYOFFS TO HELP THE HAWKS WIN THE TITLE THIS YEAR. Go Hawks!
O'brien
March 26th, 2009
3:54 pm
5 years into Woody’s tenure, and we still have no offensive identity (unless you call iso JJ an identity). However, when we play defense, it hides our offensive inefficiencies.
I would much rather play Miami. Let D-Wade get his 40, but clamp down on everybody else (and Miami does play 2 rookies). Philly has been hot, they are very athletic, and I would prefer Bibby on Mario Chalmers instead of Andre Miller.
PenelopeJones
March 26th, 2009
4:01 pm
To be quite honest with you, I dont give a flip about Flip Murray because he is the only 3-pt specialist that we can count on. Look at the Spurs, they have 4 guys who can shoot the 3-ball like Flip Murray: Ginobli, Bowen, Finley and Nelson. Of course Tony Parker can also shoot the 3-ball when he gets hot. And theres always Tim Duncan. The Spurs are loaded with talent and I am expecting them to win championship number five later this year. Forget about the Lakers, Caviliers, Celtics and Magic. The Spurs will beat them all with their talent level. No one can match the Spurs talent level from top to bottom.
RaJaH
March 26th, 2009
4:03 pm
One reason Parker was able to go for 40 is because he never had to work on the defensive end. All he had to do was follow Bibby to a corner and box out when a shot went up.
mike
March 26th, 2009
4:08 pm
damn sekou they finally let you have a pic!!!.. now let me sit next to you one game in those seats of yours and be your apprentice.
jj
March 26th, 2009
4:12 pm
Sure was nice to see a real NBA COACH.Pop schooled Woody on the finer points of being a playoff coach.Man what a clinic.
Heat Check
March 26th, 2009
4:21 pm
Mike Bibby’s performance from this year’s 3-pt competition, commentary by Dominique Wilkins:
1_(make) I tell you what, Mike Bibby can shoot the basketball.
2_(miss) That was a heat check.
3_(miss) I could see that one was off when it left his hand.
4_(make) You talk about a good looking shot.
5_(make) Mike Bibby can shoot the basketball.
6_(miss) That was a heat check.
7_(miss) That was a hea….Mike Bibby just needs to find his rythym.
8_(make) You talk about a good shooter.
9_(make) Ooh weee. Now that’s a good looking rookie.
10_(miss) Heat check.
11_(make) Now, Mike Bibby can shoot the basketball.
12_(miss) That was just a heat check. ha ha
13_(miss) I tell you what, Mike Bibby just needs to find his rythym.
14_(miss) That was just bad luck.
15_(make) You talk about a good looking NBA basketball player.
16_(make) Heat check.
17_(miss) No no, THAT was a heat check. The last one was a good looking shot by Mike Bibby of the NBA.
18_(make) You leave him open and he’s going to hit that open shot.
19_(miss) That was a heat check.
20_(make) I tell you what, that was a good looking 3pt shot.
21_(make) I tell you what, Mike Bibby can shoot the basketball.
22_(make) I tell you what, that was a good looking shot.
23_(miss) That’s just a heat check. ha ha
24_(miss) That’s just an unlucky bounce.
25_(make) Ooweee. That’s a good looking rookie.
Sekou K. Smith
March 26th, 2009
4:24 pm
I don’t know who ddi that mike. Besides, I’m much better looking in the mirror!
kwooden1
March 26th, 2009
4:58 pm
HAWKS in the playoffs!!! Again!! Congratulations to the guys for playing hard and making this happen. Congratulations to the coaching staff and the GM. Flip and Mo were great pickups and Woody has definitely used them appropriately.
Alright enough with the sentimental stuff, last night exposed our defense and showed our inablity to score. Woody said, “We didn’t gap him (Parker) enough in terms of forcing him to shoot jump shots and let him go to the hole, and that’s when he’s at his best.” Which tells me that he understands the obvious, but also shows that he doesn’t understand the concept of getting “enough stops”. Tony was in a groove, but why are we surprised HE’S KIND OF GOOD!! What happen to our scoring is the real question! Basketball is played on both ends of the court and the HAWKS should be ashamed that Matt Bonner, Kurt Thomas and Gooden outscored our bigs. “Hack a Smoove” is now in full effect and I hope that he’s ready to get his free-throw shooting back in line. Definitely missed Marvins free throw shooting, but also his aggressiveness on the offensive end. He’s the guy you want going to the hole. Hopefully this game will serve as a wake-up call for Smoove, because he’s the key with Marvin out.
But it’s good to see Woody sweating because Acie’s not available! Ha Ha!
GO HAWKS!!
Blast
March 26th, 2009
6:18 pm
Great to see Sekou finally get his photo on his blog. Congrats, man. Took a while, innit?
HeatCheck, that was some funny shi.t.
Gilley
March 26th, 2009
6:22 pm
Philadelphia is not a good match-up for the Hawks and I pity the fool who thinks so. Even though what Tony Parker did to us was terrible and scary since D-Wade is a more dangerous player, we must keep in mind that our Front Line played terrible and looked terrible because Al Horford kept getting switched on Parker and that match-up was continuously exploited and he also kept getting goaltending when he did block the shot. Also, J-Smoove played bad and just had a bad game and Flip disappeared in the second half. They stopped going to him because Joe Johnson had it going on but I say share the joy!! But no Philly, so I root for Miami to maintain the 5th spot.
Gilley
March 26th, 2009
6:24 pm
The commentators are not critical at all of Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby. Namely, Dominque Wilkins. Bob Rathum is supposed to be objective and I guess slightly favoring to the home team since he his the team’s commentator but Nique’ needs thinks Bibby and Johnson can do no wrong in their shot attempts and play.
Blast
March 26th, 2009
6:34 pm
Kobe is being sued by his former housekeeper for horrible work conditions? Lord have mercy. Kobe, you can’t even pay your employee right and act like a decent boss? Come on, dude!
Tree Rollins
March 26th, 2009
7:03 pm
reading these post drives me crazy. Of course we had some guys not show up and play there A game ton (Josh, Al) but if all your gonna do is get on here and talk trash bout “your team” then cheer for someone else. Hawks fans have waited a long time for a season like this and now that were playing well all Mac-town and valdostamike can do is wait for anyone to mess up so they can make a comment….go be a wizards fan or something bc apparently you enjoy talking trash bout your team. Take away josh from this team and we give up 100 plus points a night…our guards let players blow by and then people complain bout interior defense when Josh doesnt bail them out. Im not saying we never make mistakes bc we make plenty….but if all your gonna do is get on here and carry on bout how much u hate this guy or that guy please find a new team bc im not sure if u have noticed but were in 4th and are gonna finish with a winning record for the first time in many of years. If u want to bitch bout the hawks go back in time
k19
March 26th, 2009
7:19 pm
atlanta we killin yeah da hawks in da playoffs-dats anotha reason coach woody wont get laid off-in da 1st round ya know we cant get beat-not by them pistons or the miami heat-got in da playoffs but the finals is wut we aimin fo-the bobcats neva get in like a josh smith free throw(lol)-hawks are numba 4 dats wut it say on wikipedia-so why we still aint gettin attention from the media-flip murray is great yes he do wut it do-but the superstar iz da 1 wearin number 2-callem joe johnson not joe jackson-gotta good bench but where da hell is speedy claxton-competition just gets blows away in a gust -and the first team we play gets swept like dust.
K19younggreat
k19
March 26th, 2009
7:21 pm
wutcha think bout that rap sekou
bigdave
March 26th, 2009
9:45 pm
Heat Check, HILARIOUS…
you forgot, “I dont know why teams, leave Bibby wide open, I don’t understand it.. he’s one of the better shooters in the league” or “see… right there Bibby needs to take a few dribbles in and find his range, not a good shot”, “he can hit that shot… thats his shot”, “now you know”
Melvin
March 26th, 2009
10:02 pm
Tyrus Thomas is beginning to look like Josh Smith 2.0…..
Truth-serum
March 26th, 2009
10:05 pm
FLIP IS ALL BUSINESS!! HOW DO YOU SPELL LONG TERM CONTRACT! IT MAY BE TIME FOR HIM TO START IN PLACE OF BIBBY.
NOW GET US A CENTER TO FINISH IN THE PAINT AND INTIMIDATE. ZAZA IS A NEVER ENDING TURNOVER….HE CANT FINISH AND NO ONE IS ITIMIDATED BY HIM. HES NOW REDUCED TO COMING OF THE BENCH. IS MARCUS CAMBY STILL AVAILABLE?, SO GUYS LIKE TONY PARKER WONT RUN DOWN OUR THROATS.
Truth-serum
March 26th, 2009
10:07 pm
ZAZA IS A TURNOVER WAITING TO HAPPEN
Big Ump
March 26th, 2009
10:55 pm
Can you imagine what would have been said if the Hawks had lost to the Bulls by 19 points like Miami.Some of us would want to lynch the Hawks and especially the HC..I just can’t wait to hear some of the excuses that will be following. Seem like there is other coaches lot worse then Woody.
Don’t you think so?
Sautee
March 26th, 2009
11:06 pm
Big Ump,
Yeah, there are worse coaches, but he’s OUR coach. That makes it harder to take when he fails to make in-game adjustments. At that point, I could care less how many other pitiful coaches there are in the league. I just want a coach who recognizes how our defense is being attacked, and knows what to do about it.
Hey, maybe he’ll learn something from the Spurs game. Best spin I can possibly put on it.
Mike is back
March 26th, 2009
11:29 pm
Right on Tree Rollins, despite our shortcoming on offense, this is a young team that’s only going to get better. How you can slam Woody right now is beyond me. I may not agree with all of Woody decision, but I respect his body of work this season. Anybody that think the ASG will pull the plug on Woody after back to back playoff appearances has been drinking way too much Kool-Aid!!!
I may not like the offensive scheme or agree with all of Woody’s decision, but as a long-suffering Hawks fan, I am excited as ever. So I gotta give the coach of team some props. Like it or not he is the coach of this resurgent. The Hawks have clinched a playoff spot and I’m proud of these guys. What put the Hawks in this position? Beating the team they’re suppose to beat. If they continue to do that then they make it to the second round of the playoff. CMON MAN, YOU GOTTA LOVE IT!!!
I’ll be in the house against Boston , and I’m calling a W against the Cssssssssssssss.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 26th, 2009
11:33 pm
People actually think the Hawks are going to lose to the Heat in the playoffs? Not the Heat team I saw tonight…
Reggie
March 27th, 2009
12:11 am
Tree Rollins: Watch out! You might get called a homer because you actually enjoy your team and like to compliment things they do. People like me you and Ray realize that this is a Hawks team that has changed and has a bright future. But for some reason a lot of people act like we are the best team in the league and should win 60 games and win the NBA championship. I wish everyone would stop whining. You sound like a bunch of Boston fans.
Big Ump
March 27th, 2009
12:11 am
Mike is back
I totally agree with your post. We will get better as a team. I don’t agree with the HC on everything either, but i do believe he will learn from his mistakes also. Sooner of later everything will fall in place. I remember people talking about how bad a team we will be because we fail to resign Josh C. That Flip and Moe want cut it or it was a mistake for resigning Josh Smith and etc. Before the season the same people who said we will be lucky to make the playoff is now complaining that we are not an elite team. You don’t become an elite team overnight We are still a team that have a lot of work ahead of us. But at the moment if you a Hawks fan you got to be pretty happy what we accomplish so far this year.
RLP
March 27th, 2009
12:11 am
Since Philly is now in second place our magic number is currently eight games. But one of the Hawks remaining games is with Philly and the outcome of that game can make a big difference. If I have looked at the schedule properly then we have played them twice this year with each team has won once. We have one more game with them on the road. If they win that game and we wind up tied then they will have the tie breaker and would receive home court. If the Hawks win that game then we wind up tied then we wind home court. So that one game can make a three win change in each teams odds.
It looks like only Miami will also be competing with us for that spot. Our magic number against them is six games because we have secured the tie breaker against them.
If we have a three way tie then I have no clue how the tie breaker would work. In any event our chances are better than either of the other two teams. And Philly still has 12 games to play with six road games and two games against the Cavs and one against the Celts.
I agree with those who do not want to face Philly. I think they will be a tougher team to beat. They are 7-3 in their last 10 while the Heat is 5-5.
And one more thing…
Earlier I predicted Charlotte would beat out Chicago for the eighth seed. At that time there were six teams competing for that spot. Currently it looks like Chicago will win a playoff spot. But all is not lost for Charlotte. Detroit has fallen to eighth spot three games ahead of Charlotte for the final spot with 11 games remaining for each team. During their last 10 games Charlotte has gone 5-5 while Detroit has gone 3-7. A quick glance tells me that each has a tough slate of games to go with one head to head meeting. I am still picking Charlotte to overcome the odds and win that last spot.
Ariose
March 27th, 2009
12:17 am
Ben Gordon is an unrestricted free agent this summer. he played point in College and some in the NBA…..just sayin’……Also Steve Francis…..and Jannero Pargo….those are the best FA point/2-guards out there. We got Rights to Speedy, Childress, A cople guys overseas, or we could sign and trade Bibby(I’d actually prefer him to come back in a non-starting role…maybe).
That’s the easy part though. The hard part will be find a VERY good center…..With the Clippers playing so crappy, they might get Thabeet……then they will definitely be willing to give someone up.
Stop hatin’ on smoove y’all He was sooo frustrated last night. They just wouldn’t let him get goin’ with that whole hack-a-smoove.
MyHawks
March 27th, 2009
1:59 am
Flip Should Be Starting in My Opinion…We Have Some “Stars” That Are Consistently Inconsitent…But Flip Show Up Damn Near Every Night…P.S. Go MARIO!!!
MyHawks
March 27th, 2009
2:01 am
Enter your comments here
kgbsfinst
March 27th, 2009
2:04 am
Wow, I am pretty confused! After reading most of the comments from the second page of this blog, I thought we were 13-69 again! I don’t usually get fired up reading the comments, but some of this stuff is getting out of hand. We have the 4th best record in the East, were winning almost 60% of our games, and we have competed well against most of the elite teams.. Yes we had a bad game, but some of you are acting like we are the worst team in the league. CALM DOWN, OR FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO!
I respect peoples opinions about starting Flip, but there’s a couple of concerns. He shoots a lot, I mean a lot. That’s fine when your coming off the bench and your job is to provide bench scoring, but if we start him, whose shots is he really going to take away from? Bibby is a good shooter (for the most part), but he cant create, nobody on the bench can except for Flip. If flip takes Bibby’s spot, our bench gets even worse. I really like Flip and think we should resign him in a heartbeat, but I also think he’s a sixth man, and he has a perfect game for a sixth man.
Dominique Wilkins
March 27th, 2009
2:16 am
Like I said earlier, when you are droven in the lane, it helps to have nimbers.
I liked this article. Flip Mearray has been a welcoming addition to the Atlanta Hawks bench.
Also, I think Mo Evans has been a vury, vury welcoming addition to the Hawks bench.
Having a good bench is important. You want to have nimbers off the bench, because you have to score more points than the other team to win the game.
That….was a heat check, Bob!
kgbsfinst
March 27th, 2009
2:18 am
Mark,
When you say we are as good as a Spurs team without Duncan, and for the most part Manu, please tell me you are taking the COACHES into consideration. If you are, I have to agree, if you are just talking about the talent that steps on the court, you must be joking.
Also, I am sorry that this is going to sound sarcastic, its not meant to but, I am actually curious. If people that stick up for their team after a bad loss (in the middle of a very good season I might add) are called HOMERS, then what do you call people who think there team is mediocre, even though they are one of the 12 best teams in the league?
Fritz
March 27th, 2009
4:08 am
“If people that stick up for their team after a bad loss (in the middle of a very good season I might add) are called HOMERS, then what do you call people who think there team is mediocre, even though they are one of the 12 best teams in the league?”
ASTUTE OBSERVERS
dap01
March 27th, 2009
8:30 am
Anyone:
Is there any way that we could position ourselves in the draft to get Thibett? He may not help us short term, but you sure could grow in to an elite team with a center like that.
Get a center, get a steady veteran PG to help Law. Get a coach.
ILL-logical
March 27th, 2009
10:21 am
Josh, after this season is done(and I am hopeful that it will extend into June), you are going to enter one of the most dramatic summers of your career: you are going to have to make some choices that will affect both your professional and personal careers dramatically.
Atlanta,your home town, is going through a tough time with the economy and other issues. A historic boom town for the last 30 years, there is uncertainity about what the future may hold and who is going to help get us there.That is where you can play a valuable role.
Sports are often a metaphor for our society and most certainly a relief from the day to day stress that affects most people. In a word :entertainment.And we often make the entertainers our larger than life heros.
Here is my challenge to you; Work on becoming not only a better baller but a better figure in our community.
Don’t go to Houston,you and a lot of young atlantans get away spot, this summer. Stay and workout with some of your teamates-Flip may need a spot here now.Become more of a team leader.
Take some classes at Georgia State.You passed up college intially but now you can begin to chart your life after basketball and set an example for people who may not consider having a second or third chance to further their education.Become more of a community leader.
Relax and play some golf with Dr. J at his new(ish) golf course. this a guy who understood how to be a star both on and off the court. I believe he would love to share with you.become a better person.
And finally, take some time to sit down with Mr. Sund and Woodson to discuss how you can become a stronger asset to the organization.You are not a kid in NBA terms anymore so man up and have more of a long term view of the team and your role on it.We the fans and the citizens want you to be the best you can be both on and off the court. And all of us, including you and your family, will benefit fom this.
Thanks for allowing me to have this discussion.
bigdave
March 27th, 2009
10:26 am
Ariose,
i like the idea of Gordon, though I doubt it would happen.he’s not a great defender but he’s no Bibby. what he can do like Bibby is hit the long ball, and mid range. not that sold on his distributing abilities, but he can get to the cup and finish. i think we have our PG in Acie Law.. im a bit concerned with durability however…
KingCobra
March 27th, 2009
10:38 am
If the Hawks face the Heat in the playoffs, it doesnt necessarily mean the Hawks will lose to the heat. I believe Joe Johnson is a superior player to D-Wade, based on what Ive seen from Joe over the years. When Joe is on, and he is on 99.9% of the time, Joe is probably one of the top 5 players in the league, hands down. The Hawks have WAY more talent than the Heat and will dominate the Heat if the Hawks face them. Why? Because Miami is one-man show with D-Wade, but that is ALL that the Heat have. If you double and triple team D-Wade, you beat Miami by 20+ points. If you double Joe Johnson, there is Josh Smith, Al Horford, Mike Bibby, Flip Murray, etc. THERE IS A SUPPORTING CAST THAT PLAYS WITH THE HAWKS, whereas if you shut down D-Wade, you blow out the Heat. The best way to cool down the Heat or turn off the heat as it were is to double and triple D-Wade. That formula will work every time. Guaranteed. On the other hand, however, if D-Wade is in one of his crazy zones where he is unstoppable, like Tony Parker of the Spurs was the other night, WATCH OUT! D-Wade is a one-man wrecking crew and he can singlehandedly destroy you if he is in one those zones. D-Wade is a freak of nature! MVP!
Tree Rollins
March 27th, 2009
1:19 pm
ILL-Logical,
Your post, though has good thoughts, is false in many ways. For starters I would put my bottom dollar on it that Josh Smith does more for the atlanta community than any other player on the roster (now that JChill is gone). If u actually looked into would now this, instead of just firing off as an outside observer. I have worked in many non profitable fields that have benefited greatly from Josh’s involvement. On almost a nightly basis there is a group of young kids in the stands at Phillips arena who are the due to tickets purchased by Josh and they get to see him after the game. Secondly why on earth would you suggest for one of your young talents to stop going to Houston in the off season where he works with Hakeem and Calvin Murphy, two of the all time greats. He goes there to improve and work on his game. You suggested staying here in Atl to work with teamates such as Flip…those guys dont stay in Atl in the off season either. Most of our team heads home, wherever that may be, as they should to spend time with family and they can work on their game at the same time. Josh is leaving home to work on his game. I get so tired and frustrated with people picking apart a key piece to our team….especially when they dont know what they are talking about. I wish you would recognize the strides our team has made and the key roll Josh has been in making these changes…he has been with Atl longer than anyone on the team. I also feel it is unfair for you to speak of his contributions to the community when u clearly have no clue and where do u get off telling someone to go back to school when they spend all there time and energy working for a team u apparently cheer for…let personal choices remain that way.
SlipperyElm
March 27th, 2009
1:24 pm
Reggie’s comments about the Hawks is right on. Most hawk fans are whining and complaining as though we have the best team in the league. The Hawks are acting like they have the best team in the league and have won 60 games. The Hawks have a good record, but they are facing the teeth of the schedule right now with Boston (twice), LA Lakers, and Orlando, after losing to the Spurs and Cavs. I dont know what the Hawks want to achieve this year, but guys lets get another 7-game winning streak going right now so the Hawks can grace the city with 50+ wins. If the Hawks were to win 7 in a row right now and cut right thru Boston, Lakers and Magic, they would send a message to the NBA that THEY ARE FOR REAL! They would also have a great chance to win that magical 50 win plateau mark that has been so elusive for all these years. Guys have you seen the NBA’s western conference playoffs teams? All 8 of them are on queue once again this year to win 50 games! All of them are going to win 50. What that means to me is that ANY team out west represents a championship calibre threat. Its possible for any one of the 8 western conference teams to win the title. Its possible but highly improbable. The Lakers are clearly head and shoulders over those other 7 western teams, but the feat of all of them winning 50 games is still unbelievable. It happened last year for the first time when all 8 western conference playoff participants won eight, but it was even better last year because there were NINE teams that won 50 games out west and 1 of them (Golden State) had to sit out of the playoffs because of tiebreakers and couldnt get into the playoff tournament DESPITE HAVING WON 50 GAMES. That was unbelievable. While Golden State was denied a playoff berth after winning 50, Atlanta was awarded a playoff birth in the weak eastern converence with a mere 37 games, finishing EIGHT WHOLE GAMES BELOW .500, WHAT AN EMBARRASSMENT! The Hawks, although, had the best showing in the playoffs outside of the Celtics by playing the Celtics even for six games, deadlocked in the series at 3-3. That was one of the most amazing things that I have ever seen in professional sports. The Celtics-Hawks series of last year has given the Atlanta Hawks program credibility nationwide and the national media realizes the good job that the Hawks did in the playoffs, representing themselves well, even in defeat. The Celtics-Hawks matchup was a case of David vs Goliath, where David almost pulled off the surprise upset. Now this years playoffs are upon us and Eastern Conference is again weak this year, when they will have a couple of teams get in the playoffs with sub-500 records. The Hawks do have the ability to win a championship this year, but they will have to play out of their minds in order to accomplish it.