Business (trip) as usual
Don't let the beautiful views fool you, this trip to the left coast is a business trip for the Hawks.
LOS ANGELES – Jeff Teague’s Halloween costume aside, the Hawks are here in my favorite city for one thing and one thing only; business.
This is a business trip that they’ve been looking forward to since the NBA schedules were released in the summer.
And believe me, I’m as guilty as anyone of falling in love with the sights and sounds of this weather paradise (that’s sunset at Venice Beach above, courtesy of Hawksville’s resident suit man Big Kuntry) and forgetting, even if it is just momentarily, that there’s work to be done first.
The business starts at Staples Center today against the defending champion Lakers and weaves through Portland (Tuesday), Sacramento (Wednesday) and concludes dangerously in Charlotte (Friday), a place the Hawks haven’t played well dating back to last season.
That’s why, in my estimation, this is such a crucial stretch of the early season for the Hawks.
Too many times they’ve departed the friendly confines of Philips Arena and seemingly lost any semblance of order, swagger and just plain know-how that they’ve shown on their home floor.
Seriously, the one thing the Hawks have yet to conquer during this rejuvenated stretch of the Mike Woodson era is their road game. Those 16 road wins from a year ago kept them from being among the league’s elite; by the count of most of those in the know a legitimate big-time squad wins 20-plus away from home. We’ve talked at length around here about the Hawks’ failings on recent attempts on the big stage – from the Cleveland series last year through the preseason finale on ESPN against Orlando.
The Lakers, and to a larger extent this road trip, present an opportunity for the Hawks two right all those recent wrongs. Win two or three of these games and perhaps it’s a bit easier to classify this team among the best (or at least the teams legitimately challenging for that seat at that table).
I am more convinced than ever that the Hawks are on the path to greater things. I don’t know what other conclusion you could make after watching them rise from the depths of their 13-69 ashes of five years ago. But I need something to erase any doubts that may linger. I need to see the Hawks rise up to the challenge that this road trip presents. That doesn’t mean I expect them to breeze through this thing undefeated and pile up six straight wins to start a second straight season. I just need a resolute effort against the two teams they’ll face to start this trip. Compete like a team that’s serious about stomping with the big dogs and it’ll be a lot easier for us all to think of the Hawks in that regard.
THE LAKERS MATCHUP
The Lakers will be without at least one of the main cogs of their championship puzzle for tonight’s game. All-Star big man Pau Gasol was ruled out of the game with that hamstring injury that has plagued him throughout training camp and the early part of this season. I’d suggest that’s a good thing for the Hawks … until realizing that the Lakers are deep enough and talented enough that it’s not going to make a huge difference.
In fact, the Lakers match up just as well against a team like the Hawks because they’ll have a smaller and arguably more athletic lineup to match up against the their visitors from the east with Ron Artest, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum across the frontcourt.
Marvin Williams will have his hands full tonight dealing with Artest, and probably Kobe Bryant at times, on the defensive end. I imagine Joe Johnson will see quite a bit of both of those guys as well, particularly Artest on defense. But Marvin can’t sleepwalk (as he says he did in Friday’s win over Washington) through the first three quarters against the Lakers and the Hawks expect anything but disaster.
They’ll need everyone engaged from start to finish if they’re trying to do what the Mavericks did the other night in knocking off the champs on their own floor – and something tells me the Lakers won’t be interested in suffering consecutive home losses now or at any other time this season.
Again, this is a game full of intriguing matchups that require our magnifying glasses.
By the way, in case you missed it, my esteemed colleague Steve Hummer authored a fantastic piece on Hawks’ sixth-man Jamal Crawford that requires reading.
FOOTBALL SEASON IS OVER AROUND HERE
Again, football season is over around here folks. It’s done. Finished. Over with.
Gabriel Smith and the Smyrna Spartans go it in Saturday! Now football season is done. (Photo credit belongs to Blogette Z)
I’m not just saying that because Michigan has fallen off the cliff (witness the devastation of our latest disaster, a 38-13 waxing at the hands of lowly Illinois) or because Gabriel Smith led the Smyrna Spartans to a smashing finish to their season Saturday in the mud (an 18-12 overtime win over South Paulding in which he opened the Spartans’ scoring with a 90-yard jaunt up the sideline and finished it with 12-yard scamper in the OT. It was a good day and major props to another esteemed colleague and the Spartans’ coach, one D. Orlando Ledicheck). It has nothing to do with the Bulldogs and those black helmets (personally, I thought that was a fresh touch, even if the Gators weren’t particularly impressed) or the fact that Georgia Tech is on a collision course with the BCS (I wish Michigan had hired Paul Johnson).
It’s just time. We’re a week into the NBA season. It’s time to get on the basketball bus.
It is November.
So by decree of the man soon to be formerly known as Blog Z, it is officially basketball season from this day forth … at least around here.
COSTUME MADNESS
We’re still investigating the Ladybug outfit Teague was forced to fly in on Halloween. There’s no doubt it was part of a rookie ritual that the youngster will never forget. And since there is photo (and rumored video) evidence of this hilarious sight, we won’t allow him to forget it either. As soon as one of his teammates give up the goods … uh, I mean our investigators can locate the footage, it’ll be planted here for the enjoyment of all.
Don’t forget, Hawks-Lakers tonight live from Staples Center. I know you’ve got to work in the morning and you might not stay up to watch the whole thing. But the blog will be live and hopping throughout.
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493 comments Add your comment
O'Brien
November 2nd, 2009
12:53 am
Teague with the slam dunk! He has a quick first step. Wow.
Did we ever see Acie Law dunk? (I was a fan of Acie Law though).
JJ sure disappeared after the first quarter. Yes, he did sit, but Kobe sat a long time too. And he has 41
JeJe
November 2nd, 2009
12:53 am
Teague did more for us in this qtr than Acie did in 2 seasons for us
cp
November 2nd, 2009
12:53 am
I love what i see from Teague.
BONE
November 2nd, 2009
12:53 am
Naw Acie didn’t do anything when he got out there. He just passed it.
JayDubu
November 2nd, 2009
12:54 am
The Lakers were the world champs for last season. This is a new season, the Lakers have different players, just like everyother team in the league.
You don’t show up to compete and say they’re the champs, so we should lose. “In order to be the man, you have to beat the man!”
JeJe
November 2nd, 2009
12:54 am
JOE JOHNSON HAS NO HEART. LET HIM WALK THIS SUMMER AND THROW ALL THE MONEY WE HAVE AT DWYANE WADE. HE WILL PLAY ON THIS ATHLETIC TEAM. AND ALSO INVOLVE HORFORD MORE ON O
Grandad
November 2nd, 2009
12:54 am
It’s not really adjustments. It’s preparation. Turnovers are not a product of design so much. Our guys obviously aquire bad habits in practice. If you are not reqired to execute perfectly then mistakes will be the result. You can get away with athleticism/talent if you are better than the other team. However, when you play the really good teams, bad habits will bite yiu in the behind. I saw video of Josh practicing with Coach “K” this summer and they would stop practice and correct little things such as his footwork, etc. When I see video of the Hawks @ practice I never saw a stoppage for teaching and correction.
Perhaps woody did not make adjustments but I really think its a teaching situation. Most of our kids did not have a very good background [coaching wise] due to little or no college exp. He should @ least find some assts. who know some fundamentals.
bigdave
November 2nd, 2009
12:54 am
Hawks went strictly 1 on 1 when we could have cut it below 10…
J.J.M.
November 2nd, 2009
12:54 am
no heart???
ant banks
November 2nd, 2009
12:55 am
KOBE AND JJ STARTED OFF THE SAME. KOBE HAS 41 AND JJ HAS 24 AFTER GETTIN’ 18 IN FIRST QTR.
JJ DUMB FOR TURNIN’ DOWN 60MIL
Blast
November 2nd, 2009
12:55 am
At least Phil was forced to bring his starters in to finnish the game. Never expected Hawks to win tonite anyway. playing the champs at home and all that. Did expect them to give some better accounting, though.
Teague showing flashes of brilliance.
Joshua Randolph (fire mike woodson express)
November 2nd, 2009
12:55 am
NO GAME PLAN COMING INTO TONIGHT, DONT WORRIE ABOUT THE DEFENSE GUYS JUST PASS THE BALL ONCE AND SHOOT IT. LETS GO TO JOE EARLY, THEN WHEN HE GETS HOT I’LL GIVE HIM A BREAK AND COOL HIM DOWN. I’LL WORK ON THE REF’S WHEN WE GET DOWN BY 2O, THEN IN PRE GAME I’LL SAY I THOUGHT WE PLAYED PRETTY GOOD JUST NEEDED TO CUT DOWN ON THE TURN OVERS.
PD
November 2nd, 2009
12:56 am
Ok the young boy needs at least 20 minutes a night. Marvin should be on the trading block if he does not wake up!!!!!!! Woodson needs some Red Bull and a playbook.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 2nd, 2009
12:57 am
Acie and Teague are completely different kinds of players, and more importantly there was conflict between Woody and Billy Knight over the Acie selection. Teague’s success shouldn’t be an indictment of Acie’s skills.
BONE
November 2nd, 2009
12:57 am
Josh still taking jumpers lol. unbelievable.
Joshua Randolph (fire mike woodson express)
November 2nd, 2009
12:57 am
JEJE ACIE CAN’T CHECK HISELF INTO THE GAME.
Mz. Hawkdafied
November 2nd, 2009
12:57 am
co sign Najeh Davenpoop @12:52am
GA Bulldawg
November 2nd, 2009
12:58 am
10 pt game!!
Najeh Davenpoop
November 2nd, 2009
12:58 am
Joe Johnson is about to finish with 35 minutes played in a game that got out of hand halfway through the 3rd.
bigdave
November 2nd, 2009
12:59 am
so i guess Joe was supposed to come out on some ball hog shyt… knowing that it would take a team effort to beat the Lakers. instead he was trying to create for teammates… i have no problem with his approach tonight…
Najeh Davenpoop
November 2nd, 2009
12:59 am
A lot of gamblers must have been p!ssed about this game… Lakers were favored by 9, and the Hawks cut it to 8 with Crawford’s garbage time dunk.
Clyde
November 2nd, 2009
12:59 am
“i’ve been saying fire woody for the last 3 years. the guy is just awful.”
Man I’ve been saying FIRE WOODY for 5 years Joshua. I wonder when enough is enough.
I wonder would the Hawks be any better if we drafted Sean Williams with the 11th pick instead of Acie Law. haha
Big Ray
November 2nd, 2009
1:00 am
Rod ,
Heh. I call it like it is with Marvin. I don’t think he’s trash, but he damn sure played like trash tonight. So did Al and Josh. What have I posted on this blog tonight that made you think I’m a big defender of his? Sorry if I don’t hate him as bad as you do, but I do have my own opinions. I’m not his cousin, but I also see more of the game than what a single player does. Can’t help it if you disagree, and not worried about it, either.
GA Bulldawg
November 2nd, 2009
1:00 am
our bench kept us in this game…a season ago it would have a 30 pt blowout
Mz. Hawkdafied
November 2nd, 2009
1:00 am
Thanks for the bball knowledge Grandad. I agree but hadn’t thought about that.
JeJe
November 2nd, 2009
1:01 am
MARVIN IS USELESS AND SUCKS. I WILL ARGUE THIS TO THE DAY I DIE
bigdave
November 2nd, 2009
1:01 am
being major players in Woody’s “what we do” philosophies there was not enough Marvin or Josh to expect anything other than these results…
Big Ray
November 2nd, 2009
1:02 am
bigdave ,
Joe outrebounded everybody but Lamar Odom, and matched Al Horford in that category. He also shot 50% from the field and dished out 4 assists, with just one turnover.
His approach to this game is one of the few things that DIDN’T hurt us tonight.
Rod from College Park
November 2nd, 2009
1:02 am
As long as coach Woodson continues to try to play half-court offensive basketball with teams that are much bigger than us in the front-court this will be the result. We have to push the tempo and use or speed and athleticism to our advantage. We are not the Detroit Pistons.
JeJe
November 2nd, 2009
1:03 am
PLEASE BENCH MARVIN. PORTLAND IS A TOUGH GAME. START CRAWFORD AND USE TEAGUE AS ONE OF THE FIRST BACKUPS OFF THE BENCH. DO NOT LET MARVIN PLAY UNTIL HE LEARNS THAT HE ACTUALLY APPEARS ATHLETIC AND MAY ACTUALLY HAVE SOME TALENT
Time to Go
November 2nd, 2009
1:03 am
The Hawks WILL NOT finish ABOVE 4th in the east until Woodson, Marvin and Josh are gone, or atleast 2 of the 3. Mark my words.
TrainWreck
November 2nd, 2009
1:03 am
HOW ABOUT THAT. ROD SAYS ITS GAY DAY. DID ANYBODY ELSE KNEW THIS BUT HIM?
bigdave
November 2nd, 2009
1:04 am
Ray…
??? “i have no problem with his (Joe Johnson) approach tonight.”
JeJe
November 2nd, 2009
1:05 am
MARVIN HAVING A 20 POINT GAME IS LIKE ME WINNING THE LOTTERY
JeJe
November 2nd, 2009
1:05 am
HAWKS WILL GET 4TH IN EAST AND LOSE IN 2ND ROUND IN 5 GAMES
WE HAVE NO FRONT COURT SIZE, COACH IS AVERAGE (NOT BAD NOT GREAT) AND MARVIN IS USELESS. ONLY PLAYS WELL AGAINST SEATTLE (LOL) AND WHEN WE HAVE 3 STARTERS OUT
GOOD JOB.
WE COULDA HAD CHRIS PAUL, DERON WILLIAMS, OR BRANDON ROY
JeJe
November 2nd, 2009
1:06 am
RAJON RONDO RUDY GAY RANDY FOYE
Blast
November 2nd, 2009
1:06 am
Gross miscalculation on Woody’s part. He should have kept Joe in until the score was decidedly in Hawks favor, then rested him when the game was won. Those turnovers didn’t help either.
JeJe
November 2nd, 2009
1:06 am
BYNUM DANNY GRANGER
Big Ray
November 2nd, 2009
1:08 am
Clyde ,
An interesting idea. The question is, would Nellie have taken Sean Williams and Speedy Claxton for Jamal Crawford? Somehow, I don’t think Williams would have lasted any longer than Solo did. And that’s not really anything against Williams. So, what is ol’ Sean doing these days anyhow? With the Nets roster gutted, he should be at least the first backup center off the bench, right?
Grandad ,
Very interesting insights. Seriously.
Mz. Hawkdafied
November 2nd, 2009
1:09 am
Rod, definitely not the Detroit Pistons. It’s time for the Hawks to get their own identity and stop trying to be someone else. I am sick of hearing about the freaking Pistons back in the day.
BONE
November 2nd, 2009
1:09 am
Ladies and gentlemen these are Marvin’s stats for the night:
6 pts 1-6 2 rebs 1 ast
WOW
Big Ray
November 2nd, 2009
1:10 am
bigdave ,
That was me agreeing with your 12:59 post. Come now, try not to expect the worst from me….
Big Ray
November 2nd, 2009
1:11 am
No kidding, we’re not the Pistons. They defend better than this. They were also better coached, I don’t care what ANYBODY says.
BONE
November 2nd, 2009
1:11 am
this was the Hawks most embarrasing loss since well that Magic game in the pre-season
Publix
November 2nd, 2009
1:13 am
WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE WE STILL DOING WITH MARVIN????? Why is this kid getting any time? Pleaseeeeeeee, Sund trade him and Bibby. Take both of them and send them to Washington for Haywood and Stephenson. This is a very realistic trade and it would give us a 7footer finally who can at least push around with the Bynums, Howards, and the Duncans.
GET RID OF MARVIN IS PRIORITY!!!!!!
Our lineup should look like this:
Teague
Johnson
Smith
Horford
Haywood
Crawford
Bring MARIO back
Evans
Smith
Pachulia
If for some reason we cannot get Haywood, then go after Mark Gasol. He is an upcoming star, don’t wait much longer.
GET RIDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD OF MARVIN!
Rod from College Park
November 2nd, 2009
1:15 am
TRAINWRECK,,
You are on the AJC blog, and its on the front page of the AJC. Reading is fundamental.
cp
November 2nd, 2009
1:15 am
I hope Teague gets rewarded with more minutes. Bibby was solid. Joe should have stayed in until he went cold not get pulled while he was hot. Horford played hard but he isn’t big or long enough to match up with Bynum. Josh played like he did last season with the jumpers and trying to run the fast break. Our bench played well. Marvin with another invisible game. Woodson still cant make adjustments and still has no offensive clue what so ever. Portland is going to be tough because they have a bunch of size. Roy and Outlaw kill us every time we play them. Somebody needs to light a fire under Marvin. No more excuses for him.
Mz. Hawkdafied
November 2nd, 2009
1:16 am
Exactly Big Ray! Anybody else sick of the Hawks trying to be the Detroit Pistons?
Mz. Hawkdafied
November 2nd, 2009
1:19 am
Funny how the frontcourt dominated in the first two games but struggled in this one. Any insights on this guys and gals?
GA Bulldawg
November 2nd, 2009
1:20 am
Thank you Grandad!! That is the problem with young players in the L today…rely too much on athleticism and not enough fundamentals to back that up!!!