Come in, Houston
Question: Who is Houston’s leading scorer? (Answer below)
What’s up, folks?
Sorry to jump on so late today. I have to get cranking on a couple different things – a story about the Hawks’ second team for tomorrow and then a notes column for Sunday – so not much time today.
Hope you all are doing well.
A couple links:
Sekou’s blog off of last night’s game.
Ken Berger’s column for CBS Sportsline. (I met Ken after the game last night at Manuel’s with AP writer Paul Newberry and former AJC staffer and now nba.com freelancer Matt Winkeljohn. Ken bought my Sprite, so kudos to Ken.)
Matt’s story for nba.com.
A little shout-out to the Hawks in Ball Don’t Lie.
A Fox Sports column by Charley Rosen.
The view from South Florida and the Sun-Sentinel.
Lastly, you can check out Al Horford on TNT tonight at 8 p.m. for the pregame with Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson.
Looking ahead
Mike Woodson’s take on the Rockets:
The fact that hey don’t have Yao (Ming), they have become this solid team that, defensively, they get after you and offensively, they get up and down the floor making shots. They can score the ball too. We’ve just got to be in ready to defend for 48 minutes because they can score. They’re averaging, I think, over 100 points a game, too. (Ed: 103.7) Somewhere along the line, somebody’s going to have to defend to win this game. I like the makeup of their team because you don’t know who’s going to get you. They’ve got a few pieces that they all can make offensive plays.”
Sorry I don’t have time for much more. I’ll have more tomorrow.
Ken
Answer: Props to you if you knew it was Trevor Ariza, a free-agent signee from the Lakers last offseason. After mostly coming off the bench with 8.9 points per game last season, Ariza is averaging 18.4 per game for the Rockets, who are the fourth team he has played for in his six NBA seasons.
(Apologies if that difficulty of that question was WAY beneath you. I’m still learning the waters here. Maybe the question should what teams has he played for.) (Wikipedia fact: Ariza’s high school team had five future NBA players on it – Hassan Adams, Brandon Heath, Bobby Brown, Gabriet Pruitt and Ariza. That’s crazy. You could have been a Division I player on that team and would have had to come off the bench.)
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324 comments Add your comment
Grandad
November 21st, 2009
2:48 pm
Truth Serum: (11/21/09 @ 10:36) To whom were you referring?
Sautee: I’m one who wants a defensive minded 5, not that Big Al is not
more yhan adequate. As a matter of fact he may very well be my
favorite Hawk. I just think we need a bigger [longer-actually]
defensive presence ['off the bench'] to guard the rim.
ILL-logical-makes some very good points about the play-offs.
terrell barron – Personally, I think Marv is better than the #1 that
yr. I’m certainly glad Mil. took the big Aussie
otherwise we would have taken him. The ripple effect
could have been disasterous.
Truth-Serum
November 21st, 2009
2:50 pm
Doc, I couldnt agree more. I actually wrote a blog that said pretty much the same thing. It really doesnt matter what path leads you there as long as you get there.
Ant Banks, I dont always agree with you but Im compelled to fist bump your lasted blogs. I see a lot of the josh/woody/jj haters distancing themselves from their former positions. The fastest and most respected way to do that Is to say, hey, I was wrong, my predictions were false, looks like Woodson and the hawks do know what they are doing and i must not know what I thought I knew.
my bad. Go Hawks.
GO HAWKS.
Truth-Serum
November 21st, 2009
2:57 pm
THANKS ILL-LOGICAL, FOR SAYING WHAT A LOT OF US ARE THINKING!
terrell barron
November 21st, 2009
3:26 pm
Ant Banks, criticism does not make you more or less of a fan. Come on man. WE ALL WANT THE HAKWS TO WIN! Isnt that all that matters? And btw, didn’t you used to cream Billy Knight?
KevinA
November 21st, 2009
3:29 pm
7-3 over the next 10 games. For a total of 15-5
Portland – W –
Miami – W
Houston – W
@New Orleans – W
Orlando – L
@Philadelphia – W
@Detroit – L
Toronto – W
NY Knicks – W
@Dallas – L
6 players will be in double figures in points. Marvin!! I need you.
I put my money where my mouth was in thinking Marvin would come back.
Wish I could take that Detroit loss back though. If we beat Orlando and Dallas I will cry happy tears I lost the contest.
Truth-Serum
November 21st, 2009
3:32 pm
KevinA, I thought you told me that was a back to back in Detroit and the odds were we couldnt win. Are we sharing the same hope on that one?
KevinA
November 21st, 2009
3:42 pm
Orlando 26th
Philly 27th
Detroit 29th
Philly and Detroit on the road. Thought they would be wore down and at the time of contest start – Detroit was looking better.
KevinA
November 21st, 2009
4:00 pm
I hope in tonights NO game we restablish our post game. Last game against NO Al and Josh were 15-20. Another night like that would pump up our big’s for Mr Howard who comes next.
Truth-Serum
November 21st, 2009
4:18 pm
KevinA, I think most people expect us to have a good season. It seems we are now playing for the off season. Assuming we get there healthy, and make it to the semi’s and finals, the game will break down to half court. The key will be how we represent ourselves in the post. Can we create our own shots and finish on offense and on D can we protect the post real-estate and control the block. Many think we can be forced of the block and out of position. Position is everything in defending the post. Can Horford MAN the post after 82 games and a playoff run? Id like to have another center for the purpose of holding fort. I like ill logical’s thinking on this point.
The Truth
November 21st, 2009
4:22 pm
I’M BACK!! It is such a refreshing feeling on this blog now that that the haters are temporally suspended. With no Marvin bashing going-on, it feels strange around here. Kudos to the Hawks; this was another character building win. I like the way Crawford framed the victory:
“Tonight that was a scrappy, scrappy team and they played very physical and we still came out with the win, so I think we can take the best of what people have to offer.”
Is it just me or has anyone else notice how bias the officiating has been against the Hawks? It’s not just isolated cases, it’s a consistent pattern. It makes the win even sweeter when we prevail anyway. With our tough schedule along with Miami-Heat soft schedule for a 5th seeded team, it is clear that the NBA did not want us to have a top seed this year. However, the way we are playing (as of late) their plans might backfire.
Truth-Serum
November 21st, 2009
4:40 pm
Truth is kind of hard to argue with winning. I dont know how long the haters will recess and regroup, but yea, its nice. I guess when we hit a 2 game losing streak they will rise from the dead. Good link by the way.
The Hawksta
November 21st, 2009
4:45 pm
“The Truth” you must admit as long as espn keeps giving us props i.e. talking about how fun we are to watch, we are going to be marketble and the refs are going to come around. Remember San Antonio was good before they won a title but they weren’t marketble. They won several titles and remained boring. At least the media seems happy to talk about us which pyschologically is a plus when it comes to officiating. I knew when I saw Dick Biveta(sp?) they were going to hate on us. We past the test and lead on ESPN inspite of the much anticipated contest between the Celts and Magic!
I MUS WRITE
November 21st, 2009
4:49 pm
Mychaelfromatl- I see you took my advice LOL, beautiful women everywhere right -I will definitely be in the house Thanxgiving night.
I gotta give it to Marvin just when i start getting down on him he delivers,I hope he continues to be productive and play with urgency. Consistency is what i need from that yungn. Really tho if we can squeeze about 14/6 out of the guy to go along with Josh and Al we’re headed for big things. Keep puttn in work Marvin
I hope we dont have a drop off in effort(ala Bobcats Game)tonight, Joe Smith,Mo,Teague should see increased minutes tonight. What really impresses me is how we are winning,Even on bad shooting nights we are finding ways to win games ….The mark of a maturing team….I feel like a proud papa taking my kid to school on the first day. Im just relishing in the moment, 13-69 really wasnt that long ago. Paper Bag Boiz
Grandad- Teague will be okay – He just needs to develope that jumper, for sum reason when he shoots i feel the same way i did when Acie shot or when Josh bombed away from behind the arc last year ARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!
Teague may be quick/super fast but I would take a leader/big shot maker (bibby) as our starter over that speed any day. He has time to develope. Ty Lawson is a big time player -everytime i see him he plays well -looks like a seasoned veteran already. I wonder -if Denver did’nt take Lawson at 18 would he be a Hawk? I think he would have fit right in here and Bibby’s minutes would have been split right down the middle.
Woody deserves credit for our record right now but our sucess has mostly due to:
1.Josh/Al developement
2.Youth and Athleticism
3.Jamal I break ankles Crawford
4.Better overall bench
Just say’n -we still dont run may plays and the offense looks crappy sumtimz, but hey im not gonna focus on that -Just glad we are winning-Like sum one said the other day-I can now hold my head high and get into the Barber shop debates- Mr jones i cant wait til wednesday so i can talk shyt-LOL the man hates the Hawks, but thinks Cleveland and Shaq the chemistrykiller will win a title this year LMAO
I believe Sund deserves just as much credit as Woody— Crawford for LAW and Snail Claxton, that was a great move
The Hawksta
November 21st, 2009
4:52 pm
Truth-Serum I can’t say I wasn’t one of the Woody haters in pass blogs this year and last year. You must admit it’s tough seeing the same ole b.s. on the court. For example: last year Josh shooting threes and JJ pounding the ball. Hell I even complain about Marvin, yet he’s always been a favorite of mind. I must believe that if Josh can stop shooting threes JJ will realized he dosn’t have to pound the ball. All he has to do is make quicker decisions. Even the major media has notice we don’t cut to the basket during iso JOE!
KevinA
November 21st, 2009
4:54 pm
Truth-Serum
November 21st, 2009
4:18 pm
KevinA, I think most people expect us to have a good season. It seems we are now playing for the off season. Assuming we get there healthy, and make it to the semi’s and finals, the game will break down to half court. The key will be how we represent ourselves in the post. Can we create our own shots and finish on offense and on D can we protect the post real-estate and control the block. Many think we can be forced of the block and out of position. Position is everything in defending the post. Can Horford MAN the post after 82 games and a playoff run? Id like to have another center for the purpose of holding fort. I like ill logical’s thinking on this point.
We do have two big bodies in Rando Mo and Collins that may get more burn as we play against weaker teams.
I would still like to see ZaZa, Al and Josh play together.
You never know maybe around the trade deadline the owners will give the ok to go into the cap and get a big center from a team that is rebuilding and out of the race.
If we have the year you talk about maybe next year FA bigs will be willing to come here for less money if they think they have a chance to play for the ring.
I MUS WRITE
November 21st, 2009
5:14 pm
For everybody complaining about jj’s minutes………..Stop
We needed the whole 45 minutes along with Marvins conteribution to win last night. Im all for resting guy but not at the expense of WINS.
” Thats why you Play the game Hello” Houston is a scrappy team -I like the way they fight and out hustle the opponent for wins. Itz amazing how chuck hayes is playing for that team- 6′6 center bangn with the big boiz every night….. I guess we can stop with the Al is to small stuff huh? Mo is due for a big game tonight- If the starters come out sluggish the bench will be big-hell they are well rested so why not…
Jeezuz…… A DRMARYB sighting, Well Well Well if it isnt Ms. Chettah Thongs – Richbrave and Doc are sum where sweating profusely LMAO
Grandad
November 21st, 2009
6:07 pm
I MUS WRITE: We’re winning and I’m not complaining. My toughts on Teager
are that he is on a dangerous precipice. We may shortly be
looking @ next yr. for him. Remember he had no summer
league to transition himself [confidence wise] into the
NBA. Bibs is fine and I have never had a problem wi. him,
especially on off. He has become more of a 2 than a true
pt. guard. J.T. was a very good perimeter shooter in
in col. He has a small flaw in his shot but confidence is
a bigger problem as I see it. It may even go back to the
last pre-season game and since then he has not had a
chance to shoot/play himself out of it. That last
pre-season may have shaken Woody’s confidence in him.
Now that we are winning, Woody, as we all are, is
unacustomed to the national exposure and does not want
to tamper with success. I also understand Woody’s
perspective, as he’s on the last yr. of his cont. and
feels the pressure that comes with it. Phil Jack. or
Pop being comfortable in the limelight most likely would
not worry about such. Just some randem thoughts.
Go Hawks / Go Dawgs.
Grandad
November 21st, 2009
6:33 pm
Tough Sybil: Man up as you say. To whom are you directing your
statement? You speak of God and then call someone
a rude name. I have not gone anywhere, not called for
anyone to be traded; yet I have referred to you by
using, in my opinion either comical or brutally honest,
[allbeit] civil language. I have not reverted to
profanity. Obviously you are most sensitive in these
matters or maybe I’m talking to a dif. person, so I
promise to be less hurtful: Therefore, I will not ask
that you be traded or fired.(Unless Wash.offers us J.Mc.)
If they offer young Mr. McGee then trade me !
The Truth
November 21st, 2009
6:40 pm
The Hawksta
Yeah, I on hope those refs do come around; sooner rather than later. With our upcoming December schedule, we are going to need at least a level playing field. I mean, clearly, they do not want us to have a Merry Christmas:
Sat 19 @ Chicago
Tue 22 @ Minnesota
Wed 23 @ Denver
Sat 26 @ Indiana
Tue 29 vs. Cleveland
Wed 30 @ Cleveland
We can’t sleep on Chicago on their court as they are a scrappy bunch that plays hard like Houston. Denver and Indiana will look for revenge on their court as well. We may be the only team in the NBA that plays Cleveland in back-to-back games. If the Hawks are not sharp playing 5 road games over the holiday, it could be a humbling experience.
Ken Strickland
November 21st, 2009
6:50 pm
TRUTH SERUM-that was an informative article, thanks. It reveals that RSund and I were thinking along the same lines this off season. He said as much when he made the folowing statement, “YEAH, I LIKE OUR CLUB. THE ONLY REASON I SAY THIS IS THERE IS GROWTH FROM WITHIN”. Can you say ORGANIC GROWTH?
ILL-LOGICAL-there’s nothing wrong with your thinking, but having a dominant center that can bang with the big boys doesn’t always work and isn’t necessary to win a NBA title. Last yr, the Phoenix Suns had that same idea about needing a dominant center who could bang with the big boys in the playoffs, allowing them to have AStaudemire do some damage at the 4 and 5. Well, they got Shaq, the biggest banger of them all, moved Amare to the 4, and quickly failed to even make the playoffs for the 1st time since the 03-04 season.
If fact, the Hawks once had that same idea. They signed a dominant center named Moses Malone to bang with the big boys in the playoffs. I guess we all remember how that turned out. I’m certain you wouldn’t call BWallace, BLambeer, NMohammad, WPerdue, BCartwright or even WBynum dominant centers. Yet, the Pistons, Bulls, Spurs and Lakers still managed to win NBA titles with them. We didn’t get swept by the Cavaliers last yr because they had a dominant center, and the Lakers didn’t defeat the Magic because WBynum was more dominant than DHoward.
MannyT
November 21st, 2009
7:01 pm
new blog up
NUNNA YO BIZNEZZ
November 22nd, 2009
4:17 am
godsmorning people..
ok,we lost last nite in new orleans..and,joe didn’t have it all tonite and with bibbs out,we had a make do pg situation..if,teague is gonna be the backup,then he should have been getting more minutes in earlier games and playing both da 1st and 2nd half of games..
thats my problem with woodson..the development of our young players..and,i hope u did what i did and look at the minutes averaged out of the young guys of da hornets since game 1..
unlike our young guys,they do get minutes,and byron scott was developing his young guys and his bench before he got tanked,and now u see with playing time (and not being thrown into da fire like our guys) just how valuable getting these guys in early and often in the beginning of the season pays off during the long haul..
42 minutes for joe tonite..5:25 for teague..zero minutes for collins,and morris and othello again was inactive..
why did we get two 7 footers and they are constantly on da bench?? neither to come in, giving us an advantage by having horford and smith at the forward spots and a true center in da middle to give us a “BIG” lineup!! Why not??
Before u ask me, why??
i got a very serious question to ask you guys..what are we gonna do,god forbid,if crawford goes down?? we’re gonna be stuck with the same situation as we have the past few years..with the exception of us having flip murray,we will have no type of scoring off of the bench..if bibby is out for a while,we all know that crawford is gonna start..but,if we had been playing teague more and getting his feet wet,then we still could have crawford come off of the bench..
now u all see why i said that even if we did draft chris paul that he would not be the player he is today..he would be rotting on the bench with woody as his head coach..right now im panicking,because we have a situation that is coming up and we’re not even preparing for any situation to come at this team at all..no contigency plans what so ever..this power ranking at #1 will be a thing of the past in a week..watch and see..the powers that be will have us at number10-15 after we lose a couple on the road and at home..enjoy it now people!!
if you all are satisfied with mediocre basketball,then we deserve what we get and we deserve the early exits in the playoffs of this team..im not satisfied..i want our team to have the advantage everynite they step on the court!!
Truth-Serum
November 22nd, 2009
9:44 am
KevinA
November 21st, 2009
4:54 pm
You are right as far as getting Josh, Al, Zaza on the at the same time, that would be an interesting experiment. Two power forward and a center.
We looked weak in the paint last night. We controlled nothing under the basket.
“We do have two big bodies in Rando Mo and Collins that may get more burn as we play against weaker teams.”
I would have loved to see them get major minutes last night. It was clear from the third quarter that we were not going to compete. Id like to see Mo, and Collins split 15 minutes a game, regardless of who we play. If we pay em lets play em. At the rate its going now they wont be ready for the playoffs. Lets get them some burns…
The Hawksta, I feel you. Its funny how you can tell a young man what to do, yet he always seem to do what he wants to do any way. Josh? straight from high school. Marvin? 1 year of college then straight to the pros. If you have raised children then you certainly have learned patience. Some times you have to repeat the same things over and over and thy still don’t get the message. The stand off between Josh and Woodson was a classic dad/son confrontation and Woodson hit it for a home run. In part that’s why Josh is better today. Every person has strengths and weaknesses. One of woodson’s strengths is player relationships. The players respect him. Hes earned it.
NUNNA YO BIZNEZZ
November 22nd, 2009
12:55 pm
i guess u didn’t see the nba tv broadcast of the hawks pre-season practice did u??
josh got played on a nice finger roll by a free agent who didn’t make the team during a scrimmage..
both josh and woodson were miked for the broadcast..
josh didn’t even put up a hand or anything he just let dude drive on him and took it to da hoop..
i along with woodson said at the same time,”smooth”!!
then woody looked at him,and josh shrugged his shoulders like,”what”??
woody:”smooth”!!
josh:(shrugging his shoulders),then he said aloud,”it was a good play,what do u want me to do”??
and then josh turned his back and went on about his business..
spots like that lets me know that he still has that rebellion in him against his coach and that his coach is one who is not confrontational nor is he one who will get in his players face and let them know,”im the coach”!!
it might not mean nothing to a lot of u,but,the small things like that really enlarge the big picture in what is really going on..