On to December
Hey, folks-
Sorry for the delay. No good excuse, just a lot going on.
Anyway, some thoughts about the game tonight. Again, like Detroit, it’s a game the Hawks should win, only more so, given that they’re at home. Toronto has lost four in a row and five of the last six. Plus, I get the sense that the team has reached a similar level of frustration that it had after Charlotte, which was the catalyst for the seven-game winning streak. Not saying they’ll reel off seven in a row again, given that they play Dallas on the road in three games, but I think they’re in a better frame of mind than last week. But, what do I know.
It’ll be interesting to see how Joe Johnson fares. As I wrote earlier this week, he is in a pretty decent slump. Mike Woodson conceded that some of the misses have been forced, but is going to keep riding him. Said Woodson, “when he’s making those forced shots, nobody’s saying a [darn] thing.”
Obviously, the matchup to watch is Al Horford and Chris Bosh. As you well remember, Dwight Howard took it to Horford (and the entire team) pretty good on Thanksgiving, and perhaps well he should have. This isn’t quite the same matchup, as Bosh plays away from the paint and doesn’t quite have Howard’s size, but it’ll be a good test for Horford.
What worries the Hawks against Toronto is the Raptors’ pace of play, which Woodson compared to Phoenix and New York. If the Raptors can get in a flow and start nailing 3-pointers, it could be a long night. They made 11 of 17 in a 131-124 road loss to San Antonio and 9 of 15 in a 120-113 win over Miami.
In the locker room the last few days, there’s been a lot of talk about being happy where they are (12-5) and how they want to move on to a good December. It strikes me as kind of a convenient way to dismiss what has happened the past four games, but I do think the reality is this team is going to play well in spurts and struggle in others. Just like it was unreasonable to expect that they were going to play the way they were in winning seven in a row, I think it’s also unlikely that the way they’re playing now will keep going.
I think perhaps what the team will need to get to the 50-win plateau is just to minimize the slumps, not letting three-losses-out-of-four get to seven-out-of-nine.
Think about this. If they win two out of three the rest of the way, they’ll finish with 59 wins, which would put them in the mix, I’d think, for the division title. Given the way they play at home, I don’t think this is out of the question. That’s 16-16 on the road and 24-9 at Philips in the final 65 games of the year.
I have no idea how much Jeff Teague will play tonight. It seems like one factor for Woodson in dispensing time for subs, perhaps the key one, is matchups. You’d think Jarrett Jack would be an applicable one for Teague. He’s gotten a lot of work with the first unit in practice since Mike Bibby went down with his ankle against New Orleans two Saturdays ago. I’m not sure how much we’ll see of him with that unit yet. I didn’t get the sense that the starters were completely comfortable with Teague yet in that group. Perhaps tonight is the night.
One thing I’ll throw out that I thought was interesting was a point that Johnson made about how the Hawks have so many interchangeable parts that it’s not easy for Teague to get in. Yes, you could certainly say he’s the backup point guard, but in a way, so is Jamal Crawford, who isn’t normally someone you want to take away minutes from. Just a thought. I’m with most of you in that I’d love to see him play more in that he’s a lot of fun to watch.
One link: Ball Don’t Lie named Josh Smith its most improved player of the season thus far. I think the national love for the Hawks may cool for awhile.
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220 comments Add your comment
Big Ray
December 2nd, 2009
9:33 pm
Heh. Nine guys in double figures and one that almost made it (Mo Evans with 9). RandMo got 6, and Jason Collins showed us he’s the new John Edwards. You know, capable of 4 fouls in 6 minutes of work. What the hey, he got to play.
And we won big. Night, all.
Samuel
December 2nd, 2009
9:34 pm
This is what you get when you fire a COY and hire the trainer.
Raptors Fans
December 2nd, 2009
9:39 pm
Good game you guys. In our defence, NJ gave up even more points in the 1st half than we did, but you thoroughly cleaned our clocks and it looked like we just gave up in the 2nd quarter.
Davenpoop, don’t get ahead of yourself. Bosh is still better than Smith. He just happened to have probably the worst game of his career tonight.
O'Brien
December 2nd, 2009
9:43 pm
In the post game interview, Al said when we play an uptempo team/uptempo game, we are able to put up a lot of points.
Everybody knows this, so hopefully we will go back to how we played the first 13 games.
Great win tonight Hawks and Woody. JJ passed the ball, the bench got lots of PT, and everyone contributed (except Collins).
hawkfan
December 2nd, 2009
9:43 pm
wow, look at our division, all of the southeast division teams are in the east’s top 8
Wabe
December 2nd, 2009
9:45 pm
Great game tonite.
Starters all played well. JJ didn’t really force too many looks tonite, he instead swung the ball around to get some good shots for other guys. Horford had a monster night – the Raptor really didn’t have anybody down in the paint that could matchup with him. Marvin and Bibby both shot the ball well. And Smoove was just smooth.
Bench play was great. Crawford did what he does, get buckets. Teague played probably the best game we’ve seen him play all season. If Woody will continue to give the kid consistent minutes at meaningful points in the game, he’ll continue to grow. Zaza and Joe Smith both had great games as well.
Just a great win. Can’t let up against the lowly Knicks on Friday night. Get that W and then we get another great early season test in Dallas on Saturday.
Go Hawks!
Ernest
December 2nd, 2009
9:47 pm
It’s good to have games like this every now and then so that the starters can get rest and the bench players can get more minutes. Though he did not score, Collins at least contributed with 2 assists.
Let’s hope for a similar type game against the Knicks then a real shootout with Dallas.
Melvin
December 2nd, 2009
9:49 pm
Woody should show this game tape before every game for the rest of the season…
vava74
December 2nd, 2009
9:49 pm
Fire Woody?
Marvin sucks?
JJ is a ball-hog?
Al is undersized?
Sign/Trade for Bosh?
Ahhh… Perspective, perspective…
nunna yo buzinezz
December 2nd, 2009
9:53 pm
i guess now we all see how the hawks play when we get 10 players in,and the starters don’t have the high playoff minutes..
now,don’t mean to burst any bubbles,but would you all like to see woody have a consistent time for the 1st and 2nd units starting this weekend??
well,get used to the low minutes of teague,randmo,joe smith,and mo evans..we will be back to the 6-7 man rotation come friday..it should be obvious to u all,he does this every now and then(playing 10+ players)..get used to it,because i got a feeling,that he will be back to his old self come friday and saturday..
and p.s.,my cousin reads these blogs on the ajc and hit me up and told me he didn’t know nothing about a meeting with sund and woody and made it up,because he knew i’d believe him and we’re all crazy on here,lol…
his name is reuben,and he is an executive bodyguard and he has clients whom his security company escort who happens to be hawks season ticket holders..so if u know him,beat him up!!
nunna yo buzinezz
December 2nd, 2009
9:54 pm
Naw Melvin,
Woody should watch this game tape himself,before every game
Melvin
December 2nd, 2009
9:56 pm
Najeh,
Josh could present a real challenge to Bosh for that 2nd starting forward spot if he continue to be on sportscenter every night with his high flying plays….
Samuel
December 2nd, 2009
9:58 pm
Guys,
Calm down. We just played the Toronto “freekin” Raptors. They are alergic to defense. That’s why guys like Barganani, Turkalooo, Kopono love it there. No accountability.
Clyde, I don’t here you. Saturday is the day of reckoning for your Tide.
Woody=COY
Josh=DPOY/All Star
Najeh Davenpoop
December 2nd, 2009
9:59 pm
“Davenpoop, don’t get ahead of yourself. Bosh is still better than Smith.”
At scoring, definitely. At everything else, I’d take Josh.
Ken Strickland
December 2nd, 2009
10:10 pm
SAMUEL-you really don’t have a clue do you. Just to bring you up to date and hopefully provide you with a clue, the Hawks last opponent, the Detroit Pistons, have a worse record than Toronto, and that’s after defeating us. They were missing 3 starters, yet managed to whipped our A$$ in every phase of the gm, so don’t give me that IT’S JUST TONONTO CRAP. Before the Piston gm started, IT WAS JUST THE PISTONS, and look how that turned out. If we had played Toronto the way we played Detroit, we would have lost this gm as well, considering the way they shot the ball.
cp
December 2nd, 2009
10:16 pm
Great game all around. The bench came in and did what they were supposed to do. Nice to see Woodrow actually let them play. Once Teague gets that floater down he is going to be scary. I wish they would play with this type of intensity and would share the ball like this every game..
I see some guys on here cant enjoy a win without the I told you so and the nanny nanny boo boo crap. Save your agendas and enjoy the dang win.
Samuel
December 2nd, 2009
10:25 pm
Ken:
If………would have…………
Facts:
Detroit 6-11 .353
Toronto 7-13 .350
Hawks 13-5 .722
Samuel
December 2nd, 2009
10:55 pm
This is what happens when you listen to bloggers, fire a dam good coach and hire the team accountant.
Truth-Serum
December 2nd, 2009
10:58 pm
Fire Woody!!-LOL
Every year they get better and better under woodson. I wish I could say the same thing about the bulldogs under MARK RICHT!
Its been so long since we’ve been on this level, even if its outside the “big three”.
“MIKE WOODSON MADE AN EXCELLENT DECISION GET THIS TEAM AWAY FROM PLAYING WOODY BALL AND GO BACK TO THE STYLE THAT BEST FAVORS THE HAWKS. BRAVO MR WOODSON!”
RUSH LIMBAUGH you are delusional at best. The man hasn’t changed. This is Woody ball. Any idiot knew that this team was weak in the middle and had no way to stop us attacking the post.Thats why they have lost five or six of their last seven. Quit trying to manipulate this to save face from the insanity of your position. Why dont you pretend like you are a man and just admit you were wrong,. You are just trying to findsomething to justify your hateful obsession. I do wish you shut up. It wouldn’t bother me one bit if you did. You cant save face and your call for Woodson’s firing is actually very stupid at this point. The more you talk, the less valid your argument is. There is nothing of substance in your call for Woodsons firing
“After seeing the 1st half results of this gm, and comparing the style of play and results to the last 4gms in which we played WOODY BALL, are you tired of the results we get when we do what I’ve been complaining about us not doing?”
EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF FOOL ARE YOU? DO YOU THINK HE GIVES A FCCCK ABOUT WHAT YOUR DELUSIONAL AZZ IS FARTING? YOU ARE ONE SICK WHACKO! WOODSON IS DOING WHAT WOODSON DOES. DOES HE KNOW YOUR SORRY AZZE?
. Last year the man made number 8 on the COY poll, this year hes number 2, the hawks have a great record, the players get along and its great to be a hawk fan. SOOOOOooooooo STFU!
Truth-Serum
December 2nd, 2009
11:07 pm
( KevinA im plagarizing this)
NBA power ranking
Orlando – 81 million
PHX – 75
Lakers – 91
Boston – 81
Denver – 75
Atlanta – 65
Clev – 82
Dallas – 89
Utah – 82
10 – 26 million more in salary by every team with a better or equal record. Must mean Woody = COY.
Samuel
December 2nd, 2009
11:14 pm
Ditto Truth,
Ken,STFU
Jody
December 2nd, 2009
11:22 pm
Good win for the Hawks. One thing I continue to notice is that when other teams try to guard Al Horford with a power forward (as was the case tonight), he gets his shot wherever and whenever he wants it. Other power forwards in the league can’t stop him on the block. I hope Hawks management is paying attention to this because Al is dangerous in the post against other power forwards.
RLP
December 3rd, 2009
12:00 am
I am surprised no one has commented on the beautiful pass Marvin made when it would have been so easy to just take the shot. Those flashes of brilliance show the potential this team has to use the resources available to be a truly elite team. I say patience may prove to be a valuable component in leading this team upward.
Another case in point for those who were around last year. There were people who used their time on this blog to call for trading Josh Smith. How many remember? How many who were doing so are willing to state now if your patience would have prevented you from embarrassment? Marvin has the potential to develop into the piece that will put us over the top. We have a great sixth man. We have the potential to develop a replacement for Bibby who will allow the team to see Bibby gradually age out. Actually I have a suggestion for the Hawks management – encourage Bibby to consider taking on a role as a player coach with the ability to provide offensive input. As some have pointed out the team has the ability at times to put on an offensive spectacle. But they have also exhibited total lost of focus. Every body knows that the league is a players league. Only a few teams have a coach with the stature to override that fact. I see evidence that the players are actually having an impact on the offensive play. Maybe Bibby should get some credit for that. I am sure that there are Bibby dis-tractors who will take issue with that point of view. But I offer it as sort of a side issue on a night when there is not much to complain about. And finally I know there are a lot of people, myself included, who are down on JJ. But for several years he was about the only true offensive threat on the team. It takes time to change that mindset. If he can change this may be the team’s best chance for a long run in the playoffs. But even if we were to lose him after this season we will be able to move our sixth man into his role and continue our run. I think this team has a great future because of the patience ownership has demonstrated so far. I think December will be a month to remember. The question is whether it will be sufficient to propel the team through a long hard slog in 2010. There is also the question of whether I will willing admit the error I make if the team plays an egg this month? I hope I do not have to do so.
RLP
December 3rd, 2009
12:15 am
On Mark Stein’s ESPN power rankings he states in his preview that
“Other prominent upward movers include Orlando (inching from No. 4 to No. 3), Cleveland (rising from No. 7 to No. 4 thanks in part to slips by Atlanta, Denver and Dallas) and Houston (sneaking up to No. 9 largely because there was no obvious “next” after the current Elite Eight).”
He has the Hawks at number five. But the important thing here is that already early in the season there is a jumble in the rankings for the top eight slots with four teams having 12-5 W/L records at the time of his publication. The NINTH best teem on his rankings had a W/L record of 9 and 8. In other words his is recognizing the Hawks as a part of the elite eight after the admittedly poor play in the past four games prior to tonight’s blowout.
Truth:
I see no reason for you to denigrate those who are on the opposite side of some issues that you and I agree on. Actually Big Ray made the same point to me recently and I hope I have taken to heart his admonishment. Have a little patience and faith and the events on the ground will prove your points without resorting to that kind of rhetoric. Your 11:07 blog is one of the best indicators I have seen yet for illustrating how the ownership has been able to suffer all of the slings and arrows almost all of us have thrown at them and still produce a team that is on the cusp of greatness.
Ken Strickland
December 3rd, 2009
1:11 am
RLP-You can’t expect these Marvin Haters to give him credit for anything he does well. If you’ve noticed, they will immediately make negative comments at every opportunity if he’s unsuccessful at anything, but silent when he’s successful. ROD FROM CP was quick to criticize Marvins every move in the loss to Detroit, but after scoring 15pts on 5 of 9 shooting, 3 of 5 from 3pt range, 3 assists and 7 rebounds in tonights blowout win, you haven’t heard a single acknowledgement from him, or any of these HATERS. I criticize Woodson as much as anyone, but I won’t hesitate to commend him when he does well. That’s because I don’t have any personal and/or manufactured feelings towards him, my beef is with his inconsistent coaching.
When you start consistently calling a person derogatory names, criticizing the way he walks, talks and make stupid comments about what he’ll never be capable of doing, it’s truly personal and it’s about hating. If Woodson wins COY, I’ll be shouting his praises louder than anyone. That’s because the Hawks would need to have an outstanding season in order for that to happen, and I’m all about the Hawks, not Woodson.
Let’s see if he goes back into his coaching shell and slows the team down and limits the rotation when we play Houston on the road.
C'mon Son!
December 3rd, 2009
1:11 am
C’mon son! The Hawks had a good win tonight, but we all know they won at home and that would never happen on the road. Face it, the Hawks are a middle of the road team and they aint gettin no farther then they did last year, FACE IT!!!!
Clyde
December 3rd, 2009
1:27 am
Samuel be quiet you were ghost for about 3 days before the game tonight. You only post when the Hawks win.
FIRE WOODY
Crashing the Glass
December 3rd, 2009
3:42 am
Anybody else notice Joe setting up Marvin a lot in the first half?
http://crashingtheglass.com/2009/419/hawks-school-toronto
honest_abe
December 3rd, 2009
4:47 am
very nice win. this hawks is very competitive when they share the basketball.
good job by woody using his bench.
Samuel
December 3rd, 2009
6:48 am
Yea Clyde,
Like you will be after this Saturday when Rev, Tebow gets through with you. Fire Woody and hire who, Ken Strickland? Then you get a 140 scored on you by an offensive genius like the COY, Woody.
Mychelfromatl
December 3rd, 2009
7:13 am
Man after a nice blowout win, there are still idiots on the blog making dumb-ass statements SMH. Marvin and Woodson haters really, really got it bad.
northcyde
December 3rd, 2009
7:49 am
I see why I don’t post on this blog a lot, and stay on the other board. Great win for the Hawks nonetheless. It’s amazing how this team plays, when they actually listen to what the coach is telling them. Play defense . . rebound . . share the ball. But people act like he doesn’t tell them that on a nightly basis.
Woody’s 9-man rotation in the first half was very effective last night. Getting those 2 early fouls on Bosh was the key to extending that lead going into the 2nd quarter.
It wasn’t too long ago, when the Raptors would come to town, and it would be the T.J. Ford show. So it’s nice to see the Hawks dominate this team.
northcyde
December 3rd, 2009
7:52 am
By the way . . . Marvin is 11 – 22 from 3 point range, in his last 7 games. I guess he’s officially out of his shooting slump.
The way he played tonight, is the way he’s going to have to play for the rest of the season. He’s not going to get 12 shots a game, like he did last year. So he’s going to have to start knocking down a decent percentage of his open looks. 15 points on 9 shots, is just about right.
Clyde
December 3rd, 2009
8:12 am
Mychel welcome to the Hawks blog. We don’t get excited when we blow out bad teams. We get excited when we blow out championship quality teams.
WE BEAT THE RAPTORS BY 30
FIRE WOODY
Fundamentals
December 3rd, 2009
8:24 am
Last night was definitely what everyone needed. Good to see the team play their ball. Didn’t hurt that the Raptors played like we did on Sunday. Can’t help but point out that the domination came from solid D and rebounding at the start. They also made it a point to get the bigs involved on offense. That keys everything. When the inside game was rolling the 3’s started falling like the rain did outside. Beautiful.
Marvin seems to be out of his slump. He just needs solid touches during the flow each game. Very productive. Yes, we did love his dish at our house.
It took Woody a while to finally use his bench. Glad to see even Collins got in. You could really tell how rusty those guys were. We gotta play them if we expect them to be useful pieces. Proud of Randmo for putting in some nice shots. He didn’t have the energy from the other night, but his offense looked great.
How bout Marvin & ZaZa diving all over the place for balls!
Joe still pounded a bit in the 3rd with no success. That’s when they almost cut the lead to 20. Luckily he noticed it and gave up. He didn’t get his 20 pts, but his passing in the 1st half and timely scoring was sensational.
Mo is losing his niche every game. He’ll soon be eating popcorn with Randmo and Collins.
Looking forward to Friday.
Excellent effort last night. Good bounceback.
Daniel
December 3rd, 2009
8:29 am
Great win last night. I totally disagree with some people’s assesment that the game was not a big deal, because it was the Raptors. This win was more about the Hawks than their opponent. We have been in a 4-5 game malaise that was either going to be a blip or was going to turn into a trend. This kind of win where the issues that were causing the malaise were directly addressed shows a lot about where this team is headed.
I don’t look at the shooting. Some nights just everything goes in, some nights it doesn’t. Here are the main features of the game that I think are keys for future success.
1) Hustle and Energy: The second unit, particularly Za and Joe Smith continued to play physically and with abandon even with the lead.
2) Sharing the Ball: Joe had 11 assists(just one example)
3) Josh Smith: Continuing to play within himself and DOMINATE in the paint, especially on defense. Josh, I am totally impressed with your game this year.
4) Rebound, Rebound, Rebound.
* It is great that Teague got more minutes, but that is not the be all, end all. This is the type of game that he should get some minutes, with the idea that his minutes and role becomes more defined by the new year.
Daniel
December 3rd, 2009
8:32 am
“How about Marvin and ZaZa diving all over the place for loose balls”- Yessir!!! I watched from home last night and those are the plays that made me yell the loudest at the TV. That EFFORT which those plays exemplify are more of a key to this team’s success or lack there of, than any of the usual nonsense that we spend so much time harping on.
Daniel
December 3rd, 2009
8:33 am
CLYDE= THE GRINCH
Fundamentals
December 3rd, 2009
8:36 am
Amen on the Effort Daniel!
ILL-logical
December 3rd, 2009
9:34 am
There must have been a malfunction with my reception last night, I thought I saw woodson slap-playfully- Randolph Mooris in the back of the head as he headed to the bench for a timeout ,after he blocked a shot! Woodson praising Morris and Morris blocking a shot-comcast:help.
Seriously, if that kid can up his game he has the height and heft to help later on down the road-he is the 24, the same age as Josh and Al.
I believe that a modest investment in an Antonio Davis type tutor would yeild substantial dividends.
Sidebar: I hope that the Hawks organization reaches out to the former Hawk who was wounded in a altercation at a club where he was working as security.
Lacsh
December 3rd, 2009
10:01 am
Great Win!!!
This is the Hawks team we expect to see, at least 75% of the time. If it wasn’t for Bob Rathburn, Nique would be in way over his head. Nique means well, but he needs to take a Steve Smith brodcasting class.
Lacsho
December 3rd, 2009
10:03 am
Can’t forget the O lol
Raptors fan in TO
December 3rd, 2009
11:04 am
Haven’t been on this blog since the playoffs last season… and sorry that I have come back with a paper bag on my head after the Raptors played D like a girl’s elementary school team last night. Glad to see you guys are battling for first overall though. Smoove, Horford and that guy Smith simply owned us in the paint.
Fundamentals
December 3rd, 2009
11:18 am
Hopefully Woody noticed that the bench could maintain the effort and scoring. They deserve more of a chance to save our starters and to help them develop. Morris needs at least one 3-5 minute spurt per game, Teague’s will hopefully increase to 15-20.
cp
December 3rd, 2009
12:18 pm
Some cats on here are a trip. They only appear after wins just to say I told you so . As far as Ken Strickland goes, I enjoy his post. He is usually dead on with whatever he post. He criticizes Woodson but he has on many occasions praised him when he deserved it. There is nothing wrong with that at all. I would rather read his post than those who call others Idiots or stupid just because they have different views.
RLP
December 3rd, 2009
12:57 pm
Ken:
I just read you story in the sports pages about last nights game. I had posted something earlier on the blog about the lack of comment on Marvin’s beautiful assist to ZaZa. I bemoaned the lack of recognition by anyone on the blog for the pass. I am sure that your story had long been put to bed when I made that comment so here is a shout out to you for a job well done. Thanks.
Rufus1
December 3rd, 2009
1:00 pm
JOE sign the Contract
Joe needs to sign the contract extension, so he can stop pressing. He is a very good player, but not a max contract player. The Hawks should add a 5th year…So joe can relax!!!!
Calm down
December 3rd, 2009
1:36 pm
You guys are overreacting to a pretty meaningless game. The Raptors just had their worst game in years and we ran up the score after they gave up in the first half. That doesn’t mean we’re going to be passing and moving the ball like that all season.
Rod from College Park
December 3rd, 2009
2:19 pm
cp,
Ken Strickland said Marvin was better than Danny Granger. Is that dead on?
Ken Strickland and Big Ray,
If you expect me to come on the blog and praise Marvin Williams everytime he has a decent game, then I have one statement for you. DON”T HOLD YOUR BREATH. I say lets make a bet. I will be willing to bet you that Marvin will play his invisible man role more than he will step up in games for the rest of the year. If I win, Ken Strickland can’t post here anymore. I’m sure many of us will be happy with that. If I lose, I will not post here anymore. Any takers? Ken, is he still better than Granger? I know you are related to him, but the more and more that you post, you really do look like the star of Ringling Brother’s Circus. One thing that Marvin did do last night is go to the floor after a loose ball. That is the first time I have seen him on the ground other than tripping on his way to the basket. Forgive me I was raised to give praise when someone is above average. When I made A’s and B’s my parents praised me, when I brought home a C I got no praise. He should be playing like that or better every game. When he steps up and becomes an above average player who is consistent, and earns the money that the Hawks are paying him, then he will get some praise from me. You two were part of the crew who argued with me that Marvin was better than Josh a couple of years ago (LOL). Like Samuel said, it was Toronto, and it was at home.
KevinA
December 3rd, 2009
2:58 pm
Said coach Mike Woodson, “Guys are sacrificing the basketball, and that’s how it’s got to be offensively.”
For the first time this year (any recent year?, ever?) the post players got more shot attempts than back court. For the big’s to get the ball there has to be a concerted effort by the guards to pass and against Toronto, pass they did. Players from the Hawks left their chicken scratches all over the assist column with big time JJ digging for 11.
The other three guards came up with 11 on a night of excellent ball movement and unselfish play. Even “cheeseburger/pork chop” Collins got in on the act with 2.
JJ is the team leader and that will not change. He can lead us to ISO stat stuffing or playing within himself and “sacrificing” for the good of the team. Last night was his best game of the year showing true leadership. When JJ plays within himself the team will follow and grow. Was this game the catalyst for change or an aberration, who knows, it does seem like when we have a “feed a big day”, good things happen.