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On to December

4:44 pm December 2, 2009, by Ken Sugiura

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

Melvin

December 3rd, 2009
3:03 pm

LMAO… at Rod from CP… Your challenge to Ken remind me of the “Retired from Wrestling” match between Dusty Rose/Rick Flair (if i remember correctly), and Dusty Rose lost but return as Mr.R wearing a mask….lol

Melvin

December 3rd, 2009
3:13 pm

ROFL laughing at Rod from CP, “No more posting on the Hawks Blog match” challenge to Ken Strickland….

Rod from College Park

December 3rd, 2009
3:28 pm

Melvin,

You can tell I grew up looking at Mr. Wrestling #2, Tommy “Wildfire Rich, Dick Slater, Tony Atlas and Junkyard Dog. That used to be the only way to get rid of wrestler’s who wanted to leave or they wanted gone. The blog would be much better without Ken Strickland’s novels which essentially say that Woodson is terrible. Just be like me and say Marvin’s game sucks. I bet I don’t get any action on that bet.

Ken Strickland

December 3rd, 2009
5:47 pm

The following statement was made by ROD FROM COLLEGE PARK, and it explains everything, especially his extreme animosity towards Marvin Williams. He stated: “FORGIVE ME I WAS RAISED TO GIVE PRAISE WHEN SOMEONE IS ABOVE AVERAGE”. It appears ROD FROM CP has made Marvin his psychological serrogate and is giving him the same treatment he obviously received from his family, which he admits doesn’t praise or reward anyone that’s not above average. He certainly hasn’t presented anything on these blogs that would make anyone but another below average individual think he’s above average.

KEVINA-even though I’ve recently made an issue of us needing to go inside instead of the guards shooting so many jumpshots, you’ve been making it an issue for quit sometime. However, I’m not sure you’ve ever illustrated it as strongly as you did in your most recent post, BRAVO!

ILL-LOGICAL-No, your tv wasn’t on the blink. I saw the same thing you saw and had the same reaction, which leads to another issue. In responding to a question posed by Ken Sugiura concerning RandMo’s performance against New Orleans and his subsequent lack of mins, Woodson stated he always makes an effort to find mins for any player that performs well when given the opportunity. Otherwise, he’d go else to find what he needs. Well, if that was more than just lip service, RandMo’s 2 recent performances, and Woodson’s abvious acknowledgement, should be enough to get him more mins, or should I say SOME MINS.

RandMo obviously has more confidence in his inside skills and scoring ability than anyone else on the roster. On nights when teams zone up, and our guards automatically take over and force us to become a perimeter jumpshooters, his inside scoring ability could really be a valuable asset and loosen things up. He can be effective at either the 4 or 5.

CP-thank you very much for the acknowledgement and encouragement. One of the reasons I love these blogs is the level of intelligence, insight, informed opinions and knowledge that’s so prevelant. One of my main reasons for being a regular is my desire to acquire knowledge, which is why I seldom scroll past a post, even if it’s posted by someone I know will usually make stupid and ill conceived comments. My reasoning is, even a blind squirrel will find an acorn. Unlike some of our posters, I’m not concerned where or who I get that knowledge from as long as it’s useful. We have a few misfits who will refuse to acknowledge or accept any information from certain others because their insecurities forces them to judge, address and often attack the messenger, rather than deal with the message.

I’ve noticed whenever we go on a winning streak, we are always playing uptempo, fastbreaking, attack the basket basketball. Immediately after the winning streak ends, we always start playing perimeter oriented, guard dominated, jumpshooting, ISO, one on one halfcourt basketball and go into a slump. The end result is always limited scoring, rebounding, assist, DEF, pts in the paint, fastbreak pts, bench use and losing. Whenever we come out of that slump, it’s always when we revert back to the uptempo, fastbreaking style we were playing when we were winning consistently.

I have no doubt Woodson is aware that this team and it’s players are at their best when playing fastbreaking, open court, attacking the basket basketball. But he seems obcessed with wanting to make this team and its players into winners by playing his brand of WOODY BALL. He seems to feel the best time to seize the opportunity to inject WOODY BALL is immediately after the team has come off an extended winning streak. That’s why we always end up going from sugar to sh!t after a winning streak ends.

My analysis of Woodson’s coaching approach over his career leads me to the following analogy. He’s like a guy who’s abused his spouse or girlfriend and then suddenly switches to showering her with romance, passion and all of the things she’s aways craved from him because he fears she might leave him. His concern or fear isn’t about her(team), the marriage or relationship(players), but about the possibly of him losing control and/or not having everything go his way(WOODY BALL).

GOOD LUCK TOMORROW NIGHT YOU HIGH FLYING HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big Ray

December 3rd, 2009
5:52 pm

Rod From College Park ,

I don’t care if you praise Marvin or not. I give him praise when he plays well. I’ve also been the one on BOTH blogs, talking about how lost Marvin looks, and how inconsistent he has been playing. I’ve also pointed out what factors I think are involved in what seems to me to be a regression.

And another thing, I have NEVER argued that Marvin was better than Josh. You must have me confused with someone else, and I can’t imagine who. I’ve been an overly ardent defender of Josh in the past, and have recently calmed down about it. Don’t know where you’ve been, but this is about as close to calling you a liar that I’ve ever really come. The only thing I’ve said is that Marvin has (in the past) displayed more basketball fundamentals than Josh has, and that he has played within himself more (again, IN THE PAST). Don’t come at me with that “you argued that Marvin was better” crap. The stats ALONE have always proven otherwise, since the two came into the league.

As for your challenge, you and Ken can play those little games if you feel like it. That sort of thing just doesn’t amuse me. I HOPE that Marvin does NOT play invisible man more often than not, because that will hurt this team, and their chances to break into a higher status.

If you are more concerned with THAT than how this team performs, then enjoy yourself and maybe you’ll get some personal satisfaction if you turn out to be right.

Yeah, I DO like to poke you in the ribs when Marvin does well. No, I do NOT expect you to praise Marvin for anything at all. You’ve proven time and again that the man can do no good in your eyes. So to me, it’s always worth a little joke when he actually does fairly well to mess with you about it. I apologize, didn’t know I was bothering you that badly.

As for the Hawks, you and anybody else can keep right on stomping on your so-called team for beating the crap out of an opponent at home if you want to. Nobody said it was a miracle. I enjoyed it for what it was, because LAST SEASON, this team wasn’t capable of doing what they did last night. Has anybody else beaten Toronto by 30 points this season? Has anybody else scored 146 points on them? No, it’s not the 8th wonder of the world, but it IS PROGRESS.

Downplay it if you want to. I’d rather see games like this than games where WE lose the way we did to Orlando last year. Remember that?

A win, is a win, is a win. I’ll take them however they come.

Big Ray

December 3rd, 2009
6:03 pm

Some things really are amazing.

The team responds to losing to Detroit by practicing hard in between games, and then crushing a bad team. And all we can do is find ways to NOT give the coach and the team credit?

Heh…

duh

December 3rd, 2009
6:15 pm

Why would Ken take Rod’s bet? Even if Ken won, “Rod” would disappear, but “Sam” would still be around and “Tom from East Point” would suddenly appear.

Rod from College Park

December 3rd, 2009
6:16 pm

Big Ray,

Take a deep breath, Calm down. I actually know that you support Josh, it’s your other Bubba Team members who I was aiming that at. It’s funny that they never bring that up anymore. The bet was actually directed at Ken Strickland, and obvioulsy, as I predicted he did not accept. I figured that. I am very pleased with the Hawks win last night, I just don’t get excited and make stupid statements about how a player has become better based off of one game. One 15 point game is not going to change my opinion of his game. What has it come to when poeple get excited that a #2 pick in the draft scored 15 points? I know, I know, he had nothing to do with his draft status (LOL). The Toronto team was pathetic last night. Hell the best player on the floor for them last night was Amir Johnson. I remember Oklahoma City losing to Minnesota last year by almost 60 points. I know because I placed a bet on them. It happens. It was one game. I really don’t put to much stock in the regular season anyway. I am interested in what you do in the playoffs, which is why my dislike for Marvin’s game is so strong. If you notice, I never bash or critique the Hawks as a team, because I believe that everyone on the team is doing what they are paid to do except you know who. They all have flaws but more often than not Joe, Al, Josh, Bibby, and Jamal come to play, and play with effort the majority of the time. Guess who I left off?

Rod from College Park

December 3rd, 2009
6:18 pm

duh,

College Park and East Point are two different cities. I see why your name is duh!!!!

nunna yo buzinezz

December 3rd, 2009
6:46 pm

wow..lets just make this a halftime boxing match at the next home game..

loser leaves town..ohhhhhhh,the days of gordon solie…
it brings back memories to my heart,especially hearing dusty rhodes misspronouncing his name,(”GARDEN SOLIE”)..

but,lets be real,woody is gonna have this guys back to playing 40+ minutes friday and saturday..and,watch and see,jeff teague will be playing 5 minutes 1st half and none in the 2nd..

watch and see!!

nunna yo buzinezz

December 3rd, 2009
6:48 pm

p.s.,i know gordon was a wrestling announcer,but still..

and i found his website..

http://www.gordonsolie.com/6.html

nunna yo buzinezz

December 3rd, 2009
6:51 pm

one more..gordon solie and freddy millers voice over announcing an upcoming match!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8vHhWa8F1s

Tom from Bankhead

December 3rd, 2009
6:52 pm

Nice comeback, Rod.

Joe from Cabbagetown

December 3rd, 2009
6:52 pm

I agree, Tom.

Tim from Vine City

December 3rd, 2009
6:53 pm

Screw all of you.

Jim from West End

December 3rd, 2009
6:58 pm

Marvin sucks.

Ken Strickland

December 3rd, 2009
7:58 pm

BIG RAY-welcome to the club. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one that’s been accused of making statements that I’ve never made. This fool insists on claiming I’ve said MWilliams was better than DGranger, like it would really make a difference if I had.

You have accomplished one thing I’ve been unable to accomplish. You’ve made this fool go completely off to such an extent he’s had to manifest all of his aliases just to cope, WOW! It all boils down to the idea that you can’t have extreme wealth without having extreme poverty. I guess you can’t attract a lot of intelligent bloggers without attracting some morons and fools in the process.

As far as this challenge from him is concerned, it’s not worthy of a response from me. I might act a fool from time to time, but unlike our dilusional friend(s), I won’t become one. I’m looking forward to tomorrows gm. The Knicks seem to always play us strong, so I see it as a good test for us leading into the gm with the Rockets in Houston.

The winning streaks are fine, but I want us to be more consistent and work toward not losing consecutive gms. There is simply no logical reason for us to consistently go into such funks and have every phase of our game so drastically affected after a winning streak ends. Last nights gm could be the beginning of the rest of this season and a signal that we’re ready to take over the East. Let’s hope so.

Joe Mama

December 5th, 2009
8:32 pm

You know ken, I thought I d list the hundreds of post that have ask you to STFU this year, and I thought I’d mention how many hawks fans have went elsewhere to appreciate the hawks season rather than continue to accept you and your few loud vocal Bubba Crew members who ignore facts and perpetuate your agenda of getting Woodson fired. Then I realize you can’t help yourself at this stage of your sickness.

The enjoyment of the season gets lost in your agenda of attacking Woodson relentlessly and you ask “why do none of the Woodson supporters answer you?”
Most of them are hawks fans and understand basketball, something you do not and are not. You continue to argue the same tire point over, and over, and over again. Like Ken Sugiura previous article “Move on”, there’s a message there if you can hear it.
Most of them are productive citizens in the community and have more important contributions to make than to address your maladjusted behavior, in ignorant rants. That’s why you are likened to Rush Limbaugh. We have jobs, careers, families and communities where we are involved.

THE REASON’S MANY HAWK’S FANS DON’T RESPOND TO YOU?

Woodson has done, and is doing a fine job, so there is no need to respond.

The hawks are right where the experts said they would be. In fourth seed and will win between 47-51 games. Why should we ignore what the experts are saying and give your angry regurgitations more merit?

Although you and the bubba crew may have deceived Ken Sugiura into thinking your views are indicative of a synopsis of this blogs views what he doesn’t know is that most sane and legitimate Hawks fans have left realizing that you and your gang of thugs, have one mission in mind.
Like most of the guys I will go back to ignoring you and your posse, some of which are fictional characters you’ve created.
You have stolen a lot of joy out of this season already. It’s been a good season so far but you can’t tell listening to your negative mouth. In the last week countless people have ask you both gently and harshly to shut up. You ignore them and continue, unable to heed advice.

You are unable to neither receive correction nor accept that you are wrong, so why bother?

You ask “why do none of the Woodson supporters answer you?”

Perhaps you should ask a psychiatrist.

Truth-Serum

December 5th, 2009
8:38 pm

Whatz up Rod? Shout our bro!

This question is for you KevinA and Ray, if either of you have some insight to share.
Lets bypass the blame game and address these questions.

Do we have a chance tonight? How do you see the game shaping up and whats your plan of attack?

Undisputed Champ!

December 5th, 2009
8:46 pm

Gentlemen, Ken too.

There are 82 games in a season. You wont will them all. There will be some days when the worst team in the NBA will surprise and beat you. No team loses all 82. There will be times you will beat teams that are better than you. Their turn to be surprised.

Try not to get too up or too down with every game. The bottom line is how you will be playing come play off time, when the hunt is on.

Relax, calm down, its a long season.

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