Hawks-Knicks thread
Hello, all-
Hope you’ll be somewhere to see the game. I’ve got to get down there before I get stuck in SEC traffic.
Things I’ll be watching
1) What do the Hawks do with Al Harrington? The former Hawk busted out for 21 in the first game and had control of the game in the first half. Watch for double teams if he gets it in the post.
2) Same question with Toney Douglas. Expect him to see plenty of minutes off the bench, as Nate Robinson is squarely in Mike D’Antoni’s doghouse. Douglas also went for 23. Perhaps Mike Woodson goes to Jeff Teague, who knows a little about defending Douglas from their ACC days, and might be a good match in quickness.
3) Can the good feelings of unselfishness from Wednesday keep going? The Hawks assisted on 37 of 52 baskets as they moved the ball around and found open shooters. Given the way the Knicks defend (109.1 ppg defensively, third worst in the league), I’d expect they’ll have a chance to do so.
4) How many points does Joe Johnson get? His last three games – 9, 10, 12. (Mathemeticians among you will predict 15 points.)
5) Can they put the Knicks away early? With a Saturday night in Dallas awaiting them, the Hawks can use as much rest as they can get.
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468 comments Add your comment
Mactown'z Finest 478
December 4th, 2009
8:39 pm
I think the hawks peculiar styles on Defense and Offense are both the keys to their “success” and failures.
The “system” we run on both O and D is simply…emotions….streetball…etc.
We’re good enough to win most of the time by just taking random jumpers and athleticism, but the lack of a real system on O and D can show up at ANY TIME against ANY BODY
lol the reasons above are how we can look so good against the Blazers and Nuggets…but then you have a 4 win team like the knicks tonight looking like a top 5 team and getting anything they want on O….because we’re just firing up jumpers that arent going in…which turns into the team getting “down” on themselves…..therefore no defense.
Sam from da Swats
December 4th, 2009
8:40 pm
Big Ray,
Josh is the guy we don’t need huh? That’s why the Knicks scored 3 easy layups in the paint after he went out the game. The guy fills up the stat sheet every night. He’s like Lebron without the scoring…..Look at the stats, the guy we don’t need is Marvin…that’s the bum we don’t need.
kwooden1
December 4th, 2009
8:40 pm
Why does Woody have Zaza on David Lee??
BONE
December 4th, 2009
8:42 pm
Enter your comments herBlast the Hawks ARE pathetic (at least right now. This team looks like they could care less. Thats why I won’t actually pay my money to see them until they learn to be a consistent team. And after what 4 years they still haven’t figured that out.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 4th, 2009
8:42 pm
“Any NBA team can beat any other team any night regardless of their record.”
Yeah, but the odds that the Knicks beat the Cavs, Magic, or Celtics on their home floor is about a thousand to one. If the Hawks want to be mentioned in that group they simply cannot let this happen.
Mactown'z Finest 478
December 4th, 2009
8:42 pm
Adjustments and Mike Woodson go together about as good as shorts in Alaska in January.
Wabe
December 4th, 2009
8:43 pm
I think Big Ray was being sarcatic when he said that Swats.
BONE
December 4th, 2009
8:43 pm
MacTown I cosign 100%
cp
December 4th, 2009
8:44 pm
Just an ugly game… My Nique-ism for the night….. The Hawks were pretty much getting owned and Josh had just got kicked out of the game and Nique said “The Hawks are in a good spot”…. Really Nique? How are they in a good spot when they are being beat in every aspect of the game by the Knicks. Sometimes I wonder if Nique is even watching the game or looking at Youtube clips on his monitor…….. This is one of those nights that you just have to sit Bibby and play Teague. Bibby is getting torched on defense by freaking Chris Duhon. I would say we can get back in this game but that would take a PLAN B and some Adjustments. Two things Woodson never does.
Ken Strickland
December 4th, 2009
8:45 pm
They are isolating Bibby and getting to the basket like he’s not even there, which isn’t far from the truth. GET HIM OUT OF THE GM WOODSON. The Knicks have taken control of the gm and we haven’t done one noticable thing to change anything.
NUNNA YO BIZNEZZ-BIG RAY-I guess we now know how long it would take Woodson to go back into his coaching shell, exactly one gm. I’m going to hold out hope that he’ll try to come up with some kind of stategy or adjustment during halftime, because he certainly didn’t do a dam thing during the gm.
All of this isn’t Woodson’s fault. JJ and Bibby have to be more aware and make a concerted effort to play better DEF and get the ball inside and STOP TRYING TO MATCH THE KNICKS IN 3PT SHOOTING. We didn’t get our early lead by shooting 3 pointers, but by going inside to our Bigs. At some point, our PG, Bibby, has to recognize what’s going on and get everyone back on track. It’s not all up to Woodson, because a lot of what takes place on the court is in Bibby and JJ’s hands.
Jody
December 4th, 2009
8:45 pm
I see alot of folks calling out the players for not calming Josh down, but what about Woody. This thing started in the 1st quarter. Josh was getting held, pushed and smacked and not a whistle to be heard. Woody says nothing. Again, as the head coach, you’ve got to stand up for your players.
BONE
December 4th, 2009
8:46 pm
The Knicks have no problem putting Douglas out there, but dumba*s woody wont put Teague in. wtf is up with that??????????
msubearfan
December 4th, 2009
8:46 pm
this is patheds. this is just not a very good defensive team right now and lacks a shooter or 2. looks like the 2nd half of the Magic game again, missing wide open shot after wide open shot. This should have been an easy win and a chance to rest guys before the Dallas game tomorrow. Well, at least Josh will be rested for tomorrow I guess.
Mactown'z Finest 478
December 4th, 2009
8:48 pm
The Hawks strike me as ALL TALK in post game interviews and less action on the court, especially with Woody and Joe Johnson. It’s always the same deal on the court.
BONE
December 4th, 2009
8:48 pm
Thats the whole offensive scheme. Dribble Dribble Dribble and shoot a jumper and pray it goes in. To all woody lovers how can you not see that he is a major problem.
vava74
December 4th, 2009
8:49 pm
Josh was fouled several times around the rim and was not getting the calls, however, his continuous complaints were too much, specially after the T.
His botched slam also shows that today he was back to childish Josh.
Furthermore Al Harrington was his assignment in some plays (most were switches) and he didn’t follow him to the outside whilst he was hot, not stopped him man to man on Al’s moves inside.
I think Harrington will not be able to keep this up and we really need JJ to step up without ISOs. Just play ball, share it and find the free man like in the first 7 minutes of the first quarter.
Then the Knicks are bound to tire and their wheels will fall out. However, we really need to keep the cool and clamp down on defense. Maybe straight up man to man works better today than the switches.
vava74
December 4th, 2009
8:50 pm
I meant to say, most points Harrington got were after switches by the Hawks
Mactown'z Finest 478
December 4th, 2009
8:50 pm
Zaza looked so determined in sideline view, I think he’s about to go off for 40
Jody
December 4th, 2009
8:51 pm
And as the halftime results show, without question, Josh Smith, if anyone on this team, should make the allstar team. He is the Hawks most impactful player. Period.
Big Ray
December 4th, 2009
8:51 pm
This is where it begins. Can Woody get these guys back on track, fired up, and whoop this inferior team?
Or are we going to watch ISO plays, no defense, and a meltdown that could spill over into other games? Are we going to watch Joe play another 20-21 minutes and go 6-22? This second half is very important.
bigdave
December 4th, 2009
8:51 pm
man put Randolph in and give him some touches on the block…
Ramon
December 4th, 2009
8:51 pm
Quick POLL, Right Now who do you think is the Hawks Most Important Player?
Mactown'z Finest 478
December 4th, 2009
8:51 pm
BANG!!
Jody
December 4th, 2009
8:52 pm
Ramon,
J-Smoove.
Mactown'z Finest 478
December 4th, 2009
8:53 pm
I hate marvin’s offensive game
BONE
December 4th, 2009
8:53 pm
Marvin the 1 qtr wonder
rms
December 4th, 2009
8:53 pm
This is nothing new! Its been the Hawks calling card all year including the game vs the Raptors. Jack up jump shots and if they go in then we win and if they dont then we struggle. Plain and simple. No real rythmn to the offense at all. Even when they blew out the Raptors they didnt play defense its just the Raptors played worse defense and they were hitting their jump shots. And no Teague, Joe Smith, and Rando Mo wont get playing time. Its the starters for the bulk of the game until it becomes out of reach. Thats Woodson style of ball……Ya’ll should know that
bigdave
December 4th, 2009
8:53 pm
Marvin has absolutely no game w/in 10ft of the rim…
Sam from da Swats
December 4th, 2009
8:53 pm
PUT MO EVANS IN PLEASE!!!!!
BONE
December 4th, 2009
8:54 pm
Damn I wanna puch woody in the face. I hate that stupid look he has on his face.
rms
December 4th, 2009
8:54 pm
Ramon, I say Horford!!
Melvin
December 4th, 2009
8:55 pm
Glad to see we started the 3rd qtr attacking the basket..
Jody
December 4th, 2009
8:55 pm
Can we go to Al in the post please! Other power forwards can’t guard him down there.
bigdave
December 4th, 2009
8:55 pm
maybe Joe can turn into “Blazer Joe” tonight… his game is stinky right now…
Jody
December 4th, 2009
8:55 pm
Enter your comments here
Mactown'z Finest 478
December 4th, 2009
8:55 pm
What a look of a leader Woodson has…
Najeh Davenpoop
December 4th, 2009
8:55 pm
At least they are playing slightly better on defense to start this game. If there’s any silver lining about that 2nd quarter, it’s that I don’t think they are capable of playing much worse. It can only go up from that. Nique and Rathbun are right — if they are going to win this game, it’s going to be on defense.
Mactown'z Finest 478
December 4th, 2009
8:56 pm
LMFAO…LOL…
what kind of D was that?
BONE
December 4th, 2009
8:56 pm
Man this defense is BAD I mean really BAD
Najeh Davenpoop
December 4th, 2009
8:56 pm
^^ should be obvious, but I meant to start this half…
BONE
December 4th, 2009
8:58 pm
Theres that great switching D that Woody is known for.
Big Ray
December 4th, 2009
8:59 pm
Sam from Da Swats ,
I was being sarcastic. I’m a Josh Smith fan. I make no apologies. He f’ed up, but I also think he got a raw deal at the same time. I’ve gotten that mad in games before. Maybe that’s why they convinced me to switch to football.
Jody
December 4th, 2009
8:59 pm
Again, they need to go to Al in the post.
BONE
December 4th, 2009
8:59 pm
WHY THE F*CK WOULD YOU CALL A TIMEOUT TO STOP YOUR OWN RUN???
Big Ray
December 4th, 2009
9:01 pm
BONE ,
This wonderful switching defense has resulted in Bibby getting posted up by Wilson Chandler, and Horford scrambling out to the 3 point arc to try and stop Chris Duhon from shooting yet another open 3.
Look, the defense is so stinking bad, either Woody isn’t coaching it, or these guys aren’t listening to him. Either way, it’s not good.
Mactown'z Finest 478
December 4th, 2009
9:01 pm
Mike Woodson should try another gimmick. Tell the players he’ll grow his Steve Harvey fade back if they actually play tough defense.
Melvin
December 4th, 2009
9:01 pm
ZaZa couldn’t defend a baby in a scroll from entering the paint…
Ramon
December 4th, 2009
9:01 pm
It seems every since JJ said he wanted to become an elite player, the team has suffered the most. Its almost as if his goals specifically affects the team negatively. It makes you wonder does he really know what he is saying. I think most elite players just are elite, its not something they do that hurts the team. Its almost as if anytime JJ has the ball in his hands for more than 4 seconds, only bad things happen.
BONE
December 4th, 2009
9:03 pm
LMAO @ MacTown
bigdave
December 4th, 2009
9:04 pm
why is Mike Dantoni considered an elite NBA coach?