Back from Boston
Greetings, all-
Just got back from Boston and am in the office, waiting to head over to Philips for practice.
Some links:
Two Boston Globe stories from last night’s game.
Game story that focuses on Glen Davis‘ flagrant foul on Marvin Williams, and what happened after.
“I was surprised,’’ Davis said. “I’m a big guy. I don’t feel like I did it intentionally. Really, when I was coming down, I was trying to hold him from falling. The refs made a decision. I can’t get mad and upset at them.’’
A column questioning the Celtics’ status at the top of the East.
(Joe) Johnson, who finished with 36, is a quiet assassin. The former Celtic – can you believe he was traded to Phoenix for Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers? – is one of the league’s best pure scorers and shows no emotion when he snuffs the confidence of opposing defenses. The Hawks are a young team and Johnson is only 28, but he has a veteran savvy that teammates pick up on.
From the Boston Herald:
“We still feel we’re the better team,” said an exhausted Paul Pierce, who like the rest of a closing unit that included Glen Davis, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins, played the last 19 minutes without a substitution by associate coach Tom Thibodeau, who took over for Rivers. (Ed. note: That was pretty big. Brian Scalabrine had been eating up the Hawks but I don’t think he played in the fourth quarter.)
“The year we won the (2008) championship, we lost four times to Washington. It definitely bothered us, but we’re a better team, and it will show.”
Perkins seconded that emotion.
“It’s not like I fear them,” he said. “I don’t think anyone on this team fears them. They look at us like a rival, but I don’t think we look at them as a rivalry team.”
ESPN’s Daily Dime touts the Hawks as “legitimate playoff contenders.”
It’s funny to me, I may have said this before, but I’m going to guess that Joe Johnson, as well as the Hawks, are held in much higher esteem outside of metro Atlanta than they are in it, or at least by the various participants on the blog. It reminds me of the Bible verse about how a prophet has no honor in his own country and, no, I’m not comparing the Hawks to Jesus. It’s just the sense that the grass is greener on the other side and that, the more you can look at something, the more warts you start to see. I imagine there’s people in Paris who are like, “The Mona Lisa? My five-year-old could paint that.”
I was on a radio show in Cleveland before the Hawks’ two-game set with the Cavaliers, and we were talking about fans’ disenchantment with Johnson’s overdribbling, and the show hosts were saying how Cavs fans have the same gripe about LeBron James.
Now, frankly, I tend to think that my colleagues in Boston have overrated the Hawks a little bit – they certainly wouldn’t have called Johnson an assassin on Saturday. But I also think that maybe many of us underrate the Hawks, too.
Anyway, my take on what Pierce and Perkins said. I think they might be on to something. Yes, the Hawks have now taken three in a row. However, Boston’s record is better and I think you’d have to say they’re a better night-in, night-out team. If, for example, Boston finishes with 57 wins and the Hawks sweep the Celtics but finish with 50, wouldn’t you have to say that they’re better than the Hawks?
If you say that winning three in a row means that the Hawks are better than the Celtics, then couldn’t you make a similar argument that the Knicks are better than the Hawks?
Clearly, the Hawks have played with focus and determination against Boston that we haven’t seen against other teams. The Celtics, perhaps not surprisingly, haven’t been able to match the sort of playoff-type fervor that the Hawks save for them.
Thoughts?
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119 comments Add your comment
theZaZaguy
January 13th, 2010
1:25 pm
I’m not saying Mario would have saved the day. I’m saying a better strategy/match-up in a situation like that could have made the difference. Or tighten up on D in the second quarter and put the game away early like I felt we should have in that game. We gave up way to many uncontested lay-ups and open 3s throughout the game just because we “expected” to beat this team. But to say there’s nothing we could have done is kind of silly as well.
My gut tells me that the Hawks learned something from that game. I felt that Woody also learned something from overusing Joe to his detriment the last 5 or so games before we beat boston twice.
And I hope they keep learning, growing, and improving all the way to the championship.
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
January 13th, 2010
2:17 pm
lol@werent Perkins AND Pierce both part of Boston teams that finished many games under .500…including a season where they were 16 games under .500 in 05-06??? It’s not like that 1-2 punch guarantees a team a chance at being a very good team or even a playoff team. It wasnt until they got loaded with other players before they became title contenders and title winners, and to make it so bad, Perkins isnt even the star out of the 2, Pierce is. Who is Perkins to make such “high and mighty” remarks???? The guy is a role player at best, I think he just likes trash talking the Hawks because he gets owned so much against us.
I MUS WRITE
January 13th, 2010
2:21 pm
AWWW Yeah Gee Mack I totally forgot about the Pannzy azz flagrant called on ZAZA. Its hard to find Teague minutes but he still has a ways to go- As bad as Bibby and Jamal can be defensively-they have the ability to make shots and Teague is struggling to score when he gets time. His D is okay but I would do exactly what Woody is doing as far as his minutes…Hopefully he will improve
Daniel- I was more so say’n that we have to play every game as if it were the Celtic,too many times we lose focus and play down to our competition.
Seriously tho I was speaking to a friend and we were talking about JJ leaving this summer possibly and he said he would try to get value for him now. Would you trade JJ/Marvin for Durant/Sefolosha -I would do that -just imagine a Bibby,Crawford,Durant,Smoove,Horford line up-
Also how much better are we with Wade at the SG and the rest of the team intact ECF possibly ? Just radom sports talk- I will talk/debate sports with anyone anywhere …..Im a sports junky-I even tried watching the Thrashers last nite lol
We need more women sports analyist, I am in luv with Reschea Candidate from ESPN First Take-Hot to death and has a beautiful sports mind- She’s hot 360
GMAN
January 13th, 2010
2:27 pm
IMUS i highly doubt that the thunder would trade their superstar and top defensive player for a ball-hogging “star” and an at best role player. I have always been a fan of trading joe for kevin martin. I want to see martin brought to the limelight plus he gets the superstar calls all of the time. Maybe we could get spencer hawes or jason thompson in that deal too.
Kevin/Hawes(or Thompson) for jj, marv, and our first round pick
I MUS WRITE
January 13th, 2010
2:38 pm
GMAN -Thats what I was telln my friend but he seems to think that a JJ-Marvin package could get it done. Hey if they are that crazy then hell yeah i would do it. I like Hawes and Thompson but Martin is always hurt so I would say no. Maybe they would give us Thompson for Marv- I would be all over that. Who is their Sf anyway?
I MUS WRITE
January 13th, 2010
2:43 pm
I’ve been gone for a minute – Congratz Ken on the new position, Watch out for JeJe she angry all the time lol. Also can you pleaze take Officer Friendly’s highliter. Some people just have to be seen-or in this case read. I guess the plaque at Dunkin Donuts with his picture isnt enuff
Melvin
January 13th, 2010
2:46 pm
Now that Super Mario is back. Anyone would like to guess who will be dress in their GQ suit tonight? Remember, only 12 players can dress out. Who’s the odd man out?
I MUS WRITE
January 13th, 2010
2:49 pm
I dont have a record and i’ve never been to jail or prison, but did i mention how much i dislike the police. Maybe i did but you can add know it all attorneys to that list as well
Whaddup Grandpa -Rod from CP etc…….
I MUS WRITE
January 13th, 2010
2:52 pm
Melvin- Cheeseburger Collins will be draped in armani tonite
GeeMack
January 13th, 2010
2:54 pm
Daniel
My bad I forgot. lol.
GMAN
January 13th, 2010
3:29 pm
IMUS
I think there forward is the rook Omri Casspi but im not sure
jean
January 13th, 2010
3:35 pm
how come no one is giving crawford any all star consideration
Mike is Back
January 13th, 2010
4:32 pm
KenS, they all but shut down my blogging at work…so I mostly read now. I really enjoyed reading your blogs…of course I’m a Hawks junky…so it wouldn’t take much. lol I thought your eight game break down of Hawks was a accurate depiction of the team. Over all I still believe the Hawks are starting to become one the elite teams in NBA…with more consistency I believe the Hawks can be one of the top three in the East. I seen major improvement when they play on the road…they still struggle to hold leads and close teams out…but that should be expected from a young team with no true Super Star. They are such a pleasant team to watch when they are dialed in.
I am not taking a shot JJ with my comments…I think he is finally starting to raise his game to that Super Star level…but the Hawks don’t have that player the can get a foul call when the game is on the line. Its amazing the amount of physical contact the Hawks get when they go to goal. The refs stand there like what…are you kidding me…you are Hawks…we ain’t blowing the whistle. lol
It was particularly pleasing to see some questionable calls go the Hawks way FOR A CHANGE. Its been long overdue…On a positive note…I actually saw Josh pulling Crawford away from trying to argue with the refs in that game. I hope that’s an omen that he and the team understand that nobody is going to make it easy for them to supplant the elite teams in the East…they have to rely on each other…that was my thinking when I saw the team huddled together after the win in Boston. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THAT.
I’m excited about the addition of Mario…however I think we will still need Teague before its all said in done. His quickness and his ability to penetrate and get to goal is unmatched on the team. When teams play zone, or our main scorers are having an off night from the perimeter…that’s when Woody will need Teague.
I hope he continues to fight through his struggles and play with more aggression whenever he is on the floor. If you can get a word to Teague…tell him don’t forget all the hard work he put in this summer…don’t give up…keeping fighting…better days are just ahead.
Sekou was a tough act to follow…but I think you done an admiral job in his stead. Keep doing yo thang broooooo!!!
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike is Back
January 13th, 2010
4:43 pm
You’ll know it wouldn’t be right…if I didn’t beat up two tree words. lol
Excuse the typoooooooooos.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ramon
January 13th, 2010
5:31 pm
Melvin, Collins is the odd man out right now because he has less appearances than anyone else. But the question is, in the next 2 games, who gets more minutes, Mario or Teague?
GMAN
January 13th, 2010
6:12 pm
Interesting piece on Crawford
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/ian_thomsen/01/13/jamal.crawford/
Ken Strickland
January 13th, 2010
6:13 pm
I hope we don’t come out and play down to the level of our competition, like we’ve been known to do on more than a few occasions. If we lose this one, the Boston win will lose it’s significance. We need to take advantage of this home stretch, and the weak competition, and string 6-7 wins together. GOOD LUCK TONIGHT YOU HIGH FLYING HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cp
January 13th, 2010
6:44 pm
Mario’s defense has reached mythical proportions on this blog. Dude plays hard but his defense is not as good as some are making it out to be. So we are going to make a guy with a guaranteed contract sit in a suit just so we can get a guy on a 10 day contract some pt? That sounds crazy….like Ken Strick said, hopefully we don’t come out and play down to the Wizards. I was reading where they were talking about blowing the Wizards roster up and I would love to get McGee from them.
Blast
January 13th, 2010
6:52 pm
Game blog up.