The Aftermath . . .
Something big happened for the Hawks last night.
No, not that. Yeah, Jamal Crawford’s dagger was exciting, and it was just rewards for the Hawks after they kept competing hard (if not always smart) after the game appeared lost. But this being the NBA, the buzz from a victory like this lasts for 10 minutes and then it’s on to the next one. For the Hawks, that’s Oklahoma City on Monday.
More important for the big picture, a couple hours after Crawford’s game-winner the Magic got blown out at Portland for its sixth defeat in eight games. The Hawks, winners of five of their last six, moved a half game ahead in the Southeast and are No. 3 in the East. The Magic is shook, with forward Matt Barnes wondering out loud to the Orlando Sentinel about the team’s resolve after it failed to compete against the Brandon Roy-less Blazers:
“It’s like we are going through the motions. Just because you went to the Finals last year, you can’t go out on the floor and expect teams to lay down. We got no heart. You can only make so many excuses. Everybody has to come and play hard, not just one or two guys. I’ve played on teams that used to love to punk the good teams in the league. We loved to do that.”
So now you see the Hawks have three home games next week against Oklahoma City (21-18), Sacramento (15-23) and Charlotte (18-19). The Magic, meanwhile, is at the Lakers on Monday before returning home to face Indiana (14-25) and Sacramento and heading back out to Charlotte.
All of that means the next two weeks are a chance for the Hawks to show they intend on staying on top of the division and perhaps gain some ground on the Celtics before KG comes back. You figure the Hawks need to go ahead and win these next three because elite teams dominate at home. And also because after that comes a brutal week of at Houston and San Antonio, and a back-to-back of Boston at home and at Orlando.
You can’t put any of these next three down as Ws for the Hawks–Oklahoma City in particular is one of those teams that make you play even if you are better, and the Hawks sometimes doesn’t don’t seem interested in that kind of game. Time for the Hawks to put it down and supplant Orlando for good in the East’s top three.
– Over at Peachtree Hoops, hawksdawgs laments Joe Johnson’s shot selection and the team’s switching D in the fourth quarter. On the latter point, Woody mentioned the other day that he likes to start a wing on the opposing point so that when the switch on the pick-and-roll happens, the Hawks don’t end up with a small on the post guy.
I understand that thinking, but this was a game where instead of that we saw Al Horford keep ending up guarding Steve Nash straight up off the pick-and-roll. I think I’d rather take my chances with a mismatch against Channing Frye or Robin Lopez in the post (where at least there’s a chance of help) rather than have Nash operate in the open floor against Horford.
– Some of you wanted to know why Jeff Teague got the DNP-CD. I missed Woody’s postgame due to deadline and so I didn’t get to ask. Rather than speculate on Woody’s reasoning, we’ll just have to wait until tomorrow.
– Anybody else see that “In the Suns’ Face” headline on the ajc.com Hawks front and immediately think of this?
– Finally, thanks to all for the warm welcome. Keep coming back and I’ll keep giving you something. Also, follow me on Twitter and become a fan of AJC Hawks on Facebook.
MC
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110 comments Add your comment
Nicky
January 17th, 2010
9:34 am
Move rights to J Childress + 2010 1st rounder to Washington for B Haywood now. If he can help them beat Cleveland and Orlando, sign him long term.
I MUS WRITE
January 17th, 2010
10:46 am
Well said northcyde…. Teague doesnt play because he cant shoot, it doesnt matter how bad bibby/crawwford are defensively they make up for it with big shots.
Obrien-Ty lawson is better than Teague at this point even tho he fell in the draft. He is just as quick as Teague but he hits shots and has forced Karl to play him
Astro Joe
January 17th, 2010
10:52 am
WhenI hear a characterization of Teague as a quick defender who can penetrate on theoffensive end, I’m reminded of a certain Speedy Claxton. IMO, keep the dude on the bench and let him work on his shot with Mark Price.
Teague hasn’t caused the Hawks to lose any games because Woody hasn’t allowed that to happen. It would be one thing to allow a proven vet to “lose a game”, it’s another to allow an unproven youngster to do the same. IMO, you give Joe, Jamal, Bibby , Horfors and Josh that extra few minutes to work themselves out of a funk. I don;t see giving extra rope to the back-end of the bench. And I don’t think that is a “Woodyism”. Somehow, I can’t imagine Dajuan Blair getting as much wiggle room (let’s say after commiting 2 TOs and going 0-5) as Tim Duncan.
My point, don’t “GIVE”.. tell the player to “EARN”.
Astro Joe
January 17th, 2010
10:58 am
Ray, to assume that Teague has earned PT and isn’t being given the time is to assume that either Woody thinks that he can deny a draft pick of his boss a right to play… or to assume that his boss isn’t monitoring Teague’s development. I just don’t see how a guy with about 6 months left on his contract can boldly hold back the progress of a Sund draft pick (without dire consequence). Unless, of course, 50+ wins is deemed more important than developing the 7th PG in the draft (heaven forbid).
I MUS WRITE
January 17th, 2010
10:59 am
The people that want Teague to get extended minutes at bibby’s expense are the same dam people who were cry’n about flip this summer. I heard it all- Flip is cheaper,jamal is’nt a pg, jamal is a chucker,we will be a worst team with jamal instead of Flip……yada yada yada We all know how thats turned out.
Teague will get better just give the kid sumtime. He will get his time…
Come on son…… the rights to the fro and a number 22 pick are not enuff to get Haywood, stop it-
Sautee
January 17th, 2010
11:12 am
Nice discussion last night, guys.
Northcyde, you made some good points about Lawson and Blair.
You also said this about Woodson:
“He has to play the bench, but he doesn’t have to leave them in the game if they’re going to play poorly.”
Why does that not apply to Teague? Play him and if he’s playing poorly, pull him. But play him.
OK I understand that he would shorten someones minutes. In my estimation (as much as I hate to say it) it should be Bibby’s minutes. And if Teague’s shooting doesn’t improve with some burn, PULL HIM!
I think Woody is wrong to tell Crawford “shoot first” IF he’s also going to be the backup PG. The shoot first thing should be when he’s playing off the ball.
Yes, Crawford HAS the ability to set up teammates (as shown with the two 4th quarter dimes to Josh). If he transforms into “distributor first” when Bibby is not in the game, than I’m fine with Teague sitting. But I tire of seeing the ball go from Jamal to Joe to Jamal to Joe for a contested jumper when Bibby is out. I think that when Jamal plays PG, he defers way too much to JJ. One reason I like Teague is his concerted effort to set up teammates. Jamal COULD do this excellently IF that was what he was TOLD to do.
Most of all I want ball movement, and even with Bibby in the game it can come to a halt.
I’m pleased that this discussion has remained civil. Isn’t it nice that we have the luxury of discussing the 9th or 10th mans minutes? That’s an indicator of a so far successful season.
KevinA
January 17th, 2010
11:41 am
I have never been to a Hawks practice but I have read they play the 1st unit against the second unit. It may be Woody is simply tired of watching Teague get his shot block when he gets by Bibby. If Josh is pumped they prob need someone to repair the holes in the wall from Teague’s attempts.
f19ure
January 17th, 2010
11:45 am
There’s a lot of mention of Teague getting more playing time. But Teague has been highly unproductive during the minutes he’s been given. It’s true that minutes help develop a player, but there is still no explanation for why Teague is unproductive during that allotted stretch of playing time. At the end of the day, all stats are adjusted on a per 48 minute basis. And Teague does almost nothing right.
Here’s a look at what he does during those 48 minutes:
Adjusted Field Goal %: 39.2%, the avg. PG has an Adj. FG% of 47.4% (one can surmise that Teague is way below average in this respect).
Points scored: 16.1, the avg. PG scores 18.4 points per 48 minutes.
Assists/game: 9.2, the avg. PG gathers 8.4 assists per 48 minutes.
Blocked shots: .9, the avg. PG blocks .3 shots per 48 minutes.
Rebounds/game: 5.1, the avg. PG grabs 4.7 boards per 48 minutes.
Steals/game: 2.8, the avg. PG forces approximately 2.0 turnover per 48 minutes.
Examining the data, as previously mentioned, Teague is below average with respect to shooting efficiency and scoring. Naturally, he averages more shot attempts (17.1) than points (16.1). He is also below average with respect to ball-handling (3.3 turnovers per 48 minutes), and avoiding foul trouble (avg. of 6.0 personal fouls/game).
Of course, he also happens to be above-average in a lot of other areas, particularly at blocking shots and stealing the basketball. If he could shoot far less, and do a lot more of the other things he does do well, his net production would rise dramatically (and should help him garner more playing time).
KevinA
January 17th, 2010
12:22 pm
Sautee,
I think Woody is wrong to tell Crawford “shoot first” IF he’s also going to be the backup PG. The shoot first thing should be when he’s playing off the ball.
Woody may have said that to get Jamal more comfortable but I don’t think he meant for Jamal to quit passing. I don’t buy it. Jamal is just a non passer by nature. Woody just want’s him to play off instinct. His instinct says shoot or drive and pass if needed, not pass, drive and shoot when needed.
A lot of games over the years JJ shoots tough shots or dribbles allot against double teams. Why not see how our two best offensive players play together. Why not use JJ to post up Al early in the shot clock, I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work with the Hawks. Who would they double, they are both good passers and Al has that 15′ jumper cooking with bacon grease.
MannyT
January 17th, 2010
4:39 pm
I’d like to condense all of the why Woody… talk down to one simple thing.
Not who is better, or who should get developed, or what style is most effective against which team.
It is simply self preservation.
The ASG put Woody on a short contract. It gave them the (self preserving,) money saving flexibility to ditch him if he bombed without having to pay lots of money over lots of years. It gave Sund the self preserving, not my coach out.
Now that Woody is close to the end of this deal, he once again coaches in a self preserving mode. If your deal is up at the end of this season, it matters not how good Teague is next year. It matters not what happens with JJ’s contract situation. What does matter is how you can win now. I suspect that is why Mario is back and Othello is out. Woody is comfortable with Mario’s role. He will take that 13th man to battle way before taking the resources to figure out how Hunter may have best fit.
If I were Woody’s agent or friend, the advice would be exactly this…Limit thoughts, focus on what to do to keep job as NBA head coach. Winning fixes your issues. Worry about next year after this one is done. End of long term analysis.
…and blog-o-matic (that’s you @MC, nothing personal, just very prolific) has a NEW BLOG UP.
BWAF