Hawks at Spurs, AKA Messin’ With Texas
San Antonio– It’s been interesting to see perceptions of the Hawks in Western Conference outposts Houston and San Antonio. Both teams were scuffling and coming off worrisome efforts and both considered the Hawks a threat to continue their slides.
Rockets coach Rick Adelman was matter-of-fact in talking up the Hawks like they are an elite team. He worried about their ability to score one-on-one and their open-court prowess. Then the Hawks used their one-on-one scoring ability and open-court prowess to beat his team. Afterward, Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, a Rockets TV analyst, said of the Hawks: “They are a team that has it all, and they proved it tonight.”
Pop's Spurs falling off?
Now the Hawks are in San Antonio, where Spurs guard Tony Parker tells the San Antonio Express-News (last item): “They’re good — long and athletic. A little bit like the Bulls.” Normally, that might be taken as a backhanded slap since the Bulls are eight games behind the Hawks in the East, but Chicago just beat the Spurs on Monday.
It was the third straight home loss for the Spurs, and that hadn’t happened since 1996-97 (wow). Though coach Gregg Popovich has never been one to put too much stock in the ebbs and flows of regular season, viewing it as a process to get ready for the playoffs, the Spurs sound desperate for a victory. Said Spurs guard Roger Mason Jr.: “This is all a process for the end of the year, and we understand that. At the same time, you know, we’re trying to win games.”
Are the Spurs really in trouble? Woody glanced up at those championship banners inside the AT&T Center and said he’s not buying it: “They are still one of the top teams in the West. Any time ‘Pop’ puts a team on the floor, they are going to compete. You don’t hang four banners in here without doing that.”
– The Hawks will see San Antonio’s first three-game losing streak since ‘96-’97 and raise them 11 straight losses at San Antonio. The Hawks last won here on Feb. 15, 1997. And they haven’t swept all three Texas teams on the road since 1990-91. The possibility of doing so tonight has Big Ray feelin’ good
“Will they pull it off, or will we be singing ‘Two out of three ain’t bad….’? Either way, if you don’t think this is yet another sign of a team that is significantly better than it was last year, then consider the fact that the Hawks didn’t win a single one of these three daunting road games last season. How’s that for perspective?”
– Never mind San Antonio’s struggles. The Hawks will have to be better tonight than they were at Houston Monday night. Hoopinion says (in that very interesting, statistical kind of way) that the Hawks beat the Rockets with just an OK effort:
“Despite the niggling worries, it speaks to this team’s ability that they can go on the road, face a perfectly average team, and win comfortably while playing about 12 minutes of really good basketball.”
– Woody sees winning tough road games as another stage of growth for his team. He said the one constant has to be defensive effort: “Some games on the road you shoot lights out. But you’ve got to have a defensive mentality to win on the road. All elite teams win on the road. Cleveland. The Lakers. Boston. Orlando. It’s not easy.”
– Two days later, and no one with the Hawks seems to know the real story behind Woody’s missing eyebrows. And the accusations and counter-accusations are flying, with everyone seeming to think the person pressing them for info really knows the truth and isn’t saying.
Woody’s still not talking: “To be honest, I don’t know what happened.” And he’s letting them grow back even if the Hawks keep winning.
“It’s growing now as we speak. What am I going to do? Just let it grow.”
After seeing two days’ growth, I’d guess Woody has a good three weeks before they really come back.
– There’s a cattle convention in town. Driving through downtown on the way to the AT & T Center for shootaround, I saw some cowboys with cattle on the sidewalk. I was trippin’ about this. Everyone else just kind of went about their business.
No point to that tidbit, really, just trying to wrap my head around it.
– Talk amongst yourselves, Hawks fans.
MC
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367 comments Add your comment
Blast
January 27th, 2010
9:49 pm
President Obama just called out Congress and the GOP.
bigdave
January 27th, 2010
9:49 pm
spurs sold out completely in the 1st qrt built a cushion and now watch them slow this thing down…
a team that can truly play any type of game rather half court or running…
O'Brien
January 27th, 2010
9:52 pm
Ray,
I’m going to say it before Clyde does. “Sean Williams would not have allowed so many points in the paint”.
Hawks being outrebounded by 13. I will not blame Woody for that. Rebounding is about effort. And we have 6 assists, while the Spurs have 20. (I hope JJ and Crawford start hitting all their shots).
Another thing I blame the players for, is we are too soft. Where is the hard foul?
What I blame Woody for, is we have no strategy or backup plan for when plan A fails. Where’s the adjustment?
There was a blogger on the other blog who said the switching would not work against the Spurs. And what do you know? He was right. If bloggers know that (going into the game), how come Woody does not know that?
Our defense has been horrible, but our offense has been horrible too. I wonder if Woody still doesnt give a s#@t about offense. And the switching defense does not always work (although Woody says “the s#@t works). It works, sometimes.
I’m just frustrated. I dont mind losing, but I hate being blown out. I hate our effort, our intensity, our defense and our execution.
pinoy hawk
January 27th, 2010
9:55 pm
Woody’s all to blame. He doesn’t know how to adjust to opponent’s lineup whenever their pulling away. Woody after all these years has no idea how to use his team’s strengths and hide their weaknesses.
And co sign bigdave on the upgrade. If possible trade zaza and mo for a bigman with the likes of camby or okafor. With no perimter D and paint presence the hawks would not go deep into the playoffs esp. if they face Orlando or Cleveland in the 2nd round
northcyde
January 27th, 2010
9:58 pm
POSITIVES:
- JJ and Jamal have 24 points. We may need 60 out of them to win this game. One of them will probably need to get hot from 3 point range before it’s all said and done. Great job by them for keeping the game at least within a 10 – 0 run of making it interesting.
- Josh Smith still hustling and playing hard, despite the decifit. There is no “give up” in him.
- Bibby and Horford can’t possibly play any worse in the 2nd half, than they did in the first.
Even if we don’t win this game, I want to see if they can adjust and claw their way back into this game. One of the traits of good teams, is the ability to overcone adversity on the road, and at least make a game of it. I want to see this lead down to single digity by the 5 min mark in the 4th.
At least make this game interesting guys. How about a big run to start the 3rd.
Jody
January 27th, 2010
9:58 pm
Here again, teams are not afraid to drive the lane on the Hawks.
cp
January 27th, 2010
9:58 pm
Can we please cut the power to Niques mic? Nique is freaking horrible. Is he even watching the game? Like I said a few blogs ago, we really need to try and get a defensive minded big in here to come off the bench. They are getting killed on the glass and in the paint.
Big Ray
January 27th, 2010
9:59 pm
Joe is really on it tonight.
O'Brien
January 27th, 2010
10:00 pm
Bibby is 0-6 in 19 minutes, with 1 assist, and horrible defense. Isnt this a chance for Woody to give Teague some burn?
He cant do any worse than Bibby…
cp,
I would love a guy like Camby, but I dont know how we could trade for him and his almost $10 mil expiring contract (plus I doubt the Clippers will trade him).
bigdave
January 27th, 2010
10:00 pm
give it up for Josh people…
Big Ray
January 27th, 2010
10:00 pm
What was that Marvin? Expecting to draw a charge?
Meanwhile, what an effort by Josh Smith on the glass.
O'Brien
January 27th, 2010
10:01 pm
My bad. Wouldn’t want to give Teague some burn tonight because it might cost us the game…
Jody
January 27th, 2010
10:02 pm
Everything on offense is jumpshots. Against good defensive teams, this team does not have a way to get high percentage shots in the half court set. Imagine what the score would be if Joe wasn’t hot.
bigdave
January 27th, 2010
10:02 pm
Josh thought about the jumper, then thought better of it… kicked it to Marvin for 2
Jody
January 27th, 2010
10:03 pm
Definitely give it up for Josh. The young man is working HARD!
NoleRick
January 27th, 2010
10:03 pm
Is it over yet?
bigdave
January 27th, 2010
10:03 pm
this Texas trip we’ve seen the Josh from early this season…
Taylor
January 27th, 2010
10:03 pm
woww!!!!!!
Melvin
January 27th, 2010
10:04 pm
How many 4pt plays does Jamaal has this season… my gosh…
Sid
January 27th, 2010
10:05 pm
The Spurs are old like Bibby and they cannot keep up that first half pace . The killer was we were not controlling our boards or even putting up a fight . the Spurs had 10 offensive rebounds in the first half and we need to get after it . I agree with Northcyde that JJ or jamal or both will have to to go in the phonebooth and get the cape .
bigdave
January 27th, 2010
10:05 pm
yes Jamal!
Big Ray
January 27th, 2010
10:06 pm
Now we’ve seen that from Jamal before. I know he did it on purpose.
bigdave
January 27th, 2010
10:06 pm
intensity is about to pick up!
bigdave
January 27th, 2010
10:07 pm
there you go Marvin…
Sautee
January 27th, 2010
10:07 pm
Switching d against this team makes it SOOOO hard on Horford and Josh.
bigdave
January 27th, 2010
10:08 pm
Horford has looked like boo boo tonight
BONE
January 27th, 2010
10:08 pm
Why don’t we putt Collins in. Al is not big enuff to go against Duncan.
Big Ray
January 27th, 2010
10:08 pm
Another defensive play by Josh. Wow.
O'Brien
January 27th, 2010
10:08 pm
I like what I’ve seen from the Hawks this 3rd quarter. I wonder if Woody lit a fire under them at halftime?
BONE
January 27th, 2010
10:09 pm
Al needs to sit down. He’s been almost as bad as bibby.
Big Ray
January 27th, 2010
10:09 pm
Horford doesn’t look comfortable out there. Normally he’s a tougher customer. Could his hand be bothering him that much, or is Duncan really just dominating him?
BONE
January 27th, 2010
10:09 pm
Why do we keep giving it to Al. Woody is an idiot. Take Al out.
BONE
January 27th, 2010
10:10 pm
Woody play one of Collins our RandMo man. DAMN
Big Ray
January 27th, 2010
10:10 pm
O’brien,
Threatened to shave their eyebrows, I’m betting…
Sautee
January 27th, 2010
10:10 pm
bigdave,
He hasn’t even looked that good.
Jody
January 27th, 2010
10:11 pm
Horford’s hand is probably still bothering him no doubt, but there’s no question that he is also struggling with the size of Duncan.
O'Brien
January 27th, 2010
10:11 pm
I think Woody should give RandMo a chance to see if he can do anything.
Horford is sucking (maybe he is hurt), and ZaZa is soft.
Melvin
January 27th, 2010
10:11 pm
Get Parker out of there…
niremetal
January 27th, 2010
10:11 pm
Good ball movement. Prob too little too late.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 27th, 2010
10:11 pm
Does anyone else think Horford’s post moves really haven’t improved much over the last year? I still don’t see that go-to move that players like Al Jefferson have. With his bulk he should be able to move people off their spots much more easily.
Taylor
January 27th, 2010
10:12 pm
bye bye tony
BONE
January 27th, 2010
10:14 pm
Al needs to be at PF. HE IS NOT A TRUE CENTER FOR THE LAST TIME. He’s done a really good job holding that spot down. But that is not the spot where he will flourish.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 27th, 2010
10:14 pm
Tonie Parkour! C’est la vie! Or something like that.
Big Ray
January 27th, 2010
10:15 pm
Geez, what a pass….Josh is getting it done. Between him and Joe….
Well, that will sit Horford down. I know why he was kept in the game. Nobody on the squad is better at guarding Duncan or making decent decisions out of the post with the ball (except Josh).
O'Brien
January 27th, 2010
10:15 pm
Najeh,
Horford really only has 2 moves. The jumper from the baseline, or when he backs his guy down, and then shoots a turnaround jumper. His post moves still need work. But it will come.
Big Ray
January 27th, 2010
10:16 pm
Parker may be gone, but now Duncan will step up. We’re playing competitive ball, but as Nire says, too little too late.
bigdave
January 27th, 2010
10:17 pm
damn he left Hill in the dust…
but what is this..?
Blast
January 27th, 2010
10:17 pm
AL has some post up moves improved over two years, he’s getting better, but just not where Hawks can go with assurance to get a bucket in crunch time yet. But I think it will come.
Jody
January 27th, 2010
10:17 pm
I’ve noticed this year several times when teams guard Al with power forwards, Al eats them alive. But against centers, it’s a struggle for him and he has to expend more energy because of the size difference.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 27th, 2010
10:17 pm
Yes, Al is a natural PF. I am not trying to dismiss the great things he DOES do. He’s the best ball-handling center in the league, one of the top 3 passers, probably one of the top 6 or 7 rebounders at least and despite his lack of size one of the better defenders. I’m strictly talking about his post game. In his 3rd year, he still scores most of his points off of jump shots, turnaround jumpers, fast break dunks, and put backs. Josh Smith is no Duncan, but he is good enough to hold his own as a post presence, especially with his left hand. Al Horford needs to get to that point. I brought up Al Jefferson earlier — he is the same size as Horford and is much better offensively despite going up against bigger players regularly, mainly because his post moves are so refined. That is an area on which Horford needs to work hard.