Hawks Squawks: Spurs 105, Hawks 90
– Well, what can you say about that? The Spurs were desperate after three straight home losses for the first time in forever, and so they took the Hawks to the woodshed for 30 minutes. “They were very hungry for a win and you felt that vibe from the start of the game,” Jamal Crawford said.
– Still, it was shocking to see the Hawks so slow-footed and overwhelmed in what’s supposed to be their kind of game. “We love that kind of tempo, but I guess we weren’t ready to play,” Smoove said.
– “We just didn’t come out and match their intensity,” J.J. said. “They were more hungry.”
– The Hawks trailed by 15 after one quarter and lost by 15. They played the Spurs even for three quarters but, other than that rally early in the fourth quarter, it sure didn’t feel like it.
– The Spurs scored 16 of their 36 first-quarter points at the rim and had 18 fastbreak points. “We gave up so many layups to start the game it was like a track meet,” Woody said. “We are supposed to be the team to get up and down the court and get layups. (Tony) Parker really pushed the tempo.”
– The Spurs tied their season-high for points in a half with 66, and the Hawks tied their season-high for points allowed in a half. “I put it on myself, part of it” Al Horford said. “I didn’t come out aggressive enough.”
– Tim Duncan had a career-high 27 rebounds. “He had a man’s game,” Woody said.
– Horford, meanwhile, made strong moves to get clean looks at the basket but couldn’t put the ball in the hole. He was 2-for-10 from the field. “I haven’t had a night like that this year. Unfortunately, I had it tonight.”
– Mike Bibby was even worse. He missed all seven of his shots. It got to the point where the Spurs pretty much let him launch while they worried about others.
– Parker went down with a sprained left ankle in the third quarter. Horford was defending on the play. “It was really weird. I jumped and he seemed to hit my leg. I didn’t think nothing of it until someone else (Ian Mahinimi) shot his free throws. I hope he’s OK.”
– Parker never returned, and the Spurs lost some of their mojo. Crawford helped the Hawks rally to within 89-80 early in the fourth.
– Then the Hawks had six misses and two turnovers over their next eight possessions, and the Spurs’ lead grew to 95-80. That was pretty much it for the Hawks. “We really could have made a couple plays there to turn it around,” Horford said. “We didn’t and you have to give them credit.”
— “It was an uphill battle, and once we did cut it to single digits, I think we kind of tried to force it too much,” J.J. said.
– The Hawks lost their 12th straight at San Antonio, where they haven’t won since Feb. 15, 1997. They also couldn’t complete their first road sweep of the three Texas teams since 1990-91.
– Woody already was ready to write this one off after the Hawks won at Houston on Monday night. “We finished .500 on the road trip, 1-1, and I’ll take that all day long.”
– The Celtics are next on Friday. They’ve got Kevin Garnett back from injury and they really aren’t trying to get swept by the Hawks. “It’s not going to be easy,” J.J. said. “I think we know that.”
– I’m out, Hawks fans.
MC
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70 comments Add your comment
Daniel
January 28th, 2010
1:13 pm
Also, why would the Wizards want to trade an expiring contract player to us for our expiring contract players? Just because they wanted to be nice to the Hawks?
Fundamentals
January 28th, 2010
1:50 pm
Seems to always be alot of folks pumping the DC area stuff on our blog. Haywood might be a piece, but not if it means losing core players. The only players I’d consider moving today are Evans, Chills, Mario or Collins for a real prospect at center and/or a guard who can shoot the 3, penetrate and hold his own on defense.
Camby is old. Haywood is coming out of a bad situation? Do we risk pollution? I’d rather stay the course and decide in the offseason who is our best fit.
JerryWest
January 28th, 2010
1:52 pm
Yahoo leaked the NBA all star list:
JJ & Horford made it. Smoove left out.
JerryWest
January 28th, 2010
1:53 pm
http://www.hoopsnotes.com/2010/01/all-star-reserves-revealed-by-yahoo-sports/
JerryWest
January 28th, 2010
1:54 pm
I think Garnett will sit out and Smoove will be the replacement.
JerryWest
January 28th, 2010
1:55 pm
Expect Smoove to be a monster on the Celtics on Friday night.
GeeMack
January 28th, 2010
2:06 pm
Traceman
Very entertaining read.
Daniel
Always good stuff.
GeeMack
January 28th, 2010
2:10 pm
There is no way Rose and Rando should be Allstars before Josh.
JerryWest
January 28th, 2010
2:20 pm
How Woody & the assistants make the all star game:
We need Boston to lose to Magic, Hawks & Lakers.
If Boston wins 1 of the 3, Doc goes.
JerryWest
January 28th, 2010
2:21 pm
I don’t expect us to win in Orlando.
Fundamentals
January 28th, 2010
2:33 pm
Josh needs to take the discussion as a sign that he’s gained respect of the nation. He’ll get there soon if not this year. Hopefully he’ll use it as a catapult for the rest of the season whether he gets it or not. Rumor is Al & Joe are in.
STRONG HAWK
January 28th, 2010
2:36 pm
DANIEL WHO CARES ABOUT TRADE MACHINE ON ESPN I’m TRYIING TO WIN NOW.THE WIZARDS AREN’T GOING ANYWHERE PLUS THEY ARE GETTIING READY TO BUST THAT TEAM UP.SO IF THE CAVS LIKE ATWONE J.WHY CANN’T WE TAKE HAYWOOD.AND FOR U FUNDAMENTALS IT SEEMS TO ME U DID NOT READ MY BLOG CLEARLY AND CAMBY IS NOT OLD HE WOULD BE A GREAT FIT .
STRONG HAWK
January 28th, 2010
2:49 pm
DANIEL WHO CARES ABOUT A TRADE MACHINE ON ESPN I’M TRYING TO WIN NOW .BESIDES THEY ARE GETTING READY TO BUST THAT TEAM UP. IF THE CAVS TRYING TO BEEF UP WITH ANTWON JAMISON WE CAN USE HAYWOOD. AND AS FOR U FUNDAMENTALS I DON’T THINK U READ MY BLOG CLEARLY ABOUT WHO I WOULD TRADE. AND CAMBY IS NOT TO OLD.U TAKE EITHER ONE WE WILL WIN THE EAST!!!!!!!
I MUS WRITE
January 28th, 2010
2:55 pm
Tyger I would do that trade because we would be serious winners in that deal. Amare doesnt play D like i like but he is a much better option on the blocks than ZAZA. Marvin = David Blaine and bibby could easily be replace by barbosa in our offense. first play of the game hill shakes bibby outta his shoes and draws a foul on Smoove…..Yuck
Beidrins is a dam 50%foul shooter with limited post offense …why do we neeed him?
If we could get Haywood for marvin or a combo of Evans/Morris lets get that done. no way Duncan gets 27 rebs with haywood in the middle and a Smoove/Horford combo at the 3/4……………..
Teague looks just like Acie a couple yers ago. dazed and confused, that ty laqwson looks really good these days.
I MUS WRITE
January 28th, 2010
2:58 pm
5 years /75 mill for JJ…..Ahhhhm i dont know about that. The man was a beast last night but I see subpar performances in 3 of the nex 5 -thats just how he does it. Throw the muney at dwade in the off season trade marvin and sign a good vet Sf.
showboat
January 28th, 2010
3:19 pm
Horford and Johnson all-stars. Not Josh Smith. WTF.
rms
January 28th, 2010
3:22 pm
I’ll take that. If not Horford and Johnson then Josh and Joe. Its either Horford or Smith. You cant go wrong with either one but no way would they show us that much love with Josh, Joe, and AL.
showboat
January 28th, 2010
3:32 pm
I hope Iverson decide to skip the game. Josh gets in as an alternate.
KevinA
January 28th, 2010
4:08 pm
Josh should have been the first All-Star from our team. Did they change the rules and let the ref’s vote?
mountainman36
January 28th, 2010
8:03 pm
Ok the trade talks need to stop. biedrins, camby , haywood. yes they are ok players, but they are old, and do well on bad teams. what would they do for us? they wouldnt score much thats for sure, and rebounds would be less or the same.
Marvin is way too good of a player for you guys wanting to trade him. he gets 10 ppg in 30 minutes mostly being the 4th scoring option, and sometimes 5th. He is an excellent compliment player, and could be more than that if we let him, or encouraged him to drive more etc.
A swap for marvin – a 10/5 guy -for a 10/10 guy does not get us more scoring or rebounds in my opinion, and would only get us 5 more rebounds if im wrong…..randmo/collins could get the rebounds if we played them more.
This team is what it is, and we should be happy with it. I see growth with what we have through time and better utilization. Soon we will have to make some changes because of contracts, thats when we can discuss the validity of bringing in other guys.
OK. rant over.
someone said a while back that because we are fans we can be stupid and have fun ideas for changes and be more critical etc. I agree with that, so i guess i just killed my argument.
KevinA – nice. i laughed out loud.