Heat at Hawks, AKA Woody Looking At What Happens After The Weekend
Woody didn’t give the expected “win this one for momentum going into the All-Star break” spiel. Instead, he’s more concerned about what the Hawks do when they return to work on Feb. 15 in LA.
“After tonight’s game we really to make a serious push,” he said. “We need to be committed after the All-Star game. Guys will get a chance to rest their bodies over the break but they’ve really got to be more committed when they come back. Not that they haven’t done that so far, but the mental focus has really got to be there.”
Not surprisingly, Woody wants to see better defense and rebounding.
“We have so much slippage in those areas because we are not committed to the scheme,” he said.
Offensively, he said the Hawks need to be sharper in the halfcourt because that’s how opponents are trying to force them to play.
“The teams we play know we are much better when we are up and down” he said.
– Jamal was a late scratch. The Hawks said he aggravated his left shoulder in his sleep last night. He’s had trouble with the shoulder in the past. Tough break for the Hawks under any circumstances, but especially because Jamal usually lights up the Heat.
– Zaza (hip) is out. His MRI showed no significant damage but the Hawks decided to sit him until after the All-Star break. After tonight they next play on Feb. 17 at the Clippers, giving Zaza a total of 12 days of rest.
– USA Basketball released its roster for this summer’s world championships and the 2012 London Olympics. No Hawks are on it. J.J. played in the 2006 FIBA World Championships, when the U.S. won bronze.
– After the Heat lost to the Bulls on Saturday for its fifth straight defeat, Dwyane Wade said coach Erik Spoelstra’s offense is too predictable and questioned whether Spo is willing to be flexible. The two later tried to downplay his comments but no one was really buying it.
Wade of course can become a free agent this summer. So the whole thing set off speculation that he wants Spoelstra out at the same time Heat prez Pat Riley appears to be doing everything he can to trade for Amare Stoudemire.
Sounds like Wade is frustrated to be on a bad team but he had to know it would be like this. He also knows Riley isn’t one to let his team struggle for too long before making a move, so help should be on the way.
– Talk amongst yourselves, Hawks fans.
MC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
180 comments Add your comment
stevo
February 10th, 2010
9:07 pm
it is nice to be missed. thank you.
i have been here off and on always, but i only like to throw down over the bench players or something. i don’t know.
nobody is saying teague might some day develop into a good, even great player. who knows? all i am saying is he is 19 or 20, young, and lost. and right now the hawks cannot afford to let him ‘learn under fire’ if it costs the hawks even one game. which i believe it would.
right now he gets 5-6 real minutes a game, if that. and that is fine. and if woody sees a future in him, then great. i look forward to that. my argument is only with the people calling for real minutes for him right NOW.
scrolling on…….
Big Ray
February 10th, 2010
9:07 pm
Is Joe injured or sick? Whichever it is, he isn’t himself. He’s pressing too much, but I also realize that he’s feeling the pressure to will his team to win. At least the man hasn’t given up.
Others will have to step up, that’s why this is a team game. But don’t count Joe out. He’s always deadly, and the 4th quarter is no exception.
KnightHawk
February 10th, 2010
9:07 pm
Where are we going to find offense tonight?! Damn!!!
O'Brien
February 10th, 2010
9:08 pm
Man, JJ is 5-16. Why did he have to be struggling on a night when we dont have Crawford?
I wonder if he is still not recovered from the flu?
Because he has missed 11 of his last 13 shots, I would like to see him be more of a decoy.
kwooden1
February 10th, 2010
9:08 pm
Cook did win the 3 point shooting contest last year!
terrell
February 10th, 2010
9:09 pm
People said the same thing about Rondo’s jumper. Give Teague some time.
BONE
February 10th, 2010
9:09 pm
Heat are bending the hawks over
BONE
February 10th, 2010
9:09 pm
LMAO at Duck
terrell
February 10th, 2010
9:09 pm
Good shot Marvin.
Wabe
February 10th, 2010
9:10 pm
looking really ugly out there right now.
JJ lucky he didn’t get T’d up.
BONE
February 10th, 2010
9:11 pm
Wade ain’t even out there. How pathetic is this.
O'Brien
February 10th, 2010
9:11 pm
Why does JJ keep dominating the ball? Its obvious he doesnt have it. Make the pass Hawks! And that was a bad shot by Horford. Pass the ball out and reset.
BONE
February 10th, 2010
9:12 pm
This game is over. Wade is gonna pour it on.
Big Ray
February 10th, 2010
9:12 pm
Stevo ,
I can agree with that. Never sacrifice games for the SOLE sake of developing a young player when your team is playing at a very high level and looking to do something it hasn’t done before.
I’m afraid you’re never going to get away from what I call “opposite end of the spectrum” comments. There will be those who claim a rookie is a bust, while others will declare a starter dead on the spot and the rook needs to replace him in the starting lineup, playing 40 mpg. It never fails. Trade talks are even better. I’m sure you remember the last 5 years….
As for Teague, I almost can’t believe I’m saying this, but I trust Woody to do the right thing with him, or close to it. Right now, I don’t think he’s doing the wrong thing. The trick to it is that I don’t think that “doing the right thing” is the same for every game. I think in some games it’s better for him to get less time, and to get more time in other games. It’s up to Woody to figure that one out. I don’t coach the kid, I only see him in games, so my opinion is only so educated.
O'Brien
February 10th, 2010
9:13 pm
Just when Marvin has 3 good games, he does not show up in this one. He is shooting 3-10, with 4 rebounds.
I think this is what Rod from CP is talking about.
To be fair to Marvin, he is not the only one who did not show up tonight.
KnightHawk
February 10th, 2010
9:14 pm
If I’m Jamal Crawford I’m calling my agent right now to negotiate for more money from the Hawks – he really is the “difference”.
Wabe
February 10th, 2010
9:14 pm
It’s just one of those nights. Nobody knows where the points are coming from.
Hawks v Heat
February 10th, 2010
9:15 pm
Bench points:
Heat – 38
Hawks – 8
don’t have to look far to see where the loss would come from
KnightHawk
February 10th, 2010
9:15 pm
Let’s see, Josh will miss the first and make the second.
Big Ray
February 10th, 2010
9:15 pm
Melvin ,
Heh. Acie had a decent shot in college too. I think Teague will be fine, though. He’s less timid than Acie is. He has an edge to him, and will go to the hole. That alone makes me feel ok about him. But you’re right, the kid was quite the shooter in college. And remember what Sekou was saying about him in training camp and what not? He was lighting it up.
Right now, his defense and ability to take care of the ball is the basis of how effective he can be on the floor, if you ask me. If you can’t take care of the ball and D-up your opponent, the only place your jumpshot is gonna matter is Golden State….
O’brien ,
Frustrating as it may be, Joe is doing what he thinks he’s supposed to do. He’s our star/best player. He doesn’t try, we’ll be hammering him for THAT. The problem is he just doesn’t have it. But he’s trying. He’s trying a little too hard, maybe, but he’s trying.
joeBjo
February 10th, 2010
9:16 pm
nobody will shoot. where is Crawdad when u need him?
terrell
February 10th, 2010
9:16 pm
Hawks dont care about this game. Theyre ready for the break.
KnightHawk
February 10th, 2010
9:16 pm
Yep, just like I thought.
vava74
February 10th, 2010
9:16 pm
stevo,
thank you for the dedicated attention. I was just “reading” the game.
maybe you should go after other guys who come in only to say that we are pathetic when we are in the mix for the top in the East…
Blast
February 10th, 2010
9:16 pm
Not looking good right now, Hawks fans.
BONE
February 10th, 2010
9:17 pm
Crawford has made woody look good this season.
And it’s game over
Wabe
February 10th, 2010
9:18 pm
How the hell do you not call that!?!?!?!
terrell
February 10th, 2010
9:18 pm
LMAO at Dominique. Marvin didn’t get hammered. lol!
KnightHawk
February 10th, 2010
9:18 pm
This game truly is over; they’ve given up.
Wabe
February 10th, 2010
9:19 pm
Sucks to go into the all-star break with a loss like this.
Melvin
February 10th, 2010
9:19 pm
I’m glad the Hawks are having this type of game tonight, maybe it will make the Hawks management re-evaluate their attitude toward the trading deadline.
terrell
February 10th, 2010
9:19 pm
We’d be 7th or 8th in the East without Crawford. At best.
Wabe
February 10th, 2010
9:19 pm
I thought Marvin got tugged by one of those 2.
KnightHawk
February 10th, 2010
9:19 pm
You see Joe Johnson on the bench, coaching is drawing up a play and he’s not even looking – let him walk in the off season.
Hawks v Heat
February 10th, 2010
9:20 pm
“Instead, he’s more concerned about what the Hawks do when they return to work on Feb. 15 in LA”
woody needs to take these games 1 at a time.
Wabe
February 10th, 2010
9:21 pm
True Melvin. No need to make a huge splash, but truthfully, if we could land another decent quality guy to come off the bench, we’d be much better off.
You pick the spot.
Another forward or big. We need others coming off the bench to do more.
Blast
February 10th, 2010
9:22 pm
Ballgame! Goodnight, Hawks!
BONE
February 10th, 2010
9:22 pm
Thankfully Woody wasn’t the all star coach. He woulda just did iso joes.
This team is nothin without Crawford.
Hawks v Heat
February 10th, 2010
9:23 pm
Scoring 15 before the half and in the teens in the 4th is not good … not good at all
vava74
February 10th, 2010
9:25 pm
the Hawks didn’t come to play tonight.
And I sincerely think that with Crawford out, JJ clearly not himself due to the flu and Woody talking about the games AFTER the ASG and not about this game, we had a tough up hill climb.
GMAN013
February 10th, 2010
9:25 pm
Yeah you’re right Woody our offense is just fine!
IDIOT
Melvin
February 10th, 2010
9:25 pm
Wabe,
I said earlier that I would like to see another scorer on the bench at SF spot like John Salmons from the Bulls….
O'Brien
February 10th, 2010
9:25 pm
Around the league, Orlando is up by 22 at halftime at Chicago, and Boston is up 12 at halftime at NO. They are winning on the road, and Hawks cant win at home?
How are we supposed to get that 2 seed and win the division? 15 points in the second, 12 points in the fourth. Man, our shots (from starters and bench) have looked horrible.
Can someone just give the SMOY to Crawford right now? What would the Hawks do if Crawford got hurt and had to miss 4-6 games? We would be in trouble.
Hawks v Heat
February 10th, 2010
9:26 pm
lol wow, they didn’t even make the teens in the 4th … 12
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
February 10th, 2010
9:26 pm
The Hawks have been lucky to have no extended time injuries to any of their key players.
Other “Elite” teams + injury to a key player(s) = Hawks w/ full healthy roster
Hawks + injury to a key player = on the level with Miami, Charlotte, etc,..maybe even worse??
GOD forbid we have ANY real problems with ANY key player let alone playerS…..
niremetal
February 10th, 2010
9:27 pm
Why the hell did Woody play JJ for 44+ minutes? JJ was off and pressing, and Woody didn’t have a plan B.
JeJe
February 10th, 2010
9:27 pm
This bench is a complete joke without Crawford.
Mo Evans’ only offensive move is to shoot contested 3’s from the corner with that horrendous release of his.
That is our only bench offense, unless you want to count Teague’s inability to hit anything, whether it be a floater or a jumpshot. Make a freaking floater for Christ’s sake
Hawks v Heat
February 10th, 2010
9:28 pm
you would think with BOTH the hawks and the magic playing on the same night that the hawks would come out and play hard.
UGA
February 10th, 2010
9:28 pm
A realistic idea……….get Mike Miller from Washington. He can shoot and create his shot better than Mo Evans. He’s in the last year of his deal too.
kwooden1
February 10th, 2010
9:31 pm
When the HAWKS don’t get stops and then get out and run they are very vulnerable, even with Crawford in the line-up. It sounded like they just couldn’t respond to Miami’s last run. JJ and Marvin were struggling and Bibby and Smoove just couldn’t pick-up the slack. Tough loss, but not surprising.
GO HAWKS!!