So what to make of these Hawks?
What to make of these Hawks, who lately have faltered while losing games within their grasps and not always in the same fashion?
“Sometimes defensively,” Marvin said. “Sometimes offensively.”
They are well within striking distance of 50 victories at 40 with 19 games to go. Yet the Hawks are 23-19 since Dec. 26. And in the last two weeks, with the Southeast Division title out there as a carrot, they’ve blown leads in two ugly losses (at Golden State and vs. Dallas) and suffered from mental lapses late in two others they had chances to win (at Miami and at New York).
Overall, the Hawks’ offensive numbers are very good, maybe even elite. But lately when it’s time to win tight games, their situational offense often sufferers from poor ball movement, bad shot selection, untimely turnovers and a general lack of focus.
The Hawks are supposed to be a defensive-minded team under Woody. For about the last month, though, they regularly haven’t defended with intensity for more than a few stretches per game (and, again, this is the time of year when they are supposed to be cranking it up). Then again, as they showed Monday in New York, when they decide to get after it defensively the Hawks look very good.
“We got stops when we needed to get stops,” Woody said. “I am trying to figure out how come we just can’t do that the whole game? That’s what’s been mind-boggling to me as the coach.”
So, what to make of the (40-23, capable of scoring on anyone, good on defense when they lock in, inconsistent all around) Hawks?
“We are on schedule to better our record from last year, and that is progress is kind of how I look at it,” Woody said today before the team departed for D.C. “How it plays out in terms of the conference remains to be seen. We are four games behind Orlando with 19 to go. Do we have a chance to win division? Sure we do. But we are going to have to play lights out to get it done.”
They aren’t doing that lately and–cant’ say this enough–this is the time serious contenders do it. That 21-8 start was nice but of course no one will remember that if the Hawks slide down the stretch then flame out in the playoffs.
What’s the problem?
“I don’t know, man,” J.J. said. “We lose focus a lot and that’s something we have to get back to doing (and) really defensively. Once we get our defense going back, the offense will come back. When we need to get stops, we can get them. We know what we are capable of doing. We just need to do it for 48 minutes.”
What’s the problem with the defense?
“We will play five minutes hard, and then (for) two minutes have some mental lapses,” Al said. “We have to be in tune with what we are doing.”
“We seem to kind of not get the defensive concepts down on a consistent, night-in and night-out basis,” Smoove said. “We go good for three or four games and then we slip. We have to be more consistent on night in and night out basis because we are going to score points.”
And which concepts do the the Hawks struggle to grasp?
“Maybe coverages,” Josh said. “But really just the simple principle of keeping your main in front of you.”
Woody said that simple principle is part of the problem. He said the Hawks have been “pretty good” with his defensive concepts but that it might be time to adjust them.
“I think the fact that I am trying to–I don’t want to use the word ‘hiding’ guys–but we switch a lot of things, we try to be proactive,” he said. “Maybe we need to scale back a little bit in those areas. But I don’t want to take our aggressiveness away. I think we are just doing it (defending well) in spurts.”
– Mo Evans (flu-like symptoms) didn’t fly with the team to D.C. today and isn’t expected to play Thursday at the Wizards.
MC
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288 comments Add your comment
The Truth
March 10th, 2010
3:42 pm
This article provided by JeJe
Pretty much sums it up. As I said in a previous blog when the conversation was so dominated about the Hawks offense problems against the zone, the Real Problem is actually DEFENSE. While the Hawks (JJ and Crawford mostly) are making tough shots on offense, the opposing team are responding with easy buckets in the paint. They will patiently wait until we miss a few jumpers and then steal the game. Does this sound familiar?
Melvin
Your comments:
“I think the fact that I am trying to–I don’t want to use the word ‘hiding’ guys–but we switch a lot of things” – Woody
I wonder which player(s) he’s trying to hide… Yep, comprise the team for the sake of a few (or one)….
Opens up pandora’s box to the Hawks real PROBLEM on DEFENSE
HIS NAME IS MIKE BIBBY!!!!!!!!
Midweek linkage « control+ATL+delete
March 10th, 2010
3:43 pm
[...] Cunningham wonders what, exactly is wrong with the Hawks. Included is an illuminating quote from Marvin Williams: “Sometimes offensively, sometimes [...]
drmaryb
March 10th, 2010
3:43 pm
Maybe we can trade Marvin to the Falcons and Thomas Dimitroff can package him up with Chris Houston and send his azz to Detroit, for an 8th round pick or something!
T.Dimitroff, has no problems getting rid of garbage & dead weight.
Cory Dillinger
March 10th, 2010
3:43 pm
Its amazing I wonder if these so called fans who are through with the hawks admit that this is only going to be the second winning season in almost 15 years yet they want to fire the coach get rid of all the players and start over, understand that this team has gotten better every year no regression and have a chance to make the eastern conference finals. Calm down folks
Michael Cunningham
March 10th, 2010
3:48 pm
@ JeJe: serenity now! what response you looking for from me? ask me a reasonable question (don’t just say Woody sucks Marvin sucks, everybody sucks, i suck, get rid of them all) and i promise i will respond as soon as i get off this plane and make it to the hotel. if you mean your take on keeping the core together too long . . . . that’s a possibility. the hawks re-signed Marvin, Bibby, and Zaza. how do you think they are doing?
@ o’brien: i did ask J.J. about that. what you see is the response. that’s about all you are going to get from J.J. (and some other guys). nothing really specific, just lots of talk about needing better focus
Ryan
March 10th, 2010
3:50 pm
MC, does it look like a possibility that Teague could be handed the PG spot next year? Bibby already is just a jump shooter.
VenomSpitter
March 10th, 2010
3:52 pm
It’s so sad Teague is being wasted. I feel sorry for him.
Joe
March 10th, 2010
3:54 pm
Dominque Wilkins should be the next hawks coach.
Tmac
March 10th, 2010
3:54 pm
Ryan- there is a big difference between scoring in qtr’s 1, 2 & 3 and then scoring in the 4th qtr.
Just like M. Williams might get points in the 1st half of the game when it doesn’t mean much. Scoring during “crunch-time” is 100 times more important. That is an indication of what kind of defense and intensity you will see in the playoffs.
i like Horford, but when he goes up against the top guys he gets exploited. Josh has improved, but lately he is reverting back to shooting jumpshots and turning the ball over. Bibby is either on or off, no in between. It just seems that each players has something that holds them back in crunch time….even JJ doesn’t show up some games.
Ryan
March 10th, 2010
3:55 pm
Not being wasted…just putting in his time and learning. If you watch, he isnt quite ready to start. He isnt aware enough on the offensive side.
Gofalc
March 10th, 2010
3:56 pm
Biby is too inconsistent.. Can’t play defense or shoot. He pretty much limps on the court. Other team backup Guard would fair better.
JeJe
March 10th, 2010
4:01 pm
“the hawks re-signed Marvin, Bibby, and Zaza. how do you think they are doing?”
They suck, which is exactly my point. The starters have been together too long, and the bench sucks but should get more minutes to relieve Marvin and Bibby (i.e. give Teague more minutes).
And as a beatwriter, you should be more interactive with us, rather than just posting a blog and running away while one of your fellow joke writers like Ken Sugiura takes over.
Thanks
VenomSpitter
March 10th, 2010
4:02 pm
NOT READY TO START????? What in the world are u watching? What is Bibby doing that makes u think he deserves to start. U must like watching his horrible defense.
JeJe
March 10th, 2010
4:02 pm
A paragon of the atrocious AJC coverage is the Belkin case — if he had a week to pay the 2 mil to retain ownership rights of the team (this was THREE weeks ago), why has there been no update on that case?
Ryan
March 10th, 2010
4:03 pm
I say we let Jeje take over. We’ll be the Nets and/or bankrupt in 3 years.
Ryan
March 10th, 2010
4:04 pm
Venom, He tries to play one on one too much and he needs to develop a mid range game. He isnt a very good shooter and needs to work on moving with out the ball.
Art Vandelay
March 10th, 2010
4:07 pm
Not only are the Knicks a garbage team, they’re a garbage team that was missing arguably their 2nd-best player. McGrady isn’t back to being his old self, but he’s still capable of hurting a team. There is absolutely no reason that the Hawks should lose to what amounts to a D-League team plus David Lee (the only legitimate force on that team).
I was a big supporter of Woody before this season started — thought he deserved an opportunity to take the Hawks to the next level, but it’s becoming painfully obvious that they’re tuning him out at the worst possible times. Time to get someone in here who commands the respect of this team, although I don’t know who that person is.
Also, I’ve come to the conclusion that if we lose Joe as a free agent, we’ll be just fine. He’s a great talent and a stand-up guy, but he’s not a leader and he has a tendency to look for his shot a little too often, which results in poor ball movement and lack of involvement by the other guys on the team. I’d rather keep him, but I don’t think he’s our most important player by any means.
theZaZaguy
March 10th, 2010
4:08 pm
My Mama always said to be thankful for what we have. Despite our lack of focus, offensive stagnation, and inability to close out games. I am very thankful for this team. They are talented and fun to watch. I look forward to every game despite some of the disappointing losses. I renewed by season tickets despite the 30% increase in prices because they provide a quality product. Call me whatever, but I’m happy to be a hawks fan right now.
Do you remember the joy when we went into Boston and just dominated them? Or when Jamal hit that shot against Phoenix? Or how we bounced back and beat Dallas after losing to the Knicks? Sure there are disappointments, I’d rather be us than the Knicks, Heat, or anyone else that we may have faltered against.
JeJe
March 10th, 2010
4:08 pm
Thanks, Ryan
VenomSpitter
March 10th, 2010
4:08 pm
A player doesn’t get better by sitting on the Bench
kdawg
March 10th, 2010
4:08 pm
The Hawks are still paying for not drafting CP3 or DWilliams. Marvin will never live up to being a #3 draft pick. Marvin stated recently during an interview that he had his Mojo back…well that lasted one game and now it’s (his mojo) lost again. The Hawk has a leadership problem. It starts with coach Mike Bonehead Woodson. His idea of leadership is making angry faces at the players after they screw up. Really, has anyone notice that after a time out the players don’t respond to this guy’s coaching, which leads me to think there is a lack of confidence in his abilities as a coach. As far as floor leadership, they need a true point guard on the floor…not JJ or Jamal bringing the ball up or Bibby bringing it up only to give it back to JJ or Jamal as soon as he passes the half court line. Then he stands around waiting to put up a three. Woody want play Teague for some retarded reason. Why draft a point guard just to let the coach kill the kids’ confidence. Acie Law career is finished thanks’ to coach Bonehead. I am calling the NBA league office to see if we can do the Draft over, then return Marvin back for CP3 or Williams.
Dukester9
March 10th, 2010
4:09 pm
I agree with the first post. The coach has maxed out and the leader has all the skills but no heart. You have to have the attitude that you are willing to die out there to keep from losing (see Ray Lewis he is past his prime but he has will power over his opponents) In sports it starts with tough hard nose defense (Need a center who can rebound and block shots, I proposed Sam Dalembert yes he is over paid but given the chance he is walking with 15 boards and 3 blocks a game. And is contract is up next year. We just needed to rent him for this run) So the bottom line is its exciting basketball with 50 wins and out in the 2nd round. But with Dalembert and a deadly 3 pt shooter in the place of Mario West this team had a chance for a real run at the finals.
come on hawks
March 10th, 2010
4:11 pm
MC writes: “They are well within striking distance of 50 victories at 40 with 19 games to go. Yet the Hawks are 23-19 since Dec. 26. ” not sure if you should use the “Yet”, if the hawks have won 23 out of 42 games since December 26th that means they’ve been playing at .547. And 19 games left times .547 = 10… so if the hawks just manage to keep playing at the same level they have since 12/26/09 they will win 50 games.
Ryan
March 10th, 2010
4:12 pm
Well, I agree he would probably progress faster by playing, but then you have to deal with the rookie mistakes and the nice ATL fans would run him out of town before he could develope.
C'mon Hawks
March 10th, 2010
4:17 pm
I truly believe it’s the coach too. i’m like kdawg, when they show the timeouts, none of the players listen. Give “Nique a try, get Avery Johnson, heck even try Kareem Abdul Jabbar, he wants to be a coach somewhere. I think Woodson does a good job defensively, but I think he should stick to being an assistant. He has benefited from a young team maturing and getting better and that’s it.
VenomSpitter
March 10th, 2010
4:18 pm
Bibby makes ROOKIE MISTAKES. In the Knicks game he passed the ball to someone in the stands. I mean no one was within 10 feet of that pass. Woody wants to chew Teague out but won’t chew his Butt Buddy Bibby out.
Fundamentals
March 10th, 2010
4:21 pm
We’re overachieving based on our initial goal at the outset of the season.
We see if we lose a few we lock up the 4th seed and a CLE/ATL matchup in the 2nd round instead of ORL. I think they feel this is their best shot.
They’re still young, immature and not setting their goals on a championship. They feel like they can turn it on and off…sadly we can’t.
It’s a mental focus/goal problem, not a coaching, personnel or team problem.
FOCUS PEOPLE. Everything will be hashed out in July-Aug after the playoffs. Not a minute sooner. Have faith, see where we go. Hawks might just surprise you fair weather fans.
ant banks
March 10th, 2010
4:23 pm
JEJE,
an investment banker for golman sachs?? no wonder they went under. you spend A LOT of time bloggin’ instead of managin’ folks money. woody can control his players in the 4th qtr. jus’ like your manager can’t control your bloggin’ arse!!
Fundamentals
March 10th, 2010
4:25 pm
JeJe forgets his meds sometimes and goes on tirades. Nothing new. Let him rant. We might find a laugh or a real gem. Your opinion will help you decide. His impatience doesn’t really float in the real world.
David Smith
March 10th, 2010
4:29 pm
Woody is the reason why this team is faltering right now. This has been a recurring problem every since this man has been head coach and, only the maturation of Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Joe Johnson has this team been able to improve every year. Woodson still can’t devise a solid game plan much less adjust to whatever the other team is doing well and stop them. He also continues to tire out his players because he won’t (or maybe can’t) bring 5 role players off the bench to give his starters a much needed breather (Jamal, Za Za, and Mo Evans is not enough). Perhaps the biggest issue to me is his refusal to call time outs whenever the opposing team already has built up momentum instead of stopping the bleeding. These next few games are critical for playoff positioning and our window for having homecourt throughout the playoffs is getting dimmer. Lets hope these guys can continue to play inspired Basketball despite their coach’s limitations.
Gwinnett Fred
March 10th, 2010
4:31 pm
Lack of talent? NOT A PROBLEM
Ability to rise to the occasion? NOT A PROBLEM
Ability to play down to a lesser opponent? BINGO
And what is the most realistic reason? COACHING!!! Too bad NBA coaches don’t have the ability to look in the mirror as well as NFL and even NCAA coaches, who generally have no problem after losing to an inferior team “this one is on me – I didn’t have them ready”.
Hell, we have the best 4th quarter player in the NBA in Crawford, yet blow 4th quarter leads.
Look, leams lose 4th quarter leads to good/decent teams – that’s no crime as long as you do so in kind, and the Hawks have (though the loss at home to Dallas was pretty inexcusable).
HOWEVER, they have lost 5 games this year by blowing a 4th quarter lead against teams with an aggregate winning percentage of .391 – and 3 of those doing so by blowing a DOUBLE DIGIT lead in the 4th quarter.
COACHING – pure and simple.
JeJe
March 10th, 2010
4:31 pm
ant banks,
It’s called a joke, idiot. I type in all caps because I am pissed off this team underachieves
AM
March 10th, 2010
4:31 pm
I’ve gone back to do some research on Woodson’s comments about Teague. I am absolutely stunned how closed minded Woodson is to giving that kid a shot at running this team. Real organization could care less about who has been here longer, or who deserves to start. A coach is the person that should make strategic decisions based on winning and nothing else. Hiding Bibby on defense is just downright stupid when you have someone on the bench that’s better and needs development. I think Woodson is selling the future of this team down the river because of his contract situation.
Pete
March 10th, 2010
4:41 pm
The Hawks look lazy, tired, un-inspired, always looking for someone to step up and be a leader…………….and, they have the heart of a hampster.
IF they make the playoffs they’ll be gone in the first round.
Totally boring.
JustChillFans
March 10th, 2010
4:46 pm
I would rather have Bibby’s terrible defense but money and clutch shot, over teague’s ok defense (he loses his man ALOT!) and terrible offense. Can u people quit with the marvin draft stuff! Omg, that was 4 years ago geez.. U act like its Marvin’s fault for being drafted number 3, dont blame Marvin, blame the person who drafted him. Marvin has huge upside in my opinion, he needs to work on his ball-handling skills and his one-on-one defense. Also his post-moves. He’s 6′9! Name another 6′9 small forward. Durant and Maybe Lebron. If u people hate the hawks so much, why do you watch the games? Who takes 3 hours out of their lives to watch team they hate. Thats like me (a hawks fan) watching every nets game and commenting on their blogs about what they need to do.That would be stupid of me to do. Just like you stupid fans.
JeJe
March 10th, 2010
4:47 pm
Woodson will always play his veterans. Teague could have 20 points and 6 assists in a quarter and would get a DNP the next game because our coach is a clueless idiot
tim
March 10th, 2010
4:48 pm
When a team shoots 39-42%, like the Hawks do sometimes, they aren’t going to win consistently… It’s bad when “professionals” miss 60% of their shots.
Woodson should ban Josh Smith from shooting from over 15′ until the guy can at least dribble with his right hand. Pathetic!
Someone, anyone, should ban D Wilkens from the analysis job. The score can be 4-2 and he’ll say……if the hawks can keep this up, they’ll win tonight. Terrible!
Bring back Jon Koncak!
Mike is Back
March 10th, 2010
4:51 pm
MC, I think more than anything it’s the travails of an 82 games season. Teams are going to endure slumps over the course of the season…but in the Hawks case the slumps has come in the second half against lesser teams…which have been very disheartening to say the lease.
I think Woody touch on a key point when he admitted he was trying to hide guys on defense. To me he is finally acknowledging that the switching defense can be a liability because of curtain player’s physical limitation, and that’s putting mildly…why keep deploying it…if that is the case. lol
I also think fatigue is an another key factor for the team. It is time to start curtailing guys like JJ, Bibby, Josh, and Al minutes. I’m not suggesting that Woody randomly take his key guys out of the game at critical times…but when the opportunity presents itself…like when guys are struggling or foul trouble…play one of the reserves not name Crawford.
It is a scary thought to see LBJ resting for the playoff…while our key guys continue logged HUGE minutes.
I hope that this tough stretch of games galvanized the team and help them to refocus…time is running out.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Richham
March 10th, 2010
4:52 pm
It sounds like laziness to me. It takes a lot more effort and energy to defend. Lazy. It almost makes you cry when you hear team leaders say these things. The hawks don’t have an mj, kobe, etc. to pick up the slack, so if they aren’t committed to giving it all every night they won’t go far in the playoffs. How much money do you have to get paid to leave it all on the court every night?????
JuliusCesaer
March 10th, 2010
4:55 pm
I think the Hawks should hire Dominique Wilkins and Patrick Ewing as co-player coaches. The Hawks should buy out Patrick Ewing’s contract with the Orlando Magic as an assistant coach and rehire Dominique Wilkins and Patrick Ewing and get them back on the nba floor to play basketball along with the current group of Hawks. The Hawks have no direction, but these HOF players are young enough to still still have game and play hard, providing enough scoring punch to help the youngsters win. I truly dont know whats wrong with the Hawks. I do know that I believe the Hawks have tapped out their current roster as far as progress, growth and talent is concerned and I dont think they will finish with more wins than last year. From what I saw from the Hawks in the Knicks game, the Hawks should finish right at .500 which means in the final 20 games, im expecting the Hawks to finish 1-18 and just to hit the bullseye and make it to .500. The Hawks need only one win to finish at .500, but I think thats all they are capable of winning for the rest of the year. They are currently 40-23 which means they have 19 games left. The Hawks cant beat anybody if you have trouble against New Jersey, Golden State and the Knicks [the three worst teams in the league]. If the Hawks cant beat those 3 teams or have trouble beating them, everybody else in the league is better than those 3 and Im expecting the hawks to lose almost all of their remainding games. I think the Hawks have showed me THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH 40 WINS FOR THE YEAR. THE HAWKS APPEAR TO BE COMPLACENT WINNING 40 GAMES THIS YEAR. it appears to me that the Hawks think that 40 wins IS ENOUGH VICTORIES FOR THE HAWKS for this season. Why? Because everyone knows in the Eastern Conference you can finish 20 games under .500 (at 31-51) and still make the playoffs. When the Hawks first made the playoffs under woodsen, they finished at 37-43 (a pathetic regular season record) and still easily made the playoffs.
JeJe
March 10th, 2010
4:57 pm
Julius,
YES. Woodson ONLY cares about matching last year’s record (breaking it). His quotes are a joke. The guy thinks if we get 48 wins, he’ll get a new contract.
FIRE THE BASG
FIRE RICK SUND
FIRE WOODY
SELL THE TEAM TO ARTHUR BLANK
HIRE BILLY KNIGHT BACK
HIRE AVERY JOHNSON
BYC
March 10th, 2010
5:01 pm
FIRE WOODSON. That easy. I am tired of seeing this team play the same way. Although we started off with alot of promise, we are reverting back to exactly what happened last year:
-Rookie point guard is not getting any PT and not getting better
-Joe, Al, and Josh are getting tired from playing too many damn minutes so Woodson can pad his regular season stats and try to save his job
-Josh is starting to shoot more and more long jumpers again
-Horford is still undersized and can’t handle decent true centers
-Hawks are still choking in crunch time (maybe because the starters are too tired at the end of the game?)
-The coach still doesn’t know how to use his bench. Joe Smith, Jason Collins, Randolph Morris, Zaza, Teague? Don’t expect to see them unless we’re up by 20 against the Timberwolves.
It’s insane to keep doing the same thing and expect different results.
JeJe
March 10th, 2010
5:07 pm
Woodson said last year the he overplayed Joe so he’d have a better chance of making the All-Star team. LOL like playing 36 minutes instead of 40 would detract from his campaign to make a team he had already made twice. Seriously — fire this guy now. He was supposed to have been fired 3 years ago.
WE HAVE NO SHOT AGAINST ORLANDO OR CLEVELAND. WE’LL PROBABLY LOSE TO MILWAUKEE IN ROUND. THEY BEAT THE CELTICS LAST NIGHT, WHO WOODSON CLAIMS ARE THE BEST TEAM IN THE EAST.
JESUS. I AM SO TIRED OF THIS CLOWN
C'mon Hawks
March 10th, 2010
5:09 pm
Amen BYC!!
AlvinDark
March 10th, 2010
5:14 pm
The rookie Teague should have been starting the entire year. Why? BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FROM MIKE BIBBY, and if you start the rookie (anything Teague gives you will be an upgrade from BibbY, since Bibby is currently giving you nothing), Teague will develop, gain some nba experience, and by the time the playoffs roll around, Teague could have almost been as good as Chris Paul and you would have had a young up and coming star (Teague) running the point instead of an old and broken down horse (Bibby) running it.
jon
March 10th, 2010
5:15 pm
Micheal, because of their lack of intensity, I’m real concerned about getting out of the first round! The Elite teams don’t have the same intensity issues as the Hawks. Look at the so called “bad Loses” there’s way to many of them! What do you think?
Wes Unseld
March 10th, 2010
5:18 pm
Horford ain’t small.
Westurd
March 10th, 2010
5:18 pm
Who cares about 50 wins? Why the F is that still our focus…..you think the Cavs or Celts or Nuggs or anyone else is shooting for a win total?
How about we shoot for a playoff ready team that is peaking at just the right time and all the players and coaches on the same page……50 wins is all good and dandy, but it sounds more like a consolation prize
JeJe
March 10th, 2010
5:21 pm
WHY DOES WOODSON ONLY CALL OUT CERTAIN PLAYERS??? HE ONLY CALLS OUT SMOOVE, ZAZA, TEAGUE, AND CRAWFORD/MO. HE NEVER CALLS OUT MARVIN OR BIBBY. ALL HE EVER SAYS IS THAT MARVIN NEEDS TO PRODUCE FOR US TO BE GOOD. LOL
WHERE IS THE !#@$ING ACCOUNTABILITY ON THIS DAMN TEAM???????????
Westurd
March 10th, 2010
5:24 pm
MC,
Ask Woody why he continues to play two starter who combined don’t produce!(Bibby and Marvin of course)