Hawks squawks: Hawks 112, Pistons 99
- Ken Sugiura sitting in for MC.
- I’m curious how you grade the game. To me, the most impressive thing was the second quarter. After jumping out early, I figured the Hawks would let Detroit back in the game, but they turned it up a notch, which, as you know better than I do, has not always been the case. One play that stands out is Jamal Crawford D’ing up Ben Gordon out beyond the 3-point line, poking the ball away and cruising in for a dunk.
- Jamal: “It’s contagious. I think that’s a part of my game, going towards the playoffs, I want to be a better all-around player than I was at the start of the season. I will be. I vow to be.”
- Real strong defensive showing in the first half. It seemed like every Detroit shot was contested. Lots of deflections.
- However, the Hawks got a little lax in the second half defensively. Of course, as was repeated a few times in the locker room, all teams go on runs. But not all runs have to lead to a team scoring 58 points in the second half, as the Pistons did, which was their fourth-best second half of the season.
- Mike Woodson: “If we can beat them by 40, we would have, but they played their butts off in the second half. Like I said, they’re professionals, too.”
- But perhaps the takeaway is that the Hawks got back on it and closed out the game strong.
- Al Horford: “We’ve had our misfortunes in giving up leads. Even though we blew a pretty significant lead, we were still able to hold them off and finish the game out the right way.”
- Interesting quote from John Kuester: “They know how to turn it on when they have to, and that’s going to be important, because as time goes on and you get ready for the playoffs, you have to be prepared to turn it for 48 minutes.”
- Will Bynum with his take on one of your favorite topics: “I think their switching defense gave us a problem early on in the game. It made it difficult for us in our offense, especially on the wings.”
- Josh Smith on Zaza Pachulia’s behind-the-back pass to Joe Smith: “It was nice. I know we’re definitely going to hear about that for a couple weeks. He’’s not going to let that go.”
- Whaddya think?
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190 comments Add your comment
Eggfaced saltee
March 14th, 2010
8:20 pm
http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Rebounds.jsp?league=00&season=22009&conf=OVERALL&position=0&splitType=9&splitScope=GAME&qualified=Y&yearsExp=-1&splitDD=
Eggfaced saltee
March 14th, 2010
8:23 pm
before I answer you most recent idiocy apologize for your lying and posting erroneous links about the centers stats in rbs and blks. Otherwise, unlike you, I dont enjoy pissing in the wind!
Sautee
March 14th, 2010
8:24 pm
Oh boy, am I ever egg-faced. LOL, dude, look at the chart you just printed. It’s for ALL players, not centers. Unless of course Gerald Wallace, Z-bo, Boozer, TD, and Lamar Odum have changed position overnight.
maybe you want to retract that?
Yeah, boy, I’m egg-faced alright. heh, heh.
drmaryb
March 14th, 2010
8:49 pm
Bill Parcels…
Said it Best, “I didn’t buy the Groceries!”
It is not Woody’s fault that B-Knight didn’t draft a Point Gaurd – Billy passed on Chris Paul & Deron Williams.
Woody has to cook what’s in the fridge! So, if you don’t like Bibby? Then call Billy – he’s at home pruning his trees for the wife! & If JT0 was such a phenom then why was he sitting there at the 19th pick? Or whatever pick he was.
Get a point people. If we played JT0 heavy minutes this year we would not be the #3 seed. How do I know, because we are the #3 seed!
Geez!
Ree Roe
March 14th, 2010
8:55 pm
ORL just lost. We got NJ on Tues…when we win that we’ll be 3 games back goin into Wed night’s action
-REEalize it’s Roe!!!
Eggfaced saltee
March 14th, 2010
8:57 pm
AT the end of the night, hes still number 15, have a good night. Shout when you have something to say.
Eggfaced saltee
March 14th, 2010
8:59 pm
Id did not write chart, NBA.com did and its overall & Position (C).
drmaryb
March 14th, 2010
9:08 pm
Charlotte beats Orlando
Cavaliers beat Celtics
How did Charlotte beat Orlando, well they went right at “The Beast” & got him in foul trouble. (He’s foul proned). That is the answer to beating the magic! If we can go right at Dwight & take him out, we got a chance to troll in the paint!
Let’s Go! Hawks!
RaJaH
March 14th, 2010
9:09 pm
“It is not Woody’s fault that B-Knight didn’t draft a Point Gaurd – Billy passed on Chris Paul & Deron Williams.”
Woody didn’t want Paul or Williams anymore than Knight did and even went on record saying so.
Sautee
March 14th, 2010
9:17 pm
Truth-serum,
At the end of the night, he’s #15 overall, and tied for #7 among centers. If you follow the very link that YOU provided above at 8:20, you see this:
Rebounds Leaders > 2009-2010 > Regular Season > All Positions > All Players > Per Game > All Conferences > Qualified Only
Note that it says (and this is from YOUR link) ALL positions
You’d need to go to the box that says “player options” and click on C (for centers)
Then you will see that I was correct. Tied for #7 in rebounds among centers.
And yet, you accuse me of lying and posting erroneous links.
Ironic, isn’t it?
Grandad
March 14th, 2010
9:26 pm
TS – Be nice.
C’mon now, I’m tryin’ to keep you in the game.
Grandad
March 14th, 2010
9:34 pm
Sautee – I enjoy banging my head against the wall as much as the next guy. But doggone, after a while, you end up with a headache and the wall
ain’t even got a dent. Bless his heart. That’s one ‘thick’ wall.
Sautee
March 14th, 2010
9:50 pm
Grandad,
So aptly put.
And yes, it’s probably futile, but I’d just like to get him to be real. He can rail against Horford all he wants, but don’t try to fudge the numbers.
Dat ain’t riiight. Last year he repeatedly posted Horford’s playoff numbers as his regular season numbers. Argued over and over that he was certain. But of course he was proven wrong then too.
I’ll have to say that the conspiracy theory is quite a stretch, though. Hey, at least it showed some imagination. (There some positive spin for you).
Have a good evening, I’m off.
JeJe
March 14th, 2010
10:41 pm
The reason people think Joe and Jamal have to have perfect games against Orlando/Cleveland in order for us to win is because Marvin cowers away and Bibby sucks. They do not step up when needed against GOOD teams and therefore we will not succeed in the playoffs. Would be nice if Marvin actually had a break-out year and did something for this team besides average defense and 10 ppg…
Big Ray
March 14th, 2010
10:53 pm
Grandad ,
Sorry to make things such a mystery. Yes, I was being humorous (sarcastic), and I’ve always enjoyed your posts.
Northcyde ,
Actually, I believe some of what I said (Woody IS a good coach, and players are responsible for their own work ethics) , as well as some of what you say. I don’t believe in telling people how to think or feel, or telling them that how they think or feel is somehow wrong or inaccurate simply because I don’t feel or think the exact same way. But that’s just my take on things. Your take is clearly different. Different strokes and all that….
Hope life is going well for you, Kirk. And I hope your roommate got a new laptop and quits stealing yours.
Truth Serum ,
I still don’t get why Horford has to be blamed for being the best big man on the team. Horford didn’t draft anybody, has no power over free agency or trade, can’t sign anyone to a contract. He’s a better center than anyone we’ve had on this roster in years, and he’s only doing the job he’s being asked to do. One day he may not have to play center for the Hawks. When that day comes, I hope whoever is playing center can do a better job than he does. Which means they have to make the all-star team or average more than 14 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Until then, why blame the man who got forced into the job?
Big Ray
March 14th, 2010
10:55 pm
Man, one of these days I’ll actually remember to LOG OUT of WordPress after checking up on my blog, and BEFORE hanging out with everybody else on these here blogs….
Big Ray
March 14th, 2010
11:02 pm
Sam’l ,
No harm, no foul. You were misdirected. I’ve enjoyed reading your posts here and on the fan blog. You should come around more often.
JeJe ,
It’s easy to pick on Marvin, but if he’s going to have a breakout year, one of two things has to happen. Either the team will suddenly average about 110 ppg, or somebody else’s shot attempts get cut. Take your pick between JJ, Smith, Horford, and Crawford. Seriously, those are your top four scorers/shot takers. They average 21 ppg, 16ppg, 14ppg, and 17ppg, roughly. Marvin averages 10ppg, so between those 5 guys, you have roughly 78 ppg. We haven’t counted Bibby or any of the other guys on the bench.
Having said that, I would like for Marvin to score more. I’d like to see him get about 15ppg. But what would you consider a breakout year? 20ppg? 18ppg? For that to happen, he either has to be taking somebody else’s shots, or this team has to come up with a system that scores more points. I’m not disagreeing with you, just trying to put it into perspective.
As for Bibby, he’s on the way down, man. Dude can hit some shots, but he’s becoming inconsistent.
Just Saying
March 14th, 2010
11:45 pm
Not a CAVS fan at all but do like how their team has fun (and win). Would it be so bad to wear the old school Spud Webb era jersey at home games now and then?
Big Ray
March 14th, 2010
11:54 pm
Sure. Why not.
northcyde
March 15th, 2010
12:30 am
@ Big Ray:
Whoever this Kirk cat is, he must’ve really done a number on you and some of the other people around here. But Kirk is not me. “Me” is northcyde. I also post on Hawksquawk, and have been a member there since 2005. I was also the former mod on the ESPN Hawks board back in 2006 – 2007.
No need to change my name, or come up with fake names, or any of that.
Hawks have won 8 out of 11 . . and 21 of their last 32 games.
Big Ray
March 15th, 2010
12:48 am
Northcyde ,
Sorry, mistaken identity I suppose, this being a computer forum and all that. Nope, dude didn’t “do a number on me”, you just sound EXACTLY like him. I won’t go into detail, but it was entertaining (as are you). Yes, I know you post on Hawksquawk. Other people know that, too, knew it before I did. Must have been fun moderating the ESPN Hawks boards. I’ll have to settle for the obscurity of moderating the AJC Hawks fan forum.
No need to change my name, or come up with fake names, or any of that.
Your mom named you northcyde? Just kidding….
I love the Hawks. Have for a very long time…
The broad paint brush
March 15th, 2010
4:21 am
True, Horford is only doing what he is told by the people that hired him and manage him, being a @#15 in rebounding for centers and @# 15 for shot blocking among center does not make for an effective defender at the 5. My pointing this out is comment to those who placed him there and not as much to horford, who has reached his peak.
We we do get a center, hopefully JJ and Woodson will still be in the flock and not casualties of the fact that we have taken so long to seriously pursue one. Hopefully we will still have this nucleus intact.
So that is why I have and will continue to sound off on this point. Its nothing personal. I would love to see Horford here as a back up to josh and the new center. He would still get starter like minutes. But the reality is Josh is a better power forward than AL.
The broad paint brush
March 15th, 2010
4:23 am
http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Rebounds.jsp?league=00&season=22009&conf=OVERALL&position=0&splitType=9&splitScope=GAME&qualified=Y&yearsExp=-1&splitDD=
The broad paint brush
March 15th, 2010
4:26 am
Its a defender that we need not someone to pick up garbage rebound while someone else plays the defense.
“Actually, I believe some of what I said (Woody IS a good coach, and players are responsible for their own work ethics”
We agree on something.
How about going after.....
March 15th, 2010
4:48 am
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-kobelakers031310&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
we could have had....
March 15th, 2010
4:50 am
http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2010/3/14/1373089/phoenix-suns-take-care-of?ref=yahoo
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
March 15th, 2010
7:03 am
After this next game at NJ, we get to see what we’re really made of.
@TOR, CHA, SA, @MIL, ORL, @PHI
Because of how we’ve played recently, I can only expect us to come out of that 3-3 at best. However, knowing the Hawks and after sucking against crappy teams, they might come out and go like 4-2 against much better comp.
Regardless how Ws and Ls play out during that 6 game stretch, I’m going to be looking to see if we can play smarter and hopefully with more chemistry.
I think it’s a joke that after all of this time, Woodson cant get these guys to look at least DECENT in the half-court set. maaayne thats some BS.
Nacho
March 15th, 2010
7:44 am
Brandon Heyward would be a nice addition for the front court rotation next year.
We also need to more quickly transition to a Teague run team than a Bibby run team.
We could also use a coach that would need at least two fingers in order to signal which play to run.
Astro Joe
March 15th, 2010
8:17 am
Sautee, maybe TS is just trying to help Horford become an A+ center.
sam'l
March 15th, 2010
9:00 am
One day after calling out “Big Ray” for hypocrisy, I’m back. Checked the other blog…they’re wondering if the Hawks can beat New Jersey……..should be called the “Kindergarten Fans Blog”
Meanwhile, here in the real world, Orlando got beat by Charlotte, who the Orlando media is calling an “alarming” team based on Steve Jackson’s ability and coach Brown’s emphasis on defense. O. was missing Barnes, C. was missing Henderson. O. Coach blames lack of defensive intensity…O was playing back to back. Four potential coach of year’s were mentioned in adjacent piece, none of them Woodson, by the way….No sane person would.include Woodson at this point (except maybe Jason Kidd)..
The Hawks should have their media team (if they have one) tape the Charlotte-Orlando game and present this and acccompanying interviews, articles and analysis to coach Woodson and a specially implemented analysis TEAM including past and former coaches, D. Wilkins, M. Price, R. Sund, the entire coaching staff and “friends” accumulated through the years, and then immediately play and replay this tape and analyais for Woodson and the players to figure out a way to beat Orlando. It appears the two clubs will meet headon in the second round of the playoffs.
Then, the team should devote 10 minutes of time each practice working on this and try out some of this strategy next time they play Orlando.
Please note that this key to advancing did not take a full page of meaningless statistics accompanied by brainless schmoozing.
If you know a Hawk or have access to management, feel free to suggest this.
“My work here is over.” Owen Wilson, “You, Me, and Dupree” .
terrell
March 15th, 2010
9:27 am
Mary B, it is Woody’s fault he didn’t draft a pg. Wtf! He’s NEVER liked young pg’s. He didn’t want Paul or Williams. Hell, he didnt want Acie Law, but BK took him anyway just to piss him off. They weren’t the best of friends that year.
Sautee
March 15th, 2010
9:45 am
AJ,
If that’s all it would take, sure, that’s ok.
Although HE’D be non-plussed at the idea.
Ken Strickland
March 15th, 2010
9:46 am
DRMARYB-I’ve been saying that for sometime now, but how can we attack Howard when Woodson insists on starting and playing Bibby most of the PG mins? He can’t beat anyone off the dribble, let alone challenge Howard even if he does manage to get into the lane. MBarnes and DHoward are the only Orlando starters who play any DEF. When teams penetrate, he usually gets into foul trouble trying to cover for his teammates poor DEF, much like we end up doing with Bibby in the gm.
The Spurs have done pretty good winning NBA titles over the past few yrs without a dominant C, unless you consider Nazi Muhammad or Nesterovich dominant centers. In fact, they now have a dominant player named Tim Duncan playing C, and they’re struggling to make the playoffs.
What made these teams click without a dominant center is the presence of a dominant PG, like TParker and CBillups. Last yrs Lakers were the 1st team to win a championship without a dominant PG since the MJ, SPippen led Bulls. Yes TRUTH SERUM, you’re correct, AHorford isn’t a dominant center and the Hawks will never win an NBA title with him at center, AS LONG AS MIKE WOODSON IS THE HC, AND AS LONG AS HE INSISTS ON STARTING AND GIVING HEAVY MINS TO PG MBIBBY, THE SLOWEST, LEAST ATHLETIC AND MOST OFF AND DEF LIMITED PG IN THE ENTIRE NBA.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2010
9:57 am
“horford, who has reached his peak.”
Sounds a lot like the people who wanted to trade Josh last offseason. I could swear I heard people saying that about Josh too.
Big Ray
March 15th, 2010
11:01 am
Sam’l ,
I take it you missed my return post to you at 11:02 pm last night. Don’t know how you missed all the pure, unadulterated sarcasm in my post to Grandad, but hey…whichever…
By the way, I’m not sure where you read the idea that people are wondering if the Hawks can beat New Jersey, but it wasn’t on the Hawks Fan Nest. My post clearly illustrated how badly the Hawks have beaten New Jersey, and the question was whether or not the Nets could even be competitive.
Also, most of the posts are about who to pick up in the upcoming draft, and who we might get matched up with in the playoffs. Not sure what your issue with me is…you got a warm reception the few times you stopped by on the fan blog.
One more thing. Those “kindergarten fans” you mention all post here as well. And you call me a hypocrite?
Whatever floats the raft, bro’….
Big Ray
March 15th, 2010
11:04 am
Najeh ,
Yep. All season long, as a matter of fact. It was tough being a Josh Smith fan…
Truth-Serum
March 15th, 2010
12:01 pm
I never said this, someone is using my name to help there sick opinion. I would never move Josh to small forward because he is one of the best power forwards in the NBA and considerably better than Al. I would use Al off the bench as a backup 4/5
“Truth Serum
March 15th, 2010
8:29 am
Get a real center. Move Horford to pf. Move Josh to sf. Get rid of Marvin. Championship.”
Its a sad day when your argument is so said you need to use my name to help your sickness. Al backs up Josh and the center. Josh stays put!
Truth-Serum
March 15th, 2010
12:21 pm
Still using Josh’s success to cover for Al’s lack thereof? Josh is still growing and growing. Al has peaked. Josh stand on his own merit.
Al, stand on your own merit or the lack there of…. You aint no Josh!
Sautee
March 15th, 2010
12:34 pm
Truth-serum,
About this: “Al has peaked.”
So if he has peaked, what explains this:
Since the All-Star game Al is tied for 4th in scoring among centers at 16.9 /gm
Here’s the link: http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Scoring.jsp?league=00&season=22009&conf=OVERALL&position=1&splitType=19&splitScope=GAME&qualified=Y&yearsExp=-1&splitDD=Post%20AllStar
His season average is 14.1 points. If he has peaked, why the uptick in his scoring?
Truth-Serum
March 15th, 2010
12:39 pm
“All season long, as a matter of fact. It was tough being a Josh Smith fan…”
Not for Me!
Josh arrive here from high school. 99.9% of players who come straight from high school to the pros become super stars. I knew that Josh was one of the youngest players In the NBA and would have a tremendous upside if he could be with a father figure (woodson) who would guide and discipline that super talent.
Al came here as the most NBA ready player in the draft. There has only been small organic growth with him and looking at his lack of talent, I cant see where he will change much. Al is older and more experienced through college than Josh.
Al has peaked.#15th rebounder among centers and #18 for block shots Among centers. When you mention that he is 13ppg and 9rbs ppg it reminds me of a jelly filled doughnut.Looks good on the outside but full of jelly on the inside. (not that 13 and 9 excite me)
GET THE HAWKS A CENTER!
Ken, you are wrong about the lakers lack of a physical presence in the post, however I will agree with you on two point:
1)Yes TRUTH SERUM, you’re correct, AHorford isn’t a dominant center and the Hawks will never win an NBA title with him at center,
2) Bibby’s role should be reduced….as soon as the hawk acquire a 1 guard to take his place, but “turnover teague”, the 7th point guard in the draft aint the answer.
I think the powers that be have wrote of this season and are content to just make it to the second round win a game and exit. There will be causalities, however, because Joe wants a ring and Woodson, will be easily market,(and worth every penny). We will get nothing worthwhile in return for either. Once JJ is gone, Its all on Josh’s shoulders. We can and will have to rebuild around him, but I am sure it will be awhile before we are 52-3 wins again! If ever.
Truth-Serum
March 15th, 2010
12:47 pm
Sautee Its not about a 2week hot streak, its about a season long effort. I appreciate you trying to put a positive spend on a lackluster campaign. The MAJOR point I think you are in DENIAL about is the fact that Al is among the weakest defenders in the pro game when playing the 5. Its about DEFENSE. READ MY LIPS: D-E-F-E-N-S-E-! – A WORD FOREIGN TO AL!
Al has been here what…4-5 years now, He hasnt grown into the great defender management hoped for. Hes peaked and he is ….what he is, a very good power forward, but not as good a power forward as Josh!
Truth-Serum
March 15th, 2010
12:52 pm
And one other thing to the poster using my name at
March 15th, 2010
8:29 am
I like Marvin and what he does for this team. He is an asset as far as Im concerned and want to see him out there unselfishly blending in with our starting 5. Go MARVIN!
Truth-Serum
March 15th, 2010
12:53 pm
*Woodson, will be easily marketed, (and worth every penny).
Astro Joe
March 15th, 2010
12:57 pm
TS… uh, Horford is about 2.67 years into his pro career.
Sautee
March 15th, 2010
1:01 pm
Truth-serum lies again:
He just said this: “Al has peaked.#15th rebounder among centers and #18 for block shots Among centers.”
While #18 in blocks is correct…….
Truth=serum KNOWS that #15 is OVERALL against all players, but he keeps on lying about it. He was clearly shown last night, that the link he keeps on posting is for ALL POSITIONS. If any of you doubt it, just go to the link Truth-serum provided at 8:20 last night. Click on that link, and this will come up:
Rebounds Leaders > 2009-2010 > Regular Season > All Positions > All Players > Per Game > All Conferences > Qualified Only
Notice that truth-serum’s link leads you to” All Positions” and NOT to Centers.
Horford, as of today, is tied with Al Jefferson at 7th among Centers in rebounding / game.
And here’s the link:
http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Rebounds.jsp?league=00&season=22009&conf=OVERALL&position=1&splitType=9&splitScope=GAME&qualified=Y&yearsExp=-1&splitDD=All%20Teams
Note that when my link is clicked you come up with this:
Rebounds Leaders > 2009-2010 > Regular Season > Center > All Players > Per Game > All Conferences > Qualified Only
Indicating that the filter is set to measure that stats of centers.
Truth-serum, you don’t need to lie to tell us you don’t like Horford. We get it without the lies.
Sautee
March 15th, 2010
1:29 pm
Truth-serum said this:
“Sautee Its not about a 2week hot streak, its about a season long effort.”
Ok, let’s look at his season: 14.1 points /gm
Last season he was at 11.5 points / gm
Let’s see that’s a 22.6% increase from last season. Is that a long enough view for you?
Tell me how 22.6% better than last year (and he’s still just 23 years old) means he’s “peaked”?
And anyone who thinks Horford has been around for 4-5 years certainly doesn’t pay much attention to the Hawks. LOL!
And by the way truth-serum, here’s something you said last June to Ken Strickland:
truth-serum
June 19th, 2009
10:51 am
Ken Strickland
June 18th, 2009
9:07 pm
“You apparently don’t understand what a center is because you keep referring to numbers whose relevance is minuet. The center post is not about rebounding. I wish you could understand and appreciate the center position better.”
OK, so if the center post is NOT about rebounding (your own words) than why are you trying to portray Horford as lacking in that department?
Which of course, isn’t true. He’s tied for 7th among centers in rebounding.
Astro Joe
March 15th, 2010
1:38 pm
BTW, Marvin averaged 14 points last season and 15 the previous season. Just saying.
Truth-Serum
March 15th, 2010
1:47 pm
AJ if Marvin Average 12-15 points a game Im satisfied that he is in the flow but not the center piece. Im Satisfied. I dont need 20pts a night out of Marvin. I like the energy he brings.
Truth-Serum
March 15th, 2010
1:52 pm
Astro Joe
March 15th, 2010
12:57 pm
TS… uh, Horford is about 2.67 years into his pro career.
Thanks, I wasnt sure, he just seems so old.
Dezz Nuttz
March 15th, 2010
1:57 pm
You mean there are 7 better rebounding center and 17 better shot blocking defensive and in the NBA?
Does w h o r e ford play defense?