Pacers at Atlanta Hawks: Attitude and Effort
So today we should find out if what happened at Philly on Friday was just a slip-up or a sign that the Hawks’ attitude and focus are indeed slipping. The Pacers probably don’t have the same athletic talent as the Sixers but they are playing better lately. They’ve got a hard-nosed attitude and a coach with a disdain for tanking. They are coming to play.
Will the Hawks match their intensity or will they figure their talent and homecourt will carry them? Lately I can tell Woody is weary of being the voice asking those kind of questions and looking for the answers.
“I am getting tired,” he said. “After a while, you have got to start figuring things out yourselves, man. We’ve got enough games under our belt. If we win 50-plus games we’ve made a step in the right direction but there is another level.”
Woody is ultimately responsible for the performance of the team. His plans and strategies are fair game for criticism. But he can only do so much when it comes to motivating and preparing his players. The rest is up to them.
It’s a topic I should have touched on more back when I blogged about how what you see on the court Woody isn’t always what Woody wants. Some might take that to mean Woody isn’t getting through to the players but, come on, these guys are pros. They make the big money. You’ve been watching too many cliched sports movies if you think it’s up to Woody to give a rousing speech that inspires his guys to do their jobs.
The NBA is a players’ league. When the Hawks sleepwalked their way through that loss at Philly and then admitted it, that’s on them. To hear Al say it was “unacceptable” is good. It’s cool when J.J. calls out the team for lacking focus. The Hawks are saying the right things and now they’ve got to put action behind those words no matter their opponent.
“That’s where we’ve got to learn,” Woody said. “The other night is a prime example of a team playing for nothing and we thought we were going to show up and win. You’ve got to go out and earn your win.”
MC
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234 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
4:17 pm
We have a Solo sighting!
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
4:18 pm
Uhh oh here comes Joe THE GREAT DEPRESSION Johnson
Blast
March 28th, 2010
4:18 pm
Jamal and Teague equals quickness.
chem
March 28th, 2010
4:18 pm
Teague pushed that one into Indiana’s hand.
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
4:19 pm
Blast, Joe and Bibby equals eternal boredom.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
4:20 pm
I am shocked that Zaza didn’t travel there.
Blast
March 28th, 2010
4:20 pm
Keep feeding Jamal, the hot hand!
Blast
March 28th, 2010
4:21 pm
Venomspitter,
You are a funny dude!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
4:21 pm
Great defense by Teague. Between Teague and Josh I don’t think defenses would ever score transition buckets. PLAY THE MAN MORE!!!!!!!
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
4:21 pm
Here comes Joe with the Brick. Another defensive play by Teague. And bibbys sorry azz is in
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
4:22 pm
OMG PASS THE DAMN BALL JOSH. WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU.
JeJe
March 28th, 2010
4:22 pm
JAMAL SCORED 10 PTS IN LIKE 2 MINUTES EARLY IN THE QUARTER. IS HE NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH THE BALL NOW THAT JOE IS IN?
Sleepy
March 28th, 2010
4:23 pm
what Josh just did should get him subbed out
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
4:23 pm
Man Osh gets stripped every game doin that dumb sh.t
I’m so close to calling Osh an idiot.
Nacho
March 28th, 2010
4:23 pm
Bibby is the role player. Teague should play more.
JeJe
March 28th, 2010
4:23 pm
What a pitiful first quarter.
Marvin and Bibby are showing their true colors: useless basketball players who are lost on defense, can’t guard anyone, and who spend more time falling to the ground than actually contributing anything to this team.
Can we please just release Marvin? Seriously. He is a bigger asset to this team not being on it than he is being on it..
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
4:24 pm
2 minutes left in Tennessee-Michigan State and it’s coming down to the wire, for those of you who care.
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
4:24 pm
I’m sure there are Dleague players better than Marvin. I know there is.
Sleepy
March 28th, 2010
4:25 pm
Im not sure guys like Josh could play for another coach . He better hope Woody gets extended
Could you imagine Jerry Sloan or Larry Brown reaction if he is right next to a guard refuses to pass it to him dribbles it up the floor and then turns it over LOL
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
4:25 pm
Here goes Joe holding the damn ball
Blast
March 28th, 2010
4:26 pm
Why did Hawks go away from Jamal on the pick and roll?
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
4:26 pm
Yea Sleepy Osh would be benched if he played for a good coach. He makes about 4 really dumb plays a game
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
4:27 pm
Ding!
JeJe
March 28th, 2010
4:27 pm
IF THE 2ND UNIT IS PLAYING WELL, KEEP THEM IN. U DONT HAVE TO PUT THE !@#DAMN STARTERS IN HALFWAY THROUGH THE 2ND EVERY DAMN GAME. F!CKING COACH A GOOD GAME FOR ONCE. MY GOD
Blast
March 28th, 2010
4:29 pm
Hawks bench has shown more heart this game.
terrell
March 28th, 2010
4:30 pm
Solo > Zaza
Clyde
March 28th, 2010
4:31 pm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
FIRE WOODY
Sleepy
March 28th, 2010
4:31 pm
I know the second unit is mad on that bench knowing how well they played and still didnt get to play it out
Sleepy
March 28th, 2010
4:32 pm
Was josh just double teaming Dhantey Jones ?
JeJe
March 28th, 2010
4:34 pm
IF THE 2ND UNIT IS PLAYING WELL, KEEP THEM IN. U DONT HAVE TO PUT THE !@#DAMN STARTERS IN HALFWAY THROUGH THE 2ND EVERY DAMN GAME. F!CKING COACH A GOOD GAME FOR ONCE. MY GOD…
Blast
March 28th, 2010
4:34 pm
Marvin should sit. Jamal should play.
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
4:34 pm
My assessmen of the 1st hlf for people who couldn’t see it:
1st of all Bibby and Duck should not be able to start for an NBA team
2nd Joe never shows intensity. And it’s getting on my nerves. Joe also holds the ball toooooooo damn longggggggggggg b4 he makes a move. He has sucked.And when he gets into the game with Jamal he doesn’t wanna let him have any shots.
3rd Jamal and Teague were the opposite of Joe and Bibby. Upbeat and full of energy. Jamal especially. He makes his move quickly instead of waiting for the defense to adjust like an idiot.
4th Osh is just not that smart. He seriously thinks he is Magic Johnson. He refuses to pass it to the pg and he gets stripped. This has happened almost every game this season.
5th Woody is dumb. The 2nd unit outplkayed the 1st unit. But he wants to put the 1st unit back in instead of goin with what is working.
All in all this team is EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING TO WATCH.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
4:35 pm
What the hell is Bibby thinking… it’s not 2001 dude.
Rod from College Park
March 28th, 2010
4:35 pm
VenomSpitter,
“I’m sure there are Dleague players better than Marvin. I know there is.”
I have said that many times. I would venture to say that there are 6′9 guys in high school who are better. I am serious about that.
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
4:35 pm
My assessment of the 1st half for people who couldn’t see it:
1st of all Bibby and Duck should not be able to start for an NBA team
2nd Joe never shows intensity. And it’s getting on my nerves. Joe also holds the ball toooooooo damn longggggggggggg b4 he makes a move. He has sucked.And when he gets into the game with Jamal he doesn’t wanna let him have any shots.
3rd Jamal and Teague were the opposite of Joe and Bibby. Upbeat and full of energy. Jamal especially. He makes his move quickly instead of waiting for the defense to adjust like an idiot.
4th Osh is just not that smart. He seriously thinks he is Magic Johnson. He refuses to pass it to the pg and he gets stripped. This has happened almost every game this season.
5th Woody is dumb. The 2nd unit outplkayed the 1st unit. But he wants to put the 1st unit back in instead of goin with what is working.
6th the hawks are the worst 3pt defensive team in NBA history
7th The switching D is sooooooooooooo dumb
All in all this team is EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING TO WATCH.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
4:36 pm
20-second timeout to set up the half’s last play. My money is on a contested Joe Johnson jumper that barely draws iron.
Blast
March 28th, 2010
4:36 pm
Watch Woody draw up an iso play after this timeout.
Big Ray
March 28th, 2010
4:37 pm
Why couldn’t Josh play for another coach? Oh brother….I’m sure this is going to start that thug nonsense again….
Sleepy
March 28th, 2010
4:37 pm
These starters are gonna get Woodson fired .
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
4:38 pm
My assessment of the 1st half for people who couldn’t see it:
1st of all Bibby and Duck should not be able to start for an NBA team
2nd Joe never shows intensity. And it’s getting on my nerves. Joe also holds the ball toooooooo damn longggggggggggg b4 he makes a move. He has sucked.And when he gets into the game with Jamal he doesn’t wanna let him have any shots.
3rd Jamal and Teague were the opposite of Joe and Bibby. Upbeat and full of energy. Jamal especially. He makes his move quickly instead of waiting for the defense to adjust like an idiot.
4th Osh is just not that smart. He seriously thinks he is Magic Johnson. He refuses to pass it to the pg and he gets stripped. This has happened almost every game this season.
5th Woody is dumb. The 2nd unit outplayed the 1st unit. But he wants to put the 1st unit back in instead of goin with what is working.
6th the hawks are the worst 3pt defensive team in NBA history
7th The switching D is sooooooooooooo dumb
All in all this team is EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING TO WATCH.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
4:38 pm
Considering how bad most of the Hawks played in that half, the fact that they are only down 2 is pretty impressive.
Big Ray
March 28th, 2010
4:39 pm
Second unit looked a lot more crisp out there than the starters did. We’re playing crappy-a$$ defense again, and once again we’re playing 3-on-5 on offense.
hawkfan
March 28th, 2010
4:39 pm
why didn’t the 2nd unit play at the end of the half? when starters came back in the energy went down again and the pacers came up on top again
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
4:39 pm
No it’s not impressive. They are playing the PACERS not the LAKERS.
Nothing impressive about it.
Sleepy
March 28th, 2010
4:40 pm
yes it is Najeh could imagine if Granger was making those wide open jumpers he normally makes tonight ? hes 3-11 so far
Big Ray
March 28th, 2010
4:40 pm
Najeh ,
I’d agree, but I think the Pacers really do just suck that badly.
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
4:40 pm
My assessment of the 1st half for people who couldn’t see it:
1st of all Bibby and Duck should not be able to start for an NBA team
2nd Joe never shows intensity. And it’s getting on my nerves. Joe also holds the ball toooooooo damn longggggggggggg b4 he makes a move. He has sucked.And when he gets into the game with Jamal he doesn’t wanna let him have any shots.
3rd Jamal and Teague were the opposite of Joe and Bibby. Upbeat and full of energy. Jamal especially. He makes his move quickly instead of waiting for the defense to adjust like an idiot.
4th Osh is just not that smart. He seriously thinks he is Magic Johnson. He refuses to pass it to the pg and he gets stripped. This has happened almost every game this season.
5th Woody is dumb. The 2nd unit outplayed the 1st unit. But he wants to put the 1st unit back in instead of goin with what is working.
6th the hawks are the worst 3pt defensive team in NBA history
7th The switching D is sooooooooooooo dumb
All in all this team is EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING TO WATCH..
Big Ray
March 28th, 2010
4:40 pm
Hawkfan,
Good question. Ask Woody.
Big Ray
March 28th, 2010
4:41 pm
I think JJ didn’t respect Granger’s ability to play defense. He paid for it on at least one possession.
Season Ticket Holder
March 28th, 2010
4:42 pm
Why is the game even close… Oh I forgot, the Hawks are playing. I hope this team wakes up and puts away a team they should be able to beat hands down. Losing against sub-par teams is getting old.