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
Big Ray
March 28th, 2010
5:09 pm
“Not only that, but Chills also understood the game a lot better and was a much better role player as a result. Marvin doesn’t understand that he can impact the game without having the ball in his hands. Chills’ entire impact was without the ball in his hands. On a team like this that has multiple scorers who all need the ball, a player like Chills is a lot more valuable.”
COOOOOOOO-SIIIIIIIIIGN!
Big Ray
March 28th, 2010
5:10 pm
Love the clown who keeps posting as Rick Sund. I know it’s a regular blogger, but it’s still funny as hell.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
5:10 pm
Looks like Ryan Cameron got Solo on the Kiss Cam…
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
5:10 pm
“Woodson is a TOP defensive coach, a true genius at shutting down players like Nate Robinson and John Salmons”
LMAO @ Rick Sund
Blast
March 28th, 2010
5:10 pm
Marvin is better than what he has displayed. I believe this is his worst year yet.
Big Ray
March 28th, 2010
5:12 pm
Blast ,
Just listen to what you just said, LOL.
“Marvin is better than what he has displayed. I believe this is his worst year yet.”
What are you trying to convince us of? LOL
Clyde
March 28th, 2010
5:12 pm
Najeh Davenpoop Al plays well against scrubs.
FIRE WOODY
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
5:13 pm
I think Marvin needs some incentive.
Promise marvin that he’ll get some SWAN BOOTY if he steps up his play
bigdave
March 28th, 2010
5:13 pm
lol… you would think Joe was having a bad game.. folks is crazy, probably cheer misses…
thomas22
March 28th, 2010
5:13 pm
I’m glad Coach W pulled Josh- When is Josh going to realize he’s not a PG, and the reason he is open 16 ft out is because teams know HE cant make jumpers! He screws up the chemistry with that foolishness! Go Hawks!
Big Ray
March 28th, 2010
5:13 pm
I guess we finally remembered that this is the team Horford had 24 points/16 rebounds against earlier in the season.
Blast
March 28th, 2010
5:14 pm
Big Ray,
Just trying to show much maligned Marvin some love.
joe is king
March 28th, 2010
5:14 pm
Less than a minute left in the third quarter. horeford better get his shots in because coach says joe gets the ball from here on out.
Hawk n the Ham
March 28th, 2010
5:15 pm
If Marvin was to pick up his game, I’m sure Aflac would drop the real duck and add an NBA duck for their commercials.
Big Ray
March 28th, 2010
5:15 pm
Joe ain’t having a bad game.
But Al is having a better one. Feed Al.
Blast
March 28th, 2010
5:16 pm
Nice play, Mario.
TheNutMunchers
March 28th, 2010
5:16 pm
The List of posters that are constantly on Joe’s nuts:
bigdave
Northcyde
Their lust for Joe’s nutsac know no bounds
Hawk n the Ham
March 28th, 2010
5:16 pm
Speaking of players who know their role….MARIO!!
That kid rides the pine and doesn’t whine or complain. But when Woody calls his number, Super Mario goes in!
Big Ray
March 28th, 2010
5:17 pm
You know what I love about Mario West? He plays every second that he’s in there, like he is SO GLAD to be in the NBA. Probably because he really is, but you get the point…
Big Ray
March 28th, 2010
5:18 pm
I’d say bigdave is better balanced than that….
TheNutMunchers
March 28th, 2010
5:18 pm
The List of posters that are constantly on Joe’s nuts:
bigdave
Northcyde
Their lust for Joe’s nutsac know no bounds.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
5:18 pm
“He plays every second that he’s in there, like he is SO GLAD to be in the NBA. Probably because he really is”
Haha… if I was getting paid NBA money purely for hustle, and not because of any actual basketball talent, I’d be thrilled. Not hating, just saying…
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
5:19 pm
Alright Hawks u better not choke
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
5:19 pm
Meanwhile, what is up with Zaza actually making shots inside today?
O'Brien
March 28th, 2010
5:19 pm
northcyde,
Nobody is saying JJ has stunk up the joint. But so far, he does not have to carry the load.
With the way Al was been playing this quarter, we should have gone to him EVERY time down. Thats one adjustment the team has to make. We dont go to the hot hand consistently enough.
Overall, great quarter from the Hawks though. Once Al got going, it rubbed off on everybody else.
Woody always had Chills in at the end of the game, so I dont know why Sund did not think highly of him. The irony too, is that I think Chills would have signed for LESS than the $7.5 mil annually that Marvin got. Way to go Rick Sund.
I hope the Hawks can put these guys away early. Please, no fourth quarter struggles. I wonder if Pacers will go zone?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
5:19 pm
4th quarter. Let’s see if a) the Pacers throw a zone at the Hawks at some point, and b) if the Hawks can keep up the intensity and not let them back in.
Sleepy
March 28th, 2010
5:20 pm
This pace is much better for us . We are not out of co0ntrol but we are not walking it up every possession trying to milk the clock either.
northcyde
March 28th, 2010
5:20 pm
Horford played to his strength as an offensive player . . . taking the 15 to 18 footer. Anytime he has a bigger defender on him, that’s what he should look to do.
Defense was a lot better that quarter, individually and team.
LOL @ Zaza with the hook.
Hawks up 11. Let’s see if they’ll close this out, or let them back into the game.
Hawk n the Ham
March 28th, 2010
5:20 pm
Sit Marvin….Start Mo. I’m convinced now.
JeJe
March 28th, 2010
5:20 pm
WHERE ARE JOE SMITH AND TEAGUE?
DO U NOT GET REWARDED FOR PLAYING WELL?
OH WAIT, I FORGOT: WOODSON IS OUR HEAD COACH
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
5:21 pm
Mo Evans is the man. I don’t think people appreciate him enough. You gotta love a role player who plays within himself and knows exactly where he needs to be.
hawkfan
March 28th, 2010
5:21 pm
i think the reason the 2nd unit has brought in some energy today because they are tired of rotting on the bench and know that the playoffs are coming up, so their minutes are about to decline even more
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
March 28th, 2010
5:23 pm
lol Marietta
Hawk n the Ham
March 28th, 2010
5:23 pm
“Sends it to Marietta….”
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
5:23 pm
The Pacers are showing why they are a lottery team. When they are not making those 3’s they are the Warriors of the Eastern Conference — poor shot selection and nonexistent defense.
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
5:24 pm
why is it that whenever marvin shows production Joe is not on the floor?
thomas22
March 28th, 2010
5:25 pm
BIG Ray – You are on the money-Mario knows his role and is great at it……
Maybe somebody needs to play Marvin Gaye’s song (What’s going On) for our Marvin because he’s been non existent for the most part this season.
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
March 28th, 2010
5:25 pm
I think Joe beat up Marvin and stole his candy or something.
Sleepy
March 28th, 2010
5:26 pm
good defense Jamal and Marvin and its nice to see some 4th quarter intensity BEFORE we are down 7pts
VenomSpitter
March 28th, 2010
5:26 pm
LOL @ Mac.
Trainwreck
March 28th, 2010
5:28 pm
If they continue to play like this the article for this game should be called built ‘FORD tough and highlight how HorFORD and CrawFORD carried us today! Ok Ok…. cheesy I know
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
March 28th, 2010
5:28 pm
That was the LOUDEST brick I’ve heard in a long time.
Courtesy: Marvin Williams
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
5:28 pm
Hawks starting to cool off, and Pacers haven’t even started playing zone yet…
northcyde
March 28th, 2010
5:30 pm
O’Brien . . . do you see the irony in your comments about Horford being hot. You’re not going to get any argument from be about feeding a hot player on this team. I don’t care if it’s Horford or Crawford or even Marvin.
But when JJ had it going in Milwaukee . . and he misses one shot . . . .
LOL . . it’s just funny to me.
Anybody that says that this blog ( as a whole ) isn’t overly critical of Joe Johnson, just aren’t reading it.
I support ALL the Hawks.
Marvin’s defense this half ( both team and individually ) has been great. But how many people will even acknowledge that?
JeJe
March 28th, 2010
5:31 pm
GOOD JOB JOE.
OF COURSE IT’S ZAZA’S FAULT, WOODY. IT’S NEVER JOE’S FAULT
terrell
March 28th, 2010
5:32 pm
Iso time.
MObMO
March 28th, 2010
5:33 pm
White Lighthening!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 28th, 2010
5:33 pm
Magic Pachulia strikes again LMAO
Sleepy
March 28th, 2010
5:33 pm
In Milwaukee the team gave Joe the ball with 290 seconds on the clock and stood around watching him .
Tonight Horford scored on the low block but he also allowed his teammates to find him within the flow of the game which Crawford did .
If Joe gets hot hes gonna create every shot himself against the entire opposing team and that is what people hate because the rate of success for him doing that is very low .
terrell
March 28th, 2010
5:36 pm
Teague no more min after playing well. Wtf?