Hawks Squawks: Cavaliers 93, Hawks 88
It was more scowls for Smoove and the Hawks after another loss to Cavs. (AP)
Cleveland– What I saw was similar to what happened at Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Toronto, New York, Miami and Golden State. The details may differ somewhat but the bottom line doesn’t: The Hawks couldn’t make plays to close out a close game on the road.
– If the Hawks win just three of those seven, they would be 20-16 on the road and just one loss behind Orlando in the Southeastern Division. Instead, the Magic is running away from them and the Hawks haven’t proved they belong in the discussion with Cleveland and Orlando in the East’s elite.
– So I asked Woody about what I called a “persistent problem” with failing to close out road games since the All-Star break. He didn’t like that characterization. ““I wish I knew (why),” he said. “But I can’t say it’s been that way since the All-Star game, but it’s been that way against the Cavaliers. We’ve had close games against them and we can’t find any offense in the fourth quarter.”
– Woody also didn’t like it when Cleveland reporters kept up the (fair) line of questioning about the Hawks’ road woes holding them back. “It’s not easy to win on the road,” he said. “They’ve lost how many road games here? Can you tell me that? (Cavs are 33-4 here). It’s not like teams just come in here and win ballgames. We’ve had a couple games here where if things had gone our way, we would have come away with a win.”
– But you can say that about all those games I mentioned. The fact is things don’t go the Hawks’ ways in tight games on the road. They often cite their record of 41-5 when leading with five minutes or less but that doesn’t take into account games like this, when they were up 76-74 with 6:43 to go and didn’t score again until they were down 88-76.
– After LeBron and Mo Williams made consecutive 3-pointers for an 84-76 lead, the Hawks missed two free throws and three straight shots. “I thought their defense stiffened in the last six minutes and we didn’t respond,” Woody said. “We just didn’t answer.”
– That stretch featured the kind of plays that tend to doom the Hawks in tight road games: Mo Williams left wide open for a corner three on a missed switch. Ilgauskas standing under the basket for two offensive rebounds and a putback. Smoove coming out of a timeout and throwing the ball away. Horford hurriedly throwing up a jump hook despite no defenders near him and failing to catch rim.
– That’s three games where the Hawks had a chance to beat Cleveland and couldn’t do it. This time there was no shot clock screw-up to blame.
– A tight deadline prevented me from talking to Hawks players but Jamal was quoted by Cavs PR: “For whatever reason, we play good up until the last five or six minutes of each game. All three times, we gave ourselves a chanceto win. And this is a team we can potentially see in the playoffs. We have to figure it out. I don’t think we’re that far away at all, but we have to figure it out.”
– They could start by blocking out the Cavs on the boards. Time after time the Cavs soared in unchecked for rebounds, and that might have been a bigger problem than the stalled offense in the fourth quarter. The Hawks shot 9 of 22 in the fourth, not good but not terrible, but the Cavs beat them 14-6 on the boards.
– Their advantage for the game was 55-36. The Cavs got 20 second-chance points on 14 offensive rebounds. “That was huge,” Woody said. “That’s another area that we have to clean up.”
– The Cavs controlled the glass without big men Shaq and Varejao. What’s going to happen if the Hawks face the Cavs in the playoffs with those two back in the lineup?
– Jamal got the Hawks back in it by scoring six points in the final two minutes of the third. Then he shot the Hawks out of it by missing 5 of 6 in the fourth. He was 6 of 18 from the field and J.J. was 6 of 17 for a combined 34 percent. The rest of the Hawks were 25 of 55 (45 percent).
– “I thought they had good looks, shots they normally make, but we just couldn’t get them to go down,” Woody said. “Then we couldn’t get stops the other way. That’s a helluva tough combination.”
– The Cavs notched their second consecutive 60-win season. They clinched the East’s top seed when Orlando lost later in the night.
– I’m out, Hawks fans.
MC
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143 comments Add your comment
JeJe
April 3rd, 2010
7:17 pm
Nice game blog.
Good job, AJC
northcyde
April 3rd, 2010
7:25 pm
Mmmmmm . . . so no JJ tonight? This should be interesting.
Iravano Newbille
April 3rd, 2010
7:27 pm
Ball don’t lie, Josh.
Samuel
April 3rd, 2010
7:37 pm
Ken,
Nice post. I agree that Bibby should be at SG. I have been a Bibby defended but I also have recognized that his minutes should be cut. I just don’t see Teague as the answer. I believe Woody should go ahead and start Jamal and JJ and Bring Bibby off the bench.
I also liked how Marvin played LeBron. he can’t stop him but he did belly up on him and cause him a slight “discomfort”. Last night LeBron just didn’t assert himself until he wanted to. Once he started, the game was basically over. If he stays healthy, I can see anyone stopping Cleveland this year.
The more i watch, the more I think our offense should start and operate off a post up by Josh on the right blocks. When he has space to drive to the left, he’s as unstoppable as anyone in the league right now and he’s also a good passer.
Did JJ quit? LOL!!
northcyde
April 3rd, 2010
7:44 pm
Samuel . . . JJ is the reason why Bibby gets all of those open jumpshots. The vast majority of assisted shots that Bibby makes, come from JJ. That’s the reason why Woody continues to start the Bibby – JJ lineup.
With no JJ in the lineup, this is once again a chance for a guy like Teague and some of the other guys to rise to the occasion, and see if they can be productive against an inferior opponent.
Tight game . . but no complaints so far.
wordy
April 3rd, 2010
7:48 pm
“we need bigs” ok where is an available big? If the Hawks could get one they would have had one already.
this game was predictable. I was in the ER so I didn’t get to see it, but the hawks can’t win on the road for some reason. Maybe they don’t move the ball enough. Check out the differential on assists at home games and away. I think it is 7 assists more at home. But the Hawks have to change something or there is no way they win round 2 and if they lose a home game in round 1 they could be in trouble. I don’t think that change is rooster either because they should be able to beat any team with their talent
Justin
April 3rd, 2010
7:49 pm
Can’t see the game. Why is JJ sitting tonight?
Justin
April 3rd, 2010
7:50 pm
Why is JJ sitting tonight?
JeJe
April 3rd, 2010
7:54 pm
http://www.rotoworld.com
sprained right thumb
Might explain his 6-17 last night. Or his lack of heart on road probably explains that one…
northcyde
April 3rd, 2010
8:00 pm
Go with the lack of heart JeJe. That’s what people would want to believe anyway.
Horford looking real good right now.
Jerome
April 3rd, 2010
8:03 pm
Sautee,
The Cavs haven’t won anything yet! I was talking about winning a playoff series and CHAMPIONSHIPS against an elite team,not winnig one game.
northcyde
April 3rd, 2010
8:10 pm
Horford and Crawford dominates the 2nd quarter. Damn Craw . . we could’ve used some of those 3’s last night. I wonder what Crawford’s shooting percentage is at home? He seems to always play well at Philips, but struggles a bit on the road.
JeJe
April 3rd, 2010
8:13 pm
Joe does have lack of heart.
He’s the only All Star in this league who is not a team leader
Sautee
April 3rd, 2010
8:15 pm
Jerome,
Was Bynum a viable “low post presence” for the Lakers last year?
Marcus
April 3rd, 2010
8:17 pm
Tonite might be a preview of 2010-2011.
If we take care of bizness vs. DET and CLE takes care of bizness tomorrow, I think we may have a 2 game lead on the Celts.
Jerome
April 3rd, 2010
8:31 pm
Sautee,
The Lakers didn’t win a championship until P.Gasol arrived. That’s the reason the Cavs got Shaq and installed him in the starting lineup after they didn’t make it to the finals.
bigdave
April 3rd, 2010
8:42 pm
wow.
Hawks vs Pistons
April 3rd, 2010
8:43 pm
laying an egg in the 3rd quarter this time I see
Sautee
April 3rd, 2010
8:44 pm
If Teague stays in the game, Woody has more patience than I do.
JeJe
April 3rd, 2010
8:48 pm
WHY IS MARVIN ALWAYS OFF BALANCE?
JESUS
northcyde
April 3rd, 2010
8:49 pm
Damn . . I quit watching this game for a while to watch the end of the Butler – Michigan St game . . . and here we go with the 2nd half ish. Let these fools right back into the game
northcyde
April 3rd, 2010
8:54 pm
NO JJ to blame tonight, so I guess it will be all on Woody. And once again, I see Teague not taking advantage of his playing time. Woody put him in the game early enough to get some real good minutes in that 2nd half, but had to pull him because of the turnovers. Gotta take advantage of that man.
northcyde
April 3rd, 2010
8:56 pm
Jamal . . . please don’t go cold in this quarter. If he does, we might be in trouble.
Sautee
April 3rd, 2010
9:07 pm
Horford can go inside on Kwame. Use him.
northcyde
April 3rd, 2010
9:16 pm
Hawks actually having another bad offensive quarter . . . but Detroit is horrible this quarter. Just need to hold on.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 3rd, 2010
9:19 pm
Of all the things, turnover differential is keeping Detroit in this game. That’s probably been the Hawks’ strongest suit all season, taking care of the ball and forcing turnovers.
Sleepy
April 3rd, 2010
9:19 pm
Marvin and his passes LOL
Najeh Davenpoop
April 3rd, 2010
9:19 pm
“If you take even half of those nimbers away…”
Sleepy
April 3rd, 2010
9:20 pm
defensive subs on our part almost means a guaranteed basket for the pistons
northcyde
April 3rd, 2010
9:21 pm
Wow @ the turnovers in the 4th quarter. Good thing Detroit is extra sorry.
Samuel
April 3rd, 2010
9:23 pm
How would like to go through life being known for having “small hands” (ie. Kwame Brown)? LOL!!
Najeh Davenpoop
April 3rd, 2010
9:24 pm
I guess Kwame doesn’t eat at Burger King then…
Najeh Davenpoop
April 3rd, 2010
9:25 pm
Hawks are now 1.5 games up on Boston, with Boston’s next game being against Cleveland. With any luck, that’s a loss for Boston and the Hawks will go up by 2 games.
1 win away from 50.
Ree Roe
April 3rd, 2010
9:26 pm
10 straight home wins, 1.5 games up on BOS. Good job Hawks
-REElated to Roe!!!
northcyde
April 3rd, 2010
9:26 pm
A win is a win . . . great game by Crawford to secure it for us.
Ree Roe
April 3rd, 2010
9:28 pm
@ Sleepy, I agree 100%. Everyone’s favorite sub Mario West is an overrated, overaggressive defender who does NOT improve our team defensively & limits us offensively. Stop subbing him in Woody!
-fREE Roe!!!
Sautee
April 3rd, 2010
9:30 pm
Great to see us hit the boards so well.
Al and Josh with 14 rebounds each. Where was that LAST night?
Samuel
April 3rd, 2010
10:00 pm
The more I think about it the more I’m pissed at Sund for cutting Sims and Siler for “Pig Foot” Collins and freekin Mario West. I mean come on. I know it’s only Chinese Hoops but Siler is shooting freekin 75.8% from the field for the year. What is “Pig Foot” shooting. Probably leading the team in trips to the Buffet Bar. LOL!!
Ken Strickland
April 3rd, 2010
10:52 pm
For those who read my last post, I hope you noticed what I mentioned about Bibby giving up his dribble and starting the OFF above the 3pt line. No other team has that kind of handicap from their starting PG when initiating their OFF.
SAMUEL-you said you didn’t believe Teague is the answer, well he’s a hell of a lot better answer than Bibby is at this point. He can certainly become the answer if Woody got over his bias against rookies, especially rookie PG’s, and gave him the support and consistent mins he’s given Bibby.
If Woodson wasn’t such a coward and had the guts and/or intelligence to play Teague anywhere near the 27.7MPG he insists on playing Bibby, there’s absolutely no doubt Teague would give us the 8.9PPG and 3.9APG that Bibby gives us, if not more. The real benefit we’d get from that move would be on the DEF end, where Bibby continues to be a serious liability that no gimmick/switching DEF can hide.
Tonights gm is a microcasm of what I’m talking about. Bibby played 32:31mins and scored 5pts with 4assists, while Teague played 8:41mins and had 3pts and 2assists. Last night Bibby played 21:12mins and had 5pts with 3assists. If Bibby gave us any DEF it would be different, but he gives us anything but DEF. Woodson has forced this team to carry Bibby and his NO D throughout an almost nonproductive season.
IF WOODSON DOUBLED TEAGUE’S MPG, WE’D GET BIBBY’S PRODUCTION, IF NOT MORE, AND TONS MORE DEF. BIBBY HAS REGRESSED REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH PLAYING TIME HE’S GOTTEN. Other than stubborn stupidity and ignorant hangups, there’s just no reasonable justification for Woodson playing Teague so few mins and Bibby so many.
Talent wise, this yrs team is much better than last yrs team, but it isn’t necessarily playing that much better. We’re having the same problems and the same coaching attitudes and hangups, although he has gotten better. Based on his responses when asked about some of our persistent problems, he doesn’t seem to have a clue, and he obviously hasn’t consulted with anyone about finding a solution.
In every Hawks gm Hubie Brown has MC’d, he’s repeatedly revealed the cause of our OFF and DEF problems, but Woodson has yet to pickup on any of it. We have fans who insist we can’t win a championship with Horford as our center, but won’t admit that we aren’t going to get anywhere close to winning one with Woodson as our HC.
When it comes to coaching this team up, he’ll occasionally stick his head in the door, like he did against the Lakers, but he just can’t bring himself to come into the room.
Ree Roe
April 3rd, 2010
11:09 pm
lol @ Teague bein the answer at PG over Bibby. The same tentative, no shot having backup we’ve seen all season is a better answer than a veteran, solid shooting PG? Bibby might be limited defensively, but show me where Teague has run this team like a professional PG. I’m not the biggest Woody fan, but bringing along the rookie IS the right decision. He’s not ready or shown himself capable of handling big minutes.
-REEpeal of Roe!!
O'Brien
April 4th, 2010
12:10 am
Najeh,
U say the Cavs are just better than the Hawks. But how do you. Explain the bobcats beating the cavs twice?
Doc,
If u think JJ is paid like a Batman already, what will u think of his next contract?
One thing I don’t like about Woody, is he blames a lot of our losses on us not making jump shots. If only it was that easy.
Did not see the game tonight, but without JJ I’ll take the win no matter how ugly.
doc
April 4th, 2010
1:51 am
o’b exactly what i was implying, but who is going to overpay him? we need him very much but the price may be too high for our asg folk to bear, then it is hopeful to do a sign and trade so he gets what he wants and we get something in return.
Whats the use of this Blog???
April 4th, 2010
11:04 pm
All Blogs are mostly the same. 2 or 3 people POSTING under 348 different names poping junk. This player sucks that player sucks the teams sucks the coach sucks the GM sucks the owners suck. Yeah opinions are like buttholes… you know the rest. Hey but these are Pro’s right?? Anything goes right???
What eveaaaa mannnn. But there are some serious FOLK on here. Not that many, but they are here. Once you get through all the kids and the Prozac pretenders.