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
Melvin
April 3rd, 2010
12:06 am
After 4th qtr meltdown….
Melvin
April 3rd, 2010
12:13 am
The shot selection during crunchtime was just awful. Cavs force the Hawks to play one on one, let them shoot jumpers and deny them 2nd chance points the final 6 mins of the 4th and that decided the game.
Truth and Clarity
April 3rd, 2010
12:15 am
It’s Time,
Congratulations Hawks management! You’ve officially rebuilt this team! But we will never be elite(have a real shot at the title) unless we go over the luxury tax and get someone else(players) in here. If Childress does not want to come back, then trade his rights to Denver for the rights TO Linas Kelzia since they both play for olympiakos and neither want to go back to their respective NBA counterparts. We need another big wing to guard LeBron…..Mario west and Mo evans are not serious options. Then we need to get Mo Williams Jr. from Indiana (A.J Price) who we should have drafted in the second round anyway(or get Patrick Mills or Bayless from Portland). If we can’t draft Gani Lawal to be our backup PF then we need to trade that 1st rd. pick to Houston for the rights to that Jordan Hill kid out of Arizona who the Knicks traded to the Rockets at the deadline. He is long and can replace Joe Smith. Then you have a few options. 1) Either trade Bibby and Mo Evans to NJ(Assuming they get John Wall in the draft) for Devin Harris. 2) Trade Bibby(or Mo Evans) and Zaza to Memphis for Hasheem Thabeet 3) or Trade Bibby(or Mo Evans) and Zaza to Golden State for Biedrins(or to The Clippers for Chris Kaman). Since we will own the rights to Klezia we don’t need the MLE to sign him. Use up the full MLE to sign Manu Ginobili to a Max MLE contract. Then Use the Vet min and Bi-Annual exceptions to fill out the rest of the bench. Obviously you re-sign Joe Johnson as well. I know it’s risky and a lot, but if we want to win this is what needs to be done. We WON’T WIN a title without spending the $$$$ and Either get an Offensive Coordinator in here or Give Woody the Boot. He has grown on me the past two seasons, but he been riding the organic growth of our players these past six years (specifically on the offensive side of the ball). I’d much rather get a coordinator in here though. I don’t think this team can grow anymore from the inside. It’s really time to shake things up and time for the ASG to pony up the cash. GO HAWKS!!!!
cdog
April 3rd, 2010
12:25 am
THE HAWKS SHOULD ALREADY CONCEDE ANY SERIES TO CLEVELAND AND OR ORLANDO.WHEN YOU’RE TEAM IS SCARED TO ESTABLISH AN INSIDE GAME WITH YOUR BIG PEOPLE AND KEEP RELYING JUMP SHOTS TO BEAT THESE HIGHER SEEDED TEAMS, THEY WILL LOSE EVERY TIME.THEY HAVE NO GUTS.THEY DON’T BOX OUT ON EITHER END PLUS NO ONE HAS THE GUTS TO PLAY TOUGH ON LEBRON JAMES.HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU SEE ANY HAWK PLAYER TAKE VA CHARGEON JAMES OR ANY CAVS PLAYERS?NONE.MO EVANS,PACHALIA, HORTFORD AND JOE JOHNSON WERE FLAT OUT SCARED OF THE CAVS.THE ONLY GIVING ANYTHING TONIGHT WAS JOSH SMITH.OH WELL, THE HAWKS DON’T MIND LOSING SO WHO CARES?
VenomSpitter
April 3rd, 2010
12:25 am
The Hawks are simply not good enough. Thats all that needs to be said.
Clyde
April 3rd, 2010
12:36 am
I wish Bibby could take people off the dribble like Deron Williams
FIRE WOODY
The Truth
April 3rd, 2010
12:44 am
“JJ on the road this year vs playoff teams:
@ Lakers: 27 points – 9 rebounds
@ Boston: 24 points – 7 rebounds
@ Dallas: 31 points – 7 rebounds
@ Chicago: 40 points – 6 rebounds
@ Cleveland: 35 points
@ Boston: 36 points
@ Houston: 20 points – 6 rebounds
@ San Antonio: 31 points
@ Oklahoma City: 37 points
@ Utah: 26 points – 6 rebounds – 6 assists
@ Milwaukee: 27 points – 6 rebounds”
Are these stats more important than the road record of 17-20 for a 3rd place team? We all know in most of the losses who had the ball for the Hawks during crunch time. I mean we should thank Joe for keeping us close. But at the end of the day, that might be the last word for the Hawks, WE WERE CLOSE!!
Blake
April 3rd, 2010
12:50 am
Another fourth quarter meltdown.The play I believe that lost the game for the Hawks was Lebron stealing the ball before the half and getting a layup and foul.Stupid pathetic loss of concentration.When will this team ever learn to play 4 quarters of basketball? They’re going to continue to get mauled on the road until they learn to play 4 quarters of basketball!
BirdDawg
April 3rd, 2010
1:01 am
No shame in losing this game tonight. No shame at all. The Hawks played a good game tonight, they were just beaten by a team that played a better game. They didn’t beat themselves, they didn’t stop executing offensively until desperation time and most important, they never stopped fighting. It’s a shame that it resulted in a loss because JJ and JC had off nights (as all players do at times), but it doesn’t diminish what, to me, is a clear indication of growth by this team. The fact that the Hawks hung tough with the best team in the league despite their best players not being on their games is a testament to the teams growth. If they keep working and progressing, this will be a real championship contender in no time. Also, gotta give Josh Smith special props for abusing Cleveland with his inside game.
BONE
April 3rd, 2010
1:04 am
bi7chazz HAWKS FUC5555KKK MARVIN, N WOODSON AND Y THE FUC5K WAS JAMALL STILL IN THE GAME AFTER GOING 2-11 IN THE 4TH WHERE THE FUUUUUUUUUUUUKCC WAS BIBBY
Marvin Williams steps up but . .
April 3rd, 2010
1:05 am
makes big mental mistakes (i.e. giving the ball to Lebron for 3 points when we could have taken a lead into half-time, not switching quick enough to Mo Williams on the dagger three at the end (mentioned above), & passing the ball into Al Horford’s head when he was two feet away from the dude late in the 4th qtr).
But honestly Joe & Jamal could have made up for those mistakes, but both had an off night. We can beat the Magic & Cavs, but in the playoffs we’re gonna have to steal one on the road.
Rockets helped us out though . .
April 3rd, 2010
1:10 am
but Hawks need to prove it against these weaker foes coming up.
rusty
April 3rd, 2010
1:12 am
i usually love js but there are times in this game that he showed no desire to do any think on offense or defense but stand 15 feet from the hoop. there is no excuse for this woody should sit his ass down.jj never comes up big for big games inspite of what northcyde says ( he is one guy who really thinks he makes sense even tho nobody else thinks . jj & jc do not play well together. let jj & woody both go this team really has no ball movement what so ever & just seems to prefers to play iso ball. woody doesnt have a clue
Clyde
April 3rd, 2010
1:14 am
FIRE WOODY
Wabe
April 3rd, 2010
1:24 am
Came home. Just watched the game on my DVR. Thought we played them tough right up until we hit the 76-74 mark. We’ve played Cleveland 3 x’s, and in all 3 games, we’ve hit lulls in the 4th quarter. It’s frustrating to watch.
Harpie
April 3rd, 2010
1:25 am
Mike Woodson is the worst coach in the history of basketball. He’s just like a politician – he doesn’t DO his job ( apparently, he doesn’t know how ), he spends all his time trying to say the things that will help him KEEP the job. He is a complete sham…
Wabe
April 3rd, 2010
1:27 am
Although I admire the effort, there’s absolutely nothing preventing us from beating the Cavs talent-wise. We play them tough enough to win, but we can’t seem to play up to the level of our talent down the stretch. As much as I dislike Jon Berry, I think he makes a good point when he says that we’ve seen the same game 3 times now out between these two teams.
I don’t get how we got beat up on the boards at some points in this game. We looked absolutely lazy on the boards at times.
northcyde
April 3rd, 2010
1:36 am
Are these stats more important than the road record of 17-20 for a 3rd place team? We all know in most of the losses who had the ball for the Hawks during crunch time. I mean we should thank Joe for keeping us close. But at the end of the day, that might be the last word for the Hawks, WE WERE CLOSE!!
Truth . . . you were the one making emotional statements talking about how a “spiritless JJ” doesn’t show up in big games. All I was doing was blowing that notion right out of the water.
You guys simply have to stop being so emotional after these losses. The Hawks played a bad 2nd half, after looking great the 1st half. JJ and Crawford couldn’t make shots. We couldn’t rebound as a team. Then Lebron hit a few late shots to put the game out of reach.
Hawks lose. But I don’t think that loss put in the minds of the players that we can’t beat them. If anything, the Hawks beat themselves tonight.
*****************
@ rusty . . . so those games on the road that I listed weren’t “big” games? Was the Laker game on Wednesday night a “big” game? I flat out proved to you that he comes up big in big games. It’s not my fault if you don’t think he didn’t come up big in those “big” games.
And I could care less what people think about what I post on here. But when I post FACTS, you better come up with something better than “he is one guy who really thinks he makes sense even tho nobody else think”.
It’s the same old song and dance from this crowd everytime we lose. Just come to grips that we had a chance to beat the best team in the NBA, and the team COLLECTIVELY couldn’t get it done. Why not admit that, instead of going into “crying mode” like some of you love to do?
northcyde
April 3rd, 2010
1:38 am
And rusty . . why rip Josh Smith? He played the best out of everybody tonight.
JosephdaKoolest
April 3rd, 2010
1:39 am
Hawks nation relax. I know we have stumbled against Cleveland and Orland, however we can beat anyone if we get out and run and get into early offense in the fourth quarter. And continue to move the ball. BALL MOVEMENT HAWKS AND FORTH QUARTER EXECUTION. And dont be so hard on Woody I think he had a lot to with the maturation of Josh Smith and Al Hordford. And we will win 50 games for the first time since 99. Go Hawks the A town is behind you!!!!!!!
Big Ray
April 3rd, 2010
1:42 am
Cleveland has been beaten just 4 times at home this season.
Mike Woodson doesn’t know why we couldn’t answer offensively when the Cavs stiffened up on defense? Easy answer, Woody. If you DVRed the game, you can listen to Hubie Brown tell you.
1) Little or no spacing on offense.
2) Whether you’re a Joe Johnson fan that hates Jamal Crawford, or a Jamal Crawford fan that hates Joe Johnson, they are our two best scorers. They both laid an egg, combining or a 12-35 shooting performance. That’s right. Even with Josh Smith’s horrible free throw shooting, Al Horford’s bad game from the field, and us standing around on offense, those two guys helped shoot us right out of the game. Sorry, but it’s just plain true.
3) J.J. Hickson had 16 rebounds. No excuses, the kid is just not that good. He’s a hustler, true. But he’s only had a double figure rebound game 4 times this season. He got his career/season high against us. Inexcusable, and that blame goes mostly on Josh Smith, who had just 7 rebounds.
4) Lebron James is arguably the best player in the league, with only Kobe Bryant as a true rival. He just is. He got his teammates in the game early on. Then, he just hits a switch and he’s on . Nothing you can do about that, though Marvin played him pretty well at times. He’s also a very tough defender when he chooses to be.
5) Cleveland is 10 solid players deep…. without Shaq and Varejao in uniforms . They are better than us. They damn well should be, they’ve paid for it.
I’m not ashamed of these guys. Woody even coached well. You can’t overcome such awful offense (and we played some pretty good defense, the Cavs only shot 41%) against the best team in the league, on their own turf. You can come within 5 points, though. And that’s what happened.
I still liked watching that game. Go Hawks.
Big Ray
April 3rd, 2010
1:52 am
Tell you what. A few of those 3 million jumpers we took in the 4th quarter fall, and we’re talking about a different outcome. Besides the fact that we fought and scrapped with those guys as well as anybody, I found other things I liked about the game, particularly with it being on ESPN:
1) The ESPN crew called the game pretty good. They gave the Hawks players and coaching staff decent props in between gushes about LBJ.
2) Same crew noticed some of the BS calls and the no calls, like when Mike Bibby got him on top of his head.
3) They asked some pointed questions to each other about whether or not the Hawks could make the next stop, and what the Hawks problems were in the game. Note that defense was never an issue, it was the nature of our offense.
Some of us have been saying things about that for months or even years. The ESPN crew called it on the dot, I felt. But they still gave this team a lot of credit. That was refreshing to hear.
4) We really did defend pretty good, and we ground it out for the most part. But you simply cannot beat the best team in the league with that kind of offensive performance, and against a player who can literally take over ANY game, at ANY time. And Lebron is just such a player. Don’t feel bad. He’s done that to every single team in this league.
Cleveland fans should be thankful for him. Why? Not just because he’s arguably the best player in the league. But because his presence alone forced their management to build around him the way they have.
Few players force you to do that, or risk having them walk away from you. Kobe is one. Dwight is another, though it’s only because he’s a franchise level center who cannot carry a team offensively. Other than that, there isn’t such a player.
Not Wade, or anybody else.
lewis
April 3rd, 2010
1:58 am
i liked woody for a few years, but i can’t honestly say the guy is a good coach anymore. The assistant coach with the new yorkian accent that they do in-game interviews with sometimes instead of woody sounds like he doesn’t know much about basketball. Starters played too many minutes, he failed to utilize the bench an we looked tired in the 4th as a result. bibby looks decent tonight and gets no playing time when jamal and joe are struggling. inability to change things up on offense, every elite team in the NBA knows how to exploit the hawks inability to move the ball in the 4th.
CAVSFAN
April 3rd, 2010
2:19 am
SORRY ATL. 2 NIGHTS AGO I TOLD YOU PLAYOFF BASKETBALL WAS ANOTHER STORY. U MOCKED. WE STILL CLINICALLY BEAT U WITHOUT SHAQ AND WITHOUT ANDY. KEEP UR DREAMIN GOING.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 3rd, 2010
2:28 am
“They often cite their record of 41-5 when leading with five minutes or less”
I wouldn’t cite that if I were them. Five blown leads in the last five minutes of games is a LOT for a team that aspires to be elite.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 3rd, 2010
2:43 am
Even if they don’t melt down offensively in the 4th, the Hawks probably lose. LeBron’s jumper started heating up in the 4th, as it so often does. The Cavs started stepping it up defensively. And as was the case the entire game, they were dominating the glass and getting all kinds of second chance opportunities.
You all can complain about the 4th quarter meltdowns all you want, and it is a legitimate concern, but that’s not why the Hawks lost. The Hawks lost because the Cavs are better. Plain and simple. If these teams play 100 games, the Cavs probably win 99. There is too much quality size and too much athleticism on this Cavs team for the Hawks to be able to pull off victories against them, unless the Hawks play a perfect game and the Cavs sleepwalk.
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
April 3rd, 2010
3:09 am
I dont know how to feel about this one. Like in the previous 2 games, we didnt play our
best ball….but we still were able to hang right in there….and colossal collapses happened.
I feel good about how we can hang with Cleveland and can probably beat them if it werent for those collapses, and you dont expect those to happen usually.
BAD NEWS? Well they HAVE been happening? I mean, surely the Hawks cant STINK that bad in the 4th in a 7 game, intense playoff series against them…right????
Conyers Hawks Fan
April 3rd, 2010
4:06 am
Same old story. The Hawks maybe win the first round and then are out of the playoffs.
cp
April 3rd, 2010
4:47 am
It doesn’t help when our 2 best scorers have terrible nights. Josh missed a bunch of free throws. This team still does not know how to do simple things such as box out. The shot selection in the 4th was down right terrible. Hubie Brown in one night described the Hawks 4th quater woes perfectly yet the head coach still cant figure out how to make adjustments to fix them. Enough said.
Rick Sund
April 3rd, 2010
5:00 am
Once again you fans must realize that all we STRIVE for is PROGRESSION. It takes A WHILE to build a CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM. As you all can tell we are still YOUNG, with great POTENTIAL and UPSIDE and we have to continue to take BABY STEPS to become that road team that we need to become. For now, me and ownership are SATISFIED with what we see. The cleveland game wasn’t bad. I mean we HUNG right there with them until the end. Last year we were blown out twice against this team in cleveland, so that’s PROGRESS which is our goal. You fans EXPECT TOO MUCH. Isn’t winning 50 games ENOUGH for you people. That all it takes to be an ELITE team. No REAL FAN should base our SUCCESS on the PLAYOFFS, but the REGULAR SEASON.
HPP
April 3rd, 2010
5:44 am
Josh Smith – practice free throws – please!
Why not get Mario West to come in and disrupt things defensively? We simply can not keep up with quick guards on opposing teams. Mario can at least come in and cause some temporary damage…he knows how (and wants) to play defense.
WonderDawg
April 3rd, 2010
6:26 am
Don’t understand how the Cavs lost a game this season. If gambling was legal, I’d bet my paycheck on them every week. They are MJ and the Bulls from the ’90s. They challenge every shot, most times with someone helping from the backside, and NEVER get called for fouls. At the other end, if the Hawks challenge ANY shot, a foul is called. Just call off the first 3 rounds of the playoffs and give the Cavs the trip to the finals. Boy, the refs will surely have trouble deciding who to not call a foul on there, huh, the Lakers or the Cavs? They can just put the whistles in their pockets.
Big Daddy
April 3rd, 2010
6:29 am
I thought, like most post here that the Hawks played a good game until the final 6 minutes. Normally, you could say that the other team’s defense really turned up and that is what stopped us. However, it appeared we stopped ourselves. There were enough opportunities where we had wide open jump shots and missed them. Woody leaves Jamaal in because at any given moment he can turn on his switch and shoot like Lebron was the last six minutes. It did not happen. Jamaal and Joe had horrible games and we did not box out. Something I noticed in the switching offense is that too often if the other team has someone who is good at driving to the basket they can take whoever switched on them around the elbow and down the lane where they either make the shot, get fouled or both. Only if Smoove can leave his man and come over to block can they stop this. It is killing them. I saw that a lot last night with Mo Williams, Lebron and JJ Hickson.
I truly believe the guys got tired last night and there were way to many times when someone threw up a 20 footer with nobody under the basket, but everyone out on the perimeter. I agee with another post in that only on limited occaisions do Jamall and JJ seem to play together well. We need Bibby or Rook to come in and play with them. By the way, like it or not we are going to need Rook come playoff time. Plus if a guard goes down we are going to have to use him. If that the best time to give him the extended time he will have to play?
We were just outplayed in that game and like Boston, we are just going to have to learn how to overcome those guys. The team still has my support. Go HAWKS!!!!
ltdbrave
April 3rd, 2010
6:31 am
A sign of a championship team is playing 4 quarters of ball. The Hawks have no idea how to do that. They are way too inconsistent. Bibby has not contributed since signing a new contract nor has Williams. Williams is just another wasted 1st round pick like Sheldon was.
Marcus
April 3rd, 2010
7:34 am
If i counted right, we are 15-9 since the “midway point” of the season ……… not bad, but not PHX like either. Looking back at those scores and how those games went down….were it not for 4Q meltdowns and or playing down to the competition, we could make the case that we should have had an undefeated March with an outside chance (if couple of balls bounced our way) to be unblemished since the All-Star break.
Realistically, that would be near impossible, but ponder on how many leads we lost or close games we have had. We haven’t had a blowout loss since the mid-Feb. MIA game going into the All-Star weekend, with a few 2-3 losses by 3 pts or less (close games not point make-up in gar-bage time, as Skip Caray used to say).
Luv this team and I didn’t have as much issue with this loss as I did with the GS comeback or last loss to MIA where M. Beasley went off in the last 2 minutes of a tight game…. but we got to figure this thing out …… and we have 2 prolific scorers/finishers, whereas most teams only have 1.
Mike Hunt
April 3rd, 2010
7:41 am
Joe Johnson doesn’t show up for the big games. Hawks will struggle to win in the first round, then will go quietly in the second to either Magic or Cavs. They have no leader. JJ has had a good run here, but it’s time for him to move on.
Miked Up But Nothin to Say
April 3rd, 2010
7:47 am
OK its crunch time. The Cavs are making a move. Hawks call time out. Woody has a microphone on him. What does he say? Lets listen: (I paraphrase) ” OK guys….we need to play D….everybody needs to rebound….lets go”. Thats lt? I mean its good advice and all but where is the COACHING? How about telling them to pound the ball inside because we score every time we do.How about reminding them to NOT take the quick jumper because nobody is hitting. How about drawing up a play to take advantage of a mismatch.
WHERE IS THE COACHING!!!!!!!!
NUNNA YO BIZNEZZ
April 3rd, 2010
7:51 am
woody is gonna ride the dates he comes with..and thats joe and jamaal..they won’t be knocked or pulled because of bad plays or mistakes..neither will smoove when he is arguing with the refs coming up the floor, because of a “no call”on the other end..nor bibbs for not keeping up with the opposing PG after letting him get by him time after time..
but the rook,mo evans,or any one but crawford make the inkling of the same above mistakes and they are yelled at and or yanked!!
do any of you think that the same questions that hubie brought up,that sund might be asking the same??
i do….
we’re gonna see the same results with this team come playoff time..
i expect the norm with this team..
and,if they play like this now against the cavs,they will in the playoffs..
if they play like they do against the magic now,they will do the same in the playoffs..
we won’t even see the cavs come playoffs..we’ll be out against the magic..
woody won’t make any adjustments yall..and u know it..
stop hoping and wishing..go wit what he does and how he prepares his team to play, now!!
BECAUSE HE DOES..
NUNNA YO BIZNEZZ
April 3rd, 2010
8:03 am
miked up,
thats jacked up!!
he did the same “coaching”last year when we played the cavs in game 3 here last year and he was miked up..
he told the “crew”,”we need to stop shooting jumpers,go inside and get some fouls on these guys and get to the free throw line and get back into this game”..and after they cut from that,they went on and missed 3 straight jumpers!!
hubie then said,”ok,you tell them what they need to do and they go out and miss 3 jumpers..one thing i would have done was drawn up a play to get them set up to execute what i just told them”..
woody nor his staff know what they are doing..the players are the coach..woody is just the guy who tells you when to come in and come out
justahawkfan
April 3rd, 2010
8:20 am
Some you on this blog need to get real about what the hawks can and can not do. We were 17-19 on the road this year before last night. We were in cleveland playing the team with the best record in the entire league and you expected them to win that game, get real. Yeah, it would have been nice to pick up a win and yeah it was disapointing, but did you really think they was going to come out clevland on the plus side? If you did, you deserve to be distraught. Now they have a game coming up(with Le’Bron) in Phillips arena that should have a better ending. The Hawks have won 9 straight there and I would be very disapointed if the lost, maybe even distraught!
vava74
April 3rd, 2010
8:41 am
I think the team is not mentally prepared to compete.
The Cavs seemed to feel that whenever they wanted to they could make a run and we felt the same, but on the contrary.
The team implodes when the game is close in the 4th quarter, continously making poor decisions with the ball, either bad shots, bad passes or simple lack of ball and player rotation.
The reason for this is simple: our offense consists almost exclusively of free wheeling ISO or two men plays with little or no contribution from the rest of the players who are left out to the point of them not even acting as decoys or being active crashing the boards.
When JJ and Craw are not clicking we easily stopped and rapidly lose our composure.
This way we will have huge problems doing a splash in the playoffs and takes us back to why we took the Celts to seven, 2 years ago: Chills energized us with his hustle and baseline cuts who got us baskets which importance was transcent to the mere 2 points the brought: they erased a some of those “bad possessions” which we always have and that usually are pivotal in a negative way.
Whithout these 3 or 4 possessions going our way, we tend to lose those tight matches which annoys us so much.
Conversely, in the games which Marvin was active on the offensive boards and getting this type of plays done, we won.
Matt
April 3rd, 2010
8:50 am
NBA basketball sucks. Bring on the Stanley Cup playoffs!!
Andy
April 3rd, 2010
8:57 am
It’s funny how the cavs just play with the hawks for 3 quarters and then they know ok times up. time to run away. it’s like when you were young and you were better than the kid a little younger than you and you would let him hang around until the end. and shaq and varajao didn’t even play. they play and it’s not this close. i think the bucks will beat the hawks in the first round. they don’t play defense.
vava74
April 3rd, 2010
8:57 am
Matt, so why are you posting here? Don’t you have anything better to do?
vava74
April 3rd, 2010
9:01 am
Andy, I actually think that Shaq doesn’t make the Cavs better and that if he had played the rebounding differential would be smaller.
We have more trouble with mobile rebounders like Hickson and Lebron than with stationary ones.
Varejão I agree since he is perpetually hustling and looking for his “leftovers” around the rim.
Sacramento redux
April 3rd, 2010
9:31 am
Is this team Sacramento redux? Good, but not good enough. Does Joe Johnson = Chris Webber at crunch time?
JeJe
April 3rd, 2010
9:40 am
“I wish I knew,” he said. “It’s been that way against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s been a close game in the fourth and we can’t seem to find any offense.”
LOL so Woodson still has NOT figured out how to beat the Knicks, Magic (besides that one game), and now the Cavs. This guy DOES NOT MAKE ADJUSTMENTS FROM GAME TO GAME. You HEARD Hubie and Jon Barry say it last night — we lost the exact same way last night we did the 2 previous times vs. Cleveland. Look at those Orlando losses — same thing.
WOODY DOES NOT MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. He DOES NOT “give a !@#$ about the offense” and that shows when we go ice cold in the 4th quarter.
We were OUTREBOUNDED BY 19 WITHOUT Shaq and Varejao (who is an absolute PEST on the glass) playing. Where was Collins to guard Ilgauskas?
This is a !@#$ing joke. This is NOT an elite team. Cleveland is so physical and they go for rebounds. We settle for these !@#damn jumpshots, DON’T box out, and we have NO OFFENSIVE PLAN — JUST A FEW TALENTED SCORERS.
This is the BEST and most accurate post I’ve made on here.
FIRE MIKE WOODSON
JeJe
April 3rd, 2010
9:42 am
The Hawks shy away from physical teams.
You see Marvin foul LeBron then help him up.
THIS IS A REFLECTION ON WOODSON. The guy boasts about his Detroit Piston days. That team had Rasheed and Ben Wallace, who were physical and rugged guys. The only physical player on this damn team is ZaZa, whose minutes are so inconsistent.
Like i’ve been saying, CAN WE PLEASE GET A DAMPIER OR BRENDAN HAYWOOD WHO WILL PUT SOMEONE LIKE LEBRON OR MO OR VAREJAO ON THE GROUND WITH BROKEN TEETH?
AND CAN WE PLEASE GET A HEAD COACH WHO KNOWS AN OFFENSE THAT WILL NOT HAVE US GOING !#@$ING SCORELESS EVERY 4TH QUARTER ON THE ROAD?
JeJe
April 3rd, 2010
9:49 am
It’s also sad that we have been the healthiest team in the NBA this year, and we are only 1 game ahead of Boston, who has had major players in and out all year.
Shows how “elite” this team is.
LOL @ Rick Sund
darrell starks
April 3rd, 2010
9:58 am
The hawks just don’t match up with orlando, cavs because of there low post size.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
April 3rd, 2010
10:02 am
We will see come playoff on what the hawks should do this offseason 1 of the big Q is do we keep horford and josh or trade one for a big man ?
GO HAWKS!!!!!!
darrell starks
April 3rd, 2010
10:03 am
If you had 2 trade between josh and horford who do you trade ?
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
April 3rd, 2010
10:05 am
Me i would trade horford and bibby for devin harris and brook lopez.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
Disappointed Don
April 3rd, 2010
10:13 am
Yea, it’s pretty hard to swallow when the broadcast commentators continually point out what to fix—and you don’t do it. I like Vava’s comments. Come crunch time, the Hawks’ ISO approach equates to one thing: heroics or bust. It’s understood: there’s going to be no ball movement, so 3 or the 5 Hawks players are not even viable decoys. Good talent. Good team. Good progress. Next steps: an offensive mind or coordinator. A player or two that provides floor leadership. Go Hawks!
Mike
April 3rd, 2010
10:33 am
Did anyone else feel violated watching ESPN call a LeBron game? You would have thought they were winning by 40 and LeBron was going for 87 points with the way the verbally felated him the entire game. I’m sorry but ESPN ruins it’s covering of sports with it’s certain team/idol worship. There’s no denying LeBron is great but give me a break, I feel like that 20 year girl after running into Big Ben in a bathroom stall after watching that coverage.
alphadawg
April 3rd, 2010
10:52 am
what I saw last night was a complete lack of leadership from the floor or from the bench. There was very little leadership being shown in the 4th quarter. Woodson, it’s time for you to go. Thanks for getting us this far, but great teams know that blocking out and rebounding down the stretch are crucial to their success. This was a winnable game! No excuses Mike, you blew it and the team blew it.
Grandad
April 3rd, 2010
10:53 am
Two reliable axioms in basketball:
1. Good teams find a way to win.
2. Teams [players] take on the personality of their coach:
(Hawks always seem to be searching for answers)[Coach/players]
*please refer to above article:
*Wdsn: “I wish I knew(why)” he said
*Jamal: “we have to figure it out”
Samuel
April 3rd, 2010
11:06 am
I pretty much expect to lose against the best team in the league on the Big Stage. What I don’t like is when our best player doesn’t show up time and time again on the “big stage”. We’ve seen this before with JJ. Sure he has some big games but when the bright lights are on, you never know what you’ll get from him. Usually, the ESPN and NBATV games. 1/4@Miami (NBA-TV) 11 pts, 1/8 Boston (ESPN) 12pts, Last night @Cleveland (ESPN) 13pts, Last year’s playoffs. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a “good” player, just not a man you want to hang your hat on. What’s unfortunate is that he’s a FA and we probably won’t get anything for him except the salary coming off.
I think this is just Cleveland’s year. I’ve said that from day one. Lebron is just too hungry and good which are two bad combination for the opposing team. If we play Orlando like we did last game(doubling Howard early), we could possibly beat them. There is no way we beat Cleveland, period.
The Truth
April 3rd, 2010
11:06 am
northcyde
Your statement:
“you were the one making emotional statements talking about how a “spiritless JJ” doesn’t show up in big games. All I was doing was blowing that notion right out of the water”
If that is the way I saw it, then that is the way I wrote it. That is why it’s a blog. With a road record of 17-20, I don’t think you blew out anything. If you examine players like JJ, D Wade, Lebrons, Kobe and the other team leaders around the league, there should be a natural double standard among those leaders and their supporting cast. Yes we should and we do praise JJ for our successful season, but more is required of him because he is our leader. That is the reason he gets paid the big bucks. I actually saw Josh step up and assume a more leadership role and kept us close (for a while) but JJ seem disinterested or spiritless as a called him. Even if he is having an off-night, he can still show more emotions and not look so pedestrian. I know that may be a stretch for JJ but perhaps that is part of the Hawks road problems. A still young team (like the Hawks) needs to feed off of his energy. If he can’t do it with his shot, then do it in other ways. This might be the intangible flaw to JJ game that will hinder his greatness. By contrast, notice Lebron, command of his team and how they respond to him and his energy. Even when he was struggling in the first half, Lebron’s teammates were still emotionally feeding off of him. It is an essential attribute of a warrior who rules. While you want to remind us of yesterday samples of JJ glorious scoring output to counter my points, I want to talk about NOW and how we possibly obtained our less than stellar road record. To dismiss these points and only bask in the past would by wearing rose color glasses which I don’t do. JJ has gotten a lot of past praise from me, but like manure and bad performances, when they smell, SOMEBOBY GOT TO SAY IT. May be tomorrow (as in the next game) will be a different story.
Blue Flame
April 3rd, 2010
11:15 am
ESPN coverage was lousy. No play-by-play call, just 3 guys who should have had to pay for their seats.
Scott
April 3rd, 2010
11:42 am
Hawks Fans,
I feel for you. You have a really good team. Your problem is that your team has come at the same time as LeBron. I’m a Cavs fan, and I experienced what you are experiencing now back in the late 80’s-early 90’s when we had a great team in Cleveland and would come so close if not for Michael Jordan. Back then, Cavs GM was Wayne Embry. He said that the Cavs were the better team, but they (Chicago) had greatness. And it’s hard to beat greatness. On the other hand, your Braves did beat my Indians in ‘95, so I don’t feel too bad for you! Good job on beating up Boston this year. We hate ‘em too.
cdog
April 3rd, 2010
11:51 am
the problem still is not mike woodson.he was not provided an inside force type of player that you need to get to the next level.the cavs have some, the majic have many but atlanta doesn’t have but maybe a half of an inside force in josh smith.that’s not going to cut it.so get off woodson and go to the source of the problem which is rick sund.woodson has won 48 games so far.lots of teams in the nba would love to be where the hawks are.woodson can only use what hand he was dealt.he has done a tremendous job.coaching is not the problem but the GM position is.
heartofdarkness
April 3rd, 2010
11:54 am
Why did your ship hit the iceberg, Captain Woodson?
I don’t know, it came up on the horizon and the ship didn’t turn.
observer
April 3rd, 2010
11:58 am
ATL needs bigs. AL is too undersized to play the bigs. In order to take the next level, they need to get a real PG and a big man at center. Their SG rotation is the best in the league. They are also good at SF, but they need another PF or C that can compete with the real big men in the league.
Jody
April 3rd, 2010
12:21 pm
Observer,
Co-Sign.
JeJe
April 3rd, 2010
12:33 pm
“I wish I knew,” he said. “It’s been that way against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s been a close game in the fourth and we can’t seem to find any offense.”
LOL so Woodson still has NOT figured out how to beat the Knicks, Magic (besides that one game), and now the Cavs. This guy DOES NOT MAKE ADJUSTMENTS FROM GAME TO GAME. You HEARD Hubie and Jon Barry say it last night — we lost the exact same way last night we did the 2 previous times vs. Cleveland. Look at those Orlando losses — same thing.
WOODY DOES NOT MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. He DOES NOT “give a !@#$ about the offense” and that shows when we go ice cold in the 4th quarter.
We were OUTREBOUNDED BY 19 WITHOUT Shaq and Varejao (who is an absolute PEST on the glass) playing. Where was Collins to guard Ilgauskas?
This is a !@#$ing joke. This is NOT an elite team. Cleveland is so physical and they go for rebounds. We settle for these !@#damn jumpshots, DON’T box out, and we have NO OFFENSIVE PLAN — JUST A FEW TALENTED SCORERS.
This is the BEST and most accurate post I’ve made on here.
FIRE MIKE WOODSON
* Link
* Report this comment
JeJe
April 3rd, 2010
12:34 pm
HOW MANY MORE TIMES do we have to hear Woodson say “We just haven’t figured them out yet” or idiotic statements like that?
And the reason Bibby doesn’t get minutes anymore is because HE CAN’T GUARD ANYONE. Back in 2002, when he was actually in shape, he was probably a better defender. He is NEVER in at the end because he is the SLOWEST starting PG in the NBA and is OVERPAID.
IF WOODSON IS A DEFENSIVE COACH, WHY DON’T WE PLAY DEFENSE? WHY ARE THERE NO HARD FOULS? WHY DOES EVER PLAYER ON THIS TEAM HELP THE OPPOSING PLAYER UP AFTER A FOUL?
J.J.
April 3rd, 2010
12:35 pm
As a Cav’s fan I’ll be rooting for the Hawks to get the #3 seed. I’d much rather face the Celts than the Hawks in rd.#2.
JeJe
April 3rd, 2010
12:37 pm
LOL @ northcyde.
No, JJ is not a leader. Everyone knows this. JJ knows this. The guy said himself that Josh and Bibby bring the leadership to this team. He is just a talented scoring guard WHO CANNOT SCORE EASY BASKETS and deep inside knows he is not a superstar, despite what some of the ignoramuses here say
JeJe
April 3rd, 2010
12:44 pm
What this team really needs are BIGS WHO BOX OUT.
I am so !#@$ing tired of seeing Horford and Smoove STAND under the basket and NOT box out, while players come flying in for rebounds. This happens EVERY game. We really need to trade Horford for someone like Kaman who is bigger, gets a LOT of rebounds, and is PHYSICAL
Clyde
April 3rd, 2010
12:49 pm
The Hawks need to watch Bobby Knight’s segment on Help Defense that was just on espn.
FIRE WOODY
thomas22
April 3rd, 2010
12:54 pm
I fully support the HAWKS, BUT:
We’ve been really patient with Marvin this season, but it’s just time for him to really MAN UP- and please stop playing Mr Nice guy Marvin! If you foul a player and they fall down, let HIS teammates help him up! I don’t think that’s considered bad sportsmanship………
Coach W- You may want to consider breaking the “4th Qtr Curse” by drawing up plays for us to take shots down low the first 5 or 6 possessions (and hold players accountable to it).
This will open up the permiter shooting later-which is one of our strenghts. Because unfortunately teams have figured us out in the 4th and throw double teams at us on the perimeter for which we have no solution except ISO, but if we work inside out-we’ll catch them off guard.
JOSH- It’s not wise to challenge a bad call when the other team is already headed toward their basket -you’re out of position, and that hurts us. Pick and choose your battles wisely!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but a lot of times doesn’t it look like our bench has more killer instinct than our starters?
jgsbrids
April 3rd, 2010
1:09 pm
three things that could help when playing the cavs:
1. don’t be afraid to knock lebron down. it seems like we want to shake his hand too much after he drives by our whole team to make a lay up or dunk. i’m sick of it–they don’t give us free lay ups–we certainly can’t afford to give them any. and late in the game–why didn’t we foul lbj instead of mo williams? lbj couldn’t by a ft–while williams shoots around 90 percent.
2. box out: i watched the entire game and all of the games that have been on tv this year and have yet to see us box out consistently. when someone keeps getting to the glass for second chance points–it’s clear to me that someone has to make it a point to get in front of that guy and put their butt in his mid section..give your self up and take that guy out of the picture as well. it’s not real tough–our hs team of 12 unathletic white guys won a lot of games by simply finding our guy when a shot went up and boxing the other guys out…it’s not how high you can jump.
3. be smart with the ball: the play before the half by marvin is simply unacceptable! we have the ball with no shot clock trying to take the lead into the half–yet marvin makes the lazy pass which is picked off and then horford makes a dumb foul to give the cavs a 3-point halftime lead. it’s a five point swing–the three they got and the two we could have got. we lose by what–you guessed it–5.
honorable mention–free throw shooting: i did this the other day just to see what i could do…i walked into the high school gym where i work as a teacher. took two warm up shots–then shot 20 free throws. haven’t shot a ball in six months–but knocked down 17 out of 20. how can our guys not go up to the line and make atleast 75 percent from the line? josh–your game has to pick it up in this area. you drive to the basket so well–if you can get that ft average above 75 percent–you;ll be an all star and heck of alot more reliable to your team.
we’re close–a few things like these three plus on honorable mention can take this team to the next level.
go hawks.
Wabe
April 3rd, 2010
1:19 pm
One more question, did nobody else feel that the foul against Cleveland when Marvin ripped the ball right out of Lebron’s hands should’ve been a clear-path foul? I swear I was yelling “clear-path” at my TV, and I wasn’t even watching the game live (DVR’d it).
Nate AtchiBALL
April 3rd, 2010
1:28 pm
Where was ZaZa last night? Was the LA game a fluke?
Last night: 10+ minutes, 0 points, 1 rebound, 1 turnover.
The Laker game was his first double-double of the season………For the season :3 games where he scored in double figures……..one double digit rebounding game….. four multi-block games (3 games of 2 blocks and 1 game of 3 blocks..
When we discuss money wasted by our General Manager, Rick Sund please include ZaZa. with Marvin Williams,and Mike Bibby.
JeJe
April 3rd, 2010
1:49 pm
Kobe is going to get 28 mill/yr through this extension he just signed. That’s twice as much as Joe makes now LOL. Does Kobe really need this much money? Will they have enough money to give other players?
Ken Strickland
April 3rd, 2010
2:05 pm
We’ve all heard Woodson repeatedly say it’s up to him to put certain players in a position to succeed. Well, exactly what has he done to accmplish that goal? I certainly haven’t seen a single modification to his OFF that’s helped Marvin or Bibby. It’s obvious JJ knows he’s bigger and stronger than most of his defenders, which is why he so often ends up pounding the ball and backing his man into the lane to score. You’d think that by now Woodson would recogize this and have him post up more without the ball.
However, that’s more difficult with Bibby in the gm. Has anyone noticed how far out on the court Bibby picks up his dribble before starting the OFF, especially when pressured? No other NBA team starts its OFF as far out as we do. That forces our posted players to give up position in order to get the ball. Watch, most of Bibby’s defenders pressure him, because they know he can’t take them off the dribble and will pickup his dribble early. Once he picks it up, they back off and play the passing lanes. That’s why the initial pass to initiate our OFF is usually lateral rather than towards the basket.
When Teague’s in the gm, he has little trouble making entry passes. His speed, quickness and ability to penetrate forces his defender to give him more cushion, and allows him to get closer to the lane to make entry passes. Bibby shouldn’t be used as a PG, but as a SG. The guard combination that gives teams the most trouble is Teague and Crawford, because of their speed, quickness and penetrating ability. The best DEF guard combination is Teague and JJ, or Evans.
Did anyone notice the complete difference in how Lebron played with Marvin on him as apposed to anyone else? Marvin’s DEF didn’t allow him to take advantage of his famous 1st step, which forced him to hold the ball a lot and using jab steps, much like JJ does. After being unable to shake and blow by Marvin, he took mostly jumpshots against him. They then started taking advantage of us switching everything to get Lebron isolated on someone else, and he started killing us.
You’d think Woodson would recognize the success other HC’s are having posting us their stars, like PJackson does with Kobe, DRivers does with PPierce and MBrown does with LeBron, even though they are much better off the dribble one on one players than JJ. BIBBY AND WOODY LOVERS are always pointing to intangibles in their defense of them, but there are some missing intangibles that’s hurting the OFF and the team overall.
doc
April 3rd, 2010
2:09 pm
mc, great straight stuff here. you are the man and keep bringing it. been here to read every one of these since its inception, cudos to you.
jj is someone’s robin, no batman. unfortunately, he is paid like batman and hasnt quite delivered that to the team. what is even more uncomfortable is he will probably move on for big pay. the best we can hope for is sign and trade. he kind of reminds me of a ray allen type, really good but someone you cant put it on to carry you in big games. paul pierce has that kind of heart and i hate pierce so that is hard to say. i just dont see the same fire in jj nor desire.
still hoping to finish ahead of boston. agree with jeje that our record with no injuries suggests that we might have underperformed to a degree. i also based my thoughts that we would do better than the celts on the fact they were aged meat more than prime meat. going forward we cant expect such luck with injuries so have we really gotten better over last even though the record indicates just that?
Seattle Hawks Fan
April 3rd, 2010
2:44 pm
This offseason we need to resign JJ and then replace Mo and Joe Smith with some heavy hitters that can really come through in the clutch. If we can replace Mo with someone as signifigant as Crawford this team will easily take the number 2 seed. I don’t know if anyone will beat out Cleavland unless Lebron jumps ship for NY. If we have to, sign a starter at SF and use Marvin off the bench. Then sign someone like Artest to come in and bruise behind Smoove. A big banger that can hit with ZaZa and really make life hard for other teams late in the game.
VenomSpitter
April 3rd, 2010
2:51 pm
Marvin is 6′9 but he only avgs 5 rebs a game. That is pathetic
justahawkfan
April 3rd, 2010
3:04 pm
The hawks need to make sure that Lebron goes to the foul line every time he goes to the basket. They also need to play close to him near the three point line. A two pointer is better than a three.
d.carter
April 3rd, 2010
3:29 pm
At least marvin will try to rebound and play defense… joe johnson stands around and watches the offensive players go to the basket and doesnt so much as put up a hand to help, when was the last time you saw joe block a shot? His rebounding is the worst!!! he watches loose balls hit the floor and doesnt hustle for them like he doesnt have to… and last but not least he avoids contact to much to be considered or number 1 guy, when was the last game he had where he shot more than 10 freethrows not including techs…
cp
April 3rd, 2010
3:36 pm
Once again, Jon Barry and Hubie pointed out in one game our 4th quarter problems yet our coach who has had all year to adjust and fix this problem and hasn’t. Does Woodson even know what adjustments are? Great post Ken Strickland. Like I always say, good teams take advantage of our switching defense and unfortunately our coach never has a counter move.
Sautee
April 3rd, 2010
4:47 pm
Jeje,
You said this:
“We really need to trade Horford for someone like Kaman who is bigger, gets a LOT of rebounds, and is PHYSICAL”
Jeje, are you aware that Horford, who is at least 3 inches shorter, and weighs 20 pounds less than Kaman, actually gets MORE rebounds / game?
(Not to mention more steals, more assists, fewer fouls, fewer turnovers, and almost the same blocks. Horford 1.1/ gm and, Kaman 1.2)
How come all that “physicality” of 7′ 265 lb. Chris Kaman doesn’t translate to more rebounds?
LOL, I bet the Clippers blog has complaints about Kaman’s rebounding too.
And another thing. Horford is still on his rookie contract, so you wouldn’t want to trade him until he’s re-signed, or it would be poor asset management.
Saint Richt
April 3rd, 2010
5:11 pm
It’s called LACK OF COACHING……..Woodson CANNOT take this team to the next level, need a new message….this one has been tuned out…………..
Jerome
April 3rd, 2010
5:24 pm
You will never beat the elite teams without establishing a low post presence. As great as Kobe or D-Wade are, they had a threat down low. even Boston without KG coudn’t get it done. Relying on long jumpers from JJ and Crawford will win some games but will not win a series with the elite teams. With the Hawks lineup, unless you are committed to run ,run and run it will be very difficult for them to beat teams with bigger players down low. Also Basketball IQ mean a lot.
Grandad
April 3rd, 2010
5:54 pm
Ken Strickland:
*Agreed *co-sign *amen *ditto & *well said!
Sautee:
What is everyone’s deal with ‘Al’? Are they blind or just dimly lit?
Mike Woodson
April 3rd, 2010
5:55 pm
We gotta weather this storm tonight, man.
That’s the nature of the beast–gotta get this monkey off our shoulders
Sautee
April 3rd, 2010
6:01 pm
Jerome,
Who, pray tell, was the low post presence for the Cavs? Big Z is a jump shooter. Hickson doesn’t shoot at all. Jamison showed very little in the paint.
So what low post presence did THEY use last night?
Sautee
April 3rd, 2010
6:03 pm
Grandad,
Likely BOTH!
JeJe
April 3rd, 2010
6:31 pm
FIRE
MIKE WOODSON.
JeJe
April 3rd, 2010
6:31 pm
Seems like Woodson was very offended when people questioned him. What a guy
northcyde
April 3rd, 2010
6:46 pm
From The Truth:
If that is the way I saw it, then that is the way I wrote it. That is why it’s a blog. With a road record of 17-20, I don’t think you blew out anything.
Truth . . . all I did was state the truth. That’s all. You tried to say that our Captain doesn’t show up in big games, and I flat out proved to you that he does. We may not win all of those games, but he does show up. Now last night, he didn’t show up. If you want to criticize him for last night, go right ahead. But don’t act like JJ doesn’t show up in big games. Because the vast majority of the time, he does.
*****************
If you examine players like JJ, D Wade, Lebrons, Kobe and the other team leaders around the league, there should be a natural double standard among those leaders and their supporting cast. Yes we should and we do praise JJ for our successful season, but more is required of him because he is our leader. That is the reason he gets paid the big bucks.
I agree. But the problem around here is that when JJ DOES do just that, he’s criticized for it. ( see Milwaukee game ). My thought is that he CAN’T defer to those other guys, regardless of the situation. He’s the main scoring option, so he can’t be deferring to other guys for the sake of “team ball”. But if he’s going to play “team ball”, the other guys have to knock down shots when the ball is thrown to them. If they’re missing, he needs to take matters into his own hands, regardless of what the fans or his teammates think about it.
**********
I actually saw Josh step up and assume a more leadership role and kept us close (for a while) but JJ seem disinterested or spiritless as a called him. Even if he is having an off-night, he can still show more emotions and not look so pedestrian. I know that may be a stretch for JJ but perhaps that is part of the Hawks road problems. A still young team (like the Hawks) needs to feed off of his energy. If he can’t do it with his shot, then do it in other ways. This might be the intangible flaw to JJ game that will hinder his greatness.
It has nothing to do with emotion. JJ just needed to go out and make plays. When he put up 35 back in December when we went to Cleveland, there was no rah-rah emotional leader type dude getting it done. He was just going out there making shots. He didn’t make enough plays, because he was deferring to others, or waiting for the double team trap to come, so that he was forced to defer. Smoove was very assertive in that 3rd quarter, and it was key to us getting back into the game. He gets credit for doing that.
By contrast, notice Lebron, command of his team and how they respond to him and his energy. Even when he was struggling in the first half, Lebron’s teammates were still emotionally feeding off of him. It is an essential attribute of a warrior who rules.
That’s why Lebron is the best player in the league, and a superstar. JJ isn’t a superstar. I don’t think I, or anybody else, would make the mistake that he is one.
While you want to remind us of yesterday samples of JJ glorious scoring output to counter my points, I want to talk about NOW and how we possibly obtained our less than stellar road record.
Well then talk about last night’s game ONLY. Don’t say general statements like “JJ never shows up in big games” ( games being plural . . as in games we’ve played in all season ). When you make statements like that, I’m going to call you out on it, and make sure you KNOW that he has shown up in big games.
To dismiss these points and only bask in the past would by wearing rose color glasses which I don’t do. JJ has gotten a lot of past praise from me, but like manure and bad performances, when they smell, SOMEBOBY GOT TO SAY IT. May be tomorrow (as in the next game) will be a different story.
Like I said . . . address last night’s game ONLY, if you’re going to talk about JJ “lack of spirit”. That’s what I did. I wasn’t happy with his assertiveness last night either. But I do realize that this guy has been BIG TIME ( especially out on the road ), for most of this year. I’m just not going to allow people to trash him like they like to do. Dude came up big time vs the Lakers, but all of that is an afterthought because of his performance against the Cavs. If he comes up big tonight, it won’t matter, because its the Pistons. But let him have a bad game . . . lol . . we all know what will be up.
In turn, Marvin came up big last night, but people aren’t going out of their way to praise him, because they would rather remember how he played in the Laker game.
Sautee
April 3rd, 2010
6:56 pm
maybe we don’t get a game blog tonight.
Clyde
April 3rd, 2010
6:58 pm
I told yall 5 years ago Woody at best is a assistant coach.
FIRE WOODY
BONE
April 3rd, 2010
7:08 pm
MO >>>>>>>>. THE DUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK SHOULDVE BEEN STARTIN ALL YEAR
niremetal
April 3rd, 2010
7:11 pm
Appropriate that Josh is getting the Collier award, both because of his involvement in the community and because he’s the last guy left who played with Jason.
J.J.M.
April 3rd, 2010
7:16 pm
lol marvin sucks man
VenomSpitter
April 3rd, 2010
7:16 pm
So Joe ain’t playin?
VenomSpitter
April 3rd, 2010
7:16 pm
The hawks look pathetic
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.