Hawks Squawks: Pistons 90, Hawks 88
Austin Daye is one of the Pistons fill-ins who beat the Hawks. (AP)
Auburn Hills–No excuses for the Hawks this time. The Pistons saw the Hawks missing their leading scorer (J.J.) and raised them their top three (Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rodney Stuckey, who left the game early).
– In 15 road games since the All-Star break, the Hawks are 5-8 when they either had a lead or a tie in the fourth quarter. Of those games, tonight was the fifth time the Hawks blew a lead in the final two minutes.
– After this latest collapse the Hawks sounded much the same as they did following the others. “Same thing,” Mo said. “We just relaxed a little bit and got careless and thought we had the game in the bag and we let it slip away.”
– “We self-destructed again coming down the stretch,” Woody said. “We’ve got to figure it out.”
– And it’s not simply a matter of getting one of their closers back in J.J., who after all was on the floor for six of those eight blown road losses. “(Even) when he was here, we had to figure that out,” Jamal said.
– “Joe is a big part of what we do,” Woody said. “No doubt we are better with him on the floor. But we controlled this game until the end tonight. We didn’t make the plays we needed down the stretch.”
– Since the Hawks say these things over and over and yet still keep blowing these leads on the road, could it be they simply aren’t good enough? Because the Cavs, Magic and Celtics close out opponents on the road and they are 1-2-3 in the East. The Hawks are good enough to dominate at home and almost always give themselves a chance on the road but they can’t put up consistent Ws, so they are No. 4.
– The glaring number was the 16 points the Hawks scored in the fourth quarter. That’s the fifth time the Hawks failed to break 20 points in those eight blown road losses.
– The Pistons shot just 8 of 21 in the fourth quarter but were 7 of 7 on free throws to 3 for 8 for the Hawks had no turnovers to the Hawks’ three.
–”We missed free throws, we missed shots we normally make, we had turnovers,” Bibby said. “We were up one with the ball and it just didn’t go the way we wanted it to go.”
– That’s because with the Hawks leading 85-84 they threw the ball away and Bibby was called for a foul while trying to get it back. Good start for Bibby but a bad finish. “It was our veteran guards that turned it over,” Woody said. “That just shouldn’t happen.”
– Bibby then had to rush a 3-pointer after Ben Wallace deflected a pass that went into the backcourt. How does that happen on such a crucial possession?
– Before that, Josh missed two big free throws. They’ve become a problem. He’s down to 61.2 percent for the season. He’s also still taking (and missing) long jumpers. If one or the other keeps happening, then maybe it’s OK because of the many good things he does. If both continue, especially in fourth quarters, it could mean trouble.
– It seemed like it took two seconds for Austin Daye to collect Smoove’s second missed free throw and give it to Will Bynum for a ridiculously easy and-1. It actually took 6.5 seconds so I guess that means the Hawks offered resistance by their standards.
– Jamal was just 2 for 7 in the fourth quarter and missed all four 3-point attempts. He probably will benefit the most from J.J.’s return.
– The Hawks were outclassed by a young, ragtag group of Pistons. Daye, Bynum, and Jonas Jerebko all made winning plays. “We just gave this game away, I thought,” Woody said.
– Ben Gordon has done a little something in the league, at least, but then doesn’t that make it worse that the Hawks left him open at the 3-point line when they were up 84-78? Of course, losing shooters in crucial situations is nothing new for the Hawks, either.
– “Ben hit some big threes for them because we were hugging on the weak side because we didn’t rotate,” Woody said.”Those are things we have to clean up as we come down the home stretch and start thinking about playoff basketball.”
– “It’s turnovers, missed free throws, a lot of things that happen that let leads get away from us,” Smoove said.
– “We’ve got to figure it out,” Jamal said. “We play good for 3 1/2 quarters on the road and then we fall apart late.”
– It’s starting to feel like the Hawks will be saying the same thing after they are dismissed from the playoffs. Man, has any 50-win team (probably?) ever had so many issues? Or are these things really correctable and I’m just making too much of it?
– I’m out, Hawks fans.
MC
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215 comments Add your comment
richbrave
April 8th, 2010
5:23 am
Thanks guys for letting the PISTONS come out on top. Now the WIZARDS are tied with they, the WARRIORS, and KINGS for the third lottery slot. Ah, hope springs eternal. GO WIZARDS, more lottery balls please. You old-times here can relate, can you not?
vava74
April 8th, 2010
6:36 am
Enter your comments here
404atlhoops
April 8th, 2010
7:44 am
Unbelieveable. This team has no mental toughness whatsoever. In no way am I placing this defeat on Smith becuase there is plenty of blame to go around for this last minute debacle. But Smith HAS TO knock down those free throws with a minute left in the game. That was a killer and then give up the three point play on the other end.
If the Hawks are the fourth seed, there’s nothing to look forward to in the playoffs because we got Cleveland in the second round. I think Orlando is better than Atlanta but I still think the Hawks have a slight chance to knock them off in the Eastern Conf. Semis. The Hawks don’t have a chance against the Cleveland LeBrons.
Wabe
April 8th, 2010
7:52 am
I was pretty shocked to wake up and find out the Hawks blew another one last night. I fell asleep when we were up 6.
That’s 3 straight. What’s the deal?
rRick Sund
April 8th, 2010
7:58 am
Folks,
Don’t be down on last night’s loss.
Let me remind you the last 2 years in the playoffs, we had major injuries. Last year obviously we had Horford and Joe among a few battling with injuries. However, two years ago, in that epic Boston series, Speedy Claxton was injured. We firmly believe that if he was healthy, we would’ve won the championship that year. He is that good.
So let me remind you that if we are healthy going into these playoffs, we should be the favorite to win the championship, given our DEFENSIVE TENACITY, ATHLETICISM, AND UPSIDE
JeJe
April 8th, 2010
8:00 am
“We self-destructed again coming down the stretch,” Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. “We’ve got to figure it out.”
LOL. HOW THE HELL HAVE U NOT FIGURED IT OUT? IT’S ABOUT PLAYING TEAM DEFENSE AND ACTUALLY HAVING AN OFFENSIVE PLAN/ BEATING THE ZONE
JESUS CHRIST
GOD DAMNIT
JeJe
April 8th, 2010
8:04 am
“This game could be tough, but considering the Bucks will not have a strong frontcourt to handle Josh and Al, the advantage definitely goes to Atlanta”
Is this what you said before the Detroit game last night, when they had THEIR 3 BEST PLAYERS + MAXIELL + WILCOX out?
Westurd
April 8th, 2010
8:11 am
Cleveland. Orlando? Seriously, how do you expect us to get past the first round…….especially if we play the scorching heat.
Hawks a kill me right now.
JeJe
April 8th, 2010
8:11 am
The Celtics won last night.
FIRE WOODY
JeJe
April 8th, 2010
8:12 am
Any team 5-8 right now would probably beat us in a series besides Toronto.
Salmons + Jennings = 70 ppg total vs us
Rock Preston
April 8th, 2010
8:30 am
M. Cunningham…..Please keep bring the heat to the Dummy who is posing as Hawks Head Coach. Its time for him to go!!!! FIRE WOODY!!!!
Rock Preston
April 8th, 2010
8:31 am
Put the Heat on his bald head arse MC!!! Keep questioning his ability and “so called philosophy.” Woody is a joke as a head coach!!! Bring Fratello back!
O'Brien
April 8th, 2010
8:38 am
MC,
Different movie, same bad ending. Pistons were without Rip, Tayshaun, Stuckey, Maxiell, and Wilcox. And still beat us.
However, that should not be a surprise. You weren’t here then, but early in the season, the Pistons beat a healthy Hawks team with JJ, while the Pistons were missing Rip, Tayshaun, and Ben Gordon.
The players share some blame for not executing, turning the ball over, and missing FT, and blowing defensive assignments. Bibby was bad in the second half, Crawford did not play well in the 4th, and Josh seemed out of it sometimes. Marvin and Al had good games though.
But this is a loss where Woody had a chance to make a positive impact on the game, and he didn’t.
Mike Bibby started 4-4, and then went 1-9 the rest of the way (if you take away the meaningless 3 pointer at the end of the game). He had a costly TO, his defense was bad as usual, and he only had 3 assists in 36 minutes (our starting Center had 6 assists).
But it was obvious that Bibby was tired. Woody himself said Bibby was laboring. So why play him 36 minutes? Why play Teague only 5 minutes (especially since Teague played well in the second half of the Bobcats game)? FYI, this is what we mean by Teague’s PT being inconsistent.
As vava pointed out, the lineup of Crawford, Mo, Marvin, Josh and Al, were playing well in the 4th, but what does Woody do? He brings Bibby back in. And that is where the game went south.
Bibby’s average against the Pistons for the first 3 matchups of the season is 8.3 pts, and 4.6 assists per game, so it’s not like he tears it up against the Pistons anyway. Woody needs to realize that just because guys are veterans does not mean they don’t make mistakes.
Bad coaching from the coach, bad playing from the players. I’m just glad the season is only 82 games. Because at this rate, if it was 92 games, the Hawks might not finish 3rd/4th.
victor
April 8th, 2010
8:54 am
The bible was written by lame brains that thought the world was flat. When we die we get pushed into a box and the maggots eat away at our rotting flesh and it’s all over.
The bible is worthless. All of them should bed p!ssed on and sat on fire
Anthony: The ignorance of your comment does not negate the truth. It is true when we die the maggots will eat at our rotting flesh but your soul will live eternally in either heaven or hell. Faith in a risen saviour called Jesus Christ gets you to heaven, if not, you got to hell, and you will indeed wish it was all over.
section117lady
April 8th, 2010
9:02 am
As a season ticket holder for the last 5 years in section 117 I have a good view of the game and the hawks bench. No matter what some of you think Woody has no control of this team, and to be honest with you they do not pay him a lot of attention. It literally looks like he is scribbling on the clipboard, and it is a jumbled mess. The meat of most of his convos with the team is “come on guys pick it up”,”what are you doing”, and my favorite”com’ on smooth you gotta get that block and help crash the boards and and and” he does his favorite scowl and that’s it. His assistants even look unsupportive and disinterested.
That being said free throws and blocking out is basic and fundamental. And these guys have gotta do better
By the way say what you want but I sit less that 15 feet away from these guys and my uncle and I always comment how tired they are, esoecially Josh. He has his faults but you can not honestly say he does not give his best and all and he is spent. It makes them vulnerable I.e. OKC on king day.
Hawk in Manhattan
April 8th, 2010
9:02 am
At this point it’s obvious what the issues are:
1. Insufficient defensive structure and intensity to stop good teams when it’s a must.
2. Not a sufficient offensive system to beat good defenses when they focus on getting stops (as they will in quarter 4).
3. No development of the bench to both push the starters or be ready to produce when starters (inevitably) go down.
4. No systemic pressure on the refs from our coaching staff, leading to being whistled as also-rans, not contenders.
It’s the same thing for three years running.
The record is marginally better this year for two reasons:
- Crawford
- Best luck in the NBA regarding fewest injuries
We’ve had zero improvement in philosophy or execution since last year, even while plenty of individuals (namely Horford and Smith) have matured their games and mindsets.
The talent is there to be a top 5 team in the NBA and contend for a title. It could improve further, but the talent is already top tier. The system is not.
It’s up to Rick Sund to understand the situation, figure out how he’s addressing it, and then make that happen this off-season.
I just hope we don’t lose Joe because of all this. With the right system, teaching and environment, he could be special, and if we lose him, it will be hard to take the next steps that our talent currently makes possible.
Sam'l
April 8th, 2010
9:13 am
Man..a little discord here today. The Hawks have had great teams white players or not. Jumpin Joe Caldwell, Zelmo Beatty, Lou Hudson…..Maravich was great but could have been a winner if the whole team had stayed and was completely integrated into the system. They could never beath the smart teams from the North, the Knicks or the Celtics. Dominique Wilkens was great. Moses Malone…Mutombo….
Through the years, and this applies to now, the Hawks have always been erratic….totally unpredictable from one night to the next This bunch may be the best…..probably are and the only real hope now is that they will unpredictably go all the way.
“One thing I don’t understand is……” Josh Smith’s free throws. You have Mark Price (who was career 90% or above) on the frigging payroll as a shot teacher. You have Josh Smith one of the greatest athletes and getting better and better each year and who obviously refuses to be anything better than a complete player and who really, really wants to win.. What would it take to have them get together for 5 minutes each practice session?
The last 2 games don’t mean anything except we’ll probably play Miami and end up with injuries going into the second round. I remember that they beat us up last year, almost like on purpose.
The only time we’ll see the real Hawks is:
1. When they feel they have a challenge.
2. When they get really scared that they’ve lost so many games it’s obvious they’re not giving us the real Hawks. .
JOE
April 8th, 2010
9:14 am
if Woodson still has a job after a first round playoff loss I’ll be shocked…..
Hawks73
April 8th, 2010
9:32 am
I am not shocked by the Hawks inconsistency on the road, but I am disappointed with the overall focus. It’s terribly difficult to take this team as “serious playoff contenders” when they lose to teams they should clearly beat.
I can’t quite put a finger on it, but it’s definitely something Woody needs to address or the Hawks are looking at a 7 game series in the first round and a quick exit in the 2nd…sounds all too familiar.
Fundamentals
April 8th, 2010
9:33 am
Disgusted here. Anthony said it best at 12:22 AM – Completely apathetic, unprofessional effort for 2 straight games. Figure it out? How when you don’t really care.
If were were going to play 6 players the entire game last night they should’ve been Randolph Morris, Mario West, Jeff Teague, Mo Evans, Marvin Williams and maybe use Joe Smith 15-20 minutes. Probably would’ve lost by 6, but you could’ve rested folks and gotten others real time.
Teague of all deserved some time last night after his 2nd half the night before. Morris desreved minutes to ensure ZaZa is healthy for the playoffs.
We don’t care about our seed cause we don’t think we can win in the 2nd round. We’re not worried about momentum. We just think we can flip it on like a switch and compete in the 2nd round.
I honestly hope Toronto teaches us a lesson about desire and professionalism. I’d almost like to see them win Friday in tough, hardnosed fashion, without Bosh. Maybe then Woodson & Jamal could figure it out. It’s about heart. Till you find it…I’m disgusted.
Tirade away JeJe…maybe you might be right this time. I feel like an idiot for having the belief that we had the heart and professionalism to beat scrubs with our role players.
Fundamentals
April 8th, 2010
9:35 am
Great post Sam’l!
Ken Strickland
April 8th, 2010
9:39 am
How many of you can remember an earlier gm where Woody limited his bench in the 2nd half to 6 players, and after we lost, he promised not to make the same mistake again? WELL WOODY LOVERS, AS YOU CAN SEE, YOUR BELOVED WOODY LIED!!! This man can’t get out of the way of his own stupidity and ingrained hangups. He’s virtually the opposite of his mentor Larry Brown. It doesn’t appear as though he learned a damned thing from him, because it certainly doesn’t show.
When stressed or pressured, he seems to automatically revert back to old habits, whether they’ve worked or not. We just completed back to back gms where the opposition used identical strategies against us and Woodson did absolutely nothing to counter that strategy, other than to say, “WE’VE JUST GOT TO FIGURE IT OUT. WHAT WE, HELL, YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE THAT HASN’T FIGURED IT OUT MORON.
What happened to all of the COY BS we were hearing earlier in the season from you WOODY LOVERS? How can you consider someone a COY candidate when he’s not even coaching? He’s been going through the motions and still trying to figure everything out just 4gms before the playoffs start, WOW?
THE ONLY THING HC MIKE WOODSON DESERVES IS A PINK SLIP AFTER THE SEASON. Other teams have suffered major longterm injuries to key players, and their HC has been able to coach their teams through it. Woodson can’t coach us through a back to back against a losing team with 3 key starters missing. Like I’ve said before, THIS IS A VERY TALENTED PLAYER DRIVEN TEAM THAT WINS INSPITE OF WOODSON AND HIS SORRY EXCUSE FOR A HALFCOURT OFF AND A FLAWED DEF.
Brett
April 8th, 2010
9:39 am
Smooth says “the Hawks have about a 75% chance of going undefeated in these final 4 games if they maintain focus and play for 48 minutes each night.”
tell me when over any 4 game stretch these Hawks have maintained focus and played 48 minutes each night”???
Considering Crawford addition, lack of injuries and development of young team we should be 6-10 games better than last year. We aren’t.
Big Daddy
April 8th, 2010
9:49 am
To quote a recent comment in a movie “You know what? We are in trouble”. With all of the great and emotional comments that have been made it gets down to one simple understanding. We are losing games we should have won. How could we lose to a team as short-handed as the Pistons? With 3 starters out and playing their subs and 2 of them out or leave the game, how did we lose?
We could break it down to fundamentals and we could come up with how tired the starters are, and they are tired, but in the end it was a game we should have won by the same margins as we did the Lakers or more. But we didn’t and most of it as others have pointed out has to be put on the coaching staff.
We have been baffled over and over with zones in the fourth quarter. Why hasn’t Woody and the staff developed some plays that we can counter act the zone so that we can score. Unlike college the players cannot pack the lane and stay in there so, the coaching staff should come up with something that counters that. These are men who have all played in the NBA and have faced numerous challenges as coaches. Why can’t they solve this?
Some of you are probably going to disagree with me on this but if Jamaal Crawford doesn’t win the 6th man award it is probably going to because a lack of team play. I am not saying that he doesn’t pass the ball, but too often he hoist up shots that he shouldn’t, doesn’t pass to open players but shoots over double teams and too far away from the basket. It is, after all, a team sport. If you think about it, how hard would you be running without the ball if you knew the guy who has it will not pass to you and is going to jack it up, no matter what? When he is on, he is spectacular and unstoppable. But, when he is off, and I am guessing he is getting tired too, he just keeps missing and continues to shoot. Nobody else on the team does that like him. Everyone is waiting for him to find his stroke and catch fire.
Some coaches are famous for their offenses, some for their defenses. Woody has had “moments of clarity” but, too often he doesn’t call a time out when it is starting to slip away and when he does, he doesn’t have a real play for the guys to execute. Notice I did say “too often” and not “ever”. In a year where his contract is up for renewal ,I would like to think he would be a little more hands on than he is. He has to show management that he is not just a coach who can get them to a certain level and just plateau, but take them all the way. I question whether we will get out of the first round. Don’t think opposing teams are not going to throw zones at us early and often.
If you have been reading my comments, I have stated over and over again that if one of the guards goes down or we have other injuries to the team that we are going to have a really hard time because the bench does not get enough playing time and Rook has been playing as if he is afraid to make a mistake because he is going to get yanked. Usually, he is right, when he makes a mistake he is pulled and Jamaal comes in or Bibby comes back. Now, we are in a position where we are only short one guy and we can’t beat a team short 5, even if it is on the road. Come playoff time, we will be playing elite teams and we will have to win on the road. So I repeat my opening statement. “You know what? We are in trouble”.
drmaryb
April 8th, 2010
9:59 am
CLYDE
This was an unexplainable loss. What can I say?
GRAND-DADDY
Where do we go from here?
SO SO SOOO. SAADD.
terrell
April 8th, 2010
10:00 am
Players have matured and are better(except Marvin), bench is better(Crawdaddy, Smith, Evans, Teague), but we can only muster up 2 more wins than last year. Which proves that the coaching is still the same. But I guess as long as we win more than 47 games, this year is a success. Please!
Joey
April 8th, 2010
10:02 am
The Hawks, even at full strength, are no where as strong as they were in the first half of the season, and I just can’t figure out why, unless it is the coaching. Why do other teams come out of a timeout, score on their first possession, and play better for the next ten minutes or so? The Hawks hardly ever do that.
I’m not knocking Woodie, but I think he’s done all he can for these Hawks. When he has to remind 5-10 year veteran pros to “play good defense and rebound”, it’s obvious they aren’t paying attention anymore.
I had such high hopes for much of the season, but I don’t think they can now beat the Bucks, the Heat, or the Bobcats in the playoffs. They simply can’t finish games anymore.
bigdave
April 8th, 2010
10:05 am
this team is good enough… philosophies aren’t comparable to talent… yielding inconsistency
Buddha
April 8th, 2010
10:13 am
Grandad – Sounds like Buddhism would make a lot more sense for you….just sayin…
Peace!
Hawk n the Ham
April 8th, 2010
10:25 am
It’s frustrating as an avid Hawks fan to see the season winding down to these games. The reason it’s so frustrating is because we realize this year, this team, is the most talented and experienced Hawks group we have had in a long, long time. We are lucky to have one of the most exciting teams to watch in all the NBA because of the pure athletes on this team. On the other hand, we are not so lucky to have one of the most FRUSTRATING teams to root for.
There are those games where you can see that the Hawks just outmatch anyone sitting on the opponent’s bench. And yet, that other team out hustles our athletes?
Who is going to be the leader? Who is going to be the guy, when momentum obviously slips, and the team loses focus, to pull the team aside and re-adjust the mentality of those on the hardwood? It can’t be Woody. It needs to be a player. Playoffs are so close, but it will be a season of what-if’s, if someone doesn’t step up, and put their foot to the throat to those lesser than him.
Go Hawks
DawgNole
April 8th, 2010
10:25 am
Anthony
April 8th, 2010
12:28 am
The Hawks haven’t truly been a good basketball team since being in Atlanta. That doesn’t change now.
_____________________________________
Based on his subsequent comments, Anthony definitely appears to have some issues, but so does Grandad for that matter. The difference is that Anthony is dead right about the Hawks, and history bears that out. NEVER in their 40-plus years in Atlanta have they advanced past the second round of the playoffs. That doesn’t change now.
Tom
April 8th, 2010
10:28 am
In my opinion, the scariest part here….no one has stepped up. We don’t have one single “step-upper”…those other teams ahead of us in the standing, all have step-uppers. It will be why we lose in the first round. ‘Fraid it is as “Good as it gets” for the Hawks.
O'Brien
April 8th, 2010
10:28 am
Last year, we won 47 games, with Josh missing time, Al missing time, Flip Murray as our 6th man, and Acie as our 3rd PG.
This year, we added Crawford (SMOY), Joe Smith, and Teague, and we have been the healthiest team in the NBA. But yet, the best we can do is 2-6 more wins than last year. Although Marvin, Bibby, and ZaZa have regressed, I think this team has underachieved. And part of that falls on coaching.
Ken S,
That was the Phoenix Suns game. Woody went with 6 guys the whole second half, and we got outplayed in the fourth by the Suns bench players. Same thing last night, because Detroit’s scrubs outplayed us down the stretch.
steeldawy
April 8th, 2010
10:29 am
OK you rest you sub par super star Joe Johnson to get healthy but you run the other guys into the ground. Bedsides no offensive game plan and deffensive lapses, Woody also forgets he has Joe Smith on the bench. He is a quality big that should get at least 10 to 12 minuets. But again you have a coach that doesn’t have a set rotation and reluctantly plays reserves. All the injuries in the Cleveland series last year wasn’t a fluke. You play your starters all game for a 7 game series againt Miami and that is what happens. Oh yeah all of those games were blow out and ZAZA was the only one coming off the bench. MO, Crawford, ZAZA, Joe Smith and Teague need to find a way onto the court just to give the starters a blow. Again need a coach that understand that. Everyone said it. FIRE WOODY. BUZZ Light year is better any way.
steeldawy
April 8th, 2010
10:31 am
Obrien you are right. Dallas game too. Not withstanding the Jason Kidd crap
cp
April 8th, 2010
10:34 am
NCBravesFan to answer your question, NO. He allows the so called vets to mess up as much as they want and he never yanks them. Last night was a perfect example of a coach needing to sit a player. Mike Bibby had a good first quarter but after that it was evident to anybody watching the game that he was done. Dude was out there gassed and getting torched on defense. One play Bynum had Bibby turning around in circles because he did not know where he was. That’s how bad he was defensively last night. Most coaches see that their player is hurting the team and goes in another direction. Mike Woodson sees it and plays the guy more minutes. ENOUGH SAID.
Rufus1
April 8th, 2010
10:45 am
WOODSON AS A COACH….BAD!!!
This Year we added
We add a 19pts a game scorer to our bench(6th man of year).
Have the fewest injuries of any team in the NBA.
Al Horford an Allstar..Josh playing like an Allstar year………………WE MAY WIN 4 MORE GAMES THAN LAST YEAR!!!!!
He is the same coach that coach the Hawks to a 13 win season…WE JUST HAVE BETTER PALYERS!!
Every increase in win total was a direct result of a KEY PLYER ACQUISITION and ORGANIC GROWTH.
Joe 15mil a year 2005-06=26 wins
None free agent 2006-07=30 wins
AL 2007-08, Bibby part of 2007-08=37 wins
Bibby 15mil a year 2008-09=47 wins
Jamal 10mil a year 2009-10=51 wins
WITHOUT THE FREE AGENTS, WE ARE ARE A 30 WIN TEAM!!!!
WOODSON SUCKS!!!
Astro Joe
April 8th, 2010
10:48 am
Wow, no mention of our team leader failing to convert 2 free throws with 62 seconds left in the game. I wonder if that would have been mentioned had it been Bibby (or Marvin or Joe) who missed those free throws?
Tough loss last night. I hate it when we go into 4-corners with more than 2 minutes left in the game.
Ben Wallace can still disrupt a game. And his free throw shooting stroke looked a lot better than some of our guys last night.
DecentJ
April 8th, 2010
11:01 am
I can’t help but really feel that THE GHOST OF 4TH QUARTER HAWKS HORROR might show up to haunt us during the Playoffs…I predict we’ll lose in the 1st round and they’ll get rid of Woody and a few players in a minor shake up over summer….
O'Brien
April 8th, 2010
11:02 am
AJ,
As I stated earlier in my comments, players share the blame.
Our team leader Josh missed 2 FT with 62 seconds left in the game, Bibby had a bad turnover, and Bibby and Crawford combined to go 2-14 from 3.
But this is a loss where Woody had a chance to make a positive impact on the game, and he didn’t. And when this type of loss has been happening so often recently, don’t you think Woody has to be a part of the problem?
GeeMack
April 8th, 2010
11:12 am
Man I can’t even defend last nights loss. That was horrible basketball in the 4th.
I wonders what’s our record when leading in the 4th quarter?
Mike Hunt
April 8th, 2010
11:16 am
Hawks go down in first round. Especially, if it’s against the Heat. They better hope they can play the Bucks. Either way, no chance in second round. No leader on the court = playoff misery.
Fundamentals
April 8th, 2010
11:18 am
Astro,
Josh’s free throws were bad, but what about the lazy pass from Bibby, the lack of shot clock management from Bibby and the total lack of D from everyone late. It wasn’t the 2 free throws that caused the game. It was a total meltdown from several folks. Mainly our floor general who should’ve been resting his toe while we watched to see how JTO would handle himself under pressure.
RachaelEvans
April 8th, 2010
11:24 am
The Hawks are NOT, let me repeat that NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEIR SUPERIOR ATHLETICISM. Josh Smith, Al Horford, Jamal Crawford, Joe Johnson are killer, incredible talents. There is no way they should be BLOWING LEADS COMING DOWN THE STRETCH. It is totally inexcusable. Now I know Joe was out of the lineup so he gets a pass, but folks come on you have got to move the basketball around to get a good, clear, high-percentage shot and then either attack the basket or get the ball to an open guy. Another thing: take your time and be deliberate and stop playing frantically, nervously continually turning the ball over. The turnovers, guys, are killing us in the fourth quarters. Last night there was one sequence (as Mike Woodsen pointed out in his press conference after the game) where we had THREE TURNOVERS IN A ROW without scoring any points. I think this happened when we had about a six point lead in the fourth quarter. Come on, stop, and I repeat STOP CHOKING IN THE FOURTH QUARTERS OF BALLGAMES AGAINST INFERIOR OPPONENTS.
Fundamentals
April 8th, 2010
11:24 am
What happened to gearing up for Playoff Basketball? I’m all about 100% support of the team, but right now we need to slap some kids in the face to wake them up! Joe Johnson or not, we should be able to compete! What if we were missing 3-4 starters like Detroit? Could we beat anyone by 2? We couldn’t even beat the Nets missing 2 starters the way we’re playing. Total lack of effort, intensity and professionalism.
They think 50 wins and the 4th seed is meeting expectations.
Only problem is Sund set the expectation to compete well or win in the 2nd round. With this kind of response we’ve got our work cut out for us.
RISE UP! Isn’t that an appropriate Hawks slogan these days.
Time is now Hawks! Rise Up!
Rufus1
April 8th, 2010
11:42 am
We have blown 24 4th Qt leads.
Clyde
April 8th, 2010
11:46 am
Drmaryb don’t be sad. Your a smart woman maybe you can help Woody #figureitout.
FIRE WOODY
GeeMack
April 8th, 2010
11:48 am
This loss could linger for a while.
VenomSpitter
April 8th, 2010
11:49 am
Has a another team in all of sports choked as much as the hawks have???????????????????
GeeMack
April 8th, 2010
11:50 am
Rufus1
Do you know win/lose record in those games?