Hawks squawks: Hawks 107, Raptors 101
Greetings-
Ken Sugiura sitting in for MC. Mike will be back at you Saturday from Washington.
Hawks are at home, hence, they win. Punch in, punch out. Given the way they floundered in Detroit, I wasn’t so sure of their chances tonight against Toronto.
But they took it, thanks in no small part to a huge second quarter. Jamal was his electric self, nailing 4 of 5 3-pointers and scoring 15 points. Said Al Horford, “I would say Jamal Crawford happened.”
- Credit also Zaza Pachulia, exceptional ball movement and good work on the glass. Of the Hawks’ 15 baskets in the quarter, 10 were off assists, and they had 13 second-chance points. The Hawks missed 11 shots in the quarter and had seven offensive rebounds.
Raps coach Jay Triano: “We just didn’t box out, and that was really our downfall.”
- Much of the rest of the game wasn’t much to look at. In the other three quarters, the Hawks shot 21 for 62 (33.9 percent), including 2 for 16 from 3-point range. I’m not quite sure what to make of it. I guess it depends on where you lie on the Woody COY/Fire Woody spectrum, I suppose.
Coach Triano?
“The positive is we beat them in three other quarters. We just became too relaxed in the second quarter. Other than that, I think we played pretty hard and fairly well.”
Coach Woodson?
“We were somewhat flat (in the first quarter), but we’ve had games like that. Guys came in off the bench and picked us up and got us back in the game, and we were able to play Hawk basketball. I thought that second quarter was as good a second quarter as we’ve played all season.”
- Perhaps worth considering. It is certainly worth asking, “How can a team trying to gear up for the playoffs come out and play like that in the first quarter?” But I imagine fans of the Celtics, who lost at home to Washington Friday night, are saying something quite similar, only in a funny accent. It doesn’t justify it, but just know you’re hardly alone. I imagine you can find a band of “Doc Rivers must go!” bloggers up in Boston, as well.
- Strong game for Mo Evans, I thought, though he missed some shots he ought to make.
- Joe Johnson looked O.K. to me with the sprained thumb. I saw him grimacing early in the game when he took a foul, but he seemed to find his flow. For what it’s worth, Woody said he limited his minutes because he was getting back after three games out.
- Raptors, 54 points in the paint. Yikes.
- One prediction – Elias Sports Bureau, source of those random stats you hear on ESPN that I confess I love (Al Horford has 10 double-doubles this season in Wednesday road games…) will offer some sort of statistic on the Hawks’ concurrent 11-game home winning streak and six-game road losing streak. It’s a puzzler. We’ll let MC deal with that one tomorrow.
- And let’s not forget – 50 wins. I hope you’re enjoying it, Hawks fans, because it’s no small achievement.
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85 comments Add your comment
northcyde
April 10th, 2010
12:26 pm
KAI . . . it’s because they KNOW that if we do happen to get to the Eastern Conference Finals, that Woody will almost automatically be retained. He will have done something that no coach in the history of this franchise while in Atlanta would’ve done.
I love the “Woody has taken this team as far as they can go” comments. Ummmm . . . wait until the season is over, to make that assessment. Let this thing play out.
We have 2 dynamic scorers on this team that can take over a game in stretches ( JJ and Jamal ). Let’s see if lightning will strike, and we can get these 2 going at the same time in the playoffs.
People like to look at them separately, but Hawk fans should be looking at them as a DUO. In the playoffs, they have the potential to be the best 1 – 2 punch in the postseason.
Dubya
April 10th, 2010
12:35 pm
JeJe is a JerkJerk . . .
Dubya
April 10th, 2010
12:38 pm
JeJe says. “FIRE WOODY. He will never develop young players”.
I say, FIRE JeJe, he will never develop a brain and some common sense.
The Hawks could win the championship and that JerkJerk JeJe will be complaining that Woody didn’t develop Jeff Teague. What a moron!
Dubya
April 10th, 2010
12:53 pm
BLATCHE WILL HAVE 35 TOMORROW . . .
That’s great, JeJe – oh, by the way, the Wizards have 25 wins – exactly 1/2 of our total.
Wabe
April 10th, 2010
1:03 pm
dmaryb:
“If JT0 needs to develop his skills? His azz should have stayed in school. He had a four year free ride to get an education & play collegiate ball. He himself chose to walk away from developing his mind & his fundamental ball skills.
He walked away from an oppty to develop his weak azz game. This is the NBA! Its a grown mans business!
Mr. Woodson was hired to win a championship not give birth to babies & change diapers.
JT0 is no Brandon Jennings, last time I checked. There was a reason he was available @ 19th pick.”
If the Hawks didn’t need a PG, they wouldn’t have drafted JT0. It was fairly obvious after last season that we needed a PG. Understand that as good as Mike Bibby’s been for the Hawks over the past couple of seasons, he’s just a stop-gap.
I can understand some of yall arguments for JT0 lack of minutes if you’ve been impressed with Mike Bibby’s play this season. I personally feel he’s had a significant drop-off. You’ve heard the “give more minutes to JT0″ argument really grow as the season’s progressed. Much of that is a reflection of MIKE BIBBY’S PLAY. I can’t grasp how we’ve gone nights where Bibby clocks 21+ minutes and logs 1 point; 1 assist (IT’S HAPPENED). There have been several instances where Bibby’s non-existent on the floor, yet see no rotational changes DURING THE GAME to adjust to Bibby’s poor play.
Some of you argue that the bench doesn’t get PT because they “suck”. Yall are basically claiming that if the bench doesn’t perform, they won’t play. Well, shouldn’t the same notion hold true if a starter is struggling? Does it not make more sense to let JT0 and Mo get more burn on nights where Marvin and Bibby are clocking 25+ minutes with nothing to show for it? Common now, be real. You may not be too impressed with the rookie, but it’s not as if guys like Bibby and Marvin (starters) have blown me away this season.
Look at where the bar is. The kid will never jump over it if he’s shackled to the bench.
Clyde
April 10th, 2010
1:14 pm
Winning 50 games don’t mean nothing if you get beat in the second round of the playoffs.
FIRE WOODY
J.J.M.
April 10th, 2010
1:15 pm
man I really dont want to see hawks and the heat again in the playoffs
slide
April 10th, 2010
1:50 pm
“Winning 50 games don’t mean nothing if you get beat in the second round of the playoffs.”
I don’t care if we don’t have the personnel to get the job done, I’m stupid, I believe I can win a world championship with grade school rejects. I have no logic in my demand and yes, I’m an ignorant unjust fool who thinks with his emotions and lacks wisdom.
The bottom line is although the hawks are handicapped by playing without a center, a point guard who is fading fast, a rookie guard who loves turnovers and a bench that only a mother would love, I expect, yes I demand that we win a championship with this garbage. A team with 1 all star.
Now, Fire Woody.
Meet Clyde, our new center!
T
April 10th, 2010
1:51 pm
Clyde
April 10th, 2010
1:14 pm
Winning 50 games don’t mean nothing if you get beat in the second round of the playoffs.
FIRE WOODY
———————————————-
Just like going 11-5 in the NFL and getting bounced in the 1st round and not making the playoffs the next season.
Fool ender
April 10th, 2010
1:53 pm
The hawks were expect to barely make the playoffs so why the surprise that they wont make it past the second round. That s a given.
Cali girl
April 10th, 2010
2:02 pm
NOBODY KNOWS WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE SECOND ROUND THE HAWKS JUST MAY SHOCK EVERYBODY!! PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO THEIR OPINIONS JUST CAUSE SOMEBODY SAYS OH THE HAWKS WONT WIN IN THE SECOND ROUND DOESNT MEAN THEY R GOING TO LOSE ITS AN OPINION NOT A FACT CANT ANYONE C INTO THE FUTURE NO HOW I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE HAWKS!
Anthony
April 10th, 2010
3:03 pm
Hawks squeak by a Bosh-less Raps and someone is supposed to be impressed?
Anthony
April 10th, 2010
3:05 pm
Without the outstanding play of JCrawford throughout this season, this team wouldn’t be able to match last yrs win total, let alone win 50gms. We barely won our 1st rd series against Miami last yr, and not only have they become a better team overall, they’re playing much better down the stretch as well. They’ve also handled us pretty good this season.”
They barely beat a bad Toronto team playing without Bosh and they lost to a Detroit team basically missing Prince, Hamilton and Stuckey and yet you claim that theyre playing good down the stretch? Sorry, but you’re wrong.
Ken Strickland
April 10th, 2010
3:20 pm
OBRIEN-At least they’re winning against those subpar teams, while we’re struggling to win, or even be competitive againsty them in many instances.
DRMARYB-I never said I knew what was said in any of Woodson’s timeouts. But based on the results after retaking the court, either there wasn’t much said, or the team definitely didn’t pay attention to anything he did say. You don’t need to call a timeout to drawup a play the ends up with everyone clearing out and JJ going ISO or one on one against the entire DEF.
You mentioned Woodson not having the talent to get the job done. Well, there are a lot of WOODY LOVERS who insist on believing no other HC could have done as much as he did with the lack of talent he started out with. For any HC that can do more with less, wouldn’t it be reasonable to expect him to do more with more? I wouldn’t call having 2 Allstars(JJ & Horford), one potential Allstar(Smoove) and one certain 6th man of the yr(Crawford) as not having much talent. It would help his case if he’d do a better job of developing, utilizing and coaching the talent he does have.
No other NBA HC or GM would even think about starting MBibby, let alone playing him over 27MPG, the way he’s regressed and as inconsistent as he’s been this season. In light of Bibby’s struggles, both offensively and defensively, no other HC would have limited JTeague’s development the way Woodson has. You can say the same for the underutilization of JoSmith and RMorris as well. What other HC would standby and do little to nothing but give lip service as Marvin’s OFF gm deteriated?
We’ve seen limited OFF/DEF adjustments, no lineup changes, no strategic utilization of players skills and abilities, like playing Teague in place of Bibby down the stretch when when DEF is needed. What will it take to get it through his thick stubborn head that it’s not better for the team defensively to have Bibby and Crawford switching off on C’s and PF’s under the basket, and our C’s and PF’s switching off on PG’s and SG’s at the top of the key.
THAT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH A LACK OF TALENT, THAT’S JUST THE RESULT OF PLAIN STUPIDITY AND INCOMPETENT COACHING. His recognition skills are extremely limited. This isn’t a team with a dominant player or player’s who have the talent and ability to carry a team, like Kobe, LeBron, DHoward, AStaudeminre, SNash or KGarnett & PPierce. For this team to reach its ultimate potential, the HC must be able to harness its talents from the some of all of its parts. That requires careful and extensive utilization of our bench, taking advantage of each players strengths, utilizing strategies, and making adjustments and changes when needed.
Woodson has chosen to do the complete opposite in most of these cases. Adding more talent won’t make a bit of difference if he insists on holding onto his stupid bias against all young players, while favoring certain veterans. This team has been limited and inconsistent because of Woodson’s unwillingness to seek help in developing an effective halfcourt OFF. He’s consistently underutilized certain players and refused to give consistent mins and/or opportunities to more than 6-7 players.
While it is always a benefit to add more talent, the Hawks would benefit most by adding a more talented HC.
cp
April 10th, 2010
3:29 pm
Ehh its no need to even try and reason with some people on here when it comes to Teague. No matter how much sense you make and what facts you state they still find a way to say he shouldn’t play. You can bring up the numerous games where Bibby has pretty much laid an egg but that doesn’t seem to matter. Mo Evans said this week the reason he is playing better is because he is actually getting minutes. WOW who woulda thunk it. A guy actually performs when he is given consistent minutes. WHAT A CONCEPT. Only on this blog have I seen people expect a player to actually get better with no minutes. I really wonder what a player is supposed to do in 5 minutes here and 4 minutes there. Im sure Ill get some weak answer for that question…. This argument about how Woodson has improved the record every year is also laughable. When the bar is set at 13 wins and you add all star talent to your roster and the guys you draft become better and even all stars well you should win more games. Wow what another concept you add all star and overall better talent to a team that pretty much had none and your wins increase. People also seem to forget it took 7 games last year to beat a one man team in the first round. The way this defense has been playing and the way good teams exploit the switching defense and the 4th quarter droughts this team has, wouldn’t be shocked if they struggled in the first round again…………….. Anthony he was saying Miami was playing better down the stretch not the Hawks.
bigdave
April 10th, 2010
3:34 pm
anyone heard anything about singer, “The Dream” as a minority owner of the Hawks?
from allhiphop.com: http://allhiphop.com/stories/rumors/archive/2010/04/08/22162768.aspx
“Yo…The Dream is trying to buy a part of the Atlanta Hawks. They really running up in the NBA. “
Ken Strickland
April 10th, 2010
3:35 pm
ANTHONY-You misread my post. I was referring to the Miami Heat improving and playing better down the stretch, while we’re going down the stretch struggling to win gms against lesser teams. The way we’re playing, we’ll be fortunate to win 1 of the next 3 gms, and after what the Wizards did against the Celtics last night, I’d be leary of our chances against them tonight.
I’d use these last 3 gms to prepare for the playoffs. I’d start Mo Evans and bring Marvin off the bench, and see how they both respond. I’d split the combined 37MPG played between Bibby and Teague(Bibby 27.5 + Teague 9.7 =37.2) and see how it affects our OFF and DEF over the course of these gms, especially during the 4th quarter.
Grandad
April 10th, 2010
3:45 pm
Yawl know that – ['TRUTH SERUM'/'SYBIL'] has been posing as ['drmaryb']
up above. RIGHT !!! Thought yawl ought to know that just in case.
TS – exponential: The rate of change becomes [not] as a straight line
but a curve that continues to get steeper or more shallow.
TS – compliment time. You are a twisted, deranged, maniacal, ‘GENIUS’.
Like mama always said:
“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”
TS…I’m gonna cease calling you ‘Sybil’, from now on, you’re
new moniker is…drum roll please:
‘The Mad Hatter’
Grandad
April 10th, 2010
4:39 pm
Hey ‘Mad Hatter’:
Can you cook a Steak, if all you have are Hot-Dogs, beans & potatoes? Neither, can Mr. Woodson.
If I had a nickel, I’d bet that was, none other than…’The mad hatter’.
Alas, I ain’t got a penny, much less a nickel, & I don’t give a dime!
rusty
April 10th, 2010
4:41 pm
why did woody & sund draft teague in the first round,didnt they see all his shortcomingsor is it possible that he has regressed playing under woody or maybe he plays scared with his limited opportunities.woody always is on his back while he continues to get away with anything. is this what knight did to him?
Grandad
April 10th, 2010
4:41 pm
Whoops, forgot to put quotes, sorry ’bout that.
“Can you cook a Steak, if all you have are Hot-Dogs, beans & potatoes? Neither, can Mr. Woodson.”
rusty
April 10th, 2010
4:42 pm
continues to let bibby get away with everything
rusty
April 10th, 2010
4:43 pm
why did he draft teague
tjhook
April 10th, 2010
5:07 pm
Everyone attacks Woodson about the lack of offensive imagination, but when is there going to be conversation about the assistant coaches on this team. With all of the griping, I’m sure the asst’s. have been made aware of the public’s general frustration with Woodson’s coaching. Mr. Cunningham, can you give us some insight on the assistants and what kind of input they contribute before the game along with in-game suggestions- implementation.
O'Brien
April 10th, 2010
5:07 pm
Mibe Bibby’s season average against the teams we will probably play in the first round:
Miami => 30 mins, 8.5 pts, 2.8 assists
Bucks => 24 mins, 7.5 pts, 2.5 assists
Charlotte => 21 minutes, 4.3 pts, 2.7 assists.
With numbers like that, I dont expect much from Bibby in the playoffs (unless he finds the fountain of youth). However, he is capable of making the big shot at key moments, so it will be up to Woody to figure out how many minutes to play him, and the right situation.
The way the Hawks have been playing, I would not be surprised to see the first round take all 7 games again. But the important thing is to win and move on. And I think they will win (regardless of who the first round opponent is).
Najeh Davenpoop
April 10th, 2010
5:33 pm
Congratulations to the Hawks for winning 50 games. I didn’t see the 2nd half yesterday, but at one point they were up by 20 in the 4th quarter, so I wonder why they only won by 6.
cp
April 10th, 2010
5:44 pm
Dude stick to crying and complaining about Horford because its obvious when its comes to other topics you’re pretty clueless. You always talk about how terrible the guy is but you never have an answer as to who we can reasonably bring in to replace him. I’m starting to think the guy didn’t sign ya t shirt or something.
drmaryb
April 10th, 2010
5:59 pm
Grand-Daddy
I didn’t see any false posts with my name on here today. I don’t have to hide my I’d either, because I stand behind ALL my words. I have no identity crisises going on in my world & don’t. forsee any down the line. LOL!
I just woke up this morning feeling good about my team, because I have seen so much progress in the past three years & am feeling so optimistic about the future. Will we win it all this year? Probably not – unless God forbid some Super-Star gets injured on another team like Mr. Bogut did. & I don’t want to see that ever!
Realistically, I would be elated to see the ECF! But, some say I am a dreamer! We simply need some more seasoning & a better bench G-daddy!
Horford & Smoove has improved leaps & bounds from last year, But they still got a ways to go & will get much better if they work hard on their games like MJ did when he developed an outside shot. JJ needs to keep working on his jumper too. Bibby, is winding down but don’t disrespect the man! We are getting older – I know I am.
Mr. Sund needs to get better at his job too & so does Mr. Woodson. All, I ask for is work hard, leave it all on the court & give yourself a CHANCE to win every game in the end. Just compete hard.
LBJ, KOBE & DWade bring it for 48 mins every night! JJ needs to do that too! The talent is there.
Different Styles … Ok. But bring that same level of intensity. Keep working on your game!
MJ shot 3000 balls per day. He outworked the entire NBA every game! That’s Special!
Grandad
April 10th, 2010
6:20 pm
drmaryb:
My apologies for insulting you.
drmaryb
April 10th, 2010
6:22 pm
NorthCyde
Hey Baby!
Man I woke up and saw some foolishness going on here from the last nite Blog. I had to check
Mr. Rusty, that dude was completely Out-of-Order. I had to order him a CAT-Scan – just to see if he had a BRAIN? Like the TIN-MAN in the Wizard olf OZ!
LOL! I was having some fun on here. Our beloved team just repeated history for the first time in 13 YEARS!
No time to keep bitching, moaning & complaining. Maybe they can take a one day vacation & Enjoy the win.
We have to go back to work & take care of Milwaukee now. The GOAL has to be to beat BOSTON for that 3rd Seed – Right? What else really matters right now. You know how it works – One Game at at Time.
Cliche’ but very True. Focus only on the next opponent right? Control your destiny! Last year we were behind Boston, This year we are ahead of Boston – Right? This is good – Right? Moving in the Right direction – Right?
This off-Season priority has top be to re-sign JJ & Extend Woody. Then prepare for the Draft & make some Trades. I have top give Billy Knight props for dumping bad & expiring contracts arpound here.
As much as people complain @ Bibby, we got him for Shelden (My girlfriend Balls better than Me!). & Lorenzen. That’s Sweet dealing. Bibby still has value, but we need another est. Veteran PG! I do like Jarrett Jack too! Maybe we can trade Marvin for a quality PG? We need another BIG too. A prototype Center who can battle Dwight & Cleveland on the boards & Put. LBJ on his azz when he strolls in the paint!
We need several more pieces to be an Elite Team IMO.
Keepin’ it Real!
I LOVE YOU NORTHCYDE – You’re the MAN!
drmaryb
April 10th, 2010
6:39 pm
Grand-Daddy
No apology is necessary. You are a true fan with great perspective! I love reading your insightful posts.
Hey, I have been posted by imposters in the past. But not today. LOL! I will call them out when I see them, don’t worry about that.
I had to beat up on Rusty though – he needed a spanking last night though. LOL!
drmaryb
April 10th, 2010
6:45 pm
Truth-Serum
(Pheno-Barbitol)
Great Post @ 516 pm! Co-Sign that. You are a die-hard FAN. -smiles-
Grandad
April 10th, 2010
7:23 pm
Mad Hatter:
My apologies as well.
drmaryb
April 10th, 2010
7:24 pm
Wabe
What’s up? I think Crawford is getting JTO’s minutes when he’s on the floor with JJ. What do you think?
When jj & Bibby start the games … Crawford comes in for Bibby. Now when Bibby & Crawford play with Evans, then Marvin goes out & crawford is replacing JJ.
People always assume that Bibby & JT0 split the 48 mins @ PG but that ’s. Not true. Mr. Woodson has a trio of
Ball handlers. JTO makes that four. JTO gets his PT depending on how the starters play IMO.
Benjamin
April 11th, 2010
12:10 am
Grandad, I understand what you’re saying, but the point remains that prior to Woody, the team was in shambles; he’s been as much a part of the process of this team’s improvement as any, and the team has improved every season since he came on board. I still think he deserves to be praised more than he is.
He’s not my favorite coach, and he does things that drive me bonkers. There’s no real offensive system to speak of, for example. But wins are the ultimate determining factor, and the team’s improved in that area for what now, six years running? (I ask that not remembering the year he came on board off the top of my head…)
Woodson’s record, in my book, should speak for itself. That’s really all I’m saying. I’m sorry for my initial snark. Atlanta fans simply amuse me because it seems like everyone expects this team to win a championship or bust; we’re not on par with the Cavs or Magic, but my view is that people need to realize that 50+ wins in a season is a big thing, especially for a team with our recent history. If we get to the playoffs and make the second round an exciting one vs. the Magic, I’m fine with that. I remember Antoine Walker and Glenn Robinson too well to not be.