Atlanta Hawks Squawks Game 4: Bucks 111, Hawks 104
– So which one of these teams is the experienced playoff group? Which one has a rookie running point? Which squad has guys who don’t seem to know it’s going to be more physical in the playoffs, especially on the road?
– “It is frustrating, man,” J.J. said. “It just seems like we don’t have the toughness. They were coming up with all the loose balls, and all the big rebounds. We couldn’t get stops when we needed to. It’s killing us.”
– The Hawks competed better in Game 4 than in Game 3 but it’s not like they could be much worse in that regard. They couldn’t overtake the Bucks because rookie Brandon Jennings had his way with them.
– Jennings has figured out the Hawks’ switching defense. If he wasn’t making jumpers, he was slithering to the rim to score. If he wasn’t doing that, he was dropping it off in the paint for teammates. And if that wasn’t there, the Bucks worked the ball around the perimeter, where Delfino inevitably was standing wide open to catch a pass for a 3.
– The Bucks worked over the Hawks. “Jennings has such quickness that when we get out on him he opens up stuff for his shooters,” Jamal said. “He gets around one person, he keeps his dribble, Delfino was getting shots Salmons was getting shots, Stackhouse was getting shots Ilyasova was getting shots. I think the penetration is hurting us a little bit.”
– More than a little bit. “It’s been tough because we switch a lot and they just get pretty much any penetration they wanted,” J.J. said. “They got us helter skelter, to where we are scrambling trying to find guys, and now we are at a disadvantage.”
– Is it time for the Hawks to adjust their defensive approach of switching all the time? “I don’t know,” Joe said. “I am sure we will come up with something. We have just got to get back playing with energy. They are getting layup after layup, you can’t have that in playoff basketball.”
– But this wasn’t about a lack of energy by the Hawks. They played hard, for the most part. It was about Jennings, Ridnour, Salmons and Delfino doing a much better job finding holes against the switches than they did in Games 1 and 2 and the Hawks sticking with the strategy.
– It’s not working. “I haven’t got my shot blocked as much,” Jennings said with a smile, referring to how he recklessly and ineffectively attacked the rim in Game 2. “I think just making smart decisions and learning as the series goes on and just moving the ball. We are a better team when everyone is moving the ball and touching the ball.”
– I didn’t get a chance to ask Woody if he’s considering adjusting the defensive strategy. If he doesn’t, I don’t see how Jennings, Ridnour, Salmons and Delfino don’t continue to take advantage.
– After it looked like Woody had the advantage in the first two games, Scott Skiles has taken it back. In this game, he went deep in his bench, got the Bucks sharing the ball and got something from everyone. “That’s pretty much our formula,” he said. “We need everybody to play as well that we can get. We’re not afraid to leave them out there during critical minutes.”
– The Bucks were better than the Hawks, and they were tougher, too. Yes the Bucks, especially Kurt Thomas , were getting away with holding, moving screens, and pushes. It took too long for the Hawks to respond in kind.
– “We know what to expect,” J.J. said. “We have got to stop complaining so much. We worry about them holding and scratching and clawing. We have just got to do the same thing. Stop worrying about what the refs are calling, and just play. We complain way too much.”
– The Hawks should have been mad about the way the Bucks got to the rim at will. Milwaukee shot 55 percent and scored 44 points in the paint, for crying out loud. In the playoffs. “We had too many breakdowns on the perimeter,” Smoove said. “Guys had to help and they knocked down jump shots. We had poor rotations and kept leaving Delfino at the 3-point line.”
– All of that is true but Josh isn’t blameless. I saw him watching guys score at the rim instead of challenging shots. He was back to being weak on closeouts. When J.J. was talking about guys complaining too much about calls, Smoove has to be at or near the top of the list.
– “We can’t let that get the best of us,” Jamal said. “A call is a call, it can’t be changed. You just have to go out there and compete.”
– Josh insisted he wasn’t frustrated about the physical play. “I was straight,” Smoove said. “People were not helping each other out and not communicating. That’s really why I was frustrated.”
– While the Bucks were getting easy shots, the Hawks were jacking up jumpers. They occasionally worked the inside-out game but there wasn’t much flow for long stretches of the game. “We are not being aggressive,” Joe said. “We are just sitting back on our heels. They are attacking, and we are just kind of sitting back watching.”
– The Hawks are 1-10 in postseason road games in the last three years. Haven’t these long, hard series gotten old? “I would have thought so a long time ago,” Joe said. “Obviously it hasn’t. I guess we just like going seven games. It kills us, man. We get banged up and we just get no rest.”
– The Magic swept Charlotte, by the way.
– The Hawks have won 15 straight at Philips but the Bucks have the confidence and momentum in the series. “I can’t wait until Friday to come back home and finish up the series, hopefully,” Jennings said. What does it mean for the Hawks that it sounds less like boasting, and more like a plan?
– “I still feel like there is no pressure on us,” Jennings said. “At the end of the day, everyone still expects us to lose the series. The best thing we can do is keep fighting and keep competing with them.”
– I’m out, Hawks fans.
MC
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238 comments Add your comment
JeJe
April 27th, 2010
2:55 pm
Why exactly was Woodson laughing and smiling with the ref all toward the end of the game last night?
Resign Joe, trade Marvin and Bibby for Devin Harris (after they hopefully get John Wall), and GO INTO THE LUXURY TAX TO SIGN SOME MORE VETS and this team will be fine
Rod from College Park
April 27th, 2010
3:07 pm
Memo to the Hawks Coaching Staff:
If you are not going to double Jennings, which we know you won’t do, please tell the player that is guarding him to force him to his right. He goes left a high percentage of the time. Mo Evans and Josh were the only two players I saw yesterday, who forced him right, and every time he picked up his dribble or passed the ball, except once. Maybe this advice will help you figure it out, since you have no clue. Energy and effort have nothing to do with a scouting report.
northcyde
April 27th, 2010
3:10 pm
Scoop
April 27th, 2010
2:26 pm
Northcyde,
your being delusional dude, Bogut was and is their best player currently and even at the beginning of the season with Michael Redd. 7-0 footer that average double digit rebounds multiple blocked shots a game and gives a low post scoring presence that they are currently missing in this series and still making it competitive. Even without Redd and Bogut the Bucks aren’t garbage, but they are BY FAR, the worst team in the playoffs based on talent. Now coaching is a whole different story.
Scoop . . . what has Redd and Bogut done together . . other than stay injured all the time?
In the games that Redd played in this year, he was a shadow of his former high scoring self. He was constantly having nagging injuries that was keeping him out of the lineup. And he only shot 35% FG in only 18 games.
The Bucks were 6 – 12 with Redd in the lineup this year.
Bogut played well all year . . well enough to be considered to be in the running for Al’s All-Star spot. But Bogut wasn’t a dependable lead scorer, and had trouble creating his own shot at times.
Enter Salmons
The Bucks were 24 – 28 before Salmons came to the team.
The Bucks finished the season 22 – 8 with Salmons on the squad . . . with Salmons averaging almost 20 ppg. Salmons gave that team a legit go to scorer and shot creator, taking a ton of pressure off of Bogut.
Wabe
April 27th, 2010
3:23 pm
“Woodson continues to hang his big men out to dry while Teague who has the best chance of staying in front of Jennings plays zero minutes. Folks, the key problem with this team is coaching period. If I were JTeague, I would be highly fustrated right now sitting there watching another totally destroy my team because my coach has zero confidence in me to at least use my speed to slow the guy down. You can see the fustration on the players faces.”
Doesn’t make much sense does it?
Fundamentals
April 27th, 2010
3:25 pm
I can say I’m very impressed with Salmons abilities. Great pick-up for the Bucks. Jennings needs a bit more time to learn to run and offense. He’s quick, he’s a great penetrating guard, but his decision making is suspect at times.
Bucks have a great core of castoffs that might just make some noise if we don’t get a hunting license and use it. Right now we’re like some poor hunter who spilled Doe in Heat in our back pockets.
Fundamentals
April 27th, 2010
3:26 pm
Bucks in full rut if the win on Wed!
kwooden1
April 27th, 2010
3:40 pm
Congrats to Jamal for being named Sixth Man of the Year!
LEA
April 27th, 2010
3:41 pm
section 303 how about u shut your mouth, u idiot lol.. I said what I said because it’s the truth period..
northcyde
April 27th, 2010
3:52 pm
Salmons was also key in the Bulls run last season as well, even though Ben Gordon and Derrick Rose were the main cogs.
Scoop
April 27th, 2010
3:52 pm
Northcyde,
I respect the fact that you put in the effort to back up your opinions with stats, but it all depends on how you interpret them. The reason why the Bucks soared after acquiring Salmons is bc he filled what they were missing from Redd. You said yourself that he was a shadow of his former self this year and hadn’t really contributed. Bring in Salmons and now the team is reaching its potential. Exit Bogut and you have a very mediocre team that should be swept by a 50 win playoff team unless you cant defend like the Hawks.
terrell
April 27th, 2010
3:54 pm
Why is everyone expecting anything different than what we’ve seen for the past few years? The Hawks are the most up and down team in the NBA. They can beat anyone, but can lose to anybody. Besides, look at it like this:
Skiles > Woody(by a long shot)
Jennings (and Ridenhour) > Bibby,
Salmons Duck and Mo
Mbah a Moute and Illyosova > Josh Smith by himself(Woody refuses to play Joe Smith)
Horford > Thomas (but if Bogut were playing, I’d say Milwaukee should be the favorite)
But yet we’re dissappointed about being tied 2-2? Please. I expected it. Where have you guys been for the past few years? Nothing new here.
Just Saying
April 27th, 2010
3:56 pm
On the whole Hawks season………
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3umtw179KA&feature=player_embedded
terrell
April 27th, 2010
3:56 pm
I meant
Salmons Duck and Mo
terrell
April 27th, 2010
3:57 pm
Salmons Duck and Mo
terrell
April 27th, 2010
3:58 pm
Wtf is going on with my posts?
terrell
April 27th, 2010
3:59 pm
Forget it. Fire Woody!
O'Brien
April 27th, 2010
4:03 pm
Scoop,
Salmons does a better job of creating off the dribble compared to Redd, who is a much better shooter.
northcyde,
I wonder how Chicago fans feel about letting Salmons go, especially if the Bulls are not able to sign a big name FA (JJ?).
What do you think it takes for the Hawks to take that step and become a more competitive and mentally tough team on the road? Because I think we have the talent…
VenomSpitter
April 27th, 2010
4:10 pm
Congrats on 6th man of the year. Too bad it’s spoiled by the Hawks trrible post season play.
VenomSpitter
April 27th, 2010
4:10 pm
Congrats on 6th man of the year Jamal. Too bad it’s spoiled by the Hawks trrible post season play.
VenomSpitter
April 27th, 2010
4:14 pm
Congrats on 6th man of the year Jamal. Too bad it’s spoiled by the Hawks terrible post season play.
Go Hawks
April 27th, 2010
4:20 pm
The Hawks will win. they are going to be at home and they know how to play more intensely at the highlight factory
Go Hawks!!
VenomSpitter
April 27th, 2010
4:25 pm
Heres the vid of Crawford getting the award: http://www.nba.com/video/channels/award_nominees/2010/04/27/20100427_6thman_crawford.nba/
cdog
April 27th, 2010
4:28 pm
what fustration are the hawks experiencing? no nba has won every game they played.you jokers are a joke.don’t put unneccesary pressure on yourselves.the hawks will close out milwaukee in 6 games.the bucks don’t have the fire power to beat the hawks.remember, we have 2 out of three games in atlanta.the lakers are in a 2-2 series also.don’t be so quick to listen to mark bradley or shultz.both would love to see the hawks lose just like some of you but thats not going to happen.we will be playng in orlando next week.leave woodson alone please.there is no coach on any level that is perfect.use common sense and your head before some of you open your mouth about woodson if you can.no one is paying attention to your fire woodson stupidity especially after he has transformed the team into a winner and championship contender.most of the winning nba team does not play good on the road.
Ken Strickland
April 27th, 2010
4:44 pm
The Hawks don’t need to double anyone on the Bucks team. Someone with some juice needs to try and get it through Woodson’s stupid head that it would be better for the team defensively if we stopped switching everything. It makes perfect sense to everyone but old dumbA$$ Woodson that it’s better for our players, and the team overall, to have our guards fight over picks and stay with their man. That would allow our 2 best shotblockers to remain close to the lane and protect the basket against their penetration, rather than the other way around.
After the 1st 2 gms, the Bucks have obviously made adjustments that have made a tremendous difference for them. First, they’ve decided to pressure Bibby, which forces us to start our OFF above the 3pt line. They also know if he does any damage, it will usually be in the 1st quarter or half. He almost completely disappears in the 2nd half and becomes a total liability for us. Secondly, they use the pick and roll to force a switch and take advantage of our PF and C out on the perimeter, or attack Bibby directly if he ends up on the ball.
Woodson blamed the players lack of energy and effort for our 1st loss. Well, we got energy, effort and OFF in our 2nd loss, but we got absolutely nothing from Woodson. He continued to play Bibby and his beloved switching DEF throughout the 2nd half, which forced Horford, Smooth and Zaza to try and stop BJennings.
Can anyone tell me why JoSmith got a DNP CD, especially with Horford and Zaza getting into early foul trouble, or why he played only 4:06mins in our 1st loss?
terrell
April 27th, 2010
5:12 pm
Skiles > Woody(by a longshot)
Jennings and Ridenhour > Bibby
JJ > Salmons(barely)
Delfino > Duck
Stack > Mo
Illyasova and Mbah a Moute > Josh Smith by himself(Woody refuses to play Joe Smith)
Horford > Thomas
So why are we the favorites again???
O'Brien
April 27th, 2010
5:13 pm
Check out the picture that Jeff Schultz has on his blog. It shows Delfino celebrating, and JJ is in the background looking like a cry baby.
It must have been taken on that shot Delfino made from the corner when Joe failed to rotate over.
bigdave
April 27th, 2010
5:24 pm
Brandon Jennings should’ve been taken out game 1, the message should’ve been sent… game 3 they let him hop around in his defensive stance after made baskets like he wanted a fight and the Hawks never brought it. like Battier said last night, if the Hawks came out and made it clear that they were superior with there mentality, play, and approach Bucks would’ve had less life this series.
O'Brien
April 27th, 2010
5:26 pm
“It’s true — it doesn’t show up on paper,” Joe Johnson said. “We haven’t played with that [heart]. We complain and whine too much and it gets you nowhere, instead of just going out and fighting through it”
Woody confirmed at his post game conference yesterday, that the Hawks were bickering on the bench too.
I wonder if comments like the ones we’ve seen from JJ increase the chances of him leaving, because he continues to talk about the Hawks not being mentally tough, not playing smart, whining too much etc.
Here
April 27th, 2010
5:28 pm
“I told Jamal that everyone can’t start on this team,” coach Mike Woodson said. “But it doesn’t matter who starts — it’s who finishes.”
LOL, in other words, Marvin sucks
bigdave
April 27th, 2010
5:31 pm
Barkley on ESPN’s PTI should be good..
Rod from College Park
April 27th, 2010
5:35 pm
Ken Strickland,
Totally agree with your first statement. I have no idea why we are doubling anyone on the Bucks. Maybe Jennings (to get the ball out of his hands), maybe Salmons (if he gets hot), but thats it. No one else is good enough offensively to command a double team, adn the only strength that Delfino, or the rooke Illyasovea have is the ability to knock down jump shots. Switching on everything will only leave these guys open on the perimeter.
Dukester9
April 27th, 2010
5:50 pm
Ok folks I read just about all of the post about the hawks defensive problems. Now I posted this team will never be able to play defense until they get a center. No people Al Horford is not a center. First off no matter what sport you play football,basketball,soccer,hockey the guy closest to the net must be defensive minded!!!! This is the anchor of the defense man!!!! dont you get this!!!. Ok NT in football is the most important part of the defense man!! look at the NFL draft 2 of top 3 picks were DT’s. Yes Marvin is a dog yes, Yes Bibby is old and yes Zaza,Bibby, and Marvin just ripped us off. But a real rebounding defensive center that controls the paint is what we need. I love Horford but he is a PF!!!. I ve screaming since the trade deadline last year to trade Marvin for either Tyson Chandler,Sam Dalmebert,Marcus Camby,Brendan Haywood all who were available. Doesnt mean we would have won a title but gosh these guys would have been able to at least hold there in own the paint man!!! Look at how Chandler nuetralized Howard during that series. He kept him in foul trouble and off the glass. No they cant stop him but at least they can hold there own. Ok im out I love the Hawks but there fundamentally set up wrong. See you guys next year. IM OUT!!!!!11
VenomSpitter
April 27th, 2010
6:02 pm
If the Hawks do make it past the Bucks. Horford will get abused by Howard. I see Al getting embarassed.
O'Brien
April 27th, 2010
6:17 pm
Congrats to Crawford, who is the SMOY (no surprise of course).
northcyde
April 27th, 2010
6:20 pm
O’Brien . . . with the way Kirk Hinrich is playing lately, they probably miss him a lot. But I think they miss Ben Gordon more, because he was the one guy who could get red hot and give them that extra scoring punch.
As far as what can we do on the road to turn things around, I only see 3 possible things:
1) Throw multiple defensive looks at the Bucks and find a defensive personnel grouping to play in the game down the stretch. The switching defense is tailor-made made for JJ, Smoove, and Marvin. And Horford has to be part of that group. So it’s gonna be up to Bibby, Crawford, or Teague ( when he gers in ) or Mario, to defend well at the 1. Even if they play straight up, JJ, Horford, Marvin, and Smoove have to be on the floor, along with whomever at the 1. But I’d definitely double team Jennings, to disrupt his good vibe. Which leads me to #2 . . .
2) Knock Jennings and Co ON THEIR AZZ. At some point, the lay-up/3 point ish has to stop. Somebody has to give that hard foul on somebody, to take some of that spunk out of them. And not only that, somebody could set a hard scren on him. He’s their engine right now. So if you slow the engine down, you slow them down.
3) JJ may have to go for 40+ points in Game 6. Sometimes, the star players simply have to will his squad to victory. And JJ is about the only guy that can be trusted to deliver in this series. So we may be put in a situation in which those other guys will just have to suck it up and play defense, while JJ tries to take over the game, ala what he did in Game 4 of the Boston series.
northcyde
April 27th, 2010
6:48 pm
And people keep talking about Horford not being a true center, and how he’s the problem. But in reality, it’s Josh Smith that throws this team out of balance. That’s always been the case.
Smoove represents everything that is great about this team, and everything that is wrong about this team . . at the same time. His athleticism and speed makes him one of the most exciting PFs to watch in the league. But his lack of toughness at the 4, makes him a liability at times.
It would be foolish to start Zaza simply because he has “center size”, and bench Horford or Smoove, because Zaza is a sub par center. Both of those guys are way too talented to be benched in favor of Zaza. So we roll with what we have, and try to make due.
drmaryb
April 27th, 2010
7:01 pm
NUNNA
Nice post @ 943am today. Very intelligent & strong comments and well written editorial there.
I enjoyed your points of view! Thanks!
Defribillator
The team doc needs to bring his defribillator-sp to the sidelines and shock somebody/anybody back to life in Game 5.
The Wizard of Oz
We need the WIZARD behind the curtain on the bench too:
Scarecrow – Marvin needs a HEART.
Tin-Man – Horford needs some OIL on his joints. (Make quick moves in the post)
Lion – Jamal needs some COURAGE.
Dorothy – The Whole Team – needs to find her way back HOME. (Home-Court)
Mr. Woodson – needs a BRAIN – So, he can figure it out (how to use the bench & draw a Game Plan)
Toto- Josh – needs a doggie treat. (So he can wag his tail or finger – something to get back to BLOCKING shots)
OMG that WIzard of Oz movie – was just a Bad Dream!
Wake up Hawks! This was just a Nightmare! Its NOT real – You have swept the Bucks!
Ersan_turkishthunder
April 27th, 2010
7:27 pm
Im a Bucks fan who went to both games in milwaukee, and i have to say, after the first two games in ATL, i thought we were done. but my how a week’s time can change a series. you hawks fans probably noticed by now that we were able to draw 18k in a heartbeat and dismantle your defense. This isnt an attack on the Hawks or anything, but look at who kept you in the game last night, JJ and Bibby. If i were the hawks, i would look at your defense and try to see that when Jennings goes into the lane and you guys swarm him, he just has to kick it out to Salmons, Ersan, or Delfino for the easy 3. The Bucks have been crashing the boards this whole series, not just games 3 & 4. And with Josh Smith being an idiot and lighting a fire under the Bucks really awoken the sleeping giant in the Bucks. In final, watch out, because the Bucks have a MUCH better chance at winning in Phillips than the Hawks do at the BC. The ONLY WAY the hawks will win this is because of homecourt advantage. Good luck to you guys, and fear the deer!!
northcyde
April 27th, 2010
7:44 pm
We hear ya Ersan. We hear ya.
Just so you know though, these dudes down south don’t “fear the deer”
They SHOOT THE DEER . . . or
. . . RUN OVER THE DEER ON THE INTERSTATE . . . or
. . . TAKE A PIC WITH A DEAD DEER’S HEAD . . . or
. . . FILLET THE DEER AND MAKE DEER JERKY OUT OF IT
. . . or . . . MOUNT THE DEER HEAD IN THEIR DEN.
Just so you know. These country boys ain’t scayed of no deer(s).
Ersan_turkishthunder
April 27th, 2010
7:54 pm
well, you should be fearfull of these deer. lol, we got some gnarly country boys up here too.
victor
April 27th, 2010
8:28 pm
We don’t Fear the Deer but I guess now we have a healthy respect for them as we should have had. When the dust settles and all is said and done the Hawks win this series. We will win the next game in Milwaulke Go Hawks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jose
April 27th, 2010
8:29 pm
Aren’t we lucky we didn’t play Miami or Bobcats in 1st round? What if the Bucks steal one game from us in ATL? We cannot use Jeff Teague because we sat him thru the regular season. We have to put up with Bibi however he stinks. INCONSISTENT, INCONSISTENT, INCONSISTENT. No authentic team leader. We need help.
O'Brien
April 27th, 2010
8:43 pm
Boston up big on Miami, with a chance to close them out tonight. I am looking forward to the Boston vs Cleveland matchup in the second round.
JeJe
April 27th, 2010
8:44 pm
NOBODY ON THIS TEAM IS A LEADER.
PEOPLE JUST LEAD BY HOW THEY PLAY, NOT BY TALKING
JOSH SMITH IS NOT A LEADER. HE DOES NOT PUMP UP HIS TEAMMATES
STOP RUNNING SWITHCES ON P&R
STOP LEAVING GOD DAMN SALMONS OPEN, MARVIN. GET IN HIS DAMN FACE
JeJe
April 27th, 2010
8:48 pm
CAN SOMEONE ONT HIS TEAM PLEASE CALL OUT THE REFS AND GET THAT MANDATORY FINE?
CAN WE SEE SOME TECHNICAL FOULS? CAN WE SEE SOME HARD FOULS?
DOES THIS TEAM HAVE ANY !#@$%ING HEART?
JeJe
April 27th, 2010
9:01 pm
“Said Williams of the team’s home-road polarity, “I don’t think anybody can put their finger on it right now.”
LOL! This team can’t even play with effort in a playoff game and they don’t even know what’s wrong (Just like Woodson not being able to figure out NYK or Orlando).
This is embarrrassing
JeJe
April 27th, 2010
9:04 pm
THIS TEAM HAS NO LEADER
bigdave
April 27th, 2010
9:12 pm
“Run Ricky Run”
quality television…
ESPN 30 for 30 surprisingly good..
cdog
April 27th, 2010
9:15 pm
i agree with everything you said je je. marvin williams need to step up his game on both ends of the floor.he tries to do too much instead of playing within hisself
Najeh Davenpoop
April 27th, 2010
9:39 pm
Look at Chicago, a team with a fraction of Cleveland’s talent, scratching and clawing to stay in the playoffs at Cleveland. If any series should have been a 4-blowout sweep, it’s that one. They are probably going to lose, but you gotta admire their mental toughness.