Bucks at Atlanta Hawks Game 5: Quiet At Home
The Hawks like it here.
So how much conversation has there been among the Hawks regarding the rumors swirling around Woody’s future with the team?
“That’s the first I’ve heard about it when you told me,” Al said today at shootaround.
In addition to illustrating the often-insular world players occupy, the lack of buzz on the team about Woody’s status demonstrates that the familiar postures haven’t changed.
Rick Sund still is not going to do address Woody’s deal until after the season and there’s no guarantee an offer (even a “low-ball” one as described in the Yahoo! report) is forthcoming. ASG’s Michael Gearon Jr has suggested the Hawks’ postseason will have a bearing on that decision and others. Woody isn’t happy the Hawks haven’t started contract talks and has said so (though he also says he wants to return). The Hawks believe the lack of an extension hasn’t hurt Woody’s ability to coach the team.
The news to come out of the Yahoo! report is that there could be another job out there for Woody if he doesn’t return and the team’s willingness to sell their first-round draft pick for $3 million to raise money to re-sign J.J.. (That everything seems to be Joe-driven is causing great consternation for hawksdawgs at Peachtree Hoops.)
Meanwhile, the Hawks have a playoff series to finish. Asked about the Hawks’ confidence in coming back to Philips Arena, where they’ve won 14 in a row, Al said it “feels good to be back home” but then couldn’t help also talking about the Hawks’ troubles on the road.
“If we had the same swag that we have at home like we have on the road, we’d be a tough team,” he said. “But first we have to handle this game tonight. We are happy to come back here.”
– For all the consternation about the Hawks’ inability to win road playoff games (and I know most of that is because of what it would mean for the next round) this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel headline summed up Milwaukee’s issues: Bucks must win at least once in Atlanta to advance.
Forget for a minute that four games into the series, the Bucks are talking about what it will take to advance instead of how they can avoid elimination. The Hawks desperately need to win. The way they did that in Games 1 and 2 was by slowing Brandon Jennings and hammering the Bucks with Smoove and Al. Look for Milwaukee to use a similar approach against those two tonight:
The Bucks worked hard to frustrate Hawks center Al Horford and forward Josh Smith in Milwaukee, after those players were dominant in the first two games. Bucks forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute defended Smith in Games 3 and 4 after primarily guarding Hawks guard Joe Johnson in Atlanta, and veteran center Kurt Thomas drew the assignment defending Horford.
And the Bucks have relied on help defense, with Jennings and other guards digging down on the ball when the Hawks’ big men begin to make their move in the paint. That did free up Atlanta’s perimeter players in Game 4, and the Hawks hit 10 of 19 three-pointers, led by Mike Bibby, who sank 5 of 7 attempts.
Smith still had 20 points and nine rebounds in 40 minutes in Game 4, but he wasn’t getting easy dunks off lob passes the way he did earlier in the series.
“He had a good game, and he scores in a variety of ways,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles said of the 6-foot-9 Smith, who was booed loudly by the Bradley Center crowd. “We’ve just got to keep him in front of us, try to make him take contested jump shots, try to keep him off the boards.
“We need to keep him from running out in transition, keep him from getting lobs after timeouts. We did that in both home games. Those are areas where at least we can have a little say-so in what he’s doing.”
– Woody has said he uses the switching defense to “hide” weak defenders. Brett LaGree, writing at Hoopinion, agrees but says switching also can make things harder for those weak defenders and the good ones:
It is hard to play good team defense without good defensive players.
Mike Bibby is a poor defender. Jamal Crawford is a terrible defender. Joe Johnson has amply demonstrated he cannot keep Brandon Jennings in front of him. Nor can Johnson fight through a Kurt Thomas screen. It’s no surprise that Mike Woodson has tried to address* these limitations. His singular method of address, to switch every screen, has pushed Josh Smith too often to the perimeter, exposing his primary defensive weakness (lateral movement) while simultaneously negating** his overwhelming strength (help defense).
*We’ll ignore, for the purposes of this discussion, how self-inflicted some of these limitations are.
**This is essentially what Orlando’s stretch 4 does to Smith when the Hawks play, and, typically, lose to the Magic.
MC
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677 comments Add your comment
terrell
April 28th, 2010
11:14 pm
“If Teague had a jumpshot he’sd get more min” Wtf? What good is Bibby’s jumpshots, when he gives up more points than he scores?
JeJe
April 28th, 2010
11:15 pm
LOL @ the pic of Joe before game taking shots from bench.
WHAT A LEADER
Obama
April 28th, 2010
11:15 pm
Hawks suck Okay Atlanta..They always win before the playoffs and make it look like they are a good team but really the other teams that are smarter are only taking a break and let the hawks win and then blow up on the hawks in the play offs and the hawks are like chickens with their heads cut off and cant figure it out in the play offs.. SUCKERS
Young team
April 28th, 2010
11:15 pm
The hawks are still young and it will take woody a few years to get them to play together.
MoeHawk
April 28th, 2010
11:15 pm
This game is on every player. the shot selection under the last 4 minutes were atrocious!! We played erratic like we were down by nine instead of up by nine.
JT0 gets one minute of burn time, has a great defensive stop and thats it???!!
No true point guard to create shots for every one else….blah blah blah. The same ole problems. Josh Smith looked lost. Like this was his first time in the playoffs. He did fair but he looked like his mind was somewhere else.
FIRE WOODY…..FIRE ASG……..STILL FIRE MARVIN!!!!..He will suck in game 6!
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
April 28th, 2010
11:15 pm
Someone get the FIRE WOODY T-Shirts ready, with all kinds of graphics and quotes on them. You can even get them personalized.
“Hey Woodson, Delta’s ready when you are!!!”
Wabe
April 28th, 2010
11:15 pm
Even if he does have that much faith in JJ, why does it always have to be off the dribble?
Run the guy off some screens, get him some open looks when we need to drain some shots.
But, instead, we rely on playground tactics. Get the ball to the best player and hope his dribbling act pulls us through. Let him play hero.
Prison Mike
April 28th, 2010
11:16 pm
Just sign and trade Joe, clearly not someone you need to write home about.
VenomSpitter
April 28th, 2010
11:16 pm
And we need to seriously think about trading Osh Smith. He really thinks he’s reggin f’n miller.
Rick Sund
April 28th, 2010
11:16 pm
Fans please don’t be too upset. Remember we are still LEARNING HOW TO WIN. We are YOUNG and have plenty of time to get better. Marvin showed his UPSIDE tonight.
BONEY
April 28th, 2010
11:16 pm
“There goes that home court that Woody kept talking about. Now, maybe he’ll take this more seriously and play to win not play to not lose.”
You should have said:
Now, maybe THE PLAYERS take this more seriously and play to win not play to not lose.”
That’s my point, the players blew it – get real.
terrell
April 28th, 2010
11:16 pm
Youre wrong JJ. Every team shortens their rotations in the Playoffs. lol!!
Vick Supporter
April 28th, 2010
11:16 pm
FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good FIRE chris good
Lacsho
April 28th, 2010
11:17 pm
Igorance
I’ve been down from day one.
It’s Groundhog Day people.
This is madness trying the same thing over and over again expecting different results!!!!!
If you support this behavior, you are suspect. Please consult a physician immediately.
I Love the Hawks, but loosing is best for this team to move forward. Now they have to FIRE WOODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Allen
April 28th, 2010
11:17 pm
Not a totally shocking result Wednesday night . . . Hawks trash the opposing team’s city (Milwaukee) . . . . and all the AJC writers, etc., predict a sweep or easy Hawks win in the series . . . perfect motivation to inspire the Bucks to play harder and win . . . remember, always “respect your opponent”. Bucks are playing very good basketball right now, too. Atlanta out-coached, outplayed and out-hustled. It ain’t over . . . but methinks it’s over. Bucks win in six.
MoeHawk
April 28th, 2010
11:17 pm
@ Chris Good: LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We hear u dude! HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!!!!!
Clyde
April 28th, 2010
11:17 pm
FIRST THE HAWKS LOSE THEN THE BRAVES LOSE 8 STRAIGHT. THE CLOSEST THING TO A CHAMPIONSHIP ATLANTA WILL EVER SEE IS THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE.
FIRE WOODY
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
April 28th, 2010
11:17 pm
lol@Sund.
JeJe
April 28th, 2010
11:18 pm
GUYS STOP WORRYING. WHEN WE PLAY LIKE WE KNOW HOW TO PLAY, WE ARE UNBEATABLE
Rick Sund
April 28th, 2010
11:18 pm
You ungrateful should be happy we won 53 games and that automatically makes us an ELITE team. Woody has continued to show this team’s PROGRESSION. Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day.
terrell
April 28th, 2010
11:19 pm
Better athletes, but not the better team.
Prison Mike
April 28th, 2010
11:19 pm
Not to mention Bibby thoroughly outplayed by a rook. What purpose does he serve again.
Rick Sund
April 28th, 2010
11:19 pm
Thanks My Son……………..I mean Qim for supporting Coach Woodson!
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
April 28th, 2010
11:19 pm
I wonder if Rathbun and Sportsouth will advertise the advance tickets available for round 2 during game 6 in MIL.
UGA
April 28th, 2010
11:19 pm
Hawks went up with Smith on the bench. He comes back, there goes the lead. He’s the one that has to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vick Supporter
April 28th, 2010
11:20 pm
I have to admit..i have no idea what Josh Smith was doing at the end of the fourth. He really wants to take superstar shots and make plays..problem is…he’s no superstar. when he caught the ball down on the block with like 30-40 seconds left and just held the ball….I almost punched the damn tv
59squarebird
April 28th, 2010
11:20 pm
sorry folks “all this talent” ( BRUCE BOWEN) is a myth…”talent” doesnt play scared and disorganized ball when the game is on the line…especially at home
Clyde
April 28th, 2010
11:21 pm
SAMUEL IS MIA. COME BACK HOME SAMUEL. I MADE A PERSONALIZED FIRE WOODY T-SHIRT WITH YOUR NAME ON IT.
FIRE WOODY
Blue
April 28th, 2010
11:21 pm
I said this would happen and cats on this blog murked me ……. Nevertheless, the series is definitely over now. Bye Woody and Joe. See you next season at the end of the bench Marvin and Bibby. And I’ve come to the conclusion that we may have to talk trading Josh Smith while his stock is still high around the league. He’s an athletic beast, but his basketball IQ is extremely low. He should be able to net us a pure, serviceable center along with a solid point guard … damn Hawks, just damn!
Big Ray
April 28th, 2010
11:21 pm
I am so sick of hearing people talk about Teague and his damn jump shot.
Look, what does having a jump shot do for the defensive end of the floor? Mike Bibby and his wonderful jump shot gave us what for nearly 27 minutes?
Stop being irretrievably stupid and recognize things for what they are: Teague doesn’t get played because Woody planned it that way.
Brandon Jennings has WHAT kind of jumper? The kid shot 37% for the year, yet he stayed on the court while Luke Ridnour (actually a better shooter than Jennings) came off the bench. Jennings gets many of his points because he’s quick and gets to the bucket.
Wow, sounds just a bit like Jeff Teague. This logic DOES NOT WORK. We don’t have a backup point guard because we refused to develop one, plain and freaking simple.
terrell
April 28th, 2010
11:21 pm
Go to bed Rick Sund. How bout tying up nearly 70 mill to Marvin, Zaza, and Bibby why dontcha?
Old Hawk Fan
April 28th, 2010
11:21 pm
Bill Lambeer for the Hawks Next Coach. The Hawks needs someont to Kiss Them in Da Butt and with Mahorn as one of Lambeer assistance…………………..These So Call players will play or hit the road.
O'Brien
April 28th, 2010
11:21 pm
Ray,
He could have said we settled for jump shots rather than driving the ball, he could have said we didnt do a good job of going back to Marvin, he could have said we weren’t aggressive enough (based on the disparity of 4th quarter FTs).
He could have said so much more than “lack of enerygy”
Old Hawk Fan
April 28th, 2010
11:21 pm
KICK THEM IN THE butt!
Taylor
April 28th, 2010
11:22 pm
Young team
April 28th, 2010
11:15 pm
The hawks are still young and it will take woody a few years to get them to play together.
DUMBEST COMMENT OF THE NIGHT. These guys aren’t young anymore
Lacsho
April 28th, 2010
11:22 pm
Your fellow bloggers stated Bibby should start next year over Teague?
Please stop posting, you loose all cool points.
nard34
April 28th, 2010
11:22 pm
LOOK LIKE MATT RYAN SEASON JUST CAME EARLY THANKS ALOT MIKE WOODSON!!!! BRING MIKE FRATELLO BACK PLEASE…..
terrell
April 28th, 2010
11:22 pm
Josh Smith would be outta here if Lambieer was the coach. That relationship wouldn’t make it out of training camp. lol!
bigdave
April 28th, 2010
11:22 pm
O’Brien..
thats b/c they have been taught that things subtleties like energy, effort, etc win at the pro level. not so fast not, in the playoffs where you actually have to execute… see those are keys to success on the college level. you never hear hardcore execution or x’s and o’s, and anything skill based discussed. why, b/c they have been looking the other way on that. taught things like play hard.. and elementary stuff like that. you can tell by the skill level of our players. our bigs are just taught to give effort, and energy. while there skill suffers. Al cant score.. Josh cant score.. Marvin cant score.. and these guys have the natural ability to be polished but they arent.. they’ve given all they got under this guy. this man has had some talent come through here. guys that thrived at the college level. good guys, who work hard. get here and there careers are done. why.. cause the man cant teach them anything.. he likes vets cause they are already developed players, and as you’ve witnessed relies on them heavily.
Old Hawk Fan
April 28th, 2010
11:23 pm
Braves on a losing streak………………..Hawks losing to underdawg BUCKS………………..Did the Falcons and Thrashers play tonight?
shannon
April 28th, 2010
11:23 pm
Make makes me mad is we sign washed up guys were we could have signed stackhouse he would be another scoring option but we didnt ..But we had to sign Mario “Why am i in the nba” West
JeJe
April 28th, 2010
11:23 pm
THE ASG IS TOO POOR TO RESIGN JOE SO THEY ARE SELLING A VALUABLE 1ST RDER SO THEY CAN RESIGN A PLAYER WHO IS NOT EVEN A SUPERSTAR AND WHO WILL EAT UP CAP SPACE LOLOLOL
terrell
April 28th, 2010
11:24 pm
Bibby needs to retire, and we got him for 2 MORE years? Wow!
Rick Sund
April 28th, 2010
11:24 pm
We’ll see you all for game 7. It will be a special CHIK FILA FAMILY NIGHT. Vick Supporter what are you talking about Josh has the POTENTIAL to be a superstar. You fans can’t use the PLAYOFFS as a BAROMETER to measure whether this team is contender. REGULAR SEASON should be what you fans look at, not the PLAYOFFS.
brody
April 28th, 2010
11:24 pm
Good thing im only 20 because it might be a while before the city of Atlanta sees a championship. Good thing Cox and Woodson are on their way out. The Falcons are our only hope as of now.
Blue
April 28th, 2010
11:25 pm
Even though the Hawks went out like some punks tonight, the officiating was just garbage. I counted two times were the ball went out of bounds on the BUCKS! They were calling touch fouls against the Hawks (i.e. # 6 on Joe). Yet the Hawks went to the line a BIG FAT ZERO TIMES in the fourth quarter!
terrell
April 28th, 2010
11:25 pm
Shannon, Mario’s our defensive stopper. lol!
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
April 28th, 2010
11:25 pm
LMFAO@Sund
Chi-town Hawks fan
April 28th, 2010
11:25 pm
Can’t believe this game!!! Joe Johnson sucks! Bibby is now too slow!!! JOE SUCKS!!!! BIBBY TOO SLOW!!! Crawford got the Playoff Jitters!!! Josh SMITH dont play with consistent hustle!!!! Joe need to start making shots!!!!
Big Ray
April 28th, 2010
11:26 pm
Just as stupid is the ignorant comments about Josh Smith’s IQ.
“He’s no superstar, but he wants to take superstar shots.”
Really? So what’s your explanation for Joe Johnson (fouls out after shooting 6 for 16) and Jamal Crawford (shoots 4 for 18), and the fact that Josh averaged more assists per game than our starting point guard in the regular season, and has tied with him in the playoffs.
Josh taking shots like this towards the end of the game is what HAPPENS when your SUPERSTAR has fouled out, and your second best scorer shoots 4 for 18!