Atlanta Hawks Squawks Game 6: Hawks 83, Bucks 69
MILWAUKEE– There were a lot of doubts about the Hawks but after this stirring W they deserve to squawk a bit. So let them.
– “It was gut-check time for us,” Al said. “It really defines what our team is about.”
– “When we play the right way, we can beat anybody,” Jamal said.
– “Everyone counted us out except the people in this locker room,” Smoove said.
– The Hawks finally asserted their will on the Bucks. They shared the ball and got open jumpers. They went inside when the advantage was there. And, most of all, they defended the hack out of the Bucks for long stretches.
– Milwaukee shot just 32.9 percent from the field, their worst shooting game of the regular season and playoffs. “What really won the game was defense,” J.J. said. “I don’t think we’ve been that active all season.”
– Give Woody credit. The Hawks started off showing and recovering on screens instead of switching. That left them vulnerable with Bibby on Delfino but the Hawks made it work.
– “We had to keep them guessing as much as we could,” Al said. “The guards did a good job of getting over the screens.”
– In the third quarter, the Hawks went with a zone. Suddenly Milwaukee’s guards didn’t have so many gaps to exploit and Al and Smoove didn’t have to cover to much ground to get out to Delfino. Their ball movement, excellent for much of the series, came to a halt.
–The Bucks made just 3 of 17 shots in the third quarter and missed 11 in a row when the Hawks went on that 19-0 run. “It worked,” Josh said of the zone. “It was good just to show them a different look here and there. We were able to throw them off balance.”
– Woody had played sly the day before the game, insisting he wouldn’t change his defensive approach. “We just tried to mix it up a little bit,” Woody said. “They are so good in the one-on-one position and you’re not sitting down and taking individual challenges on the ball. It becomes a nightmare.”
– Talking to Jamal during the series, he hadn’t seemed like himself. He might have been most affected by that Game 5 loss but he showed something by bouncing back. That driving shot over Delfino when the Bucks rallied late is the kind of thing Crawford had done all regular season.
– “I feel like that’s what they brought me here for,” he said. “I felt like I let the team down in the last few games, especially the last game. I didn’t sleep the last couple days.”
– It was a brutal first half offensively for both teams but don’t discount the defense. The game was physical and tightly-contested. It was lacking in aesthetics but physical play was plentiful. “Nobody wanted to lose tonight and that’s an indication of the score,” Woody said. “Both teams were just grabbing and fighting and clawing to win a basketball game.”
– Neither team could gain separation in the first half. The Hawks gained a 16-10 advantage but Milwaukee closed the first quarter on a 9-0 run. The Hawks answered by opening the second quarter with a 9-0 run that featured three baskets by Jamal. Delfino started a 15-2 run with three consecutive 3-pointers. The Hawks made four free throws to close the half and calm things down.
– “We were missing easy shots, they were missing easy shots,” Horford said. “But we were playing the right way. I knew eventually we would get it going.”
– Man, did they ever. That 19-0 run was the Hawks’ most dominant stretch of play since the first half of Game 1. The Hawks shared the ball, collected rebounds and defended the Bucks late into the shot clock. Those 19 points were spread around: Bibby had five points, Josh four, Joe five, Al three and Jamal two.
– “I haven’t seen us play like that the whole series and it feels so good,” Smoove said. “Everybody laid it on the line.”
– The Hawks’ biggest lead was 58-38. Milwaukee made its inevitable run to get within 69-62, with J.J. taking a few ill-advised iso shots, but this time the Hawks stayed tough.
– After Jamal missed, Smoove blocked Stackhouse’s shot to lead to a jumper by Joe. Crawford took Delfino to the hole, Smoove blocked Salmons’ shot and J.J. made two free throws to finish the Bucks.
– The finish was the opposite of that meltdown in Game 5. “We weren’t going out like that,” Al said. ““We at least had to play our hearts out.”
– Bucks fans chanted “Josh Smith suc–” at the end as he urged them on. “It feels good,” Josh said. “I’d like to thank Milwaukee fans for their hospitality. They’ve been great.”
– He said he was being serious but somehow I don’t believe him.
– AJC wise guy Jeff Schultz wanted to make sure I noted that he’s 3-0 in this series while colleague Mark Bradley is 0-3. Before you ask, I’m not sure which guy will be there Sunday.
– I’m out, Hawks fans.
MC
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135 comments Add your comment
Kurt Thomas
May 1st, 2010
6:20 pm
I’m gonna lay zaza on his ass sunday
Kurt Thomas
May 1st, 2010
6:29 pm
I’m gonna spazz out and flop when bibby taps me on the chest.
O'Brien
May 1st, 2010
7:12 pm
The blog is so dead after a Hawks win. But when they lose, everybody and their brother is on here. What’s up with that?
JeJe
May 1st, 2010
7:30 pm
“The blog is so dead after a Hawks win. But when they lose, everybody and their brother is on here. What’s up with that?”
FIRE MIKE WOODSON
Big Ray
May 1st, 2010
7:42 pm
I read that article where Mike Woodson is calling for more ball movement on offense. It’s hilarious, but in a sad way.
And of all the people he could call out for that, he calls out Al Horford? WTF…is this the same Al that you refuse to call plays for in the second half dang near all season long? Is this the same Al Horford who was quoted numerous times as imploring the team to share the ball more? Who did you call out for that then ?
I remember us shooting ourselves out of a game during the regular season. Joe, Bibby, Jamal, and even Josh took several jumpers against a zone defense. They lost the game, and all Woody could say was “well, they went zone on us and the jumpers looked pretty appetizing.”
Did he call his guards out? No.
Get a clue, you moron. This team does what you teach them to do. If in fact they aren’t , then they are simply tuning you out. Either find a way to make them pay attention, or you will be labeled quite simply as an ineffective coach.
Woody, are you telling us that you call for this type of offense, and the guys just don’t listen to you? Is that really it? Because your top two scorers are known for doing exactly what Al did, most notably in the second half.
You call Al out for trying to bull his way into the defense in 3 of the 5 remaining possessions of the game 5 loss. And you’re right. Al tried to do too much. But don’t tell me Joe wouldn’t have done the same thing if he was in the game. In fact, I’m willing to bet that would have been your play call, not “share the ball with the game on the line.”
Funny, you didn’t mention Jamal Crawford shooting 4 for 18. Was he sharing the ball? How about Joe in game 6, did he share his way to an 8 for 24 shooting performance?
Robert Yates
May 1st, 2010
7:48 pm
ooooooooooooowwweeeeeeeeeee, what up wit dat….what up wit dat. I almost never write comments on the blog anymore, but I must say……Ya’ll who want the group blown up I just don’t understand at all. I know you want wins….I know you want championships and superstars….hell, I would love the same, but were in Atlanta folks, and Mr. Blank won’t buy the team. So…what are we to do when we are going to be the perinneal underdog? Answer: We must cherish that role. No matter how much you want it Lebron will never be here. For the people who won’t come to the games until the Lakers show….I understand. I know you all love the superstars, but I on the other hand love to root for my underdog. It would be great if you joined my fellow Hawks devotees, but I don’t see it ever happening. We will never fill up the dome like we did when we had Vick, and we will never sell out Philips unless we have a guy that does Gatorade commercials. What do I say about that……whatever….you can have your superstar. I would rather be enamoured with the story of a bunch of guys who ought not take the playoffs by storm after nearly blowing it all in the first series. This is what I love about my Hawks…..the drama. They will not win 60 games in a year…. they’re too schizo, but they’ll entertain me every step of the way.
Blast
May 1st, 2010
8:22 pm
northcyde,
Hawks DID beat the Cavs. Last game of the season. Only team they could not get a win on this season was the OKC.
For the first time ever, Woody actually called timely timeouts. Several times when Hawks were not playing well and the Bucks made runs, Woody took good, multiple timeouts to call Hawks to order. Then with guards staying on their men more rather than switch…maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks after all.
Yeah, when your basketball season and job are on the line!
Some Bucks fans really think their team can win game 7. Ha! Don’t see Hawks having two meltdowns back to back in their gym. Webber said it best. Hawks got a good old scare put to them in game 5. Don’t see them being so complacent again.
Still not crazy about the Iso plays.
O'Brien
May 1st, 2010
8:32 pm
Ray,
When ISO JJ and ISO Crawford have a horrible game, or we have one of those stretches where we can’t score, and the media asks him about the ISOs, his response is “we have won a lot of games that way”. When was the last time you heard Woody call out JJ, Bibby or Crawford specifically?
I remember the Sekou interview on 790 (and I might be paraphrasing), but he said he had heard from Chills that some of the younger guys did not like the way Woody treated them so differently from the veterans.
And I think we’re seeing the same thing now. How many games do we see Teague go out there, and get pulled after one mistake, while Bibby is out there and gets away with all types of foolish plays.
Same thing with Marvin. He is on a short leash (understandably so), but the guards? All Woody does is stare at them.
As for the game tonight (and the series), I am hoping the Celtics can beat the Cavs. First of all, I dont like Cleveland and all their antics, plus the refs appear to be on LeBron’s payroll sometimes.
Also, in case the Hawks win tomorrow and get by the Magic, I think we match up better with the Celtics.
Big Ray
May 1st, 2010
8:46 pm
O’brien ,
Exactly. And funny how Woody’s vaunted switch defense is what won us 53 games. Um, no. Even the people saying that now were the ones imploring us to play better defense than we did all regular season long. The playoffs exposed that defense, and the inflexibility thereof. Took us 3 losses to figure it out, but at least Woody figured it out.
As I recall, it was the talent of our offense (not necessarily the efficiency, as many a 3rd and 4th quarter showed) that won us many of those games. Jamal Crawfords 18 per game certainly didn’t hurt.
Big Ray
May 1st, 2010
8:48 pm
I don’t like the Cavs either, and I’m sure Boston will give them quite a run. But the Cavs HAVE to win, and they certainly have the talent and resources to do so. I’m thinking though, that Boston won’t even be able to push them past 6 games.
We won’t even talk about the refs. That’s a foregone conclusion…
lewis
May 1st, 2010
8:55 pm
lebrons clearly playing hurt
this is going to be a tough series if the celtics stay healthy
northcyde
May 1st, 2010
8:58 pm
Well . . . so much for me seeing the Hawks tomorrow afternoon.
For me to get to Atlanta in the morning, I’d need a boat. LOL . . . the entire city of Nashville is flooded. Dang interstate looks like a lake, completely shut down. Plus there’s still more rain and possible tornadoes to come overnight?
Oh well . . I’ll be there in spirit.
Grandad
May 1st, 2010
9:23 pm
Enter your comments here
Clyde
May 1st, 2010
9:29 pm
lol @O’brien
FIRE WOODY
JeJe
May 1st, 2010
9:47 pm
TOOK WOODSON 3 LOSSES TO SWITCH UP HIS “dEFENSIVE SCHEME.” THIS GUY CLAIMS TO BE A DEFENSIVE GENIUS. AMEN TO BIG RAY’S POST
FIRE WOODY
Najeh Davenpoop
May 1st, 2010
9:50 pm
“Also, in case the Hawks win tomorrow and get by the Magic, I think we match up better with the Celtics.”
And if President Obama eliminates world hunger and reduces the unemployment rate to zero, I think he’ll get re-elected.
(Nah, seriously, I agree though. I’d much rather see the Celtics in the ECF than the Cavs.)
Grandad
May 1st, 2010
9:51 pm
northcyde:
When someone challenges your opinion, why do you resort to inflammatory
comments such as hate & bias. I can asure you that I do not hate Mr Wdsn
but I will take the opposite tack as Ken Strickland & challenge your assertion that “iso-Joe is an effective offensive strategy”.
The following is an excerpt by Chauncy Billups:
[previously posted by 'Najeh']
“The problem with isolation is not the actual isolation,” Billups said. “It’s the lack of movement.” According to Billups, the Nuggets need to do a better job off the ball to help maximize the one-on-one advantages they have against Utah. “A lack of [movement] just lets one guy play against three or four”
I happen to not only agree but have been a proponent for many years of two fundamental concepts in basketball: [offensively]
*player movement [&]
*ball movement
It sorta validates one’s thinking when someone as accomplished as Chauncey Billups makes a statement as logical as the one above.
Wabe
May 1st, 2010
9:53 pm
It goes back to the issue of accountability.
To be a championship unit, all five players on the court have to think with one mind. There has to be a real sense of teamwork, a cohesiveness that keeps the group together regardless of the situation.
This group seems to lack that. And I personally feel much of it has to do with how they’ve been brought up (as a team). As Sekou stated in his interview, when this group was younger, they leaned on JJ. But, while the talent has evolved, our approach hasn’t. We still lean too much on JJ, and that to me is a direct result of the decisions Mike Woodson has made to this point. Woodson’s got his vets on a pedestal. There’s no accountability. JJ can shoot us out of a game and not hear a word from Woody about it, because the way Woody leans on him, one would assume he’s our only hope of pulling out W’s.
Look at what Phil Jackson said after a Laker loss in their last series to Kobe. He questioned whether Kobe should be taking so many shots, and basically hinted to Kobe about the importance of getting others involved. You can see the same thing from Pop in San Antonio. If he doesn’t like the way one of his guys is playing, he’ll make sure to let them know, regardless of who the culprit may be.
You never see that from Woody though. He lacks a back-bone. Until everybody on this team is treated on a leveled manner, and all players are being held accountable for their mistakes, I think you’d see a more cohesive unit. I understand that it’s natural for a headcoach to ride younger players a little harder than vets, because they’ve still got to get around the learning curve. But, in our case, Woody doesn’t ride his vets AT ALL. Other than Jamal, I haven’t seen Woody get in the faces of guys like JJ or Mike Bibby. You can’t have some guys on pedestals and others feeling the heat 24/7. It destroys the concept of ONE TEAM.
Big Ray
May 1st, 2010
10:23 pm
Excellent posts by Grandad and Wabe .
Blast
May 1st, 2010
10:24 pm
Co-sign, Wabe. 100%.
Big Ray
May 1st, 2010
10:25 pm
Northcyde ,
Whatever our differences, hope you and your family (and your home) stay safe. Floods are hazardous and tornadoes are no joke (ask me how I know).
Missing the Hawks game? Not great news. Holding out safely through natural disasters? Priceless.
irishmafia116
May 1st, 2010
10:29 pm
So Joe Johnson erstwhile wannabe superstar is quoted today ” I could care less what people expect and don’t expect…it’s about us players and coaches”. REALLY??? What a surprise . Silly me, I thought it was the fans were the ones that kept the NBA in business and kept Joe getting those incredible checks that he wouldn’t get working at Wal Mart.But alas now I find out it’s all about the players, fans be damned. Thanks for the enlightenment Joe
Blast
May 1st, 2010
10:34 pm
Celts best shot to beat the Cavs is to win this first game. But won’t happen if they play like the Hawks do. Go away from what’s working!
Blast
May 1st, 2010
10:36 pm
Cleveland:
Here comes the dancing!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 1st, 2010
10:45 pm
Co-sign Wabe, and I’ll also add that contrary to some people’s belief, I think the Hawks’ current roster can be made to hold each other accountable under the right coach.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 1st, 2010
11:01 pm
Damn, you drive down here from Nashville for Hawks games? That is dedication…
northcyde
May 1st, 2010
11:29 pm
Grandad
May 1st, 2010
9:51 pm
northcyde:
When someone challenges your opinion, why do you resort to inflammatory
comments such as hate & bias. I can asure you that I do not hate Mr Wdsn
but I will take the opposite tack as Ken Strickland & challenge your assertion that “iso-Joe is an effective offensive strategy”.
The following is an excerpt by Chauncy Billups:
[previously posted by 'Najeh']
“The problem with isolation is not the actual isolation,” Billups said. “It’s the lack of movement.” According to Billups, the Nuggets need to do a better job off the ball to help maximize the one-on-one advantages they have against Utah. “A lack of [movement] just lets one guy play against three or four”
I happen to not only agree but have been a proponent for many years of two fundamental concepts in basketball: [offensively]
*player movement [&]
*ball movement
It sorta validates one’s thinking when someone as accomplished as Chauncey Billups makes a statement as logical as the one above.
Billups has a point. Ball movement is good, when you have multiple people who can convert on the play.
But the strength of the ISO offense, is that it puts the ball in your best player’s hands. And if that player is a willing passer, then the ISO attack can be a good thing. Honestly, this is what Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Lebron, Kobe, Wade, etc run at the end of games. The decision to make the right play is usually placed in their hands.
Now in the case of Deron and Nash, the play that they’ll run, is the pick and roll. In that set, it’s not like the ball is moving around either. You simply have the main ballhandler and usually the teams best big man finisher, playing a two-man game. But the ball handeler has the option to shoot, pass to the rolling big man, or pass to an open shooter.
ISO JJ achieves the same thing, just in a different way. JJ sometimes waits too long to initiate the offense, or take a quicker open shot for himself. But if he draws a double team, you’re usually going to have someone wide open for a jumpshot. Most of the time, it’s Mike Bibby . . who has made a living off of JJ passing to him for threes. Marvin is the other guy usually open.
If he doesn’t draw the double, it’s up to him to score. The element that JJ doesn’t possess, is the ability to draw fouls, which would make the ISO attack a lot more effective.
When you look at the Hawks, a lot of the things that people want us to consistently do, we just don’t do well in the first place.
- Horford and Smoove are average back to the basket scorers at best.
- Crawford has the quickness to run pick and roll, but the passing isn’t there at times
- JJ can run ISO, but he’s slow with it at times, and doesn’t blow past people when making his move.
I’ve always just though that Woody played to the strength of the team offensively . . . which is give the ball to JJ.
In the playoffs though, it’s more about exploiting mismatches. In the next round vs Orlando, it’ll be JJ and Crawford that have the mismatches, with Smoove having one at times. Can’t expect Horford to do a lot vs Dwight.
northcyde
May 1st, 2010
11:37 pm
I live 45 minutes northwest of Nashville . . . so I acutally have to drive through Nashville to get to ATL.
LOL . . but that city is like the movie Waterworld right now. And here comes the rains again.
Grandad
May 2nd, 2010
12:50 am
northcyde:
1st things 1st – You must live in Clarksville.
I lived there for a # of yrs.
Lets go Peay!
Secondly – I [& C.Billups] were talking more about player movement.
*[during Iso]
If players that are not involved, whether it be [P & R] or simple
‘Iso Joe’ (Wdsn’s favorite), it is requisite for said players to
create movement [e.g., sreening away from ball, cutting, flashing, etc]
as to occupy defenders in order to take them out of help pos. & to eliminate traps & double teams.
I think C. Billups was speaking of player movement, whereas I added the ball movement when I posted:
“two fundamental concepts in basketball: [offensively]
*player movement [&]
*ball movement”
Not argueing, just statin’ my case.
By the way, I’ve still got kin folks & many many friends in Clarksville
plus Nashville as well.
Big Ray
May 2nd, 2010
1:12 am
So much for the olive branch.
Yep, we got holes in our offense.
Looking forward to game 7.
JeJe
May 2nd, 2010
8:54 am
“It just happens this way. Fortunately we’ve got a chance to play Game 7 on our home court. It’s been a tough first round. but whenever our back’s against the wall, we’ve always responded positive.”
LOL, yeah you sure responded well when down to Cleveland last year
JeJe
May 2nd, 2010
9:07 am
FIRE WOODY
VenomSpitter
May 2nd, 2010
9:13 am
My Boy Money Mayweather won and hopefully the Hawks win
Fresh
May 2nd, 2010
10:10 am
Why the hell does AJC Homepage say the Hawks vs. Buck game is at 2pm SMH??
robdawg08
May 2nd, 2010
1:33 pm
I figured the Hawks would lie down at Milwaukee but they showed some heart… Maybe they can play well at home and win the series. I would go inside to Horford and J.Smith with a lot of drives to the basket to keep the Bucks in foul trouble. If Bibby,JJ,& Co. are cold shooting 3’s then score in the paint. Go Hawks !