Atlanta Hawks: Larry Drew ditching switches
L.D. probably wouldn't consider this a 'switchable switch.'
(Checking in from a Miami holiday weekend filled with beaches, BBQ and . . . beverages)
We’ve heard about L.D.’s offensive philosophies but what about D? The short answer to what I know is the No. 1 question: Atlanta’s base defense under Drew will not feature switching on all (or most) screens.
But what he hopes to accomplish goes beyond Xs and Os and lineups. L.D. said he wants to develop a true defensive disposition for a team known more for finesse.
“Playing defense, it can be ugly sometimes,” Drew said. “Sometimes guys don’t like to do the ugly stuff, the dirty work stuff. Good defensive teams, their mindset is to go into games and outwork you. They don’t care how they do it. They do whatever it takes to shut you down. They have that aggressive mentality, where each game they go into it thinking ‘I am going lock in on my guy.’ and that works its way to the rest of the guys. You have to have that team concept and that aggressive mentality.”
A fanatical devotion to shutting down opponents is a trait of all true contenders. Atlanta’s lack of that quality has to rank at least alongside strategy and personnel as a major reason the Hawks have been a middling defensive team.
The Hawks ranked 13th in defensive efficiency last season, 11th in 2008-09 and 13th in ‘07-08. They were 24th in defensive rebounding rate in ‘09-10, 24th in ‘08-09 and 26th in ‘07-08. Atlanta’s rank in opponent true shooting percentage was 19th last season, eighth in ‘08-09 and 18th in ‘07-08. You can keep going down the list of ways to measure defensive performance and lately the Hawks rarely ranked in the top 10, never mind the top 5.
Defense is another area where L.D. is going to have to find a way to get more out of the guys he’s got. Changing their mentality is the obvious place to start. Drew has to galvanize a group that wilted so badly against the Magic. He has to help his players reach the “uncomfortable” effort levels that Al said they didn’t reach last spring.
There are familiar questions about Drew’s roster, too. It’s the same group of defenders (with an asterisk next to Jamal’s name) that couldn’t contain the perimeter. It’s still a power rotation that lacks a menacing 7-footer in the middle. It’s the same group that too often looked to Al and Smoove to go to work on the boards.
Does L.D. think he has the horses to play good, tough, straight-up D?
“I think we have the personnel to do it,” he said. “That’s why I use the term ‘accountability.’”
One way to annoy NBA players is to talk to them about defensive “stoppers.” So many times I’ve heard guys, especially guards and wings, scoff at the notion. There is no such thing, they say, because there are too many good offensive players and the hand-check rules make it nearly impossible to stop those kind of guys straight up.
Point taken, and L.D. said it’s one he recognizes. That’s why he said he there will be times when switching and other help-type schemes will be necessary.
“I think you have to make a decision on how you want to guard certain people,” he said. “Certainly game-by-game, adjustments will be made defensively. But you go into the game with the mindset of guarding your own people. I think we are deep enough we can get that kind of defense out of our guys.”
Drew said he doesn’t want that to go so far with tricking up the D that players use it as a crutch. You could see that happen with the Hawks last season. Players became so reliant on the switches that they tended to relax in anticipation of screens. Why fight through picks to stay with your man when he can be always be passed off to a teammate?
“I know exactly what you mean,” L.D. said. “You are not the first person I’ve heard say that. Different coaches have different philosophies on how they do things.”
The switching defense has its advantages. It can be effective against pick-and-rolls. It helped the Hawks cover up some of their limitations (even if it also could create other problems). But I think there is no question that using switches so liberally blunted Atlanta’s defensive aggressiveness.
Getting away from the switches is a matter of strategy for Drew, whose goal is for the Hawks to make only what he calls the “switchable switches” that don’t leave them in clearly bad matchups But ditching switches also is a matter of mindset.
“We need guys locking in and focusing on what the defense calls for,” Drew said. “We have the tools for it. We have some areas where got to get better at, but I think overall we have the tools to be a good defensive team. That is the challenge I am going to put to the guys.”
– Nothing new on the Jamal front. He still wants either a satisfactory contract extension or a trade but the Hawks still haven’t indicated if he will get either.
– French club Le Havre announced on its Web site that it has completed a buyout of Pape Sy’s contract. The Hawks haven’t received the paperwork and so don’t consider the deal to be official but they are optimistic there will be no snags.
MC
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666 comments Add your comment
Fundamentals
September 11th, 2010
12:50 pm
Gasol would be a nice pick-up if we could move Horford to PF and Smoove to SF. We’d finally be big, yet young, fast and mobile. Gasol looked like a bust when Pao got traded, but I think Memphis made out just fine with that trade.
Trading Gasol will depend on Thabeet. Can he develop enough to make Gasol expendable for Memphis?
Publix
September 11th, 2010
12:54 pm
If they could get Crawford and maybe Bibby plus secound round draft pick of next year, I think that Memphis would go for it.
Najeh Davenpoop
September 11th, 2010
1:12 pm
“Can you say opinionated, or the guy has a big imagination. Just because he knows how to express himself, some what. Doesn’t mean the guy is right.”
I have never pretended like I don’t get things wrong, but in this case, you would be a lot more convincing if you could point out exactly what I am wrong about.
Publix
September 11th, 2010
1:16 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
What are you smoking??? Why not just say what you are thinking?
I respect someone who is smart, but not as much someone who pretends to be.
Idiot Watch
September 11th, 2010
1:40 pm
It would be a dumb, check that, very dumb move to move smith to the 3.
1) he is a very good power forward ( one to the best in the nba)
2) hes considerably better than Al, (so why would you put the second best in front of the best?DUH)
3) Josh is rated the best defensive power forward in the game on any level.
4) Because of Josh’s agility and “smoove” techniques and athleticism he will always be a triple double threat and average 16-21 pts a game. Hes just that talented.
5) dont fix what aint broken. (Its Al who’s out of place not Josh. ) and you dont remedy that by putting Josh out of place
6) To the AL Horford floridian connection.. This is the Josh Smith ATL connection. This is Josh’s team…
7) If Al is all that lets trade him for Howard and make this a true ATL connection!
Idiot Watch
September 11th, 2010
1:41 pm
Gasol would be a nice pick up in place of Al. What would we be loosing? a 12 pt career average and 9 rebounds? WTF is that?
Idiot Watch
September 11th, 2010
1:45 pm
Publix
September 11th, 2010
12:03 pm
Are you calling dr mary b a dude? LOL.
Drama
September 11th, 2010
1:56 pm
http://en.kendincos.net/video-ntthhjdf-josh-smith-shake-and-bake.html
O'Brien
September 11th, 2010
2:49 pm
Fundamentals,
Smoove does not belong at SF full time, only spot minutes.
jason
September 11th, 2010
3:25 pm
MC any updates about jamal?
Publix
September 11th, 2010
3:41 pm
Idiot Watch
I guess I did call her a Dude. lol
I agree with you on Smith. I would hate to loose Horford, but in a way I would be more willing to give him up vs Smoove. And as you said, J. Smith has the potential to be phenomenal. He is very athletic and plays great D. My only concern with him is his mentality. Horford has the better attitude but not the athleticism of Smith.
So why not try to get Gasol for Bibby, Williams and first round draft pick.
Then Take Horford and Crawford and trade them for CP3 and Stojakovic.
WOW look at this:
PG- Paul/Teague
SG- Johnson/Crawford
SF- Peja/Evans
PF- Smith/Powell
C – Gasol/Zaza
Publix
September 11th, 2010
3:42 pm
Now we would compete with Miami, Orlando, Boston and LA
Publix
September 11th, 2010
3:53 pm
The only missing piece to that team would be someone like Stephen Jackson.
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
3:55 pm
PUBIX (not misspelled)
What is a Sponge Bob?
BTW, I am not a DUDE? If you have nothing intelligent to say in regards
to my Joe Johnson comments? Then, Get Your “Scroll On”
My comments were intended for discord, not disrespect.
Feel free to attack the Message, however, attacking the Messenger is
unabated and futile and will fall upon deaf ears.
Publix
September 11th, 2010
3:58 pm
I AM SORRY for calling you a DUDE. I didn’t pay attention to the name. I just don’t agree with you on the JJ comments. I like him as a player, but he is not my definition of a leader. He is not the Manning/Favre or Brady of football.
sasha
September 11th, 2010
4:01 pm
Publix?
What happened? Born on aisle 8?
First, get a real name, then get a life!
Loose Horford? Or, Lose Horford. That’s not spelled wrong, you just have no grammar skills to be such a smart a s s – try using spell check.
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
4:04 pm
Publix
Apology accepted. Neither are you – a leader that is.
Grandad
September 11th, 2010
4:06 pm
Fundamentals
Memphis [Lionel Hollins] has named M.Gasol Team Captain.
[most likely untouchable]
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
4:09 pm
MC
….. Will soon delete the HOT GARBAGE.
Meanwhile, ignore the rubbish and keep scrollin’ – don’t feed the animals.
Yall’ know the drill … don’t feel sorry for it … It will soon die of starvation and soon find peace.
Publix
September 11th, 2010
4:09 pm
Sasha
what are you a DUDE or NOT?
Yes, you are right about aisle 8. Your daddy was born there, I’m glad you still remember me.
Mary,
I am also not getting paid 120mil, like some others are to LEAD. Why are you so stuck on JJ being everything he is not.
Publix
September 11th, 2010
4:12 pm
What’s wrong with my name? lol At least it starts with a capital letter, how about your’s sasha?
Publix
September 11th, 2010
4:12 pm
… keep talking about grammar
KeepnTreal
September 11th, 2010
4:20 pm
Things are pretty heated here. I agree with you Publix, JJ is way too over paid.
I don’t agree with you on arguing with the ladies. Obviously they have no clue about basketball, so just let them know what aisle the Midol is on. lol
Publix
September 11th, 2010
4:23 pm
Midol would be on aisle 8. Send sasha to get it for Mary! (*_*)
Publix
September 11th, 2010
4:24 pm
Talk about Bball again, the states are having it pretty easy beating Lithuania. Hope the serbs are next so we can tear them up too.
MsDee
September 11th, 2010
4:25 pm
WOW, KeepnTreal..what do u and Publix have against us WOMEN of the BLOG??
KeepnTreal
September 11th, 2010
4:26 pm
I see Turkey making it in to the final.
Good post up there with Horford and Crawford for CP3. Don’t think that anyone thought of that. I think that the Big Easy would go for it.
It would really be a dream team, but not sure if it would work out with the payroll.
MsDee
September 11th, 2010
4:27 pm
Dont worry bout us Women on aisle 8, yall just need to sit in line at the Pharmacy and wait on the Viagia…
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
4:27 pm
LeBron is NOT a leader either, he is an immature follower …
But, talent-wise? I would sign him in a heartbeat.
Playing great basketball does not necessarily guarantee that you
will ever win a Championship. The HOF is filled with guys who have
never won a Title.
Josh Powell won a Ring this year and Shelden Williams almost won one too.
Does that make them leaders of a team?
It takes a team, an organization, coaches and role players, great referees and some lucky bounces of the ball to win a Championship.
Joe Johnson is not paid to be a leader, he is paid to play Basketball –
that’s all. He was paid the current market value, You are worth what you are paid!
Like it or leave it – it’s all sour grapes. If your job over paid you?
Would YOU say, “No Thank – You, I am NOT worth all that?”
Or, take you happy azz to the bank. Me, I’m going to the bank – God Speed,
before they issue a stop payment. Most on this Blog would do the same.
Unless, you are an idiot! If the ASKG were not making 10 times what
Joe was paid? They would not have paid Joe 10 times less.
Joe never said he was a leader, nor does he profess to be – those are YOUR
misguided and irrelevant opinions of him & like me, Joe could care
less about all that.
Publix
September 11th, 2010
4:28 pm
I don’t have anything against women, but the ones here seem to be pretty argumentative.
Publix
September 11th, 2010
4:30 pm
I know he could care less about everything his fans do. After all, they just pay for his contract, you seem to forget that.
MsDee
September 11th, 2010
4:31 pm
Yeah, when those who call themselves Grocery Stores insults us.
KeepnTreal
September 11th, 2010
4:31 pm
(*_*)
Kleen up on aisle 8. Can we get the cleaning lady to go take care of it.
Pu
September 11th, 2010
4:31 pm
Enter your comments here
Publix
September 11th, 2010
4:32 pm
how did I insult you?
I even said that I was sorry for not noticing that one of you was a girl.
MsDee
September 11th, 2010
4:33 pm
DrMary already sent us a link that shows us that Joe wasnt insulting the fans, he simply said “us (the players) shouldnt be worried who comes out and who doesnt, what matters is the guys on the court!
Publix
September 11th, 2010
4:34 pm
as a player, you should be very concerned when 12000 of your own fans are booing you out at home, shouldn’t you????
Maybe, KeepnTreal is right with his comments.
MsDee
September 11th, 2010
4:34 pm
and she accepted your apology..im only commenting on you saying we can be argumentative on here.
diet pape sy
September 11th, 2010
4:35 pm
Troll call:
Michael(f-u-b)Cunninham
ABSOLUTELY!
Dr. Callemout
publix
Idiot Watch
MsDee
September 11th, 2010
4:37 pm
It didnt stop Kobe, LeBron, nor Wade for getting booed at…it happens. They are human and may not show up all the time but us as fans paid big money to watch them play great at all times..someone is bound to be disappointed ‘at times’.
MsDee
September 11th, 2010
4:38 pm
MC,
Mann, we need a new blog up BIG TIME!!
KeepnTreal
September 11th, 2010
4:38 pm
you are right, and she immediately insulted the man
Ok, to all the “gentle glides”, please talk about laundry or something.
Stay out of the man’s business.
Diet Pape Sy
go back to France
KeepnTreal
September 11th, 2010
4:39 pm
where is SASHA to correct MsDee on the spelling on “MANN”
sasha, do you have a check mark on your head that I can punch and it will fix some of these mistakes on here
KeepnTreal
September 11th, 2010
4:40 pm
SASHA, just like Vujacic…
Not there when you need him
Publix
September 11th, 2010
4:42 pm
I can stay out of this one. You guys are getting a little too serious about a blog.
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
4:42 pm
Ms. Dee
Ignore these little boys on here. They are about the right size
for a tampon. That’s their problem, they have no SIZE!
So, they complain about the SIZE of Joe’s Bank Account!
Forget them feminine products!
Let’s just continue to talk Basketball… When we do?
They attack the messenger, not the message.
These are 15 year old pre-pubescent kids.
Publix
September 11th, 2010
4:44 pm
Where is (*_*)?
maybe looking up the definition of a leader. If someone pays you 120mil, you don’t think they want you to lead the team and make everyone around you better. That’s what Wade, Kobe, and James do.
Whom has JJ made better??? Nobody. How often do you see JJ dunk? He is good as an appetizier, not the main course.
diet pape sy
September 11th, 2010
4:44 pm
Add ons
KeepnTreal
sasha
Publix
September 11th, 2010
4:45 pm
take care guys, see you on the next blog
MsDee
September 11th, 2010
4:52 pm
Publix,
Dont leave now..I enjoy reading intelligent comments, not insulting ones, that’s all. Like Dr mary said, when did JJ said he was a leader?? He only came here to DO A JOB and thats play BASKETBALL. The only problem I have with Joe is that he needs to know when and when not to speak to the media cause he can say stuff that can really tick out a teammate at the wrong times..