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
Samuel
September 11th, 2010
10:39 pm
Not even close. Cynthia Cooper retired basically because she couldn’t find no competition.
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
10:39 pm
Help Wanted!
KevinM said:
“LeBron laughing at all the hate that comes at him…..laughing all the way to the bank!
It takes more than one elite player to win an NBA ring….ask Kobe and Shaq…ask DWade…ask KG.
None of them did it without HOF material around them. LeBron had little talent to help him….”
Great Stuff – KevinM!
If, those guys can’t do it alone? And, we say Joe is not on their level?
How in the World can we bash Joe for not doing it either?
Seems like a double standard to me, If I ever heard one.
Those other guys would never come to play here, so why not
Support our own All-Star and try to get him the same help those guys have,
instead of bashing Joe day and night?
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
10:49 pm
Clyde
Oh Yeah! Teresa Edwards played like the female Jordan.
I think she married and started a a family, didn’t she?
Very nice player. Lisa Leslie said The Dream has a good chance to
beat Rick Mahorn and the Seattle Storm.
The Storm does have 5 Olympian Stars on their team though. Lisa said,
“The Dream need to win Game 2 to have a shot, they got to beat The Storm who are undefeated at home in Seattle to do it though.”
The Dream play at 1PM or is it 3PM on ABC tomorrow.
Go Dream Go!
doc
September 11th, 2010
11:03 pm
samuel “KD > LBJ”
agree big time.
well you finally got it right there my friend. heh heh
Publix
September 11th, 2010
11:07 pm
JJ in the HOF?????
And you guys wonder why nobody wants to entertain you all in this blog?
Come on AJC, please set up some kind of rules where studs have to pay a monthly fee to be in here or something.
Publix
September 11th, 2010
11:10 pm
DrMaryB & MsDee,
Ladies, I’m sure you are very lovely, but when it comes to certain things, why not just go take a bubble bath or something.
So an organization pays you 120mil and according to Mary, they just want you to scroe 20 and not say a word. Don’t worry about trying to make everyone better. You are only the captain of the team.
OBVIOUSLY, neither of you guys knows what a captain does. Good God!
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
11:12 pm
Fundamentals
Enthusiastic Co-Sign. We should not underestimate the Grit and
Heart of the new post players, nor overlook Teague and Jamal and
now Jordan.
BTW, we need to handle the Jamal situation and do Horford in the
off season, he will still be our RFA. We need to either trade the dead
weight or consider nibbling into the Luxury Tax to maintain the talent
we do have. Assets are trade-able, therefore, valuable.
Jamal is a perfect fit on this team. Drew will DEFINE these roles!!
We may be closer than we think, maybe only one great player
away!
Ms. Dee said it Best! Al and Josh are future Big-Time players that
any team would want. We don’t know if Jordan is the next DWade either,
I see a twinkle in his eye and a very big Chip on his shoulder!
I’m ready to get started … I don’t know what yall’ came to do?
But, I came to Party!
Go Hawks Go!
Publix
September 11th, 2010
11:13 pm
Next time a blog comes up, one should be in pink and one in blue.
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
11:17 pm
I never said anybody on this team was a HOF’r.
If you can read and comprehend? I said the opposite.
You need to go back to sleep. If they charged to blog?
Yoi couldn’t afford it, I hear Publix doesn’t allow shoppers to
Tip their bag boys! Because, you already make minimum wage.
Next, blogger puh-lease!
Publix
September 11th, 2010
11:21 pm
And that makes sense right. Baggers are not allowed any tip because they are already getting minimum wage????????
rusty
September 11th, 2010
11:29 pm
drmaryb why do you defend your hero jj so much. i know that you think that you are the only one here who has any brains.jj plays horrible in the playoffs,ball hogs, shows no heart,disses the fans but we cant say anything negative about him.
Publix
September 11th, 2010
11:32 pm
AMEN rusty!!!
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
11:34 pm
Again, I said:
“The Hawks have some very nice role players, but no future HOF’s.
We are a small market team, because our Owners have not put the
best team possible on the floor.
But, I like our team and we are very entertaining with the talent we do have.
We need to keep building tho, I don’t want to be like Utah and Dallas.
I want to be unbeatable and great!”
Then, I responded to Ms. Dee:
“Ms. Dee
Yeah, I didn’t want to jump the gun on the young guns!
But, Joe, Al and Josh definitely have the makings of HOF’s.”
MAKINGS! Joe is only 28 years old. His career is NOT over and he is
beginning his 2nd Max Contract! So, the HOF is determined after ALL
is said and done! I have no crystal ball, nor does any other
opinionated blogger. I could care less if Joe is in the HOF or NOT?
I got NO skin in this game! I don’t gamble on sports!
This is for entertainment purposes only! So, PUBIX – go get a life!
Dude, you really need one, clean up on isle 8 please – we got
mayonaise on the floor.
rusty
September 11th, 2010
11:44 pm
plublix tell drmaryb that you will pick up the mayo if she(maybe) will help you.she might try to get jj to help you instead
rusty
September 11th, 2010
11:45 pm
sorry publix
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
11:46 pm
What?
I could care less what you say, or if you brats agree with me.
I actually am glad that you don’t, I’m relieved …I don’t bash any one on this team, nor make personal attacks on the players character.
I don’t complain about their salaries nor do I care who they sleep with or, if they wave at me.
I’m talking about Basketball – I have no idea what Midol or wearing Blue or Pink or being a Dude has to do with anything!
I don’t have to agree with your opinion and you are free to talk about
Basketball with me. I am having a healthy decent conversation with
real bloggers about whatever we wish to talk about and if you don’t like it?
Please, keep Scrollin’
Keep, the personal stuff out of it!
I’m done with yall’ little boys. I’m not feeling you – you’re too little!
rusty
September 11th, 2010
11:48 pm
drmaryb oooooooooook
rusty
September 11th, 2010
11:49 pm
you only make personal attacks on bloggers
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
11:54 pm
Ms. Dee
I enjoyed our conversations today. I typically ignore slooow
people, but today I felt like getting low. That is not my norm,
but, I don’t have any kids of my own to play with.
I planned that perfectly, don’t get me wrong, I love kids they
are great when respectful and polite. Today was fun, but I’m
tired and off to hit the hay!
-smiles-
drmaryb (*_*)
September 12th, 2010
12:03 am
If you don’t like Publix no tipping policy for minimum wage bag boys?
Then take that up with Publix – where working is not a pleasure.
rusty and publix is not a persons name, so I don’t consider
speaking on your levels a personal attack.
Stop commenting towards me and stay on topic, then your
little feelings won’t get hurt. Bye Bye and that’s the last post
you will get from me.
Best Wishes and Good Luck!
-smile-
Grandad
September 12th, 2010
12:21 am
Is MC on vacation again?
doc
September 12th, 2010
12:44 am
no grandad, the last i saw the nba was on vacation. heh heh
dude dint you hear? once the three amigos were signed ASKG pretty much put the off season on hold and rolled up the awning until training camp. see you then along with MC.
Dragon Slayer
September 12th, 2010
1:37 am
Mary, you should really get a life. Youve vomited over 65 times in two days, not counting your aliases
No husband huh? No boy friend either. Just a lucky guess.LOL
Do you look that bad or is it your foul mouth or your vicious spirit that drive men away from you?
Why don t you take some time off from your Pulitzer work here, and take a vacation? Put on a dress and comb whats left of your hair. Put on that perfume you brought at quick trip and see if you can draw something other than flies……
buzz buzz buzz
Michael (free booty) Cunningham
September 12th, 2010
1:39 am
No, Im not on vacation, Grandad but Im having a great time since I took your advice and turn my pants to put the zipper in the back. You were right, I get plenty of action in midtown….Gooooo horford!
Jae Evolution
September 12th, 2010
1:49 am
Can someone make a deal for Devin Ebanks, this kid is an all-hustle type player and he wouldn’t take too much to get a deal with the Lakers going.
Doggone
September 12th, 2010
3:10 am
Dragon Slayer Ill bet her womb is bare too!
Dragon Slayer
September 12th, 2010
3:11 am
Or Barren!
vava74
September 12th, 2010
8:49 am
I hope this kid wins his ring(s) earlier than Le-inBecil:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=ArV3FhxClIex3TyGpwbh9gy8vLYF?slug=aw-durantworlds091110
Ken Strickland
September 12th, 2010
10:11 am
VALVA74-After reading that very informative article, and what the Thunder accomplished last yr, I decided to take a look at what they did to improve their roster. After doing so, low and behold, it turns out they’ve taken the same approach as the Hawks.
They’ve brought back all 5 starters, as well as 5 players off last yr bench. Apparently they are confident the team will be able to improve from within, and didn’t see the need to foolishly waste money on FA’s, just like the Hawks. The only real difference between the approach of the 2 teams is their HC situation.
While Oklahoma City was very satisfied with the performance of their HC, the Hawks weren’t, and made a needed change. So, the Hawks expect to experience a major improvement as a direct result of the coaching change, and they also expect the players and overall team to improve internally, just like the Thunder, and as a result of the HC change.
Big Ump
September 12th, 2010
10:12 am
drmaryb
What’s up ? Enjoying all your post. Keep them coming. I haven’t forgot about you. I will let you know when they will be performing back in the ATL.
KevinM
September 12th, 2010
10:19 am
DrMaryB,
You pointing out the bashing of Joe as a double standard does have value to it. My issue with Joe is only from his inability to be a leader, after being told that now by 2 GMs and 2 head coaches. They tell us Joe is our leader, point blank.
My problem is his inability to have some kind of PR sense. His attitude towards the fans no matter what the situation was took a lot of us off his bandwagon. I would have been happy to see him leave.
It would have shown the fan base that we needed someone else to lead this franchise.
Will other players come here on their own? I think they would personally. I could have easily seen us bring in an all-star.
What is holding us up? The management team being happy with the core. That is my issue with Joe.
Going forward, we are going to have to accept what we have, and get behind them…..doesn’t mean I see a better team with a better scheme…..it will be a reach for them to improve their offense, despite how limited things have been under Woody.
We need length more than anything else and someone to take Bibby’s reigns. Same ole same old story the past 2-3 offseasons.
KevinM
September 12th, 2010
10:23 am
To add to the above, Joe played this management team like a Saturday night fiddle! He got them to bow down and give the keys to the Brinks truck.
Aside from the joke-of-an-approach to the Shaq negotiations, this was my low point of the offseason.
doc
September 12th, 2010
10:31 am
“I missed a layup … I missed another easy shot … and a box out. We get one box out at the end of Game 6, and we’re going back to L.A. for a seventh,” Durant said.
i guess i miss this type of comment from joe. just once i would like for him to say something is on his shoulders and when he doesnt deliver it hurts the team and doesnt set the example. accountability. maybe LD can get this through to him as he seems to be a stand up guy who is articulate and will ste the example himself.
drmaryb (*_*)
September 12th, 2010
10:49 am
Big Ump!
Hey Baby, good to see you around. Yeah, let me know about
the tickets and show time … I’ll be there.
Thanks again.
KevinM
Joe got what they were willing to pay! That’s not his problem anymore.
They knew what they were getting, they just need to pony up.
Like Najeh says, “The ASKG need to spend wisely.”
I have more issues with the other salaries on this team that
are not well utilized. Shaq, already said he wasn’t coming here for
even 8M, because we don’t have enough National games onTV.
Something, about not being seen in Prime Time. And, the Celtics
play unselfish team ball and are closer to winning. Looks like Shaq
wants to go head to head with Kobe again.
If that’s the case? The Hawks never had a real chance to sign him.
Did you see our TV schedule?
Joe is the best of the rest, whether we like him or not.
Joe will never commandeer the microphone, that is not who he is.
Talking about games, never won a game either.
drmaryb (*_*)
September 12th, 2010
10:53 am
KevinM said:
“What is holding us up? The management team being happy with the core. That is my issue with Joe.”
How exactly do you blame Joe for management’s happiness?
drmaryb (*_*)
September 12th, 2010
11:00 am
PR
BTW, isn’t Arthur Triche in charge of the teams PR Dept.?
I would be concerned with the poor marketing of this team by
the ASKG.
They haven’t spent one dime on Bill Boards, Local TV Ads, or anything else
as I can recall. Joe breathing on the microphone to have his words
twisted by a beat reporter will not equate to one single win!
What has talking heads like: T.O. and Ocho-Cinco ever won either.
It may get you a Reality TV Show Contract, that’s about it.
I don’t need Joe to become a PR Machine, I have no interest in it.
drmaryb (*_*)
September 12th, 2010
11:08 am
Blog Entertainment?
Hah! Very few bloggers entertain me on this blog.
And, they know who they are.
I promise you, it ain’t the idiots.
TBS Very Funny! Now, that’s entertaining.
roflol.
doc
September 12th, 2010
11:15 am
yes dmb, said it the other day about joe, he cant talk and that aint a gift he has, not everyone has it. i have no problem with that but one of the big three have to step up and say those things and mean it and show it time after time relentlessly. accountability is all i am asking for and admit it when it isnt there. a great orator he doesnt need to be to do that. in the end if you talk, you got to walk; it isnt the other way around.
drmaryb (*_*)
September 12th, 2010
11:32 am
Yeah doc, I would actually rather see Al step up to the Mike if
anyone. He speaks two languages and is very articulate.
Maurice Evans gave some great insight and sound bites as well.
Those two will step on some toes for sure. I don’t see that quality
in Joe. Joe mumbles.
I would like to see Coach Drews comments, like Jimmy Johnson,
I say slam the door on some toes and calling out some people
is fine with me. No disrespect, but hold the money players and
all of the players ACCOUNTABLE.
The Coach should really do that. The players should do it in the
locker room and on the side lines, but not in the media on a personal
level.
bbua
September 12th, 2010
11:35 am
I’m not a big hawk fan or basketball fan but was wondering if they could package crawford and another player (Marvin Williams) or draft pick pick up the center they need. It would allow them to move Al to power forward.
drmaryb (*_*)
September 12th, 2010
11:46 am
doc
Did you see the awful interviews Kobe gave last season?
It was gawd awful atrocious! It get’s even worse when his
kids are sitting on his knee – ouch! Is that the bad knee?
The worst interviews ever … But, hey he’s a great player – right?
Now, Durantula does a phenomenal interview. Very humble and
articulate. Great for TV, but very little to do with balling!
All I want Joe to do is buy into the new O & D. Lead by example!
Doggone
September 12th, 2010
11:49 am
I guess she doesn’t have much of a life….
Doggone
September 12th, 2010
11:50 am
85 post per day… fck. Its it that hard for you to get laid, mary?
Bob Weiss
September 12th, 2010
11:52 am
Does that 85 include her aliases?
Bob Weiss
September 12th, 2010
11:55 am
bbua The only way A. Ho is moving to power forward it as a back up behind atlanta native Josh Smith. Of course A. Ho. could start on another team, which is more likely after October when his rookie contract expires. He will probably be sign and traded for a real center to strengthen the hawks.
doc
September 12th, 2010
12:19 pm
dmb i say for the players to call themselves out and hold themselves accountable not teammates. joe unfortunately has a way of calling the team out while describing himself on too many occasions. he doesnt see it as we are blind to our on faults, just the same i want LD to bring accountability to the team. it isnt all about rebounding and playing defense as wuld be woody talk/spiel. as nire said. woody’s way is; if plan a doesnt work, plan b is to do plan a harder. it just doesnt work that way.
gee bob weiss, you talking to yourself doggone to get some agreement?
Dragon Slayer
September 12th, 2010
12:44 pm
You cant get water from a rock so why waste the energy. The hawks overall are a very limited team talent wise. Its foolish to pressure and attack teammates in an attempt to get something from them that they cant give….
Know your limits or you will be very frustrated and disappointed in life. The hawks were playing about as good as they can. Period.
So I question the soundness of “accountability demands”. Thats only meaningful when the team is underachieving. This team over achieved. Proved by the “experts” preseason rankings which pick the hawks to finish between 5-8 for the most part with 1 maverick picking the hawks at 3rd seed. So for 99% of the experts analysis of the hawks, the hawks exceeded the measurement of their talent.
This team played better than their talent. but in the end of the day, this was and is a middle of the pack team.
Now Lets see what Woody II can do….
Bob Weiss
September 12th, 2010
12:46 pm
You doggone right Doc!
Bob Weiss
September 12th, 2010
12:50 pm
Im going to co-sign Dragon Slayer too, Doc. Feel free to hate…
drmaryb (*_*)
September 12th, 2010
1:00 pm
doc
I agree, SUN, SEP 12, 2010 has to set the table and I just
hope he has a pair to do it with!
Let’s Go Falcons!
Hey doc, I got my popcorn and cherry coke – I ready!