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
Ken Strickland
September 8th, 2010
7:33 pm
KEVINM-your comment is a perfect example of someone who looks for the slightest chance to single out anything they feel can be used to take a negative stance, or make a negative and/or sarcastic comment. Man, I’d really hate to have some of you as teammates, because you’d poison the entire team with your negativity, lack of confidence and/or trust.
The season hasn’t even started yet, and new Hawk HC LDrew is already trying to do everything he can to help his young PG succeed. He certainly didn’t hire SCassell to help Bibby. He’s already hired an assistant to concentrate on building up the DEF.
That’s a far cry from Woodson’s approach to helping his beloved vet PG MBibby and starting SF MWilliams. When they started hurting the team with their lack of consistent production, when questioned about their problems, he simply said, as you already know, I DON’T GAVE A DAMN ABOUT THE OFF. It seems to me LDrew is doing a whole lot more than just SAYING ALL OF THE RIGHT THINGS.
DRMARYB-What’s up lovely lady? I went in for my checkup last week, and everything was just fine. In fact, they gave me another hormone injection, but this time I had some side effects. Man, those hot flashes are rough. I spent several nights either burning up and kicking off the covers, or scrambling to cover up from being cold.
I have no doubt that my attitude has had an affect on my rapid improvement, because it’s served me well throughout my adult life. I jammed my R knee and developed traumatic arthritis about 2yrs after graduating from high school in 1964. In 1968 I entered the Air Force and tore my rotator cuff, which they didn’t know much about, especially overseas. My shoulder got so bad it would pop out frequently, and I’d just pop it back in.
I had to wait about 14-15mos, until I returned to the states, the have it repaired. Because it was so damaged, the socket in my shoulder had to be partially rebuilt, using a procedure called a PUTTI PLATT. A few yrs back, a doctor was talking to an intern about my shoulder, and he said what they did to me was the equivalent of jamming a red hot poker into my shoulder to fused everything together and hold it together. That’s how bad it was.
I was told by one doctor that I’d never play ball again because of my knee, and another doctor told me I wouldn’t be able to do much more than feed and dress myself with my R shoulder, because of its condition. I refused to accept their assessment of what I could or couldn’t do. They only saw me and my conditions from a medical or physical perspective.
I managed to finish the final 2yrs of service, while making both my base and college basketball team. I quit my college team after 5gms because it would have been just a matter of time before I injured it seriously, and I had already proven my point.
I also served 6yrs in the reserves as an Air Cargo specialist at Dobbins Air Force base. I just want you to know that staying positive and not being influenced by the limitations of others is how I roll. I just can’t give into those who in some cases are cowards, insecure, one dimensional, or just limited.
BOTH THE ATLANTA HAWKS AND YOURS TRULY ARE GOING TO OVERCOME AND HAVE A VERY GOOD YR!!!
Fundamentals
September 8th, 2010
8:02 pm
I can substantiate the hiring of Nick the Quick, but did we also really get Sam I Am? If so= Awesome! Two hard nosed intelligent players to teach Teague, JC2 and Sy how to play the type of ball we’re dreaming of. Very exciting. Can’t wait for preseason!
northcyde
September 8th, 2010
8:08 pm
@ Rev’s 5:22 post . . . . I would think that’s an accurate description of what Grandad meant . . . which is why I disagreed with him.
JJ has been leading on defense like that ever since he became a Hawk. Anytime you see him guarding a PG quicker than he is, he’s being a defensive leader. He’s guarded ( or tried to guard ) everyone from Nate Robinson to Dirk Nowitzki. Smoove, Horford, and even Marvin don’t shy away from their defensive responsibilities on most nights either. That’s why they play well on most nights as a unit.
Grandad isn’t wrong in what he said. I just think that even though players like Smoove and JJ try to get it done defensively, it doesn’t mean that their defensive mindset will permeate throughout the rest of the team. Especially regarding our bench, who really need to step it up defensively this year.
. . . . and that brings me to Vava and Mo Evans.
What I don’t get, is why do you think that Mo Evans deserve 20+ minutes a game last season? Because of better balance? Better defense? Really?
So with this breakdown in minutes:
SG: Evans ( 23 ) – Crawford ( 25 )
SF: Johnson ( 35 ) – Marvin ( 13 )
PF: Smith ( 38 ) – Marvin ( 10 )
- you’re refusing to give Horford any minutes at PF, and giving them to Marvin
- which in turn would bury Zaza behind Horford, seeing that Al needs at least 35+ minutes of PT
- you’re limiting JJ to playing SF only, eliminatng the size adv he has over small 2’s
- because of the distribution of time at SG, that forces Bibby to play heavy minutes at PG ( 32+ minutes ) . . or Teague into 20+ minutes of duty at point
Final rotation?
PG: Bibby ( 28 ) – Teague ( 20 )
G: Evans ( 23 ) – Crawford ( 25 )
F: Johnson ( 35 ) – Marvin ( 10 )
PF: Smith ( 38 ) – Marvin ( 13 )
C: Horford ( 36 ) – Zaza ( 12 )
Total Minutes: ( 9-man rotation )
Smith ( 38 )
Horford ( 36 )
Johnson ( 35 )
Bibby ( 28 )
Evans ( 23 )
Crawford ( 25 )
Marvin ( 23 )
Teague ( 20 )
Zaza ( 12 )
A lot of fans would actually like this rotation I bet, seeing that Teague gets to play and Marvin’s minutes get reduced even further.
But I ask again, what did Evans do, to deserve 20+ minutes a game? He’s not a better defender than either JJ nor Marvin ( nor Crawford . .. I’ll get to that in a minute. ) And he definitely isn’t a better offensive player. Even his 3 point shot was merely average last year.
And how does his increased PT help contain all of those PGs that lit us up ( and have been lighting us up ) since Mookie left Atlanta?
The truth is, Mo Evans has been playing like garbage ever since D-Wade torched him in the 08 – 09 playoff series. And that 8 – 28 3FG number in those 08 – 09 playoffs, carried over into 09 – 10, with Mo shooting 34% 3FG.
Mo Evans has never been known for his defense. He got his “claim to fame” for being a spot up 3-point shooter. And there’s a reason he’s been on 6 teams in 8 seasons.
Fundamentals
September 8th, 2010
8:20 pm
Mo needs to go to a team where he can be used. We need a quick footed 7′ project like Ajinca or a SF who can rebound and shoot the 3. Mo might be more valuable to us if Crawford leaves, but I still feel he’s not going to have a niche here. If we keep Crawford, then Mo and Bibby need to go to give time to kids to develop.
If ZaZa doesn’t get 15-20 minutes in real situations where he can succeed he’ll be useless like last year. His ego is too big for his role on this team.
Najeh Davenpoop
September 8th, 2010
8:42 pm
“If one of the greatest free throw shooters (Mark Price) in nba history can’t teach Josh how to shoot free-throws….Who can?…….. Can he?(Van Exel) Will he learn? …(I doubt it)”
I think my reference to Van Exel’s strange free throw shooting style kinda went over your head.
Fundamentals
September 8th, 2010
8:46 pm
We need Nick for our PG projects, not Smoove. I don’t see the connection Najeh, but it has been a long day.
northcyde
September 8th, 2010
9:02 pm
@ Big Ray’s 7:07 post . . . AMEN!!
Almost every free agent the ASG have brought in, nobody else really wanted. Then the front office asks Woody to turn water into wine. Woody was like, “well . . . I can only turn him into unsweetened kool-aid”.
So if ( insert anyone’s favorite bench player here ) fails to prosper under Drew, don’t blame Drew for him not ballin’.
Fundamentals
September 8th, 2010
9:12 pm
Drew’s only chance is in a chance in mentality, work ethic and professionalism by all our players. The new pieces and coaches are there to help him instill that. If we can capture Sam’s knack for the right play, Nick’s fire, Gattison’s brawn, ect we’ll be just fine.
Maximizing existing talent will go a long long way. Woodson never came close to accomplishing that, ever!
doc
September 8th, 2010
9:15 pm
northcyde, i aint drinking the kool aide servered up here this summer and bandied about around here just yet on what we had manifested by my boy rick and the askg. i dont have too much of a problem with the first seven, after that it is a crap shoot. i shudder to think, maybe i cant even include bibby in the seven anymore.
WWSU = who will step up? you know there is plenty of space.
Fundamentals
September 8th, 2010
9:15 pm
change in mentality, not chance.
northcyde
September 8th, 2010
10:15 pm
One more jab at Mo Evans.
Let’s look to see how our SGs stack up to Mr. Kobe Byrant defensively, as far as opponent production per 48 minutes.
KOBE . . eFG%: 46.7% . . pts/48 min: 19.1 . . PER: 13.5
JOE . . . eFG%: 48.8% . . pts/48 min: 19.3 . . PER: 15.3
JAMAL . eFG%: 50.9% . . pts/48 min: 22.7 . . PER: 17.3
That looks accurate, right? Kobe is regarded as a very good defensive SG. Joe is a good defensive SG. Crawford is usually looked at as a bad defensive player, although he did play better defense here, than he has anywhere else.
Now let me post Mo’s defensive numbers at SG last year. And I’ll add that this is too small of a sample size to really judge him on, seeing that he played the vast majority of his minutes at SF. Those defensive numbers are horrible, by the way. But here is Mo vs SGs on defense.
MO: eFG%: 54% . . pts/48 min: 24.2 pts . . PER: 19.6
But like I said, don’t judge him on that. Judge him on what he did 3 years ago, the last time he played SG more than SF, when he was in Orlando in 2007 – 08.
2007/08: eFG%: 53.9% . . pts/48 min: 24.1 . . PER: 17.3
Now look at these numbers, and go back and see what Crawford did, and tell me who is the better defender? And even if people still think Mo is, can you remember a player that Mo slowed down?
In fairness to Mo, he was a brilliant spot up shooter in 2007 – 08:
eFG%: 59.9% . . pts/48 min: 19.9 . . PER: 16.5
That 60% eFG% is a BIG TIME number. That’s JJ in 2004 – 05 like in Phoenix. That means that Mo was raining 3s and making them almost as soon as he stepped onto the court. He was an IMPACT SHOOTER off the bench back then.
He hasn’t come close to shooting like that as a Hawk. If he was shooting like that, then you definitely could afford reduce Marvin’s minutes, and essentially give them to Mo.
Stats may not tell you the whole story, but they do give you clues to what a story is about.
Grandad
September 8th, 2010
10:21 pm
Sometimes a person has to overstate one’s case,
otherwise the inexorable brethren on this blog
will not assimilate the essence of the message.
Grandad
September 8th, 2010
10:46 pm
Way back before nc & myself began our dicussion,
someone said LD would eventually go back to Iso-offense
and switching defense,
Reason being – LD would not be able to get the team to do
as he said. -OR- Do his bidding.
My point & still is;
the best way to gain control over a team as a new coach
is to “see to it” that the:
*highest paid player
*highest profile player
*all-star player
*pseudo leader (in this case)
is on board, not shown favoritism, has shared servitude,
has equal respnsibility and accountability.
No more, no less.
Sorry about:
overstressing my overstaement by embellishing the hyperbole.
I don’t know how to make a smiley face!
Grandad
September 8th, 2010
10:50 pm
overstatement
-not-
oversta[]ement
-which-
Really overstresses my overstatement by embellishing the hyperbole.
Rev in Tampa
September 8th, 2010
10:55 pm
“inexorable” – great word! I will have to incorporate it into this Sunday’s sermon. But most people will not know what it means. I’ll just tell them to ask Grandad
doc
September 8th, 2010
11:04 pm
northcyde, dont let vava see those numbers on mo and jamal. i think here someone else (stevew?) around here has been on the mo up and lamal down train around here in the last week or so.
terrell
September 8th, 2010
11:07 pm
Cant believe some of you guys are still talking bout Salim. lol!
Rev in Tampa
September 8th, 2010
11:13 pm
I am glad to hear that Drew and the whole Hawks coaching staff was at the Dream’s game. His instincts are spot on.
I remember when Mike Smith came to the Falcons in the middle of the cesspool that was swirling on that team. I really thought he would be a flop. But I kept hearing all the right things. And then I began seeing all the right things. He changed the personality of the team. Granted he did it with some personnel changes (DeAngelo, etc.), but the entire team attitude changed. Players who were less focused became more focused. Players who played soft began to play with more heart. An entire city which had no confidence in their team is now talking seriously about contending for the Super Bowl. And it started with Mike Smith’s leadership.
terrell
September 8th, 2010
11:23 pm
Hey Rev, Mike Smith has won exactly TWO more games than little Jimmy Mora did during his 1st 2 years in Atlanta. Mora still gets creamed around here, yet Smith is the greatest thing since slice bread. He’s done a pretty good job, but he might be a tad bit overated.
Rev in Tampa
September 8th, 2010
11:27 pm
terrell, look at the trend… The Falcons are still climbing. Also look at whence they came. Mora had a little bit more stability when he joined the Falcons and the most exciting QB I have ever seen (but his accuracy rating left something to be desired).
Grandad
September 8th, 2010
11:46 pm
Rev
“It was one long, anxious, *inexorable, eternal vigil.”
‘Frank James’…….[brother of Jesse]
northcyde
September 9th, 2010
12:13 am
LOL @ Doc . . . it is what it is man. I’m just not going to overhype mediocre to bad players anymore. I did it with Salim, Acie, and to a certain extent with Marvin. At some point, I just had to accept players as they were. And when guys get into a game and don’t perform, I can’t keep wishing for them to finally have the light bulb turn on, or beg coach to play them.
So if a guy like Mo can’t go back to being a 40%+ shooter from 3 point range, regardless of the minutes he gets, then I hope Jordan Crawford is good enough to take his playing time.
Shoot, let Jordan play SF, and go with a super quick 3 guard lineup off the bench consisting of Teague, Jamal, and Jordan.
PG: Teague
G: Jamal
G: Jordan
F: Smoove
C: Thomas
Throw that lineup at the other team’s 2nd unit, and try to run people completely out of the gym.
Big Ray
September 9th, 2010
12:24 am
I’m anxious to see what the trigger-happy Jordan Crawford does for us. Drew says he will teach him the difference between good shot and bad shot, and that’s a good thing.
However….don’t rein a stallion in too much…and if he’s getting it done, as Northcyde said…let him get the PT.
MsDee
September 9th, 2010
12:25 am
Grandad is exactly right!! JJ MUST be on the same page as your HEAD COACH to lead a team in a war. And that has nothing to do with him doing the “dirty work”. No one is truely exempt from that IMO, esp when the game is on the line. Kobe, LeBron, Wade (when Miami was his team only), Magic Johnson, MJ just to name a few were on the same page with their HC in order to win titles in this league. If JJ wants to be respected as a TRUE superstar headlining for the Hawks, HE MUST BE ON LARRY DREW’S PAGE cause what Larry has in store for the Hawks is EXCELLENT only, and I mean ONLY IF all players are on board and it definely starts with the HIGHEST PAID PLAYER ON YOUR TEAM..MR JOE JOHNSON..may it happen yall!!
MsDee
September 9th, 2010
12:26 am
CORRECTION:: “make it happen”
Clyde
September 9th, 2010
12:43 am
“Magic City” Joe
Clyde
September 9th, 2010
12:46 am
Ms Dee Joe ain’t gonna make sh** happen. He didn’t show up against Cleveland or the Magic the past 2 years and he ain’t gonna show up next year either. He is not a go to scorer he is just a good role player.
Grandad
September 9th, 2010
12:50 am
MsDee
Much obliged.
Dan's Dickau
September 9th, 2010
1:37 am
This Grandad must be an above average poster, with number of saliant points judging from all of your comments.
He could be the second coming of Furman Bisher for allI know, because I can’t stand the choppy herky-jerky sentence routine. I can’t read it, it’s like a perpetually stopping dry hump.
If the Hawks win it won’t even be because of Johnson. If the Hawks were to somehow even make it to anything that ends with the word “Finals” in it, it’s got to be because the 3 power forwards finally blossom and (almost) justify how high they were drafted (except for Smith, who was a STEAL) and the fact that they kept getting drafted, year after year after year.
Mel
September 9th, 2010
2:18 am
anybody see what Shaq said? In there he said he has been lucky to receive four max contracts in one lifetime———- im confused. he signed his rookie deal (1) then in 1996 with LA for 7 yrs $120mil (2) then in 2005 $100mil 5yrs (3) — 4 max contracts ?
Can someone tell me what is he talking about?
O'Brien
September 9th, 2010
7:12 am
Mel,
Shaq also said something along the lines of he could have signed with ATL for more money, but he went to Boston because he wanted to be seen, and he wanted to win.
drmaryb (*_*)
September 9th, 2010
7:20 am
Ken Strickland
” Adversity reveals Genius – Prosperity conceals it ”
-Arthur Unknown-
That’s the correct qoute, earlier I said Character. But yeah,
Ken, I am so happy that you are fighting the good fight, with
Heart, Character and posting with Genius.
The Blog needs for you to get well, we would die without the
positive chidings! Van Exel will be an asset to Teague and was quite a surprise from Drew. Now, Teague has a personal trainer to help him along.
Even Tiger Woods recognizes that he needs a “Swing-Coach”
Why? Because you can ALWAYS do better, even when your’e the Best.
“Best is NOT always Better!”
- drmaryb -
Jose
September 9th, 2010
7:27 am
Can we make a trade with Atlanta Dream?
vava74
September 9th, 2010
7:45 am
northcyde,
JordanC at the SF slot? Have you noticed his size? He is already considered a smallish 6′4” and only barely adequately sized for the SG position.
Then, how can you contest JJ at the SF slot if you were worried about losing the match up advantages JJ get at the SG??
Wouldn’t Jordan be over whelmed defensively?
Also, in relation to JJ playing at the SG slot: it’s not that he is taking opposing SGs into the low post that often, so I don’t see the huge advantage that he gets from the size differential.
Only in rare occasions we see that his size is the most important factor on a match up and it this happens mainly against the few “smallish-no D-guys” like Monta Ellis playing the SG.
Most of the time JJ’s advantage comes from his tricky dribbles which I believe would be more effective against the slightly slower and bigger opponents playing the SF slots.
Conversely, JJ has trouble against SG which are smaller and more agile than him and play good positional D (leading to some frustrating strips in the lane when the going get tough down the line).
On MO EVANS, AGAIN:
Look at his stats as a starter last year:
As a Starter Games 5 MPG 32.6 FG%0.545 3pt%0.632 FT%0.667 ORB2.0 DRB2.8 RPG4.8 APG0.8 SPG0.8 BPG0.4 PPG 15.2
His 3 point shooting, as you can see, is well above your .400 water mark WITH 19 ATTEMPTS in 5 games: thats almost 4 attempts per game.
The Truth
September 9th, 2010
7:50 am
Mel
Shaq also said
this
“I could have gotten $8 million from Atlanta and Detroit, but it wasn’t about that. It was about being somewhere and being seen and winning.”
Whatever he’s been smoking lately, must be some good stuff. That’s a far cry from vet min. Unless the (penny pinching) ASG has been hoodwinking us about their level of interest in him and the dollars they were willing to pay, then he is grossly hallucinating about the Hawks pursuit of him. Maybe father-time is beginning to work on his memory since he seems to have loss count on past contracts and potential offers.
drmaryb (*_*)
September 9th, 2010
8:15 am
Punky Brewster!
The Truth: thanks for the link to Shaq’s interview. Great Stuff!
Too bad we couldn’t get him in here – not enough Natl. TV Games!
One thing is for sure, Shaq aint no PUNK!
I knew he had a problem with them Pat Riley – Marathon Practices!
Everyone does, when Pat was eluding to coaching the Super – Friends?
DWade screamed, “Nooooooo! Spolestra will be fine, no thank you!”
If the So. Beach Boys don’t gel quick? Don’t be alarmed if Pat comes running outa’ that office and to the sidelines. Now, that would be fun to watch him
Kill all that friendly chemistry they got going on over there.
The Truth
September 9th, 2010
8:16 am
Maybe Shaq meant he was going to be under contract with both Atlanta and Detroit at the same time to make that 8 million over 2 years. With his memory loss, that would make sense to him.
jason
September 9th, 2010
8:18 am
we hired van exel who help influence our offense
The Truth
September 9th, 2010
8:22 am
drmaryb
I’m really just jabbing at him. He probably just misspoke after getting caught-up in the moment. Who knows with Shaq you can’t really tell.
KevinM
September 9th, 2010
10:05 am
Good comments always from KenS- good luck with all that is going on in your life….no matter how much challenge you are up against, you always seem ready for the battle. You can’t ask for more than that.
Agree or disagree, the Hawks have a lot to prove. That is what cannot be disputed.
New coaches in place could be a plus. The key is getting guys who have played together so long as a core reinventing themselves and doing more. Will that happen here? Were they embarrassed enough to accept new challenges? I sure hope so.
Just because I don’t agree with a comment doesn’t mean I’m all about being negative. When they do something that makes me believe in them, I will acknowledge. I just think its way too soon to be anointing LD as the savior. Let’s see him as a head coach first.
Ken, if you think beating Boston 4-0 last season was impressive, it shows how narrow your vision is as well. You look for the positive, but you sure can’t look to the postseason to find it. That is my point and will continue to be until next postseason.
- Do I think the Hawks make the playoffs? Absolutely. They should win 50 games. The expectations are there now.
- I see the Hawks at best 3rd in our own division. That in itself is not an improvement over last year.
Ken, you see things as I said long ago….you very well could be Rick Sund. You rave about LD being hired. Well, based on the candidates, he would have been considered if I had any say-so. The commitment to him sure is questionable. You’re going to give a 53 win team to a guy who hasn’t been a head coach anywhere. Talk about seeing something that the entire basketball world doesn’t. Has he ever been considered for a HC position? Anywhere?
This is your/their idea of the improvement needed to this organization.
Doesn’t matter; your opinion will not be one that convinces many of us to believe in this roster. I for the 1st year am not buying what the ASG and Sund are selling. It will be my first year in 20+ years where I will not attend a game and promote this product. The way I see it, the Hawks aren’t in it to win it. I am convinced of that in present tense.
I would like nothing better than to be wrong across the board. I just don’t think I am or will be.
Ken Strickland
September 9th, 2010
10:19 am
For the most part, I can’t wait for the season to start. There are some POSITIVE aspects of the team that I want to see take place, like seeing how:
1-much PG JTeague contributes,
2-LDrew manages the roster,
3-LDrew incorporates and gets production out of rookies Jordan Crawford and Pape Sy,
4-much impact LDrew and his OFF can have on improving MWilliams’ production,
5-much our DEF can improve overall with us having a DEF assistant coach and a different DEF approach and mindset,
6-the effect our additional depth, speed, quickness, versatility, athleticism, new OFF/DEF approach and attitude will have on the opposition,
7-much improvement, especially in our rebounding, inside scoring, perimeter and interior DEF, and ability to compete with the top tier teams, we will see,
8-much contribution we’ll get from JPowell and a revitalized JCollins,
9-the drama that now surrounds Jamal Crawford will play out, and
10-LDrew and his DEF coach can effectively structure a team DEF, and utilize the 4 headed center approach, to control strong and/or dominate inside players like DHoward, or ABogat.
With the ability of last yrs team to be successful, despite the rebellion, negative attitudes, resentment, lack of accountability, OFF/DEF structure, adjustments, changes, imagination, strategy, and effective utilization of our players, especially young players, it’s going to be extremely interesting to see how much progress we’ll see with most of those issues eliminated.
The Truth
September 9th, 2010
10:54 am
I’m still scratching head over this Pape Sy pick. According to this link:
“We know he is 6-6 and played point guard for Le Harve, a team pretty low on the totem pole in the French league. There he played just 14 minutes a night and took just three shots per game.”
But we also know he was injured his first year of a 2-year contract and only played a partial of the first year. He still managed to average 5.2 points and 1.7 rebounds per game though in limited action. Since he will not be able to play out his second year for Le Harve, it makes him still somewhat of an unknown player on that team given his total pro experience is less then a year.
With a chance to validate himself with the other NBA rookies during the summer league, he got injured (again) and had to cut his playing time short. Thus, his evaluation was incomplete. So in addition to being unproven within Le Harve, he is an even bigger mystery in the US and within the NBA circle. Despite these factors, LD has pressed on the gas pedal and apparently succeeded in getting this kid into camp. It would seem from the global effort of acquiring him that LD’s has much on the line.
However, this has the makings of a fairytale story. Rookie head-coach finds a diamond-in-the-rough player and makes him a superstar. Wow that could be a box office hit! Yes, a diamond in the rough would be an accurate description since even the Le Harve team seemed to be surprise he got selected by an NBA team. I keep wondering; what does LD sees in this guy that others have apparently overlooked? LD claimed he dominated during his workout when matched-up against other invitees. It must have been some hell of an impression since it didn’t quit show prior to his injury in the summer league. Perhaps this explains why many pundits projected him to be just a project and needs some additional seasoning years before he is ready for the big league of the NBA.
Is LD contradicting this notice bringing him over sooner rather than later? He could actually spend sometime in the D-league to defuse this rush notion. Or is this part of some master future plan involving trades or acquisition of other players? He could just be a pond in LD’s chess game with management to demonstrate his mastery for developing players since he only has a 2-contract to make a big splash of an impression. If LD succeeds in making this kid into a star-player (on the extreme end of possibilities), then he might greatly enhance his chances of becoming a successful head coach in the NBA as this would look great on his resume. However, if the Pepsi experiment fails along with a miserable 2-year record, then acquiring him in this fashion could become the exclamation point in defining LD’s coaching tour with the Hawks. We shall see.
doc
September 9th, 2010
11:10 am
truth, maybe ld has learned that if he doesnt get them over here early to be developed he will never see them. that seems to be the way the askg operates with some of their draft choices, make them and allow them to fester to never be heard of or developed in the us of a. how long did anderson wait his chance, how many are still over there? i am very puzzled about what to think of this one as the kid has absolutely no credentials. it makes no sense so it had better be good.
northcyde
September 9th, 2010
11:14 am
vava . . JJ’s size advantage comes into play because he can shoot right over the top of guys, especially when it comes to his floater. I think Woody went away from JJ post ups, to try to develop Horford’s and Smoove’s post up games. But JJ used to post up more when he first came to ATL. That’s something Drew may want to get back to. What you say about JJ playing SF is definitely true.
But Mo Evans? It’s just dangerous the case you’re trying to make on him starting, based off of just 5 games. A similar case has been made for Jeff Teague playing more, based off of a 5 game stretch.
It’s like the case that people make for Marvin Williams. Before this season, whenever JJ missed a game, Marvin seemed to go off, unleashing his “true potential”. This is what keeps the “dream” alive about Marvin. Some people even wanted the Hawks to let JJ walk, because they believed Marvin would finally step up without JJ here.
As for Jordan playing SF, the difference is that I would only play that for short stretches as a change of pace type of thing in what would really be a 3 guard lineup ( ala Thomas, Dumars, and Vinnie Johnson back in the Detroit Bad Boy days of the 80s ).
I would give that group a chance as a unit, to really accelerate the pace of the game. I’m definitely not committing 20 minutes a game to Jordan at SF in that situation. But let those 3 guards use their speed, quickness, and shot creation abilities to dictate tempo.
KevinM
September 9th, 2010
11:16 am
Pape Sy might be a potential NBA player, but I don’t see him taking Marvin or Mo’s minutes. The summer league is such a small sample for what really transpires in the real league. While Sy may be high energy, it doesn’t mean it will translate into him being able to stay on the court for 10 minutes. JC2 gets his learning on the practice floor as well this year if JC1 makes it through the season.
Many questions this year. IMO, there’s not a lot that we don’t already know from the first 9-10 in this rotation.
Do we expect to see Bibby step aside in favor or Teague? I think at best Teague gets equal minutes. But the one who has a better repoire with the core will be the victor. I see Bibby as its his job to lose, and he will have to lose it before Teague gets a real shot at running things.
I also don’t expect to see minutes being given to either JC2 or Sy. With LD’s contract at 2 years, he has to win now, and he has to incorporate his changes before the weight of the schedule comes into play.
Speaking of the schedule, I see 7 games the Hawks play before getting Phoenix at home and Orlando in their new arena on the back of a back-2-back. Someone tell me what they expect to see out of that game heading into the season? Follow that with Milwaukee and Utah, both at home. After the first 11 games, the Hawks need to be at least 7-4 as these are their biggest challengers early on. We know a surprise team will come up and it could be Washington or Charlotte.
They simply have to get off to a quick start to build the confidence in the new off/def systems. No Miami or Charlotte until January either.
How long will it take to get a rotation in place? Will the bench be shortened as the season goes?
Gotta agree on this one; its time to get camp opened and get this season started. I would not expect any roster moves in the near future.
Rod from College Park
September 9th, 2010
11:20 am
Kevin M,
Totally agree with your 10:05 post.
The Truth,
I’ve seen Pape Sy play a number of times, and know some guys who played overseas against him, and a star he is not. He has the ability to be a very good defensive player, but his ceiling would be Pietrus. He could become a very solid NBA player, bit don’t look for him to make the All-Star team.
KevinM
September 9th, 2010
11:23 am
northcyde, while it may sound great to put 3 shooters in for offensive purposes, I don’t think you are better with JC1/JC2/Joe for many minutes. I don’t see alot of defense or minutes in that scenario.
I truly don’t see Marvin or Bibby losing many minutes. The ones who might lost minutes could be Smoove and JC1. Putting Al at the 4 pushes Smoove IMO to the bench, because unless he can defend the 3, Smoove doesn’t seem to fit the 3.
To see teams like Sac or Houston come in and take advantage of our limited height might wake up the ASG and show them how much more is needed in the post. 2 teams that are probably not ready for winning a playoff series against a Western contender and they easily handle us from the inside out.
Dept. of Unintended Irony
September 9th, 2010
11:24 am
“He could just be a pond in LD’s chess game with management to demonstrate his mastery for developing players since he only has a 2-contract to make a big splash of an impression.”
I never knew that chess was a water sport.
Rod from College Park
September 9th, 2010
11:26 am
The Truth,
He also has the potential to be a bust. The Hawks actually give him the best chance to be a good player, because all he really has to do is play better that Marvin Williams, which should not be hard for any NBA level player to do.
The Truth
September 9th, 2010
11:37 am
Pond = Pawn