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
OK
September 10th, 2010
8:42 pm
This article is truly depressing:
http://www.bothteamsplayedhard.net/2010/09/10/a-walk-around-the-block-jamal-crawford/
“roster still has major holes – no big man depth, a corpse starting at point guard, stuff like that”
etc. etc. smh…
OK
September 10th, 2010
8:45 pm
Michael(free-used-butt)cunningham,
What center would you like the Hawks to aquire? Is it WORTH getting rid of Horford all together or just playing him at Power Foward?
OK
September 10th, 2010
8:54 pm
….Trade M&M
Ken Strickland
September 10th, 2010
9:19 pm
SAMUEL-I know you were a staunch WOODY LOVER. Remember “EXTEND MY WOODY, OR MWOODSON COY. Talk about a wet dream. I just don’t buy the Chicago Bulls hype. First, they’ll have 3 new starters, all of which are below average defensively, along with 3 new key bench players. Then you add a first time HC, a new coaching staff, with a completely new OFF/DEF system, and I’m expected to believe they’re going to magically come out of training camp and preseason clicking on all OFF/DEF cylinders with absolutely no chemistry or adjustment problems whatsoever.
Their DEF of their entire starting lineup will depend almost exclusively on Noah.
I also don’t buy into the Miami Heat hype either. CBosh was Toronto’s #1 scoring option and averaged 24PPG on 16.5FGA. LJames averaged 29.7PPG on 20.1FGA, while DWade averaged 26.6PPG on 19.6FGA. Bosh will now be the #3 scoring option, and there’s absolutely no way both DWade and LJames will be able to dominate both the ball and the OFF like they did with their respective teams in yrs past.
Their starting lineup will be very susceptible to zone DEF’s, since C CBosh is their only consistent outside shooter among the starters. I wonder why no one is making an issue of their starting lineup being UNBALANCED, or UNDERSIZED, since it’s smaller and shorter than ours. Who do they have on their roster that can handle DHoward, and why do some feel that’s an issue only for the Hawks, and not them?
While most of our fans seem to have endless questions and doubts about the Hawks, why aren’t their any questions and doubts about these other teams you’re so willing to leap frog ahead of the Hawks?
Samuel
September 10th, 2010
9:40 pm
Ken,
This is an absolutely useless argument. Like I said earlier, I know you’re still on some sort of campaign to convince people that the Hawks made a good move getting rid of Woody for LD and standing pat with our “so-called” core. You can save it for the season. All the fancy talk in the world aint gonna save us from “multiple as_ whoopins this year”. Just make sure you save some of that kool aid for the regular season.
Michael(free-used-butt)cunningham
September 10th, 2010
10:03 pm
Woody is the best coach the hawks have had in a while certainly in the top 5 or 6 hawks coaches of all times
Rev in Tampa
September 10th, 2010
10:04 pm
@Samuel – “This is an absolutely useless argument.”
Come on Samuel. Ken made several provocative points very cogently. This is why we tune in to the blog – to read & participate in the discourse. Don’t just blow off Ken’s logic. Think, respond, battle back. Otherwise Ken wins by default.
What would this blog be without Ken “bringing it” with heart? Agree or disagree, but give us reasons why.
Dismissing Ken’s arguments as “kool aid drinking” amounts to the Ad Hominem fallacy in logic. This fallacy consists in attacking one’s opponent in a personal and abusive way as a means of ignoring or discrediting his or her criticism or argument.
Do you want to be known as an Ad Hominem?
truthspitter
September 10th, 2010
10:04 pm
Woody was not the problem and we are about a month and a half away from that being proven.
Michael(free-used-butt)cunningham
September 10th, 2010
10:19 pm
“What center would you like the Hawks to aquire? Is it WORTH getting rid of Horford all together or just playing him at Power Foward?”
“it doesnt matter. Sund is insistent upon trying to prove that his theory which has every where hes been will work. The theory believes that you can win a title with out a center in the NBA. He believes that one day he will prove that you can with with a power forward who can average 12-14 point and 8-9rbs. Its never worked. Period but he will keep trying foolishly.
Kind of reminds me that yeah, you can drive a car with out tires but why would you want to? You can play basketball with out basketballs shoes but why would you want too? Sure you can play with out a center but why would you want to?
To address your question. There are 6-8 impact centers who can be had in the NBA. Yes, Id trade horford straight up and No, Horford is not the talent Josh is so I have no trouble trading horford…. let me add I have no trouble keeping him either. Id just use him in a different way and strengthen the team
Jae Evolution
September 10th, 2010
10:23 pm
Jamal Crawford and Mike Bibby for Jameer Nelson and Mickael Pietrus.
Michael(free-used-butt)cunningham
September 10th, 2010
10:54 pm
“Don’t just blow off Ken’s logic” LOL
Now that’s funny Logic? its called fallacy…..
Samuel
September 10th, 2010
10:56 pm
Rev,
Like I said. It’s useless arguing with anybody who actually believes this team as presently constructed can win the Eastern Conference. If you were serious, you would agree with me. We all know Ken’s angle. I have absolutely no desire to ramble day and night about freekin Ethan Thomas, Pepe Sy and Jason Collins. If you guys see that as exciting, have at it. I got better things to do.
I will occasionally drop by and read the ramblings but I’ll save my comments for the season. Preciate the sermon though.
Michael(free-used-butt)cunningham
September 10th, 2010
11:01 pm
Shaq says Pistons and Hawks offered him $8 million
By Mark Miller
Shaquille O’NealShaquille O’Neal(notes) may have signed with the Boston Celtics last month for the league minimum annual salary of $1.35 million, but that’s not to say that he couldn’t have signed somewhere else for a lot more dough.
The Detroit News reports that O’Neal is saying that he was offered $8 million deals from the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks this offseason.
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” O’Neal told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “I’ve had four max contracts in one lifetime. … 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.”
One thing the 7-foot-1 O’Neal, a master self-promoter with his own reality show, doesn’t need to worry about is being seen.
Michael(free-used-butt)cunningham
September 10th, 2010
11:02 pm
“We all know Ken’s angle. I have absolutely no desire to ramble day and night about freekin Ethan Thomas, Pepe Sy and Jason Collins. If you guys see that as exciting, have at it. I got better things to do.”
So….who’s on first? LMAO
ABSOLUTELY!
September 10th, 2010
11:11 pm
“Ken,
This is an absolutely useless argument. Like I said earlier, I know you’re still on some sort of campaign to convince people that the Hawks made a good move getting rid of Woody for LD and standing pat with our “so-called” core. You can save it for the season. All the fancy talk in the world aint gonna save us from “multiple as_ whoopins this year”. Just make sure you save some of that kool aid for the regular season.”
Damn, somebody got called out! Now thats logic.
“Woody is the best coach the hawks have had in a while certainly in the top 5 or 6 hawks coaches of all times”
I cant argue with that.
Rev in Tampa
September 10th, 2010
11:13 pm
@Samuel – “If you were serious, you would agree with me.”
Logic Fallacy of Irrelevant or Questionable Authority – This fallacy consists in attempting to support a claim by quoting the judgment of one who is not an authority in the field, the judgment of an unidentified authority, or the judgment of an authority who is likely to be biased in some way.
Actually, just picking at you at little bit…
KevinM
September 10th, 2010
11:23 pm
Only someone that is part of this organization would go on and defend every move made this offseason.
It just isn’t convincing that moving Woody out fixes all problems.
How did the Hawks end up with the 3rd or 4th best offense last year? How is that possible in our iso-world?
What has changed with the defense other than LD saying, “not as much switching”…..does that mean accountability is coming? Really?
You wanna see improvements…tell Smoove to make 100 more free throws this year.
Tell Joe to go to the FT line more often and be more aggressive.
Tell Bibby and Marvin to play some much needed defense.
Tell the guys to quit complaining to the refs while the Magic is running down the other end of the court. Embarrassing. They simply quit on their home court. You don’t ask for your money back unless you totally embarrass your fan base. When Dwight says he likes the team constructed as it is, that ought to tell you something. He isn’t worried about us, and neither is the rest of the elite teams in the league.
Sund and the ASG earned their C+ this offseason.
When someone shows me facts as to where we’ve improved, then maybe the light will come on. I just don’t have a lot of excitement beaming when I hear that Thomas is gonna give Al all he can handle in practice…that Teague is gonna take Bibby’s core slot. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Give them the 4th or 5th slot heading into the playoffs and watch the light come on…..it will be a brand of basketball that no one can match up to because we have so many options with our flexible pieces.
If Boston can do it as a 4 seed, why not the core?
Publix
September 10th, 2010
11:37 pm
Trade Crawford, Bibby and Marvin to Cleveland for Hickson, Williams, and first round draft pick.
Trade Zaza and Evans to Detroit for Prince.
PG- Mo Williams/Teague
SG- Joe Johnson/J. Crawford
SF- Prince/Sye
PF- Smith/Hickson/Powell
C – Horford/ Thomas
Rev in Tampa
September 10th, 2010
11:40 pm
@KevinM – “Only someone that is part of this organization would go on and defend every move made this offseason.”
Several possiblities why this is a fallacious statement:
Red Herring – This fallacy consists in attempting to hide the weakness of a position by drawing attention away from the real issue to a side issue.
Tu Quoque Fallacy – This fallacy consists in rejecting a criticism of one’s argument or actions by accusing one’s critic or others of thinking or acting in a similar way.
Poisoning the Well – This fallacy consists in rejecting a criticism or argument presented by another person because of that person’s special circumstances or improper motives.
But I think the correct fallacy used here is Assigning Guilt by Association – This fallacy consists in attempting to manipulate others into accepting one’s view by pointing out that the opposing view is held by those with negative esteem, instead of presenting evidence for one’s position.
Rev in Tampa
September 10th, 2010
11:45 pm
Actually, KevinM, you offered reasons why you reject Ken’s position which nullifies (somewhat) your first statement.
I’m attempting a little humor rather than antagonism. I do this to my children. Aren’t they lucky…
ABSOLUTELY!
September 10th, 2010
11:51 pm
how to finish out of the play offs with out really trying ?
PG- Mo Williams/Teague
SG- Joe Johnson/J. Crawford
SF- Prince/Sye
PF- Smith/Hickson/Powell
C – Horford/ Thomas
Publix
September 10th, 2010
11:53 pm
ABSOLUTELY
what do you mean?
ABSOLUTELY!
September 11th, 2010
12:02 am
Appeal to ignorance when a premise state nothing has been proved one way or the other and then makes a definite assertion.
Argumentum ad populum ( appeal to the people) out of fear or negative emotions “
ABSOLUTELY!
September 11th, 2010
12:03 am
Publix That line up is to frail in the middle to go far
Publix
September 11th, 2010
12:14 am
hell everything is wishful thinking anyways, it’s not like Sund is going to make much of a difference.
We should have never given JJ the contract he received, I wouldn’t have paid him more then 80mil. We should have never signed Bibby to 3 years. Finally, when are we going to draft or trade for a center. There are very few left and I believe that there are still some prospects that will become good. McGhee and Hibbert are prospects. Aldridge, Lopez, and Marc Gasol are something that we should go for but would have to give up something of value. Maybe a Horford, or Smith would have to go.
Rev in Tampa
September 11th, 2010
12:30 am
@Publix – “We should have never given JJ the contract he received, I wouldn’t have paid him more then 80mil”
If Atlanta did not pay JJ, then the Knicks, Nets or Bulls would have. If Atlanta had let JJ get signed elsewhere we wouldn’t be so concerned about aquiring legit centers because our entire team would be irrelevant.
Publix
September 11th, 2010
12:43 am
How are we aquairing “LEGIT” centers? We signed Thomas, and Powell. Come on. I would have loved for them to let JJ sign with anyone else, maybe do a sign and trade and just get Hinrich and Dang in return since Chicago just wanted to get rid of Hinrich anyways. Then we should have went after Gay.
Just a few days ago the Celtics signed West. Where were we? The kid can play two positions and is a good defender. He can actually guard some of those fast PGs that Bibby only looks after.
Publix
September 11th, 2010
12:47 am
How can JJ get 120 mil after saying that he doesn’t care about the fans??? I know that it’s all past but how ignorant can he be? Yes, he is good during the regular season, but when it counts, he doesn’t deliver. I will support whomever they have on the team, but something has got to give in return.
I am ok with loosing a game where they give 100% and are just out of luck. But to play the way he and Smith did some time last year, is completely embarassing. I have actually talked to Bibby a few months ago and he even stated that he is done after this contract expires. His goal was to get paid and now he can just chill.
Najeh Davenpoop
September 11th, 2010
12:49 am
“Dismissing Ken’s arguments as “kool aid drinking” amounts to the Ad Hominem fallacy in logic. This fallacy consists in attacking one’s opponent in a personal and abusive way as a means of ignoring or discrediting his or her criticism or argument.”
This is true. However…
“While most of our fans seem to have endless questions and doubts about the Hawks, why aren’t their any questions and doubts about these other teams you’re so willing to leap frog ahead of the Hawks?”
This argument, which has been repeated over and over again by Ken all summer, is (if I’m not mistaken) the logical fallacy known as a “red herring”. By continuing to point to the fact that other teams may have weaknesses that have not been discussed on this blog, Ken is distracting from the (very real and very likely) possibility that the criticism the Hawks have taken this summer is in fact valid. And going from “other teams have weaknesses too” to “other teams’ weaknesses are significant enough to where the Hawks will finish ahead of them” takes an extraordinary leap of faith that isn’t supported by facts or the history of the NBA.
I don’t like having to contradict an optimist — I’d love to pretend that the Hawks are a title contender as currently constructed — but none of the evidence supports the idea that they are if looked at logically.
Rev in Tampa
September 11th, 2010
12:50 am
I didn’t say that we are aquiring legit centers, rather I said we are concerned about aquiring legit centers. I am still hopeful for a trade a little later on once the Hawks assess their legitimate needs. Right now the coaches are speculating like we are, but once training camp begins in full-swing they will have a much better idea what their strengths/weaknesses/needs truly are. Or they wait until just before the trade deadline.
Publix
September 11th, 2010
12:50 am
And again, this is all talk, I’m not Sund or any of the guys. We’d have to walk a mile in their shoes to see what really goes on.
All I would like from Drew is to see passion and heart in this team. ATL is in need of a good basketball team.
Rev in Tampa
September 11th, 2010
12:56 am
Najeh, just the type of discussion I’ve been spoiling for all evening. Was just going to bed after I posted to Publix. I will pick this up tomorrow while I sit through a long & tedious presbytery meeting.
tired of the troll
September 11th, 2010
3:08 am
MC
You gonna let this fool have his way on your blog?
Michael(free-used-butt)cunningham
Come on man you know who this fool is.
tired of the troll
September 11th, 2010
3:09 am
NAJEH knows what hes talking about.
Dr. Callemout
September 11th, 2010
7:45 am
Why
Dr. Callemout
September 11th, 2010
7:51 am
“NAJEH knows what hes talking about”
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.
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
8:07 am
Tired of the Troll … Is the Troll!
Just Stop It! Publix – “Where Shopping is NOT a pleasure!”
Joe’s comments were taken out of context after the Orlando Game Debacle!
Go back to the You Tube link which posted the interview:
“Joe answered a direct question, and said,
“I don’t care if the fans show up or not – we still have to go out
as a team an perform on the court.”
There is nothing to apologize for and That is TRUE!
When joe arrived and there were three fans in the stand –
Joe played as hard as he did when the stands were filled with
15 thousand fans. Their Job is to play hard, regardless of who shows up!
Reporters and Fans who twist words get what they deserve-
NO APOLOGY! GET A LIFE! And stop bytching -
JUST STOP IT!
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
8:16 am
Mark It!
Mark these words, whoever the pariah reporter was that slammed Joe’s words?
He will never get another sound-bite from Joe Johnson.
He will probably get cussed out and black balled by the whole team!
Aye fans … Don’t believe everything you read.
Have you ever had another blogger twist your words?
Nuff Said!
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
8:40 am
LeBron QUIT on his team twice!
1st – against Boston (see Delonte West)
2nd – “I am going to take my talents to So. Beach!”
While you are bashing Joe? Don’t forget to bash LeBron as well!
Only one team won the “Obrien Trophy”
Did Boston quit too?
Or, did Perkins blow out his knee on purpose?
It’s just basketball people!
For Entertainment purposes only. Calm down and enjoy yourself.
drmaryb (*_*)
September 11th, 2010
8:50 am
Joe could have QUIT too!
But, he didn’t, he resigned with the team he built.
When, he came to Atlanta? We had NOBODY, Joe had no Super-Friends here!
Sure, Joe could have taken a little less money to play with Super-Friends too.
But, he didn’t do that. He manned up and returned to the Joke of an
Ownership Group and for that, he deserves kudos!
So, get off his back and be grateful that Joe stayed – Who do YOU see
walking through that door?
Shaq
Melo
LeBron
Wade
Bosh
Who?
Idiot Watch!
September 11th, 2010
9:43 am
“tired of the Troll … Is the Troll!”
The pot calling the kettle black LMAO!
“Come on man you know who this fool is.”
The legend lives. Some body open a can of hater aid.
Idiot Watch!
September 11th, 2010
9:57 am
tired of the troll, I agree, we should have got rid of Michael “free booty” Cunningham along time ago. I think the AJC must be on a really time budget. Much like the hawks. Bottom line is you get what you pay for….Mediocrity….kind of like your blogging when you use your real blog name instead of trolling to spit yo hate.
seems like every one on this site has 4 alias , 1) their real boring blog-name,2) a fake name to attack the legitimate views voiced in opposition to their unintelligent views,3) the amen co-signer to make their dung seem legitimate and 4)one to play referee like an impartial judge to help them save a losing argument.
The funniest thing is there are only about 7-10 bloggers on this site with 6 pages of the same MF-ers
Dont hate the player, hate the game. Idiot!
Idiot Watch!
September 11th, 2010
9:58 am
*tight budget
Absolutely!
September 11th, 2010
10:08 am
Publix
September 11th, 2010
12:14 am
Could not agree more.
hawks_for_life
September 11th, 2010
10:18 am
For all of you interested in Melo:
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=5550421
Publix
September 11th, 2010
12:03 pm
drmaryb (*_*)
Dude, please go watch Spongebob or something. JJ is way to overrated. He is a good player, but he is not the leader of THIS team. The reason why the coaches like him is because he is quiet and FOLLOWS orders. He doesn’t LEAD. I am ok with that, BUT why are we paying him 120mil?????
Is he better then James, Wade, Kobe??? You know he is not, but he is getting paid more.
Absolutely!
Thanks for agreeing! I will still support whatever team we have, but if I will pay for season tickets, I want to see JJ step up, Smith be more mature, Marvin to play much harder and not be afraid, and Teague to calm down and start taking ownership.
Still believe that we have to get a BIG sometime before the season starts.
Publix
September 11th, 2010
12:04 pm
PS:
“Where shopping IS a pleasure”
Macaroni Tony
September 11th, 2010
12:21 pm
@Publix
JJ is not getting paid more than Wade, LB, of Kobe just pay attention to the facts. LB and Wade want have to pay the same taxes that JJ pay. So it looks like LB & Wade are getting paid less but they’re not. And Kobe just sign a three extension for something thing ball park of 90 million.
Publix
September 11th, 2010
12:24 pm
You are right about the Kobe thing. My appologies!
Taxes or not, JJ should not even be in the same talk as any of the mentioned three, don’t you think?
Publix
September 11th, 2010
12:32 pm
With the league being so short on great Centers, we should be pushing really hard to lock in on someone who is young and will become an All Star very soon. ((M.GASOL))
I would pretty much give up any ONE of our starting 5 for him. Call me crazy but that kid can play and is a legit 7 feet tall. His body is pretty big, with a good coach he can become the next Sabonis/Divac.