Atlanta Hawks: Hawks at Wizards
Washington–When the Hawks are at home L.D. is fine with them running the floor and feeding off the energy of the Highlight Factory. But he’s got a different philosophy on the road.
That’s why one of the offensive keys on the team’s board before the game tonight against the Wizards said: “Play slow.”
“On the road, you want to run at the opportune times,” L.D. said. “But you can’t play at a pace that you play at home, especially when you are short-handed, too. With the home team they want to get their fans involved. They want you to quick shoot so they can get it and run it back at you.
“You have got to pick and choose your spots to keep the fans out of it and control the tempo, force that team to play your pace. The faster you play it opens more opportunities for turnovers. We want to be athletic and get up and down the floor but we don’t want to play at a speed that leads to turnovers, especially on the road.”
The Hawks are averaging 23.5 turnovers through two exhibition games. That’s fourth-worst in the league entering tonight’s game.
There are lots of caveats to that, of course–preseason, wacky lineups, etc.–but now is the time to develop good habits. Lester Conner wrote the turnover figure on the board as a reminder.
– Big defensive test tonight for JC2 , who is cross-matched against Wiz rookie point guard John Wall while Bibby draws Kirk Hinrich. Wall is as fast as they come and Crawford is a tough competitor so it should be an interesting duel.
– Etan is back in the city where he made his NBA name. He still has a house here.
“It was a good time,” he said of his time with the Wiz. “I have a lot of good memories here. I got to play with MJ. How many guys can say they got to play with MJ?”
– Arenas (knee) is out for the Wizards. Nick Young starts in his place. L.D. considered changing his lineup, too, but stuck with Bibby, Crawford, J.J., Smoove and Al.
MC
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137 comments Add your comment
Freshfromatl
October 12th, 2010
8:30 pm
Hawks quit.
cp
October 12th, 2010
8:30 pm
The problem is that the Hawks are playing Lazy as hell.
Jody
October 12th, 2010
8:31 pm
One of the things I’m not liking about the offense is that it seems the only thing the Hawks are getting out of it is jump shots.
richbrave
October 12th, 2010
8:32 pm
truth:
Not to worry truth. It’s pre-season and the first half is basically a warm-up. Pretty meaningless in the overall scheme of things. HAWKS will heat up in the second half. WIZ look pretty good with almost no one leaning on them. Wait till the fun begins. WIZ are probably going to have to waive ARENAS out of the league under an unable to perform clause before this season is over. I can’t see that knee ever holding up through the course of a full season. Might be true of JOSH HOWARD too.
Anyway, I see ZAZA is his normal surly self. But JaVALE’s growing up literally, and BB smarts also, He’s gonna get taken to the woodshed a lot this season, but I’m thinking next year is his coming out party like BLATCHE’s will be this year. And McGEE’s still growing. He’s now 7′1+ and 265.
HAWKS are gonna’ get some play out of JORDAN CRAWFORD as far as I can tell in this game. Of course, this IS the WIZARD’s defense for 2010-11, so he’s getting a pretty good shake-down cruise right now.
Trent
October 12th, 2010
8:33 pm
On the topic of offense, the offense has been alright, nothing special. It has been decent. However, the Hawks would be getting a lot more easy buckets if the defense would pick-up. Obviously, we can’t compare the defense from these 3 preseason games (with many missing and injured players) to the defense employed last season. However, if we could, it would be logical to say that the defense is much worse. We won’t really be able to tell how effective the offense or defense is until we get the actual team roster and starters intact and playing in a game that actually counts where they are showing significant effort.
The Truth
October 12th, 2010
8:35 pm
Etan looks incoherent and out-of-sync. He’s not sharp at all. He was expected to shine since he is playing in front of his old team. He’s got more than enough motivation to play well since the DC press obtain ragged him out. So far, his looks like RandMo 2.0 without any offense which means he could be worst.
The Truth
October 12th, 2010
8:36 pm
richbrave
I’m hoping so
doc
October 12th, 2010
8:36 pm
i think the idea of playing slow carried over to their attitude for playing slow on defense. i think ld needs to be more specific in his instructions.
this is a very improved wiz team; some coming of age, a rook that could be very special and two new parts they got as a steal. what is it? the bulls and nets pay 3 mil for the wiz to take henrich and yi, two very good team players and we pay a half mil to a french team to relieve them of their second string guard in the french league?
cp
October 12th, 2010
8:37 pm
The Hawks should be on the phone with Dampier right now. They need more size. They have been needing more size for a while. Collins and Thomas are not what I call good pickups.
richbrave
October 12th, 2010
8:38 pm
TRENT:
From an old, and long-time WIZARDS fan, ETAN is a great guy, and I have all the admiration in the world for a man willing to be pounded on who has had open-heart surgery. As a two timer myself, I can’t even imagine the pain he feels with those wires in his chest. But truth be told, THOMAS has only had flashes of brilliance on the court, and that was mostly pre-surgery. RAND MO actually looks like a better option at this point.
Samuel
October 12th, 2010
8:42 pm
The Wizards are “clowning” us like they are the Orlando Magic. Their bigs are playing monkey in the middle with Al. Can we finally put an end to this notion that LD’s smokescreen interviewing tactic will bring us any different results. I see nothing different. I know we don’t have Duck and Teague but they dont have Arenas. This is “UGLY”. Ken, what’s the alibi.
Mz. Hawkdafied
October 12th, 2010
8:42 pm
Damn would have liked to see Teague vs Wall. Gonna have just wait until the home opener. Thank God this is a preseason game.
vava74
October 12th, 2010
8:43 pm
This kid is dynamite.
cp
October 12th, 2010
8:44 pm
LD has to find a way to get Jordan Crawford consistent minutes. This dude looks like he will be the steal of the draft.
Trent
October 12th, 2010
8:46 pm
Jordan Crawford has been impressive tonight, but you have to take into account he is playing heavily inflated minutes. Don’t expect him to put up numbers anywhere near these during the regular season, but he probably won’t even be playing a third as many minutes as he’s played tonight, unless, of course, Jamal is traded.
Samuel
October 12th, 2010
8:46 pm
Crawford should start
STEEL(Formerly VenomSpitter)
October 12th, 2010
8:47 pm
Jordan is the MAN
richbrave
October 12th, 2010
8:47 pm
HEY doc:
My man, speakin’ the truth about the newly constituted WIZARDS. Definitely not the same old, same old. Be seein’ you here more and more as the warm afterglow that was the 2010 BRAVES fades into memory.
My first love, BOSTON BRAVES. Great club, tremendous heart this season, but limited offensive talent. Fantastic pitching, terrible fielding subs. Here’s hoping FRANK WREN gets two bats including a big stick for this line-up in 2011. The pitching’s in place. We’re about where the PHILLIES were two years ago relatively speaking. Not point for point strength-weakness, but overall.
Jae Evolution
October 12th, 2010
8:48 pm
If they get within 10 before the end of the 3rd, they can easily comeback to win this game. Jordan Crawford is looking incredible out there, I hope he can stay this consistent if a Jamal trade does happen.
kwooden1
October 12th, 2010
8:48 pm
LD, finally got some guys in the game that want to rebound. Crawford, looks great!
richbrave
October 12th, 2010
8:52 pm
SAMMY:
You’re probably looking at D.C.’s first-line defense in this game. I don’t envision much improvement when the bell goes off. At least initially. Given time yes, better defense. Barring the ‘ZARDS propensity to be snake-bit however, I wouldn’t be surprised to see half the team go down with career-threatening injuries before the season’s over.
Trent
October 12th, 2010
8:57 pm
Looks like we will be watching the Hawks scrubs play with Crawford for the rest of the game. Don’t be surprised if the Wizards’ lead gets to blowout status quick.
Samuel
October 12th, 2010
9:01 pm
I picked the Wizards as a team that will battle us for a playoff spot this year. They look very good. I know we are short handed but this team looks lost out there. We definately don’t look capable of winning the East huh Ken.
Samuel
October 12th, 2010
9:04 pm
Randmo>Ethan Thomas
cp
October 12th, 2010
9:04 pm
I dont see how Etan Thomas was a better option than Josh Boone smh. Etan looks done too.
cp
October 12th, 2010
9:05 pm
I cant believe I’m about to agree with Samuel but yea I would take RandyMo over Etan. Wow
Nothing But N....
October 12th, 2010
9:07 pm
Who cares. Just Smoke a Joint and hold your junk and you too can be an NBA player. Don’t forget to have a bunch of kids and guns. What a technicually beautiful game spoiled by a bunch on Ghetto Bros.
kwooden1
October 12th, 2010
9:10 pm
I only saw about 6mins of the 3rd, but it definitely looked like the starters didn’t want to play.
Melvin
October 12th, 2010
9:11 pm
I’m Glad the New Jersey Nets were DUMB enough to trade Jordan Crawford to Hawks.
cp
October 12th, 2010
9:14 pm
Jordan Crawford is fun to watch…… Is Sund still on vacation ? smh
Mz. Hawkdafied
October 12th, 2010
9:15 pm
LOL! Sorry but I know it’s just preseason but this game has done nothing to hype up the season. Those commentators are getting on my last nerve. Time to use the mute button.
Big Ray
October 12th, 2010
9:15 pm
Who let the race baiter in here?
kwooden1
October 12th, 2010
9:17 pm
I don’t like the way we’ve lost this game or how the starters have played, but you can’t deny what Jordan Crawford can do!
drmaryb (*_*)
October 12th, 2010
9:17 pm
M$. Hawkdafield
Its on Direct TV CH 642. Not on NBA TV
Hawks look very careless and uninterested with the ball.
Big Ray
October 12th, 2010
9:17 pm
Melvin ,
And here I was thinking WE were the dummies at the time (still not sold on selling the second pick, we got Etan out of it, oh joy).
LOL at the comments about the defense. If you don’t see anything different, try and remember it’s preseason. Every preseason looks the same…
jason
October 12th, 2010
9:17 pm
the reason the hawks are losing because our “core” are injured. need to be a healthy team.
Mz. Hawkdafied
October 12th, 2010
9:17 pm
Ho hum!
Melvin
October 12th, 2010
9:17 pm
The Hawks three camp invitees are terrible. Why didnt the invite some vets that are trying to make a comeback into the league like Antonie Walker or Darius Miles? These three guys has no busy wearing NBA uniforms.
richbrave
October 12th, 2010
9:18 pm
SAMMY and cp:
Guys lighten up, it’s pre-season. But of course I’m hoping the WIZ are better than 26 wins.
CRAWFORD looks great at least tonight. You got a dy-no-mite player in my estimation. I saw him do some pretty amazing things here in RICHMOND last season when he played the SPIDERS, and at the A-10 tourney in ATLANTIC CITY..
Big Ray
October 12th, 2010
9:19 pm
Learning curve, guys. The same people who say they don’t see anything different with Larry Drew as head coach were the same ones who always touted Mike Woodson as having improved the team every year.
Translation: this stuff ain’t done overnight. Even if it looks largely like the same team. I still hated the switch defense, and would prefer that we get better personnel when it comes to defense, rather than better schemes (you can only scheme so much for Bibby and Jamal).
Offense is a whole other story.
Melvin
October 12th, 2010
9:20 pm
Ray,
I remember our discussion of draft night. At the time, I told you I didnt like the Damion James pick b/c he was more of a tweener that really didnt have good SF skills… As it looks, James is not getting much playing time during the preseason…
ptc
October 12th, 2010
9:21 pm
Hawks are not that short handed. Marvin is the only starter missing. Stop making excuses
Mz. Hawkdafied
October 12th, 2010
9:21 pm
Dr B been watching the game the whole time on channel 642. I know. I feel just like the team bring on the regular season. YAWN.
Jordan did his thang though. Go Hawks!
doc
October 12th, 2010
9:22 pm
richie you saying the wiz are peaking tonight?
yeah a lot of holes this year in the braves. unfortunately there is still 13 mil tied up in two players that arent able to contribute in kk and mclousy. that is about fifteen percent of the payroll. i dont see how they can improve without spending money and they are like the hawks budget restricted.
i see the team is as enthusiastic about their chances after the dismal off season by sund who folded the tent when the heat grabbed and came up with the dirty three. jc2 is impressive though it is a practice game with little challenges, kind of like one of those end of the season games.
we will see what happens when the lights come on but our guys arent good enough to turn it on at will.
richbrave
October 12th, 2010
9:23 pm
BIG RAY:
Can you report that crap and get it removed. Offensive in the extreme.
Melvin
October 12th, 2010
9:23 pm
Man, Pape Sy is missing some valueable playing time…
MsDee
October 12th, 2010
9:24 pm
The Hawks has yet to play with ALL HEALTHY PLAYERS so I’m not worried about these pre-season games..We are taking it easy while understanding this offense. Trust me, the Hawks do not want to be the laughing stock again this season. WE WILL LOOK A WHOLE LOT BETTER ONCE THE SEASON STARTS!!
cp
October 12th, 2010
9:24 pm
Melvin I read that they were going to play James at sg but I don’t know if he can play the 2 guard. He is a tweener but I like the Crawford pick more and more….The guys we had on the summer league are better than the 3 guys we brought to camp. I really thought we were going to give Aminu a chance to make the team. The kid looked pretty good on the sl team. Big Ray you have to look at who is making the comments. It makes sense when you see who says it lol
Big Ray
October 12th, 2010
9:25 pm
Melvin ,
Sounds like I owe you a beer on that one. LOL
Big Ray
October 12th, 2010
9:26 pm
CP ,
True dat!