Atlanta Hawks: Heat at Hawks
Zaza was raving the other day about a saying he saw on Twitter:
“Better to have it well done than well said.”
What he means is it’s time for the Hawks to stop talking and start doing. There are just two exhibition games left, tonight vs. the D-Wade less Heat and tomorrow at Charlotte. The season starts Wednesday in Memphis.
Can the Hawks get it together by then?
“I am sure that is a question on everyone’s mind after seeing us play five games we have already played,” Zaza said. “I am sure nobody is happy who is cheering for the Hawks. It starts from us, the players, the coaching staff, the management–nobody is happy.”
Yes, there have been injuries. There’s a new coach. There’s a new offense. It will take time.
But now the Hawks are healthy, the season is approaching and there has to be some urgency.
“We haven’t had really had the chance to play together,” Teague said. “At the offensive end it is kind of stagnant. We are still trying to figure things out. Guys really don’t know it all the way. But we can always play defense, and that’s something we have been working on really hard these last couple practices. I think you will see a whole different side of us tonight.”
Heard that one before from the Hawks. In fact, they were saying pretty much the same thing before getting blown out (again) by the Magic Monday night. Well said but not well done.
Bibby made it a point to say he would take on the challenge of getting the offense going.
“Teams have been really coming hard at us,” Bibby said. “I think it starts with me. I put that on me as far as giving energy to the team and try to get us easy baskets instead of trying to set up in the halfcourt. I think the energy will be better tonight. I am going to start with me and try to get everybody easy baskets.”
That’s fine but L.D. is trying to make it about defense. He said the Hawks made some strides when they held Orlando to 44 points in the first half Monday. He noted it will take time to create a culture of all-out defense.
The Hawks are running out of time before the games start counting.
“I think that when Coach Drew came in, a lot of people talked about the offense but I think what he’s been harping is on defense,” Al said. “I think the only way that this team can amount to anything is if we can consistently bring it on the defensive end. And I know we’ve talked about this in the past but it has to happen in order for us to have any chance. That’s effort, playing hard, really getting after it hard consistently from everybody. Because if one guy breaks down it can throw the whole thing off.”
MC
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312 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
October 21st, 2010
9:51 pm
You can see the gears turning in Smoove’s head as he resists the urge to complain about the call…
Najeh Davenpoop
October 21st, 2010
9:51 pm
Best help defender in the league. I don’t care what anyone says.
bigdave
October 21st, 2010
9:52 pm
amazing the attention being payed in the huddle.. i think LD has the respect of his team..
O'Brien
October 21st, 2010
9:53 pm
cp,
To be fair to Marvin, he has 8 rebounds.
bigdave
October 21st, 2010
9:53 pm
Powell over Za Za..
Najeh Davenpoop
October 21st, 2010
9:54 pm
MC makes a great point on Twitter — the Hawks have avoided their typical 3rd quarter meltdown, and I think a huge reason is that this offense regularly gets them good looks that they previously wouldn’t get. The new offense, if executed right, is going to have a stabilizing effect on this team. Maybe they won’t be able to beat better teams, but they can definitely be more consistent from night to night.
truly1
October 21st, 2010
9:55 pm
yeah Steel it reminds me when ld said jc2 took a terrible shot from almost half court he said he barked at him in the huddle for it
Najeh Davenpoop
October 21st, 2010
9:56 pm
Wow, Bibby is on fire.
STEEL(Formerly VenomSpitter)
October 21st, 2010
9:57 pm
Reggie calling out Marvin
Najeh Davenpoop
October 21st, 2010
9:57 pm
Zaza, quit playing volleyball you dumbazz.
Defensive intensity is lacking in this quarter, compared to the end of the first half.
kwooden1
October 21st, 2010
9:58 pm
Just can’t make FT!!
cp
October 21st, 2010
9:58 pm
I cant lie O’Brien, I didnt even notice lol. Well at least he is hitting the glass because he aint doing much else.
bigdave
October 21st, 2010
9:58 pm
nice take Marvin..
something is telling me that coach Drew wont be stubborn enough to let lebron have his way before sending a double team to cool him off..
Najeh Davenpoop
October 21st, 2010
9:58 pm
God dammit Zaza
STEEL(Formerly VenomSpitter)
October 21st, 2010
9:59 pm
Pachulia is horrible. Get his ass outta here.
cp
October 21st, 2010
9:59 pm
Pachulia is flat out terrible.
bigdave
October 21st, 2010
10:00 pm
Collins would have caught and finished where Za Za does what Za Za does..
meanwhile.. Jamal shows Lebron exactly where the basket is.. escorts him even. he just doesnt care to defend.
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
October 21st, 2010
10:01 pm
loving
JC1’s energy – ZaZa is pathetic.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 21st, 2010
10:01 pm
Nice drive and dish by Teague.
STEEL(Formerly VenomSpitter)
October 21st, 2010
10:01 pm
Does anybody hear some punk keep saying “Lets go Heat”
Somebody slap who ever that is
Rev in Tampa
October 21st, 2010
10:01 pm
What is Jamal doing? Is he taking the game seriously with his dribbling? A lot of energy on offense, but what is he trying to do?
bigdave
October 21st, 2010
10:01 pm
how you like all those minutes Lebron? feels good dont it? its just preseason, it gets better…
lewis
October 21st, 2010
10:02 pm
zaza has terrible hands
O'Brien
October 21st, 2010
10:02 pm
What a move by Jamal…
Thats what we need. teague with the ball, and finding Jamal. not the other way around, with Jamal having the ball, and finding Teague.
And once again, I dont know why we have Mo Evans as our backup SF.
STEEL(Formerly VenomSpitter)
October 21st, 2010
10:03 pm
And I think ZaZa has become the worst player on the team
cp
October 21st, 2010
10:03 pm
Jamal is playing with better energy tonight. The previous game it looked like he didnt care at all. Teague penetrates and kicks out to Jamal for an easy shot. Team looks a lottttt better tonight and is playing some nice defense. I see Samuel and spitter is not around. I guess their hoping the Hawks lose.
lewis
October 21st, 2010
10:03 pm
Mo Evans is a really solid defender and slasher…thats why. he’s got experience with good teams. problem is hes a backup SG not SF.
O'Brien
October 21st, 2010
10:04 pm
lewis,
Agreed. As backup SG, he can hold his own defensively. But as a backup SF, he just isnt big enough on defense…
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
October 21st, 2010
10:04 pm
Zaza Pathetic – nonathletic – soft –
Marvin – invisible man
cp
October 21st, 2010
10:05 pm
Its hilarious that Mo even thought he was underpaid. Seriously what has he done to even earn what he is making now.
Fresh
October 21st, 2010
10:05 pm
This is where we will find out about the Hawks “new and improved” philosophy!
cp
October 21st, 2010
10:05 pm
Yea im not even calling Marvin Duck this season, he will be known as the invisible man.
Wabe
October 21st, 2010
10:05 pm
O’Brien
October 21st, 2010
10:02 pm
What a move by Jamal…
Thats what we need. teague with the ball, and finding Jamal. not the other way around, with Jamal having the ball, and finding Teague.
And once again, I dont know why we have Mo Evans as our backup SF.
Co-sign 100% on Mo Evans…
I can’t stand it when he gets in the game.
bigdave
October 21st, 2010
10:06 pm
wow.. Larry Drew talking like an NBA head coach and not a D1 assistant when he gets his tv time..
Najeh Davenpoop
October 21st, 2010
10:07 pm
As much as I like Jamal’s energy and what he brings to the game, this is the preseason. Winning this game is secondary to getting an accurate evaluation of everyone on the team who has a chance to contribute — in particular, Jordan. Like I’ve been saying all offseason, the Jordan pick dictates that Jamal probably has to be moved at some point. I’d like to see Drew use the preseason as an opportunity to see how well Jordan can fill that Jamal role, so that they can make an accurate determination on how realistically they can move Jamal this season.
Sleepy
October 21st, 2010
10:07 pm
Mo says take that haters on the blog lol
STEEL(Formerly VenomSpitter)
October 21st, 2010
10:07 pm
Man get Zaza outta there
Ree Roe
October 21st, 2010
10:07 pm
ZaZa looks terrible…he’s regresses more & more over the course of each summer.
I was skeptical about Drew as HC, but he has a good grip on this team. Let’s go Teague. Good shot Mo
-REEpeal of Roe!!
Najeh Davenpoop
October 21st, 2010
10:07 pm
Powell showing on that play why he has shot 36% for his career. I have only seen Zaza ever blow a shot that easily.
Wabe
October 21st, 2010
10:08 pm
lol…
and as soon as I speak a peep about Mo…
he knocks down a 3…
still think he’s 2nd-rate.
bigdave
October 21st, 2010
10:08 pm
what do we have to do to get a young ignorant big to come off the bench and finish w/ authority?
sounds like Gani.. with that late pick we had..
bigdave
October 21st, 2010
10:09 pm
Jamal wearing Nike?
Najeh Davenpoop
October 21st, 2010
10:09 pm
The recovery from that double team on Bosh was very impressive. I can’t remember them ever recovering from a double team that quickly last year. The Heat didn’t have an opening at all.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 21st, 2010
10:09 pm
That was a clean block. F-ck the refs.
bigdave
October 21st, 2010
10:09 pm
good transition d.. a weak element last year..
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
October 21st, 2010
10:10 pm
@ STEEL – I hear that fool. put a muzzle on that punk.
Wabe
October 21st, 2010
10:10 pm
lol @ Zaza
STEEL(Formerly VenomSpitter)
October 21st, 2010
10:10 pm
Damn FUCC ZAZA
bigdave
October 21st, 2010
10:10 pm
blown left hand layup from a 7ft ZaZa.
STEEL(Formerly VenomSpitter)
October 21st, 2010
10:10 pm
Yes get zaza out