Atlanta Hawks: Bobcats 99, Hawks 66
L.D. could have avoided a waste of time by staying in Atlanta. (AP Photo)
Charlotte–The Hawks were in Charlotte but they didn’t really show up. Can’t see how they got anything out of this.
– “Zero,” L.D. said. “Zero. Nothing whatsoever.”
– There were lots of ugly numbers but a few that stood out: Atlanta had 23 turnovers and 22 field goals and was outscored 50-28 in the paint. Sure, the bench guys played a lot of minutes but so did Charlotte’s reserves–and when Matt Carroll and Derrick Brown are taking it to you something is up.
– So much for that glow from beating the Heat. “The only thing we do get out of it is we’ve got to be a better club in these type situations,” L.D. said. “We can watch film and coverages and all of that but the bottom line is we didn’t bring energy, we didn’t bring any since of urgency. That is totally, totally unacceptable. We have got to be a team that comes out and is ready to play every single time we step on the floor. I don’t care what the situation is. We are paid to come out every night and compete and to leave it all on the floor.”
– If that’s the case, not many guys earned their pay tonight. “They seemed disinterested,” Larry Brown said. “They played last night, but still.”
– As in, but still the Hawks at least could have given a professional effort no matter the circumstances of the back-to-back preseason games (which ought to be outlawed if you ask me) and drop off in opponent star power. If the Hawks cared it didn’t show.
– “This is what you call being able to handle success,” Al said. “Throughout the years I’ve been here we have not been able to do that. It shows a lot of immaturity for our team. Now it is for real. Now we have got to really get it going.”
– Are the Hawks ready to start the season Wednesday at Memphis? “It is all going to be determined by how well we practice,” Al said. “As of right now it is uncertain to me how we are going to be.”
– “We will be all right,” Teague said. “You have games like this. It is better it is the preseason.”
– “We still have work to do but I am confident,” Smoove said. “Preseason is preseason. You can go 7-0 preseason but when it is all said and done it is 0-0. You have just got to be ready and geared up. I think we will be OK. We’ve got a couple more practices before we have to go to Memphis and play. We have just got to bring it.”
– The Hawks couldn’t score because they couldn’t protect the ball or generate good shots in the offense. Charlotte got all the layups they wanted because the Hawks were a step slow defensively and, aside from Smoove, couldn’t protect the rim.
– There were several times Josh was frustrated because someone blew their assignment and allowed an easy basket. Once again the Hawks seemed confused about their coverages. “We have just got to communicate,” Josh said. “I am glad this is a preseason game. I don’t see us having a lot of games like this. We have got to communicate more and learn how to do it on the defensive end when the offense isn’t there.”
– Teague’s jump shot still needs a lot of work. He missed all five of his 3-point attempts and about four other long jumpers. Only one or two even came close to going in. Teague also had six turnovers.
– At least Teague matched D.J. Augustine’s quickness. If only there were some way for the Hawks to combine his speed and defense with Bibby’s shot making, ball protection and vet savvy.
– Etan checked in late and played with energy. If only he could get more lift around the basket.
– Jamal had seven turnovers. One time he lost the ball with no one near him. He still remains the Hawks guard most likely to get to the free-throw line.
– After that strong game against the Heat J.J. took it easy for his 17 minutes. He had three fouls and two field-goal attempts.
– Al had some strong moves around the basket. His jump shot looked better, too.
– JC2 had his moments but was kind of all over the place. It’s about what you expect from him in a blowout game where everyone is winging it.
– Mo (knee) stayed behind in Atlanta. Bibby got the night off, which means he did about as much as most of his teammates.
– I’m out, Hawks fans.
MC
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123 comments Add your comment
Truth-Se rum
October 24th, 2010
12:13 am
sorry guys did not mean the last transmission.
doc
October 24th, 2010
12:15 am
t-s a little trigger happy there?
Truth-Se rum
October 24th, 2010
12:21 am
LOL Doc good post tonight by the way.
Ramon
October 24th, 2010
12:36 am
Doc, yea it was for an assistant position, on each accounts. I’ve never heard of Drew being interviewed for a HC position. I am one who truly believes Sund and ASG stupidly made a smart decision by hiring Larry Drew, lol. If that makes sense. I think Sund and ASG are so stupid together, that it will end up working out on this deal. And that’s the scariest part to me. If they end up going to ECF, that means Sund will not be relieved of his duties. And if they goto the Finals, that means Sund is here for the next ten years, lol.
On Drew, answer this, please. Would you rather had a coach who had been interviewed for 4 head coaching positions before, and never received a single offer? Or a coach who nailed the first interview for a head coaching position he ever received? And of the available head coaches who are unemployed, which one wasn’t fired at their last gig?
So I stick by my thought that ASG stupidly made a smart decision.
TS, I truly looked for the articles, but the archives on ASG only date back to 2008. But those requests took place BK’s last off season with the Hawks. I actually believe then, BK knew that he wanted to try LD as the next head coach and that was why he denied permission. Also if you remember, it was only 4 months into the season that BK was lobbying to fire Woody.
Truth-Se rum
October 24th, 2010
1:12 am
Ramon I have a bargain for you. I would like to offer you beach front property in Somalia.
Ramon
October 24th, 2010
1:13 am
@ Truth, I would take that deal, and start drilling for oil.
Truth-Se rum
October 24th, 2010
1:29 am
Thats if the pirates dont getcha.
I wonder, when people play the lottery do they expect to win, hope to win. or do they realize that there is better than a 10 million chance that they dont win.
Sure I hope Larry Drew is at the least as effective as Woodson prove to be, which will mean 53 wins and a second round playoff appearance this year followed by 4 years of steady growth from that point. But at the same time…i aint buying no lottery tickets.
Ramon
October 24th, 2010
1:53 am
Lol, I wouldn’t have hired LD. But of course, I wouldn’t have hired Sund either. But strategically, LD seems prepared.
KevinM
October 24th, 2010
3:21 am
No more excuses, preseason or just trying to pick up the new scheme. The players have had plenty of time to establish some consistency and a long road is ahead.
What this team does on the defensive end and their rebounding will determine their success.
Looking to Wednesday, Memphis on the road will be tough.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 24th, 2010
8:52 am
rotoworld
Shaquille O’Neal-C-Celtics
Oct. 23 – 5:02 pm et
Coach Doc Rivers said that Shaquille O’Neal is in the first unit right now ahead of Jermaine O’Neal.
Jermaine is behind because of all practices nagging injuries have caused him to miss. It won’t be long before Shaq is dealing with nicks and aches of his own. Both these guys are going to give owners more headaches than they are worth while locked in a timeshare.
Source: Jessica Camerato on Twitter
Related: Jermaine O’Neal
doc
October 24th, 2010
9:36 am
yeah ramon it is scary that they might get lucky again just like pulling ball three to get al when any number higher would have meant no draft choice that year except 11 which was acie.
yeah t-s fun day at the blog.
Ted M
October 24th, 2010
9:50 am
I just read Cunningham’s piece in the Sunday print edition (I couldn’t find it online). He interviewed everyone from GM to coach to the primary players about why they are going to be better this yr w/ the same team. Every single response from everyone was nothing more than a cliché and a meaningless cliché at that.
Ted M
October 24th, 2010
10:05 am
No offense MC but the NBA Preview section in Today’s print edition pretty much sucked.
JeJe
October 24th, 2010
10:20 am
Proofread?
SadDawg
October 24th, 2010
10:48 am
I just wish the Hawks could get the “eye of the tiger” against the lesser teams, as well as the Celtics and Heat . . .
Just be pros.
O'Brien
October 24th, 2010
10:52 am
Ramon,
Woody would play his starters 30 mins or more in the preseason game, like you said, because he wants to win every preseason game. That’s one approach.
I like LD’s approach, play the starters as needed, and give the bench plenty of PT. What I dont like is when Drew plays the starters 20 mins, but the starters and bench players “coast” when they are out there. And thats what the box score and comments look like they are doing.
All I want is for the players to play hard, even if they are only out there for 20 minutes.
Doc,
I was skeptical of the LD hire, but the one positive for me, was that because he has been here 6 years, he knows first hand what the problems are (Josh and his jump shots, too many ISOs, Josh whining, switching everything every game etc). So that would give him a head start (imo).
The players need to step their game up to meet LD’s expectations. Because he sounds very prepared, and he has a plan. I just hope it all comes together.
I am looking forward to the real games on Wednesday. Go Hawks.
Truth-se rum
October 24th, 2010
12:27 pm
Woody lite actually likes and gets along well with josh. Thats why he made him captain. I have no problem with Josh’s passion for the game even if he gets an occasional tech for it .
Keep the passion!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/25/josh-smiths-game-winning_n_512782.html
Ken Strickland
October 24th, 2010
12:47 pm
I think the players are coasting, particularily the starters, because they know HC LDrew is using the preseason as an extention of training camp. The starters know they’re going to get limited mins, and they pretty much already know who’s going to make the 12 man roster, so there’s not a lot of competition for roster spots that aren’t available.
But against the over hyped Miami Heat, LDrew obviously wanted to make a statement and unleashed the dobermans. The team demonstrated what it could do against a quality opponent and definitely sent a message, as everyone rose to the occasion and played both ends of the court with energy, and prevailed. We’ve seen the Hawks lose during preseason, and we’ve seen them win. If you have a negative attitude or approach, you’ll focus exclusively on the losses and ignore what you saw when the team decided to take a regular season approach against a quality opponent.
It’s revealing how some NEGATIVE MINDED ANTI HAWK fan(s) continue to think everyone is as narrow minded as they are. Otherwise, why think Hawk fans wouldn’t see through their obviously redundant BS. One actually used DWade’s absence as his reasoning for Miami losing to the Hawks. Yet, when the Hawks lose, he never once mentioned, or factored in the 6 players(JTeague, MEvans, JCollins, JaCrawford, MWilliams, Pape Sy)the Hawks were missing due to injuries, or the 2 starters(JSmith & AHorford) playing through injuries. WHERE’S THE LOGIC?
It’s no secret JSmith spent the off season working on a midrange jump shot, so why wouldn’t he use it under gm conditions during the preseason? It’s what he does during the REGULAR SEASON that counts. THE ATLANTA HAWKS SHOULD BE JUDGED BY HOW THEY PERFORM OVERALL AT THE START AND FINISH OF THE “REGULAR SEASON”, INCLUDING THE ENTIRE PERIOD IN BETWEEN, NOT THE “PRESEASON”.
Ken Strickland
October 24th, 2010
1:19 pm
I was a big fan of the LDrew hire. In fact, I suggested he be promoted back when former GM BKnight was trying to fire Woody. Since PG was an issue under Woodson his entire 6yrs here, I felt LDrew would be the perfect choice since,
1-his NBA career as a PG was based on speed, quickness, and the ability to provide pressure perimeter DEF, which has been the teams #1 problem,
2-he was familiar with the players, the team, and the positives and negatives of both, and
3-hiring him would minimize the adjustments and changes that could potentially create problems for a team with so many young inexperenced players as part of their core.
Woodson did a very good job of improving the team within the atmosphere of the regular season, but he just wasn’t equipped to function in the thin air of the playoffs. It appears LDrew will use the regular season to prepare the team for the playoffs, much like he’s used the preseason to prepare the team for the regular season.
While the Eastern Conference has improved once again, it would be foolish not to include the Atlanta Hawks as part of that improvement. The Bulls and the Bucks haven’t added nearly enough to overcome the 12gm and 7gm advantage the Hawks had over them last yr. The Celtics certainly didn’t do anything to overcome our dominance over them last yr. In fact, by adding the 2 ONeals, and losing KPerkins for a large part of the season, they’ve become older, slower and more injury prone, and may actually have taken a step backward.
THE ORLANDO MAGIC WILL BE THE TEAM FOR US TO BEAT IF WE’RE GOING TO GET PAST THE 2ND RD.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 24th, 2010
1:55 pm
Ken S
Amen Brotha! Preach that Truth.
BTW, how are you coming along? I see you’re keeping it positive as always!
Great to see.
Go hawks Go!
Ken Strickland
October 24th, 2010
7:09 pm
DRMARYB-I’m doing just fine, except for these darned HOT FLASHES. It’s hard to get a good nights sleep when you’re constantly kicking cover off and then scrambling to pull it back up shortly there after.
The Hawks start the season with:
1-a new head coach with a handle on last yrs problems, like:
A-the need to employ multiple OFF options,
B-an actual concern for both OFF and DEF
C-a commit to playing uptempo
D-a willingness to seek help
E-the need to get better OFF/DEF play at PG
2-Players that are preoccupied with learning and winning, rather than being preoccupied with getting rid of the HC,
3-Players that are in far better physical and mental condition than in previous yrs,
4-A roster that’s younger, quicker, faster, more athletic and versatile,
5-ACCOUNTABILITY, EQUITABLE TREATMENT AMONG ALL PLAYERS, A WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGES AND/OR ADJUSTMENTS WHEN CALLED FOR, and
6-the return of a core group of players that will be improved mentally, physically and skill wise.
Yetta
October 25th, 2010
9:32 am
Why are we always talking about J-Smoove? What’s the rest of the team doing; nothing as long as they are allowed to miss shots and get away with it. Josh shoots only a few jump shots a game and misses; how many do the others make and game and miss. Seems like Josh is playing when the others are on vacation. Josh is right to get frustrated when the rest of the team doesn’t follow thru with their part. Al is nice, but we need a tough guy with an attitude to play center.
Season opener | Atlanta Hawks: Fan Nest
October 25th, 2010
9:08 pm
[...] with serious adversity. Al Horford feels the same way about these issues, and he is beginning to express his concerns more vividly, now that he too, is a team captain. But what of Josh Smith, the third team captain? While he has [...]