Atlanta Hawks: Hawks at Bobcats
Charlotte–I started to ask L.D. about Smoove shooting more jump shots lately and before I could even finish the question he was rolling his eyes.
Remember that when L.D. was announced as the new Hawks coach he said he would get Josh off the perimeter and down in the post. Josh said L.D. is the coach and so he would comply.
Yet clearly it’s going to take some work for the two to get on the same page. Against the Heat last night Josh launched a jumper early in the game on a play that called for him to work in the post. He also fired a 3-pointer late in the game.
Each time Josh takes a bad jumper, L.D. is there to let him know about it. Like Woody before him, L.D. has seen that Smoove doesn’t always appreciate the feedback.
“He snarled at me a little bit early in the game yesterday but I was fine with it,” L.D. said. “I want him to establish himself down low. I don’t want him to rely on making perimeter shot.”
It’s a reasonable request considering the drastic difference in conversion rates between Smoove’s attempts near the basket and those farther away. Yet despite the numbers Josh just can’t seem to help winding up and letting fly when he’s on the perimeter and the defense is inviting him to do so.
L.D. said he doesn’t doubt Josh believes he can make long jump shots. He said he hasn’t told him to stop taking them altogether “because his stroke has certainly improved and he has worked on it.” But he doesn’t want them early in the shot clock, late in games or when the play calls for Josh to be in the post.
That latter point is how L.D. frames the issue: He doesn’t labor the point that Josh can’t make jumpers, but rather points out that he needs to be in the paint because he’s so effective there.
“I just tell him when I run something put him in the post don’t want him letting the defense off the hook shooting a fadeaway jump shot,” L.D. said. “I believe in his ability down in the post to get a basket or get fouled. Shooting a fadeaway is letting your defender off the hook.”
Powell in the mix
He’s still figuring out how the minutes will be distributed but L.D. said the 10 guys who played the bulk of the minutes against Miami will be the “main core” to start the season. That group will include Josh Powell.
“He’s going to be a big part of us being successful,” Drew said.
Powell signed with the Hawks for a chance to play more than he did with the Lakers and it looks like he will get his shot.
“Having been associated with a championship team, I think that speaks volumes,” L.D. said. “He plays with a physicality that I really like. He’s a guy you can post up. He can make an outside shot. Defensively, he has an understanding how to defend the low post and he has quick feet. If he ever gets switched out on a two or a three he’s got the foot speed to keep him in front.”
Powell has been playing most of the preseason with a sore groin but he’s pushed through it.
Injury report
Mo and Pape Sy stayed behind in Atlanta. Bibby is getting the night off.
“He is a little banged up,” Drew said.
MC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
74 comments Add your comment
lewis
October 22nd, 2010
9:29 pm
wow 23 to 22 fg
J.J.M.
October 22nd, 2010
9:31 pm
Hawks dont have no kind of leaders
Samuel
October 22nd, 2010
9:32 pm
Looks like Jamahl may win the TO crown tonight. Wait, there’s 12 seconds left, plenty of time for JTO to make a couple more. Why is JTO shooting 3’s? Dude can’t even make a 10 footer.
JTO=SpeedyII
1 blogger 5 names (drmaryb
October 22nd, 2010
9:35 pm
(drmaryb
LeQuit isa looser, I wish Dan G. was our owner
October 22nd, 2010
9:36 pm
LeBron : “Dan I can’t win w/ L. Hughes & C. Boozer in their primes. I need more help!!”
Dan : “You got it LeBron what is it you need? Just name it.”
LeBron: “First I want a coach.”
Dan : “You got it LeBron. Who you want to coach?”
LeBron : “I want my hommie M. Brown!”
Dan : “No problem LeBron. Done!! Anything else LeBron?”
LeBron : “I also need a shooter that can handle the ball.”
Dan : “Anything you want LeBron. Who should we get?”
LeBron : “I want Mo Williams”
Dan : “You bet!! Done!!”
LeBron : “Well Dan, Mo wasn’t enough. I need more defensive minded shooters that play D & have “length.”
Dan : “Sure thing LeBron. Who should we get?”
LeBron : “I want Anthony Parker, J. Mario Moon…..& bring in Leon Powe while you’re @ it.”
Dan : “Of course LeBron, anything you want!”
LeBron : Dan, I just can’t win w/ these guys. I need a big man too.”
Dan : “Absolutely LeBron. Just name your man & we’ll get him.”
LeBron : “I want Shaq.”
Dan : “Right away LeBron!”
LeBron : “Dan….Even though we have the best record in the league & are the favorites to win the Championship Mo, Jamario, AP, & Shaq just aren’t cutting it. I need more help!”
Dan : “Well, of course LeBron. Who else do you need?”
LeBron : “I want a shooter who can ’stretch the floor’ somebody like Antwan Jamison.”
Dan : “What about Amare Stoudamire? He’s youger, stronger, more athletically gifted & will likey form a deadly combination w/ you for yrs. to come?”
LeBron : “WHAT?? Don’t fuggin backtalk me Dan. I run this team! ME!! Now go get me Antwan Jamison!!!
Dan : “Sorry LeBron. I’m on the phone now.”
LeBron : “Fuggin’ cracker!!”
Dan : “Ok LeBron. It’s a done deal. But were now all in. We have assembled your team just as you have asked. We have an All-Star point guard. An All-Star small forward. An All-Star power forward. And an All-Star center. Just like you asked. Along w/ the best bench in the league & homecourt throughout!! But keep in mind we have destroyed all our assets in doing so. We have given away all our draft picks & essentially sold our souls & our franchise to the devil in your ‘win now’ scheme. Now bring us home the Larry O’Brien trophy!!
3 weeks later……
LeBron : “First & foremost I want to win. I know I spoil everybody w/ my talents. If I could only clone myself 5 times over…..I consider Cleveland the front runner for my services next season.”
Dan : “I hope so LeBron because it was you who built this roster. Not me. You asked for & I delivered. I hope you don’t run out on every body here?”
LeBron : “I quit, I’m taking my talents to South Beach. I just cant win in Cleveland w/ 4 All-Stars & the best bench in the league to go along w/ the coach of the year & homecourt throughout. I feel I have a better chance surround myself w/ Team USA & 3 future HOF’s. Good luck w/ the franchise that I fugged UP Dan.”
Dan : “NI@@ER….”
LeBron : “I am a victim of racism. Now I know I made the right decision.”
Six years later…..
LeBron : “I have decided after not having enough talent around me in South Beach over the last six seasons to win the Championship that I am going to join Kobe Bryant & the LA Lakers so I can finally get a ring.”
Three years later & three rings later Delonte is STILL bangin LeBrons mom!!
LeQuit isa looser, I wish Dan G. was our owner
October 22nd, 2010
9:37 pm
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap;_ylt=AgpVxRSMqlSBHTaof8×38sy8vLYF?gid=2010102101#mwpphu-container
Samuel
October 22nd, 2010
9:39 pm
We averaged 20 point deficits in our 4 losses.
Hmmm
October 22nd, 2010
9:43 pm
I cant wait to heat LD’s comments after this one.
Does Pape Sy have the same back injury that Marvin had?
Samuel
October 22nd, 2010
9:44 pm
Who will go first LD or Spoelstra?
Samuel
October 22nd, 2010
9:55 pm
Will LD be as stubborn as yall say Woody was. We’re getting beat like drums. The gimmick aint working, the man up(accountability) defense ant either and Jeff Turnover still aint ready.
UGA
October 22nd, 2010
9:56 pm
Bibby is that important to the Hawks, period.
We may be wasting our time with Teague and may need to see what the value is for Crawford.
Hmmm
October 22nd, 2010
10:01 pm
Im not suprised. This isnt the first time we have been blown out by the bobcats. We have been blownout w/Bibby in 1st quaters tons of times, I doubt he would have helped. We just came out flat tonight.
Why do non-hawks fans continue to post on here. Woody had like three active braincells.
LD > Woodson
mykhalc
October 22nd, 2010
10:05 pm
@J.J.M..Hawks dont have no kind of leaders
and haven’t for years now…well except for Bibby for 1/2 a year!
pitiful…but expected!
Real Talk
October 22nd, 2010
10:07 pm
@ LeQuit isa looser, I wish Dan G. was our owner
That was pretty good You should do one with the Atlanta Sprit Group passing over All Star point guards to draft a BUST of forwards, Signing a third best player on a championship caliber team, promoting him as a Superstar, and paying him like a Hall of Famer. The list goes on etc.
Rev in Tampa
October 22nd, 2010
10:07 pm
@-Samuel
I am glad at least one ‘Hawks Fan’ enjoyed himself so much tonight.
Samuel
October 22nd, 2010
10:26 pm
Had a blast.
JeJe
October 22nd, 2010
10:33 pm
It was good to see Hawks “Fans” boo LBJ last night. Maybe this city finally has an identity.
Probably not
ryan
October 22nd, 2010
10:34 pm
If the Hawks can’t play D how are going to survive in southeast with a healthy Heat , Magic, and a dangerous Bobcats team every night .
Najeh Davenpoop
October 22nd, 2010
10:35 pm
“Will LD be as stubborn as yall say Woody was. We’re getting beat like drums. The gimmick aint working, the man up(accountability) defense ant either and Jeff Turnover still aint ready.”
We gave Woody six years to show what he could do. We ain’t giving up on Drew after six games.
As for Teague, he isn’t ready? Gee, I wonder why? Could it be because Darren Collison, Stephen Curry, Jonny Flynn, Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans, Ty Lawson, and Roddy Beaubois were allowed to, you know, PLAY while Teague’s azz was plastered to the bench regardless of how he played?
Najeh Davenpoop
October 22nd, 2010
10:37 pm
Just like I don’t read a whole lot into a preseason win over Miami, I don’t read a lot into a preseason loss against Charlotte, especially when I didn’t see a minute of the game. From the box score, it appears to be a game where the Hawks sleepwalked knowing that it didn’t count and the regular season is right around the corner. Not saying it’s right, but I am saying that it probably isn’t an accurate representation of what the Hawks can do.
I.MUS WRITE
October 22nd, 2010
10:37 pm
Last year I wanted Teague to earn his nickname and im still waitng….still waiting,still waiting, JTO C’mon Son. Im with Samuel Teague has’nt shown me much, I know he’s still young yada yada yada AC Law is somewhere smiling
Darren Collins is young too but he looks really good from what i’ve seen good pick up by Indiana.
I.MUS WRITE
October 22nd, 2010
10:39 pm
Iz there a special prize for being first,dam it im never first -i want to be first so bad -i love being first……..Grow up people Jeez
I.MUS WRITE
October 22nd, 2010
10:40 pm
Im really mad because im not first LOL…….Burp!!!
drmaryb (*_*)
October 23rd, 2010
3:25 am
Them Bobcats Bad!
Go MJ Go!