Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 119, Grizzlies 104
Hawks executed L.D.'s blueprint to near-perfection. (AP Photo)
Memphis– Smoove said it before and I didn’t believe him. After what has to be considered a smashing debut for L.D.’s Hawks, Josh said it again: “Preseason is preseason. That’s what people have got to realize.”
– It didn’t take long for me to get the message. I think it happened around the time I realized J.J. wasn’t hitting, Al hadn’t scored and yet the Hawks were in control. On the road, even.
– “Give credit to the Atlanta Hawks and our coach,” J.J. said. “We were poised tonight. We made plays when we needed to.”
– Everyone who played for the Hawks did something good. That’s what it tends to look like when the bench has 50 points, 19 rebounds, 12 free throws and makes 18 of 34 shots. It looked like a bona fide 10-man rotation for the Hawks.
– The starters got to chill for long periods because the bench was beating the Grizzlies. “It’s outstanding any time they can give the starters a rest and be focused,” Josh said.
– “There are going to be games where the bench has to pick us up, like tonight,” J.J. said. “They did that, and we were able to come in and finish them off.”
– J.J. was only 6 of 16 from the field but that wasn’t because he was forcing things. “I got a lot of wide open looks,” he said. “I just didn’t make a lot of shots. At times I was a little too excited. For me to not have a great shooting night and for us to win big like this tonight, it’s perfect.”
– Seven assists and 11 free throws for Joe. The former is no surprise because he will share the ball but the latter was a change. I even saw him barking at officials a couple times.
– Josh had five blocked shots. Eventually the Grizzlies were looking for him when they went to the basket. “He bailed us out of a few plays with some blocks,” L.D. said. “When he plays like that, we are a good team.”
– There was one play in the first half that sent an early message that Zaza was going to outwork the Grizz. He was trying to work a pick-and-roll with Al but tripped and fell on the roll. By the time J.J. shot and missed, Zaza had picked himself up, collected the rebound and scored.
– It got to the point where Grizzlies fans booed each time Zaza pushed their team around. I guess seeing an athletically limited, 6-11 reserve center take it to their 7-foot-3 No. 2 overall pick made them a bit grumpy.
– “The reaction felt good,” Zaza said. “You want to keep that going. It’s all about helping the team.”
– Mo soared past Thabeet for a baseline layup. No signs of the knee slowing Mo, who made all three of his field-goal attempts and was active defensively.
–Marvin locked up Rudy Gay, made 5 of 6 shots and was strong on the boards.
– Jamal’s on-ball defense wasn’t the best and he tended to give up at the first sign of a screen. But his anticipation led to three steals. The Hawks are going to get baskets out of the motion but when things break down, there still aren’t too many better than him at putting the ball in the hole.
– Josh Powell had eight points and six rebounds in 20 minutes. He’s aggressive and showed good footwork in the post.
– You still can’t leave Bibby open. He made all four 3-point attempts, including back-to-back daggers in the fourth in case Memphis had any ideas about coming back. When Atlanta’s offense is clicking like this Bibby will get his looks and he will make a high percentage.
– The Hawks scored 12 of their 26 fastbreak points in the first quarter. Al pushed the ball and found Bibby for a 3 and Josh fed Zaza for a layup.
– Mike Conley looked like he was going to bring the Grizzlies back in the third quarter. Then L.D. sent in Teague, who didn’t let him get in the lane and create havoc. Memphis didn’t have anyone else out there who could make things happen.
– “We had a few problems with Conley on the high pick-and-roll but we made a few minor adjustments,” L.D. said.
– Teague also made a nice floater with the shot clock running down during that 12-0 run to end the third quarter. “His confidence has risen,” L.D. said. “One thing I have been trying to instill in Jeff is the fact that with him on the floor, his speed, his quickness and his ability to push the ball. He can guard. We need that type of energy and he’s the only guy on our team who has it.”
– Memphis was without Marc Gasol. Then Zach Randolph went down with a back injury. Either or both of those guys might have made it tougher for Zaza to have his way inside and also give the Hawks problems.
– “We just don’t have much offense inside after the three bigs we have,” Grizz coach Lionel Hollins said. “The other guys aren’t offensive players but it’s more than just Zach going out. We didn’t compete as hard as we needed to compete early on.”
– Al picked up two early fouls and L.D. rode Zaza. “I didn’t want to put him in for the second quarter especially when Zaza was going well,” L.D. said. “I spoke to Al on the bench about that and he was fine with it.”
– Al never really got into the flow. “Zaza really played a great game just being a strong body down there,” Al said. “I think coach felt like I didn’t have to play in the second quarter. It was one of those games where I couldn’t get it going. I just have to get back focused and get ready for Friday.”
– The Hawks’ motion offense was working (witness J.J. scoring on an oop) but they didn’t stick with it exclusively. Jamal and Joe still got theirs on some good old-fashioned pick-and-rolls and isos. “I thought the mixture was pretty good,” L.D. said. “It kept them off balance a little bit. We were effective.”
– The only real negatives for Atlanta: 15 turnovers, another s off-kilter outing by Al and no one but Teague able to stay in front of Conley.
– Smoove said L.D. and his staff gave created a great gameplan for the Grizz. L.D. got the game ball. “It’s my first win so I’ve got to enjoy it,” he said.
– I predicted the Hawks would be fine on offense and that Marvin, Zaza, Mo, Bibby and J.J. would benefit from the motion offense. Finally, I’ve managed to look smart.
– But these being the Hawks, there’s always a chance I will look dumb again come Friday night in Philly (or after that but it won’t have anything to do with the Hawks). “There can’t be a letdown,” Al said.
– I’m out, Hawks fans.
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
161 comments Add your comment
Wabe
October 28th, 2010
2:12 pm
chuck – I’ve run into the same issue. I too have Dish Network as my provider. I was able to get a feed to the game online last night. The site isn’t fantastic, and the feed skips every now and then. But, if you’re interested…
http://www.channelsurfing.net
You’ll be able to watch the games online – not the same as watching it on TV – but still better than nothing.
Grandad
October 28th, 2010
2:23 pm
This is not a criticism:
turnovers:
Unaccustomed as they are, to multiple passes per possession,
more fundamentals will need to be employed.
I’m certain LD has already begun this process.
Remember, most of our players have never been taught by a “real”
Coach / teacher. Al had Donovan @ that Peninsular University
down South [peninsular is not an ugly word]. I cannot say the
real name of his school this particular week.
Anyway, (1) improving the angle of the pass by the passer, -and-
(2) coming to the ball, “meeting the pass” by the receiver,
will cut down turnovers by over 50%.
Basketball in it’s purest form is so simple.
Git ‘er done.
Once again, not a criticism.
i_am_soulstar
October 28th, 2010
2:32 pm
Joe Johnson creating contact and getting to the free throw line was what stood out the most to me besides the excellent ball movement.
I don’t know how long I’ve been saying it, but this is one of the things that has separated him from the top-tier all-stars in the past.
A prime example is the Hawks-Heat preseason game. Both Lebron and JJ had nearly the same amount of FG attempts and makes, but Lebron had maybe 10 more points just from trips to the charity stripe.
I truly hope this becomes a permanent fixture in his game.
If he shoots between 43-45% for the season and increases his free throw attempts, I won’t be surprised if he averages 25.
Grandad
October 28th, 2010
2:38 pm
@ truthspitter
Mr. truthspitter sir:
My post about [Josh] was one minute prior to yours.
It might be interesting reading………………………….
You were happy for Joe to get near the rim & get to the line.
Well, it might interest you (or not) that when Al and Josh move
away from the basket, then, that opens up the middle.
Also on a couple of occasions Joe got a back screen from a ‘Big’,
which allowed him [Joe] to go to the rim ‘uncontested’.
* Please forgive me for bringing this to your attn as it may
embarrass you somewhat given the fact that you are so much smarter
than the rest of us and surely you just overlooked these minor points in your haste to criticize.
northcyde
October 28th, 2010
3:23 pm
I think the best thing about last night’s game, outside of the play of the 2nd unit, is that Drew exhibited that he can be flexible. Flexibe to the point of playing Zaza almost 20 consecutive minutes ( which is kind of crazy to be honest, but probably did wonders for Zaza’s confidence ).
They didn’t just run one offense or one defense either. They mixed it up well. And they did employ the switch on a few occasions.
The other thing I took away from this game is that this offense is TAILOR MADE FOR JOE JOHNSON. He’s getting open shots. He still the primary playmaker. And because the ball and players are moving, he’ll have lots of opportunities to go one on one and draw fouls, if he catches the ball and attacks the paint.
JJ may possibly have a career year offensively this year, as long as he and the shooters he’s passing the ball to, are making those wide open shots.
As for the game itself, I can’t get too giddy about us beating Memphis without 2 of their 3 best players. Them not playing with Gasol and Randolph, is equivalent to us playing without Smith and Horford. That was about 35 points and 20 rebounds worth of players taken out of that lineup.
A win is a win though. And any road win helps. The bench is the group I’m worried about, but they get a standing ovation for their play last night.
Astro Joe
October 28th, 2010
3:25 pm
Grandad, if the play is for him to stand out there and make a pass, then don’t shoot from out there. If the play is ofr him to stand out there and shoot, then heaven help us. Last year, he was effective from the perimeter because he mostly passed the ball. Last night? It was a Halloween-worthy horror show.
Grandad
October 28th, 2010
3:37 pm
Astro Joe
I don’t think he is supposed to stand anywhere.
*habit
O'Brien
October 28th, 2010
3:47 pm
Didn’t Josh take more jump shots than Marvin? I hope that trend does not continue.
AJ,
Somebody needs to get through to Josh. He said woody didnt get on him too much because of all the other things he does well. And the few times woody got on him, Josh didn’t pay him any mind.
When LD yelled at Josh in the Charlotte game for taking a jump shot when the play called for him in the post, MC said Josh snarled at him.
Ironically, Josh stopped taking 3 pointers last year because he chose to stop. Not because woody was getting on him.
We’ll see if LD can get him to stop, or if he will stop when he feels like it. Or Maybe he will start making them at a 50% clip and it wont matter anymore.
Astro Joe
October 28th, 2010
3:50 pm
Grandad, MC recently said that Josh makes those long range shots in practice. Doesn’t that lead to an obvious question, “why does the coach allow him to practice something that he isn’t supposed to do in the game?” If you want someone to break a game-time habit, don’t you ban it from practice?
IMO, dude likes shooting long-range shots and will continue to do so until someone holds him accountable… which takes our best weakside defender out of the game. The same dilemma faced by the previous coach. Sometimes, you have to live with imperfection. Simply saying in a press conference what you plan to do doesn’t always translate into reality. There’s a consequence to holding someone accountable for performance on one side of the floor… you lose what they bring on the other side. Same issue, new season and new coach.
Astro Joe
October 28th, 2010
3:58 pm
OB, it seems unlikely that he will hit them at a 50% clip in the next game, right? So his teammates are supposed to watch him waste possessions while he ramps from ~25% to 50%? That doesn’t quite sound like a chemistry-building tactic from a team captain.
I’m sure that Drew will fix it. It’s as easy as pie.
KevinM
October 28th, 2010
4:14 pm
Najeh: ” I like Rathbun, giddiness and all, don’t get me wrong. ”
If you think Bob has a rise-up attitude, you should have been around when the Yankees’ John Sterling used to broadcast the Hawks’ games during the 1st Drew era: John Drew…..
Every night: The NITTY GRITTY Atlanta Hawks have done it again!
Sterling was so hard to listen to sometimes when describing mediocre basketball.
Truthfully, I don’t recall Rathburn being so adamant about something like he is about the motion offense. This guy agreed with every BK draft choice as well.
KevinM
October 28th, 2010
4:16 pm
Re: Smoove and his jumper………while Bosh always seems ranked above Smoove, he does have a sweet jumper….Smoove just looks like a ‘chucker’ when he cranks one up.
If there is one guy on our team that doesn’t squeeze the most out of every possession, its Smoove.
Astro Joe
October 28th, 2010
4:17 pm
Kevin, Sterling was the worse EVERRRRRRRRRRRR!
KevinM
October 28th, 2010
4:19 pm
Astro, Milo Hamilton always got a bad name here, but no one was worse than John Sterling…just his big mullet on the tube made me want to go to the radio broadcast with Skip.
KevinM
October 28th, 2010
4:22 pm
Northcyde: “As for the game itself, I can’t get too giddy about us beating Memphis without 2 of their 3 best players. Them not playing with Gasol and Randolph, is equivalent to us playing without Smith and Horford. That was about 35 points and 20 rebounds worth of players taken out of that lineup.”
That right there was the key to the game….not sure that the Grizzlies should have tallied 104 points either with those 2 components gone.
But as LD or anyone else would say, a win is a win is a win…..Philly and their underwhelming lineup is next.
Grandad
October 28th, 2010
4:35 pm
Astro Joe
I agree in part.
Sometimes players are shooting on their own.
MC told us many times that he did not have very much access to practice. I’ll reserve judgement on what LD allows in practice.
Practicing rhythm jumpers from 16 ft coming off screens are
much different than stand still catapult launches.
Which is what Josh insists on [ahem] shooting.
I agree in whole that the shots he [Josh] is presently taking,
non rhythm, need to be jettisoned.
I further agree that, best defender or not, as soon as he
“snarls”;
“put his hind on the pine”. -C.M. Newton-.
LD must get his attn -NOW-, not later, -NOW-.
If he does not do as he is instructed;
yank his ass.
Josh, Joe, Al, any one of them.
This is a crucial time for LD.
wordsmithtom
October 28th, 2010
4:38 pm
People carping about JS and his outside shooting. I’m not convinced it’s a problem. If he is to be used as a point forward, as he was in second half and Marvin after JS got in foul trouble, he must shoot shots from the outside to keep defence from collapsing on his rotating backcutters and eating up space. Even with a poor % shootmaking, he is doing what the position calls for. I take issue with him shooting early in the shot clock, and that’s why LD got on has azz the other night and said so. He is an excellent passer, so facilitating off the high post works for him, but he must take those shots to keep defence honest.
Liked seeing LD keep Zaza in game for extra minutes when he was playing well. How many times did we see bench guys perform in the first half only to see them vanish later. Staying with “hot” hands was something former coach never did, except for JJ and JC1….LD is showing us all that he spent a lot of time studying the game as a bench coach. He understands momentum, and the need to play a deeper bench.
DW talking about how tough Atlanta is. Glad to see us getting some respect for a change.
wordsmithtom
October 28th, 2010
4:47 pm
Granddad, the way I heard it LD did get Josh’s attention. He just refused to let the snarl create a problem. Pick your fights. JS is an emotional player; LD knows that. Letting his ego get in the way would be what a weak coach would do. I gotta punish this dude to save face… LD publically blew it off, but stated emphatically that he wanted JS not to shoot early in the time clock, and not when it wasn’t part of the “scheme”. To use a page out of Zenmaster’s playbook….don’t use passion to correct passion….a calm word diffuses fire.
JS believes he can make that shot. To quit taking it would be questioning his own talent. A shooter is a shooter is a shooter. He does not yet, however, understand WHEN to take that shot. This LD must continue to work on.
Astro Joe
October 28th, 2010
4:58 pm
Grandad, assuming that the free throw line is 16 feet, than the shots from last night were NOT from 16 feet. I don’t know what he practices, all I know is that if you are consistently missing 70% of a shot, I don’t think it is in the best interest of the team to continue to shoot that shot. And heaven knows, we would not tolerate sub-30% long distance shooting from any other player on this squad so I struggle on why a vet of ~500 NBA games should be doing it.
http://espn.go.com/nba/shotchart?gameId=301027029
honest_abe
October 28th, 2010
5:03 pm
the hawks looked better than i thought they would… a road win is hard to come by in the nba so i’ll take it. but before you pick the hawks to win the east you have to remember the grizz were without their best two inside players…
the good:
- acie law in an opponents jersey
- no sight of mr. potato head
- a center!!! ok so it wasn’t dwight howard or even kendrick perkins but it was someone down low banging away albeit one with limited capabilities…..go zaza!
- seeing joe score efficiently
- some semblance of ball movement
- a nice matchup zone
- marvin’s overall play
- zaza’s physicality
the bad:
- j.smith’s shot selection and indifference at times on defense
- jeff teague’s hesitation and carelessness with the ball
- bibby’s inability to stay in front of anybody
- jamal dribbling by himself for what seemed like days
overall a nice start to the season.
Grandad
October 28th, 2010
5:04 pm
wordsmithtom
“shooting early in the shot clock”
Therein lies the problem.
As I discussed in an earlier post, he must make the Xtra pass.
“he must take those shots to keep defense honest”
That’s not completely accurate.
They will continue to collapse unless he proves
he can make them, not just shoot them.
However, your analysis that he is somewhat of a point forward
is well taken. There are a # of other things he can do to keep the defense honest. One, is simply moving the ball quickly. Another is
using the dribble to improve angles. Yet another is slash,
so that the threat of penetration must be honored.
There are many, many, more and I’m quite certain that LD
will utulize all or most of these eventually.
J from the A
October 28th, 2010
5:09 pm
Re: Smoove and his outside shooting
I said it after one of the preseason games, and I said it on the previous blog, but many — not all mind you — of the outside shots he is taking seem to be set plays. On many occasions Josh was standing in his spot — the spot the offensive play called for — and it was pass, pass, and then pass to Josh with Josh being wide open while the others are covered.
If Josh starts hitting that shot with any kind of consistency, beautiful things start to happen for the Hawks. The opposing team will have to respect the shot and will be forced to close out on Josh. When this happens, the lane becomes less clogged, allowing Josh to drive and make the inside play OR make the easy, smart pass.
Now if Josh does NOT start to hit that shot with any kind of consistency, say by 20 games into the season, I want to see the outside shooting end … but for now I am willing to give Josh a little bit of breathing room on taking these jumpers (even if my gut still screams, “DON’T DO IT!” every time an open Josh catches the ball 17/18 ft from the basket).
J from the A
October 28th, 2010
5:13 pm
Also, I don’t know if I am the only one that has seen it, but Josh is displaying solid leadership as a “point-forward.” He gives good direction to his teammates, has a knack for setting up his teammates, and when his teammates are out of position, he isn’t afraid to bark at them.
… now if Josh could just start hitting those 17/18 footers
Grandad
October 28th, 2010
5:27 pm
Astro Joe
Free throw line 15 ft
3 pt line (pro) 23 ft dissymmetrical arc [I made up that term]
You are correct, Josh was launching from 21.5 ft or just inside
the arc [straight line on sides]. Worst shot in B-ball.
My point about 16 ftr’s was a hypothetical practice situation.
I think we are in agreement.
truthspitter
October 28th, 2010
5:39 pm
I would trade Smoove and Zaza for Danny Granger and Jeff Foster. I really think if Rashard Lewis can play PF Marvin can also. I know we would lose our only defensive presence around the rim but Josh is not going to ever really learn how to play basketball, I have never even seen the guy commit himself to using the glass on jumpshots. Tim Duncan is not a good jump shooter with that line drive shot but he has pretty much mastered angles and how to use the glass and that has made him a productive jump shooter but he is not naturally a good jump shooter.
zaza
October 28th, 2010
5:40 pm
NOTHING EASY
NOTHING EASY
jamillion
October 28th, 2010
5:41 pm
just wondering why are we so critical of josh smiths game.you guys want your cake and ice cream to
the guy is trying to have an all around game,whats wrong with that?
hell michael jordan,didn’t have a jumper, and lebrons j is just now getting nice in the last two years, it’s not like he’s trying to be reggie miller,that’s the one part of his game that is missing,let him get there to be a complete player.
it’s not like he is dwight howard or shaq.
we aren’t suppose to critisize people for getting better. damn yall hate dude to death.
take what you have and be proud of it. if your fat wife was losing pounds would you be made. if your kid was a d student and was studying more what would you do, tell him be a dummy?
respect what you got before it’s gone. peace
jamillion
October 28th, 2010
5:53 pm
truth spitter did you just call for jeff(gasp) foster.
man you guys are like a ugly dude who beats up his nice looking gurl.
you aint gonna know what you have until it’s gone, and then see don’t nobody wanna f’with ya noway.
and danny granger is just marvin as a number one option,with worse defense.
actually,let marvin take twenty shots a game, he a easily average twenty two or twenty five points per game.numbers don’t lie.
jamillion
October 28th, 2010
5:54 pm
man i wouldn’t trade zaza for jeff foster garbage ass str8 up.
who’s your dopeman?
lewis
October 28th, 2010
6:01 pm
where / when did D Wade comment on the Hawks being tough?
link please
O'Brien
October 28th, 2010
6:25 pm
J from the A,
Why would you call a set play for someone to take a certain shot that they only make 30% of the time (on average)? And there is a reason why Josh is usually open out there. Defenders and opposing coaches want him to take that shot, because he misses it a lot.
And if he is shooting, then that means he is not in the post, where he is so much better.
wordsmithtom,
I agree that if Josh can hit those shots, he would almost be unguardable. However, this is his 7th year in the league. He shoots 30% on those shots from that distance out. When is he EVER going to make it consistently enough to justify shooting it?
O'Brien
October 28th, 2010
6:27 pm
Josh needs to focus on making his FTs. In 2008-2009, he shot 59% from the FT line. In 2009-2010, Josh shot 62% from the FT line.
If a guy cant make his FTs at a higher percentage, do we really want him taking shots from 16 feet out (with defenders close by)?
drmaryb (*_*)
October 28th, 2010
6:29 pm
Lewis
I saw the DWade & Spolestra interview last night on the Heat -vs- ? Half-Time Report. I forget what channel that was. After breaking down the Hawks, they began to discuss the Bulls. But, I flipped back to watch the Hawks game.
It might be from the NBA TV Team Preview programs.
They were very high on the Hawks Team and very impressed with what the Hawks are doing.
Grandad
October 28th, 2010
6:32 pm
wordsmithtom
wordsmithtom said:
* “pick your fights”
I disagree with this statement.
-Dr. James Dobson- “Dare to Discipline” & “The Strong Willed Child”
Having read, then raised a family, plus coached thirty plus years,
*I tried to win ‘em all. Then again I’m bullheaded. Ask my young’uns.
wordsmithtom said:
“To use a page out of Zenmaster’s playbook….don’t use passion to correct passion….”
Not disagreeing, to a degree.
I tried to always keep everything internal [locker-room].
None of the public’s business.
As for Josh & LD = none of ours either, really.
wordsmithtom said:
“To quit taking it would be questioning his own talent.
A shooter is a shooter is a shooter”
Sorry;
Josh ain’t no shooter.
Actually, Josh is a shooter;
Josh ain’t no “shot-maker”!
O'Brien
October 28th, 2010
6:33 pm
Thanks to nire for posting the link, but based on Josh’s shot chart from last night, he was 3-3 inside the paint (100%), but 2-7 outside the paint (29%).
cp
October 28th, 2010
6:33 pm
How is Bibby looking overweight? He looks like he is in good shape. Yea its really looking like somebody didn’t watch the game and is just copying and pasting the same stuff from last season… And you must have a pathetic life that you’re using someone else’s handle only to make the same silly argument you always do on your other 50 handles.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 28th, 2010
6:46 pm
It’s in there!
cp
Context reveals Character!
It’s like Ragu – It’s in there!
It’s like fake spaghetti sauce (too sweet, too much MSG, too many preservatives), and everybody know’s Grandma didn’t make it.
Grandad
October 28th, 2010
6:51 pm
Les Miles is loose again. [AKA the Mad Hatter]*[TS]
J from the A
October 28th, 2010
6:54 pm
O’Brien said:
“Why would you call a set play for someone to take a certain shot that they only make 30% of the time (on average)? And there is a reason why Josh is usually open out there. Defenders and opposing coaches want him to take that shot, because he misses it a lot.
And if he is shooting, then that means he is not in the post, where he is so much better.”
J from the A says:
The Hawks new offensive game plan calls for Josh to play around the perimeter a bit more often. Josh has an unique skill set that includes above average passing abilities and the ability to direct the team and run the offense at times. (He is not a one-dimensional post-only player that you want to make him out to be.)
If Josh can start making the 17 footer with any kind of consistency, this will open up all kinds of wonderful opportunities for the Hawks. Now is the time to “experiment” with various offensive schemes/sets/plays …including sets that may lead to Josh taking 17 footers. If the “experiment” works out, it adds another more dimension to the Hawks game … if it doesn’t, well, as long as everything else is working out, it doesn’t hurt the Hawks too much to give it a try. However, as I have said before, if the experiment isn’t working out by, say the end of November, it might be time to move on from it.
The risk is minimal (as long as Josh and the Hawks are willing to abandon the experiment if it doesn’t work out), but the potential pay-off is immense.
KevinM
October 28th, 2010
7:09 pm
So 2 cents says Horford is being shopped…sure doesn’t make sense to make him a captain does it?
Does it really make sense to leave the backline with Smoove and Zaza as the mainstays no matter who we get to come in? Zaza has one breakout game that hasn’t been seen since when? 2008?
I wouldn’t jump so quick on that; Sund isn’t known to doing trades during the season. And frankly, he has Al signed for 2 years right now if no one gives him an offer. (highly unlikely yes)
Jamal would get my vote to be the first one off the LD island.
O'Brien
October 28th, 2010
7:17 pm
J from the A,
I understand where you’re coming from. But my point is, in 6 years in the league, Josh has been unable to hit the 17 footer consistently. So why would LD take the time now in Josh’s 7th season to experiment and see if he can make it or not?
Part of the problem with Josh as well, is that he has bad shot selection/timing. When we’re playing Memphis, and up by 10, him taking a 17 footer is not that big a deal.
But if we are playing Miami, and we are down by 3, I would not want Josh taking that shot.
He made tremendous progress last year by eliminating his 3pt attempts, and I’m a big fan of Josh.
Its only been one game though, so we’ll see what happens from here on out.
Big Ray
October 28th, 2010
7:42 pm
LOL. I’m glad to see that most folk can tell the difference between me and somebody who wants to pretend to be me. I’d say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but I know that flattery wasn’t the intention, LOL.
Oh well, moving right along, and I see that the fake me is now going by the name of “Two Cents”, as if we don’t all recognize who it really is. Hey what can you say, a troll can’t change his warts anymore than a tiger can his stripes, or a leopard his spots, though surely I am insulting both cats by putting them in the same sentence as monseiur troll.
Anyway, why do we keep saying “Yeah, we beat Memphis, but they didn’t have Gasol or Randolph.” Okay, I get that, but are they a different team from last year? Heck, they’re almost the exact same squad as they were last year. Hell, we aren’t much different from last year. So does anyone remember what happened last year? I do. We beat them at home, and we beat them in Memphis, both times by 13 or 14 points. And guess what? They had Gasol and Randolph both times. Yep.
Here’s the difference: This time, they didn’t have Gasol, and Z-bo got hurt. But on our side, Al played badly, and Zaza stepped up in his place. Meanwhile, Josh didn’t have a great game, saving his field goal percentage by making a couple of layups later in the game. Otherwise, he was jacking up jumpers early in the shot clock, shot an airball, and missed badly on a few passes. Both our low post guys played subpar (especially when compared to the damage they did to Memphis last year), and we still won. Fact is, we’re just plain better than those guys, and we’re better by double digit points every time, so long as 4 or 5 of our top 9 rotation players don’t stink it up.
Philly will be more of a test, as they have the athletes to keep up with us. But…they’re missing Dalembert.
CornDawg
October 28th, 2010
7:48 pm
I soooooooo want to believe! Was excellent to actually see some consistent ball movement as well as Team Defense. We may actually have a Coach who isn’t afraid to adjust when necessary and will make calls to win versus patronize the players. Great start Hawks!
Big Ray
October 28th, 2010
7:52 pm
O’brien ,
I can see that Josh Smith’s jump shot mechanics are different this year. His release is quicker and a little smoother. But, he has to make the shot. I think this can improve, but he’ll have to commit to shooting a thousand of those a day. I have always maintained that it is good for him to develop a midrange jumper. I still think it is.
As you say, however, his shot selection remains the issue (as in, WHEN to shoot that jumper). The guy is hard-headed. I don’t know what else to say, and I’ve been a fan of his for a long time. I hope this isn’t something that continues to hurt the team, but I certainly cannot guarantee that it won’t. In the meantime, I wish he would “D” everybody up, not just the guys he sees as threats.
It was embarrassing watching Darrell Arthur put up 19 points on us by shooting 8 for 12 from the field.
Whatever happened to the “#1 defensive power forward in the league?”
Just my “2 cents worth”…..
Big Ray
October 28th, 2010
7:55 pm
2 cents
October 28th, 2010
6:51 pm
Al Horford Rumors, Gossip & News | Yardbarker.com
Wow. For someone who hates Al Horford like he stole their girlfriend, dude sure knows how to find ANY sort of news about him. Went from hater to stalker. Al might wanna get a restraining order. For trolls.
Ken Strickland
October 28th, 2010
8:07 pm
Why is everyone making an issue of JSmith taking a few jumpers? He certainly didn’t make a secret that he was working on a midrange jumpshot during the off season. So why would anyone be surprised to see him do what he spent the off season working on? I don’t have a problem with him taking jumpshots, as long as there aren’t many 3’s included in his attempts. He has to do something to keep defenders honest, since he certainly doesn’t have the handle or the moves to be a dominant inside scorer.
Too many Hawk fans are nit picking and acting like we’ve had a tradition of winning and winning big. We have a new HC, a new OFF/DEF, and a new philosophy. We played our season opener on the road, scored 119pts and won big, yet some of you can’t help but take a negative approach by finding something, anything, to complain about. You B!TCH AND COMPLAIN about the Hawks not having the talent to be a title contender, yet at the same time you expect the team and everything about the team to be absolutely perfect the 1st gm of the season. WHERE’S THE LOGIC?
O'Brien
October 28th, 2010
8:16 pm
Ken,
Him going 2-7 from outside the paint does not keep defenders honest. They will continue to leave him open, just like they did last year, just like they did the year before that.
And I cant speak for others, but personally, I was thrilled with the game last night. But that doesnt mean we can’t discuss Josh and his jump shots.
I am looking forward to the Magic game tonight. And I am looking forward to the John Wall era. I wonder who will be ROY? Will it be Blake Griffin? John Wall? Or somebody else?
drmaryb (*_*)
October 28th, 2010
8:21 pm
TRO!
Blu-Ray
(Clear Image)
A Temporary Restraining Order?
Ha! That’s just a piece of paper! Wild horses couldn’t stop this out of con-troll troll! (LOL!)
How about a 10 minute conversation in a very dark alley, just to talk and you know, smooth some things out. Civilly? Yeah, that might work.
This dude is like a vapor, it seeps through concrete walls, ventilation ducts and cracks in the ceiling. No TRO can stop that, ask MC?
No, I say the dark alley would be a good start, you know a very nice conversation to build some character and understanding.
-smiles-
John Brown
October 28th, 2010
8:33 pm
Shellhead went for 8pts 16 reb last night. I know at least one of those has to be a career high.
John Brown
October 28th, 2010
8:34 pm
The worst part is last night J Smoove went 1-1 from the 3pt line. Oh no. Now he’s gonna shoot em all year.