Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks: Bucks looking for ‘true nature’
Remember when everyone said the Bucks might overtake the Hawks this season? Maybe it still happens but Milwaukee is 3-5 and couldn’t find much offense until shooting 53 percent to beat the Knicks 107-80 last night.
Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel thinks that was “the first real hint of their true nature,” just in time for the Hawks:
How long does it, or should it, take for an NBA team to disclose its real identity?
“I wouldn’t want to put a time frame on it,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. “I don’t know what the true nature of the team would be yet.”
For this group, it wouldn’t be the bricklayers who were 30th out of 30 teams in scoring and 29th in shooting percentage on the way to a 2-5 start, with seven of the nine in the rotation missing more than six of every 10 shots taken.
But Skiles noted the Bucks are ahead of his schedule defensively. Defense, of course, is what made the Bucks a tough out for the Hawks in the East semis last spring even without Bogut, a capable post defender.
Tonight will be a good chance to see how Atlanta’s new offensive approach works against a rugged defensive team. It worked pretty well against Orlando but Milwaukee plays a different style.
“They are a dangerous team,” L.D. said. “It’s just a matter of time before they get it clicking. It’s going to be a physical game. I told our guys, the first words out of my mouth were ‘playoff intensity.’ Skiles’ teams in the past have always been physical teams, so we have to be prepared for a physical game.”
Not his policy
L.D. said he’s not married to the strategy of keeping Al on the bench when he gets two fouls in the first half. It’s just sort of worked out that way.
“What has happened with that, Al has gotten two fouls, but the team had been playing well,” Drew said. “They were in a little bit of a rhythm. Had it been the other way around, I would have put him back in. I had sent him back to the scorer’s table in the second quarter [at Orlando], but I pulled him back because the team had started to get in a rhythm and a flow.”
So L.D said it’s not necessarily going to be something he does all of the time. In fact, he said he’d like to leave Al and the other starters out there in those situations so they can get accustomed to it.
“I want our guys to learn to play with two fouls,” he said. “I don’t want guys to think every time they get two fouls, they are coming out the game.”
Injury report
Mo participated in the shootaround today and is set for a full-contact practice tomorrow. If all goes well he could return to play Friday against Utah.
Marvin also participated in shootaround and was “moving very well,” Drew said, but he’s not expected to practice tomorrow.
Drew said the lineup shuffling necessary due to the lack of small forwards has been “OK” but he’s playing Josh and J.J. more minutes than he’d like. Joe has played 40-plus in five of the last six games. Smoove hasn’t played quite as many minutes but L.D. notes the rotation out of whack because when Joe goes he has to leave Josh in until Joe returns
Another possibility broached by L.D.: playing Teague, Bibby and Jamal together to “buy some time,” though L.D. said the Hawks would have to play zone defense with that lineup to avoid being hurt by post-ups.
“We’ve been piecing it together,” Drew said.
Carlos Delfino is out for the Bucks.
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
270 comments Add your comment
superiorblogman
November 10th, 2010
8:09 pm
Al is my favorite Hawk but the guy is 6″10 PF/C and only has 2 rebounds in the 1st half that is a constant problem with the guy.
lewis
November 10th, 2010
8:10 pm
fact is, zaza ruined it. he sucks at basketball and restaurants
Hawks v Bucks
November 10th, 2010
8:11 pm
are the Hawks going to have to settle for yet another moral victory loss? This can get tiring over time.
They went 6-0 against the bad teams but they’re knocking at the door of a three game losing streak vs. the better teams
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 10th, 2010
8:13 pm
27 point swing in the favor of the Bucks since the 13 pt lead is plain unacceptable.
Big Ray
November 10th, 2010
8:13 pm
Well that was nice and ugly. A team that the experts and pundits said would be better than us is outplaying us. At home, no less. Of course, we could offer the following excuses:
1) We just played Orlando on a back-to-back a day ago, and so have not had much rest. But that’s the nature of the NBA season.
2) We don’t have Marvin, so we’re stuck putting Josh Smith on Corey Maggette, who likes to shoot from the outside. Not a good matchup when we need Josh’s presence in the paint as both a rebounder and shot-changer. But injuries happen to all teams.
So, we’re left with a matter of effort and execution. Both are missing.
Milwaukee is not a joke. For those who thought the newcomers would not improve them….tell me what you think now. Are they better than us? I still believe that answer is “no.” They have to prove it. I know what the first half is saying, let’s see about correcting this in the second half.
ATL FAN
November 10th, 2010
8:14 pm
Notice we don’t have ONE good rebounder, as superior said, if only Horford knew how to get consistent rebounds, our problems would be solved.
northcyde
November 10th, 2010
8:15 pm
LOL @ people talking about JJ, but ain’t saying jack ish about the coach. If we lose this game, this will be Drew’s 1st poorly coached game.
You don’t sit there and watch those scrubs off the bench blow a lead that quickly, and not do anything to stop the bleeding. Horford was KILLING those dudes, and he didn’t even get back into the game until the 7 min mark in the 2nd?
This is exactly what I was talking about before the game. Drew is sticking with guys like Zaza and Powell wayyyy too long. If they’re playing like crap GET THEM OUT OF THE GAME.
LOL . . . we had a 13 point lead . . lost that lead in about 6 minutes time . . and now we’re down 14?
STOP LEAVING SCRUBS IN THE GAME DREW !!!
LOL @ Jamal’s +/- rating. Shameful.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 10th, 2010
8:16 pm
The Hawks don’t need great rebounders. They just need the existing players to learn how to box out. Giving up offensive rebounds is just about boxing out and effort.
ATL FAN
November 10th, 2010
8:17 pm
Truth is, we need a true PG. Bibby is so much like Eddie House, there’s no way I can ever see Eddie House being a starting PG anywhere, let alone Bibby. They both settle for 3s and play poor defense against quick PGs. No way we can get anywhere with Bibby as our STARTING point guard.
Melvin
November 10th, 2010
8:18 pm
Good thing there’s two halfs….
Von
November 10th, 2010
8:19 pm
I blame the coaching staff for a lot of this deficit. L.D. needs to give his starters the respect they deserve by giving them the minutes that they have rightfully earned. The Hawks were off to a great start and had all of the momentum going their way, but for some odd reason, instead of riding the hot hand and the momentum, L.D. decided to reward his starters with early exits to the bench, in particular, Al Horford. There was no legitimate excuse for taking Al out at close to the 4 minute mark in the first quarter. He was carrying the team in that first half and was playing great on both ends of the floor. L.D. also stuck too long with the bench while Milwaukee made their enormous run. He could have called an early timeout in the second quarter to stop the momentum before Milwaukee had total control, but instead he stuck with the bench until they had built up a hole. Then, he stuck with Zaza at center, who had struggled the entire night, until he was forced to move him to the bench due to fouls. Al had 0 fouls, the Hawks could have played him at center with Josh at the 4 and Joe at the 3, meanwhile using bibby and Jamal in the backcourt, but LD didn’t go to that until nearly the end of the half. L.D. needs to learn to make substitutions in a more timely manner and stick to what works. Al is 5/5 from the field, yet he gets 1 attempt in the second quarter? That makes no sense at all. I don’t know if the players are just not executing L.D.’s plays or if he is insisting on calling plays primarily for Joe and for perimeter shots. The Hawks need to work the ball inside more tonight. I think they’d have a lot more success that way. Also, get Josh off of Maggette. That is a clear mismatch, and it has been obvious since Maggette came into the game. I’d rather play a smaller lineup and put Joe on him. Come on guys, lets get it together.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 10th, 2010
8:20 pm
Why the f-ck is Twin shooting jumpers with more than 10 seconds left on the clock?
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 10th, 2010
8:21 pm
is Drew gonna show any emotion on the bench?? I mean FIRE.
He looked like he was about to cry on that last cam shot.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 10th, 2010
8:22 pm
I agree that LD shouldn’t have gone with the bench for so long, but this is about more than coaching. The Hawks are just not trying in this game.
cp
November 10th, 2010
8:22 pm
absolutely disgusting effort from the Hawks so far. This is why people dont take them serious.
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 10th, 2010
8:23 pm
WOOOOOW
bigdave
November 10th, 2010
8:24 pm
interesting to see how we respond here..
Najeh Davenpoop
November 10th, 2010
8:24 pm
Six wins against sh-tty teams and three losses against good teams.
Yes, I am chalking this game up as a loss with 20 minutes left to play.
I’m sorry Ken Strickland, but this is not cause for optimism.
Hawks v Bucks
November 10th, 2010
8:24 pm
I don’t think the Hawks are prone to big 2nd half comebacks like Utah, this one might be over before the 4th even starts
Wabe
November 10th, 2010
8:25 pm
W
T
F
are the Hawks doing?
cp
November 10th, 2010
8:27 pm
Is Sund still on vacation smh
J.J.M.
November 10th, 2010
8:27 pm
and how many home loses they had last season?
D Hawks
November 10th, 2010
8:27 pm
Unfortunately, it looks like the Hawks are what I thought they were – no better than sixth best team in the East. Won-lost records don’t mean much at this point of the season, performance does.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 10th, 2010
8:27 pm
The thing is, the Hawks have played these last three games (including tonight) the same way they played the six games to start the season — efficient offense, poor defense, terrible rebounding. They got to the line better in the first seven games than they have in these last two, but other than that they are doing pretty much the same things.
The new scheme is good, but the failure to upgrade the personnel over the offseason is going to result in another early playoff exit.
Matt
November 10th, 2010
8:28 pm
I see the “Same Old Hawks” are back. Three loses in a row coming right up. Losers.
ATL FAN
November 10th, 2010
8:29 pm
Josh Smith is f***ing making his sleeve when their PG is driving into the lane…
Wabe
November 10th, 2010
8:30 pm
At least we got the Falcons/Ravens game to fall back on tomorrow night…
northcyde
November 10th, 2010
8:31 pm
Najeh . . if that’s the case . . the former coach could’ve used that excuse all the time.
The 2nd unit was notorious for not playing defense last year, and the same thing is happening this year. Difference is, Drew is leaving those guys out there, like they can play through it.
I had a feeling this game would turn as soon as Drew went to the bench. And I be dang if I wasn’t right. Now the Hawks have to dang near play perfect just to get back into the game.
Big Ray
November 10th, 2010
8:34 pm
We blew it all in the second quarter, but the third isn’t going a heck of a lot better.
bigdave
November 10th, 2010
8:34 pm
good teams with winning professional philosophies, offensive and defensive, use their bench. im not sure what you want out of your starters if they are logging major minutes. LD said in the begging that he would have to rely heavy on his bench. you already know who deserves the blame for the lack of talent on it..
remember, this isnt rest on offense watch Joe.. nor is it guard your man til the switch comes..
Rick
November 10th, 2010
8:34 pm
Told you this team was garbage
3 losses in a row after all that pumping when they beat crap teams.
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 10th, 2010
8:34 pm
Salmons WORKED Crawford lol
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 10th, 2010
8:35 pm
ball game
J.J.M.
November 10th, 2010
8:35 pm
let me hop on another team wagon while I can…hmm I say blazers
Najeh Davenpoop
November 10th, 2010
8:37 pm
Time to switch to ESPN and watch some good teams play.
Wabe
November 10th, 2010
8:37 pm
Dude, it’s the F’N Bucks…
The Bucks…
The Bucks are not good.
And they’re definitely not this good.
On top of that, they played last night.
We didn’t.
This is a JOKE.
cp
November 10th, 2010
8:37 pm
Its time to put Jamal on the block. Dude plays no defense and does whatever he wants on offense.
JeJe
November 10th, 2010
8:37 pm
This team is still elite! 6-2! We’re contenders!
SMGDMFH
superiorblogman
November 10th, 2010
8:38 pm
51 pts and the 3rd is basically over what a joke
J.J.M.
November 10th, 2010
8:38 pm
I just unliked this team on facebook….lol and people wonder why the city of atlanta dont support this team that well
Von
November 10th, 2010
8:38 pm
This is the worst I’ve seen the team play, overall, in a long, long time. This looks worse than when the Hawks played the Magic last year in the playoffs.
bigdave
November 10th, 2010
8:38 pm
this is about to get ugly..
Big Ray
November 10th, 2010
8:38 pm
Ahhh…now let’s see what JC2 can do.
Hawks v Bucks
November 10th, 2010
8:39 pm
Looks like the Hawks will play Utah hoping to avoid their 4th loss in a row … and frankly I don’t even know if they can beat them or not.
At least they get the T-Wolves on Sunday, they can at least beat another bad team to avoid a big losing streak.
JeJe
November 10th, 2010
8:40 pm
WE’RE PLAYING AT HOME VS A TEAM COMING OFF A FREAKING BACK 2 BACK
WalterEgo
November 10th, 2010
8:40 pm
The only player currently with a (+) +/ is Jason Collins! Ouch.
cp
November 10th, 2010
8:40 pm
Nice upgrade of talent on the bench Sund smdh. Pure garbage. Team cant rebound to save their lives. We might as well kept RandyMo if we wanted guys who dont get on that glass
Ree Roe
November 10th, 2010
8:41 pm
And the sad thing to me is that MIL isn’t better than us. We can’t rebound, lack intensity & are getting embarrassed. I’m stunned
-REEsale Roe!
Gwinnett Fred
November 10th, 2010
8:41 pm
The only word that comes to mind watching this team play the past 3 games, especially tonight is “EXPOSED”
Big Ray
November 10th, 2010
8:42 pm
I believe I’ll give our team another 10-12 games before acting like I knew all along that the bench stunk and that we’d get beaten by playoff teams.
If you can predict how the second round will go in the first 10 games of the regular season, then my hat’s off to ya. Somebody should be paying you the big bucks, because nobody else has managed to do it….
This is another game that shows how badly matched up we are when we’re missing the only two small forwards that we have.