Utah Jazz at Atlanta Hawks: Still happy, together?
L.D. called guys out during the Thursday video session and apparently some feelings got hurt. When the team huddled up after practice, he told them: “This is no time to be sensitive. I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong and you have to be able to look in the mirror. There is going to be accountability.”
Smoove and Al, who got into during a timeout huddle in the Bucks game, both said the team remains together.
“It took a game like that to wake us up to doing things the right way and staying together,” Smoove said.
“I think for a moment there everybody kind of went their own ways on the court,” Al said. “We came back together [Thursday] solid. We have to make a commitment to each other to always try to stick together even when the going gets tough.”
Wednesday night’s debacle was reminiscent of Atlanta’s meltdown against Orlando last spring, but L.D. said he’s fine with some healthy disagreement:
“It kind of comes with the territory any time you lose. The most important thing is that we don’t fragment. I want those guys upset. I want them mad that they didn’t play well, they didn’t play the way capable of playing. I want them them jawing at each other but do it in a constructive way and allow that frustration to transfer to [Friday] night’s game and let’s take it out on the Jazz. I think it’s healthy for a team if it’s done in the right way. But it it causes any kind of problems among the players, then it’s a problem. I embrace that, especially if it’s done the right way.”
Crucial conflict
At Hoopinion, Bret LaGree succinctly sums up L.D.’s dilemma when it comes to his reserves:
Larry Drew’s commitment to using his bench both to develop depth* and not to exhaust his starters is theoretically sound. Practically, he lacks the personnel to accomplish either goal without suffering in-game consequences. Jamal Crawford** and Zaza Pachulia are his only (healthy) quality reserves. There are very good reasons why Josh Powell, Jason Collins, and Etan Thomas have not been rotation players in the NBA for years and the drop-off from All-Star starters to sub-replacement level reserves will cause conflict between Drew’s desires and the realities of winning basketball games.
**Jamal Crawford is still a valuable offensive contributor to this team but, as he reverts to his career norms following a career year and has to fit into a team concept which does not suit his particular skills as well as the absolute scoring freedom Mike Woodson gave him, his weaknesses become more apparent with each passing game.
And the consequences of the conflict for Drew that LaGree desribes, which has been exacerbated by injuries exposing Atlanta’s unbalanced roster, lead to the kind of things you saw in the Bucks game: Guys are playing out of position, not suited for their roles or simply not good enough, and suddenly the whole thing falls apart and everyone’s frustrated.
Mo is back tonight (L.D. said he would come off the bench) and Marvin is close so perhaps when those players return and the rotation gets back to normal things won’t be so out of whack for the reserves.
“I like our bench,” Zaza said. “We have great guys. We’ve got bigs, athletic, shooters, quickness. I feel confident about our bench. We just need to make it more consistent.”
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
254 comments Add your comment
lewis
November 12th, 2010
6:56 pm
yeah Kobe actually said Atlanta was the most athletic team they face all year
lewis
November 12th, 2010
6:59 pm
marvin starting is phenomenal news
Sautee
November 12th, 2010
7:07 pm
Ramon,
I’m not sure why, but Horford seems less aggressive in even TRYING to block shots like he did just two years ago. If he would just get back to that level (1.4 per game) it would make a big difference.
lewis
November 12th, 2010
7:18 pm
we look great
Sautee
November 12th, 2010
7:20 pm
Neither team playing much D yet.
superiorblogman
November 12th, 2010
7:20 pm
So, I guess the gameplan is to give Horford less shots? Drew is a joke, they will need Horford later in the game and he will be cold from the few touches. Josh is too inconsistent with his shot making to be a focal point. Drew should be fired now to save the season.
Ramon
November 12th, 2010
7:20 pm
Sautee, I agree. And a lot of times its not about the block shot. Its the challenging the shot to force a bad attempt. Jump up and slap the back board just to make them think that you were close to block their shot.
JSS
November 12th, 2010
7:24 pm
Wow, how the world has changed! Marvin and Mo are being hailed and treated like Caesar and Marc Antony coming back from Spain in triumph!
bigdave
November 12th, 2010
7:27 pm
LD goes big w/ his 1st subs as Za Za is the 2nd man off bench moving Josh to the 3.. if anything Marvin’s time off allowed coach to become confident with that move..
Sautee
November 12th, 2010
7:27 pm
Ramon,
Yep.
bigdave
November 12th, 2010
7:31 pm
this is a good looking 2nd group.. w/ Joe and Al moving to the 4
superiorblogman
November 12th, 2010
7:33 pm
Up 6 with only Joe Johnson of our best 3 out there, watch how it goes downhill. We need 2 of our top 3 out there at all times
bigdave
November 12th, 2010
7:34 pm
Jamal just roaming lost on d…
then asking for the ball on inbound.
gotta do better Jamal.
Aaron
November 12th, 2010
7:36 pm
There goes the bench again, playing weak defense. Larry Drew needs to be cautious with his bench tonight and not give them too much slack. We don’t want to see this game get away. By the way, what was Jamal thinking on that last possession leaving Deron Williams wide open from the top of the key? Even if that was Joe’s man, he was closest to Jamal and he had to cover him for those last few seconds.
Sautee
November 12th, 2010
7:36 pm
WTF was Mo doing? Why run right past Deron to get to his man when Deron was unguarded at the top of the key.
superiorblogman
November 12th, 2010
7:37 pm
Oh well LD, the career backup coach is way more incompetent with subs than Woody. His stupid arse still has not realized that he needs to keep 2 of the top 3 on the floor at all times. Joe, Smoove, and Al. 2 of those 3 need to be on the floor at all times.
lukas
November 12th, 2010
7:39 pm
Jeff “garbage time-star” Teague
Aaron
November 12th, 2010
7:42 pm
If only Teague could shoot…
Sautee
November 12th, 2010
7:42 pm
Our bench is at least hanging with their bench so far.
J.J.M.
November 12th, 2010
7:43 pm
teague is a complete bust…unlike most point guards teague never drives the ball to score/look for contact and he has the ugliest jump shot in the nba
Sautee
November 12th, 2010
7:45 pm
J.J.M.,
Except for Chills, LOL!
J.J.M.
November 12th, 2010
7:46 pm
lmao oh yea chilldress does have a uglt shot also
J.J.M.
November 12th, 2010
7:49 pm
if you are a teammate of josh and knows he is a great chase down blocker why do you foul?
J.J.M.
November 12th, 2010
7:56 pm
iso
bigdave
November 12th, 2010
7:58 pm
Josh came to help.. but i was interested in seeing how Marvin defended the 4..
JSS
November 12th, 2010
7:58 pm
“ajchawks J. Smith was dribbling around, looking to crossover. Drew yells: “Go get it Jeff!”
Ha ha ha ha!!!
superiorblogman
November 12th, 2010
7:59 pm
Josh Smoth is extremely selfish, he is trying his best to be Odom or Pippen and does not have the handle or skill, he is killing the Hawks breaks by trying to lead the break instead of finish them. I really don’t like his game at all on offense.
superiorblogman
November 12th, 2010
8:07 pm
I think LD is doing a horrible job of gameplans. Josh whines and cries like the sensitive sissy he is so they start off the game going to him and really got nothing out of it to get anyone else going. Al and Mike are totally off of there games because of it and it will cost the Hawks when the Jazz make there second half run
Sautee
November 12th, 2010
8:11 pm
Horford is STILL doing poorly on the boards (only 3 in 18 min.). I’m not sure what the deal is, but WTF happened to that player that was getting 12 a game for a spell?
Najeh Davenpoop
November 12th, 2010
8:21 pm
“Phil Jackson said on PTI about the Eastern Conference: “I still think the Celtics are the cream of the crop but there is also Atlanta, Miami and Orlando, there are very good teams in the East.””
This is more of a dig at his old employer than anything to do with the Hawks.
bigdave
November 12th, 2010
8:22 pm
“Horford is STILL doing poorly on the boards (only 3 in 18 min.). I’m not sure what the deal is, but WTF happened to that player that was getting 12 a game for a spell?”
almost as if his focus isnt geared on grabbing every miss of the rim…
J.J.M.
November 12th, 2010
8:26 pm
I dont see motion
terrell
November 12th, 2010
8:30 pm
Joe “dribble, dribble, dribble” Johnson, PLEASE MOVE THE BALL!
J.J.M.
November 12th, 2010
8:34 pm
see what their point guard can do?
lukas
November 12th, 2010
8:37 pm
“Horford is STILL doing poorly on the boards (only 3 in 18 min.). I’m not sure what the deal is, but WTF happened to that player that was getting 12 a game for a spell?”
He is focusing more in scoring than rebounding or boxing out. The defensive-minded, tough rookie that challenged Paul Pierce is lost in translation. I hope to see him again soon.
Melvin
November 12th, 2010
8:38 pm
Deron Williams is just a Bully…
bigdave
November 12th, 2010
8:40 pm
please hush about Josh’s offensive skill.. dude can play.
Sautee
November 12th, 2010
8:41 pm
See what our point forward can do?
Melvin
November 12th, 2010
8:49 pm
Josh is just beating Millsap down…
J.J.M.
November 12th, 2010
8:51 pm
in charles barkley voice “zaza is turrible”
Najeh Davenpoop
November 12th, 2010
8:52 pm
Smoove is the Hawks’ best player.
superiorblogman
November 12th, 2010
8:55 pm
Josh Smith is so overrated by the national media. Shows how hungry for attention he is, hopefully his trade value goes up so the Hawks can trade his sensitive weak arse. The Hawks will lose this game as Smith and Johnson are the only 2 in any groove
Najeh Davenpoop
November 12th, 2010
8:56 pm
Teague drive and dish.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 12th, 2010
8:57 pm
Here’s where the Hawks better be careful.
J.J.M.
November 12th, 2010
8:59 pm
lol I see someone has a crush on smoove…you havent mention no other playe yet other than smoove
Najeh Davenpoop
November 12th, 2010
8:59 pm
Drew needs to get the starters back in.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 12th, 2010
9:00 pm
Powell is f-cking WORTHLESS.
J.J.M.
November 12th, 2010
9:03 pm
smh@this team
bigdave
November 12th, 2010
9:03 pm
Jamal Crawford just plain careless.
J.J.M.
November 12th, 2010
9:03 pm
put josh and horford back in before you blow another game