Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers: No road worries
If you want to be optimistic, you can say there’s some solace to be had for the Hawks despite that four-game losing streak. It can be found in the standings, where no team in the East except for Boston has distinguished itself, and more specifically in Atlanta’s 4-1 road record.
(You can also say the three losses at home already cancel that out, but work with me here.)
The Hawks have been more efficient on both offense and defense on the road. Like everything with the Hawks so far, the quality of opponents probably has something to do with that–they had their worst offensive game at Orlando and their best defensive game vs. Detroit–but Atlanta has handled its business on the road.
“So far, so good,” L.D. said. “Just hopefully we can keep it up. Hopefully we are understanding how to play on the road. I’ve always said you have to play with a road mentality. You can’t play as fast, you have to be a little more selective with your shots. Certainly you can’t turn the ball over. All of those are momentum plays for the competition.”
I was thinking about L.D.’s philosophy during the Minnesota game Sunday. The T-Wolves started playing too fast, turning the ball over and jacking up bad shots, and the Hawks seemed to be turning every mistake into a basket. The crowd got into it, the Hawks played with more bounce and suddenly Minnesota was down big.
It might sound strange for a coach to say he wants the team to alter its style on the road but that’s what L.D. believes.
“A lot of people don’t quite understand it, whether they disagree or disagree,” he said. “I think it is important that you control tempo. That doesn’t mean if you are a fastbreak team you don’t get out and run the fastbreak. You still run your fastbreak but you are a little bit more selective with your shots at the end. Because the one thing you don’t want to do is you don’t want to get into a pace that is an advantage for them, especially if you are not making shots.”
Injury report
Mo sat out practice yesterday with swelling in his knee. He said there might be times when he has to back off but that he expects to be part of the rotation from here on out.
Darren Collison (ankle) and Tyler Hansbrough (ankle) are out for the Pacers. T.J. Ford is starting in Collison’s place. Mike Wells of the Indy Star writes that Collison has had problems with Jim O’Brien’s offense and Ford has been playing late in games.
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
98 comments Add your comment
superiorblogman
November 16th, 2010
6:48 pm
Oh well Hawks catch a break with Collison out
Bobby
November 16th, 2010
6:50 pm
The Pacers seem to be very thin up front with both Hansbrough and Foster out. That basically leaves just Roy Hibbert, Josh McRoberts, and Solomon Jones for their bigs. The Hawks need to take advantage of this. I hope to see a lot of Al Horford and Josh Smith tonight. Lets keep up the winning ways to cover up that horrible losing streak of last week.
Richard
November 16th, 2010
6:57 pm
So, the rumor is that Hibbert has been “scouting” Horford as well other opponents that he had trouble against last season. Hibbert seems to be very focused on having a good game tonight. However, I know the Boss will up to the challenge. Also, even if Hibbert has improved since last season, Horford has made improvements of his own. This should be interesting to watch.
superiorblogman
November 16th, 2010
7:21 pm
Josh needs to pass the ball and quit trying to be a playmaker. Al needs more shots.
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 16th, 2010
7:28 pm
what kinda defense has that been the past couple sequences
O'Brien
November 16th, 2010
7:28 pm
Its starting to look like JJ is holding the ball too long on offense more than he used to
J.J.M.
November 16th, 2010
7:28 pm
nothing but jumpshots
superiorblogman
November 16th, 2010
7:29 pm
JJ is not the one holding the ball that is Josh
O'Brien
November 16th, 2010
7:33 pm
What is Marvin behind the 3 point line? 1-12?
Melvin
November 16th, 2010
7:34 pm
Teague to the rescue…
Jae Evolution
November 16th, 2010
7:36 pm
Is there a link to this game anywhere? Thanks.
Sautee
November 16th, 2010
7:36 pm
O’B,
2-13 before tonight. Ouch.
J.J.M.
November 16th, 2010
7:38 pm
zaza is useless
J.J.M.
November 16th, 2010
7:39 pm
lmao mo evns think hes a point guard
O'Brien
November 16th, 2010
7:39 pm
BTW, Marvin is 2-14 from behind the line for the season (although he has a really nice stroke).
Teague’s jump shot is horrible, but yet he is 3-7 from 3.
J.J.M.
November 16th, 2010
7:40 pm
wtfff is zaza doing same mistake twice
O'Brien
November 16th, 2010
7:44 pm
ZaZa’s best defense is to foul you. I thought boxers knew how to move their feet?
Chillin on Paradise Island
November 16th, 2010
7:45 pm
Can we trade Marvin to Cleveland for an old Lebron James jersey?
Melvin
November 16th, 2010
7:46 pm
Why did he take Teague out?
Elliot
November 16th, 2010
7:50 pm
There goes L.D. again, taking out Al with 2 fouls. This guy is really annoying me and apparently a lot of others with idiotic decisions like that. How many times does he need to be told? When is the last time Al fouled out because he had a whole 2 total fouls in the second quarter? I hope he doesn’t plan on being a d-bag and keeping him out for the entire half now.
Sautee
November 16th, 2010
7:50 pm
I thought LD was going to let Horford play with two.
Melvin
November 16th, 2010
7:52 pm
Who foul Hibbert on that shot????
Sautee
November 16th, 2010
7:52 pm
LOL at ‘Nique: “Hibbets”
Melvin
November 16th, 2010
7:54 pm
Ha,ha.. Horford has 2 fouls so that it for him in the 1st half… Good call by MC on his blog about Horford earlier today…
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 16th, 2010
7:54 pm
……..is bibby driving more
Marion
November 16th, 2010
7:58 pm
I’m getting sick of L.D. If this game gets out of control, it’s his fault for keeping Horford out.
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 16th, 2010
7:59 pm
Collins aint did sh1t and he already breathing hard lol. Buddy been in the game what? 3-4 mins?
Sautee
November 16th, 2010
7:59 pm
http://www.sethorfordfree.com
Andre
November 16th, 2010
8:01 pm
Sautee,
Apparently, there isn’t truth behind everything L.D. says to the media. Sometimes, I think he just tells the media what he thinks people want to hear, but doesn’t actually follow through with it. I’m liking L.D. less and less by the day.
jean
November 16th, 2010
8:04 pm
larry drew should die
Orlando
November 16th, 2010
8:07 pm
Can we start up a “fire Drew” bandwagon? Where’s Clyde these days?
jean
November 16th, 2010
8:09 pm
fire this idiot he is cutting crawford minutes for no reason
Raymond
November 16th, 2010
8:10 pm
Roy Hibbert really likes to shoot. 10 FG attempts already, and that’s not counting all of the ones he got fouled on. This guy is like a volume shooting big man. If anybody on the pacer’s team is taking that many shots, it should be Granger.
superiorblogman
November 16th, 2010
8:12 pm
Larry Drew is one stupid little ugly phucker. Jeff Teague looked good and made all his shots but played less than 6 minutes. Al Horford once again does not get enough shots and gets treated like a freshman instead of a All-Star caliber player anytime he gets fouls. LD was a horrible pick
Armond
November 16th, 2010
8:15 pm
jean,
L.D. seems to have a crush on Collins and Marvin. That’s why Al and Jamal don’t get the minutes they deserve. In the dream world that L.D. is living in, he must think that this strategy will win a lot of games. Powell might even start getting more minutes than Horford. Drew really loves that bench and uses any excuse in the world to limit Al’s minutes. In Jamal’s case, he can say that he doesn’t play enough defense, but in Al’s case, there’s really no legitimate reason why he is getting sixth man or even bench roleplayer minutes at times.
Clyde v2
November 16th, 2010
8:17 pm
FIRE DREW!!!!!!!!!!!
Cole
November 16th, 2010
8:18 pm
superiorblogman,
I agree. L.D. is becoming a big problem on our bench, and if he annoys us that much, I bet he annoys the players as well.
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 16th, 2010
8:19 pm
Drew is gonna cause Horford to slack off on defense, for fear of fouling people and getting pulled.
Clyde v3
November 16th, 2010
8:20 pm
SCR*W COACH DREW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bailey
November 16th, 2010
8:22 pm
Mac-Town,
I was thinking the same thing in regards to Horford a few games ago. I wouldn’t be that surprised if Horford cut down on his aggressiveness because of L.D.’s poor coaching decisions.
Sautee
November 16th, 2010
8:22 pm
I know we are leading, but have you seen the box score? They have 25 rebounds to our 12? And we’re winning?
We HAVE to rebound better. Of course that’s easier when Al is on the court.
At least we’re keeping the turnovers to a minimum.
lewis
November 16th, 2010
8:22 pm
different alias’ all reiterating the same things.
how clever.
troll.
lewis
November 16th, 2010
8:28 pm
im really surprised JJ can’t catch and shoot based on his time with the suns
lewis
November 16th, 2010
8:29 pm
wow bibby that was WEAK D.
u give up, granger wide open, sinks the shot.
lewis
November 16th, 2010
8:31 pm
deck him Joe
Bailey
November 16th, 2010
8:35 pm
Why is Joe guarding granger while Marvin is on Dunleavy? You would think that Joe would be matched up with Dunleavy to expend less energy and Marvin has a size advantage on Granger. I’m not sure what L.D. is thinking with that match-up, but it looks like Joe is having a tough time.
lewis
November 16th, 2010
8:39 pm
marvin looks hurt
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 16th, 2010
8:39 pm
Joe and struggling are becoming synonymous
lewis
November 16th, 2010
8:39 pm
Marvin can’t keep up with his knee
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 16th, 2010
8:40 pm
lol price