Dallas Mavericks at Atlanta Hawks: What would a W mean?
The Hawks are looking for their first W against a so-called marquee opponent.
But what would it really mean if they beat the Mavs, Celtics, or both? Is it about the team gaining confidence? Sending a message? Getting some media love?
Is it about proving they can do it, even though it’s only November?
“We swept Boston and they still went to Eastern Conference finals,” Mo noted. “You have got to be peaking at the right time and continue to get better.”
L.D. seemed to be simultaneously downplaying Atlanta’s failure to beat the best teams on its schedule and emphasizing that fact to his players.
“I don’t know how much the guys have thought about who the wins are against,” he said. “It’s early in the season. We have to respect every opponent. You don’t look at their wins and losses. ”
But before practice broke yesterday he told the team they needed to “beat some of these [better] teams.”
“I did put that bug in their ear,” he said.
The way things are going for the Mavs, maybe they need to win this one to prove something.
The Bulls beat them in Dallas last night by pounding them on the boards and shutting down everyone outside of Dirk. The Mavs have do have a victory against Boston and split with Denver and New Orleans.
Amazingly, this is the first set of back-to-back games for the Mavs.
“It’s one of the realities of the league,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “The good thing is we didn’t have anyone play ridiculous minutes last night.”
A Dallas reporter asked Carlisle about his team’s struggles against “young and athletic” opponents.
“It’s important for us to play our game,” he said. “We have to play to our length and experience.”
The Hawks want to make Dallas defend the entire floor but L.D. said it’s not like the Mavs can’t run. He said they play at a “youth’s pace” despite a starting lineup that averages 10 years of experience.
“They are a team that we know they are going to be well-prepared and even playing a back-to-back are going to give us their best game,” Drew said. “We can’t allow them beat us on glass, we can’t allow beat us up and down the floor. We’ve go to do a good job containing the dribble on the perimeter. We can’t get seduced into playing a style that doesn’t fit us.”
Notable quotes
L.D. on the team’s effective jump shooting so far: “I won’t count on it every night. There will be some shots where we can’t put it in the ocean. We can’t go out and rely on the perimeter shot. We have to be a good executing team. But more importantly we have to be a sound defensive team. We’ve got to be able to get stops when we need them. We’ve got to be able to be solid defensively every night we step out.”
Al on the team developing a defensive identity: “It is coming along real well. We have to keep trusting each other. We are not there yet but I am encouraged to see some improvement. We are up and down but I think we are more consistent than we were in the past.”
Carlisle on that game J. Kidd stole from the Hawks last season: “I try not to live in the past. That was a great win, but in the NBA that was light years ago. Both teams are different now.”
Smoove on playing Thanksgiving night: “It’s good, but the only negative about it is you can’t eat what you want to eat before the game. That’s what Thanksgiving is about is to get some of that good stuff. Some of that cranberry sauce, some gravy with some mashed potatoes. I think we will definitely eat good when we get home. It’s always a plus to be able to do things like this. I just hope we don’t get the Christmas games. I don’t want those at all.”
MC
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386 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
November 20th, 2010
8:49 pm
If the Hawks can’t take advantage of Dirk being off, they are really going to get run out of the building once he starts hitting. It’s only a matter of time before that happens.
J.J.M.
November 20th, 2010
8:49 pm
lmaoo@joe wtf..this team been off since tuesday and looks so tired
bigdave
November 20th, 2010
8:49 pm
” hit the side of the glaaasss”
lol
O'Brien
November 20th, 2010
8:50 pm
Where would this Hawks team be without Josh? He has been the team’s best player this season.
Najeh,
ZaZa has a nice jumper, and I think Twin is better on defense.
Ree Roe
November 20th, 2010
8:51 pm
Is it safe to say Josh is our best player now?
-REEvival of Roe!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
November 20th, 2010
8:51 pm
Larry Drew, please get Zaza’s bum ass off the floor and get Horford back in there.
bigdave
November 20th, 2010
8:52 pm
Ob’..
nice jumper is a bit of a reach..
Najeh Davenpoop
November 20th, 2010
8:52 pm
“Is it safe to say Josh is our best player now?”
Yes. Emphatically.
lukas
November 20th, 2010
8:52 pm
All that money to JJ: suicide!!!!
Allen
November 20th, 2010
8:52 pm
I’m so tired of L.D.’s lame rotational decisions. There is no reason why Al should still be out at the 5:45 minute mark of the second quarter when the team is down by 10. There’s no foul trouble tonight. Stop being such a fool, L.D. Get your best players into the game. For crying out loud, this is beyond stupid already.
bigdave
November 20th, 2010
8:52 pm
“bawse”..
J.J.M.
November 20th, 2010
8:53 pm
smh trade crawford asap
bigdave
November 20th, 2010
8:53 pm
his game Nique.. is gone.. cause he dont fit. not in structure.
and again.. shedding points..
Sautee
November 20th, 2010
8:53 pm
How is LD incompetent when his winning pct. is .666?
That would place him fifth all-time and ABOVE Red Auerbach.
Yeah, incompetent. Like anyone could tell after 12 freakin’ games.
O'Brien
November 20th, 2010
8:54 pm
Everybody expects Jamal to go ISO, so when he passes it, the players dont expect it.
And then he misses a layup.
If Marvin was any better, Jamal would not play so many minutes, especially since jamal is off.
And JJ is struggling again. Whats up with all his struggles this season?
Najeh Davenpoop
November 20th, 2010
8:54 pm
With every passing game, Jamal’s trade value drops. Do the Prince deal already.
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 20th, 2010
8:54 pm
what is this?
hawks_4_life
November 20th, 2010
8:54 pm
NO REBOUNDING NO DEFENSE…
bigdave
November 20th, 2010
8:54 pm
lol. watching rebs.
2nd chance pts. death again.
J.J.M.
November 20th, 2010
8:55 pm
i dont think this team will make the playoffs sorry to say…they are losing it now frustrated…someone will get ejected
J.J.M.
November 20th, 2010
8:56 pm
have they even attempted to go back to josh?
hawks_4_life
November 20th, 2010
8:56 pm
ITS 3AM IS IT STILL WORTH STAYING UP AND GIVING UP MY WEEKEND FOR THIS?
terrell
November 20th, 2010
8:56 pm
Lmao @ Marvin Gaye Williams
J.J.M.
November 20th, 2010
8:57 pm
embarrassing
Najeh Davenpoop
November 20th, 2010
8:57 pm
At this point I would trade Jamal for Reggie Evans — that’s how bad the Hawks are at defensive rebounding.
hawks_4_life
November 20th, 2010
8:57 pm
GOOD NIGHT….TIRED OF THIS RIGHT NOW…..SECOND CHANCE POINTS….CAN WE REBOUND
hawks_4_life
November 20th, 2010
8:59 pm
Jamal is costing us, if you cant score please learn how to defend. His defense gets overlooked because of his scoring ability but right now he is a glaring weak link.
Allen
November 20th, 2010
9:00 pm
Al and Josh are the only reasons why the Hawks are even in this game, really. Yet, we still aren’t using them. I haven’t seen a single play run for Al. He only has 3 total shot attempts. Come on, L.D., what are you doing? Al is probably the best offensive option when Joe and Jamal can’t get it going at all, and we are not even using him. He’s barely even touching the ball on the offensive end. We need to run the offense through Al and Josh, when our perimeter game is lacking horribly like this.
Ree Roe
November 20th, 2010
9:00 pm
I’m pretty frustrated watching us play tonight. We’ve been off since Tues, but we look so FLAT. I’m embarrassed by this team (again)
-REEspect Roe!!!
hawks_4_life
November 20th, 2010
9:00 pm
How can they suck so bad at home?
Rev in Tampa
November 20th, 2010
9:01 pm
Excepting Josh, the Hawks are not putting forth much effort. Inexcusible!
Najeh Davenpoop
November 20th, 2010
9:01 pm
Ironically, the Hawks haven’t had a point guard as good as Jason Terry since they traded him.
bigdave
November 20th, 2010
9:01 pm
Reggie Evans is too much like the goon we need..
too much like right..
just look @ this guy
http://www.financialpost.com/3637636.bin?size=620×465
O'Brien
November 20th, 2010
9:01 pm
Hawks 2-13 from behind the arc. And being outrebounded by 8.
And although Bibby has 10 points and 1 assist, the Mavs PGs have 7 points and 5 assists.
hawks_4_life
November 20th, 2010
9:02 pm
Still cant rebound
bigdave
November 20th, 2010
9:02 pm
way to box out Al..
you not going to jump higher than many, especially not Chandler, you gotta work dude.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 20th, 2010
9:03 pm
Same, usual story so far — poor defense, horrible rebounding, atrocious bench play, and aside from Josh and Al a total unwillingness to share the ball.
hawks_4_life
November 20th, 2010
9:03 pm
Thank you Bibby
Najeh Davenpoop
November 20th, 2010
9:04 pm
The bench is shooting 1 for 11 from the field in this game.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 20th, 2010
9:05 pm
In fact, the Hawks other than Bibby, Josh, and Al are shooting 4/22 with 2 rebounds.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 20th, 2010
9:06 pm
And yes, that includes the $126 million dollar man.
superiorblogman
November 20th, 2010
9:06 pm
The bench is garbage
Najeh Davenpoop
November 20th, 2010
9:06 pm
I wonder if Dan Uggla can play small forward.
hawks_4_life
November 20th, 2010
9:07 pm
Carl for that comment you can go shoot yourself.
lukas
November 20th, 2010
9:07 pm
Man, Sund needs to shake things quickly. This team’s flaws are too much for LD or a couple of tough-minded players to overcome. They lose the games from the lockeroom, and they don’t give a damn about it. Unable to defeat playoff teams? bad bad sign!!
At this point, i would take Ramon’s proposal trade, but i would include Marvin for a couple of cheerleaders!!
Najeh Davenpoop
November 20th, 2010
9:07 pm
I wasn’t aware that “The Bibbster” and “The Difference” were actual nicknames.
O'Brien
November 20th, 2010
9:08 pm
Rev,
In 15 minutes of PT, Marvin has 2 points, 2 fouls, and 1 assist.
And by the way, he has a +/- rating of -12.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 20th, 2010
9:09 pm
The Hawks have attempted 2 free throws in this entire game.
Allen
November 20th, 2010
9:09 pm
This is crazy. Al and Josh are the only ones who came to play. They, along with bibby’s 3s which they have set up for him, are the only reasons why the Hawks are even in this. Al has 10 boards already and is leading the Hawks with 4 assists, yet his teammates can’t return the favor. How does Al only have 3 field goal attempts, especially when he’s 2/3 from the field? Josh is playing great, and Al is giving the team more and more opportunities with his rebounding and defense, but we are not getting much elsewhere. The Hawks desperately need to get Al more looks on offense, and Jamal needs to be benched when he is playing like this. Go with a defensive perimeter lineup and leave the offense to Al and Josh. I wonder if L.D. just isn’t calling plays for Al or if the perimeter players just aren’t executing the plays with selfish intentions.
Blast
November 20th, 2010
9:10 pm
Larry Drew cannot afford to have his full bench in at the same time in this game. That would be a disaster. Hawks bench without some starters just are not good enough. Starters have to log big minutes, though Marvin has been stumbling and bumbling all game, Joe and Jamal can’t buy a shot or are hesitating to shoot. Hawks playing tentative. This game is not out of reach, Hawks playing badly while Dallas is shooting well, let’s see if that trend continues in the 2nd half.
Apart from one turnover or two, Josh is playing out of his mind, him and Bibby keeping Hawks in this game.