Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks: New starters cure for slow starts?
L.D. is using the same starting lineup tonight. If the Hawks continue to open games with no energy then he said there could be changes.
“If we keep getting off to these slow starts, I may have to start thinking about doing something with the lineup,” he said. “I just can’t continue to allow us to constantly get off to slow starts. I may have to do something to shake it up. We’ll see what happens tonight.
“But I can’t sit here and just constantly allow us to keep getting off to those type starts because we are burying ourselves early and we are having to exert so much energy fighting back. That may be something we have to start thinking about.”
The Hawks had another big meeting Wednesday morning. To their credit, they are tired of all the talking, too.
“I’m a vet,” Mo said. “Talking doesn’t mean much to me. We’ll see how we respond tonight and over these next few games. We should have enough pride in what we’ve done the last two or three years where we shouldn’t need any meetings, in my opinion.”
One main focus of the meeting was all the blown assignments defensively. I’m told that some guys are getting upset when a teammate screws up and puts them in a bad position, but the Hawks have resolved to not stop playing hard when it happens.
“We all have to be on the same page defensively,” Al said. “We are going to have breakdowns but we have to stay with it and fight through some of that stuff.”
Injury report
Al Thornton is out for the Wizards, John Wall is back, so Flip Saunders is going with a three-guard lineup featuring Wall, Arenas, and Hinrich.
The Wizards have lost 10 straight to the Hawks, including the home opener. But if you recall that one wasn’t easy for Atlanta though Washington was without Arenas.
“We have to be a little different with him on pick-and-rolls and we really have to get to him in transition,” L.D. said. “The last time we played this team they really ran the ball on us, especially Wall. Now you have him pushing it and Gilbert spotting up. So we have to stop the ball and also know where Gilbert is on the perimeter.”
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
143 comments Add your comment
Melvin
November 25th, 2010
10:13 pm
Don’t understand why LD is not allowing Teague to get valuable playing time in this blowout game.
vava74
November 25th, 2010
10:16 pm
doesn’t that count as a “team block” ?
Sautee
November 25th, 2010
10:16 pm
Najeh,
about this: “One thing that is a little troubling is that the Hawks lately have not been getting to the line at the rate they did at the beginning of the season.”
Surely the uptick in ISO’s have something to do with that. When we are really moving the ball the defense starts to reach.
truly1
November 25th, 2010
10:17 pm
MC , Can you ask LD what is his plan for teague is he in the Dog House?
ignition
November 25th, 2010
10:18 pm
You know I don’t mind Jordan Crawford playing point… Matter of fact not a bad idea at all…
Ramon
November 25th, 2010
10:18 pm
Hearing Dominique talk about Fratello, makes me kind of wish he was the coach.
JeJe
November 25th, 2010
10:19 pm
EXCELLENT all-around effort tonight.
2 observations (one won’t surprise you)
1) Horrendous game from Marvin. Dude is awful. Can’t create offense and the reason he doesn’t get plays run for him IS BECAUSE HE DOESN’T WANT THE BALL.
2) Where is Teague? Why not just trade him for a guy Dahntay Jones who an play some rugged D.
@ Northcyde: This team does VERY well after players only meetings. I would not be opposed to having a player only meeting before every game, regardless of the result from the previous game
Melvin
November 25th, 2010
10:20 pm
About time LD put Teague in the game…
Najeh Davenpoop
November 25th, 2010
10:20 pm
I love Jordan’s skills. He just needs to learn how to play under control. Some of these shots he takes are wild as hell.
ignition
November 25th, 2010
10:20 pm
Actually Teague can kick walks for all I care at this point I see our future point and his name is Jordan Crawford..
truly1
November 25th, 2010
10:23 pm
MC Does LD feel that Jamal Crawford is a better point Guard than Teague? Can you ask him if you dont have the answer?
ignition
November 25th, 2010
10:23 pm
Teague you should be coming in ANGRY attacking the backet.. Instead you give the ball to Za Za to shoot a jumper..
Losing so much interest in Teague…. He shares a bunk bed with Marvin in Midtown…
lukas
November 25th, 2010
10:25 pm
Teague = Marvin 2.0 The Invisible Couple!!
Sautee
November 25th, 2010
10:25 pm
LOL, I was starting to think Pape Sy would play before Teague.
Dept. of Unintended Irony
November 25th, 2010
10:27 pm
“Actually Teague can kick walks for all I care at this point I see our future point and his name is Jordan Crawford..”
Notify the Ministry of Funny Walks.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 25th, 2010
10:27 pm
Yeah, if Teague can’t come in to THIS situation — no Jamal, no Joe — and take charge, it’s time to start giving up on him. Jordan is clearly the better player right now.
truly1
November 25th, 2010
10:30 pm
If LD likes Bibby, JJ ,Jordan and Jamal playing the point better than Teague than we dont need him Trade him. Thats why I want to know what is plan because I thought Jordan was drafted to replace Jamal not to replace teague.
ignition
November 25th, 2010
10:34 pm
Lets see Teague just walks down court call a play and gives the ball up…..
He’s heart just pumps kool aid it ain’t in him, he just soft..
I don’t even want him on the court …
LD convert JC2 into point he actually plays with a pulse and his manhood…
truly1
November 25th, 2010
10:36 pm
The Coach needs to put confidence in Teague that got removed by woody
Sautee
November 25th, 2010
10:37 pm
While I LOVE Jordan’s moxie, he currently doesn’t have the handle to be a starting PG. Maybe that can develop. He certainly has the attitude.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 25th, 2010
10:39 pm
Jason Collins just made a 3. I think this game is over.
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
November 25th, 2010
10:39 pm
lmao they killin Collins
ignition
November 25th, 2010
10:39 pm
So Jordan spends the summer with Shamgod, Hot Sauce or something…..
He still light years ahead of Teague……
Melvin
November 25th, 2010
10:40 pm
My goodness, Collins shoots and make a 3….
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
November 25th, 2010
10:40 pm
Why cant Teague be as aggressive/useful in MEANINGFUL minutes???
ignition
November 25th, 2010
10:43 pm
Dude if you watched Teague in college you’d saw that Teague is the Tin Man…
Now in Atlanta he goes to New Birth…
truly1
November 25th, 2010
10:43 pm
If Teague is your future The coach needs to let everyone on the Team know that and dont let any player but teague bring the ball up and call a play. Similar to what Doc rivers did with rondo.
JeJe
November 25th, 2010
10:44 pm
JASON COLLINS >>>>>>>>>>> MARVIN WILLIAMS
MAKE THAT STARTING LINEUP CHANGE, DREW.
THIS WON DOESN’T CHANGE ANYTHING IN REGARD TO MARVIN. THE WIN JUST COVERS HOW AWFUL HE WAS TONIGHT
truly1
November 25th, 2010
10:45 pm
I dont like teague standing on the perimeter he needs the ball in his hand.
Sautee
November 25th, 2010
10:47 pm
Loved the energy by the starters.
JeJe
November 25th, 2010
10:47 pm
Teague and Marvin just don’t like having the ball. They are both very timid weak basketball players. Jo-Craw, on the other hand, looks good out there
truly1
November 25th, 2010
10:48 pm
It is useless seeing Jordan, joe and Jamal bring the ball up with teague on the perimeter it should be the other way around it doesnt play to each players strenght this is a coaching problem
JeJe
November 25th, 2010
10:49 pm
WIZARDS STARTED ARENAS + HINRICH VS. JOE + DUCK AND MARVIN ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING. LOL!
DUDE’S ONLY PURPOSE DURING THE GAME IS TO PUT THE TOWEL ON HIS HEAD ON THE BENCH
ignition
November 25th, 2010
10:51 pm
The game tonight is how we should play from here on out… Josh and Al in the paint getting the ball first then kickin it out to the perimeter to Joe or Jamal or Bibby.. Thats the game plan from here on out please..
When the starters are out supreme defense and hustle Jordan Crawford at the POINT..
JeJe
November 25th, 2010
10:55 pm
Marvin with 6 & 4 & 2 turnovers in 24 minutes. LOL!
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
November 25th, 2010
11:01 pm
Agree@JeJe
Marvin is a master at wearing his towel on his head in many different fashions while cheerleading on the bench.
Plus he probably needs time sitting down since he walks like somebody’s big mama/maudea
JeJe
November 25th, 2010
11:03 pm
MrMichaelLee Michael Lee
If I was an ATL fan, I’d be furious with Marvin Williams. He’s got Gilbert Arenas on him & shooting airball 20-footers. C’mon, man. #wizards
EmirS.
November 25th, 2010
11:08 pm
Very nice win. Not a single player went over 30 minutes. Balanced scoring from our 4 main offensive threats (JJ, Jamal, Smoove, Al). Our bench held their ground, balanced bench scoring. Every single Hawks player scored a point. Starters should be well rested for the next game.
Some key things:
-> I think JJ and Jamal are getting out of their slump.
-> I think its time to take Marvin out of the starting 5 and insert Mo Evans. When a rookie can come off the bench and score more points then you while playing almost 10 minutes less, then something needs to be changed.
-> I dont agree that JC2 should start. He’s a rookie and he’s not on John Wall’s or Blake Griffins level, where you can be dominant against opposing teams starters. I think Jordan is a good fit to be out there against an opposing teams bench. I beleive thats where he can thrive THIS season.
-> Im glad that LD sat Teague out for such a long time. He might start playing better.
Samuel
November 25th, 2010
11:16 pm
Dude,
We just beat the Wizards. LOL!!
Samuel
November 25th, 2010
11:17 pm
Question is: Will this W bring Ole Ken back? LOL!!
EmirS.
November 25th, 2010
11:20 pm
Dude,
We lost to the Nets…..
I see this is a good win. As badly as we’ve been playing, this is an awesome break-out. Regardless of the team.
northcyde
November 25th, 2010
11:32 pm
Teague is at his party now. He wasn’t worried about playing time tonight.
As for Jordan playing the point, I’m not against that at all. He’s shown that he can score with the ball in his hands, or without. And he has decent passing ability. The only issue with him, is whether he can guard opposing PGs or not.
All I know is that Jordan plays a hell of a lot like Van Exel did, than Teague does. So it may be easier for Van Exel to work with Jordan to be a PG than can make the correct plays, than it is for Van Exel to work with Teague to be an aggressive PG.
If you can ball . . you can ball.
Same goes for Marvin. If he’s not ballin’, we should stop trying to force him into being one. Just put someone else into the game who will ball.
Freshfromatl AKA Fresh
November 26th, 2010
12:13 am
Samuel,
No, the question is: If the Hawks keep winning, will you go away? (Again)