Atlanta Hawks at Pistons: Handling biz against bad teams
Auburn Hills, Mich.–The Pistons are bad. Historically bad. Blowing-a-25-point-lead-to-the-Raptors-at-home-bad. So bad that Magic called them out when he was back in East Lansing the other day:
As for the current Pistons, Johnson said they were a long way from the teams he faced in consecutive NBA Finals in the late 1980s.
“Too many individuals,” Johnson said. “You have to get back to what made them great, and that’s defense and rebounding. … What we see now is a team that’s soft. People from Detroit and Michigan can accept losing, but not the way they’re losing.”
The Hawks should win this game and the temptation is to say it won’t tell us anything about them. But the thing the Hawks almost always do win this kind of game. Their troubles against the good teams have been well documented, and they have to start winning more games like Thursday in Boston to be considered legit contenders in the East. But until the Hawks figure that part out, there’s something to be said for handling their business against the league’s also-rans.
The Hawks have 12 Ws and just there Ls against teams that currently have losing records: Milwaukee, New Jersey and Phoenix. Of those teams, the Nets are the only squad with no real hope of turning things around.
So chances are the Hawks will handle Detroit tonight, then move on to the next one. That won’t earn accolades but neither should it be completely discounted.
Michael Cunningham
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328 comments Add your comment
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
December 14th, 2010
10:44 pm
Yea…I bet that Maxiel could give us more production than Zaza. Atleast he’s tougher.
Zaza’s more concerned about winning “best dressed male ATL celebrity” contests than playing some hoops.
GOD forbid he hang unto a rebound if it messes up his hair.
SteveW
December 14th, 2010
10:45 pm
I put it on LD and his rotations….gotta get Teague in the game sometimes. Gotta motivate ZaZa somehow.
Section 303
December 14th, 2010
10:47 pm
Steve W, we have no chance. There is really no reason to watch on Thursday. It will be brutal.
gcs
December 14th, 2010
10:51 pm
The only way to save this season is to fire that loser never-should-have-been-hired-in-the-first-place head coach.
.
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
December 14th, 2010
10:52 pm
I cant believe I forget to change my channel from off of Sportsouth after The Hawks games sometimes…..and they KEEP showing repeats of this “At Home with Marvin Williams” crap with James Verrett in a young shirt playing pool with Marvin.
If only Marvin was so “cool and collect” on the bball court as he is doing low budget documentaries
Section 303
December 14th, 2010
10:53 pm
Wonder if Jamal will read the blog tonight?
Jamal, if you do, nice game tonight. You still wonder why the Hawks would not give you an extension?
JeJe
December 14th, 2010
10:53 pm
Did Prince and Rip even play in the 4th quarter?
ZaZa was horrendous. 2 plays he got blocked then went for the jump ball and got called for fouls I think
DO NOT LET MARVIN WILLIAMS START ANOTHER GAME FOR THIS FRANCHISE.
START DAMIEN ON THURSDAY AND LET HIM ANNOY THE HELL OUT OF PAUL PIERCE
I hope to God we don’t get a damn injury report on Jamal tomorrow
Bailey
December 14th, 2010
10:55 pm
SteveW,
I’m a bit worried about that game in the Garden on Thursday too, but I don’t think the matchups will be exactly what you are predicting. Here’s how I’m guessing the Hawks will match up:
Bibby vs. Ray Allen (advantage: Boston)
Mo Evans vs. Rondo (advantage: Boston)
Smoove vs. Pierce (advantage: none – both players have an advantage over the other on the offensive end)
Al vs. KG (advantage: Atlanta)
Collins vs. Shaq (advantage: Boston)
In terms of the bench, I don’t feel good about us on the perimeter at all. Nate Robinson is a nightmare matchup for any of our perimeter players. On the interior, I don’t expect the boston bench bigs to be too much trouble, but Fat Davis probably has an advantage over Powell, and Zaza definitely doesn’t have an advantage over anyone. It worries me when we have tough games on national television, because not only is it an opportunity for the media to mock the team more than they already do, but it’s also an easy means of pointing out the team’s glaring flaws, which are most apparent against dominant teams. It’s basically a lose-lose situation for the Hawks, as far as the media goes. If the Hawks win, analysts will just say that it was a fluke and the other team didn’t bring their game that night. If the Hawks lose, they’ll just be ignored or mocked as usual, with no surprise.
At any rate, the boston game will probably be the toughest of the season so far. They are, by far, the best team we will have faced. San Antonio has a better record, but I think the Celtics have better pieces and more ways to hurt us than the Spurs do.
JeJe
December 14th, 2010
10:56 pm
CAN WE PLEASE GET A REAL POINT GUARD AND SOME TOUGHNESS ON THIS TEAM?
ANDRE MILLER AND PRYZBILLA WOULD LOOK DAMN GOOD IN ATL RIGHT NOW.
CAN WE TRY TRADE MARVIN AGAIN FOR MONTA ELLIS OR SHAQ?
OH WAIT, SUND WOULD BE OPPOSED TO THAT BECAUSE HE WOULD RATHER HAVE THIS SAME DAMN CORE INSTEAD OF A CORE OF KOBE LBJ WADE AND DWIGHT. YES, THIS IS TRUE. SUND WOULD PROBABLY DECLINE A TRADE OF MO EVANS FOR KOBE BRYANT BECAUSE IT’D BE “BREAKING UP THE CORE”
O'Brien
December 14th, 2010
10:56 pm
Hawks went 4-0 against the Celtics last year. They played Miami tough in Miami for 3 and a half quarters.
They played Orlando tough twice in Orlando. So yes. The Hawks do have a chance in Boston
JeJe
December 14th, 2010
10:58 pm
WE BETTER F’ING START COLLINS VS SHAQ (IF SHAQ PLAYS).
I FEEL like Boston’s roster could have 5 players out with injury and we’d still lose – they are that deep. Do NOT START MARVIN WILLIAMS EVER AGAIN.
Bibby Damien Smoove Horford and Collins should be your starting lineup
Rev in Tampa
December 14th, 2010
10:59 pm
Ramon,
You are changing the question. Originally you asked if the team comes out unprepared to play, then who’s fault is it. I responded that it was the players fault. Regardless if it is on the road or at home, the Hawks do not come out prepared to play every game. Drew made this one of his top priorities when he took over, but tonight is evidence that this team still has to grow-up mentally. So I continue to contend that the responsibility is on the players.
As to the Hawks fourth quarter play, I am not real enthusiastic about Drew’s coaching down the stretch. He seems a little ‘deer in the headlights’. I think he will grow out of that with a little more experience. You asked if LD has really proven to be that different from Woody in the final minutes. I would say that LD is very different than Woody because he is not unimaginatively stubborn.
Rev in Tampa
December 14th, 2010
10:59 pm
charlie villanueva,
You are ugly, dude
Ramon
December 14th, 2010
11:06 pm
Rev, I can respect that. I think the Hawks were prepared to play tonight though, they were just mismatched with Bibby in the backcourt. If Bibby was on Stuckey, then Stuckey attacked. If Bibby was on Rip, then Rip attacked. Only so much you can do when Bibby is on defense against an athletic back court.
Bailey
December 14th, 2010
11:17 pm
I forgot to mention something as far as the Celtics game goes on thursday. The Celtics play the Knicks on the road on Wednesday night, and Shaq is looking to play in that game. If he plays against the Knicks, it’s likely that he won’t play against the Hawks on Thursday, since the team is trying to rest him on the second night of back-to-backs, similar to what Coach Pop has done with Duncan in the past. This is not to say that Shaq won’t play against the Hawks, since he may miss the Knicks game and play on thursday instead, but if Shaq sits out, it changes the matchups and our lineups significantly, as well as changes the gameplan. With Shaq out, we could abuse the Celtics front line.
Rev in Tampa
December 14th, 2010
11:18 pm
Ramon,
I saw that too. Rip was having his way. However, I think this loss goes deeper than a mismatch issue. The Hawks could have imposed their will on Detroit, but did not. Maybe it was coaching tonight that started the rock over the cliff, but the players added to its downward momentum.
rusty
December 14th, 2010
11:21 pm
Have to give blame to ld. He needs to start giving time to jt. It seems that we never had a fast break in the whole game.mb plays in slo motion ,plays no defense & doesn’t break down defenses. How can you score when you have mo,me & Wilkins in the game at the same time.why is jc2 in street clothes. I already know that he is better now than mo will ever be. He would be the one to supply the energy with teague , why didn’t Collins or Etan play. Lt is just as stubborn & stupid as woody sass is horrible,mw should not be a starter,mo should be gone.the future of this team should be jc2 & jt but they probably will never be given a fair chance. How many damm dumb excuses can he give for not playing jc2
Worldwide Clyde
December 14th, 2010
11:25 pm
I GET BACK FROM RIO THIS MORNING AND THE HAWKS GET THEY AZZ WHIPPED BY THE PISTONS.
Coach needs to pull the plug on Marvin Williams. I would rather bring Tyron Corbin out of retirement than have him. We need to start Jamal and give Jordan Crawford some minutes. The guy has proven he can score but I haven’t seen him lately.
Ramon
December 14th, 2010
11:27 pm
Here’s a question, would Gearon really not make big roster moves, in hopes of making a big run at Doc Rivers this off season? Clearly he knows adding Rivers to the coaching staff, would drive attendance up to numbers that rival the 80s. Maybe there’s a method to the madness. I must say though, I’d be willing to pay Rivers a $8 mil salary, and fire Sund to allow Rivers to be over personnel also.
Worldwide Clyde
December 14th, 2010
11:32 pm
WE NEED TO DO BE LIKE THE ORLANDO ANNOUNCERS AND START CALLING MARVIN THE INVISIBLE MAN.
Slimjr
December 14th, 2010
11:41 pm
DO NOT LET MARVIN WILLIAMS START ANOTHER GAME FOR THIS FRANCHISE. Marvin Williams is the worst #2 Lottery Pick in the NBA today!!!! He is the “Tin Man”. He has to go like The “Genius” Billy Knight who drafted his sorry clueless butt back in 05 over Darren Williams and Chris Paul.. You notice Larry Drew has stopped playing him in the last 4 minutes of games now. He knows whats up!
Slimjr
December 14th, 2010
11:46 pm
The Hawks peaked last year at 53 wins. Its a wrap! They will not win 50 games this year. Their bigs give them nothing in the 4th quarter of games on every night. Hawks rely way to much on their guards hitting jump shots all night. Which means they will get blown out come play off time and this time they wont have 1st round home court advantage….
Ramon
December 15th, 2010
12:12 am
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5920357
Slimjr
December 15th, 2010
12:34 am
Hawks need a shot maker at the “3″. The small forward is a critical position in the NBA today. He has to be a scorer who can shoot or drive to the rim, make free throws in crunch time! The elite teams have that. We have MARVIN THE “TIN MAN” WILLIAMS. THANK YOU BILLY KNIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Double Zero Eight
December 15th, 2010
7:36 am
Reality has reared its ugly head. Marvin Williams is inconsistent to put it mildly. He will not get any better. The Hawks need a big man at center. They should have gotten “Shaq” when they had the chance. Without a big man that can score inside, they don’t have a chance in the playoffs. There is
no way this team can beat Milwaukee, Orlando, Miami or Boston in a playoff series. That’s the
ugly truth. When you live by the jump shot, you die by the jump shot.
JeJe
December 15th, 2010
8:51 am
I FEEL LIKE THERE’S NO URGENCY FROM HAWKS FANS.
WE LOSE A GAME LIKE THIS, AND WE GET THE USUAL “WELL EVERY GOOD TEAM HAS ONE OF THOSE GAMES WHERE THEY PLAY POORLY (WE’VE ALREADY HAD THAT ONE VS. MIL TOO). IF WE LOSE TO A GOOD TEAM, IT’S A MORAL VICTORY
SMGDH
MAKE ME THE GM AND OWNER OF THIS TEAM. I WILL GET THESE GUYS @$$ES IN GEAR NO HOMO
JeJe
December 15th, 2010
8:54 am
IF JAMAL DOESN’T PLAY TOMORROW WE COULD LOSE BY 75 (WITHOUT BOSTON’S STARTERS PLAYING BIG MINUTES AND WITHOUT PERKINS, DELONTE, AND THE O’NEALS PLAYING).
I’M STILL WAITING FOR THE ASG, SUND, AND LD TO HOLD MARVIN ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS INEPTITUDE ON THE BASKETBALL COURT. JAMAL HAS 3 STRAIGHT 20 PT GAMES AND EVERYONE’S UP IN HIS GRILL.
MARVIN HAS 5 PT GAMES 80 % OF THE TIME AND HE GETS A FREE RIDE
GAWD DAMNIT
slimjr
December 15th, 2010
9:27 am
Milwaukee and Detroit punked our sorry ‘D” League HAWKS!!! ITS a wrap. Marivn,ZaZa, and Josh should be on the trading blocks. This team is going backwards………………………………………….