Atlanta Hawks: Hornets 93, Hawks 86
Ariza and the Hornets dominated the Hawks inside. (Matthew Hinton/The Times-Picayune)
New Orleans–The Hornets are a very good defensive team. Once they started playing like it, the Hawks couldn’t score.
- The Hornets are a very good pick-and-roll team. Once they started playing like it, the Hawks couldn’t stop them.
- Neither of those things should be surprising. Look at the top teams in defensive efficiency, and then notice how Atlanta’s sizzling offense has grind to a halt against all of them at winning time.
- And by now the sight of a good point guard slicing through Atlanta’s defense to score or set up others is so common as to be expected. CP3 might be the best at it, and he methodically carved up the Hawks in the third quarter.
- “As bad as that third quarter was, we were still right there and had a chance,” L.D. said. “But against good teams we have to be able to follow through on the game plan, especially defensively. On the road you have to have better shot selection.”
- Smoove was the guiltiest party on the latter. He’s getting jump shot happy again and now they aren’t falling. He did have 12 rebounds but foul trouble limited him to 28 minutes and, in another unsurprising development, the Hornets got free run at the rim when he was out of the game.
- The Hawks came out smoking. They moved the ball, made shots and attacked the rim to get calls. Joe and Marvin looked unstoppable. The Hornets were a step behind. “We let them move the ball where they wanted to,” David West said.
- And then the Hornets decided to be more aggressive guarding the perimeter. Now Joe, hounded by Ariza, couldn’t find room to operate. Marvin couldn’t finish. Okafor owned the paint.
- The Hawks scored just 31 points after halftime. “We stopped running, we stopped pushing the basketball for easy transition points and we started settling for jump shots,” L.D. said.
- That’s what tends to happen when the scoring gets harder for the Hawks.
- “I thought we got out and rattled them a little bit, got them off balance,” West said “Joe Johnson is one of the best players in the league, so obviously you are not going to just shut him down completely. But I thought we made his alleys a little more crowded and forced him into some tough looks.”
- The Hawks would to well to emulate the Hornets under coach Monty Williams. “They have done a tremendous job defensively,” L.D. said. “Looking at where they were last year and where they are this year, they have made the commitment defensively and put together some great games.”
- The Hornets also have better defensive players than the Hawks, but still.
- Atlanta’s nine-point halftime lead was gone fast. Paul assisted on two baskets during 13-4 run. “We started the third quarter and we just didn’t come out with any energy,” Drew said. “We came out very lethargic.”
- Or, you know, it could be that a great pick-and-roll player picked apart a weak pick-and-roll defense.
- “We missed some defensive assignments against him on how we were defending the pick-and-roll,” Drew said. “Then we tried to mix it up and play a little zone to get him off balance a little bit. But he made some shots and he got too deep on us on the pick-and-roll a couple times. We went underneath, which was a missed assignment.
- Paul was strangely passive in the first half and then suddenly became animated in the third quarter. In one stretch he scored 11 of his team’s 13 points and assisted on the other basket. He screamed and pounded his chest as the the Hornets’ second-largest crowd of the season snapped from its slumber.
- “One thing we didn’t want to do was let him get going and get the crowd into it,” L.D. said.
- The Hawks tried everyone who wasn’t a point guard to slow Paul. Joe, Marvin and Mo all took turns on him. The Hawks even tried zones with Al and Smoove at the top. “He’s seen every coverage by now,” Jamal said. “You just have to live with it sometimes.”
- Atlanta’s defense took a hit when Marvin was forced to the sidelines with cramping. He started the fourth quarter but went out for Josh with the Hawks down 80-78. Marvin received IV fluids after the game.
- Mo went out for J.J. at that point, too, a fact he pointed out more than once afterward.
- “The game was tied at 78-78 and then I think we were stagnant in the latter part of the game,” Mo said. “The They continued to run their offense. CP continued to create for other guys and put it in position where all they had to do was score the ball or shoot it. They got great looks every time down the floor and eventually that is going to win out.”
- Al played just eight minutes in the first half because of the two-foul rule. He tried to attack the basket in the second half but Okafor and West made it tough. The Hornets took 15 more shots in the paint (38) than Atlanta and enjoyed a 48-22 advantage in points.
- Joe said the three-day break helped his elbow. He wore a brace over that time and said he can extend the arm more than before: “I don’t know how much straighter it’s going to get, though.”
- He looked pretty smooth, especially in the first half. “I was kind of taking what the defense gives me,” he said. “Our offense, basically everybody is moving the basketball, and if you are open, you take the shot.”
- That’s how it worked in the first half, but what happened in the second? “The ball just stopped moving,” Joe said. “And then I thought we settled a lot in that second half when we could have been driving and making plays for other guys and getting to the basket or getting to the line.”
- The Hawks attempted 18 free throws in the first half and six after halftime.
- Jamal went into attack mode in the second half. The results were mixed. He had eight points, four turnovers and no assists after halftime. “It definitely felt rusty,” he said.
MC
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203 comments Add your comment
Mz. Hawkdafied/Hood Chick
December 27th, 2010
12:12 pm
How about trading the whole Hawks team for the Redeem team. That’s a guaranteed championship right there. Talk about a blockbuster trade and going over the cap and paying a luxury tax. Haha.
Nope on second thought keep Triple Threat (Joe, Al, and Josh) then trade for the Redeem team minus Boozer and Michael Redd. Shizaam talk about a dominating team.
Just think all the hall of famers, all stars, and superstars you could ever imagine. If this team doesn’t get you down to the Philips Arena then what will? Sellouts for all 41 regular season games plus preseason and most definitely post season. Try to top that trade idea fellow Hawks fans. Yeah, I know impossible but FUN! Haha!
inconsistency
December 27th, 2010
12:13 pm
Smoove = Kenyon Martin
ATL FAN
December 27th, 2010
12:14 pm
TRADE JAMAL (PACHULIA IF THEY’LL TAKE HIM) FOR DALAMBERT AND A DRAFT PICK/ CASH
Imagine this lineup:
PG- Bibby/Teague
SG- Joe Johnson of old
SF- Josh Smith/ Marvin Williams (NO MO!!)
PF- Al Horford / Josh Smith
C- Samuel Dalambert/ Jason Collins / Al Horford
A very solid team with very little flukes, a HUGE improvement over the MO EVANS, PACHULIAS, AND COLLINS of our current plans. GO HAWKS!!
MsDee
December 27th, 2010
12:17 pm
Honestly fans, I truly believe Sund HAD TO have informed LD to play Jamal 30+ min to try and expose him to the point that either 1) to prove that he isnt worthy of an extension from us, SINCE WE DID WIN GAMES WITHOUT HIM or 2) to get Jamal as much playing time as possible to be traded soon!! IT JUST HAS TO BE ONE OR THE OTHER cause it makes absolutely NO SENSE to not have played Teague nor D. Wilkins KNOWING THEY ARE 2 OF YOUR BEST DEFENSIVE guys on the team!
RaJaH
December 27th, 2010
12:25 pm
We’re thinking alike MsDee. Hope thats the case!
Fundamentals
December 27th, 2010
12:33 pm
Amen Ms Dee, we should’ve seen Teague all over CP3, Damien at least? Why feature Mo, ZaZa or Jamal unless you’re shopping them. Only problem, they didn’t do too well on self promotion…except Mo did hit some 3’s.
JoJo the Godfather
December 27th, 2010
12:43 pm
While we still haven’t heard if we can afford Damien Wilkins for the rest of the year (and avoid the luxury tax), is there any chance he isn’t getting playing time because he’s about to be released?
Ramon
December 27th, 2010
1:07 pm
Why is so many people posting ‘trade Josh’ when Josh and Al had the same type of shooting night, and Josh was more effective in rebounding, assists and Al had 3 turnovers? Neither of those two needs to be traded unless you’re getting a bonafide all star or super star in the deal. And the fact that Josh is your best defensive impact player on the team full of players who have no defensive impact (positive impact) leaves it idiotic to trade him. Did someone say Josh for Varejao? Really? Varejao just finished playing with the league MVP, and didn’t do anything in the playoffs to help his team win.
O'Brien
December 27th, 2010
1:09 pm
If Al and Josh are the only 2 (legit) frontcourt players on this team, Hawks will have a hard time reaching the ECF.
L-QUE
December 27th, 2010
1:16 pm
This is another LD loss Bibby-JAMAL-JOE on the floor to close a game is always a formula for LOSSING dont tell me CP was cutting to the baskett i didnt see that i saw him shooting jumpers over Bibby or JAMAL .He had Marvin playing center and Josh on the bench with Twin and Zaza .Jamal should have been on the bench,Marvin at the 2 in the fourth qt.Joe at point JOSH ,AL, TWIN orZAZA again we match them instead of us forcing the action,two point guards in the game at the most critical time of the game
I act like i know what i'm taking about when i really don't.
December 27th, 2010
1:17 pm
Screw this team, lets start rebuilding already.
I’m tired of having the same team year after year only to see them FAIL.
But lets keep Al Horford.
And YES trade Josh Smith, and can’t stand that dude any longer.
I’m thinking Gerald Wallace or 1st round draft picks.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2ewxbuu
I act like i know what i'm taking about when i really don't.
December 27th, 2010
1:19 pm
Oh yeah, and i forgot
FIRE Larry Drew!!!
T R U T H S E R U M
December 27th, 2010
1:20 pm
The management is sick. Clearly Woodson was a better fit for this team and replacing him has added nothing worth noting. Princeton offense? How many of us are LOL?
over 80 % of hawks fans begged for a center in the off season, but got nothing but the finger. Shaq refused to come here and take a back seat to a power forward(al horford) masquerading as a center but refusing to protect the rim.
Now to accommodate Al’s cry to get out of the post we have no legitimate force in the paint. Our best defender and best powerforward begrudgingly has been moved to SF and forced to try and be a sharp shooter. Our new powerforward is shooting 18-20 footers and forsaking the rim and paint defense.
Our coach hasnt a clue and the team is inconsistent, confused and headed in a downward spiral. This team may not get out of the first round. Clearly Woodson was a much better coach than Drew.
Time to rebuild before the lottery in 3 years.
Fire Sund.
Fire Sund
Fire Sund
That would be a great trade…Jamal for Monta Ellis. Then all wed need is a center.
I act like i know what i'm taking about when i really don't.
December 27th, 2010
1:20 pm
Dude can’t even coach a middle school basketball team.
T R U T H S E R U M
December 27th, 2010
1:23 pm
“Al played just eight minutes in the first half because of the two-foul rule. He tried to attack the basket in the second half but Okafor and West made it tough. The Hornets took 15 more shots in the paint (38) than Atlanta and enjoyed a 48-22 advantage in points.”
Great insight….pun in the making.
Sleepy
December 27th, 2010
1:27 pm
Or MS.DEE they played Jamal to help him shake off the rust just as LD played Joe major minutes in his return a week ago . They also know that Bibby cannot keep up this pace without breaking down and that Teague simply is not a PG.
Jamal is one of our better road players and we need him to get back in the groove quickly with all these road games.Also if I recall Jamal played really well last year against N.O so we would favor that matchup .
We are in 6th seed right now and if they dont get it together on this road trip we could fall down to 8th . The big trio is STALE and its time to break it up .
People keep talking about dealing Bibby,Crawford or Marvin as if that solves anything we are not getting an all nba caliber player for them.
The Caddys engine is knocking and some of you want to trade Dubs for trues and vogues . You gotta fix the engine and that means moving one of the core .
Mo and Zaza for Haywood .- Chandler is starting in Dal now and this moves gives them another backup and saves them a lot of money
trade Marvin to the OKC for Mo Pete and a 1st rd pick (any trade for anyone which includes getting a late 1st rd pick back for marvin would do )
trade Josh, JC2 or Teague and Bibby + 3 #1 picks for Melo and Chauncey (2 would be ours and one would be the one we get for the Marvin trade
haywood
Al
Melo
JJ
Chauncey
Crawford
Powell
Collins
Get on it Sund !!
terrell
December 27th, 2010
1:42 pm
Honestly, I cant believe we’re still puttin up with this up and down bunch of you know whats. From ownership on down. This group is maxed out, but here we are, still on the blog saying the same ole shizz. Year, after year, after year. lol! Priceless.
Ken Strickland
December 27th, 2010
1:52 pm
SAMUEL-You are inappropriately using your one gm bandwagon jumping approach to judging my support for LDrew. Acknowledging his poor coaching decisions during this particular gm doesn’t mean I’ve changed my opinion about his abilities as a HC, or that my support has wavered.
Your dogmatic support of MWoodson, and belief I’ve abandoned my support of LDrew just because I criticized his coaching decisions for one gm, shows your limited understanding of what is involved in being a supporter of a particular HC or player. Being totally unwilling to recognize, and/or admit, a HC or players obvious shortcomings or problems, even when its as plain as day, isn’t what I call support.
When it comes to FORMER HC MIKE WOODSON, you are like a love struck individual who refuses to accept that the object of his affection isn’t the angel he pretends she is.
As far as JJ holding the ball to draw double teams is concerned, the players were getting plenty of open scoring opportunities when he was out by just running the OFF. He and Jamal use up so much of the clock holding th ball, that by the time they pass out of the double teams there’s little time let on the clock to do more than shoot a clock beating jump shot.
Just think back on how many jump shots we took with the shot clock running down after JJ or Jamal finally gave the ball up. Last nights loss was so reminicent of gms we’ve routinely lost over the last 2yrs.
dukester
December 27th, 2010
2:15 pm
I am through with putting trade proposals on this blog. ASG and Rick Sund will have to deal with their decisions one way or another. If they believe the “core” is ok then let them live and die with that thought process. Remember this Hawks fans dissatisfaction brings about change and losing brings dissatisfaction. So buckle your seat belts.
cp
December 27th, 2010
2:16 pm
I’m beyond baffled as to why Mo Evans plays as much as he does. Dude is shooting 26% this month and is getting beat off the dribble at will on defense. How is he still getting pt? Damien has been better than Mo defensively since game 1 yet he doesn’t play anymore. LD has had some terrible rotations recently. Teague finally looks comfortable on the court recently but for some reason he doesn’t play. Bibby and Jamal were getting beat like Tina last night and LD stuck with them. New coach still no accountability. The more LD speaks the more he sounds like Woodson.. You want your team to attack instead of jacking a bunch of jumpers yet when they do it you don’t hold them accountable they just keep hoisting up j’s. Sounds like something Woodrow had to deal with. Its time to shake the roster up………It made absolutely no sense to bring back the same team that had quit and stopped listening to the previous coach.
yessir
December 27th, 2010
2:17 pm
Wow!! You guys are nuts. You wanted Woodson gone and now he is the better fit. Go figure. Fire LD.
Samuel
December 27th, 2010
2:19 pm
Ken,
Your main reasons for supporting LD just haven’t panned out. According to you and LD: #1-Teague would have taken over the starting PG position. Just the opposite has happened, Bibby is in fact logging even more minutes.
#2-The offense would be better because of all the “beautiful” ball movement. Hasn’t happened.
#3-LD would develop his rookies and forget about coaching for the regular season and coaching to “Save his job”. Hasn’t happened.
#4-We would be contending for the East. Not even close.
So why exactly are you on this Wagon?
Samuel
December 27th, 2010
2:28 pm
One thing yall couldn’t say about Woody is that he was a liar. Right or wrong, he said what he meant. LD will say anything to appease the ignorant fans and ownership. Go down the list. None of his promises has he delivered on.
It was not a bad pick
December 27th, 2010
2:28 pm
Marvin played great once again, Until Drew starts Collins and Hortford together we will continue to lose to good teams..No way i start Josh over Marvin
Samuel
December 27th, 2010
2:30 pm
#5- I’m gonna hold players accountable.
Ramon
December 27th, 2010
2:34 pm
O’Brien, I think if Al and Josh had someone to come off of the bench and be physical, use their fouls and provide a defensive stand they would be good. The Hawks has a jump shooter (Powell), Marvin Jr except nonathletic (Zaza), a bag of potatoes (Etan), and Collins (most improved player on this team). People can say what they want, but Josh and Al do represent one of the better starting front courts in the league. The problem is the bench front court players represent some of the worst in the league. And the sad part about it is, none of the bigs on the bench are young enough to get BETTER, or impactful enough to be valuable in the playoffs.
Rufus1
December 27th, 2010
2:47 pm
Closing Out games….
LD has to give up on Jamal and Bibby closing out games…
The one thing Teague could provide late in games, is the ability to chase down long rebounds.
L-QUE
December 27th, 2010
3:01 pm
KEN.S hey man you see what I see,LD is more of the problem, Marvin is playing great defense & scoring why wouldnt LD go big against a smaller team CP dont scare me like ELLIS,ROSE WESTBROOK ,WILLIAMS,CURRY,NELSON all are quicker then CP ,JJ had him missing jumpers no driving to the basket , OKUFAR killed AL inside ,he did the scoring but he dont score, TWIN shut it down ,JOSH got most of his fouls trying to help others on defense ,JJ- MARVIN could have carried this team tonight every body else PLAY inside D they are not a three point shooting team then pack the inside,BIGS with fouls to give. if JJ can bring the ball upcourt he can play point in some game situations.Last night was one CP didnt blow by nobody,we played to their tune another coaching loss dont blame the players .TONIGHT WE HAD ENOUGH TO WIN, add to LD coaching mistake
dap01
December 27th, 2010
3:31 pm
The Hawks have discovered a new formula for winning basketball. The formula is no pg on offense, no pg on defense, no perimeter defense and no defense in the middle.
It is only a matter of time before everyone starts to copy us. ISO is so great and fun to watch. The NBA is pure poetry due to the brilliant play of a pg that hands off at half court, and then cuts through the defense as if he is actually going to do anything other than wait outside the line in case someone throws a pass to him.
Most successful teams rely on jump shots. Not.
Guido
December 27th, 2010
3:33 pm
I think sit is time to play Teague more and have him attack the defense regularly. Bring Marvin off the bench start Etan or Twin at 5. Less scoring early but late punches will be plenty.
Unit 2: Bibby Crawford Marvin Zaza Etan for defense.
Guido
December 27th, 2010
3:34 pm
Or just blow it up. Move Bibby Marvin or Josh and Zaza. Joe for Melo
honest_abe
December 27th, 2010
3:42 pm
its easy to jump on here and play couch gm. but if there’s one thing that sticks out like a sore thumb its how little josh smith values each possession. I don’t care if he shoots a jumper. He’s shown this year he can hit it. It’s the boneheaded shot selection, the careless passes, the spells of indifference that kill this team. The coach can yell all he wants but when your one of your very own captains is lazy and shows up whenever he feels like it the team can only be so good. This team might have a new offense but its the same core of players who don’t play defense like their pants are on fire. Get some value for J. Smith while you still can. He can still be quite a player but he needs one helluva coach to get him straight.
doc
December 27th, 2010
3:58 pm
samuel ditto at 11:20
honest abe ditto at 3:42
durn what a combo to ditto. heh heh
we are not going anywhere unless there are changes and that was obvious when we got trashed out of the playoffs. nice team only.
O'Brien
December 27th, 2010
4:09 pm
Ramon,
Co-sign. And thats why Sund should have traded Jamal for a big, or for a PG.
I dont usually agree with Samuel, but I agree (somewhat) on his points. LD talked about accountability, but I have not seen it consistently enough.
He talked about defense being important, but he consistently plays Bibby and Jamal together for huge minutes, even if they are stinking it up. And we have seen him go away from Damien, who has brought defense from game 1.
And Teague finally had a couple good games, and he gets no PT in a game in which Bibby and Jamal both struggled.
Everytime Jordan plays, he provides a spark, but he hardly (if ever) sees the court even when JJ, Jamal, and Mo are struggling.
And the motion offense is not working against good defensive teams. Last year, Woody’s ISOs struggled to score 20 points or more in the fourth quarter.
And now we are seeing the same thing with LD and these players.
Fundamentals
December 27th, 2010
4:36 pm
There’s no committment to player development, no committment to defense and no committment to the motion offense. We’re committed to running Bibby, Jamal & Joe late regardless of their shooting or D. With Joe and Jamal running late everyone just stands and watches. Our bigs don’t give Al & Josh anyone they can rely on for physicality. Not sure how Mo played any minutes all year.
LD is coaching for the record and the playoff slot, just like Woodson, not to develop the team. Same goal = same end result = pissed off fans.
We need a real PG and a C, and we need to use Etan, Mo, ZaZa, Marvin, Bibby and Jamal to get it. If CLE wants Marvin for Andy V – so be it. Mo would be similar to Bibby, but he’d at least bring speed.
Fundamentals
December 27th, 2010
4:39 pm
The Mo above is Williams in reference to the other trade earlier. I wouldn’t dangle Smoove, but Marvin & Bibby for Mo & Andy would improve this team. Add in Crawford & ZaZa for Camby and we instantly have post defense w/ a point guard.
drmaryb (*_*)
December 27th, 2010
5:00 pm
Wish Meat Sandwich!
Coach trying to make a steak sandwich with bologna meat.
Where is The Beef?
Where is The Logic?
See Sund!
Blast
December 27th, 2010
5:04 pm
Hawks lost last night the same way they have been losing all season. Not paying attention to details.
Turnovers. It was really terrible to see Hawks make all those unforced errors. Just turning the ball over and giving the Hornets more possessions. Bad entry passes, bad passes on the break….Hawks played like it was their first time together. Jamal was very guilty of this.
2nd chance points. Hornets are not that much bigger than Hawks but time and time again, they came up with the offensive boards. Hawks play good defence initially, only to see their opponent come up with the rebound and score. Hornets had 12 offensive boards to Hawks 8. Hornets put up 84 shots to Hawks 73. Anytime your opponent shoots the ball 11 times more than you do, you are bound to lose.
Hustle plays. Hawks still getting beat to loose balls. Atlanta Hawks players must feel they are all pretty boys, too pretty to dive for loose balls, too cool to hustle for money balls. Let somebody else get it, I can’t be bothered.
Until Hawks correct these deficiencies and LD learns to use his rotation better, Hawks will continue to lose. Last game was theirs to win, but they magnanimously handed it to Charlotte. How generous you are, Atlanta Hawks.
drmaryb (*_*)
December 27th, 2010
5:15 pm
Rockets looking to trade Yao
By Adrian Wojnarowski, 
Yahoo! Sports
4 hours, 24 minutes ago
After years of patience and a willingness to wait out injury upon injury with their franchise star, the Houston Rockets are engaged in trade discussions about center Yao Ming with several teams, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
(notes)
The lure of acquiring Yao for potential suitors is the $8 million in savings that insurance will provide for his $17.7 million expiring contract this season. Some teams are considering re-signing Yao on a short-term deal with hopes of restoring him to playing health, while others see his contract as a cost-saving measure.
More From Adrian Wojnarowski
.
LeBron undermines union with comments Dec 24, 2010
Once one of the dominant players in the NBA, Yao, 30, will miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his left ankle. There are serious questions about his ability to return to the NBA on a full-time basis.
Bobcats show mark of Jordan Dec 23, 2010
.
The Rockets are dangling Yao to acquire a good young player with an upside, if not an established talent. Despite offering Yao in trades, the Rockets haven’t ruled out the possibility of re-signing him to a short-term contract extension.
If Yao has surgery to repair the stress fracture, it would keep him out 10 months. After missing just two regular season games in his first three NBA seasons, Yao has missed at least 25 games in five of the past six seasons. He’s played just five games the past two seasons. From a broken leg to stress fractures in his feet, Yao’s lower extremities have struggled to support his 7′6″ frame.”
ag
December 27th, 2010
5:16 pm
I have seen glimpses of Teague that I really like. I think if he played 30 minutes he would do well…. this team also really needs to be made over. Does managment understand they would make more money by making a trade to shake the team up? Do you think the stands would be full for EVERY GAME if we got Carmillo…
Grandad
December 27th, 2010
5:34 pm
Too many good comments to react to all of them;
I’ll try a few:
ole hawk’s fan – Co-Sign
Lewis – I would prefer AV over Marv.
Samuel – I criticized LD last eve as well.
I’m still in his corner.
He will not always make great decisions.
He is also gaining exp game by game.
-&-
You are baseless when you criticize motion offense.
Then resort to saying anyone who sees differently than you
is ignorant or stupid???
Fundamentals – great comments as always.
My cooments earlier stand;
Joe stops the offense!
My personal feeling;
Joe does not like Jamal.
I don’t know;
why Teaguer did/does not or get to play.
[he's either an ass or an asset.....someone needs to decide]
Josh;
trade him while he’s hot?
-or-
learn to love him!
In my opinion;
we should trade one or more of the following for a need:
*Joe (never happen) *Josh *JC2 *Marv *Teague *Jamal *Mo + filler
Need;
inside rim defender & a pg who can defend and please LD on offense.
H a p p y N e w y e a r t o t h e M a d H a t t e r !
Grandad
December 27th, 2010
5:40 pm
*cooments is a cajun reference;
meaning *comments!
Not really – I just made that up.
Samuel
December 27th, 2010
6:00 pm
GD,
I’m not criticizing the motion offense. I just said it won’t work in the NBA and it hasn’t. I have no reason to believe LD will accomplish what many other coaches have failed to do. I also said that LD used this as a “interviewing ploy” because he knew that was what everybody was drilling Woody for, ISO, which is the opposite of the motion offense. The ASG, the 3 stooges of ownership groups, were easily fooled as well as the fans who believed it would work.
NBA players are not high school or college players who play 8 minute quarters and 30 games per year. They are not in a “my way or the highway” situation. They know how much they make and they know how much the coach makes. NBA players know that they have to pace themselves over a 48 minute 82 plus game season. If you don’t see that after all these years, i’m sorry but that’s the way it is.
rusty
December 27th, 2010
6:15 pm
I am so over ld. First he doesn’t play league. This team with bib by never plays uptempo ball, he never breaks down the defense giving us easy basket & is not capable of guarding anyone. Ld doesn’t like teagues outside shooting that is a joke we have a lot of players including the great jj who isn’t really that great of a 3 point shooter. He don’t like teagues turn overs another joke we have a lot of players playing sloppy including mb who plays in slo mo. League would make a lot of easy baskets with his quickness & make this team play faster which we greatly need. He also would stabilize our defense,again every body needs to be held accountable for their own man. If I was a high draft pick I would tell the dumb hawks ahead of time not to pick me as they would never give me a chance. I see a lot of teams playing their rookies,look at the Knicks fields who was picked at the 39s pick, is he really better than jc2. Jc2 has speed,heart & is a scorer but ld will ruin him,why would he play mo over him is completely unbelievable. Oh he says he can’t play defense well to me he plays harder ,quicker & really moe can’t even play defense. Why the he’ll is Wilkins getting buried on the bench. Ld has no basketball sense.
Ronald McDonald
December 27th, 2010
6:16 pm
Someone give me 5 reasons why L.D. is a better coach than Woodson. As bad as Woodson was, I think L.D. is even worse, not just as a coach, but as a person.
Ben G.
December 27th, 2010
6:18 pm
I’m with rusty on this one. L.D.’s coaching and basketball sense is full of flaws and makes little to no sense a lot of the time. He continues to make the same mistakes over and over, and he still fails to address the issues, or even admit when he is wrong. Get this joke of a coach out of here.
Grandad
December 27th, 2010
6:26 pm
Samuel
You make valid points.
One cannot expect to run motion as in HS with no shot clock.
-Nor-
Can one expect to run it as in college with a longer shot clock
and for the reasons you mentioned.
-However-
Movement (ball -&- player) within a 24 sec shot clock,
is not “that” demanding.
‘Especially’ when the Hawks do not have a true SuperStar or a
true low post (Big) scoring threat or a big time ‘PG’ !
We, the Hawks have none of the above.
Once again your points are valid as are mine.
I hope you are willing to have an open mind.
Happy Holiday season my friend!
Damon
December 27th, 2010
6:30 pm
I honestly don’t think that the Hawks could have chosen a worse coach than L.D. from the candidates that were available this offseason.
Elliot
December 27th, 2010
6:34 pm
Grandad,
The team does have a low-post scoring threat, the coaching staff and team just fails to make use of that threat. Take a look at Horford’s effectiveness from “inside” or the post-area on any basketball reference site (82games.com, Hoopdata.com, basketballreference.com, etc.), and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Even when Horford has advantageous matchups on him in the post, the team fails to use him.
Andy
December 27th, 2010
6:39 pm
We really do have the worst ownership in pro sports. Any other franchise would have gotten rid of Drew by now, and would have at least tried to address the same issues that we’ve had (personnel-wise) for the last several years. Drew is an absolute joke, and there has not even been a murmur about it in the mainstream media about any potential change. The Hawks clearly aren’t improving (they’re regressing), and it’s obvious that a lot of principles that we’d like to see implemented can’t happen with the defensive liabilities that we have right now. We need to make some player changes, and we, desperately, need to get rid of L.D. as the coach. Drew seems to bring out the worst in an already subpar team.
When you look at what guys like Scott Skiles were able to do last season with vastly inferior talent on their rosters, Larry Drew is just purely disgraceful.