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
Larry Drew
December 26th, 2010
11:21 pm
(From the last blog)
drmaryb,
Josh has been working on his jump shot over the summer. I want him to take that shot with confidence. I love jump shots. That’s what my system is all about. I need to have as many jumpshooters on the floor at once as I possibly can, as long as their names aren’t Al…I like him to sit on the bench and watch. We just need to get into a rhythm on our jump shots. I need shotmakers in the game, that’s why I play Bibby and Jamal together, they are shot makers. Sometimes, we just miss our jumpshots, but I want us to take more. I want Joe and Jamal to take 20 shots a night, at a minimum, or however many it takes for them to score at least 15 points, and I need Bibby out there to direct traffic by passing the ball to either Joe or Jamal for more jumpshots. I can’t play Teague, he has an ugly jump shot, and sometimes he passes the ball to Al in the post. I hate that. I don’t want Al to get shots, especially not in the post where he shoots at 60+%. A shot for Al is taking away from my other jumpshooters. I Teague sometimes tries to get into the seems of the defense and puts up floaters. Floaters are ugly, I want jump shots, damn it! Damien just doesn’t have the type of jumpshot that I like. I like that smooth shooting stroke. I’m going to start playing Mo more, because he has just the kind of brick-laying jump shot that I used to have when I played. We need to maximize the number of jumpshots that we are taking. Any shot inside of 15 feet is getting my guys a trip to the bench, and if anyone passes the ball to Al, instead of Jamal or Joe, I’m sitting them down. I need to start playing Josh Powell more minutes. I love his jump shot. I’m trying to find just the right combination of players, so that everyone on the floor is shooting jump shots, all of the time.
Down the stretch, you might not see as many players getting jump shots, because I need to turn to my clutch shooters down the stretch. Joe, Jamal, and Bibby are shot makers. I need to Joe to dribble the air out of the ball until he gets into a rhythm.I want him to pull up for a jump shot right before the end of the clock on each possession down the stretch. His jump shot is unbelievable. I dream about it sometimes. Don’t worry if we are struggling, we just need to take more jump shots.
cp
December 26th, 2010
11:29 pm
Great breakdown MC
@Bailey, I agree with your last post on the previous blog…….Seriously wtf is up with this team and the word energy. Everytime they lose they always blame it on lack of energy smh.. How can LD talk about defense and have his worst 2 perimeter defenders in the game at the same time? Why is Mo playing over Wilkins when Damien had been playing better than Mo? The line about trying everyone who isn’t a pg to stop CP3 was a page out of Woodson book. I truly dint get sticking with an ineffective Bibby when he wasn’t getting it done on either side of the floor. Teague had finally began to play better and for some reason he gets a DNP against one of the quickest pgs in the league? Really?…………LD is looking more and more like Woodson.
lukas
December 26th, 2010
11:39 pm
cp, even his post-game quotes are like Woody. One of those days he will come out with the proverbial “i got to get ___ more playing time”.
@DanWeiner
December 26th, 2010
11:41 pm
The point guard we should have drafted six years ago slices and dices us while our point guard of the “future” gets a DNP-CD. I’ve followed and rooted for this franchise my entire life but it’s just a whip watching the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and it never changing.
lukas
December 26th, 2010
11:42 pm
But again guys, i think you are asking too much from LD. When ASG hired him this summer they went not only for the most conservative option, but also the cheapest. What you pay is what you get.
@DanWeiner
December 26th, 2010
11:48 pm
head of the nail, meet the hammer, courtesy of lukas.
Ramon
December 26th, 2010
11:51 pm
Smoove was the guiltiest of them, but he only had 3 shot attempts in the entire second half (one which was right outside of the lane)? And in the first half he shot over 40% percent?
Najeh Davenpoop
December 26th, 2010
11:54 pm
“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.””
They didn’t try Teague, though.
I didn’t see the first half, but the second half of this game was on LD. It looked like Woody’s Hawks were in the building tonight.
Samuel
December 27th, 2010
12:04 am
It was Woody’s fault. LOL!!
Ramon
December 27th, 2010
12:07 am
Najeh, the first half the Hawks were up by 9.
ant banks
December 27th, 2010
12:14 am
wow, a new effin’ blog.
Dre
December 27th, 2010
12:19 am
I wonder when drew is gonna grow the goatee.
Atlanta Fawkers
December 27th, 2010
12:19 am
I would understand accepting this kind of up and down play in 2007 but four years later – this team is the same. Hawks owners are not serious about winning.
Now WE know!
rusty
December 27th, 2010
12:28 am
I didn’t think anyone could be worst than woody, I guess I was wrong
rusty
December 27th, 2010
12:33 am
Does ld do crack
twista
December 27th, 2010
12:36 am
what if the hawks are one of the teams that lebron is talkin’ about contraction? can you imagine chicago with jamal crawford comin’ off the bench. or if jsmoove was comin’ off the bench for new york.
rusty
December 27th, 2010
12:37 am
Does any one even give a crap anymore
tjhook
December 27th, 2010
1:20 am
Clearly, Drew needs a guard he can send to the floor and not have to coach him up. I would like to see the Hawks pursue Mo Williams; I would offer Teague and Marvin. Teague if he improves was not drafted as a player who is featured in the offense. I believe there is no need to feel obligated to keep him on the roster.
O'Brien
December 27th, 2010
1:28 am
“But against good teams we have to be able to follow through on the game plan, especially defensively”. LD .
What does he expect, when Bibby played 41 minutes, Jamal played 34 minutes, and Josh and Al (due to foul trouble) only played 28 minutes each.
When will LD and Rick realize that they don’t have the personnel to be a good defensive team?
More from the blog;
“On the road you have to have better shot selection.” LD .
“Smoove was the guiltiest party on the latter. He’s getting jump shot happy again and now they aren’t falling”. MC .
That was the problem with Josh making those shots earlier in the season. Now that they are not falling, he still has the confidence that he can take and make them whenever he wants.
O'Brien
December 27th, 2010
1:33 am
As for the game tonight, this was a team loss, but the coaching was a big part of it.
Props to Marvin. This is what we need from him more consistently, and he has been playing much better.
As for the coaching;
1) 41 minutes for Bibby, despite going 2-8 and playing horrible defense, despite the fact that he spent time guarding Jarrett Jack?
2) 34 minutes for Jamal, despite the fact that this is his first game back, and he had 5 turnovers?
3) DNPCD for Teague despite the fact that he had 3 decent games prior to the time off?
4) DNPCD for Damien, despite the fact that Marvin was cramping and had to be taken out for a rest?
Last year, our offense would come to a screeching halt under Woody, especially in the fourth quarter. I thought the motion offense was supposed to stop that?
Hawks had 31 points in the second half.
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
2:00 am
If you coach any basketball team have them watch the hawks on film and then tell your team this is not how you play if you want to be a champion!! Just brutal….I have officially stop recording the games in high deff. to save disk space on my dvr. Very soon I will stop watching this sorry team all together…
Grandadc
December 27th, 2010
2:02 am
One point left out of MC’s analysis is;
when our offense bogs down,
Joe stops the offense.
He is a major culprit…as a bogger downer.
MC tends to give the opponents defense ‘all’ the credit.
True, they deserve much, but Joe said himself the ball stopped moving
in the 2nd half.
I watched the whole game. Joe always catches and holds the ball, allowing
the defense to adjust even if he eventually passes. He stops the ball and
pounds the air out of it for a # of seconds looking to make something out
of nothing rather than let the offense flow.
Defensively, we need a long armed rim defender in the rotation.
The entire blog has been screaming for one since I’ve been around.
Heck, Thabeet is available, he can do two things:
(1) block shots & (2) rebound,
go get him – who cares if he can hit a lay-up.
My assessments:
Joe must adjust to the offense.
We must upgrade our personnel on defense.
No reason for not playing Teague. [that we know of]
sam'l
December 27th, 2010
2:04 am
If the Hawks can’t stop a good pick and roll, pull out the tapes, watch em until they make sense, then go out on the floor and run through the pick and roll………until they get it!
If the other team starts putting together a hot streak, call a timeout, analyze the situation and put an end to it.
If anyone cannot play defense, either correct this or ship them out.
Grandad
December 27th, 2010
2:05 am
That was me.
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
2:12 am
LD was a really bad hire..
Sund just quit dude……
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
2:14 am
The Hawks have not been able to defend a pick and roll since Mookie Blaylock retired over 10 years ago……
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
2:17 am
Watching Josh Smith operate in the 4th quarter is like stubbing you big toe, it really hurts like a mother………
Clyde
December 27th, 2010
2:25 am
“I’ve followed and rooted for this franchise my entire life but it’s just a whip watching the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and it never changing.”
-@DanWeiner
Clyde
December 27th, 2010
2:33 am
The Falcons are on the minds of Atlanta Sports Fans. Nobody cares about the Hawks.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 27th, 2010
2:35 am
Hawks play at Milwaukee tomorrow night. More genius NBA scheduling. How many metro Atlanta TV sets are going to be tuned to that game? 5? 6?
If I was David Stern, NBA opening day would be New Years’ Day, or maybe even MLK Day. Why compete with the NFL for three months when you can compete with the much weaker MLB during the summer?
Clyde
December 27th, 2010
2:36 am
Here is the problem I got with the Hawks.
We got blown out 2 years in a row in the second round and we bring back the same team for a 3rd year. Common sense would tell you to make some moves but the Hawks didn’t do anything to better the team. Now we are experiencing the same ole problems and people are tired of it.
Rise Up Spirit Group and make some changes.
Ronald McDonald
December 27th, 2010
2:48 am
Things are looking oddly familiar. Is this deja-vu? Is L.D. going to grow a goatee and shave his eyebrows soon?
MR. KRISPY KREME JR
December 27th, 2010
5:40 am
THE HAWKS ARE JUST ANOTHER MEDIOCRE NBA FRANCHISE !! JUST END ALL BLOGS, SPECULATIONS, AND DISCUSSIONS…THE HAWKS WILL LOSE OUT THIS YEAR AND CONTINUE TO LOSE OUT UNTIL WE GET SOME PEOPLE IN HERE WHO KNOW HOW TO RUN AN NBA FRANCHISE..FROM THE OWNERS TO THE COACHES, TO THE PLAYERS ON DOWN, THE PERSONNEL IN PLACE JUST SUCKS TURD AS ALWAYS….GEEZ LD DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT THE PURPOSE OF A BENCH IS…AND WHAT IN THE NAME OF LATTER DAY SAINTS IS RICK SUND DOING AS GM…BEATING HIS MEAT ??? COME ON I’VE BEEN A HAWKS FAN FOR 25 FREAKIN YEARS AND ALL I KEEP HEARING IS QUOTES LIKE ” OH WE MUST PLAY HARDER OR ” WE DIDNT PLAY WITH ENOUGH ENERGY ” …LISTEN, IM JUST TIRED OF THE MEDIOCRACY OF THE HAWKS AND THE NBA IN GENERAL..ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE CAN WE CHANGE ? YES WE CAN !!!
terrell
December 27th, 2010
5:46 am
Ken Strickland, remember when you said the Celtics were old, and the Heat werent all that? And that the Hawks were younger, with better coaching, better offensive philosophies, better rotations, learning how to win on the road, etc…………..? Still feel the same way? Told you it was a little too early to be making any kind of predictions about the C’s, the Heat, and the same ole up and down Hawks. I’m losing what little faith I had in LD and this team in general by the minute. Still early, but I’ve seen nothing whatsoever to make me believe this Hawks team can compete with the before mentioned. Dont think we’ll compete with Orlando either, once they gwet settled in. Cause like Stan said, “we’ve been together for 6 hours, they’ve been together for 6 years”.
T r u t h S e r u m
December 27th, 2010
5:51 am
I couldnt enjoy this more. Good job idiots. keep suckking horfords nutz while he refuses to play defense and you will go down down down.
We miss you mike woodson.
Larry Drew and the Bubba Crew!
terrell
December 27th, 2010
6:16 am
TS, LD might not be the best Coach, but youre the ONLY one who misses Woody. Please!
dap01
December 27th, 2010
7:48 am
Poor game for Larry Drew.
dukester
December 27th, 2010
7:49 am
Now if the ASG feel this team does not need tweaking they are crazy. Some parts of this core needs changing bottom line. PG and Center needs to be addressed. Point blank.
drmaryb (*_*)
December 27th, 2010
8:13 am
You Talking ’bout The Hawks?
Child Please!
Bump That!
Mike is back
December 27th, 2010
8:17 am
MC, great breakdown of the game…WHAT DO YOU…say about a team…when the HC and the Assistance come out and openly admit that this team…takes too many jumps…AND AT THE START…of every half…the guys goes right back out there…and hoist up jumps shots…go figure????
Same ole Hawks…when the pressure is on…during critical stretches of the game…they have a propensity of wilting under duress…it’s as though they haven’t figured out…that they are beating themselves…by letting the opponent of the hook…with poor execution of the offensive scheme…that’s why they are not considers an elite team… elite teams don’t beat themselves…ultimately squandering away winnable games…will come back to haunt THE HAWKS at some point in the season.
Carlos
December 27th, 2010
8:18 am
With as much time, thought and participation I see on here by some, the best and most reasonable comments by far were by Clyde at 2:33 AM and MR. KRISPY KREME JR at 5:40 AM.
Their overall message is simple and not as complex as the essays worth of philosophy and material some of you guys put, but it’s way more realistic.
The bottomline is that the hawks wont do ANYTHING until major changes are made with this team. Player personnel, front office, and-or coaching.
You guys can kid yourselves with all the silly talk about
“well if Josh did this….”
“Josh has been working on this….”
“well if Teague got some minutes….”
“Where is JC2???”
“I hope we go with the big line up and Collins starting….”
“Bring Marvin off the bench….”
“Well if you look at the +/- and per statistics”
“Well if we played this and that type of Defense/offense…Josh/Crawford/Teague would do better”
NON-SENSE…..This team is going NOWHERE with the roster we have right now.
STRETCH
December 27th, 2010
8:41 am
The Hawks wont win a darn thing until they release that its time to end the relationship with Josh Smith. Best to do it now while he still has value.
i_am_soulstar
December 27th, 2010
8:51 am
If I didn’t see the game, but saw the boxscore, I would’ve sworn Woody was coaching.
Ramon
December 27th, 2010
9:03 am
Why does it seem as if 2 or 3 people are posting with multiple names?
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
9:50 am
“Why does it seem as if 2 or 3 people are posting with multiple names?
Because their beloved Hawks play like two or three different teams every night but the results are the same.Garbage……………….
Samuel
December 27th, 2010
9:52 am
Why do you guys keep talking about the “motion offense”. I told yall it was a “smoke screen” by LD to get the job. NBA players will not consistently run a motion offense. Too much running.
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
9:54 am
Keep iso Joe.Do you and just hoist them up. The 3 stooges will disappear in the 4th quarters anyway..Show America you da man!!
steve brown
December 27th, 2010
9:57 am
Josh Smith =JSmooth=JS=Just Selfish. Not a player I can get behind (except for the few games each year that an alien takes control of his brain). Get his behind outta here for players that understand there is no JS in team.
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
9:58 am
Motion Offense only works if you have have talent at the 1,2,&3, the 4 and 5 just need to rebound and defend well with occasional put backs or dunks. Add in a couple of JUMP SHOTS which our HAWKS 4 and 5 don’t have. They shoot set shots which I will not pay to watch since my jump shot is far superior…..
J.J.M
December 27th, 2010
9:59 am
TRADE MO AND JAMAL FOR MONTA ELLIS
TRADE MO AND JAMAL FOR MONTA ELLIS
TRADE MO AND JAMAL FOR MONTA ELLIS
TRADE MO AND JAMAL FOR MONTA ELLIS
TRADE MO AND JAMAL FOR MONTA ELLIS
TRADE MO AND JAMAL FOR MONTA ELLIS
ole hawk's fan
December 27th, 2010
9:59 am
With JJ in the game…………THERE WILL BE NO MOTION OFFENSE! His mindset is STILL ISO. No ball movement…………..just his dribbling the ball as the shot clock runs down and HE JACKS UP A FADE AWAY JUMPER. EVEN IF A MIDGET DEFENDER IS GUARDING JJ, he will not post that player up or drive to the basket!
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
10:02 am
Monta Ellis will cost more.Way more then those busters…
J.J.M
December 27th, 2010
10:03 am
it worked on nba trade machine
dap01
December 27th, 2010
10:04 am
JJ’s concept of team is as vast as his vocabulary.
J.J.M
December 27th, 2010
10:04 am
hell throw in a first round pick with them
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
10:09 am
Ellis is the real deal. He can light it up with the best of them. He has more talent then the whole Hawks roster…
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
10:14 am
Joe we need 40 pts from you tonight!! Its the only shot this team has against Milwaukee. Keep hoisting them JOE!!!!!
doc
December 27th, 2010
10:16 am
samuel have you watched the celtics and lakers? the best move and know it is the way to gain separation. i love to watch those teams move and screen for each other. bad basketball players stand around and lose. unfortunately we do iot on both ends of the court as well where the best move on defense, too. you are barking up the wrong tree with your flawed assessment. good teams and players move.
Ken Strickland
December 27th, 2010
10:22 am
We lost this gm because of poor coaching decisions. LDrew must have had a MWoodson flashback. We’re going up against one of the NBA’s very best PG’s, and LDrew did the Woodson by trying to stop him with MBibby. He even used Woodson’s beloved switching DEF, which forced JJ, Smoove, Marvin, Horford and Jamal, and even Twin to defend him.
WHY IN THE HELL DIDN’T HE TRY JTEAGUE OR DWILKINS? JJ did an excellent job of defending him in the 1st half, but obviously wore down during the 2nd half. And everyone went by Bibby like he wasn’t there, and he certainly wasn’t producing offensively. That meant he became a total liability, and it wouldn’t have hurt the team to have used Teague or Wilkins.
They pressured Bibby at half court, which means he pulled up and initiated the OFF well beyond the 3pt line. That forced our players to move farther from the basket to receive his weak passes, which led to a number of steals. Defensively, a combination of DWilkins and JTeague with JJ, would have been far more effective against their 3 guard OFF than Jamal and Bibby. They likely would have given us better rebounding as well. It’s not like Bibby and Jamal were lighting it up offensively.
Yetta
December 27th, 2010
10:23 am
Why do all of this talking; just blame it on JOSH Smith as you always do!
leedsatlanta
December 27th, 2010
10:23 am
That was the worst display of coaching I have ever seen. Why play Crawford and Bibby together when they are so bad on defensive.NO even played 2 point guards at the same time to take full advantage. If I was Teague I would asked for a trade! He plays D !
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
10:31 am
Real simple why Teague does not get many minutes in the NBA after 3 seasons. He does not have a jump shot !!Just like Al and Josh most of the new kids on the block today can’t shoot the rock..Just very good athletes.Even as a pt. guard in the NBA you need a jump shot to help keep the opposing defense honest and it helps take pressure off your #2 and #3 scorers.If you have any….
Ken Strickland
December 27th, 2010
10:32 am
I forgot one thing. JJ and Jamal have started reverting back to last yrs pound the ball ISO style of play, and are doing more to inhibit ball and player movement than opposing DEF’s. It’s a shame that cramp shut Marvin down, which is something the Hornet’s DEF couldn’t do. Marvin has had a string of very productive gms, and the Marvin bashers have had very little to say in comparison to the constant bashing they dish out whenever he has just one unproductive gm.
J.J.M
December 27th, 2010
10:33 am
we all know the hawks wont get anywhere with this team..die hard fans or not
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
10:34 am
Sund pull the trigger and trade Josh(he’s not smooth by any long shot wanna be magic johnson and ain’t got a clue in the 4th quarter) for Rudy Gay YESTERDAY…………
Sund=Billy Knight(Worst GM in Hawks History)
STRETCH
December 27th, 2010
10:40 am
slimjr and J.J.M,
Completely co-sign!
But Sund is going to “wait and see what happens with his core”. I love my Atlanta sports teams but continue hate Atlanta sports management. This team is just going to barely make the 6th seed and get beat in the FIRST round.
Not So Casual Observer
December 27th, 2010
10:40 am
Did I just read Al “can’t shoot the rock”? Have you seen any of the games this year?
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
10:42 am
Josh Smith=James Worthy w/o a jump shot! Josh needs Magic Johnson to hook him up on the court just like he did Worthy all those years. Oh that’s right Billy(the self proclaimed basketball expert)Knight could have drafted CP3 or DWill to hook up Josh!! Naw instead we took DUCK, aka knuckle dragging…This is your retarded Hawks……………
J.J.M
December 27th, 2010
10:42 am
and also if you look at other teams they are getting some production from their from their draft picks…hawks draft players and dont even use them. All they do is dress them on the bench with suits when they are never hurt. How can you determine if the player is good or not if he never plays any minutes?
Rod from College Park
December 27th, 2010
10:44 am
We all know that the Hawks need a true big man. One of the ways to improve this team immediately is to aquire a wing (2 or 3) that can take his man off the dribble and get to the basket, or a penetrating point guard. The Hawks depend strictly on knocking down jump shots, and that won’t work when teams play playoff level defense. The last two years, our main problem in the playoffs has been that we can’t score. JJ, Marvin, Bibby, Josh, and Horford would all rather shot a jump shot than anything else. We need a slasher in the starting lineup bad. The roster is seriously flawed, and a move needs to be made. Marvin is playing much better, so maybe there are some teams that may be interested. I have always supported Josh, but if he continues to shoot jump shots, and complain and pout on every play, he needs to be traded also.
Walter R. Terrell
December 27th, 2010
10:45 am
Hawks have to grow up. Orlando, Miami, Chicago, New York and Boston is gonna leave us standing and gawking. We are going to lose a lot of games because of basketball knowledge. Josh Smith has none, very talented man but his basketball IQ is zilch. Larry needs to bench him until Smith learns to play within the context of the game. He’s just too wild when we are trying to get a lead
STRETCH
December 27th, 2010
10:48 am
Atlanta Hawks – Just like they’ve done the last few years, the Hawks are quietly one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, posting a 19-12 record, good for what would be the fourth seed in the playoffs. They’re going to be a playoff team with a reasonable seeding, so getting their roster right before the deadline is important, especially as they decide what to do with Jamal Crawford and his expiring contract.
Assets: Jamal Crawford, SG (1 year, $10.1 million), Maurice Evans, SG (1 year, $2.5 million), Mike Bibby, PG (2 years, $11.8 million). Crawford could very easily walk at the end of the season if not offered a proper extension, so the team may look to move him to avoid losing him for nothing. He’ll be the guy most coveted by other teams. Hawks’ backup point guard Jeff Teague has shown flashes of promise this season, perhaps making Bibby a player that could be moved if the returning player were good enough. Evans has a great salary for what he brings to the table, and the fact that it’s an expiring deal makes him worthwhile, too. Atlanta has a few other inexpensive expiring guys (Jason Collins, Etan Thomas, Josh Powel, Pape Sy) that could be added to deals as well.
What They’re Looking For: More than anything, they could use a real center so Al Horford can actually play some power forward. Not that there are a lot of marquee centers being dangled around out there, but the Hawks need some size down low.
Samuel
December 27th, 2010
10:49 am
Sure do and they do not run a motion offense. Do they move the ball around and make the defense move more. Yes, but they do not run a motion offense which is what LD advertised. Big difference.
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
10:51 am
The problem I see is the Hawks franchise over the past decades have hired incompetent GM’s which equates to a terrible product on the hardwood for years..45 years and never won a conference final much less participated in a championship and your the 9th largest CITY IN AMERICA?? I can’t support this garbage….
J.J.M
December 27th, 2010
10:55 am
hawks need a front office like the falcons…point blank
yodaddy
December 27th, 2010
10:56 am
I didn’t see the game but I knew we would lose.
Mo Evans needs to be on the bench forever and pretty please can Jeff Teague get some minutes out there?
All of this seems like a no brainer to me.
Bibby, Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al, and Collins
Bench
Teague, Jamal, Marvin, Powell, and Zaza…Damien Wilkins and then Etan Thomas….then Mo Evans.
jlewis
December 27th, 2010
10:59 am
I wish everyone would stop blaming JJ, if he didnt hold the ball to draw a double team, this team wouldnt score much, and dont point to when he was out, teams hadnt adjusted, when they started to, it wasnt pretty. Get Al’s and Josh’s butt in the paint, they both want to be 2 guards. The NBA is an ISO league, everyone does it but the Lakers, and at the end of games they go ISO also, but then again, they have more talent and depth than the Hawks. The problem is still the same, no point guard, no center, no depth. Blame ASG
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
11:00 am
Kenny Smith said it best on TNT and NBA TV when referring to the beloved HAWKS, quote “I can’t watch bad basketball”…….
Marvin Williams as your starting sf will not win you an ECF nor Championships that’s for sure…I would take Candice Parker over that softie….
Samuel
December 27th, 2010
11:01 am
Motion offense
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blGh5I0dHf4&feature=related
This is what LD tried to sell the Hawks on along with the ignorant fans who wanted Woody gone so they bought into it. That’s why he ran them into the ground during training camp trying to get them into shape to run this thing. They rebelled and now were where we started.
The only team who runs anything close is UTAH.
Astro Joe
December 27th, 2010
11:02 am
Some of y’all would make a big trade after every lost game. Funny. LD complains about the team not running or playting fast while keeping Teague on the bench. That suggests that either he is a fool (for not using the guy best able to quicken the pace) or he has little confidence that Teague could add net value to the game… speed up the tempo while not making too many dumb mistakes.
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
11:03 am
Yea but UTAH has who running the point??? DWill, oh that’s right the Hawks passed on him. Didn’t see his “potential”……Yawn…..
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
11:05 am
If the Hawks don’t make a block buster move they will get dismantled come playoff time……….
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
11:11 am
‘Atlanta Hawks – Just like they’ve done the last few years, the Hawks are quietly one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, posting a 19-12 record, good for what would be the fourth seed in the playoffs. They’re going to be a playoff team with a reasonable seeding, so getting their roster right before the deadline is important, especially as they decide what to do with Jamal Crawford and his expiring contract.”
So what, they were a third seed last season and look what happen? They were completely humiliated along with their fan base…What is going to change this year?? Ans: Nothing
yodaddy
December 27th, 2010
11:12 am
If you needed defense at the PG spot then not having Teague out there is a mystery that even Sherlock Holmes is unable to solve. If you needed defense period then Not having Damien Wilkins out there is another mystery.
What is coach’s love affair with Mo Evans? The boy is pure garbage…can’t dribble, can’t finish, and certainly can’t shoot, his defense is average. He can’t rebound or play the passing lane, not to mention injury prone and short…he’s useless… but coach keeps trotting him out there like he’s about to do something. A couple of defensive possessions and hustle plays (Teague and Wilkins) can completely change the complexion of a game.
So crying about defense when you don’t even play for one minute your two best on ball defenders is looney tunes.
Samuel
December 27th, 2010
11:20 am
It’s pretty obvious that we have mid level talent, therefore we will finish somewhere in the middle of the pack. It’s idiotic to think we can do anything better. We will finish somewhere between 4-6. Either way, we’ll be playing Orlando, Chicago or NY in the first round. Our only hope is to win home court advantage so we can make it out of the 1st round this year.
We probably could have gotten Monta Ellis this summer when GS was ready to move him because they wanted Curry to be the star. Curry is kinda injury prone so it will be hard to get Ellis right now. Plus, we like our “CORE” right? Idiots!!
Samuel
December 27th, 2010
11:25 am
Ken,
You turning on ya Boy, LD? What’s up with that?
lewis
December 27th, 2010
11:26 am
Bibby and Smoove for Varejao and Mo Williams – works
Jamal and Marvin for Varejao and Mo Williams – works
i know what you’re thinking, but Mo Williams is fast, penetrates when he wants, plays okay D, doesn’t turn the ball over and can shoot well from the outside. He’s also one of the few available pg’s that could make this team better. Varejao is an impact player for sure, possibly untouchable though
Cleveland has always liked Marvin for some reason
Mo Williams is unhappy and really wants to win (only concern is his hamstring situation / overpaid)
People are gonna say losing Josh Smith for Varejao is a crime but he’s a blue collar defending 7 footer who’s not worried about scoring and Josh has been freakishly inconsistent
Starting lineup:
Mo Williams, JJ, Marvin, Horford, Varejao (minus smoove / bibby)
Mo Williams, JJ, Smoove, Horford, Varejao (minus jamal/marvin)
or Mo Williams, JJ, Smoove, Horford, Collins with Varejao coming off the bench as the impact big
this lineup would fly down the court
bring on the hate.
I can’t be the only one who’s angered by Bibby hobbling down the court making the first pass with 15 seconds left on the shot clock. Made worse by the fact that the Hornets, on the next possession, pass up 2 good looks, drive to the rim, rebound, get the tip in, with 15 seconds left on the shot clock.
Samuel
December 27th, 2010
11:32 am
Joe,
If you listen to all of LD’s interviews he says the same thing. He never wants to speed the pace up on the road. He want’s to “control the tempo” and keep the crowd out of the game.
What’s funny is some of you guys thought you were getting the complete opposite of Woody but in all actuality LD is even more stubborn than Woody. He’s actually kinda arrogant. I have never once heard him admit he made a mistake. At least Woody would occasionally do that.
yodaddy
December 27th, 2010
11:35 am
Mo Williams and Varejao????? can’t be serious bruh…no thanks we’ll keep Marvin and Jamal Crawford.
Mo Williams is smaller than Jeff Teague and plays no defense. Instead of helping on Bibby we’d be helping on Mo Williams.
The Hawks need like a Chauncey type at PG…Size that can shoot and defend.
lewis
December 27th, 2010
11:37 am
LD,
DONT YOU REMEMBER THAT BIBBY/JAMAL/JOE/JOSH/AL IS WHAT GOT WOODSON FIRED?
You had a decent thing going with Collins starting occasionally and Powell being ahead of Zaza in the rotation. The bane of your coaching existence lies in giving Jamal’s scoring ability way too much credit. That is all he does. If he is not hitting, please take him out. Bibby, Joe and Jamal being in the lineup is obnoxiously redundant and 2 of them play NO DEFENSE AT ALL (Though I did see Jamal actually stay with someone yesterday and almost spit out my drink) We do not need any more high volume jump shooters. I was cool on Jamal long before his 6moy 17ppg stunt that was made possible by Woody the enabler. JC2, if given the chance, might very well become better than Jamal because he is fearless when it comes to driving to the basket. Jamal, I know you got game, but you’re not Jason Terry and never will be. Please go dominate the offense of some other team.
Mo Evans has made a living hitting corner 3’s and playing lock down defense for playoff teams. He’s struggling to do both. Why not give Damien, Jordan or Teague a shot?
lewis
December 27th, 2010
11:40 am
Keeping Marvin and Jamal means we lose Jamal, who doesn’t do much for us anyway, for nothing, and maintain an overpaid SF who has put up consistent numbers more than 2 games in a row for the first time as a 5 year starter.
I’m just done with this core, sorry
bigdave
December 27th, 2010
11:42 am
“We need a slasher in the starting lineup bad.”
i agree…
never a threat to attack the rim, the first 8-9 in depth are more comfortable taking jump shots 12ft on out.
its comical when the opponent gets in the penalty early and you hear Bob or Nique suggest we drive the ball..
lkudh
December 27th, 2010
11:46 am
wonder if “j smoove”, got his rattle and blanket for christmas? thought he would carry them on the court when he does his pouty face to the refs and crowd. trade this quitter while he still has some value and you will see the attitude change on the team.
O'Brien
December 27th, 2010
11:49 am
I’m with Ken on this one. IMO, Coaching was the biggest reason we lost this game.
If the Hawks dont make any moves, I think the best they can hope for is 4th so they have homecourt. Otherwise, they might get eliminated in the first round.
If the Hawks dont make it to the second round, and at least win a couple games in the second round, that will be a big step back for LD and the Hawks.
yodaddy
December 27th, 2010
11:52 am
@ lewis
I agree but bringing in Mo Williams and Anderson Varejao is not the answer.
Mo Williams game is weak and Varejao is pretty much Tall and that’s it.
At least Marvin & Jamal have skills that we (theoretically) could use.
Mo & Jamal are the same player except Jamal Crawford can get his own shot. Both high volume 3 point shooters with no size or defense. Not to mention making that trade would give us 3 pgs and 2 starting pgs. Bibby is not coming off the bench for Mo Williams.
Bottom line is that we can get someone better than Mo Williams for Jamal Crawford AND we can get someone better than Varejao for Marvin Williams.
O'Brien
December 27th, 2010
11:53 am
Blake Griffin is averaging 21 and 12. Wow. Those are the numbers I would like to see from Josh and Al.
Rufus1
December 27th, 2010
12:02 pm
4QT
It doesn’t make sense to continue to play Bibby and Jamal in the 4th Qt if the Hawks are only going to score 15pts… The point production doesn’t justify the defensive short fall.
FIGURE IT OUT LD….
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
12:04 pm
Got news for ya. This team has already stepped backwards. They “peaked” last season..That’s it. It’s a wrap! Jettison the core Scottie! Make it so…(Captain Kirk/Captain Picard)
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
12:05 pm
Josh is not wired or skilled enough to put up 20 and 10 nightly. Your dreamin…
Mike is back
December 27th, 2010
12:08 pm
Samuel, Dude ain’t been coaching a half of season yet…too early to throw him under the bus, and call him another Woody.
Ken, you can’t blame JJ this time…Dude has not been hogging ball since he returned…Joe has been a different player since he returned…there are still plays where he may hold on to the ball some…but he is making a conscious effort to find his team-mates.
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.
Damon
December 27th, 2010
6:42 pm
I wonder if the other head coaches laugh at L.D. throughout the course of the game when they see how easy Drew makes it for the opposing team to impose their will and win the ball game.
Samuel
December 27th, 2010
6:42 pm
GD,
Of course your points are valid. I have had a great holiday so far. I just got back from Tupelo, Mississippi. My Momma and Daddy are both doing great.Tremendous hoops and Laker fans at 75. We got to watch hoops all day, eat that good dressing and kick it.
How has your holiday gone so far?
Grandad
December 27th, 2010
6:47 pm
One more point;
sorry I forgot…..
motion offense in the NBA is simply a *set play with
multiple player movement and ball reversal.
There is not enough time to run true motion where you run
continuous motion until the defense breaks down.
However, making the defense change sides of the floor is
integral to any offense.
Joe stops ‘anything’ -&- ‘everything’ we try to do which
allows the defense not only to adjust but to double team him
and trap plus all kind of combo schemes.
If Joe will not adjust;
he needs to be traded or you have cut the legs from under LD.
Therefore, why was LD given a chance?
This team has talent.
This team has a solid though inexperienced Coach.
[getting better with every game]
Why is it not excelling (the core)?
The pieces don’t fit !
Were Red Auerbach coaching he pieces still would be maladjusted.
[mladjstd probly nt the rght wrd, I just wnted to use it]
Grandad
December 27th, 2010
6:52 pm
Samuel
Grandkids are in Tex, can’t wait ’til they get home.
Other than that, Very, Very Merry Holidays with the
rest of my young’uns and the family.
dell706
December 27th, 2010
6:58 pm
I just want to know why Drew continues to play Bibby even when he’s not doing crap. Even though Teague makes his turnovers, so does everybody else! It wouldn’t be no different but you got a quicker PG on the floor who can actually get to the whole when he wants, that opens up shots for other people so it really doesn’t make sense the excuse he keep giving for not playing Teague. The 2 excuses are turnovers and he’s not a shotmaker but with him driving he can open up shots for everybody and Joe doesn’t have to do it. You can be a effective PG without makin shots like that….Rondo!!
JeJe
December 27th, 2010
7:00 pm
ASG’s #1 goal is for someone on the team to always be injured. That way, they always have a scapegoat when we lose in the Playoffs and can then keep core next year since they hate spending money.
WE HAD INJURIES VS. CLEVELAND AND GOT KILLED IN 4 IN 2009
WE WERE HEALTHY VS. ORLANDO THIS YEAR AND GOT KILLED WORSE THAN ANY TEAM HAS IN NBA HISTORY
WHY DOES NO ONE TALK ABOUT THE CLEVELAND SERIES? WE HAVE NO IMPROVED IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. WE HAVE GOTTEN WORSE.
I AM THE ONLY PERSON WHO MENTIONS THE CLEVELAND SERIES. PEOPLE ACT LIKE ORLANDO WAS THE ONLY TIME THIS TEAM HAS GOTTEN KILLED.
SUND NEVER ACKNOWLEDGES WE GOT SWEPT 2 YEARS IN A ROW – ONLY ORLANDO
FIRE SUND
Najeh Davenpoop
December 27th, 2010
7:01 pm
They actually played better against Cleveland, despite the injuries, than they did against Orlando. Game 3 against Cleveland was competitive until about 5 minutes remained in the game. None of the games against Orlando were competitive.
lewis
December 27th, 2010
7:02 pm
Fanbase is begging for an impact center and has been for quite some time
Fanbase is begging for a point guard and has been for quite some time
My ohio friend says it best about the Hawks , “…the players just look like they hate each other”
Fundamentals
December 27th, 2010
7:03 pm
I’m not all down with the Drew hate. I am surprised in his decisions to not play Teague and JC2, but if we’re winning…why risk it? Problem is we’re not since the hot start. Slowly we’re inching back towards the same issues Woodson got fired for.
LD is definitely in love with offense & shooters. He has no real adjustments on defense. He has no way to hold folks accountable…mainly because DUDE AIN’T GOT THE PIECES. Woody didn’t, LD doesn’t. Face it. Good teams exploit us for what we don’t have. If we aren’t on our game, we lose the game. It’s just that simple.
Trade out 4-5 vet min contracts for the $20-30 million extra dollars worth of players the elite teams have and we can compete!
THANKS ASG! Everyone blames Sund, LD, our team, but it’s plain and simple we’re not on the same level. Don’t expect inferior talent to draw big crowds and interest when we know superior talent will just roll us in the 2nd round.
Don’t get me wrong…I love this team. I root for every player, every night, but in the end I’m not surprised by the results.
O'Brien
December 27th, 2010
7:04 pm
Out of their 13 losses, Hawks have had 5 quarters where they score less than 15 points. Thats unacceptable
ag
December 27th, 2010
7:06 pm
I am also dissapointed in LD. The ASG should have hired a real coach, or if they hired an assistant, one froma another team. I cannot believe someone said start Marvin over Josh. When I watch the games, Josh is very polished on his inside moves. He should stay in the paint and on occasion shoot a jumper. I watch Teague against Boston and he was great that first half. He just needs to play about 30-35 minutes a game. I would bring trade for an athletic big to run the floor (I still think Kwame would have been okay here)… or even Tabeet… don’t need you to score, just play a ton of defense, run the floor and dunk the ball!
Grandad
December 27th, 2010
7:07 pm
Elliot’
Al’s my favorite Hawk but not a dominant low post scoring threat.
Think; Kareem, Hakeem, Shaq (younger), even DH
Al, more of a mid-range scoring threat.
(MR jumper = bread & butter)
Damon,
I’m quite certain there are 19 teams whose HC’s are
laughing their hiney off @ LD.
Sarcasm intended.
Grandad
December 27th, 2010
7:09 pm
Uh Oh;
LeBron opened his mouth and an “Ass Clown” jumped out again !
SteveW
December 27th, 2010
7:10 pm
Bibby is our smartest on court basketball player, with real on court sense and vision. He almost never makes a bad pass, and seemingly always knows where the ball is going next when it reaches his hands. Perfect for the motion offense in those ways.
On the other hand Teague is a great athlete. Possibly the quickest 1st step in the NBA according to some. But he is going to make turnovers, and is not a natural PG. I say Drew is going to have to take his lumps and play Teague more. He has more upside than downside, and is a far better defender than Bibby at this point. LD – develop the kid. I don’t want to go through Acie Law again.
SteveW
December 27th, 2010
7:15 pm
Al Horford is probably our 2nd smartest on court player. He plays very good D, unless just physically overmatched by his opponent. Averages 3.5 assists per game. Has created 86 3 pt. jump shot situations by passing out from the paint, compared to only 36 for Dwight, who also only has 1.1 assist per game on average. Run your offense through Al, you’ll be glad you did. NBA insider types know the value of Al.
Fundamentals
December 27th, 2010
7:21 pm
Who needs AC when LD can break out the Royal Ivey treatment…or better yet Salim Stoudamire treatment. Kid has shown considerable improvement and yet, he’s benched.
Fundamentals
December 27th, 2010
7:25 pm
Is it LD, the team or Al who doesn’t run that offense through Al down low. Al is a pick and pop PF. Smoove also wants to be on the perimeter. Who wants to get down low? Who wants to really muscle- neither of these two. Reason = foul trouble #1 and fatigue #2. They don’t feel like they have backup.
Collins is trying, but ZaZa and Thomas are a total let down. What’s up with Powell not playing tough anymore…or really playing at all? Is it the knee or is he in the new doghouse.
ag
December 27th, 2010
7:26 pm
At some point they will realize how unhappy we are and make some changes! I cannot pay good money to watch this team live and now I don’t catch every game.
Fundamentals
December 27th, 2010
7:31 pm
I catch every game, but its tough to fork out the $ not knowing which Hawks team will show up night in and night out. In all honesty though, what NBA franchise is filling the seats of late? I live on average means. It takes alot to muster up 2 tickets, travel, parking and food. I know plenty are in the same boat.
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
7:32 pm
“If Al and Josh are the only 2 (legit) frontcourt players on this team, Hawks will have a hard time reaching the ECF.”
They havent been to an ECF in 23 freakin YEARS!!! It may probably another 23 years with this dysfunctional franchise…
JJ does not trust his lousy teammates that why hes a ball hog because he know these pretenders, so called pro’s suck wind. Can’t get it done in crunch time, especially on the road. Mental midgets when it comes to basketball execution! Come on JJ keep hoisting those jumpers tonight and drop 40 pts. That’s the only way we have chance to win. LD bench Josh in the 4th quarter again if your really interested in a road win cause this guy is clueless.
Sund=Billy Knight(Worst GM in Hawks history).
Elliot
December 27th, 2010
7:33 pm
Grandad,
I agree that Horford is clearly not on the same level as guys like Kareem, Hakeem, or Shaq. Dwight Howard shouldn’t be in that conversation at all, in my opinion. He’s improving, but he’s nowhere near that level. Dwight has to be within 5-8 feet to be effective, or at point blank range right now. What makes Dwight a dangerous player in the post is the fact that he draws a lot of fouls due to his aggressiveness and a hint of superstar favoritism.
At any rate, I was talking about Al with respect to the way the game is today. If you look around the league, there really aren’t that many “dominant” low post players anymore. Looking at the east, there are 3 good post players: Boozer, Howard, Garnett. That’s about it. As far as the west goes, Gasol is a very skilled post player, along with Tim Duncan, but outside of those two, only Chris Kaman really has a true low-post game. There are other players, such as Al Jefferson and Kevin Love who are capable of playing in the post, but I wouldn’t say that they are more effective there than Al is.
The point I’m trying to make here is that although Al is not a “dominant” post player yet, he is more than suitable as a post threat when compared with the rest of the league, and there are statistics to support that claim. Horford, obviously has a ways to go in that department, but he is showing a lot of progress. His footwork looks great, he’s really learned how to use his body to create space, he’s incorporating some counter moves, and makes smart decisions when he gets doubled in the post. He obviously still needs to work on developing something over his right shoulder, among other things, but even as is, he is very serviceable in the post, and the team needs to make a conscious effort to take further advantage of this.
SteveW
December 27th, 2010
7:34 pm
Josh Smith – Something is wrong. He has played identical minutes in November and December (34.1 mpg), but his production is down, especially his shot blocking. He is down:
1 point per game on average (not bad)
His blocks per game have decrease by 33%, from 2.4 to 1.6 (that is bad)
His rebounding has decreased by 1.4 per game (9.3 to 7.9), that’s bad, but he has picked it up lately.
His FG% is down by 7.6% – from 50.8 to 43.2 – that is really bad.
His steals are down from 1.7 per game to 1.2 per game.
Now remember, this is playing identical minutes in both November and December.
He’s averaging a full assist less per game in December, 3.4 in Dec. as opposed to 4.4 in November.
He’s 3-14 in the last 6 games from 3 point land.
Something is definitely wrong with Smoove.
lp
December 27th, 2010
7:36 pm
What star of a team doesn’t hold the ball. And if Joe doesn’t score then its, we paid all this money for this so on and so forth. Let Joe do what he does he is the highest paid let him earn his worth. Y’all act like he is not the 3rd best sg in the l. I’ve seen trade joe and start jamal that’s laughable. Josh i can see traded if anyone, unless he can play his position. The scoring should be Joe, Al, Marvin, Josh. If josh can provide defense and energy, everything else would flow, but he wants to be the star so it throws the balance off.
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
7:36 pm
Al does not even know how to drop step. He’s years from ever being a low post threat if ever…Too bad we missed getting the #2 pick that year(Kevin Durrant). Billy would have screwed that up too….
Steve
December 27th, 2010
7:41 pm
I would say that the biggest problem with Smoove lately is his decision making. You can directly correlate his poor decision making with his decreased statistics. Smoove’s shot selection has been terrible, hence the 7.6% decrease in FG%. He is overhandling the ball and making bad decisions with his passing, hence the decrease in assists. He is gambling more in the post (going for the steal and giving up open layups/dunks), hence resulting in fewer blocks and rebounds, and he doesn’t seem to be playing with the same type of energy or hustle either. I think what Smoove really needs a no-nonsense, disciplinarian type of coach, who will bench him, regardless of the situation, if he doesn’t follow throw with the gameplan and play to his strengths. Smoove has always been stubborn, and it’s clear that L.D.’s lack of accountability is giving him no incentive to play with anymore control or maturity.
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
7:42 pm
‘Something is definitely wrong with Smoove.
Yea he knows deep down he has not enough game to be an ALLStar. He got married this summer the Honeymoon maybe wearing off…..HAHAHA….
Brandon
December 27th, 2010
7:43 pm
@slimjr
LMAO. Do you even know what a drop step is? Al uses a drop step on almost every post-up opportunity when he is isolated on the right block. I wonder if you’ve even been watching the games. You want have to look far to see what I’m talking about. Look at last night’s game, and notice how Al played in the post the few times that he was given the ball. He may not have converted on all of those opportunities, but his fundamentals were very sound.
Brandon
December 27th, 2010
7:44 pm
correction on my last post: *you won’t have to look far, not “want have to look far”.
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
7:46 pm
Trade Josh for Rudy Gay YESTERDAY….
Just the truth
December 27th, 2010
7:48 pm
No real of improvement of talent, no type of care from ASG to get a proven coach= A very middle of the pack season. Face it hawks the world of (we are what our say we are). Next offseason can we get a superstar pls. Someone who sell out the stadium without having to say the other teams best guy when advertising the game. The hawks will make the playoffs but the truth is I would rather rebuild than show a half A*& effort to compete.
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
7:48 pm
Al plays like Gradmama.. Yawn.. The 3 stooges(JOSH,AL,MARVIN) are going to get destroyed come playoff time..Keep watchin…Keep dreamin..
LionHearted
December 27th, 2010
7:50 pm
Man who the hell wants to watch the Hawks 2nite when the Falcons are gonna be on LMAO
SteveW
December 27th, 2010
7:51 pm
Hawks drafts. Someone in defending the Hawks drafts under Billy Knight said, well at least every Hawk drafted in the 1st round since 2001 is still in the NBA except DeMarr Johnson because of his accident.
Dan Dickau, who we traded for as the 28th pick in the 1st round in 2002 is not in the League anymore.
We drafted Jamal Tinsley #27 the year before, but traded him because we didn’t think he could play in the NBA. He then averaged 8.1 and 7.5 assists per game the next 2 years, and led the Pacers to the 2004 ECF.
And we now have 2 lottery picks from the last 5 years playing for the vet minimum: Shelden Williams at #5 and Acie Law at #11.
According to NBA parlance, a top 5 pick is to be a star in the League. He is to be one of the top 10 players at his position within 2-3 years, not a vet minimum guy not playing at all basically with the Celtics last year.
Picks 6-15 are supposed to be starters within 2-3 years in the NBA, not a guy hanging on by a thread (last I checked) in the NBA playing for the vet minimum.
And we also had the 1st pick in the 2nd round, #31 overall, who is out of the NBA by the name of Salim Stoudamire.
So don’t give me this stuff that the Hawks draft well. They haven’t. And going back to the 90’s were historically bad at drafting.
Now I think that JT and JC2 were the best we could get at #19 and #27 respectively, but I think they are currently being coached down possibly, where we may be looking at 2 more 1st picks as vet minimum guys in the near future. But it wouldn’t surprise me if Teague went somewhere else if he didn’t blossom, maybe JC2 also.
Then we have 2
ag
December 27th, 2010
7:56 pm
lp,
Joe is NOT a superstar! He is the highest paid player on the team. Joe is a Robin, a Pippen, a side kick! The legend says MJ missed more game winning shots than he made, but he made quite a few. Joe rarely makes the big shots or carries us in the 4th. He tries, but he is rarely successful.
SteveW
December 27th, 2010
7:58 pm
I really can’t wait until next season when we let Mo’ and Jamal walk. Then LD will have to play Teague and JC2 I would think.
On drafting, the Hawks have had exactly 2 good draft picks in the last 10 years +: Al Horford and Josh Smith.
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
7:58 pm
Billy Knight, one of the most arrogant mothers I ever heard in a radio interview with 790 the Zone said quote: ” I am the so called basketball expert!” What a j****A@#…………..
Billy thanks for screwing this franchise for another 10 years..You Genius!! NOT…………….
SteveW
December 27th, 2010
7:59 pm
Oh, we did draft Pau Gasol in 2001, but we traded he Lorenzen Wright and Brevin Knight for Shareef and the #27 pick we used on Jamal Tinsley.
slimjr
December 27th, 2010
8:00 pm
Joe you are the superstar on this team. IOS tonight and light it Sir!!! Hoist them jumpers cause the rest of your team sucks wind..Come on Joe I am rooting for ya tonight!!!!
Bailey
December 27th, 2010
8:02 pm
SteveW,
It’s sad that we would have to wait until next season to get rid of Mo and Jamal, rather than having our ownership take action early-on, but that’s just the way it goes around here. Franchises that are serious about winning and improving don’t take the “sit and wait” approach. Unfortunately, we are not one of those franchises.
JeJe
December 27th, 2010
8:06 pm
ASG’s #1 goal is for someone on the team to always be injured. That way, they always have a scapegoat when we lose in the Playoffs and can then keep core next year since they hate spending money.
WE HAD INJURIES VS. CLEVELAND AND GOT KILLED IN 4 IN 2009
WE WERE HEALTHY VS. ORLANDO THIS YEAR AND GOT KILLED WORSE THAN ANY TEAM HAS IN NBA HISTORY
WHY DOES NO ONE TALK ABOUT THE CLEVELAND SERIES? WE HAVE NO IMPROVED IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. WE HAVE GOTTEN WORSE.
I AM THE ONLY PERSON WHO MENTIONS THE CLEVELAND SERIES. PEOPLE ACT LIKE ORLANDO WAS THE ONLY TIME THIS TEAM HAS GOTTEN KILLED.
SUND NEVER ACKNOWLEDGES WE GOT SWEPT 2 YEARS IN A ROW – ONLY ORLANDO
FIRE SUNDASG’s #1 goal is for someone on the team to always be injured. That way, they always have a scapegoat when we lose in the Playoffs and can then keep core next year since they hate spending money.
WE HAD INJURIES VS. CLEVELAND AND GOT KILLED IN 4 IN 2009
WE WERE HEALTHY VS. ORLANDO THIS YEAR AND GOT KILLED WORSE THAN ANY TEAM HAS IN NBA HISTORY
WHY DOES NO ONE TALK ABOUT THE CLEVELAND SERIES? WE HAVE NO IMPROVED IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. WE HAVE GOTTEN WORSE.
I AM THE ONLY PERSON WHO MENTIONS THE CLEVELAND SERIES. PEOPLE ACT LIKE ORLANDO WAS THE ONLY TIME THIS TEAM HAS GOTTEN KILLED.
SUND NEVER ACKNOWLEDGES WE GOT SWEPT 2 YEARS IN A ROW – ONLY ORLANDO
FIRE SUND.
JeJe
December 27th, 2010
8:06 pm
NAJEH, THAT PROVES MY POINT. WE WERE WORSE LAST YEAR THAN THE YEAR BEFORE IN THE PLAYOFFS.
AND WE ARE WORSE NOW THAN IN ANY OF THE 2 YEARS
FIRE SUND
ASG YOU GUYS BLOW
brigadierjerry
December 27th, 2010
8:13 pm
I think the biggest problem with the hawks is that you cannot have a team that has two players that play the same position and that is Josh Smith and Al Horford. Someone of the two is always going to be playing out of position and it doesnt work in the long run. This is similar although a different position as to when Ewing and Bill Cartwright was together. It didnt work out and Cartwright was traded for Charles Oakley a power forward which worked fine because Ewing was already a center. Also same thing with Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.
Also, all have made valid points regarding style of play LD wants to go with motion offense and Joe Johnson wanting to do iso. Either the motion offense will have to be adopted by the team or than moves will have to be made so that the motion offense philosphy is done.
Also, it is obvious that LD is trying to get wins instead of developing players and if he wants to do that then moves need to be made because this is a win now team. It is very hard to win now and develop players at the same time. If you want to develop players than team will have to be blown up
Najeh Davenpoop
December 27th, 2010
8:14 pm
Wait, why does Smoove get booed by the Bucks crowd again? I know he said something last year, but I forgot…
drmaryb (*_*)
December 27th, 2010
8:29 pm
Josh Said: “Everybody knows there is nothing to do in Milwaukee.”
Mimicking Joakim Noah’s dissing of Cleveland. LOL!
Then Josh lined up 5 Limos to Party in Chicago! SMH.
kwooden1
December 27th, 2010
8:32 pm
Nice start to the game. Collins is really helping out with the rebounding and clogging up the middle.
Not making our free-throws though.
kwooden1
December 27th, 2010
8:40 pm
Good minutes by Teague, its definitely a lot better to have Teague on Boykins rather than Bibby.
kwooden1
December 27th, 2010
8:49 pm
This is definitely the best offensive I’ve seen the HAWKS play offensively all year. The starters are hitting shots and the bench is looking good. Crawford just had a real bad foul on Dooling, but overall the defensive isn’t that bad.
ITS all about....
December 27th, 2010
9:13 pm
MI CH AE L V I C K
T.S.
December 27th, 2010
9:17 pm
Elliot when you compare horford to the leagues average center he is average and by no means beneath the average center. And you are right when you compare him to the upper tier he comes up short… no pun intended.
The question you want to ask is can you win a title with “average” at the critical position of center?
slimjr
December 28th, 2010
12:12 am
Yes you can win or compete for a title with an average center but you need Kevin Garnett at the 4,Paul Pierce at the 3 and the best 3pt shooting guard at the 2 in Ray Allen! The Center is not as critical as you believe when your other spots are filled with HOF and or Allstars…
slimjr
December 28th, 2010
12:16 am
Patrick Ewing was one of the best all time Centers and could not get it done because his team looked like the Hawks roster today a bunch of busters…Go JJ do you Sir and keep hoisting up those jump shots till they fall!!! The 3 stooges are going to get toasted come playoff time….
brigadierjerry
December 28th, 2010
6:08 am
slimjr
No one on the Hawks roster right now is as good as Ewing as well as those 90’s knicks team had way more heart and passion than this Hawks team. If the Hawks played like that they would be one of the hottest ticket in town.
KevinM
December 28th, 2010
9:12 am
Hawks win in Milwaukee; they continue to consistently be inconsistent.
Is anyone really surprised? You keep the same bunch together, mix in a few new faces for spot minutes.
Cheeseburger had double digit rebounds last night! 1st time in 2 years…congrats!
Marvin hit a 3 in the 4th quarter. Is he still sulking about not starting?
Lots to dislike about this team, but there are signs that some of the guys are finding their roles.
And I’ll take LD over Woody any day…..he was painful to watch stand there. Not that we have any say so in the matter.
31 pts in the 2nd half in New Orleans……..in 24 minutes? Really? That is just bad basketball.