Atlanta Hawks: Thunder 103, Hawks 94

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

January 1st, 2011
12:29 am

NEW YEARS!!!!!!

……same Hawks

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

January 1st, 2011
12:31 am

at what point does all the post game talk turn into improved performance on the court??? Poor shot selection, careless turnovers, etc.

slimjr

January 1st, 2011
12:31 am

2nd?

slimjr

January 1st, 2011
12:33 am

Sund your team are Pretenders……….Not worth watching anymore. We already know the out come…

slimjr

January 1st, 2011
12:39 am

“Now 2-6 in road games vs. opponents w/ winning records”

Now you see Sund we are paying attention to how pathetic your team is playing the good teams on the road.. It is only going to get worse for ya.. We are not fooled by the garbage your putting on the floor..Just wait till the playoff’s to come, it will be a spectacle just like the previous two years…

doc

January 1st, 2011
12:43 am

He missed typical Joe shots

geez how often will we continue to hear this?

i hope josh doesnt need that late dunk to get ready for the next time. getting upset about it is about as bush as doing it … to the victors the spoils. defend it by taking the guy out in a hard foul if you dont like it.

HAPPY NW YEAR GUYS AND GALS, many thanks to MC and his merry band.

Rick

January 1st, 2011
12:43 am

I don’t know how much longer I can handle the disappointment and depression before I just stop watching the team play. It might be different if I knew they were improving or that they at least were attempting to correct their mistakes, but there is no sign of any of that. Even from management, there is no sign of making possible changes if the current personnel just can’t get it done. It’s basically failure after failure when it really counts. Defeating inferior teams on occasion doesn’t mean much if you can’t handle anyone who even matters.

Han

January 1st, 2011
12:52 am

Joe is a combined 18-51 (that’s 35%) on FGs during his last 3 games. At what point will Drew realize that he is just taking too many shots. At what point will Drew realize that Al needs more involvement in the offense, at what point will management realize that we desperately need to get a well-rounded defensive point guard in order to progress and solve our greatest issue: inability to prevent dribble penetration? This organization is so frustrating. It’s unbelievable.

I’m curious, how do some of you other fans manage to keep watching the Hawks play? What is your motivation?

Hawks vs Thunder

January 1st, 2011
12:53 am

“Maybe it’s a few bad shots, or maybe a few turnovers. We’ve got to grow up in that area”

gotta start by taking your own advice for JJ

Steven J.

January 1st, 2011
12:56 am

Han,

The answers to those questions is probably “never”. Drew is set in his ways and likely won’t change his policies. Also, the ASG is basically a disgrace in every facet when it comes to management. Don’t expect anything from ownership. They have made 1 good move in the past year and that has been giving Horford an extension. Aside from that, they have done nothing to help the Hawks progress. ASG is, without a doubt, the worst ownership group in pro sports, and they win that title by an absolute landslide.

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

January 1st, 2011
12:58 am

That’s what I’m saying fellas….these guys come out with the same stories post game…but the product on the court remains the same. It’s evident that this “core” just PHYSICALLY and/or MENTALLY CANT DO IT.

I

O'Brien

January 1st, 2011
12:59 am

I did not see the game, but once again, Hawks get close in the fourth quarter, and then they fall apart.

Also, 15 points in the fourth. This happened alot under Woody, so when will Sund realize that the players have to share the blame? Make a move Rick.

O'Brien

January 1st, 2011
1:02 am

“The Hawks are 2-6 in road games against teams with winning records” MC .

Which is why the Hawks need homecourt advantage to advance in the playoffs.

“But with the Hawks down 85-81 and in need of good possessions, Josh fired up a 21-footer with 12 seconds on the shot clock. After Jamal missed a 3, Smoove came down and threw up a 3 with 16 seconds on the shot clock.” MC .

When will Josh get it through his head that he needs to be more selective with his shots? This has been going on for way too long.

““It may be a little tough at times because defensively I am normally guarding their main guy,” Joe said..

This is why we need Marvin to be a lock down defender. If he was, then JJ would not have to guard the main guy, and would conserve JJ’s energy for offense.

But JJ needs to stop taking 3’s altogether. He was 0-6 tonight, and is now 33-118 (28%) on the year. Unacceptable. To me, taking those 3’s are bad shots right now.

Sean G.

January 1st, 2011
1:03 am

@MAC-Town

I really think that a coach entirely new to the team would have done wonders for the team, but regardless of the coach, the same defensive issues on the perimeter would be there. We can’t really do anything to solve those unless we upgrade our personnel at the point guard position. With the currently lineup, you are bound to give up something, regardless of how good your help defense is.

Jordan

January 1st, 2011
1:09 am

I see a lot of different questions on here that we would all like to get answers to from the players, coaches, management, etc. But, what I really want to know is:

When is L.D. going to finally abandon the Horford treatment. I’d like to see what our record is in games where Horford is forced to miss more than half of the first half due to L.D. placing more importance on him not fouling out than on winning the game. I bet the record isn’t very good. I can’t even remember the last time we won a game when L.D. used the Horford treatment. It definitely has a negative impact and so far this season, it hasn’t had a positive impact in even a single game.

Jordan

January 1st, 2011
1:10 am

To point out the obvious, the first sentence in the second paragraph of my last post was supposed to be a question.

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

January 1st, 2011
1:12 am

I agree@Sean G.

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

January 1st, 2011
1:15 am

They’re exposing the Hawks on NBA Tonight on ESPN2 now. SAME F___ING story. They’re talking about how they left Durant wide open on 2 key possessions in the 4th. I mean come on, this guy isnt Joe Johnson, he’s a real superstar. You cant expect him to brick clutch 4th quarter bucket attempts..

Ira Post

January 1st, 2011
1:21 am

Well, you can sum up where the Hawks are mentally. When you worry about a team scoring a meaningless basket instead of just running out the clock and not “why the hell don’t you get your act together and win the game” this Atlanta team will continue to struggle against good teams. The difference in team abilities are not significant. Joe, get your priorities in line.

Najeh Davenpoop

January 1st, 2011
1:23 am

“this guy isnt Joe Johnson, he’s a real superstar. You cant expect him to brick clutch 4th quarter bucket attempts..”

LMAO… sad but true.

Happy new year, and hopefully happy new management.

Johnny

January 1st, 2011
1:35 am

When can we get a real coach, a new coach, who won’t play favorites so that we can see what this team can really do? We may never know what this “core” is truly capable of if we continue to watch them under the direction of Woody junior. Larry Drew seems like a nice guy, but he really has no business coaching this team, and is in way over his head. It’s obvious that he doesn’t even have the mentality or personality needed to control the team. The guys who think they are great basically just do whatever they want out there with no consequences and could care less what Drew think about it, since they know they won’t get benched. Joe can take as many shots as his heart desires, and Josh can brick as many long jumpshots as he feels like on any given night.

How can you expect the team to improve or even utilize their potential and skill when they have a total misfit trying to lead them? The ASG made two absolutely horrible moves this offseason by signing Joe to a max contract and hiring Larry “Disappointment” Drew.

K.W.

January 1st, 2011
1:39 am

The Hawks are who we thought they were (Dennis Green Voice).

Steam Street

January 1st, 2011
1:41 am

ASG, I hope you are happy with what you have caused. Look at what you have done to this franchise. The team is declining and regressing. Joe Johnson’s insane contract has crippled the team, and to make things worse, you hired the worst possible coach available this offseason. I can’t believe this. If you were just going to get a watered down, inferior clone of Woodson, why did you fire Woodson in the first place. What a disgrace.

Dan's Dickau

January 1st, 2011
1:46 am

The Hawks are like the new girls you meet at a club when you’re on vacation. They’re fun and exiting for a one night stand when you catch them on a good night, but once you really get to know them, you don’t want to have anything to do with them.

Damon

January 1st, 2011
1:50 am

@K.W.

“The Hawks are who we thought they were (Dennis Green Voice).”

Here’s something to reinforce that concept:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYKIcnj1MJY

David

January 1st, 2011
1:57 am

@Damon

LOL. I wish our coaches had that sort of passion. L.D. looks like he doesn’t even care after the team loses.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Preview and Prediction – Gather.com | San Antonio News & Views

January 1st, 2011
1:58 am

[...] are 28-4 this year which is the best record to start a …Thunder-Spurs PreviewCBSSports.comAtlanta Hawks: Thunder 103, Hawks 94Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)North Carolina senior safety carted off [...]

Fatboi404

January 1st, 2011
2:46 am

AJC,

Can we please add a link to the box score? I want to read AJC online first, but I can get a game recap and a box score link on the same page on Yahoo Sports. I love my Hawks and my local paper. Please make this happen. GO HAWKS!!

Hawks Suck

January 1st, 2011
3:09 am

They were much better last year and the year before. It seemed they were headed in the right direction, up. Now they are headed in the wrong direction, down. The biggest change was Larry Drew for Mike Woodson.

Thanks Sund. I guess I can follow roller derby or something.

Ken Strickland

January 1st, 2011
3:27 am

While I didn’t see the gm, one look at the box score revealed one problem. If Marvin had played 25:59mins and scored only 5pts, with 1 assist and 1 rebound, our resident Marvin bashers would be blaming him for everything that went wrong. But since it was Bibby, there isn’t a single complaint or comment about him DISAPPEARING one game after a very solid overall performance.

Why does LDrew think he can rely on Bibby and get different results using basically the same stupid gimmick DEF approach Woodson used so unsuccessfully? Bibby is, and will always be, a DEF liability, and as long as LDrew refuses to address the situation, teams will continue to successfully exploit it.

Bibby couldn’t be the starting PG for any other NBA team, and overall, he’s still the NBA’s biggest liability at PG. The Hawks are inconsistent, and will continue to be as long as LDrew continues to think he can depend on him by continuing to try and compensate using gimmicks to cover for his OFF/DEF limitations and inconsistency.

We won’t improve one bit as a team until we get a PG in here to replace Bibby, or give Teague the job and allow him to develop. Based on what I’ve read about the gm, it seems JJ wore down trying to defend both Westbrook and Durant. Having Marvin, and playing a PG that’s ready, willing and able to play DEF, would have certainly lightened JJ’s DEF load.

Najeh Davenpoop

January 1st, 2011
4:51 am

“If Marvin had played 25:59mins and scored only 5pts, with 1 assist and 1 rebound, our resident Marvin bashers would be blaming him for everything that went wrong. But since it was Bibby, there isn’t a single complaint or comment about him DISAPPEARING one game after a very solid overall performance. ”

Agreed on Bibby being a major liability in a lot of ways, but a big reason why he probably doesn’t receive as much criticism as Marvin is because he doesn’t make nearly as many outright bad plays either. When Bibby isn’t contributing positively, he’s mostly invisible. When Marvin isn’t contributing positively, he’s fumbling the ball away and falling on his azz. Not saying Bibby is a better player necessarily, but Marvin’s failures are more obvious.

Najeh Davenpoop

January 1st, 2011
4:53 am

Also…

“Based on what I’ve read about the gm, it seems JJ wore down trying to defend both Westbrook and Durant.”

This may be true (I didn’t see most of the 2nd half) but Joe was shooting poorly to start the game too, well before he would have worn down trying to guard those two. I’m pretty convinced that his injury is nowhere close to being healed, and I’d much rather see him take as much time as possible to ensure that he can play at full capacity.

In any case, not using Damien Wilkins more as a defensive stopper to take pressure off Joe is on LD.

vava74

January 1st, 2011
5:57 am

We have a decent record with a significant number of injuries, including JJ’s current status: many of his shots were SHORT, which is consistent with the fact that his elbow is not yet extending to the max.

A clear indication of that was when JJ shot a ball after a whistle with the play stopped and he did not even reached the rim.

Decent record with a lot of injuries. Not to be worried.

LD is also still groing as an head coach so lets give him some slack.

tony

January 1st, 2011
7:38 am

Why would anyone in there right mind think that Rick Sund can make the hawks a championship team? For crying out loud……the man has been a gm 31 yrs without a single championship? He doesn’t even know the difference between a pg and a sg. You people should be lobbying for ASG to sell the team to someone who will use common sense.

It was not a bad pick

January 1st, 2011
8:21 am

Josh Smith poor shot selection is the reason why I wouldnt start him over Marvin at sf…..He simply has bad basketball IQ

NCBravesFan

January 1st, 2011
8:39 am

vava: One issue with your 5:57am … the Hawks are making the same mistakes they’ve always made. It’s probably the combination of an imbalanced roster and a lack of discipline – especially when it matters most.

Both are correctable of course, but I for one have pretty much given up on things changing a whole lot.

slimjr

January 1st, 2011
8:41 am

“Why would anyone in there right mind think that Rick Sund can make the hawks a championship team? For crying out loud……the man has been a gm 31 yrs without a single championship? He doesn’t even know the difference between a pg and a sg. You people should be lobbying for ASG to sell the team to someone who will use common sense.”
Sund=Billy Knight(worst GM in Hawks history), enough said…

slimjr

January 1st, 2011
8:45 am

@it was not a bad pick

“Josh Smith poor shot selection is the reason why I wouldnt start him over Marvin at sf…..He simply has bad basketball IQ”

I agree, Josh lack of basketball IQ/fundamentals is extremely vexing…Jettison the core Scottie!Make it so….

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
9:08 am

I wonder do you guys watch the game, and can you comprehend what is going on? Because like i’ve always said jj is not a star should not get the max and should not be the first option.

Ken Strickland

January 1st, 2011
9:16 am

NEJAH-Marvin receives so much criticizism because of where he was drafted and who he was drafted ahead of. All of the focus on how he walks, talks, drives to the bucket etc, is a result of that. When your PG, who’s responsibility is to:
1-control the ball,
2-call the plays,
3-set everything and everyone up,
4-get the ball accross half court and initiate the OFF, routinely
disappears and is the teams biggest DEF liability, making an issue of how the teams 5th scoring option disappears, and/or drives to the basket, is trivialization at its best.

How Marvin drives to the basket doesn’t explain why teams always direct their OFF focus towards attacking Bibby, above everyone else, and not Marvin. And regardless of how Marvin might look driving to the basket, AT LEAST HE’S WILLING TO TAKE THE CHANCE AND PUT FORTH THE EFFORT TO GET TO THE BASKET, WHICH IS A HELL OF A LOT MORE THAN WE CAN EXPECT FROM OUR STARTING PG.

However, he certainly makes it easy as hell for every PG, or whoever he’s assigned to defend, to go unchallenged to the basket. How many times do we have to see one player after another blow by Bibby’s matador DEF, with so much ease, before we stop remaining silent, or making excuses, before realizing it’s his inconsistency, his OFF/DEF limitations, and his inability/unwillingness to:
1-take the ball below the 3pt line,
2-penetrate,
3-consistently push the ball,
4-take risks with the ball in his hands,
5-provide a sufficient OFF treat to limit double teams on JJ,
6-attack, and/or put pressure on the DEF,
7-make certain the OFF is run consistently, everyone is included in the OFF, and not allowed to DISAPPEAR due to a lack of opportunities, and limit ISO’s.

We certainly haven’t gotten much of that from Bibby, and most certainly won’t get it either. I’m totally perplexed by people who claim to have doubts about JTeague because of what they feel he MIGHT NOT BE ABLE OR WILLING TO DO. while at the same time trivializing, making excuses for, or downright ignoring the problems caused by Bibby, in support of him, when WE KNOW FOR AN ABSOLUTE FACT, AND HAVE CONSISTENTLY WITNESSED, WHAT HE WON’T AND/OR CAN’T DO.

Samuel

January 1st, 2011
9:30 am

Ken,
Ya Boy LD tried that scrubb, Jeff teague, and he stunk up the joint. How convenient, you didn’t watch. I doubt very seriously, Marvin Williams would have made much difference. Bottom line is this team is about where they should be and you know it. Stop fooling yourself.

Samuel

January 1st, 2011
9:31 am

Send Teague ot the D-League where he belongs.

ltdbrave

January 1st, 2011
9:34 am

This team is worse than last year. Again, why they gave Johnu are running him down.son a max contract and haven’t signed Crawford is beyond me. Crawford carries the team along with Horford and Smith. Johnson doesn’t do crap for the team. When is Sund going to wake too. No center no playoffs. You cannot continually have Horford at center at 6-9, yo

J from the A

January 1st, 2011
9:34 am

Coach Drew gave JT early playing time in this one. The results: turnovers, passing up on good shot opportunities, bad shots when he took them, and poor defense (and that poor defense was against the back up PG).

I’d love the see Teague get more playing time, but there are definite reasons why he is not getting it. Not only is he not as good as Bibby on the offensive end, he is also not yet much (any?) better than Bibby on the defensive end.

[Yes, to all of you that swear up and down that Teague is clearly a better defender just because he is faster/quicker, you are living in a fantasy world. Teague, plain and simply, just does not have it quite yet.]

J from the A

January 1st, 2011
9:39 am

Johnson doesn’t do crap for the team?!

(1) He usually guards the opposing teams toughest assignment at the 1-3 position. That is asking a lot for anyone night in and night out. He is forced to do this because the Hawks perimeter defense otherwise is pretty bad. If it wasn’t for JJ, the Hawks would be much, much worse for it defensively.
(2) He leads the team in assists. Even on bad shooting nights, he draws the double teams. And he often passes out of them to an open man.
(3) He still is a scorer. Yes, his percentage is down, but he is still a scorer. The good news is, is that he not just a scorer (see 1 and 2).

Without JJ, this Hawks team struggles to make the playoffs.

J from the A

January 1st, 2011
9:41 am

Speaking of JJ and playoffs, just imagine how good the Knicks would be if the Hawks let JJ walk and the Knicks would have signed him. Top 3 in the east, maybe?
[This statement is assuming that the Knicks would have still signed Amar'e and Felton.]

Samuel

January 1st, 2011
9:43 am

Yea JA. I’ve been saying that all along. teague is not a good defensive player. Guys blow buy him just as much as Bibby. They just assume he is because he’s quicker. Also, his only shot is a 10foot floater and last night he was “airballing” that. Face it guys, dude is not good.

Fundamentals

January 1st, 2011
9:51 am

Called it before the tip. Lack of D and rebounding did us in combined with our “stars” trying to outshoot their STARS. Sorry Joe, you’re not Kevin Durant. Neither are any of our other shooters. We new that beforehand? Why try to outshoot/outscore them with our “shotmakers”. Teague was definitely outmatched by a guard taken after him in the draft. He’s just too inconsistent to count on.

Joe isn’t healthy.

Horford needs to rest the hand

Josh needs his head in the game

Dissappointing. Hoping for improvement and real adjustments in 2011. Front half has been dissappointing to say the least mainly b/c we hear the same speach Woodson game night in and night out. Nothing has really changed.

Fundamentals

January 1st, 2011
9:56 am

If the Knicks would’ve signed Joe it would’ve put them over the top. There’s a team that’s making real adjustments and progress. Chicago too. We just sit still and even slump backwards. Last year we beat good teams and goofed off against poor teams. We at least made it interesting. This year it’s too predictable when and how we’ll lose.

Amen to the Teague comments J from the A. Dude is not ready. If he can’t put it together by the trade deadline we definitely need a starting PG.

Samuel

January 1st, 2011
10:05 am

As many have said, our offense should start with Al. He’s our most consistent player. We should start Jamal at the point and move Bibby to SG, where he can spot up off Al or Jamal. JJ and Josh are the “hard headed” two guys i’ve seen in a long time. JJ and Josh should never leave the blocks on offense. LD hasn’t impressed me at all in being able to change the players’ bad habits. I don’t know why many of you were so “fooled” into believing a minimum wage coach could but you see he hasn’t. We really need to get rid of the bad apples and we would have a much better team.

I.MUS WRITE

January 1st, 2011
10:16 am

JJ is declining right in front of our eyes. He racks up assists and plays good D but at the end of the day you have to make shots. 20 plus million per season is a disgusting amount of money for a guy who’s been an average player this season.

I’ve said it before Teague is the new AC Law. No shot at all, doesnt finish at the rim well,Looks lost when running the team. I dont think playing time will help this guy. Speed is his only asset IMO-What does he do well???. Defense is maybe a little better than Bibby.

Say what u will about Bibby but until teague learns how to shott Bibby will continue to start. LD has no choice. Play the rook and watch him continually funk up or go with the proven long range shooter at the point.

Horford= Warrior

I.MUS WRITE

January 1st, 2011
10:17 am

shoot………

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
10:17 am

J from the A i beg to differ. Marvin guards the teams best player for the best players are 3s not 2s. jj might not be the third best player on the team so why are we defending him so much

It was not a bad pick

January 1st, 2011
10:17 am

Samuel

I agree, LD wants the Hawks to be a jump shot shooting team..Why dont the Hawks run more?

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
10:30 am

J from the A i beg to differ. Marvin guards the teams best player for the best players are 3s not 2s

tjhook

January 1st, 2011
10:31 am

LD doesn’t seem to realize that he was hired to help the team get into championship contention. The team clearly needs another scoring threat and it probably is easier to find at the lead guard position. The team is built to win now but Teague is not capable of this and Marvin Williams has proven that he is a replaceable part of the team. Teague and Marvin to Cleveland for Mo Williams. We need to go for it while main pieces are in prime!!!

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
10:43 am

J i like the idea but i would rather keep teague give them bibby ,mo, and a second round pick for mo williams. Contrary to popular belief i like mw skill set, just as a bench player.

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
10:50 am

Five things that sabotaged hawks franchise.Trade of Dominique,ted selling franchise,bk tricking hawks out of gasol for rahim, passing on dw or cp for mw, but signing jj to that contract tops them all.

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
10:56 am

Trade jj and a pick for brandon roy and camby, if that doesn’t work send him to nj for harris and some picks

J from the A

January 1st, 2011
10:56 am

Is a defensive-minded, play-making, able-to-score PG the Hawks number 1 need?

How much should the Hawks be willing to give up to get this type of PG?

Hypothetically:
Jamal Crawford, Jeff Teague, and 1st round pick FOR Chauncey Billups?
Josh Smith and 1st round pick for Chauncey Billups?
Josh Smith and Jeff Teague for Chauncey Billups?

[Yes, all involving Billups. If Denver moves Melo (or if they know they are going to lose Melo), Denver will be in rebuilding mode. Maybe, they would be willing to move Billups, but probably only at a high cost because he has a team option for next year.]

[If not Billups, who else? I have a hard time seeing how Mo Williams makes us better (shot selection complaints anyone?). Andre Miller is more than likely available at a reasonable price, but I am unsure how his playing style would fit with the Hawks. Most other good PGs probably won't be available in a trade .... unless I am missing an obvious PG or two.]

J from the A

January 1st, 2011
10:58 am

@Jamillion: U B Trollin! lol. but I’ll take the bait.

Even with JJ’s problems this year, he is much better than Brandon Roy. It’s not even close.

And do you really think NJ will move Harris for a couple of picks?!

Will

January 1st, 2011
10:59 am

This team has got to make some major trades and no player on this roster should be except.

New ownership and management is needed badly

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
11:02 am

A j from the a how do you figure we would play worse without jj when we already have done that and looked better. Now imagine if we traded him for a player to shore up a actual weakness,like center or pg? How would having a real pg hurt us over a sg who can’t shoot?

Scoop

January 1st, 2011
11:10 am

It is important to not be results oriented.

While we had some bad turnovers, mainly Smoove trying to fit passes in impossible angles, the effort was there. Jamal played the best game of the year for the Hawks-he was breaking people down offensively and getting into the paint, but I was more impressed with his defense. He and Westbrook were going at with intensity and it was fun to watch. For what it is worth, I believe Jamal won-exemplified by the play where Jamal stripped Westbrook on an attempted fast break and Westbrook jumped over Jamal’s back on his layup attempt in frustration. No matter what you think about his fit in LD’s system, you got to respect Jamal and his professionalism. It is obvious that he is not letting his contract situation affect his role with his teammates or his play based on tonight. He may take a game or two off, but he does not complain and he can still carry a team when they are struggling. I tip my hat to him.

Also worthy of respect is Smoove’s come back after that nasty gash at the top of his head. He calmly knocks down both his free throws and plays most of the fourth quarter. I believe he will take the next step when he stops settling for those jumpers and takes the ball hard to the basket(like he did on Ibaka with that fierce dunk). He may not realize that all that open space would be a great opportunity to get his momentum going to the basket and jump over someone for a poster dunk and not settling for a jump shot. Also, Smoove needs to value the basketball more. Take away his 3-4 turnovers last night and there might have been a different outcome.

If Joe was normal Joe then there might have been a different outcome as well. It is hard to knock on Joe because he always brings the effort and he did have 11 assists, including a tremendous pass to Al from the baseline, on an overall poor shooting night for the Hawks. I believe his hand is now hurt and bothering him. The rotation on his ball looks different and he may be overcompensating by using his left hand to help. If this is the case he should absolutely rest it because that kind of thing can only get worse.

Tip my hat to Damien for his great defense on Durant. He forced turnovers and tough shots consistently, but when a guy has it going like that there is nothing you can do. The thunder are a poor 3-point shooting team and I believe they got 10 on us at a 50% clip. Despite this, I actually liked our defensive schemes. We made some adjustments on the pick and roll with Westbrook and tried different lineups to matchup with Durant. Also, from my TV I could hear LD doing a really good job of keeping his team focused on their execution, whether it was slowing down the tempo, or calling an offensive set, I felt like he did a great job putting the Hawks in position to win in the fourth quarter.

The one constant issue with this team is its perimeter defense. Bibby can still play, but he gets exposed against quick and athletic guards and Joe is too big to be chasing little guards off screens and then carrying the load offensively. That is why I believe we have to either start Teague and bring Bibby off the bench or Start Mo and move Joe to the small forward spot. Bibby and JC would still get the bulk of the minutes, but I think we need some quickness at the start of the game to combat the ever increasing number of good, quick point guards. The problem is we dig ourselves a hole early through a lack of perimeter defense and then we are playing catchup with our bench on the floor. An adjustment has to be made with the starting lineup.

NO Center, NO coach, NO GM

January 1st, 2011
11:15 am

@ the very best this is a very mediocre team. Mike Woodson had them playing above their talent level. Now Woodson is gone and we’ve put his clipboard holder in as coach and the results are very predictable to everyone, except Sund, and the idiots bloggers on this site like that fool guy Ken Strickland..

This team needs to rebuild.

STRETCH

January 1st, 2011
11:34 am

•One reason they went away from it is because Josh started jacking jump shots in the fourth. He was poised for a triumphant return after going to the locker room in the third quarter with a nasty gash courtesy of Ibaka’s teeth.
•But with the Hawks down 85-81 and in need of good possessions, Josh fired up a 21-footer with 12 seconds on the shot clock. After Jamal missed a 3, Smoove came down and threw up a 3 with 16 seconds on the shot clock.

And lets not talk about the “Superstar” JJ, what a waste of money!

STRETCH

January 1st, 2011
11:41 am

OKC is younger than the Hawks and has less experience. The Hawks on the other hand should be poised and primed for these kind of games. Theyve been together for 6 or 7 years now. Smooth continues to think he is a SG and the coaching staff continues to turn their heads.

Back in tha day when someone started jacking up shots the coach would call timeout and sit his behind!

And furthermore, to be honest, the Hawks dont have HEART cause they dont have any bigs. Thats why they shoot jumpers all the time. For anybody that has played any organized basketball knows that when your fighting for a game and people start jacking up bricks….IT TAKES A LOT OUT OF YOU MENTALLY. And the Hawks are NOT tough mentally.

TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK, HOLIDAYS ARE OVER, MAKE A MOVE SUND…OR DO YOU HAVE A PULSE?!!!!

SteveW

January 1st, 2011
11:46 am

The Hawks have scored more than 100 only once in the past 12 games. That was 103 at home with Golden State.

JJ is obviously still hurt. Let him sit, take our lumps now, and get him back at full strength, we need him.

Here in Hawks land, I had pretty much chalked this up to a L before we played. OKC is acting like they won a Title or something, so the rest of the League must think pretty highly of us.

Or course Teague looks tenative, because he knows if he makes a couple of mistakes, he’s gone for games at the time. He needs to be in the rotation for 10-12 games, and he’ll settle down and play better. If not, get somebody in here before the trade deadline.

ASG and Gearon Jr. are looking for investors. This is good news. Help may be on the way.

Wish Smoove would go back to the rule from last year. Only shot 7 Three’s all of last year, and had the greatest drop one year over next in three pt. attempts for a healthy player in League history.

And Josh Powell has dropped off the face of the earth. But I am likeing ZaZa’s play with the increased minutes the last 2 games.

SteveW

January 1st, 2011
11:49 am

Sit JJ, let Wilkens, Mo’, Teague, JC2 take up the slack until JJ gets better off his injury.

And we had better be ready to play at the ‘Clips. We don’t have anybody like 18 consecutive double doubles Blake Griffin. The guys throwing down maniac dunks on everybody, and I do mean everybody. He may be the best big to enter the League since Dwight.

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
11:56 am

Da players on this team aren’t bad. Just wrong players are getting minutes. I’ll hire hubie brown

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
12:00 pm

Next move i’ll make is get from under this massive contract which is jj. And since i won’t be able to get a real star for him i’ll address two areas of need. Trade jj to memp for gasol and conly or n.o for oak jack and a pick.

SteveW

January 1st, 2011
12:03 pm

Jamillion – Now JJ for Gasol and Conley may be a deal I’d look at…

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
12:08 pm

And since i couldn’t trade jj for a real star i’ll create one from with in and start jordan at the two.Bring marvin off the bench trade bibby ,mo, za za for a solid player be it mo will, rip hamilton, prince.

newkid

January 1st, 2011
12:11 pm

Enter your comments here

drmaryb (*_*)

January 1st, 2011
12:19 pm

Apple Pie!

Sam-I-Am said this:
“We really need to get rid of the bad apples and we would have a much better team.”

Sam baby, don’t I know it: I’ve been singing that song for 10 years, since Mookie left and ain’t nobody gave me no grammy! LOL!
I guess if we are to stay positive then, we can always bake an Apple Pie – right?
_____________________________________

Fundamentals enlightened us with this comment:

“Amen to the Teague comments J from the A. Dude is not ready. If he can’t put it together by the trade deadline we definitely need a starting PG.”

Again, this has been our recurring nightmare. For the Love of Basketball?

Get a PG! Now?
_____________________________________________

Absolutely Fantastic post game comments for every single one of you intellectual, stimulating and passionate but not sicken-ly emotional cries, but sound and pragmatic reasoning. I gleamed something from all the varying opinions about this team.

I sense some reality setting in and us fans seem more resolved about the simple truth about this team. We should all get a shout-out for:

Saying the Exact same thing in a hundred thousand different ways.

Us fans, we ain’t Gold-Diggers, but we got Needs!
__________________________________

We Need a True PG.

newkid

January 1st, 2011
12:27 pm

Some cats are so talented it’s almost impossible to keep them off the court despite other shortcomings. Some of the same cats often make such dreadful decisions, they have spells where they put their teams at decided disadvantages. I call these cats Mensa-morons (i.e., they have Mensa type physical talent, but quite consistently make moronic decisions). Smoove is vying for my 2010/2011 all Mensa-Moron team; he’s the odds on favorite for the team’s MVP. Who leads the balloting for your all Mensa-Moron team this season? What about all-time?

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
12:36 pm

Depending on which jj trade we get our line up a be gasol al josh jc2 con. Bench marvin,jc,rip, collins, prince, dw, jt

Brad

January 1st, 2011
12:40 pm

It’s amazing how inconsistent everyone not named Al Horford is on this team. You don’t know what to expect from player to player on any given night

Another GM

January 1st, 2011
12:49 pm

It’s called team chemistry and the Hawks have non

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
2:05 pm

Second jj trade we get our line up a be okafur al josh jc2 mo williams.Bench marvin jc rip collins jarret jack damien wilkens prince which do you prefer?

O'Brien

January 1st, 2011
2:30 pm

I agree that our offense should start through Al and Josh. However, LD needs to get rid of the 2 foul rule for Al.

Al is not foul prone, and he hardly fouls out of games. When LD pulls him, he is out of rhythym when he comes back in the game. And in these same games where he gets pulled, he still only ends up with 4 fouls.

O'Brien

January 1st, 2011
2:32 pm

I’m surprised that Josh Powell has fallen out of the rotation the way he has. In our last 5 games, he has 4 DNPCD, and 7 minutes in the other.

ZaZa, on the other hand, has been getting minutes. For 2011, we need ZaZa to go back to being the ZaZa from the first game of the season against Memphis, where he was balling.

dap01

January 1st, 2011
3:02 pm

Larry Drew is disappointing. He is becoming WoodyII.

Tyrone

January 1st, 2011
3:04 pm

I have been on vacation out of the country for a few weeks and I am as surprised as everyone else that the trade for Steve Nash had not been made. So, I called my cousin BooBoo in Pheonix. He tells me that the Hawks are holding up the trade. So I ask why, because Pheonix WILL NOT TRADE Steve Nash to anyone without dumping Josh Childress and at least a million in cash. Let me refresh everyones memory; the Hawks reportly offered Marvin, Bibby (a state legend), MO, and the Hawks # 1 pick. Of course, there was another player involved from but I don’t remember the name. Phoenix’s response was NO. However, Phoenix countered with this offer Jamal, Mo, the # 1 pick, and a million cash as the first part of the deal. Also, a third team would have to get involved to dump Childress. BooBoo says the third team was supposed to be Portland. Childress to Portland for Pryzbilla then Atlanta trades Marvin for Childress because he cannot come back to the Hawks directly along with Pryzbilla. Phoenix ultimately clears 13 million in expiring contracts along with dumping Childress’ 30 million/5 year deal. They requested this deal before the Orlando trade, but Atlanta is scared to pull the trigger. After adding Vince Carter’s expiring deal, they would have almost have 30 million expiring contract in addition to the 6 million per season of Childress. Moreover, they would have 3 first round picks and over 35 million dollars for Free Agency next summer.
Apparently, Atlanta DOES NOT WANT to go into the luxury tax and is afraid that Marvin could still be a star.
This news should be hitting wire anyday!!!

Rufus1

January 1st, 2011
3:29 pm

Josh Smith 7 turnovers….The rest of the Team 5….

When you decide to post his highlight DUNKS, please post the GAME CHANGING BAD TURNOVERS AND DECISIONS.

Ken Strickland

January 1st, 2011
3:32 pm

SAMUEL-Your response to my post proves my point perfectly. Marvin didn’t even play and Teague played all of 3:58mins, while Bibby played 25:59mins. Yet, you chose to make an issue of what Marvin might or might not have done, and what Teague didn’t do, while totally and conveniently ignoring Bibby’s total lack of production and/or effort while playing major mins.

Some of you need to grow up and stop making personal issues out of everything and allowing it to interfer with any attempt at being rational. Are you actually dumb enough to think Teague couldn’t have done better than Bibby’s 5pts, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 0 FT attempts, and his matador DEF, if he had been allowed to play Bibby’s 25:59mins?

I like Bibby, and I want him to remain with the Hawks, but I don’t like him as the starting PG, or receiving primary mins at the position. Since last yr, Bibby has disappeared just as often, if not more so, than Marvin. At least Marvin can and does contribute in other ways, especially on DEF.

ATL FAN

January 1st, 2011
3:33 pm

reality you are an idiot, Al is the only non tradable piece of these Hawks…

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
3:37 pm

J from the A i beg to differ with u again. I’ll take roy his game is effortless, his game isn’t indecisive as jj, and head to head he out performs jj,plus a be a better fit. And anyone says keep bibby need to kill his self!

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
3:43 pm

J from the A i beg to differ with u again.Billups is a ok pickup but not for your prices.Billups is a salary dump waiting to happen, his best days are behind him bibby a second and maybe za za a get you him.But josh or jj boy,you really on that dope(in my 2pac voice)

Ms evey

January 1st, 2011
3:44 pm

Jamillion u so hate on jj where would this team have been the last 3yrs.without him,I don’t think they would have made the playoffs,don’t blame him because management offered him the max and he took it,You ask j from atlanta why he defends him,well why do u hate,

tony

January 1st, 2011
3:46 pm

J from the A, please don’t make that trade. Chauncey Billups for Josh Smith? I know Josh Smith can be very immature at times but trading him for a 13 yr veteran pg. No Way! Heck, Billups is barely averaging 5 assists a game.

The 1st thing this team needs is a quality hc who the players will respect. That’s #1. The 2nd thing this team needs is a true facilitator(pg). He need to have the ability to control the tempo of a game. The hawks have been in decline mode since Woody left especially against quality teams.

I said it before and I’m saying it now that we should hire Bill Laimbeer to coach this team. He will bring stability and professionlism. Laimbeer is a CHAMPION! In most cases coaching makes the difference.

I keep telling you people that we should draft Demetri McCamey. This young man is what I call a true facilitor(pg). If they pass on him somebody need to put those criminals(ASG/Sund) behind bars.

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
3:46 pm

No j from the a. The deal is give them jj and we get harris and a pick and some garbage player to be named.

Wally Walker

January 1st, 2011
4:06 pm

The purposes of any NBA team any season are to win championships and intertain their fans. With that said, The Hawks weaknesses are clear Paint control and PG play. All the trade blogs which focus on improvement of the 2,3, and/or 4 positions don’t make sense. Josh Smith will never be a great set up scorer which makes the need for a PG ever more important if he as a core player will never be traded. GM Sund has to bring in players which enhance the strenght of his so-called core. A facilitating PG would help the offensive balance as well as create easier scoring opportunities for a slasher like Josh. Josh reminds people of the Mike Vick issues in Altanta remember he could not throw. Now in a properly designed offensive, his accuracy improves dramically. If Josh, Al, JJ and God forbid Marvin are your core, why is there no a PG(Quarterback) to get them the ball.
The old folk say sh*t or get off the pot. Clearly, Bibby is a sharp shooter and has a place, Teague is a tweeter with speed and defensive skills, but neither is the answer. Sund simply has to do what the old folks say!

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
4:07 pm

Miss envy i don’t hate anyone or person. Hate is negative energy.That’s a waste of time. Jj game does not suffice to his position on the team, or output for the team. So i would rather shed that twenty mill for two or three players who will produce collectively

Ramon

January 1st, 2011
4:09 pm

Rufus, if you watch the game you know 3 or 4 of those turnovers were passes that Collins couldn’t handle under the basket even though it hit Collins in the hand. And 2-3 came in the first quarter when the referees were allowing OC to get a way with a lot of reach in fouls. That same attitude that caused the fouls, is the same attitude that got the team back in the game. Josh and Crawford both attacked the defense aggressively.

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
4:12 pm

Further more for any one who thinks jj is some type of basketball demi god. Look at our numbers without him. Better team ball more assists and better defense.Now imagine tradeing him for a quality point or big.We could only become better for those two positions are our weakest.Common sense people

O'Brien

January 1st, 2011
4:14 pm

One of the concerns with Bibby is that he will wear down by the playoffs come around.

And if it does, LD will play Jamal major minutes at PG. The Hawks cannot be successful in the playoffs with Jamal playing PG (its tough enough with Bibby playing major minutes).

So far, I dont think LD has done a good job balancing Bibby and Teague.

JustAThought

January 1st, 2011
4:17 pm

I watched the game, only about 3/4’s of it,and of course I knew during the whole time I was watching that the hawks was going to get beat. It was very refreshing to watch OKC (a young coming club, with a REAL superstar) play a up-tempo game. That Westbrook kid is real nice, Durant is the “straw” that stirs the OKC drink, but Westbrook is a baller as well. They jump on the hawks right out of the gate, man I like there tempo.

O'Brien

January 1st, 2011
4:18 pm

From ESPN.com;

The NBA’s first key date of 2011, when it comes to player movement, comes Wednesday.

That’s when teams are allowed to start signing free agents to 10-day contracts … and when players with contracts that aren’t fully guaranteed must be released in time to clear waivers by Jan. 7..

MC,

Any word on if the Hawks will keep Damien for the entire season? With Marvin being injured, I assume they will.

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
4:18 pm

Another thing is you guys are so wishy washy.Teague plays bad in a few minutes and now he’s not ready but our starting point couldn’t play in the d league.Bibby can’t nor will he run our offense which is why j smith always has his hand on the ball playing point forward,nor can he stop the opposing point guard.What game do yall be analyzing?

Samuel

January 1st, 2011
4:22 pm

Dude,
LD tries his best to play Teague but Teague keeps putting himself on the bench. Had he left Teague in the game we would have lost by 20 or more points. What’s he supposed to do, wait til he gets it together? Not happening, we are not in a rebuilding mode. We are supposed to be going to “THE NEXT LEVEL”. At least Bibby is able to run the team, not make turnovers and hit big shots. With Teague you get nothing but an occasional dunk or blocked shot. Otherwise, he stinks up the joint. Everybody is beginning to see that except you. But of course, you don’t watch those games, only his “garbage minutes” where he looks like Rondo. LOL!!

LC

January 1st, 2011
4:24 pm

MC,

Great work as always. You need to teach ledbetter about writing a blog. Yours is very well done.

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
4:29 pm

i am convinced that this organization does not wanna win. They are just a collection of people who say.I have the new ferrari, a mansion next to tyler perry you know the negro film maker oh and daddy owns stake in the hawks,we know they suck but it’s a good tax write off.The nash deal would a put us through.

northcyde

January 1st, 2011
4:32 pm

LOL @ some of these deals. Nobody wants our bad/inconsistent players. And nobody is going to trade away their star player(s) for an inconsistent, possibly still injured JJ who will still be owed 105+ million the next 5 years.

And co-sign O’Brien’s 1:03 am post.

We seem to be the only 2 people that see that most of JJ’s woes are coming because he continues to take that 3 pointer. And he’s taking almost 5 a game, despite shooting sub 30% from 3.

He needs to stop shooting that shot . . . PERIOD!!

When you look at his shot percentages on hoopdata.com, he’s shooting almost right where he did last year from the areas at the rim . . from less than 10 feet not at the rim . . and from 10 – 15 feet. The less than 10 feet and the 10 – 15 feet areas are the floater.

So the floater, for the most part, is fine.

From 16 – 23 feet, he’s shooting 34% . . which is bad, but not super horrible. He’s usually somewhere between 38% – 40% from that area. That’s basically his ISO jumpshot area.

But it’s the 3s that are killing his efficiency. Right now, like you said, everytime he shoots that shot, it has to be considered a bad shot. Especially if he has to modify his release just to shoot it from that distance.

That dude normally doesn’t shoot airballs or shoot everything short, so you know the elbow may still be an issue.

So why doesn’t he just take shorter range shots? Those old school cats like Alex English and Eddie Johnson ( who played for Seattle and Phoenix ) used to make a living off the 20 foot jumper.

JJ’s basketball IQ when it comes to his shot selection, has been very poor this season.

The other question that needs to be asked, is if Drew and his staff is telling him not to shoot that shot, and go more to the basket? Or is he just letting JJ shoot his way out of it.

People can say what they want about the former coach, but the one thing he ALWAYS encouraged this team to do, is take the ball to the hole.

Drew needs to talk to JJ behind the scenes ( or publically, like he does with Smith ), an

Joe D

January 1st, 2011
4:34 pm

The Hawks will end up seeded somewhere between 3 and 6. The Heat, Celtics, and at least the Magic are stronger suited to make a championship run in the East. Are the Hawks really going to sit back and not attempt to make a move concerning a point guard and/or a big? Seriously, they will not keep Jamal all year or please package something. People, I know a legitimate big man is hard to find, but at least improve the team at the point.
Somebody please review some liegitimate point guard trades!

Ramon

January 1st, 2011
4:38 pm

By now, LD should have rested Bibby for a game, and started Teague with Crawford and JC2 backing Teague up. If you lose the game, oh well. But you gain experience that can help a lot. At the end of the season no one should be confused about Teague. We should know if he is or isn’t the answer for the PG position going forward.

Also, after watching how Crawford fought on defense last night, if he can consistently do that, it will be hard to consider trading him (especially when Joe is playing how he’s playing).

Which brings me to this point, one trade I would consider is Joe to Houston Martin and Brooks. This trade you get your young back court that can play for years to go along with Josh and Al.

northcyde

January 1st, 2011
4:39 pm

Drew needs to talk to JJ behind th scenes ( or publically like he does with Smith ), and tell JJ to stop settling for 3s and long jumpers if he’s not making them.

@ MC . . does Synergy Sports track “catch and shoot” opportunities from different areas on the court? I would love to see what JJ is shooting from 16 – 23 feet and from 3 point range, via the “catch and shoot” as opposed to how he shoots unassisted from those ranges.

STOP TAKING THE DAMN 3 JJ!! If you must take a 3, and you miss your first 2 shots, you should NOT take another 3 the rest of the game.

northcyde

January 1st, 2011
4:53 pm

I don’t know if anybody saw this earlier in the week, but an interesting article was written on hoopdata.com about a proposed “NBA Superleague” that is based off of the top 12 teams in the league ( mainly based on differential ).

The Hawks barely made the cut to make the league.

They cite the record of those 12 teams vs each other. Their findings are interesting, to say the least. This article was posted on Tuesday and listed the “Superleague” games coming up this week.

Of course, Oklahoma City is a “Superleague” team, and they beat us. That would drop our NBA Superleague record to 3 – 9.

The article is very interesting, and you might be shocked at how the 12 teams ranked as of last Tuesday.

http://hoopdata.com/blogengine/post/2010/12/29/NBA-Superleague.aspx

Savant

January 1st, 2011
5:00 pm

I know that our team ownership is way too conservative to even attempt to pull something like this, but I think we should really attempt to trade Josh and Jamal for a quality PG, and if possible, another starting-quality big man so that Al can play the position he prefers (the 4).

Why Josh and Jamal? Well, there are several reasons for this. First off, Mike Bibby, who is probably the weakest link in the starting lineup and starts at the team’s weakest position is almost virtually untradeable at this point, unless he can be thrown in as an additional piece in a larger trade. Joe Johnson, who is crippling the growth of the team, is also essentially untradeable with his horrendous contract. Joe and Jamal are basically redundant pieces on the offensive end, and since we can’t get rid of Joe, we might as well get rid of Jamal. He has an expiring contract and is attractive to several teams since he brings you instant offense. Also, Josh is not quite as highly valued by other teams as he is by the Hawks, but the fact that he is still very young, and very physically-gifted, he would likely be a trade chip of high value.

Now, in the best-case scenario, the Hawks would come up with a trade that sends off Jamal and Josh for a high-quality, all-around PG and a very serviceable, defensive-minded, starting-caliber center. With those changes, the team would eliminate any weaknesses in the starting lineup and allow bigger roles for Al and Marvin in the offense, something that many people would love to see.

Now, obviously, the bench would still be an issue, and an even bigger issue than it is now, with the loss of Jamal, but those types of issues can easily be hidden by using a shorter rotation of 8 or so players. In the backcourt, the Hawks would have a quality starting point guard alongside Joe, and both Teague and Jordan Crawford could support them as they develop coming off of the bench. At SF, we would have Mo and Damien for defensive purposes, with Joe occasionally switching over to the 3 on occasion when we are looking for a more offensive-minded lineup. Bibby could become a situational spot-up shooter or off-guard and serve as a mentor as he grows old. Also, as far as the bigs go, Al can without a doubt provide the bulk of the offense for PF-C positions, and since he plays multiple posiitions and we are stockpiled with situational bigs as it is, we can use combinations of Al at the 4 with our new center or Collins, Al at the 5 with Josh Powell, Al at the 4 with Etan Thomas, or Josh Powell and one of our centers when Al is on the bench. There’s a lot of versatility with this type of lineup. The Hawks can go small and quick or go with a big physical lineup. They have perimeter defense (New PG, Teague, JJ, Marvin, Mo, Damien), interior defense (Al, New Center, Collins, Etan), rebounding (Al, New Center, Collins), shooters (Bibby, JJ, Jordan, Marvin), athleticism (Teague, Jordan, Marvin, Al, New Center), speed (Teague, Jordan, Marvin, Al), size, and more. I really like this idea, but I know there’s about a 1% chance of anything like this happening under the management of ASG and Rick Sund.

Savant

January 1st, 2011
5:06 pm

Somehow, I forgot to mention Zaza in that last post, but he helps make the case for the rebounding and defense that I was mentioning above, although he’s not a huge difference maker on either end of the floor, he is a very effective rebounder and pretty solid passing big man.

northcyde

January 1st, 2011
5:08 pm

So we have 2 “Superleague” wins vs Orlando, and 1 vs the Knicks.

Yet . . . Sund thinks “we’re elite”.

Steven

January 1st, 2011
5:14 pm

It’s amazing that we even make that “Superleague” with how badly we have played against winning teams. I know we’ve been injured but still, the team looks awful and significantly worse than it looked last season, even when we were running that horrible isolation-based offense and using pure switching on the defensive end. Wow. I’m still shocked to see that the team is worse, even when a couple of our young players are better than they were last season.

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
5:19 pm

Samuel do you know what a point guards role is? Because clearly you nor alot of our peers do. You say bibby can run the offense. How he averages less than 3 assists a game. How is that putting our players in position to score? Nice points avg seven , good pgs avg around 8 and great avg ten or better. I’ve seen teague put up 8 this year but not bibby

Mr. Blake

January 1st, 2011
5:20 pm

How is anyone surprised that the Hawks are playing badly?

This team has one of the worst coaches in the league; arguably the worst starting point guard in the league; one of the biggest ball hogs, if not the biggest ball hog, in the league (Joe Johnson); a pouty self-absorbed player who thinks he is some kind of hero and does whatever he wants (I think you all know who I am talking about); a roster filled with scoring guards that dominate the offense; horrible perimeter defense; and very likely, the worst ownership group in the history of professional sports.

What do you expect? Even if the talent is there, the team/coaches don’t know how to use that talent, and management doesn’t know how to make moves to correct problems that have been around for years.

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
5:22 pm

Why do you guys think jj has lead this team in assists since he’s been here a five a clip and josh is second at four? Because we have no point guard period! Dudes trash the young boy can’t run the offense any worse cause josh smith runs the offense with jj anyway. Prove me wrong on that dude.

Dominic

January 1st, 2011
5:30 pm

Jamillion, the answer to your last question is very simple. Joe Johnson dominates the ball more than anyone on the team, his usage percentage since he’s been here has been threw the roof. He dominates the offense, so obviously, he the play most likely to rack up assists, since the ball is almost always in his hands, and he gets the luxury of determining what the team will do on any given possession when he’s in the game. As for Josh, he’s a skilled passer, and also thinks that he is Magic Johnson and Ray Allen on any given night, so he sometimes like to imagine that he can play the point guard position in transition, which has mixed results, sometimes he makes a nice pass which results in a basket, as indicated by his 3.6 apg this season, other times, he makes a bonehead play by not giving up the ball and trying to make a hero pass, indicated by his 2.66 turnovers/game this season. Bibby is basically on the floor to tell players where to position themselves on the floor before the ball makes it way to Joe, and the motion and spacing breaks down. Bibby isn’t a true point guard on this team, he’s a spot up shooter and a decoy in the corner, at times.

northcyde

January 1st, 2011
5:30 pm

So Savant . . . you’re basically saying Smith + Jamal . . for Andre Miller and Marcus Camby.

Because honestly, those are the only 2 PG and C that we could get in a trade that would even remotely fulfill what you’re seeking.

New lineup:

PG – Miller
G – JJ
F – Marvin
PF – Horford
C – Camby

PG – Teague
G – Bibby
F – Mo
PF – Powell
C – Collins

G – Jordan
F/C – Etan

Miller and Camby are the guys I wanted all along . . . in 2009, when both were free agents.

But frankly, we might be better off keeping Smith than Horford, if we added those 2 to the Hawks. If we keep Smith, that gives us 2 bonafide shot blockers in the paint

And that bench is a defensive nightmare. Even if you replaced Jordan with Bibby, you’re looking at major problems.

As long as the Hawks refuse to go even a little into the Luxury Tax, we simply can’t add the players we want to add.

Because the issue is not this season, but the upcoming seasons. Jamal’s 10 million that could be coming off the books, is like a piece of gold to the ASG. A lot of you are expecting a trade involving Jamal, but I’d be shocked if that trade happened.

And if it did happen, it’ll be for another expiring player that they could choose not to re-sign next season.

Some of you are going to be very angry when the team that you see now, is the team that you’ll see after the trade deadline in late February.

Samuel

January 1st, 2011
5:55 pm

Jamillion,

You tell me why Teague isn’t playing? Yea, I know, LD just doesn’t like him. Sure. Yes, assists mean a lot but they are not the only indicator of running a team anymore than steals and blocks make you a great defender. Sometimes the second pass is the one who gets the assist. What about keeping the team together, giving them confidence.

If you have 8 assist and 6 turnovers, what do you really have? Plus, we all know Bibby is a “shot maker”. There have been many players who excelled in this league because they could shoot. How many PGs have survived in the NBA just because they were quick and could dunk.

Every coach in the league wants to win. If LD thought Teague gave him the best chance to win, he’d be in there, trust me. Same thing with the players. If they trusted Teague they would be pressuring LD to play him (Teague) more.

Game Recap: Oklahoma City Thunder 103, Atlanta Hawks 94 | Ultimate Team Sports News

January 1st, 2011
6:07 pm

[...] have that signature win yet that makes you think “hey this team might can compete”. Actually the Hawks are 2-6 against teams with a winning record on the road. Yet it is the fact that they were withing striking distance or [...]

STRETCH

January 1st, 2011
6:09 pm

Mr Blake,

I think you said it all!

Samuel

January 1st, 2011
6:09 pm

8 assists during garbage time means nothing.

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
6:20 pm

Rotfl dominic you are so serious jj is a nice player though but we need a good point that can penetrate so josh won’t think he magic. And let teague learn from our new pg cause all he think he has to do is give it to jj or jamal cause that’s all he been taught by bibby.

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
6:29 pm

A samuel why is jordan crawford on the bench when we’ve all seen him hit four threes back to back to bring us back in the dallas game only to be subbed back for the same lethargic players he replaced only to lose.Why does jj jack up so many bad shots and get a pass?Bad coaching.And as far as bibby he can shot and spot up shooters have a role, on the bench!

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
6:40 pm

Ps and why is al so untradeable?When alltime greats and fifty greatest like kg,ray allen, shaq,barkley, lebron,&steve nash twice. He is not kobe, magic, bird, or mike

Samuel

January 1st, 2011
6:45 pm

Jamillion,

I agree that J Crawford should play more. I really don’t understand that one myself. I even believe Teague should play more but I don’t believe he is as good as Bibby. I really wish the guy could shoot even a “little” because he has some athleticism.

I think his lack of shooting ability carries over to his overall game. If he can’t get all the way to the basket, he gets frustrated and loses confidence. Maybe he develops a shot before he’s out of the league but the Hawks don’t have time to develop PGs. That’s what the D-League is for.

Samuel

January 1st, 2011
6:55 pm

I agree that no one on this team should be untouchable. I do think Al should be last resort. I was torn on he or Josh but the more I look at it, Josh would go before Al in my book. I do believe either Josh or Al will have to be moved in order for this team to acquire the piece that possibly could put them on the next level. JJ is starting to look like damaged goods so i’m not sure what we could get for him at this point.

O'Brien

January 1st, 2011
6:57 pm

Ramon,

Exactly. Jamal and Mo are expirings, and I dont think they will be resigned. So next season, JC2 will take his lumps, and we still wont know for sure what we have in JT0.

For all the good things Bibby does, there are still issues.

Despite averaging 30 mpg in 35 games, he has attempted 34 FT. That’s because he is not breaking down defenses, he is not penetrating, and he does not handle the ball alot. Not to mention his liabilities on defense.

Rick Sund messed up when he gave Bibby a 3 year deal. Bibby made it known he was staying with the Hawks, but the Hawks bid against themselves and gave him a 3rd year guarantee.

We need an upgrade at PG (or backup PG), but with the Hawks not going into luxury tax, we dont have the money.

Our only move is to trade Jamal and Mo for an expiring big or expiring PG. And I dont know if such a move is available.

Ken Strickland

January 1st, 2011
7:18 pm

It’s amazing how Samuel and others support Bibby because of his ability to make spot up jumpers and limit turnovers. With them, those 2 things alone are enough for them to overlook his:
1-horrid DEF,
2-OFF inconsistency,
3-lack of speed, quickness and athleticism
4-Unwillingness to take charge of the OFF and control the ball
5-habit of giving JJ the ball most of the time and letting his control he OFF and ball,
6-inability to penetrate, dish and create more assist opportunities,
7-conservative, low risk approach to playing PG, which is how he limits his turnovers.

SAMUEL-can you name another slow, none athletic, none penetrating, strickly long range spot up shooting PG that can’t defend, and allows his SG and PF to run the OFF and create more scoring opportunities for others, and still starts?

KevinM

January 1st, 2011
7:34 pm

Northcyde, excellent points all around.

I have always seen us as the same level at Utah. We will never in our current makeup be a EC contender. Utah at least has seen a Finals in their history.

And as far as being mad about the core being the core after the trade deadline, I would almost bet the house on it. Sund has never made any significant changes in season and he won’t be adding long term contracts with this CBA on the front burner.

The Lakers woes? Temporary…once the season comes close to the end, they will start jelling. Their record against EC foes during the regular season? Irrevelant..they don’t need any confidence. They just have to beat the same teams they have always beaten.

Melvin

January 1st, 2011
7:36 pm

Look as if our Top Hawk may the not so good list….

http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/johnson/2011/01/01/the-top-10-disappointments-again/

KevinM

January 1st, 2011
7:46 pm

Ken S makes good points, but isn’t it strange that the Hawks’ brass continues with the same old approach with him?

I just don’t see Bibby being relegated to the bench. The only way we move him is if Teague and JC1 show they can handle the position. I for one am eager to see just this happen. I just don’t see this happening simply based on the limited trust LD has in Teague.

But as we know, small moves are made around here, and moves are not made in haste. Case in point: bringing in Damien Wilkins.

For the long haul however, I sure would like to see Josh Powell get more minutes, and the only way that happens is if we can move either Smoove or Al. Moving Al is less risky as he might even be able to bring more to this roster.

I however, have zero confidence in Rick Sund.

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
7:49 pm

We’ll get samuel right,look jeff may not a shot but his defense is nice n when jj isn’t in the game, start jto and let jc2 and jc1 be our back up backcourt

Jamillion

January 1st, 2011
7:52 pm

Look since we aren’t going to become better by trades,let’s just start teague n collins n bring jc2 n jc off the bench as our back court

Ken Strickland

January 1st, 2011
7:58 pm

OBRIEN-If we trade for a PG at the trade deadline, in addition to exchanging matching salaries, both salaries would be prorated. Therefore, we can acquire another PG without going into luxury tax territory.

Jerome

January 1st, 2011
8:11 pm

What makes any of you think that the ASG is even thinking of making a trade or that they would accept even if they were offered a great deal? ASG has made 1 good move in the last year and that was signing Horford to an extension. Outside of that, they have been awful and are known for being very passive about their decision making. We can all dream of trade scenarios, but you are leading yourself to disappointment if you actually get your hopes up and think that Sund and the ASG will actually make one of the trades that you are hoping for, or even make any trade at all.

Ken Strickland

January 1st, 2011
8:32 pm

KEVINM-Why make a big issue of whether Teague has the ability to run the OFF, when Bibby really hasn’t done anything to prove he can run the OFF. Let’s face it, letting JJ or Jamal bring the ball up, or giving it to them at the 3pt line half the time isn’t running the OFF. And the fact he has fewer assists than his PF and SG demonstrates he’s not controlling the ball or the OFF, which is what we need from our PG.

Some act like starting Teague, and/or giving him more mins, will eliminate any chance of Bibby playing and being able to hit those spot up jumpers. COMMON SENSE should tell anyone with a clue, that expecting Bibby to contain todays bigger, quicker, faster, and more athletic PG’s, or even match them offensively, is an extremely stupid and self defeating idea.

It’s actually unfair to Bibby, as well as to JJ, who’s far too often asked to cover for him. If some changes and/or adjustments aren’t made at PG soon, our playoff options will be severely limited. I doubt if we’ll suffer another embarrassing record setting 2nd rd loss, because we’ll be lucky if we make it to the 2nd rd.

Whoever we face in the 1st rd will exploit Bibby and run the Hawks right out of the playoffs. If LDrew, for whatever reason, refuses to rely on Teague during the regular season, what can he possibly expect from him during the playoffs?

Val

January 1st, 2011
8:38 pm

Playoffs?…Playoffs? You’re talkin’ about Playoffs? Come on, don’t talk about Playoffs? (Jim Mora voice)

What makes you people even think that the Hawks will be in the playoffs. With the way they are playing right now, they might fall apart down the stretch of the regular season when having to take on better competition. With the current strategy and current coach, don’t expect much to improve, and as long as Bibby is starting and Joe is dominating the ball as much as he is, don’t expect the chemistry to improve.

O'Brien

January 1st, 2011
9:18 pm

Ken S raises a good point.

In the playoffs, is there any doubt that whoever we play will pick and roll us to death?

SteveW

January 1st, 2011
9:19 pm

KenS – Can you say Baron Davis? Unless he’s not starting for the Clips’ recently. Even the owner of the Clips sits in the stands and makes fun of his rotundness.

But point well taken. I like Bibby, just not as the major PG on the team. And right now his backup is Jamal.

pinoy hawk

January 1st, 2011
9:27 pm

no one should blame LD for giving too much PT for his starters (especially bibby). with this lineup and quality of the bench, any coach will give these starters heavy mins in order to win. if someone should be blamed, it should be the management and sund for putting up this mediocre team, not to mention those stupid contract extensions!

i agree that the hawks should trade for an athletic PG (jc1+teague or teague+marvin) not to start, but to give quality mins off the bench. i know bibby is in the decline, especially in the defensive end, but his presence in the court makes the opposing team play more honest D which gives JJ, Smoove and the Boss more room to operate on offense.

SteveW

January 1st, 2011
9:28 pm

Salary Cap – Even without Jamal and Mo’, we owe over 64 mil in players salaries next season (for 9 guys: JJ, Smoove, Al, Marvin, ZaZa, Bibby, JT, JC2, Sy,). This with a new CBA coming out. We are not taking on new salaries unless Gearon Jr. finds another partner for ASG, which he is actively seeking.

This is why have 2nd picks from Phoenix and Houston, because they’re cheap. Sy is cheap, so we take a chance on him. That is why we are so intent on developing JT, JC2, and Sy from a management viewpoint. But LD is coaching for his job, so he doesn’t always work it that way.

The draft dudes are projecting a PF in the draft. I agree, it makes the most sense. Not sure we can re-sign Smoove in a couple of years, but probably. Next 3 drafts (1st picks):
PF
PG – To take Bibby’s place behind Teague
SF – To take Wilkens place, and in case we can’t/don’t want to re-sign Marvin

SteveW

January 1st, 2011
9:30 pm

My biggest problem with Sund? Not taking chances because of the teams fragile psyche. No Tracy McGrady for the Vet minimum salary. No Shaq. No Dampier. Take a chance will you!

SteveW

January 1st, 2011
9:34 pm

KenS – Cosign 8:32 post. Kinda like Brandon Jennings broke us down last year in that Buck series, even before Jameer dismantled us.

Can you imagine us facing Jameer and Arenas with Bibby as our PG defense?

How about Rondo vs. Bibby?

How about Rose vs Bibby?

Felton vs. Bibby?

I don’t even like John Wall vs. Bibby.

So Ken, you are exactly right!

honest_abe

January 1st, 2011
9:35 pm

jordan crawford simply isn’t ready play significant minutes. i’m excited about his ability to score but other than jacking up shots he looks lost on offense and defense. half of his passes end up in the stands. he needs some priming and i think the d league would be perfect for him. i will agree he needs to be playing somewhere.

if we’ve learned anything about this ownership group they don’t like to make trades. besides the jamal crawford deal they haven’t made any other significant trade… except give away players for pennies.

watching this team wallow in mediocrity. mired in their old, bad habits are making them close to unwatchable. the only way this team could possibly challenge in the east is for teague to mature and take control of this team. unfortunately that’s not going to happen this year.

kwooden1

January 1st, 2011
9:42 pm

Got a chance to watch this game again and I actually thought the HAWKS played pretty well overall. (a lot of unforced turnovers early) OKC hit a season high from the 3pt line and we missed some open 3s, which I really think was the difference in the game. We’re still a jumpshooting team, but I think we’re doing a much better job of getting the ball in the paint. Not have Marvin hurt a bit on the defensive end, because we had one less defender to use on Durant. I agreed with LD using Damien most of the 4th along with the zone to slow down OKC, but we did miss Bibby’s 3 point shooting. From what I saw I don’t think OKC is much better than the HAWKS, they’re pretty even.

GO HAWKS!!

Ron

January 1st, 2011
9:42 pm

I’m watching bits and pieces of the Utah Flash-Bakerfield Jam D-League game where Pape Sy is making his debut, and I have to say that I’m impressed with his aggressiveness so far. He’s played 7 minutes and has already been to the free throw line 4 times where he’s 4-4. I like his aggressiveness on both ends of the floor and his shooting stroke at the free throw line is very smooth and effortless. Obviously, this is small sample size for judgement, but hopefully this guy turns out to be a valuable asset to the team eventually, and not a wasted pick, like so many of our picks in the past have been.

MsDee

January 1st, 2011
9:43 pm

Not sure if any of u guys may be interested in seeing Pape Sy playing in the d-league as I am typing. You can find him on futurecast.nba.com/nbadl/console.jsp

Sautee

January 1st, 2011
9:52 pm

northcyde,

about this: “So we have 2 “Superleague” wins vs Orlando, and 1 vs the Knicks.

Yet . . . Sund thinks “we’re elite”.”

Worse than that, northcyde,…….much worse in fact, is the fact that Mike Gearon, Jr. thinks we have a great core, and I’d imagine that the “elite” stuff came directly from him. That means no trades on the horizon.

I’m very afraid that the only way things change is either for the team to tank or an ownership change.

Samuel

January 1st, 2011
10:49 pm

Funny how you guys continue to rate LD over Woody yet conveniently overlook the fact that he sees things basically the same way. Other than playing Collins a little more, what changes has he made. Please don’t give me that crap about the “motion offense”. People it’s not there. Our offense is the same as it was last year.

What other head coach has actually gone on record like LD and said he wants to hand over the job to his backup but the backup is “too sorry” to take it. Sure Bibby is slow and unathletic but obviously he does just enough to keep Teague on the bench. At this point, it’s the lesser of two evils. Do you play a guy who is your smartest player, your most consistent outside shooter and the guy the team trusts or the guy who can’t hit the blind side of a barn, turns the ball over constantly, shows no leadership ability but looks good in spurts, especially on Youtube. The choice has been made and until Teague steps the f_ck up he will continue to ride the pine. How you like them apples?

Brandon

January 1st, 2011
11:30 pm

Glad my favorite team won. Thunder Up! I know Atlanta is my hometown but I refuse to root for a team thats not fun to watch and full of selfish players.

O'Brien

January 1st, 2011
11:35 pm

I supported letting Woody go last season.

However…for those who are interested in the numbers, the Hawks averaged 102 ppg last year under Woody. This year, they are averaging 97 ppg under LD.

And despite LD’s motion offense, we are still having trouble scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter against good teams. And this is the same problem we had last year under Woody’s ISOs.

I agree that our assists are up, but in crunch time, we still have trouble scoring.

O'Brien

January 1st, 2011
11:47 pm

And I know there has been talk about Carlos Boozer and his lack of defense, plus his injury history. But the guy is averaging 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.

That is All-Star numbers.

The Truth

January 1st, 2011
11:56 pm

HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAWKSVILLE!!

Regarding the Hawks, have I missed anything? I know; it is what it is. For the sake of sanity and peace of mind this year, we should all lower our expectation about these Hawks:

No – They will not reached the ECF as currently constructed (dreamers can wake-up now)
No – The question is not will they go pass the 2nd round
Yes – The question is will they make it out of the 1st round
Yes – Their problem is defense and chemistry, they can’t win because they don’t know how
No – Teague is not the answer until he finds a consistent jump shot (perhaps mission impossible)
Yes – Sund is who we thought he was, a mistake

Still can’t understand all of the Marvin bashings, the real problem is big money Joe. As inefficient as Joe is, I wonder how many PPG he would have if he was the 5th option. Yes, I know he had surgery, but @ 125M, he still should do better. Here’s a question: Has big money Joe pass Gilbert Arenas bad contract?

Ken Strickland

January 2nd, 2011
12:14 am

We should be targeting MConley, who will be a restricted FA after this season. He’s good defensively, penetrates well, and has a decent FG%, including his 3pt FG%. He can:
1-improve our perimeter DEF,
2-attack DEF’s with his penetrating ability,
3-give us a more consistent outside and inside scoring weapon,
4-give us an actual PG with PG skills.

We should also take a very long look at Denver’s C Nene, who’ll be a FA after this season.

Najeh Davenpoop

January 2nd, 2011
12:23 am

Conley signed a five year extension before the season started. He is not a RFA.

Rufus1

January 2nd, 2011
12:56 am

@Ken

Westbrook went right to the basket everytime Bibby was guarding him….23pts, 10ast and 10rebs

@Ramon

Stop making excuses for all of the BONE HEADED DECISIONS Josh makes. His offense keeped us in the game, but his DECISION MAKING helped lose the game. I expect more from my 7 year veteran making 12.2mil a year.(23pts and 9rbs is expected…7 turnovers and bad decision making isn’t)

Al averages 1.5 turnovers and 3.4ast…..Josh averages 2.7 turnovers and 3.6ast….Josh needs to learn his place.

L-QUE

January 2nd, 2011
1:38 am

Tyrone3:04 Savant5:00 Boys take a chill pill all that writting and you not talking about nothing a blind man can see what the Hawks needs A YOUNG POINT GUARD SCORER-FACILITATOR like Westbrook, Nash-Billups closer to the nursing home than trying to stop Westbrook few have done it .Durant was going to be a monster on his home court, the killer was Green who Al couldnt handle JS kept Durant in check for the most part in the first half JJ was to tired to score chasing W&D.in the second half,JC1 played good SPOT DEFENSE but couldnt handle either alone JOSH tried to add SCORING which is always missing from the point.JJ&JC1 cant play together .Atlanta wins when Bibby score 15 or more what do that tells you .for the record ,D.Harris or one out of detroit is our best bet this time of the season.Billups-Nash time is over, Curry- Rose-Westbrook-Ellis-Gordon-Jennys-Rondo-Nelson and a few more young bloods are taking over, their time is about gone they need help to guard these guys,because they are always attacking you, believe or not our best defenders are JJ-JS-MW just watch a game you will see.But dont say you didnt see the game then go berserk on the blog.Damn

James

January 2nd, 2011
2:12 am

L-QUE,

Did you watch the last game? Green was the “real killer”? Were you intoxicated during the game? Outside of the first quarter, Green was a total non-factor. His only field goals were a run out dunk and a few perimeter jumpers that he made early on when Al was giving him room to prevent him from driving. Those are the types of shots you want Green taking if you’re the opposing defense. As far as Durant is concerned, no one kept him in check, and the guy is almost impossible to stop in 1 vs. 1 situations as it is, so you can’t fully blame that issue on the team. Good team defense goes a long way, but as most people have already realized your defense can only be as effective as your weakest link. No matter how good our team defense is, there will always be holes in it as long as Bibby is on the floor. However, without Bibby on the floor, the offense becomes even more chaotic. It’s a two-headed snake that L.D. is struggling to deal with, and the problem can’t be corrected without a personnel change. At any rate, guys like Westbrook will continue to get into the seems of our defense as long as our perimeter defense remains porous.

Mike Honcho

January 2nd, 2011
2:18 am

Rufus1,

I agree. Those are very good points. I would really like to see Josh consistently play under control and stop trying to make hero plays or do everything himself. After six full seasons in the league, you would expect this guy to be responsible enough to know his own limitations, but it seems like he’s reverting back to his old ways more and more this season. Some say we need to “take the good with the bad” when Josh is on the floor, but a lot of coaches would “take the bad” right to the bench, until it turns into something good. Unfortuantely, L.D. enforces no accountability. That’s the reason why Joe Johnson can continually dominate offensive posessions and consume the majority of the team’s shot attempts, even when he is shooting in the mid-30% range. That’s the same reason why Josh is free to pretend he is either Magic Johnson or Ray Allen on any given night without any consequences. It’s like the inmates are running the asylum in the Hawks case, while the “enforcer” just stands by and watches. Or, maybe it’s just a matter of favoritism, as some guys continually see less minutes, while other undeserving players see more.

JeJe

January 2nd, 2011
2:49 am

Is it too much to ask for Joe Johnson to score 25 or 30 points and lead us to a win over a good team?

It seems he is allowed to have these lame 16 pt games because he can just claim he’s not fully recovered yet

And I’m tired of LD saying how encouraged he is we are in games til the end. WTF? Maybe 4 years ago it’s encouraging – not now

AND GIVE DAMIEN MORE MINUTES. HE SHUT DOWN DURANT ON SOME PLAYS, ONE I CAN REMEMBER QUITE WELL

HE NEEDS MINUTES

Jae Evolution

January 2nd, 2011
3:32 am

RUN MORE OFFENSE FOR JOE!

slimjr

January 2nd, 2011
8:34 am

As of now if the playoffs where to begin, the Hawks are the 5 seed matched up against the Bulls who are the 4 seed. Your highlight factory Hawks would not win that series in a million years as presently configured! The Bulls owned the Hawks in last year series head to head and they made significant improvements.The Hawks did not.. This does not bode well for Sund and his gang of stooges..

Sund=Billy Knight(probably the worst GM in Hawks history)
Larry Drew=Mike Woodson… Yawn…

slimjr

January 2nd, 2011
8:38 am

Big head Josh will never learn his place in basketball. His ego fills the arena.. Trade his butt for Rudy Gay and a draft pick yesterday!!…. This team will not advance with this chemistry killer……….

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

January 2nd, 2011
8:56 am

The Hawks are a soft jump shooting team and are subject to many defensive collapses a game, allowing shooters and the lane to be wide open far too often.

Some serious changes have to be made from a strategic and/or personnel standpoint.

What we’re doing now isnt going to get the job done. These guys blow games like this, then when we go out and beat some sub .500 team and Josh Smith or Bibby has a big game all is forgiven. It seems some fans suffer from Rick Sunditis even if they are unaware. As long as the core is looking good against the Pacers, Wizards and Timberwolves everything is cool. HIGH STANDARDS THERE!!!

{MAC-Town Georgia 478}

January 2nd, 2011
9:04 am

and the excuses for Joe are starting to pile up. Superstars draw extra attention, if you FAIL because of that extra attention you draw when the ball is in your hands, then I guess that makes you not as as good as said to be,

darrell starks

January 2nd, 2011
9:20 am

I have been screaming for monta ellis since summer, are the warriors willing 2 trade monta, there chemistry is all mess up with monta, curry starting. There record now is 13 and 20, have rick sund reach out 2 warriors and what player would it take.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!

darrell starks

January 2nd, 2011
9:25 am

Marvin would fit perfect with the warriors, and now with dorell wright avg 26 points a game in his last 7 games he have merge in 2 a prolific ball player.
WARRIORS STARTER CURRY, WRIGHT, MARVIN, LEE, BIEDRINS
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

darrell starks

January 2nd, 2011
9:27 am

MARVIN, BIBBY, AND 2 FIRST ROUND FOR MONTA.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!

darrell starks

January 2nd, 2011
9:31 am

The hawks have the slowest starting point guard in the nba, when was the last time bibby penetrate for and easy basket.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

O'Brien

January 2nd, 2011
9:39 am

Ken,

The hawks will not have the salary cap space to go after Nene in the offseason. All they will have is the mid-level exception, the bi-annual exception, and the traded player exception from chills (assuming they don’t make a deal at the deadline ).

brigadierjerry

January 2nd, 2011
9:50 am

I think the situation is obvious what Larry Drew wants to do. He i looking to get wins not develop players. He is trying to win games to make the playoffs not develop players that is why the Teque Jordan Crawford of those types arent getting much playing time. Hawks should look to make a move by the trading deadline to get an expiring contract back otherwise they will be standing pat. It is hard to get a read on this hawks team because joe johnson due to injury this year isnt as good as last year Marvin seems better this year Jamal not as good Hoford better and Smith maybe a bit better although he is much more perimter oriented this year. I think how you see the Eastern conference right now for the playoffs teams is what you are going to see at the end of the season and the Hawks bulls play one another

terrell

January 2nd, 2011
9:54 am

Had a dream last night that the Hawks made a trade for Battier and Brooks. Dont know who we traded though. A deal in the works perhaps? lol!

Sautee

January 2nd, 2011
10:28 am

Samuel,

about these two things you said about Jeff Teague:

“If you have 8 assist and 6 turnovers, what do you really have?”

Samuel, you are being unfair to young Jeff. His assist to turnover ratio is 2.32

That is higher than Devin Harris, Brandon Jennings, John Wall, Russell Westbrook, and just a hair behind Derrick Rose.

and then you say this: “Do you play a guy who is your smartest player, your most consistent outside shooter and the guy the team trusts or the guy who can’t hit the blind side of a barn, turns the ball over constantly, shows no leadership ability but looks good in spurts?”

Can’t hit the blind side of a barn? The kid is shooting .445% from the field and .385 from 3. JJ would absolutely KILL to have those nimbers. That’s a higher % than Manu Ginobili and Jamal Crawford are shooting.

Maybe to YOU, Teague “turns the ball over constantly”, and “can’t hit the blind side of a barn”, but the FACTS show something different.

Samuel, I’m not arguing at all about his playing time, (and you know that I’m an long time Bibby defender), but against your unfair attitude regarding his turnovers and shooting %. You are just flat wrong about those things.

Perception is NOT reality, Sam.

Samuel

January 2nd, 2011
10:33 am

Sure Sautee,
Teague is a better shooter than Manu Ginolili and jamal Crawford. proof that numbers can lie.
Again Sautee, you tell me why Teague isn’t playing?

brigadierjerry

January 2nd, 2011
10:37 am

Correction to my last post hawks would be playing the orlando magic if the playoffs ended today and I think that is what you are going to see the hawks play orlando in the first round and that would be an interesting playoff matchup

Sautee

January 2nd, 2011
10:46 am

Like I said, Samuel, my argument is NOT about his playing time, and ALL about your unfair attitude towards him. Are you out there posting that Jamal “can’t hit the blind side of a barn”? Or even Joe Johnson? No you are not. For whatever reason, you don’t seem to give the kid a fair shake.

I’m not arguing for more time for him. I’m arguing for you to not dismiss him with untrue statements, which you have been doing.

Samuel

January 2nd, 2011
10:48 am

Sautee,
You know Dam well that the bulk of Teague’s numbers come in garbage time and 90% of his made field goals are layups, 5ft floaters or dunks. The problem comes when he can’t get either of those three. Anything outside of 10 feet and he’s lost. That don’t cut it in the NBA. When he’s put in the game when it actually counts, he lays an egg.

Samuel

January 2nd, 2011
10:50 am

What have I said that’s unfair? Everybody who has watched games this year know that Teague can’t shoot. Is that even an argument?

honest_abe

January 2nd, 2011
10:53 am

teagues shooting pct is higher because he takes the majority of his shots 3 feet from the basket with floaters, layups and dunks. his outside shot is an insult to jumpshots around the world.

he does turn the ball over. i’m amazed at how many of his most basic passes are tipped.

having said both these things teague has the talent. he just doesn’t have the fire or edge that is needed to lead a team. the coaching staff has already pointed that out as his liability. i’ve seen the guy do dances and jigs on the sidelines. he really has to grow up. but when two of your captains are josh smith and joe johnson i’m not sure who becomes your mentor. rondo had to grow up because his captains were pierce, garnett and allen. they demanded big things from him and he grew up quickly. with the hawks there is no sense of professionalism only a sense of me me and some more ME!

Will

January 2nd, 2011
10:53 am

The hawks, historical loser franchise, their arena virtually empty each hm gm, no superstar player. Their players do not play with any intensity and effort each gm. Been together for 6 or 7 seasons.

An ownership and management group, clueless. LOOK WHAT MR. BLANKS DID WITH A LOSER FRANCHISE THE ATL FALCONS, 7 PLAYERS ELECTED TO THE PRO BOWL MOST IN NFL. ALL HM GMS SOLDOUT CAN’T GET A TICKET. FALCONS HAS GAIN NATIONAL RESPECT, DID I MENTION THEY “WERE” AN HISTORICAL LOSER FRANCHISE!!!!!!

Sautee

January 2nd, 2011
11:01 am

Samuel,

I see what you see with his outside shot. Yes it needs improving, we all know that. But your contention that Teague gets all his nimbers at garbage time is erroneous.

As is your claim of his “turning the ball over constantly”. Really, Samuel, you don’t think that’s an unfair statement? If he actually “turned the ball over constantly” how the F could he have a 2.32 assist to turnover ratio? Not possible, my friend, not possible.

And to say that is UNFAIR. And erroneous.

Understand, Samuel, that if you say “he SEEMS to turn the ball over constantly”, then I could accept that as your opinion. But when you say it as a statement of fact, I’ll take issue when the facts show something different from your claim.

Samuel

January 2nd, 2011
11:04 am

Abe,
I agree that Teague has talent. He may develop into a good player but the Hawks don’t have time to develop him. All these guys saying we should sacrifice wins to develop players are just kidding themselves. We sacrifice a few wins and we’re out of the playoffs or in 7th or 8th place.

Samuel

January 2nd, 2011
11:07 am

OK Sautee,
How about, he turns the ball over at key moments of the game. Again, what’s your explination as to why he doesn’t play more. LD basically said the same thing i’m saying. Do you think it’s some kind of conspiracy too?

honest_abe

January 2nd, 2011
11:15 am

i usually disagree with everything you say but i think we’re on the same page with teague. the guy hasn’t shown a single reason as to why he deserves more playing time other than his intriguing potential.

to be fair, teague has played better over the past several weeks but his playing time has gotten more sporadic. the only reason i could come up with is that ld is trying to show teague that nba minutes aren’t given their earned. he became more assertive a few weeks ago against boston and that was after a couple of dnp’s i believe or his pt had become reduced to almost nothing. hell if playing teague less makes him a little more hungry, more decisive and more mature then i think it’s the right thing to do in his development process.

honest_abe

January 2nd, 2011
11:15 am

i usually disagree with everything you say but i think we’re on the same page with teague. the guy hasn’t shown a single reason as to why he deserves more playing time other than his intriguing potential.

to be fair, teague has played better over the past several weeks but his playing time has gotten more sporadic. the only reason i could come up with is that ld is trying to show teague that nba minutes aren’t given their earned. he became more assertive a few weeks ago against boston and that was after a couple of dnp’s i believe or his pt had become reduced to almost nothing. hell if playing teague less makes him a little more hungry, more decisive and more mature then i think it’s the right thing to do in his development process.

Sautee

January 2nd, 2011
11:15 am

OK Samuel, I’ll take that correction. Yes, he has turned the ball over in crucial times. So has every other player on the team. EVERY ONE.

And for some reason, you think I’m arguing against you regarding his playing time. I am not. I only took issue with your erroneous statements. I have no idea what conspiracy theories you mean, nor do I care. Teague is the 9th or 10th player on the team. It is what it is. I wish he were ready, but with some players it takes years for the light to come on. Ces’t la vie.

Samuel

January 2nd, 2011
11:27 am

I think if Teague were in a situation where a team was rebuilding he might develop better. maybe we can trade him to the Kings for Cousins or package he, Marvin and a pick for Ellis.

Sautee

January 2nd, 2011
11:37 am

Samuel,

I don’t see a trade happening (Gearon loves our core), but if one DID, we’d need another PG by next year, as Jamal will likely be gone and Bibby on the wane. So any trade would need to consider a future PG.

I said before the season that if by January, Teague wasn’t ready (and he’s clearly NOT) then we should look to trade Jamal for a starting PG, preferably one who could play perimeter defense.

Wally Walker

January 2nd, 2011
11:40 am

L-Que, Samuel, and the Hawknation, Sund & ASG can not sit by and DO NOTHING! I agree that Nash, Billups, and Miller are all in the twilight of their careers, but none are on teams with any hope of competing for a NBA championship. So now the ball is in their court, do they play out string or at least move to teams who may be a player or so away. The current corp of good young point guards season has arrived, but there is a light that shines for old guard, so let it be!!!
I will repeat again and again that JJ is not the problem with a facilitor he along with other core will flourish. None of the above mentioned PGs are available without at minimiun Jamal and # 1 pick and probably Teague. Let’s examine: Jamal is gone after this year, # 1 pick will be in the mid 20’s, and Teague for all his potential is NOT A PG, so keeping these pieces for the remainder of the year and knowing with them there’s NO or very little chance of competing on the highest level- IS PLAYING NOT TO LOSE. Unfortunately, this attitude is very common in Atlanta sports history as we just witnessed last Monday Night. Remember both in 1979 and 1980, the Falcons had big leads on Dallas and sit on the ball and lost. New England stomps its opponents when it has the lead.
Sund & ASG either choice to WIN or accept being an afterthought.

MsDee

January 2nd, 2011
12:13 pm

I have been reading the mini debate with Sautee & Samuel, and I have to agree with Sautee.

Samuel,
you say, “You know Dam well that the bulk of Teague’s numbers come in garbage time and 90% of his made field goals are layups, 5ft floaters or dunks. The problem comes when he can’t get either of those three. Anything outside of 10 feet and he’s lost. That don’t cut it in the NBA. When he’s put in the game when it actually counts, he lays an egg.”

You are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, but I also like what Sautee said in his statement, “The kid is shooting .445% from the field and .385 from 3. Joe Johnson WOULD ABSOLUTELY KILL TO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS!”

So since your statement is factual about the ‘close range’ shots Teague gets, THEN WHY IN HEAVENS JJ NOT SMART ENOUGH TO DO THE SAME?!?!?!? JJ is owns about 5 Bank of Americas and about 1 Suntrust but he isnt smart enough to recognize HIS OUTSIDE JUMPER IS OFF???? Dude could hit his rainbow floaters ALL DAY LONG WITH HIS EYES CLOSE, BUT INSTEAD, HE CHOOSES TO JACK UP THREE’S??? This is another thing I agree with Northcyde about, JJ needs to come in for points instead of jumpers right now!!

JeJe

January 2nd, 2011
12:15 pm

“It may be a little tough at times because defensively, I am normally guarding their main guy,” Johnson said. “Then offensively, I’m coming down and fighting against two or three other guys. So it’s tough and frustrating at times.”

LOL God Forbid our maximum player has to take the brunt of the burden.

We are NOT short on perimeter defenders. We have a guy named Damien Wilkins who Drew pretty much refuses to use. This guy has shut down every bigtime player he has guarded

MsDee

January 2nd, 2011
12:25 pm

Also Samuel, there is one thing I would have to disagree with Sautee about and that’s more playing time. When Teague IS in the game, the game becomes faster. Teague is NOT the only player who makes the STUPID TURNOVERS AT THE WRONG TIME!! Josh Smith leads the way in that category. The ONLY player who may make casual turnovers is Horford. He very seldom make the STUPID ones. So to just center Teague out like that is just plain LUDACRIS (LOL, I know that’s the rappers’ name, did that on purpose). Teague’s play does not determine our wins or losses, its our BIG TIME MONEY MAKER player, JJ, who isnt uses his strengths with his floaters in the lane to draw fouls and a 3point play!! He is TOO busy increasing his assists and not his points.

KevinM

January 2nd, 2011
12:28 pm

WallyWalker, be prepared for the ‘as-is’ approach with this group. They aren’t convinced they have seen the potential of the core played out.

Sund is doing what he said in the summer: have Joe lead us to a championship level.

We will be fortunate if Jamal is able to come back here. Anyone think he gets as sweet a deal as Marvin?

Today’s a great game to have Teague play..the Clips will be looking to dump salaries very soon.

MsDee

January 2nd, 2011
12:31 pm

Teague needs to know his role and Jamal needs to know his role. When both are in the game, Teague NEEDS to have the ball in HIS hand while Jamal comes off some screens for a quick pass and shoot. BOTH would be getting what they need; Teague with an assist as a PG and Jamal with a shot as the SG. AGAIN, KNOW YOUR ROLE!!

Samuel

January 2nd, 2011
12:33 pm

That’s why I believe JJ would be better at the 3. His post up game is almost unstoppable. I was looking at he and Al standing next to each other and he’s just as tall as Al and has a big upper body. Most players shoot outside shots because they are somewhat lazy on offense and they get caught up in the crowd noise associated with making the three opposed to the shot on the block.

In Teague’s case, I have no problem with him shooting layups and floaters but he can’t rely exclusively on that because good defenders will just lay off him and pick his passes off and dare him to shoot.

On the last Blog I pretented to be Joe Johnson

January 2nd, 2011
12:35 pm

just to be funny, and i think some of you guys actually believed it, this is what i wrote

“Guys I’m really sorry my game isn’t what it use to be, I promise I will play better against the Clippers and Hopefully for the rest of the season, and maybe even the playoffs. It really hurts to Know I’m disappointing the people that once were my fans, but you guys have to realize I am not the only one hurting this team, I will not give out names cause i don’t want to throw any one under the bus. But please guys, have faith in this team, we will get our act together.

And one more thing I’d like to say, please don’t hate me for the contract I received this Off-season. You guys have to understand the NBA is a business, and I had to do what was best for me.

Sincerely: Yours truly Joe Johnson”

On the last Blog I pretented to be Joe Johnson

January 2nd, 2011
12:39 pm

C’mon guys, you know Joe Johnson doesn’t have time to be reading our comments, he’s too busy spending money on hoes.

True Story i saw Joe Johnson at a strip club.

superiorblogman

January 2nd, 2011
12:39 pm

Not JJ’s fault. Drew is really bad. Why keep running plays for JJ when he isn’t making shots? Run those plays for Bibby and Jamal. JJ is averaging 5.8 Ast to 1.8 TO’s. Just let JJ run more pick and rolls and post ups so he can set guys up and leave the coming off screens to Jamal and Bibby. Leave the little backdoor baseline cut that JJ does well to him and you will be fine. Drew is really bad. He can’t see the simple things that he should be doing to make this team better.

Samuel

January 2nd, 2011
12:40 pm

Ms Dee,
Sure, turnovers are a part of the game and everybody makes them, however, when they are coming from your PG it’s a different story. The PG is the QB and the team and the coach has to trust him. No coach on any level will tolerate a PG who constantly makes turnovers in crucial situations especially when you are trying to convince that coach you need more PT.

I actually wouldn’t have a problem starting Teague, Jamal, JJ, Josh and Al and see what happens.

On the last Blog I pretented to be Joe Johnson

January 2nd, 2011
12:45 pm

I wouldn’t have a problem starting Jordan Crawford instead of JJ. JJ’s time is up, dude needs to come off the bench.

superiorblogman

January 2nd, 2011
12:50 pm

Sorry to be truthful but if you can only score 6 PTS in the D League you have no business in the NBA. Sy was another wasted pick by the Hawks. They passed on Dejuain Blair the year before and take such a bum this year.

terrell

January 2nd, 2011
12:54 pm

Startin to miss the Nique’s, the Willis’, the Roundfields, and the Tree’s. At least they always played with HEART. And played like a TEAM. Cant say that about the current Hawks. Just me,me.me.me, and me some more. Sund, get off your behind and get Horford some REAL teammates. I’m startin to believe we’ve got a startin pf and that’s it. Joe’s still isoing. Josh doesnt know what in the heck he wants to be (PF, SF, PG) Marvin is still Marvin. Cant stay off the floor. And Bibby is a backup on any other Teague in the league. Time to make a trade Ricky Sund, before you lose the few good fans you have left. I’ll say it one more time. The “core” has maxed out.

drmaryb (*_*)

January 2nd, 2011
12:54 pm

“brigadierjerry

I think the situation is obvious what Larry Drew wants to do. He i looking to get wins not develop players. He is trying to win games to make the playoffs not develop players that is why the Teque Jordan Crawford of those types arent getting much playing time.”

Perhaps, this is because THE NBA is not a developmental league:
(See THE NBDL)

If JTO needs development? He should have stayed in school or played over seas somewhere.

This is a Grown Man’s Business.

terrell

January 2nd, 2011
12:55 pm

Team in the league, not Teague in the league. lol

On the last Blog I pretented to be Joe Johnson

January 2nd, 2011
12:56 pm

I wanna see overpaid Johnson Rot in the bench, Last year in some other blog i said that i would rather start Mario West instead of Joe Johnson, that’s how much i hate the guy.

In some other news Joe Johnson made the list of TOP 10 disappointments.
http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/johnson/index.php

MsDee

January 2nd, 2011
12:58 pm

Well Samuel, that’s when Teague SHOULD develop a new strength in creating foul opportunities when going to the lane. There is NO reason not to be affective in a game. You create opportunities for yourself, not just sticking with the same owe thing that just isn’t working which is his jumper right now. That goes the same for JJ, do what works (his rainbow floaters) and stop doing what isn’t working (long jumpers).

On the last Blog I pretented to be Joe Johnson

January 2nd, 2011
1:04 pm

Can anyone guess who I am?

On the last Blog I pretented to be Joe Johnson

January 2nd, 2011
1:06 pm

If you said Jamal Crawford, you are correct, i can’t believe the dude got paid 120, and i can’t even get a penny.

MsDee

January 2nd, 2011
1:06 pm

Now hold tight now Samuel, just recently against New Orleans, LD played Jamal TURNOVER Crawford all but 30+ min his 1st game back from back soreness and he DIDNT EVEN GIVE TEAGUE A SNIFF of the bench. So PLEASE dont say, “No coach on any level will tolerate a PG who constantly makes turnovers in crucial situations especially when you are trying to convince that coach you need more PT.” Well doesnt that relates to Jamal? You could replace ‘coach’ with ‘Rick Sund’ and replace the ‘more playing time’ with ‘for an extension’.

MsDee

January 2nd, 2011
1:10 pm

@On the last Blog I pretented to be Joe Johnson,

Well we definitely know U ARE NOT Jamal, cause u wouldnt give yourself away like that on A BLOG where he could read it also!?!?

Jamal Crawford

January 2nd, 2011
1:11 pm

You guys are funny, don’t you guys see this organization doesn’t care about winning? That’s why i stopped playing my best and faked a few injuries, Truth is, I want out of this team.

Jamal Crawford

January 2nd, 2011
1:13 pm

And when i said i saw Joe Johnson at a Strip club that’s because i went with him lol

doc

January 2nd, 2011
1:16 pm

honest abe, i thought i was in no man’s land the other day when i ditto’d both you and samuel at the same time on different points made and commented on it. now you are agreeing with him. when does the tsunami hit?

samuel agree with the suggestion of jj at three. he may have to go there to continue his career if he cant reliably shoot the long ball because of chronic elbow issues. it has been something i have suggested in the past even before his injury. the problem is his accepting that role and figuring out what to do with the logjam of guys, all the same size playing a similar position as josh is trying to become a 3 as al becomes a 4. at some point the team has to be busted up to get the balance it needs. hmmmm want a unique concept.

as far as teague, obviously he doesnt have the moxie orbrains to do what is necessary to run the team for long periods. for whatever reason he hasnt gotten the confidence of his coach or teammates, whatever his stats are. so we must say it is his decision making or lack of aggressiveness at the right time on offense or defense that is keeping him on the bench. so, it might be more subjective than anything we can debate on here. for the record he hasnt quite gotten my confidence. fortunately for him my boy rick and gearon sees something else.

L-QUE

January 2nd, 2011
1:29 pm

James i dont drink you have to be a fool to say soming as dumb as that .Wally my point was that Billups-Nash cant trully help now they are defensive liabilitys them selves a team looking for draft picks with no playoff hopes is where we have to look NJ- DETROIT SAC.may be the place to look because they have guards that can help now and in the future.I read where HOWARD said Alanta dont need a center, with Lebron ,Bosh decision there is a chance he comes home, players are saying now where they want to play.MIAMI cant sign Camby and keep the big three.Paul&Melo going toNJ orNY the youth movement is on Orlando took a step back for the sake of winning now .

O'Brien

January 2nd, 2011
1:47 pm

Samuel,

You say the PG is the QB of the team. But on this team, I would argue that Bibby is not the QB. Josh averages almost the same asissts as Bibby does, and JJ averages more.

Furthermore, if you watch Bibby play, he does not penetrate, and he does not handle the ball the way a traditional PG does.

And in 35 games, playing 30 mpg, Bibby has 35 FT. Did you know that Jeff Teague also has 35 FT, despite his limited PT? And Teague averages half as many assists as Bibby, because he gets in the paint, Bibby does not.

More often that not, Bibby gives the ball up at the top of the key, and then he waits for it to come back so he can shoot it. We need more from our PG.

Bibby has shot the ball well, but there are issues with him. But Teague has to accept responsibility, because minutes are there for the taking, and he hasnt seized it.

I do agree that Teague will be better off playing for a lottery team where he can get PT and not worry about losing the game.

Insite

January 2nd, 2011
2:04 pm

Turnover Teague is to turnovers the opposite to what Al horford is to block shots…

Teague turns it over and Al takes pictures of guys dunking on him.

Wally Walker

January 2nd, 2011
2:29 pm

L-Que, no arguement with your logic about improvements, but why would the Kings or Nets give up Evans or Harris for the insufficienct pieces which the Hawks would offer. Josh is the only piece either would be interest in. I am not ready to move Josh until a legit PG is in place first. Let’s watch this team with a real leader before moving the most exciting player.

Fundamentals

January 2nd, 2011
2:49 pm

Best insight today for me from comments is about asking JJ to take it inside until he knows his stroke is back. Dude is killing us with the jumpers…as do all our players.

Maybe we do need the kings of blue collar to come in. Maybe we should’ve hired a blue collar boy like Lambier to coach.

Problem with the team is no one wants to do the little things it takes to win. We play for our own highlights, our own stats and our own gain, not for the good of the team. Drew is coaching, like Woodson, to save his own neck and to make his mark. He doesn’t have the security to really work with the team, have them buy in and move forward. Everyone demands immediate success. I guess we all got what we asked for…except a post defender and a PG.

Dept. of Unintended Irony

January 2nd, 2011
3:07 pm

Insite

January 2nd, 2011
2:04 pm

“Turnover Teague is to turnovers the opposite to what Al horford is to block shots…”

“Teague turns it over and Al takes pictures of guys dunking on him.”

I guess the name says it all.

Atlanta Hawks: Thunder 103, Hawks 94

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Atlanta Hawks: Thunder 103, Hawks 94

219 comments Add your comment

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About Atlanta Hawks

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