Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 107, Clippers 98
Los Angeles–I’ll leave it to L.D. to sum this one up: “Our defense stiffened up the second half, we started making shots, Joe got into a rhythm, Jamal was Jamal and then Josh Smith made a couple 3s down the stretch.”
- It’s not a winning strategy in the big picture, or even in one-offs against teams better than the Clippers, but it worked today. Perhaps the Hawks can learn a lesson in victory.
- “It was a 12:30 game,” Josh said. “People still had to wake up. I still was in my bed a little bit until I got it going. Everybody got it going. Jamal was a big lift off the bench. He was able to keep the game close with his scoring.”
- Jamal was efficient and explosive for the second game in a row. “People don’t understand,” he said. “I saw Melo’s quote, he missed five games and he said his legs felt like bricks. It just takes time to get your timing and stuff back. You are in such a rhythm of what’s going on, if anything breaks that it just takes time to get it back.”
- J.J. had his highest-scoring game since he had 34 points against the Suns on Nov. 7. He did it mostly by physically abusing the Clippers’ smallish guards and making 14 of 17 free throws. “We wanted to take advantage of the mismatch and either make them double team, score or get fouled,” he said.
- Joe still managed to get up 20 shots, missing 13. Jamal got 13 attempts, Al eight and Bibby got six. All made at least half their attempts.
- There was some vintage Iso-Joe in the fourth quarter, when he made 3 of 6 shots. “Just as soon as that elbow heals at 100 percent, he will be back into form,” L.D. said.
- The Hawks were a mess defensively in the first half. I don’t have to tell you the problem. “In the first half we were hurt by our pick-and-roll coverages,” Drew said. “We made some adjustments with that.”
- I’m trying to remember a time when the Hawks weren’t hurt by their pick-and-roll coverages and exactly what adjustments can be made given their personnel. It’s not something that figures to get much better, particularly against faster teams like the Clippers.
- It’s repetitive to watch the Hawks get beat off the dribble, leading to open jumpers, drive-and-dishes for high-percentage shots, or putbacks because Atlanta’s bigs are constantly helping. There’s just no way for the Hawks to consistently stop good teams that way in the kind of possession-by-possession games that come in the playoffs.
- It’s also tough for the Hawks to beat good teams when they have little post presence offensively. Josh jacking up jumpers doesn’t help with that, but he made two timely 3-pointers in this game. “I was open, my teammates got me the ball,” he said. “I stepped into my shots. In the first half, I was fading away.”
- Al was limited 17 minutes in the first half because of the two-foul rule. He had a tough time finding space inside against DeAndre Jordan but two shot attempts in 20 second-half minutes isn’t enough.
- Teague played nine minutes. He put up three shots in four first-half minutes and made them all. Passing didn’t seem to be much of a thought.
- Baron Davis got past Teague a couple times. Eric Gordon also got around him to feed Blake Griffin for a layup. Teague tends to give too much ground even as he stays in front of his man, but he gives the Hawks a fighting chance since they don’t have to scramble to help him on every possession.
- Zaza gave the Hawks a lift defensively. They needed that with all of the Clippers’ long bodies and quick guards looking to score at the basket.
- Damien Wilkins was solid in four minutes. He’s usually a net positive as long as his shot attempts are near the basket.
- Griffin had a couple big dunks early. His final stat line looked good (31 points, 15 rebounds, 11 of 22 field goals) but he was quiet at winning time. “He probably has to be the most exciting player in the game right now,” Smoove said. “He’s that impressive.”
- Smoove began the game with an extra headband to hold in place a bandage for the cut he suffered Friday at Oklahoma City. He shed the second headband after halftime because it put too much pressure on his head.
“I just rolled the first one up and hoped I didn’t get hit in the head,” he said.
Michael Cunningham
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258 comments Add your comment
drmaryb (*_*)
January 3rd, 2011
2:37 pm
High School Drop-Outs!
NorthCyde
I swear, the ignorant blogging whiners on this blog?
They ALL failed math and reading comprehension in High School!
Their “nimbers” are NOT adding up, yet, they blog day and night and type because they have a keyboard with a spell checks tool in the navigator bar.
There is rarely an intellectual comment these days, just a lot of “emotionally disturbed” bloggers throwing out unbelievable trades and rhetoric posed as comments. Hell, one blogger has 17 people running around in his head and is:
Un-con-TROLL-able at best, sad thing is: all 17 personalities have 17 different user ID’s and multiple IP Addresses from local libraries to out-smart The AJC!
For that reason, I will be blogging less and less, because I have better things to do now! The Hawks are the same Hawks we thought they were, until there is a significant trade? I will watch less and blog even less than that!
Let’s Go Hawks!
Ramon
January 3rd, 2011
2:45 pm
J from the A, in your own post, didn’t you just explain why Teague needs to play more? You just stated that he needs to learn how to recover after getting beat off of the dribble. But isn’t that something he will have to learn in the game play? Who on this team that can beat Teague off the dribble routinely?….Crickets….Crickets….more Crickets… I’m thinking Teague guards Bibby most practices, so that takes away anyone who constantly threatens Teague’s defense. So the only place for him to learn effectively is during the game.
SteveW
January 3rd, 2011
2:45 pm
KenS – I think the Lakers have played the 29th easiest schedule in the League.
March is when we play our toughest teams. But get this: We only have 3 road games the entire month of March! 11 home games. If we survive all the road games until then, including 7 road games in a row before and after the All Star break, it should be a fun month.
From March 1 – 22 we only have 1 road game, at Chicago, who we play 3 times in March. We play 10 games from the 1st thru the 22nd, 9 at home, and the 1 at Chitown.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 3rd, 2011
2:48 pm
Lake Side Show!
Personally, I don’t give a damn about the Laker’s problems!
They have countless Championship Banners and Retired Jerseys donning their rafters!
The Hawks can’t even join nor draw from that conversation.
I don’t give a damn about nobody, but these Hawks!
And, as currently constructed? My team is NOT win a damned thing!
Much less a Championship!
Aye Sund! Fix YOUR Team – IT’s Broken!
drmaryb (*_*)
January 3rd, 2011
2:52 pm
*typo: NOT win a damned thing …
Fundamentals
January 3rd, 2011
3:16 pm
Josh and Al have really begun to shy away from the paint. I guess I should be proud ZaZa is trying, but we now have a team of “shotmakers”. Maybe it’s Al’s hand, maybe it’s the offense. Maybe it’s Smoove’s head or Smooves head. Both guys need to get back in the paint more to keep our offense from bogging down.
Joe looked good posting up when he went quickly. It seems he has trouble waiting or dealing with the double team when it comes. That’s where the pounding and indecision come in. If he’d just go quickly, he’d be much harder to guard. That’s where Jamal beats him to the punch.
Ken Strickland
January 3rd, 2011
3:17 pm
DRMARYB-AMEN TO THAT! Here’s an excellent example of what you said.
BIBBY(TEAGUE)-GMS PLAYED/STARTED-36/36(32/0), MPG-29.7(12.7), PPG-10.1(4.3), RPG-2.2(1.5), APG-3.9(2.0), FG%-4.69(4.90), 3FG%-.460(.385) FTA-.83(1.1), FT%-.59(.90).
Now, if Teague is as turnover prone, immature, and unprepared to run the team as some of you insist on claiming, then explain how he’s been able to either match, come close to, or exceed Bibby’s production in 17 fewer MPG? Even if we benched Bibby, wouldn’t he still be able to hit those 3pt shots some of us have fallen in love with?
These stats prove that anyone who continues to say Teague isn’t in Bibby’s league as a shooter or scorer, especially in light of his limited opportunities and support, is talking out of his or her A$$. Until Teague get’s a chance to develop his overall gm, he can rely on what he does well to compensate for what he doesn’t do well. It’s a certainty that Bibby will most likely get worse instead of better, no matter what.
SO, DOESN’T IT MAKE MORE SENSE TO LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE AND COMMITMENT TO THE VAST TALENTS OF THE UNREALIZE POTENTIAL, RATHER THAN CONTINUE HINDERING THE TEAM BY RELYING ON THE KNOWN LIABILITY?
Fundamentals
January 3rd, 2011
3:21 pm
Drmaryb – RELAX! You’re right about needing something to happen by Feb, but be patient. Excitement is about to hum, league-wide. Maybe just maybe something will happen. If not…like you said. Spend your time elsewhere while we whine and pitch trades b/c ASG/Sund won’t.
I’m just happy there’s daily interest in the team. You gotta be die hard to love our Hawks.
Mike is back
January 3rd, 2011
3:27 pm
Ramon, excellent point on Teague…dude got a ton of practice last season…now he needs PT in order to develop further.
After the freak accidents that happen to Marvin and Josh…imagine what would happen if something like that happen to Bibby…God forbid that it does…we will be in trouble…THEN U GOTTA THROW TEAGUE IN THE FIRE…ready or not.
However, if you give Teague a couple starts now and he starts to struggle…AT LEASE…you got Bibby ready to go…without Bibby services…Teague struggles as a starter would be magnified…That’s not good for Teague or the team.
i_am_soulstar
January 3rd, 2011
3:29 pm
Co-sign all that Strickland. I said this a few days ago. Teague’s numbers from this season speak loud and clear. But no one seems to care that his PER is higher than both Bibby and Marvin’s PER.
SteveW
January 3rd, 2011
3:29 pm
KenS – Amen! Right now Teague is a better: Defender than Bibby, better scorer (not shooter), can break down a defense better,and get blocks and steals at a higher rate. I say give Teague the team. Bibby is worn down anyway. He’s only going to learn by playing DeRon. Rose, Wall, Parker etc.
O'Brien
January 3rd, 2011
3:34 pm
@ Rod,
Since Marvin signed his new contract, this is probably the best 5 game stretch of his career. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts when he comes back from his injury, and if he asserts himself, especially with Jamal and JJ back.
@ Ramon,
Personally, I don’t think Teague can be that bad in practice either. LD and Rick are hitching their wagon to Bibby maintaining his effectiveness all season long, and still being effective in the playoffs.
But in the playoffs, it is very likely that Bibby will be abused on defense, and everyone else will have to try and cover for him.
Speaking of practice though, does LD work with ZaZa on how to set screens? Dude is constantly called for a moving screen (and it was the same thing last year).
Fundamentals,
I enjoyed watching Blake Griffin play (in the first half). He was always looking to take it to the rim. I used to think that is how Josh would play, but with his improved jump shots, and spending more time at SF, Josh hardly takes it hard to the rim anymore. Meanwhile, Al’s first move is to look for the jumper.
Hawks are a jump shooting team, so if those shots are not falling (especially when we play a good defensive team), we will continue to struggle.
slimjr
January 3rd, 2011
3:39 pm
“According to Hollinger (who I distrust) we have played the 28th (out of 30) weakest schedule in the NBA. The Bucks have played the toughest according to him.”
Well get ready Hawks fans. The schedule is going to get tough real soon. Just hold on. FYI JOSH SMITH does not and never will have a “jump shot”.. It is a set shot at best. He is not wired to be a. scorer. That’s why he appears to hesitate many times before hoisting it up and he is very ark-ward around the basket. If Josh becomes your first option in the 4th quarter hoisting up that set shot it will be a real quick exit in in April and an extended summer.
Josh= James Worthy w/o a jump shot and Magic to feed him the ball in his “sweet spot”…Enough said…
Come on Joe save the 3 stooges!! ISO Joe in the 4th quarter every night….
J from the A
January 3rd, 2011
3:43 pm
@Ramon: I guess my point is a bit subtle. Yes, I personally think Teague should be getting more playing time. Additionally, I think Teague has the tools to be a solid contributor to this Hawks team in the (hopefully near) future. However, Teague’s defense is not _currently_ as good as many of the bloggers say it is. Currently his defense is not much (any?) better than Bibby’s.
[And if, as many of the bloggers here say, Teague's supposed primary advantage over Bibby is his defense, and if this supposed primary advantage really isn't that much of an advantage .... you should get where this going.]
So, as one of our fellow bloggers put it (roughly): it becomes up to the coach to walk the fine line between getting Teague live in-game action and making sure the Hawks win games. Another way to put this is trying to walk that fine line between trying to develop what may be in the future versus making sure you do your best to take advantage of what is in front of you.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 3rd, 2011
3:43 pm
“Joe looked good posting up when he went quickly. It seems he has trouble waiting or dealing with the double team when it comes. That’s where the pounding and indecision come in.”
___________________________
Perhaps, this is because his teammates are standing like statutes and watching him, instead of moving without the ball for open passes. Unless, Joe is waving them off to clear out a pathway for an ISO-Play? They should all be moving when Joe is doubled and tripled. Just an observation of the other four guys standing around doing nothing.
SteveW
January 3rd, 2011
3:45 pm
I think what frustrates us most as Hawks fans, is that we lose games we should win, but rarely win games we should lose. That, and blowouts to bad teams. This happens for 2 main reasons: 1) Poor rotations. 2) Poor decision making on the court
OKC – We could have easily won that game. Josh hoists 2 bricks at crucial times in the 4th.
New Orleans – LD plays Bibby 41 minutes against Chris Paul and Jarrett Jack. Teague and Wilkens DNP coaches decision.
New Jersey – Where’s the inside game?
Detroit – Blown out by 23
That’s the frustrating thing. Josh Powell doesn’t play 6 straight games. Why? Jeff Teague impresses for 3 straight games, then DNP. LD chastises Josh publicly constantly for poor shot selection, yet the jumpers keep flying. Al rarely touches the ball for long stretches. JJ comes back too early from elbow surgery, and keeps letting it fly. Wilkens sits, when he’s clearly an asset in every game he plays in. JC2 hasn’t been in a game since I don’t know when. LD says we need Josh in the paint – not there. It seems like we beat teams on sheer talent alone, but if we had some organization, a strong personality as Coach, maybe we could be elite with this core that we’ve got. But it is frustrating to watch. Each game is an adventure. We never let a bad team get completely out of it. A comedy of errors that is just made up for by talent.
Ken Strickland
January 3rd, 2011
3:45 pm
STEVEW-remember when some of our NEGATIVE MINDED FANS were refusing to give the Hawks credit for their season opening winning streak? They said it was because we were playing teams with losing records. But now that the Lakers are losing against teams with losing records, and losing big, we don’t hear a peep out of them.
When you consider the following, only those without a clue wouldn’t feel better about this yrs Hawks. The team had to:
1-Adjust to a 1st time HC, and his entirely new OFF/DEF systems, approach one of the NBA’s toughest opening schedule, if not the toughest, in terms rd games, and a run of back to backs and 4gms in 5days.
3-deal with losing more key players to injuries, in the 1st 1/4th of the season, than were lost over the previous 2 seasons combined,
4-deal with the most improvement in the Eastern Conference in a decade of more.
5-deal with breaking the bad habits that were allowed to develop and continue over the last 6yrs.
And with all of this, we’re still not far behind last yrs pace, with the schedule getting easier as the season progresses.
SteveW
January 3rd, 2011
3:48 pm
I think Teague is a much better defender than Bibby overall, but he will have breakdowns on certain possesions. But Teague has the physical tools to figure it out if we would leave him in the game to do so.
Mike is back
January 3rd, 2011
3:48 pm
Drmaryb, actually the blog has come a long way…it used to be called the liars den…I remember Doc telling me welcome to the liars den…ALL WE DID WAS tell lies and insulted each other…IT WAS GREAT…funny thing is…the trolls didn’t come out until the Hawks started winning…Hey, that’s the price we pay for success…RIGHT…Whatever!!!
Amidst all the trolling…I can still find some good stuff to laugh at…Keep yo stroll on…AND yo laugh on fooooooolk…TPain Halla @ Ya Boy.lol
Peace Out…GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ramon
January 3rd, 2011
3:50 pm
O’brien, remember Tyrone Hill coaches the big men. He didn’t have to set screens for AI, lol.
Also, I think Josh has thought about the longevity of his career, and realize dunking so much in traffic does cut off time from your career. Aside from Shaq, who was the last high jumping post player that still played effectively above the rim past the age of 32? From McDyess, Kemp, Rasheed, Larry Johnson, and many more, many agents and advisers have learned to advise their clients to develop skills under the rim more, to benefit later. If you think of Garnett, he truly only played above the rim on defense his last few years on Minnesota. You rarely saw him use great force on his dunks in traffic. Instead, you would see Garnett lay the ball up with a finger roll.
Hey would anyone trade Horford for Westbrook, if possible?
SteveW
January 3rd, 2011
3:51 pm
KenS – And we are 14-7 in our last 21 games. That’s just not bad.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 3rd, 2011
3:55 pm
Are You Kidding Me?
“I say give Teague the team. Bibby is worn down anyway. He’s only going to learn by playing DeRon. Rose, Wall, Parker etc.”
______________________________________
Teague is NOT in the Lottery Realm of those PG’s you mentioned.
He is the seventh PG taken in his draft overall. Also, Teague is NOT a true PG!
Which is what this team desperately is in NEED of. He will NEVER be the Hawks final answer at the PG position, because he is a Tweener and NOT a PG!
Somebody, named Sund – needs to do their job and fix this team for the love of basketball!
Ramon
January 3rd, 2011
3:56 pm
SteveW, isn’t that a two sided coin? We say Josh’s two jumpers in the 4th called the game, but couldn’t we say Josh’s two jumpers in the 4th won the game last night as well? Right now until Joe is fully healthy, I still cringe MORE when I see Joe taking a 3 attempt than I do when Josh takes it. Josh shot the ball terribly for two weeks. Who in the league doesn’t have a two week streak of bad percentages? I think Josh should be on the block way more than what he is. And I think the difference between Josh and Al at the power forward position is Josh ability to score on the block more efficiently than Al. Josh can over power SF’s and hybrid PF’s. And he’s two quick for most PF’s. I think last night in the first half was the first time in a long time that Josh was guarded by someone that was more athletic than he was. When the last time we’ve seen Josh blocked two times in a quarter (and those were on the block)? But notice that Griffin was on Josh and not Al though Josh was at the SF position. Other coaches must respect Josh’s abilities on the offensive end. The same way Josh is doubled on the block more, while Al normally gets to go one on one on the block.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 3rd, 2011
4:10 pm
Mike is Back!
Ha Ha … Ok man, I got you. I remember doc’s : Liars Den!
Dang, I haven’t heard that one in years. Yeah, the quality of the blog have improved tremendously in the past four years. And, I guess the ugly trolls do creep out when the winning is consistent. Anyway, LOL!
______________________
Ken Strickland,
Keep up the great posts and glass half full comments! I’m like you, very concerned about the PG position right now. We have NO answers in Bibby nor Teague at this point. Picking the lesser of two evils is NO solution, it’s just spit and glue. We need an organ transplant and not a band-aid there.
Aye Sund! Fix YOUR Team!
drmaryb (*_*)
January 3rd, 2011
4:14 pm
Flying High!
Oh yeah! And Josh has been flying all over the gym – doesn’t he need a well defined role. Even, if it is all encompassing to gather his talents efficiently and not make haste and waste when he plays beyond his skills and limitations!
e.g. Let the PG run the fast break transition plays and Josh fill the lanes/wings?
drmaryb (*_*)
January 3rd, 2011
4:20 pm
Oh my bad! We don’t have a running PG to deliver a ball to the running wings!
Dang!
dap01
January 3rd, 2011
4:22 pm
We have sport cars for forwards and mopeds for guards.
Who built this team? Was there a plan? Is there a plan now?
Prison Mike
January 3rd, 2011
4:50 pm
Teague can’t finish in traffic so he can’t start until he figures that out. Bibby is no threat at driving and it’s only a matter of time before that 3pt.% starts to bottom out.
i_am_soulstar
January 3rd, 2011
4:52 pm
IMO Teague can fit this team as a starter. Granted, he’s not a true point guard, but isn’t Bibby’s role more of a shooting guard than a true point guard these days?
If you ask me, JJ and Bibby’s positions are interchangeable depending on the possession.
JJ]plays more point guard than Bibby IMO, giving guys the ball right where they like it for more efficient shooting.
Bibby’s moves consist of:
(1) Pump fake, drive, pass
(2) Pump fake, shoot
(3) Catch and shoot.
Now he does all of this very well, but Teague has shown the ability to (1) Defend the PG position
(2) Penetrate and pass
(3) Penetrate and finish
Bibby may have once been a true point guard, but I think he’s more of ashooting guard these days. Teague’s skill set sounds a lot more like starting PG material.
Teague does need to work on that pass selection though, because he has boneheaded turnovers sometimes.
I think once Teague stops doing ill-advised things like passing the ball across his body, he’ll improve in the turnover department.
doc
January 3rd, 2011
4:54 pm
hey ken s, the difference is if the lakers find they can make a move to make things better then they will in a heart beat. it will be interesting to find out what they do going forward.
yeah the blog and characters have changed a bit and grown from the first year. shoot, sometimes during games you could have a conversation with yourself all night long and into the morning. it is better and the trolls are fleeting as long as folks stick to the scroll rule and ignore the crap.
still not on board with teague. he is not doing something right with his head is my guess because if he were that much better he would be out there as ld wants to keep his job not give it away just to make bibby happy. get over the teague thing until he clearly is better and there is nothing i have seen that puts him in that category sod though it is when you cant win a job they are trying yo give to you.
jamillion
January 3rd, 2011
5:03 pm
slimjr,why trade smoove for rudy gay. gay is not a better player,he’s marvin as a number one option.
jamillion
January 3rd, 2011
5:10 pm
good post ken. these b!@tches just post off hate
doc
January 3rd, 2011
5:14 pm
soulstar what finish are you talking about, the one where it is swatted away?
JeJe
January 3rd, 2011
5:16 pm
The ONLY difference between yesterday’s game and the Thunder game is that the Thunder are a far better team.
We hardly showed up for much of the 2 games
SteveW
January 3rd, 2011
5:17 pm
DrmaryB – I disagree with you on Teague. If handled correctly, he will be the PG on this team in the future, and probably far into the future for a number of reasons. But he is not a true PG, I do agree with that. I just hope we don’t make a boneheaded move and trade him like we did Jason Terry, because he wasn’t a true PG either. But Teague is closer than Terry. And Terry did average 5.5 assists per game for the Hawks.
He was the 7th PG taken, because he was a PG in progress, but with the potential to be the best (yes better than Tyreke, Jennings, Rubio, Lawson, Maynor etc.) of the very deep PG draft of ‘09. Throw him in and let him learn. He’s not going to learn how to guard Rose by guarding Bibby in practice, or by being put on him for 4 minutes, and when Rose blows past him twice, being yanked for the remainder of the game. Start Teague!
JeJe
January 3rd, 2011
5:26 pm
I don’t understand why this team comes out so lethargically every damn game. here we are with the opportunity to win the next 7 games and this team will probably lay an egg and go 4-3 or some other mediocre figure.
I’ve almost had it with Smoove. LD tells the guy to start in post and then he can shoot, but this guy is so damn selfish and immature that it’s sickening.
Give me Kevin Love’s energy and numbers on this team any day. I don’t care about Smoove’s shotblocking. Rebounding is more important than shotblocking anyway
JeJe
January 3rd, 2011
5:28 pm
I hope Cousins starts tomorrow and Smoove guard him. 2 of the most immature players the NBA has ever seen
SteveW
January 3rd, 2011
5:30 pm
Ramon – I got what your saying. We may have lost to OKC even if Josh hadn’t taken those J’s. And we may have won at the Clips even if Josh doesn’t sink those 3’s – somebody else might have, or driven to the basket etc. any # of scenarios. And I do currently cringe when I see JJ take 3’s – horrible.
As a former coach, I guess my beef is when LD publicly asks you to work on your shot selection repeatedly, and you repeatedly hoist up long range J’s in the 4th quarter with 16 seconds on the clock, that’s very disrespectful to the coach, and bleeds off on the team with negativity. So LD sees it, MC sees it, I see it, most of the NBA sees it, but Josh is just Josh. And he’s going to do what he’s going to do, and we either have to like it or lump it.
And if he showed up better in big games. I already know against the Celtics before the game starts, he’s going to start whining in the 1st quarter. Fait accomplii. Going to happen. Same in most big games. Magic series the same last year. Then he disappear’s. Just Josh. Whom I like. 2nd in Defensive Player of the year voting. Youngest player to 1,000 blocks. Slam dunk contest winner. Exciting. But ya gotta take the good with the bad.
SteveW
January 3rd, 2011
5:33 pm
JeJe – And Smoove has almost stopped blocking shot anyway.
SteveW
January 3rd, 2011
5:34 pm
JeJe – Smoove on Cousins needs a counseling session, not a referee. Dr. Laura will probably talk to them during the game.
SteveW
January 3rd, 2011
5:35 pm
Anybody else think Blake could average 40 – 20? Just wondering. I know he probably won’t, but he is a beast!
Rod from College Park
January 3rd, 2011
5:37 pm
SteveW,
“But Teague is closer than Terry. And Terry did average 5.5 assists per game for the Hawks.”
Teague is only like Terry in the sense that he is fast. Jason Terry was always a shooter, Teague never was. I think the best comparison is Tony Parker, but Teague can’t finish, while Tony Parker always could finish amongst the trees. Teague needs more minutes before he is compared to anyone. Our hope should be that he ends up being a Tony Parker type player.
Melvin
January 3rd, 2011
5:39 pm
Hawks redefine insanity byt Hoopsworld. I think the article would’ve had more merit if they would not have said Joe join the Hawks 2008 (instead of 2005)…
Let’s review. The Hawks grabbed Johnson during the summer of 2008, hoping he would be the new franchise player and elevate the Hawks to contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=18365#ixzz1A0w91YDV
Let’s review. The Hawks grabbed Johnson during the summer of 2008, hoping he would be the new franchise player and elevate the Hawks to contenders in the Eastern Conference.
J from the A
January 3rd, 2011
5:41 pm
Put Josh on the Timberwolves and he would average 20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2+ blocks, 1.5 steals per game… easily. (And before you all start shouting that these numbers are not realistic for Josh on any team, you may want to check his current stats.)
Plus you guys whine about Josh’s shot selection. Love takes twice as many 3’s as Josh and is shooting at a comparable percentage.
Apples to apples, Josh Smith > Kevin Love. The competition isn’t even close.
Worldwide Clyde
January 3rd, 2011
5:52 pm
Free Jordan Crawford. We need to give him minutes so he can be ready for next year because the Spirit group too broke to resign Jamal.
Boooo!
January 3rd, 2011
5:56 pm
You arent looking at the big picture. YOU NEED MORE DEFENSE IN A STARTING LINEUP THAN OFFENSE. This doesnt man that Old Man Bibby wont get his PT. He just has a better shot at not being a liability at this stage in hisw carer if he is defending backup PG’s and torching them with his J….from the bench!
I’ve got two lineups:
STARTERS
Teague
Joe
Josh
J. Powell
Horford
BENCH:
Bibby/JC2
JC1
Marvin/Wilkins/Sy
Marvin
Zaza/TWIN
STARTERS:
Teague
Joe
Josh
Al
TWIN
BENCH:
Bibby/JC2
JC1
Marvin/Wilkins/Sy
Marvin
Zaza/Etan
There is not a lot of scoring that goes on in the first 8-10 minutes of the game. And when you consider the defensive apptitiude of players like Smoove, Horford, JJ, Teague, and Twin; there is no way we end up looking like fools and continue to get outscored in first quaters of games. Teague can also RUN the break which will open up more scoring oppourtunities for Smoove/Horford.
Did you think about the fact that we will have one of the best offensive benches in the league with JC1/JC2, Bibby, Marvin, and Zaza coming off of it? Teams won’t be able to play ther second units against us. We will blitz teams in the 2nd quater of games and blow them out before the know what hit them.
Some of you have no vision at all. If teague is playing bad, then insert Bibby. But the Old man needs to sit down somewhere. Idon’t think there are many teams in the league (other than us) that would start Bibby at this point.
Rod from College Park
January 3rd, 2011
5:56 pm
SteveW,
“Same in most big games. Magic series the same last year. Then he disappear’s. Just Josh.”
No, that’s Marvin. Josh has been our second best player for the last 3 years. Best defender, and I would consider the playoffs a good indicator. His numbers in the playoffs are very close to his regular season averages for those years, except his FG% is lower, because he is playing much better defensive teams.
07-08 15.7ppg 6.4rpg 39%FG
08-09 17.1ppg 7.5rpg 42%FG
09-10 14.1ppg 9.0rpg 48%FG
Sautee
January 3rd, 2011
6:07 pm
J from the A said this:
“I, too, wish Teague got at least a little more playing time, but I am not ready to fault LD for this. After all, LD (and the rest of the coaching staff) sees a lot more of Teague than we do (e.g., practice, etc.). They are in a much better position than we are to gauge how to appropriately walk that fine line. [This isn't meant to say that I think LD is doing it right. This is meant to say that I am a bit skeptical that we truly know better than LD.]”
Well said!
I think ALL fans tend to think that they could coach better than whomever is there. We tend to forget all the “other” time that they spend with these players.
If they DON’T know more than us after seeing the players as much as they do, then something is way wrong.
But it’s difficult for some to admit that the coaches might know more than they do.
Good post.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 3rd, 2011
6:16 pm
Developmental League!
“I think once Teague stops doing ill-advised things like passing the ball across his body, he’ll improve in the turnover department.”
________________________________
Sounds like Brett Farve throwing interceptions across his body after 17 years of winning big games and multiple Super Bowls – hugh?
Here’s my point: The NBA is NO where you work on fundamental skills on a play off winning team. The NBA coaches aren’t afforded the luxury of developing basic fundamental basketball skills. That is what 4 years of College and The NBDL is for. By the time Teague figures out how to be a NBA starter, if ever, the coach will have been long gone.
_____________________
Jason Terry was and is NOT a PG, nor a leader and was a turnover machine himself. He costs us many games in the 4th Qrtr. And, the story remains – wee need a True PG. Sorry people, Teague is nOT one and we don’t have the time to change his dirty diapers. These kids really need to stay in school. They are ruining their own development by coming to The NBA and rotting on the benches. That’s why Stern stopped high-schoolers from coming to the NBA.
This is a Grown Mans Business. These kids can’t even buy a six pack of beer and in locker rooms with 37 year old burly men, who have kids their age.
After games, the men go to strip clubs and the kids order milk and burgers from room service and master play station video games while on the road.
They should be in a gym til midnight taking 500 made jumpers daily.
That’s what MJ and Kobe did and Ray Allen takes practice jumpers 4 hours before each game now. Where is that dedication from Teague and Marvin?
We need to earn how to draft NBA Ready talent.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 3rd, 2011
6:27 pm
Jet Terry!
Was drafted to be our PG after Mookie left. We quickly found out under Terry Stotts that Terry was NEVER gonna be a PG. We traded him to Dallas for their 10th pick and chose Acie Law that year. Before that Eric Gray?, Salim Stoudamire, now Teague:
None of these players were PG’s, and too small for SG. We were rebuilding and Terry was of No value here at that time. The Hawks needed everything from 1 to 5 and a Bench! Terry had to go and we started from scratch with Billy Knight and Joe Johnson. Dampieer and Kenyon Martin courted The Hawks but, never intended to sign, but to leverage our offer against better teams offers.
Yes, we were used by mid-level players. We Never had a Super-Star caliber player even sniff our jock, until Joe came here and none since. Joe is NOT a Super-Star, but he is the closet we have ever seen since Dikembe and Mookie.
That’s better than nothing, people. We had no choice but to resign him for that max contract! If not Joe, then who?