Atlanta Hawks: Rockets 112, Hawks 106
Scola and Rockets pushed Hawks around. (AP Photo)
- A tough matchup and a tougher team undid the Hawks. The former wasn’t a surprise unless you thought Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry would have trouble getting past Atlanta’s guards. But it was a bit jarring to see a lack of support on Atlanta’s backline.
- “We thought we could outscore this team,” L.D. said. “Defensively, I thought we were soft.”
- Luis Scola, Jordan Hill and Chuck Hayes combined to make 24 of 37 shots.
- “We just didn’t play with any kind of physicality and we didn’t take anything away,” Drew said. “We allowed them to back us into the paint and score easily. We forgot kind of who we are. We have not been a team starting games thinking we can outscore people. Our mindset has always been that it starts with our defense.”
- Not sure about that, but the Hawks couldn’t even manage to put together their usual stretch of energetic defense to build a cushion and pull away. They led by nine points early because the Rockets were sloppy with the ball. Once they took care of it, the Hawks never really stopped them.
- The Rockets made jump shots but they got quality looks. “They do have some scorers,” Al said, “but I think the biggest thing was we were not fully committed on the defensive end like we’ve been playing lately. That was a little discouraging but we have to regroup and get ready for Monday.”
- Though the Hawks shot 49 percent from the field, the shot selection wasn’t very good after halftime. Josh was 2 for 8 and Jamal was 0 for 4.
- “It was just a matter of our offense was our worst defense,” Mo said. “Our shot selection kind of led to their easy transition points and that was a recipe for disaster.”
- Hill has been a disappointment since the Knicks drafted him No. 8 overall in the 2009 Draft. Tonight he posted a season high in points (16) and also had eight rebounds.
- “That’s what we need out of him,” Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. “He rebounded tonight, he made shots around the basket. It just makes all the world of difference when we get that production.”
- Smoove finally got on track offensively, only to give ground to Scola on defense. Scola slipped into open space or took Josh inside while scoring 18 points on 9 of 12 shooting in the first half to keep Houston close.
- Then Lowry and Brooks finished the Hawks off in the second half with penetration, crisp ball movement and clutch shotmaking.
- “With Brooks’ speed and Lowry’s speed, it is going to be hard to keep those guys in front of you,” L.D. said. “But we have faced guards like that before and we have done a good job collectively in corralling those kind of guys and contesting shots. Tonight we didn’t do a good job collectively.”
- Teague got his chance against Brooks and wasn’t up to the task. L.D. showed restraint by not yanking him when he jacked up a 3 early in the shot clock.
- Jamal seemed to grow frustrated as the game went on and he wasn’t getting his shots. He was 3 for 11 (two of those attempts were heaves at the buzzer) with three turnovers and an assist.
- Smoove and Al combined for 22 rebounds. Joe had four. Everyone else totaled six. By contrast, Houston’s 45 rebounds were spread among 10 players. Hayes and Hill had eight and four other Rockets had at least four boards.
- Atlanta’s rebounding 45-32 rebounding deficit might have been worse if Rockets rookie banger Patrick Patterson hadn’t left the game with chest pain after playing four minutes. Patterson, whom a Rockets spokesman said was experiencing flu-like symptoms before the game, was taken to Piedmont Hospital for tests.
- This wasn’t a professional effort for the Hawks. J.J. had warned that it wouldn’t be an easy game but Atlanta seemed pretty nonchalant at times.
- “More so than anything just the energy and effort that it takes to put into a game like this against a hard-fighting Rockets team, we didn’t have that,” Joe said. “Even when we got the lead in the second half, we relaxed and they got back in it.”
- “Tonight we didn’t take them with enough seriousness,” L.D. said.
- “I wish we could win every game but it’s not going to happen,” Bibby said. “They kept fighting. Their shots went down, and ours weren’t. It happens like that sometimes. You aren’t going to win every game.”
- “We’re going to have nights like that, where teams are going to be able to shoot the ball extremely well like that,” Smoove said. “You just have to live with those games.”
MC
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380 comments Add your comment
Jamillion
January 16th, 2011
10:24 am
NO MATTER THE DEFICIT WITH VICK I ALWAYS FELT WE CAN WIN. KNEW THIS WAS OvER AT HALF TIME
steve brown
January 16th, 2011
10:28 am
Does Sund actually exist? Has anyone actually seen him in the past six months.
Jamillion
January 16th, 2011
10:29 am
Who IS THIS GUY WANT GAY SO BAD. GAY WILL NEVER BE A ALLSTAR.DAM MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO RISE IN THE DIVISION
drmaryb (*_*)
January 16th, 2011
10:38 am
Jamillion
Have you ever seen a QB wear a protective knee brace on his plant leg, jus in case he get’s a hit on it? Smells like FEAR in the pocket to me? The funny thing is Matt has never had a left knee injury in his life!
Problem with that is the knee brace limits his mobility and flexibility to run and scramble for first downs. Sometimes, I thinks Matt’s lack of elusiveness actually caused some of those 8 sacks he got last night. Don’t overlook how bad the lines got pushed around on both sides of the ball!
I guess this is the year of the under dogs in football!
Ledgedge
January 16th, 2011
10:50 am
Another loss at home to a sub-.500 team. Good teams don’t do that.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 16th, 2011
10:50 am
You Can’t See Me!
Steve Brown
Last I heard, Sund was in The Witness Protection Program.
He is in a Safe House over on the South – Side in Atlanta. Something about being a witness to a crime, a really big crime: There was an act of terrorism against The Hawks Fans when The Hawks were impersonating a NBA professional team, and faking playing defense.
———————–
I doubt we’ll be seeing Sund before the trial starts, sometime in June.
KevinM
January 16th, 2011
10:59 am
I gotta say DMB, I have never seen you so emotional…but as always, direct and to the point.
How painful it is to follow teams in this city only to fold like a wet napkin come national ‘watch-me’ time. It happens over and over.
Falcons have a lot to look at as their should be some personnel changes if a strike occur.
The Hawks? When MC starts his review off about a weak backline, you know its going to be a bad piece to read. Was there any good out of last night? Obviously, Houston did whatever they wanted. They started out weak this season and I thought preseason they could compete with the Lakers.
I’m not as convinced as I was but that 2 headed PG of Lowry and Brooks just pushes them to make plays. They have some depth like I thought in their roster, and they have been able to afford the Yao bug, which probably means his playing days are nearing an end. That is a huge dude! His injuries can’t sustain the pounding obviously.
Our guys are just refusing to step up and demand respect. If the jumpers aren’t dropping, then this team is in danger. Where the faux pas is Marvin? This is the softest SF in the league. A 4 game injury for him must mean he can’t play until we play that team 4 times in the year. He just doesn’t heal right. Years ago, when Shaq took him down in the paint might have been the blow that keeps him from returning until he’s 100%. I know we should be able to compensate with out ability to create mismatches with our lineups, but I don’t see it.
Bibby, one dimensional
Smoove, 2D
Horford, 2D
Joe, 2D
JC1, 1D
Marvin, 1.5D
We definitley need some more 2Ds or even a 3 to battle with the big boys. What’s our record vs. teams over .500? Should I dare look?
Oh well, must have been looking ahead and planning how we were gonna match up against the Heatles. Who’s in charge of our game plan for that game? Bender or Hill? Is Lester feeling good about where we are 1/2 way into the season? These guys have been together long enough to know who makes the difference for us on both ends.
Sund, well he’s watching….and waiting…..watching….and waiting….
taking time off anticipating………
roger Myers
January 16th, 2011
11:00 am
What part of our game plan calls for not Smoove to walk up and down the court and walk through the offense. he must be a joy to work with in practice? Ihave never seen anybody w so much athletic ability do so little.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 16th, 2011
11:06 am
Booted and Suited!
Jamillion
Why doesn’t the Offensive Coordinator, run some boot legs and screen passes for Matt to move around in and out of the pocket?
KevinM
January 16th, 2011
11:07 am
Hey, how about a 1st round matchup with Orlando? Talk about a tough road! And look out, the Knicks are on our tail…
KevinM
January 16th, 2011
11:09 am
DMB, that was a slow watching train wreck last night….that out pass at the half was so predictable…nothing creative, just a death blow.
The red seats at the Dome sure show up nice and vivid on my 47″.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 16th, 2011
11:26 am
“I gotta say DMB, I have never seen you so emotional…but as always, direct and to the point.”
KevinM, Baby I spilled my Cherry Coke into my tub of PopCorn last night and that really irked me. What’s up? Did The Birds (Hawks and Falcons) play last night or something? I didn’t catch that game(s).
I was watching the Packers and Rockets play, what happened? Did we win?
drmaryb (*_*)
January 16th, 2011
11:52 am
KevinM
Thank the Lawd, you got a 47″…. It looked a lot worse on that 50″. I was at a Sports Bar & Grill with some friends!
We screamed – “OMG! OMG! OMG! Did you see that?” Intercept for a score from the 19 yard line with 10 seconds to play? I called for a field goal on that play! Just take the 3 pts., and you go to the locker room down by 4.
But, that was all on Matt, throwing that pick – 7!
Cutty
January 16th, 2011
11:53 am
We missed Marvin’s defense last night. You people just don’t get it. Outside of JJ we have no good defenders man to man on this team. Marvin’s out so that means we see Bibby-Craw-JJ-SMoove-Horf with a sprinkle of Evans (who misses more layups and dunks than anyone in the league). Marvin is alot better than many of you give him credit for. He doesn’t take alot of shots but as far as defense he is pretty good. Bibby+Craw is probably the worst tandem in the league as far as defending goes. ON offense Bibby just hangs around the 3pt line allowing his man to rest up so he can blow past him on the other end.
We need to trade Josh Smith. He’s the problem.
steve brown
January 16th, 2011
11:56 am
Jamillion, Vick quit on his dogs, his Falcon teammates, his prison team and humanity. Having him as your role model says all I need to know about you.
steve brown
January 16th, 2011
12:02 pm
Cutty,
Marvin is “injury prone” or in other words soft. Players like that tend to remain the same.
Mrs. drew
January 16th, 2011
12:08 pm
One of the problems is lack of leadership on the floor. JJ is NOT a leader. JS wants to be the leader but he lacks the maturity and intelligence to lead. Horford is able but lacks NBA experience. Secondly the Sund (Mr. 31 yrs of mediocrity) is incapable of being anything other than pedestrian in his GM position, Third, our scouts should not be overlooked for their contribution to the personnel that is on the floor. Fourth or perhaps #1 the ASG. It all starts at the top, poor leadership, two many chiefs, financially unable to afford Elite personnel, GM, scouts, coaches etc. Fifth the ASG are delusional if they believe the Hawks are an Elite team or if they think that they can say it enough that the fans will believe it.
matt jones
January 16th, 2011
12:12 pm
Marvin does not get a pass because he is a better defensive player than others on the team. He is not a shut down defender. Compare his defense to others in the league. It does not stand out. Marvin is a loser, Marvin is a loser again I say he is a loser! Let him go.
Will
January 16th, 2011
1:13 pm
Hawks and Falcons, are always involved in loser sports history.
Hawks 7gms playoff series vs Magic last season, the worse nba playoff loss in history, in margin of pts. in a 7gm series.
Falcons, no number 1 seed, has ever loss in nfl playoff history by the margin of pts the falcons loss by.
Rufus1
January 16th, 2011
2:03 pm
Defense…
Some on this blog have no concept of what defense is in the NBA or the value of it…..You give “Lip service” to its importance.
When you say Marvin isn’t a good defender, it clearly states you don’t understand defense in the NBA….Their is no such thing as a “LOCKDOWN DEFENDER”, the players are too good offensively.
This a post from Niremental about the concept of a LOCKDOWN DEFENDER
“***The idea of a lockdown defender is, frankly, a myth. No one locks down dominant offensive players. The most you can do is force them to take contested, lower-percentage shots. And against the very best, that often won’t do much good. What great defenders do, however, is do their best to make sure that their teammates don’t have to worry about having to help on every possession with the man he’s assigned to. That’s what Perkins does with Dwight and Bell/Battier with Kobe. We’ve got two guys (JJ and Marvin) who can do that against wings and one (Collins) against immovable objects. Unfortunately, we don’t have anyone who can do that against quick PGs or stretch bigs.’****
That is why we lose the same way, to the same kind of teams good or bad in the 4th qt everytime. Bibby and Crawford don’t even make it difficult for the other guards to penetrate and break down our defense.
If we want to win we have to reduce Bibby’s 4qt minutes and play to our defensive strenghts.
dap01
January 16th, 2011
2:17 pm
Does anyone in America have a better job than Rick Sund? All he has to do is offer minimun contracts to players and then say, “we like our core”.
Bibby is a role player. He does some things well but he is not a starting PG in the NBA any longer. JC1 is a role player. He can create by himself so well most of the time. But he plays no defense and he can not contribute unless he is making jump shots.
We had a chance to pick up “big” in the draft but we instead draft Pape who was not wanted by any other team. And we used a draft pick on him.
Poor management.
This team is poorly constructed.
O'Brien
January 16th, 2011
2:17 pm
Rufus,
Good point about Bibby and Jamal.
MC also said it very well. From ajc.com;
“Good teams that have engaged the Hawks in tightly-contested games usually beat them because Atlanta can’t make key defensive stops.
Often that’s because Atlanta’s guards get beat off the dribble. That leads to open jumpers, drive-and-dishes for easy shots or baskets on offensive rebounds because Atlanta’s big men are constantly helping.
Those breakdowns will make it difficult for the Hawks to win tight games in the postseason, when simply outscoring opponents is not a winning strategy.” MC .
Ken Strickland
January 16th, 2011
3:31 pm
OBRIEN-Both JJ and Jamal were MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENTS after returning from their injuries, but they were given all the time and opportunity needed to get their gms back, no matter how much they were hurting the team. Why in the hell can’t we take the same attitude towards Teague, who’s really all we have right now as a potential upgrade at PG.
From my perspective, it’s downright stupid to:
1-consider starting JCollins because he does one thing particularly well, while we’re all willing to over look his offensive limitations and poor rebounding.
2-continue starting and/or giving major mins to MBibby primarily because of his 3pt shooting, while over looking his OFF limitations and DEF liabilities.
However, no one wants to think back to how well Teague was producing before his injury, or that he wasn’t given the same consideration given to others after returning from extended injuries. I don’t see how no one can ignore the influence his inconsistent mins and opportunities is having on his inconsistent play?
To some extent, I’m starting to see LDrew employ some of the same habits that were staples with Woodson. He’s starting to tighten up his rotation and relying more on his top 6 players, as evidence by their increased mins. Even with a starter missing, he’s unwilling to give more mins to younger players like JoCrawford, JTeague and JPowell.
JTeague definitely has his issues, but so does Bibby. At least Teague has the potential to resolve or improve most of his issues, if given the time and opportunity. I know one thing, if given the same mins, support and opportunities that Bibby receives, I guarantee you Teague would end up ranked higher among PG’s than 41st, which is Bibby’s current ranking.
Hoops
January 16th, 2011
3:40 pm
Billy Knight,
I like your trade, but it will never happen. The ASG just don’t want to improve the team!
O'Brien
January 16th, 2011
4:10 pm
Ken,
I will not compare Teague to JJ and Jamal (in terms of given the time to get back into shape). Those guys are legit vet players, who have proven themselves, while Teague is only a second year player with a lot to prove.
However, the ASG said they think Woody should have given Teague more PT. I wonder if they are pleased with how LD has handled him this season.
Bibby can take us only so far, and what will we do next year? Bibby will be a year older, and Jamal and Mo will probably be gone.
O'Brien
January 16th, 2011
4:15 pm
Bulls beat the Heat last night, and the Magic also won, while the Hawks lost, so both teams pick up a game on the Hawks.
Clyde
January 16th, 2011
4:32 pm
The Spirit Group are so stupid they are probably going to tell Sund to give Bibby another 3 year contract when his current one expires.
jason
January 16th, 2011
5:25 pm
billy the suns arent going to go for a trade for one of the worst small fowards in the nba. i like what we get in return but no ones going for that.
Grandad
January 16th, 2011
5:26 pm
Grandad’s back;
after a short stent in the hospital
[I had gas & Mrs G-dad made me go]
they found out I had a couple of clogged up arteries.
(they found biscuits in one artery and gravy in the other)
No sympathy please – never felt any pain, it was like I had a week @ the spa with purty nurses takin’ good care o’ me. Got one stent and gonna get another this week. I haven’t missed a Hawks game on TV or
‘ahem’ falcons or dawgs [small letters] or Fox’s[Hound]Dawgs either.
Didn’t miss but two of my baby boy’s college games (in person).
Now on to business:
Hawks – ladies and gents, had we won last eve (I know we didn’t)
but we would only be [2 & 1/2] behind the Mighty Heat!
Folks we are pretty…pretty…pretty…good.
Now for some hard stats:
defensively good = opp shoot only 32% from 3 point.
defensively awful = opp shoot 48.6 from 2 point.
rebounding, we get out-rebounded by only (1) per game.
* -BUT- we only have two rebounders [you know who they are]
defensively good = we are 8th in the league pts allowed.
offensively good = we are 5th in the league in assisted baskets.
offensively good = we shoot over 37% from 3 point. (guard oriented)
offensively bad = we shoot only 44% from 2 point. (it ain’t Josh)
W/O dissecting further, what should we take from this?
* Two things in my opinion!
(1) Another rebounder is needed! -BUT- also one who can help erase mistakes and defiencies on defense. As myself and everyone else has been saying forever…..A BIG Man! Moreso than a point guard.
*Reasoning on the point guard see assist stats*
Hear me out…As I see it here is a list of prioity veteran names who could help immediately:
Troy Murphy/rebounding…Marcus Camby/perfect fit…Javale McGee???
gerald Wallace/defender & rebounder @ small forward!
Kaman out for season? McGee attitude? Haywood doesn’t rebound? etc.
(2) A guard who can defend the [1] position.
Not Nash, as much as I would love Nash here he would not help our interior defense and our offense is very effecient already.
Of course LD would then have to play another guard even if he had one…and I do not know if a defensive guard could crack his rotation. [see Teague]
* Therefore my conclusion is;
We must figure out a way to get a supplemental big that can play every night. (for some reason Collins does not fit LD’s bill) One who can rebound and help control the paint.
This is a really good team that could be even better!
It’s up to Rick Sund and no-one else!
Enjoy this team.
Grandad
January 16th, 2011
5:30 pm
*Gerald with a BIG g
cdog
January 16th, 2011
8:11 pm
this is going to happen as long as rick sund is general manager with the hawks.the hawks are no way even close to being a better team than orlando, boston,miami, chicago and even new york. but does sund care? NO HE DOESN’T. AS LONG AS THEY FINISH .500 AND NO ESCAPING PAST THE FIRST OR SECOND ROUND, HE IS SATISFIED. IT’S SAD BUT IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE FANS ARE THINKING LIKE SUND, SAISFIED WITH MEDIOCRITY.
Ramon
January 16th, 2011
8:48 pm
If it was possible, I would do a deal that centered around Crawford and Marvin for Nash and Pietrus. That would provide a facilitator, a great shooter, and a lock down perimeter defender all in the same deal. However Pietrus can’t be teamed with any other player and dealt.
Ramon
January 16th, 2011
9:11 pm
Here’s a question, is LD’s 2 foul rules, affecting the way that Josh plays defense and goes after blocks in the first half of games? It seems as if Josh (nor Al) are being aggressive as they were under Woody on the defensive end.
O'Brien
January 16th, 2011
9:22 pm
The Hawks players and coach (and MC’s article) talk about the Rockets game being a slippage in D. What slippage?
Houston scored 112, Toronto scored 101 (on Wednesday), Sacramento scored 102 (on 1/4), Clippers scored 98 (on 1/2).
Sure, Hawks have had some good defensive games sprinkled in, but good defensive games are not the norm for this team.
Jamillion
January 16th, 2011
9:28 pm
Steve brown i’m talking about vick the football player.Hell yo ancestors stole a whole continent of mine then lied about reparations in the constitution. Damn a dog. What about these raped women and molested kids?
Jamillion
January 16th, 2011
9:35 pm
Steve brown yall racist make me sick. Bet u don’t hate big ben and he raping women! A human life is altered forever but the pitbull and u a low life wtf. Wat about that pork u ave.U bad u killed the pig the pig a animal wtf.Miss me wit dat bs
Jamillion
January 16th, 2011
9:37 pm
That dog life ain’t no better than my fish or your beefrib jack.But that woman is a human & the only fool who will argue against that is someone with disregard for humanity
Jamillion
January 16th, 2011
9:41 pm
A steve u like horse racing u know they kill most of those after they lose to. Then use them to make the glue u purchase at home depot that arthur blank own
steve brown
January 16th, 2011
9:41 pm
Jamillion,
Take a look at yourself-you just might see a racist. You implied Ryan quit-all Vick has ever done is quit, even on football.
Ramon
January 16th, 2011
9:44 pm
O’Brien, the question is who do you think of as a defensive minded PG who would really be available? Also, if the offense is really a motion offense, could the Hawks be better defensively, if Joe ran the point, and we had someone like Pietrus or a Brewer type player in the back court with him? Could Joe really be any worse at the PG than Bibby?
Jamillion
January 16th, 2011
9:54 pm
Never said matt quit. I SAID HE ISN’T A FRANCHISE QB. BIG BEN IS ONE JOE FLACO IS NOT EITHER. WITH A TRUE STAR U ARE ALWAYS IN THE GAME I KNEW WE WERE DEAD WHEN WE GOT DOWN 2 TDS.U BROUGHT UP A DOG WTF.
Jamillion
January 16th, 2011
9:57 pm
Back to the hawks. How are the hawks a average team when we third in our conference? And y can’t we beat orlando we should be 3 and 0 against them this year. We actually have the pieces to be elite. Our coach just doesn’t have a clue how to use them
Jamillion
January 16th, 2011
10:01 pm
Ok so now new york elite with orlando and we have a winning record against them and a better record against them wtf is yall logic? Can’t be average when u on pace for 56 wins.
O'Brien
January 16th, 2011
10:05 pm
Ramon,
As for Josh and his aggressiveness and the 2 foul rule, I dont think it bothers him. I think the biggest reason is because he is playing SF more, so he is caught on the perimeter more.
Just my opinion though
Ramon
January 16th, 2011
10:16 pm
O’Brien, you may be right. But I remember those first few games Josh played SF, and he still had over 2 blocks a game. But I’m sure at the SF position its hard for him to leave the perimeter to help out on the drives.
Jamillion
January 16th, 2011
10:23 pm
Hawks can easily improve without even making a trade.Start jt and twin.Bench is zaza ethan duck backcourt both crawfords
Jamillion
January 16th, 2011
10:26 pm
Situation players bibby for a shot and damien for defense or u can play marvin at some 4 and play dw at the three duck get rebounds anyway
Ramon
January 16th, 2011
10:29 pm
The craziest part about LD is there isn’t one obvious person (beside Collins who wasn’t in shape last season) that you can point to and say is producing more and better than they did under Woody. Everyone is still pretty much on pace for their averages of last season. So is LD really a difference maker of a coach besides Woody? And if he isn’t, is it justifiable to bring him back after this season? We’re still getting beat by the same type of teams that we got beat by last season.
Grandad
January 16th, 2011
10:33 pm
Marvin is not a defensive stopper. As a matter of fact, we are doing quite well w/o Marv. The Hawks are really one or one & a half pieces away from being a true contender. The reason I say a half piece is we only need a defender 2 the [1] and not the total package.
A player such as Joey Dorsey could help our interior defense. He is
a volumn rebounder per min played also. Barbosa, although not a true point, is fast enouth to defend the [1] and both play for Tor. throw
in Julian Wright and now maybe we could package Marvin
[with chips, picks, filler] and fill some needs from one source.
Grandad
January 16th, 2011
10:40 pm
Ramon;
sorry to disagree my friend but I see a much improved team.
Assisted baskets are up, Marv and Josh are improved, Bibby
is having an upsurge, LD is utilizing his bench and managing
match-ups better. We have a plan, a scheme, and a philosophy.
I don’t see reason for your pessimism.