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
Jae Evolution
January 15th, 2011
10:42 pm
The only nights where teams shoot the ball extremely well is when no defense is being played, stop making excuses Josh.
O'Brien
January 15th, 2011
10:50 pm
LD said we thought we could outscore the Rockets. Does that “we” include him? Because all season long, he has been all about offense.
Isnt that why he consistently plays Bibby over teague? Isn’t that why he gives Jamal so many minutes?
isnt that why in the ASG letter to fans, they said they are pleased with LD and his new offense?
The bottom line is, the Hawks dont have the personnel to be a good defensive team.
And defense and rebounding is what wins in the playoffs. Tonight, Houston shot 54% from the field, and outrebounded us by 13.
Clyde
January 15th, 2011
11:04 pm
The Falcons have added another page in Atlanta’s sports history tonight.
jason
January 15th, 2011
11:28 pm
whats up with josh and him not playing defense?
UGA
January 15th, 2011
11:38 pm
No big deal, but 2 things are certain:
Scola is better than Smoove.
Teague is not very good.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 15th, 2011
11:41 pm
Bad Lines!
The Falcons O & D Lines were beat down like a mexican pinata! Matt Ryan had no time to read a chinese fortune cookie. The tackling was offensive and the WR’s, Turner, TE were taken outa’ the game completely!
__________________________
What does all that have to do with the Hawks? They both got needs and they both suck and they both embarrassed this fine city! These Fans don’t have to support any of these teams. Oh Yeah! Add the Braves to that mix!
____________________
Good Night Fans and Þurn this focus to your personal finances.
Move on people, there is nothing to see here!
wesley
January 15th, 2011
11:41 pm
Enough!! Sick of these no defense playing hawks. I can no longer pull for the THUGGISH character of this team. Please trade bibby and j.smith for whatever we can get. These players are difficult to cheer for given there crappy attitudes. Get a loan from jj if necessary, unless hes blown it all already. Lifelong Hawks fan here (38yrs) and ive had enough. Im no longer supporting (in any way) this team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
January 15th, 2011
11:47 pm
tired of seeing the SAME flaws YEAR AFTER YEAR in ALL of ATL’s teams.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 15th, 2011
11:53 pm
Just to see what y’all think…
Who is the best #2 in the ATL, Matt Ryan or Joe Johnson?
(Alex Gonzalez is not a valid answer.)
wesley
January 16th, 2011
12:03 am
the best #2 in “the ATL” is when i take a crap!!!!
Clyde
January 16th, 2011
12:07 am
The same ole thing year after year.
The Falcons need a pass rush and the Hawks need a center. Year after year our teams keep ignoring their weaknesses and year after year we lose.
Major de`Coverly
January 16th, 2011
12:07 am
I think mister drew meaant that the players thought they could outscore the other team tonight and not that was what he wanted them to do. He said they had a mind to play defense and then mister cuningham said I dont know about that. The hawks are eighth in the whole nba in defense
against giving up points so mister drew must be right about what they have on the mind. josh was not playing well though because he let that little gard shoot a layup on him and did not block his shot like he is supposed to. Our team needs another person who can get rebounds because al and josh are the omly ones who ever get any.
Ken Strickland
January 16th, 2011
12:25 am
OBRIEN-I agree with everything you said except, “THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THE HAWKS DON’T HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO BE A GOOD DEFENSIVE TEAM.” We have the personnel, we just don’t use it properly. We don’t have a dominant DEF player that can erase mistakes, but we can be good defensively as a team.
We can’t expect any DEF consistency if we insist on depending on 2 of the NBA’s weakest defensive guards(Bibby/Jamal). We can do well with 1, but not two, especially when one is our starting PG and isn’t very productive offensively. LDrew and/or the ASG had better make up their minds. Either they make a committment to developing Teague, and not by continuing to keep him on a short leash and giving him the WOODY TREATMENT, or trade for one very soon.
With JJ, Jamal, and LDrew’s OFF system, we don’t need a pure PG. We need a quicker, faster, more athletic version of JJ, in terms of his ability to play DEF, pass, control the OFF, penetrate, and handle the ball. If LDrew thinks he can continue relying on Bibby as his primary PG, he’s as foolish as Woodson was. While we have some very good DEF players, we don’t have one that can consistently compensate for Bibby and Jamal’s poor DEF.
I don’t want us to get rid of Bibby, but I want his mins reduced, to lessen the negative impact his poor DEF has on the overall team. Bringing him off the bench, or using him the way Woodson utilized RIvey, will do just fine. He should be utilized in situations where he can be most effective offensively, and less of a liability defensively.
The Rockets start 2 quality PG’s, which is 2 more than we’ve had since the days of Mookie Blalock. There are 30 NBA teams, with 30 starting PG, and Bibby ranks #41 overall. It’s a damned shame that there are 11 PG’s coming off the bench that are more productive than our starting PG.
WE DON’T HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO OVERCOME THAT TYPE OF FUTILITY AT THAT POSITION, ESPECIALLY IN THE PLAYOFFS.
bigdave
January 16th, 2011
12:31 am
“the best #2 in “the ATL” is when i take a crap!!!!”
classic.
Clyde
January 16th, 2011
12:34 am
Ken you right.
“WE DON’T HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO OVERCOME THAT TYPE OF FUTILITY AT THAT POSITION, ESPECIALLY IN THE PLAYOFFS.”
The question is what are we going to do about it. I’ve been waiting for a answer to this question for 7 years now.
Geoff
January 16th, 2011
12:36 am
this “core” is boring. trade for someone that is at least fun to watch, i dont care if we win at this point or not. get steve nash in here.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 16th, 2011
12:39 am
A Major Dam!
Damn! Major DeCoverly said it BEST:
On that note! Good Night!
_______________________
Oh Wait! Ken Strickland just kicked The Major’s azz through the Uprights!
Now, I can really sign OFF! Preach that Truth – Kenny Baby!
_______________________
Good Damned Night!
O'Brien
January 16th, 2011
12:43 am
Najeh,
I’ve been disappointed in both, but if I have to choose, I’m going with JJ. At least his hawks won 2 playoff series.
Ken S,
So far, Teague has been disappointing. If he doesn’t pick it up by season end, or if LD still has no confidence in him, then we need to trade for one like u said.
The bad thing is, we don’t have any tradeable assets in the offseason. Jamal and Mo will be off the books, and nobody wants Marvin. Bibby will be expiring, but at $6 mil, he is best suited as a backup and I doubt if anybody wants him unless we take back a bad contract in return.
slimjr
January 16th, 2011
12:46 am
Tough night to be a HAWKS or FALCON fan!! 48-21 loss at Home on National TV. No wonder why the National Media does not respect the Falcon(Pretenders)..What a joke.. A nightmare for the local fans! Well get ready cause the Hawks are up next…
Sund, take a hike….
slimjr
January 16th, 2011
12:48 am
keep JJ and trade everyone else…
slimjr
January 16th, 2011
12:51 am
Marvin/cash/picks for DWILL. PG problem solved….
Geoff
January 16th, 2011
12:58 am
lol slimjr, good one.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 16th, 2011
1:00 am
“I’ve been disappointed in both, but if I have to choose, I’m going with JJ. At least his hawks won 2 playoff series.”
Same here. “Joe Max” > Matthew Sleet.
slimjr
January 16th, 2011
1:04 am
Mattie Melt Down
hawkfan
January 16th, 2011
1:04 am
well at least the hawks were never a #1 seed in their playoffs to lose in the first round, what a big teaser, and the packers never even punted, at least for the hawks they didn’t get too much praise and attention or high hopes and just was in the middle of the pack, lesson learned here never get overhyped for any of the ATL sports teams
Billy Knight
January 16th, 2011
1:21 am
Rick Sund should do this trade: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=464xql3
C – Chris Kaman
Pf- Al Horford
Sf- Josh Smith
Sg- Joe Johnson
Pg- Steve Nash
Killer starting lineup what do you guys think, opinions please.
Eldridge Recasner
January 16th, 2011
2:32 am
Hawks were #1 seed in 1993 and lost in the 2nd round, which is where the Falcons lost tonight.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 16th, 2011
6:20 am
Mattie Melt Down
__________________
More like “Pattie Melt”
drmaryb (*_*)
January 16th, 2011
7:05 am
Sy Ya! Wouldn’t Want To Be Ya!
“22-year old resume-less players like Sy can be found by the dozen all over the French league, and the Hawks likely should have had the talent-evaluation skills to distinguish that, rather than just allow themselves to be fooled so badly by a single private workout. Based on what we saw in South Padre, its unlikely that the Sy experiment will last very much longer. DraftExpress.com”
drmaryb (*_*)
January 16th, 2011
7:07 am
Does Sy have a guaranteed contract beyond this year?
Why didn’t we just draft a PG or a Center? Head in the sand?
______________________
Sand Man!
drmaryb (*_*)
January 16th, 2011
7:14 am
Sky Rockets at Night – An Afternoon Delight!
The Rockets don’t have a Center either, (Brad Miller?). But, they have two penetrating PG’s who can shoot. Wouldn’t yall say PG is a greater need in Atlanta than Center at this POINT? (Pun Intended)
Solution
January 16th, 2011
7:24 am
Can Atlanta get a soccer team? That way I won’t care if they lose. Oh yeah…we already have a hockey team to fill that niche.
joBjo
January 16th, 2011
7:37 am
Hawks were going through the motions against Rockets. looked like a dress rehersal. no passion. no effort, no hustle. Typical of the Hawks against teams under the radar. looks like they went back to iso ball when backed against the wall. will they ever get it? They had been doing better lately. and where is Duck? doggin it? won’t go to the bench till he’s 115% ready to go? I have never seen a team stand around as much as Hawks players do. hell at least get in a defensive stance, maybe you will fool some into thinking you are actually playing defense.
Miles D
January 16th, 2011
8:08 am
Hawks fans! I just thought I would run this one by ya’ll one more time! Checkout this link http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine. Think about this! How about a trade that sends Jamal Crawford to Phoenix for Nash and Marvin and Za to Houston for Brad Miller and Shane Battier!! PERFECT fit for our Hawks! Not only would they brings us more veteran leadership that we desperately need but brings us mental and physical toughness on the defensive end as well! Invaluable trade and VERY feasible! Something ASG would love… LOL! INSTANTLY MAKES US SERIOUS CONTENDERS! We should lobby for this!!! Would be the SMARTEST trade in franchise history! LET’S GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OR SHOULD I SAY ASG!!!!!!LOL!
slimjr
January 16th, 2011
8:09 am
Royal Marshal, RIP Dude….
slimjr
January 16th, 2011
8:18 am
“Jamal Crawford to Phoenix for Nash and Marvin and Za to Houston for Brad Miller and Shane Battier!!”
Sund does not have the balls to pull that off..He works in mediocrity like the two previous GM’s Pete “I aint got a clue” Babblecox and Billy ” the worst GM in Hawks History” Knight take a hike…
Sund take a Hike…
slimjr
January 16th, 2011
8:19 am
Josh Smith for Rudy Gay yesterday….
slimjr
January 16th, 2011
8:29 am
Mattie Melt for Mike Vic
dap01
January 16th, 2011
8:34 am
If Teague did not defend properly, he is pulled and not seen from again. Bibby’s best defensive play is below average yet he starts and plays and plays.
We will not go any further with Bibby as the only PG. Our only hope for improving is for Teague to develop his vast physical skills.
We had been passing well until last night and we went back to the iso and shooting 3’s offense that WILL NOT work in the playoffs.
slimjr
January 16th, 2011
8:38 am
it was a horrible pick
Hey Marvin, why not just take the rest of the season off? You wont be missed…..
Dept of unintended
January 16th, 2011
8:40 am
who am I? Sund?
JeJe
January 16th, 2011
9:13 am
We just lost to a team coming off a b2b (overtime LOSS at home).
We had played like 2 games in the last week
Absolutely pathetic.
If there was a game where our coaches and PG are at fault, it’s last night.
How do you think you’ll outscore teams? DEFENSE wins championships, NOT Golden State Warrior style.
And our PGs are horrendous. Kyle Lowry is light years better than either piece of trash we have playing at PG right now.
LOL @ Bibby still starting for this team. Any other team in this league would laugh if Bibby asked to start for them.
HORRENDOUS job, LD.
Bibby, you blow
nobody important(yet)
January 16th, 2011
9:14 am
i could care less about one loss they’ll get on track the falcons lost im pissed and if they dont make it in the next 2 to 3 years im gonna be the most pissed man on the face of the earth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JeJe
January 16th, 2011
9:34 am
When’s the last time Bibby crossed over a PG, got in the lane, and made a reverse layup?
Oh yeah, about 7 years ago
JeJe
January 16th, 2011
9:36 am
Great, LBJ is supposed to return Tuesday. Watch him drop 38 in 3 qtrs in a 30 point blowout
eastlaketb
January 16th, 2011
9:43 am
Billy Knight- now that a starting 5. But with a bonehead of a G.M that we have it will never happen. Rick Sund still thinks that we are and elite team with our core guys.smh. We havent proven anything as a team that we are elite.
1) barely beat the Bucks in 7 game playoffs last year.
2) Orlando beat the crap out of us
3)Cleveland beat the crap out of us year before last
4) Our record vs playoff team this year not good at all
Rick Sund- we are a average team with no heart or excitement about them. Look at everyone body language on an off the court. Use your head for something than just a bobble head.Make some trades. You are losing the rest of the small fanbase that we have.
Ra'mon
January 16th, 2011
9:58 am
Jeje, we just lost to a team that was embarrassed on Friday night with the meltdown they had in the fourth quarter. We just played a playoff team that was pissed.
ole hawk's fan
January 16th, 2011
10:11 am
FIRE ASG………………………Get us a owner who wants to win a championship and have the $$$$ to get the players to win with. Where is Etan Thomas and why isn’t he playing? Big banger who was signed but get more DNP than Jordan Crawford. This teams losing when they revert back to Woody ISO ball. JJ dribbling while his teammates watches and then JJ jacks up a fall away jumper. ZaZa is garbage but still gets minutes, go figure! JTeague is not garbage but has been handle poorly here with these coaches. I’ve said all along that if Rondo had been in Teague shoes, he would be similar here in ATL like Teague. Doc took him under his wings( with Rondo coming here to work on his game with Mark Price in the off season) has blossom. By the way, what happen to Mark Price? Why isn’t he a part of this Staff?
Jamillion
January 16th, 2011
10:18 am
Relearned SOME TRUTH LAST NITE. FALCON WORSE # 1 SEED EVER. MATT ICE NOT A FRANCHISE QB.VICK NEVER GAVE UP AT HOME
drmaryb (*_*)
January 16th, 2011
10:22 am
That defense was offensive!
112 points? And all they can say is, “That team has really good shooters?”
______________________
Child Please!
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.
Grandad
January 16th, 2011
10:59 pm
Ramon;
another thing we have had verifiably more injuries than a year ago
through which LD has been skillful in maneuvering his team.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 16th, 2011
11:03 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?”
It’s a team sport. To look at LD’s effect you have to look at team stats. The Hawks are assisting on a higher percentage of baskets this year than they were last year. They are playing better, less gimmicky D this year than they were last year. They are getting more meaningful contributions from the bench this year than they did last year. Individual stats may or may not have improved for everyone, but the commitment to ball movement and more fundamentally sound defense is likely to translate to more playoff success.
I’m not saying any of this to defend LD as the long term solution necessarily, but the appropriate way to judge him should be based on what he does with this team in the playoffs, not what individual players have done statistically so far this season.
Hoops
January 16th, 2011
11:04 pm
Grandad,
The Hawks have improved from last season, NO DOUBT!! Just think what a couple of trades could do for them right about now! Keep JJ, JC!, Josh, and Horford. All other players could be used to get a better PG, SF, and C.
Ramon
January 16th, 2011
11:12 pm
Grandad, has Marv truly improved, or has he just played more games without Joe/Crawford this season than he has the last two combined? Also Josh has improved, just like he’s done every season since entering the league. LD is utilizing his bench? Aside from Collins, who is getting minutes that didn’t get them last season? Powell has been unheard a lot of the last 2-3 months, after starting out basically playing the minutes Joe Smith used to play. Bibby is shooting decent, but he had this same type of season the year before last (his contract season).
I guess I am not impressed with his substitution patterns or his in game adjustments. I just see LD as marginal not really a difference maker. Also, I see him at best being Flip Saunders. However, most of the championship level coaches all teach defense first, not second.
Please note, I am not saying Woody is a better coach, because I don’t feel he is. However, I don’t believe either of them are good enough coaches to take the Hawks to the next level (starting with defense). LD says he wants to run more, but everyone knows to run more you must pick up the defensive intensity.
SteveW
January 16th, 2011
11:17 pm
Grandad – Welcome back!!! And glad your well.
Matt Ryan when drafted, everybody’s take was he was the most ready QB to start immediately, but didn’t have huge upside potential. I agree with that. He’ll always be a very good, above average QB, but I don’t see an elite Manning, Brady, Favre, tag on him. He may work extremely hard and become that, but I don’t and haven’t seen it in him. Top 8-10 QB in the League, but not much else. Glad we have him however.
Develop Teague! I’m convinced that Sund went to LD and said play Teague more, or we would see him buried on the bench still. All but elite players have to be developed. Teague currently is our best hope for a Top 10 PG, and being dangerous in the playoffs, unless a trade is looming. I say take your lumps with him now, start him the next 10 games, and see what happens. You still have Bibby, and Jamal to rescue him off the bench if need be.
Develop Teague!!!!
SteveW
January 16th, 2011
11:22 pm
Ramon, in what areas has Josh Smith improved in? Maybe 3 point shooting, but he is down in blocks. I like Josh, but any improvement he has shown this season besides 3’s is very marginal.
Al is the one who has improved this season, and is being mentioned in most improved player of the year awards talk.
But I co-sign most of the remainder of your post. Good post.
SteveW
January 16th, 2011
11:24 pm
Ramon – Playing Horford play 44 minutes in a futile cause against the Rockets was a waste. Where has Josh Powell been? Even Etan may have given us some decent burn in the Rockets game.
Ramon
January 16th, 2011
11:29 pm
Grandad, the Hawks have had more injuries true enough. But they’ve also played one of the easiest schedules in the entire league to date. Maybe you guys are right, maybe I’m being too hard on LD when my frustration is really with Sund/Gearon.
By the way, Zaza is averaging less points, rebounds, and more turnovers than previous season with basically the same amount of minutes last season. Jamal averaged more points, less turnovers and more rebounds last season than he has this season in comparable time. Mo is averaging less points, less rebounds, and shooting a worst percentage this season than he has since he’s been with the Hawks.
You guys say LD’s using the bench better, but each of the starters are averaging more minutes this season than they did last. The only reason so many of the bench players seem like they’re playing more is because of the injuries. But as I said, many of those injuries have occurred at the best time, when going against sub par teams.
Mike is back
January 16th, 2011
11:31 pm
Grandad, Love Yo spirit Bro…That’s the attitude I took when it was my turn…I told Ken Strick…Laughter pull me through…just keep laughing…it’s a natural heeler…that’s one thing…even the worst demon can’t over come.
I ain’t gon lie…I was at the game AGAINST HOUSTON and it was my grand son birth day…and He was hoping to see Sky Hawks. However, I circumvented that…by leaving at half time trying to get home to see the BIRDS.
THE WAY Scola was scoring on Josh…I SAID…either LD is going to go to Collins…Cuz Josh was either thinking about the Birds TOO MUCH…or looking for the block shots TOO MUCH…either way it was a bad match-up for us…A crafty player like Scola can take advantage of Josh…and he did.
I thought we should have…WENT BIG WITH TWIN …AND HAVE our PF funnel Scola to TWIN.that way he would have…have to work harder to score.
KEEP Yo blog on Granddad…this blog…got the Midas touch…Ken Strick can attest to that..U WILL BE FINE!!!
Now back to HAWKS…LD…please insert Twin into starting line-up…When you are playing against A crafty vets like Scola…WITH SIZE AND LENGTH…Dude Collins went to Stanford… he can help this team…need I count the ways!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Josh…U OWE ME ONE FOLK…GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ramon
January 16th, 2011
11:35 pm
SteveW, that’s part of what I’m saying. The areas that Josh and Al have improved in (even if only marginal) could be more because of their off season work more than any adjustments that LD has made.
The question is, does anyone think the Hawks are now capable of playing playoff level defense now against the top teams? If the answer is still no, has LD really made a huge difference?
Melvin
January 16th, 2011
11:42 pm
The Hawks wasn’t the only one who wanted to sign Joe…
Privately, he wanted Atlanta free agent Joe Johnson(notes) as his shooting guard, a way to balance the floor with Noah and Carlos Boozer(notes) and Luol Deng(notes). James and Wade would’ve taken the ball and diminished Rose as the Bulls point guard. It never appealed to him.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AvVXegjRQP.TnwGR5iyVBj68vLYF?slug=aw-roselebron011611
jlewis
January 16th, 2011
11:58 pm
Just an observation. Funny thing about the so called easy schedule, those teams are now winning games, clippers beat heat and lakers back to back. Kings go in and blow out the knicks, there is no such thing as an easy schedule, any given night anyone can win.
Grandad
January 17th, 2011
2:36 am
SteveW;
Thanks for the kind words.
josh has improved his outside shooting (mid-range) as well as his
3 point shot. Also his FT shooting is much improved. He is a well balanced player:
defense; steals & blocks + on ball defense smaller quicker players.
offense; passing & unselfishness.
rebounding
all ares in which he has improved.
Grandad
January 17th, 2011
2:44 am
Mike is back;
I appreciate the the kind words.
I fell asleep on the couch, woke up, and now I can’t sleep.
Mrs Grandad is asleep now and said “Leave Me Alone!”.
So I’m back on the blog keepin’ my mind on B-ball…..
Doc said I’m not supposed to think about that other stuff yet anyway.
Once again Thanks alot my friend.
Ken Strickland
January 17th, 2011
3:39 am
GRANDAD-Welcome back big timer. I’m glad to hear everything is alright with you.
OBRIEN-I understand the priority placed on JJ and Jamal’s successful return to form, and I wasn’t comparing Teague to either of them. However, I was comparing their situations, and the disparity in the way he was dealt with Teague compared to them.
Don’t forget it was LDrew who made a big deal shortly after being hired about the importance and the sense of urgency in developing JTeague as quickly as possible and making him our starting PG this season. After seeing him make definite strides in that direction before his injury, it seems LDrew forgot those goals after he was injured.
Bibby is rapidly wearing down, he’s still a DEF liability, and his production is approaching last yrs unacceptable levels. Getting more production out of Teague, who is our only current option for improvement, should be just as important as the return to form of JJ and Jamal.
How can anyone logically explain almost 7yrs of futility at one position from a team with the overall talent and potential of the Hawks, and one that’s progressed annually over that same period? What’s even more frustrating is watching LDrew employ the same failed approach Woodson used, which led to his ultimate demise.
Like Woodson, LDrew is currently using Bibby and Jamal as our PG’s, and employing some of the same gimmicks Woodson used to compensate for their DEF liabilities. Both players are extremely inconsistent defensively, but unlike Jamal, Bibby is also inconsistent offensively. His proponents like to say that his INTANGIBLES are what make his so valuable as our starting PG.
If we benched him and/or limited his mins, wouldn’t he still have those same intangibles? Intangibles are always needed and desired, but we’re at a point where we need DEFENSE, CONSISTENCY AND PRODUCTION from our PG position if we expect to improve, especially during the playoffs.
Just like LDrew realized JJ and Jamal would be rusty after their return and wouldn’t regain their form playing limited mins off the bench, he has to realize the same applies to Teague, if he expects him to ever develop into the PG we need.
terrell
January 17th, 2011
6:43 am
Would yall do Josh Smith/Bibby for Monta Ellis/Gadzuric(expiring)?
Monta/JJ/Marvin/Horford/Gadzuric(big athletic center btw)
Teague/Jamal/Evans/Zaza/Collins
Just curious? A friend said he saw this trade somewhere. lol!
drmaryb (*_*)
January 17th, 2011
7:27 am
Drew has the same obstacles Woodson had: The identical roster of tweeners, misfits and NO PG, NO Center. What would yall do differently with this same roster.
And, don’t say start Teague, he is not a starter. Can yall cook a steak with ham? See Sund.
O'Brien
January 17th, 2011
7:42 am
Ramon,
I think LD is an improvement over Woody, but I dont think he is the coach to take us to the next level. And (imo), the players we have dont have the mindset to take us to the next level either.
But LD has a 2 year deal, and I think regardless of what the Hawks do in the playoffs, he will get to coach next season too (except he might be on the hot seat).
I do think its interesting that when LD and Connor (his defensive coach) was hired, they talked about “guard your man or else”, and accountability on defense etc.
But yet they continue to play Jamal and Bibby major minutes and ignore their bad defense (which has a bad ripple effect on the team, even though we’re not switching all the time).
Yes, those guys can score, but we are not going to win in the playoffs from outscoring good teams. We need better defense. So I blame Rick for not getting the right players in here, and LD for being all about offense.
dap01
January 17th, 2011
8:30 am
I love the Hawks, they are passing better, pushing the ball up the court better and trying harder on defense. But I still sense we are going no further than last year.
Teague is the only person on the roster that could actually improve us IF he was developed. He is athletic at the point, he can penetrate, he can push the temp. Yet if he makes a mistake he is pulled. If Bibby makes a mistate, he plays.
Status quo will get us nowhere.
Fundamentals
January 17th, 2011
9:38 am
Same lesson, different night. We can’t outshoot anyone with our “shotmakers”. Defense & Rebounding win games. The sooner this crowd learns that the better. Only problem is we’re 6 years in with no lessons learned. Adding a post defender/rebounder who is a bit fleeter footed than Collins would benefit this team greatly.
Teague isn’t going to be ready. He may develop, but right now we’ll be lucky to have him for back-up minutes in the rotation. If Jamal could honestly committ to the defense we’ve seen from him this season we’d have no issues on our perimeter defense.
Good to hear Marvin is coming along. I know folks bash him on this blog, but we need him healthy and productive as part of the core or as trade bait as we enter February.
I just pray I don’t get another bad birthday present. I remember going to see the Hawks on my birthday, only to see Danny Manning limping out on crutches instead of Nique. What a dark day in Hawks history that was…the nimbers just didn’t add up.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 17th, 2011
9:41 am
“I think LD is an improvement over Woody, but I dont think he is the coach to take us to the next level. And (imo), the players we have dont have the mindset to take us to the next level either.”
_____________________________
So, what would you do different than Drew? Can you make Bibby and Jamal play defense? Can you turn Teague into a Super-Hero at PG? Oh yeah, and you got 40 games top gitter done! Can You?
_____________________________
Besides complaining, what is your soultion?
Fundamentals
January 17th, 2011
10:01 am
All Drew can do is hope they buy in, especially on D.
Jamal could play D, Bibby is going to wear out at this rate.
Teague won’t be a starting PG this year or next IMO.
To do it in 40 games you need two key trades or pick-ups w/o losing Jamal or the core to win in the 2nd round. It’ll have to involve the luxury tax and key teams dumping players at the trade deadline.
Problem is, ASG & Sund won’t spend that kind of money. Secondary problem is we won’t be the most competitive team out there for picking up key players like ORL, BOS or MIA.
I guess they’ll just keep complaining cause it most likely can’t be done.
All we can pray for is a solid committment to Defense & Rebounding over the next 60+ games and a pass from the injury bug.
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
10:25 am
Interesting Pre-Draft anaylysis on Jeff Teague by John Hollinger. It basically says:
Jeff Teague will average a career 16.9ppg and 3.9 apg in the NBA based on players with similar college careers and skill set.
Jason Terry and Larry Hughes are the closest players to compare him to (and a 3rd, didn’t want to look it back up).
Great scorer, but not big enough to guard SG’s, not a natural PG or natural PG defender. Also compared him to Monta Ellis.
Conclusion, definite 1st round pick with enough talent to have a long NBA career. But would probably be best suited coming off the bench as a spark and a scorer. He said it was a long shot that he would find a team that he could run as the starting Point, but possible.
Just google search Jeff Teague Hollinger to find the article.
I found it interesting
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
10:28 am
Also looking up Marvin on various blogs. People are impressed with his perimeter D. The say he’s probably our best perimeter defender, and we got a steal on him with his contract. Interesting…
sam'l
January 17th, 2011
10:39 am
What happened? My semi-lucid impression is……
The Falcons upstaged the Hawks…..The Hawks might have been in “party mode” for the big Atlanta sports weekend, or at least “nonfocused” on their own business, or worse yet, a bit jealous of the attention the meat and potatoes South bestows on football teams, so when the Hawks were confronted with a team that really wanted to win a basketball game, they folded rather than stand their ground..
Bad as all this “fantasy” scenario is ……I would hate to think Houston has become a better basketball team than our beloved, if somewhat flaky and mentally fuzzy, Hawks.
sam'l
January 17th, 2011
10:48 am
oh geez…….Teague.
For the last 2 years, we have all been waiting for Teague to get his playing time and emerge playing up to his potential. I doubt the author of Steve W’s article has gotten into the drama as much we have here.
Teague has had numerous chances to show his stuff, on the court and certainly day to day in Hawk practices, but for some reason, he hasn’t turned the corner, which is a mini-tragedy in that we could really use him if he got his head on straight. Since he is REALLY FAST and HAS GREAT POTENTIAL, and since the coaching staff knows we need a reliable point guard and has verbally stated he was heir apparent to Bibby’s job………
One can only assume there is something wrong with the way Teague is approaching the game.
Unless things change in a dramatic startling way, the stats in that articule will never occur.
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
10:51 am
Draft Express Profile on Jeff Teague, expanded for his NBA time:
Best case scenario: A better shooting Monta Ellis
Worst case scenario: Lou Williams or Aaron Brooks
40 mpg projections, with pace adjusted:
13.8 ppg 4.7 rpg 6.4 apg 1.9stls 1.1 blcks 3.2 TO’s
Some strengths:
Ability to get to the Free Throw line
Go to scoring mentality
Scoring instincts
Transition play
Ability to create own shot
Aggressive slashing mentality
Athleticism
Excellent first step
Explosiveness
3pt range
3pt shooting %’s
Ability to shoot off the dribble
Quick release
Some Weaknesses:
Ability to play at different speeds (means he struggles doing this. We saw this in Summer League)
Decison Making
Not a true Point Guard
Shot selection
Stuck between 1 and 2
TO prone
Committment to playing D
Defensive Fundamentals
Average basketball ball IQ
Consistency
Focus
Lacks discipline
Maturity
Mental Toughness
Got by on Instincts in College
Ability to create for others
Ability to finish at the basket
Ability to catch and shoot.
This is consistent with other profiles I have read about Teague, and pretty consistent with what I’ve seen by him as a Hawk.
He has a huge upside, and his weaknesses make him fit right in as a Hawk!
Start Jeff Teague!!! Look at those 40 mpg per game numbers.
His 30 mpg #’s would be:
10.2 ppg 3.4 rpg 4.8 apg 1.4 spg .8 bpg
Not bad….
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
11:02 am
About Jeff Teague: When your worst case scenario is Lou Williams or Aaron Brooks, I’ll take it!
“I like hearing that Steve Lavin says that he feels that 5 years down the road that Jeff Teague will be the best guard out of this draft as he did on ESPN radio Friday afternoon.”
If we don’t blow it, Lavin will be correct. I know Teague’s negatives, but I know talent when I see it. You can’t teach Teague’s “it” factor.
From November 27th – The Kings offer the Hawks Jason Thompson for Jeff Teague.
“It’s mind-blowing to see how high teams are on Jeff Teague. Atlanta acts like he’s untouchable right now. The Kings really want him”
The rest of the NBA sees his talent, and are trying to steal him from Atlanta. Hope LD sees if, being the former PG that he is.
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
11:09 am
Thompson, Dalembert and Cousins are providing an inside presence that teams are finding it difficult to deal with. Thompson has the highest PER of the bunch at 14.2. He’s only playing 20 mpg, but averaging 8.2 ppg and 5.8 rbg. He’s a young 24 year old true Center at 6-11 250. Sund must think alot of Teague if he won’t trade him for Thompson straight up.
The KIngs are also offering Thompson for Aaron Brooks, but again the answer is no.
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
11:24 am
Hawks draft Jamaal Tinsley – trade him so we can draft Dan Dickau.
Hawks pass on Chris Paul because Billy Knight thinks Paul is to small for the NBA. Then he decides Marvin is better than DeRon Williams. We then draft Salim Stoudamire with the 1st pick in the 2nd round.
Hawks sign Speedy Claxton, who plays 31 games for us.
Hawks draft Acie.
Hawks trade for an aging Mike Bibby
Hawks draft Jeff Teague.
We won’t go into Ty Lue, Royal Ivey, Tony Delk and Kenny Anderson at the wrong times of the decent ones careers.
Rufus1
January 17th, 2011
11:36 am
SteveW
“Also looking up Marvin on various blogs. People are impressed with his perimeter D. The say he’s probably our best perimeter defender, and we got a steal on him with his contract. Interesting…”
It is weird how people could think a players who gives your 12pts, 5rebs and is very good defender is a steal at 7mil year in todays NBA….But a guy who averages 16pts and plays no defense is worth 11mil.
We need a stat that shows the value of defense or the lack of defense, so that we could get the true value of players like jamal(Bibby) to this team….. I bet his lack of defense is worth atleast 4-5pts a game.
That is why i believe Jamal is worth about 7mil a year and if that is what he would accept, he might get re-signed.
PS. In tight games, elite teams end the game with their best combo players(offense and defense)
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
12:09 pm
If SAC wants to give us Jason Thompson for Teague, I wonder if they would give us Tyreke for Marvin and a 1st pick, since they reportedly want to get rid of Tyreke or Monta?
I wouldn’t mind starting Tyreke, JJ, Josh, Al, and Thompson, with Jamal, Bibby, Zaza, Wilkens, and Mo’ off the bench. Throw in JP and JC3, and you have a really deep, quality bench, and a starting lineup out of this world.
They say Tyreke has some off the court issues however…
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
12:17 pm
Oops! My last post shouldn’t have read Monta Ellis. Got two different reports confused. Sorry!
O'Brien
January 17th, 2011
12:41 pm
drmaryb,
I think LD needs to do a better job with his substitutions. Too often he sticks with Jamal and Bibby for too long when they are struggling, only to end up losing the game.
If those guys are struggling, why not give JC2 and/or Teague some extended minutes?
I also think he should be more selective with his 2 foul rule. But too often, Al goes out for an extended period, and when he comes back in, he is out of rhythym, and does not contribute much, and then he finishes the game with only 4 fouls.
imo, I also dont think he emphasizes defense enough, but instead focuses alot on offense.
Ken Strickland
January 17th, 2011
12:41 pm
STEVEW-You out did yourself my friend, thanks for that very informative info. It was actually Woodson who publically stated his opinion that CPaul was too small and DWilliams too over weight, but I believe both he and BK decided to pass on them.
While Teague’s list of weaknesses is long, most are correctible with time, encouragement, consistent mins and opportunity. There needs to be a renewed committment by LDrew to help him overcome his weaknesses, rather than using them as an excuse to continue suffering with Bibby.
Despite Teagues weaknesses, he has strengths that Bibby just doesn’t have. These are strengths that would definitely benefit the Hawks, especially in the playoffs. It just chaffs my butt to see LDrew, and some of our fans, continue to overlook the multiple weaknesses and liabilities of limited past their prime players like MBibby and JCollins.
While at the same time, they continue to focus almost exclusively on JTeague’s weaknesses, while continuing to ignore his vast potential and long term upside that only needs developing. How in the hell can anyone think the Hawks will have better success in the playoffs featuring Bibby and his OFF/DEF limitations ONCE AGAIN?
In the playoffs, when the ability to play good half court OFF/DEF is critical. Therefore, the ability to penetrate, break down DEF’s, get to the FT line, and play good DEF, is usually the difference between winning and losing. These are the things Teague brings to the table, while Bibby eliminates there options.
Hell, the Pistons won a championship by taking advantage 2 players(PG CBillups and C BWallace)who’s former HC’s saw them much like LDrew seems to see JTeague. Both players languished under former HC’s who focused on their PERCEIVED weaknesses, while ignoring their strengths(Does this sound familiar). After coming to the Piston’s, LBrown focused on their strengths, and the rest is history.
The Magic made drastic CHANGES to both their starting lineup and bench, and the general consensus is they’re an improved team. Yet, here we are hoping to improve accordingly, but are afraid to replace MBibby, the NBA’s 41st ranked and least productive starting PG, as our startee. IF WE DON’T MAKE THE MOVE, WE HAVE NOWHERE TO GO BUT DOWN, EXPECIALLY IN THE PLAYOFFS.
O'Brien
January 17th, 2011
12:44 pm
@ SteveW,
I doubt SacTown would trade Tyreke Evans (former rookie of the year, who averaged 20, 5 and 5 as a rookie) for under achieveing Marvin Williams and a first round pick (which will probably be in the twenties).
@ Rufus1,
Marvin is a good perimeter defender. But I dont think he is a steal, because he was restricted, and I dont think any other team was going to offer him the contract we did.
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
12:56 pm
O’Brien – I think that’s one reason SAC wants to trade Tyreke; he’s regressed in every area basically. His PER is only like 14.2 or something, while Udrih’s is 17.0. Tyreke is shooting 39+% from the field. I think they want to trade him while his value is still high, rather than waiting on him to self destruct slowly in SAC.
KenS – Co-sign, especially on that Pistons analogy. We have a diamond in the rough in Teague. The League knows it. Sund knows it. I hope LD knows it. Start him, he’ll only get better.
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
1:01 pm
O’Brien – I also think LD struggles with substitutions. I think Sund is basically going to force LD to play JT and JC2 next season if he does nothing with Jamal and Mo’ and lets them walk. LD really won’t have a choice other than to play JT and JC2. And it may help the Hawks in the long term.
Rufus1
January 17th, 2011
1:10 pm
@O’Brien
I worded it incorrectly….. I ment to say, they think Marvin is overpaid but want to pay Jamal 11mil.
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
1:19 pm
I was reading 1 sportswriter who is dumbfounded that the JC2 he saw in Summer League, and the buzz he created, has not been given the opportunity to display his talents this season. I think we have a two year window after this season to really do some damage in the playoffs and contend. After that, JJ will be 32, and will begin his decline. So next season, with:
JJ, Al, Josh, Marvin, ZaZa, JT, and JC2 next season we will have a core of 7 young players, and only JJ will be 30 (Ok JJ not so young, but still in his prime), ZaZa will be 27/28, Josh 25/26, Al and Marvin will be 25, and JT and JC2 will be 23 Bibby will be 33 next season, and needs to take on a bench role. I think we can do some damage with that core, especially if we surround them with good pieces like Damien Wilkens. Even Sy will only be 23 next season.
And speaking of Sy, did you see his last DLeague game? 4/5 from the field, plays great defense. He may finally be getting adjusted to the American game. NBA body at 6-7 225 also. He may turn out to be a solid situational bench player/defender at 3 different positions. About all you want from a low 2nd round pick really.
And about JC2 and JT. JT would be a college senior this year, and JC2 a Junior in college. Something to think about when you consider how young they are.
Drafts: 1-5 picks are to be stars within 2 to 3 years
6-15 are to be solid NBA starters within 2 to 3 years
16-30 are to be rotational players within 2 to 3 years
2nd round picks normally fill out rosters and can be solid rotational fill – ins in case of injury to a rotational player.
That’s what GM’s look for in the draft.
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
2:03 pm
Houston has some pretty good players not drafted that high, proof you can build a good team with not so good draft positions:
Kevin Martin averaging 22.9 ppg with a PER of 22.4 – drafted with the 26th pick
Scola, 19.3 ppg 8.3 rbg drafted with the 27th pick of the 2nd round
Aaron Brooks – a 26th pick
Kyle Lowry a 24th pick
That’s there 4 best statistical players right there, and none drafted higher than 24th.
Beats our 2nd pick Marvin, our 5th pick Shelden, our 6th pick Childress (who the Suns can’t dump), and 11th pick Acie all to pieces.
Trojan
January 17th, 2011
2:07 pm
SteveW: Great post.
The Truth
January 17th, 2011
2:20 pm
“10. Hawks (26-15). They are exactly what we thought they were. Same thing they were last season. This is a good team with quality athletes, they play hard and are entertaining. They are the fifth best team in the East and may still go home in the first round.”
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/17/nba-power-rankings-the-mid-season-report-edition/
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
2:35 pm
Let’s see: Rondo was a 21st pick
Big Baby was a 2nd round pick (5th)
Monta Ellis was a 2nd round pick (10th)
David Lee was a 30th pick overall
Tony Parker was a 28th pick
George Hill was a 26th pick
Matt Bonner was a 2nd round pick (16th)
DeJuan Blair was a 2nd round pick (7th)
Wilson Chandler was a 23rd pick
Landry Fields was a 2nd round pick (9th)
Anthony Morrow was undrafted
Lou Williams was 45th overall (a 2nd round pick)
Carlos Boozer was a 2nd round pick (6th)
Taj Gibson was a 26th pick
Mo Williams was a 2nd round pick (18th)
John Salmons was a 26th pick
Gerald Wallace (All Star) was a 25 pick
Andray Blatche was a 49th overall pick
Jameer was a 20th pick
Wesley Matthews 15.9 ppg went undrafted
Nicolas Batum 25th pick
Paul Millsap went 47th overall (2nd rd.). PER is 21.3
C J Miles 34th overall (2nd round)
You get the picture…
drmaryb (*_*)
January 17th, 2011
2:38 pm
Wasn’t Kevin Martin drafted by Sac-Town?
Houston does draft well though in round 2. Yao Ming is a bigger Minute Bol and Gorge Maraschaun from Washington Bullets were some HUGE guys who are just too darned big to play such an athletic game.
Freaks of nature have a ton of leg and foot problems, way too much stress on small bones and joints. I would stay away from those body types.
Yyreke Evans got really full of himself after that ROY. Word on the street was Tyreke flat out refuses to pass the ball to his mates and has that surly, nasty attitude in the locker room like Christain Laittner displayed in the NBA.
I also, heard JJ Reddick is/was a complete Azz personality-wise in Orlando, but has softened up a little this year after being married.
There are a lot of little things and knocks on these NBA players that are going on in the locker room and practices that we may never know, because of the Man-Laws of keeping things inside and away from the public. IDK what the issues are with Teague, but he hasn’t gotten a chance to really play here.
_____________________
O’Brien, thanks for your responses and comments, I always enjoy reading your perspectives. Pretty sound thinking and stuff. In defense of Drew, IDK if he trusts his substitutes for some reason.
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
3:23 pm
Drmaryb – I wasn’t trying to show how well Houston drafts, but that regardless of what draft positon you have, you can get some pretty good players.
terrell
January 17th, 2011
3:58 pm
BIG lineup today. Is Marvin back? Saw him in the locker room with the new doo.lol!
drmaryb (*_*)
January 17th, 2011
4:10 pm
SteveW
That list of hidden gems was fantastic. What about Dennis Rodman, he makes that list too – right? Great stuff Steve, very nice job on the research!
Thanks a lot!
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
4:14 pm
Where is MC’s pregame post? Does he have Martin Luther King Day off from work?
Sautee
January 17th, 2011
4:15 pm
First four shots? All jumpers. WHY don’t we go inside?
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
4:15 pm
4 straight jumpshots to start the game for the Hawks… They are down 0-7
terrell
January 17th, 2011
4:17 pm
Ok put in Jamal so we can score a freakin point.
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
4:17 pm
Terrell,
Marvin is on the bench in his Sunday best suit..
ATL FAN
January 17th, 2011
4:18 pm
j smooooooooooooveee
ATL FAN
January 17th, 2011
4:19 pm
evans traveled?
terrell
January 17th, 2011
4:21 pm
Lawd have mercy!
terrell
January 17th, 2011
4:22 pm
Hawks just arent very good. Im sorry. No killer instinct on this team besides Jamal maybe.
terrell
January 17th, 2011
4:24 pm
And why cant we find a pg? They’re everywhere. lol!
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
4:24 pm
No defense to start the game by the Hawks.
Flippy
January 17th, 2011
4:26 pm
cmon terrell are you serious, joe johnson is playing at his prime again, jamal healthy as well, j smoove has his nights, and al horford is beast when he gets involved. The hawks are one of the best teams in the nba when healthy, as they are just now getting used to the motion offense
Yes, it WAS a BAD PICK
January 17th, 2011
4:33 pm
Six years later, Hawks still searching for their point guard
Posted Jan 14 2011 9:36AM
Most nights, he sits on the bench in big moments, chin resting on palm, waiting and wondering for his time to come. If it ever does.
He is Jeff Teague, backup point guard for the Hawks, and the latest attempt by the Hawks to erase their greatest sin.
You heard the old saying how a bad Draft decision can set you back a number of years? Well, for the Hawks, it’s up to six.
Six years.
That’s how long the Hawks have tried to find a quality point guard, ever since they studied the Draft board in 2005 and determined it wasn’t worth wasting their first-round pick on Chris Paul, Deron Williams or even Raymond Felton.
Six years.
That’s how long the Hawks have tried to make up for that terrible oversight, and unless Teague takes the next step, it will remain a curse.
Let’s be fair: It’s not like the Hawks have been sweeping the basement in the East. They’ve improved record-wise every season since that 2005 Draft and made the playoffs the last three. Once again they’re on pace for 45-50 wins, and another postseason seems like a given. This is a good team.
Just the same, they’re not a great team. They’re not in the class of the Celtics, Heat, Magic and Bulls, and they possibly missed out on greatness because of that Draft. Their haste to turn a wrong into a right has been costly.
Check out the falling dominoes on this trail:
They used the No. 2 pick in 2005 on Marvin Williams, a workout wizard in the weeks leading up to the Draft, because Billy Knight, then the general manager, thought Paul was too small. And evidently, Marvin was a better Williams than Deron.
Don’t forget that the Hawks, at the time, badly needed a point guard. That’s why this decision, even then, was whack. They suffered through Kenny Anderson, Tyronn Lue, Royal Ivey and Tony Delk in 2004-05. To rationalize the Paul and Deron snub, they spent a high 2005 second-rounder on Salim Stoudamire.
He lasted three years as a bench player and is now out of the league. A bust.
In the summer of 2006, they gave a big free-agent contract to Speedy Claxton. He started 31 games in his entire Hawks’ tenure. A bust, too.
In the 2007 Draft, still looking for a point guard, they used the 11th pick on Acie Law, passing on Nick Young, Jared Dudley and Wilson Chandler, among others. He stayed two years. Also, a bust.
Then the summer of 2008, they traded a handful of players, including 2006 Draft bust Shelden Williams (the No. 5 pick; Rajon Rondo went 21st) for Mike Bibby, who came with 11 years of tread and was beyond his prime, though still productive.
The Hawks figured Bibby would hold the position for only a few years, but were forced to give him a three-year, $18 million extension the next summer because Law didn’t last and there was no heir apparent.
Finally, in 2009, they drafted Teague with the No. 19 pick. And for the second straight year, Teague is backing up Bibby, now the NBA’s fourth-oldest starting point guard.
So here’s the tally: two No. 1 picks and a high No. 2 spent on point guards, plus a pricey free agent in Claxton, plus Bibby, all were brought in to make up for 2005. Also, the Hawks gave Marvin Williams, the guy taken instead of Deron Williams and Paul, a five-year, $40 million contract extension two summers ago. And Marvin Williams, an underachiever, hasn’t nearly approached the All-Star level of those point guards.
All told, the Hawks have burned through roughly $90 million on rookie point guard contracts, Bibby, Marvin Williams (his rookie contract plus the extension) and Claxton, all because they didn’t take Paul or Deron Williams. That’s a steep financial price for a franchise that must keep costs reasonable.
And guess what? They still lack a strong presence at point guard. Their search continues.
There is a small bright side.
In a bit of irony, Hawks GM Rick Sund dumped both Claxton and Law on the Warriors in the summer of 2009 to get Jamal Crawford, last year’s Sixth Man of the Year winner.
But the point guard mistake of 2005 continues to ripple for a team that uses Joe Johnson for much of the ballhandling chores. Too often, Johnson chews up the shot clock trying to isolate, something that wouldn’t be necessary with a playmaking point guard.
Passing on two franchise point guards isn’t exactly the same as Portland skipping Michael Jordan for Sam Bowie in 1984. But when spring arrives and if the Hawks are a No. 5-seed, as expected, it will look like something you could see coming. Six years ago.
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
January 17th, 2011
4:35 pm
The Hawks are certainly in the upper half of NBA teams, but I don’t know about just making a bold statement like “one of the best teams in the NBA when healthy” when the gap between the Tier 1-A and Tier 1-B teams seems so large.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 17th, 2011
4:37 pm
Bigs shooting outside is cute, but no And-1’s. No toughness, No power game.
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
4:38 pm
Al Horford is money when he is open on that mid-range jumpshot.
Glad Zaza got his second foul and was taken out of the game.
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
4:39 pm
A rare Etan Thomas sighting. What is different about this game that he would get some minutes so early?
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
4:39 pm
Getting embarrass by the Kings on your homecourt on National TV, priceless…
Flippy
January 17th, 2011
4:41 pm
Mac Town, how many teams can you list that are truly “better” (not equal) than the hawks and their lineup with Smith, Horford, Johnson, and Jamal? 2-3 in the east and 3-4 in the west id say, they are a top 6 top 7 team, definitely one of the best
ATL FAN
January 17th, 2011
4:43 pm
Etan Thomas needs to calm down lol
Double Zero Eight
January 17th, 2011
4:43 pm
Tonight we didn’t take them with enough seriousness,” L.D. said
This is a quote from the coach!!!! These words should never be
publicly spoken by a coach in any professional sport. A coach’s
job is to ensure each and every team and game is taken seriously.
J.J.M
January 17th, 2011
4:44 pm
wow the hawks suck
ATL FAN
January 17th, 2011
4:45 pm
What’s up with all these Bench Warmers in at the same time? Is this just so Drew doesn’t get critized at the end of the game for not play certain players more? Well Drew, you can’t just put them all in at once!!
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
4:46 pm
if the Kings were hitting their free throws this game would start getting out of reach
Sautee
January 17th, 2011
4:46 pm
Flippy,
So why haven’t we won like the 7th best team? Right now we are 10th and if you look at the other teams in the standings, that’s just about right.
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
January 17th, 2011
4:48 pm
Flippy, you said 2-3 in the east and 3-4 in the west. I can live with those numbers, but that’s saying that there are atleast 5-7 teams in the NBA better than the Hawks. That gap between those first 1-4 or so and the Hawks is so large and apparent, I just cant call the Hawks “one of the best” until we show we can compete with them on a consistent basis, or atleast play .500 ball against .500 and above teams, which we havent.
leedsatlanta
January 17th, 2011
4:49 pm
Pull bibby for that pass, he woulda pulled teague for it!
ATL FAN
January 17th, 2011
4:49 pm
lol Drew has taken out the bench warmers and won’t put them in for the rest of the game. He plays them for 1 minute and says after the game “They were letting the game get out of hand.” He needs to play around with different lineups more
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
4:53 pm
Maybe that will help the Hawks find some energy
drmaryb (*_*)
January 17th, 2011
4:53 pm
Please stop posting that same PG article, it has already been posted here 5 times. There’s too much talent on this blog to let anything slip by for 3 days or so.
____________________________
Those bench guys came out and did nothing. Wouldn’t mind seeing. Teague and JC2 on a day like today. I know O’Brien is thinking the same thing. KenS too.
Flippy
January 17th, 2011
4:54 pm
Apart from certain teams like the Spurs, no team plays consistently. Look at the Mavs and Lakers, both top tier teams with recent struggles. Support your hometown team!! Stop criticizing them and believe! Sometimes I think we had better fans when we were a 37-45 team against the Celtics. We felt like we could beat anyone, and we’ve come a far way since then. Believe Hawks fans!!
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
4:56 pm
foul.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
4:59 pm
gotta go up and yam those.. then you wont have to worry about them rimming out.
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
5:00 pm
Mac, there really aren’t 5-7 teams better than the Hawks four best players. It may only be 1-2. The Hawks top four players are great. Its just the fact that the next 8-9 players are in the bottom of the league. In Joe, Josh, and Al you have three All Star caliber players. And in Jamal you have a 6th man of the year. I wouldn’t even say Boston top four players are better than that, because I would take Joe over Pierce, Al over Garnett, Josh over Ray, and Rondo would obviously go before Jamal. In LAL, Odum is more inconsistent than Josh. You should see what the fans in LAL say about him and Bynum.. The top players in Atlanta aren’t the problems. Its truly the depth in Atlanta that is the problem.
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
5:01 pm
bigdave,
maybe Al didnt want to bang his hand on the rim by dunking…
Sautee
January 17th, 2011
5:03 pm
“Stop criticizing them and believe!”
Flippy,
Stop thinking that criticism is unwarranted. Fanhood is not blind obedience. Some of us have the ability to LOVE the hawks and hate some of the ways they play.
We who do are no less a fan than you.
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
5:09 pm
62 points is entirely too much for the Hawks to give up in one half of basketball
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
5:09 pm
It would be nice to have someone able to attack the rim off the dribble on this team… Gee, why not play Teague…
cp
January 17th, 2011
5:10 pm
Terrible perimeter defense, terrible interior defense, terrible insight form Nique. Just flat out ugly
Sautee
January 17th, 2011
5:11 pm
Rev,
agreed. No defense at all. Evans looks like he’s playing with his nephews in the driveway.
Sautee
January 17th, 2011
5:13 pm
16 rebounds in a half? Horford has 5, Josh 2 and no one else more than one. That looks way too much like the Houston game for me.
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
5:14 pm
Sund will make a trade this week watch. If Sund is worth anything, he’ll get on the phone and add some new intense blood to the team. As I said, pass the top four players, no one else (perhaps Teague) would be in the top 7 players of any conference finals team. So may as well trade them for some younger players, or disgruntled veterans on losing teams.
By the way, whatever happened to R. Alston? He’s a PG I wouldn’t mind having come off of the bench.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
5:14 pm
Sautee..
u saw the Houston game?
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
5:14 pm
u must have 2 sets of eyes..
Flippy
January 17th, 2011
5:16 pm
Sure you have a right to criticize, but it definetley seems as though that’s all you look for, the negatives in the Hawks game. Praise them once in a while and stop always looking for the negative
Sautee
January 17th, 2011
5:18 pm
bigdave,
No, I actually didn’t, but I was on the phone with Big Ray and he had lost his feed to the Falcons game, so he was giving me the play-by-play for the Hawks and I was doing the same for the Falcons game for him.
Big Ray was NOT happy to lose his Falcons feed. As it turned out it probably saved him some heartburn.
Sautee
January 17th, 2011
5:20 pm
Flippy
Believe me, I praise them when they deserve praise. That would NOT be when they have just given up 62 in a half, and been out-rebounded 29 to 16.
When do YOU think it’s ok to criticize them?
Flippy
January 17th, 2011
5:24 pm
Once again, I never said you can’t criticize them. It just seems like that’s all you guys do on here
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
5:26 pm
It appears that the Hawks are still in the “We can outscore them” mode. I am disappointed in Drew’s commitment to his word. He said that defense would be their priority, yet he leaves Bibby on the floor while point guards continually attacked the basket.
doc
January 17th, 2011
5:26 pm
maybe they can make the adjustments at half thy werent able to make between houston and now.
man this only makes me reconsider thinking positive about these guys, when i do they then go out and throw up on themselves. just like jaws, just when you thought you could get back in the water safely ….. dooo duh dooo duh.
rusty
January 17th, 2011
5:28 pm
This guy ld has to be the lousiest coach in the NBA . His substitution patterns are horrible. He refuses to play Jeff t,what is his problem. He never gives Jeff a chance,gosh darn it, give him some minutes.& don’t pull him for every little think he does wrong. Mb & jc1 just aren’t cutting it,mb doesn’t play defense,doesn’t penetrate & is every inconsistent. Jc1 is just not a point guard. This team plays horrible defense. Al & Josh just seem hopeless under the boards. Why is ld not playing a very talented jc2 at all. I didn’t like woody but like ld even less.
Double Zero Eight
January 17th, 2011
5:28 pm
I agree with Sautee’s 5:03 blog.
The Hawks, Falcons and Braves have been
in Atlanta a combined 131 years and we have
only one championship, the Braves in 95.
The Hawks have been here 42 years without
a championship. We have heard quite a few
“wait till next year” and we are “rebuilding”
or “almost there”. I would love to be wrong,
but I see no way that the current roster can
bring us a championship. A championship
is the goal vs. being almost there…..right?
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
5:31 pm
Drew’s remedy to the Hawks bad defense is to leave the starters on the floor for extra minutes.
Granted the bench has played awful this game, but his decision to play the starters extra minutes is tamtamount to the switching defense. Playing the starters extra minutes covers over the fact that they are not playing defense. Drew is counting on the starters out-scoring the other team. So it is Drew who is not making a commitment to defense. The team is only following his lead.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
5:34 pm
Sautee..
yea.. lucky him. i havent watched ESPN in 2 days.. probably wont for another month. too bad our team didnt show up, giving the national media a reason to throw feces on us just b/c.
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
5:37 pm
Glad to see the Hawks finally getting back in the game, but it is getting close to that point where the bench will start rotating in… and the lead will likely disappear.
terrell
January 17th, 2011
5:40 pm
Very lazy pass by Josh there.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
5:40 pm
Cousins a damn bull..
love his game.
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
5:40 pm
Cousins is too quick for Collins…
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
5:41 pm
defense has been much better.. im seeing more bodies pack the lane on drivers..
they respond to Drew.
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
5:41 pm
bigdave, I with you on swearing off ESPN but I still couldn’t escape the negative comments. One of the old ladies in my church is a snowbird from Green Bay. She found me just before the worship service all decked out with her Packers earrings. At least she didn’t wear her cheesehead to church.
KevinM
January 17th, 2011
5:42 pm
Cousins is who Sund should have gone after this summer. But it takes some creativity and a bit of risk to do something like that.
I am surprised that Thompson is doing so well…he hasn’t looked very good this year. He would get more time with us than Teague has gotten though.
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
5:43 pm
Box out Collins!
J.J.M
January 17th, 2011
5:43 pm
ok its official…im now in favor for trading josh
terrell
January 17th, 2011
5:44 pm
Josh trying to play pg again. Guess he has no choice with slow azz Bibby out there.
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
5:44 pm
KevinM,
Is Thompsen that center that the Hawks drafted and traded this year?
Sautee
January 17th, 2011
5:46 pm
Separated at birth: Paul Westphal and Bill Murray
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
5:46 pm
I didn’t see the first quarter, but what I have seen is bad defense everywhere, lack of hustle, and terrible rebounding. Not a good look.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
5:47 pm
Oh yeah, and also a LOT of missed shots that the Hawks usually make.
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
5:47 pm
Every one of Bibby’s shots have hit the back of the rim.
Uh Oh, here comes the bench
terrell
January 17th, 2011
5:48 pm
And here comes Mo Evans for a spark off the bench. lol!
KevinM
January 17th, 2011
5:48 pm
Ramon said: ‘Sund will make a trade this week watch. If Sund is worth anything, he’ll get on the phone and add some new intense blood to the team. As I said, pass the top four players, no one else (perhaps Teague) would be in the top 7 players of any conference finals team. So may as well trade them for some younger players, or disgruntled veterans on losing teams.
By the way, whatever happened to R. Alston? He’s a PG I wouldn’t mind having come off of the bench.’
I wish Sund would take off the choke collar too, but not likely to happen. And I have been asking for Alston since he left the Magic. He was good enough to get guys the ball and get them to the Finals…then Van Gundy throws Nelson in there and makes the Lakers look undefeatable.
But Alston has had a couple of issues since then, and no way a questionable character guy comes here….
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
5:48 pm
“Is Thompsen that center that the Hawks drafted and traded this year?”
The Hawks didn’t draft a center this year. They traded the #31 pick to OKC, which was used on Tibor Pleiss.
The Kings used the pick after that on center Hassan Whiteside.
Thompson was a lottery pick last year.
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
5:49 pm
Am I the only one who loved the foul Zaza committed?
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
5:49 pm
The Hawks looked unbeatable on their west coast trip, but now they look like they can’t beat anybody.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
5:50 pm
Landry:
“if is a regular foul im doing the same thing down here”
yea right Carl. try us.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
5:50 pm
The keyboard people are playing “Represent” by Nas. Old school.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
5:50 pm
lol Rev…
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
5:51 pm
King’s point guard looked like he was going to cry on the bench after Zaza’s foul.
KevinM
January 17th, 2011
5:52 pm
No, Jason Thompson was a Top 12 pick in Sac-Town and hasn’t gotten any minutes until this year…..we have plenty of PFs here though.
He sure is looking good on MLK day though huh?
Rev, how long has it been since we traded away a center of any significance? Mohammed or Pryzbilla?
Teague – it must be tough to sit on that bench for so long……….
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
5:52 pm
KevinM, Crawford came here, and his character was questioned his entire career. And I think the Hawks may need a jackass or two on the team. Every championship team has a jackass (Boston has about 8 of them, lol, and LAL has 4 ).
KevinM
January 17th, 2011
5:53 pm
Not disagreeing with you Ramon, I pine for some quality PG play. It doesn’t hurt that he was in Orlando either…I don’t see him back in the league though, been too long.
How good would Cousins look on this roster?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
5:54 pm
Some of this has also been sheer bad luck at the rim.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
5:54 pm
Josh showing a lot of power in his legs.. damn near taking Cousins up w/ him..
leedsatlanta
January 17th, 2011
5:54 pm
Drew punks Teague = poor team punk Atlanta!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
5:55 pm
How many open 3’s have Bibby and Joe bricked in this game?
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
5:56 pm
im sorry but Josh would be the last Hawk i trade.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
5:56 pm
No excuse for no Teague and no Damien in this game. On a day when the basket seems to be the size of a thimble for the Hawks, the Hawks could use some hustle points.
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
5:56 pm
Josh makes more turnovers than anyone on the team, because he’s the player most likely to finish in traffic.
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
6:00 pm
KevinM & Najeh,
Thanks for the response. I thought that the Hawks had a chance at a center in the draft but traded the pick for money or had drafted a center and traded him for the money.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:01 pm
Close the f-cking deal now Hawks. They have come to within 2 or 3 so many times in this game only to fall back again.
Trojan
January 17th, 2011
6:01 pm
I like the way that Larry Drew is playing the starters a lot of minutes today. They really don’t need to be fresh tomorrow.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:02 pm
dont know bout that 1..
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:02 pm
That was a BS call. Smoove gets mugged by Cousins a few minutes ago on the other end with no call, Udrih leans into Bibby as Bibby ducks away and gets the call. WTF…
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:03 pm
“ball dont lie”
-Sheed
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:03 pm
Boss
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:03 pm
6 blocks for Horford. I think that’s a career high.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:03 pm
ball movement.. iso Joe last year.
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
6:04 pm
I said it earlier and will repeat it now; the Kings have missed a lot of free throws today
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:04 pm
Joe defers to his teammate for the go ahead bucket.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:04 pm
“im sorry but Josh would be the last Hawk i trade.”
It’s between Smoove and Al for me. Horford is as good offensively as Smoove is defensively. If the Hawks could somehow combine both of them they would have a Hall of Famer.
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:04 pm
Nice steal by Josh…
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
6:04 pm
That’s game.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:05 pm
Joe for 40 to give the city hope?!?
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:05 pm
Hawks picking up the defense….
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:05 pm
look @ the d..
packing the lane.
ATL FAN
January 17th, 2011
6:05 pm
LETS GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:05 pm
Finally the energy level for the Hawks is where it needs to be, and shots are starting to fall.
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
6:07 pm
MC does a decent job. But am I the only one who can’t remember Sekou having this many days off DURING the season? And we’re only half way through the season lol…
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
January 17th, 2011
6:08 pm
That was a nice comeback after trailing all game, but now this team MUST be put away.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:08 pm
Hawks make a technical free throw. It’s an MLK Day Miracle!
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:08 pm
“It’s between Smoove and Al for me. Horford is as good offensively as Smoove is defensively.”
both of them are a bit flawed in their respected strengths… some say Josh can t defend on ball.. while i say Al is nothing but a shooter..
toss up there..
but a no brainer for me due to the energy (lol using a coaches term) Josh gives you.
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
January 17th, 2011
6:09 pm
lol@mon
O'Brien
January 17th, 2011
6:10 pm
Hawks can get away with this kind of game because its the Kings (even though the Kings won in NY).
I like the defense this quarter though
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
6:10 pm
Bigdave, but they’re both the only players on the team who are constantly improving each year.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:10 pm
Jamal left his man.. for no reason. luckily Beno missed.
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:11 pm
Havent seen that Bibby to Josh lob play in awhile…
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:11 pm
“Bigdave, but they’re both the only players on the team who are constantly improving each year.”
oh certainly, its not even close.
O'Brien
January 17th, 2011
6:12 pm
Najeh,
The issue with Josh, is if he is having a bad game, he hangs his head, and that’s it. He’s done.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:12 pm
Gotta close this game out. 5 point lead with 4 minutes is not safe by any means.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:12 pm
wow..
beast.
just moved Al out the paint.
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
January 17th, 2011
6:13 pm
niiiiiceee
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
6:13 pm
I think Joe saw Horford open toward teh basket on that last airball
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:13 pm
Smoove.
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
6:13 pm
O’Brien, I don’t know. Josh fills the stats better if he’s having a bad shooting night than Horford does.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:13 pm
That was a bad possession. At least drive it to the hoop when you are isolated Jamal.
J.J.M
January 17th, 2011
6:14 pm
iso…why dont jamal just drive the ball
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:14 pm
The Kings bail the Hawks out with that bad possession…. Especially after Jamal took that bad shot…
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
6:15 pm
Horford with 7 blocks! Wow.
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:16 pm
Al,
6asts and 7blks…. along with 23/9… nice stat line…
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:16 pm
i aint even gone lie.. thats a hell of a line from Al boy.. goodness.
O'Brien
January 17th, 2011
6:17 pm
Wow. Jamal standing next to Horford looks almost as tall. But yet Jamal is 6′5″, and Al is 6′10″?
Is that true?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:17 pm
BIG board by Smoove.
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
6:17 pm
No way Joe is the player of the game over Al.
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
January 17th, 2011
6:17 pm
OT: AL quadruple double.
BAWSE….
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:17 pm
that was a nice call from LD
J.J.M
January 17th, 2011
6:17 pm
game over
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:17 pm
Bibby has missed about five wide open 3’s in this game.
terrell
January 17th, 2011
6:18 pm
Bibby’s shot not falling, so why is he still in the game?
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:19 pm
O B..
im telling yall.. Al.. Josh.. and Joe are all about the same height and size.. smh.
makes you appreciate the things Joe does with the ball..
O'Brien
January 17th, 2011
6:19 pm
Jamal is cold. Why does he keep shooting? pass the ball Jamal!
Luckily, its the Kings. so we get away with it
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:20 pm
The Hawks’ guards have let them down in this one. Bad games from Bibby and Jamal.
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:20 pm
Terrible execution by the Hawks the last few possessions
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:20 pm
Horford’s previous career high in blocks was 6, set against Chicago a couple of years ago.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:20 pm
Terrell ..
b/c you still have to account for his shooting prowess. keep leaving him if you want to.. he has a big shot in him..
ATL FAN
January 17th, 2011
6:20 pm
5-20 from 3 this game as a team. Game would be over by now if we had made the shots we’ve been making recently.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:21 pm
they will go zone again..
hit a shot.
O'Brien
January 17th, 2011
6:21 pm
Najeh,
Despite bad games from Jamal, and Bibby not doing much…still no teague in the game
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:21 pm
2-3
ATL FAN
January 17th, 2011
6:22 pm
oh man, Joe Johnson!!
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:22 pm
World B FREEE
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:22 pm
Can Joe get a call.
O'Brien
January 17th, 2011
6:22 pm
What a shot by JJ
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:22 pm
If Joe did that more often when he was isolated, I don’t think we would complain about it nearly as much.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:22 pm
AND 1
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
January 17th, 2011
6:22 pm
max dollars to use
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:23 pm
“Despite bad games from Jamal, and Bibby not doing much…still no teague in the game”
Yeah, not using Teague when Udrih was killing the Hawks earlier in the game was idiotic.
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:23 pm
We need defense on this last possession…(ie. No Jamal and Bibby)
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
6:23 pm
I must say though, Josh is a better scorer than Horford. He’s able to score in more variety of ways than Al. Josh can go off the dribble, slash, spot up beyond the arc, post up, and his free throw shooting is improving. Al can post up, shoots well from free throw, and his mid range is deadly. But he’s not good at creating his own shot and separating.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:23 pm
Joe has been in the lane all season folks.. he has been making an effort to drive the ball and get pts in the paint.
what would make most shut up, knocking down the wide open looks he’s gotten this yr.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:23 pm
Very Woody-esque minutes distribution in this game. Three starters over 40 minutes, only six players in double figures.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:24 pm
he killed Damien w/ the heso..
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
January 17th, 2011
6:24 pm
too easy for em…too easy
J.J.M
January 17th, 2011
6:24 pm
that was too easy
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:25 pm
First time this season I’ve seen Damien play bad defense.
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:25 pm
Nice move by Evans…. may have gotten away with carrying the ball…
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:25 pm
in and outs.. to the cup, for the deuce.
terrell
January 17th, 2011
6:25 pm
Why was Joe not on Tyreke?
ATL FAN
January 17th, 2011
6:25 pm
Man, dont know who should get it Bibby, Joe and Jamal have all been cold…give it to smoove!!
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:25 pm
Melvin..
no carry.. just a silky in and out. em. mercy.
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
6:25 pm
How do you not foul in that instance?
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:25 pm
The non foul call on Joe cost us..
ATL FAN
January 17th, 2011
6:26 pm
atta boy joe
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:26 pm
bout to say.. he a cool hundred plus.. !
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
6:26 pm
Melvin, there’s no carrying in last 10 seconds. Called Jordan rule, lol
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:26 pm
bigdave,
you right…
Chea
January 17th, 2011
6:26 pm
AWFUL CALL!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:26 pm
I would have liked to see him make the move earlier, but good strong move by Joe to draw the foul.
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:26 pm
Ramon,
So true..
ATL FAN
January 17th, 2011
6:27 pm
JJ back to himself
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:27 pm
Guard the f-cking three point line on this play, please.
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:27 pm
Watch for the lob at the rim and no Fouls please…
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
6:28 pm
Should Joe have missed the second free throw?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:28 pm
LMAO
ATL FAN
January 17th, 2011
6:28 pm
LMFAO
Brad
January 17th, 2011
6:28 pm
Nique: “You either wanna get this thing tied up or get it into overtime”
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:28 pm
thats my boy .. Cuzzo..
Chea
January 17th, 2011
6:28 pm
Now that… was a poor inbounds pass.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:28 pm
Maybe not a good idea to have a rookie center throwing alley-oop inbounds passes.
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:28 pm
LOL at Cousins inbound pass. Sky Hawks would not have caught that one..
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
6:30 pm
Hawks played about 10 minutes of good basketball in this game. A win is a win, but hopefully they have something left in the tank for tomorrow. With at least one of the Big Two And A Half likely to be injured, it is a great opportunity to pick up a win against a division rival.
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
6:30 pm
So is LD planning on mailing in the game to Miami?
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:30 pm
when i was coming up.. when a dude air mailed a pass too strong.. shoot the ball long.. anything w/ too much girt/muscle ..
boy need to get him some. lol..
Melvin
January 17th, 2011
6:30 pm
Close win but I will that it… On to South Beach…
Trojan
January 17th, 2011
6:31 pm
Bibby was great tonight. I am glad he was able to pay 40+ minutes. Those two assists were big.
Larry is a visionary!
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:32 pm
who knew we needed Cousins behind center on that red zone pass to Mike Jenk that was picked.
ATL FAN
January 17th, 2011
6:32 pm
lol trojan
Sautee
January 17th, 2011
6:35 pm
Cousins might make the Not Top Ten with that pass.
Glad to have a win, but damn……….
Here’s how little blocked shots can mean: Horford had 7 and Josh had 2, but it seemed like the Kings LIVED in the paint.
Perception is not always reality.
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:37 pm
“i was a little worried w/ the rookie taking that ball out, i thought that ball was going to hit Vince right in the coconut”
-Bob
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
6:47 pm
Sautee, the Kings lived in the paint because Bibby and Crawford played 78 minutes combined, lol. That’s a lot of time to have free access. I’m going to start calling the Bibby and Crawford backcourt “Marta Pass”. Because they let you go WHERE EVER you want to go, lol
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
January 17th, 2011
6:49 pm
Larry “Sense of Urgency” Drew
bigdave
January 17th, 2011
6:52 pm
“we cant expect Joe to come and bail us out every night, i dont want to be that type of team”
- a real NBA head coach
Sautee
January 17th, 2011
6:55 pm
LOL @ Ramon.
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
6:58 pm
http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/5392/hawksmartapass.jpg
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
6:59 pm
Marta Pass Brought to you by Bibby/Crawford Connector…lol http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/5392/hawksmartapass.jpg
Sautee
January 17th, 2011
7:00 pm
Horford is on a mini-tear. His averages for the last 5 games:
17.8 pts, 10.0 reb, 5.2 ast, 2.8 blks, 1.0 stls.
That’s a good stat line. Keep it up, Al.
Bailey
January 17th, 2011
7:03 pm
“we cant expect Joe to come and bail us out every night, i dont want to be that type of team”
LOL. I think this is exactly what Woodson would have wanted. He loved to put the ball into Joe’s hands and hope that Joe could win the game for him. I didn’t like all of the JJ isolation down the stretch, and if it weren’t for that questionable foul call at the end, who knows what would have happened? I’m glad that Drew took notice of that, and I like the progress that he is making with his coaching decisions. I didin’t like the fact that he played Bibby and Jamal together for so long, especially on a night where Jamal didn’t really have anything going, but it’s not like he has many options there with Marvin out of the lineup. Still, he made some pretty good decisions, overall, and was smart enough to not stick to the bench too long tonight, when it was clear that they didn’t have anything going.
On another note, I’ve got to tip my hat to certain players tonight. Al Horford was incredible on both ends. He covered up for tons of mistakes by his teammates on the defensive end, and was ultra-efficient on the offensive end. He pretty much did a lot of everything tonight. Joe took a lot of shots tonight, but he delivered on a lot of them too, so you’ve got to give him credit. Also, Josh had a nice bounce-back fourth quarter after starting out with a very sub-par game.
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
7:07 pm
As great as this game was, tired of seeing the Hawks have playoff atmosphere games with non playoff teams!
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
7:27 pm
Horford 44 minutes vs Houston.
45 minutes vs Kings
Not good.
Teague DNP Coach’s Decison – Not good.
Ugly win, just like Houston was an ugly loss.
At least Bosh is probably out for tomorrow night with the ankle sprain.
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
7:29 pm
On November 27th it was reported that the Kings offered Jason Thompson for Teague straight up. If LD’s not going to play Teague, get Thompson and go big the remainder of the season. He’s young (24) and a legit C at 6-11 250.
Dept of unintended
January 17th, 2011
7:40 pm
“On November 27th it was reported that the Kings offered Jason Thompson for Teague straight up. If LD’s not going to play Teague, get Thompson and go big the remainder of the season. He’s young (24) and a legit C at 6-11 250.”
Sund thinks he has an elite team that why would he make any changes now?
rusty
January 17th, 2011
7:50 pm
What the hell is going on with ld refusing to play league & jc2, it makes no sense at all.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
7:57 pm
Bibby Breeze Card. I like it. Nice Photoshop skills.
Oldtimer
January 17th, 2011
7:58 pm
Good win. But why is Larry Drew anti-Teague? Can someone please explain? Not that Teague is super or anything, but really, we needed him so in this game. His quickness and defense would have been great. Can we start a Free Teague movement?
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
8:26 pm
Thanks Najeh.
ryan
January 17th, 2011
8:54 pm
There is a rumor that the Orlando GM does not think D . Howard will be there much longer we have to bring Superman home to the ATL .
O'Brien
January 17th, 2011
9:30 pm
I’m happy for the win, but…if this was a good team, this would have been a loss. Some of the things I didnt like;
1) We gave up 17 offensive rebounds
2) Al, Josh, JJ and Bibby all played over 40 minutes, on the front end of a back to back.
Some of the things I did like;
1) Fourth Quarter defense
2) Al, Josh and JJ played well
I can’t help but ask…is Damien the new Mario West?
And Mike Bibby played 43 minutes, had 11 points, 2 assists and 2 rebounds. On the front end of a back to back. While Teague DNPCD. LD couldnt find any time at all for Teague?
I hope Hawks have some energy left for tomorrow.
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
9:50 pm
O’Brien, did LD not channel his inner Woody tonight?
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
9:53 pm
I think the Hawks should see if the Blazers would be interested in a deal of Bibby, Crawford, and Powell for Rudy, A. Miller, and Camby.
O'Brien
January 17th, 2011
9:58 pm
Ramon, yes he did. Sometimes, I think LD just says what we want to hear (fans, Rick, media). But when push comes to shove, he doesn’t always follow through with what he says. As a HC, he has the right to change his mind at that moment, but sometimes it seems Woody-esque.
O'Brien
January 17th, 2011
10:13 pm
There was also this: “I told the guys that was embarrassing. Not playing with a sense of urgency, not giving that team respect.”.
Havent we been hearing the same thing about these Hawks for previous 2 seasons. And now we are hearing it again, with the a new HC. Maybe that’s because we have the same players….
Ken Strickland
January 17th, 2011
10:14 pm
I don’t know what’s going on, but considering how things have gone the last 2+ yrs, it appears LDrew, like Woodson, refuses to even consider replacing Bibby with anyone that isn’t a proven top tier caliber PG.
It also appears that both coaches are/were willing to make adjustments, excuses, employ gimmicks, put undue pressure on Bibby’s teammates, and overlook his numerous weaknesses, liabilities and limitations in order to keep him as our starting PG.
The truth is, I don’t hold Bibby responsible for what he can’t do, or has difficulty doing, because he’s doing the best he can. To continue putting him in this situation is unfair to him. Last yr, Bibby stated openly that he suggested to Woodson that Teague be given more mins. I don’t think Bibby enjoys being targeted, or regularily having quicker, faster players blow by him.
During our recent winning streak, I recall numerous comments suggesting we trade Marvin ASAP. The suggestion being we’ve proven we can win without him. Well, as teams adjust to what we’re doing without him, have you noticed how our DEF has started to really suffer in his absence, especially with our starters? Mo Evans isn’t the DEF player he once was, and he doesn’t have Marvins size, strength, versatility or explosiveness.
O'Brien
January 17th, 2011
10:15 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2011/01/17/soft-hawks-looking-to-make-statement-against-heat/?cxntfid=blogs_jeff_schultz_blog/
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
10:20 pm
O’Brien, and KenS, I think we’re all seeing the same thing and growing frustrated as a result of it. Sure enough we won tonight, or won a few in a row. But at the same time we know the way we are winning will not translate to wins in the playoffs. Its Sund’s responsibility to get LD better players and more depth. But it is LD’s responsibility to work with the players he have, and to develop the young players so they could be able to step in in case of injury, or a player is traded. I don’t recall the Hawks losing a single game because Teague played more than 10 minutes. But I’ve recalled many games where the Hawks lost DIRECTLY as a result of Bibby being unable to guard his man.
NRBQ
January 17th, 2011
10:25 pm
Maybe someone can get off their butts and post a blog about tonight’s game?
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
10:42 pm
NRBQ – I was thinking the same thing.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 17th, 2011
10:54 pm
With Orlando’s loss, Atlanta is back to the #4 seed in the East.
Rev in Tampa
January 17th, 2011
10:57 pm
I am pretty put out with Drew’s decision not to play Teague in tonight’s game. I am not a Teague grouppie, but it is painfully obvious that the guards were exploiting the Hawks tonight. We made Beano look like an all-star. I had never even heard of him before tonight and I watched the game the Hawks played in Sacramento a few weeks back. The Kings were continually scoring lay-ups because Horford and Smith couldn’t defend their players and give adequate help defense. The point guards would drive and score or dish off when the help defense collapsed around them. The Kings really exposed the Hawks weaknesses for three and a half quarters, yet no Teague.
I posted the following during the game. I am reposting it because I am still frustrated:
Drew’s remedy to the Hawks bad defense is to leave the starters on the floor for extra minutes.
Granted the bench has played awful this game, but his decision to play the starters extra minutes is tamtamount to the switching defense. Playing the starters extra minutes covers over the fact that they are not playing defense. Drew is counting on the starters out-scoring the other team. So it is Drew who is not making a commitment to defense. The team is only following his lead.
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
11:04 pm
Rev – I’m not a Teague groupie either, but I do know a young man brimming with potential when I see it. I am flummoxed by LD’s refusal to play Teague. Is LD better than Woody? Yes, because of the motion O many times employed. But he’s slipping into Woody’s rotational patterns, and refusal to develop the “kids”. It stinks.
Playing Horford 44 minutes vs the Rockets, and 45 vs the Kings is crazy. And Bibby is our hybrid beer shooter guy, not our PG any longer.
Play Teague!!
Sund must have been on vacation, and LD thought he could get away with not playing Teague while he was gone.
SteveW
January 17th, 2011
11:07 pm
All I know is that during the playoffs Rondo, Rose, Jameer/Arenas are going to carve us up. Teague can at least slow them down a little. Remember Brandon Jennings and Jameer last season in the playoffs?
Rod from College Park
January 17th, 2011
11:14 pm
Ken Strickland,
“During our recent winning streak, I recall numerous comments suggesting we trade Marvin ASAP. The suggestion being we’ve proven we can win without him. Well, as teams adjust to what we’re doing without him, have you noticed how our DEF has started to really suffer in his absence, especially with our starters? Mo Evans isn’t the DEF player he once was, and he doesn’t have Marvins size, strength, versatility or explosiveness.”
So we have won 8 of our last 10, the best streak we have had all year, in our last 5 games, starting SF’s have averaged 11 pts per game against us, but we miss Marvin’s defense (LOL)? What was he going to do, stop Scola? Stop Aaron Brooks from penetrating and hitting 3’s? Marvin’s size means nothing, he plays like he is 6 feet. Strength???? Versatility and explosiveness???? Are we watching the same player? Our defense is no better or worse without Marvin. Maybe our rebounding is down a little, but not a big difference because of Marvin. This Marvin defensive thing is really funny. He is average at best.
Ken Strickland
January 18th, 2011
11:27 am
ROD FROM CP-It’s revealing that some can recognize Bibby’s INTANGIBLES, but not Marvin’s. Here’s what’s starting to happen without Marvin:
1-we’re starting to noticeably get out rebounded,
2-we’re starting to have serious DEF issues,
3-his absence has weakened our bench, and the mins of our remaining starters is starting to increase,
5-Marvin is a better rebounder, scorer, and DEF player than anyone that replaces him in the starting lineup,
6-His absence has caused JJ to end up playing more SF than expected.
Your MARVIN BIAS prevents you from appreciating his overall value to the team. We’ve managed to win without JJ and Jamal, even with both out at the same time, and nobody’s saying we don’t need them. To be effective and function as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, we need all of our assets, and that includes Marvin.
Our bench isn’t talented enough to provide fill ins for missing starters and still be expected to consistently produce at an acceptable level. LDrew’s refusal to utilize remaining bench players like JTeague, JPowell, JoCrawford and EThomas, only makes it worse. So, regardless of what you might think of Marvin as a person and/or player, his absence hurts the team in the long run, and we’re starting to see the effects of his absence.
Ken Strickland
January 18th, 2011
12:09 pm
STEVEW-With Teague on the floor, teams have to respect his speed, quickness and ability to penetrate and get to the FT line. This means they have to keep someone directly in front of him, and can’t use his man to double anyone else.
Teams routinely use Bibby’s man to double JJ or Jamal, especially when he’s not hitting his long range bombs, like last night. LDrew and the ASG can fool themselves all they want, but with MBibby as our primary PG, there’s no way we’re going to prevail against playoff against teams with quality PG’s. Teams like the Celtics(RRondo), Bulls(DRose), Magic(JNelson), Knicks(RFelton), definitely have quality PG’s, and even the Heat have the talent to expose us.
If we don’t finish in the top 3, we’re going to end up facing one of these PG’s in the 1st rd. And if we don’t make a change or adjustment at PG, we won’t likely finish in the top 3. LDrew should select a 4-5 gm stretch and play Teague like he would if Bibby had to miss 4-5gms due to an injury.