Atlanta Hawks: Quietly making their case for respect
Miami–Both before and immediately after the Hawks beat the Heat, L.D. and his players claimed to reporters not to care that they don’t get more buzz.
Don’t believe them.
Long after inquiring reporters left, and with most of the team already on the bus, a couple Hawks players and a staffer talked about the W. They speculated that stories about the game would focus more on the Heat losing than the Hawks winning. They joked that ESPN’s ticker would probably show the score, some stats for LeBron and Wade, note Miami’s losing streak and then flash the next score.
“And now on to Memphis!” one of them joked.
The truth is the Hawks, like all competitive alpha males, do want accolades and respect. To their credit, they’ve never complained that they deserve more of either. They understand they have more to prove. They beat the Heat with a tough effort but they are still just 5-9 against opponents with winning records (though they notably beat the last two on the road while Miami is now 2-5 against Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Orlando).
The Hawks are now a half-game behind Chicago for fourth in the East. Even if the Hawks keep rolling, they have to know that for many casual observers the lasting memory is that surrender to Orlando last spring. For those watching them closely now, games like that ugly loss to Houston, which immediately followed the stirring victory at Utah, make them wonder if the Hawks are for real.
So for now the Hawks aren’t publicly making the case that they should be in the conversation with Boston and Miami as true contenders. But they do notice that they haven’t gotten much love despite staying among the East’s top five all year even as the injuries piled up.
Will beating Miami change the perception of the Hawks?
“Maybe,” Jamal said. “But we like being under the radar, honestly. We kind of like creeping and doing our thing that way. Nobody talks about us. That’s good as long we we keep racking up the wins.”
“We are content with staying under the radar and just keep trying to play consistent basketball,” Smoove said. “We’ve been pretty good as of late. We are getting guys healthy and we are figuring out a way to play together.”
Of course all this respect stuff won’t mean much in the end. The Hawks will either prove their worth in the playoffs or they won’t and then earn praise or criticism based on those results. Right now this is all just fodder for discussion among NBA media, fans and–as that scene in the locker room late last night showed–the Hawks.
MC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
222 comments Add your comment
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
7:36 am
IQ test are garbage. They are used as a device to distract, divide and conquer.. That’s why we are a hundred years behind were we should be.. There has been major suppression of technology and the healing of major diseases because we are distracted and divided.. We live in a matrix based 99.9% on lies…. Look up Charles Pogue and his 200+ mpg carburetor that ran v8 motors in 1931!!!!!
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
7:48 am
“I don’t get it! Hate on Marvin and love on Teague?”
it was a terrible #2 lottery pick!
Marvina was drafted as a #2 lottery pick ahead of two future HOF(CP3 & DWILL) and he rode the bench in college!! Teague was not even close to a lottery pick so there….
O'Brien
January 20th, 2011
7:48 am
Why does a team with ECF and beyond aspirations rely on one player (Josh) to bring the energy? Shouldnt each player do their part in bringing the energy and focus?
And 7 years in, Josh still does not bring his focus and energy everynight. This team overall, is just too inconsistent. Is consistency too much to ask for?
drmaryb (*_*)
January 20th, 2011
7:50 am
Grand-Daddy!
Sick ‘Em! LOL! I’m just playing with the kids, having some fun!
O'Brien
January 20th, 2011
7:56 am
“His jump shooting, penetrating and finishing ability had to be honored, which gave JJ more room to do his thing. Unlike a large number of our fans, NBA teams do their research, and they know the capability of each player on every NBA roster.” Ken S .
So if you’re a coach, you would rather play JJ one on one, and put a defender on Jordan, instead of doubling JJ, and forcing him to give up the ball, at the risk of daring Jordan to shoot?
JC2 has had a few good minutes here and there for the Hawks, but he hasnt seen much PT all year. Not to mention his shot selection needs work (which is understandable for a rookie). SO I think teams will take their chances with him shooting, because its hard for them to stop JJ one on one.
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
7:57 am
“This team overall, is just too inconsistent. Is consistency too much to ask for?”
Good question for Sund…
FYI,”inconsistent” has been the Hawks trademark for the past 20 years dude…
Mike is back
January 20th, 2011
8:32 am
Drmaryb, You brought back some funs memories…Steve and Mookie were fan favorites…Mookie is probably the most underrated PG that the HAWKS has had…Dude could penetrate and dish the rock…they were a potent combination.
I still remember when Grand Long Choke-Out Duane Ferrell at mid court in Miami in the first round of the playoff…that was before we traded for him and Steve Smith…Grant Long didn’t take no sh*******t…Ferrell is probably still having flash back from that day. lol
Teague must be part of some type of trade discussion…that’s the only way to make since of HIS PRECARIOUS SITUATION…I hope something happen soon…I don’t want to see another young PG…lay to waste by the Hawks…remember he was handpicked by Sund and Woody…so please don’t give me that Salim and Acie BS…I heard that song and dance before…it’s old…come up with something new.
I’m cautiously optimistic that THE HAWKS…are about to get on a roll…and put some EARNED VALUE…back into our season tix…Dang I must be still dreaming or sumin…let me wake TF up.lol
PLEASE NO LET DOWN AGAINST NEW ORLEANS…GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ILL-Logical
January 20th, 2011
8:39 am
@ O’Brien: I partially agree with your 7:48 am post. The “column” by MC was a left handed compliment to Josh at best but in fact was an indictment of the other players defensive efforts as well as LD’s coaching ability. Come on, he can’t get consistent effort from ASA and Max Joe?
Reegarding your second point, josh has been the most consistent defensive Hawk’s player over the last 7 years which is an indictment of the organization. For all of his faults-and the main one is immaturity- Josh has been the one constant over the last seven years of a regime composed of a large number of people who frankly didn’t/ don’t know much about basketball. Couple that with the financial limitations and the social climate in the metro area and it is remarkable that he is still here and improving as a player.
Having said all of that, I hope that the kid doesn’t end up as the Andruw Jones of the Hawks: a ton of talent that seemed to be headed to the HOF and then BAM! A journeyman albeit a very rich one.
PS. Hope that the local media doesn’t turn ASA into the Matty Ice of the Hawks.
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
9:02 am
Mattie Melt down for Mike Vic.. NEWS FLASH!!!! Matt Ryan is not the one. Keep looking Mr. Blank..You should have hired Lovie Smith instead of that clown Jim Mora as your head coach 7 years ago! You probably have a Super Bowl ring by now…Your franchise is starting to look like the Hawks…BLAH BLAH BLAH….
Go MARVIN GO HAWKS!!!!!! Joke….
doc
January 20th, 2011
9:04 am
can we just trade marvin for a tree rollins type of center and be done with it? we dont need much more than that and make him young.
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
9:22 am
Marvin Duck William/ cash/ irenew bracelet for Devin Harris yesterday…………….Devin! Devin! Devin!
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
9:27 am
“Mookie is probably the most underrated PG that the HAWKS has had…Dude could penetrate and dish the rock…they were a potent combination. ”
Mookie could also shoot the rock as good as Mike Bibby and lightning quick!! He was the BEST PG who put a Hawks uniform! Hands down……
ag
January 20th, 2011
9:47 am
Mookie could dish and penetrate, but his trey was not as near as good as Bibby. Some other good pt guards during my time were Fast Eddie and Armond Hill. Doc Rivers was not to shabby. I think Lou Hudson may have been a point, but he is before my time.
ag
January 20th, 2011
9:50 am
Marvin has to read these post because it seems it lit a fire under him and he was aggressive. The Tree Rollins type center we already almost have in Twin, except he does not score as much (sad because Tree averaged no more than 10 a game) and not even close to blocking shots the way he did. I say fill the seats and trade for Melo. The Highlight Factory will be sold out every night!
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
10:16 am
Sheldon Williams,Marvina Williams and Josh Childress were all horrible lottery picks by the brilliant GM known as Billy Knight take a hike!
Fresh
January 20th, 2011
10:36 am
Looks like Lil’ Wayne is mad at Lebron and D-Wade LMAO!
From Rollingstone.com:
In the upcoming issue of Rolling Stone, Wayne expressed his discontent with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade’s lack of acknowledgment of his presence at the Miami Heat home games.
“Them ni**as never speak to a ni**a,” Lil Wayne said. “They don’t chunk me the deuce or nothing. Ni**a spent all that money on them f**king tickets…Come holla at me. We sit right by them little b**ch a** ni**as. At least come ask me why I’m not rooting for you.”
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
10:52 am
Lil Wayne should seek help yesterday.. All the money in the world will not save a lost soul…
Hawksgoingbackward
January 20th, 2011
10:58 am
The Hawks have won 28 games so far, 21 of those wins have come against teams with losing records (smh). That is what you refer to by mentioning “quietly making a case for respect”.
Unacceptable.
There is something to be said for consistently beating teams that arent very good, but at the same time, the idea that beating those teams garners the Hawks any time of respect for doing so means that even Atlanta’s own fans dont expect much. This writer included.
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
11:05 am
“The Hawks have won 28 games so far, 21 of those wins have come against teams with losing records (smh). That is what you refer to by mentioning “quietly making a case for respect”.”
Hawks=Falcons pretenders not contenders BLAH BLAH BLAH
Can’t fool us Rick never won nothing in 31 yrs. Sund!!
dukester
January 20th, 2011
11:11 am
@slimjr man you aint taking no hostages LOL. But I agree do you remember when we had Mookie and Mutombo. We went into Chicago and beat Jordan and the gang. If we can find a similar point and center we would be a beast.
Rufus1
January 20th, 2011
11:12 am
CBSSPORTS.com Mid-season Grades
Hawks A-
http://nba-facts-and-rumors.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/27133965
We have 39 games left, we could go 28-11 and end with 56 wins(If we have no major injuries)…..Wow we SUCK
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
11:22 am
“But I agree do you remember when we had Mookie and Mutombo. We went into Chicago and beat Jordan and the gang. If we can find a similar point and center we would be a beast.”
@dukester
Wow! Thanks for the memories. I almost forgot about that run! Mookie could out smoke and out play just about all the pg’s today. He would school these dudes…His defense was second to none at the point of attack(perimeter). He would get in their jock at half court. This present configuration of players ain’t got a clue how to D up.. That’s why the Hawks get smoked in the playoffs. They are a pathetic 10-18 the past three playoffs..Losing by 20+ a game on the road..Throw out the regular season cause they fixin to get punished!!
Can’t fool us SUND!!!
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
11:32 am
18-10 record in the playoffs would garner respect Rick/LD and players……Do you understand that?……..
Rufus1
January 20th, 2011
11:34 am
There are only 15 teams in the league with winning records…We have only played 14 games against them.
Miami 2-5 against the best in the East…1 win came when the Hawks didn’t have Joe. Any excuse you can make for the Heat you can make for the Hawks.
I believe the Bulls are 7-11 against winning teams.
The Magic have a worse record than the Hawks.
There is only one “Elite” team in the East…One, not 4 or 5….ONE! BOSTON
Buddy Grizzard
January 20th, 2011
11:39 am
“Trade of Marvin and Jamal to Denver for Carmelo would work. Would you offer the Nuggets this package, along with a 1st for a run at championship?”
Denver won’t do this trade because they are stuck with Al Harrington, who will be the starting 3 when melo leaves. The salaries actually match, and the Hawks would do this in a heartbeat.
The Hawks should look to dump first round draft picks whenever it gains them something. The upcoming draft is weak and the Hawks have one of the worst draft records in the history of professional sports. Just think about the fact that half the point guards who will play in the NBA All Star Game this year were passed over in the draft by the Hawks for guys like Marvin and Shelden Williams.
Hawksgoingbackward
January 20th, 2011
11:41 am
@Rufus1 – of the 15 games lost this year 10 (66%) have been against teams with winning records.
Of the 39 remaining games, 22 of them are against teams with winning records.
The Hawks will continue to lose 66 percent of games against winning teams (barring no major injuries) which will have them losing about 14 of the 22 games,
The Hawks will continue to win 66 percent of games against losing teams (barring any major injuries to the Hawks) which will have them losing approx. 6 of those 17 games.
Using that math the Hawks barely make 50 wins and considering you dont have the leadership, point gaurd play, or low post defense to beat any good teams, you are correct the Hawks do suck.
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
11:41 am
“WE THE FANS WANT CHAMPIONSHIPS!!! NOT EXCUSES!!
Can’t fool us Sund never won nothing in 31 yrs………………………
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
11:44 am
@Hawksgoingbackward you are the man!!!!!
Some of the people on this blog are drinking to much of Sund punch….LOL
Hawksgoingbackward
January 20th, 2011
11:49 am
@ Rufus1 – Make the 4th or 5th seed doesnt matter cuz you still get smoked by Orlando or Chicago.
Fool yourself and make it to the 3rd seed and get pushed around in 7 games again by a bottom tier team and get trampled again in the second round and set another record for losing in the playoffs.
Follow that up with no experience for Jeff Teague, Bibby getting older, still no big for next season. and Joe Johnson making 25 million dollars to not care or show any leadership so long as he gets his numbers to semi – justify his contract to fans like you, and you got a formula to be proud of Rufus.
Blind fans hurt sports.
Hawksgoingbackward
January 20th, 2011
11:57 am
@Rufus – the Bulls may be 7-11 against teams with winning records but thats still better than the Hawks at 5-10.
The hawks have 1 game better record than Orlando who has played 22 teams with winning records compared to the Hawks who have only played 15 teams with a winning record. If this was the BCS (which im proud its not) the Magic would ranked higher than the Hawks are.
I wonder where you are gonna be when the Hawks barely get past the first round and get pounded in the second and all thats left just like the past 3 years are less excuses.
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
12:08 pm
“1.Bogut
2. Marvin
3. deron williams
4.cp3
5. raymond felton
Picks 3-5 are all pg’s and potentially allstars this year past over by the Genius Knight!! WTF!!!!!!!
it was a terrible #2 lottery pick!!
Marvina take a hike…………………………………………
ag
January 20th, 2011
12:17 pm
I counted only 14 teams with winning records. Only Boston in the East has a winning record against other clubs with winning records. (13-5). SA, Dallas, NO and Oklahoma all have winning records. Atlanta is tied for fewest wins (5) and only played 14 games against teams with winning records, so the remaining schedule is going to be a lot tougher. How can you expect this team to be better when the only change you made was to add Josh Powell and Damien Wilkins and have Twin lose weight. EVERY team in the East made at least one major change : Shaq – Boston: NY Amare: Chicago Boozer: Miami the big three and Orlando several.
vava74
January 20th, 2011
12:18 pm
slimjr,
get a life. you can’t change the past.
deron and paul only made it to the ECF once, so they are not precisely the ticket to a title.
felton is manning the PG slot on a team which is barely above .500 and having lost 4 in row against bottom feeders.
Rufus1
January 20th, 2011
12:22 pm
Hawksgoingbackward
How many years did it take the Bulls to get past Detroit, 2 maybe 3 years..
How long did it take Detroit to get past Boston, 2 maybe 3 years..
This will be our 3rd year trying to get out of the 2nd round…I believe in continuity.
In the past 2 years Lebron has made it, Wade hasn’t made it and the Bulls haven’t made….So why are you showing them love. You are complianing about a 53 win team that has lost in the 2nd round for 2 straight years!
Chicago….really? The National media has pulled a “Jedi mind trick” on you. They haven’t won a playoff series in like 8 years, so to give them any credit is crazy.
We have made the 2nd round for 2 straight years…can the Bulls say that, NO! Call me when they can.
I have nothing to say about the Magic except, I think this year will be different.
DO ME FAVOR…STOP GIVE THE REST OF THEM TEAMS IN THIS LEAGUE THE CREDIT THE MAGIC EARNED THE PLAYOFFS LAST YEAR…AND WE LOST OUR BEST PLAYER FOR NINE GAME…ASK DALLAS AND THE HEAT ABOUT LOSING YOU BEST PLAYER
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
12:23 pm
“get a life. you can’t change the past”
Your right….But Sund can change the future for this team. He better get some balls and pull the trigger.Present configuration spells disaster again………….
Rufus1
January 20th, 2011
12:31 pm
ag
We made one major change….our head coach! The real problem. The Hawks have never lost a game because of talent.
This years we have already beat the Magic twice and the Heat once on the road, because of coaching.
We have the 2nd best road record in the NBA and have won 5 in a row on the road…14-9 on the road, 14-6 at home.
We won’t lose more than 10 games at home this year. 21 home games left and 18 road games.
yodaddy
January 20th, 2011
12:32 pm
Did everyone see Bibby’s excellent defense at the end of regulation?
A forced switch…Bibby being the veteran that he is…knew where the help was and forced LBJ to go there with his position and his proximity. It was a thing of beauty…it was Boston Celtic championship defense.
Also Bibby is an assassin from long range….rarely turns it over and gets the offense going. I don’t mind Teague taking a backseat this year as much as I’ve wanted him to play earlier in the season. Bibby gets an A+ for the first half of the season
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
12:33 pm
“Atlanta is tied for fewest wins (5) and only played 14 games against teams with winning records, so the remaining schedule is going to be a lot tougher”
Get ready Hawks Fans to jump off the Bus. Quote from the famous Charles Barkley “Don’t break your ankles while you jump off the bus!” He gave this quote while on the air with the local radio personalities “THE TWO LIVE STEWS” a few weeks ago referencing the Hawks…
Rufus1
January 20th, 2011
12:33 pm
Correction..”In the past 2 years Lebron hasn’t made it”…to the Finals
Rufus1
January 20th, 2011
12:37 pm
Charles Barkley
Thought Woody was a Good coach..Enough said.
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
12:41 pm
“deron and paul only made it to the ECF once”
Hawks haven’t been to the ECF in 23 years dude……Maybe 2080 for next ECF visit???
cp
January 20th, 2011
12:42 pm
If the Hawks have another terrible performance in the playoffs then they will continue to get no respect. Winning a bunch of games in the regular season is nice and all but its about what you do in the playoffs. Until the Hawks actually win when it counts they will continue to be seen as a nice team that cant win when it matters most……
JeJe
January 20th, 2011
12:44 pm
FIRE RICK SUND
vava74
January 20th, 2011
12:47 pm
slimjr,
what you are advocating is “pulling the trigger” just for the sake of pulling the trigger. you want to be excited with a signing, any signing, since that will bring you hope that “things will improve”.
but, what do you expect – realistically – to get in a trade?
99,9% of the trade ideas around here are purely delusional and or childish exercises.
last year and over the summer everyone was drolling about Haywood. Just look at his numbers this year after he signed what he was looking for (a fat contract).
and that is just one example.
you guys simply don’t get it, you just either only look at box scores or perpetually complain without analyzing fairly what we have and what we up against.
Shaq did not want to come here, he wanted a truck load of cash and as soon as he got it his weight would baloon and he would be on the injured list for most of the year. then, in the playoffs, he would demand to play and to receive the touches he thought he still deserves and when we would – again – crash and burn, he would blame others whilst having his pockets full.
I would also like to see the hawks get to the ECF, win the East and ultimately the title and I am also dissatisfied with the fact that we were humiliated by the Magic in the 2nd round – the loss against CLE was a different matter since we had Marvin, Al playing hurt and JJ had also a bad ankle – but I make my assessments within the realm of what is real and concrete and not what you guys imagine can be done whilst playing NBA2K11.
The present configuration is still a work in progress and we have seen already several areas of our play improve, including being a better match up against ORL (with the same personnel, but better utilized), a reasonably encouraging match up against BOS (second game) and a very encouraging match up against MIA (who’s personnel configuration without a quality PG and without a dominant C makes them somewhat accessible).
We have 2 games against the Bulls within the next 4 weeks or so and I am not at all convinced that we do not have the personnel to beat them. Let’s wait and see.
Yes, we have not been winning consistently against playoff teams, but we have competed to the end is almost every single game.
When we lost against Dallas and SA both teams we torching everyone, and SA still is. OKC has been on the rise and we competed, … come on! It’s not like we lost by 20 and were never in those games.
HWJ
January 20th, 2011
12:56 pm
Barkley’s opinion means nothing to me. Is he ever right?
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
1:01 pm
@vava74
I give you that. The Hawks have been competing but they tend to struggle against the sub .500 teams then once in a while surprise you like the Miami win.. The fans are getting restless with a franchise that have never competed in a Championship and have not been to the ECF in 23 long a@@ years..Its a sign of frustration on these blogs.. That’s all…
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
1:06 pm
oh and we will not go there with the melt downs in the playoffs! That just adds to the build up of frustrations…
Nate ArchiBALL
January 20th, 2011
1:14 pm
@ag – Lou Hudson was was 2 guard / forward.
Nate ArchiBALL
January 20th, 2011
1:14 pm
@ag – Lou Hudson was a 2 guard / forward.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 20th, 2011
1:15 pm
Hoop – Hoop – Hooray!
Mike is Back! And, I for one am glad!
Yeah Mike, you remember Ed Gray? He reminds me of Salim Stoudamire. Too small for a SG and not a true PG either. Notice, I never mention Danny Boy Manning! Uggh! What was up with his bottom lip? I imagined he dribbled in his sleep too! Manning was the most hated Hawk of all time! And, we all know why that was! (Wink Wink!)
Back then the league had a lot of heavy drinkers. Alcoholism, wasn’t considered a disease back then as it is now. Rod Strickland, Kenny “Jet” Smith just to name a few. But, the players from the 80’s were very skilled in the games Fundamentals. Like “Smitty’s” Top Ten Plays under The Rim segment on NBA TV.
Players could actually shoot that mid-range jumper, set screens, move w/o the ball, defend, rebound, box-out and hit the three. Those were the good ole’ days!
Those guys played for pride.