Atlanta Hawks: Hornets 100, Hawks 59
Maybe this is all that needed to be said. (Hyosub Shin / hshin@ajc.com)
- After this debacle the question was obvious: How can the Hawks follow up a strong effort at Miami by laying down to the Hornets at home?
- Some of the Hawks’ answers top the question made it sound as if they’d just loss a close one at Boston.
- “The difference was they made shots,” Mo said. “That’s very discouraging throughout the course of the game. Early on, we played great defense on Chris Paul, and he came down and shot a 35-footer. That was the type of night it was for them.”
- Yes, the Hornets made some shots, especially in the third quarter, when Belinelli made some deep threes. But that’s about the only unusual thing that happened. The Hornets basically played like a competent NBA team and won by 41 at Philips.
- Again–how can the Hawks get embarrassed like this at home three days after winning at Miami?
- “You really can’t explain it,” Smoove said. “You have games like this. I think Chris Paul is a very smart point guard. I think he just got the ball where he wanted to with dribble penetration.”
- Yes, CP3 is a very smart and skilled point guard and he did hurt the Hawks with dribble penetration. But Paul had only 16 points and eight assists in 30 minutes while shooting 4 of 10, and the Hawks always struggle with dribble penetration.
- The Hawks also missed a lot of open shots early in the game.
- “We couldn’t make shots and we just panicked,” L.D. said. “We just lost our composure. Then we had defensive breakdowns and the game just slipped away from us.”
- But the Hawks missed shots at Miami, too, and they didn’t stop competing. So, one more time: Can the Hawks explain how they got handled like this at home after handling their business at Miami?
- “No, not at all,” J.J. said. “Over the course of a season you are going to have a two like this. Unfortunately it had to be tonight after a big win against Miami. Give New Orleans credit. They are a great team and they have been playing great basketball for a few weeks now. They came in here and controlled the whole game.”
- Yes, the Hornets are a good team and they’ve been hot. But how can the Hawks. . . aw, forget it.
- It was Atlanta’s largest margin of defeat at home since losing 118-74 to Phoenix on March 30, 2000. The Hawks scored the fewest points in a game since the franchise moved to Atlanta in 1968. They avoided the franchise scoring low of 57 points when JC2 made a 3-pointer with 32 seconds left.
- Boos rained down on the Hawks when they left the floor. I actually thought fans showed restraint by waiting until then to let the Hawks have it.
- Maybe they were just keeping things in perspective. Even with this ugly L, the Hawks still are on a good run over the last month.
- “It’s one loss, whether it’s by one or 80,” Mo said. “No matter how disappointing or embarrassing, it’s one loss. Tomorrow we’ve got a chance to go out there and show what kind of team we really are.”
- But that’s the thing, isn’t? Just when you think that scrappy W at Miami provides evidence of what kind of team they really are, the Hawks turn around and lose in a way that makes you wonder what they are about. The same thing happened last weekend, when the big W at Utah was followed by a defenseless L to Houston.
- “Id be lying if I said games like this are easy to forget,” Jamal said. “But if you lose by one or lose by 40, it’s still a loss. You just have to move on. It’s not like football where we have to wait a week. So we have an opportunity tomorrow.”
- The Hawks were without Al (ankle). I avoided mentioning that until now because that can’t come close to explaining how they got blasted like this.
- Like the Hawks, I can’t come up with a coherent analysis to explain this, either, so I’ll skip it and just let my blog people have at it.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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
163 comments Add your comment
cp
January 22nd, 2011
4:59 pm
The Hawks don’t have any real depth. They have had chances to add some nice players to the bench but for whatever reason they went in a different direction…. The thing I miss about Flip is that he would put his head down and drive to the hole and draw contact. We just don’t have that type of player on this team and it hurts us. When the jumpers aren’t falling then this team gets down large in a hurry. Instead of attacking the rim when the jumpers dont fall they continue to jack up more jumpers…Another thing I don’t like is when they do get down they usually give up and just go through the motions… Its a shame that the players don’t get frustrated or mad about a L like this. They just give off the usual tired cliche… These guys have been together so long that they seem to just be stuck with their bad habits. Since their is no accountability they just keep doing it. Its time to shake up this roster but I doubt a game like this will open up Gearons eyes that this team has peaked.
Blake
January 22nd, 2011
5:04 pm
This team relaxed after a big win In Miami and then they excuse It away…Unbelievable! They’re still young and they’re showing It.Hubie Brown even said It last year.Until this team makes It’s mind up to win consistently and quit being Jekyll and Hyde,It will never take the next step to be an elite team!Nobody can figure them out…
drmaryb (*_*)
January 22nd, 2011
5:08 pm
Trade Me!
Slimjr you are a straight up nut job! But, hey, I’ll play with you!
If you can trade me and the pole chick for DWILL? I’m all in! Here I am Send Me!
Anything to help my Hawks get a penetrating PG! LOL!
You stoopid – boy.
BosnianBaller
January 22nd, 2011
6:30 pm
Josh Powell suspended for “conduct detrimental to the team” and wont play tonight.He probably slapped Sund
ryan
January 22nd, 2011
6:44 pm
ASG is the Anti Christ there is nothing to cheer for in Atlanta sports .
ant banks
January 22nd, 2011
6:46 pm
has their been any turnover in the SCOUTING DEPARTMENT for the hawks? they have had SO many horrible picks over the years. was watchin’ dejuan blair, 2nd rd for san antonio, and big baby was 2nd rd too, right? only al horford has worked the past 4 yrs.
woody and LD are “okay” coaches. no one can coach NON-TALENTED players. had the scoutin’ dept gotten some decent players maybe we would be markedly better.
our draft picks go other places and still stink up the joint. WE CAN’T PICK TALENT, LIKE MIKE JORDAN. LOL
terrell
January 22nd, 2011
7:16 pm
How is Zaza in the NBA?
Ken Strickland
January 22nd, 2011
9:34 pm
Good win tonight Hawks. Like I said, it’s how many times you get up that counts, and we definitely got up tonight.
terrell
January 22nd, 2011
9:42 pm
Ken, they’re still about 3 ft deep. A little more gettin up to do after losing by 41.
Kapoonka
January 22nd, 2011
9:54 pm
A.C. Law…no go…Jeff Teague…no go…where is our “Rose”? We need a quick, sure handling guard who can dish and shoot. Until we get this most important piece of the puzzle we will continue to be a mediocre team. How about ZaZa, Marvin, Teague, Moe, Bibby and a first round pick for Carmello? Hell I’ll even throw in my 2 seater Benz. We have to do something!!!!
JJ, Carmello, J-Smoove, Big Al and………SHAQ!!! I know..that ship has sailed.
Ken Strickland
January 22nd, 2011
11:16 pm
TERRELL-whether it’s by 1 or 41, it still only counts as one(1) loss. The Hawks are 1-1 on this back to back, and the margin doesn’t matter in the ultimate outcome, unless you decide to dwell on it and make it an issue. Everyone knows the Hornets aren’t 41pts better than the Hawks.The Magic swept us in record fashion in last yrs playoffs, but we’re 2-1 against them this season. YOU MOVE AND THINK FORWARD, NOT BACKWARDS.
KAPOOKNA-Why should we trade away half of our team for CAnthony, who’s been unable to lead his team to the promise land, and he’s played with 2 All Star PG’s and a DPOY All Star center, just so you can say we’ve done something? Even with Melo, the Nuggets have won fewer gms than the, as you put it, MEDIOCRE Hawks.
The Hawks ability to win consistently on the road proves they’ve improved over last yr. On one hand, we have fans who say the Eastern Conference is definitely stronger and deeper, but then they turn around and say the Hawks are winning because they haven’t played anyone. WHERE’S THE DOGGONE LOGIC?
DRMARYB-Wjhat’s up PYT? I guess SLIMJR’s parents never taught him IF YOU CAN’T FIND ANYTHING NICE TO SAY, SAY NOTHING.
Wow
January 23rd, 2011
2:28 pm
Don’t feel bad guys for the hawks loss on Friday night against the hornets, look what they did to the spurs last night.
Joe D
January 23rd, 2011
4:18 pm
The needs: POINT GUARD AND CENTER
The answer: Marvin (7.5 millions per season 3 years left) & ZaZa (4.4 per season 2 years left) for
LAC Kaman (10.8 million per season 2 years left) both ends in 2012.
Reason: Kaman is a solid scoring/rebounding/enforcer type center (not shot blocker) when he is playing. He does get a hurt alot and is his big negative, but his positives are he’s a true center who can score and must be guarded often takes two players. Next, his contract ends after the 2012 season when ZaZa’s contract ends and LAC needs a SF maybe it’s win for both teams and players. They all need a change.
The answer: Jamal for Nash same salary – Jamal’s expires this season and Nash ends 2012. He probably has two more years in him, but the time is now for the Hawks.
The answer: Jamal and Mo for pick for Devin Harris
Issues: The Hawks must make a couple of trades to sodilify their weaknesses and truly win the fans attention and the interest of the National media. Currently, the team cannot win a playoff series against Magic, Heat, Magic, or Bulls.