Sixers at Atlanta Hawks: No Horford, no gimme vs. ‘dangerous team’
Before the Hawks played the Knicks a couple weekends back, L.D. put 7-2 out there as the record to shoot for before the All-Star break. So I told him the Hawks had to win three of their next four to get it.
“We want 8-1,” he said, smiling.
This game might have looked like a gimme at one point but not anymore. For one thing, Al is sitting out another game with the bruised back. Zaza is starting in his place.
L.D. said Al ended up deciding his back was better off not taking a pounding. Plus, the Hawks don’t play again until Saturday.
“I actually gave it some thought this morning even before he made his decision,” L.D. said. “Certainly I want him out there but if there is any kind of inkling about him having any kind of discomfort or concern about [if] his back can take the pounding it just makes more sense to keep him out. He gets another four days for treatment and rest.”
So playing without their All-Star center complicates things for the Hawks. Also, don’t forget the Hawks were down 18 to Philly before rallying for a W on Dec. 3.
“I still don’t know how we won that game,” Jamal said.
In the first meeting, Philly jumped out to an 11-2 lead and the Hawks had to hold off a late rally. Al had 20 and 12 in that one.
“It seems like we are always behind when we play them,” J.J. said. “We have to come out with the mindset to get off to a good start, especially against their bigs.”
The Sixers lost to New York Sunday after bearing the Knicks on Friday. They are 6-4 in their last 10 with Ws against Denver and Utah.
“They are a very, very dangerous team because they never feel or play like they are out of the game even if they are down,” L.D. said. “They have had some very quality wins. They play hard; they keep coming. They play with a blue-collar mentality of outworking you and grinding it out. . . . You can’t look at their record, where they stand in the standings. You have got to look at who that team is, and the kind of personality they have.”
The other side
Sixers coach Doug Collins on the Hawks without Al: “He’s an All-Star center. When you come in with Pachulia off the bench he gives you such energy and toughness. I have known they have been starting Jason, so I don’t know if they will start him or come in with Paculia. It changes it a little bit; they play big a lot. They will play Hoford as a power forward, they can go with Pachulia, they can go with Josh Smith as a three. They have a lot of flexibility. With [Horford] not out there they will definitely miss him but they have a lot of big guys.”
Collins on J.J. vs. Jodie Meeks: “I don’t know that Jodie can play him. We might have to have a little cross-matching. This might be a game where I have to sub early, just because their wings are so big. This ream reminds me of Charlotte with how big the wings are and they post them up. [The Hawks] are a better shooting team, and with their 3-point shooters it makes it harder to guard the post.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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331 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
February 8th, 2011
8:48 pm
I believe this now makes the Hawks 5-8 with two or more days of rest and 11-4 on the back end of back to backs. One of those nimbers may be off, but the Hawks’ inexplicable inability to play well with more rest continues.
LeFraud
February 8th, 2011
8:48 pm
3-8 shooting for the most overpaid player in the league and 6-14 for J-Brick. 3-8 shooting for the “sixth man of the year”. None of the big guns showed up tonight while Al was out. Marvin is only guy who played with any intensity. I hope that the Magic at least lose to the Clippers so that this loss doesn’t hurt us as much in the standings.
O'Brien
February 8th, 2011
8:48 pm
Teague has to make that floater more consistently though…
It was not a bad pick
February 8th, 2011
8:49 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
“Marvin has done a good job attacking the boards tonight. Besides that, he’s been just as useless as everyone else.”
your head coach makes Marvin useless…We are talking about top 10 sf talent…Time to use him!
I MUS WRITE
February 8th, 2011
8:49 pm
Dam maybe we should have signed Doug Collins……. The effort was disgusting tonight, shots wont fall every night but atleast play hard. O Yeah teague is a bag of hot garbage in 100 degree heat-putrid is what im say;n…………….
Joe Johnson's Contract
February 8th, 2011
8:51 pm
“120 million dollars = 6 points, 5 turnovers”
so tonight he’s making 20 million per point, or 24 million per turnover
O'Brien
February 8th, 2011
8:51 pm
JC2 is one reason why I think Rick and the ASG will let Jamal go. In time, JC2 can develop into a poor man’s Jamal, and he will cost the Hawks alot less.
Paradise Lost
February 8th, 2011
8:52 pm
I respectfully request that all references to playing like girls cease as I do not recall the Atlanta Dream experiencing such a large point deficit last season. If fact, someone should call Marynell and see how fast she can get to Philips.
superiorblogman
February 8th, 2011
8:53 pm
It was not a bad pick
February 8th, 2011
8:49 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
“Marvin has done a good job attacking the boards tonight. Besides that, he’s been just as useless as everyone else.”
your head coach makes Marvin useless…We are talking about top 10 sf talent…Time to use him!
You sound as stupid as the Hawks play. Marvin is on his 2nd coach, it’s not the coaches fault Marvin is borderline useless but Zaza, Teague, and even Bibby are starting to make Marvin look useful, that spells dome for this franchise
Sautee
February 8th, 2011
8:53 pm
it was not a bad pick,
So are you a Hawks fan or just a Marvin fan?
If you are a Hawks fan, then that would be “our” head coach and not “your” head coach.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 8th, 2011
8:53 pm
That low-trajectory Teague jumper has been blocked twice tonight.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
8:53 pm
Why not just let us know to take the night off too, that way we could all get some rest and begin preparing for the next game.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
8:54 pm
Maybe someone can turn our crap into valuable compost?
Ra'mon
February 8th, 2011
8:55 pm
This isn’t a loss that you blame on energy, nor coaching. This is a personnel blowout! When you have Bibby and Zaza in your starting five, you’re basically playing 3 against 5 on defense, and on offense (actually 2 on 5 on offense- Marvin). The Hawks are no longer a ‘young’ team any more. All of their wings are pushing 30, aside from Marvin, who makes you hold your breathe every time he falls or ‘hustles’. In the back court, you have two players out of your main three who are streaky shooters, and lousy defenders on a good day. Then you turn to your front court, and you only have two players (Josh and Al) who would get any kind of playing time with a top 4 seed team in the playoffs. Zaza on the Heat (a center deprived team) would still be the 4th best center on THAT team, lol. On a GOOD night, the Hawks have 4 players (Joe, Al, Josh, and JC1), and a bunch of misfits. The Hawks supporting cast past the top three are worst than the Heat (who have even lower salaries on the rest of their roster). Haslem, Chalmers, Arroyo, and even Dampier would take the lunch money of our 5-13 players any night.
Melvin
February 8th, 2011
8:55 pm
Why is Jordan guarding Lou instead of Teague?
O'Brien
February 8th, 2011
8:55 pm
Jordan brings the ball up, while teague stands off to the side. Which is the same thing that happens when Jamal is in the game.
I wonder if that’s LD’s play call.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
8:56 pm
If Marvin is SOOOOOO great, why are we losing by 30 to a team who isn’t good?
terrell
February 8th, 2011
8:56 pm
UNACCEPTABLE!
northcyde
February 8th, 2011
8:56 pm
THe only question that is left is if can Teague and Jordan keep us from losing by 40+ points?
Oh . . one more question . . has an “elite” team ever lose TWO home games by 40 points or more in a season?
Yeah Sund.
Jae Evolution
February 8th, 2011
8:58 pm
Why doesn’t Teague run like that everytime man…
Sautee
February 8th, 2011
8:58 pm
I wonder if Mikey is in the building admiring his core?
Ra'mon
February 8th, 2011
8:58 pm
Northcyde, 1-4 we’re elite. 5-13 we’re D league. May as well call up Pape Sy and let him get some minutes on the big stage.
Lionhearted
February 8th, 2011
8:59 pm
LD should be fired for only playing the young guys after the hawks are destroyed
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
8:59 pm
Najah, maybe your nimbers are wrong, but your point is absolutely right. We’re like an old car. Takes us a while to get running. We’ll probably blow the next team out and complain about respect. Glad I didn’t waste any money heading to town to watch this stinker. It’s painful to watch on TV.
terrell
February 8th, 2011
8:59 pm
Too many days off in the Atl, and it shows.
lewis
February 8th, 2011
8:59 pm
Please refer to the days previous 2 blogs where I stated Elton Brand would take our lunch money
Ra'mon
February 8th, 2011
9:00 pm
It makes you wonder though, would having A. Law on the roster be an improvement over our pg situation. The other night while watching Baylor and Texas A&M, the commentators kept bringing up how great Law was in college. And how he could get off a shot in the lane with either hand.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:00 pm
At least the other “Atlanta” players are getting their nimbers tonight!
Wabe
February 8th, 2011
9:00 pm
No Comment
Najeh Davenpoop
February 8th, 2011
9:01 pm
At least they broke 60 points.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:01 pm
Lewis, I think they stole tomorrow’s money too.
At least AC could bring the ball up. LD won’t even let Teague try that in a blowout. Dude is useless.
drmaryb (*_*)
February 8th, 2011
9:01 pm
Speed Kills!
I just hope the reserves speed the game up and run it on out!
Just show us something positive, from Jordan and Jeff.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:03 pm
Why is Jordan so winded and tired? Dude is almost a teenager?
Lame
February 8th, 2011
9:03 pm
Lame Fundamentals
O'Brien
February 8th, 2011
9:04 pm
The bench is making a run. We may lose by less than 30…
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:04 pm
I don’t get it? Please explain so I have something to look forward to tonight. I’m just disgusted. Sorry if you don’t like it.
yodaddy
February 8th, 2011
9:04 pm
I want to hear the coaching staff absolutely rip this team.
I don’t want to hear “sometimes you have nights like this” because we afforded you your obligatory 2 games where that happens. This loss was a result of lack of effort, lack of focus and basically not giving a damn. This was a bull(junk) performance and they should not even be paid for this. The Hawks need to apologize to the fans and I’m dead serious. After the game in the interview and in the papers….just flat out apologize for making people sit and watch this like we are the cleveland Cavaliers or something. This team has the talent.
Al Horford needs to rip the team in the media. Joe Johnson needs to rip the team in public. I didn’t see a spark from anyone on the team and people need to be benched. I’d trot out the team on the floor right now for the next game before I run the starters again. This game was awful. You’re at home off of sufficient rest and get beat by 30 points???? To the 76ers!!?!?!?! We didn’t even make a run in this game.
Please let a trade be imminent. Bibby the last two weeks has been absolutely horrible….and I supported and defended him up until about 2 weeks ago when the bottom fell out.
northcyde
February 8th, 2011
9:06 pm
Ra’Mon . . I agree.
This is a personnel loss. That’s why I posted those efficiency rankings of each Hawks player at their respective positions about a week ago. Only 3 of our players ( JJ, Horford, Smith ) rank in the top 20 at their position. Marvin and Jamal rank just outside the top 20. Bibby is ranked in the 30s at PG. And the rest of the team is ranked 55 and below at their respective position.
And while we can overcome our weakness at PG, by playing Jamal major minutes, we don’t have that luxury at center. Lose Al or Josh, and the talent level on the frontcourt drops SIGNIFICALLY.
Still doesn’t excuse getting blown out at home like this, but me and you can CLEARLY see what the main issue is.
And to be honest, it’s ALWAYS has been the main issue.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 8th, 2011
9:06 pm
9, 7, and 4 in 14 minutes for Jordan Crawford. I don’t think he’s been quite as good as those nimbers, but he’s been active.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 8th, 2011
9:07 pm
The keyboard guy is playing “Wasted” by Gucci Mane. Sums up this game pretty well.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:07 pm
How can Josh, Marvin or Joe rip the team when they should be ripping themselves.
Al should’ve come out on the court in the 1st few minutes and gotten in some grills. No reason to be down that bad that early. He included, just didn’t care.
Astro Joe
February 8th, 2011
9:08 pm
Our young player development on full display tonight.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:10 pm
We must be demonstrating our lack of development.
Astro Joe
February 8th, 2011
9:10 pm
I’m going to have to use Excel to calculate the margin of defeat tonight.
Melvin
February 8th, 2011
9:10 pm
Why does Mo think he’s Ray Allen shooting all those 3pt shots…
O'Brien
February 8th, 2011
9:10 pm
From jeff Schultz;
PA guys tells crowds, “Get out of your seats!” And they are. They’re leaving..
Funny stuff
Melvin
February 8th, 2011
9:11 pm
Will Jordan get 20shot attempts tonight?
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:12 pm
My wife thinks I’m too harsh, too negative and I need to give it a rest. I do support this team, but tonight is a perfect example of how our role players are not ready. They can’t make an impact. When we have a key player out, we tend to crumble. This isn’t the first let down with Al on the bench. Somehow everyone got the memo to take the night off, at home, again.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:13 pm
Same reason Mo thinks he’s the Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man and MVP, only his salary doesn’t reflect that.
Ra'mon
February 8th, 2011
9:13 pm
Fundamentals, three players can not do the job of five players no matter the size of the heart. KG in Minnesota was out matched for years, even though he was arguably the best player in the league. When your starting Center gets blocked by the opposing team’s PG on a fast break, or your starting PG have problems even keeping up with the other PG’s shadow on the perimeter, its not much you can do. Zaza and Bibby would be how much better if they tried harder or hustle more? ….. Not much. For one, I think they’re both giving it their all, and that is the larger problem. They’re giving it their all but still not able to be effective consistently. As I said that goes back to personnel.