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
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
331 comments Add your comment
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:14 pm
still laughing about the PA comment. too funny.
Ra'mon
February 8th, 2011
9:15 pm
Melvin, earlier I saw an ISO- Mo, and almost broke a rib laughing. When Mo attempts more than 3 crossover on the SAME possession, something is clearly wrong.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:16 pm
PG & C Ra’mon, PG & C. We desperately need them, but you’d honestly try to call this a good effort on either end? I don’t agree. This was a night off for them.
northcyde
February 8th, 2011
9:16 pm
I’m spelling like how ya’ll say Dominique talks
that word should be .. “significantly”
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:16 pm
Now on to LD’s comments
Wabe
February 8th, 2011
9:18 pm
Like I’ve said a couple of times, I’d rather just lose 50+ games and get a lottery pick and hope we can land a legit stud, because this team really isn’t going anywhere as they are.
Sautee
February 8th, 2011
9:18 pm
Home losses are like crud.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:18 pm
root canal w/o novicane was appropriate for the fans maybe, team didn’t notice.
Paradise Lost
February 8th, 2011
9:18 pm
Um…yay it wasn’t 40????
O'Brien
February 8th, 2011
9:18 pm
Jordan is another Jamal in the making. Dude went 4-14 (0-3 from behind the arc) in 19 minutes (although he did have 5 assists and 7 rebounds).
Nique's Revenge
February 8th, 2011
9:18 pm
BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAA
HAWKS
SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK
drmaryb (*_*)
February 8th, 2011
9:19 pm
Velvet Room!
I wonder what this team does with their off days?
Do they, “Do Your Dance … Do Do Do Your Dance!”
@ The Velvet Room? Burn that DVD! Nothing to learn from this game.
______________________
Aye Sund! … you can get up off your knees now, Mikey is satisfied.
(with his core)
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:19 pm
Wabe, then we could draft Priest Lauderdale again to save the day.
JoKe Johnson
February 8th, 2011
9:19 pm
SUP THIS IS JoKe
THANKS for the $250,000 tonight SUCKAS
KEEP THOSE CHECKS COMIN’
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:22 pm
That’s not true, Joe only got just over $195,000 dollars tonight. Sadly I’m not kidding.
O'Brien
February 8th, 2011
9:22 pm
I bet they will say “The Hawks locker room remained closed a little longer than usual”.
terrell
February 8th, 2011
9:23 pm
So who threw the Superbowl party? Bet it was Bibby. They must be still hungover.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 8th, 2011
9:23 pm
Orlando is going to win and although Miami is down by 7, there is an entire quarter remaining and I have a hard time seeing the Pacers hang on to that lead. Costly loss for the Hawks.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:24 pm
Wonder if Josh went over the top drinking when the Steelers lost? We know how much he loves Wisconsin?
JoKe Johnson
February 8th, 2011
9:25 pm
but I only played 22 minutes SUCKA that gives me $425,454.55 PER HOUR by your numba!!
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:25 pm
All these gimme giveaways will make us pay later. I bet we come in just a couple games out of the seed we need. These games will haunt us. Count on it.
LOL
February 8th, 2011
9:25 pm
LMAO at Bibby and his big gapped teeth… Marvin can’t walk straight dude is deformed, Joe is one CRAZY MUTHAFRICKA dude is pumped up like crazy every game and Zaza… LOL!!!
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:26 pm
Normally don’t like hating on Joe, but JoKe is bringing smiles tonight. Good job.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:27 pm
Go to Itunes and search for Atlanta Hawks songs. There are some great hits that fit tonight well.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:28 pm
Guess the delay for LD is due to the post game conference……yes I’m impatient!
LOL
February 8th, 2011
9:30 pm
More to laugh at Zaza -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTfOURhyAcA
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:30 pm
Guess Brand proved to Stinger why Philly chose him instead of Josh tonight. Total domination. Here’s LD “We didn’t come ready to play” blah, blah, blah. Meaningless if they just don’t get it.
85Souf
February 8th, 2011
9:30 pm
So True Fundamentals All these gimme giveaways will make us pay later. I bet we come in just a couple games out of the seed we need. These games will haunt us. Count on it.
Just like last year… But we’re not supposed to get blown out, on the giveme games, especially not at home.
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:31 pm
LOL = Pride of Perry on full exhibition.
terrell
February 8th, 2011
9:31 pm
Maybe we shoulda went after Doug Collins? And btw, where’s Ken Strickland tonight?
Ra'mon
February 8th, 2011
9:31 pm
Fundamentals, of course I wouldn’t call this a great effort or a good effort. But I wouldn’t call this not expected either. Philadelphia is one of the quickest and athletic teams in the league. Atlanta gets the label as being athletic mainly just because of Josh Smith. Marvin isn’t a super athletic. And Al is quick, but really can’t jump that impressively. Mo Evans is a great defender who the Hawks signed, and I’m still waiting for that guy to come from the press conference with Flip Murray, because I still haven’t seen the guy that was advertised.
Nique's Revenge
February 8th, 2011
9:32 pm
smh @ hawks
and smh @ tv guys. will Atlanta media ever call out players, coaches, owners?
or they all back rub each other on the golf course
oh LD is on let’s listen. “no energy, gotta refocus, no effort etc etc”
maybe mike woodson is texting him what to say? heh
terrell
February 8th, 2011
9:32 pm
Need some inspiration Ken. lol!
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:32 pm
Looking at the post game stats we did lead in one category – turnovers.
lewis
February 8th, 2011
9:34 pm
I think we all had some sobering realizations about this team’s lack of depth tonight.
For the first quarter of the season, all I did was cry about Haha Pachulia’s inability to get a shot up in the NBA at this point in his career without getting blocked (he only had to take 1 shot today to reaffirm this)
But now, what’s really bothering me, and most of the rest of the blog, is Mike Bibby’s decline into being the most ineffective starting point guard in the NBA. He does not score. He does not get to the lane, and when he does, he’s a bad foul shooter. He does not pass well. He does not handle the ball well (hell, he can’t even make it past half-court against the press). He does not shoot a high percentage from the field. He does not play a lick of defense. He is not a leader. He is not inspired. I have never once heard him talk about wanting to win a championship before his career comes to an end. He and Joe isolate themselves from younger players.
He is not even a shadow of the player he once was.
He is still our best option at the point.
“we like our core”
terrell
February 8th, 2011
9:34 pm
Agree with Ramon. I still wonder why they call the Hawks athletic. Only athletic person is Josh. That’s it.
LOL
February 8th, 2011
9:35 pm
Some of the duck -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VTFro4xTV8
Fundamentals
February 8th, 2011
9:35 pm
Props to Marvin for at least facing the interview and plainly stating “We weren’t ready to play” “We didn’t defend” PERIOD.
cp
February 8th, 2011
9:38 pm
Time to sit Bibby. I cant keep watching him being destroyed defensively game after game.
lewis
February 8th, 2011
9:40 pm
Good blogging tonight Ramon
O'Brien
February 8th, 2011
9:42 pm
What do you know…LD said the same thing he always says after losses like this.
The Energy and effort wasn’t there. Too many defensive breakdowns blah blah.
First of all, defensive breakdowns and dribble penetrations start with bibby (imo). And the Sixers continually exploited that. Bigs were forced to rotate, and gave up a lot of rebounds…
But the rest of the starters did not help either.
If I’m LD, I am going to Rick and asking him to make a trade…
Nique's Revenge
February 8th, 2011
9:43 pm
lmfao @ HAHA pachulia buwahahahahahaa
LOL
February 8th, 2011
9:43 pm
http://www.nba.com/hawks/photogallery/FCF_2010.html?curPhoto=3
Nique's Revenge
February 8th, 2011
9:44 pm
LD aint askin for no trade he’s new and scared to. he thinks 6 points from joe is great!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 8th, 2011
9:46 pm
The scroll on ESPN’s bottom line says that the Hawks are the only team in the NBA that has a 34+ point home loss. The Hawks have two; everyone else has zero.
lewis
February 8th, 2011
9:46 pm
Not sure if i’ll be buying tickets to the bulls game anymore
Ra'mon
February 8th, 2011
9:47 pm
Thanks Lewis. And I definitely agree with you about Bibby. Bibby wouldn’t be so terrible if he was used in a S. Cassell-Boston Celtics or G. Payton-Miami Heat type role. There’s no way to deny that Bibby and JC’s lack of defense often leads to the rest of the lineup (Josh, Al and Joe) picking up fouls that they shouldn’t have to pick up. And the trade off is what? Below 40% shooting? 3.5 assists a game? At least Nash gives you 10 assists and 50% shooting to go along with bad defense.
When you add Zaza and Bibby’s salary together, you can’t help but to get frustrated. Those two make more than the rest of the bench combined (not including Crawford).
LOL
February 8th, 2011
9:47 pm
This is our starting center -
http://www.basketballwallpapers.tk/images/wallpapers/Zaza+Pachulia.jpg
LMFAO!!!!!
85Souf
February 8th, 2011
9:48 pm
Where is Rick Sund?, When was the last time he commented on The Hawks?, We see Arthur Blanks All the time, but never Rick! When Mo(the guy we didn’t want to opt to stay in his contract) and ZaZa are the best off your bench (besides Jamal) theres a problem. Why waste money on so many players that don’t play, we should only have 8 guys under contract, and everyone else should be signing 10 day contracts for the rest of the year. We didnt want Shaq, We didnt want Peja, We dont want Carmelo, We dont want anyone off the Timberwolves, Cavs, or Nets, We dont know What Rick Sund wants, We all know the fans want a pg and a c or at least 1 of the 2, We want Marvin to be more consistant, We want Josh Smith to go to the hole with authority 95% of the time like Lebron because other players get scared and move out the way just as they do with Blake Griffin does Josh not see them backing up or looking scared? We want ZaZa to play hard more than just 1 out of every 13 games he said he wanted more PT but he doesn’t play like he deserves is, We want our mediocre bench if theyre going to be on the team we want to see them in the game for more than 5 minutes and not every 10 games, Why draft Sergiy Gladyr, Pape Sy, Jeff Teague, & Jordan Crawford when they wont play a lick of time, Why does Larry Drew give the same excuses???????
northcyde
February 8th, 2011
9:48 pm
This is is going to be a looooooong week. The hate will flow for 3 days.