Atlanta Hawks: Larry Drew says lineup change, trades may be needed to disrupt team’s ‘comfort zone’
Larry Drew looking to upset team's 'comfort zone' (UPI Photo)
In the immediate aftermath of another home beatdown, L.D. sounded the alarm about the Hawks and said changes to his starting lineup may be in order.
But after sleeping on it, watching the game video and holding a team meeting this morning. . . well, L.D. basically turned up the volume on the alarm. He said he’s still looking at changing the starting lineup and added that a trade might be necessary before the Feb. 24 deadline to shake up the status-quo.
It seems that team meeting didn’t go as Drew had hoped. He said he asked every player and coach why the Hawks seem to play with more urgency on the road. There were a variety of answers, Drew said, but he concluded the Hawks too often fall into a “comfort zone . . . a safe zone” at Philips.
So Drew has that in mind as he looks at possibly changing up his starters.
“Just to give us a jolt,” he said. “Just to get us out of a comfort zone. We are 50-plus games into the season and I think at this stage we need something to give us a jolt, to wake us up. We have, in my opinion, fallen into a bit of a comfort zone with everything. It may be time to do something just to rattle the cage a little bit. ”
L.D. said he hasn’t made up on his mind about changing the lineup and didn’t get into any specifics about what they might be. He said it’s possible he could experiment with different lineups in practice over the next couple days.
Drew didn’t sound like a coach who was simply ticked at his team for a bad loss. Rather, he sounded like a coach who has come to realize that sending out the same players in the same roles is good enough to be on pace for 52 Ws but isn’t going to lead to a much better ending for the Hawks than last spring.
“I am not one to react on emotions but I have had this feeling for a little while,” L.D. said. “I have been in situations where it has been like this, where a team has had to do something just to shake the cage a little bit. It’s something I’ve been thinking about. Will I do it? I have a couple days to practice and make a decision.”
L.D. already has shown a willingness to be flexible with his lineup, sending out six different groups of starters when all of the candidates have been healthy. But if the right mix of players just isn’t on this roster, then it’s out of Drew’s hands and in the wheelhouse of Hawks GM Rick Sund, who has said he’s always looking to improve the team but isn’t interested in “lateral moves.”
The Hawks are a good team so a blockbuster deal isn’t necessarily in order. But Drew acknowledged there have been internal discussions about how to shore up the team’s weaknesses through the trade market.
“With the trade deadline coming up, there is always discussion about possible trades, personnel changing,” he said. “There is always that dialogue going on about looking to improve the team. ‘Would this be a good fit? Would that be a good fit?’ There is always that possibility. Certainly at this stage we have to continue to explore those possibilities.
“I don’t think at this stage . . . at least I don’t feel comfortable, totally comfortable with where we are after 52 games. We have had some bad losses here at home. That may be a sign, I don’t know. I never want to throw out the possibility of making our team better.”
Atlanta’s weaknesses have been pretty obvious for most of the season. The Hawks struggle with defending dribble penetration, defending in transition, rebounding, and scoring consistently in the post or at the rim when they aren’t making their favored jump shots. The Sixers, hardly contenders, exposed them all last night by competently executing a sound game plan, and certainly the East contenders are capable of doing the same no matter how much energy and effort the current Hawks regulars might generate.
It’s getting late in the season for the Hawks to still be trying to shore up their issues. So it’s understandable that Drew might be feeling that the only way to change things is by drastically altering the way he uses his players or through acquiring different players.
“At the end of the day, regardless of what happens [with trades], we still are going to have to go out there and improve our club,” he said. “After last night’s loss, I do believe we do have to look at our situation very seriously and possibly look at a lineup change, possibly doing something that will jolt this team. Because I don’t want this team to get into a comfort zone. The minute we get into a comfort zone, what happened last night, that is the end result.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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460 comments Add your comment
Oconeedawg
February 9th, 2011
3:39 pm
LD you are right!!!! But first look at the roster. In need of a true point guard that can play the 4 quarters, with a minute or two rest at end of 1 and 3 quarters. Also we are in need of a strong forward who plays ball and not whimp and cry to the officials all the time. He needs the boot! Last but not least we need a center so Hofford can play his all star position of strong forward. That said Go Hawks….
Gwinnett Fred
February 9th, 2011
3:41 pm
Mr. Sund: Is the goal to win 50+ or contend for a championship?
Well, 5 years ago, the 50+ wins would have been a huge goal – but no longer. Shake this team up. What is wrong with a lateral move?
DO NOT RULE OUT ANYTHING – PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE AND GET WITH IT.
As crappy as the ownership group is, at least they have opened their pocketbooks for their beloved basketball team – you should have the resources to get something done.
Great line from the movie War Games: “I’d p!ss on a spark plug if I thought it would do any good”.
That’s the mentality a good GM should have!
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
February 9th, 2011
3:42 pm
Hey guys, this is getting interesting. You have one of our MAIN core player’s dad AND the coach acknowledging that a move needs to be made. Horford’s dad comments are all over the net. I wonder how quick they will make a move now?
James
February 9th, 2011
3:42 pm
Hawks need to make a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies and trade for Marc Gasol. The Hawks really need a Center and Marc Gasol will be a perfect fit that way Al Horford can be moved to his natural position Power Forward.
Memphis also wants to part ways with OJ Mayo so the Hawks should package a deal to get OJ Mayo & Marc Gasol from them. Hawks can give them Jamal Crawford & Josh Smith.
slimjr
February 9th, 2011
3:43 pm
LD start packing, I have feeling Sund is going to jettison you this summer. Instead he needs to resign asap/yesterday………………….Buster…………………
slimjr
February 9th, 2011
3:45 pm
GO HAWKS!!! Naw how about GONE HAWKS!!!!!!!
dirtyo11
February 9th, 2011
3:46 pm
@Boneyard Randy I agree Bibby for Harris but I don’t think the Nets will do that trade without getting something else in return, Bibby and 2nd rnd pick should be enough. we can’t stop players from penetrating because Bibby can’t play D. Teague D is ok but he needs more time on the court to develope. Teague has the speed to break down the D but he don’t look for his shot enough and he give the ball up to the wrong players at the wrong time. I like Teague he can be our future.
Trade M. Williams, Mo Evans and our 1st rnd pick to the Suns for Gortat and Pietrus or Nuggets for Nene and J.R. Smith. I know some will say they’re not worth a 1st rnd pick but the hawks don’t develope their picks anyway so why not make that trade. Smith has fire under his butt yeah there’s a lil attitude but he will play D and when he on he’s on and we all seen what Pietrus can do when he’s on the court. They both not afraid to take it to the opossing team D plus they both play better D. M Williams is garbage and Mo has slowed down a lot.
C- Nene or Gortat
PF- Horford
SF- Josh Smith
SG – J. Johnson
PG – Bibby/Harris (depending on trade)
Bench: Crawford and Smith or Pettrus
SOUND LIKE A WINNING COMBINATION TO ME
Brent
February 9th, 2011
3:47 pm
Here you go Sund – be a better team now and increase future cap flexibility
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=4eactw3
Steve Nash and Grant Hill for Josh Smith (who will never be a championship caliber player)
Make this Horford’s team – as it should have been done over the summer!
Bout Time
February 9th, 2011
3:49 pm
Jeff Teauge needs to be starting. Heck even JC2 needs more playing time. Is it me or dosent it seem like every time ZaZa or Twin gets the ball near the rim, they miss or just don’t go up strong enough. Need a serviceable big man with a little more gonads……
Why does ESPN only show the Hawks when the are either playing the Heat, Celtics, Lakers, Blake Griffin, or when they are getting totally embarassed (like last night). Just my thoughts……..
N.D.T.K.A.
February 9th, 2011
3:50 pm
Josh Smith has a world of talent but his mouth and head interfere with his ability to make the Hawks team better. Too much talking and complaining on the court. Every night Blake Griffin is mentioned on Sportscenter and NBATV. He!!, Griffin is even on the all-star team. Josh Smith has just as much talent as Blake Griffin, without the consistency, but cannot seem to mesh with and elevate the Hawks to one of the elite teams. I dont’t know what the problem is other than the fact that Josh has to grow up mentally on the floor and Bibby is a total liability at point guard. Whoever the Hawks trade for needs to be mature with leadership qualities and heart!!!
Rod from College Park
February 9th, 2011
3:52 pm
Marvin is a bench player. He should never be starting, and would not start for any other team in the NBA. He has shown some flashes this year, but the facts remain that he plays like he is on skates, he can’t finish in traffic, he is not a scorer, his season stats are pretty much the same as they were last year, and he is soft as wet baby doo doo. Plus the team has a better winning percentage this year when he has not played, than they do when he has. Bibby must be replaced in the starting lineup by somebody. He just causes too many defensive problems by not being able to guard his man. Teague is not an NBA level starter at this point, so either start Jamal at the point, or make a trade for a NBA starting level point guard. Aaron Brooks would be my choice. We also must add a penetrating player either at the point or at SF who can get into the lane and finish. We won’t be able to get a true center right now, we should have gotten Shaq, so make adjustments at the pg and SF positions.
From looking at the previous blog, you would think that Al Horford is Karl Malone or Tim Duncan. Don’t get me wrong, I love Al, but until he develops a solid back to the basket game, with some post moves, he is no more valuable to this team than Joe or Josh. If he played PF all of the time, he would not be an all star. He ain’t better than Stoudemire, Bosh, KG, or for that matter Boozer either if Boozer is healthy. All these wide open jump shots that he is getting in the regular season will not be there in the playoffs, and you will see his weaknesses. If Josh goes out, it will be just as big a loss for this team as Al is. They are both very important players to the Hawks. Al is more steady and consistent than Josh offensively and on the boards this year, but Josh is more versatile, a better defender, and influences the game more. A veteran point guard who knows how to get guys the ball in the right spots, and who can push the tempo, along with a coach who can convince Josh to stop shooting jump shots when he has offensive mismatches, would change everything.
comfort zone
February 9th, 2011
3:53 pm
what are the hawks millionaire players “comfortable with?” They suck—and that makes them comfortable while still getting paid millions for showing up! They love those chump fans that keep paying the high prices for tickets, beer and food—it keeps those bentleys and escalades brand new every year! Keep it coming chumps.
Astro Joe
February 9th, 2011
3:54 pm
I agree with Jerry West, don’t talk about line-up changes, just do it. He talked out loud about a big line-up and then opted against it. He talked out loud about an expanded role for Teague and then opted against it. He talked out loud about ensuring Bibby is fresh for the playoffs and then opted to play him more minutes than last season.
I understand that talking out loud may be good for blogs, but I’d much rather see him pull the trigger on something quietly.
Of course, the other fine print in the information was that he seem focused on poor home performances and they are about to start a 7 game road trip. So does that mean he’ll maintain the status quo until they return home?
Joe Johnson is the Hawks Down-fall
February 9th, 2011
3:58 pm
The ASG has made so many awful moves since their inception:
NEVER-EVER resign Joe Johnson. You give money like that the Kobe and Lebrons of the world, not JJ. Remember, he wet his pants during several Celtic moments and didn’t show up at all during playoff last year or the year before. Then had the audacity to tell the team to kiss his behind. JJ is a #2 at best.
It was obvious since the Hawks first playoff game 3 years ago to the Celtics that they needed a Center, yet the refuse to get one.
Astro Joe
February 9th, 2011
3:59 pm
Not that it mattered, but with Al hurt last night, why didn’t LD activate Etan? WHy go with 2 completely immobile centers against a team that likes to attack? No, Etan would not have made a 30 point difference, but a strange coaching decision nonetheless.
BPCDOGG
February 9th, 2011
4:00 pm
I noticed at least seven times last night that Josh Smith loafed back to the defensive end and he was clearly the last person to cross half court. When he puts his mind to it he changes the game. Just a matter of which side of his brain he decides to use. Hopefully Drew and the assistants review the tape and address this with him. Not a big Hawks fan but I do like Josh Smith, just difficult to defend him consistantly when I see that. Not even discussing three point shot selection on critical possessions.
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
February 9th, 2011
4:03 pm
Anything to make SportsSouth stop showing “At Home With Marvin Williams” hosted by James Verrett after Hawks games!!!
Glenn
February 9th, 2011
4:04 pm
Good grief . I have an idea . Lets trade our overpriced lousy players for this or that superstar .
atown gradybaby
February 9th, 2011
4:04 pm
lou williams would be nice fire rick sund for not even trying for CHRIS BOSH only a fool would trade Josh smith lets trade marvin williams, first round draft picks, for a bigbody
I'm a Man, I'm 40
February 9th, 2011
4:05 pm
Send Josh Smith sorry behind packing and get Joe Johnson to give back most of his paycheck. THey are both horrible. Deport Zaza and send Marvin Williams to the Developmental League. That’s where I would start.
hdb
February 9th, 2011
4:06 pm
Let’s trade Drew for a real coach – Poor Byron Scott would at least light a fire under our existing roster
Stud
February 9th, 2011
4:07 pm
Man get off horford N.U.T.S. man.He is not a defensive stopper,he cries just like everyone else does when he doesn’t get a call.6′10 man and he complaining about playing center.Man Dejaun Blair 6′7 and Dominating some of the 7 footers on a bunch of nights and he ain’t complaining bout playing center.The hawks need to find thereself and say enough is enough.Josh need to stop shooting jumpers and help out Al downlow,Joe needs to become more consistent and Jamal just need to become the player he was in new york and put fear in the defenders eyes.Al needs to become a man down low.He just one or two inches from 7 foot so why he cant go ham down low?Kurt Thomas 38 and 6′9 but still go crazy on the boards.Its about will and belief.
Pete
February 9th, 2011
4:08 pm
The Hawks are the epitome of a lazy, spoiled, clueless, leaderless bunch of spoiled brat American athletes if ever there was one.
If they were thrown into the Army or Marines they would last approx. 12 hours before having complete mental and emotional breakdowns……………especially after having their stupid $2000 music trash devices taken from them. How could they cope ???
Complete jokes.
coolio
February 9th, 2011
4:10 pm
atown gradybaby
only a fool would trade Josh smith!
Man you are so right,these folks on here trippin
Westurd
February 9th, 2011
4:10 pm
A change in the starting line up? ummmm, I think we need a lot more than that.
Keep Al, Jamal and Joe and lets make something happen. DaMMit!
Pen-is A Lotta
February 9th, 2011
4:11 pm
I think I see a lot of people commenting on this blog who are much more capable of performing the duties of Atlanta Hawks General Manager than Rick Sund. This is the same guy who is only paying $1 mil a yr for LD. Give me a break, he probably makes 10 times as much as that. I hope he gets amnesia and forgets who he is so someone else with a more palpable soul can be touched by LD’s cries for a trade.
Rod from College Park
February 9th, 2011
4:11 pm
“Anything to make SportsSouth stop showing “At Home With Marvin Williams” hosted by James Verrett after Hawks games!!!”
LOL. Really. Nothing worse than seeing the highest drafted player on your team continuosly say that he really does not like basketball.
Thornton Melon
February 9th, 2011
4:13 pm
Get rid of the Hawks and the hip hop culture in Atlanta. Crime will surely go down if this happens. This is a must.
newkid
February 9th, 2011
4:18 pm
A lst year head coach doesn’t make that sort of proclamation without being put up to it by the GM and owner(s). Something is afoot. Problem is those negotiating on the other front are aware that Sund’s in panic mode. Significantly weakens his bargaining power, but just what you’d expect from a chump like Sund.
Dennis G. Berdanis
February 9th, 2011
4:19 pm
I still think LD is in over his head. Nice guy who would make a good assistent teaching his offense, but not head coach material yet.
Roundfield on Roundball
February 9th, 2011
4:20 pm
The Hawks are NOT a good team. Good teams don’t lose two home stinkers like the Hawks have in recent weeks. Teams lose but they compete. The personality of Joe Johnson is the personality of the Hawks – that is, good, bland and forgettable. Some good wins, Horford’s a nice player, etc etc. You go with a cheap (”no name” to today’s generation) coach and then wonder why he can’t reach Smith or Williams? I hope they dump the overrated Josh Smith and let him poison another well.
Ron D
February 9th, 2011
4:26 pm
The players probably don’t understand how their coach’s son can quit a team (UNC) in the heat of the “war”. We don’t know the circumstances, however, Larry Drew, Sr seem to be okay with his son’s decision. Perhaps the players are questioning their coach’s decision making and strategy. Could an okay Hawks team be on the verge of imploding? Let’s see how they do moving forward.
northcyde
February 9th, 2011
4:29 pm
People keep talking about trading Josh Smith, but you better get back a decent center or PF in return. We’re already weak as it is at PF and C. A Smith trade for some mediocre frontline player will only make us worse, even if a PG is in that deal.
The most tradeable player on the Hawks is Jamal Crawford . . because of his expiring contract. But the problem is that the ASG does NOT want to add salary going into next year. That’s why they won’t pull the trigger.
bigdaddyj
February 9th, 2011
4:30 pm
can we just trade the entire team for nothing and just not have a team?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 9th, 2011
4:31 pm
I hope LD actually means it when he says this. He has said all the right things from day one, but he has only followed through inconsistently. The Hawks have a golden trade chip in Jamal’s expiring deal with which they can get one or two solid players to fill out the rotation, and considering the roster depth at the SG position, they would be foolish not to use this. If the Suns make Nash available and the Hawks fail to make the Jamal for Nash deal, Sund should be fired on the spot. I’d be happy to see Jamal and Mo for Tayshaun Prince and either Ben Wallace or Will Bynum if Nash is not made available.
The fake Rick Sund posting on the previous blog deserves a Pulitzer. The sad thing is I don’t think the real Rick Sund is allthat different.
JeJe
February 9th, 2011
4:32 pm
What exactly is this lineup change?
Is it something DRASTIC like NOT starting Bibby or is it some BS move like starting Mo?
slimjr
February 9th, 2011
4:32 pm
“Send Josh Smith sorry behind packing and get Joe Johnson to give back most of his paycheck. THey are both horrible. Deport Zaza and send Marvin Williams to the Developmental League. That’s where I would start.”
Jettison the worst #2 lottery pick in Hawks History along with that stiff ZaZa and the ole geezer Bibby..asap…..
lewis
February 9th, 2011
4:32 pm
who is the fake rick sund? that guy is phenomenal
tom tiger
February 9th, 2011
4:32 pm
My sources…and they are credible, say Josh and Teague to the Lakers for Pal Gasol!!!
It must be genetic
February 9th, 2011
4:33 pm
Maybe LD is the problem. He should quit midseason and walk away just like his son did to the Tar Heels
slimjr
February 9th, 2011
4:34 pm
“The fake Rick Sund posting on the previous blog deserves a Pulitzer. The sad thing is I don’t think the real Rick Sund is allthat different.”
Cosign! That was classic blogging at its finest………lol
Mr Mojo
February 9th, 2011
4:35 pm
They should make me the GM. I know I would at least be aggresive and I would be on the phone with Denver every day up until Melo is traded. I heard Sund called Denver once he was probbaly asking them about their 12th man not Carmelo.
JeJe
February 9th, 2011
4:35 pm
SMOOVE FOR BIEDRINS AND CURRY
STOP ACTING LIKE SMOOVE IS UNTOUCHABLE. THERE’S A REASON HE ISN’T AN ALLSTAR. THE DUDE WILL NEVER GROW UP
READ MC’S GOOD ARTICLES – THE GUY DOESN’T KNOW WHAT’S A GOOD SHOT AND WHAT’S A BAD SHOT LOL.
LD DOESN’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO CONTROL THIS BRAT
STOP WORRYING ABOUT PISSING OFF HOMETOWN HEROES
FIRE SUND
Rod from College Park
February 9th, 2011
4:35 pm
“Man get off horford N.U.T.S. man.He is not a defensive stopper,he cries just like everyone else does when he doesn’t get a call.6′10 man and he complaining about playing center.Man Dejaun Blair 6′7 and Dominating some of the 7 footers on a bunch of nights and he ain’t complaining bout playing center.”
AGREED!!!! It’s not like he’s a a much better power forward than Josh. In fact if you compare the career stats, they will tell you otherwise. Besides FG%, FT%, TO, and rebounding (about 1 more per game), Josh is better in every other statistical category for his career. I could understand if Al was this great leader, but it still seems to me that Bibby is still the true leader on this team, and that might be the true problem. Horford still does not have the credentials to tell Josh or Joe anything. Joe does not show any emotion or talk, and Josh is too emotional, and has not learned how to control his emotions. Shaq would have been the perfect guy to help this team. He would have been bold enough to call Joe and Josh out, would have probably made Marvin cry by now, and could have schooled Horford in the low post. But the ASG did not want to tamper with the core. LOL
JeJe
February 9th, 2011
4:38 pm
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THIS LINEUP CHANGE COULD POSSIBLE BE? I WANT TO SEE SOMETHING DRASTIC. LIKE BIBBY NEVER PLAYING A GAME AGAIN FOR THIS TEAM.
MARVIN SUCKS AND STILL PUTS UP 6 POINTS, EVEN IF HE GETS STRIPPED 5 TIMES A GAME
BIBBY DOES NOTHING FOR THIS TEAM.
AT THIS POINT HE’S THE MOST USELESS PLAYER ON THIS TEAM
LOL @ AN OVERWEIGHT, TIRED, 32+ Y.O. MIKE BIBBY
MIGHT AS WELL GET MATT FREIJE TO RUN THE POINT
.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 9th, 2011
4:39 pm
“People keep talking about trading Josh Smith, but you better get back a decent center or PF in return. ”
Very true, but most of the people who clamor for Smoove to be traded base their opinions more on his facial expressions and the level to which he voices his displeasure with calls than his production. To hear some of the people posting here, it’s almost as though people think getting rid of Smoove would be addition by subtraction. If the Hawks trade Smoove and don’t get someone better in return, they will not be as good as they are now. Seems like an obvious statement, but I think a lot of people don’t see it this way.
JeJe
February 9th, 2011
4:39 pm
MY BAD – HE’S ABOUT TO BE 33 LOL
AND WHEN I SAY “MC’S GOOD ARTICLES” I MEAN THAT THE GUY WRITES GREAT STUFF ON THIS TEAM. IT’S OBVIOUS SMOOVE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT’S A GOOD AND AD SHOT AND THAT BIBBY IS WASHED UP GARBAGE (WHO IS STILL IN HIS PRIME ACCORDING TO OUR HALL OF FAME GM) LOLOL
AND LD NEEDS TO STOP GIVING BIBBY A FREE PASS. DUDE SAYS BIBBY IS TIRED BUT THAT HE WON’T DECREASE MINUTES
ARE U KIDDING ME?
STOP BEING MR. NICE GUY
MARK BRADLEY WAS RIGHT : LD IS THE NICE GUY. THE PLAYERS WANTED A NCIE LAID-BACK COACH
DAMNIT AVERY
Chad
February 9th, 2011
4:41 pm
It pains me to say this, but Josh Smith must go
I’m a huge fan of Josh’s, and I respect his talents very much. However, we have Al Horford who needs to be at power-forward.
We need a center. And we need to trade Josh in order to get ’said’ center. Josh can not play the ‘3′. I’ll support the team no matter what, but this is what I think needs to happen for the betterment of the franchise(while also shaking things up)
coachx
February 9th, 2011
4:41 pm
MC, your the best Hawks beat writer ever !
Keep bringing it !
A roster shakeup has to be in order…..even if its just a lateral tweak to “rattle the cage.”
niremetal
February 9th, 2011
4:42 pm
Apparently, Larry Drew has been reading my posts. Now let’s hope Sund is listening.