Hawks-Bobcats game thread
Greetings, all
Ken here for the last time in awhile as MC braces for the mother of all road trips.
1) You may find this interesting. On my way in to the arena, I was thinking to myself, If I were ever to feel good about wagering on a game (not that I wager), this would be it. Hawks have spent three days stewing over an embarrassing loss, playing at home where they’ve beaten Charlotte seven in a row, Al Horford back, Charlotte coming off a back to back, etc.
However, I confess I was not aware of what happened in Charlotte last night. The Bobcats lost at home to New Jersey, which had come into the game having lost 12 in a row on the road. Not only that, but Charlotte never led the whole game.
Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace excoriated their teammates for their lack of effort. Read these gems, excerpted from the Charlotte Observer game story (written by the very capable Rick Bonnell, who is sitting behind me in the media room):
“To not even show up at all is embarrassing,” said Jackson (21 points). “It’s sad that a coach has to ask guys to play hard…to care.”
“We acted like the other team was just going to fall down. There are only two or three teams in the league (good enough) that they can be like that. We’re not one of them.”
Or as Wallace (20 points and nine rebounds) added, “We just gave away a game in Indiana (Wednesday). We can’t keep doing that.
“We haven’t lost two (straight) games; we gave them away with our (lack of) effort. A coach should never have to ask for that.”
So, rather than being a gut-check game for one team, it’s a gut-check game for both. I still give the edge to the Hawks by basis of rest, being at home and the fact that they’re better, but this could be a bit more of a fight than you normally see in February.
2) This sort of feeds into 1), and is kind of amusing. I was in the locker room prior to the game, and it came to light that Wallace, from tiny Childersburg, Ala., bought 80 tickets for the game. Apparently even the mayor is coming. So Marvin Williams kiddingly wished Josh Smith good luck in defending a presumably extra-motivated Wallace. (Childersburg’s website claims it’s the “oldest city in America.” Not sure how that’s possible, but, hey, who am I to argue?
3) Nothing else new to report, really. Horford’s still going.
Enjoy the game.
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
442 comments Add your comment
Hawks-Bobcats game thread – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) - ePaper 365
February 12th, 2011
9:09 pm
[...] from: Hawks-Bobcats game thread – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) Tagged with: [...]
J.J.M
February 12th, 2011
9:09 pm
damnnnnnnn
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2011
9:09 pm
I really thought he took off too far away from the hoop to make that.
northcyde
February 12th, 2011
9:09 pm
JJ has been deferring to other people all night. But the minute he tries to do something . . lol . . . predictable reaction.
Let the star of the team try to win it, since everything else has collasped this half. If he does, great. If not, oh well.
Nique's Revenge
February 12th, 2011
9:09 pm
See Josh? See how when you go to the CUP we are much better off than your hit and mostly miss 3’s?
Tremaine
February 12th, 2011
9:09 pm
“GIVE TEAGUE A CHANCE!” Damn!!!!
cp
February 12th, 2011
9:10 pm
Damn that was nasty
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
February 12th, 2011
9:11 pm
win or lose….something has gotta change.
yodaddy
February 12th, 2011
9:11 pm
The team is too Lethargic though….too nice….
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2011
9:11 pm
“JJ has been deferring to other people all night. But the minute he tries to do something . . lol . . . predictable reaction.”
Nobody would have a problem with him doing something that caters to his strengths. Iso-Joe on the perimeter does not cater to his strengths. He is plainly and simply not quick enough to break anyone down off the dribble and get to the rim. Get him the ball coming off a screen or post him up against a smaller, weaker defender.
Sautee
February 12th, 2011
9:12 pm
northcyde,
Bob said it right…. the entire Bobcats defense collapsed on him. So NO ONE else was open?
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
February 12th, 2011
9:12 pm
Amazing how they coughed the lead. The last blow out in our favor was at UTAH. It looks like we blew the blow out opportunity tonight and it may cost us the victory. SMDH
Nique's Revenge
February 12th, 2011
9:13 pm
swat that rock
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2011
9:13 pm
Good offensive play by the Hawks, better defensive play by Gerald Wallace.
On the other end, good offensive play by the Bobcats, better defensive play by Smoove.
dramatics
February 12th, 2011
9:13 pm
good d josh damn u playing ur a** off tonight
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2011
9:14 pm
Hornets are up by 11. This win would be big.
O'Brien
February 12th, 2011
9:14 pm
seriously, why is Jamal in the game?
he is 1-9…
northcyde
February 12th, 2011
9:14 pm
Najeh . . who cares about strengths at this point. we just need someone to make a play. Smith made a great play and got rewarded for it.
The team ball concept is great when people are making shots. But when things go south, the stars have to try to do it.
Let’s just hope they can pull this game out.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2011
9:14 pm
Horford has kinda run out of gas a little in this fourth quarter.
Nique's Revenge
February 12th, 2011
9:15 pm
ugh, terrible possession
J.J.M
February 12th, 2011
9:15 pm
iso
J.J.M
February 12th, 2011
9:15 pm
horford should be bench…he cant score or defend
yodaddy
February 12th, 2011
9:16 pm
another home collapse….why are Bibby and Jamal Crawford in the game?
O'Brien
February 12th, 2011
9:16 pm
I can hear it now. “The Hawks locker room remained closed longer than usual”.
And then LD will talk about defensive breakdowns, shot selection, lack of energy etc. Same old Hawks
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2011
9:16 pm
Pick and roll with Al — a play the Hawks really should run a lot more.
Nique's Revenge
February 12th, 2011
9:17 pm
thank you josh for not trying to dribble it down the court
Tremaine
February 12th, 2011
9:17 pm
The lakers, heat, magic, and celtics would have had their subs in by now with the game out of reach.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2011
9:18 pm
Horford is 3 for his last 9 if I’m not mistaken, and a lot of those have been tough shots a little out of his comfort zone.
yodaddy
February 12th, 2011
9:18 pm
@Najeh
they should run the pick and roll/Pop almost exclusively with Horford and Josh on the floor….too bad Bibby is too slow to go around the pick
O'Brien
February 12th, 2011
9:18 pm
And even if they win, there is nothing to be excited about.
Charlotte played last night, Hawks have 3 days off. Hawks are the better team and are coming off a 34 point loss against the Phills. And we had a 22 point lead this game.
Wabe
February 12th, 2011
9:19 pm
There’s your guy making a play…
Nique's Revenge
February 12th, 2011
9:19 pm
oh my word.
Tremaine
February 12th, 2011
9:20 pm
GIVE JOE JOHNSON A RAISE.
O'Brien
February 12th, 2011
9:20 pm
And what kind of play call is that?
JJ is 4-13, and they call a play for him?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2011
9:20 pm
Another worthless play by the Hawks. It doesn’t matter how many times you set screens for Joe; the result is still going to be a contested jumper, and if the jumper is not falling there’s no point.
J.J.M
February 12th, 2011
9:20 pm
so you dont drive the ball because? josh is still standing behind the 3 point line because?
yodaddy
February 12th, 2011
9:20 pm
Hawks better have the defensive lineup in the game
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2011
9:20 pm
From Bret LaGree’s Twitter:
“Larry Drew would rather go zone than take any of Bibby, Crawford, or Johnson out of the game for someone who can play defense.”
yodaddy
February 12th, 2011
9:21 pm
Bibby nor Jamal bettter not come out for the last 5.6
Nique's Revenge
February 12th, 2011
9:21 pm
iso joe /= W
dramatics
February 12th, 2011
9:21 pm
joe better play d on this final possesion
yodaddy
February 12th, 2011
9:21 pm
Drew playing smart but Mo Evans??? Let Marvin Get in there
bigdave
February 12th, 2011
9:22 pm
damn.
Nique's Revenge
February 12th, 2011
9:22 pm
Unbelievable.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 12th, 2011
9:22 pm
LMAO
J.J.M
February 12th, 2011
9:22 pm
oh well the bobcats earned it
Tremaine
February 12th, 2011
9:22 pm
WOW!!!
O'Brien
February 12th, 2011
9:22 pm
Ken Sugiura,
I hope you plan on doing the article about the hawks and their fourth quarter scoring.
They scored 14 points in the fourth quarter tonight.
Nique's Revenge
February 12th, 2011
9:22 pm
START THE TRADES
Wabe
February 12th, 2011
9:22 pm
I guess I can say it again…
Yet another night.
I’d rather see the Hawks lose 50+ games and try to land a legit stud with a lottery pick than continue with things as are. The only way this team gets better is with more talent. Unfortunately, we have the biggest bums for owners, and they’re basically holding this team hostage.
They won’t add the necessary peices to push the team to the next level.
At some point, you’ve gotta either:
A) Blow this team up
B) Add the peices necessary to take this thing to the next level
You can’t keep this thing stuck the way it’s been.
BTW, Steven Jackson just did what JJ didn’t.