Bobcats 88, Hawks 86
Greetings, all-
A troubling game for the Hawks in that a) it followed the one game in which you’d think they’d do everything in their grasp to make sure they got a win; b) it certainly looked like a lot of other games this season.
Up by 22 in the first half, up by 18 midway through the third quarter and the Hawks give it away.
Said Josh Smith, “Words can’t describe it.”
Larry Drew: “The shot at the end, it should never have come down to that.”
- One of the most glaring numbers was this – 26 points in the paint in the first half, eight in the second. They pretty much abandoned their offense in the second half.
Said Drew, “We settled for a ton of jump shots.”
More Drew: “We start playing fast, we start going for home runs and then we start settling. That’s what happened in the second half.”
- One of the most crucial segments of the game was the end of the first half, after the Hawks got up 22. They were playing tough, tough defense, making the Bobcats take difficult shots and use the shot clock. Over the final 2:26, the Bobcats made 4-of-4 shots with two free throws to close to a much more manageable 13 points at the half. Granted, I wouldn’t expect the Hawks to hold Charlotte to two points for the entire quarter – which is what they’d scored up until that point and frankly is incredible – but if they had even been able to just trade baskets, they probably would have won.
I tallied it up, and it’s in the game story. After Smith hit a 3-pointer early in the third that got the lead to 70-52, the Hawks took 17 more shots from 17 feet or more the rest of the game, and made one. Plenty of other ones from in close weren’t great looks, either.
I’ll concede this much: Bibby had made three 3-pointers in a row, and so I’m sure he felt like he was in a good rhythm, so I don’t know how much I can fault him for continuing to shoot. And players like Joe Johnson or Jamal Crawford are guys who can get hot and make a living on the perimeter.
And it’s not like, as they were chucking up jumpers they knew they were going to end up 1-for-their-last-17 from the perimeter. When I talked to Jeff Van Gundy for the story that ran Saturday, he argued a point about the Hawks’ shot selection issues basically by saying, people say shot selection is bad when the shots don’t go in. I see his point. Johnson, Crawford, Bibby and even Smith are fully capable of making 3-pointers and jump shots, and it would have surprised no one if, rather than continue to flail away, one or more of them had caught fire in the fourth quarter and turned the game around.
Still, the indulgence on jump shots was ultimately punitive and, perhaps more to the point, was not what their coach was telling them to do.
Said Drew, “We ended up shooting more 3’s than we did getting to the free-throw line, and you just can’t do that.”
- Hawks have been outscored in the fourth quarter eight times in the last 11 games.
- The Hawks actually played decent defense, I thought. Charlotte shot 42.3 percent, below the Bobcats’ season average, and scored 20 points (on 6-of-16 shooting) in the fourth quarter. I think you’d win most nights with those numbers.
To me, I thought the effort was there for most of the game at that end of the floor.
- Johnson and Crawford were a combined 5-for-23 for 13 points, 0-for-9 from 3-point range. That followed the Philly game in which they were a combined 6-for-16 and had 12 points.
Drew: “At this point, we’re trying to get them the same shots that we’ve gotten them all season long. Right now, the ball has not been falling for them but they can’t stop doing what they do best and I’m going to hound both of those guys as we go out on the road now for them to re-gain their stroke, re-gain their confidence, re-gain their attack mentality.”
- Shaun Livingston took a healthy bite out of the Hawks. Drew said he tried to hide Bibby by mixing up some zones, but it didn’t really matter. He kind of did what he wanted no matter what the Hawks did, finishing with 22 points off the bench.
- Horford on his back (he played team-high 42 minutes): I felt O.K. I can’t say I’m all the way (back). I don’t have lift yet, but besides that, I felt good enough to be out there playing.”
- I’m not ready to declare the sky is falling. The season is way too long for that. This has obviously been a bit of an ugly patch. The Hawks, though, may re-gain their footing on the West Coast. Drew certainly hopes so. “It is a great time to go out on the road,” he said. They’re good enough to have won five games in a row three different times and 33 games total this season, so it’s not like this team can’t win, or shouldn’t continue to win its share.
But it’s, as I said, troubling that Drew can identify the problem but, when the game’s crucial moments arrive, either a) he can’t effectively communicate it; b) his players can’t do what he wants; or c) his players won’t do what he wants.
Drew said after the game that patience and shot selection are things he’s “been harping on since day one. When we don’t get what we want a few trips down the floor, we have to slow it down and we have to get the shot we want. Certainly at that point it’s not taking another three. Our guys, they have not grasped that concept yet.”
Ken Sugiura, Hawks beat
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257 comments Add your comment
db
February 13th, 2011
1:51 pm
I bet they do no better than 2-5 on this road trip!!!!!!!!
cp
February 13th, 2011
1:58 pm
It looks like LD learned absolutely nothing from Woodrow and its going to cost him his job…Going away from whats working, sticking with things that dont work such as the Bibby and Jamal back court, sticking with unproductive vets, and refusing to try something new to shake up the team…..Like Woodrow, LD seems to know during the post game what was wrong and what he should have done to fix it but for some reason doesn’t do the things during the game…..I was never a fan of Woodson but it was clear that he wasn’t the only issue….The players have been together for years and yet we still hear the same excuses now that we were hearing 4 years ago…Its time to shake this team up because these guys dont seem to care anyway……………Good write up Ken and 303.
mattjones
February 13th, 2011
2:07 pm
Sund is a cheap hire. LD is a cheap hire. ASG is a cheap organization only interested in taking the luxury tax money from the affluent teams. You get what you pay for. Sund 31 yrs in the NBA have been mediocre and LD yrs in the NBA have been mediocre. The ASG have been horrible and embarrassing for our city. You can’t pay Walmart money and get St. John quality. It all starts at the top.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 13th, 2011
2:10 pm
“Do you know if hiring the assistant to the fired head coach has ever worked?”
Off the top of my head, Jerry Sloan and Phil Jackson.
Sautee
February 13th, 2011
2:19 pm
Samuel,
About this: “I told yall that LD was all talk. He basically told you guys and the ASG what yall wanted to hear to get the job.”
Samuel, how in the world would you KNOW what LD said to Sund and Gearon in his interviews? Were you there? Were transcripts released? NO!
You don’t know what was said at all, and yet here you are accusing him of lying.
If someone did that to you, and said YOU were lying in an interview, you’d go after their @ss. And yet, because you are faceless on a blog, you think it’s ok to accuse a coach of the same. Lotta class there, buddy.
and what is this BS about “told you guys what y’all wanted to hear to get the job”?
He never said anything to US until after he HAD the job, so WTF are you trying to say?
Look it’s ever so obvious to all of us on the blog that your beef with LD is because he replaced your precious COY. But when you get into accusing him of lying with no proof, you are crossing the line of decency.
MJC
February 13th, 2011
2:19 pm
I love the people still saying that Smoove took too many jumpers when he was MAKING THEM. This team’s problem last light was Joe and Crawford missing 18 of their 23 shots.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 13th, 2011
2:20 pm
Billy Knight > Rick Sund
mykhalc
February 13th, 2011
2:24 pm
i want this thing BLOWED UP by the end of MIA/BOS game…PERIOD!!!! the Atlanta Excuses ‘10-11 version…ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Najeh Davenpoop
February 13th, 2011
2:30 pm
“I told yall that LD was all talk. He basically told you guys and the ASG what yall wanted to hear to get the job. NBA players won’t run a motion offense. NBA players won’t listen to a coach who makes a fraction of what they make”
LD could have gone into his job interview butt naked and tap danced on Gearon’s head and he’d still be better than Woody. The Hawks actually pass the ball this year. What a shocking concept. They actually run plays out of timeouts. For LD to accomplish that with this team after the way they played the last three seasons is a minor miracle. There are any number of ways LD could be doing better, but the man has done a B- job this year, which is a hell of a lot better than Woody’s D+.
And anyway, anyone who doesn’t try to be intellectually dishonest knows that there is no way last year’s team with Woody at head coach was going to win 53 games again after the Heat formed their super team, the Bulls added Boozer and upgraded their head coach, and the Knicks added Amare. I had this team pegged for 49 wins before the season started. Where LD can prove himself is in the playoffs, not the regular season.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 13th, 2011
2:33 pm
“I love the people still saying that Smoove took too many jumpers when he was MAKING THEM. This team’s problem last light was Joe and Crawford missing 18 of their 23 shots.”
Smoove could score 40 and take no jumpshots, but if the Hawks lose people here will still clamor for him to be traded and talk some bullsh-t about his basketball IQ and his maturity. It’s just the way it is around here.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 13th, 2011
2:39 pm
And don’t get it twisted. My 2:30 post is not some passionate defense of LD — I was skeptical when he was hired, encouraged by the things he had to say, and I have more or less mixed feelings about what he has accomplished. Maybe he ends up being awful and the experiment fails. What I am saying is that LD failing doesn’t make firing Woody the wrong decision; it just means the Hawks should have found a better replacement. Just because Jim Mora was awful doesn’t mean the Falcons should have kept Dan Reeves. This is a very common thing for fans to do, to rewrite history to make the old coach look better when the new coach is no better or worse.
Sautee
February 13th, 2011
2:50 pm
“This is a very common thing for fans to do, to rewrite history to make the old coach look better when the new coach is no better or worse.”
Co-sign. Sad but oh so true.
Michael Gearon Jr.
February 13th, 2011
3:08 pm
Hawks Fans,
I think you are missing the big pictures:
We had a TWENTY-PLUS point lead on a team owned by THE GREATEST PLAYER IN THE HISTORY OF THE NBA. Can’t you see this?
We have FINALLY arrived. We have a WINNING RECORD at home AND on the road. How many Hawks teams in the last 10 years have achieved this MONUMENTAL goal?
Let me rehash a few ideas I have emphasized over the years:
1) We WILL make a trade and go into the luxury tax for the right player. Right now, out of the 29 other teams, we feel none has any player that will make us better. If you put LeBron James or Dwyane Wade in a Hawks uniform, we will NOT be a better team. Replace ZaZa with Dwight and we are NOT better
2) Josh Smith is the closest thing in this league to LeBron James. He is a MASTERFUL jumpshooter with LOADS of maturity and he speaks VERY eloquently, like LeBron does.
3) Rick Sund is the best GM in professional sports. He has EXCELLENT Public Relations skills and is a good guy to have a beer with
We are now an ELITE team
JeJe
February 13th, 2011
3:14 pm
LOL @ LD hinting at a lineup change then chickening out
What lineup change? Starting midget Mo Evans? How were JOE OR DAMIEN NOT ON STEPHEN JACKSON ON THAT LAST POSSESSION? WE ALL KNOW MO EVANS HAS NO WINGSPAN. JESUS
LOL TEAGUE CAN’T EVEN WIN THE STARTING JOB FROM BIBBY. THIS HAS TO BE AN ESPN HEADLINE BECAUSE IT’S A JOKE. TEAGUE CAN’T EVEN OUTBEAT PATHETIC OVERWEIGHT BIBBY IN PRACTICE
AND EVERY 3 BIBBY MADE LAST NIGHT WAS CONTESTED – WHAT A GREAT PLAYER!
Grandad
February 13th, 2011
3:30 pm
To Samuel:
[but 1st Najeh & Sautee great insight & rejoinder]
Now, Samuel, I must agree to a point.
*[NBA players not running motion offense]
However, Joe is the culprit !
If and when Joe doen’t comply the offense stalls.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I contend:
(1) Joe is selfish – (contract)
(2) Refusal to “work and play well with others” – (motion offense)
(3) Basketball IQ – (he’s never been accused of having a great B-ball IQ)
*[not saying he has a low B-ball IQ, yet it's never mentioned as a strength]
(4) Joe’s not (smart / savvy / bright / clever / alert) pick whichever one you want.
*[re last years play-off comments about the fans]
Grandad
February 13th, 2011
3:39 pm
G-dad’s —way to early— 1st round draftpick: [for the Hawks]
Nolan Smith…..6-3…pg…Duke
He may very well be available when the Hawks pick.
mykhalc
February 13th, 2011
3:43 pm
BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!
Jae Evolution
February 13th, 2011
3:47 pm
“G-dad’s —way to early— 1st round draftpick: [for the Hawks]
Nolan Smith…..6-3…pg…Duke
He may very well be available when the Hawks pick.”
Brandon Knight :\
honest_abe
February 13th, 2011
3:50 pm
don’t know if you can put this teams ineptitude all on LD. the offense when executed give the hawks offense some ebb and flow to it. maybe the switch d is the best possible d considering the personnel. i hated seeing it but it was effective to a certain extent.
samuel: as for the rest of what you wrote i agree with you. what’s this world coming to?
Wally Walker
February 13th, 2011
3:54 pm
I_am_soulstar,
You are absolutely correct with the Portland trade using Jamal, Mo, and Marvin for Camby and Miller. It is a no brainer for both teams because first: Portland needs a SF and Marvin needs a fresh start, Jamal and Mo are duplicates for their current roster, but both contracts are expiring (13.3 mil). In a rebuilding mode cap space is what you need. A PG is the most pressuring need for the Hawks. Sure, Miller only has a year or two left, but he is clearly even at his age an upgrade over anything on the roster. Next, Camby is a defensive and rebounding presence and now that he is ready to return from his injury. These two could provide the fix that this team depersately need. In addition, Miller’s contract end before the 2012 season. Camby will have trade value because any big man who can block shots and rebound is always desirable. Moreover, Bibby’s contract ends as well.
This is a trade which makes sense on the court and financially. Finally, this trade gives the Hawks a legitimate chance for a championship run this year and a run for D. Howard after the 2012 season: Camby and/or Al or Josh could be traded for cap space along with Bibby’s 6 mil gone. 26-28 mil available to improve the team
Sund and ASG don’t sit and do nothing, you are losing fans by the minutes.
Hoops
February 13th, 2011
3:55 pm
Unless a trade is made soon for a PG, the Hawks are looking @ a first round exit from the playoffs.
I would bet that the Nats would consider Crawford1 for Harris. That would free them up alot of money after this season and give the Hawks a PG.
The Jazz may consider Josh Smith for Deron Williams. Then the Hawks could trade Crawford1 to Denver for Nene.
O'Brien
February 13th, 2011
4:05 pm
“We ended up shooting more 3’s than we did getting to the free-throw line, and you just can’t do that.” Larry Drew.
Really coach? We just can’t do that?
According to hoopinion, the Hawks have attempted more 3’s than FTs 37 times out of 53 games. If thats the case, then they are doing exactly what LD said they can’t do.
Currently, the Hawks are 26th in the league in FT Rate this season. They were 23rd last season.
honest_abe
February 13th, 2011
4:09 pm
wally walker % iamsoulstar: trade doesn’t excite but i do think it would improve the team considerably. can’t leave out the leadership that would come along with the trade.
superiorblogman
February 13th, 2011
5:22 pm
Nolan Smith is not a PG and his ceiling is Duhon. I would rather not select another Teague like combo guard that does not really know how to play the position.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 13th, 2011
5:25 pm
The Lakers have no answer for Dwight Howard. Looks like the Hawks are going to be 5th in the conference after today.
JeJe
February 13th, 2011
5:30 pm
TEAGUE CANT EVEN BEAT OUT BIBBY FOR THE STARTING PG SPOT
EVEN IF TEAGUE PLAYS WELL IN THE 2ND QUARTER, LD’S IDIOT SELF WILL NEVER STAR TEAGUE IN THE SECOND HALF
PRETTY MUCH, TEAGUE SUCKS
AND SO DOES LD
mykhalc
February 13th, 2011
5:57 pm
ok…i got it…Marvin for JChildress!!! /sarcasm but that sad thing is this is the kinda trade that actually might happen!!! SMH
slimjr
February 13th, 2011
6:09 pm
It’s starting to look pretty grim for the Hawks! They peaked last year you genius Gearon….You missed the opportunity last summer to tweak this team and to take it to the next level… Your squad is toast with 30 games left! 1st rd. exit in humiliation……………..You have no bench dude!!! It gets an F-..That will haunt the Hawks. The unraveling has already begun……Wow…….Count down to playoff beatdown has begun 29,28,27,26,25….etc…
slimjr
February 13th, 2011
6:10 pm
JChill is a better defender and rebounder than Marvin.Bye Marvin……………………………..Buster……………
Sautee
February 13th, 2011
6:15 pm
myk,
I don’t think we can “re-acquire” Chills for a year after we traded him.
Hope you are doing well and have work.
Sautee
February 13th, 2011
6:16 pm
slim,
Why does it feel like you are gleeful as you predict the worst for our team?
slimjr
February 13th, 2011
6:18 pm
Looks like we traded the wrong SF?
slimjr
February 13th, 2011
6:19 pm
Should have said we resigned the wrong SF?
mykhalc
February 13th, 2011
6:25 pm
yo Sautee…how u bro??? things are good in san fran. hope u treatin’ that bass right!!!
Chills would head back to Greece before headin’ back to ATL!!! he probably hates all things ATL at this point…probably flies thru CHA instead!! LOL but he would be better than MW!!!
slimjr
February 13th, 2011
6:31 pm
@Sautee
“Hope you are doing well and have work”
Yes and wish nothing but the best for you and yours..
My frustration is directed at one of the most dysfunctional bipolar organization of the past 43 years..Guess I am just venting dude…Sorry fans….I once was a die hard fan too. Used to go watch em live…..oh well…It’s just a game right?
tony
February 13th, 2011
7:26 pm
I like Nolan Smith also. However, his ballhandling skills isn’t that good and he turns the ball over alot. This is a weak yr for pgs in 2011. There are a few decent pgs that should be around in the second. I like Derwin Kitchen-pg 6′4 204lbs. He’s a good defender and he passes the ball very well.
I also like Darius Morris-pg. He might stay around for his senior season………if not he will fit perfectly in a hawks uni. Great assist guy and he is a terrific floor general.
We need to draft for need ONLY! We need to focus on a pg and center. This gm(Sund) has shown that he doesn’t know the difference between a pg and a sg. When was the last time this organization drafted a center? Over 14 yrs?
We need to draft Keith Benson-c. I really like this young man. He gives you something on both ends of the court and he has a very high basketball IQ. Centers who can score and defend doesn’t come around often.
We should roll with these two young men.
1st round Keith Benson-c
2nd roundDerwin Kitchen-pg
JeJe
February 13th, 2011
7:42 pm
Bottom line is LD is a scared girl. He says he’ll “possibly” look at making roster moves so it doesn’t look like he has to. What MOVE CAN HE POSSIBLY BE REFERRING TO? STARTING MO EVANS? WHY DOES HE MAKE NO ADJUSTMENTS AT HALFTIME?
WHY DOES BIBBY START THE 3RD EVEN IF HE DID NOTHING IN THE 1ST HALF?
WHY IS TEAGUE SUCH GARBAGE? HOW HAS HE NOT OUTPERFORMED BIBBY IN ANY WAY?
BLOW UP THIS ROSTER AND START UP. THIS CORE IS GOING WHERE
YES MICHAEL MORONSON JR,. YOU STINK
FIRE SUND
O'Brien
February 13th, 2011
7:55 pm
In today’s Heat-Celtics game, LbJ handled the ball alot. But what does Rondo do? He took it upon himself to pick up LeBron full court whenver LeBron had the ball.
That is one of the things we need from Teague. Pick up the ball handler full court, but be good enough defensively to be able to get back in position.
doc
February 13th, 2011
8:03 pm
samuel woody was not the problem. but if you can save 3 plus mil a year fpr the same thing in performance you would gp for it too. it is a business. players get dropped all the time fpr similar reasons to be replaced by a lower salary.
Derek
February 13th, 2011
8:07 pm
I agree with the blog from Section 303. I just care about this team so much and I wish that I didn’t. I am a true Hawks fan and I feel that they are not putting the best product on the floor. Trust me Mr. Gearon, if the Hawks build some kind of winning consistencey, the fans will support this team. They are not going to support this team when it consistently lows double digits leads and gets beat by 34 pts. The Hawks have to show their fan base that they are trying to be better. Right now I cannot say that they have a sincere desire to be better. I think they are satisfied being a ” middle of the road ” team. That’s how I see it!!!
EmirS.
February 13th, 2011
8:07 pm
Get tired of reading these posts sometimes. Post after post of:
Bibby’s old.
Marvin looks like a duck.
JJ sucks.
Josh can’t. shoot.
(Add any that I missed)
No structure just that.
Anyways let me not waste blog space and my time and just continue the trend:
Strengthen the friggin bench……
Sautee
February 13th, 2011
8:27 pm
Emir,
How about “clueless owners who love their core”
JeJe
February 13th, 2011
8:30 pm
FIRE WOODY
thetruth
February 13th, 2011
8:37 pm
_
(’,')
_ _ / /) other GMs
( (_`,–……_._,/ / \
\ ) `( ,__ ‘-’-)-’\ ))
(/ \ | ‘ 7,/` | /
\\ / / ( |
sund ” | ) | )
=’-’ =’-’
Worldwide Clyde
February 13th, 2011
8:41 pm
FIRE BILLY AND WOODY
Had to take it back old school.
Its time to rebuild folks. The bad part about it is we have a lot of players with bad contracts. Tell me who would trade for Joe paying 16 mill a year. Who would trade for Bibby with another year on his contract at 5 mill a year. Who would trade for Marvin at 7 mill a year.
The only players teams really want are Smoove and Horford and they are ones we need to rebuild around. I said a year ago resigning Bibby, Zaza, and Marvin would lead to the collapse of the Hawks and now its coming true.
Don’t blame the fans for bad personnel decisions.
Melvin
February 13th, 2011
8:48 pm
Section 303,
Did Gearon mention anything about Teague?
just a note
February 13th, 2011
9:07 pm
I agree with most of the guys on here. This would be a much better blog If Michael Cunningham stop blocking the many voices who say Al horford is a very weak defender and Atlanta will never compete as long as he is in the front court.
Who was the Idiot that fired Woodson? For What? Drew? Woodson had these boys playing at the highest level considering there talent.
Fire Sund!
Fire Michael Cunningham
Fire Al Horford!
The Hawks Suck!@!@
Mike Woodson We Miss you! The hawks miss you.
just a note
February 13th, 2011
9:10 pm
Al Horford is allergic to defense and gets knock around in the front court like a betch. Trade his sorry aisze.
just a note
February 13th, 2011
9:11 pm
Fire Michael Betch Cunningham.
Rufus1
February 13th, 2011
9:14 pm
LD’s Contradiction…
You emphasize jump shooting in your offense…But complain about too many jump shots
You position even none jump shooters on the perimeter…but complain when the take the shot
You don’t play your best penetrators or people willing to attack the rim(Teague or JC2), but complain that Bibby, JJ and Jamal are not attacking the rim…. YOU WERE ON THE BENCH LAST YEAR, nothing has changed ..wtf LD
I don’t understnd what LD is hoping to get out of Bibby…..SO HOW CAN TEGUE UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WANTS FROM HIM. If Bibby can’t do the one thing he is known for, shooting…then why is he starting.
Football analogy…
You can’t learn to play quarter back on the side lines.