Atlanta Hawks at Lakers: Point presence desperately needed
Los Angeles–The following question was put to Al over All-Star weekend: How can the Hawks be a better defensive team when they so obviously struggle to contain the perimeter and opponents relentlessly attack that weakness?
“Our guards have got to do a better job of that,” Al said. “Obviously we [bigs] have to be there on the help side, but we need to have that presence to try and keep the ball out of the paint as much as we can.”
The answer to that has been “not much at all” with the current group and as long as that’s the case it’s going to be too difficult for the Hawks to get consistent stops in the playoffs. L.D. has tricked things up with zones and switches but that’s just smoke and mirrors that teams like Boston, Orlando, Chicago and Miami will exploit.
This fundamental issue explains why they are so desperate to add a point guard like Devin Harris. The advanced stats say Harris has declined defensively–perhaps because of a poor attitude in New Jersey, as reported by the Bergen Record’s Al Iannazzone.
Perhaps a change of scenery would rejuvenate Harris, who has been a good defender in the past. Even if it didn’t, Harris would be an upgrade defensively over what the Hawks have now. He’s also an excellent playmaker who would push the pace in the open floor and allow Josh and Al to run and fill the lanes instead of handling the ball.
Jamal needs a jolt
Jamal is slumping. Perhaps more troublesome than the shots not going in are the long stretches when he’s stopped shooting—six shots against Toronto, two against Detroit–because if he’s not trying to score where is the bench going to find points?
Jamal is in some kind of funk. It happens occasionally and said he’s not sure why.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Once or twice a year I do that for whatever reason.”
L.D. had a talk with Jamal after practice Monday, like he has the other times when it seems like Jamal isn’t into it.
“I’ve got to get him going,” Drew said. “All great scorers go through periods where they go through a little slump. It’s nothing unusual. He just has to work his way out of it and I have to help him out of it. We will try to get him on the right course tonight.”
Status quo
Drew said he will use the “big” lineup against the Lakers but hasn’t made up his mind about a permanent change to the normal lineup:
“I spent these four days looking at some of the possibilities as far as changes within the lineup. Nothing concrete yet. I will keep tinkering with it as we move forward, see how we do [tonight] and at Phoenix on the back-to-back. It won’t be anything [different], I think, on this road trip. I will just decide whether to go with big lineup or traditional lineup [each game] and see what happens.”
High expectations
The Lakers have lost three straight, including an ugly L to the Cavs, to drop to 8.5 games behind San Antonio in the West. These developments qualify as a crisis in these parts, though Kobe was upbeat yesterday after Lakers practice:
“It’s a marathon. You see the finish line, you tend to pick up the speed a little bit.”
Mike Bresnahan of the LA Times offers a four-point plan to fix the Lakers.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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836 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
February 22nd, 2011
11:43 pm
As if this couldn’t get any worse, here comes the meth commercial again.
bigdave
February 22nd, 2011
11:43 pm
lol @ GOT CORE
all bloggers need a black tee w/ that on it..
Najeh Davenpoop
February 22nd, 2011
11:44 pm
Tyronn Lue > Bibby
Loserville USA
February 22nd, 2011
11:44 pm
Josh Smith should understand why he’s not an All-Star…2 off the backboard you Wunderlich?
KevinM
February 22nd, 2011
11:44 pm
Every Hawk has just lost more value prior to the trade deadline.
Now, NJ will ask for 7M to go with Marvin.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 22nd, 2011
11:44 pm
Anthony Johnson > Bibby
Melvin
February 22nd, 2011
11:44 pm
And the Hawks wonder why they get clown by the national audience. Just look at this performance on National TV…
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 22nd, 2011
11:44 pm
Rick Sund Twitter: 11:42 PM
“Be the first one of your friends to get your ‘I Love Our Core’ tee shirts in 5 beautiful colors. The first 100 orders receive a buy-one-get-one free coupon for an irresistible Chick Fil A chicken sandwich and a Pape Sy bobble head doll.”
Jae Evolution
February 22nd, 2011
11:44 pm
How do you overthrow a pass so damn bad it almost comes back to you. GIVE UP THE BALL TO A GUARD…oh wait!! Bibby is the one supposed to be running this team he couldn’t command a stroller to roll his old A$$ OFF THE COURT!!
lewis
February 22nd, 2011
11:45 pm
“we like our core”
Ron
February 22nd, 2011
11:45 pm
“I’m just concerned if we get a PG, LD will misuse him. What’s the point”
This is a great point. That’s one of the same concerns that I have. I’m worried that no matter who we get, we might not get much out of them since L.D. will be in charge. Even now, we are far from getting the most out of our current players. We still continue to underutilize Al Horford, we don’t use Teague at all these days, we don’t use Jordan Crawford, and we continue to overutilize guys like Mo Evans simply because Drew likes them better than others. It’s beyond insane at this point.
I, honestly, feel like we may never improve as a team unless we get rid of Drew. Even if we make a trade for a very good point guard, unless Drew lets that guard run the team on his own and Drew plays him big minutes, it won’t really matter. I’ve supported Drew for long enough and I’m through. He’s all talk with nothing to back it up.
Nique's Revenge
February 22nd, 2011
11:45 pm
the hawks don’t want it.
goin’ through the motions, once again
same stuff from LD, from the players, from management
SteveW
February 22nd, 2011
11:45 pm
One reason I want Felton and not Sessions (or I would like both) is I’m afraid Sessions would be the new Jeff Teague left to LD
AG
February 22nd, 2011
11:45 pm
The Hawks have lost by more than 20+ 5 times this year. Last year only 3 times during regular season. I hope somebody is coming out with a blackeye because a few of them need to be pissed and Al needs to deck somebody in that locker room. Hey LD, try something new, start Teague in the second half. Last year, he scored 12 pts in 17 minutes against the Lakers
cp
February 22nd, 2011
11:45 pm
LD wont make any changes at half. He will throw the same guys back out there smdh
I AM RICK SUND
February 22nd, 2011
11:46 pm
HAHAHAHAHA, you clowns will still keep showing up at Phillips and stuffing my pockets with endless bank, maybe I will trade for PG from the D-League & hope that will shut you clowns up…Face it, making a trade requires work, I haven’t worked in 31+ yrs and aint bout to start now and do you know why………………………I LOVE OUR CORE.
KevinM
February 22nd, 2011
11:46 pm
Gotta work tomorrow, g’night folks! This one’s over!
Sund traveling with the team, but at the movies right now…no comment until he gets back to the hotel.
SteveW
February 22nd, 2011
11:47 pm
Meanwhile, Acie is in the rotation at GW as they have the Celts tied in the 3 rd quarter. Leads the team with a +8 I might add in 13 minutes.
But with LD mentoring him, a bust as a lottery pick…See a pattern?
Worldwide Clyde
February 22nd, 2011
11:48 pm
I predict we get blown out by 30
slimjr
February 22nd, 2011
11:48 pm
“m hoping for a huge blowout so maybe they pull the trigger on anything ”
becareful what you wish for because when it comes to the Hawks you probably will not get your wish…
Somebody said the Hawks are just RUSTY!!!!!! Are you kidding me??No their probably half drunk…..lol
cp
February 22nd, 2011
11:48 pm
Jermaine Jackson >Bibby
MJ49
February 22nd, 2011
11:48 pm
JC2 isn’t playing tonight people, he’s in street clothes
maavelous
February 22nd, 2011
11:48 pm
I Marv am here during a timeout to let you know I am once again playing maaavelous tonight. Now if I could get that cheapaskate Sund to pay me the big bucks I deserve. I am as you know maaaavelous.
Nique's Revenge
February 22nd, 2011
11:49 pm
how dare they show advertisements on my tv, with what just proceeded it, 24 mins of garbage
lewis
February 22nd, 2011
11:49 pm
can’t take this anymore, i’ll be back when the hawks make a trade. if they don’t, see yall next year
SteveW
February 22nd, 2011
11:49 pm
Najeh – I have no doubt that is true – Same for Rafer Alston
Worldwide Clyde
February 22nd, 2011
11:49 pm
Free Jordan Crawford
Nique's Revenge
February 22nd, 2011
11:49 pm
tito > bibby
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 22nd, 2011
11:49 pm
Mediatakeout: Rick Sund and Michael Gearon show up to Hawks game with “Lovin’ Our Core” face tats.
I AM RICK SUND
February 22nd, 2011
11:49 pm
Why should LD play JC2 & Teague when Bibby, JC1 & Mo are screwing up just fine. Those two can’t play any worse but man do I LOVE OUR CORE.
Rev in Tampa
February 22nd, 2011
11:49 pm
It does appear that the wheels have come completely off. From the management to the coach to the players.
I don’t know if any trades will help this team right now. This is the same mindset that we witnessed from this team in the playoffs against Orlando last year. I am glad that the hawks went ahead and extended Horford earlier this year otherwise I don’t know how much patience he would have for this team.
slimjr
February 22nd, 2011
11:50 pm
Free tito!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 22nd, 2011
11:50 pm
Verne Troyer > Bibby
Grandad
February 22nd, 2011
11:51 pm
Trade Joe…rotten apple.
Tremaine
February 22nd, 2011
11:51 pm
That first half was all Jeff Teague fault. How dare he sit on the bench and not do anything. He will pay tomorrow when the hawks trade him for Sessions.
northcyde
February 22nd, 2011
11:51 pm
(( talking like Ben Affleck in Armageddon ))
“The Hawks will win. I know it. They don’t know how to fail.”
Nique's Revenge
February 22nd, 2011
11:52 pm
uh oh grandad u done did it now
Shake Something
February 22nd, 2011
11:52 pm
Jeff Teague!,Jeff Teague!!,Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!, Jeff Teague!!
Lets all go to Phillips arena when the Hawks practice and raze picket signs saying “please start Teague”
slimjr
February 22nd, 2011
11:52 pm
‘It does appear that the wheels have come completely off. From the management to the coach to the players.”
Come on Rev dont count them wheels yet.. There’s still 26.5 games left till the Playoffs..PLAYOFFS??
Nique's Revenge
February 22nd, 2011
11:52 pm
wow, do we really have to start over again and go back down to a 13 win season? but will it matter if ownership and management still suck?
Larry Drew
February 22nd, 2011
11:53 pm
PEOPLE, PEOPLE!!!! TEAGUE ISN’T PLAYING BECAUSE MY OFFENSE REQUIRES “NO PG”, TEAGUE’S JOB IS AS SOON AS HE GETS ACROSS HALFCOURT IS TO PASS THE BALL TO JC1 & SIT IN THE CORNER!!!!
slimjr
February 22nd, 2011
11:53 pm
ISO JOE ISO JOE ISO JOE. COME ON JOE, I KNOW YOUR NOT RUSTY??????????????????
Tremaine
February 22nd, 2011
11:54 pm
ALL WE ARE SAYING, IS GIVE TEAGUE A CHANCE!
bigdave
February 22nd, 2011
11:54 pm
boy you a fool Mac..
NUNNA!!!
February 22nd, 2011
11:54 pm
Mike Bresnahan of the LA Times offers a four-point plan to fix the Lakers.
1.Play the hawks in the staple center
2.Play the hawks at phillips arena.
3.Play the hawks on a playground.
4.Play the hawks anywhere.
Nique's Revenge
February 22nd, 2011
11:54 pm
lmao @ LD
bigdave
February 22nd, 2011
11:54 pm
Rick and Gearon w/ the Gucci ice cream joint..
Larry Drew
February 22nd, 2011
11:55 pm
MAN ISN’T MY MOTION OFFENSE WONDERFUL
O'Brien
February 22nd, 2011
11:55 pm
Bibby has looked bad this game.
And LD insisted on playin Bibby, Jamal and JJ big minutes together, despite Jamal and bibby not doing much on offense or defense.
I wonder what Rick is thinking watching this live…
Tremaine
February 22nd, 2011
11:55 pm
Who want to bet that LD say we got away from our gameplan after the game?