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
F@#KTHEHAWKS.org
February 23rd, 2011
12:07 am
Otis Smith is not afraid to make moves because he is not strapped for cash. That being said, Frank Wren makes moves under a limited budget and even though he does not make the right moves everytime, he does not stand pat with a mediocre ball club. Some move is better than none, because the Hawks Have Peaked! F@#K THE HAWKS!!
Sautee
February 23rd, 2011
12:07 am
Could somebody repost the article about Hinrich please?
Six times just wasn’t enough.
hawks blow
February 23rd, 2011
12:07 am
Lakers don’t even bother guarding ‘Smove’ on the perimeter. What a joke.
Nique's Revenge
February 23rd, 2011
12:07 am
Do we even run plays anymore? Or just run around?
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
12:08 am
“I hereby retract my 124-93 prediction.
Well, the Hawks with 93 points part of it.” LOL
The Hawks are now selling playoff tickets! PLAYOFFS???? Joke=Sad=Sund
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 23rd, 2011
12:08 am
tired of seeing Bibby skip and hop around like a frog.
Loserville USA
February 23rd, 2011
12:08 am
Blow this team up.
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
12:08 am
they no longer competing .. giving wide open looks. everyone is a jump shooter. boy we needed Devin or Felton. someone who wont let the defense off the hook.
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
12:09 am
Stick a fork in this ish…………………………………..
Loserville USA
February 23rd, 2011
12:09 am
Laker fans are getting their tacos tonight — EASILY. Courtesy of the hardcourt morons.
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 23rd, 2011
12:09 am
these guys are toying with us smh
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
12:09 am
lol @ Sautee..
u would think it was about a trade bringing us Wade.
F@#KTHEHAWKS.org
February 23rd, 2011
12:09 am
We need to boycott the playoffs, we will lose in the first round with this team, GURANTEED!! F@#K THE HAWKS!!
northcyde
February 23rd, 2011
12:10 am
All the crying about Smith, but he’s obviously playing not to lose right now, regardless of the score.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 23rd, 2011
12:10 am
You know your team sucks when the guy responsible for PR for the team is a pessimist.
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
12:11 am
you still like your CORE Sund?????? 31 years???? Who is this GM impersonator??????
Nique's Revenge
February 23rd, 2011
12:11 am
I really like Horford, so I hope he makes his way to a contender sooner rather than later. Hawks are done.
Nique's Revenge
February 23rd, 2011
12:11 am
roflmao @ pr guy
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
12:12 am
no matter what people say.. Josh is usually the only Hawk who’s play looks like he cares..
F@#KTHEHAWKS.org
February 23rd, 2011
12:12 am
The Hawks Will Always regret the day we didn’t Chris Paul or D. Will. With That being said, I thought Marvin was the right choice. Marvin is not a LION and does not work hard enough on his game. Because he has the skill set. This sad to watch! F@#K THE HAWKS!
Lionhearted
February 23rd, 2011
12:12 am
Josh SUCKS
Andrew
February 23rd, 2011
12:12 am
There’s a scary trend that has been going on for the Hawks. Al Horford has been getting fewer shots lately, and the Hawks have been losing at a higher rate. That’s not a coincidence.
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
12:12 am
it may not be pretty.. but he tries..
Najeh Davenpoop
February 23rd, 2011
12:13 am
“A crew from NBA TV is chronicling the Hawks behind the scenes from Monday until after the team’s game at Phoenix on Wednesday. No air date has been set for the footage.”
This should be fun.
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
12:13 am
Come on JOE earn your freaking 12655955500000million Duffus………
Tremaine
February 23rd, 2011
12:13 am
You know when Ron Artest is balling your team suck.
AG
February 23rd, 2011
12:13 am
really, as poor as they are playing he has not cleared the bench? This coach is horrible!
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
12:13 am
nobody can get Al the ball where he can be more productive..
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
12:13 am
TRADE JOSH TRADE EVERYBODY>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Loserville USA
February 23rd, 2011
12:14 am
You can say Drew is a terrible coach (which he is)….but in his defense the team as constituted is really not coachable.
Wonder what club Smith was at last night til 4 a.m. because he is OUT OF IT!
AG
February 23rd, 2011
12:14 am
Okay, LD has not touched the court and the guys are playing bad, but it is his fault for not taking the guys out who are doing nothing.
RaJaH
February 23rd, 2011
12:15 am
This is just sad. Can everyone please bow your heads and join hands…..
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
12:15 am
they better quit booozing..Basketball and liquor the two shall not mix…………………….
Najeh Davenpoop
February 23rd, 2011
12:15 am
In the immortal words of Clyde… yawn.
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
12:16 am
Think im gonna clean out my colon….lol
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
12:16 am
that play where Marvin got his shot blocked by Bynum.. where was his athleticism.. and up and under.. he took a quick jump shot..
Shake Something
February 23rd, 2011
12:16 am
anybody got some dynamite?!??
Matt
February 23rd, 2011
12:17 am
I can’t believe I watch this so-called product. We are a bunch of losers with loser mentalities who have no sense of pride or professionalism…and Al Horford. If Rick Sund compares us to real franchise one more time, I’m climbing the rafters at Phillips.
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
12:17 am
was that a vintage my foot on the 3 pt line 2 from Marv?
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
12:17 am
“A crew from NBA TV is chronicling the Hawks behind the scenes from Monday until after the team’s game at Phoenix on Wednesday. No air date has been set for the footage.”
Hit DELETE…………………………
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
February 23rd, 2011
12:17 am
slimjr you were right dude – this is bad. speechless
northcyde
February 23rd, 2011
12:18 am
And I’ll say this again about the “big” lineup. You CANNOT play that lineup, unless it’s against a team that actively tries to run a lot of their offense through that center. Collins just can’t keep active bigs off the boards, nor can he compensate for that by grabbing rebounds ( especially offensive rebounds ) himself.
I don’t care what Horford or Smith would rather do . . they need to be playing Center or PF every night. Collins, at this point, should only start against Orlando . . and Boston ( if Shaq is in the lineup ). Any other time, he should be glued to the bench.
Kind of sad that the guys couldn’t get up for a game like this. This team has looked listless for about 2 weeks now.
Loserville USA
February 23rd, 2011
12:18 am
DOWN BY 20! HERE WE COME!
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
12:18 am
see u have to create for Al..
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 23rd, 2011
12:18 am
Official Website of The Atlanta Hawks
http://atlanta-ga.yellowusa.com/Sanitation_Services.html
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
12:18 am
DID SUND COMPARE IS SQUAD TO THE SPURS??????? HE BETTER PUT DOWN THE BOTTLE….LOL
cp
February 23rd, 2011
12:19 am
Teague is probably hoping for a trade at this point.Dude just cant get any minutes even if the guys in front of him are playing terrible
F@#KTHEHAWKS.org
February 23rd, 2011
12:19 am
Josh got a beard and MO is going bald, Man… This has been going on too loooooooong!! F@#K THE HAWKS!!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 23rd, 2011
12:19 am
Wow, why the f-ck doesn’t Joe do that more often?
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
12:20 am
Joe pissed.. lol