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
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
836 comments Add your comment
Sautee
February 22nd, 2011
8:46 pm
doc,
I reckon that’s a pretty good guess.
bigdave
February 22nd, 2011
8:48 pm
plain and simple if the Hawks sit on their hands its a shame given glaring needs and the quality talent being shopped. its appears to be a wholesale climate this trading season..
teams making moves right now.. and you can bet that its mostly Eastern Conference squads.
ATL FAN
February 22nd, 2011
8:49 pm
WTF, give up MARVIN AND TEAGUE !!!!!!!!!!
chuckw/deadjournalist
February 22nd, 2011
8:49 pm
sadly, we all know trades the make sense, rarely happen. but this hawks team would be greatly improved if harris and battier found their way onto the roster. and if murphy were to get bought-out, he’d be another ideal fit.
we can dream.
Big Ray
February 22nd, 2011
8:50 pm
I’m with chuckw …..we can dream.
bigdave
February 22nd, 2011
8:51 pm
Chris_Broussard:
I’m told there’s a 100 pct chance of Devin Harris being traded. Dallas and Portland likeliest spots. Mavs offer Caron’s exp contract.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ATL FAN
February 22nd, 2011
8:52 pm
Damn it, its over… Harris was our last hope…
lewis
February 22nd, 2011
8:55 pm
So, Marvin Williams is standing in the way of us getting Devin Harris?
“we like our core”
slimjr
February 22nd, 2011
8:55 pm
“Marvin for Harris yesterday.”
Make it so Scottie!
superiorblogman
February 22nd, 2011
8:57 pm
Phuck Rick Sund ball headed byatch.
bigdave
February 22nd, 2011
8:57 pm
somebody check on Rod from CP…
lewis
February 22nd, 2011
8:58 pm
Chris_Broussard is the man
lewis
February 22nd, 2011
8:59 pm
It’s okay guys. Breathe. It’s not like we need a all-start starting point guard for Marvin and trash or Jamal.
“we like our core”
slimjr
February 22nd, 2011
9:02 pm
up next Lakers and Hawks in 58 mins..
O'Brien
February 22nd, 2011
9:02 pm
@Chris_Broussard ATL not offering much for Devin. A shame b/c he’d be a great fit with Hawks 4
slimjr
February 22nd, 2011
9:03 pm
“Phuck Rick Sund ball headed byatch” LOL
Man has Sund pissed off a few people. not looking good for ya Gearon???
slimjr
February 22nd, 2011
9:04 pm
55mins…………
NUNNA!!!
February 22nd, 2011
9:06 pm
BrandonJones44 i dont know what Hawks ownership is doing but if you have the chance to land Devin Harris, you jump on it. #hawks
Twitter – 335
5 minutes ago
Brandon from Warner Robins
February 22nd, 2011
9:07 pm
Enter your comments here
NUNNA!!!
February 22nd, 2011
9:07 pm
Chris_Broussard
I’m told there’s a 100 pct chance of Devin Harris being traded. Dallas and Portland likeliest spots. Mavs offer Caron’s exp contract.
Twitter – 1699
28 minutes ago
E43
February 22nd, 2011
9:08 pm
I dont think jamal is slumping. Much of it simply has to do with going back to his true self. Last year was phenomenal but it was only going to take time before he goes back to his original 400fg%.
Brandon from Warner Robins
February 22nd, 2011
9:08 pm
my tweets on the blog?
NUNNA!!!
February 22nd, 2011
9:09 pm
hoopshype Rumors: Devin Harris wants out + Hawks shopping Marvin Williams.
HoopsHype – NBA Rumors – hoopshype.com
Twitter – 1312
21 minutes ago
NUNNA!!!
February 22nd, 2011
9:09 pm
JRod3342 Really wish the #Hawks would make a move for Devin Harris or Nene. Really need both of them, but who would the Hawks have to part with? #NBA
Twitter – 1 minute ago
Rev in Tampa
February 22nd, 2011
9:11 pm
“Tweet from Kings beat writer, James Jones: Kings involved in serious trade talks regarding Landry so he is being held out of tonight’s game.”
So can we assume that if Teague gets a “DNP-CP” tonight then he is on the trading block?
LOL
ryan
February 22nd, 2011
9:14 pm
Denver is looking to move Felton because Ty Lawson is there guy Hawks have a window to Felton who everyone is saying better than Harris .
??
February 22nd, 2011
9:15 pm
ATL,you may be getting a point guard but not who u would like.
Hawks are on the phone right now discussing a Marvin Williams for clevelands Moe Williams trade as we speak
Brandon from Warner Robins
February 22nd, 2011
9:16 pm
No to Mo.
The Truth
February 22nd, 2011
9:20 pm
Being Honest I would rather have Kyrie Irving from Duke over any point guard we can trade for. Forget all those other guards and trade for a lottery pick.
ryan
February 22nd, 2011
9:21 pm
If it evolves Jamison and Mo i am for it .
??
February 22nd, 2011
9:22 pm
Larry Drew still thinks that Marvin Williams has potential to be one of the best all around SF’s in the game.Really he does.
He thinks that Marvin will flourish with the right players around him and the hawks are also willing to give up Josh Smith for the right blockbuster deal that could land them a true PG,along with a defensive minded shot blocking center and another small forward who plays great defense who could also rebound.
Josh Powell is also on the block
superiorblogman
February 22nd, 2011
9:22 pm
Some of you dudes are some stupid MF’ers. Who do we have to trade for a lottery pick that they are willing to trade? You idiots fall right into Sund and the ASG hands thinking something is free. That’s why they have no problem giving you free tickets instead of filling up the place because of a great product. Stupid freeloading idiots.
Michael Gearon JR
February 22nd, 2011
9:23 pm
I know none of you understand basketball like I do so thats why your crying for us to make a trade. As Ricky boy will tell you we like our core and we CAN win a Championship with them. If we however fall short again it is each and everyone of your faults because you dont show up to the games. Therefore the Hawks and Thrashers will be moving to Winnipeg next year. Sincerely, MGJR
!!!!!!!!
February 22nd, 2011
9:26 pm
It’s official, 3 team trade involving Hawks, Nets, and Cavs has been done!!!
Michael Gearon JR
February 22nd, 2011
9:29 pm
Hey !!!!!!! your not funny because we are NOT making any moves. Don’t you know us by now?
??
February 22nd, 2011
9:30 pm
Sund and the cavs are done with their convo. Nothing happened.
Just got word that Devin Harris is not coming to atlanta.
He may be with his former team by early wednesday afternoon.
P.S.
Atlanta may stand pat!!!
Sund still says he does not know what he can get from Teague if he is not “the man”.
He is still set on his current roster,and wants your coach to play the bigs more and stop trying to match up with other teams and have them to plan to match up with hawks. He told the same thing to woodson last year about playing his players and forcing teams to match up with hawks roster than having hawks matching up with others
ryan
February 22nd, 2011
9:34 pm
Well that sucks FIRE SUND and ASG they so cheap and scared i guess nobody wants Marvin Williams .
Michael Gearon JR
February 22nd, 2011
9:34 pm
?? does not know anything either hes just assuming I wont make a deal. I haven’t talked to anyone I’ve just been bashing Thrashers fans. Idiots
Rufus1
February 22nd, 2011
9:35 pm
@??
Who are you, because you also some credible….
JeJe
February 22nd, 2011
9:36 pm
I wonder what Sund offered for Devin Harris.
Probably Mo and a 2nd rounder LOL. If we’re not offering much, that means we’d WANT TO TAKE ON HIS PAYROLL without giving up much?
Michael Cunningham
February 22nd, 2011
9:39 pm
#Freshfromatl: “MC, Have you heard anything about a 3-team deal featuring the Hawks, Nets, and Pistons?”
no. is there a report on this?
JeJe
February 22nd, 2011
9:40 pm
THE REASON SUND WON’T MAKE DEALS IS BECAUSE HE THINKS WE ARE SUPPOSED TO RIP TEAMS OFF. HE THINKS THAT WE CAN MAKE TRADES WITHOUT GIVING UP PIECES. THAT’S WHY WE NEVER GET JACK DONE. YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP PLAYERS TO GET PLAYERS
lewis
February 22nd, 2011
9:41 pm
damn I get pretty bored waiting for these west coast games with no nationally televised games to tide me over
Melvin
February 22nd, 2011
9:41 pm
I guess Hawks probably offer Bibby/Mo for Devin. Maybe they should throw in a #1 pick to sweeten the offer….
??
February 22nd, 2011
9:43 pm
Mr.Cunningham,
Is Jordan Crawford dressed for tonight?
If he is,then there is the chance that Sund gave in and will trade teague because teague will not play.
lewis
February 22nd, 2011
9:44 pm
If Dallas does get Harris…Dallas v Boston – you heard it here first.
Melvin
February 22nd, 2011
9:46 pm
I’m glad Chris Broussard tweeted that “the Hawks are not offering much for Devin” so we done have to believe the real Rick Sund say, there wasn’t any offeres that make sense.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 22nd, 2011
9:48 pm
LD: Quit talking and start doing. The first 100 days of your term are over.
ryan
February 22nd, 2011
9:50 pm
Same old news from the Hawks no news .
JeJe
February 22nd, 2011
9:52 pm
WHY DOES DALLAS WANT HARRIS? HOW DOES HAVING 2 GREAT PGS HELP YOU?