Atlanta Hawks: Lakers 104, Hawks 80
This was just one of several mismatches for the Hawks. (AP Photo)
Los Angeles–If I know my blog people, I figure you’d rather hear about trade chatter (some hope for the future) than a recounting of this debacle (a depressing reminder of the team’s stasis).
- So, OK . . . Yes, Kirk Hinrich is a possibility and Ramon Sessions remains in play. No to Devin Harris (who is probably headed elsewhere) and Raymond Felton (whom the Nuggets apparently aren’t looking to move).
- Basically, it seems like the Hawks have called about every decent-to-good point guard who might be available. Of course it will take more than a new point guard to fix what ailed the Hawks tonight.
- The Lakers were smarter, faster and tougher than the Hawks.
- “I can go down competing, but we are not competing at our highest level it’s frustrating,” Al said.
- These beatdowns are becoming more commonplace. That’s four Ls in five, with three of them by at least 15 points. It’s also Atlanta’s fifth loss by at least 20 points this season.
- The Hawks are back to their habit of getting down big and staying there. “We didn’t play with an edge; we gave them too much respect,” J.J. said. “We didn’t have that fire, that competitive nature that we need. It’s frustrating, man. I don’t know what to do.”
- They could start by not continuing to jack up jump shots when they a) are challenged and/or b) aren’t making them. Both things happened against the Lakers, yet the Hawks kept firing away.
- Certainly it’s no easy task to score inside against all that Lakers size but it’s not as if the Hawks ever made a focused effort to try it.
- “I don’t think we went to the rim enough,” L.D. said. “I just thought we settled, which is starting to be a pattern with us. When you fall into that type of pattern when you are not making shots you’re going to struggle. We went 1-for-15 from the three, yet we settled for the three. We have to have more basketball savvy than that.”
- The Hawks got handled 54-32 on the boards. Los Angeles collected an astounding 42 of Atlanta’s 62 misses (not counting “team” rebounds) with Gasol and Bynum combining for 21 of those.
- “We didn’t play with physicality,” Drew said. “I thought they really banged us in the half court. I don’t think we responded very well to it.”
- This game showed the limitations of the big lineup. Twin is a good position defender but he can’t hang on the boards against the better big men. The Hawks actually had more success (relatively, at least) going small with Al working outside against Gasol and Bynum.
- The Lakers made 24 of 48 shots before emptying the bench in the fourth quarter. Kobe (20 points on 11 shots) didn’t even have to do anything special in his 26 minutes. Heck Shannon Brown took it to the Hawks and Joe Smith had three blocked shots.
- “They dominated on both ends,” Al said. “We really have some soul-searching to do as a team. It’s discouraging. We had a great practice yesterday, and to come out like that, it’s frustrating.”
- The Hawks botched five fast break chances by my count. Smoove threw a couple passes that smashed the backboard.
- Here was one inept fast break sequence: Mo fumbled the ball away while standing under the rim and missed a layup; Josh Powell tried to put it back only to get his shot pinned by Joe Smith, leading to an alley-oop dunk by Devin Ebanks.
- The Lakers presented Powell with his Lakers championship ring before the game.
- “I actually want to see it,” Al said. “I kind of saw it from far away. I know what it’s like to win. I did it on the college level. We are hungry for that. We are hungry to be in that position and we are not there yet.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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720 comments Add your comment
Jae Evolution
February 23rd, 2011
4:26 pm
When did Curry get involved in all of this have the Warriors looked to trade him?
As far as I’m concerned both our PG’s should be gone by tomorrow and we should replace them with either Hinrich and Sessions or Felton and Sessions. If we did that without giving up too much I think we would be great for the rest of the season.
Jae Evolution
February 23rd, 2011
4:27 pm
I agree with everything SteveW has posted recently.
KevinM
February 23rd, 2011
4:29 pm
Truly, what value does #1 draft picks hold for us in the short term?
I would have done that deal a long time ago; Marvin and 2 draft picks?
We would still have pieces to bring in a big man. Bring in a Pryzbilla for the short term. His contract has expired this offseason. We then have flexibility. Give them JC1….
Why can we figure this out and Sund can’t seem to access his Blackberry?
Does he not have one of those either?
EmirS.
February 23rd, 2011
4:29 pm
@Mudcat
Learn to accept sarcasm buddy.
Have a laugh, you know? Settle down.
BEST TRADE EVER
February 23rd, 2011
4:29 pm
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=4dsae3s
Josh for Granger
Marvin & Zaza for Kaman
Bibby & Mo + picks for Felton
This makes sense for each team, lets get it done!!
KevinM
February 23rd, 2011
4:31 pm
Bibby and Marvin gotta go…simply stated.
They are detriments in the playoffs, much less during regular games.
And I hope they become someone else’s all-star….just seperate them from this coaching staff.
Notice how no one is worried about wearing down Joe this year? That was all the concern under Woody.
Shake Something
February 23rd, 2011
4:32 pm
Well less than 24 hour Gent!!
KevinM
February 23rd, 2011
4:34 pm
lewis, who’s Kelly Dwyer? Does that make that rumor valid?
Trading Teague is not my first move….dumping pieces of the core is….
drmaryb (*_*)
February 23rd, 2011
4:35 pm
Oh Yeah! He sees, indefensible, defense-less dead people. And worse, not a true PG nor Center amongst “nan” one of “em. Not one palpable heart-beat nor pulse as an option.
Like “Little Nate” said after Game 6 of The Championship Series:
“You can scout Energy!”. See “shrek & donkey”
____________
Having heard that, I heard Boston is shopping “Lil Nate” hard today.
They need bench help for Ray and Paul.
Progeny
February 23rd, 2011
4:35 pm
I really, really hope we make a move. I really do.
On the fence fan
February 23rd, 2011
4:37 pm
trade for thought Hawks Monte Ellis David Lee S.curry Golden state J Crawford1 Mike Bibby Duck booty and Mo evans http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=4kvrxsm
hawks_4_life
February 23rd, 2011
4:41 pm
Matt (State College)
Will the Hawks do something proactive? For once?
Ryen Russillo
(4:39 PM)
They really want Heinrich. The price is too high. They’d like Sessions perhaps, but Atlanta is one of those teams that doesn’t have enough assets (players/contracts) to make a move. They’d have to package Teague with someone else or a third team.
EmirS.
February 23rd, 2011
4:44 pm
mykhalc
February 23rd, 2011
4:16 pm
“hey…got an idea…just watch the Nets and Hornets games to watch the Hawks PGs!!!!”
LOL! Ouch bud…
drmaryb (*_*)
February 23rd, 2011
4:45 pm
Bargin Bin!
The ASKG are down at The Dollar Tree Store, right now, scrounged around it and looking for the 2 for $1 price tags. When all is said and done, Sund will be sitting in his Hotel Room (with 8 ASKG cell phones) at 2am looking to see if anything decent has shaken-loose yet.
Left-Overs is what we get here. So, tonight, I’ll be out on the A-Town doing me. Bump This Noise! Wake me when they’re done?
Wabe
February 23rd, 2011
4:46 pm
From the looks of it, we’re not going to land anybody that’s gonna put us over the top, so I’d have to ask, why are we unwilling to let go of Jamal’s expiring contract?
I think that’s stupid. He wants a long term deal, the Hawks don’t seem like they’ll give it to him, get something for him while you can.
mykhalc
February 23rd, 2011
4:50 pm
@Wabe…the Hawks probably want JC expirin’ deal!!!
superiorblogman
February 23rd, 2011
4:51 pm
SteveW
February 23rd, 2011
4:19 pm
According to the Suns blog, they wanted Marvin and 2 first picks for Nash. At 37, I thought that was steep. But we could trade tonite, and just take him with us.
Do that right now. Damn them picks
mykhalc
February 23rd, 2011
4:52 pm
bargain bin…great description!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 23rd, 2011
4:53 pm
“Josh has no identity, mainly offensively. We know what he’s capable of defensively, but he still hasn’t figured out what type of player he wants to be offensively. He’s 6 years into his career and we still have debates about whether he should play the 3 or 4. Most here want him to play the 4, but he shy’s away from it to be a perimeter guy, which he doesn’t really have the make up to be. ”
How much of this is on him and how much of it is on the system?
Whenever the Hawks go to the post, whether it’s to Smoove or Horford or Joe, good things happen. Whenever they don’t, they end up jacking up jump shots, Smoove included.
This “lack of identity” has been a gift and a curse for Smoove his entire career. On the one hand it gives a creative coach (yeah I got jokes) plenty of options when it comes to how to use him, but on the other hand, he’s a classic jack of all trades/master of none who hasn’t established a go-to scoring move, whether that’s a jump shot or a post move.
Under Woody, it was easy to attribute the problem to the coaching staff and the scheme, since only Joe and Jamal ever had plays run for them. Under LD, the system is supposed to get the ball in the front court’s hands more often, and when it does, good things have consistently happened. Over the last 13 games or so, though, the Hawks have had at best a sporadic commitment to the post, essentially reducing the new offensive scheme to one similar to what Woody ran. And not so surprisingly, the same problems from last year have cropped up; only this time around it’s worse, since LD apparently doesn’t have Woody’s ability to hold Smoove more accountable for his affinity for doing things that are out of his comfort zone.
To me, Smoove’s jump shots and Al’s low field goal attempt total are symptoms of the same problem, that this team as a whole (and Joe and Jamal in particular) don’t get the ball in the post enough. The problem manifests itself in different ways; Smoove finds himself away from the hoop and tries to force the issue when his skills are not developed enough to do so, while Al passes up opportunities where he should be more aggressive. Smoove is overconfident, while Al is not confident enough. Both players suffer from the same problems.
I am never a fan of getting rid of a player because of the situation around him. I would still like to see what Smoove (and Al for that matter) can do with a good coach (one who has a working offensive system like LD but will actually hold his players accountable to execute it) and a good point guard, which neither player has played with in their career so far. A good organization would find a way to acquire an upper echelon point who can get the most out of Smoove and Al. Unfortunately, this is not a good organization.
lewis
February 23rd, 2011
4:55 pm
Kelly Dwyer is like Sekou of Yahoo! Sports NBA, runs one of the most popular basketball blogs (BallDon’tLie) he just responded with that information in one of those live chats around 4ish.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 23rd, 2011
4:56 pm
Hinrich is a good player, but he’s not a facilitator at point guard. The Hawks’ defensive issues at the PG position would be solved by acquiring him, but I don’t think their issues with over-reliance on the perimeter game and under-utilization of the post would be solved. I don’t think Hinrich increases this team’s ceiling in the playoffs. If all the Hawks are giving up is Bibby obviously it’s a no brainer, but I want them to aim higher. I want Raymond Felton.
Wabe
February 23rd, 2011
4:57 pm
^ Point taken
Wabe
February 23rd, 2011
5:00 pm
I’m with you on that though Najeh. Agreed 100%.
Lack of a real consistent offensive system and the lack of a PG have a lot to do with it.
That’s why I think trading either of them is risky. Josh is the bigger risk of the two though were we to trade either. But, the higher the risk, the higher the reward. His upside is tremendous, but again, with so many factors needed to propel his game – mainly what you point out (lack of a floor general/facilitator and the lack of an offensive system) hold him back from truly progressing.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 23rd, 2011
5:00 pm
The talk about Cousins is pretty funny though. This blog explodes any time Smoove complains to the refs, and yet here we are discussing the biggest head case in the league.
Ken Strickland
February 23rd, 2011
5:01 pm
I just don’t see the Hawks trading away JaCrawford’s $10.8M expiring contract, because it’s the only expiring contract that’s big enough to allow the Hawks to remain below the luxury tax cap after this season. Most likely, any trade we make will involve a salary match, or us acquiring a contract that can be covered by our $3.63M trade exception.
Unless Sund and the ASG step in and insist that LDrew gives Teague that opportunity to prove himself that’s currently being denied, they’ll have to make a trade for a PG, or run the risk of a 1st rd playoff embarrassment simular to last yrs 2nd rd playoff embarrassment.
STEVEW-JSmith’s salary is $11.7M and SCurry’s is $2.9M, so there’s no way that will work salary wise in a straight up trade. The Warriors would have to include DGadzuric’s $7.24M expiring contract or ABeidrins $9M contract for it to work. However, if we send them JSmoove, MEvans and Zaza, and they sent us ABiedrins, DGadzuric and SCurry, it would work salary wise.
This trade would allow the Hawks to get the PG it needs, plus a starting quality and backup C. As a bonus, we would retain JaCrawford’s services, along with his expiring contract, and also have DGadzuric’s $7.24M expiring contract coming off the books. It would be a total win, win for the Hawks, both talent wise and financially.
hawks_4_life
February 23rd, 2011
5:04 pm
Kyle (ATL)
Al Horford, Marvin Williams and Jeff Teague for Chris Paul…. Who says no?
Ryen Russillo
(4:46 PM)
Both teams? Meaning New Orleans has Horford and Okafor under contract and just traded for Landry, and traded a box office top 10 guy for an underrated center who probably should be a PF. But Atlanta loves Horford, they’d love to move Williams (won’t be able to). It’s not a bad trade, but it doesn’t really solve basketball problems.
lewis
February 23rd, 2011
5:04 pm
Yesterday it was Devin Harris
Ray Felton is too perfect, not gonna happen. Sund will refuse to give up draft picks
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
5:04 pm
“bigdave,
To answer your question from the last page.
Al’s hands down the lone Hawk that I’d classify as “a winner”.
His talent/skill set may make he seem expendable to you, but if you asked me to choose one Hawk to build my team around from this “core” we have together, it’d be around Horford – hands down.
There’s been talk of a lack of leadership with the Hawks, and again, if you take Horford off a team that already lacks leadership at crucial spots, what are you left with?
The only way I ship Horford is if I’m getting a legit franchise building block in return for him. A legit center in the post. ”
……………………………………………….
i hear ya.. but as far as him being classified a winner.. well, thats an opinion. i mean, if we’re going to base it off his college accolades, then so is Mike.. and Marvin. we have 3 NCAA championship players. thats a bit overrated to me. especially given the talent he had around him. his leadership.. uummm.. so-so.. i mean, he isnt rallying troops or anything like that. i dont know.. absolutely, his skill does make him expendable to me. thats really the only thing i go by. what you can or do you do on the floor. to me, Josh is the better player.. and has greater value (still).
why build the team around Al? a 4 man? who shoots jumpers. i could see if he was an above avg post player/athlete w/ that jumper.. but he’s not.. he’s not close to Amare/Bosh.. or anyone like that. he cant create his offense.. and never will be able too. just not him. doesnt have the physical ability. if im rebuilding this team its still around JOE JOHNSON. to me, Al has a Brandon Bass skill set w/ 2 college championships.
honestly , im hoping he’s involved in a Melo like package involving Dwight next year.
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
5:06 pm
“How much of this is on him and how much of it is on the system? ”
i was going to get to the whole Josh identity thing but pretty much everything Poop said.
co-sign his whole damn post.
Wabe
February 23rd, 2011
5:08 pm
ajeh Davenpoop
February 23rd, 2011
5:00 pm
The talk about Cousins is pretty funny though. This blog explodes any time Smoove complains to the refs, and yet here we are discussing the biggest head case in the league.
Co-sign that too.
And also, to whoever mentioned the Marvin + two 1st round picks for Nash deal. All I say is, look at what our two 1st round picks from the past two years are doing. Steep? Not if they end up like all the other one’s sitting on the bench.
Rufus1
February 23rd, 2011
5:11 pm
I Trade for Nash…
An older A level player is better than a B level player any day. Nash’s Greatness is making other better, so he is worth 2 1st and Marvin.
We only 2 or 3 more years with this team, he may give the Hawks 3 good years. He would instantly turn the Hawks into contenders…How many draft picks would that be worth????
lewis
February 23rd, 2011
5:18 pm
One thing Al does, that no one else on the team seems capable of doing, is getting EASY baskets.
Short jumpers and layups win games
Booo!
February 23rd, 2011
5:18 pm
Smh….Wizards fans aren’t stupid. They don’t want our trash (Mike Bibby and some dont want marvin)
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/2011/02/bad-loss-raises-questions-of-a.html
…Stupid Rick -_-
drmaryb (*_*)
February 23rd, 2011
5:19 pm
Co-Sign that “Poop” Article.
___________________
Insightful, informative, not emotional and truthful
ryan
February 23rd, 2011
5:21 pm
Sund is blowing smoke he is probably not wont be here after the season anyway why he wont make a trade .
Booo!
February 23rd, 2011
5:22 pm
LOL someone called the Bibby for Hinrich trade “Horrible for the Wizards”
Are we cursed?
Booo!
February 23rd, 2011
5:23 pm
^ http://bleacherreport.com/articles/617753-nba-trade-rumors-carmelo-anthony-chauncey-billups-and-wednesdays-nba-news/entry/49290-nba-trade-rumors-can-kirk-hinrich-help-atlanta-hawks-take-flight
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
5:24 pm
“One thing Al does, that no one else on the team seems capable of doing, is getting EASY baskets.”
very true.. Josh misses a lot around the rim.. he doesn’t finish that well in traffic.
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
5:26 pm
i dont see the point in the Kirk talk.. i mean..
are they even talking to Denver? id prefer Sessions of Kirk.
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
5:26 pm
*over
Section 303
February 23rd, 2011
5:28 pm
So…I DVR’ed last night’s game, avoided hearing the score all day, came home, watched, and stopped watching at halftime. What a f’ing clown team we cheer for.
Josh Smith is still Josh Smith…nice f’ing stupid passes. I loved the lob passes he threw that no one even knew were coming. Both slammed against the backboard, above the square. Who the h#ll was going to catch those, again, Josh? The guy is dumber than a box of f’ing rocks.
#1 Hawks Fan, can go f*** himeself. That clown actually had me going yesterday. I was thinking a trade was coming. Nope. Shame on me for buying into that d-bags crap.
I hate that I’m a Hawks season ticket holder and fan. I really do.
ATL FAN
February 23rd, 2011
5:28 pm
WTF Nets got Deron for Harris, 2 1st round picks, and Favors. I would have GLADLY given up 2 first round picks, Marvin, Teague, and Josh for Deron and maybe another one of their many centers. SCREW YOU RICK SUND
ryan
February 23rd, 2011
5:28 pm
Gerald Wallace to Portland sources say .
Booo!
February 23rd, 2011
5:28 pm
Interesting Bibby Article (not trade related)
http://tucsoncitizen.com/highschoolsports/2011/02/16/one-year-later-mike-bibby-or-corey-hawkins/
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
5:29 pm
#1 Hawks Fan, can go f*** himeself. That clown actually had me going yesterday.”
lol.
Booo!
February 23rd, 2011
5:36 pm
Honsetly man, at this point, we should do whatever it takes to get Raymond Felton on our roster….and I don’t think he’s that good.
Will
February 23rd, 2011
5:36 pm
I disagree, this is a basketball town, anybody old enough to remember the old omni arena, when they had Dominic, Doc Rivers, Tree Rollins, Spud Webb. Arena solded out every home gm every yr.
The problem with this team and ownership is they suck in every area you can think of.
hawks_4_life
February 23rd, 2011
5:39 pm
Will,
I love my hawks but seems like another lifetime ago since then
Booo!
February 23rd, 2011
5:39 pm
LOL @ Rick sund. We shoulda let Bibby walk when we drafted Teague and Traded For Jamal. It was true then and its still true now.
drmaryb (*_*)
February 23rd, 2011
5:44 pm
Uggh …. The Hawks two 1st Pucks will not be Lottery Picks like what NJ has to offer. IMHO.