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
mykhalc
February 23rd, 2011
7:22 pm
@Section 303…We can’t even get the beat writer to be interested in the team.
LOL
ATL FAN
February 23rd, 2011
7:22 pm
If that trade were to go down Sund is the man!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 23rd, 2011
7:22 pm
As long as Rick Sund is the GM, first rounders are virtually meaningless for this team. For a well-run team, first rounders are like gold.
prison mike
February 23rd, 2011
7:23 pm
Geez where the hell is cunny with more info??
Teague will be a solid player in this league and the hawks are still high on him…
Wabe
February 23rd, 2011
7:23 pm
Dammit man.
I was so siked when we drafted JC2.
Dude got no shot here. And it sucks because Jamal’s gonna be gone after this season as it is.
Also sucks because if Drew couldn’t find minutes for Teague/JC2 with Bibby/Jamal/JJ, add Hinrich to that mix now and you tell me what the minutes distribution looks like.
Obviously Bibby should get less, but the only way to make any sense of this is if they move Jamal/Bibby.
Jae Evolution
February 23rd, 2011
7:23 pm
OOOOOH if the Hawks get Hinrich and Sessions I’ll be very happy.
vava74
February 23rd, 2011
7:25 pm
Please let it be Hinrich AND Sessions
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!
ATL FAN
February 23rd, 2011
7:25 pm
Last night the problem was more big man however, Laker’s big men were all over ours, and if we were to get a decent defensive Center in this trade, it would be amazing
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
7:26 pm
doubt we getting Sessions..
he’s going hAm right now on the Rockets as we speak..
Shake Something
February 23rd, 2011
7:26 pm
Sund might be reviving himself here
Najeh Davenpoop
February 23rd, 2011
7:26 pm
The big advantage Sessions has over Hinrich is his ability to get to the foul line. The Hawks currently have nobody who can do that consistently. I wouldn’t mind a Hinrich/Sessions 1-2 punch. I’d imagine the Hawks have to deal Jamal if they are getting Sessions though. We’ll see. So far that’s the only source that has mentioned Cleveland as a part of this deal.
ATL FAN
February 23rd, 2011
7:27 pm
I would gladly deal Jamal to get Sessions, but we would need to get another decent bench player in return, bench is NOTHING without Jamal
Jae Evolution
February 23rd, 2011
7:28 pm
Was hoping for Felton…but Hinrich and Sessions would be a GREAT addition to this team.
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
7:28 pm
its a lot of bigs out there to be had.. and we have a 2 in Crawford..
Utah needs a 2.. they loaded w/ bigs.. loaded. quality.
Chicago.. loaded w/ big Jo coming back tomorrow.. 7fts. Kurt.. c’mon..
if we could get Sessions.. and a combo like Kirk.. and a big..
might be making a lil noise..
EmirS.
February 23rd, 2011
7:29 pm
“bench is NOTHING without Jamal”
Exactly.
Even if he has been struggling as of late, losing him would be a pretty big blow to the bench. Unless we can find another decent bench presence.
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
7:30 pm
Session also dishes the rock now..
dont sleep on his facilitating abilities.. Kirk is a combo.. smh. who likes the pull up game.. already got plenty of that..
Ramon gets to the cup and finishes or fouled. need more of that.
ATL FAN
February 23rd, 2011
7:31 pm
Kirk could be a good quality combo guard addition to the BENCH if we were to deal Jamal, he could come on for relief of JJ and have Teague play more minutes when Sessions is off
Wabe
February 23rd, 2011
7:31 pm
Shake Something
February 23rd, 2011
7:26 pm
“Sund might be reviving himself here”
Naw man, don’t get caught up in the moment. Sund is still garbage. He wouldn’t have waited till our 10th blowout if he were any good. Now we’re scrapping for whatevers left.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 23rd, 2011
7:32 pm
If Hinrich and Sessions both come here and Jamal gets sent out (no confirmation of this, just going off Ken Berger mentioning Cleveland) Sessions would probably replace the bench role of Jamal. Maybe the Hawks lose a little bench scoring, but the increased ball movement, ability to get to the line, and defense (from Hinrich) would probably compensate.
EmirS.
February 23rd, 2011
7:33 pm
Off subject,
But is anyone else really excited for the Bucks/Knicks game thats to start in a few minutes?
bigdave
February 23rd, 2011
7:33 pm
if anything, we see what Jeff has tonight.. should start..
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 23rd, 2011
7:34 pm
http://twitter.com/#!/SpearsNBAYahoo
SpearsNBAYahoo Marc J. Spears
Wiz agree 2 trade G Kirk Hinrich & C Hilton Armstrong to ATL for G Mike Bibby, F Mo Evans, G Jordan Crawford & a No. 1 pick, sources tell Y!
3 minutes ago
ATL FAN
February 23rd, 2011
7:34 pm
crap
Contrary to some recent reports, #Cavs are NOT involved in Wiz-Hawks trade
Section 303
February 23rd, 2011
7:34 pm
EmirS, I’m watching Bucks/Knicks right now. MSG is rocking.
I’m going to the Knicks/Pacers game at MSG in March. Can’t wait! I’ve always wanted to catch a game at MSG. With ‘Melo there, will only make it better.
EmirS.
February 23rd, 2011
7:35 pm
@Section 303
Nice!
ATL FAN
February 23rd, 2011
7:36 pm
Looks like it’ll be the initial trade we thought, Hinrich/ARmstrong for Mo/Jordan/Bibby
Shake Something
February 23rd, 2011
7:36 pm
Wabe, I know bcuz he wouldve made this deal a month ago and we would be making another now if that one didnt work out..
Najeh Davenpoop
February 23rd, 2011
7:36 pm
Hawks play the Wizards once more this season, on April 9.
You know, I really came to dislike Bibby’s game over the last year or so, and he did only spend a few years here, but it will be weird seeing him on another team.
Horford is our Savior
February 23rd, 2011
7:36 pm
Imagine if we could buy alcohol on SUNDAY…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TOM_UuQzc0
Wabe
February 23rd, 2011
7:37 pm
That’s boogy.
Unless the Hawks turn around and flip JC1, that accomplishes nothing.
You’ve got two combo gaurds and JJ.
Still no point.
EmirS.
February 23rd, 2011
7:38 pm
Watching the Box Score of the Houston/Cleveland game.
Sessions has 10 points, 1 assist, 1 rebound, 4-5 from the field, 2-2 from the free throw line…..in 12 minutes. Lol. Pretty damn good.
ATL FAN
February 23rd, 2011
7:38 pm
For those who watch, is Hinrich that much of an upgrade than Bibby on defense?
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 23rd, 2011
7:39 pm
This Hilton Armstrong would at least be better that Pachulia and take his spot in the rotation…right?
Brandon from Warner Robins
February 23rd, 2011
7:39 pm
Al Jefferson? Would he fit with Atlanta?
Jae Evolution
February 23rd, 2011
7:40 pm
Also looking at the other player we were going to trade for Manny Harris, 8 Pts. 5 Boards and 3 Assists…
Wabe
February 23rd, 2011
7:40 pm
That 1st round pick kinda makes me wonder…
Why?
We basically just handed them 2 1st round picks with JC2.
Bibby, JC2, Mo Evans (helllllllllll yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh), and a 1st for Kirk Hinrich and Hiltron Armstrong?
Section 303
February 23rd, 2011
7:40 pm
ATL FAN, yes, Hinrich is an upgrade.
Ira Winderman (Heat beat writer on pending Hawk/Wiz trade): If Hinrich goes to Hawks, that matchup becomes a lot tougher on Heat. Now Hinrich, not Joe Johnson, has the Wade matchup.
Interesting take from Winderman
ATL FAN
February 23rd, 2011
7:41 pm
Wabe, they probably needed some convincing to take on Bibby’s contract
cp
February 23rd, 2011
7:41 pm
Just no creativity by the Hawks front office. They want to buy a Ferrari with Toyota Camry money. Hinrich is ok but I would have preferred Felton. smh come to think about it I really haven’t liked Hinrich since he got that deal from the Bulls. He is better than Bibby but damn smdh. Guess we have to wait to the deal is official and hope we got more than that for Jamal
KevinM
February 23rd, 2011
7:42 pm
IMO, anything to move Mike Bibby….I take Hindrich if I have to, and I also keep JC1? That’s a move to help now, not next year.
JC2, we hardly knew ya!
Lionhearted
February 23rd, 2011
7:42 pm
Kirk is 30 years old
30 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KevinM
February 23rd, 2011
7:42 pm
Since Hindrich is out of tonight’s game, perhaps Bibster sits as well?
Wabe
February 23rd, 2011
7:43 pm
Hinrich isn’t too bad a defender, at least I think.
I actually thought he was a pretty good defender.
Then again, some might know better than me.
I know for sure he can’t be worse than Bibby. And by Bibby’s standards, he’s 100% upgrade. He does what Bibby does (maybe not as well) knockin down jumpers, but plays better defense.
I still don’t get why it took giving them JC2 + a future 1st rounder though.
I would think handing them one or the other would be enough.
ATL FAN
February 23rd, 2011
7:43 pm
It’s official. Welcome to ATL Hinrich!!
Jae Evolution
February 23rd, 2011
7:43 pm
I don’t like this trade now that I really look at it. Hopefully it doesn’t happen or we get a good deal for Jamal because this wasn’t that good of a trade.
Shake Something
February 23rd, 2011
7:43 pm
jefferson and sessions for JC1 Teague, pachulia a 2nd..ion know sounds good not possible i think..
KevinM
February 23rd, 2011
7:44 pm
NBATV talking Hawks now…deal is done!
Hindrich/Armstrong for JC2/Bibby/Mo/1st rounder!
I take that deal!
Wabe
February 23rd, 2011
7:44 pm
True that ATL Fan.
That does make sense.
But still, a 1st rounder + JC2.
EmirS.
February 23rd, 2011
7:44 pm
I dont think jamal will be dealt. Look at what we are getting…a PG and a C….
What have we been complaining about all season long? A PG and a C…..
Dont be suprised if this is where end everything at, so the management can say “hey, you got what you asked for”.
LOL
February 23rd, 2011
7:45 pm
AT LEAST WE CAN GET SOME WHITE PEOPLE COMING TO THE GAMES NOW LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!