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
ryan
February 23rd, 2011
11:52 am
Screw ASG and the NBA CP3 going to the Knicks and D. Howard will be a Laker and Derron Williams already a Net Hawks are screwed .
NCBravesFan
February 23rd, 2011
11:53 am
Sekou on Twitter – “There’s a reason Prokhorov has billions folks! Masterstroke the Nets have engineered, stealing D. Will away like this.”
Not only that, they got back in the ‘Melo talks and forced the Knicks to overpay. I sure wouldn’t want to play poker against Prokhorov!
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
11:55 am
GEARONS GOT 300-400 MILLION WHATS HIS EXCUSES????
Freshfromatl
February 23rd, 2011
11:55 am
So you telling me Sund and ASG wouldn’t even offer:
Marvin + Teague and JC2
or
Josh + Teague or JC2
or
Jamal + Teague and Jc2
for
D. Williams?!?
Rick Sund
February 23rd, 2011
11:57 am
What’s with these comments about our playing not making the All Star team?
Do you people really think Carmelo and Deron are better than Marvin and Bibby?
Wow, I have never met such IGNORANT fans.
KevinM
February 23rd, 2011
12:00 pm
I know they probably won’t take him, but the Bulls need a SG, and we have extra. One name: JC1.
Take a draft pick and Kurt Thomas now that Noah’s back and give Thomas minutes with Al inside.
PureEvil
February 23rd, 2011
12:02 pm
I have about had it with NBA all these mega team New York and Miami these players just want to play in those big markets like New York , Chicago , Los Angles its a lost cause Atlanta will never have a superstar
You would too if you had marketability! There’s WAY more money to be made from endorsements than the money your team pays you. And there’s way more endorsements to be had in NY, Chicago, LA, and Miami than Salt Lake, Denver, Cleveland and Toronto. Do you really blame them?
No matter where James played his endorsements weren’t going to be affected so his decision was simple. White pasty ugly ass Women in Cleveland vs. Miami Women? Ahhhh… case closed. Carmelo is from NY and played college ball at Syracuse of course he wants to go back. Bosh this one is real simple aeee… Canada vs. South Beach?
Atlanta is a great place to live and many NBA players live here but the team is run by idiots and the fan base doesn’t show up unless it matters. We were so bad for so long it’s hard to get players to come here for anything less than a king’s ransom. That’s why we overpaid Joe. We have a solid foundation with Horford, Smith and Joe if we could get another Star we could be real good but, I doubt that ever happens. In a couple of years we’ll trade off everyone and start over again. Like always!!
KevinM
February 23rd, 2011
12:03 pm
Fresh, one problem or more with that thought…..
-Teague is worth nothing because he can’t get on the court.
-Josh brings very little in return as he is showing his true value this year.
-JC2 – undersized SG…..perhaps he is the best asset that Utah would have wanted to replace Wes Matthews.
They wanted draft picks and NJ was flexible moving draft picks.
Freshfromatl
February 23rd, 2011
12:03 pm
From Realgm:
The Hawks are interested in veteran Kirk Hinrich, but they aren’t willing to meet Washington’s current asking price.
The Wizards want both a young player and a first-round pick for Hinrich.
Atlanta is pushing for Washington to take back Mike Bibby for Hinrich, which would save the Wizards some money for next season. Hinrich is scheduled to make $8 million in 2011-12, while Bibby will earn $6.2 million.
The Wizards aren’t interested in taking on Marvin Williams, who has two years and $15.7 million left on his deal after this season.
Via David Aldridge/NBA.com
……………………………….
Wizards want both a young player and a first-round pick for Hinrich.
SO WHY THE HELL DONT THE HAWKS MAKE A MOVE?!? YOU NOT PLAYING ANY YOUNG PLAYERS ANYWAY…YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF BLOWING DRAFT PICKS….MAKE THE DAMN MOVE!
ryan
February 23rd, 2011
12:04 pm
Rick Sund you must live in some kind of alternate universe to think that Marvin Williams and Bibby are better than Mello i will give that Derron Williams has not been that good but i would take Derron over Bibby any day .
KevinM
February 23rd, 2011
12:05 pm
Andre Miller or Aaron Brooks…give up draft picks and Teague and JC2..
Why? We aren’t using them! We don’t value our draft choices.
Throw Marvin and JC1 in there as well.
KevinM
February 23rd, 2011
12:07 pm
The problem with Sund is he is looking for a guy (Hindrich) who is not helping his current team AT ALL! Same for Devin Harris…these guys have not been good at all this year.
Why isn’t he offering Houston or Portland? They will take on contracts, they want to move players. Why is this so difficult?
Shake Something
February 23rd, 2011
12:08 pm
Al Horford won’t even have a All Star position forlong with Noah,Bogut, and hail Javale McGee might even step up,Brook Lopez is even out there, and Howard is a lock
Booo!
February 23rd, 2011
12:08 pm
Or needs (reasonable…as in not a fary tail or pipedream):
Chris Kaman
Robin Lopez
Kirk Hienrich
Andre Igoudala
So Marvin, JC1, Bibby, Mo, Zaza, Etan and Josh Powell (MAYBE Smoove). Thats what we have to work with.
Get Busy Rick!
I wouldn’t mind getting Yi Jianlian (backup PF) along with Kirk for something.
Booo!
February 23rd, 2011
12:09 pm
*our
Dept. of Unintended Irony
February 23rd, 2011
12:09 pm
PureEvil: “White pasty ugly ass Women in Cleveland vs. Miami Women? Ahhhh… case closed.”
-
That comment would make sense if Cleveland wasnt majority black, but it is.
Whiskey Clear
February 23rd, 2011
12:09 pm
This is the first time I’ve ever posted on this blog, but I’m a basketball fan and an Atlanta native, so by virtue, I’m somewhat inclined to be a Hawks follower. The Nets just made a deal and got better, getting Deron Williams, and giving up Favors and Devon Harris. I thought Harris was maybe going to be a target for Rick Sund, but not anymore I guess. Point being, the Hawks have got to make a move, and you can forget about moving Johnson, less than a year into his max deal, no one is going to want to take on that kind of load for a 18 pt/night production. The only moveable piece that I see that would garner any valuable return would be Josh Smith. Whoever it is (besides Horford), I don’t care, but it’s got to be someone. The Hawks aren’t getting better, they were lazy in their Head Coach search in the offseason, and it’s all showing now. This team, if it stays as is, will lose in the first round. Guaranteed.
ryan
February 23rd, 2011
12:09 pm
KevinM i agree with trade we never use draft picks wisely i just don’t see reason to hang on our first round picks they have to something now its all lost .
KevinM
February 23rd, 2011
12:12 pm
Time to think bigger…..we need an impact player, not more role players who are interchangeable and nightmare matchups!
It’s not working as currently constructed.
-That Marvin/Luke Walton matchup really threw the Lakers last night!
-That Bibby/JC1 combo defensive scheme still has its weaknesses…as big as a double wide!
-Smoove as our offensive initiator….yikes!
SteveW
February 23rd, 2011
12:12 pm
So what if we would have gotten D Williams? Would LD have played him? I know, I’m just frustrated. But I’ve gone from being a big LD fan in Sept. to very cynical right now.
HoosierHawk
February 23rd, 2011
12:13 pm
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=4gz4bsj
Get some defensive guards up in here.
Dept. of Unintended Irony
February 23rd, 2011
12:13 pm
PureEvil: “White pasty ugly ass Women in Cleveland vs. Miami Women? Ahhhh… case closed.”
-
Would make more sense if Cleveland wasnt majority black, which it is or if Lebron didnt have a Fiance’, which he does.
Art Vandelay
February 23rd, 2011
12:13 pm
35 years as a Hawks fan, and I can assure you I will not waste one more minute of my life supporting this team if Sund doesn’t do something dramatic to fix this disgusting roster. They have the basketball IQ of Forrest Gump and as much heart as the Tin Man. Joe Johnson is worth a max contract? Maybe if he had some leadership qualities, but he has none and repeats the same tired lines after every blowout.
They should’ve kept Woodson in place, because it’s obvious that the coaching change did absolutely nothing to convince these players to approach their jobs with even the slightest bit of professionalism.
SteveW
February 23rd, 2011
12:14 pm
When we do draft wisely, we have a guy who refuses to play our last 2 first picks except in blowouts. He won’t even play Wilkens. And he’s misusing Jamal at the Point to the point Jamal is in the tank.
Need to move Jamal, Mo, and Bibby quick, to save LD from himself
Shake Something
February 23rd, 2011
12:15 pm
LD MUST GO!!
ryan
February 23rd, 2011
12:15 pm
Atlanta has the curse of the Bambino Chris Paul and Derron Williams will always be a curse to the Hawks .
ryan
February 23rd, 2011
12:19 pm
Mike Miller on the block but of course the Hawks wont get him .
STRETCH
February 23rd, 2011
12:22 pm
Rod from College Park,
Its not all about guys from the Hawks making the all-star team, its about the Hawks making it past the first round.
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
February 23rd, 2011
12:23 pm
lmao@other teams moving stars and Sund planning for Kirk Hinrich to put butts in seats at Philips.
Sadly, even that would be an upgrade.
lets do somethin!!!
STRETCH
February 23rd, 2011
12:23 pm
Or better yet, the way the East is being stacked, the Hawks should be more worried about making it to the playoffs!
KevinM
February 23rd, 2011
12:23 pm
Ryan, its the curse of Bill Russell from the St. Louis days. Also, Mike Miller is damaged goods and too expensive…no use for him.
Stephen A.Smith just reported that Chris Kaman wanted to come to Atlanta prior to signing his last contract…whew! And the hoopshype comment on him? ‘low basketball IQ’ Please no more Kaman wishes!
PureEvil
February 23rd, 2011
12:24 pm
Would make more sense if Cleveland wasnt majority black, which it is or if Lebron didnt have a Fiance’, which he does.
I was simpy trying to say the city was full of ugly women plus its a crappy place to live and it would be a simple decision to make. And while were talking about Unintended Irony……NBA player…….. fiance………
Trojan
February 23rd, 2011
12:27 pm
The patience of the fans has officially evaporated. Sund can not simply say, “we tried”. LD’s words have become simply useless words.
The Spirit Group better be prepared for less revenue because the Hawks have peaked and with no apparent plan to improve, fans have already started forgetting about them.
But hey, we have JJ for years to come!
KevinM
February 23rd, 2011
12:28 pm
Wow, the schedule looks monumental going forward…….and only 3 road games out of 15 in March. Our home record not as impressive as in the past year.
Wabe
February 23rd, 2011
12:38 pm
I think I’m gonna end up going to one of these games coming up just so I can wave a big 10′ sign reading “FFFFFFFFFFF the ATLANTA SPIRIT GROUP”
Seriously, it’s a joke. We don’t gotta wait till playoff time to see what the result will be in these playoffs Sund. Pop in the tape of what happened last season, then rewind back to this past summer when every other team that wants to contend was making moves, and then look hard at what teams are doing right now with the trade deadline looming.
Freshfromatl
February 23rd, 2011
12:43 pm
Trojan,
I gotta agree with you on that. I think the next 24 hours will really define the Hawks in Atlanta for years to come. Every Hawks fan I’ve talked to is PISSED right now and saying they won’t purchase anymore tickets until something gets done. It also seems like everyone is ready to fire LD right now, too.
The ball is officially in the hands of Rick Sund and the ASG and the shot clock is quickly winding down. What will they do?
HoosierHawk
February 23rd, 2011
12:46 pm
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=4rp73gz
Would have loved this. +14 wins for the hawks -2 for the Jazz but they get younger.
ryan
February 23rd, 2011
12:49 pm
I have been hearing that the NBA may delete a couple teams because of the money i know the Kings are in trouble and i heard Memphis could one those teams .
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
12:49 pm
HAWKS MELTDOWN HAS ALREADY COMMENCED A WEEK AGO! THEY HAVE LOST 4 OF 5..TONIGHT WILL MAKE IT 5 0F 6!! playoffs!!!PLAYOFFS??????
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
12:50 pm
DELETE THE HAWKS TOO………………….
Najeh Davenpoop
February 23rd, 2011
12:50 pm
Hey Rick Sund, wanna run your Twitter? Let me know.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 23rd, 2011
12:51 pm
“And while were talking about Unintended Irony……NBA player…….. fiance………”
Hahaha word.
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
12:52 pm
“The ball is officially in the hands of Rick Sund and the ASG and the shot clock is quickly winding down. What will they do?”
ANSWER; NOTHING……………………………………………………………………………….He loves his core………………………………………………………………………………..Sund=Sad.who is this buster GM man???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????/
KevinM
February 23rd, 2011
12:58 pm
This west coast trip will be lightly looked upon by management. They have never made a quick decision in their history. They play it out where no move is a rash move.
We already know the result here; we just don’t want to see it happen!
We have no voice here…we seem to be able to influence MC and his interviews, but we have no voice to management expressing our disgust with the core. Seems like they make moves to prove to you they know basketball.
They are going to drive that every year improvement down your throat!
This brand is damaged goods. Joe Johnson will impact the salary structure for years going forward.
Simply put, management won’t invite controversy in their tight family circle. The core will remain as is going forward.
Ramon
February 23rd, 2011
12:59 pm
Did I not just ask about a JJ for DWill trade. There’s no way Utah wouldn’t have preferred to have JJ over Harris and Favors. -
JeJe
February 23rd, 2011
1:00 pm
LD will threaten a lineup change, then we will somehow win tonight or come close to winning and the lineup change will be put on hold
*Yawn*
When does Falcon season start?
JeJe
February 23rd, 2011
1:01 pm
Slimjr, you said Gearon is worth 300-400M? Really? That’s a lot. How much are the others worth and where did you find out this info?
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
1:03 pm
I could see the Hawks ownership going bankrupt………its reasonable…The thrashers are taking down the Hawks….
slimjr
February 23rd, 2011
1:05 pm
just a rumor JeJe…Maybe I shouldn’t have put that on the screen,my bad…..
Jae Evolution
February 23rd, 2011
1:06 pm
If we aren’t going to go for a big time PG, then we need to get both of the ones we were looking at.
Trade Mo Evans and Jeff Teague for Ramon Sessions and Manny Harris.
Then trade Bibby and a 1st for Kirk Hinrich.
PLEASE GET THIS DONE!