Atlanta Hawks: Suns 105, Hawks 97
Phoenix–The news of the trade shouldn’t overshadow the fact that the Hawks are suddenly reeling. That’s three straight Ls and five of six with Golden State (tough matchup), Portland (tough team) and Denver (tough building even without Melo) still to go on this trip.
- Zaza was held out as the Hawks continued trade discussions. I’m thinking any swap would be big for big but no word yet on the details of the teams/players involved.
- But first some more reaction to the trade that did go down. . . .
- L.D. said the Hawks had been calling around on point guards for the last couple weeks.
- “As everybody knows we’ve been searching for a point guard for a while, somebody who can come in and run this club,” he said. “Not saying that Mike didn’t go a good job, but there just comes a point where a change has to take place. We as an organization felt like it was that time.”
- L.D. on Hinrich: “Kirk brings such a wealth of toughness at that position. He’s a heady guy, he’s a smart guy. All the intangibles you are looking for he brings to the table.”
- Jamal: “It’s tough to tell now [how the trade will work]. Mike was the leader at point guard for a while. Jordan has a bright future. Mo is just solid, gives you defense and 3-point shooting. But I played with Kirk Hinrich [in Chicago] and I know what he’s about.”
- Bibby was a popular teammate. He has a goofy personality and saw it as his job to keep the team loose (though I think the Hawks could end up benefiting from Hinrich’s more serious approach).
- It’s a business, of course, but there was a real sense of personal loss in Atlanta’s locker room.
- “Any time you make trades, it’s always tough, especially when you grow close and attached to players,” Drew said. “But that’s just the nature of this business. It just comes with the territory.”
- Bibby, Mo and JC2 were informed they might be part of a trade and stayed behind at the team’s hotel. Word trickled through the rest of the team but players weren’t told of the pending deal until just before game time
- Al: “It’s just tough for us right before the game to get this news. It’s kind of not unexpected since we’d heard but to hear it just actually happened . . .”
- Joe: “We let three good guys go who I had become really good friends with. But at the same time we understand the business aspect and this is the profession we chose knowing that trades happen. You have to deal with it. Getting Kirk and Armstrong is definitely going to contribute to what we are trying to do. Kirk is very defensive-minded and a guy who can really knock down the open shot and penetrate and make plays for others as well. I think he is going to be beneficial for us.”
- Moving Jordan and the first-round pick is the latest indication the Hawks, when push comes to shove, are more focused on making moves they think will help now vs. player and asset development in the future. I’m sure opinions vary on that approach among my blog people but, as I always say, the Hawks will be judged on what happens this postseason.
- Al: “Jordan, as short as time he was here, we know he has a lot of potential.”
- Drew on Armstrong: “He’s a big body. He’s athletic. He bangs. I like the fact he’s a guy who plays hard. You can’t have enough type of those guys.”
- Josh on Armstrong: “I think in the paint he can block some shots and be able to add that inside presence and help us out down there a little bit. When we played against them he was a effective in a couple of games.”
- Now on to the game . . .
- The Hawks rallied from 18 down to tie it at 92-92 with five minutes left. The Suns closed them out by winning the kind of possession-by-possession sequences in which the Hawks tends to falter. Not a good idea to get into a shootout with the Suns, who made 10 of 14 shots in the fourth.
- Perhaps it would have been different at the end without the big deficit or a back-to-back but it’s an L all the same.
- “It’s tough to spot a team 18 points and having to fight back, especially a team like Phoenix,” Drew said. “They shoot the ball so well, particularly from the 3-point line (13 for 26). We exerted a lot of energy to get back and I thought our guys wore down at the end.”
- The Hawks started switching on every screen, an approach that they theoretically should be able to scrap with Hinrich on the floor.
- “We couldn’t get [stops],” Josh said. “We ended up switching. Nash is a smart point guard. He knew where the mismatches were. Tip your hat to Channing Frye, he hit some tough shots on Damien. Damien was all over him but when you are 6-10, 6-11 you get that ball in position you want it’s kind of hard to block the shot.”
- Jamal’s scoring and Damien’s defense helped the Hawks get back in it. Jamal made five straight shots but didn’t have an attempt from 6:53 of the fourth until a meaningless layup in the final seconds. “I’m getting back to being me, for sure,” he said.
- Teague got his second career start was noticeably more decisive in driving the ball. Finishing was another matter though he still was 3 for 6 from the field and 3 for 3 from the line.
- “I thought he came out aggressive in attack mode and used his speed and quickness,” Drew said. “We need that. I thought he did a tremendous job breaking the defense down and getting to the basket. That’s the way he has to play. Don’t worry about turning the basketball over, just keep the pressure on the defense.”
- After 10 nights on the road I’m officially on the injured list (shoulder) after a bench press mishap in the gym yesterday. It’s after the All-Star break so I’ve got to push through it. Hurts like hell to lug around bags but I refuse to take the L of getting on one of those old folks carts at the airport tomorrow.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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802 comments Add your comment
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
6:05 pm
“Yeah this is really motivating me to go spend some money to see the Hawks play. That guy Hinrich is such a great point guard that two other teams decided to get rid of him for young guards who had never played one game in the league.”
Another sucker move by Sund…….March is going to get real for the Hawks like this rd trip…I looking forward to the 3 games with Chicago!!! What a reality check that’s going to be?
ryan
February 24th, 2011
6:06 pm
OJ Mayo to the Pacers did not happen i think the Hawks should maybe go after him this summer .
O'Brien
February 24th, 2011
6:07 pm
Jalen Rose is all over the Bulls for not making a move for a SG,. Bulls didnt want to give up Taj Gibson and Omar Asik, so they miss a chance to add a SG and possibly take another step closer to Miami and Boston (who might be taking a step back).
Najeh Davenpoop
February 24th, 2011
6:09 pm
If there is any silver lining about today for the Hawks, it is the Suns-Rockets trade. Giving up a first round pick and Dragic for Aaron Brooks tells me that Phoenix may seriously consider trading Nash this offseason. With both Hinrich and Nash expiring after next season, the Hawks are in a decent position to make a run at him. Of course, this requires a creative GM…
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
6:11 pm
This year the Hawks will probably be one and done………………………………….Yawn………..Chicago,Chicago,Chicago………………………….Shoot……………………Dwill wanted out of Utah two freaking months ago…
Sund just head over to Stone Mountain and take a leap Sir……………………………..
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
6:14 pm
“Section 303 – I’m hoping your wrong, but our next 10 look awful. Maybe Hinrich if and when he plays, can stop some of that”
Keep dreamin………………………………
ant banks
February 24th, 2011
6:16 pm
THE SILVER LINING IN THE CLOUDS:
1.bibby jersies can be purchased 75% off. i got 2 Chills jersies when he left. lol.
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
6:16 pm
The Heimlich Maneuver is hurt right now!! Sh$t…………………………………
Sund=Fail…………………
Najeh Davenpoop
February 24th, 2011
6:16 pm
“1.bibby jersies can be purchased 75% off. i got 2 Chills jersies when he left. lol.”
I’ll see your Chills jerseys and raise you a free Theo Ratliff poster.
hawks_4_life
February 24th, 2011
6:17 pm
NO. NAME POS AGE HT WT COLLEGE 2010-2011 SALARY
0 Hilton Armstrong C 26 6-11 235 Connecticut $854,389
34 Jason Collins C 32 7-0 255 Stanford $854,389
11 Jamal Crawford G 30 6-5 200 Michigan $10,800,000
0 Kirk Hinrich G 30 6-4 190 Kansas $9,000,000
15 Al Horford C 24 6-10 245 Florida $5,444,857
2 Joe Johnson SG 29 6-7 240 Arkansas $16,324,500
27 Zaza Pachulia C 27 6-11 275 $4,251,250
12 Josh Powell C 28 6-9 240 North Carolina State $854,389
5 Josh Smith PF 25 6-9 240 $11,700,000
19 Pape Sy F 22 6-7 225 $473,604
0 Jeff Teague G 22 6-2 180 Wake Forest $1,476,840
36 Etan Thomas C 32 6-10 260 Syracuse $854,389
3 Damien Wilkins SF 31 6-6 225 Georgia $482,478
24 Marvin Williams SF 24 6-9 240 North Carolina $7,262,500
ant banks
February 24th, 2011
6:20 pm
lol @ ‘poop
ant banks
February 24th, 2011
6:22 pm
for whatever reason, i am still a die hard ATL fan. but it hurts. there was no excitement or buzz around the deadline today. we won’t have a 1st round pick this yr, so no buzz around that.. jus’ sucks right now.
i
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
6:24 pm
“ATTENTION EVERYONE,
Stop looking for trade rumors about the Hawks because there are none. ASG has fooled you all. There is neither hope nor plan for this team to be anything more than a sellable asset.”
Gearon Jr= Hawks are a write off for the man with 300-400 milly in the bank……
Section 303
February 24th, 2011
6:35 pm
So, I leave for awhile, come back,and Zaza is still here….I am so sick of watching Zaza play….
Sick of the Hawks, actually…all they do these days is lose and still claim to be “elite”. The end to this season is going to be terrible. A whole slew of losses ahead. I’m calling it right now…the Hawks will not win 45 games this year.
mykhalc
February 24th, 2011
6:42 pm
@Section 303…co-sign!!! i’m especially sick of knowin’ our Batman, who is really Robin, is just damn AFRAID to BE THE team leader!!!! he needs to take a f’n lesson from ROOKIE JWall…grow a pair Robin!!! Hawks, from the to down SUCK!!!
mykhalc
February 24th, 2011
6:43 pm
Hawks, from the top down SUCK!!!
Rod from College Park
February 24th, 2011
6:57 pm
So we essentially got better defensively, at the point, and added another Etan Thomas, Collins type of big man. We still don’t have a back up point guard. If Teague is that guy, then he should have been getting minutes all year. Our problem the past 2 years in the playoffs, regardless of what people think, has not been defense, its been offense. We have not gotten out of the 80’s in both of our sweeps to Orlando and Cleveland. We still dont have a guard who can penetrate, or break the defense down and get in the lane and cause problems. Derron Williams (steak), Aaron Brooks (chicken) were available, but we choose Kirk Hinrich (hot dog), to lead this team, in a city that can’t get fans to come out and support the team. Makes a lot of sense to me (LOL). We still have the great Marvin Williams, and Zaza Pachulia also. Funny how Marvin’s name is always thrown around in all these trade rumors, but none of them pan out. I wonder why? I sure am glad I let my season tickets go this year. Smartest thing I’ve done in a couple of years.
tyger
February 24th, 2011
7:02 pm
ASG committed; exceed luxury cap for Heinrich and Armstrong…uuuh not really!
Hawks over luxury cap by $568K, pay dollar for dollar tax = $1.13M
Hawks reimbursement for veteran’s minimum salaries (Collins, Thomas, Powell) = $1.359M
$1.359M
$1.130M
=======
$229K = strip club
Big Ray
February 24th, 2011
7:07 pm
“I thought he came out aggressive in attack mode and used his speed and quickness,” Drew said. “We need that. I thought he did a tremendous job breaking the defense down and getting to the basket. That’s the way he has to play. Don’t worry about turning the basketball over, just keep the pressure on the defense.”
Ok, Uncle Larry. Now what does that mean? Will you give him more minutes now, or is he going back to being buried on the bench? Just curious.
Wabe
February 24th, 2011
7:19 pm
They’re talking about the Hinrich deal on TNT.
northcyde
February 24th, 2011
7:22 pm
I really don’t understand what people were expecting today.
You guys do realize that the vast majority of these trades, were salary related type moves . . right? And for the Hawks to even get into these discussions, we’d have to trade one of our real good players, or take on a bad contract for a swap of one of our scrubs.
LOL @ Zaza in trade talks. If that Zaza for Miller was true, that would’ve been another bad contract taken on by the Hawks.
Personally, I would’ve loved to make that Bibby deal for a guy like Nazr. This team needed help depth wise on the frontcourt, more than they needed a journeyman PG like Hinrich ( whom people will be so-so on in about 2 weeks ).
Jettison those 3 players does open up a roster spot. So let’s see if Sund/ASG will claim someone off the waiver wire when things shake out. And they can’t halfstep when it goes down either.
superiorblogman
February 24th, 2011
7:31 pm
Hawks Suck. I guess they just wanted another white guy even though he was the worse option from everyone available. They need to move this team back to St. Louis or out to Vegas and get some new owners, no one around here has money to spend on BS.
Big Ray
February 24th, 2011
7:38 pm
I’m laughing at people who think this deal made us worse somehow. We were going to get WHAT in the draft this year? Jordan Crawford shows promise, but is he anything more than Marcus Thornton? Look, we liked him because he came in the game and started taking shots right off the bat. Because he doesn’t hesitate.
But….same people who rant and rave about Jeff Teague’s shooting percentage and defense forget all about Crawford’s shooting percentage (35%) and HIS defense (ummmm…).
So stop acting like we lost a star and a lottery pick. We lost two unknowns, relatively speaking. Hey, don’t get me wrong. I didn’t want to give him up. But I’m not going to say we lost an eventual starter, either.
Mr.Phil
February 24th, 2011
7:40 pm
I searched long and hard but I think I have found it.Reason to be optimistic. Read this from John Hollinger:
“They’ll never say so in so many words, but actions speak much louder. And today’s actions said that when playoff time rolls around, Boston thinks it will need perimeter depth, floor spacing and the ability to play smaller a lot more than they’ll need quality low-post defenders.
Translation: Miami is the threat here, not Orlando. And if they survive, it’s San Antonio, not the Lakers, whom they now match up better against. ”
So maybe the Hawks are overlooking Orlando too and trying to get in position to go against the Miami’s, New Yorks and Chicagos of the world bytotally ignoring the lowpost and trying to get better perimeter D. I know it is a stretch, but I am trying here.
J from the A
February 24th, 2011
7:53 pm
Overall, I like the Hinrich-Bibby swap. I’ve always liked Mike and I hate to see him leave, but we all know how badly the Hawks need a decent all-around PG who can defend. In this regard, I think I like Hinrich a little bit better. (In fact, since Hinrich was traded to Washington during the off season, I have been strongly advocating for the Hawks to pull off a trade that would bring Hinrich here.)
I think, without a doubt, this move makes the Hawks better. The real question, though, is: How much better does it make the Hawks? The Hawks’ real Achilles heel has been trying to guard the pick-and-roll. With just this move, the Hawks should be much better at guarding the pick and roll, and have improved their perimeter D in general. However, the Hawks still have other issues that this trade does not even begin to address.
Wabe
February 24th, 2011
7:59 pm
northcyde,
Truthfully, I think people are fed up with the status quo. We’re stuck, and we’ve been stuck now going back two playoffs ago (when we got swept by Cleveland).
This team always fails to make meaningful moves that will get us over the top. I wasn’t really expecting any moves today that would get the Hawks over the top, but seriously, I think what you today was people just pure frustrated with the lack of any committment from this organization to get this team over the hump.
I don’t think it’s just frustration from a lack of moves today. It’s frustration that’s been building up since we got whopped in last season’s playoffs. We got whopped, we didn’t really do anything to get much better in the offseason, and then it’s even more frustrating when you see teams within the East making moves geared to get their franchises to the promise land, and all of this happens while the Hawks sit idle.
It’s just frustrating.
superiorblogman
February 24th, 2011
8:06 pm
Whitey should be able to get the out of control blacks to behave. He was not best candidate for job but he is white. He will fit in great in ole confederate flag waving Georgia.
W.R.Terrell
February 24th, 2011
8:16 pm
We play the Warriors tomorrow night with the addition of a new point guard and big man. I guess everyone got their wish with Mike Bibby’s departure. WAS NOT MIKE’S FAULT, he may have been a lil slower but until that “smoove” person gives the ball back with some immediacy no matter what point guard we have disaster will follow. You can’t fight vanity, can’t live with it either. Takes too much out of you. So Kirk has to deal with ISO Joe an that “smoove” fella, hoggin and poundin and trying to make the electryfying pass that will be talked about for years. That premadona needs to go, let another coach deal with his low basketball IQ(smoove) and sit ISO’s ass down if he starts pounding the ball.
SteveW
February 24th, 2011
8:18 pm
Superior – don’t be stupid, please! You say some decent stuff sometimes, but that was stupid.
I just want the Hawks to win. I’ve been pushing Teague, because LD has a groove that is stuck in his brain about certain players. He won’t play Etan. Wouldn’t play JC2. Won’t play Wilkens. Won’t play Teague. Will play Bibby and Mo’ at all costs.
Please don’t bring racist comments on this blog. Teague happens to be black. Nobody can help the way God created them. But He loves us all. Now back to basketball
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
8:25 pm
Where is the Dept. of Unintended Irony to put this fool in check???? inferior just lost his mind……………………………time to hit the scroll when this troll comes online……………….
SteveW
February 24th, 2011
8:25 pm
Kirk Hinrich will blow our minds. Really.
This team has needed a real PG. We just got one.
He will defend the Point
He will up the intensity
He will make Teague a better player by playing super intense in practice against him
He will up our overall D
We have 3 All Star caleber players. Hinrich gives another solid guy, which Bibby was not. He changes the dynamics of matchups. Could you imagine Bibby on DRose? DWill? Jameer and Arenas? But Hinrich can compete with those guys. We will be tougher as a team, and tougher in the playoffs. Just watch and see.
SteveW
February 24th, 2011
8:27 pm
Now, I just hope we can keep him healthy. But I think he just made us equal with ORL.
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
8:31 pm
“Now, I just hope we can keep him healthy”
Good luck, hes 30 years old and injury prone…
“Heimlich Maneuver=Tyron Lue…decent pg but always hurtin
richbrave
February 24th, 2011
8:32 pm
Bruce Mac
February 24th, 2011
10:32 am
Everybody in this stupid sport makes the playoffs. Big friggin deal. Falcons, what a joke. Haven’t won a playoff game in five years. Braves, really?
Braves?.really…………Now them’s fightin’ words. Sit back Bruce Mac and be prepared to be rocked by a championship season in ATLANTA as the BRAVES maintain with the PHILLIES while pummelling everyone else in ML baseball.
tom
February 24th, 2011
8:35 pm
can hinrich dunk?
superiorblogman
February 24th, 2011
8:36 pm
SteveW
February 24th, 2011
8:18 pm
Superior – don’t be stupid, please! You say some decent stuff sometimes, but that was stupid.
I just want the Hawks to win. I’ve been pushing Teague, because LD has a groove that is stuck in his brain about certain players. He won’t play Etan. Wouldn’t play JC2. Won’t play Wilkens. Won’t play Teague. Will play Bibby and Mo’ at all costs.
Please don’t bring racist comments on this blog. Teague happens to be black. Nobody can help the way God created them. But He loves us all. Now back to basketball
I will always bring the truth to conversation. It was all about the southern way of life. Get the white man to control the blacks even though he was not the best available candidate.
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
8:37 pm
“can hinrich dunk”
joke right??????????????????????????HaHaHa………………….
drmaryb (*_*)
February 24th, 2011
8:38 pm
SteveW
Co-Sign Sir. This blog doesn’t need any race baiting on here.
Go see: Orlando Ledbetter Falcons bloggers for that type of ignorance.
____________________
Now, if you want to go after ASKG? Have at ‘Em! (oh yeah! I got jokes).
____________________
No comments about that trade yet, I’m still mulling it over. I need to do a little research before I jump in. In re: Captain Kirk. I do love his no nonesense attitude. I think these Hawks have been goofing off way to much on Company Time. (practices and locker room and team plane).
Even when on the company charter, there should be no gambling and shenanigans going on. It is a business trip type atmosphere, I hope.
There is a Championship Culture in everything you do and the manner in which things are done. No profanity and horse playing should be going on, when you are on a Championship Quest! Which we, my friends, are NOT. Like Najeh said, we need some ole’ vet dogs in here.
This team is too silly, fickle and laid back about their business.
That culture I speak of and yearn for, starts with The Eight Owners.
It starts the moment you enter the corporate offices building and greet the door man, from the front entrance? It permeates through out the organization like a gas rag on fire! We don’t have that here. And, you can’t fake that type of Funk!
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
8:39 pm
why dont you ask inferior if Hinrich can dunk? He’s on a nasty roll right now….
richbrave
February 24th, 2011
8:40 pm
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
8:31 pm
“Now, I just hope we can keep him healthy”
Good luck, hes 30 years old and injury prone…
“Heimlich Maneuver=Tyron Lue…decent pg but always hurtin
Saw both LUE and HINRICH in D.C. Comparing the two is lood-i-crus in my opinion. HINRICH will be an upgrade over BIBBY hands down. The guy is tough and smart. He is not as good a spot-up shooter as MIKE, but in every other facet of the game, it’s like comparing diamonds [HINRICH] to glass [BIBBY]. He is however a combo-guard better suited to the two slot than the one, but he’ll not fail you on the defensive end. Only the elite one’s and two’s will get consistant penetration from the perimeter against ATLANTA the rest of this season.
richbrave
February 24th, 2011
8:43 pm
dr mary b (* *):
The dr is in the house!!!! Baby, I’ve missed you. Come home, all is forgiven. ‘Zup girl?
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
8:44 pm
DWILL=Contender we could have had twice…………………………….
Hinrich= Not…………………………………………….YAWN
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
8:46 pm
Hawks need an elite pg not a sg..We have IOS Joe, 500k per night!
Hawks= one and done…..BLAH BLAH BLAH…..
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
8:48 pm
Intended where are you?????
K-Dogg
February 24th, 2011
8:50 pm
RIP Mike Bibby:: Thanks for helping turn a 20win team into a now playoff team each year. I thought you got killed by the media and bloggers here whene you belong on the bench the last two years but our player development and caoches refused to give major mintues to the younger guys and forced you to start. I wanted us to keep you and have you come off the bench and hit open jumpers!!! RIP Jordan Crawford i think you will come back to bite us the most on this trade. All in all the Hawks did not lose any major peeices so its an okay trade. Does it get us over the hump no but we needed a jolt and this may get me back on board and to the games!!! Interested to see how we use Armstrong and also hate we are going to lose Ja Crawford this summer for nothing!! I give us a c+!!!!!!!!!!
Rufus1
February 24th, 2011
8:51 pm
Mr. Phil
“So maybe the Hawks are overlooking Orlando too and trying to get in position to go against the Miami’s, New Yorks and Chicagos of the world bytotally ignoring the lowpost and trying to get better perimeter D”
I agree with this thought completely. I said earlier this season we would not lose to the Magic and I believe it more with the addition of Kirk.
We beat them without Joe and Bibby at the point(The 40th ranked PG)
Kirk is way better than Bibby at this point in his career. Bibby= Sam Cassel
We are better than the Magic at 4 of the 5 starting position…..We won’t lose to them!!!!!
honest_abe
February 24th, 2011
8:51 pm
superiorblogman you get the award for idiot of the year. congrats.
O'Brien
February 24th, 2011
8:52 pm
northcyde,
I think a lot of fans (me included) were so disappointed in Bibby’s play that we were hungry for a trade. And given Rick Sund’s ineptitude, we are excited about the trade because it’s an upgrade over Bibby.
However, I think you’re right. In 2 weeks, we will be complaining about Hinrich.
I think the move that should have been made is to trade Jamal (this past offseason) for 2 solid bench players. But Rick waited, and was forced to make a desperation move.
SteveW
February 24th, 2011
8:54 pm
superior – Huh? We tried to get Felton (black). We tried to get Harris (black). We then could go after Kirk or Ramon. I wanted both. But the Wiz’s were the ones that would take Bibby and Mo’ off our hands. And Sund had to do that for LD, because LD was going to play them regardless.
We got the best available that met the criteria, white or black. I hate racism. From any side.
Now back to basketball
Cavs are trying to buy out Leon Powe. I wouldn’t mind getting him,
I would sign Da’Sean Butler yesterday, but it doesn’t look like we’re going that route
But if Hinrich is healthy, he will transform this team positively. Just watch. I like Bibby, but he was holding us back
richbrave
February 24th, 2011
8:55 pm
superiorblogman
February 24th, 2011
8:06 pm
Whitey should be able to get the out of control blacks to behave. He was not best candidate for job but he is white. He will fit in great in ole confederate flag waving Georgia.
WOW, I mean really……….dude!!!!!! Give us ALL a break.