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
SteveW
February 24th, 2011
8:55 pm
Rufus – We are at least equal to them. Dwight and their bench count for something.
The Truth
February 24th, 2011
8:58 pm
The biggest victim from the Hawks trade is Ken S. I’m sure he’s still mourning. Don’t know how he’s going to cope with not having Bibby around to bash. His anger has been directed toward LD as of late but that has its limitations since he was such a big fan early in the season.
I feel for you Ken but hang in there. THIS TOO SHALL PASS
richbrave
February 24th, 2011
8:58 pm
O’Brien
February 24th, 2011
8:52 pm
northcyde,
“….However, I think you’re right. In 2 weeks, we will be complaining about Hinrich….”
Disagree there…….well, some will.
“…..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…..”
Wouldn’t that be an indicator of ineptitude? I see a lot of that in D.C. sports teams.
superiorblogman
February 24th, 2011
9:03 pm
Hinrich was not the best candidate available and he also cost us moving Zaza because they needed to put the 2 white boys together to make them feel comfortable. Hinrich is garbage.
honest_abe
February 24th, 2011
9:03 pm
ray: agree with what you’re saying. hinrich definitely improves this team. but it seems like they just made a move just for the sake of making a move. trading for someone who isn’t even a true pg and is in the last yr of his contract tells you what this move is really about ………. money.
??
February 24th, 2011
9:03 pm
Hi all,
The only stopping Teague from playing is not your coach. Its his teamates.
They have lost confidence in him and no matter what they say publicly its all over the locker room.
Teague knows it.He does have his supporters but now that bibby is gone,he has gotten fingers pointing at him saying that he better step up or else.
Jamaal is bored. And he is thinking about next year,and where he will sign during the offseason.
Its too late for the hawks to offer him anything now because he is ready to leave.
Horford and Joe are even closer now than ever before.
They would like to see where the hawks are going and are planning on doing to get more talent surrounding them,and they do have a speed dial to one of the ASG Owners,and he listens.He listens.
Im going to say something that will shock all of you.
This team still has the chance to get deep into the playoffs if only they play the way your coach sets them up to play. But when you have an out of control player like Josh Smith,and the 2 biggest mouthpieces in the locker room gone(bibby,evans,yes that evans mo evans),then this ship is gonna have a bumpy ride on a tidal wave!!
One more thing,Drew is very high and optimistic about how far this team will go.
He is not a bad coach.He has been an assistant among some great coaches.
Coaches talk,they learn,they teach,and just like doctors they still practice.
He will have this team suprisingly ready come playoffs time.
The NBA fans and the media and you atlanta fans are all asking why didn’t the hawks do more.
Coaches are wondering what is it that this 18 yr. assistant has up his sleeves.
You never wondered why he has Thomas and Collins on the bench a lot unless they are playing a big starting 5?
Or why up until last night Wilkens does not get a lot of playing time?(yes we all know about the two 10 day contracts).
Questions that you think that an 18 year assistant coach should know.
O'Brien
February 24th, 2011
9:04 pm
MC,
When do we get a new blog? Throw us a bone…
Section 303
February 24th, 2011
9:06 pm
superiorblogman, stop. You’re just trying to sound controversial and totally failing. You’re just coming off as a total d-bag.
O'Brien
February 24th, 2011
9:07 pm
honest_abe,
You said but it seems like they just made a move just for the sake of making a move. trading for someone who isn’t even a true pg and is in the last yr of his contract tells you what this move is really about ………. money..
For the record, Hinrich is not in the last year of his deal. he has one more to go (just like Bibby). And the hawks actually added another $700K to next year’s salary, so they cannot be excused of making this move for money.
The Truth
February 24th, 2011
9:08 pm
If Jamal walks as a FA, Sund stupidity goes to another level as he would have mortgaged our future for little in return. The verdict is still out on this move.
Section 303
February 24th, 2011
9:08 pm
O’Brien, I think Michael is mailing it in these days. Proving to be a halfass beat writer. How he can go through a day like this without saying anything is beyond me.
Michael, either put some effort into to this or find a new gig.
O'Brien
February 24th, 2011
9:08 pm
*they cannot be accused of making this move for money
K-Dogg
February 24th, 2011
9:09 pm
Yeah i been saying for two years BIG AL at the 5 and Josh at the 4 will win you 50 games but when it comes time to play the big boys you arenot going to beat them!!! This team has talent everyone knows that but to be a great NBA team you have to be versitle. If a team wants to run you can run if they want to slow it down you can play that way too; unless you force your will on them and make them play your style!! We are not a good half court team b/c of our front court lack of size!!!! If we had Don Nelson or Mike D in New York coaching this small team of athletes we could make some noise but we have coaches and systems in place that dont fit these players and its funny b/c it shows that we have lame duck coaches b/c any coach that woud come here with strips on the wall would say that these guys dont fit my system i see whats going on wiht this team and have for 2 years now im just glad you gusy are coming around b/c once we started winning and making the playoffs i was just as happy as you but i was wanting more but i dont think our front office ges it!!!!
honest_abe
February 24th, 2011
9:10 pm
o brien: oops – misinformed. not the first and definitely not the last. well there goes that theory.
GET US A CENTER
February 24th, 2011
9:11 pm
Trades: Celtics strike deal with Thunder; Blazers land Wallace
1d 6h ago
Thursday, the Boston Celtics traded guard Nate Robinson and center Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City for forward Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic, a league executive with knowledge of the trade who requested anonymity told USA TODAY.
Rufus1
February 24th, 2011
9:11 pm
SteveW
I think this move will improve our team greatly and I thought we were better than the Magic with Bibby….So I think this will Move the Hawks past Orlando.
When Joe and Jamal find their shots and Josh finds the players he was last year, we will be true contenders for the East.
I wanted to trade Jamal and 2nd for Dunleavy. I think we need another real shooter.
brigadierjerry
February 24th, 2011
9:13 pm
Only options for Hawks are buyout free agent players such as :
Troy Murphy who will probably go to boston or miami
TJ Ford
Jared Jeffries
Earl Barron
RIchard Hamilton
Jason Kapno
Pryzibilla formerly or Portland
Darius Songalia
Sherron Collins Dominic McGuire
Leon Powe
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
9:16 pm
“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.”
Yes it was a move of desperation.I concur……This Hinrich guy will be either hurt or in foul trouble by the 8 min mark in the 1st quarter…………….
brigadierjerry
February 24th, 2011
9:17 pm
Section 303 and others have made a good point of the presence of coverage of the Hawks. Living up North I see much more coverage with the writers and their involvement of their teams and I dont mean big market areas. All other beat writers no matter what the sport is are always updating twitter or if rumors or breaking news will have it on their website. I feel it is somewhat lacking here like a laissez-faire attitude about it and you can see from the fans are passionate and they want more info and have to go elsewhere to find it.
honest_abe
February 24th, 2011
9:18 pm
“I think this move will improve our team greatly and I thought we were better than the Magic with Bibby….So I think this will Move the Hawks past Orlando.”
delusional? high? crazy? in order for josh to be the player he was last year it might help for him to stop taking so many damn jumpers. joe can’t function properly in this offense. jamal is a black hole and can’t find any ways to contribute when his shot is broke.
last year although lacking any offensive creativity had a little more backbone (except the playoffs) they fought hard to have a home court advantage. they disguised their lack of perimter d by switching. woody basically forced josh to live in the paint and for the most part good things happened. can’t leave out that joe was playin for a contract. i keep sayin it stop goin to the games and this ownership will be broke by the end of the year!
STOP GOING TO THE GAMES!!!!!
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
9:21 pm
Intended where are you??
Rufus1
February 24th, 2011
9:24 pm
??
What has teague done for his teammates to lose confidence in him?….So what if they lost confidencein him, bibby and Jamal were terrible he should have been playing.
I have no confidence in a coach that insist on playing a guy 30-35 playing as poorly as Bibby and Jamal did.
Why can’t he get Josh off the perimeter, if he is such a good coach?
Jae Evolution
February 24th, 2011
9:25 pm
If Bobcats buyout Pryzbilla do we release Etan and try to pick him up?
drmaryb (*_*)
February 24th, 2011
9:26 pm
Ritchie – Rich!
Wassup Baby! How you durin’? Man, ignore that Trolle, he is just bumping them gums. Trying to make his brain hit the side walls.
LOL! Hey Jesus forgives us all … good and bad!
________________________
Thanks for your insight up there on Kirk H. I admit that I know very little about him, but from what I’ve been hearing? I’m just glad we addressed a need, and a really big one indeed. This team begs for a floor general.
We got other needs too. Aye Sund! You’re not done eating your vegtables! Don’t stop now! Keep chewing.
joey
February 24th, 2011
9:28 pm
hawks will be alot better with hinrich i guarantee it
STRETCH
February 24th, 2011
9:30 pm
The problem is Josh Smith who is stubborn and has no BB IQ. And Jeff Teague who has been in the league what…3 years now…take a look at the other premeire PG’s in the league and the amount of time it took for them to take charge of their respective teams.
If he has not gotten it by now, then he will never get it. Moving Teague and JS is the move to make.
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
9:30 pm
“hawks will be alot better with hinrich i guarantee it”
I sure hope so! Atlanta needs a shot in the arm yesterday….
Section 303
February 24th, 2011
9:31 pm
Jae Evolution, I think that would be a good move. The Hawks should have never let Pryzbilla walk when they had him here 6-years ago. Choosing Jason Collins (may he rest in peace) over Pryzbilla was yet another Hawks blunder. Pryzbilla has proven to be a good, very physical player.
Rufus1
February 24th, 2011
9:33 pm
honest_abe
I have to belive, negative energy will destroy my life force…..Plus I watched the Magic and the Hawks play this year. The way we beat them, they can’t fix that.
Richardson can’t guard Joe
Turk can’t guard Josh
Anderson or Bass can’t guard AL
We can’t guard D12
KevinM
February 24th, 2011
9:33 pm
Hindrich will not be any worse than what we had and we might get a little defense out of our perimeter.
Armstrong will see a few minutes here or there, but he probably doesn’t make much of an impact. I throw him out there in the C rotation though.
We’ve got 4 big men on the bench; we might as well let em play at least 50% of the minutes. They can’t hurt that bad…I see other stiffs getting minutes as well. You have to play them some to get ready for the 1/2 court postseason.
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
9:37 pm
now how do the Hawks fix being 28th in rebounding? That will get them killed in the playoffs….PLAYOFFS?
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
9:39 pm
Watchin the Chicago Miami game on TNT.Pretty good game..Miami up by 3 in the 3rd…
Rufus1
February 24th, 2011
9:40 pm
Stretch ? Who is the leader on the Hawks, because I don’t know.
Teague 2 year
Joe isn’t a take charge leader…..The problem is the Hawks have no leadership structure, They are all privates(including the coach) The loudest, most angry person normally takes charge in a vacuum.
superiorblogman
February 24th, 2011
9:48 pm
Hawks to forge new chemistry without Bibby
Another episode of let’s make the white man out to be some type of upstanding citizen that can solve all problems including the immature blacks
O'Brien
February 24th, 2011
9:48 pm
Section 303,
I might be biased becuase As a GT fan, I was a fan of Jason Collier. But in hindsight, BK made another wrong move, by not only letting Pryzbilla go, but I get the impression that there was bad blood there too.
The ASG hired BK (nobody was pleased with his work), then they hired Rick Sund (I’m not impressed with his work either), hired Woody (which was ok for the first 4 years, but then everything fell down hill), then the ASG wouldnt let BK fire Woody when he wanted to, and then then the ASG offered BK a 1 year extension despite his shortcomings, and then they allowed Rick to promote Woody’s longtime assistant because we needed a change.
We need somebdoy to fire the ASG and hire a new ownership group.
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
9:55 pm
somebody hit their head today???????????????
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
9:58 pm
“We need somebody to fire the ASG and hire a new ownership group.”
You know how to fire the ASGeeMen??? Stop going to game like I have….Real simple, when attendance tanks, the owners will be forced to sell….
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
9:58 pm
games
Najeh Davenpoop
February 24th, 2011
10:04 pm
““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””
You give this ownership group way too much credit.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 24th, 2011
10:05 pm
superiorblogman, if your crazy ass conspiracy theory had any shred of truth to it, I wish they would have at least gone after Nash.
Nique's Revenge
February 24th, 2011
10:09 pm
_
(’,')
_ _ / /) rest of GMs
( (_`,–……_._,/ / \
\ ) `( ,__ ‘-’-)-’\ ))
(/ \ | ‘ 7,/` | /
\\ / / ( |
sund ” | ) | )
=’-’ =’-’
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
10:14 pm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
@Nique’s Revenge…. LOL Dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sund must be sore as a mother bent over like that……………………..!
drmaryb (*_*)
February 24th, 2011
10:19 pm
How bad it must feel to be shopped hard and nobody wants you?
Not even the other team. Wow! How do the big million dollar babies deal w/such unwanted-ness?
ZaZa
Marvin
?
Big Ray
February 24th, 2011
10:30 pm
“can hinrich dunk”
joke right??????????????????????????HaHaHa………………….
Gerald Green can dunk like nobody’s business. Ask him how that’s working out right now.
Big Ray
February 24th, 2011
10:36 pm
honest abe ,
ray: agree with what you’re saying. hinrich definitely improves this team. but it seems like they just made a move just for the sake of making a move. trading for someone who isn’t even a true pg and is in the last yr of his contract tells you what this move is really about ………. money.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. It’s never ever been about anything BUT the money with this group. However, in light of that, I think we did okay. Even if we only rented the services of a tough combo guard for a temporary amount of time.
The fact is, if you’re not committed to winning, you’re not committed to spending. And if that’s the case, then you need to be a wizard with the draft, and with free agency and trade. Even then…you simply have to spend.
Unfortunately, Hawks ownership and management are none of the above.
But…I like the trade. Even if it meant giving up Jordan Crawford, who I think has some potential. That draft pick was worth nothing, if you ask me. Who would we have gotten in this draft? Last time I looked, the Hawks valued the $3 million they made off of trading Damion James for Jordan Crawford, more than they valued Jordan Crawford. If that wasn’t the case, they’d have never made that trade. Heh…
Booo!
February 24th, 2011
11:10 pm
Yes, Kirk can Dunk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XejLyk3kJZg
I advise you all not to Judge kirk by his flashiness. Just watch the net effect his play will have on the rest of the team from a statistical standpoint. I became a Fan of kirk after coming accros some old HS footage of him a few years back. Beast.
Booo!
February 24th, 2011
11:18 pm
Classic Jamal and Kirk with the Bulls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XejLyk3kJZg
slimjr
February 24th, 2011
11:22 pm
That Chicago/Hawks match up does not bode well for the Hawks. Rose is going to torch the guards…..Lou Aldeng is raining 3’s and taking folks off the dribble with ease then stop and pop! Their bigs appear to be beasts on the boards..And can score around the basket.They seem to be well balanced with a bench that can contribute also…Hawks are 28th in rebounding!!! That is inexcusable………………How do you fix that?? WOW……………..
Samuel
February 24th, 2011
11:41 pm
Ray. I would say that was the safe trade for Sund and ASG. Not sure it will make us any better even this year. Definitely gave up too much future for him IMO. Again, I like Hinrich but we will miss Bibby and I believe Crawford will be a good one. Renting Hinrich for one year won’t put us any closer to winning even a first round series, much less a second. I think it was a move to appease the bloggers. Kind of like the LD move was anti Woody, this one was anti-Bibby. They can now say they listened to the fans. I’m not sure it will translate into victories. Sure Bibby was slow but he also kept us in a lot of games when the rest of the “so-called” superstars were laying eggs. We’ll see.
88Hawksfan
February 24th, 2011
11:42 pm
Was I seeing things? I thought I saw Teague continually feeding Al Horford close to the rim while J. Smoove stayed close to the 3 point line asking for the ball. Once Mr. J Smoove moved closer to the basket, he was fed the ball. I think Teague was sending J Smoove a message, you want the ball, get closer to the basket. We need to have Marvin coming off the bench and, like it or not, let J Smoove play 3 with Armstrong (I hope he got game and gets to play center) at center and Al at the 4. Jamal can back Joe (we’re stuck with him and his shot missing @ss for some time, I guess) and Wilkins seems to be playing better than Mo Evans and he and Marvin can share minutes. Teague can be the backup PG and I hope his increasing PT allows him to get more consistent on D and driving the ball. J Smoove, if you had better hands, you could drive, but your mind works faster than your hands and you want to drive and leave the ball behind. ZaZa is no longer an asset to this team, anyone can come in an commit 2 or 3 fouls in 5 minutes of play. I am beginning to feel the same way about Josh Powell. Ok, we need a couple of them for practices, but we need better players coming off the bench.