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
Section 303
February 25th, 2011
11:30 am
Did you guys see the article about the potential new owners of Hawks, Thrashers, and Philips? I hope that all plays out and the ASG hits the road.
Best thing about it, besides the end of ASG, is that the Thrashers would stay in Atlanta. I’m not much of a hockey fan, but I do not want the city to lose a 2nd NHL team. And, I do like the Thrashers and want them to win.
Would take 2-months (at the earliest) if this all goes down.
slimjr
February 25th, 2011
11:43 am
I think MC has given up on the HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
slimjr
February 25th, 2011
11:48 am
I would hope this new ownership will clean out the trash from top to bottom asap………………..It’s time to become one of the true elites in the game of basketball. A 30 year old always hurt journey men combo guard is not the answer…By the way he aint playing tonight cause hes hurt..Sund you are incredible dude………………………………..
Sund hope your bags are packed.. You’ll be jettison first we can only hope….31 yrs of garbage………….
JeJe
February 25th, 2011
11:58 am
““Maybe,” Horford said with a laugh. “Definitely you want to compete with the Bostons and the Miamis, so you have to do something.”
Yeah, since ASG and Sund have done NOTHING
Can’t believe Horford actually wants to be here
JeJe
February 25th, 2011
11:58 am
I think these next 5 months will be a win-win for us.
We will either do very well in the Playoffs (EXTREMELY unlikely)
or
We will lose in the Playoffs and changes WILL be made. I cannot see Smoove staying on this team if we lose in the 1st or 2nd round
JeJe
February 25th, 2011
12:05 pm
I can’t stand people who think Hinrich is the same as Bibby was 3 years ago.
HINRICH PLAYS DEFENSE
vava74
February 25th, 2011
12:05 pm
Astro,
No such luck… I am probably going for the home run since if my better half woke up with the alarm at 3.30 I would be in deep trouble
vava74
February 25th, 2011
12:06 pm
dang, wrong blog
JeJe
February 25th, 2011
12:06 pm
WHERE IS MC? CAN WE GET A COMMENT FROM HINRICH? THIS BLOG IS ON THE 16TH DAMN PAGE
SteveW
February 25th, 2011
12:12 pm
Hinrich will transform the team. If we are smart, we let him nurse his calf strain, and turn him loose on Chicago the 2nd of March.
We are not smart, so we will probably rush him in there injured, and mess up everything.
JeJe
February 25th, 2011
12:14 pm
WOULD BE AMAZING IF HAWKS AND THRASHERS WERE SOLD, BUT WHY WOULD GEARON EVER SELL HIS SHARE IN THE TEAM. HE BLEEDS HAWKS
SteveW
February 25th, 2011
12:15 pm
Hinrich tutored DRose and JWall. He will be a great tutor to Jeff Teague.
He also knows DRose, so that may help come playoff time.
And he also locks down DWade.
2nd Team All Defense
Olympic team member which he declined (weird, but I think he was getting married or wife was having a baby or something)
Al will love him. So will JJ. IF Marv will listen, he may transform his game
4x Captain of the Bulls.
Captain of the Wiz
Dad a Coach
2x in the Final Four
Dude is a winner
Watch it…
JeJe
February 25th, 2011
12:16 pm
SteveW, great point.
Let TEAGUE play damnit. He does far more in good PT than Bibby does.
Hinrich is that feisty jerk this team has always needed. He will get in confrontations and get Ts. It’s about damn time
No more cotton candy PGs
SteveW
February 25th, 2011
12:16 pm
In playoffs every year of career except 1st (I think)
JeJe
February 25th, 2011
12:17 pm
Watching the Hinrich fights/altercations over the years on YouTube is very refreshing. This guy will put Smoove in his place
peachimport
February 25th, 2011
12:26 pm
Grandad 2:40 am post. LOL! I am a “color-blind” African-American female–and I must say that was beautiful, THANK YOU!!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 25th, 2011
12:35 pm
Yawn. Two “ownership groups” with some members of the group based in Atlanta want to buy the Hawks and Thrashers. Where have we heard this before? Let me guess — they will buy the team, trade for some second rate star in a few years, one of the owners will try to veto it, they will sue each other for five years, lose a ton of money, and blame fans for not showing up.
Why can’t some billionaire from Atlanta step in and buy the team. Doesn’t Tyler Perry have a billion dollars by now off those god awful movies and that stupid ass TV show?
Worldwide Clyde
February 25th, 2011
12:43 pm
We need to start a Kickstarter page to get up enough money to buy the Hawks
O'Brien
February 25th, 2011
1:00 pm
Steve W,
Hinrich tutored DRose and JWall. He will be a great tutor to Jeff Teague.
I think he will be a great tutor to Jeff, but I wouldnt say he tutored Wall and Rose. Those guys are so talented I dont think Hinrich did much to tutor them.
I just hope going up against Kirk in practice will help Teague defensively.
O'Brien
February 25th, 2011
1:07 pm
MC,
Did you get a chance to ask LD about his starting lineup for later? Or is it a case where we won’t find out until right before the game?
Freshfromatl
February 25th, 2011
1:15 pm
What happened to MC? Did he get shot after his last blog write-up?
lewis
February 25th, 2011
1:16 pm
new blog, too many pages, where has mc gone
lewis
February 25th, 2011
1:19 pm
Enter your comments here
O'Brien
February 25th, 2011
1:19 pm
From the washington post;
”According to a person with knowledge of the situation, Mike Bibby is upset about leaving a playoff team in Atlanta to join a lottery team in Washington and is interested in receiving a buyout.
But while the topic has been discussed internally, a league source said Bibby would have to make a huge sacrifice of what’s left of the $5.8 million he is owed this season, and the $6.4 million he will receive next season.
Since that appears unlikely, Bibby is expected to be in uniform in Miami on Friday. Bibby will wear the No. 00, after he switched from his original choice of No. 0, which happened to belong to another guy who made three all-star teams and won a playoff series in that uniform. Bibby has worn No. 10 his entire career, but it is retired for Earl Monroe. .
If Bibby got number 0, he would have the same number as Teague. Interesting. But I totally understand him being upset about going from ATL to a team like Washington.
That is the same reason why I think Hawks could have gotten away with working out a 2 year deal when he signed his new deal. How many playoff teams were looking for a starting PG that offseason, and of those teams, how many of them were going to give him a 3rd year?
I hope he plays really well in Washington (although that will probably lead to some Hawks fans saying we shouldnt have traded him). Maybe his expiring contract will be traded to a contender next season.
richbrave
February 25th, 2011
1:33 pm
Maybe LIMBAUGH should be known as stinkin’ cheese. Same, right?
mykhalc
February 25th, 2011
1:50 pm
possible new ownership??? best possible news i’ve heard since Al was signed!!!!
The Truth
February 25th, 2011
1:53 pm
“Mike Bibby is upset about leaving a playoff team in Atlanta to join a lottery team in Washington and is interested in receiving a buyout.”
He’s actually upset? Didn’t know that was possible from easy going Bibby. Now all we need to see is some locker room fights (conduct detriment to the team) then for sure he has called Captain Jack and gotten his next set of instructions.
STRETCH
February 25th, 2011
2:19 pm
Point Guard Kirk Hinrich Jeff Teague
Shooting Guard Joe Johnson Jamal Crawford
Small Forward Marvin Williams Damien Wilkins Pape Sy
Power Forward Josh Smith Josh Powell
Center Al Horford Zaza Pachulia Jason Collins Etan Thomas
Hilton Armstrong
Man, five (5) centers???
lewis
February 25th, 2011
2:28 pm
Powe believes he can be a contributor on any team looking to win it all. “I love to play defense,” he said. “I can get some scoring, rebounding, and some extra toughness. That’s my type of game. I think every team could use that, but we’ll see what happens from here on out.” CSNNE.com
FREE AGENCY, LEON POWE | SHARE — he alone would be better than Etan/Armstrong combined
Trade Al
February 25th, 2011
2:33 pm
The game is won with defense. Al Horford is allergic to defense!
Wabe
February 25th, 2011
2:39 pm
Section 303: “Did you guys see the article about the potential new owners of Hawks, Thrashers, and Philips? I hope that all plays out and the ASG hits the road.”
Yes, I saw it smack dab on the front page when I pulled up the site, and my eyes lit up.
Please, no more ASG. But, I don’t want no duplicate of them purchasing the Hawks. People that are serious about getting this franchise places, please.
northcyde
February 25th, 2011
2:41 pm
It’s amazing that as poor of an offensive game that Marvin had, he was the only guy with a positive +/- rating in the Suns game. He was +8.
And after re-watching that game, I understand why.
LD made a tactical error by staying with Damien down the stretch, instead of coming back with Marvin to close the game. The Suns put an extremely big team, that could also shoot the ball, on the floor. Smith was closing out poorly on those big shooters all game. Of course we couldn’t slow down dribble penetration. The switches didn’t work, because we were too small at the 3 spot.
The best defensive squad we can put out on the floor HAS to include Marvin, no matter how poor of an offensive game he’s having, because he does at least give us the height to guard big perimeter shooters.
Jamal did his job by getting us back in the game with his offense. But either he or Damien should’ve gone out of that game, to give us the proper defensive balance against that big team the Suns put out on the floor.
Looking at the popcornmachine.com Game Flow, the Suns basically used 2 big runs to win that game. A 24 – 7 run in the 2nd quarter to blow the game open. And a 13 – 3 run to close the game out.
The Hawks had runs of 14 – 6 . . 6 – 0 . . 7 – 2 . . 7 – 2 . . and 14 – 3 in the game. Only the 6 – 0 run toward the end of the 1st quarter came without Marvin on the floor.
Marvin was giving us jack squat on offense, so I see why Drew took him out. But coming with the lineup he did, disrupeted the defensive flow of the game at the end. Once that game got tight, you go with your best defensive group, and ask JJ, Smith, and Horford to take you home offensively.
Booo!
February 25th, 2011
3:09 pm
Sports Illustrated weighs in on our deal:
http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011/02/23/analysis-hawks-to-trade-bibby-for-hinrich/
Sautee
February 25th, 2011
3:16 pm
northcyde,
My memory of the 4th quarter is that Damien was guarding Nash (until a switch) for the most part. How does putting Marvin in help that? Do you think Marvin could stop Nash more than Damien?
Sautee
February 25th, 2011
3:20 pm
northcyde,
By the way, I’d NEVER argue with taking Crawford out in crunch time unless he’s having one of those “in the zone” games that he has 3-4 times a year.
By and large, dude gives up WAY more than he can offset with his scoring.
terrell
February 25th, 2011
3:21 pm
Teague gettin the start.
The Truth
February 25th, 2011
3:32 pm
Hinrich will also play? I thought the dude was injured..
JoJo the Godfather
February 25th, 2011
3:40 pm
I guess the one good thing about trading our draft pick for this summer is that our owners are still holding $3M from this past draft that we can buy a late round pick with.
O'Brien
February 25th, 2011
3:43 pm
northcyde,
That has been one of LD’s problems all year. Going with offense over defense. That’s why he would continuously play Jama and Bibby at the same time. Offense.
The bad thing is he would do that even when we are leading down the stretch.
O'Brien
February 25th, 2011
3:43 pm
This was from MC’s blog on July 1, 2010 after the Hawks offered JJ the max deal.
ASG rejects the view expressed by David Aldridge and others that a potential sell of the team influenced the max offer to J.J. Michael Gearon Jr. has insisted that he is not interested in selling his share.MC.
Based on what we’ve seen (Thrashers being up for sale for years (and possibly moving), unloading Phillips, potential buyers for Hawks and Thrashers being mentioned today), how are we ever supposed to take the ASG serious, or believe them?
The Truth
February 25th, 2011
3:45 pm
“our owners are still holding $3M from this past draft that we can buy a late round pick with”
LOL, that’s 3M is already spent covering LD 2 yr. salary.
KevinM
February 25th, 2011
3:50 pm
Sund just completed his latest interview on 680…glowing about Kirk and what he brings to this team…he talked about how low we are in the categories of steals/loose balls.
He used that prime word again, and started rattling off names.
I don’t recall him mentioning Bibby at all….he said it was tough to give up JC2, but was necessary to get the deal done. And that other 1st rounder he gave up? Not a big deal….I agree with him based on his and the team’s history of draft picks.
Now, he says the players have to be accountable on the court. He talked up the 2 1st round playoff wins the last 2 years, and the learning experience/wounds we picked up from Cleveland & Orlando.
Not a very good interview as Kincade and Belue never have anything of controversy to discuss. They just let GM Rick give his opinion.
O'Brien
February 25th, 2011
3:50 pm
Thanks for the si link.
Samuel, they are saying the same thing I mentioned this morning.
Nabbing Hinrich doesn’t make the Hawks a title contender, but it feels like the kind of move that could have a bigger impact on the court than many anticipate. Start with this: Hinrich can defend point guards. Very well.. And that addresses the main problem with Atlanta’s defense, which ranks about average despite the Hawks’ having faced the easiest schedule in the league.
It isn’t just that Bibby can’t defend point guards; it’s the degree to which the Hawks have had to compensate for the 32-year-old’s defensive issues. They’ve had to tire out Johnson by assigning him point guard duty. They’ve gone to zone defenses that haven’t really worked. They’ve switched too often, though less so this season under rookie coach Larry Drew. .
The Truth
February 25th, 2011
3:51 pm
*meant to say, that 3M is already spent covering LD 2 yr. salary.
MsDee
February 25th, 2011
4:00 pm
Sooo glad Teague will get to start..HECK, he needs to start the rest of the season..Let Hinrich & Jamal come off the bench..that way, Hinrich can sub for Teague while Jamal sub for Marvin to move Joe to 3!! It works while keeping Defense-minded players on the court at all times!!
MsDee
February 25th, 2011
4:10 pm
Starting Teague the rest of the way will give him the necessary confidence he needs to improve on finishing around the basket and/or drawing the foul like he did against Phoenix the other night in the paint when he had no where else to go. That’s how Rondo, Wade, & LeBron draws SO MANY FOULS A GAME in the league when they are just TRYING TO DRAW THE FOUL while not having a good angle to score. He’s an excellent free throw shooter that can allow him to increase his scoring every game, making him an instant upgrade over Bibby since he never penetrated nor goes to the free throw line nearly enough the way a PG should do. Teague, make your coach and us fans proud tonight and the rest of the season..ITS YOUR TIME TO SHINE NOW, THIS IS YOUR TEAM!! (have that mentally every night u step on the court!!!
Shake Something
February 25th, 2011
4:15 pm
After watching Hilton Armstrong on Youtube,I think we may have gotten the better end of the deal even though we added Jordan Crawford in it. I think he ends up a starter, IF he can do what he did on that highlight reel of him.I hope he plays ahead of Zaza.
In other news, Detroit players named Rip Hamilton,Tracy McGrady,Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace seem like they dont want to be in Detroit by missing out on shoot arounds this morning.Wonder if some will get buyouts,Possibly Wallace and Mcgrady can come to us if we drop some of those D league Centers..
KevinM
February 25th, 2011
4:23 pm
Shake, is that today’s version of a walkout? As I’ve said since Day 1, that coach is in over his head and a disaster.
Sleepy
February 25th, 2011
4:41 pm
You guys are hilarious with the excuse making
Everytime we play the Suns its always how we cant stop Nash because no guards can stay in front of them and this time we got a excellent job on on the perimeter from the guards but Gortat and frye CHANNING FRYE KILLED US and we still try and blame the guards .
Im so glad Hinrich is here because it will take less than 5 games before he exposes Al and Josh as the lazy defenders they are who used Bibbys defense as excuse this past year.
At some point Al and Josh are not gonna have to step up and become forces for this team to go anywhere. Im tired of seeing the lack of intensity from these two. Do these care ? do these games mean anything ? have we given them anything to play for ? afterall no matter what we will simply blame someone else or say wait until next year .
Theyve got the fat paychecks and small market team with ugly chick syndrome too afraid to place expectations on them and they know it . They are in baller heaven right now .
MsDee
February 25th, 2011
4:55 pm
New blog up..I should know..I’m 1st!!!