Atlanta Hawks: Practice report
Notes from practice today . . .
- L.D. said he could use the Teague-Hinrich back court more often: “I certainly can see it. I have said it from day one with Jeff’s speed and quickness, we don’t have anybody on this team that comes close. When he’s playing at a high level it makes us better. Kirk has played some two a great majority of his career. When he was in Chicago, he played alongside Rose. He played some up in Washington alongside Wall. He’s used to it. It’s something we are looking at. It moves him to the two, it moves Joe to the three. We will probably look at it even more as we wind down the stretch of the season.”
- Al practiced today and said he plans to play against the Bucks. L.D. was hopeful but wasn’t ready to declare Al ready: “He gives me the same thing every time I ask him: ‘I’m OK.’ He said that right before the Blazers game. We will just have to wait and see. I know Al if he can play, he will.”
- Josh Powell declined comment on his arrest in a traffic incident near Philips on Saturday. He said he planned to release a statement later. As for his state of mind, Powell said: “It’s good, man. I’ve done a lot of praying. I’m trying to maintain a positive mind. I appreciate all the people that have been supportive in this situation.”
- The Hawks seemed rejuvenated after snapping the winning streak and getting Sunday off: “They seemed to have a little bit more juice. Heck, I seemed to have a little bit more juice. It’s good to break the streak. You are almost 70 games into the season. It’s been a long grind, and you just welcome those kind of moments.
“I told the players at start of the season we would experience some rough waters and it would be a matter of how we respond to it. The thing is to not get discouraged, lose our confidence, start playing the blame game. Of the 30 teams, I guarantee you 25 or more will go through tough times. I think only two teams who haven’t are San Antonio or Boston. It comes with the territory. I’m glad we responded positively in the last game.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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199 comments Add your comment
doc
March 15th, 2011
1:28 pm
yeah hawkville, we are so hungry for point play we get excited about one friggin game.
moreover
March 15th, 2011
1:37 pm
Al on another team playing against the hawks would have have me drawing up plays to isolate him under the basket whether hes at the 4 or the 5. That is an easy basket. Just ask tony parker or nate robinson. Horford is a defensive liability no matter where you play him
moreover
March 15th, 2011
1:39 pm
and Josh has more 20+ games this year than horford.
Mike Woodson COY
teague sucks.
Booo!
March 15th, 2011
1:47 pm
I am not knocking what Kirk has done offensively or even defensively since he got here (some nice defensive efforts and some great 20+ point games. His shooting had been an upgrade over Bibby as well.), but like astrojoe stated, Kirk is great against PG’s with good strenth and above average speed (Ander Miller, Chauncey Billups, Jason Kidd, Deron Williams) but he cant stay with the “speed kills” type of point guards (Rose, Rondo, Westbrook, Parker, Brooks, Lowry, Bledsoe etc.)
JT brings that “Edge” though. His ability to fastbreak and slash into the land while drawing fouls is what this team has never had. When the game is on the line for the Hawks all we get is missed jumpshots/post-up attempts. Teague gives us that dynamic, Kirk does not (even though he is an excellent FT shooter). In a world of jumpshooters would it not be wise to have one slasher?
Booo!
March 15th, 2011
1:49 pm
#Hawks starters vs. #Bucks: Teague, Hinrich, Johnson, Smith, @Al_Horford. Johnson to wear headband for skin infection on head
Very wise LD, Very wise…things MIGHT be looking up for you.
O'Brien
March 15th, 2011
1:51 pm
J from the A,
IMO, I don’t know if one great performance has earned Teague the starting position tonight..
After the trade;
At Phoenix (starting): 19 mins, 10 pts, 2 assists (L)
At Warriors (starting): 26 mins, 6 pts, 6 assists, 2 rebs, 3 steals (W)
At Portland (starting): 13 mins, 2 pts, 2 assists. 1 steal (W)
At Denver (starting): 34 mins, 7 pts, 2 assists, 6 rebs (L)
He didn’t play great, but he played well enough under the circumstances to deserve more consistent minutes.
However, LD decided to start Hinrich the next game. As for Teague…his next 5 games? 7 minutes, 14 minutes, 11 minutes, 9 minutes, 3 minutes. And some of those minutes are garbage time.
LD has not done a good job (starting or otherwise) of bringing Teague along, especially when he never stopped believing in him…
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
1:51 pm
“its amazing how many excuses people around here make for Teague not being able to play PG.”
It’s amazing how many excuses people around here make for Teague not being allowed to play PG.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
1:52 pm
Good to see that Teague gets the start tonight. Brandon Jennings is a very different type of challenge than Andre Miller. Looking forward to seeing if Teague is up to the task. I really, really hope he strings a few Portland-caliber games together and forces LD’s hand into starting him.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
1:54 pm
“The reason jamal is playing the backup point is Teague failed when given his chance ”
I know not of this “chance” of which you speak.
Rufus1
March 15th, 2011
1:57 pm
We are not making excuses for Teague…
We are CONFUSED!!!! We haven’t been able to understand what our coaches have been doing with the PG position for the past 7 years.
No one can tell me Patty Mills is better than Teague, but he gets consistant minutes.
If our coaches valued the position more than just its name, we would not be in this postion.
I stand by the belief that LD does not know how to coach a ball dominate PG and that is Teague’s problem more than anything else. TEAGUE DOES NOT FIT HIS OFFENSIVE MODEL..
The Truth
March 15th, 2011
1:59 pm
The Bucks game will be tougher than expected. Despite their record, these guys play hard every game taking few nights off especially against the Hawks. They are searching for some Mo-Joe and expect to find it against the Hawks. They have guys fully capable of shooting the Hawks out of Phillips including Jennings and Maggette. The Bucks defense continues to improve as they rank third in points allowed, sixth in defensive field goal percentage and sixth in opponents’ 3-point percentage. They have no fear of the Hawks and know the exact recipe for beating them. That is to over-load on JJ and Jamal then dare any other Hawk player to beat them. They fully expect to win this game keeping their playoff hopes alive. However, the Hawks wild-card maybe Damien matched-up against Salmons.
These games may prove more difficult to win than games against the elites. The struggling teams or wounded dogs play free. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
The Truth
March 15th, 2011
2:08 pm
BTW, another Hawks wild-card may also be Damien matched-up against Maggette as well
mykhalc
March 15th, 2011
2:13 pm
where’s tonite’s lineup posted?
Booo!
March 15th, 2011
2:14 pm
At this point Kirk is actially a better fit at SG than JJ. Kirk DOESN’T HESISTATE to shoot unlike Joe (McSlowsky) Johnson. Kirk is smaller and more able to run around screens for his own shot or to defend other shooters running off screens. For example 6′4 J.J. Redick or 6′5 Ray Allen. Size wise, at 6′4 with great defense he is more than capable. Look at all the SG’s 6′5 or shorter who have had success in the league recently (Ray Allen, Wade, Eric Gordon, Wesly Matthews, Courney Lee, Ben Gordon, Keith Bogans, Roger Mason Jr., Brandon Roy) So Kirk *on certain nights* can have favorable matchups at the SG spot. Also Joe needs space becuase he isn’t shooting well.
He also Takes pressure off Joe because he gives us another CAPABLE ballhandler/shooter (Sorry Marvin). With Teague penetrating, this will open up more shots for Joe and Kirk. I like it, I like it a lot. Also I heard that Kirk as played some pretty good D on Wade before.
On the other hand, JJ Vs Carmelo, Lebron, Deng, Turkoglu, Artest, Battier, Perice etc. doesnt thrill me, but with Smoove and Horford in the paint, I doubt it will be too big of an issue as long as JJ stays out of foul trouble.
Booo!
March 15th, 2011
2:17 pm
Myk, MC tweeted the lineup. Don’t know if its officaly posted anywhere though. Knowing LD, it could change five minutes before tipoff lol.
moreover
March 15th, 2011
2:18 pm
Teague is a backup on 65% of the teams in the NBA. Thats the hawks problem. They are in love with mediocrity.
Sleepy
March 15th, 2011
2:20 pm
Its no such thing as BEING ALLOWED TO PLAY POINT GUARD
Either you are one or you are not .
For all the talk of the Blazers game 17 shots and 3 assists
are those PG numbers ?
Its everyone else faults but the players that he couldnt beat out Bibby ? that he cant actually run a team even the second unit supposedly filled with scrubs ?
For all the talk of the Blazers game we had 35 points at halftime
every time you take the floor in practice or a game THATS YOUR CHANCE. You either seize the moment or you rot. To say Teague wasnt given a chance is absurd .
If Teague played with the same energy that we saw against the Blazers every night he wouldve been playing 20+ mpg every game even last year .
he has not shown he can maintain that energy level and because we know he hasnt been able to maintain the production thats why his minutes are erratic .
To work your way in to the rotation of a playoff team you either have to have consistent energy or production or in some cases both . People have decided that because they want Teague to play that they will simply make stuff up.
Big Real
March 15th, 2011
2:26 pm
What a pathetic franchise. I cant believe some of us still support this group who will be nothing more than mediocre (fading away from that fast) at best as long as the team is constructed like it is( players owners etc.). Thats just the bottom line. Stop being content with getting to the first round and loosing. This team has no heart, no toughness, and remotely no identity whatsoever. Demand greatness from a team and franchise not status quo. Absolutely sick.
drmaryb (*_-)
March 15th, 2011
2:28 pm
IF!
IF my aunt were a man, she would be my uncle!
—————————
“f phil jackson was coaching the hawks i guarantee you would never see horford play center, because phil understand the physics of basketball noing you have 2 have a big at center,…”
_______________________
IF Phil were in Atlanta? He would have NO Center nor a PG.
Dream on, people, Phil is NOT walking through that door.
No elite coach would ever board a plane to arrive at
Hartsfield International. So, please explain what center would Phil have to put next to Horford? And don’t purse your lips to say, “TWIN?”
Twin is a terrible rebounder and couldn’t block a doorway.
Let’s stay in our own reality for a minute. What option does Coach Drew
have at center? That’s right. NONE, NADA, NOTHING!
Booo!
March 15th, 2011
2:30 pm
If you took a poll on weather or not Bibby should have been starting, I bet most would rather him not start. Question, Is he starting for Miami? Has mike Bibby “Maintained energy level?” Personally I never wanted Bibby resigned in the first place. I felt he was too much of a liability on both ends of the court. We paid him too much to be an undersized and underachieveing SHOOTING GUARD. We should have re-signed Flip murray and had Murray, Crawford, and Teague surrounding JJ.
“For all the talk of the Blazers game 17 shots and 3 assists ”
“are those PG numbers ”
Hmmm, I imagine those are Tony Parker/Derrick Rose numbers on many nights….unless you don’t consider them Point guards.
mykhalc
March 15th, 2011
2:35 pm
@Booo!…thanks man
Booo!
March 15th, 2011
2:37 pm
“Teague is a backup on 65% of the teams in the NBA. Thats the hawks problem. They are in love with mediocrity.”
You can’t prove that because Teague hasn’t played for all of the teams in the league now has he?
I can prove that Jeff Teague is the starting Point Guard for the Hawks tonight. I can prove that Mike Bibby is the BACKUP point guard for the Miami Heat behiend the “great” Mario Chalmers. I can also prove that Bibby only played 9 minutes and 47 seconds for the Heat last night even though they blew out the Spurs.
Facts are facts TS
moreover
March 15th, 2011
2:39 pm
*break it
mykhalc
March 15th, 2011
2:40 pm
a BIG hallelujah!!! Marvin’s on the bench!!!! i truly hope this is NOW in stone!!! but bein’ how LD wears blinders, probably not…
moreover
March 15th, 2011
2:47 pm
Booo! Thats true. I cant prove it, he hasnt played for every team, neither has any time ask for him in trade…Do you know if any team is interested in teague?
Bibby is in his last couple years. Hes had a great career. What does it say that teague take the position from a retiree?
moreover
March 15th, 2011
2:48 pm
*neither has any team ask for him in trade
Booo!
March 15th, 2011
2:49 pm
myk, No Poblem!
Booo!
March 15th, 2011
2:51 pm
Crawford, Wilkins, Marvin, and Zaza off the bench looks good to me. I would love to see Pape get some scrube minutes as well.
Moreover, I think some teams have asked for him in trade talks actually. I’d have to ask MC or Sekou to be sure. Also, Bibby starting was just lockerroom politics if you ask me, nothing more.
Dept. of Unintended Irony
March 15th, 2011
2:52 pm
“Stop being content with getting to the first round and loosing.”
Yeah, because as we all know “loose lips sink ships”.
Booo!
March 15th, 2011
2:56 pm
Dept. of Unintended Irony,
You know if Teague was involved in any trade talks?
Dept. of Unintended Irony
March 15th, 2011
3:01 pm
MC shot down the Sac rumor. That’s the only one I heard. But GMs talk all the time. There’s no possible way to know if Teague was ever in a conversation re: a trade. It’s a moot point anyway. He could be coveted, or he could be ignored, and either way, we’ll never know.
mykhalc
March 15th, 2011
3:01 pm
my problem with Teague is i just don’t see that killer instinct!!! doesn’t mean he can’t find it or develop it tho. this team has been lookin’ for a leader and PG play all season…and i’ll just point to THIS season. when i look at players in similiar situations like Teague around the league, how many look as tentative/scared to play THEIR game??? JC2 woulda luv’d Teague’s chances…no matter how few ’some’ of you think those chances were. i like what Teague showed against POR!!! i hope he can do it 2 games in a row..PERIOD!!! as i said yesterday, personally, i’d prefer Kirk/JJ/Josh/Al/Hilton as my startin’ lineup. but i do like tonite’s startin’ lineup for it’s defense and yep…Marvin’s on the f’n bench!!!
Booo!
March 15th, 2011
3:02 pm
More importantly, What is JJ doing with a skin inection on his head?? Somtimes a wonder about that boy. No doubt he rubbed up against some floozie at Magic City and got that
Booo!
March 15th, 2011
3:02 pm
*Infection
Dept., Thanks!
terrell
March 15th, 2011
3:03 pm
Steve W, close to 50 wins? Hell, the Lakers themselves dont even have 50 wins. Close, but not yet. And you think the Hawks would be close? I doubt it. And where’s all this talent you speak of? JJ is a shadow of his old self. Josh is Josh. Good, but still makes boneheaded plays. Marvin is, well you know, MARVIN. Heck, Superman himself has to go 8-6 to get 50 this year, East is tougher, as opposed to the last couple of years. I see three 50 win teams in the East, and those teams are more talented than the Hawks. Phil Jackson is good, but he’s not a miracle worker. I dont put much stock in our reg season record. Injury bug has been pretty bad this year. Not making an excuse. Just sayin.
Dept. of Unintended Irony
March 15th, 2011
3:05 pm
“What is JJ doing with a skin inection on his head?? ”
What the “f”?
Sorry Booo, it was just too tempting.
drmaryb (*_-)
March 15th, 2011
3:06 pm
Consistently!
Rufus1 said this! “consistant …”
________________________
Why must you consistently use words that you obviously can not spell.
Your whole rant loses credibility, when you demand excellence from others but never yourself! IDK if ypu are the only one who can not spell this word, but please look it up and write it down!
_______________________
I am about to have a nervous breakdown. (a half smile)
mykhalc
March 15th, 2011
3:07 pm
Joe probably needs to wear a plastic hospital cap under that headband!!! :-0
mykhalc
March 15th, 2011
3:08 pm
Enter your comments here
doc
March 15th, 2011
3:08 pm
myk …..marvin for smoy award. just so he stays there he will get my vote.
drmaryb (*_-)
March 15th, 2011
3:08 pm
*you. (I can spell you, I promise you.).
Typos are always acceptable. (a whole smile)
Booo!
March 15th, 2011
3:13 pm
Dept., Hahaha!
O_O Yes! Marvin for SMOY! Sorry Jamal!
mykhalc
March 15th, 2011
3:13 pm
yo doc…SMOY???
mykhalc
March 15th, 2011
3:14 pm
sixth…slow…daylight savings time messin with me!!!LOL
mykhalc
March 15th, 2011
3:16 pm
better yet…sorry man of the year award!!!
drmaryb (*_-)
March 15th, 2011
3:34 pm
“No doubt he rubbed up against some floozie at Magic City and got that..”
_____________________
Or, took a shower behind some skank basketball player in the locker is more likely.” Actually, skin infections in sports is extremely common due to sweat (body fluids) on any fomite object, like work out equipment, door knobs, or sweat flying in games onto a scratch, or cuts from shaving. That is a much higher probability than him getting that from a sweet young lady. She should be the one who is on guard from the promiscuous male.
____________________
IMHO and medical opinion.
Booo!
March 15th, 2011
3:46 pm
drmaryb (*_-)
I know, I was just taking a lil JJ-Magic city jab
lewis
March 15th, 2011
4:01 pm
we don’t need a true pg, we need someone who can penetrate, score and play D – smh @ all of yall
Teague/Hinrich/JJ/Josh/AL –
It’s too bad Hinrich’s calf is bothering him, JJ has an injury he’s keeping to himself, Josh is still not 100% from the MCL, not to mention Al’s ankle injury.
Big Real
March 15th, 2011
11:41 pm
Dept. of Irony,
No, poorly ran franchises with incompetent decision makers sinks ships. The lips of fan’s are often subjective, however this fan is objective and calls it the way it is.