Bucks at Atlanta Hawks: Hawks staying ’small’ against ‘big’
L.D. is using the same lineup as Saturday vs. the Blazers except Al (who still says he’s good to go) subs for Zaza. Remember that Drew sent out the Twin lineup against the Bucks in the previous three meetings, so I have to think that going with this new alignment mean he’s considering making it permanent (though you never can tell).
Drew said he could always go big if Bogut gives the Hawks problems. The hope is that the Hawks can give opponents problems by running.
“I like the speed, I like the quickness of it,” Drew said. “We have been struggling scoring points and we have not been a team that has played out in the open court. We have mostly been playing in the half court. By going with this lineup it gives us speed. What I really like is we have two guys who can get the ball off the glass and initiate the break. It puts such pressure on the defense.
“We have both Kirk and Jeff who can handle the ball, and Joe. Having all five guys running and racing the lanes, it makes us more effective. We’ve always put emphasis on it but I think we have kind of gotten away from it. I am just trying to get back to really putting an emphasis on all five guys running.”
Drew said not much changes for J.J. when he shifts to small forward.
“Usually at the two and the three it’s going to be very similar,” Drew said. “He will be defending the same type of actions. At the one it’s just totally different. One thing is that at the two and the three he will probably be in more switchable situations, which should help in defending some of the stagger screens and misdirection stuff. He is pretty much used to that. When you have the same size guys–Joe, Marvin, Damien, and depending on the matchup Josh Smith–usually those are switchable situations and he doesn’t have to do a lot of chasing.”
L.D. said the Hawks have been switching more on D lately but only in such “switchable situations.” The goal is to avoid ending up big vs. small.
Head wound
J.J. wore a large bandage around his head during shootaround. There was a spot of blood bleeding through an area on the right side over his ear. The Hawks said J.J. has an infected wound that was cleaned out.
“Just a little mishap. Nothing major,” J.J. said. “I will be all right.”
He said the wound didn’t happen on the court but wouldn’t elaborate.
Does it hurt?
“A little bit,” he said. “I will be all right.”
Joe said he probably would wear a headband tonight to protect the wound.
Just play
L.D. has a theory on Jamal’s recent shooting struggles:
“One thing I am trying to get him away from is trying to bait officials into calls and trying to be yourself. He has a tendency to try to draw fouls, especially at the three-point line, and it throws his shot off. He’s leaning one way and the ball is going another way. He’s got to just step up and shoot the ball and just be aggressive, be Jamal.”
After at first expressing skepticism about that take, Jamal said there might be something to it.
“All it takes is a second or a hitch or anything and it changes the way the shot is supposed to go,” he said. “I’ve shot 50 percent the last two games, though.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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354 comments Add your comment
Ron
March 15th, 2011
8:06 pm
It’s kind of odd to see how different Brandon Jennings looks in this game, as opposed to the way he looked last season. In last year’s playoffs, Jennings was the main thorn in our side, and he was, arguably, the Bucks best player (I would say Salmons was their best player at that time). Now, Jennings looks like a total nonfactor, and Salmons just looks like an average player. Sure, part of it has to do with the fact that Jennings is no longer being defended by Mike Bibby and big men who he can get past off of a switch. Now, he has to tangle with Teague and Hinrich. Still, the change just seems incredibly dramatic. It’s almost like we are seeing a different player. I realize that Jennings is coming off of an injury, but it’s still strange to watch what has happened to the Bucks.
Mr. Mojo
March 15th, 2011
8:07 pm
This is the Joe we need in the playoffs
lewis
March 15th, 2011
8:07 pm
Still like Joe at SF
lewis
March 15th, 2011
8:07 pm
Still like Joe at SF
ole hawk's fan
March 15th, 2011
8:11 pm
JJ has the New Technology implanted in his head. It’s The D. Wade chip. ASG please inplant that chip before each ball game. LD keep JC1 away from the Point Guard………………he is a turn-over waiting to happen. LD put Teague back on The Bench most of the second quarter…………he handle Jennings when he was in. WAKE UP LD(Woody)!
ole hawk's fan
March 15th, 2011
8:11 pm
“Implant”
J.J.M
March 15th, 2011
8:12 pm
only if joe played like this 70 percent of the time
Melvin
March 15th, 2011
8:13 pm
I hope Joe shoot like this against Miami on Friday….
Ron
March 15th, 2011
8:13 pm
By the way, I love the way Joe was scoring in that first half. It was almost unreal. The thing I liked most is that all of Joe’s baskets were coming in the flow of the offense and he was incredibly efficient. There was no overdribbling or ball-hogging involved. One thing to keep in mind, though, is while Joe Johnson was ultra-impressive in that first half, don’t expect him to suddenly maintain this type of scoring or scoring efficiency. That’s too much to ask of anyone. Still, if he continue to score in this fashion and shoot around 50% from the field, it would really help out our team.
ole hawk's fan
March 15th, 2011
8:13 pm
@Horn
When Bibby is guarding you………….you have break out games.
Jae Evolution
March 15th, 2011
8:14 pm
Crawford gets his first start for the Wizards tonight?
Sleepy
March 15th, 2011
8:15 pm
The shots Joe are making are irrelevant we know he has that ability and hes done it before .The bounce in the step of not only Joe but Josh in that first half is what was good to see .I havent seen those two looking that energetic to start a game in a long time .
Melvin
March 15th, 2011
8:15 pm
Well damn, Jordan Crawford is starting for the Wiz tonight…
ole hawk's fan
March 15th, 2011
8:16 pm
The question in the second have is will the hawks continue to pad this lead or maintain the lead and not revert back to all jumpers. Go into ISO offense and have to jack up jumpers as the shot clock run down.
ole hawk's fan
March 15th, 2011
8:16 pm
“Half”
W.R.Terrell
March 15th, 2011
8:17 pm
See what happens when ISO Joe does not POUND, POUND, POUND. He’s spotting up, passing the ball and having one helluva first half. He almost looks like he’s worth the 20 mill up to this point, there’s still the 2nd half. That “smoove” fella has only been “DUMD” trice in the first half, let’s hope he can harness his own silliness and not try to match Joe with launching up his usual BS. The 3rd quarter with good defense and this game is over if the “SOFT’S just play some defense. My biggest fear of a comeback is that they will give the ball to that “smoove” thing and he does not know what to do with it but launch a stupid ass shot, let’s hope LD pulls his silly behind if he does. Marvin, continues to be marvin and he’s still starvin for some basketball semblance. At this particular time I am enjoying the game like I did the other night when Jeff Teague took hold of the reins. I am hoping for the best and expecting the worst, just can’t depend on them following thru because we do have that “smoove” person, irregardless of a few blocks, if he does not get his points under the board we could very well be in big trouble. See ya’ll after the game.
J.J.M
March 15th, 2011
8:17 pm
lol they getting on the hawks empty arena on nbatv
cp
March 15th, 2011
8:18 pm
Joe is on fire. Hopefully this continues in not only the second half but the rest of the season. Josh Smith had a good first half too. The team played some great defense.. Teague is struggling with that floater but he is playing some good defense on Jennings. I almost thought he wasn’t going to get back in the game. LD loves him some Jamal
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:18 pm
“only if joe played like this 70 percent of the time”
Or if he played like 70 percent of this all the time.
J.J.M
March 15th, 2011
8:18 pm
jordan crawford has been playing good since the trade
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
March 15th, 2011
8:21 pm
What’s with Joe’s headband, LOL?!?! That’s a first I believe.
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
March 15th, 2011
8:22 pm
What’s with the home crowd? Sparse. Come on Hawks Nation!
tremaine
March 15th, 2011
8:23 pm
So much for Al being a center.
J.J.M
March 15th, 2011
8:23 pm
joe is getting fouled
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
March 15th, 2011
8:24 pm
30 point break out for Joe!!! Keep the headband brah!
rusty
March 15th, 2011
8:24 pm
Well JJ finally got the pus drained out of his head,now if LD will it would help
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:25 pm
Hawks working harder than the Bucks. You don’t often see a Scott Skiles team getting outworked.
tremaine
March 15th, 2011
8:25 pm
Everything is going our way tonight.
Sautee
March 15th, 2011
8:25 pm
Great hustle Horford.
J.J.M
March 15th, 2011
8:26 pm
man I might go ahead and pay $60 for them tickets against the heat…unless anybody else know any better deal?
Wabe
March 15th, 2011
8:27 pm
Watch LD put in Jamal for Teague soon even though its obvious we don’t need points right now…
We just need to continue playing good defense.
bigdave
March 15th, 2011
8:28 pm
liking the lineup..4 potential facilitators on the floor… as well as 5 (actual) threats.
bigdave
March 15th, 2011
8:29 pm
beautiful play.
J.J.M
March 15th, 2011
8:29 pm
lmao@teague
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:29 pm
Teague had done his job – Jennings only 3 pts and a couple of assists, Dooling zip – but Woody I mean LD will be LD. Standard operating procedure
Teague plays great
Teagues minutes decreased while still looking good
Teague out of rotation while LD says he never stopped believing in the kid etc.
bigdave
March 15th, 2011
8:30 pm
lol. tell him again..
Josh looks @ him, nods and say’s , “get that shid outta here”
Sleepy
March 15th, 2011
8:30 pm
Wabe so LD should bench jamal ?
Wabe
March 15th, 2011
8:30 pm
What do you know…Jamal in for Teague.
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:31 pm
Funny, alot of opposing teams PG stat lines have been rather flat since Teague/Hinrich have been on the prowl.
They can’t all be cold at once can they?
And the last DNP for Teague – Rose goes nuts.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:31 pm
Joe is being so much more aggressive in this game. That’s the third or fourth time he’s made a strong move towards the hoop where he normally would settle for the jumper. The highlights are only going to show the 3’s probably, but this is all around one of the best scoring games Joe has had in a long time regardless of the point total with which he finishes.
Wabe
March 15th, 2011
8:32 pm
Sleep,
I think right now, when you’re up 20, you let Teague play and get minutes. When we’re not struggling to get points, and we just need to play good defense, you play Teague.
Not a knock on Crawford. But, give the kid burn.
tremaine
March 15th, 2011
8:32 pm
Do yall realize how good our defense has been the last 2 games? Look at the score.
bigdave
March 15th, 2011
8:32 pm
damn Al were u stuck ? he was acted like he couldnt move his feet.
Josh w/ the strong show.. Al doesnt help..
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:32 pm
Ya’ll still want to trade JJ for Salmone?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
Another decisive, quick, big time move to the basket by Joe to draw the foul. Why the f-ck can’t he do this every game?
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
Knew Teague would have a bad offensive game – he has more than not as far as scoring. But he brings so much defense and energy, he just fits.
Hope LD keeps him in the rotation.
May get to see Sy tonight
cp
March 15th, 2011
8:34 pm
Teague has had a rough night offensively
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:35 pm
Should have added at some point – wasn’t sure about tonight
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:36 pm
Kirk’s not exactly lighting it up offensively either – but 3 assists for Teague and 0 turnovers in 15 minutes – good game – and good to very good D on the Bucks Point Guards.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:36 pm
The last couple of Teague misses (both blocked) were takes I can live with. If he continues to take it strong to the basket like that eventually he’ll start drawing fouls. I’d just rather not see him rely too much on that floater. There’s a time and place for it, and he surely needs to continue developing it, but he needs to utilize his quickness and athleticism to take it strong when he gets in the lane too.