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
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:38 pm
Josh a double double with 3 blocks – wish he could cut down on those 4 turnovers however.
Woody, clear the bench man. I mean LD.
tremaine
March 15th, 2011
8:38 pm
Wow, we are up by 26 and Brandon Jennings only have 4 points and people complaining about Teague offense.
O'Brien
March 15th, 2011
8:39 pm
Najeh,
If only JJ can play 70 percent of this 70 percent of the time
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:39 pm
These are the same Bucks who scored 56 against Boston a couple of games ago. But still.
Melvin
March 15th, 2011
8:39 pm
Nice pass by Josh, too bad Al missed the layup..
Wabe
March 15th, 2011
8:39 pm
And what Nique just said actually makes some sense…
Giving the starting unit some rest makes some sense when you know you have a back to back.
Nique actually making a good point.
bigdave
March 15th, 2011
8:40 pm
more of that Josh..
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:40 pm
Tremaine – Co-sign – If it was Rondo, they would be pushing him for Defensive 1st team. But to some on here, Teague will never be good enough
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:41 pm
Denver is a deep, quick team too. It would be nice to be a little rested against them.
Of course, the Hawks haven’t had a problem playing well in similar back to back situations so far this season.
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
March 15th, 2011
8:41 pm
rusty, LD just cannot get right.
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:41 pm
No idea why LD won’t put the 2nd unit in really. ZaZa, Etan, Wilkens, Marvin, Teague. Maybe Sy, Hinrich, and Powell some also.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:42 pm
This is Smoove’s 3rd double-digit rebound game in six games since returning from injury.
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:42 pm
Najeh – Boston on the other hand has lost 5 consecutive last games of back to backs. The fans in Beantown are worried about the age thing with them
bigdave
March 15th, 2011
8:42 pm
off the bench w/ 8..
he looks comfortable.
O'Brien
March 15th, 2011
8:42 pm
We want Sy…We want Sy
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
March 15th, 2011
8:42 pm
Rest the starters coach!
Wabe
March 15th, 2011
8:43 pm
Isn’t Sy in a suit?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:43 pm
^ 5 games, not 6.
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:43 pm
Still – if somebody blows a knee when your up 27 at this point – we will be saying how ignorant LD really is. Put the 2nd unit in
O'Brien
March 15th, 2011
8:44 pm
Steve W,
Like Doc Rivers said…they dont play back to back games in the playoffs, so he isnt worried.
Remember, last year the Celtics went 27-27 the last 54 games of the season…and they still made it to the NBA finals.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:44 pm
“If only JJ can play 70 percent of this 70 percent of the time”
Haha no doubt.
He had 28 points at halftime today. He’s been averaging around 14 per game over the last month or so. So at least by that measure, I guess that means he’s been at 12.5% for a while now.
Sautee
March 15th, 2011
8:45 pm
Najeh,
Borderline elite rebounder?
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:45 pm
Bucks have basically raised the white flag with their unit playing – we ought to oblige them, and if they get within 15 or 14, put the starters back in.
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:46 pm
OB – I know – but the grind of the playoffs can still get you. And the C’s are a year older…
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:46 pm
I guess that’s why 7 foot tall Earl Barron shoots 37% for his career.
Even Marvin is making tough shots. The Hawks have been on the receiving end of this a couple of times this season. Good to see the shoe on the other foot.
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:47 pm
Sautee – Josh is not an elite rebounder in my opinion. I know your referring to a series of posts earlier – just stating my opinion. A guy who has never averaged 9 rebound per game playing 32-33 + minutes per night is not an elite rebounder at all.
Jae Evolution
March 15th, 2011
8:48 pm
Josh Smith passed up a jumper??? YES!! He is learning!!
Sautee
March 15th, 2011
8:48 pm
As I’ve said before, when Joe, Josh and Al all play well, we just don’t need a lot of help to win.
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:48 pm
Be nice to have JC2 on a night like tonight – if LD would let him play that is.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:49 pm
“Borderline elite rebounder?”
With consistency, he could be. Even as it is, he’s very good in that department.
tremaine
March 15th, 2011
8:49 pm
JEFF TEAGUE FOR THREEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bigdave
March 15th, 2011
8:49 pm
Jeff called off Jamal and had Za Za come to screen.. defense sagged.. Jeff w/out hesitation 3.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:49 pm
Teague on the board!
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
March 15th, 2011
8:49 pm
teague
Sautee
March 15th, 2011
8:49 pm
SteveW,
You noticed the ? didn’t you?
bigdave
March 15th, 2011
8:50 pm
i thought Teague shot was coming along..
back to back 3’s now..
dude shot the pill well @ Wake..
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:50 pm
Well look at Teague.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:51 pm
BTW, I think it was Jae Evolution who asked earlier whether there were any better deals for the game vs. Miami this Friday — the cheapest I could find was $52, and that’s for section 303 (upper level baseline). A little too much for a regular season game for me. Tickets for next Tuesday’s game vs. Bulls are half that much.
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:51 pm
Yes, I noticed it. That last post was not really at you, just stating my opinion on the discussion.
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
March 15th, 2011
8:52 pm
uh oh that boy steve smith…remember those jerseys….we had those mutombos in middle school lmao
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:53 pm
Teague at Wake beasted at the Point. It was when Ish Smith got healthy and took over PG that the team collapsed.
Sautee
March 15th, 2011
8:53 pm
Najeh,
co-sign Josh needing consistency before he’s elite.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:53 pm
Zaza’s job is specifically to prevent those kind of offensive rebounds…
drmaryb (*_-)
March 15th, 2011
8:53 pm
Teague brings speed, defense, blocks and steals to the table. His offense is a plus. But the intangibles don’t always show up on the stat sheet.
He can surely work on his decision making with the ball, esp. on fast breaks. That will come with time and familiarity. I like him.
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:54 pm
Man, bring Etan, Hilton, and JP at this point, maybe even Sy. Not coming back from 30 down I don’t think
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:54 pm
Sy may be inactive however, same with Etan.
Mac-Town, Georgia (urban-macon.blogspot.com)
March 15th, 2011
8:54 pm
Damien nice
Paradise Lost
March 15th, 2011
8:54 pm
Wonder if attendance has anything to do with this being a make-up game?
SteveW
March 15th, 2011
8:55 pm
That is exactly right about Teague – solid man D, and pushing the ball, filling the passing lanes etc. don’t always show up. He just fits with the Hawks – young fresh team with lots of athleticism – that is Teague
Najeh Davenpoop
March 15th, 2011
8:56 pm
The Hawks have played 12 players now by my count. I don’t think you’re allowed to dress more than that. Looks like Pape’s debut is going to have to wait.