Heat 106, Hawks 85
Greetings, all
Not sure what there is to say that hasn’t been said.
- Prior to the game, Larry Drew said, among other things, he wanted the team to score in transition, rebound, move the ball on offense and not focus so much on the Big Three that the other players beat you. Well, the Hawks did one of those things.
- The Hawks scored 18 fast-break points, 10 in the inconsequential fourth quarter. They rarely made much of an effort to run after Heat misses or turnovers. They were out-rebounded 50-27. Part of that is due to the fact that Miami didn’t give them many chances to rebound, but 50-27 is kind of hard to explain away. Josh Smith and Al Horford combined for six rebounds. Smith was out chasing LeBron James, so that explains maybe part of it, but Horford’s three rebounds is a season low. Jason Collins had one.
The ball didn’t move well, again.
“Miami’s a solid defensive team,” Drew said. “They do a great job, particularly on the first side of the offense. You have to force them to shift their defense and then you have to attack. We didn’t do that. Once the ball came out, we settled again for three’s.”
- Damien Wilkins showed up, playing physical defense on James. He was 6-for-8 from the field and had 14 points, nine before the fourth quarter.
“To me, it felt or seemed like we were conceding the fact that [James] was making shots,” he said. “He was way too comfortable pulling up for jump shots, coming down and just doing whatever he wanted to do, just showing way too much respect. … I think we could have done a better job showing a little bit more resistance.”
- Hawks have lost 17 games by 10 or more points, which is more than they permitted either of the past two seasons.
Horford: “We’re going through a real rough patch right now. We’re going to keep fighting and we have to figure it out.”
- Through the first three quarters, the Hawks were 5-for-22 on shots from 16 feet or longer – not counting Jamal Crawford’s first half-ending heave – including one stretch when they missed 13 straight in the second and third quarters. They were 3-for-21 before Jeff Teague and Wilkins hit long jumpers at the end of the third.
“We got off to a good start, I think,” Horford said. “We kind of lost our focus in the second quarter. After that, we just couldn’t get back in it.”
- Ineffective nights for Joe Johnson and Crawford. Johnson was 4-for-8 for nine points and Crawford was 0-for-4 for zero points. It’s Crawford’s first scoreless game since the final game of the 2006-2007 season, when he played half a minute after coming back from a broken ankle. As was noted by some posters, he was minus-26 in 24 minutes. Crawford has been having his best shooting month, percentage-wise, since December, but obviously a rough night.
While we’re at it, Horford was minus-27 in 29 minutes and Smith was minus-31 in 27 minutes. Interestingly, would you believe Bosh had a better plus/minus than James (32 to 23)? Wilkins was plus-10.
- Hawks have had fewer free throws than their opponent for the past seven games. After playing largely exceptional defense in the first nine games of the Kirk Hinrich era – 42.8 percent – the Hawks let Denver and Miami shoot 53.5 percent in the past two games and 50 percent from 3-point range.
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197 comments Add your comment
Jae Evolution
March 19th, 2011
4:30 pm
Does this team really need a superstar? You look at the Celtics do they have a superstar, look at the Spurs do they have a superstar? No
They have former superstars that now know how to play as a team share the ball, make open shots, attack. I don’t really want to compare this sorry excuse for a team to the best in the L like the Spurs and Celtics, but their roster shows a point to be had, it really isn’t essential to have one go to guy. These Hawks have to learn to play unselfishy and I’m not sure this current roster will ever become that. Our 3 best players are their own worst enemies, Josh Smith is too selfish, Al Horford is too unselfish, and Joe Johnson is too indecisive. That needs to change within the next 3 weeks, and I doubt it will happen so I see a first round exit on it’s way. Whether this team is blown up from a sweep in the first round, something needs to happen this offseason.
lp
March 19th, 2011
4:37 pm
I’m still down with Joe, the problem is the offense, i see complaints about his scoring output, but no one breaks down the shots. Its like looking at the box score seeing 9 points and saying Joe sux. The offense get joe the ball in the post, around screens at the free throw line, and the occasional backdoor pass that worked before teams made adjustments. I know this and im just a fan. All places are very easy to double. Joe barely tries to take the double team, he usually passes. If we had someone on the team who could drive and kick shots would come easier. we have that but the coach doesnt use it. If we had at least a Scott Skiles type of coach we would be 100% better. I hope Rick Sund takes this as a learning experience, you get what you pay for.
lewis
March 19th, 2011
4:51 pm
Josh and Al are saving their legs in hopes of being traded to a team that has a chance of winning in the playoffs, not a team of 3 solid players surrounded by mediocre vet minimums due to the lowered cap and burden of Joe’s contract. Josh knows with the way he plays he only has one more sizeable contract coming.
Rev in Tampa
March 19th, 2011
4:53 pm
I hated that I had to miss the Miami game. In my mind this was THE pivotal game for the Hawks. If the Hawks couldn’t pull it together for the Heat then I don’t know if they will be able to pull it together for the rest of the season; not to mention the playoffs. Without a new head coach I believe that the Hawks, as they are currently constructed, have hit the ceiling for their potential and are REGRESSING.
How does a professional team in any sport not know the recipe for winning this late in the season??? By this point even a team with a losing record should know why they are losing!!!
slimjr
March 19th, 2011
5:08 pm
In 2 yrs this team will be out of the playoff picture……………………
slimjr
March 19th, 2011
5:09 pm
Josh for Rudy Gay
Al for NeNe
Marvina for Monique Minor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 years ago………LOL
slimjr
March 19th, 2011
5:10 pm
Marvin Who?????
JC1,kick rocks along with Sund and LD aint got a clue…………………………………………..
Waive Marvin.
slimjr
March 19th, 2011
5:16 pm
“Yawl know the difference between Joe Johnson & Superiorblogmanure?
One has a low basketball IQ, the other one can’t spell IQ.
Whats Sund excuse then??? Or better yet Dubuya’s???????????? Marrying cousins??????????
ant banks
March 19th, 2011
5:25 pm
JORDAN CRAWFORD has been goin’ the f_ck off in washington. dude hit 25 pts again last night. we done effed up by lettin’ him go.
slimjr
March 19th, 2011
5:29 pm
looks like the Heimlich manuever is a bust???? JC2 is balling now that he got the heck out this clueless organization????? Wow!!
ant banks
March 19th, 2011
5:35 pm
THE LAST 5 GAMES JC2 STAT LINE IN PTS: 25, 27, 12, 16, 22. HE IS AVG. 20 PTS/GM.
we coulda kept him and traded jc1 for a big, maybe. we woulda got somethin’ for jc1, instead of lettin’ him walk this summer, cause he ain’t worth the 10mil/per.
superiorblogman
March 19th, 2011
5:46 pm
Hinrich is a joke. He and Larry Drew combine to hold Teague back and go 5-8 together. Bibby was better for this team than Kirk. The Hawks organization is a joke. The Hawks blogosphere is a joke. No one can be truthful, guys all around trying to feed themselves fake hope. I am going to start me a Hawks blog within the next couple of months and show you jokes how to do it.
Sleepy
March 19th, 2011
6:23 pm
@ Jae Evolution – former superstars are still better than never will be superstars . having multiple players whove made all nba teams makes a difference .
Amare and Melo are ALL NBA caliber players not simply all star reserves
Our top 3 players do not play there best ball consistently enough for all 3 to remain our top players.
Thats what the knicks were thinking they gave up Felton Chandler,Gallinari a big all who may one day make an all star team but they will never be ALL NBA caliber players.
Thats essentially what we gambled on with Josh and Al and we lost .
slimjr
March 19th, 2011
6:34 pm
“We as a human race have not been able to find a cure for cancer as a whole.”
Check out this little known bit of info. Roughly 90 yrs ago Dr. Royal Raymond Rife discovered a cure for cancer based on the use of frequencies! Is that right??? Yes that”s right!! He was a genius!!! At the time he was well know as the man who cured cancers! The powers that be frowned on him because you cant rip people off who know the truth!!!! Look up the “rife machine” and gain some knowledge you’ll never learn in school, class dismissed………………………….Pass it on………….The technology is on the come back…………I thought this was the real 21st century? Then why are we 80-100 years behind where we should be????????????? DuH…………………….
mykhalc
March 19th, 2011
6:36 pm
this group of players (not a team) is simply tired of playin’ with and for each other…PERIOD!!! and add low/no BB IQ on top of that and this is what it looks like!!! and when you add that there is NO leader ANYWHERE to be found…then…well we all have said ’cause we all have seen it!!! no mystery here folks!! KA BOOM PLEASE!!! ASAP
mykhalc
March 19th, 2011
6:38 pm
well we all have said it ’cause we all have seen it!!!
slimjr
March 19th, 2011
6:43 pm
Ld lost this team weeks ago…………..The schedule had something to do with that.. I said weeks ago the real Hawks would be put to the test!!! Their schedule would become the most difficult in the east..
That said instead of them figuring this out they just played like its no big deal and got their azz handed to them at 6-12 in the last 18 with four weeks left for more beat downs and an embarrassing 1st round playoff exit to come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!………………………..
Sund kick rocks buster………………………………….
mykhalc
March 19th, 2011
6:51 pm
we still got 4 weeks of this $hit left??? please tell me that ain’t so…
drmaryb (*_-)
March 19th, 2011
7:05 pm
You Are What You Eat!
I would address the teams nutritional regimen to improve their overall stamina, strength and to help them reach optimal peak performance.
I wonder if to a man, they eat garbage quality foods.
will
March 19th, 2011
7:10 pm
J.Johnson, I cannot get over that they gave this dude $20 million dollars a yr.
What the “F ” was ASG thinking. M. Westbrook of OKC, is a superstar and he doesn’t
make near the money J.Johnson makes and Johnson is average at best. Has no will or leadership at all. Garbage!!!!!
SteveW
March 19th, 2011
7:13 pm
The Hawks are -51 in 9 games played in March. That’s -5.67 ppg.
That’s worse than Minnesota, New Jersey, and Toronto’s season averages.
We are 3-6 in those 9 games.
Josh is shooting 41.1% from the field and 28.6% from the three point line in March.
This after Josh shooting 20% from the 3 point line in Feb.
SteveW
March 19th, 2011
7:19 pm
As has been noted, we are 6-12 in our last 18 games.
10 of those games have been at home.
We have been outscored by 108 points in those 18 games.
Dept. of Unintended Irony
March 19th, 2011
7:24 pm
richbrave,
Congrats to your Spiders! Sweet Sixteen.
slimjr
March 19th, 2011
7:39 pm
ISO Joe makes 200k per night??????????? Are you kidding me?????????? The fans deserve a refund………………………Shoot……………………
Najeh Davenpoop
March 19th, 2011
7:40 pm
I’m watching my pick to win the tournament, the San Diego State Aztecs (note: I didn’t watch much college basketball this year), right now, and all I can think of watching them is that they play exactly how the Hawks should play. An athletic team that is constantly moving off the ball and creating scoring opportunities moving towards the basket and in transition.
slimjr
March 19th, 2011
7:42 pm
Naw, Al,Josh,Marvin and ISO= the “Three Stooges” plus one…………LOL
Al for NeNe………….
slimjr
March 19th, 2011
7:43 pm
@ Najeh
Dream on my friend…LOL!
slimjr
March 19th, 2011
7:45 pm
Josh for Rudy Gay yesterday…………….
slimjr
March 19th, 2011
7:49 pm
Next time I watch the Hawks play on the big screen, I may hit the mute button so not to be annoyed by that play by play nasal guy who knows it all and makes a ton of mistakes calling the game..Just brutal man………………………….
slimjr
March 19th, 2011
7:55 pm
Rudy is light years more polished then Josh will ever be……………..He was drafted higher for a reason…..
Sautee
March 19th, 2011
8:06 pm
Najeh sweating bullets.
Sautee
March 19th, 2011
8:08 pm
myk,
“we still got 4 weeks of this $hit left??? please tell me that ain’t so…”
Only if you CHOOSE to, my friend.
O'Brien
March 19th, 2011
8:16 pm
Rev,
From reading the postgame quotes, and listening to LD’s post game, the Hawks know why they are losing.
LD goes over the issues with them at the start of every game and at half-time of every game (rebound, get out and run, don’t settle for jump shots). But for some reason, during the game, the players don’t do it, and LD can’t make them do it.
Jae Evolution,
I don’t really want to compare this sorry excuse for a team to the best in the L like the Spurs and Celtics,.
Why not? Rick Sund compared the Hawks to the Spurs earlier this year.
Mykhalc,
this group of players (not a team) is simply tired of playin’ with and for each other…PERIOD.
They probably have different reasons, but I think JJ, Josh, Al and Jamal are all fed up. Maybe they are fed up with each other, maybe they are fed up with the coach, maybe they are fed up with ownership…but either way, I agree with you.
And it starts with our leadership. HC, and 3 captaints.
Sautee
March 19th, 2011
8:19 pm
O’B,
co-sign.
Rashod
March 19th, 2011
8:22 pm
It look like Me & Will are the only Hawks fan that see that Joe Johnson Sucks really bad.When will you’ll see that he sucks nuts?After five more years of nothing.Get real,9 points are nine points.They can sign me to the min & i can get 9 points.If anybody still think Joke Johnson is good,then your a loser just like him.Punks
Najeh Davenpoop
March 19th, 2011
8:23 pm
“Najeh sweating bullets.”
Haha… literally since the very second I posted that message, they have looked like sh-t.
I only got $10 on them though, so not a huge deal. My brackets are always f-cked by the time the Elite 8 rolls around anyway.
Rashod
March 19th, 2011
8:24 pm
By RASHOD AKA SAND
Sautee
March 19th, 2011
8:25 pm
me too, Najeh.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 19th, 2011
8:25 pm
LOL @ “captaints”. I don’t know if that was intentional or not, but it should be.
mykhalc
March 19th, 2011
8:26 pm
yo Sautee, well i pretty much don’t choose too!!!
i refused to turn on the game last nite for all but to see the half-time score. as posted, i watched my hard drive defrag for more enjoyin’ entertainment!! LOL
Sautee
March 19th, 2011
8:27 pm
What was that about “taints”?
mykhalc
March 19th, 2011
8:27 pm
enjoyable
mykhalc
March 19th, 2011
8:29 pm
@O’Brien…yep i agree. i thin Al’s breakin’ point was the CHI game in ATL. that’s the last we’ve seen of him!! everybody else was AWOL waaaayyyy before that game!!! KA BOOM PLEASE!!!
mykhalc
March 19th, 2011
8:29 pm
think
Najeh Davenpoop
March 19th, 2011
8:31 pm
Josh Powell’s Twitter feed has some pretty solid unintentional comedy. Every day he retweets someone who says he’s their favorite player. How many people can there possibly be on this planet for whom Josh Powell is their favorite player? I wonder if he just creates extra Twitter accounts so he can tweet compliments at himself.
Sautee
March 19th, 2011
8:31 pm
Al borrowed Marvin’s invisibility cloak. It seems to fit him well lately.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 19th, 2011
8:33 pm
According to Ken Sugiura’s latest article…
It was a strong message to send. However, after the team reconvened after the break, team officials found it necessary to post copies of an AJC blog in the locker room with Johnson’s comments highlighted to make sure teammates got it.
Maybe they should start posting some of the comments from this blog in the locker room, or better yet the DASG’s boardroom. They can start with every comment by slimjr, JeJe, and Worldwide Clyde.
Sautee
March 19th, 2011
8:33 pm
Najeh,
12 year old NC State fans, I guess.
Close call but you’re still standing.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 19th, 2011
8:35 pm
My Aztecs live to fight another round. They better step it up on D next game. I would like to finish in the top 5 of a bracket pool for once in my life.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 19th, 2011
8:36 pm
Oh yeah, and start posting vava74’s comments in LD’s room and on Jamal Crawford’s locker.