Bulls at Atlanta Hawks: Is it really about the intangibles?
When the Hawks started the season hot, J.J. was the one guy who always said he wasn’t impressed because they were beating up on lesser teams.
Now that they are taking regular beat downs from better teams, does he think the Hawks still believe they can get on a roll?
“Definitely,” he said. “We know we can beat any team in the league. It’s just a matter of us bringing our ‘A’ game every night. We can’t play down to our opponents [and] when we play teams on our level or that people think are above us, we have got to take it up two more notches.”
Soon after Hinrich joined the team, he said: “Since I’ve been here we’ve talked about defending and bringing the energy. And when we do that we can be a tough team because of the talent we have and athletes and the shooters. If we can lock down on the defensive end, it will make the game a lot easier for us.”
Now the Hawks are defending better (for the most part) but things haven’t been at all easy because they struggle to score despite the talent and athleticism and shooting hasn’ that Hinrich talked about.
Does he think the Hawks still believe they can be a “tough” team like he said back then?
“I believe that way and I feel like everyone in this room does,” Hinrich said. “We’ve had some bumps, we haven’t played well at times but I think everyone believes if we put our minds to it [we can do it]. That’s kind of what we are trying to focus on these last 12 games: every game going out there and gearing up for the playoffs and play playoff basketball and hopefully be ready for the playoffs.”
J.J. and Hinrich aren’t talking about intangibles, not talent. Ken S. had a nice story the other day on the leadership void in the locker room. It was an issue last season, too, and it’s an issue again with the same mix of guys (now notably minus Bibby’s silly influence since the deadline).
But I still think it’s too simple to blame Atlanta’s struggles on intangible things like a lack of leadership. There are so many tangible, quantifiable and observable issues with this team that it’s no great mystery why they are struggling now that the competition has gotten tougher at the same time the calendar says it’s time for the real teams get serious.
For instance, do the Hawks take too many jump shots because they lack leadership? Or, is it like J.J. says, do they not work the post and drive to the basket for scores or fouls because they just aren’t built that way? Remember, the Hawks have been a jump-shooting team all season but L.D. didn’t really start harping on that until the jump shots stopped falling (and, in fact, he’s pretty much encouraged them in Smoove’s case).
Similarly, does the lack of leadership prevent the Hawks from getting back to defend in transition? Or is it just that they aren’t good at it because all those missed shots from a jump-shooting team, combined with no consistent rebounding outside of Smoove and Al, leading to easy chances on the break for their opponents?
All of this is not to say the Hawks don’t sometimes give in too easily when things get tough. But I think they give in because they realize they aren’t good enough to do what’s necessary to win when Plan A doesn’t work. The Hawks are a pretty good team. They could try harder, be tougher, show more heart or whatever and I still don’t think they can overcome their shortcomings to become a very good or great team.
But that’s somewhat speculative on my part, and I understand the frustration of fans who believe the Hawks could be much better if they had more leadership, heart, toughness, etc. And it would be a nice change of pace to see the Hawks at least try to consistently minimize their weaknesses, exploit their strengths, use all of their bona fide rotation players in roles suited for them and see what happens.
Time is running our for the Hawks to figure it out but they insist they still can do it.
“I still think there’s a belief in that,” L.D. said. “Everybody is aware we haven’t had a great March but we are still in position with 12 games left. It’s just a matter of getting on a roll. There are some teams that have struggled in the East and some still struggling. Chicago is the one team that has been the most consistent. Everyone else has had ups and downs.
“I still think it’s wide open. I really hope that our guys still believe they can get on a roll and anything can happen.”
The Hawks can start against the Bulls.
“I think we are still a confident group,” Al said. “Tonight is a big game.”
Damien has an interesting perspective on all of this. I asked him if he’s ever played on a team that struggled and then got it together in the final month and made a run. Soon after the question was out of my mouth I realized he hasn’t been on a good team since he was a rookie in Seattle.
Now he’s on a team that’s struggling but that he still thinks has a shot.
“That’s why, to me, it was never really a big panic or as big of a deal as it seemed,” he said. “Because, I’m like, everyone is panicking around here and I know we lost a couple games we should have won and didn’t play as well as we should have but at the end of the day we are still the fifth seed. So to me I am still excited.
“I think our effort against Miami, it was almost as if we packed in the season it looked like. Looking back, I can understand why the panic has set in for everybody, or it seemed like it. They know we are a better team than this. But at the end of day I am still excited because I have a chance to get in the playoffs and once you get there the seeds and the records go out the window. It’s about execution and adjustments. We will see what happens when we get there.”
Game notes
- L.D. is using the Hinrich, J.J., Marvin, Smoove, Al lineup tonight: “I like the size that it gives us. It gives us another shooter in Marvin at the three spot, particularly when teams are double-teaming us. It’s our regular lineup with an upgrade at the point position. It gives us a little more flexibility to go with our regular rotations.”
- L.D on the tough closing slate: “The schedule is what it is. We take them one at a time. We are in a position where we can control our own destiny. We are playing at home against good teams. We should feel good about that.”
- Hinrich on the same topic: “Since I’ve been here our schedule has been brutal. It is what it is. It’s the NBA; there are no nights off. We just need to focus on ourselves and bring a tough mindset every night and hang together as a group and we will be all right.”
- After the Hawks held down Rose in the first meeting, he went off in the second half in Chicago (aided by Hinrich’s foul trouble). Rose was 8 of 8 on free throws after halftime, 14 of 15 for the game. “We have to keep Rose off the free-throw line as much as we can,” Drew said.
- The Bulls are a middling offensive team but they crushed Sacto last night. Deng was the only starter to play more than 28 minutes. The Bulls are 13-5 in the second night of back-to-back.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
845 comments Add your comment
BILLY KNIGHT
March 22nd, 2011
11:48 pm
HORFORD is getting soft LD, tell him get his but in the post and starte rebounding, hawks are rank last in free throw attempt and last in rebounding
JeJe
March 22nd, 2011
11:50 pm
LOL ASG ONCE AGAIN WROTE ABOUT HOW HORFORD LOVES PLAYING THE BULLS (LIKE THEY SAID ABOUT THE KNICKS). ANOTHER JOKE PERFORMANCE TONIGHT
HORFORD ISNT EVEN THAT GOOD
Paradise Lost
March 22nd, 2011
11:50 pm
FSOhioZJackson Zac Jackson by R_thehoopsforum
LeBron still doesn’t know what contraction means, but he’s pretty sure the NBA should just get rid of the Hawks
ReddJonn68
March 22nd, 2011
11:51 pm
@ Billy Knight
I believe that all falls on the coach he should be preaching at every practice where we stand in rebounding & free throws, or is he in over his head?
Not Sund
March 22nd, 2011
11:52 pm
The sixers are sending lioms to the airport to meet the Hawks!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 22nd, 2011
11:52 pm
nwilborn19 Nubyjas Wilborn
Joe Johnson was asked here if he was open to moves he said he would be open to a shake up http://youtu.be/vjTNax_pMro
12 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply
HawkEye
March 22nd, 2011
11:52 pm
The FANS do not deserve this. ATLANTA does not deserve this. The NBA does not deserve this. The time has come. Blow it up. Hopefully the Braves make some noise this year.
rusty
March 22nd, 2011
11:53 pm
Nortcyde what the hell is with you ( even if jt can’t stop anyone at least he might get a few loose balls) you are something else at least we aren’t hearing all your great praise about your buddy jj who was sitting on the bench laughing tonight. Oh I forgot the other day you said jj needs more shots,it would be nice if he could make them.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 22nd, 2011
11:53 pm
nwilborn19 Nubyjas Wilborn
Larry Drew seems a bit befuddled and at a loss for answers in the post game interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_Q-YFTWWw4
16 minutes ago
Wabe
March 22nd, 2011
11:57 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
March 22nd, 2011
11:43 pm
“Yet another reason Teague needs to start, or at least play. He actually makes an effort to set up the big men in positions where they can score.”
I’m all for letting Teague start. I’ve been wanting to see him start since Bibby was around. We’ve all been saying it, he can’t be worse than what we have. It’s like coach limits his minutes thinking he might make mistakes that’ll cost us games or something. Hey coach, you watching? We’re getting whopped by 30+ points as it is.
But, going back to the Horford/Smith talk for a second. This team could take a step forward, even if it is a baby step (better than going backwards which is where we’re going), if Horford and Smith stopped deferring to the gaurds. Both lack “it”. And “it” would mean they’re content with seeing the gaurds dominate the ball. Great bigs don’t like banging around in the post for nothing, if they work hard to get to their spots and bang, they want you to feed them. Neither of our guys does this. Neither is assertive enough. You want leaders? Start with what we’re talking about. Look at guys like D.Howard. I know neither Horford/Smith is on the level Howard is at, but he runs into the paint and demands the ball. He wants the rock in his hands. He wants to be the guy making the decisions.
We’ve talked about it all season. LD’s talked about it before many games in his pregame talks. We need to play inside-out. But that’s just cliche at this point. It blows my mind hearing the Hawks, from the coach to the players, sound as if they understand the problems but still don’t make the adjustments necessary to correct the problem. JJ says we’re a jumpshooting team, and they see it’s not successful, yet they still choose to settle for jumpers.
We need bigs that run to their spots and *demand* the rock be thrown to them. I want them to be angry if the guards don’t feed them in the post. I want them to assume a leadership role on the court. Right now, they watch the gaurds do their thing, and if they can find a spot-up jumper for themselves, they’ll take it. They’re content with the status quo. A real leader won’t let that happen. He’ll get in guys faces if they aren’t feeding the post to get better looks. He’ll get in guys faces if the ball isn’t moving, or if one guy is holding onto the ball too long. He’ll get in guys faces if they keep settling for jumpers they don’t need to be taking 24/7.
We all know the problems. We’ve known them for a long time, but nothing is ever done to correct the problems.
O'Brien
March 22nd, 2011
11:57 pm
I think Hawks beat Philly tomorrow.
slimjr
March 22nd, 2011
11:59 pm
ISO IS LAUGHING BECAUSE HE MADE 200K TONIGHT! SUCKERS……………………………………………….
ReddJonn68
March 22nd, 2011
11:59 pm
@Davenpoop
LMAO at Larry Drew, great post about the post game interview.
HawkEye
March 22nd, 2011
11:59 pm
Also, people who watch NBA games do not deserve this. The remaining players on the team who play with heart and energy do not deserve this.
slimjr
March 22nd, 2011
11:59 pm
BENCH THE STARTERS TONGIHT…………LD AINT GOT A CLUE…………………
slimjr
March 23rd, 2011
12:02 am
I TOLD YOU PEOPLE A WHILE BACK THIS BIRD WAS DONE.. THEY HAVE QUIT! LD SHOULD RESIGN………………….
slimjr
March 23rd, 2011
12:03 am
AL AND THE GIRLS FLAT OUT QUIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GARBAGE……………..
ReddJonn68
March 23rd, 2011
12:04 am
What a beautiful life to get paid a lot of money & not do sh-t, gotta love it! Goodnight Hawks fans.
Not Sund
March 23rd, 2011
12:05 am
Listening to L.D.’s interview. He’s a beaten man.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2011
12:06 am
Am I the only one who thinks Joe Johnson smoked a little somethin’-somethin’ before doing this post game interview?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2011
12:07 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjTNax_pMro&feature=youtu.be
SteveW
March 23rd, 2011
12:07 am
Ld did say tonight that jeff Teague was out of the rotation for the last 11 games of the season. Look on MC’s article on Drew Settles on Lineup. Says Collins and Teague may play some, but the other 8 were the rotation.
Unbelievable
doc
March 23rd, 2011
12:10 am
well i missed the fireworks. who went after LD on the bench or was it someone else getting into it? heard it on the broadcast speakers as i left the game.
first time i have left early from a game in a long time. boy it was pitiful, couldnt make sh!t or stop sh!t. totally lost team out there. pass it to someone who shoots, nobody rebounds, they go down and shoot and make it on the first two tries if there is a need for a second try, then it happens again. sad to say marvin looking as good as the worst of them. teague should have been in earlier i guess but it wouldnt have made any difference. got to go to philly and play the team that started all this exposure of these imposters of an nba team.
yes, coaching makes a difference, collins and thib show it, we dont. this franchise runs the way the falcons of old did. spend months deciding to fire or not hire someone then not have a clue who to replace them with starting the process it seems the day after letting someone go. this crap has always started right at the top, cant say i dont wish belkin had somehow gained control, if he truly had a plan to be a champion.
MC boldly called it and gave us the insight months ago to see this team didnt have it by pointing out good teams dont get thrashed the way we did. we all should have noted it last year when at full strength we barely covered the bucks in 7 then got trashed, if that wasnt enough the big losses in the regular season should have given some indication of the worst to come. MC also boldly said it this week that this team really isnt that good, homers may have felt he should have been decried but the team only added to his position. good call MC. many of us here didnt believe what we were seeing or not seeing this summer. i hope everyone including the askg gets it by now.
now what did the askg hear in their interview of drew when they decided to hire him they hadnt heard in the 6 years here. maybe the reason woody didnt listen is his ideas really werent that good at all for the nba. yucky. what is their pr department going to come up with to sell any more of this crap?
SteveW
March 23rd, 2011
12:10 am
O’brien – That is hilarious. So when we get destroyed, it’s a good loss. Historic devastations are bad losses. Great.
Can somebody give me a fire LD? 1,2,3
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 23rd, 2011
12:12 am
You Mike C., what happened to Louisville in the NCAA tournament.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 23rd, 2011
12:13 am
“This team could take a step forward, even if it is a baby step (better than going backwards which is where we’re going), if Horford and Smith stopped deferring to the gaurds. ”
Oh yeah, I totally agree. The thing is, though, as long as that continues to be their mentality (especially Al), the Hawks need a guard who is willing to feed them. Teague is a lot more willing to do that than Joe, Kirk, or especially Jamal.
Move
March 23rd, 2011
12:17 am
Move the hawks to Canada
cp
March 23rd, 2011
12:18 am
O’Brien I think Philly wins convincingly. I have no idea whats going on with LD and Teague. Hinrich has had what 2 good games since he has been here? Just like when Bibby was here, Teague cant be any worse than the guy in front of him. LD being LD probably doesn’t play Teague until Philly is up 20. And why is Marvin starting? He clearly looked better coming off the bench. LD is clueless
Little Fawkers
March 23rd, 2011
12:19 am
When are you people going to realize this unit is done? Stop trying to say we will be ok if this guy does this or that. It is over with these Hawks. Need trades and a real head coach in here for this to be a team taken serious. I just can’t believe they have quit like this. They normally wait until round two of the playoffs to do that. Ha Ha!!
slimjr
March 23rd, 2011
12:20 am
NEW BLOG UP….
kirkinga
March 23rd, 2011
12:21 am
I’m afraid there is no one simple answer that will instantly transform this team into the real contenders we all want them to become.
The core that once was fearsome in a weakened East is now mediocre at best. Benching Marvin and/or playing Teague isn’t going to close the talent/intangible gap that separates the Hawks from the rest of the better teams in the league.
I don’t know if it’s rebuilding time again, but I don’t have much confidence in Rick Sund being the guy to provide a revised vision and, sadly, the team has clearly digressed under Coach Drew.
Whatever the correct set of answers may be, it had better include attracting some superstar talent. It appears the so-called “Detroit model” of a championship team only worked for Detroit, so I think we can put that idea to rest.
The team has a winning record, and that is good, but this team is wrong and we all know it.
doc
March 23rd, 2011
12:33 am
najeh pretty candid and resolute assessment. the most articulate jj has been that i have heard. the only thing smoked was him and his band of theives.
kirkinga, the bar was set low by sund lo less to try and stay number four after the summer of no-thing. we failed that one miserably. yes, it is time to move on. sund was a disaster from day one, LD in a similar category. we all have given them and the askg enough rope to hang themselves and it is done. hangman never lies.
KABOOM!
RED ZONE 1
March 23rd, 2011
12:35 am
We should be celebrating people, look at Capt. Kirk’s track record he and D.Rose played together as Rose continued to develop and eventually ascend to greatness, out goes the Capt. Next stop D.C. where he does the same thing for Walls. Mission complete, the Capt. is pushed out the door again. This time its Teague who’s going to benefit from Capt. Kirk’s time here, and then we’ll have our bonafide star PG. This time next year we should be straight.
DAN
March 23rd, 2011
1:11 am
LD HAS TO GO> HE WAS HIRED FOR THE MONEY NOT THE COACHING. THANKS CHEAP SG
DAN
March 23rd, 2011
1:16 am
Sund has to take a lot of the blame. What he as done is one firable offence after another.
he Signed Bibby, Marvin and Zaza (I am not even going to talk about Joes contract. they may have to over pay for that)
He let go of Mike Woodson
he hired LD
He let go of Bibby, the entire bench and the first round pick for a back up pg
what more do you need to do to get fired?
dap01
March 23rd, 2011
6:49 am
Fire LD
Trojan
March 23rd, 2011
7:42 am
They can’t fire LD, he is already the cheapest option in professional basketball. LD and Sund and ASG are the worst managers of a basketball frachise EVER.
Reality
March 23rd, 2011
12:47 pm
Rumor has it that SUND and DREW dont get paid a salary by asG. They just take them to the pony once a week for a lap dance, if the hawks are playing bad they take them to the clermont lounge lol
The Game Has Changed
March 23rd, 2011
4:13 pm
@Najee-Only time will tell what the Knicks will do. We have at least made it to the second round the last two years. We also have a couple of superstars. What has Stoudemire and Anthony done for the last 5 years. NOTHING. The Nuggets are doing great without him. Now take that to the bank
The Game Has Changed
March 23rd, 2011
4:20 pm
@Steve-A lost is a lost.
The Game Has Changed
March 23rd, 2011
4:21 pm
TO ALL YALL HAWKS HATERS FROM NEW YORK-While yall doggin us, yall better hope the Knicks make the playoffs the way they are playing.
The Game Has Changed
March 23rd, 2011
4:26 pm
@Tremaine-Are you serious. How can you say we are not trying to win a Championship. We have a better shot this year than the Knicks. You may not agree with Sunds moves but we are the 5th seed. We gonna show yall playoff time. Stay tuned playboy and pray the Knicks make the playoffs.
The Game Has Changed
March 23rd, 2011
4:31 pm
@Put Me In Coach- Thats cool everyone has their opinion. I truly respect that. Its all in fun with these postings. I get that. But what I dont get is no one has anything good to say about my team and that bothers me. We have a new coach. Give the man a break. He wants to win and he will win. He is still trying to figure this team out. Even when we win yall say crazy stuff. Give the man a lil credit from time to time
RED ZONE 1
March 23rd, 2011
9:41 pm
I hope we lose every game for the remainder of the season so theirs no doubt Rick Sund, Coach, and hopefully some of our CORE PLAYERS gotta go!!!! Capt. Kirk couldn’t evening go a year b4 turning into Bibby. Its time to rebuild. Teague is your pg, Joe is your 3, Al is your 4. Smooth plays for Washington inexchange for Mcgee at 5. We also got our draft pick back to address the 2 guard position.
jeremy
March 24th, 2011
10:07 am
why in the WORLD is coach drew not starting OR EVEN PLAYING teague. it makes absolutely no sense. can you give us fans some insight as to what is up with coach and his lack of use of the super speedy and lightning fast assist/block machine jeff teague?