Atlanta Hawks: Ten deep thoughts
Ten random off-day thoughts, which means my rotation is deeper than the Hawks’ . . .
- It’s dang near April and I still can’t tell you who’s in or out of L.D.’s rotation. He played seven guys last night on a back-to-back against an energetic opponent a few days after he lamented his team’s nagging injuries. Two guys who didn’t play, Teague and Damien, are healthy and energetic. They can defend, too, which the post–trade Hawks now don’t do well at all. I don’t understand why they didn’t play.
- I don’t know for certain if Teague is a bona fide NBA rotation player. But I think he’s shown enough to get a chance to prove it on this team. And I know for certain he’s one of only two point guards on this roster and the other guy is more of a combo guard. I don’t understand why Teague doesn’t have a regular role. Sorry, there’s nothing else to explain it but coach’s decision.
- I watched Smoove score on a nice right-handed spin move against the 76ers. It was so impressive. Josh is a smart player (yes, he is) when focused and engaged. He could be a load to deal with on the block for most fours if he put his mind to it. I don’t understand why he doesn’t. Or hasn’t.
- The Sixers were the latest opponent to send aggressive double teams at J.J. Opponents did the same even during his awful start to the season. And yet they sometimes seem almost OK with Al stepping out for mid range Js (at least when he’s not being ignored by his teammates). I don’t understand any of this.
- Accountability can be a tricky thing for L.D. His options are limited. His five-time All-Star and Sixth Man Ward winner are inefficient and unproductive. Drew can direct some of their shots to Al (or at least try to and good luck with that) but then who else? If Joe and Jamal continue to struggle, does he give their minutes to Damien and Teague? If Josh keeps bad shooting jumpers, does L.D. yank him and play Al alongside Zaza or Twin?
- Those last two moves would mean increasing the roles of inferior players. Then again, if Drew were to take such bold action it might finally send that elusive message of accountability to the team. And then if the team struggles because L.D. was forced to take such drastic steps, he could credibly go to Rick Sund and Co. and say: “I tried everything I could with this roster. It’s broken. Fix it.”
- All of that assumes that Sund and Co. would have L.D.’s back even if he did take such drastic action. They backed L.D. when they sent out Bibby for Hinrich. They didn’t when they gave him a two-year contract that pays relatively little. Woody had a similar problem when he had to coach this bunch in the final year of his deal. They knew he’d probably be gone before they would if things went badly and that’s how it went down.
- The Hawks’ average scoring margin for the first quarter is -0.3. It’s +0.3 for the second quarter, +1.0 for the third quarter and -1.4 for the fourth quarter. Only the third-quarter margin surprised me.
- I want to say the Nets offer the Hawks a respite from a tough schedule. But, hell, it might actually be a good chance for the Nets to win the season series.
- Will we ever get to actually see Pape Sy? At this point I want him to get in and suddenly go off for 20 just so my blog people will have some kind of hope.
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
349 comments Add your comment
SteveW
March 25th, 2011
8:59 am
Hawks only shot:
Fire LD and hire Mike Brown
Tell the players Mike Brown is the Coach for the next 3 years + period.
If they don’t perform, they will be the ones leaving, not Mike Brown.
And let him go to work.
My concern is management did this with LD. And now we have incompetence in place for a rebuilding program instead of quality.
ant banks
March 25th, 2011
9:00 am
THE HAWKS WILL HAVE A NEW OWNER BY JUNE 1ST.
this was announced on belue and kincade, 680thefan, about a month ago. kincade knows who the supposed owner will be, but he will not announce it until the deal is sealed. he also stated that he will introduce the owner to the public.
DID ANYONE ELSE RECALL HEARING THIS?
SteveW
March 25th, 2011
9:01 am
And I don’t have anything against LD as a person probably, as far as I know. I’m just a Hawks fan, and when I see somebody destroying the Hawks, I just want a solution. Give us a team we can root for and not groan at!
John
March 25th, 2011
9:11 am
The problems start at the top of this organization. This is the team you get when management gives 120 million to an above average player who’s not a leader. More away fans because management cares more about getting a buck than showing Atlanta why we should cheer for the Hawks.
Embarrassed Hawk Fan
March 25th, 2011
9:13 am
Looks like the consensus is to dismantle the core AGAIN. How many times can we put up with this? We dismantle the team, rebuild but not correctly, then do it again. Between the dismantling and rebuilding we are duped into thinking things are getting better only to be back in the same position again. This is my last blog and I’m not watching the team anymore… maybe ever… unless they hire a real coach and get serious. Just stop going to the games, stop blogging, stop caring because…. we are the only ones that do care. The rest including ownership, players and coaches are just going through the motions, year after freaking year.
drmaryb (*_-)
March 25th, 2011
9:14 am
Seeing is Believing!
“THE HAWKS WILL HAVE A NEW OWNER BY JUNE 1ST”
________________
I don’t consider a talk show host as a source. Certainly not an insider by any stretch. Where are the multiple sources? I doubt this is true.
Is this New Group buying the Thrashers? Hawks? Or both?
O'Brien
March 25th, 2011
9:14 am
One good thing with Mike Brown is he stressed defense.
However, my only concern is I remember Cleveland fans (on blogs) complaining about Mike Brown. If I’m not mistaken, they said his game plan was basically give the ball to LeBron, and let him create. And the fans would also complain about his substitution patterns.
That being said, if the choice is LD or Mike Brown, Brown would be my choice.
However, 1) can the ASG afford Mike Brown? He is a former COY, very good winning %, coached with Popovich, and will probably cost almost twice what LD will cost.
2) Can the ASG agree on Mike Brown?
ToeKnee
March 25th, 2011
9:18 am
Atlanta Hawks are the opposite of Charlie Sheen: NOT WINNING!!! …DUHhhhhh
drmaryb (*_-)
March 25th, 2011
9:26 am
Thunder Bolt!
O’B
” If I’m not mistaken, they said his game plan was basically give the ball to LeBron, and let him create. And the fans would also complain about his substitution patterns.”
__________________
Baby – Boy, you stole my Thunder! This is my exact concern, Mike Brown is just a fatter version of Larry Drew. He had no control over
LeBron, (see Josh). His only play called was Iso-LeBron. In that Delonte West play off series? LeBron undressed him on the side lines for not playing Hicks when LeBron wanted him to.
This man had a PG and a Center, (Maurice Williams, Shaq, The Big Alien) and a high energy rebounder in Varejo, and he still couldn’t design a traditional inside – outside game plan to get past round 2, two years in a row.
Mike Brown was just another nice guy. We already tried the nice guy’s philosophy. It doesn’t work for this core! We need an authoritative coach in here.
_________________
Brilliant observation and analysis from O’B! Keep it coming.
Double Zero Eight
March 25th, 2011
9:35 am
I don’t think Mike Brown is any better than Woodson.
We don’t need another nice guy as coach. We have
had our share which include Bob Weiss, Lon Kruger
and Larry Drew.
drmaryb (*_-)
March 25th, 2011
9:35 am
680 The Fan!
Marvin Williams on here lauding The Great LeBron. The host saying, “Why ceer for this guy?” Marvin says, “Definitely don’t cheer for him, if he’s playing us?”
__________________
Why cheer this guy at all? Ever? He is not your team mate Marvin!
No wonder they stand around and watch him make plays.
Decapitate this fool! Put him on his back oin the paint!
Geez! Go Figure? No heart, not one competitive bone?
NCBravesFan
March 25th, 2011
9:47 am
I hope there is a new owner in place by June 1st. The idea of Sund & the ASG fixing the Hawks this offseason is like trying to put out a tire fire with gasoline.
MB in SC
March 25th, 2011
10:02 am
I agree with you wholeheartedly, O’Brien.
On another note, if you have a peek at some of the metropolitan population statistics in the US, it shows Atlanta as the ninth largest metro area as of 2009. Of course, I know nothing about the valuation of the Hawks franchise; however, my opinion is that someone could possibly purchase the hawks for a blue light special (it’s all relative, folks) and pull a Steinbrenner with the franchise.
This organization is run by a bunch of penny-pinching, crusty bankers and CEOs with no idea how to market the the team. Furthermore, you can’t efficiently run a professional sports team with a group of rich dudes in different cities, all of whom have massive egos. These guys can’t agree on a marketing direction for the team. They don’t know how to tap into their target demographic. The Hawks are under-marketed and poorly managed from the top down, and I surmise that if a single owner comes in and gives the team an identity and direction, plus some hard work and passion for the team–which the ASG appears to be devoid of–he/she could be in for a very lucrative investment. Atlanta is a monstrous market, especially for the NBA.
If I had the money, I would do it. You know what I would do first? Get a hard-a$$ head coach that doesn’t let Smoove act like he is on the Globetrotters. The kid needs someone to put him in his place for him to truly blossom.
NCBravesFan
March 25th, 2011
10:05 am
I think ATL could be a prime NBA city if it had the right ownership and a sustained commitment to winning. No question FA players would want to play here if the right people were running the place.
DHUD
March 25th, 2011
10:09 am
The Hawks will never be “elite” with the current ownership. For years, they have made stupid decisions and have not proven that they can make the Hawks elite. I say Good-bye to them!
Mike is back
March 25th, 2011
10:14 am
MB in SC, Good stuff…I agree…you are right on point!!
drmaryb (*_-)
March 25th, 2011
10:30 am
I heard a caller on 790 The Zone discussing these ASKG owners.
He said, these guys were born wealthy, but don’t get it twisted, they are not “Filthy – Rich!” They are misers.
They squeeze every dollar and if it holler? They don’t let it go, they squeeze tighter. They Squeeze a dollar so hard? George Washington can’t breathe.
Between the 8 of them, they can’t afford to run two professional teams, much less one. See David Stern for not properly vetting their financial worth before approving this “boot – legged” purchase. Shame on Stern!
Replace him too!
ant banks
March 25th, 2011
10:47 am
DR. MARY B.,
i believe 680thefan. the said this publically, on the airwaves. i don’t think that they would devalue their credibility. the single owner is purchasing, all rights to thrashers, hawks, and philips operating rights.
when june 1 come we will see!!!
geno
March 25th, 2011
10:48 am
The Hawks are an enigma, I don’t get it either. The players aren’t buying into the coach, and the coach is being inconsistent with the lineup. This team is far more talented than their record. Maybe a Pat Riley could get them to play more consistently. I say start Twin, Al at power, Josh at small, Joe at two, and the new guy at point. Look for mismatches to post up, bring Jamal and Teague in when you go small, then run L.D.’s offense. Just my opinion, try it, it will work.
bigeasy830
March 25th, 2011
11:06 am
“Yahoo Sports has a report up today about the coaching carousel this summer. Among the more interesting names mentioned are Doc Rivers and Brian Shaw.”
I see the Hawks fans are still wishing and dreaming, as long as the ASG owns the team, they will not pay decent money for a good coach and they will not fire a coach they owe money to.
drmaryb (*_-)
March 25th, 2011
11:07 am
Ant Banks
I hope you are right. But, these radio hosts aren’t that concerned about credibility, they gossip and sensational-ize facts more than those
Barber Shop guys in that movie: Coming To America!
_______________
Regardless, I hop you and they are correct in this instance. However, I doubt if a radio talk show guy can give you a franchise closing date of June 1, 2011! Have you ever scheduled a real estate closing?
Then you know! Multiply this X 1,000.
When it comes to this ASKG I have little to no hope for anything to go simple, easy and good. They’ll probably fight over a 3rd Party appraiser’s value of their properties, just to milk it’s worth!
Anyway.
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
11:11 am
“Marvin Williams – No confidence, as illustrated by what happens in crunch time. He’s sporadic, but especially unsure when it’s time to “take care of business”. He also has no fast-twitch fibers. Watch him try to dunk or make a strong move at the goal. It takes him forever to get there. When we were in our “drafting long” phase, we should have been paying attention to that skill.”
That is an excellent description of the worst #2 lottery pick in Hawks history……….
Waive Marvin yesterday………………………………………………………………..
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
11:18 am
Derrick Williams is spectacular..His game is the polar opposite of Marvin’s game or lack there of…..
doc
March 25th, 2011
11:30 am
dr mb the NBA is all about having friends in high places. he wants to be labron’s friend so he can maybe go there and play behind him and on his skirt tail.
Puzzled
March 25th, 2011
12:05 pm
The Hawks issues have always started at the top. THey really need new ownership, a new GM, a new coach. Those changes would change the entire tone and feel of the Hawks.
There are only a few player moves that they can make, JJ is staying, Al is staying, Josh – not sure about, Jamal is gone, Marvin-would be gone if they could find someone to take him. The rest are just roster fillers, so it doesn’t really materr.
Puzzled
March 25th, 2011
12:06 pm
Most likely to be a lock out next year, so that buys the Hawks some time.
JeJe
March 25th, 2011
12:17 pm
Wow no mention of Marvin in the entire blog. I guess MC forgot about The Invisible Man just like the rest of us have
rudy
March 25th, 2011
12:20 pm
can we find a way to get RID of joe” never show up” johnson???? plzzzzzzzzzzzzz and take marvin and josh with you…..
BILLY KNIGHT
March 25th, 2011
12:24 pm
How you guys are doing, i miss yall.
Zach
March 25th, 2011
12:30 pm
Question: will the hawks refund my purchase of NBAtv?
BILLY KNIGHT
March 25th, 2011
12:30 pm
One thing my home boy have to do is move horford 2 powerford and leave him there, and rotate the bigs at center and starte josh at 3, and starte teague he is your best defender on the team plus the energy he bring is great, LD have to use a solid rotation 2 keep them fresh he must change his coaching style, i told him this so hopefully he listen.
JSS
March 25th, 2011
12:35 pm
@ All bloggers…
Never trust anything attached John Kincade with having “knowledge” of something regarding the eventual sale of the Hawks or Thrashers!
For the last 3 years that liar has been saying that he “inside knowledge” of a purchaser for the Thrashers! Kincade is the worse kind of a host. Not a real journalist, so he has no standards or credibility. Not a real entertainer, so he has no idea what he does when he continually lies to his listening audience.
The Thrashers and the Hawks will be sold, but they (680 or 790) have no idea or inside info on who will that will be…
JSS
March 25th, 2011
12:39 pm
“BILLY KNIGHT,March 25th, 2011, 12:24 pm, How you guys are doing, i miss yall.”
We sure don’t miss you! Honey, lock the door and call the police! There’s a grifter on the blog!
BILLY KNIGHT
March 25th, 2011
12:43 pm
O yeah one more thing, if my home boy put josh at the 3, and let him post up smallforward in the paint thats is and advantage he have allday long, LD have use that to his advantage.
Daniel
March 25th, 2011
12:43 pm
Very nice blog MC, thanks for articulating all our pain, it would be nice if ownership/management/players paid any attention to the fan base beyond how much money/support or lack thereof they get from us.
BILLY KNIGHT
March 25th, 2011
12:49 pm
jSS I still live in atlanta and people love me, this my city baby.
JSS
March 25th, 2011
12:56 pm
BILLY KNIGHT
March 25th, 2011
12:49 pm
“this my city baby.”
Said Nero as Rome was burning!
JSS
March 25th, 2011
1:03 pm
When Billy Knight was going to show Woodrow the door, guess who we would have been stuck with even earlier? Larry Drew! Heaven help us!
O'Brien
March 25th, 2011
1:04 pm
How is this for defense? Hoopinion speaking of the Philly game;
Defense was a problem throughout the game* for the Hawks, mostly in familiar ways. Watch how often the Hawks switch on screens (on- or off-the-ball) seemingly on impulse rather than by design.
When the ball goes in the post, watch perimeter players sag to a spot where they’re neither double-teaming the ball nor in position to close out on a spot-up shooter.
Watch how often, in transition, a bigger Hawk stops at the three-point line and waves an in-position Kirk Hinirch off the opposing ball-handler, forcing Hinrich to go chase down his teammate’s nominal defensive responsibility.
Five individuals wearing matching uniforms can fairly easily and frequently create opportunities to take jump shots. Five individuals wearing matching uniforms cannot play good defense.
Over the last five games the Hawks have allowed 115.9, 121.8, 114.3 (this in their win over the Pistons), 132.6, and 122.1 points per 100 possessions. .
Defense wins championships, not the so-called motion offense. Tell that to LD.
O'Brien
March 25th, 2011
1:06 pm
My favorite paragraph from the article;
Clearly, the fourth quarter against Denver, the end of the second and third quarters against Detroit, and the second quarter against the Bulls last night have done nothing to dissuade Larry Drew from playing Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson together in the backcourt. Nor did their fourth quarter offensive ineffectiveness appear likely to curtail either their playing time or their touches..
http://www.hoopinionblog.com/2011/03/philadelphia-76ers-105-atlanta-hawks.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed/
Fans and media realize that Jamal at PG does not work, but LD continues to do it. Insanity.
Woody
March 25th, 2011
1:13 pm
Spoke to ld last night,told him he has to tell josh to stop shooting outside shot or sit,tell Joe shut his fk mouth & start producing & stop all that stupid dribbling, start giving jt a lot of time & play uptempo
This sorry bunch can’t win shooting jumpshots,needs to start playing a larger rotation & don’t be dumb & play them all at once,didn’t I always tell you defense over offense,hey has Etan a broken leg. Didn’t I say that Jeff has to be the starting pg this season,didn’t I say I was going to play my rookie this year. I think what happened last year was you chattering in my air & I started to listen to you,my bad
Rusty
March 25th, 2011
1:16 pm
Boy woody was right on,maybe we should him another chance.
TheAntiMe
March 25th, 2011
1:20 pm
It’s not surprising that Larry Drew has absolutely no credibility with the fan base, nor especially with the Hawks players. The things that come out of his mouth sometimes are truly not to be believed, literally.
As any and every person who has followed the Hawks the season knows, LD has had no use for Jeff Teague this season in a very large percentage of games played so far. Yet, a few weeks ago when Teague was allowed to play meaningful minutes and scored 20+ points in addition to his always good defense, LD made comments after that game to the effect of, I’ve always known what a good player Jeff Teague is and have never doubted in his ability.
Jeff Teague’s response: Yeah, right. Larry Drew is simply not to be believed as an NBA coach. The players know this, the fans know this, and the only person who apparently doesn’t know this is Larry Drew. LD may leave plenty to be desired as an NBA coach but it seems that he would have a very bright career as an elected politician if he were to so desire such a career.
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
1:25 pm
LD, you are clearly off your rocker.. But you’ll be outta here sooner rather than later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And you are making it real easy to show you the door with your performance as a HC.You like Jim Moron are clearly in over your head. There is a reason why you were an assistant coach for 18 years..The Hawks meltdown is partly the players fault but its 90% yours…Time to kick rocks Sir……………………..
Whats even crazier is the fact that Gm RICK SUND has been as sorry and in effective as you for far longer and still working 31+ years at his craft!!!! Must be nice to be part of “the ole boys club”..
joey
March 25th, 2011
1:30 pm
joe is the problem he has the talent to torch teams but hes to passive and has no killer instinct and for those of you who think we should trade josh smith are crazy if j smith can just play like he did against philly we could be a elite team
drmaryb (*_-)
March 25th, 2011
1:30 pm
Dr. Slimjr!
“He also has no fast-twitch fibers. Watch him try to dunk or make a strong move at the goal. It takes him forever to get there. When we were in our “drafting long” phase, we should have been paying attention to that skil.”
___________________
Go head, dr.slimjr, break down that medical scouting report!
That was an excellent application of what a “fast-twitch fiber” can do for an athlete’s game. Just a brilliant explanation. You’re gonna’ make me give you Monique Minor’s cellie #, or mine! -wink-
Women like a man who can provide some intellectual stimulation!
And you are right, this is what a talent scout should look for an be able to measure quantitatively. Speed, Burst and Agility. Also, nutritional habits are severely underrated.
Ray Allen hasn’t eaten a cheeseburger in over 8 years and has added 8 years to his level of play. He has optimized his body. Conversely, Shaq eats cheeseburgers all day long and only stops to get ready for the play offs, but look at his availability to the teams who have contracted his services. You are what you eat!
Food is fuel, high octane -vs- low octane = peak performance -vs-
poor performance.
______________________
Doc!
How are you? LOL @ Marvin on LeBron’s Fan-Wagon!
That is just pitiful. MJ was the most fierce competitor of my era, you would NEVER hear him applauding another player, he ate those guys for snacks to energize himself! SMH @ all these player-fans.
Just turrible! Marvin probably asked him for his autograph in the tunnel after they clowned us on their bench, laughing at them! While the crowds chanted: MVP! MVP! MVP!
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
1:31 pm
If LD had Derrick Williams on his bench, he probably give him many DNP’s and at the same time start the “invisible tin man”! LOL
joey
March 25th, 2011
1:32 pm
123
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
1:36 pm
Marvin probably asked for more than an autograph in the tunnel after he got slapped around on the hardwoods……..LOL
tremaine
March 25th, 2011
1:39 pm
One deep thought: GIVE TEAGUE A CHANCE!