Atlanta Hawks: Wizards 115, Hawks 83
WASHINGTON–You kinda get the feeling the Hawks really aren’t buying into this momentum for the playoffs thing.
- “Kinda get the feeling?” L.D. said. “That’s one of the biggest challenges of a coach when you get in these situations with a spot sealed up. The mindset for some players in this situation is the games have no meaning.”
- “Guys were really just going through the motions out there,” Al said.
- Since the Hawks have made it clear they really don’t care about these games, the question is whether they can suddenly turn it on for the playoffs.
- “I honestly don’t know because you have to have some type of momentum going into the playoffs,” Al said. “Even if you are not winning you have to be playing well. I think we were doing that about a week ago and these last two games we just kind of laid down.”
- “I hope so,” J.J. said. “Honestly, I don’t know. It’s been pretty much unacceptable the last two games. I can’t really just pinpoint one thing. We just haven’t been playing hard. We have got to try to get back on track on Monday.”
- “We are going to have to at the end of the day,” Marvin said. “Starters and subs, we are going to have to put it together defensively. We’ve been to the playoffs before. We’ve won first rounds before. Obviously are goal is bigger than that this year but we know what it takes. I think when it is time to go people will really be focused in.”
- “I am not very confident at all,” L.D. said. “I have been in this situation before, having been in the league a long time. You can’t just flip the switch. It just doesn’t work like that. You want to carry momentum as you finish the regular season as you move into the playoffs. I’ve been around this thing long enough to see that you just can’t turn it on and turn it off. You want to be playing well, you want to be clicking.”
- The Hawks are locked into the five seed. They were without Smoove and Twin.The starters didn’t play their usual minutes again.
- I will see those excuses and raise you the Wizards playing five rooks among their 10 players, with there D-League refugees among them. Also note that the Hawks took their fourth 30-point L of the season and are now -48 in point differential despite their 44 Ws.
- Believe it or not, the Hawks say they actually planned to do something tonight. “We wanted to come out and try to get some kind of rhythm, chemistry,” J.J. said. “These last few games it doesn’t seem like we’ve got it.”
- Not much worth mentioning about the Hawks in this game.
- Teague was aggressive. Jamal had a decent scoring run. Pape Sy scored his first NBA points. Al got some rebounds (though a Wiz guard named Othyus Jeffers got more). Joe was going hard to the hole again. Hilton Armstrong has awful hands.
- JC2 got into early foul trouble trying to check Joe. When he came back he was in playmaking mode instead of his usual shoot-at-every-chance posture. Mo was 5 for 5 with three dunks, a tip-in and a layup.
- “Every time somebody gets traded, you always want to try to help them go at that team,” Andray Blatche. “That’s pretty much what we did. We tried to let them go out and have fun and tried to beat [Atlanta] as bad as we could.”
- Add Andray Blatche talking mess to the list of indignities for the Hawks.
- “In our league no matter how good or bad you are, there is a point in the game where you might say ‘tonight is not the night,’ and I think that is what happened for them,” Flip Saunders said.
- It’s happened a lot to these Hawks even when the games matter, so even though this one didn’t it’s still not a good look.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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255 comments Add your comment
tjhook
April 10th, 2011
12:18 am
Larry Drew, You sir, are the winningest loser I have witnessed. Thank you for your service but please step away from the sideline.
Get Real
April 10th, 2011
12:22 am
On LD’s “new offense”……….
Q. Does LD actually believe that this team will suddenly “get-it” — with several games left in the season?
If the answer to #1 is NO —- then is he totally incapable of putting together something (anything) else ?
If the answer to #1 is YES — I just really cannot find the words to comment at this monent.
LD just needs to go and he needs to go NOW! No later than NOW! Yesterday would have been better. Not at the end of the season. NOW!
I mean, come on! If either of the above statements are true — LD had to go and he has to go NOW!
Najeh Davenpoop
April 10th, 2011
12:24 am
“I havent looked at the numbers, but during the years when we won 13, 26, 30, and 37 games, did we have any 30 point losses? Maybe someone knows that answer (I’m too tired to look it up now). ”
I’m pretty sure I saw at least 2 or 3 30-point losses in person during that time. Those were a lot more enjoyable than these, though, since all 10 people in attendance knew that they might actually become good some day, and since the DASG back then had a promotion where the first few people to enter the arena an hour and a half before game time could trade their upper level seats for lower level seats for free.
Wabe
April 10th, 2011
12:38 am
Najeh Davenpoop
April 10th, 2011
12:18 am
“The Wizards acquired the Bulls’ first round pick in last year’s draft in exchange for agreeing to take on Kirk Hinrich’s salary. They then traded Kirk to the Hawks this year for the Hawks’ 2010 and 2011 first round picks. That’s three first round picks they acquired in exchange for having Kirk’s salary on the books for a half a season. In the meantime, they used their own first overall pick to select a guy who will probably play point guard for them for the next 10 years and will be at worst the poor man’s Derrick Rose.
The Hawks, on the other hand, over the last few seasons, have traded a) a second round pick for Anthony Johnson, b) a first round pick for Mike Bibby, and c) two first round picks for Kirk Hinrich. That’s three first round picks and a second round pick used up on acquiring stopgaps, not long term solutions, at the point guard position. And the guy who might actually be the long term answer at point guard sits on the bench, neglected by coaches who refuse to give him the playing time needed to develop him.
Pretty sad when a lottery team can show your playoff team how it’s done when it comes to managing assets.”
Best post I’ve read in a while. Co-sign.
hawks_4_life
April 10th, 2011
12:48 am
LD you cant get them to play hard? What kind of coach are you. How bout we bench ur @$$.
doc
April 10th, 2011
1:01 am
najeh when you have a young core you dont need draft picks and certainly dont want to pay them the rookie rate when you can get an over the hill vet to come in and have the league refund you one half the salary. geez man first rounders cost money to not be developed and sit in this organization. there is no respect for the rooks therefore we dont need them or see the value in them.
Buddy Grizzard
April 10th, 2011
1:04 am
They settled on option C (Hinrich) which really isn’t too much better than what Teague offers.” Wabe
Isn’t even close to what Teague offers. Hinrich can stay in front of less than half the starting PGs in the league. He’s a suitable backup PG/SG.
“You could either be a fan of the Hawks or Wizards, which one would you choose?” Najeh
Hawks. The Wizards’ back court of the future features two guys who cant guard anybody. Wall/JC2 reminds me of Golden State’s back court. We’ve got JT and JJ who are competent defenders, and Hinrich who shows good effort but is consistently asked by LD to guard players he can’t stay in front of.
“Wall (the Wizards’ future star) has a much higher ceiling than Joe, Smoove, or Al ever did, and plays point guard, which is a much harder to fill position than shooting guard.”
Al two time all star at center? Wall is going to make the all start team when? Center much harder position to fill than PG. Smoove contender for defensive player of the year? Wall gonna make 2nd team all NBA defensive team when? Paper arguments Najeh.
James on Pharr Rd
April 10th, 2011
1:06 am
I missed the game, but I am in the minority that actually wanted to see the guys.
If we blow up the whole thing-which is the smartest thing to do, we cannot try and rebuild it with Al Horford. To me, he’s worth is in the picks we can get in the draft.
Josh provides flexibilty as well in a trade because a few teams could use a “potential Lamar Odom/Shawn Marion type player” just not the Hawks. I say 1st round pick and expiring contract.
This may be crazy to a lot of guys, but on several fronts-what if we surrounded JJ with completelly diffrent cast of players, would we fair better?
But then again, whats the point of keeping anyone on the cast besides Marvin Williams. Hold your horses, my reasoning is we do not want to win more than 35 games and we really have to keep bad talent to do that.
All changes would have to start with a new GM. I am actually in favor of keeping LD for the year to guarantee we lose more games.
dacheesecakeman
April 10th, 2011
1:09 am
Just came from work and seeing the score. Are you effing kidding me? I know the Hawks are resting, but damn.
TheAntiMe
April 10th, 2011
1:10 am
Thanks, Hawks! By no means, don’t go to any trouble on our account.
Grandad
April 10th, 2011
1:15 am
The Hawks do not have:
“A Winning Culture”.
Those who talk about 40 years w/o a chmpionshp
are ‘`so`’ right.
Only 7 teams since 1980 have won a chmpionshp.
[as I've stated before] There is a reason !
Trading players, playing Teague, firing LD; won’t change a thing.
Since I’ve been a Hawks fan; we’ve let these players go:
Joe Caldwell [didn't want to pay him], Dr.J [bungled signing]
Pistol Pete [trade], David Thompson [drafted,did not sign],
Marvin Webster [same], Nique [trade],
Before I was a fan…..most folks do not realize:
The Hawks organization traded (draft rights) for Bill Russell to;
*[the Celtics]. *(yes, we drafted him # 1 in 1956)
**Then repeated the process with Pau Gasol. *(2001)
We have drafted:
Skip Harlicka…(who ?)…1st pick ever for the Atl !
Dallas Comegys, Adam Keefe, Gaylon Nickerson, Priest Lauderdale,
Alain Digbeu [whom I swear never ever showed up]
*(my all-time favorite) Cal Bowdler, Marvin & Shelden Williams,
then poor ol’ Pape Sy.
Now about that winning culture.
It Must Start At The Top !
(1) Ownership
(2) GM
(3) Coach
Everything else will fall into place.
***[[[~see:::Falcons~]]]***
Najeh Davenpoop
April 10th, 2011
1:24 am
“The Wizards’ back court of the future features two guys who cant guard anybody. Wall/JC2 reminds me of Golden State’s back court. ”
Derrick Rose “couldn’t guard anybody” as a rookie either, but now he’s a starter on the league’s best defense. Team defense isn’t something a lot of rookies understand fully. Also, Golden State’s back court features two players who not only don’t play defense but are not built to be good defenders even if they tried. I think Wall and JC2 are a lot stronger and have longer arms than either Curry or Ellis and are much less likely to get pushed around.
Anyway, with all that said, I raised the point as a question because it’s impossible to know for sure how the Wizards’ players project in the future. It’s entirely possible that Wall and McGee are lazy and never improve and the Wizards pick some scrub with their high lottery pick this summer, in which case their rebuilding effort will fall by the wayside. I do think if Wall reaches his potential he will be as good as Derrick Rose, and even if he doesn’t become that good he’s going to be a better point guard than anyone on the Hawks is at their position. That is in large part the reason why I think the 2013 Wizards are going to be better than the 2013 Hawks if the Hawks continue to roll with the current core.
Buddy Grizzard
April 10th, 2011
1:29 am
I disagree Najeh because I think the Hawks will be much improved next year with JC1 gone from the roster. The Hawks will become more of a team by simple virtue of not resigning a player who is shoot first/no defense. True, the Wizards have made some brilliant moves. But I don’t think it’s going to happen that fast for them.
I see John Wall as a high character guy and I think he will one day make the all star team, but Derrick Rose has MJ/Kobe style drive. Maybe Wall will one day obtain that himself, but few players ever do.
Grandad
April 10th, 2011
1:32 am
We had best trade Josh while he still has his legs.
*[I have said this previously]
Josh will age quickly, much like a MLB pitcher who relies on his fastball,
however, has not developed as a pitcher. (command and control of other pitches)
Josh has not developed much of a fundamental, cerebral, go to game.
So, the answer is trade him while he’s hot and before he becomes Shawn Marion.
Note:: Understand, I like Josh !
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
April 10th, 2011
1:38 am
thanks for that info into futility grandad. Bill Russell? I rememver drafting and trading Pau Gasol but Bill? smh
doc
April 10th, 2011
1:41 am
grandad go back and count there have been 8 teams. astro brought in the sixers of the eighties that i forgot about and maybe others have too
Grandad
April 10th, 2011
1:53 am
doc
Yessir, I missed the Sixers.
Upon lookin’ ….. my point became even stronger,
as only *6 teams have won more than one since 1980.
*[Sixers & Heat were one time winners] *(other 6 multiple X’s)
Grandad
April 10th, 2011
1:56 am
doc;
The other six:
Boston
LAL
SA Spurs
Houston
Detroit
Chicago
In no particular order.
TheAntiMe
April 10th, 2011
2:08 am
Atlanta Hawks 2011 :Over and out!
Strike one: They are injured (Josh Smith).
Strike two: Their Head Coach just doesn’t have what it takes (not a nasty-gram, just a fact of life).
Strike three: These current Hawks appear that they could not give less of a rat’s rectum whether they do well or not in the regular season. So much so for the post-season where even at their best they have barely ever made it out of round one.
Blake
April 10th, 2011
2:20 am
These guys just really don’t care do they?
The Truth
April 10th, 2011
2:53 am
“Hilton Armstrong has awful hands.”
That is “The Truth”
Here’s a question for the fact checkers:
How many games this season have the Hawks won with Zaza starting at center? Maybe this provides clues to the Hawks struggles in the paint.Scoring points is one thing, but stopping your opponents and defending the lane, well that’s something else.
No Coach
April 10th, 2011
3:45 am
” Larry Drew” nuff said !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Worldwide Clyde
April 10th, 2011
4:55 am
Bob Weiss > Larry Drew
Worldwide Clyde
April 10th, 2011
4:55 am
We need to hire Sam Cassell
Worldwide Clyde
April 10th, 2011
5:22 am
FIRE LD
FIRE SUFIRE GEARON
Big Daddy
April 10th, 2011
6:13 am
Grandad, my all time favorite in dumb drafts was Doug Edwards. Lenny Wilkins swore this first round pick was going to come in and have an impact on the team for years to come. It was 3 years of impact because he never even got in the rotation and when his contract was up, he was gone.
The starters played 30 minutes and this was the best they could do. How can anyone be optimistic about the playoffs. You look at Chicago with Boozer and even Noah out or even the Sixers with Brand missng and they were competitive and their losses were respectable. Getting beaten like this reflects the coaching staff. Once is mistake, twice is concerning and 5 times or more is unacceptable. I want to remain optimistic about the growth and development of the team but they have got to do better than where they are now. All over the sports pages, the Atlanta Hawks are a team on the decline, with a flawed roster and even worse payroll.
richbrave
April 10th, 2011
7:04 am
Dang! Gotta’ ask, “What’s happening to the up and coming team I’ve grown to know and love over the past four seasons?
richbrave
April 10th, 2011
7:16 am
The Truth
April 10th, 2011
2:53 am
“Hilton Armstrong has awful hands.”
I could have told you that before the trade if you had only asked. Of course, neither of us could see that one coming.
richbrave
April 10th, 2011
7:22 am
“…..he’s [WALL] going to be a better point guard than anyone on the Hawks is at their position. That is in large part the reason why I think the 2013 Wizards are going to be better than the 2013 Hawks if the Hawks continue to roll with the current core…..” NAJEH DAVENPOOP
My fear also. PG point well taken.
fan
April 10th, 2011
7:29 am
Three Things need to happen for the hawks
New Ownership
Fire Sund
Fire Drew
The Game Has Changed
April 10th, 2011
7:38 am
@Fan-Give the coach a playoff series or two before you decide to kick him out. If thats the case Jerry Sloan should have been fired his second year. Go Hawks
Slimjr
April 10th, 2011
7:40 am
Thanks for you 1cent freshmaker…You cant handle the truth!! He he
Slimjr
April 10th, 2011
7:45 am
Thank you Billy Knight for screwing this franchise for years to come with extremely lousy lottery picks in 04,05 and 06!!!!!!!!!!! This team still has Billy’s core and Sund just compounded the problems……
Jettison the core Scottie..Yes Captain…………
LD will be back….. This is a lottery team by 2013……
Slimjr
April 10th, 2011
7:50 am
@Grandad, I totally agree with you with the Josh Smith senario…The window of opportunity to trade him while he is of max value is going to close rapidly…Some guys lose it over night!! One day he will not have that 45″ vertical, then what??? Shop his azz this summer…Yep!
RMikel58
April 10th, 2011
7:50 am
Guess the Hawks already decided to let down because they’ll be playing Orlando in the playoffs. I suppose they remember getting beat by 30 pt. avg. a game last year in the playoffs and have already given up. I think they’re scared of Orlando and are very depressed in knowing thats who they’ll be playing.
I dont know basketball like some of the others here do but i can tell when a team isnt trying anymore and theres no true leader on the team to push them forward. Quite frankly i think players should be paid by performance on a year to year contract.
I never thought Atlanta should have got rid of the had coach last year because i felt Joe Johnson was the problem in the locker room. Hawks Management has continued making foolish decisions and will continue doing so in the future.
Larry Drew doesnt like Kirk Hinrich and isnt gonna play him just like Norm Van Brocklin did with Pat Sullivan (Heisman Trophy Winner) and the Falcons.
It all started with Management then the coach then the players. Theyre all confused and dont know what direction theyre going to. Same with the Thrashers. Look at the Braves Organization atleast they have good management and a coach that has a proven record.
Look at the Falcons which starts with the owner then trickles down to Management then the players.
Now look at the Hawks…………….. Who are the owners up there? What are their beliefs and do they just want a tax write off?
How important is the role of Management? Are they making sound decisions like the Falcons? Do you see a future for the Hawks? I think Management has dropped the ball yet again and again and again.
Why they ever hired Larry Drew was beyond me. They listened to the fans disgust and listened to the fans wishes. Now was that a bright decision to make? If the Hawks were to fire management and hire someone with the Celtics/Lakers/Miami/Orlando/San Antonio or a person thats been with a winning organization then that would be a huge start.
Why the Hawks never offered Doc Rivers a huge offer is beyond me. Why they re-signed Joe Johnson to a 20 mil. a year contract when their were so many others that were way beyond him is confusing.
We keep looking at the coaches then the players when all along its been management to begin with. Those knuckle heads are clueless up in the front office.
Get used to this folks…………the Hawks are mediocre at best, the Coaches are atrocious and Management is laughable.
Slimjr
April 10th, 2011
7:56 am
Najeh, you should list the 8 owners by name and call them out!!!
They are the problem not the solution……
ltdbrave
April 10th, 2011
7:57 am
Great game Hawks!!! Tired of hearing excuses Johnson. Why don’t you earn your salary. Hinrich? Yes I was in favor of getting rid of Bibby, but looks like I was wrong, what a dud. Playoffs? Put your money on 3 and out for the Hawks.
Slimjr
April 10th, 2011
8:00 am
The brooms. The brooms.Were art thou brooms???
lewis
April 10th, 2011
8:03 am
Who will learn to play defense first, Jordan Crawford, or 6′7 efficient 17 ppg scorer Nick Young who shoots 38% from 3 and 44% from 2 over 300 games?
Saint Richt
April 10th, 2011
8:20 am
Garbage team….would like to publicly apologize to Mike Woodson….it wasn’t his fault, was his cry baby, no heart, lazy, gutless and immature team…….
STRETCH
April 10th, 2011
8:31 am
•“I am not very confident at all,” L.D. said. And this is they guy they thought was better than Woody?
The Truth
April 10th, 2011
2:53 am
“Hilton Armstrong has awful hands.”
What about Zaza’s wooden hands?!!!
Slimjr
April 10th, 2011
8:34 am
“ORLANDO–The Hawks opened the East semis by suffering a historic beat down. it was their largest playoffs defeat since the team moved to Atlanta. The Atlanta Hawks lost 111-76 at Philly in ‘82 and the St. Louis Hawks lost 133-75 at Minneapolis in ‘58.
– The Magic’s 43-point victory margin was their second largest in postseason franchise history. Their largest lead of the game was 46; their largest lead during the regular season was 38 in that Jan. 9 game vs. the Hawks. They’ve won their last four home games against the Hawks by an average margin of nearly 32 points.”
Hawks have new weapon this year!! He’s called Larry,Larry,Larry….LOL
New weapon
STRETCH
April 10th, 2011
8:34 am
Saint Richt
I co-sign!!!
STRETCH
April 10th, 2011
8:38 am
This organization has been a complete mess. They were on to something good the last few seasons, but did NOTHING after everyone else got better. Took a step back with coaching, overpaid an overrated player, kept a crybaby, didnt get Al Horford any help after he publicly begged for it, traded JC2 for what?
Im just so ready for the season to be over!
JustAThought
April 10th, 2011
8:51 am
Just let me know when you need help packing Hawks…………..
JustAThought
April 10th, 2011
8:51 am
And no need to try to sneak out of town…cause no one really cares!
Roundfield on Roundball
April 10th, 2011
8:59 am
I don’t care what excuse or explanation you offer for a 32 point stinkbomb. The losers were the fools in DC who spent their money to watch it. The NBA has a problem with teams “resting” players for the playoffs, tanking games for seeding purposes, etc. But of course the Wizard of Stern does nothing. Lock them all out.
Roundfield on Roundball
April 10th, 2011
9:16 am
The Larry Drew era is over in two weeks max.
darrell starks
April 10th, 2011
9:41 am
You guys on here talking trading josh, in the last 2 games he didn’t play and there defense was the worst i seen all year, so how is josh the problem when the hawks played PACERS, WIZARDS, AND STUNK IT UP, the problem HORFORD, HINRICH, JOE, MARVIN, the four starter whom LD LOVE SO MUCH, with defense and will 2 fight, especially HORFORD who is getting softer every game.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
glw
April 10th, 2011
9:45 am
The temptation is definitely to blow things up, but I dont want another 3 or 4 years of 25-57 records. But who are you kidding…..somebody is going to take Joe Johnson BIG contract? Horford is not really tradeable either, he is a BYC player anyway because of the big increase in pay next season, so you wont get equal value back for him. Marvin is close to garbage and the only way you could trade him is if you were willing to take back someone else’s trash. The only tradeable players the Hawks have are Hinrich who would have an expiring contract and Josh Smith. But what would you get back in return? So chances are, the Hawks will look pretty much the same for the next couple of years.