Atlanta Hawks: Heat 98, Hawks 90
- A lineup of Teague, Jamal, Damien, Josh Powell and Zaza played the entire fourth quarter and nearly beat a Heat crew that included LeBron for 12 minutes, D-Wade for 10 and Bosh for 6.
- That’s an aberration but it also was the kind of spirited play that’s been missing since the Hawks beat Boston. The Hawks had been searching for something good in these meaningless games and finally got it.
- Still, is the play of the bench in this game going to mean more for Atlanta’s series vs. Orlando than the play of the starters over the last three games? The guys that play the most minutes got drilled by the Heat two nights after they couldn’t put down Washington’s D-Leaguers.
- At least nobody got hurt. “The main thing is to be healthy because that’s been our Achilles’ heel the last two years,” Smoove said.
- Marvin played 19 (productive and efficient minutes) and Josh logged 24 (pretty good, especially on the offensive boards, but for a couple untimely turnovers) minutes.
- Josh said the knee came out OK. “It feels all right,” he said. “It might be a little sore tomorrow. There was a little bumping and it was physical. I will ice it and take my time with it. For the most part I felt comfortable. I had to get my timing down in that first half but when I finally got it in the second half it felt good.”
- L.D. said he never considered sending his starters back in and can’t say I blame him. The bench guys were simply better tonight.
- The fourth-quarter crew was 8 of 14 in the paint. The Hawks were 13 of 25 from that range in the other three quarters.
- Sometimes it’s better to be good than deep. The Heat’s All-Star trio outscored the Hawks 49-46 in the first half and tallied 70 for the game. That nullified Atlanta’s a 44-14 advantage in bench scoring.
- Bibby came in clearly motivated and outplayed Hinrich. It’s one thing for Hinrich to struggle to stay with Lowry and Parker, something else to let Bibby get to the rim more times in one game than he did in the previous 17 with the Heat.
- That’s not an exaggeration.
- Hinrich was no better offensively, either. By my recollection, all but one of his six missed shots were clean looks. He just doesn’t look comfortable out there and his body language was bad tonight.
- L.D. mentioned the other day that he would have liked to give Hinrich a break and he sure looks like he’s aged a lot in like three weeks. If that’s the case, then it’s just another reason for Teague to get more burn (and, yes, it’s a problem that the Hawks are still trying to figure things like this out in Game 81).
- I thought the Hawks moved the ball well in the second quarter (8 for 16 field goals, 5 assists) but the Heat turned up the D and didn’t allow anything easy. At the same time the Heat made 4 of their 5 long 2-point jumpers and scored nine points off five Hawks turnovers.
- The Heat were just 1 for 4 on long jumpers in the third quarter and 0 for 5. They scored 17 points in the third and 19 in the fourth. “Their reserves came in with a lot of energy and they went to the zone and that confused us at first,” LeBron said.
- Powell was a team-high plus-5 in 23 minutes and scored on a tip dunk and another dunk on a pass from Zaza to pull the Hawks within 86-85. He also set up a Damien basket with an offensive rebound.
- “I thought J.P. came in and gave us some muscle down low, some energy down low,” Drew said. “I thought he played with a physicality.”
- But before that good sequence Powell wiped out a Teague layup with a goaltend. Down the stretch he missed a 20-footer, had his shot blocked by D-Wade, fouled James Jones for a 4-point play on a late closeout in the zone defense and was called for charging with the Hawks down 96-90.
- The Heat’s stars got some suspect calls but the Hawks can’t complain too much when they got Miami’s bigs in foul trouble, earned 21 free-throw attempts and made just 12. Josh, Al and Zaza were 4 of 11 combined.
- Zaza ticked off yet another opponent. This time it was Big Z, whom he considers a good friend. “I am definitely going to call him,” Zaza said. “Or maybe text him, because he might not answer.”
- It didn’t appear that Zaza did anything dirty on the play that preceded Big Z chucking the ball at him but Big Z said Zaza hit him the face on an earlier possession. “That was a lot of contact between that particular player and our guys all night but that’s the way it goes sometimes,” Erik Spoelstra said.
- The flip side of the Hawks competing better with their bench guys is that the Heat had to go all out to win against that group. Is this really a team that can take the Celtics in a series?
- Joel Anthony surely must be tired of getting dunked on by Smoove.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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281 comments Add your comment
Grandad
April 12th, 2011
12:55 am
Derek Fisher is one of my favorite players;
and I don’t care if he’s “amethyst”.
Although I’m pretty sure he believes in God.
21 could ball but he can't announce
April 12th, 2011
12:56 am
Play the bench all through the playoffs. That was fun to watch and the most heart I have seen from a Hawks team since those 2008 Celtics playoff home victories. Why not?
darrell starks
April 12th, 2011
1:04 am
Okay let’s look at the matchups
TEAGUE VS NELSON with teague defense and his energy teague can contain him at the point of attack.
JOE VS JASON this is a good matchup but joe disappear come playoffs so jason win this one.
JOSH VS HEDO josh could be the man in this series and post hedo up allday in the paint and AVG 20points a game, only if he play inside down low.
HORFORD VS BASS horford have been playing very soft lately and getting dominated in the paint but look for that 2 change come playoffs, must stay at the powerforward the hole series.
COLLINS VS HOWARD collins is the only big on this team and nba that can contain howard with collins starting give the hawks toughness in the paint they so badly need but howard is better but collins size clog the paint.
HAWKS IN 6 IF LD STARTE TEAGUE, COLLINS.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
superiorblogman
April 12th, 2011
1:07 am
Just heard on NBA Tonight where Zaza said he was going to try and call Big Z after the game. Once again I am telling you guys Zaza is a fake tough guy. Why call a guy and ask what was that about or apologize when you could see them again before season is over? Don’t listen to these guys watch there actions that will tell you what we are about to see in the playoffs. I like the way Zaza has been playing as of late but he is a joke as a tough guy.
superiorblogman
April 12th, 2011
1:14 am
Grandad
April 12th, 2011
12:40 am
superiorblogman
John Stockton = 5 pts & 5 assts in 18 min per as a rook.
*[Teague clearly better 'cause Stockton's white]
Steve Nash = 3 pts & 2 assts in 10.5 min per as a rook.
*[ditto / white]
Sam Cassell = 6 pts & 3 assts in 17 min per as a rook
*[Cassell future HOF because he's black]
Derek Fisher = 4 pts & 1 assts in 11.5 per as a rook
*[5 rings and he's black]
***Then I Found Him !***
Gail Goodrich = 8 pts & 1.6 assts in 15.5 min per
*[and he's white ** & ** he's in the HOF]
I couldn’t believe it either superiorblogman !
He’s as bad as Teague and as white as Hinrich !
Okay what was your point again, ’cause I forgot ?
Grandad go change your pamper.
Michael Cunningham
April 12th, 2011
1:16 am
Blog updates with recap.
superiorblogman
April 12th, 2011
1:21 am
Miami coach complaining about another player not getting called for something. Now that’s classic, the entire league knows the Heat and every other superstar laden team gets suspect call after suspect call. Truly, I don’t go to NBA games unless I get free tickets. It’s just as much sports entertainment as the WWE. That’s what makes that comeback even better. A bunch of bench guys had a chance to beat the Queens of the league.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 12th, 2011
1:23 am
Free Jeff Teague
STFU Nique
superiorblogman
April 12th, 2011
1:25 am
Najeh Davenpoop
April 12th, 2011
1:23 am
Free Jeff Teague
STFU Nique
Co-sign, Nique can kick rocks along with LD, Sund, and the ASG because I now believe Nique was a supporter in there little war room to make that stupid trade and a bunch of other bad moves. He is VP and has some say. We don’t need a yes man on air. Phuck Nique as a announcer.
Jae Evolution
April 12th, 2011
1:28 am
The second half of this game is exactly why I refuse to take the Miami Heat seriously, they crumbled so bad and almost let our bench win this game.
The Boston Celtics will have little problems getting back to the ECF, many of you say Perkins absence has completely changed the team, but in reality it’s the offense which has been struggling and that is all on Rondo. Also when Shaq gets back they gain whatever advantage they had when Perkins was with the green.
MJC
April 12th, 2011
1:33 am
@superiorblogman
But if Nique goes, how will we ever know the nimbers?
The Dreamer 3K
April 12th, 2011
1:49 am
I really expected more from Hinrich. When Rose outplayed him, I took solace in the fact that it was after all, Derrick Rose. He outplays everybody. When Rondo outplayed him, I took solace in the fact that it was afer all, Rajon Rondo. He outplays everybody. When Martin outplayed him, I took solace in the fact that it was after all, Kevin Martin. He outplays everybody. When Parker outplayed him, I took solace in the fact that it was after all, Tony Parker. He outplays everybody.
Tonight it was Mike Bibby’s turn. Mike Bibby outplayed him. Mike Bibby outplays nobody.
While I initially EXPECTED more from Hinrich. Now I’m reduced to merely HOPING for more. After all, it is Kirk Hinrich. Everybody outplays him.
Wabe
April 12th, 2011
1:52 am
James on Pharr Rd
April 11th, 2011
11:11 pm
“For my Jeff Teague fanatics, which player does JT remind you of? Because, I personally need guidance on why JT should start for any team in the league let alone this annoying Hawks’ excuse. Please include any number of strengths he has shown when he plays in comparison to other players of his size.( Need not include Brandon Jennings please)”
Are you kidding me man?
Nobody’s on here trying to portray Jeff Teague as the solution to all of the Hawks problems. What most people are saying though is that, he could be the solution to a problem that’s plagued this team for a long time. He could potentially fill our hole at PG. For too long, this team has relied on the stop-gap solution. This team seems to be content with average PG play from stop-gap PG’s, and they neglect to *develop* viable options. And truthfully, it makes little sense to give Hinrich (a stop-gap PG who won’t be here down the road) the nod over Teague when Teague at this juncture is giving you as much and really more than veteran Kirk brings.
Don’t even wanna get too deep into this. Seems like we’ve been having the same conversation since the Hinrich deal, and some of us much longer than that.
Wabe
April 12th, 2011
1:58 am
By the way, Jordan Crawford should’ve still been a Hawk.
Had Larry Drew not shyed away from his responsibility to develop Teague, something most Hawks fans here were under the assumption of him doing, then we would’ve had the better PG play and wouldn’t have lost a true scorer and a kid that’s gonna be tough down the road.
Broussard himself said it on ESPN’s NBA countdown, “Jordan Crawford will be tough down the road, look out for this kid…”
And he couldn’t buy a single minute here as a Hawk, because we have guys that aren’t long term assets hogging all the minutes.
Next year when Jamal’s gone, we’ll be wishing we didn’t give up Jordan Crawford for a useless upgrade. Truth is, has the addition of Kirk Hinrich stabalized anything? Are we any better off vs. the elite teams in the league? Useless deal.
Wabe
April 12th, 2011
2:00 am
By the way, also heard on PTI earlier today that Jameer Nelson told Derrick Rose after the Bulls/Magic game over the weekend that they’ll (the Magic) will see the Bulls in the 2nd round.
Then the PTI guys started hammering the Hawks lackadaisical ways. Clowned on them for being practically sleeping their way into the playoffs.
darrell starks
April 12th, 2011
2:07 am
Hinrich have turn out 2 be a bust, very disappointing in his play, even bibby out played him tonight wow!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rusty
April 12th, 2011
2:10 am
We need a pg who will penetrate & play uptempo basketball & who can stay with fast pg,kh,jc1 & jj can’t give you that. We also do not need jj to dominate the ball that is a sure way to failure.
darrell starks
April 12th, 2011
2:13 am
When i watch HAWKS VS WIZARD nique was downplaying teague i wonder if there is somthing that we dont’ no as fans’, so much hate between LD AND NIQUE on TEAGUE you kind of wonder hmmmmmmmmmmmm
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ken Strickland
April 12th, 2011
2:16 am
LDrew shares the same stupid bias Woodson had against Teague and other young guards and will play any vet PG ahead of him no matter what. For some stupid reason, Drew obviously thinks starting and playing Hinrich twice as many mins as Teague and getting basically the same production is somehow better for the team.
Since JCollins will likely start against the Magic, we can’t afford to have Hinrich disappear, which would give us another OFF liability.
Rusty
April 12th, 2011
2:38 am
Losing jc2is like losing a beautiful girl your crazy over, getting kh is like getting a plain girl who’s been around the block. Screw ld
Najeh Davenpoop
April 12th, 2011
2:51 am
At least when the Atlanta Dream trade multiple first round picks for a point guard, they get one who is actually good (so I hear).
Worldwide Clyde
April 12th, 2011
3:05 am
FIRE NIQUE
Nique always wanna criticize Teague but don’t have the balls to criticize our “leader” Joe Johnson. Teague may make mistakes but he always plays hard all the time. Joe Johnson on the other hand gives up when teams are up big. Bring Mike Glenn back and Fire Nique’s arrogant tail.
Worldwide Clyde
April 12th, 2011
3:35 am
FIRE GEARON
FIRE SUND
FIRE NIQUE
FIRE DREW
FIRE JOE JOHNSON
Worldwide Clyde
April 12th, 2011
3:38 am
Hinrich was 0-6 with one point tonight Nique. Criticize him. Leave the young folks alone you bully.
Grandad
April 12th, 2011
3:44 am
superiorblogman
I prefer “Depends”
of course that depends on how you look at it ?
I’m not finished with it just yet,
but when I am, I’ll let you blow your nose on it.
“Pampers” huh, that must be your preferred brand,
I reckon yore momma still got you in baby diapers.
James on Pharr Rd
April 12th, 2011
3:48 am
You guys might be right……And for the record, I have never “scouted” for small guards well, and I had no complaints with skipping CP in the draft-MY BAD. As far as Teague, I’ll still be on this blog hoping to see myself getting it wrong again.
MARVIN WILLIAMS (Ryan Cameron voice)
Reggie
April 12th, 2011
3:59 am
Nique does need to stfu but i wont tell him that because i value my face and so should you!
Worldwide Clyde
April 12th, 2011
4:09 am
Nique bout to turn 60 still getting in fist fights.
SHAKING MY GOT DAM HEAD
Worldwide Clyde
April 12th, 2011
4:13 am
Going from The Stinger to Nique is like going from Bibby to Hinrich.
FIRE LD
Geemack
April 12th, 2011
4:53 am
So the Hawks are playing “meaningless” games.
These dudes act like they are going past the 1st rd.
Drew resting his starters….for what? A championship run?
Lol @ Josh Smith talking about injuries derailing them the last 2 season.
So Kobe & Drew play on knees that need surgery in the off season and the Lakers win the championship.
The Hawks can’t win a game against the Magic in the seconds round. I don’t recall anyone needing offsesason surgery.
That lets me know this playoff will be no different than the last.
The bench played with the heart the starter wish they had.
JJ Sucks
April 12th, 2011
6:32 am
Thank God for the Atlanta Dream, the REAL pro basketball team in Atlanta.
gator
April 12th, 2011
7:20 am
Please guys, how would we know about “heat checks” w/o Nique
Section 303
April 12th, 2011
7:51 am
It’s going to be a glorious day when the Heat get knocked out of the playoffs. I can’t wait to see it. Wade, James, and Bosh are my three least favorite players in the NBA. Spoelstra is my least favorite coach in the league.
Reading Spoelstra’s qoute on Zaza’s play is irritating. Reminds me of when he complained about Josh Smith dunk attempt in Game two of the ‘09 series (I’m still mad at Josh for apologizing to Spolestra for that).
Anyways…will be reason to celebrate when the Heat gets sent home.
Slimjr
April 12th, 2011
7:59 am
Nique you should listen to another HOF call a game!!! His name is Walt Frazier with the Knicks!!! You guys are worlds apart in more ways than one……………………………….Walt is the BEST IN THE GAME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slimjr
April 12th, 2011
8:00 am
Hawks are one and done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slimjr
April 12th, 2011
8:02 am
LD why dont you rest the starters for the rest of year with their pathetic playing??????
The Real Hawk
April 12th, 2011
8:08 am
Jordan Crawford in Washington:
SPLITS GP MPG FG% RPG APG BLKPG STPG PFPG PPG
(Last 10) 10 40.5 .402 3.7 5.0 0.2 1.2 2.5 20.7
Would love to have that on this team. It’s about coaching and we don’t have it…still.
Section 303
April 12th, 2011
8:18 am
The Real Hawk, I don’t even want to know what Hinrich’s splits are the past 10 games. I imagine they are somewhere between terrible and horrific.
I’m not a Hinrich fan these days. The fact he continues to start at PG over Teague just shows that the Hawks are still the Hawks.
Double Zero Eight
April 12th, 2011
8:32 am
I said for months that the Hawks would make a meaningless
token trade. Unfortunately, I was correct. It is obvious that
Teague is better than Hinrich. It was a meaninggul trade for
the Wizartds in that we gave up way too much.
Larry Drew and Lon Kruger are comparable.
Sund = Knight. (pompous know it alls).
It was not a bad pick
April 12th, 2011
8:48 am
Free Marvin..5-8 last night…Only 8 shots?.#2 pick?…I have never seen anything like this in my life!
Double Zero Eight
April 12th, 2011
8:56 am
Spelled “meaningful” incorrectly in previous post.
Mike
April 12th, 2011
9:25 am
@Section 303: The Hawks, along with your overpaid “leader” Johnson, are a joke, and will be annihilated once again by the Magic, just like last year. You may hate the Heat and their players, but they’ve beaten down the Hawks three times this year, once by 30 points in your own house. The only glorious day will happen when that scrub Hawks team gets eliminated.
Slimjr
April 12th, 2011
9:30 am
The Fat Lady just took her first step towards the stairs that lead to the stage…..LOL
She is clearing her voice…………………………
ICECOLD
April 12th, 2011
9:34 am
Trade Joe Johnson, Marvin williams and Jamal Crawford for Danny Granger and Roy Hibbert this off season and a first round pick.
starting five will be
Jeff Teague
Danny Granger
Josh Smith
Al Horford
Roy Hibbert
bench
Kirk Hinrick
(who ever the first round pick is), Pape Sy
Damien WIlkins
Josh Powell
Zaza, Collins, and Eton Thomas
Joe Johnson is a iso player who needs to play on a iso team.. Jamal Crawford is going to want a sign and trade deal… and marvin williams is to up and down .. he will be a good fit in Indiana
I MUS WRITE
April 12th, 2011
9:35 am
How ironic: The so called defensive stopper we traded for bgets beat off the dribble by the slowest PG in the league. Does the organization hate Teague? I mean jeez its clear he is playing better than KH why doesnt he get time ?? LD is just as bad as Woody…..Let the yungn play nobody gives a dam about the CORE.
Jordan Crawford has been playing well for the wizards im glad to see him getting a chance -all he needed was playing time.
When D Cousins matures he will be top 2 in centers . That yungn is a goon on the blocks .never saw anyone manhandle Perkins like that………
JeJe
April 12th, 2011
9:36 am
LOL @ comparing how the Heat played in one measly quarter to how they’ll play agains Boston.
Every team in the NBA has a game where its bench brings the team back
This team still sucks
Hinrich kinda sucks right now and Teague can’t hit a jumpshot or hit the floater (that’s all he does)
Josh Powell destroyed us late in the game last night, even if he was better earlier in the quarter
I MUS WRITE
April 12th, 2011
9:51 am
Its going down tonight -Mr fast dont lie vs the knicks in the garden. Rose is rapidly becoming my favorite player. OKC vs Chicago -OKC in 7
JeJe- I used to say the same thing “teague cant shoot” Well he doesnt shoot well but he is a difference maker when he plays with the starters. What does KH do when his jumper is off…uhhhhh nothing -Bibby beat this man off the dribble a couple times last night which is pretty disgusting.
For the love of god get rid of this clown posing as a coach. Anyone buying suits from JC Penny’s doesnt deserve to be a coach in this league.
FREE PAPE SY Marvin has a good game now watch him disappear…. Are’nt we tired of playing this game.
WTH would INDY trade Hibbet/Granger for Joe/Marvin……… That GM would be run out of town before the ink dry’s
JeJe
April 12th, 2011
9:52 am
Marvin actually played damn well last night (+/- was -11 though
Why couldn’t he get more minutes?
The guy probably doesn’t even whine about playing well but not getting minutes
lewis
April 12th, 2011
9:56 am
“For my Jeff Teague fanatics, which player does JT remind you of? Because, I personally need guidance on why JT should start for any team in the league let alone this annoying Hawks’ excuse. Please include any number of strengths he has shown when he plays in comparison to other players of his size.( Need not include Brandon Jennings please)”
Check out his college tapes. Dude is fast, can score, and has a killer instinct. low release on his jump shot which needs to be fixed but it looks better than some starting PG’s when they came into the league. And he’s the only one on the team capable of slowing the league’s new superbreed of PG’s that are unbelievably fast and strong.
Teague should have been inserted into the starting role after the portland game where he shut down andre miller. He has been agressive on offense and defense and brings an energy (i sound liek LD) that no one else on the team brings. He’s done a great job since the trade and theres no excuse for his PT.
As for player comparisons, think of pg’s that pressure the ball well on D and get a lot of steals, get to the ft line at a higher rate than anyone on the team, pass first PGs who penetrate and dish. Honestly, when he puts his mind to it 9 times out of 10 no one is goin to stop him from getting to the basket.
And these are 4-6 minute bursts I have to judge him by. I don’t claim to know anything about basketball but after watching the JJ era Hawks for the past 6 years, how they chop the nuts off of any young talent, for Teague to still be around in his second full year of no playing time, keeping his head up and showing us glimpses, well, that shows me a lot. Some will try to tell you he has a “low bball iq” but as someone who is very harsh on the intelligence of these players, I have not seen it. He is deliberate in interviews and for the most part on the court. It pretty much has to work because there is no way the Hawks have the assets to get a PG and C or PF depending.
lewis
April 12th, 2011
9:58 am
Last night was Bibby’s playoff effort. He now has nothing left in the tank.