Atlanta Hawks: Drew still says sitting Horford was right move
L.D. slept on it and came to the same conclusion as he did after he game: Sitting his best all-around best player for the final 21:50 of the first half in an attempt to avoid foul trouble was the right move.
Asked today after practice if he had any second thoughts on the decision, Drew provided a similar explanation as last night:
“When he picked up the early two fouls it put it us in a bit of a bind. You don’t anticipate your starters picking up two early fouls like that. When he went to the bench, had we hit a bad stretch at the start of the second quarter to the middle of the second quarter, I would have put him back in. We actually had a really good stretch in the middle of second quarter. With three minutes left we hit a bump in the road and I didn’t want to jeopardize him picking up his third when we were going good.”
By the middle of the second quarter, Atlanta’s 32-22 lead was down to 34-33 because Marvin, Jamal, Hinrich and Joe all missed jumpers; Hinrich lost the ball on a careless turnover; and Dwight went to work against Powell and then Armstrong.
After Al went to the bench, the Hawks gave up 15 offensive rebounds in the rest of the first half. They missed 26 of 41 shots and scored just 38 points on 49 possessions. If L.D. thought the Hawks were having a really good stretch then playing Horford, their best rebounder and most efficient scorer, might have made for an even better stretch.
Also note that Al averaged just 2.6 fouls per 36 minutes this season, the lowest rate of his career. I guess that number would be perhaps three if he were allowed to play regularly with two first-half fouls. Al has fouled out of four of his 335 career games, including playoffs. Among centers who played at least 1,000 minutes this season, Al has the fewest fouls per 36 minutes.
So it’s not like Al is prone to picking up fouls or has to check any Magic players who are particularly good at drawing them. Al doesn’t play a physical defensive style, instead relying on his quick feet to get good position. In other words, he’s not like Zaza, whom L.D. also left on the bench with two fouls. That made more sense because Zaza fouls a lot and is the last decent line of defense against Dwight.
Speaking of which . . .
The Magic were -21.3 points per 48 minutes with Twin on the court during the regular season. After two playoff games, they are . . . . -21.3 per 48 minutes with Twin on the court.
With Zaza on the court, the Magic were +9.8 per 48 minutes during the regular season and are +8.6 in the playoffs. The numbers vs. Etan are +31.1 and +27.4, vs. Powell -4.4 and +9.0. Armstrong didn’t play against Orlando during the regular season with the Hawks; the Magic were +61.7 per 48 vs. him in Game 2.
(All numbers are from NBA.com’s dope new StatsCube feature.)
The Hawks don’t really have anyone other than Twin who can provide much resistance against Dwight but the numbers suggest Zaza should be first in line (though he wasn’t last night). After those two the Hawks are simply hoping that any of the other bigs can somehow hang on.
“It’s always been like that,” L.D. said. “That’s nothing different. We go with Twin and Zaza and then we start using other big bodies and their jobs are to try to make him earn everything. They are battling him; there is a lot of banging going on. We are getting what we want out of those guys in those cases. We have to buy Twin and Zaza time.
“I’m not discouraged by that not one bit. In putting together this team one thing we knew we had to do was get big bodies in here in the event of playing Orlando in the playoffs. Hilton, Etan, Josh Powell–they are big bodies and their jobs are to force Dwight to work for everything. They are going to create fouls and force the issue. I am not discouraged by that.”
Notes
- Al said he has a bone bruise on his right knee. “It’s swollen but it’s good. I plan on playing.”
- Smoove reported no problems with the elbow.
- L.D., Al and J.J. all were in agreement that J.J. needs to pass the ball quicker if the Magic send aggressive double teams at him again in Game 2. Dwight chased Joe out to the perimeter at times, which (theoretically) should leave space on the weak side if the ball swings around quickly and the Hawks attack before Dwight can get back to the rim.
- “Move the ball,” Drew said. “I thought we got a little stagnant. We reverted back to a little too much one-on-one. But looking at the video, we gave up 20 offensive rebounds, they were plus-18 free-throw wise, yet with two minutes to go it was a two-point ballgame. We need to clean up a couple areas. The guys watched guys and saw some things we could have done differently.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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222 comments Add your comment
RealSquawk
April 20th, 2011
4:29 pm
First
Brett
April 20th, 2011
4:30 pm
Two fouls thing makes no sense to me. Benching him guarantees he misses 2 quarters of action. Last I checked, the points count the same in the 2nd quarter as they do in 4th quarter.
RealSquawk
April 20th, 2011
4:34 pm
Now that all of that is out of my system. Some good things are being said from the locker room now lets see if they translate to the court.
Compared to last season this is improvement, this is also a different magic team, changes still need to be made.
Al Horford also needs to play more, but that did not need to be said.
Waiting for the Hawks to play on Espn again cause I don’t have TNT.
You know the heat would be unstoppable if they traded LEbron or Dwade. Think about the pieces you could get in return. You talk about a full roster sheesh.
Sleepy
April 20th, 2011
4:36 pm
20 OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
By not rebounding we limited our offensive touches where as in the first game we rebounded well enough to punish them for every missed shot .
Swingman912
April 20th, 2011
4:37 pm
first?
Hawk n the Ham
April 20th, 2011
4:43 pm
smDh
Hawk Str8Talk
April 20th, 2011
4:45 pm
thanks MC for highlighting without openly smacking Drew upside the head with the absurdity of that, which he speaks. Not only that he sent Powell into the game BEFORE Zaza, so at this point – there’s no way to trust what he says because he’s simply trying to justify BAD COACHING DECISIONS. They aren’t winning because of you LD – it’s in spite of you. Reminds me of his Teague ‘I always believed in him’ speech after the Portland game….
Najeh Davenpoop
April 20th, 2011
4:46 pm
Benching him with 2 fouls for a while is OK. Even keeping him there into the 2nd because the players on the floor are playing well is OK with me. But continuing to keep him there after the Magic decisively shift momentum in their favor (the Redick steal and transition layup) is not OK. LD is too slow to react.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 20th, 2011
4:48 pm
And with Joe, it’s not just that he should pass the ball quicker but also that he should make his move quicker so that the double team doesn’t have a chance to push him out to the perimeter.
Buddy Grizzard
April 20th, 2011
4:48 pm
“Another coach might choose to count his blessings and get his best player back on the floor. Larry Drew decided to keep Al Horford on the bench for the entire second quarter and maximize Orlando’s chances of winning.” – Bret Lagree, Hoopinionblog.com
I bet Las Vegas Larry made a killing last night.
GOOD GAME LAS VEGAS LARRY!
Gainesville#1
April 20th, 2011
4:49 pm
I think it was a big mistake. Yeah he had two fouls but to sit him out the rest of the half the way they were getting killed on the boards just didnt make any since to me. But at the same time the refs were on some straight b/s last night. Howard was traveling, setting moving screens, he threw his elbows up at Collins which should have gotten him a tec.
K.W.
April 20th, 2011
4:49 pm
I tried, but I really don’t get LD.
Buddy Grizzard
April 20th, 2011
4:51 pm
“so at this point – there’s no way to trust what he says” – Hawk Str8talk
We reached that point a long, long time ago.
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
4:54 pm
LD YOU LOST THIS GAME IN THE SECOND QUARTER???????????????????? I WOULD NOT ARGUE YOUR POINT IF YOUR TEAM HAD WON,PUT THEY LOST GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU SAT ALLSTAR AL FOR ALMOST THE ENTIRE 1ST HALF!!!!!
THATS LIKE PHIL SITTING SCOTTIE PIPPIN FOR THE 1ST HALF OF A PLAYOFF GAME….UNBELIEVABLE………….
…YOUR LIKE BOBBY COX. YOUR TEAMS WIN IN SPITE OF YOU..BUT YOU COMPOUND THE LOSSES……
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
4:57 pm
LD MUST HAVE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE godfather, the chief gangsta himself the one and only Mr. Stern!
Game over……………..
It was not a bad pick
April 20th, 2011
4:57 pm
marvin will bounce back..it was not his fault the hawks lost…but what about the guy who signed the biggest contract over the summer in the NBA?..Melo had over 40, Dirk willed his team to victory, Howard had a monster game..where was Joe?…
Booo!
April 20th, 2011
4:58 pm
If you ask me, this is just further proof that collins should start full time at the center position until we get someone better in here (that means in the 2nd round against noah as well). I know most won’t agree but him starting balances out the roster and he is actually a better detriment at the rim than Zaza.
Booo!
April 20th, 2011
4:59 pm
“Reminds me of his Teague ‘I always believed in him’ speech after the Portland game….”
Smh….don’t remind me. If I was rick, I’d be on the Phone with Rick adleman Pronto!
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
5:00 pm
@Booo, I do hope the Hawks win in 5 or 6 and move on.. They got no shot against Chicago..Now that would be a sweep!!!!!!!!
mountain_jim
April 20th, 2011
5:02 pm
MC, way to say it without really saying it. As Najeh said above, it was obvious when the game and momentum turned with that steal and that was the time to get Al back in.
Hawks replaced one stubborn fool with a different stubborn fool at head coach. And still Teague gets not chance to develop or show anything. Kurt killed us with his turnovers and when he lost hit shot – that was the time to give Teague some burn.
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
5:06 pm
LD you and your Allstar AL are definitely not on the same page…You know what he said after the game Genius????????
Allstar Al said his timing was off in the 3rd quarter because he sat for so darn long genius…Thats why your team was 1-12 in the 1st 8 mins of the 3rd you genius………………Unbelievable……
Sund and LD need to run not walk…………pronto…………….
hbcuclassics
April 20th, 2011
5:08 pm
2011 Falcons Easy Button 3.0
1.27 Jimmy Smith, CB, 6′2, 211, Colorado – “elite” corner fills need; sophomoric behavior non-cancerous, Owens questionable, Williams out. Secondary suspect.
2.59 Bruce Carter, OLB, 6′2, 243, UNC – “elite” linebacker is Top 10 talent but for ACL. Like Moore/Jerry put on IR/rehab for a year; and reap Pro Bowl reward later.
3.91 Greg Little, WR, 6′3, 231, UNC – stud receiver with hands, strength, speed, agility. Makes big plays and acrobatic catches, bench pressed 225/27x; NCAA suspension irrelevant.
4.124 Jordan Cameron, TE, 6′5, 254, USC – long, athletic former WR and hoopster.
5.158 Johnny Culbreath, OT, 6′5, 285, SC State – AP/FCS All-American, 3xMEAC Champ; best lineman in HBCU football – think Larry Little.
6.192 Frank Warren, RB, 5′11, 195, Grambling – AP/FCS All American, “Sweet Feet” broke Walter Payton’s All-time SWAC rushing record w 1,592 yds in 2010; 3rd in NCAA rushing.
7.209 Raymond Webber, WR, 6′2, 215, UAPB – AP/FCS All-American, led NCAA w/ 101 rec. 1,429 yds.; 10TDS, 130 ypg avg. think Jerry Rice. Coach: Monte Coleman.
7.228 Ricardo Lockette, WR/KR, 6′3, 199, FVSU – 2009 DII 200M Champ, 4.39/40
7.229 Matthew Johnson, QB, 5′11, 185 Bethune – 2010 HBCU POY, 2010 MEAC POY
hbcuclassics.com
Wabe
April 20th, 2011
5:10 pm
To chime in on the Jeff Teague debate.
Do you guys see what Jameer’s doing for the Magic? Dribble – penetrate – kick?
Do you not think Jeff Teague could open up some looks for other guys with his dribble penetration? The same few who are whining about the Hawks jumpshooting ways are the same one’s bashing Jeff Teague? At least with Jeff Teague you know he’s thinking attack first – jumper if necessary.
Also, the same few who bash everything about LD are the same one’s who seem to think he knows what he’s doing with Jeff Teague.
But whatever. Teague won’t see the floor this series barring any injuries to the regulars.
Wabe
April 20th, 2011
5:11 pm
By the way, thanks for those draft prospects. Haven’t caught up with anything football related in a minute, but the draft is right around the corner. Gotta get caught up with my dirty birds.
Booo!
April 20th, 2011
5:15 pm
Slimjr,
Maybe, I think we can take a game or two at home but I definetly wouldnt bet on us taking the series’.
Booo!
April 20th, 2011
5:16 pm
Wabe, Exactly!
RealSquawk
April 20th, 2011
5:19 pm
SlimJr- I don’t think the godfather would trust LD with that task.
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
5:20 pm
previous post..
“This is why Teague must play: CREATE HAVOC FOR THE DEFENSE….PUSH THE ROCK!!!
THE HAWKS ARE 29TH IN STEALS???????????????WHAT???????????????
THE HAWKS ARE 29TH IN FOUL SHOT ATTEMPTS?????WHAT????????????
THE HAWKS ARE 29TH IN FORCED TO’S???????????WHAT???????????????
THE HAWKS ARE 28TH IN BLOCKS?????????????????WHAT??????????????
THE HAWKS ARE 29TH IN OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING????WHAT??????????????
THE HAWKS ARE 25TH IN REBOUNDING PERIOD?????????WHAT??????????
THE STATS DONT LIE.. THIS IS A SORRY FRANCHISE AND A LOTTERY TEAM IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE……THIS TEAM REALLY DOES SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NEW OWNERSHIP IS DESPERATELY NEEDED IN THIS TOWN ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
* Link
* Report this comment
ILL-Logical
April 20th, 2011
5:21 pm
” Sitting his best all-around best player for the final 21:50 of the first half in attempt to avoid foul trouble was the right move”
I’ve said once and I’m going to say it again: ASA ain’t that kind of player.
The characterization of ASA as the Hawk’s best player is at best an opinion held by some who have either 1) not been watching the team or ) 2 have some sort of a ” fascination” with the guy.At worst, it is a statement that places an unfair burden on the kid who is a GOOD player who can and will improve but lacks upper body strength, low post moves and is starting to act as if the hype is factual.
The team has enough drama ,with iso Joe reverting to playing for the name on the back of his jersey, without the media adding to it by venting their frustrations with other team members by proclaiming ASA the messiah.
Management was forced to play him at the 4 and how has that worked out/ Look at the free throw stats-no going to the hole there. What about the newly minted jump shot-the bane of this team’s success according to some- how is it working when he isn’t wide open-not 57% anymore is it?
every team has its strengths and weaknesses; the better ones learn to deal with them and win; champions work together and overcome all obstacles. Let’s not make our guava tinted Gasol an obstacle to the Hawk’s succcess. Look what’s happening in Laker land.
James on Pharr Rd
April 20th, 2011
5:27 pm
Mike,
If LD wins this series, does this hurt Woodson’s chances of getting a coaching job in either Houston or Minn? Or affect his salary potential….
Grandad
April 20th, 2011
5:27 pm
LD needs to quit trying to explain everything;
he just comes across as…..
a bad politician;
trying to spin stuff.
In his head, I think he honestly thinks it through,
after the fact, in order to justify his cause.
He lacks savvy amongst other things.
A TO when the Hawks were confused on offense,
& a chance to cut it to “2″, would have been nice.
Instead, letting the players fend for themselves &…
allowing Al to take a bad shot…..
is another example of his indecisiveness.
[saving his TO's I guess] -Kinda like ASG- (saving their money)
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
5:32 pm
“I’ve said once and I’m going to say it again: ASA ain’t that kind of player.
The characterization of ASA as the Hawk’s best player is at best an opinion held by some who have either 1) not been watching the team or ) 2 have some sort of a ” fascination” with the guy.At worst, it is a statement that places an unfair burden on the kid who is a GOOD player who can and will improve but lacks upper body strength, low post moves and is starting to act as if the hype is factual.”
@ILL-Logical , WELL PUT STATEMENT IN REGARDS TO ALLSTAR AL…..HE AINT THE ONE..
NENE WILL PROVE THAT ONCE AGAIN TONIGHT ON TNT!!!!!!!!NOW HE’S THE REAL DEAL!!!!
THIS STAT IS AMAZING COMING FROM THE #3 PICK IN THE DRAFT, CP3 IS THE ONLY MAN IN NBA HISTORY TO AVERAGE 20+ POINTS AND 10+ ASSIST PER GAME IN THE PLAYOFFS???
AND BK THE SELF PROCLAIMED CALLED “BASKETBALL EXPERT” TOOK LE BUSTOR MARVINA WILLIAMS WITH THE #2 OVERALL PICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UNBELIEVABLE……..
James on Pharr Rd
April 20th, 2011
5:33 pm
I still think AH was hurt, that is the only justification LD can come up with…. Speaking of getting hurt-isn’t the Brandon Roy story tragic? He was a much better shooter and almost on par with Rose with dribble penetration, and now he’s a thing of yesterday. At least he got paid his max contract before going down…
James on Pharr Rd
April 20th, 2011
5:36 pm
In fairness to Marvin: according to either Bradley or Shultz, he put in the best work out(s) in the history of pro sports….
JeJe
April 20th, 2011
5:36 pm
COLLINS ONLY GOT 3 FOULS LAST NIGHT. WHY DID HE NOT PLAY MORE?
IF DWIGHT IS IN, COLLINS SHOULD BE IN. THE GUY ACTUALLY DRAWS FOULS ON DWIGHT TOO
ASG IS HAPPY BECAUSE OUR GUYS ARE BANGED UP, SO THEY CAN USE THAT EXCUSE AS TO WHY WE WON’T GO DEEP IN THE PLAYOFFS AND KEEP THE CORE NEXT YEAR
LD YOU ARE A SORRY HEAD COACH
Rusty
April 20th, 2011
5:37 pm
Just watch the celts & rondo,how he gets to the hoop & creates easy baskets for his team mates,then watch the hawks stand around on the perimeter shooting jumpshots,no player movement,no ball movement. When JT plays the hawks play different,can’t that dumbass see that.
Grandad
April 20th, 2011
5:38 pm
I am not computer literate [enough] myself.
Could someone start a:
” Hire Rick Adelman ”
*[for the Hawks]* ! —-WebSite— !
Or…..@ least a campaign on this blog !
superiorblogman
April 20th, 2011
5:41 pm
So ready for this tranwreck to come to a stop.
Marvin Williams and Zaza for Gortac and Josh Childress. We save them $14 Million bucks.
Neki Ecko
April 20th, 2011
5:42 pm
Its looks like that will be the start of the end of Drew coaching career, seriously. This is the playoff, you ride the hot hand until they foul out, and dont sit them unless you really need too.
tanker
April 20th, 2011
5:54 pm
@JeJe – you are a SORRY SOB! It takes one to know one.
@ Neki Ecko – how do you know? Are you Miss Cleo? Are you looking in a crystal ball? Coach D is doing good considering the Hawks from last years playoff. So all you haters know where you can go…….
Rusty
April 20th, 2011
6:01 pm
Watch Boston & rondo get easy baskets for himself & his team mates with his penetration then watch the hawks stand around on the perimeter shooting jump shots. The crappy thing about this is that we have jt whom the idiot refuses to play that can give us that, kh & jc1 don’t give us that.
Rufus1
April 20th, 2011
6:02 pm
I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY!!!!! LORD HAVE MERCY ON THIS COACH AND DECISIONS.
steve
April 20th, 2011
6:06 pm
Why can’t he admit his mistake. If Horford picks up 2 quick fouls and goes to the bench again for the whole half I think I will break my TV
Grandad
April 20th, 2011
6:10 pm
Rufus1
Amen brother
Rusty
April 20th, 2011
6:14 pm
The coach is a simpleton.
michael m.
April 20th, 2011
6:36 pm
its a shame we cant fire drew tonight and activate adelman for the rest of the series. at least he wouldnt justify dumb decisions which just shows he will keep making the same mistakes. what a joke of a coach. hawks need mgmt / ownership/ coach like the falcons and braves. in lieu of such a dream, can drew sund and asg at least pretend they are competent. sheesh. thx mc for at least subtly calling drew out on the carpet. he needs to be forced to face the error of his ways.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 20th, 2011
6:37 pm
2011 Falcons Easy Button
Trade Matt Ryan for Michael Vick
Najeh Davenpoop
April 20th, 2011
6:39 pm
“The characterization of ASA as the Hawk’s best player is at best an opinion held by some who have either 1) not been watching the team or ) 2 have some sort of a ” fascination” with the guy.”
It’s an opinion that is strongly promoted by people who use advanced stats, which universally say Al is the Hawks’ best player. But there is more to the game than just stats, and Al’s eye-popping advanced stats don’t show his limitations in creating his own shot.
ag
April 20th, 2011
6:45 pm
GREAT UPDATE MC! You asked him some tough questions. Again, you know we want you to ask about Jeff, but I guess you are tired of him lying to you – and likewise I am to. Hilton is turrible so I don’t understand why Etan was not activated. If Woody-lite is not going to play Jeff, at least activate Etan.
ag
April 20th, 2011
6:47 pm
Vick coming to dome week II…
Rod from College Park
April 20th, 2011
6:50 pm
LD’s explanation is absurd. That’s like being on Marta, and getting jumped by 12 kids on the train, but youv’e got a gun with 12 rounds in the clip, and you only let off two rounds, and proceed to get beat down. Let loose all 12 rounds dummy.
ag
April 20th, 2011
7:02 pm
They should have fired him prior to the playoffs. Even if the Hawks win this series, it will take us being in ECF for him to keep his job
ag
April 20th, 2011
7:09 pm
Marvin averaging 5.5 ppg in playoffs..
Ra'mon
April 20th, 2011
7:10 pm
I think sitting Horford in the first half wasn’t the biggest mistake made last night. I think the mistake was waiting so long to bring Kirk back in during the 4th quarter. I truly believe the entire last 8 minutes should have seen a line up of Kirk-JC-Joe-Josh-Al. Because once Al was that late in the game with only 2 fouls, you had no reason not to play him against D12, and to open up the lanes on offense. In the clutch, having Al at center, gives you a shooter at the 5 where, Dwight can’t just bog down the lane. It also gives you the ability to have JC and Joe playing off of the ball, where they’re most effective at that time.
Another thing was, when Al called Joe off of an ISO for Joe, and ended up taking that awkward jumper, I knew then a big mistake had just been made. At that point, Joe had just started to get in a little zone, and Richardson clearly couldn’t guard him at that moment. Yet Al called Joe from the ball to open up for him to go one on one against Anderson 18 feet from the basket.
Rev in Tampa
April 20th, 2011
7:31 pm
In my mind Drew is still compounding his error of taking AL out for so long it by not recognizing that he did anything wrong. This means that he will do it again. So now SVG knows that all he has to do is run people at Al to get two fouls on him in the first quater. Also, and this will hurt us most, AL WILL KNOW THAT HE WILL GET PULLED UNTIL HALFTIME IF HE GETS TO FOULS. DO YOU THINK IT WILL CAUSE HIM TO PLAY MORE PASSIVELY?
B-Balla-Val-Halla
April 20th, 2011
7:40 pm
Do Hawks play tonite ?
KevinM
April 20th, 2011
7:40 pm
LD is starting to sound a bit stubborn and won’t easily admit the mistake he made. The only thing he can do going forward is to not let it happen again.
And Marvin’s totals should keep him under 20mpg going forward, however many games we have left this year.
ag, I totally disagree with you. LD has already secured his 2nd year.
Sund isn’t going another direction, nor is the ASG. I lost faith in them doing something right a couple of seasons ago. That’s when they did all this resigning of folks at much higher numbers than the results they produced. Like when BK came in, we are going to have to dig ourselves out of our salary misdoings.
I will be surprised if Sund isn’t retained. The ASG isn’t interested in doing better.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
7:55 pm
Movers and Shakers!
“And with Joe, it’s not just that he should pass the ball quicker but also that he should make his move quicker so that the double team doesn’t have a chance to push him out to the perimeter.”
__________________
In addition to this strategy, when Joe gives the ball up quickly, he has to also move quickly to the paint or run a “Rip/Miller/Allen – CURL” to an open spot to get the ball back and score. Don’t just let the defense totally take your game out of the offense.
Isn’t this fundamental basketball plays/sets/reactions. Instead, these players just stand still and become spectators, no different than me on my couch. They become as useful as a home-bound fan!
rms
April 20th, 2011
8:01 pm
and I thought his name was Twin because it was short for Twinkie!!! Never knew he had an actual twin brother. My bad!!!
ag
April 20th, 2011
8:10 pm
Ra’mon
April 20th, 2011
7:10 pm
Ditto.. Playing AH at center makes Dwight come out of the lane. Dwight really never played defense and when the offense went through another center at the top of the key, he always passed to another Hawk.
Buddy Grizzard
April 20th, 2011
8:13 pm
LD’s explanation is absurd. – Rod
Exactly! LD doesn’t make bad coaching decisions, he makes absurd coaching decisions. I said before the series started that the Hawks would win in7 games DESPITE Las Vegas Larry’s coaching, not because of. I said the Hawks would win based on superior talent to the Orlando Magic.
Well, Las Vegas Larry figured out how to lie to me. Just sit that talent on the bench! Top 5 most efficient offensive player in the NBA? Bench!
GOOD GAME LAS VEGAS LARRY!
ag
April 20th, 2011
8:14 pm
I can halfway agree to Woody-Lite logic for not putting Al in the last 3 minutes to pick up another foul, but this guy has only fouled out 4 times in his career? If I had been an assistant for six seasons, and all during Al’s career, I would have known this and the 2 foul rule would not apply to Al. Also, considering he was checking jump-shot Anderson and spot up shot Bass, I think I would have risked it. If he had to go in and check Howard, then I would have sat him.
Spam & Onions
April 20th, 2011
8:20 pm
Hawks need a big man that can do more than just foul Howard. How about one that can rebound and score ? Howard gets 35 & 12 and we get 0 & 4 from our center. Just MFUGing awful !
ag
April 20th, 2011
8:21 pm
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
7:55 pm
NAIL ON HEAD…I think I move more getting off the sofa during timeouts grabbing my beer than these guys moving without the basketball. It is really very simple, but they just stand on the outside waiting for a pass to shoot a trey. Since Bibby left, no more alley’s to Josh.
ag
April 20th, 2011
8:22 pm
We have a center. He just likes to play PF. Outside of Orlando, Al matches extremely well against all centers in the East.
O'Brien
April 20th, 2011
8:26 pm
Najeh, Wabe,
The Hawks built a lead with Al on the bench. But late in the second quarter when the Magic were on their run (I think there was 3 minutes left in the half), LD brought JJ back in. He should have brought Al back in at that moment.
Shaq's Two Big Feets
April 20th, 2011
8:27 pm
Hawks wishlist for last 4 years : 1) A true center that can score & rebound 2) A true point guard that can score and dish assists. Hawks management delivers neither one in 4 YEARS !
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
8:31 pm
Phantom Work Out!
“In fairness to Marvin: according to either Bradley or Shultz, he put in the best work out(s) in the history of pro sports….”
_____________________
Like a Janet Jackson video with Choreographer Paula Abdul:
That video featured a CHAIR – for crying out loud. Marvin’s work out was against no one! Translation: there was NO live body/movable object underneath the basket!
How challenging was that? They may as well have borrowed Janet’s Video Chair and see if the LEAD azz could scoot around that.
Give me a break, that was no work out!
O'Brien
April 20th, 2011
8:31 pm
According to hoopshype, The Rockets have contacted Mike Woodson for an interview about their vacant coaching position. If he learns from his mistakes, Woody should be better the second time around.
Drmaryb,
Technically, the ASG do not operate on the cheap. They are 7th in payroll. Their problem is they don’t spend their money wisely.
i_am_soulstar
April 20th, 2011
8:41 pm
Come on LD, don’t pull a Woody and let being stubborn cost you your job. If you look in the mirror and see a prince, but the entire town is calling you an ass, it’s time to start checking for a tail.
Tom
April 20th, 2011
8:55 pm
If “Twin” is Collins, then you drastically miss the point of +/-. His PRODUCTION difference against his opponent center is that. His team’s actual point difference per 48 minutes is the highest on the team and the single highest in the league when pushed to a 48-minute average.
Buddy Grizzard
April 20th, 2011
8:55 pm
“Because once Al was that late in the game with only 2 fouls, you had no reason not to play him against D12, and to open up the lanes on offense.” – Ramon
Ramon, I think you should be the next coach of the Hawks. AH did not embarrass himself in the playoffs last year defending Dwight. On the offensive end, AH forces Dwight away from the basket with his range. Back door oop to Smoove?
Buddy Grizzard
April 20th, 2011
8:57 pm
“AL WILL KNOW THAT HE WILL GET PULLED UNTIL HALFTIME IF HE GETS TO FOULS. DO YOU THINK IT WILL CAUSE HIM TO PLAY MORE PASSIVELY?” – Rev
Rev, did you read MC’s blog post? Al Horford has the fewest fouls per 36 minutes of any center with at least 1000 minutes this season. Do you think that has caused him to play more passive defense THIS ENTIRE SEASON????
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
9:00 pm
“Hey, Slimjr what game were you watching? I thought that the officiating stunk as usual, but for both teams. There is no advantage in the foul calling for the Magic, because Atlanta fouled Dwight every chance they had, because THEY CAN’T GUARD HIM WITHOUT FOULING!! The Hawks are a jump shooting team, you donot go to the foul line when you shoot jump shots. Get over it, we beat you fair and square, and now we are going to beat you again and again in Atlanta. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Go Magic.”
Reply Posted by: DiehardfromDeltona |
Astro Joe
April 20th, 2011
9:01 pm
I missed it, what happened to Etan last night?
And what’s up witht he AJC waiting until the playoffs to run that Jamal story? That came out about 3 weeks ago. Are they just waiting until the national media is around to ask him questions about his lawsuit? Is the AJC trying to distract Jamal? Who is the editor, Otis Smith?
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
9:04 pm
Futility!
“Hawks management delivers neither one in 4 YEARS !”
________________
Actually it’s been 17 YEARS since Mookie & Mutombo!
(check my math, but I believe I’m right)
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
9:04 pm
Hey Rev, we got em upset down there in Daytona???^^^^^^^^
Rev in Tampa
April 20th, 2011
9:51 pm
Slimjr,
There are rumors floating around on the Magic blog that Dwight sold his house this week. I did not start these rumors but I threw some fuel on the fire. Check out my post. Its so bad that I feel guilty, sort of.
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_magic/2011/04/player-questions-whether-dwight-howard-deserves-award.html#comments
Rev in Tampa
April 20th, 2011
9:53 pm
oops. The link above is where I found the rumors about dwight selling his house.
Here is the link I intended to post:
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_magic/2011/04/jason-richardson-looking-for-offense-leaning-on-defense-video.html/comment-page-1#comment-49303
Atheist In Athens
April 20th, 2011
9:57 pm
Horford IS a PF not a center. Dwight Howard cannot be stopped period by the Hawks !
Go Dawgs !
FatJr.
April 20th, 2011
10:00 pm
I’m pulling for JJ to pull a hammy !
Drmaryb
April 20th, 2011
10:01 pm
Hawks blew the game last night.
i_aints_soulstar
April 20th, 2011
10:03 pm
Just let the Heat & Lakers play right now !
Rev in Tampa
April 20th, 2011
10:04 pm
Buzzy Grizzard,
I think you misunderstand my post. My point is that LD has effectively told Horford he has a 1 foul limit for half the game since he gets pulled for the rest of the 1st half. That has to affect Al’s mindset after he gets one foul in the first half. Who wants to be pulled out of the game because you have a stubborn, knuckle-headed coach.
Bring Back Spud & Cak'
April 20th, 2011
10:18 pm
Larry Drew wouldn’t know a ‘good move,’ if it came up & sat on him. Thanks Josh, Jamaal, Al & Kirk for maintaining some form of dignity & giving a quality effort for this team. As for Mr. Overpriced Quit on Your Team, No-D Joe Johnson; well we’re stuck w/ u. U won. But we as fans need to figure out how to run incompetent owners, managers & coaches out of this town.
Josh, Al, Jamaal & Kirk r quality pieces to build around. Joe Johnson ruins this teams chances of being competitive for the next 5 years – does everyone realize that?! No way we’re touching Orlando, neither this year nor next. Joe Johnson SUCKS & TOTALLY QUIT on this team last year IN THE FREAKIN’ PLAYOFFS no less. JOE JOHNSON u have no spine & we r calling u out.
& I really hope the owners of our team go BANKRUPT, honestly – so that anyone w/ even just a hint of competence can help right the ship before our young players get tired of mediocrity & start to follow Joe’s example.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
10:25 pm
Grizzly Bears!
Them Grizzlies is balling! Why can’t our Hawks play like that?
Pants on Fire! Defense, then Offense. Tony Parker’s eyes is wide open on that sideline.
The Spurs – Fear the Bear!
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
10:30 pm
CoasttoCoast am with George Noorey
10pm – 2am PT
Ancient Giants (Wed 04-20)
Renowned researcher with a PhD from Oxford University, Joseph P. Farrell will discuss how the fossil record supports the biblical tales of tyrannical giants and an elite race bent on genetic mutation, which have been ignored by the scientific and academic communities.
Grandad/Rev this “Giant” Researcher may interest you gents…Genesis 6:4, They were GIANTS in the Earth in those days……….Life is truly stranger than fiction!!!!!! These dudes that lived pre flood made Goliath who stood 10′ tall look like a pip squeak and dead lift tonnage in one hand……..Fascinating stuff…….
honest_abe
April 20th, 2011
10:31 pm
quite the disturbing analogy, rod.
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
10:39 pm
drmaryb, Sir Charles has picked Memphis to win that series…..
Buddy Grizzard
April 20th, 2011
11:11 pm
Rev I was just agreeing with you… just using the caps to bite your style.
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
11:18 pm
ORLEANS TIED WITH LA GOING INTO THE 2ND QUARTER…
Slimjr
April 20th, 2011
11:22 pm
ORLEANS IS BALLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
11:31 pm
Drmaryb
Hawks blew the game last night.
April 20th, 2011
10:01 pm
____________________
Troll, jacking the good ID’s again. He just wants to be me.
Good try – JeJe or TS?
aytunstopable
April 20th, 2011
11:32 pm
Bring Back have you watched any Hawks basketball at all dumb ass?
The Truth
April 20th, 2011
11:39 pm
I know LD doesn’t have the wherewithal to think this way, but the next game would be an excellent time to deploy Jeff Teague. The one thing that could be kryptonite to SVG offense of “hard-double–treble-downing JJ; is a slasher who loves to attack the rim. Teague could exploit Orlando’s offense with reckless abandonment when Dwight leaves Twin to trap JJ. With his speed, Orlando defense couldn’t recover fast enough to adjust. Even if they did, Teague passes out; JJ now has space to operate. As LD offense is currently constructed, if the shots are not falling from the perimeter, the Hawks are exposed with a one dimensional offense. With both Josh and Teague aggressive rim play, this could counter their cheating defense. It could also increase Dwight’s chances of drawing fouls. Hinrich occasionally attacks the rim, but not nearly enough. He like JJ, Jamal and enough Al, are all jump shoot lovers (though Al shoots a higher %). The Hawks will not win this series with a one dimensional offense.
The Truth
April 20th, 2011
11:40 pm
*kryptonite to SVG defense
The Truth
April 20th, 2011
11:42 pm
*Teague could exploit Orlando’s defense
Najeh Davenpoop
April 20th, 2011
11:44 pm
“The Rockets have contacted Mike Woodson for an interview about their vacant coaching position. If he learns from his mistakes, Woody should be better the second time around. ”
That is a HUGE “if”.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
11:51 pm
Ankle Monitor!
There needs to be a Federal Investigation. This whole team should be fitted with Lindsay Lohan “homing – devices” to find out what they do and where they do it at, on these days and nights leading up to these games where they come out uninspired and lethargic.
I believe these devices can also detect alcohol usage and levels.
As far as Marvin is concerned, I would strap a second and separate monitor onto his azz, since that thing covers so much ground, (the ground hog can’t see his shadow, nor tell if it’s the first day of Summer).
Heck, I believe that azz has it’s very own blood supply and brain.
This may explain why Marvin falls down so much. The fore-brain wants to go to the basket and the hind-brain, like hydraulics, wants to:
“Drop it – Like it’s Hot!”
The hind-brain wins every time, it extends 30 feet and weighs about 50 lbs more. Between Marvin’s two brains? I can’t tell if he is coming or going or if he’s a Romulin from Star Trek. I’m so confused.
SteveW
April 21st, 2011
12:01 am
Well, the Hawks are on the front page of ESPN.com. Rusillo and Hollinger say that LD’s decision to not play Horford for 21 minutes so he doesn’t foul out with only 2 fouls, was the single worst coaching decision in the NBA playoffs of the past 10 years.
He also said (Hollinger) he likes ATL’s chances if the Coaches don’t sabotage the players for ATL.
Spot on.
These national experts sound like the bloggers on this sight.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 21st, 2011
12:18 am
Thrifty – Nickel!
O’Brien
Then you are right. The ASKG does not spend wisely. Najeh has trumpeted this same sentiment, through out the Summer of FA.
________________
MC
Will you please share the post that SteveW just levied @ 12:01 AM?
Please inform Mr. Drew what the experts think of his stubborn stance on not playing ASA for the entire 21 minutes and how ASA ended the game with those same 2 damned fouls?
This is the NBA Play Offs – Maane! Borrow one of Marvins spare brains!
For The Love of Basketball …. Get out of your own Fkn way!
Geez-Us!
The Truth
April 21st, 2011
12:20 am
IDK who has the advantage with the long gap in the schedule between game 3 (4/24) and game 4 (4/30); It seems like Orlando. If the Hawks win game 3, Orlando has a longer time to reset and make adjustments. The Hawks has already spoiled Stern’s master plan to keep the Hawks from advancing by stealing game one. The schedule for games 1 and 2 was written to steam roll us quickly (3 days gap) with a shorter adjust period in Orlando compared to a 4 day gap in Atlanta. When you add this with the unbalance foul distribution, the NBA promoting Orlando over the Hawks is not a coincidence but closer to a conspiracy.
Grandad
April 21st, 2011
12:35 am
Mary Ellen:
“Marv’s got an ass brain”
Now that’s funny !
Grandad
April 21st, 2011
12:41 am
From the 1st page:
Najeh, were you implying;
that to be the best player on a team,
one has to be able to get his own shot,
or score off the dribble.
[I can't remember the phrasing]
*(as it pertains to Al)
Grandad
April 21st, 2011
12:50 am
One stategy that no one has thought of:
[requires thinking outside the box]
start or just play Marv with Josh & Al.
Allowing Al to pull Dwight outside,
but, defensively, have Marv guard dwight.
Marv:
*Long wing-span
*low base of support (butt)
*good position defender / fundamental
*expendable
*6 fouls
* and hey…he may throw a haymaker at Dwight.
Ra'mon
April 21st, 2011
12:59 am
Grandad, I think Don Nelson is the only NBA coach who would try that one. And because its crazy, it may would work lol.
Buddy Grizzard
April 21st, 2011
1:11 am
SteveW could you paste some of Hollinger’s quotes about Las Vegas Larry?
Grandad
April 21st, 2011
1:13 am
Ra’mon
One time coming out of a timeout,
two of my players were in a zone while
two other players of mine were in man,
the other young fella was so confused
he decided to play neither one.
The moral of this story.
The opponent was even more confused tan we were
and by the time we (coaches) figured out what was goin’ on,
we had shut out the other team for half a quarter.
We let it play out ’til a break in the action.
It was some of the best defense we played all season.
My staff and I tried to figure out how to design that defense
and put it in…to no avail. We couldn’t figure it out either.
So, sometimes, confusing the other team,
(as long as you get in their way)
is the best method.
Jae Evolution
April 21st, 2011
1:23 am
Wow did anyone see Jarrett Jack literally call out Emeka Okafor and Carl Landry in the middle of the floor for not running back on defense to crash the boards?
drmaryb (*_-)
April 21st, 2011
1:23 am
Nephilims!
Slimjr
Those Giants which you so eloquently speak of in Genesis 6:4 are actually Lucifer/Satan’s army of angels/demons who were hurled from the heavens as described in Revelations 12:9 They are wrathful and powerful.
Lucifer, the original fallen angel challenged God’s – Universal Sovereignty, (the right to rule over human kind and proclaimed that man could live without God’s judgment). This epic battle has been coined:
The Battle of Armagedon. The Battle of Good -vs- Evil. The Battle of Gog and Magog. The Holy War aka: Jihad.
Once Lucifer was hurled from the heavenly realm and into the vicinity of the earth, his myriad of followers, demons/fallen angels were sent with him. Revelations says, “Woe to the earth and to the seas, for the devil has come down having great wrath and anger, seeking to devour any and all who will go down with him.”
Prior to being evicted, the fallen angels admired earthly man and desired the flesh of women. They came down and had sex with harlots, fornicators and prostitutes and fathered children. That were gigantic and evil – Goliath in stature.
Yes, they chose earth over heaven. All these wicked people, Nephilims, people of Sodom and Gomarrah, etc. Were destroyed in The Flood of Noah’s Day. Yes, they no longer exist in human form.
The occasional Minute Bol, Yao Ming and George Murushan’s of the world are simply “freaks of nature”. Just normal people with not so normal DNA. Notice how they lumber up and down the court, have sensory defects, speak and talk sloow, and suffer more than usual health problems.
They are gigantic, but are not Nephilims. The Devil and his Demons are limited to spiritual bodies now. They have super natural influence and power over humans, that choose evil -vs- good. For now … The End is Near! We are living in the last days of Satanic Rule! See the world events as evidence.
_____________________
Oh Yes! I have a strong spiritual education in my background, from infancy, thanks to my Mother (RIP). I had drifted away for 25 years and am now getting back on track spiritually these past 2 years. It is a work in progress, I’m grateful that God is patient with all of us.
_____________________
Let’s Go Hawks! I’m praying for a win in Game 3!
Najeh Davenpoop
April 21st, 2011
1:37 am
SteveW, you can read the full Hollinger article here.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 21st, 2011
1:51 am
“Najeh, were you implying;
that to be the best player on a team,
one has to be able to get his own shot,
or score off the dribble.”
No. I made that statement to indicate the limitations of stats and what can be inferred from them. Stats say Al is the Hawks’ best player, by a considerable margin at that. A big reason for this is because he is one of the league’s most efficient offensive players and one of the few big men in the league who shoots a high percentage from the field as well as the free throw line. The advanced stat-heads see this and wonder why the Hawks don’t run their offense through him. My point is that just because Al, by the stats, is the Hawks’ best player doesn’t necessarily mean that a) he will maintain his efficiency and effectiveness given a more prominent role, or b) the team as a whole would be better off making him the offensive centerpiece.
And really, there is the bigger question of what exactly constitutes “best”. I think depending on who you ask, you’d get different answers on whether a team’s best player necessarily has to be an offensive focal point or simply the guy who makes the greatest positive impact, regardless of whether that impact comes via scoring, defense, rebounding, or something else.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 21st, 2011
1:52 am
That 1:37 post was supposed to be addressed to Buddy Grizzard, not SteveW.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 21st, 2011
1:54 am
Also, might I suggest “Leisure Suit Larry” as a more suitable nickname for LD?
vava74
April 21st, 2011
2:38 am
So much for Shaq would have helped us.
The guy couldn’t even motivate himself into getting into game shape with the Celts, just imagine how he would be if had come to Atlanta:
http://sports.mobile.msn.com/en-us/nba/article.aspx?aid=742394&acid=2&afid=73
vava74
April 21st, 2011
2:51 am
LD is an idiot and it’s painful to read all the nonsense he says.
I would prefer that MC refrain from doing such a good job at exposing this unbelievably sorry excuse for an head-coach. it’s really too damn painful.
The Magic are a crappy team right now, a far cry from their 09/10 set up but even so they will probably win game 3 and the series thanks to this fool.
Why the hell isn’t Twin playing more minutes on Howard? Wouldn’t it be better if he used Twin as much as possible to build a lead and frustrate Howard in the first half rather than also taking him out “to protect him from fouling out” to then not use him for more than a few minutes in the second?
Grandad
April 21st, 2011
2:54 am
Najeh
Thanks for clearing that up.
*[stat-heads] – I am most assuredly not a S.H.
well I’ve been called one kind of s-head…..
but it had nothing to do with statistics.
” And really, there is the bigger question of what exactly constitutes “best”.
I think depending on who you ask,
you’d get different answers on whether a team’s best player
necessarily has to be an offensive focal point
or simply the guy who makes the greatest positive impact ”
Well said:
As the age old argument about the MVP:
Is the MVP ?
The best player, the most important player,
the player you can least afford to be without,
a player who is untouchable [as far as trades] ?
I prefer the eye test.
I believe what I see.
As a coach, statistics are grand.
But I was always looking at them in context,
as to how they affected and or fit into the teams formula.
Grandad
April 21st, 2011
3:04 am
vava
You are right on.
Use up all your fouls with Twin & Zaza [+ +]
then play your skilled athletes during nut-cuttin’ time.
! * Not sayin’ don’t play Al sooner & more though * !
Andrew
April 21st, 2011
3:43 am
I definitely believe that the Hawks have the personnel (players) to win this series, but the problem is that they do not have the coach to do so. If the Hawks win, it will be in spite of Coach Disgrace. Even though our execution was flawed and we failed to execute at the end of a tight game 2, I can’t really fault the players all that much. They were playing with a lot of intensity. They didn’t’ lose that game, Drew lost the game with his idiotic coaching. This is something he has done before. His biggest mistakes were how he managed the frontcourt rotation. He didn’t play Collins enough, and most importantly, he essentially fouled Horford out the game with his completely moronic decision to bench him for what was the vast majority of the first half. I still can’t get over how bad of a decision that was. I love this quote by John Hollinger on Drew’s decision to sit Horford for the remainder of the first half after picking up 2 early fouls.
“There is no way to sugarcoat it: This is the most indefensible
coaching decision I’ve seen this season. Horford played the entire
second half and finished the game with — you guessed it — two fouls.
This didn’t come as a surprise to anyone who watched the Hawks this
season. Horford has one of the lowest foul rates in the league at his
position — just 2.85 fouls per 40 minutes — so even if he had stayed
in the game with the two fouls he was at virtually no risk of fouling
out. ”
He’s right, and he’s not the only one who has stated this in some fashion. I’m fed up with putting up with Drew. To make things worse, he was also too much of a pompous coward to admit his mistakes. Drew is just a disgrace to this organization. He’s an absolute joke as a head coach. For one who preaches about effort and “sense of urgency”, he fails to display either of those characteristics in his coaching. The man cannot even do a mediocre coaching job. I don’t think there’s one head coach in the NBA today that couldn’t do a better job with this team than Drew does.
Under absolutely no circumstances should a coach put his team in a position to lose in the post-season. If the team loses, it should be due to the inability of the players to execute, or due to lack of heart/effort by the players, or simply due to the fact that the team loses to a better team which their greatest effort and flawless execution simply cannot beat. I’ve followed this team very closely for many years, and I’ve never been more disappointed in the man on the sidelines than I am now. Woodson was infuriating at times and was very poor at making adjustments, but even his coaching prowess was far better than Drew’s, and that is saying something.
For this team to succeed, they need a real head coach, not some arrogant fraud who refuses to own up to his own mistakes. The Hawks have a chance at winning this series and may accomplish it, but if they do, they’ll have to counteract the poor decisions by their head coach. One can only hope that stupidity by Drew doesn’t ultimately decide this series for the Hawks. The fans have suffered enough through the terrible, yet brief, Larry Drew era.
At least we can all rejoice when this incompetent man is replaced by a true head coach, or at least when he is just replaced. At this point, almost anyone would be an improvement.
Worldwide Clyde
April 21st, 2011
3:46 am
Praise The Lord drmaryb.
FIRE LD
Worldwide Clyde
April 21st, 2011
3:56 am
Pape Sy > Marvin
Worldwide Clyde
April 21st, 2011
3:58 am
Why does Drew keep puttin Powell out there against Howard? Where is Sean Williams when you need him. SMH
Ole Hawks Fan
April 21st, 2011
4:10 am
For the hawks to win this series…………………Teague needs to start a PG friday where he can use his speed to attack the basketball and get Dwight in foul trouble trying to defend the basket. Play Jeff Teague……………..his speed alone would make SVG pull his hair out. Teague is the missing piece to the hawks winning this round and moving on. Use JC1 like the Paces used Reggie Miller moving without the ball around screens so he can get an open look. As I’ve been saying on here since Jeff Teague was drafted………………these coaches(Woody & Woody Lite) would not play Rondo if he had been drafted by this TEAM. He would be DNP-CD as he waste away on the bench. Thankful for Rondo, he had a Former NBA Point Guard(Doc Rivers) as his coach. Too bad teague didn’t have Doc as his coach when he got here. If he is not going to be used here, I hope ASG would trade him to The Lakers so he can be Derrick Fisher replacement when he retires. GIVE TEAGUE A CHANCE AND LET HIM PLAY(Major Minutes Friday).
Buddy Grizzard
April 21st, 2011
4:54 am
Thanks Najeh. Favorite Hollinger quote:
“The cost of having a player foul out is that he’s taken off the court.
So sitting him for 22 minutes to eliminate the “penalty” of a third
foul out is inherently counterintuitive — the Hawks basically chose a
cure that was dramatically worse than the disease.”
LOL… to save Horford, who fouls out less than any rotation center in the league, from sitting with six fouls, LD sat him for 22 minutes with 2 fouls.
Buddy Grizzard
April 21st, 2011
5:21 am
More Hollinger… just brutal:
Yes, the Hawks did the same thing with
Collins, too — their most valuable player this series because of his
defense on Dwight Howard. Wanting to preserve Collins for the fourth
quarter — one he ended up not playing a minute in, because the Hawks
were behind and Collins can’t score — Drew also sat Collins for the
final 8:44 of the half with two fouls.
Buddy Grizzard
April 21st, 2011
5:22 am
(True story: I was talking to two NBA
front-office types before a game this month and we were trying to come
up with the worst player in the league. Without any prodding from me,
both of them nominated Powell.) – Hollinger
Buddy Grizzard
April 21st, 2011
5:28 am
“There is no way to SUGARCOAT it: This is the most INDEFENSIBLE coaching decision I’ve seen this season. Horford has one of the lowest foul rates in the league at his position — just 2.85 fouls per 40 minutes — so even if he had stayed in the game with the two fouls he was at virtually NO RISK of fouling out.
Overall, when a real center was on the court the Hawks won Game 2 by 10 points. Unfortunately, Drew’s personnel choices SABOTAGED them so badly in the second quarter that they missed a golden opportunity to grab this series by the throat.” – Hollinger
Let me just say that I really appreciate Michael Cunningham’s excellent reporting in this blog entry. He really lays out exactly what Hollinger is saying while maintaining the professional distance from these facts that’s required for a reporter in his position who still has to talk to Las Vegas Larry every day.
SABOTAGED BY LAS VEGAS LARRY!!
drmaryb (*_-)
April 21st, 2011
5:47 am
Tee’d UP!
Worldwide Clyde! You Got Jokes? PTL. LOL! Too bad you don’t really mean that?
Also, Too Bad no one over at The ASKG executive offices
listens to your chants and rants, especially when it comes to:
FIRE DREW! That is one rant, chant I could definitely get behind.
I am so sick of this fool, I can’t even express it in words.
He will go down as the dumbest coach with the most talent the Hawks have ever had.
Worse than Mr. Woodson, too bad this team quit on him, he was really pushing most of the right buttons. IDK what to say really, it’s getting really hard to stay on topic here, these days!
Buddy Grizzard
April 21st, 2011
5:49 am
Sorry… got carried away… Andrew had already posted the key quote.
Buddy Grizzard
April 21st, 2011
5:57 am
“Also, might I suggest “Leisure Suit Larry” as a more suitable nickname for LD?” – Najeh
Najeh, the image of LVL in his rumpled suits fit, but he’s not a bachelor about town looking for action like the original Leisure Suit Larry. Our own Las Vegas Larry is a committed family man who is trying to steer his son to the NBA while occasionally hopping on a private jet with the wife to the town that loves them more than Atlanta ever will: Sin City. He sits down at the blackjack table and they’re like, here you go Mr. Drew, and lay down a couple hundred g’s in free chips for him. Las Vegas can’t get enough of Las Vegas Larry.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 21st, 2011
6:09 am
My Buddy!
Buddy, and to add to your fine points, didn’t Josh yell at Drew on the sidelines, in the 4th Qrtr of the last Hawks – Magic game at Phillips,
“PUT COLLINS in! He’s too BIG!” When, Al was getting tossed around the paint by Dwight. We went on to win that game, thanks to Josh.
I believe Najeh was at that game and reported this nugget, even before MC did. Hopefully, Josh will be the TOP Assistant at home Friday night.
Drew is more horrible than Marvin, they should both get shipped!
Worldwide! Fire up the presses! Get those screen prints ready!
I got five on it, we should be able to pool about $10K between now and Friday!
I’m serious!
Buddy Grizzard
April 21st, 2011
6:30 am
drmaryb – Let’s look at this from another angle. Maybe Smoove’s actions in that game tell us something. When the coach isn’t doing the right thing, and it’s up to the players to win in spite of, maybe Smoove was showing us all the way. While Al Horford was spectating for 22 minutes in the first half, maybe when he saw the momentum shift the other way, he should have pulled a J. Smoove. Maybe he should have got up in Las Vegas Larry’s grill and shouted:
“WE’RE GETTING KILLED OUT THERE VEGAS! HE’S TOO BIG!!”
And got himself subbed back in. AH is considered one of the only leaders on the Hawks roster. He should have said something.
Buddy Grizzard
April 21st, 2011
7:09 am
Total change of subject:
Najeh it looks like that Perk trade is going down how you called it. This whole thing is super weird to me because, didn’t the Celtics players all act horrified when the trade went down? And then Doc called them all out on a radio program, saying they were all told about it before it happened and “everybody was on board.”
Asked specifically if Rondo, supposedly Perk’s best friend on the team, was on board with the trade, Doc said “he didn’t say no.” That’s gotta be awkward… whole team outed by Doc for turning its back on Perk.
But let’s dig a little deeper. When I heard the trade announced, I couldn’t make any sense out of letting a defensive pretense like Perkins go. All I could think was maybe he’s got chronic knees and they’re trying to dump him and grab Jeff Greene.
But Perk’s knees look fine. And it’s kinda funny to me that Nenad Krisic ends up on the Celtics playing alongside KG. Garnett, of course, is a player who is known for bullying guys he knows won’t fight back, but wanting no part of anybody who will stand toe to toe with him
Kristic, of course, is the guy who choked and punched Sofoklis Schortsanitis from behind during the brawl at the World Championships tune up in Greece. When Schortsanitis, who is one big dude, turned around and went after Kristic, you see on the video that he backpedals the entire length of the court trying to get away from Schortsanitis. Then he throws a chair like a little b1tch. Sounds like KG’s kinda guy.
O'Brien
April 21st, 2011
7:21 am
Thanks to Najeh for posting the entire article. Its amazing how coaches can over think (or under think). because most of us casual fans and media types can see that taking Al, Twin, and ZaZa off the court in the first half was the wrong decision. But yet, even after the fact…LD still thinks it was the right move.
For those who didn’t click on the link, it is a good read. From Hollinger;
For those who didn’t see, Horford — Atlanta’s best player — picked
up two fouls in the first 2:11 of the game, and Drew’s response was to sit him out for the ENTIRE FIRST HALF. This is straight out of the Larry Brown-Mike Woodson playbook, and Drew comes from that coaching tree, but I can’t emphasize enough what an irrational and
counterproductive strategy this is.
The cost of having a player foul out is that he’s taken off the court. So sitting him for 22 minutes to eliminate the “penalty” of a third foul out is inherently counterintuitive — the Hawks basically chose a cure that was dramatically worse than the disease.
Yes, studies have shown there may be some benefit to sitting a player in more dire foul trouble — with more fouls than the quarter of the game, basically (i.e., two fouls in the first quarter, three in the second, four in the third) — because such players will slack off on
defense if they stay on the court.
Even by this logic, however, Horford should have been back on the court to begin the second quarter. Or, at worst, come back in with 8:44 left in the quarter after Jason Collins picked up his second foul.
Oh, did I leave that part out? Yes, the Hawks did the same thing withCollins, too — their most valuable player this series because of his defense on Dwight Howard. Wanting to preserve Collins for the fourth quarter — one he ended up not playing a minute in, because the Hawks were behind and Collins can’t score — Drew also sat Collins for the final 8:44 of the half with two fouls.
And Zaza Pachulia, the backup to those two players? Yes, really. Him too. He picked up his second foul with 11:22 left in the half and immediately hit the pine for the rest of the period. Can’t be having players getting a third foul in the second quarter, after all, because
if they get three more, they’ll be forced to sit out. And there’s nothing worse than having a player forced to sit out. Which is why Drew sat them out. My brain hurts.
Unfortunately, Drew’s personnel choices sabotaged them so badly in the second quarter that they missed a golden opportunity to grab this series by the throat..
I don’t always agree with Holinger. But in this case…a big co-sign.
Nate ArchiBALL
April 21st, 2011
7:27 am
The real question: What is ASA;s foul rate in games against Dwight Howard and the Magic. Why would I care about his foul rate against the rest of the league.
Double Zero Eight
April 21st, 2011
7:28 am
Drew = Mora
Clueless as to when and how to make adjustments!
Double Zero Eight
April 21st, 2011
7:34 am
LD, we get the message. You are the boss!!!
You will be “doggone” if you allow bloggers and
the media to influence your decisions. You will
play Teague when you are good and ready!
If Al gets two quick fouls again, he will be yanked
immediately.
ILL-Logical
April 21st, 2011
7:47 am
Not defending LD’s move but why should I be concerned about how many fouls ASA averages against the league? The real question is how many does he average against Dwight Howard and the Magic?
padre
April 21st, 2011
7:52 am
the game was lost because jj had to force shot that were not there
btwarren
April 21st, 2011
9:12 am
This is the playoffs. If you have a chance to maybe put them away early or at last get a big lead, then do it. Especially if you have a chance to go 2 up on them in their building. The hawks had already accomplished more than what they needed in Orlando, they won game one.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 21st, 2011
9:38 am
If, as Hollinger says, LD’s reason for not playing Collins in the 4th was because he can’t score, that is arguably dumber than sitting Al the entire first half. What, like Zaza was going to score on Dwight? Give me a break.
In order to slice into a lead and get back into a game, you need stops. The numbers and all our collective observation says that the Hawks get stops against the Magic much more effectively when Collins is on the floor, and in fact, Collins’ presence has also (by my observation) allowed the Hawks to force Dwight into more turnovers, which in turn create transition opportunities.
Sitting Al was by no means the only dumb coaching move LD made in Game 2.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 21st, 2011
9:44 am
“But let’s dig a little deeper. When I heard the trade announced, I couldn’t make any sense out of letting a defensive pretense like Perkins go. All I could think was maybe he’s got chronic knees and they’re trying to dump him and grab Jeff Greene.”
The only explanation I could think of at the time was that they thought Shaq and JO could hold down Perkins’ defensive responsibilities in the playoffs this year — ensuring that the trade wouldn’t cost them a shot at a title — and at the same time they could get a young player in Green who could provide scoring depth off the bench now while possibly being groomed to be a long term replacement for Paul Pierce. It’s beyond stupid to trade your present for your future when you are a favorite to win your conference, which is why I gotta think the C’s thought they could still contend for a title with Shaq around. Needless to say that has backfired big time for them.
As someone who wants to see the Thunder come out of the West though, I am thrilled with how that trade has turned out.
Astro Joe
April 21st, 2011
9:47 am
I recall last season when Jennings torched the Hawks while we were switching on virtually every play, that Woody said that he would not change his defensive schemes going back to Milwaukee for Game 6. And guess what he did, he changed his scheme in Game 6 (and the Hawks won easily). I said it back then (before the game) and I’ll say it again, it would be nothing short of idiotic for a head coach to tell the media his strategy for a future game. So while LD is saying that he won’t budge from his 2-foul rule, I think we have to wait and see. Those of us who pay attention know that he loosened up toward the latter half of the season and would play Al or Josh later in the 2nd quarter with 2 fouls. Again, the biggest crime (IMO) would be flapping his gums and telling the media what he will do… that is a far greater mistake than suggesting that he is inflexible. (Now if he actually proves to be inflexible, feel free to storm the arena).
Lastly, anyone who still takes LD at his word clearly doesn’t have the capacity to learn.
O'Brien
April 21st, 2011
9:58 am
Najeh,
ZaZa is more likely to get a rebound and put back, or maybe go to the FT line. And LD’s ammo this season has been to go offense instead of defense when the team is behind, even if his offensive players are struggling.
O'Brien
April 21st, 2011
9:59 am
ILL-Logical;
The real question is how many does he average against Dwight Howard and the Magic?.
Good question. Against Orlando this season, Horford had;
Gmae 1: 4 fouls in 28 mins (his stats: 16 pts, 5 rebs and 5 assists)
Game 2: 2 fouls in 42 minutes (16 pts, 10 rebs)
Game 3: 1 foul in 38 minutes (and put up 24, 11 and 4)
Game 4: 1 foul in 45 minutes (11, 9 and 5)
So in 153 minutes against Orlando in the regular season, Al committed a whopping total of 8 fouls..
So what if Al got his third foul in the first half? He still had 2 more fouls to play with in the second, and Al is not a threat to foul out.
tru atl fan
April 21st, 2011
10:03 am
its the refs. yeah they let it b a physical game but orlando 37 ft atlanta 17 and for once we tried to attack the basket. I guess we have to go get a big time player just to get some calls. and watch when we get home we still want get any calls
kevkat
April 21st, 2011
10:11 am
Hollinger’s assessment was right on.
O'Brien
April 21st, 2011
10:18 am
AJ,
Even if LD adjusts his 2-foul rule this series (and I think he will), the point is he missed a great opportunity to slow down the Magic’s momentum in the second quarter of game 2.
And its one thing to use the 2-foul rule on a player, but he used the 2-foul rule on all 3 guys (Al, Collins and ZaZa). I know Hawks were leading for a while, but once Orlando started to make a run, he should have brought Al back in.
With Horford, Collins and ZaZa out of the game for much of the second quarter, the Magic close the half on a big run…and go up by 6 at halftime with all the momentum. And the Hawks sucked in the 3rd and Al seemed out of rhythym, which made it worse.
The final score? Magic win by 6.
Imagine if we could have won that game and be up 2-0?
Slimjr
April 21st, 2011
10:32 am
You guys have to realize, the chief of captains, the godfather himself,the boss of gangsters desperately wants superman to advance over these Atlanta Hawks..
I am starting to believe that Drew is a “Company Man” as Tim Donaghy the 13 year NBA ref put it to make sure the Chief of captains gets his way…..
The “LOVE OF MONEY” is the root of all evil…..You would be surprise what humans will do the most despicable, inhuman,unspeakable acts to get theirs….But their maker is waiting for them..
Yes drmaryb..That “Giant” research is fascinating..The children of those fallen angels and human women have been totally covered up?? Why, because then the history books would have to be re written! LIES LIES LIES……..
drmaryb (*_-)
April 21st, 2011
11:07 am
Killer Instinct!
O’Brien
You just described a killer instinct, when you put your foot on that neck and bear down hard. Being up 2-0 was right there for the taking and it would have been huge, if not insurmountable!
After all, isn’t that what pay back is all about, they did that to us last season and by an average of 25 points. It’s a crime shame, what Drew did or didn’t do.
Geemack
April 21st, 2011
11:10 am
Hawks fan
Remember 2009 playoffs the Heat got a split in Atlanta, but still lost the series.
I think the real Hawks team will show up in the Highlight factory, and lose at least 1 of those games at home.
Section 303
April 21st, 2011
11:11 am
The Hollinger article has officially driven me insane. I hate the Larry Drew hire so much……Game 2 was such a missed opportunity. I just hope it does not come back to haunt the Hawks (though, I know it will). They should be up 2-0 in this series. There was no reason to lose that game on Tuesday. Although…part of me thinks the officials would have stepped in and prevented the Hawks from winning anyways.
Larry Drew is completely over his head.
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
April 21st, 2011
11:14 am
Larry Lame Duck Drew is idiotic for constantly making that asinine move. Not only did it cost us game 2. It arguably costed us several games in the regular season. He is arrogant in a similar vein of Woody – cut from the same cloth of stubbornness.We need a new voice/coach/motivator because he ain’t got it Hawks will win in spite of him and lose because of his folly!
Alderman, Van Gundy, Dominique – I don’t care – anybody but Lame Duck LD!
JeJe
April 21st, 2011
11:14 am
“That’s all you can ask for,” Hawks forward Josh Smith said after the Hawks’ 88-82 loss in Game 2 on Wednesday.
That is probably why we lost. NO MUST-WIN MENTALITY
No one calling out refs for bogus calls. NO ONE WILLING TO TAKE THAT FINE
2 YEARS AGO PHIL JACKSON TOOK A FINE AND THAT HELPED LAL BEAT A DENVER TEAM THAT PROBABLY COULD HAVE WON THE SERIES
FIRE LD
FIRE ASG
FIRE SUND
FIRE WOODY
FIRE KRUGER
FIRE STOTTS
FIRE WEISS
FIRE FRATELLO
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
April 21st, 2011
11:24 am
Teague must be liberated – We should start a Teague Liberation Army and demand that LD play him at least 20 minutes a game – his job is on the line or so I hope!
He is not a coach he is an observer!
Rusty
April 21st, 2011
12:00 pm
I sincerely feel that anyone on the blog & that includes drmaryb & nortcyde could coach the hawks better than that moron LD. How about using JT idiot.
Rusty
April 21st, 2011
12:02 pm
Drew, right move my ass
drmaryb (*_-)
April 21st, 2011
12:04 pm
Rusty!
Thank You! And, include yourself in that list of better options at coach, than Larry Drew , because you, Najeh, O,Brien, Grand-Daddy, SlimJr … And a ton of others have made spectacular observations and fine points to help fix this team as well.
Astro Joe
April 21st, 2011
12:12 pm
OB, I totally get how LD hand-cuffed his team in Game 2. But this blog is specifically discussing the notion that he may do it again, which I personally doubt. I think he is simply saying what he needs to say in lieu of publicizing strategy changes.
Slimjr
April 21st, 2011
12:32 pm
Larry is a: “Company Man”!! quote from Tim Donaghy ex. 13 year NBA veteran ref……..who spilled the beans on Stern and his minions…….
He makes the godfather proud…superman must advance at all cost………………
The Truth
April 21st, 2011
12:34 pm
Regardless Hawksville, LD is a very special coach. He’s special in redefining the “word” insanity. Not just his questionable resource management but offensively, he does the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. Projecting himself as an X’s and O’s man, I often wonder how much film does he actually study. Assuming it’s plenty, apparently it’s not translating to his players, why is that? How many times have we seen JJ trapped in corners pinned-down with 2 or more defenders on him with no passing outlets? His teammates are just watching him like spectators. SVG called up defenses from pass Hawks defeats that worked brilliantly. Trap by crowding JJ in corners to frustrate him preventing him from finding his rhythms; it’s so simple a caveman can do it. Many teams have deployed this strategy successfully against the Hawks. Where is the much hyped about movement LD talked about? Like Lebron, why can’t JJ initiate his attack from the middle of the court? What exactly is his love fest with the corners anyway? JJ is easy prey to traps because he loves holding the ball way too long. When he’s off his game, often it’s because he’s indecisive about what he wants to do offensively. As defenders, the mission is to just confuse and frustrate JJ automatically taking (at least) 10 points off his scoring average. With great regularity, that is often the difference in the game.
I hate being so negative given we’re in the postseason as a privileged team after splitting a victory on the road. But “The Truth” has to be told. Identifying problems and making proper adjustments should be fundamental to the coach. Not just between games, but also in real time between and within quarters as game 2 was a very winnable game if suitable adjustments had been made. In addition to a lack of resource management (points already made), X’s and O’s came up short as well.
Youalreadyknow
April 21st, 2011
1:13 pm
I just hope he has nothin to do with them White Out crap. I mean come on, seriously, really? Well I should really stand out tomorrow night because I will be wearing black, because it is going to sound like a funeral in there once the Magic realize these are the Hawks and kill them.
Astro Joe
April 21st, 2011
2:27 pm
The following teams will be hosting Game 3, their first home playoff game of the season: Atlanta, Denver, Memphis, Philly, NYC, NOLA, Indiana/Indianapolis & Portland. My guess? Atlanta has the least “frenzied” fans of the 8. I’m not saying that a tepid repsonse isn’t warranted, I’m just sayin’…
Oh and I think Memphis and NYC will compete for the most fanatical group of fans (I’d put my money on Bloomberg’s rowdy crowd).
phil
April 21st, 2011
2:37 pm
Him saying it doesn’t mean it was right. He’s an idiot to have done that. An idiot. Get rid of the bum and let’s get someone with some passion for the game….please!
And send JJ and Smith with him….lazy, worthless defenders.
phil
April 21st, 2011
2:40 pm
Smoove has got to be one of the stupidest nicknames I’ve ever heard of in my life. Right up there with Matty Ice…
There’s not one thing smooth about anything this guy does, other than not play defense.
Can’t even spell smooth apparently….
mykhalc
April 21st, 2011
2:41 pm
AAU basketball at its’ best!!!
Seattle Native
April 21st, 2011
3:03 pm
Silly, simple southerners. If only you could stop talking about your Bible fairy tales, maybe you would take the time to stop your Bible thumping and go research and educate yourselves on the much older Sumerian and Egyptian stories your “Nephilim” Biblical stories were stolen from.
Dont you guys have a holiday dedicated to the Pagan Goddess of Fertility (Eggs), named Eostre (Easter) soon???
Geemack
April 21st, 2011
3:05 pm
In the last 20 years there have only been 6 NBA team to win the championship.
The 6 teams that have won the title, 5 of those team had 1 thing in common.
They all had an NBA superstar on the roster.
The 04 Pistons are the only team that didn’t have a superstar on the roster.
The teams that drafted, or traded for a superstar player (Lakers, Spurs, Celtics, Bulls, & Heat), all obtained the complimentary pieces within 3 years after the arrival of that superstar player.
The Hawks had the opportunity to duplicate this same formula in 06. That draft would have set this franchise up to compete as an elite team in NBA as we know it today.
Seattle Native
April 21st, 2011
3:07 pm
Enter your comments here
JoJo the Godfather
April 21st, 2011
3:23 pm
Geemack…All too true. The other piece of information that would be helpful in identifying “how to build a championship team” is where the team salaries ranked within the league. In other words, we know that the recent Lakers & Celtics teams have been near the top, but how many teams have won it all with a team payroll outside of the top 5 highest in the league? San Antonio comes to mind, but how many others.
lewis
April 21st, 2011
3:39 pm
at least stan van has the wherewithal to bench gilbert arenas
hopefully drew will learn to play teague
The Game Has Changed
April 21st, 2011
3:44 pm
I SUPPORT DREW I SUPPORT DREW I SUPPORT DREW I SUPPORT DREW I SUPPORT DREW I SUPPORT DREW I SUPPORT DREW I SUPPORT DREW AND SO SHOULD YOU
The Game Has Changed
April 21st, 2011
3:49 pm
Let us all stop been so hard on the Hawks. Lets wait until the season is over. Most series are 2-0. We are 1-1 with a shot to go back to Orlando up 3-1.
D
April 21st, 2011
4:25 pm
I am not saying that Hawks would have won the game had Horford not been benched, but I, but I am saying this is the playoffs and we could have possibly taken a commanding 2-0 lead; therefore, I would have reminded him of his two fouls and informed him that we would not win this game or series without him (be smart). Personally, I think his basketball IQ is one of the highest on the team, if not the highest.
The Game Has Changed
April 21st, 2011
4:53 pm
But know one is asking Phil Jackson why he didnt put Kobe on CP in game one. They could have won that one
JuliusCesaer
April 21st, 2011
4:55 pm
Sitting Al Horford was the right move because like i said in an earlier blog, AL HORFORD PLAYED THE WORST GAME OF HIS LIFE IN GAME 2. Not just because he got 2 quick fouls, but in the third and fourth quarter when he was playing, his teammates got him the ball at least 20 times and just about every single time he tried to pass the ball to an open teammate, when he was open himself. Al kept giving the ball up to someone with a worse shot than what he had. AL SHOULD HAVE BEEN SELFISH AND JUST TRIED TO SHOOT EVERY TIME HE TOUCHED THE ROCK. HAD AL DONE THAT, THE HAWKS WOULD HAVE WON THE GAME BY 20 POINTS. DONT BLAME AL FOR SITTING IN THE FIRST AND SECOND QUARTERS, BUT BLAME AL IN THE THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS FOR SIMPLY ‘PLAYING SCARED’. I could tell in Al’s body language, AL WAS AFRAID TO MAKE A MISTAKE, TAKE A BAD SHOT AND LOOK FOOLISH. Al must remember that his name is not Marvin Williams. AL SHOOTS THE ROCK FROM THE PERIMETER AT ABOUT A 64% CLIP. AL NEEDS TO BE TOLD WHEN HE IS INSIDE 15 FEET JUST SHOOT THE ROCK AND WORRY ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES LATER. AL WOULD HAVE SCORED AT LEAST 12 POINTS AND THE HAWKS WOULD HAVE WON THE GAME BY 6 POINTS and would have gone up 2-0.
Double Zero Eight
April 21st, 2011
5:18 pm
I respectfully disagree. Drew made a mistake. This is the playoffs.
If Horford ended up with 5 fouls, I might be inclined to agree with
his philosophy.
Slimjr
April 21st, 2011
5:44 pm
But ALLSTAR is an Allstar and they dont play scared or have to be told when or how to score the ball.
Al was not voted in for a reason…………..
Maybe Allstar Al and Marvin are Best friends now…LOL
Slimjr
April 21st, 2011
5:45 pm
Somebody called Drew a simpleton????? WOW……………..
Slimjr
April 21st, 2011
5:46 pm
ALLSTAR AL^^^^
Slimjr
April 21st, 2011
5:50 pm
“I SUPPORT DREW I SUPPORT DREW I SUPPORT DREW I SUPPORT DREW I SUPPORT DREW I SUPPORT DREW I SUPPORT DREW I SUPPORT DREW AND SO SHOULD YOU”
HOPE YOU GOT A LIFE VEST CAUSE THIS ISH BE SINKIN………..WITH LARRY AS YOUR CAPTAIN…
CAPTAIN: SCOTTIE WE NEED MORE WARP DRIVE!!!
SCOTTIE: THIS IS ALL SHE’S GOT CAPTAIN!!
Slimjr
April 21st, 2011
6:06 pm
Hey didn’t Rick Sund run that Suppersonics team the heck outta Seattle????????
Slimjr
April 21st, 2011
6:06 pm
supersonic^^^^
ag
April 21st, 2011
6:25 pm
JuliusCesaer
April 21st, 2011
4:55 pm
According to the play by play, AH scored 8 points in 4th on 4-7 fg’d. i think he has had worse games.
I did question when Josh picked up the t, he sub JJ – giving JJ a 1 minute break…
PLAY JEFF TEAGUE
FIRE LD
I
O'Brien
April 21st, 2011
6:47 pm
The Game Has Changed
But know one is asking Phil Jackson why he didnt put Kobe on CP in game one. They could have won that one.
Maybe its because Phil has 11 championship rings? Maybe its because Phil’s teams have a history of rising to the occasion? Maybe its because with Kobe on the team, a one game deficit can be easily overcome?
Those are just some of my guesses though.
KevinM
April 21st, 2011
7:02 pm
Off topic, but wouldn’t Brandon Knight look good on this team?
We would have to give up one of our PFs for him, but I’m game.
We need to get a leader on the court. No way we get down that far in the draft though.
I would prefer for him to go back to UK with the strike uncertainty, but you gotta take a shot at getting him.
There are plenty of good PGs in place, so to swap a team who really doesn’t clamour for a PG this year could pay off in our growth the next few years.
We would probably need to be in the Top 5 to get him….perhaps Sacaramento would need a PF to line up with Cousins. We could take a bad contract off their hands in the process.
Josh for Sac #1 and Beno Udrih?
KevinM
April 21st, 2011
7:03 pm
Would Francisco Garcia look good off the bench behind Joe? Slot him in place of Udrih.
KevinM
April 21st, 2011
7:05 pm
For Al to have a bad game in Game 2, he played only 1/2 a game and still got 10/10.
Wonder why Marvin can’t do that? Is it that he and Josh don’t mesh well on the court together?
superiorblogman
April 21st, 2011
7:46 pm
Zaza and Marvin for Josh Childress and Gortac: We would have to wait until after the CBA get’s done, but either way this saves them $14 million. Gortac does not put people in the seats and unless they think they will be making more next year because of them making playoffs they should make this trade.
PG Teague/Hinrich/Earl Watson
SG Joe/Jamal/Pape/
SF Josh Smith/J Chillz/Damien
PF Horford/Chris Wilcox/Reggie Evans
C Gortac/Collins/Alexis Ajinca
Feasible Draft Board:
1 Klay Thompson
2 Darius Miller
3 Tyler Honeycutt
4 Tobias Harris
5 Chris Singelton
6 Jordan Williams
7 Jimmy Butler
8 Shelvin Mack
9 Keith Benson
10 Demetri McCamey
11 Marshon Brooks
12 Giorgi Shermadini
13 Isaiah Thomas
Draft the highest rated player left.
ag
April 21st, 2011
7:55 pm
drmaryb (*_-)
April 20th, 2011
11:51 pm
..U ARE SICK..ROFLOL….can’t concentrate on work lol!!!!!!
mykhalc
April 21st, 2011
8:00 pm
LD…”The Hawks settled for lots of jump shots, but said they planned to focus on swinging the ball and driving to the basket in Game 3 on Friday night.”
F’n amazin’!!!! 85th game of the year and they get a clue!!! blow it up PLEASE!!! or better yet, they get this clue again. lack of blood-flow to the brain has gotta be the answer…gotta be!!!
ag
April 21st, 2011
8:21 pm
Why publish what he is going to say, he says the same thing after EVERY LOSS.
O'Brien
April 21st, 2011
8:52 pm
From Jeff Schultz blog;
“At home at times [this season] it didn’t feel like we had that confidence of the crowd, but I feel like our crowd feeds off what we do,” Al Horford said. “So if we have some highlight plays and really get it going, the crowd buys into that. Or we play hard. That’s all the fans ask for. It’s really disappointing at times we don’t do that as a team.”
Bingo.
This sports market has always supported two things: 1) Georgia football; 2) Something else. No. 2 always changes, either because of fluctuating success, the perceived level of commitment of ownership and management or, as Horford said, just flat out effort.
In short, fans want to be given a reason to believe..
Hawks have a golden opportunity to build some momentum. Win game 3, and the fans will come (imo).
dummynique
April 21st, 2011
9:40 pm
i hate the 2-2-1-1-1 series format. bring back the 2-3-2. if we had THREE home games against the magic, up 1-1, you could stick a fork in this series.
JeJe
April 21st, 2011
10:44 pm
LD IS GOING TO COST US THIS SERIES IF WE LOSE
JeJe
April 21st, 2011
10:47 pm
THE ONLY TIME THE HAWKS EVER HAD A GOOD CROWD WAS AGAINST BOSTON 3 YEARS AGO
BOSTON, UTAH, AND PORTLAND PUT OUR “FANBASE” TO REST
Mike is back
April 21st, 2011
11:06 pm
AJ, thanks for putting things in the right context when it comes to keeping it real on the blog.
I want say much…because I have been on the side line…but your right with regards to LD…I will admit my dissatisfaction with LD…however, no way can I lambast LD, after the way the Hawks have fought in the first two game of the series.
Did I miss something…Yeah, it was a bad decision…Yeah it may have cost the Hawks series…BUT the Hawks came home with a split.
Heck Yeah, we needed to get game two…but we didn’t come home empty handed. Hey, I hate to loose…however, I’m a straight shooter…I love the game of basketball…especially because of the playoff.
Right know LD is batting .500…dang…let’s see what happens in game three…that’s where I disagree with these ESPN boys…Heck, they could give a rats ass about what happens to the Hawks…alert alert …please read all their blogs about the Hawks…not just game 2.
It just so happen that Hawks/Orlando are the most intriguing matchup in the first round…don’t forget people…we talking ESPN…I’m more likely believe the guys on this blog…when it comes to the Hawks.
So I guess…it kind of alright to focus on game two…and forget we took game one in Orlando…well sorry…I can’t do that.
The Hawks have shown some fight thus far in this series…the 64 million question…is will it continue…that’s what will determine the out come of the series…not a couple of opportunist from ESPN…again consider the source.
Two guys I respect…Steve Smith and that other Barry…the one that won the Slam Dunk contest…now the other Barry has implied we let one slip away…well I have my upmost respect for that Barry…he actually have a ring.
Hey, he call LD out for his decisions to leave AL on the bench…I can respect that…but please…don’t come with this ESPN BS.
LD, you have an golden opportunity here…don’t let it slip away…that’s what’s up…A wise man…would leave Al in despite his two fouls…and play Teague and Damein more.
Just saying…I may not be blogging…but I will never cheer against the Hawks…no matter what…sorry Grand Dad…you are a coach…you of all people should know better.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JeJe
April 21st, 2011
11:07 pm
The Portland crowd actually gets excited when players get the ball.
The Atlanta crowd sends messages on their Blackberries
Grandad
April 21st, 2011
11:27 pm
Superior has a good idea with ” Marcin Gortat “.
He’s more than just a servicible Big.
He is a Rugged Defensive minded Rebounder.
Childress has a worse contrct than Marv.
However, if he could be pried away w/o giving up:
JJ Max, Al or Josh, I’m all for it.
*On your – Feasible Draft Board:
If *Honeycut comes out he’s a 1st rounder for sure.
*Singleton = ditto.
Grandad
April 21st, 2011
11:28 pm
* serviceable
Grandad
April 21st, 2011
11:43 pm
Regardless if we win or lose this series;
our biggest need remains:
* Defensive Rebounding
** how to achieve? [Acquire at least two quality Bigs]
*** Two Bigs can help solve another problem;
which is? [Interior defense]
At least one, of these Bigs needs to be long,
while the other needs to be a bruiser.
Al & Josh have been battling uphill for too long.
We [the Hawks] need to “overmatch” for a change,
rather than constantly being undersized.
Why does everything have to be such a struggle.
Get someone or something we do well…..chicago / Defense
[Chicago plays smothering swarming balls to the wall defense]
and make the other team adjust to us for a change.
Let’s “us” have an “Identity” that teams fear.
There are some things [teams] can do w/o a SS.
I’m out.
Grandad
April 22nd, 2011
12:08 am
*Mike is back / April 21st, 2011 / 11:06 pm
“sorry Grand Dad…you are a coach…
you of all people should know better”
Mike, what exactly did I say, to which you took exception?
superiorblogman
April 22nd, 2011
12:14 am
Grandad
April 21st, 2011
11:27 pm
Superior has a good idea with ” Marcin Gortat “.
He’s more than just a servicible Big.
He is a Rugged Defensive minded Rebounder.
Childress has a worse contrct than Marv.
However, if he could be pried away w/o giving up:
JJ Max, Al or Josh, I’m all for it.
*On your – Feasible Draft Board:
If *Honeycut comes out he’s a 1st rounder for sure.
*Singleton = ditto.
Yes, Chillz contract is worse than Marvin and we could offer to let them keep that 2nd rounder they owe us next year if push comes to shove, plus they same $14 million in the transaction. Might be difficult for them to walk away from that deal.
O'Brien
April 22nd, 2011
12:19 am
I like Gortat, but I dont think the Hawks can afford him. He has 3 years, $22 mil left on his deal. That being said, i dont think the Suns would trade him either, because they are at $48 mil payroll next year, so they have room.
CJDawg
April 22nd, 2011
12:47 am
Here’s Atlanta’s worst at their best. A bunch of no account YMCA wanna be players. All call and NO ball. Oh yeah, you can run your johnson drive in’s all nite about how everybody else should do this or that, but you can’t go to work, can’t feed your kids and WILL NOT stand up and be a man. You’d pay to LOOK GOOD to people you won’t know than to BE GOOD to the people that need you. Place the blame in a heart beat and stand in line to say I told you so but never raise ur hand to say I was wrong. I am tired tired TIRED of your shuffling, sorry behinds getting over on the government. Go get a j o b. Pay for your kids and quit worrying about what millionaire will do what aabout a basketball.
Slimjr
April 22nd, 2011
12:48 am
Ld is not insane… He just a little off his rocker.. You know whats insane. These electric power companies spending billions of dollars around the world to build these nuclear plants which are nothing more than toxic time bombs… Why not use Geo-Thermal power which the Earth generates an unlimited supply of heat??? Duh. Oh by the way the by product is water not spent toxic radioactive fuel rods for the next 500k years!!! Big Dummies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Poor Japan people……1/3 of that island is toast…..Sucks…………..
Grandad
April 22nd, 2011
1:11 am
.CJDawg
Who and what are you talkin’ about?
Buddy Grizzard
April 22nd, 2011
1:13 am
Superior, Grandad, I don’t see Phoenix trading Gortat. They took Orlando to the cleaners with that trade, dumping an aging Turk’s long term contract, J-Rich’s expiring deal whom they weren’t going to re-sign anyway, and took back their center of the future and Vince Carter’s deal that has a $4m buyout that they will certainly exercise.
Childress may have been a victim of overcrowding on the wing in Phoenix so he may get his shot next year. But there are very few NBA starting-calibre centers in the entire world, and Phoenix just fleeced one from Orlando. Same reason they will keep him is same reason why the Clippers will match any offer sheet on DeAndre and Memphis will match any offer sheet on Marc Gasol… Center is the hardest position to fill in the NBA.
Grandad
April 22nd, 2011
1:21 am
Buddy Grizzard
On Gortat…..I agree…..however…..
If there’s one we could steal…..
Gortat might be at the top of my list.
PHX covets Josh, and they [are] gonna trade Nash.
Would you give up Josh and Marv
-for-
Nash, Gortat, & PHX’s 1st pick.
*[it also would keep Nash out of Miami]
**(rumor is Bosh for Nash)
Grandad
April 22nd, 2011
1:26 am
If our “beloved Woody”
(I threw up in my mouth just typing that)
goes to Houston ?
Do you reckon “?” he would want Joe “?”
and be willing to trade for him [Joe]?
Grandad
April 22nd, 2011
1:27 am
CJDawg
Come back on here and explain?
Buddy Grizzard
April 22nd, 2011
1:30 am
Phoenix also got Peitrus and a first rounder from Orlando in that deal… Otis Smith is one of the worst executives in the NBA. No way they can contend for a title or keep Dwight Howard with what’s left of the roster.
By the way Hawks Fan in New Orleans, I like your nickname for Larry… LARRY LAME DUCK!
Has a nice ring to it. It’s way more catchy than what I might have suggested:
Larry “Keeping a Seat Warm for Rick Adleman” Drew
Buddy Grizzard
April 22nd, 2011
1:34 am
Grandad, I like your trade, but we’re giving up both of our starting small forwards. I suppose JJ could move over to small forward full time, but that makes us very thin in the backcourt. Right now we’re looking at a strong three-guard rotation next year with Teague, JJ plus Captain Kirk who can play either guard position. That’s assuming we don’t re-sign Jamal, which I see as a strong possibility.
dbcinbham
April 22nd, 2011
2:52 am
what elsee would drew say about benching al. he made a bone head move and is too stupid or stubborn to admit it. its not a given we will beat this team. every opportunity has to be seized. remember, we lost 6 down the stretch. that old squad can show up at anytime. overall i’m disappointed with this team and most of it surrounds drew.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 22nd, 2011
5:15 am
Roll Over Minutes!
Dwight Howard must have a credit account for fouls. It works like those old “roll over minutes” that they used to issue over at the old
Cingular mobile services, once ran by Bell South.
The policy stated, “If you don’t use all your cellie minutes last month, you c use them next month.” The way Drew sits Al after two fouls, one would think he still has Cingular service!
News Flash! Aye Drew, Al does not foul out until he amasses 6 fouls!
Those 4 fouls he left on the table in game 2? You can’t use those tonight!
So, remember this Larry, 2 fouls is not time to panic!
Oh yeah! Use can play Jeff Teague at any time now. I hear he is your PG and he is really good. Try it – You’ll like it!
Did I leave anything out? Oh yeah! Read the blogs, there are some really good and talented posters with stats and facts – you might learn something.
(
Buddy Grizzard
April 22nd, 2011
6:03 am
LOL rollover fouls… I love it… So since Al only had two, he can’t foul out tonight until his 10th foul (6 plus 4 rollover fouls)… that’s almost Dwight Howard rules right there!
Mike is back
April 22nd, 2011
7:31 am
Grand Dad, nothing in particular…just thought you was doing a little piling on…usually you are more Xs and Os…now not so much.
drmaryb (*_-)
April 22nd, 2011
8:19 am
My Buddy!
Yeah Buddy G! You feel me?
Oh yeah! Aye Larry! Tell Al this … If he ain’t got 5-6 fouls at the end of the game? He ain’t trying hard enough. Those fouls are a defensive weapon! Fouls are a good thing – not a bad thing.
That’s like dying with money in the bank and no Last Will and Testament!
Wouldn’t it be a shame if the money went to the State and your
Grand-Kids had no shoes or milk money?
What the hell are you saving them for? Get your money’s worth!
Make somebody bleed, or better yet transfer them to ZaZa, somebody who knows how to head butt and pull a wedgie in the paint!
JuliusCesaer
April 22nd, 2011
1:01 pm
ag: you missed my whole point. Although, youre right, my point was that Al should have been SELFISH, OR GREEDY AND NOT PASSED THE BALL TO ANYONE BUT FIRE THE BALL UP HIMSELF and he would have scored 20 points in the quarter and helped the Hawks win the game. Its true that in the 4th qtr Al shot 4-7 but my point was that the times that Al passed the ball to other teammates (WHICH WAS A LOT BECAUSE I DIDNT SEE AL MAKE ONE SHOT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER), those other teammates took BAD SHOTS and were unable to score the basketball. I KEPT SCREAMING AT THE TELEVISION AT THE HAWKS, “PLEASE SOMEONE PLEASE SCORE THE BASKETBALL” and the Hawks kept throwing up BRICKS. Al HORFORD IS A SCORING MACHINE AND IF HE HAD JUST KEPT SHOOTING EVERYTIME THE BALL TOUCHED HIS HANDS THE HAWKS WOULD HAVE WON THE GAME. AL HORFORD, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IN TWO YEARS WILL BE AS GOOD AS WILT CHAMBERLAIN WAS IN HIS PRIME.
jason
April 22nd, 2011
7:35 pm
all of you non-believers need to relax. we did what we needed to do. we took one in orlando. and the first one at that! plus did you see-hear how quiet that crowd was in orlando even with the win? they knew then yes it’s a win but this is not a good win by any means. you could just tell they feel the hawks are going to take them out in atlanta and take what little heart the magic have left. hopefully we get both this weekend. if we take this 3-1 then orlando will fold. we have the ball in our court. sold out game tonight. its up to the hawks to go out there tonight and sunday and take the life out of orlando. i for one feel it will happen. the hawks are just the better team. should we have won that 2nd game? yes. we let it slip away. but no way orlando felt good how they played in either game. relax people. we got this!
joe
April 23rd, 2011
6:46 pm
the hawks spent too much money on some players( JJ, Marvin ) and not enough to get a real coach…..
The Game Has Changed
April 24th, 2011
1:05 pm
@JeJe-Maybe those cities have a better fan place. But you cant compare Boston and Utah to HOTLANTA. I lived in those cities, they are not party cities like the ATL. We have so much to do and so little time.