Atlanta Hawks: Larry Drew says Joe Johnson must ‘combat’ tough D like other stars
After Game 3 J.J., frustrated with the offense grinding to a halt against Chicago’s aggressive D, said he would “force the issue” Sunday. Basically Joe doesn’t think L.D.’s share-the-ball philosophy is the right way to do it even considering all the double teams faced by he and Jamal.
According to Synergy Sports Technology, Joe has used 26 isolation possessions against the Bulls out of 59 total isos for the Hawks. He’s scored 22 points on those 26 possessions.
Joe’s efficiency on those plays has declined with each game in the series.
In Game 1, Joe used 12 iso possessions and scored 14 points with 5 of 8 shooting, four free throws and two turnovers. In Game 2, Joe used six iso possessions and scored four points with 2 of 5 shooting and a turnover. In Game 3, Joe used eight iso possessions and scored four points with 2 of 8 shooting.
Joe was already gone when media were allowed access to the locker room today but L.D. addressed Joe’s frustrations:
“They are playing him physical. If he’s not being double teamed, they have climbed up in him. He is just going to have to combat that. There are a lot of key players on teams that other players play physical against and they just combat it. There are a lot of key players that get double teamed and they play out of double teams. A lot of playing out of double teams is not trying to beat double teams but making plays and you have to show a willingness to give the ball up and trust your teammates. If you continue to try to beat the double team by yourself you are playing into the opposition’s hands. We did a good job with that against Orlando. Orlando ran a very similar [scheme], the game plan was to take it out of his hands, double-team him. We made the right plays out of it. When you are playing against a team that is going to roughhouse you and play you physical, you have to combat that. A lot of these great players around the league, they face it every single night. You have got to look at how they play you, watch film, combat it. Don’t put yourself in situations where they can constantly be up on you. Draw fouls. That’s one of the things we need to do more of vs. that type of pressure, when they are playing like that.”
Could J.J. help himself by making quicker decisions against pressure?
“Without a doubt. When you know teams are playing you the way they are playing Joe, you have got to do things faster. That was something we put a lot of emphasis in at the start of the playoffs against Orlando is for him to do things faster. They are not going to let you and just jockey around with it. They are going to be on top of it right away. You have got to do things a lot faster. Your moves have got to be quicker and then just up into your shot. Just jockeying around trying to create space and go one-on-one against a set defense the way that they play him, chances are it is going to be tough for him. But if he does things just a little quicker–coming off screens, looking to shoot the ball right away–those are the kind of things that free you up.”
But is J.J. comfortable playing that way considering his deliberate style?
“Comfortable? I don’t know. Capable? Yes. He has shown the ability to come off screens and shoot the ball. Certainly I have seen him go into moves a lot quicker. I don’t know how comfortable he is doing it but I know he is capable.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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253 comments Add your comment
O'Brien
May 8th, 2011
3:07 pm
Mike Bibby for the playoffs?
21 mpg, 3.4 ppg, shooting 23% from the field, with 1 assist, and 1 reb.
And to think, there were some fans who thought Bibby was heads and shoulders above Teague just becuase Bibby could knock down jumpers (which he hasnt been doing most of the year).
I agree that we overpaid for Hinrich, and I agree that LD should have been playing Teague from earlier in the year. But Would the Hawks have beaten Orlando if Bibby was the starting PG? I dont think so.
Michael Cunningham
May 8th, 2011
3:07 pm
@Magic: “Also how is it a gametime decision? Do they always practice with multiple lineups?”
because Drew says he has yet to make up his mind. or, if he has, he didn’t want to say at shootaround today. nor did any of the players provide clues.
Magic Johnson
May 8th, 2011
3:13 pm
@northcyde
You take Marvin out of the lineup that’s about 6 shots to give up to everybody else.
Collins helps our best rebounders, Smith and Horford, move bodies and they get boards.
No matter how much people don’t like them they are Smith and Horford we got them and they need help.
You take Marvin out of the lineup that’s about 6 shots to give up to everybody else. Obviously, Collins won’t take 6 shots. Those shots get spread to our other guys.
More defense and rebounding=more possessions for everybody.
More size on offense means Bogans has to guard Joe or preferably Smith and that’s when the Bulls double. We get offensive boards and 3s and suddenly the team has “heart” again.
Marvin Williams is at best a bench option to hit 1 or 2 shots in the speed lineup to push the lead.
When they start beating us on the boards, we pull the lineup,
@JeJe
Damien Wilkins is not needed, He is a liability on offense and outside of the gimmick where he faceguards Rose he does not get to the foul line or draw double teams.
He crashes the boards and plays aggressive which is what Josh can do if we go big. And is what Derrick Rose does when we go small. Rose had only 5 attempts at the rim and was missing layups when we played big on March 2nd. Its all a cycle. Rose sees Josh Smith out of the way, he’s aggressive. He sees Pachulia, Horford in the lane and Josh on the helpside, he becomes more conservative with his shot selection.
We slow the game down sit on the shooters and our 3,4,5 feed our 1 and 2s (Teague, Crawford, Johnson). The 1s and 2s and Damien as well as Marvin will have to accept their new roles in the big lineup.
Magic Johnson
May 8th, 2011
3:17 pm
Larry Drew with the poker face, hopefully Coach’s reasoning is because he’s hoping not to give the Bulls any chance to regroup.
northcyde
May 8th, 2011
3:29 pm
@ Slim. When we made that comeback back in March, it was JJ creating for Horford, who was knocking down midrange jumpers, along with other guys like Marvin stepping up, that helped us win that game, along with Hinrich playing lockdown defense on Rose in the 2nd half. Rose went 1 – 11 FG in the 2nd half of that game and had 5 turnovers alone in that 3rd quarter.
Going “big” got us in a hole in the first place. It wasn’t until we decided to really crank up the defense, and we started to make shots, that got us back in the game. Noah still grabbed 12 rebounds and 6 offensive boards in that game. But Rose shot 5 – 21 . . which offset the bad shooting night from JJ, who was 5 – 20.
Rose and JJ had opposite games. Rose had 10 points and 7 assists in the 1st half of that game, but was horrible in the 2nd half. JJ was horrible for about the first 30 minutes of that game, shooting 2 – 10 FG at one point. But he scored 9 points and dished out 6 assists ( mainly to Horford, who was making his midrange jumper ) in the 2nd half.
This is also a game in which Josh Smith didn’t play in.
The Hawks simply need to hit the boards tonight, first and foremost. As good as Derrick Rose is, I seriously doubt that he’s going to be as efficient tonight, as he was in Game 3. And if he starts out hot, Drew better adjust and start aggressively playing that dude on defense.
I never dreamed that Smith and Horford would get punked by Boozer and Noah, of all people. Because of that, I’m not against us going “big” ( I would prefer Zaza to be the starter instead of Collins ).
But going big isn’t necessarily the issue. Our two “star” frontcourt people have got to play tougher, and get those rebounds. And we must keep them off the offensive glass, because that’s how the Bulls are extending leads on us.
JeJe
May 8th, 2011
3:29 pm
LD got mad at our slow start 2 days ago.
THAT’S WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU START MARVIN WILLIAMS AND JOSH SMITH WHO TAKES PLAYS OFF
IF YOU WANT EFFORT, START DAMIEN AND ZAZA OVER MARVIN AND SMOOVE
GOOD LORD
I’VE NEVER FELT STRONGER ABOUT ANYTHING THAN I DO ABOUT LD’S INCOMPETENCE. HE IS NEARLY AS BAD AS WOODY. WE GOT TO SEE WOODY’S FLAWS FOR 6 YEARS. WE HAVE SEEN LD’S IN LESS THAN 12 MONTHS
FIRE LD
O'Brien
May 8th, 2011
3:35 pm
LD said a bad shot is just like a turnover. If so, how many turnovers is Josh Smith really averaging? How many Hawks runs did we see stop, or how many Bulls run began because of a bad shot by Josh? he must do better tonight.
At ProBasketballTalk Rob Mahoney writes: We know the characters and sadly, the plot of this series, barring a rewrite. The Bulls are a team defined by their diligence, and the Hawks a team defined by their vices.
Rose will go to work against the Hawks defense, Joakim Noah will scrap his way to every offensive board in sight. Chicago’s defense will grind and grind and grind, and the Hawks’ offense will settle and settle and settle.
Josh Smith will keep taking long jumpers to a chorus of boos from his home fans. Joe Johnson will stop the ball. Atlanta will work away from everything that works, and even when they get a productive night from Jeff Teague or a more balanced scoring effort than they’re accustomed, a team in Atlanta’s position is forever left wanting more..
As for All-Star Al, he has been invisible. It’s bad enough when marvin does it, but at least we expect that from $7.5 mil Marvin. but when our 2 time all star and soon to be $14 mil Al disappears, that is unacceptable.
And if Josh and Al can have a good game, that gives JJ more options.
JeJe
May 8th, 2011
3:36 pm
“@JeJe
Damien Wilkins is not needed, He is a liability on offense and outside of the gimmick where he faceguards Rose he does not get to the foul line or draw double teams.”
OK, I guess I am the only person in this city who thinks Damien plays tremendous defense and actually is very
JeJe
May 8th, 2011
3:38 pm
*very crafted and skilled on offense. he effortlessly does the Reggie Miller pump-fake (drawing shooting fouls), is EXCELLENT finishing at the rim,
but I’ll continue listening to you all talk about how much he sucks
Forget the fact that he has more heart than 90% of the rest of this team and probably makes as much as some people on this board do
FIRE LD
northcyde
May 8th, 2011
3:38 pm
Magic . . . you’re assuming that Smith and Horford are going to work hard to get those rebounds, or keep them off the boards. The fact is that it’s not only Noah that is gathering up those offensive rebounds. It’s the other guys too. Collins simply boxing out Noah does not prevent Noah from grabbing boards, because Noah isn’t going to give up on the play simply because he has a body on him. You have to box out AND get that rebound.
If Collins boxes out Noah, but Smith doesn’t effectively box out Boozer, and Boozer still gets the rebound, the same results will occur.
This isn’t a Dwight Howard situation, in which Dwight gathers up 50 – 60% of Orlando’s rebounds on a nightly basis. Noah, Boozer, and Gibson will hit the boards. Deng will too.
Smith is notorious for not boxing out, and Horford isn’t playing physical for some reason. I’m for playing Zaza, not because he’ll keep them off the offensive boards, but because he may get some offensive boards of his own, that will help us.
Rebounding is about desire and position. Noah has the desire to get every rebound that comes off the rim. I can’t say the same about anybody on the Hawks, outside of Zaza and offensive rebounds.
northcyde
May 8th, 2011
3:41 pm
I’m sorry JeJe . . but Damien does not play tremendous defense. He may try hard ( like how Mario West used to do ), but Damien doesn’t lockdown anybody. His one memorable defensive game was when he first got here, when he defended Kevin Durant pretty well. Since then, he plays good defense in spots.
Should we use him? I’m not against using him. But I’m not going to act like he’s some lockdown defender either.
mykhalc
May 8th, 2011
3:42 pm
people!!! Damien brings soooooooooooo much more than Marvin that this should not even be a discussion!!! if Marvin starts then i guess i’ll miss the game again!!!
i_am_soulstar
May 8th, 2011
3:43 pm
Coaches and players argue all the time, but keep that ish inside the lockerroom and out of the media. Never let the other side know that there are issues in your lockerroom. Silly millionaires
northcyde
May 8th, 2011
3:44 pm
Having said that . . if Drew starts Damien over Marvin . . I can’t necessarily disagree with that. If Marvin is going to give us very little, you might as well start somebody who may be a little more active, even if he’s not playing necessarily better.
Our problem still has more to do with the play of Horford and Smith upfront, than it does with Marvin. We don’t expect much out of Marvin anyway, but we expect a lot out of Smith and Horford. Both have to rebound better . . much better.
Not So Long Memory
May 8th, 2011
3:50 pm
The last time we heard from truthspitter he was saying goodbye forever, lol. Damn, forever came around quicker than I thought it would.
Of course, all he did was change his screen name to superiorblogman, as if some of us wouldn’t notice. And now we have two of them. Yikes!
northcyde
May 8th, 2011
3:50 pm
As I posted on Hawksquawk . . . tonight’s game is the biggest game in 23 years. Win tonight, and there’s still hope that we can win this series, and it guarantees a Game 6 in ATL, which will then become the next biggest game in 23 years, especially if it’s a game in which we could advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Lose tonight, and the future of this franchise gets really murky. Changes will have to be made. If the wrong changes are made, it could make us an even worse team in the future. If no changes are made, the Hawks risk losing even more of the fan base.
It’s the most important game that you fans 30 and under will have seen in your lifetime.
JeJe
May 8th, 2011
3:53 pm
northcyde,
Damien is a solid defender (I overstated), GIVES HUSTLE, and FINISHES OFFENSIVELY.
If I am the only person who thinks he is crafty offensively, makes short jumpers, and can finish at the rim, so be it.
he is FAR better than Marvin. The only thing Marvin has on him is height and a bigger @$$
mykhalc
May 8th, 2011
3:55 pm
it’s AMAZIN’ how DAL players LOOK for the shooters/scorers!!! rocket science for the Hawks!!!
JeJe
May 8th, 2011
3:55 pm
The Mavs have 4 Small Forwards better than Marvin…
Caron (even with a torn patellar tendon is light-years better than Marvin)
Marion
Peja
Corey Brewer
JeJe
May 8th, 2011
3:57 pm
“Lose tonight, and the future of this franchise gets really murky.”
That’s not according to some people here. Most people here said they were content with a 1st round exit if we showed effort.
LOL. I agree though.
Top posters on this blog:
Clyde, Rod, Najeh, northcyde, SlimJr, Drmaryb
mykhalc
May 8th, 2011
3:58 pm
@JeJe…Damien is ABSOLUTELY more polished, in ALL areas than Marvin!!! you and i posted many posts along this theme BEFORE end of regular season!!! some people need to stop the madness!!!
JeJe
May 8th, 2011
3:59 pm
The Mavs just have an excellent roster. They have defensive wings and guards (all their guards are EXCELLENT defensively), 2 rugged centers who will foul the !@#$ outta you. If Caron was just fully healthy and in all-star form….
JeJe
May 8th, 2011
4:00 pm
Amen mykhalc
Damien’s Pumpfake alone, that gets the defender in the air, and draws the foul, is 100x more profound than any contribution Marvin brings to the court.
The dude couldn’t take Helen Keller off the dribble.
mykhalc
May 8th, 2011
4:01 pm
man, i’m sorry we don’t get to see Caron Bulter’s game this playoffs with the Mavs. cat plays with much attitude in his game….
JeJe
May 8th, 2011
4:04 pm
If Peja keeps playing like he did in 2002, I don’t know if they need Caron. Man what a beautifully-constructed roster. Just need to keep this must-win mentality
JeJe
May 8th, 2011
4:05 pm
Still can’t believe we traded Jason Terry.
He is playing as good now as he did 7 years ago. He has not regressed since he has been in this league. Kinda like Dirk and Kobe
mykhalc
May 8th, 2011
4:08 pm
here’s more agony…name the ONLY team where the entire frontcourt has BAD handles??? and no Josh does NOT have good handles!!!…in space…yeah. and if he only tried to use ‘em in space that’d be…uuuhhh…SMART!!! Marvin…handles!!! i just made myself fart!!! Al…he who must think about all things now days…no handles…especially in the post. anyway, the ENTIRE frontcourt!!! think about it…PATHETIC!!! and they want plays run for them that calls for puttin’ the ball on the floor!!??? SMDH
mykhalc
May 8th, 2011
4:08 pm
i would be a beautiful thing if LAL gets swept…absolutely beautiful!!!
mykhalc
May 8th, 2011
4:10 pm
not just swept…EMBARRASSED!!!
terrell
May 8th, 2011
4:11 pm
Lakers looking like the Hawks out there.
mykhalc
May 8th, 2011
4:12 pm
LUV IT!!!
drmaryb (*_-)
May 8th, 2011
4:12 pm
Look Like A Woman – Think Like A Man!
Like Ms. Mary said, I fight dirty! In the 80’s the pistons would peel back the paint and … Ta Dah! What have we here?
Chain Saws
Bricks
Sand
Num – Chucks
Baseball Bats
Pipes
Tumble Weed
Tumble Weed, ok … Waite! LOL!
You get the point, no lay ups – Period!
__________________
I got 5 on anybody who will stomp on Boozer’s toe and rip off Rose’s ankle! The Hawks don’t know nothing ’bout that.
terrell
May 8th, 2011
4:13 pm
Cuban may finally hoist the trophy.
JeJe
May 8th, 2011
4:13 pm
Kobe will quit at 3 minute mark of 3rd
mykhalc
May 8th, 2011
4:13 pm
DAL…EVERYBODY playin’ THEIR role!!!! simple!!! pays to be on too tho!!
JeJe
May 8th, 2011
4:15 pm
Rick Sund will boast on the radio in a few weeks how we are one of 3 teams to advance to the 2nd round 3 years in a row. He will also then say how the 2 time defending NBA Champions got eliminated before we did.
Then he’ll throw out another useless numerical stat, like how we made the playoffs 4 years in a row and only x teams have done that in the last 138 months
terrell
May 8th, 2011
4:16 pm
What a difference a REAL CENTER can make. Picking up Chandler has done wonders for the Mavs.
Worldwide Clyde
May 8th, 2011
4:18 pm
Notice how Dallas keeps the ball in the hands of their guards instead of passing to their bigs 18 feet out early in their offense.
Michael Cunningham
May 8th, 2011
4:19 pm
@ Magic Johnson: “Larry Drew with the poker face, hopefully Coach’s reasoning is because he’s hoping not to give the Bulls any chance to regroup.”
yes, this is what i meant. if Drew says it at shootaround, the Bulls have all day to make adjustments (not that there would be many to make, but still).
JeJe
May 8th, 2011
4:20 pm
The pump-fake Peja just did, I’ve never seen Marvin do that.
And Peja is like 8 years pats his prime
Michael Cunningham
May 8th, 2011
4:20 pm
New blog is up.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 8th, 2011
4:22 pm
Blogger Of The Week!
JeJe
I got 5 on my baby JeJe! This kid brings more, Passion, Enthusiasm,
Fire and Keys to The Game than anyone.
In round 1, JeJe said the guards must score 45 points. Well, they did and we won. In round 2, the man said ,”Our bigs must show up!”
Well, the didn’t and we lost.
Now, that’s what I call: Calling ‘Nem Out.
Congratulations to JeJe for: BOTW!
terrell
May 8th, 2011
4:26 pm
No way we come back next season with the same ole “core” if we lose to Chicago. No way! Think ticket sales are down now? Bring back this same group, and it’ll get worse. If that’s even possible.
terrell
May 8th, 2011
4:27 pm
Hell, I want changes to be made, if we beat Chicago.
gcs
May 8th, 2011
4:34 pm
Watching the Mavericks dismantle Kobe and the Lakers, I am reminded of how terrible the Jason Terry trade was.
The Hawks sent Terry, Alan Henderson and a draft pick to Dallas for Tony Delk and Antoine Walker.
Delk lasted one and a half seasons before being waived. Walker lasted 53 games.
And whatever happened to Jason Terry?? Hmm…
.
It was not a bad pick
May 8th, 2011
4:35 pm
Najeh Davenpoop said this stupid comment “Al is listed at 6′10″ 245 pounds. Noah is listed at 6′11″ 232 pounds. I don’t think the difference between them is that Noah is bigger. I think the difference is that Noah — like Bass and Gibson — is a physical player while Al is a finesse player.”
AL IS NOT 6FT10..DO YOU GUYS EVEN WATCH THE GAME?..NOAH IS AT LEAST 3 INCHES TALLER THAN AL..SH*T!
Worldwide Clyde
May 8th, 2011
4:36 pm
Billy Knight traded Jason Terry and Alan Henderson for Antione Walker and Tony Delk.
SMGDH
doc
May 8th, 2011
4:41 pm
you are getting your wish there myk. i just posted it on big ray’s blog it would be interesting to know if anyone thought at he beginning of the season that marc would be closer to the wcf than pau at this time of the year.
yup wou;d lie to see stern’s fake smile if he has to give the trophy to cuban. i have always liked the bravado of cuban. sad we dont have an owner like him. if only cuban would take the braves over and spend a few bucks to get some bats in the line-up.
JeJe
May 8th, 2011
5:13 pm
We did not make any adjustments from game 2 to 3. We got destroyed on the glass horribly too.
LD is an awful head coach
truthspitter
May 8th, 2011
7:12 pm
Glad to be back MC