Atlanta Hawks at Bulls Game 5: On energy and effort
Chicago–If you are skeptical about how much those favored NBA cliches of “energy and effort” factor into winning then perhaps this series has changed your mind a bit. There have been scrums and scraps around the basket on what seems like every loose ball in this series, and I think there’s something to be said for energy and effort in these circumstances.
Defense and rebounding are undervalued as talents, and certainly it’s true that some players can try hard but just don’t have what it takes to be good in those areas. But maybe physically gifted guys can be better at defending and rebounding if they have the zest for it, especially within the team concept.
The Bulls are a good defensive team because they have good defensive players and a sound scheme but what good would any of that be without their single-minded devotion to getting stops and then securing the ball at all costs? Isn’t that energy?
Or is it like Doc Rivers likes to say, that energy is a talent, and so it’s really not helpful to think of it as something separate from “tangible” talent?
It’s pretty obvious the Hawks’ energy level has increased during the playoffs. That has correlated with the Hawks allowing just 101.9 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs, 2.7 points better than during the season, and that’s including the outliers of Game 5 vs. Orlando and Game 3 vs. Chicago.
“I’ve been pleased because I feel like the guys have really bought in to what we are trying to do,” Al said. “It’s never going to be perfect but you can make up for certain mistakes and certain things [with energy] and I feel like we’ve been doing that.”
Certainly sound game plans against Dwight and D-Rose have been major factors in Atlanta’s success. Some favorable matchups have helped, too.
But I’m thinking Atlanta’s energy also has been important–and that’s coming from someone who rolls his eyes when players and coaches (and media types) use that word to explain unexpected performances when there are more obvious reasons.
“We are an energy team,” L.D. said today. “There are times we just come out and we just don’t play that way for some reason. We have the athletes. It’s just a matter of coming out with energy, and I am totally expecting that tonight.”
That’s always the question with the Hawks. Can you expect that tonight? Any night? Jamal summed it up yesterday:
“We’ve shown we can play with anybody, and some nights we can play with nobody. That’s the most frustrating part for us.”
Which version of the Hawks shows up depends on more than just how hard they play. But in the end, when the Hawks and Bulls are fighting for every possession to gain control of this grinding series, maybe that’s will matter the most.
“I expect us to come out and the effort will be there,” Al said. “I feel like we have been played well in this building two games. One night we had a great shooting night; the other night we struggled. But I think our effort was good. That’s my biggest thing. We need to come out and just play hard.”
Notes, quotes and links
- L.D. said he’s likely to stick with the Twin lineup.
- Bogans (ankle) will play.
- Joe on the big moment: “It’s right there. It’s in our hands. We just have to focus in on winning another game in Chicago. It’s definitely possible. I am sure we can get it done.”
- L.D. on if he’s happy about shot selection: “That varies game to game.”
- L.D. on pressure: “They are one of the teams that was picked to come out of the East. A win here puts a tremendous amount of pressure on them to go back to Atlanta with us having a chance to close it out. I feel like the pressure is on them.”
- L.D. on Bynum’s BS takedown of Barea: “We don’t condone those type fouls where you are taking people out of the air and really trying to hurt somebody. That’s not the way the game should be played. The game should be played with hard fouls, though. You are talking about fouls that are not going to injure people or hurt people or put in jeopardy of their careers being on the line.”
- L.D. on matching up with Chicago: “Obviously Rose is the MVP of the league. What he accomplished this year is absolutely remarkable. Hats off to him. But looking at the rest of the roster–they have good players, solid players, good role players, guys that play really hard–and we like to feel we match up well against them. . . . Throughout this league there are certain teams you match up well with and some teams that give you problems, and we look at this as a team that we do match up well with, irregardless of what happened in the regular season. Looking at it man-for-man, we feel like we match up really well.”
- Damien on Smoove: “We go as No. 5 goes. Joe is our go-to guy, but we go as No. 5 goes. The better he plays, the better we play. He can do so many different things. I wish he would do it all the time. That wasn’t even a great game for him [in Game 4].”
- Jamal did a radio interview.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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945 comments Add your comment
DHunt
May 10th, 2011
7:09 pm
It’s all about swagger now. Coaching adjustments matter, but everybody can adjust. This boils down to who thinks they can win it the most. Chicago is going to throw some knockout blows tonight, and the Hawks have to come right back with their own killer instinct. Somebody’s will is going to break. Hawks better make sure it’s Chicago.
Rod from College Park
May 10th, 2011
7:11 pm
“I hope the guy that’s making over 2x as much cash than Al shows up tonight also, named Josh Smith. He’s the difference maker.”
Horford’s extension is for more than Josh’s, and he did not have to get anybody else to make an offer to get the Hawks to pay him. Horford 5 year 60 mil, Josh 5 year 58 mil. If you did not know, your extension is based on when you came in the league, you figure it out. Why would he be the difference maker, he’s not an All Star.
“We sure need more than Josh’s 28% shooting that we had the 1st two games of this series, or the 21% he shot in that last Orlando game.”
Al game 1 -9 pts, game 2 – 6 pts
Orlando Series
Al – 40%FG, 12ppg, 10rpg, 18 Free throw attemps, guarded by Brandon Bass, and David Andersen
Josh – 41%FG, 14.3ppg, 8rpg, 28 free throw attemps, shut down Turk for most the series.
“Or the 6 Boards he had in each of those first two games while not boxing anybody out. Or the 4 boards in that last Orlando game.”
Similar to the 5 Horford had last game with no offensive boards while playing his desired power forward spot. See the Orlando series stats.
“The guy can absolutely beast when he’s on! He can be on an elite level on so many things.
Jumpers are not one of them”
Horford has not hit many jumpers this series, or last either, and thats supposed to be his strength. Hmmmm
Dukester
May 10th, 2011
7:16 pm
REBOUNDS EQUALS A WIN
DHunt
May 10th, 2011
7:20 pm
You know the NBA has no interest in seeing a Hawks vs Grizzlies Final. You know they have even less interest in seeing a Hawks vs Heat ECF. So be on the lookout for the fix in the next few games. Bennett Salavatore said as much when he apologized for missing a foul call on Rose. No apology for all those non-calls when the Hawks were getting hammered, but made it a point to let Rose know he will be getting those calls from now on. Thing is, I still think the Hawks can beat the Bulls and the refs, if they keep their composure, and LD relaxes that 2 foul rule a bit.
ag
May 10th, 2011
7:27 pm
Buddy Grizzard, I am sure if KH would have started this series, we would be home now. Before you open your mouth and assume, facts speak for themself:
Teague 13 min 2.0 ast .9 TO (reg)
29.2 min 3.0 ast 1. to (playoffs)
Crawford 30.2 min 3.2 as 1.9 to
30.5 min 2.4 as 1.3 to (playoffs
KevinM
May 10th, 2011
7:44 pm
I know it’s just this year stats, but we are 6-0 when JJ scores 20+….
I like our chances even more now.
The Real Mandingo
May 10th, 2011
7:47 pm
@Buddy Grizzard
I agree with a lot of your points, recommendations, and analyses especially the one about LD should get “JJ and Jamal open looks.”
I hope the Hawks stay with the red (alternate) uniforms tonight.
2 FOR JOHN DREW
May 10th, 2011
7:54 pm
Good luck w/ Marvin having a good game …. He finishes plays so weak, so weak.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2011
7:58 pm
Apparently the Hawks are going with the red uniforms to confuse the Bulls, since the Bulls are doing a “red-out” in the crowd.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2011
7:59 pm
Game time. Let’s get it. Win this one and the Hawks are in good position.
LETS GO HAWKS
SteveW
May 10th, 2011
8:00 pm
Rod – This season –
Al makes 5.4 million
Josh 11.6 million
Next season, Josh makes 12.4 million
Al makes 12 million
in ‘012/13 Josh makes 13.2 million
Al makes 12 million
There has never been a season that Josh has not made more than Al. And Josh will make more than Al the next two seasons also.
No matter how you spin the numbers, Josh makes 2x more than Al this season, and will make more than Al the next two seasons.
And adjusted for inflation, his 5 years 58 mill. contract is bigger than Al’s 5 years 60 million dollar contract which is not even in effect yet, in case you didn’t know about inflation.
Al last game – 9-11 from the field – 20 points
Josh 8-22
Josh is 1-23 from 15+ feet in this series.
This after shooting 21.4% in the last game of the Orlando series pulling down 4 Boards.
While making twice the money
Sorry this inordinate jealousy for Al making the All Star team has gripped you.
Didn’t we have this discussion before? The All Star team is not the 12 best players from each conference. It’s the 2 or 3 best at each position. So Al making the squad as a C doesn’t mean he’s a better player than Brick Man Josh.
If Josh wants to be, when he plays to his strength’s and not experiments with his weaknesses as LD says, Josh is a better player than Al.
We just don’t see that Josh near enough.
bigdave
May 10th, 2011
8:01 pm
LETS GET IT!!!!!
BE SPECIAL…
Rod from College Park
May 10th, 2011
8:05 pm
SteveW,
60>58 no matter how you spin it. You can’t get an extension until you rookie contract is done. Stop being ignorant.
Name another team in the playoff that does not depend on their All Stars to step up every game.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2011
8:08 pm
Apparently Philips Arena is like Rucker Park. That’s one I haven’t heard before.
SteveW
May 10th, 2011
8:10 pm
Rod – A collection of quotes on Josh just for you:
Joe Johnson – “J.J. on teammates talking to Josh about playing that way: “We definitely stayed on him. When he puts his mind to it and is not settling and going to the basket, he’s tough to stop. He did it a few times and saw they were not even contesting it, so he kept doing it.”
O’Brien – “He started off well, but he cooled off dramatically as the season went on.
I really dont think Josh gets it.”
Honest_Abe – “you’re right ob he doesn’t get it and sadly enough i don’t know if he ever will. we can all dream that one day he will.”
Niremetal – “Well sure, if by “all year” you mean “for the first 2.5 months of the season.” After the All-Star break, he shot .282 from 3 and roughly .350 on long twos, if I’m doing my math right. That’s more in line with his career averages.
http://www.hoopdata.com/splits.aspx?player=Josh%20Smith
A 2.5 month aberration in the course of a 7 year career and he thinks that justifies him jacking up those shots in the playoffs? *sigh*”
DMB – “Josh apparently takes amnesia pills after each missed shot.
With that selective memory, he only remembers the good times.”
JeJe – “Josh’s comments are some of the most discouraging I’ve seen this season.
He actually thinks he’s a good perimeter shooter.
THE WORST possible thing that could happen is him hitting his 1st jumpshot tomorrow [I hope he doesn't take any].
DO NOT TAKE ANY JUMPSHOTS TOMORROW
DRIVE THE DAMN LANE
EVERY
SINGLE
TIME”
Rod – that is from less than 1 page on the previous blog – doesn’t stop there either.
I like Josh, alot – and I don’t know why you don’t attack these other dudes when they trash Josh. I trash everything that moves when I think they need it.
Hard head I guess
Rev in Tampa
May 10th, 2011
8:16 pm
doc,
Which team do you think will show up tonight? It seems every time they gain enough national attention that everybody is watching that they lay a goose egg. Have they matured? We’ll find out tonight.
Melvin
May 10th, 2011
8:16 pm
Let’s Go Hawks….
Dept. of Unintended Irony
May 10th, 2011
8:16 pm
“You can’t get an extension until you rookie contract is done. Stop being ignorant.”
Enough said, if one reads closely. Sorry Rod, it was just too ironic. I’m SURE it was an inadvertent typo.
SteveW
May 10th, 2011
8:18 pm
Rod – “Stop being ignorant” Same to you.
No spin, just truth
I thought we were supposed to depend on the highest paid players, whether there All Stars or not.
Josh makes more than Al, no matter how you spin it.
I mean Yao Ming was an All Start this year and he didn’t even play.
McGrady got voted in when hurt
Same with Iverson
Are you telling me a LaMarcus Aldridge or Eric Gordon didn’t have a better season than Tim Duncan? Kevin Martin for that matter.
The best players don’t always make the All Star team.
But you count on the guys who make the big bucks.
tremaine
May 10th, 2011
8:18 pm
LET’S GO HAWKS
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2011
8:18 pm
A charge taken on the first play. Nice.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2011
8:20 pm
Good post up by Smoove. Don’t get discouraged that it didn’t go in. Keep going to that.
cp
May 10th, 2011
8:20 pm
gotta make that Josh… there you go Teague
cp
May 10th, 2011
8:22 pm
off to a real slow start
steven
May 10th, 2011
8:24 pm
you can usually tell how we are going to do within the first 5 minutes of the game and this isn’t looking good
Luke Cage
May 10th, 2011
8:24 pm
Only one drive to the basket, cmon fellas
bo
May 10th, 2011
8:24 pm
Dunk The Ball Josh. Stop trying to be finesse all the time.You only dunk when its convenient. Dunk on somebody please.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2011
8:24 pm
Hawks are not playing that bad energy-wise. Just gotta make shots they normally make, and can’t have defensive breakdowns near the end of the clock.
northcyde
May 10th, 2011
8:25 pm
( shrugging shoulders )
The wrong people are shooting the ball. Get that corrected, plus some of the defensive rotations, and we’ll be OK. This is how Game 3 started, with the wrong people shooting the ball.
SteveW
May 10th, 2011
8:25 pm
We’ll come back. They’re just fired up. Let them burn themselves out.
cp
May 10th, 2011
8:25 pm
alright Joe
Luke Cage
May 10th, 2011
8:25 pm
Al, as soon as you get the ball make a quick decision, either drive or shoot, don’t give Joker Noah a chance to defend.
bigdave
May 10th, 2011
8:26 pm
gotta come up with rebs.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2011
8:26 pm
The only shot I really didn’t like was the Teague 3. He is one guy who should ALWAYS be driving, since he can get in the paint whenever he wants.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2011
8:26 pm
Joe makes his first bucket. That’s a good sign.
Sautee
May 10th, 2011
8:27 pm
SteveW,
Rope-a-dope, eh?
Luke Cage
May 10th, 2011
8:27 pm
Rebounding
northcyde
May 10th, 2011
8:27 pm
Right on cue. Just get the ball to your scorer. He’s the one that has had good quarters in both of our wins. Get him going first.
bigdave
May 10th, 2011
8:27 pm
way to hit the glass Josh
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2011
8:27 pm
What the hell happened to Al’s shooting touch?
SteveW
May 10th, 2011
8:27 pm
Way to go Josh
Brad
May 10th, 2011
8:28 pm
Horford does not look confident with the jumper any more
Melvin
May 10th, 2011
8:28 pm
Ok, will Al go into the paint after shooting bricks/air balls on his first 2 jumpshots?
SteveW
May 10th, 2011
8:28 pm
Sautee – Let’s hope so
Luke Cage
May 10th, 2011
8:29 pm
Dude gets like 2 a game lol, cmon Noah go guard someone
bigdave
May 10th, 2011
8:29 pm
Josh very active early..
SteveW
May 10th, 2011
8:29 pm
Boy if Josh comes up big in this game, he and we may be on to something
cp
May 10th, 2011
8:29 pm
grab a rebound Al
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2011
8:29 pm
They could call defensive 3 on Noah pretty much every possession.
northcyde
May 10th, 2011
8:29 pm
It’s amazing how Horford’s jumper is now a liability.