Bulls at Atlanta Hawks Game 6: All-NBA Al
Al was named third-team All-NBA. It’s the 24th time a Hawks player made one of the three teams. J.J. didn’t get a single vote from media after making the third team last season.
“I wasn’t really wasn’t expecting it,” Al said. “It’s really a great feeling. I’m very honored, I really am.”
Al had a great year and got plenty of pub for it, so why wouldn’t he think he had a shot?
“When you are so focused on the playoffs don’t really keep up with things like that,” he said. “And when you think about [All-NBA], it’s an elite group. I’m just really honored to be part of it. It just kind of shows the hard work I put in has been paying off.”
As we’ve seen in the playoffs, there’s more work for Al to do. Based on his history there’s little reason to doubt he will put in the hourse and, given that he’s not yet 25, there’s also reason to believe he will improve.
L.D. said Al’s development has been “truly remarkable” but both he and Al agreed he hasn’t reached his ceiling.
“A guy of his size and his ability, one area of improvement he really needs to make is his footwork,” Drew said. “On the block, he can score. He has skills down there but there is improvement to be made in that box area. He has certainly shown his ability, mid-range, to shoot the basketball. Prior to this year people didn’t see as a real pick-and-pop guy. He has turned into one of the deadliest shooters in the mid range.”
Al said he wants he wants to extend his range this summer.
“I haven’t thought about it that thoroughly, but some of the things I want is to be a better shooter, especially branch out a little more,” he said. “To be able to put the ball on the floor a little more–one dribble, two dribble and take it all the way. Those are things this summer I am really going to put a lot of emphasis on.”
Notes
- Same lineup tonight.
- The message on the Hawks’ locker room board at shootaround today: “Plane leaves for MIA 2:30 on Tues.”
- Teague on running the team: “We’ve got a lot of good shooters on this team. I’ve got to give them the ball where they can continue to play hard.”
- Josh on Teague’s feel for when to attack and when to facilitate: “That takes time, with minutes. He’s learning as we speak. We’ve got to be patient.”
- Smoove on being the catalyst: “I understand. It’s not pressure for me. I’ve dealt with it for a while. That’s just the DNA. I have to get off to a good start and be aggressive, especially on the defensive end. “
- L.D. on fourth-quarter offense: “We just have to move the ball. That’s just the bottom line. We can’t start isolating; we can’t start holding the ball. If you just hold the ball and try to play one-on-one you play right into their hands.”
- L.D. on Josh not retaliating against Boozer: “I don’t think there will be a carryover effect at all. Josh is professional enough to know he has to do that. All that does is plays right into their hands. It takes him out of his game, which I am sure they want. He has to be professional. It’s in the past.”
- Chicago media types were asking the Bulls if they are looking ahead to the Heat. D-Rose: “Definitely we want to get it over with but it’s not over with. We still have a game. We are anxious. We can’t look ahead.”
- It’s worth remembering that the Hawks have already exceeded expectations in the playoffs while the Bulls have underachieved relative to their regular season. That’s why L.D. thinks the Bulls are feeling pressure despite leading the series. “Going into the series, no one thought there would be a Game 6,” he said. “I give credit to my players. I think they have stepped up to the challenge. We have nothing to lose. We are going to lay it our on the line.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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772 comments Add your comment
Melvin
May 12th, 2011
10:12 pm
Hopefully this is the last time we see this core together…
Luke Cage
May 12th, 2011
10:12 pm
Jamal Crawford’s last game as a Hawk
Slimjr
May 12th, 2011
10:13 pm
Alice has got to go man…………………………………..
Sautee
May 12th, 2011
10:13 pm
Josh is the only one playing with any heart.
Brandon
May 12th, 2011
10:13 pm
“Comic time:
Hawks will score 48pts in the next 9 min on 89% shooting”
Reality time:
Hawks will score 12 points in the next 9 min on 29% shooting.
bigdave
May 12th, 2011
10:13 pm
what the hell is this?
Slimjr
May 12th, 2011
10:14 pm
bye jc1, good bye……………….
bigdave
May 12th, 2011
10:14 pm
lol @ Marvin
honest_abe
May 12th, 2011
10:14 pm
wabe this city has never had the personnel to get past the 2nd round.
new ownership please. blow the whole damn thing up!
Brandon
May 12th, 2011
10:14 pm
Northcyde, you might as well brace yourself for this because Joe is going to get grilled after this game by the “fans”. Same for Jamal, Al, and Marvin (as always).
The Real Mandingo
May 12th, 2011
10:14 pm
Marvin can’t even get a shot up.
JeJe
May 12th, 2011
10:14 pm
LOL @ MARVIN. ALL BUT 1 GAME HE’S HAD LIKE 2 PTS OR LESS
YEAH MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE!
hawks_4_life
May 12th, 2011
10:15 pm
ONCE AGAIN AL YOU SUCK ALL SERIES…..JUST CHANGE YOUR NAME TO ALICIA
Banks
May 12th, 2011
10:15 pm
Where is the Mercy rule somebody call this game
Rev in Tampa
May 12th, 2011
10:15 pm
Hawks might as well go into a stall offense to keep from losing by 30
JeJe
May 12th, 2011
10:15 pm
JAMAL IS OVERRATED
DUDE HAS HAD A BAD PLAYOFFS. 2 OR 3 GOOD GAMES MAX. THAT BS BANK IN GAME WINNER COVERED UP WHAT WAS A HORRENDOUS GAME
Luke Cage
May 12th, 2011
10:15 pm
Sadly Hawks will not make much needed changes, Marvin should be gone via trade, release, waive or firing squad, other than that what we see will be here next year, just different scrubs down the bench.
Slimjr
May 12th, 2011
10:15 pm
it was a horrific #2 pick???????????????????????????????????????????????????????
JeJe
May 12th, 2011
10:15 pm
DID THEY REALLY GIVE OUT SHIRTS? LOOKS LIKE HALF THE CROWD ISNT EVEN WEARING THEM
Buddy Grizzard
May 12th, 2011
10:15 pm
Sautee
May 12th, 2011
10:05 pm
Buddy, the 4 turnovers the Hawks made in the 1st had nothing to do with Collins, but they scored 8 off of them. You have a point, but without those TOs he wouldn’t have been -8.
Sautee watch the game again on replay and watch that first quarter. Thibs’ game plan was CLEARLY to go at Collins which they did on four of their first 6 posessions. As soon as they switched Horford onto Boozer, Noah got the ball with Collins defending and took him to the hole.
8 points were scored directly by attacking Collins. I understand there were turnovers. I understand the Bulls shooting was off the charts. But this was clearly CHI’s game plan to start the game and Las Vegas Larry’s predictability allowed them to win the first quarter, which predicted the outcome of the game.
Sautee
May 12th, 2011
10:15 pm
mychalc,
Ka-boom can’t happen quickly enough.
bigdave
May 12th, 2011
10:15 pm
no contest. no hard foul
L
May 12th, 2011
10:16 pm
go to a zone or something!!! no defense at all.
bigdave
May 12th, 2011
10:16 pm
but he’ll come down and shoot his jumper.
JeJe
May 12th, 2011
10:16 pm
HORFORD YOU SUCK
TRADE THIS WHOLE TEAM
Luke Cage
May 12th, 2011
10:16 pm
Honestly I do believe Horford is hurt since early March, he hasn’t been the same since.
The Real Mandingo
May 12th, 2011
10:16 pm
Marvin’s last game as a Hawk?
JeJe
May 12th, 2011
10:16 pm
MARVIN MAKES 7.5 MILLION A YEAR NOW. JUST PAY HIM AN EXTRA 7.5 MILL TO LEAVE THE TEAM.
IT’D BE WORTH IT
Ms.Chi
May 12th, 2011
10:16 pm
damn look at my bulls killn the birds lol
The Real Mandingo
May 12th, 2011
10:17 pm
Marvin’s last game as an NBA player?
SteveW
May 12th, 2011
10:17 pm
Ought to put Jeff back in if he’s not hurt – let him finish
Slimjr
May 12th, 2011
10:17 pm
Hey Larry go to plane “D”!!!!
What is it? Why its 4 corners to run out the clock so you don’t lose by 45!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slimjr
May 12th, 2011
10:17 pm
plan^^^^^
bigdave
May 12th, 2011
10:18 pm
Hawks had a good crowd.. they didnt match it w/ play.
Luke Cage
May 12th, 2011
10:18 pm
LOL@Mandingo
SteveW
May 12th, 2011
10:18 pm
Jamal, JJ, Al – None of them showed tonight – face it
JJ is not a franchise player.
Solid, but not a superstar
Lp
May 12th, 2011
10:19 pm
We need a new offense
Slimjr
May 12th, 2011
10:19 pm
Just waive him please the #2 lottery pick????
Banks
May 12th, 2011
10:19 pm
Wow Ted just left the game with 5 min left lol
mykhalc
May 12th, 2011
10:19 pm
@Sautee…PATHETIC PERFORMANCE…PERIOD!!! KA BOOM!!!!
Luke Cage
May 12th, 2011
10:19 pm
Sometimes you have to Bowdown to a force thats greater than you.
truthspitter
May 12th, 2011
10:19 pm
I don’t blame the Hawks I would have quit too. Why go back to Chicago just to get cheated again like GM 5.
Good experience Hawks lets go
mykhalc
May 12th, 2011
10:20 pm
they actually went further than i woulda guessed but there is NO doubt this collection of players needs to be disbanded!!!
brigadierjerry
May 12th, 2011
10:20 pm
I have to admit i was wrong about smith comparing to horford. Smith is a tougher player than horford and he is trying harder.
I hope this is Jamal’s last game as a hawk.
bulls closing out everything. Rose isnt even doing that much
Teague needs to run the offense next year. Will give him a pass since he has a sprained wrist
Hawks need a banger and strong defensive player
This iso And 1 b-ball have seen enough of.
Hawks may need to follow blueprint that Bulls are doing as far as building the type of team
Al Horford is about as tough a player as a studio gangster. He looks softer than charmin
Hawks have a few building blocks but changes need to happen the makeup of this team
Slimjr
May 12th, 2011
10:20 pm
Al=Alice
Brandon
May 12th, 2011
10:20 pm
Now that it’s all over, can we finally make some moves? Can we finally fire Drew, and do whatever we can to trade our useless pieces?
bigdave
May 12th, 2011
10:21 pm
Marvin playing w/ the group which he belongs..
SteveW
May 12th, 2011
10:21 pm
Well we an up the white flag
The Real Mandingo
May 12th, 2011
10:22 pm
Marvin is in with the reserves (scrubs). He has definitely played himself out of the rotation for next year if he’s still with the Hawks.
SteveW
May 12th, 2011
10:22 pm
Chitown keeps some starters in – think TT would have learned his lesson after Rose’s ankle in game 1