The Hawks signed guard Willie Green.
“You are talking about a guy who is a combo guard that’s a scorer, tough defender,”Larry Drew said. “He’s a guy that plays hard when he’s on the floor. He’s kind of had to do it the hard way therefore he has an appreciation for what he’s earned. I think he’s kind of a throwback. Kind of an old-school style player.”
Like Jannero Pargo, Green is more of a scorer than a playmaker. Green is the better shooter but, also like Pargo, most of his attempts are long 2s and he doesn’t draw many fouls or make many 3-pointers.
However, both players are quick, high-energy guys and Drew thinks they will help the Hawks play the new, aggressive defensive style he wants.
“You can’t play a high-energy defensive scheme if you don’t have the personnel to do it,” he said. “Both guys have played that way pretty much their whole careers. Jannero, when he was down in New Orleans and had his best years, he was very effective playing that way. Willie’s style is very similar. We’ve been putting a lot of emphasis in training camp on defense and certainly helps if you have guys who are already programmed to play that way.”
Green’s Synergy defensive numbers are lackluster, especially in isolation. He had slightly positive on-court, off-court defensive numbers for New Orleans last season, according to basketballvalue.com. His opponent PER at last season was about average, according to 82games.com.
Basically it looks as if the Hawks, after watching Jamal Crawford bolt for Portland, will have to try to win another way with their second unit.
“We’ve had to replace Jamal’s minutes and we’ve got to look in some type of way getting some real productivity from that position, whether it be scoring or defensively,” Drew said. “Me personally, I welcome a trade-off a guy who maybe won’t score as much as Jamal but a guy that can score and brings some defense and some toughness to that position.”
Notes
331 comments Add your comment
Melvin
December 22nd, 2011
8:31 pm
Say what you want about Josh but that guy plays all over the court.
vava74
December 22nd, 2011
8:31 pm
damn, JJ’s shot looks broken again…
northcyde
December 22nd, 2011
8:32 pm
JJ is 0 – 5 on his three pointers in these 2 preseason games. Hope that isn’t a sign of what happened in 2010 – 11 with his 3 point shot.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 22nd, 2011
8:32 pm
Nice to see Al and Smoove getting inside position to grab offensive boards, though.
Hawks have no TV game?
December 22nd, 2011
8:32 pm
josh is looking good… INSIDE. maybe he needs to be limited to 3 shots out of the paint per game.
Wabe
December 22nd, 2011
8:32 pm
What channel is the game on?
Rolando
December 22nd, 2011
8:32 pm
“was that al 1st rebound?”
No, he has 4 rebounds so far (game high). Surprisingly, no one is grabbing a lot of boards tonight.
Slimjr
December 22nd, 2011
8:32 pm
Hey Larry I dont believe they are listening to ya?? Defense? What D?
Wabe
December 22nd, 2011
8:33 pm
WTF man…
There’s like no freakin’ games on tonight…
NBATV could’ve picked this game up.
BoneKollector
December 22nd, 2011
8:35 pm
Ivan the terrible
FreshFromAtl
December 22nd, 2011
8:35 pm
Ivan Johnson,
Your back-up PF people…
Najeh Davenpoop
December 22nd, 2011
8:35 pm
I don’t know if Ivan Johnson can be this effective with his hustle against better competition, but the Hawks sure could use an energy guy in the front court.
Hawks have no TV game?
December 22nd, 2011
8:36 pm
and1 for joe
northcyde
December 22nd, 2011
8:36 pm
Pretty move by JJ to draw the foul . . . Ivan may make this team. The way he’s playing is what we needed Josh Powell to do last year.
BoneKollector
December 22nd, 2011
8:37 pm
Ivan Johnson 10 mins
6 pts 3 rebs
And did I hear a Sonic the hedgehog sound lmao
Hawks have no TV game?
December 22nd, 2011
8:38 pm
good first half.. Hawks 49 Bobcats 46.. Ivan Johnson/Benson——> very good depth at PF.
Melvin
December 22nd, 2011
8:39 pm
SMH, Okur trade to the Nets for a 2nd round pick and TPE…
Hawks have no TV game?
December 22nd, 2011
8:39 pm
u would think that sports south in N.Carolina would have HD..
Prison Mike
December 22nd, 2011
8:42 pm
Ivan the terrific has to make the squad. He has a knack for knocking the ball away which is an underrated skill. Cut Twack if you have to…
superiorblogman
December 22nd, 2011
8:47 pm
Did not see much of the 1st half. From the little I did see, T-Mac gets to the line but everything else is suspect. Pargo does not need to play much if we are trying to win. Vlad and Zaza, please spare me. From the box score looks like Wanamaker is cutting himself 3 TO’s and really no good.
bigdave
December 22nd, 2011
8:47 pm
MC .. holla at me.. I’m in blue in white plaid.. brave fitted courtside across from hawk bench..
Buddy Grizzard
December 22nd, 2011
8:49 pm
Not watching the game but it doesn’t sound like tmac is going to be able to guard anybody. Not to sound like a broken record but… Bogans? He can guard three positions.
superiorblogman
December 22nd, 2011
8:54 pm
Melvin
December 22nd, 2011
8:39 pm
SMH, Okur trade to the Nets for a 2nd round pick and TPE…
That is about right. Okur is just a pick and pop big that is vastly overpaid at this point. Utah just wanted to get rid of his contract and get something in return. They have Millsap, Jefferson, Favors, and Kanter, really no room for a guy that they would be paying like a starter.
MattP
December 22nd, 2011
8:55 pm
I can see Drew likes Sloan and I. Johnson they both are up there in minutes with the starters.
bluesteel
December 22nd, 2011
8:56 pm
Horford has to be the sorriest defending big man starting in the nba
Najeh Davenpoop
December 22nd, 2011
8:58 pm
Wow, nice block Marvin.
bluesteel
December 22nd, 2011
8:58 pm
see how augustine put it in horfords face
Najeh Davenpoop
December 22nd, 2011
8:58 pm
Nice flop Maggette.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 22nd, 2011
8:59 pm
I don’t know what Al’s ultimate goal was on that post up on Maggette. He was in ideal position to spin off of it and go in for the dunk. I don’t know why he threw his shoulder into him.
Rolando
December 22nd, 2011
8:59 pm
Maggette has been working on his flopping…
Hawks2012
December 22nd, 2011
9:00 pm
He was moving side to side there, how is that a charge?! Flop like a fish.
bluesteel
December 22nd, 2011
9:00 pm
Al should plant his body in the low post and stay there
Sautee
December 22nd, 2011
9:00 pm
LOL @ the Bobcat announcers acting like Maggete’s flops are great defense. At LEAST they could acknowledge the effective flopping.
Sautee
December 22nd, 2011
9:02 pm
“Horford has to be the sorriest defending big man starting in the nba”
Maybe so, but he’s leading his team in blocked shots.
bluesteel
December 22nd, 2011
9:02 pm
Josh with the smart foul because Al just stands there.
Sautee
December 22nd, 2011
9:03 pm
Josh is really trying hard to accept foul calls without reacting.
So far.
BoneKollector
December 22nd, 2011
9:04 pm
Josh with a stupid pass
Pass it to the PG Damn
BigTimeTECHFan
December 22nd, 2011
9:04 pm
I wanna see this lineup
JJ
Sloan
Smith
Hortford
Benson
bluesteel
December 22nd, 2011
9:05 pm
Sautee I agree with you but I thought I had already said that Al is a sorry defending big man.
Slimjr
December 22nd, 2011
9:05 pm
bluesteel
December 22nd, 2011
8:56 pm
“Horford has to be the sorriest defending big man starting in the nba”
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.Wish we had DeAndre Jordan!!
Medestruit
December 22nd, 2011
9:06 pm
Maggette has done a hell of a job flopping all over the floor, that’s for sure. -.-
Hawks have no TV game?
December 22nd, 2011
9:06 pm
josh is showing people why the trade rumors are just…rumors. I think this should be his and marvin williams break out seasons
bluesteel
December 22nd, 2011
9:06 pm
Yea, it would help Josh if he did not have to do all the defending in the low post.
Sautee
December 22nd, 2011
9:07 pm
ding!
Slimjr
December 22nd, 2011
9:08 pm
WTF All NBA??????lol
BoneKollector
December 22nd, 2011
9:09 pm
My link just went to porn lmaooo
Najeh Davenpoop
December 22nd, 2011
9:09 pm
T-Mac is not trying.
BigTimeTECHFan
December 22nd, 2011
9:09 pm
they just change my game feed to porn
Katie
December 22nd, 2011
9:10 pm
Just enjoying the Hawks ga……. WHA?????
Medestruit
December 22nd, 2011
9:10 pm
This is a terrible quarter of basketball from both teams…haha. 9-8 Atlanta. With 2 or 3 Maggette flops and probably as many turnovers per team…this is bad. Joe Johnson still will never drive the ball, so sad. He has talent(not max contract talent, but 2nd tier talent) but refuses to use it and his size.