Atlanta Hawks: ‘Old rookie’ Ivan Johnson vows to keep his cool after past blowups
Hope you had a good holiday, blog people. The Hawks were back in action today after a break and that means I am, too . . .
Today was the first time I got to ask Larry Drew about the decision to waive Keith Benson, the team’s only draft pick in June.
“It really came down to the progress of Ivan Johnson,” Drew said. “To be perfectly honest, we didn’t know he would come on the way he did. He’s had, not a good training camp, he’s had a phenomenal training camp. His motor is something you can’t teach and he brings that motor every practice. You guys see the way he plays in games. He just plays hard and there’s not enough guys like that.”
Johnson, 27, said he wasn’t sure he’d ever make the league but, before his mother died in 2007, he promised her he would keep trying.
“As you get older your dream starts to fade after a while,” he said. “You have just got to keep pushing, man. That’s what I kept doing.”
Fans at Atlanta’s exhibition game against Charlotte Thursday seemed to take a liking to Johnson. He also was a popular topic of discussion among my Twitter followers and my blog people.
Johnson said he wasn’t aware of the support from fans but appreciates that they like his high-energy style.
“That’s how you’ve got to be,” he said. “I’m an old rookie. Being 27, I’ve got to put in a lot of work.”
Johnson is an intimidating dude–the joke among Hawks staff was who would tell Johnson he was cut if the day came. He’s built like a linebacker and always seems to look angry. One day in practice Johnson came barreling down the lane with the ball and Tracy McGrady wisely stepped aside.
“Ain’t no [bleeping] way I’m getting in front of him,” T-Mac said.
Johnson said he’s not as mean as he looks (”I’m really a nice, cool dude”) but his temper had hurt his chances of getting an NBA shot after he had good production in the D-League.
Johnson was banned by the Korean Basketball League last year after what an official described as “a record of frequent misconducts” culminating with an obscene gesture at a game official. Johnson also was reportedly run off from Oregon for “anger management” issues and last season was benched by the Erie BayHawks after earning too many technical fouls.
“That’s just my emotions for the game,” Johnson said. “If I feel I’m being cheated, my emotions, they go crazy sometimes. That’s what I’ve been working on. I try to keep my cool. As long as I keep my cool, I’m good.”
Obviously there won’t be much tolerance for such antics from a back-of-the-rotation guy for the Hawks. Johnson said he’s motivated to stay level-headed because he has a baby due in March.
“I have been working so hard to get here over the years,” he said. “Now that I’m here, ain’t no messing it up.”
Drew said the Hawks checked into Johnson’s background before signing him and are satisfied he won’t be a problem.
“He’s moved on and we feel good about moving on as well,” Drew said.
Practice report
- Jeff Teague (ankle) participated in practice and said he’s good to go for tomorrow: “It’s a little sore but it will be OK.’ Larry Drew said he wanted to see how Teague looked after practice but, remember, it was an injury that derailed Teague in camp last year so I’m thinking he won’t sit. “Not this time,” Teague said, smiling.
- Drew on the team’s depth: “We have added a lot to our bench from an experience standpoint and I think from a depth standpoint. I think it’s going to be a matter of us being healthy as much as we can. It may be a situation where have to use the bench a lot more than in the past.”
- The Hawks are in a better spot than those teams who had two weeks to throw together a lot of main cogs. Still, rotation guys McGrady and Vladmir Radmaonivic are new and Jannero Pargo and Willie Green are brand new.
- “They are still trying to learn what we do,” Drew said. “Do they have it down 100 percent? No. We have been trying to cram in a lot in a short period of time. I am sure heads are spinning a little bit right now. Once we get started with it I am sure they will adjust and become more comfortable.”
- Drew on nine games in 12 days, something that’s new for all of the Hawks except ‘99 lockout vets T-Mac and Jerry Stackhouse: “It’s going to be a true challenge from the standpoint of basketball and the travel as well. I’ve been preaching to the guys since Day 1 about taking care of themselves. It not only becomes a physical drain but a mental drain as well. It’s going to be important that we all get our proper rest and eat right.”
- Unlike Johnson, D-League refugee Donald Sloan figured his NBA shot would eventually come after the Kings cut him in camp last year: “With the amount of work I put in and the relationships I’ve built with coaches throughout draft process and last year in the D-League, I figured there was no way I could be denied this year. It kind of worked in my favor this year. I stayed positive throughout.”
- I wrote a story about Joe Johnson. You can read it here if you’d like.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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169 comments Add your comment
Rev in Tampa
December 27th, 2011
12:46 pm
doc,
I’ll go out on a limb. Miami, Chicago, and Boston will be the top three. Boston will certainly slip in their winning pct but I don’t think there is anyone else in the East who will be able overtake them.
Orlando absolutely free-falls out of the top four. The entire organization is in turmoil.
New York played SUB-500 basketball after Carmelo joined the team. They were 13-14 in their 27 games with Carmelo, yet we are to believe they will automatically win nearly 60% of their games. Its not happening.
What did Philadelphia and Milwaukee do in the offseason to be significantly better than 500% teams? Absolutely nothing.
Indiana will likely be much better than last year. Instead of having a 451% winning percentage they will raise it by 50 points to become a 500% team.
I foresee the Hawks winning 38 of their 66 games. I think they will be a couple of games behind the Celtics for the third seed. I don’t see anyone seriously challenging the Hawks for the fourth seed.
I think the Heat and Bulls will win the East by 8-10 games over the third seed.
EmirS.
December 27th, 2011
12:51 pm
http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/shaun_powell/12/27/hawks/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1
Funny how this blog has been stating these same exact facts for so long. Just goes to show you, no one knows their own team better then their own fans. Writers, reporters, coaches, scouts, etc, etc. No one comes close to ones team then the perspective and knowledge of the fan base.
doc
December 27th, 2011
12:59 pm
leave it to vava to pull the magic rug out from under me. was hoping to get more if the barreling thru guy, on the floor, bullying onto the middle big like an oakley.
bah humbug to you too vava.
Wow
December 27th, 2011
12:59 pm
Marvin and Joe should have field days tonight
Runner-
December 27th, 2011
12:59 pm
Ivan Johnson is gonna bring the fans to Phillips Arena much like Zaza does with his competitive nature!!! Get ready for a ride Hawks fans, this season could get interesting!!!
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 27th, 2011
1:00 pm
Andrew Bynum has 73 blocked shots in 21 minutes per game.
Tyson Chandler has 58 blocked shots in 29 minutes per game.
Josh Smith has 81 blocked shots in 36 minutes per game.
Al Horford has 44 blocked shots in 35.5 minutes per game.
Emfrikkinbarassing. We know who our rim protecting center is. He’s 6′8.
Yeah Horford has more stamina to play more minutes but he is not a rim protector by any stretch of the imagination. We have a 6′8 guy anchoring the defense.
Thats why we suck.
No need to spin it any other way.
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 27th, 2011
1:02 pm
Why is Marvin Williams part of the core?
Rev in Tampa
December 27th, 2011
1:02 pm
vava, I hate to break it to you, but the game is not until 7:30.
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 27th, 2011
1:05 pm
The Hawks have always weighed the merits of keeping, or moving, Smith and Horford. Both are “tweeners”*. Horford is undersized at center but doesn’t have a face-the-basket game for power forward. Smith has crazy athleticism and skills for someone 6-foot-10 but too often falls in love with 20-foot jumpers. Both are in their primes, so holding onto them much longer would hurt their trade value.
ROUND OF A ******NG APPLAUSE. smh I TOLD YOU THE VALUE HAS PEAKED. But no! “You’re a hater”.
Goddamit if we had just plugged the keeping “2 tweeners” problem we could have had a title by now. But no! keep em both. Fake Prestige (coach’s votes) trumps all.
Rev in Tampa
December 27th, 2011
1:05 pm
“Marvin and Joe should have field days tonight”
Didn’t Marvin get into a fight with one of the Nets last year?
EmirS.
December 27th, 2011
1:05 pm
I’ll be missing the game tonight due to work….
But I’ll be checking in on live scoring! The advantages of being a manager
doc
December 27th, 2011
1:09 pm
rev what was our record in the last 27 games?
tyson chandler wont help?
sixers record far surpassed ours during the last two thirds if the season
pacers beat us like a drum the last meeting as they gelled and we swoonef
we lost jamal, gained t nac and smoove lost weight. that wont equal out.
O'Brien
December 27th, 2011
1:21 pm
Smith.Leuer.Bogut,
Who said Horford is a rim protector?
On defense, Horford is better at playing man-to-man defense, guarding his guy. He is not a good help defender, and he is not a shot blocker. So what’s your point?
When the Spurs won their last championships (after The Admiral retired), who was their rim protector? Duncan? What about when the Bulls won with MJ? Who was their rim protector? Luc Longley?
Teams dont have to have a dominant center to win championships. They need to play solid team defense. That’s the Hawks problem. It’s not just one guy.
Team defense is what wins.
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 27th, 2011
1:21 pm
as constructed we can beat the fallen Boston. Sorry. Lets not act as if beating an expired Celtics squad would be an accomplishment.
Everyone has to go through Miami and Chicago (and then whomever comes out of the West).
Now there are several Eastern teams that can beat ATL in a 7game series.
J
December 27th, 2011
1:22 pm
Guys , can i just say one thing and leave this blog for awhile … even if the Hawks make the playoffs and have a great year, people still won’t support them. This city is full of clown bandwagoners who will only come out if we have A. a superstar B. a championship. It’s that simple. It sucks. Same with the Braves and Falcons. The support here BLOWS!
O'Brien
December 27th, 2011
1:24 pm
doc,
Hawks were 11-19 in their last 30 games (if I’m not mistaken).
vava74
December 27th, 2011
1:29 pm
doc,
There is still hope that Ivan the Terrible will adapt his game to fit our need.
His stat lines in the NBDL are crazy, certifiably crazy.
He even got a triple double and was close several times racking up 7, 8 dimes.
Another interesting stat: there were many games in which he went to the line 12, 13, even 18 times and there were games in which he went only twice.
Yet another interesting fact: he was in and out the starting 5 all the time and still averaged 29ppg!!!
He could be a cross between Antony Mason and Leon Powe… the missing link
i_am_soulstar
December 27th, 2011
1:35 pm
Rev,
Marvin got into it with Shawne Williams when Shawne was playing for the Knicks
superiorblogman
December 27th, 2011
1:37 pm
Glad XMas is over, looking forward to tonite and hope you all enjoyed being with family. I like that part of the holidays.
Rev in Tampa
December 27th, 2011
1:39 pm
doc, everybody knows that the Hawks shut it down after their 5th seed was secured. They didn’t even show up the last six games.
Philadelphia had a good second half of the season but still could not break 500 win %.
The improvements that the Hawks have made since last year far surpass anything you have mentioned. The Hawks will be better on defense, they have more depth on the bench, they have a better point guard, and they have a noticably better attitude as a team.
MC says that JJ is taking more responsibility on his own shoulders, Josh worked to get in shape, Marvin is standing up straight, and LD is coaching for his job.
Besides, I have until 7:30 tonight to let my opitism run wild.
doc
December 27th, 2011
1:50 pm
rev, philly started about 2 – 18 last year and sniffed .500. only george karls first half season in denver was better for a turn around second half in my memory. we never really played no better than .500 after our start either.
but h*ll yes, run wild rev. heh heh
last time i was optimistic was start 2009 season suggesting a third seed ahead of boston.
it is a very quick shortened long season so really rationale prognostication is going out the window.
Mike is Back
December 27th, 2011
1:54 pm
MC, is there any talk of trying to resign Benson…this kid could be another DeAndre Jordon in a couple of years…just saying.
LET’S GO HAWK…LET’S GET THE SEASON STARTED RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
December 27th, 2011
1:56 pm
“Both are in their primes, so holding onto them much longer would hurt their trade value.”
“ROUND OF A ******NG APPLAUSE. smh I TOLD YOU THE VALUE HAS PEAKED. But no! “You’re a hater”.”
Unless I missed something, there’s a difference between “his value has peaked”, and “holding onto them much longer would hurt their trade value.”
Do you KNOW what the writer meant by “much longer”? Do you KNOW how long the prime is for any given player (particularly one who is only 25)?
Conjecture. That’s what you are good at. But it’s still conjecture.
Mike is Back
December 27th, 2011
1:57 pm
Dang, I must be still suffering from that beat down from last night.
LET TRY THIS AGAIN…GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 27th, 2011
2:09 pm
Who said Horford is a rim protector?
– Sautee, his brains been marinating too long imho
On defense, Horford is better at playing man-to-man defense, guarding his guy. He is not a good help defender, and he is not a shot blocker.
– very true. But when you meet a Perkins or Dwight etc. Then his man to man is gone. Or he plays Bosh who is 7 feet tall and can stand at the midrange and wait for Lebron/Wade to create and he plopped shots all over Horford’s all day.
When the Spurs won their last championships (after The Admiral retired), who was their rim protector? Tim Duncan?
Um yes.
”
In a game involving throwing a ball through a ten-foot cylinder, it’s hard to overemphasize the importance of height. Basketball games are won and lost by the rim, where a great center can dominate both sides of the ball. Offensively, the high release point of a seven-footer’s shot makes it nearly indefensible; defensively, their length forces smaller players to either shoot farther from the basket or try difficult release points to trick them at the rim.”
What about when the Bulls won with MJ? Who was their rim protector? Luc Longley?
- Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were blocking shots forcing bad shots and getting steals.
But thats a non sequitur. Whats your point? Bulls had Scottie and Jordan with their smothering perimeter defense. We have Josh Smith, and Joe Johnson. Or the inferior tweener Marvin Williams.
“A championship team needs someone who can protect the rim defensively and an elite shot-creator offensively. Occasionally, in the case of someone like Tim Duncan, one player can fill both roles.”
Horford is neither. So why is he here?
Just Joe
December 27th, 2011
2:14 pm
“So why is he here?”….because the league makes us keep at least 13 guys on the roster, and he’s better than at least 11 other guys we have???
Just Joe
December 27th, 2011
2:18 pm
Seriously though, I get your point (I should, you’ve given it at least 1,000 times). You believe that Al Horford is more valuable as a trade chip than he is a player on this roster. My opinion (even though you didn’t ask) is that Al Horford will not net (in trade) an elite shot-creator or an elite rim-defender, so why trade him? He will not get you Dwight or Bynum or BOGUT or Deandre Jordan. He’s a solid role player and is paid as such. He’s Carlos Boozer, a third or fourth option on offense and a good team defender.
honest_abe
December 27th, 2011
2:34 pm
ivan johnson played in the k-league. nuff said. being a second generation korean myself i’m embarassed that they even call what they do in the k-league basketball. i’ve seen better competition watching 8th graders. bah!
hawks are the 3rd best team in the east. having the same core should give them the advantage during this shortented crazy season.
anybody else catch woody trying to look useful on sunday? welcome back to the nba mr. potato head. new york goes down several notches for hiring him and his elaborate defensive schemes. “switch” if if you life depends on it!
Sautee
December 27th, 2011
2:36 pm
Flavor Flav,
“Who said Horford is a rim protector?”
“– Sautee, his brains been marinating too long imho”
OK, when did I ever say that? Ever?
No.
I defend Horford when bogus stats are used, and when posters put words in his mouth that he never uttered, but I’ve only said that he was the best Center we have on the roster. And that SOMETHING made the coaches choose him for the All Star Game.
If THAT somehow translates to “Sautee says he’s a rim protector” in your marinated brain…
well, let’s be kind and say that you are a bit addled.
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 27th, 2011
2:43 pm
Unless I missed something, there’s a difference between “his value has peaked”, and “holding onto them much longer would hurt their trade value.”
You did miss something … “The Hawks have always weighed the merits of keeping, or moving, Smith and Horford. Both are tweeners*. Horford is undersized at center but doesn’t have a face-the-basket game for power forward.” -Shaun Powell nba.com
Stretch Forward
“He fits that mold,” said Coach Drew the day after news broke of the signing. “He’s a 4 that can really stretch the defense. We did a lot of homework on him. Certainly when you have a 4 that can go out to the 3-point line, it gives you an added weapon. With Joe’s ability to force double-teams to focus on him, having that 4 that can go out there and stretch it… it just gives you an added weapon.”
Josh can’t stretch or play perimeter well and neither can Al. A year ago a recovering Bogut and #40 pick could have been had. So why do we still have these two tweeners and salt on the wound…Marv, a 3rd incompetent perimeter player, starting?
Melvin
December 27th, 2011
2:51 pm
The Nets starting forwards combine for 30 rebs last night. Marvin and Josh better block out tonight.
Melvin
December 27th, 2011
3:03 pm
How many on here knew that the Hawks are the OLDEST team in the league. I saw that stat on the NBATV preseason show the other day.
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 27th, 2011
3:05 pm
Rakim,
“Who said Horford is a rim protector?”
“– Sautee, his brains been marinating too long imho”
OK, when did I ever say that? Ever?
………
It wasn’t you who compared Horfords blocks to 7′footers Bynum and Chandler?
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 27th, 2011
3:06 pm
Nets likely do better without Lopez. talk about empty #s. They can spread the offense around now I guess
KevinM
December 27th, 2011
3:08 pm
Hawks starting on their 1st back-2-back of the year.
We all know they should win both, but tonight is a tossup. We have no idea if this team will be in sync tonight. They haven’t shown it yet.
They will get pushed by the Wizards on the break while we welcome back JC2 to Philips, who sure would look good as the 6th man here instead of Marvin….wow, is that possible to think that?
Anyway, look for the starters to play MAJOR minutes tonight. Will we get any production out of our bench? If anything, our bench is 1/2 court dependent.
Of all the guys on our team, JT has his hands full both nights. The rest of the guys need to pick him up.
Did JT play with his bro Marquis in Lexington this summer when Wall came back to Lexington? Just curious.
Just Joe
December 27th, 2011
3:21 pm
I also compared Horford’s playoff blocked shots with Bynum & Chandler, which in no way suggests that Horford is a shotblocker. It only shows that there is not that large of a gap in blocks between those 3.
Also, above where you give total blocks to avg minutes per game, you can’t just leave out the # of games. You should revise that to show total blocks compared to total minutes. That may help you make your point.
Sautee
December 27th, 2011
3:26 pm
Flavor Flav,
about this:
“It wasn’t you who compared Horfords blocks to 7′footers Bynum and Chandler?”
Yes, I compared their block stats in playoff games, but where did I say that Horford was a “rim protector”?
I didn’t. Don’t put words in my mouth.
That’s called “lying”.
Hittman jamillion
December 27th, 2011
3:33 pm
The only team im afraid of is the matchup with the knicks frontcourt,though our back courts crazy
Bertie
December 27th, 2011
3:38 pm
Congratulations are in order to Al Horford on his marriage to Amelia Vega, Miss Universe 2003, on December 24th in Santo Domingo, D.R.
Good luck to the Hawks in their opening game tonight. Need a big game from Josh and Al and high shooting % from JJ.
BigTimeTECHFan
December 27th, 2011
3:49 pm
Ricky Rubio was nice player in his 1st game.
He and Teague will be future stars. not media darlings but real players
KevinM
December 27th, 2011
3:50 pm
The Horfords….we should see alot of her at Philips!!
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://thepageantplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Amelia-Vega-y-Al-Horford-boda.jpg&imgrefurl=http://thepageantplanet.com/blog/former-miss-universe-amelia-vega-marries-nba-player-wed.html&usg=__me6tWZQ0wWP6KGLpstFsOPvv4Ac=&h=521&w=970&sz=304&hl=en&start=10&zoom=1&tbnid=f0hwwX6s-dqJ_M:&tbnh=80&tbnw=149&ei=9i76Trs38-CxApDzoKoB&prev=/search%3Fq%3DAmelia%2BVega%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DG%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1
RMan
December 27th, 2011
4:19 pm
Nothing to substantiate my feelings of optimism at season’s start, but just sense that the Hawks will do much better than anticipated this year and will make it to the Eastern Conference Finals!
Abandoned Hawk
December 27th, 2011
4:26 pm
I’m no longer in the south and would still love to watch the games online. Is there anyway I could do this?
Can anyone please help?
Rod from College Park
December 27th, 2011
4:48 pm
Look at these quotes from Andray Blatche after last nights game. Total opposite of what we are dealing with.
“You can’t keep having me pick-and-pop and shooting jump shots,” Blatche said in the locker room. “Give me the ball in the paint. That’s where I’m most effective at. I’ve been saying that since training camp: I need the ball in the paint. I don’t want to be the pick-and-pop guy that I used to be. It’s not working for me.”
I wish some of our front court players would make statements like this.
Slimjr
December 27th, 2011
4:53 pm
C’mon Joe Johnson! Shut up those freaking detractors this year Sir!!!
Slimjr
December 27th, 2011
4:54 pm
Let the games begin tonight!
Hawks by 25!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 27th, 2011
5:02 pm
“I saw a lot of footage earlier today on Ivan and he is… tchan tchan tchaaaaaaannnn…
a perimeter player!!!! He loooooves shooting jumpers (and has a decent touch).”
I got the same impression watching him in the preseason games. I can see how he might throw his body around and get boards, but he is every bit as in love with his jumper as Josh Powell was when he would come into the game.
Sautee
December 27th, 2011
5:03 pm
Rod,
Yeah, me too. I know you’ve seen me say that Horford needs to be inside a lot more, even if his effectiveness is barely sufficient. It just sets up the game better when you work inside-out.
But if Blatche were leading the league in FG% from 16-23 ft., would he still say the same?
Najeh Davenpoop
December 27th, 2011
5:08 pm
Regarding those ESPN predictions linked by Rev in Tampa, I don’t think 35 wins is a bad prediction for the Hawks this year (I have them at about 37-38), but the win predictions for some of the teams higher in the standings (Celtics and Magic in particular) seem way inflated.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
December 27th, 2011
5:08 pm
Any inventors out there? I think some Ivan Johnson muscle man suits would make a lot of money down there at Phillips. If you take my idea Gearon I got my lawyers ready.