Atlanta Hawks: Rockets 95, Hawks 84
Houston–The Hawks say they expected the Rockets to come out firing even though they were playing their third game in as many nights and despite the travel headaches upon their return to Houston. “That always happens, when a team is wall and you find out what they are about,” Al Horford said. “This team came out right off the bat they jumped quick on us and were never really able to recover from the fist quarter.”
- So if the Hawks weren’t caught flat-footed, it means their first game against an opponent with a variety of talented offensive players and good execution showed their defense still has a ways to go. Or maybe it’s also that they don’t match up well with a team that can spread the floor, dribble penetrate, share the ball and make shots–and do all of that with speed.
- “They pushed the tempo on us and we didn’t seem to have any defensive energy,” Tracy McGrady said. “We let Kyle Lowry push the ball up and find shooters. [Luis] Scola was playing well. You’ve got Kevin Martin hitting threes from all over the place. Chase Budinger is there in the corner. I thought they would have tired legs, but they came in and played well. You’ve got to give them credit.”
- The Rockets immediately took it to the Hawks. Only foul trouble for Scola, Larry Drew’s zone defense and their inevitable weary legs late slowed them down. It certainly wasn’t Atlanta’s D.
- “They played their third game in three nights and came out and played at a higher level than we did,” Drew said. “I told the guys that is totally unacceptable.”
- In the first period Houston scored 22 points in the paint and recorded assists on eight of its 13-field goals. Atlanta offered little resistance at the basket and struggled to create anything but jump shots. By the time they did more of both the Rockets were on their way to the W.
- There was some of the same “they just made shots” refrain from the Hawks but the energy, rotations and close-outs looked lackluster to me. There has been a gradual deterioration in all those areas since the first game, and the Hawks ran up against an opponent good enough to exploit them.
- “We didn’t fly around and contest like we did the first couple games, particularly the first game,” Drew said. “We reverted back to short closeouts and not getting out there with a sense of urgency. With our theory as far as closeouts you have got to make them put the ball on the floor. We did not do that.”
- The contrast between Lowry and Jeff Teague was clear tonight. Both players are surrounded by offensive talent but only one of them got his teammates going. “I hope my young guy can take a look at that and see how you can impact the game and not score points,” Drew said. “Sometimes scoring can be overrrated. Good point guards still find a way to impact the game irregardless if they score.”
- Of course, it helps that Lowry’s teammates know their strengths and weaknesses and play to them. Luis Scola took it to Horford, who was cross-matched, with nifty moves around the basket and fired up Js within his range and only when open. Martin, who was off to a slow start this season, came off screens for clean looks or spotted up and waited Lowry’s kick-outs. Budinger spotted up for 3s or used his athleticism to clean up around the basket. Houston’s spacing and crispness were superb.
- Josh Smith had another erratic offensive night. There were missed Js, wayward drives to the basket, strong scores at the rim and eight-free throw attempts (but he only made four). For the second night in a row Josh and Al saw an opposing big dominate the boards–carer-high 15 rebounds for Jordan Hill, who ain’t exactly Kris Humphries.
- I thought Marvin Williams was solid again but he played just 21 minutes (McGrady’s strong night had something to do with that, too). He started 3 for 3 while his teammates were 0 for 5.
- Joe Johnson never consistently bullied Martin on the block the way you would expect. There’s no way he shouldn’t get to the free-throw line in that matchup. A night after Joe seemed to relish schooling MarShon Brooks he let K-Mart get the best of him.
- Jason Collins’ debut didn’t go well. This wasn’t the kind of game where he could be effective. Houston ratcheted up its assault on the rim during his time on the floor. Zaza Pachulia also found it difficult to do his thing with the furious pace. Vladimir Radmanovic (0 for 5) looked a bit out of sorts again.
- Interesting, though, that the plus-minus numbers show that the bench guys held their own while the starters got drilled.
- McGrady, back in Houston for just the second time since he left, helped lead Atlanta’s brief rally in the fourth quarter. The boos grew louder as he played better. “It is what it is,” he said. “I don’t give a [bleep] about that. I am used to it. It was [also] Toronto and then Orlando. Who cares.”
- McGrady’s rebounding adds a valuable dimension to the Hawks. He’s going to get some against opposing second units.
- The Hawks are at Miami on Monday and at Chicago on Tuesday. A three-game losing streak after the 3-0 start is a real possibility.
- “It’s a challenge for our team to see how we care going to compete,” T-Mac said. “Are we going to crawl back and be pouting about this loss? Or are we going to come out and compete against the Eastern Conference champs on Monday? If we want to go and be mentioned in the same breath as Miami or Chicago, we have got to go do something.”
- Happy New Year, blog people. Peace and prosperity to you and yours.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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284 comments Add your comment
Lacsho
January 1st, 2012
4:13 pm
J from the A, we don’t think the sky is falling. We’ve seen this movie before, that’s all.
Lacsho
January 1st, 2012
4:14 pm
What’s good Sautee!!!
Grandmaster JeJe
January 1st, 2012
4:25 pm
Stop leaving the damn bench lineup in for so long.
LD’s substitution pattern still sucks
Big Ray
January 1st, 2012
4:48 pm
JeJe,
It always has….
O'Brien
January 1st, 2012
5:02 pm
It is just one loss, but there are some things to keep an eye on.
LD said he expects JJ to use his size (6’7”) to rebound more. Well, in 32 mpg, JJ is only averaging 2.5 rpg.
2 blocks per game for Al is good, but in 29 mpg, he is only averaging 6 rpg, and Josh is averaging 7 rpg. Hopefully with more PT, both guys will increase their rebounding to double digits.
Josh is shooting 55% on his FT, and 38% from the field (his long jumpers are killing his FG%). Lots of room for improvement.
O'Brien
January 1st, 2012
5:05 pm
AJ,
Another good thing about JJ so far, is he has not had to chase PGs around.
Astro Joe
January 1st, 2012
5:15 pm
OB, in fairness to the rebounding numbers, my guess is that Marvin is pulling down some rebounds that would normally go to Al and Josh. If the total of those 3 is down year-over-year, then that is a problem.
Even with last night’s debacle, the Hawks (I’m guessing) are scoring more points than last season. If the bench is better, if Marvin scores more and if Teague scores more than last year’s PGs and if the Hawks only score a few more points per game, then basic math suggests that the scoring averages of the captains are in decline. Sorry for being such an idealistic team-first guy, but I could give a crap about individual scoring if the team is producing more total points.
Ole Hawk's Fan
January 1st, 2012
5:18 pm
This team I thought should have beat Houston. McHale made Woddie Lite looks like the coach he really is, OVERMATCHED! FIRE LD< SUND & ASG. Why in the HELL did we waive Benson and Sy to bring in no shot, no defense PRAGO! What in the HELL does this guy sho has been out the league three years. WTF? Only The Cheap ASG owners and SUND would do this. This team as the roster is right now, will not make the playoff with Woddie Lite coaching. JJ is not worth 9 million a season not the 20 something Million that he is being overpaid. This guy disappears in crunch times!
Rev in Tampa
January 1st, 2012
5:25 pm
Nobody in church this morning talked any smack to me about the Bucs/Falcons game. Usually some of the older ladies can’t resist giving me a little grief. But I guess they knew what was coming. Yet I am still surprised after waking up from my afternoon nap and seeing a 35-0 score so early into the second quarter. If this keeps happening it will be very difficult to resist saying anything.
PEDRO EL GITANO
January 1st, 2012
5:26 pm
Enter your comments here
Astro Joe
January 1st, 2012
5:26 pm
Rev, make that 42-0. Happy New Year.
Rev in Tampa
January 1st, 2012
5:28 pm
Opps. I blinked. 42-0.
Raheem Morris has impressed me as the coach of the Bucs. But something happened on that team about eight or nine weeks ago. He has lost this team and will likely lose his job.
SteveW
January 1st, 2012
5:29 pm
Jeff Teague – 6 pts, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 TO’s in 30 minutes or so
Lowery – 2 pts, 6 TO’s, but 18 dimes in 40+ minutes.
Teague with the best +/- by far of all Hawks starters at -3 for his time on the court. The other starters were at -14 or higher.
I joked and said Pargo would replace JT after 3 games. I may not be far off.
JT can’t get Josh to go where he needs to. Neither could Bibby – remember Woody telling Bibby to tell Josh to get closer to the basket, and Bibby telling Woody, “You tell him!”.
This is about Coaching, not about Jeff Teague.
This about JJ not dominating Kevin Martin like he should be able to.
This is about Josh and poor shot selection.
This about Al and Josh, and their inability to box out, which 5th grade girls are taught to do.
This is about LD not being able to play a lineup when called for of Marvin at PF, TMac at SF, and JJ at SG or TMac at the Point, JJ at SG, and Marvin at SF.
No Jeff didn’t play his best game. But MC put it best – the Rocket players know where there supposed to be, and the Hawks don’t really yet.
And that’s not JT’s fault as much as it is LD’s. You gotta make the guys accountable. He’s got to be the “bad” guy. He thought Hinrich could do it. False. Comes from the Coach. I’m not sure CP3 or DeRon or Rose could do it with this group.
Okay, I’m done venting for now.
SteveW
January 1st, 2012
5:34 pm
If Josh doesn’t quit shooting so many J’s, I wonder if a Josh/Hinrich/1st pick trade for Pau Gasol would be appealing to the Lakers? The Lakers sure do need a PG and some talented youth.
Doubt the Lakers would do it though.
Grandmaster JeJe
January 1st, 2012
5:35 pm
FIRE SUND
SteveW
January 1st, 2012
5:36 pm
Overall, I still think we’re better than last season. We’ve haven’t matched up well with Houston the last couple of times we’ve played them.
I think we will give Miami fits Monday nite. Chicago, maybe not quite so much.
STRETCH
January 1st, 2012
5:40 pm
Steve,
The Hawks are gonna loose 3 in a row. They are talented and yes better than last season, but still doing the same ole things. And anytime you name a guy like JS as a captain, that shows your organization doesnt have a clue!
Rev in Tampa
January 1st, 2012
5:50 pm
The Hawks have this uncanny ability to flip the switch off and on like no other team I’ve ever witnessed. I believe that they will flip in on for the South Beach game. It will be a good game.
Dom
January 1st, 2012
6:01 pm
What a truely pathetic game, in every aspect… Actually disrespectfull to hawks fans and houston fans looking to see a good game.
First I would like to call out josh smith. There must be an end to his jumpers, and uncontrolled plays.. Does he see himself in replays and video analysis??!! DRIVE THE BALL!!!
Then i want to call out LD!! I expect better performances from him too!!! There is absolutely no
intuition or game reading in his substitution politics. What are you telling these guys before the game and in critical situations????
Come on atlanta you are better than that!!!!
northcyde
January 1st, 2012
6:04 pm
I just have to re-state what SteveW said about our rotations. When you look at the game flow of last night’s game, you have to wonder what the hell Drew was thinking about. Not only did he take out Teague within 4 minutes after the 3rd quarter started, he subbed Willie Green for Teague.
That’s exactly when the Houston 14 – 4 run in the 3rd quarter happened.
Matter of fact, Teague and Marvin got subbed out during that run, for Green and Pargo. McGrady didn’t even get into the game until the 4 minute mark of the 3rd quarter. Marvin played 6 minutes in the 3rd, and didn’t even get back into the game. And even the 4th quarter run the Hawks went on, didn’t start until Teague came back into the game.
I mean seriously . . . how does Willie Green play 11 minutes in the 2nd half, but Marvin only plays 6? As well as Marvin has been playing lately, that is inexcusable. Put T-Mac at the 2 and get Green out the damn game to start the 4th.
And Jason Collins should’ve NEVER played in this game. WE all know what he’s good for, so let’s not even front about it. If we’re not playing a team in which the offense is going through a center, he does NOT need to be playing. Play him ONLY against Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum types. He is a reserve SCRUB center. Don’t act like he’s a vital part of the rotation.
While JJ and Smith didn’t do nearly enough to win the game last night, Drew screwed himself with those rotations last night. Dude must do better in these types of games. Don’t let questionable rotations cost you a chance to win a game.
northcyde
January 1st, 2012
6:09 pm
I mean . . just look at the sub patterns last night.
http://popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gameflow.cgi?date=20111231&game=ATLHOU
i_am_soulstar
January 1st, 2012
6:21 pm
LD’s substitution patterns are the same as last season, only Marvin hasn’t been the weak link in this season’s games. Time to adjust, LD.
Slimjr
January 1st, 2012
6:32 pm
I like Josh for Derrick Williams
All NBA, Marvin, filler for D12
Derrick, Josh, D12 front line…
Slimjr
January 1st, 2012
6:32 pm
Ld has got to go………………………
Slimjr
January 1st, 2012
6:34 pm
Larry Drew= Bobby Cox, x and o is the weakness…
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
January 1st, 2012
6:35 pm
“I like Josh for Derrick Williams
All NBA, Marvin, filler for D12
Derrick, Josh, D12 front line…”
How can Josh be in two places at the same time when he’s nowhere at all?
(Thanks to F. Zappa)
Slimjr
January 1st, 2012
6:36 pm
Ops! Derrick, Vlad, D12…LOL!
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
January 1st, 2012
6:38 pm
My favorite Zappa quote was about Rolling Stone magazine:
“Basically it’s people who can’t write, interviewing people who can’t talk for people who can’t read.”
Priceless.
Slimjr
January 1st, 2012
6:41 pm
Josh probably has a dopple ganger:
“A double or identical replica of a person. The concept revolves around the belief that everyone has a doppleganger, an identical copy of “… LMFAO!!!!!
Now my trades work! lol!
JaeEvolution
January 1st, 2012
7:07 pm
If Lebron can literally take 3’s out of his game and you could argue that he wasn’t a bad shooter just a streaky one, then Josh can stop shooting mid-range and focus on attacking the damn hoop, he could easily be a terror on the attack to the rim!
Rusty
January 1st, 2012
7:10 pm
Larry Drew = hawks failure to play at teams full strength
Ken Strickland
January 1st, 2012
7:17 pm
If Bibby was still here, I’ll bet Drew would have had him on the flloor the entire 4th quarter. And there’s no other way to explain LDrew not playing Marvin other than to say, HC LDREW WAS BEING DOWNRIGHT STUPID. He basically pulled the same stupid move against the Nets.
JaeEvolution
January 1st, 2012
7:28 pm
sam_amick Sam Amick
Shocking Kings statement released regarding DeMarcus Cousins, who was sent home from the team’s home game against New Orleans tonight.
sam_amick Sam Amick
Kings coach Paul Westphal says Cousins demanded to be traded: “When a player continually, aggressively, lets it be known that he is…
sam_amick Sam Amick
Westphal: “…unwilling/unable to embrace traveling in the same direction as his team, it cannot be ignored indefinitely.”
At least Josh isn’t an absolute headcase, Demarcus is really showing those red flags scouts marked him for in the draft, guys like Demarcus really need to go to a system where the coach won’t take none of this cancerous attitude stuff…
Phuch Le` Duch
January 1st, 2012
7:52 pm
pronounced / foosh le duke
i remember reading on his blog a year or two ago about trading josh for kevin love and the people around here acted as like that idea was assenine to even consider that idae. boy i bet now we would make that trade in a blink. back then everbody thought josh was better because he could jump higher and run fatser.
Grandmaster JeJe
January 1st, 2012
7:55 pm
Cosign Northcyde.
Our bench backcourt can’t be getting those minutes,
Wtf @ Marvin’s minutes just dying away. Is he mysteriously hurt or something?
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
January 1st, 2012
7:56 pm
“back then everbody thought josh was better because he could jump higher and run fatser.”
That was before he lost weight. Now he runs thinser.
Grandmaster JeJe
January 1st, 2012
7:59 pm
Josh Hinrich and a 1st for Gasol works for me.
Northcyde what you think about that?
Hawks100
January 1st, 2012
8:02 pm
josh smith was my favorite player but he makes stupid decisions….. now larry drew is making bad decisions and the hawks should fire him and take back mike woodson / he is a lot better coach, nothing against LD but he will not help the hawks out in the future. I think the starting lineup should be jeff teague, joe johnson, marvin williams al horford, jason collins so we have some height because josh smith cant rebound. sit josh smith till he learns how to play right and fire LD…
BoneKollector
January 1st, 2012
8:07 pm
Well this is wat a fan of the Kings wrote about DeMarcus Cousins:
“I’ve watched all 4 games of the kings this season, and Cousins is the only player that is committed to winning. He plays tough, and with passion, unlike the rest of the team which is all about ME ME ME… It is Paul Westphal that needs to go, and if the Kings Management do not see this, then they are obviously wanting the Kings to leave the city by having them be the worst team in the league. Cousins will win a championship with a team that wants to win, with a coach that KNOWS how to coach now, not how it was in 1992, you can see that he loves the game, and as a Kings supporter, I will be saddened if he gets traded instead of Westphal getting the sack…”
Soooooo
BoneKollector
January 1st, 2012
8:11 pm
Josh for DeMarcus trade might Happen
ryan
January 1st, 2012
8:13 pm
Its funny win the Hawks win everyone has positive things to say but when they loose one game the sky is falling .
MattP
January 1st, 2012
8:18 pm
Hawks100,
Collins can’t rebound or do anything else beside annoy people.
Rusty
January 1st, 2012
8:20 pm
Winning or losing doesn’t make a difference we all know LD is a loser. He will just hurt this team.
KevinM
January 1st, 2012
8:29 pm
Sund should look to see what it will take to get Cousins here. I don’t think Sac needs any more PFs though….they let Dalembert go, throwing all their chips in with Cousins, putting in 27mpg, and averaging a double/double….13/11…how good would he look in our lineup?
Could he defend against Bynum and D12 if he has so much trouble with former teammate Harrelson?
Wanna bet Sac would ask for Al? It wouldn’t surprise me at all.
And our current roster gets to prove itself tomorrow night. Like someone said earlier, the Heat has an advantage at virtually every spot on the starting lineup…..Teague and Horford have to make up for the differences and that’s too tall a task.
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
January 1st, 2012
8:44 pm
“Its funny win the Hawks win everyone has positive things to say but when they loose one game the sky is falling .”
“Winning or losing doesn’t make a difference we all know LD is a loser.”
If they “loose” a game then shouldn’t LD be a “looser”? Be consistent, will ya?
northcyde
January 1st, 2012
8:45 pm
Damn . . . OJ Mayo falls into the side of Zach Randolph’s knee. Hope it’s just a knee sprain, but the knee definitely buckled inward.. He did walk off the court under his own power, but he was limping heavily.
Bulls defense looks very good right now.
And Miami destroys Charlotte, with the Big 3 not even playing 30 minutes. Fatigue won’t be an issue for them tomorrow night.
Astro Joe
January 1st, 2012
8:47 pm
I seem to recall some dispute regarding Love’s rebounding prowess and rather it was as significant as the media suggested. Meanwhile, the Lakers alledgedly offered Gasol for Love.
Meanwhile, I have a feeling that Josh has one of those “I told you so” games in him for tomorrow evening.
Rusty
January 1st, 2012
8:49 pm
Read peach tree hoops for interesting article on LD & JT.
Slimjr
January 1st, 2012
8:55 pm
Josh+ Larry= one and done…..
Slimjr
January 1st, 2012
8:56 pm
series^^^^