Atlanta Hawks: Heat 116, Hawks 109 (3 OT)
Al Horford summed it up: “This by far has to be my worst defeat here as a Hawk. I didn’t feel like we wanted to win this game.” Possible exceptions include Ivan Johnson, Willie Green and Tracy McGrady.
- This was the kind of loss that people who can’t embrace the Hawks predict as soon as they hear LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are out. And then it happened. “I wish they would have played, to be perfectly honest,” Larry Drew said. “I think if they would have played we would have taken a whole different approach.”
- To get a sense of the Hawks’ disarray in this loss, listen to the various explanations for the poor pick-and-roll coverages that plagued them all game.
- Drew on Chris Bosh’s game-tying 3 at the end of regulation: “Mental, mental breakdown. Just total mental breakdowns from key players. We knew they were going for the quick basket. We were going to switch a lot of the things. When you make a switch, you come together. We didn’t do that. We tried to cheat the play and they stepped right in between us. It should not have been switched because we didn’t come together.”
- Horford: “That’s a miscommunication there. That went on all game. Guys were not on the same page and we weren’t switching. We were having some problems with the coverages. Jeff [Teague], you can’t fault him, he expects it to be done the right way every time.”
- Josh Smith: “I don’t know how much louder I can scream for whoever it is that a man is coming up and setting a screen. . . . We were giving up too many straight-line drives to the basket and dribble-drive layups. It’s disappointing to see that when somebody makes a play, as teammates we have to come up and help them. ”
- Drew said he didn’t want to foul on Miami’s last possession of regulation: “I trust my defense in that situation. We did everything right except we had a breakdown on our switch. We didn’t switch it. It just took a moment for Bosh to step back and get open. I thought we did everything perfect up that point.”
- The Hawks missed 12 free throws after halftime. “You’ve got to step up and make them,” Joe Johnson said. “I’m one of the biggest culprits.”
- Johnson also missed 6 of 7 3-point tries. He missed all three of his shots in the third overtime, when the Hawks became just the 10th team in league history to fail to score in an overtime period.
- The talk about Johnson’s renewed energy for this season looks flimsy now. For the second game in a row the Hawks needed their alpha dog to make one or two plays to win and he couldn’t do it.
- Teague struggled, too. He had five steals and seven assists against two turnovers but missed 11 of 12 shots and four of eight free throws. He didn’t fight hard through screens at times though, after talking to Drew and the Hawks, I’m still not sure how much of that is his fault–because they didn’t sound sure, either.
- Teague is still learning on the job but he didn’t look as confident tonight. “We missed shots and it carried over to our defense, starting with me,” Teague said.
- McGrady (14 points on eight shots, five assists, seven rebounds) didn’t play after the first overtime. Drew said it was a strategic decision and then McGrady wasn’t able to return: “While he was on the bench he stiffened up and he couldn’t get back in there.”
- McGrady: “I sat down for too long.”
- Smith was spent for the third overtime. He slumped on the scorer’s table before the jump ball. Horford pumped his fist and yelled: “Smoove! Come on, man!”
- Josh: “I understand that they are looking to me to generate most of the energy but at the same time we are all professionals. Everybody has to be able to go out there and play no matter who steps out there on the floor.”
- Horford got Bosh in Miami; Bosh returned the favor tonight. “He’s tough, man,” Horford said. “He knows how to play. He buys into his role with his team and steps back, but we know he’s capable of doing that any time.”
- Vladimir Radmanovic makes contributions but he can’t make a shot. This is a problem since that’s why the Hawks signed him.
- The good vibes generated by the Hawks after the W in Miami are gone now. And they still have to play two more games in two days.
- “The frustrating part is it’s little things we can control,” Horford said. “It’s free throws, it’s little things on defense that we do sometimes and other times we don’t. Tonight we probably let our guards down with those two guys being out. That’s somewhat of a factor, but that’s still no excuse.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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154 comments Add your comment
Wabe
January 6th, 2012
7:33 am
Their wise cracks are actually wise words…
They made sense, and as Barkley said, they’re not piling on a team when they’re speaking the truth.
El Bravo
January 6th, 2012
7:36 am
I really want to hate on Marvin but, to be honest, I’ve seen him flash at the post with great position against shorter guys at least 15 times only to be ignored by the ball handler. He used to have a pretty reliable jump hook with both hands in years 2 and 3 but he never gets the ball there. Against the Bulls he got 6 early points yet he was the first one out. Against the Heat he had 5 early points and again he gets the quick hook. The biggest flaw I saw with his game the last two nights is that he passes too often on open threes, opting to swing the ball.
Sand Pile
January 6th, 2012
7:37 am
This is why I refuse to become a Hawk fan. I try at all cost to ” avoid disappointments”! This is not a team, they are a group of millionaires out for themselves.
Tremaine
January 6th, 2012
7:41 am
Josh Smith is clueless. Please get rid of this guy as soon as possible.
The Human Highlight dude
January 6th, 2012
7:42 am
Cant be losing the last 2 games, thats why the Hawks are NOT an elite team, up 17 & lose in Chicago & then lose to the wounded Heat??? C’mon man, MAN UP !!!!!!!!!!!!
El Bravo
January 6th, 2012
7:42 am
Jeff Teague has been killing us not only with the missed free throws but he was 2 for 8 against the Bulls and 1 for 12 against the Heat. Joe Johnson hasn’t been much better, 3 for 17 against the Bulls and 7 for 20 against the Heat. Also, their defense against Chalmers was embarrassing. If you want to know the reason why we lost those two games there it is.
Section 303
January 6th, 2012
7:51 am
This team is done. I was disgusted watching them play last night.
How many uncontested layups are they planning to give up this season? They refuse to help each other. I watched Josh and Al litterally just stand and allow guys to get layups. It happened so many times last night, that I lost count.
Then, all this team does is argue with each other. At one point I thought Teague and Josh were going to start shoving each other. LD stepped in and got the two to shake hands. LD has to feel like he is running a preschool.
How awful is Joe Johnson? I’m not sure he was even the 10th best player on the floor last night. He offers nothing to this team, but missed shots and turnovers. Glad I’m not the one paying him max money.
Ivan Johnson and T-Mac are the only players we have. Ivan bailed the team out several times, or we don’t even see one OT. Sad…you have this wonder core of 4 guys who produce nothing. A guy who was a D-Leaguer (I’m not knocking him, that’s what he was) comes in and is clearly the best player on the floor.
Season is over, guys. This team is done. Put it in stone. They are done. They’ve quit. They do not play together. I don’t like Josh Smith. Never really have. But, not sure I like anyone on this team, save for T-Mac and Ivan Johnson.
They will lose by 17. I see Najeh set the line at -15 for the Bobcats, I’m going two better. Go to Vegas. Bet the house on the Bobcats.
dBall
January 6th, 2012
7:52 am
Ok Hawks Fans….bottom line: THIS TEAM HAS NO LEADER ON THE FLOOR OR ON THE BENCH!!! NO LEADERSHIP IN THE FRONT OFFICE AS WELL. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?? WE WILL GET THE SAME RESULTS UNTIL SOME CHANGES ARE MADE WITH THIS TEAM and FRONT OFFICE….bottom line!! MAYBE PLAYOFFS & DONE!! BET ON IT!!!
Section 303
January 6th, 2012
7:54 am
Oh…in an effort to dig for another positive….Willie Green played well, too.
Blow the team up. Please! There is no one on the roster that is untouchable. No one. Just blow it up. I’d rather have a lottery team than these a$$holes.
honest_abe
January 6th, 2012
7:55 am
how much truth did sir charles speak last night? like every single word that came out of his mouth was spot on.
#1 hawks lack toughness
#2 you shouldn’t have to count on the bench to bring you energy
#3 this team reached it’s ceiling 3 years ago against boston
#4 the atl fanbase is clueless. not even a moderate cheer for ivan as he came off the floor
#5 ld is a moron
please somebody, anybody give josh smith a one way ticket out of here! i don’t think i can stomach another hawks game if i have to watch that buffoon, i’m sorry i mean captain try to lead a team. it’s like the blind leading the mentally handicapped. every hawks game is so discombobulated. if that’s what they call basketball i don’t need to watch it. bums. can please someone throw some beer at michael gearon. that would be priceless.
O'Brien
January 6th, 2012
7:57 am
Hawks FT% for each game.
Game 1: 18-21, 86%; Game 2: 17-22, 77%
Game 3: 27-38, 71%; Game 4: 10-16, 63%
Game 5: 13-20, 65%; Game 6: 14-25, 56%
Game 7: 31-46, 67%.
69% from the line for the season. Unacceptable. Is it fair to say that FT shooting is also about mental toughness and focus?
Another unacceptable number. 3-pointers.
Game 1: 12-23, 52%; Game 2: 6-16, 38%
Game 3: 4-15, 27%; Game 4: 4-16, 25%
Game 5: 9-16, 56%; Game 6: 4-15, 27%
Game 7: 6-22, 27%.
36% for the season. But if you take away game 1 and game 5, they are shooting 29% from 3.
Section 303
January 6th, 2012
7:57 am
And…just save the “I defend Josh Smith at all costs” b#llsh#t today. Just save it. Take a day off. Anyone who defends that guy just needs to stop. Josh is nothing but a spoiled brat who has the basketball IQ of a rock. His poor shot selection and lazy play kill this team. And, as a season ticket holder for many years, the “I have to pout at the end of the bench” act has totally run it’s course.
LD should have told J-Smoove to go F himself at the end of the first quarter last night.
jgsbirds
January 6th, 2012
7:57 am
i watched this game from start to finish and other than a post up down low, a few feeble attempts at pick and rolls–i did not see a set play all night. our offense is designed like a rec league team. i can’t remember one time did i say wow look how that play was drawn up. what an awful performance!!!
i can go out right now and make one of two free throws and i haven’t shot a ball in 6 months. bet the house on it!!!!
honest_abe
January 6th, 2012
7:58 am
if ld wants to get control of this team he’ll tell sit josh for an entire game. if anything ld proved to me that he’s scared of josh and his childish tantrums. get rid of josh now and they might be able to salvage this season.
Section 303
January 6th, 2012
8:00 am
honest abe, I love Charles, but if he said that there was no cheer for Ivan, he’s full of sh#t. People cheered for him. I was there. F Charles for towing the line and just blindly ripping ATL fans.
I’ve been in arenas all over the country, both college and pro. Fans, for the most part, no different wherever you go.
Tremaine
January 6th, 2012
8:02 am
JOSH SMITH=CANCER
honest_abe
January 6th, 2012
8:03 am
does anyone else notice how much better the hawks played in the 4th quartter with josh’s sorry ass on the bench?
i mean here’s this guy who lacks any self control trying to be the leader of this team. i was watching the bench throughout the 4th while josh was on the bench waiting for him to blow up and sure enough when bosh finally made one, yes one fg josh starts to wave his hands at ld wondering why he isn’t in the game. josh is an idiot. plain and simple. i stopped being a hawks fan last night and until josh smith is gone i ain’t comin back.
Tremaine
January 6th, 2012
8:03 am
Section 303
January 6th, 2012
8:00 am
honest abe, I love Charles, but if he said that there was no cheer for Ivan, he’s full of sh#t. People cheered for him. I was there. F Charles for towing the line and just blindly ripping ATL fans.
I’ve been in arenas all over the country, both college and pro. Fans, for the most part, no different wherever you go.
He said the guy should of got a standing ovation, which is true. The applause did sound pretty weak on TV.
El Bravo
January 6th, 2012
8:06 am
jgsbirds sums it up. We have no offensive philosophy and that is all coaching…
honest_abe
January 6th, 2012
8:07 am
section 303: really? are you seriously defending atl fans? give me a break. there’s a reason why gearon sold lakers jerseys when la came to town. that crowd last night was dead! if the players didn’t have any energy the crowd had less. the crowd was so stupidly quiet as ivan walked off the court both charles and reggie commented on the lack of support. i believe any other arena would’ve gave him some kind of ovation. atl fans are a joke around the country. come to grips with reality son. yes the truth hurts i guess for you being a season ticket holder it hurts a little more.
Tremaine
January 6th, 2012
8:07 am
This team is like a so-called friend that keeps lying to you over and over again.
TJ
January 6th, 2012
8:07 am
Pathetic when a point guard in the NBA can’t make free throws…there’s no excuse. And Barkley was right on…they don’t have one guy that strikes fear in another team, they’re all just average. Turn Ivan Johnson loose more…at least he’s playing with a pulse.
Marie
January 6th, 2012
8:08 am
I believe Reggie Miller said after the game that this was a black eye to the Hawks franchise. But Charles Barkley summed it up for me when he said “and I would like to punch them in the other eye”. Hawk players please don’t ever say again that you are an elite team — you’re not and you never will be with this rag-tag team. There is no doubt in my mind that the Charlotte Bobcats and the Cleveland Cavaliers would have found a way to win a game in which 2 of the best (if not the best) players in the NBA are sitting on the bench.
The only bright spot from last night was Ivan Johnson — he played on defense and offense like he wanted to win this game. The other Johnson is a heartless, gutless wonder and I am so sick of this bum donning a Hawks uniform. And somehow in every story I have read on the game in the sorry AJC the writers have failed to mention just how good Ivan Johnson was last night. Cunningham did you read about the game via the AP or do you actually go to or watch the game.
Tremaine
January 6th, 2012
8:09 am
honest_abe
January 6th, 2012
8:07 am
section 303: really? are you seriously defending atl fans? give me a break. there’s a reason why gearon sold lakers jerseys when la came to town. that crowd last night was dead! if the players didn’t have any energy the crowd had less. the crowd was so stupidly quiet as ivan walked off the court both charles and reggie commented on the lack of support. i believe any other arena would’ve gave him some kind of ovation. atl fans are a joke around the country. come to grips with reality son. yes the truth hurts i guess for you being a season ticket holder it hurts a little more.
Did you see the game last night? Why should any fan pay to see that bs?
dBall
January 6th, 2012
8:11 am
JOSH SMITH = #JACKITUP
RB
January 6th, 2012
8:11 am
You can tell Larry Drew is a student of the Former coach Woodson. When a player is hot (Green), bury him on the bench. I don’t see Drew as a coach who can take this team to a championship.
honest_abe
January 6th, 2012
8:12 am
“Did you see the game last night? Why should any fan pay to see that bs?”
not me. most people in that building came to see lebron and dwade.
Trojan
January 6th, 2012
8:12 am
Joe Johnson is the worst “top” guy in the whole NBA. He is not worth half his contract. You can tell that Josh has only had Drew and Wooden as coaches. Hortford is limited.
What an embarrashment to the city of Atl.
Who Me?
January 6th, 2012
8:13 am
And now the truth is exposed for a national TV audience. You watch this team work and the lack of communication is stunning for a core that’s been together this long. Time for Sund to earn his pay and start shaking some things up…
Tremaine
January 6th, 2012
8:18 am
not me. most people in that building came to see lebron and dwade.
And I don’t blame them. ASG should be taken to court for fraud.
Tremaine
January 6th, 2012
8:21 am
Welcom to the land of Mediocrity
The dangerous NBA middle ground. Teams that are good enough to make the playoffs but not be contenders; teams that are not bad enough to go up in the draft and get a superstar that way. They get stuck in that middle with no easy way out.
T-Bone
January 6th, 2012
8:22 am
Everyone has comments but no one can play the game. Charles Barkley talked so negatively about the HAWKs that it put a damper on the entire Game. I personally could have done without him last night. Barkley doesn’t have a ring so an expert on championships he is not! The Hawks have what we call “southern hospitality” but know this we not called the “dirty south” for nothing
honest_abe
January 6th, 2012
8:24 am
i’m not sayin this team can win a championship but they can be better.
get a coach with some balls and dump josh smith.
Tremaine
January 6th, 2012
8:24 am
Watching this team the last 2 night I have woken up feeling like I had a hangover. Haven’t taken one drink of alcohol. SAD!!!
honest_abe
January 6th, 2012
8:24 am
tbone – that made no sense but thanks for sharing.
O'Brien
January 6th, 2012
8:25 am
And despite the risk of losing Dwight, if you’re Orlando, why would you want JJ? He averaged 18, 5 and 4 last year, but only shot 30% from 3. And this year, he is averaging 17, 2 and 3.
Not to mention he turns 31 this year, and is still owed 4 years, $89 mil after this year. I think we are stuck with him for at least 2 more years.
Northcyde,
I know JJ is your boy
but dude has got to step it up. 10-37 FG, 3-16 from 3 the last 2 games. We need him to earn his check.
doc
January 6th, 2012
8:25 am
eric bosh killed the boss who spent a lot of time losing him. not sure but while ivan was in there bosh scored nothing. it was because he gave him nothing continually banging on the guy.
honest, while it was no standing o ivan got cheered as he left. the problem was the refs wouldnt allow him to leave until after the first free throw which came a tv timeout and free throw later than the applause and cheers. personally, i was on my feet. there were a lot of heat wade/queen fans as well. at one point when miami was pulling away my daughter remarked how many and loud there were.
yeah for the most part atl fans suck and there were a lot of the cushy blue seats open all night, gearon”s rich guy seats with the exclusive rights area.
TROTTINGHOME
January 6th, 2012
8:27 am
Goodnight Hawks and take this coach with you…already toast and with no butter or jelly that is hard to swallow.
Tremaine
January 6th, 2012
8:27 am
T-Bone your alarm clock is going off. WAKE UP!
Quotes of the Day — January 6, 2012 | JockSpin.com
January 6th, 2012
8:28 am
[...] Al Horford on Chris Bosh’s three-pointer that sent the game to overtime: “That’s a miscommunication there. That went on all game. Guys were not on the same page and we weren’t switching. We were having some problems with the coverages. Jeff, you can’t fault him, he expects it to be done the right way every time.” [...]
honest_abe
January 6th, 2012
8:28 am
doc: sorry you had to sit through that mess. thanks for clarifying. everything just looked off last night. how many more times this year are you going to be able to put yourself through that misery?
O'Brien
January 6th, 2012
8:29 am
Some more Charles Barkley comments;
1) they have too many nice guys on the team
2) they live and die by the jumper
3) they don’t know their roles
4) they lack leadership
5) their offense is terrible
6) why give a 30 year old SG $124 mil, when the team had already peaked, and he is not a superstar
MC,
If you get a chance, check out the TNT broadcast of last night’s game. For the entire game, Charles Barkley was killing the Hawks (players and even LD). Also, maybe you can ask the players if they heard about how Barkley was ripping them during the entire broadcast.
jroll1
January 6th, 2012
8:29 am
Larry Drew totally outcoached AGAIN!!! PLAY IVAN JOHNSON!!!! Hawks missed soooooooo many layups….SORRY TEAM!!!!
Big Z
January 6th, 2012
8:29 am
I am the biggest Hawks and fir that matter Falcons fan around and I am almost at my wits end with both of them. EverY time we get own NAtional tv we seem to Choke. Both teams every single time. Chuck said it right last night this team has no heart or Mental toughness period. And we have to many nice guys. I would trade our entire starting five……. No our entire team besides TMac and Ivan Johnson for DH12. the effort last night was sickening. The only thing that was entertaining about watching that game was Charles Barkley telling us how much WE SUCk. I was mad at first but then it all started to make sense. We have 5 people on our time that is the same player. We have no heart and we are soft. But unknown what, it’s out fault as fans because We tolerate this BS from our teams. The HAwks should have been Booed off the court last night for that performance.
Tremaine
January 6th, 2012
8:30 am
All true O’Brien
BravesFan79
January 6th, 2012
8:31 am
What a dissapointing loss, we showed NO heart! Its almost as if the Hawks know that in the long run, the Bulls and Heat will be the #1 and #2 seeds in the playoffs, so they are playing for seed 3 or 4 already. WTF
To win a title i think we should try and lure Jeff Van Gundy in to coach, and trade Marvin and Horford for Howard. I was feeling alot more confident in this team as constructed when we were up by 19 at Chicago just a few days ago.
honest_abe
January 6th, 2012
8:32 am
obrien: but it’s all on point. never heard that kind of broadcast before but i’m glad i did. gearon and the asg deserve all the negative publicity they can get.
O'Brien
January 6th, 2012
8:32 am
Doc,
You will appreciate this.
During the Arthur Blank interview on 790 a couple days ago, he said that when it comes to the Falcons, it’s not about money. It’s about winning a championship, and that players and fans know that he will do anything in his power to help his team attain that goal.
BravesFan79
January 6th, 2012
8:35 am
PS… Charles Barkley has to be the biggest putz on Television! To say you have to have be a “thug” to be a prime time player is wrong and unresponsible! Perhaps thats why the fat old man NEVER won a ring! Your a looser Barkley, and always will be! How many “thugs” did the Spurs have when they were dominating the NBA?
Big Crimson 75
January 6th, 2012
8:40 am
Bad Coaching or the dumbest team in the NBA……….. you decide