Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 111, Bobcats 81
- Sorry for no game thread post, blog people. I was a tad busy.
- The Hawks for the most part didn’t try to play down the significance of losing Al Horford to injury (not that they really could). But they regrouped and went out and beat down the Bobcats, who had shown some pluck against superior opponents this season.
- “We had a few lapses defensively but our energy level was high,” Larry Drew said. “That’s something we look for every game. When we play with that type of energy and get up the floor and fly around, we are a pretty good club. And tonight we were flying around.”
- The most encouraging thing for the Hawks was that they dominated the boards against a pretty good rebounding team with size. Josh Smith (13 rebounds), Zaza Pachulia (10) and Ivan Johnson (seven in 21 minutes) did their thing but the Hawks got production from unlikely guys: Vladimir Radmanovic had eight rebounds, Joe Johnson had seven, and Jeff Teague had six.
- Josh said that’s the kind of effort the Hawks need without Horford available to help him hold it down on the back line: “Defense, rebounding, help each other out, gang rebounding. Even the guards have to come in there and help out a little bit. Ivan has done a good job thus far with the toughness. I think everyone else needs to pick it up.”
- Scoring was a group effort, too. The Hawks recorded 29 assists on 42 field goals as all five starters had at least three assists. “We took care of the basketball, we executed very well and we moved the ball,” Drew said. “I thought we played overall a really solid game.”
- The Bobcats tried to push Josh around but he was beasting. He had four of Atlanta’s 20 offensive boards. Josh also made four of his nine shots from outside of the paint while going 14 for 22.
- The Bobcats sent Tyrus Thomas at Joe with predictable results. Only a 2 for 8 night from the 3-point line prevented Joe from really going off. As it was, he got to the line for eight attempts (and made seven).
- Ivan (12 points on 9 shots, six fouls) isn’t polished but he’s athletic, energetic and physical. That is going to come in handy as the Hawks try to win ugly.
- Drew hadn’t decided on the starting center an hour before the game. He settled on Zaza but didn’t commit to it long term. I’m thinking that probably means Drew will use the “big” lineup when appropriate.
- “We will just kind of look at our opponent and look at the matchup and see what works best for us,” Drew said. “I was a little concerned because [Byron] Mullens plays like more of a four. He’s a pick-and-pop guy and forced Zaza on the perimeter a lot more but I thought Zaza adapted really well.”
- Ivan Johnson played center in spots but Drew said he’s “not necessarily” the backup center. Jason Collins didn’t see the court until garbage time.
- If the Hawks really are still trying to make the playoffs, I don’t see how they can make do without another veteran center. They have two guards who don’t see regular minutes and are using an undersized rookie at center. There don’t appear to be any good trade possibilities for Atlanta, at least not until Kirk Hinrich is healthy and his expiring contract might somehow fetch an effective big.
- Rick Sund: “The center position has some decent depth to it with Al and Zaza and Twin and we really wanted to add some toughness, and that’s why Ivan Johnson has been a nice plus for us. We’ll sit down and discuss everyything. No real decision tonight.”
- Drew said Tracy McGrady is scheduled to see a back specialist tomorrow and could play Saturday against the T-Wolves. Marvin Williams (ankle) is day-to-day. “I don’t know when he will be back to play,” Drew said of Marvin. “He was in here earlier and said he’s feeling good so hopefully he will be back soon.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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379 comments Add your comment
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
3:57 pm
The above article on DWade was from ESPN
GREAT SCOTT
January 14th, 2012
3:57 pm
GREAT SCOTT-Remember what I said about NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES?
Where are your facts…
Fair enough Ken.
FACT 1-Horford has been an ALLSTAR the last 2yrs of his 4yr career. Sure, as a coach’s reserve add on.
FACT 2-Horford was selected as the NBA’s 3rd best center last yr.- BY THE OPINION OF THE PRESS
FACT 3-Horford is one of the NBAs best all around centers. ANOTHER OPINION
FACT 4-Horford is THE NBAs most accurate and effective midrange jump shooters. LOL PLEASE PRESENT YOUR ANALYSIS LIST
FACT 5-Horford isn’t too undersized, soft, mechanical, mentally of physically weak, to be voted the NBAs 3rd best center ” BY THE OPINION OF THE PRESS AND REDUNDANT, YOU’VE ALREADY SAID THAT .
These are not facts but facts that an opinion was voiced. Your lone potential legitimate statement had no supporting documentation to enter into evidence. But this is the right step getting your foot out of your mouth. I guess that shoe horn arrived.
I do however agree with you Mr. Strickland, but I also agree with Vava. Al is not too undersized physically, just mentally.
GREAT SCOTT
January 14th, 2012
4:00 pm
SteveW
The above article on DWade was from ESPN
No, SteveW, I think thats on the Hawks and it from the AJC and Michael Cunningham.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 14th, 2012
4:02 pm
Funny Business!
“Bigman needed I feel you on that but ” -rhyme reason-
_____________
Homo?
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
4:03 pm
Przybilla may be the best guy out there to back up Zaza right now, I don’t know. Hmmm…
And wouldn’t it be funny if “hands of stone” ZaZa (I call him Roberto Duran) turns into this double double guy while Al is out? And plays with energy and hustle, contests shots, blocks a few shots, and defends C’s ok?
But he needs a back up besides Twin. Because if ZaZa goes down, you don’t want Twin as your only Big. We need another Big for sure right now. And as much as I like Ivan, we need somebody taller than 6-8 in the middle.
Even though Chucky Hayes, Wes Unseld, and even Buck Williams did pretty good down low being on the shorter side.
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
4:04 pm
Great Scott – I pulled it off ESPN.com – Cut and Paste
SteveW
January 14th, 2012
4:05 pm
I was talking about the article on page 7 of this blog – it would have been “above”, but my post led off page 8
Just Joe
January 14th, 2012
4:10 pm
I think ZaZa gives you 10 & 10 easy if given 35 minutes a game. Now, I also think that it will be at the expense of 45% shooting and a few turnovers a game. That’s the one thing about Al that’s not appreciated enough. He’s a very efficient player (high assist-to-turnover ratio, and high FG%). Not a superstar. Not a soft scrub either. Solid, versatile, efficient player.
vava74
January 14th, 2012
4:15 pm
Tonight is a crucial game. The wolves are now pretty decent and we need to show up.
Elite teams can withstand the loss of important players (celtics when they lost garnett).
Tonight we prove that we are elite (or close) or NOT.
GREAT SCOTT
January 14th, 2012
4:16 pm
SteveW it was just a chid about the position of your statement. The article above the referenced statement was beneath MC’s article.
Funny Business
January 14th, 2012
4:18 pm
drmaryb lesbian ?
Rhymn and reason
January 14th, 2012
4:27 pm
Children- funny business, drmaryb- losing an argument or having your favorite player run through the mud is no reason to denigrate the level of blogging with your juvenile ” homo” slants.
Is that the best youve got? I hope not. Children grow up. Present decent arguments not homo joke.
Is this the same mary that brags about her church devotion? Shame on you reverend, you must go to Eddie Longs church. .
Bigman needed
January 14th, 2012
4:31 pm
I think the hawks, despite what ajc is saying, are working on a big trade to get a center in here and improve the roster. Why else are we in on d12 even though we have no chance to get him?
On side note if we did bring rasheed wallace back (recall that he played a game here before being retraded yrs ago) would this be the first time he has played with stack as a pro?
Rhymn and reason
January 14th, 2012
4:33 pm
Just Joe Al had more turnovers than block shots and as many blocks against as blocks. Like its been said. Al will get you 12 pts and 8-9 rbs. 2 TO,1 blk ,1blk-against. nothing spectacular.
Smith.Leuer.Bogut (two 7 footers for 1 tweener)
January 14th, 2012
4:52 pm
“If we keep getting off to these slow starts, I may have to start thinking about doing something with the lineup,” he said. “I just can’t continue to allow us to constantly get off to slow starts. I may have to do something to shake it up. We’ll see what happens tonight.
“But I can’t sit here and just constantly allow us to keep getting off to those type starts because we are burying ourselves early and we are having to exert so much energy fighting back. That may be something we have to start thinking about.”
-nov 25 2010
L.D. called guys out during the Thursday video session and apparently some feelings got hurt. When the team huddled up after practice, he told them: “This is no time to be sensitive. I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong and you have to be able to look in the mirror. There is going to be accountability.”
Smoove and Al, who got into during a timeout huddle in the Bucks game, both said the team remains together.
“It took a game like that to wake us up to doing things the right way and staying together,” Smoove said.
“I think for a moment there everybody kind of went their own ways on the court,” Al said. “We came back together [Thursday] solid. We have to make a commitment to each other to always try to stick together even when the going gets tough.”
-vs Jazz 2010
-
Smith.Leuer.Bogut (two 7 footers for 1 tweener)
January 14th, 2012
4:57 pm
Drew has already said Radmanovic complements Josh and adds to Joe’s spacing. But an injured Marvin can just come and start? So what gives? Is Larry Drew scared of Marvin?
“Now, we’ve talked to Josh Childress before about coming off the bench (he didn’t like how he was treated as a non-starter by coach and team while in the ATL) and we’ve seen Jamal Crawford embrace the role (being nationally recognized as something more than a volume scorer and playing on losers will do that), so now we turn to Marvin Williams, whom some have been asking to come off the bench for a while, given that he might be able to shine more offensively since he wouldn’t be fighting the other members of the starting five for shots and also helping an offensively challenged second unit.
“No. I wasn’t cool with it man,” said Williams to HOOPSWORLD about being benched. “It was something different. I’ve been starting here since my second year here, but it was a choice he (Drew) felt like he had to make and I had to live with it. I don’t know if he’ll ever make that change again and I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. But like I said, I’ve been a starter pretty much since I’ve been here but he chose to make that change and I have to live with it.”
should Drew make the change? I say hell yeah. And lmao about not being cool with it. If you’re better than Vlad then you can dominate 2nd units with more touches.
Yeah you’ve been a starter for years and thats the problem. You were selected #2 overall. We expected more out of you. We’ve given you the money and dealt with it. Now you gotta give us something. As a part of the 2nd unit.
Just Joe
January 14th, 2012
4:59 pm
Rhymn and reason….blocked shots have nothing to do with being an efficient player. He shoots 55%+ from the field. He’s also never averaged 2 turnovers per game in any season.
Just Joe
January 14th, 2012
5:04 pm
But since you mention it, Josh Smith has more turnovers than blocked shots as well. That’s not an unusual stat to see. It has little significance.
Rhymn and reason
January 14th, 2012
5:21 pm
It has little significance. In your opinion, but of course this is the attitude of mediocrity.
Rhymn and reason
January 14th, 2012
5:24 pm
What has Josh fine play got to do with Al’s melt down? Why does the Al Apologist always cite what Josh is doing as a measure to defend Al? Does Josh have to bail Al out again? Can Al stand on his own merits, or the lack there of ?
Just Joe
January 14th, 2012
5:44 pm
OK then (ignore the similarity with Josh), Dwight Howard has over 500 more turnovers than blocks. Is that better?
I’d be happy to give my opinion of Josh and/or Al. They are excellent role players. That level of player underneath allstars. Their flaws & strengths are obvious to anyone that’s followed their careers. By the way, they are both paid fairly for their abilities. Neither is a problem for this team.
Rhymn and reason
January 14th, 2012
5:46 pm
Ok What your opinion of Al Horford? before and after the major injury?
Sautee
January 14th, 2012
5:47 pm
Just Joe,
Be aware that TS LOVES to lie about Al’s stats, and often posts them incorrectly just to try and get a reaction from the blog.
Smith.Leuer.Bogut (two 7 footers for 1 tweener)
January 14th, 2012
5:52 pm
Al gets too much attention. He’s out we’re down 1 jack of all trades role player.
Prepare to watch the Wolves big lineup (Williams-inside, Love outside) feast on the Hawks… King’s Cross hope we win but..Shoulda traded him for a conventional big man and conventional PF shooter.
Sautee
January 14th, 2012
5:52 pm
So, TS, what exactly IS the significance of D12 having 500 more TO’s than blocks?
Is that OK, or is it mediocrity, as you suggest about Horford?
Just Joe
January 14th, 2012
6:11 pm
My opinion of Horford before & after the injury are the same. He’s the same guy we expected when we drafted him. Go back and look at his draft profiles and you’ll see strong defender, good ball handler & passer for a guy his size, can knock down the 15 footer, mechanical, needs to improve his post skills, nba ready, etc…. I personally think he’s best floating between the center and power forward position, just as the Hawks are using him. I’ve always said his best comparison is Carlos Boozer. He’ll be a solid player in this league for 10+ years. Antonio McDyess is a good comparable as well.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 14th, 2012
6:31 pm
Wreckless Abandon!
“And let me add I love DWade’s style of play” -SteveW-
________
However, this style of play does NOT lead to longevity.
Sautee
January 14th, 2012
6:35 pm
Just Joe,
McDyess AFTER he blew out his knee. In his early years McDyess was a BEAST who attacked the rim. Al can’t begin to match that ferocity or athleticism, though he may have more intangibles (tipped passes, hedging, etc.).
It’s laughable that much of the blog treats him like they are disappointed that he’s not a savior. Who ever thought that he WOULD be? He was the third pick in a fairly weak draft. He is what he is.
Like you said, solid.
Michael Cunningham
January 14th, 2012
6:37 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.