Drew wants better start to second half of games
C-Viv filling in for Michael Cunningham as he makes his way to Philadelphia for Friday night’s battle of division leaders – the Hawks (11-4) vs. the 76ers (10-4).
I will have a preview of the matchup later. I wanted to share one of the interesting things coach Larry Drew said after Thursday’s practice. Asked about areas the Hawks need to improve upon, even during this stretch of four straight wins and seven of eight games, Drew pointed to the start of the second half in games. He said it has been an issue this season, as it was last season.
Here is what he said:
“The one thing I really want to improve on is how we start the third quarter. We’ve had a problem with that, this goes back to last year, coming out and not starting the third quarter with a lot of energy. One of the last things I say to the players after they come back on the floor after halftime is we want to force our opponent to call the first time out. If we come out with energy and we are doing the things we are supposed to do, we get on a little bit of a run. They are going to have to call a timeout. If there is an area where we really need to improve on, it is that. We’ve done a good job of rebounding. We’ve done a good job of moving the basketball. Defensively we’ve done a good job of executing our coverages. It’s just those spots where we have a little bit of a let down, we just have to get better at.”
Also, I asked Drew and Joe Johnson about the notion that the team has been able to ease into life without Al Horford considering their schedule – with four home wins against Charlotte (two wins), Minnesota (four), Toronto (four) and Portland (eight).
“Minnesota came into this building and everybody looks at the name on the front and the first thing they are not a very good ball club,” Drew said. “And yet, they had us down by 18 with three and half minutes left in the third quarter. We respect all opponents. Yeah, if you look at the win-loss record of some of the teams that have come in here some people might say the games have been easy for us. But by no stretch of the imagination have the games been easy.”
“The fact that we played those teams doesn’t matter,” Johnson said. “We all still have a job to do. It’s been tough without him even though we’ve won a few games convincingly. We’ve all managed to step up in a different way than normal.”
Here is an All-Star voting update: Joe Johnson is 10th among Eastern Conference guards with 40,718 votes. Horford, despite the injury, is sixth among Eastern Conference centers with 35,860 votes.
I hope this gives you something to talk about while I set to work on the preview story.
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146 comments Add your comment
The Truth
January 19th, 2012
7:00 pm
“SteveW . . . it didn’t help Josh that he got clowned by the TNT guys ( mainly Barkley ) again. A lot of casual NBA fans only watch the national TV games ( specifically the TNT games ). The national perception of Josh is still that of an malcontent, undisciplined, but talented player.” – northcyde
Much of that is indeed shaped by comments from the likes of Barkley and others. In the past such negatives comments about Josh (or JJ’s contract) had merit but this year there something wrong with the picture and the problem is not in our TV sets. After the lockout and shorten schedule, it was expected that most NBA teams would start slow and players would struggle early. Consequently, most players televised in games have gotten a pass early in the season regardless of poor performance except the Hawks. They were Ramboed by the media and the most criticized team. As an example, look at teams like Boston, Lakers, NY, and Dallas. Where is the hate from Barkley about the stars struggling on these teams and other? Even Shaq admitted they might have been too hard on the Hawks on NBATV today. Greg Anthony went on to say, however, that everybody is taking about what the Hawks are doing “wrong” without talking about what they are doing “right”. Given Horford injury and the new roster additions, the Hawks are still a very dangerous team. In other words, Anthony gave us props.
Regardless, the damage is done and irreversible. Barkley thinks he can continue to trash talk in the media about players the way he did on the basketball court. Think about it; the one thing Barkley and “our daily Trolls” have in common is they both hate the Hawks. The only difference is Barkley rants on national TV while the trolls rant on these blogs.
But Hawks fans shouldn’t get mad, just get even. It’s not like we really have to buy the weight watcher products Barkley’s selling these days.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 19th, 2012
7:06 pm
Yawl Know What IT Is!
Yawl know we need Al Horford – bad. The Aftershock is coming. Yes, we have a roster loaded with talent and so far, my Hawks have stepped it up a notch. Too bad it took losing Al for everyone to come together, but we need another rebounding, defending big man to help us out to get to the ECF.
Just wanna’ give Larry Drew his props. He is earning that contract extension right now. We should get to see some new tailored suits for Larry and, throw a couple in there for Nique’ too. LOL!
Grandmaster JeJe
January 19th, 2012
8:12 pm
FIRE ASG
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
January 19th, 2012
8:26 pm
People don’t want to admit it but Horford is a defensive liability. Sorry. AJC please don’t try and ban my IP address for saying this.
LEFTY
January 19th, 2012
8:55 pm
‘Too bad it took losing Al for everyone to come together,’
LOL
Aint that some Chit. These Al idiots dont give up.
NO ONE ON THE TEAM IS THINKING ABOUT HIS SORRY defenseless HEARTLESS aZZ.
We are a better team with out him. trade him
and yea Im sure you will block my IP too for saying it.
The Big Lie
January 19th, 2012
9:19 pm
Comrade Lefty. It’s good to see you here. I’ve noticed what a great job you are doing spreading disinformation on that righty loser Horford. He’s probably a right wing CIA plant.
Keep up the good work. I’ll tell Mr. Putin how well you are doing. Rewards down the line when the Hawks start listening to you.
dobryj vyechyer!
Bill O'Reilly
January 19th, 2012
9:34 pm
Lefty, (+crickets…, and whomever else, lol),
I’m holding a spot for you on my show. I have to give it to you, you are telling more lies about the Hawks locker room than Fox News does about Obama! That kind of bald faced, outright lying deserves my respect. I can relate all too well, my friend. When someone is failing to do their job, we out ‘em.
Keep up the good work. And see you soon. We’ll be in touch.
LEFTY
January 19th, 2012
9:46 pm
Hi Comrade Big Lie, I found a way to expose this right loser Horford. No one had though of this before on this page. I tell the truth comrade big lie and it drives them crazy.
Career
G RB TO BLK PPG
317 9.5 1.4 1.1 12
dobryj vyechyer!
Sean Hannity
January 19th, 2012
9:51 pm
And if there is any other guys who are saying Al Horford is lazy or selfish I want you on my show next. I also dont want MC or anybody else writing about the internal fighting in the hawks locker room.
Al is still a part of this team you stupid democrats.
Sau troll tee
January 19th, 2012
10:21 pm
ESPN Fantasy Projection: Horford is solid but unspectacular for a big man… but he’s averaged just 1.1 BPG during his career and his percentages are a bit hollow 12.0 FGA, 2.4 FTA per game … but the Hawks are deep on talent, so he won’t be asked to do much more unless the Hawks’ roster changes.
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3213/al-horford
NUNNA!!
January 19th, 2012
11:19 pm
Shoulda known what kinda interviews that Ivan Johnson gives a long,long,long time ago..
I missed this one..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KlEK3yUyp4&feature=related
kwooden
January 19th, 2012
11:21 pm
For tomorrow nights game we’re really going to need good contributions for Tracy and Vlad off the bench. Philly has a lot of guys that play the SG position, but because they’re athletic they play alot of SF. If we can take advantage of our height at the SF/PF position and rebound the ball we should be able to slow Philly down. Hopefully Philly isn’t making threes and we can play some zone to keep them from driving. Josh always has a tough time with Brand, but hopefully he can get Brand in foul trouble with his quickness. Jeff is going to have to play heavy minutes again because we’re going to need him on Sweet Lou. Also, this is a game where Ivan can take really advantage, because they have no one that can handle his size and strength at the PF position.
GO HAWKS!!
NUNNA!!
January 19th, 2012
11:23 pm
My bad..
Watch Ivan get interviewed by a beautiful girl lol..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb-nDD4u_Kc&feature=related
NUNNA!!
January 19th, 2012
11:27 pm
Larry Drew says Vladimir Radmanovic DNP-CD based on matchup. “He will be back in rotation.”
I thought he was taking a page from the movie “glory road” and would play all brothers on m.l.king day
EmirS.
January 19th, 2012
11:36 pm
Tim Cowlishaw made a comment today on Around the Horn that pissed me off. They we’re talking about whether it’s time for Danny Ainge to blow up their Big 3. Cowlishaw said something like this “No, look at the Eastern Conference standings. Boston is 5 and 8 and the second seeded team are the Atlanta Hawks……”
He continued on after that. But just another jab at us from another ESPN network. No respect at all.
Grandmaster JeJe
January 19th, 2012
11:48 pm
Cosign Clyde.
People are wayyyyyy underrating us.
With the way Smoove is playing and if TMac and Ivan can produce, we will he perfectly fine.
Horford also suffers from the Marvin Williams Invisibility Syndrome.
oDogg
January 19th, 2012
11:53 pm
Al is overrated… he plays clumsily on offense… no offensive move in the low post… he takes up space… he needs to play the four for a team with a true center…
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2012
12:31 am
Watching this Jazz-Mavs game, damn I wish Earl Watson had signed here. He is the ideal backup PG. Not that Kirk isn’t already expendable, but he’d be even more so with Watson here.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 20th, 2012
1:18 am
A brief “We Want Woodson’’ chant was heard from the 400 level in the final minute — a reference to defensive coach Mike Woodson. D’Antoni, in the final year of his pact, may not have staying power if his offense doesn’t awake after point guard Baron Davis returns, possibly on next week’s road trip. But right now, the famed speed-ball attack is in the dumpster.
LMAO
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/it_getting_ugly_Z0Sf9Eu8Jt4zTKCMbyZg8M
John Koncack
January 20th, 2012
1:32 am
does anyone know when Hinrick is coming back??
Hmmmm
January 20th, 2012
2:25 am
WE WANT WOODSON? LOL I’M NOT THE BIGGEST D’ANTONI FAN BUT KNICKS MANAGEMENT DEALT HIM A BAD HAND BY GIVING HIM TOO BALLHOGS AND NO POINT GUARD TO RUN HIS SYSTEM. ACTUALLY THEY CUT THE ONLY DECENT PG THEY HAD (BILLUPS) SO NOW YOU GOTTA GO TO WAR WITH….. WAIT FOR IT….. MIKE BIBBY AND TONEY DOUGLAS?!?! LIKE I SAID, SOME OF US SAW IT COMING A MILE AWAY, AND MELO ISN’T THE TYPE TO BECOME A LEADER WHEN THINGS GO SOUR.
Hmmmm
January 20th, 2012
2:29 am
ALSO YALL SAW UTAH COMPETING WITH A FAR SUPERIOR DALLAS TEAM TONIGHT. EARL WATSON ALMOST HAD TO GIVE DIRK THAT OPEN HAND SLAP ON NATIONAL TV LMAO. TALENT-WISE THE JAZZ SHOULDN’T BE WINNING ANYMORE THAN 20-25 GAMES, BUT CORBIN WILL HAVE THEM FIGHTING TIL THE VERY END.
Ra'mon
January 20th, 2012
2:35 am
Hmmm, Dallas has two former All Stars, along with 3 lottery picks on their roster, and leftovers from Sloan’s time there. Why shouldn’t they be able to compete on their home floor?
Ra'mon
January 20th, 2012
2:35 am
Sorry, I meant *Utah*
TyGame
January 20th, 2012
4:14 am
I have always said the Hawks need to play with more intensity in the 3rd quarter and play with more focus in the 1st and 4th. They seem to lose both in those given quarters.
@ Nunna Ivan can play but he scares me when he is being interviewed. Sounds like a mixture of Rambo and Charlie Murphy
Ra'mon
January 20th, 2012
4:16 am
Tygame, so you’re saying the Hawks only play well in the 2nd quarter? lol
Apple
January 20th, 2012
4:41 am
“Regular season means nothing. You make a name for yourself in the playoffs. The last post season game the Hawks played they got blown out on their own floor.”
Exactly. But according to these high school dropouts in here, it was all Horford’s fault. Ignoring the fact that Chicago’s best player is twice as good as ours, and their bench was MUCH deeper than ours.
TyGame
January 20th, 2012
5:33 am
lol Only the first 4 minutes of the 2nd!
Seriously, they play well in all at times but they seem to play from behind in the 1st quarter a lot and they seem to go away from what got them the lead in the 4th quarter. In the first Chicago game they went away from the zone and they waited too long before making adjustments (like double teaming Rose)
northcyde
January 20th, 2012
7:06 am
Woody is definitely about to take over the Knicks. And as soon as he does, all of that gunning that Shumpert and Douglas are doing, will come to an end. Bibby will become the starter, and that Knicks offense will start to stabilize.
The Knicks play at one of the fastest paces in the league, but have one of the worst offenses. Expect a lot of ISO Melo when he does take over, with Bibby being the bail out shooter when he needs someone to pass to.
D’Antoni has Shumpert and Douglas having the green light to shoot jumpshots, and it absolutely kills that team. Combine that with their unwillingness to drive to the basket AND set up Melo and especially Amare for shots, that team is an offensive train wreck right now.
northcyde
January 20th, 2012
7:13 am
JeJe . . the Marvin bashing needs to stop.
He’s NOT going to play up to being the 2nd pick, so people should stop expecting that. For a guy only getting 23 minutes a night, he’s putting up good numbers ( outside of his midrange shot, which seems to be way off lately ).
But he’s solid defensively, and doing major work on the boards. He’s a role player, and he’s playing his role.
On a per 36 minute basis, Marvin is averaging
15.7 ppg
9.6 rebs
6.1 free throw attempts
Those are EASILY his best marks of his career. If Marvin is destined to become a 20 – 25 minute a night guy, I’ll take those numbers all day. And if his midrange jumper comes back, those numbers will be even better.
O'Brien
January 20th, 2012
7:34 am
For the Horford bashers out there, Miami Heat is 5-0 without Wade this season.
O'Brien
January 20th, 2012
7:36 am
Northcyde,
I’ll root for Woody if/when D’Antoni gets fired and Woody gets the interim. As the HC, Woody will be able to preach defense more (D’Antoni does not), and Woody will slow the offense down, which I think will be better for that team.
Knicks should have let D’Antoni go over the offseason, and start fresh.
Grandmaster JeJe
January 20th, 2012
7:37 am
Northcyde,
What would Marvin’s numbers be if he knew how to dribble and could actually finish at the rim?
Dude sucks.
O'Brien
January 20th, 2012
7:37 am
Good debut last night for Eddy Curry in Miami. 6 pts, 3 rebs in 6 mins. It will be interesting to see how he plays going forward.
John
January 20th, 2012
8:08 am
Al definately does not not deserve to be bashed, but this season is showing what I have been saying for years. Al is very good but not the great (best player on the team type) that people have tried to make him out to be until these past playoffs when people started realizing he has become a jumpshooting big that has gotten away from some of the things that made him so good in his first couple of seasons (yes, I know his numbers are better now). Josh is and has been much more important to this team because his skill set cannot be replaced by anyone. We are a better team with Al, but his is definately the team’s third best player and it is not even close. I would say he is the fourth most important behind JJ, Josh, and Teague.
d.carter
January 20th, 2012
8:15 am
I was the first guy who openly noticed how overrated Al (the turnstil) Horford was…He is by far the worst helpside defender in the NBA, with no hustle Joe Johnson right behind him. I been watching Al watch opponents drive the lane for uncontested layups and dunks for years! (welcome aboard)
My next order of business is to get my boy VLADRAD into the starting lineup, Marvin is to mentaly weak to be on the floor with Joe and josh thats why he doesnt produce as a starter. Trust me if Marvin comes off the bench with the second unit watch his production go up, as well as the fact that VLADRAD plays great helpside defense, rebounds, and is very active in the passing lanes, and is a potential knockdown three shooter. With teague getting to the cup the way he is VLAD fits in with the starters which will in turn make Marvin the #1 option on the 2nd unit… If josh continues to play inside out the hawks will be a tough out when the time comes.
Spyro
January 20th, 2012
8:16 am
As a person who speaks Russian, “dobryj vyechyer!” made me cringe on many levels.
Trojan
January 20th, 2012
8:28 am
MC or anyone: What is the latest update on when Hinrich may be back?
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 20th, 2012
8:41 am
Hinrich will be back when he’s ready to go. Please stop asking MC this question. How in Sam’s Hill does he know that? Is he a doctor or God? Geez-Us!
Where do these trolls come from?
Astro Joe
January 20th, 2012
8:49 am
Trade Horford for D. Wade as their current teams don’t need them to win games.
Trojan
January 20th, 2012
8:49 am
drmaryb.: MC covers the Hawks. That is a legit question. Did you read a book about blogs. Get a life. I will ask any question about the Hawks.
I am glad you contributed to this blog with such an informative entry. Idiot.
wordsmithtom
January 20th, 2012
8:57 am
Trojan, there is an article in today’s AJC noting Drew’s comment that KH is “ahead of schedule” and Kirk said the last 15-20% is the hardest to get back. He is working out with the team. When will he return??? Shoulders are tough. I’d say 2 more weeks, but WHO knows how long it takes to get that last 15-20% or if he returns sub normal. Why rush it; we’ll need him mid Feb so an extra week is no problem.
vava74
January 20th, 2012
9:08 am
Even when he is freed to scrimmage, it’s highly probably that Hinrich’s shot will be way off until he feels 100% comfortable.
Unfortunately, shoulder injuries are difficult to get back to 100%. Nonetheless, I believe that using the shoulder is part of the recovery process, so he will be brought along slowly with a few minutes here and there, just like Sloan has been getting.
KevinM
January 20th, 2012
9:15 am
My Hinrich update from last night….Zach Klein reported on him practicing an his mobility appears to be there and ready…..next is getting conditioned. IMO, he will be back in 2 weeks.
Just more fire to the bench…….it’s possible we just keep everyone since Al went down and we didn’t replace him.
JeJe, my .02…..Marvin finished at the rim vs. the Blazers in the first half on his 2nd turn in the rotation….as much as I wanted him gone earlier, he is the 5th leading scorer on this team and he’s good to have if injuries occur. My rant’s about Marvin are futile…..he is here and part of the good start for this team.
Good test tonight, and even without Al, I think we have enough to win on the road. Philly loves to shoot the 3 and our defense needs to force them to put it on the floor. I think we match up okay with them……Teague vs. Holliday will be fun to watch.
KevinM
January 20th, 2012
9:18 am
Wonder what Al’s thinking as we tack on another win in his absence……
vava74
January 20th, 2012
9:19 am
On the subject of Ivan:
http://www.foxsportssouth.com/01/16/12/Hawks-rookie-from-schools-of-hard-knocks/msn_landing.html?blockID=647236&feedID=3796
O'Brien
January 20th, 2012
9:22 am
I think Al is rooting as hard as ever for the Hawks. imo, he will root for the Hawks to a) Win their division and get a top 3 seed, and b) hope he can come back for the playoffs and help them get to the next level.
What’s D-Wade thinking as Miami tacks on another win (against the Lakers no less), in his absence?
O'Brien
January 20th, 2012
9:26 am
My take on Marvin…he has not lived up to his draft spot (#2), or his contract ($7.5 mil annually for 5 years). However, getting past that, he is ok as a role player. The problem is he should be making half of what he makes now (imo).
doc
January 20th, 2012
9:35 am
al is in good company as the national media asks are the heat better without d wade:
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-01-20/pay-no-mind-to-the-record-heat-lebron-need-wade
we also asked the same thing when the hawks were able to slide b while jj was out.
the losses will come soon and the hawks will fly a bit lower bringing out the venom again. the respite has been nice.
JM
January 20th, 2012
9:41 am
That it has, doc. But the hate will fly come the next loss.
Go Hawks!