Atlanta Hawks: Grizzlies 96, Hawks 77
Here is the new game story on the Hawks’ loss to the Grizzlies Thursday night with post-game quotes:
Larry Drew was afraid it would happen.
The Hawks coach issued a warning to his team. It didn’t help
Drew feared a letdown against the Grizzlies after his team’s recently completed 4-1 road trip had them tied for first in the Southeast Division and second in the Eastern Conference.
The letdown came in a big way Thursday night in a 96-77 loss to the Grizzlies at Philips Arena.
“When you come off a road trip like that the tendency is to have a letdown,” Drew said. “I was afraid today would happen. We weren’t sharp tonight. I’m not going to blame it on the road trip. Everybody else has to do it. They go off on long road trips and come back and play. We can’t use that as an excuse. The start of the first quarter that team just manhandled us. They played with physicality and we were a step slow in everything we did.”
The Hawks held a seven-point lead early in the first quarter. It was gone before the end of the opening period. By halftime, the Hawks trailed by 10, 53-43.
The culprit was turnovers. The Hawks committed eight in the first half which led to 14 points. The Grizzlies lead the NBA in steals at 10.48 per game, nearly matching that total in the opening 24 minutes. Rudy Gay became the Grizzlies’ all-time leader in steals with three steals in the first half as he surpassed Shane Battier (523).
The Hawks finished with 15 turnovers leading to 19 Grizzlies points.
“They are a team that is very active,” Drew said. “They are aggressive. They play good help defense and they gamble a lot. It’s nothing that we had not talked about. We didn’t do a good job of handling the pressure. We were very casual with the ball. We just weren’t sharp offensively. We got behind and then we started trying to do it ourselves. We fell even further behind.”
The Hawks (16-7) had a three-game win streak snapped and lost for only the second time at home this season. After winning their previous two games by 22 and 23 points respectively, they were on the losing end of a blowout.
Gay led the Grizzlies (12-10) with a game-high 21 points. Tony Allen (18), O.J. Mayo (18), Mike Conley (15) and Marc Gasol (11) all finished in double figures.
Smith finished with 11 points for the Hawks, which lost to the Grizzlies for the first time in five meetings. Joe Johnson added 10.
The Hawks have held opponents to an NBA-low 19.5 points per game in the first quarter this season. The Grizzlies surpassed that by taking a 21-19 lead. They went on an 18-7 run to end the second quarter and took the double-digit lead into intermission.
The Grizzlies scored the first four points of the second half, the last two on a steal and layup by Mike Conley that had the Hawks Zaza Pachulia and Josh Smith exchanging words during a timeout. The start was part of a 24-8 Grizzlies run, as the Hawks missed their first seven shots, to grow the lead to 26 points at 77-51.
“It was obvious,” Pachulia said. “They had a better effort than us, talking about offensive rebounds and steals. That was the story. We gave the momentum to them. Any team gets a steal and a layup, they get more energized and they get the momentum.”
It would get worse as the Grizzlies led by as many as 30 points.
“They came out and out-played us,” Willie Green said. “We know we are a better team than that. … Once they made a run, it just seemed like we couldn’t get off our heals.”
The Hawks lost center Jason Collins to a left elbow injury in the first quarter. Collins was injured diving for a loose ball when his arm was pinned by the Grizzlies’ Dante Cunningham. He went to the locker room and following an X-ray was diagnosed with a sprained elbow.
The Hawks had to play Grizzlies center Gasol with Pachulia, who picked up two early fouls, and Ivan Johnson. The Grizzlies finished with 58 points in the paint.
“We look at the game and let’s be real about what happened,” Drew said. “I could have talked about plays that hurt us or strategy that didn’t work. I just told them ‘Guys, we got out-toughed.’ That’s something I haven’t seen in a while, where a team comes out and from a physical standpoint plays with more physicality.”
The Hawks’ four-game homestand continues Saturday night against the 76ers.
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185 comments Add your comment
Ray
February 3rd, 2012
1:32 pm
@ Ryan
I think that’s a good thing for us not to have K-mart he wanted the money more than anything.
We need to be after those D-leaguers darnit especially Benson. I’m not saying their the best, but they are probably better than Collins at least.
Hollywould
February 3rd, 2012
1:33 pm
Winner comes back/ my bad
drebaby
February 3rd, 2012
1:34 pm
Me too mountain-jim,the ASG sucks,maybe Tyler Perry is interested in buying the Hawks,lol.
ryan
February 3rd, 2012
1:35 pm
Clippers are the it team seems Hollywood is were the bigtime superstars want to go i know D12 wants to get into acting its only madder of time when he ends up out there the Hawks are screwed .
ryan
February 3rd, 2012
1:41 pm
I believe the guy owns DreamWorks owns the Clippers he has done a hell of a job in turning that once laughing stock of franchise into one of most exciting teams to watch it sucks we have ASG .
Greg
February 3rd, 2012
1:46 pm
And why wouldn’t the Hawks come back overconfident after their glorious 4-1 road trip? After all, their 4 victims had an aggregate record of 24-62 and the one good team they played punched them in the mouth and the Hawks curled up in the fetal position as usual.
Nothing has changed here. The Hawks are still one of the biggest frauds in pro sports. No one will ever take them seriously with “leaders” like Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Jeff Teague.
EmirS.
February 3rd, 2012
1:47 pm
I didn’t get to watch the game. I was enjoying a very good nap. But I’ve read the comments and two things caught my attention.
1. A few people mentioned it was not Drew’s fault.
2. The Hawks were up at 35 – 36 (I believe) and Drew inserted a lineup that Included Smith at Center and Radman at PF…
After that it was obvious enough as to why we lost the game, so I simply decided to post this comment and go on with the bitter taste in my mouth.
Also….the Nuggets…..are BEASTING. my goodness.
drebaby
February 3rd, 2012
1:53 pm
DreamWorks =Illuminati,Chris Paul,Dwight Howard,soon to be Blake Griffin=Illuminati Puppets.Do the math,connect the dots.Thats why the Clippers are the new L.a. Lakers.
Dawg
February 3rd, 2012
1:59 pm
Heck yeah, DLeagers are better than Collins. Collins adds nothing except he plays one player well. Other than that, he has horrible numbers and very little effect on a game. He is at best a 4th string center in the NBA. A very limited role player.
Come on Sund, Sheldon Williams would be more help than nobody.
Melvin
February 3rd, 2012
2:03 pm
K-Mart agreed to sign with the Clippers. I guess the Hawks better bring back Benson…. SMH
Astro Joe
February 3rd, 2012
2:05 pm
303, I agree with you. Hawks will win against the 76ers because that’s what they do… they follow a horrific performance with a solid outing. As soon as you think they have provided some trend, they flip the script.
terrell
February 3rd, 2012
2:10 pm
Getting tired of LD always blaming the players. Talk about yourself for a change. You looked just as disinterested in the game as the players did.
terrell
February 3rd, 2012
2:11 pm
Vlad a t the 4 and Josh at the 5? Ru serious Uncle Larry?
Buddy Grizzard
February 3rd, 2012
2:13 pm
K-Mart signs with Clippers
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2012/02/clippers-kenyon-martin-agree-on-a-deal.html
Ray
February 3rd, 2012
2:17 pm
Even if Benson is Undersized he’s better than nothing at all you know.
FIRE SUND!
FIRE ASKG!
FIRE LD!
FIRE AJC!(just kidding or am I?)
Lil' Rob
February 3rd, 2012
2:21 pm
You folks who didn’t want K-Mart: Now what? Where’s this magically big you expect them to acquire?
Lil' Rob
February 3rd, 2012
2:26 pm
Local franchise owned by Tyler Perry. Well this fanbase does remind me of a bunch of Madeas.
Ray
February 3rd, 2012
2:29 pm
@ Lil’ Rob
In the D-league somewhere Sund GET BENSON HERE 2 Months ago.
MattP
February 3rd, 2012
2:39 pm
I am about 80% sure they will bring back in Benson after seeing they can’t get Kmart now. I am disappointed they let him go because of the thin centers they had even if he was not ready for the NBA level. Benson is looking good in the D League and he has not been with that team for long.
I still do not see this team going much of anywhere with this coach. Yes, I like his defense but you can’t win a game with defense if you keep your best guys for that night on the bench. He needs to learn to find the people that are shooting hot and stick with them, they do not shoot hot the whole game so ride them for a period. I don’t think anyone understand his rotations, one game a guy will play 20+ minutes and the next game he will not play. He writes everything out in game and stick to those rotations for the night weather the work or not. Yes, they do work for him on some teams but whenever they don’t work they look like one of the worst teams in the NBA.
Crazy_88
February 3rd, 2012
2:59 pm
I said it once, twice, three times, four, five….The Hawks as an organization are not invested in winning a ring this season. They thought they would find a suitable buyer for the team…didn’t happen…they thought this season would be cancelled…didn’t happen…they couldn’t make up their mind on whether or not they wanted to keep or trade Josh Smith….they will probably look to amnesty Joe Johnson in the off season because nobody is going to trade for his contract…nobody is trading for Marvin Williams…and nobody is trading for Kirk Hinrich……this team only option is to trade Josh Smith for some future draft picks…and to amnesty Joe Johnson…and rebuild around Al Horford..Jeff Teague…
They are going to ride the season out with this roster for better or worse…All these fantasy trades for Kaman..Martin…is fiction….Nobody wants to go to a team that has no $$$..no strong ownership…and no HOF coach..
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
February 3rd, 2012
3:05 pm
“He writes everything out in game and stick to those rotations for the night weather the work or not.”
Night weather? Would that be “dark”?
MattP
February 3rd, 2012
3:11 pm
I meant, Whether they work or not.
Still a little tired,
Slimjr
February 3rd, 2012
3:12 pm
Hey Sund are ya counting? Now you need two BIGS smart azz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Slimjr
February 3rd, 2012
3:14 pm
Hawks= write off for this regime..It was never they’re intent to win a Championship…
Sorry Grasshopper!
Slimjr
February 3rd, 2012
3:16 pm
Two reason why:
Hiring Sund
Hiring Leisure Suit….
Doug Collins over Larry Drew by 10-15pts…
Slimjr
February 3rd, 2012
3:17 pm
{their intent} ^^^^
Slimjr
February 3rd, 2012
3:21 pm
Told ya yesterday that K-Mart would go with the Clippers.. He’s got a better shot with them…
No shot with this sorry organization….He was using the Hawks as leverage…….Hahaha…..Dream on Grasshoppers……
Slimjr
February 3rd, 2012
3:24 pm
Defeat the pretenders Blueprint: get the ball out of ISO hands, game, set, and match!!
I said 9-4 in February? I put the pipe down now 5-8….
Slimjr
February 3rd, 2012
3:28 pm
LD=Ice Melt, they never blame themselves..It always the other guys?
What does a true Leader say in front of the public? Hmmmmmmmm….
Sautee
February 3rd, 2012
3:28 pm
Slim,
Coming back down to my reality, eh?
I said, and still say 5-8 unless Sund gets help.
Mike
February 3rd, 2012
3:29 pm
Slimjr,
Calm down alittle bit, it is just one lose but Sund needs to get his head out of his butt and realize that we need center and if dont get one, this team is going to get beat up on the boards and lose more games like that. Even if you have to trade Al, they need help yesterday.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 3rd, 2012
3:37 pm
New blog up. K-Mart is a Clipper.
MattP
February 3rd, 2012
3:49 pm
“it is just one lose”- Mike
That is what people say every time we lose, when will yall figure out that means nothing. Just a way to let go of a terrible loss like everyone has been. If I’m correct none of our losses were even close games, does that mean anything to yall? Ya, we had losses that were good the first half but we fell apart in the 2nd half. It’s not just one lose, it is just another terrible lose.
Soullrenaissance
February 3rd, 2012
4:59 pm
K Mart dissed us again and takes his talents to ’slob city’ – I hate rejection.
I was listening to the 1st half of the game on the way to the Planetarium with the my family. This felt like a loss when Twin went down – not mention all the careless turnovers.
I will be at the Philly Game – Lord willing – with the expectations that we show some heart and pull out a victory – no excuses…..Every time we get on a semi-roll and garner a semi buzz, Gearon makes a plea for the hometown to support the team – only to choke up big time or get routed
TMACfan
February 3rd, 2012
5:50 pm
TMAC has the third highest average for PPG (ALL-TIME) in the playoffs with 28.5. Will he keep scoring like that…? No, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he averages around 15 in the post season. He’s saving it for the doubters.