Suns at Atlanta Hawks Game Thread
Vivlamore filling in for Cunningham. Here is your report from this morning’s shootaround in preparation for tonight’s game against the Suns.
The key to snapping a two-game losing streak is the Hawks’ defensive energy, according to coach Larry Drew.
As the Hawks host the Suns tonight, Drew emphasized defense to his team during the morning shootaround and with the media following the session.
“We can’t be a team with low energy,” Drew said. “If you are going to be small [with injuries to centers Al Horford and Jason Collins] you have to be a team that plays with a lot of energy. You have to be quick. Because you are a little smaller you have to do some things differently, particularly with us. Not having Al or Twin it limits us in a certain area as far as what our defensive schemes have been. Offensively nothing much changes there. It’s more on the defensive end. We’ll have to make some adjustments.”
Drew did say the Hawks needed to share the ball offensively, but his efforts were concentrated on the defensive side of the ball Monday.
While Josh Smith agrees that defense is a priority he is clearly more concerned with the offensive issues during the past two games.
“Everybody has their opinions,” said Smith when told of Drew’s comments about the defensive energy. “I think that defense is definitely the key to winning basketball games but if we don’t have any continuity on the offensive end it really definitely hurts us. When the ball sticks on one floor we get baited into playing one-on-one basketball. That’s what hurts this basketball team because when we are sharing the basketball, moving it from side to side, everybody is benefitting off goods shots, I think we help each other that much more on the defensive end.”
To clarify his remarks, I asked Smith if he was referring to ‘the notion of one person trying to do it all?’
“Iso … it’s pretty much self explanatory,” Smith answered.
Iso-Joe? Perhaps. The Hawks have had issues the past two games with several players trying to do too much in losses to the Grizzlies and 76ers.
“Definitely,” Joe Johnson said when asked if he agreed with Smith’s assessment. “I think we do get a little selfish at times out there. It’s part of it. You have a lot of guys that come out and try to do it on their own that hurts you even more. We have to get some ball movement, get everybody involved, get back to playing loose and having some fun.”
* Monday was the first day NBA teams were able to sign players to 10-day contracts. However, the Hawks had no immediate plans to do so in light of being without Collins for the next two weeks.
“Not a whole lot of news,” Drew said of the team’s pursuit of a big man. “Right now we are going as we are. We are a little small but we’ll just have to play the hand that’s dealt to us.”
* With the Suns in town, it marks the return of former Hawks draft pick Josh Childress. The former No. 6 overall pick is averaging 3.5 points per game for the Suns in 11 games, all off the bench.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
757 comments Add your comment
keepinitreal
February 6th, 2012
9:23 pm
Wow, we suck. Even bad teams rarely get blown out in three straight games at home.
Lon Stotts
February 6th, 2012
9:23 pm
TEAGUE BY THE NUMBERS.
MIN PTS RB A F
25:31 6 1 0 3
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
9:23 pm
“Best team in Atlanta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT”
Until the Falcons or Braves knock someone out of the playoffs, yes, they are.
Wabe
February 6th, 2012
9:24 pm
Spyro,
That’s some clown impersonating you whose infactuated and has a man-crush on Kirk Hinrich…
Anybody who mentions even a hint of bad bout that dude is bound to get his name jacked and impersonated.
Thus, with this post, I will go ahead and say, I’m probably bout to get my name jacked…
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 6th, 2012
9:25 pm
Lose 3 straight home games to non-elite teams after 4-1 road trip. What a bunch of heartless losers.
Only move our FO is considerinf is signing some scrub big to ten day deal.
LOL
Peter
February 6th, 2012
9:25 pm
Sad part is they have yet to win a single quarter in this game, and only scored 16 in the 3rd.
TGT
February 6th, 2012
9:25 pm
LEAVE THE STARTERS IN TO SUFFER THIS!!! (Where are the boos??!!)
Al Horford
February 6th, 2012
9:25 pm
HAHAHAHAHA!
Crybaby Hawk Fans
February 6th, 2012
9:25 pm
You mean that mighty Falcon offense that put up 2 pts in the playoffs, oh my bad, the defense got the 2 pts
Spyro
February 6th, 2012
9:25 pm
Thanks for the heads up, Wabe.
terrell
February 6th, 2012
9:25 pm
The Bad News Bears.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
9:25 pm
I don’t think Telfair shot this well even when he was at Lincoln High School.
bigdave
February 6th, 2012
9:26 pm
aight carrot top, you dont want it sir.
High-Tech Lynching
February 6th, 2012
9:26 pm
Telfair abusing Hinrich.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 6th, 2012
9:26 pm
Marvin 8 & 5 in 31 minutes.
Northcyde, those are superb numbers!!!!!
Spyro
February 6th, 2012
9:26 pm
Yeah, when Sebastian Telfair is making shots, you’re just not going to win.
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
9:26 pm
Pacers by 35-40!
Crybaby Hawk Fans
February 6th, 2012
9:26 pm
On a serious note, Sund probably would make trades to better the team but Upper Mgmt just won’t budge and go over that luxury tax.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 6th, 2012
9:27 pm
Can we please suspend Marvin for sucking? Why is this guy still starting??????
terrell
February 6th, 2012
9:27 pm
Best team in Atlanta is the Dream.
High-Tech Lynching
February 6th, 2012
9:27 pm
Robin Lopez is wack.
Jase
February 6th, 2012
9:28 pm
MC I wonder what LD is going to say postgame!!!!
Sautee
February 6th, 2012
9:28 pm
Mrs. Sautee just asked: “when do you think they will win again?”
Ouch.
drmaryb.[*_*].
February 6th, 2012
9:29 pm
Lopez looks like he and Varejeo got left on Gilligan’s Island. For a decade. Cave Man scary.
Al Horford
February 6th, 2012
9:29 pm
Josh Smith is trash. It’s time the rest of you GED earners realized it!
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
9:29 pm
1.Dream
2.Hawks
3.Braves
4.Fa-cons are by far the worst……………in Atlanta,,,
High-Tech Lynching
February 6th, 2012
9:30 pm
terrell,
“Best team in Atlanta is the Dream.”
I’m with you on that. I wish the AJC would start up a[n Atlanta] Dream blog.
Spyro
February 6th, 2012
9:30 pm
For as much as LD has talked about 3rd quarter let-downs from the players, I hope he realizes that the 3rd quarter let-down in this one is all on him…
He probably won’t.
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
9:30 pm
Sautee
February 6th, 2012
9:28 pm
“Mrs. Sautee just asked: “when do you think they will win again?”
Ouch.”
tell her sometime in March! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
terrell
February 6th, 2012
9:31 pm
LD is getting what he deserves for playing an out of shape Hinrich over a playing well Pargo. Clown! 8th seed at best. The “core” has peaked!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
9:31 pm
Suns showing the Hawks how easy it is to attack a zone.
ntrigue
February 6th, 2012
9:31 pm
MC you have to ask Coach what’s up with his substitutions?
bigdave
February 6th, 2012
9:31 pm
Marvin doesnt have that move..
O'Brien
February 6th, 2012
9:31 pm
Why is Vlad still in the game?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
9:31 pm
That is true. I forgot about the Dream.
1. Dream
2. Hawks
3. Falcons
4. Braves
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 6th, 2012
9:31 pm
Cosign terrell.
Hinrich is awful. Pargo was playing fine
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
9:32 pm
LD went smallball at about the 8min mark..He quit too……
Crybaby Hawk Fans
February 6th, 2012
9:32 pm
Well can’t blame Horford on this one, I remember hearing how we are such a better team with Al not playing?? Oh be ready because more BEATDOWNS to come, Pacers, Magic, Heat just to name a few.
ntrigue
February 6th, 2012
9:32 pm
1st time saying this Fire Coach Drew!
Bigman needed
February 6th, 2012
9:32 pm
High-Tech Lynching
February 6th, 2012
9:27 pm
Robin Lopez is wack.
LinkReport this comment
Huh? He’s a man among boys.
Sautee
February 6th, 2012
9:32 pm
I predicted 5-8 for Feb. and they are gonna have to pick it up or I’ll have do downgrade my prediction.
I thought I was shooting low, lol.
John Drew
February 6th, 2012
9:33 pm
Josh Smith is so concern about making the All star team. The Hawks need to make a change either at head coach, players or both. We don’t need Dwight Howard particularly, but we do need to acquire a collection of players with a high basketball IQ and fighting spirit. This team wasn’t assembled correctly. At this point I would break up this team and build it around Jeff Teague. Don’t kid yourself people this team won’t make it pass the first round of the playoffs. I would try to gain as many first round picks as possible.
bigdave
February 6th, 2012
9:33 pm
stack? 2 will cut it to 14.. what you doing??
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
9:33 pm
Finally see a Pargo sighting!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
9:33 pm
After this game, the Hawks will be 3-4 with Kirk, 13-5 without him.
Wabe
February 6th, 2012
9:33 pm
Man Hinrich should be dealt ASAP.
It was obvious before he even returned that Pargo can be the guy that can spare Teague.
Move Hinrich.
Crybaby Hawk Fans
February 6th, 2012
9:33 pm
Like Brand Nubian used to rap back in the day “PUNKS JUMP UP TO GET BEATDOWN”
cybo
February 6th, 2012
9:34 pm
Didn’t pay my cable bill. Whats the score?
Donte
February 6th, 2012
9:34 pm
lol about half of the teams in the damn league make the playoffs in the NBA. Plenty of average and in the East’s case below average teams can make the playoffs. A slightly better than average to average team in the Hawks can look “good” as a 4 or 5 in the east. You cant compare making it to the playoffs in the NBA to making it in the NFL and MLB. The Falcons and Braves are chokers too, but still better than the Hawks.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
9:34 pm
Now LD will put the starters back in and they will blow it.
Leave the bench in Popovich style.