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.
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757 comments Add your comment
Spyro
February 6th, 2012
9:43 pm
So what you are saying is that we should have let Pargo keep playing while we waiting for Kirk to get into appropriate game shape? SHOCKING!
Lon Stotts
February 6th, 2012
9:43 pm
We cant trade teague and Al fast enough. They are like a cancer on this team. Thank goodness for Josh and JJ who once again were the leading scorers
We need to get rid of Al horford and Jeff Teague.
WHO EVER HEARD OF A POINT GUARD WITH 1 ASSIST AND 1 REBOUND
FIRE TEAGUE AND AL NOW!!!
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
9:43 pm
Left Kirk in they would have lost by 25…
O'Brien
February 6th, 2012
9:43 pm
Alright guys. What do you think LD will talk about in his post game with the media?
Energy? Defense? Effort? Offense? Something else?
LT
February 6th, 2012
9:43 pm
LD should be able to see how Hinrich messes up the flow of the 2nd unit (The Replacements)
Crazy_88
February 6th, 2012
9:43 pm
Absolutely embarrassing….Change starts with the coach…LD needs to take some ownership for why this team is struggling because he’s the one that is suppose to prepare this team to play against whoever.
I’m convinced that majority of the core players on this team really don’t have any confidence or respect for Larry Drew’s coaching ability…
Crybaby Hawk Fans
February 6th, 2012
9:43 pm
Magic bout to catch and pass dat A$$ in the standings, BELIEVE DAT!!!
Jase
February 6th, 2012
9:43 pm
Green need to start.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
9:44 pm
“Energy? Defense? Effort? Offense? Something else?”
Definitely not his highly idiotic substitution patterns.
Add swingman depth
February 6th, 2012
9:44 pm
This team is a 6-8 slasher type away from competing for the east! Good effort tonight!
tb hawk fan i think
February 6th, 2012
9:44 pm
je je why will they win 2
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
9:45 pm
LD quit at the 8min mark and his replacements started to make a run in spite of him….
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
9:45 pm
I guess the Magic should celebrate whatever they can, since they will be back in lotteryland a year from now.
Donte
February 6th, 2012
9:45 pm
If the NBA was like other major sports and didnt allow half of the teams to make the playoffs, then the only year during this “stretch of years as a playoff team” that they would have made it is the year they won over 50.
Crybaby Hawk Fans
February 6th, 2012
9:45 pm
Typical HATL fans, whine & complain no matter win or lose!!
Just Joe
February 6th, 2012
9:45 pm
LD’s catch phrase will again be “physicality”.
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
9:46 pm
need 3 more 6 6 forwards……Got a shot at an ECF! LOL
cybo
February 6th, 2012
9:46 pm
The Curse of Dominique
Garbage
February 6th, 2012
9:46 pm
Why would anyone want to live in that dirty city of losers?
Vick the Herpes Passer is your hero, Melt is your QB, and your fans are trash. NO THANKS.
atlchris77
February 6th, 2012
9:46 pm
Najeh
Interesting point about our record with Kirk. I knew something seemed off the last few games. It reaffirms my earlier comment. LD is not a good enough coach for a contender. They looi outcoached. How do the owners not see it!
phil
February 6th, 2012
9:46 pm
Fire everyone!!
Bilbo Baggin
February 6th, 2012
9:47 pm
yea its time to get rid of this Al/teague virus thats going around. Teague will never be about to co ordinate an offense and Al will never play defense. His own coach says we are missing much with Al out. Just have to make minor adjustment. Its time to trade Al and teague to get a center who likes to play center.
FIRE TEAGUE NOW. !!!
Crybaby Hawk Fans
February 6th, 2012
9:47 pm
Magic & Hawks will both be in lotteryland, only thing is our ping pong ball will net us a better pick, you clowns will screw it up again and then whine & complain about how he sucks, but wait, thats what you clowns do now.
phil
February 6th, 2012
9:47 pm
Release someone!
BILLY KNIGHT
February 6th, 2012
9:47 pm
Man we need a center bad.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
9:47 pm
“If the NBA was like other major sports and didnt allow half of the teams to make the playoffs, then the only year during this “stretch of years as a playoff team” that they would have made it is the year they won over 50.”
No, they would have made it every year they were a top 6 seed, which is each of the last 3 years. The NFL lets 6 teams in from each conference. If the NBA switched to the NFL format, the Hawks would have still made it each of the last three years.
Al Horford
February 6th, 2012
9:48 pm
ANOTHER LOSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who’s fault is it now yo clowns?
All-Star Josh Nowitzki? What a joke.
Just Joe
February 6th, 2012
9:48 pm
It’s just has to be disheartening to be the smallest team in the league and know that your GM isn’t even bringing free agent centers in for workouts.
Hollywould
February 6th, 2012
9:48 pm
I told you 3 out of 4 losses this week but I thought they might have this game. Now it will be a shut out. No heart at all Hell let the GO team play/ at least they are happy to be playing. Oh yeah, I keep forgetting TIRED LEGS/ keep drinking the kool-aid Can’t wait to hear the post game comments Josh after last game was ” Just a 2 game losing streak” Let’s see how this plays out with some excuses. NO HEART!!!!
phil
February 6th, 2012
9:48 pm
Bring back Mike Fratello!!
Sautee
February 6th, 2012
9:48 pm
Out rebounded by 10, but we’ll stand pat and go with the bigs we have.
I hate to say this, but I hope they lose every game until Sund is FORCED to do something. Absurd.
High-Tech Lynching
February 6th, 2012
9:49 pm
This [Hawks] team needs Jamal [Crawford] and Al [Horford] in a big mutha freakin’ way.
Crybaby Hawk Fans
February 6th, 2012
9:49 pm
Whine & Complain about Marvin, Whine & Complain about Smith, about AL, about Joe, about Teague, about Kirk……Come to think of it you guys Whine & Complain about your STARTING 5, what other fanbase does that????
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
9:49 pm
It’s not so much Kirk’s fault as it is LD’s fault. LD should have eased Kirk back into the rotation instead of just handing him Pargo’s minutes. In fact he handed Kirk more minutes than Pargo by screwing up his substitution pattern to get Kirk in the game too early every game.
phil
February 6th, 2012
9:49 pm
Hire Bobby Knight!!
Bilbo Baggin
February 6th, 2012
9:49 pm
*Teague will never be able to co ordinate an offense and Al will never play defense. His own coach says **we arent missing much with Al out. Just have to make minor adjustment.
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
9:50 pm
cut it to two then the Suns go on a 24-4 run is unacceptable!!!
Larry is clueless!
Play Pargo dude at the 1 for Teague not Kirk!!!!!!!!!!
BILLY KNIGHT
February 6th, 2012
9:50 pm
Rick Sund i respect you as GM but why have not drafted a center yet ?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
9:50 pm
“Magic & Hawks will both be in lotteryland, only thing is our ping pong ball will net us a better pick, you clowns will screw it up again and then whine & complain about how he sucks, but wait, thats what you clowns do now.”
Still mad about losing to the Hawks in the first round?
Dwight is gone after this year and the Magic will be screwed again. Pretty sad when the Hawks have a brighter future than your team. Maybe Mickey Mouse can play center for y’all.
phil
February 6th, 2012
9:50 pm
Fire Crybaby Hawks Fans!!
Isaiah Rider
February 6th, 2012
9:51 pm
Dang- You folks were in love with the Hawks a week ago….funny how being an Atlanta fan ( pick a sport ) is so futile. Please find another hobby !! This is Loserville USA !
Spyro
February 6th, 2012
9:51 pm
Why won’t these so called “analysts” tear LD a new one? Bob, I love you as an announcer, but you just can’t blame this game on “energy.”
Sammy Davis Jr.
February 6th, 2012
9:51 pm
get rid of this bum Al horford and his hoe jeff teague.
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
9:51 pm
Ld has lost 4 in a row after Indiana pounds his club on Wed night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Should lose by 20-30
phil
February 6th, 2012
9:52 pm
I don’t really see that bright future here, Najeh….i wish i did but…
Al Horford
February 6th, 2012
9:52 pm
“This [Hawks] team needs Jamal [Crawford] and Al [Horford] in a big mutha freakin’ way.”
They said it was my fault so I fake this injury to let them see how OVERRATED All-Star Josh Nowitzki really is. Can’t even win win at home! LMAO
Add swingman depth
February 6th, 2012
9:52 pm
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
9:46 pm
need 3 more 6 6 forwards……Got a shot at an ECF! LOL
LinkReport this comment
Yep should have signed at least ONE 6-7 guy to a 10 day contract to fill the void. We are SO thin at the forward position.
We got anyone in d league?
Mac-Town (#maconchevyrider)
February 6th, 2012
9:52 pm
Bob Rathbun “Lets get back to doing the things that made you a good ball club”
playing cellar dwellers??? Cant do that til after this month, Bob.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
February 6th, 2012
9:52 pm
The Core is Crumbling
LT
February 6th, 2012
9:52 pm
“Alright guys. What do you think LD will talk about in his post game with the media?”
Something else… Somebody need to take responsibility for this lost!