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
Harpie
February 6th, 2012
8:39 pm
Larry Drew is a disease….
Bigman needed
February 6th, 2012
8:39 pm
I hate to say it but phx physical bigs could wear on us as this game goes on
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
8:40 pm
sixers up 4 on the lakers with about 2mins left in the 3rd!
Runner-
February 6th, 2012
8:42 pm
Suns were going to Robin almost every play that half, smart coaching to go after our undersized “centers”. Can’t believe Hawks are still in this thing after that awful quarter
terrell
February 6th, 2012
8:42 pm
Stick with the bench while the lead grows why dontcha LD??? Clown!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
8:42 pm
No rim protector on the second unit. Nobody who can drive inside on the second unit. Just a bunch of jump shooters and Ivan.
Big Lou
February 6th, 2012
8:42 pm
Woodson kept his starters out too long, and LD doesn’t keep them out enough.
GG Hawks. Let the spiral begin. They are down by 8 against a CRAPPY Suns team. This should have been an easy win.
O'Brien
February 6th, 2012
8:42 pm
Their bench is outplaying our bench.
Where is to tell us how much we needed Jamal.
But one thing is clear when it comes to Kirk. he does not penetrate. Dude has 0 FTA in his 6 games back, and most of his shots are jumpers
Mr Fix-It
February 6th, 2012
8:42 pm
Didn’t Josh complain about the offense pre-game? He’s taken more shots than anyone! 1 rebound! WTF
Al can’t save you now. EXPOSED.
LT
February 6th, 2012
8:42 pm
Fire LD!!!!
ntrigue
February 6th, 2012
8:42 pm
Larry the whistle man drew!
Smith
February 6th, 2012
8:43 pm
@Najeh Teague:-6 Hinrich: -1 Any words?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
8:43 pm
Am I banned?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
8:44 pm
It kept telling me “You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down.” for the last half an hour. WTF happened to this blog?
Dept. of Unintended Irony
February 6th, 2012
8:44 pm
“Am I banned?”
Unfortunately, no.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
8:45 pm
“Teague:-6 Hinrich: -1 Any words?”
Good for Kirk, he played well in the second quarter and almost made up for his horrendous first stint on the floor.
Sautee
February 6th, 2012
8:45 pm
Maybe now that 8:42 has passed the blog will free itself up.
Mr Fix-It
February 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
I cant wait till we trade Al
TMACfan
February 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
Hell yeah jcwfalcon
jcwfalcon
February 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
Steve Nash and Grant Hill against Tracy McGrady and Jerry Stackhouse.
Exciting if I had a time machine.
Big Lou
February 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
Well, Kirk allowed the three at the end with his ‘Brilliant’ defense.
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
February 6th, 2012
8:46 pm
I hope Najeh realizes the imposter. Besides, there was nothing ironic about that post.
Dept. of Unintended Irony
February 6th, 2012
8:47 pm
“I hope Najeh realizes the imposter. Besides, there was nothing ironic about that post.”
The fact that he asked “Am I banned?” expecting no post is, in essence, ironic.
Walt Frazier
February 6th, 2012
8:48 pm
Larry Drew is destroying this team. He has put in Kirk Hinrich in and taken Jeff Teague out and again, like last year, treating Teague like a step-child. I say again, I don’t like it, and the Hawks will continue to get embarrassed at home and as long as Drew makes these kinds of changes. Once upon a time, early in the season-they were on a roll. But as Hinrich’s injured shoulder healed, Larry thought it not robbery to focus on Teague’s mistakes-and then bench him-and then insert a chomping at the bit-Hinrich, who probably resented Teague’s success while he sat in street clothes-on the bench. Teague may be under contract, but he will never fully develop into the player he can be fooling around with these hapless Hawks. We got too many teams with birds anyway. ASG-sell the team and get out of the sports entertainment business.
Sautee
February 6th, 2012
8:49 pm
Najeh,
For some reason, about 8:20, several posts, including one of yours were listed at being posted at 8:42. The post order was screwy then until 8:43.
Computer gremlins, I reckon.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
8:51 pm
Yeah, looks like the blog had some Mongolians in the system.
MarchItUp
February 6th, 2012
8:51 pm
“For some reason, about 8:20, several posts, including one of yours were listed at being posted at 8:42. The post order was screwy then until 8:43.
Computer gremlins, I reckon.”
Cool story, bro.
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
February 6th, 2012
8:52 pm
Some “handle thief” needs to look up the meaning of ironic.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
8:52 pm
DUI, I could tell.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
8:54 pm
Again, the Hawks start the 3rd quarter with no ball movement and no defensive pressure.
Runner-
February 6th, 2012
8:55 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
8:51 pm
hahahahaha, classic
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
8:56 pm
Box the f-ck out Zaza
Big Lou
February 6th, 2012
8:56 pm
It this a surprise? LD is a horrible coach, and it’s starting to show.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
8:56 pm
ZAZA THIS ISN’T F-CKING VOLLEYBALL
bigdave
February 6th, 2012
8:57 pm
Josh keeps leaving Frye
Jase
February 6th, 2012
8:58 pm
We need a center bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bigdave
February 6th, 2012
8:58 pm
Vlad instead of Ivan?
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
8:59 pm
0-3 in Feb, standby….cant stop em….
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
8:59 pm
Why is Vlad in for Zaza instead of Ivan? LD is trying his hardest to lose this game.
Mr Fix-It
February 6th, 2012
9:00 pm
Damn its the Josh and JJ show. but teague is not doing his part
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
9:00 pm
LD is CLUELESS!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
9:00 pm
That’s gotta be a clear path foul, right?
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
9:01 pm
6 days into Feb.. 0-3 coming up… Larry is a major contributor,,Way ta go Coach Smith,,,I mean Drew….They both suck….
Big Lou
February 6th, 2012
9:02 pm
Damn its the Josh and JJ show. but teague is not doing his part – Mr Fit-nothing
You sir, have no freaking clue.
tb hawk fan i think
February 6th, 2012
9:03 pm
we can’t hit abig fat bull in the but tonight
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
9:04 pm
You would think LD would have learned after going with the Josh at center lineup the other day.
Mr Fix-It
February 6th, 2012
9:04 pm
Really?
Marvin Williams
#24 21:59 6 3 2 2
Josh Smith
#5 24:08 18 5 2 0
Joe Johnson
#2 26:26 17 2 3 0
Jeff Teague
#0 18:59 6 1 0 3
Vladimir Radmanovic
#77 09:58 0 3 1 0
Najeh Davenpoop
February 6th, 2012
9:05 pm
A Vlad post up? This is getting ugly.
bigdave
February 6th, 2012
9:05 pm
oh my.
Slimjr
February 6th, 2012
9:05 pm
Hawks 0- for whatever against the Western Conference!!!
They are a pretender.. They have been exposed!