Lineup changes could be coming after three-game slide
Vivlamore at practice on Tuesday. Here is your report:
No real news on the Hawks continued search for a big man to help their depleted corp – but changes could be on the way in light of the current three-game losing streak.
In talking with Larry Drew following this morning’s practice, the coach said he is considering a number of changes to get the team’s energy back. It’s something he said has been lacking in the past three games.
“We are not going to panic,” Drew said. “This is not a time to panic. Is it a time for concern? Yes. My biggest concern is our energy. The energy I saw on that road trip, since we’ve been home I just don’t see that type of energy. That is my biggest concern.
“When you get in these types of situations, you’ve got to do something to generate some type of energy. You’ve got to find our mojo back. How we do it, we possibly have to look at some things a little differently and maybe shake some things up. As a staff, we are still talking it. I’m still looking at possibly doing that. We’ll see what happens.”
Like lineup changes?, I asked.
“That is always a possibility,” Drew said. “It’s not just losing the three games, it’s the way we are playing. It’s the energy. It’s the urgency. It’s the combination of players who are out on the floor, starters versus guys who come off the bench. I’ve got to try to find that combination. I’ve got to find whatever it’s going to take in order for us to get that swagger back.”
Stay tuned on that front. We’ll check in Wednesday morning before the game against the Pacers.
* I asked Jerry Stackhouse, who had his contract guaranteed after close of business Tuesday, whether there had been a team meeting to address the current slide.
“We’ve met,” Stackhouse said. “It’s kind of overdue, having a meeting and some sessions about what is going on. The fact that guys might think that they know, but might still have to be prodded and told what to do daily or even on a possession-to-possession basis sometimes. It’s not that guys don’t want to do it, it just has to be reinforced. We have to reinforce some things as far as our principles. I thought there were stretches [in Monday’s loss to the Suns] where we were better in some of those principles but as the game wore on we reverted back to not helping each other, not trusting each other and that’s where we go wrong. Once we find that and get a win, winning is always a cure-all when you are in the midst of a losing streak.”
* On the search for a big man, Drew once again acknowledged the team needs some help at the center position with Al Horford out and Jason Collins on the shelf for two weeks. Drew said there would be another meeting Tuesday to discuss the situation.
“There is a list and we’ve talked about the list but nothing has really materialized as far as a name that really gets us excited,” Drew said. “We are going to talk today, as a matter of fact, and go over some more names. Try to find a name that makes more sense for us, whether it’s a 10-day [contract], whether it’s a player like a Kenyon Martin that is still available, which I don’t think there is. Right now we are looking at the list and see what makes sense for us so we can get some help at the five spot.”
Columnist Jeff Schultz gives his take on the need for a big man.
* Look for my feature on guard Willie Green on ajc.com a little later and in Wednesday’s print edition.
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335 comments Add your comment
Melvin
February 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
Donald Sloan got signed to a 10 day contract by the Hornets today. What are the Hawks waiting on to sign someone (hopefully a big) to a 10 day contract?
Buddy Grizzard
February 8th, 2012
4:47 pm
Nice feel good story about Willie Green. Too bad he has by far the worst +/- on the team:
http://www.nba.com/statistics/plusminus/plusminus_sort.jsp?pcomb=1&season=22011&split=9&team=Hawks
D MANN
February 8th, 2012
4:48 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
February 8th, 2012
3:19 pm
Josh Smith doesn’t call the wrong number. You answer the wrong phone.
Ghosts sit around the campfire and tell Josh Smith stories.
Josh Smith won American Idol using only sign language
There used to be a street named after Josh Smith, but it was changed because nobody crosses Josh Smith and lives.
Once the cop pulled over Josh Smith….the cop was lucky to leave with a warning
Josh Smith can do a wheelie on a unicycle
Josh Smith counted to infinity – twice.
Josh Smith won the Tour De France on a stationary bike.
COSIGN!!
O'Brien
February 8th, 2012
4:48 pm
doc,
Woody’s plan B was to try harder at plan A. And LD’s “we need more energy” does sound similar to that.
LD wants them to play harder, especially sinice they are undersized. But with this compressed schedule, going up against good teams, guys will get tired physically and mentally. And that will lead to mistakes. Plus I think the players are frustrated that Rick has not brought in any reinforcements.
Al and Josh asked for another big in the offseason, and didn’t get one. Al went down, and still no big. And now Twin went down, and still no big. I think that wears on the players.
And I agree with AJ that there appears to be some chemistry issues too. And LD doesn’t know how to push the right buttons (and if he does, he cannot get the players to listen to him consistently).
yoursporthouse dot com
February 8th, 2012
4:50 pm
Sign Solo…
D MANN
February 8th, 2012
4:50 pm
YEA, AL WAS DOING THE ASKING, JOSH AGREED WHEN ASKED, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS AL AINT CUTTING IT SO EVERYBODY AGREES
HAWKS NEED A STARTING CENTER.
yoursporthouse dot com
February 8th, 2012
4:50 pm
D Mann..cosign why? You guys SUCK as Hawks fans!!
D MANN
February 8th, 2012
4:51 pm
We needed the center while Al was here, not just when he went down. Al aint cutting it. Co-sign Rick Sund
D MANN
February 8th, 2012
4:54 pm
yoursporthouse dot com Id rather suck as a Hawks fans than be like you, a suck ass hawks fan.
Anybody who is willing to call Al out for being a whiner and reluctant defender is a poor hawks fan in your book. That’s why you are a suck ass hawks fan.
doc
February 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
yoursport teague is real good when there are no seven foot trees with their arms up in the pant like he saw the oast three games. he penetrates but hasnt developed the dlick dish nor the step back or three point shot to go with his own one dmensional game of penetrating and tossng up the floater. not saying he is bad but has got one path to cnsistent scoring and he has been in goid sutuations and delivered but his strength is defense as much as offense when he applies it like osh.
as far as osh he has no baseline moves because he has no handle to move in traffic and he rarely is moving to the basket to receive the easy dish. osh also has trouble when there are bigs and talls around. he needs space to score. he has a terrible post game and fumbles in close traffic. he really is one dimensional scorer best on the fly. in order for josh to have good numbers he has to convert 55-60%
Rufus1
February 8th, 2012
4:56 pm
@Melvin
I would never do that….I have a hard enough time posting under my own name.
flash
February 8th, 2012
5:00 pm
Hinrich for Biedrins Mwahahaha
terrell
February 8th, 2012
5:00 pm
Teague/Joe/TMac/Josh/Ivan
Daniel#12
February 8th, 2012
5:01 pm
Is Randolph Morris available? Last I heard he was in China playing for the Beijing Ducks. If he is getting paid big bucks probably not interested in a 10 contract just to get back to the NBA.
Jeff Teague
February 8th, 2012
5:01 pm
For All you guys that say id don’t have a brain….
I hadn’t thought about that.
MattP
February 8th, 2012
5:02 pm
Anyone notice Ivan finally made it onto the rookie ladder? Glad the guy is finally getting known for his hard work on this team, hope he keeps up these numbers.
http://www.nba.com/rookie-ladder/?ls=iref:nbahpt1
terrell
February 8th, 2012
5:02 pm
Zaza and Marvin are “energy” crushers. Falling down, moving screens, getting their shots blocked, fumbling passes, etc….. Bring em off the bench!
Snap Snap
February 8th, 2012
5:03 pm
So I guess that mean we are stuck with Al no production ass….?
flash
February 8th, 2012
5:03 pm
Biedrins and Pachulia the Georgia/Latvia Center Combo
Laughing out loud
February 8th, 2012
5:04 pm
LOL at terrell
Snap Snap
February 8th, 2012
5:10 pm
has there ever been a trade for a GM in the history of basketball?
Buddy Grizzard
February 8th, 2012
5:13 pm
“Twin gets “significant minutes”? Really, I know that I haven’t watched every minute of every game, but I must have missed the “significant” minutes he has played.” – Astro Joe
He’s averaging over 10 MPG in 13 games played. He also has the second worst +/- of any Hawk not named Willie Green. When you give 10 MPG to the player with the worst PER of any player not named Jamaal Magloire, that means your team is playing 4-on-5 for 10 MPG.
Harry Hawk
February 8th, 2012
5:16 pm
This team is fraudulent.
Subtlety
February 8th, 2012
5:17 pm
Hey, the troll is back. Of course he’s posting the exact same thing he’s been saying for 3 years now (by his own count). What was that Einstein quote again?
Cuz nuttin’s different. LMFAO. Hey troll you know that you love to have Horford here so you can continue your 3 year rant. Insanity. In plain view. Now, if he acts according to form, he’ll jack my ID and spout nonsense under this handle. But most of you will know just who it is. The man who can’t say anything without referring to Al. doc probably pizzed him off talking about the Al haters not posting the post-Al numbers anymore since they now begin to look worse without Al than with. lol.
Grandad
February 8th, 2012
5:20 pm
At the expense of offending my good friend and
therefore consequentially my antagonist;:;:;:;:;:
“the Mad Hatter”.
Josh Smith is not very good. (he could be; but he’s not)
[ain't gonna happen] sorry [wish it would]
I’ve been fooled over & over & over & over & over … infinitum !!
Al Horford is inj. (worry about him next yr)
[honestly, I doubt he returns this yr - atall]
Joe is just Joe ? -nothing more / nothing less-
Teague is good enough to be an All-Star:
He will always fall short – I’m afraid ?
He is meek.
Personalities are hard to overcome.
I’m not criticizing / honest.
He has the physical ability though.
@ least he doesn’t shoot himself in the foot r e [JS].
Marv = “Bless his Heart”
Southerners know what I mean.
Hatter; with all candor and sincerity, have a great day.
terrell
February 8th, 2012
5:25 pm
I mean seriously. What other teams would start Marvin(for 7 years) and Zaza? 2 of the clumsiest players in the league. Thats asking for trouble.
Teague/Joe/TMac/Josh/Ivan
Buddy Grizzard
February 8th, 2012
5:26 pm
“He may very well be all those things, but I’m just saying I’m not going to make any definitive judgments about him after two games.” – Najeh
Understood, but I’m learning to trust the eye test more. If he can hold his own vs. John Wall he can hold his own against alot of people. Maybe he’s had these couple big games because he caught people flat footed, and he’ll drop off the face of the earth once teams start game planning him. I’m just saying undersized guys who shoot every available shot are a dime a dozen. I’m not predicting a Nash-like career for the guy, but guys with Nash-like basketball IQ are NOT a dime a dozen.
terrell
February 8th, 2012
5:27 pm
Marvin = Bless his heart”. LMMFAO
terrell
February 8th, 2012
5:31 pm
“We needed a center when Al was here, not just when he went down”.
Quote of the day
terrell
February 8th, 2012
5:32 pm
“Bless his Heart” killin me with that fro. lol
DHD
February 8th, 2012
5:51 pm
For real though…..the NBA started back?
doc
February 8th, 2012
6:30 pm
so again what is your point when all of them are? he is right up there with the rest of this imbalanced munchkin team. and his one dimension is one that they cant fill right now so they are weaker without him. he fills one void and it helps open things up for the other ondimensional players we have.
doc
February 8th, 2012
6:35 pm
yoursport add something to the conversation we dont know about the hawks.
doc
February 8th, 2012
6:37 pm
yeah, me too gdad, especially bhh.
Hoops
February 9th, 2012
1:53 pm
Dampier is a man of style…check out the suit he wore on draft night – HILARIOUS!
http://hoopstopia.com/dampier-signs-10-day-contract-with/