Atlanta Hawks: Lakers 86, Hawks 78
Los Angeles–The Hawks held the Lakers to 86 points on 84 shots, had 11 turnovers to L.A’s 13, shot 14 free throws (.16 rate) to the Lakers’ nine (.11 rate) and collected 17 of the Lakers’ 47 misses. They lost because they shot 34.4 percent while missing 12 of 20 shots at the rim and botching at least six transition chances; couldn’t stop Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol in the paint early, and saw the Lakers scored 15 points off those 11 turnovers.
- “I don’t know how many layups we missed,” Larry Drew said. “We missed a ton of point-blank shots. We turned the ball over at crucial times, too. Defensively I thought we were pretty much right there on the money but we just couldn’t buy a shot.”
- The Hawks scored just 10 points in the second quarter but it wasn’t just because they were settling for Js. Yes, they missed all seven 3-point attempts in the period but they also missed seven consecutive layup attempts. “We got to the rim,” Jeff Teague said. “That’s what we wanted to do. But we couldn’t finish.”
- No doubt the Lakers’ length had something to do with Atlanta missing so many at close range. The Hawks had seven shots blocked, including two of the layup attempts, and you could see them peeking for defenders when they drove to the basket. “We just have to have more focus when we are going to the rim,” Drew said. “You can’t be concerned about them blocking the shots or changing them.”
- I said the Hawks should shoot more 3s and of course they go out and miss 20 of 27 attempts, including 13 of 16 tries after the first quarter. Still, that’s an effective field-goal percentage of 38.3 compared to 38 percent on 2s (40 percent at the rim) and 64 percent on free throws. The Hawks couldn’t make anything.
- “It wasn’t a great shooting night,” Joe Johnson said. “But you can make up for that with effort and defense. I think our defense was pretty good tonight but we missed a lot of easy shots.”
- The Hawks trailed just 59-51 entering the fourth. The Lakers got some separation behind Steve Blake, Matt Barnes and Andrew Goudelock. Drew waited until the official timeout at 8:04 to put Johnson and Josh Smith back in with Atlanta down 69-57.
- “I was thinking about the back-to-back,” Drew said. “I wanted to go back with the starters and still make a push but I can’t drive them into the ground when we have a back-to-back. I thought the bench guys gave us some good minutes.”
- Vladimir Radmanovic’s 3 got the Hawks within 69-60 but Smith threw the ball away. After the Lakers scored on a second chance, Joe made a J but Blake shook free from Teague for a 3, Joe carried the ball for a turnover, and Gasol made a J. That was the last gasp for the Hawks.
- After Zaza Pachulia couldn’t keep Bynum from deep post position, Drew went to Erick Dampier. Except Drew said that’s not why he did it. “I was told [Zaza] had two fouls,” Drew said. “But they gave the foul to Joe. They said they changed it.”
- As it turned out, Dampier was pretty effective at making forcing Bynum to catch the ball away from the basket. Considering his lack of conditioning and mobility, he did well to play 16 minutes and get four rebounds. But his teammates should know that they can’t whip passes to those hands. “He did pretty good,” Josh said. “He played pretty good defense on Bynum. He missed a couple of chip tip ins. We was in a drought.”
- Zaza said he knew he only had one foul but it ended up working out for him, too. “I watched what [Dampier] did to [Bynun] and so in the second half I went out and did the same,” he said. Bynum overpowered Zaza a couple times but Zaza effectively pushed, cajoled and harassed him after halftime.
- In 15 second-half minutes, Josh was 1 for 7 with four rebounds and three assists. In the first half, he was 6 for 11 with five rebounds in 17 minutes. The problems were familiar: missed jumpers (3 of 9 outside of the paint) and untimely turnovers. There came a point where it looked as if he was no longer interested in venturing inside against the Lakers’ timber.
- Josh did a pretty good job bothering Gasol’s attempts around the basket. It’s no coincidence that the Lakers’ perimeter players started attacking the paint after he went to the bench in the third quarter.
- Joe never did assert himself as a scorer when the Hawks needed it. This wasn’t Milwaukee or Detroit. He did have five of the team’s 14 assists against two turnovers. “I got to where I wanted to get on the floor,” Joe said. “I missed a lot of easy shots for myself. I feel I could have made a lot more plays getting guys wide open shots.”
- Joe became the seventh player in Hawks franchise history to score at least 10,000 points. “It is what it is,” he said. “Maybe if we could have got a win it would feel a lot better. My main focus right now is for us to try to get the rest of these games on the road.”
- Zaza and Josh (nine rebounds each) got some help on the boards: Marvin Williams, Tracy McGrady and Vlad Rad had six each.
- Vlad Rad, back in his old building, made three 3-pointers for the first time since Jan. 9, which also is the last time he had as many as six attempts. T-Mac was driving to score, missing and looking for calls. Marvin missed a few good looks.
- With Dampier getting minutes at center and Vlad Rad at the four, Ivan Johnson got a DNP-CD.
- Teague’s 6-for-16 shooting included five misses at the rim and also a couple botched runners. He never got out of scoring mode and finished with two assists. The Hawks’ starting point guard wasn’t leading them on a night the offense was often aimless.
- Kobe Bryant scored 10 points on 18 shots with Joe plus help keeping him in check save for a burst in the third quarter.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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360 comments Add your comment
pointguardslim
February 15th, 2012
5:56 pm
And if I’m such an idiot, I guess I’m in there with Coach Skiles who only chooses to play Jon Leuer 13 minutes / game, but you’d make him a starter. OK, I’ll stay with the idiots.
———–
Yeah that is idiotic. Josh Smith has a severe problem. Yet by your logic, which seems earily similar to ASG logic you’d pick:
6′8 Josh Smith + 6′8 tweener Mbah a Moute
over
6′8 Josh Smith + 6′11 shooter Jon Leuer
And shame on you for talking about Bogut or Thabeet or Jordan Hill when Pachulia has done a fine job starting.
And double shame on you for neglecting to mention Motiejunas, who would have come along with Jordan Hill and Thabeet’s contracts.
And triple shame on you for not knowing that Thabeet’s expiring, Jordan Hill’s expiring and Motiejunas #20 pick rookie deal would have given us 3 bigs for 1 that is undersized as I said And would have allowed us more room to sign Dwight Howard, Ryan Anderson this year.
Yeah now Horford’s contract is worth $12 million instead of $5 million and we’re paying him for rehab. Marvin has tanked another season and been outplayed by vet minimum Radmanovic And we’re still not getting Dwight.
Yeah keeping Horford instead of 3 for 1 expirings coming into Summer of Dwight was idiotic, resigning Marvin was idiotic, Hinrich is playing idiotic, Keeping Smith at undersized stretch PF is idiotic. keeping Hinrich instead of moving for a 7 foot actual STRETCH PF is idiotic,
questioning over and over why a 7 foot shooter would be so valuable to a team with Josh Smith on it is idiotic. Am I clear to you sautee?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
6:02 pm
Point guard looks unimpressive during garbage time, gets more playing time, and suddenly looks better. Hmm.
ryan
February 15th, 2012
6:06 pm
I would not mind having Ellis and Lee to get rid of Marvin Williams .
pointguardslim
February 15th, 2012
6:07 pm
wow Hawks save money and win +6 more games
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=6pkmlcz
maybe we have to throw in a pick lol
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
6:10 pm
“People keep talking about offense, when the real problem is defense and rebounding.”
The Hawks are 7th in defensive rating, 13th in offensive rating, and 8th in defensive rebounding percentage, although they are in the bottom half of the league in offensive rebounding. Seems to me like the problem is more on O than on D.
MattP
February 15th, 2012
6:13 pm
pointguardslim,
Bucks would not even do that trade… Just because it works on trade machine doesn’t mean a team will do it.
Grandad
February 15th, 2012
6:15 pm
Evaluating Our [current] Big Three: 1st in a ‘`3`’ part series:
Part 2: ‘`JoeJ`’
Joe needs a Big Man.
A Dominant Big Man.
Everybody says Joe needs his Robin
-or-
Joe is Robin – needs a Batman !
I think Joe needs a Dominant Legit 7 Ftr. ! period.
7 ftr could be Batman; Robin [not Lopez] or;
Superman [too easy].
Last eve;
Bynum proved what a Legit, Dominant Big can do !
[ I'll get to Gasol in a min]
Bynum (in My opinion) is better than D.Howard.
For one thing – He’s much bigger (taller).
You put a dominant Big on this team and Joe becomes 50% better.
Now Gasol, he’s obtainable.
He proved last nite that he’s an inside force that we have not had ever.
He would immediately make Joe better.
Remember my definition of greatness.
‘`one who make his teammates better`’ Gasol qualifes.
He made Kobe better.
He helped the Lakers become Champions again.
But, this is about Joe.
Joe is good / not great / never will be.
Not a hall of famer / no way.
Joe is one of the most graceful Big players you will ever see.
Yes he is a very Big guard.
Joe is what he is. He is comfortable;
`’in his own skin`’ to use that cliche; which I hate. – But he is.
Joe is to good – to not use him this year and next.
If someone wants him value for value, then trade him.
-otherwise-
Hold on to him, for this yr & next then use the amnesty clause.
*(just go get him a Legit 7 ftr / named Gasol)
______________________________________________
-side note-
when using amnesty clause
*does not count against lux tax
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
6:18 pm
“And if I’m such an idiot, I guess I’m in there with Coach Skiles who only chooses to play Jon Leuer 13 minutes / game, but you’d make him a starter. OK, I’ll stay with the idiots.”
In fairness to Leuer’s mom, Teague was in pretty much the exact same situation the last two years. Can’t completely discount the possibility that Leuer could be a good player if given more minutes.
That said, I don’t see how a jump shooting big man with average defensive ability is going to push this team over the top, and I am still perplexed as to why this most random of all NBA players is continually referenced on this blog.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
6:20 pm
Leuer’s mom, if you really want Leuer so bad, the most likely way is if you agree to also trade for Stephen Jackson. I’m pretty sure you can give the Bucks a steaming pile of sh-t for Stephen Jackson and they will be willing to throw Leuer in to the deal. They are not going to trade Gooden when he is their only healthy center.
pointguardslim
February 15th, 2012
6:20 pm
@Najeh Davenpoop
bottom half of the league in offensive rebounding
13th in offensive rating
Pau Gasol, 7′1 PF. 8 offensive boards.
UNDERSIZED. What is wrong with people. Do we not understand this yet? We are not NBA champions or even making an ECF appearance until we get that fixed.
First play of last game with Phoenix was what? A Channing Frye fadeaway over Marvin Williams in the post.
You guys really think Josh Smith couldnt guard Grant Hill? Couldnt post him up? Couldnt beast him on the boards. Couldnt embarass Grant Hill in transition?.
Yeah Josh Smith couldve done all that and dominated that matchup but the problem is Marvin Williams couldnt guard Chnning Frye at power forward.
Small ball deserves to die. Keep Monta Ellis and even worse David Lee far away from Joe Johnson’s contract.
Rod from College Park
February 15th, 2012
6:24 pm
Grandad,
“Bynum (in My opinion) is better than D.Howard.”
Remember Grandad to let me know what kind of cannibus you smoke, so if i ever decide to become a smoker, I stay far away from it. Better how? He has better back to the basket moves, but thats about it. Marvin has a better jump shot than Josh, guess what, that don’t make him better than Josh. Bynum can barely stay healthy.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
6:24 pm
HAWKS.COM: You’ve been in L.A. and now Atlanta. Which city has worse traffic?
RADMANOVIC: I have to go with L.A. Atlanta, there is a highway that’s backed up and if you use streets you can pretty much get anywhere you want.
Vlad has figured out in half an NBA season what millions of locals still apparently don’t know — that you don’t HAVE to use the freeway, you can use surface streets and get places quicker. Talk about high basketball IQ.
Sautee
February 15th, 2012
6:24 pm
“Josh Smith has a severe problem. Yet by your logic, which seems earily similar to ASG logic you’d pick:
6′8 Josh Smith + 6′8 tweener Mbah a Moute
over
6′8 Josh Smith + 6′11 shooter Jon Leuer”
By MY logic? I never said ANYTHING about what I thought the Hawks should do. I only said that your “stretch forward” had only attempted 5 threes, even though you posted an entire paragraph on how valuable that skill would be in the NBA.
Listen, I don’t give three half sh!ts about your theory. It’s a straw man argument to claim that “by my logic X” when I don’t even have a dog in your fight. You do a great job of evading the question. (you’re not secretly Astro Joe are you?)
Also, NOW you say that Mbah Moute is a tweener, when just an hour ago you said that the Bucks didn’t have tweeners taking it inside, so that’s why they didn’t have Leuer shooting 3s. You’re all over the map with your arguments, but as we’ve seen, there will be a different flavor by next month.
And about this: “questioning over and over why a 7 foot shooter would be so valuable to a team with Josh Smith on it is idiotic. Am I clear to you sautee?”
Once again, a straw man. I have NEVER said that a 7 footer (which Leuer is NOT BTW) would not be valuable. Just because I’m not convinced that Leuer is the right guy, doesn’t mean that I’m against acquiring a 7 footer. Lame straw man argument.
Is that clear to you Mrs. Leuer?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 15th, 2012
6:26 pm
Bynum is a better offensive player than Dwight, but Dwight is a FAR better defensive player than Bynum or anyone else in the league. Defense matters.
Junebug
February 15th, 2012
6:27 pm
What happened to the great zone defense the Hawks were playing in the beginning of the year.I have watched every game and ever since the Chicago game they lost they have abandoned it.Funny because they grabbed a big lead in that game playing zone then went to man to man and the Bulls came back and won.The Hawks have never been the same.Personally I don’t blame Drew or the Hawks.I am convinced that the league wants it’s big market teams to win no matter what happens .When the Hawks were using that zone you could really see their talent.They dominated Miami 2 using that zone and Dallas beat Miami in the finals using the zone d.The Hawks have more talent then Dallas but never use it anymore .It is bigger then all these comments .It’s business and the Hawks cannot make the $ for the league that other teams can so don’t ever expect them to win a Championship.NBA.NFL,NCAA,MLB,etcetc championships are not won.They are bought !!!!!
doc
February 15th, 2012
6:29 pm
for aj as an ode to flip murray and his bit of historical relevance to linsanity:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/5-reasons-to-doubt-jeremy-lin
Sautee
February 15th, 2012
6:29 pm
“In fairness to Leuer’s mom, Teague was in pretty much the exact same situation the last two years. Can’t completely discount the possibility that Leuer could be a good player if given more minutes”
That’s a good point, Najeh, but was anybody on the blog seriously asking for Teague to start after he’d only played 28 games? If we had seen Leuer for over a year, then maybe ok.
doc
February 15th, 2012
6:31 pm
durn najeh. dont leek that info as that is only available to natives bro. what are you doing?
oh btw, it doesnt work in grid lock and there can be that in atl.
MattP
February 15th, 2012
6:31 pm
I actually want to see a Smith for Gasol trade now. Smith has good defense but he shoots us out of the game a lot. I think the Hawks can move Ivan to starting PF and they will still have Smith’s energy and defense. Smith and Williams for Gasol or Smith and Hinrich for Gasol.
doc
February 15th, 2012
6:32 pm
love leek but meant leak.
pointguardslim
February 15th, 2012
6:35 pm
“And if I’m such an idiot, I guess I’m in there with Coach Skiles who only chooses to play Jon Leuer 13 minutes / game, but you’d make him a starter. OK, I’ll stay with the idiots.”
In fairness to Leuer’s mom, Teague was in pretty much the exact same situation the last two years. Can’t completely discount the possibility that Leuer could be a good player if given more minutes.
That said, I don’t see how a jump shooting big man with average defensive ability is going to push this team over the top, and I am still perplexed as to why this most random of all NBA players is continually referenced on this blog.
—————
Well since Najeh put up a coherent argument. Yeah Leuer is average defensively. But hes more solid than say Channing Frye. Who I would love for the team he could play defense. And he’s better man to man than Radmanovic/Marvin.
And he’s blocking shots at 2.0%.
A) shooting B) big man
Rolled in one.
Joe Johnson vs Jared Dudley
Josh Smith crashes inside vs Grant Hill
Jon Leuer vs Channing Frye
Joe Johnson vs Jodie Meeks
Josh Smith crashes inside/post ups vs Iguodala
Jon Leuer vs Lavoy Allen/Spencer Hawes
Smith has trouble scoring and rebounding over size. So does Joe Johnson. These mens window is closing and he’s not dictating matchups. Our window is closing.
“He has the ability to erase a lot of defensive mistakes because of his athleticism. [Josh Smith is]a tough matchup at the 3 as well. You play him at some 3, there is a high probability he is bigger than that three man, stronger than that three man. Certainly the way to take advantage of that matchup is to post him up. We will certainly try to utilize his ability against a smaller guy. It won’t necessarily be about us adjusting to what the other team does. We want to put the opponent in a position where they have to match up with us.”
Thats what the Lakers do. “Put the opponent in a position where they have to match up with us.”
And thats the winning attitude Hawks fans have gotten accustomed to rejecting. We can match up if we shoot 3s! Shoot more 3s! Energy! blah blah blah.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuklWpNBhE0
I got another video where Doc Rivers says Smith is having a bad shooting night because the Celtics have needed to double team Josh every play when Pierce is guarding him.
northcyde
February 15th, 2012
6:43 pm
Nah Najeh. Not against the over. 500 teams. The problems is that Drew looks for a quick fix offensively, instead of grinding it out on defense. Last night was a grind it out game.
Drew taking Josh out and inserting Vlad, all because of Smith’s erratic offensive play, is the difference in that game. He took out our best rebounder and went with a Zaza – Vlad – Marvin frontline. They did nothing. I think the lead was 12 before Drew put Josh back in.
We’re defensively destroying bad teams, while good teams either outrebound us to death, or we simply can’t stop them.
In the Chicago game we should’ve won, the Bulls scored 34 pts in the 4th, after being shut down the entire game.
In the games vs Philly, we get destroyed on the boards one game, and can’t stop them at all the next
In the games vs the Texas teams, their shooters destroyed us.
The Hawks shot 4 – 27 in the 3rd quarter, but weren’t out of the game because of good defense. Had Smith stayed in that game like normal, that game goes down to the wire.
Drew’s thought process is to always go with an offensive player when they fall behind, instead of try to get stops on the defensive end. If the Hawks don’t defend and rebound, , they usually can’t get their running game going.
Drew simply has to start knowing his personnel better.
doc
February 15th, 2012
6:45 pm
nc, no problem if marvin is subbed out and vlad in.
Grandad
February 15th, 2012
6:48 pm
Ra’mon
‘`And almost each of the players you’ve lobbied for,
have been offensive players,
with out defense being a strength of theirs`’
____________________________________________
Ajinca – I’m still calling for Ajinca.
France avg 16 pts, 7 boards, 3 blks
7-2; only 21 yrs old, freakish wing-span
I want him as a rim defender [offense] ? ? ?
____________________________________________
I suppose you forgot:
Battier; Lowry; Jrue Holiday; Reggie Evans; Amir Johnson;
Jeff Foster, *drafting Kawhi Leonard; *drafting Chris Singleton;
this coming yr positioning to draft Thomas Robinson;
Aron Afflalo; Joakim Noah; Anderson Varajao; Marcin Gortat;
** and Yes Byron Mullens ! Whom we Could Really Really Use.
*** and Yes I still like Stephen Curry amongst others [offense]
**** But the majority of the player I call for / or suggest
Have been Legit Bigs OR more importantly *Rebounders !
Though Defense & being a good Teammate are Most Important also !
You know this.
Why did you try to pull off some rubbish;
writing something as blatantly false as what you said:
‘`have been offensive players,
with out defense being a strength of theirs`’
____________________________________________
pointguardslim
February 15th, 2012
6:53 pm
It’s all about the Hawks going big and maintaining floor balance. Josh Smith’s post defense the past 2 games is nonexistent. I showed you Bosh vs Leuer and he was catching the ball at the 3 pt line. He’s a rookie, there’s no secret to Leuer keeping Bosh out the post. There the same height.
You want to tell me size does not matter in explaining why Bosh dominated Josh?
Jeff Teague
Joe Johnson
Josh Smith
7′0 big man with range
Pachulia
Vlad Radmanovic is soft and on a vet minimum. But Hawks wanted someone with a quick trigger and hes taking Marvin’s spot.
If the Atlanta Hawks fans are serious about winning a championship its about making Josh Smith the #1 defensive, transition and hustle rebounding small forward in the league… and getting a PF who can shoot and give you size in post defense, because Smith+Marvin just cant do it.
—-
We’ll see if Gooden becomes expendable Najeh but I’d advise against Stephen Jackson his ego and low PER, low WS/48, low athleticism, low rebounding.
If we were 6′11 and physical sure. But the last thing the Hawks need is another “small” forward. And a gunner with an ego.
northcyde
February 15th, 2012
7:05 pm
And LOL at Drew
“I was thinking about the back to back.”
Really?
You’re thinking about the back to back on the FIRST NIGHT of the back to back?
It’s not like those guys were tired when the came to LA. The starters got plenty of rest in that Miami game. Just stop lying. We all know why you took Josh out of the game. Just man up and admit to it.
Ra'mon
February 15th, 2012
7:17 pm
All of those players are good role players. But majority of them are on the decline of their careers. I don’t recall you asking for Holiday or Lowry, so I apologize for that. But even out of those players you mentioned, neither have been on a championship team in the NBA. So you take 2 of those players and add them to the Hawks, and I still don’t see how you make it to the Finals. Especially if you’re trading Josh for either of the two of them. I do remember you and I both asking for Battier for the last 3-4 seasons when he was in Houston even. But I still think I recall you asking for a lot more players than you listed, and majority of them being one dimensional players, and not game changers.
FACTS
February 15th, 2012
7:18 pm
Grandad@Ra’mon – “Why did you try to pull off some rubbish;
writing something as blatantly false as what you said”
_____
@Grandad
Beacause you saud this:
“Josh is over-rated by some on this board who seem to …
“adorer de ballon roller d’or`’ ;
become overly infatuated with a singular player on
-our team-”
and Ra’mon has a man crush on Josh.
FACTS
February 15th, 2012
7:20 pm
said ✔
and he took it personal.
Hilarious.
northcyde
February 15th, 2012
7:23 pm
Doc, I have no problem taking Marvin out of a game when he is playing bad. It’s just that Drew has to understand time and situation. If you put in anybody, Ivan should’ve been in.
@ Buddy
I saw that stat you posted about Vlad and our record when he plays 10+ minutes. Well if you stretch that out 3 more games, we’re 1 – 7 when he plays 10+ minutes.
Easy explanation for that though. He’s getting most of his minutes in blowouts. Good stat though.
Grandad
February 15th, 2012
7:23 pm
Evaluating Our [current] Big Three: 1st in a ‘`3`’ part series:
Part 3: ‘`Teaguer`’
I’ve long been a Jeff Teague supporter.
To be a Teague supporter;
does not mean one has to *bash Cap’n Kirk.
They can co-exist.
Kirk is and should be a valuable member of this team.
Back to Teaguer.
Lately, He has not been very good.
Here’s, what I see.
Jeff is a natural scorer. – Which can be fine.
Jeff needs to continue to enhance his stong suits
but not neglect his weak points.
Strong suits:
*natural scoring; *defense, in particular steals; speed & quickness.
weakness:
passing, assisting; type A personality, (assertiveness);
being the quarterback (leader / taking charge of the offense)
He actually needs to get in Josh’s face and rip into him;
for trying to be ‘`Magic Johnson`’.
Offensively:
* He needs to drive to score
* He needs to push the ball the way Spud Webb used to do it
* He needs to get the majority of his assts off the fast break
* He needs to Dictate the tempo, Offensive Transition
* He needs to Run the Offense
Defense:
* He simply needs to be the best
* He needs to be Rondo (can be)
* He needs to be the League’s most worrisome Pest
Bottom Line:
I would trade him for Pau Gasol or some pkg to get Gasol.
I do like Jeff Teague.
I think he will always be good but never great.
He will always be as good as he is quick.
____________________________________________
-side note-
Ra`mon;
Yes I was supportive of LD earlier.
Saying;
‘`he was growing into or on the job`’
I stand by that statement.
LD is not losing games.
He is doing the same things he was doing when the
*Players*
were winning games.
Funny, how he is losing the games now.
Is he coaching perfectly ?
Absolutely Not.
Should he be showing more growth ?
Most assuredly.
X’s -&- O’s LD does a fine job.
LD’s largest problem;
Managing his players, as he is not near mean enough.
One must be an Jack-ass to be an effective coach at his level.
I would think.
Grandad
February 15th, 2012
7:26 pm
I’m dumb
JoeJ was 2nd in a three part series
&
Teaguer was 3rd in a three part series
FACTS
February 15th, 2012
7:27 pm
The plus side to Josh Smith’s game is either surpassed or nearly canceled out by the negatives. I wish these clowns would stop acting like he’s some superstar. There’s a reason he hasnt been to an all-star game.
pointguardslim
February 15th, 2012
7:27 pm
Magic Johnson actually did the same thing leading the break at power forward that Josh does. Only hes better at it.
Yo should have said Josh Smith should stop trying to be Charles Barkley/Blake Griffin. Those are 2 athletic PFs who lead the break think they see the floor well and tried to use quickness to an advantage.
northcyde
February 15th, 2012
7:33 pm
WEDNESDAY NIGHT SCRUB WATCH
(A) Marvin Williams
(B) Jordan Crawford
(C) Jamal Crawford
(D) Jon Leuer
Who will be the “scrub of the night?”
pointguardslim
February 15th, 2012
7:34 pm
Josh Smith is a better version of Gerald Wallace. An all star small forward but at PF? He has no power and pushed to the perimeter.
Where is the power in his game? The power only shows up against small and/or softies at his position: David West or Ryan Anderson or Channing Frye.
Then he meets Gasol or Bosh and shallow observers say. “OH hes schizophrenic!” No he’s a SMALL forward. Where is the power in Smith’s game? Hes small forward soft for a power forward.
The only way to fix that is a STRETCH 4 so smith can be a POWER 3. Smith will never be a star outside of PnR play, transition, and offensive boards all of which are enhanced by playing in the backcourt with Teaguer and Joe Johnson.
If we had Gerald Wallace would we play him at PF or make a trade to put him at the right position?
DS
February 15th, 2012
7:37 pm
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7nhvdxy
I have no idea why would Denver do this trade, but it’d be nice for us if we could pull it off. Maybe with a first round pick?
pointguardslim
February 15th, 2012
7:40 pm
WEDNESDAY NIGHT SCRUB WATCH
(A) Marvin Williams
(B) Hasheem Thabeet, Jordan Hill, Donatas Motiejunas
Who will be outshined the most by their draft counterparts now and in the future? Who would you rather have expiring going into Summer of Dwight or the other guy? hmmm?
Marvin better show up against the Suns. Everyone knows the Suns are gonna hide baby arms Jared Dudley on him. Grant Hill will switch onto Joe and hope to shut him down. Channing Frye will be the Jason Collins to Josh’s Dwight.
Marvin better show up. He’s been handed the position because he’s a tad less soft than Vlad. Vlad took his spot with starters last night on the biggest stage so far. Why isnt Vlad on your scrub watch list?
northcyde
February 15th, 2012
7:45 pm
No room for Vlad. Jon took his spot.
And Leuer better show up against the Hornets. Bucks are at home, so there should be plenty of minutes for him tonight. Even if it’s garbage time.
Maybe they can use him to guard Kaman.
Grandad
February 15th, 2012
7:50 pm
Ra`mon
” and Yes I still like Stephen Curry amongst others [offense] ”
from my response to you.
-here are some others-
Troy Murphy (although he used to be a good rebounder)
Bargnani (admittedly this one is a stretch)
Hasheem Thabeet (missed that one)
Nash (still think he would sell tickets)
Barbosa (I still like him as a pg)
Xavier Henry (I like Kansas kids) *UCLA too
** and Brian Zoubek (would still rather have him than Collins)
Grandad
February 15th, 2012
7:54 pm
R. from C.P.
I almost qualified Bynum and his knee inj.
-But-
I didn’t
I still like Bynum.
I never said one disparaging word about D.Howard.
[I don't think - did I ?]
I just really think Bynum – if he stays hlthy – is a load.
Yes I like him.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 15th, 2012
7:56 pm
Something I saw earlier:
Rod from College Park “There are a lot of guys who look good when they come in the gym, and before the game, but can’t play when the game starts. He is one of them. ”
Damn right. I am at the games an hour early and Marvin drains shots when he and the ballboy are the only people out there.
Then I see him get guarded by Korver, Jodie Meeks, and Luke Ridnour (which Marvin should’ve seen as the ultimate insult) and go back into his cuckoon
Grandad
February 15th, 2012
7:58 pm
pointguardslim
How old are you ?
Magic was not a [4].
Magic Johnson was a pg.
He was not a powr forward leading the break.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 15th, 2012
8:01 pm
I can’t really post on the blog during the day but I enjoy reading the comments.
1) This Smith.Leuer.Bogut / pointguardslim guy has way too much time on his hands
2) Rod from CP kills it on this blog every single day. People should feel lucky to read this guy’s insights and he is damn knowledgeable about this game.
3) I think Hawks win tonight.
4) DO NOT START TEAGUE. SEND HIM A MESSAGE THAT HE NEEDS TO STEP IT UP
5) WHY THE HELL IS MARVIN WILLIAMS STILL STARTING IN THIS LEAGUE?
I have never once in the last 5 years felt confident when Marvin went up to the basket. He cannot finish at the basket. Unbelievable.
That is all.
1 love
pointguardslim
February 15th, 2012
8:03 pm
This guy northcyde is a clown. Only reason Jon Leuer would be good here is Josh Smith and Joe Johnson.
Only reason Marvin looks good is Josh Smith and Joe Johnson. Are you slow? But in your mind Leuer has to dominate for him to prove he can be a 3rd/4th fiddle for us.
Thats like me asking for Ryan Anderson in 2009 because he’s 6′10 and can shoot but then you say he has to drop 30 before we’re interested. And yes Ryan Anderson at one time got beat out by Yi Jianlian on the Nets.
Lol. What exactly does Leuer need to prove? Or maybe we’re waiting to sign Yi lol.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 15th, 2012
8:05 pm
After tonight’s game, it’ll be our first time having 2 days off all season.
FIRE MARVIN
northcyde
February 15th, 2012
8:07 pm
Lol grandad. If he’s young, he probably does remember Magic playing the 4 when he tried to make a comeback. Magic was every bit of 250 lbs at that time.
Scrub watch has begun. Looking for the Milwaukee scrub to ball tonight.
pointguardslim
February 15th, 2012
8:09 pm
Grandad
“I always harken back to when Magic Johnson was a rookie, he was a great, great defensive rebounder and he would rebound and turn and push that ball and all of a sudden the Lakers were on a fast break,” – Doug Collins
If you recall the 1980 NBA Championship in Game 6 Magic Johnson jumped at center and then went on to play PF all game.
Magic was nimbler and way more skilled than Josh but the intent is clearly the same. You rebound and go coast to coast it puts a lot of pressure on the defense.
pointguardslim
February 15th, 2012
8:14 pm
northcyde Looking for the Milwaukee scrub to ball tonight?
What the hell does that mean? Marvin Williams/Vlad go stand in a corner. While Josh Joe and Teague create the inside action.
Is Leuer’s role on his team Marvin’s/Vlad’s or Josh Smith? Yeah its Josh Smith. Play inside and make something good happen.
I said he can take Marvins role. Josh stirs the drink, Joe stirs the drink. Thats why Marv was expendable for moving Smith to sf and starting Jason Collins, at the sacrifice of Smith being stuck outside at times.
Stop acting as if Marvin/Vlad and Leuer have to carry the same load.
pointguardslim
February 15th, 2012
8:21 pm
smh Milwaukee playing small ball. Mbah a Moute + Gooden get a good athletic move on one end…Other end foul deep position in the paint.
Offensively Delfino is designator gunner and Gooden at center only penetration as Jennings gets into trouble.
My goodness this is ugly.