Atlanta Hawks: Blazers 97, Hawks 77
2:17 am February 19, 2012, by Michael Cunningham
Portland–The Blazers were desperate for a W and played like it. The Hawks were just sort of out there once their shots stopped falling. “I thought we were a step slow on pretty much everything tonight,” Larry Drew said.
The Blazers are not a particularly good offensive rebounding team. Nicolas Batum is not an especially good rebounder. Neither of these things were apparent tonight, when Portland collected 15 offensive rebounds and scored 18 second-chance points.
It seemed as if the Blazers corralled every loose ball or got enough of them that they bounced off Hawks players out of bounds. Portland got a pretty good percentage of their offensive boards that way. “The bounces weren’t going our way but that’s when we have to be a little bit more desperate,” Josh Smith said. “They were making shots early on. Then we played some good defense and we have up long rebounds. That’s when we have to gang rebound.”
Josh and Zaza Pachulia each had 10 rebounds. The rest of the Hawks had seven. That’s seven total. “A lot of it is on the guards,” said Joe Johnson, who had three rebounds in 38 minutes after collecting three total in the previous four games. “We have to come down and help the bigs. There was a lot of long rebounds.”
Batum replaced Wesley Matthews in the starting lineup and went off for 22 points on 15 shots with eight boards in 35 minutes. “He’s been playing terrific this year,” Josh said. “This kid you have to respect especially when he’s making that jumper like tonight. He’s a streaky shooter but when he has it going he’s pretty tough matchup, especially with his length. He’s an outstanding defender, as well.”
LaMarcus Aldridge is a tough matchup, too. Josh was challenging Aldridge’s shots early but Aldridge was shooting over him anyway. Aldridge ended up needed 19 shots for his 19 points. “Aldridge got going earlyt, he made some jump shots, which was not very discouraging,” Drew said. “As long as he’s taking jump shots we are content with that.”
Raymond Felton was struggling until tonight. Jeff Teague missed 10 of 11 shots and Kirk Hinrich was 0 for 4.
I’m thinking Josh was referring to Teague when he said this: “This team is a long basketball team. Long and athletic just like us but a little longer. They have Marcus Camby who can still contest shots at a high rate. LaMarcus Aldridge is 6-11. Gerald Wallace, Batum flies around.When you get into that paint you have to be a distributor and drop some of those passes off, that way they will be reluctant to contest the shots and that’s when you have your easy running floaters or your layups. The first game we moved the basketball around and get easy looks for each other. After that first quarter, that was kind of nonexistent.”
It was late in a game the Hawks weren’t going to win but Josh stayed on the court and tried everything he could to get another assist for a triple-double. He didn’t get it when Ivan Johnson made a move before scoring after a feed under the basket from Smith, who was still lobbying for that assist after the game.
Willie Green was part of Atlanta’s only stretch of sustained offense in the first half. Joe managed 19 points on 17 shots despite missing 6 of 9 3-point tries.
Marvin Williams was making shots but only provided two rebounds in 25 minutes on a night when the Hawks badly needed boards.
The Hawks got in trouble when they tried to pass inside or across Portland’s zone. The Blazers got their hands on lots of those passes, leading to run-outs.
More and more Tracy McGrady goes inside looking for calls that aren’t coming. He ends up stuck and turning the ball over. Still, the Hawks needed some offensive flow and rebounding so they might have benefited from more than four minutes of T-Mac especially with Vladmir Radmanovic going 0 for 3 with one rebound in 23 minutes.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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Najeh Davenpoop
February 19th, 2012
8:05 pm
“His limitations are not due to a lack of heart, effort nor focus. That can’t be said for many of the other guys on this squad.”
Why is this relevant at all? Limitations are limitations. His tenacity and focus didn’t stop the Hawks from losing by 20 last night. Right now, his limitations are such that he is on Pargo’s level.
T-Mac’s minutes have dipped since Kirk returned. Yeah, they play different positions, but these are the facts. Ask LD why Kirk’s minutes have come at T-Mac’s expense.
By the way Kirk missed the games against the Bulls and Heat, too. It’s not like the Hawks exclusively played scrub teams before his return.
Grand Poobaah
February 19th, 2012
8:05 pm
Yall need to clean up this blog, from people calling each other names, like gay and dick in the ear, and Troll.
Cant you guys be nice to one another? This type of name calling usually happens when two or more people or over protecting their point of view. If someone disagrees with your point of view thats no reason to call them a troll or a penis ear.
Kids. and the funniest part is one of them is a police officer, go figure.
Clarification
February 19th, 2012
8:08 pm
“I can see losing Hinirich having a minimum impact But losing Al almost has been un noticed.”
Rebounds: Hawks 27 Blazers 50
Nah, we don’t need his stinkin’ career 9.3 rebounds. We’ll be fine.
Grandad
February 19th, 2012
8:11 pm
Najeh
______________________________________________________
” I’m not one to mince words;
and I’m also one who abhors any hint of bourgeois mentality
in relation to what *tribe one belongs to: *Bill Russells colloquialism.
But I’m beginning to think; ”
______________________________________________________
I thought, for the sake of fairness,
I would include my preamble to the statement,
of which you alluded:
“But I’m beginning to think;
If Kirk were; let’s say ‘`Brazillian`’, [r e; Barbosa]
he may not get the quite the amount of grief he catches on this here blog.”
_____________________________________________________________
Najeh
‘` This is the dumbest thing anyone on this blog has ever said`’
_____________________________________________________________
note from G-dad [speakin' for all the bubbas of North Ga. & Forsyth Co]
I’ve said much dumber things
__________________________________________________________
disclaimer:
I’m neither a Bubba, a Cracker, a Red Neck, nor any such thang.
I’m a learned man, who is also a Democrat
and just happens to be a Socialist and a Libertarian.
I believe in God and his Son Jesus Christ.
Finally I’m a
n American yet Southern by the grace of God.
Go Dawgs !
Just Joe
February 19th, 2012
8:13 pm
With no practice time and a couple of injured players taking up roster spots (makes d league assignments impossible), there is no way for Hinrich to get in to game shape other than to struggle through games. If it costs us a few regular season games, and I don’t think it has, then so be it. We need Kirk to re-gain his trade value or either be ready for the playoffs. Pargo has no upside. He’s performing right at his career averages, which are not impressive.
Grandad
February 19th, 2012
8:16 pm
” Finally I’m a
n American yet ”
* Finally I’m an American yet Southern by the grace of God.
Don’t know why it printed up like that.
Reckon I ain’t as learned as I claimed.
Clarification Part II the sequel
February 19th, 2012
8:18 pm
Al horford is a locker room fight stirring, slothful work ethics, non defending 6′10″ sissy who should have be traded long ago. His playoffs disappearances are as legend as Houdini. with all that the hawks never missed his 12pts 9 rbs 1 bit.
We dont need his team unity destroying drama nor nonchalant attitude about playing defense.
Al is a major part of whats wrong with this team.
Astro Joe
February 19th, 2012
8:21 pm
T-Mac’s minutes have dipped since Kirk returned. Yeah, they play different positions, but these are the facts. Ask LD why Kirk’s minutes have come at T-Mac’s expense.
Since I don;t have access to LD, I;ll stick with a reasonable theory… Willie is playing better than TMac and is now playing Sg alongside Joe rather than seeing TMac play alongside Joe. Hinrich’s arrival is no more related to TMac’s minute decline that Hinrich’s arrival is related to Teague shooting percentage decline.
And a complementary skill set does make a team better. How many times have we read about Josh’s energy being a force for good on this team? His teammates and coach often laud him for “bringing it” or “setting the tone”. Hinrich brings intangibles to this team even while he gets his jumper back.
Imagine CP3 having a bad game and someone blaming Mo Williams.
Just Joe
February 19th, 2012
8:22 pm
The last 3 years in the playoffs, Kirk has averaged roughly 45% from 3, with better than a 3.5:1 assist to turnover ratio. We need to see that ability again (or better yet, prove that ability to another team like the Lakers).
Post of the Weekend
February 19th, 2012
8:25 pm
Since I don;t have access to LD, I;ll stick with a reasonable theory… Willie is playing better than TMac and is now playing Sg alongside Joe rather than seeing TMac play alongside Joe. Hinrich’s arrival is no more related to TMac’s minute decline that Hinrich’s arrival is related to Teague shooting percentage decline.
And a complementary skill set does make a team better. How many times have we read about Josh’s energy being a force for good on this team? His teammates and coach often laud him for “bringing it” or “setting the tone”. Hinrich brings intangibles to this team even while he gets his jumper back.
Imagine CP3 having a bad game and someone blaming Mo Williams.
– Astro Joe
Najeh Davenpoop
February 19th, 2012
8:29 pm
” I;ll stick with a reasonable theory… Willie is playing better than TMac and is now playing Sg alongside Joe rather than seeing TMac play alongside Joe. Hinrich’s arrival is no more related to TMac’s minute decline that Hinrich’s arrival is related to Teague shooting percentage decline.”
Problem with your theory: Willie’s minutes haven’t spiked since Kirk returned. In fact, Willie’s minutes have remained fairly constant. He’s had 4 20-minute games after Kirk’s return, and 6 20-minute games before Kirk’s return. His month by month minute splits are almost identical.
If Willie was taking the minutes T-Mac was previously playing, one would think his minutes would have spiked as T-Mac’s minutes declined. That has not been the case.
So far I have not offered any theory of my own as to why Kirk’s return has coincided with T-Mac’s decrease in playing time. I have only pointed out the correlation. My theory is that T-Mac used to be the 2nd unit facilitator (since Pargo was more of a designated shooter than a pure point guard) and now LD thinks Kirk can facilitate better than T-Mac. If this is true (and I fully admit I have no evidence to back this up, just like nobody else has any evidence to back up any theory they have about LD’s thinking) then LD is out of his damn mind. T-Mac did a much better job setting up teammates with shots than Kirk has done.
Clarification
February 19th, 2012
8:29 pm
Oh, so this is a handle-stealing troll, I see. Someone who can’t stand their idea being questioned so they just want to hit and run like a sissy. Go ahead troll, trash that handle. I hope it gives you all the satisfaction you are hoping for. Oh, it wasn’t all that satisfactory? Too bad. I guess you’ll have to make more gay references now. You seem to do that a lot. Hmmmm. Makes one wonder. Funny how you “know” that Al’s a “sissy”. Pause.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 19th, 2012
8:33 pm
Grandad, this is the Internet. Who you or I vote for or worship is irrelevant. We are all just screen names on this blog. I don’t criticize people, only statements. For all I know you might be the smartest person in the world, but that statement was still dumb.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 19th, 2012
8:34 pm
“Hinrich brings intangibles to this team even while he gets his jumper back.”
Like what?
Post of the Weekend
February 19th, 2012
8:38 pm
Get him sautee! That handle stealing Troll.
Just Joe
February 19th, 2012
8:39 pm
Pargo and Hinrich have similar intangibles. Both guys work hard. Hinrich is more skilled when 100%. Better ball handler. Better shooter. Better passer. The stats and the eyes prove it.
Grand Poobaah
February 19th, 2012
8:43 pm
Teague fans are asking for Hinrich to be traded because once Kirk is 100% hell get his starting job back and that means teague goes back to the bench.
Streak O`Lean
February 19th, 2012
8:45 pm
Part II the seqel
I’m telling u i herd eton and jc2 got in that fite. mo evans was on etans side.
etan liked fighting and fought brandon hayward ever day in dc. Eton was pushing him around in practice and jc2 didnt like it. in the locker room it started over agan while joe watched
in the cornrr. al and josh and zaza broke it up but manly zaza because they all scared of zaza.
josh powell was running hes mouth and i think zaza might punch him and it was all over .
nobody wanted to mess with zaza. al and josh ansd zaza run the locker romm.
joe dont say nothin.
Clarification
February 19th, 2012
8:47 pm
LOL@ “you guys block that title”. Like it was blog participants that blocked him and not his own filthy useless posts, and copying the same phrase 2000000 times. Talk about not taking any accountability. Dude lives in his own happy little world, never mind reality.
its yo mama
February 19th, 2012
8:51 pm
Sreak o lean I herd d same storee bout how Al hofut got rock down by josh and teague. Dats true. I swoe it on a hawks basket ball.
Sammy Davis Jr
February 19th, 2012
8:54 pm
Big Gay Ray
I see you are working hard to be cordial and as a show of reciprocation I which do you prefer? Big Gay Ray or Penis ear?
Grand Poobaah
February 19th, 2012
9:00 pm
Sammy Davis Jr I dont think its fair to call Big gay Penis ear. Ray I dont think its nice to Call T. S. Troll.
Has Ray ever posted under Penis Ear? Has T.S. ever posted under Troll? Then Ill be the adult in the room Guys, learn to respect one another with out the name calling. This is an open blog page and you can post under any or as many names as you like. Grow up children.
Grandad
February 19th, 2012
9:01 pm
nc
-replying to your question about Joe-
Yes to everything you said about Joe.
i wish Joe would:
* learn to `move’ better w/o the ball
* post up more
* learn some inside post moves:
drop steps / step throughs / duck ins / jump hooks
(moves that would draw contact and get him to the line)
* become better at catch & shoot
when coming off a screen:
(you’re never as open as you are when you 1st catch the ball)
When I said:
We are built to fail.
That was not a direct slam on Joe.
It was an attack on:
* The way he has been handled since his arrival in ATL.
* The fact he’s never had a dominant Post Player / Inside Scorer.
It’s not a Batman/Robin so much as Balance.
An Inside Outside Threat.
After Shaq left;
Kobe needed Gasol before he won another Championship.
Same thing [sort of]
Remington Steel
February 19th, 2012
9:14 pm
Illumination are you saying you are the troll or are you saying that Big Gay has posted under Penis ear and T.S. stole your name “troll”?
Remington Steel
February 19th, 2012
9:15 pm
I particularly liked the part about Al being a “sissy”. What?
Astro Joe
February 19th, 2012
9:18 pm
I think a team that can produce 48 minutes of good or better PG play with diverse skill sets across those PGs, has a distinct advantage in this PG-driven league. That is why I’m willing to invest time in Hinrich’s “conditioning”, not to replace Teague but to add to Teague. And yes, it is borne in my lack of belief in Pargo.
Hard to pinpoint TMac’s minute issues given his health issues. (Didn’t he sit out a 2nd half because he couldn’t get loose again?) All i know is that TMac was finishing close games earlier this season, but Wilie has been that guy most recently. And in some cases, heaven forbid, even Marvin.
Sammy Davis Jr
February 19th, 2012
9:19 pm
How the fck is Illumination? Another troll? how many of the mother fckers are on here?
Astro Joe
February 19th, 2012
9:26 pm
Oops, forgot another signature on that last post.
Imagine Marvin fans blaming Harrington, Childress, Flip, Jamal, TMac or any other bench player that has eaten into Marvin’s time…. for in consistent Marvin performances.
Sammy Davis Jr
February 19th, 2012
9:29 pm
This damn place is infested with trolls. fck this schit.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 19th, 2012
9:32 pm
KevinM, I didn’t copy it, but clicked back, hit undo, and it came back. I thought maybe the post was too long, so I shortened it and then I got so frustrated I just let it go. @#^@#&@$&*(@$
Sammy Davis Jr
February 19th, 2012
9:35 pm
Oh so Ray is a troll named Illumination and he slip pulling his trick troll schit, you dirty muther fckers . Fckyou I no that trick bitch ass ray.
Sammy Davis Jr
February 19th, 2012
9:38 pm
What other names are you trick trolling as bitch ass ray?
JaeEvolution
February 19th, 2012
9:39 pm
Ersan Illayasova just finished with a 29 point 25 rebound game, wow very impressive.
Sammy Davis Jr
February 19th, 2012
9:41 pm
The Troll got busted now he running…. Get the fck on troll ass ray. Illuminate these Nuttz bitch
Najeh Davenpoop
February 19th, 2012
9:49 pm
Dampier gets another 10-day.
Illumination
February 19th, 2012
9:49 pm
You are welcome to myself.
Grand Poo
February 19th, 2012
9:50 pm
Enter your comments here
Grand Poo
February 19th, 2012
9:51 pm
I feel you ray, maybe if your get that dick out of your ear people will stop asking if you are gay.
You think?
Sammy Davis
February 19th, 2012
9:52 pm
Big Gay Ray how long have you been pulling that troll schit?
Sammy Davis
February 19th, 2012
9:53 pm
How many other muther fckers are you pretending to be bitch ass ray?
Sammy Davis
February 19th, 2012
9:55 pm
Ray, Illuminate Dezz Nuttz
Najeh Davenpoop
February 19th, 2012
9:55 pm
Not only does Rose return against the Hawks tomorrow, but Carmelo also returns for the Knicks, which means he will be ready to go on Wednesday.
Big Ray
February 19th, 2012
9:58 pm
Raydickintheear is the king troll !
LT
February 19th, 2012
10:32 pm
Marvin out tomorrow due to death in family!!!
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 19th, 2012
10:44 pm
Minnesota is now 16-16, 3 games worse than us.
They also have a guy named Nikola Pekovic, who 60 % of the board probably knows nothing about.
Look at the guy’s game log…Wow….
My point: No one on the Hawks EVER overachieves.
Melvin
February 19th, 2012
10:45 pm
I’m starting to think Kevin Durant is not human….
doc
February 19th, 2012
10:54 pm
think adelman cant coach? getting it out of young guys; pekovic is a load along with rubio playing point to compliment love. we were very lucky to have survived them in our game here. too bad someone like him couldnt have landed here.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
February 19th, 2012
10:59 pm
The Mavs have had their worst season in over a decade yet have a better record than us.
FIRE SUND
LT
February 19th, 2012
11:09 pm
Bob Rathbun via twitter
northcyde
February 19th, 2012
11:27 pm
Jeje beat me on fantasy this week because of Nikola. Dude had the week of his life, like he was Dwight Howard or somebody.