Atlanta Hawks: Warriors 85, Hawks 82
- If you didn’t just click on the headline with the score, would you be able to tell which game Larry Drew was talking about when he said this about his offense: “We settled, especially in the first half. I thought we shot way too many jumpers. We cant’ be seduced into taking jump shots. We fell prey. We’ve got to be smarter and understand the flow of the game. It’s one thing if you are making jump shots but, if you are not, then you can’t settle.”
- I’ve been covering this team for 2 1/2 seasons now and Drew (and Mike Woodson before him) could say the same thing about the vast majority of the games the Hawks play. The difference between winning and losing often is the difference between making or missing those jump shots–with the occasional twist, like tonight’s 16 of 26 shooting from the free-throw line.
- A night after the Warriors were blown out by Indiana, they beat the Hawks not with a high-possession, high-efficiency game–which would still be bad but at least somewhat expected–but with defense, rebounding and David Lee and Monta Ellis doing what they do down the stretch.
- The Hawks saw Dominic McGuire, replacing Stephen Curry in the backcourt, collect 15 rebounds while successfully harassing Joe Johnson (who was sore-kneed, but still). The Hawks couldn’t score or rebound against a bad defensive and rebounding team.
- “I’m not surprised,” Drew said. “They are pretty relentless on the glass. You have to get bodies on guys. Lee is a good rebounder. [Ekpe] Udoh is a good rebounder. McGuire, that’s what he does.”
- It’s true that Lee and McGuire are good on the glass. But Udoh is not a good rebounder and collected 8 in 31 minutes against the Hawks. Brandon Rush had eight in 29 minutes, Klay Thompson had six in 29 as Golden State got 18 rebounds in 91 minutes from its bench vs. three in 49 minutes for the Hawks.
- Speaking of the reserves . . . Thompson worked over Willie Green, who still played 21 minutes in small lineups even though he wasn’t scoring. Tracy McGrady, who can rebound and create shots for others (even if he’s still struggling to finish or get calls), didn’t play after a six-minute stint in the first quarter.
- Remember when the Hawks blew all those layups against the Lakers? The Warriors are not the Lakers but they recorded nine blocked shots and the Hawks couldn’t finish against them, either. “I thought we just missed a lot of point blank shots with nobody us,” Johnson said. “It happens. It’s tough but I’m sure we will bounce back and get the next one. This is definitely a tough loss for us because we definitely felt like we should have got the win.”
- Monta Ellis sure likes to shoot a lot of Js. But he supplemented that with lots of post-ups against Jeff Teague, who struggled to hold his ground and challenge once Ellis fired away. Teague had a solid offensive game that could have been better if his teammates made more of the good looks he created.
- McGuire is the latest rangy wing to make it tough on Joe to score. After a 1 for 8 start, Joe made 5 of his next 9 shots. He looked stiff-legged at times. “It got a little stiff, especially in the fourth quarter,” he said. “Other than that, I was pretty good. I wouldn’t say I’m 100 percent but I was decent.”
- “A few times he looked like he was dragging it a little bit,” Drew said. I know the Hawks need to keep winning games but if eight days off doesn’t get Joe to 100 percent then perhaps they should think about sitting him, especially considering his history of poorly managing his injuries. You can’t question Joe’s toughness so he doesn’t need to prove it at the expense of never getting the knee right.
- Drew said Green sprained his back when Lee crashed into him. He didn’t have any details on his status.
- Josh Smith missed 15 of 20 shots while taking too many Js, was sluggish on defense, and could have had more than eight defensive rebounds with better focus. The Warriors encouraged him to face up when he looked like he wanted to post up.
- Marvin Williams missed some open looks. He usually attacks the basket when that happens but tonight he stopped doing that after he struggled to finish when he got there. At least he had five defensive rebounds.
- Zaza Pachulia struggled to finish, too, which is his weakness. But he played to his strengths, too, doing good work on the boards and offering some resistance when the Warriors ventured inside.
- Kirk Hinrich has been iso-happy lately.
- Drew and Johnson each were offered the rust excuse.
- Drew: “It could have been [rust]. One thing is with a few days off, you don’t want guys laying around the whole break. But I’m not blaming it on that. We didn’t play the way we were capable of playing and we didn’t play with energy.”
- Johnson: “Granted, the layoff, but, no excuse, man. They beat us to a lot of hustle plays. They got a lot of easy baskets. We shot a lot of jump shots and we weren’t making them, so it was tough.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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456 comments Add your comment
Slimjr
March 1st, 2012
3:42 pm
10-4 honest.. haha
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
3:49 pm
Block shot, Post ups Jameer Nelson, skip pass to Hinrich for 3.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLata6prCro
move Josh to the backcourt and bench Marvin. Even if SFs dfend Josh for the drive they are to small to change his follow through.
Devil in the details. Josh’s follow through is altered by PFs on a lot of the jumpers he shoots
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
3:55 pm
honest_abe
josh shooting less jumpers playing the 3 (NYK)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNtumdunjcM
So what position is Marvin playing here? Play Ivan to pass into Josh and cut away to Marvin’s spot.
Then have 2 guards who can move well (not Marvin) and spot up for a jumper.
Slimjr
March 1st, 2012
3:55 pm
“Josh’s follow through is altered by PFs on a lot of the jumpers he shoots”
Because the NBA have great athletes who close out quick..If you want to play face up in the NBA you have to bring a “professional J” with you.. This dude has a Highschool J..
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
3:56 pm
#Hawks player Josh Smith says Larry Drew was feeling ill last night vs. GSW. “That wasn’t his typical game management.”
Slimjr
March 1st, 2012
3:56 pm
Jettison the Core Scottie! Aye Captain!!
Slimjr
March 1st, 2012
3:58 pm
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
3:56 pm
“#Hawks player Josh Smith says Larry Drew was feeling ill last night vs. GSW. “That wasn’t his typical game management.”
April FOOLS is 4 weeks away! LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slimjr
March 1st, 2012
4:00 pm
4-9 last month was catastrophic! Starting out this new month 0-2 by Sunday will continue the tradition for sure….
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
4:01 pm
No SlimJr. Its size that often bothers Smiths follow through, not athleticism.
Slimjr
March 1st, 2012
4:02 pm
Friday’s game is Trap? Right Admiral Snackbar?
Slimjr
March 1st, 2012
4:03 pm
Size is easy to neutralize if you know how to shoot the pill..
KevinM
March 1st, 2012
4:13 pm
“#Hawks player Josh Smith says Larry Drew was feeling ill last night vs. GSW. “That wasn’t his typical game management.”
Slim, didn’t LD just tell us the guys were sick of him at the AS break?
Someone did anyone else see LD act differently last night than any other game this season?
So now we have Josh making excuses for the coach’s decision-making?
I have to think that things have to be done differently to get different results, but it doesn’t look like that has been considered as of yet.
And glad that we signed Damp for the remainder…I sure would like to see him for more than the 5mpg he is getting now.
As for size mismatches that PGSlim pointed out, why does it seem like our most important players don’t want to play in the paint? Can you imagine Sir Charles suggesting he’s a mismatch at the SF instead of driving the ball to the hoop?
Say it with me Rick Sund………..Kaman, Chris Kaman…..move Kirk and let’s get him in here!
Ventrick
March 1st, 2012
4:15 pm
This team has no chemistry. Josh cant stay focus. Joe cant lead this team. LD cant coach. We dont have anyone on this team who has that kiler instinct. They need to gut this team starting with the coach. What happened to the passion of the game. In the 4th qrt with about 35 sec left I saw Josh smiling and playing around.
KevinM
March 1st, 2012
4:21 pm
@ajchawks: #Hawks coach Larry Drew says Josh Smith was feeling ill last night vs. GSW. “That wasn’t his typical energy game.” 2 hours
So LD and Josh covering each other’s backs on the same night? Amazing, no one to blame about last night I guess……
KevinM
March 1st, 2012
4:25 pm
Willie Green treated for back spasms today, quest. to play vs. MIL Fri. Vladimir Radmanovic (ill) is day-to-day. #Hawks Twitter
Wanna bet that T-Mac’s role doesn’t increase re: more minutes?
KevinM
March 1st, 2012
4:29 pm
another MC comment:
“@ajchawks: @joytb3 I’m sure they’d like to deal Hinrich or Williams”
I’ll believe it when I see it.
High-sider
March 1st, 2012
4:34 pm
ESPN is reporting that [the City of] Atlanta has been named “America’s Most Miserable Sport City.”
High-sider
March 1st, 2012
4:35 pm
^….”America’s Most Miserable Sport[s] City.”
Grandad
March 1st, 2012
4:36 pm
Dawg
props for:
‘`I am sick of being a “jump shooting” team with bad shooters`’
High-sider
March 1st, 2012
4:38 pm
Atlanta has been named “America’s Most Miserable Sports City” by Forbes.
http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ys-forbes-atlanta_most_miserable_sports_cities_022812
Grandad
March 1st, 2012
4:39 pm
Somebody said trade Zaza for Kaman:
Whoa; slow down there !
Trade Josh for Kaman, not Zaza.
Imagine Kaman & Zaza / ‘`Twin Towers`’ / knockin` heads !
-yeah-
Wabe
March 1st, 2012
4:49 pm
Just saw on sportscenter that Forbes has listed Atlanta has the most miserable sports city in the country…
They had T.I. on and asked him his thoughts. Dude put it on all the executives. Also gave justification regarding low attendance numbers, cited that there are other things that go on in Atlanta and ultimately said that there are no superstars.
He’s dead right on the superstars argument.
I could tell he was about to say something about the Hawks, but he spun his way out of saying it and said that they’re looking better with Josh, Joe, Teague and them.
Wabe
March 1st, 2012
4:50 pm
Can you blame fans though? 150 or so years of professional sports with one freakin’ title…
Please man. If anything, get on these bum owners.
Wabe
March 1st, 2012
4:51 pm
That figure of 150 comes from sportscenter…
I myself have no clue how they came up with that.
Ra'mon
March 1st, 2012
4:51 pm
KevinM, David Robinson and Duncan were a bad free throw shooting duo, but it still worked out pretty well. By the way, do you remember the Blazers introducing the Hacka-Shaq in the playoffs? And do you remember the Blazers STILL losing those games and the series? D12, Josh, and Zaza in the same front court would win the rebounding battle nightly. Something that the Hawks haven’t done since when?
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
March 1st, 2012
4:59 pm
We started losing when LD cut Big Ivan’s playing time.
FIRE LD
Ra'mon
March 1st, 2012
5:01 pm
Clyde, that was at the same time when Kirk came back, and LD cut Ivan’s time, and McGrady’s playing time. And somehow it seemed like Vlad’s minutes doubled.
High-sider
March 1st, 2012
5:02 pm
Celtics are trying to shop Rajon Rondo according to ESPN.
KevinM
March 1st, 2012
5:03 pm
Ra’mon, now you know that Josh’s numbers aren’t going to go up with D12 in the lineup. He will go full time to the perimeter and Zaza would be D12’s only help. Right now, who is helping Zaza when Josh is outside watching his jump shot? Our offensive rebounding is about as putrid as it can get…..we have to lead the league in 1 and outs.
And Josh and D12 downt he stretch would be hard to watch missing FT after FT. You think our team % is low now? Wait til we throw D12 in the mix!
And note, both Duncan and Robinson are career 69% FT shooters. Josh career: 66% and D12: 59%
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
March 1st, 2012
5:04 pm
Its popular right now to talk down on Atlanta but everybody wants to move down here. If you don’t like where I stay then fly away.
FOREVER I LOVE ATLANTA
FIRE LD
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
March 1st, 2012
5:07 pm
If LD had Lin on his team and Bibby came back from a injury he would sit Lin right back on the bench.
FIRE LD
Najeh Davenpoop
March 1st, 2012
5:08 pm
“Marcus Thompson, while looking for Warriors rumors for the Bay Area News Group, tweets that Atlanta is offering Joe Johnson and Al Horford to the Magic for D12. ”
Any two Hawks for Dwight. Tell Orlando they can have their choice.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 1st, 2012
5:08 pm
I might even be willing to trade Joe, Josh, AND Al for Dwight if the Hawks didn’t have to give up any picks. With the cap space they would free up, they could make a run at Deron Williams too.
Ra'mon
March 1st, 2012
5:09 pm
KevinM, I disagree. With D12, Josh would want to bang in the lanes even more. Say what you want but on the block, Josh does demand a double team. So if you surround D12 and Josh with perimeter players who can feed the posts and knock down open shots, then you have a good offense. I just don’t believe LD could successfully coach a team with D12 and Josh on it, because he wouldn’t have the credibility to do so. However, you bring in a coach like JVG with that front line, and you would have something serious. Remember Van Gundy’s relationship with Ewing?
Sautee, what do you think about LD coming out and saying Josh was sick on last night??
Ra'mon
March 1st, 2012
5:10 pm
Najeh, where was that rumor? Hoopshype?
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
March 1st, 2012
5:11 pm
Let’s blame everything on Horford being injured. Good coaches know how to win in spite of injuries instead of making excuses. LD needs to take responsibility.
FIRE LD
Najeh Davenpoop
March 1st, 2012
5:12 pm
According to MC’s Twitter, the excuse for Josh’s sh-tty game last night was that he felt ill.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
March 1st, 2012
5:12 pm
Hawks ain’t gonna make no trades. ASG and Sund like the core just like it is. Sorry as hell.
FIRE LD
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
March 1st, 2012
5:14 pm
NAJEH the Hawks have an excuse for everyday of the week. SMGDH
Najeh Davenpoop
March 1st, 2012
5:15 pm
Ra’mon, I quoted that from Stretch’s earlier post.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
March 1st, 2012
5:15 pm
When was the last time the Hawks made a mid-season trade? $500 for the first correct answer.
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
5:15 pm
Guys that comment was satore.
LD actually said Josh Smith was sick and blamed it on energy.
FIRE LD
Najeh Davenpoop
March 1st, 2012
5:15 pm
Wabe, ESPN had T.I. on? When was this?
Ra'mon
March 1st, 2012
5:16 pm
KevinM, to be honest, going forward, I believe Josh will be a better rebounding machine than Al will. As I keep pointing out, last season the difference for rebounding between the two were on the offensive glass, where it was Al’s responsibility to crash the boards, not Josh’s. On defensive rebounds, Al averaged 7.0 rebounds, and Josh averaged 6.8 virtually the same. The difference was it was Josh’s responsibility to get back on the defensive end to deter any fast break attempts by the opposition. This season, Josh is averaging 7.7 boards on the defensive glass. That number is higher than Al has ever average. If Al was already drifting away from the lane on offense, I can’t see him going back there to put up career numbers.
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
5:16 pm
No mention of Horford by T.I.? What a jackazz. Horfy is a 2 time all star center baby!
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
March 1st, 2012
5:17 pm
Management has to quit allowing people to give excuses and hold people accountable. If they ain’t getting the job done then they gots to go. Plain and Simple.
KevinM
March 1st, 2012
5:17 pm
Ra’mon, you’re not just bringing in D12 and fixing this thing. You have a half dozen other things you need to do. It is basically like starting over again.
I don’t see Josh’s game ever going back to full time PF despite that is where his success is. Please tell me what highlights has Josh put up since he starting spending all that time on the perimeter?
This is no longer the highlight factory; it has been dragged down to bad 1/2 court sets with a motion offense that ends up with a jumper or a mishandled dump down to Zaza.
Would I like to see JT and D12? Sure, but we are probably better off having Al at the 4 instead of Josh at the 3. If ORL wanted Josh and Joe, just say yes and worry about the implications later.
I guess that means we still have Marvin huh?
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
March 1st, 2012
5:18 pm
Time to go get some FIRE LD shirts printed up. Investment opportunities are available.
Ra'mon
March 1st, 2012
5:19 pm
Clyde, Mike Bibby was the last trade made at all star game, when he came from Sac.
Grandad
March 1st, 2012
5:20 pm
Are there folks on this blawg still:
‘` wishin` and hopin` ”
that Dwight the ‘` quitter`’ will come here,
for a short spell.
Even though he has quit on his teammates.
Even though he would not sign long term.
Another question:
Has D.Howard converted from his faith;
to illuminatus ?
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ?