Atlanta Hawks: Warriors 85, Hawks 82
11:32 pm February 29, 2012, by Michael Cunningham
- 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
456 comments Add your comment
Joe D
March 1st, 2012
7:30 pm
TMAC and Ivan have losed their rythum because of inconsistent playing time. A player has to play consistent minutes to stay sharp. Please make a trade and fire LD, let Nique coach the team for the rest of the year. This team is not going beyond the first round, so at least create some excitement before next year’s team restructing!
Grandad
March 1st, 2012
7:39 pm
pgslim … All is forgiven
‘`It explains so much`’ was the statement to which I reacted.
‘`Grandad the over defensive white guy`’
No – not defensive atall.
Political Correctness is a burr under my saddle.
Najeh knows that.
I never pull punches … white / black / pink / -or- / green !
_______________________________________________
I am a full service Jack-Ass !
_______________________________________________
As for the Obama remark:
a learned man would have seen the context and recognized;
thus realizing my theme;
containing; irony, deceptive wit, and symbolism,
in my paradoxical ode to Najeh.
_______________________________________________
I’m certain upon re-reading you will understand;
that my remarks were not as black and white
as they may seemed at first sight.
Just Joe
March 1st, 2012
7:41 pm
Just for fun….Draft Express updated its mock draft today. Have Hawks taking Arnett Moultrie out of Miss St at 21. SF Hollis Thompson out of Georgetown with Phoenix’s 2nd rd pick, and SF Kris Joseph out of Syracuse with our 2nd rd pick.
Ra'mon
March 1st, 2012
7:53 pm
@ Just Joe, if Moultrie falls that far, when he’s a walking double double every game (even against Florida and Kentucky). The Hawks would do good to pick him up, and take him straight to Ryan’s all you can eat buffet, to get some weight on him.
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
7:53 pm
Arnett Moultrie or Keith Benson?
Grandad
March 1st, 2012
7:56 pm
Ra’mon
Alright buddy:
Andruw Jones 11 times Gold Glove winner
*[removed from game one time, Bobby Cox, failure to hustle]
Never can you cite instances where he ‘`got into it`’ with Cox.
5 time all-star
Silver Slugger; once, 2005
Best Defensive Center-fielder All time !
420 lifetime home runs
2005 was robbed of NL MVP:
* led in HR’s (51); RBI’s (128) & Gold Glove CF
Will be in the inducted into the ‘`HOF`’
-there you go sonny-
there is more but I’ve got to pee.
Ra'mon
March 1st, 2012
8:09 pm
I think the Hawks, should take the 1st round pick from Lakers for Kirk if that’s the only deal they can get. And attempt to move both of their 1st round picks for Kendall Marshall! I really believe Marshall is EXACTLY the floor general the Hawks need, even with Joe, Josh, and Al. Similar to what G’Dad said, Teague could come off the bench for a combo guard. Marshall would average 10 assists a game with those three. My opinion may be bias as a HUGE Tar Heels fan (love UNC way more than the Hawks, lol), but Marshall would do wonders for this team. I see Marshall as Deron Williams without the scoring.
Melvin
March 1st, 2012
8:09 pm
It would be an early Christmas gift and a blessing from the draft Gods if Moultrie falls to the Hawks in the draft…..
Ra'mon
March 1st, 2012
8:11 pm
G’Dad, don’t forget led league in strikeouts 2 or 3 times also. And Josh is as good as Jones was on defense. I assure you, the best of Josh is yet to come.
Ra'mon
March 1st, 2012
8:11 pm
PGS, Benson didn’t average double double against SEC competition. And Moultrie was an SF who turned PF because he kept growing so much.
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
8:19 pm
Ra’Mon I’ll take your word for it. Moultrie was on Team USA ala Leuer so he cant be all that bad
SR
March 1st, 2012
8:20 pm
Who is more delusional Dim Frank Wren or Dumb Rick Sund? I live in the San Francisco Bay area but am a native Atlantan. The Warriors suck. They have sucked for years. Despite the fact that no one held a gun to my head, I decided to tune in to watch the Hawks last night for the first time this season. My gosh, what a terrible basketball team. Same as it ever was with these cupcakes, they get out-worked on the boards, can’t shoot, miss free throws and make mistake after stupid mistake, made by the one of the league leaders in stupidity, Josh Smith.
Let’s see, in one 3-5 minute stretch in the 4th quarter, I saw Smith throw up brick after brick, saw him miss free throws, saw all star Joe get his pocket picked for an easy bucket on the other end, saw Marvin Williams (don’t get me started) play his usual deficient game and saw no one that could get his own shot and make it when it was needed. Same team, same as it ever was.
That’s where the reference to delusion comes in- with both Dim and Dumb, you get the same pablum, e.g., we don’t really need to make significant changes, our teams are solid. Yeah, right. Braves all time chokers and Hawks as always, simply irrelevant. Bring on March Madness……
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
8:22 pm
NEVERMIND Moultrie can easily bust as well.
Weaknesses: Moultrie seems to have transitioned from a SF to PF this season, sacrificing continued perimeter development in the process. Being that he’s not a true post option, he’ll likely see time at both spots on the next level.
TWEENER. He’s an energy dunker. I liked Benson because he was 6′11 and a PF/C.
I doubt ATL drafts another Tweener. I rather have this Festus guy.
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
8:24 pm
Hawks are cupcakes. To small to ball. And overrate jump shots to top it all.
http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2011/03/09/atlanta-hawks-j-j-we-all-are-jump-shooters-thats-pretty-much-what-it-is/?cxntfid=blogs_hawks
Grandad
March 1st, 2012
8:25 pm
Ra`mon
If – ifs & buts were candy & nuts;
we`d all have a Merry Christmas !
Andruw has shown what he can & -did- do !
Josh only flashes potential.
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah … Andruw struck out.
Now list Josh’s accomplishments.
Please include anyone who will say:
he is the best all time at … whatever ?
-or-
that he is gonna be in the HOF.
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
8:26 pm
“Maybe,” he said. “But you look at a jump-shooting team–we are a jump-shooting team. If shots are falling then, great, we are rolling. But one through five, we all are jump shooters. That’s pretty much what it is. Like I said, if we are making shots then we are probably unstoppable. But when we are not making shots those are the games we have to grind out.”
Josh Smith couldnt post up David Lee. Dorell Wright yes. Big Lineup!
Slimjr
March 1st, 2012
8:26 pm
OKC, is getting ready to destroy Orlando! Just a tune up, cause Saturday the Hawks will be _______!
fill in the blank…
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
8:29 pm
http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/ratings.cgi
181 Lou Hudson
182 Terry Porter
183 Gerald Wallace
184 Rod Strickland
185 Toni Kukoc
186 Maurice Lucas
187 Ron Harper
188 Rashard Lewis
189 Josh Smith
190 Reggie Theus
191 Derrick Coleman
192 Robert Horry
193 Clyde Lovellette*
194 Mookie Blaylock
195 Xavier McDaniel
196 Fat Lever
197 Bob Love
198 Glenn Robinson
199 Richie Guerin
200 Randy Smith
Ra'mon
March 1st, 2012
8:31 pm
G’dad, in year 7, who was saying that Andruw was the best of all time or would be in HOF? You have to keep it in perspective. And what is someone saying that Andruw was the best of all time at?
Najeh Davenpoop
March 1st, 2012
8:32 pm
I don’t know that Josh is going to get that much better without a radical change in the coaching staff, but the Andruw Jones comparison is on point. Both were/are good players whose considerable flaws are highlighted more than their many achievements because the expectations are higher than the results.
Grandad, no need to get defensive; it was just an observation, not an accusation.
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
8:32 pm
Smith had 30 points, 17 rebounds, seven assists, four steals and three blocked shots. According to Elias Sports Bureau, only one other player has reached those levels in all five statistical categories since the NBA started officially recording blocks and steals in 1973.
LeBron James, playing for Cleveland in 2007-08, had 31 points, 19 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and three blocks in a double-overtime game against Charlotte. James played 49 minutes, 36 seconds while Smith played 44 minutes, 41 seconds against the Suns.
————
Josh Smith is a homeless version of Scottie Pippen/ a bigger version of Andre Iguodala. Only a retard (Gearon,Woody,Sund) would go this long and play him as the 2nd coming of Rashard Lewis (ironically Rashard Lewis used to play SF).
Categorically he is currently #1 rebounding SF in the league. Too bad we play Marvin Williams at the 3!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 1st, 2012
8:33 pm
“And what is someone saying that Andruw was the best of all time at?”
Second greatest defensive CF of all time according to the advanced stats that I don’t fully understand.
Andruw was a better player than Josh but there are a lot of similarities.
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
8:34 pm
Lets be honest if you were going to die; matter of life or death; win this game would you go:
Josh Smith vs Kevin Durant
or
Marvin Williams vs Kevin Durant
Slimjr
March 1st, 2012
8:35 pm
David Justice> Both Jones Boys…
He was Mr Clutch! The other two? Not so much!……..
The Jones Boys put up better career numbers…Sorta like the Mailman but could never seem to deliver in crunch time…
DAVID JUSTICE for President!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
O'Brien
March 1st, 2012
8:36 pm
Hilarious exchange on PTI this evening.
Tony said to Jay Bilas “Real recognize real”.
Jay Bilas’ response? “I put on for my city”.
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
8:36 pm
Dont know about baseball but basketball is 5 on 5. Very simple matchups.
6′9 250 lb David Lee or 6′8 225 Josh Smith. No Josh did not turn him into Ryan Anderson.
Still Josh had +8 last night.
Slimjr
March 1st, 2012
8:37 pm
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
8:34 pm
“Lets be honest if you were going to die; matter of life or death; win this game would you go:
Josh Smith vs Kevin Durant
or
Marvin Williams vs Kevin Durant”
Might as well Jump off the Golden Gate..It will be a quickie
Najeh Davenpoop
March 1st, 2012
8:38 pm
“Tony said to Jay Bilas “Real recognize real”.
Jay Bilas’ response? “I put on for my city”.”
Jay Bilas quotes Jeezy on his Twitter more than Jeezy quotes himself.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 1st, 2012
8:38 pm
http://blacksportsonline.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jay-Bilas.jpg
O'Brien
March 1st, 2012
8:38 pm
Rod,
Expectations for Marvin are so low that if he gets 12 and 6, he gets a pass lol.
That being said, the bigger reason we lose games is not because of Marvin. It’s usually mainly on Josh and JJ.
Ra'mon
March 1st, 2012
8:38 pm
Slim, David Justice cheated on Halle Berry. I can’t give him credit for ANYTHING, lol.
drmaryb.[A_A].
March 1st, 2012
8:39 pm
my grand-daddy is in love with a black woman. me. LOL
O'Brien
March 1st, 2012
8:41 pm
Ra’mon,
Josh has the potential to get better. But it wont happen unless we get a better coach.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 1st, 2012
8:43 pm
Slimjr is right. I’d rather have neither one of them on Durant.
The Josh at SF next to a shooting PF theory makes sense on offense, if you have a coach who is going to force him to get in the post every possession. But Josh at SF takes him away from the basket, where his defensive impact is most pronounced, and hurts the overall team defense unless the Hawks acquire a shot blocking center. Josh doesn’t have the lateral quickness to stay with Durant off the dribble.
O'Brien
March 1st, 2012
8:49 pm
Dampier was signed for the rest of the season.
In 8 games with the Hawks, Dampier played a total of 30 minutes. In 5 of the games, he played 2 minutes or less.
Fire Teage and trade Al hoe ford
March 1st, 2012
8:50 pm
We are coming down the stretch to the trade dead line. Word has it that the ASG has good thing in mind for the Hawks to up grade the two most critical positions on the team and put some depth at the post position with 2 legitimate centers. Just when you gave up on management that pulled off a blockbuster trade.
Yeah right… this whole organization is clueless… kind of like many of you bloggers.
Rod from College Park
March 1st, 2012
9:00 pm
I understand everyone’s problems with Josh, but to not give him credit on the defensive end of the floor is just you being a hater. He is already in year 7 #17 in the history of the NBA in blocks per game. Notice, there are no other SF on this list.
All Time Leaders: Blocks Per Game
Player G BLK BPG
1. Mark Eaton 875 3,064 3.50
2. Manute Bol 624 2,086 3.34
3. Hakeem Olajuwon 1,238 3,830 3.09
4. David Robinson 987 2,954 2.99
5. Elmore Smith 562 1,183 2.90
6. Alonzo Mourning 838 2,356 2.81
7. Dikembe Mutombo 1,196 3,289 2.75
8. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,560 3,189 2.57
9. Shawn Bradley 832 2,119 2.55
10. Marcus Camby 922 2,281 2.47
11. George T. Johnson 904 2,082 2.46
12. Patrick Ewing 1,183 2,894 2.45
13. Theo Ratliff 810 1,968 2.43
14. Shaquille O’Neal 1,207 2,732 2.26
15. Tim Duncan 1,086 2,428 2.24
16. Josh Smith 569 1,262 2.22
17. Bill Walton 468 1,034 2.21
18. Larry Nance 920 2,027 2.20
18. Tree Rollins 1,156 2,542 2.20
20. Dwight Howard 603 1,310 2.17
21. Nate Thurmond 964 553 2.06
22. Andrei Kirilenko 681 1,380 2.03
23. Ben Wallace 1,062 2,114 1.99
24. Elvin Hayes 1,303 1,771 1.98
25. Benoit Benjamin 807 1,581 1.96
26. Artis Gilmore 909 1,747 1.92
27. Yao Ming 486 920 1.89
27. Samuel Dalembert 698 1,316 1.89
29. Elton Brand 832 1,568 1.88
30. Jermaine O’Neal 912 1,702 1.87
and #49 in NBA history in blocks with no other SF’s on the list except Cliff Robinson who was 6′11.
Rank Player BLK
1. Hakeem Olajuwon* 3830
2. Dikembe Mutombo 3289
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* 3189
4. Mark Eaton 3064
5. David Robinson* 2954
6. Patrick Ewing* 2894
7. Shaquille O’Neal 2732
8. Tree Rollins 2542
9. Tim Duncan 2428
10. Robert Parish* 2361
11. Alonzo Mourning 2356
12. Marcus Camby 2281
13. Shawn Bradley 2119
14. Ben Wallace 2114
15. Manute Bol 2086
16. George Johnson 2082
17. Larry Nance 2027
18. Theo Ratliff 1968
19. Kevin Garnett 1881
20. Elvin Hayes* 1771
21. Artis Gilmore* 1747
22. Moses Malone* 1733
23. Jermaine O’Neal 1702
24. Kevin McHale* 1690
25. Vlade Divac 1631
26. Herb Williams 1605
27. Elden Campbell 1602
28. Benoit Benjamin 1581
29. Elton Brand 1568
30. Wayne Cooper 1535
31. Caldwell Jones 1517
32. Alton Lister 1473
33. Hot Rod Williams 1456
34. Rasheed Wallace 1445
35. Mark West 1403
36. Erick Dampier 1395
37. Clifford Robinson 1390
38. Andrei Kirilenko 1380
39. Terry Tyler 1342
40. Zydrunas Ilgauskas 1327
41. Samuel Dalembert 1316
42. Dwight Howard 1310
43. Greg Ostertag 1293
Julius Erving* 1293
45. Pau Gasol 1287
46. Shawn Kemp 1279
47. Dale Davis 1270
48. James Donaldson 1267
49. Josh Smith 1263
Melvin
March 1st, 2012
9:04 pm
OB,
I’m with you. I don’t know why the Hawks signed Diamper for the rest of the season. I guess this is a sign not to expect any trades from the Hawks. Seem like they would’ve left a roster spot open if they planned to make any trades….
Rufus1
March 1st, 2012
9:10 pm
Josh EXPOSED as the #1 option…
Energy guys can’t be the #1 scoring option… ESPECIALLY an energy guy whose energy inconsistent and can’t SHOOT.
14pts on 20 shots and he can’t shot free throws…. He isn’t as good as he thinks he IS or as good as LD lets him PLAY.
I hope this experience proves to him, the coaches and the owners that he isn’t the DIFFERENCE between winning or losing.
Rod from College Park
March 1st, 2012
9:17 pm
Except Dr J only other small forward
Fire Teague and trade Al hoe ford
March 1st, 2012
9:21 pm
They signed Diamper because Al is being shopped around and the hawks are willing to take draft picks in return as well.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 1st, 2012
9:22 pm
Wishful thinking
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=77so2ty
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
9:24 pm
Josh at SF takes him away from the basket, where his defensive impact is most pronounced, and hurts the overall team defense unless the Hawks acquire a shot blocking center.
Josh Smith watched Monta Ellis go into the lane and he was right in the lane. Thats an idiotic basketball stereotype.
A) scorers drive to the basket; some are so quick that Josh cant come in help.
B) Remember the block on J-Rich (@SF).
How about when MVP tried to iso and ended up with a 2 handed block on Derrick Rose (Josh @ SF despite being 250 lbs)
Josh could be the best shot blocking wing in history. How about that Grandad? You buying that?
Its funny because Marvin is slower than Josh but that never comes up.
We go back in history and see the times when Josh Smith played SF & its astonishing how off people are. He passed up shots to feed the post. He tried to feed JJ and crash. He blocked shots. He got dunks. He got steals. He got rebounds.
Give me Iguodala on steroids (Josh @ SF) instead of Barkley’s anorexic brother (Josh @ PF/C).
http://www.hoopinionblog.com/2011/02/breaking-down-josh-smith-as-small.html
Najeh Davenpoop
March 1st, 2012
9:26 pm
Not only would that blow up the core and give the Hawks a ton of cap space after the season, but it would arguably be a better team this year than the current team.
O'Brien
March 1st, 2012
9:27 pm
cnnsi power rankings; Hawks at 13.
Because the Hawks were 7-1 in games decided by five points or less, they finished the first half 20-14, despite scoring only three more points than the opposition. This blend of grit and luck partially compensated for the absence of Al Horford, but as the injuries mounted, the situation began to fray in February. By the final week before the break, Atlanta was giving minutes to Jerry Stackhouse and Erick Dampier, while Tracy McGrady — a youngster by comparison — was agitating for more playing time, and Joe Johnson’s sore knee combined with the snubbing of Josh Smith meant that no Hawks played in the All-Star game..
Didnt the Hawks get outscored last year?
BIG DOG
March 1st, 2012
9:28 pm
Play Josh at the 3 he easily AVG 20point a game in the paint, no SF can stop Josh down low.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Najeh Davenpoop
March 1st, 2012
9:28 pm
In fact forget I said “arguably” in that previous post.
Sautee
March 1st, 2012
9:28 pm
“He is already in year 7 #17 in the history of the NBA in blocks per game.”
Rod, while I totally agree that most fail to acknowledge Josh’s amazing blocks, BPG has NOTHING to do with 7 years in the league, since it’s measured BY THE GAME. It’s just total blocks, divided by overall games played, regardless of years.
Total blocks is where the “only 7 years, so far” should come into play.
Also, Kirilenko has played at the 3. But don’t take this as any kind of rebuttal. I agree with your premise.
Just FYI.
pointguardslim
March 1st, 2012
9:30 pm
Josh Smith in his natural position (SF) guarding MVP Derrick Rose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yajcf-RCaZ8#t=0h33m30s
That was 30 lbs ago. And rediscovering that game and seeing that play that was the ballinest most gangsta chit I’ve ever seen in my life. lol
Josh Smith is not as good as Nique but I feel only players will appreciate how good this guy was. All because people want Smith to be the next Charles Barkley (he wont be, he put on weight and busted his knees) instead of a bigger better Iguodala (small forward).
BIG DOG
March 1st, 2012
9:33 pm
If coach LD want save his job, must make adjustment in starting line up fast, 31 games left and clock is ticking.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE