Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 106, Kings 99
Sacramento–The Hawks engaged the Kings in a smallball, free-wheeling game, kept them off the offensive glass and won. All of that overshadows the lax closeouts and careless turnovers that allowed the Kings to hang around longer than they should have.
- Larry Drew went with Kirk Hinrich at shooting guard, Joe Johnson at small forward and Marvin Williams on the bench. I’ve long favored that alignment and Drew has said he’s considered using it regularly but never has committed to it and still isn’t.
- “Possibly,” Drew said. “I’m big on matchups. Coming into this game, one of my fears was they started three guards. I didn’t want to put our club at a disadvantage having Marvin chasing guards. It has some value for us in playing Kirk in that starting spot. We bring in a guy who gives us a toughness. We are a little bit more defensive-minded with him in there. When Marvin comes off the bench, he comes in more as being a first, second or third option.”
- Marvin was in attack mode while bulling his way to the basket and dunking on people. Could it be that coming off the bench might offer him some advantages? “I don’t know about advantages,” he said. “I guess it gives you a chance to see how the game is going to be called and how its’ going to be played. I think that’s really the only thing. I just wanted to come out and be aggressive coming off the bench. [Drew] told me earlier in the day and it was no big deal.”
- The potential weakness for this starting lineup is rebounding but not tonight because Zaza Pachulia was beasting on the boards. He could have had an even bigger night if not for a suspect call on his fourth foul. “He was playing his butt off,” Josh Smith said. “Whenever he’s able to be active like that on the glass, he’s that much more effective.”
- Small ball became even smaller for the Hawks with Zaza in foul trouble. It worked because Josh had more success handling DeMarcus Cousins’ skill around the basket, Vladimir Radmanovic suddenly grabbed rebounds like he’s 6-10 and Jeff Teague and Joe got it going offensively.
- “I had to make a decision whether to bring [Erick] Dampier back in the game or move Josh to the five spot,” Drew said. “I made the decision to go small on Cousins. He was having a good game. I didn’t want to start double-teaming him and opening up the 3-point line. It worked to our favor offensively because we were able to do some things differently and it was a bad matchup for them.”
- The Hawks had some good offensive possessions in the fourth quarter because Josh and Joe made good decisions out of double teams. “We missed some shots out of the double team but we made the right play,” Drew said.
- “When Josh was posting I tried to get weak side,” Joe said. “I knew he would find me. We played off of him. He had it going. ”
- “Normally that diagonal pass is open to the other swing but he was definitely open,” Josh said. “I was able to get him some easy looks, some open jump shots. I was able to knock down some jumpers and score on the block. They were drawn to me and I was able to make plays out of the double team and out of the dribble drive.”
- Josh had his jumper working early so the Kings were forced to respect it. “Offensively, he’s a tough cover,” Keith Smart said. “He’s too big for a small forward and too quick sometimes for a power forward. He chases the ball to the shot clock. Anything that he sees going to the basket, he’s going to chase that and going to try and control the basket, control the paint. His jump shot was working tonight.”
- Clearly the trade request isn’t affecting Josh’s play. A Sacto media guy asked Josh if he wants to be a “Hawk for life”: “I’m here. I have one more left on my deal. We have to see what happens. I just have to keep playing the way I’m capable of playing and keep doing what I’m doing and not worry about any outside distractions.”
- Another Sacto media guy, who apparently doesn’t have an Internet connection, asked Josh if there were “rumors or something about you being traded.” Josh: “”Can you ask me another question?”
- Another efficient scoring night for Joe (21 points on 13 shots, 9-for-9 on free throws). This time he actually looked better in the second half than the first. But Joe has never been great at getting around defenders and you can see that losing even just a little bit of quickness makes that task nearly impossible.
- Joe said he’s back in the lineup for good and doesn’t plan on sitting on the second night of back-to-backs or doing any other modifications for the knee. “It feels good,” he said. “The strength is about 85-90 percent. It’s way better than I was two weeks ago.”
- Teague (16 points on 11 shots, seven assists, three steals) had a strong effort. He was in control while weaving through Sacto’s defense. Teague seemed to get fired up once Isaiah Thomas got him a couple times.
- Hinrich’s jumper is looking better. He did good work against Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton.
- Another ineffective stint for Jannero Pargo, which was surprising since this figured to be his kind of game.
- Tracy McGrady got a DNP-CD. “This was a game where I’m looking at the matchups,” Drew said. “This Sacramento team, they are young and get up the floor. From a matchup standpoint it made sense to shorten the rotation to go with more speed.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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342 comments Add your comment
Steve
March 13th, 2012
9:14 am
It might be better, long-term, to make a trade for a starting caliber center that could really make a difference, but the only truly dominant centers out there today are Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard, and we don’t have the assets to acquire either of them. Plus, they probably don’t want to play for the Hawks. Atlanta doesn’t get much love from star players.
Slimjr
March 13th, 2012
9:15 am
LaMarcus Aldridge(A real #4) 2x> All NBA……
Steve
March 13th, 2012
9:17 am
One of the previous comments on here made me wonder, what ever happened to Marvin’s mom who used to post on here about him not being a bad pick?
Drew
March 13th, 2012
9:29 am
I’m anxious to see how L.D. manages his rotations for tonight’s game. I wonder what he’ll come up with “from a match-up standpoint” for this game since Denver likes to play with a very big lineup that features Nene at the 4. Nene is the size of a center and is probably too strong for Josh, but on the other hand, probably to slow to defend Josh. I wonder if L.D. will decide to play small again. I won’t be able to watch the local broadcast this time, so if someone finds a link before tonight’s game of the broadcast, please share it.
Sammy Davis Jr
March 13th, 2012
9:31 am
“Atlanta doesn’t get much love from star players”
Thats because they are obsessed with average players….. Like Al horford
vava74
March 13th, 2012
9:38 am
Armand
March 13th, 2012
8:30 am
Armand, I did not mention technical aspects because Al will NOT develop McHale or Olajuwon type of moves.
He does not have them in him.
He has good speed and decent coordination for his size BUT the key word is DECENT.
His body and ball control are DECENT but he is not TALENTED/GIFTED.
Horford’s game has ALWAYS been about DISCIPLINE and HUSTLE and his only future in the NBA – if he decides to embrace it – is to be BOSS HORFORD again:
Living off scraps on offense and a few scattered open looks (because he will no longer get as many as last year).
Basically, what Horford can do is emulate what Zaza is doing right now:
Make use of a limited physical and technical skill set by battling on D against stronger/quicker opponents (Zaza’s shortcoming is speed/quickness of reaction and lack of vertical, Horford’s is strength and lack of lenght/wingspace) and on offense live off offensive boards, back-door cuts and indeed a portion of baseline and elbow shots to go along his DECENT running hook in the lane.
IF Horford embraced that mission and said:
“I will kill myself in the paint in order for us to win games” (like Ben Wallace did) then I would be all for keeping the core and just hiring an actual HC.
Without this commitment by Horford we will not evolve with him competing with Josh for the PF slot.
In order to convince you a little bit better, let’s look at 3 PFs which either average or averaged 20/10:
Bosh: is immensely more skilled than Horford on offense, able to hit turnaround, fade aways, drive, … This has been the case since he entered the league.
Duncan: called the big fundamental because his complete game: deadly turnaround banker, hook shots with both hands, up and under moves, solid handle, … This has been the case since he entered the league.
Love: has 3 point range, soft touch around the rim, banks shots consistently and is a dynamo on the offensive boards allowing him to get 2 to 4 easy baskets around the rim. All these skills have been more or less solid since he entered the league being that his biggest deficit as he came in was physical/athleticism
I think there is no question that Horford cannot be a 20/10 guy in this league since his improvement on PPG has been achieved with him getting further and further away from the basket, which means that if he indeed was able to increase his range and continued to favour jump shots, his rebounding averages would decline like it happen last year.
Dawg
March 13th, 2012
9:45 am
I love Al but I have always noticed that his body has not been improved upon since his arrival. He should have built it up more. His skills have not been develop. He is what is was when he arrived.
KevinM
March 13th, 2012
9:54 am
“Melvin
March 12th, 2012
10:52 pm
KevinM,
“Both Philly and Indiana have passed us right by, have they not? We’re a 6 seed today,”
“We would still be In the 6th slot with a healthy Al.”
Hawks are only 2 games behind the Magic(#3), 1 game behind Philly(#4) and basically have the same record as Indy(#5). Are you saying the Hawks wouldn’t improve by at least 2 games if AL was healthy?”
Going back and looking at some of our losses, would we have beaten Indy or Chi early on? I don’t think so.
We have been beaten good a few times and Al isn’t make much of a difference there. I would hope Al would improve us by 2 games, but I can’t say that is a true statement.
We are what we are, and that is inconsistent. Maybe a Golden State or Phoenix team where Al would make a difference.
Tough call there as I just don’t think Al makes that much of a difference.
KevinM
March 13th, 2012
9:55 am
D12 has just been given power over the fates of the GM and coach at the end of the year if he signs an extension.
He is being told they are going to add a big piece to keep him there and now D12 has the opportunity for more power.
Now that is newsworthy. You think Josh or Joe would like that power?
Still Laughing at Mike Bianchi
March 13th, 2012
9:56 am
the only trade I would even consider for Josh is Josh and Kirk for Dwight.
unless we get a superstar I don’t even consider it
Still Laughing at Mike Bianchi
March 13th, 2012
9:59 am
if you could add either Dwight, Mark Gasol, or maybe even a Nene or Kaman while keeping Teague, Josh, Joe, and Al that would be awesome but the odds of that are slim
KevinM
March 13th, 2012
10:00 am
vava, good review of Al’s skills and I am with you.
I always said Al was going to have to be our Tim Duncan as I saw him as a PF, not a C. Now that we have this influx of PF talent and part time skills at SF and C, we still need to add to the frontline like we have needed since what, 2005?
How hard is this to give these guys help? We have to wait until we’re in a bind before Sund decides to consider moves? Sounds like he’s about 5 steps behind the rest of the league.
vava74
March 13th, 2012
10:05 am
“the only trade I would even consider for Josh is Josh and Kirk for Dwight”
That trade would guarantee us that Dwight would leave.
Our only chance at acquiring Dwight and him staying is to keep Josh at the same time.
Ray
March 13th, 2012
10:07 am
@ Vava74
THANK YOU TELL THEM AGAIN PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!
hawkville
March 13th, 2012
10:13 am
Without making any moves, the Hawks will be the 3rd seed and playing in the ECF.
O'Brien
March 13th, 2012
10:13 am
Wow. It is being reported on ESPN that if Dwight Howard signs an extension at the end of the season, he can decide the fate of the coach and GM.
vava74
March 13th, 2012
10:14 am
AND, again, our biggest upgrade would be ON THE BENCH.
With a real HC we could become really good.
KevinM
March 13th, 2012
10:16 am
Whats funny in that D12 for Josh thought is that Josh is probably the only asset they would consider for D12. Apparently, Joe and Al are not enough, and I dont’ think they are or would be satisfied with that.
How would Al and Joe fair under Van Gundy? I think they would play very well if not better than who they have leading them now.
If we moved Joe for D12, we would be ultra thin in the backcourt for a team that has always had SG depth. To solidify our roster, it will take a couple of moves to get there if we move Joe.
ALERT: we still need C help…Zaza is not enough.
Slimjr
March 13th, 2012
10:18 am
average, overrated…Yep
The Hawks essentially played .500 ball last year with a healthy Horford….
Means, he does not have as much an impact as some of you are lead to believe..His contributions this year would have been miniscule at best..A couple of extra wins? Maybe, maybe not..
We already know his help defense is lacking and thats saying it nicely…His man to man defense is only slightly better…In 39 playoff games he’s only averaging barely 9pts and 7 rbs? C’mon man…
ZaZa can put up those numbers and is doing just that…
This guys has no fluid motion in his hands or feet, totally stiff all the way around…
In another universe he could be compared to Duncan.. Not in this one for sure..
Slimjr
March 13th, 2012
10:22 am
hawkville
March 13th, 2012
10:13 am
“Without making any moves, the Hawks will be the 3rd seed and playing in the ECF”
“crack is whack” -Whitney H.-
Slimjr
March 13th, 2012
10:31 am
Big Al should focus on being a garbage guy on offensive..Thats it.. He has peaked when he entered the league…DO NOT run any offensive plays through him..He’ll just clog things up and slow down the offense.
He has got to go back to banging on the glass.
KevinM
March 13th, 2012
10:36 am
slimjr, you said it better than I did re: Al.
We had him all last year, and we weren’t very good.
We don’t have him this year, and we might be a bit better.
Buddy Grizzard
March 13th, 2012
10:37 am
“It is being reported on ESPN that if Dwight Howard signs an extension at the end of the season, he can decide the fate of the coach and GM.”
This hasn’t been news for a long time. If Dwight told ORL upper management that he would sign a max extension if they fired SVG and Otis, they would be escorted out of the building by security within about 15 minutes.
Melvin
March 13th, 2012
10:41 am
KevinM,
If you can agree that this team is better with Al than you would have to equate that into a better record. Forget about trying to determine which game we would have won with him b/c each game he plays would have a different impact/outcome.
Melvin
March 13th, 2012
10:42 am
“It is being reported on ESPN that if Dwight Howard signs an extension at the end of the season, he can decide the fate of the coach and GM.”
It’s not like the Magic coach and GM are world beaters. They are easier to replace than Howard.
hawkville
March 13th, 2012
10:47 am
betsomething, and as for those who keep asking for Kaman, have you checked his shot attempts lately. He needs a lot of shots to produce the great numbers he’s putting up (lol). Hawks have a pretty good team. Questionable leadership and coaching,
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 13th, 2012
11:00 am
Ownership has Privileges!
O’Brien! Wassup boy? Thanks for that news feed, from MC – we get NOTHING. LOL
D12 does not like SVG – he’s too intense like, TT in Chi-Town. Doug collins comes to mind in Philly, don’t forget Avery Johnson + that Mickey Mouse Voice.
All these coaches, (Larry Brown) are master minds but, eventually, they wear you down. Woodson was in that vein too, of being very serious and a no fun personality … Which the prankster Bibby kept things light and bearable.
But, without SVG, I think D12 will be more of a clown, undisciplined and farther away from a championship. I don’t agree with players ruining orgs. If you want to the the owner, then BUY your own damned team.
Walt Frazier
March 13th, 2012
11:11 am
I like AL Horford as a player, but as a center-he has to guard centers that are much bigger and heavier and longer than he is. Al should be playing a power forward position, period. The starting lineup:
Zaza-C
Josh-SF
Al-PF
Joe-SG
Jeff-PG
This lineup should be the norm; Marvin should not be in the starting lineup, but a sub. He seems to play better when he’s angry-anyway. The Hawks coach should’ve figured this thing out by now.
vava74
March 13th, 2012
11:17 am
For ORL, it’s a win win situation.
If Howard stays, they will always be able to trade him down the road if things continue not to work under the player appointed GM and HC.
Right now they are under pressure but with a 5 year extension they would have all the time in the world to make better moves.
I believe that ORL will do it.
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 13th, 2012
11:19 am
* If, you want to BE the owner … then BUY your own team.
Sammy Davis Jr
March 13th, 2012
11:22 am
Yes this is a clearly better team with out the baggage Al brings. So many of you live off the Al hype and imagine a 20/10 guy and turn your heads to the real 12/9 guy who produces 10/7 in the playoffs and has had 2 significant injuries in less than 5 years.
For those of you not under a trance, it is obvious that Al has peaked and his room for improvement is modest.
Its bad management to stock pile power forwards just to appease a loud few. AL is 6′10″ 250lbs, easily a centers body. He could have accepted his assignment and beefed up and developed a low post game… It ain’t happening people, and Al will never more than a 12-14ppg power forward with 9rbs and 1blk. That’s it. Period
This team is not going to work with both Al and Josh. One has to go in order to get a bonafide center.
Its time for Al to go.
Melvin
March 13th, 2012
11:25 am
drmaryb,
The Magic could trade him since he wants to be a player-coach-GM…..
Sammy Davis Jr
March 13th, 2012
11:26 am
Walt Frazier Can you explain why you would weaken the PF position to accommodate Al? Josh is a much better Power forward than Al so Why fix what aint broken? Why would you take whats very good and replace it with whats average? Why would you take a top 3 power forward and put in a mediocre player?
Where is the logic there?
smh
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 13th, 2012
11:27 am
Mad Men!
“He seems to play better when he’s angry-anyway. The Hawks coach should’ve figured this thing out by now.”
____________
Yeah Walt, but this is Marvin we’re talking about. How long will he remain angry and, when will he revert to his lackadaisical self?
Walt Frazier
March 13th, 2012
11:30 am
Zaza doesn’t have all of a bigs superstar status, but why do the Atlanta fans love him? He has H-E-A-R-T, and he’ll mix it up with anyone who gets in his grill. AL Horford had heart, but Blake Griffin took it from him on one particular play last year or so, when Al was driving the lane-and Blake went up to meet in at the rim. Al fell down so violently and hit the floor so hard-that it sucked the heart right out from his body; not to mention the actual physical injury to his shoulder and chest. Al’s injury could be the best thing that happened to the Hawks, because Al can rehab with fresh legs and upper body for next season. I’m kind of weary about bringing him back-let’s say: if the Hawks go deeper in the playoffs-and risk losing him again with the same injury. Al needs to get bodybuilder buff over the summer and come back with a new improved overall game. He has nothing but time on his side.
As for Josh, I agree with The Truth: “Based on the history of FA in Josh’s shoes, however, he has more to gain from the “stunt of discontent”, than he has to lose.
Josh is posturing for phat duckets. He feels he knows how to get the deal done: just follow J.J.’s lead. Only difference is: everyone knew that J.J. wasn’t going nowhere; Josh’s bluff may acually be called. Why? WUWG-the man is ballin nightly. Other teams actually would want Josh; Joe gave you that every now and again.
doc
March 13th, 2012
11:37 am
ra’mon i hope al doesnt carry that one in his mind. right from the get go it was over reaction on the part of the league. that play wasnt dirty anymore than the one blake laid him out on which i think turned boss more to moss on. fird had spinal stenosis and it was the factor not al that faused the prob.
i did not realize at the time it was the second time he had been paralyzed and already been operated on. he has known about this injury from high school. tell boss to come back if that is why he is charmin soft al now.
here is an article that lays it out for us and gives us the “rest of the story”
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/Backup-guard-Ford-decides-to-end-career-3401266.php
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 13th, 2012
11:46 am
Parental Control!
“drmaryb,
The Magic could trade him since he wants to be a player-coach-GM…..” -Melvin-
______________
Hey Melvin, I would. Would you let your 2 year old drive your Porsche Carrera 954 and, tell you what to do? Just based on principals alone, I would reduse to raise a monster in my own house that I worked and paid for.
Who’s next – Me? What’s next – a hatchet to my throat while asleep? Hella naw!!! I’m old school Melvin. I keep kids in their place. I might entertain a few opinions and accommodate a day at The Mall versus a walk in the park, but you BEST believe – I’m BIG MAMMA at home! Believe that, all day long.
Let that ISH grow in Orlando, FLA and, the owner will live to regret it. Keep D12 away from The Hawks. Besides, he doesn’t have the heart to win a ring anyway, instead of worrying about the GM and Coach, he need to get his personal life in order, stop making babies outside of marriage and work on his FT percentage.
That’s all I got.
Astro Joe
March 13th, 2012
11:48 am
Would D12 trade himself after he becomes he 2nd most powerful entity in Orlando (behind Mickey of course)? Maybe he would trade Ryan Anderson, JJ Reddick and 2 1st round picks to the Hawks for Josh Smith, his best friend and life-long pal.
Sammy Davis Jr
March 13th, 2012
11:54 am
Amnesty Al, Hes Alot like Marvin. Not much there, Dont expect much, you aint gonna get much. That it.. that all ….tadaah……
Sammy Davis Jr
March 13th, 2012
11:56 am
Soft ass bitch ass Al and Marvin makes the hawks suck.
Sammy Davis Jr
March 13th, 2012
12:01 pm
Its time to get rid of all these project hoes who never reach their potential and never get better. Im tired of all you ANAL MINDED BLOGGERS, (LOL) who keep begging for more time for your favorite project child, like Al horford, Marvin Williams or Jeff Teague. Its time to turn the page on these “jerry’s kids”, and move on to the more serious minded championship reaching talent.
No more Projects!!!!!
Michael Cunningham
March 13th, 2012
12:04 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.