Atlanta Hawks: Hawks 100, Knicks 90
- Willie Green provided what’s been missing lately: Some real scoring punch off the bench. With the Knicks swarming Josh Smith and Joe Johnson someone else had to convert chances. Marvin Williams did it in the first half and Green (15 points, 6/7 FG in fourth quarter) did it late.
- “Me and Joe have been doing so much, fatigue sets in a little bit,” Josh said. “Whenever you can get the energy off the bench, especially the offensive power like Willie did tonight, it’s definitely needed for this ball club. For us to have the momentum and confidence flowing into the postseason we need our bench to keep consistent like all year long.”
- Green stretches the floor and his pace and purpose complement Josh and (especially) Joe’s more deliberate styles. Maybe that’s not so great Green is not making shots but it’s just what the Hawks need when he’s hot. “I was trying to stay aggressive,” he said. By me staying aggressive, they started to go down. Then another one goes down and another one goes down and the next thing you know you have got it going.”
- Green sat with the back and hamstring injuries for so long you might have forgotten he’s having a career year. He can be a real asset for the Hawks in the postseason, especially if he’s on the floor to benefit from the double teams against Josh and Joe. “I’m learning more and more,” he said. “Teams are going to try to double team those guys. We have just got to be ready to knock down a shot or get to the basket, get to the free-throw line or whatever it takes.”
- Drew: “We’ve certainly been looking for [bench production]. Willie played well before he got hurt, though. He was in a good rhythm, particularly shooting the basketball, and tonight he caught fire. You know teams are going to double team Joe and now they are starting to come on Josh. It’s important that we have good spacing and that we make the right plays out of the double team.”
- Through three quarters Carmelo Anthony had 31 points on 19 shots. In the fourth quarter he had five points on five shots. The Hawks can live with a night when he gets 14 of his 36 points from the line (with a couple suspect calls) and is quiet at the finish while Iman Shumpert (25 points on 14 shots) was the only other Knick helping out.
- Drew: “Melo’s a great player. He’s been playing well for them, Once he gets into a groove, a rhythm they are tough to defend. They are going to give him enough touches. You have got to make him work. He’s going to make shots. I told the guys don’t get discouraged. My concern was putting the ball on the deck and getting to the basket and drawing fouls.”
- Melo did that a few times against Josh and Marvin. When they played the drive, he pulled up for Js. These things happen. “Trying to keep a body on him, stay physical,” Josh said. “He’s definitely an offensive player that likes to create the contact. I was trying to be there throughout game and wear him down. I think me and Marvin did a solid job.”
- Josh defended Melo solo for the most part. Melo had trouble with Josh, too, and so in the fourth quarter Mike Woodson decided to come with early doubles against Josh, who didn’t handle them well. “They were real aggressive on the catch,” Josh said. “They came down before I could even whip my head around and try to find the other guy. They were real persistent with it and I kind of got careless with the basketball. But Willie came in that fourth quarter and made some big shots and made some big plays to get us over the hump.”
- Drew: “You could see their focus was to take it out of Josh’s hands. We’ve been posting him more as of late and we will continue. The thing I’ve emphasized with him is to make the easy play out of the two-time. If they don’t two-time then you back him in and go to your move. If they do come on the two-time just make the right play. A couple times he tried to skip the ball across the court and a guy stole it. He came to the huddle, he knew exactly what I was going to say to him. That’s a good sign for us with him in the post. He’s a guy at times he looks a little clumsy. The thing is he is so long and athletic, a bounce or two away from the basket and you almost have to come [double] him.”
- Josh is 2 for 24 on 3-pointers over his past eight games.
- Joe (28 points on 20 shots) was too much for Landry Fields to handle and was better than Josh against the double teams (he certainly has more experience with them). He continues to shoot well from the 3-point and free-throw lines. It was also ironic (?) that Woody got burned by some familiar Iso-Joe fadeaways.
- Zaza Pachulia missed a couple open jumpers and didn’t get to the line but had four of Atlanta’s nine offensive rebounds and helped prevent Tyson Chandler from using his athleticism around the basket.
- Jeff Teague had a brain freeze late in the third quarter. Chandler was switched on him but he settled for a 3-pointer. He ended up with the ball again but just stood at the top of the key for 14 seconds before passing to Josh posted up 18 feet away from the basket. Josh tried a skip pass and turned it over, and Teague had a touch foul on Shumpert on the break.
- Drew summoned Kirk Hinrich for Teague after that sequence. To Teague’s credit, he was solid in the fourth quarter and had a key steal and blocked shot. “He knows when he comes out and I put him back in it’s never a situation where I’m losing faith in him or confidence in him,” Drew said.
- Very nice line for Marvin: 13 points on seven shots, seven rebounds, two steals, two blocks, one assist and no turnovers. And, as Josh noted, he took some reps against Melo and competed hard. The bench thing is working our for Marvin.
- It wasn’t long ago that it looked like Hinrich was rounding into shape. But he’s looked slow on defensive lately and he’s got to be a factor offensively if he’s going to be on the court with Josh and Joe.
- This didn’t seem to be a Jason Collins kind of game but Collins made a 1:30 cameo. It did seem to be an Ivan Johnson kind of game but he had little impact in nine minutes.
- In the end, the Hawks shredded Woody’s D and smothered Iso-Melo. “I think we all wanted to win this one for coach,” Chandler said. “I think we played hard enough but they made shots and we didn’t. We also turned the ball over [18 times]. I didn’t play particularly well, either. They kept us off the glass tonight.”
- Drew, as you might expect, downplayed the Woody angle. Josh did, too: “We just wanted to get a win. It’s nothing personal.”
- “It was great to see him again,” Joe said. “I’m glad he’s gotten another opportunity to be a head coach and sure he will do everything in his power to finish up strong and give himself a chance to be the coach next year. I think he’s been doing a good job so far. They’ve got some people out but they are working hard.”
- Tracy McGrady came out for pregame warmups and then mysteriously headed back to the locker room just before tip. The Hawks said he was ill but he looked fine before the game. He wasn’t in the locker room by the time media were let in.
- With 12 games to go, the Hawks are a half game behind Indiana for fifth place in the East. “There are some people on our heels trying to catch up and we are trying to do the same to others,” Josh said.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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178 comments Add your comment
Adam
March 30th, 2012
11:44 pm
Joe Johnson’s MVP run continued tonight. He owns each and every one of you.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 30th, 2012
11:46 pm
Starters’ plus/minus:
Teague +14
Kirk -6
Zaza +16
Josh +12
Joe +13
Get well soon Pargo.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 30th, 2012
11:47 pm
Half game behind Indiana, 1.5 games behind Orlando, and two games ahead of 7 seed Philly. Tomorrow’s game is huge. Win tomorrow and you can almost ensure that you won’t be playing Miami or Chicago in the first round.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 30th, 2012
11:51 pm
“Half game behind Indiana, 1.5 games behind Orlando, and two games ahead of 7 seed Philly. Tomorrow’s game is huge. Win tomorrow and you can almost ensure that you won’t be playing Miami or Chicago in the first round.”
Not really. We still have to play Dallas, LAC, Boston (twice I believe), the Knicks again. Nothing is a sure bet, especially with this team
Najeh Davenpoop
March 30th, 2012
11:54 pm
Philly has 10 road games left to 6 home games. They still have to play Miami, Orlando twice, Indiana twice, and Boston. The Hawks may very well lose every remaining game against above .500 teams, but I’d be really surprised if Philly can make 3 games up on the Hawks in that time given their schedule.
doc
March 30th, 2012
11:55 pm
dawgnole and others, the atlanta fan is a dying breed, especially in big games like tonight. the fan is almost extinct from where i was standing. there were 4 to 5 knick fans there to the 1 atlanta fan. 2 minutes left a stream of orange and blue was heading to the exit. yes, i was childish enough to ride them and wave them home. the atl fans there at the end were not enough to give these guys credit for a very well played and hard fought game.
jeff teague was almost flawless, marvin working, green playing his best impersonation of flip and jamal but under control and smart, jj dealing and josh pretty much doing his thang and only getting frustrated minimally. but yes, i am fed up with the atlanta sports fan as i dont see them there when they should be.
now about those “loose thumbs” and it relates to my first tirade. man, if my thumbs got loose in there i would have had my phone easily knocked from my hands. those fans were streaming everywhere and not paying attention to me as big as i am. they were in throngs buying and supporting the basg at the concession stands moving in huge masses through the concourse which were thriving tonight as no other night i can remember this year. this is what it used to be like for big games only there were morw atl fans there. now, not so much.
go hawks! 0-45!
smart move by ld to bring in marvin against melo late with josh having 5 fouls. then josh only had to work on chandler also with 5 to even it out. there were several moves by the ld that seemed to work. never really felt the presence of woody and his decisions during the game tonight. heh heh
fortunately jr smith didnt go off, somehow we got a few stops and melo miss fired a few at the end.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 31st, 2012
12:01 am
In honor of Woody, only 7 Hawks got double figure minutes in tonight’s game.
doc
March 31st, 2012
12:01 am
zaza was a man tonight not taking any of that fake new york sh!t, make believe swagger. melo was mocking how he made a block on him without having to jump. melo, with zaza, that is routine; act like you been there before.
LT
March 31st, 2012
12:01 am
That’s it MC??? Where’s the rest of the blog?? I could have wrote that!
Buddy Grizzard
March 31st, 2012
12:08 am
Woodsanity kinda fizzled out there…
hj
March 31st, 2012
12:08 am
fire woody
Section 303
March 31st, 2012
12:08 am
Sweet win! Loved watching all the Knick fans (most of whom have probably never set foot in New York) leave sad.
I know Joe, Josh, and Willie are going to get the headlines. They deserve it. But, save some love for Zaza tonight. He was outstanding. Played physical, epecially on defense.
Tomorrow night’s game is a big one. Glad the Hawks have 3 days of rest to look forward to, followed by home games with Charlotte and Detroit. Cannot not drop either of those games after the time off.
Buddy Grizzard
March 31st, 2012
12:12 am
By the way, nice reporting on the Woody/LD relationship, MC. I felt in the past that you’ve given LD a pass on certain things, but you definitely got the facts out there on this one. Not a good week if you’re LD. First Joe Johnson says guys don’t know their roles, then MC quotes Woody’s inner circle saying what Rod from CP already told us… LD was trying to get Woody’s job while he was still the head coach here.
Big Ray
March 31st, 2012
12:14 am
LD beats MW. Heh….
Buddy Grizzard
March 31st, 2012
12:16 am
“Save some love for Zaza tonight. He was outstanding. Played physical, epecially on defense.”
I loved when Shumpert shoved Zaza in the back on a clean pick and then Chandler shoved him and he raised his hands and walked away, and then on the inbounds play they call Zaza for an offensive foul for barely touching Chandler. Yes, Zaza has been much better this year about playing under control and not losing as much time to foul trouble.
Big Ray
March 31st, 2012
12:22 am
Ok, so LD was submarining Woody. Woody wasn’t taking the Hawks anywhere. LD has taken them slightly further (but ain’t going any further than that).
Big whoop….I think the whole thing is ironic. Why? Because none of this would be going down if ownership was worth a crap….but it ain’t, and weak-a$$ management was overrun by this ownership, which allowed the whole thing to happen (Sund wanted Dwayne Casey, not Larry Drew).
Simple forumula – Gearon listens to the players over the GM (who rarely spoke up because he’s a yes man anyway) who are campaigning for dear ol’ Uncle Larry (copyright, ASTRO JOE), who knows exactly what to say to Gearon.
Yeah, Woody got done wrong. Doesn’t change the fact that the he’d lost the team long before that happened. Unless of course we want to believe that LD is the sole reason why….
Again, it’s ironic. Because that sounds like something the ASG would do/has done.
Nothing changes until somebody else buys this dang team. Maybe no more pizza guys…can somebody put in a call to the guy who owns Taco Bell?
doc
March 31st, 2012
12:30 am
big ray, it is so cry baby grade school to complain over something like this if woody has. this is the big leagues and woody says he has grown? well not if he still has his buds and confidants saying this sh!t. woody was crying and campaigning knowing his ass was on the line, all frigging season, saying he deserved a contract now not at the end of the season. he knew he was toast so if his ego needs to concoct it as larry, then again, i am sorry for woody and new york and melo is going to eat him up.
Buddy Grizzard
March 31st, 2012
12:38 am
“Yeah, Woody got done wrong. Doesn’t change the fact that the he’d lost the team long before that happened.”
Big Ray, I’m not crying big crocodile tears for Woodson. I’m more interested in what this says about LD and the quality of coach the Hawks organization was able to bring in after Woody was gone. LD told Hawks ownership that Woody wasn’t taking his suggestions and he would do things differently. Some things that haven’t changed since Woody was here.
1. Head coach plays favorites and has unequal accountability.
2. Abject failure to recognize, utilize or develop the talent that is already present within the organization.
3. Over-reliance on iso-Joe.
How exactly has LD distinguished himself again?
Section 303
March 31st, 2012
12:45 am
Woodson got done wrong? Whatever. I like the guy, but he had to leave after that Orlando debacle. Hawks had to make a change.
doc
March 31st, 2012
12:51 am
buddy i have seen none of the ld over reliance of iso joe that woody had on every trip down the court. tonight jj was balling at the end the way he should but it was not all about him. yes, ld does occasionally go to jj as his go to guy, it is less and less and it defintely is not of the magnitude of his predecessor. woody, used the iso jj on every play like woody hayes used his fullback dives for three yards every time. i didnt see much offense tonight from the knick,s either.
kwooden1
March 31st, 2012
12:54 am
Great Win tonight! Really nice job of taking advantage of matchups and Willie knocking down shots.
In terms of Woody and LD, I really think Woody pissed off all the coaches during his last two years by not taking their suggestions during games. It was always clear to me that Woody and the coaches had reasonable plans before games, but Woody just didn’t having any creativity during games. Basically, his big move was to put his starters back in the game and tell them to play better defensive. Most games I could see the other coaches wanted to do something else, but knowing that Woody was just going to do what he wanted. I think LD and Woody are very similar as coaches but LD had the opportunity to watch Woody do nothing during games for 6 years and he’s at least willing to try things. Woody looked like he had learned something sitting out for a year also and tried a few things tonight also, but it just didn’t work out for him. Woody and LD are going to have to workout their issues on their own, once they are both out of coaching.
GO HAWKS!!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 31st, 2012
12:54 am
The starting point guard for Beijing is from NYC and the starting point guard for the Knicks is Asian.
doc
March 31st, 2012
1:00 am
buddy, we knew from the start that ld chopped on his predecessor from the very first interview in the press. you and everyone else trying to make that a story? also ld was saying whta two thirds of the folks on this blog said regularly, so that wasnt even new. yes, from the start we knew what kind of a guy ld was. if you missed it then glad you are catching up.
i am surprised you would then bring it up that it might reflect bad on the organization like anything short of hiring phil jackson could possibly fix it. that was what the sounds of abject horror from the blog was about when ld was hired and a joke that this was the new voice? get ou ta here buddy, you knew it all along, didnt you?
ntrigue
March 31st, 2012
1:05 am
Hope we get Horford back for playoffs and let him come off the bench and play a taj Gibson type role!
Buddy Grizzard
March 31st, 2012
1:08 am
I’ve been on this Dennis Lindsey for GM campaign but, realistically, who in the NBA wants to work for the Hawks organization? You’ve got an ownership group that sues itself, sells off draft picks, creates non-existent bidding wars for its own players, and promotes a guy who stabbed the guy in the back who gave him an opportunity. I read today that Tom Thibodeau is unhappy that he hasn’t been offered a contract extension by CHI. I would say, “lets go get that guy” but A. No way the Hawks would pay the kind of money it would take to steal the best coach in the NBA away from CHI, and B. Nobody wants to work for the ASG.
Melvin
March 31st, 2012
1:10 am
Uh oh, Jamal just hit a shot giving the Blazers a 1pt lead with 13.9 left…LOL
Melvin
March 31st, 2012
1:25 am
I’m so glad the Hawks whip the Knicks and Woody azz tonight. On to Philly….
Man in Black
March 31st, 2012
1:25 am
IF we get Horford back for playoffs and they keep Marvin as a 6th man and start a big line up with
Zaza
Horford
Smith
Johnson
Teague
That is a team that could win it all – we beat Chicago & Miami at their house once this year already
tyger
March 31st, 2012
1:43 am
Huge win at home vs. .500+…
As the playoff race heats up…
And teams jockey for position…
The Hawks were reeling from a Bull horn up the …
Fresh off a two game losing streak vs. .500+ teams…
Being embarrassed at home yet again…
The Hawks found themselves in a foxhole…
And guess what? They responded…hallelujah!
Philly, gives a chance to prove this is no fluke…
Then a scheduling miracle – 3 days off and 3 chumps…
Charlotte, Detroit, Charlotte…
By the time they see Boston, Orlando…
They should be on at least a 3 game roll, possibly 5…
With only two more back-backs left, fresher legs on horizon…
doc
March 31st, 2012
1:53 am
buddy there are some good ones out there but for now we got ld and rick and owners that could quickly put this team up on the block. if paul allen swings it, then why shouldnt they want to do the same thing to bury the past.
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 31st, 2012
1:54 am
Detroit matches up well with the hawks, we always struggle and they always beat us. Last time we were at The Palace, we lost handedly. We owe them a butt whipping next week @ Phillips.
I’ll be there! I didn’t see the game tonight, so keep the comments coming. Najeh LOL! He so happy! LMBO @ Najeh hilarious post.
Grandad
March 31st, 2012
1:58 am
My opinion only:
It will be in the long term best interest interest
of both the Hawks and Al Horford,
if he does not suit up again until next season.
Having said;
I`m certain the Hawks decision makers will try to play Al
in order to eke out [maybe] one additional win.
*[with an out of shape and with only partially rehabilitated Al Horford]
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 31st, 2012
2:09 am
The reason Horford tore his chest muscle is because he showed up in camp out of shape and, to play himself into shape. Tragic! (Mr. Omar’s voice) Just Tragic!
Grandad
March 31st, 2012
2:10 am
Sautee
Another thought;
we`ve been missing Willie Green.
-sometimes-
‘` You never know what you got till it’s gone ?
They paved paradise, they put up a parking lot.`’
- Bob Dylan -
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 31st, 2012
2:22 am
* and, TRIED to play himself into shape.
soullrenaissance
March 31st, 2012
3:46 am
Where are all the Knickabocker fans such as Slimjr? Had to shout you out brah! Ryan Steward needs to get a radio gig in NYC because his gushing over the Knicks before the game was sickening for any true Hawks fan – however many fan they have left….
LD is lame and a coward for not even giving a head nod to Woody after the game? He has no class and no style whatsoever. Nonetheless, this was a great win for us because it has seen the reemergence of Willie Green.
Eric
March 31st, 2012
3:48 am
“The reason Horford tore his chest muscle is because he showed up in camp out of shape and, to play himself into shape. Tragic! (Mr. Omar’s voice) Just Tragic!”
It seemed like a huge number of players had the same issue. Tons of guys had conditioning issues due to the lengthy lockout and then the lack of a true training camp combined with the abrupt start to the season. I think that caught many players by surprise. There have been way too many games missed due to injuries from players not quite being in game shape. I hate to see injuries and I hope that this type of thing doesn’t repeat itself in the future.
Michael Cunningham
March 31st, 2012
4:05 am
@Buddy: “By the way, nice reporting on the Woody/LD relationship, MC. I felt in the past that you’ve given LD a pass on certain things, but you definitely got the facts out there on this one.”
be specific here. what “certain things” have i “given LD a pass” on? on what basis do you make this claim? it’s not enough to make this claim just because my info doesn’t always conform to your preferred narrative about LD. tell me specifically where you believe i’ve given LD a pass. what info am i suppressing? what truth am i not telling? what info do you believe i’m withholding? to say i’ve given LD a “pass” is a serious allegation that requires more than just a tossed-off statement like this. back up what you are alleging.
vava74
March 31st, 2012
4:26 am
Najeh,
Tooooo funny reading your posts.
Tells us who is(are) your Knicks’loving friend(s) who have been grilling your patience??
You rarely lose your composure like that, even on posts where you swear there seems to be a “rev limitator”…
but not tonight! 
soullrenaissance
March 31st, 2012
4:27 am
Buddy G….CHALLENGE—-be specific here. what “certain things” have i “given LD a pass” on? on what basis d9o you make this claim? it’s not enough to make this claim just because my info
doesn’t always conform to your preferred narrative about LD. tell me specifically where you believe i’ve given LD a pass. what info am i suppressing? what truth am i not telling? what info do you believe i’m withholding? to say i’ve given LD a “pass” is a serious allegation that requires more than just a tossed-off statement like this. back up what you are alleging.
vava74
March 31st, 2012
4:30 am
On Woody and LD:
Woody is, no doubt, a class act character wise.
His press conferences and interviews were always the mark of man who looked straight into people’s faces.
However, as an HC, he was severely limited, including the fact that his stubbornness made him ignore his assistants.
Not HC material.
LD seems a lot less straightforward character wise and also very deficient as an HC.
This was basically the battle of the “perennial assistant coaches who were given HC jobs by the perennial loser Hawks”.
vava74
March 31st, 2012
4:35 am
Shorthanded as we are on the front court it is incredible how these nincompoops called ASG did not made the investment on JJ Hickson.
A guy with ATL ties who is 24 and could be our Taj Gibson and a solution going forward for us to trade Al for a high pick or other pieces and still keep some front court quality.
Sure, Hickson is still a work in progress but last night, as a starter for POR:
J.J. Hickson F min36:26 FG13-19 FT3-7 ± -5 oReb5 Treb13 Ast2 TO3 Stl0 Blk0 BA2 FL2 Pts29
Buddy Grizzard
March 31st, 2012
4:35 am
Naturally, MC, I’m talking about how you glossed over the fact that a former Hawks player called LD’s preparation a joke.
soullrenaissance
March 31st, 2012
4:37 am
Great assessment vava!
ASG settled for less because it costed less. I can admire the good qualities in Woody as a man but his flaws as a coach pushed the ASG in a corner they did not know how to get out of. LD seems like a slickster, weasel, using Woody as a sandbag. So willing to stab his partner in the back to move up. That crabs in a barrel motive probably reared its ugly head before Woody’s contract was up. something tells me he had an agenda long before Woody was let go.
Buddy Grizzard
March 31st, 2012
4:57 am
“The reason Horford tore his chest muscle is because he showed up in camp out of shape and, to play himself into shape.”
Imagine what the Hawks will look like next year if Marvin and Horford hit the weights with the same level of dedication in the offseason as Josh and Joe.
Grandad
March 31st, 2012
5:22 am
Mary Ellen
From last eve;
I do not believe Al was inj due to being out of shape.
His inj was an unusual basketball inj in any case;
sometimes accidents happen;
that`s why they call `em accidents;
not, *’`on purposes`’*.
You know I`m not trying to be a smart aleck with you;
-but-
my point is – it was a freakish type inj.
I`m not gonna debate whether or not Al was in tip top shape.
However;
I`ve seen many injuries in basketball that are almost unexplainable.
Regardless of the finest physical conditioning,
knees pop, achilles burst, one player dives for a loose ball;
a half sec sooner than another, one landing on top of the other`s shoulder,
snap, crackle, pop, goes the rotator cuff or the labrum in the shoulder
of player on bottom, even though he spent the last 7 yrs in the wgt room ?
All you do is say, praise the lord, work harder, thank God for today,
accept what life throws at you, pray for tomorrow … Amen
Buddy Grizzard
March 31st, 2012
5:32 am
Seriously… Marvin looked great on defense last night. Horford was trying to post up at the start of the season. Let those two guys come into camp in Josh Smith shape and this team can go to the NBA Finals. Bring back Ivan and this is the deepest front court in the NBA.
Joe B.
March 31st, 2012
5:45 am
“Imagine what the Hawks will look like next year if Marvin and Horford hit the weights with the same level of dedication in the offseason as Josh and Joe.”
Horford looks like he already hits the weights pretty hard. I think it was his cardio that was lacking at the start of the season, not his strength training. A lot of guys in the NBA work out regularly with weights even during the off-season. It’s the cardio that is difficult to prepare for the regular season, because nothing really gets you into NBA-ready condition other than game time, but I think a lot less players work on keeping up their cardio up during the offseason as opposed to their strength. Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s how it appears to me.
Joe B.
March 31st, 2012
6:07 am
By the way, when Al is healthy again and proves he is ready to have his starting role back, I would like to see the Hawks use a big lineup where Hinrich is replaced by Horford. The lineup would be:
PG – Teague
SG – Joe
SF – Josh
PF – Al
C – Zaza
I only see a couple of issues with that lineup. For one, I think it may be difficult for Josh to check some of the quicker SFs, so at times, we may have to put Marvin into the lineup for defensive purposes on the wing. You saw what happened tonight when he Josh was defending Carmelo at the start of the game. There wouldn’t be a lot of scenarios like that, but against quicker SFs and guys who like to run off of a lot of screens, I think we need to match up Josh with a PF instead. Also, I think Joe may be more effective at the 3, defensively, than at the 2, since he will have to do less chasing of players off of screens, giving him more energy on the offensive end. However, that can be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Now, as far as the offensive end goes. I feel like this lineup may hurt our floor spacing a bit, since three out of our five starters are basically big men who would want to operate in the paint. The only knockdown 3 point shooter in the lineup is really Joe. Teague is streaky, Josh is not a good 3 point shooter, and I would prefer for him to stay away from the 3 point line, Zaza doesn’t shoot 3s, and while Al may be able to knock down corner 3s, I really don’t want our big men falling in love with playing beyond the arc. Still, we may be able to still get away with some decent floor spacing, since Al is capable of knocking down the mid-range shot and his range is almost out to the 3 point line with that shot already. Josh is also capable of knocking down midrange shots, although at a less effective percentage. If team’s packed the paint against us, we’d still have enough shooting on the floor to counter it, and we would likely be a much better rebounding team with Josh, Al, and Zaza together.
Also, since Al can play both the 4 and the 5, and Josh can play both the 3 and the 4, we would have a nice 3-man rotation at the PF-C positions with Josh, Al, and Zaza at all times, meanwhile still being able to rest one of them while the other two are in. Plus, we still have Ivan and Marvin as quality backup frontcourt players so that we can give the starting frontcourt players more rest when necessary. T-Mac is a wildcard, but he’s also a capable backup at the 3 (possibly even at the 4 depending on the opponent) when healthy.
As far as the bench goes in the backcourt, we would have the luxury of being able to bring Kirk off the bench again to run the offense for the second unit, and we’d still have wing scorers with Willie Green and Pargo.
I like the looks of that starting lineup and bench.
Geemack
March 31st, 2012
6:19 am
MC…. What’s the status on Al? Any updates?
Buddy Grizzard
March 31st, 2012
6:21 am
T-Mac won’t be back. He’s not healthy enough to be worth the distraction. Kirk won’t be back… he’s already said he wouldn’t be opposed to a return to CHI. Somebody will offer him exception money and it won’t be the Hawks. He won’t play for the veteran’s minimum to stay here.
I hope to see Green and Pargo back. I hope to never see Collins, Vlad or Damp touch a basketball again.
Buddy Grizzard
March 31st, 2012
6:30 am
So by my calculations, the following players will not be back next season:
Collins
Damp
Hinrich
McGrady
Stack
Vlad they will probably keep, God knows why. So even if they carry 13 players instead of 15, they still have to fill 3 roster spots. Two draft picks could fill two of those. What are some good minimum salary veteran options, looking forward to next year?
Rev in Tampa
March 31st, 2012
6:57 am
“You rarely lose your composure like that, even on posts where you swear there seems to be a “rev limitator”… but not tonight!”
That’s funny. I didn’t consider I have this role on the blog.
I wish my church secretary had a “rev limitator”. She is 75 years old but was the US East Coast Supply Manager Siemens (one of the world’s largest companies) in a day when the ‘glass ceiling’ was a lot thicker than it is today. She is able to do the work of three people. She makes me look a whole lot better than I really am. And she loves me like her own son.
Some of the retired men come into the office just to sit with her, drink coffee and tell stories. They all get to cussing and laughing, but since they can’t hear real well they tend to be quite loud. I worry that visitors will come in while all this is going on and be offended.
She took me to the Hard Rock Casino for my birthday. I know nothing about gambling so she thought it was funny to corrupt me. She won me $450.
Ken Strickland
March 31st, 2012
7:13 am
What in the devil makes LD so doggone sold on the idea that JCollins is better than Dampier? When Collins is in the gm, we get killed on the OFF boards. He lacks the lateral movement, lift, and footspeed to be an effective rebounder or help defender. Dampier, in his limited opportunities, has shown a much greater ability to do all of those things, but LD refuses to take heed.
This is the same BS that both Woody and LD have suffered from in the past when it came to Bibby and Teague. I wonder how Woody felt watching Teague block shots, get steals, and blow by his players to score and dish assists? In other words, do all of the things Woody wouldn’t allow him to do. Why would a so called DEF MINDED HC keep a slow, unathletic, total DEF liability of a PG on his team, let alone play him, when he’s no longer able to score or even get off enough shots to be an OFF factor? THE LOVE AFFAIR CONTINUES!!
Josh did have trouble defending Carmelo, but who doesn’t. However, Carmelo had just as much trouble defending Josh. When they gave him help with Josh, that’s when JJ, Teague and WGreen took advantage. If not for us having so many turnovers, especially unforced turnovers, this would have been a blowout. Too many careless passes
Buddy Grizzard
March 31st, 2012
7:23 am
“If not for us having so many turnovers, especially unforced turnovers, this would have been a blowout.”
Beat me to it.
Rev in Tampa
March 31st, 2012
7:30 am
Ken,
Jason Collins has been to the finals, just like Josh Powell. They bring a winning attitude.
Dawg
March 31st, 2012
8:18 am
If we could get one more energetic wing player like Green was last night, we would be tough.
Next year, we need one more real center (tough, with defense and rebounding) and an energetic wing.
Whether Hortford is a part is this or is used to get the players is a huge question.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 31st, 2012
9:07 am
Marvin is okay at everything BESIDES:
Dribbling
Hitting open jumpshots
SteveW
March 31st, 2012
9:08 am
ATL plays Boston in Boston on April 11th.
After tonite, our schedule until then:
3 days off
H – Charlotte
off day
H – Detroit
off day
@ Charlotte
3 days off
Then Boston
Boston’s schedule until they meet the Hawks:
Miami
2 days off
San Antonio
@ Chicago
day off
@ Indy
Philly
day off
@ Miami
Hawks
If Boston catches the Hawks, they deserve to. We should have 3 W’s, no matter how bad we play against Detroit sometimes.
And the C’s run the gauntlet – the Sixers may recatch them.
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 31st, 2012
9:09 am
Meanwhile the Magic lose a 1 point game to Dallsd 10-99. Anderson misses a point blank layup, (see zaza?). J. Richardson stat line: 6 5 3 2 1. What happened to J.Rich? (he has disappeared). Lamar scores 2 points off the bench, what happened to Lamar’s game?
Great loss to help my Hawks move closer to that #3 spot. Yeah!
SteveW
March 31st, 2012
9:10 am
Knicks – Missing Amare, Lin
Hawks – Missing Al, TMac, Pargo
I thought there were supposed to be know excuses?
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 31st, 2012
9:12 am
I love Marvin’s role off the bench, awesome game for Marvin.
SteveW
March 31st, 2012
9:15 am
So the Celts play: Miami, San Antonio, @Chicago, @Indy, Philly, @Miami before they play us on April 11th.
We play, starting tomorrow: Charlotte, Detroit, @Charlotte before we play Boston on the 11th of April.
Now let’s just go beat the Sixers tonite and get some rest. The Wiz pummeled the Sixers last nite.
doc
March 31st, 2012
9:17 am
Enter your comments heredrmaryb.[*_*].
March 31st, 2012
2:09 am
The reason Horford tore his chest muscle is because he showed up in camp out of shape and, to play himself into shape. Tragic! (Mr. Omar’s voice) Just Tragic!
LinkReport this comment
sadly dmb you are sooooo wrong here as only the fittest and strongest usually get this injury or people tyat have terrible falls with an out reached arm and the tendon of tye pec ruptures. it is a devastating and painful injury that can take years to recover from completely. here is something to read up on:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/407371-torn-pectoral-muscles-from-basketball/
again aa a healer and body worker you should not be making false sratementsxas they carry more weight and you should be the most responsible here to getting tyese things right. no foundation for the accusation.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 31st, 2012
9:28 am
Go ahead and write off tonight’s 88-82 loss as “We were too tired”
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 31st, 2012
9:29 am
“Now let’s just go beat the Sixers tonite”
LOL
SteveW
March 31st, 2012
9:30 am
The Hawks next season? As it stands now:
C – ZaZa, plus two wide loads to back him up
PF – Al, Ivan, and I wish Keith Benson, who could also play some athletic C in spots.
SF – Josh, Marvin
SG – JJ, Green
PG – Teague
That’s 11 if you count the Kito deal, who GSW has now. Need a couple of backup PG’s. Hinrich, Pargo, Sloan (who the Cavs have now)? Draft pick? I know we need 3 PG’s on this team.
DraftExpress has us getting a SF from Vandy – sounds good. If he’s available, take him.
Take a flyer on Fab Melo if he drops to you in the 2nd round?
And Hawks radio has made Josh “the man”. In ads, it’s all about Josh. They really are trying to keep him it looks like.
And yeh, I could see Coach TT wanting Kirk.
Will stelten
March 31st, 2012
9:32 am
Michael Cunningham……read your last bullet point again. It makes no sense. You should always read what you write before you post it
SteveW
March 31st, 2012
9:33 am
“no” excuses, not “know” excuses – my bad
`
March 31st, 2012
9:52 am
Enter your comments here
Ken Strickland
March 31st, 2012
9:54 am
REV IN TAMPA-I know you were just kidding, but he can bring that same winning attitude while sitting on the bench watching Dampier do a better job of what he should be doing. I’d love to see us bring this same bench back, minus Stackhouse, TMac, and Collins, and draft a more athletic big.
Scooby
March 31st, 2012
9:55 am
Joe Johnson’s MVP run continued tonight?
EXCUSE ME?
THIS TEAMS MVP THIS YEAR IS CLEARLY JOSH SMITH, EASILY.
This years burst is Al Horford. easily.
darrell starks
March 31st, 2012
10:04 am
Josh 41 min
Joe 39 min
LD is not doing a good job with his rotation.
9 or 10 man rotation is a must.
look how Bulls coach rotate his players and keep everyone fresh so they can play non stop top defense, when will this guy lear. SMH
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
doc
March 31st, 2012
10:34 am
i know there are some that question my ability to reed and right but i do take the time to read the new york times every day for interesting obs on the world. i certainly dont write about them heh heh only share the ones that are somewhat on point for the blog.
here is the ny take on the game, talk about excuses for getting whipped:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/31/sports/basketball/new-york-knicks-versus-atlanta-hawks.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120331
enjoy as the new york times is going to require payment now after ten articles per month read from their site. talk about arrogance and taking something away free? oh the humanity!
Snoop Dogg
March 31st, 2012
10:39 am
ONLY A FOOL WOULD PUT AL AT THE POWER FORWARD OVER JOSH….
SMOKE WEED EVERY DAY. JOSH IS OUR TEAMS STARTING POWER FORWARD WHY START THE LOCKER ROOM FIGHTING ALL OVER AGAIN?
This bull about putting low scoring no defensive al at the Josh’s position is idiotic. The object is to put you best team forward… not to find a position for your favorite player.
Who cares whether Houdini Al makes it back for the play offs. He disappears in the playoffs and is injury prone. We get his 12pts and 8 rebounds from ZaZa and Ivan. So Al is not needed and will never be the power forward that Josh is.
He was lazy in the off season and his Injury was because he speed rushed his self into shape. His game is 1 dimensional and he is the Hawks laziest defender in the post by far. Ivan proved that. There is no why this jerk should even be on the team next year.
Al is trade bait. The team plays better without him and he no longer fits. He is not going to play Josh’s position so forget that
Snoop Dogg
March 31st, 2012
10:41 am
There is no way this jerk al should even be on the team next year.
Snoop Dogg
March 31st, 2012
10:46 am
Ill take Amare over Al and Lin Over Tmac and Pargo….
Didnt Amare Punk Al last year… call him out and then Punked him?
But then Al Doesnt like playing defense anyway
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 31st, 2012
10:52 am
The Tea Party!
Hey Rev in Tampa, great story about the tea party At the church. Better turn those hearing aids up – heh! LOL
__________
Hawks win a great game, I’m happy. Hey Al my friend, get it shape and get well soon. We miss you on the hard court. See ya next year – buddy.
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
10:54 am
najeh,northclyde or whoever does anyone know the hawks attendance the year after they took the celtics to seven games and where they ranked?
also was somewhat suprised there were more empty seats for a game like that. was the game sold out. although it wont happen, hawks knicks would be a pretty good series if they meet in playoffs.
i think outside of celtics,heat,bulls hawks can beat anyone else in the playoffs in the east
Rufus1
March 31st, 2012
10:58 am
Woody the fake defensive coach…and NO-OFFENSIVE COACH
Toney Douglass is sitting on his bench and he plays 2 of the oldest and slowest PG’s in the LAND….
That only proves that Teague would never receive any real playing with him as the coach….And BIBBY would still be on this roster.
When the playoffs come the KNICKS will get destroyed, because they don’t have the kind of offense to win against good teams…….
YOU CAN’T WIN IN THE PLAYOFFS WITH AN AAU OFFENSE.
Rufus1
March 31st, 2012
11:01 am
Woody as a defensive coach….HA
We ran the same play for Willie and he made no adjustment…..
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
11:04 am
rufus woody said last night he is going to play toney douglas bu to be fair dantoni dint play douglass after lin came into the picture.
rufus who is expecting the knicks to do anything in the playoffs?only chance they have if they get the sixth seed or 4th to avoid bulls or heat
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
11:11 am
the knicks play better defense this year because they have better defensive players such as shumpert and chandler. even melo has played better d. they wont do much this year lot of banged up players but next year they will probably better with full season
shumpert looks like a solid player. ny has some decent young players shmpert, fields lin even harrelson novack can shoot
BIG DOG
March 31st, 2012
11:12 am
Snoop Dogg- Don’t you no weed is a curse and have the brain malfunction upon imprecating of evil spirits.
STOP SMOKING WEED BRO.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slimjr
March 31st, 2012
11:13 am
Fire Buddy…………….
BIG DOG
March 31st, 2012
11:16 am
Hawks have a chance when Horford come back, plus going back two a bigger line up with Josh at the 3 and Joe playing the 2 will give the Hawks a better chance in the playoffs.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
March 31st, 2012
11:20 am
Teague, Joe, Josh, Horford, Zaza
is a better lineup.
Teague, Hinrich, Joe, Josh, Zaza.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Rufus1
March 31st, 2012
11:27 am
brigadierjerry,
Woody is a “defensive” coach…Dantoni isn’t. He benched Douglass because he couldn’t run his offense, Woodson doesn’t have an offense. Also, Douglass is a better offensive and defensive player than BDavis or Bibby, they are better PG’s….Woody doesn’t need a real PG, he runs ISO 80% of the time.
PS. Davis, Bibby and Shumpert ran the point last night(71min, ONLY 6 ast)….2 defensive liabilities and Douglass= Shumpert as a PG…..Asking BDavis or Bibby to Guard Teague, looks like DEJA VU.
phil
March 31st, 2012
11:35 am
Back a winner – support Mercer.
DawgNole
March 31st, 2012
11:39 am
doc
March 30th, 2012
11:55 pm
dawgnole and others, the atlanta fan is a dying breed, especially in big games like tonight. the fan is almost extinct from where i was standing. there were 4 to 5 knick fans there to the 1 atlanta fan. 2 minutes left a stream of orange and blue was heading to the exit. yes, i was childish enough to ride them and wave them home. the atl fans there at the end were not enough to give these guys credit for a very well played and hard fought game.
jeff teague was almost flawless, marvin working, green playing his best impersonation of flip and jamal but under control and smart, jj dealing and josh pretty much doing his thang and only getting frustrated minimally. but yes, i am fed up with the atlanta sports fan as i dont see them there when they should be.
now about those “loose thumbs” and it relates to my first tirade. man, if my thumbs got loose in there i would have had my phone easily knocked from my hands. those fans were streaming everywhere and not paying attention to me as big as i am. they were in throngs buying and supporting the basg at the concession stands moving in huge masses through the concourse which were thriving tonight as no other night i can remember this year. this is what it used to be like for big games only there were morw atl fans there. now, not so much.
go hawks! 0-45!
______________________
Take another look at your last statement: “0-45!” That’s the reason I can’t blame ATL fans for their apathy. And that’s just the Hawks. Remember, 154 seasons w/ONE championship (’95 Braves). UNacceptable.
I was just “joshing” you about those loose thumbs.
Guido
March 31st, 2012
11:41 am
Great lineup and great win
DawgNole
March 31st, 2012
11:43 am
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 30th, 2012
11:51 pm
“Half game behind Indiana, 1.5 games behind Orlando, and two games ahead of 7 seed Philly. Tomorrow’s game is huge. Win tomorrow and you can almost ensure that you won’t be playing Miami or Chicago in the first round.”
Not really. We still have to play Dallas, LAC, Boston (twice I believe), the Knicks again. Nothing is a sure bet, especially with this team
_________________
“Nothing is a sure bet, especially with this team.”
Very, very true.
Slimjr
March 31st, 2012
11:48 am
Rematch: 4-22-12 @ Phillips! Amare’ and Lin should be back by then…
Al should not play this year..Besides he said he’s going to play down in some Dominican pickup league this Summer.. Good luck…
Guido
March 31st, 2012
12:00 pm
Atlanta needs to believe and support this team there are worst franchises in the NBA. Atlanta fans don’t know when they have something good. When it becomes really bad like the Braves Falcons and Hawks were until this point in recent history fans cry just to make the playoffs. Stop being so fair weather and wishy and washy. I get the impression Atlanta fans want to be bandwagon and front runners like the Knicks and Heat fans. Atlanta should be more like OKC, San Antonio, Golden State and even Portland. The latter are 2 franchises who have had worst luck than Atlanta in recent years. Their fans still come out and support.
Hawks are a pretty damn good team!
Indiana has 0 rings, Orlando 0, NJ 0 rings, Toronto 0, Memphis 0, Utah 0
Guido
March 31st, 2012
12:03 pm
We are going to need everyone for the postseason Hawks fans. Horford included! This team if they want to win will figure out how to play together.
BIG DOG
March 31st, 2012
12:05 pm
Slimjr- I have bad news for you if Horford not return this year look for and early first round exit.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 31st, 2012
12:06 pm
“Rematch: 4-22-12 @ Phillips! Amare’ and Lin should be back by then…”
Amazing that game is on National TV and they couldn’t get this one on (although we are allergic to winning games that are on National TV).
Hopefully by then we have solidified a playoff seed (we play the Clipps and Mavs after that game…ouch) and can just rest guys. Let Amar’e and Melo showboat. That team is going nowhere.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 31st, 2012
12:07 pm
Nobody on this blog has any idea how this team plays tonight.
We could win (extremely unlikely), we could lose by 6 (88-82 is my prediction), or we could lose 109-80. Who knows?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 31st, 2012
12:08 pm
All I’m saying is this team picks certain nights where it blatantly does not show up.
hawkville
March 31st, 2012
12:10 pm
good game, need this game tonight
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
12:11 pm
slimjr, i know u are ny native like me but i never heard u like the knicks before recently what changed
O'Brien
March 31st, 2012
12:23 pm
FTPB,
Section 303,
Would have been more interesting if the NYT had interviewed Teague about Woodson..
From a nytimes article written 2/21/12.
“My rookie year, Coach Woodson told me I wasn’t going to play, straight up,” Teague said. “That was just how he worked. So I respected that.” .
I dont think Teague would say much negatively about Woody, but I don’t think he cares much for Woody.
O'Brien
March 31st, 2012
12:24 pm
Brigadierjerry,
whoever does anyone know the hawks attendance the year after they took the celtics to seven games and where they ranked?.
If I’m not mistaken, Hawks ranked 20th with 16,750 per game, despite also going 31-10 at home that season.
O'Brien
March 31st, 2012
12:26 pm
Good win for the Hawks. And that is how you shut up the fans of the opposing team.
With Green’s performance last night, we dont have to hear Rod talking about how much we miss Jamal
That being said, for the Hawks to win in the playoffs, Green and/or Pargo will have to come up big.
Snoop Dogg
March 31st, 2012
12:27 pm
Little mutt I see you are an Al Horford Nutt hugger, but the reality is (something your delusional as s wont address) Al is not as good a power forward as Josh, not even close. So why weak the hawks both offensively and defensively Just so your favorite player can play?
This is Josh’s team and the offense (and defense too) runs through him and Joe.Al is a non factor and is out of place on this team
Putting Al at the 4 or 5 would weaken this team. Keep Zaza at the 5 and Josh at the 4. Thats our best front court. then Ivan is the first off the bench and Al is trade bait.
Now get back in your kennel.
Snoop Dogg
March 31st, 2012
12:29 pm
Zaza
Josh
JJ
Hinrich
Teague
our best team
DawgNole
March 31st, 2012
12:31 pm
Will stelten
March 31st, 2012
9:32 am
Michael Cunningham……read your last bullet point again. It makes no sense. You should always read what you write before you post it
________________________
Agreed.
Snoop Dogg
March 31st, 2012
12:31 pm
Teague aint that good who cares who he hates ? Hes just a cut above a bench player
Buddy Grizzard
March 31st, 2012
12:34 pm
“Nobody on this blog has any idea how this team plays tonight.”
Remember when Lou Williams said “somebody was going to lose two in a row tonight and it wasn’t going to be us?”
Hawks too passive. Only 1.5 games out of third… they need to make a stand and say we have to get this win.
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
12:35 pm
is atrocious for attendance after an exciting playoff series against the celtics
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
12:39 pm
obrien,
thanks for the attendance numberd. why wasnt any buzz for the hawks the following year after the celtics playoffs? that is suprising to me. i didnt realize it was so bad
Dawg
March 31st, 2012
12:45 pm
That reminds us how clueless Woody was as a head coach. We had horrible point guard play and he told a young and promising PG, you are not going to play.
Larry would not have either except for injury.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 31st, 2012
12:45 pm
““My rookie year, Coach Woodson told me I wasn’t going to play, straight up,” Teague said. “That was just how he worked. So I respected that.” .”
WHY?!
Woodson didn’t even win one 2nd round playoff game here. None of our Playoff losses were remotely close at all. He was a regular season coach. I am pretty sure he used THE EXACT SAME STARTING LINEUP all 4 games in that disastrous Orlando series.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 31st, 2012
12:46 pm
Yeah this post-game blog seems anemic given how big this game was. No comments on LD ducking out after the game? Tyson vs. ZaZa? The refs? The atmosphere?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 31st, 2012
12:48 pm
“Zaza
Josh
JJ
Hinrich
Teague
our best team”
IDK about that. Hinrich hasn’t been that good.
Last night, Willie was a a REALLY GOOD VERSION of what Flip Murray was for us. He was killing it.
LOL @ NYK’s PG situation. Better hope Lin gets healthy because those are guys are garbage. Teague should’ve owned B.Diddy last night but didn’t drive much.
BIG DOG
March 31st, 2012
12:52 pm
Stup Dogg Please stop smoking weed.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
prison mike
March 31st, 2012
12:56 pm
Rumors of Al already working out. He had surgery on Jan. 18 so April 18 spells 3 months of recovery time.
I’m expecting game time in the last few regular season games to lift some spirits. He should come off the bench with Marvin, Pargo, Green, and Ivan until he’s ready full time. This is a second unit that should be competitive at the very least.
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
1:12 pm
jeje,
i dont think the knicks will do much this year yesterday was a good win for the hawks. i asked others but maybe can answer me why was the attendance the year after that celtics series not good?i thought it wouldve created some buzz but it seems it hasnt.
zsa zsa outplayed chandler. joe did his thing. smith had his moment but he was doubleteamed harkd. knicks pg outside of lin is iffy but i dont expect much from them ths year
BIG DOG
March 31st, 2012
1:15 pm
prison mike if Horford comeback and he is healthy he started from day 1.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Just Joe
March 31st, 2012
1:30 pm
ZaZa should get an extension this offseason. 3 yrs with 10% raises each year. That would be roughly 3 yrs $19M while he’s 30-32 yrs old. That puts Joe, Al & ZaZa expiring the same year, 2016. I think ZaZa is very comfortable in Atlanta, and would sign a deal like this.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 31st, 2012
1:50 pm
“i dont think the knicks will do much this year yesterday was a good win for the hawks. i asked others but maybe can answer me why was the attendance the year after that celtics series not good?i thought it wouldve created some buzz but it seems it hasnt.”
Because we have no exciting players on our team.
I would like to extend ZaZa also. It’s a JOKE we can’t offer Smoove an extension because of how we treated the situation 4 years ago. ASG should be banned from the NBA for their incompetence.
High-sider
March 31st, 2012
1:51 pm
Rev in Tampa
March 31st, 2012
7:30 am
Ken,
Jason Collins has been to the finals, just like Josh Powell. They bring a winning attitude.
__________________________________
No, they [Jason Collins and Josh Powell] bring plates, knives, forks and spoons to the “gravy train.” These guys are just along for “the ride” and “free meals.” They are not “difference-makers” to me.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 31st, 2012
1:52 pm
ZaZa plays hurt.
Guys like T-Mac and Willie just sit out and sit out. Nice Willie is finally back
TMACfan
March 31st, 2012
2:01 pm
@Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
“ZaZa plays hurt.
Guys like T-Mac and Willie just sit out and sit out. Nice Willie is finally back”
Respect what the guys have done in the past. Some of their bodies can’t hold up like they used too.
TMACfan
March 31st, 2012
2:03 pm
Any of you guys remember that Josh Smith dunk against OKC?
How is it only #8?!
http://www.nba.com/dunk-ladder/index.html
doc
March 31st, 2012
2:09 pm
o’b as i wrote yesterday, teague followed jj, josh and marvin to give hugs to welcome woody back as they were taking the floor to start the game, marvin in warm up since he was not starting. the only long standing hawk with woody history there was zaza, who didnt get into any of that man love. though i dont see teague as a warm guy his hug looked uncomfortable, the others genuine.
dawgnole, just joshing back at you about thumbs. big lou had already trashed it and then followed with a slight mistake he corrected. i was laughing back with him as well. look after 25 yrs the surgeon my skin is thick and i will come back with something if it calls for it, no fear.
like the woody/ld thing most want only part of the story for their anti-ld agenda maybe or to stir the pot. me, as always, i want to look deeper for the whole story, not the sensationalistic yellow journalism,easy story. why not look at why woody and or bk held ld back and if it was woody maybe wood got what he deserved karma?
ok, i think i have finally gotten the scroll thing right and it is a b!tch to do but maybe it is right. i bow in humility to you all. fck the caps.
anyway, thanks tor stooping to discuss this with an illiterate like me. heh heh
be well my friend
DawgNole
March 31st, 2012
2:16 pm
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
12:39 pm
obrien,
thanks for the attendance numberd. why wasnt any buzz for the hawks the following year after the celtics playoffs? that is suprising to me. i didnt realize it was so bad
_______________________
Because we LOST! Just like we’ve been losing when it counts for nearly a half-century. Why in the world is that so hard to understand?!
TMACfan
March 31st, 2012
2:20 pm
Anyone else notice Teague’s assist numbers the past four games?
Something like 9, 7, 8, 7. I hope this continues. The guy is developing into a stud.
DawgNole
March 31st, 2012
2:24 pm
High-sider
March 31st, 2012
1:51 pm
Rev in Tampa
March 31st, 2012
7:30 am
Ken,
Jason Collins has been to the finals, just like Josh Powell. They bring a winning attitude.
__________________________________
No, they [Jason Collins and Josh Powell] bring plates, knives, forks and spoons to the “gravy train.” These guys are just along for “the ride” and “free meals.” They are not “difference-makers” to me.
______________________
Spot on, High-sider.
High-sider
March 31st, 2012
2:25 pm
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
10:54 am
najeh,northclyde or whoever does anyone know the hawks attendance the year after they took the celtics to seven games and where they ranked?
also was somewhat suprised there were more empty seats for a game like that. was the game sold out. although it wont happen, hawks knicks would be a pretty good series if they meet in playoffs.
i think outside of celtics,heat,bulls hawks can beat anyone else in the playoffs in the east
______________________________________________________
@brigadierjerry and O’Brien
Please refer to the link below.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ATL/2009.html
DawgNole
March 31st, 2012
2:28 pm
TMACfan
March 31st, 2012
2:01 pm
@Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
“ZaZa plays hurt.
Guys like T-Mac and Willie just sit out and sit out. Nice Willie is finally back”
Respect what the guys have done in the past. Some of their bodies can’t hold up like they used too.
________________________
There’s no disrespect for what they’ve done in the past. But how is that helping the team NOW–especially if they’re hardly playing at all?
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
2:30 pm
jeje,
i think zaza gets a bad rap by some but one thing he does is his job. that is all u can ak for.
getting back to your response cause the hawks dont have exciting players which explain lack of attendance year after celtics series than that means to me some hawk fans only love star teams but again how do u explain the same problem with attendance when nique was playing for the hawks or when smith and blaylock teams? it wasnt management problem back then for lack of support. this team is flawed i dont love the coach but overal they play about what their level is. if lack of exciting player is reason for attendance then what was reason for nique or smith blaylock teams?
Sautee
March 31st, 2012
2:42 pm
“i think zaza gets a bad rap by some but one thing he does is his job. that is all u can ak for.”
Jerry, Zaza HAS been a warrior this year. We can only wish that Horford would come back and match that kind of toughness. But Zaza’s job description does call for finishing around the rim. I can count at least two games where IF he had finished a late layup, we might have won.
As it is with all the Hawks, his positives come with a caveat.
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
2:44 pm
dawgnole,
i have read your posts and dont disagree with some of what u said but my in particular was u had to have had good expectations for fan intrest the following season after that celtic playoffs as far as attendance. let me ask u when will the fan intrest show for hawks fans in ur opinon as far as attendance?is it when they get a superstar player?this mangement team and/or coach gone?winning the whole thing?making conference finals?multiple ecf or finals and/or rings?
Michael Cunningham
March 31st, 2012
2:44 pm
@Buddy: “Naturally, MC, I’m talking about how you glossed over the fact that a former Hawks player called LD’s preparation a joke.”
who? when? be specific.
let’s set aside for a minute your curious assumption that i even know that this unspecified player said this. i will instead give you some background on this topic.
an internal criticism of Woody’s tenure as head coach is that he did not spend enough time on preparation. my reporting indicates Drew greatly improved the operation in this area. this assessment was related by multiple people: Drew’s higher-ups, members of the Hawks traveling party, current and former Hawks players. they all say the same thing.
but, according to you, i’m “glossing over” the issue because a former player somewhere said LD’s preparation is a joke. if this former player really did say this, could it be that you are predisposed to believe him because it fits your preferred narrative about LD? if so, that’s fine for you (a fan) but not for me (a beat writer).
i have no agenda other than a desire to, as best i can, give an accurate, honest and fair representation of the Hawks’ basketball operation. i would fail in that endeavor if i were to report that LD’s preparation is s “joke.”
Michael Cunningham
March 31st, 2012
2:45 pm
@Geemack: “MC…. What’s the status on Al? Any updates?”
yes, in the Knicks game thread.
Michael Cunningham
March 31st, 2012
2:47 pm
@will stelten: “Michael Cunningham……read your last bullet point again. It makes no sense. You should always read what you write before you post it.”
formatting error, so your sanguine advice would not work in this case. it looked fine when i posted it but not after.
it has now been fixed.
doc
March 31st, 2012
2:52 pm
MCya think some folks hage an agenda?
doc
March 31st, 2012
2:55 pm
get your nose bloodied if you dont prepare in the playoffs for sure.
Sautee
March 31st, 2012
2:56 pm
MC, I wish your Cards the best of luck today. They have a tough row to hoe, but if Dieng and Behannan stay out of foul trouble, they have a shot.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 31st, 2012
2:57 pm
Haha, gotta remember to close those tags, MC.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 31st, 2012
2:59 pm
One thing about this game: as enjoyable as it was to get a win, it would have been a completely different game if Amare had been healthy. No favorable matchups for Joe and Josh if that is the case.
doc
March 31st, 2012
3:13 pm
teague was pretty durn good last night. if he could play at that level routinely we are a vrry tough team. let him develop a mid range shot and or three ball and he is in top caliber shelf. his defense was huge as well, like josh refs miss calls because no one else his size can do it. probsbly both were robbed last night and with josh ot meant the last few mnutes he was at center since chandler is less the offensive player melo is even “hurting” as he claims.
Buddy Grizzard
March 31st, 2012
3:18 pm
“Who? When? Be specific.”
You know as well as I do that Mitch Lawrence reported this:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/donnie-walsh-knicks-shocked-back-indiana-bird-steps-article-1.124900?pgno=1
But did you pick up a phone and call any of the three recently-traded ex-Hawks to ask if they made the comment? As you said, MC, I’m just a fan. This is your job (until the AJC starts syndicating AP content full time).
DawgNole
March 31st, 2012
3:23 pm
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
2:44 pm
dawgnole,
i have read your posts and dont disagree with some of what u said but my in particular was u had to have had good expectations for fan intrest the following season after that celtic playoffs as far as attendance. let me ask u when will the fan intrest show for hawks fans in ur opinon as far as attendance?is it when they get a superstar player?this mangement team and/or coach gone?winning the whole thing?making conference finals?multiple ecf or finals and/or rings?
__________________
I think each of the elements you listed–especially multiple rings–would boost fan interest, but I believe it’s asking an awful lot to expect a rabid fanbase here when the team hasn’t made it out of the second round in 45 years. Put a winner, and I mean a REAL winner–a championship team–on the court, and the fans will be there. That’s not asking too much after almost a half-century of futility.
Sautee
March 31st, 2012
3:29 pm
“Put a winner, and I mean a REAL winner–a championship team–on the court, and the fans will be there. That’s not asking too much after almost a half-century of futility.”
For this ownership group, it’s asking the impossible. They lack not only the skills, but the “want to”.
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
3:35 pm
dawgnole,
u think winning multiple titles would get fan intrest?u know how hard that is? it wouldnt work getting one title or a couple trips to eastern conference finals or a few finals appearances like nets did in the early 2000’s?
DawgNole
March 31st, 2012
3:41 pm
Sautee
March 31st, 2012
3:29 pm
“Put a winner, and I mean a REAL winner–a championship team–on the court, and the fans will be there. That’s not asking too much after almost a half-century of futility.”
For this ownership group, it’s asking the impossible. They lack not only the skills, but the “want to”.
______________________
I’m speaking somewhat rhetorically, Sautee, but what I said is true: Win, and they will come! Like you, I don’t figure this ownership group will ever do the right thing. All I contend (as I always have) for every ATL pro sports team–’95 Braves notwithstanding–is that there comes a time when the fans should be able to expect a champion. That time has long since come and gone in ATL. Regardless of the reason for the city’s championship drought, it has to end before we can reasonably expect the fans to roar their approval of what’s been going on here for 5 decades.
DawgNole
March 31st, 2012
3:48 pm
Enter your comments here
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 31st, 2012
3:51 pm
Egg McMuffins Anyone?
Urine-cooked eggs a delicacy in China city: ‘Virgin boy eggs’ are spring tradition in Dongyang
Fans of the dish claim it strengthens health and wards off disease
Comments (15)
By Janneke Vackerberg / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, March 30, 2012, 12:29 PM
.
.
.
Print

Qi qi hz/Imaginechina/AP
A local resident puts some eggs into boys urine in Donyang.
Ahhh, Spring.
Take our Poll
Some of us mark the season of renewal by cleaning our homes from top to bottom. Others add pastels to their wardrobe. In the Eastern Chinese city of Dongyang, they eat “virgin boy eggs” — hard-boiled eggs marinated and simmered in urine, according to Reuters.
‘Virgin boy eggs’
Would you try them?

Yes, I’m oddly fascinated!

No thanks!
Residents praise the local delicacy for its ability to prevent colds, increase circulation and boost vitality.

I’m not sure
“These eggs cooked in urine are fragrant,” said Ge Yaohua, 51, who owns one of the more popular “virgin boy eggs” stalls. “Our family has them for every meal. In Dongyang, every family likes eating them.”
Vendors collect buckets of boy’s urine from from local schools and homes in order to make the unusual broth.
Marauding horsemen killing off elephant population in Cameroon as demand for ivory grows
The eggs are soaked in the urine and then heated over a stove. Then they are taken out of the shells and put back in the urine to simmer.
Teenage nun sets self on fire to protest China: Free Tibet
It takes an entire day to make a batch, and one egg sells for 23 cents, twice the price of a regualr boiled egg.
Christian Bale in Beijing to promote his new Chinese film, ‘The Flowers of War’
“It’s so delicious that I can eat 10 eggs a day,” a woman surnamed Liu told Shanghai Daily. “I am addicted.”
Dangerous games: One in 10 toys made in China is unsafe: Watchdog
Wu Yunhua at Dongyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine told the Daily that the urine “diminishes the internal heat of the human body.”
Chinese broadcaster accused of stealing from ‘Top Gun’ for report on nation’s air force
But a traditional doctor said frowns upon the centuries-old delicacy.
Is Google+ being blocked – or throttled – in China?
“After all, it is waste from the body,” said Huang Jian, chief urologist at Jinhua Central Hospital.
.“The smell kills me,” a Mr. Li told the Qianjiang Evening Post. “I feel like throwing up at the thought of it. It stinks.”
____________
Yes, there is a reason I don’t touch Chinese Food. Thai is better, order everything steamed and always get that sauce on the side. LOL
DawgNole
March 31st, 2012
3:51 pm
Blog ate my damn post (second response to brigadier). That crap sure gets old. You’d think the technology at a major metro newspaper would be up to the task of preventing this sort of thing from happening–particularly when there’s no offensive language in there whatsoever.
DawgNole
March 31st, 2012
4:01 pm
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
3:35 pm
dawgnole,
u think winning multiple titles would get fan intrest?u know how hard that is? it wouldnt work getting one title or a couple trips to eastern conference finals or a few finals appearances like nets did in the early 2000’s?
___________________
I didn’t say winning multiple titles would be easy. I simply pointed out that it was one of the things you listed in your previous post that I felt would increase fan support. Anything past Round 2 of the playoffs–and once again, I certainly don’t expect to see that this year–would represent a significant improvement for the Hawks. Should it actually happen (yeah, it’d be a miracle), I believe you’d see a sudden and dramatic increase in fan interest. Time will tell, obviously.
Sautee
March 31st, 2012
4:25 pm
DawgNole,
Yes, the blog monster is frustrating. If I post something longer than a paragraph, I’ll copy and save it to notepad before I hit send. Saves a lot of retyping, which in my case is a real time saver.
Big Lou
March 31st, 2012
4:34 pm
“No favorable matchups for Joe and Josh if that is the case.” Najeh
Actually, the New York defense is better without Amare–matchups or not.
Michael Cunningham
March 31st, 2012
4:48 pm
@Buddy Grizzard: “You know as well as I do that Mitch Lawrence reported this”
i see. . . . a four-sentence blind item in a Mitch Lawrence Daily News NBA column. at least that explains why i never saw it. certainly he was spot on about LD’s alleged lack of preparation leading to a Hawks loss in a sweep. it’s a credit to Hawks players that they were able to win in spite of their lack of preparation.
but, i digress. thanks for bringing this item to my attention. now that i see it, i must admit that i agree with you: i should try to flush out Mitch Lawrence’s anonymous sources until i arrive at the correct conclusion about LD. (dang, i just saw Mitch last night, what a missed opportunity.)
that’s certainly a better approach than doing independent reporting. this stuff I’m saying about talking to knowledgeable people with differing agendas and perspectives and whose trustworthiness i can judge because of my dealings with them? that’s all just a smokescreen for my “glossing over” and “giving LD a pass,” transgressions that have rightly earned your rebuke.
my apologies.
DawgNole
March 31st, 2012
5:03 pm
Sautee
March 31st, 2012
4:25 pm
DawgNole,
Yes, the blog monster is frustrating. If I post something longer than a paragraph, I’ll copy and save it to notepad before I hit send. Saves a lot of retyping, which in my case is a real time saver.
______________________
Thanks, Sautee. I do copy most of my stuff before posting. What happens is that I’ll get on a roll when everything’s posting w/o a problem. Then I’ll get complacent and forget to copy one–and that’s when it vanishes. Gr-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r!
ag
March 31st, 2012
5:12 pm
MC, I noticed JT is not being as aggresive anymore. Last night Chandler switched on JT TWICE in the same sequence.. yet he did not take him to the whole? I am a big JT fan, but he appears to be wearing down. I think this kid should score at least 16 ppg, but he is not being aggressive. Can you search the internet and talk to every reporter in the world – oh please ask his mom and pop before you blog the correct answer…. Thanks.
doc
March 31st, 2012
5:12 pm
MC is sure good with words. he must be a real writer. heh heh
Sautee
March 31st, 2012
5:12 pm
“it’s a credit to Hawks players that they were able to win in spite of their lack of preparation.”
MC, I hope you realize that your sarcasm might be lost on some. I can already see this being copied and posted as your true opinion, lol.
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
March 31st, 2012
5:16 pm
“Last night Chandler switched on JT TWICE in the same sequence.. yet he did not take him to the whole?”
Took him to the part?
ag
March 31st, 2012
5:23 pm
“yet, he did not take him to the hole.”
Honestly, since he has had a couple of really bad falls (I think the Phoenix game) – JT only drives a couple of times a game. He has scored 20 or more points six times this season, but none since 2/4. It looks like he is hitting that rookie wall..
ag
March 31st, 2012
5:40 pm
Wow, flashbacks of Mr. Ballard at East Atlanta High School (Dept of Unintended Irony) – why did I know that typo would come back to haunt me….. Imagine – one area that Doc and I are the same!
donte080
March 31st, 2012
5:41 pm
Alot of you clowns b!tching and moaning about hawks attendance need to get a life. They put a good product on the court, just as good if not better than Braves & Falcons.
Mr Cunningham, don’t listen to the gossip mongers, keep up the good work.
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
March 31st, 2012
5:44 pm
ag,
It’s all in fun, hopefully. After all, I acknowledge right off the bat that it is “unintentional”.
doc
March 31st, 2012
5:53 pm
what sautee take something out of context or maybe a reporter somewhere talks to a disgruntled player that has an axe to grind and reports it from 870 miles away?
donte080 i was bitching because i was at the game and felt like the lone ranger, no custer, no davy at the alamo. it was awful and cudos to the team for making them go home early, except traffic was worse than usual. just a terrible vibe there, turrible.
doc
March 31st, 2012
5:56 pm
ag, are you talking about Doc Rivers? if not but me, DUI leaves me alone for the most part. probably feels sorry for me.
doc
March 31st, 2012
5:58 pm
so, i guess then,” unintentional” unintentionally hurts peoples feelings then? so sad.
doc
March 31st, 2012
5:59 pm
maybe teague only took him a part then? heh heh
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
March 31st, 2012
6:01 pm
“Something like 9, 7, 8, 7. I hope this continues. The guy is developing into a stud.”
He was a major reason we blew the Milwaukee game. 7 turnovers I believe
doc
March 31st, 2012
6:05 pm
yeah gmjeje, the cool thing for him as a hawk is he fessed up to it and was totally accountable saying he needed to do better. wish that could have been the mo for this team thru the years rather than the vet bibby line, sometimes you have bad games. other than that one blow out teague has been pretty stellar and was last night, making baron look very old and complaining about his injury.
doc
March 31st, 2012
6:24 pm
teague 53 assists 21 to in last seven games. almost 8/3 split with 12 of those to’s in two games where he got 14 assists. so almost flawless in the other 5 games. plus his defense has been full of effort and his offense was superb last night, heady.
mean time i got a head ache, nash is already talking about going to miami.
brigadierjerry
March 31st, 2012
6:28 pm
jeremy lin out 6 weeks torn meniscus
drmaryb.[*_*].
March 31st, 2012
7:07 pm
Jeremy Lin is out for the season with a meniscus tear. He opted for surgery and will be out for 6 weeks. His season is over. The Knicks are done, so how will this affect the Hawks ? If at all, since they are behind us in the standings.
They are dropping like flies towards the end of this brutal season. Hopefully, our team will continue to heal. Looks like TMac really did quit on us, this guy is so surly, Tracy reminds me a lot of Christain Laettner.
Cut him and, let’s move on yawl.
Sautee
March 31st, 2012
8:10 pm
Gee, I wonder why MC’s not around?
DawgNole
March 31st, 2012
11:06 pm
donte080
March 31st, 2012
5:41 pm
Alot of you clowns b!tching and moaning about hawks attendance need to get a life. They put a good product on the court, just as good if not better than Braves & Falcons.
__________________
As if that’s saying something.
O'Brien
April 1st, 2012
3:08 pm
From hoopinion (after last night’s game);
Joe Johnson: Hawks players still do not know their roles. Joe Johnson’s role is to score more than 15 points.
Marvin Williams: After his nice game against the Knicks, he led the reserves in this game with 27 minutes. But he was not the shot maker Larry Drew was looking for as he hit only 1-for-4 on threes, 2-for-8 overall and finished with 6 points.
Ivan Johnson: This game featured some promising developments. Despite the short rotation, Jason Collins did not see the floor. Ivan Johnson scored 7 points on 3-for-5 shooting and pulled down 6 rebounds in only 16 minutes. He was the only player with the right combination of size, strength and foot speed to slow down Brand. During his first appearance, spanning the first and second quarters, the Hawks outscored the 76ers 16-8 and Elton Brand did not score.
However, on a night when the Hawks only went 8 players deep, Ivan only played 16 minutes..
O'Brien
April 1st, 2012
3:48 pm
For those who haven’t seen it;
http://theclassical.org/articles/the-josh-smith-question/
O'Brien
April 1st, 2012
3:48 pm
Boston (without Ray Allen) taking it to Miami in the 1st quarter.
Najeh,
I dont think the Hawks want any part of Boston in the playoffs.