Atlanta Hawks: Video: Hawks collapse at Boston
I joined The Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan to review the Hawks’ 101-79 defeat to the Celtics in Game 4.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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251 comments Add your comment
ATL teams are 1 and done!!!!!!!
May 7th, 2012
11:54 am
If you’re like me…you love the home team. I am a huge fan of the Braves, Hawks and Falcons, but hey lets admit…When it comes to post season play we’re the worst of the worst. Is it a curse? Probably not.
Put yourself in the roll of an owner. Specifically the Hawks, because they are the current team with the struggles. What do you do to fix this team??
It’s apparent it needs help.
Ready go!
Fireld!
May 7th, 2012
12:00 pm
When it comes to coaching LD is a cupcake. Speaking of cupcakes, if you have not tried Addicakes in mableton you are not living. It’s the real highlight factory.
Rusty
May 7th, 2012
12:05 pm
We certainly don’t need KH trying to guard rondo.
the hawks is the word
May 7th, 2012
12:07 pm
I lost all my respect for al horford so bascially i’ve been following his injury status and from waht I read he could’ve came back game 2, hell he could’ve came back last month, instead he made josh, ivan, and zaza step up to the plate while he was sitting in the skybox. I say trade al in a 3 team trade involving the nuggets giving al harrington to the cavaliers and in return we omri casspi there we got a rebound/scorer and a scorer who will attack and slash off screens
the hawks is the word
May 7th, 2012
12:09 pm
here’s the trade http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=6mocorj
Eb
May 7th, 2012
12:09 pm
Steve Belkin: Your comments are right on. The problem here starts and ends with ownership. The ASG have no idea how to build and market a professional sports franchise. Upon buying the teams, the ASG were embraced by ATL fans worn down from years of corporate ownership. Years of stupid moves and “head in the sand” treatment of fans wore out ASG’s welcome and showed fans they have no clue how to build a franchise capable of winning it all. Add to it the lies about the Hawks and Thrashers being for sale and all trust went out the window. BK, Sheldon Williams, Marvin Williams, JJ, Woody, and countless retread overpaid free agent signings (ala Speedy Claxton), have thoroughly exposed the ASG’s complete incompetence. They had a chance to undue the JJ mistake when his contract ended ( and he gave the fans his middle finger), but this illustrious group instead signs him to the max NBA contract. Same situation with Marvin. Bottom line is the ASG must sell this team to move on. They’ve proven their incompetence many times over and will never be trusted in ATL again.
Bruce the Accountant
May 7th, 2012
12:14 pm
I love the Hawks! But I really wish they used more strategy. I know that during the regular season you just go out and play and the team with the better players or the one guy having a good night always wins, but it seems like when we get to the playoffs the other team is always using strategy. I wish our coaching staff would use more strategy. They should design more plays that result in points and they should come up with schemes to keep the better players on the other team from getting the ball a lot.
I also think that ZaZa should shoot more 3-pointers.
JayInAtlanta
May 7th, 2012
12:15 pm
I’ve seen the following phrase by AJC writers twice since the loss:
“they were healthier”
Come on, “healthier?” They just had guys playing who were playing hurt, because they had to play. For Smith to hit a double-double on that knee and Horford to score in double-digits with 5 boards in his first game back are efforts that demonstrate a lot of heart, but not “health.”
Drew left these guys out because they need to re-jell as a team. Game 4 was extremely important. But my personal opinion is that he thought G4 was more valuable to use as an aggressive, hostile, full-contact practice for an absolute must-win Game 5 in front of Atlanta fans. That’s fair. I can’t say I would have done any differently.
I hate it when the Hawks lose, and I triple-hate it when they lose to the Celtics. But throw Zaza in the mix for Game 5 and see what happens. Though again, you can’t expect this team to jell in 30 minutes of PLAYOFF-level basketball, and you can’t call them “healthy.”
Section 303
May 7th, 2012
12:19 pm
Isn’t it time for Bradley or Schultz to come out with an article bashing the Hawks? Surprised one is not up by now.
MJ49
May 7th, 2012
12:23 pm
LD said hes been resting his players in anticipation for a long series, Doc Rivers is countering Larry Drews strategy by trying to make this a short series, I wonder what LD told the players in the locker room, I wonder does LD know he’ll be let go if The Hawks dont come back, does Marvin know he’s getting traded or amnestied if The Hawks dont come back, does Rick Sund know he too will probably get let go if The Hawks dont come back to take this series to a game 7? I wish we had Dwight Howard!
ATL Hawks Need To Be
Starters
Jeff Teague
Joe Johnson
Josh Smith
Al Horford
Dwight Howard
Bench
Austin Rivers(Meaning wed have to move up in the draft)
Willie Green
Tracy Mcgrady
Ivan Johnson
Za Za Pachulia
Darius Miller SF from Kentucky(Our 2nd rd pick)
Jason Collins (So no one else gets him for $49 to bang with DH)
Coach
Mike Budenholzer Spurs Top assistant
With Completely New Coaching Staff
New GM
Place Name Here
New Ownership Would Be Nice But That May Be Being Greedy
LOL'ing in my office
May 7th, 2012
12:25 pm
Yes, we need a big turnaround tonight. I know if ZaZa could just make his layups we could win and carry that momentum into games 6 and 7.
If Marvin Williams can limit his turnovers to single digits and ZaZa can make his layups I really think we can go all the way.
Oh, and yeah, ZaZa needs to take more 3’s. Hahahaha. Good one, Bruce.
LOL'ing in my office
May 7th, 2012
12:27 pm
Yes! That’s it! We need Dwight Howard. He’s the missing piece. With our program in place we thrive with selfish guys who are bad teammates. If only we had Dwight Howard . . .
MJ49
May 7th, 2012
12:31 pm
Dwight was a good enough teammate to make it to the Finals, now my Hawks on the other hand…
These Hawks may only get one more game of me hoping in them otherwise bring on Angel & Iggy
Flash
May 7th, 2012
12:34 pm
Hiring Drew was a mistake the second it happen. Get a real coach with experience OR a coach that has a completely different offensive vision. Former Asst Coach Drew isn’t it. So, the first thing the Hawks need to do is fire him. Bring in an experienced coach like Jeff Van Gundy who can transform this uninspired team. Second, Joe Johnson has to go. He’s not a leader and only works in one particular offense. Trade him and cut the losses. Third, go get Deron Williams. Teague is good but the Hawks needs a guy who’s a leader, great distributor and scorer (3-in-1). Williams will keep Josh Smith from living out his point guard fantasy all the time. Teague goes to the bench and backs up Williams. Finally, let’s bring back a flexible scorer at the two. We should have never let Jamal Crawford go. He was great for the Hawks. But someone like him would work. My last wish is for the team to be sold to an ownership group that really cares. Hawks’ ownership sucks.
Dawg
May 7th, 2012
12:35 pm
I wonder how many coaches that the hawks will have by the time JJ’s contract runs out. I wonder if JJ will be any better than Bibby by the time his contract runs out. I wonder how much more the ISO Joe will slow down our offense. I wonder what minimum salary supporting cast we will have for ISO Hawks next year.
LOL'ing in my office
May 7th, 2012
12:36 pm
Yeah. We never should’ve let Steve Smith or Jason Terry go either. Yeah.
SteveW
May 7th, 2012
12:41 pm
Well in 1 piece of possible help for the Hawks, Paul Pierce is questionable for Game 5 with a knee sprain.
And Woody gets to play Bibby to his hearts content in Game 5 with Baron down it looks like.
Elf
May 7th, 2012
12:41 pm
1. FIRE SUND, DEPORT ASG
2. TRADE JOSH AND JOE
3. GET A REAL DAMN COACH.
PARADE N PEACHTREE. IT’S SO EASY A HAWKS FAN COULD DO IT, YOU SNITCHES.
LOL'ing in my office
May 7th, 2012
12:43 pm
Larry Drew isn’t a bad coach. Well, he probably is now that he is been with the organization long enough for the bad mojo to affect him. The players we havenow are good enough to win a chamionship.
LD is as good a coach as Erik Spoelstra (that’s not a punchline). The problem is that LD and Rick Sund and everyone else expects to be treated the same way by ownership whether they win or lose. They just get ignored. No demands. No accountability. No leadership. It’s time for the fans to hold the ownership accountable.
Elf
May 7th, 2012
12:43 pm
“I also think that ZaZa should shoot more 3-pointers.”
WATERBOARD YOURSELF.
Section 303
May 7th, 2012
12:45 pm
Can we just save the “Here is the Hawks new roster with my dipsh#t trade idea” posts until the season ends tomorrow night? God! Hard enough that my least favorite team is going to paste my favorite team. Now I have to watch the blog deteriorate, too?
SteveW
May 7th, 2012
12:45 pm
When Rondo plays like this, and the Celts are healthy, they are very difficult to beat. That’s why they were rolling late in the year – Rondo had hit a zone and it was just wow.
Jeff Teague, or nobody else is stopping Rondo when he’s on like this. Crazy stats for this series.
Elf
May 7th, 2012
12:45 pm
“Larry Drew isn’t a bad coach.”
YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT BASKETBALL. GO SIT IN THE CORNER WHILE THE ADULTS ARE TALKING..
preston
May 7th, 2012
12:48 pm
I expect the Hawks to actually win game 5, but it will only be a consolation win for them as they will get blown out again in game 6………series ova!
Time to part ways with JSmoove and JJ……..Marvin should have been gone yesterday. We really need a consistent combo that will win big games when we need them to. A lapse here and there is understandable, but everyone knew that when we lost game 2 in Atlanta, the series was all but over. A “gritty” performance like the Hawks had in game 3 means nothing, a loss is a loss. These Hawks, with the mentality of this bunch, would probably lose to the Lin-less knicks, the Rose-less bulls, the 76′ers, Pacers, and the Grizzlys……the only playoff team that the Hawks would beat are the Magic…….and that ain’t sayin’ much.
SteveW
May 7th, 2012
12:49 pm
Dampier has definitely shown up this series, in a lone bright spot.
Teague looked tired and ragged yesterday. I think the 47 minutes Friday, playing all 66 games, and playing against a guy who got 5 days off, is rested, and is already better than him got to him last nite.
Teague is not the reason we are losing this series however. Could you imagine Bibby or Jamal at the Point? Matador 101
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 7th, 2012
12:49 pm
I just don’t get Ivan only playing 5 minutes in garbage time? (see: No Clue Drew)
Elf
May 7th, 2012
12:50 pm
“Jeff Teague, or nobody else is stopping Rondo when he’s on like this.”
ESPECIALLY WHEN THE COACH IS TOO DUMB TO KNOW TO PRESSURE THE BBALL SINCE RONDO HAS NO INTEREST IN SCORING.
Hawks in the Finals
May 7th, 2012
12:51 pm
All we hear from players and owners is that it is a business. So I have a business plan, for every shot missed you owe the fans money. Miss a free throw, you owe us.
Loosing season – owe the venue and workers in the venue money….never make the finals…owe the venue and fans money…it’s just a business decision. NBA only plays in the fourth quarter lower ticket prices by 3/4! It’s only a business decision. It’s not personal just business.
Try this with Braves and Falcons, too! When Falcons win a Superbowl then they get a new stadium…just business.
SteveW
May 7th, 2012
12:53 pm
Keep Al back – it at least makes Boston have to account for him – Get ZaZa back – play hard, focused, and smart, and who knows – just play 1 game at the time.
Win tomorrow nite, and the pressure is def. on Boston to win game 6. They don’t want to play a game 7 on the road.
Go Hawks!!! (cough, cough, cough – We may be on our last gasp, but at least we’re still gasping)
PS – I looked at the draft for consolation and lo and behold, the Celts pick #21 and #22, right before we pick #23. Danny Ainge will probably get another Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley, while we get Pape Sy or Galdyr.
BIG DOG
May 7th, 2012
12:55 pm
Why not Arthur Blanks buy the Hawks.
Dome right across the street from Highlight Factory.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Luke Cage
May 7th, 2012
12:55 pm
Rick Sund + Larry Drew = Pure Garbage!!!
We all know that Dynamic Duo will be together here next season as well so no since in the “FIRE SUND” or “FIRE LD”, we are stuck in a rut.
Lugnut
May 7th, 2012
12:57 pm
Like it or not, better get used to watching Joe cause he’s going to be here through 2016. Spirit would have to eat at least half his contract to move him to another team. Not gonna happen! Same case with Marvin but a better chance because his numbers are smaller- $8M/year.
Luke Cage
May 7th, 2012
12:57 pm
@SteveW,
Sund will trade the pick for less value to stay under that “dreaded” luxury tax
oldboy
May 7th, 2012
12:58 pm
Different coach, same crap. Remember when LD was being interviewed for the job and he said he would implement a motion offense. Where is that now? What we got is the same old Iso Joe offense that has been killing this team in the playoffs for an eternity. He is being paid like he was the best team in the league, and he is not even Paul Pierce.
Section 303
May 7th, 2012
12:59 pm
Here is a link to Sekou Smith’s article about the Hawks. He kind of mailed this one in, if you ask me. Asking if the Hawks should “turn the page” on this core group is hardly original. Anyways….here it is, if you would like to read.
http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/05/07/time-for-the-hawks-to-turn-the-page/?ls=iref:nbahpt1
oldboy
May 7th, 2012
1:00 pm
Also first blow out of the palyoffs the same day that Al returns. Coincidence?
Count Dacula
May 7th, 2012
1:01 pm
BLAME FIRST GOES TO BILLY KNIGHT… THEN ASG… LJ and RS have to clean up their garbage!
Luke Cage
May 7th, 2012
1:02 pm
Yeah, Rondo is only intrested in assists, 3/4 of the time he’s not even thinking about scoring, get in his face and pressure him, what else you got to lose.
Hawks, GET BACK ON DEFENSE, challenge these guys man. On offense it would be nice to see more drives to the basket and looking to finish instead of weak layups, go strong and bring it down stronger and not relying on the refs to bail you out.
LD, NO WORDS, your philosophy SUCKS!!
Section 303
May 7th, 2012
1:05 pm
oldboy, I’m sure Al Horford has been the problem all along (rolling my eyes as I type this).
O'brien
May 7th, 2012
1:09 pm
Hawks might only get 3 home games this playoff season, compared to 6 home playoff games the last 2 or 3 years. Will the ASG care enough to make a change though?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it reported weeks ago that the ASG offered Rick Sund a 1 year extension, but Rick wanted to wait until the end of the season?
I think Rick will be brought back. And the 3rd year of LD’s contract will be picked up.
I think the ASG will file this under the “lost due to injury” bug. And bring everybody back.
Lugnut
May 7th, 2012
1:10 pm
Sekou’s article on NBA.com says it all.
http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/05/07/time-for-the-hawks-to-turn-the-page/
The Hawk
May 7th, 2012
1:11 pm
The Celts are more experienced, they fight, and win.
O'brien
May 7th, 2012
1:12 pm
303,
Thanks for the link. From Sekou;
How many times can you hear about a team talk about “not responding” or “we just didn’t have it” or “our energy and effort was nonexistent” in a big game situation before it sinks in?
The Hawks have dropped 12 playoff games by 20-plus points since 2008, a staggering number that does not include all of the games they lost by 16, 17, 18 and 19 points..
They’d fight back with stats of their own — such as along with the Celtics and Lakers, they are one of just three teams to reach the second round in each of the past three seasons. But that would foolishly suggest that the Hawks belong in the same sentence with two franchises that have won championships in the past four seasons.
The Celtics won it all in 2008 while the Lakers won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. The Hawks, for all of their accomplishments during this same stretch, have been escorted from the postseason in an ugly fashion each and every time, without once truly breaking through with this current core group..
kwooden
May 7th, 2012
1:12 pm
I’m already looking at Mock drafts and I like the projection of Jeff Taylor from Vandy. The knock on the guy is he can’t shoot, but he’s 6′ 7″, a great athlete and plays good perimeter defense. I’m sure he can start and we can hopefully move Marvin and pickup another SF in free agency.
kwooden
May 7th, 2012
1:14 pm
I like Sekou a lot, but there is nothing new in that article. The ASG knows that someone has to go, possibly Josh or Al, but clearly Marvin.
Luke Cage
May 7th, 2012
1:16 pm
This sums up the series right here: Celtics up over 30pts and Doc Rivers is still coaching his A$$ off like it was a 2pt game!! LD, sits there with arms crossed, no emotion, no sense of urgency stoic deer in the headlights look whistling every now and then.
Ray
May 7th, 2012
1:20 pm
This is what will happen
We will be trading Josh getting nothing in return as we all know and Marvin will leave for a bag of chips Al and Joe will be here next year, and most people that supported the two of them over Josh will get their wish granted and we will see the worse hawks team in history next year.
Ray
May 7th, 2012
1:21 pm
Oh and for the record Kirk Hinrich and T-mac will more than likely be gone they will probably find a way to trade Jeff Teague.
And in the end “We like our pieces.”
Good Idea
May 7th, 2012
1:21 pm
Right on, guys. You are really exhibiting your NBA accumen today.
Yes, fire Drew and Sund, hire Woodson and Billy Knight, make the playoffs, get blown out. Then fire Woodson and Knight and make ‘Nique the GM and make Wanda from V-103 the coach. You’re gonna be guaranteed the same result every year: lose in the first or second round of the playoffs. Then you can hire Drew and Sund back and fire them again. It’s the same thing. Until you actually get owners who care and inspire their employees no one will ever be motivated to win.
Ken Strickland
May 7th, 2012
1:22 pm
All of you with fears of Josh launching 3s at SF can rest easy, because the mismatch advantage he’d have against PPierce would force him to concentrate his OFF down on the blocks. Josh only drifts outside when he has trouble beating his defender on the blocks. Horford against BBass would give us another matchup advantage, and they certainly don’t have a SG that can matchup to JJ on the block.
I noticed down the stretch of the regular season when Dampier got some play that he actually has more mobility, rebounding ability, and does a better job of protecting the rim than Twin. He definitely gives better help DEF than Twin. We need to go with a lineup that allows us to attack their interior and force them to double team who and when we want. Right now we’re allowing them to double JJ and he’s reverted back to using ISO JOE to get involved in the OFF.
Rotating JJ, Josh and Horford on the block gives us the matchup advantage, and forces them to double the post. Because they don’t have any shotblockers, their DEF will automatically collapse into the lane to protect the rim. That would give us more open medium range scoring opportunities. We can’t expect to win another playoff gm if we insist on trying to out shoot them from the perimeter.