Atlanta Hawks: More to Stevenson than SpongeBob socks

jgsbirds

November 21st, 2012
2:51 pm

the way i see this one going is like this:

wizards control tempo and game thru 3 quarters or so and the hawks struggle to get the lead. midway thru the fourth the hawks make a run and instead of putting a lesser opponent away early at home–this one goes down to the wire with the hawks winning by single digits. i’ve seen this game a million times with the hawks and the falcons.

i hope i’m wrong and we blow them out by halftime–but don’t count on it!

go hawks!

- dude nailed it!

• Link
• Report this comment

ag,

Don’t forget Sweet Lou. He was the worst tonight.

• Link
• Report this comment

Good win tonight but we beat the worst team in the NBA by one point.

FIRE LD

• Link
• Report this comment

Get Off!

Yawl need to stop breathing down Josh’s back and GET OFF his sacks. Josh is the face of this franchise AND heart & soul of this team. Without Mr. Smith, The Hawks are NEVER even in this game at the end. Kyle Korver;s talents make Joe Johnson an after thought … no more ball pounding on the perimeter looks great. Kyle looks like Reggie Miller running around the floor out there.

Allow this team that I LOVE to find their own mettle and gel together. We have only seen 10 games so far. If anyone had predicted a 6-4 start to the season, I would have taken that line.

Welcome to the post – Joe Johnson Era!
Enjoy the savings!
Keep the popcorn popping!
Stop all the teeth gnashing!

Let’s Go Josh & The Hawks!

• Link
• Report this comment

Welcome back Chris…Happy Thanksgiving to you and happy thanksgiving to all fellow AJC bloggers.

• Link
• Report this comment

glw,

Normally I’d agree with you about having Lou on the floor, but he was a real liability last night. Plus it was Devin that hit the two huge free-throws at the end to tie it up. Devin had a good game last night even though he did not finish at least one fast break lay-up.

• Link
• Report this comment

Vav74, Al’s disappearing act in 4th quarters is not an aberration…Hmmmm

• Link
• Report this comment

FTPB

Rim Rocker

November 22nd, 2012
8:54 am

“Horford 1 for 10 on free throws? He easily could have cost them the game. Is he related to Shaq?”

Lets see: The math says 10% [Free Throw] shooting from your AllStar. Just Brutal! I believe Shaq shot higher? Hehehe

• Link
• Report this comment

@Rev

I’m not saying in some instances you don’t have Devin out there. But LD simply goes one extreme or the other rather than mixing a little of all 3. End of NBA games are mostly iso plays and Lou is your best. As bad as he was going, I think Hawks win with Lou on the floor down the stretch because it limits Osh long range shooting at the end of games.

• Link
• Report this comment

Korver is probably having a blast.

Contract year, he is starting, good minutes, and playing well.

I hope he stays with us in future years.

Happy Thanksgiving

• Link
• Report this comment

At the beginning of the season, I really liked the Hawks roster. I think Ferry made every move correctly when assembling this roster. I just thought ultimately our defense would be our undoing. However, after the first 10 games our defense has played surprisingly well, but its the offense that is not performing up to standards. We just have too many guys not performing up to their capabilities right now….Josh is shooting only .427 from the field, Lou is .398, Devin Harris is .392, not to mention Al’s FT percentage is 50 percent and Josh is at 40 percent. Too many guys have not gelled in this offense. I will say guys like Korver and Ivan have truly blossomed in this offense, and I hope the rest will be on the same page soon. Once Lou, Devin, and Josh start heating up, and IF we can continue to play this type of defense, I can see a 3 or 4 seed going into the playoffs, just as I predicted before the season started.

• Link
• Report this comment

In case you missed it FTPB, here is Al Horford’s little brother getting an eyeful of one of the Hawks cheerleaders.

• Link
• Report this comment

2 FOR JOHN DREW

I highly respect you as a poster / blogger;
but on the DHoward idea,
`tis just fine for those who wish for him to come back.

Myself; I`ll leave the recruitment to DFerry;
if and only if he chooses to make Howard a priority.

My thinking remains the same:
DH is a narcissistic stat stuffer who has less impact
on today`s game than five yrs ago.
His health remains a question and his “act”
just ain`t worth the $ nor the bother.

2 for JD …
if he`s your guy though, I support your idea.

• Link
• Report this comment

BIG IVAN FOR PRESIDENT

• Link
• Report this comment

“obviously they won in spite of LD and his bizarro substitution patterns”

For once I have to agree with Najeh. I don’t have a problem with LD’s coaching in this game. He stayed with Teague in spite of his non-existent defense on AJ Price because the Hawks were outscored by 19 with Lou Williams on the floor. He went to Devin, who had one of his better games as a Hawk, down the stretch and left Lou on the bench. He also didn’t play Ivan again after the Hawks were outscored by 13 points in only 6 minutes of Ivan on the court.

It’s not LD’s fault that Horford missed 9 free throws and Teague allowed dribble penetration on every possession that AJ Price brought the ball down court.

• Link
• Report this comment

We should really look to Denver as a team we could trade with to start building toward next year. They have their two big men in McGee and Koufos and aren’t looking to add anymore salary with Lawson and McGee contracts kicking in and Iggy’s extension coming up in the near future.

We could send Zaza and Stevenson over to Denver and get back J. Hamilton and Mozgov. Hamilton has shown to be a pure scorer and a decent rebounder in limited minutes (3 RPG in 12 MPG) and Mozgov is just kind of sitting there with George Karl playing favorites. They are also thin at SG position and 3 PT shooting and Stevenson could come in and help that along with Zaza being another big body in case McGee/Koufos goes down. Mozgov is also up for a contract extension and I know they don’t want to pay a guy who they can’t find minutes for.

Bottom line they get two expiring contracts to help ease their ever growing cap and two guys who can help push them farther in the playoffs for this season. We get Hamilton who can come in and start at SF or come off the bench as a pure scorer, along with Mozgov a big body 7 footer who rebounds, blocks shots and can run the floor and use him moving forward in the future.

• Link
• Report this comment

We have a solid foundation right now, minus Josh Smith. We must move Josh Smith while his stats are trending upward….Josh Smith should net us a solid veteran and a 1st round pick(not-lottery protected).

• Link
• Report this comment

I would not be surprised to see Danny Ferry trade Al Horford either. I am not sure that his play warrants his $12mill/per yr salary? I would rather have 2 good players at $6million each that will give you the same production.

• Link
• Report this comment

“I am not sure that his play warrants his $12mill/per yr salary?”

Al Horford was ranked #30 this year in NBA Rank. Here are the salaries for players 31-40 rounded to the nearest million:

31. Josh Smith $13m

32. Rudy Gay $16m

33. Joe Johnson $20m

34. Zach Randolph $17m

35. Roy Hibbert $14m

36. Joakim Noah $11m

37. Luol Deng $13m

38. Eric Gordon $14m

39. Danny Granger $13m

40. Stephen Curry $4m

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8398070/2012-nba-player-rankings-31-40

As you can see, Horford’s contract is a bargain compared to the 10 players ranked after him except Joakim Noah and Steph Curry, who will make over $10m a year starting next year when his extension kicks in. This is known as the Stephen Curry Discount since he would have made more on his extension if not for his injury history.

Plainly, obviously, Al Horford has one of the most reasonable contracts in the NBA.

• Link
• Report this comment

Overall bad game by many Hawks. They will play to the level of their competition. JT0 needs to step up because K Walker is having a really good year. Still waiting for breakout game for him. This is a very big game for the Hawks because the Bobcats are playing well.

• Link
• Report this comment

82games suggests that Stevenson is defending both the SG and SF position at an avg clip. He doesn’t appear to be a problem unless LD goes back to playing him 25+ minutes a night.

That site also shows that Kyle Korver is a beast at SG, but is somewhat of a wash at SF. It favors the Teague, Korver, Smith, Horford, Pachulia lineup because of its emphasis on rebounding, and that group grabs over 55% of all potential rebounds (which is really good). Memphis’s starting 5 grabs 53%. Lakers are 51%. Knicks and Clippers are under 50%. IMO though, for this group to work, Teague would have to turn in to a 20-pt scorer, and we’d need to address the second unit, which would be very small.

One disclosure on the rebounds, Hawks haven’t been on the floor together nearly as much as other teams. Our 5-man unit has been together less than a third of the time that Memphis’s has been on the floor together. Sample size could definitely be a factor.

• Link
• Report this comment

That would allow to use DeShawn sparingly, keeping him fresh and ready to deployed only when strictly needed.

Morrow would provide minutes and fire power at SG and SF depending on need if KK and/or Lou were cold.

Lou should NEVER play PG.
Josh should NEVER play SF.
Horford should SELDOM play PF.

Damion James would provide the hustle and the rebounding that we need to start games and set the tone.

No specific need for him to log 30+. On or around 20/24 mpg depending on production should be enough.

• Link
• Report this comment

Vava, Al is CLEARLY a better player than half the players I listed. NBA rank is a collection of opinions. There’s mine. What’s yours? Are you trying to say Horford is not a top 40 player in the NBA and thus not worth his salary?

• Link
• Report this comment

ag, vava74 is another of the psycho Hawk fans who wishes James was on the team.

We need one more big and a SF and we’re in business.

• Link
• Report this comment

I guess my last post should have included we should pick up E. Curry. I also like James, and if he were on the team, I would want him to start.

• Link
• Report this comment

Wow you found a pic of Stevenson hitting a 3?? The Pacers game musta been the last time he hit one because hes a brick machine to me. Looks like a mini J Smooth throwing up brick after brick out there. Man our offense would be so much better with Morrow on the court!

• Link
• Report this comment

JaeEvolution: “Stevenson could help denver with 3 pt shooting” …. What… have u even been watching the games this year?? DS has to be the WORST shooting starting 2 guard in the NBA right now! And no way his defense makes up for all the bricks he throws up while thinking hes Reggie Miller. At least i saw Morrow rip Durant twice and hit big 3’s.

• Link
• Report this comment

Interesting game. The good thing is tht guys bailed each other out. Korver wasn’t very good early but Josh and Al helped carry the early load. When Josh and Al struggled late, Korver bailed them out with the deep 3. That’s a good sign (IMO). Albeit against a pathetic team they should have defeated by 13_ points.

I hope no one is expected an easy victory tonight… Bobcats have been at least as good as the hawks in the early part of the season.

Speaking of early part of the season, so Tolliver will likely be used sparingly for 90% of this season and yet watch bloggers routinely act like he is still in the rotation.

• Link
• Report this comment

I dont know how much longer we can put up with Al horford. This is the same dude that cost us the playoff last year with 7 turnovers in the last game. Get rid of this non team player… move me to powerforward or else you wont get any defense from me at center jerk .

Al is a Jerk and the sand bag that is holding this team down ….

Trade his sorry ass as soon as possible or as many has suggested Amnesty his ass

• Link
• Report this comment

Just Joe, this is what makes the GM role so much fun (and so stressful). Howard is about as decisive as a 7 YO girl… do you let deals go by that will surely upgrade your roster (but not deliver a true superstar) on hopes that you can land a true superstar in the summer?

• Link
• Report this comment

Punnany Jones. [D~W] or anyone else:

Please explain in detail the nuance between “small forward”
and “power forward” or the [2] as opposed to the [3].
Remember I said `nuance’ … not … well;;;
one guards KG and the other guards LBJ.

Seriously;
there is so much talk, even stats [above] *(82games.com),
differentiatiating KKorv one from the other.
When really it`s all about match-ups. *[Off & Def]
*of which each coach controls.

Once agin;
I think Al should play short-stop, and Josh should be the punter.
It`s just a name for a position – right ?
Oh yeah … KKorv oughta be our DH.

• Link
• Report this comment

Grandad…”all about matchups” is the same thing we’re saying by labeling Korver, or Josh, as a 2, 3, SF, PF, etc… We’re insinuating that Korver impacts the game more when he’s in a lineup with 3 bigs. Or Josh performs better or worse (depends on who you ask) when he’s the 2nd or 3rd big on the floor. Call them whatever positions you want, but for the most part, we’re talking size & offensive/defensive roles.

• Link
• Report this comment

“DS has to be the WORST shooting starting 2 guard in the NBA right now!”

He is shooting 35.3% from 3 this year. That isn’t setting the world on fire but it is not bad. There’s nothing special about Stevenson, but based on what he did last year he has exceeded expectations.

• Link
• Report this comment

^hard not to believe that James couldn’t have helped. Whatever.

• Link
• Report this comment

Now, tonight is typically the kind of game where our frontline players will not show-up. I am interested to see how much interest they have in playing the Bobcats. Do they play down to the level of their competition? Kemba Walker will probally go 20pts and 15assists 2-night.

• Link
• Report this comment

I watched Tolliver and have come to the conclusion that he is a Scrub. Much like Josh Powell was here, simply put, a Scrub. I do like the idea of signing Eddy Curry. Also like the idea of Benson returning. I have never seen Damian James play. I watched Benson play summer league against Portand’s Rooks
and Benson looked better than Mike Scott.

• Link
• Report this comment

Derrick Williams with the T-wolves would be an interesting player to have. The guy is stuck on their bench behind Love and Kirilenko. The former #2 pick would get plenty of opportunity on this team to play some SF/PF. His 4 million dollar salary would be easily exchangeable for Anthony Morrow’s 4 million a year. Our depth (shooters) for some of their depth (cheap size).

• Link
• Report this comment

Ivan Johnson needs to start and finish all ball games, somehow. This guy plays with more passion and a higher basketball IQ than Josh Smith, also has more toughness and passion than Horford, more athletic than Tolliver and Zsa Zsa. He needs more PT Larry Drew! Make it happen Larry!

• Link
• Report this comment

Derrick Williams= It was a good[#2] pick!

He could instantly give us 5 more wins…

I believe some of us are being a little hard on AllStar AL. He’s doing the best he can do. He just has quite a few limitations with the tools that he has. I may go out on a limb and say he’s giving it all he’s got?

• Link
• Report this comment

GAME THREAD BEGINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FRIDAY NIGHT 11/23/12

THIS TURKEY WAS GOOD TONIGHT!!! Hmmm Good!

BTW, Nimbers is BACK!!!! Go Hawks!

1st! Thank you

• Link
• Report this comment

Nice layup by Horford!

• Link
• Report this comment

Man the Hawks look rusty!

• Link
• Report this comment

osh giveth and osh taketh away..

• Link
• Report this comment

Josh with a made 23 footer? Oh boy?

• Link
• Report this comment

Al with 6 pts. in 6:30mins

• Link
• Report this comment

Al with 10 pts in 8min. It helps he’s playing against a smaller front line now…

• Link
• Report this comment

Horford going for 30 tonight.

But he’s 1 for his last 11 from the line.

• Link
• Report this comment

Hawks should win this game by 25-30 points… Al has no one to stop him tonight..He should drop 35

• Link
• Report this comment

Al with 14 in 950

• Link
• Report this comment

Horford is killing them in the paint this 1st qtr….

• Link
• Report this comment

Keep feeding Al inside..

• Link
• Report this comment

should

• Link
• Report this comment

1-11? What gives?

• Link
• Report this comment

northcyde,

Your boy, Joe Johnson, is playin’ right now against the Clippers.

• Link
• Report this comment

Tom Heisohn: What a Homer…

• Link
• Report this comment

The Bobcats PA announcer sounds like he belongs at the circus.

No game thread? So if Vivlamore is chillin’ he doesn’t have a backup?

• Link
• Report this comment

Wow josh let a rookie take him like that…learn some post up moves mr smoove

• Link
• Report this comment

Al playing maybe his best game of the year.

• Link
• Report this comment

That jumper for Teague has gotten so much better.

• Link
• Report this comment

this is the Horford we need every game

• Link
• Report this comment

Horford appears not to be intimidated? No interior “D” for the Bobcats..Al should go off!

Dream on if you expect that every-night..

• Link
• Report this comment

So who was the shooter at Vandy, Taylor or Jenkins?

• Link
• Report this comment

Josh for the Love, why are you shooting step back 20 footers??????????????????????????

• Link
• Report this comment

Smh just horrible…meltdown

• Link
• Report this comment

Coincidence that the Bobcats started cutting into the lead right around the time Lou came in for Teague? I don’t think so.

• Link
• Report this comment

Lead goes from 14-6..Thanks Larry. Lets shoot for another overtime game against a hot mess opponent…

• Link
• Report this comment

I still hate LD’s rotations and he is determined to play Lou at pg although evidence shows he isn’t one.

• Link
• Report this comment

Josh: 1 rebound (0 offensive)
Mullens: 5 rebounds (3 offensive)

Bobcats are outrebounding the Hawks by 2 overall and by 1 offensively. Hawks are winning at nearly every other phase of the game. Like I was saying earlier in this thread, rebounding is the difference between this team being slightly above average and being one of the best in the conference.

• Link
• Report this comment

“Like I was saying earlier in this thread, rebounding is the difference between this team being slightly above average and being one of the best in the conference.” – Najeh

Co-sign, though it hurt that Zaza only played 3 min. Still, against this team we should win the boards.

• Link
• Report this comment

Larry is a AZZHOLE the offense looks horrible with Lou back in.LD will never learn.

• Link
• Report this comment

Josh has got to stop standing around on the perimeter! He looking for the long ranges shot..Teague is ignoring him..good…

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff Teague should be playing 35-42 mins a night!

• Link
• Report this comment

Teague is becoming a beast….

• Link
• Report this comment

Al is having an unbelievable game. It helps that they are getting him the ball in that mid-range area where both his shooting and passing ability are threats to the defense.

• Link
• Report this comment

Carmelo for 3? bang!

• Link
• Report this comment

The Bobcats announcer is agreeing with everything Stephanie Ready is saying… He’s kissing up to her and I don’t blame him….LOL

• Link
• Report this comment

Al & JT play good together.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ms. Ready is a players coach!

• Link
• Report this comment

MKG reminds me a little of Al as a rookie — fundamentally sound player who goes hard 100% of the time, but isn’t quite sure of himself offensively yet. He’s going to be good.

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff Teague is the Hawks best guard by a long shot!

Sessions with 17 off the bench

• Link
• Report this comment

Lou has been struggling for the past 3 or 4 games…

• Link
• Report this comment

Keep the ball out of Josh’s hands unless it is a slamdunk. He cannot make anything beyond 5 feet.

• Link
• Report this comment

Get Jeff back in there!

The lead is going Bye Bye

Al with 22

• Link
• Report this comment

Josh SUX

• Link
• Report this comment

Lou williams…

• Link
• Report this comment

Al get some lift in that flat footed shot dude!

• Link
• Report this comment

Larry Drew would like to keep it close Hawks fans….

• Link
• Report this comment

Yea that crowd got pretty loud

• Link
• Report this comment

Good play Zaza

• Link
• Report this comment

…..?
Blog beef?
Lol

• Link
• Report this comment

Great play Larry!

• Link
• Report this comment

Unfortunately, Larry will not play Jeff Teague for an entire 4th quarter.. Does he ever?

• Link
• Report this comment

Wheres Jeff Teague?

• Link
• Report this comment

This game would be a blowout already with Teague out there!

BTW Josh has nothing tonight…

• Link
• Report this comment

Ramon Sessions is doing what Lou is supposed to do — make his living at the foul line.

• Link
• Report this comment

I don’t like this lineup

• Link
• Report this comment

Can Teague come back in now…

• Link
• Report this comment

Ferry can’t you see how dumb Larry really is.

• Link
• Report this comment

Where is Jeff Teague??????????????????????????????

They’d be up by 20

• Link
• Report this comment

Let’s face it LD does not want to see JT become a star.

• Link
• Report this comment

On a per-minute basis Zaza has been the MVP of this game. He has made a play damn near every possession he’s been on the floor. I don’t think LD can possibly take him out the rest of this game the way he is playing.

• Link
• Report this comment

Where is Jeff Teague??????????????????????????????????????????????????????

• Link
• Report this comment

Josh has a 50/50 chance of making a layup.

• Link
• Report this comment

Larry shut the fk up with your dumb whistle & put JT back in the game.

• Link
• Report this comment

Larry would rather lose the game than let JT play big minutes.

• Link
• Report this comment

Take Lou out and put Kryle back in the game

• Link
• Report this comment

BravesFan79 will be pleased to know that Stevenson is 3/6 from 3 tonight.

• Link
• Report this comment

Lou with the nice block…

• Link
• Report this comment

And just as I say that a big block by Lou

• Link
• Report this comment

Teague has not been very good since coming back in. I’m sure sitting out for nearly an entire quarter didn’t help.

• Link
• Report this comment

LD not using his rotations correctly allowed the Bobcats back in this game….

• Link
• Report this comment

Joe Johnson: 7/10 shooting, 14 points, 2 turnovers, and nothing else in 28 minutes. No rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, or free throw attempts.

• Link
• Report this comment

Nice pass by Josh

• Link
• Report this comment

JT wouldbe crazy to come back here next year.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mr Horford!

• Link
• Report this comment

Rocket scored 72pts in the 1st half against Woody Knicks…Ouch

• Link
• Report this comment

Hawks are the hottest team in the league right now!

• Link
• Report this comment

Nice win before a big game with Clips tomorrow.

• Link
• Report this comment

Gray game Al & JT.Larry deserved to lose this game.

• Link
• Report this comment

Great win Hawks, and let’s hear it from all of the loud mouth HORFORD HATERS who filled the blogs earlier with all of the TRADE HIM NOW, or HE’S A LIABILITY, or WE CAN’T WIN WITH HIM AT CENTER BS. Horford has done nothing but show extreme professionalism and consistency in the way he plays the game. Coaches appreciate those qualities in a player, which is why he’s an All NBA and 2 time Allstar.

Don’t hate or criticize him for being the player he his, but hate the fact that certain other players lack the maturity and consistency to match is production.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ken, tomorrow’s blogs will be filled with the Josh haters.

• Link
• Report this comment

26 and 13 against the Clippers? Now that would really impress..

• Link
• Report this comment

Devin even rocking the throwback Luda porkchop sideburns smh

• Link
• Report this comment

Great game for Al & JT, as well as Zaza (in his limited minutes). However, I wonder nobody noticed Al had a broken jumper in the last two games. If I am not mistaken, all his midrange jumpers were missed. This must be fixed somehow, sooner is better though…

• Link
• Report this comment

That’s why his shot is catching front rim..Or left rim at the line..

• Link
• Report this comment

Hey Sautee, I already qualified the too much hand quote!!!!! Heheheheheh

• Link
• Report this comment

Woody down 27?

He probably kicked the lawn chair?

• Link
• Report this comment

The Clippers will smother Al’s jumper. Their bigs are very mobile..

Pick and roll, or slip the screens and roll in for layups and dunks all night…

But Al and Josh have to go quick!

• Link
• Report this comment

So Memphis has defeated the Spurs, Clippers, Knicks, and the Lakers?

Have they surpassed OKC? Will they be in the WCF this season? Wow!

• Link
• Report this comment

Memphis lost to the Clippers, and beat OKC.

Our top two free agent choices for next year both had bad games tonight, Dwight especially. Anytime you play 40 minutes and grab only 4 rebounds as the best big man in the game something has got to be wrong, not to mention he was limited again in shot attempts like in Sacramento.

• Link
• Report this comment

Al horford is so much bettert then Josh. not even close.

• Link
• Report this comment

Just saw it. Guess the avg defense against for the knicks is going up steadily. Oh the humanity. Really 28? If the hawks get trounced like that which cricket chirps first to get rid of LD?

Which cricket was chirping how bad the hawks would be and how bad a defensive coach LD is during preseason? Hate it for ya. What were the stats Najeh was pointing out earlier?

Kidd doing his best bibby impersonation?

• Link
• Report this comment

I dont know what you guys are seeing that makes Teague so much better than Harris. They’re both very quick, but Harris attacks the basket harder, passes better, his shot looks better, and he can actually knock down clutch free throws. He’s also made an all-star game.

Teague doesnt automatically deserve more minutes than Harris. It should be whoever is hot on the particular night or at that point in the game. Harris averaged 16.5 PPG the final month of last season. Please stop writing this man off as a scrub.

• Link
• Report this comment

Slim,

Knicks took 39 3pt-FG. 39! (although they made 17). And how does a team score 103 pts, but only 3 players in double figures?

• Link
• Report this comment

*I think Al’s FT against Boston would have tied it…

• Link
• Report this comment

4-12, 5 TO’s 2 stls 2 blks and 8 assists are the stats on the “Smoove”. LD did the right thing and let him rest on the pine the majority of the 4th quarter. The danger with the “Smoove” is that he learns slow. I will say that he is giving the ball up to the guards more and passing up on some of the shots that are out of his range but he still has a prob letting the game come to him.
His team mates are beginning to play around him which has everyone moving, maybe this wanna be star is beginning to get the message who knows. His stats speak for themselves and on a nightly basis he is not as consistant as he needs to be. Al is playing, JT is finding him and the “Smoove” could be such an asset if he just played ball. He really needs to understand that his game is not outside but inside. Somebody pass that on. The game was entertaining and fun to watch, go HAWKS.

• Link
• Report this comment

MOOKIE BLAYLOCK-What are you smoking? JTEAGUE/DHARRIS

FG% 48.7/39.2% FT% 94.1/66.7, 3PT% 38.9/33.3, RPG 2.6/1.9, APG 6.4/2.3, SPG 1.6/.8, PPG 13.3/6. Now tell me, what do you need besides a higher basketball IQ to think Devin is a better PG than Teague and deserving of more mins?

• Link
• Report this comment

This game is exactly what everyone was waiting for. Horford had a blow out game and now the “Hawks don’t need Josh” chants start. And vice versa. It is true that, together or separate, they will not lead us to the ECF let alone the Finals. However, they can work well off of each other and that’s about it.

Our schedule has been favorable. But we have beaten a good Thunder team and a decent Indiana and Portland team. Looking ahead, our schedule shows promise. Our hardest games will be pretty much the whole month of January and March.

Here’s a question though. I find myself really bored watching the Hawks. Even when we are winning, has anyone else gone through this?

• Link
• Report this comment

I like Teague and Harris, I’m just saying that whoever gets more mins between the two should depend on which ever one of them is having the better game. This gap between how good Teague is and how much a bum Harris has become isn’t neatly as wide as many like to make it seem. It’s not like Teague possesses some special skill set that Harris doesnt also have. I think Harris has more stones than Teague in the clutch though.

• Link
• Report this comment

Whether you want to admit it or not, Teague turned out to be a very valuable player we acquired for free (draft) and that is rare for this franchise. He also has become a very valuable trade chip should it ever come to that.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1419628-tracking-the-jeff-teague-prigress-the-atlanta-hawks-have-been-waiting-for

• Link
• Report this comment

I’ll let Ken beat you over the head with stats — all I’ll say is, watch the game flow. When Teague is in, the Hawks build and maintain leads. When Teague sits, the other team eventually gets around to making a run. LD has experimented with playing Harris and Lou together with the 2nd unit to try to mitigate Lou’s inability to play point guard and it hasn’t really worked.

In terms of quickness, Harris is close to Teague’s equal. In terms of drawing fouls, Harris may be slightly better, in large part because Teague doesn’t really know how to sell contact as well as Harris yet. In man to man defense, both have had ups and downs. When it comes to everything else — passing, setting up teammates, shooting, forcing turnovers — Teague has been far better than Harris.

Even when Harris was an All Star he was never a great shooter or passer — his game was mostly driving inside and drawing fouls at a higher rate than nearly everyone else in the league. Never a high assist or high percentage PG. Teague’s eFG% and assist rate this year are both better than Devin’s in his All Star year.

• Link
• Report this comment

And here is Harris’ All Star season compared to Teague’s season this year. Harris’ only real edge is FT attempts.

• Link
• Report this comment

Imagine Asik on this team. He would finally give us a defensive presence in the middle and let Horford be the soft stretch 4 that he is.

• Link
• Report this comment

Anyone who thinks Harris is in JT’s class is either very stupid or crazy,JT is way better &he is on the way up while DH is on the way down.

• Link
• Report this comment

I don’t know why more people don’t see the value in this kid, he doesn’t even play in Denver though I can’t really fault them because Denver has good centers, but he can be really good if given a chance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMNF-FqCh2A

Blocks shots, rebounds and runs, mid range shot.

• Link
• Report this comment

Hawks are the hottest team in the league …. GO HAWKS …… and take all of us w/ you lolol

• Link
• Report this comment

Jae I think you are onto something here. Mozgov is way more offensively polished than Asik. He’s just not as strong and doesn’t have those quick feet that make Asik such a force on defense. But you’re right, Ferry could pick Denver’s pocket on this one. The Carmelo trade almost didn’t go through because the Knicks didn’t want to include Mozgov.

• Link
• Report this comment

This is good stuff Jae… I didn’t realize he was going to be a FA. I’m excited about this. Question is, do we still try to sign Zaza if we steal Moz.

• Link
• Report this comment

As is Dalembert.

• Link
• Report this comment

As is Brandan Wright.

• Link
• Report this comment

DeJuan Blair.

• Link
• Report this comment

JJ Hickson.

• Link
• Report this comment

Out of that entire list, Mozgov is the most likely to deliver bang for your buck. Jefferson and Pekovic are going to demand high salaries. Mozgov could probably be had for Asik money.

• Link
• Report this comment

doc sounded like he was having an existential crisis:

doc

November 23rd, 2012
10:32 am

• Link
• Report this comment

“I doubt a cheap owner goes far into the tax.”

Clippers are one of the most profitable NBA franchises. Sterling has the money laying around. Now that he finally has a decent team, I’m sure he has no problem spending. What was the point in spending on a lottery team?

• Link
• Report this comment

I was very surprised to see JT0 played less than 30 minutes again. With the flow of the game, I really did not have a problem with LD’s substitutions.

Mookie Blaylock said the big FT’s Devin scored against the Wiz. I do believe JT0 was in the same situation earlier this season. Also, JT0 leads the team in FT %.

At this point of the season, what we said in preseason in coming to fruition.. the loss of JJ was offset by the return of Al Horford. Korver/Lou > Marvin Williams. What has not materialized is Josh and JT0 having better seasons than last year.

• Link
• Report this comment

Another problem that a feel is coming to fruition is our SF. Stevenson logged 37 minutes last night. He did finish with some Marvin like nimbers, 9 pts 6 rbs. So since he will not play tonight, I guess LD will go with the big lineup. Problem, I guess Tolliver will get burn….

• Link
• Report this comment

Get a grip on the PERFORMANCES from last night, we just beat the BOBCATS for crying out loud! Not like they are the HEAT or THUNDER or CELTICS!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Once Chandler got in foul trouble their defense vaporized…

Oh the Humanity!

• Link
• Report this comment

If Larry would allow his best guard to play 40-45 mins per night this team would win at least 50 games.

• Link
• Report this comment

Does anyone have a favorable opinion of kawhi Leonard? I think the Spurs forward could be a very good addition in Larry Drew’s offense. Strong ball handler, defender and can get himself own shot.

• Link
• Report this comment

“How do you spread the floor with Smith, Horford, and Pachulia all around the basket?”

D-I-L-E-M-M-A

• Link
• Report this comment

@ Keith

Can we say NO!

• Link
• Report this comment

So you want a Pau Gasol and yet you get mad with an Al Horford the logic on this blog is sometimes leaves me baffled.

So say we trade away a Josh Smith for Gasol what happens if he goes Jon Konack 2 on us?

Plus on top of that why do you want to get redundant on the offensive side of the ball if people didn’t like Horford for what he does do we want a mirror image?

• Link
• Report this comment

While we sit here in ATL and go back straight into the lottery where we were from like what 1999-2007

• Link
• Report this comment

Keep Devin, trade Stevenson and Smith OR Horford. Matching salaries would be an issue. Gasoline earns $19M. I think we should look at the Spurs- I believe a Teague/Harris/Leonard pairing would complement each other well.

• Link
• Report this comment

Gasol= escort service x2..

• Link
• Report this comment

Plus you run risk of injury playing that many minutes every night like you want, and again like the past 5 seasons we went to the playoffs with a Joe Johnson logged a ton of minutes what happened in the playoffs disappeared which I would except anyone to do especially at that point.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mr. Escort service:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZDwOCr2IB4

• Link
• Report this comment

So far, the Hawks have beaten teams on their schedule that they suppose to beat – execept Houston and Golden State. I would only give them one quality win against OKC. Losing against Miami and LAC could be expected. To really be considered as a good team this season, the Hawks have to win games against quality opponents, and tonight will be a great start.

As far as quality win for the Knicks, Miami and San Antonio. They have beaten teams they suppose to as well. They did lose to Memphis and Houston. The loss to Dallas is tough considering they are playing without their best player.

• Link
• Report this comment

HOW BOUT THEM HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

After saying repeatedly that this season was a rebuilding year, I am officially changing my mindset. I will now be rooting for the Hawks to go deeper in the playoffs and for a trade to help the Hawks at the SF.

Previously I was pinning all my hopes on the elusive ’superstar’ to join the Hawks through free agency next season.

• Link
• Report this comment

Slim Jr., both the Hawks and Knicks have played 5 opponents above .500. I will agree, the Knicks have played a tougher schedule. I doubt Amare will ever go to any All-Star games. Dirk will.

• Link
• Report this comment

It looks like LD has settled on a starting lineup and bench rotation. As a result, the team is starting to gain some chemistry and momentum. Korver knows he’ll start at SF, Harris knows he’ll start at SG, Ivan knows he’ll come in ahead of Tolliver, and Stevenson knows he’ll get mins at SG and SF off the bench. Knowing their roles and who they’ll be playing with most of the time seems to be making a big difference.

No one has come close to blowing this team out, and they are going to get better the longer they play together. They’ve actually been in position to win all but 1 of the gms they’ve lost. Teague has proven to be the best PG this team has had since the days of Mookie Blaylock, and he seems to be on cruise control. I know I’ve seen enough of him to know he could easily score more pts and have more assists if he took on a bigger role offensively.

DHarris is more like LWilliams, primarily a scorer with some PG skills, but neither is as good as team as far as being a facilitator is concerned. We can about what we expect might happen in next yrs FA all we want, but this team could be a serious player this yr if LDrew steps up and he puts more emphasis on actual DEF rather than just giving it lip service.

And once again I’ll mention what DOC said about Drew admitting he made mistake in cutting DJames and KBenson in favor of JPetro and ATolliver. James and Benson would instantly make this team taller, stronger, more versatile, and much better defensively as well as rebounding wise.

The team can certainly afford to rid itself of a misfiring 3pt shooter(Tolliver) and a total nonfactor(Petro). The youth, talent and potential of James and Benson could serve this team for yrs to come if given time and opportunity to develop. James had a preseason impact simular to IJohnson and look at how that turned out. Drew should have given James the same opportunity he gave Ivan, because he sure as hell earned it.

In order for this team to really move forward, Josh has to realize he’s not a #1 scorer and can’t be relied on to carry the team or the teams OFF load. He’s just too immature, inconsistent, and doesn’t have the OFF tools to make it happen. The sooner he realizes that, and accepts his role on this very talented and diverse team, the better off both he and the team will be.

Although he had a very solid season last yr offensively, he had a #1 scorer in JJ to releave the pressure he’s now facing. He has to realize that Horford and Teague are what makes this team go, and

• Link
• Report this comment

You bloggers [and I, for that matter,] can’t keep calling for LD’s firing [termination] if he [LD] keeps winning. This Hawks [team] is currently in the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference Standings while [also] being tied with the Nets for having the 3rd best record in the East at 7-4 [0.636] – kinda reminiscent of last season’s [standings] scenario. Simply put, LD is getting “it” done – “it” being “the job.”

Ask yourself this: How’s D’Antoni doing as the Lakers’ [head] coach so far? ‘Nough said [or shall I say "'Nough asked"].

Good job, LD – for now.

http://www.nba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Cnf.html

• Link
• Report this comment

Here’s a complement for Larry.He is starting to become one of the best coaches at calling a great offensive play out of a timeout that scores the ball with ease in seconds!

Way yo go LARRY DREW!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

@Slimjr the hawks had played the thunder, heat, rockets, and pacers(who are surprisingly disappointing this season)

• Link
• Report this comment

Derrick Williams is a Scrub!!! I do not want that dude on my Basketball Team. He has no athleticism. He is a 4 trapped in a 3s body. JUST SAY NOT TO D. WILL!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Slim, I Stacy jumper was horrible. I think Al scored on a lot of hustle points and cutting to the basket. Josh should also pattern his game the same way. He needs to stop shooting all those jumpers. No more than 3-5 jumpers from game.

• Link
• Report this comment

ag, one cannot all the time do cutting to the basket. Eventually, tems will find a way to deal with that. Being one-dimensional is a disadvantage…

• Link
• Report this comment

I hope we can re-sign Kyle Korver long term. This guy is our Ray Allen. We need to show him the money! Once we establish a player in the post permanently, Kyle Korver will flourish. He could average 18-20pts per game.

• Link
• Report this comment

Hawks desperately need good tall SF to be well balanced. Then Korver can play his SG position and be even more productive. Center position is not that urgent – it can be filled later…

• Link
• Report this comment

IMO, long term, the only players on this team who we need to keep around are Jeff Teague, Al Horford, Kyle Korver, Ivan Johnson, Lou Williams, and John Jenkins. The rest can go.

• Link
• Report this comment

I’m sure all the Jamal Crawford fans are getting wet in their undies already. Heh
lol Big Ray… the game will be packed because of JC. Maybe the crowd should sing “We want you back”

• Link
• Report this comment

The Hawks need to find a way to shut down JC1! A must that task is[yoda's voice]. Maybe zone up?

Deploy a box and one at the start of the game ?Hmmm

• Link
• Report this comment

Enter your comments here

• Link
• Report this comment

Lol@Slimjr….boy u crazy. Gonna be hard to stop Jamal…..stopping him while also dealing with CP3? We might need some of whatever it is that Ken Strickland has to remain positive….

• Link
• Report this comment

^fan

• Link
• Report this comment

HahaHa Big Ray.. Yes the plate is full tonight for sure..Think about it, KenS. has been extremely positive frrom the word go about this franchise! I give him a lot of credit and yes he’s beat my azz up on here a few times so I respect his input even more…LOL!

• Link
• Report this comment

I was a little skeptical about this Asik-Mozgov comparison, but there is more to it than I previously thought. They are pretty similar across the board, main difference being that Asik is a significantly better rebounder. Mozgov isn’t going to be the defensive difference-maker Asik is, but he can definitely make the kind of leap Asik has made if he is given more minutes somewhere.

• Link
• Report this comment

Big Ray, you are talking right things of course, but then what would be your starting frontcourt? Who you think should start 2night? I cannot get it from your last post…

• Link
• Report this comment

Slimjr,

I hear ya, bro.

LD still doesn’t know what to do with Josh, and it shows.

I know we have guards/shooters and what not, be we have to establish an inaide presence. Josh trumps Al in this department… when he can get it in his head to stay down there for a while . Al is not as quick on his feet (but not slow)and is less elusive than Josh.

lD should be finding ways to get Josh the ball as he cuts towards the basket. Or find ways to isolate him in the post. And then he should convince Josh to keep at it. But this isn’t what LD does. Either that or Josh isn’t listening. I say it’s both, but that’s gonna fall on the coach.

Josh has one 20 point game this season and is shooting a low 42 percent. That smells of too many long shots and too few short ones. Design and decisions, I’m afraid.

• Link
• Report this comment

five mil a year bg ray. think it is a four yr contract

• Link
• Report this comment

Sameba,

Not sure there is a winning combo, lol.

I’d go big in the frontcourt early just to try and keep from getting beat like a drum on the boards. Harris at SG…he’ll be opposite Willie Green. Counter with Stevenson as soon as Jamal starts roasting Harris.

That leaves Horford on Griffin and ZaZa on DeAndre…and Smith on Caron Butler…

Or you could leave ZaZa on the bench and let Smoove handle Blake while Horford contends with Jordan while Korver gets Butler. I don’t like any of it…

• Link
• Report this comment

Big Ray:

….. I don’t like any of it…

——————————————————————————-

Precisely!!! And here we are, that was my original point

• Link
• Report this comment

Sameba,

Yeah…I know. LOL

• Link
• Report this comment

I’d rather let Horford try to guard Griffin then Josh can do what he does best, leave his man and use his quickness to challenge or try to block Griffins shot attempts on the help defense..Let ZaZa bang with DeAndre Jordan. Ivan the great will back up any of the bigs who are troubled by excessive fouls..

Let Teague play at least 42-45 mins…He has plenty in the Tank..

Trivia: Did you know that Teague can out bench AL? Hmmm.This dude is very strong. Play his azz a bunch of minutes tonight….

This will be a fantastic win tonight at Home!

• Link
• Report this comment

Jamal Crawford should be an Atlanta Hawk 2-day. Cheap a… Ownership!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Anxious to see how our frontline plays against Jordan and Griffin. IMO, Josh and Al are the keys to this game. If we rebound, box out, do not allow any second chance points, we will win this ball game. Al Horford needs to attack the same as he did against the Bobcats. No jump shots at all by Smooveless.
Stephen A Smith of ESPN stated that the Clippers are better than the Lakers right now.

• Link
• Report this comment

“Do not understand all the fascination about this below average, injury prone center Mozgov. So are those coaches in Denver so unprofessional that cannot see what a future great star they got? Amazing…”

He has suffered minor injuries yes, look at his game log he has never missed a large amount of time and even that is deceiving because he also got a lot of DNP-CD. Also George Karl has known to have a love jones for less skilled players and substitution patterns that would put LD to shame. He starts Koufos over McGee as an example and they pretty much split the 48 minutes.

• Link
• Report this comment

JaeEvolution, I always disliked the way he plays – just too slow. He is already 26, and I doubt he can improve. He is an example of useless size. There are other comparable centers available who can be had for a vet minimum. Actually, I would prefer Benson over Mozgov any day of the week…

• Link
• Report this comment

Who’s starting tonight? We should start the same group regardless of who we play, then adjust, COACH DREW. We can not always be on our heels. Be aggressive Larry!!!

• Link
• Report this comment