Atlanta Hawks: Rockets 123, Hawks 104 (updated)
Vivlamore reporting from Houston.
James Harden killed the Hawks again.
The Rockets guard scored a game-high 28 points en route to a 123-104 victory over the Hawks Monday night at the Toyota Center. It was Harden, you’ll remember, who poured in 45 points in a Rockets victory in the Hawks’ season-opener. That’s two games and 73 points.
Harden had 11 third-quarter points as the Hawks tried to come back from a 21-point deficit. It was the 13th consecutive 20-plus point game for Harden, a career-best.
“Not quite the way I wanted to finish 2012,” coach Larry Drew said. “I have to give credit where credit is due. This team is very hard for us to match up against. The fact is that they do such a phenomenal job off the dribble. We have a hard time defending this team off the dribble. They have four guys the starting lineup that can all make 3s, are all good coming off the dribble.”
The Hawks (19-10) had their four-game win streak snapped.
Lou Williams led the Hawks with 21 points. Al Horford added 18 points, including eight of the Hawks’ first 12, and 13 rebounds. Josh Smith returned after missing a game with a hip injury with 17 points. John Jenkins had 15 points, the second straight game the rookie has set a career-high in points.
The Rockets (17-14) had their two-game losing streak snapped. Carlos Delfino came off the bench with a season-high 22 points, including six 3-pointers. Jeremy Lin added 16 points. The Rockets scored a total of 48 points in the paint.
In all, the Rockets shot 55.2 percent (16 of 29) from 3-point range.
“We just had a hard time stopping them,” Kyle Korver said. “We tried a few different things on defense but they score a lot of points in transition and we didn’t get back well enough. They shot the ball extremely well. They made a lot of 3s and stretched us out and the pick-and-roll is even harder to guard. We just gave up too many things.”
The Hawks closed to within five points, 102-97, with 5:21 remaining on a Jenkins 3-pointer. Delfino then scored five straight points and Harden added a three-point play, with a shimmy following the foul, to put the game out of reach. It was part of a 21-7 Rockets’ run to end the game.
The Hawks made the run with four starters – Williams, Korver, Smith and Horford – on the bench. Drew said he briefly considered bring the unit back after the game became close.
“I was going to ride those guys because they were playing so well,” Drew said.
The Rockets built a 21-point lead in the second quarter with a 16-0 run. The streak included four 3-pointers – three straight to start the run. Drew elected not to use a timeout for the entire 3:48 that the Hawks failed to score.
“I had considered it but I chose not to do it,” Drew said of using a timeout. “I chose for our guys just to play through it. We have to get to the point where we can handle those type of situations. I had some starters in the game and there are going to be times where they are going to have to regroup without a timeout being called. At that time, I elected not to call a timeout.”
The Hawks shot just 29.4 percent (7 of 24) in the second quarter. Their one-point first-quarter lead turned into an 18-point halftime deficit of 64-46. Harden had 14 first-half points for the Rockets as Lin chipped in with 11 points and Omer Asik had 12 rebounds. Asik finished with 17 boards.
The Hawks cut deep into the Rockets lead in the third quarter and trailed by only eight points, 81-73. Williams scored 15 points in the quarter. However, the Rockets answered with a 9-0 run to regain control.
“Nights like this happen where you throw up a dud and sometimes the other team is just better than you and you have to get over it and get ready for the next one,” Williams said.
The Hawks complete a stretch of four games in four cities in five days Tuesday at New Orleans.
- Chris Vivlamore
LATEST NEWS
* Harris, Morrow not on trip to Houston
* Williams wants to remain starter
* Drew acknowledges Smith’s ‘poor shot selection’ late vs. Pistons
* Johnson doubtful vs. Cavs with stomach illness
* Drew speaks to Teague about energy level
* Hawks 126, Pistons 119 (2OT)
* Williams remains in starting lineup
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106 comments Add your comment
kevkat
January 1st, 2013
12:37 am
Buddy Grizzard
December 31st, 2012
10:17 pm
“Is the Jenkins genie out of the bottle?”
Hawks were outscored by double figures with Jenkins on the floor. Please put the genie back in the bottle.
And that was Jenkins fault? Give me a break.
Grandad
January 1st, 2013
2:00 am
Fleetwood B;
(+/-) stats are a wonderful tool…..in combinations.
Four and five man player combinations are the best way to analyze
the (+/-) stat.
Three man can be helpful but you get diminishing returns
for each player you drop after five in a combination.
Fleetwood B – mentioned ‘`is this an anomaly?`’
r e; Delfino / Hardin ?
Our five man combos suggest Zaza needs to be on the floor.
Also Josh, Al, & KKorv are integral as well.
Lou and Teaguer are virtually interchangeable (+/-)
*[in other words - roughly the same amount of favorable combos]
DSteve is another that pops up in the top 5 man combos.
Grandad
January 1st, 2013
2:55 am
JJenkins ballhandling improvement in ongoing.
Likewise, his defense.
Nunna;
I watched closely … and Teague was the main culprit,
with Lou being 2nd as far as finding JJenkins.
They have a similar problem with Korver.
My two parallel theories are:
(1) Lou and Teague are not well schooled on how to “feed”
a ” catch & shoot[er] ” e.g. JJ -&- KK
Feeding a catch & shoot guy;
the passer must deliver the ball on time *’`exactly`’*
as the shooter is ‘`coming`’ open;
if they wait until he is ‘`already`’ open then it`s too late.
-note-
“It`s not how fast you shoot the ball;
it`s how fast you get ready to shoot;
therefore a good shooter is getting *ready as he`s coming off his cut.
*[hands, eyes, feet]
(2) Lou and Jeff are primarily shot creators [for themselves].
That said – they are not as fine tuned to catch and shoot,
it makes some sense that understanding the need
to deliver the pass on time is not so urgent for them.
____________________________________________
Theories by G`Dad
Johnny
January 1st, 2013
2:55 am
Happy new year from Germany guys.
Awfull game tonight. No energy, no effort, no D, espacially in transition. While the rockets hit everything in the second quarter, Hawks are only trying hit three pointers. No one drove in the lane to took a foul and stop the run and silence the crowd. Bad decisions there.
Didnt see the second half but nice to see, that JJ topped his career high again.
Hope they will bounce back against the hornets.
Fleetwood B
January 1st, 2013
2:59 am
Thanks for the insight Grandad
Buddy Grizzard
January 1st, 2013
3:25 am
I just realized Tiago Splitter is a UFA after this season.
Buddy Grizzard
January 1st, 2013
3:26 am
Splitter would be the perfect compliment to Horford.
Buddy Grizzard
January 1st, 2013
3:30 am
Scratch that, he’s a restricted free agent. Will be receiving a poison pill offer no doubt.
JaeEvolution
January 1st, 2013
3:56 am
I can’t help but wonder if Rondo will be made semi-available if Boston continues to under-perform. Danny Ainge said awhile back he would not over-commit to that core, but it looks like he may have just done that. I know Rondo is the glue to that team but I don’t feel he is untouchable, and he and Josh did put on quite the show back in their Oak Hill days…
drmaryb.(""_*).
January 1st, 2013
4:04 am
Hey Now!
“The Rockets (17-14) had their two-game losing streak snapped… ” – C-Viv -
________
Hey! These look like ZaZa’s “nimbers” from that Pacers game. [lol]
Jamaaliver
January 1st, 2013
4:19 am
Slim,
So AL Horford exceeds his avgs in Points, rebounds and assists while shooting over 50% from the field, but you complain that he had no blocks? Seriously?
Probably cause the man was too busy doing everything else for the team. Dude needs to play his natural PF position and get a real center on the roster.
Buddy Grizzard
January 1st, 2013
6:42 am
By the way for all the Jeremy Lin haters, in two games against the elite defense of Jeff Teague, here were Lin’s numbers:
40 min 6-16 FG 2-3 3P 7-8 FT 7 AST 3 TO 10 REB 21 PTS
40 min 6-11 FG 1-3 3P 3-3 FT 8 AST 4 TO 4 REB 16 PTS
Big Daddy
January 1st, 2013
7:30 am
It seems that that Hawks, in current configuration are going to always have problems with teams that take it to the rim. That is defense. The team seems to have taken the tact that unless it is a fast break the last option is going inside. They seem to primarily become a jump shooting team and it gets notice by the announcers (not ATL) quite a bit.
@Grandad, when I read the stats, it seems that game in and game out Jeff leads the team in assists and has the top or 2nd number of dimes in the game. I would agree with you that Lou primarily creates shots for himself. That is why, to me, the team does not function as well if he is at the point. Jenkins is coming along. If he can pick up his defense, he will get the minutes. GO HAWKS!!!
ATMAN
January 1st, 2013
9:19 am
Carlos Delfino! What a pain he was last night, every time we got closer he hit a 3. Wish we would have tightened up on him. Wish LD would have mixed the lineup late after we made the run back to 5 down. Glad JJ got some more playing time, don’t understand why we don’t start ZaZa, Horford stepped up his energy for a while (his shot is better after the adjustment), we are one dimensional (jump shooting team), if shot is off we go cold, need to have more plays to the post. LD call a timeout before the game goes from close to out of hand! Can’t win them all, but our weaknesses get exposed from time to tiime. Need to move some guards for another athletic big DF.
W.R. Terrell
January 1st, 2013
9:30 am
Tonight the HAWKS play N.O. a winnable game. The lineup that started against Houston will probably be used tonight. A game the HAWKS should win by 20 at the least will be close if the “Smoove” plays his usual brilliant B Ball game. I will enjoy the game when he’s on the bench, I for one do not see him as a major catalyst but a major distraction. Watch the team, once he starts launching and handling the ball the chemistry begins to fade. Before some players pass him the ball they begin to take shots they normally would not and a lot of time players have to wind up passing the ball to the “Smoove” at the 3 point line because that’s where he lives and even if he hits the shot the intensity begins to unravel along with focus. I use to be a fan of this super athletic player but that was years ago as in his first 3 years as a HAWK, I was waiting on Mr. POTENTIAL (the smoove) to explode and then I realized all we will ever see as fans is a F I Z Z L E.
W.R. Terrell
January 1st, 2013
9:38 am
There will be no surprises tonight, a game that is winnable will wind up to be a major contest. The blame will be put on back to back games but that will not be the reality. I agree with NUNNA that JJ tends to be overlooked and with a shooter as skilled as he is I have to wonder why. It would be more feasible to overlook the “Smoove”. Speaking of the “Smoove”, I will not he is truly same ol, same ol.
W.R. Terrell
January 1st, 2013
9:38 am
There will be no surprises tonight, a game that is winnable will wind up to be a major contest. The blame will be put on back to back games but that will not be the reality. I agree with NUNNA that JJ tends to be overlooked and with a shooter as skilled as he is I have to wonder why. It would be more feasible to overlook the “Smoove”. Speaking of the “Smoove”, I will not he is truly same ol, same ol.
HawkFan
January 1st, 2013
10:06 am
Hangover chaser in hand and Happy New Year to the Hawks Blog. Don’t get to excited about last nights loss. Hawks did fight hard to make a couple of comebacks. Rockets shot the lights out and we can’t stop dribble penetration. It’s a road loss and even the best teams have them. Probably still could have won with a better night from Teague and ZaZa.
Congrats to Jenkins on another good night and he is one of the best pure shooters I have seen. However, if you are calling for him over Korver you are forgetting about the rest of the game. KK plays good defense, passes well, rebounds a little, even runs the floor. That said Morrow is almost exactly the same player as Jenkins so I’d play the younger guy and trade Morrow ( probably not for much).
keith
January 1st, 2013
10:30 am
HAPPY NEW YEAR CHRIS VIVLAMORE AND FELLOW AJC BLOGGERS….MAY YOU HAVE A PROSPEROUS YEAR IN 2013…AND MAY YOU BE BLESSED BY THE GOD MOST HIGH!!!
Slimjr
January 1st, 2013
10:47 am
Josh Smith with 4 blocks..If only he were 7′1″! Shoot….
The other Bigs:zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz [Escort Service]
BTW: Houston is feasting on Eastern Conference foes @ 11-2. Wow!
When four of five starters shoot ZERO FREE THROWS your supposed to lose big..
Slimjr
January 1st, 2013
10:49 am
doc, is it true the Falcons will host the winner of the Greenbay/Vikings game in two weeks?
Can you say payback on the National Stage for the whole world to see? Nice..
Slimjr
January 1st, 2013
10:54 am
“So AL Horford exceeds his avgs in Points, rebounds and assists while shooting over 50% from the field, but you complain that he had no blocks?”
Dude, the Hawks lost by almost 20…..Yawn…
Seriously?
Slimjr
January 1st, 2013
11:03 am
Houston proved it twice now. They attack our interior time and again and blow the Hawks out of the Gym.. Playoffs?
We need an intimidator, an enforcer, a shot changer, and blocker up in there..
NORRIS CHUCK
January 1st, 2013
11:23 am
“I had considered it but I chose not to do it,” Drew said of using a timeout. “I chose for our guys just to play through it. We have to get to the point where we can handle those type of situations. I had some starters in the game and there are going to be times where they are going to have to regroup without a timeout being called. At that time, I elected not to call a timeout.”
Larry Drew at his best folks. This guy has to be out the door at seasons end!
Slimjr,
Yep, thats what Houston does and they know it everytime they play the Hawks.
keith
January 1st, 2013
11:25 am
Slimjr
January 1st, 2013
10:54 am
“So AL Horford exceeds his avgs in Points, rebounds and assists while shooting over 50% from the field, but you complain that he had no blocks?”
Dude, the Hawks lost by almost 20…..Yawn…
Seriously?
EXCELLENT POST!!!!!
Another example that indicates “statistics” are not always reliable!!! The quantifiable numbers look great…Do great numbers matter much when you lose???
Positive Thinker
January 1st, 2013
11:53 am
Disappointing game….but when Korver only gets 3 shots off it’s a loss! Please Lou Williams pass the ball you don’t need to rack up all the points!
BIG DOG
January 1st, 2013
11:58 am
Why Zaza not starting ? HA
Coach LD, SMH
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
January 1st, 2013
12:05 pm
You need some one to bang with Horford in the paint, JUST DAM
Defense wins championship
Hawks have more shooter in the NBA than any team.
So why not starte with Zaza to help control the paint, move Josh to SF.
Your best defensive team should starte.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
January 1st, 2013
12:09 pm
Teague, Korver, Josh, Horford, Zaza
Devin, Lou, Stevens or Morrow, Ivan, Petro
Jenkins will be a special player no need to rush him now.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
January 1st, 2013
12:11 pm
Hawks might Trade Devin Harris for backup center ?
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Ken Strickland
January 1st, 2013
12:40 pm
It never fails. Whenever we lose, certain so called Hawk fans start bashing and placing blame for the loss on certain players, like Teague, Josh, and Horford. Stop being stuck on stupid and try coming to the realization that this is a team gm when all is said and done.
When we win big we do it as a team, because we don’t have a player that’s talented enough to carry a team. Correspondingly, when we lose big, we lose as a team as well. So please stop all of this stupid BLAME GM BS. We have far too many shortcomings to come anywhere close to being a dominant team.
Our OFF is almost totally reliant on the long ball, therefore we live and die by it. Last night, we were killed by it because we didn’t hit enough long balls and we allowed them to hit too many. We also allowed them to get into the lane and finish at the rim far too easily and often.
No 1, or 2, or 3 players were solely to blame for what happened. The Rockets did to us what we’ve done to other teams so far this season. We are far from being a solid team, because we simply have too many issues and shortcomings. However, LDrew and the players have done an excellent job of overcoming those issues and shortcomings for the most part to produce a doggone good and entertaining team. GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Harpie
January 1st, 2013
12:54 pm
Larry Drew makes me want to puke!
Ken Strickland
January 1st, 2013
1:00 pm
BIG DOG-I’m not so sure about us trading for a backup center. We already have the NBAs best backup center(Zaza), plus IJohnson has proven to be very effective in that role as well. DHarris is a much better backup PG than LWilliams or anyone else on our roster.
We need a backup SF that compliments KKorver more than anything else. With the emergence of JJenkins, and the flashes we’ve seen from MScott, we can certainly afford to part ways with DStevenson, AMorrow, ATolliver or JPetro. Did anyone notice that Jenkins closed out the 4th qtr playing PG?
Jenkins has proven to be as good as Korver at shooting the long ball, he’s a much better ball handler, penetrator. He has a decent midrange gm and could be a better passer and/or facilitator as well. The aspect of his gm that will likely improve the most with consistent mins will be his DEF, rather than his OFF.
I swear, we might have the most players that shoot jumpshots without doing much jumping when they shoot(LWilliams, JJenkins, AHorford, JTeague, JSmith, AMorrow, ZPachulia, JPetro).
Sameba
January 1st, 2013
1:05 pm
BIG DOG
January 1st, 2013
12:05 pm
You need some one to bang with Horford in the paint, JUST DAM
Defense wins championship
Hawks have more shooter in the NBA than any team.
So why not starte with Zaza to help control the paint, move Josh to SF.
Your best defensive team should starte.
—————————————————————————————-
Co-sign, especially to the last statement.
Sameba
January 1st, 2013
1:07 pm
And I should add word ‘rebounding’.
“Your best defensive & REBOUNDING team should starte” !!
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
January 1st, 2013
1:08 pm
DeShawn is one of my favorite players on the team, but that guy’s defense is EXTREMELY OVERRATED. He cannot move at all anymore
Mookie Paylock
January 1st, 2013
1:15 pm
Happy New Year Hawks fan
Sameba
January 1st, 2013
1:25 pm
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
January 1st, 2013
1:08 pm
DeShawn is one of my favorite players on the team, but that guy’s defense is EXTREMELY OVERRATED. He cannot move at all anymore
——————————————————————————————————————–
And it was impossible to go unnoticed when we tried to come back in the forth quarter. He came in and played a very bad D on Harden & Delfino…
brigadierjerry
January 1st, 2013
2:17 pm
High-Sider must be on cloud nine hearing stephen a smith the real one saying that he thinks the LA Clippers is going to win the NBA championship and Jamal Crawford being Finals MVP. I dont see it the Clippers or Crawford winning Finals MVP but that is just me. High Sider, I get the impression that you live in the Pacific Northwest near Portland, am I correct?
Looking at the eastern playoff rankings today, I do not think outside of major injuries to the major players, u will see it change much. maybe the 6-8 seeds change but i do not see much as far as the top change.
I would love to see a Hawks-Nets playoff matchup. That Nets team does not have any shooters that can stretch the floor. The worst thing that happened to them was getting off to their hot start. Also, since I live up north, Joe Johnson and Deron Williams have gotten a rude awakening as to expectations when playing in New York as opposed to playing in New Jersey and Atlanta. They both are getting killed in the NY media for their lack of effort and nonchalant attitude although I do think Williams isnt 100% but is not an excuse.
I think if D Ferry sees a sf he likes he will acquire him and will try to pawn off petro in addition to other players.
Regardless of what happens this season, the hawks should stay as a top 4 seed. I admit that right now I didnt see the Hawks as a 3 seed right now. I thought they would be between 6-8 now.
I would like to see in the playoffs the Hawks as a high seed beating either the Celtics, or Nets in the first round because as of now I do not see the Celtics or Nets finishing any higher than 6th.
Honesty
January 1st, 2013
2:59 pm
Sameba
January 1st, 2013
1:25 pm
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
January 1st, 2013
1:08 pm
DeShawn is one of my favorite players on the team, but that guy’s defense is EXTREMELY OVERRATED. He cannot move at all anymore
——————————————————————————————————————–
And it was impossible to go unnoticed when we tried to come back in the forth quarter. He came in and played a very bad D on Harden & Delfino…
———————————————————————————————
Yup and this is EXACTLY why Morrow should eat his minutes. ALL OF THEM!
PG-Teague/Harris
SG-Williams/Jenkins
SF-Korver/Morrow
PF-Josh/Ivan
C-AL/Zaza
Horford's Fault
January 1st, 2013
3:03 pm
Al should have blocked all of those Delfino 3 pointers. He also should have held Harden below 20.
Anyone who can’t see that loss was all Horford’s fault doesn’t belong on this blog!
High-sider
January 1st, 2013
3:07 pm
@brigadierjerry
“High-Sider must be on cloud nine hearing stephen a smith the real one saying that he thinks the LA Clippers is going to win the NBA championship and Jamal Crawford being Finals MVP. I dont see it the Clippers or Crawford winning Finals MVP but that is just me. High Sider, I get the impression that you live in the Pacific Northwest near Portland, am I correct?” – brigadierjerry @2:17pm, 01/01/2013
That was a very “bold prediction” by Stephen A. Smith but I like it. Jamal Crawford, a(n) NBA Finals MVP? Well, that may be a little bit of a stretch but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that is if, of course, the Clippers make it to the 2013 NBA Finals. For the record, I live in the Dallas (TX) metro area. (Don’t come lookin’ for me.)
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:8799066
vava74
January 1st, 2013
4:00 pm
Happy New Year everyone!
Are you shocked that we lost? Were you thinking we would finish 73-9?
W.R. Terrell
January 1st, 2013
4:05 pm
That ;loss was not big Al’s fault. Houston just whipped the HAWKS plain and simple.
Sameba
January 1st, 2013
4:12 pm
It was Mr. L.Drew’s fault. Would be good if we get rid off all the scrubs (except for Morrow) we got from the Nets and move on…
Sameba
January 1st, 2013
4:32 pm
It was known that Rockets play a very up tempo game. In his interview to our beat writer LD was saying that the key was to dictate them our own tempo, e.g. slowing them down, denying them a transition game. Now, logically thinking, how would you achieve that? In my understanding, the best way to do it was beating them on the boards, fight for every missed shot. With our present roster you could do it only when our 3 bigs play at the same time…
doc
January 1st, 2013
4:36 pm
najeh thanks ftlb info. as i asked the question wasnt sure, almost thought that was the way it went down.
didnt like much that sund said but this seemed to ring true. players come into the league ondering if they fit or belong in the nba. ifthey do it is about getting their money. then comes the desire to win a championship. he was saying it as a reflcetion on the dificulty of working a yong team like the hawks to ake them want three as much as two.
lin fits more in the first category though he got a good bit of change from houston, an organization not going to let him go a second time. lin is coming closer to the realization he belongs and he is a very good guy in that category. as he does he will get more and more confident. he is a dime maker and as he and the other players work together specifically harden they are going to be very good. for the fan, he is going to be a fantasy keeper as well. not only does he score, make assists but gets steals in large numbers, like last night coming up with 4.
doc
January 1st, 2013
4:41 pm
high sider i am retiring to specific nimbers. i still think looking at the schedule very few teams left to sweep us. bucks bother me.
dawgs did well today.
go dawgs!
go bees!
go hawks!
go falcons!
slimj, i hope you arent referring to the vikes coming here and doing what we did to them in ‘99. heh heh
doc
January 1st, 2013
4:42 pm
i hope swat man doesnt read my quick reflection on the dawgs.
High-sider
January 1st, 2013
5:13 pm
Rod from College Park (and, maybe, Najeh Davenpoop) vs. W.R. Terrell, Mookie Blaylock and keith
Topic of Debate – Josh Smith aka the “Smoove”: Should he stay or should he go?
Rod from CP, I realize 3-to-1 (or perhaps 3-to-2) is not (necessarily) a “fair fight” (or debate) but, in this case, it (the debate) would be an entertaining one.
Micheal Buffer, where ya at with the introduction(s)? [sic]