Game thread: Drew concerned Hawks settling for 3-pointers in transition
Vivlamore reporting from New Orleans.
Hawks coach Larry Drew expressed concern with his team’s tendency to settle for 3-point attempts in transition Tuesday.
The good news: The Hawks set a franchise record in Monday’s loss to the Rockets with their fourth straight game of at least 10 3-pointers.
The bad news: Some of the 3-point attempts are coming on the run when Drew would like to see the action move to the front of the rim.
“In transition, we have to run for layups,” Drew said before the Hawks played at the Hornets. “We can’t just run to the 3-point line. We’ve gotten in trouble a little bit with that in the past where we do have an advantage in transition and we run straight to the 3-point line and not really attacking the basket.”
Drew said that was an issue Monday against the Rockets. The Hawks had 23 3-point attempts, making 12.
“We are still trying to find a consistency in that area. We show them tape. We talk about it. We always gravitate to that 3-point line. … That will be a point of emphasis tonight.”
In the past four games, the Hawks have made 13 3s against the Pistons, 11 against the Cavaliers, 10 against the Pacers and the 12 against the Rockets.
The Hawks are seventh in the NBA in 3-point percentage at .381. They also have allowed the seventh highest opponent 3-point percentage at .377.
* The Hawks will start a lineup of Jeff Teague, Lou Williams, Kyle Korver, Josh Smith and Al Horford. Drew said there will be no limitation on Smith, who returned Monday after missing a game with a strained right hip flexor.
“He did have limitations last night,” Drew said. “He came through it and he felt fine. We are pretty much going to let him go tonight.”
* The Hawks play the final of four games in four cities in five days. I asked Drew if he thought his team was tired.
“I think we are a little tired but this is the NBA,” Drew said. “We’ve just got to suck it up. When you get to this part of the season you do get a little fatigued. You start getting a nicks, little bruises. This is where you have to roll your sleeves up and gut it out. Every team goes through it. We just have to deal with it.”
* The Hawks were without guards Devin Harris (sore left foot) and Anthony Morrow (right hip strain) who remained in Atlanta for the two-game road trip. Harris missed his eighth straight game due to the injury. Morrow missed his third straight.
* The Hawks will have to deal with the Hornets’ Eric Gordon tonight. Gordon made his season debut in the Hornets’ last game and scored 24 points off the bench. He also had seven assists and two steals.
Hornets coach Monty Williams said Gordon will come off the bench again tonight. Williams said he wants to be cautious with Gordon, who only played nine games last season and had arthroscopic surgery on his knee because of a bone bruise.
“Part of me just wants to play him,” Williams said. “I think I made a mistake last year. We didn’t know he was injured but it might have been too much. … We want to be smart.”
Drew is fully aware of the difference Gordon could make.
“He is a phenomenal scoring machine,” Drew said. “With the ball in his hands, particularly on pick-and-rolls, he can make shots, he can get to the basket and he’s strong enough to create contact and finish. He is a guy who we are really going to have to be concerned with tonight.”
- 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
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @AJCHAWKS
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
284 comments Add your comment
keith
January 1st, 2013
9:12 pm
LARRY DREW…..HIRE NICK VAN EXEL DANNY….
It appears that “HEAD COACH DREW” evWith my limited eventually figures things out, HOWVER, it takes to long…Basketball is not “Quantum Physics”. With my limited Basketball knowledege, i could have fieled a better starting group!!!
W.R. Terrell
January 1st, 2013
9:13 pm
The HAWKS will win or lose this game in the 3rd quarter
Mookie Paylock
January 1st, 2013
9:14 pm
Unless your talking rebuilding, you do not trade away your best overall player (Josh)
Najeh Davenpoop
January 1st, 2013
9:15 pm
Korver and Lou are jogging around screens like it’s a pickup game.
J.J.M.
January 1st, 2013
9:15 pm
Ewheres the agressive teague??? And people were ready to crown him
ATMAN
January 1st, 2013
9:17 pm
Out rebounded 31-23. Ivan 0 mins, huh?
JustSayinB
January 1st, 2013
9:17 pm
Danny Ferry-who to get rid of? Al Horribleford. This dude has been hanging around on this team for far too long. He hasn’t shown any growth in his interior game-uh, he has none. He has a weak a@# looking bailout set shot from the foul line if he gets to that spot-but moreoften-he just posts out higher than his position and has no back to the basket game; he never developed into a back to the basket player. He never spent the summer (even when he was well), developing an inside game. Lebron developed his. He punks out when the defense intensifies around him. Get rid of the bum. Al-you time is up in Atlanta. Danny-Keep smith, get somebody to replace Al.
MattP
January 1st, 2013
9:18 pm
Does Josh know he has a point guard on the team?
Swingman912
January 1st, 2013
9:18 pm
Teague is so inconsistent. Hopeflly with more play he fixes that
keith
January 1st, 2013
9:18 pm
Josh should have gave that ball up earlier…BAD SHOT BIG DUMMY….
keith
January 1st, 2013
9:21 pm
IT’S A MIRACLE…..WE FINALLY GET THE LEAD!!!!
Melvin
January 1st, 2013
9:21 pm
Keep balling Josh….
Najeh Davenpoop
January 1st, 2013
9:21 pm
Josh’s D has brought the Hawks back into this game and all I see on this blog are crickets.
Duluth Joe
January 1st, 2013
9:21 pm
Josh and Lou are playing two on five on offense – lol, and it is working
Swingman912
January 1st, 2013
9:21 pm
Josh getting closer to 5000 boards for career! Salute
keith
January 1st, 2013
9:22 pm
It’s a Miracle….we finally get the lead????
High-sider
January 1st, 2013
9:22 pm
Hawks finally take a (tenuous) lead over the Hornets, 57 – 55.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 1st, 2013
9:22 pm
Teague is 6 for his last 24 (25%) from the field. Vazquez is 3 rebounds and 3 assists away from a triple double. The last few games have not been Teague’s best work.
W.R. Terrell
January 1st, 2013
9:23 pm
The “Smoove” has hit a couple outside shots, he is also handling the ball as if he was the point guard, not good, not good. This game is getting scary.
Rod from College Park
January 1st, 2013
9:23 pm
If Josh was not playing we would be down by 20. Nobody else is playing any defense except Zaza.
JustSayinB
January 1st, 2013
9:24 pm
Beanhead coach and the Hawks are too cool, but not in a positive way. Al is soft as Mr. Softy on a hot summer day.
Rod from College Park
January 1st, 2013
9:25 pm
Josh plating grown man ball in the paint.
B Smoove
January 1st, 2013
9:25 pm
Hawks playing like they don’t have a passion for the game. All these rooks for NO look like they want to be out there playing, while we look tired and sloppy. That’s problem #1 with this squad; not shot selection or LD’s substitution patterns, but a lack of competitive energy on the court. If Josh would run all over the floor and focus on being an athletic beast on both ends, he’ll become one of the best players in the game all because he has a motor and drive to succeed. Time for you to fix something Larry Drew, because motivation should come from you.
Melvin
January 1st, 2013
9:26 pm
Josh is balling…
northcyde
January 1st, 2013
9:26 pm
There you go Josh . . stay aggressive.
Melvin
January 1st, 2013
9:26 pm
Bad call on Josh….
Najeh Davenpoop
January 1st, 2013
9:26 pm
On that play, Al left his man to contest the guy driving to the hoop. The guy driving passed off to Anthony Davis (Al’s man) who went up for a dunk, blocked by Josh. That’s how the “links in the chain” work. One of those links is Al stepping up to contest the ball handler. If his man gets a look because of his contest, that’s not his fault.
northcyde
January 1st, 2013
9:28 pm
People complaining about Josh and energy, when he’s shooting 50% FG, has 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks?
Melvin
January 1st, 2013
9:28 pm
4mins left in the 3rd qtr and the Hawks havent attempted any free throws
B Smoove
January 1st, 2013
9:28 pm
Seeing Smoove with 17/9/3 and 4 blocks in the 3rd is really nice
Swingman912
January 1st, 2013
9:28 pm
No question Smoove is carrying the team 2nite
northcyde
January 1st, 2013
9:29 pm
Another good play by Josh.
Swingman912
January 1st, 2013
9:29 pm
So the Pelicans havent fouled during a shot ONCE!?!? C’mon shawty
northcyde
January 1st, 2013
9:29 pm
And another one. Damn, what a move.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 1st, 2013
9:30 pm
Josh playing like an All Star on both ends right now. Would be nice if some of his teammates also joined the party.
J.J.M.
January 1st, 2013
9:30 pm
What a move by josh….while al doesn’t even try to block vasquez shot
Rod from College Park
January 1st, 2013
9:31 pm
“On that play, Al left his man to contest the guy driving to the hoop. The guy driving passed off to Anthony Davis (Al’s man) who went up for a dunk, blocked by Josh. That’s how the “links in the chain” work. One of those links is Al stepping up to contest the ball handler. If his man gets a look because of his contest, that’s not his fault.”
Correct. He should challenge and stop standing there looking at guys laying the ball up.
High-sider
January 1st, 2013
9:31 pm
Hawks makin’ Vasquez look like “Magic” (freakin’) Johnson. [smh]
Swingman912
January 1st, 2013
9:31 pm
Smoove balling!!! one more person steps up and we blow this game wide open
vava74
January 1st, 2013
9:31 pm
Teague has to man up and LD has to put Zaza back into the game
B Smoove
January 1st, 2013
9:32 pm
Northcyde:
If Josh Smith played with more hustle, he’d be 5 times better than he already is… And he’s already All-Star worthy!
W.R. Terrell
January 1st, 2013
9:32 pm
This is anybody’s game and I personally believe the HAWKS should have this one wrapped up.
Rod from College Park
January 1st, 2013
9:32 pm
“4mins left in the 3rd qtr and the Hawks havent attempted any free throws”
Wow. Can’t win in the playoffs like that.
Swingman912
January 1st, 2013
9:32 pm
Teague with the block on Eric Gordon. Check the High School history on those 2
Johnny
January 1st, 2013
9:32 pm
Solid quarter for Josh. Teague is terrible the last games.
Cant understand why he is thinking about a pull up 3 in the fast break. Drive to the zone and make the basket or take the foul.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 1st, 2013
9:34 pm
And with 1:17 in the 3rd quarter, the Hawks finally get to the line. Of course it is Zaza, the guy who has been doing dirty work all game long.
northcyde
January 1st, 2013
9:34 pm
B Smoove, Josh’s game IS hustle. He just doesn’t have all of the offensive skill sets to be an All-Star. And he doesn’t know when to stop shooting jumpers when they’re not falling.
Josh’s problem isn’t hustle or energy. It’s being smart and making the right plays.
keith
January 1st, 2013
9:34 pm
Zaza is the only guy that we have who can do this!!!!!
keith
January 1st, 2013
9:34 pm
Kyle Korver looks happy in Atlanta….
Honesty
January 1st, 2013
9:34 pm
“Teague is so inconsistent. Hopeflly with more play he fixes that”
Teague has been playing close to 40 minutes a night with Devin injured. If anything, Jeff is gonna need to learn to be more efficient and get to the FT line. If He can’t get going until the last FIVE minutes of the game, I suspect LD will eventually go with the guards who are producing.