Atlanta Hawks: Cavaliers 99, Hawks 83 (updated)
Vivlamore reporting.
CLEVELAND — Once again the Hawks dug themselves too deep a hole.
This is becoming a bad trend – a very bad trend.
After falling behind by 19 points, the Hawks staggered home on a four-game losing streak following Wednesday’s 99-83 loss to the injury-riddled Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Hawks (20-14) have lost five of their past six. Their latest defeat came one day after the fell behind by 17 points at the Timberwolves before a furious comeback fell short. Their third-place standing in the Eastern Conference is gone. They have lost two games since having a team meeting aimed at resolving their issues of late.
Coach Larry Drew adjusted his lineup, starting Zaza Pachulia at center, but perhaps more changes are in store for the struggling Hawks.
“I’m a little concerned,” Drew said. “Anytime you go through a little bump in the road you have to look at your team, look at what you are doing and try to find some answers. We go home now and (Thursday) is a day where we are going to have to look for some answers. Maybe I need to shake up the lineup a little more. Maybe I need to do some things differently. I’ve got to do something to get this team jump started again and I will.”
The Cavaliers (9-28) won the season series against the Hawks (2-1) despite missing four players – Anderson Varejao (knee surgery), C.J. Miles (back), Daniel Gibson (concussion) and Luke Walton (personal). The margin of victory was easily the biggest of the season.
Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 33 points, 18 in the third quarter, to lead the Cavaliers. Cleveland now has just one home victory in each month of the season. Their last home victory came Dec. 11 against the Lakers.
“It’s just bad that on the streak we are going he had to have a game like that against us,” Josh Smith said of Irving.
Smith had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Hawks. He missed two free throws with five minutes remaining, one an air ball, that punctuated the loss for the Hawks. Jeff Teague finished with 15 points.
“Right now things are going too well for us,” Smith said. “We understand that. … It’s a marathon not a sprint. You are going to have stretches like this during the season. I’m just hope it’s earlier rather than later.”
The Hawks erased a nine-point halftime deficit by starting the third quarter on an 11-2 run to tie the game at 51-51. Teague scored seven of the points in the run. Up to that point, Teague had seven points and seven fouls in the past one and a half games. The rally was short-lived as the Cavaliers answered with an 11-2 run of their own.
By the end of the quarter the Cavaliers held a 14-point advantage thanks to Irving, who scored his team’s last 12.
The Cavaliers took a 49-40 into halftime as the Hawks struggled from the field in the second quarter. The Hawks shot just 22.7 percent (5 of 22) and scored just 12 points in the period. Smith and Al Horford were each 1 of 6.
“It’s hard to fall behind like that,” Horford said. “I think that for some reason or another we have really low energy as a team. I think we spend too much time trying to fight back. I don’t think it has anything to do with anything that we are doing wrong. I just think the energy is not all there. It has to be all there. All of us have to be doing it together and that’s not the case.”
The Hawks shot 68.4 percent (13 of 19) in the opening quarter. They still trailed by a point, 29-28, as seven of the Cavaliers’ 11 field goals were 3-pointers. The final long-range shot from Irving came at the first-quarter buzzer.
The Hawks attempted just five free throws in the game, making two. Drew said once again his team settled for too many jump shots.
- Chris Vivlamore
LATEST NEWS
* Drew shakes things up with bigger lineup
* Morrow out vs. T’Wolves with back stiffness
* Stevenson weighs in on back-to-backs situation
* Stevenson needs medical clearance to play back-t0-back
* Hawks wary of Pistons’ bench
* Williams to remain in starting lineup
* Behind the scenes photo gallery
* Drew named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month
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134 comments Add your comment
bamaboy
January 9th, 2013
9:35 pm
LD whether hold grudges against players instead of playing them for a win, let them know I’m the man , I’m the man . Please fire him please
cp
January 9th, 2013
9:35 pm
I doubt LD gets fired. I think Ferry will wait until the summer to bring in his guy. Lets just hope it aint Mike Brown
O'brien
January 9th, 2013
9:35 pm
If LD wants to turn around the team’s fortunes, he needs to shave his eyebrows
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
January 9th, 2013
9:36 pm
Its ludicrous to talk about firing Larry Drew only days after being named coach of the month, but it will make me feel better to contemplate it anyway.
*****
Who gives a F about COM?
Avery was just fired
Sam Mitchell was fired after winning COTY
same with Carlisle in Indy I believe
I am so sick and tired of LD
THE ONLY positive thing u can say about him is his plays out of timeouts. There is no motion offense
Al and Smoove can both leave for all I care. Smoove is just as bad as Al
LouWill83
January 9th, 2013
9:38 pm
BRANDONNNNNNNNNN JENNINNNNNNNNNNNNGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS HAHAHAHAHAH MILWAUKEE COMPLETES THE COMEBACKKKK… I JUST CANT STAND THE BULLS THEY WILL STAY AT 19 WINS THIS SEASON THEY WILL NOT CATCH US HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH…LISTEN WHAT AM I GONNA DO I GOTTA FIND SOMETHING POSITIVE AFTER THAT STINKER WE PUT UP…BRANDONNNNNNNNN JENINGS THANK U
Astro Joe
January 9th, 2013
9:39 pm
cp, co-sign your 9:35 post.
ejh
January 9th, 2013
9:40 pm
Disapponting loss. As I watched the game this team is just gassed. They are running on fumes right now. This is the third week in a row or in the last 3 1/2 weeks where the hawks have played 4 games in 5 nights. Off tomorrow, but play Friday, Saturday, and Monday, after just playing tuesday and wednesday. The schedule has just caught up to them right now. Other teams will experience the same. Hawks just have to work real hard to find a way to push through it mentally. Do not be suprised if they lose 2 out of the next 3, before maybe winning four or five in a row.
O'brien
January 9th, 2013
9:40 pm
With Bucks playing the Bulls, one of them will gain a game on the Hawks. I said 6-6 for the last 12 games was a possibility, but I was counting on a win tonight. SMH
At this rate, we could be in 6th place a week from now.
keith
January 9th, 2013
9:41 pm
Will the real Derrick Williams please stand up???
Tonight, “all world” Derrick Williams is 1-7………….2 points…lol
So many Bloggers want to trade for this SCRUB.
O'brien
January 9th, 2013
9:43 pm
With the cheerleader special on, it reminds me of another benefit of Marvin beig gone. We don’t have to watch “at home with Marvin Williams”.
High-sider
January 9th, 2013
9:43 pm
@Slimjr
———————————-
Slimjr
January 9th, 2013
9:13 pm
They don’t count seconds…Technically its tied…
time stamp says 9:04pm
Hehehehehe
——————————————
I don’t care what you say; I’m sorry but I “won” that “photo finish.” [LOL]
Slimjr
January 9th, 2013
9:44 pm
Hawks could fall to a 7th seed by the Allstar break..
Boston is going to catch Atlanta as well as the Nets.
Slimjr
January 9th, 2013
9:45 pm
Tied…LOL
Slimjr
January 9th, 2013
9:46 pm
Boston is only 3.5 games back..
Slimjr
January 9th, 2013
9:47 pm
They will win tonight and cut the Hawks lead to 3 games
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
January 9th, 2013
9:52 pm
“So how come Josh’s air ball FT gets so little mention? Is it because he “tried” to make it? If that was Al, the blog would have erupted, and said LD needs to call Al out on missing FTs.”
Maybe because Al never got to the line.
***
Maybe you’re forgetting the gazillion free throws Smoove misses in the 4th quarter when they matter down the stretch. Keep hating on Al though. He and Smoove are flawed non-leaders who should be traded
High-sider
January 9th, 2013
9:54 pm
@Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
———————————————————
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
January 9th, 2013
9:36 pm
Its ludicrous to talk about firing Larry Drew only days after being named coach of the month, but it will make me feel better to contemplate it anyway.
*****
Who gives a F about COM?
Avery was just fired
Sam Mitchell was fired after winning COTY
same with Carlisle in Indy I believe
I am so sick and tired of LD
THE ONLY positive thing u can say about him is his plays out of timeouts. There is no motion offense
Al and Smoove can both leave for all I care. Smoove is just as bad as Al
———————————————————————————————-
Winning Coach of the Year (COY) could be a sign of “impending doom.” Check out the link provided below and see/observe which coaches have been fired after winning COY. That’s why Woody didn’t want to talk about winning COY in his last season with the Hawks after being inquired/questioned by a journalist on the (subject) matter.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/coy.html
keith
January 9th, 2013
10:01 pm
If Andrew Bynum returns to Philly soon, boys, we are looking at fighting for an 8th seed, AT BEST!
HELLO NBA LOTTERY…HERE WE COME!!!
O'brien
January 9th, 2013
10:02 pm
AJ,
I wouldn’t be surprised if some of Al’s weak rebounding games occur when he plays most of his minutes at PF.
Vava, 17 and 10 so far for Minny’s Pekovich (against OKC).
O'brien
January 9th, 2013
10:03 pm
Slim,
Doctors told Woody he needs to play Amare less minutes. What’s going on in NY?
Please Answer This
January 9th, 2013
10:10 pm
Al tweaked something ? I’ll tell you what Al tweaked………..
Al tweaked his wallet to the tune of $146,000+ for just showing up via a free ride on a private jet.
This is, was and always will be Al’s sole intention. Absolutely nauseating when you really stop to think about it, isn’t it ?
W.R.Terrell
January 9th, 2013
10:10 pm
Do not expect anything different against the Jazz, the HAWKS could lose by 40. LD has lost all credibility with this team. The reason folks blame the “Smoove” a lot including me is because LD will not put him in check. The “Smoove” will block some shots otherwise his defense is porous. He will not play to his strengths and this is nothing new. How many years have you heard the “Smoove” say he will not shoot a lot of 3’s, how many years has he lied and still shoot a very poor percentage? LD has a prob putting his starters in their place and it carries over with the rest of the players. Al does things on the court that was not part of his game, bad habits are catching and it is slowly oozing into each and every players game. The “Smoove” needs to go because he is not good for the team, his bad habits are making other players not care and that is LD’s fault. The “Smoove” shoots more then any player on the team yet his production is limited. The guy has great athleticism and could be one helluva force if he had a B. Ball IQ but he does not. Things will not get better, they will only get worse as the season continues and the hopes for getting something for the “Smoove” is fading fast. GM’s are not going to spend those kind of dollars for a player who cannot play to his strengths.
W.R.Terrell
January 9th, 2013
10:10 pm
Do not expect anything different against the Jazz, the HAWKS could lose by 40. LD has lost all credibility with this team. The reason folks blame the “Smoove” a lot including me is because LD will not put him in check. The “Smoove” will block some shots otherwise his defense is porous. He will not play to his strengths and this is nothing new. How many years have you heard the “Smoove” say he will not shoot a lot of 3’s, how many years has he lied and still shoot a very poor percentage? LD has a prob putting his starters in their place and it carries over with the rest of the players. Al does things on the court that was not part of his game, bad habits are catching and it is slowly oozing into each and every players game. The “Smoove” needs to go because he is not good for the team, his bad habits are making other players not care and that is LD’s fault. The “Smoove” shoots more then any player on the team yet his production is limited. The guy has great athleticism and could be one helluva force if he had a B. Ball IQ but he does not. Things will not get better, they will only get worse as the season continues and the hopes for getting something for the “Smoove” is fading fast. GM’s are not going to spend those kind of dollars for a player who cannot play to his strengths.
High-sider
January 9th, 2013
10:11 pm
FIRE D’ANTONI!
I know – wrong blog again.
W.R.Terrell
January 9th, 2013
10:15 pm
There is one big difference between Al and the “Smoove”. Al is still coachable, the “Smoove” never was and never will be.
Duluth Joe
January 9th, 2013
10:20 pm
Another disappointing loss. No question.
I don’t understand why Larry Drew insists on playing Scott ahead of Ivan.
I feel like these last two games our rotations have impacted our play.
I rather lose with Ivan and Zaza getting minutes, than lose with three guards trying to shoot from outside.
To lose to Cavs, does it mean we are getting close to lottery land?
And please don’t give up on Teague. Not yet.
Duluth Joe
January 9th, 2013
10:22 pm
“There is one big difference between Al and the “Smoove”.
Josh can have 6 blocks a game.
Al never can.
Buddy Grizzard
January 9th, 2013
10:30 pm
“Which will get the louder cheer for Danny Ferry from Hawks’ fans:
1. Trading Joe Johnson
2. Trading Marvin Williams
3. Firing Larry Drew”
*starts planning the parade*
Slimjr
January 9th, 2013
10:31 pm
OB, we got bigger problems in Atlanta..
It looks like Larry has lost this team..They are not responding..
The Nets are responding to their new coach…[6-1]
FASCINATING
Mookie Blaylock
January 9th, 2013
10:32 pm
J-Airball and Al wh0refart must go
Buddy Grizzard
January 9th, 2013
10:33 pm
If JJ2 can’t get his shot off against the Cavs, he’s no more an NBA player than Mike Scott.
O'brien
January 9th, 2013
10:41 pm
Doc,
Being the basketball prophet that you are, what do you think the hawks record will be at the end of January? They play 11 more games, And are currently 20-14.
Grandad
January 9th, 2013
10:41 pm
W.R.Terrell
Be careful for mentioning Josh and basketball IQ
in the same breath;
because the blog PC are watching
and they know what you really mean ?
I suppose saying a player has a low B-ball IQ
somehow infers pigmentation, culture, or Jewish heritage maybe,
I do not know ?
But from now on Josh is intellectually challenged
while playing the game of basketball due to his AAU
background and probably he had a white coach once;
or something of that nature.
But, rest assured it has nothing to do with Josh at`all.
Sarcasm – You Bet !
harpie
January 9th, 2013
10:45 pm
Larry Drew is the problem! Get rid of that know -nothing coach -imitator! He knows not what he’s doing…
KevinM
January 9th, 2013
10:45 pm
Wanted: a coach that will not just tel us what he needs to do…..he will actually follow through.
How much Phil?
If the Sac Kings are worth $500M to get out of CA, how much are the high flying and Highlight factory Hawks worth?
I do like the idea we are committed to only 3 contracts next year.
Good Luck Josh, JT, Zaza, Ivan, Kyle, Devin with your new teams.
KevinM
January 9th, 2013
10:47 pm
OB, you stopped me in my trax with the old ‘eyebrow shaving’ motivator!
Post of the day!
Buddy Grizzard
January 9th, 2013
10:50 pm
Al (-2) Josh (-13)
Yep this one’s on Al.
JustSayinB
January 9th, 2013
10:50 pm
Just fire LD!!
Rev in Tampa
January 9th, 2013
10:51 pm
Fire LD
Slimjr
January 9th, 2013
10:53 pm
guards cant stop dribble penetration
Help cant rotate quick enough to help the helper.
Getting destroyed by the pick and roll.
Bigs cant make layups so settling for jumpers.
Bigs are giving up layups and impressive Dunks!
Everybody looks discombobulated.
Everybody playing to their weaknesses.
Scrub teams look like playoff teams.
Utah by 15 Friday..
Oh I almost forgot. THis coach is out coaching himself.
JustSayinB
January 9th, 2013
10:56 pm
Josh never played college ball-to the best of my knowledge; way different than Kobe or Mose Malone. Josh is an “old” young man that’s been in this league a long time. I think Josh is 27, but seems like he’s much older than that. LD looks like a 75 year old dude that may be in his 40’s. Why are we keeping “AL Horrible-ford”? I’m telling you: there will be some wholesale changes come summer of 2013. After the trading last year, the Hawk got Danny Ferry on board to make major changes-which I believe he will. Yep-just keep on losing….
Slimjr
January 9th, 2013
10:58 pm
When Coach uses the word Soft, it means he has run out of rope…
JustSayinB
January 9th, 2013
10:59 pm
The Hawks are looking more and more like the Lakers. Oh my bad, sorry Magic-didn’t mean to say that: The Lakers are looking like the Hawks.
KevinM
January 9th, 2013
11:17 pm
Why has DF allowed us to go 1/3 of the way this season with Josh camped out on the 3 pt line?
3 years of LD, and the same scheme.
JT will tell you Kyrie is an all-star.
kevkat
January 9th, 2013
11:18 pm
maybe they are trying to get L.D fired
Grandad
January 9th, 2013
11:19 pm
Valid points:
* Al played a wonderful 1st Qtr then disappeared.
* Ivan played after C-Viv (ahem) brought it to LD`s attn – [nice]
* C-Viv is the Man
* KKorv & JJenkins in the game / 3 min `til halftime:
Josh launches three jumpers … two 3`s and a medium range two
Perfect instance of Josh B-ball IQ to recognize that situation !
* Why do MScott & IJohnson take so many long 2`s ;;;;
I reckon because that`s where Josh shoots when he`s in the game.
* JeffTeaguer played poorly even though he stats say otherwise.
* JTeague plays no, 0, zero, defense / Head 0` the Snake, my butt
* Why does LD run [no] plays for JJenkins ?
* When Korv & Jenkins are in; why not feed the Post ?
* This team has had zero defensive aggression in ? 10 ? games ?
* It`s not that we don`t block shots;
it`s that there are so many to block.
The ball is constantly at our rim.
* Rebounding …
especially Defensive Rebounding has completely
-DISAPPEARED-
and this has nothing to do with Al playing the [4] or the [5]
on defense either you are in position, box out, rebound …
Or You Don`t. – it has nothing to do with the position one plays.
* Our Hawks have gone from being fun to watch;
to being hard to watch
______________________________________________
Coaching basketball or coaching anything for that matter
ain`t easy.
If it was anybody could do it.
There are problems that arise with every team.
LD is a middling coach who would be a 1st rate asst coach.
Coaching Josh Smith would be difficult for Doc or Pop.
I`m not so sure either would like to try.
Maybe Doc, due to a deficiency in talent right now.
But LD is trying to coach at the highest level.
I say trying.
DFerry is giving him every opportunity in this audition.
I do not expect this assemblage of players to be together
for very long.
If you enjoy any or all, then enjoy them quickly,
they`ll be gone soon. [more probably than less]
____________________________________________
LD`s biggest shortcoming as a coach:
He does not Demand Perfection !
G`Dad
heat check
January 9th, 2013
11:30 pm
Typical Chicken Little BS posts. Pretty sure a lot of these are copy/pastes from games/years past. Gets old.
Guess we should just dump Josh, Al, JT, Lou, JJ2, Zaza, Van Exel, Bob Weiss, Wally Blase, Ryan Cameron, etc etc etc for whatever we can get and send 90% of you into Trade Machine bliss.
This all comes down to LD. Based on the sudden bump in minutes for JJ2 and Scott, I’m assuming Ferry is starting to put some pressure on him. These are unprecedented minutes for a rookie in the Woody/Drew era since Al was drafted. Can’t imagine LD just decided to give them some burn. He’s on a short leash, COM be damned. Hope Ferry takes him behind the shed soon before this gets ugly.
KevinM
January 9th, 2013
11:39 pm
Kevin McHale, I hear you’re looking to upgrade at the 4.
Which one do you want, Al or Josh?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 9th, 2013
11:49 pm
“Al (-2) Josh (-13)
Yep this one’s on Al.”
Nearly that entire difference comes from the end of the 3rd quarter, when the Cavs went on a run after LD took Al out in favor of Jenkins (who didn’t play well today). Plus/minus numbers can say a lot of things if you take them out of context (kind of like every other stat).
Rusty
January 9th, 2013
11:52 pm
So funny now al is saying the team has low energy.well I see Ivan played 7 minutes. LD said I will have to do something to get this team going,what will get it going is him leaving.