Atlanta Hawks: Drew searching for way out of four-game slump
Vivlamore reporting.
Perhaps another meeting is in order.
The Hawks have lost two games – part of their current four-game skid – since holding a team meeting Sunday to air issues affecting their recent play. While coach Larry Drew described that session as “very productive” the on-court results have been quite the opposite.
Consider the losing streak:
* They trailed by 19 points before a fourth-quarter comeback fell short against the Pistons Friday.
* They couldn’t hold a 19-point second-quarter lead in a loss to the Celtics Saturday, prompting the team meeting.
* They fell behind by 17 points in a loss to the Kevin Love-less Timberwolves Tuesday. Drew said his team was “soft” in the first half.
* They fell behind by 19 points in a loss to the injury-riddled Cavaliers Wednesday. It was just the ninth win of the season for Cleveland, who also won in Atlanta, which played without four regulars.
Not a good week at all.
The Hawks, who have also lost five of their past six games, no longer have what was a firm grip on third place in the Eastern Conference. They are now fourth behind the Heat, Knicks and Pacers and just a half-game ahead of the Bulls and Nets entering Thursday’s NBA schedule.
The Hawks host the Jazz Friday before games at the Wizards Saturday and Bulls Monday. Coach Larry Drew vowed following Wednesday’s loss that he would do what is necessary to jump start his team.
“This is a slump we are going through,” center Al Horford said. “We have to overcome it.”
Drew changed his starting lineup Wednesday, bring Lou Williams back off the bench. He said he may tweak the lineup again. He played rookies John Jenkins and Mike Scott in the first quarter. Clearly, Drew is looking for a way out of the slump.
The Hawks now play eight of their next 10 games against teams currently with .500 or better records, including rematches with the Timberwolves and the Celtics.
- Chris Vivlamore
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105 comments Add your comment
keith
January 10th, 2013
10:01 pm
IMO He is no longer “SMOOVE”. This season, he is more “The BASKETBALL PLAYER Formerly known as SMOOVE
The last 6 minutes of that T-Wolves game is precisely why he will always be THE BB PLAYER formerly known as SMOOVE…
That sequence was anything but SMOOVE!!!
O'brien
January 10th, 2013
10:03 pm
For the record, I would still take a chance on cousins, but I would not “overpay”, which is what the kings want.
Also, im not sure how josh and cousins would fit together
O'brien
January 10th, 2013
10:08 pm
Sautee,
If Josh had answered the question and said “we”, I don’t think rod would have a problem with it, despite the fact that a good leader always points the finger at himself, and what he can do better (even if they are the best player).
Buddy Grizzard
January 10th, 2013
10:14 pm
LD looking for a way out? Delta leaves on the hour?
High-sider
January 10th, 2013
10:28 pm
@keith
————————————————
It appears Steve Novak makes more than J.R. Smith. I need “Novak-aine”’s agent.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/NYK.html
Man in Black
January 10th, 2013
10:30 pm
play the big lineup and stick with it
keith
January 10th, 2013
10:35 pm
High-sider
January 10th, 2013
10:28 pm
It’s a d…. shame that these scrubs, and that includes several of our guys, make more per season that a Big Time Baller like J.R…..SMDH
I said that we should have thrown JC1 money at J.R. last summer….He’s worth at least what Marvin is earning…
High-sider
January 10th, 2013
10:37 pm
How in the heck did the Hawks beat the Pacers back in late December (2012)? Oh yeah, I forgot “Osh” Smith was out (with injury).
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201212290ATL.html
doc
January 10th, 2013
10:40 pm
keeping sharp objects in their place slimj?
january was going to be a death march. no surprises here.
doc
January 10th, 2013
10:41 pm
“in melo we trust”?
keith
January 10th, 2013
10:43 pm
PACERS WIN…..PACERS WIN……..PACERS WIN……
Indiana Pacers playing “GROWN MAN BASKETBALL” tonight…showing our tissue paper DEFENSE how to GET-R-DONE, as the Cable Guy would say….
LET THE FREE-FALL COMMENCE!!!
High-sider
January 10th, 2013
10:43 pm
IND outpaces NYK, 81 – 76.
In all fairness, the Knicks played without ‘Melo.
keith
January 10th, 2013
10:45 pm
Can You say 5th seed Boys and Girls?
AFTER tomorrow night’s game, we will move down to 5th seed in the east?
paian
January 10th, 2013
10:46 pm
high sider and keith this is for you two
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/8096641/jr-smith-declines-option-new-york-knicks
Slimjr
January 10th, 2013
10:46 pm
lol doc,
both teams [Hawks and Knicks] are sucking wind right about now.. The New Year is getting off to a shaking start for both..At least Melo is coming back but Felton will be another 6 some odd weeks..
Wonder if Larry has lost this team?
Buddy Grizzard
January 10th, 2013
10:47 pm
“sorry @ss Indiana” just took down the Knicks.
keith
January 10th, 2013
10:47 pm
How did the BIG DUMMY SHAQ get a TV Job??? He must have SEX TAPES on someone…LMAO!
Buddy Grizzard
January 10th, 2013
10:48 pm
“keeping sharp objects in their place slimj?”
lol… no running with scissors!
Slimjr
January 10th, 2013
10:51 pm
Losing Melo and Felton for the Knicks is like, losing Teague and Al for the Hawks?
In Al we trust? lmbo….
keith
January 10th, 2013
10:54 pm
I would allow Josh Smith to walk away and throw BIG MONEY at J.R. Smith…He is a better shooting James Harden… J. R. would put us closer to advancing in the playoffs.
PG-Lou Will
SG-J.R. Smith
SF-Kyle Korver
PF- Al Horford
Ce-Al Jefferson
Instant offense!
Slimjr
January 10th, 2013
10:56 pm
Which is the worst loss?
Losing to Cleveland by almost 20 with your starters partaking in the azz whooping or losing to Indiana who had won 9 straight at home without two of your starters? Hmmmmmmmm
High-sider
January 10th, 2013
10:58 pm
@paian
—————————–
paian
January 10th, 2013
10:46 pm
high sider and keith this is for you two
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/8096641/jr-smith-declines-option-new-york-knicks
———————————————————–
So, basically (after reading the article), J.R. Smith either received bad advice from his agent, is an “imbecile” or both. I say both.
keith
January 10th, 2013
10:58 pm
Damian Lillard is already a better PG than Jeff Teague..It’s a d_ _ _ shame that Teague is still so far behind and so inconsistent! CUT BAIT WITH JEFFINA TEAGUE……
Buddy Grizzard
January 10th, 2013
11:00 pm
“He is a better shooting James Harden”
hahahahaha James Harden 4th in NBA in scoring but JR Smith is a better shooter?
Buddy Grizzard
January 10th, 2013
11:01 pm
“Damian Lillard is already a better PG than Jeff Teague”
The list of point guards better than Lillard is pretty short.
Slimjr
January 10th, 2013
11:02 pm
J.R Smith would instantly become the most talented basketball player on Hawks roster..
Danny you set the bar so high for yourself, perhaps you sipped the kool-aid?
paian
January 10th, 2013
11:05 pm
keith
J.R. Smith is a horrid shooter his stats are inflated, dude went 10-29 and finished with only 25 points tonight. There is no way on earth hes a better shooter or player than james harden. J.R. is shooting like .410% while harden is shooting like .450%. J.R. Smith is not even better than lou so I don’t see how he will put us closer to advancing in the playoffs.
paian
January 10th, 2013
11:07 pm
High sider i think you missed the 2nd paragraph about the bird rights or w/e.
“Smith could get as much as $12.2 million over four years after opting out. Another option for Smith, the paper says, is re-signing with the Knicks for one year with early Bird rights and earning a salary of at least $5.3 million in 2013-14.”
Slimjr
January 10th, 2013
11:09 pm
Hey Melvin you were close on the prediction of 25 shots for JR Smith..
I’m surprised he only put up 29? I figured at least 32-35 with Melo out…
keith
January 10th, 2013
11:12 pm
J.R. Smith may be a “Volume” Scorer, however, he plays the game the right way. He is still relatively young. J.R. Smith would be a definite upgrade over Lou Will…A much better defender than Lou or K. Korver…..IMO
keith
January 10th, 2013
11:14 pm
Buddy Grizzard
January 10th, 2013
11:00 pm
If J.R was the number 1 option like Harden, he would have better numbers….
paian
January 10th, 2013
11:18 pm
Keith he is the number 1 option when melo is out…If lou was the number 1 option he would have better numbers obviously. You have to look at the fg% also not just points scored.
High-sider
January 10th, 2013
11:22 pm
Damian Lillard is some kind o’ rookie. I didn’t know he was that good of a FT shooter at Weber State.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lillada01.html
High-sider
January 10th, 2013
11:23 pm
Somebody’s gonna get banned (real soon).
Najeh Davenpoop
January 10th, 2013
11:28 pm
Knicks are 5-7 in their last 12 games. Granted Melo has missed 4 of those games and the Knicks are 1-3 in them, but if nothing else that still just shows how important an iso scorer continues to be in Woody’s system. Hawks aren’t the only pretenders getting exposed over the last couple of months.
doc
January 10th, 2013
11:29 pm
slimj really what would be disastrous about our team being 9th?
i still hope they are a 42 – 46 win team but if they fade then everyone is happy though they pretend otherwise. ld haters will rejoice his departure. josh haters will be left saying he never was the guy and al haters can be happy too; him coming back as the star to lead the team to a new destiny didnt work. hawk fans can be happy that thy might have one or two early first round places depending on how the rockets do. then we look like the portland blazers maybe and can get excited about what is to come.
so, what is disastrous dude? are you just trying to pick a fight with a neanderthal that doesnt get it?
i never over estimated this hawk team. sure i enjoyed it when they were playing well but somehow the switch went off when they were beginning to stare down a break through game and fell back to earth against the celts. that was a huge game in their minds if you catch my drift? they were about ready to do away with old ghosts and blow down the door. not quite is what kg and rondo said.
i might have to do a mea culpa on the knicks. i might have thought they were a lot better than they turn out. ya boy melo choked on his honey nut cherrios, my friend. big time. had his chance like the hawks did to dig them a grave and send them to the retirement home. then he blows up in his head. doesnt take much or long to lose it and everything.
High-sider
January 10th, 2013
11:32 pm
paian,
Maybe, I’m the imbecile but I thought I read that J.R. Smith “undermined his value” by signing for the mini-midlevel exception.
“Smith was signed in mid-February to a prorated share of the Knicks’ $2.5 million mini-midlevel exception with a player option for 2012-13 after playing in China during the lockout.
In April, three league sources with knowledge of his contract situation told ESPNNewYork.com that he would be undermining his value on the free-agent market by signing the $2.5 million option.”
doc
January 10th, 2013
11:34 pm
look toward teague or the lack of him in the last few games. i hate seeing that shaking of the head and silly snarky smile of i am the victim when things go south for him after every play and as he sits down on the bench. it also looks like the coaches and players are pretty tired of the act as well.
meanwhile, ivan sits and waits, looking like a monk on the bench keeping it in check.
doc
January 10th, 2013
11:39 pm
slimj i warned you, 29 shots taken by jr and a total of 76 points for the team.
h-s no one has ever suggested jr and a mensa candidate. not close.
paian
January 10th, 2013
11:42 pm
high sider
Nah not at all, I am inferring that he prob signed a 1 year contract with player option from this season to the 2013-2014 season. What I believe is he may opt out. Since in the report it says, “Another option for Smith, the paper says, is re-signing with the Knicks for one year with early Bird rights and earning a salary of at least $5.3 million in 2013-14.”
Correct me if i’m wrong though.
High-sider
January 10th, 2013
11:52 pm
doc, I hear ya.
http://www.mensa.org/
High-sider
January 11th, 2013
12:01 am
For the J.R. Smith fans….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdmsNA6yhXY
doc
January 11th, 2013
12:47 am
slimj my faux atl fan. you been fretting the falcons ryan and smith this week for us?
cant wait to see how that giant game turn out. and you? oh yeah they arent playing are they? still waiting on ring magic/dust, eh?
preciate your concerns on my home team tho, thanks.
Mr Sarcastic
January 11th, 2013
12:48 am
keith is clearly one of the most knowledgeable posters on here. He consistently comes up with great trade ideas and player assessments. I love the idea of Al Jefferson. Granted he has only been to the playoffs once but how could he not take the Hawks to the promise land. Who cares that the Jazz are ready to get rid of him so they can play the younger guys. Al Jefferson on this team = championship. Al in the post with Lou running point is instant success. It does not matter that Lou has struggled playing point this season or that he is better suited as a scorer coming off the bench. The Hawks would be top 3 in defense with Jefferson at center and Horford at pf. We would have two great rim protectors. keith you are correct on both accounts. Great job sir
doc I have to agree with you. The players and coaches are tired of Teague. I mean why else would they say when he plays well they play well. Why would they keep saying he is the head of the snake. I also hate how he sits on the bench. I wish he would kick a chair or curse at someone the next time he is subbed out. Great observations doc
Mr Sarcastic
January 11th, 2013
12:54 am
And keith is right again on the Lillard observation. How in the hell can Teague be outplayed by a guy taken 6th in the draft. Teague was taken 19th for a reason but he still should have more talent than a lottery pick. Ship Teague out of here
doc
January 11th, 2013
1:11 am
lillard is out playing a lot of guys including the guy he is compared to dwade. that is not teague’s problem, it goes deeper.
doc
January 11th, 2013
1:12 am
will he, yes he did. in your face mr allen.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2013
1:12 am
The last five minutes of this Blazers-Heat game have been incredible. Some of the best ball I have seen in the NBA this season.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 11th, 2013
1:21 am
With that Heat loss only 5.5 games separate top-seeded Miami from 8 seed Boston. The Hawks are 3 games behind Miami and 2.5 ahead of Boston.
doc
January 11th, 2013
1:22 am
see the heat collapse like the hawks is fun. parity?