Atlanta @ Phoenix GameThread, Jan 13, 2009 9:00 PM EST

Game Thread #37: Atlanta at Phoenix, January 13th

by Hoopinion on Jan 13, 2009 3:00 PM EST Comment 9 comments

Atlanta @ Phoenix

WHO: Atlanta (22-14) at Phoenix (21-13)

WHEN: 9pm

WHERE: SportSouth, Hawks Radio Network, NBA Audio League Pass

Injury Report: Al Horford is out.

Game Notes

For Entertainment Purposes Only: Phoenix -7, 212 o/u

Blogging With the Enemy: Bright Side of the Sun, Ben's Phoenix Suns Blog

Here's a treat for everyone: I particpated in a pre-game podcast with Phoenix Stan of Bright Side of the Sun. In the interests of maintaining my self-esteem, I haven't listened to it but I didn't want anyone to miss out ont he opportunity to hear me stammer, cricle around an argument I'm trying make, or pause awkwardly when I lose my train of thought completely.

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Hate to say it

But Josh Smith probably needs to be benched for an extended period. He’s totally out of control, his shots are wild, hopeless heaves, and he’s not doing much defensively right now.

Zaza is the only good thing that happened during that awful first quarter.

by Bronn on Jan 13, 2009 9:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

And, as predicted, the Hawks do make some kind of run without Josh in the game. He was just hurting them up and down early.

Don’t know why Acie can’t get more floor time. He looks the part, he can drive into the lane, he generally makes smart passes. While he can’t hit jumpshots, he does defend better than Bibby so there’s at least a tradeoff.

At some point I’ll get tired of asking this question.

by Bronn on Jan 13, 2009 9:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just like the Hawks we know and love to finally take a 2 point lead before giving up an 8-0 run.

That said, I’m rather optimistic about this fourth quarter. Obviously it isn’t Joe’s night, but Marvin Williams just had a rather incredible quarter, and is really making up for Josh Smith’s lack of rebounding. This is also obviously one of those nights for Flip Murray-if Zaza gets invovled offensively in the fourth quarter, I think the Hawks can pull this one out.

Also would love for Acie to find his way onto the floor, but that’s extremely doubtful if this game remains at all close.

by Bronn on Jan 13, 2009 10:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well

I didn’t expect this would be a win going in.

The three players who were having the best time, offensively, going into the fourth quarter were Marvin Williams, Zaza Pachulia, and Flip Murray. Our fourth quarter offense was run to get more shot opportunities for Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby. Zaza fouling out doesn’t help, but that happened with less than two minutes left.

This team is not designed to win when Bibby and JJ are struggling with their shots. The coach can’t avoid running sets for those guys, and the rest of the team can’t help but defer to those two on offense.

How do you end up with 10 assists AS A TEAM on the game? Really need some explanation for that.

by Bronn on Jan 14, 2009 12:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

But JS ended up with 24 and 10, with another lovely late-game hurl right at the end there. He did attack the basket more than he has.

by rbubp on Jan 14, 2009 1:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I called for the benching, and he did sit for about 10 minutes in the first half. He was completely out of control before that.

I’d like to imagine that forced him to calm and play within himself a bit more. He did avoid taking so many jump shots-or just wild lay-up attempts-that he was taking when he started off 1-8. And he played hard during the fourth quarter-although still not very smart. He had that one charge that could only have ended in a charge or blocked shot, and then had that wide open 20 footer he couldn’t resist taking.

He had a solid night overall, but the problem is that he spent all night trying to dig us out of a hole that he put us in.

by Bronn on Jan 14, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

BTW...

I thought Pachulia played awfully well tonight on both ends. What’s up with not doubling Shaq???

by rbubp on Jan 14, 2009 1:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don't need to say this

but Shaq is just a tough assignment. If you’re going to double, you need to do it right when he catches the ball. Otherwise you’re probably going to end up with a foul-which isn’t always a bad tactic, but obviously wasn’t how the Hawks had gameplanned him going in. Since he’s shooting a career-high in FT% and had made 12 straight going in, I can understand why Atlanta didn’t want to try the Hack-a-Shaq tactic.

Zaza did play extremely well last night. 32 minutes, mostly spent defending O’Neal, before he fouled out. And he ended up with 10 boards-I don’t know how you block out Shaq, but he did a decent job. I’m still upset that a large percentage of his shots came off of offensive rebounds, including his only fourth quarter attempt. He had it working and really deserved to be involved late.

by Bronn on Jan 14, 2009 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bronn, I couldn't agree more, I thought basically the same thing

“This team is not designed to win when Bibby and JJ are struggling with their shots. The coach can’t avoid running sets for those guys, and the rest of the team can’t help but defer to those two on offense.”
I mean how could they just allow Joe to keep shooting when he was clearly not on his game?

by Co Co on Jan 14, 2009 7:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs