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The Hawks need a wall puncher.

The post game quotes in all there "I am getting dressed and sleepwalking through these questions" glory.

"If we would've put a little more effort in, it would have been a different story," point guard Mike Bibby said.

"It happens," Hawks center Al Horford said. "That's the way the season is. There are highs and lows. Right now, this is our low."

99 times out of a 100 you are going to get a canned response from a player after a game. They are practically trained to shut off all emotion. If it didn't happen, you would see so much passive aggressive triangulation through the media, than it would be the juiciest show in town. Newspapers would be thriving.

But players don't to that. They give coach speak answers. They are focused more on not missing a button than they are giving insight into their psyche. So I don't really care what they say in the post game unless it is something along the lines of "I chose not to try tonight because I have a deep seeded fear of sweat."

What I do care about is that the team is actually upset. That when the cameras turn off and the tape recorders are put away there is some wall punching going on. That some yelling happens. The Hawks are in a rut. And yea, Al Horford is right that the season has its peaks and valleys, but if the mindset is we will just keep doing the things we are doing and more often than not all 12 guys won't continue to be terrible on the same night, then the Hawks are in for a deja vu season.

This team has the talent to avoid four game swoons. Always. No exception. Clearly, the way that talent is employed and the mindset that talent has is perfectly capable of putting up performances like last night, but they should be self-aware enough to know that is unacceptable. And when I do something unacceptable at work, I vow to change, and I mean it. If I do it twice, I get fired.

Sometimes wall punching is the trait of a leader. The real question is do the Hawks have a wall puncher in the group?

Star-divide

Loser Dots

  • On a happier note, we are a horrible call and fourth quarter play away from being 2-2, which I think most people would have been fine with.
  • Ok that is not that close, but at least the Hawks are
  • Even Al Horford didn't look like he was trying last night. I think I am....wait I am right now....yes I am crying.
  • If Jeff Teague cannot crack four minutes in a blowout where Bibby starts the game in foul trouble, two things are clear 1. Jeff is out of the rotation and 2. the Woody haters again have the unknown as ammunition against the coach.
  • I think we can officially say Zaza is not playing with the same energy as last year. Not sure what it is, but the guy looks a step slower....which is saying something. On that note, I think we can also officially call this the most depressing recap ever.
  • Jamal Magloire played in his 600th career game. It was the 200th with at least four fouls. If Magloire played for Woody, coach would no longer be living due to a heart condition.
  • To think the Hawks first basket last night came on a shooters bounce.
  • One positive about last night is that blowouts do not cause unhealthy, have trouble focusing on important tasks hate toward Dwyane Wade. Just normal hate. So thanks for not trying Hawks. I have been super productive today.
  • Joe Johnson played 38 minutes last night. So you can either laud praise on Woody for having supreme confidence in his starters or say he is a total idiot.
  • Mr. Collins, Randolph. You look much better out there as a victory cigar.
  • At least James Jones did not get a four point play.

82 game season. Long season. Lots of good still to come. Still, I can say without a shadow of a doubt I could have done without four of them. And they all just happened in a row.

Go Hawks!

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Yes!

You say wall puncher, I said line leader. (way back when the Cavs were destroying them in the playoffs) Either way, they need something right now. I would say they need a good a** kicking, but they’ve gotten four of those recently so obviously they’re ineffective. I don’t know that any of them have the nerve to just stand up and point out the flaws within the team while including his own shortcomings. You’d think the max player would fill that role, but honestly he never has so why should we expect him to now?

by Co Co on Jan 5, 2010 10:28 AM EST reply actions  

co co for blogger of the year!

you only beat me to it by 7 months. I think i am catching up.

by hawksdawgs on Jan 5, 2010 10:48 AM EST up reply actions  

This team usually rebounds well after a bad loss.

After getting slammed by the Bobcats in Charlotte (who did just win in Cleveland, mind you), the Hawks came home and started waxing people. After the two Cleveland games, the Hawks should have come home and destroyed the Knicks. They tried and lost because Nate Robinson became Bernard King all of the sudden (well, pre-knees Bernard).

I can live with all of that. What I can’t live with is the way they came out tonight. The Hawks are better than the Heat. By a large margin. And they came out completely listless and in a haze. It’s completely inexcusable.

Last night’s effort, mixed with Joe bashing the home fans makes me wonder what exactly is going on in that locker room. Is Joe beginning to cause a rift? Is Josh’s slip back into his bad habits causing some ill will or ire from teammates?

Either way, this looks like a team that is not enjoying itself anymore. Their body language is a clear sign of that. Something is up.

by Duff_Man on Jan 5, 2010 10:39 AM EST reply actions  

if it was not so easy and baseless and I was not so mad

i would just blame it on them getting drunk on south beach.

by hawksdawgs on Jan 5, 2010 10:46 AM EST up reply actions  

This is where Sekou

is missed. He’d let us know if there was a rift in the locker room. I’m sad because I don’t know if this team is capable of beating New Jersey and that shouldn’t even be a question.

by Co Co on Jan 5, 2010 10:51 AM EST up reply actions  

THIS, definitely this...
“Either way, this looks like a team that is not enjoying itself anymore. Their body language is a clear sign of that. Something is up.”

by Mr. Sanchez on Jan 5, 2010 11:44 AM EST up reply actions  

If there is a rift a loss to New Jersey should bring it right to the forefront. What’s our record from last year compared to this one? Weren’t we having a great win streak right about now playing all those home games? All and All get together Hawks

by RealSquawk on Jan 5, 2010 11:01 AM EST reply actions  

hawks destroyed Dec.

only losing one i think.

but had a pretty horrible Jan. I say that without looking up that actual results though.

by hawksdawgs on Jan 5, 2010 11:02 AM EST up reply actions  

just kidding

we lost one on the long homestand but went 10-4 in Dec. and 6-9 in Jan.

by hawksdawgs on Jan 5, 2010 11:06 AM EST up reply actions  

The Hawks need a wall puncher.

No, the Hawks need a better coach and a better best player.

by redwards95 on Jan 5, 2010 11:26 AM EST reply actions  

Um...

“when I do something unacceptable at work, I vow to change, and I mean it. If I do it twice, I get fired.”

You aren’t signed to a contract that guarantees you’ll be paid millions of dollars either.

by Mr. Sanchez on Jan 5, 2010 11:43 AM EST reply actions  

of course there is the pro athlete syndrome

and i don’t deny that it is prevalent. Guy gets big pay day = guy does not mind taking nights off.

but i also know there are certain guys (coaches and players), leaders/wall punchers that don’t give a damn if you have 60 million guaranteed. if you don’t bring it every night you are going to hear about it, and there will be consequences.

KG comes to mind. the only guy on the Hawks I have even seen a glimmer of that from is Al Horford….and Mo Evans.

by hawksdawgs on Jan 5, 2010 12:06 PM EST up reply actions  

For all of Kobe faults

the guy is definitely a leader on the court. He talks to his teammates during timeouts about what he thinks should be adjusted. LeBron is the same way. Sometimes leadership cannot be taught. Either you have those qualities or you don’t.

by dstdeelite on Jan 5, 2010 1:09 PM EST up reply actions  

this

"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC

by Jesse28 on Jan 6, 2010 7:36 AM EST up reply actions  

Woody called their play last night 'unacceptable"

The next question should have been: “Well what are you going to do about it?” What can a coach do? Bench the whole starting lineup? That’ll go over real well.

by dstdeelite on Jan 5, 2010 12:08 PM EST reply actions  

practice consists of suicides today gentlemen...

keep running until I’m tired. That’s always a fun option for a coach.

by Mr. Sanchez on Jan 5, 2010 12:12 PM EST up reply actions  

Yes you bench the whole starting lineup… during the game that the whole starting lineup isn’t doing jack anyway. How did Teague not get major minutes in that game? It boggles the mind.

by redwards95 on Jan 5, 2010 1:18 PM EST up reply actions  

I agree actually.

This was one of the (many) things that angered me last night. The starters were not giving any effort. Sometimes you have to show that if you arent going to give any effort you dont deserve to be playing. Joe Johnson was awful and he played nearly the entire game until the end of the fourth quarter. Al and Josh were not much better actually. I know Mike Woodson would bare Joe Johnson’s children if he was given the chance but seriously, this is getting annoying. I would rather see Randolph Morris get dunked on than Joe Johnson getting stuffed by Dwade everytime if RandMo is willing to box out his man and hustle downcourt.

by VAHawksFan on Jan 5, 2010 2:39 PM EST up reply actions  

They have a much healthier attitude about this in baseball.

In MLB there are so many games that the manager will rest starters on occasion, usually at least once every ten games or so. As we all know that basketball has too many games, why can’t rests for the starters be rotated so that you don’t have all scrubs one night a month? Like, would it kill them to sit Joe one night, Marvin another, Al another, etc., just for the players averaging over 30 minutes a game, say, once or twice a month?

Probably too much thinking for Woody, I guess. (not that it couldn’t be delegated…) But I don’t see anyone in the NBA doing this, and I wonder why not.

by rbubp on Jan 5, 2010 3:44 PM EST up reply actions  

In his mind

That would in effect be shooting himself in the foot. Every game he is fighting for an extension, so it’s not that it’s too much thinking, it’s just that there’s no way in hell he would do that.

"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC

by Jesse28 on Jan 6, 2010 7:39 AM EST up reply actions  

in other news!

Mario West is the starter of the Maine D league yay!

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Jan 5, 2010 1:15 PM EST reply actions  

This

I was actually going to say this. Good thing we cut mario West huh? Especially considering we kept Hunter and……wait for it…..

NEVER PLAYED HIM, ever, and are now waiving him. Way to go ASG/Sund.

"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC

by Jesse28 on Jan 6, 2010 7:40 AM EST up reply actions  

On a positive note...

The bottom hasn’t fallen out yet (ie out of playoff contention, major injuries, or stupid trades) so have hope, hawks fans that our basketball geniuses can right the ship and play smart basketball that we all know they can.

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Jan 5, 2010 1:33 PM EST reply actions  

I could use a wall-puncher myself

and spare my own knuckles the punishment.

by Bronn on Jan 5, 2010 4:55 PM EST reply actions  

yeah

A boxer’s fracture is no fun. Speaking from experience, while you may crack the cinder block wall, you will not hurt it, but it will hurt you.

"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC

by Jesse28 on Jan 6, 2010 7:41 AM EST up reply actions  

Just get it together hawks

It makes me wonder if we would have beaten cleveland in cleveland what we would be talking about now?

by Hawksgirl on Jan 6, 2010 10:14 AM EST reply actions  

I Agree

Yeah me too Hawksgirl. Everybody would be saying the Hawks are an elite team for sure. Although I don’t know why Cleveland would be the only measuring stick. I just don’t believe Cleveland is that much better than the Hawks.

Yep, the team has lost their focus and intensity. Once they stop worrying about all the noise (media, refs, etc.) they’ll be alright. Perhaps this is another wake up call for them. My cause for concern was the game not being fun for them anymore. It showed in the Miami game too. Oh no we can’t have that. As a fan, I definitely want to see the team I’m rooting for having fun. I mean I want to see my fav. team win a championship and all but if it ain’t fun then what’s the point?

I visit this blog because I enjoy it. Likewise I am a fan of the Hawks because I enjoy watching them play and rooting for them. But I gotta be honest that Miami game sucked. If the team ain’t having no fun how do they expect us fans to.

by DPhenomenal1 on Jan 6, 2010 11:41 AM EST up reply actions  

Punch Walls and Throw Stuff Around

I think Josh Smith would be the perfect wall puncher. As many fits he gives the refs come on. Hell take the stuff out on the rim. Run into the middle like a freight train just like Lebron. Wait, nope that won’t work that only works for Lebron. Okay well throw some towels. On second thought I have seen Josh throw his head band. Yet another reason why I think Josh would be the perfect wall puncher for the Hawks.

Although it would be quite hilarious to see Joe Johnson lose it just once. Stop pretending to be this quiet goody two shoes.

by DPhenomenal1 on Jan 6, 2010 11:30 AM EST reply actions  

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