Atlanta Hawks 105, Utah Jazz 100 or sheepish victories are for sheep
by hawksdawgs on Feb 23, 2010 7:48 AM EST
74 comments
The first time I kissed a girl I didn't ask if she was missing any teeth. It didn't matter. So a win in Utah for the first time since 1993 and the first eastern conference team to win there all season (thanks Sundiata) is a worthy response to the Hawks meltdown last night. I don't care how ugly the girl was.
Beware, you bad mouth Joe Johnson, prepare to feel like hypocrite
Joe Johnson destroyed the paint. Twelve of his nineteen shots came in that powdered blue area. He hit eight of them. Six assists, six rebounds, only one turnover. Outside of some shaky transition defense, Joe basically did nothing to hurt the Hawks, and since he was the best player, he obviously was the reason Atlanta won. I, of course, want to give it to someone else because it does not feel like that, but that is because Joe Johnson is Joe Johnson. Even when he dominates, he looks like he is just steering a cruise ship. You don't care about the ride, only the destination. I will admit it is hard to get excited about floaters and long jumpers sometimes, but what I was excited about was Joe's relentlessness. He was angry. There was little aimless dribbling, there was actual attacking. Last night, Joe Johnson had no plans to do anything but win. Fine by me.
Take that two days ago fourth quarter
Atlanta put in 31 in the final period last night. The bookends of the quarter left a little to be desired, but the meat in the middle was the finest cut. Like really rare roast beef. The ball movement returned, actual plays were run, it was weird. I am not used to seeing a first quarter offense in the fourth quarter.Cue Michael Cunningham's excellent reporting,
After the offense bogged down in the third quarter, Smoove spoke up. "He kept harping on us to share the ball, share the ball and make it easier for each other" Al said.
"I just noticed that we were passing the ball one time and taking a shot," Josh said. "They were catching our misses and getting out on the break."
Of course, we noticed before it actually happened because, well, it happens every game, but kudos to Josh for showing what I believe is called leadership in most circles. No, not for saying something (I say stuff), but for going out and doing it. Josh was a different player in the fourth quarter (which is good because he was straight average for the other three). Without going back to the tape, I know he had three assists (two of them three pointers). The four quarter Josh Smith barrage of early in the season is showing signs of weakness, but if he is going to own one quarter, he seems to be choosing wisely.
With about a minute and half to go in the fourth, the offense bogged down again. The passing stopped, the guards dominated. I just pretend like I am at a bar and yell, "the usual." It does not make the drink any better, but it feels better because I know it is my thing. But luckily, I was not forced to drink tonight's usual for very long, and something odd happened when Joe got the ball. He stayed in angry mode, and there are few people better than angry Joe Johnson. The ball was only passed twice but it went from once side of the floor to the other where Joe got it beyond the three point line. He drove across the top of the key to the other side of the floor, picked a spot, and free from any double team rose up and drilled a jumper. It was decisive. It was a play. It was beautiful.
Victory Bullets
- It was not a pretty use of the bench, but Woody found a way to burn some time with the second unit and kept all the starters under 40 minutes. The players certainly could not have been fresh, but they were fresh enough. I hope Woody sees the bench can go minus 10 in around a minutes and the world does not chasm and eyebrows are not lost.
- Watching the WNBA promo followed by a Hawks promo filled with Josh Smith highlights is a study in contrasts.
- I love how the Jazz boo every call. That would be like watching the game with 17,000 me's.
- Bob Rathbun called Bibby, Michael.
- Mo Evans, you saucy minx.
- Josh Smith's pass out of the double team to Jamal Crawford for three that gave the Hawks the lead in the fourth quarter was incredible. Well, maybe reckless, but definitely incredible.
- Nice to know Mike Bibby can still hit a three. It was like he was playing a carnival game out there for a while.
- Jamal Crawford looks like he is about to cry during interviews.
- I found this game pretty darn entertaining.
Go Hawks!
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It should be noted that Josh Smith was excellent in the 4th last night.
JJ was JJ, true, and he made some big shots. But Josh did share the ball—he had some crucial assists on some excellent passes, got several defensive rebounds, made a big blocked shot, a big and-1. The pass he had from (trapped on) the low block cross-court to Jamal Crawford a for a three was a thing of beauty.
It is worth mentioning that Josh is one of the best-passing big men in the league. It’s not just that he finds people out of the post, either—he just finds people, period, in precision-situations. His passes are long and daring and sharp and result in assists and easy buckets. Think about the bounce pass from the top of the key to a cutting…who was it? Al? JC? in the 4th. A basket there too, I think.
Josh had three amazing assists.
1. Caught a pass, hit a double at about 14 feet out sinning inside. Turned and hit JJ for a WIDE open three.
2. Cutting JJ gets a Josh dime from the top of the key. VERY tough pass.
3. Cross-court to JC for three. Risky pass, but it worked, so it was awesome.
He also had two consecutive awful turnovers
Maybe that was the 3rd quarter though. Still he played well otherwise
The Jordan Schafer Fan Club.
I feel appeased.
I still get the feeling that a W in Golden State and the Hawks lose at the Jazz. But who knows what this schizo team would have done.
2-2 out West is acceptable. 3-1 would have been fantastic, but i’ll live with the results. Very happy to get a monkey off our backs (at Utah). Let’s get home and really step on the gas!
And thus endeth the tough stretch of the schedule.
Hawks still have 11 road games left but 9 are versus teams with losing records.
This is a good time for a winning streak.
If only it were that easy with the Hawks
But I think we all know it never is. See Golden State, Knicks, etc as examples of losing to bad teams.
"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC
I do not know whether to feel better or worse after this?
Just proves how pathetic Sunday night was, but shows that the team still has some fight left in them that I was afraid was disappearing.
this win helps leave a better taste in your mouth after Sunday
I loved the way jj played and how woody used the starters and the bench. Moe came through for us on d and offense. Bibby is not completely dead. just gettin off life support. they play well with their backs against the wall evidently.
by Hawksgirl on Feb 23, 2010 9:49 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Home stretch
Now would be a great time to sweep a three game home stretch. I just really really want to catch Orlando. Great win and great playing by smoove and jj down the stretch. Our team is best when everyone is taking shots and when everyone is hitting shots. Do we have the two best shooters in the backcourt in JJ and crawford in the league? I can’t think of any better backcourt tandem.
Another first since
for the ATL Hawks. Can’t hate on that. The win against Utah may not have put a dent in Sloan’s home record against the Hawks, but it a start towards doing just that.
You may hate the inconsistencies of the ATL Hawks, but you gotta love their resilience.
Payback Month is almost upon us (March). The 7 team list:
1. Golden State*
2. Miami
3. New York
4.Detroit*
5. San Antonio*
6. Orlando*
7. LA Lakers*
Get goosebumps just thinking about it. Payback is a female dog. Ahh revenge is so sweet. Hot dog the Warriors are up first.
One, two the Hawks are coming for you.
Three, four better run from the court.
Five, six your superstar better pretend to be sick.
Seven, eight hold up you showed up so it’s too late.
Nine, ten the Hawks get revenge with a win.
HAHAHA!
ohh the astericks are home games
which adds a little more sugar to the revenge. TOO SWEET!
by DPhenomenal1 on Feb 23, 2010 11:09 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, but.....
Two of Utah’s best players didn’t even play. Yea I know….a win is a win. Do we win that one with Deron and AK47 in the game? I’ll be honest, I didn’t watch the entire game. I probably watched 12 to 15% of the game with the bulk being watched in the 4th after Monday Night Raw went off. Why? Because I was still smarting over that GS loss and to be honest, I figured that they would give this one up, too. After that and seeing the highlights on NBATV and SportsCenter, I have this to say:
2nd chance points: ATL 2 UTAH 23…….I really hope that we make a huge push for Zydrunas.
I’m not going to let up off Joe when he finally decides to play a good game. That is what our star is supposed to do on a nightly basis. If he were able to do it last night, explain PHX and GS to me. If Joe exhibited better shot selection and stop feeling like he must shoot the toughest shots on the floor, he would easily average over 26 pts a game. I’m just glad to know that he didn’t dominate the ball last night.
Hawksdawgs, I think you may have contradicted yourself because to me, it came off like you too were bad mouthing Joe after Sunday’s loss, but that’s not that big of a deal to me because we won….finally. I also disagree that Jamal looks like he’s about to cry during interviews. We were saying that he looks like he’s about to punch “Big Country” in the face. LOL!
I'm seriously trying to organize a hardcore Atlanta Hawks fan club that will go to games/sportsbars to watch and support OUR Atlanta Hawks. E-mail me at beemoe75@yahoo.com
by Hawks Fan From Day One on Feb 23, 2010 11:32 AM EST reply actions
Yes, remember
D Will played on December 18th when the Hawks beat the Jazz that day. Dammit why does there always have to be a Debbie Downer? Enjoy the win, it’s ok to revel in a win. Heck as an ATL Hawks fans I plan to rub it in as much as possible. The Hawks swept the Jazz. Repeat it with me: THE HAWKS SWEPT THE JAZZ!
Get over that loss on Sunday! Golden State got to come to the A Town. You can bet they’re gonna leave with a beat down. Ummkay! :-)
by DPhenomenal1 on Feb 23, 2010 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
OMG, DPhenmenal1!! Get her name right. It's not Debbie Downer. It's Negative Nancy!! Lol
I’m with you. A win is a win all day long. They were full force when we played them in Atlanta and the final score was in no way indicative of the thrashing that was placed upon them in Philips.
And since you mention Sundiata...
he was extremely impressive during the second quarter. Maybe the Hawks made a mistake letting him go after the summer. I know we don’t need another PG with Crawford, but he’s a better hold than say Othello, Collins, or Morris, and may even be better than Teague (not that Teague plays enough to know how good he can be).
Fourth seed or not
last night’s win got a fan feeling like the team is gonna take whatever seed they get all the way to the top. Championship baby. Smack talk, it does a fan good. You might wanna try it. Cause all this Debbie Downer stuff kills a sista’s buzz. Dang!
Players saved Woody and Sunds ….
Great game to watch, but last night did not decrease the venom I feel for our coach or management. Woody other than calling timely timeouts, was quiet/non-existent till the end. But as HawksDawgs said, the players were mad. They were going to fight no matter what. There is a scene that JJ was taken out and is sitting on the bench, the anger in his eyes is Clint Eastwood like. Yes we can win with anger but good coaching could have saved couple games on trip. And if sund does not see the folly of not having made any moves for a big man, surely seeing Zaza in action past few games should be a reminder why we need a good big man to relieve our front court. Don’t ask players to get mad every night, help them with good coaching and the right bench combo.
With that, sad but seven points constitute a good night for the Bibster. Woody stays with him regardless of how well Marvin plays or without giving Rookie time to do his thing. Bibster defense is tackling and holding people at this point, at least he is a good field Marshall. JJ is like a Mercedes, does his thing, but coach needs to scream at him to pass near the end of games if he is doubled. He is unstoppable one on one.
A typical day at work for Zaza is no points, 3-4 turnovers, 3-4 fouls, 3 minutes. I don’t buy the fact that his restaurant business is not impacting him. It is his money, he is impacted. Clearly the first big man off the bench at this point should be Joe Smith. Zaza almost single handedly lost us the game in the first half. It should be Jamal, Mo or Joe Smith, Rookie, and then Zaza in that order, with special attention to getting rookie in there.
Smoove needs to attack. Dribbling with his back to the basket 30 yards out or jump shots are no help, but I know he gets frustrated when he doesn’t get the ball in the right place. I also find it amazing that he and Lion are leading the breaks, as opposed to a point guard, but we know that Marvin and Lion and Smoove thrive on running, whereas Bibster is just too slow. Again please get rookie in there more.
well
the players make billy knight looks like he knew what he was doing. i give sund credit only for crawford but that was a easy call.
he’ll earn his money with what happens this offseason.
Haha
Charles Barkley doesnt need to be eating a $5 box. unless its from subway
Great win
even though we still gave up too many second chance points and didn’t defend the paint well. All in all a total team win is always great to enjoy.
I wonder what our record is when somebody off the bench other than Jamal scores 9 or more….
Atlanta will win a championship....someday
The Jazz also outrebounded us by 10
I guess that destroys my theory that the hawks usually lose games when outrebounded by at least ten.
Atlanta will win a championship....someday
HEY
Does anyone think Ilgauskas won’t sign with the Cavs? I think the hawks want to throw him a party if he doesn’t
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-ilgauskashawks022210&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Atlanta will win a championship....someday
FIRE WOODY ??
HEY!!! WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FIRE WOODY CROWD OF YESTERDAY ???
if would was fired today
i would say it was unfair and unprofessional…..and be totally fine with it.
Now you show up
HEY!!! WHERE WERE YOU WHEN HE WAS BEING HORRIBAD!?!?!?!
"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC
Fire Woody....
You think because of one game, that we still want Woody here? Oh believe me, we are still here!!!!
But an ugly win, is better than a pretty loss…
"If I disagree with you, it's because you are wrong..."
id like
to give avery johnson or chance but to be fair woody has made a decent acension with the players he uses like his methods or not we were a joke prior to him.
STFU with that ridiculous "Debbie Downer" crap
Because I can clearly tell that you’re no fan. You want to assess yesterday’s win through rose-colored glasses? Be my guest, but don’t discredit mine or anyone else’s comments or criticisms of OUR team just because you want to run around Atlanta cheesin’ over a win against a depleted team. Real and true fans are most of the people on this board, who still recognize that this is OUR team, but we are no longer satisfied with cheap, hollow victories or just making the playoffs anymore. Just as the teams’ expectations have grown, so have ours as fans. Not to mention that there were still glaring issues in yesterday’s game that if looked at through your rose-colored glasses will easily be overlooked sooner than later and we’ll be right back to Sunday before you know it. I’m not trying to rain on your parade, but if you were satisfied with finishing up our road trip 2-2 when it could have and probably should have been 3-1 or 4-0, then I wonder just how much of the game you truly understand. REAL fans are passionate win or loss and disgruntled when they feel that their team isn’t playing up to the level we feel that they should be performing….not taking hollow wins against teams who’ve sat their best players.
dkrib, I STILL say FIRE MIKE WOODSON. That hasn’t nor will it change because of one win.
ATLpaul, who the hell is Lion??
I'm seriously trying to organize a hardcore Atlanta Hawks fan club that will go to games/sportsbars to watch and support OUR Atlanta Hawks. E-mail me at beemoe75@yahoo.com
by Hawks Fan From Day One on Feb 23, 2010 2:30 PM EST reply actions
Lion is Horf because of the way he fights night in and night out against bigger guys
he has a heart of a lion
So......
Is this a name that you gave him? I’ve never heard ANYONE mention him by this name. It’s horrible. I would have rather you called him “Boss”….at least he approved that one.
I'm seriously trying to organize a hardcore Atlanta Hawks fan club that will go to games/sportsbars to watch and support OUR Atlanta Hawks. E-mail me at beemoe75@yahoo.com
by Hawks Fan From Day One on Feb 23, 2010 3:08 PM EST up reply actions
I've heard him called Lion on here several times.
Why so intense on here? I would have expected the “STFU” comments on yesterday’s recap. Wow
To be honest....
I felt her comments were in direct response to mine and specifically singled out a (not two or several) “Debbie Downer” and I took up issue with that because I felt there was a more cordial way of saying that she disagreed with my comments. If it was perceived as harsh to some, then to those I sincerely offer an apology. I got a bit carried away and amped up when told to “get over that loss”. I believe that’s the job of the actual players on the floor. We as fans analyze losses almost as much as coaches do, I think. Some of us run blogsites, fan groups, etc. and this information is used to have material to debate over. There are fans….and then there are FANS. That’s all I’m saying. Again, my apologies.
I'm seriously trying to organize a hardcore Atlanta Hawks fan club that will go to games/sportsbars to watch and support OUR Atlanta Hawks. E-mail me at beemoe75@yahoo.com
by Hawks Fan From Day One on Feb 23, 2010 4:50 PM EST up reply actions
I guess I can't join your club cause quite frankly
the two of us would be fighting. There is a such thing as over analyzing. Well how is this for a debate: Some Atlanta Hawks fans are overly critical and and can’t even enjoy a win.
by DPhenomenal1 on Feb 23, 2010 8:24 PM EST up reply actions
There is such a thing as over-analyzing?
What, looking too hard makes you blind or something?
Wow, why am I not surprised
that you would react negatively to my positivity. Can you blame me for seeing a team working hard to get a win yesterday? Did the Hawks not win against this same team at full force in December? There are no such thing as hollow victories. A win is just that a win. There are only a win and a loss column and it is a fact that OUR ATL HAWKS PUT A GAME IN THE WINS COLUMN. Did the team not just start another winning streak instead of continuing on a downward spiral? Give me an example of a perfect team who wins perfectly all the time or a team that has won 82 games and then our will jump on your bandwagon.
Buddy I am not ashamed to be running all over the A smiling and cheesing that my beloved Hawks got back on the winning track. Real and true fans are not only this board. Hawks fans are everywhere and not everyone visits this board. Satisfied with a cheap win. You gotta be kidding me right. Did the Hawks cheat at any point in order to win the game? NO! So how do you consider it cheap or hollow. No Hawks Fan From Day One I am not satisfied with a 2-2 road trip because I believe deep down that they could have been 4-0. But I am happy for them that they were able to salvage this trip by getting back on the winning track against a very good Utah team who I might add is ranked #1 this week. And come to think of it, the Hawks also busted Utah’s winning streak. Oh and wait a minute, I can’t forget the fact that the Hawks hadn’t won in Utah since 1993. That changed yesterday. :-)
As a Hawks fan of course I am aware of the team’s weaknesses and inconsistencies. Because I choose to celebrate the teams’ small victories and not continuously harping on their failures, you wish to accuse me of not being a true/real fan. I really find this humorous because anybody that knows me would have fell out laughing because they know I am a “huge” Hawks fan.
You are discrediting this win and quite frankly it pissed me off just as much as me calling you a Debbie Downer (character from SNL) pissed you off.
I could go on and on but I’ve already typed and said enough. SMOOCHES!
by DPhenomenal1 on Feb 23, 2010 8:16 PM EST up reply actions
Hey, I know you!
No, seriously, chill man. We get it, there are mistakes that can be improved upon in every game, win or lose, but there’s no need to go all ballistic on people here with these weak attempts at “questioning their fandom” or their “basketball knowledge”. Combine those actions with also telling people to STFU and you are bordering on personal attack/flaming territory.
It’s one thing to logically note things that went wrong and another to take it to the extreme and direct your anger at fans on this site. Maybe you should do what some of us here do, including the author, and sleep on things before making such an emotional post.
"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC
Don't assume
Not to mention the fact that me and ATLpaul are cool. I just really wanted to know who Lion was. Would have been nice to let us all in on it, homie! LOL. Duff_Man sounds like he needs to pop a can of Duff and veg out on the couch! Stop trying to read a person’s tone! smh….lol
I'm seriously trying to organize a hardcore Atlanta Hawks fan club that will go to games/sportsbars to watch and support OUR Atlanta Hawks. E-mail me at beemoe75@yahoo.com
by Hawks Fan From Day One on Feb 23, 2010 3:26 PM EST reply actions
The difference tonight
was the efficient scoring from Mo Evans.
More than one playmaker off the bench = quality win.
Coming into the season I though our bench was too crowded to keep flip. But he is the kind off player we need coming off the bench. A physical defender that isn’t afraid to make shots. I realize Jamal is Flips superior replacement, but Crawford needs a running mate.
I don't get that either.....
If Lang Whitaker says that we have two roster slots available right now, why did we have to let Flip go in the first place for?
I'm seriously trying to organize a hardcore Atlanta Hawks fan club that will go to games/sportsbars to watch and support OUR Atlanta Hawks. E-mail me at beemoe75@yahoo.com
by Hawks Fan From Day One on Feb 23, 2010 4:52 PM EST reply actions
Money
We are already 16mil (could be mistaken on the exact amount) over the cap and ownership doesn’t wnt to pay for two more roster spots when they are trying to keep all available room for re-signing JJ this offseason. Sund said as much in the latest Hawks Blogger Night. Larry over at Hawk Str8Talk has his conversation broken down bullet style.
"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC
Totally off the subject but....
How do the Cavs plan on accomodating Big Z, if and when he returns? How many rosters spaces do they have? Leon Powe is being activated soon as well. Help me understand the rules.
Roster has 17 spots available i think...
And the cavs are just trying to spend enough money to convince Lebron that he shouldn’t leave. It will be a very crowded front court though with shaq, varejao, powe, jamison, Z, and Hickson. I hate the cavs and I hate lebron and i hate all there money
by liv4sport100 on Feb 23, 2010 6:39 PM EST up reply actions
I thought it was 15 max?
"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC
the more i watched the game the
more i was disgusted at bibby’s lack of any kind of skill set. he cant even shoot the 3 anymore,and it made the Jazz’s unknown backup backcourt look like all stars.
LETS START A BENCH BIBBY MOVEMENT!!! LETS GO TEAGUE!!!
be careful for what you wish for
bibby is the floor general.
At this point
he’s just the highest paid offensive assistant coach in the league.
I disagree. I think Bibby is one of the keys to our team.
He is having a rough scoring year and has always been a defensive liability but he does alot more than score. I don’t know if there are many better pick and roll point guards in the league and he rarely turns the ball over. Its too bad we keep running isolation plays and not moving the ball more.
True Bibby is a great field general and does not turn the ball over
and i really like him. but other than shooting decline, he has also lost a lot of quickness, which means he has become a defensive liability big time. His lack of quickness also means he can not penetrate any longer, which means our bigs are not getting fed inside like they should.
Also his lack of quickness means Smoove and Marvin and Lion are not running enough, have you noticed how Smoove and Lion push the ball. That is just not the way it should be, that is the point of the guards. JJ is just not a running guard, and now our point guard also walks the ball up. I believe Bibster has a role, but not at the expense of a Marvin in crunch time, or some minutes for our rookie. In the GS game, rookie was clearly adding benefits to our style
Bibby has painfully declined so quickly!
His effort on the defensive end, make Smoove and Al’s job that much tougher.
Yeah Jeff Teague was good in that game...
I don’t understand why Woodson keeps taking him out when he is doing well.
It's rather simple really
Woodson is a horrible coach fighting to keep his job each year.
"Big Ten can have this challenge. Duke loses, we all win..."
-Marcus Ginyard, G - UNC
this much i remember...
with all due respect to al who was drafted in 2007, when mike bibby came to town in feb 2008, something happened. the hawks started winning.
cant score cant play defense
last time i checked he doesnt even get assits i mean he needs to shine in one of these area to be considered a key cog to the machine if not hes just rusting the gears.
SUND NEEDS TO GET THE BRASSO OUT!!!
war general???
well we’ve lost more than a few battles due to his leadership. id look like chris paul vs. bibby in a game. dun believe me than who was ronnie price before last night??? no1. he was a fill out the bench guy in NBA 2K10 maybe.
yal got a few good conversations going on lol
I have a question. could we get big z if we wanted him or would it to cause problems for next year regarding jj?
by Hawksgirl on Feb 23, 2010 11:39 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Personally I think Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams is getting undeserved Flack,
Considering Jamaal Crawford Spectacular Play. He is I feel the No. 1 6th Man.
(although Former Atlanta Hawk and NY KNICK Al Harrington F-C is also Spectacular.
The Individual Stats on Some Platoon will be lower While Team Gets Better Record and is Rewarded in Playoffs Hopefgully with Victories.
I also Think If the Atlanta Hawks can Afford it , should if Zydunas Igladyuas is Bought out of Contract , make a Play for his Services. He would add Depth on The Bench For a Possible Playoff and then World Championship Run. I think a 7 foot-3inch man May do That. Also Resign Joe Johnson, At end of season and Keep an improving team , getting better.
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