Peachtree Hoops - Jan 2: Hawks 98, Jazz 92The place to read about/discuss the Atlanta Hawks.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/8811/peachtree-fave.jpg2015-01-03T08:34:57-05:00http://www.peachtreehoops.com/rss/stream/72432882015-01-03T08:34:57-05:002015-01-03T08:34:57-05:00Hawks climb to top of east standings
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<figcaption>Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Atlanta's 98-92 win over the Utah Jazz on Friday lifted them into first place in the Eastern Conference standings. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a> began their road trip on a good note by outlasting the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Jazz</a> 98-92 Friday night. That win, along with a loss by the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Raptors</a> to the Golden State Warrios, has the Hawks currently in first place in the Eastern Conference.</p>
<p>Its been a rather remarkable run for Atlanta who has gone 18-2 over their last 20 games. While we talk a lot about Atlanta's offense, this streak of good play is largely due to their defensive effort. Atlanta is sixth in the league in defensive efficiency allowing 100.6 points per 100 possessions. They flexed their defensive muscles again on Friday holding the Jazz to just 37 percent shooting while forcing 14 turnovers.</p>
<p>Atlanta has another tough game on Saturday night against the <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Portland Trail Blazers</a> who have won four straight, are 26-7 and are just a game back for the top spot in the Western Conference. For now though, Atlanta is at the top of the Eastern Conference mountain.</p>
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<p>Here is something nice to wake up to this morning <a href="http://t.co/R7LNAlW0av">pic.twitter.com/R7LNAlW0av</a></p>
— Peachtree Hoops (@peachtreehoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/peachtreehoops/status/551357779148300288">January 3, 2015</a>
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<span>Jeff Teague's</span> good run continues in win over Jazz</h4>
<p>Jeff Teague has taken his game to another level this season for the Atlanta Hawks. Teague finished with 25 points, eight assists and three steals in Friday's win against Utah. During Atlanta's current three-game winning streak Teague is averaging 24.7 points and 8.7 assists while shooting 54.5 percent from the field.</p>
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<p>What can't be ignored is the improvements that Teague has made on the defensive end of the floor. After Friday night's performance, Teague has an individual defensive rating of 99.4 per NBA.com which is third on the team among players who have appeared in at least 20 games. That is an exceptional improvement for Teague whose defensive attention has always been one of the biggest knocks against him in his career.</p>
<p>Teague helped harass Utah point guard <span>Trey Burke</span> into a 2-19 shooting night on Friday. He's second on the team in steals and is leading by example on the defensive end of the floor.</p>
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https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2015/1/3/7485515/hawks-vs-jazz-first-place-eastern-conferenceKris Willis2015-01-02T23:32:34-05:002015-01-02T23:32:34-05:00Hawks hold off Jazz 98-92
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<p>Jeff Teague finished with 26 points as the Atlanta Hawks held off a late fourth quarter rally to defeat the Utah Jazz 98-92. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> extend their road winning streak to five-straight games with a 98-92 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Utah Jazz</a>.</p>
<p>The Hawks went scoreless for nearly the first three minutes of the game but quickly found a rhythm while the Jazz struggled to get anything going. Atlanta led by as many as 19 points in the first quarter before a late Utah run cut the lead to 31-21 at the conclusion of the first quarter.</p>
<p>Utah's run continued into the second as they cut Atlanta's lead from 19 points down to just three as Atlanta's bench floundered. <span>Jeff Teague</span> came back in and quickly restored order as the Hawks closed the half well and led 57-45 at the break. Atlanta pushed the lead back to 19 in the third as the Jazz struggled to contain the Hawks on the offensive end of the floor.</p>
<p>Things once again got interesting in the fourth as Atlanta's bench continued to struggle. The Jazz outscored the Hawks 24-16 in the period and cut the lead to 91-87 with 3:38 remaining. <span>DeMarre Carroll</span> connected on a long jump shot at the shot clock buzzer on Atlanta's next possession and Teague pushed the lead back to eight with a floater one trip later. The Jazz again cut the lead to just four with 18 seconds remaining but Atlanta made just enough free throws down the stretch to escape with the win.</p>
<p>Teague was magnificent yet again finishing with 26 points, eight assists, three steals and zero turnovers. <span>Paul Millsap</span> added 15 points and 11 rebounds despite an uncharacteristic 2-11 shooting night. <span>Al Horford</span> finished with 13 points while DeMarre Carroll added 10.</p>
<p><span>Gordon Hayward</span> led the Jazz with 18 points on 6-14 shooting. <span>Dante Exum</span> finished with 13 while <span>Rudy Gobert</span> added 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench.</p>
<p>Atlanta's road trip continues on Saturday with a matchup against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blazersedge.com/">Portland Trail Blazers</a>.</p>
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https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2015/1/2/7483845/hawks-vs-jazz-final-scoreKris Willis2015-01-02T19:38:01-05:002015-01-02T19:38:01-05:00Rodney Hood out with sore heal<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/Tjonessltrib/status/551169078929289216">Rodney Hood out with sore&nbsp;heal</a></h3>
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https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2015/1/2/7483363/rodney-hood-out-with-sore-healKris Willis2015-01-02T17:30:02-05:002015-01-02T17:30:02-05:00Hawks vs. Jazz: Q&A with SLC Dunk
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<p>Amar of SLC Dunk stopped by Peachtree Hoops to answer some questions about Friday night's opponent, the Utah Jazz.</p> <p>Amar of SLC Dunk stopped by Peachtree Hoops to talk about tonight's game in Utah and to give us the latest on everything going on in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Jazz</a>land.</p>
<p><b>1. <span>Rudy Gobert</span> has shown tons of improvement and looks like he could be a foundational piece moving forward. Has his emergence made <span>Enes Kanter</span> expendable? How does Gobert's game fit with that of front-court mate <span>Derrick Favors</span>?</b></p>
<p>I feel as though evidence suggests that Rudy Gobert *was* good all along, he just didn't get a chance to play last year (barely 400 minutes on a team that won 25 games - aka. "Brilliant coaching and development"). Of course, he's better this season with added weight, confidence, and role with the team. The problem, if there is only one, is that Gobert and Atlanta born and raised Derrick Favors overlap more than either of them do with Enes Kanter. Of the three, Kanter looks to be the most reliable scorer, both inside and out. He's also the worst defender of the three. And that's the rub. If the Jazz want to emphasize defense you need to go with Gobert and Favors. If you want balance, you can't.</p>
<p>That's not to disparage a future pairing of the two shot blockers, it's just that right now their offensive games compete, instead of compliment. Other teams have made that work before, like the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/">Memphis Grizzlies</a> and <span>Marc Gasol</span> and Zach Randolph. But very few teams are actually the Memphis Grizzlies, so yeah . . . furthermore, Coach Quin Snyder's offense seems to be dribble penetration based and that requires appropriate floor spacing. Kanter's added a three point shot and has been killing people on pick and pops this season. So in that regard, he is a better fit.</p>
<p>So do the Jazz want to be a better offensive team (Kanter), or a better defensive team (Gobert)? In the Western conference you need to figure out what kind of team you are before you can advance, and right now - especially with Kanter heading into restricted free agency - the Jazz are still trying to figure that out.</p>
<p><b>2. What has <span>Dante Exum's</span> rookie season looked like? Several pundits believed he had a chance to be the best player from that draft class. Do you see that kind of potential in him?</b></p>
<p>I do see potential with Dante (it's hard not to, dude just turned 19 in July); however, before we get too far into it - he was drafted for who he would one day become three years from now. If you are judging him upon what he has done at the NBA level so far as a teen then you will only find things to be upset about. For whatever reason Exum isn't an impact player right now. He is very passive, and more and more his shots are coming off as a product of other player's dribble penetration than his. Exum will take a spot up jumper, or cut to the basket without the ball, and shoot. That's good. But with his athletic abilities we would hope that he calls his own number a little more and puts pressure on the defense. In a league where the point guard position gives us <span>John Wall</span> / <span>Derrick Rose</span> / <span>Russell Westbrook</span> types, the Jazz drafted an old school, pass first player. He is holding something back with his game right now; and being young, being a rookie, or adjusting to the pro game - whatever it is, it's contributing to a less overt and less impressive rookie campaign so far.</p>
<p>Personally I feel like he could be a solid starter for a playoff team. His defensive abilities will set him apart, as his understanding of the whole game is more advanced than it should be. (I guess this is the advantage you get when your dad was an NCAA player under Dean Smith, and international pro.) Dante will be a very good player in his 20ies. But that's still years from now.</p>
<p><b>3. How far away is this team from competing in the Western Conference? There are a lot of young guys on this team, so the question: is if you were the organization how much faith would you have in this core developing into a legitimate threat? If not, what pieces would you have to move around over the next few years to at least move closer to a .500 record?</b></p>
<p>There are two things you need in order to advance in the West. The first is that you have to be good. But the second, and probably more important one, is that you have to be good when other teams are on the downswing. The Jazz, a team with an average age of 24, are one of the youngest teams in the league. In the West this means that they should be on their ascent at the same time that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> (how long can they keep that core together?), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Los Angeles Clippers</a> (<span>Chris Paul</span> and bench vets getting up there), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> (No Kobe Bryant = a really bad team for a long time), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> (really old core), and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">San Antonio Spurs</a> (ditto) are all on their way down. That leaves some space, and it's important because out West you can approach 50 wins and not make the playoffs if you don't time being good at the same time there is space for you to get ahead. Don't believe me? The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> won 48 games last season - and missed the playoffs. I think the Jazz will be good at the right time.</p>
<p>I feel like the core they have right now (lotto picks who have extended contracts like <span>Gordon Hayward</span>, Derrick Favors, and <span>Alec Burks</span>) plus the young'uns on rookie deals (Dante Exum, <span>Trey Burke</span>, <span>Rodney Hood</span>, and Rudy Gobert) should be good enough to improve implicitly without making any trades. It's going to be hard to pay everyone going forward, and as a result I did not include Enes Kanter here. They should make a playoff push next season, and secure a spot in it two seasons from now. If not then you have to shuffle the deck and make changes. So I would be very patient, for now. A Western conference power vacuum / succession war is bloody, but short. If you aren't there to take advantage of it when there is space, you will be left out in the cold.</p>
https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2015/1/2/7480853/hawks-vs-jazz-q-a-with-slc-dunkDaniel Christian2015-01-02T17:20:04-05:002015-01-02T17:20:04-05:00Carroll, Horford active against Jazz<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/peachtreehoops/status/551076113850851328">Carroll, Horford active against&nbsp;Jazz</a></h3>
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https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2015/1/2/7482881/carroll-horford-active-against-jazzKris Willis2015-01-02T08:50:46-05:002015-01-02T08:50:46-05:00Hawks open 3-game road trip in Utah
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<figcaption>Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Atlanta Hawks begin a three-game road trip Friday night with a matchup against the Utah Jazz. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> closed 2014 out on a roll winning 16 of their last 18 games to climb within a half game of the Eastern Conference lead. They will open 2015 with a challenging three-game western road trip beginning Friday night with a matchup against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Utah Jazz</a>.</p>
<p>To this point, the Hawks have passed nearly every test that has been thrown at them. They have been dominant at home and have held their own on the road as well. Atlanta has won four-straight away from Philips Arena and nine of their last 10 on the road overall.</p>
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<p>The Hawks won the previous meeting between the two teams but had to come from behind late to do so. Atlanta defeated the Jazz 100-97 behind 30 points and 17 rebounds from former Jazz forward <span>Paul Millsap</span>.</p>
<p>The Jazz are 11-21 under first year coach <span>Quin Snyder</span> but have played much better of late winning five of their last seven games. <span>Gordon Hayward</span> has been on a tear of late averaging 21 points per game over the last five contests. He finished with 26 points for Utah in Tuesday's win over Minnesota. Atlanta was able to hold him in check for the most part in the first meeting as Hayward finished with just 11 points on 5-16 shooting.</p>
<p>Atlanta is expected to get <span>Al Horford</span> back in the lineup on Friday after he was a late scratch in Tuesday's win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cavaliers</a>. Horford became ill during pre-game warmups and received treatment throughout Tuesday's game. He was back at practice on Thursday and is listed as "probable" against the Jazz.</p>
<p><span>DeMarre Carroll</span> sat out Thursday's practice due to dehydration. He made the trip to Utah and is expected to play on Friday but he is listed as "questionable" on the team's injury report.</p>
<h3>Game Info</h3>
<p><b>Game Date/Time:</b> Friday January 2, 9 p.m. ET</p>
<p><b>Location:</b> EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah</p>
<p><b>TV:</b> SportSouth</p>
<p><b>Radio: </b>92.9 "The Game" FM</p>
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https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2015/1/2/7479229/hawks-vs-jazz-preview-time-tv-radioKris Willis2015-01-01T18:29:06-05:002015-01-01T18:29:06-05:00Horford back at practice, Carroll questionable
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<figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Al Horford returned to practice Thursday for the Atlanta Hawks but DeMarre Carroll is listed as questionable for Friday's game in Utah. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> were back at work on Thursday with a team practice before departing on a three-game western road trip that will take them through Utah, Portland and Los Angeles.</p>
<p>The Hawks got a bit of good news as <span>Al Horford</span> returned to practice. Horford was a late scratch from Tuesday's win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> due to an upset stomach. <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/basketball/horford-returns-carroll-held-out-at-hawks-practice/njd5S/?ecmp=ajc_social_twitter_2014_hawks_sfp">Horford told the AJC on Thursday</a> that he was feeling better and didn't expect to miss any additional time. The Hawks have listed him as "probable" for Friday's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Jazz</a>.</p>
<p>Atlanta was without forward <span>DeMarre Carroll</span> during Thursday's practice as he sat out due to dehydration. Per the AJC, <span>Mike Budenholzer</span> didn't expect Carroll to miss any time due to his condition but the team did list him as "questionable" on the injury report.</p>
<p>The upcoming road trip will be another challenge for the Hawks as they face a three-game in four day stretch.</p>
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https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2015/1/1/7479127/demarre-carroll-questionable-al-horford-returns-atlanta-hawksKris Willis