GameNight: Hawks Ease the Pain

[jaywalker72]

Hawks Ease the Pain

Well, what’s the problem here?

After a long night of wringing hands over the Tuesday night flop in Chicago at the hands of the Big Bull(y)s, the Hawks stormed back at home against a mildly successful Milwaukee Bucks team and authored a emphatic 96-80 victory Wednesday night.

After getting thoroughly pantsed by the Bulls in the paint the night before, the Hawks big men, led by Al Horford and ZaZa Pachulia, outrebounded and outhustled the visiting Bucks, helping to control the paint and get the Hawks the victory it needed to rebound.

Horford got the Hawks off to a great start early, getting four field goals in the first quarter, on his way to a career (so far) high of 6 for the game (12 points). Horford scored in a variety of ways on the offensive end---post up, face up, spin move, and layup. He even led a fast break which ended with him feeding surprise starter Mario West for a jam.

“It depends on what kind of team we are playing,” explained Horford about the team’s success in the paint (42 points). “A team like the Bulls weren’t letting us play in the post, standing there in the middle forcing the game to the outside, but this team didn’t bring the double team and it let the bigs just go play.”

Pachulia added 14 points and 8 rebounds, leading a stout effort from the bench crew that helped give the Hawks some breathing room in the 2nd quarter, a quarter the Hawks won 24-14.

The Hawks outrebounded the Bucks 38-34, including a 13-9 advantage on the offensive glass, where the Hawks were drubbed 24-11 the night before in Chicago.

“It’s really important,” said Anthony Johnson, who started the game at the point with rookie Acie Law out again. “With us being a young team—we want to get out and run and to do that we have to win in the paint. As long as they (the bigs) give us the energy and the effort, that’s all you can really ask.”

Added Josh Smith, who balanced his game nicely with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 blocks, “As opposed to last night, we were able to rebound the basketball, limit them to one shot and get out and start fast breaks. When we are doing that, we are at our best.”

Defensively, the Hawks played large as well, giving up 14 points in both the 2nd and 4th quarters, giving the Hawks control of the game.

“The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters our defense really settled in,” stated Coach Mike Woodson. “(They) stayed solid, and enabled us to bring home the win. I thought we were as good defensively in those 3 quarters as we have been all year.”

“I thought in the second quarter we really wanted to clamp down and help each other,” added Joe Johnson. “In the 4th quarter we focus more than we do in the 1st and 3rd. We need to bring that in every quarter, but we have come up with big plays in the 4th.”

The Hawks surprised many by starting Mario West at the small forward position, a move designed to bring some energy early in the game on the defensive end.

“I thought Mario West was a big key for us to be able to get out and be able to bring that energy right from the beginning,” said Horford, echoing a sentiment that flowed from the Hawks locker room about the affable guard.

West was part of a concerted effort to make Michael Redd uncomfortable and while the Team USA guard still shot 9-21 for 24 points, Redd was unable to take over the game to pull the Bucks even with the Hawks after the first quarter.

“We tried to disrupt his comfort zone,” said Joe Johnson, who had a Hawks-high 21 points of his own. “Whenever he came off of a pick, as long as he saw two guys; that was the effort we wanted to bring.”

That effort, which seemed to be consistent throughout the game, was the key in allowing the Hawks to control tempo and impose their game on the Bucks, who looked extremely thin talent-wise compared to the home team.

Unconscious Thoughts

The Hawks really need a full time PG to make this team go on a consistent basis. Anthony Johnson did a nice job with 6 assists and only 1 turnover, and Tyronn Lue had 11 points, including a 3-pointer which extended the Hawks lead for good in the 4th.

However---

As Lue explained after the game, the Hawks have 4 point guards, so by numbers one of them will step up and have a good game, thereby covering the Hawks.

Hmmmm.

If the Hawks are going to move forward, there has to be consistency at the point. Much like the QB position in football, you are not going to be very effective alternating the signal caller on a regular basis.

So who then?

For those who are clinging to hope that Speedy Claxton will provide that answer, my advice to those would be to go ahead and cancel those plans to hold your breath until he comes back. The gut feeling is that it could be a long time before Speedy feels right, if at all this season.

The good news is that Acie Law should be ready in a couple of games and the buzz is that his instincts at the point should be what the Hawks need from that position.

To temper expectations, however, one should remember the aforementioned comparison of the PG to the NFL QB---and while there are examples of rookie QBs who dominate early, it’s usually a learning process, as it will be for Law. Remember, not even Deron Williams started immediately for the Jazz.

Where’s Marvin?

Marvin Williams was a late scratch from the game as his hip was too sore to play against the Bucks. After the game, it was not known how much action Williams would miss. “He’s a tough customer,” said Woodson about his young forward, but the coach could not estimate a return.

While one Williams was missing time, another was happy to be getting more. Because of the injury to Marvin, Shelden Williams got a chance to pop back into the double digits in the minutes column, something that had happened only twice in the previous ten games. Shelden had some key plays in a second quarter that saw the bench beat down the Bucks bench, including a slam that came from the assist of J-Smoove.

[Guest]

Great article, and I definitely agree about the PG position, we need some stability/quality and not necessarily quantity. Question about your Speedy comment, is there some inside info hinting that he won't return for a long time because that is what it sounded like...

[BeeSwatter]

Always enjoy reading your posts, Thanks!

[Gray Mule]

Thanks. Good article, as usual.

Great to have you posting again. You've been missed.

[coachx]

Good to hear from you Jay.

Your analysis has been missed around here.

[Nicholasp27]

thanks jay!

sucks about speedy

looking forward to your friday article

will u be able to get up to the atl more often this season?

[exodus]

Quote:

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“I thought Mario West was a big key for us to be able to get out and be able to bring that energy right from the beginning,” said Horford, echoing a sentiment that flowed from the Hawks locker room about the affable guard.

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That is true. he hustled and ripped some rebounds away from the Bucks. I like the way he played.

[AtLaS]

It's sad that this thread (that actually has meaning) almost reaches the bottom of the page while dumb posts such as "Mike Woodson is fired" and "bash Sothron" are at the top of the board getting the most play. Thanks for this post jay. I'm looking forward to your other article .

[Sothron]

Let's don't stick the trolls on Jay.

Great article as usual Jay.

[Johann]

Thanks for the work. Much appreciated.

[Jdawgflow]

Reminds me of the good 'ole days when we sucked (even worse than we do now) but at least had some insightful threads. Hope you can stick around Jay. I look forward to it.

[Traceman]

Reading this reminds me of just how spoiled we all were when you were doing this pretty much full time. Hopefully, you can make it back up for another game before the season is over. If so, give me a shout - dinner is on me!

[Atlantaholic]

Mario West needs to start every game. At least so we don't come out with five dudes sleepwalking to start games like has been the case most of the year.

[Southern_Bred]

I kind of like that idea...that Royal Ivey role for west. His energy seems to rub off on every one else. It may help us from being down early in games do to lackluster play.

[Atlantaholic]

What Royal did in theory, West does literally... if Woody was willing to start Royal night in night out, it would baffle me that he wouldn't do the same with West.

I would start him at Guard when Marvin gets back (no need to hurt Marv's confidence by taking his spot away from him), and then put AJ or Lue in half-way through the first.

[Nicholasp27]

yeah, i'd start mario/jj/marvin/smoove/horford today

when law is back, law starts obv, but west can come in wherever it makes sense in the game to inject some energy

[Atlantaholic]

Yeah... start or not, West needs to get in the game early on somehow to set the tone. When you see a guy hustle as hard as West does (it's almost inhuman) it makes you pick up your intensity also... We have needed that kind of boost on many nights this year.

[BusBoyIsBack]

Quote:

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Yeah... start or not, West needs to get in the game early on somehow to set the tone. When you see a guy hustle as hard as West does (it's almost inhuman) it makes you pick up your intensity also... We have needed that kind of boost on many nights this year.

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So Mario West started the last game?

And the players fed off his energy?

Well then there is no way he'll start/play early again because that would make too much sense for Woodhead to do

Why play a guy who could solve one of your team's biggest problems in lack of energy/enthusiasm?

That would be way too logical.