AJC: Bench Guys Want More Burn, Woody Says They Are Getting It . . . Another Day in the NBA

[Hawksquawk]

Crawford gets his minutes off the bench but what about the rest of the reserves? (Photo by Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)

Let’s start with a couple doses of perspective.

First, the Hawks have won 27 games halfway through the season. They are within a half game of Boston for No. 2 in the East. It doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be better. It does mean any discussion of Woody’s rotation has to be viewed through that prism. You can argue about who should be playing more and when but remember the Hawks are doing pretty dang good.

Second, all bench players want to play more, and starters usually tend not to want the bench players to take their minutes. Notice how J.J. responded after the reserves sparked the Hawks to that victory over the Kings Wednesday night.

Wasn’t it nice to be able to rest while the second unit did some heavy lifting?

“I guess it was all right,” Johnson said.

So with those truisms in mind, it’s evident that the Hawks’ reserves would like more games like …

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[Admin]

“I guess it was all right,” Johnson said.

It's quotes like that from JJ that really get on my nerves although I could be reading into it too much. I'd love to see more games like last night where our reserves get good minutes but I won't hold my breath waiting for it to happen.

[Plainview1981]

It's quotes like that from JJ that really get on my nerves although I could be reading into it too much. I'd love to see more games like last night where our reserves get good minutes but I won't hold my breath waiting for it to happen.

JJ has got an ego no doubt. He just doesn't expose it to the public.

The bench would get more burn if they would produce. Mo Evans and ZaZa have NOT been productive on a regular basis.

I'm starting to think though that Woody plays the starters so many minutes to feed the players ego.

Edited January 21, 2010 by Hotlanta1981

[Atlantaholic]

It's quotes like that from JJ that really get on my nerves although I could be reading into it too much. I'd love to see more games like last night where our reserves get good minutes but I won't hold my breath waiting for it to happen.

What I would like to see is our bench playing when our starters are off... It seems like Woody plays the starters more minutes when they are sucking. (Because we are down). The Bench only comes in when the game is out of hand for the most part.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Tell the bench to play better, and they'll get more time. When you have guys routinely posting -6 to -12 plus/minus numbers in 5 to 7 minutes of playing time, it's hard to justify most of them getting more playing time later in the game.

Zaza and Mo, like Hotlanta said, haven't played anywhere near the level that they played at in previous years. Out of everybody on the bench, those are the 2 that could help the 2nd unit the most.

The bench has to play defense every night though. That's the #1 problem with our reserves.

[HawkNJersey]

Have we been watching the same bench play? Want more burn? Are you kidding me?

[JJFAN4LF]

I'm fine with the minutes Woody is giving the bench. I would love to see a little bit more of Joe Smith, but just not alongside Zaza. The only complaint I have about Woody's rotation is the lineups he has on the court.

[TruJerz]

<div id="attachment_896" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 272px"><img src="http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/files/2010/01/crawford.0121+CC4-262x300.jpg" alt="Crawford gets his minutes off the bench but what about the rest of the reserves? (Photo by Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)" title="crawford.0121+CC4" width="262" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-896" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Crawford gets his minutes off the bench but what about the rest of the reserves? (Photo by Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)</p></div><p>Let’s start with a couple doses of perspective.</p><p>First, the Hawks have won 27 games halfway through the season. They are within a half game of Boston for No. 2 in the East. It doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be better. It does mean any discussion of <strong>Woody’s</strong> rotation has to be viewed through that prism. You can argue about who should be playing more and when but remember the Hawks are doing pretty dang good.</p><p>Second, all bench players want to play more, and starters usually tend not to want the bench players to take their minutes. Notice how <strong>J.J.</strong> responded after the <a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2010/01/20/hawks-squawks-hawks-108-kings-97/" target="new">reserves sparked the Hawks to that victory over the Kings Wednesday night.</a> </p><p>Wasn’t it nice to be able to rest while the second unit did some heavy lifting?</p><p>“I guess it was all right,” Johnson said.</p><p>So with those truisms in mind, it’s evident that the Hawks’ reserves would like more games like …</p>

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I think the bench should see more time on the floor. Zaza, Evans, Teague and even Jason Collins should all be playing a few more minutes a game. The starters arent always playing well either and yet he keeps them in when their struggling. Crawford is the only bench players that stays in but he's playing well so that's expected. I want to see more Collins against biggers teams like Magic, Cavs, Celtics, and Lakers. If I coached this team, we'd be winning the conference lol

[NineOhTheRino]

It's quotes like that from JJ that really get on my nerves although I could be reading into it too much. I'd love to see more games like last night where our reserves get good minutes but I won't hold my breath waiting for it to happen.

That's Joe. Dude doesn't get too high or too low. Without seeing the video it's extremely difficult to make a call either way. For all we know he was trying to make a funny.

[JackB1]

Woody is not using his bench (besides Crawford) ANY MORE than last year. They may be getting more minutes because we have had more blowouts where they come in for "mop up duty".

Woody needs to use these guys more in situations that matter otherwise it looks like he has no confidence in them. The other night against SAC was the FIRST time in recent memory where

he used a good portion of the bench when the lead was less than 15 points.

[JackB1]

The starters arent always playing well either and yet he keeps them in when their struggling.

Totally agree. How many 4th quarters have we seen where the Hawks can't buy a basket for half the quarter?

Wouldn't that be a good time Woody?

[Birdman316]

The bench wants more burns? Ok besides Crawford:

-Mo Evans has been terrible every since he had those few games where he was 11 or 18 from three. Every since then every thing he throws up is a brick.

-Joe Smith has not been the same since his injury. Before his injury he was almost automatic from mid range. Now he cant make a basket.

-Teague has no offensive game. He doesnt make open shot. And anytime he gets close to the rim he cant finish. He eithet misses or he gets it blocked.

-ZaZa has NO offensive game. I hate seeing ZaZa in the post. Yes he hustles and gets rebounds but thats it.

So our bench besides Crawford has pretty much SUCKED!!! IF you want more playing time, get more consistant