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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > November > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDon’t make assumptions about these Hawks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two years ago, when the Hawks jumped out to a 4-1 start, you would have thought within the ownership group that they had just clinched the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Then they lost four straight, 12 of 16 and 22 of 28. Lottery talk moved up to January. Again.
Such a collapse isn’t likely to happen with these Hawks. A deep talent pool should keep them from prolonged stretches of infamy. But if it’s quiet around the team, there’s a reason. They won their first six. Now they’ve lost three in a row.
The problem with projecting an immediate bounce back is the Hawks really don’t have a resume that screams, “Stay calm. All is well.”
As general manager Rick Sund said Monday, “We’re not a team like San Antonio. Whether they start 2-8 or 8-2, nobody there is going panic or say, ‘We’ve got it made.’ We’re a team of young veterans. Let’s face it, we made the playoffs last year with a losing record.”
So consider this the first test.
On Tuesday, the Hawks play at Indiana. It begins another difficult stretch: four games in five nights, seven games in 12 nights, eight of 13 games on the road. The Hawks also have eight sets of back-to-backs in five weeks.
Tired yet?
Fatigue, be it physical or mental, was evident in Saturday’s dreadful home loss to New Jersey. Teams are not defined by how they react during winning streaks, but rather how they react when it looks like the bottom might start to fall out.
“We have to get to playing defense like we were the first six games,” guard Mike Bibby said.
He was sitting in the locker room after practice at Philips Arena, looking up at the white board across the room.
“You see what that says there: 47 percent, 55 percent, 115 points, 119 points — that can’t happen,” he said, referencing New Jersey’s shooting percentages and point totals in consecutive games. “It seemed like they scored every time down the court. When you play 82 games, that’s going to happen sometimes. But you can’t let it happen too much.”
Bibby won at least 50 games in each of his first four seasons with Sacramento before things started to go south. He experienced mostly losing his first three years in Vancouver.
“Good teams bounce back,” he said. “When I was in Sacramento, my main talk was, ‘Don’t lose two in a row.’ String together as many wins as possible. Get to 50 before you get to 20.”
It has been 11 years since the Hawks had a 50-win season. If nobody is projecting a 6-3 start over an 82-game season, there’s a reason.
There is too much unknown about this team. How will the players react to each other as the season wears on? How will they react to coach Mike Woodson? Will leadership become an issue during conflict?
Woodson only knows that he didn’t like what he saw Saturday against New Jersey. The Nets scored 64 points in the second half of a 119-107 win. They hit 12 of 18 3-pointers.
“I don’t like the way we played,” he said, and he let players know as much in practice Monday after giving them a day off.
“The message is the same as it’s always been,” he said. “When you’re on the front end of a 6-0 run and you’re winning games, the energy level can’t go the other way.”
If the dragging continues Tuesday night or in the next few games, he said he’ll shorten players minutes. This will be a feeling out process. There can’t be any assumptions about how the season plays out because, well, as Sund said, these aren’t the Spurs. And to some degree, only nine games into an 82-game season, the Hawks still need to prove they’re not the Hawks.
Permalink | Comments (18) | Post your comment | Categories: Hawks/NBA
Comments
By DOR
November 17, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
Can we get A. Mcdyess?
By 007
November 17, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this
The problem lately is a very easy diagnosis. They played a VERY emotional game with the Celtics last week and lost. Had they won the game things would probably be different. That game was one the Hawks had been looking forward to for a while and when they came out of it with a loss, they were mentally drained. Then they dropped back to back games to the Nets. They also had to be very tired from playing 7 games in 11 days. The other things is - THIS IS THE NBA. Everybody is good. When you show up and dont bring any energy you are most likely going to lose. Also dont forget we are playing without Josh Smith and that is a major blow to our defense. This team will be fine. Dont expect them to finish in the top 3 or 4 but they should be able to get in as 5 or 6 at worst. Although I would love to see them at 4th or better so we could have the home advantage in the playoffs.
By south ga. boy
November 17, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this
have to agree with 007, the hawks r still in a funk from the loss to the celts. they r showing their youth now, young players tend to get too high when winning & too low when losing, vetrans tend to see the big picture as Bibby said in the column. Josh has left a big hole on defense & they need toget him back. C’mon Hawks, bring the energy & get a win in indiana, that & get jsmoove back will be just what the doctor ordered. one more thing, Woodson has done a helluva job, i believe he will right the ship.
By Anthony
November 17, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this
With them still being young they have to always be defensive minded. If they play good team defense then the offense will come. That will allow us easy baskets. They tend to drift away from what works. Some may say fatigue, I say laziness. They are going to have to stay motivated and play with a sense of urgency. What ya think? Give some of the bench a chance. I assure you they’ll want some playing time!
By Volman
November 17, 2008 11:57 PM | Link to this
Where is Sekou???? WE WANT SEKOU SMITH
By jj
November 18, 2008 12:40 AM | Link to this
The Hawks and Woody fell back into their old self after the Celtic lost by letting Joe do it and not trusting each other.Woody ,trust your bench,especially AC.We can not win relying on 3’s,we must drive and create.Don’t wear Joe out Woody,it’s a long year.
By mj
November 18, 2008 2:34 AM | Link to this
Hey, Schultzie when does Zaza return full strenght his injury along with J-Smooves is the reason this team lost three straight.
By THE MAN
November 18, 2008 2:36 AM | Link to this
i think 007 and south ga. boy should just make out.
IT SHOULDN’T TAKE FOUR DAYS TO GET OVER ONE LOSS, EVEN IF IT IS TO THE CELTICS.
schultz is right, too much about these hawks are unknown. check back in three weeks and see where this PROJECT is at.
By Mort Merkel
November 18, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this
No, no, no. You’ve got it all wrong Jeff. Woody’s been vindicated. Didn’t you read Teri Moore’s column? It’s all been settled. Don’t worry. Might as well send them the championship trophy and start on Woody’s hall of fame bust now.
Pffft. Bwa hahhahahahaha!
By pappa cap
November 18, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this
the hawks will be cellar dwellers as usual,not enough white boys out there
By BIGEASY830
November 18, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
I know the Hweaks ownership has been terrible. I know management has not been that great. I know the Hawks has been the laughing stock of the league for sometime. I know NBA people think the Hawks really screwed up and dropped the ball by letting J-Chill sign with a team in Greece. But there was nothing the hawks could do to stop that. J-Chill was not gonna turn down that money and we would have been crazy to match it. I know you, Jeff Shultz, was very criticaal of the team for J-Chill signing with that team in Greece, but let it go man. The hawks have a very talented team. Yes, I wish we would have at least split that series with the Nets, but, there are 82 games in a season I still say we win 50 plus. Some fans hate Coach Woodson for hanging in there through the rough years with basically a college team roster. I think the man is doing a good job and is a good coach. There is a reason why the University of Indiana and the Detroit Pistons thought about offering him their head coach position.
By steve
November 18, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
The issue has been size. With ZaZa out, we are lacking a big man in the paint. I know Solo has done a decent job, but its not enough. Whats with this Randolph Morris. The guy is 6’11” and 275. Seems like he should be getting minutes to help out with the boards.
Whats this guy’s story? Is he just not ready?
We need size, he’s got size. Whats the problem?
By steve
November 18, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
And another question, why are we still paying Speedy Claxton 5.7m dollars a year?
I know he’s a nice guy and all, but…
By MsDee
November 18, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
Yeah, Speedy should be back by now. He only have an hamstring injury. His knee was suppose to be healthy so what’s the deal? we could use his speed on defense since we are lacking 2 major ones in Zaza and Josh..
By BPJ
November 18, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
I think it’s simple: Josh Smith and Zaza Pachulia are out with injuries. The victories reflected improved defensive play over last year, as the team matures. Smith is the best defender the Hawks have (and the 2nd or 3rd best player), so it’s no surprise defense has suffered. Zaza was also playing notably better than last year. The Hawks bench is good enough to give the starters a rest without blowing a lead (don’t underrate that), but not good enough to make up for a starter out with injuries. This Hawks team can be excellent this year, if the 5 starters are able to play most nights. If one or more starters are out for significant stretches of time, the team will only be average.
By Vick Supporter
November 18, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
The Hawks are for real
By StoneBone
November 18, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
Can we get Mcdyess. We won’t go far in the playoffs with ZaZa and SoLo off the bench.
By Baracked the Vote
November 18, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this
Hey, Jerk Schultz! I think one of the last columns you wrote on the hawks was that u were taking a wait and see approach and now u say they have a deep talent pool.. what happened, did you switch from pot to crack? this is the same team, that had a lot of fans excited, but you were stepping back. now, 9 games into the season, u are singing a different tune. what a knucklehead.