Gameday Preview vs Atlanta Hawks
by David A. Arnott on Nov 6, 2009 10:50 AM EST
11 comments
Pump Up Music: Green Day -- "Brain Stew"
The Big Picture: All of a sudden, before anyone realized it, the Atlanta Hawks have come to a place where they seem to believe they're dark horse contenders in the Eastern Conference. Maybe it's because they pushed the Celtics to the brink a couple years ago and then outslugged the Heat in the first round last year before getting swept by the Cavs. It certainly looks like progress.
However, their limitations are still the same as they've been the past few years and the questions they have to answer are the same. Can Mike Bibby continue to stave off the aging process? Is it really the best use of the team's resources to play Bibby and Jamal Crawford at the nominal point guard position when both are very fond of shooting, when Joe Johnson and Josh Smith are also there and need touches?
Key to Victory: So far this season, Crawford has been gunning and gunning and gunning to pretty good effect. Comparing the Hawks' first unit to the Cats' first unit, there are advantages and disadvantages, but the second unit is where the Cats simply don't have anyone to match up with someone like Crawford. If Crawford plays "point guard", be afraid, very afraid, of a mini-repeat of his 50-point game at the Cable Box last year because D.J. Augustin won't be able to deal with him, and Raymond Felton can't play the whole game. If they can figure out a way to shut him down, either with an adjustment or if the Hawks have Crawford split time with Johnson more than Bibby, that'll probably be the difference between a close win and the team's first home loss.
There's one major trend developing this season: If we win, it will be because of defense. Let up on D, and we can't really hope for the offense to step up.
Detail That Might Interest .08% of You: Joe Johnson's full first name is Joe. Not Joseph. Not something else. Joe.
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The small lineup
Because of the Hawks strength in the guard position, this is one of those situations where playing an extra guard might benefit us. If we start Felton at the point he should be able to control – or at least minimalize Bibby. When the subs come rolling in to play the meat of the 2nd quarter, we can run with 3 guards while Felton is catching his wind. This way, we get the benefit of Augustin’s scoring hand at the forward position, and he can transition back on defense to assist Henderson or Bell in containing Crawford. The two of them – albeit not defensive powerhouses themselves for various reasons – might be able to give Crawford enough defensive looks and changes to take him out of his game.
Of course, this would involve Coach Brown using his rookie and I’ve quickly come to agree with many in this group who believe Brown would rather endure major surgery with a butter knife than do that, but he’s also a smart man. He’s built a career out of using creative defense over developing fancy offensive sets so I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least Bell getting some large minutes this evening.
What do y’all think? Will it work? More importantly, will it work well enough to hold the Hawks scoring down enough for our offense to limp to a lead?
If we go with three guards, that would mean at least one of them is guarding Marvin Williams (not fun) and one of the shorter ones is likely guarding Joe Johnson (also not fun). Ultimately, I think we’re better off playing bigger than Atlanta and pounding Smith in the post with Diaw, where Smith won’t be able to provide help defense, and where Diaw can be most effective with his passing.
by David A. Arnott on Nov 6, 2009 1:18 PM EST up reply actions
Good song!
Hey could you use The Rolling Stones-Paint it Black some time?
It is such a badass song though it needs to be used on on opponent we really hate and need to get pumped up for(maybe lakers, celtics, magic).
Just in case y'all want more info on this trade
I did some digging around in the Warriors news and blogging world and it appears that Golden State isn’t in any real rush to unload Jackson, even though they’re having a lot of problems with him attitude-wise. The Bobcats are being mentioned regularly now although Denver and Cleveland were both the original likely teams of interest. Denver is off to a hot start so the scuttlebutt is that they don’t really care about sucking up Jackson’s long term contract right now and they don’t have a package of players they are willing to give up. Cleveland was interested, but don’t want to do much more than wait and see until the Dec 15th free agency sweepstakes kicks off.
The Cats are being mentioned because Johnson has been trying to shop VladRad and Diaw around the league and the two of them would make a tempting package to the Warrior management. On the Charlotte side, dumping the two paychecks will mean that Johnson won’t take that much of an initial payroll hit and still be able to get a decent presence from Jackson.
Most feel it unlikely that there will be any trade completed before mid-December and there are so many “ifs” surrounding the Bobcats involvement to make it something worth taking too seriously at this point.
Having said that, and knowing the unpredictable nature of the team’s front office, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Jackson suited up and sitting on our bench at tonight’s game!
by Ourdaywillcome on Nov 6, 2009 3:04 PM EST up reply actions
Another reason to wait...
The Warriors will have more options open up on December 15th, when players who were signed this past summer can be traded.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Nov 8, 2009 10:54 PM EST up reply actions
Why are trying to trade Diaw...
I thought LB loved him…and if we did trade him would be get Turiaf?
Turiaf and the Diaw doghouse
The articles I read (and keep in mind these are all from the West Coast) said that Brown had soured on Diaw and said he would prefer a trade that would involve him.
I did find one quote from Warriors management saying that one of the reasons the Cavs are stepping back is because they insisted that any trade involve Turiaf and the Warriors refuse to discuss anything that involves him in the mix unless Cleveland is willing to give up Ilgauskas. The Cavs management won’t even consider that as an option.
by Ourdaywillcome on Nov 6, 2009 5:30 PM EST up reply actions
Brown has been way down on Diaw.
He’s complained both about his effort in rebounding and overall conditioning.
Remember when the Panthers had a good offensive line? Yeah, me too.
--Darin Gantt
by MichaelProcton on Nov 8, 2009 10:54 PM EST up reply actions
My opinion...
I don’t think think Charlotte is actively trying to trade Diaw but he would most likely be the player Golden State would want in return for Jackson. Larry Brown has made a few comments concerning Diaw’s conditioning (or lack thereof), so it is possible Diaw is in Brown’s doghouse now.
It would be a shame if we lost Diaw for a streaky and whiny player but I wouldn’t put too much stock into it because its just a rumor…for now, at least.
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