Sekou gets it

[exodus]

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It’s the way they are losing that should worry you. The same show almost every night. Start well, big lead, lose it late while abandoning the things that got you the lead in the first place.

It’s beyond foolish for the Hawks to think they can routinely win games playing out of the half court sets that they’ve made painful to watch. They don’t have the type of spot up shooters that other teams have, which would make such an approach feasible.

The Hawks are built to run, love it or leave it, that’s what they are. And it only makes sense to play to that strength (they scored at will in the transition game against Portland, one of the few teams young enough and athletic enough to match them in that regard).

click

[troubleman]

Yep he gets it. People wonder why Brandon Roy was able to beat Joe off the dribble, and Joe was unable to shake him. It's simple really. The Hawks had to respect Portland's shooters last night, so they were a step late on help defense (if at all), while the Blazers(heck any team) can afford to play off, because of the Hawks lack of long range shooters. This allowed a Blazer defender to redirect Joe Johnson on the 2nd to last possession of the game, and forced him into a bad shot. Yes, the Hawks have to run, because this team is built to run, despite the fact that 2 of the 3 point guards are not really "push it" types, which leads to the adventures of Al Horford or Josh Smith when they lead the break.

[thesheedera]

Just as a side not - I thought AJ did an excellent job pushing the tempo last night.

[macdaddy]

I think most everyone gets that. Its just when crunch time comes and you HAVE to run a half court set you've to to be able to do something. And when the playoffs come around there is a much slower tempo. So what's the solution? I'd start with a deeper rotation so our guys have something in the tank at the end. Maybe give Joe the ball in the low post instead of top of the key so he can make a move or pass out.

[DJ_Money]

We all get it...

...with one notable exception.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

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I think most everyone gets that.

Its just when crunch time comes and you HAVE to run a half court set you've to to be able to do something.

And when the playoffs come around there is a much slower tempo. So what's the solution? I'd start with a deeper rotation so our guys have something in the tank at the end.

Maybe give Joe the ball in the low post instead of top of the key so he can make a move or pass out.

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Give this man a (( bleepin' )) PRIZE!!!

You are exactly right Mr. Mac.

This is the exact reson why Phoenix hasn't beaten the Spurs to get to the finals, even though they are much better equipped than us. During crunch time, you have to have that guy that can make a play on their own for the team. You're not going to be trying to run a fast break in the final few minutes of a game, especially if you have the lead.

When the game slows down, my boy Shawn Marion is pretty much a non-factor. That's why every time the Suns lose, they blame him for losing the series.

The Spurs will take the ball out of Nash's hands, or pur Bruce Bowen on him, and force Nash to give it up. Amare isn't scoring over Duncan most of the time in that situation. Bell isn't shooting unless he's wide open. And you know Diaw's azz ain't shooting.

So a lot of the time, the ball ends up in Shawn's hands, if Nash doesn't force a shot. Shawn gets the ball, and either misses the open jumper, or misses the forced shot. Phoenix loses the series, and Suns fans cry to the havens about how Shawn sucks, even if he did score 19 points, grab 14 rebounds, and had 2 blocks and 4 steals.

EVERY team in the league, has to execute in the 1/2 court. You either better have a go-to play you can run, or a go-to guy you can give the ball to.

I totally agree with you Mac, when you say to give the ball to JJ in the post. Roy is almost as big as JJ though, so his post defense may be solid against JJ. But with JJ's leg the way it was, that's probably the route to go. Put JJ in a double threat position in which he can be closer to the basket in order to shoot and/or possibly draw a foul. Of have him pass it out to a Marvin or even a Lue, if doubled.

But then again, if Lue is in the game, he's the one the Blazers will attack on the other end, not a sligtly hobbled JJ.

Great post mac.

[mrhonline]

The Hawks simply need to get to the playoffs this year.

In the future, they're going to need shooters.

[macdaddy]

Thank you very much!

I'm not a huge Salim fan but this is why he could use some minutes. At least have him warm so when you need a fearless shooter at the end he's there. You know the Closer Jr.

[Gray Mule]

Obvious answer is shown here.

They quit doing the things that got them the big lead.

Hello!!

Why go into your shell? Why quit running and moving the

ball with a lot of passing to find the open man? Why

go to the passive, prevent offense/defense?

That's not what got them the lead they had. The lead

came from being the aggressor. That's how they got

that dunk for Josh to move lead back to six.

[exodus]

You are missing the point.

The hawks problem isn't just that they aren't pushing the ball in the second half. It is also that they stop passing the ball in the half court sets. They just keep running iso's over and over and that is on Woodson.

[AHF]

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The hawks problem isn't just that they aren't pushing the ball in the second half. It is also that they stop passing the ball in the half court sets. They just keep running iso's over and over and that is on Woodson.

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Well said.

Clearly the Hawks need to be able to play in the halfcourt but how they attempt to do that is the second half of the equation. Using San Antonio as the example again, you aren't going to see them in the playoffs going with one player on isolation plays over and over. They will continue to move the ball on most possessions in the halfcourt game down the stretch unless someone is just absoutely on fire and abusing his man.

[frosgrim]

The good teams with knowledgable coaches also will use all of their offensive weapons at the end of games. Why not run a different play? If the other team is closing JJ down, why not let Smith get a chance or Marvin. Let someone else catch the ball and see what he has. Give players the chance to fail and they might surprise us and Woodson. That is, they might succeed.

Marvin, Smith, Law all need a chance to succeed. If they fail, then maybe they learn. The argument that the teams needs to win now and Joe is the only option isn't working. The best definition I've heard of madness is doing the same thing over and over again, while expecting a different result.

Woodson simply cannot lead the Hawks. I am amazed the players are still doing what he tells them to do. A revolt can't be that far off.

[thesheedera]

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It is also that they stop passing the ball in the half court sets. They just keep running iso's over and over and that is on Woodson.

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DING DING DING

[DrReality]

This is not the first time Sekou has said this. I mentioned it in a post earlier this month. I don't see how a GM and/or owners can stand behind him when he says this kind of thing. It is idiodic and for them to allow it to continue defaces the franchise more every day.