Things I learned from watching the Hawks beat the Blazers

by nobodyinparticular on Nov 4, 2009 1:22 AM PST

I just got back from my first live NBA game in years. I got to watch the Hawks take down the young Portland Trail Blazers. Knowing the Kings would play the Hawks Wednesday night, I wanted to see what the Kings were up against.

1) Al Horford is a BEAST. This is the biggest one. I have no idea how he does it, but the guy's athleticism and quickness is out of this world for a guy who is 6'10" and 245 lbs. There were times that he moved better than Brandon Roy on the court. He's not incredibly strong, but he played like he could be a 2 guard.

2) Al Horford is a BEAST part 2. I haven't looked at the full box score so I don't actually know what his +/- was, but I saw a huge difference when he was on the court and when he was off the court. Specifically, when he was off the court, Lamarcus Aldridge was doing his own beasting--providing a spark for the Blazers on both sides of the court. However, when Horford was on the court, Aldridge absolutely disappeared. I would not look for Jason Thompson to have his breakout game of the season against Atlanta because I would bet Horford will be guarding him all game.

3) Mike Bibby continues to lose his quickness. This is sad and yet not unexpected considering his age. Bibby was never The Flash, but Bibby is really starting to age. I would think having Tyreke guard Bibby would be a bit of a waste of 'Reke's ability to be honest. Bibby is still very cerebral and the best floor general on the Hawks, but he's certainly not the PG who dropped 6 straight 20-point games against the Lakers in the 2002 playoffs.

4) The Hawks offense looked best when it was running the floor. When the Hawks played a half-court offense, they were slow and ineffective. With Horford's quickness moving down the court, the Hawks were able to get their size down the court before the Blazers and take advantage of Horford almost every time.

All this said, I think the Hawks are a beatable team. The damage down low is going to have to come when Horford is not in the game, but I think we have a team that can hang with Atlanta. I will be interested to see how Hawes and JT play this game.

(This is a FanPost from a member of the Sactown Royalty community. The views expressed come from the member, and not Sactown Royalty staff.)

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Comments

Hawes and JT need to get it going.

I really don’t see a big mismatch in Bibby-Evans or JoeJohnson-KMart.

Hawes/Thompson have to Horford/Smith

There can only be one Noce!

by NoceOne on Nov 4, 2009 2:48 AM PST reply actions

Whoops!

HAwes/Thompson have to gain an advantage over Horford/Smith. Can’t reasonably expect KMart to go off for 48 again.

There can only be one Noce!

by NoceOne on Nov 4, 2009 2:49 AM PST up reply actions

If he doesn't get 48 tonight, we need to trade him

We need CONSISTENCY

... Now let me show you why they call me the Velour Fog...

by tomroadrunner on Nov 4, 2009 9:15 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

your first comment made perfect sense to me

and we can put Cakes and Noc to body up Horford if the tall guys can’t get it done

"I make love to pressure" - Stephen Jackson

by Bluejohn on Nov 4, 2009 1:08 PM PST up reply actions

Whoever Bibby guards

is going to have a field day. Kings need to take advantage of that matchup. Good opportunity for Beno to get some PT as well.

"The basis for winning an NBA title is having a superstar in his prime. Not an all-star, or a bunch of all-stars, but a superstar."

by coolcatreportdotcom on Nov 4, 2009 12:16 PM PST up reply actions

I'm glad we're catching them on a back-to-back

That and us coming off a nice win are the only reasons I think we pull this one out.

Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.

by Aykis16 on Nov 4, 2009 9:04 AM PST reply actions

to clarify

Do you think the Kings will win, or do you think if the Kings win it will be because of those things?

Only reason I ask is that it’s a bit ballsy to assert the Kings win against a playoff team.

Victory is tasty.

by iashwash on Nov 4, 2009 9:32 AM PST up reply actions

I think the Kings will win because of those facts.

But ’Reke might have to be healthy for this win. Bibby would stand no chance. On both ends. I agree its a ballsy prediction. But we beat the Lakers in LA last year. And we were worse last year.

Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.

by Aykis16 on Nov 4, 2009 9:52 AM PST up reply actions

Al Horford is the type of bully that will remind us that Spencer needs the weight room. Josh Smith is a four that should be a three, and we know JT can’t guard the three. Joe Johnson is a vet that’s used to facing great defense. If thhe Kings grizzli-fy the Hawks, then I owe Paul Westphal an apology.

Victory is tasty.

by iashwash on Nov 4, 2009 10:35 AM PST up reply actions

Does Casspi have what it takes

to defend Josh Smith? Probably asking way too much.

"The basis for winning an NBA title is having a superstar in his prime. Not an all-star, or a bunch of all-stars, but a superstar."

by coolcatreportdotcom on Nov 4, 2009 12:18 PM PST up reply actions

yet

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Nov 5, 2009 6:43 PM PST up reply actions

Please remember: Aykis 16 = Nostradumbass

who is never afraid to make bold (often wrong) predictions.

The really wise prophets make predictions so far in the future that the people who first heard the prophecy will all be dead.

I predict that in 2079 the Kings will win the World Basketball Championships beating Barcelona 116-114. It is the last game for long time Barcelona special coach Ricardo Rubio, affectionately called “Coachie” by the young Barcelona players.

"I make love to pressure" - Stephen Jackson

by Bluejohn on Nov 4, 2009 1:21 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

LOL BJ

You are incredibly awesome sir.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....

by pookeyguru on Nov 4, 2009 1:27 PM PST up reply actions

Sorry to say this, but I think Kings gonna lose by 10

Screw you Knicks! LBJ to the Kings!!!

by Shizzo on Nov 4, 2009 9:33 AM PST reply actions

Hawks are not nearly as respected as they should be.

They have an extremely solid, versatile starting line. And they’re very deep now in their bench.

Screw you Knicks! LBJ to the Kings!!!

by Shizzo on Nov 4, 2009 9:33 AM PST up reply actions

Bench, we don't need no stinkin bench

Our starters can play 48 minutes. Beside, we have Omri & Thomas on our bench, assuming that Greene doesn’t dress.

"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom

by HighTops on Nov 4, 2009 10:50 AM PST up reply actions

Not sure how deep the Hawks are

But Jamal Crawford showed how dangerous he can be with 27 off the bench in 34 minutes. Besides him, only Pachulia (13 minutes) got any real burn.

"The basis for winning an NBA title is having a superstar in his prime. Not an all-star, or a bunch of all-stars, but a superstar."

by coolcatreportdotcom on Nov 4, 2009 12:26 PM PST up reply actions

Just to add

Looks like the Hawks played a lot of small ball lineups last night pairing Horford and Josh Smith with three guards, Bibby, Joe Johnson and Crawford. Be interesting to see the Kings counter with Beno on Bibby and Tyreke and Kevin handling the two scorers. Tough assignment for Kmart and also for Reke on bum wheels. Might see more of Sergio than we’d like (on Bibby) or maybe Casspi and Mason get some PT covering those guys.

"The basis for winning an NBA title is having a superstar in his prime. Not an all-star, or a bunch of all-stars, but a superstar."

by coolcatreportdotcom on Nov 4, 2009 12:32 PM PST up reply actions

They're deep

We all know how potent Jamaal is. ZaZa is a quality big man off the bench. Jeff Teague has been a very solid backup pg pushing the tempo and getting to the rim throuhg preseason and the few games already. Mo Evans is hittin his 3pters and doing the swingman thing pretty well. And lastly, Joe Smith has been quietly effective as the savvy vet. I’ve watched all the Hawks games so far this season, and the bench has not had a let down in any game.

Screw you Knicks! LBJ to the Kings!!!

by Shizzo on Nov 4, 2009 3:59 PM PST up reply actions

You're prediction is probably better than mine (Winning)

But I want us to win just so we make some people notice.

Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.

by Aykis16 on Nov 4, 2009 9:53 AM PST up reply actions

They are finally going with their good starting lineup...

so we will see how good these guys really are. Atlanta is very beatable and Mason and May are not going to see a lot of playing time (Good Thing). Hopefully the lineups tonight look like…

Tyreke/Beno
Kevin/Tyreke/Omri
Andres/Omri/Mason
Jason/Omri/Jon
Spencer/Jason/Jon/May

Hope

by Ultrakingsfan on Nov 4, 2009 11:00 AM PST up reply actions

Kings are 5.5 point underdogs per Vegas

For what it’s worth.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Nov 4, 2009 10:14 AM PST reply actions

Vegas ain't shit

They’re just haters.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....

by pookeyguru on Nov 4, 2009 11:10 AM PST up reply actions

i think the kings can win if:

- Spencer can have 20 and 10

- Shock and Brock can pound the boards and make enough free throws. I don’t think we need to see much Kenny or May; they are a little to slow and not good enough rebounders to keep up with a team this athletic.

- Kev, Noc, Beno, and the playa from Judea can spread the floor by hitting 3s.

- Evans ankle feels good enough that he and Mason an lock down Johnson and Bibby when we need it. Both he and Mason need to score at least 10 points, and Evans needs to have 6 assists and keep the ball moving well.

- The crowd needs to applaud Bibby when he is introduced, but feel free to make fun of his nail biting during his time on the bench.

Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance. Vonnegut

by Ice_9ine on Nov 4, 2009 3:15 PM PST reply actions