Mistakes on the Floor

by Tom Ziller on Feb 19, 2009 7:28 AM PST in Recaps

Let's hope the only mistakes made Wednesday happened on the floor.

Late-game execution continued to fail ... on both ends. How Joe Johnson (6'7) had Bobby Jackson (6'1) pinned so deep in the lane is a product of being forced into smallball due to Spencer Hawes' six fouls. But when help doesn't arrive until J.J. makes his move, that's a player breakdown. Johnson easily spun left to give Atlanta a lead it would not relinquish.

On the offensive end, Kevin Martin's near-turnover came on an odd, bad play. Beno Udrih's turnover was simply awful. Jason Thompson made a bad decision on the spin move in which Mike Bibby drew a charge -- there was no reason to move toward the lane as that's where the help would be coming from, and the baseline was WIDE OPEN. Thompson loves the spin move a little too much.

But despite the predictable meltdown, this game was full of positives.

* The spurt to end the second quarter was simply marvelous. Martin controlled the ball and poured in the points. The defense stayed active, challenging the Hawks on every attempt. Encouraging, encouraging work.

* Martin played defense better than he has in years. I counted Johnson blowing by Martin once ... which is amazing, considering how skilled/smart a player J.J. is. The 11 rebounds don't hurt the cause, either.

* Beno does not rotate well. I know you know that, but it needs to be noted for posterity.

* Donte Greene's defense looked surprisingly solid (for once). He showed a touch of patience on offense, too. Just a touch. He reminds me of the 2004 version of Quentin Richardson: run to the elbow, catch the ball, shoot the ball. I hope for much, much more from D.G., but there are worse things than gunners who can get their shot off against any defender in the league. Keep Greene working on his stroke, teach him how to run off back screens, and replicate Peja.

* Thompson nor Josh Smith had good box scores, but those dudes battled. Hard. Nice duel.

* Hawes played magnificent. I would say that even if he didn't hit a left-handed hook and a Duncan bank shot. Fourteen rebounds will always get you a gold star.

* Garcia is the streakiest defensive player on the team. Like Brad Miller, he's a real product of confidence. When the shots fall, everything improves. He'd be a more valuable player if he could get those sneaky steals and playboy blocks during stretches where he is missing shots, as well.

* Al Horford is an absolute beast. That guy will be a star until he's 39 or 40. He's like a better Joe Smith ... already.

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I found the coaching to be lacking

Down the stretch we had Beno, KMart, BJax and Garcia all on the floor, with Thompson our only big.

So the Hawks scored in the paint. Repeatedly.

We needed another big guy on the floor, probably instead of Bobby Jackson, who has a strong propensity to try to win the game by shooting off-balance threes early in the shotclock. We needed someone who could guard the Hawks bigs, or at least battle for the rebound and deny their second (and third) chance points.

Kenny Natt is not an NBA head coach. I think at least a few of our late-game struggles and losses by fewer than 6 points can be laid at his door.

Coming to you live from the land of interim coaches.

by LeaguePassAddict on Feb 19, 2009 7:42 AM PST reply actions

To be honest....

I agree with you. We need a real head coach for this team. We need someone to to hold these guys accountable and to teach them how to win.

by Ultrakingsfan on Feb 19, 2009 8:08 AM PST up reply actions

Agreed

We needed Spencer for the last 2 – 3 mins of the game. Natt should have sat him for about 3 mins after he picked up the 5th foul. With that said, his last foul was just terrible. Spencer has to learn to hold up on those ticky-tack fouls. He’s good for 2 or 3 of those a game. Jason is as well. Learning curve.

by Kusian on Feb 19, 2009 10:36 AM PST up reply actions

Couldn't agree more

Bobby was doing fine, I thought Beno didn’t deserve to be in. Maybe Shelden? Too bad he’s gone now.

by Aykis16 on Feb 19, 2009 9:14 AM PST up reply actions

Great analysis TZ

All your points hold true. I also think this team will get some of the community behind them again. Without some of the sourness that Miller/Salmons was bringing in the locker room (maybe the mojo was just off too—not going to lay that entirely on their feet), it’s greatly possible that this team will perform better for the simple sake that they can’t perform any worse.

Beno does not rotate well. But he does other things well, and that’s important to remember that he’s locked up at a good price if he performs offensively as he did last night.

Garcia’s confidence needs to change if he’s going to take that leap into the next level of role player. If he does that, it will justify the extension he received in September.

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.....

I am the stone that builder refused..I am the visual...The inspiration..That made lady sing the blues....I'm the spark that makes your idea bright.....The same spark that lights the dark....So that you can know your left from your right...I am the ballot in your box....The bullet in your gun...The inner glow that lets you know...To call your brother son....The story that just begun...The promise of what's to come...And I'm 'a remain a soldier till the war is won....

by pookeyguru on Feb 19, 2009 7:44 AM PST reply actions

K-Mart had a great game as well

32 Points 11 Rebounds 4 Assists 2 Steals 2 Turnovers … can’t ask him to do much else for this team.

by Ultrakingsfan on Feb 19, 2009 8:12 AM PST reply actions

Easily

his best all-around game of the year.

by Kusian on Feb 19, 2009 10:37 AM PST up reply actions

That Cleveland game was pretty good too Kusian....

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 Feb 19, 2009 11:18 AM PST up reply actions

Forgot that one.

But of course you didn’t – you of freakish memory :-) LOL!

by Kusian on Feb 19, 2009 1:12 PM PST up reply actions

JT spinning baseline

on that play with Bibby isn’t natural for him because he has no left hand shooting wise. So if he spins that way, the only shot he has really is going to the other side of the rim.

Not crucifying JT, I’m just really hoping the coaches either now or over the summer get him to develop even rudimentary skills with his left. Even basic layups and drop steps shooting with the left hand would add several FGs a game to his total and reduce the number of times he has his shot blocked significantly.

by ForThree on Feb 19, 2009 9:00 AM PST reply actions

Can I agree 1000%?

With two hands, he becomes Carlos Boozer around the rim. With one hand, he is Corliss Williamson, and it’s going to be awhile before JT learns “crafty.”

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Feb 19, 2009 9:08 AM PST up reply actions

His footwork will have to increase too

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 Feb 19, 2009 9:16 AM PST up reply actions

I thought the spin move was totally not needed. If he had stop and put up a jumper it would have been like a 7-8 ft jump shot over a much shorter guy. That should be an easy shot, without an out of control spin move to make things more difficult.

by chri5 on Feb 19, 2009 9:12 AM PST up reply actions

That's what I said last night

Uncontested short jumper. If he missed I would have forgiven him. The spin was unforgivable though. Rookie Mistake.

by Aykis16 on Feb 19, 2009 9:14 AM PST up reply actions

What I noticed about that play

was that he was off balance to begin with, and spun to counter it.

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 Feb 19, 2009 9:17 AM PST up reply actions

I liked the game

but I felt at that time like we lacked the horses to get it done. Was I the only one? Also shouldn’t Kevin’s number been called a few more times in the final possesions?

by mayfieldcol on Feb 19, 2009 10:09 AM PST reply actions

Maybe

They were worried that forced shots would affect Kevin’s true shooting percentage.

I love Martin and I recognize that he is our best player/scorer. But this team would be in much better shape if we could count on him to make plays down the stretch. It’s not that I think that he’s a choke artist or anything, I just think that he hasn’t learned to adapt during crunch time situations. I also think that the coaches recognize that, which is why we had the Theus debacle and why we’ve seen so many game-losing plays by Bobby J, Salmons, Garcia, Artest, etc. in the last two years.

That said, better coaching could help Martin achieve this breakthrough.

by furious.d on Feb 19, 2009 10:55 AM PST up reply actions

They were double-teaming him out past the 3 point arc

and he was passing. He needs to learn how to beat that, ala Kobe or the team needs to beat that by passing well. A little of both would be best.

Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott

by Kfan in Korea on Feb 19, 2009 2:41 PM PST up reply actions

Another notable thing that we've talked about many times

Shock and Hawes’s inability to control their fouling is an issue. It’s part of their development, but it really hinders their growth in other areas.

Obviously it’s not laziness, they both tend to play pretty hard. But too many of these fouls are of the ticky tack, trying to make something out of nothing (often due to frustration) variety. I know we all want to see plenty of minutes from both of them, but I think a quality vet up front (Like Camby – though obviously that’s not gonna happen) would really do a world of good for them and the team.

by furious.d on Feb 19, 2009 11:13 AM PST reply actions

Lots of good points here

The 19-2 run was great. They just need to bottle that savvy and effort for the rest of the game.

There was a stretch with about 5 minutes left where Kevin was not in the game and I couldn’t figure out why. Bad coaching.

We definitely needed another big in the game at the end, even if it was Shelden or Mikki, to counter the Hawks.

"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 Feb 19, 2009 12:59 PM PST reply actions

Well that new big is going to be Ike Diogu

Cuz Shel is gone.

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 Feb 19, 2009 1:04 PM PST up reply actions

Please, tell me that there is a hunt on for a REAL coach.

Coming to you live from the land of interim coaches.

by LeaguePassAddict on Feb 19, 2009 2:45 PM PST up reply actions

It bothers anybody with half a brain

And I’m pretty sure you have 55% of one. :P

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 Feb 19, 2009 2:50 PM PST up reply actions