Feb. 20: Atlanta @ Portland

[evildallas]

Disappointing second half after a promising 1st half. Can't seem to play good for 48 straight minutes. Hard to win against good teams with long bad stretches.

[blzrfan]

What happened to you guys? Where are the fast breaks?

I saw Bibby or Johnson walk up the ball most of the possessions. It was strange to see a team athletic as the Hawks not push the tempo and run. Blazers play the slow methodical game and the Hawks played the same way tonight.

[Skyhawk1]

It's disgusting to see our brilliant athletic PF pull down 3 rebs in 40 mins. I watch guys like Lamarcus Aldridge and seriously, anyone who thinks J. Smith can be a star must be out of their mind. Mo Evans had a horrible game, so did Zaza, well... that's usually the case. Now, how can Horford take only 3 shots during 30 mins. I mean, this coaching staff is the worst in the league. The other day there was a trade thread about Marvin+ whatever for Outlaw+whatever. I mean, I'd take outlaw and his dumb plays over whatever Marvin has to offer anytime. We're lucky to be in the Eastern conf., things are much tougher in the west.

[HMFFL]

Josh Smith has 16 rebs during the last 5 games.

Not a rant or out of frustrating, but I'm open for change on this team, and I prefer a more traditional lineup with size.

[PDXKnight]

I like the buildup of your team a lot, but one of my main critiques is that Horford is being misused. He's a very nice up and coming player, but his game is more well suited for PF than center. Now true centers are certainly not a dime in a dozen by any means, but ATL may need a true center if they want to take it to that next level. The Hawks may be able to succeed with their current lineup, who knows, but my best bet is that with a true center and therefore the option to play Horford at PF for most of his minutes would make ATL a much tougher team defensively.

[Harry10]

not really a good or bad game by either team..... defense, execution, it was about the same for both teams..... flat out, it was just a bad shooting night, Hawks just couldn't hit an open shot and Blazers were hitting every open shot.

as bad of a shooting night it was for the Hawks, i am really surpised that it wasn't a blow out by the Blazers.

i'm really starting to blame Joe, if he is a real leader, and he is starting to struggle shooting, he needs to start differing to Marvin and/or Flip

[parson]

Joe's hitting only about a third of his shots nowadays, that's true, but he is still manning up out there. While criticizing him, didja notice he almost had a triple double with 21 points? He is working his rear end off. Yeah, he's missing right now, but no one can fault his effort.

Are we sure everyone else is working as hard? Right now, we look as if we're playing while sick with the flu. I'm beginning to wonder if Smoove is injured and if Horford is still slowed by his recent injury.

[JoshB914]

I actually disagree Parson. I am very troubled by Joe's work on the floor recently. His body language is just awful and it is showing in the defensive efforts he is turning out. He misses a lot of assignments defensively now, more than even Bibby from my vantage point and that is not acceptable.

I don't know what it is about the guy, but he can't seem to get through a whole season without going through a period like this.

[fo_o_fo_404]

Bibby's been playing gr8 basketball of late.

JJ has been MIA. And like someone said earlier, I don't like his body language on the court. He needs to be more vocal...but we all know that will never happen with him. And yes, Brandon Roy outplays JJ everytime they meet...flat out!

Marvin's been playing OK. I like how he slashes to the basket and creates, but I'mma need him to knock down those open shots more frequently.

Smoove's a BUSTER! I was of the opinion of not matching Memphis' offer in the summer. He's a dumb player who makes silly mistakes and he always argues with calls. He's really starting to get of my nerves with his silly antics. It's like he's got his contract extension and $$$$ and disappeared. I don't he and Woody can co-exist on the same team.

Horford's solid.

We need a veteran big who could snatch rebounds and stick put backs.....but apparently Sund saw that keep this team the way it is will be the answer of getting us out of the first round.

The way we've been playing of late...makes me questions that non-move.

[ATL DirtyBird]

I like the buildup of your team a lot, but one of my main critiques is that Horford is being misused. He's a very nice up and coming player, but his game is more well suited for PF than center. Now true centers are certainly not a dime in a dozen by any means, but ATL may need a true center if they want to take it to that next level. The Hawks may be able to succeed with their current lineup, who knows, but my best bet is that with a true center and therefore the option to play Horford at PF for most of his minutes would make ATL a much tougher team defensively.

But that would involve putting Smoove at the 3 which would be disgusting. This team is obviously trash, and im sure theyll show us soon the brilliance that they can have, but soon after will let us down by playing inmature basketball.

[PDXKnight]

I like the buildup of your team a lot, but one of my main critiques is that Horford is being misused. He's a very nice up and coming player, but his game is more well suited for PF than center. Now true centers are certainly not a dime in a dozen by any means, but ATL may need a true center if they want to take it to that next level. The Hawks may be able to succeed with their current lineup, who knows, but my best bet is that with a true center and therefore the option to play Horford at PF for most of his minutes would make ATL a much tougher team defensively.

But that would involve putting Smoove at the 3 which would be disgusting. This team is obviously trash, and im sure theyll show us soon the brilliance that they can have, but soon after will let us down by playing inmature basketball.

Hey, every team has it's down stretches, especially relatively young teams. Portand's really been hit or miss at times as I'm sure is also the case with the Hawks. Hopefully they can pull things together before the end of the season, I really liked what I saw in the playoffs last season.

[ATL DirtyBird]

I like the buildup of your team a lot, but one of my main critiques is that Horford is being misused. He's a very nice up and coming player, but his game is more well suited for PF than center. Now true centers are certainly not a dime in a dozen by any means, but ATL may need a true center if they want to take it to that next level. The Hawks may be able to succeed with their current lineup, who knows, but my best bet is that with a true center and therefore the option to play Horford at PF for most of his minutes would make ATL a much tougher team defensively.

But that would involve putting Smoove at the 3 which would be disgusting. This team is obviously trash, and im sure theyll show us soon the brilliance that they can have, but soon after will let us down by playing inmature basketball.

Hey, every team has it's down stretches, especially relatively young teams. Portand's really been hit or miss at times as I'm sure is also the case with the Hawks. Hopefully they can pull things together before the end of the season, I really liked what I saw in the playoffs last season.

We all understand that were a young team and bumps in the road are to be expected, but theres rerely a close losses anymore with us. Its a either a close win or a blowout. For example were losing at one point by 20 tonight to the Utah Jazz tonight and are down 14 points at the half off of 3 days rest. Thats absoultely ridiculous.