Caution: Positive!

We could be a huge wet blanket and dwell on the fact that the Hawks needed most of the (11) threes they hit Tuesday night to take out the post season excluded Toronto Raptors, 118-110.

That they shot (50) percent from extra point, which included a buy-a-lottery-ticket (3) out of (5) from Josh Smith, shouldn't give Hawks fans any reason to believe that they have cured the checklist (collect them all!) of flaws we have listed over the course of the season and rolled up into the "Status Quo" entry from Monday.

But---even when we were in the role of the Raptors in years past, eliminated, lottery bound---we enjoyed watching the Birds win---and even in what may be fool's gold of a road win, it's always good to see.

So, we are not going to be the party poopers of the victory, instead, we're busting out the noise makers and gonna hand out gold stars to the guys for their part in the win.


We saw Mike Woodson play not one, but TWO starters with (2) fouls in the first half. Both Al Horford and Joe Johnson picked up their 3rd fouls, leaving Hoopinion to comment on Twitter that it may be the last time we see such an occurance. They also observed, quite cleverly, that it says that Woodson may care more about not giving up (60) points in the first half than about picking up those "awful" third fouls. (And it worked! Only -57- points for TOR in the first half)

We went the other way, hoping that, if Horford and Johnson didn't come close to fouling out, that it may permanently change Woodson's habits on the matter. The result? Horford and Johnson both finished with three fouls. Come on, Woody--admit it, you're cured, right?

Despite the "foul trouble", Al Horford actually looked like he drew the offensive straw in this game as his teammates looked for Al on the baseline when they drove and got a few plays in the post as well. Now, it wasn't a plethora of plays--in fact Al took just (8) shots, making (5)---but it seemed as if they weren't treating him like Mark Eaton out there---which is nice.

Josh Smith nearly pitched a complete game (46 1/2 minutes out of 48)--He was named player of the game, but we couldn't really figure out what Smith did, other than pile up numbers that came with the minutes, except that he didn't sabotage the game--though there were times that you wondered if Smith was going to blow the Hawks' chances of winning with his shenanigans. When the Hawks were making their run in the third quarter, Smith turned it over, gave up a hoop, and was complaining to the officials after a "missed" call. But sometimes it turns up good for Josh despite all that, and when he was late getting back after complaining, Joe got a quick rebound and launched to the conveniently stationed Smith, who had an easy slam. Maybe we don't know so much?

RFM and Mo Evans made the HHB forget about Josh Childress for a night. But just one, Chill---

The Hawks made (82) percent of their free throws, making it a 50/50/80 night with only (7) turnovers---and the game was still in doubt against a non-playoff team---might have meant the defense was lacking, but hey, we're wrapping it up positive here!

Zaza Pachulia can draw a foul and grab an offensive rebound. We're not saying that's the extent of his skills, but those are the ones that jump out at you immediately when you watch the guy, night after night. (11) points in (16) minutes on (3-5, 5-6) with his only rebound being offensive.

They're Not Saying Boo, They're Saying Boo-urns

Peachtree Hoops, who the HHB thought might have been trapped under furniture--turns out it's matrimony--"penned" a terrific article on being a fan of the Hawks. It's a classic tale of not wanting to settle for mediocrity, yet also wanting to maintain perspective about the road the team has travelled and wanting to enjoy that as well.

We're not saying, we're just saying---check it out.


Your Body is a Twitterland

We're gonna have to face it, we're addicted to Twitter.

Especially when you have Speedy Claxton on going off about the Hawks not suiting him up when they didn't even have (12) to play with.

Especially when the apparently fun Zaza Pachulia gets on board and reminds us he played a season in Milwaukee and says that it's hard to get a double-double in (16) minutes, but he'll take his (11) point effort and a win.

And, of course, when the Hawks Blogging Nation gets behind it and tweets, extending the intelligent (cough), witty (hack), informational (choke!) banter past even the soft lines of a blog.

Bottom line, it's good times---feel free to follow us and/or all the others in the Hawks world and beyond---it is definitely worthwhile.


The HHB offers no guarantees of intelligent, witty, or informational material--Suggestions for such content can be offered to us in the Comments Area.

Status Quo And the People Who Watch Them

It's hard to imagine that the Atlanta Hawks and those who surround it aren't listening to the people who love and watch them regarding the ongoing struggles, coaching suggestions, and feedback surrounding their victories and defeats.

Everytime we hear their quotes, see their actions, or witness anything to do with the Birds we see and hear the same stale statements, the same irrational behavior, and the same predictable outcome.

All we want is some validation and action around our amazing insights----is that a lot to ask?

Hoopinion has been asking for relief on the two foul-first half policy and the foul out fraidy-catness for quite a few seasons now---and we're not sure, but we think that, while the case has been made, the changes that would accompany have not.

Peachtree Hoops has been asking for the head of Alfredo Garcia---or Mike Woodson---and yet we see every game, except for the games where Woody excuses himself from the proceedings with a couple of points for the other team, that their request remains "Pending" in the Atlanta Spirit queue.

The Vent wants something resembling improvement and an on-again/off-again basketball romance with Josh Smith and his amazing array of jump shots---This, apparently, has been granted, as Smith loves to make CoCo happy and launch the three. Ca-chow!

As for Str8talk, well, they want the whole enchilada---compliments of the house. And, of course, that hasn't happened since they moved to Atlanta (the Hawks, that is). All that Str8t wants is to continually move towards that target---is that so wrong???

We have been asking for more attention to the post offensive strategy this season, especially in the development of Al Horford----sadly, we must not be speaking the right language because, in spite of the coach's words to the contrary, the actions (or in this case--massive inaction) speak a lot louder than words.

Slow starts, The Evening of Astonishment that is Josh Smith, weird rotational fascinations from the Head Bald Coach, and so on--are addressed only in the service of lip and then, often just as quickly, dismissed.

So as we look back to the beginning of the season and where we stand today with the good guys---we see that nothing has progressed, little has improved, and with every passing (or in the Hawks case, dribbling and draw the defense) game the hope that something might fades a little more.

They are locked into what they are---and what they are is an extremely talented team with many areas of opportunity---but little desire to change what they do in order to get there. They will be content to advance as far as this approach can take them.

We think that it can only take them to the playoffs, but not far within that particular forest, much less to emerge from it victorious. Good teams have ways of dispatching with such flawed paradigms---no matter how good intentioned or talented they are.

Are we the only ones to see it? Are we missing something that is a (shhhh!) secret inside the organ-i-zation? Or maybe it's just us---the same people that have spoken--and it's only the people that are listening.

This episode of the HHB was shot in slow motion, black and white footage---classy---calls for a colorized version can be left along with a small donation in the Comments Area.

Fatally Flawed

That the Hawks lost in Boston 104-92 isn't a surprise. That the Hawks will now fall short of the 50-win mark and thus ending our blind optimism also fails to register on the shock-o-meter.

The sad part of the Birds losing again is that they lost the same way and due to the same issues that have plagued the team recently, in some cases all season and the team doesn't seem to be interested at all, from top to bottom, to fix them.

We can start with the way the offense dribbles and let's every single defense get settled--failing to move the ball around with any sort of meaning, unless the meaning is to make sure we stop the ball long enough for our opponents to catch up.

We can move to the defensive end, where as a team it has been noted that there is no communication happening. Add to that Josh Smith's constant gambling and Mike Bibby's fast decline this season and you have a formula for extreme offensive effectiveness for the team's opponents.

We can go to coaching, where the staff has seen fit to rely too long on pet projects, not set enough boundaries with some of their biggest culprits, and generally has watched the team get no better from Game One to Game Seventy-Six.

Bottom line is this team is extremely talented--it's the only way that, even with all their flaws, that they can compete in any game, any night, any place. This was a (4) point game until really late---Boston was outshooting, outhustling, and outexecuting the Hawks---yet everytime you looked at the scoreboard, it was a two possession game. This was even despite an unofficial (3) times fouling a 3-point shooter, including the groan-inducing mid-court foul with Rajon Rondo launching a prayer.

However---talent alone will not win important games---and the Hawks lack of practice and apparent lack of interest in resolving their fatal flaws to date indicate that they will take their chances with how they do things today---and hope that post game words and shoulder shrugs will overcome the very problems that are causing losses today.

Power Failures

Al Horford, Maurice Evans, Zaza Pachulia, Josh Smith, and Solomon Jones combined for a throat gagging 12-43 from the field. (28) percent shooting from your frontcourt players isn't a statistical winning indicator in our books. Combine that with the Celtics big guys shooting 25-39 (64 percent for you Florida grads) and you wonder how in the world this game was still in doubt into the fourth quarter.

Horford continues to rush shots, fadeaway, make himself small inside, and generally becoming the antithesis of the player he actually needs to be for the Hawks. We understand that he is not getting many plays called for him night after night, but now we have to admit that he isn't giving any reason for them to do it---though we do argue that it doesn't stop other player from being allowed to commit the same mistakes over and over without taking away their plays.

It wasn't just Horford---Boston's aggressiveness made the Hawks take a lot of uncomfortable shots. This is a trend that almost all playoff teams have; to play energetic team defense which lowers the potential chance for the opposition to make their shots.

The Hawks have yet to adopt this principle for their own team. In fact, the Celtics had plenty of high percentage open shots to choose from. Rajon Rondo was treated like he was Flubber West out there---now he has had issues shooting, but Josh Smith not challenging him on (2) mid range jump shots was just lazy--and Rondo made him and the Hawks pay.

Something has to change---or the result will be an early playoff death.

The HHB is going outside to practice team free throws--we are a team dedicated to fixing our fatal flaws---other areas of improvement can be noted in the Comments Area.

Inner Circle

The HHB was thankful for being able to participate with the usual Hawks great thinkers (ESPN Sensation Hoopinion, It's Not Just A Vent--It's The Vent, and the brutally honest (and proud of it!) Str8ghtTalk) in the Hawks.com Blogger Roundtable. So folks aren't confused--we're the ones referred to as THHB---Crazy, eh?

The Inquisition involved but a single, powerful, question---one that involved every bit of the HHB's extensive data points, film research staff, and some 88-sided dice.

The Question:

The playoffs are fast approaching - which team would you rather face in the first round, the Miami Heat or the Philadelphia 76ers?

The Answer is right here---to quote Moe Szyslack--we made our choice and we stand by that.

The HHB wonders if Peachtree Hoops was too busy sorting through all the game comments and fan mail to participate in the latest roundtable discussion---Sightings and whereabouts can be left off in the night slot known as the Comments Area.

Split Personalities

We're torn here at the HHB---We have been building and driving the (50) win bandwagon based on the belief that the Hawks are talented enough to reach that milestone.

On the other hand, there is a season's worth of proof that this team is not a team at all. Sure, there are flashes, but in the contrast of an opponent who is patient, methodical, and energetic, the Hawks, as they did in their 98-85 loss in PHL Tuesday night, the team shows it's immaturity and mental lack of strength.

It's fitting that, on the night where this immaturity was on display team-wide, that it was Josh Smith who appeared to be the most gathered, and definitely the most effective. Smith took (15) shots and missed only (2), including three no doubt bombs and all of his throws. At one point, Smith had (20) of the Hawks (45) points.

The Hawks had a crippling (19) turnovers as well--fitting that they were evenly dispersed throughout the team, as there are not enough fingers to point at the culprits.

Five, Four, Three, Two, One---Buzzzzzz

We had to laugh at IBR on the telecast, bemoaning Al Horford's "drop" in offensive production. It's hard to score when you don't get to shoot, Bob! It's reminiscent of when folks in Minnesota were wondering why Herschel Walker wasn't rushing for 100 yards a game. Well guys, when he got 3-5 carries a game, it's hard to produce---not to mention you had him away from the deep-I formation that he dominated with.

Sound vaguely similar? It should. We are barreling towards a "Trade Al Horford" entry into the HHB due to the obvious lack of development given the coaching staff. Once again we see another bench post player come in and get more attention offensively than Al.

This time it was his backup at Florida, Marreese Speights, who got to look like a polished post player, while Al was once again handed a mop and told to clean up after the guards.

It's a waste of talent, and don't be surprised if some hack blog isn't the first to feel this---if we can tell, you can bet the players do, too.

If at First You Don't Succeed, Don't Change a Thing!

The offensive policy of hoping that our outside shots fall and then shrugging our shoulders or, in this game, turning the ball over is a bit tiresome. The Sixers, who we were told often throughout the game, are not a good half court team, yet they looked like the Globetrotters compared to the Hawks in the set.

Time after time the Sixers seemed to get an open shot, while the Hawks continued to look like they are shooting hoops over the Great Wall of China.

Hmm---maybe we're getting close to another post, one that has been authored by every other Bird Watcher in the Nation---hey, we're not above jumping on the pile!

The HHB has sent the official word to hold off on the down payment for the second round playoff tickets---Arguments to the contrary can be left in the Comments Area.