Hawks

By HB Ando

October 27, 2005 05:49 PM | Link to this

15 more minutes until the deadline. Which begs the question: Do we have our list of possibilities, with agents already contacted regarding our needs, or will we be passive participants and watch other, more aggressive franchises snatch up the best of the bunch, leaving us, once again, seemingly on the outside looking in?

I’m not so naive as to think I understand the complex inner workings of player movement within the NBA. But I am observant enough to notice that certain teams always seem to beat others to the punch, and certain teams always seem to be a day late and a dollar short (or a dollar long in JJ’s acquisition?). The truth is that any young big man that gets waived this late in pre-season is looking for the best opportunity possible to stick on an NBA roster for the full season, and get a chance to play meaningful minutes to establish a credible NBA resume.

Unless a title contender comes calling you, a free-agent big man can find no better opportunity to meet those two considerations I mention, than in Atlanta. So if we don’t pick up the best of the bunch, it will once again leave the lingering question of whether our front office is functioning with an assertive plan of action, or meandering into another season, rudderless.

By Steve

October 27, 2005 06:16 PM | Link to this

So far Jahidi White, Eric Chenowith, and Chris Borchardt. Any others?

By jeremy

October 27, 2005 06:43 PM | Link to this

HB ANDO—good call, man! I am looking forward to hearing some things tomorrow as to who it cut and who were are trying to get. Jahidi White is a big boy…I’ll take him. What’s his name from Indiana sounds good, too. Boy, it would be great to snag Nene right now as well!

By Steve

October 27, 2005 06:48 PM | Link to this

Last I saw Indiana still has Samaki Walker. Heard any trade rumors?

By GM R

October 27, 2005 08:07 PM | Link to this

Once again we see the problem with BK’s plan - there is no plan! My only hope is that he is expecting another rubbish season so we can get one of several good big guys who will be in next year’s draft.

By doc

October 28, 2005 12:27 AM | Link to this

to the really relevant stuff as the hawks try to finalize the rosters. has anybody scouted the fantasy teams to suggest where they might fall?

sekou do you want to go out on the unreality limb and do some serious journalism and forecast where everyone will fall after the first four weeks into the season?

By HB Ando

October 28, 2005 12:50 AM | Link to this

doc, did you end up with a team in the league? If so, what is your team name? I can already tell you who’s going to win. That’d be me.

Sekou,

How we lookin’ for tickets for the home opener?

By reese

October 28, 2005 03:02 AM | Link to this

The hawks rebounding efforts were horrible in the game against Memphis. Funny how ex hawk Lorenzen Wright domintated new hawks. Billy Knight does not have much to choose from. However, he should say No to Samaki Walker No to Jahidi White No to Eric Chenowith No to Chris Borchardt Yes to David Harrison Yes to Nene

By AaronB

October 28, 2005 07:24 AM | Link to this

Hey Andy, you need to let us know which team you are also. My team is pretty straight forward(Aaron B Team), because I wanted people to know who I was. I didn’t get a chance to hear last nights game, but I noticed that we got blown out…by Memphis. Definately not a good effort by the Hawks, but I will judge them better when JJ gets back in there. I think JJ is as important to the new Hawks as Steve Nash is to the Suns. I don’t think we can win wihtout him. We are in essance, the old Hawks without him in the game.

I’m about to check the box scores to figure out as much as I can about where they went wrong that game. Then I will probably get back to you guys on my analyses.

By doc

October 28, 2005 07:38 AM | Link to this

ando! yeah im in but i wont out myself just yet. i know who thinks he’s going to win and i think there are about five or six of you but for now ive just got to concentrate on the moves that you guys make to figure out how this works. again the last time i played this type stuff is with baseball cards or with those silly elcstromagnetic fields and figures. im a dfiferent era and wont be able to keep up with the smack unless i can get my teenagers involved.

to the above there sure are a lot of ex-hawks flying around doing well. i think that also speaks to patience for now. along that line, i know i wasnt sorry to see them let diaw go this past offseason as i didnt feel he fit into the hawks plans but it seems from what i have read he is fitting in at phoenix. the comments were he is playing power forward and creating severe mismatch probs for the other team pf especially since he could bring the ball down the floor. go figure! we also may need some out of the box thinking.

also not sure what to make of woodson as a coach as he is beginning to sound like a real screamer that guys have to get used to, maybe the wrong guy, as these guys need a teacher that they will hear and not turn off to protect themselves. in all the sports i played i didnt respond well to that type of coach though some thrived, sometimes people get confused with that message and dont play up to their ablilities, especially, those really trying hard to please, a bit of a paradox. just havent heard much of how good woodson is from the guys or those who have left to go elsewhere. maybe, that is the prototype coach now a days, staying tuned. maybe sekou will slip something in off hand to the subject over time.

By AaronB

October 28, 2005 07:54 AM | Link to this

Ok… I’ve checked the box scores and have come to a conclusion. When your top scorers are all having an off night, and one of your rookies leads the team in points at a wopping 13 points! You may be in for a rough night. 1rst things 1rst, Josh Smith has had a second bad night in a row, that means Woodson needs to pull him aside and have a nice talk with him. You see I’ve noticed that coach is a little hard on these guys, and even though I love his competetiveness, I hate his inability to congradulate his players. Next there is JJ, he did a sloppy job, but he just got off the injured list so there isn’t much you can expect from him. Al had another dismel night, which definately hurt them. Donte Smith scores 19 points in a game, so Woodson plays him for a total of 3 minuites?! Hmmn, something is up with that logic. J-Chill had an off night also which seems to be tied in with the general overall mood of the team. Zaza didn’t shoot abouve 40% eithere but had the team high in rebounds, which at least excuses his poor effort on the offensive end. Tyron Lue seemed to be hitting well, but got only 17 minuites himself. Which he also led the Hawks in assists at 4. Big John Edwards had a good game, with 12 points in 16 minuites, but it seems he got in serious foul trouble early on, and had to be pulled from the game. “El Torro” had 3 points in 9 minuites, but already had 3 fouls, so that kinda explains his troubles. Pau Gasol for the Grizzles had 22 points and 9 rebounds, so he must have given the Hawks alot of matchup problems.

So in essance it was a serious off night for the Hawks. Woodson is probably going to crash into them during pre-game warmup today. Out of all of these problems, the only thing I’m worried about is J-Smooves metal state. Although people will say he is just hitting the sophmore wall, I think that he can “rise above” that wall if given the right advise. He seems to be taking his lumps too hard. Some-one needs to explain to him, that he should go back to having fun with the game, and try to dominate like he does at his street ball games. Although the players in the NBA are much better, I think Josh can dominate here as well. Basketball, as well as many other sports is also 50% played in your head. This kind of thing is very important for a player to control. On a more technical note, he may be trying to shoot too much, as supposed to running the dunking lane more. Untill he is automatic from out there, he needs to stick to Ol’ reliable. He could hit a few easy dunks first to build his confidence, then he can let the outside shot rip.

Go tell him Sekou!

By Astro Joe

October 28, 2005 10:02 AM | Link to this

Of all the deals that BK has made the past few years, the one that I continue to question is hiring Woodson as the Head Coach. His rookie development last year was not on par with the development of Childress or Smith. I am hoping to see marked improvement this year.

He seems to be very reactive, does not have an offensive philosophy and doesn’t seem to make any adjustments. Remember how we would routinely get blown away in the 3rd quarter of every game last year? What were they talking about at halftime? Remember when he had Antoine in the low post and Al up top during the first half of the season? What kind of bizarro logic was that?

But its a new day and I am looking for him to set up his team for success this year. I’m not sure that young players need that constant Bobby Knight/Larry Brown-type “basketball righteousness” in their ear though.

By HB Ando

October 28, 2005 10:05 AM | Link to this

That Gasol had his way early and often should not come as a surprise. At 7 feet, he’s the perfect example of matchup problems this Hawks team will face throughout the season. He can play anything from the 3 throught the 5. With Wright in the lineup, Gasol at the means he has a 4-inch height advantage over Harrington. This theme will be repeated nightly throughout the season as the very thing we’ve been droning on and on about, our lack of interior size, leaves us short on wins.

On other issue, I watched Phoenix last night, and talk of us becoming a similar style club is proposterous. Even without Amare, they just keep it going. I’ve said before that you have to have a Nash to play like that, but I’m starting to wonder if you have to have a D’Antoni, as well. One thing is for certain: If Josh Smith wants to mimic his game on anyone in the NBA, it should be Shaun Marion. He’s proof that a small forward can be top five in the league in rebounds and score from all over the floor. And this team needs Josh Smith to use his freakish athleticism to pul double digit rebounds. He has the ability, so what will be shown is whether he has the heart (and I do mean that as a challenge, because Marion has nothing on Smith as an athlete, and he’s two inches shorter, so tell me why we shouldn’t expect similar rebounding production out of Smith).

By Steve

October 28, 2005 10:05 AM | Link to this

Who says that David Harrison and Nene are available?

By reese

October 28, 2005 01:08 PM | Link to this

Nene’s name has been mentioned on websites as a possible trade candidate because he is in the last year of his contract. Harrison has not had much playing time in the preseason and Indiana has several centers. However, each would have to be part of a trade.

To tell the truth, I wouldn’t mind trading Marvin Williams for one of the players and keep Al Harrington at the 3 spot. Then we could play ZaZa at the 4 and Nene or harrison at the 5.

Although John Edwards had 12 points, the announcers (holman and charlie criss) were laughing at him as players were easily dunking around him.

I think that Mike Woodson reads this blog and took my advice to play his 2nd and 3rd tier players. Not sure why he didn’t play Donta Smith much. My radio station kept fading in and out during much of the game (790 the zone is a terrible station to be playing an NBA team). I switched to the Internet when I got home and listened to the game.

As far as playing like Phoenix, we won’t accomplish that feat until we have at least 3 ball hanlders on the floor. Shawn Marion, Boris and Nash each led many fast break opportunities. Also, D’antoni does not harp on stopping the opposing team on every play. They play good team defense, quick to the defensive boards, push the ball down the court and kick out to a three point shooter if they don’t get a fast break layup. Boris still plays the same, but when he drives the lane and passes out, Raja Bell and some guy name James were willing and capable of shooting the 3. Kurt Thomas looks lost in the phoenix offense.

If Josh Smith can improve like Shawn Marion, then the hawks will definitely be a contender. Josh, if your reading - improve your ball handling by dribbling more, rebound with the intensity of a dennis rodman and have fun out there like a Magic Johnson.

By tb

October 28, 2005 01:13 PM | Link to this

On some other boards I have posted about the Knight regime.

Basically, when he arrived we had a nucleus of Shareff, Ratliff, Terry and Jackson.

Each one a player still well regarded. Knight got rid of all of them to land JJ, Smoove and Harrinton. We got JJ with the cap space that he freed up. Unfortunately, he felt compelled to throw in Diaw and two first round picks. We got Smoove with a pick recieved from a trade and Al in a trade.

We still would have drafted other players with the rest of the picks.

Theo, Shareff, JT for JacksonDiaw and two first round picks for Al, Smoove and JJ.

Now I am running only on memory, so if I’ve mis-calculted let me know.

His other big move has been to hire his coach; Woodson.

I like these Hawks. I also liked the Hawks team that I mentioned at the beginning of this post. I really felt like that team was one impact player (and maybe a coach) away from being real good.

I’m not so sure I like Knight.

By MBATL

October 28, 2005 01:21 PM | Link to this

Agreed, TB. I posted in another blog yesterday that we are scrambling for a big man after trading away Nazr Mohammed (now getting good pt with the Spurs) for Joel Przybilla (I guess we just released him? Does anybody know how he got from ATL to Portland?) Regardless, I agree that we seem to be pretty quick to give away players that somehow manage to contribute to much better teams.

Trying not to be negative: it sure would be nice to see some positve news on the personnel front.

By MBATL

October 28, 2005 01:30 PM | Link to this

Regarding Woodson: wasn’t his big resume’ point the fact that he was mentored by Larry Brown? And doesn’t Brown have a terrible reputation for working with young players? And haven’t the Hawks staked their entire future on developing young players?

This is more a question than a statement; someone who follows this more closely, is there a “disconnect” in this logic?

By AaronB

October 28, 2005 01:34 PM | Link to this

Well BK does know his players. But I’m not sold on his knowledge of coaches. Having said that, I must also point out that coach Woodson is new to the whole head coach thing and deserves some space. But what I’ve seen of Ol’ Woody hasn’t been very pretty. He’s pretty tough on the young players, which is a good thing, but he hasn’t seemed to be able to encourage them enough though. Plus his offensive plays seem strange. Every time the Hawks get into an offensive set, they seem to get lost and confused about what to do next. Are his plays over-complicated? Are they not well thought out enough? Do they use our players strengths? These questions plague me Sekou. You see simplicty can work if used correctly. But like I said, they don’t seem to be getting it. The fast break offense idea is a smart move on their part, but I haven’t seen them even remotely try it yet.

As for Pheonix, I watched that game too, and they looked sloppy for much of the game. Without Amare or JJ, they will be mediocre this year. I wanted Boris to do well, but he was the same Diaw we had in Atlanta. Yes Josh Smith could be a Shawn Marion, but he needs to work much harder all around, not just on the boards. His freakish athleticism is un-matched in the NBA, and he could easily take over if he would just learn how to harnis that.

That my friends, is partly Woodson’s job.

By Astro Joe

October 28, 2005 01:35 PM | Link to this

Everyone looks at Josh Smith’s athleticism and projects him to be this great ball player. From a pure production standpoint, Childress has a better chance at averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds (like Shawn Marion) than Josh Smith. Childress fills up the stat sheet because he is a basketball player first, while Smith is an athlete first. My personal opinion is that Childress is playing the wrong position and that BK should deal Smith before he is exposed as the next Darius Miles/Tim Thomas. Of course, that won’t happen, because this game seems to be more about potential and less about production.

And I am pretty sure that we opted not to resign Joel P. when his contract expired and instead signed Jason Collier and traded for Drobnjak.

By reese

October 28, 2005 03:25 PM | Link to this

before stephen jackson, the lineup was glenn robinson, shareef, theo and jason terry. Dion Glover was the shooting guard. David Harrison was in the draft and the hawks picked Dan Dickau instead. Imagine if the hawks had traded for Ray Allen that year instead of Glenn Robinson and had drafted David Harrison instead of Dan Dickau.

Back to reality though. Joel P. was a tall stiff when he played for the hawks. His contracted expired and he went to Portland. He practiced against Zack Randolph and Theo Ratliff and became a better player. He took advantage of his opportunity once he got playing time.

Yes Phoenix looked sloppy, however, I will be glad when the hawks can look sloppy and can score 97 points as well as be involved in a close game.

Woodson is no longer a rookie coach. He is learn when to dishout tough love, mentoring, teaching and disciplining. Lets just hope that he is not going to encounter a sophmore slump. I just wonder if he and Billy truly share the same philosophy for the type of players and type of game they want to play. It remains to be seen if he can utilize the strengths of his players to accomplish wins. I’m tired of hearing what his players cannot do. If they cannot do what he wants, get new players or get a new coach.

By Aaron B.

October 28, 2005 06:06 PM | Link to this

Well my opt is for a new coach. I like these players and think it would be easier to get rid of the coach. As far as Josh Smith being the next Tim Thomas… ARE YOU CRAZY?! Tim has never been the athelete that J-Smoove is. Plus J-Smoove can block shots very well. And yes potential is very important, but it needs a good mentor for it to blossum.

By HB Ando

October 29, 2005 03:54 PM | Link to this

Let’s be very clear: this organization has waived or given away at least a half a dozen serviceable bigs in the last several years (Pryzbilla, Nazr, Doleac to name a few). We did the right thing with Theo. He’s a $15 million a year back up now (if you can’t beat out pryzbilla, when you’re getting paid that kind of money, you’re done). Sad thing that most of those guys didn’t cost much, so why did we waive them? There continue to be a multitude of questionable moves that this franchise has made over the last several years that haunt us.

Reese, Pryzbilla became better because his knees got healthy, and he matured naturally, as most big men do at a slower rate. You don’t improve your defense playing against Theo in practice, because he has no skills in the post. And, if you’ll remember, Randolph was out almost all of last year, so he wasn’t practicing at all. Our waiving him, instead of paying him the league minimum, which he signed for in Portland, points to questionable player assessment skills within this organization. We let these guys go without an backup plan. And here we are. Desperately seeking a solution to the huge void in the front court.