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October 2005
Zaza the summer’s biggest steal?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An extremely interesting conversation during the Hawks’ practice Sunday produced an even more interesting blog item for today. Andrew Bogut was the No. 1 draft pick that the Hawks most certainly would have taken had they won the No. 1 pick instead of the second.
When the Bucks drafted Bogut it made sense for them to let Zaza Pachulia leave, via free agency, for where else but Atlanta? Four months later, though, the Bucks trade for Jamaal Magloire and send Bogut to the bench while the Hawks appear to have snagged one of the steals of the summer in the 21-year-old Pachulia, who’s just a year older than Bogut.
Wouldn’t the Bucks have been better off keeping Pachulia and drafting Marvin Williams? And if I’m the Hawks, which guy would I rather have, Pachulia or Bogut?
I foresee a trade
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Do the names Curtis Borchardt, Jahidi White, Erich Chenowith, Nigel Dixon, Mark Pope, Deji Akindele, Adam Parada, Ryan Humphrey, Toree Morris or James Lang excite you? Because those are some of the waiver wire casualties the Hawks can pick over now in their search for the two big men they need.
I’m more convinced than ever now that they’ll have to come up with a trade package or some other way of acquiring what they need. (Oh yeah, Obinna Ekezie was waived in Cleveland. Never mind.)
The Hawks will have to give up one of their forwards (they have plenty) and probably a veteran guard (there are only a couple so take your pick) to get their hands on what they need. But Billy Knight isn’t interested in mortgaging the future (some would say “again” after the Joe Johnson deal) to do so.
So we’ll have to ride this thing out and see what happens in the next few days.
A perplexing trade
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Folks from Milwaukee to Buckhead are furious over the Bucks-Hornets trade that sent Jamaal Magloire to Milwaukee in exchange for Desmond Mason and a 2006 first-round draft pick, a deal that sends Mason home (they are the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets).
I can see why Hawks fans are ticked off: Magloire would have been exactly what the team needed to shore up the middle. But Bucks fans skeptical of the move need to realize what their team is dealing with in the Central Division. Indiana, Detroit and Cleveland are loaded. So if you want to keep up, you better find big men to rival the big men on those teams. Magloire, Andrew Bogut, Dan Gadzuric and Joe Smith look pretty good to me.
The move is a bit perplexing from the New Orklahoma side of things. I know Mason was a fan favorite while at Oklahoma State, making the Hornets a bit sexier to the locals there. But if you think the Hawks have a glut of forwards, how does Byron Scott find time for Mason, J.R. Smith, Bostjan Nachbar, Rasul Butler, Jackson Vroman, Maciej Lampe, George Lynch, Brandon Bass and David West? What a mess.
But it could all work in the Hawks favor. Follow the twisted logic here.
Whenever teams start dealing in the NBA, their competitors feel the need to follow suit. By 6 p.m. today, when rosters have to finalized for the regular season opener, there could be a number of big men on the NBA’s waiver wire, meaning the Hawks will have quite a few options when they go searching for big men to fill out their roster.
Looking for a big
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I know we’re a day early on this but so what?
Thursday’s 6 p.m. deadline for trimming rosters has added importance for the Hawks, who will officially begin their search for a) Jason Collier’s replacement and b) the second big man they were going to go after anyway.
There is a long list of names of people who COULD be available. Two of the more prominent names being tossed around are Samaki Walker in Indiana and Francisco Elson in Denver. Either would be a welcome addition for a Hawks team in dire need of another big body for a frontcourt rotation that is ridiculously thin.
But with plenty of cap room, the Hawks could also work a deal to land something better. The obvious needs: 1) a big man who can play pick-and-roll with backup point guard Tyronn Lue, which gives the second unit a staple when its on the floor and 2) another big (as coaches love to call them) willing to rebound, play defense and do the junk work that most players shy away from.
Interesting, even if it’s preseason
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m not sure who should be more concerned, Hawks fans because their team couldn’t hold on to an eight-point lead with 1:20 to play, or Heat fans because they needed a shot at the buzzer to beat the Hawks.
I know, Shaquille O’Neal didn’t play and Dwyane Wade wasn’t even on the floor when the game was decided. But the Hawks played without Joe Johnson and according to the experts, shouldn’t be able to stay on the same floor with the Heat.
The ending aside, I saw two teams with far different attitudes Monday night. The Hawks seem like a team eager to prove something while the Heat appears to be ready to implode — like the star-studded Lakers team of two years ago — on their way to the coronation ceremony. Now, that won’t take away the sting of the loss for the Hawks, who needed this win far more than the Heat.
So it’s only an exhibition game — when you’re trying to develop a winning mentality, every little bit helps. Even when the games don’t really count.
Oh, one last thing. Keep an eye on Esteban Batista. El Toro (as he’s been nicknamed by members of the Hawks training staff) got under the skin of Heat forward Antoine Walker. It got so bad that they traded ‘bows and barbs before game’s end, with Walker scalding the Hawks bench for cheering Batista on (“This guy’s a bum” Walker said. He later apologized to Hawks coach Mike Woodson.
But Batista’s relentlessness around the basket and his willingness to mix it up with anyone in his way is what will keep him in the rotation and in his coach’s good graces.
Going up against a have
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Hawks’ matchup tonight against Miami reminds me of the difference between the NBA’s haves and the have-nots.
The haves are gearing up to play into the summer of 2006 while the have-nots are gearing up to play through the All-Star break before retooling. The Hawks are light in the middle while the Heat have Shaq, Alonzo Mourning and a promising young center Earl Barron, whom the Heat coaches believe could be a major factor.
The Heat’s deep enough that Antoine Walker is coming off their bench. A guy who was arguably the Hawks’ best player (for half of) last year, is coming off their bench!
That’s why a game like tonight, even without key players available (Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams and Tony Delk won’t play) is a great test for the Hawks. And it’s the only way to gauge how far away they are from the top of the Eastern Conference, and some people believe the league.
I don’t know if I am convinced yet that this Miami team is the leading contender in the East. Indiana and Detroit figure to be strong and the Heat has to integrate ‘Toine and Jason Williams into their system. So I think we have to wait and see how they play before crowning the Heat.
But we’ll know a lot more about the Hawks after tonight because we’ll know if they’re just road kill for the top teams in the league or if they’re going to put up a fight.
First impressions, Part 2
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Welcome to Day 2 of our first impressions list.
Esteban Batista: I have to admit, the big fella is growing on me. I wasn’t sure what to think when the Hawks signed him. I’d never heard anything about him and Uruguay isn’t exactly known for producing big-time hoops talent. But he’s as tenacious as advertised. And he’s not scared of anybody (he went toe-to-toe with big men from Charlotte and New Orleans in his last two appearances). He could be a keeper.
Donta Smith: Where he fits is a bit of a mystery. He’s clearly got some talent but whether or not he can help this team this season is still up in the air. He’s playing at a position where the Hawks have depth that goes on and on. With Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, Al Harrington, Josh Childress and Batista all slated to see minutes at the forward spots, there won’t be many left for anyone else.
John Edwards: The raw materials in attendance. The execution, however, remains a work in progress. Edwards is basically a rookie, he played so sparingly last season in Indiana last season and was mostly a spectator in practice. He’ll be the biggest project for the coaches this season. And the more work the better. Because the Hawks are going to need him before season’s end.
Salim Stoudamire: His summer league reputation has only bolstered his status with fantasy league gurus. But his transition from full-time shooter (in college) to ball handler/long-range gunner (for the Hawks) is still in its embryonic stage. His shot is as smooth as ever. But he’ll have to shore up his defense and take better care of the ball to stay in Mike Woodson’s good graces.
Royal Ivey: Like Smith, Ivey is another guy who could simply fall victim to a numbers crunch. There’s no doubt that the work he did over the summer helped improve his game. He’s a better shooter, more confident in his handling and physically stronger. But the concerns about whether he can lead during crunch time are still there. He wasn’t healthy during summer league, so he didn’t get a chance to show it then. Stay tuned.
Early impressions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Hawks are unwinding this afternoon with their annual golf tournament — somehow the AJC’s version of Tiger Woods (me) didn’t get an invite. Let’s just say that none of these guys has a professional future in that sport. But it’s another chance for the Hawks to get their minds off of the tumult of the past few days and try and find some semblance of order.
They’re back on the road this weekend, weather provided, for two more preseason road games. The Hawks have spent so much time away from Philips Arena this preseason, it must be hard for anyone to know what they’ve been like. So in an abbreviated fashion, I want to give you a quick rundown on a few guys. We’ll do five today and five more each day until we get them all done.
Starting five:
Al Harrington — He’s been just about everything you could want from a veteran leader on a young team. He’s developing a nice chemistry with Joe Johnson, too, as they’ll have to work in tandem often as the Hawks’ primary scorers.
Marvin Williams — The prized rookie has had his moments, including a stellar effort in his last outing against New Orleans. The coaching staff has raved about his all-around game and believe that with some more work he has a chance to be something special. He’s filled in well for Josh Smith, who has missed the past three games with a sprained ankle.
Zaza Pachulia: The easy pick as the surprise of training camp. He might be Billy Knight’s true offseason gem — no one was expecting much of him, yet he’s showed signs of providing the inside presence the Hawks needed.
Josh Childress — Childress has arguably the toughest task of any player in terms of having to adjust to guarding smaller players. He was locked up with Chris Paul against New Orleans. But he’s rebounding and scoring the way he did at the end of last season, which is a great sign.
Joe Johnson: His critics will be sorry to hear that Johnson’s transition from wing guard to lead guard (point guard, whatever) hasn’t as rough as they predicted. Once Tyronn Lue gets back on the floor, it’ll be even more interesting to see what Johnson can do with another ballhandler who can create shots for others by his side. I know Lue is his backup, but the Hawks might be at their best this season when they’re playing together.
A flash of promise
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A night before gathering for the Celebration of Life service for Jason Collier, his Hawks teammates played a mercurial 3/12 quarters of basketball against New Orleans in Little Rock, Ark. The Hawks easily played their best game of the preseason, using 30 assists to generate the offensive flow needed in a 97-94 win. It was the first real sign of what this team might be capable of, and they were playing without Josh Smith and Tyronn Lue.
Marvin Williams flashed some serious goods, as did fellow rookie Salim Stoudamire. And the trio of Joe Johnson, Al Harrington and Josh Childress led the way, with help from Zaza Pachulia in the middle and timely boost from the bench. Depending on how healthy they are the remainder of the preseason schedule (there are four games left), this new and improved Hawks team could be rather interesting to watch.
They are dedicating their season to Collier and if they play with the type of energy and passion they did for most of Tuesday night’s game, the Hawks might just make a little noise.
The roster void
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Replacing the void left by Jason Collier is something the Hawks won’t be able to do this season. The loss of a specific personality, a player that was a part of the fabric of a team, can’t be replaced.
But the Hawks will have to add another player to the roster to help fill the on-court void that the 7-foot Collier’s death has left in the playing rotation.
There is a clause in the league’s collective bargaining agreement that speaks to this instance. But since the Hawks are under the salary cap and don’t have the maximum number of players allowed on the roster, they’ll simply be able to add another player that fits into the salary structure they desire. They’ll likely wait until after rosters are set around the league, about five days before the start of the regular season, before making that decision.
Collier tributes appreciated
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As should be expected, the Hawks are struggling to cope with the death of Jason Collier.
Perspective is what’s often gained during trying times such as these, and the Hawks are no different. The players and coaches are relying on each other right now to make sense of it all. But I suspect they’ll have a tough time Wednesday at the funeral service. I appreciate all the written tributes posted on the blog in the days since Collier’s passing, and have heard from the Hawks that members of his family appreciate the supportive words as well.
This morning’s game was strange mostly because there were 15,000 screaming kids in the stands, most of them without a hint of who Jason Collier the basketball player was. They were thrilled to get a day off for the game, so it made for a rather peculiar environment. As Rasheed Wallace likes to say, “Both teams played hard, my man.” But the Hawks were simply too error prone to overcome a scrappy Bobcats team. We’ll see how they handle the Hornets Tuesday night.
Hawks’ Collier dies of apparent heart attack
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta Hawks center Jason Collier died early Saturday morning of an apparent heart attack. He was 28.
Collier experienced trouble breathing at 2:30 a.m. Saturday and his wife performed CPR and called 911. He was taken to Northside Hospital in Forsyth County, where he was pronounced dead.
Collier did not have any diagnosed health problems, his father, Jeff, told the Associated Press. Jeff Collier said he received a phone call at 3:30 a.m. Saturday from Jason’s wife, Katie, who said he was having trouble breathing and quickly turned blue. “Total shock,â€? Jeff Collier said of his reaction. “You get a call and it’s your daughter-in-law crying saying she’s giving him CPR and trying to keep him going. I guess it took a while for the paramedics to get there. He had a slight pulse when they took him and he passed away in the ambulance while they took him to the hospital.â€? Hawks players were notified of Collier’s death at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning before a scheduled workout was cancelled.
Collier, who played at Georgia Tech, was the longest tenured Hawk player, joining the team for the 2003-04 season after spending three seasons in Houston.
He is survived by a wife and daughter.
National rep up… slightly
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The good folks at Slam Magazine have seen fit to rate the Hawks above Charlotte in their preseason NBA issue.
It’s the first in what I suspect will be many more positive national visions for this team. Folks around the country seemed convince that the Hawks will be improved this season, though no one seems sure how much.
Along that line, I’m wondering who you think will be the Hawks most improved player from a year ago. The new guys are obviously off limits. But who of the returnees will have made the greatest strides in the past six months?
Seeking Mr. Big
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two games into their preseason schedule and the Hawks’ most glaring deficiency right now is one that plagued them throughout last season.
They simply don’t have a defensive-minded big man who rebounds with reckless abandon and clears out space, on both ends of the floor, for others to maneuver.
If you could come up with a reasonable (the Hawks don’t have enough to get Shaq) trade with another team for that missing big man, who and what would it be?
Ticketed for the D-League
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Trips to places like Birmingham remind me of the difference between NBA cities and NBDL cities (no offense to any of you Alabama natives out there). Speaking of the D-League, with the NBA’s new rule allowing teams to send players to the D-League to get work, which Hawks youngster can you see heading that way this season?
All first- and second-year players are eligible to be sent to the Hawks’ D-League affiliate in Arkansas. Who do you think benefits the most from the increase in playing time that’s sure to come with an assignment in the D-League?
Worst-case injuries
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With Amare Stoudemire having exploratory surgery on his aching knee, I started to think how devastating it would be for the Suns if they lost him for the season. They’d go from a Western Conference title contender to a team hoping to make the playoffs.
An injury to one key player on a team not terribly deep can have that kind of dramatic impact.
Naturally, I started thinking about the Hawks, and what player would have that kind of detrimental impact on their season if he were to go down with a season-ending injury. They’ve got an abundance of forwards but aren’t particularly deep elsewhere.
So who can they least afford to lose this season?
Not just another preseason this year
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Hawks had two scrimmages Sunday, wrapping up the week-long two-a-day portion of training camp with a bit of a bang. It’s clear after watching them all week that this Hawks team is significantly deeper than last year’s crew. And that the collective athleticism, shooting prowess and overall energy is better than last year.
But the Hawks coaches are doing their best to stop mentioning last year. They don’t want to put that burden on this team, particularly with so many new faces in the mix. They’re also working in some new wrinkles, both offensively and defensively, that will be a departure from what they did last season.
How do you gauge the success of all this newness prior to the start of the regular season? Most teams don’t play all-out during the preseason, but for a team like the Hawks treating the preseason like something other than what it is (games that don’t count) could be beneficial.
Should the Hawks abandon conventional wisdom and try and win the preseason NBA title or use it as a lab to work out their issues in time for the real thing?
Taking the last shot
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’ve established, all in our own way, who we think the Hawks’ starters should be. That led me to another thing I’m thinking as Tuesday’s preseason opener approaches.
If the Hawks have the ball and are down a point with three seconds to play, who takes the game winner? And why?
I can imagine most people will say the obvious, Joe Johnson, because he’s the team’s highest paid player.
But I’m hoping there are some more creative solutions out there. Because if you think about it, the highest paid player isn’t always best-suited to take the big shots.
Choose the starters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The best way to inspire competition during training camp is to let it be known that no one’s job is safe. And that’s just what Hawks coach Mike Woodson did today when he let everyone within earshot know that only Joe Johnson and Al Harrington would be starters on opening night.
Every other job, he said, is up for grabs. That means Josh Childress, Josh Smith and the Hawks’ four-headed monster at center will all have to earn their spots this year.
Woodson felt that lack of competition last year led to some of the complacency that plagued the Hawks at the start of the season. So I’ll borrow a page from baseball and ask you to fill out the Hawks’ starting lineup card.
Who fills in the other three spots and why?
Running now to run later
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Training camp is just a day old but it’s clear that the emphasis for the Hawks this season will be on better conditioning.
Mike Woodson ran them ragged Tuesday morning and afternoon. But the players fared far better than you might think, mostly because players in this day and age work far more in the offseason than their predecessors.
The Hawks’ plan is to be a more up-tempo bunch this season, joining the league’s fast-pace renaissance — championed by the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings in recent seasons.
But do the Hawks have the personnel to pull it off?
Curry worth the risk?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Eddy Curry saga finally seems close to an end. The 7-footer gets traded from Chicago to New York and will get $55-60 million over six years from the Knicks, provided he passes all the physical tests.
That’s a deal, on paper, the Hawks could have made, were they so inclined to take that risk. They’d have had to give up the likes of Al Harrington to get it done.
Some people will say it would have been worth it to snag such talented big man. What would you have done?
Is 26 wins enough for ya?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s prediction time, folks.
So what’s it going to take from the Hawks this season to prove that progress is being made? If they double their win total from last season (13 to 26), is that enough? Or do you need more?
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