AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2006 > April > 18 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.US48 hours and counting
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’re now counting down the final hours of this season and somehow the blog traffic is strong as ever. I love it. I love the venom and the vigor with which you’re all attacking not only this season but the past and the future. For all those people out there who insisted to me that there was no cyber crowd out there for the Hawks (hence the reason this blog didn’t exist until around this time a year ago) I salute you and hope you realize the mistake in your evaluation. There is more than enough interest out there.
I’m going to echo the thoughts of several of you when I say, hopefully for one of the last times here, in hindsight Chris Paul would have been an ideal choice for the Hawks with the No. 2 pick in last summer’s draft. So would Deron Williams and/or Raymond Felton, since we’ve all realized that point guard is one of the Hawks’ areas of need. But we all went into the free agency period assuming that the Hawks would nab a veteran PG since they passed on Paul. And that did not happen.
So panning Marvin Williams (hey Ando, the same argument made about Paul not topping out at 20 applies to Marvin, right?) at this time is not only unfair, it’s ridiculous. We don’t know how good this kid can be. He could turn out to be the league’s next big superstar. Or he could be a solid pro who never turns into the megastar the Hawks hope. But we don’t know anything for sure and 81 games (one at a time, baby) is too soon to judge. From what I can tell, there’s no reason to think this kid won’t be an asset to this team. And all we’re operating on is the assumption that Paul has a great year here because of how well he’s done with the Hornets. But it’s strictly hypothetical, and that’s just not good enough for me to make a judgment.
That’s the beautiful thing about the draft and the league in general. You get a chance to right your wrongs at least twice a year - at the trade deadline in February and when the draft and free agency roll around in the summer. I’m interested to see where they go next, what moves get made in the coming months to rectify the situation.
The uncertainty of it all is what keeps me going this time of year, wondering what moves elsewhere will impact the Hawks. I was telling someone over the weekend that I never imagined Joe Johnson on this team a year ago. I remember watching the playoffs and trying to think about which players would fit with the Hawks and JJ never came to mind. Then the summer hits and things happen and the next thing you know he’s a Hawk.
Only a few things can be measured at this point (the order of the draft lottery won’t be determined for at least a month), so I’m willing to examine this season and weigh in on that (keep an eye out in the paper for our season wrapup later this week). Everything else, is up for debate. So have at it.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Mike
April 18, 2006 03:38 PM | Link to this
Even with the huge ups and downs this year I am already itching for next season to begin. I’m sure there will be some interesting transactions this summer. Hopefully not just from the draft.
By Jameyan
April 18, 2006 03:45 PM | Link to this
With the draft coming up it is time to figure out who and what the Hawks need. I like Tyrus Thomas, Aldridge,a nd the guy from Italy but I was reading on one of the blogs where we should trade our top 5 pick to NO/OKL for their first round picks. That makes sense in the fact we can get Marcus Williams, Rondo, Armstrong, or O’Bryant. The deal I like is trade Al to Chicago in a sign and trade for their other first round pick. So we can keep our top 5 pick to draft one of those big guys and also draft Rondo or Williams. Then we can settle that situation and also look into free agency for depth and bodies to contribute right away because Edwards,Lang, and John Thomas is not going to cut it next season. I also think we need to keep Grundy because he is more solid and can score than Ivey.We can also shop Donta Smith and package him in a deal probaly with Al Harrington so we can get some big bodies. If Billy Knight, the owners, and Mike Woodson follow this plan I guarantee playoffs next season. We are going to double our win total from last year and we are just a couple of pieces away from a playoff contender. Also please start J-Smooth and Marvin this could be the best young frontcourt next season and we need to start back wearing the black uniforms too. That would be cool but only wishful thinking.
By ILL-logical
April 18, 2006 03:50 PM | Link to this
Three quick points: 1. Marvin Williams is redundant.He and Josh Smith play the same position-do not buy the company line about PF for either-they are both too light in the a** for PF. 2.ZaZa is not now nor will he ever be a NBA center-see above comment re management/media hype. 3.The PG snafu is a sin;not only re the draft but the subsequent failure to address it as well.
Conclusion: Management is culpable and if things don’t change dramatically,ie trades/draft,heads must roll.
By Jamaaliver
April 18, 2006 03:57 PM | Link to this
Sekou, great story today about the Williams/Smith combo offering hope to a hopeless fanbase. The two of them being on the same page is what i needed to hear. I am now ready to trade AL Harrington, our first round pick and anyone else to get Joe Johnso, j-Smoove and Marvin some help in the froncourt and backcourt.
I think Childress could net us a low lottery pick (9-12) and we could use that pick to draft Marcus Williams.
Or we get Chris Duhon from CHI in a sign and trade for AL.
The number one thing is to jettison that draft pick for immediate veteran help. Let’s not waste JJ’s best years on a team 4 or 5 years away from contention.
By Steve B.
April 18, 2006 04:06 PM | Link to this
Marvin is only 19/20, just as all of us have put on weight since we where 19 so will Marvin. I don’t know if Marvin will be a great 3,4, or 5, I do know it’s to early to make that call. If we can get CHI pick for Al cool , but we should wait we know we can count on NY to drive up his price. After NY drives his price up then lets see what IND,CHI,or NY is willing to offer. NY has done this 2 straight years so I’m expecting them to do it again(Curry in 04,Crawford in 03).Even if it’s a 3 team trade like Al to NY, Francis/Marbury to Minn, and Banks or Blunt and their #1. It would help us to wait.
By Astro Joe
April 18, 2006 04:33 PM | Link to this
Ando, no mention of Iguodala from Gearon this morning, just Deng. I’m not quite sure that I would call it revisionist history. I actually thought there could be something that I just don’t see. For example, in baseball, it is a well-known thought that most smallish power pitchers will ultimately break down. There are always exceptions (like Pedro), but for the most part, most teams will not draft a power pitcher who is “light in the pants”.
I kind of assumed that maybe there was something in Deng’s build that caught BK’s attention. Maybe when he took his physical, they saw something that looked abnormal in his bone structure or muscle mass. I actually took the comment as literal and not an attempt to rationalize choosing Childress. I agree that their production is not that different but Deng does get a slight edge over Childress, but certainly not enough to fight over (in my opinion).
That’s why I asked for our resident doctor’s opinion on the whole, “he appeared injury-prone” statement. Short of having a pertruding bone sticking out of his back, what could have appeared during the physical that scared the Hawks off?
(Deng was who I wanted BK to draft with that pick so I was especially interested in hearing that story this morning. But like I said, Childress’ production is comparable so I have not voiced any concern about that selection nor will I. Similarly, I wanted Jameer and not Smith, but again, I can’t really argue with the results).
By Ryder
April 18, 2006 04:51 PM | Link to this
A core group of talent we have, it’s LEADERSHIP that this team does not have, from the front office fiasco to no floor leader on the court. In addition, use the cap space to obtain VETERANS who know how to WIN and do the DIRTY WORK required (run for loose balls, play interior defense, not concerned with scoring as a first option).
The words in caps ought to specify the point.
By doc
April 18, 2006 05:03 PM | Link to this
i continue to be perplexed by that statement of gearon, jr. today and maybe that is a way to say he has or might have weight problems. one of the more severe injuries like amare has seems to occur in the type of players that bk likes, long and lean. you cant predict injuries by body type beyond what we see, big heavy guys have ankle and foot problems, soarers have knee and tendonitus problems of the feet and knees. the smaller guys usually avoid serious contact usually but get accumulative dings that add up as we see it in nash, ai or paul or the caught in traffic kinds like salim got.
there are few players that can go the whole season and we have the premier warrior here in jj at greater than 350 straight reg season games. so i guess he has the correct body style 6’7” with a bit of density to keep him on the ground.
way to bring it today sekou, kinda like the intensity, verve, feel of the start today and i havent even gone back to review the later stuff of yesterday’s blog. it must have been something in the air all around and not just in the big a.
SIN. the word sounds so vile. derivative is from archery. it just means “to miss the mark”, ergo, try again. true meaning seems so much more forgiving than within our present culture.
By doc
April 18, 2006 05:45 PM | Link to this
tyger after making the comment earlier in the day about all of yall being so long winded seems like you caught the disease. :-)
great points flash from earlier in the day, couldnt agree more. i hope that sometime we get to hear bk’s side of it. that is what is so refreshing about having john s. over with the braves, he speaks up so one kind of knows his philosophy and can see whether he is being authenic to it.
i hope the hawks will allow bk some leash or he will allow it at some point and provide sekou an exclusive. i have been as frustrated by the lack of comments from the hawks as the next guy but considering the legal atmosphere, the less said the better for now. i guess as a lawyer you might be advising your client in such a manner? i am not the expert in that field though i can tell you x-rays are nothing more than shades of gray and i tend to look at situations that way. not too much came out in black and white in my field though the public has been taught to think otherwise. since you are connected to the metaphysical realities you understand. from a pr standpoint it doesnt make sense for the silence.
By Kappy
April 18, 2006 05:52 PM | Link to this
The more I think about it, the more i think we need a vteran leader at the point. Marcus williams is great and any combo of banks/jack/nelson would be great. But look what sam cassell did for the clips this year. same roster, same coach, 30 games difference in wins. If we can get a veteran leader in here who knows what to do and when to do it, it will make our young talent excel.
Throw out some veteran PG’s who might be available if anyone knows any…. Derek Fisher?
By The Flash
April 18, 2006 06:04 PM | Link to this
Doc, all I can say is that, while we have our different takes, it’s truly a pleasure, always provocative, informative, and/or entertaining. Sekou, and the many other serious players on this blog, and, oh, lest I forget, Thinking Man too, profound props to all.
By Steve B.
April 18, 2006 06:13 PM | Link to this
Lets not give Sam all the credit. Livingston and their young center have progressed well and getting C.Mobley was just as big as getting Sam. That said you have a good point getting a vet pg to play infront of what ever young guy we get would speed the curve of improvement. But we must get a young pg also ot it will only be a short term patch job.
By doc
April 18, 2006 06:25 PM | Link to this
to support the above comments i will come as close as a truth as i can and said it last week. if you dont want to make the playoffs next year then dont get a point guard, spend your money on a big guy. with very few exceptions, no team goes on to the next step without a quality point. lebron and kobe may be the exceptions but they are truly dominant guys and they arent bigs.
look to minnesota to see what garnett needs to get back to the dance. what happened without sam playing at his best and being appreciated for it or even the demeaned starbury (though he deserves it as he might be the proverbial coach killer) not being there to get him the ball while he did the dirty work?
By TB
April 18, 2006 06:48 PM | Link to this
I think it’s time to get over the fact that we didn’t draft Paul! Yea he’s a super player and would of been a nice fit, but let’s start appreciating Marvin more!
By Hal
April 18, 2006 09:51 PM | Link to this
Nice win tonight. I don’t care if it came against the Washington Generals. A win is a win right now. The Josh’s seemed a little out of it tonight. But Marvin picked up that slack and the rest of the team played nicely as a “TEAM”. Can we win another to more than double that win total? We can only hope.
Sekou, thanks for allowing us a small voice to show our love for our currently low Hawks. I’m going on 5 months now and I can appreciate what everybody gives on a daily basis. I hope most of you stick around in the offseason as well.
By F******* Mane
April 19, 2006 01:15 AM | Link to this
Sam Cassell is worth like 20 extra wins by himself through his career. He’s won nearly everywhere he has played. The overpriced Fisher ain’t gonna give you the leadership and clutch play down the stretch that Sam brings.
Billy Knight wanted a long player who could play 2-guard, which is why he picked Childress over Deng. As much crap as Childress takes he hasn’t done any worse than Deng over the course of his career really. Looking clumsy and nerdy shouldn’t figure into how good a player is. Childress still gets the job done.
By Harry Hawk
April 19, 2006 02:48 AM | Link to this
Truth be told, I think Ando is really the “Hawks Hack”.
Just kidding.
(And yeah, I’m snickering as I type this.)
By HB Ando
April 19, 2006 04:37 AM | Link to this
Nah, Harry, but I wanted his job. I e-mailed SS and said he should put in the word for me, as my endless ego suggested that I was the man for the job. To be truthful, the Hack has been a non-entity all season, and I’m proud to be a contributing member of Sekou’s Beat Blog. I think we, collectively, have shown up big time this season. I think all the regulars should dislocate a shoulder patting ourselves on the backs. Kudos to us.
By Billy
April 19, 2006 05:39 AM | Link to this
Marvin: 16 and 9 in 27 minutes.
Awesome.
By jhan
April 19, 2006 08:24 AM | Link to this
Nice victory last night. Even though I’ve never seen most of the Heat players that were on the floor. Kapono seems like a very solid player. If he is a free agent the Hawks should take a look.
As much as I like JChills game he HAS to do something with his shot. When shooting a set shot he has no problems (how many of those do you really get in the NBA). Watching him try to move and shoot is truly painful. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him hit one on the move. The entire crowd would truly bust out laughing everytime he tried a running jumper. I kind of felt sorry for him.
By duke42d
April 19, 2006 08:36 AM | Link to this
I think u go after Jason Terry in free agency! Next you trade al and something else to get a big man!
Next Year This Year PG Jason Terry Ivey SG Joe Johnson Joe Johnson SF Marvin Williams Josh Smith PF Josh Smith AL C New York Rookie Center ZAZA
Trade al to the knicks for there rookie center!
By doc
April 19, 2006 08:41 AM | Link to this
sekou, dude, cuz, what have you said to bk to keep him so quiet around you or do your lenghty convesations with him come with the rider that it is off the record? did you say something in the past on tv or while with the pacers that causes him to shut up in your presence?
terrance got a lenghty interview of at least three sentences with him last night and has it all in his comments today. i’ll be interested to see what the reaction is by some of the regulars or fans if they bravely venture to go forward and read the commentary.
sekou, just kidding to your responsibility for how bk comes across in the media. isnt there someone in the hawks organization that can tell him it might be part of his responsibility to be a bit more open to the fan base as small as it is? there are even courses that teach this stuff they could send him to.
change chills shot and he may shoot for 45% instead of 55%. there have been other unorthodox shooters that do quite well, it doesnt have to be thrown up there pretty it just has to go in.
By Astro Joe
April 19, 2006 09:01 AM | Link to this
Doc, amen on Childress’ mechanics. Gearon Jr. did make mention of BK’s “poor communication skills” on the radio yesterday morning and we have yet another example of that in the Moore editorial. I think it is better for him to be quiet. Even semi-supporters like myself are insulted by his attitude. But mcuh like Childress’ jump shot, I’m not going to get too worked up when the results are at least promising. Let’s hope that after a short vacation, the young guys start immediately working on another phase of their game. Despite the missteps and ownership clouds I still think we are about 3-4 players away from competing next season for a playoff spot. Wouldn’t it be shocking if this team got to the playoffs before Chris Paul?
By doc
April 19, 2006 09:22 AM | Link to this
aj know the feelin, ready to do some baseballin?
By Billy
April 19, 2006 10:58 AM | Link to this
Look, there’s no reason for us to get into it over BK again.
Not right now, at least.
The summer is fast approaching and that will determine a lot.
He knows it’s all on him. He accepts the pressure and responsibility. Let’s see what he does.
It’d be nice if he talked more. But what would he say? Yeah, he could say it all once. But then, after that, he’d just be repeating himself.
Let the guy work. He screws it up. We’ll call for his head again next year.
But they did just double their win total. Let them enjoy it.
By Clyde
April 19, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this
I hope Woodson gives Joe Johnson the night off tonight. I don’t like Billy or Woody but Joe Johnson is one of the reasons I keep watching the Hawks. He has played hard in every game this year and to me is a true warrior. With all the cry babies in the league this year Joe hasn’t said one word and kept putting up all-star caliber numbers. Thank ya Joe Johnson for a great season.
But with all that said: FIRE BILLY AND WOODY
By 21298OK
April 19, 2006 11:09 AM | Link to this
Truth be told…last night’s game should not even count as an NBA game. Who were those guys Miami threw out there - only ones I knew of was Haslem and Walker.
By Astro Joe
April 19, 2006 11:31 AM | Link to this
Doc, yeah, I’ll join DOB’s blog every now and then to discuss the Bravos. But the Braves blog attracts too many crazies for my tastes. I enjoy reading comments from other bloggers and in the Braves section, that is almost impossible to do as many of the comments are just idiotic. I figure if nothing else, I should be able to get Ando, Flash and some others riled up over here during the summer. We may not always agree but at least it is respectable banter, I don’t find that to be true on the Braves blog (although I do like that DOB chimes in several times a day with updates and will rip a few of the crazy bloggers).
By Steve B.
April 19, 2006 11:41 AM | Link to this
Dude you like SAM’s game, me to but he is not the only reason their winning more. C.Mobley, C.Kaman, S.Livingston and E.Brand are all a huge part of it. If Sam is “worth 20 more wins” how come they only have 9 more wins. 46-35 this season 37-45 last season.
By jhan
April 19, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this
Don’t ge me wrong on Chills. I have been one of his loudest supporters. Jusk ask Ando. My point about Chills shot is that it’s going to be an issue soon. I believe in the future he will get most of his minutes at the 2 spot. He’s going to have to be able to move, stop & shoot. His 55% shooting seems to come from lots of putbacks in the paint. I love his hustle and willingness to crash the boards.
If all goes well we will have 2 large bodies playing in the paint next year. In theory this will limit Chills ability to go inside. On defense he will be responsible for guarding other 2’s. If he spends his time trying to crash the boards it will lead to lot’s of easy baskets for the opponents.
By Astro Joe
April 19, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this
jahan, if I were giving Childress his off-season assignment, I would send him away with video tapes of Bruce Bowen, Shane Battier and Tayshaun Prince and tell him to be prepared to be our premier perimeter defender next season. I know people don’t want that from the 6th pick, but it is a role that needs to be filled on this team and Childress has shown that he is willing to go toe-to-toe with anyone (unlike many of his teammates). I think he will continue to score when needed, but I’m not too sure that he will ultimately need to do much more than bury an open jump shot. And he has been able to do that (ugly stroke and all) fairly well this year. He impresses me with a very high B-ball IQ, so I hope he will continue to find ways to utilize his overall game to help this team. It may not be glamorous, but every winning team has that type of blue collar wing player who is willing to do the dirty work to help the team win.
By Richie Rich
April 19, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this
Jchill shoot’s 55% because he gets alot of putbacks and dunks because nobody gaurds him. He is left alone alot on the floor, while people double team JJ. The thing he does do to get his shot’s in the paint is when Joe is doubled and they don’t pay attention to him, he slides underneath the basket and waits on someone to find him.
When you shoot 90% on layups and dunks, but shoot 20% on jumpshot’s, then yeah you will shoot 55% overall……Don’t tell me about his 3pt % either, all those shot’s are wide open with the defender at least 10ft away……..Anybody can hit a warmup jump shot……just like JHAN said let’s see him shoot on the move…
By The Flash
April 19, 2006 02:37 PM | Link to this
Ando, you’re shooting for the wrong job. GM or advisor to the GM sounds much more on point to me.
By The Flash
April 19, 2006 08:38 PM | Link to this
Just read BK’s quoted comments. Seems to be saying that JJ is as much of a point as he needs in the system he envisages, or that he sees SS as transitioning to the point aka JT. If it’s the former, that is, if he wants JJ to lead the offense, I’m thinking he’ll want a big at the two as well, one with agility and speed and scoring punch. Sounds like Roy to me. Just a guess, “but, what else can we do now, except roll down the windows and let the wind … .” Thunder Road, the boss.
By ray
April 19, 2006 10:52 PM | Link to this
Wow. I finally get another computer (and get it running right) and looooky, here’s the ol’ gang going strong. Yeah, you guys should be patting yourselves on the back. I see I’ve missed a lot. Doc, I’ve missed you man. Ando, I expect to see you in the “war” room come draft time. You gotta get in silly billy’s ear so we get a good pick. Well, from what’s available, anyway.