Hawks

By rob

October 31, 2006 04:18 PM | Link to this

Sekou,

I have appreciated the daily updates over the past few weeks and am glad the season is finally upon us (although I don’t think my girlfriend is too happy). I am just hoping we can start quickly despite the setbacks and carry it on to the rest of the year. I have invested in season tickets so if nothing else I will know I did my part cheering them on, whatever the outcome may be. Keep the insight coming and lets hope for a playoff bound season!

By Gutz

October 31, 2006 04:41 PM | Link to this

I’m ready for the season to finally tip off! It will hurt not having LO Wright in the post with us up at Philly and of course Marvin is out. I’m hoping the Landlord steps up and dominates either Dalembert or Webber in the post and plays tough defense on them. He has to stay out of foul trouble for us to have a chance. If Speedy, JJ and Smoove can have good games I expect a win. Hopefully Speedy can slow down A.I. too! Go Hawks!

By Gutz

October 31, 2006 04:42 PM | Link to this

The game wed. night is on FSN right? Here on the Ajc it says no TV. I looked at the Hawks tv schedule and it says FSN so hopefully it will be televised. I’d be shocked if it isn’t.

By Tyger

October 31, 2006 05:21 PM | Link to this

It’s all mental for the Hawks, they have the talent, they have to decide how hard they are going to play to win. If they half-a$$ they’ll be the same ole Hawks. If they fight like wild dogs they can compete.

By JohnD

October 31, 2006 05:43 PM | Link to this

Philadelphia is one of the teams the Hawks must dominate to have a successful year. Marvin and Lorenzen would certainly help on the first road trip. With Marvin and Josh Smith on the floor there would be no one for Chris Webber to play. Shelden should be easier for Webber.

This will provide some solid insight into this Hawk team, a win on the road would be big. The two AI’s usually give us trouble but we have better PG’s than in the past on both ends of the floor and JJ should be able to handle Igoudala. That leaves the big men and there is nothing in a 76er uniform that should trouble the Hawk big men.

Excellent opportunity for an opening victory.

By JohnD

October 31, 2006 07:34 PM | Link to this

Just read your NBA preview and do not see anything to disagree on other than the Knicks. I think they will remain the classic example of mis-matched talented pieces. No chemistry, no love and no sharing of the ball. Ultimately not many wins.

By JB

October 31, 2006 07:53 PM | Link to this

I am ampd on this team. Sekou, the AJC has played a huge part in that….appreciate them throwing in the Moore column as the cold-water antithesis to your enthusiasm. Gives ME a little more “us vs them” attitude. Mebbe a few of us could help you catch Moore in the tunnel after the game? :-) J/K, of course.

By Ken Strickland

October 31, 2006 08:29 PM | Link to this

History should tell all of us that this team will hustle until the final buzzer. During the 2nd half of the last 2 seasons the Hawks have been very competitive. I expect coach Woodson will continue to inspire this far more talented team to a successful season.

The additions of SWilliams, LWright, SClaxton will greatly improve the DEF output. Add the individual improvement of JSmith, MWilliams, ZPachulia, JJ, and we should see a 13-15 game improvement, minimum.

By JohnD

October 31, 2006 08:52 PM | Link to this

I shared a table at dinner with Terrence Moore prior to a Hawks game a few years back and had no idea who he was. We had a pleasant sports discussion and I found him reasonable and insightful. I was surprised to learn later who he was.

All of that said, I almost never agree with his columns and sometimes ask myself if he is trying to present his views as though he is bigoted and ignorant. Only Terrence can tell us and I doubt he ever will.

By J. Shuttlesworth

October 31, 2006 09:34 PM | Link to this

In the article about the Hawks’ rebuilding, there was some comparison of the Hawks to the Bulls, and I just wanted to quickly point out (after having watched the Bulls first half this evening) that the Bulls drafted 3 proven college point guards in their rebuilding (Heinrich, Duhon, and Ben Gordon).

The Hawks? Royal Ivey.

By ray

October 31, 2006 10:09 PM | Link to this

Yeah, it’s sick, ain’t it? And I’m watching my Bulls whoop Miami’s butt pretty badly. Yes, I said my Bulls. I am a fan since ‘84 when I was 7yrs old, MJ was drafted and I didn’t know much about him except he came from the ‘Heels. But I love my Hawks. I can’t wait..we need to rock Philly’s house. It is an away game, isn’t it? Chicago definitely has better management and ownership. Especially since Krause left. People talk about Billy, but Krause only did two, maybe three things right in his tenure. During the Bulls’ rebuilding process, he mostly stunk it up, draft and all.

By Clyde

October 31, 2006 10:11 PM | Link to this

Speaking of Duhon, we drafted Donta Smith and Royal Ivey before the Bulls drafted him. Rebuilding a team requires quality drafts and the Hawks haven’t had any (Josh Smith excluded.

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY

By G-Money

November 1, 2006 03:43 AM | Link to this

Sekou, since I only read the online version of the paper and I read this late, I feel like I missed something. Too late to get a paper now. Nonetheless, I am appreciative of your information and perspectives. I think that both are optimistically real in tone and perspective.

After seeing Miami get destroyed, one has to say that anything is possible. I believe the Hawks are good enough to do better than my predictions as long as (and everyone has mentioned this) they go into this first month with confidence and have team building momentum behind them going into December. I think that the Hawks are very much like the PHX and CHI turnarounds. By next year we’ll be ready.

Hey what about those Lakers and Bynum? That was without Kobe. Hawks are going to have to take it to another level for real.

By Derrick

November 1, 2006 06:03 AM | Link to this

I think the Hawks are dead in the water. The team doesn’t have much talent outside Joe, Josh and Marvin, and only Joe has shown the ability to use that talent to win games. I think we are looking at a 25 win team.

By doc

November 1, 2006 07:16 AM | Link to this

did anyone notice that diaw went for a triple single last night and fouled out while odum blew them up offensively as the lakers put away the suns without kobe? oops!

By newkid

November 1, 2006 09:32 AM | Link to this

Swamped on Tuesday Sekou; no chance to glance at the sports page. But thanks for all you do daily to keep us informed.

With the addition of so many new pieces, I was suprised to see the Bulls perform so seamlessly so soon in the season. Young Ty Thomas brought tremendous energy on the defensive end, and it appeared as if Ben Wallace and his teammates already had 80 games under their belts rather than just 8 preseason games. Watching the game I couldn’t help but wonder if Miami’s legs are just a bit too old to successfully run and jump with some of the upstarts.

doc you’re right, Diaw looked a bit out of sorts and out of shape last night. Bynum, Odum, and the Lakers resembled a well-oiled machine; didn’t appear to miss Kobe at all.

By G-Money

November 1, 2006 10:18 AM | Link to this

Clyde, I take umbrage with the statement “no quality drafts…”. Perhaps you meant that the draft picks were taken at different positions than you would have, but I don’t think there are any bloggers that would say that Marvin, Josh Chill nor even Shelden aren’t quality picks. These guys are going to be seeing significant minutes this year and ARE quality men and athletes.

As for Diaw, it is amazing how he may or may not fit as well with Amare back. I would wonder about his confidence, conditioning and work ethic but he played on the French team and could be a bit tired of it all.

I was impressed with both the Lakers and Chicago. Lamar came to work and Bynum was flat out impressive. Chicago seems to be in mid-season form. It is amazing what 3 years of playing together and an additional piece can do for a team. That was not an overnight success. They even jettisoned two extremely high picks in Curry and Chandler.

By THL

November 1, 2006 11:12 AM | Link to this

The only thing that would have been more appropriate in the Heat-Bulls show would have been the refs who officiated the NBA Finals last year actually giving the Heat players their rings. That would have been kind of symbolic I think.

It also looked like D-Wade used up all of his preferential treatment in the playoffs last year because the refs let the Bulls get after him. If he could have been played that way in the playoffs, it would have been a Detroit-Dallas Finals instead.

Diaw…whatever.

I am looking forward to seeing the Hawks play. It seems they will try to push tempo which I would really like to see. That along with more effort on defense.

By honest_abe

November 1, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this

i don’t know what was more surprising… how well the bulls played or how pathetic shaq looked…..

although the bulls played impressively in the opener… the fact of the matter is, the heat have a lot of over the hill veterans… “the glove” shouldn’t be wearing a uniform, instead he should be holding a clipboard learning how to coach from riley… antoine is well antoine… the way shaq played in the finals he should have seriously considered retirement and after watching him in the opener it only strengthened that argument…….

i realize it is only one game…. so no need to panic… but until j-williams gets back to handle the point…the heat will struggle to win against any quality opponents… their depth is lacking and once again most of their roster is too old.

the bulls had a lot of intensity and displayed a huge improvement in interior defense… but i’m still not sold on this team… should make out for a great season..

the hawks own the sixers…i expect a win tonight..!

By Astro Joe

November 1, 2006 01:39 PM | Link to this

I’m worried about our lack of big man depth tonight, with Wright suspended. Webber is the type of crafty, veteran, perimeter PF that can negate any defensive capabilities of Shelden. C-Web does his damage near the free throw line and not on the post. Shelden should only try to keep a hand in C-Web’s face, as no one can block 16 foot jump shots by a 6’10” player. We need a smart defensive game out of both Zaza and Shelden while we are short-handed.

Geez, is it 7:00 yet?

By HB Ando

November 1, 2006 02:33 PM | Link to this

G-Money, if you believe that there are no bloggers who feel that Shelden wasn’t a quality pick, then I think you’ve been attending the Utah Jazz blog, and not the Hawks. Outside of some fans here, there are very few basketball minds that viewed that pick as even half-way reasonable. As most everyone hear knows (from reading this blog), I think the selection of Shelden, with the fifth overall pick, was about the worst use of that pick I could fathom, outside of letting a monkey throw a dart at a list of draft choices.

Ahhh, but I’m trying to avoid beating dead horses to start the season. With no Marvin and no Lo for tonight, it will be interesting to see what the player Billy and Woody said was “ready to step in and play right away” will bring tonight. He’s up against an over-the-hill Webber, and a frequently ineffective Dalembert, so no excuses. And, based on Doc’s comment about Diaw’s one-game performance, whatever Shelden does tonight should define his value for the rest of the season.

Doc, let me ask you, if you had Diaw and I had Bynum, on fantasy teams, would you give me Diaw for Bynum, based on last nights’ performances? That’s what I thought.

And Joe, thanks for validating my concerns about Shelden. We drafted a one-position player, who can’t guard an opposing PF that’s 10 years older, and playing on one leg? With the fifth overall pick? I don’t think I’ll ever get over how bad that pick was. But hey, Roy begins his rookie of the year campaign tonight…………

BTW, espn.com was running a poll a couple of days ago, with a range of picks for different outcomes (player and teams). I picked Dallas and the Bulls to play for the championship, and I took the Mavs to win. I did this before the Bulls spanked the Heat last night. Their depth, and combination of youth and veteran leadership, has me thinking they could win it all this year. But even if they make it out of the East, I think Dallas takes the experience of last years’ collapse and takes the crown.

By Tyger

November 1, 2006 02:43 PM | Link to this

It’s way too early to read anything into the Lakers or Bulls’ victories. The Heat and Suns will be there when it counts, but the Lakers and Bulls are a good example for the young Hawks. Lesson: Get every win you can, it’ll count later.

I’m not sold on any pre-season predictions, b/c its too difficult to accurately guage the development of young players b4 the season begins and likewise, the decline of aging players.

I’m not sold that the Sixers are any worse than say the Wizards. Allen Iverson is a MAN! And will win 20-25 by himself or die trying, Webber is on the decline, but the team isnt built around Webber.

Dalembart and Hunter are a formidable front court and Iguadola, Korver and Carney give them young legs. Hendu gives them veteran leadership and improves the hoops I.Q. So, dont sleep on the Sixers.

By G-Money

November 1, 2006 03:47 PM | Link to this

Ando, if you read my blog, I did not say that we might not agree on where he was picked. But Shelden is not a Pitsnogle. He has value, perhaps you don’t see his value high enough to be picked at 5 (I didn’t either for that matter). But he is not a bum by any stretch of the imagination. I also do not believe that with a season of 82 games, one game, particularly at the start of the season defines either roles or value. But “not to beat a dead horse”…

I do believe that the Bulls and Mavs will have great seasons. I think the same can be said of the Spurs, Lakers and perhaps the Nets. The other teams will slug it out with the West beating the East down once again. There is just too much basketball mojo on the other side of the Mississippi.

As for tonight…I believe that the Hawks will play with poise and find a way to win. It will be a team effort with the veteran leadership of JJ and Speedy leading the way. Expect them to turn in a real gritty performance in the 4th quarter if it’s close. Shelden, JChill and JSmoove will also give us stuff to blog about in the AM. See ya at the half.

By Astro Joe

November 1, 2006 04:01 PM | Link to this

Ando, that same older, one-legged version of C-Web averaged 20/10 last season while getting virtually no love from his fellow superstar. If Shelden allows Drew Gooden to look like C-Web, then let’s talk. But many a PF has been schooled by the jump-shooting, passing big man from Michigan. Are you suggesting that O’Bryant would be able to stop Webber? Oh, that’s right, maybe in 3 years when C-Web is out of the league and O’Bryant is getting more than garbage time.

By jhan

November 1, 2006 04:02 PM | Link to this

Already bashing Sheldon and he hasn’t even played a game yet? If he does have a solid season, do the detractors have their excuses ready for why it really wasn’t a good pick even though he produced? How many people have shut down C-Webb over the years? Hasn’t this guy been an all-star for basically his entire career? Many wanted Aldridge to be drafted on this team. Do you think he would shut down Webber? Let’s see what the kid brings to the table before we shove him under the bus!

By Reynard

November 5, 2006 04:05 PM | Link to this

I’m baffled! What is Dennis Scotts role on the Hawks broadcast (other than cheerleader). Is he supposed to offer some incite or what? I’m not trying to be funny I would like to know.