Hawks

By Astro Joe

November 1, 2006 04:26 PM | Link to this

Ando, last season against Toronto and Orlando, C-Web (and his one-leg) averaged about 22 points and 10.5 rebounds over 5-6 games. I didn’t take my Geritol today, so my memory is failing. Please remind me, do those teams have decent, young PFs?

By phar71

November 1, 2006 04:50 PM | Link to this

Lets get off to a good start tonight. How important do you guys think it is for the Hawks to start off with a V?!

By macaroni Tony

November 1, 2006 05:02 PM | Link to this

Are you ready for some basketball? I know that we are going to miss Lo tonight, but I do believe that we are going to be ready. Speey will have to play A.I. to the fullest. That will have to be a team task. As far as Webber, yes he is getting older, but he has some game still in his bones. I am looking for us to break a long tradition and that is losing the first game every year. Go Hawks We have to start things off different to show the world what we are made of.

By macaroni Tony

November 1, 2006 05:05 PM | Link to this

Go Hawks make every win count. These teams are not better than us, but the hype makes them think that they are better, we have to get ourselves hyped.

By Tyger

November 1, 2006 05:26 PM | Link to this

Ditto. Let’s not sleep on the 76ers, nobody’s giving them any credit for anything and they are as solid as anyone else.

Iverson is a beast. Iguadola is just as talented as any of our youngins. Korver too. Dalembart and Hunter are formidable. And Webber still has tricks if not legs.

Speedy and AI will be a great matchup, so will Pachulia and Shelden vs. Webber and Dalembart.

Hopefully, it will come down to the benches where I think we have an advantage.

By honest_abe

November 1, 2006 05:58 PM | Link to this

GO HAWKS!!!!!! I’M BUZZED AND ABOUT TO GO ENJOY A 1-0 START… YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!

By Davey

November 1, 2006 06:02 PM | Link to this

If we play hard and have good D we will win this game. We are much more atheletic then them. Should be a good game. Go Hawks!

By G-Money

November 1, 2006 06:36 PM | Link to this

It should be a great one. Sixers have a pretty astounding opening night record at home. They haven’t lost a whole lot. That being said, our Hawks desperately want to show the world that all the analysts are dead wrong. We’ll see what the whole group is made of including Woody in just a few hours.

Sekou, I’m sorry for your dilemma. I am one of those 260 lb beasts that no one wants to get placed next to. I also hate a middle seat, can’t get anything done because you are pressed like chicken wings. Nonetheless, that’s the way it goes. You should try flying one airline. Certainly you have enough miles on Delta to at least be Gold. It helps in seat selection for shizzle.

So is the game on FSN??

By Richie Rich

November 1, 2006 07:54 PM | Link to this

there is no movement in our offense, everbody just stands and watches one guy dribble in a circle, this is pathetic. i know it’s only one game, but what kind of offense are we running?

hopefully we can do better in the second half….movement the ball people.

By doc

November 1, 2006 07:56 PM | Link to this

geeeee, ando. a little protective of diaw now, wonder why? he came at what nine mil a year and he throws up a triple single on opening night fouling out to boot. maybe it is his injury that kept him out of the international games and he isnt in shape yet but we will see if he is worth the money.

cant say that it is unexpected that amare is struggling as his injury is a difficult one to come back from. if he was a horse he would not have gotten off the paddock unless he had won the kentucky derby. if he does get back as someone pointed out it will be interesting to see how they work him, marion and diaw into the mix.

seems like the hawks are going to have to put on a laker like show on the road to get back in this one.

oh yeah ando, if you had your choice on the fantasy team would you take jj or diaw? that is the real question that inquiring minds want to know. :@)

By michael m.

November 1, 2006 08:24 PM | Link to this

they look terrible. hawks should be ashamed of their effort thus far. philly was trying to let them back into it repeatedly in the second quarter but the atl had no interest in taking advantage. pathetic play to this point. josh smith needs to get more involved offensively.

By AJW

November 1, 2006 08:26 PM | Link to this

Childress just can’t get a foul call at the basket can he. I can’t count how many times I have seen him get fouled on the arm going to the basket with no call. This guy isn’t a rookie anymore!

By LL Cool Scott

November 1, 2006 08:28 PM | Link to this

Ladies and Gentleman, in the early pole position for the Greg Oden Sweepstakes - YOUR Atlanta Hawks!!!

The Highlight Factory - wow, what a joke. We not only suck, but we’re BORING. Love the Woodson strategy of walking it up the court into the half-court set plays. Has that stategy EVER worked for a team this young and inexperienced? Our only possible strength is our youth and athleticism, and Woodson’s coaching stategy completely ignores that one possible strength.

Who do you guys think is more incompetent? Billy Knight? or Mike Woodson?

By Davey

November 1, 2006 08:28 PM | Link to this

we look like crap. Josh and Joe need to start making their open shots. Also some movement on Offense wouldn’t hurt.

By Wink frrom Lithonia

November 1, 2006 08:36 PM | Link to this

We as fans are anxious to get the season started, but it does not appear the Hawks are.

At the half they are down by 14 points. They were down 22 to 4 in the first quarter. They were able to get some hustle plays from Zaza in the 2nd quarter and actually got the deficit down to 9.

I have not seen much difference so far in this team. The Landlord started the game and was on the bench before the end of 1st period, he let the tenants have the paint for the 2nd period as he saw no action.

Joe Johnson has not established himself in the game to this point. Air balls & bricks being tossed up by Salim & supporting cast.

The Hawks still do not value the basketball as the silly turnovers continue from last year. The great point guard debates as reverted back to JJ at point.

JSmoove is missing in action and the jump shot of JChill still looks horrible.

Defense is poor as both Philly AI’s look unstopable.

Lastly, Woody does not have a clue!!!

Game is back on….will try to hang in… lead now up to 17 points….ugly start, of course Miami got creamed too!!!

By Tim

November 1, 2006 08:48 PM | Link to this

Down 20 mid-way through the third quarter. Good to see the Hawks are already in mid-season form. What a complete piece of s* this franchise is.

By R. Stroz

November 1, 2006 08:50 PM | Link to this

The Hawks are one game into the season and shooting (pun intended) for the number one draft pick! Blow Hawks!

By Syl

November 1, 2006 08:51 PM | Link to this

Knew that comparison to Miami was coming. Good thing we have Pat Riley. oops! Since I’m required by blog law to give a knee jerk reaction to this first game I now predict that we win less games than last year. Where would we be without Zaza.

By Glutton for Punishment

November 1, 2006 08:54 PM | Link to this

I can not stomach this… I did not think they would look that anemic…I am switching to the NFL replay..it’s the Falcons victory over Cincinnatti..

By Chris

November 1, 2006 08:56 PM | Link to this

The preseason and all the blogs positive ill conceived analysis was more entertaining than this game. The Hawks have no offensive continuity and they can’t defend the interior. A common theme over the last 3 years or so. Why Mike Woodson sux. Well toward the end of the first half Solomon Jones was bringing some energy he was altering shots and staying active. He was creating problems for the Sixers on both ends of the floor. So the “Bearded Wonderer” puts in Frieje who manages to stand around the perimeter for about 10+ possessions on both ends of the floor and do absolutely nothing while the lead grows.
It appears that Rajon Rondo and Marcus Williams are making some nice contributions for their teams tonight. Currently Speedy our veteran addition is at 3 pts,3 fouls, 2 turnovers and no assists. It did look like the Hawks were trying really hard in the first half, they were sweating and everything.

By Donny

November 1, 2006 09:02 PM | Link to this

Coach Mike needs to spend more time on an offensive plan, like say, coaching things like screens, picks, or for that matter plays that require more than one pass each time down the court——and less time on that idiotic looking beard—-as it looks like the have no idea what to do with the ball.

At least that new guy from Duke, Williams I think is his name, looks like he doesn’t mind going towards the basket.

By Donny

November 1, 2006 09:03 PM | Link to this

Coach Mike needs to spend more time on an offensive plan, like say, coaching things like screens, picks, or for that matter plays that require more than one pass each time down the court——and less time on that idiotic looking beard—-as it looks like the have no idea what to do with the ball.

At least that new guy from Duke, Williams I think is his name, looks like he doesn’t mind going towards the basket.

By Richie Rich

November 1, 2006 09:14 PM | Link to this

If we get the 1st pick in next years draft, I say trade the pick for a HEAD COACH AND GM!

By Donny

November 1, 2006 09:45 PM | Link to this

Are the Hawks announcers sampling from Warren Savage’s supply?

The Sixers up 13 with 3 minutes to play and Bob is screaming with optimism: And the Sixers have not put the Hawks away!!!

What you need them to beat the Hawks by 20+!!!???

Mo Cheeks took out his first string, and the HAWKS still couldn’t break it into single digits.

Sad.

How about Woodson can’t shave until he wins?

That thing would be down to his chest, this team is going to have a hard time winning a game!

By mike

November 1, 2006 09:58 PM | Link to this

Wow Speedy Claxton what a pick up. And Sheldon Williams, my limited vocabulary does not allow me to express my true feelings. As someone who moved here from Memphis just let me say it is great to see that the Billy Knight it takes 200 years to rebuild plan is still in place and prospering well right here in Atlanta. How he suckered these guys into hiring him as a GM should be one they put on The History Channel.

By mike

November 1, 2006 10:00 PM | Link to this

Rauthman is a curse. He has never announced for a winning team. They gave him the Braves and the strick ends. I say dump him now and we may salvage the season.

By Richie Rich

November 1, 2006 10:04 PM | Link to this

NICE COMMENTS MIKE! Oh yeah as for Speedy 28mins, 3 points, ZERO-0 ASSIST

By TonyG

November 1, 2006 10:15 PM | Link to this

i did not think missing marvin would have such a HUGE impact! Did our offensive strategy revolve around him??it will be great to get him and wright back. Besides that, the rest of the team looks like they’ll be alright. its just one game. But i have got to see somethin better out of speedy. he did not look like a starting point guard in any way shape or form. Tyronn Lue was so much better, and he openly admits he’s better as a backup. Maybe speedy should admit it too.

By mike

November 1, 2006 10:19 PM | Link to this

Thanks Richie, I am on a roll and dont want to lose the mo here. Tomorrow first thing I am hanging at my work station pictures in order as follows Alfred E Newman, Billy Knight and Mike Woodson followed by the phrase “What, us Worry?”

By Samuel

November 1, 2006 10:39 PM | Link to this

Cuz,

I did see this from Bynum. That one move last Christmas day against Shaq told me that this year would be his year. He is a member of the mighty Tupelo Hustle.

The Hawks looked , well,like the Hawks. I know Speedy just broke his left “pinky finger” or something but come on

By Davey

November 1, 2006 10:54 PM | Link to this

So it looks like Speedy is winded??? I know this probaly has been discussed but did we honestly sign for the backup for the guy we could have drafted a year before. Does anyone have the stats for Paul tonight? Somehow it think he might have done better on the assist category……and maybe a few other.

The landlord looks like crap. Webber one time took the ball from him. Also on offense he brings the ball to his knees. And guess what he got striped. He supposed to be our briuser? He’s not any taller then JJ.

Lasly Josh Smith, Josh Smith. Does he just like to jump for the sake of it. Any time he picks up his dribble he jumps. So out of control. They teach you not to do that when your 12.

Who else feels we have gotten worse with the loss of Al Harrington? I DO!!!

By reese

November 1, 2006 11:08 PM | Link to this

Wow, I don’t know where to start. I come home from a jog (I hate these 7:00pm start times) and the hawks are down 21 - 4. I go to take a shower and the radio won’t pick up 790 the zone.

I sit down to watch the 2nd half and I can’t figure out what is the hawks style of play. I know it doesn’t help when your shooters are missing shots (33% fg), but Josh Childress is missing tip backs.

I didn’t see sheldon play much but he was no match for the no jumping Chris Weber and that scares me.

We are in for long boring season if we continue to see lineups of Speedy, TLue, JJ, J Smith and J Childress. The hawks were down by 11 points in the 4th quarter and woodson takes out zaza. Now, we are playing without a true center and a true power forward. We don’t score and don’t get rebounds for the next 3 minutes.

Woodson is making statements that Billy Knight is failing to recognize or acknowledge. Woodson does not trust or like the power forwards or centers that are backing up zaza. It is early in the season and he might as well just let Solomon Jones play. Continuing to only place guards and small forwards on the floor is not cute anymore. And Lorenzen Wright would not have made that big of a difference.

By HB Ando

November 1, 2006 11:20 PM | Link to this

My mama said if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say nothin’ at all.

Shelden Williams! Yeah, right. Genius! If that’s “ready to contribute right away”, then I’ve got some south Georgia swam…..er, lakefront property I’d like to sell old Billy Knight. This is a playoff team? Will one of you eternal optimists pass me the bong?

By HB Ando

November 1, 2006 11:27 PM | Link to this

Doc, I don’t think I’ve ever said this before, but you sound kind of stupid suggesting Diaw can’t play because he had a bad game. He was one of four players in the NBA, last year, to average over 6 boards and 6 dimes a game. He defended opposing centers. If it’s as simple as it being the system, then maybe we need to get a new system. Because guys don’t just get good overnight, like Diaw supposedly did the minute after he left Atlanta. That’s on the coaching staff for not finding a way to utilize his versatility. If we’d have shipped out Woody and Billy, instead of Diaw, I think it’s safe to say we’d be in better shape right now. And I’ll leave the jury out on whether I’d trade Johnson for Diaw, Rondo and whatever pick we give to Phoenix. My only saving grace for this team is my strong, unwavering expectation that we’ll land in the bottom-3 and keep that pick next summer.

Andro just might be back, Jack (or Doc!).

By Me

November 1, 2006 11:28 PM | Link to this

Seems to be the same thing this year. Check out what the AP said tonight about a portion of the game:

**The Hawks chipped away and pulled to 81-71 late in the fourth on Childress’ jumper. The Sixers handed Atlanta more opportunities, on a shot clock violation, and missed shots by Iverson and Webber on the same possession, but the Hawks went cold down the stretch and didn’t convert either of those chances.

Not surprising. They are the Hawks.

**

By LL Cool Scott

November 1, 2006 11:39 PM | Link to this

Is there any possible explanation as to why Woodson has us walking the ball up and calling half-court set plays every time down the court? Has this ever worked with a young team. Our ONLY strength is our youth and athleticism, and we have a coach that runs the Larry Brown offense with these players! What a terrible system for this type of team. Mind boggling that he still has a job.

Who’s worse: Woodson for having no idea how to coach a team like this (and for having no idea how to utilize Diaw)? Or Knight (for having traded Diaw, passing up on Deng, Paul, and Foye or Roy or Williams or Rondo in the past four drafts)? It’s fairly well-established that Knight is the second worst GM in the league (behind Isiah), but I’m not so sure that Woodson is not in the same category of ineptitude…

Is there any way to have them both fired by tomorrow morning?

Of course, the silver lining is that we are clearly one of the two worst teams in the league and thus have an excellent chance of landing Oden.

By Clyde

November 2, 2006 12:48 AM | Link to this

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY t-shirts are still available. Holla at me at atlconnect@hotmail.com if you want one. I wonder where all the Billy lovers are at tonight. Give us something positive to take home cause I couldn’t find positives with this game. And who said the GM’s Nephew (JCHILL) could play defense? Reveal yourself so I can smoke some good weed wit ya sometime.

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY

By cp

November 2, 2006 12:54 AM | Link to this

It was the first game so I wont panick but it was ugly.They couldnt knock down a open jumper if their lives depended on it. There was way too many turnovers and second chance opportunities for Philly. I just hope they play better Friday.

By Lacsho

November 2, 2006 01:04 AM | Link to this

So now we say derogatory comments after one lost. You people are just like the Falcon fans. I hope you guys retain these negative remarks after the Hawks start winning. Hawks go 5-3 in the preseason, and everyone wants to throw that out the window, so they loose the first game, and now Woodson cannot coach. When the Hawks start winning I want the haters to stay off the band wagon. How do you judge a team after one lost? How do you say that you are fans, and you can’t wait for a team to loose, so you can say I told you so? What kind of fans are you? Everyone hated Vick before the Steelers game, yet now Vick is the best thing smoking. Get a life people! Georgia has the worst disloyal fans in History. UGA looses a couple of games now you want to fire the coach. Can we say fair weather? Everyone wants to straddle the fence, so they can say I told you so. What ever happen to the true fans?

I’m still with you Hawks

By Me

November 2, 2006 01:12 AM | Link to this

Straight from the AP:

**The Hawks chipped away and pulled to 81-71 late in the fourth on Childress’ jumper. The Sixers handed Atlanta more opportunities, on a shot clock violation, and missed shots by Iverson and Webber on the same possession, but the Hawks went cold down the stretch and didn’t convert either of those chances.

Not surprising. They are the Hawks.

**

By Grant

November 2, 2006 02:58 AM | Link to this

Wow way to overreact after one game people. Boy I’m starting to wish I lived in another city than to continue listening to all this whinning and complaining of fair weather Atlanta Hawks fans. If you watched the whole game you would have realized that as the game went along we played better and better. There won’t be many nights when we are that cold from the field. Shelden played hard early and got bogus fouls called against him from the worst referee in the NBA Sean Corbin. That dude simply does not like the Hawks. If you notice Iverson was getting all the calls while our star JJ wasn’t getting any. Chills and T Lue looked awesome off the bench. Lets not go so overboard after one loss.

By Grant aka Midnight

November 2, 2006 03:07 AM | Link to this

Boy it was only one game and all you fair weather fans are already trying to jump off the bandwagon. As the game went along you should have noticed that we got better and better. Do the Heat suck just like us since they lost by 42. Shelden played really well until he got to bogus calls against him from the worst referee in the NBA Sean Corbin. That dude never gives us any calls. Yall should’ve noticed that AI got all the calls while out allstar JJ got absolutely nothing. The refs simply don’t give the Hawks any respect and thats why Cuban complained for years. Refs favor certain teams and players instead of calling it straight up. Chills and T Lue looked awesome off the bench some I can’t wait till Marvin comes back. BE PATIENT everyone!!!

By G-Money

November 2, 2006 04:20 AM | Link to this

Doc, Michael M, Ray, others… I’m afraid that Ando may be right. I’m no fair weather fan by any stretch of the imagination having been a past Hawks season ticket holder for a number of years. But this was atrocious. It was as if the team did not know what to do. What happened in the month of preparation? This was a different team. That kind of schizophrenia starts at the top. I thought Speedy was brought in to push the pace.

Certainly we can’t get calls, but we don’t seem to have a clue as to what plays to call either. Josh stands around. ZaZa looks great on offense, but can’t handle the defensive pressure. Only Chills is driving to the hoop. I could go on. It was just a deplorable effort, mind-boggling that a team that seemed to play with such passion and promise lays one like they did. If this continues we are totally lottery bound. On top of that every potential draftee that we could have gotten has a noteworthy night. Unbelievable. Friday and Sunday will certainly test the mettle of this team and the coaching acumen of Woody. I look forward to a 180 degree turnaround. Poor, poor, poor. Hawks need to be called on this one and I am no fair weather fan. Not bad mouthing the club, but this was deja vu of the Friday the 13th variety.

Clyde, you got any in size 3X. I like mine big. If this doesn’t change by the end of this month, I’ll order one for a Xmas present.

By Richie Rich

November 2, 2006 07:05 AM | Link to this

After watching the Knicks handle the Grizzlies, does anybody here think we will beat the Knicks on friday?….I hate to say it, but we will be lucky to win 13 games this year, I just don’t see much more than that.

By jhan

November 2, 2006 07:19 AM | Link to this

Lots of turn-overs & missing wide open shots. Not going to win many games playing that way. Hopefully it was just opening night jitters.

By macaroni Tony

November 2, 2006 07:40 AM | Link to this

We did look bad, but I will need five games before I make my decision on how bad we look. I remember Chicago got out to bad start two years ago and finished strong. JJ was pushing the ball alot, SW was getting bad calls, Speedy look winded, Chills and Lue did look good. We could had used LO last night for his leadership on the floor. Speedy and JJ need to take their time and play the game. The Sixers only had three guys in double figures so we did beat ourselves Go Hawks

By macaroni Tony

November 2, 2006 07:43 AM | Link to this

The Knicks won, but they did have not a solid game also. They also had 23 TO, so we just need to stay calm.

By newkid

November 2, 2006 08:31 AM | Link to this

An embarrassment indeed. Hope it gets much better real soon.

By Clyde

November 2, 2006 08:38 AM | Link to this

Hey I want Ken Strickland’s thoughts of the game last night.

This is the same old stuff. Walking the ball up the court. Sorry lookin’ half court sets. The point guard not distributing the ball. No defense in the lane. How many more years of this do we have to take.

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY

By Scott

November 2, 2006 08:40 AM | Link to this

Shelden Williams - 0 points Speedy Claxton - 3 pts, 0 assists Nice job as always Billy

And of course another double double by Chris Paul with 20 and 10.
Atlanta Spirit, you all have screwed the city of Atlanta and the Hawks fans by allowing this idiot BK to waste all these high draft picks. You all suck.

By Luke

November 2, 2006 09:35 AM | Link to this

I am sorry, it is getting borderline bad when I cannot stomach being a Hawks fan. It’s not the losing, I can see that. However, if smart draft choices would have been made, this team would be beyond loaded with young talent, let’s take a look shall we:

2001: Traded away the number 3 pick in the draft and Lorenzen Wright (a player just re-signed) for Shareef Abdur-Rahim. That pick was used by Memphis to draft Pau Gasol. We could have also had Shane Battier, Richard Jefferson, Jason Richardson.

2002: Our draft pick (#8) was traded away to the Clippers. At the #8 we could have drafted Amare Stoudemire, Caron Butler or Tasyshaun Prince.

2003: After stupid trades we end up with the 21st pick and draft Boris Diaw, his current status notwithstanding, he was an eternal bust with Atlanta and might be if Nash ever leaves. That being said, we traded down, out of one of the deepest drafts in history, any top 10 pick would have been money.

2004: This is the only really excusable year. We get an unlucky lottery seeding and get pushed out when we could have had Dwight Howard, however, we draft Childress (a solid player) ahead of Igoudala (a potential game changer) when Igou had better credentials and went to a better school, known for producing NBA talent. We did however pick up Josh Smith with the 17th pick, a great pick at this point.

2005:* Worst Draft Ever! We draft Marv Williams with the 2, before 3 straight PG’s go. We dont’ need another long guard-forward, heck, we need less of them, but we pick him over 3 potential All-Stars and a player that was basically can’t-miss by all accounts. Salim Stoudemire was a good pick, I like it.

2006: 2nd Worst Draft Ever! Instead of picking up Brandon Roy and going with our old addage of “never enough large 2s/3s, we pick a slow player who cannot keep up with our extremely fast youth who was a good shot blocker in college, although this rarely translates as college has many more lay-ups than the NBA. Not to mention Thabo Sefaloosha, Rajon Rondo, or Ronnie Brewer, all of which for a need for us. Rudy Gay, HELLO! Uggh.

I say all this to say: we have terrible leadership and a poor structure. We need to be picked up by Arthur Blank or a good owner. Even when the Atlanta Spirit lawsuit is settled, we will still be in NBA hell due to terrible draft decisions 5 years running (believe me, I could do about 7 in a row).

By Astro Joe

November 2, 2006 10:00 AM | Link to this

YUCK! On several different levels… YUCK! Of course, the Knicks are no more likely to win the title after one game than we are to go 0-82. But last night’s performance (against a pretty bad Philly team) was truly FUGLY.

And I repeat, against a pretty bad Philly team (they are holding out for a new owner and have essentially the same under-performing team from last year). A damm shame that we can’t compete against what is clearly a non-playoff team. YUCK! YUCK! YUCK!

When does baseball season start?

By honest_abe

November 2, 2006 10:13 AM | Link to this

whoooooooooooa. everyone already decide to jump ship? hey, for most of the realistic fans out there we expected to win around 35-36 games.. most of those will be at home! the hawks were on the road.. short handed- missing both marv and lorenzen…and now everyone is screaming like this team has truly underachieved…CMON! now if any fans have anything to be mad about…. how about the rockets? the heat? the warriors? the hawks will win on friday night… they will struggle to stay close to .500 all year… but you will see a marked improvement from last year and that is all true hawks fans expect and want…

By LL Cool Scott

November 2, 2006 10:45 AM | Link to this

Emancipator, What gives you reason to believe that the Hawks will show a marked improvement from last year? I’m not being sarcastic, I am truly just curious.

By doc

November 2, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this

realistically we got what we expected didnt we? we expect a bad team and we got it. said all along that if we are 7 and 13 then we improve by ten to 36 wins for the season before marvin went down. it is one game folks and as my good friend says it is just plain stupid to base all the expectations on one game. now ando do you thing your beloved heat and the team you have picked to carry the ring this season will lose all their games by 42 the rest of the year? didnt think so. guess the hawks had jitters just like diaw did as he tries to justify all the money they have placed on him, you know the kind of money they would have never paid jj before he asked to leave.

i reiterate this team is very young and a year away from doing anything special. i will be pleased to see them gel as the pass the first twenty games and become a better team, give them time before you bury them after one game or you all just sound really stupid to borrow that word from my friend that is always right.

just a reality check ando but we are not far from our own projections for what this team is going to do. i just will look for some silver linings as they improve gradually.

folks, please dont think that marvins injury isnt significant for him and the team because it will take him about 3 to 5 weeks to play himself into shape and to be in tune with the speed of the game after the layoff considering his experience level. essentially that means he is lost for half the season; you are plain stupid (or impractical, softer phrase and less personal dont you think andro?) to think otherwise to borrow the word again.

By HB Ando

November 2, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this

Here’s the AP story line from the Portland game last night, on the guy we passed for 16 minutes and no points last night:

” Brandon Roy had just taken over his first NBA game while playing in front of his hometown family, friends and former college coaches, who were sitting in the third row.

He ran the Portland offense in the second half. He followed coach Nate McMillan’s halftime demand to shoot more off the countless screens that the Trail Blazers kept setting for the former Washington All-American. He made 10 of 16 shots in a dazzling NBA debut.

Randolph’s instant assessment?

“All-Star,” he said, meaning now instead of perhaps the few years McMillan had said it may take Roy to get there. “He’s my rookie of the year already. First game.”

You folks were saying, “why draft Roy, when we signed Speedy”? What was Speedy’s line from last night, after Sekou called his matchup with Iverson “the most interesting individual matchup of the night”?

As I said before, and I now say again, you draft Roy because he’s going to be a star in this league, not Shelden because he’s the closest approximation to a low-post player that you saw. When you’re a bad franchise, and you’re not going anywhere fast, you draft the best player available, and fit them in, a wait for the offers to come in using the enhanced currency you’ve derived from the draft process.

Once again, Billy’s draft decision will haunt this franchise for years. I honestly, truly cannot fathom that so many of you believe he knows what he is doing. He does not.

Buuuuutttt, the good news is we’re no worse than 60-40, at this point, to be picking in the top-3 in next summers’ draft. Annnnnndddd, there are plenty of other, good, NBA teams to watch on ESPN and TNT (I’d start following hockey if the Hawks were the only team I could watch).

BTW, this in not an overreaction to one game. It’s using one game to confirm a conclusion I’ve been proffering all along. There IS a difference.

OK, now that I’ve blown off some steam, let’s see if they can regroup, put Wright in where Shelden clearly cannot compete, and hold court at home, against the Knicks. If not, I think you’ll start to understand why I’ve been saying all summer that there just aren’t five teams that I project to be worse than the Hawks. We will have lost to two teams many of you pointed to as being not as good as our home squad. Let’s see Friday night’s Atlanta Hawks.

By Luke

November 2, 2006 11:03 AM | Link to this

Honestabe, that’s silly. It’s not the underachievement people are mad about, it’s the fact that once again, people get their hopes up and we lose, to a despondent team with no future who will be one of the 3 worst teams in the East (ATL, NYK, PHI).

And yes, I want to see improvement, but how about market savvy? Intelligent business decisions? This isn’t peewee football, it’s a professional sport.

The team needs to sack up, trade some young guys and bring in AI or KG, either of them would be worth 5-10 wins a year and would put fans in the seats. We do not have enough cap room to sign a high market free agent and we are incredibly inept at drafting (see earlier post). Besides, we won’t be bad enough to win the Lottery or protect our pick we owe Phoenix. Another deep draft and the Hawks have traded it away for nothing, great.

By HB Ando

November 2, 2006 11:10 AM | Link to this

And Doc, I’d trade Speedy and Shelden for Roy, right now. But I doubt Portland would do anything but laugh, laugh, laugh. Their point guard Jarret Jack had 13-6 and 6 last night, in 44 minutes. He’ll be as good, if not better, than Speedy this year, and better from next on out.

Two summers ago, I e-mailed Sekou after the draft, in which we passed on Paul, and screamed, “why didn’t Billy use that extra Boston/Lakers first rounder to trade up and take Jack”?! Billy answered that in the papers the next day, saying he didn’t think trading a first round pick, that could go as high as 11th (in what we already knew would be a much weaker, subsequent draft than the one he’d just botched), for a player who was draft 22nd, made any sense. He then gave that pick away in the Johnson deal. He could have, and should have, mitagated his risk in passing on Paul, to take a guy that projected, at least by me, to be the Hawks’ new starting point guard within a year or two. But he arrogantly undervalued Jack, and then gave the pick that became Rondo to Phoenix. Both of those players will eclipse Speedy Claxton, as NBA talents. Watch if you do not believe me. Just watch and see.

I’ve always contended that the only reason Phoenix demanded that 2nd pick was because it was there. It’s always been on MY list of mismoves, and last night simply confirmed what a bad non-move it was, two years ago. Unless I give up being a basketball fan, or move away from Atlanta, I won’t stop being haunted by his failure as a GM until he’s replaced. I can’t apologize to folks for how I feel, just because they find my opinion negative. It is. And that’s the honest truth.

By doc

November 2, 2006 11:15 AM | Link to this

lets see who were the two old geezers that were pleading from february on to get roy? still not giving up on the team, giving them 20 to show and 40 before i get nasty if no progress.

btw ando cowherd declared that after seeing paul for ten minutes last night against boston that he thinks the kid will be the second best point ever behind magic ahead of stockton and cousy. interesting that three of those guys are less than 6 foot in stocking feet probably. didnt you say somehting about getting paul early on? now didnt i have your back on that one? guess i wasnt too stupid or old to remember that. how quickly friends forget what their friends do for them. :@)

gonna be fun with all this participation. hope the “good” guys get to speak soon. heh heh

By honest_abe

November 2, 2006 11:48 AM | Link to this

luke it’s not my fault you had unrealistic expectations…you sound like one of those meatballs that had this team going to the playoffs… i thought the hawks would have a good year if they won 36 games… considering the talent and youth of this current team. that 36 win projection was not including other factors such as injuries and suspensions… first game on the road… against a sorry team yes…but this hawks team got down early…and without marv…they really dont’ have the firepower to come back from huge deficits… it was on the road…i wanted a win…but lets be real…if we lose to ny on friday… i might have to order a shirt as well…

By A Thinking Fan

November 2, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this

JJ always starts out slow (Check last year’s numbers), Guards always do better than bigs starting in their NBA careers, and Speedy missed all of the preseason (Going-up agaisnst AI with only a few days of practice), and 2 bigs were missing - Give them a break!!!

Some of you should remember you don’t get it up all the time out the blocks either - Ha!Ha!

By Astro Joe

November 2, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this

Truth is Ando, that had all gone perfect last night, the comments would have been something like “one game, bad opponent”. There will be peaks and valleys throughout this 82-game campaign. Some will validate your opinions, others will not. Bottom line, why would the owners fire BK when they have to uniformly agree on a replacement? Why would any credible GM take the job now, only to potentially be fired when the judge makes a decision? Who would up-root their family for potentially a 6 month job? The hand has been dealt. What I saw last night was more about Woody and less about BK. What I read in the AP article was more about McMillan and less about Patterson. There is no way to look good when a team shoots 33%. Or when you’re top player commits 5 turnovers. Or when the “no-brainer, hometown favorite” plays like a high school junior. Also, BK obviously doesn’t value inexperienced PGs. I think that is worth debating, more so than Paul, Jack, Roy or Rondo. I wanted him to draft Jameer over Smith, but again, I don’t think he wants a young PG. (By the way, I think Jack will be a competent PG much like Eric Snow. I like his work ethic but I’m not remorseful about not getting him).

Anyway, this is likely BK’s last year, unless this team miraculously makes it to the playoffs. I’m assuming the ownership mess gets resolved this season. We know what Belkin would do and I even believe that Gearon will feel compelled to “re-launch” the franchise once the dust settles. So piling on is likely pointless, as nothing will get settled until a Maryland judge renders a verdict.

By newkid

November 2, 2006 12:11 PM | Link to this

What I found particularly distasteful was the abject absence of effort (players and coaches). I scanned a number of other games (thanks to the courtesy week of NBA League Pass) and was hard pressed to find any ONE where players demonstrated as little effort as our Hawks did. I’ll attend Friday’s game, as I will many others this season, but it’ll be difficult to continue to show support throughout the season if there isn’t a huge improvement in effort by our side.

As I watched the 1st quarter from my treadmill, I wondered if the sluggish start might be owed to the players having tuned out the admonitions given by Woody and the coaching staff a day or so earlier (see Sekou’s AJC article from earlier in the week). I vaguely remembered reading something awhile back from an NFL coach (might have been Madden) about the effective shelf life of a coach as regards his ability to ‘resonate’ with his players. I wondered if Woody and his staff would know if/when their lessons/admonitions are just not resonating, and if such a realization might result in a voluntary exit so as to spare the GM the need to make an uncomfortable decision. I wondered if the coaching staff’s struggles in making such a decision would compare in any way to the difficulty our government faces when confronted with the ‘effectiveness’ of our ‘stay the course’ policy in Iraq. Sorry guys, but I was desparate to find something other than our terrible performance to occupy my mind while putting in my treadmill time. Didn’t work.

By Clyde

November 2, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY

By rob

November 2, 2006 12:27 PM | Link to this

I do wonder why those of you who think we are the worst team in the NBA and are too worthless to care about spend so much time bad mouthing them on this board. Do you have nothing better to do???

That being said, I was extremely dissapointed in our performance last night, but if you break it down it really doesn’t mean anything. We shot 33%. Anytime a team does that they lose, period. I don’t see that happening too often the rest of the year. Sheldon didn’t show, Speedy didn’t show, LO and Marvin are out, and Joe was off in the first half. It was a miricle they were within 10 with a few minutes to play. LO will be back friday, Marvin will be back before too long, and this team is gonna be just fine. Look for a 180 on friday. GO HAWKS

By talk_chillin

November 2, 2006 12:37 PM | Link to this

JJ always starts out slow (Check last year’s numbers), Guards always do better than bigs starting in their NBA careers, and Speedy missed all of the preseason (Going-up agaisnst AI with only a few days of practice), and 2 bigs were missing - Give them a break!!!

Some of you should remember you don’t get it up all the time out the blocks either - Ha!Ha!

By Tyger

November 2, 2006 12:43 PM | Link to this

Luckily, first games dont mean a great deal in the long term, but it first impressions matter, we’re in for a long season.

As I predicted, Speedy Claxton was an unnecessary expense, moreso to qualm the critics rather than to improve the overall play of the team. Last night, for example, he added nothing to the quality of play.

Josh Smith, has the opportunity of a lifetime before him, with Marvin Williams out injured, but appeared lost like a deer in the headlights. If he thinks he has a future shooting jumpers, he’ll be long gone.

I doubt Joe Johnson can play any worse than he played last night. He certainly didnt look like an All-star or max player, he didnt even look like a good player, but we all know that’s an abberation.

Chill was solid as usual and probably should start until this team gets its legs. Ditto for Ty Lue.

ZaZa played like a MAN for the most part but he’s got to attack the rim. Flopping around hoping for a bailout call is not going to work down the stretch.

Woody has got to get a lineup on the floor that can compete. This prolonged experiment is old, nobody cares who’s hurt or unavailable.

Shelden look like a midget next to Dalembart, Hunter and Webber and played like one too.

Woody has got to get Salim going, he has the talent, but isnt allowed to grow, he has the ability to score, but just spotting up at the three is too limited.

Iverson is the best example for him. He scores every way imaginable. On the other hand, everyone in the building knows Salim is going to jack a 3.

By Chris

November 2, 2006 12:49 PM | Link to this

Rob,

We bad mouth them because they suck and will continue to suck when their coach and management continually make bad decisions. I want them to improve because I live in this city and like basketball. My wife is from Chicago and I am starting to follow the Bulls this year and I can watch their games on WGN, the Hawks have managed to start pushing me away with their ineptitude. I would prefer that the team in my home town of the last 16 years didn’t draft a forward every year and continue to embarrass themselves but unfortunately that is the case. Don’t forget the Hawks are a business and they are not beyond criticism. Not pointing out their obvious faults will do nothing to improve their reality.

By A thinking Fan

November 2, 2006 01:20 PM | Link to this

Why was LW not playing last night? LW brings the “Nasty,” the “Dog” to the team. MW was playing with a different attitude this year. Those are 2 BIG holes to fill when they are out of the line-up & rotation…

By A Thinking Fan

November 2, 2006 01:28 PM | Link to this

Losing MW & LW is like trying to establish a beachhead without the Marines. Can you wimps understand that? Big crybaby *Clyde * - fire woody & bk… Some of you sound like that senator from up north! You want to give away the fort after a few missteps…

By G Money

November 2, 2006 01:32 PM | Link to this

I have been a vocal Hawks supporter for some months on this blog. I think it is time to be honest and come clean while still supporting the team. They looked HORRIBLE! And there is no excuse for it. Style of play was inconsistent with the personnel. They were not ready and seemed to be unable to figure their way out of a paper bag. I place the blame squarely on Woody’s shoulders. He’s got them looking like last years Knicks. I wonder why? If anything was learned it was that Larry Brown’s style of play is passe’. We all discussed the new trends in basketball all summer. Then to have this happen without really coaching the guys through it was just an abandonment of the team. There is no substitute for great coaching. There is no substitute for talent. I still believe the Hawks have some talent. Perhaps it will take a kick in the pants like Knapp and Mora got before things change, or perhaps this is a one game aberration. Nonetheless, if I were the coach, I would never let my team come out like that the first game of the season when I am trying to make a statement. Invariably, with that kind of outing the statement is that I don’t know what to do. I just hope that is not the case and Friday proves to be a much improved homecoming. The only issue there is that traditionally Knick fans fill up the place making it almost seem like a neutral site versus a home team’s court. We shall see.

By newkid

November 2, 2006 01:58 PM | Link to this

Needed a pick me up today, so I went back to old reliable. At one point this summer a few of us here, when talking about Marvin’s progress, referred to the quality of summer pick-up games in Chapel Hill. If you like ‘family-type’ stories and good amateur basketball, check out this article.

http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110106aac.html

By mykhalc

November 2, 2006 02:46 PM | Link to this

i guess i should be glad i did not witness what most of you saw!! but i did follow the game on espn’s play-by-play. seemed like NOBODY could buy a shot last nite??!!! well, i’m gonna give ‘em a minute before i draw my conclusions but i am REALLY disappointed that they showed like they showed last nite!!!

By cp

November 2, 2006 03:09 PM | Link to this

I agree with some people who say we should play a little more uptempo. I think we have the athletes for it and I dont think it would hurt. I hope they come out with better energy Friday.

By HB Ando

November 2, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this

Joe, It’s worth “piling on” if there is an iota of value in the owners, whomever they should end up being, continue to hear that the fans won’t accept repeated front office failures. If we don’t continue to voice our displeasure, and the Spirit retain the team, they MIGHT continue to be clueless enough, for lack of outside influence, to think that BK is a good GM, providing him a litany of unacceptable excuses.

Chris, thank you for saying to Rob roughly what my response was going to be. I come here because I’m a huge basketball fan, and I expect more from my local NBA franchise. I come here to demand accountability from ownership and the front office, in the face of utter mismanagement. If people who are dissatisfied simply tune out, then the Hawks may end up moving to a different city, based on the misperception that Atlanta can’t support an NBA franchise. We can. We just need something to be optimistic about.

Rob, saying Shelden didn’t show assumes a very faulty point, namely that he’s capable of better. He was supposed to be “game ready”. Game ready was what Roy did for Portland last night. Game ready means when LO and Marvin are out, you can step on the court and contribute starters minutes. This wasn’t against one of the better front lines in the NBA. This was against a one-legged Webber and an offensive non-entity, in Dalembert. Choosing Shelden was a disastrous mistake, and is should be the final straw in the GM career of Billy Knight.

Joe, we differ in our opinion of Jack’s ability. Nothing more I can say. I thought 13-6 and 6, in 44 minutes, in an upset of the Sonics, was pretty compelling work. And I’ll bet you 100 bucks that Jack’s scoring average, this year, eclipses Snow’s career best of 12.9. 100 bucks.

By HB Ando

November 2, 2006 03:14 PM | Link to this

One more thing, Joe. When a team needs “everything to go perfect” to beat the Sixers, something is very wrong.

By Gutz

November 2, 2006 03:56 PM | Link to this

I’ve also been a die-hard fan of these Hawks and hyped them up all offseason. I know its only one game but we did look TERRIBLE! Having Lo Wright and especially Marvin out hurt us more than we thought. Marvin would have been that scorer last night driving to the hoop and getting to the foul line. I’m more upset with the coaching staff on this loss than the players honestly. We ran no offense whatsoever. Speedy looked extremely rusty. I’m really disappointed in the way Josh Smith played. He looked like a high schooler out there again. He needs to be the second scorer while Marvin is out. Zaza of course plays his heart out every night and Chill kept us in the game with his hustle. JJ looked like he had to do everything last night because no one stepped up. Overall I think Shelden did a good job on Webber. Webber was horrific from the floor last night shooting 4-16 FG. Shelden has to get more involved on the offensive end too. He needs to get in there and get offensive rebounds and putbacks. I’m praying last night was just opening night jitters and bad night shooting the ball which was evident by our numerous wide open missed shots. I will be at the game tomorrow night as well and I hope we can rebound and dominate the lowly Knicks at HOME. I know its only the second game of the season but tomorrow night is a MUST WIN!!!

By jhan

November 2, 2006 04:02 PM | Link to this

I believe the biggest draft mistake BK made was the year he drafted Childress & Smith. As much as I like both of them, had he drafted Igoudala & Nelson this team would be much better off. He only compounded that mistake by not taking a PG the last two years. Our starting lineup should be Nelson, Johnson, Igoudala, Harrington & Pachulia. We would be a better team and still be under the cap.

I’ve defended BK on this blog before but I have to point out obvious errors. I feel that overall he has made decent picks & free agent signings. He just doesn’t seem to have enough foresight & imagination to take this team to the next level.

I’m not ready to buy the T-shirts yet, but if some serious improvements don’t take place by the halfway mark this season I may just place that order.

By Clyde

November 2, 2006 04:50 PM | Link to this

Last blog Sekou wanted us to predict the win-loss record for ther Hawks this year. I think in this blog we should predict when the Hawks will actually get their first win.

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY

By mykhalc

November 2, 2006 05:25 PM | Link to this

well, was the performance soooooooo bad that SEKOU has gone MIA??? LOL SS, we need your input!!! where you at??? LOL 4pm blitz??

By doc

November 2, 2006 05:39 PM | Link to this

myc, guess he got a terrible seat on the plane or complained so loudly he ended up in the pokey this time.

By mykhalc

November 2, 2006 05:43 PM | Link to this

DOC, LOL…APB for SS has been issued!!LOL

By Astro Joe

November 2, 2006 05:55 PM | Link to this

Ando, you want me to bet that a sample of one beats a sample of 10? Nope, that’s a fool’s bet. Even I’m not THAT stupid.

By BuckWheat

November 2, 2006 06:40 PM | Link to this

Just in case you wondered if this has gotten official:

http://firemikewoodson.blogspot.com/

By ray

November 2, 2006 09:00 PM | Link to this

Lascho, what did you expect? There’s names on this blog I never saw in the last year and a half that have popped up out of nowhere just to jeer. This happens every time, buddy.

Having said that, the first game did indeed look horrible. Even JJ’s shot wasn’t falling, particularly early in the game. Speedy actually looked good. Before you begin to flame me, consider that he penetrated and dished. But most of the time, the guys on the receiving end of the ball weren’t converting, so that makes them look bad as well as the point guard. Childress showed a knack for going to the boards, although he WAS missing tips and his jump shot is still…unorthodox. Shelden got in foul trouble quick. Smoove looked a little lost, played too much perimeter game, and waited too long to try driving to the basket…which meant he didn’t drive enough. I expected more aggression out of him, try to dunk on somebody at least! Childress was more aggressive toward that end. I agree that the halfcourt offense was stinky at best. We either need to learn how to run it or drop it. The turnovers were ridiculous, the defense not as bad as before, but not good. Zaza was once again a fairly bright spot.

Having said that, it IS the first game. This is anything but a veteran squad. I believe it will get better, just as surely some will disagree. And I don’t give a rat’s a. I agree Billy ain’t no genius. I agree the draft could have been better. How far past that are we right now? I take issue with Woody (somebody please tell me he is just trying a one-game experiment with that offense) and with the performances of the players. Billy and the ownership is a whole other issue. Perhaps Belkin wins…then the team gets yanked out of Atlanta. That should make some people happy…or mad ‘cause they don’t have the same stuff to bih about.