AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLet Hawks play first, ask questions later
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The question was asked of me and after thinking about it, I figure it’s only fair to share it with you all (since we share just about everything else these days). Are we jumping to conclusions a bit early when it comes to this Hawks team? In the line of work I’m in, we’re prone to jump to premature conclusions and pass judgment before the time for such an action might be appropriate. And to an extent, I think that’s the way of the world.
But there I was this morning, in set 12D (yeah baby, I got my usual aisle seat in the exit row this time) with a nice lady peaking over my shoulder as I was studying the Hawks’ stats package and jotting down a few notes. She asked what I was looking at and naturally the conversation took off from there. (Hey, it’s a two-hour flight to Detroit. It was either take a nap or make a new airport friend. I chose the latter.) She knows her stuff, too. Knows players and stats and said she watches pro basketball and football with her fiancé (lucky dog).
She asked why I was trying to figure this team out after so few games in a sport where there are so many games (funny, several of the Hawks asked me the same thing when I questioned them about their hot start and current spiral downward). I tried explaining the concept of every day and every game being up for intense scrutiny. But she wasn’t biting on that.
I tried explaining to her all the factors involved and how a team’s start, good or bad, can dramatically impact the rest of its season (start fast and you can build on it the rest of the way or start slow and spend the rest of the season trying to make up for it). Still, she didn’t grasp the idea of analyzing the Hawks or any other team with so little data to work with.
(Mentioning how we analyzed the roster all summer, before it was even completed, seemed like another wrinkle that would have only served to make the theory of what I was doing now even more ridiculous to her).
Her point is well taken, though. Maybe we are overreacting after just eight games. Perhaps we need to let a little more time pass, let the Hawks fold injured players back into the rotation and see how they look at full strength before making any lasting judgments about this team. I know it sounds crazy. I spend every day trying to figure this team out, trying to see if I can understand them any better on Tuesday than I did on Monday, trying to see if there’s a method to any of the madness that involves a group of people that are charged with reaching a common goal using 14 different methods.
But I’m willing to listen and learn. And the truth is, sometimes people that are totally detached from something have the best perspective.
Comments
By THL
November 21, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this
It is very early but there are a few things that I don’t think it’s too early to analyze.
Josh Smith shooting so many 3s. Him shooting is not the problem, it’s that he seems to be falling into the Antoine Walker/Rasheed Wallace trap and that will limit his effectiveness.
Missed free throws. The fact that the Hawks are losing these close games while missing 10 or more free throws a game is not something to take lightly. A playoff berth (or how many ping pong balls you get in July) could come down to a game or two and giving games away is a bad sign at any point in the season.
As far as Speedy’s play and the eventual rotation (Marvin, Salim, etc) that will work out with time. The chemistry of this team is also something it is too early to analyze because these guys need time to gel. I still think this team will do well and finish around .500. It’s just good to see that this team has made noticeable progress over the past couple of years.
By Floze
November 21, 2006 02:30 PM | Link to this
I think we will see a much improved team with Marvin and Speedy healthy. Shelldon has been a beast on the boards and Lo has proven to be a difference maker considering what we brought of the bench last year. The NBA season is one of spurts that is why it is fruitless to predict what individual games we should or shouldn’t win. Let Joe have a true point guards along side him and a vaible second option that can take it to the rim, a la Marvin, then we will see what type of run this team can make.
By Blatino Brutha
November 21, 2006 02:33 PM | Link to this
Well, Sekou, as much as I’ve respected and commented to you on your good work in the past - I’ve written to you personally - she got you on this one, bruh. Remember last year, when we started out 1 - 20? Ok, it wasn’t that bad, but almost. Not one single person in the NBA would have predicted close to .500 ball the second half for this team, but they did it. Let’s at least give them a full month together, HEALTHY, before we make any kind of analysis. For all you may want to write that they forgot how to close games again, 11 more free throws made over these last three games and we win them all.
By tyger
November 21, 2006 03:07 PM | Link to this
The Hawks have not earned the benefit of time. They are under the microscope for a reason. The Coach and GM are both going to get fired if they do not win, period end of story. Every game, every missed opportunity matters!
We dont have the luxury of past success to fall back upon, we have to show our fans and the league that we are serious about our profession. And we have to make money.
Losing winnable home games has a detrimental effect on the overall business. We must put a quality product on the floor every night to sustain our fans and revenue.
Thus far, its been a fair showing, the fans and city have supported us, but it wont continue at this rate.
Moreover, the December schedule is treacherous. This warm fuzzy feeling will soon give way to a cold winter chill of despair.
Question is would another coach lose these close games? Would another coach allow such a low FT%? In the end, there just more losses.
By honest_abe
November 21, 2006 03:08 PM | Link to this
basketball is a business … and like any other business, people with an interest in the org will break it down tirelessly until they get the desired results…….
so is it too early to analyze/break-down the hawks? maybe… i think most of what goes on in this particular blog stems from boredom. we get sick of seeing the same bloggers write about the same crap day after day.. so we go from analyzing to taking shots at each other. which for some reason seems to have a relieving, satisfying effect…
WHAT IN THE WORLD WOULD WE TALK ABOUT if we didnt’ contantly b*tch about jsmiths shot selection, woody’s inept game management, sheldon’s clumsiness, speedy’s dissappointment, marv’s broken finger, chills injured foot, jj’s spectacular start, lue’s career resurgence, bozeman’s (who?), and can’t forget the token white boy on the end of the hawks bench… good ol freije.. (drobnjak, keefe, mottola, bowdler, koncak, crawford, hmm am i leaving out anyone?) heh yes once all these topics become old we can once again start discussing bk’s draft picks, the trade for jj, and then move into the more in depth discussions of legal procedures.. etc.
honestly, i wish we had a little more flexibility on this blog… i had always hoped that this blog would transform into a blog for bball junkies.. discussing, arguing players (future, present), coaches, not necessarily confined to hawks talk.. we could always go back to talking about more sensitive issues such as coach knight and MIKE VICK! heh
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS!@!!!!!!#$!#%$!#
By Samuel
November 21, 2006 03:16 PM | Link to this
I personally think we have allready exceeded everyones expectations thus far. I know they have exceeded mine. I actually believe that we have a chance of keeping up this pace(flirting with .500) the rest of the season if we continue to play good agressive defense.
I don’t believe the injuries have made much of a difference as far as wins and losses. When Marvin comes back he’ll do what he does and Speedy will still play backup caliber PG so I don’t see that translating into more wins. They’ll be back but someone else will get hurt. That’s just the NBA.
I just know we jumped on people and surprised them with the Defensive intensity so the question is can we sustain our hard work ethic as the big boys play their way into shape and we endure those road trips and things. Good defense should have No off nights so there really is no reason why we can’t be competitive from here on.
By hazer
November 21, 2006 04:08 PM | Link to this
Still saying exactly 40 wins this year…
By vdunkndunk
November 21, 2006 04:21 PM | Link to this
The main reason we want to analyze every game is that we’re basketball fanatics. If more games had been played we’d analyze those, too, but at this point we’re working with what we’ve got.
But I agree that a 4 game win-streak to open the season doesn’t mean we’re suddenly an elite team in the NBA…nor do 3 straight losses mean we’re back to jockying for position at the bottom of the lottery.
Right now, though, I feel like we need more firepower to compete on a nightly basis. Can Marvin and Speedy provide that firepower when they get healthy? Or do we need to shake things up?
To me, for instance, guys like Smith, Shelden, Zaza, and Lorenzon constitute the best frontcourt we’ve had in a while, especially in terms of quantity and depth (as opposed to individual quality). But I’m beggining to think that all 4 of them are closer to top-notch backups than top-notch starters in this league. To state the obvious, someone like Elton Brand would really be what the doctor ordered for this team, but don’t ask how we’re gonna come up with someone like that.
By Ryder
November 21, 2006 04:29 PM | Link to this
While it’s fine to analyze game strategies, game-alterting plays and performance, I’m not one to jump on the team and say they’re going to stink after each loss and give them the O’Brien trophy after each win. It doesn’t matter if they have been mediocre for quite some time now, most fans should realize that you can’t judge the overall direction of the Hawks until they are completely healthy and they are able to establish an identity. Whether you like Marvin or not, the fact is that I believe he will play a vital role in the team’s overall scheme this year and be the second banana to JJ. In the meantime we are seeing a team playing tough every night sans the first game and the new players have a chance to step up.
That being said, I can understand how it may seem routine to say the same things over and over while waiting for the next Hawks game (God only knows they’ve said the same crap over on the Falcons blog for the past three years). Perhaps if the subjects were switched up a bit you may see different responses.
By brick
November 21, 2006 04:45 PM | Link to this
I’ve been a Hawks fan for long enough to remember Eddie Johnson (We won’t talk about the person he has become). But Hawks fans thought after his second year, that he was a dissappointment. Then, about halfway through his third year, he started playing like an All-Star(which he became). My point is, that this is a VERY young team. Give JSmoove, Zaza, and Marvin til midseason, and look again at their games. But it’s a good point about free throws, no matter your level of experience.
By HB Ando
November 21, 2006 05:06 PM | Link to this
The only problem with getting out of the habit with posting here, daily, is coming back after 3 or 4 days and realizing you haven’t missed much (other than the brotherly love that we all share for one another, heh heh).
The issue SS brings up is really semantic on the individual level. Since a lot of the enjoyment I get out of hanging out here is in testing my abilities to accurately predict outcomes, I don’t see my perspective as jumping to conclusions as much as seeing if I’m right. Now I know some of you think I place too much value in that endeavor, but really, how different is it than the goals of drafting a fantasy basketball team? If your projections are off, your team sucks. If you’re on, you have success.
The question this teams’ struggles bring to mind, in the context of this line of thought is, “What has Billy Knight projected this team to look like, on the floor, from a wins and losses perspective, as he has assembled it”? I mean, where, on this roster, do you see a combination, even on paper, that leads you to believe it has been properly constructed. I think that issue is one of the primary reasons I’ve been so critical of his decision making, because I’ve tried to see this team from his eyes, and I’ve never been able to make is vision work. Clearly, it’s about subjective perspective, and beauty being in the eye of the beholder.
This looks like the sub-.500 club I thought it would be all summer. With Marvin and Childress out, two of their seemingly smarter ball players, and with Speedy being a non-factor, they just aren’t deep enough to beat many teams. My position on where they fit in, across the NBA, hasn’t changed. I still have trouble finding five teams that I can definitively state are worse than the Hawks. Points about fourth quarter collapses and repetitive losses of winnable games, seem to point to less than stellar coaching, no matter how you slice it.
When I saw Vdunk’s post about the front line, my intitial reaction was, “Duh”. But I think there’s a point in there that touches on the challenge of most Hawks’ fans here, in that they are just too close to the team to assume the least bit of objectivity. It’s not easy to distinguish between “improved” and “good”, but watching this team really is a lesson in the difference. Zaza is a legitimate starter in this league, on all but the best teams. But he’s not a top-tier big man. And he’s a role player on good teams.
Smith may become a star, or he may become years of unrealized potential, on a series of teams around the league. As a Georgia fan, I know I’m not the only guy to have followed the career of Jumaine Jones, see the clear athletic gifts, and wonder what other than a lack of hoops IQ can account for his journeyman’s career. Shelden is simply a younger version of Lo Wright. He, like Wright, will spend the lion’s share of his career as a spot-starter and role player, which is why the decision to draft him fifth continues to haunt me, and will haunt this franchise for years to come. Has anybody else seen the numbers Biedrens has been putting up in Golden State? Truth is, as much as I wasn’t for taking on Murphy’s contract, with Shelden playing the four, I’d just as soon have signed and traded Harrington for Beidrens (as many of us discussed, with Beidren or O’Bryant in GS, or the rapidly ascending Bynum, in LA) and Murphy, as drafted Shelden and obtained a mid-to-late first rounder for Al. On paper, last summer, none of those 3 big men would have been deemed adequate talent in exchange for Al Harrington. But I’d have taken any of them on the projection of what they would become; are rapidly becoming. It begs the question, “why hasn’t Billy taken one shot, out of all the picks he’s made, at a lottery-level talent, in a big man, when it’s almost impossible to acquire a legitimate PF/C prospect once they are in the league, until someone else has given up on them, knowing that this team is, and has been, hamstrung by the lack of talent in the post?”
We’ll see what we have when Marvin and Childress return.
I guess we can all be glad that we aren’t Knicks fans. Anybody want to post the over/under on Isiah getting fired? I’ll go with New Year’s Eve.
By doc
November 21, 2006 06:00 PM | Link to this
it has been encouraging to see the start. to me it is funny that we are concerned about a three game losing streak and forget the team had a three game winning streak. i expected and expect several more of the former and am still surprised and pleased by the latter.
the team has been competitive thus far and that is crucial to any young team. if they continue at this rate they will learn how to win and that is what any team developing has to do, is learn to win, it doesnt just happen.
if this team is to win it will need to have balance and that means jj and zaza getting 50 points a game. that will mean that there is some semblance of an outside and inside presence to their offense. it doesnt have to be zaza or jj but someone will have to do the inside work and the outside work. the game i watched had little scoring inside unless childress’ drives measure up which it doesnt. the team bogged down in the crunch because the milwaukee team just crammed it down low to keep penetration to a minimum meaning the hawks offense looked like a congealed salad.
maybe when the horses are all back and healthy then this team will take off, they will continue to improve but again it is irrational to expect them to go forward too quickly with the injuries that have surfaced. i hope to see the kids get better in playing the game and smith show he can be a star.
most high schoolers declare themselves by the third year. thus far josh smith is the disappointment for this young season. if he picks it up like he seemingly left it off last year then we might be the surprising 7 and 1. i hope we see some stability to smith’s efforts soon or else he may not make it as far as we hope. it still doesnt make sense why he continues to jack threes up there that represents more than a third of the shots he takes in a night. it is especially true when his coach has suggested otherwise and he agreed in the press but continues to love the long ball. 6 of 15 with 0 of 4 on threes doesnt help his team win. it seems like with 13 boards some of his buckets should have been put back or within close range. yes, he is young but will continue to need to show game by game improvement this year.
By The Flash
November 21, 2006 06:04 PM | Link to this
Andoman, the rest done you good. I actually followed all of that, and understood most of it. Stingin, buzzin, it was. Raisin the bar. Props!
By doc
November 21, 2006 06:08 PM | Link to this
it has been encouraging to see the start. to me it is funny that we are concerned about a three game losing streak and forget the team had a three game winning streak. i expected and expect several more of the former and am still surprised and pleased by the latter.
the team has been competitive thus far and that is crucial to any young team. if they continue at this rate they will learn how to win and that is what any team developing has to do, is learn to win, it doesnt just happen.
if this team is to win it will need to have balance and that means jj and zaza getting 50 points a game. that will mean that there is some semblance of an outside and inside presence to their offense. it doesnt have to be zaza or jj but someone will have to do the inside work and the outside work. the game i watched had little scoring inside unless childress’ drives measure up which it doesnt. the team bogged down in the crunch because the milwaukee team just crammed it down low to keep penetration to a minimum meaning the hawks offense looked like a congealed salad.
maybe when the horses are all back and healthy then this team will take off, they will continue to improve but again it is irrational to expect them to go forward too quickly with the injuries that have surfaced. i hope to see the kids get better in playing the game and smith show he can be a star.
most high schoolers declare themselves by the third year. thus far josh smith is the disappointment for this young season. if he picks it up like he seemingly left it off last year then we might be the surprising 7 and 1. i hope we see some stability to smith’s efforts soon or else he may not make it as far as we hope. it still doesnt make sense why he continues to jack threes up there that represents more than a third of the shots he takes in a night. it is especially true when his coach has suggested otherwise and he agreed in the press but continues to love the long ball. 6 of 15 with 0 of 4 on threes doesnt help his team win. it seems like with 13 boards some of his buckets should have been put back or within close range. yes, he is young but will continue to need to show game by game improvement this year.
By reese
November 21, 2006 06:24 PM | Link to this
Analysis, disappointment, happiness and several other task/emotions are going to be performed/felt after a game. Whether its short term or long term depends on the individual. We’ll continue offer advice whether we win or lose.
Basically, I speak out because I want a more balanced roster, I want to see/provide examples of the young players showing signs of progress, I want to see the hawks play an entertaining game and I want the hawks to win.
It doesn’t take a season to know that zaza will never be a defensive stopper, it doesn’t take a season to know that Lorenzen Wright is not a difference maker, it doesn’t take a season to know that this team will not win a championship.
However, I am enjoying the way the team is playing; I started out with low expectations with this roster and will be pleasantly surprised if they play well; I don’t think that having Marvin and Speedy will make that big of a difference because they don’t deliver what we are missing and the only thing that will take a season is to see if we have 0, 1 or 2 first round draft picks.
By Clyde
November 21, 2006 06:38 PM | Link to this
Doc please. You said “most high schoolers declare themselves by the third year. thus far josh smith is the disappointment for this young season.”
Get real. Yes Josh Smith should cut down on his 3’s but he has been the best player on defense for us this year. Take the Miami game for instance. The man was constantly jumping from Haslem to Wade all game because no one else could stop them. Wade scored a couple of times on him but for the most part he shut him down. He also had 4 blocks. Without him in the game there is no chance for us to block a shot.
He is first on the team in blocks with 16 (the next closest is 7). Third in steals with 11. First in rebounds and rebounds per game wit 60 total and 7.5 a game. He is also 3rd on the team in scoring. If thats disappointing to you then your expectations are too high.
FIRE BILLY AND WOODY
By Clyde
November 21, 2006 06:43 PM | Link to this
Plus Jsmooth is averaging 2.4 assists a game. Just like our “savior” for our problems at point guard.
FIRE BILLY AND WOODY
By Steve
November 21, 2006 06:45 PM | Link to this
HB Ando, I thought this was a blog and not “War and Peace”. Noboby wants to read for 10 minutes to learn what every body else has already said. Get to the point and quit.
When winning the Hawks shoot 75%+ on FTs and when losing 70% or less. Smith needs to play around the rim not the arc. If he insists on playing at the arc then he needs to sit. Jones and Batista wouldn’t mind getting more PT. If Bozeman is so good on D then why are players going off on the Hawks? Can’t play much D with only 15 minutes of PT. Said my peace now it’s time to QUIT!
By JB
November 21, 2006 06:48 PM | Link to this
What I like is Sekou’s ability to admit to the validity of someone else’s point besides his own. Gotta like his lack of diva-mentality in the age where the media covers the news less often than it becomes the news.
That said, I do think it’s OK to look for patterns that could become trends. I’ll echo the very first comment (from THL)re: Josh Smith’s shot selection, which may not be alarming, but certainly is of concern, considering his potential to explode into a monster as the year (or his career) progresses.
Given the team’s FT% in the preseason, I have to hope the wall they’ve run into lately is an abberration.
I guess the difference is, it’s not too early to speculate, as long as we admit (as Sekou has done) that all theories have to be tested in a total of 82 labs before they are accepted as fact.
By ray
November 21, 2006 11:12 PM | Link to this
Ha! Abe, you said it, and like clock work, it happened. We get tired of the ceaseless analyzing and attack each other. Not but a few posts later, Steve goes after Ando. Perhaps you’re prediction skills are on the climb, ABE.
Stale, stale, stale. Until the next game, then if something different happens, we can dissect that. OH well, I bring my own brand of staleness I suppose. Now back to my forum on short range weapons…
By Chris
November 22, 2006 07:16 AM | Link to this
This is the same team that has sucked for a long time and you watch them hoping that they won’t suck as much anymore. At least we still care enough to evaluation the level of their crappy product every year. As stated earlier in the week, the Jazz and the Hornets with one draft pick each last year out performed the Hawks cumulative draft choices over the last two years on Saturday night. The entertainment value of analyzing the level of ineptitude at this point might be the last vestige of pleasure that a Hawks fan can extract anymore from watching this product perform.
By doc
November 22, 2006 07:58 AM | Link to this
well roll tide clyde i am glad you are coming to the defense of our beloved hawks. i agree what i said was a bit harsh and not exactly as intended. what i shoud have said was if there was a disappointment it was in young mr.smith and then give my thesis. the young man has yet to get in the flow of the ofense and has struggled mightily thus far, his numbers are good but are they quality ones? his turnover rate suggests otherwise.
he has been continuing on pace from last year but has admittedly not exrended himself above his performance last year and that is what is necesary for this team to win now which is what you want even though you admit you dont think they can win more than 30. if young mr. smith grows into what we think he can he will take the hawks into flight that will leave you with mixed emotions from your perspective. he can become that when he begins to do what he says he is going to do, simple as that. you also tend to take one great play and forget his lacking presence in many others where he is out of the flow both on offense or defense. he is the enigma.
By honest_abe
November 22, 2006 09:13 AM | Link to this
ray: i like to think my prognostication skills are on point at least once or twice a year…LOL
anywho all this talk about jsmith being the hawks best defender is ludicrous…. jsmith might be the best shot blocker on the team but by means does that mean he is a great on the ball defender. i’d have to give jj that honor.. jsmith gives up position way to easily, thinking he can make up for it with his amazing athletic ability.! but i’m excited about this teams future and hope everyone has a great thanksgiving!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS!
By dap
November 22, 2006 10:22 AM | Link to this
We are 4-4. What did everyone expect? We should expect to take 20 games to even develop the necessary chemistry. Speedy will get health and in the flow. Marvin will get healthy and improve our team. Childress will get healthy. We should not be overly critical yet. Did anyone expect us to be over .500? With all of our injuries, .500 see pretty good right now. We are in good shape.
By r
November 22, 2006 11:20 AM | Link to this
Thank you dap, for being the only person on this blog other than Sekou to see the entire picutre. For the rest of you wanna be critics IT TAKES TIME to develop the necessary chemistry to be successful. This is a young team that needs to get all its horses healthy and then we can begin to pick them apart once that has happened. If you are on the bandwagon stay on, if not jump off. Bottom line about the fans “savior” JSmith, he’s another Darius Miles in the making. If they don’t bench him when Marvin returns this team will suffer greatly.
By the way Clyde, FIRE BILLY AND WOODY. Then what next, genius? Since you seem to know all the answers please enlighten us.
By The Flash
November 22, 2006 11:41 AM | Link to this
Doc, a guy must be dangerous where he catches it. If he is not, his offensive potency is reduced drastically. The defender must have to guard the catch and shoot. If the defender does not respect the shot, you’re only best option, unless you are a Wade, Paul, LeBron, Kobe, with incredible dribbling skills, is simply to give it up.
So, dictating where Smooth’s catches it is critical. My sense, Smooth is playing Marvin’s spot and the spots for catches are geared to Marvin’s game, or a true 3’s game.
I have never liked Atlanta’s offense. To me, the personnel screams for the triangle. The only thing that this team would need to pick up is a lights out shooter aka Kerr-type. Otherwise, the pieces are here that match what Chicago used to put on the floor very well.
As it is, there is the running of plays, instead of a system, or at least that’s how it has seemed to me from afar. Most of the plays are run with JJ being the preferred option, and he probably pops up as an option more than once in a sequence.
I gotsta spring for one of those packages, so I actually won’t be shootin in the dark.
Doc, I am 100 percent with the dame who Sekou speaks of. If anyone said this team, sans MW, would be where it is with three lost second losses at the end of last season, please, would anybody be sweatin it?
And the rest of you, get off of Smooth’s back. He’ll find his comfort level and rhythm. Now, if we can only get Woody off this bobbyball schtick and put a real offense in place.
Who would I choose to do that. Kerr, that’s who.
By honest_abe
November 22, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this
wow, so a first time blogger by the name of “r” and another newbie “dap” are the only ones that see the entire picture?
interesting. i guess the rest of us meatballs just don’t know anything… we just spend the whole day (for quite some time now) dissecting anything and everything about this team. i’m pretty confident when i say i think most people on this blog have a nice handle on where this team is and where this team is going.
don’t come preaching at everyone on here about jumping on or off the bandwagon as this group has been on for quite some time now…
By ray
November 22, 2006 12:06 PM | Link to this
Okay Abe, you double Da Man, you beat me to it.
By Nique
November 22, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this
It’s too bad that Woody is satisfied with being 4-4. During this year’s baseball season Jim Leyland had a bad skid with the Tigers at one point, but he didn’t tell the team the skid was ok because they stunk the year before and the expectations were so low that they should be happy they had the record they did. That’s the problem with too many people in the Hawks organization and Woodson specifically, they are satisfied with being mediocre. Yes they could easily be 7-1, but they could also easily be 0-8. They really haven’t beaten any teams handily this year. My point is that Woodson should be preaching to his team that if they can knock down their free throws they can be a very good team rather than a mediocre one.
By mykhalc
November 22, 2006 01:56 PM | Link to this
HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!! GO HAWKS!!
By doc
November 22, 2006 01:56 PM | Link to this
r how about going back to my earlier comment at 6:08 yesterday before you say all have gone overboard with their expectations and dap and sekou are the only folks who can see. we also are allowed a perspective as to how things might have been even better. for example, who would expect jj to be shooting foul shots so poorly and what does that indicate. if he was at his usual from the line at 80% he could have taken the hawks to the realm the jazz are exclusive of the play of the others. come with something better than that kind of drival rant.
yes flash, you probably need to see a few of the games before commenting too much further about the offense and how the flow progresses. often it stops with mr. smith as he tries to force his game and stats. that is an observation by ando as well who sat right next to me at a game. i also thought larry taught woody last how to coach. did he not listen to your friend and does he fail to listen to larry’s brother all dapper on the bench with him?
By JR
November 22, 2006 01:58 PM | Link to this
This team needs a coach and staff that can teach these young guys to play defense, create shots, and play a team game. This needs to be done before they become the mediocre, journeymen players that predominate the NBA. Call Larry Brown!
Brown couldn’t turn the Nets around because they had a roster of selfish, veteran players who were past learning the game and improving. The Hawks predominately have some eager young players who could be coached into a very good team. Again, Call Larry Brown! He may be a vagabond, but he can coach and, more importantly, teach.
By JR
November 22, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this
Sorry, I was thinking Knicks and typed Nets. I get my underachieving teams mixed up.
By newkid
November 22, 2006 02:04 PM | Link to this
Well it’s not really about being ‘on’ or ‘off’ the back of Smoove, is it? It’s about whether his shot selection is to the benefit or detriment of the TEAM. Continuous bad shot selection, regardless of the culprit, is undoubtedly to the detriment of the TEAM. I for one like Smoove, and wish him nothing but the utmost success; but I want to see TEAM success FAR, FAR more.
By The Flash
November 24, 2006 11:32 AM | Link to this
JR, I agree with you 100 percent. LB would be terrific here, I mean this team would absolutely rock. Only it is not going to happen, as in never. Why? It is called “character.”
You see, notwithstanding popular myth, Larry Brown has it, and he would never, and I mean never, consider being part of a move against Woody. Woody is Larry’s friend. End of discussion.
Larry reuniting with Herb (although they fight like cats and dogs) would be stupendous. Herb is the perfect 2 for Larry’s 1; Herb is a genious but lacks Larry’s ability to “coach em up.” So does almost everybody. But, the two understand one another completely; they operate like two of the Funk brothers (any two), and if you don’t know what I am talking about, who the Funk Brothers are (they were the motown sound, from Smokey, to David, to Diana, to Marvin, to whomever) you are beyond my help or way too young for us to really relate. But, Herb’s genius formed a seemless web with Larry’s coaching; only, it ain’t gonna happen. It is called class. Larry, my friends, for all that you have read and heard from Zeke and his boy Dumars, has it!