AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USAll hail the “Ticket Stub”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You’ve read many times about Hawks guard Tyronn Lue and how vital he is to his team’s success, both on the court and in the locker room.
Never was that more obvious than Sunday afternoon at Continental Airlines Arena, where a one-legged Lue (his left hamstring is being held together by a shred of cartilage) came off the bench cold and delivered the Hawks’ first win at the Meadowlands since the Dominique Wilkins era (okay, it was just a six-year drought, but you get the point).
It was a fine finish for a guy who’s been under immense internal pressure ever since he came to the Hawks overt two years ago in a trade. And while no one has publicly stated that there is pressure on Lue to deliver, there is. As the only seasoned point guard on the roster, prior to Speedy Claxton’s arrival, Lue has had the unenviable task of taking the heat every time someone mentions Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Marcus Williams or any of the other point guards the hawks could have had.
All he’s done is rescue the Hawks when they needed it time and time again. During his first half season with the Hawks, after Antoine Walker was traded and Al Harrington went down late in the season with injuries, it was Lue that carried them down the stretch. It was Lue that saved them from infamy and helped them to late wins to keep the Hawks from an 11-win season (I know, 13 wins isn’t exactly the promised land but it’s better than 11).
He’s played every role asked of him, from super sub to starter to Robin to Joe Johnson’s Batman, and never complained (despite the fact that he’s in the second year of three-year deal that underpays him by at least $1 million per year. He ought to get an extra million for keeping the Hawks’ locker room in one piece during this age of ownership feuds and constant NDBL additions and subtractions).
I know it’s easy to knock the guy for what he can’t do - and Lue’s not as young, athletic or dynamic as any of those hotshots mentioned above. But he’s a steadying force on a team in desperate need of one (and perhaps a few others). And to top it off, he’s a guy who does it because it’s the professional thing to do and the right thing to do, not for any other reason. There are few players in professional sports without any ulterior motives (playing for a fat new contract, stats, status, etc). Lue is one of them. He has already been to the top, winning back-to-back titles with the Lakers early in his career. He’s played with the best (Shaq, Kobe and an aged Jordan in Washington), done it all and seen it all.
Now he’s on a team where he’s being asked to mentor young players while also helping to save a franchise from the depths of its own self-inflicted misery (thanks to an ownership feud that simply won’t go away). It’s a tough job, one any of us would do for all the money Lue makes. But it’s one few veterans in demand elsewhere (trust me when I tell you that there are several teams with designs on chasing NBA titles that have aggressively pursued Lue in trade talks but to no avail) would do if they didn’t embrace such a challenge.
Like him or not (and I hear from plenty of people who don’t think Lue is good enough and think he’s a washed up veteran who doesn’t measure up), it’s hard not to appreciate what Lue is doing. And when you factor in his personality, he’s easily the most hilarious person I’ve ever met and the best locker room comedian of his generation, it’s hard not to root for the self-proclaimed “Show.”
(One of his best jokes/stories this season was when he explained to anyone that would listen how he and his good friend Kevin Garnett came by their nicknames. Garnett, he said, is known as the “Big Ticket.” Lue claims he’s the “Ticket Stub.” And as he said, “people show up with the ticket but go home with the stub.”)
Now if he was only 6-3, 23 or 24, healthy and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound …
Comments
By Ryder
February 5, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this
Right on Sekou. I do think while Lue is better served as a backup due to his defensive liabilities with taller guards, he does give the leadership on the floor that these other players aren’t fit for. JJ is not as vocal and is better suited to dominate with his play, and that’s fine. If Atlanta ran more of a Princeton type offense that involved more cutting and moving without the ball, it would take advantage of Lue’s passing skills as well as the athleticism this team posseses. Great win yesterday, hope the “JJ gets revenge” tour continues with a win tonight against LA!
By ray
February 5, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
Heck of a finish to that game last night. Caught it on NBA DAILY after the superbowl. Lue has indeed been quite valuable to the Hawks.
It really says something when Josh Smith has 14 points and 10 boards, and it’s considered a subpar game for him. Of course, he did shoot 5-17, but it says that not only has he shown he’s capable of better, but better is what’s expected of him..even around the league.
Mykhalc, Ando, I agree. Marvin needs to hit the boards. And since he’s not, he is definitely looking more and more like a less consistent version of Harrington. Only with no post game. At least Harrington can post up some.
Even though it still probably won’t happen, I would love to see a good trade move. When’s that deadline again, the 18th, 19th? I forgot…Billy probably did too. I really hope two things: the team doesn’t get taken away from Atlanta, and current ownership and managment are replaced by next season. But hopes are like dreams sometimes….
By doc
February 5, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this
sekou, no cartilage in muscle dude, tendon maybe?
does anyone think lue is coaching material?
By RA
February 5, 2007 01:40 PM | Link to this
I think that as far as the Hawks are concerned, anyone that cannot see the improvement of this team over the course of this year, or just since they got healthier is blind sir, blind! Now, I don’t know if they’re going to go to the playoffs, but the fact that when today started, they were just 3.5 games back of the eighth place spot in the East, considering that disastrous December campaign, is nothing short of a miracle. Give them some love Atlanta!
As for Lue, now you can talk about Chris Paul and the rest of that bunch, and I’m sure that Schultz and Moore will until the day they die, but here’s the real deal, if they had come to this team at the point where Lue did, they would have been coming in as rookies, with little to know veteran support, little to now talent on the team, and little to know direction. I think that if Chris Paul comes to the Atlanta Hawks, he ends up a very different player than he’s turned out to be. Only an experienced point guard with the force as his ally could have come to Atlanta and flourished the way Lue has. We don’t need him to be 6’3. We don’t need him to be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. The Hawks just need him to be the leader that he’s been, that’s all.
By Anakin Joe
February 5, 2007 01:54 PM | Link to this
Yes, I could see Lue coaching at some point. Hell, he could takeover tonight and be an upgrade at that leadership position. He’ll likely be a valuable commodity over the next few weeks. A back-up PG who can score, is great in the locker room, knows his role and has big game experience. There are very few playoff bound teams who have that on their team. I hope we keep him and resign him when his contract expires next season.
If I were a betting man, I’d wager a small fortune on a blow-out loss tonight for the home team. We don’t seem to step up at home against the NBA elite and now that some guys will have the “big head” from yesterday’s win, we’ll likely be down by 15 in the 1st quarter.
JJ’s comments about guys not knowing their roles frm the Toronto game. Any thoughts who he was talking about? Speedy? I’m not convinced those 2 are on the same page.
Ando, I didn’t realize that you .333 comment was factoring the past 2.5 seasons. Do you use the same time frame when evaluating other teams, like Portland and the Raptors or just when you are attempting to rationalize a bad characterization for the Hawks? I give you credit for criticizing the team even during victories on the road. It shows how completely objective you are.
By skippy
February 5, 2007 02:02 PM | Link to this
Lue has a lot of heart. He plays hard every single game, regardless of how he’s shooting.
Speaking of heart, it’s always a good sign when you see the Hawks diving for loose balls and making other hustle plays, like they’ve been doing the past few games. In December, the only hustle you saw from these guys was in the way they drove home from Philips Arena after each emabarrassing home loss.
How many games has Speedy gone 1 for 6, 7, 8, 9, etc? Can someone please find this man a shooting coach?
Lastly, is there a rule against going after Randolph Morris right now. He has publicly said that he won’t leave UK before the season ends, which I totally respect. But can you sign him to a deal, which permits him to finish up his college season and then join the team once its over? Letting him finish out his college career would not only be a nice gesture but also a creative negotiating ploy by a NBA team. Just my two cents …
By Dan
February 5, 2007 02:09 PM | Link to this
Sekou,
I have a friend who is a broadcaster on 790 the Zone. He is a big time Lue basher. I have never understood why. We have gone back and forth on his worth on many of occasions.
I think the guy is great. He also wants to be here and has given his all to the team, unlike some (not to name names, but Speedy). I just hope he can stay healthy. It was hard watching him run around yesterday afternoon. Even watching on TV, you could see, and almost feel, the pain he was in.
Lue is great! Especially when you consider that Speedy comes to this team, fakes injuries, and collects more money. Lue has had chances to go elsewhere, but hasn’t. Good for him! I hope he stays a Hawk for the rest of his career.
By Tyger
February 5, 2007 02:19 PM | Link to this
Great Article on Ty Lue. I, like BK, never thought PG was a real problem for this team. But apparently, all the naysayers, got to ownership and BK was forced into this Speedy fiasco.
I was wrong, when initially, I didnt think Speedy would hurt us, I didnt think he would help either, but I never thought he would hurt as much as he has.
However, it seems Woody is learning how to use him and maybe we can win despite him. I know many will say, “oh, but he had a great game vs. the Nets”.
No he didnt. He was 1-7 with 3 TO’s down the stretch. He made a couple nice defensive stops, but they were just makeups for the two consecutive bad plays he had just made.
He was ready to hand the game over to NJ, until Woody yanked him, Thank God, for Ty Lue. And the rest is history.
Wonder if we can get McGloire and Juan Dixon for Speedy, Pachulia and Salim?
By mavid
February 5, 2007 02:58 PM | Link to this
speedy/lue combo would be servicable pgs if they could just stay healthy (a huge IF)
speedy is the type of guy who isnt a great shooter, but once he gets back in the rhythm of the game, he is better than this (as a few games earlier in the season attest to)… he can pass (example: getting smoove that wide open shot at the end of regulation against the nets) and he has the midrange. he actually plays quite smooth when he is healthy and in the rhythm of the game (he just is never healthy)
our big problem is still the 5…
get greg oden memphis! trade us gasol for zaza/shelden, chill and indy’s pick
By mykhalc
February 5, 2007 03:12 PM | Link to this
SEKOU, nice article on LUE!! no doubt, a professional…PERIOD!!
JOE, too funny your comment about LUE takin’ over the coachin’ tonite and it be an upgrade!LOL what’s sad is YOU ARE RIGHT!!! and i think you might be onto somethin’ about whether JJ and SPEEDY are on the same page. WOODSON’s demeanor regardin’ SPEEDY’s return was/has been a little suspect to me too!!??!!
my ONLY dig on LUE is lack of dimes!!! he definitely is a steadying force most of the times he’s on court but i don’t ever remember him being close to double digits in the assist column??!!! it’s the one area where i think he could make MORE of a difference for this team.
i was one of the ones that thought SPEEDY could/would make a difference to this team at the beginnin’ of the year. man, have i been wrong!!!! i thought this team could use an exp, defensive minded PG. and i definitely don’t think SPEEDY was straight up on his health!! granted he broke his hand but what did that have to do with his legs??? so it’s clear that his knees were an issue back in the summer!! ‘cause why else would he be soooooooooooooooo outta shape when he finally could take the court??!!! MARVIN had the same injury. yet, he and SPEEDY were like nite and day when they returned to action!!! i’m definitely gonna be watchin’ to see how soon SPEEDY has to shut it down again.
maybe the SPIRIT GROUP couldn’t afford to do a COMPLETE physical on SPEEDY when he was signed!!!!!!!!!!!
By Clyde
February 5, 2007 03:27 PM | Link to this
To me Tyron Lue does not create shots for his teammates. When he comes of the screen and roll he always settles for the jumper instead of passing. Yea he makes a clutch jump shot from time to time but the Hawks need a point guard that can distribute the ball. Not one that shots jumpers all the time.
And somone tell me the last time Tyron Lue had a double digit assist night.
FIRE BILLY AND WOODY
By Dee
February 5, 2007 03:37 PM | Link to this
WHO CARES how many double-digits assists Lue has had…he makes the clutch shots that others on our team cant make(including JJ). He knows just what to do and how to create for himself to keep us in the game. I wouldnt get rid of Lue or Chill for nothing in the world!! I look forward to Chill coming in to keep us afloat in the game as well..these are “needed” guys on a team..any team!
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
By doc
February 5, 2007 03:38 PM | Link to this
lookin forward to the game tonight as i will have a “stub” in my pocket myself thanks to jhan. also look forward to being with the prince himself, ando and hear what he has to say. he really does call it right most of the time and is a prince of a guy as well as the jhan man. heard him say he was impressed with chills along time ago so his mea culpa wasnt totaly unexpected.
guys ill be within 25 feet of kobe tonight, look for us about four rows deep just to the left of the bench when the cameras scan toward the visitors bench. doesnt get much better than that. might even wear the j smash jersey my daughter gave me for christmas.
By mavid
February 5, 2007 03:38 PM | Link to this
if he wasnt always injured, speedy should/could be the pg that can distribute the ball
By Clyde
February 5, 2007 03:41 PM | Link to this
Hey Sekou. Tyron Lue had no double digit assist games in 2005-2006 and only one this season. Steve Nash has 35 double digit game this year.
FIRE BILLY AND WOODY
By kaiser
February 5, 2007 04:18 PM | Link to this
I like lue man but we need another point guard to really make a push for the playoffs.
IDEAS
-Trade a 2008 second round pick for Chucky Atkins.
-Trade a 2008 second round pick for Travis Diener
By Orlando Rivera
February 5, 2007 04:28 PM | Link to this
Scat Clyde, you bother us. If you want Lue to get double digits so bad, then do it on an Xbox.
Anakin, you just spared us a lot of time watching tonight’s game. Knowing these Hawks that is exactly what will happen. They didn’t want to show up against Toronto on Friday and will only play when they want to.
Lue as a coach would be a great idea. I’m sure he could install an offense that actually takes advantage of these players skills.
By jamal
February 5, 2007 04:46 PM | Link to this
I’m thinkin that Lue can become the next Avery Johnson and be a good coach. just think about it.Avery did it why can’t lue.( of course the mavs have the best team in the league)
By Dee
February 5, 2007 04:54 PM | Link to this
Why all the talk of Lue coaching? Is he planning on retiring soon??
By Wedgie Evans
February 5, 2007 05:26 PM | Link to this
Lue looks like the secret love-child of Barbaro and an Asian woman, but people need to quit hating on his game, because he’s really underrated. He still shouldn’t be a starting point guard on a good team, but he’s a lot more valuable than his stats indicate. All the recent championship teams had players like him, who may not have been extremely talented but who could step up and hit big shots when it mattered.
By Ed W.
February 5, 2007 05:56 PM | Link to this
Lue is a very good part-time PG. I think he would be an ideal pick up for someone like the Cavaliers or Lakers. He is nice to have on teh Hawks, but since they aren’t going anywhere and there is a good chance he leaves as a FA over the summer, I would definitely try to trade him at the deadline (as late as possible).
By mavid
February 5, 2007 07:41 PM | Link to this
wow, what a poorly played first quarter by both
By Volman
February 5, 2007 08:33 PM | Link to this
Some how, our guys are still in the game despite having a TERRIBLE shooting night.
Marvin, 0-6 so far? wow.
By mavid
February 5, 2007 09:36 PM | Link to this
oh marvin…
By doc
February 5, 2007 10:30 PM | Link to this
it wasnt any prettier in person folks. ando early in the game said that kobe was just waiting for his moment and being kind to his playmates to keep them in the game.
this was not the game the hawks wanted to play.
refs are horrible and very inconsistant from game to game and star to star. this is the one area that the game callled the nba has to change. kidd banged on jj yesterday kobe barely gets touched but the whistle only sounded when it involved contact with kobe.
By jlewis
February 5, 2007 10:40 PM | Link to this
We’re all getting played, there are no NBA superstars, just ones you can’t touch, the officiating tonight was horrible. Its the only league where the games are not called straight up, and it’s always been that way. The sad thing is, if Mark Cuban had not been b***, it would still be worse.
By mavid
February 5, 2007 10:53 PM | Link to this
On the Gasol Front:
“A report from the Los Angeles Times says the Grizzlies have dropped the price of Pau Gasol as the franchise looks to trim payroll instead of find equal value for the player.
The Grizzlies reportedly asked Chicago for Ben Gordon, Luol Deng and the Knicks’ No. 1 pick, which the Bulls own. Now Memphis is down to Deng or Gordon plus another young player such as Thabo Sefolosha, P.J. Brown’s expiring contract and a 2009 first-rounder.”
If this report has any truth to it, the hawks could easily swing a deal with marvin (or hopefully jchill?), zaza/shelden, plus the indy pick
we need a 5, and while getting oden or durant would be nice, i just dont see us getting that top 3 pick.
By Clyde
February 5, 2007 11:05 PM | Link to this
Its bad when your power foward had more assists that your starting point guard.
FIRE BILLY AND WOODY
By reese
February 6, 2007 12:00 AM | Link to this
Well, only Josh Smith had entries in every positive defensive/offensive category.
Please someone help me understand why woodson won’t play two tall players together.
Again, we have to suffer through a lineup of having Shelden Williams play the center position. I was falling asleep in the first half and that just made me sleepier.
Does anyone else think that it would be better for Solomon Jones to be playing every day in the NBDl than wasting away at the end of the bench.
At least childress tried to push the pace tonight. Now, if only he can finish on the break or at least do better than 60% at the free throw line.
I guess its safe to say that Kobe Bryant is a true all star. He challenged JJ and unfortunately JJ couldn’t keep pace. The shots that Bryant was hitting with JJ in his face can only be matched by Tracy McGrady.
Oh how much better we would look with an Andrew Bynum type center playing alongside Josh Smith and Zaza instead of the undersized Marvin or the non factor Wright.
By JB
February 6, 2007 05:25 AM | Link to this
Why won’t Woodson play two tall players? Because he doesn’t HAVE two tall players, unless you want to give up some of your speed & put Lorenzen & Zaza up front and try to play bangerball. They will never be mistaken for twin towers.
I have two things to say about last night:
I hate Kobe Bryant. He is a great, GREAT player…and I hate him. I hate his arrogance. I long for us to stuff that simpering smile down his throat. But Joe can’t do it right now. Which brings me to #2.
Joe needs help. Why does a player as disciplined as Joe miss all those FTs at the end? He’ll never admit it publicly, but he is laying it ALL on the line. There IS a limit to human endurance. Bryant, on the other hand, has guys doing all the banging inside for him. He has a decent DURABLE PG handing him the rock. He was as fresh as a daisy in the 4th quarter.
I hate to say it, but Kobe has three things Joe doesn’t have—a better supporting cast and a bigger pair. And my bet is he won’t get number one until numbers two & three develop enough hair for him to get nasty—not in the paint, but in the front office or even the press. Call out Knight and the owners personally. Demand thhe do whatever it takes to get Oden or Gasol or any decent big to play behind or in front of Zaza, AND get any of those point guards Knight has already whiffed on.
Demand the rock, you get the rock. It’s no different with players. You’ve got the star power, Joe. Now use it.
By Dan
February 6, 2007 09:49 AM | Link to this
The Hawks could have won last night. Free Throws just killed that team. Chills misses two straight, Joe misses a bunch, and Josh Smith fails to convert the three point play.
Everyone is partaking in Kobe worship today. He is great and that run he had in the 4th was cool, but the Hawks would have only been down by 2 points after all Kobe’s antics had they made free throws. Kobe didn’t put the Hawks away. The Hawks put themselves away at the free throw line. Another sign, I guess, that this team is not ready to be good.
Was there a bigger nonfactor last night than Marvin Williams? He continues to play weak against strong competition.
Sheldon Willams plays well against the Nets, but follows it up with a worthless game agaisnt the Lakers. Again, he doesn’t look so good now that Dick Vitale is not running around nutsucking on him.
I see Mark Bradley wrote a Hawks article today. The Lakers come to town and he decides to goto Philips for a change. I don’t even care what that clown says. He watches two games all season long and tries to break down the team. He sucks.
By cowa
February 6, 2007 01:27 PM | Link to this
For all those longing for Gasol (myself included), it ain’t gonna happen. Memphis wants an expiring contract if they’re not going to get two starters and a pick (preferrably lottery). We have no expiring contracts to offer, and our draft pick (indy’s) would be far worse than Chicago’s (Knicks). Also, who on our team would seriously compare to Gordon, Deng or Hinrich? If we’re not including JJ or Josh Smith, nobody compares at this point with any of the guys Chicago would be giving up.
Also, I forget who it is, but somebody on this blog is loving Doleac. I don’t get it, as he is just roster filler. He is third string material (maybe second on our team), but certainly just a throw in in any deal. A deal with Miami for Lue should either be Lue for Doleac and a 08 or 09 1st pick, or Lue and our 07 2nd rounder for Doleac and their 07 1st pick. I would rather keep the 2nd round in 07 myself, but that’s just me.
Lastly, all those that are saying to pick a PG with Indy’s pick obviously haven’t been looking at who’s available in the draft next year. There are no PG’s that would make a difference on this team that would be there at pick 20 or so. 2008 will be a PG draft like we’ve never seen; that’s when we should pick up a PG (and Lue’s contract would also be coming off the books if he’s still on the roster). The best players available with Indy’s pick will be a big or a swingman, and depending on whether we make any deals, we might need both!
By mykhalc
February 6, 2007 01:51 PM | Link to this
COWA, that’d be me!! so who would YOU rather have WRIGHT, ZAZA, or DOLEAC?? i see DOLEAC as a DOABLE upgrade!! plenty of other 5’s i’d want first, no doubt!! if WOODSON was playin’ SJONES, i’d sit back and be quiet since i think he has more upside than any of ‘em!! but he ain’t playin’ him so i’m sayin’ AT LEAST get me DOLEAC!! get me a big that’ll hit the boards RELENTLESSLY if nothin’ else!! WHOEVER THAT MAY BE!!!!
By A Thinking Fan
February 6, 2007 02:41 PM | Link to this
On another note: Shaq’s back!!! 4 rings one NBA MVP. The Commish should be ashamed of this. Heat win four in a roll. Amare back - Suns are awesome this year. BK we need a big man - NOW!!!
By gb
February 6, 2007 02:51 PM | Link to this
mykhalc doleac averages 3.4 rebounds per game foe his career. za za rebounds brtter than that.
By mykhalc
February 6, 2007 03:09 PM | Link to this
GB, and i won’t dispute any numbers you might be able to bring. but when i look at each player’s game and what i think they bring, IMHO, DOLEAC’s game is just BETTER than ZAZA’s and WRIGHT’s!!
By emcee fleshy (atl/sd)
February 10, 2007 12:58 AM | Link to this
Sekou, (Enough with the Parentheses, already.)
Thanks.