Hawks

By mykhalc

February 12, 2007 04:48 AM | Link to this

SS, hangin’ out on my side of the BAY!! NICE!! and not to far from my spot either!! i’m vegetarian but i’ll have to check out the spot tho. havin’ lived in the ATL for 23 yrs, there’s one spot that i grew to rely on…R THOMAS!! i’m sure you know it well. but if not, you gotta check it out. they’re open 24/7 and serve organic eats. not a ‘soul food’ place, but you’ll leave full and happy!!LOL breakfast, lunch, or dinner anytime of the day!!!

man, i posted soooo much on the previous blog that i’m blogged out now. but after checkin’ out the YOUNG GUNS for only the second time this year, i’m stoked to see the improvement all the way around!!

JS is crankin’ it up to a whole new level!!! that’s for sure!! and like you said, he is becomin’/has become that 2nd option for the team. and a VERY NEEDED option at that!! i think he’s there man. for the most part, you can just about count on him bringin’ a double-double every nite. the cat is playin’ with REAL confidence now!! and i posted earlier how you could see the difference that 1 yr in the league makes between him and MARVIN!! so true bro!!!

but as much as i’m lovin’ what JS and JJ are doin’, i’m lovin’ the CORE 4!! playin’ together they are beginnin’ to create somethin’ VERY SPECIAL!!! i’ve designated JCHILLS as ‘my’ new PG!! the run they had when all 4 finally entered the game was PHO like!!! with the CORE 4 and ZAZA, the offense looked smooth and polished!!there was great ball movement, with the defense pickin’ up and the transition game was ‘ON’!!! man, the cats look GOOD!!!

so, as much as this team still needs some finishin’ touches, that defensive minded, shot blockin’, paint patrollin’ BIG at the 5’ is gonna set ‘em free!!!!!!

By RA

February 12, 2007 05:52 AM | Link to this

You know who I haven’t heard anything from lately, Mark Bradley. I guess if they Hawks lose tonight to the Utah Jazz, he’ll have a column in the paper tomorrow denouncing the Hawks recent success and focusing on all the deficiences that always seem to creep into his work when writing about the Hawk… But I digress.

Anyway, it was Tim Legler, at least I think it was Tim Legler that on draft night three years ago said that if there was one bonified flop in the first round, it was Josh Smith. Well, it looks like he might have been wrong on that one. I wonder if he’ll ever be man enough to admit it…

By Yoel

February 12, 2007 06:05 AM | Link to this

JSmoove is gonna be a special player in this league the things he is doing in this league at this age are amazing. He is getting better and bette the more touches he get I think the better he will be. Also the guy who called Smith the most likely to be a bust on draft night was Jay Bilas not Tim Legler.

By Willie Coyote

February 12, 2007 07:50 AM | Link to this

I hope someone calls out Legler or whoever it was that said that Josh was the 1st round pick most likely to be a bust. It just goes to show you that those “experts” need to do less predicting and more analyzing and actual journalism and we’d all be better off. (How many years did it take the “experts” to pick the Braves to not win the division before they were finally right?)

If the Hawks can finally have some luck and win the lottery (big stretch) or get a top three pick and get an athletic big (Noah would fit an up tempo style nicely) then this team would be a threat for real. Also, the ownership thing needs to be resolved soon. If the Spirit lose, I have a feeling that Belkin may bring in someone that would mess up the core of this team and set them back a few years again.

I’m glad to see the Hawks getting out and running more. Everyone kept saying that the Hawks need to play in the 80s-90s to be successful. the only problem with that logic is that they lose those games. When the tempo is up and the scoring is up, the Hawks tend to win. Keep it up guys.

By greg

February 12, 2007 07:59 AM | Link to this

Hey, Lets not get too excited ovrer one win against a subpar team. However JS is finally comming into his own. We still need a ligit #5.

By RA

February 12, 2007 08:18 AM | Link to this

Jay Bilas? I’m sorry, who?

By Chris D'

February 12, 2007 08:30 AM | Link to this

Josh Smith yelled at ZaZa at one point last night after he didn’t box out on a rebound. Something rarely seen from Joe Johnson.

I am not sure why Solomon Jones isn’t backing up Josh at the 4 spot. The only thing I can figure is BK doesn’t want to look like a total fool for drafting Sheldon so they keep giving him minutes.

By Neil

February 12, 2007 08:41 AM | Link to this

JS is definitely making better decisions with the ball. Here are two examples: 1. When he gets the ball at the top of the key he drives to the basket way more now instead of just shooting jump shots. 2. When he gets the ball with the shot clock winding down he’s not rushing his jump shot, and is definitely shooting a higher percentage.

By jjohns

February 12, 2007 08:46 AM | Link to this

Best soul food restaurant in Atlanta has to be a relatively new spot called Luella’s(www.luellastogo.com). All vegetables are fresh and cooked w/smoked turkey and fried foods prepared without transfats. But everything is absolutely delicious—-they even have some Louisiana dishes(red beans, gumbo, bread pudding) that are as good as anything Louisiana has to offer.

By HT

February 12, 2007 09:01 AM | Link to this

As much as i’m enjoying the production of JS, JC, MW, JJ, what has happen to ZZ production? If he is playing close to anything like last year; I see this team being 30-20 at this point.

By HT

February 12, 2007 09:07 AM | Link to this

As much as i’m enjoying the production of JS, JC, MW, JJ, what has happen to ZZ production? If he is playing close to anything like last year; I see this team being 30-20 at this point.

By enjoy_this_video

February 12, 2007 09:21 AM | Link to this

scroll down the weblink to the t.v. and hit “click to play”. it takes a minute to start.

text to be linked

By Anakin Joe

February 12, 2007 09:27 AM | Link to this

So I went to bed last night fuming that Smith didn’t call a timeout on that inbounds pass, that Childress missed the dunk after a perfect pass from Salim and that Speedy missed all those free throws. But then I realized this morning that when you get to a point when you’re disappointed by the way a team wins, then that is true progress.

Like Woody said, the team is still learning how to win. They learned that Speedy can’t be counted on to convert crunch time free throws. And they learned that Smith doesn’t need to be the inbounds guy late in games. The great thing is they learned those valuable lessons without losing the game.

Props to Speedy for playing a very solid game until the last few minutes. And while Shelden continues to get skewered (and rightfully so), he had a nice stretch while Zaza was getting patched up. And as many mentioned from the late night posts, the core of Marvin, Josh, Josh and JJ looked like a highly productive unit on the floor together.

Here’s hoping we can split the next 2 games before coming home. It was down right dirty to schedule the Spurs as our next home game on the end of a back-to-back after an exhausting road trip. Hopefully, they will be feeling old and tired by that game (Spurs that is). These left coast trips are FUN!

Blog Z, keep up the night life tips from your travels. I’m dying to hear about the organic soul food joint in Salt Lake City. (Now that was funny).

By Anakin Joe

February 12, 2007 09:32 AM | Link to this

mychalc, glad that you could check out the boys. You gotta lay off my guy though, Salim. He’s been neutered by Woody. But he made a brilliant pass at the end that Childress blew (one of my other favorite Hawks). I was waiting for him to jack up an off-balanced shot and he made the right pass. Now instead of rewarding that team oriented play, watch him get a big fat DNP tonight (while guys are huffing and puffing throughout the game). I’m a big Salim fan, warts and all (and yes, he does have a bunch of warts). But I love his fire and his mean streak on a team with mostly choir boys.

By Dan

February 12, 2007 09:51 AM | Link to this

5 in a row on the road!!!

Who are these guys?!?!?! I could get used to this winning stuff.

Not to get ahead of myself, but you all realize if this team can manage to survive February still in the playoff race the schedule lets up a bit in March and April. They could, believe it our not, really make a run at the playoffs. That’s the last I will mention of it…

Speedy has p*ssed me off almost all year long. He is playing well now, but his poor free throw shooting almost cost the game last night. If he is ever going to live up to his contract, he has to get that problem solved. Woodson had to take him out of the game because the Warriors would have just fouled him. Can’t have that from the big money PG. He has to be able to keep the ball and lock the game up at the line.

Time to pay back Utah tonight!! I am still mad about the blown 21 point lead back in December.

By A Thinking Fan

February 12, 2007 09:54 AM | Link to this

JS please disregard SS comments about how well you are playing. You, I, and others know you occasionally start to suffer from the “Big Head” syndrome. So please don’t read any of this stuff about how good you are. Just keep thinking how you have to get better and keep improving yourself… PLEASE so Ando & others don’t have to write a book today. LOL!!!

By Dan

February 12, 2007 09:56 AM | Link to this

RA,

Good point about Mark Bardley keeping silent. I hate that guy. He and Jeff Schutlz have done nothing but mock and belittle this team for years. Nothing like Atlanta writers trying to act like they are from NY. How about Schultz throwing the Atlanta spirit owner under the bus about a month ago, on the day after the Hawks beat Detroit? What a douchebag!

Just wait, when this thing gets turned around, the two will be acting like a couple of superfans.

By Clyde

February 12, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this

Lets not forget Dominque talked Billy into drafting Josh Smith on draft night.

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY

By vdunkndunk

February 12, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

Clyde, where did you hear that thing about Dominque talking Billy into drafting Josh Smith? From what I heard, BK nearly took Josh Smith instead of Childress with the number 6 pick.

By curious

February 12, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this

Clyde-

Where did you get that Dominique talked Billy into drafting Josh? Dominique plays no parts in the Hawks player decisions. I know you don’t like Billy but don’t make stuff up.

By Dee

February 12, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this

HAY, the way the Hawks are kicking BUTTS on the road, we might just have a chance of winning it ALL..the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME that is. Since we would never have home court advantage thru-out the playoffs…GO HAWKS!!!!!!

By Cedric

February 12, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this

I like the move to insert Salim also Anakin Joe. I mean he is still a guard who can handle the ball and the main point is he can shoot better than all the small guards we have. It was a no brainer to put him in at the end of the game to possibly shoot free throws, but the pass is something that should have been flushed by J-Chill. For some reason J-Chill has butterfingers and on defense he cannot grab the loose ball when we need him to. JJ has to demand the ball on crucial in-bound plays or broken offensive plays. Sometimes he will just sit there with his defender just watching the play like a spectator. If you watched the laker game in Philips the other night in the 4th quarter Kobe demanded the ball in the last period and that is what JJ needs to learn to be more selfish in the waning moments of the close games. Overall I like the sub pattern that Woody is using I just wish on D he would use the long wingspan of Solomon Jones more. He looks like he could alter or block more shots than ZZ. Looking forward to the game tonite against Jazz.

By BArry

February 12, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this

Hey Yall:

Like I said before, to anyone that knows basketball, “The Hawks were injure during the early and middle part of the season. they are now getting stronger and healthier,a n now you see the results. we are seeing competitve, exciting, running, basketball, and WINS in Atlanta. We are still a work in progress, but unlike our local sports writers, when we los a game or two, I am not going to hollering “change the whole team”. That’s a bunch of junk.. The Hawks have a good team barring a “CENTER”. They will be in the run NOw and for years to come. MAke these local sportwriters eat cheese Hawks, especially Shcultz and Moore. I can’t wait unil they are out of our fair city.

Ringold

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!This is between us HAWKS fans. Tell EVERYBODY@!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See you at the PHIPPS.

Ringold

By honest_abe

February 12, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this

what i didn’t like was how woody got conservative with about 5 minutes to play. the hawks got to their lead by controlling tempo and moving the ball around which led to good open shots. the hawks got defensive in the end and held onto the ball until their was about 5-7 seconds left on the shot clock, give it to jj and back out of the way. woody has to realize you can’t win consistently playing scared. i thought it was a horrible move, by a horrible coach. someone tell me why in the world speedy was in the game at the end. the guy has the ugliest shot in the world can can’t buy a free throw. salim or royal should’ve been on the court. or maybe even both. the hawks won last night but it was so evident the hawks should’ve won by at least double digits. poor coaching is what led to such a close game at the end.

either way like aj said. we’re making progress when we start criticizing how the hawks won! if they can pull one out tonight.. people will definitely start noticing!!!

for all the great plays jsmith makes.. he still makes some of the most boneheaded plays. i guess it’s just something we as hawks fans will have to live with.

oh yes and there was a lorenzen sighting last night. i think i saw speedy too. lol

ugly but great win!

gooooo hawks!

By Orlando Rivera

February 12, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this

I think the Hawks have figured out the secret to winning games: Play in front of an actual NBA crowd instead of these crowds at Phillips that couldn’t fill a high school gym. No pressure to win and they seem to be a bit loose on the road. Great win Hawks!

By RYAN

February 12, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this

YES MY HAWKS ARE PLAYING BETTER BUT I AM TELLING YOU HAWKS FANS: WHEN SALIM AND WOODY STARTS TO GET ALONG AND HE IS GIVIN MORE PLAYING TIME THESE YOUNG BABY HAWKS WILL START TO FLY “4 REAL”.

By doc

February 12, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this

well i am glad that woody read my post from the last loss where he had a rook from the nbdl in the gme instead of salim. the guy has guts and can make the correct decisions. insert smile.

quite a video that we hooked into, thanks. did anyone see doc rivers doing a stevie wonder look?

post play, ok last night and matched bidrens, combining zaza and rens you get 10 bounds, 2 blks ,3 steals and 17 points in 41 minutes with nine fouls. two nights in a row, admittedly softer post play than what usually undoes this team.

al certainly didnt come close to making anyone sorry he is gone as the young guns of marvin and josh certainly makes it easier to forget he was ever here. j chills put in some quality minutes which is becoming his signature.

as many have said be patient as the injuries have subsided and players are beginning to know each other. this team is really in about its second or third week of the season based on injuries and putting three to four new faces into the mix. i dont expect them to get into the playoffs unless they gel like the denver team did two years ago but they might make a run at finishing with the 36 wins that many projected even with the lost man hours earlier in the season. that will require that they play at .500 ball the rest of the season. it is very reasonable to suspect that if they had been able to convert three or four wins when they had that terrible streak of what 1 and 12 then they really would have a shot at the playoffs. just dont see the heat falling back or the hawks being able to overtake that team, the pacers would really have to back up, if they do that it of course means a better draft pick which is probably more important than getting into the playoffs.

when we see the nucleus playing together it really makes you wonder where this team could end up with a quality big or facsimile thereof and a point guard that can do some damage over 35 to 40 minutes rather than the committee approach. now if speedy can just find his confidence in his shot.

anyone not think that j smash isnt the engine for this team? jj may be the mvp, though i might argue otherwise but it josh’s energy that the team thrives and feeds upon and makes them go. i am so pleased that he is beginning to find his handle and learn from his mistakes, his confidence is growing. now wait until this time next year when marvin is at this point, we will have four very capable players to hurt teams individually each night. no way teams can focus or concentrate on one guy. it is going to be fun to watch as these guys LEARN to win and to not lose.

honest must be on a binge as he has been extremely quiet during this run out west. probably cant find enough red bull or espresso to get him fired up today. yes it is fun … heh heh

By doc

February 12, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this

looks like h a posted while i was lolly gogging around.

By Ryder

February 12, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

I like the way this team continues to run up tempo. As abe said, you can’t get conservative down the stretch. Atlanta is not built for that. Another point he made was that this is a direct reflection of bad coaching. I can go back to numerous games this season where the Hawks have jumped out to big leads but they try to get too conservative and play “milk the clock” down the stretch. That’s not smart. They cannot get into a playing scared mode.

The mark of an improving team is how they perform on the second of a back to back, especially on the road. If this team can continue to stay up tempo (meaning Woodson would be wise to NOT place Salim as a DNP) against Utah, especially with Boozer out. They should be able to get to the basket with ease. If Speedy can continue to display a level of consistency and if Woodson can not slow down the offense Atlanta can take this game.

By RA

February 12, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the love Dan. Let me make one thing very clear. I have no problem with critical journalism, particularly when it’s due, but even the papers in New York cheer for the home teams when they do something well or show notable improvement! With the exception of our friend Sekou, it seems like most of our beat writers just wait for something to go wrong and then make it their goal in life to make the fans and the team feel worse about it than they do already. That’s not critical journalism, that’s running down the home team. You know, this team could have just chucked it in December. They could be right where the Celtics are now, but they chose not to be. They kept fighting and somehow Woody held them together. I’m not going to throw all that out of the window simply because they don’t win a game that I think they should, and neither should “professional” journalists who are supposed to rally the city behind the team, Sekou Smith being the only one that even tries! I’m not saying that Bradley, Schultz, and Moore are bad journalists. God knows, they keep us talking and that’s what journalists do, but journalists also write the truth, and part of the truth is that our boys have been playing with some serious heart this season. It’d just be nice to hear them say it.

By Anakin Joe

February 12, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this

Abe, its funny because I was thinking about writing how Smith makes some of the dumbest plays in NBA history at times, but I opted not to go there. He just may always be that kind of player… the kind that makes you accept that his good out-weighs the truly ugly that he will do.

Also Abe, Speedy had a double-double and was playing very well until the end. Sure, his shot is bad, but he was very good at being a floor general. Like I said, now we know that he can’t be in at the end of a game (or at least until he hits 20 free throws in a row). But there are a few other guys who earn almost twice as much as Speedy who can’t hit a free throw in the last few minutes also. No one expected Speedy to be Stockton or Kidd, not at a price that is a little more than the mid-level exception.

By Cedric

February 12, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

Guys have great points to be made about the progress of this team, but it can only go so far as the coach allows them to. I used to think that it was not the coach’s fault because he is not the one out there playing. As everyone witnessed last season when Coach Riley took over the same Heat team that VanGundy was coaching and took them to another level. Coach Woody is learning with his players how to manage and perform during games himself. Even though he learned from one of the best in Larry Brown he still had the luxury to sit back and let Coach Brown make the tough decisions and not get ridiculed like a head coach. Our young players play like their young coach; hesitant and scared when the pressure is on against other seasoned coaches and players. The good thing is as Hawks fans we can see that they are learning how to play off of each other and the coach is learning how to coach these guys during these stretches. Doc had great points about J-Smoove being the engine when he is in the game because he usually does the forcing the issue on offense and defense by either making a defensive play and starting the break himself or blocking a shot that directly results in a positive opportunity for other guys to make a play. I would love to see Woody insert Salim more often with JJ because it seems that these two no how to feed off of each other. With them two in the backcourt we have the chance to put pressure on the opposing defenses to open up other chances for the other guys on the court. At home, the only way we are going to get good crowd support each and every night is consistent play no matter who is coming to town. It should not be a major drop off regardless who we have coming to Philips Arena.

By Dan

February 12, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this

RA,

The closest Mark Bradley has ever come to saying anything good about this team was after the Miami game at home this year. He wrote that the Hawks “were not as bad as I thought they were”. Kind of a back-handed compliment, to say the least.

Regardless of what happens the rest of this year, let me be the first to say wait until next year! I really think this team will be a solid playoff team next season (meaning they will make the playoffs as higher than an 8th seed). I don’t know what the draft will hold, but some additions will be in place. If they are good ones….look out!

Although, watch, Belkin will take over and hire a terrible GM and run this thing into the ground. Always seems like there is something working against this team.

By mykhalc

February 12, 2007 01:01 PM | Link to this

JOE, i’ll do my best to lay your boy SALIM but it ain’t gonna be easy!! that neutered comment was too funny!!LOL

yeah man, the boys are growin’ up!! and they are obviously built for that uptempo game and it’s what they do best!! let’s hope WOODSON doesn’t get a brain-freeze again at the end of the game and slow it down!! it was ugly and scary!!

i was pleased with the way MARVIN responded to a foul plagued, limited PT first half. his second half was strong and clutch!! but i think he’s gotta come outta the gate stronger, with more of a sense of urgency. how can he not be jacked after the FIRST play after the tip…MONSTER slam by JS!! it was the PERFECT beginnin’!! and like i posted earlier, you could see JS tryin’ to get MARVIN off early and MARVIN was just a step slow. but like i said, he did step it up in the second half.

fellas, the game was GREAT for this ex-season tix holder and ex-ATL resident of 23yrs…left in 2000!! it was funny ‘cause my girl, who’s from germany, got to see that ATL side that does not come out much in the BAY. but now she’s a b’ball fan and ATL fan!! it was funny watchin’ her look at me after the FIRST play!!! i was punchin’ the air, screamin’ ‘YEAH BABY’!!! she was like, ‘uh ooooookkk, maybe a HAWKS telecast isn’t a good thing!!!LOL too much fun fellas!! and as someone who usually follows the boxscore, it was finally nice to take in another game!!

yeah DOC, hopefully i’ll make it back before the seasons end and we’ll take in that game!!

REESE, remember bro…30-40 mins for JC, JS, MW, 35-45 for JJ and we’re good to go!!!!LOL

well back to the boxscore tonite!!LOL GO HAWKS!!!!!

By jhan

February 12, 2007 01:16 PM | Link to this

I hadn’t heard about Dominique talking BK into draftins JSmith before. If he did, then good for him.

I did hear from the mouth of Bernie Mullin that Dominique talked BK OUT of drafting Deron Williams or Chris Paul because he thinks Marvin is such a special player. The jury is still out on that one.

It was great to see Marvin posting up last night. Finishing with both hands & working under the glass. Maybe Marvin can be the guy who isolates on the block to help free up Joe.

By Wedgie Evans

February 12, 2007 01:18 PM | Link to this

At one point in December, the Hawks dropped 12 of 13 games in a stretch where injuries hit them pretty hard. Outside of that stretch, their record is 19-18, a record that would have them in the playoffs if it lasted for the whole season. Based on their current pace (going around .500 the rest of the way), they will probably end up with about 37 wins, which probably leaves them just outside the playoffs. But it is great to see Josh Smith blossom into a legit star alongside Joe Johnson. Now if he could only stay out of foul trouble…

By crs

February 12, 2007 01:23 PM | Link to this

Josh seems to always play well against the western conference. Also, lets be honest, Phoenix and GS are hardly gritty defensive teams. Again, I don’t want to see this for a couple games, lets see it over 15/20 games and then I will agree he has grown up. Give me Joe Johnson play night in and night out and you have the definition of consistency. That said, back to 10 games under which would put us at a 36-46 clip for the season which is about give or take a few games where we thought this team would be. Another big and a solid point guard and all of sudden this team pushes for 45/50 wins.

By Flappin Hawk

February 12, 2007 01:24 PM | Link to this

No surprise Smoove is having a solid season. The whole NBA knows he was the steal of that draft. And Bilas has already called himself out on his draft day blunder. He admitted his goof last year. We won’t get more than 32 wins this year, but I still love to watch this team. Watch out for the next 2 years. This team will very good.

By footy102

February 12, 2007 01:25 PM | Link to this

Did anyone see speedy claxton freeze up. Woody had to send in Salim to get the ball moving. Salim made a bullet pass to JChill, who attempted a dunk but was bashed over the head by Golden State defenders.No foul was called. Speedy is making to much money,as I have said before, they need to Cut,waive or , ….laugh…..trade him.

By ray

February 12, 2007 01:49 PM | Link to this

Heh! Now, I seem to remember making some comments in an earlier blog topic about JSmith possibly becoming better than the much-argued Deng/Iguodala/Childress triumvirate, but nobody caught on to it. Now Sekou says it and it’s news! LOL! Good comment SEKOU! And the real question is whether or not that will be confirmed…although I think it’s another unnecessary argument.

OHhhh Ando. You know I can’t just let this one go, don’t you? What was that about folding up the tents? Hey, like I said, I’m just enjoying the victories, there ain’t much else to go with. And yes, with each passing win that gets us no closer to the 8th seed and further away from lottery-land, I know, I know….

Steve T,

At the risk of sounding hostile, I still have to ask you what you were thinking when you posted about the pg situation last blog? I’ll give you a good example that anyone can identify with that illustrates what can happen with a GOOD (and consistently healthy) point guard can mean to a team: Chris Paul in New Orleans. While that doesn’t mean instant playoffs, that’s a huge step in the right direction. What team with a good forward or center has made it there without a good point man or point-type? The only teams that do so without a solid leader at the point are teams with an exceptional, extraordinary player at the guard (two-guard) position. Examples? Jordan, Iverson, Wade…Nobody goes too far without a leader in the back court, whether it be the point or the two position.

By Anakin Joe

February 12, 2007 01:58 PM | Link to this

crs, check out Smith in the past 16 games. I think you’ll see he has been averaging close to 17 and 9. And that includes 2 games when he played less than 24 minutes. You take those games out (a sample of 14) and he’s averaging 20 points.

Wedgie, part of Smith’s foul trouble is him learning how to play better defense as a PF. He is staying near the paint and actually providing a little more strong side defense. Also, guys are learning to take the ball in to him like you do with all great shotblockers. So in some cases they are initiating the contact, but we all know that is often called against the defense. Anyway, I equate his foul trouble to his accepting the role of playing PF. He is still learning how to provide shot-blocking support while staying away from foul trouble. (But he also still gets the too frequent offensive foul when his driving is out of control). Woody could also do a better job of managing his fouls in the first half. In fact, I’d probably be inclined to sit him once he gets 2 fouls for the entire half. But then again, I would use Solomon to maintain shot-blocking presence while Woody seems to prefer others when Smith sits. Most great defensive teams funnel guys into their shot-blocker. Woody earned a ring when he could design a defense that took advantage of the Wallace boys in Detroit.

By michael m.

February 12, 2007 02:52 PM | Link to this

just got around to reading the rest of the last blog, hard to keep up with blog-z’s pace of late. guess the soul food is like caffeine for sekou.

ando, i agree we would seem to have a leg up on randolph morris. hopefully he doesnt get too big an offer elsewhere and we are able to add him to our stable of bigs with potential.

regarding thabeet, i agree he is perfect for us. i mentioned him over the summer when you were talking about jianlian as a potential big after the obvious oden/noah. a future dikembe is what this squad needs. i believe he will stay in college one more year, but if he does come out after this season, i still don’t see him lasting to the mid-first. what he brings to the table is mid to late lottery worthy even at his raw stage. 7’3 legit big with defense, rebounding and blocked shots as natural attributes are like rare diamonds. so while i wish we could get him there, i doubt he lasts. you probably agree and were just indulging in a bit of wishful thinking, as i am wont to do as well. would be great if we could will it into being.

it will be very interesting to see who does come out this year, and i know i will be sweating the lottery like its the seventh game of a championship series. it is THAT important, no matter how stacked the odds are against us. still find it ridiculous that bk didn’t get better protection on the pick considering we gave up more than phx originally even asked for.

and i agree thta most of the talented freshman points will not enter the league after this year. next year might be when that occurs. perhaps we can get a defensive big like tiago splitter with the indy pick this year. speedy, lue and chill might be enough at the pg position for one more year before we draft the young guy that ultimately runs this team.

mykhalc, i agree that i want to see marvin kept in the fold. he is still learning and growing into the player he will become. i feel jsmoove is starting to rub off on him a bit with the blocks and rebounding as well. mw definitely has the skill set to do just about anything he wants if he puts his mind to it. just saying that gasol would be worth losing mw’s potential for.

regarding your desire to see chill start at the point next year, i’m not sure if that is ideal. first off, he is great as a 6th man. i am happy to see he has improved his ballhandling enough to handle the pg position as well as he has, getting us out in transition and whatnot. but if you could see a true point running this squad, you might see a hawks team that not only pushed the ball against teams that like to run, but INITIATED THE UPTEMPO PACE and set the tone at which the game is played.

great to see all the excited hawks fans on here of late, a lot of newbies adding to the mix. kind of like lorenzen suddenly showing up last night with those 2 blocks (and making his shots on the other end.)

just like losing, winning can be contagious. these guys believe in each other on the road. out here in hollywood, scenes that are shot in stadiums are often half filled with believable-looking fake people mixed in with the real extras. i think the hawks should do something like that and then pump up the fake cheering noise because it’s depressing watching hawks home games and seeing all those empty seats. looks like you can hear your own echo in there. watching games on league pass, even other team’s announcers comment on how weird and strange it is. the laker guys and golden state announcers talked about it repeatedly. the spirit need to take a page out of arthur blank’s playbook and market more effectively with lower prices and other incentives to get the building filled. and sekou’s inclination that the team should stay in a hotel together on game days sounds like sage advice as well.

By Ken Strickland

February 12, 2007 02:55 PM | Link to this

RAY, be careful where you tread, and remember the wrath of ANDO, LOL. I want too add something to the Deng/Iguodaga vs Childress debate. Childress has made his contributions as one of the NBA’s best, and most consistent 6th men. The other 2 have made their contributions primarily as starters, and have not shown they can be consistently productive as 6th men. Where JChildress has it over the other 2 is in the area of versatility. JChildress has answered the call as a SF, SG and PG, when called upon. And he has done so very, very effectively, on both side of the court, with little, if any, dropoff in productivity. I guarantee the other 2 wouldn’t give anywhere near the productivity under the same circumstances.

JChildress is more valuable to the Hawks than either Deng/Iguodala would be. If anyone disagrees, let’s hear it.

By HB Ando

February 12, 2007 03:05 PM | Link to this

Yup, a handful of us screamed for Smith to take the initiative, to take the less sexy role, of playing inside more, of doing the necessary dirty work. Bandying about whether he’s a 3 or a 4, is kind of pointless. We understand that he and Marvin are the forwards. We understand that neither is a classic 4 (Shelden would be a better example of that construct).

The fact is that he quit launching so many three’s. After taking an average of 3.5 attempts per game, and hitting on 24%, a rate that should have gotten him banned from shooting them at all, he got down to 1.5 attempts in January. He’s up to 2.3 in February (and still only hitting 28%) but that 2.3 is out of an average of 16 attempts per game, versus the 3.5 coming on 11.8. So, as a percentage of overall attempts, he’s cut his frequency in half. The numbers don’t lie: when he settles for long jumpers, not only is he not a good outside shooter, at this stage of his career, but his overall assertiveness is lacking. He seems to now embrace the value of attacking the basket. He looks more and more like Shawn Marion every day. He gives this team hope, in spite of managements ongoing failings.

The issue of where Josh now fits in comparison to Deng, Igoudala and Childress is interesting. Smith was viewed as a legitimate candidate to get drafted where the other 3 went. Having watched him in the McDonald’s all-American game, I would have been happy with him there. I couldn’t believe it when he fell to us at 17. Bilas did put his foot in his mouth with his comments about Josh’s bust potential. I’d rather have Smith than Deng, as Deng is very similar in style to Marvin, who we already have. Smith is obviously outpaced his teammate, who is our sixth man, so there’s no real question there. I honestly view Igoudala and Smith as a toss up. I think Igoudala has better handle, a better shot, and a better head (and his 5 dimes per night seem to support that opinion). Josh’s shot blocking ability, however, is challenging to overlook, or replace. For this team, Josh would be the better fit.

But then again, if Billy wasn’t a moron, Smith and Igoudala would be teammates. And if you don’t think that would be more impressive, as we build for the future, than what we have, you’re just being a homer, as virtually no one in the league would support any opinion to the contrary. Drafting Igoudala would have made taking Paul or Deron, rather than Marvin, the all-time no brainer. Paul, Joe, Igoudala and Josh (and a guy like Mikky Moore) and we’re a 4 or 5 seed right now. You can call it hindsight (though for me, it wasn’t), and you can call it pointless to rehash, but the TRUTH is Billy failed this franchise and it’s fans. Add the Shelden pick to the others, and it will take us several more years to get where we should be RIGHT NOW. And I don’t see how you can dispute that.

Folks who are miffed that we’re slowing things down in the fourth quarter aren’t being very realistic. Other than Phoenix, which has mastered the transition game, almost all running teams slow down to the half-court game in the fourth quarter. If you have a lead, you want to limit the number of possessions your opponent has to catch you. There’s a very fine balance between slowing things down, and seeking to take good shots, late in the shot clock, and losing your aggressiveness altogether.

This team is far too inexperienced to expect that they are going to execute the fourth quarter with consistency. Be happy that they’re running at all. Know that they’ll still blow some games in the fourth quarter. Enjoy the “organic” improvement, as Joe likes to call it.

But, Ray, I’m still trying to figure out how we get our big man, when we fall several games short of the 8th seed (Miami, guys!), and also miss out on keeping that top-3 pick. And you’ll have a legitimate discussion on your hands, when we end up 3 or 4 games out of the third-worst record. I just don’t see how a couple of extra wins, without sniffing the playoffs, is worth not getting to take a top-3 pick in this summers’ draft. But it is what it is. The chips (and ping pong balls) are going to fall where they do.

They’re showing a lot of heart right now, and that’s fun to watch. So not much else to do but sit back and enjoy the ride……….

By Gutz

February 12, 2007 03:08 PM | Link to this

Yeah where is that idiot Ando now?? hahahahahahah. Can’t wait for another one of his stupid rants. Hawks don’t need to tank clowns. Were a lot closer to being a playoff team than most of you realize. Smoove is turning into a star right before our eyes. Marvin is coming around nicely the last 15 games or so. Chill is the do-it-all 6th man off the bench. Speedy/Lue/Ivey are fine for us right now at PG. The real position we are lacking at is the 5 and we need to address that with the Indy pick in next years draft or thru a trade. Were not getting our pick back from Phoenix so lets quit talking about it. As of right now it might not even be top 10 for Phoenix if we can keep winning ball games. Were finally almost all healthy now and were starting to win. Go Hawks!

By honest_abe

February 12, 2007 03:24 PM | Link to this

i agree there is a fine line between slowing down, losing aggressiveness and minimizing the other’s teams possessions. but once again if YOU had WATCHED last night’s game you would have seen that the hawks got timid and scared toward the end… it looked as if their only objective was to hold onto the ball as long as possible before a heave with 1 or 2 seconds left on the shot clock. and this is with 5 minutes left to play in the game!!! i’m not saying the hawks should have kept running and gunning. all i’m saying is they didn’t play the way they had the entire game. and that way is aggresively pass the ball around, finding the open man. also a whole bunch of driving the ball and kicking it back out…. instead it became a game of passive keep away… with jj taking the shot as the shot clock ran out.. this resulted in no free throws and one shot and out… that is not how you win basketball games!!! maybe with a minute and a half left to play. but not holding a single digit lead with over 5 minutes left..

again i never said i expected this team to play perfectly down the stretch. but it was clear that bk gave the order to slow things down to crawl and just give the ball to jj with around 7 seconds left on the shot clock.

so the blind correction of my assessment was actually quite wrong. WATCH the games my friend.

doc i’m always here… tending to read rather than write lately… but i’ll always be here!

By Anakin Joe

February 12, 2007 03:41 PM | Link to this

I’ll admit that I haven’t seen Randolph Morris play a single minute of college ball. What I do recall from his laughable attempt at being drafted, was that he had limited athleticsm and limited skills. Basically, he was a big body that would need to be molded into a player. So 1.5 later, how’s he doing? I missed the big match-up with Florida and still haven’t checked the box score. Did he look like anything against that tough front line?

As I mentioned over the weekend, I can’t imagine a youngster cracking this rotation next season. If Morris were coming out during this draft, would he be rated ahead or behind guys like Gray from Pittsburgh or Hibbert from G’town? I’m just trying to gauge his current level of performance relative to more experienced college centers. My inclinantion is to continue to give all the reps to the 22 year-old Zaza rather than split the coaches time with another “project” at that position.

By HB Ando

February 12, 2007 03:53 PM | Link to this

Abe, I wasn’t calling you out. Offering that perspective on fourth quarter running for the handful of folks who are questioning. What you describe is exactly what happens when a team that struggles in the half-court, which the Hawks have done all year, finds itself with a fourth quarter lead. The fact that they might, now, be successfully pushing tempo for three quarters doesn’t change the fact that they aren’t built, in the least, for smooth fourth quarter execution. That requires a big you can go down to on the block, for solid low post scoring, and a point guard who can hit free throws, or knock down 3’s with the shot clock running down. We have neither. So you’ll see more forced, last-second, bad shots, because that’s the roster we have. Teams will double JJ in the fourth, pack the lane, and dare the Hawks to hit outside shots. It does point to the need for Woody to decide if he trusts Salim enough to give him a little rope out there. Salim has the stroke to be that guy in the fourth. But it seems that Woody has ridden a good bit of his confidence right out of him.

Gutz, I haven’t gone anywhere. It’s guys like you that disappear during the frequent stretches of bad play, only to come raging back after a couple of good games, saying “I told you so”.

As a reminder, as far as being wrong goes, my prediction, at the beginning of the season, was 34 wins. I’ll stick to that. We’ll see where the actual number falls.

One last things, on the importance of PG play. Is it not lost on anyone that the two teams we just beat were both without their all-star caliber point guards? The wins were nice, but when people use the injuries to Marvin and Josh as excuses for losses, how can you not see the greater impact that missing a Nash or a Baron Davis has. I don’t believe we win either of those games if those two had played (and don’t forget no J. Rich for GS either).

Injuries are part of the game. They can’t be an excuse for the Hawks when we lost, and not an excuse for other teams, when we beat them.

By crazyremy

February 12, 2007 04:07 PM | Link to this

they better b competitive tonight, I got them to cover that 8.5 spread, I expect them to play this close being that Utah’s got Boozer out and Jazz haven’t blown out anyone in a while, Atl looks like their growin up and w/the hot streak theyre riding it wouldnt surprise me to see them take this outright.

By honest_abe

February 12, 2007 04:09 PM | Link to this

i understand your points. i don’t know if you completely understand mine. you don’t have to have a big post up to have someone work the blocks. azubuke was on marvin most of the night.. and marv was straight killing him down there. but for some odd reason the hawks stopped going to him. i understand the hawks will struggle in the half court as they always seem to do, with careless turnovers and a whole bunch of standing around. but when you completely stop running your offense and instead just decide it’s best in jj’s hands as the shot clock runs out, i blame that on coaching!

coaching plays such a big factor in the 4th quarter. last night nelly took ol woody to school. nelly was missing some very key pieces and yet almost still won and actually should have if not for stupid stephen jackson who tried to win the game in style. when golden state began fouling in the final two minutes. what in the world was speedy doing in the game? any good coach would have his best free throw shooters out on the court. poor game management at the end of the game almost cost the hawks.

woody = worst game coach in the nba. period.

By honest_abe

February 12, 2007 04:13 PM | Link to this

oh boy.. crazyremy don’t you know once you start puttin money on this team or any confidence that they’ll play good, THEY STINK UP THE JOINT!

thanks for the jinx. BAH!

By tb

February 12, 2007 04:16 PM | Link to this

Everyone bashing Marvin check out his numbers as compared to Smooves last year. Even though Marvin started the year injured he is right up there and he has half a season to go and has been showing improvement.

By Gutz

February 12, 2007 04:34 PM | Link to this

NO Ando! Its guys like you that disappear when the team starts winning. I’ve been on this blog through the bad and good times(clearly we haven’t had any of those in years). So I don’t see how I’ve disappeared. You have done nothing but bash this organization from the top to the bottom daily on these blogs all the while this team is the youngest in the NBA, endured the worst injuries of any team in the NBA other than the Hornets maybe and were going through the worst ownership dispute ever in the NBA that hinders BK’s player acquistions. All the while this team is finally healthy now and with our core guys in JJ, Smoove, Chill, and Marvin all playing great. This team is one piece away from being extremely good. All we need is a true Center and were golden. Smoove is turning into a superstar. Chill is a multi-positional player that can do it all unlike your man love for Deng and IGgy. Marvin is starting to drain jumpshots and driving to the basket more and converting. Rebuilding a franchise from top to bottom takes time. And if not this year I have no doubt in my mind we will be contending for a playoff spot next year.

By doc

February 12, 2007 04:35 PM | Link to this

gutz i like your enthusiams and as you know ando and i have gone around and around many times but idiot he isnt, you lose cred on tht comment and your timing was priceless.

solid comments ando today, as usual, even agreed with most if not all :-). maybe you can help us along on looking at realistic folks to watch during the march madness that is right around the corner. tucker is a type of impact player, similar to roy, who can come in and play right from the start. can i get greedy and think that we somehow get into the randolph morris stakes and pluck him up, maybe a deal already in the works by the sly bk, and combine morris with what we already have and pick up another guy who is a swing type guy to compliment what we already have. i think tucker may have the ability to really go after folks on defense without being an ofensive liability. the best part of morris is that he doesnt coast a draft pick as he essentially is a free agent.

yes, march madness soon, maybe we can enjoy it along with some hawk wins to distance us and the suns from that lottery pick.

yes, there is the necessity to learn how to win games that has beem mentioned before here only to get some derision from my friend ando but honest they have to get into that situation many times before they can be comfortable with it and know who their go to guys are. it is as much woody as it is the players, as the coach has to put the players in a position to win at times. it is very important to know who will finish games and more important than who starts games.

honest didnt know how bleary eyed you might be after the weekend.

jhan thanks for your comment on the impact dominique has as i had heard that one before not the one from roll tide. got to take the good with the bad i guess roll tide as dominique might have talked bk out of one of rour point guards. you gonna fire dominique, too?

By jonathan friedman

February 12, 2007 04:36 PM | Link to this

This team is a point guard away, playing defense doesn’t hurt either. Hit those foul shots late and good things wil happen!

By mykhalc

February 12, 2007 04:44 PM | Link to this

ANDO, you are right about no team usin’ injuries for excuses. but off base on the impact that somehow PHO was somehow soooo much more weakened by the loss of NASH. PHO is a zillion times deeper than the HAWKS at every position. so when we go down with an injury, believe me, it’s gonna have a MUCH greater impact on this team/roster than PHO’s injury, no matter how great NASH is!!! they are deeper, better coached, and more experienced!!! i ain’t feelin’ that one bro!!!

now the impact of BARON goin’ down is a little bit closer to the HAWKS scenario. but not a lot. we were lucky JRICH was not dressed for GS too.

but the bottom line is both of these teams are deeper, better coached, and more exp. so they’re better setup to absorb any injury more than the HAWKS, IMHO!!!

By Gutz

February 12, 2007 04:55 PM | Link to this

Well Phoenix is no more than a borderline playoff team without Nash! That has clearly been shown since he has been out. How else do you explain the Hawks whooping their butts on their homecourt. I don’t know what you mean by saying they are so much deeper than us either. That is not true. Childress is better than anyone off their bench. Marion doesn’t even know how to play out there without Nash dishing him the ball. He was awful against the Hawks. Same with Diaw!

By Mike

February 12, 2007 04:58 PM | Link to this

Guys I am truly impressed with the love being shown for my young Hawks. I knew deep down that you guys loved the Hawks anyway. Woody was spoiled with all the veteran players at Detroit. These young kids are learning on the fly. Basically the three key components of the team are all doing on the job training; Woody is learning how to be a head coach, Joe is learning how to be a leader, and this young team is learning how to win. I think that’s why we’re so frustrated when they lose to teams they should beat. You beat Phoenix, but you lose back to back to the Bobcats. Go figure, but I think we forget that this is the real NBA not college. The NBA is about match-ups. How do your coaches and players match-up against the other teams. Inserting Lorenz in the starting rotation and moving JSmith to power forward has been the biggest difference in the team. With everyone healthy you got three interchangeable players you can play at the 1, 2, 3 and 4 positions. Now it’s time to get Salim, Solomon, and Royal in the mix. I really think its something personal Woody has with Salim and Solomon. That’s where I think the next improvement needs come for this team. Woody needs to give these kids some playing time, because they can help the guys out. How can you continue to play Sheldon without giving Solomon a chance to compete for some playing time? Salim has straighten up his attitude, he’s hustling on defense what else do he have to do to get some playing time? Come on Woody ease up. With this up tempo style you’re starting to play, Salim could come off the bench and be like Ben Gordon.

I didn’t mention J-Smoove, because his play on the court speaks for it’s self. Joe had already stated what J-Smoove means to the team during a post game interview weeks ago. That’s what you love about Joe. Barring injury Marvin will be the next one to break out. He’s got all tools, now he’s got to learn when to use them. Don’t sleep on JChill either. Sekou keep up the good work. Go Hawks!!!!!!!!

By mykhalc

February 12, 2007 05:15 PM | Link to this

MM, totally with you on GASOL bro. simply would not be able to be ignored. and you said it best, have to take his talent before MARVIN’s potential.

on the CHILLS PG thing…i know it’s NOT IDEAL!! but it ain’t a bad place to be either. the way the CORE 4’s offense ran last nite, AS SOON AS THEY HIT THE FLOOR TOGETHER WAS ON!!! man, i was floored by it!! ‘cause as much as i have waited to see them, i just did not expect THAT!! they defended, they ran and it was all in sync and crisp!!! the ball movement for that stretch was, like i said, PHO like!! there was none of this thing where one person is holdin’ the ball for an extended amount of time. if i’m runnin’ the team, i definitely experiment with CHILLS startin’ at PG next year (if none of the pieces change)

like i said, as good as the numbers were for SPEEDY last nite, there was no flow to the offense. i was always waitin’, anticipatin’ that he would run outta time on the clock…that the pass couldn’t/wouldn’t be made because of the lack of flow. as much as he was able to contribute and did contribute, there was NOTHIN’ smooth about it!!

and for them to slow it up and he (SPEEDY) keep the ball in his hands was RIDICULOUS!!! ABSOLUTELY THE WRONG PERSON!!! if you’re gonna do that either JJ holds it or again, i go back to CHILLS bein’ at PG ‘cause of the flow they hand when he was initiatin’ things.

i can’t remember who said it, JOE i think. but somethin’ to the effect of SPEEDY and JJ not bein’ on the same page. well i definitely came away with a little of that from the game last nite. i think, for whatever reason, there is more chemistry with JC and JJ in the backcourt than with SPEEDY there???!!! and the play of the CORE 4 seem to support support my thinkin’!!!

By Ryder

February 12, 2007 05:18 PM | Link to this

Atlanta will still win roughly 30 games this season. Not because they aren’t talented, and it’s not because they don’t know what kind of team they have. It’s because they still have a coach who doesn’t know how to take advantage of said talent. Atlanta desperately needs a defensive presence in the middle so that the wingmen can work around him. I like how Josh Smith has changed his game from earlier this seasaon and he has improved over his three years in the league. He now plays closer in the paint and provides that offensive punch to at the very least give JJ some much needed relief.

Regardless of what happens tonight I hope all of you will be back on this blog tomorrow saying the same thing. Go Hawks!

By Ben

February 12, 2007 05:20 PM | Link to this

Woody= Career Asst. Coach trying to be a head coach (nice winning %)

B. Knight= Professional Scout trying to be a G.M. (6 power forwards and 0 point guards…. nice)

The Jazz started rebuilding the same year we did…. look where they are now. Pull the plug Spirit.

By Anakin Joe

February 12, 2007 05:20 PM | Link to this

Interesting. ‘Nique talked BK into Marvin and the Spirit owners talked BK into accepting the conditions of the JJ trade. Fascinating!

How about a scouting report on Randolph Morris? I have a feeling folk just like the idea of an Atlanta native who is big. Please tell me this guy is showing true NBA qualities in his junior season.

By mykhalc

February 12, 2007 05:23 PM | Link to this

GUTZ, all i can say is look at the rosters, top to bottom!!! now they MAY NOT KNOW how to play without NASH yet but that doesn’t negate the fact that they have a deeper, more experienced roster right now. it just a fact man!!!

By mykhalc

February 12, 2007 05:27 PM | Link to this

just to add…i wanna give SPEEDY his props too. he does attack!! so i ain’t on him!!LOL just statin’ how i observed things….

By mykhalc

February 12, 2007 05:31 PM | Link to this

s/b…i ain’t hatin’ on him!!

By honest_abe

February 12, 2007 05:38 PM | Link to this

aj just a quick little rundown on randolph morris. the guy has a nice little offensive game from up to around 10 feet. he can shoot from as far as 15… but he’s comfortable playing with his back to the basket. he has a nice feel around the basket. he’s liability on the defensive end. he’s slow and he doesn’t run that well. he disappears for long stretches of time. for a guy that big with an offensive game that developed nobody seems to understand how he gets lost throughout a game and that’s his big downside.

By Wedgie Evans

February 12, 2007 05:46 PM | Link to this

Anakin, yeah playing PF leads to a lot of his fouls. It’s mainly the offensive fouls that he needs to cut down on. He seems to rack up at least one offensive foul every game, which has a huge impact on the rest of his game because it sometimes forces him to play less aggressively on D.

By Gutz

February 12, 2007 05:51 PM | Link to this

MYKHALC, what are you talking about? I guess you don’t know much about the Suns team and their bench. The only clear cut guy on their bench that is good and better than anyone on our bench besides Childress is Barbosa. Other than they have no player that is better than the Hawks bench. Name one? If you think James Jones, Jumaine Jones, Marcus Banks and Pat Burke are a real deep bench then you don’t know what your talking about. Lue is better than Banks, Childress is just as good and effective as Barbosa, Shelden is as good if not better than Jumaine Jones(journeyman backup), and I would also think that Zaza is beter than Pat Burke(BUM)! Do you still think their bench players are way better than ours? Again what are you talking about?

By mavid

February 12, 2007 05:58 PM | Link to this

randolph morris is looking ALOT better this year.

given the fact that we can sign him as a FA for what would amount to a 2nd round draftee contract, i think its worth the risk

im most intersted in giving shawn williams a chance… but, i think a lot of teams are considering that too

By Steve T

February 12, 2007 06:01 PM | Link to this

Do you guys still want to trade Josh Smith. These kids are still growing. You have to get people a chance to grow. I recall JJ was drafted by Boston. He did look like he was worth the pick. After a few years in the NBA, he looks like he could be headed to the Hall.

People, Marvin is still growing. If he works out with J Smith during the off season, I believe that his game could take out. The guy has one of the sweetest jumpers in the NBA. Before it is all said and done, he will be shooting the lights out.

To the person that asked the PG question. A PG will not help if other teams can attack your middle with ease. Every since the hawks have been playing tough in the middle, they have been winning. This is why I said what I said. We need a good big man in the low post.

The hawks can get the next hottest PG some where down the line.

BK, you are doing a great job!

By T-BONE

February 12, 2007 06:21 PM | Link to this

Steve- Joe looks like he is headed to the hall?????? What?

By mavid

February 12, 2007 06:23 PM | Link to this

EVERYONE should watch this:

Marvin BEASTIN on smoove in a high school all-star game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbpYEIf3ags

YOU KNOW MARVIN STILL TALKS ABOUT THAT ONE!

By mykhalc

February 12, 2007 06:24 PM | Link to this

GUTZ, we’ll just have to agree to disagree and leave it at that. but add JALEN ROSE to the bench too. oh yeah, add KURT THOMAS to the bench too!! like i said, we’ll agree to disagree.

By Gutz

February 12, 2007 06:33 PM | Link to this

MYKHALC, I guess you haven’t noticed that Jalen Rose DOESN’T even play and Kurt Thomas is an aging hurt veteran who hasn’t stayed on the court in the last 2+ yrs. These guys are not a big part of their team right now. But then again we will agree to disagree. But its pretty clear that their bench is no more deeper than ours. I forgot about Salim too coming off our bench for scoring.

By mavid

February 12, 2007 06:51 PM | Link to this

Watch that youtube link everyone. you won’t regret it, trust me

By Jay

February 12, 2007 07:15 PM | Link to this

I hate to be the voice of reason, but I dont know how much stock you can put into the GS win. They had only 9 players and were missing 3 starters, yet we won by a single point. How do you think the Hawks would do in those conditions? We need to beat a team that isnt 75% staffed or missing the two-time mvp before I get my hopes up.

By Volman

February 12, 2007 07:21 PM | Link to this

Why is everyone wanting to get Randolph Morris on the Hawks? (I’m not trying to sbe negative against him, but there IS a reason he didn’t get drafted when he declared.)

I haven’t really seen anything out of him in the games I’ve watched of him… Somebody tell me the upside to him.. Yeah, he can clog in the lane.. but what else?

What do you all think is the key factor of the game tonight? Since Boozer is hurt (I think, right?) we won’t be in TOO much trouble tonight inside (we still need to get a body on Okur, Kirilenko, and Milsap).

Can we knock down open shots tonight?

Go Hawks.

By mykhalc

February 12, 2007 07:30 PM | Link to this

JAY, you don’t have to get your hopes up. just enjoy the wins…the baby steps!! most of us know we’re somewhere in-between growin’ pains and baby steps!!LOL gotta start somewhere right??!!!

By mavid

February 12, 2007 07:32 PM | Link to this

^^^ my interest in randolph morris is that he has greatly improved this year, and that we can sign him for a low price (so why not give him a chance? there really isnt much risk)

By mavid

February 12, 2007 08:26 PM | Link to this

volman, more specifically (and a lot of sports writers have written on this), signing morris basically amounts to a free draft pick

By Wedgie Evans

February 12, 2007 08:34 PM | Link to this

Signing Randolph Morris really should be a no-brainer, because the risk is so low and the potential reward is so high. If he doesn’t pan out, cut him from his minimum-salary contract… if he does pan out, you have your big man who can score in the post.

By mavid

February 12, 2007 08:42 PM | Link to this

^^^ yep

can you imagine the atlanta celtics AAU team:

smoove at sf, dwight howard at pf, randolph morris at c

that must have been a nasty team

By HB Ando

February 12, 2007 09:02 PM | Link to this

Vol, ditto what the others have said in response on Morris. He’s a legitimate 6’10-6’11, and he plays with his back to the basket. He’s only 20, and most big men just take time to reach their potential. He didn’t get drafted because he had the wrong attitude during his workouts. He got bad information from his “insiders”, and, having grown up with Howard and Josh, as peers, he felt entitled to play at the next level. He needed to grow up, and reports are that he’s doing so. He’s not very fast, but he has low post skills and size you can’t teach (see: Shelden).

There’s simply no downside to signing him here and seeing what can happen. As we’ve discussed, we have a lot of road blocks to other avenues for a prospective big man.

Abe, I got you pretty clear, but how many teams really go to their 2 or 3, on the block, based on a slight mis-match, as a means of locking down a fourth quarter lead. Between the inexperience of the players, and the coach, I’m just saying that expecting solid, consistent execution, in the fourth quarter, is unlikely. The sheer number of losses in such scenarios is evidence enough that it’s too much to expect.

Finally, minimizing Nash’s impact on our win in Phoenix is just looney. Come on, he’s the two-time reigning MVP. I’ll stick by my analogy and say that it’s roughly akin to beating the Colts with Manning out and saying he wouldn’t have made any difference.

Steve T., when’s the last time someone here called for trading Josh Smith? Four months ago we discussed the possibility that we’d likely have to trade he or Marvin, at some point, to address the jam Billy’s put us in by having no legitimate prospects at the five, and having given away a franchise-changing lottery pick, in a draft that folks have been pointing too as historically strong, since BEFORE he made the Johnson trade. Nothing has changed, other than the fact that Smith has emerged before Marvin as the candidate least likely to be moved. It’s no knock on Marvin. He’s simply the easiest to replace in our lineup, and the most valuable asset we have if we’re going to seek out a trade for a legit big man.

By mykhalc

February 12, 2007 09:53 PM | Link to this

ANDO, how many all-stars or all-star worthy players does PHO STILL have in the startin’ lineup after NASH goes down???? what you got in that pipe bro??? i’m not minimizin’ NASH’s greatness or importance to his team. i’m just statin’ that PHO is better suited to absorb an injury, even NASH’s, again IMHO!!! now, how the guys play without him, that’s on them!! but as i told GUTZ, we have to agree to disagree.

By rob

February 12, 2007 10:18 PM | Link to this

This game is making me sick…as usual you can tell we are going to lose in the first 5 minutes. If you have 20 points with the second quarter winding down, then maybe you should make a concerted effort to run and gun to put up some points. I don’t know why they keep getting dragged into this half court game when they flourish so much with the up tempo style (see suns and warriors games). They better come out and make this competitive in the second half…

By Volman

February 12, 2007 10:42 PM | Link to this

Thanks everyone for the response.. I wasn’t wanting to get any negative reactions, just wanted everyone’s opinion on Morris :)

I played against that Celtics AAU team and they were scary. Very scary. Josh Smith coming down the lane is not a pretty sight, believe me.

Man, tonight is not a good game for the Hawks at all. Marvin, Josh Smith, and Joe Johnson are all breathing heavily and putting their hands on their knees.. they need to get out of this game. It’s over.

By Dan

February 12, 2007 10:50 PM | Link to this

What’s with all this Randolph Morris talk? You guys need to watch more college ball, if you think he is any kind of an answer. There are a lot better out there. You know Oden, but also Hawes (Washington). Aaron Gray (Pitt), Nick Fazekas (Nevada), and Noah. Heck, I would even take Davenport (Alabama) over Morris. You guys have to get off this Kentucky kick. Morris is not an answer. Get ESPN and watch some games.

This game sucks. I really wanted the Hawks to pay Utah back. That loss in December is still hard to take.

Is Marvin Williams planning on tanking the rest of the season. I really thought that guy would break out this year, but he has done nothing but fall on his face. I still say that the coachs and owners are too soft on him. He is better than what he has shown. Not sure he will ever prove that statement right, though.

By Clyde

February 12, 2007 10:54 PM | Link to this

The Hawks always get exposed against longer more physical front lines. Paul Milsaps sure is winning the battle against Lorenzen Wright. Deron Williams is taking Speedy to school too.

Can Solomon Jones get in the game???

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY

By mavid

February 12, 2007 10:55 PM | Link to this

wow, thoroughly dominated all around

thanks for bringing us back down to earth jazz

By Dan

February 12, 2007 11:02 PM | Link to this

I can live with this butt kicking tonight. Hawks just can’t roll over and play dead on Wednesday in LA. I would think it would be easy to get up for that game, knowing that they will have time off to look forward to.

By Flappin Hawk

February 12, 2007 11:59 PM | Link to this

Don’t get frustrated Hawks Fans. Only the 5 top teams in the league would have had a chance at winning this game tonight. 3rd game on the road on the other side of the country after playing last night. This is the way the NBA has been forever. Road trips like this are brutal. Woody did the right thing. Rest your players, take the loss and be ready for the Clippers on Wednesday. GO HAWKS!!

By Volman

February 13, 2007 12:25 AM | Link to this

Clyde, thanks for coming out of hiding now that the Hawks lost a game.

This was a very tough game for the guys tonight.. Dead legs.. poor shooting.. I would have liked to see Slava out there a little more, the guy can shoot pretty well.

When Milsap was against Sheldon, Sheldon came out with the rebound and even got fouled once.. As I remember. Shelden 1, Milsap 0. (Even though the Jazz won)

I think the guys will come out with a lot of energy in a couple days and hand it to the Clippers (hopefully) then we can get them home to Philips where hopefully we can get some more wins before the all-star break.

Go Hawks!

By Wedgie Evans

February 13, 2007 12:25 AM | Link to this

Nearly every East team would have lost this game, playing the 2nd game of a back-to-back in the West a day after barely beating Golden State. This loss was predictable. But they have to get their legs back in time for the next game. A 3-1 West Coast road trip would be huge for this team’s confidence.

By HB Ando

February 13, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this

myc, doesn’t matter that Marion and Stoudemire are all-stars, when Nash is out they’re headless horseman. Your question is just like asking how many all-stars the Colts have with Peyton out of the lineup. Nash is the MVP. I can’t believe you don’t see the value. Heck, Nash’s value is as simple as pointing out that the Suns LOST to the Hawks, at home, without him. All you need to know. Nash was healthy, it would have looked a lot like Utah.

Dan, with regards to Morris, I think you’re missing the point. All the players you name require a draft pick early enough to get them. We’re not going to have that, thanks to Billy. Noah is top-5, and Hawes will go in the top-10. Gray around the early teens. Fazekas is an option, but he’s a face up scorer, who rebounds well, but hardly a low post presence, and not a five. Davenport is actually named Davidson, and he weighs 200 pounds, at 6’10, and is only averaging 10 points per game. Morris’ value is that he is an unrestricted free agent, and could be brought in to develop, for very little risk. Gray has just as many question marks as Morris. He’s averaging 15 and 10, with 1.6 blocks. He’s slow. Morris is averaging 15.7, 7.6 and 2. He’s slow. Where are you getting a significant gap between the two?

If Morris was allowed to re-enter the draft, he’d be slotted around 15, in mock drafts, right next to Gray. If you can get a player with his size, without having to use a pick, there’s no reason not to. It’s not that he’s the answer, but he does represent another opportunity at grabbing a big man for depth.

Given where we likely to finish, record-wise, we’d be in a position to draft a legitimate big man for our future. Billy gave that away. We have a real, serious challenge finding a way to fill that hole.

By B_JIZZLE

February 18, 2007 10:17 PM | Link to this

josh smith is the most exciting player in the NBA and if it wasn’t for him I probaby even the watch the hawks play