Hawks

By Anakin Joe

February 20, 2007 04:04 PM | Link to this

Blog Z, that makes me wonder about the Bulls and how they are being received by their fans. I’d imagine that a young, hard-working team like that would get plenty of love in Chi-Town. But the sound of that ad makes me wonder if Bulls fans are spoiled by the Jordan era and are dissatisfied with the team’s slightly above average record thus far.

Hey, what’s the word on T Lue? Seems like he could have had a new leg appended by now. I have a conspiracy theory. Let’s just say that the best way to avoid being traded is to be hurt right through the trade deadline. And then, hours after that deadline passes, you can be miraculously healed and finish that which you started a few seasons ago… helping a franchise get back on the road to respectability.

I have a good feeling about tonight and an equally bad one about tomorrow’s game at home against the Spurs. If we come up with the victory tonight, is there any chance the Bulls won’t be making a deal for Gasol tomorrow?

By honest_abe

February 20, 2007 04:04 PM | Link to this

nice to know other teams are marketing the hawks.

to tell you the truth. all bias aside, when i see this team go into other arenas, i notice how stunned the fans look when the hawks are running. the hawks are the least known about team in the nba. but they play an exciting brand of basketball. i watched a houston game right before the all star break and almost fell out of my chair it was so boring. the hawks are far from elite.. but boy they sure can be entertaining on most nights. :)

By GM R

February 20, 2007 04:11 PM | Link to this

Three years ago they needed a PG and a C. Today they still need a PG and a C. I don’t call that progress. Your earlier article providing a mid-season assessment was right on the money. Weedy has been a complete bust, which should be no surprise to anyone except that genius BK who obviously didn’t bother to read his injury history. Zaza has never been more than a solid back-up. The Hawks don’t score in the paint and don’t stop their opponents scoring in the paint. Same old, same old.

By Kappy

February 20, 2007 04:12 PM | Link to this

AbeI’m sure you thinking the Hawks are more entertaining has nothing to do with the fact that we are in love with this team. But, I agree with you. I just wouldn’t say it because I know my undying love for the Hawks would influence that train of thought.

And an interesting SS.

In other news, I work in human resources and I interviewed a guy today who had a NBA folder that he brought into the interview. Needless to say, we talked about the Hawks for the first 30 minutes of the interview. He certainly made an impression on me. Who says it doesnt pay to be a Hawks fan?

By doc

February 20, 2007 04:15 PM | Link to this

aj, i left you a little note from the previous blog.

By Anakin Joe

February 20, 2007 04:35 PM | Link to this

Doc, got it. And I do recognize that there is always another perspective to every story. If we ever meet or have the chance to exchange personal emails, I’ll give you my biased perspective of the health field. But I most definitely agree that the patient must feel empowered to be the primary one responsible for their own health. That is an awesome responsibility that too many would rather pawn off to their physicians. I made that mistake once and it cost me BIG TIME. Another story for a much smaller audience.

Back to B’Ball. Hey, Doc, what “medicines” is Pippen on when he says that most GMs would have rather had him than MJ? And can he pass a drug test if he truly wants to play again? I think he must be on the pipe (allegedly).

By Matt from Hotlanta Hawks

February 20, 2007 04:40 PM | Link to this

Maybe Joe Johnson will start getting some All-Star foul calls, too!

By HB Ando

February 20, 2007 04:46 PM | Link to this

Hey fellas! My guess would simply be that a resurgent Hawks team, led by the rare Hawks’ all-star, is the best effort they can come up with to fill seats for an otherwise uncompelling reason to buy a single-game ticket tonight.

It will be interesting to see how the last 30 games play out. The all-star break is the point where wily veterans begin to play at full-speed. Look for Shaq to wind it up. Look for the guys in Detroit to play with a greater sense of urgency. Most importantly for the Hawks, look for every solid team to take them seriously, which will be our best indicator of whether there is clear improvement to mark this season.

The news about Joe’s flight to Vegas is just plain pathetic. It underscores what we’ve all known for some time about the reality of the remaining Spirit ownership group. If folks out there still think these guys are CLEARLY preferable to Belkin, I’m not sure where they’re coming from.

I don’t see any trades happening, never did. Which just reinforces the folly of all the time and effort folks here put into discussing potential trade scenarios. We’ll end this season with an overpaid, career backup point guard, with one good leg, and a history of 40% shooting, still looking for a solution for our PG need. We’ll still have a bunch of career back up big men (two more than last year, with the additions of Shelden and Lo Wright). Our needs in the off-season will be EXACTLY the same as they were going into last off-season.

And our realistic options, for the pick we get from Indy, look weaker and weaker by the day. And our likelihood of keeping our own pick from Phoenix looks weaker and weaker by the day. And the idea that we’re going to make the 8th seed is simply ludicrous.

Enjoy Joe, a true all-star. Enjoy Josh Smith, an emerging star, with rare athletic talents. There is simply nothing else to be excited about. Certainly not the near future.

I think my prediction of 34 wins is going to be spot on. I think my pre-season picks for Dallas and Chicago, to be playing in the Finals, will require that Chicago make a deal for a legitimate low-post scorer. But I’m still feeling my Dallas pick for the championship (which would give me two in a row, after picking Miami in the pre-season the previous year).

Hopefully, I can get in a few more games before the end of the season. I have a feeling this is going to be a very disappointing off-season (once again). Jhan, give me a buzz. I’ll buy beer and big pretzels.

By doc

February 20, 2007 04:58 PM | Link to this

aj, thanks for the thoughtful reply. quite the gentleman as always and i look forward to that meeting someday but only a brief time on that serious subject as once again i think you will find you are preaching to the choir. what i do now and really continue to do is to enpower folks in their own ability to care for themselves, even as a surgeon wanted to drive that home. i might lose a few patients that way but it is the approach that fits best for me. as i opted away from continuing to practice surgery my decision was to either leave or take it one step further and it would have ben in the field of abundant living and doing the gastric bypass surgery. interesting that though i was a vascular surgeon with a huge malpractice expense to cover just by adding that proceedure to my resume my cost of doing practice would have been increased by 20,000 bucks. it didnt dissaude but does address the risks involved in either doing the operation of having it done to you. unfortunately some did it to milk the system, the guy i spoke of was in a university setting training others and not getting paid to do it but just saw the need and it as a frontier to serve. shame charley didnt see it that way as some have criticized him heavily in the media as he moved to do this. who knows maybe the mistrial will allow him a decision to do otherwise. the doc i speak of has been hit hard enough emotionally is my guess.

pip, just wants his due and he has deluded himself into a very sad situation as he speaks out. my guess is his axe to grind is really with jerry krauss.

By Anakin Joe

February 20, 2007 05:08 PM | Link to this

Ando, did you see Shaq the other night in the All-Star game? You may have confused him for Stanley Roberts or Artis Gimore. If he is able to muster anything other than the occassional 16/10 (like maybe once every 5-6 games) I’d be shocked. I’m predicting stats akin to what he did in last year’s Finals, 11 points and about 8 boards for the remainder of the season. The Heat will be better with Mourning on the floor. The “Shaq Fu Farewell Tour” will likely be announced in November.

But I agree. The last 30 games will ultimately set up what happens in the off season. 14 more wins and I think this could be considered a year of tremendous progress.

By HB Ando

February 20, 2007 05:21 PM | Link to this

Joe, Shaq’s not going to put out effort, and risk another injury, in the all-star game. He’s mastered playing opossum. He’s not going to return to his dominant form. But he’ll turn it on during the next 30, and subsequent playoffs. We can return to this mild disagreement when the facts are in. But I’ll stand by my position. The East is just weak enough for Shaq to be average, in support of Wade, and still end up in the Finals. Webber, in Detroit, could truly be the X factor. I didn’t think much of this Detroit team, either pre-season, or through the mid-point. But a motivated Webber, replacing the ineffectual Nazr, may be the difference maker, coming down the home stretch. Again, the Bulls need a legit low post scorer to make me look good on my pre-season selection for them to make the finals.

34 wins is progress. Wouldn’t call it tremendous, in light of the challenges we’ll face in improving the roster this off-season. But we now have two legitimate studs, instead of one. And we have either Childress or Marvin, or both, as viable assets of potential interest, as we seek a solution at either the one, the five, or both.

But the draft and free agent market look like they’ll be of little to no help, for their respective reasons. So it’s trade or bust, if you want to see a legitimate playoff contender next season.

By doc

February 20, 2007 05:28 PM | Link to this

aj i think i could live with 11 and 8 night in and night out for the hawks especially when you have a “backup” who can nail 3 to 6 blocks a night with his eyes closed. dwayne will have to come up big as his supporting cast are a bit longer in the tooth again this year. detroit may have the upper hand as its post guy takes the ball out further from the basket negating both big defenders that the heat have a bit. raptors i suspect are going to be the surprise team down the stretch and mke a few eyes roll. they truly have got a stud as their gm and it seems like owners that might be willing to pay.

had a thought that until recently the hawks had a pretty good run of coaches, until lenny was let go, that could win a few games for you even if it wasnt that entertaining. anyone remember richie guerin? this is a long way around but a guy named cotton followed him and ultimately after he was fired left here and went to the suns. i have a feeling but never heard it said that the new gm in toronto probably has a bit of that guys philosophy. it would be interesting to know if there was much influence by cotton fitzsimmons who taught and coached a pretty up tempo game even back then.

By honest_abe

February 20, 2007 05:51 PM | Link to this

shaq is a disaster to watch. he can’t run, jump or shoot. after missing most of the first half the season shaq still finds time to play in the all star game. heh

anyone else notice how far away from the basket shaq starts now? at least 4 feet further out than during his good years. than he has to gain his balance which takes another 5 seconds. i think the heat will play better with him off the floor than on. unless the heat get help they won’t make it past the 2nd round of the playoffs. yet another incredibly boring team to watch.

most boring teams to watch.

1. houston
2. new jersey
3. milwaukee

By HB Ando

February 20, 2007 05:59 PM | Link to this

Abe, did you forget the Bobcats, or do they not even rate a mention?

By honest_abe

February 20, 2007 06:57 PM | Link to this

no you’re right ando… they’re definitely in my top five.. i just couldn’t think of the 5th team. heh

By G Money

February 20, 2007 07:09 PM | Link to this

I just had to sign in again after a long hiatus. When I saw HB’s prediction of 34 wins, I had to wipe my eyes. I thought HB Ando’s prediction was 30 at best. There were several of us who said that they’d win 35 games and we thought it would be a good season and decent progress.

The Hawks have been playing much better ball lately and as everyone has said it has been because of the core 4. Certainly, as I mentioned early in the season if not preseason that ZaZa would not be the answer. I also mentioned over the summer that Speedy was injury prone. I did expect Marvin to have a better season and I, along with every other sane basketball questioned picking up Shelden at 5.

But here we are, 5 minutes before the tip off to the second half of a season that has seen marked improvement over last year and a team that is maturing right before our eyes. Is 40 games possible? Most of us thought not at the beginning of this season, but it is possible. And then will all the nay sayers misrepresent themselves and say that they knew all along that we’d win 40 games? And if BK had done the right things, we’d have won 50? I don’t hear anybody crying about Jerry Krause and his trading away two seemingly great picks in Chandler and Curry to get to where the Bulls are today — currently a 6th seed in the East. I can’t defend BK’s recent moves. No one can. But I can say that the team is coming together and while I have wondered about Woody, he’s done a great job putting together what we all thought would be an exciting team with what he has at his disposal. Let’s Go Hawks!

By jhan

February 20, 2007 07:22 PM | Link to this

I’ll go back to what I said right after last season. It took the great Pat Riley 11 years to win a title after he took over. The Heat were in no better shape than the Hawks were when BK took over. I’m not by any means defending BK, but reality just hurts some time. If one of the best minds in basketball couldn’t get it done for over a decade, why should we expect any better for BK?

By HB Ando

February 20, 2007 07:24 PM | Link to this

G, don’t forget that Krause stupidly traded Elton Brand for the rights to Chandler. If they had kept Brand, they’d have the one thing they lack, a true low-post scorer, and be the odds on favorite to come out of the East. Just because Billy’s not the only person to make stupid moves, it doesn’t lessen the fact that Billy is stupid. It’s kind of like Doc and Joe droning on and on about ownerships role in our struggles. It’s true that following the money is a mighty factor. But it doesn’t absolve Billy from being a bad GM. It simply means that we have both bad ownership AND a horrible GM.

Lucky us.

By doc

February 20, 2007 07:46 PM | Link to this

to drone on ando, it all starts at the top. moeny can make up for the mistakes all the gm’s make ando. there were how many that over looked milsaps but you are the one to make it sound like the obvious choice? i do get sick when i think of how lucky it would have been to get roy and milsaps last year nistead of who we did actually get. no team is made by the draft alone and that is what we are stuck with. did you see the recent development by the bobcats as jordan says he is ready to spend next year? it was a statement sent to all the season ticket holders this week. this is going to be fun to watch but fortuantely they dont need big men.

gman i think that the bulls were undone by the present guy in the hot seat with the bulls not krauss as he was fired when he couldnt put together as competitive team as the hawks are now, even given his aquisiton of chandler and curry as the bigs we drool over now. as ando notes he gave up the better player by miles even if you combined the two. paxson got rid of curry by saying he was a health risk and not worth the money and he picks up a very high draft pick to boot; then has the money to get what he needed in wallace. he then let chandler go and didnt re-sign him to rediculous bucks that the hornet’s paid out.

By Anakin Joe

February 20, 2007 07:48 PM | Link to this

Yeah, Bulls essentially traded Elton Brand for PJ Brown.

Ando, that’s the biggest possum I’ve ever seen. More like a rhinopossum. I’m a HUGE Wade fan (starting with his play in the tounry with Marquette) and I HATE what Riley has done with that team. Again, Mourning will be the far superior big man to help the team in the home stretch. And your right, Doc, the combined production of Shaq ad Mourning will be sufficient in the Eastern Conference. But if the Bulls get another shot at the old team, they won’t lose. Same for the Wizards.

Ando, if they win 35 games, I’ll call it tremendous only because it would mean that they played well in every month but one, December. It would mean that they would have been 32-34 in non-December games. Yes, I would consider that tremendous for a team with as many issues (top-down) as this team has. I’m only willing to consider December an anomaly if they close out these last 30 games playing close to .500 ball. Only then would I consider isolating those 16 games under the heading of “injury-riddled”.

By mykhalc

February 20, 2007 10:05 PM | Link to this

JOE, rhinopossum!!LOL

By Clyde

February 20, 2007 10:21 PM | Link to this

0 for 16 in the third period.

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY

By HB Ando

February 20, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this

Joe, right there with you on Wade. Told my boy Pete, after I watched Wade go triple-double on Kentucky in the Tourney, that he had a different gear than anyone I’d seen in a long time. He was unconvinced. He’s now convinced, and gives me props like the good fella that he is.

Doc, I hear you. But you and Joe keep giving pass to Billy because of ownership. And all I’m saying is that there’s plenty of blame to be shared. It’s not as simple as follow the money, stupid. Just like it’s not as simple as Billy is the worst GM. It’s the unfortunate confluence of both.

I’d just like some folks here to do a little less either/or, black or white. Our failings and weaknesses are the by product of far more than financial woes, just as their far more than Billy’s horrible track record for drafts. The man has simply zigged every time he should have zagged, and vice versa.

Last year, when discussing, once again, how bad it was that he passed on Paul for Marvin, I specifically pointed out that the Hawks (and word is, Dominique) were convinced that Marvin was a once-every-ten-year player. I opined that that was a curious thought, since Rudy Gay was being viewed as a better athlete, with potentially higher upside than Marvin, available in the very next draft and playing essentially the same role/position. So while we can all agree that Billy left himself no choice but to pass on Gay, while still wondering about Roy and Foye, we can’t forget that if Billy had taken Paul or Deron, instead of Marvin (zigging), then he would have been well within the logic to pick up Gay, instead of the moribund Shelden (zagging).

Am I the only person that has noticed that Gay, in his rookie campaign, has just put together a better 4 game run than any Marvin has supplied in his nearly two years here? Gay’s last 4 games have seen him score 82 points, with 10 3’s and 8 blocks. He’s done it on 56% shooting from the floor, including 10-16 from behind the arc. Truth is that Marvin doesn’t even have anything on Charlie Villanueva, much less Gay. He wasn’t even a once in a draft player, much less 10 years.

This isn’t about Millsap. We all know how many teams passed on him. But nobody else wasted a #5 on a player who isn’t any better than Millsap. Only Atlanta. Put Paul or Deron, along with Igoudala, Monta Ellis, Roy, Foye or Gay, on this team, and we’re simply not having a conversation about winning 30ish games. And we don’t even notice the impact ownership’s failings have had on this roster.

If Billy makes good, sound decisions (as defined by logic of need, and consensus of player ratings-Marvin was a foregone conclusion because Atlanta made it clear that they were taking whoever, of he and Bogut that fell, NOT because everybody pit Williams at that slot-there were quite a few folks who called for Atlanta to address their need for a franchise point in that draft-folks are having trouble with the cart and the horse on that point, and DraftExpress specifically called Knight out this past draft for giving up any possible leverage he had at #5 by letting everyone know he was going to reach for Shelden), we’re a playoff team RIGHT NOW, with no additional support from the Spirit.

The Spirit’s lack of support is just that much more painful, as they have refused to step in and spend money to correct Billy’s obvious, and repeated, personnel mistakes.

I don’t care how many times you guys point to the money as the culprit. Money never played into the missteps Knight has made with his draft strategy. Nor his Speedy choice. Nor his overpaying unnecessarily for Joe Johnson. You can say it until you’re blue in the face, bro, and it will never sway the logic that points to poor general management as the primary (NOT ONLY) culprit in our ongoing pain.

I’ve told you in person that the only reason I continue to repeat myself is that my position on Knight continues to be challenged by tired, incorrect excuses. And here you are, doing the exact same thing. If folks want to quit reading my rants about Knight, they should stop making pointless, invalid arguments that excuse his failures as a GM.

I promise not to take on Knight again, until somebody comes on this blog and says he’s doing a great job, or until someone says it’s all the fault of the Spirit. That should take us to, oh, about tomorrow.

By HB Ando

February 20, 2007 10:59 PM | Link to this

BTW, nice statement game by the Hawks tonight, coming out of the break.

Like I said, this is the point in the season for the real teams get serious about the playoff push. And the pretenders and also-rans jockey for lotto position (I’m sure Phoenix is rooting for us).

By Clyde

February 20, 2007 11:00 PM | Link to this

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY!!!! I’m tired of the Hawks embarrasing me. No hustle, no passion, no heart and no effort. Playoffs my a**.

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY

By Richie Rich

February 20, 2007 11:18 PM | Link to this

Clyde, just wait till tomorrow night to be embarrassed again!

By j-rock

February 20, 2007 11:36 PM | Link to this

You bloggers still think the hawks should stand pat and have one of the most un-balanced rosters in the NBA.I would trade Marvin Williams for Mike Bibby yesterday!!!I care about winning and being competetive not drafting another player and waiting on him to develop.This team has 4 top ten draft picks and an all-star in Joe Johnson.Its time to stop thinking about next year and do something right now.Why in the h* would Josh Smith or Josh Childress want to re-new there contract if the organization is always talking about next year and the future.At some point the future has to become now!Go Hawks!!!!!

By Wedgie Evans

February 20, 2007 11:50 PM | Link to this

The second half, we just got our a* totally kicked. We couldn’t do diddly-poo offensively. We couldn’t make a jumpshot. We couldn’t rebound the ball. We didn’t try to rebound the ball. We couldn’t complete a pass. We sucked. The second half, we sucked. We couldn’t stop them on defense. Every time they got the ball, they went down, and got points. We got our a* totally kicked in the second half. That’s what it boiled down to. It was a horseshit performance in the second half. Horseshit. I’m totally embarrassed. I’m totally ashamed. Coaching did a horrible job. The players did a horrible job. We got our a* kicked in that second half. It sucked. It stunk.

Any time you can channel Jim Mora to describe your team, that’s not a good sign.

By ray

February 20, 2007 11:54 PM | Link to this

Ando,

Not to put too fine a point on it, but surely you realize that anything said here can be considered a waste of time and effort. I’m not saying that it IS, but if you’re going to say that it’s a waste when people talk about trade scenarios (when none occur), then everything said about ownership, management, coaching, etc is a waste of time. That includes all the paragraphs you’ve typed, “asking the tough questions” and what not. Your effort is applauded, but are you doing more than preaching to a very tired choir? No, it’s not your fault. And my gripe is not with you. Nor is my intention to take you to task ‘cause this most certainly isn’t about wrong or right. But I see the same results from your efforts to proclaim your beliefs and opinions as I see from others: NOTHING. These guys don’t listen one iota, and that article by Curtis Bunn only seems to confirm it. Now, anybody can claim that I’m using it to further my bias, but I’m only going off of what I read.

I agree that plenty of blame can be shared by both the ownership group and Billy Knight. Both have made statements and taken action that lends itself as evidence toward this theory. But I don’t care if people go one way or the other, black or white. If they choose to think that way, so be it. Foolish is as foolish does. The problem isn’t so much what people are thinking. It’s that the people who make decisions aren’t paying attention to the fans. I don’t see where they pay attention to this blog. Why would they, we don’t have a very high opinion of them by and large. And we shouldn’t. Hell, they probably avoid this blog like the plague. Ticks me off, too…

By doc

February 21, 2007 07:35 AM | Link to this

go thrashers?!

By doc

February 21, 2007 08:13 AM | Link to this

nash is baaaack! they put a hurtin on the clips last night by 25. interesting lineup by them that i havent seen before. thomas started along side amare with shawn at 3. diaw is hurtin with a back prob so this is what they have come up with. it might be a look they need as they go into the playoffs as teams try to out size them.

as good as amare is he doesnt like the tough role and never has considered himself a banger. the suns may have to reconsider letting tucker go last year as they may need one more guy and he stepped up pretty well to try and be that guy in the playoffs with both amare and thomas out. now it would be fun if the suns pulled a quick one on the league and picked up magliore or etan for the stretch run and to play big to the mavs when they come at you with their expensive but powerful bench taking the load off their mvp candidate. gee, dont they have a high draft pick to make it happen? just cant remember where i heard that but i think it is true. hate to say it but it might make a few eyes perk up and put a little fear in a few hearts if they were to do it. honestly, the way the jazz have handled them this year and what both the mavs and lakers can do it just makes sense for them to make a push for a big. the spurs probably dont match up as well as those two teams against the suns.

now when do the hawks begin after the post all star game break? arent they talkin they are ready to roll now?

By Samuel

February 21, 2007 08:42 AM | Link to this

Ankin Joe and Honest Abe,

It’s pretty obvious that yall know zero about basketball. You’re not alone however. Many on this blog, just don’t get it. Shaq is the Man

The Heat went without the Big Fella in the line up for over half of the season and look where they are. Only Detroit and San Antonio have won a ring without Shaq in the last 8 years. Without Shaq, Wade is just another great player. With Shaq he’s a great player and a world Champion. Never forget that.

With Shaq, they suddenly become the team to beat in the east and even the NBA. Cause they are the Champs until someone knocks them off. All they want to do is make the playoffs. Other that Detriot, there is no one capable of beating them in a seven game series.

All this to do over JJ making the Allstar team and he goes 2-12 his first game back while my boy EC misses one shot the whole night against some guy named Howard.

By honest_abe

February 21, 2007 08:57 AM | Link to this

oh i’m sorry sam. i don’t think i understood what you just wrote.. i just read blah blah blah blah blah…

By T-Bone

February 21, 2007 09:48 AM | Link to this

Professional scout in a GM position=Billy Knight Professional Asst. Coach as a Head Coach= Mike Woodson Please come back Belkin!! We need someone with some sense in the front office.

By Anakin Joe

February 21, 2007 09:49 AM | Link to this

Samuel, Shaq is no more immortal than Kareem or Hakeem or any other big man. He was great in his day. But it is about 10:00 PM on “his day”. I’m not debating what he once meant to his teams. But if you think that his lack of discipline for staying in shape will NEVER take its toll, and that he can be as effective at 350+ pounds on those aged knees and ankles as he was 10 years ago, then you, my friend, have had a little too much Mississippi mash in the past few years.

And by the way, Sekou, Wade had Shaq. Not the other way around. (Much like Magic had Kareem).

By Samuel

February 21, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this

You keep saying that, meanwhile he keeps adding rings.

By An Inquiring Mind

February 21, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

Finally, SOME journalists are starting to admit that Las Vegas was a living Hell during the NBA All-Star Weekend, as various and sundry thugs and miscreants made life miserable for polite, law-abiding citizens.

I wonder why S.S. has chosen to ignore the fact that even the inhabitants of a place called “Sin City” were shocked and disgusted by the behavior of many of the “fans” who follow the NBA.

By Ryder

February 21, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this

I agree with Anakin. Shaq has always been lazy and if he bothered to ever keep himself in shape I think he would go down as the greatest center who ever played. What’s even sadder than that is that the East is so weak that a 35-year old broken down center is still the most effective player in the conference after playing only 17 games total. I don’t believe Chicago or anyone else has the offensive firepower to match Miami. I think the Wizards could give Miami a battle. However, as much as I love watching the Wizards play here in DC (perhaps because they play the style of ball the Hawks should’ve implemented), they don’t know what to do since their centers are more interested in fighting each other than the opponents.

Ando, I see your points about the failures of BK, but then again I have to turn my venom in another direction: the coach. I do agree that ownership should not be blamed for any of this. After all, the Thrashers have the same ownership but are in the playoff chase. Maybe that’s because they have a competent coach who takes advantage of their talents.

I was watching the game last night and Woodson has that “what the heck what I’m supposed to do now” look since the onset of the game. It’s as if he installs no confidence in this team. He is a professional assistant coach as someone put it earlier. If they bothered to install a motion offense then they could utilize Marvin’s talents as well. I’m so sick of watching this team have this “we have to play like an Eastern conference team” mindset. Is it any wonder why they went 3-1 on the Western conference trip? Yes I know Nash and Brand were out for those games. For some reason, the Hawks actually seemed to exercise their will.

So forget about the owners, the money, and the third-rate GM. We need to focus on the on-court leadership.

By Dustin from Dville

February 21, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this

yea what was the point of this artice. why dont u write something meaningfull and truthfull like how the hawks are really hurting themselves by winning meaningless game this year and not giving themselves a chance to land Oden or Durrant. Face it, the hawks will always suck without a dominant center or powerforward and pointguard and the best way to get that is thru the draft. I wish this was the year we only won 13 games or whatever because this team as currently constructed will never be anything better than a first round playoff exit! Unless we get garnett i really dont see how we can improve this team anywhere but the draft. And to all you pple who want the hawks to win and not tank games your idiots…..so you would rather this team always be terrible/mediocire at best than get a dominant player such as Durrant who would put fans in the seats and give us a chance to be up there with the suns, mavs, spurs or the basketball world??

By HB Ando

February 21, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this

Here’s Charlie Rosen’s second-half take on the Hawks:

“How far can they go? If they can improve their play on their own homecourt, the Hawks could conceivably win the booby prize of having the fewest number of ping pong balls in the lottery.”

Thanks for highlighting my worst fear/prediction, running on a full year and a half now. This certainly wouldn’t be the first booby prize this franchise has won. Just the most recent of an unending string.

Ray, I hear you. But based on your logic, your response was an utter waste of time………..

By Anakin Joe

February 21, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this

Samuel, yeah, just like John Salley and Robert Parrish “won” those rings in Chicago.

Ando evolution ain’t pretty but it is neccessary. That “booby prize” is likely an unavoidable step. And in this case, I would gladly welcome such an outcome in 2007.

By HB Ando

February 21, 2007 01:30 PM | Link to this

Well, of course, we don’t get to keep that pick. I’m not sure what is worse: wasting a #5, or needlessly giving up a lotto pick to Phoenix the very next year. But I can tell you that having BOTH occur, in consecutive years, is simply a franchise killer.

It’s not like getting kicked while your down. It’s more like someone stomping on your head when you’ve already died.

You’re stubbornness knows no bounds………

By jhan

February 21, 2007 02:49 PM | Link to this

If we end up with the fewest ping pong balls & the 13th pick in the draft, I don’t have a problem. I would trade Diaw, 21st & 13th pick for Joe Johnson any day of the week. I think you would be hard pressed to find a GM who wouldn’t make that deal.

Why can’t people get over the whole “tanking” issue. Even if we didn’t win a game the entire year, we couldn’t guarantee ourselves the top pick in the draft. I don’t understant why people can’t get that concept.

How many teams have gone from non-playoff team to NBA champs the following year? People are saying they will be p** if the Hawks make the playoffs and lose in the first round. Isn’t there some sort of progression required before competing for the title? How about getting to the playoffs a few years in a row before saying this team should win it all?

If by some lucky chance we get to draft Oden next year, should we tank the season because there’s going to be a great PG at the top of the draft in 2008? Of course not. What we need to do is win, win, win & win some more.

By HB Ando

February 21, 2007 02:59 PM | Link to this

Since there was some ongoing discussion about how important Nash’s absence was, during the Hawks defeat of the Suns, as well as similar talk about the impact the Clips not having Brand, meant to our victory in LA, please refer to last nights’ 25-point Suns victory, over the Clips. Both Nash AND Brand were playing.

The idea that the Suns are so deep that it was inconsequential to the outcome, when we beat them and Nash didn’t play, remains one of the more ludicrous I’ve heard espoused here this season.

If you’ve ever heard of a baseball pitcher referred to as having a “million dollar arm and a ten cent head”, then that’s as good a description as you can make of the Suns WITHOUT Nash in uniform.

Those three road wins, with no Nash, Baron/JRich or Brand, serve as clear balancers for the early losses that some attribute to injuries of our less valuable parts, like Marvin and Speedy. For most teams, injury-related losses balance out over the course of a season. Almost every struggling team could point to key injuries and say, “we’re better than our record”. That’s just a bunch of BS.

Here’s a list of players/teams that have lost (or will have) significant time to critical injuries (or suspension) this year. All of them have a better record than us except for Memphis and Milwaukee:

Redd/Bucks Gasol/Grizz Richardson/Warriors Jamison/Wiz Yao/Houston Odom/Lakers Boozer/Jazz Lewis/Sonics Shaq/Miami Hill/Magic Peja/Hornets Paul/Hornets Melo/Nuggets Francis/Knicks Pierce/Celtics Kristic/Nets Davis/Warriors J.Williams/Heat (you think Speedy is even in HIS class?) Mo Williams/Bucks (10 games) Jefferson/Nets

Every one of those players has a greater role, or if viewed as a more impactful player, than either Marvin or Speedy. You can’t say the Hawks are better than their record unless you agree that everyone of those teams is equally better than their actual record, due to lost games by those key pieces. Injuries are part of the game, not excuses for another lottery-bound record.

By mykhalc

February 21, 2007 03:58 PM | Link to this

ANDO, alright man, you’re twistin’ it again!!

i said NOTHIN’ about it bein’ INCONSEQUENTIAL!!! keep my statements and perspective REAL!!!! i asked how many ALL-STARS or ALL-STAR worthy players were STILL in PHO lineup AFTER NASH went down??? most people, outside of us HAWKS fans, would still pick a PHO team minus NASH to beat the HAWKS…especially in PHO!! and the ONLY reason you would not now, is because you have the benefit of the game ALREADY havin’ been played. so we now know the outcome!!!

and i’ll go back to what BARKLEY said over the weekend about PHO. he said, he felt PHO, in his mind, probably had the deepest team in the league!! thus him complainin’ about D’ANTONI not playin’ his bench enough!! and i’ll take BARKLEY’s assesment and analysis over yours on this one (no matter how biased he might be for PHO)!!!

like VOLMAN said, the HAWKS have the MOST asterisks wins in the NBA (in some people’s minds, at least)

By mykhalc

February 21, 2007 04:04 PM | Link to this

and , OF COURSE, NASH makes a difference!!!! come on!!! geeesshhh!!!