Hawks

By Adam Krohn

July 16, 2007 5:36 PM | Link to this

to ray and terrell: i write for the sunday paper and cover the hawks and all other atlanta sports teams. aside from having a life (as terrell accused me of not having), i also have a weekly column in the sports section.

my comment toward anakin joe was actually regarding another hawks blog (the darko one i think). i posted my column here and he made a smart comment about a typo in my column, which has since been corrected. so once i saw him make a mistake, i did the same thing, but i thought i made my initial post on this blog. so that’s why it makes no sense. but i am more than capable of contributing to this blog….

here are two hawks columns that have recieved a lot of hits:

(after the lotter results, 6/3/07)

http://sundaypaper.com/CurrentArticles/tabid/98/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/156/060307-SPORTS-No-laughing-matter.aspx

(after the draft, 7/8/07)

http://sundaypaper.com/CurrentArticles/tabid/98/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/315/070807-SPORTSTALK-A-genius-or-a-fool.aspx

By vava74

July 14, 2007 4:56 AM | Link to this

Get REAL MAN!

SUMMER LEAGUE STATS:

Jianlian Yi (CHN) 5 games 28.0 minutes avg. 12.4 PPG 2.6- 10.2 0.255 FG% 4.4 RPG .8 APG .6 SPG 1.4 BPG

What a JOKE!

By ILL-logical

July 11, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this

According to a famous literary work, there is a sign posted over the gates to Hades that says: AL YE WHO ENTER HERE ABANDON ALL HOPE.

I am posting that sign over this blog because there will be no deals to address the teams weaknesses and there will be no changes in coaching philosophy. For those who like it like that,rock on.As for me, see above.

By Ben E.

July 11, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this

Sekou: Please tell me that this offseason will be better than 2006! Drafting Shelden and Solomon then signing Speedy and Lorenzen in Free Agency all look to be bad moves in hindsight. We have 14 players signed right now, so some trades will HAVE to occur. Are you hearing anything right now or do you think they will wait and try to get something done later in the summer? Will we lock up Josh longterm? Are Chills, Salim, AJ, or Lorenzen being offered? How badly is our ridiculous ownership group affecting our ability to make trades?

Nique: I think Jackie Butler would be a nice addition as well.

By Nookah

July 11, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this

Lighten up guys. What’s wrong if BK asks someone to honour their contract? Just because everybody allows it doesn’t make it right. I think I see what BK is doing. He knows we are close and does not want to change any of the formula. This year is a make or break year.

Also how do we know BK doesn’t have Drew in mind to take over from Woodson? Perhaps in BK’s mind this is it for woodson ….win..lose….or draw!!! Give BK a break and cut him some slack. We’re gonna be all right!!!

Nuff respect!!

GO HAWKS!!!

By Nique

July 11, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this

Why don’t the hawks look into acquiring Jackie Butler from the Spurs? He’s a big man that’s got size, shoot blocking ability, is young, probably wouldn’t take as much to acquire as some of the other big men whose names have been rumored, word is that the spurs are shoping him, & he’s been playing well thus far in the summer league & would give us a lagit presence at C. Even if he didn’t start but he could be in the rotation & could match up against other C’s when we needed him to.

By Fred Everett

July 11, 2007 8:31 AM | Link to this

Lighten up guys…we long ago pased bottom…a Playoff spot is only 9 months away. I hope and feel reasonably confident that Billy added two very talented seasoned college veterans to our team who address our areas of greatest need…and…he still has 2 1/2 months before camp to swing a trade or two. Please remember back to our “pre-Billy GM” roster and ask yourself which you would rather have…Henderson, Robinson, Ratliff, Abdur Rheem, other overpaid under performers…or…Joe, Josh, Chill, Marvin, Sheldon, Al, Acie, Solo, Zaza, Salim, T-Lue ? VERY EASY CHOICE…for me.

Go Billy…Go Hawks !

By Lifelong Hawks Fan

July 11, 2007 3:03 AM | Link to this

What happened with the coaches is just the norm with this organization. Knight said it best when he said it was normal that everybody else allows it. But the Hawks do not.

Should we expect anything different from him? I’m not a bit surprised.

By Harry Hawk

July 11, 2007 12:44 AM | Link to this

My guess is that the Hawks are run like a bush-league operation because they have bush-league owners, a bush-league GM and a bush-league head coach. I feel bad for Drew and Fizdale. If Matt is anywhere close to being on the money and Billy Knight was told not to allow them to leave and to, oh, I don’t know, just make up some BS about having a rule against it…well, that’s some mighty bush-league stuff right there, isn’t it?

I’m very conflicted. I want a new GM and a new coach and new ownership, but I want the players to succeed. Seems almost impossible for all of that to happen. Gotta love being a Hawks fan, baby.

By Matt

July 10, 2007 11:55 PM | Link to this

Real quick, ladies and gents:

I still like the Horford and Law picks. $5 says Law is better over his first two seasons than Conley.

I don’t think we should read too much into the reasons for the assistant coach’s decisions. Drew wanted to be closer to his family. Fizdale was offered a spot with a young team that just made the NBA Finals - and being an assistant in an organization that consistently makes it deep in the playoffs is a great position to be in if you want a head coaching job (just ask Mike Woodson).

I don’t know why Knight said no, but I’m guessing that there aren’t many decent coaches out there willing to sign 1-year assistant deals under a coach in the last year of his contract (I certainly wouldn’t uproot my life for a 1-year contract), which means any new coaches would probably have to be offered multi-year deals. So my best guess is that Billy let them interview, but then the owners said something to the effect of “We don’t want to sink money into long-term contracts for new assistants when there’s only 1 year left on the head coach’s contract.”

By the other Mike

July 10, 2007 10:31 PM | Link to this

Doc I think more than anything it’s an indictment on Woodson system. Let face it why would you want to continue to be an assistant coach in a system you know is flawed. Just listening to the sound bites from Woodson tells me not to expect to see much up-tempo basketball next seasons. All you ever hear is a bunch of excuses from Woodson. It’s never his system fault it’s always the players. If you read the comments he made in Sekou articles on Law, he already is saying that AJ would be the odd man at PG. Either Speedy has fully recovered from his injury, which I doubt or they expect TLue to some how remember he’s a point guard when he’s on the floor.

Larry Drew is a promising young coach. He’s a much better communicator with the young guys. Maybe BK wants to keep’em for a back-up plan. I’m not that familiar with the other coach. I don’t like the idea of forcing guys to hang around. I think it’s classless that BK doesn’t acknowledge the commitment these guys made to organization that’s thus far has been the laughing stock of league. That’s kool though; if Woodson gets BK fired it’ll be poetic justice.

By roan st

July 10, 2007 10:15 PM | Link to this

Ray, my best guess on those two assitants leaving is job security. Both were about to sign three year contracts with the other clubs. As it stands they only have a one year contract and an uncertain future under woody and this dysfunctional organization.

By Steve T

July 10, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this

The more I read about AC Law, the more I like him. I think he will do all right as a point guard. His dad had train him to be a PG. I recall reading where his father would not let him shoot until he learned to handle the basketball.

By ray

July 10, 2007 9:04 PM | Link to this

St. Bernard, Stuckey is just nasty, man. Detroit knows what they’re doing and dude could have/should have gone higher. Even with the likes of Oden, Durant, and whoever else the media wants to put forth as ROY before the season even starts, look for Stuckey to be another Brandon Roy or something like that. Dude is just nasty….He changes Detroit’s entire offensive scheme when hits the court, watch…

Anakin Joe, you got it. I see I wasn’t the only one to recognize the “abandon ship” signs. Hmmmmm. This whole thing bothers me.

By Anakin Joe

July 10, 2007 8:51 PM | Link to this

Adam, I honestly didn’t know that you wrote that article. I thought you were just sharing the link, I didn’t pay close enough attention to see that you wrote it. I apologize if I came across as mean-spirited toward you, that was not the intent. But I truly don’t take blogging seriously, so whatever. I’m moving on.

I submit the assistant coaches story as evidenciary items number 87 and 88… we got some bum butt owners. If you’re an ex-head coach or quality assistant, would you join a head coach in the last year of his contract? Would you up-root your family to join a franchise with questionable ownership? Would you turn down a position with another franchise to work for a management team that is a judge’s verdict away from being tossed out the door? And they (Bernie Mullen) want us to believe that the ownership divorce does not impact the day-to-day operations of this ball club. Laughable. No, insulting.

By Bigcalidawg

July 10, 2007 8:34 PM | Link to this

Here’s to Acie, Horford, and Sheldon having outstanding Summer league training.

Here’s to Adam C. landing some pooooooozaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy. Sooner, rather than later.

By St. Bernard

July 10, 2007 8:30 PM | Link to this

Doc, Looks like the Yi and Conley debate is settling itself. I thought I should admit what seems to be an error. Most folks on here don’t claim faults, but that’s not me. Here’s hoping that Horford especially shows us that he was worth the pick. I sure hope we took a serious look at Stuckey as well, because that guys is tearing it up.

By ray

July 10, 2007 8:25 PM | Link to this

In all fairness to Marvin Williams, he did get injured before the season got started. Can’t fault him for that. He showed some promise in the summer league and then got pushed back progress-wise with the injury. One may still wonder what might have happened had he been healthy. However, this season is a new season. Let’s hope that Marvin and the rest of the Hawks remain healthy for the most part.

The person who mentioned Sheldon getting called for travelling during games (on offense)brought up a good point. It’s his footwork, or lack thereof that confounded me. For a guy who came up in such a good program and was supposed to be so good, he seemed to lack some fundamentals. I still don’t know why. Again, hoping for massive improvement.

Two of our assistant coaches want out (for the same jobs elsewhere), Billy lets them interview, and then says they have to honor their final contract year. Okaaaayyyy. While I don’t care to get into the business side of it, I will say this: While it’s easy to read something into this that isn’t there, there’s also the feeling that there has to be certain reasons for both of these guys leaving when they are simply taking the same job somewhere else. Hmmmmm. Whatever the deal is, they weren’t too very interested in sticking around for the long haul. Hate to speculate, but do they know something we don’t? Well, talk about your obvious answers…

Still don’t know who Adam Krohn is, nor did I see the “column” he wrote. Whatever….looks like another lost soul to me…

By MannyT

July 10, 2007 8:09 PM | Link to this

Timing sucks on the coaching ship, Titanic.

If we could get something for letting an assistant coach out of a contract (draft pick, cash, swap for extra cap room) I would let them go. It’s not like the faith in the staff is so high that it should be a big problem other than having the new coaches in place for summer league.

A month ago, I’d probably let them go for a case of whatever is popular in Cleveland and Sacramento.

By Chris

July 10, 2007 7:38 PM | Link to this

Great. Now our coaches don’t even want to be here.

Anyone else think it’s a really good idea to have a coach working for you who is probably p** off at the organization? Yeah, me too.

By Fred B.

July 10, 2007 7:18 PM | Link to this

In South Ga, I don’t think Law has any added presure of perfoming in the summer leagues just because 2 guards selected after him in the draft are having stellar camps so far. There have been quite a few guys who got off to hot starts but fizzed when the season started and the competition got better. Marvin Williams is the first person that comes to mind. Correct me if i’m wrong but didn’t he lead the summer league in scoring that year. then we all saw what happened to him once the season started.

By Adam Krohn

July 10, 2007 6:51 PM | Link to this

Anakin Joe, I was just spewing the hate back at you for your comment on my column.

By NYC Hecks

July 10, 2007 6:38 PM | Link to this

How serious is the Darko interest in ATL? You want to add another PF to the mix?

By terrell

July 10, 2007 5:56 PM | Link to this

Rick Barnes said Durant’s size and strength wouldn’t be an issue. Well I just saw him get man handled on a rebound. It was during a free throw attempt where he had the inside position. This guy has to get in the weight room. I know the Sonics fans had to see that because I sure did.

By the other Mike

July 10, 2007 5:45 PM | Link to this

With the struggles Durant has endured, one has to wonder if has a Mike Woodson type of coach forcing him to play in a system, instead of allowing him the freedom to play his game. Looking at his poultry body, why do they have him taking a pounding going to the rack, when he has a deadly three point shot? Once they allow him to get his range on the three than he will be able to unleash his arsenal of weapon. Just like the big guys can pound him inside, he can get those big guys out in space where he can use his quickness.

Marvin learn the hard way, you have to pick your spot when you’re going to the rack. Shaq almost broke his back.

Man when you seen Durant body in that commercial with agent Zero dribble the ball, you knew he would have problems trying to score in paint.

I don’t enjoy his struggle because I watch him play in college and he’s plays with a lot of hearts, but I felt like my boy Hartford got slighted as the #3 pick in the draft because he has a quiet demeanor like Duncan.

By mountain jim

July 10, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this

Sekou was just on ESPNNews - 30 sports cities and in 30 days series…

but I missed it. Congrats for getting around Sekou!

By In South GA

July 10, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this

Two guards taken after Law, Rodney Stuckey and Javaris Crittenton are having great games out in Las Vegas so I think Law is going to feel more pressure to preform than Horford.

By mountain jim

July 10, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this

(rant)

I know DirecTV and the NBA/NFL make a killing blacking out viewers and forcing them to pay to watch, but why can’t they sell a one-team-only pay-to-view at a reduced rate. I don’t want to see every game of every team - I just want to watch the Hawks/Falcons games. I bet they would add more dollars than they would lose if they added this service to their packages.

Since I live in NC I use to get Charlotte’s games, but now they even black those out from the FoxSports Turner Sports channels…

By doc

July 10, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this

agree a j. mr. g f you had your say. if we wanted to express stuff on that stuff we would be on a different blog.

now, for the time being stay on track of the hawks and become the great hawk in the sky or something. i assure you if you have read this blog enough you will know beyond what you have said is not welcome.

please find a different forum or stay on task on something as exciting as the rook league. it is relevaant.

By mountain jim

July 10, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this

Sorry Anakin Joe - you are right and no more cross-blog posts from me (and I don’t mind the AJC getting ad-paid by my hits, I just would like to see a little more transparancy and thicker skin from them - they leave all manner of racist or obscene talk in, but shut it down when their journalism is questioned.)

My main Hawks question right now is are they going to be good enough for me this year to justify spending the $ for the NBA pass, as I get blacked out here in NC and no Hawks games were shown on regular tv last year. I got to see some on the free-pass early, but had to follow the team online after that.

I will probably wait a few weeks into the season, and then pick it up if they are looking as promising as I would hope this season.

By doc

July 10, 2007 4:09 PM | Link to this

thus far yi has said things like he is the man. oden and conley and durrant have suggested only they haave a learning curve.

last year gay, foye and roy made statements to suggest that they wanted to be the man.

last year shels fell on his face and that rang true for the season. we were told he was the man. this year we are told again that horford and acie are the men. they dont have to be mvp but still have to show all to be stand up guys to suggest they want it and are ready to step up and be the man.if they falter then that will be a huge suggestion for what to expect for this season.that is suggestion not necessarily a truth.it will be hard for any and all to spin it any other way. i am sure blog z will admit it just not sure sekou can.

bottom line for this franchise, all, including this blog will sigh a huge sigh of relief if either or both rise to the occasion of the rookie league. that will suggest that they are ready to go to the next step without too much hand holding from the coaches or exuses made by coaches or gm’s.

we are looking for any encouraging signs.

By mountain jim

July 10, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this

Great Falconi I am sorry I could not read your post (in the blog the AJC shut down rather than address the issues raised, or allow continued commentary from the great unwashed.)

I was not calling for apologies, and I don’t presume to know the final outcome. It’s been clear to me since the water bottle incident that the AJC’s coverage has not been totally fact-based and has not been free from a bias toward’s Vick’s guilt in each matter. Remember what the AJC did to Jewell, the blamed hero for the Olympic bombing? Practically tarred and feathered him, an innocent man.

Conviction by hearsay and without the facts is typical of the major media today, and to me that’s been an undercurrent throughout the local coverage of this matter by the AJC. You say they are doing their job, I say they need to do a better job - journalism, not tawdry gossip reporting (which they were doing more earlier than of late, so they have improved I agree).

The Tucker contract article is journalism, and largely fact based, but the timing and conclusions there-in still amount to a subtle smear job givin this article appears right after ESPN reports the feds have informed the Falcons/league they have no evidence linking Vick to dog-fighting, and he has not been charged or convicted of anything. Assuming Vick stays uncharged, why should the Falcons need to absorb a 15 million cap hit that would trash the franchise’s competitive position, when he is the best QB they have and will show that this year with vastly improved coaching? Imho.

By Tyger

July 10, 2007 4:03 PM | Link to this

Players of Interest

For what its worth, here are some tidbits from summer league play that I found to be of interest:

Mike Conley 8 pts. 3 asst. Randolph Morris 10 pts. 10 reb. 2 blk. Marcus Banks 42pts. 3asst. 3 stl. 6 reb Marco Bellini 37pts. 5-7 3pts. 5 reb. Darius Rice 21pts. 4-7 3pts. 5 reb. Jackie Butler 16pt. 12 reb.

Several others have had good games as well, but some stick out more than others.

Conley couldve been ours, glad he’s not. Morris shouldve been ours, Spirit too cheap. Butler was on summer roster before.

Bellini is the early steal of the draft.

And Darius Rice is a mystery to me why he never sticks. A 6-9 gazelle with a pure stroke???

By Anakin Joe

July 10, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this

Please don’t highjack our blog for Vick debate!

But if I were protesting the ajc, I don’t think I would help their advertising department by adding to the number of website hits they receive. Think they sell internet advertising on words used by writers? So if you want to protest, stay off the website. And definitely, stay off the Hawks blog with Vick.

By Maurice

July 10, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this

You all must have missed that Josh Smith was/is working out with Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwan? How are JJ and JS 1 1/2 threats? What did someone cut JJ or JS in half? Did one of them shrink? Or were they just wearing stilettos last year? It is just summer league, and until we see the whole team on the floor together, we’ll never know how they will play. Look at how Golden State and Utah performed last year and neither were projected to go to the playoffs. With consistency, minutes, and Woodson not going anal over a few mistakes-he will get them we still have the youngest team in the league.

By Great Falconi

July 10, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this

mountain jim, I posted a fairly long response to people who are demanding apologies from the AJC just because they are doing their job. I wholeheartedly disagree with anyone criticizing the AJC or Tim Tucker for that article laying out Vick’s contract situation and how it relates to the cap. You may not like the bent of the article, but the AJC rolled over (pardon the pun) for Blank and Vick for several years before finally waking up to some of the issues this team is having to deal with because of Vick’s personal problems and that huge contract. With Roger Goodell cracking down on the NFL with his Personal Conduct Policy, I happen to think it’s very relevant to this situation.

In any event, my post didn’t show up. I think you are right on the money with your assessment of why posting suddenly stopped. To me, that shows a lot of cowardice from this paper. They should allow all posts on all blogs…well, except for all the profanity-laced, racist garbage that gets posted (especially on the Falcons blog). That stuff doesn’t belong anywhere, much less on a public forum.

And now, back to Hawks basketball…

By Fred Everett

July 10, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this

SEKOU…fill some space…how about an update on…Joe’s calf…Chill’s broken foot…Sheldon’s shoulder…T-Lue’s knee…Speedy’s knee…Zaza’s elbow ? All were less than 100% when the season ended.

GO Billy…Go Hawks !

By mountain jim

July 10, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this

As a Hawks and Falcon fan and AJC reader for over 30 years, it pains me to see that the AJC (apparently) shut down posting to the Falcons blog last night after receiving some specific (and deserved in my opinion) criticisms over the way they have covered the Vick offseason, always relaying rumours and incorrect facts (but no retractions) when the reports trash Vick but keeping silent when the national reportage is favorable to Vick, peaking yesterday in the ‘cost to get rid of Vick’s contract’ column by Tucker which of course allowed no commentary from the readers as to why this column was running days after it was reported at ESPN that the feds had no evidence to connect Vick with any dog-fighting crimes.

The AJC relayed plenty of ESPN’s reporting when it was trashing Vick, but have not commented on this story, but instead rushed into print the Vick contract story, which no doubt had been written and on the shelf for awhile while the AJC waited and hoped for Vick’s downfall.

At least that is the way it appears to numerous Falcon fans who post elsewhere…

I see this blog still allows postings today (and I really appreciate your work Sekou) but until summer league games or trades or owner-lawsuit news there is just not much to speak of in Hawks land right now…

By Steven

July 10, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this

I think Solomon Jones played well when he was given a chance to play. Unfortunately, Old School Woodson doesn’t allow players to grow and acts like a few mistakes are going to cost the game, when the team has nothing to lose. Let the young players learn by trial and error. I wish more rookies had the red carpet and chance to shine like King Lebron James. He was given a chance to FULLY SHINE because he wasn’t restrained and he had a lot of hype to live up to. But Solomon Jones and Josh Smith showed a great duo of twin towers in the regualr season, with about 10 blocks between the 2. Shelden is an old school type player. We need him to utilize his strengths, which are rebounding and playing defense. He got a called for travekling violations way too many times and should let his offense be put backs and open jumpers and let his skills develop on the offensive end. I like Shelden and Solomon and everyone on the Hawks, but one of them point guards have to go (Anthony Johnson and we need to get rid of a Center and replace them with a veteran athletic center.

By terrell

July 10, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

I here Oden has been having breathing problems and has to get his tonsils removed, which means no more summer league games. This can not be a good thing for the Blazers.

By Anakin Joe

July 10, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this

Adam, I don’t take blogs seriously enough to edit ad nauseum for perfection. Skip my posts if you’re looking for literary classics, I won’t lose sleep.

Sekou, what’s the word on the pre-SL camp? Anyone catching your eye? And please let us know if Solomon has added weight/mass like reported on another site last week. Anxious to hear what your eyes are seeing down at Philips.

By terrell

July 10, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

To all you Yi lovers, he’s on NBA TV tonight at 10. They are playing the Knicks.

By clint

July 10, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

Sekou, I haven’t seen any rumors about who the hawks might trade for or sign starting wednesday. Nothing on any of the web sites that click on, please tell me they are doing something.

I look for the hawks to have a good summer league because I don’t think too many teams will have the bigs that we have- Solomon, SWilliams, & Horford. But I look for Law to score a lot in the summer league with no established wing players for him to pass to. I hope he is looking for his shot and feeding the 3 bigs in the post.

By kevinm

July 10, 2007 9:29 AM | Link to this

While I support the Hawks and will follow them despite management and the players we bring in, I think that this league is not about winning; its about getting the young guys’ confidence up before training camp. Truth is, you shouldn’t expect much from this team. Adding Horford and Law adds to the rotation, but if you think we will now start running, you are still wishing for Oden. Woody will not run with this team and we will not be able to average 100 ppg which is what it will take to succeed in this league. So far, we haven’t added enough scoring. We will look like we can compete with Detroit, then lay an egg against Charlotte. We have 1 1/2 threats: JJ and Josh Smith. Outside of that, we have role players who will be outmanned at their positions nightly. Good Luck to this team, a team who has made the least noise of anyone this offseason. I predict until the owners end their squabble will any major transactions take place. Thanks Atlanta Spirit!

By Peter

July 10, 2007 3:05 AM | Link to this

Chill out..it’s the summer league.

By the other Mike

July 9, 2007 11:21 PM | Link to this

Sekou, you may get to see everything you want, but what you will see is two guys that can come in and make a contribution right away. Law will never be the kind of penetrator and disher like Conley, but DWilliams is not penetrator and disher that CPaul is. Law can beat you a number of ways, and contrary to popular belief he does not have to learn the point. He’s use to playing the point.

During that stretch of the NCAA season when Florida was struggle, even though Hartford wasn’t scoring alot points he was still blocking shots and grabbing rebounds. Hartford and Law will show well in Summer League play.

It easy to forget that Oden, and Durant are only one year removed from High School. To compare them to the foreign players during Summer League Play is simply foolish. I look for both of those guys to continue to improve with every game they play. Durant will definitely have to add some weight to deal with the rigors of the NBA. Neither has had time to concentrate on basketball. With all the hype and hoopla these kids have had to deal with, no one should be surprise they’re struggling right now.

By terrell

July 9, 2007 10:28 PM | Link to this

Someone mentioned Julius hodge the other day, I can’t remember who it was but I see him on Seattle’s summer league squad.By the way, what’s up with Durant. He seems to be struggling so far. I know most rookies do but I thought that he was suppose to be better than most rookies. And again, it is the SUMMER LEAGUE, and its hard to judge players until you see them during the season. Maybe I was just expecting to see a little more from the guy. Seeing him struggle prepared me for friday. Now I want be as dissappointed if Al and Acie dont play that well.

By terrell

July 9, 2007 10:07 PM | Link to this

Anybody see that kid Belinelli that Golden State drafted, that boy can light it up. I know its the SUMMER LEAGUE, but if you can shoot, you can shoot; period. By the way, who in the world is ADAM KROHN. Probably just some clown with nothing to do but go on blogs and look for typo’s. Dont know s** about the Hawks, Dont care about the Hawks, and probably didnt even know he was on Sekou’s blog. Get a life my man!

By Steve T

July 9, 2007 9:20 PM | Link to this

I know this team can win 40 plus game. Last season the hawks should have won 40. They had the lead in a lot of game but they fail to close.

I know hindsight is 20-20, but I wonder why we did not run more. The hawks would have a huge lead going in the 4th but could not score in the 4th. Now since we have a young team, I wonder why we did not run more. We needed points and I had to believe that they could have score some point if they would have ran more.

It is two things that the Hwaks need to do to improve. They need someone or people in the low post. A good low post player would find a way to score when the team need a basket.

The next thing they need to do is run more. If they have a lead and they can not hit the jumper, then they may need to push the ball for an easy lay up. Like Phil Jackson use to tell the bulls, “Let’s stop playing around! Take it to the hole.”

This season when they have a huge lead and need a basket, let take it to the hole. If they mean we have a guy in the low post that can do it, or if it means that they have to run, TAKE IT TO THE HOLE!

By ray

July 9, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this

The games should be interesting. Horford may or may not get the ball alot. It will give him a chance somewhat to see what kind of offensive skills he has. Like Joe said, he’ll need the ball to prove anything at all offensively.

On the flip side of the coin, Horford can show what he’s made of on the boards and on defense. What do I want most to see? Heavily contested inside shots and outright denial of the layup drill that plagued us last year. Same from Solomon Jones, with the ability to hold his own in the paint. The idea is to get the kind of production from Jones that we signed Lorenzen for. Not the production that Lorenzen actually gave.

Again, Anakin Joe has it right with what we need from Law. A control of turnovers is better than an expected explosion of assists. Those will come simply with other guys’ ability to convert. Getting the other guys the ball when and where they need it is necessary. A flashy pass here and there with a handful of turnovers in between is not so good. And obviously, the ability to be a penetrating threat as well as knocking the shot down when the opportunity is given, is a major plus. In fact, it’s not just a plus, it’s what we need.

Congrats, Adam Krohn. Out of nowhere, you come to point out a spelling error and missed the entire point of the post. While this doesn’t bode well for your contribution potential, at least we know hooked on phonics probably worked for you.

By Adam Krohn

July 9, 2007 8:14 PM | Link to this

Anakin Joe, your last comment was interesting. especially the part where you say you have to have the ball to “socre” the ball? I tried looking “socre” up in the dictionary, but it doesn’t seem to be there. Maybe you could lobby outside the Webster’s Dictionary building to have it added.

By tyger

July 9, 2007 7:41 PM | Link to this

Qyntel Woods is better than any forward on the Hawks’ roster!

By roan st

July 9, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this

Smartguy, usually one of the top assistants coaches the summer league games. I think last season that larry drew was the one who coached the summer league team. Of course woody could probably use the practice as much as some of the players.

Sekou, I saw on the hawks website that they had a practice scheduled for this afternoon. Will you be there and if so can you give us an update? I would especially like to know if the reports of solomon being muscled up are true. I read some website report that he was noticeably bigger, especially the guns.

By smartguy

July 9, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this

Is Woody coaching the summer league? If not, I think we ought to be one of the better teams. Law, Sheldon, Horford, and Soloman is a pretty solid four. Like I said, as long as Woody is coaching, we are doomed for failure.

I can’t wait to see the excuses this year.

By Richie

July 9, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this

Sekou - Why are some teams allowed to play in more than one summer league? Doesn’t seem fair to allow some teams more practice games than others.

By Anakin Joe

July 9, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this

You have to have the ball to socre the ball. And bigs often don’t get the ball in the summer league (see Oden). And it will be tough for them to complement each other, because one will have to play in the high post while the other goes low.

Personally, I’m only hoping for good things from Law. Can he run a team for 3.5 quarters and do what is necessary to deliver the win at the end of the game (whether that requires a pin-point pass, a clutch jumper or burying 2 free throws)? I’m more interested in how well he controls turnovers more so than assists. He’s only playing with 1 elite offensive guy (Horford), so made field goals (resulting in an assist) could be at a premium.

By The Flash

July 9, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this

I’d be interested to hear what the half court offense looks like, if there is any, before I’d attach any weight to anyone’s performance in the summer league. Of the four guys you mentioned, no one but Law should be bouncing it more than once. Who else is playing?

By The Flash

July 9, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this

I’d be interested to hear what the half court offense looks like, if there is any, before I’d attach any weight to anyone’s performance in the summer league. Of the four guys you mentioned, no one but Law should be bouncing it more than once. Who else is playing?

By roan st

July 9, 2007 2:02 PM | Link to this

I’m not looking for horford or law to be summer league MVP’s but if they look like stiffs in summer league then they probably won’t be effective when the real games start. There’s not a whole lot of defense played in most of these games so I expect both to do reasonably well. If not then they will not help us this year. I know that guys can win summer league mvp’s then vanish when the real season starts. But I also know that if a guy looks like crap in summer league then you can bet he is a long way from NBA ready. A perfect example is patrick o’bryant, he still looks terrible in his second summer league and now you have to wonder if he ain’t going to be a huge bust. In last nights game he didn’t contribute on either end of the floor. Our two draft picks were said to be the two “most ready” prospects and I hope they come out and prove just that.

By Greg

July 9, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this

AHorford can avg. 35 pts. 20 reb. also ALaw can avg. 20 pts. 15 ast. in summer league. This still will be our 9th straight losing season. We will be in the lottery again. PHX. will get our draft pick in 08. We may win 35 games. All because we contiue adding power forwards and ignore the other weaknesses of our team. Congradulation on a losing season. I’m still a Hawks supporter.

By JJ#1fan

July 9, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this

Hey, is anyone else severly depressed about this last week?!?!? I mean our whole division just got alot tougher, the Bobcats added a scorer plus are going to resign Wallace, Orlando nabbed the most underrated player on the market I.M.O. (He will be a HUGE STAR paired with Dwight Howard….They are much scarier than Shaq and Wade too!!) and I also read that our boy Dwight Howard was going to sign the Max extension with the Max allowable years (I think it’s like 5?)!!!! I was holding some small glimmer of hope he would demand Orlando to send him home, but it looks like he’s REALLY HAPPY down there because he didn’t do the Wade, Lebron, Carmello thing with the 3 year deals. Also YI was pretty DAMN IMPRESSIVE in the SL! DAMN!!! It SUCKS to be a Hawks fan this week!!!!!

By mavid

July 9, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this

This should be one of the more entertaining summer league sessions for us. 4 players who are all important to our team will be participating.

Honestly, while I of course want to see Horford and Law, I’m most excited to see what Solomon has done this offseason. Rumor is he’s been hard at work and has put some weight on.

If he could come in and block some shots and dominate the glass, I would be very excited.

By jack

July 9, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this

I too hope Horton passes out a few brusies inside. Use the extra fouls and let all know he is a presence. Law just needs to do what he does. No matter what, the Hawks got two good picks in their slots this year. And, I look for Solomon to have a good year also. Billy likes the 1/2 court offense…This year, I say, use our youth/speed and run the other guys tongues out.

By #21=Top 50,1stBallot

July 9, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this

Yeah, I’m not convinced that summer league games auger much either. Sometimes people play better against better competition- others dominate lesser, but disappear during nba campaign. I will be interested to hear of the presence of Horford in the paint as well- does he line up at 4 or 5 the most. Can he score efficiently when opps present themselves (since a lot of summer league is a 2,3 scorefest)? What’s his “hustle board” look like? Does he avoid foul trouble?

For Law I just want to know if he looks in the flow of the game. From my understanding we drafted him because he’s comfortable with the ball doing “whatever’s needed”. If the team is scuffling does he take the shot- or is he gunning already? How does he handle nba calibur athletes (both when guarded and guarding)? How crafty is he?

Shelden though needs to show he can carry on the momentum from all the end of the year “garbage” minutes. Improved jumper? Better body in paint? Better pass anticipation?

Solo needs to have hit the weightroom. I think he will be a slightly better version of what he was as a rook- an energy defensive prescence against athletic 3/4’s and small 5’s. I just hope his body has matured to endure the pounding and is his better able to avoid overzealous fouls?

Neither have to “ball out” to be effective, but obviously the more stats- the more encouraging it is.

By Bill Heller

July 9, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this

I want to see Law score points. There’s been talk about how he needs to pass first. Let’s not forget the Hawks were ranked 30th in scoring last year, and when Joe was double-teamed we were helpless on offense.