AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 13
Monday, August 13, 2007
Checking in
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I won’t be as long-winded as usual today (no, really, I won’t), but I do have a couple of items to drop on you while you’re suffering through this sweltering stretch of August madness.
The NBA surveyed 44 rookies on various topics last week at the annual rookie photo shoot (stuff like who will be ROY?, who is most ready for the NBA, etc.) and guess who showed up?
Both Al Horford and Acie Law IV.
Law received two votes for ROY and was No. 2 in best playmaker voting, behind Mike Conley Jr. Horford was No. 1 and Law No.4 in the most ready for the NBA poll. In a world where the opinions of your peers are often regarded as the ultimate approval (or disapproval), I thought those were interesting positions for both of those young Hawks.
Just FYI, Kevin Durant was the runaway winner in the ROY vote with 23 votes to Greg Oden’s five. Horford (13 votes) outdistanced both Durant (nine) and Oden (eight) in the most ready to contribute poll.
The entire list (http://www.nba.com/rookies/survey_0708.html?loc=photo) is worth a look.
Two other quick things, I know you’re wondering about some of these other Hawks veterans and what they’re doing this summer to prepare for the upcoming season. So am I. That’s why I’m working to track them down (despite what you might think, finding these guys when they don’t want to be found is tougher than you can imagine).
I have heard rumblings about a couple of guys (Marvin Williams I’m told is looking really good and sweating his way through twice daily workouts in Chapel Hill and I saw Shelden Williams on the practice court at Philips Arena Saturday grinding like he did during summer league, where he was actually one of the better players on the floor despite all the criticism he gets). Another spy told me Josh Childress is in Palo Alto, attending summer school and working out at Stanford. But since he won’t call me back (that’s shot No. 2 Chils) I can only tell you what I’ve heard.
Now that we’ve reached August, another good lick for the Hawks’ young big men will be the big man camps run by a bunch of veteran assistant coaches out in Las Vegas. Word is scores of the league’s most promising young big men (those not on the Select team scrimmaging Team USA) will be there working out and being schooled by their elders. Since I’ve been on the beat the Hawks have always sent their young guys there, so I don’t expect this year to be any different. As soon as I get an update I’ll pass that along.
Stay cool (literally) as best you can.
