AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 02
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Who’s running …?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It sounds great in theory, the Hawks playing an up-tempo brand of basketball. But the first day of practice didn’t convince me - or several others on hand - that this Hawks team is capable of doing it and doing it well over the course of a season.
Sure, it’s just the first day. And the way Hawks coach Mike Woodson worked them in the first couple of hours had to tire out the guys in the very best shape. But the discipline required to run the way we’ve talked about around here requires a team to be capable of maintaining an accelerated pace for a full practice and then some.
Captain Joe Johnson was explaining the finer points of that theory to several of his younger teammates in the locker room long after practice ended. And having played in a system where they ran at an elite level in Phoenix, folks would be wise to listen to the man.
“It takes a commitment to conditioning that guys have to maintain not just when the season is going on but year round,” Johnson said. “It’s no joke. And if you’re not ready for it, you get sloppy out there.”
That’s no doubt the reason the Hawks returned early from summer vacation (or should there be another name for that when you “summer” starts in April every year?) to begin voluntary workouts.
Much like the Joe Johnson point guard experiment from two years ago, the Running Hawks plan is one that needs to be monitored closely over the next few weeks just to see if it works as well in live action as it does in theory.
A few other observations from the sideline:
Those concerns about Al Horford’s height limiting his ability to play center were for nothing. The kid is about the same height as Zaza Pachulia and plenty physical enough to handle himself in the paint. He should be fine.
During one late practice drill when the players were split into position groups on both ends of the floor (bigs on one end and guards and wings on the other) and demanded to finish at the rim Josh Smith showed off elevation that can be seen on very few teams in the league. Smith has always blown people away with his superior athleticism. But to think he’s jumping higher than before … ridiculous. And his improved moves around the basket were on display several times during a timed scrimmage drill.
Salim Stoudamire (knee) and Shelden Williams (hamstring) were both slowed a bit by injuries and held out of the action I was allowed to view. Stoudamire said he hyper extended his knee. Williams apparently tweaked his hamstring while running during voluntary workouts. Both are expected to be back in action this week.
The rookies both had their moments during their first training camp practice. Acie Law IV looked good running the floor in his match up against Speedy Claxton during the timed scrimmage action. And Al Horford, who turned an ankle but played through the pain, more than held his own inside - where the elbows were flying thanks to a rebounding drill.
Saturday’s scrimmage (open free to the public at noon at Philips Arena) might be the first chance any of us get to see all these guys going full tilt. Then and only then will I be able to get a better handle on who is making the best adjustment to this new style of play.
