Hawks

By bob weiss

October 3, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this

Is Larry Drew still mad that the Hawks wouldn’t let him out of his contract, and forced him to come back?

By mykhalc

October 3, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this

let’s hope WOODSON DOES NOT confuse ‘abundance of depth’ with ‘quality of depth’ at the PG position!!!??!! and let’s hope WOODSON’s lack of willingness to start rooks DOES NOT keep the BEST player and option for the team off the floor!!???!!! but again, i know this is WOODSON i’m talkin’ about!!! geeesssshhhh

smart coachin’ and WOODSON…mutually exclusive!!!!

By mykhalc

October 3, 2007 3:09 PM | Link to this

1st unit…LAW, JJ, MW, JS, HORFORD. 2nd unit…AJ, SS, CHILLS, SHELDEN, ZAZA….IMHO

SEKOU, what kinda shape did AJ report in???

By Sekou K. Smith

October 3, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this

AJ looks like he’s in fine shape. He’s leading the pack on the some of the running drills and he’s a consumate pro. He’s ready to do whatever they want him to do.

Larry Drew and Fizdale are working like normal. They’re much better men than me, because I’d still be fuming about the situation they were caught up in.

As for the playing rotation, I think that’s something that will have to work itself out throughout the rest of camp. I don’t know what the second group should look like because we’re still not sure how the first five will play togethere (the point guard issue has to be settled first).

That’s why I said it would provide for a good debate.

By Dan

October 3, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this

Sekou thanks for these updates. I liked what you said about David Fizdale getting on the guys about intensity. Easier said than done sometimes, I know, but glad to hear they responded to him.

Anyway, question for everybody..I am assuming a lot of you are season ticket holders. Correct? How many are going to the Saturday morning breakfast and open practice? I am on the fense (My Michigan State Spartans play at noon). Curious if any were planning on being there.

This is probably the most excited I have been about the Hawks chances. I really think these guys will make the playoffs.

By mykhalc

October 3, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this

thanks SS. and no doubt, the rotations will have to show themselves thru camp. i’m just throwin’ out my wish list!!LOL

i also know that different combinations show individual players in a different light at times. so here’s to hopin’ that the units i posted ACTUALLY do get a look in camp and get some extened floor time together. but again, this is WOODSON i’m talkin’ about!!!

By Volman

October 3, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this

Hey guys,

I haven’t posted here in ages, it feels like… I’ve been working on my studies at Tech mostly. I’m proud to say that I’m back full force, and even purchased season tickets.

Dan, I will be there on Satruday. Do you know when the “meet and greet” for season ticket holders is?

Sekou, great updates. Heck, if I can dunk from halfway to the foul line being a 6”2 white guy, I hope Solo can dunk from the top of the key! haha. What have you seen from Marvin or Chills?

I AM PUMPED!!!!

Go Hawks

By Volman

October 3, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this

Hey guys,

I haven’t posted here in ages, it feels like… I’ve been working on my studies at Tech mostly. I’m proud to say that I’m back full force, and even purchased season tickets.

Dan, I will be there on Satruday. Do you know when the “meet and greet” for season ticket holders is?

Sekou, great updates. Heck, if I can dunk from halfway to the foul line being a 6”2 white guy, I hope Solo can dunk from the top of the key! haha. What have you seen from Marvin or Chills?

I AM PUMPED!!!!

Go Hawks

By Hawksville Resident

October 3, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the updates Sekou, but I’ll definitely be there in person to make my own observations on Saturday. There is a lot of hype around this team and even ESPN is predicting our Hawks as the 7th seed and playoffs THIS SEASON!!! (See today’s Hollinger article) It seems that if we made the playoffs this city would be like Golden State last year! You know A city with good fans who are just tired of losing finally getting the winning team they deserve and erupting! Hey a man can dream, right!

By Hawks-N-Post Season

October 3, 2007 4:45 PM | Link to this

Thanks and Keep up the Great Work. Finally a reason to read the AJC!

By Astro Joe

October 3, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this

Sekou, can you have someone back at the AJC home base call Geek Squad and get an estimate for fixing the blog entries. I’ll contribute some loose change toward the bill. Now that things are heating up, we need to get this thing fixed.

myk, I’m not sure about starting both rookies from day 1. They’ll get there by January, no doubt. I just don’t know that they should be cutting their teeth on Dallas, Phoenix and San Antonio in their first month of professional ball.

By kevin

October 3, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this

I agree with mykhalc on the rotation, though I do wish they could package salim,speedy and lorenzen to someone to pick up a sg/sf with a bit more size. Charlie bell would have been nice.

I have to say I am intrigued. Around athens the talk is that horford is to small to be a center, but I think he has ben wallace ” qualities”. Not saying he is anywhere close, but at florida he was a dirty work monster and seems to have no problems with d on bigger guys from my rememberance of him.

By kaye

October 3, 2007 5:05 PM | Link to this

SEKOU….I DONT GET THIS, WHY WOULD THEY PUT JS AT PF AND MW AT SF, HE IS A BUM TWEENER.

By A Thinking Fan

October 3, 2007 5:12 PM | Link to this

AJ Our rooks are 4-year seniors at D1 schools, so they need to cut their teeth quick!

By mykhalc

October 3, 2007 5:44 PM | Link to this

JOE, ONLY IF they win the PG and C positions in camp. i’m not for handin’ them the jobs BUT i DO NOT want to see them held back on day one solely ‘cause they are rooks!!! this is my fear with WOODSON at the helm.

at this point, MY WISH is the unit of LAW, JJ, MW, JS, and HORFORD get a SERIOUS and EXTENDED look in camp!!!

and in my 2nd unit, i’m tryin’ to give SALIM his BEST chance to make a difference for/on THIS team. and his best chance is if AJ is runnin’ the point. i’m NOT sold on SALIM yet, as my man DOC is. but i do think with the right combinations on the floor together that MAYBE SALIM could be the answer as bkup for JJ. but that’s providin’ that CHILLS is not penciled in there.

bottom line is, the best unit needs to hit the floor from DAY ONE!!! and if it’s with 2 rooks then i’m all for it!!! but again, i’m talkin’ about WOODSON!!!

innovative coachin’ and WOODSON…mutually exclusive!!! (fellas i think i found my theme)LOL

By MannyT

October 3, 2007 5:57 PM | Link to this

It is great to see some positive excitement on this blog. There were points during the summer where it sounded like a suicide support group gone bad.

I am excited to see what they look like on Saturday. I hope they try lots of different rotations in October to see which guys make the best units.

Let’s go Hawks!

By Mike T

October 3, 2007 6:00 PM | Link to this

Isn’t Salim the natural backup at the 2? You have to have a scorer in there with JJ out. Hopefully that won’t be too many minutes, though.

By cp

October 3, 2007 6:07 PM | Link to this

Yea can we please change the order in which the post are posted.. Im really looking foward to this season. If we can stay healthy I think we can contend for a playoff spot. I know it was on a different blog but I was wondering the last two years had JS lost some of his hops. I mean he was still hopping out the gym but it didn’t seem as if he was getting up as high as he did is rookie year. He put on a lot of muscles and I think I read that he lost some weight so I guess it’s the reason he is jumping higher.. Im really hoping Marvin has a breakout year and puts up around 17 and 7 a night. Im ready for this season to start.

By HB Ando

October 3, 2007 7:12 PM | Link to this

Well, the goings’ on, here in Hawksland, and on the Big Blog, are so compelling that this is the first time I’ve checked in since, well, since saying Astro still has a hard-on for me (Yes, Ray, I did say hard-on. But I had forgotten your “blue-veined…..” comment, and still contend that the visual there is a tad bit gay for me {not that there’s anything wrong with gay}).

And some guy named Cliff (similarly equipped, cognitively, to his namesake from Cheers fame) says he “agrees with Astro Joe”. Well, as PT Barnum said, “you can fool some of the people, some of the time….”, though I thought Joe had already run through the roughly five people in Atlanta that find him coherent.

So, I’ve been reading hoopshype, daily, but not checking in here. I wonder why. Could it be that I can find out regular updates and nonsensical rumors about the other 29 teams, who all have either hope, or a compelling story? The only time the Hawks are mentioned is when they cut and paste a brief Sekou sighting.

It’s like the rest of the NBA world has forgotten that the Hawks exist. They aren’t mentioned, or accounted for, by anyone.

Save for the island that is Sekou’s Blog.

This place is more forgotten, in NBA circles, than the 7 folks who boarded the skipper’s boat, for a three-hour tour, oh so many years ago.

I am hearing buzz that Josh Smith is cracking the first round of early fantasy drafts. This almost assures us that he’ll start the season as he has in the previous two years. But I guess it is contract time, so it’s more likely that he’ll put up all his great hustle stats, and look to take over JJ’s role as the leading scorer, as well. Which will lead to……

borderline 40% FG shooting, from a guy who can reach farther above the rim than just about every human being on this planet. That should equate to some very confusing stat lines, and……

more losses. Lot’s and lot’s of losses.

So Horford is looking like the second coming of Amare. And Marvin was supposed to step in and remind us of a healthy Mashburn. And Shelden was Ben Wallace reincarnate.

Blah blah blah.

Over at ESPN, a fantasy hoops writer ranks Law, as the first mention of an Atlanta point guard, 29th. And from what Sekou has said, so far, he’s acquitting himself well, to somewhat of a stand still, with the other non-descript PG’s on this roster. He called the PG situation here “an utter mess”.

Ray, I wish Billy and the Spirit had as much of a “hard on” for success, as A-Hole has for deriding Ando.

We’d make the playoffs, for sure.

Haven’t checked, so does anyone know how many we have for Sam’s league (where Joe backpedals in with a “I’ll play, but I don’t care how I do, because it’s not important to me like it obviously is to you, Ando)?

Joe, have you spent your WHOLE LIFE pre-setting your excuses for failure, or has this been a recent turn in your life, based on ongoing mediocrity? Just like a small child, saying you don’t care if you’re picked last, ‘cause the game’s not important to you. I’ve seen you’re draft results, the last few years, and I know damn well you prepare for sleepers and value picks. You’re as transparent as a guy holding a straight flush who says, “guess I’m all; time to go home, anyway”.

Should change your name to Astro Ghost (or maybe Astro Casper, the not so friendly ghost)……….I see right through you.

By Samuel

October 3, 2007 7:51 PM | Link to this

I believe you pencil Hortford in from jump street. As weak as we are upfront, no way you can justify having him on the bench. Rookie or not, he’s the best front court player we got.

I know it seems strange but if we have to start two rookies, so be it. It just shows how low we were talent wise. Based on what I saw from Law, he would be an upgrade over any point guard we have. He’s bigger, he’s faster and a better scorer and defender.

OK, we got a tough schedule at the start but lets face it, until the Hawks prove they can win they will continue to be underdogs against Every team in the league.

My line up:

C- Horford PF-Za Za SF-J Smith SG-JJ PG-Law

That line up would give us boards and scoring. Also, a good running team and size on defense.

We need to trade Ty Lou or Anthony Johnson as well a Lo Wright(if anybody will take him).

That leaves us a pretty good bench in : Marvin, Sheldon, Childress, AJ, Salim and Solo.

By mountain_jim

October 3, 2007 8:26 PM | Link to this

I always read here but rarely post, and the current missive from that foul-mouthed, insult-laden, blimp-sized ego HB Ando reminds me why.

And he used to be worth reading.

Go Hawks! (Overcome your head-coach limitations!)

By Dub C

October 3, 2007 8:30 PM | Link to this

I’m a daily reader on this blog and Sekou, I really enjoy your work.

Samuel, I totally agree with you. I think Horford should start. However, I just can’t see Woodson not starting Marvin Williams. He will not let our #2 pick be delegated to the 2nd team. Although, I think it’s a good idea.

I also think Speedy will be our opening day starter, although I don’t think he’ll keep the job more than 30 days. Law will be the PG for now and the future.

I’m ready for the season to start!!!

By Rutuger

October 3, 2007 8:44 PM | Link to this

I’ve foolishly bought into the “this is the playoff year!” bit for each of the last 6 seasons and have been consistently disappointed (to say the least) and laughed at for it.

I just can’t expect much from this bunch. As far as Childress “getting off the floor quick” and “banging the rim,” I’ll believe that when I see it in Philips with my own two eyes. Injury or no injury, this guy just isn’t an NBA starter (for most teams at least).

However, after several years of steady regression, I don’t think it’s possible for the franchise to actually get any worse, so I’m hoping to see some improvement this year. We finally got a little bit of luck in the draft and, against all odds, BK somehow managed not to completely screw the pooch, so hopefully we’re headed in the right direction. Horford should be a fun watch.

I realize this isn’t exactly the rah-rah post you may be looking for, but like many of you I’ve been a Hawks fan my entire life so I think I’m more than entitled to a bit of skepticism. If I didn’t love the team I wouldn’t care.

GO HAWKS

By ...................

October 3, 2007 9:04 PM | Link to this

HB ANDO know nothing, because everything you type. Never makes any sense

By mykhalc

October 3, 2007 9:04 PM | Link to this

gotta disagree with ya SAMUEL. ZAZA has already shown he can be effective against the other teams 2nd string 5’er. that’s a strength(?) that the HAWKS can use. but to put him against the other team’s more athletic, faster, quicker 1st unit PF would be a mistake and mismatch not in the HAWKS favor…IMHO (tho i know he and AL could switch defensive assignments). plus it lessens the bench strength, which we finally might have a bit of this year!!??!!??

AJ brings size, experience and effectiveness runnin’ the point. plus he can swing over to the 2 spot. LUE has his intangibles no doubt. but none greater nor better than AJ’s.

SPEEDY, at this point, just brings a contract that probably can’t be moved. so he and WRIGHT go on my inactive list.

SOLO and LUE become my 11th and 12th cats on the roster.

and all of this is based on no trades happenin’ and not knowin’ the other cats that were invited to camp.

just my 2cents…

By HB Ando

October 3, 2007 9:18 PM | Link to this

Jim, I actually agree with you. The lack of any progress for this team, over three years of this blog, on top of many years leading into those three years, have rendered me hopeless. And it shows.

……….., I have no idea what to say about your lack of grasp of basic. Sentence structure.

Let me apologize for everything I am likely to say, over the coming season, which folks find distasteful. I don’t blame any of you for feeling the way you do.

Jim, again, sorry. Seriously.

You too, Joe. Seriously.

By honest_abe

October 3, 2007 9:29 PM | Link to this

ando relax. damn man your posts make you sound like the most bitter person alive. it’s just basketball buddy and the hawks have sucked forever. so it’s not like that empty feeling of despair, which comes around before the start of every season because the hawks have 0% of winning a title, is something new to you.

and here i thought i was the irrational, immature punk on this blog.

i know you don’t give a @#$@ about this blog, but it was a helluva lot more interesting to read your posts when they actually had something to do with basketball.

hope you haven’t gone off the deep end. i know how dangerous it can be to your sanity when you are a fan of this putrid franchise.

go hawks! heh

By mavid

October 3, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this

lol myk, I see you havent gotten over your Speedy hatred yet. S’all good; Speedy has to earn our respect. But, the dude isnt bad to the extent he can’t crack our top 10!

IMO, Law/Speedy are a great (servicable is probably a more appropriate term) tandem at the PG position. Law is great for offense, Speedy excels at defense (and yes, it is nice to have someone like a healthy Speedy to come in and play the Iverson’s, etc for 20 minutes a night)

But I feel you; Speedy aint been nothing but trouble so far.

Ando, what you gonna do if we ever start winning?? I just can’t picture an Ando post that doesnt just rip something lol. I guess your venom might have to go full-throttle at Joe in that event.

But, I did make a mental note around last draft: You advocated us taking Noah and compared Conley to Telfair. Only time will tell, but I still think those are two of your lesser judgments (altho youve been pretty spot on in the past).

By mykhalc

October 3, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this

MAVID, lol bro. yeah, my SPEEDY rehab ain’t workin’ so far. so i find myself in the same position i was last year!!!LOL pray for me my brotha!!!!!

By J. Shuttlesowrth

October 3, 2007 10:12 PM | Link to this

what in the hail is going on in here? i think this batch of posts could use a fresh start.

i’m intrigued by how different Childress says the approach in terms of style of play and tempo is. maybe they’re actually going to try to get up and down the court. that’s fun basketball to watch, and well suited to this team.

AJC Employee #1: any update on Childress’ and Smith’s contracts? are agents even in communication?

What about Craig Claxton? is he looking speedy?

By Steve T

October 3, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this

The hawks will be ok if we can find someone to man the middle. It sounds like AL may be the real deal. I wish they had Estban back. He is a big body that could help in the middle.

But I guess with Al, Zaza, Solo, and Shelden in the middle, the hawks will be OK. I would love to see the Hawks run more. I do not know if they need to play the whole game that way, but running has its place on this team. Running could generate enough excitement to bring in a crowd.

By Mike

October 3, 2007 11:24 PM | Link to this

Sekou thanks for the shout back on Solo on bro. I knew if he quit pressing so hard we would see some improved play in his game. If Solo stays committed to adding bulk and working on his game, he could become a legit big time shot blocker in this league.

The thing I like about the two young rooks is that they are both big time play makers that should perform well when the bright lights come on. People keep trying figure out are they SG, PG, PF or Center. Both those Cats are play makers and they both add dept to an area of need for the Hawks. They both will make huge plays for this team. But basketball is a team sport, so we will still need the rest of the guys like Salim, AJ, Zaza, Sheldon, Solo, even LWright doing the course of the season to give the starters a break if this team is to have any chance of making a serious run for the playoff.

Basketball is and always will be a team sport. Too much emphasis is placed on individual play. I think the Hawks as a team have enough talent to make the playoff. At the very lease we should see a team that competes hard on defensive end as well as the offensive end and leaves it all out on the floor every night. That alone would garner more respect around the league and on these blog.

This there time, this there year. GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By SQUAWKER

October 3, 2007 11:48 PM | Link to this

Keep the updates coming, SEKOU! Do it for your boys, Blog Z!

By ray

October 4, 2007 4:59 AM | Link to this

Mykhalc, I feel you on the starting rotatoin thing.

To be honest, I think Samuel is right, though. The idea of pairing Josh and Al in the backcourt is tempting, but seriously “situational”. You have to be certain that between those two and Marvin, there will be sufficient defense and defensive rebounding. Does it work? It did in Detroit once upon a time. You had 6’9, 6’9, and 6’10. But you were looking at Ben Wallace, Rasheed, and T. Prince. Those guys helped each other on defense, and on the glass. Ben played “center” more or less with ‘Sheed as his low post partner. Prince was the helping hand.

In Atlanta, we also have 6’9, 6’9, and 6’10. We have Josh, who’s a good rebounder and great shot blocker. But he has to play good team “D” with Al for it to really work. Not only that, but he has to help Al fight for boards. And here we come to the weak link: Marvin. For a guy 6’9” and 230…I’m not impressed with his range of play. Both he and Josh are guys who could arguably play the 3 or the 4. However, Marvin acts like he’d rather swing between the 2 and the 3. And his defense is…stinky.

Right now, having Zaza in there with Horford may indeed be our best option. That may change down the road, maybe sooner than anyone thinks. In fact, it SHOULD change. But right now, there’s no sense in letting Horford get beat up anymore than is to be expected. I have no doubts the guy can hold his own. However, you can’t reasonably ask him to hold his own and someone else’s as well. He needs help. They all do. Shaq even does (just less than most). So does the Big Fundamental.

Ask Phoenix. As bad-a$$ as Amare is, you notice how they are always trying to get someone in there to help him out.

The key to this lineup of course, is Zaza’s improved defensive rebounding. Nobody questions his offensive rebounding (although some of is unquestionably is due to his own misses). His defensive rebounding is lacking. One of the cornerstones of a good team is good defensive rebounding. If you aren’t getting it, then that means opposing teams are getting good offensive rebounds on you. Which means they are getting more shots. Which means they are beating the crap out of you mentally, physically, and emotionally. And you cannot stop losing. Not only that, but our “new” style of play depends very heavily on….you guessed it: defensive rebounding.

If we can’t improve THAT, then the whole thing is going to come down around our ears. And here’s a news flash for ya: If Marvin can’t get it done, then put his butt on the bench and get Josh Childress in there PRONTO. He showed that he has NO problems getting in there and going after rebounds on either end. And if that doesn’t inspire or light a fire under Marvin, then he can expect to continue to come off the bench. Word?

By ray

October 4, 2007 5:14 AM | Link to this

Ando,

Come on man, you know we love you here. Don’t be so acidic. Just like “Cheers” everybody knows your name and you’re one of the brothers. Big brother even. I’ll mix you a drink, what do you take? Long Island Tea? Tom Collins (a bit old school..a bit country)? A Grateful Dead? How about a smooth Grasshopper? Your choice, and pull up a chair alongside the Good Doctor or the Flash (the true Power of Attorney). Mykhalc says he has a spot open on the bartender’s right hand side, so grab a stool.

But uh…about this “gay” stuff. Asserting that another guy has a hard on for you sounds a bit more…ahem…”gay” than anything I’ve said to you or anyone else, know what I mean? And as for whatever visuals you’re having over there, I’d advise you don’t share. Really. Naw man, I just had to slide that one in there…ooops, did I just say…oh never mind. Beginning to sound like a stupid cartoon I’ve seen (Beavis and Butthead…hate it). I’m just messin’ with ya man. No, really (muffled chuckle).

A tad bit more seriously, I was a bit shocked to see you use the words “sorry” and “seriously” in the same sentence. Was beginning to think we had a case of invasion of the body snatchers or something. Somebody call MIB, ‘cause I know this one has got to be an alien, and not the real Ando! Heh, heh!

You’re always welcome brother, always welcome. Barbs and all. Wouldn’t know how to take you without that rapier anyway, right?

By Astro Joe

October 4, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this

Sekou, why don’t all players go for a custom fit shoe from their sneaker company? Don’t pretty much all players (at least high 1st round picks) sign on with a specific shoe company? I’m not saying that all get mega-endorsement deals, but Law (as an example) has chosen one brand over another. Why can’t he get that brand to provide custom fit shoes, like Childress had done? Horford has had a few ankle turns, maybe he needs something that provides more support. I’m just trying to figure out how to do some preventive care for these players and their feet/ankles.

And one more question, have the Hawks considered an off-site camp? Seems like many teams do that to get foster true team-building. Forces after-practice bonding when they have to eat and sleep together. Oh yeah, that costs money, doesn’t it? Never mind, dumb question.

By newkid

October 4, 2007 9:35 AM | Link to this

Guys, keep an eye on Denver’s post situation during their camp. By my count they have at least five centers on the camp roster (i.e., Camby, Steve Hunter, Nene, Jelani McCoy, and former Georgia Tech center Alvin Jones).

By mike

October 4, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this

Ray great analysis on Marvin. I have always championed his cause because I think he’s a volcano ready to erupt. But we gotta get more out of him on defense, shot blocking, and rebounding. Marvin should not be guaranteed a starting spot, he should have to earn it, it’s only going to make him better. I really do feel the hand injury affected his play more on defense and rebounding. He’s healthy now so there should be no excuses.

In terms of Zaza, it’s really about match-ups. He, LWright, and Sheldon struggle with fitness players in the post. Like someone alluded to earlier, his game is better suited for a back-up role. But he is a very good young talented player. The Hawks will need his contribution. In terms of contract cost, he’s one of the best bargains in the NBA.

By lgwest

October 4, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

NO MENTION OF JOSH SMITH? WHAT GIVES?

By mountain jim

October 4, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

Well HB Ando, thanks, but I see my own response to your post was not exactly filled with good cheer either….

You were actually my favorite writer on here in times past, so here’s hoping you find something bball related to continue to expound upon.

But today is a new day and this is a new season, I just wish the Hawks had some televised games I could see this year here in the NC market where all the sports network games are blacked out, and I already paid too much for seeing the Falcons, so maybe if the $ come in and the Hawks play well early then I will find the scratch to pay the satellite TV bridge trolls for viewing rights sometime this season.

By mike

October 4, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this

Good observation Newkid. I still think that is one of the teams the Hawks eventually makes a trade with to bring in some help in the Pivot spot. It will be interesting to see what develop. New York is another team that has an abundance of post players. Both have serious salary cap issues.

By hawksfanforlife

October 4, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

Man i cant wait till the season starts. im so excited to see Hrford and Law and smith and the rest of the gang. i garuntee we gonna make the playoffs this year and stun the NBA. GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By doc

October 4, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this

m jim, welcome! now that baseball over maybe a little more attn here.

mike you got it on marvin, he is the guy that needs woody’s defense lesson or else some dancing lessons to quicken his feet. he has the feet of a power forward and the heart of a small forward. unfortuantely that leads up to huge mismatches. maybe he is destined to be the second or third guy off the bench.

folks, zaza isnt the liability you would think when it comes to numbers in combo with other players. of the players from last year he ranks third in production when it comes to plus/ minus. the four top guys with positive were jj, j smith, zaza and chills. the last two guys just dont get the cred they deserve, especially zaza, since of the four only zaza remained standing the whole season without injury. his numbers came at the “expense” of having to play the whole season with significant troops missing around him. no?

aj, i too, am worried about horford and i know that flash will have some concerns. he needs to be in rehab for his “minor” ankle sprains before they become a bigger problem. these guys tend to overlook those types of injuries but they can be more debilitating than expected. i would think they know this, just dont hear of it spoken. it is weaker, that places extra wear and tear on other joints. the effect of the injury in the joint will throw his whole system off when going up and landing because the nerves that affect natural response to foot position for the landing have been disrupted within the joint and have to be relearned or else, yes, reinjury from the same pattern.

i dont know about you guys i just start throbbing when i read ando’s and rays posts. not! seems like they want to come out of the closet. cool, no judgement here. i guess i am being anatomically incorrect as opposed to politically.

By mykhalc

October 4, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this

JOE, DOC, ditto on the HORFORD ankle watch and alert. i thought the same thing when i heard he tweaked it again. i’m sure (i hope)they are bein’ proactive at tryin’ to strengthen it!!

BIG RAY, i get you and SAMUEL’s logic and reasoning about the startin’ unit. and it makes sense too but….as i said a couple of blogs back, NO WAY do i think BK and WOODSON have the #2 pick MARVIN take a seat on the bench for ZAZA. don’t think that’ll happen especially since ZAZA has shown he is best/most effective comin’ off the bench. who knows tho, maybe ZAZA comes into camp truly ready to claim a startin’ spot!!??!!

By newkid

October 4, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this

In my earlier post this morning I forgot to mention the Pavlovic kid from Cleveland. Apparently he’s not going to sign that very modest qualifying offer from the Cavs. He’s a young shooter with size who could spell JJ and play up tempo with our young guns. Danny Ferry is certain to try and get something of value for him rather than losing him outright. Might be a worthwhile pick-up if Billy could ‘steal’ him a la the Zaza caper a couple years back, but he’ll need to be careful he doesn’t allow Ferry to catch him with his pants down. We’ve got the MLE, a portion of which we could use to secure this guy’s services for a few years. What say you?

By Mike

October 4, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this

Newkid you have to be extra careful signing players from the Cavs. So much of those guys game depend on those LB referee calls. That’s why Varejao didn’t generate the kind buzz he wanted in the free agent market. Don’t get wrong these are good players, but playing with LB make them look even better.

By HB Ando

October 4, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this

Seems like folks are putting a lot of thought into a classic “square peg/round hole” situation, as far as the front line goes. To sum it up, every guy we have is a tweener: Josh and Marvin are 3-4’s, and Zaza is a 4-5. And now we’re trying to wish our way into Al being a five (which is more compelling than Billy and Woody wishing Shelden into a five, last year, and, G-forbid, this).

So while everyone here is trying to make water (very muddy) into wine, I still think the pressure has to go back onto the organization, Billy and/or the Spirit, to get into the trade mix. It’s still the most imbalanced roster in the league.

I like the creative effort folks are putting in. But from what Sekou is passing on, Al Horford can either be an emerging, dominant force, as a four, or an over-matched (on most nights) five. And if they go that route, then the lay folks will call Horford a flop, when he’s simply been set up to fail. Unless something has dramatically improved, in Zaza’s play, he’s still a borderline starter, as an NBA center. But he’d be a strong rotational guy, switching between the four and five, for a very solid team. Once again, if he’s used solely as a center, in Atlanta, he’s been set up to under perform.

There’s just not even room for Shelden in this rotation. So what do you do with last years’ #5? I mean, I seriously want to know.

On Marvin, and his lack of lateral quickness. I still think you’ve got to give him some time to grow into those feet. Ray mentioned Prince, earlier, relative to an undersized, but effective defensive front line. Man, Prince didn’t come out of Kentucky quick. But he worked at it, got good coaching, and, most importantly, he committed himself to being a defensive stopper. That commitment, on Marvin’s part, will go a lot farther in defining his defensive prowess at the three.

Look, there’s some talent here, but not enough. But some of this talent has to be moved, regardless of how good that talent might become elsewhere, to bring some semblance of balance to this roster, if it’s going to be competitive. Billy sought out versatility. But in gaining that, he gave away match ups. Every guy here has a tragic flaw.

Here’s how I would look at it: take every guy we’re discussing, and imagine them in there optimal position. For me, it’s Josh at the three and, apparently, Horford at the four. There is not an optimal center on this roster. Still. Now, what do you have left? Marvin, Shelden, Zaza and Soloman. Of those four, which ones project to be the kind of guys best suited to provide this team long-term depth, as a second team, and which ones would other teams covet as a projected starter? Throw in Chills, and ask the same question. Marvin is the guy that leaps out at me as a player that other teams would still covet, with the right system (strong post presence on defense). Add to that the question of redundancy. Do you need all of these guys, or is there a package, built around Marvin, that can get you a legit center?

When you talk about building this team for the long haul, or any team for that matter, you have to build in the expectation of changes, of players coming and going. I think we still project to give up a top-5 pick in next years’ draft, to Phoenix. So we won’t be drafting a stud center any time soon. And if there’s anyone left, here, who thinks a top free agent big man would be willing to come into the mess that is the Spirit/Belkin fiasco, then you’re just not being realistic.

Gotta be a trade. Marvin isn’t a bench player in the NBA, and we’ll see that this year. But this team can’t be a true force in the Eastern Conference, if it’s build around a starting front line of Josh, Marvin and Horford. It’s too short and too light. Josh looks to emerge as an all-star contender this year, but he’s most comfortable on the wing. Al’s best shot at stardom is at the four. You’re back up 2-3 is Childress, if he’s willing to stay and maintain a role as the teams’ sixth man. Shelden is a back up 4 for any team in the league (and every team has got a Shelden, although almost none of them used a #5 overall pick for theirs). No one is going to offer Zaza the kind of money that the other young, mostly unfulfilled big men, have been getting, so he’s signable as a long-term back up center. Unless Soloman proves he can assume that role, for less money.

If this team wants to make the playoffs this year, then it has to ultimately move Marvin, and a compelling package of veteran role players/contracts. That’s it.

Mavid, I did advocate taking Noah, though I thought it should be done in a trade down, to pick up some additional assets. And it’s not that, as an individual player, I think he’ll be better than Horford. I just believe he’s going to be a tremendous defender, rebounder and shot blocker, at the five, in this league. And that’s what this team needed, and still needs, the most.

And until I see different, I don’t think my Conley/Telfair comparison is particularly off base. Both lightning quick, and great distributors of the ball, with very questionable outside shooting skills. Remember, only a few years ago, Telfair was the only sub-six footer to ever be drafted out of high school, in the lottery. So it’s not like an apples to oranges comparison. It’s simply something to think about.

OK, I’ve made it through a full post with bashing anyone, personally, and by focusing solely on basketball. Though I don’t think there was any new ground covered here, at least I can move on with a clean conscience.

By Chris Vivlamore

October 4, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this

Sekou Smith is awesome!

By Astro Joe

October 4, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this

Thank you, Sekou. Thank you.

By newkid

October 4, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this

I hear ya Mike. However, the kid does have size, athleticism, and a fairly good shooting touch. While LBJ’s presence may indeed have created more space and opportunities for young Pavlovic to utilize his attributes, none of the aforementioned attributes themselves are attributable to LeBron.

I’ve learned from you guys (and observations) that we’re still most deficient in our post defense AND at the back-up 2-spot. Pavlovic just might be a chance (at the right price) to address that latter deficiency. A 2nd team of Speedy (1), Pavlovic (2), Chillz (3), Zaza (5), and Shell (4) might well spell the 1st team without the need to slow the pace to a crawl.

By mykhalc

October 4, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this

ANDO, totally agree with on MARVIN and his feet. you can tell this cat has not grown into them yet…SERIOUSLY the cat is still adjustin’!!

now about ZAZA, do you guys REALLY think this cat can man up against the 4’s in the league??? i give him a better chance against the 5’s ‘cause he has less chance to be taken all the dribble. and i know he’s a flopper. but seriously, ZAZA as a 4??? are you cats sayin’ he switches defensive assignments everytime down the floor and man up against the 5??? somebody explain the thinkin’ behind ZAZA bein’ more a 4??? PLEASE!!

By Mike

October 4, 2007 4:18 PM | Link to this

Newkid your right, Pavlovic is a heck of talent. I think the problem is teams want to rob the bank right now. If you’re the Hawks, you can’t yield to pressure for the sake of making a trade to apices the crowd. They have to get some help in the post, first and foremost. Until they accomplish that goal, they need to retain all assets. For the first time there is competition for playing time. This should ultimately determine who goes and who stays.

Like some of HB comments are not, his comment about Marvin is probably on point. Marvin even stated during Sekou interview that he prefer the SF position.

That’s why I’m excited, the competition should be fierce in camp. This will only elevate the level of play for the whole team. I’m still trying to work out a way to be there Saturday and watch these go at. Keep doing your thing newkid.

Sekou thanks for getting blogs switch back.

GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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