AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USUnleash the Cracken!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ORLANDO - That’s my favorite line from one of my favorite, campy 80s movies of all time (if you haven’t seen Clash of the Titans you are truly missing out on a treasure of American cinema).
It’s also the only thing I can think of that captures what I need to see tonight when the Hawks and Magic go at it. I need to see these Hawks unleashed to really believe in their much-hyped up-tempo attack.
The first week of training can be a mirage sometimes. Things you think you’ve seen really aren’t there. And something that you never expected shows up when the real games start. Tonight’s exhibition opener qualifies as a “real” game, albeit one that doesn’t actually count - go figure.
So the skeptic in me is yearning to see the Hawks’ running game in action. I understand, as some of you pointed out last week, that it’s not an every second of every game thing. The smart teams pick and choose their opportunities to push the pace.
But in order to do that there has to be some chemistry on the floor. There has to be a discipline involved with running that is directly related to the way a team plays defense and collectively rebounds the basketball.
I don’t know that we’ve seen those links work together in the past. They have to be working tonight against an Orlando team, while welcoming a new coach and several new faces, was a playoff squad last year.
They’ll push the Hawks tonight because they have some things to work out of their own, namely how these guys fit in Stan Van Gundy’s system. And there’s never a bad night to see Dwight Howard in action (who isn’t curious to see if Rashard Lewis fits here?), especially against his hometown team.
This opening test, against a division rival, is an ideal one for the Hawks. That said, I couldn’t care less about which team wins or loses, since we all know these games are often filled with the backups and roster fillers by the end.
It’s the moments in between that will allow us to see if this team has the makings of the playoff contender they believe themselves to be (every huddle at the end of practice finishes with a “1-2-3 Playoffs!”) and their most ardent supporters are convinced they are.
I’m still on the fence on that one. I have to see more. And it starts with what I see tonight.
Comments
By Dan
October 8, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this
Can’t believe the Hawks are taking the floor tonight for the first time this season! Seems like we just finished the draft.
I just want to see everyone survive the exhibition season without getting injured. Can’t start this season with a starter breaking his hand or faking a knee injury. Just stay healthy!
Also, want to see Law get a serious look at PG. We all know Speedy is not going to hold up. He will have to sit out multiple games at some point. Get Law some quality minutes in the exhibition season and see if he is ready to handle running the team.
Sekou, is Lue ready to play?
By rob
October 8, 2007 3:20 PM | Link to this
Is there anywhere to see this game on TV?
By massfan
October 8, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this
Seems unlikely that they’ll actually be all that successful in whatever style they play given Woodson’s decision not to start his best five. Zaza and Speedy starting over Horford and Acie? Doesn’t exactly sound like a recipe for success to me in the early going, no matter what the tempo.
By Astro Joe
October 8, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this
Sekou that movie had some of the worse special effects ever. It was worse than the Godzilla movies that were made 10 years earlier. But I loved that movie and have seen it a few dozen times. Burgess Meredith, Harry Hamlin and a cheesy robotic owl that had no business in a story about mythology. And was that Lawrence Olivier as Zeus? My goodness. You brought up some terrific memories of a very bad movie that I loved as a kid. Thanks.
By Dan
October 8, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this
Rob, I don’t think there is any TV coverage. Although, if you get DirecTV and subscribe to the sports package, sometimes the local FOX Sports station for the other team (Magic) pick up the games. Makes me think that every other NBA city cares more about their team than Atlanta. Hawks exhibition games are never on TV.
Question am I setting myself up for complete heartache believing this team can make the playoffs. I just feel like this is the year that things actually change for the better.
By Dan
October 8, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this
Rob, I don’t think there is any TV coverage. Although, if you get DirecTV and subscribe to the sports package, sometimes the local FOX Sports station for the other team (Magic) pick up the games. Makes me think that every other NBA city cares more about their team than Atlanta. Hawks exhibition games are never on TV.
Question am I setting myself up for complete heartache believing this team can make the playoffs? I just feel like this is the year that things actually change for the better.
By KevinM
October 8, 2007 4:22 PM | Link to this
This is simply a work in progress. We will have to wait to see who can get points for this team, who can rebound and who can step up and be a leader. I will be there Thursday at Philips, so it should give us an idea as to what kind of system we are going to play. I would expect plenty of PT for everyone. Thanks, Sekou for changing the format of the blog. I can follow much easier now.
By Zorba
October 8, 2007 4:31 PM | Link to this
The movie was, is and always will be one of my favorites! Screw the special effects. It’s awesome.
By mykhalc
October 8, 2007 4:35 PM | Link to this
SPEEDY and ZAZA in the startin’ 5 is part of a campy rerun from last year!! same goes for WOODSON as HC!! if i’m gonna sit thru a rerun it’d better be damn good!!! well it’s about to start shakin’ out now!! let’s see who brings it.
MARVIN, SPEEDY, ZAZA you’re on the f’n budweiser hotseat!!!!!
By Astro Joe
October 8, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this
mykhalc, don’t you think the pre-season is where Woody will see who should start, who should finish and which rotations make sense? Seems like he HAS to go with last year’s starting line-up as a default, especially considering that line-up (when healthy for 10 games) was fairly productive. I personally thinh that if Marvin sucks during the pre-season, that he will be seated at the start of games, in favor of either Horford or possibly Solomon (Woody may want to start games with a very active defender). I don’t think he will start Childress, since he has proven for the past several seasons that he can be among the league’s most productive bench players (while earning starter’s minutes).
By mykhalc
October 8, 2007 6:01 PM | Link to this
JOE, man i hope you are right and it is NOTHIN’ but a startin’ point!! but this IS WOODSON we are talkin’ about!!!
correct me if i’m wrong but did SPEEDY EVER do ANYTHIN’ last year??? and i include the 4-1 start. did he even produce durin’ that short stretch??? i seriously don’t remember him EVER makin’ a difference except ONE game after january when he came back to try to play.
i think you are right about CHILLS. i don’t see WOODSON startin’ him regardless.
WOODSON’s track record, for me anyway, says he does not make the smart or obvious moves. his constant move to keep puttin’ SPEEDY in the startin’ 5 even tho he was an goin’ rehab patient, while the team was startin’ to get some chemistry (in january) leaves me with VERY LITTLE confidence that he’ll do anythin’ different this year despite reports to the contrary!!???!!
but i DO hope you are right!!!
By JMar
October 8, 2007 6:03 PM | Link to this
FYI, it’s actually Kraken.
By HB Ando
October 8, 2007 6:15 PM | Link to this
Since the primary problems emanate from Billy and the Spirit, shouldn’t it be:
UNLEASH THE CRACKHEADS (for yet another year)!!
By TJ
October 8, 2007 6:16 PM | Link to this
I just think that it’s time for this team to show and prove. Their abilities are never questioned. It’s their clout; do they have the clout to be a winning team?
Kenny Smith (NBA on TNT Analyst in Atlanta, GA - y’all know who he is) doesn’t think so. Ouch! He has ‘em ranked 15/15 in the East. This info will get back to the Hawks’ locker room soon enough, but will they use it as venom? They need to shut up the critics…
By Greg
October 8, 2007 6:45 PM | Link to this
I was at the inter-squad scrimmage on Saturday, and here is what I saw.
Al Horford is a beast and should be a starter at the 4. He can block shots and rebound something we were missing last year. Also he is a banger that can shoot form 10 to 15 feet and he has a low post game.
Smoove seems to be better than last year. He SHOULD start at the 3, but I don’t think the organization have the guts to make that call.
Solomon Jones has improved. He could challenge for the starting 5 spot. He’s blocking shots and rebounding better. In terms of scoring I didn’t see much to be impressed. If we move Smoove to the 3, and Al to the 4 spot. We can get away with ZaZa as the starting 5.
Marvin Williams will better for the teams success coming off the bench, backing up JSmoove.
AC Law is the truth, but I will give Speedy the 1st quarter of the season to prove himself since we are paying him, but if he doesn’t show anything, then we go with AC.
If we start the same starting line up as last year we will see another losing season. If we put JSmoove, and Al in their rightful position we could be in for a good year.
By Hawksville Resident
October 8, 2007 6:46 PM | Link to this
Welcome to Atlanta! We really do need better coverage. You’ll have to get used to listening to the radio. Did anyone see the Open Practice. Horford is a beast! He should be a starter right now! It’s going to be hard for anyone to keep him on the bench. (knock on woody)
By ajw
October 8, 2007 7:11 PM | Link to this
Slightly off topic
Does anyone know how to import the Hawks schedule into Mozilla Thunderbird calendar? I have tried importing the CSV file available for download on the Hawks page, but it doesn’t do anything. Any help or guidance is greatly appreciated.
By Sekou K. Smith
October 8, 2007 7:55 PM | Link to this
The first quarter was fast-paced and entertaining. Both these teams are going to have a chance this year. The Hawks have turned the ball over far too much so far. But they’re making a concerted effort to get up and down the floor, which is a positive sign. As if things couldn’t get any scarier for the rest of the league, Dwight Howard looks vastly improved. He’s facing up and draining bank shot jumpers from 15-feet and putting the ball on the floor and finishing with both hands. Guess that work with Magic assistant Patrick Ewing is paying off. Josh Smith had five points, five rebounds and a blocked shot in less than nine minutes in the first quarter. Al Horford faced up and knocked down a baseline jumper and then scored on another nice post move and finish on the other side of the rim. Acie Law entered the game and executed a smooth pick-and-roll play on his first offensive possession. More to come later.
By Sekou K. Smith
October 8, 2007 8:06 PM | Link to this
Hawks are currently 3-for-15 from the floor with 2:52 to play before halftime (36-28 Orlando). Too many jumpers and not enough up and down offensive flow. The half court is where they’ve always gotten into trouble and without great shooters or a low-post money man, this is going to be a struggle. Magic is defending Joe Johnson well, forcing him to give up the ball in his favorite spots. He’s passing well but some of these bigs aren’t finishing. Zaza and Marvin Williams are both on the bench with fouls and now Josh Smith has joined them.
By Remembering Roundfield
October 8, 2007 8:27 PM | Link to this
I want to see if Law (or Speedy) can get to the rim when the half court set goes stagnant!
By Astro Joe
October 8, 2007 9:27 PM | Link to this
I’ve been listening intermittenly. Hawks down by 3 with about 3 minutes left and Marvin heading to the free throw line. It’s good to hear games again. Sounds like Josh, Josh and Marvin are having good games. It also seems like they (the whole team) are missing a slew of free throws.
By Astro Joe
October 8, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this
Hawks Win!! Box score: http://www.nba.com/games/20071008/ATLORL/boxscore.html
By Hawks Fan
October 8, 2007 9:50 PM | Link to this
As expected the pg play and center play was off. Acie and Horford need to start. Period. Speedy Zsa Zsa and AJ need to goto the end of the bench and stay there. They could have nullified JJ Reddick with Mario West. He got noooo minutes AT ALL??? Can we get a center from somewhereee pleaseee??? If they didnt pull Howard we lose this game. R. Lewis only played 2 mins also. Come on Woody put ur best players on the floor and quit jerking around!!!
By Hawks Fan
October 8, 2007 9:53 PM | Link to this
As expected the pg play and center play was off. Acie and Horford need to start. Period. Speedy Zsa Zsa and AJ need to goto the end of the bench and stay there. They could nullified JJ Reddick with Mario West. He got noooo minutes AT ALL??? Can we get a center from somewhereee pleaseee??? If they didnt pull Howard we lose this game. R. Lewis only played 2 mins also. Come on Woody put ur best players on the floor and quit jerking around!!!
By roan st
October 8, 2007 9:53 PM | Link to this
From viewing the box score it seems our two rooks did quite well tonight. Horford went 9pts 7reb 1ast 1blk and acie had 7pts 5ast 3steals and only one turnover. Josh smith had a terrific game with 22pts 11reb 3ast 2blks. For christ sake sign this man now! He is the future at 3 not marvin williams.
By Hawks Fan
October 8, 2007 9:55 PM | Link to this
As expected the pg play and center play was off. Acie and Horford need to start. Period. Speedy Zsa Zsa and AJ need to goto the end of the bench and stay there. They could nullified JJ Reddick with Mario West. He got noooo minutes AT ALL??? Can we get a center from somewhereee pleaseee??? If they didnt pull Howard we lose this game. R. Lewis only played 2 mins also. Come on Woody put ur best players on the floor and quit jerking around!!!
By Astro Joe
October 8, 2007 10:01 PM | Link to this
mykhalc, you’ll be happy to know that the line-up on the floor at the end of the game included Horford and Law. I see that Rashard Lewis is determined to make the Orlando GM look like a real idiot. This team is the benefactor of a lucky ping-pong ball, as most of their other moves have been nothing short of asinine. But I digress, the box score suggests that we had some pretty good PG play tonight between Speedy and Law. 11 points, 11 assists, 4 steals and 4 turnovers. It is also good to see that we only attempted 7 3-pointers tonight.
By LEA
October 8, 2007 10:03 PM | Link to this
For the last time Josh Smith is not a 3, Smoove and Horford played great together. Za-Za wasn’t bad tonight. But Horford was much better tonight… Smoove going to houston really helped. He was the best player for the HAWKS tonight….
By Macaroni Tony
October 8, 2007 10:08 PM | Link to this
Hawks win and I am happy, but can we start the season without any negativity please. We point out everything that that goes wrong with our team, but let’s focus on the postives. MW, JC, and JS played well. Let’s give MW a chance to prove himself. The rookies did good for the first game of the preseason. Speedy had six assists, and that was good because he got the ball out to the team. Go Hawks
By Steve T
October 8, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this
People it is only preseason. The coaches have to see what works. Speedy did not do too bad. He did have 6 asts in 21 minutes.
I like AJ. He can be a very good guard for us. As I saw at the open day, that AJ needs to work on his jumper. He can do some other things well. I would like to see him turn into a gym rat.
I said all this to say, the Hawks will be fine at PG. We have four guys who can play the point. Since we are trying to run more, this bolts well for us because we will always have fresh legs in the game.
By Daniel
October 8, 2007 10:29 PM | Link to this
Sekou - Great updates. Thanks for for keeping up the info flow.
Just tell Horford to mimic Howard and he’ll be fine!
By Volman
October 8, 2007 11:06 PM | Link to this
Here’s what I got from the game (you can listen for FREE at nba.com for all of these games if they aren’t on tv)….
Howard must have been a COMPLETE BEAST tonight, because 30 points in 30 minutes is sick.
Acie Law made the game-winning shot… It sounded like a tough runner in the lane against Arroyo… Great job.
Speedy seems like he did well also.. Marvin stepped up (most of his points were free throws, however).
It was good to hear the Hawks win while NOT playing Joe Johnson for 40+ minutes. Hallelujah!!!
Go Hawks!
By mykhalc
October 8, 2007 11:11 PM | Link to this
SEKOU, great updates man!! much appreciated!!
JOE, thanks for that info too. do you know if HORFORD got to match up against HOWARD at all???
LEA, you said what i’ve been sayin’ for awhile. SMOOVE is not a 3…YET!!! now whether he can convert himself into a 3 remains to be seen!!??!!
glad the team got a win!!! GO HAWKS!! gonna check out the boxscore now…
By mykhalc
October 8, 2007 11:25 PM | Link to this
from the boxscore it seems like WOODSON is testin’ SALIM’s new found attitude already!!!LOL hopefully players were given a heads-up on who would see action and who wouldn’t…
VOLMAN, thanks for the broadcast info too.
By mykhalc
October 8, 2007 11:40 PM | Link to this
my bad…SALIM sat out with an injury…
By Glutton for Punishment
October 8, 2007 11:44 PM | Link to this
Mykhalc, Salim was injured and in street clothes.. I think they said he tweeked his hamstring??
Good game even if the Magic pulled their starters with 4 mins left. The Hawks need to start feeling good about getting “W”
By ray
October 9, 2007 12:10 AM | Link to this
Glad the guys got to know what a win feels like, especially the rooks. I would be happy to see a lot more of Acie’s hustle and determination. I don’t forsee him having a problem bringing it, although the losing will be tough to adjust to when you’re used to winning more.
First preseason game. I believe there’s eight of them. A tad too soon to be making any sort of concrete judgements, don’t you think?
Hey Myk, looks like Horford is already producing better than Zaza, huh? No surprise there, but I still say it’s all about not throwing the rookie to the wolves. Imagine if he has to defend a more experienced and slightly bigger monster like Howard all night? How effective do you suppose he’ll be on the offensive end? That is, if he isn’t picking up a load of fouls and getting benched. Then what do you have FOR THE REST OF THE GAME? Zazaaaaaaaa……..
No, really man, I have as high a set of hopes as you do, I just don’t think that RIGHT NOW is the time for a lineup that has Horford as the only low post player. Maybe later. But it would have to be a proven success. And I can tell you right now, it won’t work when they are forced to play half court offense by teams that have better coaches, who realize how dangerous a running Hawks team can be.
But hey, if you’re right and I’m wrong (wouldn’t be the first time), then you get the braggin’ rights!
By ray
October 9, 2007 12:15 AM | Link to this
Doc, don’t worry. The same person who said I was one of only two people who knew anything here is already making statements that disagree whole-heartedly with the things I’ve said. Odd…and here I was almost buying into it. Riiiiight….
By mykhalc
October 9, 2007 12:18 AM | Link to this
SEKOU, what enabled MARVIN to get to the line so much tonite??? (i know…fouls right LOL) was he postin’ up or just bein’ aggressive goin’ to the rim????
By BosnianBaller
October 9, 2007 12:40 AM | Link to this
I think we can make the playoffs.maybe. We still don’t have a legit center to go against shaq,kg,howard.
Would it hurt us to add a kelvin cato to give us some meat in the paint. Anybody agree with me.
By mykhalc
October 9, 2007 12:52 AM | Link to this
BIG RAY, you KNOW i ain’t got nothin’ but mad respect for ya man!!! and most times we stand on the same side of the fence. so you know i get where you are comin’ from.
the point that keeps takin’ me back to my side is that DESIRE and INTENSITY that i think HORFORD brings to the team. in fact, i think ACIE is bringin’ it too!! it’s the kinda intensity that probably ONLY SMOOVE brought until this year (CHILLS too tho). so i’m all for throwin’ HORFORD and ACIE out there!! ‘cause i think their intensity and make-up says it’s safe to do. and you know me enough to know i’m not talkin’ about bein’ careless with them. but i just BELIEVE they are READY…PERIOD!!!
other than tennis, hoops in the only sport where the talent of ONE individual player can drastically alter the outcome of a game…IMHO (i’m not includin’ golf…sorry) and with me believin’ that, i think HORFORD and ACIE will rise to the top. and especially rise to the top of/on THIS team!!! i think they are ready to lead with their play!!!
and again RAY, i’m NOT sayin’ leave him at the 5 all nite. but i DO want the chance to REALLY see how he and SMOOVE work the paint together!!! and because i DO NOT believe JS to be a 3 nor possess the skills to play the position nite-in, nite-out (at this point) i do think HORFORD can man the 5 in decent stretches. i guess what i’m sayin’ is HORFORD’s 5 skills are greater than SMOOVE’s 3 skills. and at this point, with SMOOVE developin’ like he is and the work he put into his post game with DREAM over the summer, i wouldn’t mess with it!!!
like you said, it’s early. and like i said earlier, MARVIN, SPEEDY, ZAZA, you are on the f’n budweiser hotseat!!!! GO YOUNG GUNS!!!
By Clyde
October 9, 2007 1:30 AM | Link to this
Check this yall. When Acie Law breaks through and steals the starting job away from Speedy we are going to have 12,666,182 million dollars worth veteran point guards coming off the bench. 6,306,182 for Speedy, 2,860,000 for AJ, and 3,500,000 for Lue. That number is excluding Salim.
When Al Horford steals the starting job from Zaza we are going to have 10,424,240 worth of veteran pf/c coming off the bench. 3,174,240 for Sheldon Williams, 3,250,000 for Lorenzen, and 4,000,000 for Zaza. The number that strikes me the most is Lorenzen Wright. He gets 3 mill a year to play 8 minutes just rack up 6 fouls and foul out. Dam.
The total comes to 23,090,422 a year for only 6 players that don’t even start. I’m not a financial analysis but it seems to me the Hawks are wasting a lot of money. And we still haven’t locked down Jsmooth yet.
FIRE BILLY AND WOODY
By Sekou K. Smith
October 9, 2007 3:29 AM | Link to this
Marvin was going at the Magic late and drawing fouls, which is exactly why the Hawks were featuring him late.
Can’t disagree with much of what has been said here. Acie and Al are rookies in name only. They’re impact players. High quality addditions. And winners who have improved this roster already.
But it is just one game.
By itwi
October 9, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this
Mykhalc, you went to all that trouble to add those salaries up, but didn’t notice that Wright, Lue, and A. Johnson are all free agents at the end of this year?
By FantaSY Question
October 9, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this
Hey Sekou and crew:
This is my fantast BB team I have in my league. As the resident NBA expert Sekou would you give me your opinion. Thanks for your time.
PG Randy Foye
SG Luol Deng
G T.J. Ford
SF LeBron James
PF Carlos Boozer
F Darko Milicic
C Dwight Howard
C Tyson Chandler
C Andrew Bogut
SG Mickael Pietrus
PG Mike Conley Jr.
SF Marvin Williams
SF Jeff Green
By Hawksville Resident
October 9, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
Good Start, but Regular season Dallas on Nov. 2 is going to be a lot tougher then Preseason Orlando on Oct. 8th! Atlant fans moral of the story is: Braves Lost.. Falcon’s are losing… Hell, even the Thrashers are 0-2..We need the Hawks! C’mon boys keep it going!
By mykhalc
October 9, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
itwi, i can’t take credit for addin’ up the salaries. that goes to our man CLYDE…