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Thursday, February 7, 2008
Abbreviated action
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
SMYRNA - Every day I come here bent on keeping my yapping to a minimum and every single day it seems like I ended up failing. So I will try my best to keep my point brief, leaving more time and space for you to weigh in, of course.
After watching the Hawks rise up and stun the Lakers last night I have but a few thoughts still bouncing around the dome:
I hope the folks at the trophy shop haven’t already etched Kevin Durant’s name on that Rookie of the Year trophy. It belongs to Al Horford. He’s earned it. And it shouldn’t even be a close. If you don’t think so, do some research on the rookie forwards over the past 20 years that have averaged 10 rebounds per game. The list goes about three deep and young Al is on pace to be the third.
If there is a better young tandem of frontcourt players anywhere other than Portland than the Hawks have in Josh Smith, Horford and Marvin Williams, I’d love to see them. Smith and Horford are two of the best and most active rebounding and shot blocking young forwards on the planet. Throw them together and on a good night, they’ll outplay just about anyone that doesn’t match their energy, length and athleticism. For whatever deficiencies the Hawks still have (shooters, shooters, shooters) they’ve got some keepers in these young cats.
Tyronn Lue’s getting old, huh? Well, every time you’re ready to write this guy off he shows up big the way he did Wednesday night. Admit it, he’s the lil’ dude you love to hate. You probably don’t even know why. But I’ll take him on my squad. He’s like one of those supposedly over the hill quarterbacks who always get a chance to play late in the NFL season and everyone is stunned he’s still so effective. Dude’s a gamer. And when he’s healthy, there are few more effective pick-and-pop players you could have.
Not everything here today will be glowing (one huge win doesn’t erase all the funky stuff). I still think the Hawks have to address their glaring needs in the shooting and big man department. There was a time last night when the Hawks were teetering on the brink of being blown out because they simply ran out of gas during a stretch when the Lakers’ second-teamers were on the floor running them ragged. Luckily, a timeout came and allowed them a couple minutes to catch their breath. But these lingering depth issues have to be resolved in time for not only the stretch run of this season, but also for a potential playoff run.
I can’t say that I ever remember being in an arena that was more titled against the home team that Philips was last night. I’m dumbfounded, even four years into this thing, that this still happens here. I guess I shouldn’t be, considering the venom that’s spewed about this team on a daily basis. But what I don’t get is why anyone would root against these players? The front office, the coaches and management is understandable. They get clowned in every city. But for the arena to be 80/20 Lakers is just comically sad. You expect the Kobe lovers to be out when he’s in town. But I had no idea Luke Walton, Vlad Radmanovic and Jordan Farmar had groupies in the A!
How’s that for keeping it brief?
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