Hawks

By Najeh Davenpoop

April 21, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this

The Hawks haven’t realized the obvious, that they need to run more and beat teams with their athleticism and energy, all year. Why would they suddenly realize it now? We do after all still have the BWAF at head coach… the only real difference between the Sixers and the Hawks is that they have a good head coach and we don’t.

Oh yeah, I thought the Chuckster quit the Republican Party a few years ago?

By honest_abe

April 21, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this

good blog sekou.

some of you like to blame all of this team’s shortcomings at the feet of bk, i disagree. he has his faults (quite a few actually) and the hawks are missing some pieces to really compete for a championship, mainly a center. but you can’t tell me that this roster is any worse than the 76ers or the wizards. its coaching. this hawks team went through yet another season without having an identity. there isn’t one single thing that the hawks do extremely well. you would think with a roster full of long, athletic swingmen they would run, run and then run some more. (like barkley and many others including everyone on this blog suggested) but half the time the hawks are clueless as to what they want to accomplish on the court. and so i blame the head coach for that. we’ve gone through just about every single reason why woody is such a bad coach so i’ll stop my rant short.

last nights game boiled down to the battle of the pg’s. rondo was too quick for bibby… i don’t think i saw bibby break down the defense once. he had to settle for long jumpers. rondo controlled just about every aspect of that battle. bibby was too slow to stay in front of him and couldn’t find a way to get past him. couple that with bibby’s shot being broke and that probably should’ve signaled to woody to try a different lineup.

bibby matches up well with certain pg’s in the east if his shot is falling. but if it’s off the only way the hawks can even hope to stay competitive is hope that salim or law can step it up. imo law is the only pg that can athletically keep up with rondo on both ends of the court..

j smith played pretty bad as well. but at least he played adequate d on kg early, blocked a few shots and at least contributed somewhat defensively. bibby was mia.

By geni

April 21, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this

Gotta love paying someone $70million and about to pay another play $70million and neither one being considered “go-to”.

Typical Hawks.

By James

April 21, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this

There were about 10 typos in this blog, but I agree

By cp

April 21, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this

Well the thing is we as fans realize we need to run more, all of our opposing teams play by play guys point out that we play better when we push the tempo but for some reason this coaching staff does not get it. Im puzzled at how everyone who sees this team knows this but the guys who are around the players every day and come up with the strategy dont get it. Another reason to show everybody on this coaching staff the door after the playoffs this year.

By Ryder

April 21, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

He did quit party a while back, but that faux pax is understandable.

Otherwise everything he said is what we on the Hawks blog have realized all along….that Woodson is the wrong coach for this team.

The Sixers came back because they all believe in each other. You can see on the court that cannot be said of the Hawks, who don’t seem to play with any real passion (outside of Al Horford) and look like individuals.

Is there any wonder they have been so inconsistent? Not once did Bibby show any of the leadership he was called upon when he came here. As for him saying there won’t be another game like Game 1, that’s rich. He’s hit the playoff wall and it would be a miracle if he ever discovered his jump shot before this series is over.

By Rutuger

April 21, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

I agree. We sure as chit ain’t gonna beat Boston playing them straight up in the half court all game, so why not just let the guys uncork it and fly around a bit?

It’s not like our turnovers can increase any, and at least we’ll showcase our athleticism, thereby mitigating the embarrassment while also potentially making it easier to lure some decent FAs in here in the offseason.

By ray

April 21, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

Today’s News

Great Expectations

…often lead to great disappointments. So…has the reality fluid finally leaked into the koolaid?

You know, when I saw the “Push it” title for this blog, the first thing I thought was “Push what, the panic button or the button for the ejection seats under Billy and Woody?” Since it’s way too late for the panic button, let’s opt for the other one.

Najeh Davenpoop said it better than most: Philly has a much better coach. A coach who understands adjustment. A coach who instills confidence in his players, both young and veteran. You can tell by the way they play and contribute off of the bench. A coach who doesn’t say: hey, I think you’re not good enough or ready to play…so sit down and shut up. I wonder how certain coaches figure that this is a way to encourage and develop guys. Hmmph.

Want to know something else about Philly? There is a very important fundamental difference that HB Ando pointed out to me during a conversation last night. Can you guess what it is? They have a defined, balanced roster when you look at the starting five. More specifically, they have two of the harder-to-fill-but-always-necessary spots taken care of: the pg and the center. Miller and Dalembert. Not the best, but far from the worst. And enough to be better than us, despite having sold the franchise (in Allen Iverson) and essentially starting over. Interesting, no?

Shooting guards and small forwards are often interchangeable. They are also the easiest positions to fill. It took us forever to get a decent pg. We still don’t have a true center, although Al Horford is a world-beating power forward who has done us more than proud. But taking your stellar power forward away from his natural spot means you put in another “swing” guy and ask him to play power forward. Gee, look how it’s worked for us so far. Yep.

So, coaching isn’t the only difference between a competitive team in Philadelphia, and a mal-adjusted team in Atlanta. I feel so bad for our players sometimes. They have to do everything for themselves or it just doesn’t get done.

Now….about those ejection seat buttons…

By Harry Hawk

April 21, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

geni,

Joe Johnson is a “go-to” guy. The problem is that the team does not have any halfcourt offense to speak of, so when games get close (and the Hawks always slow their game down to a crawl when they do), the other players stand around and watch “Joe ISO” plays. It’s hard to be a “go-to” guy when the other team can double (or even triple) you and nobody else on the team moves around to give you someone to pass the ball to.

It may seem ridiculous, but I think the Hawks should use Joe as a decoy in Game 2. The whole gameplan should be to get open looks for other players. If the other guys don’t knock down shots, oh well, but at least the gameplan will be the proper one to counter the Celtics’ defense’s collapsing on Joe.

By cp

April 21, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

Yea abe you are correct about Rondo basically dominating Bibby. I think a lot of us knew he was going to give Bibby trouble because he is a quick pg and Bibby defense is about as bad as Pachulias’s. . If Bibby struggles in the next game just play Law. He has the quickness and the size to defend Rondo. He can also get anywhere on the court that he wants. He actually does better in my opinion when he is playing with the starters rather than the bench guys. I would love to see him getting into the lane and dropping the ball off to Horford or Josh Smith. I just dont think mr potato head will give him the chance to play that much. I forgot who said it on the last blog, might have been Najeh im not sure but whoever it was had a point about Richardson. Why not give him some minutes. He does have range and it would help spread the court. Marvin has no range and cant create his own shot so it wont hurt to give Richardson some minutes and see what he can do. It is time to try something different. Mr potato head sticks to the same script too much. He takes Marvin out after about 6 minutes, sits players down almost the whole first half if they pick up 2 fouls and pulls bench players after one mistake. It is time to say F it and try some new stuff.

By Hot Rod

April 21, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this

Love your headline, Sekou. Reminds me of Salt N Pepa. “Ooh, baby, baby! B-b-b-baby!”

That said, FIRE BILLY AND WOODY!

By RealSquawk

April 21, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

honest_abe

you bring up a real good point about the point guards, but i saw something a little different. mike bibby would pass Rondo, but immediately be met by Kevin Garnett or some other Celtics player. I though this might continue pass Garnett, but his attitude was infectious Leon Powe and everyone else would do the exact same-thing when a hawks player got by there man the celtics had each others backs

now when rondo drove by a ragged Bibby what happened a nice open gaping hole

so that is two other things we can throw onto the scale for Mike Woodson needing to step somewhere else

His focus has been defense for the four years he has been here, but it doesn’t seem like defense is something the hawks know how to do as a team, which means he has failed to teach his team how to play defense in four years

and second Mike Bibby hasn’t even played half a season i believe, but somehow he is tired and beat down. Woody does one thing well he rides players until their bodies give out and then he uses is as an excuse to keep his job

i hate to ride on the guy cause he is a human being who needs a job, but he must know he has been ineffective in reaching his team. and his attempt to declare that because we made the playoffs with a sub five hundred record and a weakened eastern conference(if you think Miami is going to tank next season as well then you got another thing coming people… Miami is going to be running like the world has never seen with the possibility of having Wade, Marion, and Beasley, or Rose it is almost criminal)

anyway yeah i am afraid that Woody is a great politician he is in a fight to keep his job so the ring, the shaved head, and the smiles oh yeah thats just his way of saying i am winning we can’t settle with one win or two we got to be thinking fighting for every ball making every basket and stopping the celtics at all cost and then moving on to the next team and doing the same thing

people keep comparing us to golden state, but guess what they aren’t in the playoffs this year

By Tiger Woo

April 21, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this

Pushing the tempo is a good idea. Someone please tell Josh Smith he is not a point guard. Sometimes he is effective pushing the ball as a one-man fast break - often times he is out of control. get it to the point guard and fill the lanes, young man.

In addition, Woody is going to have to go a little deeper into the bench if we are going to run, run, run - otherwise, we are going to burn out the starters (if they aren’t burnt out already - specifically Mr. Bibby).

Is our bench capable enough? Probably too young and inexperienced, but now is the time to step up and perform.

By honest_abe

April 21, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this

indeed cp. seriously the hawks don’t have a shot in hell to win the series. i think most of us hawks fans just want the hawks to at least compete. with woody manning the ship i highly doubt that’ll happen.

ray/ando: philly has a defined roster? dalembert and miller? willie green at the 2, thaddeus young a YOUNG rookie who is an undersized 4 and the other AI. that’s a defined roster? man i’ll take atl’s roster over that anyday. if that’s what you call defined, i rather have undefined. bk has his share of faults but i blame an inept coaching staff’s inability to come up with a scheme or an identity for this team even more. the pieces might not be perfect but it’s more than adequate to at least give boston some trouble. horford ain’t a true five but i’ll still take an undersized horford over dalembert any day of the week. defined? bah!

By honest_abe

April 21, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this

ya you’re right real squawk boston was running two guys at whoever was running the pick and roll. either way we both agree woody sucks. heh

not to beat a dead horse but the one thing that philly has that atl does not (besides a head coach) is what sekou mentioned a few months ago. and that is a bruiser. a physical enforcer who plays with alot of energy. reggie evans. you know the stars were aligned just right last night when you saw him make that turn around fadeaway from about 15 feet. this was after he cooly (is that a word?) drained two free throws. that was some funny s.

By MannyT

April 21, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this

Sekou, you need to put that Salt N Pepa tune on an endless ipod loop for Woody.

Folks, I am thinking this blog will be like the movie, Groundhog Day. We could post about running, and playing to our strengths all we like. We could also just link to past statements by each and every person who has posted here on several occasions.

We are who we think we are. We ain’t who Woody thinks we are. If we run several things happen.

1. Note that Detroit plays without a true center. They have done fine (aside from last night.) Not a center issue why they did not win. Maybe an issue about the focus of the guy playing center at the end, but I still think he is one of the top talents in the NBA.

2. You can easily get away with not having a true center when the other teams don’t punish you for it. We are not playing Yao or Shaq. It’s not the center that gives us fits on Celtics.

3. BK’s sin is not having too many forwards, it is having a coach that did not develop enough to know what to do with the roster he has.

4. The Warriors did give us an excellent blue print for this season. Make the game uncomfortably fast. This makes additional turnovers more tolerable as long as you win the turnover —> points off TOs part of the game. We are just too conventional to go with what we do well.

There is a reason why some folks are good at what they do even when the job isn’t typical. There are good criminals and clery. There are even professional complainers that do well think talk show hosts—like Boortz.

Barkley could be a communist and his point is still accurate. Who cares about his political affiliation. As long as you are not running for anything, you can change it with a trip downtown and nobody usually cares.

Woody let the hair go, now it’s time to let the (basketball) hares go, go, go!

It is not that hard. What has he got to lose.

Side note, this is exactly why I don’t want Van Gundy. All the games are close because of the plodding play that works AGAINST our talents.

BWAF

By Najeh Davenpoop

April 21, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this

Philly may or may not be more defined, but they are certainly not more talented. That’s what I meant with my post — Mo Cheeks has a less talented team making noise in the playoffs, whereas Mike Woodson’s team is getting their azzes kicked. I’d rather have a more talented and less defined team any day of the week. Granted the Celtics are in a league of their own and the Pistons sleepwalked through yesterday’s game, but that’s still no excuse to get your gluteuses handed to you on a platter the way the Hawks did last night, on the same night the Sixers scrap their way to an upset victory.

By richbrave

April 21, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this

I think the hawks will light it up at home. And I’ll sticking with them in game #4. Celts in 5.

By Chikara

April 21, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this

Hey guys ;) it was a tough one to watch last night but I think in the long run it was best for the Hawks.

They needed to know what true playoff intensity was all about. They can’t afford to play lax, and that falls on Woodson and Bibby.

I do think Atlanta will show some more pride as this series goes on. It will go five because if it doesn’t, there’s no question Woodson gets fired, young team or not.

By richbrave

April 21, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this

MANNY T:

Rightous comment about Van Gundy. Gotta’ have a coach who will exploit the strength of this team. That’s an up and down game. No doubt about it.

Will the team have the same character next year.? We can get into that after next week.

By Gary

April 21, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this

You seem to be forgetting one key element that the Hawks need in order to be able to run the whole game, a deep bench. They may be young and athletic, but when you run all game you get tired. The Hawks just don’t have a deep enough bench to play that way an entire game. Then again, this is the playoffs so you gotta do what you gotta do. Maybe the starters man up andw get their second wind or the bench will step up and play hard. I still think they can win but they can’t make all the mental mistakes they made in the first game. I saw some great defense but that’s not enough to stop all those shooters Boston has unless they get cold. Let’s go Hawks.

By mykhalc

April 21, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this

RealSquawk, on point man. BOS’ collapsin’ defense was on all last nite. and like you said when BIBBY did get pass RONDO NO ONE on the HAWKS was cuttin’ to the rim!!! i remember a pass BIBBY made last week where he broke down the defense, put the ball in the spot CHILS should have been arrivin’ at on the way to the rim, only to have CHILS standin’ in the same spot with NO movement toward the rim!!

so much of this team’s weaknesses could be overcome with some decent coachin’!!! JJ holds the ball entirely toooooo long as the opposin’ teams send double and triple teams at him. yet no one is movin’ to the rim or to that spot that has been left open!!! and since JJ KNOWS this…guess what…he continues to hold the ball too long!!! he and BIBBY are the only ones that keep the correct spacin’ on the floor!!! too bad yesterday BIBBY was stone-cold. but as least there is some bball IQ goin’ on between those two!!!

coachin’ again…playin’ SALIM at PG is idiotic…PERIOD!!!! it pains me to see this cat TRY to dribble and breakdown an opponent!!! that is NOT one of his strengths…PERIOD!!! playin’ ACIE at pg with SALIM givin’ JJ a break is the tandem that should be used by the BRAINLESS TRUST!!! ACIE provides enough size to compensate on D and that tandem would provide good spacin’ too as ACIE breaks down the defense only to be able to kick it out the SALIM for an open look!!!

after 4 f’n years ZAZA still can’t set a pick correctly!!!! gimme a break!!! how does this cat, at this point, keep seein’ the court???!!??

finally HORFORD shows what playin’ in big games at the college level can do!!! SMOOVE was totally outta his game because of the event yesterday!!! hope to see him rebound from game one!!!

finally again, as someone else said, all JRICH does is hit shots!!! this cat should be seein’ a lot more time!!

WOODSON is an idiot as a HC…PERIOD!!! for this team to play those final 3 games of the season like it knew how to turn it on for the playoffs…RIDICULOUS call by the BRAINLESS TRUST!!!

By richbrave

April 21, 2008 6:32 PM | Link to this

Chikara:

JJ took a bad shot with the Hawks down two. I said then they might not get another chance to pull even. Its on yesterday’s Sekou blog which I posted during the game. Also, the Celtics put Pierce on Bibby in the last four minutes of the first half to hold off the Hawks at the end. It worked. Pierce scored twice even though Bibby’s “D” was excellent. I posted then that the Wooden-one would need to make adjustments.

He probably did, but the team came unglued when it became apparant that Boston would continue smothering JJ and Bibby. The pressure of seeing their leaders ineffective caused others to step-up and play outside their game. They’re young and no one could. They lost patience, then they lost the game. Inexperience is all it was. But they’re learning.

Tonight the Lizards get to redeem themselves and become Wizards once again. “Z“‘s the key. Hit him hard and often. Gotta’ wear him down and draw fouls. 37-17 foul shooting.? are you SM?? Come on refs. Continued LeBron exposure must be really necessary to NBA ad ratings.

Wizards, Shut the f-up and play basketball. What a bunch of stupid MF’s.!!!!

By Don!

April 21, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this

Is it really too late to fire Woody? I mean, I think we all know what sort of tempo fits this team — and a Phoenix Suns-paced, pre-Shaq, faster than grass-growing style obviously gives Woody the hives, or strep, or something near fatal.

I was kind of hoping that since Woody’s hair had fallen out, that it was due to installing a faster style of play to a roster that would seem equipped to play it.

Alas, I watched the Hawks last night — and I saw the same game from our team that I’ve seen about 50 times this year.

Now I have the same hair style (or lack there of) as Woody — but it’s because I pulled my hair out watching us play that same no-coaching, no-tempo style we’ve been playing all season.

It’s not too late. Fire Woody, and maybe we can salvage at least one game from this series. If not, and if we play like we did last night — this season’s over in three more games.

Later,

Don!

By EJH

April 21, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this

I’m a true hawks fan and am to somewhat disappointed by Woodson, inability to get more from his players. In Philly, Mo Cheeks is just a better coach and motivator, hands down. But when you look at the teams in the playoffs, they all were to some extent in the past where the hawks are right now. The Hawks truly do have a young nucleus. Boston last year won 24 games, worst than what the hawks were. Remember they had there so call young nucleus of Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Rondo, and others. Well if the Hawks had Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen to go with Joe Johnson and Josh Smith and Al Horford the, Hawks would be considered the best team in the east. But the ASG does not have that kind of money to go out and get players of that caliber. The thing that gets me is I thought we needed Mike Bibby, but this team actually needed Pau Gasol more. A definite inside presence that would take a load off the other guys, the Hawks muffed on that one because Gasol is only 27 years old and makes about 4 million dollars less than Bibby and he is locked into his contract until the 2011 season, what a bargain this guy is. So stop wining about the Hawks can not beat the celtics, of course when you have an ownership group that does not have the money to bring in “BIG TICKET” free agents.

By EJH

April 21, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this

I’m a true hawks fan and am to somewhat disappointed by Woodson, inability to get more from his players. In Philly, Mo Cheeks is just a better coach and motivator, hands down. But when you look at the teams in the playoffs, they all were to some extent in the past where the hawks are right now. The Hawks truly do have a young nucleus. Boston last year won 24 games, worst than what the hawks were. Remember they had there so call young nucleus of Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Rondo, and others. Well if the Hawks had Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen to go with Joe Johnson and Josh Smith and Al Horford the, Hawks would be considered the best team in the east. But the ASG does not have that kind of money to go out and get players of that caliber. The thing that gets me is I thought we needed Mike Bibby, but this team actually needed Pau Gasol more. A definite inside presence that would take a load off the other guys, the Hawks muffed on that one because Gasol is only 27 years old and makes about 4 million dollars less than Bibby and he is locked into his contract until the 2011 season, what a bargain this guy is. So stop wining about the Hawks can not beat the celtics, of course when you have an ownership group that does not have the money to bring in “BIG TICKET” free agents.

By cp

April 21, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this

I might catch some heat for this but you know what. How about moving JJ to the small foward and playing Richardson at the sg. That way you have both Duck and Childress to come off the bench. It makes the bench stronger and gives you a guy who can actually stretch the defense with his range in Richardson. Im pretty sure the kid could have scored the whole 9 points Duck scored. I was actually thinking earlier that I would consider moving Marvin for some pieces. Pick up a sg who can finish at the rim and handle the rock some and has range on his jumper. Then I would move JJ to the 3. I just dont know what sg is available that could do that. If it wasnt for Jamal Crawfords salary I would like him on this team. Him, JJ, and Bibby can all handle the rock, create their own shots, set up other folks, and hit the long range jumper. Crawford’s salary and shot selection is a problem but I like the kids game. But back to what I was saying. Put JJ at the 3 and start Richardson at the sg. He is not very good defensively but neither is Duck and from what I have seen he can create his shot and hit the 3. Marvin probably wouldnt mind if it helped the team. It sounds crazy but at this point this team has nothing to lose and might as well change things up some.

By Tiger Woo

April 21, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this

It’s very simple:

The Hawks need to shoot well in order to have a chance vs. the Celtics.

3-14 from 3-point range - 38.2% from the field overall (in Game 1) is not going to get it done - especially when the Celtics shoot 9-16 from 3-point range and 46.9% overall.

Of course, the Celtics defense had something to do with the Hawks poor shooting, but there were a lot of open looks that weren’t converted by the Hawks.

I expect much better performances from J-Smoove, Marvin, and Bibby in Game 2. Hey, maybe we can steal one - just need to shoot a lot better.

By mykhalc

April 21, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this

this team actually needed BIBBY and GASOL!!!

By Juice

April 21, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this

Will someone please tell Woodson that Childress is NOT a PG. He has good ball handling skills for his size but you have him playing WAY out of position and now he is ineffective on the floor playing PG. I really don’t like this Woodson guy.

MPHAF (Mr Potato Head Arms Folded)

Sorry Manny T, I couldn’t resist.

By doc

April 21, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this

richie that shot you speak of had me saying in anticipation NO! to the tv. i had an awful premonition of what was comng and that the ball was in his hands to shoot and shoot only even though it was a terrible situation to change what they were doing. those types of decisions leave me cold to what he does sometimes on the court. that was the time to continue to work to get better shots.

horford did what i suggested that thye have to have which was a 20-10 game. odd that he had a -30 when all was siad and done.

By Tiger Woo

April 21, 2008 7:06 PM | Link to this

cp,

It’s worth a try to move JJ to the small foward and play Richardson at the sg.

If we seriously want to contend in this series, we really need to somehow incorporate more players into the rotation, especially if we want to run more. Boston is so deep, they don’t need to lean so heavily on their starters.

By Astro Joe

April 21, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this

Spent the day at home, watching over a sick kid, and what video did I see? Salt N Pepa’s “Push It”. Almost had my old butt up and dancing.

Any who, the difference between Bibby and Andre Miller is that one is a primary floor general while the other is a primary scorer. It’s hard to keep a running PG from running for 48 minutes, but it is less difficult to contend jump shots for an enitre game. Although many of Bibby’s misses were wide open Js that he should have canned. Also, the difference between the Celtics defense and Pistons is about as wide as Barkley’s rear end. These are not LB’s Pistons. If they were, they would not have allowed LeBron to score 29 in one quarter during last year’s playoff run. BTW, aren’t the Pistons 0-3 in their last 3 playoff games?

Hawks were down by 2 in the 2nd quarter and making a run. JJ comes down and instead of maintaining the “extra pass” half-court set that had worked, he fired up a jumper, almost as if he were entitled to be the guy to tie the game. And they never got that close again. I have watched JJ do that several times. Other players help to get the Hawks back in the game and then JJ heaves the shot to tie or take the lead, only to see it miss (often becomes it was contested because the defense is geared to stop him). He wants to “take over” but sometimes, he needs to let the things that are working continue to work. (Granted, that happened more often earler in the season).

Put me in the camp that says we need to start building around Horford, like this summer. Make a trade that places him in his natural PF position and let him develop into a consistent force and big-game star. I’m not saying he can be a #1 option, but I am saying that I can’t see Josh Smith occupying his PF position beyond this playoff series. Yesterday’s performance was comparable to what Tim Duncan was doing in his rookie year. Not saying Horford a top 3 PF of all-time. But he could become a big-game beast for the next 12 years.

By Tiger Woo

April 21, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this

The Bibby trade was good in the fact that we got the point guard we needed (I think) but in the process, we seriously depleted our supply of big men.

Sure, Lorenzen and Shelden aren’t great players, but they were definitely serviceable. As it stands now, it’s Horford or bust.

Zaza can contribute some on offense but he doesn’t have the defensive I.Q. that Lorenzen had. When Horford and/or Zaza get into foul trouble, where do we turn? To an untested and unprepared Solomon?

I’ll say it again - where’s the needed offensive spark off the bench - a guy like Cassell? Oh, that’s right - we traded him for Bibby (T-Lue).

By Astro Joe

April 21, 2008 7:20 PM | Link to this

Al Horford = The Lil’ Fundamental”.

By SalimFan

April 21, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this

Everyones saying crap that’s been said before.

The whole world saw last night how much of a brainless idiot woodson was last night in his interview with cheryl miller on the sideline. He could barely get out a complete sentence, let alone say anything intellegent the pretained to any sort of gameplan.

We need a legit canter and a new coach. Thats it, nothing else.

The Funniest part of the game was when Mike Fratello said that woody was going to look at film and come up with a new gameplan. This coming from a guy who was pointing out all of woodson’s errors during the course of the game. He’s just solidifying his canadacy for the soon to be vacant head coaching job. It’s shameless Fratello but i’m glad you did it cause somebody has to.

At least with the hawks on national T.V all of the good coaches out there will see the potential in our team and want to interview for the job.

Joe should NEVER get TRIPLE TEAMED. You know what that means? ABSOLUTELY NO SHOOTERS ARE ON THE COURT TO SPREAD THE FLOOR. No salim, No J-Rich, and Bibby was ICE cold. Not even decent penetration to put pressure on Rondo (Acie Law).

In Conclushon: Woodson is a DUMB A S S.

BWAF…

By ray

April 21, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this

Honest Abe, scoff at it if you like. And you’re missing my point. Philly’s roster is not superior to ours when it comes to the issue of talent. But they have identity. We don’t. So why do they win more? Why did they destroy us? Why are they competitive enough to beat Detroit while we do what every mouth-breathing person who watches basketball predicted?

I’m not going to argue Dalembert vs. Horford. That’s a no-brainer. You’re taking this argument to left field with that comment. What I’m arguing is having designated, DEFINED roles and positions. We don’t have a center and our only “bruiser” is Horford. So, we compensate by making him the “bruiser” AND the center. Meanwhile, the most help he can expect is from some lighter-weight swing forwards who just aren’t tough guys. This isn’t working, and I don’t care how anybody slices it.

You yourself said that Philly has Evans as their “bruiser”. You’re absolutely right. But he’s not their center too, is he? Nope. That’s Dalembert. Now, picture Dalembert in there by himself with only guys like Thaddeus Young and Rodney Carney to help out on defense and the boards. Yeah, they are good, but they can’t do that job. Dalembert would have the same issues that Horford does: not enough beef in the post, not enough enforcement. Instead, Dalembert doesn’t have to do all the dirty work because he has Evans down there with him. Once again, the roles in Philly are DEFINED.

Miller is a good point guard. As I said, not the best, but he fills the spot well. How long did it take us to get that kind of point guard. More importantly, who do you blame for that, huh?

Lastly, I too blame the coach for not defining roles. I blame the coach more than most things. But last I looked, somebody picked that coach and somebody kept him employed here when clearly he was not the right guy to define roles or develop players. I won’t call names and point fingers because I can’t remember all those names (if you get my drift), and I’d need nearly all of my fingers. I agree that Thaddeus Young is a rook and undersized for the 4 spot. Can we not say the exact same thing about Horford at the 5? Once more, I am saying that the roles themselves are more defined on this roster, than on ours. Can you argue with the fact that Miller is a pg and Dalembert is a center? Evans is clearly a power forward, right? Once more, I’m not arguing about talent comparison. There is none. We have the better talent in my opinion. But defining the roster? Please….According to our “lack of definition” that you prefer, Chills is a point guard, Salim is a shooting guard, Solomon/Richardson/West don’t exist, Marvin is a 2-guard (all he does is shoot jumpers), etc. Yeah. I love the lack of definition.

By ricknole

April 21, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this

Can we “Push” Woody and Billy out the door??

By mykhalc

April 21, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this

EL GATO GRANDE…ROY!!!!

By ray

April 21, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this

MannyT,

I have lost count the number of times I’ve posted the same thing you did: you can get away without having a true center. And it HAS worked in Detroit. However…you cannot even breathe that very thought without adding the rest of it. In fact, not defining how/why this works is just short of completely misleading.

You can get away with not having a dyed-in-the-wool center if you have two very good PFs. Detroit won a title because of good coaching, great TEAM play, and the two Wallaces. Two tough guys who both played incredible defense and both hit the boards hard.

Nowadays, Detroit gets it done a little differently, due to the absence of Ben Wallace. Whether you call him a center or a power forward, it doesn’t matter. It’s him and a committee of toughs/tall guys: McDyess, Maxiel to name a couple. Doesn’t matter, long as you put in another big dude who can rebound some, effectively clog up some space, and either score from the inside or the outside.

Do we have that? No. Our one true tough is Horford. Zaza, for some reason, doesn’t do that…despite his 6’11” 280 lb. frame. Solo is too skinny. Josh and Marvin are athletic wings with some size, but they are by no means “tough” guys that just come in and do the dirty work.

So yeah, you definitely can get by without a true center. But to even think this is possible without that other ingredient is just plain foolish.

What really makes me laugh is the continuous comparisons to Golden State. We have the athleticism, but we just DO NOT have the same kind of weapons, nor the same kind of coach.

By SalimFan

April 21, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this

Salim,J-Rich,Joe,Marvin/Smoove,Al

Bibby,Salim,J-Rich,Marvin/Smoove,Al

Acie,J-Rich,Joe,Marvin/Smoove,Al

1)Drive and Kick (Not hard, Nash Does it every other play)

2)Set a pick, then kick

3)Post then Kick

4)Set a pick with smoove,Al, or Marvin for the backdoor alley. (Again It’s not that hard, Chris Paul does it on every other play).

Baisically what i’m saying is Woodson’s a DUMB A S S.

BWAF…

By mykhalc

April 21, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this

Tiger Woo, i feel what ya sayin’ but last i checked we still have 2 open roster spots to fill!!!! so as servicable as LW and SW might have been, seems like if servicable is all we need then NBDL had servicable all day long!!! BRAINLESS TRUST workin’ at its’ best!!!!

By L

April 21, 2008 7:55 PM | Link to this

I think I seen this mentioned already but I was telling some guys last night that Chills needs to start over Marvin or we have JJ play the 3 and stick Chills at the 2, only for his defense and energy, but I much rather have Chills at the three because he’s always been able to rebound the ball. Not only does Marvin not play D, but he doesn’t fight for the basketball.

Game 2 starters should be Horford, Smith, Chills, Johnson, Bibby. Marvin can get a few minutes off the bench along with Z, Law, and Richardson

By Paul Hamilton

April 21, 2008 7:55 PM | Link to this

Hawks get destroyed by Celtics and their “B” game. Did anyone expect a different result? Hawks should be shooting for taking at least one game in this series so that they will have some little shred of hope to build upon next year. The hawks only big performance comes from a rookie. That tells you everything you need to know about this team.

This team has a lot more holes than many of you allow yourself to see. Lack of intensity and toughness, along with poor ball handling skills and shot selection.

By preston

April 21, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this

The only good thing about the hawks being on national t.v. is that everyone can now see how terrible of a coach that Woody is……..no adjustments (another 3rd quater collapse)…..no bench development developement (what exactly is Salim’s, Acie, Solo, and West roles are to this team?)…..does not play into the strengths of this team ( it was the play of the hawks and not really the celtics that made this game look like a horror flick). The Hawks as a team are not as bad as things appeared last night, but where were the adjustments from the coach that would have mixed things up last night to make things interesting? As someone pointed out, playing Acie at the point and Salim at shooting guard on the floor at the same time would have provided a lot more offense and defense than Bibby who was struggling big time last night. And unless Marvin is taking over games with his play, then Richardson should be seeing more time. Now if JJ and Bibby are on, you definately ride those guys, but when they are off like they were last night then you implement plan “B”, which for Woody should mean much more than “Bald-head”…………I mean, was this the best thing that this guy could come up with to get his team ready to play the most fan-happy, and rewarding games of the year?

By bigeasy830

April 21, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this

You know folks. I wish we had CP3 or Deron Williams or Brandon Roy. But, if they played under Dummy Coach how good would they really be. Acie Law is a great talent but, Dummy coach has destroyed him and believe it or not, I think Sheldon is better than what he seemed in ATL but, Dummy coach is, well a Dummy coach and destroyed the kid, rember Sheldon played very well the last month of his Rokie season and well in the summer league. I agree Sekou we need to play Balls to the Wall, no team in the league except Golden State could run with us. Our advantage is our youth and athletic ability. But, Dummy coach sees it otherwise. Yes, BK is an Idiot also but, there is some good talent on this team. Talent wise we are better than Toronto, Philly and Washington but those teams have a better record and washington had injury problems and we still could not catch them. Everytime I see CP3 and Deron taking their teams to new heights under good coaches I just wanna say, and I will quote Florida Evans, “DAMN, DAMN, DAMN”. P.S. Only a fool would expect this horrbly coached Hawks team to win this series, But, we did hope to see them play with passion.

Holla if you Hear me, Say Amen If you Feel me.

By HB Ando

April 21, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this

Hmmm, RichBrave asked me for my opinion on the series. I said sweep, 4 and done. I also led out with this:

“Rich, it’ll be four straight. Don’t doubt it for a second. The match ups couldn’t be worse. Rondo won’t give Bibby room to breathe.”

Imagine how unsurprised I was when Bibby went 2-10, with 5 points and 1 assist. Will anybody out there ask me a challenging question?

I can’t believe there are people out there who get paid to talk about this stuff. Where did I miss the easy money train, for sports prognostication?

By honest_abe

April 21, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this

ray: are you talking about a defined roster or defined roles? if you’re talking about defined roles that is on the head coach, not the gm. i don’t know if i’m barking up the wrong tree, but i just keep seeing ando post things about how its more bk’s fault than woody’s and i strongly disagree. i still think this roster could have and should have won at least 42 games this year. with a good coach i’m certain of it. a gm accumulates talent and a good coach is able to come up with a scheme and gameplan that suits his players. a good coach is then able to get his team to eventually master that gameplan and then learn to force its style on its opponents. this core has been together now for a considerable amount of time and they still havene’t developed a “style” of play? how can you blame that on the gm? like manny (or dennis green) said “they are who we thought they are”… woody’s known his pieces for some time now and still hasn’t been able to manage to get his team to play a brand of basketball other than look lost.

ok so bk didn’t get a good pg until the all star break of this year. i realize that speedy was an utter debacle, but if (i know “if“‘s are pretty weak) his knees had held up, he would have been a more than serviceable pg.

don’t get me wrong, i’m not on the “bk has done a great job” bandwagon. but, i do think he had assembled a team good enough to play .500 ball in a weak eastern conference. i always said this year was going to be the year in which you could truly gauge the direction of this franchise. he put together a roster that was talented enough to make the playoffs. when the season started he realized woodson was the wrong person to lead this team but as we all know his reccomendations to the asg were ignored. give this team, a decent head coach and i promise you we would at the least have had the 7th spot in the east.

By ray

April 21, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this

Joe, I have to agree with your sentiments on Horford. Even if he’s not a sure cornerstone, he’s a building block that’s damn close. He’s proven it by smashing through the rookie wall and so far…continuing into the playoffs. We are so fortunate to have him.

On the subject of Bibby/Miller, I also have to agree.

On Detroit, they may not be LB’s Pistons, but they also don’t have all of the same players they used to have. They still managed to win quite a few games. No series can be compared to ours, where we are matched against the best team (at least record-wise) in the league. How good are they? They’ve been together a total of one season, yet they’ve gone from 24 wins to 66. ‘Nuff said. I just wanted to compete with them a little… Back to Detroit…it’s just a matter of time before Flip Saunders gets the goat tag on this one. Just a matter of time…

SalimFan, unfortunately, this is what we’re constantly reduced to: repeating ourselves after watching repeat performances from the head coach and the team that chafes under his command. I’m glad I’m not the only one who sees the need for a center. However, I’d settle for a power forward type that is at least Horford’s size. Although it’ll never happen, imagine having a frontcourt that included a guy like Horford and a guy like LaMarcus Aldridge.

Utah gets away just fine with Boozer and Okur. Okur is 6’10”-6’11”, but he and Boozer do the inside/outside thing on offense. It works. We don’t have that. Both Horford and Smoove score much better near the basket. And once again…I’m repeating myself.

Tiger Woo, Who needs a little guy like T-Lue when you’ve got a guy like J-Richardson to come in and hit shots (and he’s bigger). How about a guy like Mario West, who can harass the crap out of anybody he guards, and will grab steals and rebounds for a few minutes? Hell, Salim is the same size as Lue, only faster and younger (with just as much range). But wait, these guys don’t get to play AT ALL, and T-Lue did. I wonder what the difference is? Need I say it…

By mykhalc

April 21, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this

Paul Hamilton, dead on point. the thing that makes HORFORD the exception is he ain’t waitin’ on somethin’ to happen before he imposes his will on the game!!! his mindset is in place before he even hits the floor. and NONE of the other HAWKS are like that!!! he DOES NOT succumb to the collective mindset that exists as/in this team!!! he KNOWS who he is as a player and is not waitin’ on his 2nd, 3rd or 4th season as a pro to discover his game!!! i think BIBBY is of the same mindset but i do think BIBBY had the luxury of smarter players in SAC, especially early on. and i think ‘sometimes’ his game suffers as result of the mindset that exists within the team and the lack of existence of a true HC!!! this team really has NO IDENTITY and that falls mostly on WOODSON!!! WOODSON even thinkin’ he DESERVES to be kept around is even MORE of an indication of just how CLUELESS he really is!!!

By SalimFan

April 21, 2008 8:22 PM | Link to this

ray, your argument is on the money, but there are exceptions. Dwight Howard is the center and the bruiser for the Magic. Then again Turkoglu and Lewis aren’t soft on the boards either…If you ever catch them down there lol.

Honest Abe, by defined I think ray means, They have a legit game plan and each player knows what they are expected to do at any given time within that game plan. The hawks are just a bunch of talented players who fill spots. No real solid identity or game plan. Other than Al, Joe, and Childress last night everyone else looked clueless on both ends of the court.

Bigeasy, you’re kind of late on that topic. Those players are products of their envirnments and the opoutunities that they were given. It’s time to move forward and get a new coach and a Legit Big Man.

By honest_abe

April 21, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this

ray: you said…Chills is a point guard, Salim is a shooting guard, Solomon/Richardson/West don’t exist, Marvin is a 2-guard Yeah. I love the lack of definition woody’s fault my friend, not bk’s.

so sure if you want to blame bk for hiring a no name coach on the cheap and hoping he pans out, fine. but he new that this coach wasn’t right for the best roster that he’s been able to assemble and he wasn’t allowed to get that “other” coach

By ray

April 21, 2008 8:25 PM | Link to this

Preston, apparently you also see how roles on a roster need to be DEFINED. Chalk it up to the coach or the gm, it doesn’t matter.

On another note, I’m glad to see that Bibby recognizes his role in our loss in the first game.

Like I predicted (and you know I don’t do predictions much), the double teams JJ and Bibby were facing were faster and smarter.

Motivated or not, Bibby is going to find it hard to get his with the tenacious Rajon Rondo practically in his jock strap. Yes, I said that. But here’s to hoping that Bibby shows Rondo a thing or two about pushing the ball on offense and attacking like a madman. C’mon Bibby, help us out.

Here’s another thing to keep in mind, and it’s a criticism I kind of kept to myself for a while (although I mentioned it once before): Bibby is no defensive wizard. He just doesn’t play really hard that way. He’s more of a weak-side steal threat than anything else. However, to be effective, he need only play solid defense. While I don’t look to blame him for this, here is what has happened since his arrival: Our offense has gone to new heights, and our defense has been fairly consistently less than stellar (read: bad).

Bibby cannot just lead on offense. He has to lead on defense too. He doesn’t have to be a star, just solid. Like it or not, the team is following him and his example. His style leaves an imprint on how this team plays. Bibby, we need you to do better on BOTH ends of the court.

By SalimFan

April 21, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this

Ray, I agre ewith your points but Salim is defently at least 3inches taller than lue(5’8) lol. Gotta look out for my boy.

By mykhalc

April 21, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this

SalimFan, go get ya boy some handles!!!LOL

By ray

April 21, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this

Honest Abe, how long have you heard me screaming about how Woody is screwing so much up, huh? Where in that did you read the name Billy Knight?

You ask me am I talking about a defined roster or defined roles. The answer is BOTH. Here’s how I explain that:

1)If Woody is your coach and he has shown you over the years that he cannot do the job by his inability to define roles, then you get rid of him. He’s still here. Problem not solved.

2)Woody has shown that he cannot function with the roster that is in place. The oh-so-talented roster that has people out of position. And when I say out of postion, I mean playing guys in places that does not allow for their potential and ability to be maximized. I don’t know another way to say it without sparking yet another stupid argument about “who is a natural what.” So, if you’re going to keep the coach, then you must fit a roster to the coach. Which means you get a traditional setup. Woody is married to the half court offense. The best traditional, “defined” roster for his style calls for a true pg/floor general/ball distributor, and a true center (for God’s sake, let’s not get into this AGAIN). We still have that coach, and we still do not have that roster. Problem still not solved.

Philly has a true center and a true point guard, so they have a solid foundation for the most basic of ideas in basketball. All they needed to do (which they have done, because their coach is a good coach) was find and define roles to fill the other slots: the 2,3, and 4. You can get away with not having a prototypical power forward if you have a real center. You CANNOT get away with having a prototypical power forward if you DON’T have a real center (or equivalent to the power forward who is big enough and tough enough to provide adequate help). Shooting guards and small forwards are the most abundant and obtainable assets in the NBA. Easily.

As I said before, how much of the big picture do you blame on the coach? I can’t stand the coach, but he doesn’t employ himself. Somebody else does. I veiled my last comment on this particular subject by saying that I almost didn’t have enough fingers to point at who is responsible. Now I’ll say it in a most direct fashion:

1)Knight hired the coach. It was a bad idea. He doesn’t match the oh-so-talented roster that Knight put together. We do not know when he first began trying to fire Woodson.

2)The roster we have IS talented. With a good coach, we could win more games. But if the 42-45 win plateau is all you ever hope for, then you don’t want much. By the way, if the roster remains this way, that is ALL you can ever hope for. So much for long-term goals.

2)The ASG (I cannot remember everybody’s damn name) has kept Woodson, as we learned some time ago from Sekou, rebuffing Knights attempts to oust him.

3)The roster does not fit the coach (and his style). The coach does not fit the roster (and it’s talent). If this is not rectified this summer, we can expect a few more wins and the same postseason results that we are experiencing now.

This argument is not, never has been, and never will be about the talent on this roster. It is about the misuse and mismatching of it. Ando piles a lot on the back of Knight. I have piled a lot on the back of Wooson. Many have piled a lot on the ASG. Nobody can deny the level of responsibility of throughout the organization. The ASG has the power that is indigenous to ownership. They hired a guy in Billy Knight, to do what he is supposed to be an expert at doing (they hired him because they are not experts themselves). His job is to put the right roster together and put the right coach in place. Answer me this, has he done that? On the flip side, only the ASG can answer for why Woodson is still here.

How’s that for definition? Can you tell I’m frustrated.

By SalimFan

April 21, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this

HAATTEERRR!!! LOL

By Tiger Woo

April 21, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this

ray,

All I’m saying is we need a spark off the bench and T-Lue used to provide that. He also made many clutch shots in his stay in Atlanta and is a proven veteran with playoff experience. Size really isn’t a factor if as long as you can perform. Chris Paul and Iverson are the same height as T-Lue.

Could J-Richardson provide that spark? Could be, if given the opportunity.

By mykhalc

April 21, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this

LOL

By SalimFan

April 21, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this

He’s just savin his handles for the right time, when he unleashes the nastiest crossover on rondo in the next game lol.

After the fallout from game 1, I think we all need a “pick me up” and since the pistons lost rip has to be the martyr unfortunately lol

You know what, after marvin’s game 1 performance he deserves a litte love too Bwahahahaa

By FUNK DAT

April 21, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this

I just hope that at some point in this series, Mr. Potato Head will finally get his “brain” to understand that what he’s been doing all regular season and now the first game of the playoffs has NOT BEEN WORKIN. You would think that being defeated 3 times in the regular season by double digits each game would cause one to figure out some other sort of game plan or switch things up. Maybe throw something different at your opponent that they wouldnt expect or anticipate. But of course, Mr. Potato Head sticks with his usual plan that got us our stellar record and barely into the playoffs. At some point, you just gotta say the hell with it and try something new. I really think we need a SPARK, someone other than our usual 7 man rotation, to provide some energy for the usual players to feed off of. I believe either Law, Richardson, or West could be that guy, who comes in with everything to prove and just hustles and makes plays so that the other guys can see the type of effort and desire they should be playing with every minute. Besides Horford, I dont think any of our players showed up with that “playoff” mentality. Maybe our “veterans,” JJ and Bibby forgot since it’s been a while for them. At any rate, the Hawks just need to mix it up and try something different because they really have nothin to lose. After last night’s showing, no one believes they have any chance in hell to win. So I say, mix it up and play fearless. Go Hawks.

By mykhalc

April 21, 2008 9:19 PM | Link to this

SalimFan, actually what’s funny is i REALLY wanna support SALIM. i heard he’s vegetarian and i’ve been one for 30yrs. so from a universal, karmic, lifestyle/diet standpoint the brotha gets it…at least that part!!! maybe that’s what happened to his handles!!!LOL serously tho, the BRAINLESS TRUST need to play him at the 2 with ACIE at pg and let them develop some chemistry!!! WOODSON’s gotta go…PERIOD!!!

By new jersey faithful

April 21, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this

We all know the problems, but maybe next year we will finally have something else to complain about!!

By SalimFan

April 21, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this

I Agree Myk lol, Woody’s gonna learn about the universe and karma as soon as this series is finished lol. He’s gonna have and ATL sized boot print on his rear end Gift wrapped coutesey of the ASG.

By Darrin "The Vent King"

April 21, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this

It’s not the Hawk’s that have forgotten what it is they do best, IT’S THE COACH! How can you NOT stress to your players to do what it is they do best? Bring back Fratello, he knew how to get an athletic team to run. Its amazing that they would try to do something they can not and have not been able to do and that’s be a half-court team. You have to have someone with a dependable post-up game that can command a double team and NO ONE on this team is that. Horford, bless his heart will be one day, but that day is not now. And please, please, PLEASE just trade Marvin Williams. I can not stand watching this guy anymore. He has to have the WORST post-up game ever. He’s like an over-sized 15 year old who hasn’t learned how to really play yet and is on the team only because he’s bigger than everyone else. We drafted him that high for baseline 15 footers? He has the build, but not the skills. I’ve never seen a guy go crashing into his defender with his head down as much as this dude man. Can someone teach him how to play down low for pete’s sake! Gheesh, his game is so weak. The fate of this team is really the GM’s fault. Paying Speedy Claxton all that money so he can drive his Bentley to rehab for YEARS? Passing on C Paul AND Derron Williams for Marvin “High Azz” Williams? J Johnson for 70 mil? Drafting Salim just to keep the bench warm? This is a classic example of cutting the head off and the rest of the body will follow. This organization’s head has cut itself off and bless the player’s heart, they are going down with them. Until that is fixed, nothing will change and Atlanta Hawks fans will continue to suffer. I really think we have some quality guys on this team; its just this organization is being ran by the Six Stooges…from the Atlanta Spirit to the GM, to the coach!

GO HAWKS!!

By preston

April 21, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this

Ray, I have only seen this team….the individual players, and not the coach raise up their level of play in spurts thru out the season……Childress has been a solid sixed man pretty much all season…….Acie, Salim, and Solo, and even Marvin, although he is a starter, hence more playing time, have all had nights where they contributed greatly to this team in wins…….and how does Woody reward them(?)…….by sitting them on the bench for the next week or two. I said it before, and I will say it again….Woody has ben the most schizoprenic coach in the league with the way that he has handled his bench…..and now he shaves his head bald for the playoffs and is talking NBA title, while he still treats his bench as his b-cth? I am a big Hawks fan, but I have had enough of “Woody”…..this season of putting up with his “coaching” can’t end soon enough.

By ray

April 21, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this

Honest Abe, again…I’d like for you to point out in my original post WHERE I even mentioned BK’s name. I tell you what it is, you clown: you saw Ando and immediately thought of his consistent (and correct) criticisms of Knight. In doing so, you assumed I was alluding to BK.

I know that the roles guys are playing are Woodson’s fault. Have I not been screaming about him for months? Call me a liar and say I haven’t. Hell, he’s nearly ALL I’ve been screaming about (and telling jokes about).

so sure if you want to blame bk for hiring a no name coach on the cheap and hoping he pans out, fine. but he new that this coach wasn’t right for the best roster that he’s been able to assemble and he wasn’t allowed to get that “other” coach

Alright, now what are you telling me here? Are you saying that Knight knew in advance that Woodson was not a good fit? I’m just asking, because the way you say it is kind of confusing.

I do believe I’ve referrenced Sekou’s article from a while back several times. Many times I’ve said that BK has not been able to make up for that mistake. I’m not sure why either.

By ray

April 21, 2008 9:43 PM | Link to this

SalimFan, yeah you’re right. Salim isn’t quite that small, LOL!

TigerWoo, I agree. The difference I was trying to point out is that Woodson trusted Lue, hence the playing time. However, he does not trust or develop the other guys, so they don’t get the playing time. We’ll never know if those guys can produce as long as Woody’s here. He keeps saying they’re not ready. So when will they be ready? And if the answer is “never”, then they need to be replaced by guys who are “ready.” But that’s a whole other argument…

By mykhalc

April 21, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this

we are NOT alone!!! at least there has been another blowout!!!

By mykhalc

April 21, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this

sorry richbrave, no harm intended!!!

By Mark

April 21, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this

Step one to defeating Boston is to force Rondo to play poorly which he can and does at times.

You are not going to do that with Mike Bibby who is horrible matchup against Rondo. It has got to be someone else so take your pick, Acie or Salim.

Step two is two guard Garnett with length. Neither Williams or Smith are tall enough. That leaves Horford and Pachuala.

You absolutely do not want to go small with Boston. It takes their worst player, Perkins off the floor.

My lineup,

Johnson Smith Horford Pachula Law

By richbrave

April 21, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this

HB:

It’s never too late my man.

By HB Ando

April 21, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this

Abe, I’ve never once suggested that Billy is the sole source of failure here. I don’t know how many times I’ve called Woody and the ASG out, as I’ve offered that there’s plenty of blame to go around.

But, I have only to go back to my Doc Rivers’ analogy: the Celtics won 42 more games, this year, than last. Last year, guys like Bill Simmons, and everyone with an ounce of Celtic blood, were calling for Doc’s head. Did Doc become 42 wins better, as a coach, over the course of one off-season? Hell no. Could another coach, besides Woody, do more with this roster? Hell yes. But there’s not a coach alive that could take this roster to 42 more wins.

So, at the end of the day, I hold Billy with a higher level of responsibility. Especially since he hired Woody.

Rivers looks like a damn genius with that Celtics roster. Last year his job was seemingly on the line on a daily basis. Even though Woody needs to be replaced, you have only to look at Doc Rivers, and imagine Woody coaching Paul, Roy, Igoudala, Monta Ellis and Josh Smith, and you’d have to a big-a* dent in your head to think that even Woody could take that team to +.500.

One of my biggest frustrations, with the blog, historically, is that so many folks want to make every issue either/or, or black or white. It’s never been that simple.

Billy, Woody, and the ASG, continue to share in the compendium that is this disappointment. You can’t fire the owners. But you’ve got more than enough solid evidence that neither Billy, nor Woody, have justified maintaining their jobs. They have both, continually, failed to perform up to reasonable standards for their profession.

Billy has passed on a half-dozen, legitimate young stars. Woody has repeatedly shown he is incapable of making in-game decisions, both from a play-calling, as well as a substitution, perspective.

Why does anyone here, who feels frustrated by the obvious failings of this franchise, over the last five years, and making the playoffs this year, at 8 games under .500 not withstanding, choose to argue that it is either Billy or Woody who is at fault.

Clyde has called it right, from the very earliest days, and in the most blunt fashion:

FIRE BILLY AND WOODY!

‘Nuff said!

By SalimFan

April 21, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this

Damn, I never expected Gilbo n’ company to get sacced twice. I only saw the last few minuets of the game though.

By drmaryb

April 21, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this

Push-It Real Good! -salt & peppa-

By HB Ando

April 21, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this

Would someone please buy Mary a large, life-like, super-sized, fleshy toy?

Her use of the blog to highlight her unmet needs, is disconcerting, to say the least……

Every time she posts, I have to do a double take to make sure I’m on Sekou’s Beat Blog, and not on Craig’s List.

By drmaryb

April 21, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this

HB Ando Is back and Is New and Improved! Fantastic - DIATRIBE!

But most of all, clever, succint-sp, and on the damned point!

By richbrave

April 21, 2008 10:52 PM | Link to this

mykhalc:

No harm. No foul. Call it like it is bro’. The Lizards are acting like a bunch of punk rookies. You can see from a different angle what it means to lose your composure in an NBA play-off situation. The only thing worse for the Hawks would be for them to be as brainless as these Lizards when they have the experience to know better.

Time for a serious #5. No more Kwame Brown’s, or Jahidi White’s, or Etan Thomas’. The team reeks without a seriously gifted center. “Z” does it to them every time.

drmaryb:

Stay away from this bunch girl. This Wizards team is done. Time to dissemble and regroup. I really think Gilbert Arenas hurts this team. Did you see Ernie Grunfeld’s face? Mine is smokin’ and I’m embarressed to say that I’m a D.C. fan. I know Abe Pollin and Ernie Grunfeld will change things. I hope the Coach stays however.

By SalimFan

April 21, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this

Hahahahaha, We love you mary.

BTW if you haven’t checked out my 9:10 pm post follow the links. Hehehe

By HB Ando

April 21, 2008 11:03 PM | Link to this

DrMaryB, you know I was just playin’, and love ‘ya bunches. Thanks for the props and it’s all good, girl!!!!!!

By richbrave

April 21, 2008 11:16 PM | Link to this

HB:

Dude. ALL caps!! My my. The good dr maryb should be honored. Great ups guys on a miserable night for us Wizards fans. Oh well, at least the Braves won (5th in a row). Life is sweet.

Hey ray:

what’s the latest news??!!

By doc

April 21, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this

rich, i think i said it the other day that the wiz might be hurt by arenas rather than helped. he is a lost soul right now relegated to trash talk with nothing to back it up with. i call those folks cheap shot artists.

look out richie, seems like ando is going for some thong love.

i wish i had sen the grunfeld look.

By mykhalc

April 21, 2008 11:33 PM | Link to this

thong luv…LOL

By mykhalc

April 21, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this

talk about a team knowin’ its’ identity…the JAZZ truly reflect their coach!!! how can we get one of those??? DAMN!!!! it ain’t fair!!!

By SalimFan

April 22, 2008 12:16 AM | Link to this

I know i’m jealous. We have the weapons we just need the driver.

Fratello was really good? You know you wanna come to tha “A” for a second stint….don’t be bashful lol. Holla!!

By wewantchange

April 22, 2008 12:20 AM | Link to this

We want change. Since the ASG won’t voluntary sell the team to an owner with pride for Atlanta sports, first find a proven GM. ASG, please sit down with Arthur Blank and take notes on Blank’s philosophy with the Falcons. Once the proven GM is established, he will be able to hire the right coach for our players!

Do this ASG, and Hawks become perennial playoff contenders - Atlanta becomes a basketball town again. Refuse to do this ASG, then you are proclaiming that YOU DO NOT CARE, and you deserve nothing but hate from Atlanta fans.

By anphill2

April 22, 2008 12:50 AM | Link to this

Anyone truly surprised to see Bibby get embarassed by Rondo?
I hope not.
Almost every possession, our defense is out of position for Mike’s lack of lateral quickness. He is right up there as the worst DEF PG in the league.

By Mark

April 22, 2008 1:13 AM | Link to this

Acie Law is the Hawk’s answer. He just simply has not been given the proper chance to be himself and “run the show” for this team. He’s a winner from a winning program in college. The guy single handidly won countless games with last second shots…over and over and over again. He was the best Point Guard in college basketball last year! He won the Bob Cusy award! He’s not a combo guard, or just a scoring 1. He is a polished and extremely capable Pure Point Guard who can also score. (The best one’s do score also in today’s NBA) He has all the right tools to do the same things in the NBA due to his size, speed, qickness, and overall floor LEADERSHIP. I can’t believe he’s been relegated to garbage time. It’s an insult to even put him in during garbage time. What in the hell has gone on between Acie and the head coach of Atlanta? Acie needed to be handed the reigns to this team early on and allowed to play through his rookie learning curve the way Jerry Sloan did for Deron Williams during his rookie year. Besides being injured, and out for 20+ games. He should have been immediately worked back into the rotation (and even after the trade for Bibby)

By Enough

April 22, 2008 1:30 AM | Link to this

Bibby had a bad game, but it was really the lack of playing your bench that was the real issue. Woody, has just failed in that area horribly and Salim, Law and Solo could be useful. Heck just put Solo in for size and use up his 6 fouls to disrupt the Celts flow. Same for West and Law. Salim may be the best long range shooter on the Hawks but isn’t used properly. The Hawks have pieces, though way to undersized to really be a true contender. But the style doesn’t fit with the personnel. Every other team goes 9 to 10 deep. We basically go with 7 players. Won’t work in the playoffs, even the Suns figured that out and now go at least 8 deep. But the East is more physical and you have to have bodies, thats why the Hawks didn’t compete at the end of the game Sunday. He has to sneak some minutes in for the bench to keep the starters fresh. You get the feeling though the organization was just happy backing into the playoffs, honestly Indiana just gaffed a perfect chance to over take this bunch. So why Woody thinks his style of using 7 men worked, it was really just Indiana being worst than the Hawks. Just a lackluster bunch and shoot way to many jumpshots which is always a sign of softness to me when you have the athleticism these guys have. This team should be trying to run teams out of the Gym on a nightly basis.

By BA

April 22, 2008 1:33 AM | Link to this

All right. Listen. Everybody put the razors DOWN. This was an awful, embarrassing beat down, to be sure. And Ray, I’m in the minority here, but I believe Big Al is going to grow into being an undersized but extremely solid center. But you nailed it on the bruiser part. We need a BRUISER, and he doesn’t even have to be a center. Imagine an aggressive energy player like Milsap, coming off the bench. I know, the guys going nowhere, but he’s a good example of what we need.

By Najeh Davenpoop

April 22, 2008 1:35 AM | Link to this

SalimFan is right… every new blog is starting to look the same now. Everyone’s saying the same thing. Everyone knows what needs to be done. Everyone, that is, except for the people who matter. Which leads me to this point — we should do like the city of Green Bay does with the Packers and own the Hawks collectively. F-ck the ASG. Go back to whatever Northeast city y’all junk mail moguls came from.

By BA

April 22, 2008 1:40 AM | Link to this

Hey RichBrave, your Wizards are out of control! Ejections, trash talking, showboating on the court when thy’re down by fourteen(what is WRONG with that guy Stevenson?!)- Looks like somebody else’s coach has lost the handle! Or is it numero zero that is gripping that club like a cancer…hate to see a team that’s every bit as talented as ATL waste their resources this way. Cleveland was certainly beatable before all the back and forth.

By BA

April 22, 2008 1:48 AM | Link to this

In regards to Marvin (CP, Ray, etc.) in the future, it’s still too early to write this kid off. He HAS improved defensively, and he HAS developed some moves in the post (the hook, occasional runner). Once again, he lacks the aggression to do these things even more now, but he’s come a long way. I’ve seen nothing to make me believe he won’t be even better next year. This series (for the reasonable, LUCID fans here) is about these young players learning what it takes to beat premiere teams in the playoffs. Can you think of a better example than the Celtics this year? Even so, I refuse to believe they get swept, we will steal one at home, and I hope all of you that can afford to go are there and screaming your azzez of.

By BA

April 22, 2008 2:04 AM | Link to this

‘Poop is right. So instead of Woody bashing again, I’m going to point out two extreme positives from game one: Horford and Childress. Chills continues to believe he’s a seven-footer, but I would have traded the K.G. psuedo-block for about four more of his famous back-door tip-ins. Horford came out and showed primetime that he is an animal, shattering the doubters once again. From all I’ve seen of Sekou’s interviews, Bibby came out like a man and took responsibility and vowed that there would not be a sequel. I think those chances are good. We have got to run some good hard picks early to get Bibby going, then feed Horford. A lot. Run the offense through Big Al. Use those picks ala Nash and Stoudamire. Take the pressure off Joe, use him as a decoy in a lot of the plays. Bring in A.C. early (never going to happen) and let him penetrate and kick out if Bibby struggles again. Trust me, Atlanta is not as bad as they played Sunday night. The problem is, Boston certainly IS as good as THEY played last night.

By ray

April 22, 2008 2:19 AM | Link to this

Today’s News

Right now,The Wiz are just that: pi$$ poor. If they want to become Wiz-ards, they better step it up several notches.

I wonder if Deshawn Stevenson still thinks that Lebron is “overrated”, especially after he single-handedly outscored the Wiz’s Big Three. I don’t know about YOU, but when a guy is averaging 31 a game against you…you might wanna think twice about calling him overrated. He might just throw 40 on ya.

Speaking of overrated, how is Agent Zero doing? You do realize of course that his once-cool nickname will become something of a mockery once this series is over. One reason will be because if the Cavs don’t collapse and the Wiz don’t play well above their heads (and it has to be both), this series will be over in 4…that’s right FOUR games.

Looks like Tracy McGrady will be making another first round exit. The Jazz are good, and they’re deep. McGrady fades quicker in the fourth quarter than a three-beer buzz. And since there’s no Yao or anyone else to have a stellar game…I’m thinking this might be another 4-gamer. 5-gamer if the Jazz have an off night and McGrady and company have a near perfect game.

I would love to see the Hornets make it to the second round. Because I like Chris Paul? No, this is a different reason. Because nobody’s better at kiddiewhinypoopycrybaby face than Mark Cuban and Dirk Nowitzki. Sorry, Dirk. You’re a damn good all-star basketball player and you deserve better….but few things were goofier/funnier than you kicking the crap out of that exercise machine last year (or was it the year before?). As for Mark Cuban, he’s just a turd. An insanely rich turd. And ironically, I’d be proud to call him OUR turd if he owned the Hawks. Yeah, it’s that bad around here.

In other news, Hawks players have yet one more legitimate reason for not looking at Woody in the huddle. The glare from his dome is just too much to take. Fans have noticed, too. Said one observer, “You know, at first glance, you’d think it was somebody else. But then the same dumb look, and you know it’s him.”

Another fan had this to say: “I didn’t know he shaved his head. I thought he had torn his hair out due to the frustration of losing. But then, if frustration is all it takes, then every last player would look like Al Horford out there.”

Yep, I agree. And now a stroll down memory lane:

Remember back when the Afro Ayatollah was interviewed a few years back by Sekou? Remember the idea of trying to run JJ at the point guard position? Remember how Afro Ayatollah said he laughed when people said we needed a point guard? And how much have we spent on point guards since then? Ahhh…yep. Including 14.5 million for one that won’t be staying here….not if you hope to resign Smoove & Co. Yep.

And finally. Damn, if hell keeps freezing over like this, the Devil is just going to have to move. Did I just see DrMaryB and HB Ando exchange compliments? Wow! Add Astro Joe to the mix and there really is a chance for world peace! Yeah, and I’ll lay my crack pipe down now…although it was nice to see.

By Najeh Davenpoop

April 22, 2008 2:29 AM | Link to this

At this point the Rockets have as much of a chance at advancing as the Hawks do. The only way the Rockets could advance is if they won all their games at home. But going to Utah down 2-0, about to play the team that lost 4 home games all year? Impossible. At least hopefully this time T-mac won’t cry about it.

By SalimFan

April 22, 2008 2:44 AM | Link to this

Hahahaha, I think the wizards players shouldn’t have watched the Hawks-Celtics game last night. The Glare from woodys dome must’ve really effected them.

The Blog Crimes Unit looked into the matter and apparently, DeShawn Stevenson was practicing his Tony Yayo “you can’t see me” impressions in front of the T.V and BAM! Woody’s dome temporarily blinds stevenson. Reports later stated that stevenson was o.k, but upon further review after game 2 it was revealed that steveson was playing with 20/10 vision. Which clearly explains why he kept getting OWNED by LeBron.

“Unfortunately there is no cure for the BWAF syndrome” stated a Blog unit Official. “It usually takes about a playoff series to get that Dome out of your system”.

Hopefully LeBron desn’t have any more posters in his repitriore for the next couple of games….Riight.

By Mac-Town

April 22, 2008 3:58 AM | Link to this

We rely on jump shooting waaay too much to be an average/below average overall jump shooting team. I mean come on, if we are going to play like that….Richardson might as well get more playing time.

If not, we need more people to drive to the hole and get guys in foul trouble and free points at the line. Childress is really the only one we have (that gets playing time)who goes STRONG to the hole hard and effectively.

Joe gets to the hole but not very strong, he usually goes in with that little floater type shot.

Marvin and Josh Smith try to but have bad handles and bad things usually happen half of the time they take it in there.

Bibby doesnt do it that much either really.

That’s why Acie Law should be getting WAY more playing time, to DRIVE THE BALL!

Also, I think it is too late this season ,maybe , but if we had develEped mario west better he might could have been a BIG factor. He has way more hustle and heart than anyone else on the team and the few times I have saw him in the game for good minutes he seems to draw some fouls playing his heart out gettin to the basket. The bad thing is he isnt a scorer and is a poor free throw shooter. However, if he had got more playing time I think he could be one of those garbage men that gets a lot of playin time on the sane teams. You kno, the guys who dont average that many points at all but seem to get a big board or defensive stop at the right time..maybe hit a couple ugly baskets and get to the line and come through despite their average (like Evans in Philly)

By MannyT

April 22, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

Juice LOL. Now teh real question is do they make folded arms to go with a Mr. Potato Head.

ray I agree about the pair of tough guys to clog the middle. Looking back to Detroit’s prior title run, no one would call Laimbeer & Mahorn major inside offensive threats. They rarely blocked shots, but they did a great job of defending the lane. The low post offense came from the small forward (Dantley or Aguirre) while Laimbeer picked & popped from the high post or top of the key.

Hopefully when we look at someone to fill the 5 spot defensively in the future, we don’t worry as much about a true center as an effective defender of the lane.

As for my Golden State reference, note it was about making the game uncomfortably fast. I realize we don’t have the best shooters, but if you think about our roster at the beginning of the season (i.e. even w/o Bibby), it was a very good fit for running and applying pressure and getting other teams frustrated with a fast pace.

Imagine running a fast break offense that reverted to a passing game on crack for the half court. Woody wants Chills to get some time at the PG and still have that slashing baseline game—keep everybody moving on offense instead of standing around watching someone pound the ball into the ground. This team should have an offensive attack motto:

Dribble & drive to play alive. Dribble to pound and you sit down.

The more we force the issue, the more we get to the line, the more we can apply pressure.

Even when you sprinkle in the bench, think about that hyper stuff that Salim does when trying to apply defensive pressure. It could have a place attacking the ball. Let Mario stick with a hot shooter and deny, deny, deny him the ball. If you know your going to get beat up inside in half court defense, speed up that deal to lessen the abuse on the inside and potentially force a few more turnovers. Force the hand of the other team to react to what we do.

This uses the GS concept, but with the advantages that our players have.

BWAF

By Bravesfan79

April 22, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

Yall are so right about not wanting van gundy and his “close games” i mean what fun would actually giving the other team a challenge be when we can get blown out by 20 because our defense sucks!??

People van gundys a good coach, (the Rockets have been my favorite team for years) and im shure hes very capable of pushing the tempo if needed.

BTW whoever said phillys roster is how to build a roster was about 90% right. I always liked how Houstons roster was built, on hard nose defense, with a big man in the middle that can block shots, and at least 2 or 3 players on the floor that can shoot the 3!!!
And yall cant talk trash about Houston because if they were in the East thed be dominate like Boston or Detroit.
I think Thad Young is already probably better than Marvin, and within 2 years hell be ALOT better than Marvin.
And when you look at the center position, Dalembert, Mutombo, Oden, Howard are all shot blocking rebounding centers who play their position like it should be played!!
Thats a BIG upgrade over ZaZa.

And i still think we need a young true pt guard. I think Crinnenton or Jarred Jack would both be more capable (and better drivers) than AC law. I like AC but he and Salim should be our 3 pt specialist off the bench.

That said, i just wanna see the Hawks play close games. And that means Josh Smith playing smarter and not jacking up 3’s like hes freakin Reggie Miller.

By choc_chip

April 22, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

After reading the blogs it occurred to me what the real problem is with the Hawks. It’s not they dont’ have an identity, they do. However, they don’t realize it. The problem is not the Hawks it is conflicting philosophies between the coach and the GM. The model of player the GM has been drafting is the long , fast and athletic player with the abilty to play more than one position who is primarily built for the “run and gun” style of basketball. However, the GM hired a coach that came from a regime that emphasized defense and a style of ball the insists upon half court offensive sets. Obviously these are two conficting styles of play. I believe this is the main reason why BK wants to fire Woody. We need a coach who comes from a team that plays the run and gun type ball that these guys are suited for. So when looking for the next coach look for someone from the Phoenix Suns organization.

By choc_chip

April 22, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

After reading the blogs it occurred to me what the real problem is with the Hawks. It’s not they dont’ have an identity, they do. However, they don’t realize it. The problem is not the Hawks it is conflicting philosophies between the coach and the GM. The model of player the GM has been drafting is the long , fast and athletic player with the abilty to play more than one position who is primarily built for the “run and gun” style of basketball. However, the GM hired a coach that came from a regime that emphasized defense and a style of ball the insists upon half court offensive sets. Obviously these are two conficting styles of play. I believe this is the main reason why BK wants to fire Woody. We need a coach who comes from a team that plays the run and gun type ball that these guys are suited for. So when looking for the next coach look for someone from the Phoenix Suns organization.

By choc_chip

April 22, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

After reading the blogs it occurred to me what the real problem is with the Hawks. It’s not they dont’ have an identity, they do. However, they don’t realize it. The problem is not the Hawks it is conflicting philosophies between the coach and the GM. The model of player the GM has been drafting is the long , fast and athletic player with the abilty to play more than one position who is primarily built for the “run and gun” style of basketball. However, the GM hired a coach that came from a regime that emphasized defense and a style of ball the insists upon half court offensive sets. Obviously these are two conficting styles of play. I believe this is the main reason why BK wants to fire Woody. We need a coach who comes from a team that plays the run and gun type ball that these guys are suited for. So when looking for the next coach look for someone from the Phoenix Suns organization.

By Nookah

April 22, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

Folks, unfortunately I do not have the time to read all your blogs but I can bet if I was to do so I’d come away with one major theme…….coaching, coaching and more coaching” That’s what we need and that’s what we do not have.

Sad!!!!

Go Hawks anyway!!!

Nuff Respect!!!!

By tribe called qwest

April 22, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

choc-chip I have been blogging that for months. The Hawks have a run and gun body, but the mind of a half court game…also, remember that woodson played for Bobby Knight for 4 years and coached under Larry Brown for 4 years, so this guy is sold lock, stock and barrell on the half-court game. He, just like his predecessors, abhor the run and gun. Now what Billy should have done was to either merge his style with the coach or vice versa. Woody might be a helluva a coach with the pieces that match his philosophy, ie. Doc Rivers, last year he was the worst coach. This year he is the best coach. Doc is still the same person, but he has better personnel that matches his style…

By Nookah

April 22, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

Choc_chip, you captured it in your blog. We have an incongruence between Head Coach & players. One is from the “half-court” school and the players are built to run!!!

Now how can you ask a sprinter to run a marathon and be competitive?

Nuff said!!

Nuff Respect!!!

By tribe called qwest

April 22, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

The Hawks are the laughing stock of the league: I posted this link to articles.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-32-85/Celtics-vs—Hawks-Bullets.html

By Jason

April 22, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

**NEWSFLASH: RAY, YOU’RE NOT FUNNY. NOBODY LAUGHS AT YOUR LAME CRAP. QUIT WASTING HALF YOUR DAY TRYING TO IMPRESS USS.

YOU

ARE

NOT

FUNNY **

By The Scoop

April 22, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

Update: My sources tell me that Sam Cassell is still ugly as hell.

By richbrave

April 22, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

JASON:

Don’t diss the assistant blogmeister. Personally I think he’s funny as hell most of the time. Nobody runs on 100% octane ALL the time. Except airplanes, and they’re not human. Shut the f-up.!

By KingCobra

April 22, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

The Hawks have enough talent to SHOCK THE HELL OUT OF THE CELTICS, THROTTLE THEM AND send them back to Beantown after unleasing a thorough beatdown of the Celtics. I am predicting that the Hawks will win the series with the Celtics in six games. The Celtics remind me of the Green Gremlins from Outer Space who are nothing more than Green Monsters who try and intimidate teams when they can. The Celtics look like creatures from ET. The Hawks have MORE THAN ENOUGH FIREPOWER to run the Celtics into oblivion by making the game a track meet. The Hawks are quick and run like gazelles so they simply need to run the floor with speed and quickness while using their length to overpower your opponent while gambling on defense hoping that their quickness and length will disrupt the passing lanes. The Hawks SHOULD COPY THIS WINNING FORMULA THAT THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERS USED SUCCESSFULLY AGAINST DETROIT and the results should be the same. HAWKS VICTORIOUS IN SIX.

By Sean C

April 22, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

it seems to me the team would greatly benefit from starting childress over marvin. he is a difference maker and really brings a spark when he comes off the bench. his intensity is something we need from the opening tip. at least chill can get to the basket. if marvins jumper isnt falling hes just wasting space on the court

By RA

April 22, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

Now, here’s the thing, most good teams have one player that can take over a game by himself (eg Cleveland). Really good teams have two (eg the Chicago Bulls, the LA Lakers (1987/88 and early 2000’s incarnation). The Boston Celtics have 3 great players, four if you count Cassell that can take over a game by themselves. Now, I know for a fact that it’s the easiest thing in the world to blam Woodson and Knight for them getting their butts smeared from one end of the court to the other, but the simple truth of the matter is that what happened to them Sunday night could have very easily happened to any other team east of the Missippie River. It’s not that the Hawks are that terrible, although I know they can play better, Boston is that #%?! good! Now, the only way that they have a snowball’s chance of being competitive in this series is if they actually help each other on defense and run as if they’re lives depend on it. Even more than that, they need to play mad. Boston isn’t just out to beat them. Boston’s out to humiliate them in front of a nation-wide audience. It’s time to start taking that personal. They need to stay under control, but they need to take it personal, and I want to see Woody get tossed. When your team is getting thrown from one end of the floor to the other and nothing’s getting called, it’s time to tear a ref up one end and down the other. Now, it won’t make any difference to the ref you understand because Atlanta’s not going to get any calls against Boston, bottomline, but it will show your team that you’re down for them. This is the way it is, you got the Boston Celtics against you, most of the civilized world, and the press. If I were a Hawk, I’d want to know that at least my coach was ready to go to war for me.

By tribe called qwest

April 22, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

Do you all realize that if the Celts sweep us, we would have lost 7 games in a row to them? 3 during the season and 4 games in playoff. That says alot about both teams.

By RA

April 22, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

King Cobra,

I don’t know what you’re drinking, but I’ll have a couple. Now, don’t get me wrong. Atlanta has as talented a starting five as you’re going to find anywhere, problem is, they’re simply not deep enough to run those five (six counting Chills) players for 48 minutes. I mean Jo Johnson looked exhausted in the first quarter of the game Sunday. Like I said, our guys are talented, adn I believe they can give Boston a run, but with the depth that we have on hand, they can’t beat that team.

By FUNK DAT

April 22, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

I like what you’re sayin RA. Unfortunately, we have Mr. Potato Head as a coach, who is only able to open his mouth, give a dumbfounded look, and cross his arms. Unfortunately, the Mr. Potato Head that can actually coach and scream at refs has not been developed as of yet.

By cob

April 22, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Sekou, I thought Chuck switched parties.

By Brandon

April 22, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

We should RUN AND RUN SOME MORE AND KEEP RUNNIN!!!! Philly did it and it worked. Joe is a go-to guy easily but we dont have an offense to get him the ball in good conditions. He doesnt have the athletic ability of a Kobe Bryant or Lebron James but he can ball on that level because he’s smart and works hard.

WOODY MUST GO!!!! We need a coach who can bring our team together. We’re too lazy on offense if we have one and we’re too undiscipled on defense and thats coaching. Our coach is not a leader he’s an assistant and thats it in a nut shell. We need a veteran coach with a defensive mindset and open offensive beliefs.

WE NEED A BIG MAN!!!!!!!!!!! At least one 7ft on our starting 5 with a winning mentality like Al Horford. Not an old big man but a seasoned big man. Then we can move Marvin Williams to the bench which will strengthen our weak bench. Marvin really hasnt finished developing yet and I cant wait till he mans up and uses his length and strength to his upside.

By Pete

April 22, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

SHUT UP AND BUY A PLAYOFF TICKET AND SUPPORT!

By fudd21

April 22, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

Why are so many people wanting to get a center and move Marvin to the bench. Did anyone see Josh shoot the 2 open air balls in game one. Josh doesn’t have the skills, ball handling and shooting, to play the 3. Now I’m not saying that Marvin is there either but getting a traditional low post center and moving Josh to the 3 would clog the middle. If we got an Okur or Brad Miller type maybe, but Josh still needs someone to get through to him that he is 10 times better operating down low and driving to the hole.

Barkley said that we dont have a go to guy and I somewhat disagree with that cause JJ is IMHO. However he gets so many double and sometimes triple teams that it negates some of his effectiveness. I beleive that for us to ever become contenders, we have to get a secong scoring option. Boston has 3 and 4 if you count Sam. We have one Joe.

We got the 8th seed this year and with a better coach probably could have gotten 5th or 6th. But unless Josh or Marvin develop into that second option that stops teams from double and triple teaming Joe so much, we will not be contenders.

Joe said at the beginning of the year he needed help. I just hope that the powers that be bring some help in cause I sure dont want Joe to leave. If getting help means trading one of our so called core guys than so be it (big Al excluded). I dont think we will be contenders with our current roster.

Ando said earlier if we resign the Joshes at 12 mil and 6 mil our payroll would be at 67 million. Thats over the salary cap. Im not a salary cap expert but I think that would enable us to sign free agents except for league minimum. Also I dont thing ASG would shell out that type money for a non-contending team. Not to mention that Marvin and Big Al’s contract would be coming up soon. Marving might not but Big Al is going to command a nice salary.

Changes will be coming and they will probably be coming this summer. But the first one should be all together now FIRE BILLY AND WOODY!!

By KingCobra

April 22, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

I wish that you idiots would STOP calling for Billy and Woodys head. The fact of the matter is that first off, “THE HAWKS HAVE MADE THE PLAYOFFS”, SO THAT IS ACCOMPLISHMENT #1. (Woodys bald head proves that out). Secondly, the Hawks WILL knock off Boston, putting them in a great position to win the Eastern Conference. Thirdly, if Boston gets eliminated by the Hawks, which they will, then the Hawks may have to play Detroit or Orlando to come out of the Eastern Conference as champions of the east. The Atlanta Hawks are substantially more talented than Detroit or Orlando and will beat either one of those clubs handily. So I guess the essence of my BLOG today is to say that the Hawks may soon be playing for the NBA title, so just shut up and watch the Hawks win the Eastern Conference.

By drmaryb

April 22, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this

Go ray-star

your stuff is ridiculous that’s all I can say - Get Em’!.

Yeah! man I got love for anybody who got passion an opinion and some game! If you can dish it and take it?

I say Bring it On! Just don’t cry when I bust you in your face - because, I don’t cry when they bust me in mine.

So, There is no crying on the - Blog Crimes Unit! No - cry-babies! (That’s My Motto!)

Speaking of cry-babies, it that a (wah! wah! waaah!) I hear coming over there from HOUSTON, TX?

What in the world is Rick Adleman complaining about? -

Officiating? Officiating - Your’e talking to me about - OFFICIATING?

What is this Tracey McGrady crap all about? This bum is one-dimensional and is apparently allergic to DEFENSE, much like the HAWKS are. And, his candy-butt Is complaining about OFFICIATING?

I Don’t even talk about the Hawks anymore. (in case you all haven’t noticed!)

They Hawks haven’t done a damn thing for me - LATELY and until they do? Nuff Said! It’s all been said before.

Whoever is Pi$$ing LeBron off? Just STOP IT! That is Just WRONGE!

Let’s Play some B-ball & Let’s make some NOISE! Just Win!

By drmaryb

April 22, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this

Al Horford may have the back-bone of:

Sir-Charles Think about it! If we had a dominant #5? whew! can you say TWIN-TOWERS?

Hey HB I got Thong-Love for you too! As, long as it’s OK with my man RichBrave?

(He better say, “NO-Way! - The Girl Is Mine!” -MJ-) LMBoobiesO

doc are you stirrin’ & stirrin’ & stirrin’ that old black kettle again?

By boxcar danny

May 2, 2008 12:49 AM | Link to this

If the Celtics are so good, why have they lost two games to the supposed worst team in post season play? If the Hawks are so bad why are they way in the hunt?….It’s obvious that the assumptions made by the mass media and the betting odds are tipped too far….This series is way closer than ” all that “…..