AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2008 > September > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMorris eager to mix it up
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
HAWKSVILLE - While the rush excitement on media day included first looks (for many people) at the familiar names and faces that helped the Hawks to the playoffs last season, Randolph Morris held down his corner of the room in relative obscurity.
That’s not an easy task for a man that stands 6-11 and 275 pounds, but since signing his free agent deal with the Hawks over the summer Morris blended in as well as anyone.
While appearances by his more high profile teammates made a bigger splash during summer workouts, it was Morris that made it the weight room and gym every day during the offseason.
“I didn’t have nothing else to do,” Morris said and then laughed. “Seriously, though, I’m trying to make my mark. I had to be in here every day. I had to go to work. I had to be back in this gym to get my game right.”
No one was happier than Morris to get on the floor for the start of the contact work of training camp (the first official practices started 10 minutes ago). When he targeted the Hawks during the early stages of free agency, he pointed to this morning as his first real chance to make an impression.
“The opportunity is what I make it,” Morris continued. “That’s why I’m going to continue to work my hardest and try and get in where I fit in.”
Morris didn’t have the same opportunity to earn a spot in the rotation in his previous NBA stop, in New York. With a roster stocked with high salaried big men and the cosmic dysfunction that plagued the Knicks over the past few years, his initial voyage into pro basketball was an adventure, to say the least.
“Every team has its own vibes and it trickles down from the management and the coaches and how your infrastructure works,” Morris said. “Right here, it’s just a totally different set up and one that fits where I am right now. So if I just work, grind every single day and bring that lunch pail with me at all times, I think I’ll be able to get where I want to be this season.”
I’ll have Day 1 updates and observations this afternoon, so stay tuned.
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Comments
By Ernest
September 30, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
The preseason ranking were posted on ESPN. Looks like many in the media are not convinced we will have a good season. See their rankings here: ESPN Preseason Power Rankings
I’m really looking forward to this season!
By smartguy
September 30, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
We still have Mike Woodson as a Head Coach. Regardless of the players, Woody will try his hardest to screw up the season.
Najeh - how funny would it be to see Greg Knapp become the head man in Oakland? I think I’d still take him over Woody, though.
By Lacsho
September 30, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this
Thank for the info!!!!
By Dan
September 30, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
I hope Morris can contribute. I have my doubts, though. I really thought Brown would have been the better big man to pick up for this team. We’ll see…
I am tired of the preseason rags not respecting the Hawks. I think this team can win 43-45 games, possibly more if the injuries do not pile up.
By mountain_jim
September 30, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
Looking forward to daily updates and observations Sekou.
By Mychelfromatl
September 30, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
ESPN has the Hawks ranked at #22(WTF!!!) That’s disrespectful as Hell!!! Man this is crazy, I’m already in my Hawks vs Celtice mode, the season can’t get here soon enough. Lets Go Hawks.
Rise Up
By some sense
September 30, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
This space is no longer a forum on Mike Woodson. He is the coach; he has a two year contract; he is an asset. If any of this were not the case, he would not be the coach.
Everyone who insists that this space remain a forum on Woodson, two words…YOU’RE BORING…deal w/ it. Maybe your girlfriend’s impressed, but no one else is.
You probably yell AIR BALL at games.
By Volman
September 30, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
Sekou, thanks for firing up these daily posts…
I think you’re as excited as all of us Hawks fans are!! Things are starting to heat up!!
I hope to see you all out for the Season ticket holder event on October 11th!!
Sekou, I’m going to be hitting refresh for the next two months on an hourly basis!!!
Marvin looks a lot bigger
Go Hawks!!
By doc
September 30, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
ding!
By richbrave
September 30, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
AIR BALL, AIR BALL.
By doc
September 30, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this
heh heh
By ant banks
September 30, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
dan and mychelfromatl did you see us play last year? that is why the preseason media don’t respect us!! everthing that happened last year was an anomaly…doesn’t normally happen 1. making the playoffs with 37 wins, 2. getting 3 games from the eventual champs, at home 3. woody using 6 players throughout the playoffs these thing don’t normally happen, so the media figures that we are scrubs. personally, i am of the opinion that we need to prove that we merit attention by doing well during the regular season.
somesense we are frustrated with woody. that is why we discuss him here…which is what this is for, i thought. everyone one in the league feels that we are talented and that woody doesn’t run things right, like the way he underutilized salim, didn’t properly develop his youth. as a matter of fact, he hates rookies. all he wants is a team of vets, but i will stop talking about him here since you say that this is not the place for that.
By TruATLien
September 30, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
The ultimate indignity was Stein having the BOBCATS rated higher than the Hawks! I can’t see how the Bucks will be better than us (especially minus Mo Williams), but, whatever. We have to show and prove on the court and not develop The Big Head as a result of some modest success (Woody’s shiny bald dome notwithstanding).
I really hope Randolph does make a contribution with us - it’s beyond time he step out of Dwight Howard’s shadow and do something productive with that big body. And let’s hope all those new tats signify a nice nasty streak in Marvin.
By Astro Joe
September 30, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
some sense, been here before you, will be here after you. And as long as “the asset” maintains his one-size-fits-all approach to coaching, I’ll be here waxing about how he “gots to go”. And congrats, better to have some than none at all.
By the way, whatever happended to that person who called out all of those who didn’t like Woody’s coaching and we gave him like 500GBs of names to maintain? I wonder if Geek Squad was able to fix his PC after we wrecked his hard drive. Was that you, “some sense”?
By Najeh Davenpoop
September 30, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
Smartguy, as much as I dislike Woody as a head coach he has not so far destroyed the career of the most talented player to ever play in his sport. So until he does that I’d rather have him over Greg Knapp. As far as Knapp is concerned, my thoughts and prayers have been with JaMarcus Russell ever since they hired him.
By Najeh Davenpoop
September 30, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
And as for those ESPN rankings… it’s one thing to rank us at 22, but to rank us below the BOBCATS?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!
I think even Ando has higher hopes for us than that.
By JD
September 30, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
I wouldn’t say let’s NOT talk about Woodson, but how many times do you kick the man before he’s down for the count? The man had to make a choice, albeit a difficult choice, to shorten his bench in order to push the team into the playoffs. It cost them DEARLY as his bench was not well prepared to handle the playoff atmosphere as they should have, but they gained valuable experience and exposure to what it takes to get back to that level. Will it translate into success this season remains to be seen.
I think that it’s fair that the Hawks are ranked where they are because for the longest time this franchise has been a running joke in the NBA. The Hawks have to PROVE to themselves and to the rest of the league that they are for real. Training camp is where it needs to start and it needs to carry over into the season. I, for one, am excited about the potential of this team. I’m looking forward (and I got my tickets) to the upcoming season.
By jhan
September 30, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
some sense - aren’t the players considered assets to this team as well? Are we not allowed to talk about them either? Talk about a boring blog if that is the case!
Yes, I have yelled “AIR BALL” at a Hawks game. Does that mean I should not buy season tickets any longer? I bet the owners would disagree with you on that point.
I have also yelled at the refs when they make a bad call, cheered for the players when they make a good play, booed them when they play like crap, & yelled at the coach when he refused to make in game adjustments.
Isn’t that what a fan is supposed to do?
By JD
September 30, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
Let me retract that statement about them being fairly ranked. BEHIND THE BOBCATS??? This is the respect factor that I’m talking about. The Hawks garner none of it, and what’s worse is that the so-called ‘experts’ are all saying negative things about them this year.
So, again, the Hawks need to PROVE to themselves and the rest of the league that they are a team to be reckoned with this season.
By Ryder
September 30, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
somesense at least we have girlfriends to impress……
anyway, I would post the rankings all over the Hawks’ bulletin board this year. The problem with ESPN heads like fatboy Mark Stein is that he sees a flashy name like Larry Brown and instantly thinks they’ll be a contender.
Let the Hawks keep flying under the radar as they return to the playoffs this year!
By reg
September 30, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
I still say get on the horn and pull off a trade for pryzbilla from the blazers for a PF and SF from the hawks. We have enough forwards to spare. That way Horford can man the PF position. Come on Sekou, make it happen!! I know you got pull… Oh and by the way, WOODSON SUCKS!!!!!!
By cp
September 30, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
Najeh Davenpoop I will have to agree with your earlier comments. You already know how I feel about Greg Knapp.
I hope Morris shows the promise he did at times at Kentucky. He could be a very valuable player this season if used properly but hey thats a whole other topic.
SalimFan since you are the king of links. Can you post the video of Emmit Smith repeating the words to the song put on last night during the Monday night football games . I guess Emmit forgot they were live. lol. I know its not about basketball but boy it was funny.
By ray
September 30, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
Heh. Well, some sense, you’ve earned yourself some attention today. But you better hurry and log off or you’ll miss the bus again….you know, the short one….
By Jimbo
September 30, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
If Morris can make a decent contribution, that will really alleviate our woes at center and allow us to make the playoffs again.
I’ve never been this excited about the season starting. GO HAWKS!
By Hawksville Resident
September 30, 2008 6:37 PM | Link to this
I’m pulling for Morris, but he has to be Mario West hungry to steal minutes from Horford and Zaza. I’ve been hearing gret things from Morris and Solo, but there’s not enough minutes for them all…
By TruATLien
September 30, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
Only one thing makes sense now: somesense IS Woody! But you left out “You probably clap THUNDER STICKS at games!” Do they bother you way down on the bench??