AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USCamp Insider II
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
HAWKSVILLE - It appears we’ll have to wait one more day to see the Hawks in some live scrimmage action.
They wrapped up Wednesday’s workout some five-minute drills but there was no actual scrimmaging.
“Towards the end of practice [Thursday] we’ll probably start scrimmaging,” Woodson said.
And while the Hawks’ starting five of Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith and Al Horford is etched in stone, Woodson said he will be on the lookout for things he can exploit with mismatches.
“We’ll continue to approach our starting unit as it is,” Woodson said. “But there’s a chance I could tinker and look at other combinations, you just never know. I don’t think you go into a season and not look at possible changes. I’m going to whatever it takes for us to win basketball games. And if that means tinkering with the lineup or playing 10 or 11 guys against eight or nine guys, then that’s something I have to figure out as we go through the exhibition season.”
Any potential tinkering with the starting five (can’t imagine too much going on there) and the bench rotation (still has to be worked out) will make things mighty interesting going forward.
It’s clear the Hawks are looking for an edge, for some things they can exploit that perhaps went untouched last season. Woodson isn’t tipping his hand (maybe he’s trying to throw opponents off by talking as much as he has about tinkering), but he has me sufficiently intrigued as to what he might do.
MARVIN HOBBLED: Williams took a knee to the leg during a drill in Wednesday’s workout and was hobbling throughout the end of the session, but insisted that he was fine when I asked him about it as he walked to the locker room.
“I’ll be fine,” he said. “It was just a play where Frank [Robinson] accidentally caught me in the leg and now it’s a little sore. But I’m fine.”
GARDNER AILING: The same can’t be said for second-year swingman Thomas Gardner, who was in practice gear but didn’t work out due to a sore calf. Woodson said Gardner has to get a MRI on the leg before anyone can determine the severity of the injury.
SHOWING LOVE TO THE FANS: There’s a whole chapter devoted to the Hawks- Celtics playoff series in a book about the Celtics’ title run last year (Top of the World, the inside story of the Boston Celtics’ amazing one-year turnaround to become NBA champions by former longtime Boston Globe NBA writer Peter May) that is an interesting read.
May describes in great detail the dramatic swings in momentum in the series and correctly points out the role the fans in both cities played in changing the complexion of home games, for both teams, throughout.
Particularly interesting to me was a quote from one of the Celtics’ owners, Wyc Grousbeck, which has to rank as the one line I never thought I’d read about Philips Arena.
“The noise in that arena was by far the loudest of any of the buildings we played in during the playoffs,” he said.
Having been there and having covered playoff games around the league the past eight years, that’s saying something for an arena and a fan base often chided for being empty and subterranean, respectively.
And when you realize the Celtics went to face Cleveland, Detroit and LA after the Hawks and Grousbeck maintains that Philips had the best noise, that tells you just how electric that atmosphere really was, especially for those of us lucky enough to be in the building.
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Comments
By ATLRattler
October 1, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
I would like to thank Mr. May for mentioning me in his then. That was a great atmosphere, I hope & pray we can revisit it this year.
Is it me or is Marvin (body wise) morphing into a PF. I use to think Smooth could one day become a Karl Malone type, but if Marvin improves (a whole helluva lot) perhaps, maybe…ay, I guess we’ll see!
By Hawksville Resident
October 1, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
Amen Sekou! The best sporting events in a long time! I can’t wait until Opening Night!
By Astro Joe
October 1, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this
No doubt… Phillips was crazy loud. My ears are still ringing from attending Game 4 several months ago (that and talking in person to Ando at the pretzel stand). I recall when Zaza got in KG’s mug, when JJ hit that 3 from near the half-court line, when we came back from something like a 9 point 4th quarter deficit. Oh yeah, that place was crazy. i was VERY fortunate to attend a Heat-Knicks playoff game in the 90s when I lived up in Jersey. Nothing can be compared to a hostile Knicks crowd during a playoff series. But Atlanta represented quite well for ourselves during the Celtics series.
Maybe Woody is planning to do something truly delusional and crazy, like substitute players based on game action. Like (imagine this), if player A is smoking hot AND isn’t it foul trouble, leaving him in the game and riding his hot hand. Or, (hold on to your chair), if the team is being hammered on the boards, bringing in Zaza or Randolph to play with (grab your hat) Horford, as opposed to replacing him. I know, radical and provocative ideas. Here’s another brain-teaser, maybe (dare I say it), maybe Woody is planning to use Flip early in the season to reduce the wear & tear on JJ so that when we have a bunch of home games later in the season, he’ll have enough energy in his tank to optimize the scheduling advantage.
I know, I know. I have some really bizarre thoughts about how he may coach the team. And I know that ulitmately he is a guy with a few hundred games of NBA coaching experience. So I will trust that his vast coaching acument will lead this team to unprecedented heights.
By Swatguy
October 1, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
With respect of our training camp roster, will there be a move or two on the horizon? Will another “Big” be in the offering? It appears Acie will have his hands full battling Bibs, Flip and Speedy for time. But Acie seems to be in an excellent position to learn. Whatdoyathink?
By Swatguy
October 1, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
“And I know that ulitmately he is a guy with a few hundred games of NBA coaching experience. So I will trust that his vast coaching acument will lead this team to unprecedented heights.”
That’s the spirit Joe. Your approach is a veritable buttress of support for Coach Woodson. You make it easy to be a Hawk Fan. :>)
By cajun jambalaya
October 1, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Hey Blog K, I saw the news on Dominique taking over the analyst role on the Hawks broadcasts this season. What happened to our boy Steve Smith?
By Josh Childress
October 1, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this
Yawn
Sekou, nice post. But you are missing OUT! Get your bad self over to Greece — you and me will OWN this town. The Greek women put the ATL hotties to shame.
Rise Up!
By I.MUS WRITE
October 1, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this
Bring back Smitty…..I for one dont want to hear Nique talking all season-reminds me of MR.Ed..oops I mean Shannon Sharpe.
By Harry Hawk
October 1, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
John Hollinger lumps Acie into the “real dregs” of the roster. If I’m Acie, I want to make that stat-obsessed punk eat those words. The ideal situation for the team is to have Acie Law step up and be the backup point guard. That allows Flip to play the 2 and give JJ a rest. Anything Speedy gives the team is a bonus at this point.
Anyway, I’m much more concerned about the frontcourt. Unless Solo and Morris are big surprises, the Hawks’ bench will be no better than D-League (thanks, Hollinger) in the paint. That’s the problem that absolutely was not addressed this offseason, but the team should still be around .500 because of the starting five.
By vdunkndunk
October 1, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
In terms of tinkering with the lineup, I love the idea of starting Maurice Evans at SG and moving Joe to SF. That would allow Evans to play the role of defensive stopper and long-distance shooter to take some pressure off of Joe, while allowing Marvin to come in off the bench as a scorer to replace some of Chills’ production. At the end of the game you go with whatever is working best.
By Astro Joe
October 1, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
Swatguy, just here to help. LOL!
By doc
October 1, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this
ok i am in for season tix. manny t i’ll be right around the corner from you …… in the front rooooow! also a bit closer to the pretzels and beer. look forward to seeing the regulars there.
now i put my money where my muth is so if i want to take on the powers that be about their product i will be very self righteous about it. naw i know i aint got no pull or power but i will grab any illusion possible to make my case. even samuel cant stop me now if the season hits the skids. i am surprised at how the national media has treated us even though i havent seen the articles in detail. if the bucks put up 10 to 12 more wins this year than last as suggested then scott skiles will get and deserve the coach of the year award. would like to say the hornets are worse than us however they have rung our chimes too may times over the last three years to say they are not worthy of concern. pacers and bulls are wild cards that could rise up like the sixers did and rain on our parade.
was with someone close to the marion situation with the suns and he seems to be a head case. he might lie down even if he is making enough money that the federal reserve is looking to loan money from him at a very attractive rate. the suns just finally had enough of his complaints for more with amare and nash making significantly less than him. with that said it could get messy still in miami especially if beasley goes to the looney bin with him. wade may need to be a good counselor this year as well as put up super human numbers.
sadly hollinger really might be right about solo and morris but they are our bigs so let them be for now. but if they were at that level they would probably be upper tier nbdler’s,no?
By doc
October 1, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
see how positive i have become?
v’dunk you have stated a line up that several of us have wondered about. it is certainly what will have to come forth with the loss of chills, now the question is will it perform better than chills or not. i think it will be determined by how jj accepts the change in role. if he relishes it and finds how advantageous it is to him working against sf’s then he might rally light it up. he is big enough to handle it physically. i also think hat will be a lineup to close games with.
as for marvin at the power position not with horford marked as the one to go there ultimately. however, it might turn out to be his best position as he ages. when he came in i saw him as more a replacement for al who played the pf role a lot and smith ended up there. a lot is going to be on … uh oh …. woody shoulders to see how creative he can be with the talent he has.
By SC
October 1, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this
Looking forward to the season.
By ant banks
October 1, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
I would like to coin the expression FLIP MO SQUAD for flip murray and mo evans roles. if used properly, the FLIP MO squad, will be the diff b/w us winning 37 games and 44
By ant banks
October 1, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
with our unique guard situation bibby, ac, speedy, flip/mo squad, we will be sitting in the catbird seat up thru the trade deadline…if any guard around the league goes down they will be calling on us. maybe we can get a draft pick or two out of the deal.
By Sekou K. Smith
October 1, 2008 6:08 PM | Link to this
You are hilarious Ant Banks, Flip Mo Squad. Ha.
I don’t know about any moves Swatguy. Anything is possible. We’ll have to wait and see what happens. But if they keep 15 or 14 for the start of the regular season, I’d bet they are all currently in the house.
By Najeh Davenpoop
October 1, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this
Haha that’s a GREAT nickname. I’m gonna start using that too. My only question is, if Murray and Evans make up the Flip Mo Squad, who is Busta Rhymes?
By Volman
October 1, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
Doc, where are you all going to be with your season tickets? I’ve got a year left of college so I can’t get the “nice” seats just yet, haha. I’ll be up in 303 like I was last year. It was great to hang out at halftime and I look forward to more of those times this upcoming season.
I still don’t see where Solomon or Randolph Morris fit into the equation yet. Smoove and Horford can play the 4, and Horford and Zaza can man the 5. I would LOVE to see Morris get some burn at the 5, and even Solomon at 5 or 4… There’s even Othello or Marvin who can play the 4… Heck, Smoove played 5 some even. Any ideas to get Randolph and Solo 10 minutes of good play per game? Maybe more?
Sekou, I’m not doing much tomorrow, or Friday… If you want anyone to come to practice tomorrow or Friday to help reporting/to watch the team practice, I’m up for it! haha!
Go Hawks!
By fudd21
October 1, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
Najeh if Sheldon Williams was still here, he could have been Busta cause thats definitely what he is!
By doc
October 1, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this
vol i am in 108, very back row, i think.
i have a feeling that solo and randmo might be in the suit seats where popcorn man spent the year providing leadership to the team last year.
By ant banks
October 1, 2008 10:09 PM | Link to this
i think that the hawks can eek out 44 wins this year and get the 6th or 7th seed. we really have a nice bench. woody would be hard pressed to only play 7 thru out the season.
did you all hear the mark cuban fired avery johnson becuase 5 players came to him and said that they wanted to be traded if he came back!!
the players have given woody a “vote” of confidence because note of them intimated that they didn’t want woody back…except maybe salim.
randmo/zaza/solo really have the hawks in a precarious position. what if either or all of these guys come out “beastin” (they all have somethin’ to prove, randmo-that he belongs, zaza-contract yr., solo-that he belongs.) forcin’ you to move horford to the 4. now you have marvin and smoove jockying for pt? where as now they both are starters.
which is better 1. to have horford at the 4 with a “beastin” randmo/zaza/solo and marvin and smoove splitin’ time
or
2 horford stayin at the 5 (undersized big) and marvin and smoove being on the floor at the same time.
By ray
October 1, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this
The Daily News
Daily News reporters interviewed Hawks tv analyst Dominique Wilkins today about his new job:
DN: “Dominique! My man! How’s it feel to move from post game co-host to in game color analyst?”
Dominique: “Color? Color! What the hell you tryin’ to say man? What’s color got to do with it? I got this job because I can talk basketball! The nerve of you…”
DN: “No, no man! That’s not what I mean, uhhhh, a color analyst is just a guy who uhhh, quick somebody help me out here….look, it’s not color as in colored, just color as in live or something like that, you know.”
Dominique: “What? Oh, okay. I’m sorry man, I just snapped. You know how it is, I just came back from posting on the Falcons blog. Color is all they talk about over there, and I don’t mean the jerseys either…. My bad.”
DN: “Uhh…right. Let’s continue with the interview then. How’s your old pal Jerome taking this?”
Dominique: “Jerome Jurenovich? That clown? He’ll be alright. I haven’t spoken to him lately. Truth is, I’m looking forward to not having him call me the Hall of Famer at the beginning of every sentence he starts. I can’t tell if he’s sucking up to me or mocking me. Either way, it’s getting old. But Jerome and I had some good times. Still, I was kinda hoping to work with Stevie…”
DN: “Ah yes, speaking of Steve Smith, how about him getting hired on by NBA TV?”
Dominique: “Well, I’m glad for Steve. He deserves that. Only thing is, that leaves me working with Bob Rathbun.”
DN: “Bob? Yeah….Hey, isn’t that him over by the scorer’s table? What’s he doing?”
Dominique: “What IS he doing? Hey Bob! I’m doing an interview on my new job, how about coming over….what are you doing? Is that a toy stuffed animal under the table? What the hell!”
DN: “Oh my heavens…is that Eyore from Winnie the Pooh? What is he….oh you have got to be kidding me…”
Dominique: “Bob! I bought that for my little girl! What are you doing to it, and why does it have a big hole in the bottom of it?! Bob! See, that’s why you didn’t get that job with NBA TV….they heard about the incident with the Curious George toy..gimme that Eyore back!”
DN: “What’s that in his other hand, a bottle of…hair gel? Lotion? Oh, this is…uugghhhh…”
Dominique: “Booooooob! Get back here you freak! I’m gonna catch you, you’re leaving a trail of stuffing behind you! Boooooob…..!”
DN: “Uh, well, that concludes this interview. Until next time…”
Heh, heh, heh.
By blue hawk
October 1, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this
HB Ando
i think we have a candidate for your shooting big man
By Willie Coyote
October 2, 2008 7:12 AM | Link to this
Yes it was loud in there. My ears almost started bleeding. The noise (or was it the beer) also had me numb after I left Phillips. That was great. I spent the first quarter of the first playoff game in shock that Phillips was actually rocking like that.
By Willie Coyote
October 2, 2008 7:15 AM | Link to this
Yes it was loud in there. My ears almost started bleeding. The noise (or was it the beer) also had me numb after I left Phillips. That was great. I spent the first quarter of the first playoff game in shock that Phillips was actually rocking like that.
By Lacsho
October 2, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Banks
I like that Flip Mo Squad comment.
By Melvin
October 2, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
Crickets….
By richbrave
October 2, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
NAJEH D.:
Congrats on your NFL deal. Go get ‘um.
By Lacsho
October 2, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
Funny how my comments keep getting deleted from the blog
By doc
October 2, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
testing …. 1 2 3 …… testing
By hawksfan
October 2, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this
Wow…the awkward silence!
By Astro Joe
October 2, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Ray, that was LOL funny.
Good to see the blog back up and working. I was beginning to wonder if it was being managed by the same folk who support the scoreboard at Philips Arena?
By Busta Bust
October 2, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
FlipMo Squad,
Bangin’ out 17 ppg, 6 rbs, 4 asts…
This is serious We can make you delirious You should have a healthy fear of us Cause to much of us is dangerous So dangerous we dangerous My Flipmode squad is dangerous So dangerous we dangerous My whole entire unit is dangerous
By MannyT
October 2, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
I too lost several comments to the void over the past 2 days on the blog…any how I’ll try again because…
new blog up
By blue hawk
October 2, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
man, i seriously like our bunch today. i like the team that we have put together. there really is more depth at both the frontcourt and the especially the backcourt. although, i hate to see acie still somewhat lost out there. glad to see that we have indeed made some real good pick-ups over the free agency and that our boys are unstoppable at getting better. yeah, baby! love the energy coming into the season.