Hawks

By ray

February 14, 2009 9:38 PM | Link to this

Hmmmph.

By ray

February 14, 2009 9:42 PM | Link to this

Damn this is boring. No magic for Bibby in the first round, but Daquean Cook looks pretty good.

Rose takes the skills challenge. What a stud.

Hope the dunk contest is better. Time to check on the wife and see if she needs anything.

By ray

February 14, 2009 9:50 PM | Link to this

Trade stuff is getting wilder. Latest rumors call for deals between the Spurs and Nets, and involve Vince Carter. Hmmmm.

How about Scola and Artest for Carlos Boozer? Heh.

By HB Ando

February 14, 2009 9:56 PM | Link to this

Ray, what’s up with “Hmmmph”?! Why do you have to be such a hater??!! JJ got jobbed by the officials in horse!

I’ll tell you what, great article by Sekou on Johnson. With all the talk that persists, here, regarding who should or will stay, JJ extending remains the biggest factor in the long-term stability of the Hawks future. Because none of us know what the dialogue is between the franchise and JJ, regarding a rapidly expiring contract. JJ may not provide the Hawks with the luxury of knowing what his intentions are. But the ASG should be doing everything they can to pin it down. Because the decisions they face, this summer, regarding Marvin and Bibby, would logically be impacted if they had any sense of JJ’s commitment to re-sign.

I’d like to believe that the vibe Sekou’s article sends is a positive expectation that Johnson views Atlanta as his town, where he can create a legacy. But if I was an owner, I’d do everything in my power to firm up an expectation for Johnson’s commitment to re-sign. Because if he’s leaning in one direction or another, then everything else they do should be relative to their sense of Johnson’s commitment.

Hmmmph!

By Sekou K. Smith

February 14, 2009 10:04 PM | Link to this

Mike Bibby didn’t make it out of the first round. But this hasn’t exactly been the shooting extravaganza everyone thought it would be. Rashard Lewis just bricked his way to six whole points in the final round. Daequan Cook put in work to win this thing. Kudos to the young fella.

By Josh

February 14, 2009 10:14 PM | Link to this

Make a move to get the Hawks some more bench depth Sund. Don’t settle for possibly having a team that could get out of the first round.

By HB Ando

February 14, 2009 10:18 PM | Link to this

6 points! I will bet anyone, any amount up to $1000, that I can beat 6 points, using the same 3-point shooting format.

6 points?????

Forget “hmmmph”… How about “uggggghhhhhhh”!

By Ariose

February 14, 2009 10:20 PM | Link to this

I think Bibby Would’ve heated up if he had made it to the second round.

By Ariose

February 14, 2009 10:29 PM | Link to this

Ando, It was the third round and he’s a jumpshooter. Once jumpshooters loose their legs it’s over.

By Sekou K. Smith

February 14, 2009 10:36 PM | Link to this

Trade rumors out here are nothing short of foolish. The All-Star Weekend is dangerous in that respect.

Rudy Fernandez can’t even out dunk my main man Mike Luck. And I’ve got the pictures to prove it. I’d share ‘em but I don’t want to get Big Mike in trouble.

By ray

February 14, 2009 10:45 PM | Link to this

Hmmmph again.

By ray

February 14, 2009 10:53 PM | Link to this

Sorry tiny Tim, but there hasn’t been a big-man dunker like this in quite some time. Hand Dwight that trophy now…and putting the left hand on the shoulder of Big Daddy Dwight was flat out cheating, even if it was funny to watch.

By Ramon

February 14, 2009 10:57 PM | Link to this

Sekou, I know you’re enjoying the weekend. But have you had a moment to ask JJ and Bibby what are their thoughts on the JON trade for the Heat? Also, who’s the prettiest lady courtside tonight? lol.

By ray

February 14, 2009 10:57 PM | Link to this

I don’t care what Shaq says, he ain’t Superman. The Hulk maybe, but not Superman. That cape officially belongs to someone else now…and his name is Dwight.

By Sekou K. Smith

February 14, 2009 10:58 PM | Link to this

Dwight Howard and Nate Robinson are turning the dunk contest out right now. Lil’ Dude just dunked over Superman while wearing his Kryptonite outfit. But that was after Dwight snagged one from Flagstaff and crammed it. I know some people hate it, but this thing never gets old for me. Dwight tried to top him with a free throw line dunk. I’m going with Lil’ Kryptonite.

By Mike is back

February 14, 2009 10:59 PM | Link to this

Nate Robinson, needs be making Budweiser commercial, because he got serious HOPPS!!!

By ray

February 14, 2009 10:59 PM | Link to this

What the….Superman just got pick-pocketed by Mighty Mite. What the F ever. Heh…later..

By Mike is back

February 14, 2009 11:06 PM | Link to this

I see JJ don made it to the BIG TIME, he’s making MJ commercial. IT DON”T GET NO BIGGER THAN THAT!!!  

I SEE YA JJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Ariose

February 14, 2009 11:14 PM | Link to this

Ray??? KrypotNate Won that hands doen. He didn’t steal jack lol.

Mike, That commercial’s been out since wendesday. Where you been?

You know JJ and Bibby are members of team Jordan right?

~Sir Links A Lot~

By Mike is back

February 14, 2009 11:22 PM | Link to this

Ariose, my bad dawgggggggggg!!! It was my first time seeing him. Good to see JJ finally get’em some pub. Gotta go. Right now I’m watching my Clone Wars. THEY ARE OFF THE CHAINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Reggie

February 14, 2009 11:43 PM | Link to this

Well it was a mediocre weekend. I actually enjoyed the HORSE competition more than everything but the dunk contest. Put it in an arena next year though because the camera angles sucked out there. The shooting stars was pretty boring. The skills competition needs more players and they need to actually RUN! the 3-point contest never got me excited at all and it was pretty boring except when bibby was shooting I was watching hard until those horrible last 2 racks. The dunk contest was nice but it wasn’t last year and Dwight disappointed me on the last dunk. I think the main problem is how short the competitions are. The shooting stars should add 2 teams and have 3 rounds. The skills should have like 8 players and 4 rounds because it’s quick. 3 point should go back to 3 rounds. Dunk contest should be 3 rounds. the competitions are just too quick to me. Well hopefully JJ can get some pt in the ASG and show the hawks a little. Can’t wait till we get back playing though. Later

By Zach

February 15, 2009 12:17 AM | Link to this

Rudy Fernandez got hosed in the Dunk Contest. Twice.

By Najeh Davenpoop

February 15, 2009 1:36 AM | Link to this

I thought the H-O-R-S-E was entertaining, but mostly because of Kenny Smith and Chris Webber. Joe Johnson kinda choked… he had Durant on the ropes and couldn’t put him away. Maybe it would have turned out differently if they had played it indoors with the other events. I’d rather see that than the mess that is the Haier Shooting Stars competition, and I’m guessing if David Stern wasn’t hell-bent on shoving the WNBA in our faces every All Star weekend they would have gotten rid of that by now.

Nobody in the 3 point contest looked like they were really comfortable. I was hoping Bibby would at least make it to the final round.

The dunk contest… eh… call me a hater if you want but I wasn’t all that impressed. It seemed like there were a lot of good ideas from all four of them but most of the ideas were poorly executed. Considering how easy the 12 foot dunk looked for Dwight Howard I thought he could have done something really amazing with that. Nate Robinson’s dunks could have been a lot better than they were too. I’m glad Lil’ Nate won (since I had money on him) but Dwight probably deserved it more.

But at least Magic Johnson wasn’t there to tell us the dunk contest is back… over and over again… like he’s done the last six or seven years.

Honestly though the Pau Gasol-assisted behind-the-backboard dunk by Rudy Fernandez was one of the best of the night… if only he had done it in his allotted 2 minutes instead of going overtime he would have probably gotten a better score.

By dmortone

February 15, 2009 2:26 AM | Link to this

Is it too early to talk about next year’s draft? Anyway, I think we should trade our first round pick and acie law and move up to take stephen curry. Not because I think he’ll be an elite player at the nba level, but because he’d be the perfect pg for Woody’s offense. Given that Woody’s not likely to get fired, nor likely to change his approach to coaching anytime soon, might as well draft the perfect pg to take the reigns from Bibby when the time comes.

Think about it, if Curry’s defense isn’t worse than Bibby’s(not a high standard to be sure) and if he can hit an open jumpshot(i forget what Curry’s known for), we’d be set at the pg position for years. We don’t need a particularly quick pg or strong pg, just one who can space the floor for jj, smoove, marvin and horford to do their things.

Acie will never be successful here while our offensive mindset is what it is. He’s the type of pg you need to design your system around, something Woody’s reluctant to do. Also, even though we need a big, do you really trust Sund’s ability to evaluate talent at the 5?

By dmortone

February 15, 2009 3:37 AM | Link to this

The knicks are the one team I feel that could throw a kink into my idea, tho. I guarentee most teams that would draft curry would fail to maximize his talents and thus more willing to deal him on draft day, but the knicks would be a great fit for the kid and they could keep him at the 2.

By DAP01

February 15, 2009 7:31 AM | Link to this

Package draft picks and personnel to get Thibeet (sp?). He could be the defensive big that would compliment our swing players and we would simply have to keep a sharp shooting PG veteran that will allow Woody to be successful without having to give a lot of input.

By akintu

February 15, 2009 7:35 AM | Link to this

hate to contradict (not really) but the point gaurd we need in the draft is Jeff Teague from Wake Forest…he’s going to be a beast, mark my words!!!!

By JB

February 15, 2009 9:07 AM | Link to this

Sekou,

Is there a chance that J Smoove will get back in the dunk contest?

How are the contestants chosen?

By Sekou K. Smith

February 15, 2009 10:21 AM | Link to this

Josh was asked about the dunk contest JB but declined. But it sounds like some of the league’s biggest guns are gearing up for Dallas 2010. Last night LeBron James said he would finally make his dunk contest debut next year and I’d imagine anyone with an ounce of competitive juice in their body will want a piece of that.

And things are expected to heat up around here tomorrow on the Suns’ front. Terry Porter is scheduled to be fired and who knows where things go from there.

As for the trade chatter, it’s still swirling (minus the Hawks). Stoudemire is the center of the attention, which usually means someone else no one is talking about will get moved.

By Da Real Real

February 15, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this

I agree with y’all…the contest last night was a bit boring. The best part was Reggie and Kenny joking around. I’m betting Dwight is wishing he’d saved his Superman gimmick for the last dunk instead of his second. I thought Horse was a good addition, it was fun, and it takes to take place of the “shooting stars”. I wish more guys was in it and I agree with Reggie about having some older guys like Bird (if he can still shoot it), MJ, maybe even Reggie himself, come back and take and some of the guys in the league now - make it like a team thing.

I know Smoove is still hurting a bit and I’d like to see him join Lebron in next year’s contest too. You don’t think he’s shying away from it because of the whole tape thing he did back in 06 do you? It’d be good next year if we could get Lebron, Smoove, and even Kobe back into the dunk contest.

By Matt = niremetal

February 15, 2009 11:34 AM | Link to this

The way they set up the rules of HORSE kinda hosed JJ. I always played HORSE where when someone makes a shot, everyone else playing has to attempt it - which makes sense, because that rewards the players who make their shots. The way they set up the rules, one miss and it was over. The result was that Joe got 4 letters on Durant fast, but then Mayo got to shoot and get 4 letters on JJ too. If they had played the more usual way, I think JJ would have at least survived longer.

In any case, there was no way they would set it up that way, because the game would end too quickly. I’m sure that’s why they went with the 1-and-done rule.

By Astro Joe

February 15, 2009 12:05 PM | Link to this

Ray, I missed the actual events the past few days but it looks like the Sophomores poured it on late in the game. If I had realized that Durant was going to be doing his best George Gervin imitation, I would have made a different prediction. I know that he isn’t in LeBron’s class, but we need to take notice of someone who may be a perennial top 3 scorer for the bulk of his career. It appears that the combination of his own maturity with a coach who utlizes him properly has resulted in the birth of a superstar. Portland may be dreading that decision for the next decade. Especially if Durant learns how to make his teammates better as he continues to grow as a player.

By Astro Joe

February 15, 2009 12:14 PM | Link to this

One more thing, Alvin Gentry may get the Phoenix gig early next week. He is someone I always had hoped the Hawks would consider (if going down the assistanr caoch path). He has head coaching experience and has learned the Phoenix system by being one of the lead assistants there for 4-5 years. He was the head coach of the Pistons during those seasons when Grant Hill was looking like the second coming of Juluis. I also always thought Lionel Hollins deserved another shot after coaching well in Vancouver many years ago. I’ll be interested in seeing how both of those guys run their teams post All-Star break (assuming Gentry gets a shot).

With that said, Terry Porter is getting hosed by this. Kerr made the decision to pull away from the D’Antoni way of playing. If Nash, Amare and others couldn’t adjust, the coach shouldn’t pay the price. He didn’t make the trades and coaching moves that have resulted in a dysfunctional and expensive sqaud. Here’s hoping Porter gets a fair shot somewhere down the line… and hopefully in the same division so that he can torment the Suns for years to come.

By Ken Strickland

February 15, 2009 12:39 PM | Link to this

Sounds like GM SKerr and his boss are going to make HC Terry Porter the scapegoat for the stupid moves they’ve made. They took an over the hill elephant(Shaq) and put him in the middle of a herd of gazelle. These 2 fools somehow expected the elephant to keep up with the gazelle, and Porter was expected to get the gazelle to suddenly become predators(play DEF). It’s truly stupid to expect a group of players who’ve been as successful as they’ve been over the yrs playing an extremely uptempo no DEF style of ball, to suddenly go against their physical and psychological nature and do a 180 overnight.

Looks like Steve Kerr wants to do the Kevin McHale, Pat Riley number and become both GM and HC.

By 404atlhoops

February 15, 2009 1:35 PM | Link to this

I agree with the previous posts. Porter is getting a raw deal. I think the Shaq deal was a good move because Marion was not in the Sun’s long term plans and Shaq is still effective. Where the Suns messed up is when they made the entire offense go through Shaq.

The dunk contest was ok. If the contestants are only going to get 2 dunks per round then the field needs to be expanded. Does anyone actually think Lebron James will compete in the contest next year? That “preliminary announcement” he made last night was all for TV. A lot of people complain about the dunk contest because the league’s stars don’t participate. The reality is the NBA’s stars have never really competed in this event. During the hey day of the dunk contest (mid 80’s), what star other than Jordan and Wilkins competed in the event? Larry Nance, Ron Harper, Terrence Stansbury, Spud Webb….etc? Those guys were not stars. I think Drexler did it a couple of years. The main difference now is the participants are doing dunks that everyone have already seen for the most part. That’s why its very little excitement.

By STUFF

February 15, 2009 2:06 PM | Link to this

The DUNK contest was LAME is the worst way. This is a 6’4 to 6’6 tall contest. Like Nate said he has his time. So he probably wont be back. Dude is a freak when it comes to hops. Howard didnt really impress last year with the “throw in” dunk and really didnt do much with the 12ft dunk. Sorry but tall guys just belong in the dunk contest. BUT sittin on his azz at half court shooting was UNBELIVEABLE. How strong is this man??? DAMNNN! They need to take “Fan Voting” straight to the dumpster. Dunk contest like this one is what caused the league to cancel it a few years back. Who da hell said Rudy F. could jam??? Kenny Smith needs to join Barkley on vacation. His babbling came to a head last night. I mean he dogged the hell out of Cook AND Sonny Weems only to spit in the wind when he said if Cook won it would be the biggest upset in ALLSTAR history. Can you sense the bitterness from the old school players???. But can you blame them???? Hell these guys today make more in 1 paycheck than most guys made in a career back in the day. There is Kobe and King James, but after that the NBA of today just does not cut it. Not to the tune of 60 and 70 million dollars contracts. A 100 million dollar weekend and it comes off this weak?? I hope the game tonight is at least worth missing a nap. DEUCES!!!

By RLP

February 15, 2009 2:07 PM | Link to this

There is a good article in today’s New York Times about Shane Battier of the Houston Rockets. The interesting thing about the article from the standpoint of a Hawks fan is a discussion of how a team without a great deal of money to spend was able to use statistical analysis to find players they could acquire that would help improve the team’s performance. The article can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/magazine/15Battier-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine

By Ariose

February 15, 2009 3:27 PM | Link to this

RLP, WOW….what a powerful article. Now I see why the Hawks instantly got better last season whgen Al Horford started at Center as opposed to Zaza.

We are 9-1 when Mo starts. Joe is’t a defensive freak but he’s good and he doesn’t average 30+ points but he’s very efficent. There’s a reason why some ccolumnists call marvin a very good on ball defender(Although it’s easier to see this season).

Childress is one of those guys too. Sund Calls him a utility player but he might put us over the top if he came back.

~Sir Links A Lot~

By AJW

February 15, 2009 4:27 PM | Link to this

Thanks RLP for the link. That is some of the best sports writing I have read.

By ray

February 15, 2009 4:57 PM | Link to this

Interesting.

So Kerr will fire a guy that he picked. A guy who was part of a winning record. In his first year, no less. Heh, heh, heh.

I guess you have to lose 4 years in a row in order to be untouchable…

The Suns reek of desperation. Make a splendid mess, then try to clean it up twice as fast as you made it. That’s the GM way. At least Kerr is allowed to try and fix his horrendous mistakes. Knight wasn’t allowed such leeway in that one key area. Nor will Sund be, I suspect, unless he has a silver tongue.

Then again, you’ll never have much to fix if you don’t do much in the first place. Heh.

By ray

February 15, 2009 4:59 PM | Link to this

RLP,

Nice article. Send the link to Woodson. Then blind copy the ASG and Sund. But wait until April 1st to do it…..heh heh heh

By cp

February 15, 2009 5:59 PM | Link to this

Honestly they should try a new approach with the dunk contest. Let the NBA players go against some street ballers. As creative as a lot of streetbalers are, I wouldnt be shocked if they won. The rumor about firing Porter was started earlier this week and I felt like he was getting a raw deal. Kerr and ownership are the main culprits of the Suns problems.

By Hms

February 15, 2009 7:16 PM | Link to this

Indeed the owner and the general manager are the guilty parties. Is is any different elsewhere? As authority increases, so does responsibility.

By Ariose

February 15, 2009 7:28 PM | Link to this

People seem to forget than an O’neal lead squad was never one to have the best record in the NBA. That includes all of those Laker squads he was on. BUT, the were there at the end in the finals more often than not……Sun’s Management is stupid….you too Kerr…

~Sir Links A Lot~

By O'brien

February 15, 2009 8:30 PM | Link to this

Not to rehash old stuff, but after reading the JJ article, I can’t help but wonder what if…

Sarver refused to give JJ a 6 year $50 million extension, so what makes us think they would have matched our 5 year $70 million offer?

I guess we will never know, but all things being considered, I am very glad we have JJ, and I hope we sign him to an extension.

By Sekou K. Smith

February 15, 2009 9:04 PM | Link to this

New blog up!!!!!!!!!!!

By doc

February 15, 2009 9:09 PM | Link to this

yeah obrien it is water under the bridge and one issue hthat was discussed ad nauseam. for the record they were only off by the mil over a five year contract. yes no one will ever know what was going to happen, the closest person to the situation no longer with the suns colangio now gm in toronto said they were all set to match and sign jj. of course many dispute that which is fine as it fit their agenda. what i did say about the situation at the time was sarver was an idiot. no matter what folks think about if they were going to sign jj or not what they cant dispute is that sarver is just that with every move made since leaving one only scratching their heads. the guy takes everything personal it seems and makes many mistakes because of it only to find scape goats later. he is quietly running a very proud organization into the ground.