Sports Columnists

By R u $ Real!

March 1, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this

Billy made this mess and now has to deal with it. We have a point guard for the 1st time in this ownerships history-4 years into the process!!!

Billy should have asked the owners to fire him.

We are where we are because of Billy Knight and his decisions-poor ones

By MariettaFalconFan

March 1, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight is the worse GM this side of the Mississippi. He passed on Chris Paul (arguably the MVP), Deron Williams, and Brandon Roy.. Get him out of here!

In order to be one of the better teams of the east, it is time to have Dominique Wilkins as the GM.

As for Mike Woodson, he seems like a nice guy but nice guys finish last. Get rid of him too.

By Thad Martin

March 1, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

Mark Bradley doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Check out my blog on Billy Knight and Mike Woodson at the URL below. This isn’t a hustle. It’s a real blog. I’m just trying to be heard.

AJC…you need talent like this on your staff. http://superior1.blogspot.com/2008/02/once-more-with-feelingdont-fire-mike.html

By ATLDawgy

March 1, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

Fire Billy Knight! Yes, the Hawks have been a struggling franchise and yes they need to improve but of all people in management to ownership, Woodson has been the one guy to show steady improvement during this reconstruction period. All I know is Woodson has coached this team to a better record every season while the owners have fought and Knight has passed over talent in the draft. Is Woodson the coach of the future? I’m not sure, but he’s improving every season right now so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt until he shows decline.

Go Hawks!

By ATL Rattler

March 1, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this

Sure sounds like ole sneaky fox Billy was trying to save his job. If anyone gets the ax before the end of the season it should be him before Woody. I supported Woody up until this year, and with the preseason & hot start..I was thinking this was it. But you could almost compare these birds to the dirty ones over on Northside Drive. Vick covered up a lot of stuff they were missing, but eventually the truth comes to light (or dumb kin folk & friends).

I really think Billy thought he would make up for his blunders on the PGs by drafting Law, but my guy didn’t blossom like we saw the Josh’s. We’re still missing a true center to free up Al for the 4 spot, & put Marvin, aka Duck, aka Goofy, aka Lotion Hands coming off the bench. If BK wasn’t worrying about trying to do in Woody, he might of found a center by now!

My grandma always said, “When you go to digging ditches for folks, you better dig two!”

By BATMAN

March 1, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this

How did Billy Knight get this job in the first place? How do you get a GM job? Can any former player be a GM?

By D-Cider

March 1, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

Knight, Worsen, the owners, the whole franchise is a mess! It is amazing the team has won as many games as it has..with the ship of fools at the helm.

By J-Rock

March 1, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

Knight should have been fired a long time ago.

By ScoobySnacks

March 1, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this

So let me make sure I understand.

If the Hawks make the playoffs because of Mike Bibby, Billy is gone.

If they don’t make the playoffs with a point as good as Bibby, then Woody’s gone.

Okay so in what scenario can we have both of them gone, but keep the team together and make the playoffs. I would take that choice.

By mred1943

March 1, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this

are you guys saying you want pete babcock back

By Blake

March 1, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this

the hawks should fire knight and hire isaiah thomas.

By PaulDawg

March 1, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this

The Hawks are going to fire them both and they want the new GM to be able to select his own coach. Its not that complicated to figure out.

By Vancza

March 1, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

It seems as though the owners blocked the firing of Woodsen because Knight is trying to use him as his own scapegoat for his shortcomings as GM. Ultimately, it comes down to the GM giving the coach all the tools he needs to success and Knight has fallen far short of that. We JUST now got a PG…..come on….Roy, Williams and Chris Paul is the biggest name because he is on a team of no names now and shines. Imagine what he could have done with the young talented guys we have here.

This has all been a game of he said/she said and Knight needs to take the fall. Woodsen is no top-notch coach either, but we need to whittle down what the problem is and that means eliminating problems one at a time, not blowing up the system in place. We have too much talent and they’re young enough we can fine tune it before we have all these huge contracts we’ll have to pay them.

By Hoosier

March 1, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this

You folks have it all wrong, the least you should do is give Billy Knight credit for trying to get rid of theeeeee worst coach in the NBA!

As for his talent evaluations, he had a model that he stuck to, and has assembled one of the most talented young teams in the League.

If you were to rank Woody and Knight with their NBA peers, Knight would be in the top half of GMs, and Woodson would be 29th amongst coaches.

If the Geron’s cannot evaluate their coach, without a top ten PG leading the team, then they need to butt-out of the team’s internal affairs!

By Boo-Yah

March 1, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this

King Of Wings…. He’ll probably be cooking wings for a living soon.

Knight would have been slammed if he had drafted Brandon Roy-another wing. He did not draft Chris Paul because of the groin punch that Paul threw vs. N.C. State his last season at Wake Forest. He flat out missed on Deron Williams. These guys are both lifetime basketballers and will most likely end up in a similar capacity after they are mercifully let go by the “Spirit”. Boy oh Boy would it be nice to have a real owner!

By Eric

March 1, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this

IT WAS KNIGHT WHO MADE A TRADE TO GET NOW TWO TIME ALLSTAR JOE JOHNSON, IT WAS KNIGHT WHO DAFTED THE FASTEST MAN TO 500 BLOCKS IN N.B.A. HISTORY IN JOSH SMITH. IT WAS KNIGHT WHO DRAFTED A GUY WHO EVERYBODY IS PROJECTING TO BE THE NEXT ROOKIE OF THE YEAR IN AL HORFORD, IT WAS BILLY KNIGHT WHO JUST MADE A TRADE TO GET ONE OF THE TOP POINT GUARDS IN THE N.B.A. FOR A BUNCH OF GUYS THAT WASN’T GOING TO BE ON THE TEAM NEXT YEAR. THE WRITERS AND RADIO JERKS KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE FEW MISTAKES HE’S MADE, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HIT A HOMERUN IN EVERY DRAFT. THE HAWKS ARE THE SECOND YOUNGEST TEAM IN THE N.B.A., THEY HAVE THREE STARTERS THAT JUST TURNED 21 YEARS OLD. THIS IS PRIMARY REASON WINS ARE SLOW TO COME ABOUT. ATLANTA IS THE HOME OF THE WORST FANS IN AMERICA. WE RAN DOMINIQUE, LENNY WILKENS, DEION SANDERS, AND JASON TERRY OUT TOWN.

By will

March 1, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this

As the man said, Billy Knight has put together a talented young team that with the right coach could have been doing a lot better earlier. Yes they needed a point but realistically speaking the only really bad choice in the draft BK made was Sheldon Williams over Roy (his other screwup was not doing everything to sign the Joshes before the season - now they will command real $ when we have to re-sign them this summer). A good coach could have had this team in the playoffs before this season. If the Hawks get a new GM then we’ll call him a success because of the foundation laid by BK.

By Bravesfan79

March 1, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this

FIRE BILLY KNIGHT! NEW GM, NEW COACH!

By moboman

March 1, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this

Still no big man, and no draft pick. Cant blame Woody. Doin the best now with what they have. Seeya Billy!

By Ken Strickland

March 1, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

ERIC-there are a lot of one dimensional minded fans in the ATL. Emotions and personal issues take president over common sense and logic. They only acknowledge and/or process that what supports their preconceived notions, ideas, or agendas. If they don’t like an individual, for whatever reason, they focus only on perceived negatives to support their feelings.

By Najeh Davenpoop

March 1, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this

It’s kinda sad that between Woody, Billy, and the Atlanta Spirit Group, Billy is actually the least idiotic one. I know this doesn’t mean much, but if you cut out his resume between the 2005 and 2006 offseasons, his tenure with the Hawks actually is not that bad. Woodson on the other hand has always been an unimaginative, overmatched coach, and Atlanta Spirit Group has never been on the same page since they bought the team. At this point I’m almost hoping David Stern can do like MLB did with the Expos and just tell the ownership they suck too bad to keep the team, so MLB is gonna seize the team from you and give it to a new owner.

By Moses Malone

March 1, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this

fo’ fo’ and fo’ fire billy mike and the 2 ugliest hawkettes

By glorydays

March 1, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this

The moment I knew that Woodson does not hold the respect of his players was during the final moments of a close December game. Woodson was diagramming a play on the grease board, Anthony Johnson had the most incredulous look on his face I have ever seen, it totally said “Are you crazy”, Woodson then caught himself and quickly erased the board and drew up another play. It was comical and it said it all.

By RA

March 1, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this

Thanks Darth Bradley. You know, you are so unlike the rest of your breed. Most vultures wait until after the animal is dead to start picking it apart…

Okay, now I know that most of you want to hang Woody from a sour apple tree, and I’ll admit that too many times this season, during the last few minutes of a game, he looked like a duck that’d been hit on the head. (Didn’t look that way last night though.) I don’t deny that, but at the same time, the Atlanta Spirit brought a guy with NO head coaching experience into a situation where his team was not going to even be competitive for two years. I’ve said it many times. Under the circumstances that Woodson had to work with, I can’t think of too many brand new head coaches that could have done better and fewer still that might have done as well. Say what you want, Woodson has gotten his team to defend and that’s one of the hardest things that you can get a young team to do. (Now in all honesty they looked like they had forgotten how to do that out west, but they’ve been a lot better at home. Now, for the first time since he got the job, the man has enough talent, and experience, to actually do it, back up off him.

Now as for Sacremento and New York. Let me just say that I’d put Sacremento up against the top six teams in the east and on any given day, they’d beat them. Say what you want about New York, but they have got some grown men on that team that know how to lay the wood. Nobody’s going to be laughing at them for that much longer. The Hawks won two games that any other team in the east could very easily have lost, except maybe Detroit and Boston, but that goes without saying. And they still don’t have center, and only one point guard. So please forgive me if I tell you that I am disgusted by your dismissing those victories by saying that they beat a couple of subpar teams…

You know, for the first time in a decade, this city has a team that is worth getting behind and Sekou is the only one that gives them decent press. Instead of pointing out every flaw that you see with this team, why don’t you start giving the people that read this rag of a newspaper a reason to get behind them. Otherwise, shut up and get out the way because they’re heading to the playoffs and they don’t need muckrackers like you holding them back.

By RA

March 1, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this

Okay Moses, if indeed that is your real name. I don’t care what you say about Mike and Billy, but back up off the girls. They’re called the A-town dancers by the way and they work hard. It’s not easy trying to get a crowd up for team that’s eight games under 500. You try it sometime.

By DarkRyder

March 1, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this

I think this issue has been blown out of proportion, even for the Hawks.

The ASG does have a point in wanting to see what happens the rest of the way. Whether we like to admit it or not, the Hawks are still in the playoff race (a half-game back as of tonight, and will be tied with Philly should they lose tonight) and it’s up to Woodson to lead this team, no excuses.

I understand where BK was coming from as well wanting to fire Woodson for completely mismanaging a roster that was built to run.

That said, I believe Woodson has decided to defer to Bibby so he can save his job. Besides, the ultimatum this year was that if Woodson doesn’t lead them to the playoffs he’s gone regardless.

One way or another the bottom line is that nothing is changing and the Hawks will be content to make the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed with a sub-500 record and be prepared for next year with a full season from Bibby.

That said, would the Joshes be willing to stay with this team if Woodson remains?

By Ripdog

March 1, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this

I’ll drive him to the airport if he would like to leave. I’m serious. When are these idiot owners going to bring Dominique in and let him run this team!!!!

By richbrave

March 1, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this

SAorry Thug Martin, server error.

By GM R

March 1, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this

I think it is curtains for Billy and Woody, but ownership will wait until the end of the season to make a move while courting possible replacements in the meantime. Of course this would be the sensible thing to do so I wouldn’t get too excited just yet, but I do get the sense that the owners have at last come to terms with reality. Even if the Hawks make the playoffs Woody cut his own throat by admitting he will let Bibby call the shots if he feels it necessary - have you ever seen a coach so out of his depth? The good news is that now they only need a “big” - I would trade Duck in a heartbeat to get a legit C so AH could play PF and JS play SF. With Bibby at the helm that team could be a contender in the East.

By Devon

March 1, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this

FIRE THEM BOTH!!!

Mike Woodson is not an NBA-level Head Coach. When the rumors were abound about him leaving Atlanta to coach at Indiana I was ecstatic… I hate Indiana and we’d finally be rid Mike “Arms Crossed and Scour” Woodson…

Billy Knight… I’m over talking about him. He’s put us through an ETERNAL re-building process always with a sneer on his face. You’ve all said it about drafting Marvin over “CP3 THE MVP”. Horford was a no briner but Shelden is now sitting on another teams’ bench; and Knight took him at #5 overall?

Hell, I could swing and miss that much, pay me that salary to be so inept!

By Devon

March 1, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this

FIRE THEM BOTH!!!

Mike Woodson is not an NBA-level Head Coach. When the rumors were abound about him leaving Atlanta to coach at Indiana I was ecstatic… I hate Indiana and we’d finally be rid Mike “Arms Crossed and Scour” Woodson…

Billy Knight… I’m over talking about him. He’s put us through an ETERNAL re-building process always with a sneer on his face. You’ve all said it about drafting Marvin over “CP3 THE MVP”. Horford was a no briner but Shelden is now sitting on another teams’ bench; and Knight took him at #5 overall?

Hell, I could swing and miss that much, pay me that salary to be so inept!

By Hoosier

March 1, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this

DarkRyder, the Hawks would probably be firmly in the 7th spot if Knight would have relieved woodson when he wanted to. Drew would have represented continuity, and would have coached the team the way Knight anticipated, when he assembled it.

Knight had had enough after the Bobcats game. Woodson is rigid in his game plan, does not have a fluid offense (hurting players like Marvin and Sheldon). Woodson may know the fundamentals of the game, like the Gerons retort, and must really impress them with his Xs and Os at cocktail parties. But, an NBA coach has to think and make changes on the fly. That is a talent in itself. A Super Fly Woody is not. Yet the Gerons think that us mere mortal fans are the “unsophisticated” ones.

And for these AJC Sportswriters that take up the Hawks as a hobby, well they just need to leave the Hawks to Sekou

By Darell

March 1, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this

REMEMBER THIS…DOMINIQUE IS NOT A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR THE GM JOB OR COACHING. HE HAS POOR KNOWLEDGE OF MANAGING ANYTHING..PROOF:LOOK AT HIS PERSONAL FINANCES & CURRENT LIVING!WE NEED A SAVY, FLAMBOYOUNT WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAME!

By Taurus

March 1, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this

It will be decades before The Hawks and hawk fans get over not taking Paul, D. Williams, or B. Roy in consecutive drafts, because it’s thrown in our face everyday with their success and teams success. Paul is the best PG in the lead in his 3rd year and already has his Hornet’s team a top team in the West. D. Williams lead Utah to the Western Conference Finals in his 2nd year and has Utah as a top team in the West. Roy has Portland in playoff contention, while most analyst thought they would be a lottery team without Oden for the year. It stings everytime we see their success, because we should of had 1 of the 2 PG’s and Roy. We can try to right the wrong with Bibby, but there’s still the “what if” factor that always linger. As for Woodson, I think he’s doing the best he can with the hand that was dealt. Ask Larry Brown how good of a coach you can be when you don’t have the players you need…remember the Knick experiment with Brown. And we know Brown is a very good coach. Woodson has been coaching without a decent PG or big man, and you expect him to work miracles. Now he has Bibby and Hortford, give him a couple of years and then you can measure how well, or not he can coach.

By BeachGaBulldog

March 1, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this

Billy Knight is an idiot, and I am sick of hearing about him. It looks like the owners don’t have a clue, because BOTH KNIGHT AND WOODSON should have been fired a long time ago. Get a proven coach who knows how the hell to win!

By Harpie

March 1, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this

GET A CENTER, KEEP THE OTHER PLAYERS, FIRE THAT HAPLESS COACH!!!!!!

By Quick1

March 1, 2008 8:51 PM | Link to this

Fire the fans and the writers at the AJC>>>>this town is sooooo full of hate to Black men.>>>>

By HawkFanatic

March 1, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this

Can someone also fire these incompetent owners, who know as much about sports as Hannah Montana. Atlanta—-loserville, once again—-what a pathetic joke of a “sports town.” I can’t wait to move from this crime infested, corrupt city.

By Moneesha

March 1, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this

These white owners are trying to fire the two African-Americans running the team? If they had good players, they would win, but the good players don’t want to come to atlanta and play for these fools that own the team. It’s another example of all the white racism that goes on in Atlanta on a daily basis. I can’t wait till Obama takes over and things will be different around here!

By richbrave

March 1, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this

RA:

Great opener. Made me laugh.

By what what

March 1, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this

new owners. new GM. new coach. but a minor league team and move ti to the metro area or another town in GA to develop young talent.

sign josh smith to big money this summer and offer childress decent money.

lower the price of the cheapest 50% of ticket prices or wonder why philips is half empthy and apathetic.

give ‘nique a bigger role. coach or gm, whatever he wants to do.

By RA

March 1, 2008 11:03 PM | Link to this

Thanks richbrave. I would have been laughing too…had I been kidding.

By richbrave

March 2, 2008 12:21 AM | Link to this

RA:

Dude, its better than crying.

By Johnny

March 2, 2008 12:25 AM | Link to this

I disagree with all this negative crap, and I disagree with the stadium not being full despite having a good exciting talented young team on the rise that is very fun to watch.

If we went out and supported this team like the Blazers fans do for their similarly talented/good young team than we would be over .500 right now, we are already much better at home (Just as the blazers are), but young teams feed off the energy and confidence of the crowd in a huge way, if this place rocked like the omni in the early 90’s than our record would be 31-29 right now, period!

By Johnny

March 2, 2008 12:31 AM | Link to this

You know what, I have a TON of faith in this team now that we got Bibby without giving up any of our rotation players/good players. We just have WAY too much talent now that we got the missing link in our pointguard.

Golden State was 25-36 last year. That was their record. They had traded for Jackson and Harrington about 8 games prior, and then they got a big win over Washington to get to 10 games under .500…….. Golden State was STACKED with talent but hadnt put it together yet. We are STACKED with talent and our just now gettting it together. (GS was missing a post presence, we have 4 of them in Horford, JJ, Smoove and Marvin….. but GS was missing a legit stud bigman 4/5, we have one in Horford thats getting better by the day)…….. Golden State has alot better coach as well…………

So anyways, Golden State was 11 games under .500 and stacked with talent on march 12 last year. They then figured it out and went on a TEAR that started about 8 games after their big trade, and finished the season at 42-40 to make the playoffs as the 8 seed…….. what I see in our team is that same capability.

We are LOADED. SERIOUSLY.

I checked out our playoff competition last night: Chicago and New Jersey the night before. (Philly doesnt have the smae talent level as those two and us, I dont think theyll hold on with us)…… Chicago COllAPSED last night, but they look ALOT better. Hughes is a real 2guard that defends and gets to the foul line, and Gooden gives them a post scorer that they didnt have. New Jersey Devin Harris and Vince Carter tore it up and Krstic looked pretty good inside, he’s getting healthy………. So both those teams are ALOT better after their trades, and are capable of going on a run to make the playoffs…… but I like our chances. I think we’re more talented and better and are going to make it, I HAVE BIGTIME FAITH IN THAT. For real.

By Johnny

March 2, 2008 12:33 AM | Link to this

For all the complaints about Knight, and at times rightfully so, he has put a STACKED team together.

Billy has done a VERY VERY VERY good job building this team.

We are well-rounded, loaded at every position, we got a very good pointguard that is a perfect fit for our team……… just look at the roster. Mike Bibby, Josh Childress, Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Al Horford, and Josh Smith. THAT IS SERIOUS……… sure, he messed up getting Shelden but he turned it into Bibby…….. and he messed up passing on Chris Paul but EVERYONE said going into that draft that Marvin was the number 1 or 2 pick and the best prospect. So Im not going to go with revisionist history….. maybe we should wish we got the 3rd pick in that lottery because ANY OTHER TEAM would have done the same and picked Marvin. Chris Paul alot of people werent high on, if you remember. Sometimes they turn out like Chris Paul, sometimes like TJ Ford, and sometimes like Jay Williams. know what I mean??? Billy went with the “Experts” and his scouts……. plus Marvin has turned into a very good player. Sure he’s struggled lately since the minor injury, but he’s a better 3rd option on offense than most teams have. He shoots 48% from the field, averages 16 ppg and rebounds well for a small forward, is a good shooter to stretch the floor, can post on mismatches, athletic finisher on pick/roll or open court, can handle a bit, he’s a real good pure Small Forward with a very bright future and good upside….. he’ll never be anywhere near Chris Paul but he may end up being an allstar Small Forward 5 years from now………. Im okay with that now.

Instead of looking at that lets look at the team Billy HAS put together. Mike Bibby, Acie Law, Al Horford, Marvin Williams, Josh Childress, Joe Johnson, and Josh Smith. That is a HELL OF A CORE right there, a well-rounded team, stacked at every position, UNSTOPPABLE in the open court uptempo, play good defense, are capable of being a very good team RIGHT NOW, and have a GREAT SALARY CAP SITUATION, and HAS A VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY BRIGHT FUTURE. (A Desagana Diop would be the final piece, a defensive/rebounding/banger/hustle play center to anchor our defense, but that isnt vital and we’ll get it for next year, maybe itll be Solo). That would give us a 3rd shotblocker and make a monster frontline for us to go with a very good backcourt, but also would move Marvin to the bench which would give us MAJOR FIREPOWER off of the bench and make our bench a weakness into a strength, going from average bench ot one of the very best in the NBA spearheaded by Marvin and Chillz (Maybe Theo Ratliff could be that guy for the rest of the year if he’s healthy again, that would be a very good pickup). Plus by the way, we have good roleplayers in support that are capable of doing a job to help us win: Zaza, Solo, West, Richardson, and Salim.

So Billy has done a VERY good job building a stacked team with a good cap situation and a VERY VERY bright future. I put it on Woody, there is no way this team should finish with less than 41 wins. Period. Especially in the East.

By Johnny

March 2, 2008 12:34 AM | Link to this

Making the playoffs is huge. Even if we make the 8 seed and get KILLED in round 1, that is a HUGE HUGE HUGE step forward for us. It will show our young team that we belong, and we’re capable of making it.

For example: I give you the Orlando Magic. They had been a young lottery team that was getting better under a bad coach for 3 years, and last year they finally made the playoffs for the first time with Howard. They got MURDERED by Detroit, and swept in 4 games…….. but look at them this year. They got a new GOOD coach, made an addition here or there, and now they are in 3rd in the East and have a record 14 games over .500. They know they belong, they got a good coach, and they made the first leap forward……… WE CAN DO THE SAME. Much like how JJ made his first allstar team and it was huge to him knowing that he’s capable of being on allstar level, making the playoffs is vital to our young team knowing theyre capable of being playoff level. After the playoff trip as a stepping-stone, and once we get a good coach next year (And re-sign the Josh’s and add Diop) its off to the races for this young/talented/very good team on the rise, and we can be well over .500 next year and competing for a top 4 seed in the East, I believe.

Billy has put a good team together, Woody now has his chance. No more excuses for Woody, he either gets it or he doesnt. IT IS ALL ON WOODY NOW, PERIOD.

Go HaWKS!!!

By Johnny

March 2, 2008 12:36 AM | Link to this

One more thing.

We should run MORE pick and roll.

A Bibby/Horford pick and roll or a Bibby/Smoove pick and roll would be DEADLY. And a Bibby/Marvin Pick and pop would be EQUALLY DEADLY. Pick your poison (you could pick and roll with Marvin too, read it as they defend it he has the athleticism and size to finish, Bibby will drain that shot if they guard against the roll)….. Smoove on the roll will be like Amare, an absolute DUNKATHON with him finishing big every time (As you saw last night on the bigtime go-ahead alley-oop from Bibby to Smoove).

And Horford is our best pick/roll option as he flashes to the ball very well and has great hands, size, athleticism and touch around the rim.

Also, in Bibby’s place running it could be Salim or JJ and it would also be very effective, and Chillz moving without the ball cutting to the rim for rebounds/follows or a secondary dish for a layup/dunk would be very effectie. Or even Chillz moving to a spot-up shot, and Marvin moving to a spot-up shot for open jumpers, same with JJ or even Bibby wen JJ is running it (Richardson and Salim would be good options off of the play for a spot-up open jumper as well).

Very good option for us.

By A Lang

March 2, 2008 12:41 AM | Link to this

the Steve Smith curse we have not made the playoffs since we traded Steve Smith for Jr Rider and Jim Jackson in 99. How was that ever a good idea? You trade away a class act all star for a headcase and role player? I think we’ll make it this yr and break the curse.

By Kac

March 2, 2008 12:46 AM | Link to this

I would caution giving Smoove a big contract. It may be better to sign and trade for a center. I would resign Chill.

By Johnny

March 2, 2008 12:46 AM | Link to this

Guys, one more thing. I REALLY LIKE THIS TEAM. ALOT. A TON.

To tell you the truth this is the most attached I’ve been to a Hawks team since the 80’s, and I see the start of something special happening here, the tip of the iceberg in what could be a GREAT NEXT DECADE of Hawks basketball around this core of young talent.

I see Al Horford as Bill Simmons evaluated him in his annual “trade value” column. “A future allstar power forward that’s already a solid pro on both ends. His ceiling is a taller Elton Brand with a better lowpost game. 20/10, mark it down. And keep marking it down for about a decade.”

And that is just one of 6 (SIX!) bigtime talents that we have including Bibby at 28 years old. Acie is 7 if youre high on him for the future like I am.

I like that we have an elite PG that knows how to win and run a team in Mike Bibby. I like that we have an absolute stud young leader and go-to guy in Joe Johnson. I like that we have a very good pure small forward and 3rd option in Marvin Williams. I like that we have an elite 6th man in Chillz. I like that we have a defensive force and unique talent borderline allstar Josh Smith. I like that we have a young stud Power Forward that is a future 20/10 allstar and already a solid pro on both ends. I like that we have a solid backup PG with big upside and is our PG of the future in Acie Law. I like that we have 5 shooters (JJ, Bibby, Richardson, Marvin, Salim), and 4 post-up options (Horford, Smoove, JJ, Marvin on mismatches and Zaza off the bench), I like that we have 2 capable bigs off the bench as roleplayers in Zaza and Solo, I like that we have our own version of Eddie House in Salim Stoudamire as our sharpshooter off the bench, and I like that we have a defensive specialist roleplayer in West.

Sure we could use a Diop or even Theo Ratliff (Possibly Solo could be that guy in future) to anchor our defense and be our banger at center, that would move Smoove to SF and Horford to PF giving us a great/monster frontline to go with our elite backcourt. Plus move Marvin to the bench thus turning a weakness into a strength and giving us HUGE firepower off the bench, making our bench from an average one to one of the very best in the NBA spearheaded by Marvin and Chillz.

But that is one thing, a want not a need.

RIGHT NOW we’re very much in a GREAT position with the roster for right now and especially with the cap and for a VERY VERY bright future.

So Billy has done a VERY good job building a stacked team with a good cap situation and a VERY VERY bright future. I put it on Woody, IT IS ALL ON WOODY NOW.

Hopefully a George Karl or Paul Westphal or Paul Silas or Mike Dunleavy sr comes around next year and we can run a bit more and really reach the next level after a few minor additions, resigning the joshes, and making the playoffs this year.

I have alot of faith in Chillz, Marvin, Smoove, Acie, and especialy JJ, Bibby and Horford. Also in Salim as well……

I have a TON of faith in the future of this franchise, and this is the first time I’ve had this type of faith since the 80’s when Willis and Doc and Wittman and especially ‘Nique were roaming the hardwood and fighting for their first playoff birth……

I know it was a long post, but I sum up with this: GO HAWKS!!!!!

By Johnny

March 2, 2008 1:07 AM | Link to this

I agree with that man!!!

THIS SUMMER:

GET A CENTER (DIOP WILL DO), FIRE THE COACH FOR A GOOD ONE, AND KEEP ALL OF THE OTHER PLAYERS!!!!!

Making the playoffs is a huge step/leap forward, and next year with those 4 things being done we will be ready to fight for a top 4 seed in the East.

We have a very bright future ahead of us.

By Atlantan

March 2, 2008 1:19 AM | Link to this

This organization needs to post another for sale sign and also post a now hiring sign too. There plenty of people out there who needs a job and can get it done much better.

By Don C / hawkfaninbham

March 2, 2008 2:27 AM | Link to this

“Everything we do is based on moving the ball and not turning the ball over. We don’t have one-on-one type players, per se,” Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. “Our guys are set up to help make the other guy better by setting a good screen, getting somebody open and playing off the first option to the second and third. And I thought we did that very well most of the night.” THIS IS THE WAY THE GAME IS TO BE PLAYED,MR. WOODSON

By Don C / hawkfaninbham

March 2, 2008 2:32 AM | Link to this

“Everything we do is based on moving the ball and not turning the ball over. We don’t have one-on-one type players, per se,” Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. “Our guys are set up to help make the other guy better by setting a good screen, getting somebody open and playing off the first option to the second and third. And I thought we did that very well most of the night.”

By BA

March 2, 2008 3:08 AM | Link to this

Can we lose the racial stuff? What a bore- I thought this was about the Hawks?! If I want racial anti-white propaganda, I’ll read Terrence Moore. And to the guy trashing our city, please do us all a favor and pound sand. I like this team too Johnny. But I’m concerned that we need a couple more pieces and with no draft picks I don’t see how they are going to get them. But If they let Smoove walk I swear I will disown them again, just like when they traded the Human Highlight Film for stinking Danny Manning…Look lively tomorrow, folks, I got a feeling the Celtics are going down! Remember what that sucker Pierce said about Joe? I’ll bet the hawks remember! Quit hating on Duck people- I know he’s had a bad stretch, but dudes got a sweet jumper and ANY team picking second that year would have taken him. Just like anybody would have taken Bogut at one. I’ll dee y’all back over at Sekou’s blogs, this Bradley guy leaves something to be desired…

By richbrave

March 2, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this

BA:

Small minds, BA small minds. I was going to post an anti-racial-hatred rant, but it turned into a Sunday sermon. Yours works very nicely without all my hyperbole. Good job.

By ATLER

March 2, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

You people make me sick!!!!! Everyone acts like they don’t remember Pete Babacock who was the architect of the down fall of this organization. NNNOOOOOOO we want to play “jump on the black GM.” Let’s remember All of the draft picks that Pete brought in timt after time after time. Let’s get real people.

By ATLER

March 2, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this

You people make me sick!!!!! Everyone acts like they don’t remember Pete Babacock who was the architect of the down fall of this organization. NNNOOOOOOO we want to play “jump on the black GM.” Let’s remember All of those terrible draft picks that Babacock brought in time after time after time. Let’s get real people.

By stanley sisson

March 2, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

i can tell you exactly what the problem is with the hawks its the GM and theCOACH they the owners need to hire don nelson as the GM and JEFF VAN GUNDY as the HEAD COACH

By Paddy

March 2, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

GM’s get their requests turned down all the time and we never hear of it in the newspapers. ie: Stienbrenner, Al Davis, Bill Bidwell, any owner the last 20 years of the LA Clippers.There are many factors even a GM would not be aware of for the decisions of ownership. So lets not get to excited about this request being ignored by The Spirit. The reality of us fans is that we can see what has transpried the last few years with the Hawks and it is not a good situation for any professional organization. I am always amazed at how accurate fans are in these areas. So as a fan, with no inside info, I say fire the coach or fire the GM or both. It will not get any better with this group out front leading the troups, I just don’t see it turning around.

By NBA Vet

March 2, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

Your lack of journalism skills once again gets exposed MB and the fans of Atlanta once again prove how little they know about the game and the league. Billy has put together pieces to turn this franchise around and make them good for years to come. Finally Free Agents will look at Atlanta and say, those guys are on the rise I want to be a part of that. Once again you missed that and try to point fingers at Bill Knight who has made some great moves. Are you mad at Bill because he keeps his business out of the media and you had NO CLUE that the Mike Bibby deal was going to happen. You are an aweful writer and I have absolutely no respect for you. Sure Billy Rolled the dice on a couple guys. Those guys are now gone and the product of those gambles is Mike Bibby. Another great move by Billy Knight was vetoed by the Ownership in firing Woodsen. Is it the right move heck yea he is way over his head and has no excuses. I don’t care that the guy didn’t had to coach a High School All-Star team his first 2 years, he has proven time and time again to be the problem. The AJC may be the worst sports newspaper in the country!!

By atlantaspiritllcsuckarse

March 2, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

I’d love to put this on Billy Knight…but you gotta point to the Atlanta Spirit LLC. They are horrible. Heck, for all we know they’ve been forcing Billy to make these ridiculous draft picks?!?!?! Anyway, if there was a way to fire the Spirit then that’d be the route to go. Otherwise we need to let both Woodson’s and Knight’s contracts expire and start over next year with a new GM (I’d suggest plucking someone from the Phoenix organization) and getting Rick Adleman as the head coach.

By devin

March 2, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this

WE HAVE GREAT TALENT ON OUR HAWKS TEAM: JJ,JS,JC,AH,MB,MW ETC. THESE SIX GREAT PLAYERS ARE 1ST ROUNDERS! ALL WE NEED IS A “COACH” AND ONE OR MORE PIECES TO BE CONTENDER IN THE EAST! HOW CAN THEY NOT BE A GOOD TALENTED TEAM WHEN THEY BEAT UP THE LAKER, SUNS, MAVERICK, MAGIC ETC. THEN THE NEXT GAME..THEY LOOSE TO THE BOBCATS, SACRAMENTO ETC. THE PROOF IS HERE..WE HAVE THE TALENT BUT POOR ‘COACHING.’ TERMINATE MIKE WOODSON BECAUSE OF HIS PERFORMANCE NOT BECAUSE HE IS BLACK! HE HAPPEN TO BE SORRY BLACK COACH. I AGREE… DON’T OFFER NIQUE THE GM/COACHING JOB. HE’S A GREAT PLAYER BUT HIS BUSINESS SKILLS ARE HORRIBLE. lOOK AT HIS HISTORY!I RATHER HAVE CHARLES BARKLEY OR REGGIE MILLER!!! THEY ARE SMART AND A GOOD BUSINESSMAN.

By Mark

March 2, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this

Who cares? It’s just the African melon toss. Fire them all. The Hawks suck.

By fire woodson and billy

March 2, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

FIRE BILLY KNIGHT AND MIKE WOODSON NOW!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS THE ONLY ANSWER! DUH!

By matt

March 2, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

fire everyone, hire me and my buddies..guarantee we wouldve made better decisions

By matt

March 2, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

play mario more..we need a vocal leader and someone who plays “all out” every second…unlike joe, josh, basically every starter besides al, the rookie of the year

By Joe Stalls

March 2, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

GET OFF MY HAWKS BACK the Team,coach and GM the only problem the Hawks have is YOU hating on them trust me they will make the playoffs.

By Rick

March 2, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

Knight should go. He never built the Grizzlies and he will never build the Hawks. He brought in Joe Johnson and Horford and the the Joshes. He also passed over point guards to draft the Williams. One is out, while the other has shown no signs of being a number one draft choice. Even in the Johnson trade, he gave up too much.

It’s hard to brag about your skills as a GM, bringing in a few hits, when you are always one of the first to draft in the lottery

By ED IN ELLIJAY ALUM 78

March 2, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

FIRE KNIGHT AND WOODSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By JB

March 2, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

The owners should fire themselves. Or at least turn it over to the other Clampetts who might actually have a clue; Elly May, and Jethro.

By Dexter

March 2, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this

I believe the Hawks are finally going in the right direction!! The only missing link is a true big man!! I know Woody will get the job done if he has the right pieces to win!!!

By SAMMY THE HEAD MILLER

March 2, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this

What we need is for Smoltz to lace ‘em up and get us to the playoffs!