Welcome back, girl! Where you been? Thanks for the props, and glad to see you around once more. I agree, Rick Sund has done a nice job with this team. I look forward to more shrewd/solid moves from this fella.

Nire ,

Thanks for the correction. I forgot that he was traded in his second year, hence the split in stats. I always kind of liked how Cleveland made that draft pick. It lit a fire under Mark Price. And if it hadn’t, they would have had KJ, who was going to be a special player anyhow. Definitely a difference in roles played by KJ and JJ. I just love the way KJ did his thing without the 3 point shot. Very few 6 foot guards have played that way. He mastered the drive and the midrange shot.

I can think of some guys who need to get that in their games, and I hope Teague learns to be that way, though I suspect he will be taking some 3s. He may need to work on his form.

Actually, that was in KJ’s second year in the league. Kinda like the Suns that JJ was on in his last year, that team was stacked. But KJ had the Steve Nash role, while JJ was handed the Jeff Hornacek role as it were…

Woooee Maaanne! Congrats on here. I read your entire article before I knew it was You. I thought I was reading a commentary from Sekou? Anyway, It’s been a while for me on here. I have been out here building my practice and just opened a 2nd location last week. However, I am a true-blue HAWKS FAN who reads often and from a distance who rarely has time to make comments anymore!

This is an exciting new season up-coming and I got my pop-corn, cherry-coke and got rid of that old “razor-sharp thomg” This team since Mike Bibby doesn’t make my azz hurt anymore. He has been a crucial piece that makes this team really go! Joe finally got another brain-trust to help him make smart plays!

I agree 1000% with your assessment of what we need from JJ! He’s got some serious help now! What I like about this new team is Jamal Crawford and the Journey-Man “Joe-Smith” (who BTW reminds me of Marvin Williams) Because he was a high draft pick who never became more than an ELITE-ROLE-PLAYER! Now he’s on our team and should really help M-Williams develop the same as he has! I like the chemistry & mix of 4-5 high quality players who know how to play together and become impossible to beat..because, they come in waves and the opponent can’t just shut ONE-PLAYER down to beat your team. NOW these teams gotta PICK-THEIR-POISION!!! when they come to PHILLIPS-ARENA!!!

The Hawks can beat you 5 different ways and Good-Writtens to the “Billy-Knight Project”!!!
Welcome home “RICK-SUND” that man knows how to build a team & now THEY WILL COME!!!

All JJ has to do now is just be JJ! That is more than Good-Enough for me!

Big-Ray! YOU ARE HANDS – DOWN…THE MOST TALENTED BLOGGER/WRITER I HAVE EVER READ!!! I saw your genious when i called you little-ray! ha ha .. LOL! You have truly got a Chiropractor who has your back…like… a Bobby-Knight .. Tight-Red-Sweater!
Hello to Doc, Najeh, Rich-Brave, Clyde, Manny T, et.al (check my FaceBook: -Dr. Mary Ellen Burton-

If you ask me, Kevin Johnson’s surge had nothing to do with Tom Chambers. In his third year in the league, Johnson averaged 20.4 points, 12.2 assists, 4.2 rebouns, and 1.67 steals per game. Yes, in his THIRD YEAR. He also shot 50% from the field. He was awful from three point range, but he hardly took 3s (he shot 2-22 that year from 3-point range). He had a career average of over 49% from the field.

It would seem to me that he was already “elite” in his third year. Compare those numbers to a guy like Chris Paul, or rather vice versa.

Even Joe Johnson isn’t quite in that category as far as production goes. And may never be.

I case you drop by and are interested, I posted a reply to your closing post in the previous blog.