Still talking about Joe!
I promise, this is the last time you will have to view this picture of Joe Smith. Next time, he'll be in the same uniform as Josh Smith.
HAWKSVILLE - More than a month has passed since the Hawks’ interest in Joe Smith was revealed to the world in this space.
I doubt any of us thought it would take this long for the resolution to come. I mean, school has already started. The Michael Jackson autopsy is done (someone’s going to jail for this one). The NFL season is upon us. Cash for Clunkers has come and gone. College football is just days away.
And still, we wait for Joe Smith to be signed.
But I believe the day has come. Today has to be Joe Smith Day in Hawksville. It has to be. If things play out the way they are supposed to my name will be intact – check the Twitter feed for my name-change challenge – and we should be able to move on from this saga and back to whatever else we amuse ourselves with this time of year.
And speaking of amusement, if you haven’t seen this extrapolation of the Hawks’ ownership situation, you need to. I understand how someone might try and make the move from “we’re not selling” to where this article took the conversation, but it seems like a stretch even to me. And we all know I’m not afraid to go off the deep end every now and then.
While we’re on the subject of the deep end, I had a great seat at the Dream-Sparks game Sunday at Philips Arena. It allowed me to view the crowd from just about every direction. Josh Smith, Billy Knight, Shelden Williams, Lorenzen Wright and many others were in the building. Josh has shed some weight since I last saw him. He said about 10 pounds. It was noticeable. He looked slimmed down from when I saw him working out in the gym at McEachern High in early July. He said he’s been working all summer on every facet of his game, particularly his mid-range game (those jumpers everyone wants him to take instead of the 3-pointers that cause so much cringing). He’s worked out mostly here in Atlanta, which is a departure from previous summers, when he spent most of his time in Houston.
Wright, who finished last season on the roster in Cleveland, is in a unique situation. He’s job-hunting, so to speak, and an intriguing possibility for the Hawks since he still has a residence here in town. Another veteran big man in that same situation earlier this summer, Theo Ratliff, was also at the game Sunday. The Spurs snapped him up before the Hawks could get to him. But Wright is the kind of physical, veteran big that could fit exactly what the Hawks need in a 12th or 13th man for this upcoming season.
My philosophy is that a team can never have too many big men. It’s clear the Hawks’ cupboard isn’t overflowing in that department, and hasn’t for some time. But now is the time to stock up, especially with every contender in the Eastern Conference loaded up front.
Some of you probably chuckled when you read that the Celtics scooped up Shelden. You were probably thinking back to his days with the Hawks and assuming that he’s an odd fit there. Not me. I think it was a shrewd move for the Celtics to go out and find a serviceable big body for an excellent price, even if he doesn’t play a whole lot this season. It always pays to have that part of your team secured.
If you don’t believe that, scan the rosters in Boston, Orlando and Cleveland and start counting big men. You can go five deep on each team. The Celtics start with Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace and Kendrick Perkins and round out the rotation with Big Baby Davis and Shelden. Orlando starts with Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis (who is a bit of a tweener but forces one of your bigs to guard him at 6-10) and Brandon Bass and round out the rotation with Marcin Gortat and Ryan Anderson. Cleveland starts with Shaquille O’Neal, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao and rounds out the rotation with JJ Hickson, Darnell Jackson and Leon Powe (not to mention a dude named LeBron James who can swing over and play minutes at power forward if ever needed).
The Hawks enter the season with a group that starts with Josh Smith, Al Horford, Zaza Pachulia and round out the rotation with Joe Smith and Randolph Morris.
Again, the more quality big bodies (you can debate the quality of one guy over the other all day long) on your roster the better.
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428 comments Add your comment
newkid
August 26th, 2009
1:41 pm
With Joe Smith having finally dawned his Hawks wings, we’re headed for regular season #3 in the East. Lewis, who’s an integral component of Orlando’s first five, will be absent for the first 12% of the Magic’s season, potentially creating HUGE (deference to Woody) early chemistry problems. Even after his return several games will be required to work him comfortably into the offense (with newcomer VC). I expect Orlando will not hit its stride until around the 16th game of the regular season.
Our well-seasoned starters should pounce from game one, and hopefully catapult us into an early lead over the ’short in the tooth’ Magic. Ours will be to maintain that lead through the remainder of the season, and secure home court advantage through at least the 1st round of the playoffs. If the aging Celtics break down physically (fingers crossed), we have a chance to sneak into the #2 slot and hold home court through the 2nd round. I like us in a seven game home court series against the Celtics; and with the help of Joe Smith I like us against the geriatric duo of Shaq and Z in the conference finals (forget Lebron, he’ll get his).
Well done Sund. Go Hawks!
jerrywest
August 26th, 2009
1:52 pm
JJ + Crawford = BK’s wet dream:
Knicks fanatics tell me that Crawford commands double teaming. JJ will have his best offensive season with Crawford next to him. Both of them can’t be double teamed and one of them will be single covered by a very small guard all the time. Crawford could go 50 on Nelson/M.Williams when JJ is there to protect him.
Astro Joe
August 26th, 2009
1:52 pm
Hoops, keep in mind that we can only have 12 guys on the bench in a game. Assuming that we have 14 on the roster, two guys sit there in suits each night. I could see adjusting the roster based on defensive assignments (e.g. activate the extra center when you play someone like Shaq or activate the extra defender when playing D. Wade). But I can’t see activating Korolev to play against a team like the Warriors, Knicks or some other hyper-offensive team. I just don’t see a practical reason for adding him to the roster.
Astro Joe
August 26th, 2009
1:59 pm
newkid, if the Magic go 7-7 while dealing with Rashard’s absence and subsequent return, the Hawks would need to go some kind of incredible 12-2 to truly create a notable margin to play with for the remainder of the year. And do I really believe that even a 5 game lead is enough? Orlando was 12 games better than us last season, if we believe that somehow we closed that gap by 4 games (which I don’t), that early 5 game lead ultimately disappears and they win the division by 3 games. And lastly, I think Boston is the most likely team to finish in 3rd place, not Orlando. Orlando’s foundation is defense and they have the potential to be better this year than they were last year in that area. Boston, on the other hand, is an old team that added another old guy and may be looking for extra duct tape at the end of the season to keep everyone functioning.
HawksV
August 26th, 2009
2:32 pm
Hi Sekou..love the work…any word on how the other hawks players look. In particular Bibby and Johnson. It would be nice to get an update on how they look physically and how their games have expanded this summer.
newkid
August 26th, 2009
3:16 pm
AJ, I’ve got us 12-4 after the first 16, and the Magic at either 7-9 or 8-8 after the first 16. We’ll be up by 4 or 5 games in the loss column. We expand that lead – by at least three more games – in the run up to the break because we have a very friendly December home schedule and a very friendly January road schedule. Meanwhile the Magic (in December & January) have 16 road games and of their 14 home games they play Celtics, Hawks, and Raptors twice each. The Magic start to cook after the break, but can they over take us in the 2nd half? No! They’re looking up at our 7-8 game post-break lead, and decide that we’re out of reach, so they play for the 3rd or 4th spot in the East.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Big Ray
August 26th, 2009
3:29 pm
Astro Joe,
Agreed completely on the effect Joe Smith can have where Josh Smith is concerned. Agreed completely, and it’s about time we’ve had something like that. I think Smith’s maturity would be a couple notched ahead of where it is now if we had that for the last couple of years. Of course, I’m also thinking positively. It could be that Josh responds negatively (God forbid), but I don’t want to think that way. If he does respond negatively, then he makes a good case for a trade when one becomes available (noth that I’m willing to move right from a single bad incident to a trade, but you get my drift). In the meantime, I’ll continue to think that he’ll respond to having his minutes cut (if that ever has to happen) as well as he did to being benched late in the year last season.
BA,
Just doing what I can, bro’. Glad to see you’re still around. Hope you’ll be bringing your usual good stuff when things get cranked up. I’ll be looking for you on the Hacks blog, too.
Nire,
I’m jealous. Both you and my little brother are enjoying Italy right now. You probably more than him, as he is stationed there, rather than vacationing. Enjoy your trip and holla at me when ya get back.
Truth,
I agree on Korolev. He’s an interesting prospect. If we’re into a shooter with size, he’s a fit. But like others have said, he also probably negates the possibility of having Hunter.
I definitely want Siler. I’d take Hunter too, as I think he can develop into the combo forward that we need. What I’ve seen of him shows that he will hustle, has decent fundamentals, etc. I think he’s a keeper.
I’m not sure what to say about West. I’d hate to see him go, but I don’t know if he can hang onto his role of pet guided missile. I guess we’ll see. If you ask me, this is the year he may indeed have to find another roster. Hate that, but this really may be the year. Sometimes that is how the dominos fall.
Big Ray
August 26th, 2009
3:31 pm
Newkid,
I hope we are experiencing the chemistry, cohesion, and organic growth that it will take for that to happen. Seriously, because it will take a good dose of all three….
Astro Joe
August 26th, 2009
3:31 pm
newkid, I hope that you’re story becomes reality. Throw in a few 10+ game injuries for key members of the Boston Old-Timers and we might SHOCK THE WORLD!
RMan
August 26th, 2009
3:56 pm
Did everyone see the following wording in Sekou’s Joe Smith signing article – “the non-stop contact from Zaza Pachulia” – which helped lead to Joe’s decision to come here. Guess Zaza should be compensated for a management role as well as his player salary! Good to see this enthusiasm from a player.
cp
August 26th, 2009
4:00 pm
It’s nice that Mario is an energy guy but I would rather have a guy with some actual talent at the end of the bench. Siler, Hunter, and a back up sf.
Yupperz
August 26th, 2009
4:09 pm
Fun fact-this is the first time since he was drafted that Marv won’t be the youngest player on the team.
newkid
August 26th, 2009
4:14 pm
Ray, the key to that chemistry and cohesion challenge may just be the sort of start we manage to put together. You, probably better than many here, know what a good string of well coordinated and executed busts can do for the morale and cohesion of your officers. If Woody were to organize his ‘plan for the season’ into quarters, he could do much worse than to strongly emphasize the importance of a rapid and highly successful first quarter start (e.g., 16 – 4) to building the chemistry and cohesion that might just jettison this side to a 60-win season and the #2 seed.
His ‘punch them in the mouth’ approach to the 1st quarter of the season would then be the foundation upon which the ‘within season’ organic growth occurs. One must wonder if Woody can engender in these cats (even with a 16 & 4 kind of start) the notion that they’re more than capable of the sort of organic growth – within the season – that will catapult them to the East’s elite. From a motivation perspective, he doesn’t strike me as the Phil Jackson type. His ability to motivate these cats to aspire to team levels they’ve not yet come close to approaching could be the difference between a 60-win season and a trip to the conference finals, and another 45+ win season and an early good night after the first round.
Daniel
August 26th, 2009
4:44 pm
newkid- I have to disagree with your last point. I think that your assessment of Woody’s ability is based on some team that has been stuck at 45 wins and 1st or 2cd round playoff losses. We just had our FIRST playoff win in like forever last year, we hadn’t won 45 games since mookie and steve were here. I don’t know if Woody can take this team to the next level either, but to be fair he has NOT hit a ceiling yet.
Astro Joe
August 26th, 2009
4:44 pm
newkid, I think he tried a “punch them in the mouth” approach at the beginning of last season. And it was working until Josh busted his ankle and then Horford got hurt shortly thereafter. That’s why it is good to have depth this season. I remember that we were SMOKING in the first few games of last season, playing with poise and tenacious defense. Maybe with better depth, we can maintain that pace. Personally, I’d prefer to just get better on the road and against the elite teams and not shoot for a end-of-season total. If we improve our margin of victory, road record and record against the league’s top 4-5 teams, that would be good enough for me (as it would provide tangible evidence that we’re ready to compete in the 2nd round of the playoffs).
Hoops
August 26th, 2009
4:47 pm
Astro Joe,
I thought the minimum players activated was 13 and you could have up to a maximum of 15. I guess I was wrong.
Mystikal
August 26th, 2009
4:54 pm
Truth,
In mentioning who is a bust for where they were selected..
Yes, Joe Smith would qualify for that and also we have our very own
Marvin Wiliams, who forever has to be compared to CP3 and D-Will. We know what he has brought to our ball club though, so perhaps giving Korolev another look is not such a bad idea.
Melvin
August 26th, 2009
4:57 pm
BK can breathe a little easier and his haters may disagree with the list b/c Shelden was omitted….lol
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/The-top-10-lottery-busts-of-the-last-decade;_ylt=AtFHMtFQZG58hOhVWz.kqiG8vLYF?urn=nba,184973
UGA
August 26th, 2009
4:59 pm
Last I read Korolev is playing in Russia for one more year, so he is not an option. I wonder if some of these other names metioned here will be invited to camp or if we will actually sign another. As it stands now, Morris is our 5th big which is not good for depth.
newkid
August 26th, 2009
5:01 pm
I take your point Daniel. Maybe the proper assessment of Woody’s ability to motivate these cats to heights unseen is ‘incomplete’.
Astro Joe
August 26th, 2009
5:05 pm
Melvin, all of those guys were victims of bad coaching or lack of playing time.
Ken Strickland
August 26th, 2009
5:23 pm
Everyone keeps saying we need a center more than anything else. Well, I beg to differ. Name an available center that’s put up better numbers than Horford. What we need most is a starting PG that plays good DEF, breaks down DEF’s by penetrating and creating scoring opportunities for others, as well as dishing out more assists than JJ.
If Teague is as good as advertised, he should be given the opportunity to win the starting PG position from Bibby, although Woodson’s not likely to let that happen. Teague would add an entirely new and different dimension to both our OFF and DEF. Bibby would be very effective coming off the bench. Teague would allow us to penetrate and breaddown DEF’s the way other PG’s have successfully hurt us with Bibby in the gm.
Samuel
August 26th, 2009
6:29 pm
Ken,
Another ignorant statement:
“If Teague is as good as advertised, he should be given the opportunity to win the starting PG position from Bibby, although Woodson’s not likely to let that happen”.
Give me an example of a rookie or anyone else for that matter who was good enough to start but didn’t.
Key word “if”. He will be given the opportunity, the question is: “if” he’s good enough. Who cares about how he’s advertised. Remember the hype about Acie and Salim.
If he comes to camp and outplays Bibby, he’ll get his chance. If not, he’ll play the minutes he deserves.
Mondo
August 26th, 2009
6:36 pm
We’re winning this Championship this year!
kwooden1
August 26th, 2009
7:04 pm
Congrats to the HAWKS and Sund for closing the deal with Joe Smith! Joe definitely fits what this team needs in terms of a backup Vet big. Looks like Sund is preparing for next year in terms of extending JJ and Horford, terms of the contracts he’s getting done. If the HAWKS are going to keep 14 guys then I think the last 3 spots (Morris already has one), should be Siler, West and Hunter. West would appear to be the odd man out, but he played the most meaningful minutes of any of the bench players last year. I know he doesn’t have the skills of Gardner, but having a guy come in the game and immediately make a difference on the defensive end is extremely valuable.
GO HAWKS!!
defensive hole
August 26th, 2009
7:05 pm
sessions is still out there
Ken Strickland
August 26th, 2009
8:59 pm
SAMUEL-Josh Childress, Vinnie Johnson, Ben Gordan AND Ilgoukas, if Shaq gets the starting nod, along with an entire host of players that have earned 6th man of the yr honors. YOU OBVIOUSLY LACK THE COMPREHENSION AND FORETHOUGHT NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGE MY COMMENTS, OR POSSIBLY ANYONE ELSES FOR THAT MATTER.
So, the next time you want to question someones comments or opinions, why not try adopting a more intelligent and respectable approach, rather than being rude and condescending. It’s more of a reflection on you than anyone else.
Mystikal
August 26th, 2009
9:13 pm
Ken,
Agree with your earlier post about having a point guard that can defend. Not likely Woodson is willing to relinquish the starting job from Bibby, even if it was painstakingly obvious. Hopefully Teague does come as advertised and get majority of the minutes. What really matters though is who finishes the games.
Sautee
August 26th, 2009
9:23 pm
Samuel,
About this: “Give me an example of a rookie or anyone else for that matter who was good enough to start but didn’t.”
Are you SERIOUS?
John Havlicek. Enough said.
Mystikal
August 26th, 2009
9:39 pm
HEY SEKOU,
Any updates on what guys have been up to this summer? Think Horford was doing his ambassador thing, Zaza was playing in a league in Georgia. Josh has been working out here in Atlanta instead of his usual Houston, and supposedly lost weight worked on mid range game. Marv has been working on his ballhandling and getting completely healthy. Does this sound about right so far?? Any news on what Teague, Crawford, or JJ have been up to or what specifically everyone has been working on??
Astro Joe
August 26th, 2009
9:52 pm
Can someone please show me the Teague advertisements that describe him as a great defender… because I can’t find them anywhere. Yeah, he’s lightening quick but since when does that translate into defensive superiority? (Does anyone consider TJ Ford as a defensive wizard?) I see where guys like Darren Collison and Ty Lawson were lauded for their defensive abilities, can someone please show me where Teague got some love for his superb defense? Thanks.
Ken Strickland
August 26th, 2009
10:42 pm
MYSTICAL-exactly. We all know Woodson is partial to veteran players, as are a lot of HC’s. I was making the point because I didn’t think he would put his coaching future in the hands of a rookie PG, especially since it was Bibby that came to his rescue the last time. I’m not being critical of Woodson for not wanting to trust his future to a rookie PG, but it’s just the way he’s operated in the past.
SAUTEE-thanks. How could I have missed the most obvious example. I could’ve also mentioned Paul Silas, MGinobli, “Downtown” Freddie Brown, “Big Baby” GDavis, Sam Cassell and Junior Bridgeman.
SAMUEL-DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
Samuel
August 26th, 2009
10:55 pm
I didn’t know Woody ever coached John Havlicek. Dam_, Woody is better than I thought. A head coach at 4 years old. Junior Bridgeman, are you kidding me and The “Stupidest Example of All Time”, Shaq over Ilgauskas.
Clyde, you named this “Clown” blogger of the Year. Are you kidding me?
Samuel
August 26th, 2009
11:03 pm
Jeff Teague strengths and weaknesses according to FraftExpress:
STRENGTHS:
- Ability to get to free throw line
- Go-to scoring mentality
- Scoring instincts
- Transition play
- Ability to create own shot
- Aggressive slashing mentality
- Athleticism
- Excellent first step
- Explosiveness
- 3-point range
- 3-point shooting percentages
- Ability to shoot off the dribble
- Quick release
- Solid free throw shooter
WEAKNESSES:
- Ability to play at different speeds
- Decision making
- Not a true point guard
- Shot-selection
- Stuck between 1 and 2
- Turnover prone
- Ability to defend position at next level?
- Commitment to playing defense
- Defensive fundamentals
- Average basketball IQ
- Body language
- Consistency
- Focus
- Lacks discipline
- Maturity
- Mental toughness
- Off-court red flags?
- Backup/Fringe Starter?
- Got by on instincts at college level
- Ability to create for others
- Assist to turnover ratio
- Ability to finish around basket
- Frail frame
- Undersized
- Ability to catch and shoot
- Limited number of 3-point attempts
Yea Joe, what advertisements are they talking about? These clowns have already penciled the guy in as a starter or blamed Woody if he didn’t without him ever hittin the court. Blogger of the Year!
Fire Ken Strickland
defensive hole
August 26th, 2009
11:14 pm
defensive hole
Ya’ll are right pointing out we have a defensive hole against some teams at center. I would call it a smaller hole then the defensive hole at pg. Then there is the largest hole of all with a back court jacking up a bunch of jumpers. I don’t see Crawford fixing that at all.
Our new plan is to out score them?. Another warrior team?
With all of our warts we can still win 50+ and a 4th seed. To ask for more than that would be asking for devine intervention.
Samuel
August 26th, 2009
11:18 pm
Let’s hope Teague doesn’t live up to those advertisements, huh Joe.
A Tribe Called Quest
August 26th, 2009
11:26 pm
Stating,
you have no life and you stalk people.
You therefore are unworthy scum
Samuel
August 26th, 2009
11:27 pm
What about this advertisement. Rates a 6 out of 10 on defense. I’m really getting excited.
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/jeff-teague
Ken Strickland
August 26th, 2009
11:37 pm
SAMUEL-a lot of the weaknesses you listed were attributed to CPaul and DWilliams, particularly by Woodson. It’s funny how some of you can use your lack of knowledge or info about Teagues DEF ability to make it an issue, but not question what you know, and that’s Bibby is a DEF liability and a one dimensional PG that doesn’t penetrate and breakdown DEF’s, or stop teams from double/triple teaming JJ.
SAMUEL-don’t make an even bigger “A” of yourself by using meaningless crap trying save face for making your unwarranted and thoughless comment about my opinion. Just accept you were wrong and move on.
Samuel
August 26th, 2009
11:48 pm
NBA Draft.net: He also shoots a “palmball”. OMG!! Another Childress. Say it aint so.
By the Way, the Celtics trotted out: Bob Cousy, Sam and KC Jones, Tommy Heinsohn, and Bill Russell. Not exactly slouches so everybody says. I was just being born.
Fire Red Auerbach
Samuel
August 26th, 2009
11:57 pm
How meaningless is bring up “freakn” Junior Bridgeman. Who the hel_ is Junior Bridgeman anyway? Sounds like a scrubb to me. Can anybody get me the “skinny” on the great “Junior Bridgeman”?
Big Ray
August 26th, 2009
11:58 pm
Gearon likes Teague and said he had an awesome camp.
Sund likes Teague. He picked him and had good things to say about him.
Woody likes Teague, and went so far as to compare him to Acie in his efforts to express what he thought about Teague’s skill set.
These are the only advertisements I care about at this point.
As for the draft site “advertisements”, do they tell you what a player will do once he plays in the NBA? No, they do not. Hell, some of the so-called strengths and weaknesses on any player’s “assessment” end in question marks. What does THAT tell you?
This stuff is observation of the player, and we all know the college game doesn’t necessarily translate to the pro game. Some great college players haven’t made it all that well (or at all) in the League (Mateen Cleaves, Randolph Childress, Adam Morrison, Michael Olowakandi). Others who didn’t look so awesome or looked good-but-not-great in college, have solid or even brilliant NBA careers. Did anybody really think Gilbert Arenas would be good enough to get a $120 million dollar contract, and be infamously named Agent Zero? Who knew the kid from UNC in ‘84 would be in the conversation for Greatest Of All Time? They all thought it was going to be Sam Bowie…
Teague says he wants to be a good defender. Woody wants good defense from all of his people. If Teague is willing to do the work, and Woody is willing to coach him along, I don’t see why it won’t be a successful situation. And I have no reason right now to think that either guy will not hold up his end of the bargain.
I’ll judge the man when I see what he does once he hits the NBA hardwood. Damn the advertisements.
Big Ray
August 27th, 2009
12:02 am
Samuel,
Do you just hate Ken, or are you selling out on “Ya Boy Rick?” If I recall correctly, it was Ya Boy Rick who picked Teague, and it seems to me that Ya Homeboy Woody likes what he sees in the kid. Why are YOU hatin’ on him? Doesn’t make sense to me.
Was there somebody you wanted Ricky to pick instead? Do tell.
Samuel
August 27th, 2009
12:04 am
Dam,
Junior is Ballin 4 Real. Dude owns 152 Wendy’s. Plus he got the Lakers Kareem. Go-head Junior. I aint mad at-cha.
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2003/05/05/daily3.html
Big Ray
August 27th, 2009
12:13 am
Ken,
Like I mentioned earlier, I don’t see Teague getting that starting job coming right out of training camp, and the fact is that he might not get it this year…or even the next. We’ll have to see what he can do. Or rather, Woody will have to see what he can do. Here’s the thing: Woody clearly likes what he sees in Teague more than he ever did what he saw in Law. It is what it is, but I can’t help but feel positive about it, even if I disagree with a dozen things Woody does. It’s never a bad thing for a head coach to show a positive feeling about a rookie.
But I doubt this kid is ready to grab the reigns of an NBA team and lead them into the playoffs. Then again, Derrick Rose had no problem doing that, and he had a rookie coach to deal with as well.
I’m sure some smartass will tell me that this is because Rose was picked #1 overall. Well, Marvin was picked #2…..got an explanation for that? Heh!
Having said that, I too, find it funny that Woody didn’t think much of two point guards who are now all-stars. But at least he thinks well of Teague. That’s good for us, and for the Hawks.
It’s also hilarious that Bibby’s defensive deficiencies are thrown out the window while Teague’s assessements state that he’s not good on defense, and boy oh boy are we trumpeting that for all to hear. Funny, I thought the guy hadn’t played an NBA game yet. So if he hasn’t played one yet, then why are we talking about what he will or won’t do? How about this: Bibby will never be better on defense, nor will he penetrate better. Teague has plenty of time and opportunity to be good at both.
Again, if he can’t be lauded as a player because he has yet to play a single NBA game, then he also cannot be vilified for the same reasons.
I never knew Chauncey Billups would grow into a model point guard who can play equally as well for one type of coach (Larry Brown) as he could for another (George Karl).
Samuel
August 27th, 2009
12:13 am
Ray,
Come on now. You know me better than that. I just gotta stand up for my “COY”. Jokers already finding faults with Woody before the season even starts.
I hope Teague is good enough to start. That would mean he’s pretty good and the Hawks would be better too but if he doesn’t, it’s not because Woody held him back. We’ve been through that non-sense before and it don’t “FLY With ME”.
RealSquawk
August 27th, 2009
12:21 am
josh has been working on that jumper since he came into the league. so the fact he is working on it this summer gives me no optimism towards his improvement this year.
Big Ray
August 27th, 2009
12:30 am
STRENTHS
Transition play
- Versatility
- Aggressive slashing mentality
- Ball-handling skills
- Ball-handling skills w/either hand
- Change of gears/Hesitation moves
- Defensive potential
- Versatility to defend multiple positions
- Potential
- Unselfishness
- Work ethic
- High-level productivity
- Ability to finish around basket
- Body control
- Freakish athleticism
- Incredibly quick
- Physical specimen
- Size for position
- Undersized
WEAKNESSES:
- Decision making
- Mid-range game
- Out of control at times
- Turnover prone
- Defensive fundamentals
- Not ready to contribute immediately
- Perimeter shooting ability
Hmmmm. Those are some nasty weaknesses….wonder if this guy was as bad as advertised? I mean, it DOES say he’s not ready to contribute immediately and mentions defensive fundamentals as a weakness.
I wonder what the Celtics thought about those advertisements in the playoffs? Heh…
OH. Did I mention we were talking about Derrick Rose?
Samuel
August 27th, 2009
12:32 am
Me neither squawk. Now if I heard that he was giving up on shooting anything outside of 12 feet, I would be “GEEKED”.
Big Ray
August 27th, 2009
12:33 am
Samuel,
I understand that. This is one reason why I keep trying to remind folks how much Woody and everybody else seem to be so positive about Teague. I mean, they’re not saying he’s going to start, and you don’t get the kind of heady play out of a guy without the experience, but I think this kid will be good.
Again, I’m not expecting him to be the starter this season, but like you I will be pleased if he does start. We were happy to have Bibby as a starter when we got him. Imagine if we have him as a backup. Can’t beat that!