That time of year
It's that time of year again for the Mike Woodson and his Hawks. Training camp is just weeks away and the coach and his team are in the crosshairs.
HAWKSVILLE - For those of us pro basketball loyalists, we always know when it’s time to readjust the schedule to get ready for the NBA season.
Labor Day is my reminder.
I know that in the days immediately following the holiday players will start trickling back into town and showing up for voluntary workouts (go ahead and get your jokes about my Wolverines out of the way now so we can move on to basketball matters) on the track and at the Hawks’ practice facility.
It’s as much as a part of my late summer/fall routine as watching football on the weekend. So I’ll be making my way downtown all week to see who shows up and what kind of work they’re doing in anticipation of the start of training camp, which believe it or not is just roughly three weeks away.
The prognosticators already have an idea of what things will look like once the season starts and how the Hawks will do, for example, our friends at HoopsHype have the Hawks pegged for a return to the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
I prefer to wait until I actually see someone on the move before offering up any sort of hypothesis about where this team might be headed. So while I was standing over my grill Sunday afternoon, basking in the glory of a decisive win for my team Saturday and enjoying the neighborly ambiance of the world’s greatest bedroom community (neighbors bring over steaming hot crawfish pies and ice cold Arnold Palmers when they see the first sign of grill smoke in Smyrna), the conversation turned to the Hawks.
Specifically, the Ridge Road crew wanted to know who has to have the biggest year for the Hawks to continue their climb up the conference ladder and back into the playoffs and perhaps beyond the second round?
It’s a question, I explained, best answered by those of us that spend far too much time worrying ourselves with these things on a daily basis (if you’re reading this, you know who you are). So before I ask for your take, please allow me to offer my five-point answer:
MIKE WOODSON - the Hawks’ sixth-year head coach has weathered every storm that’s come his way thus far, which is a testament to not only his team’s continual improvement but also his ability to compartmentalize during tough times and rally his troops. But this season will provide perhaps the harshest spotlight he’s faced during his tenure. In each of his five previous seasons few people – fans, pundits or anyone else outside of the city of Atlanta – viewed his team as a playoff player. All that has changed in the past 16 months. Woodson’s entering the final year of his deal, which always adds a little extra drama to the situation, with oversized expectations. The roster is 11-deep with proven NBA players (Randolph Morris is still waiting on the chance to prove himself), the deepest the Hawks have been since Woodson arrived. The bottom line, this team goes where Woodson leads them.
JOE JOHNSON - In the same situation as his coach, in terms of heading into the final year of his deal (until further notice, of course), the Hawks’ captain and All-Star faces an interesting dilemma this season. As his younger teammates have matured and the veteran cast been upgraded, Johnson will have to decide how much of the burden he is willing and able to shoulder this season. Physically, the extended minutes have taken a toll the past two seasons, when his playoff performances weren’t consistently up to his own lofty standards. Crazy as this might sound; if his numbers decreased across the board (especially his minutes) I could see him having a better season than any of his first four with the Hawks.
JAMAL CRAWFORD - Anytime you fleece a team the way the Hawks did when they snatched Crawford from the Golden State Warriors for Acie Law IV and Speedy Claxton, folks expect big things. And Crawford has to deliver, whatever his role ends up being. If he “leads the league in scoring off the bench” as one Hawks’ staffer joked to me in the hours after the deal went down, we’d have some story. But if he just maintains his nearly 20-point scoring average this season he’ll make that deal worth it. Any concerns about Crawford’s fit on this team have been assuaged by multiple in-house sources this summer that insist Crawford developed an instant chemistry with everyone within the organization that’s dealt with him. If the on-court chemistry comes as easily, this could wind up being one of the Hawks’ best personnel moves in years. If not …
RICK SUND - You’ll be hard pressed to find anyone that isn’t convinced that the Hawks’ GM has done a masterful job in his first 13 months on the job. He’s made all the right moves and steadied the organization through one of their best seasons in years. But the toughest challenge comes this season. Sund will have to gauge the Hawks’ progress by the February trade deadline and decide if this team, as presently constituted, provides the best chance for long-term success or not. If not, he’ll have to pull the trigger on the right deal to push the Hawks over top (sort of like his predecessor did two years ago when Billy Knight pulled the trigger on the Mike Bibby deal). Gone are the days when the Hawks’ GM could simply suspend the franchise in rebuilding mode or just maintain. The next step is moving upward and onward, and that almost always requires a deft personnel move one way or another.
JEFF TEAGUE/JOE SMITH/JASON COLLINS - These three guys represent everything the Hawks have needed in the form of depth at their two most crucial positions the past five years. Just a rookie, Teague’s ability to adapt to the NBA game and assume a position backing up Bibby is crucial. If his assimilation comes off without a hitch, and we honestly have no way of knowing how it will go, the need for that third point guard won’t be nearly as urgent as it might be otherwise. Smith and Collins are known commodities in the NBA. You get a versatile scorer and defender in Smith, a veteran frontcourt performer that’s always played much bigger than his listed size. In Collins, the Hawks have a 7-footer capable of lending quality minutes in a situational role, particularly on the defensive end. They have to be the support system, along with Zaza Pachulia, that Josh Smith and Al Horford have had to work without the past two years.
You know what I think.
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532 comments Add your comment
jerrywest
September 9th, 2009
7:41 pm
If Wade was here instead of JJ, do you think we would win a championship next year?
truth-serum
September 9th, 2009
7:45 pm
I appreciate the attention and respect niremetal/ken/ray Rod did not tell us nothing we did not already know. Question is how long can you be in denial about being a part of the bubba crew. Yeah you guys are comical. I appreciate you. You guys make my day like the keystone cops you guys are funny.
Interesting enough we wouldnt be having this conversation if you werent such haters.
And if you ping my address youd be hacking the public library because not only am I chinese you dunce but I dont own a computer idiot.
Rod from College Park
September 9th, 2009
7:49 pm
truth-serum,
I have noticed that. No matter how much statistical data or common sense or tangible information you give them, they resort to tactics such as if player A got the same amount of time as player B he would be better than plyer B. If player A was given more shots than player B he would be great. But then they call you stupid and idiot and question your basketball knowledge. I am glad you helped me to understand what I have been dealing with. Appreciate it.
Big Ray,
Of course all of the racial things you are speaking of I do not endorse being that I am black. I did not get the same message you got from those post, but hey, we never tend to agree on anything anyway. I got BUBBA (one leader), and CREW(a bunch of blind followers who will stop at nothing the get their agenda across. No matter if it is wrong or right.) Just my interpretation.
Big Ray
September 9th, 2009
7:53 pm
Niremetal,
Having been a blog host (and planning to be again soon) in WordPress, I can tell you those cheap tricks aren’t easy to turn. I had people trying it left and right on the Hawks fan blog. Didn’t work. Most of the time, I let them get away with it, as there was no harm done anyway. One or two got exposed, though.
Hoops ,
I agree. And I think running two power forwards can actually work fine, though it’s not the best formula for winning it all. However, that’s another problem. Not only are we playing a power forward at center….but I’d argue that we are playing a PF at C, and a SF at PF. Now that tandem will only get you so far. It’s an argument whether or not Josh Smith is a PF. In my opinion, he’s a big SF, or simply just a ‘tweener forward. In either case, it’s not enough against the best/biggest teams, praticularly on a consistent basis.
What’s the last team to take it a long way with a tandem like that? Phoenix Suns. They kept running Stoudamire at center (call it what you want, but he was the center), and Shawn Marion at PF. And despite the numbers those two put up with one of the best pgs in the NBA, they never could get over the hump. Kept running into San Antonio or somebody like that. Of course, they also didn’t play much in the way of defense. That didn’t help.
In any case, it takes incredible talent, a mean system that works for the players that play in it, a trio of all-stars, and a deep bench for that tandem to work. And it still came out 2nd best (or 3rd). We have ONE all-star, and the rest of the aforementioned criteria is the source of most of the arguments on this blog. Heh. Something’s gotta give sooner or later….
vava74
September 9th, 2009
7:55 pm
Ariose,
The issue is very simple: contenders have more cash to burn and can have the luxury to spend money in surplus personnel.
Do you want to put in your own cash to cover Flip’s 1.5 million? The owners are losing money already and the last thing they want to hear is: let’s hire before training camp a 5th guard which we many actually not need…
Bob Weiss
September 9th, 2009
7:57 pm
September 3rd, 2009
7:10 pm
Ken, Ray, Help me get my job back.
Sorry, no can do. But you can contact Truth Serum. He might be able to help. But don’t tell him you’re white. You might get gibbered at, then chased around the yard with a sharp stick.
Look smart alec, I understand that you are a fake black man who pimps racism to get your jolly on. Im white and I know that counts for something with you. I just want my job back. Keep up the hate on Coach Woodson and then when guys like Mike Vick or O J ask you who do you think should be the coach you plug and play my name see. Its a complicated scheme that can be between you and me see…
Big Ray
September 9th, 2009
8:07 pm
Rod,
It’s a common misunderstanding. Your interpretation was different than mine. Of course, I don’t know how long you’ve been following the “conversation” with Truth Serum, or you might have interpreted it differently. The man has been mentioning “bubba crew” in direct connection with “the Klan”, terms like “grand dragon”, and the like. That, and he’s been trying to convince me for days that I’m not black. Like I said, follow the entire conversation if you have time and nothing pressing to do (you would really have to be bored), and you’ll see what the true tenor of it all was. That was why I said, “oh no, not you too.” Anyway, if you read it, I’m sure you’ll draw your own conclusions. And, unlike most here, ol’ boy over there HAS been posting as several different people. I’ve only wondered if you posted as Sam from da Swats. And after playing with it for a minute, I left it alone. Call it what you will, but you and truth serum ain’t cut from the same cloth if you ask me.
By the way, the only thing we’ve disagreed vehemently on that I can recall is Marvin. And even then, we’ve found some common ground. It’s not a big deal to me.
Truth Serum ,
I’m not a hacker, and I don’t want your address. I also don’t care that you’re chinese or that you don’t own a computer. Nor do I care why. I don’t recall making a reference to where you were or what your ethnic origin is. I’m cool with anybody, from anywhere. Except lunatics. Those get a trip to the crossbar motel, curbside service, no exceptions (unless they’re really old, then we try to find a family member or caretaker first).
You say I’m in denial. Well…..I’m not the one spending my time at the public library, accusing people I don’t know and have probably never seen, of being members of an infamous hate organization…..
Sounds just a tad loony to me….
Big Ray
September 9th, 2009
8:09 pm
Keep up the hate on Coach Woodson and then when guys like Mike Vick or O J ask you who do you think should be the coach you plug and play my name see. Its a complicated scheme that can be between you and me see
This one again? How many times are you going to cut and paste that? LOL!!!
joe mama
September 9th, 2009
8:10 pm
Ray, some times you suprise me and I find that we have more in common that apart. When you arent attacking Woodson but breaking down the Hawks players I find my thoughts are very close to yours. That Suns team was a good one. But Duncan was in the way. Centers are important in a half court set. Invariably the playoffs will break down to a half court game and its hard to win with out a center. Thats basketball. In chess its possible to win without your queen but if the other guy has his your odds are small. So it is with the center control of the half court game.
Big Ray
September 9th, 2009
8:11 pm
Rod ,
“Look smart alec, I understand that you are a fake black man who pimps racism to get your jolly on. Im white and I know that counts for something with you. I just want my job back. Keep up the hate on Coach Woodson and then when guys like Mike Vick or O J ask you who do you think should be the coach you plug and play my name see. Its a complicated scheme that can be between you and me see…
This was the kind of stuff I was talking about (he posted under another name) . In retrospect, I don’t even know why I got so annoyed. A clown is a clown. And they’re all funny.
george
September 9th, 2009
8:24 pm
I’m talking about taking a gamble and trading j.smith and horford for a possible hall of famer who’s got a few good years left. I think it’s doable. Do you want to watch a very good team lose in the eastern conference finals for two or three years or do you want to try to win a championship…
Big Ray
September 9th, 2009
8:25 pm
Joe Mama,
The center is indeed the focal point of the halfcourt game. Provided he has a good lead guard of some type, to play with. That is why the Suns totally scrapped the halfcourt game and were strictly a running team. The Spurs constantly trapped them in the halfcourt game, where they did not produce as well. Look how quickly the Suns fell apart when Shaq was brought in. One of the game’s best centers ever and they couldn’t even make the playoffs with him. They didn’t know how to play halfcourt, as that was never their fit. Fit is so important.
On the subject of Woody, I don’t hate the guy (I can’t believe I have to keep saying this). I disagree vehemently with some of the things he does or says, but I REALLY don’t hate him. Seriously. Yes, he has a losing record overall, but I also understand why, and that he was part of a losing environment. The team was expected to lose, as it was blown up and had to start over. The team has improved year after year with him, but again, I understand that he was PART of the turnaround. He did not orchestrate it all himself.
I think the guy will have a head coaching or top assistant coaching job for as long as he chooses, even if it’s not here. The fact is, after five years as a head coach, he has one winning season and two postseason appearances. In my humble opinion, the man has not “arrived” yet. Now I believe he can go forward this season and win again. And in my opinion, a man who leads the team to consecutive winning seasons within six years of a total organizational overhaul DESERVES A CONTRACT EXTENSION and longer term committment.
I don’t want him to fail. His failure means team failure, plain and simple. I’m a fan of this team, even if I don’t like every single thing people on the team or within the organization do. Believe me, I was all over Sund’s ass last summer. The ASG, too.
I think Sund and the owners want to see more proof that Woody can do his job. It may not seem fair, but they are the ones who pay him. Not only that, but they kept him on when his former boss (Billy Knight) tried to fire him numerous times. And when Sund came here. So if having to wait a little longer for an extension is all he has to do, then he’s doing better than some guys I know. Avery Johnson still doesn’t have a head coaching job. I don’t think Mo Cheeks does either.
Mike Dunleavy shouldn’t, but that’s another story altogether.
The Truth
September 9th, 2009
8:26 pm
Ray
I don’t know what’s more enjoyable, reading about the Hawks related topics or bloggers civil wars. Remember, THIS TOO SHALL PASS. Hopefully, just in time for the season opening.
joe mama
September 9th, 2009
8:26 pm
I dont know about mr serum, seems like he coined the term ” bubba crew”. You do seem to call him all of your detractors. Is it possible that there are quite a few people dont agree with your views? I do see alot of guys changing their names and then going back as if some one else did the dirt. Drive by blogging is nothing new. Your conversation reveals clearly that you have a certain affliation with a posse or crew or gang here. I am sure that if you and the boys laid off the hate woody campaign we would not have so many people changing names.
Apparently youve attacked Rod too. Other wise You and he would not be having this conversation.
Big Ray
September 9th, 2009
8:27 pm
George,
Heh! We gotta get to the Eastern Conference Finals first, man. We aren’t even good enough for that right now, let alone a championship. So what’s your trade idea?
Big Ray
September 9th, 2009
8:38 pm
Joe Mama,
I’ve been hangin’ here pretty much shortly after Sekou Smith started this blog. That’s been about 4 years now. If I’m part of a posse or gang, then I guess you could call it Sekou’s Bloggers . Other than that, nothing in particular.
As for Rod , we just disagreed on a particular subject. We’ve talked some trash back and forth. Most of it was just that: trash. I did accuse him of being somebody else once, because that person only came around when he did, and said exactly all the same things he did. Who cares? Water under the bridge. Rod usually comes along and says something negative about Marvin Williams. A couple of guys disagree. They banter back and forth and then move along. Nothing new about it, really.
As for “me and the boys” laying off Woody, dude you ain’t been around long, have you? Have you ever seen me mention firing Woody? Man, there’s this other guy named Clyde who ended every single post with “FIRE WOODY.” He did that for like, 2 or 3 years straight. These days, he hasn’t been hanging around much, as he’s had other things to do. Oh, and he’s black too, so don’t go thinking he’s a “bubba.” Trust me, there are people who are diehard Woody haters who only come around during the season. You’ve seen nothing yet, up to this point.
Then there are those of us who are simply critical, and we are as willing to give praise as we are criticism. But as Astro Joe said, we all fall victim to our own biases at times and lose sight of the truth. And the truth is……….we all have opinions.
And there are plenty of guys/gals who bash the crap out of certain players. Shall we expect for many different monikers to occur because of that as well? Seems a bit silly. But whatever floats the boat.
joe mama
September 9th, 2009
8:42 pm
Ok. Either one thing or another is a case in point. Either Woodson is the MVP of the Hawks or there is a lot of hatred going on. On this site Woodson gets discussed more than any Hawks player. If he is that important then We need him undercontract. I am confident he will get an extention by allstar break(mark it)and he will continue to win. I dont think its a case of Woodson needs to prove anything as it is a GM trying to play poker.
I also disagree. Woodson will never be a assistant coach again. He done a professional job in dealing with the Hawks as they rebuild and owner note that. Every team that is rebuilding would go after Woodson if hes available.
Rod from college park where they chop cars
September 9th, 2009
8:50 pm
Rod from College Park
September 9th, 2009
4:55 pm
truth-seum,
Thanks! I would hate to be associated with such an organization. Soon they will say we are the same person also. LOL
Big Ray,
If it looks like a duck, and sounds like a duck, it might just be a duck. Just saying….. Just because you all (BUBBA CREW, LUNCHROOM BUDDIES……..) take the same stance, with the same obsurd statements
about my arguements does not mean that you are all the same person. I would give some of you the benefit of the doubt if the other person you say I am, was me, but obviously you (BUBBA CREW, LUNCHROOM BUDDIES……..), are making assumptions based on the syntax of the post, so therefore I must take the appropriate stance. BUBBA CREW it is.
Rod from College Park
September 9th, 2009
4:19 pm
Nire,
“But I hate to break it to you – you can put on as many disguises as you want. You still only get 1 vote. Just like a certain Marvin-hating person we all can name.”
I thought we had an agreement that we would cease on taking cheap shots at each other. Oh that’s right, you are studying to be a lawyer, so nothing you say can be believed. See how easy that was. Again I have never posted as anyone other than myself, and if you don’t believe it, ask one of your BUBBA CREW members to verify it. I know some of them have admin capacity, so use your law degree and investigate. Because there is another person who is not in the BUBBA CREW who agrees with my stance on Marvin, does not mean that it has to be me. So I guess it’s back on again.
Kevin A,
“Critiquing players and coach/GM along with cheering them on is what a blog is all about? What I don’t understand is why people take it personal.”
Great point. It’s only the BUBBA CREW that takes it personal. They use the word Hating without understanding what the term really means. Hating is when you dislike someone or something for no reason, or because you are jealous of them. I have a reason to dislike Marvin’s game therefore I cannot be hating and in no way am I jealous of him. I dislike his game, not him.
Rod from College Park
September 9th, 2009
7:49 pm
truth-serum,
I have noticed that. No matter how much statistical data or common sense or tangible information you give them, they resort to tactics such as if player A got the same amount of time as player B he would be better than plyer B. If player A was given more shots than player B he would be great. But then they call you stupid and idiot and question your basketball knowledge. I am glad you helped me to understand what I have been dealing with. Appreciate it.
Big Ray,
Of course all of the racial things you are speaking of I do not endorse being that I am black. I did not get the same message you got from those post, but hey, we never tend to agree on anything anyway. I got BUBBA (one leader), and CREW(a bunch of blind followers who will stop at nothing the get their agenda across. No matter if it is wrong or right.) Just my interpretation.
joe mama
September 9th, 2009
8:52 pm
george the team you describe beats the one we have now! I would love to have dirk here!
joe mama
September 9th, 2009
8:58 pm
I ve read clyde before and astro joe too. Yeah there has been a lot of Hate woody sentiment that was expressed well by Rod ““Critiquing players and coach/GM along with cheering them on is what a blog is all about? What I don’t understand is why people take it personal.”
Great point. It’s only the BUBBA CREW that takes it personal.
Its lights out so peace to you.
Big Ray
September 9th, 2009
9:03 pm
Joe Mama,
You lost me. Woody can’t be MVP, he can only be COY. It’s not all black and white, and I think you know that. Was Phil Jackson MVP when Kobe and Shaq ruled the roost? Was he most valuable player when Jordan and Pippen were taking down entire teams, damn near by themselves? Come on, man. The coach is important, it ain’t like all that. If it was, then it wouldn’t matter what kind of players a team had, as long as the coach was great, right? You know it doesn’t work like that.
Yeah, maybe Sund is playing poker. Maybe he’s not. But you forget something: he’s not the bank owner. The ASG is. Whether Sund extends Woody or not, when he does it……all of that is subject to the approval of the owners. Sund may or may not be playing poker. I won’t pretend to know if he is or not. But I can tell you this: somebody allows him to play poker. You might want to take issue with them. All 8 of them, that is.
And don’t say Woody will never be an assistant coach again. Del Harris was a head coach. Bernie Bickerstaff was a head coach. So was Reggie Theus. And several other guys. All I was saying there was that if he ever got cut loose from the Hawks, he could secure a job, even if as an assistant coach. All the teams who are currently rebuilding have coaches. So what if a head coaching job isn’t open? An assistant job will do, as it puts food on the table, just not maybe quite as much, or maybe of a slightly lesser quality (not really, but you get my drift).
Better to be working, than doing like Avery Johnson is…a couple of analytical jobs here and there, and getting farther and farther from the sideline every day.
Big Ray
September 9th, 2009
9:04 pm
The library closes at 9?
I MUS WRITE
September 9th, 2009
9:05 pm
Truth Serum- Lopez should be a little higher IMO and Al should definitely be on the list, ZAZA is not a top 15 center in this league.
Y are people complaining about Crawfords salary? yeah he’s making 9 million a year – thats not bad for the production 19/5 …….. Speedy Claxtona=4.5 mill AC Law =2.5 mil thats 7 mill a year. We all Know what Shakey and Gimpey’s contributions were last year (Collecting warm ups and chest bumping)
So we’rre really getting Crawford for roughly 2.5, addition by subtraction.
digimon
September 9th, 2009
9:05 pm
big ray, either that or the computer room in the insane asylum closes at nine p.m.
Big Ray
September 9th, 2009
9:06 pm
IMUS,
What’s good? Tell it brotha, tell it….
I MUS WRITE
September 9th, 2009
9:09 pm
jerry west i think we would go to the ECF
Charlie Manson
September 9th, 2009
9:11 pm
Truth Serum thinks like me……..Scary.
I MUS WRITE
September 9th, 2009
9:13 pm
Not much Big Ray on my balcony kicking back…. I put the guiness in my rearview so it me the lap top and a bottle of fiji water lol….
niremetal
September 9th, 2009
9:15 pm
Classless, idiotic move by ESPN to interview Oudin instead of Wozniacki after Oudin lost. Disrespectful to both.
Big Ray
September 9th, 2009
9:16 pm
Dang, so Iverson is going to Memphis, huh? This will be interesting. Some people worried about OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay sharing the ball. Heh. Still, with those three and Randolph, the chance for a lot of points scored is high. So are the chances of a chemistry experiment gone wrong, but what do I know….
Digimon,
Now that just wasn’t right. Well, I hope it wasn’t anyway….
Big Ray
September 9th, 2009
9:18 pm
IMUS,
Cool. Me likes da Fiji water. What do you think of The Answer going to Memphis? If you ask me, it’s not whether it will be an explosive lineup. It’s what kind of explosion it will be. Iverson isn’t a trouble-maker. But there are a lot of fellas on that team that damn sure need the ball, na’mean?
Big Ray
September 9th, 2009
9:19 pm
JerryWest,
Nope.
niremetal
September 9th, 2009
9:20 pm
Ray,
I agree about Memphis, and want to add one other question – who will play defense :-/
digimon
September 9th, 2009
9:21 pm
i call it like i see it ray ray. wrong or right
Big Ray
September 9th, 2009
9:22 pm
Nire,
Heh. Good question. We’ll see what happens. I ain’t hatin’ on A.I., I just don’t know how this works.
niremetal
September 9th, 2009
9:24 pm
Damn, guess that emoticon doesn’t work here. Let’s try this:
Ariose
September 9th, 2009
9:26 pm
KevinA, LOL Only in a perfect world…
Vava74, Good Point
Ariose
September 9th, 2009
9:27 pm
Now that the A.I situation is taken care of, Flip should have a home soon…
Melvin
September 9th, 2009
9:55 pm
Daniel,
I think Stackhouse would be a good pickup. He could play the SG/SF those two positions are interchangeable. I think ideally, you want a guy that can creat off the dribble and hit shot from the perimeter at those two positions. However, for the Hawks. We need those traits along with rebounding from our SF b/c we have an undersize frontcourt. But it depends on matchups and I think Stackhouse is more of a SF than he is a SG. I think the way he attack the rim would compliment this team b/c we really don’t have anyone that could do it as well as him…
joe mama
September 9th, 2009
10:15 pm
I just meant with all the attention he gets on this site and with all ultimatum placed on him on this site, he has to be the most valuable piece of the team.
Harris Bikerstaff nor Theus were sucessful in seeing a team through a rebuilding process but were rather intermediate range coaches that never got much traction.
Astro Joe
September 9th, 2009
11:29 pm
I have to admit that I take a strange perversion in watching Bobby Cox (the beloved Bobby Cox) make one bone-headed decision after another as the Braves season washes down the toilet… and then come here to read the comments about Woody. I love to listen to Bobby BS the fans (e.g. “Norton is hitting the ball hard, he just keeps hitting it right at a player”) and then read bloggers blast Woody for speaking what he believes to be the truth. Oh, and my favorite, watching HOFer Cox abuse his bullpen (including excessive utilization of relievers who had reconstructive arm surgery in the past 18 months), only to read about Woody playing Joe too much. It’s all kind of
to me.
Ken Strickland
September 10th, 2009
1:15 am
ARIOSE-you made an earlier comment that reminded me of something that was made into a major issue when BK was the GM. You mentioned how signing Flip might be redundant, but winning teams lean towards redundancy. Well, redundancy certainly wasn’t considered acceptable when BK was stocking the roster with forwards.
I also have a problem understanding how people can say Horford is playing out of position and too undersized to play center. Yet, some of these same people are saying they’d trade 6′10″ 245lb AHorford for 6′10″ 260lb AJefferson or 6′10″ 249lb AStaudamire. WHERE’S THE LOGIC?
joe mama
September 10th, 2009
5:56 am
The logic is that Horford and Jefferson are the same hieght but AJ is 15-20 heavier and thats important when backing down or forcing opposition off the block. Its also important to carry the extra weight when going through the rigors of the long NBA season. The Post is the most physically demanding spot and Powerforwards wear down and Like A.H. they may twist an ankle, pull a muscle, strain a groin. Put that demand over a 5-10 period a smaller body may give out. With A staudamire the game is different. Hes got such offensive tools that it changes the complexity of the post. He can and does command double teams and hes capable of taking over a game offensively. In horford when have a solid blue collar worker but is not capable of backing anyone down, forcing anyone off the block or taking over a game offensively.
I hope you dont hate me for voicing a different point of view or calling me truth serum-not that I dont respect mr serum,I do- or having your associates hack my computer.
joe mama
September 10th, 2009
6:23 am
Thats height and 5-10 year period
vava74
September 10th, 2009
6:59 am
Amar’e is a defensive liability, a poor defender on and off the ball, a notorious malcontent and would be a bad locker room influence.
Although he had a tremendous offensive output when the Suns were hot, that was also caused by the up tempo stile of play and Nash’s quality as a PG.
We do not have that type of PG and Amar’e would struggle to put the same numbers here, or, if he did, he would do it at the cost of us having even worse ball movement in our offense.
I also don’t think he is a very good rebounder (due to an extreme lack of effort, more than anything else).
Also, he damaged goods: it is just a matter of time before he turns into a Jermaine O’Neal.
If you look beyond the individual stats, you should realize that he was not the X factor in the Suns success, but merely a very useful offensive tool.
In the end, Amar’e is little else than a more mobile Zach Randolph: nice individual numbers but few wins for the team he plays for.
HITLER
September 10th, 2009
7:29 am
BUBBA CREW GOOD JOB! SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO CHARLIE MANSON. KEEP UP THE HATE AND PRESSURE ON TRUTH SERUM. HE WILL BUCKLE SOONER OR LATER. TEAM BUBBA WE ARE NOT TO LET BOB WEISS BACK IN THE GAME REGARDLESS OF HIS SKIN. HE HASNT PAID HIS MEMBERSHIP AND NEVER ATTENDS RALLY’S.
BUBBAS I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON THE AMOUNT AND LEVEL OF CONFUSION YOU ARE SPREADING. OPERATION GET WOODSON IS IN FULL SWING. GOOD JOB.
I HAVE A SUPRISE FOR YOU LATER. I WONT SAY WHAT IT IS NOW BUT ITS NOT A NECKTIE PARTY. I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU GUYS LIKE THOSE.
UNTIL THEN, KEEP UP THE HATE BUBBA NATION!
doc
September 10th, 2009
8:01 am
interesting list there sautee, samuel might take note before he degrades c paul’s cred on this blog again like he did earlier in the week. seems crawford held his own there in the list and would be our second best player.
Clyde
September 10th, 2009
8:10 am
ROLL TIDE
M. BRADLEY
September 10th, 2009
8:29 am
September 9th, 2009
5:08 pm
I have to talk about these sorry aizz braves because every time I try and talk falcons all the people want to discuss is MICHAEL VICK! I did not cut VICK BLANK did that@**#==##@ hole! Like everybody else I want Vick back. Does any body care about these sorry aizz redneck braves? who gives a f__k! This is football season and Im stuck with having to write about mattie lice….Son of a b__t__h.
Somebody get Vick on the phone I gotta sell some papers…
And with that, I’m closing these comments. Just not in the mood today
Daniel
September 10th, 2009
8:43 am
vava74- you are right on about Amare. His injuries have really been piling up. Don’t forget about the eye surgery. How well has Shawn Marion performed outside of that offense? You would expect the same from Amare. I don’t know why people keep thinking that he is the missing piece.
Ray- we don’t always agree, but we do remain civil. I appreciate that.
Hitler/Truth-Serum/Undisputed Champ, et. al- Please find a new trick. As someone who actually supports Woodson, you make me feel like I am on the wrong side. BTW- are you also FALCONS SORRY?