Crawford makes a great first impression
Hawks fans are going to get a full dose of Jamal Crawford this season and if first impressions count for anything, it should be an exciting show.
HAWKSVILLE – From the minute Jamal Crawford hit the door Monday all eyes were on the Hawks’ newest addition (well, so to speak).
And he didn’t disappoint, not that anything he could have done would have disappointed the crowd of players, many of them his new teammates, hoping to get a glimpse of him in Hawks’ practice duds.
“They’re going to be (expletive) good this year,” said a visiting pro from another NBA team. “You throw JC and Joe Smith and this kid [Jeff] Teague, and they’ve got some wrinkles now that they didn’t have last season. They were already a dangerous team and now they’re really dangerous. And knowing these fans down here and what they like, they’re going to love the style this team can play. They’re going to love JC.”
Crawford loves the idea of what this Hawks team could be. He was all smiles after playing a few pickup games with guys like Marvin Williams, Al Horford, Mike Bibby and others, for the very first time.
“If you look at us on paper, you know we should be pretty good,” Williams said, “but so far I’d have to say it looks even better than I thought. It’s impressive. It’s different. Everybody knows what Jamal is capable of. And Jeff can play, man. I don’t know any other way of saying it, he can just play. And it’ll be exciting when we get everybody in here and see how the pieces fit. I truly believe we are going to be one of the most explosive teams in the league.”
Crawford wasn’t even in scoring mode on his first day (training camp starts in one week but most of the main faces have already made it back to town or are on the way). He played the role of set-up man. “Everybody knows I can score a little bit,” Crawford said modestly. “I’m a good passer, too. I love to set guys up. I always have.”
A nasty no-look pass here, another wicked dish there and his teammates, not to mention everyone else in attendance, had seen enough.
Horford couldn’t contain his glee while watching Crawford break down a defender in the lane on one play. He let out a loud yelp when Crawford’s crossover dribble whipped from one side to the other. Horford calmed down just in time to catch the pass (yup, he was on the floor and playing in the game but clearly enjoying the spectacle) of Crawford shredding yet another ill-fated attempt to slow him down.
“I couldn’t help it,” a smiling Horford would say later. “It’s fun to watch him got o work on somebody. I’m just excited, man. Training camp is going to be so competitive and it’s because we have some of these [new] guys coming in that will stir it up. I can’t wait to get going.”
OTHER NEW FACES
Crawford wasn’t the only new face to open a few eyes Monday. Training camp invitee Courtney Sims made his first appearance at the John “Beans” Beckett Invitational and did not disappoint.
Sims is a solid 6-11, 240-pounder that didn’t seem at all out of place banging against the likes of Horford, Randolph Morris, Othello Hunter and Garrett Siler – the other true bigs on the floor for most of Monday’s action. Sims finished with authority around the rim and was as active as any big running the floor and getting his hands dirty in the rebounding battles on both ends of the floor.
“We’re going to have so many bigs now that things will change dramatically for us,” Horford said of he, Josh Smith and Zaza Pachulia, the men who shouldered the bulk of the low-post burden for the Hawks last season. “You go from playing three or four guys, with Solomon Jones, to having five or six quality guys that can play and that has to make a big difference for us.”
THE WAFER RULE
Day after day veteran free agent Jerry Stackhouse turns heads during these informal workouts.
I haven’t found a player yet that isn’t convinced that he could help this Hawks team this season as versatile specialists off the bench.
Whether or not that connection ever comes to fruition is obviously not up to said players or any of us around here.
But let me offer up a cautionary tale about watching a free agent dazzle on the practice court all summer only to find work elsewhere once training camp rolls around. Von Wafer [breakout season in Houston last year and ow a teammate of former Hawks swingman Josh Childress in Greece] put on a somewhat similar type of show last summer, wowing everyone with his shooting stroke from deep and his ability to finish at the rim without any regard for whoever and whatever might be in his way.
Wafer would have helped this Hawks team tremendously last year but a decision was made to go in a different direction (one that, it should be pointed out, helped net 47 wins). It’ll be interesting to see if the Hawks look past Stackhouse (for whatever reasons) and break the Wafer Rule.
It’s not my decision, my team, my money or my main concern right now. But I don’t know that I’d be able to rationalize not trying to sign Stackhouse up if he goes anywhere this season and plays half as well as he’s played since I’ve been watching this summer.
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483 comments Add your comment
icecold
September 25th, 2009
3:49 pm
okay!! i jus threw raja bell in there cuz he is good.. i didnt say nothin about he was a future hall of fame’er!!!
jerrywest
September 25th, 2009
3:50 pm
I think Cleveland will go for Chucky Atkins.
Najeh Davenpoop
September 25th, 2009
3:52 pm
Heh… Big Ray, I’ve still been reading the blogs, but I haven’t really had much to say because nothing major has been going on with the Hawks in the last couple of months other than the Joe Smith and Jason Collins signings. It kinda seemed like the last couple of months’ blogs kept turning into the same 5 or 6 people arguing about the same sh*t, which I guess is what happens when there is nothing new going on. Hopefully with preseason right around the corner there will be more to talk about and I will go back to posting regularly.
icecold
September 25th, 2009
3:55 pm
Hoops
September 25th, 2009
1:01 pm
I keep telling you guys that another trade is going to happen. I’m not saying it will involve any of our front line players, even though it could, but I just feel that Sund is working on another move.
Just my prediction!
EXACTLY!!!
i feel the same way man!! somethin thats gon really change this team for the better!! alot better.. almost equal to gettin mike bibby!!! and it might see one of our starters leavin.. it could be marvin or even bibby, since we have jeff teague!! i hope not bibby though!! cuz i think he is one of the best point guards in the league still!! but who knows what might happen!!!
icecold
September 25th, 2009
4:02 pm
jerrywest
September 25th, 2009
1:38 pm
Sund could trade Rand Mo to a team that needs cap relief next year, and we could pick up a much better player with simlar salary but a longer contract.
We could package Mo with him since that team could buy out Mo (2.5 mill) next summer and get further relief. Does Mo own a player’s option next year?
That’s an attractive package for a lot of teams. An additional $3.355 mill cap relief for that team. We could pick up a player who makes between $2.5 and $4.2 million dollar per year for more than 2 years.
EXACTLY and also!!!
!!!!if they get stackhouse then we wont need mo!! that way we wont be losing anything if they do trade for somebody!!! sunds trades or signing is always risk free!! he traded for mike bibby ( sheldon williams anthony johnson tyrone lue and that that other center we had who i cant think of his name right now and dont feel like searchin) then we traded acie law and speedy claxton for jamal crawford!! two risk free trades, we got rid of scrubs for good players!!! and then we jus signed these veterans to the veteran minimums ( j collins joe smith and maybe stackhouse) all risk free!! we keep gettin a whole lot of somethins for nothin!!! i think it made up for drafting sheldon williams ( probally the worst top draft pick for the hawks in the last 20 years )!!!
The Truth
September 25th, 2009
4:03 pm
Mo and West are really combo guards (not traditional PG) which explain why Flip was appealing. Stackhouse could work in that kind of a backcourt rotation based on the style Cleveland play. Danny F has defied logic before so I wouldn’t put anything passed him.
icecold
September 25th, 2009
4:06 pm
GeeMack
i believe that the hawks roster this year is going to be up there with the elite teams IF everybody has gotten better and the players we picked up come through and dont let us down then it could really be like this
Lakers
Boston
Cavs
Atlanta
Magic
Portland
Spurs
Denver
Dallas
Hoops
September 25th, 2009
4:11 pm
Daniel,
If there is not a trade and/or a signing in the works, then why would we sign Collins before camp starts? Is he that much better than Morris, Siler, and Sims? Signing Collins for Vet. minimum makes him very attractive. It also makes it easy to move Mo and/or Morris for a draft pick which frees up 3.3M in salary. Stackhouse is waiting in the wings!
Daniel
September 25th, 2009
4:32 pm
Najeh- are you suggesting arguining about Woodson’s extension or Crawford’s salary or where Stackhouse might go isn’t exciting?
Dang, I guess you have a life.
I honestly would like to post on the Falcons stuff, but they just go insane over there with this weird Vick/Racism stuff over and over and over. So I just hang here with my fellow Hawks fanatics.
Good to have you back.
jerrywest
September 25th, 2009
4:35 pm
Hoops – do your research before you compare Collins to untested players.
http://www.hawksquawk.net/community/index.php/topic/339352-interesting-thread-nba-players-say-collins-is-extra-fierce/page__hl__collins__fromsearch__1
Sund has one more trick up his sleeve, but he isn’t trading away any of the players he just signed or resigned. Its downright unethical to trade away vet-min players who just signed with you.
Daniel
September 25th, 2009
4:35 pm
Interesting ideas Hoops. I would say that Collins is that much better than Siler, Sims, Morris (who has a contract already, too).
I see what you are thinking…. I am not so sure. we will see, we will see.
jerrywest
September 25th, 2009
4:38 pm
Jerry Stackhouse could add several road wins to this team. That’s where we can make maximum gain this year.
rob
September 25th, 2009
4:41 pm
thanks to flip, Acie Law never played. I saw potential on Acie, he was quick and could finish with both hands. he just needed minutes to show us what he can do. I remember when law scored like 20 points in a game againts Dallas or San Antonio. I hope Acie gets more playing time in Golden State. I wish him the best. I also wish flip the best he really helped the hawks. Mostly when JJ could not score.
GeeMack
September 25th, 2009
5:14 pm
Icecold,
I think you’re sleeping on the Spurs. Keep this in mind our best player JJ is the 2nd or 3rd best player on any of those team on your list. Josh Marvin & Al would be a sixth man on the Lakers, Spurs, & Boston. I like what the Hawks did, but they are not an elite team at this point. Even Sekou admitted that on the training camp show for FOX when they covered the Hawks.
icecold
September 25th, 2009
5:15 pm
acie law might still develop as a player,, its hard to develope point guards under woody!! thats y i kind of fear for jeff teague!!! and i hope if jamal crawford can do wit flip murray did… then i will be satisfied!! cuz flip did come through when we really needed him
icecold
September 25th, 2009
5:16 pm
but i still think we got somethin for nothin!!
KevinA
September 25th, 2009
5:44 pm
Daniel,Hoops
Training camp would be fun to watch as Siler and Sims try to prove the Collins move was a mistake. If Sims can’t make the squad does that show just how poor the D-League talent pool is? After all he had a great year including MVP.
jerrywest
After reading the posts from your link, Collins would be the (Howard/Shaq) man we need against big men. Does that make him a starter in specialized situations or 1st man in after ZaZa and Al get in foul trouble.
I MUS WRITE
September 25th, 2009
5:55 pm
Can we everbody join hands and bow your heads in prayer…..If Morris really does have a non gauranteed second year then our bigs should be- Josh,Al,Joe,ZaZa,collins,Sims
Hoops you maybe on to sumthing there- Give me Stack/Sims all day over Rio/Collins
Dam it…..I really wished Flip would have signed with Denver, O well congratulations to him!
IceCold- That list is kinda suspect Denver and the Spurs should be higher and Boston should be lower- Dallas maybe not at all…
vava74
September 25th, 2009
5:56 pm
People are going completely overboard about a 35 year old streaky shooter with no 3pt range…
For godness sakes, they guy is on his last wheels.
Sure, he could be useful, but only for spot duty, specific situations and match ups…
The guy barely brakes the .400 fg% mark for his career and people are talking about him as if he was a basketball god!
Breath deeeeep… Breath deeeeep…
You are all hyperventilating! Mo did a terrific job for us last year. As good as Flip’s (in a different role, obviously) and doesn’t get any credit around here… Just because he couldn’t stop Lebron, as if he was supposed to do what no one is able…
terrell barron
September 25th, 2009
6:08 pm
Cant believe Flip went to Charlotte. Oh well.
espn
September 25th, 2009
6:20 pm
trade JJ!
andrew
September 25th, 2009
6:25 pm
We should.
The Truth
September 25th, 2009
6:25 pm
From the roster breakdown, we have 6 PGs invitees including Mario. I would expect picking up our 3rd PG from this list. That’s highly likely. With the 2 center invitees, we will likely pickup at least 1 more center as well. The chance of us picking up both centers will depend (in my opinion) on how well Morris performs. So if Morris sucks, we could pickup both Siler and Sims and waive Morris. With just 1 forward invited, Hunter appears to have no competition unless there is a Stackhouse factor which is still probable. So Hunter chances remain unknown for that reason. All these scenarios suggest up to 3 more add-ons which totals a roster of 14 players.
The Truth
September 25th, 2009
6:34 pm
Correction: 5 PGs
niremetal
September 25th, 2009
6:39 pm
trade JJ we should
Dialing Yoda…
Reggie (The Bird and Indian)
September 25th, 2009
9:16 pm
Well folks after a season of Braves blogging, it is getting near the time to jump on here again. I was thinking I would already start to but the Braves are making it interesting again.
Good to be back.
bigdave
September 25th, 2009
9:39 pm
Reggie…
big win again tonight… after the Padres and Reds series i thought we were done… looks like we found that LA series resilience again… things are about to get interesting…
just been reading for the most part on both blogs but it is about that time…
MannyT
September 26th, 2009
5:03 pm
@niremetal from last blog.
Joe’s deal with the Hawks was 5 yrs/$70 mil with front loaded payment in year 1 of 20 mil. That left 50 mil for the other 4 years which dipped in year 2 and then had raises.
I think there has been a revision to the CBA since JJ signed that deal. The differences between what you expected to see in the contract may have been due to those changes.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=2120960
BWAF
icecold
September 26th, 2009
10:35 pm
espn
September 25th, 2009
6:20 pm
trade JJ!
Link Report this comment
F-U-C-K YOU!!!!!! lol.. jus playin
but for who would we trade him for, cuz if it aint for wade lebron kobe, rudy gay, or danny granger … then who!!!
JSS_62
September 29th, 2009
10:07 pm
Stories AJC(redneck paper) wont cover
September 24th, 2009
1:59 am
http://www.ajc.com/news/clayton/army-reservist-beaten-in-138917.html
I’ve never been one to defend the AJC, but they did post a story on within 8 hours of the initial attack.. It was on the front page of the AJC web site. I used it as an example of the double standard by certain bloggers who believe African Americans see racism where supposedly none exists…
Romblurbamoli
November 26th, 2009
4:04 am
Sony upscales PS3’s PlayTV to HD and also adds Aino ‘PlayStation phone’ support now: reghardware.co.uk/2009/11/05/playtv_update/
Romblurbamoli
November 26th, 2009
11:32 am
Look for at $100 cheaper consoles, minor but welcome upgrades, and more pressure on Nintendo and Microsoft in the gaming console market wars.
Dual Action Cleanse
December 26th, 2009
2:33 am
Hawks is very fantastic and well player of this year . he is real player and i like him ………Dual Action Cleanse Review