Come see for yourself
You can catch Al Horford on Twitter anytime and at the Hawks' free public practice Saturday at Philips Arena.
HAWKSVILLE – For you Hawks fans fortunate enough to call the 13th colony home, Saturday is your day.
“Your” team is holding an open practice (free to the public) at Philips Arena from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. that will allow you to see for yourself all the things you’ve read and chatted about around here lately.
If you want to see just how unbelievably humongous rookie behemoth Garret Siler is, this is your chance.
Maybe you’ve always wondered what that tattoo on Josh Smith’s left forearm said, well this might be your chance to find out.
If you want to see if Joe Johnson uses the perfect form on his jumper, you can see it for free Saturday morning on the main floor.
Or maybe you just want to size up guys like Randolph Morris and Joe Smith to see if they have the bulk needed to help improve the Hawks’ frontcourt depth. Do it Saturday.
If Mike Woodson is the object of your affection (or something else, ha), now is your time to see him for yourself. Tell him all the stuff you write about him here, if you feel the urge (watch this team work in person and you might get a different feel for them and for the coach, or not).
ONE LAST TIME, Saturday, Oct. 10, from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. the Hawks will take the floor at Philips for a practice that is open to the public and free for any and all that wish to attend.
I guarantee you it will make our debates around here more spirited, at least for next few days. Because once you see this stuff for yourself, you won’t have to just take my word(s) for what transpired. You’ll have seen it with your own eyes and come to your own informed opinion about what is what.
ANOTHER TWITTER UPDATE
There’s another new Hawks’ neighbor on Twitter these days. Al Horford has officially joined the 140-character revolution and can be found on the network with a swift click. The Big Gator is witty and is sure to keep you informed on all things Hawks from an insider’s perspective. I see him daily but I’m still reading his tweets every chance I get just to see what I might have missed.
BREAKFAST WITH THE HAWKS?
From our friends at Truehoop we have breakfast with the Hawks, a nekit-chested Josh Smith in particular.
There goes lunch!
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240 comments Add your comment
niremetal
October 9th, 2009
3:30 pm
bigdave,
So have NYC/Harlem and Chicago. Don’t believe me? Google “capital of black America.” Washington DC is in the first 10 results too. And the only page that uses “capital of black America” in the first 10 is a Flickr group called “blackatlanta.” Something tells me that group is comprised mainly of Atlantans
Hey, Atlanta has a claim to it. But so do Chicago, LA, DC (apparently), and NYC (sorry Chris, but come on…it has Harlem and STILL has twice as many blacks as Atlanta). The fact that some people have dubbed Atlanta that doesn’t mean that it’s the ONLY city to have been so dubbed.
It’s not unlike those people (mainly people from New Orleans or Memphis) who say New Orleans or Memphis is the country’s music capital. They might have claims, but so do Detroit, NYC, and LA.
Anyway, this conversation has strayed far from basketball. New topic: What team will make the biggest unexpected playoff run this coming year? My pick is the Clippers, in no small part because I think Blake Griffin will catch onto the NBA even quicker than most people expect.
niremetal
October 9th, 2009
3:31 pm
*And the only page that uses “capital of black America” in the first 10 to describe Atlanta is . . .
As you’ll see, there are other pages in first 10 using that phrase to describe other cities.
Ramon
October 9th, 2009
3:33 pm
Niremetal, Chicago isn’t any better as far as markets than Atlanta. Jordan ended up in Chicago because he MADE Chicago, with the exception of the Cubs. Jordan name alone got more love in his 4th and 5th season than the entire Chicago Bears team. Deep down Lebron may want to do the same thing in Cleveland. The quickest way to become a billionaire is to create your own market. If it was only about markets you would be hearing more about the Clippers being a factor for Lebron, but not once have you heard that.
By the way, I still think Jordan will be the first athlete billionaire.
Jin Rummy
October 9th, 2009
3:35 pm
F@#$ck LeBron!!!….lil bytch…
Anyone who thinks up north is any better is obviously crazy. Cold horrible weather. Tons of violence on D.C and traffic is so damn slow and the lanes are to small VERY annoying.
And I couldn’t bare to live in NYC. I HAVE to have my car. I’m not payin no damn taxi and i’n not walking anywhere. NYC traffic is HORRIBLE bumper to bumper 24/7 whath u talkin bout’?
Sekou Smith
October 9th, 2009
3:36 pm
Door isn’t closed on Stackhouse, Daniel. Both sides could have use for each other at some point this season, provided Stack doesn’t sign elsewhere.
And we’ve got the King Springs School Lions magnet on the trunks of the rides Nire, so you know I know. Ha. Hadn’t the heard the Smableton or Smynings names, PDub. Those are funny. We’re city dwellers, though (Smyrna4Life). City of Smyrna baby. We’ve got resident cards and library cards and everything. Don’t sleep on my adopted city. It’s on the come up in a major way.
Jin Rummy
October 9th, 2009
3:37 pm
Actually, Atlanta is commonly dubbed “Black Hollywood” not the capitol of Black America….
Sekou Smith
October 9th, 2009
3:38 pm
School me on my city Nire, which side of the tracks does Ridge Road fall on?
Sekou Smith
October 9th, 2009
3:39 pm
Most everyone I’ve run into, of every shade, enjoys living in and around Atlanta. Other than the traffic, I don’t hear too many folks complaining.
Jin Rummy
October 9th, 2009
3:40 pm
Cobb is really Nice. I live in Kennesaw and I love it. Lived in Gwinnet before that sice I was young.
Chris
October 9th, 2009
3:41 pm
Nire, you almost had me nodding in agreement until you brought up the Clippers. That is where high draft picks go to die. Blake Griffin would not have been the first pick in any of the preceeding 10 drafts. It was a clearly a down year.
Sekou Smith
October 9th, 2009
3:44 pm
True story: I’ve been East of I-85 probably 10 times in the five years I’ve been here. Crazy huh? Guess I just like the WestSide! I need the GPS once I cross 400 headed to Decatur.
Jin Rummy
October 9th, 2009
3:46 pm
I LOVE ATL Traffic!!!! Are you kidding me? Well not the “jams” but the SPEED!!! I love the SPEED!!!! you can go as fast a u want a long as ur in a group so 5.0 doesn’t sigle you out for a ticket.
Sekou Smith
October 9th, 2009
3:46 pm
I don’t know about that Chris. I’d have taken him ahead of Bargnani, Kwame and Bogut without hesitating.
rainman
October 9th, 2009
3:51 pm
Hey Sekou, I just moved to Fla. from Vinings – so I’m down with Smyrna too. I was curious what former or current PG you would compare Teague to, assuming he reaches his projected potential. Do you think he could be a top ten PG someday if everything goes well?
A recent list of top ten centers that I saw the other day didn’t even have Horford as honorable mention. Has he added any bulk at all, or should we just accept that ‘it is what it is’ as far as his build goes?
As to the Stack vs. Mo arguement — I would take Stack in a heartbeat as long as its for the vet minimum and he understood his role. At this point, SF probably has the least quality depth of any position and Stack has more potential to make an impact in the playoffs. What do you think?
Jin Rummy
October 9th, 2009
3:51 pm
What! Sekou you gotta go East lol. Gwinnett/Stone Mountain is a great spot. Yuo gotta visit stone mountain and take a cable car to the top. One of the best views in Georgia. Norcross GA,was my spot, then I moved to South Gwinnett just in time for the Lou Willims hype.
Jin Rummy
October 9th, 2009
3:55 pm
Lived in Fulton co. and Marietta as well…
I hope we Sign Gerald Green good young player/servicable backup who won’t demand many minutes. We all know how cranky Mo can get if he sits on the bench too long ha…
$800k!!!
niremetal
October 9th, 2009
4:08 pm
Ramon,
I’m sorry, but did you really just say that “Jordan MADE Chicago?” Dude, come on. For over a century, it was second only to NYC in terms of population. LA only overtook it in the 1990 census. Jordan’s abilities as an athlete would have made him a superstar anyway, but in those early cable years, his worldwide marketability was HUGELY enhanced by the fact that he played in what was then the 2nd largest city in the country.
The idea that it was Michael Jordan or the Cubs that made Chicago is just absurd. And there still is a MASSIVE gap in market exposure between Chicago and Atlanta. Go talk to anyone who works in a big marketing firm and they’ll tell you the same thing. ATL certainly is on the rise, but it’s got a loooooong way to go to crack the Big Three -and Dallas and Houston are far closer than we are.
Daniel
October 9th, 2009
4:25 pm
Hey Sekou,
Decatur is where it is at. I am not talking South Decatur with Flat Shoals and all that. I am talking city of Decatur, Druid Hills, Avondale, Kirkwood. Beautiful houses, lots of restraunts (esp. Indian) Great parks. Nice mix of people. And lots of places to ball either B-ball or Soccer(I actually prefer soccer.. I am just better at it). So come East Brother, Come East.
Daniel
October 9th, 2009
4:27 pm
Jin Rummy- I totally agree on Stone Mountain, great place to take the kids on a random afternoon when it is quiet. highly underrated.
niremetal
October 9th, 2009
4:28 pm
Sekou,
Ridge Road is most definitely on the right side of the tracks
. When I was young, some of the areas further north off of South Cobb Drive were a bit sketchy, but that might have changed since the last time I drove out that way (5 years ago). But I grew up in Mableton and Smyrna, and only moved away a couple years after Home Depot built its new HQ and the cost of living started creeping ever-upward…
bigdave
October 9th, 2009
4:38 pm
of course Nire… ‘Chocolate City’ DC… though i was speaking of more current relevance… back to basketball…
Rummy… Black Hollywood as well… sure…
i guess it all depends on your source…
ILL-logical
October 9th, 2009
4:40 pm
FWIW:Forbes magazine has listed Tiger Woods as being the first athlete to EARN $1 billion.
My experience has been that a lot of athletes/entertainers ,primarily but not exclusively African -American, prefere living in Atlanta because of the cost of living and they can enjoy relative anonymity.
however, the financial(HAWKS) , social(Braves) and political(Falcons) conditions of the professional franchises limit the serious ballers interest.
The Hawks have the greatest opportunity to break the barrier and attract players who want to both play and live here. And, most importantly, become a contibuting member of the community.
Atl Resident
October 9th, 2009
4:52 pm
How the hell this go from hawks open practice to talking about this sorry atl traffic? And yeah Jin the traffic in D.C. is horrible but its better up there than here cause at least I dont have to slow up on highway, at least people know how to get on and off, people here to indecisive will get you killed.
Jin Rummy
October 9th, 2009
4:57 pm
Atl Resident, I can’t argue with that lol.
Ramon
October 9th, 2009
5:16 pm
Niremetal, population and economic market are two different things. That’s like saying Houston is a better market than Boston due to the population, when economically its not even close. The economic strength of Chicago in the 80s were not that of Los Angeles. As I said on an endorsement level (the strength of MJ’s finances) MJ brought the endorsement companies to him in Chicago. MJ brought many of the athletic companies to Chicago that previously only stayed in NYC and LA. You go ahead and Google and show me where in the 80s Chicago was in the top two cities for economical wealth. I’ll be here waiting.
By the way, as far as your argument about the city of Atlanta. Take a look, http://www.inc.com/magazine/20040301/top25_pagen_2.html .
rms
October 9th, 2009
5:16 pm
Who cares about ATL traffic? Its bad enough I gotta sit in it let alone come home and talk about amongst Hawks fans! Enough already!!!
Destiny
October 9th, 2009
5:21 pm
I was wondering does the team do autographs after practice or before?
DSS82
October 9th, 2009
5:23 pm
What’s up with Jason Collins. He didn’t play because he was out of shape. Are you serious? This is the NBA. There are a million guys that would love to be in his situation, but it is what it is. I guess there aren’t a million guys with his size and athleticism.
What’s the story?
Ramon
October 9th, 2009
5:25 pm
DSS, there are a million guys true enough. But when you’re the 3rd center in preseason and your skills are better than whats on the free agent market, whats the rush to be in shape? lol. I’d rather have an out of shape Jason Collins, than an in shape Solomon Jones lol.
Jin Rummy
October 9th, 2009
5:37 pm
Collins has a quad injury I beleive. Sekou was just playin’ lol.
Jin Rummy
October 9th, 2009
5:39 pm
Ramon, seriously? Collins over Solo? IDK about that. I like Collins, but at least Solo show up in the stat sheet….I herd he’s doing well up there in Indiana.
Ramon
October 9th, 2009
5:43 pm
Jim, Collins for Vet min or Solo for 1.5 mil a season? That’s not even an argument for me. I’d take Collins every time. There are only a very select few in the league who Solo could guard, so you’re basically paying 1.5 mil for three quarters of a season. Solo is doing well in Indiana like he did here, because what true big does he have to guard in their practices? Troy Murphy? lol. I’d take Collins.
Ramon
October 9th, 2009
5:54 pm
ESPN preview of the Hawks http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4541681&categoryid=2459788 .
I wouldn’t agree that they’re still thin up front, not sure I would agree with that. But at least he didn’t pick Washington to skip over the Birds. (when we all know Wizards only win in Harry Potter).
tyger
October 9th, 2009
5:55 pm
Washington, DC hands down!
Mz. Hawkdafied
October 9th, 2009
6:28 pm
Last time I checked Gwinnett, Smyrna, Decatur, etc. is not Atlanta. I like how yall claim my city though! Yeah the people in my city can’t drive I’ll give you that! Fudge Lebrick, Lecrabdribbler. My city don’t need him to win a championship. Dwight Howard in 2012 okay. But Lebron’s following around Jay Z behind can go to NY. He disrespects Cleveland every chance he gets, sporting NY Yankees hats talking about I’m from Akron not Cleveland. But I can kinda feel him on that though cause I’m from the A and I’ll rep it to my dying day. You won’t see me walking around talking about Decatur’s where it’s greater. I think not!
I ♥ ATL ! I ♥ the Atlanta Hawks!
Ramon
October 9th, 2009
6:42 pm
Hawkdafied, are you saying the Falcons name should become the Doraville Falcons? lol.
Yadro
October 9th, 2009
8:09 pm
Be sure to take your bullet-proof vests for after practice.
Melvin
October 9th, 2009
9:09 pm
I know last season and early this summer I was hoping the Hawks could acquire Mike Miller from Minny but after watching him play tonite in the Wash/Dallas game, I’m glad he’s in DC….
ÛfØ
October 9th, 2009
9:14 pm
Sekou:
Can you ask Josh Smith to come to Campbell High school in Smyrna Georgia?
Hawk fans: Al Horford lives in Smyrna, If I knew his adress I would go to his house and ask him for free tickets.
ÛfØ
October 9th, 2009
9:19 pm
………….
ÛfØ
October 9th, 2009
9:28 pm
Sekou:
Can you get me free tickets?
Hawk fans: I remember when I saw Al horford at Cumberland Mall. We went to Game Stop and played NBA 2K9.
ÛfØ
October 9th, 2009
9:32 pm
Good times, Good times!
Ken Strickland
October 9th, 2009
9:33 pm
What’s up fellow Hawk fanatics? I’ve been away from the action and discussions recently due to relocating back to the ATL. I don’t have a lot to say since I’m still trying to catch up on what’s going on. I still find it hard to believe the attitudes of those who refuse to believe the Hawks have a chance to finish in the top 3 in the East.
Last yr, after losing all 3 of our frontline starters for extended time, we proved we can weather injuries and still succeed, and that was with a very thin bench. This yr, we have a very talented, experienced, deep and versatile bench that will allow us to weather the loss of any starter. Can Orlando say that if they lose DHoward, or Cleveland, if they lose LJames? We’ve already seen how fragile the Celtics are when they suffer a key loss. The got RWallace to replace KG, but who replaces PPierce in the case of an injury?
ÛfØ
October 9th, 2009
9:42 pm
………..
ÛfØ
October 9th, 2009
9:48 pm
So when can we see the new jersey?
ÛfØ
October 9th, 2009
9:52 pm
I feel like am talking to myself. lol
ÛfØ
October 9th, 2009
9:54 pm
?
niremetal
October 9th, 2009
11:39 pm
Good to see you back, man.
I think the Celtics are the one team is basically guaranteed to win 50 games even if they suffer 2 major injuries. Remember that Doc Rivers uses a VERY deep bench and mixes and matches rotations better than anyone in the NBA. So long as any 2 of the Big Three are healthy, they’ll be fine. Remember that they added Sheed and Marquis Daniels while only losing Powe from their rotation.
As you said, they’ve got Sheed and Big Baby to back up KG. If Pierce or Ray Allen goes down, they’ll plug Daniels, Tony Allen, or House into the lineup – they’re strong enough defensively (in ALL ways – perimeter and post, on-ball and help) that they can deal with a height mismatch at one or two positions, so they might go with Tony Allen or House even if Daniels is healthy. Doc will find a way to make it work. He’s a master at getting the most out of a roster.
niremetal
October 9th, 2009
11:41 pm
Ken – in case you couldn’t tell, that last post was directed at you
Hawksta
October 9th, 2009
11:56 pm
Greetings fellow Hawks fans! First time ever reading a blog where the topic is changed and it’s not about race(progress yes)! Been a while since I posted but as usual I read and read. Miss the game the other night. Good thing we got Sekou! Haven’t bought 2k10 yet but I hear it’s still King. Yet EA did it’s best to catch up? Go Hawks!!!