What’s in your profile?
There's no identity crisis for Hawks swingman Marvin Williams. He knows exactly who he is. But what do other think of the starting small forward? Find out inside.
HAWKSVILLE – The questions rolled off the tongue much easier than the answer.
I asked Marvin Williams the other day, “Who are you as a player, what’s your profile around the league?”
After rubbing his head for a second and smiling, Williams looked me dead in the eye and said, “I don’t worry about stuff like that. You’d have to ask someone else about that.”
Good idea Marv.
A quick phone call to a friend (a NBA All-Star turned pundit these days) offered up an interesting answer.
“Marvin Williams is their x-factor,” he said. “He’s the key to their season if you ask me. I think Marvin has to be the guy because he’s a 6-9, 240-pound guy that plays what I think is the most crucial position in the league these days. Whatever position the best player in the league plays, every guy on every other team that plays that spot becomes even more important. When MJ (Michael Jordan for you Y2K babies) ruled the league every shooting guard in the league instantly became more important. The same goes for all the small forwards now that LeBron is the man. So if Marvin can get to another level this year, the Hawks really have a chance to make some noise.”
That’s fine. And it’s a great discussion for another day. But it didn’t answer my initial question about Marvin’s game, which to me seems like an interesting mix of inside and out (more mid-range than post with a little 3-point wrinkle added last season) with a chance for so much more. So I pressed on, asking again for a definitive statement about what kind of player Marvin is in the eyes of a guy that’s played the game at a high level.
“Well, his game is hard to describe because I don’t know that he’s that easily categorized. The Hawks have never really asked him to fit into a specific hole as a shooter or rebounder or whatever,” my friend said. “I always felt like he had a chance to be a Jamal Mashburn-type player, a big guy that could work you off the dribble from the wing and finish with a jumper or push his man closer to the basket and finish there. But his handles have never impressed me. He was more of a situational shooter before last season, and those guys tend to drift in and out of games depending on who they’re playing with. But he opened my eyes last season with the 3-point shooting. I saw him early in the year when the Hawks started 6-0 and he was shooting the lights out and I felt like he had a chance to really break out, but he gradually eased up from out there as the season went on. He has to keep attacking from all over the floor offensively and hold his ground defensively. As far as who he is as a player, I think the jury is still out on him. And that’s a good thing. He’s still in the early stages of his career where he can define that for himself. This is a huge year for him individually. He can answer a lot of questions by showing he’s more of a consistent force than he’s been in his first few years.”
Most everyone I’ve spoken to about Williams since the summer, when he signed a new five-year deal with the Hawks, has echoed similar sentiments, the gist being that Williams still has room to grow and improve. I just wonder if how much of that we’ll get to see on a team where he’ll remain a third or fourth option on the offensive end of the floor.
KG IS WELCOME, TOO
Now that Zaza Pachulia is in the restaurant business, I expect the culinary jokes to become commonplace around here (fire away, Zaza’s thick skinned and a good sport).
Naturally, I kicked off the clowning last week while we sat in his spot (Eno By Zaza) for an interview.
“So is Kevin Garnett welcome here?” I asked, wondering aloud whether or not their nose-to-nose playoff dance from a couple years back was still a sore spot for both men.
After laughing for a few minutes, the always gracious Zaza welcomed not only Garnett but anyone in the world named Kevin or Garnett to frequent his spot. ”On the court, I’m always going to compete and fight hard,” Pachulia said. “Off the court, is another story. I hope Kevin Garnett comes to eat here. It would be great to see.”
Spoken like a true entrepreneur.
HOOP DREAMERS BEWARE
Utah Flash coach Brad Jones dropped in for a training camp visit last week and will return to Atlanta next week on more business. The Flash, the Hawks’ D-League affiliate, will be holding a one-day tryout at Athletics and Fitness Center at Clayton State University Oct. 24 at 10 a.m.
The flash have selected at least two players from the open tryout to attend their training camp in each of the past two seasons. Jones said Wednesday afternoon that as many as 17 players will attend training camp with the team in Salt Lake City.
Jones said the one-day tryout is open to all comers, provided they register (the fee is $150 in advance and $175 on the day of camp) as well as a player release and eligibility form. Registration can be completed online (and the forms can be found on the team’s official website).
The Flash will begin preseason training camp Nov. 15 before traveling to Tulsa for their first regular season game on Nov. 27.
OSCAR BUZZ
Who knew Josh Smith was the funniest NBA player of his time? He’s always kept me in stitches, but now he’s finding his way to the web in one hilarious video after another. He actually shows off some real acting chops in his new one-man spot that’s popped up online. His latest (courtesy of our friends at adidas, via a nice assist from my main man MS):
NICKNAME MADNESS
The nickname game is heating up with the regular season just around the corner.
OG member Big Ray is campaigning vigorously to tag rookie point guard Jeff Teague with the moniker “JT0″ (pronounced “Jay Tee Oh,” in reference to his initials and uniform number while also paying homage to the classic Pontiac sports car [GTO], per Nire).
Nire has taken it a couple steps further with a pre-made theme song (which I think needs a hip-hop edge for a youngster like Teague):
I’m more inclined to watch this Teague mix:
Hawks and Grizz tonight at 8 from the Bluff City, in case you forgot.
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419 comments Add your comment
John Brown
October 15th, 2009
8:32 am
How bout J T Glue for a nickname for Jeff Teague, since he might very well be the glue of our team in the future and is much closer to his name. J TeaGlue! That’s my vote. Run it by him Seoku. If it sticks, you heard it here…LOL. Tell the Hawks I’ll see them in the front row of the UC as always when they come to Chi Town. Hawks Foreva!
Sekou Smith
October 15th, 2009
8:53 am
Muchas gracias Daniel. We’ve got love for everybody around here. This is a bi-partisan environment around here.
GeeMack
October 15th, 2009
8:59 am
Sekou
Good article. Marvin is who he is. He’s a very good defender & ok scorer. I don’t think he’s the franchise player the Hawks were expecting when they drafted him # 2 five years ago. He is a good number 3 option on a championship team. I would love to see Marvin become a prolific scorer, but that doesn’t seem to be his mind set. I thinks he’s comfortable with his current role.
niremetal
October 15th, 2009
9:04 am
I’m sorry, but JT-Glue? No thanks.
J-T-0! J-T-0!
Daniel
October 15th, 2009
9:10 am
I am just teasing Sekou. But, I secretly(maybe not so secretly) really want to get mentioned in the blog! It is an ego thing I know, but if I just let it out on the blog, then I don’t have as much at home.
Sekou, I guess I am using your blog as therapy.
Daniel
October 15th, 2009
9:11 am
Sekou,
What is up with Collins and Smith? Any reason for us to be concerned?
You know it takes so little for that to happen.
jerrywest
October 15th, 2009
9:20 am
Sekou doesn’t read his blog carefully. Daniel gave the name GT-0.
Woody needs to get some fines by criticizing the replacement refs. He needs to get on the good side of the real refs. They’ll remember his support when they get back.
jerrywest
October 15th, 2009
9:26 am
The post move by Simms that resulted in Mo’s dunk must be the most fluid post move I have seen by an Atlanta big guy in many many years.
KevinA
October 15th, 2009
9:38 am
Jeff Teague is having a great preseason campaign. JT seems to be just to quick, to quick for opponents trying to guard him. Some may want to OOOHHHH the kid after a display, but my mind is saying – Dammmmm that was “Just To. JT for short.
Just To much
Just To quick
Just To good
Just To fast
Just To fine
KevinA
October 15th, 2009
9:42 am
Hunter and West seems to be getting the most burn so far. It was good to Sims get some real minutes. I hope he gets more in the next couple of games.
vava74
October 15th, 2009
9:46 am
I am sold: JT0 has game!
The kid has excellent touch around the rim and looks a lot better passer than he was supposed to be…
niremetal
October 15th, 2009
9:58 am
Missed one of the “O”s in “too” KevinA
.
rms
October 15th, 2009
10:40 am
what about JT Money!!
KevinA
October 15th, 2009
10:44 am
niremetal,
If spell check dosen’t fix it, that’s as good as it gets.
KevinA
October 15th, 2009
10:45 am
rms,
Hard to hate money.
Ariose
October 15th, 2009
10:47 am
Melvin, just having a lil fun lol….
Woodson on Juan Dixon after the Bobcats game on Monday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BVEhFm2uOw
Ariose
October 15th, 2009
10:48 am
…..Just too quick?
Ariose
October 15th, 2009
10:50 am
NBA Season Preview of the Hawks:
http://www.nba.com/seasonpreview/2009/ATL/index.html
Ariose
October 15th, 2009
10:51 am
More season Previews of other squads:
http://www.nba.com/preview2009/
niremetal
October 15th, 2009
10:54 am
I’m just messin with ya, Kevin. My tic is the diference between “your” and “you’re.”
I’m very wary of bringing Dixon on board. As with Flip, I think every minute we play Dixon is a minute we could and should have played Teague. Dixon isn’t the player Flip is, but having a veteran guard lying around might be too much of a temptation for Woody to resist.
Sautee
October 15th, 2009
10:57 am
Daniel and Nire,
FYI… I used to own a ‘65 GTO. Believe me it was faster than Teague.
niremetal
October 15th, 2009
11:03 am
I love how that NBA.com season preview says “This team has no ‘Nique” as if the Hawks made it past the the second round with ‘Nique. Hell, we made it that far with Steve Smith, Mookie Blaylock, and Deke a couple times too, and we’ve made it that far with the squad already.
As always, the pundits are star-struck. They chide the Hawks for being undersized at center, ignoring the fact that the Celtics’ center is 6′10 and that Dwight is just 1 inch taller than Al. I agree that the Hawks aren’t likely to win a title without adding at least one more perennial All-Star caliber player who can score at will. And I agree that it would be nice to have an All-Star 7 footer playing at center (although right now, there is no one besides Shaq who fits that description). It’s just annoying how much these pundits sound like a broken record, just repeating conventional wisdom as if it’s etched in blood.
niremetal
October 15th, 2009
11:06 am
Mixed my metaphors there…etched in stone or written in blood. Take your pick
Sautee – yeah, but I bet JT0 can shift gears more smoothly
Melvin
October 15th, 2009
11:17 am
Nire,
It has been almost 12 hours since Big Ray made the comment below and you have yet to respond. What is this, double standards??? lol
“Y’all just had to goad Niremetal into yet another obscure stat adventure, didn’t you? I swear…”
JerryWest
October 15th, 2009
11:31 am
Every game Josh goes 0-0 from three point land, Dunkin Donuts will donate 100 donuts to the homeless shelter in downtown.
KevinA
October 15th, 2009
11:31 am
niremetal,
If Teague inspires JJ, Marvin, Al, Evans, Crawford and ZaZa to drive the ball and most importantly to push the ball we will be just fine. With the additions of Crawford and Teague we can run the teams with big’s into the ground. I think we have star power that just hasn’t been utilized.
How many star players are not aggressive. If we want more stars we just need to be more aggressive. JT may be just the hot running engine that adds a couple more stars.
Ariose
October 15th, 2009
11:34 am
Dixon is still trash….
Ariose
October 15th, 2009
11:37 am
OMG Jerrywest!!Freaking halarious
Geddy
October 15th, 2009
11:37 am
Speedy GonTEAGUEz?
Ariose
October 15th, 2009
11:39 am
Nire, I agee with everything you said. We’ll show them this season though. I love how we fly under the radar lol.
niremetal
October 15th, 2009
11:39 am
Didn’t even see that, Melvin. In any case, I’ll point out to Ray (and you and everyone else) that I didn’t bring up stats at all. I just listed all our training camp players to show that we probably will have no reason to cry if and when we cut the undrafted young FAs at this camp (ie Hunter, Siler, Sims, West, and the now-departed Miles and Robinson). Not one of those guys on that list has had an NBA career that anyone will remember ten years from now, and the most successful among them have been Wilks and Mario.
I’m just sayin…there’s a reason these guys went undrafted and went into training camp without a contract.
niremetal
October 15th, 2009
11:40 am
* to clarify, “that list” refers to the list of all our old undrafted training camp invitees from the last page of this thread
bigdave
October 15th, 2009
11:41 am
Jerry West…
i said the same thing when i saw the highlights last night… though it was a miss.. his positioning was good and it was a quick assertive move… step through and good trajectory on the shot…
Ariose
October 15th, 2009
11:41 am
J-Quik!!!!! I’m calling Ryan Cameron!!!!…..anybody have his #?….
niremetal
October 15th, 2009
11:53 am
Too late, Ariose. I already beat you to it – I emailed him this morning
Daniel
October 15th, 2009
11:57 am
Sautee- I am jealous
Jerry West- that is not only hilarious, it actually is kinda good idea. Nice one.
Mink
October 15th, 2009
12:10 pm
Love the Smoove commercial. They didn’t have to put his free throw percentage up there though when he put his hand on the sensor, haha. I still want to see some focus and energy from him this year. I’m sure that commercial was good for his ego..
jerrywest
October 15th, 2009
12:12 pm
Sekou – Please pass this idea up…
Every game Josh goes 0-0 from three point land, Dunkin Donuts will donate 100 donuts to the homeless shelter in downtown.
Just the idea will make Josh think.
jerrywest
October 15th, 2009
12:21 pm
Could we hire Simms as an assistant coach to teach Horford his post moves?
Could we hire West as an assistant coach if he doesn’t make it in the NBA? Just to have him in practice will help the team.
vava74
October 15th, 2009
12:35 pm
I wouldn’t go as far as calling Sims’ move “fluid”. It looked OK but the shot release was too tense and didn’t went in due to that.
However, he seems far more NBA ready than Siler (who held on pretty well on that block).
Also, Sims seems to have, in theory, a more varied game than Othello (who I really like for his hustle) which would probably suit our needs better.
tjhook_76544
October 15th, 2009
12:42 pm
I have the nickname for our rookie point guard: Jeff “Big League” Teague! Why?! Because his game is MAJOR!! Yeah!!
Daniel
October 15th, 2009
12:48 pm
jerrywest- interesting idea with Mario, that happens in college, where former players are “graduate assistants” they are still getting training and work with players. I don’t think it happens in the NBA.
niremetal
October 15th, 2009
12:58 pm
Yeah. I actually would not say Sims’s move was fluid in the least. And I frankly don’t know what clip you’re watching if you think it was. He bumped off his man and the hook shot was a line drive that didn’t have a chance of going in. I hope you were being sarcastic if you call that “fluid,” because Horford, Smoove, and Zaza all make more fluid post moves than that.
niremetal
October 15th, 2009
1:03 pm
(That is not to say that our big men are fluid on the post, of course, but rather that Sims’s one-dribble bump line drive hook shot was most definitely NOT fluid. That looked like one of my post moves…)
I MUS WRITE
October 15th, 2009
1:07 pm
Sims and either Mario or Hunter would be my picks to round out the roster. Mario just makes sense- as a 5th guard we need a shut down specialist-attack dawg type player, not a guy looking or shots like Juan Dixon.
I think Hunter is getting better by the minute -i like the wrinkles he has put in his game. hard decision between him and Mario
Look at our centers Al,ZaZa,Morris,Collins……. Al/ZAZA are set at starter and backup. Morris is a classic underaceiver-I dont think he will be much of a factor this year. Collins is a situational big used for D mostly. I would keep Sims and use him and Collins as our 3rd center depending on the matchups. Collins for guys like Shaq and Sims for the Nazi Muhammads,Okafor types.
I just like Sims motor….13 points in 11 minutes is okay- The guy avg 20/10 last year which should translate into about 8/7 in 14 minutes a game.
Ive seen more skill and heart from Sims in 3 weeks than ive seen from Morris in 2 years.
O wait Sims was D League MVP and had good numbers but he has to be a bum ….He was’nt drafted so no way he will ever be anything F__k Outta here!!!!
In some rare situations I could see JC,JJ,Marvin,Smoove,Horford,Sims doing some damage.
Sekou’s Secret Spy is none other than Lorenzen Popcorn Wright…..
“Sweet Teague”…. Come on man this is Atlanta -I dont think Teague wants a nickname with sweet on the front…..think about it
GTO JTO……wow Lets let the kid get his feet wet and actually do sumthing when the lights come on before we annoint the him or start throwing around nicknames.
Dam our second unit is potent….With all the additions i kindqa forgot about MO….. Teague,JC,Mo,Joe.Smith,ZAZA,Sims
O yeah im in the house opening night -Swaggn in the club level……..Letz git it HAWKS!!!!
Grip
October 15th, 2009
1:08 pm
If Marvin could really handle the rock he would be on another level, and same holds true with Josh Smith. both of these guys could be stellar players is they could master this skill
I MUS WRITE
October 15th, 2009
1:14 pm
Taks Smoove outta that line up……
Mash was a beast pre knee injury, I think marvin should pattern his game after Mash….. If Marvin gets his handle right watch out
O …He might need a lil courage from the wizard- or maybe the wizard is giving out agressiveness these days
niremetal
October 15th, 2009
1:23 pm
Sims put up big numbers in the D-League. He was the MVP of the D-League. I’m sorry, but you know the old saying about the kingdom of the blind and the one-eyed man.
Here is a list of the players who won the D-League MVP award before Sims:
2001–2002 Ansu Sesay
2002–2003 Devin Brown
2003–2004 Tierre Brown
2004–2005 Matt Carroll
2005–2006 Marcus Fizer
2006–2007 Randy Livingston
2007–2008 Kasib Powell
Of those, Matt Carroll eventually became a rotation player for the Bobcats, and Devin Brown was the 9th man on New Orleans last year and Cleveland the year before. The rest never saw significant time on an NBA team after they won the award.
Btw, that’s the same Tierre Brown that was at our training camp in 2003, and whose best season was when he averaged 4.4ppg for the Lakers in 2005. Oh, and remember Jeremy Richardson? He was MVP of the D-League All-Star game one year too. Kasib Powell didn’t even play in an NBA game the year after he won his MVP. Same with Fizer, who hasn’t played at ALL in the NBA since he won that award. Randy Livingston retired a year after he won the award, and Ansu Sesay has perpetually bounced around the minor leagues of basketball since he won.
It’s not saying much to be the smartest kid on the shortbus.
MsDee
October 15th, 2009
1:31 pm
JJJJJ-QUIKKKK sounds a whole lot better if Ryan Cameron says it in the game instead of JT-0..
Also about Marvin, I think Marvin said it best himself when he said “he needs to figure out how to play that well at all times”. That can only happen if and only if he is coming off the bench with the 2nd unit so he will then be ‘THE MAN’ instead of the 1st unit when JJ is ‘THE MAN’. That is why he was picked soo high in the draft b/c he was coming off the bench in college putting up mad stats!! Some people are better bench players than starter. I say let Jamal start since that’s better suited for him and let Marvin come in later. The starting line-up..Bibby, Jamal, JJ, JSmoove, & AL..2nd unit= J-Quik, Jamal, Marvin, Joe Smith, Zaza..with Mo Evans next to replace someone..what to ya thk?
vava74
October 15th, 2009
1:55 pm
MsDee,
That line up would leave our back court extremely permeable.
Bibby and Crawford at the same time? Opposite guards would dribble in circles around them like the globe-trotters