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
ANT BANKS
October 17th, 2009
11:10 am
GIVE AN IDIOT A KEY,
can’t believe that you come on to a Hawks blog, rippin’ people who makes comments about how they need to get a life. i call you a dumass for that very reason and then you proceed to argue back and forth with me about bs. man you are the epitome of your name…AN IDIOT WITH A BOARD AND MOUSE.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE HAWKS? THE NBA AS A WHOLE? DO YOU THINK THAT WOODSON WILL BURN HIS STARTERS UP BY DEC? TALK HAWKS AND LEAVE THE BS FOR ST. ELSEWHERE
Lou Dobb get a Smack Down
October 17th, 2009
2:36 pm
Lou Dobbs hates Black people and Latinos.
Go to youtube and listen to him make his racist remarks about African Americans.
The video is called Lou Dobbs – Racist Remark “Cotton Picking”
I Also want you to see this video ( Mexica Movement puts the smackdown on Lou Dobbs in San Diego.
Go Hawks!
Lou Dobb get a Smack Down
October 17th, 2009
3:01 pm
Gold Cup 2009 finals USA vs MEX what a great game.
Go hawks.
Ken Strickland
October 17th, 2009
3:15 pm
ANT BANKS-DITTO. This fool seems like another in a stream of adolesent minded punks who strive to make themselves appear as if they have an actual IQ. They can’t contribute any intelligent ideas, concepts or thoughts, or engage in an intelligent debate or conversation. Their approach is always the same, singling out those who are able to do so and lashing out and bashing their comments.
What is it about Bibby that makes some fans get so upset when someone points out his liabilities and limitations, especially his DEF shortcomings? Not once have they even tried to show where I’m wrong in my accessment of him, other than to say I don’t understand all that he contributes. Mind you, there’s been no mention of what those mysterious intangibles are that make him so valuable as a starter that we shouldn’t even consider looking at Teague as a starter before midseason. I’ll bet the New Orleans and Utah fans are glad that type of limited logic wasn’t employed when their teams drafted PG’s DWilliams and CPaul.
Their flawed logic seems to coincide with Woodson’s, who insists on starting and playing him heavy mins, even though we’ve been hurt overall by the need to change our DEF Philosophy to accomodate his DEF liabilities. As we’ve all seen, when he’s not hitting that jumper, he becomes a total liability on both ends of the court. But, the thinking seems to be starting Teague before midseason will cause him to lose all of his speed, quickness, penetrating ability and athleticism, which would reduce him to being a younger version of Bibby. So, why bother.
I DON’T REMEMBER ANY OF THESE OBJECTIONS OR HURT FEELINGS WHEN SMOOVE AND HORFORD BEGAN THEIR ROOKIE SEASONS AS STARTERS. HOW DID THEY FAIR? THERE ARE SIMPLY TOO MANY PERSONAL ATTACHMENTS GOING ON AMONG SOME OF OUR FANS AND CERTAIN PLAYERS. I like Bibby and I’m glad we resigned him, but we need to get better and become more competitive. To do that we need a starting PG that can contribute more to the team than shoot long range jumpers. HOW HARD IS THAT TO GRASP?
!
October 17th, 2009
3:17 pm
!!!!!
Ariose
October 17th, 2009
3:20 pm
Don’t blink ’cause I have lots of links!
Hawks chat w/hoopinion blogger Btett LaGee & Marc Stien:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/preview2009/news/story?page=Hawks-Live0910
Ariose
October 17th, 2009
3:20 pm
J-Smoove article from Fan House:
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/player-to-watch-josh-smith/#cont
Ariose
October 17th, 2009
3:21 pm
2009-10′ seaon Preview from Fan House:
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/fanhouse-preview-hawks/
Ariose
October 17th, 2009
3:22 pm
Season Preview From RealGM:
http://hawks.realgm.com/articles/594/20091016/2009_10_season_preview_atlanta_hawks/
!
October 17th, 2009
3:23 pm
Dude I loved the second Lou Dobbs video he got a smackdown and had nothing to say.
Hawks#1
October 17th, 2009
3:29 pm
Ariose good stuff can you give me the links to the Dobbs videos?
Hawks#1
October 17th, 2009
3:32 pm
Enter your comments here
Ariose
October 17th, 2009
3:35 pm
IDK which one it is so i’m gonna post a link to all recently uploaded stuff about him:
http://www.youtube.com/results?uploaded=m&search_query=lou+dobbs+racist&search_type=videos
Ariose
October 17th, 2009
3:39 pm
Oh NVM I found it:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Lou+Dobbs++Racist+Remark+Cotton+Picking&search_type=&aq=f
Cpr
October 17th, 2009
3:39 pm
Good video, its about time people give that old man a smackdown.
Ariose
October 17th, 2009
3:40 pm
This one too:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Mexica+Movement+puts+the+smackdown+on+Lou+Dobbs+in+San+Diego.&search_type=&aq=f
Hawks#1
October 17th, 2009
3:44 pm
Thank you Ariose. keep the Hawks info coming.
Cpr
October 17th, 2009
4:17 pm
Its cold outside that means the Nba season will start soon.
Mz. Hawkdafied
October 17th, 2009
5:01 pm
Happy Saturday Hawksters! Hawks season preview on NBATV tonight at 8. Keep it Hawks!
niremetal
October 17th, 2009
5:16 pm
Ariose,
My favorite part of that live chat on ESPN.com:
1:17
[Comment From Kyle]
It seems as though our offense did a lot of standing around last year. Do you think we will run more designed plays this year?
1:17
Bret LaGree, Hoopinion: Those are the designed plays.
Ariose
October 17th, 2009
5:40 pm
Nire, I know! Bret was halarious on there……it’s the truth too hehehe!
Ariose
October 17th, 2009
5:59 pm
Maybe we dodged a bullet w/flip? An injury that he got way back in college flared up in that stress reaction in his shin….
Lou Dobb
October 17th, 2009
6:05 pm
I am not a racist. I have a lot of respect for African American who have endured slavery, racism and segregation to become very fruitful citizens of America.
Do you also see me as racist because I think Illegal aliens should apply legally and that they have not earned the rights of American citizenry as the African American has? Am I racist for caring about this country and selling it out to businesses who want to import illegal aliens for cheap labor? I think not.
Of course you wouldn’t be the “Bubba Crew” if you did not spew unfounded hatred and un-researched statements and accusations.
Have a nice day.
Hahahhaha
October 17th, 2009
6:08 pm
Ken it is funny hearing you call some one A “fool”. Its a little like the Pot calling the Kettle black.
Hahahhaha
October 17th, 2009
6:11 pm
ANT BANKS/Ken
Why do you pretend to be two differnt people? You are soooooo funny man. Please stop my sides are hurting hahahahahaha….stop it I say.
Ariose
October 17th, 2009
6:14 pm
Can we please sign stack……just sayin’…..we need him more that the other suitors do…
Cpr
October 17th, 2009
6:35 pm
This is for the real Lou Dobbs not for the fake one.
Lou Dobbs you are so racist. Your show on CNN is dumb, the only thing you do is attack Latinos and brainwash the American people.
jerrywest
October 17th, 2009
6:47 pm
Sekou,
This could be the defining year of Sund and Woody’s careers.
Chemistry aside, why wouldn’t they absolutely salivate to get Stackhouse as a backup?
Ufø
October 17th, 2009
6:58 pm
When a person attacks mexicans over and over again that makes you a racist.
Lou when are you going to attack your own race?
Ufø
October 17th, 2009
7:03 pm
I agree we need Stackhouse.
Ufø
October 17th, 2009
7:14 pm
But forget that hater lets talk some basketball.
Lou Dobbs gets a smackdown.
October 17th, 2009
7:22 pm
I know why Mr. Dobbs hates mexicans becuse mexico won the 2009 Gold Cup.
Mexico 5 & USA 0 Go to Youtube and check it out.
Lou Dobbs gets a smackdown.
October 17th, 2009
7:26 pm
Giovani Dos Santos is the best.
ufø
October 17th, 2009
7:32 pm
I said lets talk basketball not Lou Dobbs, not race, Not soccer and not Giovani dos Santos who ever that is.
jerrywest
October 17th, 2009
8:19 pm
Sekou –
Loved your new article today – “Hawks provide new looks during camp”
niremetal
October 17th, 2009
8:21 pm
Happy 20th birthday to Sergiy Gladyr. He’ll be playing with Bàsquet Manresa over in the Spanish Premier League this year. He’s actually tearing it up in his first games over there – he averaged 15.5ppg in his first two games and shot 8 of 16 from deep (and the Euro 3 is now identical to the NBA 3).
Here’s his profile:
http://www.eurobasket.com/player.asp?Cntry=ukr&PlayerID=69279
The Spanish Premier League is nothing to sneeze at either. Barcelona, Madrid, and Baskonia play in that league, and those are three of the best non-NBA teams in the world. If Gladyr can keep this up for a full season…well let’s just say we’ll be in a better bargaining position with JJ.
Big Ray
October 17th, 2009
8:22 pm
UFO ,
Admirable effort. Wasted on some ears, though.
As for the Mexican “supporters”, you can always move to Mexico. You don’t have to stay here. And Lou Dobbs ain’t the first old dude to voice his opinion. Nor is he the worst (trust me on this). But let’s not go there, shall we?
I think the next cuts are Monday, are they not? Who makes the cut? Mario still have some magic beans left?
Big Ray
October 17th, 2009
8:23 pm
Nire ,
Thanks for the link. I would like to see this kid in a Hawks uni sometime soon. Like next year or so.
niremetal
October 17th, 2009
8:34 pm
The kicker is this – he led the team in scoring both games (tied with others in one, and stood alone in the second) and his team won both games.
Here’s the link to the team box scores for each game (click on the right-facing arrows to see the box scores for each game):
http://www.basquetmanresa.com/php/plantilla2.php?location=estad.php&idioma=cat
Lou Dobbs gets a smackdown
October 17th, 2009
9:02 pm
Did anyone saw the 2009 gold cup finals on youtube yet?
Lou Dobbs
October 17th, 2009
9:03 pm
I don’t hate anyone. I also don’t confuse illegal aliens with being Latino. Hispanics from Puerto Rican’s don’t illegal invade my country. Neither do the Cubans or the Dominicans. This country’s illegal immigration problem is 95% Mexican. It has nothing to to with soccer. It has every thing to do with the value and integrity of my country. So because I see the illegal alien as a criminal and a trespasser in my country. One who disrespects this country’s laws and was a major cause in the crippling of the US economy you want to brand me as racist.
OK Bubba. Go back to Mexico and apply for citizenship. Wait till its granted and I will honor you just like I honor the Millions who legally apply for citizenship every year. How about you showing class and respect for our country and its laws if you want some one to respect you. Get in line like a decent and lawful person.
jerrywest
October 17th, 2009
9:03 pm
Chillz doesn’t have the offensive or defensive game to threaten JJ’s bargaining position. Crawford doesn’t have the size and defensive ability to threaten JJ’s bargaining position. There is nothing Gladyr can do to threaten JJ’s bargaining position. We have to give JJ more than what the Knicks/Nets will give him and we have to make sure he doesn’t feel insulted.
Truth-Serum
October 17th, 2009
9:08 pm
Big Ray Ive got my fingers crossed on Siler. I Hop his attitude is right. He does parallel Bynum if you take it back three years ago. I agree with Woodson take, that he is worth the chance. Ive heard you say similarly. Whats the odds of him making the cut?
Lou Dobbs
October 17th, 2009
9:10 pm
* Did any one see, not did anyone saw
The time has come
October 17th, 2009
9:11 pm
Chillz was a pac – 10 scoring leading and is a natural scorer, but your right, he’s no JJ
A Thinking Fan
October 17th, 2009
9:54 pm
Let the season start already…
Lou Dobbs gets a smackdown
October 17th, 2009
10:09 pm
Fake Lou Dobbs lets go back in time ok.
Mexicans are not the monters your people are.
Europeans illegally landed on the land that is now known as Amerikkka. Your people created terrorism and crimes on native americans, your people stole this continent from Native americans.
fake Lou Dobbs your people(Europeans) are the real invaders.
Here a fact 95% of the native american population was killed by your selfish people.
So your people are the real illegals on this continent.
Big Ray
October 17th, 2009
10:19 pm
Truth Serum,
I can only guess on Siler’s chances. If you’re the Hawks, one thought rolling around in the ol’ belfry is what kind of big man depth are we going to have next season (we already know what we’ve got this season). Joe Smith probably won’t be around unless he’s cool with another 1 year offer, still has something in the tank, and the Hawks show they’re a real contender.
Jason Collins will likely move on (or maybe not, again, it depends on what kind of deal he’s okay with and whether or not the Hawks look like a contender). Fact is, he may not give us a reason to want to keep him, you never know.
Randolph Morris. Need I say it? I firmly believe one thing about him: he is here ONLY because he is under contract through this season. Unless he takes some serious strides, he won’t even get invited to minicamp.
This is where Siler comes in. He’s massive, strong, and fairly smart. Woody likes his effort and attitude. That’s a plus for Siler. We could just stash him away in the D-league. Either way, I think the future holds better promise for him than it does Morris. I haven’t heard Woody say too much about Morris, which in a way…is saying something in and of itself. And I can’t blame the man. Morris hasn’t shown me squat.
Lou Dobbs
October 17th, 2009
10:22 pm
How would you know if I was European or not? You don’t, do you? What nationality are you? If you say anything but Native American, you are illegally in this country according to your own opinion. Sounds like a pot talking to a kettle again.
Lou Dobbs
October 17th, 2009
10:24 pm
I did not know the Native Americans had immigration laws. I thought they were too busy killing each other’s tribes. Sort of like Africans, who are still doing it to this very day. How primitive of them.