Cut Day!
The Mario West era came to an abrupt end before practice Wednesday. He was one of three players the Hawks cut to trim the roster to 13 players.
HAWKSVILLE – A group that numbered 20 just a few weeks ago is now down to just 13.
It was cut day at the Hawks’ practice facility Wednesday, and the scene was grim.
Mario West and Courtney Sims got the word that their time was up before practice, so there was already a feeling that something (or more accurately someone) was missing.
But the gut-punch came later when rookie center Garret “Big Glacier” Siler got his pink slip afterwards.
As his teammates filed into the locker room each one glanced at the big fella with one eyebrow raised. He returned fire with a hollow look in his eyes and the peace sign. Even though they all knew this was not only a possibility but most likely a probability, it didn’t make the event any easier to swallow. Othello Hunter is the only free agent camper that remains from the army of eight that showed up with designs on landing one of the (three) open roster spots available.
Second-year forward Othello Hunter is the last man standing. No one should be surprised. He made the team the same way last year. And he’s gotten loads better since then. So he his inclusion was well earned (the Hawks’ roster stands at 13 players heading into the final two preseason games before next week’s regular season opener against Indiana).
Hawks coach Mike Woodson was worn out after having to speak to all three players. He was the one that championed West’s cause two years ago, when the energetic but undrafted rookie from Georgia Tech put on a hustle showcase in training camp to make the team.
“People probably thought I was crazy and didn’t know what I was doing,” Woodson said. “But I wasn’t crazy. This kid is probably the hardest working kid I’ve ever coached as far as coming early, staying late and making every single second of practice competitive. And when we put him in the game, he did some good things for us. And over the time he was here he got better. So this is tough, really tough. Anytime you cut a kid it’s a tough day. But for me, it’s tougher than you can ever imagine because I became so attached to him and his work ethic. That’s what you try and teach young guys. That’s the first part of being a player in this league.”
It wasn’t easy for the regulars to watch guys like West, Sims and Siler leave, either. After all, relationships were formed. Friendships were cultivated. Good times were had by all.
“It’s tough because I’ve been in their shoes before,” Zaza Pachulia said. “So this hurts me in so many ways. You get used to having guys around, especially when they are guys with great personalities like the guys we had here. They brought so much positive energy to this team. They were unselfish. And they listen to you and they’re trying to get better. It would be different if they weren’t such great guys.”
The 13th man on a 12-man team as a young teenager, Pachulia talked about the feelings he had on cut day years ago for the junior national team in his native Georgia. “I had all my bags packed thinking I was making the team and all my friends back home thought I’d made it, too,” he said. “I was only 14 at the time, but it felt like I was already in the big time.”
He was crushed when he learned that he was the odd man out.
“It was such an exciting time for me just being their in the training camp,” Pachulia said. “I thought I was going to Italy. And then when they told me … I will never forget that day. I used that as motivation to get better and work even harder. And that’s how these guys have to take this, as motivation. It has to give them energy and make them want to fight more to make it. And they’re good guys, so you know good things will happen for them. Hard work always pays off at some point. You just have to stay positive.”
Sims was the D-League MVP last season and has NBA experience, so finding another job won’t be hard. West has two years of NBA experience under his belt and could chase his fortunes with another NBA team or explore his options overseas. Siler’s a behemoth with plenty of ceiling. Pro basketball is obviously his future.
However, he was still trying to get over the initial shock of the news when I saw him last. He said he has just spoken to his agent and that he would figure out a plan for his next step.
It wouldn’t surprise me if any of these guys showed up on the Hawks’ radar again, maybe even this season.
“Hopefully,” Siler said with a half smile. “I guess we’ll see what happens down the road.”
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481 comments Add your comment
KevinA
October 23rd, 2009
8:28 pm
Najeh – right – time to run – change the pace.
Mz. Hawkdafied
October 23rd, 2009
8:28 pm
Oh lord! SMH :-/! The Hawks look terrible right now. They are leaving players open. The Ryan Anderson guy needs a heat check dog gone it. Gotta work on road games. UGGGH! Leave players open against Orlando and they’re just gonna rain threes on yeah. My eyes can’t take it, I hope I can sit through this game.
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
8:28 pm
absolutely not… and its no excuse why they shouldnt… but what you do see is the ability to dribble penetrate… maybe a dish down low, or a kick out for an open 3… but no standing around waiting for the ball to be passed to you so u can take a 3 or a jumper… yuck… sick of it…
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
8:30 pm
i just wanna see Teague hit a jumper with consistency and ill be ready to bring Bibby off the bench.. swear to God…
BONE
October 23rd, 2009
8:33 pm
Damn did WOodson teach this team anything. They look horrible. Embarrased on national television.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 23rd, 2009
8:34 pm
Are you trying to suggest that the Fire Woodson bandwagon stopped at some point? Clyde would like to have a word with you…
Mychelfromatl
October 23rd, 2009
8:35 pm
Thank yo God this is only a preseason game, Thank you God!!!!
niremetal
October 23rd, 2009
8:35 pm
Everyone sucks at everything right now. Starters, bench, offense, defense. Depressing to watch.
J.J.M.
October 23rd, 2009
8:36 pm
“they are who we thought the were”
BONE
October 23rd, 2009
8:36 pm
Now I understand why no one thought the Hawks could compete with the big 3. They are no where close to being as good as the big 3
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
8:37 pm
yuck.
we play spot up basketball with limited shooting ability as a team… this could be very interesting. given that we pretty much shot lights out last year. it would be hard to match that again. same ole’ same ole’… Lord have mercy… Joe will get 40 a night again. can we please run some motion offense with Teague or Crawford at point. take advantage of our bigs athleticism…
Mz. Hawkdafied
October 23rd, 2009
8:37 pm
UGGGH, what the heck was that. The Hawks look awkward out there. The Magic clearly look like the SE division champs. Oh well, back to work Hawks. Orlando 8-0, Hawks 5-2! Ok, let’s be optimistic here perhaps they’ll look better in the 2nd quarter.
Jody
October 23rd, 2009
8:38 pm
Hubie Brown just made an excellent point. The Hawks don’t rebound the ball well, especially on the defensive boards and the magic are getting whatever they want inside. The lack of size against the better teams will show itself.
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
8:39 pm
too much dribbling and faking Horford out of the post sir… 1 move and go
J.J.M.
October 23rd, 2009
8:39 pm
look at all the players standing around
Sautee
October 23rd, 2009
8:40 pm
Well there goes all the air out of that possibly overinflated preseason balloon.
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
8:40 pm
the hell is all that guard sizing up he does… who teaches this kid? is Tyrone Hill still our bigs coach… he plays the post like a damn guard…
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
8:40 pm
oh my we stinking up the joint.. and they looking crisp..
Mz. Hawkdafied
October 23rd, 2009
8:41 pm
Dribble, dribble, dribble, pass one time, shoot and hope like hell the ball goes in the net. These are not the Hawks that show up @ the Highlight Factory.
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
8:42 pm
oh… goodness is he Acie Law?
BONE
October 23rd, 2009
8:42 pm
Man why don’t we have an offense. It’s just dribble dribble and shoot.
Mychelfromatl
October 23rd, 2009
8:43 pm
SMH, This looks like the same Hawks team from ‘08.
-No energy on the road
-Same stagnant offense
-Woodrow looking like “What the Hell?”
To look at the bright side of things, I’d rather for the Hawks get embarrased on National TV now than when it really counts during the regular season.
Damn, did Mo Evans just shoot an airball SMH??
Looks like the Hawks ready to end the preseason and come home, CAUTION: DON’T READ TOO MUCH INTO THIS GAME.
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
8:44 pm
why when someone is dribbling to the whole our players find the 3 pt line and spot up.. why is arent we going to the cup.. Mo found the 3 pt. line and waited for a shovel pass from Teague instead of trying to go to the basket.. WE ARENT THAT GOOD OF A SHOOTING TEAM… GEESH… sooo perimeter oriented its a shame and a deficiency… !!!
Najeh Davenpoop
October 23rd, 2009
8:45 pm
Orlando has picked up on Cleveland’s strategy from last year — double Joe as soon as he gets the ball, knowing that the Hawks won’t rotate the ball quickly enough to get a quality shot. That has to be fixed ASAP. Every half-decent team is going to use the same strategy to attack the Hawks until they find a way to counter it.
If there’s any silver lining to this, it’s that the Hawks clearly are not playing with their usual intensity either. Maybe, like Mike Breen says, they are playing like they want the preseason to end. Regardless, I think when the season starts and they start playing with their usual intensity they will look better. At least I hope so.
BONE
October 23rd, 2009
8:46 pm
Can anybody suggest a coach for when we fire Woodson later this season?
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
8:48 pm
lets see some Crawford at the point Woody!!
Mychelfromatl
October 23rd, 2009
8:49 pm
Why the hell is the starters still playing?? This is a receipt for disaster. SMH Woodrow SMDH.
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
8:49 pm
good quick move Al
Jody
October 23rd, 2009
8:50 pm
The Hawks are simply TOO SMALL up front. There is no resistance in the paint WHAT SO EVER! That’s where the game is won and lost folks.
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
8:55 pm
i dont think there’s a true point guard on this team…
Najeh Davenpoop
October 23rd, 2009
8:56 pm
This game is reminding me a lot of this.
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
8:57 pm
can someone give Josh the ball on the blocks so we can see him work…
Najeh Davenpoop
October 23rd, 2009
8:58 pm
Hahaha… at least Bibby still remembers how to flop…
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
8:59 pm
Joe Johnson’s mid range game has fell off every since Bibby got here…
Jody
October 23rd, 2009
8:59 pm
On offense, the Hawks are all perimeter and nothing inside. Lack of size rears it’s ugly head again
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
9:02 pm
can u sit Bibby down and put in Crawford at point…
Najeh Davenpoop
October 23rd, 2009
9:02 pm
Lack of inside scoring is not directly related to size. There have been so many players throughout the history of the NBA that were able to score inside without dominating with their size. Even in today’s NBA, players like Elton Brand, Zach Randolph, etc. regularly put up points against taller players. It’s a matter of committing to having an inside scoring game from the coaching staff. Josh and Al are by no means polished post players, but they are not going to become that unless they are given opportunities to do so.
KevinA
October 23rd, 2009
9:03 pm
Bibby and JJ 3-11, where have we seen that before.
Sautee
October 23rd, 2009
9:03 pm
Josh and Al are 7-10. Why are we shooting jumpshots?
Sautee
October 23rd, 2009
9:04 pm
Najeh,
Word
bigdave
October 23rd, 2009
9:05 pm
great pass…good catch Z…
KevinA
October 23rd, 2009
9:06 pm
Where are the assists by JJ, Crawford and JT. Thats how we win. Josh jumper lol – were down to that.
rms
October 23rd, 2009
9:08 pm
Dang man we cant complain about why all the so call experts are hating on the Hawks. We are showcasing to the whole world why they should not respect us but only the Celtics, Cavs,and Magic
KevinA
October 23rd, 2009
9:11 pm
Howard may be the best player in the NBA – won’t feed him the ball – chemistry problems down the road? Like I have always said – you can win jump shooting but if the bigs are playing well you got to feed them the ball. For us Josh and Al are playing the best. Back court into the samo ………..
ILL-logical
October 23rd, 2009
9:15 pm
Same stuff, different shovel: big game and only Josh shows up. Now we know why the “experts” say what they have said about the team. the good news is that we now know what needs to happen for the Hawks to progress-the facts are the facts.
cp
October 23rd, 2009
9:16 pm
I see Woodson still has the same offense he has has since day one. No new wrinkles no new nothing. We look like the same team from the past few years on the offensive side of the ball. This switching defense does not work yet we still do it. And as always, Horford starts to warm up but instead of feeding him the ball we go right back to throwing up jumpers. Can we please get an offensive guy in here to help Woodson.
KevinA
October 23rd, 2009
9:21 pm
Teague jacking up jumpers with no assists. We will lose this game but I would still like to see Crawford get minutes and show what he can do. He is a vet that should not be troubled by being behind. Josh and Al are playing well enough – need that break down skill at play to get easy buckets.
darrell starks
October 23rd, 2009
9:23 pm
BIG dave i said that before we sign bibby back that we should have let him go because no matter how many points he score he hurt us bad on the defense end of the court because of our lack of size in the back court.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
niremetal
October 23rd, 2009
9:25 pm
News flash to those of you who want Crawford to run the point – he was for a lot of possessions. They had Teague playing off-guard quite a bit. Crawford was not passing the ball well.
Not that I can blame him. There has been zero off-ball movement tonight. Sound familiar?
KevinA
October 23rd, 2009
9:27 pm
Mercy Bibby starting – did he earn it?