Some pre-Grizzlies talk

Hey, folks-

My apologies for not coming to you earlier. I was going to blog last night, then this morning and it’s just been one of those days.

Anyway, loyal blogger Nunna Yo Biznezz gave me a few questions he wanted asked in the locker room.

Here are the ones I was able to ask:

Of Al Horford: Will we see you playing power forward this year? Do you miss playing (and dominating) at that spot like you did in college:

1) “That’s a good question. That’s a good question. I don’t’ think it’s happened this year necessarily. Last year I played more forward with Zaza (Pachulia) in at the 5. I don’t know. We’ll see.”

(I’m guessing you can read into it, but it certainly sounded like he wouldn’t mind playing some minutes there.)

2) “See, in college we really didn’t have a center or a power forward. Me and Joakim (Noah) played both. Coach (Billy Donovan) never said, ‘You’re the forward, you’re the center. We just played. In college, it’s kind of like me and Josh (Smith’s)  situation right now, except that with Joakim, we could switch. He’d guard the center sometimes. Sometimes I would. It just depended. Here, it’s just different.”

To Jamal Crawford: Did the team need you more or did you need the team more?

“I needed the team more. I needed the team more, but I think we can really help each other. I think that that whole playoff streak, they’ll help me get there. (No active player has been in more games and not played in the playoffs than Crawford) And then once we get into the playoffs, I’ll help them.”

(A great answer, and the last line is kind of, ‘Hey, did he just say that?’”)

To Josh Smith: What’s the difference between the Josh Smith of last year and the Josh Smith of this year?

“Just another year where I’m just growing as a player, maturing as a player, knowing how to play and just doing whatever it takes to win.”

(Not the most colorful answer, but honest.)

(I realize I’m opening a can of worms here, but if you have questions you’d like answered, give me a couple and I’ll try to get to the ones I like best.)

A few links:

First, I was reading ESPN’s Daily Dime this morning, which was a column about the merits of the San Antonio Spurs, when I came upon this:

“San Antonio has played only twice against the league’s six heavyweights (Lakers, Nuggets, Celtics, Cavs, Hawks and Magic)”

I imagine those of you who have followed the team far longer than I have must be amused. John Hollinger just puts the Hawks out there as one of the league’s six heavyweights and feels no need to qualify or substantiate it. I imagine that must make some of you giddy, and make others of you want to fire Mike Woodson and trade Joe Johnson, just out of habit. (kidding)

A way for you to save lives and get Hawks tickets (presumably).

This came up when I did a google news search on Hawks and NBA. It’s information on the betting line of tonight’s game. Just thought it was interesting reading and a different perspective, no more, no less. (This has nothing to do with what I wrote about David Stern the other day or my opinion on legalized NBA gambling.)

My quick two cents on Hawks-Grizz: It’s a game the Hawks can lose. They’re riding high, Memphis on paper looks like a win. But Memphis is long and athletic like the Hawks and on a roll. It’s cliche, but if the Hawks take this game lightly, they’ll be in some trouble. Just ask Al Horford.

“I’ve been paying a lot of attention to them. They’re a fun team to watch. They have a lot of athletic guys. They have a real good center and a solid point guard. They’re a team on the rise. They beat Miami in Miami and lost a close one to Boston. We know we have our hands full [Wednesday].”

Lastly, hope you read my story today on Mike Woodson’s contract situation. I don’t have a lot more to add to what I write, but consider this: Rick Sund could well have fired Woodson when he took the GM job two years ago, but kept him. That says something. You could certainly make the case that the Hawks ought to be re-doing his deal right now. Obviously, Woodson thinks so, as do many of you. But Woodson has often said the following about his situation now, that if he does his job, things will take care of themselves. I asked him about how he was basically betting on himself.

His answer: “I’ve always put the chips on me.”