Back from Boston
Greetings, all-
Just got back from Boston and am in the office, waiting to head over to Philips for practice.
Some links:
Two Boston Globe stories from last night’s game.
Game story that focuses on Glen Davis‘ flagrant foul on Marvin Williams, and what happened after.
“I was surprised,’’ Davis said. “I’m a big guy. I don’t feel like I did it intentionally. Really, when I was coming down, I was trying to hold him from falling. The refs made a decision. I can’t get mad and upset at them.’’
A column questioning the Celtics’ status at the top of the East.
(Joe) Johnson, who finished with 36, is a quiet assassin. The former Celtic – can you believe he was traded to Phoenix for Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers? – is one of the league’s best pure scorers and shows no emotion when he snuffs the confidence of opposing defenses. The Hawks are a young team and Johnson is only 28, but he has a veteran savvy that teammates pick up on.
From the Boston Herald:
“We still feel we’re the better team,” said an exhausted Paul Pierce, who like the rest of a closing unit that included Glen Davis, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins, played the last 19 minutes without a substitution by associate coach Tom Thibodeau, who took over for Rivers. (Ed. note: That was pretty big. Brian Scalabrine had been eating up the Hawks but I don’t think he played in the fourth quarter.)
“The year we won the (2008) championship, we lost four times to Washington. It definitely bothered us, but we’re a better team, and it will show.”
Perkins seconded that emotion.
“It’s not like I fear them,” he said. “I don’t think anyone on this team fears them. They look at us like a rival, but I don’t think we look at them as a rivalry team.”
ESPN’s Daily Dime touts the Hawks as “legitimate playoff contenders.”
It’s funny to me, I may have said this before, but I’m going to guess that Joe Johnson, as well as the Hawks, are held in much higher esteem outside of metro Atlanta than they are in it, or at least by the various participants on the blog. It reminds me of the Bible verse about how a prophet has no honor in his own country and, no, I’m not comparing the Hawks to Jesus. It’s just the sense that the grass is greener on the other side and that, the more you can look at something, the more warts you start to see. I imagine there’s people in Paris who are like, “The Mona Lisa? My five-year-old could paint that.”
I was on a radio show in Cleveland before the Hawks’ two-game set with the Cavaliers, and we were talking about fans’ disenchantment with Johnson’s overdribbling, and the show hosts were saying how Cavs fans have the same gripe about LeBron James.
Now, frankly, I tend to think that my colleagues in Boston have overrated the Hawks a little bit – they certainly wouldn’t have called Johnson an assassin on Saturday. But I also think that maybe many of us underrate the Hawks, too.
Anyway, my take on what Pierce and Perkins said. I think they might be on to something. Yes, the Hawks have now taken three in a row. However, Boston’s record is better and I think you’d have to say they’re a better night-in, night-out team. If, for example, Boston finishes with 57 wins and the Hawks sweep the Celtics but finish with 50, wouldn’t you have to say that they’re better than the Hawks?
If you say that winning three in a row means that the Hawks are better than the Celtics, then couldn’t you make a similar argument that the Knicks are better than the Hawks?
Clearly, the Hawks have played with focus and determination against Boston that we haven’t seen against other teams. The Celtics, perhaps not surprisingly, haven’t been able to match the sort of playoff-type fervor that the Hawks save for them.
Thoughts?
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119 comments Add your comment
Ernest
January 12th, 2010
11:44 am
Hawks are looking good! Here’s hoping for a successful homestand.
Dajackyl
January 12th, 2010
12:01 pm
Second now my bloglife is complete loved the effort last night need to harness that for the games like knicks etc.
Marcus
January 12th, 2010
12:03 pm
There is some hubris and hurt pride in the statements by Pierce and Perkins, but there is truth: The one thing BOS avoids and the Hawks can’t shake is the unfathomable ability to have stinker games to teams you should BEAT silly. BOS may get caught off-guard, as everyone does, esp. at less-than-full strength, but even when we are fully-loaded (e.g. no starters hurt) we lost to NYK multiple times, lost to a depleted DET team minus 3 starters and blow 2 big 2nd half leads vs. teams ahead of us in the Eastern Conf. (ORL on Turkey Day; CLE @ CLE- 2nd half of 2-nite HOME/HOME). Lets not even mention the noodle performance vs. MIA last week.
We have to solve the inconsistency of performances.
jean
January 12th, 2010
12:11 pm
huge win those boston announcers shouldnt have jobs…..iam fron ny die hard crawford fan….so i watch all his games …..knick announcers do a fair job..those cletic announcer r like 2 fans calling the game……ithink hawks can beat boston and cleveland in playoffs i really do…orlando is a problem due to lack of size
Dap01
January 12th, 2010
12:13 pm
Pierce is easy to dislike. Ray Allen is easy to like. They can say that they think that they are better but are they?
They look old against the Hawks. They are constantly looking at the refs to bail them out of situations. Paul Pierce does not really sound that confident to me.
Dan
January 12th, 2010
12:18 pm
Ken, I have to ask this, do you even like the Hawks? Aside from you suggesting the Celtics have overrated them, you are constantly trying to cheapen their wins….ever since you have taken over for Sekou, I’ve read “well, the Hawks were lucky that so-and-so was not playing….”
Ken, let me help you with this, the Hawks are a good team. They have a shot to win the East. Other than Orlando, I really do not think there is a team in this conference that they can’t beat in a playoff series.
At somepoint, you have to just say we have a good team. Stop trying to suggest otherwise.
God…I miss Sekou. This blog has sucked ever since he left.
Fundamentals
January 12th, 2010
12:20 pm
Best way to shut them up will come at playoff time. Hopefully they’ll go home early or we’ll get to send them home. If we outlast them after beating them all year they’ll have to admit defeat. 30 years of beat-downs can’t be overturned with 3 straight wins. They’ve got a point, but the conversation means they’re on the downward slide!
Good job ATL! Keep it up.
Fundamentals
January 12th, 2010
12:24 pm
Two sides to every story. I think Ken tries to point out the facts, he expresses the opinions he’s heard and then he stays out of it. I love Sekou, but don’t bite the hand that feeds you the opportunity to express your opinion. Even if Ken has an opinion you dislike he’s entitled to it.
Maybe you’ll like Ken’s replacement. I’m looking forward to hearing from him. Thank you again for your work Ken!
Ree Roe
January 12th, 2010
12:42 pm
Ken, most fans are so emotionally invested & over critical of their teams that of course we as home fans will say things that will be looked at as irrational. We matchup well with BOS & will beat them in the playoffs, but they are a better team day in & day out. I still don’t think we’re elite b/c elite teams are much more consistent vs the dregs of the league, which we sometime struggle with.
It’s amazing to think Cavs fans would complain about anything Bron does, but Im guessin fans of other NBA teams would be amazed at the criticism Joe & Josh get on here on a daily basis. C’est la vie
-REEcently Roe!!!
ATLNative
January 12th, 2010
12:42 pm
Consistency! I believe Hawk’s fans are looking for consistancy. Its as if we’re still rubbing the crude out of our eyes from a deep sleep and in disbelief of the changed imagery around us. Nonetheless, the obvious 08′ spark was just what the Dr. ordered for the Hawks. If it took pushing the limits of a preluding championship team to create a “one-sided” rivarly, further creating a will to win in a team (Hawks) who’s preceeding players seem to be happy with just a paycheck, then SO BE IT! In the sports world, a win is a win is a win (notice the 3 W’s). Ok, say Boston is technically and statisically “better” than the Hawks, if I’ve got the “pedal to the medal” I need to check my rear view for the one closing in on me because something’s giving him the extra “umph” to catch me. Its human nature and the design of life to conquer and re-conquer. Boston as well as every other “elite” team in the league is aware of this. So, to elude to the fact that “no one on the team fears them” is a self-deception imposed by pride. I’m sure all of us hard working people are aware of the guy in the cubical next to us…speaking of which, let me chime out. lol
Dan
January 12th, 2010
12:42 pm
I hope I will, Fundamentals. I think I got spoiled with Sekou.
As a long time fan and season ticket holder (as I know many of you are), I am so tired of people talking about the Hawks as if they just might be ok, but can’t measure up to the elite. Well, they can measure up. And, they have measured up. Ask Denver, Boston, Utah, Portland and others how fun it was to play at Philips this year.
At somepoint, we have to stop with all this “gee, we might be good..” adn realize that the Hawks are good, really good actually. We’ve all been there for dark days, with bad teams. We should be happy as heck to have a team rolling like the Hawks are right now.
I still think they will get the #3 spot in the east before it is all said and done. Anyone really think Boston is done having injuries? I don’t.
Fundamentals
January 12th, 2010
12:50 pm
Isn’t having real conversation about how to get by CLE or ORL enough to validate this team for you? A few years ago folks laughed at the mention of playoffs. Nobody is going to talk about the ATL as elite until they reach the ECF. Just the fact that we’re projected a solid 4 and nobody argues is enough for me.
I don’t care what anyone thinks about our team. I’m a firm believer if we bring 100% effort every night of the playoffs we might just be wearing rings. Folks will bash it, but most nights we essentially beat ourselves.
You have to earn respect. That’ll come with consistency and a trip to the ECF. Even then folks second guess. How bout folks second guessing CLE w/ Shaq? ORL with Vince? Does that mean they aren’t a great team?
Doesn’t the media question the Lakers? Didn’t they bash the returning Celtics?
We’re the best we’ve ever been in 30+ years.
Fundamentals
January 12th, 2010
12:52 pm
Boston will be lucky to elude significant injuries by season’s end. This may be their last year together as an effective unit. After that age is too big a factor.
niremetal
January 12th, 2010
12:52 pm
The foul on Marv wasn’t flagrant. It’s one of those examples of a Shaq-flagrant – the fact that Davis is so damned big makes any foul with a lot of body contact look flagrant simply because the dude is built like a defensive end. I remember he got whistled for a flagrant against Utah last year for a foul on (Okur? Kirilenko?) that wasn’t particularly hard, but looked that way because of Davis’s mass.
niremetal
January 12th, 2010
12:55 pm
If, for example, Boston finishes with 57 wins and the Hawks sweep the Celtics but finish with 50, wouldn’t you have to say that they’re better than the Hawks?
If you say that winning three in a row means that the Hawks are better than the Celtics, then couldn’t you make a similar argument that the Knicks are better than the Hawks?
I agree. It’s the same reason why Federer is better than Nadal
Fundamentals
January 12th, 2010
12:56 pm
I was just happy to see Marvin involved and in the middle of things. He gave some nice effort last night. I’m hoping it continues to grow like it has the past month. If he stays injury free he’ll be a vital assett to our playoff run. The kids got skills, he just needs to maintain the energy & confidence to prove folks wrong.
Astro Joe
January 12th, 2010
1:01 pm
nire, based on the standard that the refs set when they called Zaza’s foul on Perkins a flagrant, then Davis’ foul was a flagrant. IMO, neither should have been called a flagrant… but once the refs opened that can on Zaza, it needed to apply to Davis.
Big Ray
January 12th, 2010
1:02 pm
I hope Perkins and Pierce jump off a cliff
Fundamentals
January 12th, 2010
1:03 pm
Rules are rules, too bad the home court fans didn’t like it too much. It put us over the hump, but we were on our way back regardless. I think we would’ve made it a game regardless of the free throw situation.
northcyde
January 12th, 2010
1:06 pm
I am gay.
Astro Joe
January 12th, 2010
1:07 pm
If my math is correct, winning around 54-56 games means that the Hawks would lose 3 of every 10 games. Or, close to 1 of every 3. With this fan base, losing like that would result in frequent “fire Woody, trade Joe, bench Bibby, Horford is too small, Josh is too inconsistent, Marvin is a bust” comments on the way to a very successful season.
Ramon
January 12th, 2010
1:09 pm
Ken S, one of the seasons the Lakers won the title, 4-5 teams finished with a better record than they did. Yet at the end of the season who was the better team? Right now, head to head the Hawks are better than the Celtics. Even if you look at the division, the Southeastern Division is the ONLY division in the east with 3 teams playing over .500 ball. To date, the Hawks strength of schedule (if you follow Hollinger) is tougher than the Celtics. In head to head match up, the Boston Celtics aren’t as good as the Hawks.
However, Boston is one of Stern’s favorite born in the league. Stern watches out for the Lakers, Boston, and Cleveland LeCavs like he gave birth to them. So the referees are going to give the benefit of the doubt to those three teams before anyone.
As far as the Knicks, the Hawks can’t consistently beat the Knicks, because the Hawks have the talent to run offensive fast breaks all day long, but that talent comes from the front court. The Knicks fast breaks often times are initiated by their back court. And the Hawks doesn’t have a back court that is made for defending the up and down game that the Knicks like to play. If you notice on many of the Hawks fast breaks, Bibby and Joe rarely go past the half court line and inside the perimeter. Majority of the times its Smoove, Horford, or Williams who are the point attack on the break. The Hawks have no one who can defend an up and down back court at the moment. And I truly believe the Hawks are truly hurting without the presence of a shut down PG. As much as I love Bibby, I even think Alston is going to give Bibby problems, now that he’s with Miami. But the Hawks are missing that back court mate who will get in your face all the way down the court and back.
Astro Joe
January 12th, 2010
1:10 pm
Let me think for a second, would I rather be considered better than a team or would I rather beat that team? I don’t think that is a very difficult one.
Fundamentals
January 12th, 2010
1:14 pm
I’ve spent my whole life beating people who thought they were better than me. Who cares? Proof will be when we’re playing in May/June and they’re at home. Till then, let them chatter. Pride comes before the fall.
GeeMack
January 12th, 2010
1:16 pm
Excellent read Ken,
There are a few team the Celtics get up for…Cle, LA, Orl. & SA. These are the teams they fell they could meet in the finals or ECF.
The Hawks must prove they can win in the playoffs against the elite teams before anyone takes them seriously.
Fundamentals
I agree that if we bring 100% every night we can play with anybody, but this being the best Hawks team in 30 years is stretching it. This team couldn’t touch they 87 -88 team that won 57 games. The east was alot harder in the 80’s. The east won 5 rings during that era (Bos: 3, Philly:1, Det:1. That was the Hawks problem back them.
niremetal
Flagrant or not who knows, but they made the same call on Zaza in the 2nd period. Funny how none o the Celtics mentioned that questionable call.
mountain_jim
January 12th, 2010
1:18 pm
Ken – thanks for all the links! I knew to just wait for your blog, then I could quickly read all about the game.
Appreciate your work on this temp assignment.
I watched the game on NBA channel, and wanted to stuff a sock in Tom Heinsohn’s mouth. Even before the Doc ejection, I thought he was the worst crybaby homer announcer I had ever heard. I saw in the Boston comments that some Boston fans agree he needs to be replaced for ruining such good games as that one.
I must admit he goes right along with the haughty Celtic attitude, similar to all Boston teams, they act like they are so much better than the rest, an elite if you will, and deserve all praise and all calls their way.
Ramon
January 12th, 2010
1:36 pm
GeeMack, the only reason the teams were harder back then were there weren’t nearly as many teams as there are today. In today’s league theirs no way John Salley, Mahorn, and a young Rodman would all be able to fit under the salary cap to just rotate between the four spot (and when Bill got tired). There’s no way the young AC Green wouldn’t have been started for a team that isn’t worth much like Minnesota. Salary cap, free agency, and expansion has diluted the level of play from what it used to be. In other words, MONEY greeted franchise owners, commissioners, and agents have ruined the game from what it used to be in the 80s. Also majority of those teams were teams that had original players that they drafted or players who were past their prime just playing for one more ring.
Fundamentals
January 12th, 2010
1:42 pm
Ramon is on point with my thoughts. But I still say the east is full of quality teams now like it was in the 80’s. Everyone talks about the Big Three and then the Lakers, not the Best of the West anymore.
theZaZaguy
January 12th, 2010
1:43 pm
A flagrant foul, according to the rules, is when a foul is made without going for the ball. Zaza got the ball before he got Perkins’ face. Therefore, by rule, not a flagrant. Big Baby got nothing but shoulder and arm. In football, that would’ve been a horse-collar personal foul and in baskerball it was a flagrant.
Having said that, a lot of refs don’t call it and I agree that it wasn’t necessarily the right call.
I think we got in their head a little bit. Like the boston article above mentioned, big baby got dunked on in the previous play by Smoove and in turn he commited a frustration foul, if not flagrant.
This team is for real. So what if we lose to New York, Miami, or Detroit. Cleveland lost to Washington without Arenas. Orlando lost four in a row to teams under .500. Boston is 0-3 against one team (us).
And GeeMack. in 87-88 Nique was 28, Doc 27, Randy 29, Kevin Willis was 26, and Tree Rollins was 33.
On average our guys today are about 3 years younger. And I think we’re already better than that team.
All we have to do is avoid a Jon Kontract and we are on the way to a ring.
Ramon
January 12th, 2010
1:48 pm
Have you guys noticed the league hasn’t made ANY kind of statement about the shot clock incident that happened between Atlanta and Cleveland? But I bet if it happened between LA and Cleveland David Stern would’ve had his Peter Pan looking self on NBATV saying what would happen to fix it.
Fundamentals
January 12th, 2010
1:56 pm
Now & Then
Bibby & Doc running the show – edge to Doc for his D, his ability to run the offense & choose his shot.
Whitman & Joe – edge to Joe, but Joe could use the plays Fratello ran for Randy
Nique for Marvin – Nique was one of a kind, though time will tell.
Kevin Willis vs Josh – Edge Kevin for his rebounding & offense, but Josh has time to surpass him.
Tree – Edge to Al for his offensive game, though I’d love to have a Tree for this year in the playoffs.
Spud & Teague – Spud got a chance!
Battle & Crawford – Almost even, but my heart’s with Battle.
Joe Smith – Levington & Carr – Joe has more skills
ZaZa & Kontract – I hate it, but Kontract might have ZaZa.
Overall Team = 88 for heart and experience, 2010 for potential to do great things and surpass. Edge 2010.
John Drew
January 12th, 2010
1:58 pm
People seem to forget that the NBA is all about matchups. The Hawks create matchup problems for the Celtics with their switching defense. I have to agree with Ken. The Celtics are a better team than the Hawks. Remember they played without KG and Sheed and the Celtics were in control for most of the game, before Big Baby flagrant foul was called. I just don’t see how the Hawks, who lost to Orlando by 32 points without VC, lost to the Knicks at home twice, and get blown out in Miami, think that they are an elite team.
Fundamentals
January 12th, 2010
2:01 pm
Excellent point ZaZa guy. Time will tell, but I think we’re poised to do great things! Maybe not this year, but keep it together for 3-5 more years and watch out NBA!
Shot clock statement was made by our protest. Nothing more will be done, at least we said our piece and Stern looks like a game fixer for not even addressing it.
Hawk n the Ham
January 12th, 2010
2:02 pm
Perkins (Happy Feet), “They look at us like a rival, but I don’t think we look at them as a rivalry team.”
Two years ago, if the sub 500 Hawks would have eliminated the Celtics in their championship season, first round of playoffs, that statement would have never been said.
But luckily, the Celtics did have to win in a game 7 in Boston to keep their season alive. Against a sub 500 Hawks team. Now the Hawks have another year or so under their belt’s, they OWN the crew from bean town.
I second what some of you have said. The Celtics look their age against the Hawks. The Hawks are so young and athletic and can ball, which makes for a terrible mismatch against the AARP Celtics.
Hope we see you guys in the playoffs again this year. I will enjoy the sweep. Go Hawks!
doc
January 12th, 2010
2:03 pm
good column ken, as always.
Hawk n the Ham
January 12th, 2010
2:08 pm
Oh and one more thing. Teams, including the Celtics last night are making their offensive game plan around the Hawks man2man switch style play. When the Hawks switched to zone later in the game, the Celtics had no answer for it, thus the defensive dominance began.
Nice call Woody (Fear the ‘STACHE!)
Hawk n the Ham
January 12th, 2010
2:16 pm
Also, I’m sick of hearing about the flagerant foul call.
A horrible foul call was the one on Crawford when he came out of nowhere and threw Ray Allen to the floor blocking (All Ball) on the 3 point line.
I came out of my seat laughing at Ray Allen, til I heard the whistle (then just got mad, LOL).
rusty
January 12th, 2010
2:21 pm
the key to the rest of the season will be our ability to get better ball movement
& to get the whole team involved in the offense. we need to stop all our switching defense,woody in his post interview said that in the 4th quarter he went to a zone. the switching defense puts no accountability on anyone & puts everyone in bad situations. we also will need jj to play the hell more consistanly,we dont need him to take 20-30 shots to get 22 points. i have about given up on woody playing our bench. he needs to play the bench a couple of men at a time. this bench isnt good enough to play together. he needs to always have js or ah in the lineup.
theZaZaguy
January 12th, 2010
2:23 pm
Fundamentals: I say watch out NBA… this year. If not now when?
And don’t forget Scottie Hastings and MiKe McGee. I’ll take Cheesburger Collins and Randolf (the Happy meal was my idea) over them any day.
With that 87-88 team I always felt like they didn’t believe that they were better than Boston, even if they were. This team believes. They get knocked down and come right back. And I guarantee you that there will be no Cliff Levingston like running jump hook this year.
Fundamentals
January 12th, 2010
2:23 pm
At least they gave Crawford a call when he got fouled on his 3 pt attempt later. Definitely an all ball block. They were just shocked as I was that Craw played D and thus figured he did something illegal to come up with such a play. Definitely shows Crawford can play D, he just doesn’t always choose to. Awesome display of defense last night!
Ken Sugiura
January 12th, 2010
2:39 pm
Thanks for the kind words, everyone. for what it’s worth, here’s the definition of flagrant foul: “If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary, a flagrant foul–penalty (1) will be assessed.”
a pretty good breakdown of the play, if you’re interested.
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/12226/not-a-play-on-the-ball
and excellent breakdown, fundamentals, comparing the dominique and current-day hawks.
Hawk n the Ham
January 12th, 2010
2:48 pm
So Ken, have you now become a big Hawks fan now compared to before you had the beat?
Melvin
January 12th, 2010
2:55 pm
That flagrant foul happen at the midway point in the 3rd qtr with the Celtics up 10 pts. Why did the better team(former champs) lose their cool while playing at home? They still had a 6 pt lead and 1-1/2 qtrs to make up for that call. Heck, like someone mention, that foul call on Crawford against Ray was BS in which resulted in 3 free throws for them.
As for flagrant, it was a good call. Big Baby made no attempt on the ball. If you look at the play from the front angle, you will notice that Big Baby grabs Marvin around the neck….
Lastly, any statements by Kendrick Perkins can’t be taking serious. Dude is a walking turnover. There was a player poll done last year were they chose Kendrick Perkins as the “player who is not as good as he think he is”. That bum. Before KG & Ray, Kendrick and Paul Pierce was part of perennial losing teams… Please
ILL-logical
January 12th, 2010
2:56 pm
Ken:
Thanks for making the blog a lot more interesting by asking some pretty tough questions to the Hawks’ principals ,including some generated by the participents on this blog.Amazing!
Hope that you got some stuff out of this experience that has enriched you both personally and professionaly. Best of luck and please check in from time to time.
What about Bob?
January 12th, 2010
2:58 pm
Ken, look at me, look at me- I need, I NEED!
MannyT
January 12th, 2010
2:58 pm
A few thoughts…
The Celtics are right in saying they don’t fear the Hawks and think they are better. That is the fundamental differnece between the Hawks and other contenders. The Hawks are the least feared good team in the NBA. Not taking anything away from the team because they are just as likely to beat you by 20 as to lose to you by 20.
At the same time, the Hawks are now in the big 4 of the east. What matters is how you match up. Recall last regular season. Cavs beat Celtics. Celtics beat Magic. Magic beat Cavs. The problem came in the playoffs. Without KG, the Magic beat the Celtics. Then it was a better matchup for them to beat the Cavs. This time around the Hawks are proving they can beat the Celtics but no other major eastern power. Hopefully we can rise up against Cleveland later this year to show that we can have a chance with 2 of the 3 other top teams.
FLAGRANT
Remember all the chatter about Marvin when he got the flagrant foul in the 2008 playoffs vs the Celtics. Davis hit him in the head and didn’t make a convincing play on the ball. I was surprised that the Celitcs bench had such a melt down. If clamer, argumentative heads prevailed, it may not have been such a momentum shift. Celtics must be southern slang for suckers…at least this time
There are still several tough games in January. The good news is that 6 of the 9 are at home. Also the only back to back left this month is the husker du weekend–Celtics here, Magic there.
Ken, thanks for the memories. I understand that you are dropping this pack of electronic fanatics at someone else’s door soon.
BWAF
GeeMack
January 12th, 2010
3:03 pm
Fundamentals & Ramon
You guys made some good points. I guess I’m looking at it from a different point of view. If we are this close to being a contender. Why are we looking down the line instead of going for it all now.
This is the year, JJ & Woody may not be here next year.
Fundamentals
There are 4 teams in the east .500 or better. Compared to 11 .500 or better teams in the west. The west is still the best of the west, but the East still pails in comparison. I thought it would be better this year, but its not.
thezazaguy
I agree that 87-88 team didn’t think they were better. That’s one of the reasons they never got past the 2nd round.
Ramon
January 12th, 2010
3:03 pm
Ken S, I’m sorry to see you go. For what Sekou had in experience with NBA, you made up for it with energy and your interviews! I loved the way you constantly interviewed homegrown talent who were in town to play against the Hawks. Its good to get a taste of other players who aren’t full time employees at Phillips. Thank you!
antman
January 12th, 2010
3:15 pm
We have a very good team, but we struggle against the teams that have superstars, Lebron, D. Howard. Dawayne wade, boston is a great team, but right now they don’t have anyone that wants to and can score thirty or forty, come playoffs we will need joe to play like last night if we are to go far
Mike is Back
January 12th, 2010
3:31 pm
KenS, I don’t post much…I usually read, laugh and drink-kool. lol
Boston is the better team…we have more athlete. The Hawks take a different approach to Boston than they do Orlando. If we would take the mentally of putting DHoward on the free throw and quit double-teaming him…their perimeters guys would struggle to score.
It has been a pleasure…much success with your future endeavors!!!
I’m not a link master…but someone needs to post the link to the SICK DUNK by Travis Leslie of UGA on Kentucky. Bradley got the dunk on his UGA blog about FOX. It’s on YouTube…this is the young cat at UGA they say that can fly like Nique. I watch him and the kid Storrs at GT play together in high school. HE CAN JUMP OUT THE GYM!!!!
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
northcyde
January 12th, 2010
3:48 pm
First off Ken . . . good luck in your next venture. I personally appreciated your opinions about the Hawks, even if I didn’t approve of them sometimes. So good luck in everything you do in the future.
@ Dan . . . you summed up exactly how I feel about the Hawks. And that’s the very reason I challenge the rationale of the overly negative fans, more than I do the inconsistent nature of the Hawks.
They only have 2 more hurdles to clear before becoming a legit championship contender:
1) Taking care of home court against just about every team in the league.
2) Become a .600+ winning % team on the road, because the truly great teams will win 25+ games on the road.
They’re not there yet, but they’re getting closer. They’re showing the ability to win big road games against good teams ( @ Portland, @ Boston, @ Dallas, played very well @ Cleveland in a loss ).
But they have a new hurdle to overcome. A hurdle that no one is talking about. And that is . . . . how to play night in and night out, when lesser teams look at you as “elite”.
That’s what I think is happening with teams like the Knicks and the lesser Eastern Conference teams we’ve lost to. They’re getting pumped up for us, like we do the Celtics. Those teams don’t count the Hawks as an automatic win anymore. They know that they have to bring their A-game to beat us. In the eyes of those teams, beating a good Hawks team ( especially at home ), is just like beating Phoenix, or Denver, or Orlando in their building.
Yes folks, we ARE ON THEIR LEVEL. don’t let anybody tell you different.
Bottom line is that while this year’s and last year’s team have similar records, this year’s team has the ability to much more greater things, because they’ve proven that they can win big road games. No, they can’t win them all . . . but they can win some of them.
Rod from College Park
January 12th, 2010
3:50 pm
Fundamentals
“Nique for Marvin – Nique was one of a kind, though time will tell.”
Your comparison was nice, but this comparison was not. Even if Marvin became the best small forward in the league tommorrow, he could not carry Nique’s bags. Nique could well be considered the best small forward of his generation, behind maybe Bird, Marvin’s not the best small forward that the Hawks have under contract (Chills).
Sautee
January 12th, 2010
3:51 pm
Astro joe,
Regarding this:
“If my math is correct, winning around 54-56 games means that the Hawks would lose 3 of every 10 games. Or, close to 1 of every 3. With this fan base, losing like that would result in frequent “fire Woody, trade Joe, bench Bibby, Horford is too small, Josh is too inconsistent, Marvin is a bust” comments on the way to a very successful season.”
LOL. This crowd was saying those things back when we were on a pace to win SIXTY!
I guess we should be complaining that there’s not enough to complain about!
O'Brien
January 12th, 2010
3:52 pm
from ESPN dailydime: “Atlanta shimmied to within a game of the Magic in the Southeast Division with Monday’s triumph, and Woodson told his troops to proceed with a goal of securing the division crown.”
I agree. Plus if we win the division, we will probably be the 3rd seed, and more than likely we would not see Orlando until the ECF (assuming we both win and advance).
I’ve given Woody a hard time, and in the past, I’ve contemplated buying one of Clyde’s T-shirts. But the more I think about it, it’s probably going to be similar to what Ken is talking about. The grass always looks greener on the other side, and that includes coaches too.
The really good (established and proven) coaches are employed. As a result, I would be okay if Woody would just hire an established offensive coordinator (we need some offensive sets). Woody would also need to listen to his offensive coordiantor, and also be more flexible and willing to make adjustments with rotations and switching.
David Smith
January 12th, 2010
3:53 pm
The main problem with this team is consistency. These guys can play like world beaters one night and completely lay an egg the next game. Mike Woodson needs to draw up a more free flowing offensive plan instead of letting Joe Johnson predictably dribble into double teams while everyone else is just standing around instead of presenting themselves for a better shot. Woodson has no excuses since Rick Sund has given him several key free agents to bolster the bench and needs to let Jeff Teague play his game instead of stunting his progress by relegating him to the bench.
Sautee
January 12th, 2010
3:59 pm
Did anyone else notice that BEFORE Zaza’s alleged flagrant foul, that Perkins blatantly traveled? He gathered himself with a two footed bunny hop backwards to try to gain some space. Unbelievable that the refs missed it.
Sautee
January 12th, 2010
4:01 pm
And speaking of the refs, does anyone think that if last night’s game was in the playoffs, that we’d get a foul disparity in our favor? Dream on.
Melvin
January 12th, 2010
4:21 pm
Sautee,
I saw that bum, Kendrick Perkins travel by for the foul. I was yelling at the refs from my living room….
rms
January 12th, 2010
4:22 pm
Dang Ken thats actually a good story you wrote there. Maybe the grass does seem to be greener on the other side. What if Johnson tearn his achilles and is lost for the season, then what?? Maybe we will realize just how important Johnson really is to this team. We have been very fortunate this year to have any serious injuries to this team and we complain and complain (myself included) about how the bench isnt used effectively, the lack of play by Teague, the ISO-play by our two guards Crawford and Johnson. I am sure other teams complain about their player too, Lakers and Kobe, Clevleand and Lebron, Denver and Carmelo and so on. I just want us to be consistent and have some sort of identity.
Astro Joe
January 12th, 2010
4:22 pm
Sautee, Perkins did more traveling last night than Forest Gump! Thank gooedness Woody finally realized that Horford did not need any help with the dancing bear in the post. That adjustment made a huge difference in the team’s ability to defend the 3-point shot.
Melvin
January 12th, 2010
4:23 pm
I like Kendrick Perkins about as much as Rod from CP likes Marvin…
Fundamentals
January 12th, 2010
4:28 pm
Rod,
I figured I’d get some beef for that one. Not really spinning Marvin as in the same league. More that Nique was a unique talent. It’s hard to compare anyone to his unique skill-set. He was one of a kind, but in the end he alone wasn’t enough for the Hawks to be relavant in his day.
GeeMack,
They do have records in the west, but who is touted as the Bigs of the West? Maybe San Antonio, Denver or Dallas? Most folks consider the Lakers an easy WCF Champion to face one of the big 3? You don’t hear alot of conversation otherwise.
I’m tired of folks discounting the East like it’s inferior. There are plenty of good teams in the East.
GeeMack
January 12th, 2010
4:55 pm
Fundamentals
I hear you. Like you said Dalla SA, and Denver are legit challengers to the Lakers. Also with the way the Lakers are playing the can be beat.
I don’t discount the east, but I think the west is bette overall. Good point though.
Rod from College Park
January 12th, 2010
5:02 pm
Malvin,
Two bums.
Rod from College Park
January 12th, 2010
5:09 pm
Melvin,
Two bums.
Fundamentals,
I am not of the belief that because you did not win you were not great. I understand your point, but one should not be judged in basketball by win and loses. I Dominique was on the Lakers with Magic at the 3, would he not have been as good as Worthy. Worthy could not come out and give you 30 a night with the other team totally focusing on him. The Hawks were relevant, just not good enough to beat teams with more than one dominant player.
MAD-DONNA
January 12th, 2010
5:14 pm
The Hawks are a group of really good athletes, without a strong organization behind them! From Woodson on up, this organization really fails in all areas! I mean really, they need help and the best they can do is Mario West?
T-Man
January 12th, 2010
5:27 pm
Mario West rocks….They need a shut down defense guy for people like Rondo and that shrimp from New York….
MAD-DONNA
January 12th, 2010
6:05 pm
T-man if Mario rocks, he would have been picked up before now!
MAD-DONNA
January 12th, 2010
6:24 pm
whoa!
junebaby
January 12th, 2010
6:35 pm
Fundamentals…, i agree with some of your “then n now” assessment, but i disagree on joe smith/antoine carr. imo antoine carr had some of the best offensive moves of any forward around at the time. there may have been some other issues that kept him from being a star, but it wasn’t his offense, same with the late eddie johnson(fast eddie), greased lightning. if “john drew”(and eddie) hadn’t succumbed to the atlanta crack epidemic, he would have maybe been atl’s greatest scorer ever. imo dan roundfield was the best rebounding forward atlanta ever had, and tree had that little jump hook he pulled out occasionally. spud webb was a gimmick, but he could really push the basketball at times, when he had teammates willing to fill the wings.
theZaZaguy
January 12th, 2010
6:44 pm
The thing about nique is, he really wasn’t great when he first entered the league. He drove to the basket a lot, tired himself out dunking during warm-ups, didn’t play much defense and couldn’t hit a jump shot consistently.
After 3-4 years in the league, he improved his defense, developed a shot, learned the game and got better and better every year to reach his peak (although I’m still waiting for the left handed baby hook he promised us).
Our boys today haven’t even hit their peak, and they’re still dominating good teams. Atheletes hit their physical peak at around age 25. Most of our guys are 24. Nique didn’t hit is NBA peak until he was about 28. The future is very bright…very bright indeed.
theZaZaguy
January 12th, 2010
6:44 pm
Happy birthday Nique!
richbrave
January 12th, 2010
7:28 pm
KEN STRICKLAND:
Just caught the posts from yesterday and today. Thanks for the good words. It actually helped the pain a bit.
When I think back and remember how loudly I protested GILBERT’s actions in ‘07-’08, right here on SEKOU’s blog, I remember then that I didn’t blame AGENT ZERO for being who he was when he laid out the “JAMISON stays or I go” ultimatum or later on, “the” contract. If you remember I protested loudly then about ownership’s and management’s actions, not GIL’s.
If he could influence the signing of a teammate he was just being GIL. The management knew who he was at that point, and condoned his behavior by not letting him walk. Instead they signed him to that hidiously crippling contract. If I were GA, I would take the money and run just as he did. They thrust him into a position of leadership and responsibility with the money his brain couldn’t handle.
That’s not on him. The rational evaluation process was totally missing here. Yes, I do hold GILBERT accountable for his acts of stupidity, but I hold ownership equally responsible for the franchise’s demise by reinforcing the stupidity. “A fool and his money are soon parted” is a great old expression quite applicable in this instance.
Again, KEN, thanks. You be da’ man.
JerryWest
January 12th, 2010
7:58 pm
All star game selection:
JJ is in.
Josh should be in unless he plays badly rest of this month.
Josh+Al have great opportunities to beef up their stat in this 5 game homestand.
Josh’s main competitor Wallace is falling further behind, but Wallace still has superior numbers. Huge rebounding advantage for Wallace.
Al has to beat out Bogut/Lee/Noah/Bargnani. I hope the coaches look at total contribution rather than stats.
Starters: Howard/Garnett/LeBron/Iverson/Wade. Iverson has too big a lead to lose out to Carter. No Arenas.
Bench: Bosh/Pierce/JJ
Bubble: Rondo/Rose/MWilliams – Deng/Josh/Wallace – Lee/Bogut/Horford/Noah.
I think Garnett & Iverson will sit out. This is a weak East squad.
For Horford – next year might be a much harder year to make it to the All Star game chiefly because, Lopez will play next to a superstar and he will also get all the Chinese votes (Yi). Bynum might get traded for Bosh. The center positions in the East will become much more loaded.
Yi will also gobble up one of the forward spots next year.
Hopefully this year isn’t the largest window for Josh & Al. They really need to go all out in the next 3 weeks.
richbrave
January 12th, 2010
8:54 pm
And one final comment. Study the game tape of the WIZ-MAGIC game the other day, and come prepared for payback the next time the birds fly into disney’s world.
Melvin
January 12th, 2010
9:08 pm
Watching the Bobcats/Rockets game. Bobcats are dangerous when they go to the small lineup (Felton,Flip,SJackson,GWallace and Diaw)…. They can really cause matchup problems with that group…..
Blast
January 12th, 2010
9:17 pm
Can’t believe Doc and other Celts would even protest that flagrant by Big Baby on Marvin. He had Marvin by the neck, wrenching him down! Basketball is supposed to be a no contact sport!
It’s not a rivalry yet until Hawks beat Boston in the playoffs. Or sweep them two years in a row in the regular season. But Boston players must show some respect. Hawks have your number.
Bone.
My problem with you as a so-called Hawks fan is that you are just so negative. One, you seem to post during games only. And you bash the team big time. Two, you seem to expect Hawks to win now and win big. I would like that too. But Hawks are not built that way or have the payroll to do what Boston did when they got Garnett and Ray to play with Pierce and won a ring.
Hawks are built to get progessivelly better, and they are doing that, if you’ve been following the team for the last 10-20 years. Some nights they will lay a big fat egg, but most nights they will get it right. Real fans understand the limitations of their teams, and roots for them though thick and thin. Not bring them down when they are not doing well.
Hawks can be very successful if they defend, rebound, and most importantly, move/share the ball. They will do well if they perform all three. Ball does not need to stick. Hawks have enough scorers to knock down open shots when they move the ball.
Love the links, Ken!
mountainman36
January 12th, 2010
9:22 pm
wow that was a great game – i know im chiming in late, but i needed to say a few things.
the celtics are a better team, not because of a better record, but because of more consistency. that better record reflects the consistency. Now we seem to have thier number, and thats good.
i think the flagrant calls, both of them could have gone either way. zaza defineitely was worse. Big Baby really wasnt intending to hurt. a flagrant isnt just an on purpose foul, or even an agressive one, its one designed to hurt the other player…..that said, its about time we got some calls against an elite team…..If LBJ had done that, it wouldnt have been a flagrant. Just sayin.
we have a chance to run the table at home, so a 6 game win streak will sure make woody look good, and help JJ with the trade rumors…..
as for Al horford – hes a bit small, but hes still good…..once he gets that jumper down, and a bit more range hes gonna be a huge asset and weapon…..how many times did he have the ball at the top of the paint (at 3 point line) and the defence didnt even guard him. If he can be a bit more of a threat from range, that wll open up so much more…..slightly unrealistic i know, but Josh isnt taking 3 point shots anymore, and i never thought he would quit that…..
it could happen.
rms
January 12th, 2010
9:26 pm
richbrave:
How u got access to gametape??
Blast
January 12th, 2010
9:28 pm
Hope the Spurs can knock off the Lakers tonight.
richbrave
January 12th, 2010
9:29 pm
rms:
No, but hopefully the HAWKS do.
Big Ray
January 12th, 2010
10:55 pm
Sure, the Celtics are the better team.
And I’d love to play them in the playoffs and beat them. Then they can be the better team, and we can advance to the next round….
The Truth
January 13th, 2010
12:45 am
Big Ray, I agree
I would rather be labeled a spoiler team and advance to the championship final then to be labeled an elite team and get swept in the 1st round.
Perhaps that has been the Hawks problem. They are pursuing a label that is really unattainable during the regular season. All these so called “elite” teams have been getting their “azzs” handed to them lately. It reminds me of the Wizard of Oz story. Instead of pursuing an unreal Wizard as Alice did, the Hawks are pursuing an unreal “elite” label. In the process, they have shown us multiple personalities as a team and at times suffer from an identity crisis. They should subscribe to Alabama football head coach (Nick Saban) receipt for success: “BE WHO YOU ARE, AND DO WHAT YOU DO”
Clyde
January 13th, 2010
1:34 am
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
vava74
January 13th, 2010
6:04 am
Clyde,
Your contributions keep getting better and better!!!
JSS
January 13th, 2010
6:42 am
Ken S…
Chiming in before you walk out the Blog door… Remember I said you had “Big shoes to fill” when they placed you on the Hawks. You did that and more, it was a pleasure to have you around… I hope your Sports Editor took note…
Next time, make someone like Arthur take you to Legal Seafood at least!!!
Good luck!
justahawkfan
January 13th, 2010
8:39 am
Don’t get on Ken for what you consider to be negative assessment of the Hawks, he is just immulating what all you “great hawk fans” have been writing all season long. Oh I get it, it ok for me cut up my team but when blog writer do it just not right! You can believe boston consider us rivals, they just think that if they deny it not true.
Fundamentals
January 13th, 2010
8:45 am
Rod, Sounds like we’re thinking the same. I wasn’t dogging Nique, just saying he needed consistent help…like Joe Johnson does. No doubt he could’ve dominated if he were swapped for Worthy in LA.
Juneboy – I loved Carr. He had some great games, but he never seemed to commit fully to playing basketball. Always kinda out of shape, lazy & inconsistent. I’ve got a few games on tape that he did show he could’ve been an All-Star with consistent effort using his skill-set…kinda like Josh who is just now learning to bring what he has every night.
Spud – I gotta get mad on that one. Gimmick is a big harsh. The kid pushed the ball and changed the game. He hit timely jumpers and led the offense on a good 2nd unit. Don’t knock him for giving up the rock to shooters. He did his job, and he did it well. Teague could be the same thing for this team. An effective floor leader that totally changes the tempo of the game.
Mountainman36 – gotta agree on the homestand. A good 5-6 game win streak will quiet all the hate on the blog, but will it fix all our issues?
I’m still perplexed about our roster. Sometimes it looks like we have it wrapped, other times we show glaring deficiencies in a few key areas. Usually it’s related to effort, but I still say we need to research Bigs for the future. Mario should provide lock-down D at the guard position. Question is, even if we get pieces, Will Woodson use them?
Fundamentals
January 13th, 2010
8:46 am
THANK YOU KEN FOR YOUR BLOG & WORK HERE! Can’t say it enough.
Big Ray
January 13th, 2010
10:32 am
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=14960
Big Ray
January 13th, 2010
10:34 am
THE TRUTH,
I agree. But Alice went down the rabbit hole. It was Dorothy who was after a Wizard….
Melvin
January 13th, 2010
11:08 am
Big Ray,
Nice link. Perkins made some good points. I think this team is capable of making it to the ECF. If that happens, then this cast deserve to be kept together at least another year. I also would like to see them add Chills to this team. We may have to lose Mo but I think Chills would be a good upgrade and a missing piece that could propel this team even higher…
theZaZaguy
January 13th, 2010
11:15 am
Would there be any possibility of adding JChill at the end of the year? Would this help or hurt if it were possible?
I MUS WRITE
January 13th, 2010
12:22 pm
Of course their not afraid of the Hawks ….What else are they gonna say-” The Hawks have beat us three times in a row and we’re terrified” NO!!! However they’re probably thinking 1. jamal crawford is gonna be a problem 2. These guys are yung athletic and they continute to improve while we are getting older and long in the tooth. 3. They could actually beat us in a second round match up this year.
RIO- Welcome Back Homie…..Woodson has his attack dog back on the bench
Why do the Celtics always cry and whine….. That flagrant was the same foul marvin put on rando a couple years ago-STF and get over it -We didnt complain like some panzys-Marvin took his suspension and that was it.
Legite Playoff contenders? Maybe so but we have to stop playing down to the level of our competition. While i thin NY is improving daily and will be a tough out in the 1st round for sum one…..Elite teams dont get lit up by Nate Robinson type players jus say’n
GeeMack
January 13th, 2010
12:52 pm
Big Ray that hoopsworld article was pretty good.
I MUS WRITE
They also didn’t complain about that lame flagrant ZaZa recieved ealier in the game.
Hawks fans
I here alot about the bench not playing, however when I look at the stats JJ is the only one playing over 36 minutes per game. He is also down from last years and the year before.
There 10 player averaging 9 min or more per game. Think its harder to get Teague more than 10 min. whe he splits time with Bibby & Crawford.
Daniel
January 13th, 2010
12:52 pm
Ken S- I wanted to tell you that your eight game assesment column was right on the money. Very good work. What will you be onto next?
I also agree with you that any team is undervalued by its own fans because we stare and compare every single day. I would submit that this may also apply to your assesment of us bloggers. Sure, there are a handful on here who consistently make the same complaints: Woody stinks, IsoJoe is the work of the antichrist, Marvin is a “duck” and you know exactly who each of those thoughts belongs too. However, the MAJORITY of the bloggers here love the Hawks, think positive about the team and have a lot of hope for success. You know what I am sayin’?
Daniel
January 13th, 2010
12:55 pm
GeeMack- why are you wasting our time with thoughtful, logical, and reasonable comments on here? C’mon man, you know you are supposed to have an agenda and then make the facts fit your opinion, or try to find something to complain about so you can look smarter than the room.
Daniel
January 13th, 2010
12:56 pm
IMUS- I am with you on everything you wrote except the Nate Robinson thing. I mean the guy was literal throwing up shots backwards with his eyes closed and banking in half-court shots. What can you do when I guy gets hot like that?
theZaZaguy
January 13th, 2010
1:05 pm
What can we do to someone who throws up balls backwards and it goes in? Deny him the ball, and foul him every time he gets the ball. Then foul him again for good measure. I wish we had a smaller version of ZaZa. Oh wait we do. We just got Mario.
Daniel
January 13th, 2010
1:13 pm
your right ZaZa, if only Mario had of been in the game Nate wouldn’t have gone off like that… (NOTE: sarcasm) I am glad Mario is back, but you don’t know that to be true. Hindsight is always 20:20
theZaZaguy
January 13th, 2010
1:25 pm
I’m not saying Mario would have saved the day. I’m saying a better strategy/match-up in a situation like that could have made the difference. Or tighten up on D in the second quarter and put the game away early like I felt we should have in that game. We gave up way to many uncontested lay-ups and open 3s throughout the game just because we “expected” to beat this team. But to say there’s nothing we could have done is kind of silly as well.
My gut tells me that the Hawks learned something from that game. I felt that Woody also learned something from overusing Joe to his detriment the last 5 or so games before we beat boston twice.
And I hope they keep learning, growing, and improving all the way to the championship.
Mac-Town'z Finest 478
January 13th, 2010
2:17 pm
lol@werent Perkins AND Pierce both part of Boston teams that finished many games under .500…including a season where they were 16 games under .500 in 05-06??? It’s not like that 1-2 punch guarantees a team a chance at being a very good team or even a playoff team. It wasnt until they got loaded with other players before they became title contenders and title winners, and to make it so bad, Perkins isnt even the star out of the 2, Pierce is. Who is Perkins to make such “high and mighty” remarks???? The guy is a role player at best, I think he just likes trash talking the Hawks because he gets owned so much against us.
I MUS WRITE
January 13th, 2010
2:21 pm
AWWW Yeah Gee Mack I totally forgot about the Pannzy azz flagrant called on ZAZA. Its hard to find Teague minutes but he still has a ways to go- As bad as Bibby and Jamal can be defensively-they have the ability to make shots and Teague is struggling to score when he gets time. His D is okay but I would do exactly what Woody is doing as far as his minutes…Hopefully he will improve
Daniel- I was more so say’n that we have to play every game as if it were the Celtic,too many times we lose focus and play down to our competition.
Seriously tho I was speaking to a friend and we were talking about JJ leaving this summer possibly and he said he would try to get value for him now. Would you trade JJ/Marvin for Durant/Sefolosha -I would do that -just imagine a Bibby,Crawford,Durant,Smoove,Horford line up-
Also how much better are we with Wade at the SG and the rest of the team intact ECF possibly ? Just radom sports talk- I will talk/debate sports with anyone anywhere …..Im a sports junky-I even tried watching the Thrashers last nite lol
We need more women sports analyist, I am in luv with Reschea Candidate from ESPN First Take-Hot to death and has a beautiful sports mind- She’s hot 360
GMAN
January 13th, 2010
2:27 pm
IMUS i highly doubt that the thunder would trade their superstar and top defensive player for a ball-hogging “star” and an at best role player. I have always been a fan of trading joe for kevin martin. I want to see martin brought to the limelight plus he gets the superstar calls all of the time. Maybe we could get spencer hawes or jason thompson in that deal too.
Kevin/Hawes(or Thompson) for jj, marv, and our first round pick
I MUS WRITE
January 13th, 2010
2:38 pm
GMAN -Thats what I was telln my friend but he seems to think that a JJ-Marvin package could get it done. Hey if they are that crazy then hell yeah i would do it. I like Hawes and Thompson but Martin is always hurt so I would say no. Maybe they would give us Thompson for Marv- I would be all over that. Who is their Sf anyway?
I MUS WRITE
January 13th, 2010
2:43 pm
I’ve been gone for a minute – Congratz Ken on the new position, Watch out for JeJe she angry all the time lol. Also can you pleaze take Officer Friendly’s highliter. Some people just have to be seen-or in this case read. I guess the plaque at Dunkin Donuts with his picture isnt enuff
Melvin
January 13th, 2010
2:46 pm
Now that Super Mario is back. Anyone would like to guess who will be dress in their GQ suit tonight? Remember, only 12 players can dress out. Who’s the odd man out?
I MUS WRITE
January 13th, 2010
2:49 pm
I dont have a record and i’ve never been to jail or prison, but did i mention how much i dislike the police. Maybe i did but you can add know it all attorneys to that list as well
Whaddup Grandpa -Rod from CP etc…….
I MUS WRITE
January 13th, 2010
2:52 pm
Melvin- Cheeseburger Collins will be draped in armani tonite
GeeMack
January 13th, 2010
2:54 pm
Daniel
My bad I forgot. lol.
GMAN
January 13th, 2010
3:29 pm
IMUS
I think there forward is the rook Omri Casspi but im not sure
jean
January 13th, 2010
3:35 pm
how come no one is giving crawford any all star consideration
Mike is Back
January 13th, 2010
4:32 pm
KenS, they all but shut down my blogging at work…so I mostly read now. I really enjoyed reading your blogs…of course I’m a Hawks junky…so it wouldn’t take much. lol I thought your eight game break down of Hawks was a accurate depiction of the team. Over all I still believe the Hawks are starting to become one the elite teams in NBA…with more consistency I believe the Hawks can be one of the top three in the East. I seen major improvement when they play on the road…they still struggle to hold leads and close teams out…but that should be expected from a young team with no true Super Star. They are such a pleasant team to watch when they are dialed in.
I am not taking a shot JJ with my comments…I think he is finally starting to raise his game to that Super Star level…but the Hawks don’t have that player the can get a foul call when the game is on the line. Its amazing the amount of physical contact the Hawks get when they go to goal. The refs stand there like what…are you kidding me…you are Hawks…we ain’t blowing the whistle. lol
It was particularly pleasing to see some questionable calls go the Hawks way FOR A CHANGE. Its been long overdue…On a positive note…I actually saw Josh pulling Crawford away from trying to argue with the refs in that game. I hope that’s an omen that he and the team understand that nobody is going to make it easy for them to supplant the elite teams in the East…they have to rely on each other…that was my thinking when I saw the team huddled together after the win in Boston. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THAT.
I’m excited about the addition of Mario…however I think we will still need Teague before its all said in done. His quickness and his ability to penetrate and get to goal is unmatched on the team. When teams play zone, or our main scorers are having an off night from the perimeter…that’s when Woody will need Teague.
I hope he continues to fight through his struggles and play with more aggression whenever he is on the floor. If you can get a word to Teague…tell him don’t forget all the hard work he put in this summer…don’t give up…keeping fighting…better days are just ahead.
Sekou was a tough act to follow…but I think you done an admiral job in his stead. Keep doing yo thang broooooo!!!
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike is Back
January 13th, 2010
4:43 pm
You’ll know it wouldn’t be right…if I didn’t beat up two tree words. lol
Excuse the typoooooooooos.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ramon
January 13th, 2010
5:31 pm
Melvin, Collins is the odd man out right now because he has less appearances than anyone else. But the question is, in the next 2 games, who gets more minutes, Mario or Teague?
GMAN
January 13th, 2010
6:12 pm
Interesting piece on Crawford
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/ian_thomsen/01/13/jamal.crawford/
Ken Strickland
January 13th, 2010
6:13 pm
I hope we don’t come out and play down to the level of our competition, like we’ve been known to do on more than a few occasions. If we lose this one, the Boston win will lose it’s significance. We need to take advantage of this home stretch, and the weak competition, and string 6-7 wins together. GOOD LUCK TONIGHT YOU HIGH FLYING HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cp
January 13th, 2010
6:44 pm
Mario’s defense has reached mythical proportions on this blog. Dude plays hard but his defense is not as good as some are making it out to be. So we are going to make a guy with a guaranteed contract sit in a suit just so we can get a guy on a 10 day contract some pt? That sounds crazy….like Ken Strick said, hopefully we don’t come out and play down to the Wizards. I was reading where they were talking about blowing the Wizards roster up and I would love to get McGee from them.
Blast
January 13th, 2010
6:52 pm
Game blog up.