Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports that J.J. says the Heat is a “great situation” and that he’s willing to switch from shooting guard to small forward to play alongside Dwyane Wade. The interest between J.J. and the Heat is mutual, according to Wallace.
It’s hard to get a read on Johnson regarding free agency. Depending on which day you asked him, he was liable to stick to his “keeping all my options open, we’ll see what happens” line, go with the “I’d love to stay in Atlanta” stance or occasionally let slip the flirtatious signals he sent to the Heat via Wallace. Is Johnson just being a good businessman or does he really want to leave the Hawks? He insisted that the way the season ended, with fans booing him off the court in what could be his final game, didn’t sour him on staying.
J.J. has said before that he doesn’t care about being The Man. Of course, like all players, he would like to be paid like The Man. And if the Heat strikes out on LeBron and decide J.J. is their guy, they’ll have to make the same determination as the Hawks: Can J.J. abandon the deliberate, ball-dominating offensive style he slid into with the Hawks? As bad it was at times with the Hawks, imagine how well Iso-Joe would play when D-Wade is option No. 1.
My feeling is the Hawks haven’t ruled out the possibility that J.J. can change his style if surrounded by the proper personnel and with some strong urging from the coach. He wasn’t Iso-Joe in Phoenix, after all. But neither was he The Man there, so it’s no certainty that he can modify his game.
MC
315 comments Add your comment
Melvin
May 12th, 2010
3:43 pm
I say he stays with the Hawks but we need to make improvements to the cast around him…
calibre lake dawg
May 12th, 2010
3:50 pm
IF JJ stays we need a big man so Al can get to his power forward spot where he belongs. If not I like Bosh….GT kid and it would be tuff to deny a starting line that has Josh, Al, and Bosh….Nasty…
See ya
May 12th, 2010
3:52 pm
Take Woody with you.
PMC
May 12th, 2010
3:53 pm
So why doesn’t he flirt with a few superstars and try to get them to come here?
All the pressure would be off of him if the Hawks can find an an A player and he could go back to putting in 22 pts routinely instead of 8, 12 or 15.
If he goes to Miami would he get max money?
G.I. Go Joe
May 12th, 2010
3:53 pm
dont let the door hit ya where God split ya joe. go get John Salmons instead.
EW
May 12th, 2010
3:55 pm
Joe should stay..I hate to say it but Josh Smith is a cancer on this team. I love his skills and athleticism but he has a terrible attitude and is a crybaby. I think he is at his max trade value now and we should move Josh and Marvin out for a big man..OR find somewhere for Jamal to go…
EW
May 12th, 2010
3:57 pm
I wish people would just stop throwing out names of ppl to get..it’s one thing to say who should go, but if you haven’t researched salary caps, contracts, etc…then throwing out a random name is a worthless comment..Half of the names that get thrown out there are not even possibilities.
jr
May 12th, 2010
3:59 pm
Enter your comments here
Rufus1
May 12th, 2010
3:59 pm
Lebron
If Lebron leaves the Cavs why wouldn’t he consider the Hawks. His supporting Cast would be better, we are a top 10 market and he already said he would like to play with Joe.
The Hawks won 53 games without Lebron, with Woodson as our coach and Bibby as our PG…we would be the favorite with him. We would provide the best supporting cast of any team he could consider.(2 Allstars and the 6th man of the year)
I KNOW WE DON’T HAVE THE CAP ROOM….BUT IF HE PLANS TO LEAVE ANYWAY, WE COULD WORK A SIGN AND TRADE.
RICK SUND would atleast have to try.
truthspitter
May 12th, 2010
4:00 pm
The people continuing to call for Salmons are a joke. There is a reason why he has been with 4 teams and always seems like he is expendable, because he has never been that important to a team. I’m cool with J.J. staying or leaving.
AJ GREENS NFL GOLD
May 12th, 2010
4:01 pm
J.J. hasnt shown anyone he is the player they need. His POOR performance in the playoffs was a sign that he’s only as good as the coach. With some help from other players and a new coach, he may be better for us next season
MannyT
May 12th, 2010
4:01 pm
The best attitude in free agency is one that has the following rules:
1. Go to a good situation. (Joe is a good 1st option. He’d be a great 2nd option. More likely to win if he’s not the best player on the team b/c #1 has to be really good.)
2. Optimize your pay. Not necessary to MAX pay if you have a great situation at almost MAX pay.
3. Be flexible on location. (If Utah is a good situation and good pay, learn to love the Salt Lake. It’s a temp job. I promise you won’t be forced to stay there for 20 years. You can even live elsewhere in the offseason.)
BWLFW
truthspitter
May 12th, 2010
4:02 pm
I agree with EW. Most of the names people through out are not even possible. The only name that is possible that makes sense for the Hawks going forward is Rudy Gay and most are not even mentioning him
Marcus
May 12th, 2010
4:03 pm
yeah, saw the tweet from Sekou’s Twitter account.
Seeing JJ 4 times a year with an ‘El Calor’ jersey won’t be pretty.
maybe Shaq’s ex-wife can sic some of her girls from B-ball wives on him.
Seriously, the big thing I took from the article is that he may be tired and worn out from the heavy lifting in ATL. It is now a “been there … done that” thing. He might be willing to do the Gary Payton thing (MIA ‘06) or what the Lakers attempted w/ Payton and Karl Malone. Even if he is willing to move to SF anywhere his free agency lands him (even if he wanted to come back to ATL), we are probably the worst-positioned team to add major component(s )to take a load off of him because most of our available dollars would be needed for him to stay and we won’t have the available cap space to grab a bigger headliner to be the No. 1.
I blog with more Heart
May 12th, 2010
4:05 pm
he never played like a number one option in Atlanta but asked for number one money, but will go to another team and TAKE number two money, which he should have took here, so we COULD have paid somebody with number one skills and been in it to win it, but he played us kicking that “I’m a number one Fella”
MannyT
May 12th, 2010
4:06 pm
@Rufus1–You are correct. Sund should make that call to Danny Ferry.
However, if I am Ferry I have to do the best for my team. That means not helping LeBron to leave. Not even hinting that I’m willing to help. If that all falls apart, I’d help him go to the western conference where I minimize the competition for my team to get to the finals.
If that doesn’t work, I want as much as I can get from your team to do a S&T. In the case of the Hawks, don’t even ring my phone until you are ready to give up Al Horford & Jeff Teague. (Both are still on their rookie deals.) I don’t want Josh because he costs too much. Hortford is close in talent at a significant discount.
BWLFW
Dap01
May 12th, 2010
4:07 pm
The vibes aren’t good.
Tech75
May 12th, 2010
4:08 pm
bye, Joe. Time for a change.
MannyT
May 12th, 2010
4:08 pm
@I blog–If the money is about the same, why not go where you have a better chance to win.
Look at it this way…if we could get Wade and keep JJ, would you want Sund to do that deal?
Case closed.
BWLFW
I blog with more Heart
May 12th, 2010
4:09 pm
MannyT
May 12th, 2010
4:08 pm
@I blog–If the money is about the same, why not go where you have a better chance to win.
Look at it this way…if we could get Wade and keep JJ, would you want Sund to do that deal?
Case closed.
BWLFW
as much as I don’t like it, agreed!
jr
May 12th, 2010
4:09 pm
sund needs to revaluate the whole team starting with Coach.
the team laid down against the Magic.No True Leader that can
demand respect from other guys.Woody your time is up You
got ATL rollin after the VERY BAD teams THANK YOU.These
guys needs a new leader
northcyde
May 12th, 2010
4:10 pm
Just like I said. Miami is going to go FULL THROTTLE after JJ . . . and they can do it WITHOUT doing a sign and trade for the dude. They’re going to renounce EVERYBODY, and try to bring JJ to Miami. I mean . . why give a division rival ANY PIECES, if they can just flat out sign them on their own?
skyhawk1
May 12th, 2010
4:10 pm
Why am I already tired of JJ? Let the guy go, NO team will offer him what he wants anyway.We all know he’s not a leader and simply doesn’t seem to care about the fans. I’m done with him since his comments after game 3. True professionals should behave as such. I want him gone.
bob
May 12th, 2010
4:14 pm
It was painfully obvious that Joe cannot be the #1 option for a team. He is better off becoming a Ray Allen (circa 2007-8) type sharp-shooter & taking feeds from other play-makers.
Too many teams have large salary gaps this summer, so ATL is likely to lose Joe for nothing, which sucks.
I say: sign a free agent spot-up shooter (in the Micheal Redd mold) & sign-n-trade for Bosh. The only un-touchable is Horford. Horford & Bosh frontline would be KILLER!
Hollywould
May 12th, 2010
4:14 pm
bye joe/ small forward yeah right/gotta play d too/he hasn’t done that yet.
Marcus
May 12th, 2010
4:15 pm
Actually based on thi slist from NBA fanhouse http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/04/06/top-50-2010-nba-free-agents/
I am kinda feeling Amir Johnson (PF, TOR), Anthony Morrow (SG, GS) and/or Ronnie Brewer (SG, MEM. None will single-handedly make up the scoring we lose from JJ, but all add defense.
Hawks73
May 12th, 2010
4:16 pm
Wow, I am completely amazed at how J.J thinks of himself to be an “elite player”…PLEASE!!!!!!!! If he wants to take his sorry, non-leader, apathetic a!!! to the Heat, then so be it. He is not worth the money the Hawks offered him last year and is now trying to drum up interest in a very pathetic way. This crazy ownership group were the same ones that overpaid to get J.J here and now he thinks he commands the market. This is what I say to you J.J…..BUH-BYE!!!!!!
PMC
May 12th, 2010
4:17 pm
It’s not like it’s the end of the world if he leaves… but seriously. Where do we find 20-30 pts a night at guard? If he leaves it just makes the dirth of talent at guard that much more glaring.
Thanks for that Billy Knight.
SecondSage
May 12th, 2010
4:17 pm
Get a clue,
If JJ is flirting with Miami, no way Wade is coming here, we’re up against South Beach, no state taxes (7% of 18,000,000???). Pat Riley is willing to do whatever to keep Wade, and may get JJ because he made it clear he’s a Robin, not Batman, and he’s perfectly fine with it.
The Atlanta Spirit Group doesn’t have the funds to lure someone down here.
I say we let Joe go, get a Big Man in the Draft, get Jeff Van Gundy, and hopefully draft high in 2011. Teague is our point guard, he just needs a coach who will give him minutes and development.
Don’t even talk about LeBron, no way will he be a Hawk.
PMC
May 12th, 2010
4:19 pm
Of course it would make Miami instantly better than the Hawks… but when you keep in mind that Joe can’t carry a team by himself and Dwayne Wade will be injured or dealing with issues 70% of the year…. maybe it’s not all that big a deal.
PaulieOldschool
May 12th, 2010
4:19 pm
I reiterate: if JJ is an elite player, then so am I. Elite players do not disappear when their team needs them the most. As one commentator said: the top players (Cousy, Russell, Reed, Havlicek, his Airness, Bird, even Shaq and Wilt) didn’t just want to win the big games, they HAD to win the big games. JJ is, at best, a second tier player. Just because he was the best (still debatable) on the Hawks doesn’t mean that he was part of the league’s elite. He needs to go and Woody needs to be carrying his bags.
ATLawk
May 12th, 2010
4:19 pm
Of course, he’s going to sign with Miami! He gets to play us several times a year and get the last laugh!
i_am_soulstar
May 12th, 2010
4:21 pm
I’m a huge proponent of JJ staying, but a sign-and-trade might not be a bad idea. If we can find a franchise with very good pieces that’s star-hungry…
I’d be with it.
CURIOUS
May 12th, 2010
4:21 pm
JJ is trying to pull a deon sanders courtship tour only problem is he is not a sanders like talent. he is good but not worth a contract that will keep the hawks right where they are now and cripple them for any future moves if resigning him to a max contract won’t cripple the hawks in the future then I am wrong and we should at least try to keep him .
mykhalc
May 12th, 2010
4:21 pm
JJ is lookin’ for a leader himself!!! he’ll land where he is NOT the #1 option. HAWKS need to find a leader to spend their max money on…whomever that may be.
mykhalc
May 12th, 2010
4:21 pm
new HC should be priority #1 for this team!!
DaveDawg
May 12th, 2010
4:23 pm
Flirt? Go CONSUMMATE it for the love of everything holy! Good riddance!
i_am_soulstar
May 12th, 2010
4:25 pm
And anyway, it’s just a rumor. Tell me one player in the league that wouldn’t feel the same way about an opportunity to play with Wade.
Besides, he’s likely #4 on their wish list.
1) Lebron James
2) Chris Bosh
3) Amare Stoudemire
4) Joe Johnson
5) Carlos Boozer
I blog with more Heart
May 12th, 2010
4:28 pm
Flo Johnson said he’s need a daddy in his life lol( he has offically switched genders)!!!!!
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
May 12th, 2010
4:29 pm
Why is Josh getting a free pass here. Guy loafs and is called out by Horford and Hubie Brown. On top of that he can’t shoot, so he is only a 4. Get rid of Smith first and foremost and then maybe Johnson.
MannyT
May 12th, 2010
4:29 pm
For you folks on the I hate JJ after he dissed the fans thing…I get it. I cannot apologize for him, but I am over that deal. He was upset and few people like getting booed by the home fans. Making lots of money doesn’t mean that your feelings disappear…only your privacy
JJ earned his money on that 5 yr/ $70 mil deal he signed to come here when no one else would except for a few carpet baggers that wanted to steal money (Curry, Dampier). At that time he was a 4th option on a really good team. Joe doesn’t whine about calls, he played more/better perimeter D and O here than anyone else during the last 5 years.
This is probably his last big NBA contract. He’s positioning himself to get paid. Maybe it’s here; maybe it’s not. In order to maximize his earning power, he has to sell the willingness to leave even if he doesn’t want to go.
That’s his real job.
If you had one shot to get a big payday wouldn’t you keep an open mind with all the organizations that could potentially provide the big check?
We don’t have to like it, but we don’t have to be so bitter either. That’s your choice.
BWLFW
bob
May 12th, 2010
4:30 pm
PLEASE! Chris Bosh comw to Atlanta!
Gordon
May 12th, 2010
4:33 pm
Here’s a thought:
I’ve seen a lot of people mention that they’d like to see the Hawks improve at the PG position, with a point-guard who is ready to run the team at that position right now, and who is a quick/solid defender. As you know, good point guards are tough to find at the right price, but I see a very interesting situation involving the New Jersey Nets.
They’ll likely be getting John Wall with the first round pick, and unless they want to waste Wall’s high potential, they’ll be playing him large minutes from the start, meaning they won’t have a huge need for Devin Harris anymore. Harris is still young, has good height for the PG position, is a sold play-maker and good scorer at the PG position. There are no glaring flaws in Harris’s game, and he’d be a huge upgrade over Bibby and Teague both.
So, if by some miracle, Joe would be interested in going to New Jersey, the Hawks might be able to work out a sign and trade that sends Joe to New Jersey for Devin Harris and Courtney Lee. Think about it, the Nets would probably love to have Joe. They haven’t had someone at the SG position who could create their own shot since they lost Vince Carter to the Magic. Also, with Terrence Williams looking like a rising talent in New Jersey, Lee’s minutes would probably decrease substantially next season, and I’m sure New Jersey would not be too hesitant to part with him.
Lee is tremendous young talent. He hasn’t flourished yet offensively, but he’s one of the best young defenders at the SG position and has shown that he can contribute immediately at the starting SG position, as he played a large role in the Magic’s run last post-season. With Lee and Harris, the Hawks could improve defensively on the perimeter, and gain in terms of quickness, athleticism, and longterm backcourt potential.
We could then potentially start Devin Harris and Courtney Lee together in the backcourt, giving Lee the role of guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player, leaving Harris with a more potent offensive play-making and scoring role. I think that both of these guys could flourish in a structured offensive system, and are readily coachable, although young. Plus, provided that we keep Jamal Crawford, we’d still have a nice scoring punch at the SG position to bring in off the bench if needed, while Harris is resting. Additionally, we could give Teague consistent minutes behind Harris to see what he can do, and I think Teague would benefit much more in his development from scrimmaging with Harris and Lee than he would from scrimmaging with Bibby.
This seems like a nice trade in terms of value and it doesn’t involve getting in any long-term salary holes. The only problem is that we’d still have Bibby, resulting in a log-jam at the PG position. Also, Bibby’s contract is a bit too hefty for a 3rd-string PG. For that reason, it would be ideal if we could include Bibby in the package with JJ to New Jersey. I’m sure New Jersey would not mind that too much. Bibby could help mentor the young John Wall, and provide New Jersey with solid, limited backup minutes.
I just thought I’d throw that out there. Let me know what you guys think.
SaintSimons
May 12th, 2010
4:35 pm
i say we trade up and get john wall and then sign bosh and release bibby and joe. and get avery johnson. then we will be contenders
Marvin is a Melvin
May 12th, 2010
4:38 pm
I actually think the Melvin, Marvin, can still be really good. However, if we can get Bosh with a sign & trade using Marvin/Smoove as bait, I say take it.
Sign Childress to be our starting 3
Richham
May 12th, 2010
4:39 pm
I’m sorry but after hearing his comments about the heat, especially his stance about taking a back seat and being the second or third option on a team, you can’t possible consider giving this guy big money let alone a max contract.
You pay max contracts for stars, not sidekick wannabe’s. He doesn’t want to be the leader of this team. Time to move on! I don’t care if it hurts the team.
The Dogfighter Returns
May 12th, 2010
4:40 pm
Does JJ know how to smile?
Bring on Anthony Morrow he will be better than JJ and show some fire.
Hawks 2011 Roster
May 12th, 2010
4:40 pm
Don’t re-sign Joe Johnson this should be the team for next season.
PG Steve Blake/Rafer Alston
SG John Salmons/Jamal Crawford
SF Chris Bosh/Josh Smith
PF Al Horford/Udonis Haslem
C David Lee/Brad Miller
Marvin is a Melvin
May 12th, 2010
4:42 pm
lay off the drugs, hawks 2011 Roster
northcyde
May 12th, 2010
4:46 pm
For those of you who haven’t listened to the Hubie Brown interview on ESPN AM 680 in Atlanta, you realy need to check that out on their website. He talks in depth about the Hawks and what went wrong with this team.
It is a MUST LISTEN TO for all TRUE Hawks fans. Even AJC sportswriters.
SaintSimons
May 12th, 2010
4:46 pm
just get john wall and bosh. trade bibby marvin and crawford release joe
BOOHAWKS
May 12th, 2010
4:47 pm
seeyyaa SLO JOHNSON. that dude is overrated. he has no heart to win. he is not leader. what the hawks need to do is appoint al horford or mo williams as team captains and the voice in the locker room. FIRE MIKE I DONT LIKE PLAYING THE BENCH WOODSON and rotate the order. let slo joe go. for a guy his size he has no ups. u tell me how many times he dunked the ball this year. thats y he shoots jumpers allllllll the time cuz the layup is only finishing move. discipline josh smith cuz he plays like a kid with tantrums. wish he went to college for a year now. and lastly put bibby on the bench and put teague at starter and jamal crawford or move teague into six man roll and after zaza and mo williams, let the rest go and draft newer talent or get better free agents AND GET A FREAKIN COACH THAT DEMANDS ORDER AND PERFECTION.
Rufus1
May 12th, 2010
4:48 pm
Lebron Wants to Win a Championship
If his number 1 goal is to win a title..his best option is in Atlanta.
If Lebron and JJ go to the Knicks, they will still lose to the Magic.
MannyT
The Cavs may not have a choice…Yes I would trade Al and Teague for Lebron.(I would prefer Josh and Teague)
I KNOW IT SOUDS CRAZY, BUT IF HE COMES TO ATL…HE COULD WIN 4 TITLES
northcyde
May 12th, 2010
4:49 pm
And people better understand that we’re not going to be able to get a Chris Bosh, unless we execute a sign and trade that involves either Josh Smith or Jamal Crawford + a filler ( like a Marvin or Zaza ).
Understand the situation we’re in Hawks fans.
i_am_soulstar
May 12th, 2010
4:51 pm
I would love to see David Lee in a Hawks uniform. He could be had for cheap and is about as quality of a center as you’ll see in the league these days outside of Dwight Howard. But could we survive Josh Smith playing small forward????
Mike
May 12th, 2010
4:54 pm
I don’t understand how any of you are calling Josh Smith a cancer. when he fails to block a shot … we lose. Period. he is the best defender we have. You all dislike him because of the argumentative emotions he displays on the court. If anyone is a cancer, it’s Marvin Williams. I don’t know why his name isn’t mentioned and why he is getting a pass. Joe Johnson doesn’t get pass for not showing up in big games, but everyone knew that. Marvin Williams fails to show up period … and he gets abused on the defensive end of the floor. A cancer to me is a mass that produces bad results … all of Marvin’s results are bad.
I’d rather us try to package marvin, bibby, and our first round draft pick for Chris paul or tony parker. I’d then like to get a big man that can at least defend and hold his weight with a minimum of 8 – 10 points … Brendon Hayward comes to mind. Camby comes to mind too … In any event … we can slide Josh down to the 3 and get a coach that will practically force him to become Shawn Marion … a player who gets no offensive plays called for him but still scores 16 – 20 points through effort.
That my friends would be the fix we need. Josh is no cancer … he just isn’t being coached correctly. No coach in his right mind would have him standing near the 3 point line. He would always be slashing towards the basket. He’s too big and too athletic not to be screening and rolling the whole game and crashing the boards for offensive put backs / rebounds.
Marvin is the cancer. He must go. He’s just a nice guy so you all don’t think he’s the problem.
Byron
May 12th, 2010
4:55 pm
You know, in terms of the point-guard position and the fact that the teams with the highest chance of getting the #1 pick (John Wall), we may have a chance to really steal a quality point guard using a JJ sign-and-trade this offseason. New Jersey, Minnesota, Sacramento, and Golden state all have a shot at the number one pick, and each of them already has quality PG potential on their roster. That means that if any of them get the #1 pick, they will likely need to get rid of their current starting PG, and JJ is one hell of a bargaining chip, the Hawks could use him to get a great young PG.
C'mon Hawks
May 12th, 2010
5:01 pm
I know this is fantasy, but while i was playing NBA 2K10 last night I tried trading Marvin and Josh Smith for Devin Harris and somebody and they wouldnt do it. Yet I offered Bibby straight up for Brendan Haywood and they jumped on it. Then I added T.J. Ford and Will Bynum via free agency and traded Teague for Collison from the Hornets. I know it is a log jam at PG, but wouldnt that be a good thing for us? Also JJ would negotiate with me on the game, so lost him and just plugged Crawford in his spot.
ATL Fan
May 12th, 2010
5:02 pm
Sign him and trade him to the Clippers for Eric Gordon. Let JJ play in LA.
Gamer
May 12th, 2010
5:02 pm
Whoever get Joe Johnson will get a standup guy and a pretty good basketball player..
Obvious, Joe can’t carry a team by himself neither could Kobe Bryant and witnessing the same thing with Cavaliers King James..
How many times did we hear K. Bryant cry about leaving the Lakers if he didn’t get immediate help, too many times to keep count.
As much as I would try to keep Joe around, I wouldn’t do it at the expense of crippling team from building an elite team. It take money to do that and no team should put too much money into one player.
THE HAWKS SHOULD NEVER TRADE HORFORD OR J. SMOOVE. DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO GET CALIBER PLAYERS LIKE THESE TWO AT THERE AGE?? PLEASE SHOW SOME BUSINESS ACUMEN WHEN DEALING WITH THESE TWO.
Gamer
May 12th, 2010
5:03 pm
I do make typos…
i_am_soulstar
May 12th, 2010
5:04 pm
The worst thing I’ve seen teams do is trade quality starters for heralded #1-10 draft picks. You have no idea how good someone is gonna perform in the NBA or how long it would take them to develop. It’s a gamble some teams end up on the losing side of. I’d rather take a loss trading JJ for Devin Harris than a guy you practically have no idea about, be it John Wall, Evan Turner, or whoever. College success doesn’t always translate to NBA. For every Lebron James, there’s a Kwame Brown.
I’m just saying.
boiler up
May 12th, 2010
5:05 pm
Reading this is giving me a head ache. JJ is a baby period.. Sign and trade.. Please get rid of J.Smoove jump shot.. Yeah right.. Get people who will PLAY HARD for you. It’s basketball.. It’ not about show and tell if you want a Championship.. Kobe, MJ, Ervin Magic, Bird, will tell you.. Atl. needs to stop desiring show boat material and just wanting winners.. It’s not about being electrifying… winning…
JSS
May 12th, 2010
5:09 pm
@ SaintSimons
DING
Rod from College Park
May 12th, 2010
5:10 pm
Mike,
Cosign 100%
southsidegunner
May 12th, 2010
5:12 pm
Let him go. We need a point guard. Jordan Farmer?
Melvin
May 12th, 2010
5:18 pm
How in the heck did this kid pass for being 16? Heck he look older than Teague…
http://www.ajc.com/sports/2222-year-old-accused-525184.html?cxntlid=thbz_hm
Matt the Brave
May 12th, 2010
5:21 pm
Yes, Rick Sund will TRY to get LeBron, but he’s NYC bound if he doesn’t stay in Cleveland. He would go to LA, but Kobe and he play the same position. I guess he could end up on the Clippers (shudder). But he will not come to Atlanta, folks. Sorry to say it, but it’s true. We’re just not big enough, and he has no connection with anything here.
JJ - Here's your Paci
May 12th, 2010
5:21 pm
Joe you baby you – You’ve been stealing $$ for years..
Don’t let the door spank that wallet on the way outta the ATL!!
X Playground Great
May 12th, 2010
5:22 pm
Just like the Atlanta So-Called fans. Bloggers are ready to throw the WHOLE team under the bus. Guys remember last off season when Cleveland and Orlando made huge moves to improve their teams. Well, the Atlanta Hawks didnt. Obviously they thought the team was good enough to over take Cleveland and Orlando. Yes we increased our regular season wins, but still got eliminated in the semifinal just as last year. Atlanta Hawks front office is to blame, not Joe or Woody.
C. Moore
May 12th, 2010
5:23 pm
WHY IS EVERYONE SO HYPED ABOUT JOHN SALMONS? THE SAME GUY WHO HASNT DONT ANYTHING IN THIS LEAGUE UNTIL THIS YEAR…AFTER THE ALL-STAR BREAK WHO ALSO IS IN HIS CONTRACT YEAR? NOT TO MENTION HE IS….30 OR 31. HE IS NOT AN UPGRADE OVER JJ. I AM NOT A HUGE JJ FAN AS I FEEL HE IS A STRONG NUMBER TWO. BUILD THIS TEAM AROUND AL HORFORD. YOU WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH DEFENDING AND REBOUNDING!!
Andy
May 12th, 2010
5:23 pm
Anthony Morrow…over Joe Johnson….oh my god who are these idiots posting on here
Grandad
May 12th, 2010
5:25 pm
(1) Miami ain’t got crap for S&T.
(2) truthspitter: Thank you, I agree on [JS].
I don’t understand everyone’s infatuation?
(3) LbJ’s not coming here.
Folk’s try to understand reality.
Josh will improve w/o Bibby on premisis!…and minus Joe!
I think Al will/can keep him in line.
Joe leaves we cannot throw away talent!
Add Childress.
Subtract Marv via an astute trade,voila!
I’m also leaning toward ‘Tom Thibodeau’ [coach]
*(defensive game planning vs Cavs)*
Steve Smith/1st Lt./off. coordinator.
Plan o’ the day, right there. [from me that is]
Rufus1
May 12th, 2010
5:28 pm
MIKE
Josh QUIT on his team in the most important game of his NBA career…How will coaching change that kind of behavior. Mental toughness is developed when you are a child…not at 24.
Stop justifing Josh being a QUITTER, because Marvin isn’t a good player…Trade BOTH OF THEM(MARVIN AND JOSH)
Rufus1
May 12th, 2010
5:30 pm
Grandad
What makes you think Al can keep Josh in line?
Grandad
May 12th, 2010
5:36 pm
Andy:
He leaves, what you gonna do.
Anthony Morrow is better than Othyus Jeffers.
C. Moore
May 12th, 2010
5:39 pm
The problem with the Hawks is lack of agression! Kevin Garnett made Glen “Big Baby” Davis cry on the bench!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GXgFC8q32Q
That type of leadership is what the Hawks lack. Woodson didnt even say anything to Josh about his actions…however during the season he would bench him. What kind of message are you sending to your players? There are two players on that bench I know that could have progressed this year to help this team…prepare your laughs…Mario West and Randolph Morris. Mario West is an energy spark, he can defend, and he penetrates to the hole. Morris…7′0 big man who can run. He just needs to play and learn the game. This team needs leaders…simple as that…
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2010
5:41 pm
THE HAWKS DO NOT HAVE CAP MONEY TO SIGN FREE AGENTS OUTRIGHT, THEY CAN ONLY ACQUIRE THEM BY TRADE
BOSH IS NOT A CENTER AND WOULD GET EATEN ALIVE BY DWIGHT EVEN WORSE THAN HORFORD
JOSH CANNOT PLAY SMALL FORWARD ON EITHER END OF THE COURT
PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THIS ON EVERY BLOG BY MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM THIS OFFSEASON SO PEOPLE DON’T KEEP REPEATING THE SAME MISINFORMED BULLSH-T
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2010
5:44 pm
“I know this is fantasy, but while i was playing NBA 2K10 last night I tried trading Marvin and Josh Smith for Devin Harris and somebody and they wouldnt do it. Yet I offered Bibby straight up for Brendan Haywood and they jumped on it. Then I added T.J. Ford and Will Bynum via free agency and traded Teague for Collison from the Hornets. I know it is a log jam at PG, but wouldnt that be a good thing for us? Also JJ would negotiate with me on the game, so lost him and just plugged Crawford in his spot.”
Add a “GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” on the end and that’s a typical Darrell Starks post.
ant banks
May 12th, 2010
5:45 pm
i hate this time of year, because this is when everyone keeps comin’ up wit’ these crazy arse proposals!! how are we goin’ to re-sign jj and bring in bosh, without goin’ over the cap?
why would lebron come to atlanta, a 10 market with no superstars, WHEN HE CAN GO TO THE NUMBER 1 MARKET, WITH 2 SUPERSTARS?
y’all stop wit’ this crazy ish
Grandad
May 12th, 2010
5:45 pm
Rufus1:
Moreso Bibby & Joe leaving. Combine that with Al’s
newfound resonsibility of leadership. Which he is well
suited, therefore he will be up to the task.
Not to mention, the new coach will mentor Josh with a new
message & a new way of delivering said message.
JJ - Here's your Paci
May 12th, 2010
5:46 pm
Najeh… Go back & crap in your closet…
Butt this time. Please close the door!!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2010
5:47 pm
“For those of you who haven’t listened to the Hubie Brown interview on ESPN AM 680 in Atlanta, you realy need to check that out on their website. He talks in depth about the Hawks and what went wrong with this team.”
Link?
Rod from College Park
May 12th, 2010
5:47 pm
Najeh Davenpoop,
“JOSH CANNOT PLAY SMALL FORWARD ON EITHER END OF THE COURT”
He could not be any worse than Marvin. No way possible.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2010
5:49 pm
I’d advise y’all not to believe a word that comes out of the mouths of Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, or LeBron James until July 1. Everything they say until then is posturing to create maximum value for themselves.
I honestly wouldn’t lose too much sleep if he landed in Miami, although it would suck to lose him outright with no compensation. I don’t see Joe’s game and Wade’s game meshing together all that well — if anything, Joe will be reduced to the best 3-point shooter Wade has ever played with — and Miami will still be left with no big men and no point guard. That sounds like a second-round exit team to me.
feudfinder
May 12th, 2010
5:51 pm
Joe Johnson brought this cancer on himself by making such an idiotic statement. Before his debacle, almost all the fans wanted him signed. All in all, I still think it is a good idea if Joe is signed and either Larry Drew (preferred) or a new coach is brought here. I like Mike Woodson, but he does not command respect from his players (Josh) anymore, and it does not look like it is going to get any better. So the best thing is to part ways. I wish him a good luck.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2010
5:53 pm
“Najeh… Go back & crap in your closet…
Butt this time. Please close the door!!”
I don’t crap in my own closet. I prefer the closets of sleeping college co-eds.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2010
5:55 pm
“He could not be any worse than Marvin. No way possible.”
Then the Hawks should get a replacement SF for Marvin, not play Josh out of position where his skills would not be maximized. Playing Josh at SF would be like playing Michael Vick at running back.
Grandad
May 12th, 2010
5:56 pm
I tried to set this up as a link but being somewhat old
& technology impaired, I was unable to do so.
However, if you wish to look it up…good read.
LeBron’s moment of truth awaits
By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports
Another reason I don’t care much for LbJ.
or
LeBronze
or
the LeBacle [espn]
*Thank you Najeh* Co-sign
Marvin is a Melvin
May 12th, 2010
6:00 pm
“I don’t crap in my own closet. I prefer the closets of sleeping college co-eds.”
That doesn’t make any sense
O'Brien
May 12th, 2010
6:00 pm
I dont buy JJ and Miami. If he goes anywhere, I think it will be Chicago.
Who wouldnt want to play with a very good young PG? Plus he has the same agent as Rose, and he is friends with BJ Armstrong, who is like a mentor to Rose. Plus Chicago would be a very good team with JJ, Rose, Deng and Noah as their foundation.
I hope he stays with the Hawks though, because he is a top 5 SG on offense, and a top 5 SG on defense. The Hawks do not have anybody else like that, and we wont be able to get anybody else like that. Plus, JJ can defend 3 positions for spot minutes…
Mike,
Did you really suggest Marvin, Bibby and a pick for Tony Parker or Chris Paul? Why would Spurs or Hornets go for that? Marvin and Bibby are not very good, and our first round pick is towards the end of the first round. Makes no sense to me.
northcyde,
How do you feel about a Josh and ZaZa S&T for Bosh?
SWAT Native
May 12th, 2010
6:00 pm
Northcyde
That was a great interview with Hubie Brown. Here’s a link for those that are looking for it:
http://www.680thefan.com/audiovault/rude_awakening.php#
They asked him if he was interested in coming back and coaching the Hawks, and he said that it was his 76th birthday.
Al Notsosharpton
May 12th, 2010
6:03 pm
Too bad Joe didn’t flirt with the backboard or bottom of the net more. Always a fan favorite, especially when he opens his big mouth!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2010
6:07 pm
“That doesn’t make any sense”
Well, as the real-life Najeh Davenpoop once said, “Where’s the evidence? Where’s the manure?”
that year 2000
May 12th, 2010
6:11 pm
this shows you why Joe did not put in any effort in the playoffs because he does not have heart, he does not mind not being great he will settle for good he does not mind being wade’s sidekick because the pressure will be off him but what is so crazy is that why did he turn down that 16 million last yr like charles barkley said because nobody else is going to pay him more than that cause he didn’t not show up for the playoffs this year or last year and a max contract player puts up more than 22 pts per game during the regular season
joe should have taken what sund offered him last yr cause if u want to be wade’s sidekick do u really think somebody is going to give u a max contract uh–no his dumb ass
Johnson
May 12th, 2010
6:14 pm
Can’t wait to see how much Big Mouth Johnson lost with his play & mouth in playoffs. Charles Barkley nailed it. “No way Joe Johnson is worth being paid what a superstar in the NBA gets. Anything above 7M a year is foolish. He’s a number 2 polayer on a team at best.”
Stevie
May 12th, 2010
6:15 pm
Hawks could be getting Tony Parker.
http://whiskeymadness25.angelfire.com/index.html
bigdave
May 12th, 2010
6:18 pm
“its what you’re running for Joe Johnson and Crawford that they are not getting their high percentage shots in their areas”
-Coach Hubie Brown
“playing 1 on 2 then 3 on 4″
how many times have i said that goodness.
Hubie Brown was dead on..
James
May 12th, 2010
6:20 pm
Two days after getting swept in the playoffs this guy is flirting with another team? This year in the post season he didnt show up and last year he quit during the Cleveland series.He turns down the extention offer from the Hawks then flirts with the Knicks.Joe Johnson does not want to be here and should have been traded when he turned down the extention…
bigdave
May 12th, 2010
6:24 pm
though it might be too late.. i sure hope they dont drop an atom bomb on this team. they have their issues however, under proper instruction we are awfully talented. even in spurts we saw the ball/player movement we got results IN THE PAINT even..
give me needed additions and a head coach in my perfect world it would be another Mike last name Krzyzewski.. but that is a pipe dream.
vava74
May 12th, 2010
6:39 pm
I speculated on the other blog based on what we have on the table:
Fact > Good performances in ATL with JJ balling like an All NBA;
Possible result > Excessive confidence builds in the “weaker more impressionable minds”, namelyyounger players;
Fact > Bonehead remarks about not having anything to do in a night out in MIL;
Fact? > Limos waiting in the Airport;
Possible result 1> Confrontation between JJ and party goers
Possible result 2> Division in the locker room with flying accusations of ball hogging to one side and lack of focus to the other
Fact > Major egg laying performances in game 3 (and to a less extent in game 4);
Fact > JJ continues to play well – at All NBA level – in games 3 and 4
Possible Result > JJ sulks and loses faith in the group
Fact > More egg laying in game 5 with JJ no longer playing well
Possible Result > More flying accusations followed by one of those weak make ups which you see in many relationships. Peace words are exchanged but the “vase is cracked”.
Fact > Better overall performances in games 6 and 7 but JJ still struggles offensively (although defensively he has 2 stellar games)
Possible Result 1 > Younger players single out JJ for not performing and more accusations fly around
Possible Result 2 > The Chemistry is gone and ORL enters the scene, fully focused and armed to the teeth > Hawks crumble and JJ is “no longer in the house”.
Another interesting remark comes to my mind (don’t remember the exact words):
Al mentioned that the Hawks roster was “too laid back” and did not “buckle up for the playoffs”.
For me, that is a clear cut indication that there were people partying hard during the MIL trip and there are reports that JJ intervened vocally in the locker room against that behaviour.
My guess – and I am recanting from my previous posts – is that who said those stupid things about going out in MIL is probably who hired limos and went partying to CHI, namely Josh (and who else? Al? which would explain his lackluster performances in MIL)
On one of my previous posts I speculated why JJ’s play was so bad, now this complements and launches a different possibility to what I had previously said, namely that the cause for the “friction” was the ISO play.
Well, now I think that Woody’s lack of offense and over reliance on ISO play was MADE WORSE by the rift caused by the above and by the fact that JJ took upon himself to show that he was the man but in a half hearted way (disappointed/frustrated with the Hawks and without any faith).
By doing this he went completely out of sync and became an easy target for the defenses.
Hence, his commentaries about the public / locker room. Maybe his words meant:
The boos don’t change what happens in the locker room (the bad things, discussions, bickering, lack of focus and unity).
He was the target of the boos, but maybe for him, Josh should be the one because he (allegedly) acted as a childish fool and in a completely unprofessional way thus being in JJ’s eyes the main culprit of our demise.
Before anyone throws rocks at me, I am merely speculating.
MC probably knows a lot more than he can tell. His position as a beat writer prevents him from violating the players more or less intimate confidence in him and which comes with this task.
Just look at how Sekou only now revealed the feud between the younger players and the vets already since Chills’ times here 2 years ago.
Peter
May 12th, 2010
6:50 pm
Please folks this team is as bad as the ownership group….no leadership, no money.
Chris Bosh born in Dallas wants to go there…….. We will have to draft out team, and from what I have seen…….GOOD LUCK, cause we suck in the draft…….we cannot see talent for anything…..
Besides Al, and Smooth……..who have we drafted in the last 5-6 years that was worthy of being a starter in the NBA…..did I forget someone…….
Yes we drafted Gasol…then traded him away immediatly……..what a BRAIN TRUST WE HAVE !
Schultz in Mianus (CT)
May 12th, 2010
6:51 pm
Good riddance.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2010
6:54 pm
The Hubie Brown interview was great.
qlb
May 12th, 2010
6:54 pm
First off you dont trade josh smith if he sucks so badly y did he get second in defensive player of the year. You don’t trade your best defender period. Horford is a good leader but he will never be a 20 and 10 guy in the league because his offensive game is lacking. The hawks need a coach and a big man that can rebound and defend (haywood from dallas) period. I wouldn’t mid the hawks trading JJ for Haywood and butler. I would trade Horford for Haywood and butler if possible and then use your draft picks on some servicable young players to add depth at the Center and guard positions. Bibby or Teague, Butler, Marvin, Smoove, Haywood. Bench Crawford, ZaZa, Drafted pick Center, Draft pick Guard, Mo williams, would be a good team in the east and getting rid of JJ would help to develop Marvin’s offensive game more cause his length makes him a good defender at the 3.
DawgBoi
May 12th, 2010
6:56 pm
Miami cant pay both Wade and Joe what they both want. Why cant we just get lucky and have the Heat agree to a sign and trade. They can have our best 2 (joe & josh) for their best 2 (wade & beasley) and let us get a Mark Jackson or Tyron Corbin and I think we might just make it. We would still need to go find a center though. Horford @ PF and Beasley is an upgrade at SF. Marvin off the bench with Crawford and Bibby. Teague starts at PG. Still need a C, but I like the lineup against the Magic.
Joe
May 12th, 2010
7:00 pm
The Hawks need a fast point guard who can score and run the offense more than any other position. Teague needs a shot at it. Bibby off the bench shooting threes, Willaims needs to score more or bring back Childress for SF/SG, Josh needs to continue to improve his shot selection at PF, and Horford needs to also continue to improve. Keep Crawford coming off the bench with a rested Bibby, Play ZAZA more to keep Horford fresh, bring in a couple of new big PF/C types to spell Josh or Horford, bring in a new SG in a sign and trade for Johnson or let Childress play the position. Mo is a keeper just needs to perfect his shooting a bit, and Morris-it’s time to play him more or cut him ifyou can find another big better than he.
nash
May 12th, 2010
7:03 pm
If Joe leaves the best replacement on the market would be Rudy Gay. With him, the right coach, a good draft and, moving Al Horford to the leadership position that he deserves to be in could be what is needed for this to improve in the off season instead of taking a step back.
The Truth
May 12th, 2010
7:06 pm
As I posted in a previous blog, if Joe wants the most money, he should cooperate with the Hawks via a S&T. It’s a win-win situation for all involve. It would not necessarily be doom and groom if he depart. All teams retool when a peak occurs and for some, it works out just fine. JJ will not find a better “Be the Man” situation then he had in the ATL and he only took us so far. Based on JJ salary demands and our likely budget limitation, the Hawks can’t improve any farther to the next level with a higher paid JJ and the same cast of characters. However, if only a tweak was required via an upgraded PG, new coach, virtually the same JJ salary and that alone got us to the next level than it would be feasible. But the way in which Orlando beat the Hawks and our overall playoff performance suggest we need much more then just a tweak.
Remember, as Sund reviews JJ future as a Hawk; it’s not just solely going to be based on JJ skills set since they already know what he has done. It’s also going to be based on return on value or how much are they willing to pay for what they already know about him. When JJ came to the Hawks, he was paid based on being a rising-star not a super-star. Well today, for the sake of argument, let’s call him a star so he was paid accordingly. The question for today, is JJ a rising super-star since he seems to want “super-star like” or “high-end star” money. If some team sees him that way, then they should pursue him and pay him accordingly. However, public opinion says he is not. In fact some would even argue based on his playoff performance that JJ is becoming just a very good role player. I say he is some where in the middle and his salary demands will likely be an issue with the Hawk Management.
lewis
May 12th, 2010
7:12 pm
http://www.stationcaster.com/player.php?s=87&c=671&f=49111
hubie interview — don’t even bother blogging, he pretty much says it all and more.
key word – accountability –
Grandad
May 12th, 2010
7:12 pm
Hubie’s interview lasted approximately 26 minutes.
I was captivated the entire time.
Can you imagine W_______ speaking for 26 minutes.
What could he possibly say, that would hold anyone’s
attention much less captivate an entire audience?
O'Brien
May 12th, 2010
7:14 pm
Some stuff from Hubie Brown and the interview;
1) When you play a great team, you cannot put forth a simplistic game plan
2) Take all your STATS during the year, and for the top 6 teams you play, what plays have worked? Because those are plays you need to run during the playoffs.
3) Can your coaching staff get your 3 best players high percentage shots in their best areas? It comes down to STATISTICS, breaking down your offense during the year, and tinkering for the playoffs.
4) He has never seen a star quality player walk back in a situation in which you are only down 1 in the fourth, on the road, against a very good team. He saw Josh do it 3 times, and it led to 3 Magic FGs. And where is the team discipline (money, playing time, or shots) and accountability?
5) To evaluate a coaching staff, you must watch practice between them and the players.
6) If JJ walks, “who the hell do you have walking through the door to replace what he gives you?”
7) Where was the movement on the baseline? Where were the up screens? What about post ups with clearouts? ball movement on opposite sides of the ball? All we got was 1 pass, with 1 against 2.
Lots of interesting stuff on there. I would love to have Hubie as an assistant during training camp and pre-season.
lewis
May 12th, 2010
7:15 pm
Hubie – college professor at Harvard
Woodson – 8th grade public school teacher in a state that has the worst public school system in the country
Reid Adair
May 12th, 2010
7:20 pm
Don’t let the door hit you on the backside on your way out of Atlanta, Joe Johnson. You want to get paid like THE man, but you don’t want to be THE man? That says it all.
Mystikal
May 12th, 2010
7:21 pm
Would JJ want to play alongside D-wade, sure who wouldn’t! But having to choose betweeen Atlanta and Miami, come on now. Bye bye Joe! Hope Woody goes with you!
van
May 12th, 2010
7:23 pm
that’s the only way Johnson wins big, if he teams with another superstar because he certainly isn’t going to carry a team; he’s simply not a leader
Brian
May 12th, 2010
7:31 pm
they can have Joe im getting tired of his whiney ass
We need to get a true center so we can move al to pf, or a good pg to replace bibby
Saint Richt
May 12th, 2010
7:33 pm
Tampering anyone? Go to Miami, you DB……got riddance…………
Grandad
May 12th, 2010
7:35 pm
Peter – Yeah I think Billy Knight did that one too.
Dif. owners though.
ASG is working hard.
vava74 – You really think Al rented one of those limos?
I’m thinking Joe’s entourage in one with Bibby.
& Josh + ‘crew’ in the other.
Zaza, Mo, Teager, Joe Smith, RandMo;
all went in a room and threw darts @ a wdsn poster.
Al, Jamal, Marv, Mario – went to a movie.
J.Collins went to ‘Golden Corral’.
Section 303
May 12th, 2010
7:40 pm
Michael, tell Joe to go get eaten by a shark when he gets to Miami. I could give two sh#ts if that a$$hole leaves or not.
Bernie Matt
May 12th, 2010
7:49 pm
JOE MUST GO! JOE MUST GO! JOE MUST GO! JOE MUST GO! Okay now say it with me, JOE MUST GO! JOE MUST GO! JOE MUST GO! JOE MUST GO! JOE MUST GO! Okay, now let’s do the wave and hope his ass rides the wave out of here.
northcyde
May 12th, 2010
7:50 pm
DawgBoi . . . you are incorrect sir.
Miami only has like 6 players who are signed for next year ( and that includes Wade, because I don’t think he’s officially opted out of his player option of 17 mill for next year. Even if he does opt out, his cap hold is around 16.7 mil ( I think )
In any case, after Miami renounces all of the expiring contracts this summer, making all of those unsigned guys unrestricted free agents, the Heat’s total payroll wll be around 31 million.
According to shamsports.com, Miami has some CRAZY cap holds involving past Heat players that were bought out of their contracts. According to them, Alonzo Mourning still has a cap hold this year of 5.5 million. Even guys like Bimbo Coles, Christian Laettner, and yes, even Steve Smith, have vetera cap holds of just under 900K.
So when you add the cap holds to the Heat’s actual salary, you’re talking about the Heat being around 40 or 41 million in salary + cap holds.
If the actual salary cap is at 57 million, you’re talking about the Heat being 16+ million dollars under the salary cap. This is when they’ll present JJ with a multi-year contract ( if they want to sign him outright, without a sign and trade ). All they would have to do, is to make sure that his 1st year’s salary keeps them below the salary cap.
If it does, JJ will sign his deal ( 5yrs – 85+ million ) . . and then Wade will sign his MAX deal . . seeing that you can go over the salary cap to re-sign your own players. And because Heat ownership isn’t worried about paying the luxury tax ( like we are ), money is no object to them.
PLUS . . . the Heat will still have their MLE ( mid-level exception . . . which is usually just under 6 million ), to sign any other players up to that amount, to add to the roster after JJ and Wade are signed.
Mystikal
May 12th, 2010
7:52 pm
Josh Smith
The Good: Great shot blocker, help defender, runs break well, highlight reel dunker
The Bad: Can’t shoot, can’t handle, no goto moves, turnover prone
The Ugly: Immature, wines to refs too much, shuts down/sulks when things not going well
Upon his 7th yr in the league, you decide!
Mitun
May 12th, 2010
7:56 pm
I say keep JJ but get a true PG and C. I would bench Bibby and let Teague start to give him a chance to shine. Get Brendan Heywood for the center position.
vava74
May 12th, 2010
7:58 pm
Grandad,
the reports that say that there were limos waiting in MIL also say that this was the cause for a major outburst by JJ against the culprits
you did note the (?) I inserted on the limo “fact”?
In relation to Al, he stunk really bad in game 3, so my guess is that yes, he went with the flow.
Sometimes the best behaved kid succumbs to peer pressure and makes a mistake.
lewis
May 12th, 2010
7:59 pm
Peter – Yeah I think Billy Knight did that one too.
Dif. owners though.
ASG is working hard.
vava74 – You really think Al rented one of those limos?
I’m thinking Joe’s entourage in one with Bibby.
& Josh + ‘crew’ in the other.
Zaza, Mo, Teager, Joe Smith, RandMo;
all went in a room and threw darts @ a wdsn poster.
Al, Jamal, Marv, Mario – went to a movie.
J.Collins went to ‘Golden Corral’.
—–
perfect analysis
Grandad
May 12th, 2010
8:07 pm
Mystikal:
You left off some stuff good & bad.
*Good – He fills the stat sheet:
steals + blocks/Bill Simmons calls them stocks/he excels @ both.
assts. very unselfish (1st or 2nd on team? correct)
slasher/inside scoring/much improved/to the point of being good.
hustle plays/diving on floor/loose balls etc./one of our best.
*bad:
FT’s/poor
New Coach/New direction/New message/New delivery = promise.
TheHawksNeed
May 12th, 2010
8:08 pm
We are talking about trying to win the Championship right??? Well the Hawks need a Center.. andd a Fast strong defensive GOOD shooting PG . Teague is not gonna make it happen. Send Bibby Josh Marvin Zsa Zsa packing.
Ramon
May 12th, 2010
8:12 pm
If only we could’ve traded Bibby/Marvin and had enough cash to sign JJ and DIRK. With Dirk, Smoove could play the 3 easily, because he’d still be able to play. And against teams like Orlando, we could go with Dirk at the 5 and pull Howard out of the paint.
DawgBoi
May 12th, 2010
8:16 pm
damn you northcyde..
northcyde
May 12th, 2010
8:18 pm
And here’s what no one is talking about, when it comes to contracts.
INCENTIVE CLAUSES
Say the Hawks offer JJ 6 yrs – 90 mill w/no incentives
and the Heat offer JJ 5 yrs – 80 mill w/incentives
And in the Heat contract, they have incentive clauses that could easily run the contract over 90 million over its lifetime. Incentives like:
- being named an All-Star
- averaging 22 ppg + 5 assists
- being named NBA Finals MVP
- being named to an All-NBA team
- playing in x-amount of games per year
- helping the Heat make the EC Finals or NBA Finals
Which contract do you think JJ is going to take?
It would depend on which incentives JJ realistically thought he could accomplish. Playing alongside Wade, he could probably accomplish all but being an NBA Finals MVP.
Grandad
May 12th, 2010
8:18 pm
vava74 – I did notice the ?.
“Sometimes the best behaved kid succumbs to peer pressure and makes a mistake.”
I raised 3 young-uns, don’t I know it!
Definetly a rift – Limos – should have been discussed
before they left Atl.
I saw where Orl. did that before coming to Atl. this yr.
I remember Miami did the same thing a yr. ago.
Leadership sometimes = thinking ahead.
darrell starks
May 12th, 2010
8:20 pm
ASG must bring back joe for 5 year between 12mill 14mill a year, that would not hurt you so much on improving the team.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
DawgBoi
May 12th, 2010
8:24 pm
I really just want Dwayne Wade. I didnt do any homework before I posted; something you obviously have done. May I ask then sir, how would you go about getting a superstar to come to Atlanta? Also, you and I both know JJ is not the guy, so who is?
darrell starks
May 12th, 2010
8:26 pm
Is simple but ASG must spend the money, sign joe and bring in a star player 2 take the pressure of joe come playoffs, because as we can see under attack come playoffs joe fails every time.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
will smith
May 12th, 2010
8:26 pm
Actually JJ in Miami would make Miami a dangerous team much like MJ and Scotty Pippen. Pippen and JJ have similar games (good at everything – great at nothing, could be a point forward) and Wade has MJ type focus and drive. I think the perfect combination with the right coach.
STEEL (Formerly VenomSpitter)
May 12th, 2010
8:29 pm
Man forget Joe. Ya’ll are forgetting he’s 29 years old. He’s only gonna get worse. Do ya’ll remember what Stephen Curry did to him? We need a young dude to revitalize this team.
DawgBoi
May 12th, 2010
8:31 pm
will smith – that would mean losing JJ would be bad. and keeping him would be good? I would want him to stay here with a new coach rather than go there to help Wade win another title against us. That seems to me to be a very likely option for Joe. Who in the world can we get northcyde?
DawgBoi
May 12th, 2010
8:33 pm
I would give up a lot off hawks roster for Stephen Curry. That kid is sick..
Reggie
May 12th, 2010
8:34 pm
From Jalen Rose via Twitter
“Just got a reliable tip…JJohnson has played his last game for the Hawks…thoughts?”
GameDay
May 12th, 2010
8:37 pm
On game day JJ called in sick. He quit. He’s a loser and most likely a fag.
Section 303
May 12th, 2010
8:37 pm
vava74, that’s one hell of a post up there. Just curious…how much of that is fact? How much speculation?
And, if true some of the Hawks were partying hard in Milwaukee before game 3, it would be hard to tell which ones were guilty. The whole team played awful that game.
Seems like the playoffs just uncovered all kinds of problems within this team. Always looked like they were a group that got along great and played for each other. Jamal Crawford said, on several occasions, that he liked playing here because everyone got along so well. Maybe that was all BS for the media? Who knows?
The offseason will be interesting. I am looking forward to the playoffs/finals getting over with. The offseason is going to be just as interesting, if not more so.
that year 2000
May 12th, 2010
8:43 pm
another team could use Joe but who is going to give him a max contract when he is a bust in the playoffs and they can spend their money on a much younger player because remember Joe is about to be 30 years of age and he is not a leader. Yeah he can be the #2 option but not for a max contract nobody probably doesn’t even want to pay him over 9 mil because he averages on 20 points a game during reg season and he is not even a top 10 player so he is not really a big free agent he is useful but not needed!!
The Hawks are they going to find another guy who can give them 20+ points a year 5 assist and 5 rebounds I don’t know so 50/50 we need him BUT don’t need him. If Joe would have done well in the playoffs, he would def been worth it and I am sure everybody here in ATL would have wanted him to stay.
So do we keep him or NOT I don’t know but it’s clear that he doesn’t want to be here cause he does not want to be the #1 option…
O'Brien
May 12th, 2010
8:46 pm
northcyde,
When JJ came here, he said he wanted to be the man. But I think now he realizes that if he is the man, it will be hard to win a title if he has to depend on the ASG to put championship players around him.
If he goes to another team (Chicago, Knicks, or Heat), he can be option #2, or maybe #1a. And I think that will improve his game, and the fans will appreciate him there.
shannon
May 12th, 2010
8:49 pm
trade smith for bosh and resign Joe, together they would play good. Smith is a cry baby and I think he needs to get out of Atlanta. Sometimes I think its bad to play at home because the city accepts your mistakes(example Jeff F from the Braves). Resign Joe and get Bosh!!!!!
drmaryb
May 12th, 2010
8:54 pm
New Jersey? (LOL)….
Jj. Is NOT going to a re-building situation – period – he did that here already!
Laugh some more….
Ken Strickland
May 12th, 2010
9:00 pm
TRUTHSPLITTER-would you question Shaq’s abilities and accomplishments just because he’s been with FIVE(5) different teams?
Everyone wants to blame JJ for everything that went wrong. Remember the principle of CAUSE AND EFFECT? To blame JJ is the same as focusing on the cough(symptom) rather than the cause(flu). Woodson’s limited OFF system was designed primarily around shooting jump shots, not getting the ball or any players inside. In his limited OFF, there was little ball or player movement, unless you consider clearing out positive movement. What ball movement that was built into his OFF wasn’t designed to get the ball or a player near the basket.
When players were hitting their jump shots, no one paid attention to ball movement. It was only when our jumpers failed that ball movement became an issue, and when there was ball movement, it was confined to the perimeter, which merely led to more jump shots. There were simply no options built into Woodson’s very limited half court system to provide any relief, other than ISO’s. To add to the problem, Bibby’s diminished skills prevented him from initiating the OFF below the 3pt line, which certainly didn’t help improve ball movement.
JJ’s overall performance and perceived selfishness was simply a matter of him responding to the situation Woodson forced upon him. When the OFF broke down, his options were:
(1) Give it to Marvin, who he obviously didn’t have confidence in
(2) Give it to Bibby, who was severely limited and inconsistent
(3) Give it to Smoove, who’s overall OFF ability is limited, especially from the outside
(4) Give it to Horford, who was consistent all yr, but JJ probably felt his ISO skills were better than Horford’s.
Let’s face it, the primary feature of Woodson’s limited half court OFF is ISO’s, and that’s for everyone not just JJ. The problem with this philosophy is JCrawford was the only player that was efficient and effective in doing it. Marvin, Smoove, Horford nor Bibby had the ability to be effective doing it, and even JJ had his problems from time to time.
This was a case of Woodson trying to force players, who lacked the necessary skills, into the limited ill fitting OFF system he preferred.
Rufus1
May 12th, 2010
9:01 pm
Best Trade asset..Josh Smith
We could get a PG…Devin Harris, Monta Ellis or Tony Parker. A proven floor general, who can penetrate, score and create easy shots for his teammates.
JOSH IS A QUITTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…….He quit in the most important game of his career!!!!!!!
If he quits in another big game, under different coach…he will lose his trade value. We will be stuck with his contract.(we are already stuck with Marvin and Bibby’s contract)
IT HAS BEEN 6 YEARS, we have been hoping he matures….HE DOESN’T GET IT!!!!
” Adversity revels character”
My Voice
May 12th, 2010
9:04 pm
After the comments he made the other day about “not caring about the fans”,I say he needs to leave Atlanta because we deserve better than that.Honestly he didn’t seem focused on his job here in Atlanta especially this past season and he always choked in the playoffs.
I hope The so called Atlanta Spirit have the spirit to get rid of Woodson and Joe Johnson.
vava74
May 12th, 2010
9:08 pm
Section 303.
All facts are referred to as FACTS, with the exception of one where you can see a (?) relating to the limos.
I saw somewhere that the limos issue was reported, but I have not been able confirm this. Apparently it was and JJ was against it.
My Voice
May 12th, 2010
9:10 pm
One poster said that Joe Johnson should stay here,if he wants to be the man.You can’t be serious! Joe is not a leader and all he does is mumble like a fool.Dude is soft.I remember when little Mo Williams punked him last year.
My Voice
May 12th, 2010
9:13 pm
One poster says that Joe will win big if he ‘teams with another superstar’…Sweetie,when did Joe Johnson become a superstar?He is a superstar in his own mind.I think his country fried azz need to leave Atlanta like yesterday.I can’t deal with these scrubs any longer.
vava74
May 12th, 2010
9:14 pm
so much of this chatter can be framed and put into perspective by listening to this:
http://www.stationcaster.com/player.php?s=87&c=671&f=47825
please, everyone who has even a remote interest in the Hawks must hear the 20 minutes in which Hubie talks about us
northcyde
May 12th, 2010
9:15 pm
DawgBoi . . to get Wade here, you’d have to start with talking about trading Josh Smith, and possibly Jamal Crawford. And then we’d have to hope that D-Wade would WANT to leave Miami to come to ATL
And before we did that, we’d probably have to sign JJ to a big deal first, to get him to come here. If we didn’t we’d have to tell Wade that he can be successful here, playing with Horford, Marvin, and Teague. So you’d at least need JJ here with those guys, to sweeten the pot for Wade.
Then you’ll have to deal with the business side of things. With Wade making thr MAX, and JJ making close to it, we’d be either near the luxury tax, or right over it. And once Horford gets a huge offer sheet next summer ( if we don’t sign him to an extension during the season ), he’ll be making close to 11 – 14 mill a year himself. And that would DEFINITELY put us over the Luxury Tax.
Miami and the rest of the real good playoff teams, don’t mind paying it . . if they’re going to be good.
Our ownership would do everything in their power NOT to pay the luxury tax. The Hawks don’t generate enough income via home games, and these owners seem to be cash strapped since day 1.
Then you have Pat Riley talking about he may want to coach again, which doesn’t help anything for us. He has 6 rings . . while the replacement we may bring in for Woody will have 0 rings.
Then you have an added situation with D-Wade’s fine girlfriend . . Gabrielle Union . . who flat out LOVES MIAMI. Atlanta is a good celeb city, but it has nothing on L.A. or Miami.
*******
So in other words . . . . there’s no wa in hell the Hawks could obtain D-Wade.
Sorry man.
robdawg08
May 12th, 2010
9:16 pm
Davenpoo, the Hawks can’t let JJ go and use his money to sign Bosh ? Why not ? I’m asking you ?
gcs
May 12th, 2010
9:17 pm
Of course he is interested in Miami. Who wouldn’t be. Get in line bridge-burner.
.
O'Brien
May 12th, 2010
9:43 pm
Hawks have 2 trade assets. Crawford and Josh Smith. Crawford is the SMOY and a $10 mil expiring contract, and josh has 3 years $37 mil left on his.
I am open to trading either, neither or both.
northcyde
May 12th, 2010
9:45 pm
And my last post applies for all top level players.
The only way to get them here, is via a sign and trade involvng Josh Smith and at least one other person. They would ALL probably want Crawford, seeing that he does have scoring talent and most importantly, his contract expires next summer.
And the top level guy would have to WANT to come here, for whatever reason.
We are highly unlikely to get an All-Star caliberplayer for JJ in a sign and trade. We may get a player a notch or two below JJ, but he more than likely won’t be on the same level.
When you see people throwing out names like John Salmons to replace JJ, you get a feel of how serious this situation is. At the very least, hopefully we can get back a starting caliber PG and maybe even a decent C.
But there’s a decent possibility that we may get back nada . . zero . . zip.
When we traded Acie and Speedy for Crawford, that took us out of the 2010 free agent race. Crawford represents 10 million in additional cap room the Hawks could’ve had this year. Bibby represents around 6 million that could’ve been off the books.
The ownership made a decision to try to be successful now ( by trading for Crawford and re-signing Bibby, Marvin, and Zaza ), instead of taking a chance with Law and Teague running the team.
We won over 50 games for the first time in 12 yrs, so it’s hard to 2nd guess that decision.
lewis
May 12th, 2010
9:47 pm
cleveland’s organization is going through the same exact thing. Their head coach is a joke. Lebron is a good leader but not a GREAT leader. Mo Williams getting schooled by Rondo, Antawn Jamison by Garnett.
They run an extremely simplistic ISO offense as well, and are lacking intensity on defense. Boobie Gibson, who led them to the ECF last year, and according to Brown is their best on the ball defender, has seen no playing time. the consensus is that lebron will leave.
the best thing lebron did was sign that pesky little 3 year extension. They very well may lose him and gain nothing in return. same goes for joe.
saywhat
May 12th, 2010
9:49 pm
MannyT
May 12th, 2010
4:29 pm
For you folks on the I hate JJ after he dissed the fans thing…I get it. I cannot apologize for him, but I am over that deal. He was upset and few people like getting booed by the home fans. Making lots of money doesn’t mean that your feelings disappear…only your privacy
JJ earned his money on that 5 yr/ $70 mil deal he signed to come here when no one else would except for a few carpet baggers that wanted to steal money (Curry, Dampier). At that time he was a 4th option on a really good team. Joe doesn’t whine about calls, he played more/better perimeter D and O here than anyone else during the last 5 years.
This is probably his last big NBA contract. He’s positioning himself to get paid. Maybe it’s here; maybe it’s not. In order to maximize his earning power, he has to sell the willingness to leave even if he doesn’t want to go.
That’s his real job.
If you had one shot to get a big payday wouldn’t you keep an open mind with all the organizations that could potentially provide the big check?
We don’t have to like it, but we don’t have to be so bitter either. That’s your choice.
BWLFW
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
^
SO SO SO SO SO TRUE, PREACH MY BROTHER!!!!
DawgBoi
May 12th, 2010
9:52 pm
then our best option is to re-sign johnson and find the next great coach..
darrell starks
May 12th, 2010
9:55 pm
ROBDAWG08 that what i want 2 no how in the h are you going 2 even have a chance if you dont have the player 2 do so, the team that are successful all have star players on there team.
1.LAKERS KOBE, PAU GASOL
2.SUNS AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE, STEVE NASH
3.CAVS LEBRON, JAMINSON
4.CELTICS RONDO, RAY, PAUL, GARNETT
5.MAGIC HOWARD, VINCE, NELSON. LEWIS
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
northcyde
May 12th, 2010
10:07 pm
These are the terms and phrases that people need to fully know the meanings of, before talking about what the Hawks can and cannot do this summer:
- salary cap
- luxury tax
- unrestricted free agent
- sign and trade
- cap hold
If you don’t have a full understanding of what these 5 terms mean, then you will continue to wonder why the Hawks just can’t go out and make a deal for one of these star players.
This is not baseball, in which if you have the money, you can just go out and get any player you want, if you have the money. In baseball, you have the big money teams basically going out and buying up all of the good players. Small money ( or small market teams ) don’t have the money to spend on established star players, so they have to win with lower payrolls and younger talent.
Basketball at least tries to even the playing field somewhat, by having a salary cap that all teams go by. But even in this system, the big money teams can trade with small money teams, to obtain star players that the small money team doesn’t want to pay a lot of money for. They have to do it within the rules of the system, but the big money teams seem to always find a way to get the players they want.
My Voice
May 12th, 2010
10:14 pm
There is no way that D- Wade or Lebron would play in Atlanta so let that daydream go once and for all…..Joe Johnson needs to go because he obviously don’t want to play in Atlanta.There is no excuse for a player making millions playing basketball to disrespect the fans on no basis.One of the biggest issues with fans in Atlanta is that you hold no one accountable….
ryan
May 12th, 2010
10:24 pm
I say the Hawks should not let Joe Johnson stay in the divison don’t just give Joe what he wants after what he did. You do a sign and trade make him go out west or to the Raptors . The Hawks have get something for him. I would trade for Carmello Anthony or Chris Bosh.
northcyde
May 12th, 2010
10:45 pm
I think some of you better read the new article posted on the AJC Hawks page. Rick Sund speaks on what the Hawks will do with Woody, JJ, and even Childress.
Grandad
May 12th, 2010
10:46 pm
Joe can sign anywhere he wants and we can’t do anything
about it UNLESS he wishes OR the OTHER TEAM wishes to
give him that Xtra YEAR! We are NOT in control. Joe’s
AGENT is in charge here!!! S&T exists ONLY if his AGENT
wants it to!!!
Grandad
May 12th, 2010
10:54 pm
For all: [I tried to link it / once again techno impaired]
Larry Coon’s:
NBA Salary Cap
FAQ
Type it in / read it / maybe it will get you up to speed.
I don’t know nothin’.
I’m only trying to help.
lewis
May 12th, 2010
10:56 pm
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/wan/1734814253.html – joe’s looking for a new job
Eric C.
May 12th, 2010
11:04 pm
Joe Johnson is poisoning the Hawks…please let him go to Miami.
Grandad
May 12th, 2010
11:10 pm
nire alert or najeh/sautee anyone?
Correct me if I’m wrong but in the article nc is referring,
Mr. Sund says he will extend Childress a qual. off. if he
opts out of euro contract. [Possible S&T] However, Chidress
can seek an offer fom another team? Correct? Which would
in turn allow us to match or S&T.
The key is we could match, thus J.Childress could still
remain here AND recieve MORE than just the qual. off.?
Motivation to return to Atl.
+
Greek econ. in the dumper.
that year 2000
May 12th, 2010
11:14 pm
well sund wants to keep Joe cause they know they can’t find anybody else on the free agent market they can afford #that’s f’d up!!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2010
11:18 pm
“Davenpoo, the Hawks can’t let JJ go and use his money to sign Bosh ? Why not ? I’m asking you ?”
The Hawks are over the cap with Joe. If Joe leaves, they will be under the cap, but not by enough to add a max contract, which is what Bosh will require.
And anyway, I don’t get everyone’s fascination with Bosh. He is even less of a franchise player than Joe (he’s never won 53 games or made it to the second round), his defense is terrible, and he would be a million times worse than Horford at guarding Howard because he is built like a stick figure. If you just want a guy who will get you 20 points and 10 boards, go get David Lee, Carlos Boozer, or Zach Randolph for far less money than Bosh and you can end up with the same result in the win column.
MannyT
May 12th, 2010
11:24 pm
@Grandad
NBA essentially ignores Childress’s status in Greece. When he left the NBA he was a restricted free agent (RFA). For the Hawks to keep him in that status, they have to tender him an offer each summer. He follows all of the RFA rules of the NBA. Hawks have his rights and right to match any offer.
In the real world, Josh has to tell Olympiacos by July 15th if he is opting out of his deal there. That gives him/his agent a small window to talk with the Hawks about a contract with us or a sign & trade with another team. He has to go through the Hawks to get back in the NBA.
Here is your Larry Coon link for all things cap related.
You can also follow him on Twitter (@LarryCoon)
BWLFW
Big Ray
May 12th, 2010
11:25 pm
Bryce VI ,
If you’re out there, respond. I have some stats for you that I posted during the season. You weren’t around, so you didn’t see them, is my guess. You asked, and you shall receive. If you have the guts, that is.
Big Ray
May 12th, 2010
11:26 pm
It’s amazing what people are proposing for signing, trading, etc. Wait, it’s NOT amazaing. This insanity happens every summer. Been seeing it on this very same blog for the last 5 years.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2010
11:28 pm
If you want to trade Smoove + pieces to get Bosh on top of keeping Joe, that’s a move I can understand, although not one I support — a Joe-Bosh tandem would be tough to stop from scoring and might advance much further than either player individually, even though I’m not sure what you lose defensively downgrading from Smoove to Bosh doesn’t cancel out Bosh’s advantage as a scorer. But there is no way the Hawks can sign Bosh outright, and there is no way Smoove and Bosh can both start on the same team.
Big Ray
May 12th, 2010
11:30 pm
Like everybody else has said, the Hubie Brown interview was great.
Only one problem.
I’m sick to death of people outside the Hawks organization knowing what went wrong, what is wrong, and possibly how to fix it. This is good for nothing other than bloggers patting themselves on the back because they found where some expert agrees with what they’ve posted on this blog.
What we really need is for somebody within the organization to recognize what is going wrong, and how to fix it. We can only hope that Sund proves to be that guy. Again, it’s nice to hear commentary from Hubie Brown. But it’s doing us not one bit of good if some of that vision is not shared by those who are directly involved in this organization.
Summer of Sund has begun.
terrell
May 12th, 2010
11:32 pm
Horford isn’t a center at 6′10, but David Lee is at 6′9?
Aaron
May 12th, 2010
11:35 pm
One of my favorite points from Hubie Browns interview was what he stressed about not basing your opinion of what a player based upon what they have done on a bad team. Keep in mind that there is a lot more freedom and much less pressure on a team which virtually has nothing to lose. Some of you who are recommending signing guys like Bosh and David Lee (signing this guy really makes no sense at all), should take that into consideration.
Big Ray
May 12th, 2010
11:36 pm
“If you want to trade Smoove + pieces to get Bosh on top of keeping Joe, that’s a move I can understand, although not one I support — a Joe-Bosh tandem would be tough to stop from scoring and might advance much further than either player individually, even though I’m not sure what you lose defensively downgrading from Smoove to Bosh doesn’t cancel out Bosh’s advantage as a scorer. But there is no way the Hawks can sign Bosh outright, and there is no way Smoove and Bosh can both start on the same team.”
Co-sign that. For me, step one would be to sign a coach who can maximize that situation. Bosh is not nearly the defender that Josh is when he’s locked on to what he’s doing. On the flip side, Bosh is over 6′11″ in shoes and has a 7′ 3.5″ wingspan. Put a coach in here who can persuade Bosh to put more effort into his defense, and more importantly gets the entire team to buy into it, and you have a guy who can bother people with his length, even though he won’t block 2 shots per game.
Also, Bosh is a 20/10 guy. More than that, actually. The chemistry he could conceivably brew up with a heady player like Al Horford is downright scary. For that, I’d trade Josh Smith. Especially if we upgraded at PG. I could live with Horford a the 5, Bosh and the 4, and either an improved Marvin (or a replacement for his spot in the starting lineup).
But you have to have the right coach. That guy ain’t Woody, sorry.
Big Ray
May 12th, 2010
11:39 pm
Trading Josh for Bosh involves a plethora of other moves for it to work. Above all others, get a better coach in here.
And I have no problems with Joe staying. The offensive approach must be changed almost entirely, and there has to be another go-to guy. Joe can’t be our head-and-shoulders-above-the-rest guy anymore. It does not work.
Bryce IV
May 12th, 2010
11:40 pm
Big Ray,
I’m here now. What is it that you are so anxious to show me?
By the way, if you posted something else earlier in the day in regards to me earlier, I have not yet seen it at this point, I’m away during most of the day. I have only seen your previous post to me on this page.
Also, are comments like “if you have the guts” really necessary? Lets try to keep things mature here, shall we?
terrell
May 12th, 2010
11:41 pm
Horford for Haywood and Butler? What are some of you guys smoking? Seriously. Those guys are maxed out as players. Horford is still getting better. If the Hawks made that trade, I’d…..
Bryce IV
May 12th, 2010
11:46 pm
Also, in regards to trade deals that involve Chris Bosh for Smoove, I’d just like to throw in that there’s no guarantee that Bosh would produce at the rate he has in Toronto if he were here in Atlanta.
Aaron actually made a pretty good point above. From what I recall, Bosh doesn’t play on a team with any other strong rebounding big man, so his 10+ rebounds/game in Toronto may decrease if he were playing alongside Horford.
Additionally, I can’t imagine Bosh still getting enough shots to put up 20 ppg every night if he played on the same team with JJ and Jamal Crawford. I’m not saying it’s not possible, but I’m not confident that Bosh’s production would be as impressive in Atlanta as it has been over the last couple of years in Toronto.
Grandad
May 12th, 2010
11:47 pm
MannyT – I was pretty certain I had it correct.
I just wanted to make sure we could keep Childress
w/o him being locked in to the 4.5 mentioned in the article.
Sund seemed a little in the S&T mode or 4.5 was all JC was
gonna get from us. I knew the date & all, just wanted to
make sure we could match. I got the feeling / whether it’s
the $ or Josh has pissed in someone’s wheaties but we were
not going all in for Childress.
Thanks for responding!
Grandad
May 12th, 2010
11:52 pm
terrell?
Horford for Haywood and Butler?
Did I miss one?
Haywood is unrestricted.
Signing him outright is pos.
Unless;
they’re:
Talkin about ‘Spencer’….he’s retired, like me.
terrell
May 13th, 2010
12:02 am
Sign and trade JJ to Chicago for Noah and Hinrich
Trade Josh Smith and Bibby’s contract to Memphis for Rudy Gay and Ronnie Brewer
Starters: Hinrich//Brewer/Gay/Horford/Noah
Bench: Teague/Crawford/Marvin/draft pick/Zaza
Coach: 1.Jeff Van Gundy
2. Byron Scott
3. Bill Laimbeer
4. Dwayne Casey
Rufus1
May 13th, 2010
12:03 am
Lebron…Atlanta
Could someone please tell me why he would not come to Atl if he going to leave Cleveland…I know can’t afford to sign him as a free agent, but sign and trade.
All you people saying it is a crazy dream to think Lebron would come to Atlanta…please explain why.
New York..has not talent..Lottery team
Miami…They only have Wade..that is it.(no Haslem or o’neal)
Chicago…They have less than his current team…Does want to live in the shadow of Jordan?
Clippers…You can’t be serious..lottery
Atlanta..2 Allstars, SMOY, Defensive 2nd place, Off the court revenue(10-20mil a year) all our players are in the prime of there careers and MLE+++the Phillips would be sold out every night, Celebrity’s, the City, advertising revenues would increase and ASG would be willing to spend above the cap to get a championship.
Atlanta is the only team that gives him a chance to get past Orlando…We won 53 games without him.
Grandad
May 13th, 2010
12:05 am
Big Ray – I don’t know if you heard the interview, but,
Hubie didn’t come across in any kind of negative way.
In my humble opinion.
His statements were very much on point.
They were not hateful in any way.
It was as enlightening as any interview I’ve heard.
NOT your typical espn garbage.
He stayed within guideline as if he were scouting
the Hawks or running a coaches clinic.
If you heard it and were disappointed, then I’m sorry.
If not, please access. [680the fan(vault)Rude awakening]
Hope you enjoy.
Greg
May 13th, 2010
12:07 am
That’s a pretty good argument on Lebron considering Atlanta, Rufus1. I think your comments may open a few people’s eyes on the possibilities.
Grandad
May 13th, 2010
12:08 am
Rufus1——-> ”NIKE”
terrell
May 13th, 2010
12:10 am
.uck Lebron! His playoff performance last night was worse than JJ’s. Plus, I’m tired of Iso’s.
Lebron is not coming
May 13th, 2010
12:16 am
There is no way Lebron would sign with Atlanta. His ego is way too large. This city does not support its teams – not the fans, not the sports guys on the radio, and definitely not these subpar reporters who watch 10% of the games and bitch about everything that is wrong. Lebron plays the same offense as Joe only he’s stronger, quicker, and more athletic, but it is still isolations and it gets his team nowhere. If Boston hadn’t collapsed in game 1 that series would be over.
Mitch
May 13th, 2010
12:17 am
Would anyone else like to see Devin Harris and Courtney Lee come to ATL in a package that involves Joe Johnson? Someone posted about that scenario earlier today and I kind of liked the idea.
Rufus1
May 13th, 2010
12:19 am
Grandad
We are a top ten market and the 4th best NBA Market….Winning Championships in Atlanta is better the losing in New York or Chicago.
Nike has already paid Lebron….plus this ATLANTA not Milwaukee…ATLANTA an international city…the capitol of the southeast…Stop selling this city short.
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
12:21 am
Grandad ,
I have no issues with Hubie Brown whatsoever. If he hadn’t sworn off coaching, I’d send every emissary I could to recruit him here as a coach. I have a problem with “other people” continuously coming up with what appears to be “dead on” analysis about what this team lacks, and how to resolve those issues.
Why is this knowledge not apparent among the Hawks organization. Again, I love Brown. I just hope that Sund can see some of what guys like Brown see. Because Woody sure doesn’t.
That’s my gripe.
bonquesha
May 13th, 2010
12:21 am
@terrell – Thank you. Lebron has been inconsistent and there is no excuse for the “King” to lose by 32 points at home. All of these so-called sports reporters are too busy jock riding to call a spade a spade.
Rufus1
May 13th, 2010
12:23 am
JOE
Joe will never sign with New York or Chicago…Too much pressure. The reason he would consider Miami, because it fans our similar to Atl. 80% Joe returns
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
12:26 am
Bryce ,
Mature? My, do we really take this blogging thing so seriously? I’m yanking your chain to see if you’re up for this discussion, or if you’re merely wishing to engage in some internet ninja bravado. You didn’t take the bait too much, so I have hopes.
I’ll get to you in a minute. This is a small sample size I’ll be putting out, so please do not make the following assumptions:
1) That I think Teague should have started, or deserves to start right now.
2) That I think Teague is the absolute answer to our point guard woes.
3) That any set of limited statistics is actual “proof”, rather than simply a basis for opinion.
Having said that, this is what I meant when I said “you don’t get it” in the first place. There are those who blurt out that Teague should have been handed the reins to this team from the get-go, or that he is guaranteed to be the pg we’ve been needing. Then there are those of us who think that giving him more than 10 mpg would have been a good thing, mostly for the purpose of finding out what he’s capable of.
Nobody said anything about deserving more minutes. What makes any rookie “deserve” minutes?
terrell
May 13th, 2010
12:34 am
Or sign and trade JJ to New Orleans for Collison and Marcus Thornton.
We get a pg and a sg for a sg.
jusdatfly
May 13th, 2010
12:41 am
There is alot of speculation going on but non of these people have any hard proof to prove their point so I would give my opinon that JJ stay with the Hawks. While everyone is trying to blame him for the team losing remember that it is called a team for a reason meaning when they win as a team they lose as one to so there is no one person to blame the problems on.An as for what JJ said about the fans I understand were he was coming from no excuses for it but the fans are supposed to be behind their team no matter rwhat even if he/she is not playing up to his ability especially if you are a die-hard fan. On another note about J Smoove he is not immature he just let he fustration get to him sometimes and just cause he plays basketball you see that as reason to point out that flaw but if it was just a person you knew that would not be a factor also people get mad sometimes and they can’t control it especially when a ref is calling stupid fouls that are not necessary,
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
12:53 am
Bryce ,
Throughout the season, Teague’s playing time was up and down, but mostly between the DNP and 4-10 minute range. There are actually two sample sets to use. Both including significant minutes, and both include consistent minutes. Again, I’m not saying that either is “proof” of anything, just a basis for opinion, or an indication of what might be.
In the preseason, Teague played decently, despite his jumper not falling all the time. Through 7 preseason games, Teague averaged 26.8 minutes per game. He averaged 12.1 points, 4.3 assists, and shot 33.8%. Okay, we have all agreed that the shooting percentage sucks. Yet the points and assists are there (along with 1 steal per game). Also, while preseason is no guaranteed indication of what a guy will do, it’s certainly not summer league.
But here is where the rubber meets the road a bit more:
There was only one point in the season where Teague had consistent and significant minutes. That was in a 5 game stretch in December. During this time (December 9-December 18). In those five games, Teague averaged 21 minutes per game, he shot 17 of 35 from the field (48.5%), gathered 26 assists (5.2 per game) and had 42 points total (8.4 per game).
Again, just a small sample size, but the only time during the season that the minutes were consistent and significant .
Now, would you say that was merely an anomaly, or would that make you think maybe the kid could contribute more if he were played more (say, 15 mpg)?
Right after that 5 game stretch, his minutes went down and became inconsistent once again. He would play 2-4 minutes one night, 8 the next, 3, then maybe 20, whatever.
He didn’t get many opportunities to play above 10 minutes per game after that, and really didn’t do much until the season finale, wherein he torched the Cavs reserves for 24 points and 15 assists, shooting 11 of 19 from the floor.
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
1:14 am
And just like before, this post will probably get ignored or dismissed outright. Cest la Vie…
northcyde
May 13th, 2010
1:27 am
Big Ray, I’m at Wal-Mart right now. But when I get home, I’m going to try to put a significant dent in your Teague counterpoint. And it’s a point that I’ve made all year about the kid.
Grandad
May 13th, 2010
1:41 am
Rufus1″
“Nike has already paid Lebron” – [You said it]
Yessir, That’s why they own him.
You reckon ‘ ‘N I K E’ ‘ would rather have him in NY or LA?
I’m bettin’ I’ve got more Ga. & Atl. ties than you.
So don’t act as if I have some bias toward those:
* northern oppressors
or
* Los Angeleans either.
Navigator
May 13th, 2010
1:46 am
First, you’ll never get a decent post from a writer that can’t even use a name, Joe Johnson. I get really tired of these so call sports people that want to be buddy buddy with the players. I think going to Miami would really be good for the Hawks, can you imagine being second banana to a real star like Dwayne Wade. I can see the sulking now that J.J. isn’t getting enough attention for being one of the 3-4 best players in the league. Let him take his act their, and use the money to bring in a team player to mesh with the already good talent on this team.
The Truth
May 13th, 2010
1:50 am
It songs like Sund is setting up to remain status quo. If his only evaluating criterion is the regular season success of 53 wins which the tea leaves suggests, then accordingly, Woody keeps his job and JJ gets a new deal. That also suggests he will likely take the tweak approach. Add a few pieces here and there and call it a day. We shall see.
Grandad
May 13th, 2010
1:51 am
***JOE GETS TO PICK WHERE HE WANT TO GO -(NOT the HAWKS)***
***PEOPLE PLEASE OUIT THINKING WE GET TO ORCHESTRATE A S & T***
***JOE IS AN UNRESTRICTED FA UNRESTRICTED MEANS NO RESTRICTIONS***
Grandad
May 13th, 2010
1:57 am
My worst post ever.
Thats what I get for yelling.
Totally incoherent.
Not up to my standards.
Please accept my apologies.
Evening, all.
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
2:15 am
Northcyde ,
Do your worst. If your point is that Teague doesn’t shoot well, I’ve already conceded that. My point was that over one small stretch of consistency, he did well. That alone might have prompted me to think that perhaps playing him a bit more might not be a bad idea.
On the other hand, 53 wins justifies Woody’s decision to play him exactly as he did. Except, those wins meant nothing in the playoffs, where we had no options at the point guard position aside from Bibby (outmanned in both series) and Jamal (the guy you gleefully roast at every opportunity, and the stats back you up quite well).
Could playing Teague a bit more and trying to develop him into an option at backup pg have hurt the Hawks in the standings? Possibly, but I’m inclined to think not. Could it have helped? Again, possibly, and I’m inclined to think so. Can I back this up with stats? Not really, it’s an opinion, and that’s all it is.
We disagree on whether or not we think Teague can be a player in this league. Something tells me whatever point you wish to make is no more likely to convince me that your opinion is right and mine is wrong, than MY opinion is going to convince you of vice versa.
And I can’t believe you are following along with this on your I-Phone…at Wal-Mart. I had to laugh, sorry, it was funny. Not funny in the way of deriding you, just funny that you mentioned it.
But I look forward to the argument I’m liable to disagree with. Discussion is good…
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
2:23 am
Oh, and I remember I’m taking on the “King of Research”, so don’t think I didn’t do my homework, although I wasn’t thinking about you when I did it. This is an old argument, the names have changed, that’s about it. Always attack the logic, not the person. As I said, I look forward to this, I expect to learn something.
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
2:25 am
Grandad ,
You aren’t the only one who has been shouting that. Joe and his agent are what this is all about. The Hawks can offer everything in the world, but if Joe wants to be gone, he’s gone. That’s not hate, that’s staying married to reality.
Some people say “be careful what you wish for.” Why? Somebody call me back when the wishes of fans become the determining factor in all basketball operations of a sports franchise….
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
2:28 am
Northcyde ,
You do realize that you’ll never make it out of Wal-Mart on time, don’t you? It never happens. You go there for ONE thing. ONE thing. You leave with TEN (if you’re lucky, and didn’t bring the wife, but she’s good at sending text messages).
You go there for TEN, and you leave with THIRTY-FIVE things. By the time you get a well-researched (sorry, but after naming yourself king of that segment, I am compelled to pick at you for at least 4 months about it), MC will have posted a new blog.
And it will all be because of……WAL-MART!!!!!!
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
2:29 am
Should have read: “By the time you get a well-researched post cranked out.”
The Truth
May 13th, 2010
2:55 am
Because JJ gets a new deal as speculated doesn’t mean he takes it, it just means Sund is willing to up the ante and make him a new offer. This is all part of typical negotiation. Sund is sending out the message that he wants to meet and show some love. This will open up options to both parties. Since JJ is under the control of his agent, all sorts of leaks and rumors will be heard to sweeten the cake. We should believe nor of what we hear and only half of what we see at this point regarding JJ and the Hawks.
TheHawksAreDoomed
May 13th, 2010
3:10 am
“If Johnson signs with another team, Sund said the Hawks wouldn’t have the flexibility to sign a comparable free agent. They would be limited to using their salary-cap exceptions to sign mid- and minimum-salaried free agents”
Najeh Davenpoop
May 13th, 2010
3:10 am
All of you are missing the point about Teague. There’s no point trying to extrapolate Teague’s possible production from the limited stats that are available of him. The main argument for playing him is not that he’s that great; it’s that Bibby is THAT BAD. The one thing Bibby can supposedly do is shoot, and he sucked at even that for a good solid 4 months of the regular season. Teague, by default, is already as good as or better than Bibby at every aspect of the point guard position other than limiting turnovers (for which you can’t give Bibby too much credit anyway, since more often than not he’s just giving and receiving handoffs to and from Joe Johnson) and shooting. Yes, the Hawks were best in the NBA at limiting turnovers, but they were middle of the pack in defensive efficiency despite having good defensive players at every position. Chances are the improved on-ball defense from having Teague on the floor (especially if he played with the backup big men who can’t switch onto guards as well as Horford) would have more than made up for the increased number of turnovers that would result from playing a rookie point guard.
Who knows, maybe Teague will end up being a bust. The point is that WE WILL HAVE NO IDEA UNTIL HE GETS A CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF. What we do know already is that Bibby sucks; no amount of convincing is going to get me to believe that if you decreased Bibby’s unproductive 27 minutes per game to 20 and gave those extra 7 minutes to Teague that the Hawks’ record would have been any worse. Chances are, their regular season record would have stayed the same and Teague would have been much better prepared to come in as a defensive replacement to guard Jennings and Nelson for key stretches in the playoffs.
If there was a league-average starting point guard on the Hawks, playing Teague spot minutes and DNP-ing him more than half of the time would be perfectly justified. When your starting point guard is far below league average at all but one aspect of the game, there’s no excuse not to play Teague, no matter how raw he might be and no matter how bad he may suck. Give me the sucky rookie who might get better over the sucky veteran who is only going to get worse every day of the week.
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
3:15 am
Najeh ,
Is that your way of saying “Ray STFU!”….?
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
3:18 am
Najeh ,
By the way, I agree with much of your post, but if you’re arguing with people who ask for stats, you have to use stats. Otherwise, I’ll just co-sign what you said, particularly this part -
“Who knows, maybe Teague will end up being a bust. The point is that WE WILL HAVE NO IDEA UNTIL HE GETS A CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF.”
Which has been my point all along. I’m just trying to speak the language of those I argue with. Maybe I shouldn’t, but what the hell, I exercise my right to an opinion. And I’ve been done with yapping about the deficiencies of Mike Bibby. Got tired of doing that last year.
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
3:19 am
“If there was a league-average starting point guard on the Hawks, playing Teague spot minutes and DNP-ing him more than half of the time would be perfectly justified. When your starting point guard is far below league average at all but one aspect of the game, there’s no excuse not to play Teague, no matter how raw he might be and no matter how bad he may suck. Give me the sucky rookie who might get better over the sucky veteran who is only going to get worse every day of the week.”
Preach it, preach it, preach it…
Simpdawg
May 13th, 2010
4:20 am
I would love to trade Mike Bibby and our 2010 1st round pick for Devin Harris, but this would only work if the Nets win the draft lottery.
drmaryb
May 13th, 2010
6:03 am
Preach it ….. Preach it?
Ok, but do we win 53 games? The best we could have done with the way it played out, or, do we still end up @ 3 seed?
Just wondering? I personally, want whoever gives us the best chance to win every game possible, regardless of who plays. IMO, that is a better way to assess our team needs – moving forward. We still don’t know what Teague can do yet. If, he can turn into a Rondo with a jump shot, then we should focus on the Center, then a veteran PG to bring him along (that still may be BIBBY as his back-up) and let J-Quick spelll JJ at the two. Or, can Crawford play the 3- Spot (defensively & size-wise)?
Is so, then Marvin comes off the bench at three & we build our bench from there, leaving The Boss at the 5.
We def need a bigger center who can defend & rebound primarily, to move Al to his natural 4.
Geez, I don’t envy Sund at all.
Rick Sund
May 13th, 2010
6:09 am
What is with all the HATE on this team?
We IMPROVED our regular season record EVERY year for the last 5 or so years. Isn’t this ENOUGH for you people?
We were swept by an Orlando team HIGHER RANKED than us. We WERE NOT expected to win this series. So why are people upset?
Let me remind you all that a team’s success is based SOLELY on regular season wins. We beat every team in the NBA besides Oklahoma City this year at least once in the regular season.
*MORE IMPORTANTLY:* We SWEPT the Boston Celtics in the season series! This is the same team that is likely going to defeat the Cavs in the 2nd round. This means we are better than Cleveland. Let’s not forget that Boston has potentially 4 Hall of Famers on its roster and won the Title 2 years ago.
Seriously, you are all way above your heads.
Bibby is still an athletic point guard, with tremendous defensive capabilities as you saw against Orlando.
Joe is an ALL-STAR and showed up when we needed him this year.
Also to be commended are Marvin, who went to UNC (and won a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP there).
We will either retain Woodson as a head coach, as he already has a ring so that gives him instant credibility. Another option is promoting Larry Drew to head coach — this guy’s SON played on a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP team!
Compliments are also due for Tyrone Hill. Besides being a Hall Of Fame Forward during his time as a player, he has worked tirelessly with Al Horford to make him an ALL STAR.
As our brilliant owner Michael Gearon Jr. claimed, J.Smoove is the closest thing to LBJ in this league. Smoove is an EXCELLENT free throw shooter with TREMENDOUS passing abilities and a SUPERB jumpshot.
It is my philosophy that if something is working, keep adding onto it.
Therefore, we WILL NOT pursue any trades this summer and plan to retain ever player currently on the roster.
We believe Marvin is capable of scoring 25 ppg in this league and that Mo Evans is a Bruce Bowen-type player.
ZaZa is GREAT at drawing contact AND converting the layups.
Jeff Teague was DEVELOPED TREMENDOUSLY by our head coach this year– he is very confident he can average a double double next year.
Cheers,
Rick
Jay
May 13th, 2010
6:11 am
If JJ walks, then can we sign Childress, go over the cap, and then sign another max FA? Can’t we sign Childress and go over the cap so we can have flexibility to get others?
drmaryb
May 13th, 2010
6:24 am
The Hawks are who we thought they were!
A pretty scrappy team with GLARING holes @ PG & Center & SF. After we all come back to reality? This team took us as far as the talent it had. I have no desire to become – “The Orator of the Obvious”. We all know better than Sund what this team lacks as it relates to the product they rolled out there.
We have some very very nice pieces to improve upon. And, no coach was going to win a title with our team – not even Red Aurbach could have done that? Having said that, our Coach could done a better job as well, the Hawks stopped playing when to a man? They didn’t BELIEVE in their hearts that they could win!
Who do you blame for – “Lack of Heart” on defense?
Hell, if I can’t score? Neither can the Magic or what-ever team is on the other sideline.
Steve Nash has Heart! That little guy is a force to be reckoned with. He is David & the Lakers are Golliath, it will be a battle of wills!
We have a player like that! Josh Smith plays with his heart, he just has to play smarter.
Al Horford has Heart. Maybe Teague does too – we see flashes of it.
How, do you measure a man’s Heart to Play?
O'Brien
May 13th, 2010
7:07 am
Ray,
I could be wrong, but I am guessing that northcyde will come back and talk about how when Teague gets in the game for his 5-10 minutes here and there, he does not make enough of an impact to justify more consistent PT, or more than the 10 minutes he was getting.
What he won’t talk about, is that when Bibby is in the game, his impact is mostly negative. And a lot of our fourth quarter metldowns happened with no PG in the game (because Bibby went bad quick), so we were dependent on 2 SGs to initiate our offense.
On Monday, Woody becomes a free agent. I remember during the year, some bloggers said even if the Hawks want him back, he should explore other options because Sund did not offer him an extension during the offseason.
I think he will have no choice but to explore other options. Although the players seemed to quit on him, he also got outcoached in the playoffs. It will be interesting to see which teams interview Woody.
I’m thinking Philly and the Clippers will give him a call.
GM Sund in No Hurry for Decision on Woodson | Soaring Down South | An Atlanta Hawks blog
May 13th, 2010
7:11 am
[...] other news Michael Cunningham reports that the Joe Johnson free agent posturing has begun. This time it is a flirtation with the Miami Heat. This is just the beginning of what is to come as [...]
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
8:00 am
O’brien ,
I think Northcyde (if that was really him) never made it home from Wal-Mart. He’s still in line, even as his wife sends him a text on the i phone, telling him something else she wants him to pick up. We’ve all been there….
No seriously, you probably have it pegged. I do remember him saying almost those exact words: have an impact when in the game.
You know, there’s a guy who came into the league several years ago. He still plays, and his team contends each year. But when he first came into the league, they thought he might be a SG in a PG’s body, or just a combo guard. Problem was, his assist to turnover ratio wasn’t great, and he couldn’t shoot 40% from the field to save his life. In fact, his assist/turnover ratio stayed below 2-to-1, and his FG% stayed below 40% for his first three years in the league.
Isn’t that the same thing people bang on Teague for? Does that sound like an impact player? Guess what the difference was? This guy averaged 11.2 points per game. Do you know why? Because he averaged 28.4 mpg, roughly, for those first 3 years. The lowest he ever averaged per game in a season was 23.5 mpg.
Now if you think Teague did poorly in 10 mpg, what would you think of a guy who did just as poorly (only he scored more points because he played more) despite getting nearly three times as much playing time? Hell, this guy even got shipped from one team to another in his first year, then to another a year after that. Then to another . It wasn’t until year 4 that he finally shot a tad above 40% from the field, and his assist to turnover ration improved to about 2.4-to-1.
So who was this loser?
Chauncey Billups. You know the rest. Championship ring. All-star. One of the best pgs in the game for several years.
Don’t judge the book to closely in the first year when you haven’t gotten past page 1. Don’t underestimate what playing time will do or show. Don’t dismiss the influence of good coaching and the right situation.
We still don’t know for sure what Teague is about.
And it’s a little hard to “make an impact” on the game when your job is to get across half court, pass the ball to whoever is playing SG in the game, and get the hell out of the way. And don’t tell me Woody told that kid to go in there and run things. We didn’t see much out of Bibby, who was getting nearly three times as much playing time as Teague was (9.1 ppg, 3.9 apg, 41.6% shooting from the field). If he wasn’t doing much, then what the “F” were we expecting out of “ROOK”, who was playing just over a third of the time Bibby was, and would have gotten mean-mugged if he took Joe, Josh, or Jamal’s shots?
darrell starks
May 13th, 2010
8:03 am
Me i used 2 defend josh thru out his career but now josh is proving me wrong, the more i watch josh play the angry i get because of his childish act on the court.
1.Crying 2 refs all the time.
2.Being lazy on some plays walking around like he lost.
3.Taking jumpshots noing his game is inside and if master his inside game no one can stop him.
4.Not listen 2 coach.
5.When will josh wake up or will he continue 2 be same player and never improve.
6.The hawks this summer will have 2 make a big decision on josh, and if they decide 2 trade him i want scream bloody murder like i did in the past because we as fans want nba title not second riddles and if trading him 2 make us a contender i will co. sign it all day.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
MC
May 13th, 2010
8:15 am
if joe leaves we should consider ray allen i kknow he is not nearly as good or young but i feel we would still be a playoff team with him
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
8:20 am
darrell starks ,
Can’t argue with this mantra: “If trading Josh Smith makes the team better, than do it.”
Big Ray
May 13th, 2010
8:21 am
Get Ray Allen? We have to learn how to set screens first. It’s one reason Joe dribbled so much. No screens.
Daniel
May 13th, 2010
8:51 am
Ray and darrell-
I agree wholeheartedly with “If trading Josh Smith makes the team better, than do it.” In fact, I say that one of the MUST moves this off-season is to at least shop Josh. He needs his caged rattled after his embarrassing display during the playoffs (and, I like the guy too darrell).
Clearly, the coaching situation has to be the first order of business so that person can be involved in the personell moves to come. I say let JJ shop himself for awhile, he is not going to get a “knock ‘em out of the park” kind of offer, but he may be able to facillitate a sign and trade or a return to the Hawks under a new direction.
I know Bosh is a very interesting option, but I kinda like moving Josh and say Bibby to San Antonio for Tony Parker (he is under contract for one year). Thoughts?
Daniel
May 13th, 2010
8:55 am
drMaryb.- Josh has heart as demonstrated by his off the court endeavors (I mean the good stuff) like taking care of that family from Marietta who lost their son. That can not be argued with.
But, he DOES NOT have heart on the court. He is too unreliable, too inconsistent with his effort, he is too self involved. The youth and immaturity excuse is long gone.
C'mon Hawks
May 13th, 2010
9:01 am
What about this:
PG: T.J. Ford/Will Bynum/ D. Collison
SG: Crawford/Mo Evans/Bynum
SF: Josh Smith/M. Williams/Mo Evans
PF:Al Horford/Josh Smith/ZaZa
C: Brendan Haywood/ZaZa/Horford/Brad MIller
plus woever we pick up in the draft
Najeh Davenpoop
May 13th, 2010
9:22 am
“if trading him 2 make us a contender i will co. sign it all day.”
So will I, but the best player I have seen proposed that the Hawks would receive for him is Bosh, who has never been a contender in his life.
Assuming Joe is getting the max from someone, the only two players on the Hawks who would be producing up to their contracts if he leaves are Josh and Al. I really don’t think you are going to get full value for him in a trade, especially if you have to pay a non-franchise player like Bosh the max in order to do so.
Dap01
May 13th, 2010
9:36 am
Why is our team the only team that does not have a clue how to set or run screens? Our screens are always the sloppiest in the league.
C. Moore
May 13th, 2010
9:54 am
I am reminded about a coaching change about 20 years ago. Doug Collins was coaching MJ before “The Zen Master” Chicago was a decent team at that time but lacked the coaching to take them over the hump. Looking at the Atlanta Hawks…Coach Woodson has done a fantastic job with what was given to him. He was brought the team from 13 wins to 53 wins. However, the last two years in the playoffs justify why Mike Woodson should move on. Last season a Miami Heat team took us 7 games,then swept by the Cavs, this year the Bucks take us 7,and then swept by the Magic. Grant it in 2008-09 season the Hawks dealt with injuries, but apart of coaching is to have players waiting in the wings. I look at the Jazz who had Mehmet Okur and AK-47 out but they still put up a valient effort against the Hawks. Mike Woodson lacks aggression which is what this team needs. There is no way ZaZa should be riding the bench as much as he does, Jeff Teague should have played more(especially against that Brandon Jennings guy), and there are 3 big men that could have been used a little more during the Magic series(Joe Smith, Randolph Morris, and Jason Collins). Coach Woodson has done a great job in Atlanta and will be a coach again someday but the Hawks need a stronger voice and a coach who will change their mindset.
C. Moore
May 13th, 2010
9:54 am
I meant against the Lakers not the Hawks I look at the Jazz who had Mehmet Okur and AK-47 out but they still put up a valient effort against the Hawks
bdawg0709
May 13th, 2010
10:04 am
KISS MY ISO, JOE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
May 13th, 2010
10:07 am
Daniel i like that trade 2 with josh and bibby for parker, but i like devin because of the situation with the nets drafting john wall with the first pick, and more than likely devin harris will be on the trading block after JULY 1.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
Section 303
May 13th, 2010
10:11 am
One thing I will hate most about this offseason is all the waiting. Sund works at a turtle’s pace (not saying that is a bad thing), but I want this all decided quick.
I do not even want to know how many on here would react if Woodson were brought back. I don’t think I want him back, either. But, I would not hate it, like many on here would.
Rick Sund may bring Coach Woodson back just to see the meltdown on here.
C. Moore
May 13th, 2010
10:12 am
I dont know if you guys know this or not….but the Nets are not a lock for the Number 1 pick…thats why its called a draft keyword right here…LOTTERY!!!!! Right now Devin Harris is wishful thinking. Insert good idea here….LETS WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE LOTTERY FOR TRADE PROPOSALS AND VARIOUS OTHER IDEAS…
O'Brien
May 13th, 2010
10:12 am
Ray,
Exactly. How many rookies have impacts on a game when their minutes are inconsistent, their coach is quick to pull them with each rookie mistake, and they play in an offense which dictates giving the ball to the SG and get out of the way (heck, even Bibby does it).
I’m not saying Teague deserves to start, and I am not saying he will lead us to the promised land. All I am saying, is the sooner we give him minutes, the sooner we will find out if he is a keeper or not. If he plays well, good for us. If he doesn’t, then bench him or trade him.
I think JJ will get the max offer from multiple teams (not including the Hawks). The problem is, I dont think teams like the Bulls and Knicks will be interested in a S&T when they can sign him outright.
JJ might be interested in a S&T because that gives him more money, but if he is willing to take a paycut to play on a better team, that gives him a better chance of winning a title, which is what he says he wants to do, and he wants to play on a team that has pieces around him.
A sign and trade would weaken the Bulls and the Knicks, so is JJ willing to sacrifice potential teamates just for the extra year and the extra $20 mil? All that would do is put more pressure on him.
I think our best bet is to either resign him, or find a S&T with a team that is over the cap.
bigdave
May 13th, 2010
10:13 am
when reading Sund’s comments i wouldnt be surprised if they re-uped Woodson.. SMH
C. Moore
May 13th, 2010
10:15 am
Must I remind you guys as well when the Hawks won 13 games and the Hawks picked…..2ND!!!!! The freaking Bucks won the first pick!!!
C. Moore
May 13th, 2010
10:18 am
bigdave- Sund has to be politically correct. He cant come out and say we are going to fire him and interview coaches now
darrell starks
May 13th, 2010
10:21 am
Daniel as i posted on the last blog on how make this team a contender.
1.Trade MARVIN and TEAGUE for DEVIN HARRIS
2.Trade JOSH, ZAZA, MOE, for BOSH
3.Resign JOE for about 13mill a year
4.With DEVIN, JOE, HORFORD, BOSH, you can build something special
5.DEVIN is 27, JOE is 28, HORFORD is 23, BOSH is 26.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Ramon
May 13th, 2010
10:22 am
Some of you are idiots (IMHO). You’re saying Josh doesn’t have heart because he argues with calls? Josh argues with calls for his teammates just as much as he argue for the calls where he is in play, and he doesn’t have heart? Just because Josh doesn’t turn his head and run down the court every single play he doesn’t have heart? Aside from Bibby, Josh is the only Hawks player who actually tries to speak to the ref about bad calls. Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Stoudamire, Carmelo Anthony, and Kaman (among others) have more technical fouls than Josh. Josh is the SOLE player on the Hawks who will hustle down court to attempt to stop a break away fast break for the other team, and he doesn’t have heart? The biggest cheerleader on the team for other teammates clearly is Josh. When he’s on the bench, he celebrates for routine plays made by his teammates. Josh didn’t get back on one play because he was arguing with the referees, Kobe and Lebron have done that on many occasions! How many games in his time being here has he been the only one in the starting lineup who even appeared to be hustling? In Game 1 against Orlando it was his ‘heart’ and hustling that kept the Hawks close in the first quarter until he picked up his 2nd foul because the back court couldn’t keep their man in front of them. He doesn’t do like JJ, Marvin, and Al by running down the court and rarely saying anything to the referees. Is that not a clue that he WANTS to win? Does he whine too much? Yes just as a lot of players do, and some players don’t whine enough (JJ). But many times the Hawks are on the wrong end of the referees whistle when they shouldn’t be. Horford and Josh ARE the leaders of this team! And everyone knew they’re the leader of this team except JJ. Have you guys not noticed how many times when going to a time out, JJ walks off the court telling Smoove what is wrong with the other team or what went wrong in the backcourt. For the next 6 years, Horford and Smoove can continue to get better and give the Hawks great years in the meantime. So why let foolish emotions of fans (who are fair weathered fans to begin with) take the organization away from a great path that they’re heading down. Smoove, Horford, and JJ just won 53 games in their third year together. Why not think that it will get better with a few pieces, a new point guard, and a new coach? We’re closer to 60 games and ECF with these 3, a new PG, and new coach than we are with coming back next season without two of the three easily. And the things that Josh do bring at his position are the things that you can’t just go out and trade for. Hubie Brown has said many time that he LOVES Josh’s game and his ability. The game where Josh didn’t run down court just happen to be the game that the female was doing the color commentary and she decided to continue talking about that same play over and over and over. But from the tip off it was clear she was rooting for Orlando and had a biased view of the game.
Daniel
May 13th, 2010
10:27 am
C.Moore- He can’t say we are going to fire him, because Woodson is not under contract. Woodson does not need to be Fired!!, we can decide to go in a different direction and so can he. I think we need a change at coach, but Woodson doesn’t deserve to be treated poorly by the orginization. He will not be FIRED, not resigned (probably).
darrell- I like Parker better than Harris and he has an expiring contract which gives us more long term flexability.
Ramon
May 13th, 2010
10:34 am
Daniel, I wonder if SA would take Marvin and Bibby for Parker.
northcyde
May 13th, 2010
10:35 am
Yeah that was me Big Ray . . . but when I get home, I was typing what I was going to type, but my internet connection went down overnight. LOL . . so I had to save what I was going to type to my dang computer via notepad, and hope the connection came back up. And I wasn’t going to type all of that ish on my phone. So now I’ll copy and paste what I wrote last night.
*************
The 5 games that you love to cite about Teague, are the stretch in December in which we started a nice little winning streak after the 1st NY Knick debacle in which Smoove got kicked out of the game, Al Harrington was shooting 3s like he was Allan Houston, David Lee thought he was Larry Johnson, and Chris Duhon thought he was Knick legend Walt Frazier for just one night.
* Beat Chicago 118 – 83
* Beat Toronto 111 – 89
* Beat Jersey 130 – 107
* Beat Memphis 110 – 97
* Beat Utah 96 – 83
The first thing that you notice, is that they were all blowout wins . . which is the reason why he got all of that playing time. But that’s not even what I want to focus on. I want to focus on WHEN Teague performed. Did he perform when the game was still in the balance, or did he perform when the game was out of reach?
Chicago game:
- 1st half: 2 pts ( 1 – 2 FG ) – 2 asst . . 7 min
- 2nd half: 6 pts ( 2 – 5 FG ) – 6 asst . . 15 min
Toronto game:
- 1st half: 2 pts ( 1 – 1 FG ) – 4 asst . . 7 min
- 2nd half: 9 pts ( 4 – 5 FG ) – 3 asst . . 14 min
New Jersey game:
- 1st half: 7 pts ( 3 – 4 FG ) – 1 asst . . 9 min
- 2nd half: 5 pts ( 2- 5 FG ) – 2 asst . . 15 min
Memphis game:
- 1st half: 0 pts ( 0 – 0 FG ) – 1 asst . . 4 min
- 2nd half: 4 pts ( 2 – 6 FG ) – 4 asst . . 13 min
Utah game:
- 1st half: 0 pts ( 0 – 1 FG ) – 1 asst . . 5 min
- 2nd half: 7 pts ( 2 – 6 FG ) – 1 asst . . 15 min
Total:
- 1st half: 2.2 ppg ( 5 – 8 FG ) – 1.8 asst . . 6.4 min
- 2nd half: 6.2 ppg ( 12 – 27 FG ) – 3.2 asst . . 14.4 min
***************
The only thing I’ve ever asked Teague to do, is to try to make an impact on a game when he gets in the game. Don’t just be “out there”. Try to do “something . . . anything”. Just don’t do it when the game is out of reach, when there is no pressure on you. Do it when the game is still in the balance.
When he comes into the Toronto game, and has 2 pts and 4 assists in 7 minutes, that’s “doing something” in my eyes. When he comes into the Jersey game, and has 7 pts and 1 asst in 9 minutes, that’s “doing something” in my eyes. That’s all I’ve asked out of the kid. When you get into a game, TRY to make an impact.
Far too many times, Teague would get into a game in the 1st half, and do absolutely nothing. Nothing on offense. Nothing on defense. Just nothing. Sure, chalk that up to being a rookie. But then again, the other rookies around the league would come into a game and “do something” as soon as they stepped onto the court. That’s why they would get rewarded with extra PT.
If people want to make the argument that Teague wasn’t developed enough by Woody, especially when Bibby started to go into rapid decline in the 2nd half of the season, I won’t argue that. But it’s not like Teague was doing his part to convince coach to play him more.
That’s all what my point was.
C. Moore
May 13th, 2010
10:36 am
Daniel- You are right Daniel. Woodsons contract expired Monday. But you are right Woodson does deserve to be considered to be re-signed…just not heavily considered. My concern is will management find better to replace Woodson. Its easy to throw names out there like Van Gundy, B.Scott,A. Johnson, and a host of others but with their name…comes money you have to pay them and they have to actually want to come to Atlanta. If management cant find a better coach than Woodson at the price they want to pay then I am sure they will settle for Woodson.
C. Moore
May 13th, 2010
10:37 am
OK….EVERYONE……WHAT GM WOULD WANT MARVIN WILLIAMS??????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ramon
May 13th, 2010
10:42 am
C. Moore, if 3 GMs wanted Darko Milicic after it was clear he was a bust (and Marvin isn’t a bust). Marvin is still quite young enough for a coach/gm to think that he can be effective for a few years. Marvin could very well goto a team like SA and become a poor man’s Sean Elliott.
Daniel
May 13th, 2010
10:45 am
C.Moore- I am sure that the Hawks and Rick Sund have already made their decision on Woodson, and probably have targeted a replacement. They are just keeping it to themselves until Monday.
Yeah, Ramon- unfortunately I would have to agree with C. Moore on that one. I don’t think the Spurs would make that move.
I mow my lawn
May 13th, 2010
10:46 am
with more heart than Joe Johnson has. He fuhken sucks…
C. Moore
May 13th, 2010
10:59 am
Ramon-Great point. If Marvin played this year like he did last year then you a better case would be made to trade him. Marvin could be solid in the right system. The Hawks under Woodson played so slow. When the Hawks ran the floor the Hawks played good.
Daniel
May 13th, 2010
11:03 am
I just don’t think Marvin/Bibby is enough financially and potential for a player of Parker’s calibre. You might get a draft pick for him.
C. Moore
May 13th, 2010
11:06 am
Daniel-Bibby is 32 and is making 5 mill next season…he is not a starter in my eyes anymore, and makes a little to much to be a backup. It will be hard to trade him.
Gianluca the Italian
May 13th, 2010
11:27 am
I wax my back with more heart than Joe Johnson has
Joey
May 13th, 2010
11:28 am
Interesting title, MC. JJ is just like a girlfriend who is beginning to distance herself from you and flirting with other guys and you can’t do anything about it. If you say “don’t flirt with him,” she may go ahead and leave. If you say, “go ahead if you want him,” she may go. All you can do is let it play out.
Yes, I have issues with an old girlfriend . . .
locdog59
May 13th, 2010
11:30 am
JJ would be better in Miami than here. I is definitely a second banana and I think he will be a good one. We need a star that will perform in the playoffs. We also need a new offensive strategy. I have no ill will against the guy. ATL is just not the right place for him.
Ramon
May 13th, 2010
11:43 am
For the Spurs system, and for their team, I don’t think Bibby would that bad on their team as a backup PG playing 20 min a game. With McDyess and Duncan backing him, his defense doesn’t seem so bad because who really wants to penetrate just to go head up with Duncan? And Marvin solidifies them for Jefferson (who had eerily close stats to Marvin) to be let go. Parker makes right at 11 mil next season. So that’s in the same ball park of Bibby and Marvin’s combined salary. And if you need to throw in a pick or change (Evans?) to make the deal go through, go ahead. Because you have to think what other CHAMPION is available that can come on this team and have a positive influence? Derek Fisher is the only other PG in the league that has as many rings as Parker. And with the Hawks wanting Teague to take over more (that doesn’t necessarily mean start), Parker limits can be limited to 25, and Teague could still get 21-23 a game. That’s perfect! Parker had a bad year compared to his past, but he still averaged 16 and 5, while shooting 48%. He’s still one of the best PG in penetrating and getting into the lane. I would even consider throwing in Zaza if needed to make it happen (really think you can find his production and a better defensive presence in Haywood).
Clyde
May 13th, 2010
12:00 pm
Bibby and Marvin have no trade value. They suck and they have 2 years left on their contracts that pays them a lot of money.
Daniel
May 13th, 2010
12:05 pm
Ramon- Parker is going to make 13 milion next season. I agree that Bibby is tradable to a team like the Spurs who have such good contract structures and love a veteran on an expiring contract. I just think it will take Josh not Marvin to get Tony.
Plus, Ramon you are wrong when you say that Josh shows “heart” by whining and not getting back on defense. I am not a fair weathered fan, nor overly emotional. That series against Orlando is inexcusable, the effort, the lack of hear, chemistry, etc. actually reach historic proportions, so I don’t think anyone is over reacting, here. I am not saying Josh doesn’t have any heart and Joe does, they both played like utter chumps!!!(BTW- I am a fan of both) But those two in particular set the emotional tone for the team and have the biggest effect on the team’s chemistry, which was demonstrated to be the worst EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE NBA PLAYOFFS, so something has to change more than just the coach.
Doug
May 13th, 2010
12:16 pm
northclyde…you really expecl Teague to make an impact on a team that A. As mentioned he gets no consistent and significant opportunity to do so and B. Is recognized around the league as having two extreme ball dominators from whom he, in his limited minutes has to try and wrest the ball from…all under the disapproving scowl of Woody?? If you simply flipped Collison and Teague we would be discussing how little impact Collison had (as a Hawk) and how tremendous Teague was (filling in for Paul)…Teague has extreme talent and if given the chance will demonstrate that talent
terrell
May 13th, 2010
12:24 pm
Lewis, except Cleveland is still in the Playoffs.
terrell
May 13th, 2010
12:26 pm
Clyde, that’s why we have to include Marvin and/or Bibby’s contract in any deal.
drmaryb
May 13th, 2010
12:32 pm
Blue-Ray
(talk to the hand!)
Hey dude,
I don’t know if you are right or left handed? i doesn’t even matter right now! Look at your dominant hand and scream at it, “You HOT man, You HOT!”
Why? Because of “Part- Wa” of this editorial:
“So who was this loser?
Chauncey Billups. You know the rest. Championship ring. All-star. One of the best pgs in the game for several years.
Don’t judge the book to closely in the first year when you haven’t gotten past page 1. Don’t underestimate what playing time will do or show. Don’t dismiss the influence of good coaching and the right situation.
We still don’t know for sure what Teague is about.”
Nuff, Said!
Ken Strickland
May 13th, 2010
12:38 pm
I can’t see how anyone can actually claim or believe we coulda woulda lost gms, and/or been unable to win 53gms, with JTeague averaging 20+MPG as our starting PG. The fact we were able to win 53gms with Bibby, who averaged 27.4MPG, 3.9APG and 9.1PPG, while providing absolutely no speed, quickness, DEF or penetrating ability, starting should be proof enough.
What hurt us most during the regular season, especially in closing out gms, was our inability to score and play consistent DEF. DEF is Bibby’s major malfunction, and was such an issue Woodson had to employ a special DEF scheme in an effort to hide his liability. On the other hand, DEF is one of Teague’s major strengths. Teague’s lack of a consistent jump shot would mean he’d rely more on using his speed, quickness and penetrating ability to score or create easy scoring opportunities, rather than relying exclusively on shooting jump shots, like Bibby.
Teague’s approach would create more scoring opportunities for others, cause more problems for the DEF, and allow him to draw more fouls and get to the FT Line. Teague’s kind of PG play is far more troubling to a DEF than that of a PG that doesn’t penetrate, or create easy scoring opportunities for his teammates, while spending all of his time above the 3pt line inconsistently shooting jumpers.
To sum up what those who question starting JTeague over Bibby believe, one has to accept that having a PG that lacks speed, quickness and athleticism, plays absolutely no DEF, and doesn’t penetrate and/or create easy scoring opportunities for teammates, was far more beneficial to the team than having a PG that excels in all of those areas, except long range jump shooting.
If you think Woodson held Teague and ALaw back and questioned DWilliams and CPaul’s ability to succeed on the NBA level, due to their stature and lack of jump shooting ability, then explain why he was so willing to start and give major mins to veterans like AJohnson, SClaxton and TLue? No one can say AJohnson or SClaxton are better jump shooters than Teague or ALaw, and is TLue any bigger, quicker, faster, taller or stronger than CPaul or DWilliams?
EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES, AND MORE STUPID EXCUSES!!!!!
Woodson simply has a stupid unexplained phobia against rookies, especially rookie PG’s, and would’ve used that phobia, as well as a ton of excuses, to pull the same stupid crap on any rookie PG, including CPaul and DWilliams, that he pulled on ALaw and JTeague.
K Dog 316
May 13th, 2010
12:43 pm
Let Joe go. If he does not want to be a Hawk, send him packing.
drmaryb
May 13th, 2010
12:43 pm
Daniel,
I feel your Pain! Josh will continue to improve – as he has every year. – No Worries, we need him to do what he do? plain & simple…..he does it all! & with a lot of heart!
I just hope we don’t all turn to – Jelly! And go soft in the middle – as a fan! We should manifest the same zeal and fight that we demand from our team – in our own lives as well? @ home or play.
I think, the Hawks will re-sign Joe! He just needs to feel the love before he signs up to do five things per game all year, while everybody else gets their Shiat together!
He never asked for the game plan, he just woke up like “Ken Griffey, Jr.” (sleeping in the clubhouse when they needed him to DH in the 8th.) & tried to run the damned play that the coach drew up on that there white board.
Joe, just wants to WIN, and he doesn’t care about being the man!!! He has more money than he could ever spend, now – it’s about Winning!
here or somewhere else. joe could really care less about all these emotions!
terrell
May 13th, 2010
12:49 pm
Well said Ken. Woody despises Rookie pg’s. He must’ve had some kind of bad experiment with his Coach when he was a rookie, and his coach tole him “that’s why I dont play your ass”. I’ll never forget when he said that shi. to Acie. What an azz.
rusty
May 13th, 2010
12:51 pm
northcyde
first of all woody played teague with a sword at his back. any little mistaske he made gave woody an exuse to pull him. how can you play like that. i would likef for you to break down everbody on the team for how they played when the game was on the line or not. that is such crap. you act like woody & joe are great & always ripping teague & crawford
Ramon
May 13th, 2010
12:53 pm
Daniel, you’re talking about something that happened in the 3rd quarter of game three. Up until the 3rd quarter of game 3, Josh was having the best postseason of the entire team. He failed to get back on ONE play because he was arguing. The only other play he didn’t get back on defense was when he was clearly hit in the eye by Marvin Williams. And this same eye was the reason that he had to go to the locker room during the first half of game 4. I said complaining about calls and wanting to be given a FAIR game, doesn’t make the man not have heart. Also that same game three, Josh had 18 points while grabbing 11 boards. So if any one say that Josh caused the Hawks the game, then they’re proving they don’t know basketball. One play can not cause a professional team the game. They scored two points on that one play. Should he have gotten back, yes. But to say he had a poor play offs where he basically averaged a double double, even though he was only able to play 24 and 23 minutes in Game 7 vs Milw, and Game 1 vs. Orlando. Besides Horford (who had the same exact stats as Josh, except for Josh having higher Steals and Assist), who could come close to saying they did AS MUCH as Josh did during the playoffs to help the Hawks?
The chemistry issues came because of defense, where Josh AND Al grew tired of getting in foul trouble because Bibby, Crawford, and JJ were getting beat off the dribble putting Josh and Al at a disadvantage game after game. And to make it worse, they were instructed by Woody, to play the guards soft at times when they penetrated so they wouldn’t pick up a foul. ESPN fed into many believing that the chemistry issue was because of Josh taking one play off. In that game, everything that the Hawks did the commentator scrutinized. Howard was 6-8 in fg attempts, and she would criticize Smoove for leaving Lewis long enough to go double Howard, once Howard would put the ball on the floor, saying “you can’t turn your back on Howard. What is he doing?” How else can you double someone while still guarding another player?
Daniel
May 13th, 2010
1:01 pm
Ken- The only problem with your argument is that is based on a wrong assumption. The extra minutes that you wanted for Teague (not saying that is a bad idea) would not have come from Bibby, who was already down 8 per game, it would have come from Crawford (sixth man of the year). So unless you want to say Teague should have started over Bibby, then his extra minutes off the bench would have been less for Crawford/Joe.
Good try though.
Daniel
May 13th, 2010
1:06 pm
Ramon- it was more than one play. I can think of at least 3 in both games 3 and 4. He also reverted back to jump shots, a lack of defensive intensity that was apparent to every single analyst, reporter who watched the game. There is not one person, coach, analyst, etc. who has not commented on Josh’s extremely poor play. Or do you think they all have an agenda to get Josh? (cause he certainly seems to think, so). If you what you mean by having heart is believing everyone else is wrong and you are right despite all the evidence, well, then Josh seems to have it in spades.
vava74
May 13th, 2010
1:19 pm
The most stupid thing about using the switching D to “hide” Bibby’s lack of defense is that it exacerbated his lack of D against many teams against whom the Switching D relented a lot more easy baskets to our opponent than when we played straight up D or zone D.
Just look at the MIL series! When we stopped switching we controlled the game defensively EVEN with Bibby on the floor!!!!!!
Also, it has been reported that although Bibby lacks the quickness to play good D, he is savvy enough to funnel players (not all of them, obviously) to help defenders.
With the switching D he could not funnel anything since we had none of our bigs down low to swat shots.
80% of our blocks must have come from weak side help situations rather than straight up rim protection.
Ramon
May 13th, 2010
1:26 pm
Daniel- you’re saying he reverted back to shooting jump shots? The man shot right under 50% for the entire playoffs. Jamal Crawford mainly shot jumpers the entire playoffs and only shot 38%, so why no one is saying he shot too many jumpers? Josh went 7-17 and 6-13 in games 3-4, that’s not horrible shooting. On the attempts where he would post up Lewis and try to shoot his running baby hook (that he shoots at a very high percentage) Dwight Howard would come on help and nicely throw it into the front row. Josh shot 3-9 on his jumpers in game 3-4..Crawford shot 4-14 on his jumpers in game 3-4. Josh shooting 33% wasn’t terrible! Horford was 0-4 in jumpers in game 4. Why no one complains about that?
Defensive intensity can only come when you’re not questioning yourself. If you’re guarding Lewis, who is a great 3 point shooter, and you’re constantly needing to help on defense for penetrating guards, or Howard posting up, you’re faced with a big question mark as to who to guard. If you go help, you’re criticized for leaving a shooter. If you don’t go help, you’re criticized for not helping and having the defensive intensity that you normally have. People forget that Lewis is the 2nd best shooting PF in the league (Dirk is 1st), so the way Josh plays him can’t be the same way he play all PFs all season long. That’s called GOOD COACHING AND TEAM STRUCTURE on the part of Orlando for placing the Hawks best defender in that position. If you can take a normally instinctive player and make him second guess himself, it will be very hard for him to be comfortable and perform while maintaining the instinctive level.
As fans we are getting mad at the players, when the truth is they just got beat by a better team in all aspects of the game just about. And until Orlando takes the court again and blowout the Lebrons or the Boston Diapers, you won’t understand clearly how much better this team is than any team in the east. Bottom line we just got BEAT!
Grandad
May 13th, 2010
2:47 pm
I just read Bradley article.
It refreshed my memory of something Joe said
in [MC's blog].
“he’s willing to switch from shooting guard to small forward”
granted; he was referring to [D.Wade]
but.
Perhaps, in Joe’s way of saying things:
[suppressing one's ego isn't easy]
he may be saying he’s open to;
1. Teaguer
2. Jamal
3. Joe*
4. Al or Josh
5. Al or [FA]/_____recieved in trade.
*receptive to pos. change/phil. change/ with new coach.
Ramon
May 13th, 2010
2:50 pm
Grandad, even better than that Teague, Salmons, JJ, Josh, Al– Jamal, Haywood, Marvin coming off the bench. If the Hawks don’t take the payroll to 80 mil, next season will be more of the same.
bigdave
May 13th, 2010
3:13 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=100513/KermitAlexander
cp
May 13th, 2010
3:57 pm
Like I said plenty of times during the season, its amazing we won 53 games although we got almost no production from our pg and sf… I really think Woodson would still have his job if he would have hired an offensive coordinator. He is just simply not creative enough on the offensive end. Having a offensive coordinator would have allowed him to focus solely on the defense while the coordinator came up with the offensive plays.
Daniel
May 13th, 2010
3:57 pm
Ramon- what happens to Bibby in your scenario?
Ramon
May 13th, 2010
4:05 pm
@ Daniel, in the Parker scenario he’s in SA (that’s the one I like the most because of the championship pedigree, I really think Marvin, Zaza, and Bibby makes that deal happens). In the Salmon’s deal (free agent signing for mid-level), Bibby’s sitting next to Kenny Smith on TBS I guess lol. Seriously, because of how good he’s been in the locker room for the Hawks, Sund would show a lot of class by not trading Bibby to a bad organization. But a team like SA, Portland, Utah, Houston (remember they really wanted him), and a few others I actually would deal for him now that he’s not in his base year anymore. But even bringing Bibby back as the back up point guard isn’t a bad thing. Either way, the Hawks are still going to have to spend money. I mean Crawford, Haywood, Marvin, and Bibby on the bench would be a great bench to me, along with a defensive guy like Brewer.
northcyde
May 13th, 2010
4:13 pm
Rusty . . I just tell the truth man. I’m not against Teague. I just don’t see what is even remotely special about the guy, outside that he can dunk real well out in the open. Even Mario West has some highlight reel plays.
To me, the only difference between him and Acie Law, is that Teague more athletic. I can’t say that he’s a better basketball player than Acie. And he is nowhere near as aggressive or confident of a basketball player than Salim was.
As for Crawford, I hate on him because he unnecessarily takes bad shots. He’s done that his entire career. And just because he plays fast, doesn’t make it better. If you play fast, but still are inefficient, you’re still an inefficient player.
hawkville
May 13th, 2010
4:18 pm
Haywood, why would u take him over Za Za. What do u do with him on the offensive end, Al is your post player and I don’t c Haywood knocking down that 15ft jumper. Think a little before u started tossing names out.
53 wins is pretty good, build don’t destroy
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 13th, 2010
4:26 pm
JJ is a good player but there are 2 things to consider
1 – He doesnt show up in the post season…He’s supposed to be a star and various teams have role players who show up more than him
2 – JJ’s numbers are inflated. Imagine how many guys around the league could be 20+ PPG scorers……if the team they played for only ran one play on offense…with that play being an “Iso” for them pretty much every time down the court.
Ramon
May 13th, 2010
4:34 pm
Hawkville, Haywood averages a double double. Haywood provides more of a defensive presence than Zaza. Haywood makes more routine athletic plays than Zaza does. When Horford and Smoove goes out of the game, Zaza gives up lay up after lay up because he has no elevation, timing, nor the length to alter anyone’s shot. You don’t need someone as a back up C who can knock down a 15 ft jumper when your starting C can do that. On the second unit, the Hawks lose defensive intensity. The man averaged 9 ppg, 9 rpg (3.5 orpg), to go along with 2 blocks a game. And you say to think a little? Zaza averages 4 ppg, 3 rpg, 0.4 bpg, and 3 fouls pg. How does that even come close?
Ken Strickland
May 13th, 2010
4:35 pm
DANIEL-The additional mins Teague should have gotten could have easily come from Bibby if Woodson had decided to make it happen. Even though Bibby’s mins went down at the tail end of the season, he still average 27.4MPG. Realistically, if Woodson hadn’t been so stupid, stubborn, biased and lazy, he could have easily found enough mins to play Teague about 22-25MPG.
Those additional mins could have come by reducing Bibby’s 27.4MPG to 18MPG, a 9.4MPG reduction, and reducing Marvin’s 30.5MPG to 25MPG, a reduction of 5.5MPG. That’s 14.9MPG Teague could have gotten from our 2 least productive starters. Woodson could have also reduced JJ’s 38MPG to 35MPG, Smooves 35.4MPG to 32MPG, Crawford’s 31.1MPG to 28MPG, and Horford’s 35.1MPG to 32MPG. That’s an extra 9.6MPG he could have used to develop his bench and keep them sharp.
Of course, a HC would need to have the ability and/or willingness to take on that responsibility, or at least assign the task to one of his assistant coaches. Finding and distributing mins isn’t rocket science, although it obviously appears to be that way for some.
When Teague comes in he replaces Bibby, then when Crawford comes in he replaces Marvin, and JJ moves to SF. That way, Marvin and Bibby’s MPG are reduced with minimal effect on JJ and Crawford, our 2 top scorers. A lineup of PG-JTeague, SG-JCrawford, SF-JJ, PF-JSmith and C-AHorford is a pretty solid lineup, both offensively and defensively.
Grandad
May 13th, 2010
4:41 pm
Ramon:
I put [FA] or _______ as oppose to a real name.
I suspect Haywood is a prime target.
I do not understand everyone’s infatuation with Salmons.
Daniel:
Bibby will be gone even if we have to pkg.
someone with him & receive:
* “a lap dance from a NY city gentleman’s club” *
in return.
*(reference to article in which LbJ supposedly
receives a lifetime offer [lap dances] from said
NY/Gents Club if he will come & play for Knicks)*
* “LbJ also will supposedly receive free access
to the ladies.”
“a private entrance”
“lifetime of complimentary dinners”
“served by topless waitresses”
“all followed by a complimentary lap-dance”
Personal note our society is going to hell.
Ramon
May 13th, 2010
4:52 pm
Grandad, personally I prefer Brewer over Salmons. But I do like the fight that Salmons has shown over the last 3 seasons.
Mel
May 13th, 2010
4:53 pm
Cleveland and Chicago got their hometown players in James and Rose. Why couldn’t we get Dwight.
In all honesty, I’d rather have Dwight over LeBron or Wade. He’s Younger, and plays arguably and historically the most important position in the NBA.
I wish he wanted to play here in 2012. Him in Atlanta instantly makes us Top 4 in the league
O'Brien
May 13th, 2010
4:56 pm
Northcyde,
I think teague has potential. But whether he does or not, I think you are missing the point.
The point is teague could have done no worse than bibby, and chances are he would have been better than bibby in every area except shooting.
An with bibby being old and slow, we need to find out if teague is capable of being the starter. Its hard to tell in 10 MPG, especially with DNPCDs sprinkled in
Grandad
May 13th, 2010
5:07 pm
Trade Proposal:
[works on NBA trade machine]
We send:
*Josh (valuable / I don’t care what you say!)
*Marv (more valuable than you think)
*Teaguer (Wdsn diminished value)
*Zaza (a Big is a Big)
We get from Chicago:
*Joakim Noah [5]
*kirk Hinrich [1] with exp.
*Luol Deng [cushion if Joe leaves]
This trade is NO more ignorant than others I’ve seen
on this board in the last couple of days.
We get a [1] and a [5] needed plus a *[3]:
*that can be flipped in a trade.
Chi. gets a *Big, + Josh + Marv / age & palatable contract.
**imagine Josh & Rose on the break!***
Plus a young back-up for Rose or trade option.[Teague]
Also shed Hinrich’s contract.
****Contingent on Chicago being in play for LbJ.
or (maybe not)
*****RUMORS*****swirling
Bash on!
Ramon
May 13th, 2010
5:07 pm
Mel, I’ll say again, if it was possible, i would trade every player on this team just for Howard, and smile all the way til the first day.
kane77
May 13th, 2010
6:07 pm
d wade come to atlanta we need u badd will give u joe and his 90mill
I MUS WRITE
May 13th, 2010
6:17 pm
AWWWWW The fans hurt lil Joe’s feelings with the Boo’s huh? I really dont care if he leaves,he has been cry’n like a beeach the last coule tears anyway. Go to miami and play #2 because thats what he is a wing man not a guy whos the heart and soulf of your teams. Also the mans playoff performances over the last 2 years makes me want to Puke.
We could start jamal at the 2 and get swet in the second next year we dont need to pay JJ hefty salary for that.
If we could actually get Tony Parker or a nice veteran pg to go with a big man we would be better off anyway-JJ had his time its time to build around Yung Horford.
I MUS WRITE
May 13th, 2010
6:18 pm
spell check ewwwwww
The Truth
May 13th, 2010
6:18 pm
I see already in less then a week, the absence of JJ is making the heart grows fonder of him by the fans. A few days ago we all wanted to run him out of town. Here are some past stats just to keep a prospective:
During the 4-years JJ played for Phoenix he Averaged 13.3 PPG. Those numbers are comparable to Josh Smith first 4-years as a Hawk of 13.65 PPG. Marvin was not far behind, in his first 4-years, he averaged 12.5 PPG as a 4th scoring option.
So the Hawks saw potential in JJ and acquired him from Phoenix @ 12.5 PPG and made him their Alpha Dog All-star player. During his tenure as a Hawk, he has averaged nearly 22 PPG.
As I listened to Hubie; he suggested that it will be hard to replace JJ scoring of 22 PPG and 5 assist in the current market therefore we should try to keep him. Perhaps he is correct. However, since JJ came to us @ 12.5 PPG, why can’t we take that same approach again? Invest in potential. There might be emerging players with all-star potential if they were given the opportunity. Salmon is a perfect example. He is certainly capable of being an all-star if a team anointed him as their Alpha dog. Not just Salmon; there may other diamonds in the ruff just waiting for their chance. Is JJ that much of an exception?
I MUS WRITE
May 13th, 2010
6:30 pm
Terrell that would be a nice trade for us,and Laimbeer would be my choice
hawkville
May 13th, 2010
6:49 pm
Ramon, if Haywood is matched up on a guard, u get the same results. As far as who’s more athletic, your opinion my opinion. And numbers can be misleading, Haywood had touches Za Za dirty work. It’s not an up grade
hawkville
May 13th, 2010
7:10 pm
One more thing, Marvin sucks, he was giving plenty of touches he just couldn’t knock down the open jumper, couldn’t establish post up position without falling, and he couldn’t score on his man consistently nor make a play for others. He did make FTs and lay-ups/dunks (he had to be open of course) it’s kind of like Woodsen, u c it over and over but refuse to admitted it.
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 13th, 2010
7:11 pm
I dont see why people think the Hawks are doomed if we lose JJ.
#1 …we want a team that can make deep runs in the playoffs, right??? Well not only has Joe Johnson not played like the superstar he supposedly is in the playoffs, he hasnt even played like a QUALITY role player (like Pietrus)…..THAT’S A BIG MINUS
#2……JJ has freedom and luxury most players dont. JJ had the advantage of playing on a team that only ran one play…with that play being an ISO for himself.
I’m sure there are enough guys out there now averaging 10-15 PPG who would be 20+ PPG scorers if they were allowed the minutes COMBINED with the amount of ISO plays for themselves that JJ has.
We already have crawford…..so considerin the things i said above……It seems to me like we could even replace JJ with another “scorer” who might not even be a superstar (like Salmons), add other pieces (like a deeper bench and big man/men), a new coach…..and actually be team built better for a playoff run next year.
donald caldwell
May 15th, 2010
1:30 am
everyone talking bout Joe Johnson leaving the hawks and that he stays he needs to be the 2 option on offense.Who needs a 1st or 2nd option guy if the team is playing as a team? HELLO BOSTON CELTICS
Luke
May 15th, 2010
8:35 am
We could let JJ go and Sign John Salmons who can score( obviously he should come at a cheaper price)
I would then try and sign A. Stoudamire…….. Maybe sign and trade…. (posible trade canadiates…chills or M. willaims)
C- Stoudamire
PF- Horford
SF- J Smith
SG Salmons or crawford
PG- Teague or bibby
Bench
Crawfor or salmons
Bibby or Teague
M williams or Chills ( Whoever was not traded)
ZAZA Pachulia
Nippz
May 15th, 2010
9:56 am
I wouldn’t lie but signing Josh Childress back and trading for Bosh or a big man sounds good but not involving J- Smooth now thats a run-out! I mean Joe is my dog and I love him as a Hawk but if he wants to leave , I can’t believe I’m actually saying this but, let him go….man that hurted! But seriously a BIGMAN , a real center is the real solution someone who could defend against other centers like Dwight, who was just killing the hawks. Really you shoild think about this if Joe doesn’t have to go, please don’t let him go he just needs that extra help I am telling you because the minute he goes and gets that extra help he might just end as a MVP candidate or maybe even the MVP to come. Please think about all options.
Nippz
May 15th, 2010
10:15 am
Jusdatfly I am so with you I really see that someone is thinking and not talking out their butt… because its team effort to lose and to win and plus never in these games did I see Joe hug.. Did you?.. So he didn’t cause anything and ashame on these so called Hawks fans when we going through sometimes still stick with the team don’t just boo them. Thats what you call immature ! Getting on J-Smooth like you’ll out there on the court playing the game, you don’t know how it feels to be out there every night and you gonna boo them off , you’ll be the ones getting booo’d… jusdatfly we should talk man I really the way you think …No Homo now don’t take it the wrong way…. I am a real Hawk fan all the way in The Bahamas…..
Nippz
May 15th, 2010
11:30 am
If Joe Johnson don’t work look towards Harris, Lopez and Childress really miss him….Brooke Lopez is another good blocker and aside Josh he will become much better and Harris plays ball Hawks way and he can handle the ball. Think about it Mr. Sunds, PLEASE!!!!!!!
PG- Devin Harris
SG- Mike Bibby
SF- Josh Smith
PF- Al Horford
C- Brooke Lopez
BENCH
PG- Jeff Teague
SG- Jamal Crawford
SF- Josh Childress/Maurice Evans
PF- Marvin Williams/Randolph Morris
C- Jason Collins/Joe Smith
Nippz
May 15th, 2010
11:34 am
Jeff Van Gundy, Avery Johnson, ……… I don’t know someone who can help them with setting screens, defense, and work with the shooting because have good shooters could be the best shooting team…..
pat
May 15th, 2010
1:12 pm
PG Rafer Alston/Mike Bibby
SG Dwyane Wade/Jamal Crawford
SF John Salmons/Marvin Williams
PF Chris Bosh/Udonis Haslem
C Al Horford/Antonio McDyess
Nippz
May 15th, 2010
2:04 pm
Lopez played in all 82 games for a second straight season, this time leading the team in points (18.8), rebounds (8.6) and blocks (1.7), making him one of four players in the league to do so; the others were Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan and Andrew Bogut. He was the only player to top 18.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG and 1.5 BPG.
Lopez posted 33 point/rebound double-doubles, shot .817 from the free-throw line – third among qualifying centers – and led the Nets in scoring 38 times while scoring 20-plus points 34 times. His player efficiency rating (PER) of 20.11 earned him a spot among the league’s top six centers, and according to the Web site 82games.com, he outperformed his counterparts throughout the year.
Brooke Lopez is a good center for the Hawks and also Devin Harris good PG..
Nippz
May 15th, 2010
7:23 pm
So…anyone what do you really think about my squad?