Atlanta Hawks: LD doesn’t lack confidence
'Congrats, Larry. Any chance you can call J.J. for me?' (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)
Give LD credit. Dude came out strong on his first official day as Hawks head coach. Some highlights:
– LD does not lack confidence. Before he’s even coached a game, he basically has announced himself as an offensive innovator. Asked if there were any teams or coaches that run similar stuff to what he plans to use, LD smiled.
“No,” he said. “This is going to be unique.”
Could he offer some specifics about the system? For example, will it be based on pick-and-rolls?
“It will have some pick-and-roll in it,” he said. “What it does, it forces the ball to move. That is probably the best way to explain it. Yes, teams will try to lock into it, but there are reads to it. There are triggers to it. It forces the ball to move, it forces the body to move. Now we become more effective. We become a five-man attack team. It puts all five guys in position to attack and to score.”
– What about defense, though? There’s two parts to that one. One is Drew’s view on using switches as a base defense, the other is prodding this group to give consistent effort–remember Al’s lament during the playoffs that the Hawks didn’t push themselves “to the point of being uncomfortable” and that’s what kept them from reaching Orlando’s level?
So, is LD cool with the switches?
“I have my philosophies defensively,” he said. “Certainly every coach in the league does. I am going to implement things that I believe in, certain coverages.”
Could he be more specific?
“I will say this: I believe in holding every individual accountable defensively. I think players are too good. If you get caught up in too many gimmick defenses. . . . We weren’t a big gimmick defensive team, but at the same time my philosophy is to hold guys accountable to defend their individual guy.”
In other words, don’t count in switches to bail you out if you can’t stay in front of your man.
– During his news conference LD called out Smoove for his jump-shooting adventures, which I think is one more time than Woody did it in public since I’ve been around.
LD said he wants Josh in situations where he gets the ball moving to the basket and doesn’t have to dribble much to get to the rim. I mentioned Smoove’s effectiveness on pick-and-rolls with Bibby as an underutilized element of the offense, and Drew agreed.
And what does Smoove think about Drew’s “no jump shots” proclamation?
“He’s the head coach,” Smoove said. “Whatever he wants me to do, I am going to do it. I like to be down on the block, anyway. That’s more high-percentage than the outside jump shot. I know that his offensive plays are going to put me right where I need to be at and everybody else.”
Raise your hand if you think it’s going to be that simple for LD with Smoove.
– It’s not like Woody was calling isos from the bench all the time. Yeah, he allowed it to happen with few consequences, but the bottom line is what he wanted often didn’t translate to the court for more than couple possessions at a time before it disintegrated into isos.
What makes LD think he can get better results?
“It will always be a challenge,” he said. “We have run a little variations of it and our players love it. I don’t anticipate it being a problem putting in more.”
Raise your hand if you think it will be that simple for Drew to get J.J. and the gang to break old offensive habits.
– LD hadn’t yet told J.J. that he plans to implement an offense that won’t allow him to dominate the ball. When they last talked, it was still early in Atlanta’s searching process, so LD said the particulars of his approach weren’t yet germane. LD left Joe a message over the weekend but hadn’t heard back.
(”I respect the position he is in,” Drew said. “I know he is [swamped] with a lot of phone calls. When he can get back to me, he will.”)
How J.J. will react to the idea of playing in an offense where he’s not pounding the ball is one of the big offseason questions for Atlanta. The thinking is that if J.J. can change his style, then he’s very valuable to the Hawks, and if he can’t, then not so much.
Drew thinks J.J. will buy in. A preview of his pitch:
“Kobe, Dwyane, LeBron. . . I think Joe works harder than the three of those guys do to get baskets. I think the things I’m talking about implementing will make life easier for him. It will make him more effective and the rest of the guys equally effective.”
– Don’t read too much into J.J. not being at LD’s presser. The Hawks didn’t expect him to be there under the circumstances. Yeah, Jason Collins, RandMo and Mario made it, but then they weren’t going to get mobbed by media asking about their free-agent plans.
–LD offered more evidence that the Hawks are all-in with Rook’ (I’ve decided he’s Rook’ until the league officially changes years on July 1).
“I believe in both guys,” Drew said. “Both have the capabilities of running this offense; both guys will benefit from this offense. Mike is getting closer to my age, but the thing he brings to table is he can still shoot the basketball. [The offense] will create for him instead of him creating for himself. I believe in Teague. I think he has the ability to make team better and have an impact. I think the offense will benefit him with his speed and quickness and ability to break the defense down.”
In other words, the ball is out of J.J.’s hands, in Rook’s hands and Bibby is a spot-up shooter.
– Raise your hand if you think the Hawks are in trouble if this Rook’ experiment doesn’t work out. Because then wouldn’t the temptation be great to turn it back over to J.J. and Bibby again? Good luck going out and finding a legit vet point guard and a center with that mid-level.
MC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
242 comments Add your comment
Hawk n the Ham
June 15th, 2010
11:24 pm
Teague’s nickname was given to him during preseason last year.
Lil’ JT0
cp
June 15th, 2010
11:54 pm
I’m ready for the draft then the summer league. I’m guessing Drew will be coaching the summer league team so we might get to see some of this offense he plans to run. I know last year NBA TV showed the summer league games so hopefully they do it again this year. I also think NBA TV will be doing the draft. I’m going to watch their coverage rather than ESPN. Stuart Scott makes it unbearable to watch the draft now. I think I muted the tv last year because dude was so corny. I also watch the NFL network for their draft. ESPN does everything but tell you what you what you want to know during the draft. I’m happy that NBA TV decided to cover it this year too. Makes it a lot easier to watch now.
Melvin
June 15th, 2010
11:58 pm
LD sounds like a guy who is eager, well prepared and ready to lead this team. Just what this team needed.
doc
June 16th, 2010
12:15 am
thanks for the come back on the chills question mc. sounds like nothing official or even info to be optimistic about.
high hawk, i had some time tonight to listen to the interviews with ld on the radio stations. i think it was on 680 ld addressed the chills factor and said he would fit perfectly into his scheme as a slasher type of player and would discuss it further with sund. doesnt mean he will be back but is at least in the discussions. i have long wished he were a part of this. check out the interviews posted either here or on the fan blog done well by mister big ray also known and loved by some as big gay.
at jss, lol.
Big Ray
June 16th, 2010
1:58 am
Raise your hand if this “Teague experiment” thing has you worried. Now raise your hand if you were one of those people who scoffed at Teague’s meager playing time last year, spouted off about him not having earned playing time because he couldn’t show you regular rotation production with “scrub minutes”, and figured he just lacked the skills to get the job done, despite the praise he got from his coach (who figured he had plenty of time before Bibby started getting run down). Now take that hand and smack yourself on the forehead. Hard.
Something tells me that will all the mentioning of “variations” by Drew in regard to his offense, he won’t have a problem implementing any necessary changes or adjustments to opposing teams, when they catch on to what the Hawks are doing. How is that for a change of pace. Actual coaching.
His defensive philosophy is better than I thought, as he will hold guys accountable for actually guarding their man. Goodbye switching defense, you won’t be missed, unless your name is Mike Bibby or Jamal Crawford. No more “hiding” people with our defensive scheme. No more 4s and 5s trying to guard 1s and 2s. At least not for possession after possession.
Thank God for a coach who calls guys out on day 1. Now Joe doesn’t have to wait until post game media interviews to do it. As much as I still think Josh needs to develop a decent midrange jumper, if Drew wants him on the block, Josh learns some solid go to moves (and gets the ball in transition more, as Drew says he should, with minimal dribbling), and it works out…then I have no complaints.
If Joe can’t get with an offensive scheme that lets him shoot less difficult shots (and makes him more effective), but limits his ball pounding and ISOs….then he can kick rocks. We don’t need a selfish player with a max contract. I’d rather have less talent and more team chemistry. Bring in Brewer/Morrow, on the double.
I never thought, and still don’t think that Childress is ever going to wear a Hawks uniform again. I’d like to be wrong (for the right amount of money, of course), but I don’t think I am, unfortunately.
Grandad
June 16th, 2010
2:08 am
Big Ray:
I think holding the guys accountable is much more important
than whatever scheme we run.
Also a team can switch on & with paticular players wlile not
with others.
Flexibility on defense sometimes trumps the mule-headed approach.
Seems his [Woody] mentor Coach Knight (whom I respect) has some
of those very same [rigid] qualities.
Greensboro, Georgia
June 16th, 2010
3:34 am
————————————–
……Nesbitt for Heisman……
————————————–
truthspitter
June 16th, 2010
5:41 am
I’m about to go grow a 15 inch penis, raise your hand if you believe me?
Urban Meyer
June 16th, 2010
7:09 am
Ranks as the dumbest Hawks move in history!
O'Brien
June 16th, 2010
7:14 am
Listening to LD’s radio interviews, he is saying the same thing that us average fans have been saying the entire year. Too much ISOs, not enough ball movement, Josh needs to be in the post more, and we need to defend better. Hopefully he can convince the players to buy in, and trust each other.
Also, there is an interview on 680 where LD said one of the problems with Marvin was he did not know his role, and did not know when shots were coming. Hopefully once Marvin’s role is defined, and we get better ball movement, maybe Marvin can improve on his season from last year (although I can’t imagine him getting worse). Although as Rod would say, I’m not holding my breath.
Big Ray,
Does that mean LD is going to throw Teague to the wolves this year? It’s interesting how a guy can go from “not worthy of minutes” to (potentially) being the starter. And that’s even before summer league and training camp.
He has some of the things we lacked last year. Speed, quickness, better defense at the point, quick hands, the ability to get guys involved, and he was a one man fast break at times. I hope Jeff realizes the opportunity he has, and will work his tail off to improve this offseason (and he should be taking 500 jumpers and floaters a day).
drmaryb
June 16th, 2010
7:42 am
MJ
Put up 300 made three pointers per day before he went home after practices – however long it took, sometimes till 11 pm. Meanwhile! Allen Iverson was holding press conferences and asking,
“Practice? Your’re talking to me?
Woodson 2.0
June 16th, 2010
7:50 am
My former boss.
Woodson’s mentor and long time boss was Larry Brown, it is true that he attended I.U. under Bobby Knight and was knight go to guy, but Woodson learned the pro game from Larry Brown. Thats who taught him about coaching and the game of basketball
He came to the Hawks after a stint as an assistant coach on the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons NBA Championship team and was a long-time assistant under Larry Brown. Woodson was known for getting the most of defensive players, allowing teams coached by him and Brown to limit opponents to just under 42% shooting. Woodson played college basketball at Indiana University and was a protege of legendary coach Bob Knight. He was the leading scorer on the 1979 Indiana team that won the NIT championship.
GTT
June 16th, 2010
7:52 am
I hear Speedy Claxton might be available.
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
8:23 am
Somebody ask Larry Drew if he can play defense without a CENTER ? To quote Ron Simmons “Damn !”
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
8:25 am
If Drew can get Marvin Williams to play a full game with effort that will be a miracle in itself… Remember that Marvin was the 6th man at UNC not Jordan.
Samuel
June 16th, 2010
8:25 am
I am happy that LD got his big break. Just not too happy it is with our team. A team who won 53 ball games, a team trying to sign it’s best player and move to another level. The man sounds very sincere and hopefully he will be a good coach, “one day”.
I sounds easy to say that you’re gonna hold people accountable which I take it to mean, bench them if they don’t, but who will you replace them with?
JJ hasn’t even talked to the man yet. Ding!!!Ding!!!!Ding!!!!
Mr. Drew has his work cut out for him. We need to finish at least in the top 4 or our chances in the first round are greatly reduced. Considering the fact that Eastern Conference teams have loads of money to throw at FAs and and the top 3 draft picks go to Eastern Conference teams, our chances look slim to me. We will be pushing it to make the playoffs.
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
8:29 am
So MC, why is it that Childress would be a sign and trade instead of sign and play for the Hawks. Hawks need him more than any other team does. If Hawks lose JJ then J.Smith is your 1st offensive scoring option. Hawks will go 20-62 if that’s the case…
Woodson 2.0
June 16th, 2010
8:33 am
If all the hawks played all the time at 80% of their ability(no one plays 100% all the time), they would end up 47-50 games won. Last year the experts at a 95% clip picked the hawks to finish 4th-8th seed. One guy pick them 3rd. Hawks had a great year but the playoffs, as was predicted, exposed their weak low post game.
If this issue inst address this year as it wasn’t last year how can you expect a different result? As it stands now the Hawks will be 1 and done next year assuming they make the playoffs. A lot of teams are closing the gap and likewise the hawks are falling back to the middle of the pack.
1) like it or not we are not going to win a championship with a power forward named horford as your center. (sorry Florida fans) he’s neither wise enough, strong enough, big enough nor has the defensive tools necessary to lead us to the promise land. What he brings is a career 12 pts per game, 9 rebounds less than 1/2 a block for every foul he commits. He failed to garner any votes from the league coaches who analyzed his defense lack of skill (ok sautee he got 1 mysterious vote).
He may be a very popular guy, but if you get past the hype and look at the numbers he doesn’t bring very much offensively and is a noodle defensively. Popularity don’t win ball games.
2) It was by design that Teague would sit under Bibby his first year and then split time next year and take over by play offs. Bibby sign a 3 year contract and it was explained that when the hawks drafted a guard what his role would be. To all the Bibby haters. The man has done every thing the Hawks have asked him. In his first year here the man was the #3 3pt shooter and was a contributing factor to the Hawks growth. Yes, his skills are declining but he has always been one of the more intelligent guards in the lead. With all the declining he had a tremendous turnover to assist rate.
Teague has had ample time to get game experience grow up (pull your pants up over your butt), learn about the pro game and watch some of the best guards in the NBA and also play against some. Not only did he see JJ ,Bibby, Crawford but he saw little Nate Robinson shred us under the basket like little Tony Parked did the year before. He should know by now that a good point guard will break down interior post defenses and with his quickness that’s what will be expected of him.
No guard is a rookie at the end of the season. Now with play off experience to boot Teague has this summer to let all this sink in.
Its not “throwing Teague to the wolves”. Its time for Teague to step up, assert his game and shed that “turnover Teague” mentality . He should not be the turnover factory who can be a ball hog and doesn’t know how to run an offense. He should be more refined after last year. He should not be “thrown to the Wolves” he should be a Wolf!
Which brings me to my closing point. Why do blogger take a softy mentality with the hawks? Grandad says ” hold them accountable”. Im for that. There are just too many cop-outs inherent in the Hawks roster to be a serious contender.
Ive never seen an excuse win a Championship.
Woodson 2.0
June 16th, 2010
8:40 am
Samuel
June 16th, 2010
8:25 am
I think what Grandad is saying is the scheme doesnt execute play, players do. Its not about your offensive game plan as much as it is about how you execute….or not.
Getting it done is the bottom line but…I got to both laugh at and agree with :
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
8:23 am
Somebody ask Larry Drew if he can play defense without a CENTER ? To quote Ron Simmons “Damn !”
drmaryb
June 16th, 2010
8:41 am
Robdawg08
If JJ leaves (which I doubt), our 1st scoring option will be Horford and 2nd option would be J-Quick.
Inside peanut-butter – Outside Jelly!
Josh Smith would be 3rd. (Duh)! What team are you coaching?
Or, if LD runs the motion offense he describes?
There should be no 1st, 2nd, 3rd options, it should the best shot available with severe ball movement (no dribbling whatsoever) and all the parts in motion moving toward the basket with trigger options to get high percentage shots. That, sound like 5 on 5 to me.
He who moves his butt – has equal opportunity to score!
Woodson 2.0
June 16th, 2010
8:44 am
* if this issue inst addressed
Woodson 2.0
June 16th, 2010
8:44 am
*isnt
calling all cars
June 16th, 2010
8:46 am
If JJ leaves wouldnt crawford become a number 1 option? Id hate to rely on 12 pts a game from horffy.
drmaryb
June 16th, 2010
8:52 am
Cars
If a systematic offensive scheme is implemented? Horford WILL score more than 12 per game!
That is the POINT! To run a system – NOT a play!
calling all cars
June 16th, 2010
8:53 am
if “if” and “ands” were pots and pans, the world would be a kitchen
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
9:02 am
Horford will get rejected in the paint a lot from true centers blocking his shots. Crawford will be the 6th man, 6th men aren’t your top scorers (or shouldn’t be). If you read what LD is saying, J.Smith will be his go to guy.
Joe Mama
June 16th, 2010
9:02 am
Yeah , Cars, Woodson ran play for Horford last year to which horford increased to 14 pts per game. The problem is horford cannot create his own shot, cannot shot over the bigger center in the post and must be “set up” in order to score. If we really wanted an offensive threat in the low post we could have had Stoudemire Who was and is available. I think hes some where around 21-23 pts per game. He would not need to be set up (that forces every one else to stand around) can create his own shot, draws double teams and can be a real first option.
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
9:08 am
If Hawks could just rewrite history and have drafted C.Paul instead Loaf Williams…
Is it some unwritten rule in stone that the Hawks franchise cannot have a good center ? As Woodson 2.0 says Horford is a PF. He can block shots of other forwards but true centers will use him like a Kotex pad in the paint.
Joe Mama
June 16th, 2010
9:08 am
Josh cant shoot out side, and gets his baskets off the slash and on breaks, picks and rolls but is not a offensive night mare although he is clearly better than horford.
If JJ leaves Crawford is the only man who can create his own shot whether half court or coast to coast.
Having said that I do believe at one time or another Josh will reach super star status. If he gets an outside shot going he will be unstoppable.
If JJ leaves you have to fill that void with Crawford and Moe Evans becomes your sixth man, until the hawks can increase there roster talent. The bottom line is once JJ is gone its slim pickings.
Joe Mama
June 16th, 2010
9:09 am
Loaf William….LOL
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
9:11 am
@BrittishAnger: “Oh….and haven’t we already argued about what we should be calling Jeff Teague? Something like Lil’ Big Man? Yup…you can drop rook on the 24th if you gotta keep the albatross around his neck…it’s your popcorned vehicle….”
haha
What in the world does this mean MC ? Can we get a translator ?
Joe Mama
June 16th, 2010
9:12 am
I hope you are right about JJ not leaving drmaryb.
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
9:14 am
For proof just force yourself to the horrible memories of D.Howard making all those dunks in the playoffs this year, over Horford. Heck, over Horford,J.Smith,and M.Williams at the same time…
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
9:17 am
It could work if Hawks had a deadly perimeter shooter Josh could dish ball to when he slashes to the basket and gets triple teamed. But if that guy is Bibby or Teague most likely the shot will be missed.
JC
June 16th, 2010
9:19 am
@Urban – “This ranks as the dumbest move in Hawks history” Really? You’re putting this above the 2005 NBA Draft? You realize we can fire LD at any time if he doesn’t live up to performances and still get Casey or Jackson – it’s not like anyone else is courting them right now. Whereas we have to watch Chris Paul and Deron Williams in every All-Star game for the next decade.
bigdave
June 16th, 2010
9:28 am
http://www.stationcaster.com/player.php?s=87&c=671&f=51587
bigdave
June 16th, 2010
9:29 am
http://www.790thezone.com/instantreplay/
drmaryb
June 16th, 2010
9:32 am
Cars
Your 846 Post began with: ” IF” JJ leaves Josh would be our first option?
Based on your reply? I guess that makes you a pot or a pan!
JC
June 16th, 2010
9:39 am
@drmaryb – without JJ, Horford is our #1 scoring option? What? This season, Crawford averaged 18.0 and Smoove averaged 15.7 to Al’s 14.6 ppg. And implementing an offense with more movement is certainly going to decrease low-post opportunities for Horford to score. Plus, only Hakeem and Wilt have ever led scoring for their team at center.
If Horford becomes our first option on offense, we’re all screwed.
bigdave
June 16th, 2010
9:42 am
do you think Joe is a max contract type player?
Larry Drew: “under the system he is”
MsDee
June 16th, 2010
9:47 am
MC,
How are the draft prospects doing?? I thought we would have heard something about them by now.
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
9:49 am
That’s good stuff Joe Moma ! LMAO.
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
9:51 am
Yeah passing on C.Paul & D.Williams to draft a 6th man like Loaf was the worst move ever made by the Hawks (no)braintrust.
calling all cars
June 16th, 2010
9:53 am
drmaryb
June 16th, 2010
9:32 am
Cars
Your 846 Post began with: ” IF” JJ leaves Josh would be our first option?
Based on your reply? I guess that makes you a pot or a pan!
Funny, but wrong. I asked if crawford would be our next option. Just a question. As for as the pots and pans. I was just trying to humorously illustrate that we can rely on possibilities or magic dust. While it hasnt been disproven that horford wont score higher in with an offense geared around him it has been proven that he lacks the tool to want to implement such a scheme any way.
I have never been one to build on possibilities but rather on fact and research.
By the way…if “if ” were a fifth, we could get drunk.
drmaryb
June 16th, 2010
9:53 am
Robdawg08
I NEVER read or heard L.D. EVER say Josh would be his #1 option? That is a LIE!
How would he know who the #1 option, IF he doesn’t know if JJ will resign or NOT?
Much less, who will make the roster?
Why put your spin on this – or words in his mouth? Go – Figure.
calling all cars
June 16th, 2010
9:55 am
* cant rely
By the way, drmaryb, did I tell you I caught a live alien? Would you like to see him/he/it?
truth serum will now call me Big Gay
June 16th, 2010
9:55 am
Its not “throwing Teague to the wolves”. Its time for Teague to step up, assert his game and shed that “turnover Teague” mentality . He should not be the turnover factory who can be a ball hog and doesn’t know how to run an offense. He should be more refined after last year. He should not be “thrown to the Wolves” he should be a Wolf!
Okay…
1) Don’t you want to know if you have a wolf or not, from day 1? The only way to find out is to throw him out there. And I don’t mean mostly during garbage minutes. During one five game stretch last year, in which Teague got significant minutes, he looked very much like a wolf. The rest of the time, he looked like any rook getting 9 or 10 garbage minutes a game is likely to look. Secondly, explain to me how a guy who averaged 1.7 assists per game, and 0.7 turnovers per game, is a turnover machine. That’s nearly a 2.5 to 1 assist/turnover ratio, which isn’t bad for a rookie, and a guy who some think might not be a “baller.” By the way, it’s not a turnover when you pass the ball to a guy, but he fumbles it and misses his shot…
2) It was by design that Teague would sit under Bibby his first year and then split time next year and take over by play offs. Bibby sign a 3 year contract and it was explained that when the hawks drafted a guard what his role would be.
Really? This is what Sund and Woody agreed on? Looks like somebody has insider knowledge that the rest of us don’t have. Either that, or they are full of it. At any rate, Sund and Gearon both made comments about Teague’s playing time (uh, lack of ) after we got booted from the playoffs and as Woody was told he wouldn’t be extended. Hmmmm….makes the above assertion sound like…BS…
3) Teague has had ample time to get game experience grow up (pull your pants up over your butt), learn about the pro game and watch some of the best guards in the NBA and also play against some. Not only did he see JJ ,Bibby, Crawford but he saw little Nate Robinson shred us under the basket like little Tony Parked did the year before. He should know by now that a good point guard will break down interior post defenses and with his quickness that’s what will be expected of him.
Ample time to watch, less ample time to get game experience. Even Woody said it was hard being a rookie and not getting playing time. But why mention what Woody said when it will only get twisted by someone who can’t accept the truth. Here’s my favorite part:
He should know by now that a good point guard will break down interior post defenses and with his quickness that’s what will be expected of him.
Really? Did he learn that from Bibby? OH, and here I was thinking that there was no such thing as a good pg breaking down our interior post defenses, it was all just Horford sucking as a defender. All this time it was pgs blowing past our perimeter defenders and breaking down our interior defense! FINALLY, the truth is revealed and accepted! What a breakthrough!
….try and back off of THAT one. The only way out of this jam is to tell a bigger, bolder lie than usual, or falsely accuse me of twisting words (instead of quoting you and making you chew, swallow, and digest it).
4) like it or not we are not going to win a championship with a power forward named horford as your center. (sorry Florida fans) he’s neither wise enough, strong enough, big enough nor has the defensive tools necessary to lead us to the promise land. What he brings is a career 12 pts per game, 9 rebounds less than 1/2 a block for every foul he commits. He failed to garner any votes from the league coaches who analyzed his defense lack of skill (ok sautee he got 1 mysterious vote).
He may be a very popular guy, but if you get past the hype and look at the numbers he doesn’t bring very much offensively and is a noodle defensively. Popularity don’t win ball games.
Half a block for every foul he commits? What the “F” kinda stat is that? And I guess Dwight Howard isn’t wise, strong, tough, or in possession of the necessary defensive tools either, because Orlando hasn’t won the championship either. Didn’t they almost get swept by the team we beat 4 times in the regular season, right after sweeping us? Man, who would have thought it possible that such an awesome center would let that happen. After all, it always comes down to the center and no one else, right?
Looks like the NBA championship is going to be won by either a team with a center with really bad knees, or a team with a center who didn’t make the all-star team (and oddly enough, hurt his knee last night). Either team will win because of either a wing player or a power forward. Go figure.
ILL-logical
June 16th, 2010
9:58 am
If a grade were to be assigned to this story ,it would have to be an incomplete because while the new incumbant head coach,who I am on record as advocating for at least for the last year, had all of the pat answers, he wasn’t asked all of the right questions.
First, while the point guard issue was addressed-but not resolved- there were no questions regarding the center position,especially in the defensive scheme that is yet to be determined.All-Star Al, whose intagibles are clearly a value add to the team, doesn’t appear to have the skill set to be that guy. for all of the talk about his being undersized, let’s not forget how he fared against Kurt Thomas ,who is AAA’s size.
Second, for all of the discussion of Josh’s outside shooting limitations, there was no discussion about about requiring him to address those limitattions in the off season with Mark Price. Changing the offensive scheme is only one part of the calculus-teams will force him away from the basket so he must be able to counter that with some degree of outside shooting proficiency.
Last, but by no means least, is the question of what are the plans if Joe elects not to return? I am an agnostic as to Joe’s value to the team’s future improvement but I do recognize that his departure raises some serious issues. and none of those were explored in the interviews. For whatever reason.
MC: could a brother dig a little deeper?
there he goes again
June 16th, 2010
9:59 am
DRMARYB,
It is a lie. But you have to understand that there is only one person who is posting under several different names, all of whom agree with and appreciate what the so called others are saying. Quite simple and retarded really.
robdawg08
June 16th, 2010
10:02 am
Maryjblige, read the quotes in this blog from MC. He adresses J.Smith directly. And I said IF JJ DOESN”T RESIGN. (Damn !)