Atlanta Hawks: ASG says Hawks not for sale
AJC wise guy Jeff Schultz weighed in on the latest report about the Atlanta Spirit Group’s supposed desire to sell the Hawks. The New York Post says ASG is looking to sell Philips Arena and the Hawks as a package deal and wants to unload the Thrashers separately.
Judging by the sports radio chatter this morning and blog comments in the past, Hawks fans would love it if ASG sold the team. But each time these stories flare up, ASG owners (when they’ve addressed the rumors) have consistently denied an interest in selling the team and insist they only want to take on investors. Micheal Gearon Jr. and Bruce Levenson released a statement today:
“As has been shared publicly for more than a year, we are interested in finding minority investors and have engaged a firm to assist us in that effort. We have no plans to move either team, and remain committed to the Hawks, the Thrashers, Philips Arena and the city of Atlanta.”
That’s not exactly a firm “We don’t want to sell the team,” though Gearon also e-mailed WSB-TV’s Zach Klein and said: “I have no interest in selling.”
It seems fans who want ASG to sell are dreaming of a deep-pocketed owner swooping in to spend big money on the franchise and provide one, clear voice for the direction of the team. But the chances of that happening are slim even if ASG is willing to part with the team because, think about it, apparently ASG is having trouble even finding proverbial minority investors.
It’s not an easy sell. The new owner(s) would have to continue to take short-term losses while believing there’s a chance to make money in the near future, an iffy proposition in the Atlanta market. Also, there just don’t seem to be many rich people running around looking to buy franchises nowadays. As the Post story notes, the Nets got “lucky” to sell the team to Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov after an 18-month search–and that’s a team in the New York market that eventually play in Brooklyn.
So whether ASG is looking to take on investors or, as the Post says, sell the whole dang thing, first they need to find investors or buyers. Good luck with that.
MC
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297 comments Add your comment
trade horford
June 19th, 2010
11:18 pm
hawks4lifer
June 19th, 2010
2:00 pm
“Until Horford himself comes out and says he would rather play pf I am not listening to any moron who says he cant play center.”
Finally, Al Horford gave an interview to the Associated Press regarding playing in the Dominican Republic this offseason. He also indicates he’s ready to sign a long term deal to stay in the NBA and offers this (translated, emphasis mine) gem:
Horford considered that the young Hawks need a point guard and a genuine center, enabling him to play as power forward.
If Al truly believes this, then he disagrees with Mark Bradley and Rick Sund, who both believe he is perfectly suited for his role as center. I believe that Al still struggles mentally with having to take on the biggest the NBA has to offer every night, and it shows with hurried moves and shots against larger opponents.
sam'l
June 19th, 2010
11:33 pm
I personally thought we had the best team last year since 57 when I started following the Hawks. I also thought we had a chance to go all the way. Had the team fought hard consistently and played with fervor throughout each game and made the adjustments that all winning NBA teams make including playing hell for leather defense, I think the team would have been universally respected.
That’s what it takes to bring in fans…, respect for the club’s brains and heart…….
.
JeJe
June 20th, 2010
12:03 am
IF ASG IS SO WORRIED ABOUT MONEY, THEN JUST SIGN IVERSON, SHAQ, AND TMAC. CAN PROBABLY GET ALL 3 FOR A COMBINED 8 MILL AT THIS STAGE IN THEIR CAREERS
JeJe
June 20th, 2010
12:05 am
if horford DOESNT FEEL HE IS A CENTER, THEN TELL SUND SO WE CAN MAKE CHANGES. ARE U TELLING ME THAT FOR2 YEARS U HAVE PLAYED CENTER AND NOT COMMUNICATED THIS TO THE FRONT OFFICE? U ARE A TOP 10 CENTER BUT IF U ARE REALLY A PF THEN LET’S GET JOSH SMITH’S LAZY ASS OUTTA HERE AND GET CHRIS KAMAN OR SOMEONE WHO CAN PLAY CENTER.
ONLY GET A CENTER IF SMOOVE LEAVES. U CANNOT PUT SMOOVE AT THE 3
Grandad
June 20th, 2010
1:12 am
Everyone keeps worrying about Josh playing the [3].
Why?
Offensivly, LD is going to run a system/scheme
that will put the players in position to be successful.
On off. Josh may be a [5] but he most likely will be
in motion. It’s my understanding, LD has some
Princeton offense background, therefore
movement & cutting will be paramount.
Likewise
Defensively, if properly coached, Josh can be another
Ron Artest. [except more athletic]
So
Marv would/will be the perfect back-up for all three positions
[3,4,5] as he is suited and or experienced @ all three.
Thus
Allowing us to go after a true [5] whether it be draft or FA.
gcs
June 20th, 2010
1:15 am
Everybody collect as many real estate “For Sale” signs that you can get and put them in front of Phillips Arena. Maybe ASG will get the message.
.
hawks_4_life
June 20th, 2010
2:33 am
Its really funny how easy as fans we can just cast judgement without having any of the pressures involved in that decision. What if they sell the hawks and move them from Atlanta, what now? It probably wont matter cause there is no attendance anyway. Ive been a hawks fan since the days of Dominque, Willis, Rivers, Webb etc, like most of you on here though Im not a native of Atlanta. I remembered when I was stationed in upstate New York I would travel four hours to Toronto to see the game and I loved it. I cant imagine the Hawks playing for another city and thats a possibility if ASG sells but most fans I guess dont see that. ASG never should a propensity to be cheap, they are just wise with their spending.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 20th, 2010
4:08 am
“Its really funny how easy as fans we can just cast judgement without having any of the pressures involved in that decision. What if they sell the hawks and move them from Atlanta, what now?”
Is it asking too much to expect the Hawks to be owned by a person or group that keeps them in the ATL, spends the money to put out a quality product, AND does the other things (hiring good front office people, marketing, etc.) that all lead to a winning organization?
I mean, it’s not like every great team in the league either now or in the recent past has been in a big market. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Rays, etc. have succeeded in not so huge markets because they made good decisions from top to bottom in the organization over an extended period of time. Somehow, sports franchises in markets big and small across America find a way to put together successful organizations and continue to win. Why shouldn’t we in Atlanta expect the same level of competence from our sports teams?
It’s easy and foolish to say that we shouldn’t cast judgment on the DASG because we are not in their position. By that logic we shouldn’t cast judgment on Barack Obama or Tony Hayward because we are not in their positions either. We as fans are buying the tickets that keep the DASG’s business afloat; if anyone has the right to cast judgment on the DASG, it’s us.
I am no big fan of the Atlanta sports fan base’s fickleness and general apathy towards the local pro sports teams. But the fact is the Hawks were 18th in attendance and 22nd in payroll this year. 1,500 tickets separated the Hawks’ average home attendance from the top 10; at 41 home games a year and an estimated average ticket price of about $75 (which is probably too high), that’s about $4.7 million in additional gate revenue they could have had if they had a top 10 attendance. $9 million separates the Hawks from the top 10 in the league in payroll. The Hawks just hired the cheapest of their four possible coaching candidates. As bad as the Hawks fan base may be compared to other fan bases, the ownership was worse compared to other NBA owners. Who is really to blame — the fans for “only” filling Philips to 88% of its capacity, or the DASG for projecting an image of mismanagement and disorganization?
“ASG never should a propensity to be cheap, they are just wise with their spending.”
I am not hating on the DASG solely for being cheap; their inability and unwillingness to spend money like the league’s elite franchises is only part of the problem. Their acceptance of mediocrity like Rick Sund, who came in with a perfectly mediocre track record and has hamstrung this franchise by committing $22 million in annual salary to three non-factors and keeping the Hawks out of this summer’s free agent derby, is just as much of a culprit. Where’s our Sam Presti who presses all the right buttons and makes all the right moves? The irony of it all is that the next Presti or Daryl Morey probably wouldn’t even cost as much as a retread like Sund. There’s no way anyone can, with a straight face, say that the Hawks have spent money wisely.
Just like in any other business or even in government, spending money unwisely is at least as harmful as not spending money. The DASG has been alternately been guilty of both during their time as the Hawks owners, and the end result is a team that has managed to accumulate enough talent (over an excruciating long period of time) to win 50 games but despite underachieving big time in this year’s playoffs, realistically has little to no hope of improving to championship-contender level as currently constructed. The idea that we should suspend all criticism of this franchise just because ATL sports franchises have historically been mediocre or because 1,500 more fans don’t show up to each game is just dumb.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 20th, 2010
4:09 am
By the way, hawks_4_life, not trying to pick on you with that long response; there are many people on this blog who share most or all of your opinions, and my post was addressed to all of them.
hawks_4_life
June 20th, 2010
4:38 am
Najeh its all debate I dont take this personal.
Is it asking too much to expect the Hawks to be owned by a person or group that keeps them in the ATL, spends the money to put out a quality product, AND does the other things (hiring good front office people, marketing, etc.) that all lead to a winning organization?
Its not asking too much but also is it asking too much for people to give the team better support than they have shown? This past season was one of the most successful in past memory in the regular season yet we were 18th in attendance. How can we expect the owner to shell out cash when our attendance figures arent up especially after the season we just had. Forget the post season we were trash but the regular season we excelllent. You are right Sund dont have a great track record and I was very skeptical when he was hired but he made some excellent deals for the franchise. No long do we have old washed up over paid players, we have a very exciting team. I can understand the style of play may have turned some off however the record dont lie. Give me one reason the owners should hit the luxury tax? Because this team or that team do it is not a good reason.
dap01
June 20th, 2010
7:37 am
Dang, I wish we knew something of who the Hawks were looking for in the draft. I wish we knew what positions or who was being considered for free agency. Has any college players worked out other that Lawal?
trade horford
June 20th, 2010
7:58 am
Big Ray
June 19th, 2010
1:51 pm
Truth Serum ,
“Good link to Peachtree Hoops. Here’s what’s funny, though. Just like every other time I hear something about Al not being a center and the need to get a starting center for the Hawks
suffice it to say, no matter how much you hate Al Horford (and you do), so many people will be more willing to part with somebody else and keep HIM. Sorry, dude.”
You and All of al’s many fans take criticism of Al religiously. Observing your cult like behavior for a powerforward who is average at best.
Consider (if its possible) Out of 30 coach’s only 1 felt that he could make the NBA all defensive team and that vote was for the second team. ( To this you cover your eyes and put your fingers in your ears and bow down and worship a mediocre center)
Al Got 0 thats spelled zero and in spanish nil, zero (pronounced zhirr-o) votes to be on the all nba team and this format actually had a 1st, 2nd and 3rd team.
He has a career average of ….12 points? Some how you still have your fingers in your ears and your eyes covered. Bow down and worship.
Al ranked # 18 among centers in blocking shots. (are you still looking the other way?)
Al has a .41 block shot to foul ratio which is a very clear indicator that he is not dexterous in playing the post because the is almost always in foul trouble when trying to be aggressive in the post, in fact (and these are facts) on average if all were to have a 3 block night( manute Bol who was not a great center, God Bless, averaged 3.3 and played because of this stat alone) if horford would foul out or be in serious foul trouble at his second block . Dont tell me about the 1 or 2 games where this wasnt the case tell me about the 80 games where this was.
Al’s sole claim to fame is that he gets the rebound when the more athletic, higher scoring and defensively superior Josh Smith blocks shot, (By the way Josh did make the defensive team at his position, Al was not considered.)
All most all starting power forward and center average 8 / 9 rebounds so Al is doing nothing exceptional in getting Josh’s rebounds after josh block a shot.
My objective criticism of Al is what it is. Im sorry you want to paint it as hate. I did not mean to offend your god. Al by my books and apparently his to is a mediocre center better suited to play power forward. Having him at that position, center, is one of the main reasons the hawks will not advance. I will stay on this point till the hawks make a change. Its nothing personal or an attack against your god. I’m sorry you take it that way.
In the words of sargent friday of dragnet ” Just the facts ma’am.”
DEFENSE WINS!!
trade horford
June 20th, 2010
8:08 am
*al horford would foul out or be in serious foul trouble at his second block seeing that on average it takes al 3 fouls to get one block (clearly hes like a fish on the shore, flopping around out manned)
*Al by my books and apparently his own to is a mediocre center better suited to play power forward. At least Al is willing to admit the Hawks would be better, to use is words,” if they got a real center”.
Al is not curse for making the statement yet you , Blue Ray, accuse me of hate for making the same statement.
Whats freaking wrong with this picture?
OK you can take your fingers out of your ears now and uncover your eyes.
You may now open your mouth and let the diarrhea flow.
trade horford
June 20th, 2010
8:14 am
Just in case you guys want to ignore that Al himself has said that the hawks would be better if they got” a real center”.
http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2010/5/25/1486247/its-come-to-this-another-links
JeJe
June 20th, 2010
9:38 am
WHY IS THERE NEVER TALK ABOUT GIVING PLAYERS EXTENSIONS AFTER THE 3RD YEAR OF THEIR ROOKIE CONTRACTS FOR THE HAWKS? WHY IS HORFORD NOT GONNA GET AN EXTENSION THIS SUMMER?
NOTE HE SAID HE’S READY TO SIGN A LONG TERM CONTRACT IN THE NBA. HE DIDN’T EXACTLY SAY THE HAWKS. LOLOLOLOL
Ramon
June 20th, 2010
10:03 am
Najeh, I get what you’re saying but Atlanta has a lot more choices for premium entertainment over Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, and Detroit.
Grandad
June 20th, 2010
10:53 am
Hatter:
I’ve an idea that should make you happy.
Let’s move Al to the [4] & Josh to the [5].
NOW:
There you have it.
You’ve got your shot-blocking Center;
we’ve got Al @ the [4];;
eeeeev v v r r y-bodys happy !!!
Go Hawks !
Sautee
June 20th, 2010
11:02 am
Whining about having an All-Star Center is like complaining about the farmers with your mouth full. (Hint: It makes you lose credibility)
Will Truth-serum EVER stop his incessant whining?
Not Likely, from this last post.
Hey Truth-serum, Al is our starting center. Get over it.
Sour grapes make for an awfully bitter whine.
O'Brien
June 20th, 2010
11:08 am
Ramon,
All the more reasons why the ASG needs to make better marketing decisions, better hiring decisions and better drafting decisions.
doc
June 20th, 2010
11:08 am
najeh:
“I am no big fan of the Atlanta sports fan base’s fickleness and general apathy towards the local pro sports teams. But the fact is the Hawks were 18th in attendance and 22nd in payroll this year. 1,500 tickets separated the Hawks’ average home attendance from the top 10; at 41 home games a year and an estimated average ticket price of about $75 (which is probably too high), that’s about $4.7 million in additional gate revenue they could have had if they had a top 10 attendance.”
this is exactly what i have been saying for months to years, in numbers. there is little to be gained by spending more. the return on investment for spending above the cap is not there unless the owners are willing to and want to take the risk, for whatever reason. again the suns are just he example of what najeh created, top ten sending and only brought in about 800 more fans a game if memory serves me from when i was looking over the data as northcyde and i waxed on about cheap fans vs. cheap owners, him more eloquently than i.
which is the cart and which is the horse? i say it is always the responsibility of the owner, therefore he is the horse. if the owners put up their money at the rate of similar markets and dont get folks to come and have an entertaining product then they can complain and shame on us. if they do the opposite, have the 22nd in money spent and 18th in fan attendance then they have no room to complain. i think the owners, as in any business, must generate the enthusiasm in competitive environments whether it is soft drinks or sports/entertainment enterprises. it is not the other way around.
it takes more on the marketing front than yelling on all the billboards “now you know” to generate enthusiasm. they have failed miserably. i might emphasize whenever they open their mouths it just generate derisive comebacks from the fan base, from the top gearon, to knight, (remember how maladroit he was with the spoken word?), to woody to jj, whenever their leaders in all those fronts open their mouths to condescend to the little people … us. does this remind you of any other failing corporation? try frigging BP on for size and you have the formula for pr success the hawks use.
THANKS NAJEH AGAIN VERY INSIGHTFUL.
happy fathers day, out there to you guys. i imagine there might be one or two.
greatest experience i have ever had.yeah, greater than being a fan of the hawks now for 53 years.
Sautee
June 20th, 2010
11:17 am
Truth-serum,
You said this: “My objective criticism of Al is what it is. Im sorry you want to paint it as hate.”
Actually, your long post this morning was mostly lucid, and a welcome break from the derogatory bs that you USUALLY spew. You know what I’m talking about.
How can you call Al “W h o r e f o r d” and “byatch and say that it’s “objective criticism and not hate?
If you would stick to posts like this mornings’ I doubt anyone would be saying you are hateful, but when you start to get derogatory….. well let’s just say it lessens you in ways that you don’t seem to perceive.
drmaryb
June 20th, 2010
11:48 am
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
To ALL the MEN bloggers! Even, IF you have no children – YOU do have a Father in Heaven and on Earth!
Again, Happy Father’s Day!
Grandad
June 20th, 2010
11:50 am
Hey Guys & Gals [Mary Ellen] +
I may have found our BIG:
Lets hope Pendercrap is / has been playin’ poker.
Tibor Pleiss (Germany)
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Tibor-Pleiss-1396/
Supposedly OK City wants & is gonna take him @ 26.
drmaryb
June 20th, 2010
11:52 am
Sautee
Preaching some Gospel & Truth on a Sunday Morning!
Can I get an AMEN from the Congregation?
drmaryb
June 20th, 2010
11:56 am
Amare Stoudamire
Amare is NOT a true Center either, at least to me he is not a defensive first player
& he i s NOT a Max-Cintract Player.
We need an enforcer to Patrol the paint and rebound. Most of all, effective penetrating and defensive PG play!
Grandad
June 20th, 2010
11:58 am
Another link for Tibor Pleiss:
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/tibor-pleiss
Amen
Ken Strickland
June 20th, 2010
11:58 am
SAUTEE-when it comes to TRUTH SERUM, and his many mental refuges, you’re beating a dead horse. But never the less, KEEP WHIPPING THAT DEAD A$$ HORSE SAUTEE!! There’s a reason he seldom if ever responds to anything you say. And when he does, he attacks the messenger, and not the message.
The thing that reveals his extremely low basketball IQ is his obsession with AHorford. How can anyone but a person with a none existent basketball IQ think an All Star CENTER like Al Horford, who does everything well, is the teams biggest problem. How can he make AHorford the teams only problem while ignoring the fact that MBibby is the NBA’s least productive and worst overall starting PG in virtually every OFF and DEF category? He was so bad last yr that new HC LDrew has already indicated he’ll replace him as the starter with 2nd yr rookie PG JTeague.
IF HIS OBSESSION ISN’T FUELED BY HATE, THAN IT’S JUST DOWN RIGHT STUPIDITY, IF NOT BOTH, WHICH IS CAUSED BY A VERY NOW BASKETBALL IQ.
drmaryb
June 20th, 2010
12:05 pm
Grand-Daddy
Great find and an even Greater – a possible Gem?
TIBOR? I like it … I like it!
drmaryb
June 20th, 2010
12:09 pm
Draft Pick
If I were the Hawks? I would NOT announce my pick either!
Bump that Noise!
Sautee
June 20th, 2010
12:15 pm
drmaryb,
As a dad of two, I thank you for your kind wishes.
Grandad,
I look forward to talking to you.
And Happy Father’s Day to all the dads.
trade horford
June 20th, 2010
12:27 pm
Grandad
June 20th, 2010
10:53 am
Grandad Josh is a power forward and a very good one, but he is not or ever will be a center.
Ken, Saltee, Apparently Al agrees with my assessmetn and has said as much.Im sorry that you chose to view my position. I normally dont respond to you or saltee, unless I reciprocate the sarcasm , because there is not much truth or substance to what you say. So there is no reason to respond. Perhaps you could argue with Al Horford for taking the same position that I do.
dmaryb, thank you kindly. My daughter is here, (she is my only child) and it is a memorable day. Well wishes to you and yours.
I wish you a full and speedy recovery ken.
Happy fathers day to all!
Ken Strickland
June 20th, 2010
12:27 pm
GRANDAD-a couple of wks back, someone posted a link about a young center out of France, I think, that was a much better prospect. He too was 7′, but bigger, quicker, faster, more athletic, and had a well developed inside gm, as well as deadly 3pt range. He’s a player that can contribute offensively while developing his other skills. His superior speed, quickness, athleticism and outside shooting ability and range adds versatility, by allowing him to also play PF.
If we go for a Big with our 1st pick, it tells me that Sund expects JJ to resign, or he has confidence he can get a suitable FA replacement. A player like JChildress could go a long way towards replacing the versatility and the intangibles JJ brings to the table. Before he left, Chills basically operated as a point forward, and in some cases as an outright PG.
I’d absolutely love to see a starting lineup of SF-JChildress, PF-JSmith, C-AHorford, SG-JJohnson and PG-JTeague operating in LDrews uptempo, attacking the basket style of OFF. I also believe a bench of JCrawford, MWilliams, ZPachulia, MEvans, MBibby, another Big or two, and/or a combo guard, would be very productive and deep.
I doubt very seriously if any NBA team would be able to embarrass that team during the playoffs, especially with the potential of our new OFF system and DEF philosophy.
trade horford
June 20th, 2010
12:28 pm
* chose to view my position in a negative light.
Truth-Serum
June 20th, 2010
12:38 pm
“If I were the Hawks? I would NOT announce my pick either! ”
In the back of my mind I expect that Sund will surprise me and show himself to be a mover and shaker. So far he has seemed as if he is shaking after making an irrational coach’s change. No upgrade there. In fact the hawks will be hard pressed to duplicate the 53 wins and a 3 seed position which was significantly better than what the expert expected from the hawks.
If going low budget on the coach was intended to apply more resources on player then I see that as a good move, especially if he makes some trades.
I will wait till the season is set before making my final assessment but I can easily justify the Fire Sund chant thats often call for even on this b u b b a c r e w site.
Truth-Serum
June 20th, 2010
12:40 pm
*called
cp
June 20th, 2010
12:53 pm
Happy Fathers day to all the dads on here.
For all the talk about Drew being so cheap I just read today how Thibodeau is only getting 1.5 this year and only his first two years of his contract is guaranteed. Its funny how the Hawks catch so much heat for giving out the same kind of contract that the Bulls gave Thibodeau. Thibodeau was the hot name and the guy everyone wanted yet he is getting what Drew got yet somehow the Hawks are cheap and not the Bulls. Even the Viny Del Negro hire was a cheap one.
As far as the draft goes for some reason I think they will take the big man Ryan Richards and Pape Sy in the second. If they don’t take Richards I still think they take Pape Sy in the second.
Grandad
June 20th, 2010
1:52 pm
Congrats Hatter – good to know that you have a daughter;
Happy Pops day.
Sautee & all the crowd / fathers*(especially) /
Best wishes Guys – Awesome Respnsibility ! [ Bein' Dad]
Myself, 3 young-uns, all grown up, Man, *girlie girl, Man, 2 grankids.
*Always be Daddy’s l’il girl.
Ken:
I just enjoy findin’ *gems
*Mary Ellens word
I fear we will sell the pick
I don’t trust Pendercrap
$$$ = if this is a problem then trade for Xtra picks 2nd round.
Gems & *Pearls *(for you Mary Ellen) all over the place.
Greivis Vasquez = trade out of the 1st & into early 2nd.
He [GV] will not be there when we pick 2nd.
Multiple picks in 2nd round = not a bad thing:
*Vasquez
*Pittman
*Ryan Richards
*Jerome Jordan
*Brian Zoubek
*Jordan Crawford
Why did I go off on a rant – now I’m gonna go smack my
brother ‘n law, I’ll feel better in a minute.
RaJaH
June 20th, 2010
2:32 pm
Grandad I don’t think Greivis Vasquez will be around anywhere in the second round.
JeJe
June 20th, 2010
3:08 pm
WE ARE STUCK WITH AN ARROGANT OWNERSHIP (GEARON AND LEVENSON) WHO ARE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT REGULAR SEASON WINS AND LOW PAYROLL. THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF UPPING THE PAYROLL TO ADD MORE QUALITY PLAYERS
THIS CITY IS A JOKE FOR SPORTS.
HOW CAN U BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS TEAM? IT’S NOT EVEN ABOUT LARRY DREW — HE COULD BE A GOOD COACH. WITH THIS OWNERSHIP, THERE IS NO HOPE. AND IT DOESN’T MATTER IF U ARE A DIEHARD FAN OR NOT — THAT IS THE TRUTH
JeJe
June 20th, 2010
3:09 pm
LOL @ HORFORD SAYING WE NEED A POINT GUARD. THE DAMN TRUTH
LET BIBBY GO. PAY HIM TO LEAVE. HE IS GARBAGE
drmaryb
June 20th, 2010
3:18 pm
Truth – Serum
Thank you for the shout out & the love!
Enjoy your Beautiful Day with your Daughter! She’s fortunate to have such a passionate Dad!
drmaryb
June 20th, 2010
3:55 pm
Dalembert
Looks like hoopshype.com is reporting some Nasty, Personal, -ISH- on Dalembert!
If half what they allege is true? Boy, did we dodge that bullet!
1.Turr-ible Work Ethic! (Or lack there of.)
2. Not only does Dalembert need an agent, perhaps a Psycho- Therapist too?
3. Indifferent to team practices?
4. An Arrogant SOB?
Wow! I’m surprised that’s true! The said he has NO offensive skills & doesn’t bother
To even pick up A basketball in the off-season. No low post desire to score whatsoever!
Major complainer/whiner in presence of team mates … Always complaining that he wants OUT of Philly & cancerous to the rest of team. Wow!
Draft TIBOR at age 20 years at 7′1″ and 210 lbs with a frame to build body mass!
-Take Him!-
Keep Rollin’ Mr. Dalembert …
Ken Strickland
June 20th, 2010
4:44 pm
I still say we should sign a FA center like DJ MBenga, who’s big, athletic, energetic, hungry and has potential, especially as a DEF option. He and Zaza would give us tremendous depth and versatility off the bench to compliment Horford. I think MWilliams would be far more effective as our #2 scoring option off the bench, behind JCrawford, than the #5 option as a starter.
He, Marvin and Crawford would give our bench some very good fire power. Whoever we draft with our #1 pick, I’ll bet HC LDrew will have him being productive by the time his rookie contract runs out. That means we’ll be resigning him, instead of releasing him out right(SJones), or trading his expiring contract and filler for another over the hill vet, like in the past.
Developing and getting production out of our draft picks is another way the ASG can save money, over signing higher priced FA’s, or trading for players with expensive contracts. If the Hawks consistently run plays good DEF, and presents a serious challenge for the division title under LDrew, they will win consistently and the fans will come out and support this team.
cp
June 20th, 2010
5:03 pm
I just read today where Chillz Greek team wants him out of there. They are having a horrible time economically over there and don’t want to pay him next year. Looks like Chills will be in play this year either through a sign and trade or coming back to the Hawks.
Sautee
June 20th, 2010
6:24 pm
Truth-serum,
If you think that I ONLY want Al Horford to play Center, then you are deluding yourself. What I have argued with you from the beginning….
(http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2009/06/17/say-goodbye-to-marvin-williams-hello-to-caron-butler/comment-page-2/ My first post to you was on 6/17/09 at 8:42 p.m.)
was that even though Al was not a “true center”, he was playing AS WELL OR BETTER than the “true centers” you mentioned (Camby, Brook Lopez, Aaron Gray). He also measured up quite well with one of your “ideal type” centers, Darryl Dawkins, who only had a 6.1 career rebound average. I also have maintained from the beginning of our jousts that he was the best option WE CURRENTLY HAVE to play center.
His All-Star pick was all the vindication I ever needed, as that was chosen by the Head Coaches of the league. You can say what you will, but everybody on the blog KNOWS that he made the All-Star team, though he doesn’t have the body of a Center. Somehow,(though you ARE, I’m convinced, a Hawks fan), you remain very curiously unimpressed by this feat. OK, you can think what you will, but as a Hawks fan how can you fail to appreciate his degree of overachievement?
I mean if he is as lame as YOU say, but STILL made the All- Star team, isn’t that an even GREATER degree of achievement? But yet, you mock his achievement every chance you get, and still try to say that you are using “objective criticism”.
What is objective about mocking someone’s All-Star status?
Since the beginning, I have battled you mostly when you have tried to mis-characterize the truth (All-Star conspiracy, The missing Shaq link. Saying that Al is worse than the league stats say., etc). I have never maintained that he should be ONLY the center. From the very first, I’ve wanted a banging shot blocker to come off the bench and let Al play the 4 for periods of time. And if that banger could compete better against the bigger centers, ok, fine, give them more minutes in those games.
And, by the way, if you follow that link that you gave regarding Al’s interview where he “allegedly” said he wanted a center. you’ll see that the interpretation was the author’s. I have YET to hear, or read definitively of Al saying “we need to get a center, so I can play PF”. I’ll believe THAT when I see a truer source than a blog author saying it’s HIS interpretation. Your own mis-trust of Michael Cunningham should lead you to support me in wanting a better source.
Anybody got one?
Truth-Serum
June 20th, 2010
6:38 pm
Why the hate on Bibby. The man was brought here to serve out his career and retire. He was given a 3year contract of which he was to start the first, accept challenges/split time the second and back up the third. His first year here he was a top 3 pt shooter in the NBA and a very major reason for the hawks successful campaign and growth. His leadership helped the young team tremendously. This year was his second and Although it is clear his skills are diminished he was still an effective court general and had a beautiful turnover to assist ratio. Next year will be the last on his contract and he will retire or help somewhere in another capacity. The Man has done and is doing exactly what he is pay for. He should be applauded not derided. After next year he will be able to retire after a long and wonderful career. GREAT JOB BIBBY!
OK haters your turn.
trade horford
June 20th, 2010
6:57 pm
Saltee I know its hard for you to accept the “Associated Press Story given by Al Horford” I glanced through your writing looking for some substance and the best I could find was you feel better, vindicated because Al was picked by the coaches to be a backup on the all star team. Are those the same coaches who said hes not good enough to be on the all NBA team whether 1st, 2nd or 3rd sting? Same coaches? Nor the All Defensive team? Same 30 coaches from whom he garnered only 1 vote as a second team participant?
You keep playing your 1 string violin with out addressing the other issues. Im now wasting my time because you wouldnt admit it although Al himself has offer that the hawks should get a “real” center so he could go back to his natural position power forward. Rather accept this fact straight from al’s mouth you live in denial and say” well thats how the associated press wrote it but I did not hear Al say it.. Give me a break! Al did not give the interview to yo azzzz. Thats why you did not hear it.
This is why I dont respond to you. Do you hear Al calling the Associate Press saying recant that statement because I never said it?
Saltee, Please, go find a house to haunt!
Sautee
June 20th, 2010
6:57 pm
You won’t find me “hatin’” on Bibby. I’ve been a big fan since his Ariz. days. I have brought up to this blog SEVERAL times that when we acquired Bibby, our TO’s went down by TWO per game. That’s the difference in a lot of close games…. two extra possessions. Also, Bibby is by far the best screener on the team.
Unfortunately, he was re-signed for too long, IMHO. Two years, with a team option, would have been better and given us more flexibility.
I WILL say, however that his defense has suffered greatly in the past year and a half.
Sautee
June 20th, 2010
6:59 pm
Truth-serum,
Stop whining, will ya?
A RIVER CALLED DEE- NILE (DENIAL?)
June 20th, 2010
7:02 pm
Finally, Al Horford gave an interview to the Associated Press regarding playing in the Dominican Republic this offseason. He also indicates he’s ready to sign a long term deal to stay in the NBA and offers this (translated, emphasis mine) gem:
Horford considered that the young Hawks need a point guard and a genuine center, enabling him to play as power forward.
If Al truly believes this, then he disagrees with Mark Bradley and Rick Sund, who both believe he is perfectly suited for his role as center. I believe that Al still struggles mentally with having to take on the biggest the NBA has to offer every night, and it shows with hurried moves and shots against larger opponents. But with Josh Smith on the roster, as noted earlier regarding Josh’s… it leaves Al having to man the pivot.