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
O'Brien
June 20th, 2010
7:27 pm
cp,
Although only the first 2 years of thibodeau’s contract is gauranteed, it is still 3 years, $6.5 mil if he stays all 3 years.
Larry drew’s contract is 3 years, $4.7 mil (about 40% less than thibodeau ). And if I’m not mistaken, drew is lowest paid coach in the league.
That being said, I support Larry drew and I look forward to the season.
JeJe
June 20th, 2010
7:35 pm
I’d resign all our bigs. Collins and Joe Smith are solid bigs if they get to play. RandMo costs nothing because no one knows anything about him and he doesn’t care if he is paid nothing
JeJe
June 20th, 2010
7:35 pm
You can resign these 3 bigs for less than a million total. ASG wouldn’t pay more anyway
Sautee
June 20th, 2010
7:54 pm
Truth-serum,
From your post: “He also indicates he’s ready to sign a long term deal to stay in the NBA and offers this (translated, emphasis mine) gem”
What part of (translated, emphasis mine) did you fail to understand.
If MC quoted an article and said (translated, emphasis mine) you would go ballistic. But you’ll fall all over this blog author, because he says something you think bolsters your argument.
Find me a true link to a true translation and I’ll listen. Otherwise, this has no more credibility than most of the other rumors on sports web sites.
And YOU have NO credibility with me because:
You say that “the only reason Zaza gets offensive rebounds is because he’s too lazy to get back on D”.
You say “the center post is NOT about rebounding”
You say a “good, not great center should be capable of producing 14-16 points, 12-14 rebounds, and 2-3 blocks nightly” (even though only ONE center – DHoward – can do that) And hey, if the center post is NOT about rebounding, why would you expect them to get 12-14 rebounds?
You say “the coaches in the league had a conspiracy to vote Al onto the All-Star team so we wouldn’t go after another center”.
You say “Shaq announced that he wouldn’t play in the All-Star Game because of a thumb injury” Heh heh, never DID get that link.
With THAT kind of doubtful credibility history, is it any wonder I would doubt THIS article from you?
A RIVER CALLED DEE- NILE (DENIAL?)
June 20th, 2010
8:23 pm
Who cares if you listen, you have no substance. Horford gave the interview and signed off on it. He Co-signed it. I agree with Al, his natural and best position is at the power forward. I also agree with Al the Hawks need a “real” center, The AP interviewed Al, who authorized the story, there by co-signing it. The only one in denial is you. Al the AP nor me have a problem with it.
Excuse me if I move on. Good luck to you.
Sautee
June 20th, 2010
8:26 pm
Authorized my arse. Is this another “Shaq announced he wouldn’t play” story?
Where is a link to the ORIGINAL interview, and a translation?
jroc
June 20th, 2010
8:38 pm
Enough of you fanatics talking about trading Horford, the man is one of the brightest basketball minds on the squad. And he loves playing for the hawks and is the best spokesman the Hawks got.For an undersized big man the guy is awesome. The only Hawk that deserves to get the boot is Bibby. Marvin may be worth keeping if LD knows how to utilize him. Be patient fanatics and watch how good next season will be.
cp
June 20th, 2010
8:46 pm
I was mainly just talking about the 2 guaranteed years. I was just pointing out how the Hawks catch a lot more heat than they deserve at times……Sautee you’re way to good of a poster to keep going back and forth with dude. Just let it go because its clear he wont stop with the B.S.
Sautee
June 20th, 2010
8:57 pm
cp,
Thanks, and you are right. I’ll let this one go.
I still think he whines too much, but I’ll let THIS bit of whining go.
jroc
June 20th, 2010
9:03 pm
You doubters compare Horford to other centers in the nba and i am talking about true 7 footers. Your boy Horford out rebound, out score, and out block, yes and plainly out work a lot of guys that are true 7 footers.
drmaryb
June 20th, 2010
9:17 pm
OBRIEN
You may be right re: Drew’s Salary which averages 1.2 Milly/Year.
Alvin Gentry makes 1.75 Milly/Year for the Suns.
northcyde
June 20th, 2010
10:47 pm
LOL @ you people.
…It’s OBVIOUS that Hawks fans are at fault. Joe Johnson and Woody have done NOTHING in their time here / when they were here (Woody). They did GREAT things for this team and the fanbase sucks.
northcyde
June 20th, 2010
10:47 pm
LOL @ you people.
…It’s OBVIOUS that Hawks fans are at fault. Joe Johnson and Woody have done NOTHING WRONG in their time here / when they were here (Woody). They did GREAT things for this team and the fanbase sucks.
Matt Dillion
June 20th, 2010
10:49 pm
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-play-defense-in-basketball
Matt Dillion
June 20th, 2010
10:58 pm
C’s Biggest Game 1 Problem? At The Rim
By Brian Robb, CelticsHub.com @ June 4th, 4:06 pm Leave a reply »
There has been a lot of blame thrown around around after the game 1 debacle amongst Celtics fans, much of it warranted. KG couldn’t hang with Gasol. The C’s offense couldn’t get into a rhythm. The C’s rebounding was abysmal. The hustle and effort weren’t there. Bad Tony made a cameo. The list goes on and on. Yet, there remains one problem that I’ve seen no one touch on yet. The Celtics couldn’t hit a layup, if their life depending on it last night.
Ok, maybe it wasn’t that bad, but the numbers are alarming. For some perspective, let’s get some regular season numbers out of the way, to set some expectations for both teams going in, thanks to our friends over at HoopData
Regular Season At The Rim Numbers:
Celtics: 64.4% (2nd) 26 attempts/game
Defending The Rim
Lakers: 59.8% (10th) 26.9 attempts/game
So we have an elite scoring team around the basket, going up against an above average defensive team at the rim. Knowing the Lakers length in their big men, a dropoff in the C’s percentage this series woul have to be expected.
In fact, Tom Haberstroh, also of Hoopdata did a piece recently for ESPN, chronicling the C’s struggles against elite defensive teams at the rim. Boston shoots just 58.5% at the rim against those top teams.
Still, I don’t think anyone could predicated a performance around the bucket, as bad as the Celtics had last night, where they went a whopping 12 for 27 around the basket, for an atrocious 44.5 FG percentage at the rim.
For a sense of perspective, the worst team in the NBA this year, shot 56.3% at the bucket and the league average for that region of the floor is 61%. That makes the C’s night at the rack, easily one of their worst performances of the season. So who were the perpetratiors in this debacle? I name names, after the jump
These names won’t shock you, as they bare the brunt of responsibility for the poor effort in game 1. Still, they deserve some blame. Here are their game 1 numbers at the rim:
Kevin Garnett 2/6 (season average 65%)
Tony Allen 1/3 (season average 64%)
Rajon Rondo 1/6 (season average 65%)
The guy who has gotten the most attention from this effort has been KG, who missed two point blank shots in the fourth quarter. It was a tough night for The Big Ticket all around, pure and simple. I expect him to rebound, but he will struggle against the length of Gasol all series long.
The guys I am more worried about though are Rondo and TA. Rondo looked tenative last night around the bucket, and his poor shooting percentage seemed to lead to him making the unnecessary extra pass at the hoop when he had an opening to take the shot. That kind of passiveness plays right into the Lakers hands when guarding him, but it’s clear the Lakers length up front will be giving Rondo (as well as TA) problems all series long.
While both guys have been more consistent than ever this year, they can still show signs of being flustered around the basket when they struggle. The C’s can’t afford them to go into a slump in this series, they need offense from both parties. The good news is, the numbers probably can’t get any worse going forward on the offensive end from close in. Then again, the C’s probably can’t expect Rondo to make 3 out of 5 jumpers from outside 16 feet every night going forward either.
The C’s are at their best when they attack the bucket, they just need to make sure they finish the job.
Ken Strickland
June 20th, 2010
11:26 pm
SAUTEE-TRUTH SERUM is a one trick pony with an extremely limited basketball IQ that lacks diversity of thought. Although he does have the ability to change names, he lacks the ability to go beyond continuously repeating the same stupid remarks over and over about AHorford.
He’s like a parrot that mimics a word or phrase that it picks up and repeats over and over without understanding a single word of what it’s saying. Would you actually try to reason with that parrot and get it to stop repeating what it’s saying if that word or phrase didn’t make sense?
The guy wants attention, but isn’t knowledgeable enough on basketball to offer any intelligent insight on anything basketball related. So he comes up with a way to get attention, and criticizing an All Star center is his ticket to getting the attention he craves. What else can you say about anyone dumb enough to even make an attempt at defending the NBA’s worst PG, while constantly criticizing an All Star center.
AND A HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL, AND THAT INCLUDES TRUTH SERUM AND ALL OF HIS IMAGINARY FRIENDS!!!!
Ken Strickland
June 20th, 2010
11:44 pm
CP-thanks for that update on Chills. I still say he’s far more valuable to us as a player than as trade bait. With our without JJ, he’d make us a solid team offensively and defensively. He’s a high percentage shooter, efficient scorer, rebounds, excellent ball handler and passer that drives to the basket very well. He’d be a perfect compliment to JJ, and would be able to replace some of the skills we’d lose if he left.
With Childress, Horford, JSmith, JJ and Teague, we’d have 5 players capable of leading or finishing a fast break. They’d also be the NBA’s quickest, fastest and most athletic starting 5.
Big Ray
June 20th, 2010
11:55 pm
Still waiting to see that quote from Al Horford himself. All I see so far is a guy with a blog saying that he translated something (and not even THAT).
Haven’t seen the quote/interview, so I’m not buying the spotty apples….
Big Ray
June 21st, 2010
12:01 am
LOL @ you people.
…It’s OBVIOUS that Hawks fans are at fault. Joe Johnson and Woody have done NOTHING WRONG in their time here / when they were here (Woody). They did GREAT things for this team and the fanbase sucks.
Just like Woody’s offense. Predictable, stale, stagnant…
Here's to you truth-serum
June 21st, 2010
5:03 am
The Shoulders of Giants: A Look at the NBA Center
By Alex McVeigh · December 1, 2009NBA »
Filed Under Basketball Positions, Center, Dwight Howard, NBA, Shaquille O’Neal, Yao Ming
Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic centerThe NBA center. Along with a quarterback and the ace of your pitching staff, the center is what most teams live and die by. Even more, since the quarterback is on the field for half the game and a starting pitcher pitches once every five games.
The center, however, ideally plays night in and night out, clogging the lane, dominating the boards, tipping in errant shots and blocking opposing shots.
No other position causes franchises to gamble so frequently, the thought of a 7-footer who can play the game is what made Darko Milicic, Rafael Araujo, Fran Vasquez, Paul Davis, Kyrylo Fesenko, Alexis Ajinca, and Pavel Podkolzin first round picks.
And that’s just a list of busts since 2003. The thought of being a team to discover the next great big man (especially if that big man is foreign) has cost many a GM a job.
And yet they still do it, and will continue to gamble on center prospects, because nothing beats a franchise center.
Want proof? Everyone has piled on the Portland Trailblazers for the past 25 years for selecting Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft, but you know who else passed on Jordan? The Houston Rockets, who used the first pick to select Hakeem Olajuwon.
Now, how many people kill the Rockets for selecting Olajuwon? Nobody, even though Olajuwon only won 2 rings (in Jordan’s absence) to Jordan’s six. Because you don’t turn down a franchise center.
Olajuwon and Houston were the lucky ones. So was Orlando with Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard.
But the fact is, in today’s smaller, faster NBA, centers are even more at a premium that ever before, because there just aren’t that many true centers out there.
Yao Ming, Dwight Howard, Kendrick Perkins, Brook Lopez, Shaq, Zyndrunas Ilgauskas, Jermaine O’Neal, Tyson Chandler, Brendan Haywood, Greg Oden, Al Jefferson, Andrew Bynum, Chris Kaman, Erick Dampier, Andrew Bogut and Marc Gasol are about the only true centers out there that get regular minutes.
That’s 16 players on 15 teams. That means there half of the NBA’s teams do not play a true center regularly. Players like Pau Gasol, Al Horford, Marcis Camby, Ben Wallace, Nene, Joakim Noah, Luis Scola, Andres Biedrins and Chris Bosh are playing center, even though they are better fitted to the power forward spot.
Now, this isn’t to say the players in the latter group aren’t doing a good job in the center position. I think Noah, Bosh, Gasol and Camby do very well anchoring their teams down low, even if it doesn’t use their skills in the most effective way.
But nothing compares with a true center, especially one over seven feet.
The job of a center is easily defined. They need to be that big body in the paint, both on offense and defense. On defense, that means blocking shots or at least delivering hard fouls to players who penetrate for a close shot.
Here's to you truth-serum
June 21st, 2010
5:16 am
Barkley on the Hawks not having an answer for Dwight Howard: “If (Howard) doesn’t get into foul trouble, (the Hawks) don’t have any answers. Al Horford is a terrific player but he is really a small power forward. Then they come in with Zaza Pachulia who is a finesse center. But they don’t have any answers for (Howard). It’s going to be a long series for Al Horford. He has to stay out of foul trouble or else this is going to be a beatdown.”
Excellent AP Story that Al gave. Has Al recanted his statement or accused the writer of misunderstanding what he meant? If he hasnt then I guess the interview understood exactly what Al was saying!
UNIDISPUTED CHAMP!
June 21st, 2010
5:35 am
LOL @ you people.
…It’s OBVIOUS that Hawks fans are at fault. Joe Johnson and Woody have done NOTHING WRONG in their time here / when they were here (Woody). They did GREAT things for this team and the fanbase sucks.
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE, EXCELLENT COMMENTS!
THE ONLY PREDICTABLE COMMENT WAS RAYS REPLY! IT
ACTUALLY YOUR COMMENTS ARE STALE, RAY. Northcyde is a much more adaptable, objective and lively writer than yourself. I dont always agree with northcyde but a) he got this one write b) his stories are not bubba crew-ish,like yours, but objective and illuminating
It will be along time if ever, when we win 53 games again and are a 3 seed. It was hate like yours and the bubba creww that stop this growth because they would not play your favorite players. like turnover teague. Hate on Ray, hate on bubba creww
Northcyde let your haters be your motivators keep up the grind. Good job
!
UNIDISPUTED CHAMP!
June 21st, 2010
5:36 am
*its actually your comments that are stale, ray.
UNIDISPUTED CHAMP!
June 21st, 2010
5:36 am
*this one right
UNIDISPUTED CHAMP!
June 21st, 2010
5:38 am
great points Barkley
Here’s to you truth-serum
June 21st, 2010
5:16 am
Barkley on the Hawks not having an answer for Dwight Howard: “If (Howard) doesn’t get into foul trouble, (the Hawks) don’t have any answers. Al Horford is a terrific player but he is really a small power forward. Then they come in with Zaza Pachulia who is a finesse center. But they don’t have any answers for (Howard). It’s going to be a long series for Al Horford. He has to stay out of foul trouble or else this is going to be a beatdown.”
Excellent AP Story that Al gave. Has Al recanted his statement or accused the writer of misunderstanding what he meant? If he hasnt then I guess the interview understood exactly what Al was saying!
UNIDISPUTED CHAMP!
June 21st, 2010
5:40 am
Looks like Al has been running his mouth off to the AP trying to influence the next coach to get a power forwards position. I dont blame him, He is a power forward and admits that he is playing out of position.
Excellent AP Story that Al gave. Has Al recanted his statement or accused the writer of misunderstanding what he meant? If he hasnt then I guess the interview understood exactly what Al was saying!
UNIDISPUTED CHAMP!
June 21st, 2010
5:42 am
Here’s to you truth-serum
June 21st, 2010
5:03 am
Excellent article. I agree with the imperatives of the center position to the structure of the team.
UNIDISPUTED CHAMP!
June 21st, 2010
5:48 am
Ken Strickland
June 20th, 2010
11:26 pm
SAUTEE-TRUTH SERUM is blah blah blah blah forget the validity of his points, blah blah blah accept this hate and focus on it rather than the points that I am mentally not able to argue…blahhal.
Oh yea, happy fathers day truth serum you Azzhoole!
Way to go ken. AKA “Dick, Breath”
Midtown Mike
June 21st, 2010
5:54 am
northcyde, I can tell you are a handsome gentleman from your wise words on here. No homo.
Ken Strickland
June 21st, 2010
8:59 am
If the message is factual and on point, and/or you lack the intelligence and insight to question that message, a sure sign that you’re over matched is when you resort to attacking the messenger rather than answering any of the questions asked, or providing proof of any alleged quotes you’ve referenced. STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES, OR SAYS, FOR A ONE(1)TRICK PONY.
TRUTH SERUM-It’s a crying shame that you don’t have enough intelligence to take advantage of the intelligence you do have.
lewis
June 21st, 2010
9:00 am
http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/lazenby/2010/06/19/lockout-send-them-all-back-to-the-nuthouse/
lewis
June 21st, 2010
9:04 am
Guard Speedy Claxton has retired from basketball and has been hired as a college scout for the Warriors. He was present at Sunday’s workout. — Contra Costa Times
drmaryb
June 21st, 2010
9:15 am
Hawks NOT for Sale?
I’m NOT buying it!
At the RIGHT price? Everything is for sale! Especially in this recession.
680 The Zone interviewed the New York released reporter this morning. The reporter maintains that the Hawks are for sale indeed! Under the guise of looking for a Minority Buyer? How many more owners do they need? Until, Belkin is gone – you would be talking 9 -vs- 8 owners! That’s way too many cooks in the kitchen, they will burn down the kitchen!
The reporter says, if an outright offer comes along to buy it all? The ASG would jump at that in a heart – beat!
Again, I’m NOT buying it!
The Ayatollah
June 21st, 2010
10:21 am
UNIDISPUTED CHAMP!
Would someone kindly please get that fool out of here. He poisons and stains this forum in ways that are utterly disgraceful. An oxygen thief is the best description. I can only imagine what it would be to have to work or live with this person. Truly awful, it must be.
The Ayatollah
June 21st, 2010
10:23 am
Referring to the person using that name of course. I can only assume that he is also known as the one who uses the truth serum name. Someone call Men In Black, we have a smelly alien who is hostile but poses no credible threat, and is largely devoid of intelligence.
Grandad
June 21st, 2010
10:51 am
The Ayatollah:
@ one time I was ‘Hatter’s’ most avid antagonist !
However,
I’m here to defend him now.
He,
Has as much right as any of us to frequent this blog.
Besides,
He’s funny as all get out.
That’s -
country, for, funny as a………;
“Mad Hatter”.
Now;
Mr. “The Ayatollah”, I’ll defend You against people like –
“ME”
who come back @ you for criticizing ‘ the Hatter ‘.
The End.
ILL-logical
June 21st, 2010
10:54 am
The good news and the better news: The ASG partners in whole or in part are seeking to cash out. Their time frame is before the 2011-12 season because of the threat of an owner lead lock out- designed to reduce the league’s footprint without using the term contraction. Therefore, the ASG is practicing cost containment in order to get the best price for their assets.
The better news? Once fiscal order is restored-if that term can be used within the context of the mess Stern has created with the ill fated expansions, both domestic and the proposed foreign ( uopon which the projections where developed that drove the TV contract). Now with reality setting in with the arrival of the global fincial crisis, Stern will be gone; some teams will be gone and there is a possibilty that a stronger finacial backer can be found for Atlanta’s professional basketball franchise.
Big Ray
June 21st, 2010
10:59 am
Well now, that was gloomy….
Grandad
June 21st, 2010
11:47 am
ILL-logical:
Gloomy, Big Ray, yet [glass half full] rosy if Stern is gone.
Perhaps, competition will replace script, the “Association”
will return to basketball (MMA),(real) as opposed to
“Professional Wrestling” (fake) scripted, [steroids = stars].
[bought & paid for referees to pre-determine big market outcomes]
You reckon I’m out on a limb with a saw in one hand.
ILL-logical – Great post !
ILL-logical
June 21st, 2010
11:55 am
And “cost containment” means no JJ; no Jchills and, no first round draft choice. The players and the draft pick will be packaged ,if possible, for”future considerations”.
@grandad: Thanks!
@ Big Ray: not meant to be gloomy but there is a crisis within the association both in terms of finanances and leadership and it looks as if the BP model is being followed there.
Last, MC: pick up the pace man, you are getting smoked by the national media and your “collegues”.
Michael Cunningham
June 21st, 2010
11:58 am
@Ill-logical: “Last, MC: pick up the pace man, you are getting smoked by the national media and your “collegues””
how so?
ILL-logical
June 21st, 2010
3:09 pm
@MC: First, the draft; several publications have the Hawks going from SG to centers including an interesting center prospect,Jerome Jordan -a 7′ Jamaican who seems to be a taller ALL STAR AL. Second, where are the comments from some of the roster regarding what they are doing to advance their skills in preparation for the up coming season. And ,last but certainly not least , what will the Hawk’s summer league roster look like. The expectation, currently, is that it will feature a ton of Teague but are there others who could be put under the microscpoe as well?
Sautee
June 21st, 2010
3:28 pm
Truth-serum said this: “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.”
Almost all, eh?
Well looking at the rebounding stats is very interesting. Horford is 3rd among centers at 9.9 / game. (Does Josh block 9.9 shots per game? heh heh)
There were 23 players this year who averaged 8 or more rebounds. One was a small forward, Gerald Wallace.
Here’s the link: http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Rebounds.jsp?league=00&season=22009&conf=OVERALL&position=1&splitType=9&splitScope=GAME&qualified=Y&yearsExp=-1&splitDD=
So 22 PF / C averaged 8 or more rebounds. There are 30 teams, therefore 60 starting PF / C.
22 out of 60 is 36.67%. Last I looked 36.67% was NOT “almost all”, by a long shot.
At Al Horford’s size, to be THIRD among Centers at 9.9 rebounds, and TENTH overall in the league is quite a feat. Remember that he’s “too small”.
And when one considers how often the switching defense took him away from the basket, it’s even MORE impressive. But, you choose to see it as “nothing exceptional”. I guess making the All-Star team is not exceptional either, LOL.
Here is a list of “true centers” that couldn’t get as many rebounds as Horford, despite their size:
Samuel Dalembert
Brenden Haywood
Chris Kaman
Emaka Okafor
Brook Lopez
Nene Hilario
Kendrick Perkins
Jermaine O’Neal
Andrea Bargnani
Spencer Hawes
Marc Gasol
Andrew Bynum
Wow, that’s a lot of size and height. Horford out rebounded all of ‘em.
Must be “the fight in the dog”.
So, I’d assume that since all of THOSE centers were out-rebounded by itty bitty Al, that you consider all of THOSE centers to be LESS than exceptional. After all, if what Al did was “nothing exceptional” then these players are certainly LESS that THAT.
Funny how you’d like us to acquire a Lopez, or a Bynum, etc., when they are clearly “less exceptional” than Horford in rebounding.
But, maybe not. After all you ARE the one who claimed that “the Center post is NOT about rebounding”. But if THAT is true, then what’s this “not exceptional B.S.?
Michael Cunningham
June 21st, 2010
3:33 pm
@ILL-logical: ummm, ok . . .
confused by what you said there. do you mean draft publications are saying the Hawks are targeting a center instead of a SG? well, i’ve already quoted Pendegraft saying they’d like a big or a wing, so that’s nothing new. and the Hawks still aren’t even sure if they will draft a guy who gives them an NBA skill and could be useful in case of injury, or if they will go “best available player” route. so any “publications” saying they already know who the Hawks will draft are just speculating. if your expectation is that i can tell you exactly what the Hawks will do on draft day then i’m afraid i’m going to leave you disappointed. not even the Hawks know that yet. but i will have some draft stuff in the next couple days, so patience . . .
“Second, where are the comments from some of the roster regarding what they are doing to advance their skills in preparation for the up coming season.”
most guys just now got back to working out. i quoted a few guys after the season on what they planned to work on (Al, Marvin and Josh off the top of my head). what is it that you want to know?
as for the summer league, how the heck am i supposed to know that now, before the draft? won’t they have to see who doesn’t get drafted before they can decide which FAs to invite? i can tell you Gladyr will be on the team. other than him, Teague and the No. 24 pick, we’ll just have to wait and see.
Sautee
June 21st, 2010
3:58 pm
cp,
Sorry man, I fell off the wagon!
FORMER BUBBAA CREW MEMBER
June 21st, 2010
6:36 pm
i think what t.s. is saying saute is he would prefer a center that plays defense than wait on some one else to so he can pick up the free rebound. i think i too would prefer a center who can play defense block and alter shots, knock people on the seat of their pants and force guys out of the block. Yes, I too would like a, as Al Horford put it “real center”. there are 30-40 guys who can get you 7-9 rebounds while some one else is doing the defense that caused the missed. I just wish Horford would cause the miss.
Sautee
June 21st, 2010
7:58 pm
You mean like he did in the playoffs?
He was THIRD among centers in blocked shots in the playoffs.