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

297 comments Add your comment

doc

June 18th, 2010
1:40 pm

ok then back to status quo. will the real cheap owners stand up. kidding

dare i say numero uno again?

northcyde

June 18th, 2010
1:44 pm

cheap owners . . . cheap fans . . . a perfect marriage.

doc

June 18th, 2010
1:46 pm

yes, two in a row, system working. kidding

i dont want these guys gone. i want them able to fund REAL competitive teams and spend about 10 to 15 mil more going forward if any of us expect to smell the gold ball as samuel referred to it. i know it will take good management and personnel even to get there under 80 mil, reality is, we arent going to get there at 65 mil under present conditions and the discerning buyer (like me, sorry) will lose interest when he realizes he is not spending wisely to see a team swept in round two and pushed to the limits against undermanned teams.

with that said, i hope belkin forks out what he owes, they find an investor and we walk off with the trophy in three years with marvin as the MVP. what did you shout rod?

Astro Joe

June 18th, 2010
1:47 pm

I think at best they are looking for someone to help them buyout Belkin. But my guess is that if someone insists on more than a 40% share, they won’t balk. What we clearly don’t want is an incremental owner to the 7 chefs already tripping over themselves in the kitchen. Gearon and Levenson are likely in it for the long haul but several others may be looking for the nearest exit.

@MC, any chance this could have an adverse affect on signing an elite FA with a desire to play for a franchise with the resources to compete for a title (he asked sarcastically)?

doc

June 18th, 2010
1:48 pm

only cheap fans i know are the ones in clarksville tn not spending a dime towards season tickets he could sell or give to a boy’s club if he couldnt use them.

doc

June 18th, 2010
1:49 pm

yeah, put your money where your mouth is or shut up about cheap fans.

doc

June 18th, 2010
1:50 pm

heh heh northcyde, you have plenty of more astute comments than that to keep that chatter going. ;-)

Michael Cunningham

June 18th, 2010
1:55 pm

@Astro Joe: @MC, any chance this could have an adverse affect on signing an elite FA with a desire to play for a franchise with the resources to compete for a title (he asked sarcastically)?

i doubt it (he answered in kind)

truthspitter

June 18th, 2010
1:57 pm

I’m thinking about moving to St.Louis I hope the Hawks move back there soon. Atl will not support that many black faces. Georgia is just as KKK infested as Indiana the originator

Melvin

June 18th, 2010
2:05 pm

doc,

don’t you just love it when you get folks complaining about fan participation and using their current location as the reason why they don’t attend games. As if attending the games are the only way to contribute. How about buying some Hawks paraphernalia and souvenirs thru the Hawks website at least….

NikkFree

June 18th, 2010
2:09 pm

Whatever, ASG! All I know is I’m tired of ownership making decisions based on what’s the cheapest option. the recent coach hire is one CLEAR example. It’s not the only one for sure. They need to seel the teams.

Astro Joe

June 18th, 2010
2:13 pm

I’m sure that the ASG aren’t the only NBA owners hanging my a thread while waiting for the promise of the new CBA to put them back on solid ground. But frankly, I don’t care about other owners and their problems. @MC, don’t worry about brushing up on your knowledge of local college players who are 1st round prospects. If I were you, I’d start studying the NBDL All Star team roster to determine if Thomas Gardner, Jeremy Richardson or Matt Frieje would be the better candidate to fill that desired shooter role that Pendergraft wants to fill. Coach Drew already knows those guys, so it would make for an easy transition. Time to find my Esteban Batista autographed Chick Fil A bag.

northcyde

June 18th, 2010
2:34 pm

How much money should I put up Doc? If I lived 30 minutes away from the arena, I’d no doubt be a season ticket holder. I wouldn’t even hesitate to do that. This is pretty much what I spend to attend a Hawk game

- Gas = $60 – $70 . . . Roughly a 560 mile round trip . . I loved it when gas dipped below $2 a few winters ago.

- Parking = $5 – $10 ( I don’t mind walking a little to get to the arena, if I can save a few bucks )

- Tickets = 200 level – $55 – $70 ( depending on the game )

- Concessions = $11 . . . I get that grilled chikcen sandwich and a sprite every time.

Total = $131 – 161 . . . I try to make 7 – 10 games a year. So you’re looking at about a $1,000 – $1,600 investment I’m making going to Hawks games,which is about equivalent to buying a season ticket package in the 200 level.

Doc . . that’s actually a good idea you bring up. I could buy a season ticket package in the 200 level for $999 + tax of course. On the Hawks website, they claim that it’s equal to $23 a ticket.

Hawks 6-month payment plan is as follows:

TODAY – 15% initial payment
2ND MONTH – 15% payment
3RD MONTH – 15% payment
4TH MONTH – 15% payment
5TH MONTH – **50% of the playoff value
6TH MONTH – **50% of the playoff value

So if I were to get a season tix plan in the 200 level at $999, you’re looking at roughly paying between $150 – $175 per month, before the prices for the 5th and 6th month rates click in?

No way I could make it to every game . . . lol . . not even 20% of those games. But I possibly could recoup some money back off of the games that I didn’t make, by selling the tix at say $30 a pop . . even less for some games, just to get some money back ( which would be about be about 40% – 70% less than price of a regular ticket in that section )

Shoot . . . at $999 . . . if I made even made back $350 off the tickets I would sell back to potential buyers, that would reduce that package to almost $600?

I’ve always thought about getting tickets strictly from a consumer standpoint, and not as a potential seller.

Damn . . . I think I’m going to seriously look into that. Thanks Doc.

N.D.T.K.A.

June 18th, 2010
2:35 pm

I wonder why the Falcons are not struggling financially? Arthur Blank is one owner who can afford his team and probably several others. Falcons owner is also a smart business man who caters to his fans. Say what you will fans matter? Makes me think of the expression what you put into something is what you get back. Cheap = Cheap. Just great, they want to add investors, I wonder will they have to check with the minority investors before they make decisions. Disfunctionalism at its best!!!

JC

June 18th, 2010
2:35 pm

@Astro – “Esteban Batista autographed Chick Fil A bag” I’m guessing it was empty?

Ramon

June 18th, 2010
2:39 pm

@ Northcyde, my wife is about to be made when she sees the new budget for the fall/winter lol. I live in Macon, and want to get some season tickets.

northcyde

June 18th, 2010
2:41 pm

Melvin

June 18th, 2010
2:05 pm

doc,

don’t you just love it when you get folks complaining about fan participation and using their current location as the reason why they don’t attend games. As if attending the games are the only way to contribute. How about buying some Hawks paraphernalia and souvenirs thru the Hawks website at least….

**********************

- white JJ jersey
- white Marvin jersey
- blue Horford jersey
- red Smoove jersey

- 4 hats

- 3 t-shirts

I’m not a casual fan dude. People must think I’m just talking a lot of ish on this board.

JC

June 18th, 2010
2:41 pm

Nail on the head, northcyde – cheap ownership begets cheap fans.

If you’re going to see an action movie, do you want to see the one with the $100 million budget with all the cool CGI and special effects, or the one made on a shoestring budget where you can see the boom in all the shots?

Ramon

June 18th, 2010
2:43 pm

ILL-logical

June 18th, 2010
2:45 pm

Astro Joe

June 18th, 2010
2:13 pm
I’m sure that the ASG aren’t the only NBA owners hanging my a thread while waiting for the promise of the new CBA to put them back on solid ground

And there it is : the context in which all of the drama surrounding the Hawks has got to be viewed- it’s the economy,stupid.

Until/ unless the economy gets better,especially from a subjective viewpoint, the Hawks are going to operating at the margins fiscally.
So your eyes may water and your teeth may grit but what you see is what you’re going to get.(with humble apologies to the late ,great Ron Banks)

Najeh Davenpoop

June 18th, 2010
2:48 pm

Astro Joe, Anthony Grundy and Cedric Bozeman are very upset that you forgot about them.

Najeh Davenpoop

June 18th, 2010
2:50 pm

northcyde, it’s one thing to be a devoted fan, but buying a Marvin jersey is just stupid.

JC

June 18th, 2010
2:52 pm

@Illogical – you must have just moved here. ASG’s cheapness started way before the economic downturn. Actually, it may have even caused it.

JC

June 18th, 2010
2:54 pm

Yeah, northcyde, I went to UNC and I still wouldn’t buy a Marvin jersey. Sorry, dude.

northcyde

June 18th, 2010
2:54 pm

I’m seriously doing some math over here. The Hawks season ticket package is for 44 games ( I’m assuming that you’re talking about 3 preseason home games as well as the 41 regular season games ).

I’m only going to be able to physically make 7 – 10 games in the regular season. So let’s knock that down to say . . 33 regular season games I won’t be able to make.

If I sell those tickets at an average of $25 a pop, I can make $825 off of those games? Damn . . no wonder you have those ticket guys outside of the arena, selling tickets. They buy the season ticket package at a cheap rate, and sell them for face value or even more . . making 200% or more for what they paid for the tickets?

That’s a hell of a hustle, if you’re able to move tickets.

bigdave

June 18th, 2010
2:55 pm

northcyde

June 18th, 2010
2:56 pm

LOL @ being dissed for buying a Marvin jersey. That was actually the 2nd jersey that I bought after JJ’s jersey. No . . what would’ve been stupid, would be to buy an Acie Law jersey, which I almost did that night, instead of the Marvin jersey.

JC

June 18th, 2010
2:58 pm

@Northcyde – here’s the problem with your idea – for every weekend game against the Celtics or Lakers, there’s five Tuesday night games against the Bobcats or Pacers. You can’t give those tickets away.

northcyde

June 18th, 2010
3:01 pm

JC . . wins are supposed to excite fans. But it hasn’t done that in Atlanta. Fans want to go from nobody to championship level, before going through all of the trials and tribulations that teams usually go through.

Unless we’re able to do like Boston or LA, and trade for a borderline superstar player that a team doesn’t want, we’re going to have to claw our way to the top.

It is what it is in ATL though. Spending money just to be spending money isn’t the solution. ATL needs to be “excited”. I guess some fans would rather be excited and be a 45 win team . . than to be bored sometimes and be a 53 win team. Either way, both teams are probably not winning a title, so the apathy will still remain.

But I won’t get into all of this again. Ya’ll know my position on this.

Hawk n the Ham

June 18th, 2010
3:03 pm

About Jordan Crawford and the Draft.

I was looking at Chad Ford’s mock draft, and he doesn’t even have Crawford going in the 1st round.

I hope whatever the Hawks do, it’s not another forward like all the mock drafts I’ve seen.

Ramon

June 18th, 2010
3:04 pm

Here’s a question. I wonder would Philly take Crawford and Marvin or Zaza for Iguodala. Philly would get a scorer with an expiring contract. And we would get a great runmate for Joe.

James

June 18th, 2010
3:05 pm

I am beyond tired of everybody knocking on the Atlanta “market”. We are one of the larger media markets in the country. If you don’t believe me, do a simple web search and you will find plenty of material to support this statement. This city has the population to support a sports franchise to the level of any other city. The Hawks do not lose money because we have a poor market. They can’t get fans in the seats because we don’t have a good vibe with this team. Not a week passes that the owners of the team are not engaged in a legal battle, scrounging/begging for money, or making an obviously cheap move. The Falcon’s under AB don’t have any problem selling tickets, with VERY similar post season results. I don’t even think the average Hawks fan expects us to go outspend the Mark Cuban’s of the league. We just want the team to spend competently and competitively. By the basketball gods good graces we have managed to post winning seasons without going into luxury tax levels like other teams. Pretty sure by the time Al’s rookie contract is up the ASG people might be resorting to bake sales and car washes to keep the lights on…

northcyde

June 18th, 2010
3:06 pm

JC

June 18th, 2010
2:58 pm

@Northcyde – here’s the problem with your idea – for every weekend game against the Celtics or Lakers, there’s five Tuesday night games against the Bobcats or Pacers. You can’t give those tickets away.

***********

And that is the problem with the fan base in a nutshell. Going to those type of games would almost mean an automatic win for the Hawks. You’ll probably get to see our guys play a great game. But because the fans need the excitement of watching a “big” game, those games get passed over, and the ownership loses money.

When I saw that arena only about 75% full for the MLK Day game vs Oklahoma City, I already knew what that was about. OKC wasn’t “exciting” enough yet, even though the Hawks were still a top 5 team in the NBA at the time.

The fan loyalty just isn’t there for us.

JC

June 18th, 2010
3:31 pm

@northcyde – you said it best. “It is what it is.” The southeast will always be college football fans.

There’s only so much time and effort you can put into caring about sports, and if you’re excitedly tweeting every time Mark Richt farts, you aren’t going to have it in you to care about what’s going on with the Hawks.

Big Ray

June 18th, 2010
3:35 pm

Somebody get our resident “Fire Woody” t-shirt maker Clyde to make a t-shirt for Northcyde .

On the shirt it should say “Hawks Fans Stink! Come to more games, or at least buy more tickets you cheapskate M*#%er@*^%#ers!”

He can then wear it to every game he goes to, and should make him feel better. We’ll even point him out to the kiss cam.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

JC

June 18th, 2010
3:39 pm

@Big Ray – yeah, and then he could kiss Bruce Levenson’s @ss (just kidding, buddy).

JoJo the Godfather

June 18th, 2010
3:42 pm

Ramon…I’ve thought of Iguodala and I’ve also thought of Corey Maggette. GS would probably let Maggette go for Bibby & Evans. Would be a lot like the Crawford deal (they save $1M up front and $14M over next two years). There are definitely teams with worse wings than Marvin Williams, Corey Maggette, Joe Johnson (or Childress or free agent) & Jamal Crawford.

jroc

June 18th, 2010
3:42 pm

Atlanta is big enough to be a college football city, a nfl city, a baseball city, or a nba city. The problem is that the fans in ATL just want to see the hawks play a team in the regular season that exites them just like northcyde stated. For some strange reason the fans in ATL only have a championship or bust mentality when it comes to the hawks.

Long-Suffering Hawks Fan

June 18th, 2010
3:50 pm

The Atlanta Spirit Group is the “Barack O. Bama” of professional sports ownership:

Big Ray

June 18th, 2010
3:54 pm

The southeast will always be college football fans.

Nice to know some people recognize this. Fair or not, it’s the truth. And you don’t build a loyal fan base overnight. It takes years. Ask the Braves.

This last season was the Hawks second winning season in a row. Winning around here is NEW again. What about the previous 4 seasons?

The postseason performance in ‘07-’08 was the best we’ve seen in how long? Losing in a 7 game series as a serious underdog to the eventual champions that year was the best postseason basketball this team has played in quite some time. It was better, more competitive, and more exciting than the last two years, wherein we struggled our way to a 4-3 series win over inferior teams, then were unceremoniously crushed by superior teams, while failing to compete in any way, shape or form.

Do cheap fans make cheap owners, or is it the other way around? This ownership group came in here and messed things up from the start. They have branded themselves as petty, cheap, and a million other things, and they couldn’t keep it out of the spotlight. That practically kills all kinds of marketing.

In a place like Atlanta, there are established competitive sports markets. You can’t fubar things like that and expect to thrive. Not enough people are interested enough in the Hawks. That’s the way it is. It’s not like they are all sitting around with nothing to do while complaining about the Hawks. They are going to Braves games, Falcons games, and college games most of all.

The cart never functioned well in front of the horse. Part of the issue, believe it or not, is the star power. Like it or not, people would have been much more excited if Marvin Williams or one of our other high draft picks turned out better. Look what CP3 did for New Orleans. Imagine if he had been playing here . Yes, people do need to be excited about something. You have to sell the product. 47 wins and 53 wins is a start. But it ain’t nowhere near a finish, and with the last two postseason appearances, it makes it hard for the casual fan to get more involved, when they don’t see a reason to believe that the next season might be more fruitful or entertaining.

Because in the end, this is about entertainment.

jroc

June 18th, 2010
3:54 pm

Iguodala or Maggette would not help the hawks out a bit in the playoffs.Yeah they will be exiting to watch but neither of those guys would give the hawks that championship edge.If i were the hawks i would go hard at a vetern like Ray Allen or Kurt Thomas.If the hawks sign jj they will have their core guys intact.Fans don’t beg for the team to go backwards you are just where you want to be, a top team in the east thats on the rise.Tweak the roster a little bit management but don’t over-haul the good young talent that you got.

Ramon

June 18th, 2010
3:56 pm

Jojo, if Golden State would do that, the Hawks should jump on that deal. Only thing is I like Iguodala more because he’s younger, and actually tries on defense. I don’t think Maggette’s played defense since the last time he was in Coach K’s huddle. lol

Big Ray

June 18th, 2010
4:01 pm

jroc ,

For some strange reason the fans in ATL only have a championship or bust mentality when it comes to the hawks.shaming or insulting. Not that you would do anything like that, of course.

Painting with a broad brush. Plenty of Hawks fans are diehards and support the team as they are able to. Who you’re talking about is the casual fan. How do you recruit the droves of casual fans, which probably outnumber the diehard fans 3 to 1? I don’t know for sure, but I’ve never seen shaming or insulting work. What it does is pi$$ off the real fans who keep hearing “this fan base isn’t worthy” and other such comments. Just saying…and I think some people have a b!tch of a time understanding that concept…

Clyde

June 18th, 2010
4:01 pm

Some of yall just don’t understand. People that are really from Atlanta are use to losing. We expect the Hawks, Braves, and Falcons to lose due to their history of losing. We only have one championship in 30+ years. So why do people call us bad fans when we expect them to lose?

JoJo the Godfather

June 18th, 2010
4:04 pm

Supporting a sports team in a city with multiple entertainment sources comes down to star players & identifying with management & ownership. The Hawks offer none of these things. I would bet that if Arthur Blank bought the Hawks, hired Charles Barkley as his GM, signed Iverson, Shaq & T-Mac, and lost 50 games next year, that ticket sales & jersey sales would increase.

jroc

June 18th, 2010
4:11 pm

The hawks have fans all over the southeast and if management would market the team better the fan base would grow even larger.How about offering 5,10,or 20 home game ticket packages for fans.I live 3 hrs from ATL in Josh Smiths fathers hometown and when i go to hawks games i have the liberty to pick and choose what games i want to attend.With a package for fans outside of atl you will have more fan support at the games.And you can play more of your preseason games in other cities like Columbus,Savanah,Agusta,Albany,Birmingham,Columbia,Chatanooga, etc. and offer ticket packages when they play in those cities and i bet you over a few years fan support at regular season games will grow.

JoJo the Godfather

June 18th, 2010
4:12 pm

Maggette is a lot like Crawford, he’s been on some bad teams, and he hasn’t had too many coaches in is ear talking defense either. Does anyone on GS (or those old Clips teams) play D? Mixing and creating matchups with those 4 could work, especially if you only have to give up Bibby & Evans.

doc

June 18th, 2010
4:15 pm

northcyde, honestly i was going to suggest just that about selling your tix to make profit as i gave you the write off potential to a not for profit service organization. i figured reading your comments you would be sophisticated enough to figure it out on your own. nice job, now when is the date you call someone up. i can give you my reps phone no. of you want to speed up the process. bryan would probaly like to hear from somebody, anybody right now.

btw, i couldnt sell my spurs or magic tix down the stretch though i was going to be ut of town so it is difficult to say the least. you need kobe, cels or labron to sell em.

jroc

June 18th, 2010
4:16 pm

Big Ray that wasn’t my full quote

Midtown Mike

June 18th, 2010
4:19 pm

I dont care what they do as long as they dont trade Mike Bibby. He’s cute, no homo.

ryan

June 18th, 2010
4:21 pm

Atlanta needs a owner who spend money someone who has guts what is that saying to make money you have to spend money these owners are gutless and are afraid of secuss.

doc

June 18th, 2010
4:23 pm

ray

“This ownership group came in here and messed things up from the start. They have branded themselves as petty, cheap, and a million other things, and they couldn’t keep it out of the spotlight. That practically kills all kinds of marketing.”

yes ray, well documented in the press through court proceedings, wanted bottom dollar team and got a 13 game winner in the process. amen brother ben.

Clyde

June 18th, 2010
4:23 pm

Midtown Mike SMH

Big Ray

June 18th, 2010
4:24 pm

jroc ,

May not have a choice if Joe leaves. It’s not rebuilding, but it is more than just tweaking. Who then do we build the offense around? Larry Drew talks about an offense that has five guys on the attack, but even playing in his new system is gonna have its bugs.

Have to switch gears without JJ, like it or not.

jroc

June 18th, 2010
4:33 pm

Big Ray

Every system has its bugs just look at all 7 of the games between LA and Boston how the coaches made different ajustments and messed up each teams system.What matters Big Ray is how determined the players are to buy in to the coaches system.I looked at hawks.com and saw how exited the hawks players were with the hire of Drew and thats a good sign of better things to come.If most of the players feel that way no doubt jj feels the same way to.

Big Ray

June 18th, 2010
4:36 pm

Clyde

Heh. We have to be champions before the team can be. Like I’ve said a million times, see how well that philosophy works in New York….

JC

June 18th, 2010
4:38 pm

That’s absolutely true, Big Ray. On these threads, for every well thought out post on the effective utilization of Mo Evans off the bench, there are usually three misspelled posts decrying “Hawx suk, sign AI!” Luckily, they don’t read these ownership articles (too many big words).

I am proud that I know Zaza Pachulia is #27 without looking it up. I am glad the first time I heard about Larry Drew wasn’t a month ago. But I also know that not everyone shares my passions. And that while guys like Big Ray and myself crave nuance, the masses thirst for blood.

Unfortunately winning isn’t enough, at least at the level we’re winning at right now. We need sexiness to enfranchise fans. That’s the whole “Highlight Factory” mentality – don’t give me Tim Duncan solid fundamentals, give me dunk-in-your-face 360 circus slams. Give me names I hear about outside of sports. I’d rather look good and lose than win.

Ramon

June 18th, 2010
4:41 pm

Jojo, of course I would take that deal all day long.

Big Ray

June 18th, 2010
4:42 pm

Jroc

Love your “glass is half full” perspective. I hope you’re right. It was indeed good to see the players saying they’re excited about playing for Drew. Hopefully it translates into better team chemistry and guys actually listening to and respecting their coach. Especially during the tough times. I want to see these guys gel. That’s what helped teams like Boston and L.A. when things got tough. The Lakers won despite shooting below or around 30% for the first half.

Chemistry really helps then, and I hope we get more of that.

Big Ray

June 18th, 2010
4:48 pm

JC ,

LOL. Hey, I’ll take Tim Duncan and those rings, thank ya very much! Nothing wrong with a little sexy, it sells. But I don’t want to be the eastern conference version of Golden State…

drmaryb

June 18th, 2010
4:48 pm

Blu-Ray
(Picture Perfect)

Fubar? Now, where is my Roget’s Thesaurus when I need it?

jroc

June 18th, 2010
4:54 pm

Its not that many coaches in the nba where players look forward to play for their coach.Players love to play for Phil,Doc and Pop……….. and Drew? Watch out ATL next year might be special, not championship special but special like 08 for fans, casual or die-hard.

drmaryb

June 18th, 2010
5:01 pm

Blue-Ray
(3D – HDMI)

Or was Fubar a typo for Subpar?
I know, I can spell, but sometimes my B-berry changes my word spellings. Weird.

Anywho – great comments today, Ray. ;0

MsDee

June 18th, 2010
5:06 pm

The city of Atlanta is a great city to get fans to come and support the Hawks. The ASG just doesnt market the team well at all!! If it wasnt for the diehard fans we are who stays on top of the Hawks, knows all the ins and outs of this team, we too probably wouldnt go to many games because we wouldnt know when they played or the prices for each game. What I’m saying is, for the casual fan, we need to market the Hawks on commercials other than SportsSouth or FoxSport stations but on other local stations, esp those ones not on cable (everyone doesnt have cable) Also, have better Hawks advertising on billboards arround the city,

Jody

June 18th, 2010
5:12 pm

Revisionist history from prior drafts. Sad, but funny stuff.

http://www.nbadraft.net/eavesdropping-draft-history

Ramon

June 18th, 2010
5:17 pm

MsDee, the Hawks could do a lot better marketing towards the school kids (making it more of a family experience), or even having some sort of display in the airport also advertising the Hawks. Its a lot of different things. Just having 3 billboards on 285 isn’t going to cut it, lol.

MsDee

June 18th, 2010
5:19 pm

Also, have better Hawks advertising on billboards around the city, instead of that crap they have up now with a faceless guy with a hawks jersey on and a ball in his hand..how insulting to the players. I bet when JJ and the others goes out of town to play games, they see the huge LeBron billboards in cleveland, they see the Kobe/Pau billboards in LA, they see Wade billboards in Miami, they might even see Derek Rose billboards in Chicago, but when they return home to a great city of Atlanta, they see a ‘faceless guy with a hawks jersey on and a ball in his hand’..SAD…just SAD!! How about a JJ billboard, a Josh & Al Horford billboard..a Jeff Teague billboard advertising our new Rookie(at the time)..you never know how that can make a player feel when they are being exposed like that! It makes them bring their A-Game every night.

Ramon

June 18th, 2010
5:21 pm

Jody, that BK and Woody is hilarious!

MsDee

June 18th, 2010
5:23 pm

Ramon,

I agree..the airport would be a Great place to advertise the Hawks…

MsDee

June 18th, 2010
5:28 pm

Another idea is to get the Hawks players out and about in the city, instead of being in there 2.3 mil house we help get them in. Come out and have cook-outs in local parks, or sign autograghs at McDonalds where families always eat at, or have outings at malls, etc…all i’m saying is get involved with being involved with your fans, JJ, so u wouldnt have to call them out.

Jody

June 18th, 2010
5:29 pm

Ramon,

Indeed it is. A must read I must say.

justahawkfan

June 18th, 2010
5:30 pm

Spending a truck load of money on coaches and (elite?)free agent always ensure a wining/championship teams. see Knicks, Wizards and any team except Celtics and Lakers. Right?

Ramon

June 18th, 2010
5:36 pm

MsDee, did Joe Johnson or Josh Smith ever throw out the first pitch of a game? ( I know that doesn’t mean anything 84 people throws out the first pitch every season, lol). But its a lot of things they can do that they don’t do.

Big Ray

June 18th, 2010
5:52 pm

Ramon ,

Yeah, but he held the ball for 20 seconds before doing so….

Big Ray

June 18th, 2010
5:53 pm

And Josh threw it from beyond his range…

Big Ray

June 18th, 2010
5:54 pm

Spending a truck load of money on coaches and (elite?)free agent always ensure a wining/championship teams. see Knicks, Wizards and any team except Celtics and Lakers. Right?

Exactly. And since they have such great fans who keep paying for the tickets and showing up for games, I just don’t udnerstand why teams like the Knicks haven’t won championships for the last several years.

Clearly their fans are of championship caliber, right? :roll:

This is what happens when the dummy has all the money (in this case, Dolan)

Section 303

June 18th, 2010
5:55 pm

northcyde, I do not question your standing as a Hawks fan. You’re a good one. Anyone who has read this blog would know that.

I have to agree with JC, though. You would never sell some/most of the games you couldn’t make. I’ve been a season ticket holder for 6 years now. I make probably 30-33 regular season games a year. I’ve either given away tickets to games I couldn’t make, or have just had to eat them. Several times I have tried to sell on E-bay or Stubhub and have not had a buyer even sniff at picking up the tickets.

Also, you aren’t charged for preseason games. Those are always scheduled after regular season games. So, you get those on the house.

The Truth

June 18th, 2010
5:57 pm

The Truth

June 18th, 2010
5:59 pm

There is a point to be made about the hype or the validity of the NBA team 400 million dollar losses claimed by the league. Is this nothing more then league positioning ahead of the CBA set to expire June 2011? Billy Hunter of the NBAPA is questioning the 400 million losses in this report.

Sautee

June 18th, 2010
6:18 pm

drmaryb,

Fubar is actually an acronym that stands for “F-d up beyond all repair”.

Now you know!

JeJe

June 18th, 2010
6:20 pm

CAN WE PLEASE GET AN ASG/BELKIN UPDATE?

JESUS

northcyde

June 18th, 2010
6:21 pm

Now I do agree with you all on that. The Hawks could be marketed much better than what they are.

The coolest thing advertising wise I’ve seen done on the Hawks, was a Nike billboard featuring Mookie Blaylock. It was done in black and white. The billboard tag line . . . “Master of the Take and Give” . . . which was in reference to his ability to dish out assists and get steals.

560 AM may be a good station in the daytime. But once that station powers down their signal at night, you’ll be lucky to pick up the signal 20 miles outside of the central city. I know at one time, Hawks games used to be carried on 750 AM. At night, you could pick up that signal even where I live on the TN/KY state line.

Marketing is definitely one area in which they can do much better.

JeJe

June 18th, 2010
6:26 pm

Don’t be surprised if LBJ vouches to play with Wade.

It’s obvious no one in the West is close to competing with LA (I thought Dallas would…), so why not dominate the East and meet them in the Finals? Miami or CHicago will get damn lucky when they get LBJ and will spend the bank to get LBJ and other stars

WHY CAN’T WE BE THAT CITY?

WHY IS THERE NOT ONE !@#DAMN RUMOR ABOUT A S&T FOR LBJ OR WADE OR TRYING TO GET INTO THE LUX TO ADD THEM?

WHY IS THIS CITY ALWAYS THE EXCEPTION IN SPORTS?

Melvin

June 18th, 2010
6:44 pm

Although we don’t need a midget on this team but is this the next nate robinson???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj5UmH5TdfI&feature=fvw

northcyde

June 18th, 2010
6:45 pm

Wow Sec 303 . . . couldn’t even give away tickets? That’s a shame.

Let me ask you this:

Do you use the payment plan for your season tix, or just pay it off all at once? And if you do use the payment plan, about how much a month are you paying?

ryan

June 18th, 2010
6:48 pm

What the Hawks or the Braves need is a Mark Cuban style owner someone who not a suit somebody who cares about the fans and the city.

drmaryb

June 18th, 2010
7:16 pm

Ms.Dee

Damn Girl! Co-Sign them Billboards! You must be psyhic! Get ‘Em!

Blast

June 18th, 2010
8:01 pm

Lots of good stuff on the blog tonight. Big Ray on fire!

I trully believe Hawks blog is the best sport blog in cyberspace.

Keep firing it up, Hawks fans!

Dr. Phil

June 18th, 2010
8:14 pm

Wish Hawks were for sale!

Sautee

June 18th, 2010
8:17 pm

LOL @ Big Ray telling about JJ and Josh throwing the first pitch.

ROFLMFAO

O'Brien

June 18th, 2010
8:31 pm

Funny stuff on the blog.

BK draft conversations? Hilarious, but painful.

And funny stuff with JJ and Josh throwing out the first pitch.

Marvin was supposed to throw it out too. But instead of throwing it to the catcher, he kept throwing it to Josh or JJ.

JeJe

June 18th, 2010
9:37 pm

SELL THE DAMN TEAMS

WE NEED MICHAEL MORON JR OUTTA HERE

ARROGANT P.O.S. OWNER

HOW THE HELL IS THIS GUY AN OWNER? HIS ONLY MEANS OF NBA KNOWLEDGE IS TALKING ABOUT DEFICIENCIES IN PLAYERS WE DON’T HAVE (JR SMITH, ILGAUSKAS). HE NEVER TALKS ABOUT OUR FAULTS, JUST THE FAULTS OF PLAYERS WE DON’T HAVE

GOOD JOB IDIOT

atownhawk23

June 18th, 2010
10:00 pm

yeah. that’s good.

NOW HOW BOUT THOSE LAKERS?

The Truth

June 18th, 2010
10:04 pm

When it comes to the recent NBA cap projections as reported by Stern, this sounds look a contradiction compared to his earlier reports of losses totaling 400 million dollars.

JeJe

June 18th, 2010
10:08 pm

THE LAKERS ARE GOING TO THE FINALS THE NEXT 3 YEARS

SHOOT BIG AND TRY S&T JOE FOR LEBRON OR WADE OR SOMETHING.

WHY IS THIS CITY ALWAYS THE !@#$ING EXCEPTION

JeJe

June 18th, 2010
10:11 pm

IF WE OFFERED LEBRON A $6 MILLION/3 YEAR CONTRACT AND HE WANTED 6.01 THE ASG WOULDN’T DO IT. THAT’S HOW RETARDED THEY ARE

Sautee

June 18th, 2010
10:14 pm

Jeje,

Man, I know you are frustrated but at least TRY to be real.

If Joe doesn’t WANT to go to Cleveland or Miami, THEN what?

You DO realize what UNRESTRICTED means don’t you?

Sautee

June 18th, 2010
10:18 pm

LOL, Wade and LeBron are unrestricted, too. They would have to be asking to come HERE.

Use your noggin.

Section 303

June 18th, 2010
10:19 pm

northcyde, My seats in 303 are not that expensive. For my pair, it is $900. So, I just pay the whole thing at once. Last year, I did the payment plan. I did the 4-month plan. Worked out to $200 ish for each payment.

Simpdawg

June 18th, 2010
10:23 pm

The 2010 NBA draft is less than a week away, and if the Hawks don’t draft a center, this team will take a serious step back. We don’t need to sign a free agent center we need to draft one.

Michael Cunningham

June 18th, 2010
10:25 pm

@ Astro Joe: “@MC, don’t worry about brushing up on your knowledge of local college players who are 1st round prospects. If I were you, I’d start studying the NBDL All Star team roster to determine if Thomas Gardner, Jeremy Richardson or Matt Frieje would be the better candidate to fill that desired shooter role that Pendergraft wants to fill. Coach Drew already knows those guys, so it would make for an easy transition. Time to find my Esteban Batista autographed Chick Fil A bag.”

ummm, best i leave that to the people who can look at those kind of players and make a determination if they can play in the league. though i did hear Gardner looked good with the Antwerp Giants http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/detail.aspx?articleid=DMF28122009_009

Michael Cunningham

June 18th, 2010
10:30 pm

@JeJe: “CAN WE PLEASE GET AN ASG/BELKIN UPDATE? JESUS”

they don’t get along

Michael Cunningham

June 18th, 2010
10:35 pm

@ The Truth: “When it comes to the recent NBA cap projections as reported by Stern, this sounds look a contradiction compared to his earlier reports of losses totaling 400 million dollars.”

yep. that’s why the players don’t trust the numbers. when called on this contradiction, stern went back to his “fix a broken system” talking points. but really this is just what happens in all labor negotiations: when things are good, labor wants more and sometimes gets it. when things are bad, management wants more and tries to take back what it already gave. both sides will always fight over how good or bad things are when it’s time to renegotiate.

the twist to this is i think some owners wouldn’t mind a lockout. just shut it down for a year and save money. that means ticking off customers and losing some revenue when they start back up but it also could mean winning enough concessions from players that the cost savings more than make up that difference.

JeJe

June 18th, 2010
10:39 pm

what is the POINT IN DRAFTING A CENTER? WE HAVE HORFORD AT C AND SMOOVE AT PF.

U CANNOT MOVE SMOOVE TO THE SF SLOT. WE ARE STUCK WITH WHAT WE HAVE UNLESS WE TRADE SMOOVE

JESUS

U PEOPLE SAY THE SAME !@#$ EVERY FREAKING BLOG. U CAN’T GET A CENTER IF HORFORD AND SMOOVE ARE STUCK AT THOSE POSITIONS. IF SMOOVE PLAYS SF WE WILL WIN 30 GAMES NEXT YEAR

GOOD GOD

Yup!

June 18th, 2010
10:50 pm

Backup Center? Dexter Pittman?

Move Zaza to backup PF? re-sign Randolph Morris?

Ken Strickland

June 18th, 2010
10:50 pm

Finance’s might be another reason Woodson was let go. Over the last 6yrs the ASG has invested a lot of money in lottery and 1st rd picks just to see their investments go undeveloped and unproductive under Woodson. And in some cases, down right ignored. They obviously feel LDrew will reverse that sorry trend. If the Hawks under LDrew’s direction can continue winning, but most importantly, generate the same level of excitement in the playoffs that was generated against the Celtics in O7, things could really turn around for the team, the fans and ownership.

The Truth

June 18th, 2010
11:25 pm

MC: Agreed I wouldn’t put anything pass what these owners might do when it comes to ‘jockey for position’ as it relates to their (real) profit-bottom-line and the NBAPA. However this hint by Stern of a cap increase relative to year dire prediction suggest some potential revenue opportunity being made from off-season FA media coverage. Stern may have set the stage for indirect robust revenue dollars from this as well as fan excitement generated from the endless possibilities of star-studded roster additions from FA acquisitions. In this, it’s a win-win for all involved, the FA players, the teams, and the fans.

Melvin

June 18th, 2010
11:48 pm

Not sure if someone posted this link earlier but its a good writeup on the Hawks by NBADRAFT.net.

http://www.nbadraft.net/state-cap-atlanta-hawks-0

dj

June 18th, 2010
11:50 pm

Even if you find a suitable way to get Hawks tickets,you’ll never find a way to forgive this team for rolling over in the playoffs,pitiful.

JeJe

June 19th, 2010
12:08 am

If I’m the moronic Sund or ASG, I would STRONGLY consider trading our 1st rounder.

There is absolutely nothing to spend it on. If Teague is going to be developed, there’s no point getting a point guard (this draft talent level sucks).

Sell the pick and make some money- the broke ASG could use it.

DO NOT DRAFT A CENTER. WE HAVE HORFORD AND ZAZA (WHO PLAYED VERY SOLIDLY IN THE PLAYOFFS). Resign Collins and Joe Smith for nothing and maybe see if Drew can excite RandMo enough to actually improve (even though RandMo showed glimpses this past year).

It is WOODY’s fault we choke in the playoffs. We had the bench talent to do special things this year. If freaking Teague had been developed we could’ve made it to the ECF.

FIRE SUND
FIRE WOODY

JeJe

June 19th, 2010
12:53 am

NO!!!

June 19th, 2010
2:20 am

1. No proven new head coach.
2. No big name free agent is going to play in Atlanta.
3. No chance in 2011.

Can’t wait!!!

G. Jennings

June 19th, 2010
3:24 am

I heard they looking for minority owners to buy into the organization!? If so we can all get a slice of the team ownership like the Green Bay Packers.

sam'l

June 19th, 2010
3:38 am

I don’t think winning fails to excite the fans. It’s the way we lose that makes us ill.

The city will support an intelligent, consistent, courageous team……..

So far, we haven’t had that…….there were good games last year….Phoenix, LA, San Antonio……but also several bad inexcusable ,stupid losses, and of course the humiliation from Orlando.

Apparently, Northclude would like to forget the architect of this team’s futility……who will be lucky to land an assistant coach’s job……anywhere.

sam'l

June 19th, 2010
3:39 am

sorry typo Northclyde

VOICE OF DISGRUNTLED FANS IN ATLANTA

June 19th, 2010
7:26 am

FIRE

SUND

MIKE WHAT A CON AND HAM

FIRE AL HORFORD AND GET A STARTING CENTER WHO CAN PLAY DEFENSE

FIRE ALL THE HORFORD NUTT HUGGERS WHO REFUSE TO LOOK AT HIS HIS 12PT

CAREER AVERAGE HIS #18 BLOCK SHOT RANKING AMONGST CENTERS, OUT OF 30 NBA

99% SAID HE HIS NOT QUALIFIED TO BE ON THE NBA ALL DEFENSIVE TEAM. HE HAS A .41

FOULS TO BLKS RATIO WHICH MEANS HE IS VERY UNSKILLED AT PLAYING RIM

PROTECTING DEFENSE FIRE HIM AND HIS IGNORANT NUT HUGGERS TOO!

THE HAWKS WILL NEVER COMPETE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP WITH AL HORFORD AS YOUR CENTER.!

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS SOMETHING AL CANT PLAY!

VOICE OF DISGRUNTLED FANS IN ATLANTA

June 19th, 2010
7:27 am

** OUT OF 30 NBA COACHES

99% SAID HE HIS NOT QUALIFIED TO BE ON THE NBA DEFENSIVE TEAM.

VOICE OF DISGRUNTLED FANS IN ATLANTA

June 19th, 2010
7:31 am

PLEASE FIRE MIKE THAT DAMM CON AND HAM AND GET A REAL SCOPE REPORTING, TEAM UNITING, HAWKS KNOWLEDGEABLE JUST THE FACTS MAAM, BRING US A REAL CENTER DEMANDING BEAT WRITER!

WHERE DID YOU GET THIS LOSER FROM AJC?

VOICE OF DISGRUNTLED FANS IN ATLANTA

June 19th, 2010
7:32 am

FIRE CON & HAM

FIRE SUND FIRE SUND FIRE SUND FIRE SUND

FIRE AL HORFORD FIRE AL HORFORD FIRE FIRE FIRE!

Save America!

June 19th, 2010
7:57 am

Big Ray

June 19th, 2010
8:45 am

Fire people who can’t disengage the CAPS key….

Big Ray

June 19th, 2010
8:51 am

Tell me you wouldn’t pay to see this:

Truth Serum calling Al Horford “W h o r e f o r d” to his face, then telling him he sucks on defense.

Somebody call security….oops, too late….call the paramedics instead…..

Melvin

June 19th, 2010
8:53 am

Hoopsworld (and other experts) are calling this upcoming draft one of the deepest in years and the Hawks asst GM on saying that he’s not sure they could find a player at 24? I hope he’s just blowing smoke.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16519

JeJe

June 19th, 2010
9:45 am

” Tell me you wouldn’t pay to see this:

Truth Serum calling Al Horford “W h o r e f o r d” to his face, then telling him he sucks on defense.

Somebody call security….oops, too late….call the paramedics instead…”

HILARIOUS!

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
9:51 am

Sautee

@1014 PM RE: SCHOOL a FOOL

Man’ it’s June 20th and you’re still Splainin’ what an UFA is? Bump that! ROF & LOL.

OBRIEN
@ 831 PM RE: “TBS – Very Funny”

Come on OBRIEN, you got a funny BONE too?
Josh & JJ throwing out the “First – Pitch?”. Now you know that’s gonna be a “Wild – Pitch!”.
( A Turn – Over waiting to happen !)

Good Sunday Morning Boyz & Gurls! Rise and Shine! Hit the Deck! Let’s Go!

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
10:02 am

Michael Cunningham

@ 1035 PM RE: labor negotiations

Can I get an Amen! – From the Congregation! Hello,t hat’s the oldest negotiation tactic in the Book!
The Economics are Good! -vs- The Economics are Bad! In any and all labor talks – it’s the Economy – Stupid!

Either way, The Hawks will be fine:
We can always go to Russia and finds us a billion dollar Arms – Dealer – Right?

Ken Strickland

June 19th, 2010
10:16 am

MELVIN-thanks, that was very interesting and informative reading. It really does put some things into perspective. While the draft isn’t very deep in top notch centers or PG’s, it certainly seems deep in everything else. With so many underclassmen entering the draft, it’s a gold mine for organizations with HC’s that are committed to developing young talent.

Now that we have a HC that actually is, we can surely get a productive player out of this draft. But too me, it seems like a smart move to look at the current development of former Hawk roster players like Othello Hunter, Thomas Gardner or Jeremy Richardson. I looked at the numbers of JCollins, RMorris and OHunter and came up with some interesting results. JCollins-4.8MINS, .7PTS, .6REB: RMorris-4.4MINS, 2.2PTS, 1.4REB: OHunter-4.7MINS, 1.6PTS, 1.7REB.

Considering the lack of consistency, and limited mins played, the pts and rebs for RMorris and OHunter weren’t bad. They’ve proven they can be inexpensive and productive situational players. We all know that Zaza, Crawford, Evans and Bibby will be the main rotational players off the bench, unless Crawford starts.

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
10:17 am

I GOT the POWER!

It’s gettin’ ….. It’s gettin’ kinda – hectic! (hit song from the ’80’s)

If I were the “Blog-Dog” like MC? I would “Scroll – On past half the “Wanna – Be”
bloggers on here. Especially multiple – named ones and the ALL -CAPS annoying
bloggers – (Big Time!)

But, I am NOT the: Blog-Dog,
Michael Cunningham IS!

Knowledge Quest

June 19th, 2010
10:25 am

I have to agree that Al normally does better against smaller opponents than against guys his size or bigger.

Blue Ray you and the peanut gallery must learn that its not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.

BTW, Im sure glad the paramedics got there in time. I wish Al a speedy recovery. He did not understand defense in basketball and apparently not boxing either…..

Knowledge Quest

June 19th, 2010
10:27 am

If I were Mike con “what a Ham”, Id just resign! Lets get a writer with out an anterior motive take charge. Why cant we get Mark Bradley instead?

Joe Mama

June 19th, 2010
10:31 am

LMAO @

Knowledge Quest

June 19th, 2010
10:25 am

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
10:33 am

INTELECTUALLY STIMULATING!

@ 1025 AM: as Mark Jackson would say, “Mamma! There goes that MAN!”

It’ the size of the FIGHT in the dog!
How does one judge – The Heart of a Man?” -drmaryb-
Can YOU scout – Energy? -the donkey-

Joe Mama

June 19th, 2010
10:34 am

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
10:17 am

Yea he reminds me of a dog too. Isnt a hyena a dog?

Truth-Serum

June 19th, 2010
10:37 am

Love you Mary, got to go. Ill look for you again later!

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
10:39 am

Joe Mamma

I have, NO dog in – that fight.
ROF.

Truth-Serum

June 19th, 2010
10:41 am

By the way peanut gallery “W h o r e f o r d” is pronounced Horford, there no difference in the sound or the definitions. The two are synonymous.

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
10:41 am

Who’s Your Daddy?

Grand – Daddy! Top of the Day – too You!

Hawks73

June 19th, 2010
10:41 am

I find it humorous that the real problem with the Hawks are us, the fans, and not the ownership group. I have lived in GA my entire 37 years of existence and I distinctly remember the days of Fratello and different ownership group and yes…SELLOUTS at the old Omni!

It’s disingenuous to blame us (the Fans) when it’s clear that if we have a LEGITIMATE ownership group that was COMMITTED to fielding the very best product on the court, that fans wouldn’t support (the product).

If you look at all of our professional franchise(s) history you will see that WINNING alone will bring us in droves to the park, court, field. The Braves & Falcons have had lean years under different management groups and failed to gain our trust, it’s the PERCEPTION of the OWNERSHIP group that will either determine confidence or in still apathy.

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
10:48 am

Truth – Serum
(@ 1037 AM post)

I Love You too! Please, inject me with that Pheno-Barbiol.

Sautee

June 19th, 2010
10:54 am

Truth-serum,

Still whining about Horford, I see.

You are the biggest whiner in all of Hawks fandom, IMHO.

It takes an ALL-TIME whiner to WHINE about having an All-Star Center. Un-freakin’ believable.

It’s like complaining about the farmers with your mouth full. ;-)

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
10:57 am

Hawks73

‘Nuff Said!”. Co-Sign that ISH!

Can I get an Amen? From the Congregation!
“IF You build a WINNER? We WILL come!” -drmaryb-

Dept. of Unintended irony

June 19th, 2010
11:05 am

“Lets get a writer with out an anterior motive take charge.”

Yeah, I never liked it when a writer had his motive in front either.

ROFLOL!

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
11:18 am

Horford!

Is a CENTER – piece!

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
11:21 am

MC

Check that grammar: Anterior -vs- Interior? Mnnnhhh …..

ryan

June 19th, 2010
11:46 am

I think the way you can get the owners to spend money is the fans have to get angry look at Boston and New york when they angry they get what they want Atlanta has to get mean and nasty you can not let these owners push you around.

rusty

June 19th, 2010
12:33 pm

why have the fans not really taken to this team. 1= they should have been playing uptemo ball in stead of
iso basketball with no team work(in the start of the season when they played so well they were running & the fans loved that] 2= every time they looked good they would get blown out of games (this happened way more than it should have prob due to our poor iso & switching defense.3= we need a leader on the
court( we dont have one) 4= no one liked woody & his style of coaching & pig headness) 5= the team needs to play with more purpose ) basically this team played subpar in the playoffs when they needed to step their game up.

Dezz Nuttz

June 19th, 2010
12:38 pm

Sautee I cant figure out how you can possibly about your mouth full with Dezz Nuttz!

Dezz Nuttz

June 19th, 2010
12:41 pm

You whine about Dezz nuttz with yo mouth full….Dat aint right Saltee… Are you made coz Truth Serum calls you the “Legendary Brown OOzzzz of Undershorts?

northcyde

June 19th, 2010
12:41 pm

sam’l

June 19th, 2010
3:38 am

I don’t think winning fails to excite the fans. It’s the way we lose that makes us ill.

The city will support an intelligent, consistent, courageous team……..

So far, we haven’t had that…….there were good games last year….Phoenix, LA, San Antonio……but also several bad inexcusable ,stupid losses, and of course the humiliation from Orlando.

Apparently, Northclude would like to forget the architect of this team’s futility……who will be lucky to land an assistant coach’s job……anywhere.

*******************

Bad losses by the Hawks:

- the entire Orlando series + 2 regular season blowouts
- Game 3 and Game 5 vs Milwaukee
- the 2 Knick home games
- the debacle @ Golden St
- the Woody/Kidd run-in vs Dallas
- getting blown out twice vs Miami
- losing @ New Orleans w/o Chris Paul
- getting blown out @ Charlotte

Good wins by the Hawks:

- winning Game 2 and a potential series ending Game 6 @ Milwaukee
- beat the Lakers
- beat the Magic ( Smoove’s buzzer beating dunk )
- beat San Antonio in OT
- beat Charlotte in OT ( JJ buzzer beater )
- beat Phoenix ( Crawford buzzer beater )
- swept the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics
- swept Utah
- swept Portland ( when their main players were healthy )
- beat Houston ( Smoove buzzer beater dunk )
- beat Dallas in Dallas

- 34 home wins overall ( 2nd best in franchise history )
- 5 – 1 vs the two NBA Finals participants
- 21 – 9 vs the “stronger” Western Conference
- 30 wins by 10 points or more

sam’l . . . you’re right. The bad losses DO stick with the fans more than the good wins. Every team in the league goes through bad games throughout the season. But this team has been very good at home for the past 2 years.

Remembering the playoffs is a given. We played well for maybe 3.5 games in the playoffs. The Orland series was a complete stinker, and fans have a right to be mad at that. But that doesn’t completely tarnish what that team did last year, and that’s take a major step in becoming a top 10 team in this league. If JJ comes back, expectations are still going to be relatively high.

The Hawks have NEVER gotten to the Eastern Conference Finals since they’ve been in Boston. As “bad” as people want to make last season to be, that was one of the top 5 teams in ATLANTA HAWK HISTORY that you saw play last year . . . not some .500 squad.

No way I’m going to act like I didn’t enjoy last year much more than I was disappointed. Ownership may be part of the problem, but some of the fans MUST ADMIT that there is something extremely wrong with the sports mentality of Atlanta fans. You just can’t keep blaming everything else around the fans . . and not place a large chunk of the blame on the fans themselves.

Before the Bibby trade, I bet every Hawk fan ( both die hard and casual ) would KILL to say that we were a 50+ win team that made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs. But now that we’re here, the apathy still remains. The bar of expectation keeps getting raised, which will make some of you even mad at a team that won 50 games.

We failed miserably against Orlando. That’s the major black eye on last season. So we must try to match up better against them in the future. But if JJ comes back, this is still a top 10 ballclub, if Drew can accomplish half of what he wants to do.

Just keep that in mind when you see people borderline trash this team and its players.

James Brown

June 19th, 2010
12:47 pm

hey hey Hayyy, Mazio, Atlanta’s got to be funky, What-so-ever they do… they got to get a center!

SUNG TO THE TUNE OF MAKE IT FUNKY

1-2-3 GET A CENTER…GET A CENTER… GET A CENTER

Big Ray

June 19th, 2010
12:50 pm

Blue Ray you and the peanut gallery must learn that its not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.

So now you’re calling yourself a dog? LOL!

Like I said, I’d pay to see you talkin’ that smack to Horford. He’d probably pat you on the head and give you a scooby snack…and you’d be all happy…LOL

James Brown

June 19th, 2010
12:52 pm

Hell atlanta struggled against Milwaukee a team with out a center that’s the reality. Hard to believe you can write such a long winded ignorance of why the hawks cant get to the serious levels of competition without acknowledging we cant compete in the most crucial aspect of the game…the post.

And dont whine like saltee telling me what he did against other powerforwards playing center. he did not stop them either. In FACT HE DOESNT STOP ANY ONE!

Whine Serum

June 19th, 2010
12:53 pm

I represent those comments! I mean, I resent them comments!

James Brown

June 19th, 2010
12:53 pm

Big Ray

June 19th, 2010
12:50 pm

RAY, WHATS YOUR OPINION OF DEZZ NUTTZZ?

James Brown

June 19th, 2010
12:55 pm

I SEE IF YOU WANT TO STIR UP THE HORNETS NEST COME TO THIS SITE AND TALK ABOUT HOREBYTCH AND HER WICKED STEPSISTERS COME OUT OF THE WOOD WORK

James Brown

June 19th, 2010
12:56 pm

Whine Serum BIG GAY…IS THAT U?

Dolamite

June 19th, 2010
1:02 pm

I wish yall would stop complaining about Al Horrible. No body else wants the job. If you think you can do better than Al Horrible you are welcome to try.

Al Hor-rible

June 19th, 2010
1:06 pm

I had a great career and I happy I got my career average up to 12 pts per game and only 17 centers are better defenders than me. I did not make the defensive team nor the All NBA team but the flip side is I did score 1 more basket a game than my career average.

yeah , Im an all star?

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
1:08 pm

MEAN – MUGGING?

Ryan @ 1146 AM; would you be describing – The FSNS take on a bad case of:

Mean – .Mugging?

I like it … I like it!

Whine Serum

June 19th, 2010
1:09 pm

Im not gay! Am I?

Kobe Byrant

June 19th, 2010
1:12 pm

Weve got lots of defensive centers…Oh thats one of the reasons were World Champions and you are not because you W h o r e s (no offense W h o r e f o r d) use a power forward for a center. Stupid idiots

Kobe Byrant

June 19th, 2010
1:13 pm

Whine Serum

June 19th,2010
1:09 pm

Im not gay! Am I?

I dont know Ray, are you Gay…never mind dont answer that

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
1:13 pm

;• (

Mean – Mugging!

Whine (aka big ray) Serum

June 19th, 2010
1:15 pm

I apologize this is the best I could do to get back at Truth Serum. He just gets on my nerves and bring the bytttch out in me!

Whine (aka big ray) Serum

June 19th, 2010
1:18 pm

“U PEOPLE SAY THE SAME !@#$ EVERY FREAKING BLOG. U CAN’T GET A CENTER IF HORFORD AND SMOOVE ARE STUCK AT THOSE POSITIONS. IF SMOOVE PLAYS SF WE WILL WIN 30 GAMES NEXT YEAR”

How hard is it to trade your bitch-jesty Al Horrible?

Najeh Davenpoop

June 19th, 2010
1:18 pm

“If I were Mike con “what a Ham”, Id just resign! Lets get a writer with out an anterior motive take charge. ”

With all the talking out of your azz you do, you seem to have quite a posterior motive.

By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask this for a while — what exactly does “Mike Con & the Ham” mean? I realize it is supposed to be some kind of insult to our beat writer, but how exactly is it clever or insulting?

Whine (aka big ray) Serum

June 19th, 2010
1:24 pm

Truth Serum you must be having an impact(em pact) at drawing attention to Atlanta center problem because all the Horford nutt huggers have stop singing cume-ba ya and are swarming like an angry nest of insects…(bugs). Better get some raid

Whine (aka big ray) Serum

June 19th, 2010
1:25 pm

northcyde

June 19th, 2010
1:28 pm

( correction: I meant to say that we’ve never reached the ECF since being in ATLANTA, not Boston . . but I’m sure most of you know what I meant )

And another thing. All of this Horford bashing needs to stop as well. The one thing he can do, is to simply play with more intensity. Like in the situation with Smoove, Al is just going to have to start playing tougher at the center position, like Smoove needs to do at power forward.

If Horford is the potential leader of the squad now, he’ll elevate his game next season. That’s the last dude I’m worried about right now.

As for the Milwaukee series, when the Hawks decided to play defense, we handled the Bucks pretty easily. But just like we did in 2008 vs the Celtics, they played over their heads and took 3 games from us. Apathetic fans shouldn’t pentalize the Hawks for not dispatching of the Bucks in 5 or 6 games, even if Bogut was out.

When the entire world thought we were done going into Game 6 ( including a good chunk of Hawks fans ), that team pulled off their best defensive performance since the days of Mookie and Dikembe.

The only thing last year told me, is that we still have a ways to go before we can be in that elite top 4 or 5 class of teams. But we didn’t take a step back as a team, contrary to popular belief. We improved in the regular season, but still didn’t play at the needed playoff intensity.

Let’s hope Coach Drew can get these guys playing with more intensity as the season progresses.

Big Ray

June 19th, 2010
1:28 pm

Northcyde

I think any real Hawks fan (not the guys who simply like to trash talk) are happy with a 50 win season, but unhappy with a team that did not play like a 50 win team in the postseason. Are we supposed to expect a team that won 50+ games to barely compete against an inferior opponent, then not compete at all against an opponent that is better, but not vastly better? I don’t think so.

After all, what’s the point of winning that many games? You don’t get a prize just for your win total. No, you get playoff position, homecourt advantage, etc. I think what bothers the borderline team trasher and the diehard fan alike is seeing our 53 win team act like they didn’t even know why or what they were doing in the playoffs. We were more talented an diverse this past season then we were when we faced the Boston Celtics in 2008. But to be honest, I feel that we competed better then . Sure, we got destroyed on the road, but we still fought them. Against Milwaukee, we were forced to fight, instead of forcing them . Against Orlando, we never really fought. Maybe for a quarter or two. Other than that…nothing but a string of individual performances.

Anyway, that’s how I think the avid fan sees things. The fickle critical type will always find something to run their mouths about. That never changes…

Back to the point!

June 19th, 2010
1:31 pm

Mark Bradley

Bradley also mentions that the Hawks don’t appear on Chris Bosh’s sign and trade wish list, which doesn’t surprise me for the same reasons Bradley discusses in the piece. And really, it echoes what Bret LaGree has spoken nationally about adding another big man with big minutes to the Hawks frontcourt. Unless it means either Josh or Al moves out, it doesn’t work. Josh Smith can not be efficient on either end at the small forward position. Heck, Horford would be better out there than Smith.

So what would benefit the Hawks the most if, say, Joe Johnson were to be dealt? Well, I’m biased here in that I have written extensively about the problems at a particular position over the last decade or so in the ATL, but a young, pure point guard would be the most help. Not saying there is anyone out there that fits that bill, unless New Orleans is willing to be so down on Chris Paul that they deal him, but that would be the #1 place to start for me. Apart from that, a scorer that can defend and get to the line would be a welcome replacement for Joe.

Speaking of Hoopinion, Bret is plowing through his annual performance evaluations (does not guarantee raises) and has produced gems on Rick Sund, the late Mike Woodson, the potentially former Hawk Joe Johnson, and the dynamic duo of Josh Smith and Al Horford.

My analysis of Bret’s work there: Fantasticus. That is all. Seriously, it’s a highlight of the off-season–go and enjoy.

One of the Bird Watchers from afar, Lang Whitaker, sends Mike Woodson off in the most complimentary and honest summary/farewell to the former head coach. Anyone who didn’t read the piece Lang did in-season when he was embedded with the Hawks need to click the link within the story about it. An all-timer.

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 inability to play efficiently from the 3, it leaves Al having to man the pivot.

Exit question: If the Hawks stick with Josh and Al gets increasingly antsy about having to play his prime years in what he feels is out-of-position, will he be less willing to sign that long-term NBA contract with Hawks?

http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2010/5/25/1486247/its-come-to-this-another-links

Big Ray

June 19th, 2010
1:32 pm

Truth Serum ,

You’ve outdone yourself. Why are you posting as “whine serum” and then trying to indicate that it’s me? Clearly, it’s YOU. I realize there must be a joke in there somewhere, but I must have missed it…..

Back to the point!

June 19th, 2010
1:34 pm

Trade all get a real center problem solved

Big Ray

June 19th, 2010
1:36 pm

Najeh ,

Far as I can tell, it’s a play on words for anybody that can’t spell “Cunningham”, which is strange considering all one has to do is copy and paste….

Back to the point!

June 19th, 2010
1:36 pm

Big Ray

June 19th, 2010
1:32 pm

Truth Serum ,

You’ve outdone yourself. Why are you posting as “whine serum” and then trying to indicate that it’s me? Clearly, it’s YOU. I realize there must be a joke in there somewhere, but I must have missed it…..

Check the mirror and dont laugh too hard.

Fire Al Hor rible.

Big Ray

June 19th, 2010
1:38 pm

TS,

That last post made even less sense. Stop smoking whatever you’re smoking before your ability to type erodes as well.

On second thought…smoke some more…

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
1:43 pm

DEFENSE!

Sometimes the Hawks DEFENSE amounted to nothing more than “A – Dirty – Look!”
At the OFFENDER on his way to the basket!
I call that “Mean – Mugging”.
; • (

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……it’s followed by suggestions that we trade Josh Smith, NOT Al Horford. In fact, that’s what most of the fans responding to that blog keep saying. Funny that you left that part out.

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.

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.

ignition

June 19th, 2010
2:02 pm

Having gone to both Falcon games (post Vick) and Brave’s games I can honestly say that they don’t sell out either..
I think its more of the economy and the teams than anything.. Atlanta need excitement with their pro teams in order to be motivated to go to the games. The Braves of the early and mid Nineties, Dominique era Hawks, the Vick era Falcons… Thats how you get the fans out..
The Hawks have an exciting team that didn’t play with that excitment all the time, keep winning and the fans real come.

cp

June 19th, 2010
3:17 pm

Seriously can we get some ip banning going on around here. I come here to talk about the Hawks not ready 493434 post from the same dude complaining about the same shid everyday. How pathetic can your life be if you sit on here everyday and make up a million names just to agree with ya self.

Exactly Melvin . This draft is a lot deeper than last years draft. There were quite a few gems found in the second round last year and late first round. Sounds like the Hawks front office is just giving us an excuse now as to why they will blow another pick.

Sautee

June 19th, 2010
3:27 pm

Wow, I guess the whining accusation must have really stung you Truth-serum.

Now you are whining with both barrels. Keep it up. We ALL enjoy how much of a fool you are willing to make of yourself.

Keep On Whinin’ Sybil, it’s what you do best, regardless of which name you post under.

Actually today you’ve taken your whining to a whole new level. You’ve now earned the title “King of Blog Whining”

All Hail the King!

northcyde

June 19th, 2010
3:48 pm

drmaryb talks about “mean mugging”.

In case one doesn’t know what “mean muggin” is, check out Carmelo Anthony’s fiance ( LaLa . . former MTV VJ ) and Kim Kardashian. But they’re not the ones “mean mugging”. When you see the pic, you’ll obviously see who the “mean mugger” is.

http://www.watchyoursetup.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/kim-kardashian-lala-carmelo-son-picture.jpg

FromtheBARstool

June 19th, 2010
4:03 pm

Sell while you can. NBA players are not worth 1/10 of what they get paid. Adding more owner is not even close to a good solution. SELL!! Hell, give the Hawks away if you are losing $30 mil/yr.

Najeh Davenpoop

June 19th, 2010
4:10 pm

RIP Manute Bol.

drmaryb

June 19th, 2010
4:16 pm

NorthCyde

Great LinK! “That KID puts the “M” in “Mean – Mugging”! ROF.
You Sir, are awesome!

That was, well – RICH!

Jody

June 19th, 2010
4:33 pm

Actually, I really don’t it matters what forward position Josh plays. I think it’s how he plays that matters. Remember, he came into the league as a small forward and has had to play the 4 out of necessity and poor draft selections (you figure it out). As long as Josh attacks the basket, he will be a factor. For example, go back and look at the game against Golden State in Phillips when Josh was matched up with Corey Maggette.

O'Brien

June 19th, 2010
5:19 pm

There is an article floating out there on The Hoop that chills greek team wants him to return to the NBA. The laws Are changing in Greece, and it would cost them more money to pay his salary.

Plus chills changed agents, so the rumor is he wants back in the NBA.

northcyde

June 19th, 2010
5:58 pm

Adding Chill will definitely help the quality of the bench, which desperately needs to be upgraded. Personally, I’d give him a contract. If not, make some type of decision on that dude. Just as long as he’s not dead money going into next year, I’m cool with whatever we do with him.

jroc

June 19th, 2010
6:53 pm

If the hawks resign jj, re-up with Chills, and add a solid vetern free agent. The Hawks would have to be a favorite to win the East next year. All of it really hangs on if the players live up to all the hype that they give Drew and play hard for the man. Man I can’t wait to see how all this drama unfolds.One thing i notice about the hawks is that when they put their mind to it to beat a team like they did the Celtics all season nothing can stop them. I can almost garuntee that the Hawks are going to play better against the Magic and Cavs next season.Hurry up NBA season and come back to me I miss you already.

ILL-logical

June 19th, 2010
7:01 pm

@Jody: there you go trying to confuse the haters with the facts.LOL

Seiously, with a S&T with Joe(my perferred outcome because of the leadership issue) there is enough talent to spread around to ensure not only a continuation of the trend of wining,playoff appearances ets; there is a great chance that the decline of/ disorder within of the perennial eastern conference powers, that the Hawks could move up a rung next season.

With the “new voice” may come some attitudes and new leadership to motivate players like Randolph Morris to play. The kid drilled All-Star Al in college and he is taller and much more potent offensive weapon than Kendrick Perkins.Maybe AAA can exercise some of his vaunted locker room leadership with RandMo in order to get the chance to be the starting 4.

Maybe the much maligned Marvin can loose 10 lbs and play the 2 i the new 5 headed offense. Coach Drew is on record as saying that he thought MMM’s future was at the 2.

And maybe Jeff Teague can be allowed to be the bigger,stronger( and more free throw proficient)Rojon Rhondo. Who knows but now we will have the opportunity to find out.

ILL-logical

June 19th, 2010
7:21 pm

ant banks

June 19th, 2010
7:55 pm

i really hope that management puts up a good fight in labor negotiations. i hate:
1.guaranteed contracts-it hamstrings a team, unmercifully. keith van horn has been out of the league for 4 yrs and is STILL ON SOMEONE’S PAYROLL.

2.players who have run in wit’ the law should not hamstring a team with his salary. see washington wizards & gilbert arenas.

3.stern needs to figure out a way to bring parity to league, ie the nfl. look at the last 10 nba champs vs the last 10 nfl champs

ant banks

June 19th, 2010
8:02 pm

NBA DRAFT BLOG (DOES AND DON’TS)

1.please stop sayin’, “the hawks need to DRAFT a center.” no sh!t. the hawks pick 24 this year. 23 other teams have that same logic, get a big man. there is no big man to draft at 24. dumarses.

2.stop postin’, “hawks need to package marvin and bibby in a deal for a center.” wtf? who in the hell is goin’ for that. if we know that marvin and bibby sux, why would 29 other teams not be thinkin’ the same things?

3.stop postin’, “asg needs to spend money, they are cheap.” if you are not a season ticket holda, YO’ AZZ IS CHEAP. the season tix are reasonably priced. if 19,000 ppl in a city of 4mil would purchase season tix and pack the house nightly, asg would HAVE MORE MONEY TO SPEND. sellouts bring in revenue on concessions, liquor, and parkin’.

why would asg go over the luxury tax threshold when they avg. 15,000 per night on a 53 win season.

darrell starks

June 19th, 2010
8:17 pm

NORTHCYDE 3:48 POSTED THATS FUNNY LOL, yeah i no lala she went 2 redan high school with my cousins back in the days she is a cool person.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!

darrell starks

June 19th, 2010
8:20 pm

NORTHCYDE maybe lala can get carmelo anthony 2 play with the hawks lol.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!

Grandad

June 19th, 2010
8:45 pm

Mary Ellen:

In Tn. For a funeral. Tried to call yesterday, got a rec., didn’t leave mes.,
prefer to speak live. Will try again Mon. Will be on & off blog all weekend.

Sautee:

Sent mes. will check in on Mon.

Northcyde:

In Qeeen City this AM for funeral.
Will be back in Clarks-vegas tom. to visit friend.
It’s cooler up here.
I was roastin’ my ches’nuts, back home.

Been tellin’ everybody, McDave’ went B-rupt, thanks M.E.
for remindin’ folks econ bad everywhere.
It’s not just a neg ploy this time.
[well it is] but it’s also true.
That’s why Childress will be back in States.
In Greece they don’t know whether or not
they’re are gonna get their checks from wk. to wk.

I still think Pendergraph is a DORK.

I also have *[recent]* reason to believe Sund may
be a _ ____ __ ____ _________ity ______.
I hope I’m wrong.
*If so,* I’m ‘glad’ owners over-ruled him & hired Drew.
Note – so far, I’m happy with LD anyway.

Ken Strickland

June 19th, 2010
10:13 pm

RIP Manute Bol. It’s a shame that such a beautiful human being, who lived his life trying to ease so much pain, he had to endure so much pain. Now we all have to suffer the pain of his loss.

There’s an old African saying that goes, A PERSON DIES WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER REMEMBERED. So let’s always remember the gentle giant and keep his legacy alive. Reading about what he had to go through makes me feel so much better about what I’m having to go through.

Jody

June 19th, 2010
10:20 pm

R.I.P. Maute Bol.

Jody

June 19th, 2010
10:24 pm

It’ll be interesting to see what happens during the draft? I wonder if the Hawks are involved in any trade talk? We’ll see.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.