Atlanta Hawks: Getaway day
There will be a blog hiatus for a couple weeks while I get away for some me time. There’s a chance I might drop in with a post if anything interesting happens with the Hawks but don’t count on that (either something interesting happening or me dropping in). Meanwhile the beat will be in the capable hands of Ken S., who will chronicle the Hawks’ attempts to pluck a center from the bargain bin.
I suspect not much will have changed with my blog people when I return. Truth-Serum will still be using his multiple identities to agree with himself that Al is a terrible defensive center. JeJe will continue to rip ASG for not letting J.J. walk and using all that cap space to SIGN FREAKIN’ LEBRON. And all of you will wonder how in the heck this squad is supposed to make a move in the East with basically the same guys suiting up.
Be easy until I get back, blog people. Remember, it’s all love and and it’s just basketball . . .
MC
(Note: Commenting is closed until Michael returns Aug. 2)
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1,155 comments Add your comment
ignition
July 18th, 2010
8:45 pm
JC2 has a lil D. Wade to his game…
If Teague continues to play like this then he mos def will supplant Bibby … Bibby would be a good spot up shooter on the wing tho. With a court of Teague, JC2, JC, Horford, & Smoove you will have an attacking offense..
Jody
July 18th, 2010
8:49 pm
I really liked what I say from both Teague and Crawford during the summer league. I wish there’s a way to ensure Crawford gets regular playing time this season because I really think he could help the team and he’s got genuine potential.
Jody
July 18th, 2010
8:56 pm
@ O’Brien
Rick Fox was spot on about what he said it takes to win a title. You would think after the way the Hawks were eliminated the past two seasons, they’d have figured it out.
cp
July 18th, 2010
10:43 pm
Well I just read that Jason Collins will be back next year. Why I have no freaking idea. Its hard to be a Hawks fan. I don’t like this at all. I know he is cheap and a big body but damn we saw last year that dude brings absolutely nothing to the table. After this move I seriously wouldn’t be shocked if we brought back the same damn team from last year sans Jordan Crawford. I guess RandyMo,Mario, and Joe Smith will be signing contracts soon. They fed us all this hype about bringing in vets and upgrading the roster and what do we get. We get Porkchop Collins. Can we please get a real owner in here damn. Is it that much to ask for to get players on the bench who can actually contribute.
cp
July 18th, 2010
10:44 pm
We traded our second rounder where we could have taken a big man to develop so we could bring Collins sorry out of shape azz back?. SMH
bigdave
July 18th, 2010
10:46 pm
cp.. a shame..
could’ve had my pic Gani Lawal..
gypsyjoe
July 18th, 2010
10:57 pm
I think that kid Alade Aminu did all that was asked and more. If anybody should get an invite to camp it should be him.
MsDee
July 18th, 2010
11:02 pm
Aminu & Hendrix are my 2 choices
Clyde
July 18th, 2010
11:03 pm
Sean Williams 16pts and 10 rebs
gypsyjoe
July 18th, 2010
11:15 pm
A list of players I think could help the Hawks:
Josh Powell
Kurt Thomas
Theo Ratliff
Damien Wilkins
Chris Hunter
Rodney Carney
Richard Jefferson
Matt Barnes
Anthony Tolliver
Will Bynum
Tim Thomas and Craig Smith we should be able to score 2 of these guys
rusty
July 18th, 2010
11:17 pm
if bibby starts this year we will look like we did last year.please no. i hope our guys can play like the summer league players play.they play fast & know how to share the ball. if we dont play craw2 a lot we are crazy,he has the makings of a superstar. we also need to sign aminue & hendrix,they are better than any one on our bench & will bring youth & toughness
nunna!!
July 18th, 2010
11:17 pm
@jody,
What does Rick Fox know anyway??
Even though the show has ended,he still “ain’t” figured out,TASHA MACK yet!!
P.S.”The Game”returns early 2011 with brand new episodes with the same writers and most of the cast!! YAY!!!!!! Love me some Mel,and Drew,And da sexy and shapely “Kelly Pitts”!!!
I would swirl with her!!!
Melvin
July 18th, 2010
11:17 pm
Look as if Jason Collins will take one of the three remaining spots. Now who will fill the last 2 spots
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/07/18/jason-collins-expected-to-re-sign-with-atlanta/
nunna!!
July 18th, 2010
11:24 pm
Melvin said:Look as if Jason Collins will take one of the three remaining spots. Now who will fill the last 2 spots..
——————————————————–
I kinda hate this move but one thing they may be looking at is his ability to be a better rebounder than Randmo,and the fact that he showed he has touch on his outside shots and can knock them down 12-13 feet and in..
Having that with added with the offense that LD is implementing then it could be a nice offensive move but with his size and the fact that we need a more defensive presence from the 5,makes it half good/half bad,if u asked me..
But overall,i hate it..
Najeh Davenpoop
July 19th, 2010
12:01 am
Sean Williams 9 fouls in 20 minutes
Najeh Davenpoop
July 19th, 2010
12:02 am
The irony of it all is that Jason Collins will get paid $1.22 million next year while Hassan Whiteside and Dexter Pittman will get paid about $500,000 next year.
The DASG and Rick Sund is such a bunch of incompetent morons it’s unbelievable.
cp
July 19th, 2010
12:04 am
Other than Jamal Crawford our bench stunk last year.. One would think that a smart front office would be trying to add pieces to improve that terrible bench. Instead of that approach the Hawks are bringing back one of the most ineffective players from said bench last year.. SMH just mind boggling the decisions this front office makes…….Collins will make more than the guy they would have drafted if they had kept the pick. The player they could have chosen would probably even be more effective than Collins. Another brilliant move by this front office this summer…..And they wonder why the fans wont fully get behind this team and support them.
UGA
July 19th, 2010
12:07 am
Does anyone on here remember a couple of our summer rosters a few years back, one of them had Raja Bell on it and another had Udonis Haslem. How nice it would have been to keep one of them……we may have a guy like that now on this roster.
MC said a few blogs back he thought Collins would be back and that he had lost a bunch of weight.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 19th, 2010
12:07 am
Aminu is an active player, but he is way too weak to help the Hawks at the center position. The Hawks are already deep enough at PF to where adding him isn’t going to make a huge impact. Teague and Crawford are the only players on the summer league team who are in a position to make an impact for the Hawks this year, and I liked what I saw from both of them.
cp
July 19th, 2010
12:09 am
Clyde print up some fire the ASG and Sund shirts. If the next move I hear is Mario or Morris I’m done with this team. This front office is not serious about making the Hawks title contenders. They are happy with the playoffs and quick exits. I wasn’t a fan of Woodson but damn he wasn’t the only problem . This roster needs changes but these idiots are happy with this core bullshid. I guess we should get ready for another year of we are happy with our core, a playoff appearance, a quick exit and another summer of this same crap.
UGA
July 19th, 2010
12:18 am
The list above is good also. Any of those 2 would be nice. Don’t think we’re getting RJ. I guess I’d want Kurt Thomas and Barnes or Wilkins.
cp
July 19th, 2010
12:19 am
UGA I actually think MC said that Collins had to lose weight so I think Collins is sitll out of shape . smh this move
joegypsy
July 19th, 2010
12:28 am
Thats true. Teague is a scrub. He has had a very mix summer playing in the scrub league. He posted only 2 decent games You’d expect more from a guy who was a rookie last year. Hes not going to help the hawks much. Sad. We were right on the verge of getting some where now its accept mediocrity. Really sad to see this follow the last four years.
Yes, theres not much to get excited about when it comes to the hawks. It will be interesting to watch the teams who made moves to improve.
Yes, you guys are right. Woodson did put on a very good offense when you consider only JJ and Jamal and maybe josh were capable of creating their own shots. The rest of the team waited on garbage baskets or begged to be set up.
ignition
July 19th, 2010
1:02 am
WTH is joegypsy posting.. Teague & Crawford looked good out there..
Need to stay on Teague to get him to continue to push the tempo..
cp
July 19th, 2010
1:05 am
joegypsy as hard as it is to believe but your post might even be dumber than the Collins signing. That was hard to top but somehow you managed to do it. Congrats… From your post its easy to tell who you are. Pathetic that you have to make up this many names to keep repeating the same bullshid
Clyde
July 19th, 2010
2:30 am
Jason Collins? I mean come on. I won’t be going to any games this year.
Clyde
July 19th, 2010
2:34 am
We got swept in the 2nd round last year and this year we will be coming back with the same team. Its hard times for Atlanta Hawks Fans.
northcyde
July 19th, 2010
2:43 am
Collins being brought back? That’s unbelievable. Might as well bring back Joe Smith and Mario too then.
That tells me that ownership blames EVERYTHING on Woody, and that Drew will fix everything that is wrong with this team. Collins is a good positional defensive center, but arguably the WORST offensive center in the game. He doesn’t score. He doesn’t rebound. He hardly does anything but play position defense.
Collins ranked 101st out of 103 centers in the league.
Hell . . as less optimistic as I was on the scrub centers that fell to the 2nd round of the draft, I’d definitely rather have them, than Jason Collins. Bringing Collins back is an epic fail.
vava74
July 19th, 2010
4:50 am
Demarcus Cousins last Summer League game:
D. Cousins C MIN27:08 FG1-12 3pts0-0 FT4-7 (+-)-30 orb0 drb6 trb6 ass0 fouls2 stls1 to5 blks1 ba1 pts6
Who wants to start bashing Cousins and say that he is a bust? Oh… right… that only works if the guy is on Hawks uniform… everyone else can have a bad game here and there…
OK… my bad!
drmaryb
July 19th, 2010
5:16 am
I hope Jason orders: a nutritionist, chef and a personal trainer to go with that
Deluxe Happy Meal. -smiles-
(*_*)
drmaryb
July 19th, 2010
5:39 am
I guess the ASKG & Sund didn’t see enough, (LBS not withstanding) of Jason Collins to make
a Player Impact Assessment on this guy?
However, this may not be such a bad idea to pull a measure of – Familiarity?,
from the old Bargain Bin. Provided Jason really does develop a sense of Pride about
himself and his game, and go ahead and hook up that: Nutrionist, Chef, Personal Trainer and get a
Rain – Check on that Deluxe Happy Meal!
Just maybe, Jason won’t be a bust – He’ll be a damned bust!
This is a quintessential example of paradoxical laziness and incompetence to find a damned serviceable big man and a contributory PG & SF to fill out this teetering team as I have ever seen in my lifetime.
(*_*). smdh
drmaryb
July 19th, 2010
5:57 am
Way Too Early
It is way too early, to be talking about Collins. But, I got my popcorn and sippy-up and about to check out som of the Hawks SL -vs- the Bucks? Before heading to Lifetime for a 5 mile pool run and
I promise you – I run harder than the Hawks bench.
I’m Out.
(*_*)
drmaryb
July 19th, 2010
6:02 am
*sippy-cup … (*_*)
drmaryb
July 19th, 2010
6:20 am
Jordan Crawford
Jordan might just be what we need to call this kid.
He has huge shoulders which emulate strength and power – near the basket.
Jordan is reminiscent of a young D-Wade. I know. .. I know, its just SL, but I’m talking about his physique and
potential upside. He may be THE steal of the drafta. Time will tell, but I see HEART.
He has been chosen, He came, He performed and his HEART has been – Measured:
He is not lacking.
(*_*)
Hawks Will Be 5th In East
July 19th, 2010
6:32 am
Still a lot of folks out there who believe the Hawks messed up with Joe Johnson.
http://thesportsdebates.com/2010/07/16/the-biggest-nba-free-agency-mistake-debate%E2%80%A6-solid-and-quiet-is-not-worth-the-max/
vava74
July 19th, 2010
7:22 am
Hawks Will…,
This article is pure RUBBISH. Let’s just focus on one excerpt:
“More, Johnson is not the type of clutch scorer that teams are able to build successful post-season runs around. Johnson does not have Kobe Bryant’s reliable shot, Paul Pierce’s penchant for tough game winners, or even Dwayne Wade’s never-say-die-attitude.”
Now look at these stats for 2009-2010:
http://www.82games.com/0910/CSORT11.HTM
AND NOTE HIS FG%, 3PT% and FT%. Note as well that he managed those stats with ONLY 20% of shots coming out of assists.
This means that, HE IS CLUTCH (obviously not at Lebron and Kobe levels – but who is?) with less ISO play, he is bound to improve.
Also note that the much lauded Durant has MUCH WORSE stats than JJ in the clutch.
Also note that these stats do not take into account JJ’s DEFENSE.
O'Brien
July 19th, 2010
7:30 am
From nbafanhouse.com, talking about Jason Collins;
But the Hawks like his locker-room presence, and his 7-foot, 255-pound frame provides plenty of size, if needed.
Raise your hand if you think Jason Collins is 255 pounds. However, if Jason loses weight, and stays in shape, maybe he can provide a decent 8 mpg (on defense).
But I would rather take a young D-League guy who is motivated, instead of a guy who can’t even stay in shape.
O'Brien
July 19th, 2010
7:33 am
I think if Jason loses the weight, and stays in shape, he can provide a decent 8 mpg (on defense). But I would rather take a D-League guy who is motivated, instead of a guy who can’t even stay in shape.
blind support
July 19th, 2010
9:08 am
My question hawk fans is how do we address the key areas of the hawks weakness at this point now that all the impact players are off the market?
Let be honest. Like him (apparently the loud few multi-named bloggers did not), or not woodson had the hawks at the threshold of the upper tier. Why sund felt it was better to regress and not build from the level of achievement escapes logic. The right thing to do would have been to let woodson continue has climb extend his contract and support him by acquiring the 2 key components clearly defined, predicted and confirmed resoundingly in the playoff. A real center and a point guard to relieve an expiring Bibby.
On most of the blog sites that dont have 4 or 5 guys using multi-blog names who attack and run off ,the people who disagree with them, you will find that in the past 2+ years hawks bloggers have been shouting, screaming for a center. I think most see that if Woodson had a starting quality center capable of shutting down the other centers, then the hawks compete well or get past the second round. Almost all of the preseason picks said the hawks would not go far because they lacked a center,choosing instead to use a power forward not capable of defending the basket. Please do beat me up, go beat up the experts who made that assessment, which proved to be on point.
Having said that lets get back to the question. The hawks did nothing to address the 2 glaring deficiencies. Are they destined to repeat the same scenario as they have the past 2 years? Or by following Sund philosophy of using power forwards at the 5 spot for speed predestine to the same results of the past 2 years?
I for one am glad for the emergence of Crawford II who clearly out shone teague (who got more press) in the summer league. I dont think we can blame or credit Woodson for the will or the hard work Crawford II put in. Its a “want to ” thing. Its time to stop making excuses for teague, hes not the kind of guy you want running a championship contending team. Crawford II is clearly better with out the babying and excuse making, cop-outs.
Ill go on record as saying since we did not acquire a starting center we will not get past the 2nd round again this year. Strange how when you continue to do the same thing you get the same results.
I do however think we can improve at the point if we move crawford II up the charts behind Bibby and by the end of the year hell be ready, with out the excuses or cop-outs, (or turnovers). Still we wont get far without a starting quality center. We wont see 53 wins for a long time, and we definitely wont see out Phillips Arena any time soon… unless Ludacris shows up.
speaking of Ludacris,
This is to the ASG featuring Sund
http://www.last.fm/music/Ludacris/_/Ho
blind support
July 19th, 2010
9:14 am
correction
Or by following Sund philosophy of using power forwards at the 5 spot for speed predestine to the to win a world championship
wont see philips sell out any time soon.
wordsmithtom
July 19th, 2010
9:17 am
blind support, clearly the enforcemet power of a backup center has not been addressed. But, I could make the case that poor perimeter defence and even poorer ball movement had more to do with 2nd round losses than lack of a power center. Craw 2 could make a difference, even if Teague is still a work in progress.
It is my belief that this team was built to run, yet Woodson wanted half court play. Old school without the talent for Old School. LD comes in with a history of “run and gun” and calls for motion. I think you’ll see more of a West Coast style offence where classic bigs aren’t needed.
Further, if he plays his bench, the bench is more apt to be ready come spring. Setting a “no layup” policy is a step in the right direction.
I’m not giving up because we haven’t added another big. We didn’t use the bench bigs we had last year. Run and gun…let’s get it done.
nobody
July 19th, 2010
9:17 am
What has Jason Collins done to earn a roster spot? I thought that was the point of this whole Proffesional Sports thing. To be on a team because you have earned it. Aminu has earned it, but I bet he will be playig in the D-League again
blind support
July 19th, 2010
9:40 am
wordsmithtom I see your view. We both agree that Crawford can help us at the point and teague is a work project.
Im from the west coast and we definitely believe in having centers, In fact, all the lakers championship teams have had great centers. Dont get it twisted. You dont win championship with out 1
You dont get past the second round of the play offs with out a half court game and you cant play the half court game with out a center. Run and gun is good when you are the youngest most athletic team but teams young and more athletic will beat you at that game. Run and gun is not an effective strategy for the later rounds of the playoffs when the half court game is the game.
Bigs is an improper term. positions are numbered 12345 for a reason. Big is a term usually used by some one without understanding the game. At the 5 position you have clearly defined roles, which if we understood we would compete or get past the second round.
O'Brien
July 19th, 2010
9:42 am
nobody,
Sund said the Hawks would address their needs with free agent veterans. Jason is a veteran.
But I agree with you. They should have given somebody else a chance. The interesting thing to me is they did not even wait to see who else would be available. This lets me know that they really wanted Jason. Maybe he will fail the physical.
Northcyde,
Will Drew be an upgrade over Woody? I think so. Will the players be better under Drew? I think so. But if the ASG thinks Woody was the only problem, I think they are in for a rude awakening. We need quality depth, and we need our existing players to step up consistently.
Ken Strickland
July 19th, 2010
9:51 am
It’s truly amazing to see how some of our fans think, or should I say fail to think, when it comes to what they want or feel. We have the WOODY LOVERS who are still crying, but not as loudly, about Sund and the ASG not rehiring MWoodson. They feel the team messed up by not rehiring the same HC that led the team to the 3rd seed in the East, with 53 wins, and the 2nd rd of the playoffs.
Yet, most of these same WOODY LOVERS are now complaining about Sund and the ASG’s decision to bring back basically the same team, or the same 9 core players, that were directly responsible for us finishing 3rd in the East with 53 wins, and taking the team to the the 2nd rd. WHERE’S THE LOGIC?
As far as signing a starting quality is concerned, I think Sund and the ASG have decided to wait until the trade deadline. That’s when the centers who decided not to opt out of the final yr of their contracts, like TChandler or JPryzbilla, might become available, and at a much cheaper price. By then, we’ll also have an idea what we need most, as far as PG, SF or center.
We should also have a good idea about what we have in SG Jordan Crawford, after seeing what he can do against NBA caliber talent. His performance to that point could determine whether we trade Jamal Crawford at the trade deadline or wait until after the season.
I don’t think we’ll suffer any sudden collapse, as some of our more emotional and less knowledgeable fans seem to think, with Zaza as our primary backup center. After all, we managed to do pretty good last yr with him in that role. Starting JTeague at PG, and getting more production out of MWilliams, will certainly help improve the teams overall OFF and DEF. We all saw Zaza and Horford do a good job of carrying the load @ center for the entire season last yr, We can certainly expect them to be able to carry the load until the trade deadline this yr.
lewis
July 19th, 2010
10:02 am
Collins is a good positional defender if he can get in shape, I just don’t see why we keep having to give guys 1.2 million a year to sit on the bench for weeks at a time. Why re-sign this guy when we know his job is to warm the bench? If Randolph Morris gets re-signed i’m truly done.
Bud Lite
July 19th, 2010
10:07 am
*By then, we’ll also have an idea what we need most
?
We already know. Where have you been the last two years? Every body knows. Opposing coaches know. Who dont know?
i_am_soulstar
July 19th, 2010
10:08 am
Deep in the backcourt, shallow in the front. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Fried Chicken
July 19th, 2010
10:13 am
What we need is 4 more power forward then no other team will have any!:-(
SteveW
July 19th, 2010
10:19 am
So 2 spots left to fill – 1C and 1PF or PG – let’s see – Shaq or Kwame at C? Anthony Tolliver or that Clips back-up at PF? Rafer “no-show” Alston if we go point.
Hope Jason is a good locker room guy – they say Joe Smith is one of the best in the NBA – still didn’t keep Josh from crying or JJ from quiting in the 2nd round.
And JJ and LeBron did quit in the 2nd round – let’s see – a knee injury playing hard in the last year of his contract would have cost JJ about 80m. LeBron only about 45-50m -most of us would have quit too.