Atlanta Hawks: Catching up
I’m back in the saddle after a two-week hiatus from the beat. Yes, it was only two weeks away from work. The frantic emails, messages and comments from my blog people made it seem like I abandoned my child for two months. But I will take it as a good sign that some of you suffered separation anxiety without the blog. I can tell you I had no problem coping.
Anyway, I predicted not much interesting would happen while I was gone and it looks like I was pretty much on point. That doesn’t mean nothing happened, though, so let me give a rundown in no particular order. . .
What happened: The Hawks re-signed free agent center Jason Collins to a one-year contract.
What it means: Atlanta thinks Collins will be more effective in 2010-11 because he will be in better shape. Word is he’s already lost a significant amount of weight. Also, ASG’s Michael Gearon Jr. is on record as saying (stop me if you’ve heard this one before) he didn’t think Collins was properly utilized by Woody. So maybe L.D. gets Collins gets more minutes.
What happened: The Hawks signed free agent forward Josh Powell to a one-year contract.
What it means: The Hawks essentially swapped Joe Smith for a player who is about the same height, 15 pounds heavier (at least before recently cutting off his braids), and eight years younger.
It’s hard to make a straight comparison since the Powell has logged just 3,293 career minutes compared to 26,953 for Smith. But they played equal minutes last season, when Powell continued to be a much worse offensive player than Smith even considering Smith’s decline. Really, from a statistical standpoint, I can’t see anything that Powell does appreciably better than Smith and a few other things he does worse.
He’s heavier, though, so I guess that’s something.
What happened: Signing Powell and Collins pushed Atlanta’s team salary (the figure used to determine if it must pay the luxury tax) to roughly $67.6 million for 12 players.
What it means: The Hawks must add one player to get to the league minimum of 13. They have about $2.7 million to spend until they exceed the tax threshold. To add a player or players and avoid the tax, they can use all of the bi-annual exception of $2.08 million, part of the mid-level exception of $5.765 million or one or more minimum-salary exceptions.
What happened: Shaq remained unsigned as the market for his services continued to dry up.
What it means: If Shaq really wants to play for a contender, then he’s likely going to have to play for the minimum or not much more and also accept a bench role. If he will do both, the Hawks remain interested.
What happened: Mo Evans had arthroscopic surgery to repair knee cartilage damage.
What it means: The Hawks say the surgery, performed last week, was minor and Mo will be ready to go for training camp.
What happened: L.D. added Kenny Gattison to his staff.
What it means: After hiring Lester Conner as his lead assistant, L.D. got another coach who earned a hard-nosed reputation as a player. I have to think that means defense, rebounding and overall toughness will be a focus for the Hawks.
L.D. said shooting coach Mark Price won’t be retained.
What happened: ESPN’s Chris Broussard reported that Jamal Crawford asked the Hawks for a contract extension.
What it means: I’ve heard Jamal would like an extension but not sure how much he’s really pushed the issue since he knows Al would be next up for a deal. It’s not hard to see where Jamal is coming from: He likes playing for the Hawks, he had a strong season and like all players he’d like to get a new deal under the current CBA.
But I can’t see where it would benefit the Hawks to give J.C. a new deal before they see how this season plays out. If things don’t go as they hope, then Crawford becomes either a nice trade piece at the deadline or his $10.1 million salary comes off the books after the season. Either option would give the Hawks some flexibility to regroup.
What happened: Smoove got married.
What it means: Don’t ask me. I’m single.
What happened: Blog commenter Truth-Serum once again became a punk when left unsupervised, sullying my blog people with his childish antics.
What it means: In addition to confirming that dude has too much free time and some serious issues, he’s had his multiple IPs banned for the umpteenth time. He’s always found a way around that and in the past he’s been allowed to return because his manic phases are usually followed by periods of lucidity laced with mere annoyance rather than outright jerkiness.
But now his ban is permanent. Each time he comes back he will be booted as quickly as possible regardless of the content of his messages (which won’t be hard to identify since 99 percent of his posts are on one topic). I don’t like to do this because I’m a marketplace of ideas proponent, but Truth-Serum has lost his privileges for being the only commenter who can’t act right.
Thanks to my blog people who emailed the AJC folks to let them know he got out of control while I was away.
MC
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238 comments Add your comment
atownhawk23 aka Lets go Bucks and Thunder
August 3rd, 2010
1:26 pm
http://www.balleralert.com/profiles/blogs/baller-alert-exclusive-josh
Josh Smith Wedding
Grandad
August 3rd, 2010
1:36 pm
Has anyone considered that LD does not:
>like
>respect
>need
-or-
>want
Mark Price.
GeeMack – concerning TV games.
“It’s ok to lose, but quitting is not an option.”
I’m certain they will put LeQuitter on TV. [Myame]
SteveW – You really think MP had anything to do with Josh
attempting fewer 3’s last yr.? ~ I don’t ~
Zaza’s 1st 2 yr’s in Atl he avg 12 pts & 8 reb in 30 min (rounded)
vava – I must disagree somewhat, he is still a *spring chicken.
*low mileage
Zaza is entering his prime.
I have felt for awhile that upper boddy strength was a/his shortcoming.
It appears he is working toward that end.
Woodson buried him in his doghouse & he never got out.
If he could put up 12 & 8 @ age 21 & 22, then he should be a valuable
player entering his prime.
Once again, I’m with KS, in that our most valuable acquisition this off-season
was ”LD”.
Rev in Tampa
August 3rd, 2010
1:43 pm
@Hoops – “Ken Strickland, In your communications with Rick Sund…”
Hoops, this is the logical fallacy of Assigning Guilt by Association. “This fallacy consists in attempting to manipulate others into accepting one’s view by pointing out that the opposing view is held by those with negative esteem, instead of presenting evidence for one’s position” (Attacking Faulty Reasoning by T. Edward Damer).
Grandad
August 3rd, 2010
1:43 pm
*upper [([ ''boddy'' ])] strength:
ahem / ”uper body strength”. Got it right that time.
drmaryb (*_*)
August 3rd, 2010
2:06 pm
Rev in Tampa
Re: Hoops.
Yeah I saw that too. That comment was dripping with sarcasm.
Ken Strickland always makes his case with sound logic and reason. I love the way Ken S. Is wired for sound.
I loved your qoute there: never read that before. That, Sir, is – Rich!
Michael Cunningham
August 3rd, 2010
2:39 pm
@ Melvin: “MC, I thought the Hawks had interest in Kwame Brown. Do you know if they are talking to him?”
yes, there is interest there. don’t think it’s really strong, though. we’ll see what happens.
Michael Cunningham
August 3rd, 2010
2:42 pm
@ SteveW: “ZaZa and Horford – Hoopinion has been screaming about how good the Hawks are with those 2 on the floor together – we have a +5.3 with them on the floor together.”
true, but it’s a small sample. but i would say it definitely could be a way to move Al to 4 with Zaza (or JC) playing the 5.
cp
August 3rd, 2010
2:46 pm
Kwame wouldn’t be too bad. He is a decent post defender. Has terrible hands and no offensive game though. We just need him to rebound and play d.
KevinM
August 3rd, 2010
3:03 pm
Ken Strickland is the indeed Rick Sund. I thought so…..
No other person has come on here and made even close the rationalization why we were pummeled by Orlando like Ken has.
Its not the post players, but the pressure we put on the perimeter?
Okay Ken, let’s get Bibby and Crawford, 2 guys who play very little or have NEVER been known to apply pressure, to start focusing on defense when defense did not get them their current job.
The thought that LD is now going to convert our ‘vets’ to start playing aggessive defense against Nelson/Rose/Rondo/Wall is fairly humorous.
You arent’ going to teach Bibby defense in his 14th season and Crawford in year 11. I can’t believe anyone is falling for this. Its Woody’s fault and the 2 new coaches are going to come in here and make us tougher than Detroit.
I’m not buying it.
Boston has front court depth. Orlando has front court depth.
Zaza isn’t scoring 20+ against Gortat or anyone going forward. What jora12 stated earlier about Zaza, remind him that this isn’t Poland we’re dealing with here.
I am still at a point where we need help at the 1 and the 5. We aren’t making inroads to resolve those issues. Our halfcourt games against Miami and Orlando are proof that we struggle in the halfcourt and will continue to until we increase our length on the glass and get a perimeter defender.
Am I really asking for so much here? Employee #2 isn’t going to make everyone defend better. The numbers he is making is only going to divide this team further and Crawford has the short end of the stick to try and remain a Hawk through this year.
I want to be optimistic, but nothing was addressed in the offseason to correct the weaknesses of this roster. This will all fall to LD now. He is going to have to be a savior and get more out of Marvin, Zaza and Bibby and any part of the bench to improve the record from the last 2 years.
No mention of Shaq in my banter, but just bring in someone that will give the majority of the fanbase a reason to believe this could be the best team in the East. Strive to be the best, not the 4th best.
Some insane comments come out of this organization sometimes. Keep that 3M in your pocket ASG. Stick to your guns with that minimum 13 man roster.
ryan
August 3rd, 2010
3:11 pm
Well Cunningham you have not missed much on the Hawks front been pretty boring. But it was sad about the tragic death Wright .
please MC
August 3rd, 2010
3:16 pm
Actually I have been around longer than you MC.A loyal reader and subscriber to the AJC. You to need to remember “we” make the blog. You AND us.
mario
August 3rd, 2010
3:26 pm
hey MC…Mario here..hot bout this..Not to break this team up,but how about this trade.If CPaul wants out of NO and they want to dump emeke okafur’s salry..we can give up JSmith,MWilliams and MBibby for Paul and Okafur..What do you think abouit this?
Mike is back
August 3rd, 2010
3:33 pm
MC, thanks for the shout back. I also read where Shaq would prefer to go to Boston…I can’t say I blame him. If you are going to have to accept the MlE…why would you choose the Hawks over Boston. I guess we are in holding pattern until camp starts. Shaq is probably going to wait to see how things work out with Boston…before he makes his decision…and I guess Sund is going to test Shaq’s resolve. With your unified front statement…I guess we can stop beating that dead horse.
If we are going go to go with a summer camp invitee for that 13th spot…I would prefer the kid Aminu get a chance to make the roster. He’s got my vote.
You made an interesting comment with regards to LD planning to play Zaza alone side Al more. There were some match-up during the season…where I thought we could slide Al and Josh down…to the PF and SF…and augment the opponent size advantage. I keep hearing people ranting and raving about you can’t play Josh at the SF…however based on the opponent and the game situation…I don’t see why you couldn’t do that in spurts.
Before someone goes off the handle…I’m not advocating moving Josh to the SF…I just thought it was interesting that LD made those comments. Maybe he feels the same way. I think some forget that LD already knows these guys strength and weaknesses…that should give him an advantage over the other rooky coaches.
HoosierHawk
August 3rd, 2010
3:36 pm
@MC Any chance we consider a PG w/ the 13th spot? Is Teague a lock to start? Nelson penetrating was another big problem against Orlando. We need some D on the perimeter.
HoosierHawk
August 3rd, 2010
3:39 pm
@MC and also are we considering playing Jordan Crawford at point?
ryan
August 3rd, 2010
3:44 pm
I think Boston will choose Kwame Brown because he is little younger and healthier than Shaq and also played decent with the Lakers last year.
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478)
August 3rd, 2010
3:55 pm
ant banks
August 3rd, 2010
1:25 pm
i think that this hawks team will look totally different this upcomin’ season. with all of the ball movement, so many more players will be open, if their shots are fallin’. so many different players may lead scorin’.
………………………….
I agree
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478)
August 3rd, 2010
3:57 pm
The biggest move this season will probably be the hiring of drew.
ball movement and diversity in offensive and defensive schemes should make this team alot better even with the same players…now add another scoring threat in Jo. Crawford and maybe a couple other moves to strengthen some areas and who knows???
just SHOOT me
August 3rd, 2010
4:01 pm
Are you all suggesting we start ZaZa, Al and Josh Smith together? I don’t see that being too successful. Sorry. Al definitely needs help. There’s no doubt about that. However, this is why we should have either traded for a big man, drafted and kept a big man, or signed a decent free agent other than Jason Collinsand Josh Powell. Once a piece of meatloaf, always a piece of meatloaf when it comes to Jason Collins. I mean I guess he’s a cheap big man and we all know how much the ASG lovessss cheap.
Well they love cheap but also must be very happy to have obtained the highest paid player in the NBA for the next 6 years. Way to go boys. We’re definitely championship material after all of our offseason activity. Miami who? Chicago who? I wouldn’t exactly be opposed to signing Shaq. I mean at least he’s a beast and can give you a good 15-20 solid minutes a game. Also can defend against our arch enemy, Dwight Howard. He’s old. Perhaps his attitude at this point would be dangerous to have around than good. Especially with young players like Al and Josh. Granted Al is gone after this year. We shoul at least use the exception for someone decent that can give us a little help down the stretch. However I don’t think it’ll matter in the end. Hawks finish in the 5th spot. Lucky to get out of the first round. Guaranteed to be destroyed in the 2nd round *just SHOOT me*
Najeh Davenpoop
August 3rd, 2010
4:03 pm
“Shaq was never a great defender even in his prime”
Are there numbers backing up this statement? Maybe he didn’t bother to defend the pick and roll, but my memory tells me that the Shaq who won three titles on the Lakers had a HUGE defensive impact on his team.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 3rd, 2010
4:07 pm
“ZaZa and Horford – Hoopinion has been screaming about how good the Hawks are with those 2 on the floor together – we have a +5.3 with them on the floor together.”
I think you could replace Zaza in that situation with any center and the Hawks would be equally good if not better. That +5.3 has a lot more to do with Horford playing his natural position than Zaza being effective. We all know what we saw from Zaza last year — he tries hard, doesn’t back down from contact, occasionally plays good position defense, and occasionally makes nice passes, but he is a below average athlete whose clumsiness limits what he can do on the floor and whose rebounding stats are heavily padded by rebounding his own missed layups.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 3rd, 2010
4:17 pm
Also, any lineup with Horford and Zaza together either moves Smoove to SF (where he is far more ineffective than Horford is at center) or moves Smoove to the bench (taking the Hawks’ best help defender off the floor).
Doing this for stretches at a time is fine when the Hawks want to show a bigger look against a team like Orlando — of course, I’d much rather have Shaq on the floor than Zaza in a situation like that. But I don’t think there is any big man available who warrants playing Smoove primarily at SF or putting him on the bench. Unless the Hawks can find a trade partner who will give them an equal-value “true center” for Horford or Smoove, starting those two at the front court positions is the Hawks’ best option.
UGA
August 3rd, 2010
4:32 pm
REAL GM is reporting Shaq is close to a deal with Boston. Mark him off the list….
Rev in Tampa
August 3rd, 2010
4:32 pm
KevinM, being in the Tampa area, I heard Van Gundy explain his strategy for Atlanta just before their playoff series began. He said that he would stretch the Atl defense by his perimeter shooters. He made Atl choose which poison would kill them. If they came out on the shooters, they would go down low to Howard or vise versa. Atl’s switching defense did not allow the Hawks to defend the perimeter or the post effectively. Atl was undoubtedly the weaker team against Orl in the playoffs, but it was poor strategy that allowed them to get blown out in record fashion.
You are correct in your assessment that Atl is weakest at the 1 & 5 position. The Hawks have put all their eggs in Teague’s basket for the pg. They have made that decision and I believe it is the right one, but only time will tell. I feel confident that Teague will be an upgrade over Bibby, but if he is not then we still have Bibby. As for the 5 position, Atl will be as good or better than last year – even with no upgrades.
If Shaq comes around to the Hawks’ position regarding salary & playing time, then sign him. If not, then wait until the trading deadline. We really won’t know how good the Hawks are going to be, and what the REAL needs are until then.
The Hawks, without any off-season moves except hiring LD (hat-tip Grandad at 1:36pm), will be a solid playoff team. There never were any impact centers in free-agency that Atl could afford after JJ got his.
So let’s enjoy our trip to the playoffs and we will pull over along the way and pick up the right person(s) at a more reasonable price.
“Patience is the companion of wisdom.” ~St. Augustine
doc
August 3rd, 2010
4:44 pm
Stevew ii said when the heat pulled the trifecta we would see the true stripes of our owners, all in like they said they would do or fall back to save money. Since the last client of substance from the gm was to hope to stay on top four their hand is being played to not be the best but in he scramble for also rans
buckhead benny
August 3rd, 2010
6:03 pm
MC- Can you not ask ASG would they have not been better served drafting Lawal now or one of the big centers and planting them on the bench- they would have been cheap and the upside is much greater than going after an expensive veteran for a year. Lawal is going to play significant minutes for Phonix and they should not get a pass not drafting this kid- He would have been a hell of power foward hustler/banger that could have helped with the toughness the hawks so desperately need. That goes down as almost as bad as sheldon williams in my opinion. You can get steals at those picks and get guys cheap and the upside is huge! What are your thoughts MC?
Hoops
August 3rd, 2010
6:09 pm
ASG,
The Hawks fans have been supportative and patient over the past 6 years while the Hawks have continued to build and grow. It is now time to continue to improve and come closer to contenting for the Title! We are not there yet, as was witnessed in last season’s second round lost to the Magic. We were all embarrassed!
Make some moves that will improve the team, not just hold on to what you have! We need a PG and a Center! Those two positions of need still have not been met! Come on, we don’t want to contend for 4th place in the East!!!
A Flustrated Hawks Fan
drmaryb (*_*)
August 3rd, 2010
6:24 pm
Hoops
We haven’t had a 1 or 5 in 14 years! And, we passed on CP3 (A Sitting Bull!).
We were the DEER in the head lights!
It’s a damned Shame!
Mookie and Dikembe is the last time I saw a 1& 5 at the same time!
But, then there was MJ guarding the gates to Heaven!
It’s hard to believe I am still a Fan! I never smoked crack – but, I know what it feels like!
Chasing the High you will never get!
smdh! Uuugghh!
Ken Strickland
August 3rd, 2010
7:04 pm
MELVIN-Of the 3 players that actually defended DHoward in the playoffs, KPerkins(6′10″), GDavis(6′9″) and RWallace(6′11″), only Wallace is actually taller than AHorford(6′10″). The idea behind what I was trying to illustrate in my last post was we don’t have to use force to get him out of his effective range. You use strategy to limit the options and angles of the player making the entry pass, and Boston did an excellent job of that.
They forced Howard to make adjustments in order to get the ball, which forced him to give ground, and we need to do the same thing. When he puts the ball on the floor to reposition himself within his effective range, we run a player at him to force him to pick up his dribble. If you take away any players dribble outside his effective range, you render him offensively ineffective.
You create confusion by running different players from different positions at him. We definitely have the overall team speed, quickness and athleticism to make it work.
KEVINM-Until DEF wizard Thibodeau put together a a DEF plan and got a team committment to playing DEF, both RAllen and PPierce were considered OFF weapons, but DEF liabilities. As far as Bibby and Jamal are concerned, Cannon and Gattison can have a simular effect on our players. Bibby obviously didn’t work hard to improve his overall gm last yr, because he felt he didn’t have to. He knew Woodson wasn’t going to hold him accountable for anything, and wasn’t going to allow anyone, especially JTeague, to challenge or play ahead of Bibby.
Rather than challenging Bibby and Crawford to improve their poor overall DEF, Woodson chose to resort to using the switching DEF, to hide deficiencies by take away the overall effectiveness of everyone else’s DEF ability by trying to cover up their DEF liabilities by resorting to his stupid switching DEF plan. Bibby is going to have to lose weight, get in better shape, and actually compete for a starting position and mins. With the addition of Jordon Crawford, Jamal Crawford is no longer the only OFF option coming off the bench.
Jamal might be more experienced, and a better OFF option than Jordan at this point, but Jordan’s DEF and overall ability might end up making him a better option off the bench. Jamal will definitely have to improve his overall gm this yr, especially his DEF, if he wants more mins and/or a contract extension.
Ken Strickland
August 3rd, 2010
7:34 pm
KEVINM-To claim the Hawks have done nothing this off season to improve shows you obviously haven’t paid attention to, or can’t comprehend, what’s been going on with the Hawks this off season. The first thing we did was get rid of Woodson and hired LDrew as our new HC. Secondly, he said he would abandon Woody’s switching DEF, our dependence on the ISO dominated OFF, and install an actual half court off based on ball and player movement.
Thirdly, he hired 2 DEF specialist, LConnor and Gattison, to organize and handle the DEF side of the ball. Next, he drafted Jordan Crawford, announced JTeague would get significant and consistent mins, as well as a chance to start. He also signed PF/C JPowell and resigned a slimmer, much better conditioned JCollins.
Now, that might not be what YOU WANTED OR EXPECTED the team to do, but that sure as hell doesn’t mean we’ve done nothing this off season to improve. Stop operating with this narrow minded idea that we can only improve by adding new players. We can improve just as much, if not more, with basically the same team through better utilization of the talent already on our roster.
Instead of resorting to sarcasm as a way of masking your inability to grasp and/or appreciate my concepts, just ask, and I’ll do my best to dumb it down for you.
Ken Strickland
August 3rd, 2010
7:40 pm
DRMARYB-drafting CPaul would have been a big risk for both CPaul and the NBA. You can’t ignore the distinct possibility that MWoodson would have potentially stifled his short career by giving him the same senseless and irrational treatment he gave RIvey, SStaudemire, ALaw and JTeague.
Rev in Tampa
August 3rd, 2010
8:01 pm
Ken, my comment might not be read by anybody since everybody has migrated over to MC’s new blog, but your point about CPaul ending up on the trash heap of un-utilized point guards is prescient.
Ken Strickland
August 3rd, 2010
9:00 pm
THANKS REV!
please MC
August 3rd, 2010
10:02 pm
Who was addressing you drmaryb? Typical behavior. You should try whoopie. It helps.
Brian
August 4th, 2010
3:49 am
Atlatna Hawks=different year, same old crap.
Hawks Fans: Safety in numbers and changing landscapes | Atlanta Hawks: Fan Nest
August 4th, 2010
7:34 am
[...] There are a lot of questions here, and they won’t be answered until that first buzzer sounds, though we should get some pretty good hints of what is to come during the preseason (where we will also get to see that vaunted offense). Okay, so we know Jamal Crawford and Zaza Pachulia are rotation players. What of Mo Evans? Will he get consistent minutes? Maybe we should be asking whether or not he’ll earn them, and where he’ll get most of his playing time. Jeff Teague is expected to see an increase in minutes as well, becoming a part of the rotation. That automatically gives the Hawks a nine man rotation. Will Josh Powell be a regular in the frontcourt as well? He reportedly came here to get more playing time than he was getting with the L.A. Lakers, but he will have to provide something that is missing, for that to happen. What of Jason Collins? Is he another Mike Woodson scapegoat conduit or a useful player? [...]
big sam
August 4th, 2010
8:33 am
what HAPPENED TO “”"GARRETT SILER”" 7feet 300 pounds and agile somebody please respond
Thought’s On The Latest News | Soaring Down South | An Atlanta Hawks blog
August 4th, 2010
11:42 pm
[...] Cunningham is back from his vacation and spent some time catching up with the things that have been going on. First up, both Josh Powell and Jason Collins were officially signed. From the Hawks [...]