Atlanta Hawks: No Shaq . . . now what?
With Shaq off to Boston here’s a quick epilogue as it relates to the Hawks:
I’ve been told that Atlanta wouldn’t budge on giving Shaq a starting nod over Al, who is after all still only 24-years old and an All-Star. Shaq believes he will get the starting nod over Jermaine O’Neal in Boston as Kendrick Perkins rehabs from his knee injury.
Atlanta also wasn’t willing to pay Shaq more than the minimum and that was a sticking point for him. He didn’t want to sign for the minimum when the Hawks had their bi-annual and mid-level exceptions available because of the perception that would create–as in the Hawks could have paid him more but didn’t. That’s not the case with Boston, which had neither of those exceptions and so could only give him the minimum.
The big guy still has his pride.
The Hawks thought Shaq could help them and would be a good risk at the minimum salary despite his history of negatively effecting locker rooms and tending not to respect coaches who aren’t Phil Jackson or Pat Riley. It could have been a potential headache for L.D., who already has a lot to deal with in his first gig as a head coach.
So that’s that. . . .
The Hawks still are in the market for a center (I’ve still heard nothing to indicate they are seeking a wing) and they have veterans Francisco Elson, Brian Skinner and Josh Boone on their radar. Not so much Kwame Brown, who is thought to still be seeking a deal for more than the vet minimum.
Beyond those options, I also could see the Hawks waiting to see if any centers shake free as teams buy out vets when training camps open. They also might consider bringing some young center prospects to camp and give them a month to earn the 13th roster spot. There is some interest in Garrett Siler but he’s got a lot to prove after a bad showing at Summer League.
There’s still about two months until camp opens so there’s still time for moves to be made. But that 13th roster spot will remain open for now.
– Hawks assistant GM Dave Pendergraft has emerged as an early candidate to become Denver’s top basketball executive. Pendergraft also is one of several candidates for Phoenix’s GM job.
The Nuggets let go of VP of basketball ops Mark Warkentein earlier this week.
MC
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613 comments Add your comment
O'Brien
August 6th, 2010
12:24 pm
Ken S,
I’m really not that concerned about the Hawks regular season, because I think we will have the 4th best record in the East behind Miami, Orlando and Boston (not sure what order).
But if there are injuries, we dont have quality frontcourt depth. And going up against those teams in the second round will be a big challenge for us.
I like LD, and I like Teague so I think we will be more competitive. But I would have liked to see the ASG and Sund give Drew better frontcourt options.
TS,
If we’re looking at past accomplishments, we may as well see if Hakeem, Ewing or Kareem wants to play for the Hawks.
terrell
August 6th, 2010
12:30 pm
Niremental, who’s going to buy tickets just because Shaq’s old azz is on the team? Probably the same idiots who think Horford’s the problem, and not our pathetic perimeter D.
K-Dogg
August 6th, 2010
12:35 pm
Northcyde hit the nail on the head they probably not going to do anything and let MO and Crawford money fall off the books at the end of this year. I’m starting to think Josh maybe the reason we not trying to get anotehr big in b/c if you ask my if Shaq came in and wanted to start which i dont know why he would say that when last year when the Cavs picked him up he was cool with coming off the bench. If Shaq does come in and start Al is your poward foward and Josh has to go to the bench b/c he cant play the 3 and if you ask me if him and Al were your options at the 4 you have to take AL over Josh so Josh must have told them he aint coming off noybody bench. To me i hate to say it thats why you have to mose Josh unless like i keep saying we start to run like the Knicks and Golden State b/c if not we will be a good team that gets pushed around in the post in the playoffs!!!!
K-Dogg
August 6th, 2010
12:37 pm
I still cant get over the fact Collins did us dirty last year by never getting in shape to help us vs Diwght and otehr bigs which is when he got to play last year and our dumb a** owners rewared that fat lazy dude by re-signing him!!! To me that ranks right behind anything Billy Martin would have done. Matter of fact bring Billy back!!!!!
Lawrenceville Guy
August 6th, 2010
12:38 pm
Better Front Court – you tell me:
Al Horford, Shaq, Josh Smith with Marvin 1st off the bench
Marvin Williams, Al Horford, Josh Smith with Zaza first off the bench
I know some of the roles would have needed to be adjusted and a new chemistry established…but look at in writing, there is no comparison.
F-105 Thunderchief
August 6th, 2010
12:41 pm
effecting should be affecting
Maybe Sund should be shunned and Pendergraft promoted.
I’d love to see the Hawks add a big center who could actually play, but there are far more big stiffs than players available. Has expansion diluted the big man pool? I think so.
terrell
August 6th, 2010
12:42 pm
Skinner is 6′9 255. Boone is 6′10 240. According to those stats, there’s no way in hell they can play center. Have to be 7ft. Remember? lol!
K-Dogg
August 6th, 2010
12:42 pm
Terrell as sad as it may sound about 50 people would go to a Hawks game to see Shaq every night at home and one the road who would not if he was not on our team and if you add in the ticket sells, parking, consession over 40 home games liek they said thats your 2min in tax that you would have to pay right their. On the cool Northcyde was right they were never going to get that man and alot of stuff they been putting out through the media is stuff to make us think they trying to get better when in fact they do want to get better but by being as cheap as possible. Shaq as far as draw is jsut like alot of otehr players in the L that have been big draws people want to come see them play to say that they have seen him play before they retire dog!!
F-105 Thunderchief
August 6th, 2010
12:43 pm
Zaza played better in 2008 than in 2009 … here’s hoping for a rebound.
Rebound, heh, heh. I slay me.
Nate
August 6th, 2010
12:49 pm
I am so frustrated with the Hawks, man. Shaq would start over Al, he would start with him. Al would dominate at the 4 and Josh would be a monster at the 3 (Marvin can be the 7th man he produces like) and We would be instantly better than last year. Shaq could play 25 minutes and Al could still play some 5 if the coach wanted him to. This team is dumb as H&LL
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
August 6th, 2010
12:49 pm
Today is David Robinson’s 45th birthday. Give him a call and see if he’s been missing the game. Wilt talked about a comeback at 50 or 55.
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
August 6th, 2010
12:51 pm
I thought truth serum was permanently banned from all AJC blogs. Was he granted parole, or did he break out … er, in?
BIG JIM
August 6th, 2010
12:52 pm
king kong can go Boston.We need more than a gorilla
with no offensive game.
My apologies to gorillas.
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
August 6th, 2010
12:55 pm
From an earlier blog:
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.
Ken Strickland
August 6th, 2010
12:57 pm
KEVINM-Can you name a 13th man on any teams roster that’s going to provide much help to that team? Why do you think he’s the 13th man, and not allowed on the active roster, or to dress for gms? You’re right, the Hawks haven’t proven they’ll be improved this yr. But, in all honesty, even though a number of teams have added players that offer improvement, on paper, to their ROSTER, none of them has yet proven how much the additions will improve their TEAM, if at all.
Why be so generous with, and/or positive about, assumptions of another teams ability to improve, while being so negative and/or conservative about the Hawks ability to improve? The Hawks have been in a unique situation where they’ve had enough young talented players to annually improve based on their individual development alone, and that hasn’t changed.
We have now added a new HC, and some valuable assistants, who’s specific responsibilities are to correct the problems of the past. They will address and correct the teams previous lack of discipline, accountability, OFF/DEF structure, strategy, adjustments, player development, communication, and equitable treatment of all players. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BELIEVE THE SAME HAWK PLAYERS, PLAYING IN A MUCH BETTER OFF/DEF SYSTEM AND UNDER MORE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS, CAN COLLECTIVELY BECOME A MUCH BETTER TEAM?
K-Dogg
August 6th, 2010
1:00 pm
Naw man Josh cant play the 3 now you tripping do you know how big a coaches eyes would get if he saw josh out on the wing!!!!!!!
Grandad
August 6th, 2010
1:06 pm
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
I’ll bet ” The Admiral ” is still in better shape than ‘Cheeseburger’.
Joey
August 6th, 2010
1:14 pm
“They also might consider bringing some young center prospects to camp and give them a month to earn the 13th roster spot.”
Dang, MC, a bench warming center was not what we fans were hoping for, especially when Joe told us he was gonna get some players to join his in ATL.
He coulda done that by telling Sund to keep say, $3M of his ‘10 salary so the Hawks could sign Shaq. But, Joe doesn’t care, as long as he gets to dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble between legs, dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble between legs, etc, etc.
JaredCarter
August 6th, 2010
1:38 pm
The Hawks made the right decision not to bring Shaq in. Shaq will not help a team win a title any more. He used to have that dominance but it has long been over with. Shaq should save everybody time by retiring in dignity instead of taking a number on a NBA roster for which he is unable to perform. Even if Shaq could still score 30 points and grab 10 boards a night, no coach would give him more than 2 minutes in an NBA contest and that would usually be when the outcome has already been decided (either down by 30 / or up by 30). Shaq is yesterdays news, todays liability and is no more than an overstuffed paperweight.
An O’Neal Fight on the Horizon? – NBA BIG 3 - Miami Heat Big 3 | Boston Celtics Big 3 | LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh
August 6th, 2010
1:45 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Michael Cunningham examines the reasons ground Shaq ended up in Boston and not with the [...]
BlueEdwards
August 6th, 2010
1:48 pm
Jared Carter: I think you missed the boat. Don’t be offended that Shaq chose Celtics over Hawks. There is a good reason for that. Shaq is in a personal competitive compeition with Kobe Bryant to see who will win most championships or rings in a career. As of now the count is 5 for Kobe and 4 for Shaq. So Shaq knows that he MUST sign with a team that has a legitimate chance to win a title so he can finish his career with more championship rings than Kobe. THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT IS DRIVING SHAQ IN HIS CAREER RIGHT NOW. Shaq is trying to prove he is better than Kobe, but Kobe’s agenda is that Kobe is trying to prove he is the greatest player of all times. So far, Kobe Bean Bryant has made a very compelling case that he is the greatest, even greater than Michael, Magic, Bird, Kareem, Wilt and all of them. Kobes resume on paper proves that he is the best of all times, but somehow Shaq just wants to finish with more rings than Kobe. I hope this clears things up in terms of what Shaqs motivation is to keep playing.
O'Brien
August 6th, 2010
1:52 pm
TS,
I wanted the ASG to sign Shaq because I think he would help Al and Josh out, and there are some games where Shaq might even be a better option than Al.
However, for the majority of games over an 82 game season, give me Horford. Shaq has not been able to stay healthy enough to play a consistent 30 mpg for 80 games. Also, he is slow, and our team is built for the starters to push the tempo.
So I would not promise Shaq a starting position. But I would promise him a consistent 20 mpg backing up Al. Now if Shaq was to come in and consistently outplay Al in practice and in games, then I would consider changing the lineup.
MOSES MALONE
August 6th, 2010
1:54 pm
I am in shape and can outplay Shaq.
Jon Koncack
August 6th, 2010
1:56 pm
I promise to be better next time.
Dan Roundfield
August 6th, 2010
1:56 pm
I can still get up.
KevinM
August 6th, 2010
1:57 pm
KenS-go with Sund and agree that standing pat keeps the Hawks in the Top 4. Now what?
If you are so optimistic, why aren’t you touting this team as a 1 or 2 slot contender in the East? Has something happened this offseason to limit your justifications?
Don’t improve or even think about having the best roster 1-13 where all could be a contributor.
Again, the jury on LD is as an unknown; do you seriously want an unknown with an unknown PG to try and get you to the elite level in basketball? Are you willing to throw all your cap limited chips in a guy who will be essentially playing his rookie season? Didn’t JT have a similar showing like Acie in the SL where they were given the reins?
I don’t see the reason for the optimism you present. You are content with the status quo of a core that no one wants to break up. These guys are so cohesive, they can’t win a 2nd round playoff game. Is it me or am I missing something? They can’t even win on their home court. Yes, these same 5 guys who refuse to step up and be made accountable. They all get raises for a non-banner season, because there aren’t any banners hanging up that are from this regime.
I am waiting for the ASG to hang a banner in their own honor though, similar to giving Ted Turner a banner.
LD and his assistants have a lot to prove…ok, let them prove it. It was the cheap option over anything else out there, plain and simple. Obviously, the ASG doesn’t put a lot of credence in a coach on the sidelines….or for that matter, a top GM. Woody/Knight/Sund/LD drips of championship aspirations doesn’t it? That doesn’t mean they haven’t done better than a Larry Bird or Kevin McHale and some of their hires…I will give you that one.
This team is not built for championship aspirations. It is built to be consistent and average at best from an overall team review. As you saw, winning 50 games or even 60 games means nothing if you don’t show up in the playoffs. These guys have proven the last 3 years that they can’t compete with the elite teams on the road. They held their own against Boston at home, looked bad against Miami every game, and survived Milwaukee. It does remind me of a Lenny Wilkens team concept….be good enough to make the playoffs, and absolutely QUIT when the time to ‘rise up’ comes around.
Again, 4 playoff wins in the 2nd round in their last 5 appearances. That doesn’t do anything to breed optimism.
Stand pat, stay the course, present your cap limited team, and you’ll see something similar to last year and the year before.
I eagerly await the trade deadline so we can make that major move that breeds excitement and more wins as a Top 4 seed. Can we then jump of the Sund ‘executive of the year for not doing anything’ bandwagon?
Josh Childress/pick 31/Pape Sy (who LD thought was a big man and knew NOTHING about on draft day) and that critical 13th roster spot is what I am remembering in the summer of ‘10.
Iceman
August 6th, 2010
2:04 pm
Dear God,
Please bring in someone who genuinely cares to buy the Hawks and Thrashers, and take them away from the boneheads at ASG.
Ice.
O'Brien
August 6th, 2010
2:05 pm
KevinM,
There is optimism, because I think LD will be better than Woody, and that will have a trickle down effect on the players. Plus Teague will complement Bibby.
However, if the goal is to win a championship, then we have not done enough to give LD and the players the best chance to win.
Personally, I think the ASG is more concerned about finances.
Boneyard Randy
August 6th, 2010
2:08 pm
Very little to be excited about this season. I like our team, but it’s difficult to get excited when the 2 teams in front of you (Celts & Mag) are still better, a team behind you gets better than you (Heat) and we’re now competing for 4th against a young team that took us to 7 games that will be better this year (Bucks). I don’t think anyone knows what this coach is going to do for us, whether it be positive (motivation, renewed life, better scheme) or negative (not respected by players as a head coach or not ready to be HC). This perpetual “better-than-mediocre, but not great” Hawks team will put up a fight and I’ll be along to enjoy the ride, but I have 0 expectations of going further in the playoffs. Maybe I shouldn’t use the word perpetual considering we’ve improved every season of the past 5, but it does seem that way as an Atlantan desperate for another championship team since 1995.
Boneyard Randy
August 6th, 2010
2:11 pm
Oh yeah, I failed to mention the Cavs…are they still planning to play this season?
BarryWhistler
August 6th, 2010
2:11 pm
Who needs Shaq and Josh Childress? LAST YEAR THE HAWKS WON 53 GAMES WITHOUT SHAQ AND CHILDRESS and the Hawks SHOULD HAVE WON 60. Should the Hawks play up to their potential this year and not blow about 25 games in the fourth quarter due to blown leads, the Hawks should finish 82-0, make the playoffs and get the Larry O’Brien trophy for basketball excellence. I AM EXPECTING GREAT THINGS FROM THE HAWKS WITHOUT BONEHEADS CHILDRESS AND SHAQ.
Big Rod
August 6th, 2010
2:28 pm
I agree the ASG IS A JOKE. Please sell the team to an owner that will take the steps to win championships. LD may turn out to be a good coach, but the ASG took the easy way out(on the cheap).Please get a center and move Al to power forward They should have never paid a no.2 guy (Joe Johnson) the max contract. The guy does not show in playoffs. Please ASG sell the team.
Fast Eddie Johnson
August 6th, 2010
2:29 pm
I invented the between the legs dribble.
J.R. Rider
August 6th, 2010
2:30 pm
I still got game.
Melvin
August 6th, 2010
2:43 pm
You can’t stop T-S, you can only hope to contain him….lol
The Real JC
August 6th, 2010
2:47 pm
@KevinM – I’m with O’Brien and Ken on this. Yes, we’re not instant contenders, but we’ve made steps in the right direction that, with future signings and tinkerings, will hopefully put us into a position to win.
1. We fired Woody. While you’re convinced LD is Woody 2, the players clearly know the difference. They didn’t like playing for Woody. They like playing for LD.
2. We secured a franchise player. Yes, he’s not worth his contract, but he’s a perennial all-star with a lot left in the tank. And he’s proven that in the right offensive system, he doesn’t miss.
3. We have a point guard of the future. Don’t know how Teauge’ll turn out, but he just has to be a solid serviceable guy to make an impact. I’m sure you remember all the awful PG experiments before Bibby came. It’s nice to know there’s at least a contingency plan in action before Bibby’s legs are completely useless.
4. We have a GM who acknowledges that we need a center. It may not seem like much, but the simple fact that Sund was entertaining the signing of Shaq and other true centers this offseason is progress. I’m pretty sure Billy Knight still isn’t aware of how a player taller than 6-10 can help a basketball team succeed.
It’s modest, but it’s progress. And Hawks fans more than anyone know to appreciate the little things.
northcyde
August 6th, 2010
2:49 pm
Ken Strickland
August 6th, 2010
12:57 pm
“We have now added a new HC, and some valuable assistants, who’s specific responsibilities are to correct the problems of the past. They will address and correct the teams previous lack of discipline, accountability, OFF/DEF structure, strategy, adjustments, player development, communication, and equitable treatment of all players. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BELIEVE THE SAME HAWK PLAYERS, PLAYING IN A MUCH BETTER OFF/DEF SYSTEM AND UNDER MORE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS, CAN COLLECTIVELY BECOME A MUCH BETTER TEAM?”
************************
- because Drew is a Rookie head coach
- because most of the Eastern Conference upgraded their rosters
- because Teague may not be ready to run an NBA team
- because Bibby may go into decline even more next season
- because Marvin may have peaked as a player
- because Mo Evans went into decline last year, both offensively and defensively
- because Zaza played soft as hell last year
- because the Hawks signed 2 very weak frontcourt players
- because the Hawks don’t have a legit low post scorer
- because the Hawks are an inconsistent jumpshooting team
- because if JJ doesn’t raise his level of play, we’re not improving
Those are just some of the reasons. I’m sure other people can come up with other reasons.
I’m glad people are giving props that we won 53 games last year, seeing how much they flat out ripped into this team as the season progresses last year. . . . despite us being a top 10 squad on our way to winning 53 games.
All I saw last year, were people trying to act like the Hawks were this horrible squad, framing every 3 out of 4 game losing streak as a “sky is falling” event. And everytime we’d win 4 – 6 games in a row, it was like “blah .. they’re only beating bad teams, or they can only win at home”.
But now, it’s . . “hey, we won 53 games last season. Everything is OK. We just need a “new voice”.
The ASG did this to themselves. And yes, they deserve TOTAL BLAME if this season doesn’t go as planned.
Don’t bring in Avery Johnson for 3 interviews, if you’re not willing to do what it takes to secure the dude.
Don’t trade to get an extra draft pick, only to sell it away when you KNOW we could’ve used a frontline player, and expect the fans to be cool with what you did
Don’t let the damn Shaq saga play out for a month, only to find out that you didn’t even make a serious play to go at that dude, and expect the fans to be cool with that.
They were simply playing around, giving off the perception that they were TRYING to do something, when in actuality, they weren’t doing a damn thing but trying to keep expenditures down. Even at the expense of upgrading the team.
Some of you may be cool with what they’re doing, but I’m definitely not. I gave them the benefit of the doubt, even defended those mo-fos and ripped the ATL fans in the process.
Never again though.
JoJo the Godfather
August 6th, 2010
2:49 pm
The eastern conference teams that are in the luxury tax (orlando, miami & boston), are all built around veteran starting lineups. When Teague, Marvin, Josh & Al become veterans, then we can complain about not having a bench around them…Its too risky of a business move to surround that young of a team with a $40M bench…Let Josh & Al become low post threats…Let’s find out if Teague & Marvin even belong in a starting lineup…Let’s see if Larry Drew can coach a lick?…And then lets spend some money to back them up….HOWEVER, we can still make some minor moves and stay below the luxury tax…That’s the type of deals we need to be considering.
PRESTONI
August 6th, 2010
2:55 pm
If those are the Guys the Hawks have on their Radar to Sign, then they better start calling Philips Arena the GARBAGE DISPOSAL instead of the Highlight Factory. Surely they must be kidding about this, because those guys are Pure Garbage. I even think some Centers in the WNBA are better than them. In all my years that I have followed this Team (from their First Game as the St. Louis Hawks), I have never reached this Level Of Disgust. Why don’t they just have a DISPERSAL DRAFT and end this Misery???
Najeh Davenpoop
August 6th, 2010
3:07 pm
“I just dont see where JC2 is going to get PT (except for injuries or blowouts).”
I agree, and this is why when Jordan was drafted I said this is probably setting up a Jamal trade. It makes no sense to be that deep at SG when you have major depth issues in the front court. The fact that they didn’t make a subsequent move to either trade Jamal for big man depth or move Bibby just further demonstrates this organization’s inability to plan long term.
I am all for drafting the best player available regardless of need, but then the trade and free agent market should be used to fill those needs. Instead, the Hawks are going to struggle to find playing time for all their guards while Zaza gets 20 minutes per game and Gearon rolls around in the $3 million the Hawks have instead of Dexter Pittman. This organization is a joke.
Big Ump
August 6th, 2010
3:12 pm
dmaryb
Thanks! No problem at all. Sorry to hear about your father, but I know he looking down at you and smiling. Yes it were a crazy war which left many of us mentally and physically in bad shape. I thought I were one of the lucky ones, but my wife tell me different (smile). Before I forget, You talk about my accmplishment it”s nothings compare to what you do in life along with Law Enforcement Officers, Firemen’s and women, Teachers, Soliders and Volunteer’s workers who is out there helping people”s 24/7. Hats off tou Doc. Keep the Sly album that you have. It been many years since I talked to him. I did run across his sister Rose last year who is now married which also broke my heart to hear(smile.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 6th, 2010
3:19 pm
“NEJAH-you say Teague’s summer league performance doesn’t make you feel better about him or our PG situation. Well, it’s obviously not a concern for new HC LDrew, since he hasn’t seen fit to bring in another PG to compete with him. He certainly hasn’t made any announcement or move that that would suggest that Teague’s summer league performance, or off season progress, has had any negative influence on his decision to make Teague a major factor at PG.”
I didn’t say any of that. I probably quoted someone else who did; go back and check the post to be sure. I’ve been one of the most optimistic people regarding Teague on this blog since the day he was drafted, and I clearly remember saying earlier on this blog that the Hawks will be better simply by replacing Bibby with Teague. That said, I don’t think it is fair to expect Teague to set the world on fire from day one. He will go through some growing pains, which he really should have gotten the chance to go through last season.
Also, there is another problem with the above statement — Drew is not responsible for personnel decisions; Sund is. It is Sund’s call not to bring in a veteran PG, and that’s probably more because Mr. We-Like-Our-Core sees Bibby as that veteran PG (out of necessity more than anything since his contract and production make him virtually untradeable).
Najeh Davenpoop
August 6th, 2010
3:24 pm
“IMO, Marvin is supposed to be our defensive stopper. Anyone care to challenge that?”
Marvin is “supposed to be” a lot of things, and the one thing he has consistently proven in his career is that he’s not what he’s supposed to be. I don’t think it’s smart to expect Marvin to be anything more than the timid, inconsistent portrait of mediocrity that he is. Any significant improvement from him this upcoming season is icing on the cake.
JoJo the Godfather
August 6th, 2010
3:28 pm
Najeh…”I agree, and this is why when Jordan was drafted I said this is probably setting up a Jamal trade. It makes no sense to be that deep at SG when you have major depth issues in the front court.”…What if Drew considers Jamal a PG only, and Bibby useless?
I wanted Pittman at 31 too, but $3M would be tough to turn down when we don’t even know if he’s any good.
Speaking of the Miami roster…Do they have 17 under contract?…Will they have to cut someone loose?…I was just looking at hoopshype earlier, which isnt that accurate.
Ray
August 6th, 2010
3:38 pm
When will the organization realize that we need a big man and a coach that the players will buy into. We need to win a title in the ATL and we need to win it now!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
August 6th, 2010
3:38 pm
“Najeh, how much better would last season’s Hawks team been if Drew were the coach? ”
I have no idea how good of a coach Drew is. Chances are a Drew-coached team last year doesn’t win a whole lot more than 53 games in the regular season if at all. But if he really does promote an offense based on movement and sharing the ball and he is willing to play his best players and give everyone an equal shot to win playing time, I can guarantee you he would have coached this team to a better playoff result. The reason Woody had to go is because when his simplistic, gimmicky strategies were dismantled by opposing coaches in the playoffs, he had no counter move. The way to avoid that situation is to either a) have a plan B, C, and D in case your plan A goes wrong, or b) have a better plan A in the first place. From everything Drew has said about ball movement, playing Teague, and man-to-man defense, it seems like his plan A is a lot more sound than Woody’s. Let’s hope that is actually the case.
“Basic math says that if several teams go up a few teams will go down. For every Bucks team on the rise, there is a team that will fall on it’s face ”
But that’s the thing — on paper, the Eastern Conference has dismantled basic math this offseason. When only two teams have gotten worse on paper and six teams have gotten better, logic dictates that those six teams’ additional wins will come not just at the expense of the teams that got worse, but also from the teams that stood pat. This is why the Hawks are in danger of finishing with a worse record even if they improve in absolute terms as a team.
Of course, all of this only refers to the Eastern Conference. If I’m not mistaken, the Hawks played better against the West than the East last year, and if they can improve on that, it’s possible they can reach last year’s win total. I still think the East has improved from top to bottom to the point that any team other than Miami or Orlando will be hard pressed to win 50 games. I’d expect to see several teams, including the Hawks, in the 45-50 win range.
Abe
August 6th, 2010
3:41 pm
Anyone in Atlanta would have to be crazy to keep paying between $30.00-to-$100.00 per ticket for a ticket to any Atlanta Hawks game this upcoming season! Why spend that kind of money, AND fight with the overly-congested traffic around Philips Arena on a game night, only to get inside where you have to pay even more astronomical amounts of money to purchase a drink and/or over-priced food item(s)? Damn that! For 2 people to attend an average game they’re looking at roughly spending about $170.00 total (or more) for the both of them (which includes decent tickets for about $60 each (or more), $15.00 for parking, $8.00-to-$10.00 for one drink each & $10.00-to-$12.00 for a food item(s)). Talk about astronomical!
I recommend going the cheaper route and inviting your date, friend or your hanging buddie to join you while watching a game on tv and for the best chicken wings in Goergia at “The Bucket Shop Cafe” across the street from Lenox Mall (20 wings for $14.00), a nice side salad ($4.00 each) and a couple of beers or other alcohol drinks ($10.00-to-$32.00 for two drinks each person.) That equates to a bill of about $42.00 to $62.00 total for two people! And the best part is you get to watch more than 1 game at the same time on multiple big screen tv’s while enjoying great food & drinks! Watching the Hawks at Philips Arena can’t compete with this!!! On the other hand, skipping the l-o-n-g, drawnout, boring basketball season altogether in favor of suppporting the Atlanta Falcons is an even greater idea! Football games have MORE energy & are even more entertaining to watch/attend! Besides, the Falcons try to “grow” every year…unlike the Hawks. Who cares if Shaq is/was still a top player or not. Adding him woulda brought people out! So again, the Hawks’ administration dropped the ball! There’s a reason why the Hawks organization (Atlanta Spirit Group) is one of the top 2 teams among all professional sports team who are on the verge of going bust! When you have “7-8″ different golden-spoon-in-the-mouth individuals who have never really had to EARN their money from hard work like other owners like Dr. Jerry Buss or Mickey Arison making decisions for an entire team, combined with the fact none of them has ever owned a real sports franchise before purchasing the Hawks/Spirit/Dream, you gotta expect it to be unsuccessful. Too many Chiefs…not enough Indians. Hire a REAL GM, a REAL Coach and REAL Assistant Coaches & Scouts who have success compiling a REAL “team.”. Until then, the Atlanta Hawks will continue to be nothing more than a second-rate opponent for other teams to beat up on.
Sipptown
August 6th, 2010
3:49 pm
Call me crazy, but wouldn’t this starting lineup have worked:
Bibby/Teauge, JJ, J Smoove, AL, Shaq???
Put Marvin’s butt on the bench!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
August 6th, 2010
4:04 pm
“Call me crazy, but wouldn’t this starting lineup have worked:
Bibby/Teauge, JJ, J Smoove, AL, Shaq???”
No lineup with Smoove at SF is going to work. He is more out of position there than Horford is at center.
If Shaq had come here, though, I would have been OK with Al and Shaq starting at PF and C with Shaq being limited to 20 minutes or so and Smoove coming off the bench and playing 30+ minutes per game in a Lamar Odom-like role. Between him and Jamal the Hawks would instantly have one of the deeper benches in the league and would be able to match up with pretty much anyone.
Ken Strickland
August 6th, 2010
4:05 pm
KEVINM-Part of the reason the Bucks are being so highly touted is due to last yrs production of THEIR ROOKIE PG. The only reason the Hornets have been willing to even think of trading CPaul is because of the outstanding production of THEIR ROOKIE PG. Yet, when it comes to JTeague, certain Hawk fans dumb up and start complaining about his lack of experience, or he hasn’t proven anything yet.
Tell me, before the Hornets and Bucks started their ROOKIE PG’S, how much prior NBA experience did they have, and what had they proven? They both were fortunate to have HC’s willing to give them a chance to demonstrate what they were capable of doing. Teague, on the other hand, had a moron of a HC that couldn’t overcome his stupid bias against rookie PG, even when his team was destroyed by rookie PG’s. That’s no longer the case.
It’s funny how you challenge my optimism by questioning why I don’t rate the Hawks as a potential 1st or 2nd seed. Then you go GLASS HALF EMPTY on me by putting the Hawks down because they didn’t win a 2nd rd playoff gm. Yet, you have no problem rating teams like the Bulls and Bucks ahead of the Hawks, even though neither team has was able to make it past the Hawks, and/or get to the 2nd rd.
You, and certain others, claim the jury is still out on Hawks HC LDrew, because he’s considered an unknown. Explain how you can have that GLASS HALF EMPTY opinion about him, yet not have the same GLASS HALF EMPTY approach towards the Bulls new HC TThibodeau? Tell me, does he have more HC experience than LDrew? Wasn’t he an assistant, just like LDrew, or Woodson, before becoming a HC. Why in the hell isn’t the jury still out on him and his Bulls?
WHERE’S THE DAMNED LOGIC?