Atlanta Hawks: What about Marvin?
Hawks want Marvin to do this and produce on offense.
So I was contemplating the five questions for training camp I have to come up with for Tuesday’s newspaper, going down the usual list of suspects, when it occurred to me I hadn’t spent a lot of time thinking about one key question:
What about Marvin?
I know my blog people haven’t forgotten him since you’ve included his name in every possible dream trade scenario all summer. I’ve seen him criticized for seemingly not spending enough time developing his game over the summer (the dude is a gym rat by all accounts) and too much time developing as a human (he can’t spend every minute in the gym, can he?)
That’s not to say I don’t understand the frustration. Fans are selfish by nature, and what you want to know is now what did Marvin do to become a better person but how can he help the Hawks be better. Does it provide any solace to hear that Marvin knows he needs to be better, too?
The Hawks are pinning much of their hopes for Marvin’s improvement on L.D.’s new offense. Marvin is, too.
“That always sounds good to a player,” Marvin said. “You always want to be involved. Last year my production went down. Hopefully with this new offense guys will get looks on a more consistent basis and they will be better looks.
“Some nights, for me I could have 20 [points] or I could have 4. For our team to be a good team, I personally can’t have nights like that. So hopefully with this new offense, I will know where the shots are coming from each night and be able to knock them down.”
Actually, Marvin only had four nights of at least 20 points during the regular season and one in 11 playoff games. Even considering how Williams often got lost in the iso-shuffle, that’s not good enough for a player with his physical attributes and talent.
It’s true that perhaps no Hawks player has to put in more double-duty than Marvin. Checking NBA small forwards night after night isn’t easy. Doing so and then also being expected to make consistent offensive contributions, even as a guy who plays off teammates, is even harder.
But Marvin is entering his sixth season, he’s set to make more than $22 million over the next three years, the Hawks need him to produce and so here we are.
“You spend so much energy on the defensive end [but] at the same time you’ve got to make your opponent guard,” he said. “It’s hard enough to guard them but you can’t let them come down and catch a blow on defense. With this new offense and everybody moving hopefully [defenders] will have some more to think about.”
Marvin took some time to think this summer. He went back to Chapel Hill and continued work on his African-American Studies degree (”Probably three more summers to go,” he said). He recently played host to a local bowling event for Special Olympics, an organization he’s volunteered with since he was a sophomore in high school.
Before that, Marvin went to Dakar, Senegal, with the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program.
“The people were great,” he said. “The people were so nice. They made something out of literally nothing. Those guys are out there playing on dirt courts. It was 120 degrees, it felt like. Super humid. They are out there exercising, working on their game.”
The NBA contingent helped with the effort to put up bed netting in villages in the region with the hope of eradicating malaria.
“I think that was the most special thing for me was to be able to help out,” he said. “Just a little bit.”
So it’s not exactly back to reality for Marvin. More like back from that harsh reality to his job, which figures to be tougher as expectations for his performance rise (again).
“Coach just wanted me to come back ready,” he said. “I just continue to do the things I’ve been doing: shooting the ball, try to get quicker guarding the ball, trying to handle the ball. Just try to stay consistent. I’ve got to work on being consistent this year. I think that is my biggest thing.”
MC
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168 comments Add your comment
Michael Cunningham
September 27th, 2010
12:38 am
@SteveW: “MC – Any interest for the Hawks in Dampier? Hope he doesn’t go the Bucks way. Glad he didn’t go with the Heat.”
the Hawks inquired but last i heard they didn’t think he’d end up in Atlanta.
Michael Cunningham
September 27th, 2010
12:40 am
@truthspitter: “I can not find a good thing to say about Marvin as a basketball player. When you pick in the top 3 of a draft you should be looking for a franchise player and Marvin has never shown the ability to be a franchise player in Atlanta. So, to me, he is a bust.”
i think that ship sailed a while back. at this point, Marvin should be judged as a $7 million per year SF. he didn’t live up to that last season.
Michael Cunningham
September 27th, 2010
12:43 am
@ Najeh: “Checking NBA 2-guards while putting up good offensive numbers isn’t easy either, yet Joe Johnson seems to find a way. Checking NBA PFs despite being undersized and still putting up offensive numbers while being the focal point of your team’s defense isn’t easy, yet Josh Smith seems to find a way. Checking NBA Cs despite being undersized and still putting up All-Star quality production isn’t easy, yet Horford finds a way. I submit that those three players pull a hell of a lot more “double duty” than Marvin. Josh and Al have much more of a right to use their situation as an excuse than Marvin does.”
point taken, but those players are considered to be better than Marvin and are paid as such (Al isn’t yet but he will be). Marvin shouldn’t be expected to be as good as those guys but certainly should produce more than he has.
welikebaseball2
September 27th, 2010
1:01 am
Man, we’ve been “expecting more from Marvin” for the last 5 years. As a long time Hawks fan, w/ an emotional connection I should note, I am so over Marvin. He’s a dead weight in the starting lineup. How many more years will we fool ourselves into thinking he’s actually got “more” to give?
MsDee
September 27th, 2010
1:14 am
MC,
A little off subject but I have been wanting to ask u this for a minute..have you asked any of the players if they spoken to Mike Woodson? If so, how did it go? No big deal, just curious to know..thx in advance!
Grandad
September 27th, 2010
2:14 am
Mr Cunningham,
Perhaps my sentiments came across as somewhat harsh.
“always free to speak your mind even if it is in criticism of me”
-MC-
I suppose in retrospect it would strike one as criticism
and in that regard I am decidedly contrite.
Though not a criticism, it was more of an observation.
“You show a lack of passion for the game, that’s undeniable.”
‘G-dad’
I think this is the statement that was lost in my usual ramble.
You asked for specifics, well there it is.
I have no quarrel with you. Once again just an observation
from an old man who has lived, learned and loved the game
his whole life.
When a man is in the public eye as I once was and you are now,
one develops a thick skin. I trust you have as well. Which is
why I figured you would be okay with my appraisal.
To me, and obviously it’s only me, but you come across as
workmanlike. Not a bad thing. But not a labor of love!
Michael, I do respect your work and thanks for your
professionalism.
god shamgod
September 27th, 2010
2:22 am
MC,
Grandad said it all – asking him to “be more specific” truly shows your relative indifference for the Hawks and speaks volumes about your basketball IQ (or lack thereof). In general, your articles are poorly written, emotionally void, and give very little insight into the inner workings of our franchise. You do not offer a fresh perspective on anything Hawks-related, other than when you happen to be the one who has access to “breaking news” about a contract being signed (or not signed). Your penchant for stating the obvious is boring and well documented in all of your articles. If the beat-writer job is so painful and your writing skills are so inherently weak, why do you even bother telling us what we already know? It almost seems as if you write these articles on the can, wipe your ass with them, and subsequently post them on ajc.com as if Hawks’ fans are supposed to appreciate your dirty toilet paper??!! Your response to @sam at 12:37am, is exactly why you have no business blogging for the Atlanta Hawks. Everytime you post an article I cringe because I already know how pointless said article will be. To say you have no “emotional connection to the Hawks” is an understatement. You seem to have no emotional connection to the NBA, or the world for that matter. Please take the time to put yourself in the shoes of a Hawks’ fan for just one millisecond. Then, read any of the blogs you’ve written and ask yourself – do I care what Michael Cunningham thinks? Simply put, it’s embarrassing to the City of Atlanta when you write an article. Good luck in your efforts to construct one original thought!! And yes, this is a personal attack on you!! One of your “5 key questions you HAVE to come up with for tuesday’s paper” should be, “How many Michael Cunningham’s does it take to write an informative and passionate piece about the Atlanta Hawks?”
Answer: nobody knows because it’s never happened before
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWKKKKKKKKKKKSSSSSSS!!!
CA-CAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!
Marvin is still underrated, under-valued, under-appreciated and young! Of course we expect more from him this year! He’ll go for 12, 7, 3, 2 & 1 this year in LD’s new system… Marvin-haters will be quiet by December and we’ll all be singing kumbaya together by April (and hopefully on into June)!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SteveW
September 27th, 2010
2:54 am
Jamal and Marvin and a 1st pick – maybe for this year, but if ‘Melo signed the extension, your looking at more like 2 1st picks. The Nuggets just slowed the train down trying 1 more time to get ‘Melo to stay. They were to recieve Kirelenko, Favors, and 2 1st picks. Favors alone may be worth more than Jamal and Marvin based on future potential. We’d have to juice it up pretty good to get Denver to bite.
How about Jamal, Marvin, ZaZa, Bibby, 2 1st picks and that 2nd from Pheonix for Billups and Anthony? The Nuggets get:
A) A couple of decent young players in Marvin and ZaZa
B) A good player this year to offset the loss of Billups, then a salary dump
C) A semi-serviceable PG in Bibby, then a salary dump
D) 3 Draft Picks
On the trade machine, it says this trade gives the Hawks +15 wins this year, and the Nuggets =13. Maybe the new Nuggets GM won’t use the trade machine.
The Hawks then sign Dampier to take ZaZa’s spot, Stackhouse to take Marvin’s spot behind ‘Melo, and for 5 mil. over luxury tax, you have the NBA favorites. Billups, JJ, ‘Melo, Smoove, and Al as starters; Teague and Mo’ off the bench in the BC, Stackhouse at 3, Dampier and the 3 Amigo’s off the bench as bigs. Game over, barring injury, we win the Championship.
The Nuggets would probably never make that trade, but stranger things have happened…
SteveW
September 27th, 2010
2:57 am
And next year we dump Billups 14.2m salary for the team option of 3.7m..
Arm Tellum is going to kill us with Horford I’m afraid – hope we sign Al soon.
SteveW
September 27th, 2010
2:59 am
I do agree with MC’s point – we keep trying to make Marvin a #2 pick. At this point in his career, he’s a 6th year vet making $7.5m, which isn’t a whole lot in the NBA – but he didn’t even earn that last year.
vava74
September 27th, 2010
3:40 am
MC,
You have to realize that people around here would only feel that you had done your job right if you had stated that it was a shame that marvin didn’t catch malaria whilst in Senegal.
To say that he is a gym rat… That’s way out of order? How dare you say something which goes against established dogmas around here?
It doesn’t matter that Sekou had reported exactly the same early last season when he started struggling (that he spent hours shooting and trying to shake off the bad period).
By saying that marvin is a gym rat you are questioning the existence of god!!!
BuddyLov
September 27th, 2010
6:43 am
Marvin is an outstanding player, keep up the good work Marvin.
The Real Hawk
September 27th, 2010
6:54 am
Why anyone would expect more from Marvin than we have received is beyond me.
And beyond Marvin.
wordsmithtom
September 27th, 2010
7:01 am
MC,
Those who wanted Chris Paul will never forgive Marvin for Hawks decision. They wanted a world beater NOW and got only above average who hasn’t yet found his acme. I don’t think the full story has played out for MW; I think he performs at a higher level before his career is over. I’m just not sure that will be for the Hawks. If he doesn’t step it up this season, I expect him to be on another team next year. Just hope it’s one on the west coast.
SteveW, ditto on seeing MW being forceful at times in the past and reitterate he absolutely must do more to drive to the basket. He has a good free throw % and is strong enough to work down low. A motion offence should get him there more often, instead of standing on the wing like he did under ISO. Maybe Woody expected him to be more of a 3ball threat than he actually was able to produce and when his shot went awry, it got into his head.
What JJ said to Teague about deferring needs to be said to Marvin. Don’t stand around and watch; ATTACK. LD’s motion offence absolutely should help MW’s game, if nothing it forces him to move off that wing awaiting a shot he seem not to want to take.
I expect him to play stronger to the basket due to the way the offence is structured vs. last year.
doc
September 27th, 2010
7:03 am
yes granddad, i know that and i gave you mine, period. i mean it is a blog here and though we obfuscate with “facts” and statistics, it is still our opinions after all, is it not? you see and look for what you want to see probably about 99% of the time; we all see it differently and spend the rest of our time trying to convince others of the same.
nes
September 27th, 2010
7:11 am
Truthspitter is right on! Marvin is a bust as a top three draft choice, for 5 years now he has had one good year. He reminds me so much of J.J. in many ways such as he will disappear in games, not motivated every game to go inside and draw the hard fouls as he doesn’t like the physical contact, soft defense, etc. (yes-JJ doesn’t go to the basket enough either) What we have seen is what we have gotten from Marvin and no new scheme is going to change the player and make him an all star-laughs! No team wants him due to the hugh salary he is getting for next 2-3 years, same mistakes made by management over and over by keeping the wrong players and are gonna lose the best players like Horford to free agency as can’t pay him 123 million like they just did for J.J. The joke is on the fans, this year is gonna be a little worse than last year and with a new offense installed will take time to learn and execute at start of the season, then it is one round and out!
pedro el gitano
September 27th, 2010
8:05 am
este chico debe ser traspasado….recuerdo una jugada en la que le puso un tapon a lebron y acto seguido entrego el balon a un contrario para que anotara facil…..ese es Marvin Williams!!!
wordsmithtom
September 27th, 2010
8:53 am
Nes,
Your assumption that MW does not like going inside because he didn’t do so last year, and failure to do so last year was because of his own choices. I think it had more to do with Woodson’s positioning him on the wing to await the potential pass when ISO broke down. Coaching vs. player decision. IMHO A different offensive scheme can put him in a different place to attack the basket, believe it or not. He’ll never be the second coming of Dominique… Hawks don’t need that. Who said a player must be an All Star and if not, he’s a bust? Only the guys who wanted a world beater in position 3 and didn’t get one…
He’s not CP3; never will be. Get over it and stop the hating. His contract is not the problem; the way he has been used is. IMHO
Melo Melo Melo Melo
September 27th, 2010
9:16 am
Enter your comments here
Big Ray
September 27th, 2010
9:22 am
Checking NBA 2-guards while putting up good offensive numbers isn’t easy either, yet Joe Johnson seems to find a way. Checking NBA PFs despite being undersized and still putting up offensive numbers while being the focal point of your team’s defense isn’t easy, yet Josh Smith seems to find a way. Checking NBA Cs despite being undersized and still putting up All-Star quality production isn’t easy, yet Horford finds a way. I submit that those three players pull a hell of a lot more “double duty” than Marvin. Josh and Al have much more of a right to use their situation as an excuse than Marvin does.
Triple Co-sign…..
P.S. The guy posting as “god shamgod” is a ‘tard.
Rev in Tampa
September 27th, 2010
9:24 am
wordsmithtom, I like Marvin. A great citizen and loads of athletic upside. However, Marvin, it appears to me, went to the inside with finesse rather than authority. As several have pointed out, Marvin has a difficult time “finishing” a drive – misses too many lay-ups & is blocked to often. This is a “skill” that can be improved. I’m glad that Marvin is a gym rat, but he needs to be working on more than his jumpshot.
Big Ray
September 27th, 2010
9:25 am
wordsmithtom ,
Yes, people expected a world-beater at the #2 selection in the draft. That’s where you draft them at (high lottery).
The problem was in the moron who did the selecting, not necessarily the player. The same moron drafted another non-world beater at #5.
Even “proper” use of Marvin would not result in nearly what people expect out of a guy drafted that high.
You’re right: the hate is misplaced. It should go on the person who made the draft selection, not the player.
Big Ray
September 27th, 2010
9:30 am
You don’t EVER, EVER, EVER draft a guy that high when he’s coming off the bench in college. It just doesn’t make sense. 11 points, 7 rbs per game as the team’s Sixth man does not equal #2 pick in the draft. I don’t care how UNC was running things. Either the kid was good enough to start as a freshman, or he wasn’t. Meanwhile, Billy Knight still doesn’t have a job. We see why….
Big Ray
September 27th, 2010
9:42 am
Rev in Tampa ,
It’s about the angle he takes to the basket. He so often takes such a horrible angle that he doesn’t give himself a chance to finish well at the hoop. What he does is help out the guy guarding him. Take a proper angle! More often than not, watch how he drives, and how the angle he takes has him heading directly for the baseline, instead of the basket. The result is he’s forced to turn his upper body in midair, where he loses control of the ball, flailing as a defender’s hands and arms interfere with his shot. Look no further than the picture of him trying to go up against Dwight, on the front page of the Hawks section, for this blog. Dwight hasn’t even touched the ball yet, and Marvin already looks awkward as hell with it.
Trust me, it’s the angle he takes. When he finishes with the ball is when he has taken a good angle to the basket. It’s really a simple fix, but it’s a mental fix. Therein may lie the problem…somebody has to work with him on that. I have no idea who on the coaching staff gets that job….
Teezo
September 27th, 2010
10:01 am
Marvin is and I think will always be the weak link in the starting lineup…As someone mentioned, he has no competition for the SF spot, so he is content with where he is at, but to me has plenty of potential if he just applied himself…For a player to be a top 5 pick you have to make some kinda name for yourself and he has not…It looks to me as though he has no motivation to become a better player, whether you become the best defender on the team, best 3pt shooter or getting to the free-throw line, he has done nothing to impress me since being in the NBA (I don’t even give him playing time when I run with the Hawks on the PS3)…Im past us not taking Paul over Marvin, but to me that should have been motivation to prove that you are just as good as those players…He got his money and tucked his tail…Any improvements will good for the team, but I won’t believe it until I see it…Start JJ at the 3 and let Mo run the 2, which I think should have been happened b/c Mo seems to have a lil more aggressive in his game, kinda what we missed in Childress, plus Marvin could show what skills he has against the 2nd units…Peace…
Rev in Tampa
September 27th, 2010
10:06 am
“plus Marvin could show what skills he has against the 2nd units”
That is an interesting comment given what Marvin did to the Bucks last year in the playoffs. There was a stretch where he owned them because the Bucks went with a small line-up.
Westurd
September 27th, 2010
10:18 am
There is nothing left to say about Marvin…..these comments are the same ones that were posted last year about Marvin…..and even the year before….
Marvins marginal ability with the Hawks is making us all of us with our fingers crossed look stupid. Its time to stop talking about Marvin (for the third offseason in a row)and figure out how to move him.
Quack Quack.
O'Brien
September 27th, 2010
10:26 am
Bruce Bowen has career averages of 6 ppg and 3 rpg. Those numbers are not very good, but he is a 39% shooter from 3 (how many big 3s from the corner did we see him knock down), and he was a shut down defender, at 6′7″, and 200 lbs.
You have SFs like Artest, Battier, Prince, Bowen, and even Matt Barnes who play (or has played) very good defense. Why can’t Marvin, who is 6′9″, 240 lbs, and a big wing span?
I think its about mindset, drive and passion. Marvin has been fed with a gold spoon ever since he came into the league.
Drafted #2, then we got rid of Al Harrington so Marvin could start, Chills came off the bench (and left eventually), we re-signed Marvin without letting him test the market to see his true market value, and now, we still dont have a legit backup SF.
Long story short, I’m with Najeh. Give me 8 and 8, 39% from 3, and excellent defense consistently, and I’ll be pleased.
Barnes
September 27th, 2010
10:42 am
Never understood why the franchise chose Williams over Childress. I do agree that Marvin could possibly be more effective as a second team guy.
Michael Cunningham
September 27th, 2010
10:48 am
@god shamgod: “MC, Grandad said it all – asking him to “be more specific” truly shows your relative indifference for the Hawks and speaks volumes about your basketball IQ (or lack thereof).”
that doesn’t make sense. if i were really indifferent, i wouldn’t ask him to be specific about his criticisms because i wouldn’t care. it’s cool if you don’t care what i think, but posting here is a strange way of showing you don’t care. sounds like you don’t understand what “indifference” means.
Michael Cunningham
September 27th, 2010
10:53 am
@Granddad: “You show a lack of passion for the game, that’s undeniable.”
‘G-dad’
I think this is the statement that was lost in my usual ramble.
You asked for specifics, well there it is.
I have no quarrel with you. Once again just an observation
from an old man who has lived, learned and loved the game
his whole life.
When a man is in the public eye as I once was and you are now,
one develops a thick skin. I trust you have as well. Which is
why I figured you would be okay with my appraisal.
To me, and obviously it’s only me, but you come across as
workmanlike. Not a bad thing. But not a labor of love!
Michael, I do respect your work and thanks for your
professionalism.”
no, i don’t take any of this personally. i put my work out there and ultimately my editors, readers and the people i cover judge its worth.
i’m not sure what you would consider to be an appropriate expression of a “passion for the game,” but i do love basketball and i like covering the NBA. i am, however, a dispassionate observer of the Hawks. from fan’s perspective i can see where that might not be satisfying in cases like this, where some might wish i would say Marvin is a bum and call it a day. but i do have a responsibility to be fair and provide perspective. if that’s what you consider to be a “workmanlike” approach, so be it. i’m just glad you care enough to disagree.
Michael Cunningham
September 27th, 2010
11:02 am
@vava74: “MC, You have to realize that people around here would only feel that you had done your job right if you had stated that it was a shame that marvin didn’t catch malaria whilst in Senegal.
To say that he is a gym rat… That’s way out of order? How dare you say something which goes against established dogmas around here?
It doesn’t matter that Sekou had reported exactly the same early last season when he started struggling (that he spent hours shooting and trying to shake off the bad period).
By saying that marvin is a gym rat you are questioning the existence of god!!!”
ha . . . i really do understand the sentiment. but i have to try to give a complete picture.
its’ like when i wrote the blog post a few weeks back saying it’s not all bad the Hawks have the same guys returning because there is talent on this team. this was after a summer of several blog posts pointing out all of their weaknesses and the moves they didn’t make. yet from some of the comments you’d think i’d praised the Hawks as a legit contender all summer. i really don’t mind being criticized. it comes with the territory and it keeps me sharp. i just ask that people look at my body of work instead of picking out one post they don’t like and ignoring the others.
dstdeelite
September 27th, 2010
11:03 am
It’s terribly hard to dislike Marvin as a person. I’ve often defended him as a basketball player, but as MC stated, fans are selfish. We want results and we want them now. Marvin really improved in his 3 point shooting season before last. However last season was almost a train wreck. I think his confidence was zapped. You had JC coming off the bench who pretty much can score effortlessly to snatch Marvin off the court at the first dead ball. I’m sure it’s hard to get into any kind of shooting rhythm that way. There were some nights that Marvin didn’t even finish the game, but he didn’t sulk. I just hope that this glorious new system by LD gives him an opportunity to shine. He’s playing one of the hardest positions to play in the league behing the PG position, but he has to be more aggressive on the offensive end.
Michael Cunningham
September 27th, 2010
11:04 am
@wordsmithtom: “MC, Those who wanted Chris Paul will never forgive Marvin for Hawks decision. They wanted a world beater NOW and got only above average who hasn’t yet found his acme.”
i understand this. if the Hawks were my team, i might feel the same way. i’m not even saying it’s wrong to feel that way. but i’m coming at it from the perspective of a guy who covers the team so i try to give the full picture. throughout this post i stated that Marvin needs to be better, but some people ignore those elements and seize on the parts where i write something that doesn’t fit their narrative. unfortunately, that’s the state of discourse in this country.
Michael Cunningham
September 27th, 2010
11:10 am
@MsDee: “MC, A little off subject but I have been wanting to ask u this for a minute..have you asked any of the players if they spoken to Mike Woodson? If so, how did it go? No big deal, just curious to know..thx in advance!”
i know Bibby spent some time with Woody not long after he was let go. other than that, i’m not sure. last time i checked with L.D. he said he had not spoken to Woody.
cp
September 27th, 2010
11:12 am
We have been making the same comments about Marvin for years now. Marvin has also been saying the same thing for years now. At the end of the day he is an average sf. He just seems so content with being what he is. He will probably have a stretch this year where he looks like he is turning the corner then he will go right back to being invisible on the court. He has all the physical attributes to be better but he doesn’t use them. It is what it is with Marvin. I guess we will be having this same convo plenty during the season and probably again in the next off season
dstdeelite
September 27th, 2010
11:18 am
I really don’t understand the MC bashing that’s going on today. I remember last summer we were begging for anybody/somebody to throw us a bone. Whether he likes the Hawks or not is his business. What i appreciate most is his willingness to ask the questions that we as fans ask everyday on this blog.
wordsmithtom
September 27th, 2010
11:22 am
cp, you may be correct. MW may never be better than we’ve seen. If his talent is no better than his positioning on the court. If I am correct: and Big Ray has suggested a similar concern…his angle to the basket….then a change in coaching and thus where he positions himself on the court, could better use his talents. LD said he was going to make other teams play to his team’s talents instead of the other way around. Except when injured, I have seen MW do pretty much what he was asked by the coaching staff. If you don’t expect much…you don’t get much. LD needs to up the ante. If he doesn’t preform, then I’ll gladly see him shipped to another team. I, for one, think he can and will.
I hope I’m right….just like I hope Teague’s talent can blossom with minutes. Time will tell. I give them by mid year. That’s long enough to measure whether LD can squeeze juice from these “lemons”.
Teezo
September 27th, 2010
11:28 am
OBrien said “”"Bruce Bowen has career averages of 6 ppg and 3 rpg. Those numbers are not very good, but he is a 39% shooter from 3 (how many big 3s from the corner did we see him knock down), and he was a shut down defender, at 6′7″, and 200 lbs.
You have SFs like Artest, Battier, Prince, Bowen, and even Matt Barnes who play (or has played) very good defense. Why can’t Marvin, who is 6′9″, 240 lbs, and a big wing span? “”"”
———————————————————-
Exactly…I don’t want monster numbers from Marvin, but at the same time I don’t want dead weight on the floor either and the players you mentioned are active when on the court and thats Marvins problem, he disappears way too much…But I truly believe that the Hawks and Marvin would benefit more with him coming off the bench where he would be a go to guy along with Crawford and wouldn’t have the opportunity to disappear…His effort and activity level doesn’t match one of a starter, especially on a team that is considered one of the best (trying to be atleast) in the league…Peace…
Dos Hawkquis
September 27th, 2010
11:36 am
One positive about the addition of new coach, Larry Drew, Marvin will not be “promised” a starting position. I don’t know what it was, but Woody refused to sit Marvin for a better player. I know that when Marvin was out two years ago and Mo took his spot, Mo played well. As a matter of fact at one point during the season, We were 12-3 with Mo in the line up.
I don’t think that Larry will be loyal to Marvin, as was Woody.
“I don’t always watch basketball, but when I do, I prefer the Hawks. Stay thirsty my friends.”
Astro Joe
September 27th, 2010
11:40 am
I wonder how many beat writers become victimized by their bloggers by the end of the summer? Kind of like “the last desperate days” of the NBA blog world… waiting anxiously for the start of the season, so they start biting the hand that feeds them. Oh well. I get the impression that MC knows how to handle the pitbulls around here… who will transform into lap dogs with the start of today’s media event.
If you really want to know if MC is any good at his job, let’s see if he can put Pape Sy and Mario West in the same room at the same time. I doubt it. I think they are one in the same, Drew just needed to pretend that his pet player is different than Woody’s. So he dressed Mario up in a chapeau and told him to fake a French accent. A quality journalist would uncover the truth.
Clyde
September 27th, 2010
11:42 am
Here is the best starting 5.
pg – Bibby
sg – Jamal Crawford
sf – JJ
pf – Smooth
c – Horford
Bring Marvin off the bench
doc
September 27th, 2010
11:52 am
at aj … a good chuckle.
Michael Cunningham
September 27th, 2010
12:02 pm
@dstdeelite: “I really don’t understand the MC bashing that’s going on today. I remember last summer we were begging for anybody/somebody to throw us a bone. Whether he likes the Hawks or not is his business. What i appreciate most is his willingness to ask the questions that we as fans ask everyday on this blog.”
thanks . . . . this is what i try to do. i respect that my blog people care about the Hawks. i care that you care and so i take the job seriously.
and i will say that compared to Miami Heat fans, you all have better perspective and knowledge as a group. that gives you the cred to bash the Hawks (and me) where you see fit.
KevinM
September 27th, 2010
12:10 pm
What MC commented: “last time i checked with L.D. he said he had not spoken to Woody.”
Is LD gettting back at Woody for not listening to him for 6 years while on his staff?
Seriously, I wouldn’t expect LD to talk to Woody…..I still think there was some discourse there over the years, and LD learned to stay mum over the years so he could keep employment. I am willing to give LD the opportunity, but something has been amiss with that coaching staff since LD tried to take another job while the basketball expert was still in charge here.
The start of camp does not bring in a refreshed approach with LD in charge. The ties to the previous regime are still there along with the limited expectations.
O'Brien
September 27th, 2010
12:15 pm
AJ,
You hit the nail on the head. On the Braves blog, fans were going hard at the beat writers this weekend for not “doing their jobs” and asking Bobby Cox more direct questions after another Braves loss.
wordsmithtom,
Good point on Marvin. I think more than any other starter, he needs direction and guidance. LD might have to tell him how many points and rebounds he wants from him, how many shots he can expect etc.
Maybe that will force Marvin to work harder to achieve the goal…
dell706
September 27th, 2010
12:32 pm
Nothing bout Marvin but I heard Denver is basically letting everybody go so why don’t they look at Nene…..
Clyde
September 27th, 2010
12:41 pm
That’s what I don’t like about the AJC.
When Vick was jailed for dog fighting he was on the front page of the AJC. But when he starts and wins his first two starts in 3 years they don’t even write a story about him.
Ramon
September 27th, 2010
12:44 pm
I actually think the opposite about Marvin. I think maybe he should have spent even more time away from the court. Physically, its very hard to find something wrong with Marvin. But I think taking longer to ‘restart’ mentally would’ve been a better service to him, than being in the gym.
@ Big Ray, I think Marvin’s driving may come from him not having experience with going against more athletic players when he was younger (in high school). When you’re often the most athletic player on the court, its quite easy to pick up bad habits, while still producing. The worst thing can happen to a player is to be successful while making a bad play. If you remember, Chills used to look quite awkward whenever he would drive the lane also. Remember for years, we all wonder why Chills didn’t dunk as much as he should instead of laying it up (which he often missed). Also, I think Marvin doesn’t understand the concept of trying to finish WHILE drawing contact. I think sometimes he just drive to try and draw a foul with the shot being an after thought. If Marvin ever starts finishing strong around the rim, he will instantly become an 18 ppg player.
Ramon
September 27th, 2010
12:45 pm
@ Clyde, would expect anything different in a red state? lol