Atlanta Hawks: Magic 102, Hawks 73

Magic's D suffocated J.J. and company. (Curtis Compton / AJC)

Magic's D suffocated J.J. and company. (Curtis Compton / AJC)

– The Magic have the kind of program the Hawks are trying to build. Yes, they have a top five player and the Hawks don’t. Orlando is deeper than Atlanta. But the Magic might be underachievers, too, if Stan Van Gundy hadn’t molded them into a team where every guy is expected to bust their tail defensively all the time.

– “They are one of the best teams in the league because they can defend,” Marvin said. “They can flat-out guard. A lot of people say it’s because of their offense but it’s because they guard. They have a lot of energy on the defensive end, and that’s why they’re one of the top two or three teams.”

– It’s just a preseason game but beforehand L.D. talked about a “new attitude” for the Hawks against Orlando. There was no sign of that. “I don’t seem them fearing us at all,” Josh said. “That means we have to go back to the lab.”

– The Hawks had pretty good defensive energy for a couple quarters but couldn’t score. Then they couldn’t do either in the third quarter as the Magic put them away with 35 points.

– Not sure if this is irony but it was weird to see: Some of Atlanta’s best shooters passed on open shots and instead kept passing the ball around until someone was forced to shoot late in the clock. Marvin was a major offender. From Iso-Joe to meaningless motion?

– “Very, very surprised,” L.D. said. “We have got some guys that can make shots and under no circumstances do I want guys hesitating on their shots.”

– J.J. was having a very good preseason and suddenly he’s clanking open shots off the front of the rim. Al had played smart offense but now he was forcing it while also picking up bad fouls. Jamal missed several runners in the lane.

– You see stuff like that and start to wonder if the Hawks have a mental block when it comes to Orlando. Then you see that third quarter and you are reminded the Magic are just a lot better than the Hawks one through 10.

– You could hear some echoes of May 2009 in much of what L.D. said after. On the third quarter: “We collapsed defensively.” On the lack of offense: “We missed a lot of shots but we had some good looks.” On the team’s psyche: “We got upset when shots weren’t going down and then we started forcing things. I said, ‘Look, guys, it’s a long season. The true test for us is how we weather those type storms.’”

– At least it’s still the preseason and not the East semifinals. “That team is on a mission and we’ve got to get like that,” L.D. said. “They are certainly a measuring stick. They are playing at a high level, they are playing with a lot of intensity. They getting the job done now. They are now waiting until the start of the regular season. That’s where we have to get to.”

– Al, Zaza, Twin and Etan all took their turns on Dwight. Even Smoove checked on a couple possessions. Howard got his but the Hawks weren’t helped by quick whistles on some touch fouls against him.

– Twin showed a little something against Dwight and Gortat. He’s moving better now and Dwight doesn’t like it when big bodies stay in front of him. You know he’s bothered when he starts griping to the refs each time he doesn’t score.

– Atlanta trailed just 44-34 at the half despite missing 29 of 41 shots. “I told them at halftime if you continue the consistency defensively and make some shots, you will be right there,” L.D. said.

– But the Hawks missed 14 of 21 shots in the third while Orlando was 11 of 18. The Magic closed the period with a 25-10 run, and Howard was on the bench for all but five of those points. The Magic had Atlanta scrambling with crisp passes until they got open shots.

– The thing about the Magic is even if you guard them well for most of a possession they can still score. Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis and J.J. Redick all made some tough shots late in the clock. The problem for the Hawks is their spirits sag when that happens, they miss bad shots and suddenly the Magic are off on a run.

– Orlando has won 20 straight preseason games, which might not mean much if they didn’t have a Finals and East finals to their credit in the last two years. “What’s been getting us through right now is our intensity and our defense,” Van Gundy said. “I think we’re defending hard, and we’re defending the ball. Our guys are really getting after it and that’s why we’re playing well right now.”

Teague sat out again and is shooting to return Thursday against the Heat. Pape Sy still doesn’t know when he will be cleared to practice.

– I’m out, Hawks fans.

MC

168 comments Add your comment

reality

October 19th, 2010
12:17 pm

same old sad ass hawks. changes made in offseason did not address weaknesses last year…when we got drilled by orlando four straight…congrats joe johnson, max contract going to let you drift into the non factor sunset on a team that is destined to be dominated by the top teams. teague, please…It will be a long season alright. Thanks for showing this early, so i don’t get sucked into watching this exhibition in torture. Best of luck fans, i feel sorry for larry drew.

Astro Joe

October 19th, 2010
12:21 pm

northcyde, I think it is fair to evaluate Drew’s marriage of schemes and personnel. After all, unlike an outsider (Avery or Dwayne Casey), he has first-hand knowledge of what these players can/can’t do. To use a football analogy, if he is asking them to play man defensive coverage when they are clearly better suited to play zone, then that falls on him and not the GM nor the players. I want to see if he has built a round scheme for the round peg. I have little doubt that the round peg is not championship caliber, however.

vava74

October 19th, 2010
12:22 pm

People continue to FOCUS ON THE WRONG PROBLEM:

It all starts with the COMPLETE LACK OF DEFENSE AT THE PG POSITION and with AN IRRATIONAL FEAR FROM ATTACKING HOWARD, not with Howard as an offensive force.

Nelson OWNS us and all stems from that (and Duhon carried on where he left).

The Magic game plan is simple: attack our PGs (Bibby and Jamal who even defended worse than Bibs) and after the whole Hawks defense is scrambling they rotate until they find a free shooter.

Howard was stopped in several one on one plays (a couple of bricks, a couple of missed shots, a couple of TO), the problem is WHEN he received the ball FREE and with the defense already out of place.

The touch fouls on Collins and Zaza when they breathed on Howard certainly did not help.

And on our offense, we are simply scared stiff and afraid to attack Howard. It’s now a psychological issue rather than a technical one.

On this end, I am afraid that the main culprit is Al Horford who, against Howard, turns into an outright patsy.

Grandad

October 19th, 2010
12:23 pm

Rufus1

Excellent post, dead on, intelligent, & insightful.
Thank you for an un-emotional analysis that cuts to the heart,
yet is still uplifting.
Sincerely,
G-dad

cp

October 19th, 2010
12:37 pm

O’Brien, Bibby is pretty much done. He actually looks worse than he did most of last season. Hell even Woodson knew he was done and pretty much said so when the season was over. And as bad as Bibby is on defense, Jamal might actually be worse. I don’t know if the way he played last night was because he wants a new deal or because he just sucks on defense but either way it was ugly watching. They showed the highlights of the game today and pointed out a few times where Jamal was just standing around and not even attempting to guard anyone. It might be time to just go ahead and put him on the block. I don’t care if he is sent to the T Wolves but it looks like he doesn’t even care..Marvin looks like the same player he has always been. The ASG has pretty much put all the blame on Woodson. I wasn’t a fan of his but it wasn’t all his fault. To ignore upgrading the roster again is whats going to hurt this team this year. They had chances and just refused to do it. I hope LD does well because if he does well this team does well but the ASG have put him in a bad position.

The Truth

October 19th, 2010
12:37 pm

“The Hawks had pretty good defensive energy for a couple quarters but couldn’t score. Then they couldn’t do either in the third quarter as the Magic put them away with 35 points”

Not too much else to say. They played as though they weren’t prepared for this team since they couldn’t offensively throw it in the ocean; in general a horrible shooting pct. Maybe they should take one of those captain titles and give it to Josh Powell since he was the only one that showed up. Maybe the Hawks should follow his lead instead of the anointed captains. He was the only one that played with swagger though Twin also showed some promise. If they are going to continue to just talk-talk-talk without walk-walk-walk, they will lose all credibility with the fans. LD should just give it rest with the media and just say they suck; then say “no further comments”

The cliché that offense sells tickets but defense wins games doesn’t apply here because this team did neither especially in the third quarter when the game started to look like last year playoff rout. Not only is Orlando better than the Hawks (up and down the roster) but there is an arrogance about them that belittles the Hawks. As if they have a “Yoda effect” on the Hawks and they can turn the inferiority switch on in their heads at will. Orlando know they were the team that got Woody fired perhaps explains their perceived superior attitude. This may be the downside of hiring the assistant coach of the previously fired coach. Since LD was a part of the team past bad memories, turning the page might be more difficult with him as coach if progress is not made early in the regular season. Because the Orlando routs works against the player’s psyche and conflict their high expectations as laid out by LD. If they regress and don’t improve, LD words will become hollow sooner rather than later. If he is not saying the right things to them in their moment of gloom, then he will start looking more like their past than their future. He could become a bad song entitled “the ghost of Woody” that keeps ringing in their ears. Last year we all complain about the absence of leadership on this team. The so-called leaders always talked about what was broken but never showed us anything in the heat of battle. Well, this year we have the same team, the same leaders with the potential of a hollow-voiced coach. This season could be ugly, even more so with a maxed out payroll and unmovable players.

Ramon

October 19th, 2010
12:37 pm

AJ, I’m not saying any player can be developed into a rotational player. However, I don’t believe out of 5 years, that you should only end up with just two players who are rotational players (Al and Marvin). At least half of the time you should come away with something that you can use even marginally. And I know that is more then just on Woody. The entire organization is tainted and seems to be cursed. I’m simply saying Woody didn’t develop a single player after the Hawks became a playoff team.

404atlhoops

October 19th, 2010
12:38 pm

WOW……several games into the preseason and I’ve read a couple of post either questioning Larry Drew’s ability to coach or calling for him to be fired already. It’s going to be very interesting reading the comments on the Hawks Blog throughout the season. For the record, I don’t know how good of a coach Drew is but I’m taking a wait and see approach once the games count.

Sautee

October 19th, 2010
12:41 pm

Ramon,

Once again, which definition of “Stated” do you prefer?

lewis

October 19th, 2010
12:42 pm

Josh Smith is still a diva unfortunately, and it seems he’s fully reverted back to hoisting jumpers out of his range

Rufus1

October 19th, 2010
12:42 pm

Co-sign Vava

Grandad

We lose to the Magic and people already want to abandon ship on LD and this team. This Lose maybe a very good thing for LD, he may realize playing Bibby or Jamal against the Magic is a TERRIBLE decision.

northcyde

October 19th, 2010
12:46 pm

@ Grandad . . . you still don’t think we have personnel issues though?

North Carolina last year, even with a future Hall of Fame coach like Roy Williams, couldn’t keep UNC even competitive last year, due to all the Seniors he lost and the underachievement of his freshmen and sophomores. I would imagine that Roy coached no differently than he did a few years ago when UNC won it all.

But he didn’t have the talent to keep UNC playing at a high level.

And don’t be surprised if Calipari goes through the same thing at Kentucky, seeing that he basically lost 5 NBA players off the UK squad last year

The Hawks simply don’t have elite personnel. And when you don’t have the personnel, I don’t care how good your system is or how good of a coach you are, you’re probably not getting over the hump.

You have people on this blog that were staunchly against bring in Shaq, because he was “too old”. Still don’t think we could use an “old Shaq” on this team?

Even with the Carmelo talks, do people still think we couldn’t use a player of his caliber on this team?

People love to diss Joe Johnson, but Horford and Smith are nowhere as good as people think they are, especially offensively. All 3 are good players. They’re just not great players.

Melvin

October 19th, 2010
12:46 pm

Ramon

October 19th, 2010
12:47 pm

Sautee, the one that I posted.

Ramon

October 19th, 2010
12:47 pm

Lewis, Josh made his jumpers. He missed a few shots at the rim.

lewis

October 19th, 2010
12:49 pm

playing bibby and jamal is a terrible decision regardless of opponent

Not having Teague really makes this team difficult to evaluate

Ramon

October 19th, 2010
12:50 pm

Also it is funny that it was Josh who the Magic chose to double repeatedly.

lewis

October 19th, 2010
12:51 pm

Ball should have gone to josh in the paint so he could pass out everytime

its just frustrating seeing him so far away from the rim

Grandad

October 19th, 2010
12:51 pm

To Samuel,
To continue a mini-debate between you and I from a few days back,
I must mention Orlando as a team which uses motion offense, with;
(1) ball movement
(2) *ball reversal
(3) a 4-1 set
(4) screening
(5) cutting
(6) player movement
-&-
(7) spacing
all of which are fundamental and not a “gimmick”.
Originally you said name five, and I gave only two
thinking those would be just dandy.
However, for your pleasure here are three more:
(3) the aforementioned ‘Van Gundy’ @ Orl.
(4) KC Jones ‘86 Celtics *[greatest team of all-time]
*(more than one man’s opinion)
(5) Jack Ramsey Portland TB ['76-'86](among other teams he coached)
There are others but you said five.
By the way, how do you think Rip Hamilton scores? Iso? [NO].
By moving w/o the ball & cutting off endless screens.
A gimmick, I guess?

Seriously Samuel – I’m only talkin’ to you.
I’m not maliciously attacking any position you take.
The “gimmick” offense remark is the only one that is just wrong.

Ramon

October 19th, 2010
12:51 pm

Teague is missing valuable time. And why you can’t fault him for being injured, the timing couldn’t be any worse. Its almost as if you could see that when he comes back, it will take him at least 2-3 weeks (of regular season time) to get used to playing with the first unit.

Ramon

October 19th, 2010
12:52 pm

Grandad, also every thing Hubie Brown ever did was based on motion.

lewis

October 19th, 2010
12:54 pm

I did say a few months back that i’d take less wins for a better playoff performance…we look horrific at the moment but i see potential

drmaryb (*_*)

October 19th, 2010
1:00 pm

OBIEN

I know Maurice and Jamal contracts are up next year. But, I think Bibby has another year guaranteed after next.

I.MUS WRITE

October 19th, 2010
11:35 am

Too funny, I saw that cry for help from Clyde. It’s funny how one man can campaign to silence one man and shriek when the same thing happens to himself! Karma is a Motha – right? I too was pondering, what two worded posts
crimes Clyde could have committed?

Let’s See: one verb and one noun … Couldn’t raise the ire of the ASKG – could it?

Roll Tide? Naah ..
Fire Woody? Naaah …

To Clyde’s defense, BOTH those things did happen.
Besides, Clyde is entitled to his opinion. He expresses himself in two words or less, he spews no vitriol, hate, personal attacks nor disrespect to his peer bloggers. I would say, Clyde is a Class Act and he is appreciated!

doc

October 19th, 2010
1:01 pm

ramon, teague has caught acie disease. it is terminal with any hawks’ young draftee point guard unless nick van excel can resuscitate him.

as far as movement on an nba team, who does it better than boston now? i revere their ability to move the ball quickly and move themselves. how could ray allen get his many looks without careening around pick after pick. man i love to watch them play. actually i thought last year we started out that way, were blowing the doors off teams and then got into the woody hayes style of basketball.

lewis

October 19th, 2010
1:03 pm

Thank you Woody for imparting 0 basketball knowledge unto your players. After 6 years with you, they’re clueless because all they’ve ever done is give Joe the ball on offense and switch on defense.

Larry Drew is trying to teach technical basketball concepts to these guys for the first time, and lets face it, they’re not getting it. It’s as though they need a tutor or something. I sat there watching, and I couldn’t help but think to myself, “is there anyone on this team who gets what they’re doing? why are people standing around in a motion offense? don’t they realize that the more movement there is, the more chance there is of having a defender make a mistake, thus freeing up a shooter?”

The Hawks have relied on fast breaks, dunks, iso Joe and Jamal. They rely pretty much on being flashy instead of playing real, methodical basketball. I don’t know if our shooters are capable of this offense. We’re just not right mentally, not enough bball IQ or leadership to compensate

doc

October 19th, 2010
1:03 pm

dmb, agree on your comments about clyde. he is a classy guy who holds true to his word. i have met clyde and he is very much a gentleman. he is passionate about the hawks and the tide. batting .500 isnt bad.

O'Brien

October 19th, 2010
1:07 pm

Orlando has Jameer Nelson, but they brought in Chris Duhon. Lakers have Fisher, but they brought in Steve Blake. Nets have Devin Harris, but they also brought in Jordan Farmar. Utah has Deron Williams, but they brought in Earl Watson.

Hawks have Bibby and Teague, so we’re good, especially since our 3 SGs (JJ, Jamal and Jordan) can play the point.

I have heard that the motion offense does not require a traditional PG, but I still think we should have brought one in. Because if Teague gets hurt, or struggles, and Bibby is still Bibby, then what?

Grandad

October 19th, 2010
1:15 pm

northcyde

I’ve never said we didn’t have personel issues.

Haven’t I been loudly, often, and persistent in demanding
that we need a Big.

In any conversation about trading Jamal;
All I’ve said is “get talent for talent”.

Who makes more trade proposals on this board than myself.

Now, when I do, my proposed trades always have a purpose.
I take into consideration:
* team chemistry
* team needs
* fit = (coaches philosophy, schemes, standards, expectations)

As for bringing in Shaq or even Melo:
I refer again to;
* fit = (coaches philosophy, schemes, standards, expectations)
as reasons I may or may not be for such moves.

I was against the hiring of LD at 1st.
Since then, everything he has said has made me a believer.
I suspect the players have had a similar reaction as to
believing in him.

One last comment.
Do I think Teaguer would have helped last eve?
Darn tootin’!
What about Pape Sy?
Absotively!
Do we still need help?
Yep!…..A Big!
Who?
A.Ajinca…available! Go get him!

Sund;
Will he get us more talent?
no.
“Unless it falls in his lap” -Big Ray-

Ken Strickland

October 19th, 2010
1:16 pm

I don’t care what Big we tried to sign to stop DHoward, until we get something other than that MATADOR DEF from Bibby or Jamal, it won’t matter. Bibby lacks the ability to play any DEF at this point, and Jamal seems to lack the desire. It’s a down right shame how Orlando’s PG’s are able to blow past them to easily get inside the lane and feed lobs to Dwight.

With the PG in the lane, our Bigs have to respond, which gives DHoward an opening. If they don’t respond, we get the uncontested layups, like the several we saw last night.

SAMUEL-Teague alone couldn’t have won the gm for us, but he certainly could have made a difference, especially on DEF. But, his ability to stay in front of their PG’s, and keep them from getting into the lane uncontested, would have taken away some of DHoward’s easy baskets and prevented some of our fouls. The way the Hawks are constructed, especially our starting frontline, we can’t be effective defensively unless our perimeter DEF drastically improves, and that won’t happen as long as we continue getting awful DEF efforts from Bibby and Jamal.

I’ve reached the point where I want to see us trade Jamal and Bibby for whatever we can get. We need a backup PG that’s willing and able to play DEF, with enough quickness and speed to maintain the same uptempo style we play best. I wouldn’t worry about last nights gm. I’ll show concern if we get Teague back, and everyone that’s back gets some gm experience and their feet under them, and we still lose like we did last night.

I think Drew will go into the 1st part of the regular season tinkering, installing and teaching his OFF/DEF systems, and how he wants them run. I can’t wait until we get to the final roster cuts so I can see what he decides with Bibby. It’s bad enough to have one DEF liability at PG, but we can’t afford to play 2, especially when one has also become an OFF liability.

drmaryb (*_*)

October 19th, 2010
1:21 pm

True – Lies!

V-Spitter

Thanks for the shout out, re: Fan #303.

I just had to speak up and say something in the name of Truth!
To keep repeating the same lie over and over when faced with the live video feed
of facts? Is beyond rational.

This speaks more to the character and agenda of person who chooses darkness and lies in the face of lightness and truth. The Good Book says seek the Truth and the Truth shall set you free!

If Fan #303 does not seek the Truth, then, one can only assume that man does not seek Freedom. Freedom from lies, Freedom from anger nor the Freedom from needing an apologetic hug! I can only say, I hope that Fan soon find
what he is lacking. But, I assure him he won’t find it on this blog nor in the Hawks locker room.

I only hope, we bloggers can be spared the “True Lies” as told by Section 303.
The only Truth in your posts is the Lies you mis-qoute!

Peace Out!

lewis

October 19th, 2010
1:24 pm

Larry Drew needs to get these guys going somehow.
Someone needs to be benched for their atrocious D, either Bibby or Jamal
That should make a statement to the players.

Grandad

October 19th, 2010
1:25 pm

lewis – Have patience.

Ramon – good one!

O’Brien – “then what?” = Pape Sy?

NorcalHawk

October 19th, 2010
1:30 pm

Hawks talked a good game last year and often backed it up. Haven’t seen anything so far to indicate substantial improvement. Gonna be a long season for Larry Drew.

drmaryb (*_*)

October 19th, 2010
1:38 pm

Go Clyde Go!

Doc, yeah … I love me some Clyde. He is a harmless grizzly bear.
This blog would have no compass without Clyde on it.

If he says South? We know its North!
If he says East? We know its West!
If Clyde says it Sunny out? We know its Raining!

Seriously, what I Love about Clyde is he has thick skin and can take a jousting like this one! If Clyde is banned? I will quit posting! No more Fun!

Section 303

October 19th, 2010
1:42 pm

drmaryb, this is all I’m going to say back on this. I saw the same video you did. You’re wrong. Explain to me what “Mr. Johnson” intended to say. I saw the video and heard him say “we could care less if they show up.” What am I missing?

Section 303

October 19th, 2010
1:50 pm

drmaryb, one more thing (guess I lied, again), I asked Rick Sund and Coach Drew a question about Joe’s (I won’t call him “Mr. Johnson, since I not a douche), comments at the Season Preview event last week. I asked if either of them had spoken to Joe and why didn’t Joe just apologize. Several people (fellow season ticket holders, mind you) applauded after my question. So, not just me that still has some bad feelings towards Joe.

And, I won’t even get in to the fact that reporters who were actually there still ask him about the comments. I know, I know, there go those darn facts getting in the way of your nonsense. I’ll stop. Carry on.

D-Ball

October 19th, 2010
1:51 pm

What are you expecting from this Team? Same Team with one grossly overpaid player who will give you what he gave you last year. NOTHING!!! They can’t beat the Heat, Celtics, definitely can’t beat Orlando. So what’s left? Another one & done if they can squeeze in the playoffs. Bottom line, nothing’s changed.

Astro Joe

October 19th, 2010
1:51 pm

Ramon, Marvin, Al, Josh Smith and Josh Childress (had he stayed). Who else is left? Acie? No one wants to remember how many games he was unavailable because of his bumps and bruises. Shelden? No need to discuss. Teague? The jury is still out. Drew was his “position coach” last year and recognized the need to give him a personal tutor in NVE. And with Teague, we’re talking about the 7th or 8th PG chosen in the draft… not exactly a “can’t miss” draft position. I hope that Drew gets better results out of JC2 and Teague, but only in the context of better team results. If I could acquire a quality veteran PG to run this team for 36 minutes and play both sides of the court, I would do it without giving Teague and his development a nano-second of consideration.

cp

October 19th, 2010
2:02 pm

lewis when they showed the highlights of last nights game and singled out Jamal, it was down right embarrassing looking at him just stand around. Dude did not attempt to guard anyone let alone his man. Bibby is terrible defensively but at least the guy tries. Jamal doesn’t seem to care at all. I’m with you Ken Strick about trading those two but I doubt we find a buyer for Bibby until his contract becomes a expiring one. It was reported that there were deals on the table for Jamal but Sund turned them down. I don’t know if they were good deals or not but watching Jamal play Sund might be forced to move him anyway

drmaryb (*_*)

October 19th, 2010
2:02 pm

Section 303

With all due respect, Joe answered a direct question in regards to the fans booing.

What you are missing is his ENTIRE response, your just selecting the part you want to hear and are taking it out of context. Joe said, a whole lot more than what you are falsely claiming. Also, look at the tone and demeanor of his
words, while he stood there shirt-less in the agony of defeat.
He looked like a mere human being to me, NOT some monster that you try to make him out to be.

Since, I am not the one who need clarification, and have already posted this answer a dozen times, I recommend you re-listen to the video clip, this time in it’s
entirety. For your benefit and clarity.

I don’t care to paraphrase and re-interpret what Mr. Johnson said for anyone at this time. You need to hear that straight from the Horse’s mouth.

The Truth

October 19th, 2010
2:02 pm

But The Positives I see are:

Josh Power > Joe Smith
Jordon Crawford > Mario West
This Yr Jason Collins > Last Yr Jason Collins
This Yr Teague > Last Yr Teague
Fewer Minutes Bibby This Yr > More Minutes Bibby Last Yr

We shall see whether these improvements show up anywhere of importance

Section 303

October 19th, 2010
2:12 pm

The Truth,

I’m still firmly on the Jason Collins bandwagon. The guy is a good player. I love that he is consistent at knocking down the 15-foot and in jumper. Defenders seem to think he can’t hit that shot and are willing to give it to him (happened in last night’s game).

And, when the officials let him play (they did not last night) he is a solid post defender.

I’m not ready to give Josh Powell the edge over Joe Smith, just yet. Powell shocked me last night. I had no idea he could hit jumpers. And, he hit some tough jumpers, too. Was it a fluke, though? Not sure. Joe Smith had/has a pretty decent shot. Need to see more of Powell.

Agree on Jordan Crawford over West (though, I love Mario West) and Teague/Bibby.

Section 303

October 19th, 2010
2:14 pm

drmaryb, I think you’re trying really hard to defend Joe. Too hard, actually. Both Rick Sund and Coach Drew answered my question by saying that Joe messed up and was wrong, by the way. Don’t think it is me having the problem understanding what was said. So, like I said, there are those facts, again.

drmaryb (*_*)

October 19th, 2010
2:15 pm

Section 303

If everyone jumps off a cliff – will You?
There are a myriad of ignorant people in this world who can not read, comprehend nor think for themselves. The prisons are over crowed with those type people.

Personally, I choose freedom from the main-stream and misguided people
in society. I have always been a Maverick when it comes to ideals in society.
With all due respect Sir, You may choose to follow than lead.

Just spare the rest of us from the lies if you can find it in your heart to move on.
If it bothers you so much? Stay home and chill!

drmaryb (*_*)

October 19th, 2010
2:23 pm

If I had the opportunity to talk to Mr. Sund?
I surely wouldn’t have been asking about Mr. Johnson’s irrelevant and trumped up non-comments?

The only APOLOGY I would have been asking for is one from the ASKG for their buying this team, in-fighting and NOT building this damned team into a legitimate CONTENDER!

Again, you had a chance to gleam some TRUTH and you failed miserably.
With all due respect, Sir, You should be apologizing to us for your posts!

Astro Joe

October 19th, 2010
2:29 pm

cp, Drew kind of suggested during the sumer “guard you man or else” and most of us wondered how he would handle Jamal and Bibby. Time will tell. Heaven knows, Sund didn’t do much to help him enforce his mandate.

drmaryb (*_*)

October 19th, 2010
2:33 pm

Section 303

One more thing?
What was Mr. Sund and Coach Drew’s response to your nefarious question?

You left out the punch line to the joke.
You cant just leave us hanging, like you claim Joe did?

The Truth

October 19th, 2010
2:34 pm

Section 303

That’s understandable about Powell because it is early. But I got a good feeling about him because of his good shooting fundamentals. His game in the paint maybe the best we have on the bench but we shall see. He could even sub for Marvin with his shooting range. I have to admit though; I was disappointed with Joe Smith last year. I have watched him over the years and perhaps last year as a Hawk ranked among his worst year as a player. His terrible defense and inconsistent offense became a liability as the reason he didn’t see much PT. If Powell brings us at least better defense with enhanced offense over Joe Smith, then will see more PT.

cp

October 19th, 2010
2:35 pm

Lol yea Astro you’re right. I always knew Jamal was a bad defender but man last night it was uglier than I thought. He mad absolutely no effort. I don’t know how long the “guard your man or else” theme will last because last night I saw a lot of guys getting abused. I do however think a lot of it had to do with effort. Guys looked like they quit just as they did in the playoffs last year.

drmaryb (*_*)

October 19th, 2010
2:37 pm

1- 800 How’s my Driving?

Hey Astro Joe
I learning from you how to drive the Mis-Qouters to the Truth.
However, I don’t have the patience of Job.

My Father’s biggest peeve was:
He had zero tolerance for ignorance!