Atlanta Hawks: Quietly making their case for respect
Miami–Both before and immediately after the Hawks beat the Heat, L.D. and his players claimed to reporters not to care that they don’t get more buzz.
Don’t believe them.
Long after inquiring reporters left, and with most of the team already on the bus, a couple Hawks players and a staffer talked about the W. They speculated that stories about the game would focus more on the Heat losing than the Hawks winning. They joked that ESPN’s ticker would probably show the score, some stats for LeBron and Wade, note Miami’s losing streak and then flash the next score.
“And now on to Memphis!” one of them joked.
The truth is the Hawks, like all competitive alpha males, do want accolades and respect. To their credit, they’ve never complained that they deserve more of either. They understand they have more to prove. They beat the Heat with a tough effort but they are still just 5-9 against opponents with winning records (though they notably beat the last two on the road while Miami is now 2-5 against Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Orlando).
The Hawks are now a half-game behind Chicago for fourth in the East. Even if the Hawks keep rolling, they have to know that for many casual observers the lasting memory is that surrender to Orlando last spring. For those watching them closely now, games like that ugly loss to Houston, which immediately followed the stirring victory at Utah, make them wonder if the Hawks are for real.
So for now the Hawks aren’t publicly making the case that they should be in the conversation with Boston and Miami as true contenders. But they do notice that they haven’t gotten much love despite staying among the East’s top five all year even as the injuries piled up.
Will beating Miami change the perception of the Hawks?
“Maybe,” Jamal said. “But we like being under the radar, honestly. We kind of like creeping and doing our thing that way. Nobody talks about us. That’s good as long we we keep racking up the wins.”
“We are content with staying under the radar and just keep trying to play consistent basketball,” Smoove said. “We’ve been pretty good as of late. We are getting guys healthy and we are figuring out a way to play together.”
Of course all this respect stuff won’t mean much in the end. The Hawks will either prove their worth in the playoffs or they won’t and then earn praise or criticism based on those results. Right now this is all just fodder for discussion among NBA media, fans and–as that scene in the locker room late last night showed–the Hawks.
MC
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222 comments Add your comment
vava74
January 20th, 2011
1:29 pm
slimjr,
yes, we are all frustrated, but winning takes a lot more than simply “making moves”. there few to no moves at all which can be made now and have a positive impact in our future. few to none.
on the contrary, having people on the seats and a playoff atmosphere during every home game would help.
the Hawks seldom sell out and when they do they have thousands rooting for Kobe, Lebron, …
look at GS, yes, they lose a lot and apart from the Dallas series they have not won anything for 20 years, yet their fans are loyal and always there so when they had the opportunity to topple a giant they did it.
a winning culture takes years to settle in and ATL has not produced winners historically.
even the Braves with their fabulous rosters only one once and even then they could not sell out Turner Field.
so, it’s a lot more than moves.
when we had ‘Nique, Rollins, Doc, Wittman, Battle, Willis, Levingston and took Bos (with one of the best teams ever in the game) to the limit.
then we made the moves, signed Theus – a me first guy, and Mo Malone, also a me first guy, what happened? we crashed and burned and lost 3-0 to MIL on the first round.
yes, we did lose Willis with an injury, but why Theus and Malone did not offset Willis loss? All would point out that the addition of 2 all stars with a loss of a non allstar would produce at least the same results we have before without those all stars.
but it didn’t.
moves rarely produce the results people project in them.
you complain about Marvin, but what would happen if we replaced him with a me first type of guy?
would there be enough shots for everyone?
isn’t our problem right now that with the emergence of Al as an offensive player we should see Josh limit his shots from outside and bang inside more?
SA won several championships with players who sacrificed their shots for the sake of the team.
Every team needs a utility player, a guy who contributes in different ways depending on what the team needs and the coach directs.
Bowen was that guy for SA. Marvin could become that guy for us. A good defensive player who knocks a few shots, rebounds a bit and changes his role from game to game.
or do you think that we would function as a team if we replaced Marvin for Granger?
have you seen the amount of shots he takes in order to get the numbers he gets?
who would sacrifice his shots? Al? who is shooting 56%?
Josh who clearly does not want to shoot less?
Bibby who has been smoking from 3 point land this year?
The only guy I would concede as being a good candidate for less minutes and less shots is Jamal, so I would accept to trade him at any moment, but what do you expect to get in return from him?
ag
January 20th, 2011
1:30 pm
Rufus1
I am glad Woody is out of here and the new coach does make a few bold moves (not starting Marvin a couple of games) pulling Josh, and putting in JCII in the crunch, but I am not sold on this guy. Watching Teague against Boston was a thing of beauty. Now, he comes in shoots on shot and misses and his a$$ in on the bench. Yet, Crawford and Joe stink it up, but are still on the court. I guess we will never agree with all the coaching moves, but is this team really better than last season?
ag
January 20th, 2011
1:43 pm
I guess in Atlanta Hawk history, we never had a great point guard. If Eddie Johnson would not have been messed up with drugs, I think he would have been the best. He clearly was a better scorer than Mookie. Mookie’s jump shot was more like Josh’s. Armond Hill was pretty good but not much of a scorer. Outside of Tree, we had Moses and Mutumbo, Steve Hawes and Kontract. He would even do well with this bunch.
ag
January 20th, 2011
1:45 pm
I still say if management wants to fill the Phillips, they have to make a BIG trade. Trade Marvin while he is on the rise. I hate to see Crawford go but it is truly business. Throw in a couple of pick…see what sticks.
Rufus1
January 20th, 2011
1:47 pm
ag
I agree with everthing you said about Teague, I also thinks he needs more time and Bibby less. I am not saying LD is great, but I believe he is better…I think a major reason we lost to the Magic like that last year was Woody’s coaching.
I am apart of the FREE TEAGUE campaign!!!
Jae Evolution
January 20th, 2011
1:55 pm
Taken from the ‘Numbers Game’ article on NBA website.
“At the bottom of the list is Atlanta’s Josh Powell. The Hawks have been 17.3 points per 100 possessions better with Powell on the bench than with him on the floor.”
“Defensively, the biggest difference-maker is Atlanta’s Jason Collins. The Hawks allow 14.1 points per 100 possessions fewer with Collins on the floor.”
I’m going to skip the Powell part and go straight into Collin’s defense, this just shows how much better a team we could be with a TRUE big on our team, if we acquired a true big, and a quality penetrating PG, I truthfully think we are those two things away from becoming championship contenders.
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
2:04 pm
We need a big and pg its that simple.. Marvin will have to be package somehow to make it happen…Looks like Sund is not going to make a move before the trade deadline. The schedule is going to get tougher so we are going find out the what this present configuration can accomplish..Stay tune..
Yes, The Braves in the 95-99 window was considered one of the best teams in both leagues and could only squeeze out one Championship.. Which is better than none..They did have 3 million ticket sales in some of those years and beyond….
The Hawks have never been considered one of the best teams in Basketball. Heck they were the only team with a losing record(37-45) to make the playoffs 3 seasons ago. They did give Boston a run for their money but ran out of steam on the road.. What else is new?
dukester
January 20th, 2011
2:13 pm
@slimjr I think Sam Dalembert is as close to Mutombo that we can get right now. DRMARYB has been harassing me saying Dalembert is lazy. She wanted to sign Dampier I didnt have a problem with but looking at him the other night that guy is washed up. At least Dalembert can block shots and rebound.
ag
January 20th, 2011
2:13 pm
Again, I have said it before. You guys think think this is playstaion and create a center. There just are not many out there. I would have love to get Kwame because he is more athletic and could give you some points and rebounding. A kid I would love to have is Rodrique Beaubois. He is in the D-League, but last year he was on fire. I think that kid will develop better than Rondo. I also believe Teague will to – if he got the burn. LD should start Teague and let Jamal and Bibby play together. Now I don’t want Teague in their in the 4th quarter during crunch time, but give us energy to start the game.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 20th, 2011
2:14 pm
Mike is Back!
Hey Mike, you remember Vin Baker? An awesome player who suffered from depression and alcoholism. I really admired his game.
I became a fan when a date took me to a game in 1986 at the old hole in the ground – The Omni. Mane, that arena was built like a toilet bowl wasn’t it?
The cheap seats were high in the rafters, but were at street level. Seemed like the Hawks played in the basement of the building. That was wild!
I started off watching Kevin Willis, (I saw Kevin in Target here in Atlanta last week) we spoke, he looks great. Very thin and dressed very neat, a dress shirt and denim pants with sketcher sneakers. I recognized him right away, because he is so tall! Kevin was very polite and gracious, he was alone. But, Nique’,
John Battle, Spud, Tree Rollins, Antoine Carr and of course Doc Rivers.
That was a very professional team for the Hawks! Nique’ always threw parties down at the Hotels in the city. We girls always went, we always saw Nique and the stars who were in town, like the Pistons. Nobody was tripping, it was just old school 80’s – Keepin’ it Real! Can’t do that now, these women will slip something in your drink and next thing you know – you’re married!
See Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman! LOL!
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
2:18 pm
Mookie jump shot can never be compared to Josh awful set shot!!! Mookie average almost 20 a night from the perimeter are u kidding me?? Mookie and Mutombo please put on your I-Renew bracelets, suit up and come back to play for your Atlanta Hawks and show these guys how to get it done….
ag
January 20th, 2011
2:21 pm
you could certainly throw Shawn Kemp in the same mold as Baker. Very talented but needed the bottle. The older Hawks of the late 70’s and early 80’s battled coke. I guess that is why the NBA really never has reunions. John Drew, Eddie Johnson, Terry Furlow, etc…
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
2:21 pm
“Keepin’ it Real! Can’t do that now, these women will slip something in your drink and next thing you know – you’re married!
See Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman! LOL!” Look out Marvin……
Funny………………..LOL
drmaryb (*_*)
January 20th, 2011
2:26 pm
Dukester
Don’t twist my words, they are all on the record! I said back in the Summer, I lobbied hard for Shaq, to no avail. Daimpeer was the only Center left on the market. We got Etan Thomas instead. That ship had sailed.
I clearly said I didn’t want Daimpeer once we got Etan. Why keep talking about a Center, when the greater need is PG now and Al said, “I will go to war with what I got!”
Yall really need to STOP beating dead horses and living in the past! I told you yesterday, we didn’t get a Center last Summer and were NOT gonna’ get one
now! Are you retarded? I told you Centers don’t grow on trees and everybody and his Mother need one!
Meanwhile PG’s are available: I like Nash and Billups! But, with the Melo deal finally dead, Billups might not be available now. Rafer Alston I heard is in China and I guess Devin Harris could help. But Big Centers are a rare commodity and a freak of nature! Good Luck with finding one Dukester!
______________________
I really done with that topic!
ag
January 20th, 2011
2:33 pm
Mookie’s best season he averaged 17.4 He was a career 33% 3pt shooter and 40.9% fg and 13.9 ppg for his career. Josh best year 17.2 46%fg 28% 3pt. Eddie Johnson best year 19.1 ppg and 15.1 career ppg. His career fg was 47%. Doc Rivers 10.9 career ppg, best year 15.2 ppg. Funny, he got traded to the Clippers also. I guess Josh has hope. I remember many nights watching Mookie ‘brick up’ the Omni and at GT.
Rufus1
January 20th, 2011
2:45 pm
Hoopinion reporting No Al or Marvin for atleast 2 more games
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
2:47 pm
Mookie would average 25 these days with hand checking being eliminated..Josh would average 10 pts with the hand checking
The Truth
January 20th, 2011
2:48 pm
A thought for today:
There are 3 groups of NBA fans:
The group 1 fans support their teams with very low expectation of making the playoffs. These loyal fans desires are limited to winning the highest lottery pick and selecting the next dominating and future franchise player in the upcoming draft. Though they know their chances of a playoff berth are unobtainable, nonetheless, they are at peace with just supporting their team and enjoying the games.
The group 2 fans support their team with a higher expectation of making the playoff but are reluctant and apprehensive about their chances of a serious championship run. These are the most troubled but intriguing fans with perhaps the widest range of mixed emotions about the prospects of their team. The emotion could range from an outcry to sell the team or blowing-up the roster to unrealistic dreams of being amongst the elite. These dreams are often supported with claims from loyal fans of their team being the “dark-horse” favorite or the next “Cinderella” story of the playoff. Unlike the Cinderella story, however, the dream ends in disappointment which fuels a continuous frustration loop within in fan-base. These fans are the must tormented because of the illusion of a playoff run that always ends nowhere.
The group 3 fans support their team with the highest expectation of not only making the playoff with a top seed but are very bullish about their chances of winning the championship. These fans also feels the most bullish about the ownership of their team spending whatever is necessary in acquiring the cream of the crop in roster and coaching talent. Unfortunately however, because there can only be one champion, the group 3 fans that lose in the playoff are perhaps the most disappointed and most humiliated fans compared to all groups. This is because their emotional fall was the greatest relative to their bullish outlook.
So while group 1 and 2 fans no doubt envy the group 3 fans, they certainly don’t envy the playoff losers of this group. Just think, after each championship is decided, we tend to be more preoccupied with the winners and less concern with what the losers are feeling. Our only memories of the losers of the finals are likely the goats of the final. On the other hand, the big emotional price that’s paid from losing in the finals may be something equally overlooked by fans of group 1 and 2. Can they handle “The Truth”? As the world wide of sports coined it, thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 20th, 2011
2:51 pm
Harassment?
Poor little dukester has been harassed:
” DRMARYB has been harassing me saying Dalembert is lazy.”
————————
I thought we were having a constructive conversation on a blog, where I posted opinions based on research. Something, apparently you choose not to do. I told your little whiny butt, that Dalembert name kept coming up in FA last Summer as a Hawks need, I knew nothing about him, so I researched the NBS scouting reports and became informed of some very serious issues with this Dalembert guy. Here is one of a ton of articles on this guy, all you have to do is GOOGLE his name and key word Lazy! Your page will fill up with stuff like this:
_______________________________
To Be Cont’d.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 20th, 2011
3:00 pm
Mon Jun 21 2010 06:25am EDT
Dalembert on block for two years?
By Mark J. Miller
Samuel Dalembert is no longer a member of the Philadelphia 76ers now that he’s been traded to the Sacramento Kings for center Spencer Hawes and swingman Andres Nocioni.
(notes)
(notes)
(notes)
The front office in Philadelphia has got to be pretty happy about finally being able to move Dalembert. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the gang there had been trying to move Dalembert for two years, but couldn’t find the right deal for him.
“The guy did not like basketball. He showed up late, didn’t work on improving his game, and took every opportunity to stay away from the practice court,” the Inquirer opines.
Follow Yahoo! Sports on Twitter at @markjmill.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
Geemack
January 20th, 2011
3:04 pm
The only way for the Hawks to show improvement is to beat an elite team (Boston, Miami, or Orlando) in the playoff.
Would it be a successful season if the Hawks win 50+ games, yet still got put out the playoff in 7 games by an elite eastern conference team?
Jedi Falcon
January 20th, 2011
3:06 pm
The Hawks wont do anything in the Playoffs, like always. None of this even matters.
Jedi Falcon
January 20th, 2011
3:08 pm
And who the hell is “Smoove”. If you’re going to write articles and be respectable about that then use the player’s Real Names, instead of the ghetto nicknames they call each other on the team.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 20th, 2011
3:25 pm
Sammy Dalembert Is Parting Ways With Team Canada
July 17, 2008 @ 7:49 am › Chris
Screw Team USA, Team Canada is where all the action is, and where all the controversy ensues. Seems Sammy Dalembert, the Sixers super-duper center, has left Team Canada. Or was he told to leave by the coach? We report, you decide:
It is unclear whether Canadian coach Leo Rautins gave the 76ers’ starting center marching orders or whether Dalembert left on his own. But after Canada beat Korea in Athens, Greece, yesterday without Dalembert, Rautins told the media: “He’s not on the team. I’ll leave it at that.”
Rautins, who could not be reached for comment, went on to say, “Everyone who is here wants to be here and wants to be on this team.”
Whoa! Passive-aggressive much?! I half expect Rautins to come out and write a book called ‘If I threw Sammy off the team’ where he waxes poetically about how much Sammy sucks and how lazy he is and how he hates his guts. Sheesh. Who’s Canada got left? Steven Nash ain’t on the team, and Dalembert was the only NBA player left.
Gold medal time?
Dept. of Unintended Irony
January 20th, 2011
3:36 pm
“And who the hell is “Smoove”. If you’re going to write articles and be respectable about that then use the player’s Real Names, instead of the ghetto nicknames they call each other on the team.”
If you are going to come to a sports blog, and think that it should be as formal as a newspaper article then you are probably too clueless for us to teach you anything.
And if all you can do is spout code words for your racism, than I’ll have to say……..
“You are not a Jedi yet!”
Rod from College Park
January 20th, 2011
3:44 pm
Vava,
You post like you have all the answers (LOL). I’ve already proved you wrong once, and some of these statements are absurd. I’ll try to discredit most of them. You are also the guy who tries to continually bash Jamal for some crazy reason, but want to keep trying to give credit to Marvin Willliams. That alone makes you a joke in my eyes. You do realize what Jamal’s role on this team is right? It is to be instant offense off the bench. To be a Vinny Johnson type player. Nobody talks about Vinnie Johnson not being a good defender, or turning the ball over, they talk about him being an assasin of the bench. Taking all things into consideration, I would venture to say that Jamal has done over an above what we brought him here to do.
“you complain about Marvin, but what would happen if we replaced him with a me first type of guy?
would there be enough shots for everyone?”
Me first type of guys become that way based on the teams they are on. KG, Pierce, Allen, Lebron, Wade…. were all at one time me first type of guys when they were on bad teams. Many guys have the ability to adjust their games based on the talent around them. Joe is our star player, and he has obviously shown that he has the ability to adjust his game, so I’m sure he would have no problem adjusting. It would actually help him by taking the pressure and double and triple teams away. Every player that takes the most shots on his team is not a me first guy. Did you ever think about the fact that most of those guys are taking those all those shots because the coach runs plays for them to take those shots.
“isn’t our problem right now that with the emergence of Al as an offensive player we should see Josh limit his shots from outside and bang inside more?”
No. That is not our problem. Josh should not limit his shots for Al. Al is is good midrange jump shooter. He is not a dominant post player. He does not create his own shots. Most of his shots come from within the offense. He ain’t no Karl Malone. For everything Josh does for this team, he deserves to take shots when he is open, like it or not.
“SA won several championships with players who sacrificed their shots for the sake of the team.
Every team needs a utility player, a guy who contributes in different ways depending on what the team needs and the coach directs.”
No one on SA safriced shots. They played in a system. The system dictates the shots, not the players. It also helps to have a real coach who holds players accountable. Do you honestly think Pop would have allowed Marvin Williams to start for 5 years? I saw how he treated Jefferson (a much better player than Marvin) last year, and I can say with a great deal of certainty that if Marvin performed in SA, like he did in Atlanta, he might not be in the league right now. If Pop screamed at Marvin the way he did at Jefferson, Marvin might start crying.
“Bowen was that guy for SA. Marvin could become that guy for us. A good defensive player who knocks a few shots, rebounds a bit and changes his role from game to game.”
Marvin ain’t no Bruce Bowen my friend. He might have more physical tools, but you can’t buy heart, courage and desire. Those things are not for sale. Bowen would fight the Kobe’s and Reggie Miller’s of the NBA. Marvin would not. It’s that simple.
“or do you think that we would function as a team if we replaced Marvin for Granger?”
Many here and around the league say that we don’t function well as a team now. If we replaced Marvin with Granger we probably would be one of the best teams in the east. Granger is a better defender, better offensive player, rebounds at the same rate, and would keep teams from doubling Joe Johnson. No team would ever leave Danny Granger standing alone in the corner like they do Marvin. The game would be much easier for every player on our team. Let me let you in on a little secret. It’s much harder to score and shoot a high percentage from the floor, when you are the guy teams gameplan against defensively. If Granger got the same looks on this team as Marvin does, (Wide open shots, and guards checking him) ain’t no telling what he would be able to do. He also would never fall down on a fast break with Jameer Nelson and Brandon Jennings the only player between him and the rim. The biggest thing a guy like Granger would give us is a guy who is able to break hi man down off the dribble, get to the rim and finish, which no one on this team does well except Jamal.
The Truth
January 20th, 2011
3:51 pm
“You are not a Jedi yet!”
LOLROTF!!
STRETCH
January 20th, 2011
3:51 pm
The Bulls are discussing whether Anthony would give them a better chance to win an NBA title, according to a league source. They might also wait to see if Denver’s price drops closer to the Feb. 24 trade deadline and the Nuggets will accept a package of Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and first-round picks.
Arlington Heights Daily Herald
STRETCH
January 20th, 2011
3:52 pm
Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that Stojakovic is determined to return to the Western Conference and join a playoff contender once he clear waivers and becomes a free agent, with three teams at the top of his list: Dallas, New Orleans and the Los Angeles Lakers.
ESPN.com
STRETCH
January 20th, 2011
3:53 pm
The Nets have expressed interest in several of the Grizzlies’ pieces, with one source believing that the team will target Zach Randolph and O.J. Mayo. New Jersey wants to make a trade, especially involving Murphy, but they’re not going to take on long, bad contracts that limit their options in the future. The team is interested in young talent and expiring contracts that would help the team improve in the short-term and make sense financially in the long-term.
HoopsWorld
STRETCH
January 20th, 2011
3:54 pm
The Hawks……well they are going to stand pat and THIS time win ONE game in the second round before being trashed!!!
KevinM
January 20th, 2011
4:22 pm
DMB, you are on your A-game today! Reminiscing of so-so great Hawks of the past….man, that Eddie Johnson jumper always looked good to me….today’s teams wouldn’t let him on the team….he was a fav.
And I am in your camp on one comment: I wanted the Big Shamrock here as well! They had my $$ had that happened…when stubborn Sund didn’t even acknowledge interest and instead brought in Etan, talk about deflating!
And Rufus1, what you said: “There is only one “Elite” team in the East…One, not 4 or 5….ONE! BOSTON”
Nothing else needs to be said…and since that is the case, why in the name of Ken Norman are you gonna let Boston get Shaq and add him as a weapon against your fight to succeed in the playoffs! The Big Cookie is on his salad and fruit diet now and gearing up for the run in the spring for the ring! Sund gets my bonehead award…and when Shaq hits us with 13/11 again…..right now, we are 0-2 against the East Elite.
Mookie Blaylock is a top Hawk PG in history for one simple reason: He has won a couple of games in the 2nd round of the playoffs!
KevinM
January 20th, 2011
4:24 pm
Can Teague hit Boston like he did in Game 2 when Rondo is on him? THose are some nice highlights for a resume!
KevinM
January 20th, 2011
4:26 pm
Watch the highlights of Game 2 versus the Celtics on NBA.com and watch Marvin back away from any contact in the paint vs. their 3rd stringer, Erden!
Gotta do better than that sir!
drmaryb (*_*)
January 20th, 2011
4:48 pm
KevinM
Kenny Norman? OMG! No you didn’t dust his jersey off and give him some smelling salts! Dang! I forgot all about him playing here. Yeah, Eddie Johnson was a beast.
KevinM, for some reason, today’s Bigs don’t want to play traditional Center.
Everybody wants to play PF and IDK why? I guess it’s the contact and banging that’s not appealing. No more tough guys – Just pretty boys.
You remember Xavier McDaniels and Anthony Mason? Mane, them dudes was ugly and mean and scary and nasty! LOL! Those type players are all but gone now!
KevinM
January 20th, 2011
5:03 pm
The Xman? Oh yeah…and did you know that Anthony Mason Jr tried out for the Heat this year out of St.Johns? Time is a flyin’!
And Kenny Norman was here, DMB, it says 3 years…no way! It was more like 3 years with a uniform, and 3 without…..he sat way more than he played…he got credit for 216 games in 3 years as a Hawk…the best dressed Hawk on the bench night-in, night-out. He reminded me of big Doug Edwards, who took over for Norman at that bench slot as a 1st round pick in ‘93…check out his wiki: 54 games in 2 years as a Hawk..
Edwards gained his nickname “Doughboy” while playing in Vancouver as a result of his soft play on the court, and supposed infatuation with the local Tim Hortons doughnut chain. On September 10, 2008, Frank Martin announced the addition of Edwards to his coaching staff at Kansas State University. Where are they now, huh?
Mookie and EJ…good stuff.
KevinM
January 20th, 2011
5:05 pm
DMB, IMO the 2 of the toughest positions to fill are catcher and center….you get a good one, you better ante up early. Ask Orlando, who might just have some competition for D-Wight!
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
5:17 pm
““You are not a Jedi yet!”
@ Dept. Of Unintended Irony
LOL! Hey take it easy on the George Wallace Jr( Jedi Falcon). He’s just pissed off that his Idol MATTY ICE Melted down last week. Guys like him haven’t had their Jesus moment yet but its coming. It may take a lifetime but its coming just ask George Wallace who legend has it on his death bed saw the light! And had a changed heart before he transitioned over………Good for him..
ILL-Logical
January 20th, 2011
5:30 pm
While you guys are srolling down the hawk’s memory lane, how about big Antoine Carr; Cliff”Good News” Levingston;and wayne”Tree” Rollins. Now those guys could pound in the paint along with Kevin Willis.
drmaryb (*_*)
January 20th, 2011
5:33 pm
KevinM
Dang! I forgot about Doug Edwards! He had the calf issue, thinking back, I think he had “Compartment Syndrome”, some serious stuff. I was so sick of seeing him on that bench!
You remember drafting: Adam Keefe? OMG! I almost threw up! He ended up playing for Utah Jazz for like 4 years, he was only here from ‘92 to ‘93. What a wasted pick for the Hawks!
Plastic Man! Stacey Augmon from UNLV was a fantastic and smooth defender for us too. Loved him with Mookie! Best defense Hawks ever played. Smitty was underrated too, he was a nice defender with them stiff knees! He gave a ton of effort and tht pet move on the baseline with the head fake and roll to the baseline. You knew it was coming, but it froze you everytime.
Grant Long choking Duane Ferrell – OMG! A street brawl! LOL! Grant had the best pump-fake I ever saw in my life! Pump and roll to the basket, great rebounder. I wish Josh and Marvin would Pump Fake more! Those are the Fundamentals these kids don’t have anymore. It’s the little things that make a BIG difference. Doing things the right way, the first time is what my Mother always preached to my brother and me..
Oh Well!
drmaryb (*_*)
January 20th, 2011
5:39 pm
Ill-Logical!
Nice, I was trying to remember Cliff Levingston. Thanks, yeahmmthere were a ton of Kevin Perkins and Big-Baby type players who loved banging in the post.
The Post to me, is like the O and D Lines in Football. That’s where the game is won, in the trenches – imposing your will on the weaker opponent!
Winning The Damned Thing!
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
5:41 pm
Man “PLASTIC Man” could run circles around Marvin and he was not even a lottery pick if memory serves correctly. Shoot I’ll take Stacey over Marvin right now……Wow…..Hawks have a long tradition of blowing/wasting picks.. You guys remember Priest Lauderdale?? A 7′4″ giant who was supposed to make some noise someday…What ever happened to him???
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
5:43 pm
Josh and Marvin can’t even shoot a bank shot. Talk about a lost fundamental shot…
slimjr
January 20th, 2011
5:49 pm
Marvin for Danny Granger yesterday!
KevinM
January 20th, 2011
6:17 pm
slim, i remember Priest paid his own way to be at the draft and that was his 15 min of fame!
Being a big fan of Kentucky, they have a high prospect, Terrence Jones who will be Top 5 next year. I always say if he would only bank his shots in around the basket, he would have a much higher percentage.
Someone should be taking notes from Duncan you think? Watch and learn fellas. This is how its done and how you make it 15 years at the top level.
And I always said that Al is our Tim Duncan….he does the same kinds of things that Duncan provides: solid on both ends, and can cause a mismatch in the paint with his quickness…not now, but his earlier days.
ag
January 20th, 2011
6:32 pm
Plastic man reminds me a lot of Marvin also. He actually was our SF after Nique left, and we all were very disappointed. I cannot believe you all are saying how great of a shooter Mookie was. His shot was terrible. Look at the numbers I posted earlier.
Ken Strickland
January 20th, 2011
6:32 pm
The Hawks are 2gms past the half way point in the season and we still have fans complaining, whining, and making excuses for doubting the Hawks, so I asked myself why. Well, most of them are upset and holding onto personal feelings associated with trades and draft choices that weren’t make by the Hawks.
While a number of us are complaining about, and/or blaming Bibby, JJ, Smoove, Marvin, Horford, Sund, the ASG, the bench, fan attendance, our PG/C issues, and/or the the Hawks choice not to make any trades or overpay for any over the hill FA’s, I decided to take a look at what we’ve accomplished so far with what we have.
Before the season started, most Hawk fans were more than willing to believe Eastern Conference teams like the Heat, Magic, Celtics, Bucks, Bulls and Knicks had become much better than the Hawks, based on the trades and/or FA signings they made. Well, here’s how things stand now:
1-At the mid way point, the Hawks are 2nd in their division, only 2gms behind 1st place Miami. We have 2 victories and a 1gm lead over the Magic, a team that embarrassed us in a record setting 4gm playoff sweep last yr.
2-At the mid way point, the Hawks are 4th in the Eastern Conference, only a half gm behind the Bulls.
3-We are only a half gm from having the NBA’a 6th best record, and only the Spurs-36, Celtics-32, Lakers-31 and Heat-30, have more wins,
4-The Hawks have managed to accomplish all of this while playing the NBA’s 2nd most difficult schedule, while losing JJ, Horford, Marvin, Smoove, Jamal, MEvans and Teague to injuries, several at the same time.
Also, the Hawks are getting healthy and stronger, while teams like the Magic, Heat, Mavericks, Lakers and Jazz, are having problems. Despite all of the above, plus considerable improvement among a number of Eastern and Western Conference teams, the Hawks have maintained last yrs won/loss pace, and remained only a half gm back of the 3rd seed in the East.
If that makes the Hawks a sorry team, then every team not named the Spurs, Celtics, Lakers and Heat are even sorrier.
Ken Strickland
January 20th, 2011
6:36 pm
Don’t forget, Mookie’s OFF started to fall apart immediately after the 3pt line was moved.
ag
January 20th, 2011
7:19 pm
Ken, I agree with many of your points. One of the problems with this team is we cannot sell out the arena. The reason is ASG thinks we can do the same thing and expect a different result. Okay we changes coaches and added J. Powell and E. Thomas…. but the coach we hired would not even be a head coach this year if Woody’s staff would have been released. The ASG stayed away from the big name coaches.
2. Making a trade to change the team would show us they are committed to getting better. We get embarassed on National TV and we bring the SAME EXACT team back?????
3. I think we have played the weakest schedule. We have played 14 games against teams with a winning record, winning only five games. of all winning teams, only Portland did as equally as bad. Although only Boston in the East had a winning record against other teams with winning records, other teams have played more games, therefore the rest of the season will be more difficult.
4. I doubt we are getting healthier although I will give the Hawks credit, for the injuries we have had this year, we are doing well.
5. PLAY JEFF TEAGUE!!!!!!
ag
January 20th, 2011
7:31 pm
Lookinng at the Hawk history in drafting, Marvin is not looking that bad: (these are all first round picks)Roy Marble ‘89 #23: Rumeal Robinson ‘90 #10; Doug Edwards ‘93 #15; Priest Lauderdale ‘96 #28; Ed Gray ‘97 #22; Cal Bowdler ‘99 #17; DaMarr Johnson ‘00 #6; Sheldon Williams ‘06 #5; Acie Law ‘07 #11