Atlanta Hawks: Larry Drew says lineup change, trades may be needed to disrupt team’s ‘comfort zone’
Larry Drew looking to upset team's 'comfort zone' (UPI Photo)
In the immediate aftermath of another home beatdown, L.D. sounded the alarm about the Hawks and said changes to his starting lineup may be in order.
But after sleeping on it, watching the game video and holding a team meeting this morning. . . well, L.D. basically turned up the volume on the alarm. He said he’s still looking at changing the starting lineup and added that a trade might be necessary before the Feb. 24 deadline to shake up the status-quo.
It seems that team meeting didn’t go as Drew had hoped. He said he asked every player and coach why the Hawks seem to play with more urgency on the road. There were a variety of answers, Drew said, but he concluded the Hawks too often fall into a “comfort zone . . . a safe zone” at Philips.
So Drew has that in mind as he looks at possibly changing up his starters.
“Just to give us a jolt,” he said. “Just to get us out of a comfort zone. We are 50-plus games into the season and I think at this stage we need something to give us a jolt, to wake us up. We have, in my opinion, fallen into a bit of a comfort zone with everything. It may be time to do something just to rattle the cage a little bit. ”
L.D. said he hasn’t made up on his mind about changing the lineup and didn’t get into any specifics about what they might be. He said it’s possible he could experiment with different lineups in practice over the next couple days.
Drew didn’t sound like a coach who was simply ticked at his team for a bad loss. Rather, he sounded like a coach who has come to realize that sending out the same players in the same roles is good enough to be on pace for 52 Ws but isn’t going to lead to a much better ending for the Hawks than last spring.
“I am not one to react on emotions but I have had this feeling for a little while,” L.D. said. “I have been in situations where it has been like this, where a team has had to do something just to shake the cage a little bit. It’s something I’ve been thinking about. Will I do it? I have a couple days to practice and make a decision.”
L.D. already has shown a willingness to be flexible with his lineup, sending out six different groups of starters when all of the candidates have been healthy. But if the right mix of players just isn’t on this roster, then it’s out of Drew’s hands and in the wheelhouse of Hawks GM Rick Sund, who has said he’s always looking to improve the team but isn’t interested in “lateral moves.”
The Hawks are a good team so a blockbuster deal isn’t necessarily in order. But Drew acknowledged there have been internal discussions about how to shore up the team’s weaknesses through the trade market.
“With the trade deadline coming up, there is always discussion about possible trades, personnel changing,” he said. “There is always that dialogue going on about looking to improve the team. ‘Would this be a good fit? Would that be a good fit?’ There is always that possibility. Certainly at this stage we have to continue to explore those possibilities.
“I don’t think at this stage . . . at least I don’t feel comfortable, totally comfortable with where we are after 52 games. We have had some bad losses here at home. That may be a sign, I don’t know. I never want to throw out the possibility of making our team better.”
Atlanta’s weaknesses have been pretty obvious for most of the season. The Hawks struggle with defending dribble penetration, defending in transition, rebounding, and scoring consistently in the post or at the rim when they aren’t making their favored jump shots. The Sixers, hardly contenders, exposed them all last night by competently executing a sound game plan, and certainly the East contenders are capable of doing the same no matter how much energy and effort the current Hawks regulars might generate.
It’s getting late in the season for the Hawks to still be trying to shore up their issues. So it’s understandable that Drew might be feeling that the only way to change things is by drastically altering the way he uses his players or through acquiring different players.
“At the end of the day, regardless of what happens [with trades], we still are going to have to go out there and improve our club,” he said. “After last night’s loss, I do believe we do have to look at our situation very seriously and possibly look at a lineup change, possibly doing something that will jolt this team. Because I don’t want this team to get into a comfort zone. The minute we get into a comfort zone, what happened last night, that is the end result.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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460 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
February 9th, 2011
10:23 pm
This blog has gone crazy today. The Hawks come off a horrible loss in which Smoove and Marvin are the only ones who even halfway showed up while Joe/Bibby/Jamal took the entire night off, and 75% of the people posting here want Smoove out. No rhyme or reason to the reasons behind it either; just some nebulous, unsupported nonsense about him whining to the refs or “being a loser”. Whatever.
The U
February 9th, 2011
10:29 pm
Classic Hawk,u blab about being professional, the last time I looked the the sixers are a professional basketball team. On any given night anybody in the league can win or loose. Even the lowly cleavland team is capable of winning some games.
Ramon
February 9th, 2011
10:29 pm
Najeh, the crazy part about Smoove ‘whining’ is he’s not in the league top players for technical fouls.
ClassicHawks
February 9th, 2011
10:29 pm
Josh is on the verge to being championship player. But he is not untouchable and if we could get Carmelo (which would never happen) I would trade josh before I trade AL or Joe For That Matter. Josh as really matured and could be great if He could keep working on that jump shot and plays the 3 exclusively. He could be a matchup nightmare if he just gets a little more consistent on the offensive end, shot selection wise and a more consistent jump shot. Josh is close, but AL and Joe Are There!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 9th, 2011
10:30 pm
Here you go.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=4fggwwl
The Hawks and Pistons each send the Suns a first round pick. The Pistons’ first rounder is the tax for taking Hamilton’s contract off their hands.
Or you can go really crazy and throw a couple of draft picks at the Nuggets in this one too.
ClassicHawks
February 9th, 2011
10:31 pm
Mike Bibby is about to go to the bench, because he can’t defend anymore. Teague ain’t ready, so look for jamal starting at the point. MARK IT DOWN!
Ramon
February 9th, 2011
10:35 pm
If Saturday comes, and there are no changes to the starting line up, then you have to stop trusting ANYTHING that LD says.
northcyde
February 9th, 2011
10:37 pm
Section 303 . . . the reality is that the Hawks ( before last night’s beatdown ) were 12 – 4 in their last 16 games. But we fans have a “what have you done for us lately” sort of attitude toward them.
So when they get the hell beat out of them, like they did last night, that’s what we react to . . not the fact that they’re 12 – 5 in their last 17 games.
I think that’s why there’s no real sense of urgency with the Hawks, because they ARE playing well overall. It’s just these lapses that come up every now and then, that makes them look a lot worse than what they really are.
Most of this is stemming from Bibby’s January, now into February decline, and the anxiety that people are feeling about the PG position. Either Bibby needs to get back on track, Teague needs to really step up, or Sund has to trade for a competent PG to run the team.
If neither of those 3 things happen, it’s going to be up to JJ, Josh, and Al to carry this team fully. And it’ll be hard to win when one of those guys are out.
Right now, the objective has to be to keep both Orlando and Chicago within our sights. But even with that, a Melo trade to the Knicks changes EVERYTHING. Because at that point, even the Knicks become a VERY DANGEROUS 6th seed in the East that no one may not want to play.
The bottom line for this team, is that they need to secure that #3 or #4 seed, now that it seems as if Miami is pulling away from us ( despite us playing well over the long haul ). So it’s pretty much 3rd seed or 4th seed.
If we drop to the 5 seed, that’s playing with a nuclear bomb. Can’t expect this team to win a playoff series with Orlando, if they have home court advantage.
Melvin
February 9th, 2011
10:39 pm
I’m willing to keep this core together a little while longer if we could get Kirk Hinrich…
Bibby/Mo/Etan/1st round for Hinrich… Salaries near equal and the Wiz get an 1st round pick for a guy who is not in their future plans…
Tweets that mention Atlanta Hawks: Larry Drew says lineup change, trades may be needed to disrupt team’s ‘comfort zone’ | Atlanta Hawks -- Topsy.com
February 9th, 2011
10:39 pm
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ClassicHawks
February 9th, 2011
10:40 pm
The Atlanta Fans Are “In A Comfort Zone”, and have been my whole life!! Thats why we don’t win championships! Joe was right, who cares what these fair weather fans think! Cuz we know management sucks and don’t ever call for there heads, just satified with being mediocre or above average at best! What about being excellent, which all LD is looking for! I have to admit I was totally wrong about LD, he has what it takes to be a championship coach. He is the only bright spot I see with this Atlanta Hawks Organization. But they will probably find a way to throw him away as well!
northcyde
February 9th, 2011
10:44 pm
Nice trad Najeh . . . but the ASG’s issue is always going to be those multiple year contracts. They’re not going to pay the Luxury Tax. That’s the dilemma with trading Jamal for a quality guy that still has multiple years on his deal.
The salary cap and luxury tax ( if we have one ), would be lower I assume. Trading for those two players would put us over 70 million, until some relief would come in 2012 – 13 with the expiring deals of Bibby and Zaza.
I just can’t see a scenario in which the ASG pulls a trigger on a trade, unless they know that they can stay under the Luxury Tax. Maybe they would do a Nash for Jamal straight up, then only roll with 13 players next year to reduce costs as much as possible.
I just see the ASG trying to trade Jamal for another expiring player. And the only ones in his tax bracket that I can think of, are Dalembert, Troy Murphy, and Eddy Curry. They can’t even do a 2 for 1, unless they cut somebody and eat the cost.
I say that Sund does nothing. Drew will have to become Mr Wizard, and find the best lineup that will get him the results he looks for on a nightly basis. Hard to do with that personnel group though.
Mo truth
February 9th, 2011
10:46 pm
truth (and maybe Mo in a package because of his expiring contract).LOL!
Good one.
Bye Horford go keep some other team defenseless in the paint. I like you but hey, Josh is a better player than you so Ill hollar.
Hawks wlll never win a title with horford at center or power forward. Hes is too weak a defender.
Owl
February 9th, 2011
10:54 pm
Josh Smith is the Micheal Vick of basketball.Very Talented and exciting player to watch but doesn’t study the game and lack game decisions.But if he ever gets the right players and coach around him like mike vick did and study the game like mike does now,he is going to be a force to be reckin with
SAS
February 9th, 2011
11:11 pm
Wow,so many comments,i hope ASG see that fans are tired of this.We have no chance in the playoffs with the current roster.We love this team,give us hope ASG.Make a trade…
Ramon
February 9th, 2011
11:16 pm
Owl, you realize LD has contradicted your post right? Josh was the first to pick up the offense, and for most of the season has been the only one who knows where everyone is supposed to be on the court at any given time. That explains why majority of his turnovers come from passes where teammates are suppose to be or should expect the pass but fumbles the basketball. Josh takes his own money and hires the best trainers in the LEAGUE to work with him on his game. In the last 4-5 seasons, no one on this roster has improved more annually than Josh has. So to say he doesn’t study the game is grossly false. And to say he lack game decision skills is falsely wrong as well when you consider he’s the team best defender, and from the PF position he’s the 2nd best assist guy on the team.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 9th, 2011
11:29 pm
“But we fans have a “what have you done for us lately” sort of attitude toward them.”
I think we have more of a “we know this ain’t gonna last” attitude toward them. This team has been two small steps forward, one huge step back for the last three years now.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 9th, 2011
11:36 pm
“Josh Smith is the Micheal Vick of basketball.Very Talented and exciting player to watch but doesn’t study the game and lack game decisions.But if he ever gets the right players and coach around him like mike vick did and study the game like mike does now,he is going to be a force to be reckin with”
Josh Smith is nowhere near as talented as Vick. Vick is a top 5, franchise-type player in the NFL. Even if Smoove puts it all together, he is not a top 5 (or even a top 15 or 20) player in the NBA. I really think part of the problem with fans and Smoove is expectations. People see him dunking and passing like LeBron and assume he should be able to do everything else like LeBron if he tries. Smoove is what he is — an elite complementary player who isn’t quite good enough to carry a team.
Smoove came into this league with a horrible jump shot, a nonexistent post up game, and pathetic handles. He now has a decent jump shot, a decent post game, and pathetic handles. It’s reasonable to believe he can improve his handles to the point where he can drive to the basket the way people think he should now. It’s not nearly as likely that he will improve his jump shot, post game, and handles to a level that will make him an elite player.
The one thing both players have in common is that they get an unfairly large proportion of the blame from Atlanta fans when their teams lose, despite the fact that they contribute a lot more positively to the team than negatively. Hopefully Smoove’s story won’t turn out like Vick’s where he will realize his full potential elsewhere.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 9th, 2011
11:38 pm
“Nice trad Najeh . . . but the ASG’s issue is always going to be those multiple year contracts. They’re not going to pay the Luxury Tax. That’s the dilemma with trading Jamal for a quality guy that still has multiple years on his deal.”
They say they will go over the luxury tax for “the right players”. Both of those trades significantly upgrade the talent level of the team to the point where they would be hard pressed to find players who are more “right” than them. Time for them to put their money where their mouths are or shut the f-ck up. I agree with you, though… I’ll believe the Hawks will make a trade when I see it happen.
BDHC2012
February 9th, 2011
11:39 pm
Dear ASG,
Metropolis Isn’t so Magical anymore. Please make space so Clark can come back to Smallville in 2012.
A Message from the Bring Dwight Home Campaign
cp
February 10th, 2011
12:02 am
Have the people who keep screaming for Thabeet seen him play? There is a reason Memphis has tired to get rid of him for 2 straight years now. Its rare that a team gives up on a young 7 footer but even Memphis knows they blew that pick. Dude doesn’t really like basketball he just happened to be really tall. He was overrated in college and sucks in the NBA. He might block a shot here and there but he is not a good basketball player. Dude is stiff and mechanical and doesn’t seem to care. Thabeet is terrible.
cp
February 10th, 2011
12:05 am
I would rather see Sean Williams get a shot here than to trade for Thabeet
slimjr
February 10th, 2011
12:10 am
“f we drop to the 5 seed, that’s playing with a nuclear bomb. Can’t expect this team to win a playoff series with Orlando, if they have home court advantage.”
@northcyde
If we drop? How bout when they drop after they start this 7 game circus on the road next week..Then come home for 4 straight tough home games. They might slip to the 6th seed? Very weak bench will come back to haunt the Hawks later……
Najeh Davenpoop
February 10th, 2011
12:22 am
“If we drop to the 5 seed, that’s playing with a nuclear bomb. Can’t expect this team to win a playoff series with Orlando, if they have home court advantage.”
Honestly, the way they have played at home vs. on the road this year, I don’t know if it makes a huge difference. The home/road records say they have only been slightly better at home than on the road, but I actually think they have been slightly worse at home overall, between their blowout losses and their narrow victories over teams they should be beating much more handily. I don’t think this year is like previous years where they were a totally different team at home.
SteveW
February 10th, 2011
12:25 am
Trade: Mo’, Bibby and (gulp) Josh to the Suns for Nash and Gortat.
I think we then become an elite, deep team that can contend.
Nash buys Teague a couple more years to develop.
Gortat/ZaZa allow Horford a full time move to PF
And the Suns get an expiring (Mo’), a backup for Dragic, and a dynamic transition player in Smoove, who is the key to this deal for them.
The salaries match up for ASG….
SteveW
February 10th, 2011
12:28 am
I wonder if Teague plays like crazy in practice the next two days, if he’s the starting PG Saturday?
BosnianBaller
February 10th, 2011
12:42 am
GET CHRIS KAMAN!!!!!!!!!!!
Air Zaza
February 10th, 2011
12:44 am
@cp, have you watched Thabeet. Most people in Atlanta want to get rid of Marvin when he’s productive on a reasonable contract. Why? Because we could him 2nd ahead of CP3 and Deron. They want Marvin to be a superstar or trade him because they can’t get over it. Most fans in Memphis bring up Tyreke Evans a lot, why? Because they could have had him instead which would replace Mayo in their minds. Thabeet is raw, we know that. At the same time our centers are either awful or lack starting potential. At least Thabeet is tall, long, athletic, and has defensive potential.
DirtyBirdsin11
February 10th, 2011
12:47 am
If there is a trade made, I hope it involves Joe Johnson. I think Joe is a very good player, but I don’t think that he is a championship leader, and he is paid like he’s Kobe or DWade. If the Hawks can get Chris Paul and a C or SG or a 1st round pick for Joe, I think the move has to be made. I think Horford is the least likely to be traded, and I would hate to see Smith traded and his full potential realized elsewhere. It would be like Pau Gasol or Boris Diaw times 10.
Grandad
February 10th, 2011
12:50 am
SteveW
Gortat cannot be used in a trade with another player.
lewis
February 10th, 2011
12:55 am
LD’s job is secure, remember, ASG has invested 2 years 2 mill into him.
SteveW
February 10th, 2011
1:03 am
Grandad – Well, shot that idea – and the Suns probably wouldn’t part with that Lopez kid. I’m not sure he’s what we’re looking for anyway.
SteveW
February 10th, 2011
1:05 am
Grandad – I just looked it up. I think Gortat can be traded after Feb. 18th.
Grandad
February 10th, 2011
1:13 am
I’m one of those suggesting “trading Josh”.
Not for reasons you may think.
(1) Josh is our most tradeable asset + would bring the most return.
(2) If LD wants to send a message…then…message sent!
*everyone else would have to figure;
“if they traded Josh, they would surely trade me”.
(3) It unlocks our conundrum at the [4] position.
No longer would we have duplicate talent.
(4) We would surely get a piece that fits (for Josh) [a pg or a Big].
*Thus balancing our roster.
**editors note / I like Josh! -But- this must be done.
***Also we must rid ourselves (systematically) of “losers”;
and, inturn fill the roster with players who have pride in their work…..
AND they produce. Players with a history of production.
Such as:
Kevin Martin – scorer + gets to the line
Zach Randolph – rebounds
Shane Battier – defends & leads
JaVale McGhee – blocks shots
Steve Nash – assists
Stephen Curry – can shoot (3 pt %)
These players are players who are producing!!!!!
Not Potential, Not Marvin, Producing!!!!!
Day in, Day out – they produce!!!!!
Yes…I’m still mad!
Miles D
February 10th, 2011
1:33 am
Well I say “ITS ABOUT DAMN TIME”!! Like I said before this team should be built around Al Horford. The play he made the other night after being hurt signifies and validates everything that we want and need out of an Atlanta Hawk! Not JJ nor “Smoove” would’ve mad that play! Too many times we get excited about the potential of guys despite of knowing who they really are! And to tell the truth..we have so many fakes on our roster it pitiful! Only guys I have seen willing to fight are Al, JJ, Mo, JC2, and Collins! The rest of the guys are not really b-ball players! But just trading guys away isn’t the ONLY answer if we don’t trade for the RIGHT kind of guys! Strong veteran leadership is what we need to go along with all this youth! NOBODY on this team has had to earn ANYTHING HERE! JJ knows how to work but is not a charismatic leader. Al Horford IS the one!!! Can’t believe coach made “Smoove” a team captain and not Al! WE JUST NEED A LEADER TO SHOW GUYS HOW ITS DONE AND WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM TO GET IT DONE AND AS I SAID WE NEED TO DO THIS AND THATS TRADE : Marv and Za to HOU for Battier and Miller, Jam.Crawford to PHX for Nash or either Josh and Teague to PHX, and finally either keep Bibby the rest of the season and then release him or trade him to Golden State for Gadzuric! LET’S NOT FANCY IT!!! LET’S LOBBY FOR IT!!!! That trade gives us exactly what we need to compete and excel and leaves us with enough youth! And if we don’t trade “Smoove” we can always use him for trade bait!!!
Shake Something
February 10th, 2011
1:52 am
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=6dfq6hl
Send Memphis a Second Rnd Pick(or if need be 1st)
Play Mayo at PG(Didnt he run the point at USC?!?!,Casspi at SF(Can light it up from 3 Range), and Gasol at Center(Common Sense)
Lineup:
1-Mayo
2-JJ
3-Casspi
4-Horford
5-Gasol
Bench:Bibby,JC1,Marvin Williams,Josh, Horford spells Gasol,with Powell giving Horford a breather till Gasol is ready to come back in..
Those starters with that bench can make some noise in the LEAGUE, and even gives that rattling LD talking about by making some moves in the roster and shifting starters to the bench which works out for this team,and all in all, you keep your core players and gain future ones, which can lead to letting Jamal go and resigning the new talent
Guido
February 10th, 2011
2:43 am
Trade Marvin for Tayshaun Prince
Roundfield on Roundball
February 10th, 2011
5:39 am
Amen Big C. There’s a reason why the Hawks are rarely seen on TBS or ESPN. They are a boring no-star fraud of a 50 win team. Marvin Williams – I loved Snapper Jones comment: He walks like an 80 year old man.
allofus
February 10th, 2011
5:56 am
Please, any n ews about Sean Williams?
Section 303
February 10th, 2011
6:16 am
northcyde, I don’t agree. This is a little more than “what have you done for me lately”. I think we learned from last year. All the red flags are there for another noshow effort in the playoffs. Getting beat by 30+ at home 3-4 times is a signal that something needs to be changed.
Also, it would be nice to see the Hawks have a sense of vision. Don’t wait until they are cleaning out their lockers in April (May, if we’re lucky) and realize a move should have been made. They need to act now.
Coach Drew is right on. The team just needs a shake-up. We have players that think they can turn it on and off at will and everything will be OK. Well, they can’t do that. They aren’t the Lakers. More urgency is needed by that whole organization.
Ray Charles could see that their needs to be changes with the Hawks.
Nahila
February 10th, 2011
6:57 am
The Hawks have 4 really good players and will lose one of them soon. On a 12 man roster, you cannot win without at least 8 really good rotation players. The Hawks are winning not because they are good but because there are so many bad teams in the NBA right now and they are not going to get better as teams like Miami, Boston, Dallas, LA Lakers, NY Knicks, Chicago Bulls are all stockpiling the veterans and all are trying to win a NBA Championship. When 4 players on the Hawks get paid 70% or more of the money, it leaves little else left to pay the other 8 although by normal salary standards in the real job world, those 8 have very high salaries. The world of big time professional football and basketball may soon shrink leaving only the very large markets that can afford to support teams. If the above named teams continue to dominate their conferences, the harder it will become for losing teams to compete because a community will not support a losing team for very long and if the TV network money starts to dry up, it will be just a matter of time that these leagues start drying up like a prune. The NBA needs to get this message across and try to restore some balance even if it means that losing record teams get 2 first round draft picks in lieu of 1 if they have losing records. The NFL has more parity and teams who are down one season tend to rebound if they can acquire a few key players in off season.
EmirS.
February 10th, 2011
6:57 am
Nash does not make you elite. Nash gives you a better chance at going deeper in the playoffs. Nash alone wont help you win. In order to get Nash or any other legitamate (hope I spelled that right) point guard and/or center, you’d most likely have to give up Jamal. Giving up Jamal weakens your bench play “even” more. As we are currently constructed, we have 6 players who can play basketball. Bibby, Johnson, Williams, Smith, Horford, and Jamal Crawford. We have no other presence at all. Regardless if we were to land Nash or Gortat or “Melo or Brooks or Rip, etc, etc, etc, we will still be lacking a deep bench. You can give up Jamal for Nash and have Bibby come off the bench BUT…you still have 6 players who can play basketball. The way I see it, no matter who we acquire, our chances of making it to the ECF’s are zero to none. Mainly becuase our bench is made up of one person.
Now once again heres my scenario. And it starts with a right mindset from the owners and the GM. We blow up this team and rebuild around Horford. Everyones on the trading block.
Get back to me on that one. Im late for work.
{MAC-Town Georgia 478}
February 10th, 2011
7:20 am
Marvin Williams = Grady from Sanford and Son
Section 303
February 10th, 2011
7:39 am
Nahila, I think you’re off on that. The NBA is pretty strong right now. There are a lot of good teams. Some even have losing records right now. Watch the league every night. Tons of good games.
Your take sounds like you are just spitting back what ESPN told you to say. If you watch the games, you see there are plenty of tough teams out there.
O'Brien
February 10th, 2011
7:44 am
northcyde,
I think not signing Shaq was a big miss by the ASG. And I think they could have gotten Shaq WITHOUT giving up Marvin if they were willing to go into luxury tax. We could have given Shaq the full Mid-Level (~$5.6 mil).
There were reports about him wanting to start if he signed with the Hawks, and some fans were irate about his demands (I was skeptical too). But yet LD is willing to start Collins some games, so clearly, we could have promised Shaq some starts and consistent PT.
Josh said Shaq would be a great addition, Al said we needed help in the post. But Collins and Etan is our help? So now when Al is out, we are stuck with ZaZa/Collins/Etan.
And signing Shaq would have weakened Boston.
But I think the issues were 1) money and 2) Rick/LD was afraid Shaq would rock the boat.
I also think one of the reasons why they hired LD is because he would not rock the boat
I also suggested signing TMac and trading Jamal. But I disagree on Iverson (no defense, needs the ball). What we needed was a PG like Keyon Dooling (who signed with the Bucks for the Bi-Annual exception, which the Hawks also have).
Rev in Tampa
February 10th, 2011
7:49 am
Grandad,
You sound like me after the Boston & NJ losses earlier in the season when northcyde welcomed me to the darkside. lol.
This meltdown began in the off-season when the Hawks management settled for filler rather than trying to build a team to contend.
O'Brien
February 10th, 2011
7:51 am
It was not a bad pick,
Marvin gets bashed because he is one of the biggest SF in the league size wise (second only to LeBron maybe). Dude is 6’9”, 240 lbs, and 7’2” wing span. But yet he has difficulty getting his shot off over smaller guys (Kirk Hinrich, Luke Ridnor etc have spent time guarding him).
Marvin gets bashed because there have been times when JJ gets doubled, and he passes to Marvin for an open shot, only to watch Marvin shoot a brick.
Marvin gets bashed because he stumbles and fumbles the ball too often.
And Marvin gets bashed because he has been very inconsistent for his career. His defense is fine, and he seems to be playing better this year, so hopefully he can keep it up.
hawks_4_life
February 10th, 2011
7:54 am
Get Nene….enough said
O'Brien
February 10th, 2011
7:56 am
As for LD and his lineup shuffling, trades etc., I will be very surprised to see Rick Sund make a trade. I can hear it now. “We made all the exploratory phone calls, but we didn’t find a deal we liked” or “We didn’t find a deal that would give us bang for our buck.”
And I will be surprised to see LD do any lineup changes. I agree with AJ in that what we will probably see is less minutes for our starters when they are stinking up the joint, and more minutes for bench guys like Teague and Wilkins, and maybe even Twin (ZaZa sucks).
That being said, I think the Hawks come out and beat Charlotte, and it will look things are fine…until the next blowout loss or letdown.
doc
February 10th, 2011
8:09 am
o b the point it would have made the celts weaker is one i have used about aquiring shaq during the debacle we watched unfold. in situations like this when management wants to compete it is very valid to make moves just like that. some will point to the matt barnes deal in l a as one thst was made as much to hurt orlando as help l a as potentially they were a finalist contender to maybe end up in the finals with l a. good points all as usual.