Atlanta Hawks: Ten deep thoughts
Ten random off-day thoughts, which means my rotation is deeper than the Hawks’ . . .
- It’s dang near April and I still can’t tell you who’s in or out of L.D.’s rotation. He played seven guys last night on a back-to-back against an energetic opponent a few days after he lamented his team’s nagging injuries. Two guys who didn’t play, Teague and Damien, are healthy and energetic. They can defend, too, which the post–trade Hawks now don’t do well at all. I don’t understand why they didn’t play.
- I don’t know for certain if Teague is a bona fide NBA rotation player. But I think he’s shown enough to get a chance to prove it on this team. And I know for certain he’s one of only two point guards on this roster and the other guy is more of a combo guard. I don’t understand why Teague doesn’t have a regular role. Sorry, there’s nothing else to explain it but coach’s decision.
- I watched Smoove score on a nice right-handed spin move against the 76ers. It was so impressive. Josh is a smart player (yes, he is) when focused and engaged. He could be a load to deal with on the block for most fours if he put his mind to it. I don’t understand why he doesn’t. Or hasn’t.
- The Sixers were the latest opponent to send aggressive double teams at J.J. Opponents did the same even during his awful start to the season. And yet they sometimes seem almost OK with Al stepping out for mid range Js (at least when he’s not being ignored by his teammates). I don’t understand any of this.
- Accountability can be a tricky thing for L.D. His options are limited. His five-time All-Star and Sixth Man Ward winner are inefficient and unproductive. Drew can direct some of their shots to Al (or at least try to and good luck with that) but then who else? If Joe and Jamal continue to struggle, does he give their minutes to Damien and Teague? If Josh keeps bad shooting jumpers, does L.D. yank him and play Al alongside Zaza or Twin?
- Those last two moves would mean increasing the roles of inferior players. Then again, if Drew were to take such bold action it might finally send that elusive message of accountability to the team. And then if the team struggles because L.D. was forced to take such drastic steps, he could credibly go to Rick Sund and Co. and say: “I tried everything I could with this roster. It’s broken. Fix it.”
- All of that assumes that Sund and Co. would have L.D.’s back even if he did take such drastic action. They backed L.D. when they sent out Bibby for Hinrich. They didn’t when they gave him a two-year contract that pays relatively little. Woody had a similar problem when he had to coach this bunch in the final year of his deal. They knew he’d probably be gone before they would if things went badly and that’s how it went down.
- The Hawks’ average scoring margin for the first quarter is -0.3. It’s +0.3 for the second quarter, +1.0 for the third quarter and -1.4 for the fourth quarter. Only the third-quarter margin surprised me.
- I want to say the Nets offer the Hawks a respite from a tough schedule. But, hell, it might actually be a good chance for the Nets to win the season series.
- Will we ever get to actually see Pape Sy? At this point I want him to get in and suddenly go off for 20 just so my blog people will have some kind of hope.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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349 comments Add your comment
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
1:40 pm
drmaryb your are somethin else!!!!!!
I wish that brilliant quote ref. Marvin was mine but I can’t claim it! It was introduced to us by another brilliant blogger yesterday……Smiles………..
joey
March 25th, 2011
1:42 pm
again, joe is the problem he has the talent to torch teams but hes to passive and has no killer instinct and for those of you who think we should trade josh smith are crazy if j smith can just play like he did against philly we could be a elite team
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
1:42 pm
You had to bring up monique..Now I am going to have to take another peek at your twin?? LOL
drmaryb (*_-)
March 25th, 2011
2:02 pm
Freak Nik!
Slimjr, you are a stand up guy for not taking those props from the other blogger. That makes you more brilliant and I’m still gonna’ send you Monique Minor’s cellie#! LOL! You deserve that, know when she calls you? Don’t freeze up and go speechless with your tongue wagging and mouth wide open. Just “handle” your business.
I knew you were a little freak nasty! Looking at them pictures and all.
_______________
You my boy! Keep it coming – Dr.Slimjr!
joey
March 25th, 2011
2:11 pm
1
losingfaithnthehawks
March 25th, 2011
2:12 pm
MC…..I just can’t root for the Hawks anymore this season, the lack of passion is killing my faith in the organization. I ‘m just preparing myself for the explosion in the off season which is inevitable!
joey
March 25th, 2011
2:12 pm
1,joe is the problem he has the talent to torch teams but hes to passive and has no killer instinct and for those of you who think we should trade josh smith are crazy if j smith can just play like he did against philly we could be a elite team
JSS
March 25th, 2011
2:47 pm
Marvin is just hoping he hits the Mike Bibby jackpot instead of being exiled to Anahiem/Orange County/Minnesoa when his cord is finally cut! Better butter up LeBron now!
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
2:56 pm
ISO has lost a step or two and his decision making appears to have slowed also…
Marvin might as well kiss up King South Beach! He surely wont get a ring up in these parts…..
I saw on NBA TV yesterday that Paul Pierce and some of his teammates eat peanut and jelly sandwiches about and hour before game time along with bananas to enhance their energy reserves…
HMMMMM.. Maybe Marvin and his teammates should this at home???? LOL
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
2:57 pm
“peanut butter”
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
2:59 pm
“try this”…I should not be eating and typing at the same time….LOL
JSS
March 25th, 2011
3:22 pm
@ slimjr…
Typing is a helluva thing
Dept. of Unintended Irony
March 25th, 2011
3:47 pm
“One thing my home boy have to do is move horford 2 powerford and leave him there,”
Unfortunately, Al is a Chevy guy.
The Point Forward » Posts Court Vision: The latest around the league «
March 25th, 2011
4:00 pm
[...] Josh Smith, still inspiring these sorts of thoughts (via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s Michael Cunningham): Josh is a smart player (yes, he is) when focused and engaged. He could be a load to deal with on [...]
Rev in Tampa
March 25th, 2011
4:18 pm
Free Jeff Teague!
Keep Jamal off the point!
Fire Larry Drew!
Aquire a decent center!
Leave Marvin on the bench!
phil
March 25th, 2011
4:22 pm
Best blog of the season!! On the mark! My favorite is taking it to Josh smith. His head is often elsewhere and it’s obvious.
Again I say, don’t go to the games, don’t watch the games until there’s some effort put forth by these overpaid millionaires….
doc
March 25th, 2011
4:22 pm
rev when you turn you r evil
heh heh
honest_abe
March 25th, 2011
4:25 pm
how deep is the 3rd thought when so many people have been asking that very question for last 3 years.
TheAntiMe
March 25th, 2011
4:36 pm
Free Jeff Teague!
Keep Jamal off the point!
Fire Larry Drew!
Aquire a decent center!
Leave Marvin on the bench!
lol – You’re on a roll there, Rev, although you missed one but I got your back:
Tippecanoe and Tyler too!
Jason
March 25th, 2011
4:40 pm
I wanna see the Hawks rid themselves of Johnson, Crawford, Smith, and Williams. Maybe Chicago will take Joe off our hands as he should fit in great and they dont have a 2. Send them Joe and Marvin for Deng, Korver, and Brewer maybe? Let Crawford walk. Trade Smith for a Center. Bogut maybe?
Rev in Tampa
March 25th, 2011
4:43 pm
doc,
we need to hear something from the hawks front office. the hawks are in the national media as imploding, but we are in the dark as fans. all that there is left for us to do is form our own ideas of what is happening behind the scenes, vent our frustration, and then yell more loudly for information. since we are going to continue to be ignored nothing is left to do but vent even more.
we are not just fans of nba basketball, but fans of the atlanta hawks. in spite of how the organization treats us we will still be fans like the saints fans who paid good money to wear bags over their heads to the games all those years. so in the absence of any communication from the hawks organization our venting is naturally going to become more severe.
drmaryb (*_-)
March 25th, 2011
4:48 pm
Observation Deck!
When Joe and Jamal dominated the ball, the complaints poured in!
But they were tied with Iso-Kobe for 13th in the league points scored per game and 3rd in offensive FG%.
Now that Joe and Jamal are passing the ball to their team mates, Josh is dominating the shots per and Al is hiding from the paint, like its kryptonite and the team is 25th in league scoring.
Joe is not stupid! He is giving the people what they want and cashing his checks. He is proving a point to all the shot-callers!
Joe is saying, “fk yall!”. I’ll make more and work less, now what?
How yall like me now?” Joe hasn’t lost a step, he has taken a step back.
Did yall not hear the man, when he said,
“we are ALL jump shooters now?”
That was a tongue in cheek, back handed comment as the way I interpreted it then and now.
_________________
Here’s my point: You asked for it – You got it, TOYOTA!
JSS
March 25th, 2011
4:50 pm
honest_abe
March 25th, 2011
4:25 pm
“how deep is the 3rd thought when so many people have been asking that very question for last 3 years.”
Because Michael Cunningham was not here the year and a half earlier when it came up among regular bloggers and followers of the Hawks… That’s the great shame of it, they’ve never come close to addressing it… Not on the franchises part and Josh has just grown tone death to criticism…
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
4:51 pm
MEMO TO JOSH: SCORERS ARE BORN NOT TAUGHT! YOUR NOT!!!!!!!!!!
JeJe
March 25th, 2011
4:51 pm
I have this really weird feeling we’re gonna go after a superstar this summer, like Chris Paul. Maybe it’s just me
drmaryb (*_-)
March 25th, 2011
4:59 pm
“@ slimjr…
Typing is a helluva thing. – JSS -
_____________
I guess every time we typo, that’s like a ZaZa moving screen, a J-Smoove kami-kaze pass or in essence: a turn over?
Us typing is a turn over waiting to happen.
_________________
Rev in Tampa!
Stay in Florida Rev, Atlanta is not ready for you.
We can’t handle the truth! LOL!
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
5:01 pm
@JeJe I like that vibe!!!!!! Especially if we get a new Owner!! He knows he going to have to make an immediate impact with the fans and the organization!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its time to pursue a Championship for real in the State of Georgia.. Its 2011 not 1953..THANK GOD!
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
5:10 pm
I’d pursue DWILL, this guy is Walt Frasier 2.0 for real.. Walt is from Georgia.. Grand Dad probably knows more about Walt and his origins?????
Fyi, Walt led the Knicks to their two championships at the pt!!!!!!!!!!!!! This dude was also a defensive stopper, all NBA multiple times.Just shut people down and drop 35!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dwill is a beast and would put us right in the mix for real!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 25th, 2011
5:12 pm
“I have this really weird feeling we’re gonna go after a superstar this summer, like Chris Paul. Maybe it’s just me”
What’s with this sudden blast of positivity? You’re freaking me out, man…
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
5:13 pm
“Joe hasn’t lost a step, he has taken a step back.”
Awesome observation drb…………
200k per night..Hope he invest wisely??????????? LOL
Najeh Davenpoop
March 25th, 2011
5:24 pm
Yeah, I heard those grills really appreciate in value over time.
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
5:25 pm
I betcha we blogger’s could bring a Championship to Atlanta within 6 years..I would be head scout..Since I know talent! I could pick out a buster, ie Marvin in 8mins of play not 6 freaking years!!!!!!!!!!!! JEJE:President.Najee: GM, drmaryb: The team DR and nutritionist..Granddad and Rev: Owners..Section303 and Ms Dee head of cheer leading! LOL…………….Oh what fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
5:26 pm
Najeh sorry about the spelling Sir…
Rod from College Park
March 25th, 2011
5:36 pm
Listened to the Marvin interview, and you know what I think about Marvin. It was not as bad as was reported. He was not jocking Lebron, but stated he likes to watch him when they are not playing the Hawks. He seems to know more about movies, than basketball. In typical Hawk fashion, he answered the questions correctly, but every answer ended with wev’e just got to do better, or we have to stop taking so many jumpshots…….
I am very worried about the Hawks drafting this year? Did we get rid of our first round pick? If we did not, I’ll be willing to bet that we draft the Fredette kid from BYU. Dan Dickou re-incarnated. He fits the Hawks mold of draft picks perfectly. We all know how that will end up. The ASG will claim that they finally got their pont guard of the future. LOL
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
5:39 pm
Trade Marvin and half his family for Derrick Williams next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please help the Hawks Fans PLEASE…………………………………
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
5:42 pm
I think Sund gave away his 1st rd pick for the Heimlich Maneuver…Sigh…Najeh will confirm this…
Rod from College Park
March 25th, 2011
5:47 pm
slimjr,
I would have to join your scouting department, because I would have never let them draft Marvin Williams, Sheldon Williams, Dan Dickou, Priest Lauderdale, Adam Keefe, Josh Childress (although I liked his game, we would never draft a Stanford player), Rumeal Robinson, Doug Edwards, Cal Bowdler, or Alan Henderson. Would have never gone down on my watch. Matter of fact, I would have quit my job as a scout if Marvin Williams, Sheldon Williams, Dan Dikou or Alan Henderson was ever connected with me as a high NBA draft pick as a scout.
drmaryb (*_-)
March 25th, 2011
5:48 pm
Slimjr for President!
Nice line up! One thing is for sure, we would all START TEAGUE!
Don’t worry about typos anymore, real bloggers can read between the lines.
As long as no one blatantly misspell the word:
CONSISTENT (ahem .. Like Ms.Dee did yesterday),
I won’t have a nervous breakdown. Sorry, Ms.Dee, you did do that, I almost soiled up my pants yesterday. But, hey, you gone always be my girl.
Go Slimjr Go! Mmmmmwah!
ag
March 25th, 2011
5:50 pm
I am so interested in the now. A couple of points, we have a real good team and just a poor coach. If I were the coach I would start with Al and make him watch hours of footage of Hakeem Olajuwon. Then I would pop out the tape and run a little Alonzo Mourning. Then I would tell him to stop crying on national tv about players who are bigger than him. Olajuwon is 6″10 250, Mourning 6′10″ 240. They both dealt with bigger, stronger and better centers than Al ever did (i.e. Ewing, Jabbar, Shaq, etc)….they even dealt with Moses Malone 6′10 215!!! Today’s big man.. Dwight.
That also is for all of you who want us to get a center. Were are we going to get him from? Who was the last center who came out of college to become a impact player?
START JEFF TEAGUE
FIRE LD
Bob
March 25th, 2011
5:52 pm
The Hawks do not know what to do in the 4th quarter when the opponents defense pushes them outside the three point line. ( can’t pass or dribble).
Josh takes too many stupid shots, but his biggest problems is with turnovers.
JJ has quit trying to pass. He only passes when he can’t find his shot.
I am not sure what Marvin does except miss critical jumpers.
Horford is a horse that is not being utilized, Must be the 3rd or 4th solution on offense. I do notice that he will not stop a drive to the basket, he kind of moves aside, but will contest if the player is not driving down the middle.
Larry Drew is over his head and either can’t coach or no one listens. There is no motion offense except lack of it on defense.
The hawks need a new coach and a big defensive center. The other parts are there, just not being used properly.
Rev in Tampa
March 25th, 2011
5:58 pm
new blog up on joes missing mojo
ag
March 25th, 2011
6:03 pm
I really can go on and on. Heck, Wes Unseld 6′7″ 245 playing center!
Oh, other players Hakeem had to deal with: David Robinson, Dikembe Mutombo, robert Parrish..
I would also (read this 1000 time), coach Josh to stay in the paint. I would use positive reinforcement. “Josh, write on a sheet of paper all the players that can stop you down low.” Against these guys, take a jumper. If they are not on the list, I want you to take at least 10 shots downlow and I am going to run plays to post you up.
Marvin.. sorry dude, you will be on my bench.
JJ. Just like Dominque and Kevin Willis took turns on the block… ditto for Joe and Josh.. would sometimes run him off screens.
Hinrich- starting PG
Teague- watch Iverson and his dog. Take control of the team. Hey kid, spend the weekend with the Van Exel’s. I am sure he has some film on himself.
slimjr
March 25th, 2011
6:05 pm
@Rod
“I would have quit my job as a scout if Marvin Williams, Sheldon Williams, Dan Dikou or Alan Henderson was ever connected with me as a high NBA draft pick as a scout.”
Man that’s classic!!!!! LOL
drmaryb (*_-)
March 25th, 2011
6:26 pm
Observation Deck!
And, oh yeah! Rewind your minds to the season when Kobe was demanding a trade out of LA. He refused to keep playing with scrubs!
Do you remember? Oh yeah, that LA Blog was hollering:
ISO-KOBE sucks! Kobe ran Shaq off! He is a ball hog!
Yeah, whatever. So, Kobe did what Joe Johnson is doing now,
He totally stopped shooting all together! He started throwing up bricks or , like that one 4th Qrtr he took 0 shots and just kept passing to all the scrubs. They lost several games, Jerry Buss went and got
Pau Gasol, Kobe started shooting again and, now 3 rings later?
It’s a wrap!
_______________
Here’s my point: in the 4th qrtr and the game on the line, from this roster, who do you want to take them shots? You can only pick one!
___________
Al Horford
Joe Johnson
Jamal Crawford
Josh Smith
Kirk Hinrich
And, oh yeah, I’m talking taking over the game ISO-STYLE!
Your answer will determine: Who’s team this is – anyway?
JSS
March 25th, 2011
6:30 pm
@ Rod…
Not to have DrMaryB looking over her shoulder for the blogger whose name will never be spoken; you wouldn’t have taken Brook Lopez?
JSS
March 25th, 2011
6:35 pm
drmaryb (*_-)
March 25th, 2011
4:59 pm
“I guess every time we typo, that’s like a ZaZa moving screen, a J-Smoove kami-kaze pass or in essence: a turn over? Us typing is a turn over waiting to happen.”
But we’re so understanding because most of us have basic reading comprehension skills! It is not an evil empire like the Falcons blog… That place is a therapist gold mine!!!
D1GGS
March 25th, 2011
6:46 pm
The hawks first mistake was resigning Joe Johnson. The second was not bringing in a Doug Collins or Jeff Van Gundy.
Mike
March 25th, 2011
8:01 pm
U can fire the dog catcher if u want, it aint the coach dudes…, . The winning philosphy starts at the top with a Daddy Warbucks type of owner who kicks ass and takes names later. Even Stern said he would never allow an ownership like Atlantas again. U realize our ownership rivals the Clippers as being the most pathetic. And I Still would swap their team for ours in a heartbeat. Sad.
Hawks fans: What’s your ten game wish list? | Atlanta Hawks: Fan Nest
March 26th, 2011
3:11 am
[...] to be the future leader of this team, mostly ends up point out the painfully obvious, although he certainly has a point. The problem is, Al doesn’t respond by reverting to the rugged ways of his first two or three [...]