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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
227 comments Add your comment
O'Brien
May 9th, 2011
12:20 pm
Rod,
If good Josh showed up more consistently, he might have been an All-Star already. Although some of his shots are forced (like when JJ and others pass it to him with the clock winding down), alot of his bad shots are his choice. The opposing team leaves him open, so he takes it.
However, its sad that a second year PG who played sparingly his first 2 years, is having the series he is while Marvin and Al were as invisible as they were.
If teague keeps this up, he might force Marvin further down the depth chart on offense (to the #6 option, behind JJ, Jamal, Josh, Al, Teague and Hinrich).
Where you at, it was not a bad pick?
O'Brien
May 9th, 2011
12:22 pm
I was shocked to see the Lakers lose the game and their cool the way they did. But give credit where credit is due.
The reason they behaved the way they did is because they don’t have the locker room presence of Josh Powell
KevinM
May 9th, 2011
12:24 pm
Slim, Jeje….
The rep Marvin has with us…he has earned!! Its not hate as much as it is predicting when to expect some kind of significant contribution.
I usually see him give us something every 7-9 days, so I expect him to be ready for Game 6, no matter what happens in CHI.
I guess something is better than nothing, and right now we are closer to nothing than something. And I wonder if Damien is just holding his own in practice against him….
Marvin at 6′9″ has to bring more than he does, but he plays below the rim too often.
Slimjr
May 9th, 2011
12:25 pm
Marvin= virtual 5′7″
niremetal
May 9th, 2011
12:26 pm
Rev,
That was a great article on ESPN. EXCELLENT article. I gotta say though, that this is frustrating to see after a game like last night:
“When people who don’t understand the game or know the game [criticize me], it really doesn’t faze me,” Smoove responded when Smith was asked how he handles the terse reaction from fans to his struggles on the court.
Ok. What about criticism from your teammates, coaches, commentators, and basketball luminaries? Do Hubie Brown, Mike Fratello, Jack Ramsay, Kenny Smith, Jeff Van Gundy, and probably the ghosts of Chuck Daly and Red Auerbach all not understand the game? It’s worrying to see these types of quotes after a game like last night, where Josh went 1-6 on long jumpers but DOMINATED in the paint, because Josh still seems to think that he needs to prove the doubters about his perimeter game wrong rather than simply rendering their doubts irrelevant.
Josh’s focus needs to be on dominating with his strengths, not on trying to prove that he has no weaknesses. So yeah, Josh needs to give Smoove a blindfold and a cigarette and let Smith take over his body full time.
Slimjr
May 9th, 2011
12:28 pm
I hear ya KevinM..We should have taken Devin Harris if JeJe was correct that the Nets offered for Marvina….
JanisButler
May 9th, 2011
12:29 pm
Now that we have JOHNSON, TEAGUE, HORFORD, CRAWFORD AND SMITH GOING WELL, the next sleeping giant that we have to wake up is the incomporable MARVIN WILLIAMS. Most fans believe that Marvin is a no-talent bum and is a hopeless case of pathetic excuse for the NBA player. I will never forget Marvin saving the Hawks in game 6 of the Orlando series helping us close out a monster of a team that Dwight Howard is a leader of. I STILL CANT GET THAT GAME OUT OF MY MIND. MARVIN HIT A FEW TOWERING 3-POINTERS THAT REMINDED ME OF PISTOL PETE MARAVICH. Without those clutch baskets the Hawks would not have advanced past Orlando. So far in my mind, MARVIN HAS BEEN THE HAWKS MVP OF THIS SEASON BECAUSE MARVIN SAVED THE HAWKS FROM CONTINUING TO BE THE LAUGHINGSTOCK OF THE NBA.
O'Brien
May 9th, 2011
12:31 pm
*force Marvin to be the 7th option.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 9th, 2011
12:46 pm
The entire time I was reading that Michael Wallace article I was thinking doc must have ghostwritten it.
Booo!
May 9th, 2011
12:47 pm
The only problem with that article is that J-Smooove IS THE GOOOD JOSH SMITH
Josh SMITH is the LAZY bum we don’t want.
Wallace took a nickname that wads given to Josh by the fans and totally flushed it down the toilet!
When Josh is Dunking, Blocking, shots and making preat passes you hear J-SMOOOVE!
When Josh is chucking jumpers you hear NOOOOOOO Josh!!! Nooooo!
Wallace is an idiot who needs to get his facts straight! That was probably the first Hawks game that clown has EVER wathced in this life!
What gives that clown the right to tarnish the name we fans have given him for his good play?
Smith was on ESPN First Take this morning and he said Quote “I played like J-Smoove last night”
End of discussion
Wallcace should be FIRED!
Booo!
May 9th, 2011
12:48 pm
I was so angry I ignored my typos Smh….
doc
May 9th, 2011
12:49 pm
nire, that is a perfect assessment of what the image is of that moniker , back alley sh!t. get me a man out there that wants to ball like j smash dammit.
slim jr. yeah, but not here. heh heh
mike is back, i have not been riding on collins for a while now. he plays up to his ability better than any player on the team. it doesnt mean we dont need another legit big which i have been screaming for and was more my point rather than a personal attack on him. other good teams have four bigs and two legit points why not us for years? last year, i thought he was underplayed and it was unfair when he was put in especially against the magic. he has contributed this year because he was in shape and got some p,t and maybe not enough. look between boozer, gibson. noah and the other big they were eating our lunch. neither josh nor al match up to them alone because one is too big to move and just pushes josh around in boozer (two butt bumps on josh and he has travelled 6 ft and into the lane and ,delivered it into the basket) and noah’s is a 7 ft energizer bunny that is strong below the waist and with long arms and doesnt give up with his quickness. as neither al and josh nor any other hawk doesnt box out ever, that is a very bad combination. if collins and zaza dont see more of the court we are done.
i did like the scramble defense and wonder why it wasnt used earlier like about game,, uh one? or certainly once bibby was gone. geez what a liability he was to this team.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 9th, 2011
12:50 pm
“MARVIN HAS BEEN THE HAWKS MVP OF THIS SEASON BECAUSE MARVIN SAVED THE HAWKS FROM CONTINUING TO BE THE LAUGHINGSTOCK OF THE NBA.”
Hahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahaha
At least we now know that Marvin’s granny’s name is Janis Butler.
mykhalc
May 9th, 2011
12:51 pm
to follow niremetal’s point, after enjoyin’ Josh’s performance and the team’s performance last nite, just listenin’ to his post game and First Take interview this morning, all i can say is the Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde has gone NOWHERE!!! he is who he is…
honest_abe
May 9th, 2011
12:54 pm
amen brother doc. amen.
doc
May 9th, 2011
12:57 pm
no, sm**ve is the cool show boater, alter ego. sorry, it is the bum on the street. josh is the guy his mother raised and his dad has sheparded through his adulthood.
doc
May 9th, 2011
1:00 pm
heh heh
Rod from College Park
May 9th, 2011
1:05 pm
“Rod – Josh is a mental case – admit it. We know you love him, but the truth is just the truth. Josh is not forced into taking any bad shots. It’s his choice. The Coaches know it. The fans know it. The pundit and national media know it. He sometimes knows it.
Only you don’t know it I guess.”
I guess I just pay attention more than most of you. So Josh shooting jumpers is a bad shot? Have you watched the Hawks all year? Josh has been shooting jumpers all year long. I have heard LD say many times that as long as Josh takes the shot in the flow of the offense, its not a bad shot. Everyone bashed Josh on his comment that he talks to Drew about what a good shot is. Hell, I consider myself to be a decent basketball mind, and I don’t even know what a good shot is on this team. Is it only a good shot if he makes it? Is it a bad shot because he misses it? The head coach won’t stay with a consistent lineup. He runs an offense that has Josh along with our starting center standing out beyond the 3 point line. Everyone now says guys should be cutting to the basket. I have not seen Marvin, Josh or Horford cut to the basket consistently this whole year. So now we should be doing something we have not been doing all year?
Do I think Josh is a mental case? No. I think the whole team has mental problems. I feel as Najeh feels that Josh is overconfident, and has problems handling his emotions. I feel like Horford and Marvin are extemely passive. I feel like Joe is to calm, and needs to show more emotion especially since he is the leader of the team. I feel like LD is too calm as well. He a’int Phil Jackson. Notice the change in his persona during the playoffs. Now he is calling guys out, and screaming and actually standing up during the game. Totally opposite from what he has been doing all year. I grew up on the southside of Atlanta with cats that act just like Josh Smith, maybe that’s why I am not as outraged as some fans are. One thing I know about players like Josh is that they need structure. You also can’t continue to harp on his issues and faults as a coach, and not hold guys like Horford and Marvin, and Joe accountable. He will lose respect for you, and turn into the Josh that a lot of you don’t like. He basically said as much in the press conference yesterday. He feels like everyone is trying to T.O. him, and if you want to put all the blame on him, he’ll take it. He is aware that he plays on a team with a bunch of guys who have very fragile ego’s, and he knows that he is one of the only guys who can take critisism, because he is used to it. It’s really not that hard to understand. He thrives on being the bad guy, but just does not have the skills to back it up. The thing that I like and respect about him is that he is not scared. I was raised the same way, so I understand it. I would prefer a guy who is not scared and will try his best and never quit, than guys like Joe (sometimes), Marvin, and Horford (in the playoffs) who play scared, and rarely show emotion.
darrell starks
May 9th, 2011
1:06 pm
Man i should be a head coach i would win atleast 5 nba title.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SteveW
May 9th, 2011
1:10 pm
Booo – Yea, I don’t mind the nickname at all, and call Josh “Smoove” a ton. But the substance of the article is what I liked.
But yea, I know what Wallace was doing with the contrast of Smoove/Josh, but his nickname is fine.
If he will just fix the other stuff, we’re ok.
SteveW
May 9th, 2011
1:14 pm
Rod – “I would prefer a guy who is not scared and will try his best and never quit”
Josh quits constantly for long stretches. I guess you don’t watch the games that close? Surely you’ve seen that.
Check the Boston games this season for a Smoove that quits, besides quitting for long stretches in almost every regular season game.
Huh? What are you talking about Rod!?
darrell starks
May 9th, 2011
1:15 pm
Collins and Teague in the starting line up make this team more balance with speed and physicalness, collins set the tone early in the game and teague finished it, you can’t have a starting five that just depend on jumpshots or you loose every time.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Worldwide Clyde
May 9th, 2011
1:19 pm
Hawks in 7
The Truth
May 9th, 2011
1:20 pm
Thanks Rev for the link
LOL, Many of Josh’s so-called bad shots are only called “bad” because they’re not falling. When one did fall, no-one called it a “bad shot”. That was often a repeated case during the regular season as Rod from (CP) indicated . Having it said though, the writer referencing LD comment has merit:
“Now is no time to be experimenting with your limitations,” Drew said regarding what his message has been to Smoove-Smith during those heart-to-headband talks.”
Josh’s issues have always been the timing of his adventures, more so than anything else. If your opponent, for example, makes a 9-0 run and your team desperately needs a basket, (agreed) that would not be the time “to be experimenting with your limitations”.
But Josh’s reaction to the media profiling negatively like Terrell Owens (TO) also has merit. The media (in a clever way) used comments from Josh’s coaches and teammates to jab at him. If the Hawks had loss Game 4, then comments like this writer would have weight.
But instead the Hawks won the game and now questions should be raised about the media frequent infatuation with Josh’s character and perimeter shooting slump. Westbrook appears to be in a shooting slump and hijacked a victory for the Thunders. Did he get the Josh (TO) treatment? The media doesn’t seem interested in framing him negatively like Josh. Actually, all NBA players experience shooting slumps so Josh is no exception. Like most, Josh’s intention is in the right place; he is simply trying to shoot himself out of his slump. But as previously stated, his adventures often happen at the “wrong time”.
Like most NBA writers and pundits during the post season, they are all looking to “cash-in” on sensational articles to write that will gain attention. Apparently, at least for now, Josh Smith bashing is a best seller. Even after he had a monster night, these writers, (a combination of Hawks Haters and over zealous writers), will still cast him negatively.
A word from Hawksville to Josh Smith: Keep your head up. Yes, it’s smart to pay attention to your coaches and teammates but The HELL with everybody else regarding your game.
SteveW
May 9th, 2011
1:21 pm
I think the reason we groan everytime Josh shoots a J is because isn’t he 1-23 beyond 15 feet in the series?
That’s like really terrible…
Wink
May 9th, 2011
1:23 pm
Josh Smith saved the day & one bad official call that finally went our way. J-Stupid was in the building early in regards to the offensive side. Josh was in the process of stacking the score sheet. It was clear he was making contributions in the game, but giving it back with the outside jump shots…missing all but one.
Finally, J-Smart showed up to help on the offensive end, rebounding, handing out dimes & controlled offense in the paint.
Josh all you have got to do is remmember the formula for your success…J-Stupid on the PERIMETER & J-Smart in the PAINT…FORGET THE J-SMOOVE….it’s that simple you will be a perenial ALL-STAR…dude you almost had a Triple Double!!!!!
Now Take It On The Road….Feet in the Paint!!!
doc
May 9th, 2011
1:27 pm
rod asks;
“I guess I just pay attention more than most of you. So Josh shooting jumpers is a bad shot?”
yup, i have paid attention too and watched him flail on those 19 footers he calmly shoots and misses with 14 seconds on the clock when he could take the ball down and make a move to unsettle the defense and either crash the board make a fake, pause and get an and one and cause the defender to pick up a foul or pass to a teammate open because the defense has now moved and is not set up to take his missed shot back the other way because we have allowed them to camp knowing full well what josh is going to do because they are paid to play the game and if we as fans can see it the guys down there can see it…. so yes rod, it is a sorry g d shot and dumb, stupid, and arrogant for him or maybe anyone to think otherwise.
so rod we the fans, coaches, teammates, media, former players, my czech girlfriend having never seen a game before last year, the list goes on doesnt it?, get it. if you dont then so be it. and i love j smash and you know it. i dont like the alter ego that continues to do dumb stuff. yeah, take the shot with the clock running down and he isnt afraid to do it because it is funny, the more time he has to set up the worse he shoots it and that goes back several years. under pressure he makes em, when he can consider it, not so good.
SteveW
May 9th, 2011
1:28 pm
If we had a Josh that did not quit ever, we would not be having this discussion right now probably.
Except for the bad shots. Josh is near unstoppable near the rim. He made plays last night I never see people make, ever, at all.
He’s a beast, except for his shcizo good Josh/bad Josh persona.
He plays to his strengths, he’s top 20 or maybe 15 in the League. He doesn’t, he’s a disaster,and will cost you as many games as he wins.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 9th, 2011
1:28 pm
FTPB
I wonder why all the comments and article are deleted?
It says: closed for comments.
Mmmmmh …
mykhalc
May 9th, 2011
1:28 pm
here’s what gets me about Josh…if he KNOWS his skill-set can get him to rim, say 90% of the time, with success, then what is so damn hard about that becomin’ your mission??? again, somehow with him and Hawks, this simple knowledge and execution is rocket science…SMDH
SteveW
May 9th, 2011
1:31 pm
18.000 at Phillips groans and boos Josh on bad shots
LD counsels him often on bad shots
The opposing teams set up D’s so Josh will shoot outside
The national commentators see it
Barkley wears a crash dummy helmut, so Josh’s bad decisions won’t enter his head.
Rod, I guess you and Josh are alot alike. Your the only guys around that don’t see he takes bad shots.
SteveW
May 9th, 2011
1:31 pm
And I am a massive Smoove fan, but I can’t overlook truth when I see it, even from one of my favorite players
doc
May 9th, 2011
1:32 pm
well, at least folks care enough to notice josh and care enough to say something about how good his game could be. yes all star like. remember, he could be forgotten and quietly out of the discussion where marvin has landed as maybe hopeless. if he wants ot become the leader and all star then he has t play to his many strengths and not his ego that urges him to show people how his limitations are not as great as they think they are.
mykhalc
May 9th, 2011
1:34 pm
and to add…LD and his staff can show some growth by NEVER puttin’ Marvin in the startin’ lineup again…PERIOD!!!
Slimjr
May 9th, 2011
1:34 pm
Man the godfathers (thug)refs are freaking brutal…………………………..
Booo!
May 9th, 2011
1:41 pm
SteveW, I agree
Doc, Can’t do it……theres nothing “Smoove” about bricking jumpers. Josh does that.
^Talking about Smoove in terms of alter ego’s is weird….and funny.
“well, at least folks care enough to notice josh and care enough to say something about how good his game could be. yes all star like. remember, he could be forgotten and quietly out of the discussion where marvin has landed as maybe hopeless. if he wants ot become the leader and all star then he has t play to his many strengths and not his ego that urges him to show people how his limitations are not as great as they think they are.”
Completely agree here. We gotta keep rding the guy until he plays to his potential. Duck-Booy needs to be GIVEN AWAY. Hopefully it will happen this off-season so we can sign Tayshhaun or trade for Iggy.
Marvin, Kirk, 2nd rounder, and future 1st for Iggy anyone?
Then again with us going big do we really need another SF is Smooove plays to his strenghts?
Booo!
May 9th, 2011
1:42 pm
Myk, Amen
Never again!
ant banks
May 9th, 2011
1:49 pm
680thefan ALWAYS interviews marvin williams and they never, ever, ever, ask him why he sucks so bad…
Slimjr
May 9th, 2011
1:52 pm
Marivn needs to go fishing NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SteveWilliams
May 9th, 2011
1:52 pm
WE HAVE STAYED EVEN WITH THE BULLS IN THIS SERIES AND JAMAL CRAWFORD HASNT STARTING LIGHTING IT UP YET. WHEN JAMAL GETS GOING, LOOK OUT. JAMAL IS USUALLY CONSIDERED THE DIFFERENCE MAKER ON THIS HAWKS TEAM, BUT IN THIS SERIES IT HAS BEEN TEAGUE AND JOSH SMITH. IT LOOKS LIKE THE HAWKS ARE GROWING UP FAST AND BECOMING GREAT COLLECTIVELY AS A TEAM. GO HAWKS, CRUSH BULLS IN 6. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CAN YOU BELIEVE THE HAWKS ARE ONLY TWO WINS AWAY FROM PLAYING IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS. THATS AWESOME AND IT MAKES ME REALIZE THAT IT WAS MIKE WOODSEN WHO WAS HOLDING THE TEAM BACK. WOODSEN WAS JUSTIFIED IN GETTING FIRED LAST SEASON.
ant banks
May 9th, 2011
1:52 pm
DR MARYB,
i LOVE the way you broke down a 7 game series: 1) split the first two home games, it now becomes a 5 game series with the lesser seed havin’ home court advantage. 2) split the 2nd 2games and it becomes a 3 game series wit’ the top seed havin’ home court, again. IF THE HAWKS CAN WIN ONE AGAIN IN CHICAGO, WE HAVE HOME COURT, AGAIN AND IT BECOMES A 1 GAME SERIES.
Slimjr
May 9th, 2011
1:53 pm
Marvin^^^^
mykhalc
May 9th, 2011
1:54 pm
i really get the impression that Marvin is NOT that into playin’ ball as a pro….sure he enjoys the check tho. here’s a question…what does Marvin think and see when he watches tape of himself????
Slimjr
May 9th, 2011
1:54 pm
If Lionel Hollins was coaching this team we’d win this thing tomorrow night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slimjr
May 9th, 2011
1:55 pm
Must win for the Hawks Tuesday night……
Michael Cunningham
May 9th, 2011
1:57 pm
@JeJe: “MC, would it be possible to post the Video recap without a user reply section beneath or to edit that into the game blog (100-88)?”
maybe. . . . still trying to figure this thing out, as i’m sure you could tell by the html code ending up posted somehow.
GrandmaWilliams
May 9th, 2011
1:58 pm
Marvin played so well, dynamic and exciting in the Hawks close-out game against Orlando, that for at least one night [PROBABLY THE ONLY NIGHT IN HIS NBA CAREER], Marvin performed better than passed-over draft picks Deron Williams AND Chris Paul and performed like the #2 pick in the entire draft that he was. Of course this summer, Marvin needs to bulk up and add more muscle, beef himself up and probably gain some weight (maybe to the tune of about 60-80 pounds), then go into the gym and shoot 1000-1500 jump shots per day. With this DEDICATED regiment and workout, maybe Marvin can become the great potential player that he has been touted to be. IF MARVIN WORKS OUT LIKE I JUST OUTLINED, MARVIN CAN BECOME AS GOOD AS EITHER DAVID THOMPSON, JAMES WORTH OR BOB MCADOO. If not, the Hawks will continue to get cheated out of their draft pick by the no-talent bum named MARVIN WILLIAMS.
Michael Cunningham
May 9th, 2011
1:58 pm
@SteveW: “MC – I like your written blogs alot more than the video ones.”
well, i’m a writer, so i guess that’s a good thing.
Michael Cunningham
May 9th, 2011
2:00 pm
@ Booo: “MC, Florida Gator Basketball Head Coach Billy Donovan was in the stands last night(they showed him on TNT). Do you know if Horford got him some tickets? He’s been at ATL playoff games before. Just wondering…..seems like a good oppourtinity for a Al-Noah-Donovan Gator side story lol.”
i made a note of it last night. not sure who got Donovan the tiks but i’m sure he has no problems with that.
Slimjr
May 9th, 2011
2:02 pm
“If not, the Hawks will continue to get cheated out of their draft pick by the no-talent bum named MARVIN WILLIAMS.”
The Hawks got CHEATED…………………………………….