Atlanta Hawks: The Chicago Way?
The Hawks need to get better. The Bulls needed to do the same last summer and Al said the Hawks might learn something from the way they went about it.
“That’s the perfect example,” he said. “They got that kid Asik. They got Korver, a shooter. They addressed their needs and got better. That’s a blueprint that I think if I’m the team I would look at.”
So let’s look at what the Bulls did last summer and see if the Hawks can copy the same formula:
- Al’s theory falls apart from the start: The Bulls had just $34 million in committed salaries for 2010-11 after clearing space to get in on the 2010 free-agent bonanza. The Hawks have about $67 million in committed salaries mostly because of J.J. and Smoove’s contracts and Al’s extension.
- The Bulls cleared more cap space by trading Hinrich and a first-round pick to the Wizards for a second-round pick. The Wizards coveted Hinrich and were willing to take on his $17 million salary. The Hawks don’t have a first-round draft pick. They also aren’t under the cap and so can’t make such a trade without taking back salary (under the current rules).
- The Bulls hired a coach with a single-minded obsession with defense (and didn’t break the bank to do it). L.D. talked a lot about defense when he was hired, too, but his personnel decisions usually didn’t match the talk. (The Hawks did end up playing good D in the playoffs and L.D. deserves some credit for that, especially his decision to use the Twin lineup against Orlando. But D was neither a big part of the team’s culture nor was it usually at the forefront of the way L.D. distributed minutes among his backcourt.)
- The Bulls signed Boozer for five years and $80 million. The Hawks don’t have cap space so they can’t outright sign such a player even if they wanted to pay the tax. But let’s go ahead and say the contract for J.J. last summer was their Boozer move.
- The Bulls signed Korver for 5 years and $15 million (the final year is partially guaranteed). They could do that because they had cap space. The Hawks can’t because they don’t.
- After the Magic matched their offer sheet to Redick, the Bulls signed Ronnie Brewer for two years and $9.5 guaranteed. The Hawks can’t do a deal like that because . . . well, you know.
- The Bulls signed Asik for two years and $3.6 million. They had acquired him in a 2008 draft-night trade with Portland in which they sent away three second-round picks. Maybe Pape Sy or Gladyr can be the next Asik?
- The Bulls acquired Watson in a sign-and-trade with Golden State. The deal was for two years and $7 million guaranteed. They could do this because of their cap room.
- The Bulls signed Bogans, Kurt Thomas and Scalabrine to minimum-salaried contracts. The Hawks presumably make similar moves, depending on the details of the new CBA.
Clearly, because of salary commitments already on the books, the Chicago Way can’t be the Hawks’ Way.
What’s next?
I know there are lots of questions about what the Hawks can and should do. Honestly, they are difficult to answer without knowing what the new CBA rules will look like. The players quickly rejected the league’s latest offer, which reportedly proposed a hard salary cap and salary rollbacks.
What will be the amount of the salary cap? What about the luxury tax? Will there be an amnesty provision to allow teams to shed salary? Will there still be cap exceptions and, if not, what about those teams whose payrolls are above the new salary cap?
“As players we are just trying to do the right thing for current players and the players that are going to come behind us and for what the players before us worked so hard for,” Hinrich said. “We’ll see. Right now it probably looks like July 1 we are going to be locked out. For now, it’s up in the air.”
Under the current rules it’s hard to see how the Hawks could even fill out the roster with the minimum 13 players without paying the tax. Right now their options are limited to trades and using exceptions to acquire players whose salaries that don’t put them over the tax level. Assuming the tax threshold is about the same as it was the past three seasons, about $70 million, the Hawks would have roughly $3 million of wiggle room to sign six players.
Again, that’s based on the current rules and some assumptions. With the way things are going with the labor situation, who knows what the new system will look like when the league starts playing basketball again. But clearly the Hawks, like all teams, are counting on new rules more favorable to owners.
L.D. didn’t want to get into exactly what he thinks the Hawks need because he hadn’t talked to Rick Sund or the owners yet. (Sund, by the way, says he’s not talking until after the team’s scouting combine, which ends a week from Wednesday). But I noted the team’s lack of scoring at the rim and also their low free-throw rate and asked if that’s something that can only change with different personnel.
“Possibly,” L.D. said. “A lot of that is simply making the wrong decision out of ball movement on when to attack or settling for jump shots. You guys heard me say time and time again how we just settled for jump shots. We did not do a good job collectively in attacking the glass and going to the basket. That’s personnel-driven.
“Once we do spread the floor and the ball is moved we have to be mindful of just attacking. You can’t be afraid; you can’t be intimidated. You have to go in there with authority. Players that want to get to the free-throw line, they seek bodies. For them it’s not always about finishing the shot, they seek bodies to draw the and-1. That is something we will have to evaluate.”
J.J. seemed to hit on a similar theme when asked about the team’s needs.
“For us it’s guys like blue-collar guys, guys who do a lot of dirty work and do a lot of things that don’t show up in stat book,” J.J. said. “Those are the kind of guys that can help us out. We will see what happens. We’ve gotten better each year. Our postseason [this year] was probably the best it’s been.”
L.D. never could get his team to completely shed its isolation tendencies. When they got open shots and made them, then the ball and players moved and the Hawks were difficult to defend. That’s what happened in Games 1 and 4 against the Bulls.
When the defensive pressure intensified, or when the wrong guys took the wrong shots, then the Hawks started isolating and were easier to defend. That’s what happened in the fourth quarter of Game 5, which ended up being a lost opportunity for the Hawks to win the series.
Does L.D. still think this group of players us capable of running his offense?
“I’m still hopeful we can do that,” he said. “I think Chicago, their defensive pressure was much more intense than Orlando. Sometimes when you are playing under pressure you get sped up and you start getting away from the game plan. I think a lot of what Chicago did had a lot to do with that. That being said, we did not get to our spots like we did against Orlando. That tells me that it was jut the pressure of their defense.
“It was the same coverage [as Orlando] but once we played out of that double team [the Bulls] weren’t as organized as Orlando. I’m not going to abandon something that has been good to us. We just have to do a better job playing out of pressure, double teams. You still have to make plays and in making plays have to move the basketball. I thought we did a great job against Orlando. The Chicago series we weren’t as good.”
Joe said the offense “was kind of up and down” this season.
“We was all trying to feel each other out as far as him implementing his system and us trying to learn it,” he said. “At the same time there are times we looked great. That’s something we can build on and look forward to next year.”
Notes
- Teague said he’s scheduled for an MRI on his right wrist on Tuesday to make sure there’s no ligament damage.
- L.D. on meeting with Sund and owners: “I give them my views and hear their views. You have to slowly and methodically take your time and assess this season and the personnel, talk about things we lack and we need to get better. Do we have those players to make us better in certain areas or do we have to go out and find those kind of players? We have to look at everything and analyze everything and come to a decision about certain things, not necessarily an agreement. I’ve been around for a long time and I know you don’t always agree but important to lay it out on the table and talk about it.”
- L.D. on the postseason: “The question I asked myself, looking at the postseason, is were we better prepared this season than we were last year? Did we compete at a higher level this year than last year? Did we accomplish more goals than last year? I am my biggest critic when it comes to team getting prepared and going out there and executing game the plan, and I thought the answers to all those questions were, ‘Yes.’”
- Al on possibly adding a full-time center: “It’s going to be an interesting offseason because I think there are probably going to be some changes. I think having a bigger player like that to help is always a great strength and a great help. We will see what happens. I do like playing power forward. I like playing the center, as well, but if we can have another bigger body that would be great.”
- Smoove on if he prefers to play the 3: “It is what it is. It’s a controversial question. I’m just here to play.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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476 comments Add your comment
The Game Has Changed
May 16th, 2011
6:11 pm
I dont see anything wrong with Teague,Joe, Josh, Al and using Crawford money and going after Ne Ne, Lopez, Oden, or Chandler. Why get rid of the core. They are in the top 10 in all their positions. Maybe not Teague. But he will be.
Grandad
May 16th, 2011
6:15 pm
The Game Has Changed
Why do you say Bogut has been hurt for the last “two” yrs?
Wasn’t it just last yr that he took that fall and crushed his elbow?
(just before the play-offs) 2010
This year: 2010/11
65 games, 35 min per, efficiency rating 19+, 13 pts, 11 rebs, 2.5 blks.
def POY nominee,
took the last several games off
to have elbow cleaned out afteer Bucks had been eliminated from play-offs.
Injury = one thing = missed 2010 play-offs.
hurt for two years ?
productive 2010/11 season.
I do not understand?
Hurt for two yrs?
Pretty tough kid if you ask me.
Grandad
May 16th, 2011
6:33 pm
KevinM
none taken – grandfather
LAL is talkin’ about shaking things up.
New coach
So long to the triangle
Kobe running on fumes
Artest lost his quickness
Bynum will stay (so I’m hearing) youth
Kobe needs a sidekick that can reduce minutes & pressure
Money not an issue out there
Think about it…..who do they have?
their old
D.Fisher old
Blake, Walton, et al = role players
Hey they may even want Marvin,
I read where they are looking for a wing defender.
ag
May 16th, 2011
6:53 pm
In the history of the league, I cannot remember once have the Hawks and Lakers made a deal.
O'Brien
May 16th, 2011
7:46 pm
The game has changed,
The Hawks are over the cap. So even if we let Jamal walk, all we have to go after free agents are the Mid-level Exception (~$5.5 mil), the bi-annual exception (~$2.8 mil), in addition to vet minimum salaries.
And NeNe will command a $10 mil salary. He is probably the second best available Center on the market after Chandler.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 16th, 2011
7:51 pm
I don’t know or care about hockey, but I feel bad for Thrashers fans. They are getting f-cked by the DASG even worse than we are.
jason
May 16th, 2011
7:56 pm
Deandre Jordan….. Center.
Trade Al Horford for Pau Gasol……. Power Foward….
Trade Marvin for picks…..
Trade Josh for Rudy Gay….
Get a Defensive minded coach…..
Sign Wilson Chandler as a back up Small Foward…
This is what I think the Hawks should do this offseason if they want to improve.
Slimjr
May 16th, 2011
7:59 pm
Sund helped ruin the Sonics with an assist from a unscrupulous owner.
What did you expect Sund to do with a GROUP of unscrupulous owners who think they know basketball? Why did the DASG continue to leave Billy Knightmare in place for so long? It wasn’t his ability to scout and draft well. Do you really think the DASG hired Sund because he showed himself to be a superb GM?
See the whole truth, rolled out a little at a time:”
Sund has been a mediocre GM for 31 lousy years.. Why does this scrub not just retire already????
Larry is a worse than Woody! We know his team played .500 ball all year except for the first 6 games of the season….This team bailed on him months earlier to get 44 wins.. This team should have had at least 56 to 59 wins…He was the wrong hire from day one…….
Lionel Hollins successfully defeats the Bulls with this Hawks team.
He took OKC to 7 games without his best player on the floor in Rudy Gay!!! Are you kidding me?
FYI: OKC has swept the Hawks 3 straight years….. Now Hollins is a real deal…Larry is not. Shop ALLSTAR- Al= Fake Power Forward asap…
JeJe
May 16th, 2011
8:49 pm
JeJe’s Atlanta Hawk Awards for 2011-2010:
*Worst Player on the Roster: MARVIN WILLIAMS
*Softest player on the team: MARVIN WILLIAMS
—–HONORABLE MENTION: AL HORFORD
*All Star this year least likely to make All Star team next year: AL HORFORD
*Only non-soft player on the team: ZaZa Pachulia
*Team MVP: M-V-TEAGUE
Rusty
May 16th, 2011
9:18 pm
Get rid of that damn Larry Drew.
maavelous
May 16th, 2011
9:47 pm
Keep Marv the maaavelous and get rid of posters that are too slow to figure out the Caps Lock key.
Nat
May 16th, 2011
10:30 pm
How about this trade:
Grizzlies get:
G Kirk Hinrich
SF Marvin Williams
Hawks get:
SF Rudy Gay
SG Tony Allen
PF Darell Arthur
G Greivis Vasquez
PTC
May 16th, 2011
10:42 pm
Orlando was not the same team as last year LD you did not do anything that great. You did not get passed the second round, that’s what counts
James on Pharr Rd
May 16th, 2011
11:21 pm
Rick Sund wrote his own Wikipedia bio.
If Deng is as good as the national media is making him seem, then JJ may not be so bad. And certainly Josh is the “business.”
I
Felix
May 16th, 2011
11:25 pm
My Thoughts:
From a basketball standpoint only.
1. Keep the folowing players:
a. Teague. Incredible poise, team response, speed, defense.
b. JJ. Good all-around ballplayer.
c. Horford. Great Role player –nothing more.
d. Zaza. Hell of a rebounder.
On Smoove…He just doesn’t fit. Sorry, but highlight plays don’t impress me. I played. Knew guys like him. They were worthless and a dime a dozen.
Now for the CBA/Labor negotiations:
The owners made their fortunes in legitimate business. Not playing silly schoolyard games. The should make most of the money if the public is gullable to watching this schoolyard game.
CUT ALL PLAYERS SALARIES by a FACTOR OF 90 % AND THEY’D ALL STILL BE LINED – UP TO TAKE IT — and fighting each other to do so. ! Sharing significant money with these desperado players is ludicrous — from a common sense standpoint! But common sense has long since deserted the mindset of this (and most other US influenced) nations.
We could all be watching the same players and teams while paying $5 -$7 per ticket. I don’t know about most of you but this would be my preference. It doesn’t do ME one damn bit of good for an NBA player to make more money than I do. They are entertainers. They don’t actually contribute in any legitimate way to anyone’s lives. At least the owners have likely provided some product or service that has contributed to legitimately helping people.
Let these kids play their game for us — at the US median income. They’ll all still be right there playing. And let real men and women actually WORK and contribute something significant to society. And not be fleeced out their earnings by these useless kids that provide nothing more than a bit of entertainment after a hard day’s work.
Melvin
May 16th, 2011
11:49 pm
Out of the top 16 highest team payrolls, only the Mavs (#2) are still in the playoffs…
Grandad
May 17th, 2011
12:06 am
Felix
Have you ever been to the movies or watched TV,
listened to some music perhaps ?
What about CEO’s, corporations claim they must pay
or they will take their talent elsewhere ?
[..South Beach, maybe..] ?
Oil prices ?
Why does gas go up the next day after oil prices go up ?
Yet;
when oil prices go down, why doesn’t gas go down the next day?
Now about basketball;
some of your suppositions Hawk related,
I refute your assertion about Al being nothing more than a role player.
I appreciate your prevaricative allegory leading to your cavil about Josh,
however, I must both agree and disagree at the same time
while arresting at a point of general disagreement.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 17th, 2011
12:07 am
The Velvet Room!
Magic City!
____________
KevinM … What’s baby? You know I’ve been snooping around looking for some juicy tid-bits and trying to get these teams SOLD!
“One more DMB, perhaps you know this….on the Al contract signing….Did he start complaining about playing center before or after his multi-year 60M contract? Hmmmm….”
____________
Well KeBo! I’ll take this query hands down: I was listening to
790 The Zone back in the Summer. Al Horford held a Summer Camp @ Oglethorpe-sp University here in Buckhead, after he returned from:
Basketball Beyond Borders in China.
Al Horford was queried about his contract and he basically said, “It would be nice to get that done and out of the way, if not, then he would just focus on getting better and helping his team win.”
Al went on to say, “I am a natural PF, but he enjoys playing @ Center as well.” Al was looking forward to the UFA frenzy and was eager to see who we would get to battle with him and Josh in the paint. Al lamented, to contend, we need some more size in the box.”
KevinM, this all occurred before the FA started and we had not hired Coach Drew at this point. If I’m not mistaken, this was the first public comment I ever heard Al say he preferred to play the 4 definitively.
This was the start of the whole story coming from Horford himself.
The blog had been saying this since day one for most posters.
So, to answer your question: it was definitely before the 60M.
It was after Al signed the contract, that he started doing the “Running Man” away from the paint on offense.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 17th, 2011
12:13 am
Word on The Street!
KevinM
Allegedly, Kobe told is wife (because he is a dirty rat) and V
anessa Layne Bryant allegedly, told Pau Gasol. Imagine that?
Mrs. Purple Diamond, allegedly spilling the “Bean(s)” – pun intended.
LOL! One hoe telling on another one. Hey didn’t Kobe also throw Shaq under the bus in CO. when, he was at the police station?
Mmmmmm …. Hmmmmm! Allegedly KevinM Allegedly.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 17th, 2011
12:16 am
“The owners made their fortunes in legitimate business. ”
Haha. Good one.
Different league, but same story. Enjoy. And after you read that, look up “supply and demand” on Wikipedia.
Ken Strickland
May 17th, 2011
12:18 am
With the emergence of PG JTeague, and if management believes the JSmith we saw the last 2gms against the Bulls, will carry over to next season, we can expect very few personnell changes for the Hawks. I see KHinrich starting at SG, JJ at SF, JTeague at PG, AHorford at C, and JSmith at PF. To those of you who want to see wholesale changes, or the trading of certain players you have issues with, you won’t see this as much of an upgrade.
I see a back court rotation of KHinrich, JTeague, Pape Sy and DWilkins being as solid as a rock defensively. With a rock solid perimeter DEF, there will be far less pressure on our frontline players, which would allow them to maintain better rebounding position. JJ and Marvin at SF would make a solid OFF/DEF combination on the wing.
I’d really like to see LDrew design a set OFF for MWilliams, much like the Bulls have done to get KKorver open shots.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 17th, 2011
12:22 am
FOR SALE!
“I don’t know or care about hockey, but I feel bad for Thrashers fans. They are getting f-cked by the DASG even worse than we are.”
_____________
Me either, only as it relates to The Hawks going forward money – wise.
Or, if it helps The Hawks get sold too.
Grandad
May 17th, 2011
1:17 am
“I am a natural PF” / -drmaryb- from 790 the Zone
Hardly an indictment. = Does not use the word prefer.
”Al was looking forward to the UFA frenzy
and was eager to see who we would get
to battle with he and Josh in the paint” / -drmaryb-
I’m not sure I would call this a lament;
perhaps envision might be better suited?
Regardless, I’ve said the same thing countless times
on this here blog.
With all due respect Mary Ellen.
Nate ArchiBALL
May 17th, 2011
1:36 am
@ag – “In the history of the league, I cannot remember once have the Hawks and Lakers made a deal.”
September 30, 1977: Lou Hudson traded by the Atlanta Hawks to the Los Angeles Lakers for Ollie Johnson
The Bowse is your source for Basketball News, Rumors, Hype and so much more. Read The Bowse for an inside perspective into the NBA
May 17th, 2011
7:05 am
[...] lose the game but Jeff Teague may have lost time as he will go for an MRI on his injured wrist. According to Michael Cunningham of AJC.com, Teague took a hard fall while going up for a layup and will need to investigate further to see if [...]
O'Brien
May 17th, 2011
7:54 am
Ken S,
I’d really like to see LDrew design a set OFF for MWilliams, much like the Bulls have done to get KKorver open shots..
Two problems with that.
1) Marvin Williams is not a good 3-pt shooter. He has made 157 total 3-ptrs in 6 seasons (~26 makes per season on average), while shooting 31%
2) Marvin is very inconsistent when it comes to knocking down the open shot.
I am ok with your starting lineup of Teague/Hinrich/JJ/Josh/Al. But the ASG would have to spend $ to upgrade our bench, because Marvin and ZaZa is not enough.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 17th, 2011
7:58 am
Teach Me How to Dougie!
Rapper M-Bone was killed last night in California. Allegedly, in a shooting? Details are unclear. (RIP)
___________________
This is an awful waste of life and talent. Please stop the violence.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 17th, 2011
8:07 am
I’ll Be Back!
Arnold Schwarzenegger shocking confession. Allegedly, 10 years ago he fathered a child with a household staff member who was employed for 4ome 20 years. Arnold, just recently told his wife about this infidelity a few weeks ago.
So, that’s why she left. Hmmmmm! What a tool. Maria Shriver, you’re a Kennedy! You can do better.
_____________________
In other news, Chris Brown and Rhianna are tweeting again?
Danger! Watch yourself, Rhianna.
___________________
In other basketball news: This new CBA is gonna’ be a helluva fight.
___________________
-drmaryb- The Entertainment Reporter
darb
May 17th, 2011
8:17 am
Now I see this pityful excuse of an owner group is probably discussing in secret to sell the Thrashers, and watch another hockey team leave Atlanta. Under this group, you cannot convince me that they are dedicated to fielding any winning organization be it basketball or hockey team, but instead wanted to live the dream of being a professional sports team owner, and the city and it’s fans are paying the price.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 17th, 2011
8:35 am
Korver for all his other shortcomings is one of the best shooters in the league. Realistically is Marvin even above average at any single aspect of the game?
drmaryb (*_-)
May 17th, 2011
8:48 am
A Slurr?
Rick Weltz, an Executive of the Phoenix Suns front office has come out of the closet and professes, “I’m Gay!”
Chris Bosh
Aaron Brooks
Baron Davis
Keep your collective heads down, shoulder on the wheel and keep grinding. We don’t need a reveal, people will never comprehend.
Just play ball. ShhHhhhhh! We from the hood … We don’t do that!
drmaryb (*_-)
May 17th, 2011
8:59 am
darb!
What the ASKG are doing to The Thrashers and the ATL fans of hockey?
It’s disgusting on every level.
What a black mark the 8 feces throwing orangutans, are leaving upon At lanta? A really bad stain.
vava74
May 17th, 2011
9:00 am
Najeh,
He falls with an impeccable lack of grace
Now, seriously, he is an above average and disciplined defender, which does not mean that he is not burned to a crisp by some particular players with whom he matches up badly like Deng.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 17th, 2011
9:18 am
A Slurr!
Oh Yeah! And, add to the list:
Marquis Daniels
Allegedly.
Sautee
May 17th, 2011
9:53 am
Grandad,
Thank you for pointing out that in the article Mary Ellen quoted, Al NEVER said the word “prefer”. It’s amazing to me that people will read whatever they want to read into words that were never spoken, so that they can justify their fantasy about a situation.
Does Al think of himself as a “natural 4″? Yes, he said so. Does that mean he hates playing center and is whining about it? Gimme a freakin’ break.
Does anyone on this blog seriously think that Al doesn’t realize that he was named All-NBA at the center position?
Thanks for keeping it real.
O'Brien
May 17th, 2011
9:54 am
Najeh,
And that’s one of the big issues for the Hawks. We dont have any shooters (JJ and Jamal are not shooters). Bulls have Korver and Bogans who knock down 3’s.
And I think to execute LD’s offense better, we need better shooters. Last offseason, one of the guys I liked was Anthony Morrow, but ASG and Rick always seem to be late when it comes to getting players.
I hope our draft pick that is stashed overseas (Sergie Gladyr – sp?) will develop into that shooter for us.
Ken Strickland
May 17th, 2011
10:20 am
The 3 biggest problems that seems to be holding the Hawks back are ATTITUDE and the underutilization of available talent. Both of these issues can be corrected by the HC. There is far too often an attitude of indifference among certain players. When they encounter pressure, or things don’t go their way, they become disruptive and selfish.
That’s when the ISO’s and illadvised jumpers take over, and more productive players get shutout. LDrew can resolve this issue be taking a stronger approach toward dealing with this issue. After issuing a strong warning when it happens, all he has to do is immediately bench the culprit if it happens again. NO EXCEPTIONS.
I’ll guarantee you it will become less and less of a problem as the season progresses, and it will go a long ways toward changing the attitudes of certain players. Also, there’s absolutely no reason whatsoever to end up in the 2nd rd of the playoffs, after a serious injury to a starter, to find out what a young talented PG is capable of doing.
Based on what I’ve seen from Pape Sy so far, LDrew certainly can’t rehash the same lame excuses he used to limit JTeague, like him being too apprehensive or not aggressive enough. After 6yrs of MWoodson and 1yr of LDrew, I’m tired of the lame excuses and bias’, and would like to see an honest effort and committment to develop at least one of our young guards.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 17th, 2011
10:57 am
Gand-Daddy & Sautee!
I agree with you guys re: Al Horford’s comments were very candid and not controversial at all. I was actually surprised at the way the blog ran with those really band comments and made a big deal about it.
I rarely engage myself in the far right or far right conversations.
As a balancer and a Libra, I can usually be found in the middle of most viewpoints. I just know that was the frist time I had ever heard Al’s comments, but the blog has been saying he is a better PF since draft day.
I guess Al reads the blog too. The bigger indictment of Mr. Horford has been his reluctance to dominate inside the paint offensively this season,
(for whatever reason, that has been the case).
The farther Al soars away from the basket, the smaller he appears.
_________________
Now, that’s keeping it real.
vava74
May 17th, 2011
10:58 am
I see that I keep on getting flak from Ray about the Noah-Diaper Al discussion we had last year.
Well, I stupidly ignored the red flags and thought they were media fabrications.
They aren’t and I am now 100% convinced that Al is structurally soft and that his first 3 years in the NBA are the product of good company (HC Donovan and Noah) pushing him to be someone he is not intimately (his softness is probably not irreversible but it may need a lot of work from the coaches).
This “theory” is the same that allows me to think – extrapolating – that Josh could still be coached into something really remarkable. But again, there is a lot of work and discipline involved in this and that is something that LD does not bring to the table.
These guys would be a top team with a top coach, however, that’s a rare commodity and apparently we missed out on the right guys Thibs and Monty.
What we need is someone who knows his X’s and O’s but trusts quality assistants to give a real hand at directing the team towards success and at the same time a guy who knows how to discipline and motivate players (a mix between a father figure and a mentor) into doing what it best for the team’s success (ultimately to their own success as well).
drmaryb (*_-)
May 17th, 2011
11:08 am
True Words!
“I’m not sure I would call this a lament;
perhaps envision might be better suited?”
- grand – dad -
_______________
You picked up the wrong quote there. Al lamented, “We need more size in the post to be any type of contender.”
Contender, is the lament here and the key word of the entire interview.
From hearing the interview, I took very little from it to say he was complaining. I think he was just stating the obvious, that he has always played PF and apparently won B2B Championship Titles from that position. However, he did say he enjoys playing Center.
I think after the Magic series, it was obvious to the whole world that we were too small inside to beat the elite teams! Where was Collins then?
Oh Well, the Magic was loaded for bear at every position, we were not built to beat THAT team – period!
drmaryb (*_-)
May 17th, 2011
11:14 am
* I rarely engage myself in far right ot far left sided conversations …
drmaryb (*_-)
May 17th, 2011
11:32 am
I really don’t care what # Al plays, as long as he plays dominant inside.
nbafan
May 17th, 2011
11:34 am
What BS.
I remember this exact same article and discussions (among media) on how the Hawks should follow the blueprint… blah, blah, blah.
This team has been the same for 35+ years= mediocre minus 1 year or two (bad and good).
Mark it down. This Hawks team will be horrible again before it get’s any better.
How about an article about how a Bulls team can go from bad to great to bad to great… winning titles and then getting a top pick in the draft because they were bad… several times before an Atlanta Hawks Team can even get to a NBA Finals?
How about start holding the team accountable for their mediocre results year after year after year…?
Slimjr
May 17th, 2011
11:43 am
The biggest problem the Hawks have is Sund hired the wrong guy to coach his team!!!
Slimjr
May 17th, 2011
11:47 am
Allstar-AL=Fake Power Forward could not defend his shadow…………………. sigh……………..
WaltFrazier
May 17th, 2011
11:54 am
As I said before, the Hawks BLEW their chance to acquire DWIGHT HOWARD. That deal would have worked had the Hawks held on to Jordan Crawford. Then the Hawks could have packaged the Crawford Brothers (Jordan and Jamal) to the Magic in return for Dwight Howard. The Magic would have made that deal because Jordan Crawford has been scoring 29 points a game since he was traded to the Wizzards. Jamal averaged 24 points a game in the Orlando series. Jamal would be a superstar if he was a regular starter. I’m sure the Magic would have taken 55 points a night of scoring from Jamal and Jordan in return for Howard. Anybody in the league would have made that trade but there is only one Dwight Howard so only 1 team could have made that trade. Now we couldnt get Dwight because we would have to give up Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford for Dwight Howard and we would lose our two most prolific scorers. OK. maybe superman isnt the solution but Dwight would certainly look good in an Atlanta Hawks uniform particularly since he is a native Atlantan.
Dept. of Unintended Irony
May 17th, 2011
12:08 pm
WaltFrazier
May 17th, 2011
11:54 am
“…Jordan Crawford has been scoring 29 points a game since he was traded to the Wizzards. Jamal averaged 24 points a game in the Orlando series. Jamal would be a superstar if he was a regular starter. I’m sure the Magic would have taken 55 points a night of scoring from Jamal and Jordan in return for Howard.”
Who knew that applying “Just For Men” hair coloring would affect brain cells?
Grandad
May 17th, 2011
12:19 pm
WaltFrazier
Can you hear colors and see sound in your world ?
freezermeat
May 17th, 2011
12:27 pm
dep of ui irons
you andy grandpa goin get yours ass beat one day
Geemack
May 17th, 2011
12:42 pm
Good to see Ken Strickland back on the blog. I pray everything is good with you buddy.