Atlanta Hawks: If NBA lockout lingers, Zaza Pachulia may play in Turkey
If the NBA lockout is not ended by the scheduled start of the 2011-12 season, Hawks reserve center Zaza Pachulia could end up playing in Turkey in the short term.
Pachulia, who is under contract with the Hawks for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons for a total of about $10 million, said he has a “verbal agreement” to play next season for Turkish club Besiktas.
“They have interest, I have interest and we have talked about price,” Pachulia said. “It’s not official now.”
Besiktas also has an agreement with New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams.
Pachulia said the contract with Besiktas would immediately terminate when NBA owners and players agree on a new labor deal. The contract also would include some kind of insurance for Pachulia since his guaranteed contract with the Hawks would not be protected in case of an injury sustained while playing in another league.
FIBA, basketball’s world governing body, has yet to rule on whether NBA players under contract would be cleared to sign contracts with other leagues during the lockout. NBA commissioner David Stern said during the season the league would not attempt to block players from playing elsewhere.
“We are not going to do anything to affect our contract with the NBA,” Pachulia said. “That’s my life right now.”
Unlike most NBA players, Pachulia would not face culture shock playing in Europe. He is a native of bordering Georgia, speaks Turkish and holds a passport from the country.
“For me, it feels like going home,” he said. “I played there for six years [as a teenager]. I know a lot of the players, the manager, the coaches. I’m excited.”
Pachulia plans to play for Georgia in European Olympic qualifying this summer. FIBA is expected to announce a plan to insure NBA players who participate in international competitions.
It’s possible more NBA players could decide to play overseas during the lockout. Roger Mason Jr., a players union vice president, told Newsday that Knicks stars Amar’e Stodemire and Carmelo Anthony inquired about playing overseas (though Stoudemire’s agent later said Stoudemire isn’t thinking about making the move).
“I wish none of us [NBA players] would have to deal with these kind of things,” Pachulia said. “But the most important thing is I love the game.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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121 comments Add your comment
hawks_4_life
July 8th, 2011
12:44 pm
NUMERO UNO BABY…YES
jim
July 8th, 2011
12:48 pm
is this really a story.
you and your flopping can go to turkey. shed us of your contract please.
take jj with you.
hawks_4_life
July 8th, 2011
12:49 pm
I’ll like to thank ZAZA, the poor owners and under-priviledged players for giving M.C. a reason to write again lol. In all seriousness both sides need to realize that their rift is causing anomosity from the people who finance them, us fans. Hopefully they learn something from the impending doom called the NFL and their situation.
THESE TWO SPORTS NEED TO REALIZE THEY ARE GETTING PAID FROM A KID’S GAME.
How will D-Will’s decision impact NBA? – ESPN | ooxx
July 8th, 2011
12:56 pm
[...] not the first NBA player to head overseasYahoo! SportsCBSSports.com -USA Today -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)all 552 news articles » This entry was posted in 流言. Bookmark the permalink. [...]
Najeh Davenpoop
July 8th, 2011
1:05 pm
Quit closing this blog for comments.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 8th, 2011
1:06 pm
Too many fans think only of their own entertainment. This is what happens when professionals are not allowed to pursue their passions. It is to be expected and I wouldn’t be surprised to see more and more as we approach camp time.
ILL-Logical
July 8th, 2011
1:17 pm
MC: Thanks for the update especially now that the issue of NBA players playing overseas has affected the Hawks. Any news from some of the other Hawks regarding what their plans are/will be pending the resolution of the lock out?
Daniel Tosh
July 8th, 2011
1:18 pm
I think I davenpooped myself
JOE
July 8th, 2011
1:19 pm
Any chance we can get Joe Johnson to go play over seas and brak an ankle or something so we can void his contract?
Trojan
July 8th, 2011
1:22 pm
I would rather have Zaza playing basketball and working on his game as opposed to running a resturant.
MC: What part of their games is each member of our team working on during the summer?
The NBA needs to be careful, do they think that they will be missed?
O'Brien
July 8th, 2011
1:25 pm
MC,
Why does the ajc insist on closing the blogs? I know there is a lockout going on, but the NFL is also in a lockout, but there is still activity on the Falcons page.
O'Brien
July 8th, 2011
1:26 pm
I am ok with ZaZa playing overseas. Hoewever, I wouldnt want JJ playing overseas.
Tom
July 8th, 2011
1:43 pm
So, are the TV networks getting set up to broadcast European league games to fill the programing void?
Hoops
July 8th, 2011
1:50 pm
The players have a right to go play anywhere they want to during the lockout. Contracts are null & void during the lockout. I’m sure that any players that do go to Europe to play will have a release clause in their contracts for when the lockout ends.
I MUS WRITE
July 8th, 2011
1:57 pm
ZaZa? ….Yawn. Is he even starter material in Turkey? Probably not….DAM
A concerned fan..
July 8th, 2011
2:02 pm
You can’t blaim Pachulia for wanting to play overseas. He like many Americans has to make money to support if family. Let’s hope we can get a new CBA before the season starts.
drmaryb (*_-)
July 8th, 2011
2:03 pm
Finally, a new blog!!! Summertime in the big city was getting hotter than usual, if you ladies know what I mean!!!
Geemack
July 8th, 2011
2:05 pm
Good for Zaza. Go make that money.
Also interesting is the Lakers are not renewing the contract of Assistant GM Ronnie Lester. That’s 24 years with the best organization in basketball.
This type move could take you laughing stock to NBA champs in to 2 to 3 years.
drmaryb (*_*)
July 8th, 2011
2:12 pm
“I am ok with ZaZa playing overseas. Hoewever, I wouldnt want JJ playing overseas.”
_______________
IMUS WRITE: ZaZA was a starter for his Georgian team last Summer, he averaged 25 & 10 in a tournament playiing straight up against Gortat, whom he literally shut down!
So, the answer is a resounding – YES!_
Co-Sign that. Mr. Johnson would benefit more from re-habbing his shooting elbow with shooting drills and resting his body.
___________________
Does MC have access to the players and their off-season plans? He wasn’t even allowed to view closed practices. IDK how much access MC has to the players, truthfully.
drmaryb (*_*)
July 8th, 2011
2:16 pm
Hi Jacked!
__________
This post is not mine:
drmaryb (*_-)
Finally, a new blog!!! Summertime in the big city was getting hotter than usual, if you ladies know what I mean!!!
July 8th, 2011
2:03 pm
Sautee
July 8th, 2011
2:18 pm
MC, is there any reason that the AJC couldn’t use an intern to monitor the blog when you cannot? It’s insane to blunt the energy of Hawks fans while the league is lost in foolishness. It’s almost like the AJC thinks your blog is just too much trouble to maintain. Why yours and not others?
And that’s not only a shame, but demeans the paper I grew up reading and used to have respect for. Now I just think it’s a pitiful organization, and I feel sorry for you having to put up with BS there.
hawks_4_life
July 8th, 2011
2:21 pm
Looks like “All star” Yi is retiring. He is the first person ever I can think about to make the allstar game without playing. The voting system is severely flawed.
hawks_4_life
July 8th, 2011
2:23 pm
Im sorry I meant Yao, lol.
Worldwide Clyde
July 8th, 2011
2:41 pm
Why don’t they close the Falcons blog? AJC always doggin’ the Hawks fans out.
Zaza going to Turkey? *yawn*
FIRE SUND
Grandad
July 8th, 2011
3:42 pm
Mr Michael Cunningham:
If you care to research, I would be curious to the fact;
How much if any of Philips Arena was subsidized
by the taxpayers ?
Also Philips Global [naming rights] have a dawg in this hunt.
My point – aren’t taxpayers (rental car companies for sure)
Philips Global, venders, fans (ticket prices will be affected)
hotel / motel industry, airlines, restaurants,et al players in
this labor dispute.
Therefore, shouldn’t they / we have a voice ?
I’m not saying these entities should determine salaries;
but a lockout or strike casts a web over
more than two parties.
Not to mention a pore ol’ beat writer with nuthin’ to do.
Play Ball !
Grandad
July 8th, 2011
3:45 pm
* Should have read:
et al *are players
Poor grammar.
Ra'mon
July 8th, 2011
4:29 pm
MC, is there any truth to the rumor that Sund has hired a ‘goon’ to take out Zaza’s knee as soon as he step on the court, to void the third worst contract on the team? lol
Ra'mon
July 8th, 2011
4:55 pm
Why did LD not attempt to contact Brian Shaw to come and lead up his assistant staff? I’m sure Shaw would’ve rather come to Atlanta than the Pacers.
O'Brien
July 8th, 2011
5:06 pm
Ra’mon,
Rick Sund is hoping Marvin goes to play overseas, and is hoping he hurts his back over there, so he can void his contract
O'Brien
July 8th, 2011
5:10 pm
Ra’mon,
I’m sure Shaw would’ve rather come to Atlanta than the Pacers..
For partying, maybe. But who wants to work for LD, Rick Sund, and the ASG? Plus keep in mind that LD is the lowest paid HC in the league, so his assistants are probably the lowest paid assistants in the league.
I think Shaw makes more money in Indy, and he works for a better organization.
Atlanta Hawks Zaza Pachulia Taking His Talents To Turkey Too? | Robert Littal Presents BlackSportsOnline
July 8th, 2011
5:15 pm
[...] ship and now the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that Hawks backup center Zaza Pachulia could play for Turkey too during the lockout. Pachulia, who is under contract with the Hawks for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons for a total of [...]
Ra'mon
July 8th, 2011
5:22 pm
O’brien, but Shaw would’ve known in Atlanta, he’s closer to a head coaching position (possibly this season) than he is in Indiana. And he works for a better organization? I can’t agree with that. After their history with how they let I. Thomas go (when he was a playoff coach), and the way they’ve let Bird run that franchise into the ground, their good deeds in the 90s and massacre in the Finals has been washed away with multiple lottery picks.
But I will say, I believe Hibbert will be a better center than Bynum will.
Section 303
July 8th, 2011
5:35 pm
Zaza might as well get comfortable over there. This lockout is going to take the entire 2011-2012 season away. Would be a good move for teams in either the Turkish league or any other Euro-league to sign some NBA guys. The NBA guys will be available an entire year.
The owners are going to get their way. They just are. The players can wear shirts that say “STAND” on them all they want. The owners are going to win this battle. It may take the all of next season to do it, but they will win.
Wonder what this blog will look like in January, when the season gets officially canned?
Mike is back
July 8th, 2011
6:28 pm
Hey, I know it’s a chance of a risk for injury…BUT I like the idea of ZaZa continuing to hone his craft during the lock out…I especially love his love for the game of basketball…he is a keeper…I wouldn’t let him get away.
IT’S always good to hear something from MC…these are tumultuous times…Dude been doing his thang.
BIG UPS to the NBA Players Reps…they are looking kind of smart…RIGHT NOW. heh heh
BTW, for once…and I emphasis…FOR ONCE…Sund and ASG…are looking kind of smart…for holding those workouts before the lockout…maybe it’s the impending change in ownership…again heh heh…lol
Who knows how things will turnout for the NBA lockout…but with the recent ruling in the NFL lock out…that should at the very leased…SET THE TONE…for both the NFL AND NBA negotiations going forward…and maybe…just maybe…them BIRDS are closer to taking flight…”Right!”
Well, them dang Bravo are warming up…all is not lost…ALBERT…is coming to town…hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
tyger
July 8th, 2011
8:28 pm
Hmmmm….
NFL locks out its players….UFL moves its games to Sundays w/ college football round the corner.
NBA locks out its players….Europe scoops up the talent, question is who has the TV rights?
I wont miss the NFL or NBA – too much Barnum and Bailey officiating.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 8th, 2011
9:16 pm
David Lighty, Demetri McCamey, and Malcolm Thomas have all signed overseas as well. Unlike Zaza’s contract, their contracts likely don’t have out clauses that allow them to rejoin the NBA once the lockout is lifted (since they are not under contract), which means even if there is a 2011-12 season they will likely not be available for the Hawks to sign.
My screen name got jacked at 1:06 PM.
Hoops
July 8th, 2011
11:03 pm
How would you like to be the Magic owner? Being pressured by all of the NBA owners to support the lockout, but in the back of your mind you realize that if the season is lost due to no new CBA then D. Howard will walk and you will get nothing for the best center in the league! OUCH!!!
Ed Gray
July 8th, 2011
11:58 pm
Why can’t I get a break like that? I can score 6 points a game…
zack
July 9th, 2011
12:35 am
If you dumb*&%^ didn’t know, Zaza is pretty good overseas. He’s an pretty good backup centers in the nba possibly one of the best back centers. I bet none of you can go overseas right now and get a minimum contract agreement. If you are atl hawks fans you cant get mad at players for going overseas, there just tryna make dat money. Pretty sure I would leave to.
Harry from da Burn
July 9th, 2011
2:58 am
Go to Turkey, AND STAY IN TURKEY
Affaire Pachulia-Besiktas : l’accord verbal | BasketActu.com
July 9th, 2011
5:20 am
[...] : Zaza Pchulia a confié au Hawks Blog qu’il aurait trouvé un accord verbal avec le Besiktas : « Ils sont intéressés, [...]
Paddy
July 9th, 2011
6:49 am
And behind the scenes; ASG is forming a league in case of no NBA this season.Spokesman for ASG said the Iceland/Greenland market is untapped. ” We can make it work just like we did in ATL” said Bruce Levenson.
BC
July 9th, 2011
6:54 am
Take that turkey Joe Johnson with you and leave him there, PLEASE.
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
July 9th, 2011
8:51 am
“Pretty sure I would leave to.”
Leave to what?
Fundamentals
July 9th, 2011
9:59 am
I’m very happy that ZaZa has the will to continue to play and work on his craft. He is a reliable back-up that proved he could put up stats when he was our only center just after the trade. No, he’s not a starting center on a contending team, but when he’s engaged and when he feels appreciated, he can perform well. He will excel in Turkey. Hopefully the experience will allow him to continue to improve when he returns to ATL.
The problem with our team isn’t bad players, bad contracts, ect. It’s more in folks realizing their role, playing in a manner in which they can maximize their talent and focussing on a team goal. We’ve got alot of individuals with individual talents who just don’t realize what TEAM is all about…but then again, that statement defines the NBA as a whole.
Dallas essentially had the same talent level this year as in the 8-10 failed years past…what changed – TEAM attitude and determination.
Dap01
July 9th, 2011
11:12 am
Davenpoop: good info at 9:16 pm. That would have been good info for the ajc to report. The NBA is off, but should the reporting be off as well?
TMAC
July 9th, 2011
12:08 pm
They all should go over seas and play and maybe the price of tickets will come down. The economy is hurting stupid!!
Ken Strickland
July 9th, 2011
12:30 pm
Well, it’s nice to know that multimillionaires have employment options when they techically lose their jobs, while ticket buying fans and families have to suffer when they lose theirs. It seems that when it comes to basketball, the AJC shares the same disdane for Hawk fans that the NBA has for it’s fans.
The networks and Corporations pay the NBA salaries, and the owners pay players salaries, but the networks, NBA, and Corportions seem to have forgotten who pays theirs. While owners want a hard cap on players salaries, which I whole heartedly endorse, they also need to consider a hard cap on ticket prices as well.
Hoops
July 9th, 2011
12:39 pm
Ken,
A hard cap on ticket prices. What a noval idea! That should be part of the owners sell to the players union on why they are pushing for a hard cap. That would make both sides get rid of their greed and give the fans, the real salary payers, a reason to cheer on their team after the lock out is over!!!
ryan
July 9th, 2011
1:37 pm
Maybe this lockout will be the end of the ASG because they will loose a lot of money what ever the have left we can only hope .
Grandad
July 9th, 2011
1:41 pm
Enter your comments here
Ra'mon
July 9th, 2011
1:57 pm
This is a great article http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6749669/if-ruled-nba-world .
Trading Sy and Horford for Rocket big men and #14 + 23/2nd rounder picks for Donatas#14 & Malcolm Thomas #48
July 9th, 2011
4:11 pm
Maybe the Hawks (amongst other teams) should recognize what translates to winning.
“Detroit model” my foot. Bootleg D’Antoni model more like it.
Big Names + Filler = FAIL #TradeALHorford and go for a 10 man Size rotation.
If Mitch Kupchak ran the Hawks? Attractive Franchise Survey
http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1124786
::::::::
1. If Mitch Kupchak were and had to win a title and boost attendance in the process which team would you field? (Team 1= Retool Frontcourt, Team 2= Budget and Coaches Awards team)
2. If Magic Johnson were the lead guard and had to run point which team would he choose?
3. If Chris Paul were available for trade which team has more assets to A) attract Chris, B) conduct a trade and C) still have depth and talent to compete with CHI/MIA/NYK.
4. If Dwight Howard were available for trade which team has more assets to A) attract Dwight, B) conduct a trade and C) still have depth and talent to compete with CHI/MIA/NYK.
5. If you were a paying fan which team would you pay to see?
Trade Sy+Horford TPE PF, Donatas backup PF Jordan HIll, C Hasheem Thabeet backup SF,Malcolm Thomas
July 9th, 2011
4:16 pm
“Here’s a newsflash: We’re not the NFL. They have revenue sharing because it doesn’t matter who plays in the Super Bowl, or where Peyton Manning spends his career. All that matters is parity and television money. Our success hinges on star power and big-market teams; we could never survive one year without a team in Los Angeles, much less two decades and counting like the NFL just did. Our attendance numbers these past few years have told us — pretty convincingly — that small-market fans aren’t forking over money for professional basketball anymore unless their local team is good or great. And even then, they might not show up.
“We have to reinvent our league. We have to figure out which 25 to 30 cities can handle a professional basketball franchise instead of wasting our time protecting the ones that can’t. We have to accept that big-market teams have a better chance of succeeding than small-market teams, for a variety of reasons, but mainly because wealthier owners want to own big-market teams and talented players want to play for big-market teams. That’s the reality. That’s the big picture. But yes, the small picture says we need to knock down that BRI a little. A 50/50 split seems totally fair.”
gcs
July 9th, 2011
5:29 pm
How do you say “see ya” in Turkish?
Najeh Davenpoop
July 9th, 2011
5:39 pm
Some people seem to be a little confused. For those of you who missed it in the original article:
Pachulia said the contract with Besiktas would immediately terminate when NBA owners and players agree on a new labor deal.
That means when the lockout is over he will return to the Hawks, barring an injury that induces the Hawks to void his current contract.
Fundamentals
July 9th, 2011
5:54 pm
IMHO the overseas market is for a few key reasons:
To pay bills for certain players who live paycheck to paycheck
To hone their craft and stay in shape since there are no summer programs.
The money is better here. When the lockout ends, they’ll all be back…if they’re good enough.
I honestly take ZaZa’s international play of late as a sign that he truly does love basketball and that he does have the competitive fire to try to achieve. He doesn’t always get utilized here in a way that maximizes his talent. Nor do any of our players for that matter.
We need stories on how our players are honing their craft. How do they intend to obtain the “organic growth” we need to continue to be successful. ZaZa going to Turkey and playing on his national team are excellent opportunities to develop his game, gain confidence and stay in shape. I applaud him.
What are our other players planning to do? Get another BS degree?
Worldwide Clyde
July 9th, 2011
11:57 pm
FIRE LD
hawksfancents95
July 10th, 2011
12:25 am
if i was in the NBA or NFL and they had alternative options to play and fulfill my childhood dream i would do it too. the NFL guys have no other real option to play their sport and make an income, while as the NBA guys have options in europe, asia, and australia. i hope more NBA guys go to these other countries to play as it will hopefully show these NBA owners if they dont resolve this issue that the NBA will desipate and there will be nothing more to make revenue. I also wish David stern would take after Roger goddell and make his salary while there is a lockout to $1 to show he wants to solve this CBA issue, but we know stern is about money not the game of basketball. Its good to see Zaza and Dwill go ahead and show they want to play bball and will play wherever as long as they do what they love. also this lockout sucks for the hawks free agent hopes as David Lighty already signed and he was going to be a FA signee(hopefully). i hope we can still get joe alexander and demetri mcCamey before they sign anywhere.
good to see a blog up here on ajc as i can finally read/talk hawk bball with actual hawks people.
*side note* Michael B-Easy Beasely sighted with maryjane is no issue and should not be an issue while there is an NBA lockout. he should not be punished during the season or suspended for any reason as there should be guarenteed amnesty while a lockout is in effect, it should basically be handled like it never happened. im not mad at b-easy id be stressed too if i didnt have a job.
Big Ray
July 10th, 2011
1:25 am
…..this blog commenting space will self-destruct in five seconds…
****cue “Mission Impossible music*******
yodaddy
July 10th, 2011
7:43 am
The only way Joe Johnson can win back the fans is if he plays like an All-Star (like he did in January and early February). Otherwise he should sign a deal overseas and then strain a neck muscle voiding his contract.
Zaza Pachulia is a good player and could start for the Hawks. Unfortunately the Hawks coaching since Lenny Wilkens haven’t been the brightest beacons of light
Sautee
July 10th, 2011
9:34 am
lol @ Big Ray. Too true.
ant banks
July 10th, 2011
10:59 am
the nba is carryin’ too much dead weight that is contributing to the labor problems.
1. drop the WNBA
2. drop the D-League
3. contract new orleans, minnesota
Ken Strickland
July 10th, 2011
12:52 pm
The NBA needs to take a long look at getting rid of some of the owners in the league. There’s been no shortage of talent that’s gone through the Clippers organization, but owner DSterling has refused to retain most of it after their rookie contracts have expired. It’s like he’s running his own developmental franchise for the rest of the NBA to harvest it’s talents.
For him, the Clippers represent nothing more than a huge tax writeoff, and nothing more. And the idea of moving franchises to resolve money issues doesn’t usually work out, unless there’s also an ownership change. We saw how the Charlotte Hornets ended up is the same financial situation, after becoming the New Orleans Hornets, because incompetent, greedy and selfish GShinn was allowed to maintain ownership.
Apparently the NBA didn’t see the city of Charlotte and it’s fan base as the problem, since they overwhelmingly approved having another franchise placed in the city. Getting rid of owners like Shinn and Sterling could allow us a chance to see the development of 2 healthy and consistently competitive franchises.
ArtMan
July 10th, 2011
2:33 pm
Ken,
Is it safe to intuite the ASG falls under the same category as Shinn and Sterling?
Grandad
July 10th, 2011
3:20 pm
ArtMan
“Is it safe to intuite the ASG
falls under the same category
as Shinn and Sterling?” [add Maloofs]
Answer = No !
Hawks have spent money. [Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams]
However, spending money does not equate to good sense.
______________________________________________________
ant banks
1. WNBA – yes
2. D-League – Disagree…good investment.
3. Contraction – No way…not the problem.
* Contraction = prescribing castration for Jock itch.
Ken Strickland
July 10th, 2011
4:58 pm
ARTMAN-YES INDEED!!!!
nba-stinks
July 10th, 2011
5:00 pm
This franchise needs to be in SEATTLE !!!! PLEASE MOVE ASAP !!!
Atlanta does NOT need worthless nba crap !
RaJaH
July 10th, 2011
5:08 pm
Ant Banks
Dropping the WNBA won’t help the NBA at all. Most of the teams in the WNBA aren’t even affiliated with the NBA.
brigadierjerry
July 10th, 2011
5:56 pm
An item of interest that many of the pro-player posters are not considering is the repercussion of NBA players heading and staying in Europe. My opinion is that by the players leaving to play overseas, they are dooming American basketball into becoming a niche sport.
Let’s use the example of soccer.
Globally, soccer is the most popular sport, but has remained a niche sport in the United States. Many would state that we have “better” sports or that we prefer “physical contact” sports, but the simple truth is that we aren’t the best, we don’t have the best players in the world, and therefore we simply don’t care watching an inferior league (MLS) compared to the English Premiership, La Liga, or Serie A (among many other international leagues).
Now, lets use the example of the NBA.
We have Derron Williams and others stating their willingness to play overseas. Hypothetically, it is not completely out of the realm of possibility for the majority of all-stars to head overseas and to stay overseas if the NBA owners refuse to budge.
The majority of pro-player posters embrace this idea as providing leverage for the players by showing that they can play in viable Euro Leagues and therefore don’t need the NBA. However, they fail to account what it will do to American basketball.
Let’s put this into a question : How many of you would honestly watch U.S. basketball if we didn’t have the best players in the world and the top U.S. college players all went overseas to play each and every year, while only those who couldn’t cut it overseas are the ones who make up the NBA?
By supporting the players to go play overseas, it is setting a precedent for the formation of more viable European basketball leagues that can rival the NBA. While some may see this as beneficial for the players, it will do nothing but damage the quality of U.S. basketball. If the NBA has to directly compete for the best players in the world with various Euro Leagues it will dilute the overall quality of the NBA, as some may still play in the NBA, but others may choose to play in the Euro Leagues instead.
Worst case scenario would be the majority of stars leaving the NBA and staying in the Euro Leagues which would basically turn the quality of the NBA basketball into the equivalent of the U.S. MLS for several years, even questioning if the NBA could recover and rebuild from such a situation occurring.
Is basketball really better off if we have say Kobe, LeBron, A’mare, Derron Williams and others playing in the Euro League while we have Dwayne Wade, Melo, CP3, and others in the NBA?
brigadierjerry
July 10th, 2011
6:52 pm
Scratching my head trying to figure out whose side I am on in the lock out.
Is it the players? Having lived through a number of erroneous contracts on stiffs who should be buried on the bench and there is nothing a team can do about it because the contract is guaranteed can be pretty painful.
The owners who are obviously wealthy, (See Chris Rock stand up between being rich and being wealthy) are complaining about losing money. However show me one owner who has lost money once he sold the team. Even Howard Shultz was complaining how he was losing a boatload in Seattle but he cleared something like 180mil even after his worst case reported losses once he sold the team.
Also it’s a business these guys do have a right to make money on their business, however most business go under if you make poor decisions. If the owner hires a stupid GM and he is giving out Isiah like contracts whose fault is it? Should the players take the hit for poor money decisions by management?
It’s not like any of these players are holding a gun to the GM’s head saying over pay me. The GM’s do it willingly. I mean look at Kobe’s contract does anyone really think he is going to be worth 30 mil when he is 36yrs old? I know the dude is still good but decline is bound to happen and really 30 mil?
It’s hard to be on the players side because after all they are just playing a game making a boatload doing it. Is some way these guys have all won the gene pool lottery and are getting paid like lottery winners.
Maybe as I get older I get a little more jaded looking at all the broke ballers, it wouldn’t have mattered if they made twice the amount they would have just spent twice the amount on aquariums and rims and their posses clothes.
So explain to me whose side you are on and why please. Clear up my clouded/jaded mind of both sides.
jhan
July 10th, 2011
7:00 pm
I’m on the side of making the NBA a healthy league that I can enjoy watching for the rest of my like. The players need to be paid adequately & the owners need to make money off their investments. I guess I’m on the side of the fans!
ant banks
July 10th, 2011
7:35 pm
RAJAH,
whether a wnba team is affiliated with an NBA team is irrelevant it is associated with the NBA LEAGUE. cut ties with them. if nba teams are losin’ a boat load, surely the wnba is
Najeh Davenpoop
July 10th, 2011
8:56 pm
“Dropping the WNBA won’t help the NBA at all. Most of the teams in the WNBA aren’t even affiliated with the NBA.”
No, but the NBA runs the WNBA. The NBA is the reason the WNBA gets press coverage and TV contracts despite being nowhere near popular enough to deserve it. The NBA funds the WNBA and the losses the WNBA incurs year in and year out. It is a money drain for the NBA.
That being said I don’t know exactly how much of a money drain it is. Compared to the billions of dollars of business the NBA does it is possible canceling the WNBA would barely put a dent in their their financials.
“Contraction = prescribing castration for Jock itch.”
This is true if contraction is being discussed solely as a way to reduce financial losses. For financial reasons alone there is no reason to advocate contraction. But I am in favor of contraction as a way of improving the overall quality of play in the league. Right now the NBA has by far the greatest disparity between the best teams and the worst teams of any sports league, and that is not going to change as long as basketball requires people to be tall. Of course the good teams are always going to be fun to watch, but the sh-tty teams would be much less sh-tty — and the good teams much deeper — if a few teams were contracted.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 10th, 2011
9:06 pm
“Worst case scenario would be the majority of stars leaving the NBA and staying in the Euro Leagues which would basically turn the quality of the NBA basketball into the equivalent of the U.S. MLS for several years, even questioning if the NBA could recover and rebuild from such a situation occurring.”
The basketball-soccer analogy is flawed in one major way. It’s not like Americans are physically incapable of playing soccer — they just choose not to do so because there are more popular and lucrative sports in this country for an elite athlete to concentrate on. If LeBron James and Mike Vick and Allen Iverson grew up playing soccer from day one like Thierry Henry and Didier Drogba did, the US soccer team would probably be one of the best, if not the best, in the world.
With that said, just because American basketball players might hypothetically view playing in Europe as a viable option doesn’t mean the popularity of basketball as a whole is going to wane. I would think if that happens the more likely scenario is greater TV exposure in the US for the Euroleague, and possibly even the formation of a champions league or merged league between the NBA and Euroleague. It’s still going to be mostly American athletes in the upper echelon of the sport. And conversely, I don’t think even if American athletes go to Europe the popularity of basketball is going to approach or pass soccer any time soon over there, which means the number of European teams that can pay their players huge salaries — and pay them on time — is still going to be less than the number of NBA teams that can do so.
The players are mostly blowing smoke when it comes to the Europe thing. Like Josh Childress, it’s possible one or two stars may go over there, but the percentage of NBA players as a whole who would be willing to go over there as long as the NBA still exists is pretty small.
Hoops
July 10th, 2011
10:08 pm
I don’t care which side of this NBA lockout that you side with, the owners are going to get what they want or need to happen. We should prepare for a long lockout, possibly lossing the entire season. The players will eventually fold. The NFL is much stronger and has a much bigger fan base than the NBA. Why would NBA players think that they are going to get a better deal that the NFL players are going to get?
ant banks
July 10th, 2011
10:32 pm
i am on the owners side of this equation. i would love to see:
1. a guaranteed base contract for every player and an INCENTIVE BASED piece tied to it. (ex. lebron’s base would be higher than, marvin william’s base. the incentives could incl. avg pts. rebounds, etc.)
2. would like the college player to do 2yrs college, before bein’ draft eligible. the 1 and done is killin’ college and pro basketball.
3. fine owners like d.sterling and gshinn for harmin’ the franchise. if a mcdonald’s or wendy’s franchise is harmin’ the overall brand, they would be fined or their franchisee relationship removed.
4. SHORTEN THE GOT DAM SEASON!!! playin’ 80 games and then 40 playoff games is insane.
5. i like a hard cap. and the nba needs to have more parity with their teams like the nfl. DAVENPOOP was correct when comparin’ the good and bad teams in the nba. the disparity between good and bad teams is not far off. like detroit and chicago, not THAT far off, detroit can turn it around this year.
Trade Sy+Horford TPE PF, Donatas backup PF Jordan HIll, C Hasheem Thabeet backup SF,Malcolm Thomas
July 11th, 2011
12:58 am
“INCENTIVE BASED piece tied to it. (ex. lebron’s base would be higher than, marvin william’s base. the incentives could incl. avg pts. rebounds, etc.)”
Incentive to ball hog.
Ra'mon
July 11th, 2011
1:20 am
Ant Banks, you do realize the last four Rookie of The Year awards have been awarded to one and done players right?
ant banks
July 11th, 2011
4:17 am
RA’MON,
4 years is not a large enough sample pool to ascertain any TRUE information. also, 4 years of one and done is not enough to hurt the nba or college ranks. look over th past 20 years at the one and dones AND the straight outta high school, before they instituted the one and done rule.
the BASKETBALL FUNDAMENTALS of one and dones and straight outta high schools players is not there and has to be honed at $2million dollars per year rather than at the college ranks, which would help the league as a whole. my whole premise
Grandad
July 11th, 2011
4:19 am
It really has little to do with the labor………..
negotiationless lock-out;
but, as for allowing whom to be allowed
to be draft eligible;
I say make the players choose right out of HS.
(Just Like Baseball)
Pro or Student Athlete ?
Then 3 or 4 yrs before they can be drafted.
Opportunity to play in D-League or Europe
-If-
for some reason college life doesn’t work out.
_______________________________________
Grandad
July 11th, 2011
4:29 am
I am really against contraction as a way to improve competition.
I think there is enough talent if allowed to compete,
and the deck is not stacked against teams with stars.
[oficiating, Stern, whatever]
The draft is stacked [supposedly] for parity.
Then fix it where teams who draft well,
and build through the draft, can keep their players.
The lottery has too many teams.
Teams are tanking to get lottery position, etc.
Fix that right right away.
I like Bill Simmons idea;
Let the bottom 8 teams play a single elimination tourney
for the # 1 draft pick.
[with a losers bracket to determine draft pos 1-8]
*My tourney is a little different from his but the same concept.
Back to competition;
*Simmons:
Hard Cap with all owers required to spend it all.
Teams will hang on to their stars.
A real commisioner that oversees competion, not entertainment.
Owners given some sort of incentive to succeed !
*exp. = they get fined or taxed for being anything akin to the:
” Ass-hat Spirit Group ”
and pullin cheap ass tricks such as hiring LD or filling the bench with:
Josh Powells & Joe Smiths.
The Commisioner would void trades:
such as Pau Gasol to LAL for trash & filler.
He would void any attempt at owner stupidity:
Joe Johnson’s contract, drafting Sheldon Williams,
having a pi~~in’ contest within ownership group;
ASG/Belkin.
I’m sorry I got off the subject…..sort of.
Coaches would be required to pass some sort of IQ test.
(and promise to really coach)
They would also have to show proof of training / education
in the field of Coaching.
Just as any professional person would have to do in their
chosen field.
Then they would have to pass a test:
as teachers, an attorney, physicians, bus drivers, civil servants, would.
__________________________________________________________
addendum deleted.
blogitator caused some editations on above text.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 11th, 2011
7:52 am
“Incentive to ball hog.”
This is a milestone day. I think this is the first time I have agreed with you about something.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 11th, 2011
8:00 am
“the BASKETBALL FUNDAMENTALS of one and dones and straight outta high schools players is not there and has to be honed at $2million dollars per year rather than at the college ranks”
This assumes that players will actually learn fundamentals if they stay in college longer, which is not necessarily the case. Maybe one of the few good college coaches like Coach K can get a player to be more fundamentally sound over time, but there are a lot more Paul Hewitts who are great recruiters and terrible coaches and likely will do a worse job developing players than NBA coaches will.
ILL-Logical
July 11th, 2011
8:54 am
If the lockout lingers-and it will- questions are going to be asked about David Stern’s actions. The 4 years he had to avoid a lockout; the creation of the Atlanta Spirit Group; the sale at premium prices of franchises who are allegendly losing money and other issues loom large in the discussions of Stern’s legacy. And the potential litigation by the communities that could have even greater issues with unemployment regarding the restaurant,hotel security and maintenance jobs that will be lost. The longer this thing lasts, the worse it will become for both the NBA and Stern’s public images.
Ra'mon
July 11th, 2011
9:23 am
Ant, you say four years isn’t good enough. But look at the top 10-15 players in the league today. Over half of them are straight out of high school or one and done players. Fundamentals are things that you are suppose to learn in HIGH SCHOOL, not in division 1. When Lou Al. came out he already had his fundamentals his first year in college. The truth is the more fundamental players are often from Europe. And guess how many days they spend on a college campus.
One and done isn’t killing college basketball. Coaches and alumnis who can’t keep their wallets to their selves are the ones killing college basketball. You look at Ohio St basketball. Without Oden and Conley, do you think they really go that far without one and dones?
Wade went to college for longer than a year. Is he really more fundamental than Lebron? The truth is, unlike the NFL, the more athletic a player is at a D-1 school, the less likely he’s going to stay for more than 2 years max in NCAA. That’s why the late 1st round and 2nd round is full of so many upper classmen, compared to the lottery.
If a kid goes to college KNOWING he’s only going there because he’s forced to until he’s eligible for the NBA, he’s not going to learn any more fundamentals. And the head coach isn’t going to sit a blue chip recruit who is the best athlete on the team, simply because he isn’t interested in learning all of the fundamentals of the game.
Ra'mon
July 11th, 2011
9:32 am
ILL, Stern is the biggest gangsta on the East Coast, he doesn’t really care about his image (or the referees) long as the players aren’t shooting out night clubs.
Astro Joe
July 11th, 2011
10:26 am
IMO, the lockout doesn’t become interesting until around September 15th. That would give teams around 45 days to sign free agents and conduct pre-season camps in order not to miss any games. That means for the next 90 days, we’ll likely get a lot of noise and posturing that will ultimately mean little in actual negotiating. When the owners are faced with refunding money for pre-purchased season tickets and players are much closer to missing their first paycheck of the new season, then there will be a serious effort to get things done. (And that is pretty much what we’re seeing with the NFL).
Najeh Davenpoop
July 11th, 2011
10:46 am
I’ll take Al Jefferson’s straight out of high school footwork in the post over Kenyon Martin’s inability to score in the post after four years of college and ten years in the NBA any day of the week.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 11th, 2011
10:59 am
“One and done isn’t killing college basketball. Coaches and alumnis who can’t keep their wallets to their selves are the ones killing college basketball. ”
College coaches who recruit much better than they coach kills college basketball too, since the best players too often end up playing for coaches who don’t properly teach fundamentals or team basketball in college.
I don’t know a whole lot about the quality of AAU basketball, but I hear that blamed a lot for high school players not being schooled in proper fundamentals, so maybe there’s some merit to that.
The thing is, as much as current NBA players threatening to go to Europe is posturing, it’s a lot more likely that if they institute a rule requiring players to be three or four years removed from high school to be drafted, players will start going the Brandon Jennings route. It’s pretty likely to me that elite high school prospects will sign with European or even Chinese teams for a few years if the NBA institutes such a requirement. Not only will they get paid, but chances are they will be better prepared for the NBA by playing with other professionals in a professional league.
niremetal
July 11th, 2011
2:06 pm
I hope he says hi to Cenk Akyol while he’s over there.
doc
July 11th, 2011
2:13 pm
you think chills is glad he got out of greece before bankruptcy hit the state or sorry he left the team financed by a russian billionaire? it would be interesting to be a fly on the wall now hearing what he would say candidly about where things have ended up now that there is a possible work stoppage in the nba.
brigadierjerry
July 11th, 2011
2:42 pm
Saw this posted elsewhere tell me what you think Grandad, Ken Stickland and others in regards to this model. Was well written miunus a few errors
The Championship Formula
This past season, the NBA saw a major shift in the balance of power. Previously, the Western Conference had been considered the superior conference by a wide margin. You could ask anyone a year ago and they would have given you the same answer. Other than the Boston Celtics, no one else in the Eastern Conference was a real threat to contend for a title. Most of the major superstars were in the West, but more importantly it seemed, they had chemistry and very deep team unity. For years, that had been what was needed to take the crown, as evidenced by the Lakers’ back to back victories in 2009 and 2010.
Then came “The Decision“. LeBron James decided to team up with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, two of the best players in the sport, and take his talents to South Beach. Instantly, the Miami Heat became favorites to win it all. No one cared that they didn’t have a talented, well rounded team beyond the top three. Everyone was convinced that once they had a few regular season games under their belt, they would cruise to a championship.
After the first domino went, the rest fell into place. Teams that had held their collective breaths until LeBron made his decision, were able to start making moves of their own. Chicago signed Carlos Boozer away from Utah, New York signed Amar’e Stoudamire away from Phoenix and also left room on their salary cap for another potential signing a year down the road, and Atlanta gave Joe Johnson the big bucks to re-sign with the Hawks.
While the Eastern Conference was making a big splash by signing all the marquee names, Western Conference teams were not only not making any big moves of their own, they were the ones losing all these star players. The power was shifting even more in the East’s favor.
Then, at the trade deadline, things became even more lopsided. The New York Knicks were able to trade for Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony while the New Jersey Nets landed arguably the best point guard in the game in Deron Williams. To make matters worse, the Orlando Magic were able to get a trio of players, headlined by Gilbert Arenas, to team up with the best big man in the NBA, Dwight Howard. Add that to the fact that Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls had turned into an absolute superstar and was leading his team to the best record in the league, and the Western Conference was in big trouble.
By the halfway point of the season, the formula for a championship had become clear, acquire as many superstars as you can under the salary cap and surround them with fringe players on minimum contracts. On paper, this seemed like a solid strategy. On the court, it was actually working. The Heat had picked up steam, the Knicks were in position to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years, and Chicago had the best record in the league.
Rumors flying around the league were that a lot of teams were attempting to set themselves up to implement this same strategy. If not this year, then teams were preparing for one or two years down the road when certain big name players were going to hit the free agent market.
In steps the Western Conference, and more specifically, the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs had been flying under the radar all year long. Though they had one of the best records in the league, the Spurs and Lakers had always been the teams to beat. Well, it seemed no one told the Mavericks. They swept the Lakers in four straight games on their way to the Western Conference Finals. There, they took care of the surprising Oklahoma City Thunder in equally impressive fashion.
After a relatively easy journey through the West, the Mavericks found themselves pitted against the heavily favored Miami Heat. In one of the most entertaining and intense NBA Finals in history, the Dallas Mavericks were able to come away victorious in seven games.
They had done it, they were NBA Champions. They had validated their eccentric and often controversial owner and they had proven all their doubters wrong. More importantly for the NBA however, they had done it the old fashioned way, with one superstar and a bunch of role players. While the rest of the NBA was caught up in a superstar cluster, the Dallas Mavericks went to work with what they had, one great player and a lot of good ones, and came out on top.
Now, while one close loss in the Finals won’t discourage teams from following Miami’s superstar formula, it should certainly make them a bit more hesitant. The Mavericks showed us that there is more than one way to skin a cat, and there is no one formula by which to obtain a championship. It is certainly something that has been shown before, but everyone needs a reminder once in a while. This one came at a much needed time.
cdog
July 11th, 2011
2:44 pm
that will be a hugh blessing for the hawks.hope he stays in turkey.turkey need to sign rick sund also.the hawks have too much dead weight as it is
barry
July 11th, 2011
4:38 pm
Hey Y’all:
I love Zse Zsa as a medicre, tough player, buit he ain’t no game changer day in and day out. If he wants to play somewhere and get hurt, let him. If would give us space to sign a big center in theimmediate future.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This a SECRET from a HAWK FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!
LET’S GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
……………………………………….”SHOCK THE WORLD!!!!……………………
ArtMan
July 11th, 2011
5:13 pm
brigadierjerry,
Didn’t Dallas win in 6 games? I must have missed the 7th game.
Grandad
July 11th, 2011
5:34 pm
Najeh Davenpoop / @ / July 11th, 2011 / 8:00 am:
Co/Sign…..absodadgumlutely !
______________________________________________
Sharing what [..I think..] I know for / Ra’mon & Najeh:
College coaches -Now- *(with a few exceptions)
[Coach "K", Howland, L.Hamilton (defense), Brad Stephens]
are nothing more than glorified AAU coaches.
Ra’mon mentioned Euro’s are more fundamental.
-True-
Without giving you their whole program,
I’ll only say for right now that Euro’s practice to play ratio;
is 80 /20…..that’s a guesstimation for comparison’s sake.
while US/AAU ratio is reverse probably 20 80.
Practice:
When I say practice, I mean real individual workouts.
Demanding, disciplined, *fundamentally sound,
*[devised by a real technician - not some yahoo]
supervised and structured, etc.
HS coaches:
Have gone the way of collegiate coaches (r e Najeh)
-recruiters- !
Where do the best kids in Ga play ?
Wherever their AAU coach sends them.
*David Boyd / Milton H.S./ “hooked up”.
Great coach or great recruiter ?
Who funds the AAU…..Nike…..hmmmmm ?
So, why do all the best kids in the state [GA] transfer
just before their Sr yr ?
You reckon Boyd is a great teacher of fundamentals ?
AAU coaches:
Teaching fundamentals ?
Now that’s funny !………ha !
GA. H.S. Association = Stern…they turn a blind eye.
_____________________________________________
So who has a better system ?
I despise what our system has devolved into.
I saw it happen over the course of my career.
Watched it unfold, sad really.
______________________________________________
editors note:
Let the kids go from HS straight to the pros.
Let the commited Student Athletes be just that.
doc
July 11th, 2011
7:18 pm
a tribute to yao on one of his best moves:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-9xVUmmg1s&feature=youtu.be
brigadierjerry
July 11th, 2011
7:36 pm
ArtMan
July 11th, 2011
5:13 pm
brigadierjerry,
Didn’t Dallas win in 6 games? I must have missed the 7th game.
Artman,
I didnt write the article and I know that. I pointed it out it was a good article minus a few errors, that being one of them.
brigadierjerry
July 11th, 2011
7:48 pm
Sharing what [..I think..] I know for / Ra’mon & Najeh:
College coaches -Now- *(with a few exceptions)
[Coach "K", Howland, L.Hamilton (defense), Brad Stephens]
are nothing more than glorified AAU coaches.
Ra’mon mentioned Euro’s are more fundamental.
-True-
Without giving you their whole program,
I’ll only say for right now that Euro’s practice to play ratio;
is 80 /20…..that’s a guesstimation for comparison’s sake.
while US/AAU ratio is reverse probably 20 80.
Practice:
When I say practice, I mean real individual workouts.
Demanding, disciplined, *fundamentally sound,
*[devised by a real technician - not some yahoo]
supervised and structured, etc.
HS coaches:
Have gone the way of collegiate coaches (r e Najeh)
-recruiters- !
Where do the best kids in Ga play ?
Wherever their AAU coach sends them.
*David Boyd / Milton H.S./ “hooked up”.
Great coach or great recruiter ?
Who funds the AAU…..Nike…..hmmmmm ?
So, why do all the best kids in the state [GA] transfer
just before their Sr yr ?
You reckon Boyd is a great teacher of fundamentals ?
AAU coaches:
Teaching fundamentals ?
Now that’s funny !………ha !
GA. H.S. Association = Stern…they turn a blind eye.
_____________________________________________
So who has a better system ?
I despise what our system has devolved into.
I saw it happen over the course of my career.
Watched it unfold, sad really.
______________________________________________
editors note:
Let the kids go from HS straight to the pros.
Let the commited Student Athletes be just that.,
Grandad, great points.
I think it has actually been this way for a long time now European kids are more fundamental. Remember Arvydos Sabonis?He wasnt even in his Prime when he came to the Blazers and was a tremendous player. Passing, Scoring. Same thing with Toni Kukoc. Gallinari. The only thing the US players have over the European players are that they used to produce more power banger players in the post but even that has disappeared.
Remember the 80’s 90’s with the amount of centers that can post and shoot from outside? Now all the so called centers minus dwight are pick and pop centers.
I agree with Najeh that if they raise the limit more star hs kids will go overseas which will be better for them in the long run in being more ready for the NBA. I also like the baseball idea for a minor league system route for a few years before going pro but I dont see that happen. That would be a major overhal.
brigadierjerry
July 11th, 2011
8:00 pm
In a lot of ways the Hawks remind me a lot of the Blazers good second and third tier players but can only get to a certain point but not that far away from really contending. Problem is you have to either have a superstar player and build with around them or have mulitple star players like what LA or even Boston has. I like the Boston model for winning defined roles, sum is greather than the parts. I think the Hawks should follow that model. I really do. Get a defensive anchor like a Garnett or get smith to become one. Get a classic 2 guard that can come off screens. Hawks need to get someone like that or maybe Hinrich. Have a 3 that can create for himself and other ala Pierce and Johnson can do that. Get a solid point guard Teague can develop that and fill the holes around the rest. If Hawks can follow the Celtics model i really think they have a chance. The Spurs way revolved around a superstar player as well as Dallas as well as does LA. Hawks dont have a so called superstar player I think the Boston way is the quickest for the Hawks to really compete since it revolves around a bunch of main players minus Rondo who are the downside of their careers but the sum are greater than the parts. I dont equate it to the Detroit model since the Boston players are greater individually. Thoughts?
brigadierjerry
July 11th, 2011
8:44 pm
Also if you were to rate the last 3 decades of the NBA, which one would you rate from best to worst?
The 80s are known as the Golden Era of basketball and though from what I did witness, I can see why.
The 90s were amazing with Jordan, Hakeem, Shaq, Pippen, Barkley, Malone, etc were all amazing in their own way. They all brought something new to the game and they all had something that a lot of the present day players are lacking, passion. The second half of the decade was lackluster compared to the first, but it still had its memorable moments such as the ‘98 Finals.
Honestly, this last decade has been boring to me. Don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate the athletic freaks such as LeBron James, but it seems like these superstars lack something. Its like they don’t have the same mentality as Jordan or even Hakeem had. These legends had so much heart and they showed it every single game, every quarter, every second. Sometimes it seems like our current superstars want to bitch and give up. I’m really going to be sad when players like KG, Kidd, Ray, and Grant Hill all retire. Not only that, I love defense and it was a lot more aggressive and grittier back then. Ironically, these bigger muscular guys are weak on the defensive end and want a foul called for just getting looked at the wrong way. The idea of “teamwork” has diminished and I honestly think that has a lot to do with how the media glorifies these “superstars”.
Maybe it’s just me. I mean I’ve been a fan of the game for a long time and I miss the way it used to be. I feel like the league has become to commercial. It’s all about money and less about the actual sport.
ArtMan
July 11th, 2011
8:50 pm
brigadierjerry,
I was just being humorus, I know you didn’t write the article.
Grandad
July 11th, 2011
10:10 pm
brig
I know that only few can relate;
but the 60’s with every team having a true Center.
Teams were teams.
Play was more physical.
Russell vs Wilt.
West vs Oscar
Elgin was Jordan before Jordan was Jordan, so, Jordan
was indeed actually the de facto Elgin; or so it seems.
On that note the 86 Celtics and the
Chuck Daly “Bad Boy” Pistons
were my favorite teams historically.
*[Non Hawks teams]
Plus, I really loved the Pistol !
*[as a player, the years when he was healthy and somewhat sober]
brigadierjerry
July 11th, 2011
11:02 pm
Grandad,
I didnt see the 60’s but saw the late 70’s which wasnt bad only problem was that there was drug issues in the 70’s but there was some good play.
I was too young for the early 70’s but saw the late 70’s on.
Those Pistons teams was tough and very physical and the celtic team in ‘86 was a very tough team.
So do you have a favorite team from the 60’s and 70’s?For me those Bullets teams i liked they had battles against the Knicks and that Sonic team with Dennis Johnson and Portland team that beat the Sixers after they took the first two games was a tough team
Ra'mon
July 12th, 2011
12:24 am
Grandad, exactly with letting the kids go pro. If a GM takes a gamble on a 17-18 year old kid out of high school with the number 2-3 pick, then he should be rewarded if that kid becomes a superstar. Every business in the world is a gamble, why shouldn’t the NBA be the same way? Forcing these kids to goto college only leads to more scandals and less quality play, because they don’t want to be there. There has been more college players who were drafted in the top ten that turned out to be busts, than there have been high school players. You think about it, when was the last true bust player that came out of high school, or one in done (not including Marvin-lol).
Hoops
July 12th, 2011
12:30 am
Ok guys, let’s forget for a minute that there is a lockout or let’s just say that the lock out is over. Look at this trade:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=5wygejz
I think the 76ers would go for this trade. I understand that trading JJ is a gamble, but when you consider that it gets rid of a contract that will limit what the Hawks may be able to do for the next 5 years, then you got to do it. Iguodala is a quality player, Meeks gives the Hawks a shooter off the bench, and Hawes gives you a big that can help. This does not help the Hawks at the SF position, but it gives alot of flexibility for future moves.
Hoops
July 12th, 2011
12:52 am
This trade may be the answer to moving Marvin Williams and add some toughness:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=68a3g5p
These two trades would give the Hawks this lineup:
PG-Teague/Hinrich/Vasquez
SG-Iguodala/Hinrich/Meeks
SF-Battier/Wilkins/Sy
PF-Smith/Rolle/Benson
C-Horford/Zaza/Hawes
Grandad
July 12th, 2011
1:19 am
Hoops
Hawes & Battier are unrestricted FA’s.
S -&- T rules may or may not apply with the new CBA.
I would sign Battier straight up.
Also, any trade Iggy for Joe / I’m mostly for it.
*[Hlth / knee issues / would have to be resolved] (r e Iggy)
Grandad
July 12th, 2011
1:22 am
Hoops
All trade exceptions are as worthless as confederate money.
If you didn’t use it, it’s gone.
*[old CBA]
EmirS.
July 12th, 2011
3:53 am
And more so,
Why would Memphis even consider that?
Najeh Davenpoop
July 12th, 2011
10:14 am
Jamal Crawford may be following Zaza to Turkey.
Goodwin said free agent Jamal Crawford has serious interest from two teams and is contemplating an offer from a Turkish club, though he wouldn’t specify which one. It remains to be seen how wiling teams will be to offer the D-Will clause.
“So far in the conversations for Jamal Crawford, teams have shown [both a] reluctance and a willingness to have that clause in there,” Goodwin said. “Obviously, we would never pursue it without a clause being in there where the player can opt out.”
Trojan
July 12th, 2011
3:32 pm
Heading into Football season, does the NBA actually think that they will be missed?
Rondo
July 12th, 2011
3:47 pm
Enter your comments here
Rondo
July 12th, 2011
3:53 pm
Stern and nba owners better wise up and make a decision before they loose all their talent to Europe. I wonder are they going over there for the money, women or just for the fun of the game.
KevinM
July 12th, 2011
4:09 pm
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY Back to Page 1:
“JOE
July 8th, 2011
1:19 pm
Any chance we can get Joe Johnson to go play over seas and brak an ankle or something so we can void his contract?”
I saw Joe break Keith Bogan’s ankles and he played longer than anyone on this team.
What I will say brigadier is that I am all in on the player’s side. The players do one thing: play by the rules given to them. Stern and the owners have to battle within themselves to get anything done. If you told the owners no more 100M contracts, how long would that last? Cuban and the Buss family are lauging at you. The owners and Stern are complete embassils and there’s a chance they lose more than just a year on this lockout. Stern said the goal is to make all 30 teams profitable. The only way to do that? Having these players beg to come back to play.
Now, an old question: what is the state of the NBDL? Is that league no longer in play? The owners don’t own those franchises. Can’t this league continue on? May be a dumb question, but I have heard nothing on it. If we are stuck with the WNBA on NBA-TV, then that station is going to lose a bunch of sponsorships/promotions.
I remember the emails from the Hawks group telling me its not too late to go get in on a great package. I remember how bad the last holdout became. The Hawks and Lenny Wilkens had to stage a couple of free scrimmages to garner public interest again and had to play at Alexander Coliseum as well. That was another era of stagnant Hawk successful teams also.
Our future is bleak enough to have me thinking, are we better off with the Hawks not even playing instead of being fed ‘core’ cereal? I think I have seen what I need to see from a Larry Drew led team.
KevinM
July 12th, 2011
4:11 pm
I can’t wait for the Hawks promo dept to come out with their must-sees of the next playing season when they promote the visiting teams more than the team in this town.
And if you decided to go to Philips to see one Hawks player in action, who would it be? For me, Josh, then JT. The rest, fizzle.
KevinM
July 12th, 2011
4:12 pm
Yeah, wait til the NBA players have to actually go over there and practice 3X the amount they play over here?
How did that work for AI? I knew he wouldn’t last 3 months.
KevinM
July 12th, 2011
4:14 pm
So BJerry, I am on the players’ side 100% because I can’t defend anything the ASG has done to this fan base, much less the Thrasher fan base.
They can stay out as long as they want; I don’t want my money going to anything ASG related. If Atlanta magazine printed a most-despised list, I wonder who would lead the survey? Far ahead of Nathan, the ‘deal-maker’ himself.
KevinM
July 12th, 2011
4:16 pm
Well, at least we can relax knowing Hilton Armstrong will be ballin’ next season!
KevinM
July 12th, 2011
4:18 pm
Grandad, how many years was the Pistol sober?
By what I have read, he was hittin’ the night life more than Peachtree Bart and Favre ever thought about. You don’t keep that slender physique at the after game buffets!