Atlanta Hawks: Camp Report Day 5
The Hawks want to run more often than they did last season. It makes sense when you look at their personnel.
“They call can get up and down the floor, which gives us I think a tremendous advantage in transition if we commit to the run, which I am really trying to get these guys to do,” Larry Drew said. “Jeff [Teague] can really exchange ends. Joe [Johnson] can run. Marvin [Williams] can run. Josh Smith is a deer and Al [Horford] is probably as fast as any five man in the league.
“Running, to me, it has to be habit-forming. It can’t be just a sometimes thing. When you develop that habit it becomes a part of who you are.”
We’ve heard this before. Before last season the Hawks said they would run more often. And then, according to Synergy Sports Technology, they ended up ranking 11th among Eastern Conference teams in the percentage of their total possessions used (shot, free throw or turnover) in transition and tied for sixth in points per possession in transition (1.14).
Turnovers were the biggest reason the Hawks weren’t a more efficient running team: 13 percent of their transition possessions ended with a turnover, worst in the East. Josh Smith was the leading offender with 20.6 percent of his transition possessions used ended with a turnover. Al Horford wasn’t far behind at 18.2 percent but he only used 77 transition possessions while Josh used a team-high 223.
I looked at the video of Josh’s 44 turnovers in transition. It confirmed my subjective view that the vast majority of his turnovers in transition are by way of bad passes: 32 of the 44 by my count, with eight coming on the dribble (though I thought two of those should have been credited to others for bad passes to Josh) and four on charging fouls.
Josh is a pretty good ball-handler in the open court but he often tried to make what Larry Drew called “hero” passes that got swallowed up in traffic, sailed out of bounds or clanged off the backboard. (Frequently heard from Dominique Wilkins during those clips: “There’s where Josh needs to give the ball to a guard. I can’t say it enough.” And oft-repeated by Bob Rathbun: “Josh with the rebound. . . throws it away.”)
Josh would be better off finishing the play himself. He shot 69.8 percent in transition, induced fouls on 14.3 of possessions used and had 15 and-1s–all team highs–and his 69.8 field-goal percentage was second to Al (76.8).
Al, by the way, also led the Hawks with 1.3 points per possession used in transition, suggesting that he should be involved in the fast break more often. So should Marvin Williams, who was second on the team in the percentage of fouls drawn on transition possessions used (13.8 percent) with a low turnover percentage (5.2)
This is where Teague comes in.
“It’s perfect for me,” Teague said of the plan to run more. “That’s the big thing I tried to come in and preach to the guys when I got here is I want to start pushing the ball. We are still young. We are a young team we’ve got to use that to our advantage and use it.”
I’m thinking Al and Marvin should benefit from Teague making more of the decisions on the break. I’m thinking Josh will give it up to Teague because he knows Teague will run with him. It’s not hard to imagine that combination regularly ending with lob dunks, especially since Josh is lighter and faster.
“He looks a lot more explosive, too,” Teague said. “I see him dunking the ball every time now.”
Teague looked to run more than any other Hawks player Last season he had the highest percentage of possessions used in transition among Hawks regulars (23). He turned it over on 9.6 percent of those transition possessions used, drew fouls on 11.4 percent and scored 1.13 points per possession.
Just 10.8 percent of Mike Bibby’s possessions used were in transition, though he was efficient (1.29 points per possession) in large part because he made 16 of 33 3-point attempts on the break, and 13 percent of Jamal’s possessions used were in transition with a good foul percentage (10.7).
To run, the Hawks will have to rebound. Look at how each player’s s defensive rebounding rate ranks among NBA players at their position with more than 15 minutes per game, and it’s not hard to see who needs to pick it up (all rankings according to Hoopdata.com): Al (13th among centers), Josh (15th PFs), Teague (tied for 13th PGs but played less than 15 minutes per game) Joe (25th SGs), Marvin (23rd SFs)
The 6-7 shooting guard with the chiseled body and the 6-9, athletic small forward should not be average or slightly better at defensive rebounding for their position.
“I’m going to challenge both of those guys this year to be better rebounders than they have been in the past,” Drew said. “There is no reason those guys can’t become better rebounders. They have the size. They have the bodies. Rebounding is a dirty job. We are going to challenge them. When we can get the two or the three on glass, they can initiate a fast break effectively. They’ve got to pull more weight in that area. We’ve got to get more rebounding from those spots.”
So, to summarize how the Hawks might improve their transition offense: Run more often, let Teague makes the decisions, send Josh to the rim, get Marvin and Al more involved, and prod J.J. and Marvin to rebound more so there will be more opportunities to run.
Camp report
- Got to see more scrimmage action today. The thing that stood out was Pape Sy’s defensive aggressiveness. He made hay chasing around J.J. and didn’t back down.
- Is there a chance Pape can help the Hawks this year? “There’s a chance,” Drew said. “He really looks good thus far. It looks like playing in the D-League and playing over in Europe helped him because he’s playing at a different level from a confidence standpoint. When he came in for the first camp he might have been a little overwhelmed. But now he looks more comfortable and doesn’t have that deer in the headlight look in his eye.”
- Physically, Sy has the potential to be a good defender. “He’s got the quickness, the size, the length to be a pretty good defensive player, particularly at the top of the floor,” Drew said. “Playng against Jeff every day really helps him out a lot. He has to adjust how to defend guys with the kind of speed. You are not going to go against a guy with that speed every day so if you can keep [Teague] in front of you, then you have a pretty good chance with everyone else.”
- Drew said he still views Sy as a point guard. Teague, Sy, Donald Sloan, Brad Wanamaker and Tracy McGrady are taking turns. “We have to look at this thing realitsicaly,” Drew said. “God forbid that Jeff is out, then we are scrambling at the point guard spot. We have to make sure that we look at each guy individually and very seriously. Hopefully one of those guys will break away from the pack.”
- Kirk Hinrich shot baskets after practice. He said he asked his doctor for clearance on Monday. Hinrich still can’t move his left arm from side to side and can’t lift it very far above his head.
- It looks like the market for Jamal Crawford softened once Chauncey Billups, Vince Carter, Richard Hamilton and Gilbert Arenas became available. Mike Wells of the Indy Star reported Crawford turned down a two-year, $10 million offer (with opt 2012-13 opt out) from the Pacers and SI.com’s Chris Mannix says Crawford is considering similar offers from the Kings and Blazers and less money from the Knicks.
- Check my Twitter feed for comments from Chris Webber, Steve Smith and Kenny Smith about why they think none of the superstar players include the Hawks on their lists of preferred destinations. I’m writing a story on the topic for Sunday’s AJC.
- To those who asked in last blog: Posted late because I had to break down these transition stats. I also heard Hawks were trying to somehow get back in the Jamal sweepstakes and had to check it out (they’re not). But glad to hear you missed me.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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354 comments Add your comment
Rufus1
December 14th, 2011
2:00 pm
Nene resigns with Denver 5yrs 67mil….No one lets go of a good center.
northcyde
December 14th, 2011
2:04 pm
Ken . . that’s not entirely accurate, although somewhat true.
Nene only played in 16 games in the 07 – 08 season that you cite. Iverson had a tremendous season, even averaged 2 steals a game. That 07 – 08 Denver team was #10 in defensive rating, but 29th in points given up. The problem with that team is that they didn’t have a 2 guard that could even begin to slow down the elite scorers in that conference.
They routinely started Anthony Carter and Iverson in the backcourt ( 6-1 and 6 feet respectively ). Karl simply tried to outscore people because he knew that backcourt couldn’t stop many people.
The next year . . yeah, they got rid of Camby and Iverson . . added Billups . . and promoted Nene. But they also added Dahntay Jones ( defensive 2 guard ), Chris Andersen ( a shot blocker at PF ), and Renaldo Balkman ( a defensive SF )
Honestly though, that 2007 – 08 Denver team just go a bad matchup in the playoffs, by drawing the Lakers. The next year, they played New Orleans and Dallas, before they lost to the Lakers in the WC Finals.
c'mon man
December 14th, 2011
2:26 pm
I have a general question… what do you guys think about moving Joe johnson for much less than he’s worth to dump the contract… think Joe for ariza. or something like that?
Section 303
December 14th, 2011
2:29 pm
c’mon man, it does not make sense to dump Joe right now. He is still a good player. Plus, the Hawks would still be on the hook for the rest of his contract.
Assuming he is the player they choose to amnesty, it probably would not be until the last year of his deal. That way they only owe for one year of the deal (minus however much he signs for with another team).
Ken Strickland
December 14th, 2011
2:32 pm
RICK D-I don’t understand your logic. You call our ownership cheap, yet they’re over the cap and barely under the luxury tax threshold because they’ve been willing to spend money. WHERE’S THE LOGIC? They became owners to make money, not to satisfy certain fans who seem to think paying a luxury tax for a player, or players, will somehow automatically transform us into a championship team.
Most of the problems we’ve had in the past, can be resolved internally. Our major weakness over the last 5yrs has been DEF, especially PERIMETER DEF. Making JTeague our starting PG, having Hinrich and Pape Sy as backups, and getting rid of MBibby and JCrawford, our 2 biggest DEF liabilities, will automatically solve that problem.
Having Teague, Hinrich and Pape Sy as our PG rotation will also allow us to run and defend, and do so consistently. Having a healthy MWilliams, a slimmer, trimmer and more committed JSmith, an always dependable AHorford and JJ, along with a much more confident and improved JTeague, should get you excited, unless you don’t know as much about basketball or the Hawks as you might think.
Section 303
December 14th, 2011
2:34 pm
vava, I don’t think I read Rosen as much as you do. But, in general, national writers seem to hate giving the Hawks credit. They’re so dismissive of the Hawks that I almost tune them out when the Hawks are brought up.
Example: If you listen to the NBA Today podcast from ESPN…..last year, before the 1st round, Ryan Rousslo (sp?) and Ric Bucher previewed every opening series. Bucher had just finished saying that the winner of the regular season series should be favored in the playoff series. Well, when they got around to Hawks/Magic, both Rousslo and Bucher laughed at the idea that the Hawks should be favored to win the playoff series with the Magic, even though they had won the regular season series. I mean….they literally laughed at the Hawks.
Never bothered to mention how wrong they were when the Hawks sent Orlando home. They just did not talk about it. Typical ESPN, I guess.
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 14th, 2011
2:38 pm
Amen!
“Rick D.
December 14th, 2011
1:53 pm”
__________
Amen Bruh! I feel your pain from the ownership perspective. I just want to support the team itself at this point. Were gonna’ really some warriors on the court to overcome all the things we have no control over.
Winning covers up a multitude of sins.
northcyde
December 14th, 2011
2:43 pm
As for this year’s version of the Hawks, I don’t think that it is unreasonable to ask management to add quality pieces that will give us a better chance of reaching the NBA Finals. I mean, that IS the goal, right?
Most of us know that were still a playoff level team. But is that where it stops? Or another question is. . . Have you ever heard Sund or Gearing or Nique or anybody in the Hawks organization set a specific goal of reaching the NBA Finals or winning it all. Does the ASG exist to only assemble a competitive, but non championship team here?
I think for most people who have a major problem with the ASG, that’s what it is.
A good Hawks team was enough to placate the fan base
Ken Strickland
December 14th, 2011
2:49 pm
NORTHCYDE-Excellent research, but it actually supports my point. They gave up OFF for DEF, especially shotblocking in the middle for better perimeter and overall DEF. Anderson and Nene combined didn’t outrebound or block more shots than Camby. Also, most of their additions actually strengthened their bench as much as their starting lineup.
That’s what I’m seeing with the Hawks. Except for Radmanovic, our bench additions offer DEF improvements. Teague’s OFF production, along with his DEF, will make Jamal’s departure a forgotten memory. TMac will definitely give us more than DWilkins overall. Radmanovic will give us the long range shooting off the bench we’ll lose with Jamal.
Ken Strickland
December 14th, 2011
2:55 pm
MORTHCYDE-Do you remember how upset fans were when we traded for Jamal instead of resigning Flip Murray? They also thought we were making a big mistake with that move. Now we’re hearing some of the same complaints about us going in another direction with certain personnel, and philosophy. I’d trade Jamal’s streaky OFF, and NO D, for solid DEF any day of the wk.
MsDee
December 14th, 2011
3:02 pm
Ken Strickland, I jus LOVE you!!
ryan
December 14th, 2011
3:04 pm
Looks like trade talks have ended with Orlando and most likely set up a big FA Summer but i guess the Hawks wont be involved oh well .
northcyde
December 14th, 2011
3:04 pm
I didn’t finish my thought on that last statement.
A good team was enough to placate the fan base back in 2009. That’s not the case now.
Once the Hawks started to make the playoffs again, the natural expectation of the fan base is to see just how far we can go.
If the ASG is unwilling.or unable to go to the next level as a championship management group, the fans aren’t going to be happy.
It is what it is.
Melvin
December 14th, 2011
3:05 pm
Ken Strick,
Forget the Sliver lining, I think you can find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow…. The Hawks (ASG) can do no wrong in your eyes… LOL
MsDee
December 14th, 2011
3:07 pm
Northcyde makes valid points but at the end of the day, how can we automatically assume we will be a NBA Champion team just by adding a Dwight or a CP3? Orlando and N.O had them and we went further with more limitations than they did…WAY TO GO, Ken, as always!!
Rod from College Park
December 14th, 2011
3:07 pm
“Most of the problems we’ve had in the past, can be resolved internally. Our major weakness over the last 5yrs has been DEF, especially PERIMETER DEF. Making JTeague our starting PG, having Hinrich and Pape Sy as backups, and getting rid of MBibby and JCrawford, our 2 biggest DEF liabilities, will automatically solve that problem.”
Actually our major problem in the playoffs over the last three years has been the inability to score. Teams know to focus on shutting down Joe, and not one else on the team has the ability to score consistently. When Jamal was hot, against Orlando, we won, but when he was clod against Chicago, we lost. Last year, our playoff average was 86.3 ppg. I agree that our perimeter defense should be better, but without scorers on the floor, unless Mcgrady turns back into TMac, Horford becomes a bonified 20 ppg scorer, and Teague becaomes Chris Paul, we still won’t be able to score enough points in the playoffs to beat elite teams..
MsDee
December 14th, 2011
3:11 pm
Its not about adding pieces just to be adding pieces. Dallas had Dirk for years and pears but he couldnt do it all by himself until he got the RIGHT pieces to get that RING!! No other player on Dallas’s team stands out and they were able to may it happen. Not saying the Hawks are on the same level as Dallas but just like it took them years to get it right w/o making block busters trades, the same COULD happen for us..it just takes patience!!
Section 303
December 14th, 2011
3:13 pm
northcyde, I agree. The ultimate goal should be the NBA title. I don’t think we get there with the ASG owning the team. Although, they are not the only team avoiding the luxary tax this year. Seems like most of them are. Even teams that have been the big spenders in the past are checking themselves this year. Does anyone know the teams that will be in the luxary tax this season? I don’t think many will.
I heard Chris Webber rip the Hawks for not re-signing Jamal. Weak take on his part. Jamal, as much as I like him, was not that great last season. He was no where near as productive as he was in 2009-2010. He is not a player worth breaking the bank for. And, he is not a player that will be the difference between a title and no title.
I am warming up to T-Mac and I’ve always liked Stackhouse (assuming he makes the roster). Willing to give Sy a chance. Vlad should get some open 3-point looks, if the Hawks push the tempo as much as they say they will. We’ll see…would be nice to add Hinrich, but the guy can never answer the bell when needed. He’s made of glass.
doc
December 14th, 2011
3:15 pm
durn, i was hoping nene would come here for a song of say 1.5 mil a year to play with jj and the gang like everyone else.
really glad to see coach karl got his wish after the melo stuff he had to deal with last year. he was pretty outspoken they should keep nene.
an aside, been funny to hear kincade trashing the owners after his trashing of the fans for not showing up last year to see the thrashers. seems he is pointing out among other things, like “money”, how the phillips is showing signs or disrepair because the lack of funds for upkeep; so why would a star come here.
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 14th, 2011
3:18 pm
Cat Fight!
“Ken Strickland, I jus LOVE you!!” -MsDee-
____________
Hey Ms. Dee! Wassup home gurl? Uggh … Are you hittin’ on my man? (she winks)
Rufus1
December 14th, 2011
3:26 pm
The Nets offered Lopez and five 1st round picks…Wow.
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 14th, 2011
3:31 pm
Plop … Plop … Fizz … Fizz!
“… how the phillips is showing signs or disrepair because the lack of funds for upkeep; so why would a star come here.” -doc-
__________
That’s funny, didn’t they just Plop down 2M on a restaurant inside the arena?
KevinM
December 14th, 2011
3:37 pm
“MsDee
December 14th, 2011
3:11 pm
Its not about adding pieces just to be adding pieces. Dallas had Dirk for years and pears but he couldnt do it all by himself until he got the RIGHT pieces to get that RING!! No other player on Dallas’s team stands out and they were able to may it happen. Not saying the Hawks are on the same level as Dallas but just like it took them years to get it right w/o making block busters trades, the same COULD happen for us..it just takes patience!!”
The patience it takes should also allow if necessary the need to exceed the cap to get the right players. I guarantee you Dallas does not go to the ECF or wins a title under the luxury cap. I see ASG spending money; I don’t see them spending it wisely. We have a #2 draft pick who after 6 years is still trying to find his way with this team. He is an unknown at this point and ranks on the low end of SFs in the league. Those are facts. Will one removed bulging disc resolve that?
I dunno, as a bulging disk is not the reason for that fadeaway jumper Marvin is so fond of.
And I point out Marvin because if we are stuck at the luxury tax water level, then he should be part of the solution, an so far, he hasn’t been the solution. We are moving Josh to the 3 because we can’t count on Marvin. So our versatile lineup we have is only good if the jumpers fall.
Dallas changed key pieces in their lineup to find the right combination. They had previously figured out a way to get to the ECF 4 years ago also. We are not a model of Dallas; we rely more on a model like San Antonio, yet we don’t have that HOF type player, or PG yet. We don’t have guys who create mismatches. We have a lot of guys who are good guys who are happy with the level they are at.
Dallas put no limitations on the number of coaches they went through, nor the number of players they signed, traded, and waived.
We could only hope to be that competitive and be even mentioned as a threat to win the title.
Those are all facts and we continue on making small changes, keeping the bulk of the starting lineup, and still make bad signings the norm.
It hurts here more than Dallas; they just go out and spend more. We tell our incumbents to go find a better offer.
I cannot and will not defend this philosophy that is the ASG. They consider this a successful franchise right where we stand as we dropped from a 4 seed to a 5 seed last year on a very experienced team.
Oh yeah, 1/2 the league makes the playoffs. That shouldn’t satisfu anyone, unless you’re a Bobby Cox fan who found every way possible to lose on their home field in the 90s playoffs.
Slimjr
December 14th, 2011
3:38 pm
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 14th, 2011
3:31 pm
Plop … Plop … Fizz … Fizz!
“… how the phillips is showing signs or disrepair because the lack of funds for upkeep; so why would a star come here.” -doc-
__________
“That’s funny, didn’t they just Plop down 2M on a restaurant inside the arena?”
Yea these owners will probably charge “Bones Steak House” prices……#@#$%^^ @ their new joint called “RED” as in RED State? I guess.
Slimjr
December 14th, 2011
3:42 pm
“Oh yeah, 1/2 the league makes the playoffs. That shouldn’t satisfu anyone, unless you’re a Bobby Cox fan who found every way possible to lose on their home field in the 90s playoffs.”
Cox had to be one the worst x and o guys in baseball history? Just dayum with all the implosions his teams had throughout that 20 year run………Yawn………
FreshFromATL
December 14th, 2011
3:42 pm
So first the Warriors give Kwami Brown 7 milly for 1 year and now the Bulls just signed Rip Hamiliton for the FULL MLE? SMGDH. Sund is looking better and better by the day with the T-Mac signing. Hawks may very well surprise a lot of people this year.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 14th, 2011
3:45 pm
“The Nets offered Lopez and five 1st round picks…Wow.”
Considering they got 3 first round picks for sending Kenyon Martin to Denver, using that exchange rate, they should be offering about 15 first round picks for Dwight.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 14th, 2011
3:47 pm
“Oh yeah, 1/2 the league makes the playoffs. That shouldn’t satisfu anyone, unless you’re a Bobby Cox fan who found every way possible to lose on their home field in the 90s playoffs.”
In fairness, only 1/4 of the league makes the playoffs in the MLB, and Bobby Cox managed to win a championship.
northcyde
December 14th, 2011
3:50 pm
MsDee
December 14th, 2011
3:07 pm
Northcyde makes valid points but at the end of the day, how can we automatically assume we will be a NBA Champion team just by adding a Dwight or a CP3? Orlando and N.O had them and we went further with more limitations than they did…WAY TO GO, Ken, as always!!
**********************
First off Ms Dee, Orlando played in the NBA Finals 3 years ago and the Eastern Conference Finals 2 years ago. And New Orleans lone glory in the playoffs came in 2007 – 08, when the lost to the Spurs in 7 games in the West Semifinals.
So technically, those two teams have gone further than we have.
But to answer your question . . no. We can’t know if adding Dwight or CP3 will make us an NBA Champion. And that’s part of my point.
The alternative to not adding those type of players, is to keep what we have. And in the past 4 years, what we have hasn’t even been good enough to get out of the 2nd round.
And while we’re good enough to beat about 60% of the league on most nights, nobody considers us as even a remote threat to even challenge for a title. We’re not even in the conversation.
So how long do we wait for this particular group to become a great team, before we shake up the mix to try to build a great team using potentially better fitting players? That’s actually part of Ken’s rant on the Denver situation of a few years ago.
Denver changed the entire makeup of their team by getting rid of two key cogs and bringing in new people to replace them. So the question is . . when does the Hawks do something like that?
People are mad because it was really Chicago’s 2nd team who beat us in the playoff series last year. A 2nd team that routinely went up against our top 7 players, and handled us for the most part.
I like Ken Strickland’s optimism, but I simply can’t believe that ALL of our vet and rookie minimum guys are going to make a positive impact. Sund is nowhere near that good of a GM to believe that he can pick up a bunch of vet minimum and 2nd round guys, and have all of them be key contributors. Our “core” is essentially the Billy Knight core of 2006.
- Johnson
- Smith
- Marvin
- Zaza
- Horford ( as a draft pick )
I hope Ken is right. I hope now that we finally have the type of bench here that won’t blow the leads that the starters build. Jettisoning Jamal Crawford might be a blessing in disguise, because we’ll be forced to score as a team, and not just watch him try to get his points.
But to get to that next level, we have to go through Chicago and Miami and Boston and possibly still Orlando. To me, our best chance of getting to that next level, is to get a #1 or #2 seed, so that we can at least have home court in the EC Semis.
Being #3 or #4 isn’t going to be good enough, if we have aspirations to advance further in the playoffs. But will that be enough for the ASG? To simply be “good”, but not “great”?
Astro Joe
December 14th, 2011
3:52 pm
northcyde, I am fairly certain that when Gearon sent his letter out last year, that he said something to the effect “bring Atlanta an entertaining product”. My guess is that over the last 8-10 years, only luxury-paying teams have won the gold (maybe the Pistons are the exception, they are the exception to many rules when it comes to winning a title). So if you know that your team’s overall talent level is going to be below the elite, then you seemingly would focus on coaching. And from all reports, the ASG opted for a coaching candidate with low salary demands (in addition to no previous head coaching experience and a past contributor to the team’s sometimes dysfunctional culture). So when you add all of that up, how can anyone sit here two weeks before the start of the season and expect a true contender? I don’t. Maybe I should yell at the rain, but that hasn’t worked in the past 3-4 years (while others blamed Woody, I suggested that fans “follow the money” and lay blame at the feet of ownership). As I’ve said recently, I have above average hopes for this particular team. I like the balance and the notion that some old heads may have some new tricks in their bag. I believe this team is up for sale… any attempts to tear down a wall to make the house look better could easily lead to structural damage that may make the house unsellable. So I think the owners will apply a fresh coat of paint, change out a light fixture or two and cut the grass. I wouldn’t expect much more than that. Still, the house looks better than most.
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 14th, 2011
3:56 pm
Bone In Rib-Eye!
“Yea these owners will probably charge “Bones Steak House” prices……#@#$%^^ @ their new joint called “RED” as in RED State? I guess.” -SlimJr-
________________
SlimJr Boy! We have got to meet and soon. O was just thinking about “Bones” prices when I was tying that restaurant ISH! Dayum … I can’t stand these owners.
northcyde
December 14th, 2011
4:00 pm
It’s just amazing the talk that is coming out of Memphis
***************************
Interview with Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley:
Q. You recently said for the first time publicly that you’re committed to winning a championship. How close are you to winning an NBA title?
A. The players are going to determine how close we are. I can honestly tell you that I think we have a real chance over the next two or three years to win the NBA championship if we get some breaks and a couple of our players develop into their potential. We’ve got a few years where Zach (Randolph) will be playing at a high level. Rudy (Gay) is young and just beginning to come into his own. (Mike) Conley is young. We’ve got a team that’s young and they like each other. The chemistry in the locker room is good. I’m not sure what is going to happen, but I feel like we have a good, deep team. It isn’t like we have five players and then we drop off a cliff. I’m not telling you we’ll win a championship but I’m saying I won’t be surprised if we make a big run for it. That’s honest. I haven’t gone around saying that my whole career in Memphis. I feel like we have something special.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/dec/06/qa-with-grizzlies-owner-michael-heisley-there-to/
********************************
Now Hawks fans . . . have you EVER heard anybody connected with this organization say anything remotely to this? This is friggin MEMPHIS we’re talking about, and their expectations as a franchise from TOP to BOTTOM is higher than ours.
What do we get?
“We like our core”
“I like our bigs”
“Josh Smith is the closest thing to Lebron in the league”
Memphis was a franchise that people last year at this time said should be FOLDED. So they’ve gone from the “Fold” list . . to the “Championship” list?
Incredible.
Just a totally different mentality. That’s why people have ramped up the rhetoric against the ASG. If they’re serious about building a championship team in Atlanta . . THEN PROVE IT.
But as Big Ray pointed out a few blogs ago, we know what their goal is
“to assemble the best possible team, while NOT going over the tax”.
LOL . . it isn’t even about going over the tax, it’s about seeing if you can turn a good team into a great team BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
No chance at that though. So our only hope is that JJ or Josh or Horford turn into superstars.
doc
December 14th, 2011
4:02 pm
dmb you mean patience and an owner willing to spend twenty mil over cap and have a fleet of two planes for his team right?
Grandad
December 14th, 2011
4:03 pm
northcyde
Can it be ? … We agree !
Winning Culture = Championship Culture
Never have I heard ASG say;
-we are about winning championships-
or, even “a” championship.
All we hear is;
-not gonna go over the cap- / -not gonna pay the tax-
Whatever / Whichever ?
The most exciting off season FA frenzie / trade speculation,
rumors a flyin’, generating interest all-over, hype abounding,
hope springs eternal … yet … our Hawks;
no money, no hope, no trades, no FA signing, can’t keep Jamal,
can’t even S & T Jamal, no Big man, no # 1 draft pick, Hinrich inj,
unwilling to even get involved in any trade speculation that is creative,
just the same ol’ same ol’, polish the core, shine up the station wagon,
no splash but a couple ripples; T-Mac & VladRad, useful but re-cycled,
let’s stay the course, make the play-offs and see what happens;
somewhere between 3rd and 6th, that’ll keep ‘em happy … yeah …
maybe win a series, back home after two, sell our draft pick, let Kirk walk;
say bye to T-Mac & VladRad, next year … hey Kito gained 10 lbs;
he’s up to 241 … if he gains another 5 or 6 lbs we can let Zaza walk;
and on it goes……………………………………………………………………
so sad to be a Hawks fan, with the confounded ASG still in charge –
can we [the fans] sue them for a lack of competitive balance in the ATL.
A frustrated, pissed off, irascible ol’ man.
doc
December 14th, 2011
4:05 pm
northcyde it is about providing an ENTERTAINING team without going over tax cap.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 14th, 2011
4:08 pm
If the Hawks are still looking for a minimum salary backup point guard, they could probably do worse than Rafer Alston.
Grandad
December 14th, 2011
4:18 pm
The owners are not willing to S & T Jamal
for fear of going over the cap;
“I do not understand” G-dad.
They do not go into tax land until what ? Feb ?
ASG / Sund would have until the trade deadline
to get back under the cap.
Trade deadline – they could move Kirk,
or, if we are having a tremendous season, roll the dice.
Heck, they could S & T Jamal for a Big,
then [again] dump Kirk or Marv & Zaza at the Tr Deadline.
Isn’t that what ingenius GM’s do ?
Work the #’s.
Grandad
December 14th, 2011
4:19 pm
Why can’t Sund be creative ?
northcyde
December 14th, 2011
4:20 pm
LOL @ “an entertaining product”. Like the ASG just signed Monica or Young Jeezy or somebody.
That’s a fair assessment what you gave Astro. I can buy that.
I just don’t want to see happen to the Smitty – Mookie – Dikembe Hawks, in which the organization waited until Smitty and Mookie were in decline, before dealing them. And they dealt them for fools gold, sending this franchise into an abyss.
Maybe that’s what Gearon and his buddies are afraid of. Trading one or two of our “Medium 3″ for guys who look good stat wise, but are horrible fits team wise. We got an All-Star center that doesn’t want ALL of the responsibilities of playing center . . so in effect, we’re STILL looking for a center after the departure of Dikembe.
While the team looks more balanced on paper, it’s eventually going to come down to one or two of our top 3 guys drastically improving. Heck, maybe we become the 1996 Seattle Supersonics . . not the 1993 version.
northcyde
December 14th, 2011
4:25 pm
Yeah Grandad . . we agree.
kwooden
December 14th, 2011
4:25 pm
Astro, I hate to say this but I agree!
Astro Joe
December 14th, 2011
4:41 pm
BTW, I’ll be cutting confetti, wearing goofy gear and acting like I just won a ring if the Hawks ever win the whole dang thing. So don’t get it twisted, I want to enjoy the euphoria that Mavs’ fans had last summer. I just don’t think it comes until the owner crosses that magical luxury line AND we see an elite head coach on the sideline. Until then, this is like an enjoyable movie with a predictable ending.
doc
December 14th, 2011
4:45 pm
gdad culture is also a problem at uga. have you ever heard mark richt say his team is playing for more than a chance to win the sec championship that puts you in position to play for it all?
Melvin
December 14th, 2011
4:48 pm
Sign Troy Murphy or Craig Smith…. Comeon Sund…
Ra'mon
December 14th, 2011
4:51 pm
Grandad, you know its sad, when ASG can’t even sale a team right, lol.
How do you not verify the buyer’s funds BEFORE the press release, lol?
doc
December 14th, 2011
4:53 pm
astro gearon said on the radio that he felt they were doing their job as an organization and fans should support it because it was good entertainment to paraphrase him. never did he say gans should support us because it is our objective to do what it takes yo win a championship. others have argued you dont spend money over tax until you think you can win. me i think that is doible dpeak or catch 22 buy just yhe same we are stuck with what we have until the desire of ownership changes. so enjoy it like you would a movie, just buy stale overpriced popcorn while you do.
Truth
December 14th, 2011
5:00 pm
“never did he say gans should support us because it is our objective to do what it takes yo win a championship. others have argued you dont spend money over tax until you think you can win. me i think that is doible dpeak or catch 22 buy just yhe same we are stuck with what we have until the desire of ownership changes.”
Wow.
kwooden
December 14th, 2011
5:02 pm
Melvin, I would definitely take Craig Smith over Rolle, especially if Benson and Rolle are the same. I like Smith’s aggressiveness in the paint.
ArtMan
December 14th, 2011
5:23 pm
I wanted to offer a few random thoughts.
Ken, I follow your reasoning and agree that we should be a much improved defensive team. However in the back of my mind I still question if Drew is a good enough coach to get the best out of the players we have. I still remember the end of last season when the team was playing poorly, i.e. coasting into the playoffs, and Drew said they needed to pick it up the last couple games of the season rather than try to turn it on during the playoffs. Well the players did not pick it up until the playoffs began. Drew seemed confused at the time. I still wonder if the players just stopped listening to him and did it their own way.
The value of a good coach is getting players to know their roles on the team and play to their strengths. I did not get the impression the players knew what their roles were or played to their strengths. So do you have confidence that Larry Drew will be able to mold the team to reach their full potential?
Also for those who want to make changes to the core. Do you trust Sund to make trades that would improve the team or is he as likely to make poor decisions and make the team worse by changing the core?
If we had a good GM and coach I would feel more optimistic about the team. They may have peaked or they may just have not had a coach that maximizes the potential of the existing core. I would like to see what an Adelman or Thibodeau could do with this team.
Grandad
December 14th, 2011
5:29 pm
doc
I understand your point.
I think the difference with UGA;
winning the “mythical” Nat Championship is implied.
Plus, winning the SEC puts you in position to play for the
“mythical” Nat Champ.
The SEC championship is a “real” title.
I keep saying mythical due to the fact that the BCS
is a load of crap.
I probably am a CMR apologist to a certain degree;
as I think McGarity has reinstilled the “Winning Culture”
that was lost during the Damon Evans years.
A Winnning Culture begins at the top, r e McGarity.
Nevertheless, you make a great point.