Atlanta Hawks: Camp Report Day 8 (Public Scrimmage)
- The Hawks had a public scrimmage. They let me in, too. I don’t want to make too much of a camp scrimmage but I was so happy to see competitive professional basketball again I have to make some observations even if they end up meaning nothing.
- Nice crowd at Philips–the Hawks put it at 2,500. The fans were into it. “That felt great to see that,” Josh Smith said. “The fans are really anticipating this season and looks like they are really excited to see something special we are putting together.”
- The fans saw a scrimmage that was cleaner than any I’ve seen at camp. That doesn’t mean it was very good. “Overall, it was OK,” Larry Drew said. “But we still have a ways to go.”
- Joe Johnson (13 points, three rebounds, seven assists, very very unofficially) looked like he could go out and play 40 good minutes right now. He scored effortlessly, made his 3-pointers, defended with vigor and generally showed the young guards in camp what an All-Star talent in top form looks like. “I didn’t know when the lockout would end, and I just wanted to come in in great game shape,” he said. “If you come in in good shape, everything else takes care of itself.”
- Joe said he’s down to about 236 pounds after weighing as much as 247 last season. “I feel a little faster, more durable,” he said. “I am going to try to keep it down.”
- “He’s playing really well,” L.D. said. “He’s having one of his best camps that I’ve seen him. He looks comfortable. He’s picking and choosing his spots. I think having guys like Tracy [McGrady], [Jerry] Stackhouse and [Vladimir] Radmanovic out there, I think he feels a comfort level with those guys because he knows those guys have been in the trenches.”
- Jeff Teague (16 points, four rebounds, one assist) pushed the pace and got to the rim whenever he wanted. Finishing was another matter. Teague tends to have tunnel vision while heading to the basket, which isn’t so bad because it means he’s being aggressive. However, he will draw a lot of defensive attention and he’s playing alongside scorers now so probably good to look for them.
- Josh Smith (10 points, six rebounds, two assists) was off and running every chance he got (though he, too, had some trouble finishing at the rim). He’s definitely faster but probably sacrificed some strength.
- Smith said he will have to change his approach to playing in the post: “I’m doing pretty good with that. I have just got to make sure I am low at all times and be able to create the contact and not wait for it. I’ve got to be ready for guys like Derrick Favors, Zach Randolph, Amar’e Stoudemire, all those guys who are strong down low.”
- Pape Sy (two points, two rebounds) didn’t make many shots but was aggressive with the ball and made some good decisions when he got to the basket. He threw down an alley oop dunk on a lob from J.J. “He’s very athletic,” Drew said. “He can get up and down the loor, he’s got a good body on him. He’s a really hard driver, too. He puts his head down he usually gets to the rim.”
- I’ve heard Keith Benson (10 points, four rebounds) has struggled during camp but he had his moments tonight. He’s got a smooth mid-range J, which was expected. He also showed no fear with banging in the paint for rebounds and post position, which were good signs for his development.
- McGrady (two points, two rebounds) never really seemed into it. Stackhouse (four points, two rebounds) competed hard on D and running off screens but the first step is lacking and the jumper wasn’t falling.
- Vladimir Radmanovic (three steals, two blocks) showed that he can at least hold his own on defense. He’s got quick hands and anticipates plays well.
- Al Horford (seven points, four rebounds, three steals) tried to work on his post game but he ended up mostly going to the spinning fadeaway Js. Those are the moves Brandon Bass and Joakim Noah anticipated and disrupted. I didn’t see him try to drive much, either.
- Drew said Magnum Rolle suffered a foot injury while playing in Korea over the summer. That helps explain why Rolle looked out of shape early in camp. He’s got good size and was making smooth jumpers. “I like his size, I like his length,” Drew said. “He’s a guy that hopefully he can keep getting better. You can throw him the ball down there and he can do something on the block.”
- I thought Brad Wanamaker (nine points, three assists) and Donald Sloan (five points, three assists) both looked pretty good. Both players are solidly built.
- Wanamaker is the crafty combo guard.”He’s a tough kid,” Drew said. “Very steady. He’s got some bulldog in him. I like that about him. He doesn’t back down. He’s a competitor.”
- Sloan is the speedy one, especially for his size (6-3, 205). He looks the part to play in the league. “I think he has the talent, I think he has the body,” Drew said. “All of the essentials needed at the guard position, I think he possesses those. He can knock down shots, he’s good on the pick-and-roll, he’s a distributor.”
- Zaza Pachulia (seven points, six rebounds) did what he does: He went hard to the basket and didn’t finish particularly well but drew fouls and kept collecting his own rebounds because he competes.
- Jason Collins did not play.
- Shout out to Hawks PR staffer Jason Roose for supplying the unofficial stats.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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143 comments Add your comment
@DanWeiner
December 16th, 2011
11:14 pm
Thanks Michael, really enjoying these reports.
I hope Wanamaker makes the squad. He’s a real competitor. The Hawks could use that tenacity off the bench. Also hoping Benson keeps improving. He’s skilled if lacking in size for a big man.
Gilley
December 16th, 2011
11:15 pm
First? It was great to be back in the highlight factory!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 16th, 2011
11:16 pm
“Al Horford (seven points, four rebounds, three steals) tried to work on his post game but he ended up mostly going to the spinning fadeaway Js. Those are the moves Brandon Bass and Joakim Noah anticipated and disrupted.”
I hope we don’t spend his entire career saying “he’s one back to the basket move away from being dominant”.
Matt
December 16th, 2011
11:17 pm
Pape Sy was first.
Astro Joe
December 16th, 2011
11:18 pm
Yeah, MC. I pretty much had some of the same assessments myself. I thought Benson gave up ground too much and I noticed that Rolle received much more court time than Benson. Benson could use a full season stint in the D-League. He has a nice skill set but needs to get his “grown man strength”. Rolle seems more ready to contribute now than Benson… but neither impressed me with their athleticism. They are more skilled than athletic (which is not a bad thing).
Reality Check
December 16th, 2011
11:19 pm
Pape Sy seems to be the most intriguing player in camp. Haven’t heard/read anything negative about him yet. They can’t ride Teague TOO much with this condensed season, and Kirk’s out, so I’m interested to see what Sy’s got when the real competition begins.
Gilley
December 16th, 2011
11:20 pm
Yes!!!!! I loved Wanamaker out there. He is feisty, aggressive and can get to the basket!!!!
@DanWeiner
December 16th, 2011
11:21 pm
“They can’t ride Teague TOO much with this condensed season, and Kirk’s out, so I’m interested to see what Sy’s got when the real competition beg”
Which is why I think Wanamaker makes the squad. They need bodies to stay fresh during the insane schedule this year.
Reality Check
December 16th, 2011
11:21 pm
Also, how did Marvin look, MC?
Astro Joe
December 16th, 2011
11:22 pm
BTW, if the roster remains the same, I think Joe, Teague and Josh will likely be among the league leaders in minutes played this season (or at least until Hinrich is healthy for Teague and Joe to get relief). The depth behind those guys doesn’t look like it is consistent with a top 4 seeded team.
doc
December 16th, 2011
11:26 pm
astro i apologized from the last blog but when i posted it was refused and never to be seen again 4 minutes too late,. heck of a deadline, when it ends it is over, even if in mid-sentence and you got the box to put it in. anyway, i see josh did more than take jumpers. underhelmed by all the accounts on tmac and sad that he has a contract in hand as he seems to have a place in our hearts of joe smith and etan. stack being a step slow is not an omen for anything more than filling the vet minimum criteria.
MC in the new cba does the league still pick up part of the tab on these vet minimum types? it is all so alluring to our cheap owners trying to save a mil or two while filling all the bench seats, though some of these retreads deserve to be sitting next to me and astro, “up in the fiiiirrst roow”, as bob uecker used to say.
Reality Check
December 16th, 2011
11:28 pm
Dan Weiner,
Yeah, it looks like he’s making a good impression on everyone.
Nique
December 16th, 2011
11:29 pm
MC
So with Jamal not coming back, i know we talked about getting another big before, does this free us up to actually make that happen now? & Two names, I’m really interested in are, one’s abig & one’s not, Troy Murphy & Michael Redd? Any Buss about either of these guys
Melvin
December 16th, 2011
11:30 pm
Chuck Swirsky: Bull waive Jannero Pargo Twitter
Sund please sign Pargo….
superiorblogman
December 16th, 2011
11:31 pm
Benson looked good to me and Wannamaker looked good also. I don’t see anything in Pape, sorry just don’t he has some hops though
Buddy Grizzard
December 16th, 2011
11:31 pm
Bay Ray in response from the last blog… agree with all your comments. Josh will have Teague to run with this year but don’t expect a bunch of oop’s because Teague is not a great passer. Josh will be rebounding alot of Teague’s misses because Teague mostly looks for his own shot.
Michael Cunningham
December 16th, 2011
11:31 pm
@Reality Check: “Also, how did Marvin look, MC?”
he looked good physically while running the floor. didn’t take too many shots.
Michael Cunningham
December 16th, 2011
11:32 pm
@doc: “MC in the new cba does the league still pick up part of the tab on these vet minimum types?”
haven’t heard this officially but Larry Coon said he thinks it’s the same.
Michael Cunningham
December 16th, 2011
11:35 pm
@Nique: “MC So with Jamal not coming back, i know we talked about getting another big before, does this free us up to actually make that happen now? & Two names, I’m really interested in are, one’s abig & one’s not, Troy Murphy & Michael Redd? Any Buss about either of these guys”
they need a vet guard more than a big. they are right up against the tax line but i think Sund is authorized to sign another vet minimum. from Drew’s comments yesterday it sounds as i they want to get a look at some of these young guys before doing that.
Michael Cunningham
December 16th, 2011
11:38 pm
OK, blog people, i’m out for tonight. anybody ever take the anti-inflammatory meds, Etodolac? they make my back injury feel better but damn they make me crazy dizzy/sleepy.
look for my full Gearon Jr. Q and A tomorrow.
O'Brien
December 16th, 2011
11:44 pm
Do the hawks have the money to sign Keith Bogans to be their backup SG? He started at SG all 82 games for the Bulls last year. He plays decent defense and made some 3’s for the Bulls last season.
Also, Bogans can play extra minutes at the 2 when they give JJ more time at SF (cutting into Marvin’s PT of course), or when they give JJ some rest (I don’t want him to wear down later in the season).
O'Brien
December 16th, 2011
11:45 pm
Thanks for the report MC (and others).
Grandad
December 16th, 2011
11:45 pm
I was not there but – an observation – nonetheless:
“Jason Collins did not play”
Section 303
December 16th, 2011
11:47 pm
Michael, I was there tonight. I was going to say hello, but you looked like you were locked in to your writing. I didn’t want to bother you. I’ll come introduce myself at a game this season.
O'Brien
December 16th, 2011
11:49 pm
It will be interesting to see how LD manages the minutes for the players.
Melvin,
I would take Pargo right now, because from what I have read, I am not convinced that Sy can be an effective backup PG, and if Teague ever gets injured, we will be in serious trouble.
Nique
December 16th, 2011
11:50 pm
Thx MC,
Any interest in MIchael Redd? we say we want a vet guard & Drew says he wants more shooters, seems like a perfect fit, especially since he’s only going to demand aroung the vet min. The Knicks are now turning their attention to Redd according to recent reports
O'Brien
December 16th, 2011
11:51 pm
Grandad,
Jason Collins did not play because Dwight Howard was not in the game
doc
December 16th, 2011
11:53 pm
well the new cba will continue to encourage our owners to dip into the well of old disabled vets to provide reimbursement through the league to fill out its roster. i wonder what is the average of teams that rely on this to max out their obligations to the cba?
thanks mc for the continued excellent work. sorry to hear the back has been hurting but watch out for those meds if they are doing that to you.
Section 303
December 16th, 2011
11:53 pm
I have been luke warm on T-Mac. My thinking was that he is past his prime and will probably be injured. But, when I arrived at the season ticket event prior to the scrimmage, T-Mac was out shooting. I have to admit that it is pretty cool having him on the team. He’s one of the greats. Plus, he got a huge ovation when introduced. So, obviously the city is excited he’s here. So, I am on board with T-Mac. Glad he is here.
I agree with Michael. Teague really struggled to finish. He has had this problem in the past. He can do everything, but score. He’s fast. He has good moves. Getting the ball through the hoop is another story sometimes, though.
Josh Smith looked good tonight. I think the weight loss will help him. He shot a few too many jumpers for my liking, but he played hard. He also set up the play of the night. Josh dove for a loose ball, gained control, passed to Joe, who hit Sy for a sweet lob dunk. Great play!
Keith Benson has some moves in the post. He, like Teague, has trouble finishing.
I thought Wannamaker and Solon both looked decent.
Vlad was a nonfactor tonight.
Michael said that Magnum Rolle has been looking good. That is no lie. He looked good tonight. Hit jumpers and played strong D.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
December 16th, 2011
11:55 pm
Josh Smith was still out on the perimeter shooting jumpers.
Grandad
December 16th, 2011
11:58 pm
“they need a vet guard more than a big”
- Michael Cunningham -
I’m assuming Michael has picked up on this from
someone within the Hawks organization.
Regardless – I vehemently disagree !
Is there a stronger word than vehement, if so, insert.
We Need a Big More Than a Guard !
Jason Collins did not play & who cares.
He rarely plays anyhow.
Fit & fiddle, cut & toned, best shape ever …
is he or is he not a key component of this team ?
A regular, a rotation player, not a specialist who plays
eight games a season ?
My Original Point:
We Need a Big More Than a Guard !
Get one !
Grandad
December 17th, 2011
12:02 am
I left out part of a sentence:
Fit & fiddle, cut & toned, best shape ever…* then where was he ? *
Grandad
December 17th, 2011
12:08 am
O’Brien
duly noted – ha
Bronn
December 17th, 2011
12:08 am
I would like to see Donald Sloan make this team.
Grandad
December 17th, 2011
12:19 am
Josh should not have lost strength by losing wgt.
It’s possible he lost bulk, therefore losing some
leverage, compressive strength, and or power, thrust and force.
I’m not a physicist, so all these terms are beyond my expertise.
Even so, losing wgt will not cause a loss of strength in and of itself.
Stay on the wgts Josh.
Harry Hawk
December 17th, 2011
12:21 am
Josh lost all that weight so he could shoot jumpers without hurting his knees.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 17th, 2011
12:25 am
The only players who played hard were the camp invitees and end of the bench scrubs who had something to prove. I really don’t think there’s any point in taking anything away from this scrimmage other than how those players played. The regulars were clearly not going at 100%. I am not concerned at all about T-Mac based on tonight, for example. We’ll see what they really have in the tank as we get closer to the start of the regular season.
I agree with Grandad. The depth isn’t great in the back court or front court, but I think a quality backup big is a bigger need than a quality backup guard. I am more confident in T-Mac’s ability to provide quality minutes at the 1 and 2 until Kirk gets back than I am in the ability of someone like Collins or Rolle to be the 2nd big off the bench all season.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 17th, 2011
12:29 am
In fact when you look at the positional depth on this team, it becomes more apparent that Radmanovic wasn’t the greatest signing, even at the veteran’s minimum. Sure, he will stretch the floor and can probably provide quality minutes, but the 3 and 4 are the deepest positions on this team. It would have probably made more sense to go after someone like Murphy who could fill in at the 5 in a pinch, or someone like Redd who would provide back court depth; both of them can stretch the floor as well as do other things.
Typical uncreative Sund, bringing back his wack ass lottery picks from Seattle.
Demetrius
December 17th, 2011
12:31 am
Well, sounds like an interesting scrimmage. I didn’t get to see it, myself, but I wouldn’t put much emphasis on it. Guys are really just out there to work on conditioning, have some fun, and give the fans something to cheer for. The lineups used are highly unlikely to be used during the regular season. The preseason games next week might give us a sightly better indicator of how guys are doing, but until the regular season actually starts, it’s tough to predict what this team will be capable of, and what our different players have worked on.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 17th, 2011
12:37 am
EVERYONE TALKS LIKE STACK MADENE TEAM. HE TALKS LIKE IT. THEN WE SEE SUND SAY WE PROB WONT SIGN AN SG
THIS IS SO F’ING ANNOYING. IS STACK A CONSULTANT OR IS HE GONNA MAKE THE DAMN ROSTER?
AND DONALD SLOAN SOUNDS LIKE A 70 YEAR OLDS’ NAME
Section 303
December 17th, 2011
12:40 am
Najeh, were you at the scrimmage?
Normally, I would agree with you. A scrimmage will tell you little about a team. But, I don’t think that was the case tonight. The guys, for the most part, were going hard. There were a lot of guys diving on the floor and a lot of banging down in the paint. It was entertaining and well played tonight. Main reason was the effort put forth by the players.
T-Mac was set in cruise control tonight, though. No doubt about that. Not worried about him, either. In fact, I would rather he take it easy in a team scrimmage. He has to last through the season.
northcyde
December 17th, 2011
12:42 am
Grandad . . what you have to realize with the Sund – Drew regime, is that they have an “offense first” type of mindset. Sund has never had an affinity for defensive player or had an eye for quality big men. And Drew is definitely an offensive coach.
So in their minds, we need a guard before a big man. And I guess since MC is used to seeing Jamal Crawford do his thing, he agrees with them.
Now would it hurt to bring in an experienced guard? Not at all. Baron Davis is a guy that comes to mind. As long as Joe Johnson stays healthy, you can dang near put any guard beside him. As long as he has a specific skill set, and as long as he can do it on a nightly basis, that guard would be OK alongside JJ.
But I don’t trust these 2nd round bigs at all. I would much rather that Sund add a “big” guy who can either rebound the basketball, or defend at the rim by blocking shots.
Problem is . . how do you find these guys if you’re only paying them the vet minimum?
DeAndre
December 17th, 2011
12:46 am
Based on what I’ve seen, I was impressed with what looks like physical improvements for some of our players. Joe looks like he’s in really great shape. He looked like he was in mid-season form already. Josh definitely looks quicker and appears to have less body fat than in previous seasons. Whether or not his drop in weight will affect him on the defensive end while guarding post players remains to be seen. You don’t really need to have a ton of weight or bulk to guard guys in the post. You need to have a strong lower base to keep guys from backing you down in the post, which he likely has. Operating at a higher weight, you are often more used to the resistance and force you’ll feel in the post since it’s similar to what you experience during some of your own workouts. Josh will likely have to adjust a bit, but I think he’ll be fine most nights.
Also, Al looks bulkier than he has been in the past, but in a good way. It looks like he added some extra muscle to his frame. Horford never had many strength problems in the past, but I think added bulk could help him out while playing the 5.
tyger
December 17th, 2011
12:47 am
Good to see the “new” look Hawks:
1. Regulars were regular, nothing new there…
2. Magnum Rolle impressed, good size, skill set, looked like he belonged…
3. Both Sloan/Wannamaker look like keepers…didnt play like rookies….
4. Benson needs seasoning, but put it in the basket…
5. T-mac could’ve cared less…
6. Stackhouse has to make shots…but looked like a keeper…
7. Radi-dadi didnt impress…ditto for Marvin – unaggressive
8. Hawks are bigger, longer, deeper…
9. Disagree about depth issues, this is the most interchangeable group I’ve seen…
10. Cut down will be interesting, a good player or two will be cut…
Najeh Davenpoop
December 17th, 2011
12:48 am
“Najeh, were you at the scrimmage?”
Nah, I just saw most of the stream on Hawks.com. Those are just my impressions from watching the stream. I’ll gladly defer to people who were actually there watching, but it didn’t seem from what I saw like most of the regulars were going all out.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 17th, 2011
12:52 am
I really hope either Sloan or Wanamaker proves himself worthy of the backup PG job in preseason, though. Being able to use Kirk’s expiring contract as a trade chip to fill other roster needs will be huge when the trade deadline rolls around. $9 million can bring in a lot of help.
superiorblogman
December 17th, 2011
12:52 am
I like Jeff Teague if he ever realizes he is not a scorer in the NBA and just decides to create for others there will be big problems for the league, it will not be this year though.
#1 Josh Fan
December 17th, 2011
12:55 am
The hawks are will be slightly above average.
#1 Josh Fan
December 17th, 2011
12:55 am
are and will be
doc
December 17th, 2011
1:25 am
g dad, mass is mass, when it is of equal strength mass wins. however, it is not all about mass as bird showed everyone, it can be about guile, quickness, effort, etc. we all know what josh can do with effort and quickness it is the guile part that holds him back and his oppositional attitude that shows from time to time.
i think his weight is more where it needs to be for the near term and long haul and once again shows how dedicated he is to the game as each summer he works on something he changes to make himself better. the head may follow as he is now at an age of 26, where if a boy is going to grown into a man, his synapses to the prefrontal cortex connects and are now complete. that means executive decision making function, that is reasoning, turns on and better decisions are made in general.
northcyde
December 17th, 2011
1:53 am
Najeh Davenpoop
December 17th, 2011
12:29 am
In fact when you look at the positional depth on this team, it becomes more apparent that Radmanovic wasn’t the greatest signing, even at the veteran’s minimum. Sure, he will stretch the floor and can probably provide quality minutes, but the 3 and 4 are the deepest positions on this team. It would have probably made more sense to go after someone like Murphy who could fill in at the 5 in a pinch, or someone like Redd who would provide back court depth; both of them can stretch the floor as well as do other things.
Typical uncreative Sund, bringing back his wack ass lottery picks from Seattle.
******************************
One of the things I started to do last year, was look at the roster from top to bottom, and see how they ranked efficiency wise at their position. When I did that, it was CLEARLY evident that our team lacked quality players outside of our top 6 or 7 guys. I mean, we only had 7 players ranked in the top 50 at their respective position. And that’s scary. That means that 1/2 of the team wasn’t even 2nd team quality.
So let me look at this again. I’m getting this from http://hoopsstats.com
I’ll cheat a little bit, and use Teague’s playoff efficiency rating, and place that number with the overall ( reg. season + playoffs ) PG efficiency ratings of the other guys. He had a 12.6 efficiency rating in the playoffs.
Remember, the number I put in parenthesis, is their efficiency rating rank within their respective position.
PG: Teague ( 30 ) – Hinrich ( 35 ) – Sy ( NR )
G: Johnson ( 10 ) – McGrady ( 31 ) . . . was listed as a SF, but mainly played guard. So I took his 10.4 efficiency rating and placed that within the SGs. Ranked ( 27 ) amongst SFs
F: Marvin ( 26 )
PF: Smith ( 12 ) – Radmanovic ( 56 ) – Benson ( NR ) – Rolle ( NR )
C: Horford ( 4 ) – Zaza ( 51 ) – Collins ( 87 )
************************
When you look at it like this, you kind of see what the problem is. If Drew is going to continue to play Smith some spot minutes at SF, you HAVE to try to get another quality big, before a guard. One injury to Smith or Horford would be catastrophic, because of the lack of quality behind those guys. Even one of those guys in foul trouble wouldn’t be good at all.
Teague’s regular season efficiency rating last year at PG was ( 49 ) out of 83 eligible guys. If Teague can improve to ( 30 ), and a guy like a Wanamaker can at least be a top 50 PG, we would be OK at guard . . IF . . JJ is back to his All-Star form. Then we SHOULD be solid at the position once Hinrich gets back. He should at least be a top 40 player at that position.
Heck, when I looked at the 2006 – 07 season, Tyronn Lue was ranked ( 33 ) with a 9.9 efficiency rating . . and he was our starting PG. As inconsistent as Bibby was in 2009 – 10, his efficiency rating was ranked ( 39 ) at 10.1
IF Wanamaker could at least post a 7 efficiency with about 10 – 12 minutes of playing time, that would at least hold us over until we get back Hinrich.
northcyde
December 17th, 2011
2:00 am
Who I would LOVE to add to the Hawks, would be a guy like Reggie Evans . . ranked ( 25 ) amongst PFs and was 5th in the league in rebounding, despite only playing 27 minutes a game.
THAT’S the type of quality big man reserve we need. A guy that if Smith or Horford went down, or was in foul trouble, could come right in and contribute significantly with his rebounding ability and decent defense. A guy that would have no problem whatsoever in doing the dirty work on the boards.
But the ASG would have to give him 2.5 – 4 mill for at least 2 years, to secure him. You’d think that a guy like Sund would love Reggie, seeing that he was a former SuperSonic. But the ASG would have to pony up and pay that guy and go over the Luxury Tax.
But watch . . a team like Boston ( who is going after him hard ) will get him, even though they can only pay him the vet minimum. All the ASG would have to do is outbid Boston a bit, and I bet we could get him. But they won’t do it because it will send us into the Tax.
@ Grandad . . . you’ll appreciate the following Reggie Evans game clip. No flashy highlights here. Just simply Reggie doing the dirty work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRCrhkEcuH8
mykhalc
December 17th, 2011
2:04 am
TMac…what a joke of a contract!!! his attitude will be reason enough to eat it and admit the mistake!!! like i said, he was lookin’ for a meal…PERIOD!!!
Big Ray
December 17th, 2011
2:32 am
Buddy Grizzard ,
Bay Ray in response from the last blog… agree with all your comments. Josh will have Teague to run with this year but don’t expect a bunch of oop’s because Teague is not a great passer. Josh will be rebounding alot of Teague’s misses because Teague mostly looks for his own shot.
I hear you. I do seem to recall that, and MC’s comments reflect it. Hmmm…
Big Ray
December 17th, 2011
2:36 am
I don’t like a single thing I just read about Al Horford. If this is the tack he’s going to take, then trade his butt.
Like MC said, smarter defensive players (Noah, Bass) know his game now, and know how to disrupt it. The man has athleticism, but not like Amare Stoudamire, Blake Griffin, etc. He made his mark in this League early on with energy, relentless play, fundamentals, and hard work. If he’s going to act like this (abandoning post moves in favor of spinning fadeaway jumpers), then we just don’t need his a$$.
Where is the old Al Horford? Somewhere out there with Waldo on the back of an orange juice box?
remember me?
December 17th, 2011
2:45 am
Turnover teague is back, Al did nothing in the offseason and now is surprising no one with that same ol bulchit. trade-his-ass yesterday.
is the dude still trying to be dirk? The dude Al says he aint gonna play center, what he meant is he aint gonna defend at center.
Teague looked good in the play offs cuz no body guarded him. They were right in assuming teague couldnt beat the bulls.
Still shaking my head at Al. Big Fck ing Al.
JJ and Josh will bring it down the stretch but the hawks go nowhere this year. trade Al and get a play maker and a defender for the rim.
Ra'mon
December 17th, 2011
2:47 am
Big Ray, the Horford who played against Chicago in the regular season, is the Horford the Hawks need. Horford will never be the most athletic or most gifted on the court. But he can outwork everyone in the gym, if he chooses to. Instead, after signing, it seems as if he’s finding the easy way to do things, and settling for that.
bird
December 17th, 2011
3:42 am
Wish I would have known they were streaming the scrimmage on Hawks.com. Sure kept that on the hush hush..
i_am_soulstar
December 17th, 2011
3:42 am
JJ was beasting. Wanamaker looked great. Benson definitely needs works. McGrady threw a lob to himself off the backboard, but it didn’t work it out the way it did in that All-Star game so long ago. Also, McGrady barely contributed. I hope he does better.
Also, Stackhouse’s lift is gone. Had a drive to the basket, could barely absorb the light contact that he received.
Marvin’s back is more straight, but he seems to play the same.
Teague is fast as hell, but everyone knows that.
Watching the scrimmage made me more optimistic about certain players and pessimistic about others.
Buddy Grizzard
December 17th, 2011
3:58 am
“Do the hawks have the money to sign Keith Bogans to be their backup SG?” – O’Brien
Was thinking about this. I’m sure he can be had for the vet’s minimum because CHI declined a $1.7m team option on him… he wasn’t making much more than the minimum anyway. But looking at his stats he doesn’t score, doesn’t rebound, doesn’t get assists. He’s known as a defensive player and he started all 82 games for CHI last year.
Might not be a bad pickup. He’s young, so he doesn’t have the diminished physical abilities of Stack. He’ll never be half the player that Stack was in his prime, but right now he would be a cheap pickup with ECF starting experience. He also has a chip on his shoulder about the Bulls cutting him loose after they signed Hamilton, whom it remains to be seen if he can either stay healthy or contribute.
vava74
December 17th, 2011
4:21 am
Bogans was CHI’s Bruce Bowen = huge mistake which we should capitalize in our favour.
Bogans is quality NBA material = an intangibles guy who knocks down his open looks.
vava74
December 17th, 2011
4:26 am
Najeh Davenpoop
December 17th, 2011
12:52 am
Can’t agree there. Even if Wannamaker proves to be a contributor he is NOWHERE near Hinrich.
Not by a mile. Hinrich is a savvy vet who is also an intangibles guy. I know that he is a good trading chip but we would be horribly thin on the back court.
vava74
December 17th, 2011
4:33 am
Big Ray,
Diaper Al made his presentation. Boss Al is long gone.
He really thinks that he is Dirk’s new coming. Oh brother…
Hopefully, when he is blocked or rushed into a brick night after night he will come back to Earth.
MsDee
December 17th, 2011
4:47 am
I was there, but wouldnt put too much negativity towards Teague nor T-mac just yet. All players dont look at a practice scrimmage the same. Sure, they should but O-K, they dont all the time, doesnt mean their attitude and attention wont change for the better when an opposite opponent are guarding them. I use to play college ball back in my day (95′-99′), and had that same mentality when it came to us scrimmaging each other..mostly because we all knew what the play was b4 the 1st pass was thrown. Just not the same when the season actually started so dont take too much from this practice that Teague, T-mac, or even Horford will not be useful. Now the players I would be concerned about is Josh still looking like the Josh of old with the jumpers. Sure, he made his 1st 3 or 4 jumpers, but would like to have seen more post-ups and drives to the basket. Marvin looked like Marvin, non-aggressive and that what bothers me with him. He would rather play it safe than to go all out to at least attempt to be aggressive. And as much as i’m looking for Stackhouse to make the team, he just looked kinda old out there. He tried his best but couldnt deliver like he once did in his past, not really focusing on when he was in his ‘prime’, he couldnt even match his ‘past’. I think it may be time for him to call it quits. JJ, Wannamaker, Donald, Sy, & Magnum are the ones that impressed me the most in that order. We should be fine but could be better with an added ‘Big’ tho.
Buddy Grizzard
December 17th, 2011
4:53 am
“Bogans is quality NBA material = an intangibles guy who knocks down his open looks.” – Vava74
Vava called it… sign him up Old Horse! The more I think about it, the more I think this guy would relish the chance to make a difference in the playoffs against the team that cut him. If the Hawks eliminated CHI this year like we did ORL last year with Bogans contributing… think how gratifying that would be fore him.
Buddy Grizzard
December 17th, 2011
4:55 am
“He really thinks that he is Dirk’s new coming.” – Vava74
When has Al ever faced the basket and taken somebody off the dribble? That was half of Dallas’ offense… spread out the shooters so they can’t double team and watch Dirk go around his man for layups. Just cause you can make standstill jumpers doesn’t make you Dirk.
superiorblogman
December 17th, 2011
5:24 am
remember me?
December 17th, 2011
2:45 am
Turnover teague is back, Al did nothing in the offseason and now is surprising no one with that same ol bulchit. trade-his-ass yesterday.
is the dude still trying to be dirk? The dude Al says he aint gonna play center, what he meant is he aint gonna defend at center.
Teague looked good in the play offs cuz no body guarded him. They were right in assuming teague couldnt beat the bulls.
Still shaking my head at Al. Big Fck ing Al.
JJ and Josh will bring it down the stretch but the hawks go nowhere this year. trade Al and get a play maker and a defender for the rim.
Point Guard Slim: You are usually okay with me but this is some of your bigger bull-manure. How can you say Teague looked good in playoffs because no-one was guarding him. No-one is ever guarding him because he just goes right by, and when you get pass your man they are not giving you a free lane to the basket someone will help. As I remember it Teague was on his back quite a bit from contact. He was guarded as much as anyone can guard him. Teague’s problem is he needs to just forget about scoring until he masters the art of passing the ball. He isn’t a scorer in the NBA, just distribute and play defense and make a wide open shot when they give it to you.
vava74
December 17th, 2011
5:25 am
Buddy,
Yesterday, whilst not driving like Dirk, Al looked to make turn around fade away jumpers.
For a scrimmage, the moves looked good, but they were on the slow side which means once the opponent is looking to stop him, he will not drain those.
vava74
December 17th, 2011
5:39 am
As for some of the criticism around here on some players. Some of it does not seem deserved.
V-Rad actually showed that, when he wants, he is bit more than a shooter. He had a good dribble drive and looked to pass more than just to shoot.
On Marvin: what the heck was everyone expecting from him? That he suddenly stopped being Marvin?
Also, a guy with his injury record should not take risks on a scrimmage.
His best move was, once again, the half hook in the paint.
Since he falls when he drives hard, I think he should be deployed as a sixth man at the PF slot (hence facing weaker opposition) and working mainly in the paint (not exactly low post stuff, but using his “slashing” moves).
“slashing” is not the exact word, but I think you’ll get my drift.
Dawg
December 17th, 2011
6:38 am
Does Sund actually get paid money?
Marcus
December 17th, 2011
7:26 am
vava/O’Brien/ – I was just about to mention the Bogans waiver as possible interest from da Hawks. So McGrady is already signed, if we had to choose between Stack and Bogans …
also, I like the young guards Wannamaker and Sloan … I hope one of them sticks.
joshau
December 17th, 2011
7:30 am
you have to be mentally challenged to believe a 32 year old tmac will go out all guns blazing in a practise run. You really must be.
joshau
December 17th, 2011
7:32 am
look at mykhacl comments and see what stupidty looks like.
vava74
December 17th, 2011
7:40 am
joshau,
the issue is not going all out, but looking ancient. really ancient.
tony
December 17th, 2011
7:46 am
JS didn’t need to loss weight, he just needs to play smarter, play to his strength(rebound, tip in, dumps and play solid def) and make the referees work for him instead of against him.
JJ just needs to realized that there are 4 other players on the court besides himself and he needs to maintain his composure for 4 quarters.
AH just needs to keep his head in the game – that way he won’t be distracted whenever his teammates(JJ/JS) desides to become one-dimensional.
T-Mac can help this team if he plays the way he played against the Celtics in 2010 and realize that he has an opportunity to play in the nba finals and also help a city experience for the1st time the excitement of watching their team play for an nba title. http://youtu.be/jWz3PjMqEZk
joshau
December 17th, 2011
7:51 am
Howabout waiting for the season to start and then see if he is ancient or not. Premature judgements are not wise.
terrell
December 17th, 2011
8:03 am
Horford shooting fadeaway J’s? Come on man! And MC, McGrady always looks like that. Thats why they used to call him droopy. Looks like he could fall asleep anytime. lol.
Michael Cunningham
December 17th, 2011
8:24 am
@Sec 303: “Michael, I was there tonight. I was going to say hello, but you looked like you were locked in to your writing. I didn’t want to bother you. I’ll come introduce myself at a game this season.”
sounds good.
Michael Cunningham
December 17th, 2011
8:26 am
@Nique: “Thx MC, Any interest in MIchael Redd?”
judging by L.D.’s comments on Thursday, it doesn’t seem as if they are in a hurry to add anyone right now and are focused on evaluating the camp guys.
Slimjr
December 17th, 2011
8:30 am
All NBA Al apparently did not impress anybody( present company included) at that scrimmage last night.. We should have used him to upgrade our front line to go deeper into the playoffs..Wanna play the 4? Would be absolutely embarrassing come playoff time…..
I would not pay to watch him….ZZZZZZZZZZ!!
Teague has got to continue to work on his jumpshot!
The way he holds the ball before shooting is down right terrible!!!!!! C’mon Coach teach the guy how to hold it for proper release???????????????Hello??????????
Better yet Jeff go watch some film on how CP3 shoots the rock..It’s a thang of beauty..Comprende?
Michael Cunningham
December 17th, 2011
8:41 am
@terrell: “And MC, McGrady always looks like that. Thats why they used to call him droopy. Looks like he could fall asleep anytime. lol.”
haha, yeah he has the sleepy look. you could see the difference between T-Mac, whose spot is secure and is probably saving it for the season, and Stack, who was going hard because he wants to make the team.
like i said in the opening of the blog, don’t want to make too much of a scrimmage when it comes to the established guys.
Melvin
December 17th, 2011
9:13 am
The more I watch Horford the more I think about Okafor. A guy who outplayed the value of his rookie contract but not worth the 12 million contract. I think Horford is a better offensive player than Okafor but will give Okafor the advantage on defense. I like AL but wouldn’t label him untouchable if we could trade him for the right piece.
Astro Joe
December 17th, 2011
9:23 am
Rolle looked better than Wanamaker. And Vlad looked better than both. I don;t like the idea of Teague (very small sampling) and an undrafted FA as our PGs for the season. Much, much too risky. Even if Teague replicates the Bulls performance (which is unlikely), we are an injury away from having a borderline NBA player in a key role. Makes no sense. With Vlad and Rolle looking better than any of the PG options(after Teague), I maintain that an adequate replacement for Hinrich is critical.
tony
December 17th, 2011
9:37 am
Baron Davis would of been a better option than Stackhouse. Bring him to the ATL Sund.
Rev in Tampa
December 17th, 2011
10:09 am
I didn’t see the game last night, but from everyone’s comments (or lack thereof) it appears that Marvin is in mid-season disappearing-act form.
Joe.Jeff.Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 17th, 2011
10:22 am
@blogman
this is my first comment on this blog. Check my IP or something.
SMH at the Horford comments. Franchises never learn until its 2 late and it becomes a buyer’s market instead of a seller’s market. Hindsight is always 20-20.
“Al Horford (seven points, four rebounds, three steals) tried to work on his post game but he ended up mostly going to the spinning fadeaway Js. Those are the moves Brandon Bass and Joakim Noah anticipated and disrupted. I didn’t see him try to drive much, either.”
Dude always gets injured on drives. Dirk is 7′0 tall and uses his height and length to his advantage. Should we post the video of “Horford Dirk Move” vs the Miami Heat and the defense of Mario Chalmers.
Average Height, Average Length, Stellar effort = Teacher’s Pet all Star
Not Amare, not Blake, not Zach.
Gearon Jr. please do this. Sund please do this >>>
Josh Smith + PF perimeter + center
does not mean
Josh Smith + (Vladimir Radmanovic/Marvin Williams) + Al Horford
Josh Smith + Jon Leuer + Andrew Bogut
Horford is killing his value so bad…toss in a 2nd rounder if need be, but I think Leuer is still overseas or on a non-guaranteed. So we might have to suffer Marvin/Radmanovic 1 year, But enough with Horford.
I don’t need 35 minutes of Chuck Hayes little brother trying to be scoring champ.
2 FOR JOHN DREW
December 17th, 2011
10:25 am
@ Rev in Tampa …… Now that’s funny, right there !!!!!!
i_am_soulstar
December 17th, 2011
11:17 am
Pape had more than 2 points. Hit a jumper in the first quarter and caught that nasty oop from JJ. Although MC already stated how unofficial these stats are.
ryan
December 17th, 2011
11:51 am
I think T Mac and Stackhouse will be good veterans for the young guys as the season progresses .
Ken Strickland
December 17th, 2011
11:52 am
To me, it looks like a decision has been made to try and find a serviceable PG out of our camp invitees before deciding whether to sign a Vet PG. If we feel a vet PG is needed, I seriously doubt if we’ll sign another Big. If we go with one of our camp invitees as our backup PG, we might go after a Big.
With 4 Bigs already in camp(Zaza, Twin, Rolle, Benson)to backup Horford, not counting Radmanovic, and no clearcut backup PG penciled in behind Teague, I don’t see how getting Horford a 5th backup can possibly be a bigger priority than securing a primary backup for Teague.
In Twin, Zaza, TMac, and Radmanovic, we have 4 bench players who definitely know how to play, and know how to utilize their strengths to minimize their weaknesses. I think Rolle is definitely serviceable, and has the skill to play both C and PF.
I don’t know why, but Wannamaker sort of reminds me of Chauncey Billups. Strong, aggressive, intelligent, steady, but not particularly athletic. He doesn’t seem to have mastered any one thing in particular, he just does everything well. He also has some of KHinrich’s qualities.
I see Radmanovic, Zaza, Twin, and Rolle as our backup Bigs. That leaves 3 slots open on our 12 man roster. TMac is a lock, and with our need for a backup PG, I think it will boil down to Sloan or Wannamaker. That leaves only one remaining slot, and that will go to either Pape Sy, or JStackhouse. Sy is younger, quicker, faster, more athletic and versatile.
I see Benson, the winner of the Sloan/Wannamaker PG, and the Stackhouse/Pape Sy SG battle, filling out our 15 man roster. Just based on last nights scrimmage, it looks like MRolle is an upgrade over HArmstrong. TMac is an upgrade over DWilkins, because of his superior offensive skills. Radmanovic seems to be an upgrade over JPowell, and Wannamaker would be an upgrade over JCrawford, but strickly as a backup PG.
For me, the beauty of this potential roster is its absence of any DEF liabilities at any position. We won’t be a great DEF team, but we’ll be a very solid DEF team. We will definitely have a solid perimeter DEF, which definitely won’t be vulnerable like in the past.
I see where some of our NEGATIVE MINDED BASHERS have taken issue with those of us who don’t share their NEGATIVE MINDED view of the Hawks. Even though this yrs team represents the most experienced and talented Hawk team in yrs, and far to much of both to collapse or fall apart, you are still predicting doom and gloom for the season.
Of the 4 Eastern Conference teams that finished ahead of the Hawks last yr(Bulls, Heat, Celtics, Magic), only the Bulls and Heat figure to do it again this yr. The Celtics are too old, and too soft, fragile and thin in the middle. The Magic are about to go into serious rebuilding mode, and are more interested in seeing how much they can get for DHoward before the trade deadline passes than battling for a playoff spot.
ryan
December 17th, 2011
11:53 am
If we have no shot at Howard i like Gerald Wallace or Okafor we are dying for a true C .
mike
December 17th, 2011
11:57 am
mark my words, hawks heading for disaster year, t-mac going to spend 20 or 30 games injured, stackhouse been awful even 5 years ago and ld wanted me believe that suddenly at 37 he going to prosper, this organization under asg ownership is a fraud. they are cheap and a bunch of lies. the great city of atlanta didn’t deserved this clowns.
Carrlos lyles
December 17th, 2011
12:05 pm
The hawks will have major problems at the point this year, all the guards even Teague has extreme tunnel vision when driving. I was at Phillips last night and the half court sets became predictable if they do not run more the hawks will be below .500 this year.
jhan
December 17th, 2011
12:08 pm
I still believe Teague is the key to this team. Unlike others I believe he MUST score to be effective. It does no good to continually get to the rim and only look to pass. If he never scores who is he going to pass the ball to? Nobody will rotate if he only drives & dishes. He must score until the defense decides to rotate. Then he can pass to others for easy baskets. PG play 101.
mykhalc
December 17th, 2011
12:24 pm
@joshau…LOL at your stupid a$$. at least you can read…
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 17th, 2011
12:31 pm
Dirk … Really?
“He really thinks that he is Dirk’s new coming. Oh brother…” -Najeh DavenPoop-
____________
I hope not. Dirk is a super star and ‘7 footer who can shoot over anyone who finally learned to take his size, game and skills inside to bang in the post last season.
I know “Hope Springs Eternal”, but Al Horford is no Dirk. If Al doesn’t awaken, and soon – he will become Dirt not Dirk.
Park it in the paint Al and go to war!
Carrlos lyles
December 17th, 2011
1:00 pm
@jhan but how can he score? His release point is at his shoulder, he isn’t aggressive on pick and rolls trying to turn the corner, he doesn’t get to the free-throw line at a high clip and even when he does finally get there he splits the freethrows.people are hoping that Teague has it but that’s not who he is.
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 17th, 2011
1:01 pm
Voided!
So, Jeff Green’s 9M contract has been voided by the C’s. He will be out for the entire season and will undergo surgery next (week?) for an aortic aneurysm.
By voiding his contract, the C’s still retain his rights? I guess this is due to the facts of it being a medical condition and not purely a performance issue.
This issue will certainly quell the Celtics further downward in the standings while strengthening the Hawks.
Get Well Soon Mr. Green! Many prayers for your health and your family’s well being during these tough times, Sir.
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 17th, 2011
1:11 pm
9M Cap Space!
But, will Mr. Ainge replace Jeff Green with something better? Who’s left out there @ Jeff’s position on their team?
680 The Fan … Is blowing up right now re: all things NBA and NFL concurrently. Its a mixed bag on Kobe, Lamar, Pau, CP3, Celtics, Sam Heard, Eli Manning, Cowboys and Saints.
Its just too much good stuff!
northcyde
December 17th, 2011
1:30 pm
If we’re going the PG route, Baron Davis would definitely be my target. I just can’t see him playing for the vet minimum . . . not with us anyway.
The only thing about Baron, is that he’s probably better offensively than Teague right now, and the temptation will be for Drew to start Baron and bring Teague off the bench. Baron is still a great passing PG that knows how to run a team. But he shoots waaaay too many threes. He did play well in his mini-stint in Cleveland though.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 17th, 2011
1:30 pm
“Can’t agree there. Even if Wannamaker proves to be a contributor he is NOWHERE near Hinrich.
Not by a mile. Hinrich is a savvy vet who is also an intangibles guy. I know that he is a good trading chip but we would be horribly thin on the back court.”
That’s not the point, though. A $9 million expiring contract can bring you depth at multiple positions. It’s no different from last year when I advocated trading Jamal at the deadline for multiple players. I know neither of these undrafted point guards is probably going to be anywhere near as reliable as a healthy Kirk, but if they can come anywhere close, it would give the Hawks the option of using Kirk as a trade chip. Obviously if neither one pans out, Kirk is indispensable as the backup PG.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 17th, 2011
1:30 pm
“Dirk … Really?
“He really thinks that he is Dirk’s new coming. Oh brother…” -Najeh DavenPoop-
____________
Where did I say this?
Ernest
December 17th, 2011
1:38 pm
It is good to see Ken Strickland remaining the voice of reason in a sea of discontented Hawks fans. I agree, I think the Hawks have a good shot to finish 3rd.
Astro Joe
December 17th, 2011
1:42 pm
northcyde, Baron is hurt and may not be back until around the same time as Hinrich is expected to return. Obviously, a GM doesn’t make decisions based on any two hour scrimmage, but with what I saw yesterday, I would grab someone like Earl Boykins or Pargo. I’m worried about TMac and his ability to score and one of those guy can address both the PG issue as well as deliver 6-8 points per contest.
northcyde
December 17th, 2011
1:49 pm
LOL . . and ya’ll stop trying to analyze everybody from a SCRIMMAGE game. AT least save it for the preseason game on Monday night. See if Wanamaker can slow down Kemba Walker. See if Benson and Rolle can hold their own against Tyrus Thomas.
Just don’t go crazy with the overreactions.
Remember, last preseason, we went 1 – 7. Then we open the season by going 6 – 0.
northcyde
December 17th, 2011
1:50 pm
Astro . . . word is that Baron kind of fake that injury thing, just to keep teams from claiming him off waivers. But he probably is hurt enough not to play for us right away.
stupid ass as stupid does
December 17th, 2011
1:52 pm
What does that say about the team if their highest and best hope is to finish 3rd ? I would not put either of you scrubs on my team. You guys are soft Twinkies Like Al Horford. I would nt go to war with either of you two ignorant bytchess co-signing each others dung.
I would not send an American soldier off to war with out the proper weaponry and expect victory. If you want to fight a war with a chance to win you will need the right weapons.
The hawks will use the same strategy that Woody used and try and run and gun. The Hawks lack A center,( they have Big Al but his heart aint willing) and a head coach.
If the hawks are going to compete seriously they need personnel changes. This core is done.
Who care about 3rd? Atlanta wants a Champion, not an ” also ran”.
SteveW
December 17th, 2011
1:57 pm
You know, all these comments on Teague, he was the 19th pick, and the 7th or 8th PG taken in his draft. He’ll probably be 25 before he reaches his peak, which looks like a Devin Harris type peak. Just below, DRose, Westbrook, DRon, Rondo, Wall, and those types.
But not a bad NBA PG.
SteveW
December 17th, 2011
1:58 pm
I like Bogans alot. But we let Wilkens walk, so I doubt we sign Bogans. Much the same skill set.
Astro Joe
December 17th, 2011
1:59 pm
northcyde, that brings me to the other reason I don’t like Baron, I think dude has some character issues. You can’t truss him (to paraphrase Mr. Flav).
SteveW
December 17th, 2011
2:03 pm
Did Teague start any of our blowout losses last season? All I remember is LD playing Bibby/Crawford/Hinrich, and getting blown out in certain games, and then Teague comes in and usually did great in mop up time.
I don’t think Teague played alot of first half minutes in our masacres.
brigadierjerry
December 17th, 2011
2:06 pm
Baron Davis is rumored to be heading into either the Lakers or the Knicks He is a hipster so no suprise there
correct
December 17th, 2011
2:31 pm
That makes sense.
Even on this blog page nobody feels good about saying “3rd”. This is suppose to be some type of consolation to getting shafted by the management and owners. Break up this group and start the rebuilding now.
Al, you dont want to play center? Ok Go play power forward some where else!
Ken Strickland
December 17th, 2011
2:54 pm
MIKE-TMac will be a rotational bench player that won’t be depended on for heavy mins or production. Besides, injuries are part of the gm, and any one of our players could end up missing 20-30gms. Stackhouse has yet to even make the team, and you’re going out of your way trying to make him an issue. WHERE’S THE DOGGONE LOGIC?
CARRLOS LYLES-Based on your comments, it appears you haven’t payed much attention to the Hawks over the last 3yrs. If you had, you’d know we’ve had pg issues going back to the days of Mookie Blaylock. Yet, inspite of those PG issues, we’ve still managed to do quite well over the last 3yrs. So why would you think we’d all of a sudden fall apart now?
Here’s what amazes and puzzles me at the same time about all of you doom and gloom prognostators. You either totally ignore what Teague did in last yrs playoff series against DRose and the Bulls, or claim it didn’t prove anything. Yet, you have no problem whatsoever judging him, and the projected outcome of the teams entire season, based on a doggone 1st time team scrimmage. WHERE’S THE DOGGONE LOGIC?
EARNEST-Some of these comments are from people who love the gm, have concern for and support the Hawks, but they just don’t possess a lot of in depth basketball knowledge. Therefore they fear, or show concern for things they just don’t understand. The idea that the team will have a disasterous yr just because they think our PGs have tunnel vision is a perfect example.
They can only see things from a one dimensional perspective, and that dimension is almost always geared towards OFF. The fact that our current crop of PGs can all run, run fastbreaks, penetgrate, and definitely play DEF, which was almost totally nonexistent in the past, totally escapes them. None of these attributes have anything to do with tunnel vision.
I don’t have a problem with them, because at least they care and are concerned about the team, unlike some of the NEGATIVE MINDED BASHERS that frequent our blogs.
doc
December 17th, 2011
3:10 pm
baron is side linex with a bad back issue guys. he is in kir land waiting a couple of months to get better.
folks aneurysms are toigh stuff depending on where it is. real serious and i wish him well.
ken baby you almost had me there until you said wann is better than jc1. we woll need craws offense more lthan folks think. sorry we couldnt find the coin to keep him for very strict focueed attacks.
Maybe
December 17th, 2011
3:14 pm
Zaza, Jason Collins, Marvin and a first rd. Pick for Kendrick Perkins?
I think it would be worth it. ;
Teague, Joe, Josh, Al, Perkins That’s really solid. Just gotta get guys who can light it up off the bench.
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
December 17th, 2011
3:18 pm
“If we have no shot at Howard i like Gerald Wallace or Okafor we are dying for a true C .”
Yeah, Wallace could be a great “true” center. 6′ 7″ 220. LMFAO
jhan
December 17th, 2011
3:19 pm
Carlos – what are you basing your theory on? The only time I ever saw Teague play starter minutes was against the Bulls last year. If you think that was bad PG play then you better watch again. I’ll take that Teague for a full season all day long!
doc
December 17th, 2011
3:27 pm
i see later in the thred the baron back was mentioned however folks have been bringing his name into play since he was dropped.
MC, btw there was a logical way to get under tax spend over tax have crawford healthy for the year. to have amnestized kirk who is doubtful for at least two months would have done it. yes they would in real dollars go over tax but it wouldnt have cost more than that. care to bring that up to anyone suggesting added cost of tax the problem or are they that sure of a guy they saw in bery lomited action of a short series.
ken i too was thinking vlad over jp specifically. he can shoot, pass and defend better but he cant rebound, run or protect the ball better. of course jp was 0 for 6 on those skills while i watched last year. did they test vlad for being able to understand police gand signals and courtesy laws to energency vehicles, too?
rev always like your wry sense of humor.
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 17th, 2011
3:29 pm
Sleepy!
T-Mac has a medical condition called:
DX: Ptosis. The levator palpabre muscle elevates the eye lid. This is an intra-occular muscle that has paralysis, i.e. (No muscle tone). This may be congenital (at birth) or acquired (degenerative condition over time), either way, if gives the facial appearance of sleepiness.
Oh well, it has not affected his overall career performance, nor will it affect his performance as a Hawk. Just a medical observation on my part.
Tracy being a 12 year veteran, I would be more concerned about his knees and leg strength with a grueling and compressed schedule. More importantly, how Drew uses him in player rotation. Seems like we could go get Ishmael Smith to back up Teague, from a youth movement perspective. Ishmael is a deadly shooter, a sniper of sorts. IDK anything about his defense though, but he is a true PG and a little on the smallish side. He has proven what he can do, IMHO.
Sautee
December 17th, 2011
3:30 pm
“is the dude still trying to be dirk? The dude Al says he aint gonna play center, what he meant is he aint gonna defend at center.”
T-S, you’re back!
But you know very well that Al never said he “ain’t gonna play center”. Keep up all the Al hate you want, but don’t put words in his mouth that he never said.
In other words keep your hate real.
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 17th, 2011
3:33 pm
My Bad!
Najeh, I may have to go back and re-read your earlier post.
You probably were answering a quote from another blogger. Sorry, it’s tricky reading the small screen on this BS BBerry phone. LOL! I need to upgrade my phone, baD.
doc
December 17th, 2011
3:35 pm
jhan is that who we will see all day long is the important question with no reliable back up plan if he flags his next test to do it every night against all comers in size, speed and strength. reall i vote to add pg over big right now with hinrich down. it wa going to be a huge strength to have jj, hinrich and jt0 to play off of each others abilities. huge drop off beyond that but “tweeners r us”, baby.
BIG DOG
December 17th, 2011
3:44 pm
Sautee, Al is not a center at all, untill he play natural position PF the Hawks will be at bottom of NBA in rebounding.
2010-2011 RANK 28 IN REBOUNDING.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
terrell
December 17th, 2011
3:45 pm
Yeah Steve, I still cant believe LD(Woody Jr) stuck with Bibby and Jamal in those blowouts, and any other game for that matter, and just let Teague rot on the bench. Even gave up JC1 and picks cause he didnt know(and probably didnt care) what he had on the bench. Bunch of morons.
terrell
December 17th, 2011
3:46 pm
“JC2″
doc
December 17th, 2011
3:51 pm
yes northcyde, streaky we are finished last 20 games of season last year about at 33% clip then won 5 of 7 in layoffs and finished 1 for five to fall out of the tournament. couple of questions, is can we be consistently good like the year we won 53 and what 33 at home or the team that got seriousy embarrased many times by upwards of 40 points twice and over 20 many times. we had the worst differential if so many of the top teams in the tournament but made it to the second round. was that luck ir a single good match up for us for our record? i think without more legit fire powr we will be no better or slightly worse % record wise or barely above .500. when rosters known completely i might change to upgrade after looking game by game. i certainly dont think they are better than memphis if gay is better for example, your thoughts?
BIG DOG
December 17th, 2011
3:51 pm
Kyrylo Fesenko, call him now and is available, a true center who is only age 24 why not take a chance on him, and stop bringing players that have no benefit on fixing the Hawks major problem, thats being rank at bottom in NBA REBOUNDING.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 17th, 2011
3:53 pm
The Apprentice!
“#Hawks waive camp invites Charles Garcia and Zach Graham ” -MC Tweet-
____________
Looks like ole’ Stack survived the first wave of cuts. Perhaps, Jerry can be retained as an apprentice and sit on that second row where the “inner-dog finder” once sat. Or, maybe take an assistant coaches spot?
I would not recommend giving Jerry a roster spot with him being out of the league last year. His shipped probably sailed 2 to 3 years ago, while in Milwaukee.
Sorry Sund, you slept longer that “Rip Van Winkle” as usual.
BIG DOG
December 17th, 2011
3:58 pm
http://youtu.be/b9D2PQdRPiw
sign him Rick Sund
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Joe.Jeff.Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 17th, 2011
3:59 pm
The animosity on this blog is tantalizing lol
———
Of the 4 Eastern Conference teams that finished ahead of the Hawks last yr(Bulls, Heat, Celtics, Magic), only the Bulls and Heat figure to do it again this yr. The Celtics are too old, and too soft, fragile and thin in the middle. The Magic are about to go into serious rebuilding mode, and are more interested in seeing how much they can get for DHoward before the trade deadline passes than battling for a playoff spot.
—–
That’s pretty narrow thinking Mr. Strickland. Pacers and 76ers are the ones Im worried about robbing our regular season home seed.
As for postseason… 2010-2011 RANK 28 IN REBOUNDING. Low budget and no trade Horford Solution?
instead of moving Smith’s 14-15% league leading rebounding to the SF you tell Marvin the Duck and 30 yo Joe to rebound… AS IF.
========
Nets vs Knicks… Josh Harrelson has same raw measurements as Kevin Love. Lesser player but white boy wrested the ball from Shelden (yes that Shelden) with one hand.
===
Shelden 5th foul
Joe.Jeff.Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 17th, 2011
4:01 pm
Hey! Look at Renaldo playing SF.
Renaldo-Harrelson-Jeffries
16pts for Renaldo
Joe.Jeff.Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 17th, 2011
4:02 pm
lol Brook Lopez is a bum. no respect from refs. Brook Dangerfield
Sautee
December 17th, 2011
4:14 pm
“Sautee, Al is not a center at all, untill he play natural position PF the Hawks will be at bottom of NBA in rebounding.”
“2010-2011 RANK 28 IN REBOUNDING.”
Oh brother, here we go again.
While I’m still disgusted with the way Al played in the postseason, I’ll defend the straight out LIE that he was 28th in rebounding last year. He was 11th overall, and 7th among centers.
http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/rebounds/sort/avgRebounds/year/2011/seasontype/2
Like I said, keep your hate real. With the way Al played in May, there’s no need to stretch the truth.
BIG DOG
December 17th, 2011
4:24 pm
Sautee, the Team rank 28 rebounding not AL, but his rebounding has no effect very deceiving, Sautee if your saying Al is a true center then i must continue SMH. He has no defense present in paint and will always be dominated in paint come playoffs.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
A concerned fan..
December 17th, 2011
4:32 pm
Celtics decrease their chances of making the playoffs now that Jeff Green is out.
Grandad
December 17th, 2011
4:48 pm
northcyde
Thanks for the R.E. clip.
I thought at 1st you were linking the one where
Reg grabbed Kaman’s nut sack.
The TNT crew had a hoot with that one.
Sautee
December 17th, 2011
4:56 pm
“Sautee if your saying Al is a true center then i must continue SMH.”
No, he’s not a “true center”, but he’s BY FAR the best overall option on our roster at that position.
As I’ve always argued. He “plays the 5″ effectively” no matter whether you say he’s a PF or not.
And how, pray tell, does his or any player’s rebounding have “no effect”? Is this something like your previous theory that Zaza was only a good rebounder because he was too lazy to get back on D?
brigadierjerry
December 17th, 2011
5:21 pm
drmary b,
Ish smith is out. He got picked up by the warriors a few days ago. Also is Nick Young serious?He is looking to get 9 million from a team?Good luck with that. Watching the Nets Knicks game today, Iman Shumpert and Harrelson from UK actually looked decent today. Chandler is going to help the Knicks a lot for that team.
Carrlos Lyles
December 17th, 2011
5:21 pm
@ken strickland I pay attention to the hawks more than you can believe and the days when mookie was playing it wasent a PG’s league, thats the direction that the league is going,(notice who was MVP and the 1st pick of the draft) and teague at best will be similar to tyronne Lue playing ability. all im stating is that people are putting alot of faith in Teague when he had a good series against a chicago team who most likely did not scout ahead of time. I love the Hawks, I love Atlanta but to believe that he is the Pg of the future is not realistic. and being that it was a scrimmage he should have been chill and relaxed but effective not getting blocked and shooting air ball floaters. If he gets that deep in the lane at least get to the free throw line, finish or kick it out.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 17th, 2011
5:36 pm
Josh losing weight is very bad.
Read Shaq’s book. He was forced to lose a lot of body fat and therefore had no “cushion” when battling in post while in MIA. This was the most injury-prone time of his career. Smoove will be very injury prone this season if he plays a lot in the post.
Michael Cunningham
December 17th, 2011
5:50 pm
new blog is posted. shutting down this thread.
Atlanta Hawks Scrimmage Notes - Soaring Down South
December 17th, 2011
9:21 pm
[...] know this post is a bit late and most of you have probably read MC’s AJC recap of the scrimmage, but I have a few more notes to add and other notes to emphasize on from what I saw yesterday [...]