Atlanta Hawks: In appreciation of Jamal Crawford
Jamal Crawford is back in town, which got me to thinking about the clip above. That was my very first game covering the Hawks as the AJC beat writer. It turned out it was a proper introduction to Crawford, who loved those big moments and wanted to deliver with crowd-pleasing flair. He always joked he had “street cred” among Hawks fans, and it was true.
In a way, Crawford might have been the best example of that what bugs stats folks about the Hawks: He could do things that confound the formulas. Viewed in the aggregate over the long term, Crawford’s numbers seem pedestrian. But if you spent too much time picking at his weaknesses, you could miss that he often delivered in big games and important moments like the one above.
Think back to Atlanta’s playoffs series victory against Orlando last season. The No. 1 story, as it should have been, was Larry Drew’s successful Twin Defense against Dwight Howard. Crawford’s performance during that series should have been a close second. The Hawks probably don’t win without Crawford delivering all those daggers.
This befuddled Stan Van Gundy, a noted early adopter of advanced stats. I kept asking him if Atlanta’s ability to make long 2s, the most inefficient shot in basketball, threw a wrench into his defensive philosophy. Van Gundy kept interrupting: “But it is an efficient shot for them.” He marveled at Crawfor’d ability to make contested J after contested J. Van Gundy never did figure out how to stop Atlanta’s perimeter-oriented attack, and Crawford was a key part of that. Didn’t the book on the Hawks say they wilted when things got tough? Crawford didn’t.
Crawford did it again during Atlanta’s memorable Game 1 victory at Chicago. Alas, he couldn’t keep it up once the Bulls started sending multiple defenders to crowd him. He did pretty much all he could do, which was to make quick decisions and keep the ball moving and hope others would to the same until Atlanta could get good shots. Joe Johnson didn’t do the same, and Atlanta’s offense bogged down in the face of Chicago’s withering waves of defenders.
You can talk about Crawford’s inefficient scoring but he was more efficient than Johnson last season. The same thing was true in 2009-10, when Crawford also produced points at a higher rate than Johnson. The dude put up numbers.
Of course, Crawford isn’t Johnson’s equal as a player, but he was effective (and fun) when Woody unleashed him as a designated scorer off the bench. Remember that Crawford’’s rep before he arrived in Atlanta was that of a scorer on bad teams who played no defense. With the Hawks Crawford proved that, when properly deployed, he could be a key piece on a good team.
Obviously Crawford’s defense has been subpar over his career. But I watched nearly every one of Atlanta’s defensive possessions during the Orlando series on Synergy and, I swear to you, the Hawks’ funky pick-and-roll defense would not have worked without Crawford doing his part. As the on-the-ball defender Crawford had to make up a lot of ground to get to Orlando’s shooters, and he did it with an engaged and focused effort. It was Crawford on the big stage doing more than his history suggested he could do.
No doubt Crawford soured on his experience with the Hawks last season. Management told him he was part of team’s “core” but then he was the only member of that group without a contract beyond last year. And then the Hawks basically told him they couldn’t afford him last summer. You can agree with Atlanta’s reasoning for not giving him a big contract (but also acknowledge how the team’s earlier cap mismanagement led to that situation) while also understanding why Crawford didn’t like it.
Eventually Crawford got with the program last season. That was true even after L.D. put Crawford in a play-making role that Crawford clearly wasn’t comfortable with–he went on to post his best assist rate since 2003-04 while keeping his turnover rate low. Crawford’s drop-off in production last season and the guards who flooded the free-agent market probably cost him a lot of money.
Now Crawford is off to a slow start with Portland but is there any doubt he’s going to try to put on a show tonight like old times?
“I am sure Jamal is going to want to come in here and light us up,” Drew said. “I do know that.”
There was a mixed reaction among fans when the team made no real effort to re-sign him before he bolted for Portland. It probably fell along that efficiency/electricity divide. But there is little doubt Crawford will receive a warm welcome tonight from Hawks fans. He won them over with his big shots, flashy style and engaging personality. You can still see the love Hawks fans have for Crawford on his Twitter account.
And the preseason lobbying of management to re-sign Crawford by Johnson, Josh Smith and Al Horford illustrated how his old teammates feel about Crawford.
“I wish him nothing but the best but at the same time I want to win [tonight],” Smith said. “It will be good to see him and interact with him but when it’s time to jump the ball he’s just another opponent.”
Look deeply into the stats and you can convince yourself that, over the long term, Crawford is just another shooting guard. But then you remember moments like my first game on the Hawks beat, and that Orlando series last season, and you realize that Crawford can confound the numbers and be much more than that.
(Leaving the previous blog open for voting through tomorrow.)
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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139 comments Add your comment
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
January 18th, 2012
3:45 pm
Kendrick Perkins for who? Marvin Williiams? Zaza?
Trade Horford and we get bigger. Bench marvin and bring him off the bench where his slow starts cant hurt us,
Marvin’s an onerous contract, means garbage contract.
And btw the Lakers missed the Finals last year as did the Hawks. Worry about Miami and ORL and your own conference first.
Slimjr
January 18th, 2012
3:48 pm
Bench Marvin tonight all we will fall behind by 10 in a blink of an eye!
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 18th, 2012
3:49 pm
OOPS!
“Jason Cole did an interview about the NBA? hmmmm, he covered the NFL when i was in south florida.” -MC-
___________
Mu bad, Jason Cole was talking about the Falcons new hires. I meant to say Rick Buechler-sic? LOL! You got me there.
Rod from College Park
January 18th, 2012
3:51 pm
“I liked Jamal but people seem to forget that before Jamal, Flip Murray was pretty effective in the same role.”
While Flip did do a good job for us, he was no Jamal Crawford. Jamal averaged almost a full 5 more ppg than Flip Murray did the year after Flip left. Jamal is a much better scorer than Flip.
Michael Cunningham
January 18th, 2012
3:51 pm
@Rod:”MC, Since you are in the responding spirit, how about the question I asked on the last blog.”
Rod! are you disappointed in me, too? i hope not.
Marvin was playing well before he was injured. now everyone wants him on the bench and/or traded. what happened? are you just tired of the injuries? do you think he’s better off the bench? do you think he shouldn’t be allowed time to get back in the swing? or is it that even when he gets healthy you don’t expect him to continue playing like he did before he got hurt?
“Also ask him if he thinks Marvin derserves to be a starter.”
the answer is “yes” unless Drew starts him when he doesn’t believe he deserves it, which would be kind of weird. also, Marvin didn’t start every game last season, and i don’t recall any hell, sleet, rain or snow. so the premise of that question would be inaccurate, no?
Rick James
January 18th, 2012
3:53 pm
Unlike a lot of people I think the Hawks should have invested in Jamal long term and let Joe Johnson walk when he was a free agent.Johnson’s contract contributes a lot toward the Hawks not being able to make a trade to replace Horford or even to just to upgrade the team.Nothing against Joe but he’s a good player with a superstar contract.
Michael Cunningham
January 18th, 2012
3:53 pm
@drmary: no worries. i thought maybe he switched over to NBA.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 18th, 2012
3:53 pm
SLB!
I got nothing but love for you man – that’s it. You can go ’round and ’round with yourself man and all that foolishness you bring to the blog. Get yourself a new diamond stylus and some new vinyl – your ish is scratched.
Astro Joe
January 18th, 2012
4:00 pm
Jamal cost about 3.5X more than Flip for a few more points. Funny how production vs. salary only applies to certain players but not others.
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
January 18th, 2012
4:01 pm
Just asking why are we worried about the Lakers? Are we Deluding ourselves into saying as constructed we make it to the Finals but at the same time saying we should tank the season?
Our route to the Finals should be clear. Trade Al for another 4th option quality center. Teague, Smith and Johnson core can beat the Bulls, the Heat and Orlando.
Rose is injury prone as is Wade who’s aging. Celtics are already imploding. Knicks…
ORL? Single cover Dwight and play size players.
The superteams are imploding and all we want to do is tank the season…for a guy who’s proven he cant play inside at that.
Ra'mon
January 18th, 2012
4:03 pm
I wonder if Kirk and next season’s 1st can get Garcia and Cousins from the Kings. If Horford was still healthy, I would’ve suggested Horford for Tyreke Evans and Cousins.
KevinM
January 18th, 2012
4:04 pm
DMB, you’re pointing out weaknesses in our management in how they work towards making us a contender. We have put our eggs in this basket with our draft choices that worked, and draft choices that missed.
We have 4 starters from the draft and one all-star SG and we haven’t broken that mold yet.
What year are we in the Sund regime? Year 4? When is he going to make a splash that improves the starting lineup? Is he incapable of getting the best of a deal that improves a starting lineup?
You are throwing the West foes out there, but I can’t even see past our current division & conference. It’s all about matchups, and so far this year, we are 2-3 versus teams that are ranked ahead of us. Out of those 3 teams, does anyone seeing us beating those teams in a 7 game series? Not in our current standing, so why are we standing PAT? It’s amazing to me that Sund just follows the league and has to have an offer fall in his lap to make a deal. I would never call him aggressive and forward thinking.
That’s my Sund rant for today prior to go up against a Blazer team that is Jekyl at home and Hyde on the road. If they don’t have Camby tonight, we have an additional advantage. FWIW, Portland is 8-5 and looking very beatable.
AJ and OB, good review of the ORL series on D12 stats. He might be able to be slowed down a bit, but IMO only Kobe is able to single handedly beat a team. So limited credit to Collins at best. The credit should go to LD and the entire team.
One key stat: Teague has also come up big, averaging 16.3 points and 7.6 assists during the three-game run with Al out of service. He is huge if he can give us those kinds of ‘nimbers’.
I like the scrappiness we have shown the last week, and I’m becoming more supportive of LD and his ways, but we still have to move forward and not expect Al to return. Flash back to ‘05: Orlando lost their PG, Jameer Nelson, and picked up Houston starting PG Rafer Alston, who basically led them to the NBA Finals before Van Gundy screwed up and reinserted Nelson as their PG in the Finals after missing the entire playoffs.
That was a move made out of necessity; we are at that crossroad right now. That move improved that team enough to push them past LeBron.
We have to have a move that improves our starting lineup and plays big minutes.
Astro Joe
January 18th, 2012
4:05 pm
MC, is there a disconnect between TMac and LD or is it just a timing issue? Like he is healthy and excited to play after an early shootaround but when game-time arrives, his back tightens up?
Rufus1
January 18th, 2012
4:07 pm
ESPN
These are the same writers that picked the Knicks as contenders….
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
Spell check is brutal. It changes your words behind your back. LOL! Doug and Ryan interviewed Rick Beuchler-sic from I forget where now, but Rick said:
the Hawks will come back to reality and Al Horford will be surely missed. Rick, NOT Doug and Ryan said: even with Horford the Hawks are just TOO DAMNED SMALL on the blocks.
What about that don’t yawl understand? What will it take for you to understand what everyone else with two eyes and two brain cells can clearly see?
We don’t even have the size to get out of the EAST, what are you gonna’ do IF you get to the WEST? LOL! Put that pipe down dreamers … Just enjoy the little entertainment for what it is.
If section 303 wanna’ trek his little self down to the empty birds nest 7 nights a week? Then knock your self out section 303! But, don’t chide others and tell anyone they can’t complain. I made this money – you didn’t! I can do whatever I want to with mine!
Later, peeps.
hawkfan
January 18th, 2012
4:17 pm
I know it’s another televised game but for some reason we always play better on ESPN then we do on TNT, I remember that other TNT meltdown game against Orlando on thanksgiving day a couple years back, very disappointing but then remember the jamal buzzer beater game last year on ESPN so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens tonight
Ra'mon
January 18th, 2012
4:19 pm
Drmaryb, I’ll admit the Hawks don’t have the size to compete with the LAKERS. But sorry, the Bulls, the Heat, the Thunder, and even the Mavericks, wouldn’t give the biggest problem in size to the Hawks. Short of Rose getting hot, the Hawks have had 20 point leads on the Bulls in two games, when the Bulls, not the Hawks, were at full strength (I don’t think Rip makes that big of a difference). And if LD instructs his team to intentionally foul, they’re a three pointer away from beating the Heat twice. Rodman, Malone, and Barkley proved it doesn’t take height to rebound, or have good defensive position, it just take that ‘it’ factor of not caring about your body, and going all out. I actually wish the Hawks could find a way to get someone simple like Kirk Thomas. Or see if Dalembert (who’s under performing) could be traded for Kirk and a 2nd round pick. If the Hawks play SMART (which is a 50/50 chance) they can beat anyone aside from the Lakers in 7 games. If the Hawks weren’t too small to take the Celtics (with a huge center, a 7 foot PF, and a 7 foot back up in Rasheed) to 7 games, then they can compete with anyone.
LT
January 18th, 2012
4:22 pm
I think I am tired of the injuries…. Everybody is getting of the subject at hand, which is Jamal Crawford. I think he did a great job for the Atlanta Hawks the last two seasons. Even tho, his numbers dropped last year, he was very beneficial in the success of this ball club!
Trojan
January 18th, 2012
4:28 pm
MC: Thanks for the coverage. Is there no rumors of the Hawks checking into a big to help out for the remainder of the year.
I feel that we could at least try someone: Rasheed is interesting, or any big, even if from the Dev. league could help with defense and rebounding for a few minutes per game. We were small with Hortford and we are smaller now.
Collins is only effective against Orlando.
Ra'mon
January 18th, 2012
4:29 pm
Drmaryb, I would attempt to see if the Cavs would be interested in a swap of Kirk and Marvin for Varejao and Sessions. He is a true 6′11, who plays with energy and rebounds extremely well. He’s owed 8 mil a season for 4 seasons.
JaeEvolution
January 18th, 2012
4:32 pm
Nets got Okur for cheap from Jazz.
Bobcats got Mullens for cheap from Thunder.
Two seven footers acquired for a 2nd round pick, why go after Kaman and lose Hinrich in the process when we can add a 7 footer with skill in Semih Erden from the Cavs for our 2nd rounder. He played great in Boston and hasn’t been seeing the time to be successful in Cleveland he can be acquried for cheap and log 30 MPG and I promise he will become a favorite on this board in a very short time.
Trojan
January 18th, 2012
4:36 pm
JaeEvolution: Great post. My thoughts exactly. With our limited depth at C, why not have someone like that on our bench even before Al’s injury?
Ra'mon
January 18th, 2012
4:36 pm
Jae, Erden is 7 foot, and only averages 2 rebounds in 10 MPG. That’s unacceptable.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 18th, 2012
4:36 pm
Here’s my Point!
I was sharing an interview discussion I heard hot off the presses on 790 The Zone. i was repeating what that man said – don’t shoot the messenger. However, Rick didnt say anything Al and Josh hasn’t already said to ad nauseum.
WE ARE TOO SMALL to be any type of CONTENDER! H E L L O? Does that make it clearer to my cohorts? Al’s words not mine. I agree with Al and Josh … I said, meanwhile enjoy the stale popcorn and $10 beer cans, uou are being ENTERTAINED people – that’s it. This core, this team will NOT win a title people, so lower your expectations and everyone will be just fine.
And, one more thing SLB … I said the Kendrick Perkins ship has sailed a long time ago, but Sund never picked up the phone. OKC got kendrick for a small – Jeff Green in a trade straight up, with no other players involved. I repeat, that is the kind of help Al and josh were looking for and, not Twin 2.0 (25 lbs less).
Anybody want to disprove that, I’m all ears?
JaeEvolution
January 18th, 2012
4:39 pm
Ok, Ramon, regardless of his rebounding numbers we would be acquiring a young 7 foot big who plays with the intensity this team needs a big man to play at, he would be an amazing pickup for us in the long run and all we would lose is a measly bust 2nd round pick, you tell me a better option.
Bigman needed
January 18th, 2012
4:39 pm
MC we are too small to get to ECF even with AL. What do you think about the chances of trading for EMEKA OKAFOR?
Ra'mon
January 18th, 2012
4:46 pm
In 17 minutes against Utah, Erden had ONE rebound compared to FOUR personal fouls! In 19 minutes against the Lakers, Erden had FOUR rebounds with FOUR personal fouls again. Erden FOULED OUT in 12 minutes against the juggernaut front court of the Suns, while collecting 2 rebounds. Even in the World Basketball Championship for his country, he only averaged 3 rebounds a game, and had a total of 4 blocks in 9 games. Sorry, I don’t see it.
Ra'mon
January 18th, 2012
4:47 pm
DMB, this team isn’t smaller than the Heat, with the exception of Pittman. But I agree, Joe, Josh, and Horford will not win a title.
Trojan
January 18th, 2012
4:48 pm
I have a great and innovative idea. Let’s trade our draft picks for salary exceptions and never use them. That will help us prepare for the future. In the future when we need a player to step in and play is a situation such as the injury to Al, we will have that great exception to not fill the need.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 18th, 2012
4:49 pm
“ESPN
These are the same writers that picked the Knicks as contenders….” -rufus1-
________________
I dont care what ESPN says about anything, I haven’t watched that channel since the NFL Network and NBA TV launched – literally. I just got burned out after 20 years of 30 minute repeat programming. LOL!
Since you bring up the Knicks, can we beat them now? IDK? The Bulls are gonna kick our azzes again, even moreso now without Horford. Miami in seven – IDK? listen fellas, the hawks ain’t scaring nobody with or without Al. We will be lucky to get past round 1 this year, especially if we dont finish in the top 4. One thing you know ’bout me, if nothing else – imma’ keep it real. (she smirks)
JaeEvolution
January 18th, 2012
4:51 pm
Lol again, you are acting like we would have to give away a decent amount to get this guy, a 2nd round pick would get him here. I’ll take 6 more fouls on a nightly basis to keep Smoove in the game than look at any 2nd round pick that could help us more in the future. Why is this such a negative to you?
Ra'mon
January 18th, 2012
4:54 pm
Jae, I heard Jeff Van Gundy ask the other day if a certain bench player (I think Asik) played for 30 minutes a game, would he still have the energy to hustle as much as he does now. And he didn’t believe so. The point is, the Hawks have NO one on the coaching staff who I would trust to develop a young big. They’ve had Solo, Benson, and Rolle, yet neither is here still.
Believe it or not, I would consider bringing back Sheldon Williams for a 2nd rounder. Sheldon was a TERRIBLE lottery pick. But he could be a feasible utility man. Sheldon has had high rebound games this season of 13 versus Miami, 9 versus Boston, and 8 versus the Clippers. Those are three playoff teams. Don’t need him to shoot, don’t need him to dribble. Only need him to rebound and take charges.
Rufus1
January 18th, 2012
4:59 pm
“listen fellas, the hawks ain’t scaring nobody with or without Al.”- DMB..
I agree, without Al we aren’t scaring anybody, but with Al, Thibs looked very scared to me(like Van gundy looked last year).
I think we need to make a move for a shot blocker/ rebounder.
Just Joe
January 18th, 2012
5:00 pm
MC…To the best of your knowledge, how many non-guaranteed contracts need to be cut by February in order for us to end up under the luxury tax threshold (assuming no other moves)?
I believe the non-guaranteed deals are Sloan, Pargo, Ivan & Stackhouse.
Rufus1
January 18th, 2012
5:01 pm
Ra’mon
I can’t believe I agree with the idea of bringing in Sheldon Williams….Wow.
Just Joe
January 18th, 2012
5:02 pm
My understanding is that the league will only allow 2 cuts (roster down to 13), and I’m just wondering if those 2 cuts will get us below, or will the ASG be forced to “pay up” or make a move to dump some salary.
Rod from College Park
January 18th, 2012
5:02 pm
MC,
“Rod! are you disappointed in me, too? i hope not.”
Not at all.
“Marvin was playing well before he was injured. now everyone wants him on the bench and/or traded. what happened? are you just tired of the injuries? do you think he’s better off the bench? do you think he shouldn’t be allowed time to get back in the swing? or is it that even when he gets healthy you don’t expect him to continue playing like he did before he got hurt?”
I personally don’t think he was playing so well before he was hurt. He was playing better than usual, which is not that hard to do. He did nothing against Miami. He rarely shows up in big games, or in the playoffs, and disappears in most games. He was hitting wide open shots early in the year, which is what he is paid to do. I have never thought that Marvin should be a starter on this team, after about year 3. He is the worst player of all the starters, and has not done enough in his tenure as a Hawk to deserve a starting spot. The only time Marvin has not started in his tenure here when he is healthy is when we swung Josh to the 3, and Marvin is not where close to the player Josh is defensively or offensively. I guess my question is more based on the fact that I think Vlad, or any other guy who can knock down wide open jumpshots, pose a much better threat offensively with the starters than Marvin does. So why is it that Drew continues to trot Marvin out as a starter? I notice we seem to get out to slow starts alot, and I think it stems from Marvin being on the floor, and teams playing 5 against 4.
“the answer is “yes” unless Drew starts him when he doesn’t believe he deserves it, which would be kind of weird. also, Marvin didn’t start every game last season, and i don’t recall any hell, sleet, rain or snow. so the premise of that question would be inaccurate, no?”
This is the same coach that trotted a one legged Bibby out there, when a healthy Jeff Teague was sitting on the bench, so I really am not sure what his starting Marvin Logic is. Obviously there are better palyers on the bench, and always have been, so I’d like to know what his logic is. Thanks.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 18th, 2012
5:06 pm
“Drmaryb, I would attempt to see if the Cavs would be interested in a swap of Kirk and Marvin for Varejao and Sessions. He is a true 6′11, who plays with energy and rebounds extremely well. He’s owed 8 mil a season for 4 seasons.” -Ramon-
____________
If they couldnt battle inside with LeBron, Mo, Antoine and Shaq after winning 61 regular season games? what in Sam’s Hill are Varejao (flopper) and Sessions gonna’ do here without a Super Star and fan crowd in the play offs?
The play offs is NOT the regular season and you are NOT gonna’ run – period. You better be big inside and feed the post inside out. The Hawks have NEVER fed AL in the post, regular season nor post season – period. Like Amare” said, “Al is NOT that type of player!” A week later we went to MSG and Al got his azz handed to him.
See personnel mamagment issues and coaching for not being able to feed the post in basketball. You might as well ask Matt Ryan to throw an accurate deep ball, toss a screen on a boot leg left and run for an inch to get a first down – all in one series and score a touch down in the process.
It just ain’t gonna’happen in our life time. All the Hawks can do is what they do and hope/pray more qualified help arrives while this small window is still open. Meanwhile, see Sund pick his drawers outa’ his crack.
JaeEvolution
January 18th, 2012
5:07 pm
There should be a limit on guys that are 6′9 and athletic drafted to a team, and we passed that number years ago.
Anyways maybe he couldn’t always have the same energy given bigger minutes, but he can always be a presence on the floor, because he knows if he can hold out for this long and play good enough defense for the rest of the quarter his team has a pretty good shot to win because they have another big who is 7 feet and just as good defensively coming back when he goes off. That is something the Hawks don’t have depth at the bigger positions so sometimes our guys have to play timid or scared because they look over to that bench when they get a foul and realize, I can’t play as aggressive anymore because my backup just isn’t good enough or doesn’t have enough size to play against the competition.
BosnianBaller
January 18th, 2012
5:18 pm
One of my favorite hawks of all time!
Trojan
January 18th, 2012
5:19 pm
I can’t believe that I am saying this, but: Sheldon Williams would be a welcome addition to our team. He would help.
bird
January 18th, 2012
5:21 pm
Good read MC.
Rod from College Park
January 18th, 2012
5:21 pm
“Jamal cost about 3.5X more than Flip for a few more points. Funny how production vs. salary only applies to certain players but not others.”
Those couple of points in a year average, is the difference between Josh Smith and Chris Bosh. Its the difference between LaMarcus Aldridge and David Lee. If a players averages almost a full 5 ppg more than another player, that player is much better offensively than the other player. In the case we are speaking of, Jamal vs. Flip, it is equals out to 450 more points a year, so yeah, Jamal should command more money than Flip Murray. LOL
Lea
January 18th, 2012
5:23 pm
Not scaring anyone without AL?? Who exactly is intimidated or afraid of him? Thats quite hilarious tp me. I believe in the hawks!
Ra'mon
January 18th, 2012
5:30 pm
DMB, I’m not at all saying that Varejao or Sessions will bring a title, or even get us out of the 2nd round. But the deal saves the Hawks 4 million, and it also a fair prediction that Varejao will gives us more than what Marvin gives us for the same price. And Kirk has been on the shelf half of his time here. If Cleveland would trade Varejao for Marvin straight up, I would take that deal and love it. By the way, are you talking about the Shaq that was one year from retiring? Or the Shaq LAL or even Miami got? And what has Mo Williams EVER done? They’re not superstars at all. But a backup front court of Zaza and Varejao would be better than Boston’s, Miami’s, Orlando’s, Oklahoma’s, Dallas’s, and even the Lakers’ (only saying the bench).
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
January 18th, 2012
5:42 pm
And, one more thing SLB … I said the Kendrick Perkins ship has sailed a long time ago, but Sund never picked up the phone. OKC got kendrick for a small – Jeff Green in a trade straight up, with no other players involved. I repeat, that is the kind of help Al and josh were looking for and, not Twin 2.0 (25 lbs less).
Anybody want to disprove that, I’m all ears?
————–
Jeff Green is the same height as Horford, near same wingspan and plays the 3. Ainge was trying to find a longterm solution to reducing Paul Pierce. Or saw Green as the future SF of the Celtics
Disprove what? Yeah Perkins was available to people who had talent. Who would we have offered?
The ship that sailed was Horford for Deron Williams. And Teague was dropping 20 points a night on that guy.
And the thing you don’t get is if management did get a center then that would move JSmoove outside where he would not get any FTA and would hurt his game.
Smoove never asked for a “tough” center. He’s the blue collar guy willing to go against bigger guys and athletic enough to make it an advantage. He asked for a deadeye shooter.
So that he could drive and kick all day.
You saw Iso Al choke last year against the Bulls. LD has to plot each possession and give Al lobs because for all his supposed IQ and effect on winning Iso Al was airballing fadeaways (Bobcats). Y’all remember that?
If this team had been dumb enough to listen to Al “Harvard”. We would be driving and kicking to Josh all day. And that is not fair to anyone to put Al Horford on Pau Gasol or Bynum’s level. As soft as they are, AL is softer.
Al Horford aka All Harvard couldn’t score a lick on them and looked sad when he played them. All you get from him is hold the ball on offense trying to pad assists and then on defense 2 quick fouls and then LD is all too happy to send Zaza in. And suddenly the team starts getting FTA rebounds. Punking Gasoft.
Ra'mon
January 18th, 2012
5:43 pm
Totally a dreamer deal, and may sound crazy. But I wonder if Boston would take Marvin, Kirk, and 2 2nd round picks for Pierce. If the Celtics would do that, it would be huge for them and for the Hawks. KG and Allen at the end of their deal, and this would definitely give Boston enough room to make a run at D. Williams and D12, while trading Rondo for a wing. If they re-sign Allen That’s a great line up already. For the Hawks, you have your closer instantly. And you have someone who doesn’t care about taking last second shots and/or free throws. Sorry but a line up of Teague, Joe, Pierce, Josh, and even Zaza (for now) is a line up I could live with! And you instantly have a CHAMPION in the line up who played more of a factor than the ‘champion’ Powell, lol
Ra'mon
January 18th, 2012
5:44 pm
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7nhr8dl
Ra'mon
January 18th, 2012
5:45 pm
This deal would have $40 million coming off of Boston’s book from this season.
Bigman needed
January 18th, 2012
5:48 pm
Varejao would work, sure, league’s 4th leading rebounder. But cleveland is not gonna deal him. They’re rebuilding nicely and may make playoffs next year. Varejao is part of their future plans and playing at a high level. Only, d12, bynum and klove are doing more on the glass than him.
Okafor is on the block due to hornets going nowhere, wanting to shed his deal, them having kaman playing the same position. Get emeka!