Atlanta Hawks: Erick Dampier signed; Josh Smith snubbed?
Here is my AJC story on the Hawks signing Erick Dampier to a 10-day contract. Here is my other AJC story on Joe Johnson making the All-Star team and Josh Smith being left off.
AJC wise guy weighed in on the Smoove Snub. Now I will take a stab at figuring out if ‘Damp’ can help the Hawks.
Dampier is a big dude. Maybe he’s too big. He was last listed at 265 but, based on what I saw today, I’d say he’s at least 20 pounds north of that. (Sorry for the lack of visual evidence. I hate my phone.) I know the pool of free-agent centers is dreadfully shallow but Dampier never was the fleetest guy so now I wonder how effective he can be with the added weight.
The biggest red flags for Dampier last season were drastic declines in his scoring and rebounding rates. The two are related because Dampier didn’t grab as many offensive boards and so didn’t have as many putbacks. But Dampier still was effective when he managed to collect misses: His 1.1 points scored per possession on offensive rebounds (on 31 possessions) ranked 84th in the league last season, according to Synergy Sports Technology.
And Dampier may still have some value as a defender. His opponent PER of 14.3 last season was solid. Dampier’s Synergy defensive numbers were good: .83 points per possession allowed, 83rd-best in the league. Plus, let’s face it: At this point the Hawks just need a big body to plug in the middle so bigs can’t bull their way to the basket at will and smalls at least have an obstacle to navigate on their way to the basket.
The question with Dampier probably centers on whether he’s in good enough shape to approach those efficiency numbers now. It’s not a good sign when both coach and player say he needs time to work into game shape when he’s on a 10-day. But I’ll withhold judgment until we see Dampier on the court, which could come tomorrow vs. Dwight.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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235 comments Add your comment
MattP
February 10th, 2012
2:37 pm
I am actually glad Smith didn’t make the All-Star roster. No one wants to watch horrible shots and air balls in the All-Star game. Smith is blaming the voting on kissing butt which is really because of that poor shot selection. All he has to do is get better at that and he will be in multiple All-Star games.
Sautee
February 10th, 2012
2:42 pm
Hey Josh,
Taking the ball inside where you are strongest = kissing butt. Coaches would LOVE you if you just did that.
hawksfancents95
February 10th, 2012
2:42 pm
josh got snubbed. hands down. i see what yall wrote about he didnt deserve it and there are good points to those arguing why he shouldnt of made the team. but think of this, luol deng made the team and he’s missed games but hes not as essential to the bulls as josh to the hawks. josh does everything and ya hes not as consistent like an all star should be but even if josh has a mediocre game he still get 10 pts 7 rbs 4 ast 2 blks and guards everyone. i seriously believe if josh played for a team with a real head coach he would be at 18 &8 every night and shooting 50+% from the field. it is a damn shame he got nixed like that for luol or PP34.
now on dampier, good 10 day signee if he is in shape. i dont like hearin he’s 280lbs but he will hopefully get a few mins and contribute. id still like to see keith benson cuz i think he can grow into a good/athletic C that can give us mins and turn into more. they say keiths problem is strength but strength in the NBA is not of great importance its about positioning and heart, look at KD35, he prob still cant bench 185 but u wouldnt call his game weak, KD can get to the lane and finish strong and i think keith B could help us moreso than a erick dampier could
doc
February 10th, 2012
2:43 pm
yeah he did a childress on us. was kiddiing, it is though i never knew him. the aba really killed our franchise.
doc
February 10th, 2012
2:48 pm
heh heh at sautee, h3ll yes smash kick butt instead.
sad that while iggy and deng quietly took their snubs im the past osh again shoots himself in the foot at close range i might add because he didnt miss.:-)
lea
February 10th, 2012
2:54 pm
you josh smith haters are still at it lol. I knew Astro Joe would be the first one to post and ridicule that statement. Hilarious.
Blodus
February 10th, 2012
2:54 pm
YAY!!! We got Dumpier….We’re gonna be champions…yeaa!!
Sautee
February 10th, 2012
2:54 pm
doc,
never knew that osh had any plax in him.
yes, that was just wrong.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 10th, 2012
3:06 pm
“On Hibbert’s selection…
… you guys are snubbing him, however, his nimbers are just about the same that Al had (I think per minute may even be substantially better) when he got called up.”
He isn’t nearly as efficient as Al. More importantly, I can’t support an All Star selection who gets owned by Zaza this badly.
Astro Joe
February 10th, 2012
3:07 pm
Not to mention that it insinuates that the reserves (including a current active teammate), earned their All-Star status through politics.
Astro Joe
February 10th, 2012
3:08 pm
lea, I aim to please.
Rod from College Park
February 10th, 2012
3:21 pm
I know this will be hard for the Josh Smith haters to admit, but he should have been an allstar this year. Take all your hate and spite for him put it aside, and look at the numbers. It’s clear. Josh has a lot of flaws, and makes many bad decisions, but he is clearly one of the better forwards in the east. Neither Pierce not Deng should have been in before him. Iggy is not even close. His numbers don’t deserve all star consideration at all.
If you compare Josh to Deng. Josh’s numbers are better across the board except for ppg (15.6 to 16). He averages more rebounds, more assists, more steals, more blocks, he is shooting a higher FG% from the floor (47% to 43%), and he gets to the line more (but is FT% his worse). He does turn the ball over more (2.4 to 1.7) Not to mention he has been healthy and played in every game, and Deng has not. Both teams have winning records so that really should not be a factor.
Compared to Pierce, Pierce averages more ppg (18.4 to 16.6) and assist (5.8 to 3.2), but Josh is better in every other category. More steals, more blocks, better rebounder, drawn more fouls, FG% is better (47% to 42%). Plus Paul Pierce TURNS THE BALL OVER MORE THAN JOSH (2.95 to 2.4). The Hawks have a better record than the Celtics, so that can not be used, and Pierce has not been healthy, and Josh has.
Iggy since they have him listed as a forward, numbers in no way compare to Josh. Across the board Josh is much better. His team is better, but its not like the Hawks are the Washington Wizards.
I have to agree with Chris Webber that Josh was robbed. There is no reason that all of the studio analyst (Shaq, Kenny, Chuck, and C-Webb) thought Josh would make it, as much as they hate on the Hawks. It’s obvious the guy is not well liked around the league by coaches for whatever reason, but the players feel differently. Josh drives me crazy many nights, but our perceptions of him should not cloud the fact that he is one on the best forwards in the east this year. It is what ist is.
O'Brien
February 10th, 2012
3:23 pm
I’m with Melvin.
Replace Pierce with Josh, and replace Deron with Rondo.
Najeh,
Somebody from the Pacers will get a spot based on the team record, so either Granger or Hibbert would have gone.
O'Brien
February 10th, 2012
3:28 pm
Rod,
I think Josh should have gone instead of Pierce, but I can see why Iggy and Deng made it.
The Bulls have the best record in teh East, while the Hawks are 5th. But you would send 2 Hawks players, but only 1 Bulls player to the all-star game?
Also, Philly has the 3rd best record in the East, but the Hawks should have 2 all-stars while the Sixers have none?
doc
February 10th, 2012
3:30 pm
when you wonder why the phil is half empty and the numbers are declining this is sobering:
http://beta.local.yahoo.com/news-georgia-dead-last-financial-security
folks we are skating through.
doc
February 10th, 2012
3:30 pm
yes sautee as ali used to say … i am a bad man.
Buddy Grizzard
February 10th, 2012
3:43 pm
“I can’t support an All Star selection who gets owned by Zaza this badly.”
Haha… that makes East All-Star Roy Hibbert, West All-Star Marc Gasol and former #1 overall pick Andrew Bogut that Zaza has not looked bad against. He really only looked overmatched against Spencer Hawes since he became the starter. I saw your props comment ftpb.
Buddy Grizzard
February 10th, 2012
3:47 pm
Look at it this way… LD f’d up Josh’s All-Star invite by giving away the Miami home game, not trapping Rose in the fourth quarter and giving away the CHI game, and rolling Vlad out there during the home losing streak to let the other team go on runs. As soon as LD shortened the rotation (and keep Vlad the f off the floor) per northcyde, the Hawks win against a quality opponent. Give the Hawks 1-2 of those wins LD gave away because he’s not an NBA-caliber coach and Josh is an All-Star.
Sautee
February 10th, 2012
4:00 pm
“Give the Hawks 1-2 of those wins LD gave away because he’s not an NBA-caliber coach and Josh is an All-Star.”
Buddy,
First off, I believe Josh got robbed, and definitely SHOULD have been on the AST.
However, you have no guarantee that the two wins we “missed” would have swayed the coaches. Is there a chance? Yes, but Josh HAS been inconsistent, despite his moments of brilliance.
Also, in the MIA game you mentioned, Josh was 6-17, so that’s somehow on LD? If Josh hits just one more shot in regulation, there would have been no overtime. Yes, LD has made some “young” coaching errors, but to say that he alone cost Josh his All-Star bid is a huge stretch IMO. I cannot imagine that Josh blames LD. But then, he likely has a much different agenda than bloggers, lol.
Slimjr
February 10th, 2012
4:09 pm
doc
February 10th, 2012
3:30 pm
“when you wonder why the phil is half empty and the numbers are declining this is sobering:”
Georgia dead last compared to the rest of the Nation?
doc, the Gangsters/Banksters raped Georgians! These “THUGS” should be locked up yesterday!..What a shame……
..
Grandad
February 10th, 2012
4:14 pm
Buddy Grizzard
I would love to go and drink coffee with you while you have that beer.
[tee-totaler]
Then we could discuss my disagreement with your last post.
Respectfully as always.
Slimjr
February 10th, 2012
4:17 pm
doc, check out Peter Levenda 4-03-2011 conference in Amsterdam on the space program on you tube when you have time…Fascinating stuff..Indeed
Slimjr
February 10th, 2012
4:23 pm
Josh= no j and no handles…No AllStar………Yawn……………
Slimjr
February 10th, 2012
4:33 pm
If Josh were a 5, he’s in.. He’s a tweener 3-4..Were’s the pull up J, dribble drive shooting on the move..Post game?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 10th, 2012
4:35 pm
“Somebody from the Pacers will get a spot based on the team record, so either Granger or Hibbert would have gone.”
I would have no problem with Josh, Granger, and Rondo replacing Deng, Hibbert, and Deron Williams. Bosh can be the backup center.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 10th, 2012
4:36 pm
Regardless, if team performance really mattered that much, Nash would have been replaced by a Denver Nugget.
Coaches just pick people they like. Time to take the vote out of their hands.
Slimjr
February 10th, 2012
4:39 pm
“Coaches just pick people they like. Time to take the vote out of their hands.”
Agreed, doubt All NBA gets voted in to AllStar games by the fans for sure….
Najeh Davenpoop
February 10th, 2012
4:43 pm
Stan Van Gundy breaks down tonight’s game.
Buddy Grizzard
February 10th, 2012
5:12 pm
“Also, in the MIA game you mentioned, Josh was 6-17, so that’s somehow on LD?” – Sautee
Let’s save the specious arguments. What’s on LD is his decision not to foul before the shot with 5 seconds to play and a foul to give. The initial foul to give could have taken ticks off the clock, and then a second foul before the recipient of the in-bounds pass could go into a shooting motion would put them on the line for two free throws, all but securing the win.
LD is a former player, and as G-Dad will tell you, coaches live for late-game situations where game management can have a real impact on the outcome. LD can’t get out there and play, much as he undoubtedly would love to. So managing end-game situations is the closest he can come to directly impacting the game. This was a huge opportunity to be up 2-0 on Miami for the season series and he instructed his players not to foul, opening the door for a tying 3.
Sure… players could have hit shots… players could have hit free throws… the refs could have set aside their typical anti-Hawk bias… any number of factors could have changed the outcome of that game. But the fact remains, LD mismanaged the conclusion of that game and gave away a victory that would have the Hawks in first in the Southeast division with the second best record in the Eastern Conference as I type this. Just think about the difference that one victory would make right now in terms of not only external perception of the Hawks, but goodwill toward the franchise on the part of its own fans.
Buddy Grizzard
February 10th, 2012
5:15 pm
G-Dad please hit me up at bgrizzard at gmail dot com. I’ll take you up on that coffee.
Buddy Grizzard
February 10th, 2012
5:33 pm
LOL @ SVG’s analysis of the Hawks:
“You’ve gotta still deal with Joe Johnson. They’re a huge post up and isolation team… you’re not dealing with alot of movement or anything.”
drmaryb.[*_*].
February 10th, 2012
5:54 pm
UNCOACHABLE!
That’s what Josh’s problem is. Seven years into it and, Mr. Smith still hasn’t learned to give the damned ball to the PG and run the lanes. Couple that with throwing up bricks from every spot on the floor and you will always be a spectator of the AS Game just like the extras (as Ivan calls them).
crazy_88
February 10th, 2012
5:56 pm
I’m all for the Dampier signing because at the very least it allows guys to play their natural positions on the court. He is a BIG body that you can use to plug in the middle where the Hawks are the most vulnerable. If LD is worth his grain in salt as a coach he will use Dampier’s size to set a number of hard screens and picks when needed that will help the perimeter players get off a clean shot. He’s not a mobile big man so they should avoid trying to run pick n rolls with him and he’s not the type of player who is going to rebound outside of 2 feet but again..at his size opposing big men aren’t just going to back him down and shot over him or move thru him – he’s so big that teams are going to have to put a body on him just because you don’t want him roaming alone under the basket.
crazy_88
February 10th, 2012
6:01 pm
With regard to Josh Smith’s snub as an Allstar reserve…The coaches are the ones who select the reserves and the rep on Josh is that he very talented but he has a bad attitude and he is a cry baby….and If there is one thing coaches don’t like..its cry babies who have bad attitudes…Josh breaks a lot of plays when he doesn’t feel he is touching the ball like he should…which is another negative…If Josh would just temper his emotions and play within himself every night…whether win or lose…he would be an Allstar…
RDM
February 11th, 2012
1:56 pm
If Josh SMith put up the exact same stats, in the exact same way for a team with the exact same record, but located in LA or New York, he woudl be in. If he put up the exact same stats for the Knicks, he woudl be in.
There is just this weird anti-atlanta vibe out there.