Atlanta Hawks: Better health, easier schedule to finish season
The Hawks’ spirits were noticeably high at practice today, and that was true even before rookie Ivan Johnson (belatedly) sang “Happy Birthday” (badly) to Larry Drew.
Jannero Pargo was back at practice 17 days after his appendectomy. Al Horford participated in non-contact team drills for the first time since his Jan. 17 pectoral surgery. Everyone seemed refreshed and rejuvenated after two days off–even Tracy McGrady was laughing, joking and engaged.
Maybe it was the convergence of rest, better health and the easing of the schedule that had the Hawks (mostly) ditching the “one game at a time” mantra and actually casting an eye on the East standings to contemplate where they might finish.
“Everybody is right there,” Drew said. “As I told the coaches, this thing is going to jump around from now until the end the way we are all bunched up. Some schedules are favorable, some guys are out on the road quite a bit. Some are home. Some are half and half. It’s going to be interesting how this thing shakes loose.”
Joe Johnson, normally among his team’s toughest critics, allowed that he “feels pretty good” about their chances.
“We’ve managed to hold our own,” he said.
In fact, Joe went so far as to declare the Hawks have the easiest path to a strong finish among the teams vying for playoff positioning behind the Bulls and Heat.
“I think we are in favor coming down the stretch as far as other teams we are competing with,” he said. “We just have to come out and take care of business.”
He’s probably right about that. A breakdown of the finishing schedules for the top eight in the East:
| Team (record) | Games left (home) | Opponent win % |
|---|---|---|
| Bulls (42-13) | 11 (6) | .516 |
| Heat (37-14) | 15 (10) | .486 |
| Magic (32-21) | 13 (5) | .491 |
| Celtics (30-22) | 14 (6) | .545 |
| Pacers (31-21) | 14 (10) | .482 |
| Hawks (31-23) | 12 (8) | .429 |
| Sixers (29-23) | 13 (4) | .471 |
| Knicks (27-26) | 13 (5) | .521 |
The Hawks might finally be in relatively good health the rest of the way.
Pargo said he expects to play against Charlotte tomorrow. Vladimir Radmanovic (back) is doubtful tomorrow after participating in a portion of practice today but Drew reports: “I spoke to him said this is the best back has felt in a while.” Jerry Stackhouse (personal) is expected to be available tomorrow.
Pargo was relentlessly cheery as always even a couple days after his emergency surgery so you can imagine his mood today. He said he’d been working out on his own the last three days.
“I’m trying to get my legs underneath me and get my wind back,” he said. “It will probably take a couple games to get my rhythm back and into the flow of the game. I think the main thing is to get back into playing shape.”
With both Pargo and Willie Green back in the fold, Drew can stabilize the backcourt rotation.
“It gives us a little bit more flexibility,” Drew said. “I don’t have to pile up the minutes on both Kirk [Hinrich] and Jeff [Teague]. We are really happy we get [Pargo] back.”
There’s no change in Horford’s status from what he said a few days ago: He won’t return until the playoffs, if that, and he doubts he would be at full strength if he does play.
Horford was watching practice from the sidelines by the time media types were allowed in and later had ice on the surgically-repaired area. But his presence, along with Pargo’s return and the days off, seemed to contribute to the overall positive vibe.
“It feels great, man,” Joe said. “To see Al out here competing and having fun, I think it gives everybody some energy and some hope and hopefully we can get him back.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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118 comments Add your comment
Runner-
April 3rd, 2012
5:24 pm
Awwwwww….. this getting along will last for 2 days…
ntrigue
April 3rd, 2012
5:24 pm
First
ntrigue
April 3rd, 2012
5:29 pm
Lets go Hawks!
Trojan
April 3rd, 2012
5:31 pm
I hope Al comes back and contributes to the 2nd string until he is full strenght which will be next year.
pointguardslim
April 3rd, 2012
5:32 pm
Imagine if we lose to Charlotte.
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
5:34 pm
From last blog – Gotta try to re-sign Josh. If he refuses to re-sign, I guess gotta try to unload him. Derrick Favors and a draft pick, or Derrick Williams and a draft pick, but I doubt those teams do that. Maybe though, since Utah has a couple of lottery picks, and Josh is only 26.
But I say try really hard to re-sign him, and have he, Al, and JJ as your somewhat big 3, and keep Teague and ZaZa as your “little” two. Filler and 1st picks for the rest of the roster.
I know Josh lacks a little lateral quickness at the 3, but I would like to see us run ZaZa, Al, Josh, JJ, and Teague next season, with Marvin as the 6th man.
I think both ZaZa and Teague have earned their stripes this season.
Teague 5th in Steals among PG’s
15th in Scoring
26th in Assists
Low turnover rate.
ZaZa 19th in scoring among C’s, and 14th in rebounding – And those stats are much higher as a starter.
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
5:36 pm
If the Hawks win the next 3,which they should (which means they probably won’t), they’re going to gain ground on somebody, because several of the teams ahead of us are playing each other during that stretch.
pointguardslim
April 3rd, 2012
5:38 pm
If Hawks manage to win with Horford off the bench he could be our Ginobili. Its using All Star material to bolster your bench.
Oh and LD has to decide Hinrich vs Teague to play with the starters.
Teague- Hinrich
Joe – Green
Smith – Marvin/Radmanovic
Ivan – Horford
Pachulia- Dampier/Collins
With Horford off the bench and mixing in some big lineups we could demolish teams. Philly has no chance. NY no chance with their injuries.
Boston is bushleague and we’re a bunch of nice guys. Idk but thats why Josh, Ivan, Zaza starts. To knock some heads in.
Tired of being treated like some undersized sissies.
doc
April 3rd, 2012
5:50 pm
it may be a cruel joke but just heard marcus will prob be available and will go to the hawks.
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
5:54 pm
Tonite: The Knicks play the Pacers and the 76′ers play the Heat.
Tomorrow: The Spurs play the Celts and the Thunder play the Heat – Those games could help us as well.
Thursday: The Knicks play the Magic and the Celts play the Bulls
Friday: The Thunder play the Pacers, the Griz play the Heat,
Saturday: The Pacers play the Celts and the Magic play the 76′ers
Sunday: The Bulls play the Knicks and the Sixers play the Celtics
Tuesday: The Celtics play the Heat and the Knicks play the Bulls
Wednesday: Then we play the Celts at the Garden, after another 3 day’s off.
Friday at the Magic
The Hawks, if they take care of business, are going to be gaining ground, because the teams around us are playing each other, or some other tough teams during this stretch.
If the Hawks could go 5-0 during this stretch, with back to back against the Raptors coming up, they would almost assuredly be at the 3 seed. All it would take is for Orlando to lose 1 time between now and next Friday. And they play the Knicks and Philly among other teams during that stretch, so they could feasibly lose at least 1 of those games. Chandler plays Howard as good as anyone.
But the Hawks gotta take care of business and just win ball games. I don’t care who there against, just win the games.
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
5:58 pm
They said on Hoopinion that when Ivan was in the game against Philly in the 1st half, we outscored them 16-8 and Brand had no pts. I could see Ivan being a tough matchup for Brand.
Only bummer about being the #3 seed if that happens – we drop in draft order, probably down to 23 or 24 or something.
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
5:59 pm
I’d still rather be the #3 seed however.
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
6:11 pm
Did ASG hire Billy Knight? If so, that was a really bad move. He had robbed Gasol away from us, so I thought it may be a good hire, but he couldn’t draft well in most cases.
That being said, this 0-45 stuff, the ASG has only owned the team since ‘03 or ‘04. So we can’t fault them for the 0-45, just the last 8 years or so. And they have built the team up to a top 8 team the last 3 seasons. Looking like 5 straight playoff appearances.
This is our best run in more than a decade, of course I would like a Championship – but at least were comptetive right now, and giving ourselves a chance.
If Al comes back healthy next season, and we re-sign Josh, and Teague keeps developing, we ought to be about as competive as anyone next season. 31-23 w/o Al is pretty good.
A deep playoff run would be better.
Rich owner solves the problem? Look at the Nets. No Dwight. Losing DeRon more than likely. Filthy rich owner.
Blazers have megabucks Paul Allen – and they are a cursed team somehow.
Didn’t Ted used to own us? Didn’t help get a Championship.
Oh well, just venting, wanting a Championship – but instead of harping on 0-45 or whatever, lets roll with what we have and see what happens.
We currently have the same number of rings as the best player on the planet, and the best C on the planet, and the best PG on the planet.
Just saying.
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
6:15 pm
Falcons have a rich owner – 0-4 in the last 4 years of playoffs. Did the Clampetts/Rankin Smiths still own the team under Dan Reeves 2 SuperBowl runs? I think they did, can’t remember for sure.
vava74
April 3rd, 2012
6:19 pm
AJ,
Horford is a middling player, in particular if he sticks with his intention to play PF.
He will NEVER be a 20-10 guy on a playoff team. NEVER.
Josh has proven – to satisfaction – that he can be a 24-10-4-1.5-1.5 player.
He only needs a decent coach to iron out a few deficiencies and place him (and JJ) in better positions to succeed.
On a scale of 1 to 10, Josh is a clear 8.5 with potential to be a 9 and Horford is a clear 7.5 with potential to be an 8 IF he sticks with playing as an undersized, mobile and extra hustling C.
If Horford insists on playing PF, he is strictly a 7.
JJ was a borderline 9 (based on effort and professionalism) and now is an 8.5.
Teague is a 7 with potential to be a solid 8, maybe even reach 8.5 level
Hinrich is a 7 with decaying condition (he used to be an 8 IMO during his CHI days)
Pargo is a 6 with flashes of 7.5
Green is a 7 with flashes of 9
Marvin is a 5 with flashes of 7
Ivan is a 6.5 with potential to be a 7.5
Zaza is a 7.5 simply because he brings so much aggression and hustle now that he gets more minutes that he frequently sets the tone (first play of the NYK game is a good example – immediately after the tip off he dove for a loose ball, a moment when most players are still yawning)
V-Rad is a 5 with flashes of 7
McGrady is rapidly decaying 6.5 with flashes of 8.5
For these guys to fulfill their potential or exhibit their flashes more often/more consistently, they need a quality coach to place them on the right match ups, the right moments of the game and executing the right plays.
LD is a 5.5 with flashes of 1
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
6:22 pm
I know I have committed Hawks blogosphere heresy by suggesting that ASG is anything other than the blame for:
Global Warming
Mass Starvation
Mercury in Vaccines
Pollution
Socialism
Predator Capitalism
The Bubonic Plague
AIDS
The Great Recession
And walk around all day with drool coming down their lips due to their incompetence and imbecility.
In reality, the lot of them are playing golf with other multimillionaires, yachting wherever they like, living like kings on European vacations, and eating the finest food, living in the nicest houses, surrounded by opulence and the finest women.
While we blog about Kirk Hinrich or something.
Facts are facts.
Bummer
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
6:25 pm
Josh is about to pass JJ as the leading scorer on the team. JJ at 19.1 and Josh at 18.8, and closing rapidly.
That hasn’t happened since JJ has been here.
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
6:27 pm
Word on the blogosphere is if LD Coaches us to a 3rd seed w/o Al, he probably finishes 2nd in Coach of the Year to TT from Chicago.
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 3rd, 2012
6:29 pm
SteveW
Rather than droop down in the draft, I’d rather:
Suck for Luck!
ToeKnee
April 3rd, 2012
6:37 pm
thats what im talkin bout Joe, yall take care of business and stay healthy weve got as good a shot as anybody. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING the broncos made the freakin playoffs.GO HAWKS!
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 3rd, 2012
6:37 pm
SteveW
LOL! You must be butter, ’cause you’re on a roll! LOL my man. I’m lovin’ you today.
Marcus
April 3rd, 2012
6:39 pm
Looks good for us. My thought is that we go 6-6 to end the season just by looking at remaining schedule. W’s , but not gimmes, vs. sub 0.500 teams but 2 games vs BOS, DAL, and a couple of other playoff contenders look daunting.
vava74
April 3rd, 2012
6:42 pm
Next 5 games we will go 3-2 and we will start tomorrow with the let down loss.
These guys always lose when they get loose. ALWAYS.
steveW
April 3rd, 2012
6:43 pm
If Gearon Jr. started spending $1,000.00 per day, everyday, 365 days a year, and stopped earning interest on his cash, he and his progenity could spend at that pace for the next 1,000 years or so and never run out of money.
That would be:
$365,000.00 per year
$3.65 million in 10 years
$36.5 million in 100 years
$365 million in 1,000 years – And he’s worth somewhere close to this amount, unless he’s lost an awful lot of money recently.
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 3rd, 2012
6:56 pm
Write it down, Coach Drew will be re-signed. Love it or hate it, it is what it is.
crazy_88
April 3rd, 2012
7:45 pm
I disagree with the assumption that Tracy is rapidly declining. When Drew plays him 20 + minutes and allows him to orchestrate the offense the team clicks on all cylinders and Tracy is effective as a playmaker who is a threat to score If you allow him to get in a flow offensively. When Drew has him playing spot minutes as a bit player…is when we all scratch our heads and wonder WTF is Drew doing. I hope that Larry Drew seriously gives him a bigger role come the post season…Tracy as a “point forward” is a match up problem. Drew has to use him more effectively because I guarantee you guys like Teague, Hinrich , Green & Pargo are not going to do much when the game slows down to a half court game because they cannot create their own shots and they are suspect when it comes to creating shots for others. Teams zero in on your best players and they take away what you like to do best. In the Hawks case..teams will gladly allow Joe Johnson & Josh Smith to go Iso because they will just double team either one and force them to give the ball up or jack up perimeter shots that will only lead to more possessions for the opposing teams. The way Larry Drew has used Tracy everybody thinks that it must be Tracy who is washed up when its far from the truth..dude played very well for Detroit last yr as their best playmaker when Stuckey went down and that was the yr that he finally got over the hurdle with his surgically repaired knee…He has played sparingly for the Hawks the last 20 odd games so I know he is hungry to get it cracking in the post season..Tracy brings it during the post season regardless of his record..stats don’t lie. Again..Drew would be a fool not to at least play Tracy 20 + minutes the rest of the season so that he be on top of his game for the Hawks…
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 3rd, 2012
8:03 pm
yoo MC any rumors on josh winning nba player of the month for march?
Blast
April 3rd, 2012
8:04 pm
SteveW on fire!
Love that 5:54 post. Gonna be fun watching these East teams beat up on each other, while Hawks hopefully move up in the standings.
Would love to see Josh surpass Joe as leading Hawks scorer. Adds another dimension to the team.
Great to see Pargo back, and Al practising. I don’t believe the Hawks will
lay an egg tomorrow.
Runner-
April 3rd, 2012
8:06 pm
“Write it down, Coach Drew will be re-signed. Love it or hate it, it is what it is.”
Really isn’t a far-fetched conclusion at all… all this team strives for is mediocrity and that’s what Drew gives them…
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 3rd, 2012
8:24 pm
Runner-
Yes Sirrr … Affordable coaching with above average results is good enough for these owners. They will never aspire for greatness! Just lining them pockets.
tyger
April 3rd, 2012
8:27 pm
Pargo’s return will be huge…
I’ve maintained throughout year, easiest way to improve…
Is at the Point Guard postion…with Pargo, I doubt they….
Lose to the Bucks or Sixers, and play better vs. Bulls…
Not to belabor Teague, but in Pargo’s absence he didnt…
Distinguish himself, he didnt separate, he didnt claim it…
And he caught breaks: No Lin nor Rose, but Holiday and Lucas III???
In fact, instead, he shot an airball that wouldve tied a game…
Nevertheless, Pargo is back to add some shotmaking/ballhandling…
Hinrich has played better, but minutes catch up to old dogs quick…
Pargo and Green help there as well…
Would like to know why Dampier isnt even deserving of token minutes?
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 3rd, 2012
8:33 pm
No Clue Drew!
Leave Tracy Alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Astro Joe
April 3rd, 2012
8:43 pm
vava, so how many games does a player have to maintain a level of performance for you to conclude that he has proven that he can maintain that level of performance? Obviously, it isn’t ~45 games, so I’d be interested in the ruler that you are using.
Grandad
April 3rd, 2012
9:06 pm
vava
My feeling is;
your player evaluation system is flawed.
Respectfully,
G-dad
____________________________________________
post script:
Is your scoring method a system, or,
simply random numbers strewn about ?
Really a question;
for once I`m not *trying to be a smart ass.
*[not that I ever put effort into it]
James
April 3rd, 2012
9:07 pm
“Josh is about to pass JJ as the leading scorer on the team. JJ at 19.1 and Josh at 18.8, and closing rapidly.
That hasn’t happened since JJ has been here.”
I wouldn’t be surprised if Josh passed JJ in scoring soon this season. Josh is taking a high volume of shots lately, far more than JJ, so unless JJ scores with very high efficiency, Josh will likely pass him. You are not going to outscore someone who shoots 25+ times a game while you shoot around 16+ times a game, unless your efficiency is off the charts or theirs is terrible. Josh may very well lead the team in scoring for the first time in the JJ era this year.
Grandad
April 3rd, 2012
9:08 pm
*scoring method = evaluation method = same
DawgNole
April 3rd, 2012
9:10 pm
steveW: “. . . instead of harping on 0-45 or whatever, lets roll with what we have and see what happens.”
____________________
That’s exactly what we have been doing–for the past 45 years.
Just Joe
April 3rd, 2012
9:26 pm
Indiana is out scoring Woody’s Knicks 29 to 12…..now lead by 2 with 2 to go.
Astro Joe
April 3rd, 2012
9:26 pm
Josh averaged a shade under 21 FGAs in March. That month, he averaged around 24 PPG. I looked to see if the “middling” player ever approached anything close to 20 FGAs in a month. The closest I could find was December, 2010. He averaged around 13.5 FGAs that month. And the middling player went for 17 points, 10 boards and 3.5 assists. Pretty mediocre, huh?
There is little doubt that Josh is the more explosive player and is able to score in more ways than Horford. But we’ve never watched Horford even get the chance to be the #2 dog, more or less the top dog. Josh has been incredibly durable and Al hasn’t had to pick up his slack in the past 2.5 seasons.
Sell high, is my belief. I don’t believe that Josh should be a 20 FGAs type player. (Since the ‘09-10 season, Joe has averaged 20 FGAs in a month once, and averaged 26 PPG in that month). This team, IMO, isn’t built for that type of primary scorer and it shows with their middling record (ooh, there’s that “m” word again).
Sell high. He wants out and maybe someone will believe that he can take them to the postseason if he gets 20+ FGAs each game.
Just Joe
April 3rd, 2012
9:27 pm
That’s the 4th quarter scoring.
jeppz23
April 3rd, 2012
9:28 pm
knicks down 2 to indiana, pistons beating the magic, and heat beating the sixers..this could be a great day in the standings for the hawks
Astro Joe
April 3rd, 2012
9:41 pm
Knicks melted in the 4th quarter… we need the Pacers to lose. At least the 76ers and Magic appear to be losing their games tonight.
Spyro
April 3rd, 2012
9:43 pm
For those of you who don’t know, Josh is a finalist for EC player of the month, along with LeBron, Dwight and DRose. (Rose only played 7 freaking games in the month and shot .415%, how the hell is he on there?!?!?!)
Astro Joe
April 3rd, 2012
9:46 pm
Of those mentioned, Josh should win. I don’t think any of those teams had a stellar month (maybe Orlando?) but certainly not the Heat or Hawks. Give it to Josh, it will make him happy and delight his legends of fans who fill the arena 41 times/season.
Buddy Grizzard
April 3rd, 2012
9:46 pm
Michael Cunningham
March 31st, 2012
4:48 pm:
“…a four-sentence blind item in a Mitch Lawrence Daily News NBA column. at least that explains why i never saw it.”
Michael Cunningham
May 20th, 2011
12:06 am:
“diffuse the story? i just tried to put the quotes of an anonymous player in context. i would do the same thing if, for instance, an anonymous player said: “Drew is the best coach in the league.” but you would have less of a problem with my so-called “diffusion” of that quote because it would bolster your opinion.”
So Michael, you forgot we’ve already been over that one. I forget stuff all the time… no worries… I have short term memory loss.
What’s odd about those two threads is that in both instances I went out of my way to speak highly of your work covering the Hawks:
Buddy Grizzard
May 19th, 2011
8:08 pm:
“PS great work covering the Hawks all year.. I can’t always catch the games so I rely on your great coverage.”
Buddy Grizzard
March 31st, 2012
12:12 am:
“By the way, nice reporting on the Woody/LD relationship, MC.”
And yet, in both cases, after I make one slight criticism of your coverage, you launch into sarcastic diatribes and attack me personally. You don’t seem to react this way to anyone else.
I’m not a threat to you, MC. As you say, I’m “just a fan.” In sports, everybody is allowed to have an opinion.
Astro Joe
April 3rd, 2012
9:47 pm
oops, legion of fans…
Rev in Tampa
April 3rd, 2012
10:06 pm
Right on Cue…
This morning I remarked how easy is the Magic’s schedule. But they go and lose to Detroit tonight. Maybe the Hawks will slip into the 3-spot after all. Go Hawks.
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
10:10 pm
I know dawgnole: Here is a spoof of an average post by dawgnole and slimjr. Maybe some others thrown in for comic relief. Lighten up and don’t take it too serious.
Dawgnole: I know we just blew out the Heat by 20. But we will still suffer from 0-45 on ECF. No doubt about it.
SlimJr – But at least the Knicks with Woody won. Missing Amare, Lin, and Mike Bibby no less…
SlimJr – LD can just kick rocks buster. Woody is the man…
SlimJr – 0-45, with the Pistons coming up. Oh the humanity.
Dawgnole – But 0-45 is terrible. We have suffered that long. Mediocrity. Nothing but a championship. No excuses
Grandad – Trade of the day – We trade Josh for this kid from St Bonaventure. I’ve seen him play, and he’s a stud I tell you.
BTW, Dawgnole, why do you even post, all you do is complain about 0-45. Nothing the Hawks do outside a Championship will ever satisfy you. Let it rest.
Dawgnole – Now that’s the loser mentality I’m talking about. We haven’t been to a ECF in 45 long years. About to be 46 years. I don’t care if Al, Josh, and JJ went down. No excuses.
SlimJr – But the Knicks, now that’s a team
JeJe – The Heat are the team to beat. The Hawks have less than 0% chance of ever beating them in anything. Even in video games the Heat are better. They even won the ‘08 playoff series, it just isn’t recorded right in the record books.
Northcyde – But on 82games.com it says that Joe Johnson has the highest total of winshares of people with 3 first names as part of their names. That proves right there that JJ and Marvin are considered to be 2 of the greatest SG/SF combos drafted in ‘01 and ‘06.
Rod – Did you see Jamal beast it with 4 pts on 27 shots today? Man, are the Hawks ever going to miss him in the playoffs. We have no scorers, and all teams including Charlotte would take us in a 7 games series.
DawgNole
April 3rd, 2012
10:15 pm
Rev in Tampa
April 3rd, 2012
10:06 pm
Right on Cue…
This morning I remarked how easy is the Magic’s schedule. But they go and lose to Detroit tonight. Maybe the Hawks will slip into the 3-spot after all. Go Hawks.
____________________
That’s why I’d be real careful about disparaging the Hawks’ remaining schedule in any way.
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
10:17 pm
Najeh – I know, but that fails to nail the complete picture: Josh+Teague would be even greater if LD wasn’t such an idiot.
Dawgnole – The only idiots are you sick people for sticking with a team that is 0-45. Don’t you realize how terrible that is? Has your minds been perverted, that you think anything less than a championship is acceptable? I don’t care about entertainment, i want championships!
SlimJr – Amen bro
Pointguardslim – But if we could trade all future draft picks for Jon Leuer, we would dominate. I mean, he actually played 6 minutes in scrub time the other nite. Since Sund didn’t have the foresight to obtain Thabeet, it’s the least we could do…I have video to prove that Leuer is the best player to ever play in the NBA. And Bogut is 2nd, with Jordan Hill a close 3rd.
Dawgnole – You could trade the hawks for the ‘59 Celtics and we would still lose.
SlimJr – That’s right. And the Knicks would still win. I mean, there like a game up on the Bucks for the 8th seed. And that’s with Amare and Lin out and all.
Dawgnole – 0-45 is what I’m talkin’ bout – and don’t anybody on here ever forget it.
SlimJr – Pulpit, Church, tabernacle – the man is on fire!!!
DawgNole
April 3rd, 2012
10:19 pm
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
10:10 pm
I know dawgnole: Here is a spoof of an average post by dawgnole and slimjr. Maybe some others thrown in for comic relief. Lighten up and don’t take it too serious . . . .
_________________________
Pretty well captured there, SteveW. Of course, you do realize we are indeed about to be 0-46. (Sometimes I hate being right.)
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
10:25 pm
KenS – But the glass is full you terrible minded morons! If the stars align just right, and the tide comes in at an autumnal perigree, and the comet khoutek comes o so close to earth, we win the championship multiple times. Idiots.
Rev – So I was checking my blackberry at Bible Study tonite, and the head usher saw me – man am I in trouble.
Dawgnole – Trouble is being 0-45. You can get thru it because you have Jesus Rev. But we just have to suffer probably another 45 years if the world lasts long enough. What a terrible franchise!! I just post on there blog so I can remind everyone it has been 0-45. 0-45! I’m getting a billboard downtown just to shame asg into bringing us a championship.
Slimjr – If we had LeBron, DWade and the current roster, no championship for ATL. It has been 0-45 you know…
Vava74 – I post from Portugal, so at least I get a reward for posting from farthest away.
Section 303 – Never again! I will never ever get season tickets again. Until next year of course.
MC – New blog posted, so everything 17 of you cats just spent 15 minutes typing will now be erased – see ya’!
SteveW
April 3rd, 2012
10:33 pm
Dawgnole – I thought I put that in my spoof somewhere. Maybe I forgot.
Spoof:
Dawgnole on a Ron Paul blog. Paul may lose, but at least he’s not 0-45 like the Atlanta Hawks in ECF appearances.
Dawgnole on a UK blog – Enjoy your championship. The Hawks are 0-45 in the postseason getting to the ECF.
Dawgnole on a story of a woman who fell down a manhole cover upside down and hung there for 45 minutes. At least this woman was rescued. I’ve been 45 years without a ECF appearance with the Atlanta Hawks!
Dawgnoles significant other burns supper – Well at least you haven’t messed it up for the past 45 years like the 0-45 Atlanta Hawks!
Dawgnole at the doctor – Well doc, at least the report can’t possibly be as bad as the 0-45 Hawks.
Dawgnole – In a hurricane/tornado/earthquake – You think this is bad? You should see the 0-45 Hawks. Now that’s bad! Entertainmnt? I don’t want no stinking entertainment, I want championships! No excuses! Hold on, while I hold on!
Rufus1
April 3rd, 2012
11:09 pm
Draft Pick…
The Hawks #1 pick just entered the draft(Toney Wrorten)….6′6 PG/SG to replace Kirk/Joe at the SG.
Sund loves him and with Zaza’s development we no longer need a center(Sunds’s thinking)…Get to know Mr.Wroten
http://nbadraft.net/players/tony-wroten
PS. The Pacers are currently in the 3rd position and we are in the 6th….I don’t want to move because we can beat them.
Rusty
April 3rd, 2012
11:28 pm
Watched the knick pacers game .knicks gave up 15 point lead in 4th quarter to lose by 6points. Woody rode iso Carmelo who was 1-5 when it counted. Woody never learns you can’t ride only one horse while the offense goes stagnant. I hope LD don’t try to iso Joe or iso Josh in playoffs.
Buddy Grizzard
April 4th, 2012
1:45 am
“Teague is a 7 with potential to be a solid 8, maybe even reach 8.5 level
Hinrich is a 7 with decaying condition (he used to be an 8 IMO during his CHI days)
Pargo is a 6 with flashes of 7.5
Green is a 7 with flashes of 9″ – Vava
Whoah you lost me there when you started talking about our point guards. Pargo can’t dribble or pass. He would be about a 3. Hinrich, with the exception of a few good games, has also been a 3. Teague is no better than a 5 bro… we usually agree about most things, and I think you were right on with your assessments of ATL’s big men but whoah player.
“Word on the blogosphere is if LD Coaches us to a 3rd seed w/o Al, he probably finishes 2nd in Coach of the Year to TT from Chicago.” – SteveW
In spite of MC’s assertion that my “preferred narrative” is for LD to fail, I think if the Hawks secure the 3rd playoff seed he will deserve some votes for coach of the year. Not on the basis of being anywhere in the same universe as Thibs, Doc, Doug Collins, Pops, Scott Brooks, Carlisle, Spo, Adelman or any of the other top 50% of coaches, because he doesn’t come close.
But if he coaches the Hawks to a 3 seed in spite of all the adversity the team has experienced this year, he will deserve consideration.
soullrenaissance
April 4th, 2012
2:27 am
LD is a 5.5 with flashes of 1
Vava, you took the words right off of my side of cyberspace.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 4th, 2012
2:49 am
“On a scale of 1 to 10, Josh is a clear 8.5 with potential to be a 9 and Horford is a clear 7.5 with potential to be an 8 IF he sticks with playing as an undersized, mobile and extra hustling C.”
Is this scale of 1 to 10 relative to other NBA players? You have everyone, even LD, rated 5.5 or higher, which would make everyone on the team above average. I don’t know about all that. Bench players are for the most part on the bench for a reason. Relative to other NBA players, the likes of Green, Pargo, Vlad, Kirk, etc. would be in the 2-3 range.
Rusty
April 4th, 2012
2:50 am
Any success will be welcomed but it is a shame that it would also would mean success for LD.
James
April 4th, 2012
5:16 am
LOL, great stuff, SteveW. Those spoofs were pretty good. This one was my favorite:
“Rod – Did you see Jamal beast it with 4 pts on 27 shots today? Man, are the Hawks ever going to miss him in the playoffs. We have no scorers, and all teams including Charlotte would take us in a 7 games series.”
Just Joe
April 4th, 2012
6:33 am
If we’re going to get Wroten, let’s find a way to get his teammate Terrence Ross too. Wroten is the slasher. Ross is the shooter. Ross shot 37% from 3, but that was taking 5.5 per game. I like the kid at 6′7″, turned 21 in Feb, and grabbed over 6 rebounds per game. Wroten could be a star, but Ross will most likely be a solid player. Wroten Turns 19 in a couple of weeks. He’s super athletic, but can’t shoot a lick. 58% free throws. 16% on threes. I’d take my chances with developing both kids while Joe’s contract plays out. Need to find a young C to develop as well though, I’m just not sold yet on Melo & Ezeli (who would likely be available when we pick).
vava74
April 4th, 2012
7:42 am
Najeh and Buddy:
You lose sight of the fact that IMO the talent level in the NBA is not that unbalanced.
For me, Josh is a clear cut top 15 TALENT. He is not there yet, but he has that potential. Hence, he could be a “9″ for me but he is already an 8.5.
Lebron is 9.5
Durant is a 9.5
Rose is a 9 but going up
Howard is a 9
Kobe is now a 9 and starting to slip
you get the drift
5 and above means that the player CAN play. Being that 5 means “mediocre”.
Below 5 means that the player CAN’T PLAY, but may have a specific talent which makes him part of the league: Collins is, IMO a 4 given is excellence as a post defender and in the past he was a 5.5 or maybe even a 6 back when he went to the finals with NJN.
Manute Bol was a 4 given his shot blocking excellence.
Mario West was a 3.5 (almost being a specialist but overall a scrub)
Sy was a 3, maybe a 3.5 due to his very green and undeveloped game.
Josh Powell was a 3.5 because he did have a bit of a touch with his shot.
Thabeet/Alabi are guys on the 3/3.5 range strictly due to size and shot blocking.
Guys below 5 are guys who are either technically or mentally unprepared to contribute.
Pargo CAN play and he has proven that. He could start on a bad team if needed.
Guys below 5 cannot be trusted to start even in the event of need.
I do believe that our roster is composed of players which are on or above “mediocre” across the board.
I would eventually grant Marvin a 5.5 given the fact that he is a disciplined defender.
As for Teague, Buddy, you are completely wrong:
He is the most consistent ± guy in our team and already one of the best defensive PG in the league.
His shooting has been decent/good and he is finishing at the rim at a decent pace.
As a distributor we are starting to see flashes of consistency. He usually takes care of the ball which is an important quality in the league. He is definitively well above mediocre level.
As for Hinrich, you can always count on his intensity even if his legs are no longer fast enough for him to be a reliable defender against speedsters.
Also, since he got his legs and his shot back to decent levels, his numbers are not too shabby, in particular given his role as co-distributor and spot shooter:
March G19 mpg 33:00 FG% 44.4 3PT% 38.7 FT% 94.1 RPG 2.7 APG 3.1 TO 1.4 STL 0.6 BLK 0.4 FL 2.5 PPG 8.7
vava74
April 4th, 2012
7:45 am
What Durant says about Westbrook fits like a glove to Josh and what should be JJ’s relationship with him (from Bill Simmons’ latest Grantland article):
“Durant doesn’t care. He knows that Westbrook needs those shots to get going; hence, he gives them to Westbrook. Here’s how KD explained it yesterday when he came after Skip Bayless for downing Westbrook:
“We’re worse when I take more shots. Like I said, [Bayless] doesn’t know a thing. I don’t think he watches us. I think he just looks at the stats. And traditionally, a point guard is not supposed to take more shots than everybody else on the team. But we’re better when he does do that and he’s aggressive. And I’m better when I’m out there facilitating, rebounding, defending and being more efficient on my shots with less shots.”
redman
April 4th, 2012
7:54 am
LOL at the player ratings. Just go to Nba 2k12 for it. On a scale of 1-99. They have Josh at 87, Joe at 84?, Al at 80, Jeff at 74, and Kirk 70.
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 4th, 2012
8:01 am
SteveW you are: Spoof-Tastic! Phenomenal stuff there. LOL
JustJoe, what do you not like about the 7′ Melo? Do you think he will be another Thabeet or Darko M.?
Rev in Tampa
April 4th, 2012
8:05 am
“On a scale of 1 to 10, Josh is a clear 8.5 with potential to be a 9 and Horford is a clear 7.5 with potential to be an 8 IF he sticks with playing as an undersized, mobile and extra hustling C.
If Horford insists on playing PF, he is strictly a 7.”
CO-SIGN!
Josh has solidified his position at PF. If Horford insists on playing PF then he becomes less useful for two reasons. First, it displaces Josh. Second, Horford doesn’t have the foot speed to play as effectively against other PF. He becomes very average. But Horford does have the mobility to out-hustle the oafish 7fters and the body strength to out-muscle the string-bean bigs.
By the way, I’m not sure Horford has ever “insisted” on playing the PF. I’ve never been pursaded either way on that debate.
Rev in Tampa
April 4th, 2012
8:08 am
I should restate the following sentence, “First, it displaces Josh.”
I mis-spoke. No one is displacing Josh. If Horford insists on playing PF then he will marginalize himself.
redman
April 4th, 2012
8:59 am
Horford not better off at the 4? Isn’t that his natural position? He has played majority of his Hawk career as a 5 but I’ve seen him play 4 during his Florida days. Not saying College is the same as NBA, but I still firmly stand on him being a 4.
doc
April 4th, 2012
9:41 am
vava, though i like your attempts to objectify but it is pure conjecture and subjectivity. history says these guys:
Mario West was a 3.5 (almost being a specialist but overall a scrub),
Sy was a 3, maybe a 3.5 due to his very green and undeveloped game,
Josh Powell was a 3.5 because he did have a bit of a touch with his shot;
were 1 to 1.5’s as they didnt play. man, how could you rate them that high on a scale of nba players, maybe as nbdlers or below maybe. i gave powell the benefit of the doubt and not based on anything that we saw last year. he earned a 1 at best in my eyes and never could see why he got on the court as why i cant see why twin gets on the court this year and the guy is clearly no better than a 1.1.
in your system no one is less than a 3 and the best are 9-9.5, then you have a 6.5 point scale at best of 3 to 9.5 not a 10 point scale. step back and think about it then give the grades these folks deserve.
“cant get on the court”, is a 1 vava not a 5, below mediocre to some degree. that type of thinking skews your ratings tremendously as almost every player has flashes of greatness though it might be the one used by our scouting department and that of rick sund when telling ld who needs to play that he just paid mike’s money on. (”heh heh, larry we both got to keep our jobs a little longer, right?”) it is like golfers getting a hole in one or a birdie as a high handicapper. 15 seconds on the court to block one shot of dwade, mairo’s career highlight and being a good practice player does not deserve more than a 1.
doc
April 4th, 2012
9:45 am
i think this one,
SlimJr – Pulpit, Church, tabernacle – the man is on fire!!!
should have read:
drmaryb – SlimJr, Pulpit, Church, tabernacle – the man is on fire!!!
it sounded more like some of classic rants to stir the pot a bit. heh heh
vava74
April 4th, 2012
9:58 am
read the second half. it’s interesting:
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7770130/handicapping-nba-mvp-race
vava74
April 4th, 2012
10:22 am
doc,
Are we pretending that we need to be absolutely scientific ?
If you are attending a “master class”, none of the attendees should be worse than a 3 on a 1 to 10 scale with 5 being the mediocre.
I don’t see why we need to consider NBA rotation players below the median level unless they are – as I mentioned – specialists.
The simple reality is that RandMo, a 3.5 but with theoretical potential (IMO) to be a 7 on my scale was a top dog and CBA champion this year with Marbury.
My grades are for “ball players” being that NBA mostly does not have guys below the 5 threshold.
Melvin
April 4th, 2012
10:32 am
Vava,
I would have love for you to be my professor in college. Seems as if you grade using the curve system…LOL
vava74
April 4th, 2012
10:37 am
Melvin,
In order to get a 5 you need to be a really good student.
What I wanted to illustrate is that my scale is “universal”, namely applicable to all top flight pro players with the NBA having very very few players below 5.
If the grades were supposed to take into account 1 as the worst NBA player and 10 the best, then that would be completely different.
I will give you a 3 just for contesting me
don’t mess with my authority! 
Melvin
April 4th, 2012
10:54 am
Understood Dr/Professor Vava….
vava74
April 4th, 2012
10:55 am
yes, butter me up and you may get a 5 some day
doc
April 4th, 2012
11:08 am
vava, “this is america”.
the scores are for 1 – 10. in the land of ibm and ge there is always a top and always a bottom. that has been going on a long time. so a 1 is the bottom of the pecking order and a 10 is almost unachievable unless you buy the russian skating judge or do something that will get you fired if caught. it is also where the bottom 15% go if they are at the bottom, out of the league or are fired at ibm. it is a rotation; it is called competition.
look, you can call it what you want but you only narrow the interpretation of the complete picture. no, i am not looking for anything statistical or even scientific. i am specifically pointing out that, not using the complete range means that it is a 6.5 scale or maybe even a five point one if i hear you on possibilities. that is all i am saying. it is probably defeating its real meaning or intent when evaluating nba players. what makes a 5 in your mind as “a ball player”? is it really just being in the nba? then a 3 is someone who doesnt belong in the league? again you have a 5 point system, so say it and go on but i dont think that will really allow you to evaluate players nor do i think that one night of 20 points in a game or even 3 games like that suggests that is a 9 point guy. is marvin a 9 then? consistency has to come somewhere in the evaluation and the capability to be consistent.
again the golfer illustration even for pros is relevant. all of those guys can score but some cant do it when the cameras are on from one day to the next. it is even worse in tennis where there is such a narrow window between greatness vs. mediocrity. in the nba, i think we can spread it out a bit have the capability to spread it out and a scale of 4.5 between someone who belongs and the best, i.e. between 5 and 9.5, is not a qualifiable nor quantifiable system of rating the best from top to bottom. it is more than guys who can tear it up the church league every night and actually play in the nba.
the chinese league is not to be even brought into the discussion to rate players as they are all 1’s and out of the league. the gulf between the nba and the chinese league with rare exception of severe behavioral issues is greater than even the gulf between the nbdl and the nba or it would be easy to fill out your roster of all 7’s if it werent. very few of the premier nbdlers can step in and play at 10-15% of what they do in the nbdl. ivan, what avg 27 a game last year? he has one big game at mid teens and regularly misses open looks. it is a different league which deserves a better scale than that of 5 points vava or call it one to five.
again, i say golfers have there moments even if they are a 20 handicapper occasionally they get the birdie. in the nba mario has his moment and it was a singular one where he blocked shot by dwade and i enjoyed it immensely. just the same i never ever saw him play close to any of the guards we have this year for anything longer than 15 seconds and he was a foul machine though with effort. no way he is a 3.
there are also more reasons why players on rosters than being able to play as our basg have shown us, how can you recognize that by giving every player a pass at 5 just for dressing out? pape sy never belonged in an nba uniform. he cant be given a pass either as it was a poor judgment call by the coach and sund. we know how bad they are at evaluating coaching up and using talent dont we like in teague? sorry to disagree. there are many reasons why just wearing a uniform doesnt allow you the ladder to a five. this is not the “candy land”, with ladders and slides, board game.
doc
April 4th, 2012
11:10 am
heh heh melvin guess i am out of the league for behavioral issues. put me up there with jr ryder, eh?
vava “the uncontestable” forever … well trying to get back in his good graces.
vava74
April 4th, 2012
11:24 am
doc,
Sy is making progress in his league. There is still space for him to be at the level of bottom end rotation players.
Not enough to warrant the wait, but again, it’s not that he has been picked off the streets the day before he came.
Last year he was posting decent numbers in the NBDL (better than on the french league), so…
I stand by my assessment.
Some of the best players in the NBDL have the potential to be middling NBA players.
Unless something remarkably wrong happens to him, Ivan should have at least 3 or 4 years in the NBA ahead of him as a mid-low rotational player.
pointguardslim
April 4th, 2012
11:26 am
SteveW Bogut is another white guy who gets injured a lot
But if Hawks had traded Horford before his contract escalated (Thabeet, Hill, and Donatas)…You realize by moving Marvin for an expiring we could’ve made a move for D12 right?
hawkville
April 4th, 2012
11:27 am
SteveW funny
pointguardslim
April 4th, 2012
11:28 am
Starting to think Rufus1 is Rick Sund.
Pray that someone takes Tony Wroten before Sund gets the chance to screw up the draft.
SteveW
April 4th, 2012
11:40 am
Doc – You make some ok points, but you forgot the key to it all. We are 0-45. Nothing else matters. No excuses. All else is irrelevant.
I’m sorry, my joking gene got turned on, gotta shut it off.
No offense to anyone, please!!!
PGS – So we ditch Marvin and Al for a shot at a guy who has given no indication that he wants to sign here. So we go into next season with no Al, no Marvin, and the hopes we sign D12? And we had to make that trade before we knew Horford was out for the season?
Trade for Leuer instead. Ooops, I’m joking again.
Melvin
April 4th, 2012
11:51 am
So we go into next season with no Al, no Marvin, – SteveW
With Al being hurt and Marvin being Marvin. We are basically playing this season without those players…LOL
doc
April 4th, 2012
11:55 am
okay, i’ll tie you down vava to a specific example, is marvin a 9 or the equal to queen?
now that is the test, either we rescale it or i can sit back and watch rod. heh heh
btw i loved the simmons article as long as it was and his sharing the view of queen chewing his nails.
Just Joe
April 4th, 2012
11:59 am
drmaryb…most of my hesitation with Melo involves his average rebounding & limited offensive skills…and of course immaturity. a guy that big only grabbing 5.8 rebounds in 25 minutes a game seems to show limited effort or really poor positioning & footwork. we’ll have to wait til the draft workouts to see what he’s all about though.
Just Joe
April 4th, 2012
12:06 pm
by the way drmaryb, nbadraft has Fab Melo’s nba-comparison as Dan Gadzuric. Wroten’s is Tyreke Evans, and Ross’s is Eddie Jones…….Terrence Jones’s is Marvin Williams.
cdog
April 4th, 2012
12:07 pm
yeah but still you have rick sund, hinrich, teague and pachulia with larry drew on the sideline. all of these spell losing.none of these care about winning.they outweigh the ones that do care
Marcus
April 4th, 2012
12:12 pm
@ rufus1, glad you are talking draft!
some mocks have us taking Vanderbilt SF Jeff Taylor with our 1st round pick, iwth thier thought process presumably as potential replacement for Marvin or assuming a total roster shake-up involving Smoove/Horford (somebody to play the 4 and maybe somebody’s gotta go). …. decisions, decisions
vava74
April 4th, 2012
12:38 pm
doc,
Marvin was originally rated as a 5 with flashes of 7
Then I felt generous and upgraded him to a 5.5 because he is a disciplined defender.
doc
April 4th, 2012
1:10 pm
vava, by your scale it seems he is barely in the league since 5 is a gimme. heh heh
guess rod will agree with that.
vava74
April 4th, 2012
1:21 pm
doc,
Marvin has incredible deficiencies for a NBA starter:
- horrible dribble (he is totally unqualified to play SF on offense);
- a penchant to get his shot blocked by shorter players;
- horrible foot work and body balance/positioning when trying to drive or post someone (any minor bump makes him simply take off, which means that he can’t play PF either – at least not at starter level).
Note: a 5.5 is a bona fide NBA player, however, not a very good one, and… that’s Marvin.
He has NBA size/length and an extremely incomplete set of skills.
Fortunately for him, he is a disciplined defender, making good rotations, moving his feet laterally, …
Wendy
April 4th, 2012
1:32 pm
cdog, how on earth do you conclude that JT, Zaza, Kirk and LD don’t care about winning?
SteveW
April 4th, 2012
1:58 pm
Melvin, I was talking about 2012/13.
Big Lou
April 4th, 2012
1:59 pm
Hurray!
Pargo is back!
No more Kirk fails!
Big Lou
April 4th, 2012
2:02 pm
Despite all the fail the Hawks go through; they are still only one game behind Orlando.
vava74
April 4th, 2012
2:03 pm
Big Lou,
As much as I like Pargo’s attitude and balls (on BOTH ENDS of the court), he is very prone to launch ill advised shots.
Sometimes he helped us, sometimes he didn’t.
Nonetheless, let’s hope that he will come back clicking on all cylinders since with two speedsters on the backcourt playing PG for Charlotte, if we have to depend on Hinrich to back up Teague we may end up with the let down loss that I have been prognosticating for tonight.
Big Lou
April 4th, 2012
2:08 pm
vava74
Pargo > Kirk
I’ll take the ill advised shots from the bench to bring energy, which Kirk lacks.
Also, as for the predicted loss…
That would make sense IF they beat the 76ers. Yet, there last game was a loss. They will be fresh and ready to rape the Bobcats. I expect Josh to have 25+ points, followed by a 20+ night for Joe.
I’m usually very critical of the Hawks, but not even the incompetent LD can screw that up… unless he starts Collins.
Astro Joe
April 4th, 2012
3:16 pm
It looks like I’m not the only one who has been riddled speechless by some of the wacky opinions offered today. About an hour of utter silence on this blog? Amazing.
DawgNole
April 4th, 2012
3:34 pm
SteveW
April 4th, 2012
11:40 am
Doc – You make some ok points, but you forgot the key to it all. We are 0-45. Nothing else matters. No excuses. All else is irrelevant.
________________________
Somehow I knew you’d get it eventually.
Melvin
April 4th, 2012
4:01 pm
SteveW,
You didn’t get the sarcasm in my statement…
AstroJoe,
Maybe the spirit of being 0-45 (that’s constantly repeated on this blog) is starting too rubbed off on some of the Hawks fans. Atlanta Hawks fans shouldn’t be blogging about anything relevant to NBA Basketball b/c they never won a championship….
Sautee
April 4th, 2012
4:06 pm
“Any success will be welcomed but it is a shame that it would also would mean success for LD.”
Now there is the very definition of hater-ade. It’s a shame when the coach of your favorite team succeeds?
Rusty, you are a hopeless hater.
ahawk
April 4th, 2012
4:29 pm
Hope Horford gets back for the playoffs it will help some. Problem is he will be out of rhythm, not in game shape in other words he will be lucky to at 50% no matter how deep they go in the playoffs…
Grandad
April 4th, 2012
4:31 pm
Tony Wroten is not a bad kid.
‘`needs to be a little less meringue and alot more pie`’
He would be the perfect backcout mate for Teague;
as he is a combo guard who is likely to become a pg in time.
Wroten`s size 6-5.5 w/o shoes will translate to 6-7.
Alongside Teague he would eventually become the *playmaker,
*[old school for lead guard], able to defend the [two] position.
He plays with a relentless ‘`balls to the wall`’ mentality
which leads to some mistakes on both ends of the floor.
A one & done player – translated = young & inexperienced.
Many think he should have stayed in school.
*note – He is not a floor general – such as Kendall Marshall.
**2nd note – a much Bigger version of Sebastion Telfair.
It has been reported that the Hawks are enamored with this kid.
***additional note – very, very *’`left handed`’*
____________________________________________________
Rufus1
‘`with Zaza’s development we no longer need a center`’
I must disagree with this statement:
It is true – Zaza has been a blessing – but we still need
a low post scorer.
We need another rim defender; not Zaza`z forte.
Please Understand;
my disagreement with above statement had nothing to do with Zaza.
However, my wish would be that a tag team partner for zaza
that would compliment him to augment his weak points would be ideal.
____________________________________________________
My inclination for our pick [between 18 & 22] remains Andrew Nicholson.
Buddy Grizzard
April 4th, 2012
4:34 pm
It looks like I’m not the only one who has been riddled speechless by some of the wacky opinions offered today- AJ
LOL
Grandad
April 4th, 2012
4:39 pm
Sautee
_________________________________________
“Any success will be welcomed but it is a shame
that it would also would mean success for LD”
_________________________________________
I`m glad you beat me to it.
Much more eloquent than I.
Sad … really.
SteveW
April 4th, 2012
4:46 pm
Melvin – Sorry, I blew it. Missed the sarcasm. Oh well – Hope the Hawks win tonite! I don’t care if it’s by 1 in triple OT – still counts the same in the standings.
But I would prefer a 30+ pt blowout by the Hawks of course…But a win is a win.
Buddy Grizzard
April 4th, 2012
5:11 pm
“In Chicago, there’s much angst as to why the Bulls have yet to extend Tom Thibodeau, the NBA’s reigning coach of the year who took his team to the Eastern final last spring before losing to Miami. In Toronto, there’s no chatter about Casey’s extension when there should be as Casey continues to prove his worth and his impact on a team that is more D-league than NBA-ready against an equally inept Bobcats side. In fact, he’s making such a case that the Raptors should lock him up well beyond next season as more legitimate pieces are assembled. Stability has been so fleeting in Raptorland in what seems like an eternity that a known commodity in Casey simply must be locked up for good. Give him a five-year deal and send a message that a culture that demands defence will always be adhered to and enforced. In Casey, the Raptors have finally found a guy players league-wide respect.”
http://www.torontosun.com/2012/04/03/raptors-hold-off-bobcats
Anybody feeling any angst about losing LD to another NBA team?
Rev in Tampa
April 4th, 2012
6:05 pm
My daughter is going to the Hawks game tonight with a group of friends from college.
If any of you are at the game and see a group of students with Covenant College shirts/sweats tell them that Rev in Tampa said he has his eyes everywhere. Especially let the boys in the group know that the comments are directed toward them.
doc
April 4th, 2012
6:11 pm
gdad, wroten sounds like another iman shumpert who folks said about thie time of year wasnt ready and he has been huge.
Hugo
April 4th, 2012
6:14 pm
Hey James, why would you mention about Josh gaining on JJ. All that it’s going to do now is swell Josh’s head. He might start shooting 3’s from half court. DaMMN
Rufus1
April 4th, 2012
6:16 pm
Grandad,
I still think we need a “Big Man”, but I think we need a Wing playmaker more….We need a little more creativity on the Wing, and his natural talent is through the ROOF.
PS. I agree about Zaza, but I think Sund thinks Zaza/Al/Josh is enough or There will be a number a serviceable big in free agency(Ian Mahami)
Dept. of Unintended Irony
April 4th, 2012
6:24 pm
SteveW
“Northcyde – But on 82games.com it says that Joe Johnson has the highest total of winshares of people with 3 first names as part of their names. That proves right there that JJ and Marvin are considered to be 2 of the greatest SG/SF combos drafted in ‘01 and ‘06.”
Marvin Williams was drafted in 2006? You are an idiot.
The Pulse on the East Playoff Push | All New York Knicks News
April 4th, 2012
7:06 pm
[...] Atlanta HawksSeed: SixthRecord: 31-23The Latest: The Hawks’ spirits were so high at practice on Wednesday that power forward Ivan Johnson even sang “Happy Birthday” to head coach Larry Drew. There’s a big reason why. Their upcoming schedule is the easiest one out of all the teams currently in the East playoff picture. Their overall opponents’ win percentage is .429. Here’s a complete breakdown entering Tuesday’s play (from the AJC): [...]
Astro Joe
April 4th, 2012
7:10 pm
Rev, you’re asking guys on this blog to watch out for your daughter and her friends? Wow, you ARE a man of faith… much bigger than a mustard seed, too.
The Pulse on the East Playoff Push | All New York Sports
April 4th, 2012
7:23 pm
[...] Atlanta HawksSeed: SixthRecord: 31-23The Latest: The Hawks’ spirits were so high at practice on Wednesday that power forward Ivan Johnson even sang “Happy Birthday” to head coach Larry Drew. There’s a big reason why. Their upcoming schedule is the easiest one out of all the teams currently in the East playoff picture. Their overall opponents’ win percentage is .429. Here’s a complete breakdown entering Tuesday’s play (from the AJC): [...]
NoGiver
April 4th, 2012
11:40 pm
There’s one thing about T-Mac which some of you probably know already. Although he’s never played to the second round of the playoffs, he is a totally different player there. He increases his efficiency level and plays his best in every facet of his game. A hobbled T-Mac with his knees about to fall apart in 2008 playoffs scored 40 points (against the Jazz). We hope he plays better come playoff time. He’s really my x factor.
Luke Cage
April 6th, 2012
7:12 pm
new thread please