Atlanta Hawks: Gearon: Garnett ‘dirtiest guy in the league,’ Hawks ‘don’t get any calls’
Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. was the featured speaker today at the Third Annual Art of It Luncheon at the Piedmont Park Conservancy. The event is sponsored by the W.E.B. Du Bois Society, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that is “focused on bridging the academic gap that exists between African-American students and their white and Asian peers.”
The AJC’s D. Orlando Ledbetter was at the event and reported the following Hawks-related highlights from Gearon’s speech.
On media coverage of Hawks’ playoff series against the Celtics
“Did you see what Al Horford did last night? The timeline for recovery for his injury is another three months. He’s not even supposed to be playing and Josh [Smith] should not be playing. Zaza [Pachulia] can’t stand up, but if we can get past this round there is a chance that we can get him back. So this is a team that is overcoming adversity. I wish . . . some of the national media or even some of the local media, more the paper than the TV guys, recognize how hard these guys are playing based on how injured they are.
“On top of all that, we don’t get any calls, which I know everybody always hears. But I’ll give you a stat. Last night, we are playing this old physical team. They are old. I know what happens when you play basketball, old guys foul. [Kevin] Garnett is the dirtiest guy in the league. We are playing Boston last night and they had two fouls the whole first half. We had five times that and we’re athletic.”
On the Hawks’ injuries
“Derrick Rose goes down and the No. 1 seed is playing the No. 8 seed and everybody is like, ‘Chicago is down 3-1, that’s what you should expect with Derrick Rose down.’ Well, we’ve been playing these playoffs without Zaza, without Al Horford and Josh Smith should not be playing. Our center is Erick Dampier, God bless his heart, but he looks like a granddad. (laughter) He’s a great guy. It’s difficult enough to win a playoff series, but when you lose your whole frontline and nobody ever says, ‘Gee, you are out playing with guys that are hurt.’”
On Josh Smith and his Atlanta roots
“We wouldn’t be where we are without him. The tough thing for our team, I’m a lifelong Atlantian. I was born here. I lived the first 25 years of my life within two miles of where I was born. Right there near Piedmont Hospital. I moved to Cobb County back in 1994 when my Dad convinced me to buy a little house . . . . But the thing about our team, and it’s tough in every city. . . but when you look at the Atlanta Hawks and you know it’s tough.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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348 comments Add your comment
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
10:44 am
MC is Tweeting his head off this morning:
Michael Cunningham @ajchawks
Josh Smith: ‘I feel a little better. It takes a little bit of time for the knee to get warmed up.’ #Hawks #Celtics
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5m Michael Cunningham @ajchawks
Horford said 40+ min again ‘might be a bit of a a stretch’ but he’d do it if need be. #Hawks #Celtics
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9m Michael Cunningham @ajchawks
Same #Hawks starters for GM 6 vs. #Celtics: Teague, Johnson, Williams, Smith, Horford. Zaza (foot) out.
Rod from College Park
May 10th, 2012
10:44 am
“No point guard will more times than not equal bad shots.” – Rod from CP
Odd statement, since J.R. had the same point guard that JC1 had in his SMOY season.
I don’t recall Bibby starting that series. I think with your age, your memory might be fading. Any body who actually watched the Atlanta Crakers play live, could be in early stage dementia (LOL). they say your short term memory goes first. I’m sure if Michael Jordon laced up and played tonight, he would not be the same Micheal Jordan from 15 years ago. You of all people should know that.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
10:46 am
Hey! I wonder why those tweets are not showing up here on the blog column to the right, under MC’s latest tweets? Does MC even read this blog anymore?
Rod from College Park
May 10th, 2012
10:46 am
“And thirdly, he moved JJ to SG, where Bradley nor any of their other guards were able to handle him in the post. LD needs to come up with a plan to get the ball out of PPierce’s hands. KG is a jumpshooter, and we should wear him down and force him beat us.”
First time I’ve agreed with Ken Strickland in a long time. Make other guys but Paul Pierce beat you.
Rod from College Park
May 10th, 2012
10:50 am
“Rod,
If we remove the game in which we did not play any D, we are 2-2 with the wins going to the team which rebounded better.”
But we can’t remove that game, so nothing you said after that holds any weight. The fact remains, we are outrebounding them for the series, and we are holding them under their season scoring average for the series, but we are still down 3-2.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
10:51 am
doc
looks like we were right, Zaza had an osteochondral defect in that left ankle. The bone fractured and he walked around on it without a boot for almost three weeks, except for the first two days.
A missed diagnosis which led to a missed opportunity to properly treat. We should have shipped Zaza to the Phoenix Suns medical staff for treatment. LOL There is no excuse to miss on the Zaza injury.
Rod from College Park
May 10th, 2012
10:55 am
“Rod,
A day we will never forget On August 6, 2009. From ajc.com;
All speculation was removed earlier today as the Hawks announce the re-signing of the 23-year-old forward. The team didn’t release the terms of the new deal, but it is believed to be a five-year, $37.5 million contract that could increase to as much as $43 million with incentives..”
Please don’t remind me. I knew then that it would be one of the worse moves the fanchise could make. I put it up there with John Konkack, and Speedy Claxton. Joe is bad, but he does produce, and at least I can understand it. Marvin, not so much. He did step up last game, though. Hopefully he can continue to hit wide open shots, because I can assure you that he will be left open.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
10:56 am
Just Wondering
I wonder if Al can go 41 minutes again, tonight?
I wonder is Marvin will give us 15 points again tonight?
I wonder if Joe will lead us in scoring tonight?
I wonder if Jeff Teague will penetrate and look for his shot again tonight?
I wonder if LD will play Kirk, Ivan and TMac solid minutes tonight?
i already know Josh will grab all the boards he can and play help defense, pass the ball. (my man!)
aytunstoppable
May 10th, 2012
10:58 am
Idk why so many ahve a problem about this? Is about damn time someone that owns this teams says something. I hate quiet owners which for the most part he’s been but if he is finally going to say something I say its about damn time. Its not like he’s lying either. On Espn All I see is poor chicago because they don’t ahve their two best players. SO what. Oh amare’s not healthy boo hoo. So damn what. I’ve been watching them all year. Injuries has whipped this team’s behind all year and we are still in the playoffs. We have a chance to atleast force it to atlanta and all we do is get dogged on tv.I don’t care if they have a point or not but the hawks look like every other play off team but they seem to be the only one that gets flak instead of respect. Shoot if none of us can get a pull for and if no one in the media outside of AJC is gonna say this then it might as well be him.
The Hawks are winning tonight. I don’t care how much you don’t gearon and i’m right there with you but how the hell do you dislike a word he said there. Come on man. Yall fools got me shaking my head.
KevinM
May 10th, 2012
11:02 am
“Same #Hawks starters for GM 6 vs. #Celtics: Teague, Johnson, Williams, Smith, Horford.”
Another LD hunch….but don’t expect what Marvin gave us in Game 6.
I hope LD has another hunch in not depending on the bench all of a sudden. Just keep our starters (except Marvelous) out there even if they’re tired. They shouldn’t feel tired in an elimination game.
vava74
May 10th, 2012
11:03 am
Rod,
No Rod, you need to remove that game, because I said:
“defense AND rebounding” wins games.
When you don’t play any D, rebounding is no longer that important.
Hawks owner Michael Gearon calls Celtics 'old guys,' Kevin Garnett dirty | Larry Brown Sports
May 10th, 2012
11:04 am
[...] top of all that, we don’t get any calls, which I know everybody always hears,” Gearon said according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “But I’ll give you a stat. Last night, we are playing this old physical team. They are [...]
vava74
May 10th, 2012
11:04 am
In order to win game 6 we need a combo of things:
- decent games from Jeff, Josh, JJ and Horford and a good cameo appearance by T-Mac and Ivan.
Marvin will give us ZERO this time. He already gave us his ONE good/decent game of the month.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
11:05 am
2 Live Stews!
“The 2 Live Stews’ show has now been merged into a show with Tony Barnhart and Wes Durham and others. Or something like that. I was told Monday’s show included Hans Heiserer, one of the fill-ins on the station, along with Ryan and Doug Stewart.
The Stews’ agent Norm Schrutt acknowledged he wasn’t thrilled by this arrangement, which dilutes an already shrinking Stews brand on the station. But he said the brothers are “team players” and are doing what they are told. And after getting their hours cut from three hours to two last year, they do get to be on air for three hours a day again. The Stews have already been dialed back significantly since the new program director Bob Richards took over last year.”
_________
I knew something was up last week, when I heard Doug & Ryan of (11 – 12 years past) on 790 The Zone Radio at 11AM with other people. I just saw this article that explains, they lost heir show to attrition it seems. Now it’s called The Red Zone, with a round table that does not highlight the brothers.
No more 2 Live Stews! (all right … all right … all right) No more feeling “Stu-Pendous!” or, so it seems.
MsDee
May 10th, 2012
11:06 am
@aytunstoppable,
Well, agree with u, he IS correct on everything he is saying but u must know that he is truly the wrong time to be talking about Boston and how KG is a dirty player..the whole NBA WORLD nows that but no need to reiterate something thats not going to help our chances of winning tonight.
therut
May 10th, 2012
11:07 am
Take bad with good. With your spelling you must have gone to UGA
MsDee
May 10th, 2012
11:08 am
I only see 2 chances of us being able to pull out a win in Boston and that is Paul Pierce to have another game just like he had in game 5 and/or 2) Marvin to have the same game he had in game 5
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
May 10th, 2012
11:15 am
Incentives for Marvin?
Gearon going on a rant with his team facing elimination?
What has the Hawks community come to?
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
11:16 am
TO
is on The Red Zone now. He said his financial managers stole from him and mismanaged his finances and, the he failed to stay on top of that. TO said, I am not totally wiped out … my broke is not your broke, it’s different levels of broke-ness. He said I am not in a position to pay these baby mammas 10K/month. I have had to cut those amounts in half.
I guess this means TO is half-broke? smh
GumbyWilliams
May 10th, 2012
11:25 am
Marvin Williams SHOULD BE GETTING A HUGE RAISE for his brilliant shooting last game! Marvin, for one day in his life, shot the ball like the reincarnation of “Pistol” Pete Maravich with Marvins deadly three-point shooting in the last game against Boston, which lifted the Hawks and kept their title hopes alive of winning an NBA championship this season. Marvin shot the ball like the Pistol, and kept firing until he helped his team win a critical game–ALTHOUGH JOSH SMITH TRIED TO GIVE THE GAME BACK TO THE CELTICS ON THE FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME!
Bernie Matt
May 10th, 2012
11:26 am
Gearon needs to shut up, he’s the one (at least one of them) that decided to pay a fade away jump shooting, “And 1″ dribbling, softy $20 million. Hey Gearon, your team doesn’t get any respect because the league itself lost respect for the Franchise after it witness that contract. So blame yourself and your partners for not getting those fouls called.
Sincerely, a former season ticket holder
BIG DOG
May 10th, 2012
11:30 am
KG will dominate the paint and force Hawks on sagging down low with Ray and Paul being set up for and easy jumpshot, like i say if LD over play his starters like game 5 look for a game 6 blow out, bench will play and important role in tonight game.
Collins and Dampier will be need in this game keeping KG away from the paint alowing everybody else to stay with there man and not double down low, Horford and Josh are not capable on keeping KG from the paint, so look for Doc to feed KG down low tonight when Horford and Josh are guarding him.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Melvin
May 10th, 2012
11:37 am
Ms.Dee,
I respect your passion for the Hawks and Joe but this is the playoffs. The stage is bigger and every word is magnified. This is where Superstars are made. You can’t make the money that Joe is making and expect to go unnoticed. You are not going to sneak up/surprise anyone for a victory. Either you rise to the occasion or shrink. In saying all of that, Joe needs to step up or be bash for it. He’s not the only player being criticize for bad play.
The Truth
May 10th, 2012
11:37 am
Game 6 Preview: Hawks at Celtics
http://www.nba.com/celtics/game_preview/051012-hawks-celtics.html
Sautee
May 10th, 2012
11:37 am
Rod, I was going to respond to your post, but I forgot what I was going to say.
Seriously (yeah, right) didn’t Rick Sund tell us only last year, that Bibby was in his prime?
I was just pokin’ at ya’, as I think you knew.
BIG DOG
May 10th, 2012
11:40 am
Boston is a jumshooting team with only 1 low post present in KG, if you can man up with one player then you have a chance, The Hawks beat Magic last year because of the big lineup and Collins keeping Superman from dominating the paint with with 1 – 1 guarding alowing the Hawks to stay perimeter defensively making it very hard for Magic players to have open jumshots, tonight will be the key on keeping KG from the paint for and Hawks victory.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Tremaine
May 10th, 2012
11:42 am
I see he is already getting his excuses ready to keep the CORE together for next year.
Ray
May 10th, 2012
11:42 am
I’m predicting a 20pt+ blow out tonight Celtics 115 Hawks 92
People over at Bleacherreport going in on why the hawks need to rid themselves of Marvin more or less what this blog has been saying all along.
I could get the same production Marvin has been giving me from T-mac or Willie Green yes I said (Willie). They don’t even make as much as Marvin either not even close lol.
Can Gearon and the rest of them up there just go on ahead and admit Marvin is a complete Bust everyone else has and I think North Carolina is a bit upset with how much of a bust he is lol.
HawkEyEz....VIEW
May 10th, 2012
11:43 am
WOW I CAN’T BELIEVE STEPHEN A. SMITH DISRESPECTED THE HAWKS LIKE THAT SAYING WE GON GET BEAT BY 20 OR MORE POINT’S WOW!!!!!
The Truth
May 10th, 2012
11:44 am
http://www.nba.com/celtics/game_preview/051012-hawks-celtics.html
Bodies on Bigs
“There’s no doubt that in order to grab this win, Kevin Garnett, Brandon Bass and every other big man on Boston’s roster will need to get their bodies into Smith and Horford on every single shot attempt. The C’s cannot afford to be dominated on the glass again.”
These Hawks are Different
“The Hawks’ lineup changes dramatically with Horford on the floor, which alters the way Boston plays defense. In prior games, when Jason Collins or Erick Dampier were playing center, the C’s could toss Bass or any reserve big man on those players while Garnett defended Smith. That can’t happen now with Horford on the floor. Boston needs Garnett, the team’s best rebounder, to be matched up with Horford.”
Riled Up Rondo
“The Celtics cannot afford to have Rondo show up for one of the two halves tonight. They need him to be the dominant force he can be for every minute he’s on the floor.”
Some external insight into what could be a strategy in beating these Hawks
BIG DOG
May 10th, 2012
11:45 am
Don’t expect for Marvin to duplicate same thing tonight.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
HawkEyEz....VIEW
May 10th, 2012
11:47 am
THey can hate all night..but hawks gon take this back to the ATL…
HawkEyEz....VIEW
May 10th, 2012
11:51 am
HEARD IT HERE FIRST HAWKS 88-CELTICS 82 WE WIN OLD AGE CATCHES UP TONIGHT!!!
Rosalie
May 10th, 2012
11:57 am
Just trying to get to the referees before Game 6???? Stupid talk, I expect nothing less from this loser.
The Celtics will win tonight…..there is no doubt.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2012
11:58 am
If the Hawks win tonight I think they take Game 7. But I don’t think they will win tonight. I think the four best players on the team will show up and play hard and play well enough to keep the game close, but when it comes time for some role player to step up and knock down shots like Marvin did in Game 5, the Celtics role players will make their shots and the Hawks role players will miss theirs.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
11:59 am
In fairness to Gearon, JR … KG did say a few weeks back that Jeff Teague was a NOBODY in this league. Teague took the hi-road on the post game presser.
Hey Teague rhymes with League. LOL
Slimjr
May 10th, 2012
12:00 pm
Rod with at least 3 facials today.. On Fire!
That windmill on Sautee is worth a rewind…LOL!
Slimjr
May 10th, 2012
12:04 pm
Paul Piece is hurt big time.. The Celts are in trouble!!!!!!!
Hawks could pull it out? Wish ZaZa was going tonight..
Thanks Marvin…….
glogic
May 10th, 2012
12:06 pm
Totally stupid. The fouls disparity has been within 5 for like every game except game 5 which was 6. Two or three times it was in the Hawks favor. He wants the Hawks to have less fouls because of their age? Because old guys foul more? I would argue that veteran players have more experience about how to foul and not to foul.
Rod from College Park
May 10th, 2012
12:06 pm
I was just pokin’ at ya’, as I think you knew.
Yeah, I knew, but as you know, if you poke, I will poke back.
Slimjr
May 10th, 2012
12:07 pm
Marvin will have the cloak on tonight….Unfortunately……..
hawkville
May 10th, 2012
12:08 pm
Let’ go Hawks… to all the Boston fans, it was interesting reading from your view point but I think tonight will be your last time posting on this blog. Let you fill the rest n.
HawkEyEz....VIEW
May 10th, 2012
12:11 pm
HATE..HATE..HATE BUT THE HAWKS WIN TONIGHT!!!!
boxxiethebull
May 10th, 2012
12:30 pm
DONT GET RID OF JOSH SMITH…johnson is the problem with chemistry and leadership…Celtics fans are not gonna get rid of rondo everytime he does something dumb…he’s to good to do that, and so is josh….johnson has to go…send him to the clippers,lakers,dallas, etc and get some scoring help back. Horford and Josh should be leading this team….johnson is not a leader…his time in atlanta is over…amnesty the guy or trade him!
DawgNole
May 10th, 2012
12:30 pm
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 9th, 2012
11:48 pm
And replace Nique, please. Great player, brutal commentator.
________________________
Co-sign.
****
been streaming online all yr and rarely do I get Hawks feeds, thank God, even though I think Rathbun is excellent
____________________
Rathbun is mechanically sound (i.e., diction, pronunciation, etc.), but his coy and subtle bias night after night severely undermines his credibility.
MsDee
May 10th, 2012
12:33 pm
Again Melvin, I totally agree with you but I still say TODAY is NOT the time to do this. Can you honestly say by saying this AT THIS PRESENT TIME would make Joe better??? The PROPER time to critic Joe is during the OFF season where the owners and Sund could make a SOUND decision on either trading Joe (somehow someway) or maybe bringing someone into run with him. But again, to do this NOW, makes NO sense to me..
DawgNole
May 10th, 2012
12:36 pm
Rod from College Park
May 10th, 2012
10:50 am
“Rod,
If we remove the game in which we did not play any D, we are 2-2 with the wins going to the team which rebounded better.”
But we can’t remove that game, so nothing you said after that holds any weight.
____________________
Agreed. It’s kind of like saying, “If we remove the 3 losses to Boston, we’ve won the series and are preparing for Round 2.” Can’t do it.
DawgNole
May 10th, 2012
12:50 pm
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 10th, 2012
10:56 am
Just Wondering
I wonder if Al can go 41 minutes again, tonight?
I wonder is Marvin will give us 15 points again tonight?
I wonder if Joe will lead us in scoring tonight?
I wonder if Jeff Teague will penetrate and look for his shot again tonight?
I wonder if LD will play Kirk, Ivan and TMac solid minutes tonight?
_______________________
I wonder if the Hawks can finally step up and and win a HUGE elimination game–on the road, on national TV, in the white-hot spotlight, against the tradition-laden Celtics?
CAN they do it? WILL they do it?
Few outside ATL think they have any chance at all.
DawgNole
May 10th, 2012
12:55 pm
BIG DOG
May 10th, 2012
11:30 am
KG will dominate the paint . . . Collins and Dampier will be need in this game keeping KG away from the paint . . . Horford and Josh are not capable on keeping KG from the paint, so look for Doc to feed KG down low tonight when Horford and Josh are guarding him.
______________________
Not downplaying the importance of keeping him out of the paint, but I don’t believe that alone is enough–simply because he’s an excellent jumpshooter for a big.
DawgNole
May 10th, 2012
1:01 pm
HawkEyEz….VIEW
May 10th, 2012
11:43 am
WOW I CAN’T BELIEVE STEPHEN A. SMITH DISRESPECTED THE HAWKS LIKE THAT SAYING WE GON GET BEAT BY 20 OR MORE POINT’S WOW!!!!!
______________________
Not surprising at all. National respect will come only when the Hawks finally . . . (well, you know the rest).