Atlanta Hawks: Podcast: Offseason review
I joined Matt Moore of CBSSports.com for a podcast reviewing the Hawks’ offseason so far. My segment begins at about 18:30 but, by all means, also check out the opening with Jason Walker of Peachtree Hoops.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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215 comments Add your comment
steven a smith
August 4th, 2012
9:51 am
pointguardslim
August 3rd, 2012
11:38 pm
Don’t think Pietrus is signing for the vet minimum in Atlanta. Milwaukee is interested in him. Then there’s always Boston, unless he feels slighted…
But why the same formula? Swapping Joe and Marvin for Lou Williams/Anthony Morrow and Pietrus is a recipe for lottery land, and unless you get a top pick then what’s the point. Next year is a very weak draft.
“This is a Life lesson my friend, sometimes you have to lose a few battles along the way in order to win the war…
The team will be much better 2,3 or 4 years from now.
As you get older, you will understand.
steven a smith
August 4th, 2012
9:51 am
pointguardslim
August 3rd, 2012
11:38 pm
Don’t think Pietrus is signing for the vet minimum in Atlanta. Milwaukee is interested in him. Then there’s always Boston, unless he feels slighted…
But why the same formula? Swapping Joe and Marvin for Lou Williams/Anthony Morrow and Pietrus is a recipe for lottery land, and unless you get a top pick then what’s the point. Next year is a very weak draft.
“This is a Life lesson my friend, sometimes you have to lose a few battles along the way in order to win the war…
The team will be much better 2,3 or 4 years from now.
As you get older, you will understand.
jhan
August 4th, 2012
9:54 am
Josh shut down Durant – you are smoking the best weed in the ATL! Lebron couldn’t shut down Durant & he is a much better defensive player than Josh. Josh will have a hard time guarding any perimeter SF because that is not his game. He is a help defender not a shut down man defender. I know all of his brothers, cousins & wanna-be lovers are going to kill me for this one!
Perry Mason
August 4th, 2012
10:04 am
why Not put Josh Smith at 3 ? with horford 4.
“Thats just plan stupid. The only reason you ask for such an idiotic move is to find a place for Al who is a very weak defending center (would still be a weak defender at powerforward). Nothing in your thinking makes the hawks a better team. Josh is unquestionably one of the best power forwards in the league and the best power forward on this team. Moving Josh from power forward makes us a weaker team, Josh unhappy, fans displeased and teammate argue. ”
the object is to make the hawks better by fixing what doesnt work not what does. Josh is easily a top 5 power forward. and Al ranks betiween 15-25 as a power forward. So moving Josh for Al not only creates weaker play at the power forward position but it works against team chemistry.
I understand you would like to find a home other than center for Al since he seems unwilling by his work ethics to embrace the role but degrading the power forward position is not the solution. Josh as the power forward is the one thing the hawks got right. Al would be Ok coming off the bench if you want to start zaza,
Josh and Zaza > Al and Zaza
I do agree with your premise that Zaza may be meritorious of being the starting center for the hawks because of his fighting spirit. Al would do better in that case to come off the bench to relieve Zaza or Josh.
Or perhaps he can be traded to a team that doesn’t have a power forward as powerful as Josh then Al could start at power forward.
As long as Josh is on this team Al will never be the best option at power forward.
steven a smith
August 4th, 2012
10:04 am
Josh Smith is an excellent help defender, however, Al Horford is so “weak” at center, you have to place Al somewhere else in order to be successful. Zsa Zsa should be moved into Al’s position permanently!
Perry Mason
August 4th, 2012
10:07 am
**Josh is easily a top 5 power forward. and Al ranks between 15-25 as a power forward. So moving Josh for Al not only creates weaker play at the power forward position and it works against team chemistry.
This team executed better without Al last year than with him. Team chemistry was also better.
Perry Mason
August 4th, 2012
10:19 am
jhan I totally agree with you that the strength of Josh’s defense is a post game from the power forwards position where his role is to guard the centers back. But when Al is center Josh is forced to do It all while Al waits around for the rebound.
I totally agree that Josh while serviceable at the 3 defensively he is not the defensive glove to hand type defender to shut you down, like a say Gary Payton. But of course that’s be cause Josh is a power forward and not a small forward.
Leave Josh at the 4 where he belongs so we can put our best team forward. He would only be a average defender as a small forward.
steven a smith
August 4th, 2012
10:19 am
Hawks did have better chemistry without Al and when Joe was injured they performed better as a team.
We all know that Joe hogged the ball.
steven a smith
August 4th, 2012
10:19 am
Hawks did have better chemistry without Al and when Joe was injured they performed better as a team.
We all know that Joe hogged the ball.
Observation
August 4th, 2012
10:50 am
T-S
Give it rest with the endless names (IDs) hating on AL. We all know who you are (including Danny Ferry). Do you play with yourself in the bathroom too?
TS=steven a smith=Perry Mason=25 different names per day
HawkLaker
August 4th, 2012
10:53 am
Anybody else watching Lithuania handle Team USA Basketball right now? Late in the 3rd and they’re tied!
Sautee
August 4th, 2012
10:57 am
Observation, you need to sharpen your powers of observation. T-s is who he is, in many forms, but he is NOT steven a smith. If you can’t tell the difference, then maybe change your handle.
HawkLaker
August 4th, 2012
11:02 am
Touché Sautee!
HawkLaker
August 4th, 2012
11:04 am
USA down by 2pts in the 4th Qtr
HawkLaker
August 4th, 2012
11:04 am
Kevin Durant with a dunk for the tie
HawkLaker
August 4th, 2012
11:05 am
Lithuania back up by 2 but Chris Paul answers with a 3
HawkLaker
August 4th, 2012
11:06 am
The Gold Medal game won’t be this close!
HawkLaker
August 4th, 2012
11:06 am
Channel 603 on DirecTV
hawksfancents95
August 4th, 2012
11:06 am
MC
you hit everything in the interview spot on, great insight.(quick note you sounded a bit distant from the phone and i couldnt hear much at times)
we needthe Defending wing and we will be alright.
anybody wana bet theoritical money that the lineup will be
Teague
Lou Will
Josh
AL
ZaZa
josh and AL both want to play the position they havent started at(josh SF AL PF) and this is the year to see if they can do it efficiently, besides AL will still play some C and josh will play some PF anyway throughout the game.
we WILL make a few trades once these players we acquired are eligible to be moved.
jhan
August 4th, 2012
11:09 am
Hawks need to play their best 3 frontline players the majority of the time – Josh, Al, ZaZa. None are stellar defensively in my opinion. BUT – these three could play very good team defense and be very competitive. Our problem on offense is none of them have a post game that will demand a double team. This will be vital to give open looks to all of our shooters.
HawkLaker
August 4th, 2012
11:10 am
Lebrun finally paying up to the hype, albeit very late in the 4th
HawkLaker
August 4th, 2012
11:11 am
…oops, Lebron not Lebrun
HawkLaker
August 4th, 2012
11:12 am
Lithuania has 23 turnovers and USA can’t put them away!
HawkLaker
August 4th, 2012
11:15 am
Looks like we will escape the clutches of Lithuania today. Hope Coach K makes them run laps after this ugly game.
HawkLaker
August 4th, 2012
11:17 am
99-94 USA
pointguardslim
August 4th, 2012
11:35 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX_M_UAtKQw
How many points did Josh Smith allow Durant to get? If I’m counting right, then the Hawks outscored the Thunder in the big “protect the paint” lineup.
And vava you’re better than that. You know if Josh is at the 4 and he’s on the perimeter (1,2,3) then that means Joe or Marvin or Teague is guarding the 4. Josh can guard the perimeter but if they get blown by you expect Marvin, Teague, or Joe to come in and take a charge or block a shot?
Or this year Korver? The proof is in the pudding Josh and the Hawks are a defensive paint protecting force when you have Josh, a center and a PF. In all honesty I rather have a true PF rather than Horford and a better C than Zaza. But Josh as a SF is obviously the key.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 4th, 2012
11:43 am
I thought the whole reason T-S uses all these different names is because his original screen name is banned from the blog.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 4th, 2012
11:44 am
“Our problem on offense is none of them have a post game that will demand a double team. This will be vital to give open looks to all of our shooters.”
Josh was drawing double teams and kicking to shooters all season when he posted up. I agree neither he nor Al or Zaza is a great post scorer, but that didn’t stop most teams from doubling Josh in the post during the season.
pointguardslim
August 4th, 2012
11:46 am
There’s always pick and roll to give shooters open looks.
The problem we’ve had is that Josh is a small screen setter. Big players even if they are more stiff are better at setting Screens to get shooters an open look.
So thats where Al and Zaza at the 4 and 5 come in. Use them as screeners. Even if they aren’t open the shooters will be open. Josh isn’t as muscular and big as the other two and thats not a call to arms, its the damned truth.
Perry Mason
August 4th, 2012
11:46 am
Enter your comments here
Perry Mason
August 4th, 2012
11:52 am
I thought the whole reason T-S uses all these different names is because his original screen name is banned from the blog.
Ive learned to stick and move, bob and weave….
Amen Najeh Davenpoop
Shout out and hats off Sautee.
falCans
August 4th, 2012
12:06 pm
IF IT AINT BROKE DONT FIX IT!!! Smoove is a top 5 Pf WHY move him to the 3??? WHYYYY!!
jhan
August 4th, 2012
12:16 pm
How did Josh take so many long jumpers if he was passing from the post so often?
jhan
August 4th, 2012
12:18 pm
Why move Josh to the 3? Because there is nobody on the roster right now that is better. Hopefully that changes before the season starts.
Perry Mason
August 4th, 2012
12:21 pm
jhan Josh is a tremendous help defender, and nobody on this team defends the power forward position better than Josh. He is a very good defender, who is respected for such.
Al is not and is a poor defender, which is why people are asking for Zaza over Al. Actually, Al has more talent than Zaza but not the heart. Defensively Al is a weak link defensively and a liability.
“The problem we’ve had is that Josh is a small screen setter. Big players even if they are more stiff are better at setting Screens to get shooters an open look.So thats where Al and Zaza at the 4 and 5 come in”
Really? LOL
If hes a shooter he should be out side shooting and not down in the paint or lane. Real shooters can create their own shot by how they handle the rock and with the foot work.
Slow and mechanical type guys who are poor dribblers and have limited tools need a pick or a screen. But Smoove (pun intended) players can take you of the dribble, cross over, left or right hand off either foot, step back, fade, tear drop, high arc, glass reverse, use the rim to screen… etc, and are not dependent on a wide body screen.
But I hear you, Al and Zaza are better at setting screens.
Observation
August 4th, 2012
12:27 pm
My Bad Sautee, I’ll bet you did not know I was pointguardslim trolling under cover.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 4th, 2012
12:30 pm
“How did Josh take so many long jumpers if he was passing from the post so often?”
28.4% usage rate provides plenty of opportunity to do both.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 4th, 2012
12:34 pm
Josh was either 6th or 7th in the league among forwards in assist rate, depending on whether you classify Tyreke Evans as a guard or a forward. Some of that is simply because he had the ball so much (the notorious ball hog Carmelo Anthony is one spot ahead of him) but some of it is also because he is a good passer out of the post.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 4th, 2012
12:41 pm
For comparison’s sake, Dwight Howard draws double teams pretty much every time he touches the ball and plays on a team whose entire scheme is based on him drawing double teams and kicking out to shooters, and he finished with an assist rate less than half that of Josh despite having a usage rate nearly as high. So not every player who does what Josh does racks up assists at the same rate.
jhan
August 4th, 2012
1:34 pm
Perry – there is a big difference between a great help defender & a great defender. Josh is an average defender but a great help defender. Getting blocks from the weak side or behind is great. Stopping your guy from getting the ball, good position or a decent shot off is much different. I’d like to see the stats on opposing PF’s against Josh last season. I’m sure someone can find them.
Najeh – I want to see how well Josh does when the opposing defense is designed to stop him. He will draw the best defender & consistent double teams. He will be forced outside where he can’t shoot. He doesn’t have the handles to beat a double team off the dribble either. He better develop an outstanding post game or we’re in trouble.
steven a smith
August 4th, 2012
2:38 pm
I believe in that Josh Smith can play the “3″ and play the postion at an all-star level. He will just have to comitt to playing defense a lot more often which means less scoring opportunities. The Hawks are
a better team when Josh “scores the basketball”(can not beleive i just said that) closer to the rim.
Grimey
August 4th, 2012
3:13 pm
Please bring back tmac
Perry Mason
August 4th, 2012
3:19 pm
Jhan, Josh is a great power forward both offensively and defensively, he plays at a high level on either side of the ball. Yes he is an excellent weak side help defender, but he is very good defender in the paint period.
Period.
Moreover, Josh was the leading scoring threat for most of the year and drew doubles and triples, 95% he delivered. Im not worried about Josh’s play. He got enough double triple teams last year.
Josh is only serviceable as a defending 3.
Buddy Grizzard
August 4th, 2012
3:30 pm
“Shouldn’t we (as in you guys) be arguing and debating over who we should get as a head coach? Did any of the successful teams run their game (serious question) based on how the GM wanted to run it? Or did they run their games according their OWN plan and the GM just out fitted them with the key components to help the coach see his vision?”
I’ll go ahead and say it. Based on comments Danny Ferry has made to the media about the style the Hawks will play, and based on the fact that Ferry’s vision for the Hawks is completely contrary to Larry Drew’s coaching style, I will go ahead and predict that Ferry will be the next head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. I think he’s going to do just as Greg Popovich did, assemble the roster as GM then take over as coach. I think this is especially true if Ferry trades for Dwight.
“I’m still very interested to know who takes the last shot in a 101 – 101 game with 4 seconds left on the clock in the 4th quarter and us with the ball.”
Two man game with Josh and Lou. Lou is the least likely Hawk to turn the ball over in those circumstances and can run pick and roll with Josh or get it into the post and be his release valve. Lou is also obviously the best shot creator presently on the Hawks roster.
pointguardslim
August 4th, 2012
4:44 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blvCGgOMIe8
Sautee
August 4th, 2012
4:57 pm
Buddy, I’ll be shocked if Ferry puts himself as HC. If he had coaching aspirations, he surely would have been an assistant somewhere by now. Plus, as a GM’s son, he grew up seeing firsthand how Head Coach in the NBA is the least job security of any position in the league. That 6 year deal wouldn’t mean nearly as much if he were failing badly as a coach.
I’d put my money on Mike Budenholzer, who is Pop’s #1 assistant.
JaeEvolution
August 4th, 2012
5:33 pm
“Alonzo Gee has not gotten any offers from other teams. It’s a shame, too, since he’s worked so hard since coming to the #Cavaliers to reshape his game. He’s what’s right about the league. Many expect him to sign the $2.7 million qualifying offer and become UFA next summer.”
This guy would be the perfect compliment to our already loaded 3 point shooting roster, a slasher supreme who can finish with the best of them above the rim, and he showed an improved jumpshot.
Buddy Grizzard
August 4th, 2012
5:47 pm
“That 6 year deal wouldn’t mean nearly as much if he were failing badly as a coach.”
Popovich has good job security. If Ferry moved into the head coaching role, he could always hire someone else to replace himself and step back into exclusively a front office role.
Sautee
August 4th, 2012
6:08 pm
Buddy,
The difference is that BEFORE Pop was named GM, he had a gazillion years as a coach, both as an assistant, and as HC. Ferry has NEVER coached at any level. What makes you think he would consider himself qualified?
Buddy Grizzard
August 4th, 2012
6:14 pm
He seems to think he’s qualified to tell Larry Drew that he needs to run the pick and roll more, an offensive innovation Drew wasn’t previously aware of.