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.
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215 comments Add your comment
Rod from College Park
August 5th, 2012
7:15 pm
Melvin,
“As some fans can make excuses why not to sign this guy. I see two championship caliber teams are trying to convince this guy to sign with them….
Marc Stein: Free-agent rumble that just dribbled across the pond: Heat & Spurs among teams to express exploratory interest in free agent Andray Blatche Twitter”
I told you some of these guys are idiots.
vava74
August 5th, 2012
8:12 pm
Buddy,
Teague is on his first year as a starter.
LD is a useless prick. Why lay all on Teague and leave LD out of the equation?
Teague has the skills and willingness to play good D, he is still wet behind his ears. it’s lack of experience.
Teague has a tendency to lay his arms down when something goes wrong but I am sure that as his game evolves and his trust in himself builds, he will a very good two-way PG.
Remember this: Teague was having a stellar year from 3pt land (shooting close to .400) until he air balled that 3 against the celtics and KG called him “nothing”.
From that point on, he started to brick them. His confidence was shattered.
The same happens on D, Teague is not lazy, he simply lacks the confidence to sustain effort when he starts to get problems with a guy he is supposed to stop. the Celts and Rondo had the upper hand psychologically.
So give him a break and a fair opportunity for him to blossom or not.
brigadierjerry
August 5th, 2012
8:23 pm
Do any Hawks fans thinks if LD gets off to a bad start that he gets canned or are the expectations somewhat low that he would survive the season and will not get another contract with the Hawks if the Hawks dont make the playoffs with this team as currently constituted?
I think the question is with this team as is, do Hawks fans overall think this team is a between 6-8 playoff team or not making the playoffs at all?Also what do you think would take management to bring back LD if this team as?What it need to make playoffs for LD to come back or is it get past the first round?Again with the team as constituted now minus a few minor moves here and there?
Sautee
August 5th, 2012
8:32 pm
Jerry, I’m gonna wait and see what the final roster looks like before delving into possibilities. I don’t think it will be “as currently constituted”.
brigadierjerry
August 5th, 2012
8:47 pm
Sautee, I agree with you to a point but my problem for awhile has been LD coaching. WIll he be a coach that more with less or such as last year with to me was less with more. His in game substitutions to me is atrocious as well as in game adjustments. Just look at Game 2 against the Celtics in Atlanta just like the year before with Game 5 against Chicago in Chicago the year before. There is really no excuse Hawks should’ve lost Game 2 even when Josh went down the game was lost before then.
I guess I will take a wait and see approach as well, I just do not have faith in LD as a coach regardless of the team he has. He just seems to me he would be a good coordinator and isnt a long term head coach material.
Sautee
August 5th, 2012
9:00 pm
Jerry, I have written many posts defending LD for Game 2. What everyone overlooks is that we STILL had the lead when he got JJ, Josh and Jeff back in the game. Yes, his attempt to get by with a poor offensive lineup cost us some momentum, but if you go back and look at the game log, you’ll see that more than half of that 11 point lead was lost with JJ, Josh, and Jeff IN THE GAME.
Don’t get me wrong, I agree with you about some goofy rotations he’d try, but to me, Game 2 was NOT lost because of those rotations. But that’s just my lonely opinion.
Despite that, I was disappointed when he was given another year.
steven a smith
August 5th, 2012
9:12 pm
Future Atlanta Hawks center Misty-May Trainor or Kerri Walsh-Jennings? How about Btritany Greiner? They can protect the rim…
brigadierjerry
August 5th, 2012
10:11 pm
Sautee,
It is more of an overall vew of LD as a coach. I am just not in love with him. I think he cares more about offense than defense but his in game adjustments and substitutions overall leaves a lot to be desired
Sautee
August 5th, 2012
10:16 pm
“I think he cares more about offense than defense but his in game adjustments and substitutions overall leaves a lot to be desired” – brigadierjerry
co-sign, The one improvement I saw was plays after time outs. Other than that, ehhhhh.
Melvin
August 5th, 2012
10:37 pm
Rod,
Like Al Pacino said “They keep pulling me back in”…
Astro,
Yes I saw it and your point?
The quot below is why I think the Hawks would be a good opportunity for him, low cost and playing time.
“Yes, Andray has a place in South Florida and has been working out here, but for a player looking to rebuild his NBA career, there might be better places than a roster where his opportunities could be limited. While it might be worth the risk for the Heat, it might not be a move in Blatche’s best interests”
Danny Mannin'
August 5th, 2012
10:52 pm
For those clamoring about Greg Oden. His body is one jarring sneeze away from falling apart like Humpty Dumpty. He’ll be out for 16 months with some sort of leg issue before Thanksgiving.
Buddy Grizzard
August 5th, 2012
11:00 pm
“Buddy you are full of crap,come on and tell us how great KH is laughing my azz off.”
That’s funny… I’ve gone into some detail about the fact that I’m not a KH fan, don’t care for his game, and won’t miss him on the Hawks roster. What’s sad is that KH is so slow and yet due to effort and technique he’s a better defender than a player with elite speed and quickness.
“Why lay all on Teague and leave LD out of the equation?”
That’s funny… I’ve written more criticism of Larry Drew as a head coach than all other writers combined.
Rusty
August 5th, 2012
11:09 pm
Let’s face it LD shouldn’t be coaching any NBA team.
Slimjr
August 5th, 2012
11:28 pm
“Posting and Toasting” -Walt Clyde Frazier-
Who on this squad can do more posting and toasting? Hmmm
Danny you have so more work to do for sure…
Slimjr
August 5th, 2012
11:31 pm
When you listen to Clyde analyze a game its like a breath of fresh air!
This guy runs circles around these Atlanta basketball broadcasters…Different level..Totally
Slimjr
August 5th, 2012
11:32 pm
“Dish than Swish” -Walt Clyde Frazier-
Slimjr
August 5th, 2012
11:34 pm
“Zig rather than Zag” -Walt Clyde Frazier-
SteveW
August 6th, 2012
12:33 am
I find it funny that a guy who finished in the Top 10 in steals for the entire NBA is considered a defender who didn’t give effort.
And about Rondo – he rested toward the end of the season, then suspended for a game in the Playoff series – while Teague, in his 1st season starting, played every game in the compressed schedule, and every playoff game.
I think he was just tired trying to guard Rondo, while Rondo was refreshed and rested.
And Teague looked 3 gazillion times better than Bibby or Jamal at guarding the Point position, so I think I just missed some of his mistakes.
That and the dude was Top 10 in steals among all NBA players. And yes, I know steals are not the end all stat for PG’s on D – but it is a large factor.
I wonder what our +/- was with Teague on the court – and what our D was per 100 possessions or whatever that stat is.
I feel a Northcyde coming on…
SteveW
August 6th, 2012
12:41 am
Miami’s lineup needing a bucket with 4 seconds left:
Bosh
LeBron
DWade
Ray Allen
Chalmers
(Probably)
The Hawks lineup needing a bucket with 4 seconds to play:
Al
Josh
Harris
Lou
Teague
I’m just going to contend our squad for this situation is not that much worse than Miami’s. Is Miami’s better? Sure, but not by a ton or anything.
I like our team. Not perfect – but utilized properly, can cause some ferocious matchup problems for some other teams.
SteveW
August 6th, 2012
12:43 am
Steals are an effort stat BTW – you usually don’t get alot of steals unless your giving effort.
SteveW
August 6th, 2012
12:45 am
I mean if I need a 3 with 4 seconds left bringing out a team of:
Jenkins
Morrow
Korver
Lou/Teague
And a Big to set a pick or toss the ball in – or a couple of Bigs – You’d be hard pressed to find another team in the League with more viable options than the Hawks right now.
Grandad
August 6th, 2012
1:19 am
*’`steals`’* are a gambling stat !
Many times a “steals” leader, or a player who gets [mucho] steals;
gambles on defense, taking chances,
and not playing sound fundamental, team defense.
Many times teammates must cover when said player overextends
and misses on the steal causing increased pressure on teammates
playing 4 against 5.
This is not always the case.
Josh, for example is a major culprit.
Taking himself out of the play to go for a steal.
Many, many times it is the “law of diminishing returns”.
Rusty
August 6th, 2012
2:13 am
Still steals are very good no matter how you look at it
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
August 6th, 2012
2:59 am
BIG IVAN FOR PRESIDENT
Rusty
August 6th, 2012
3:19 am
Big Ivan for president,LD for dog catcher.
Buddy Grizzard
August 6th, 2012
8:24 am
“I told you some of these guys are idiots.”
So you would rather have Blatche on the roster than Ivan Johnson?
Sam
August 6th, 2012
9:37 am
Devin Harris and his expiring contract to the T-wolves for Derrick Williams and Luke Ridnour. Get it done Hawks!
Harris would hold the fort down for the Wolves until Rubio is able to come back and then come off their budget next year. He’d be a solid backup when Rubio returns. Williams could start at SF for us and Ridnour would be a decent backup to Teague off the bench. An expiring contract (Harris) for a young gun and a player with a larger contract we could always cut.
Makes too much sense all the way around!!
Astro Joe
August 6th, 2012
9:58 am
OK, the Hawks have 13 players with guaranteed contracts (including Ivan for the purpose of this discussion). That means they have room for 2 more players at the most. Let’s assume that they are not trading away any players between now and the beginning of the year… how would you feel those two last roster spots (either give me positions or names). Keep in mind, we’re most likely talking about players who won’t earn more than $2M/year (and probably closer to the vet’s minimum).
IMO, I’d sign 2 traditional SFs from the group that includes McGuire, Pietrus, Shawne Williams, Barnes, Childress, Moon and Balkman. While I don’t want to see Lou Williams play PG, I would be willing to go into the season with him as my “emergency 3rd PG”. In my scenario, neither Mike Scott nor Keith Benson get a contract from the Hawks.
What say you, caller?
Ra'mon
August 6th, 2012
10:04 am
Guys, I don’t see Harris being dealt. If anyone Morrow may be traded. But Harris is the identity Ferry has said he wants the team to play with.
SteveW, Iverson was routinely in the top 3 in the league in steals. And every one knows he wasn’t a great defender.
Ra'mon
August 6th, 2012
10:06 am
AJ, I’d sign Pietrus and Benson, and call it a wrap. Most second unit SF’s can’t post up, so on the second unit, you can get away with a 3 guard line up more often than not.
Rev in Tampa
August 6th, 2012
10:06 am
Do any Hawks fans thinks if LD gets off to a bad start that he gets canned or are the expectations somewhat low that he would survive the season and will not get another contract with the Hawks if the Hawks dont make the playoffs with this team as currently constituted?
Personally, I cannot see any circumstance in which Larry Drew is the coach after this season. The Hawks, if they enter the playoffs, will only slip in as a 6-8 seed. There is no way they get into the playoffs as a 5th seed or lower “as currently constructed”.
I completely agree with Astro Joe; this year is a re-builidng year. Danny Ferry is looking beyond this season. For that reason Larry Drew is just a cheap place-holder for this season. If the right coach comes available before Drew’s contract expires, then the Hawks might cut him and eat the rest of his contract.
As a fan, I typically lean toward the optimistic side of things before the season starts. (Everybody starts with the same record and anything can happen). But this season all my optimism is focused on the free agency period next season.
My only expectation for this season is that the Hawks will play an exciting, uptempo brand of basketball and win some games at the buzzer against teams they are net expected to beat (like the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Detroit Pistons).
Astro Joe
August 6th, 2012
10:07 am
And add Martell Webster, Julian Wright and Antoine Wright to my list of Dollar General SFs.
Rev in Tampa
August 6th, 2012
10:08 am
opps. I forgot to put quotation marks around the opening paragraph. The opening paragraph belonged to B.J. I was addressing his questions.
Rev in Tampa
August 6th, 2012
10:09 am
Also, I misspelled “oops”
Buddy Grizzard
August 6th, 2012
10:11 am
Hawks consider adding Knicks assistant Kenny Atkinson, considered to be a future head coaching prospect. Atkinson was credited by Jeremy Lin for his personal development before and after he became a starter.
http://repatl.blogspot.com/2012/08/hawks-target-knicks-assistant-kenny.html
Astro Joe
August 6th, 2012
10:11 am
Ra’mon, I could go with your plan. I’d really like to keep Benson and groom him to become our back-up center when Zaza leaves next summer.
Melvin
August 6th, 2012
10:12 am
Buddy,
I will take Blatche over Ivan. More size and better skill set.
Melvin
August 6th, 2012
10:14 am
Astro,
I would still dump Jordan Williams and sign Blatche and a SF from your list. Then leave an open roster spot for flexibility/emergency purposes.
Astro Joe
August 6th, 2012
10:17 am
Buddy, good find. I wonder if Atkinson will be an incremental coach or if he will replace a current member of LD’s staff. He doesn’t sound like a guy who is on the verge of becoming a head coach… hard to go from being in the NVE role to head coach without first moving to the front row of the bench.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/knicks/2012/08/knicks-assistant-coach-kenny-atkinson-close-to-joining-atlanta-hawks
Melvin
August 6th, 2012
10:18 am
To add, I would prefer to have a young proven NBA talent (Blatche) as the 12-15th man on the bench then a boreline NBA talent like Benson or Jordan Williams They all will cost around the same monies, so give me the proven guy. Small risk, more upside.
Rev in Tampa
August 6th, 2012
10:22 am
“Ra’mon, I could go with your plan. I’d really like to keep Benson and groom him to become our back-up center when Zaza leaves next summer.”
I absolutely believe the Hawks should keep Benson on the roster. The Hawks need to supervise his weightlifting and calorie consumption to turn him into a future prospect. He has the skills. There are simply not that many athletic big men. If there were Garett Siler would not be still playing.
Somebody needs to tell Larry Drew about the concept of player-development for the future. I think the Hawks wasted a year of Benson’s potential development.
Astro Joe
August 6th, 2012
10:22 am
Oops, “feel” the roster? Need more coffee. Fill the roster spots. (I’m not really “feeling” this roster). Melvin, I figured that you’d change the rules (i.e., drop Jordan Williams).
glw
August 6th, 2012
10:32 am
@Astro Joe
As constructed, the two guys I would add would be a developmental big and a legit small forward I agree with Zaza and Petro expiring, it makes sense to have a developmental big on the roster like Benson. But Melvin does make a valid point, if you can get a legit big you do it. And Jordan Williams can and would be dropped. his conract is less than a million.
Melvin
August 6th, 2012
10:47 am
Astro,
Keep Jordan (ugh), sign Blatche and a SF.
Although, I think Ferry is going to use that TPE. Sign&Trade for Carlos Delfino????
Ra'mon
August 6th, 2012
10:53 am
So after hiring an Assistant GM to his staff, Ferry is improving the coaching staff. Wow. Maybe this ends the reign of Tyrone Hill’s position.
Astro Joe
August 6th, 2012
10:55 am
Melvin, I’d dump 2-3 of those stale Twinkies that we picked up for our perennial All-Star. And while I like Delfino (he was good for me a few years ago in fantasy basketball), I’d prefer a true SF as opposed to a SG/SF tweener. My rule of thumb, if someone like Granger can easily shoot over or post-up our SF, then that is a problem. That is why I’m not so sure that Delfino, Pietrus or Damien Wilkins are the right fit for the team as currently constructed. A 6′6″ SF standing between a 6′2″ SG (Lou) and a 6′9″ PF (Josh) just seems SMALL to me.
Melvin
August 6th, 2012
11:11 am
Astro,
I prefer a SF with size as well. I like Barnes, Childress, McGuire and Thronton from your list. Heck, I would even take TMac back. But I got a feeling that Ferry is not done making moves to this roster before we start the season.
The Truth
August 6th, 2012
11:13 am
I’m not really “feeling” this roster” – AJ
I’m not feeling this roster either. It’s already apparent (during the roster makeover) the absence of Marvin’s length and his defensive rating of 96 (this past season) at the SF position are not easily replaceable. Anything in the dollar-tree market (at this point) will fall short. If Danny rid himself of Marvin for cap relief next season, I can’t see him trading for a replacement SF that is less filling for the same value.
Another justification as to why this upcoming season is a write-off. The Hawks will score but they will be unable to stop anyone including the lottery-bound teams.
This idea of the Hawks being an exciting team that will now routinely lose may be too much of paradox to comprehend.
Buddy Grizzard
August 6th, 2012
11:20 am
“hard to go from being in the NVE role to head coach without first moving to the front row of the bench.”
See Jaque Vaughn… hard but not impossible.
Astro Joe
August 6th, 2012
11:20 am
The Truth, folk who are convinced the Hawks will be entertaining must think that watching their team lose 111-107 is more exciting than watching a 94-90 victory.