Atlanta Hawks: Larry Drew studying with Euro coach David Blatt
Back when Hawks coach Larry Drew added assistants Kenny Atkinson and Bob Weiss to join Lester Conner and Bob Bender, Drew said his staff was “set” for 2012-13.
But, according to a report out of Russia that was translated by Eurohoops.com, Drew is in Israel to meet with Maccabi Tel Aviv coach David Blatt. According to Eurohoops, Blatt recently signed a three-year contract with Maccabi but has a “turbulent relationship” with the club’s management.
UPDATE: Hawks GM Danny Ferry confirms that Drew is not seeking to add Blatt to his staff but went to Maccabi’s camp to observe, learn and share ideas with Blatt.
“Larry respects the international game and is enjoying the opportunity to share ideas with David Blatt,” Ferry wrote in a text message. “David is a heckuva coach and I know that Larry appreciates that David has been so open. I know Larry is enjoying the opportunity to closely watch [Maccabi's] program. It is a highly respected program.”
Blatt is an American native who played at Princeton. He coached the Russian national team to a bronze medal finish at the 2012 Olympics.
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371 comments Add your comment
ECF or Bust!
September 13th, 2012
2:29 pm
can’t Big Al work out with Tito in the summer?
MsDee
September 13th, 2012
2:34 pm
Buddy, just b/c Horford’s name isnt linked to any top center or PF’s of today DOESNT mean he isnt working on his game. There were commercials during the 2011 Playoffs or was it during the strike where Horford and other players were being advertised while conditioning and getting prepared for the upcoming season. Unfortunately, Horford wasnt able to display what he had worked on due to his untimely injury.
Rod from College Park
September 13th, 2012
2:39 pm
Astro Joe,
“David West? Better skill set than Horford? David West?”
I’m hoping that you are joking. David West is a 2 time all star just like Horford, but at the PF position. If Horford had half of the moves, and footwork that David West has, in the post, there would be none of this Horford debating on this blog. David West has averaged over 20 ppg for a season a couple of times, while Horford has never come close. I also forgot to include Stoudemire at the PF position
MsDee
September 13th, 2012
2:49 pm
Rod, ” David West has averaged over 20 ppg for a season a couple of times, while Horford has never come close.”
Well MAYBE b/c Horford was NOT playing PF but WAS playing center!!
brigadierjerry
September 13th, 2012
2:50 pm
Enter your comments here
brigadierjerry
September 13th, 2012
2:54 pm
ag,
why do u think that is as far as lack of articles written by the hawks in the ajc and u can find more articles written elsewhere?
vava74
September 13th, 2012
3:00 pm
MsDee,
I like your enthusiasm but Horford at PF is a guaranteed failure and Rod is perfectly right he is NO WHERE NEAR West from a post game point of view and mind that West is not exactly Olajuwon.
I am not saying that Horford is not a good player, he is, but his biggest assets are not related to SKILL but with DISCIPLINE, which is fine, but not #1 or #2 offensive option material.
MsDee
September 13th, 2012
3:01 pm
Rod, do u think if David West played the same position Horford has HAD to play since entering the NBA would averaged over 20 ppg a season???
Rod from College Park
September 13th, 2012
3:03 pm
MsDee,
OK, LOL. Averaging 20 ppg for a season is not an easy feat in the NBA. Horford has never even experienced a double team. A good pupil he is, but a jedi he is not. Horford never had a high scoring average because offensively he has always been the third, fourth, or even 5th best offensive player on the court for the Hawks. If you are that far down the pecking order offensively on the Hawks team, what makes you think that he would be able to put up 20 ppg night in and night out. I would be willing to bet you that even this year, with Joe gone, Horford will still be our 3rd or 4th best scoring option night in and night out. No Horford hate here, just the truth.
MsDee
September 13th, 2012
3:09 pm
vava74, No one knows WHAT Horford is capable of doing since he has NEVER been considered the 1st or 2nd option. With Joe and Josh both ball hogging and passing the ball ONLY TO EACH OTHER, would definitely limit Horford from being the player I KNOW he is capable of being. With Joe now gone and HOPEFULLY a more disciplined Josh, we will see a “over 20 PPG” in Horford. Just allow Horford the same chance Josh had last season when HE was out. Joe OUT, Horford SHINES!!
Astro Joe
September 13th, 2012
3:09 pm
West has better offensive skills but in no way shape or form is a better overall basketball player (or has more overall skills). He’s a one dimensional guy who greatly benefited from playing with CP3.
MsDee
September 13th, 2012
3:12 pm
Rod, I guess my 3:09 post can be read for u also!
Rod from College Park
September 13th, 2012
3:12 pm
“Rod, do u think if David West played the same position Horford has HAD to play since entering the NBA would averaged over 20 ppg a season???”
David West is 6′8 and Horford is 6′10. David West has always been a PF, and Horford has always been a center since he entered the league. Offensively it would not matter what position David West played, and he has always gone against guys bigger than him. His skill, footwork, and overall basketball ability would show regardless of what position he played.
MsDee
September 13th, 2012
3:15 pm
I agree Astro Joe and just how West shined with CP3, so can Horford with Harris! Harris is a great passer, and so is Josh. Without Joe being his ‘go-to’ target anymore, Horford would get alot of low bounce passes from Josh up top, that is IF he isnt hoisting up jumpers instead.
MsDee
September 13th, 2012
3:21 pm
Rod, “David West is 6′8 and Horford is 6′10. David West has always been a PF, and Horford has always been a center since he entered the league.”
Exactly so why compare a PF averaging a 20 PPG game to an UNDERSIZED 2-time ALLSTAR center averaging less?
The Truth
September 13th, 2012
3:34 pm
Interesting Stat:
Damion James @ nearly 6′8″ has the same wing-span as 6′10″ Al Horford of 7′ 0.75″
Rod from College Park
September 13th, 2012
3:34 pm
“West has better offensive skills but in no way shape or form is a better overall basketball player (or has more overall skills). He’s a one dimensional guy who greatly benefited from playing with CP3.”
Please help me understand what skills Horford has that David West does not have. David West has consecutive seasons of 17 and 7, 18 and 8, 20 and 9, 21 and 8, 19 and 7, and 19 and 7. If Horford did that for 6 seasons straight, I sure we would all be very pleased with him. Horford is a better rebounder than West is simply because of height, and position, not because of skill. Their skill levels are really not comparable. Horford has a lot of work to do.
Rod from College Park
September 13th, 2012
3:36 pm
“Exactly so why compare a PF averaging a 20 PPG game to an UNDERSIZED 2-time ALLSTAR center averaging less?”
I never compared them, I said that David West is a more skilled basketball player at the PF position than Al Horford is, and Astro Joe took issue with that.
The Truth
September 13th, 2012
3:37 pm
Interesting Stat:
Damion James @ nearly 6′8″ has the same wing-span as 6′10″ Al Horford of 7′ 0.75″
Astro Joe
September 13th, 2012
3:39 pm
Rod, if rebounding is a function of size and position, than surely scoring is a function of FGAs and PG play. You can’t have it both ways. Skills implies more than just getting your shot off… at least to me.
The Truth
September 13th, 2012
3:40 pm
Interesting Stat:
Jeff Teague @ 6′1″ has the same wing-span as 6′3″ Devin Harris of 6′ 7.5″
MsDee
September 13th, 2012
3:43 pm
Rod from College Park
September 13th, 2012
2:39 pm
Astro Joe,
“David West? Better skill set than Horford? David West?”
I’m hoping that you are joking. David West is a 2 time all star just like Horford, but at the PF position. If Horford had half of the moves, and footwork that David West has, in the post, there would be none of this Horford debating on this blog. David West has averaged over 20 ppg for a season a couple of times, while Horford has never come close. I also forgot to include Stoudemire at the PF position.
This, my friend, IS comparing!!
Mark
September 13th, 2012
3:44 pm
we already have our Sf J-smoove, Al will play his natural position of pf. and zaza will man the middle. nice combo. with teague and harris/or lou williams.
Rod from College Park
September 13th, 2012
3:46 pm
“I agree Astro Joe and just how West shined with CP3, so can Horford with Harris! Harris is a great passer, and so is Josh.”
So you don’t think Horford shined because of Joe, and Josh? Most of Horford’s points come from Joe or Josh being double teamed. It works both ways. Chris Paul throwing the ball to West on the post, and West backing his man down and scoring because of his post moves hardly has much to do with Chris Paul. LOL
The Truth
September 13th, 2012
3:47 pm
Interesting Stat:
If the Hawks added 6′11′ Keith Benson to roster, he would have the longest wing-span on the team @ 7′ 4″
Rod from College Park
September 13th, 2012
3:49 pm
“This, my friend, IS comparing!!”
That my friend was a response. That is why it was addressed to Astro Joe. Notice the quotes. That means that someone else said that. I responded.
MsDee
September 13th, 2012
3:55 pm
Oh..OK, didnt notice it, u right..THIS TIME.
Rod from College Park
September 13th, 2012
3:57 pm
“Rod, if rebounding is a function of size and position, than surely scoring is a function of FGAs and PG play. You can’t have it both ways. Skills implies more than just getting your shot off… at least to me.”
So again what baskeball skills does Horford have that David West does not? Actually scoring is a function of basketball skills. Most scorers in the NBA are highly skilled. Chris Paul had no impact on David West scoring on guys from the post. Have you ever watched David West play?
MsDee
September 13th, 2012
3:58 pm
“So you don’t think Horford shined because of Joe, and Josh?”
Of course NOT!! Those two ONLY passed to themselves. Horford got his points off his 18fters and Josh’s misses.
Rod from College Park
September 13th, 2012
4:10 pm
MsDee,
I know you really are a fan, but you really need to follow the game more closely. If you think Josh is a selfish basketball player, then you really have not been paying attention to the Hawks. Does he make some bad decisions, yes but a ball hog he is not. Joe was not a ball hog either, Joe simply tried to do what the coaching staff asked him to do. Neither one of those guys are selfish ball players, so I’m not sure what team you have been watching.
Astro Joe
September 13th, 2012
4:13 pm
Rod, West is a jump-shooting PF who is exceptional as a pick and pop player.
My guess is that at least half of West’s shots when he played with CP3 were from 10+ feet out. You act like dude is Karl Malone, I think he is much closer to a “stretch 4″.
And to say that a PG has little impact on low post scoring is absolutely silly. A low post player doesn’t simply hold position indefinitely (unless he’s Shaq)… he needs to get the ball in the right spot at the right time to convert. But again, I don’t think that West lives in the low-post like you make it out. When I envision West, I see him making an open jumper off of a pick and pop play.. from around 18 feet.
Horford is a far better man defender, pick and rool help defender, rebounder and at least as good at the mid-range shot.
The best PG Horford has played with was Bibby in his decline. West played with CP3 in his prime. Big difference.
Buddy Grizzard
September 13th, 2012
4:14 pm
“Horford and other players were being advertised while conditioning and getting prepared for the upcoming season…”
MSDee, Horford came into camp out of shape last season by his own admission. I certainly hope he’s been in the gym, and hopefully his time with the DR team will at least allow him to come into camp in better shape than he was last year. After we saw the incredible shape Josh Smith showed up at camp in last year, and knowing this is a contract year for him, I’m pretty confident Josh will be ready to go again. I only hope that not only Horford but the entire team took a lesson from Josh’s professionalism during the last offseason and come ready to play.
Ray
September 13th, 2012
4:17 pm
Yet I come back and all I hear once again is people bashing Horford and people bashing Josh Smith I mean just damn. -_________-
Anyways has anyone being paying any attention to Player Rankings on ESPN I’m just asking I know some players should not be ranked where they are like a Jeremy Lin at 78 and what not. Just want to know any thoughts is all.
Plus Jeff Teague was at 109(not bad really) Lou Williams at 70 something I forgot, but fun fact a twitter user also said his Defense is underrated just saying. I’ll leave my opinion on that come season time.
MsDee
September 13th, 2012
4:17 pm
Rod, I know Josh isnt a selfish player, like I said earlier, Josh is a great passer but still him and Joe do look for each other more than others. Now if YOU didnt see that, than maybe YOU are the one watching another team
MsDee
September 13th, 2012
4:23 pm
Buddy, ok Horford was maybe a little out of shape BUT he was also a freshly newlywed as well. Not saying thats an excuse BUT it COULD have been a reason too.
vava74
September 13th, 2012
4:23 pm
Being more skilled and being the better player are two completely different things.
There are few back-court players more skilled than Jamal but that does mean – quite the contrary – that substantially less skilled players are better players than Jamal.
As I said above, Horford’s best characteristics are not AT ALL his skills (which are somewhat limited) but his discipline as a player.
The Truth
September 13th, 2012
4:25 pm
Al Horford isn’t just giving up height against his opponent but length as well:
Al Horford wingspan = 7′ 0.75″
vs.
Brandon Bass = 7′2.5″
Carlos Boozer = 7′2.5″
Al Jefferson = 7′2.5″
Tyson Chandler = 7′3″
Taj Gibson = 7′4″
Brook Lopez = 7′5.5″
Elton Brand = 7′5.5″
Just to list a few
Another indictment on the Hawks, they don’t seem to value size when they seach to acqure players. They still haven’t gotten the memo: SIZE MATTERS
O'Brien
September 13th, 2012
4:30 pm
Buddy,
MSDee, Horford came into camp out of shape last season by his own admission.
Technically, Al was out of basketball shape. There is a difference (imo).
Rod from College Park
September 13th, 2012
4:31 pm
“Being more skilled and being the better player are two completely different things. ”
Ding!!!!!! They sky must be falling. Me a Vava agree. LOL
Astro Joe
September 13th, 2012
4:35 pm
And sometimes, you can be more skilled across the entire 94 feet of a basketball court AND be a better player.
AG
September 13th, 2012
4:39 pm
AJ – from your earlier post stating 3-4 guys would have to have career years to get us into the second round, – well I certainly think it will happen. Also, the more I am reading from other sites is giving the Hawks a lot of love. One of the things we were accused of (softness) certainly adding Stevenson with ZaZa and Ivan does give us a tougher team.
Despite all the negativity, the Boss will have a career year. I can easily see him averaging 17/10. Josh, who is now playing for a contract and now the face of the Hawks will have a career season in scoring – but I am sure his rebounding may go down – UNLESS he plays down low and INCREASE his offensive rebounds. JT has shown improvement every season and I am sure the trend will continue. I can actually envision him being second on the team in scoring 17/7 ast type of player. It just depends on how much freedom he is allowed to have. Lastly, I really want to see Lou starting. He will naturally have better numbers because he is getting more looks. It would not surprise me if Lou averaged 20 ppg in a starting role.
Astro Joe
September 13th, 2012
4:42 pm
AG, I appreciate your optimism. I hope it works out that way (I doubt it, but I would be thrilled to be wrong about the Hawks upcoming season).
jhan
September 13th, 2012
4:43 pm
What’s the infatution with Al’s post-up game? He’s simply not a post-up center. Nothing wrong with that. There have been many centers that contributed heavily to their teams success that didn’t camp out in the post. Which center was killing it from the post in last years finals? Ibaka? Kendricks? Bosh? Anthony? I don’t remember Chandler or Nowitski being compared to Wilt two years ago when they won the ring.
Here is an exerpt from an article in Slam Magazine about West -
Simply put, no power forward in the League is a better mid-range shooter than West, and yes, I do realize that Dirk still plays power forward. West’s jumper is that nice. Honestly, if he had Dirk’s height, he’d be getting the same uber-love the big German has been enjoying for years.
And those complaints about West being soft are off base. Some fans see a player who won’t post up and doesn’t hit the glass and think that he’s afraid of contact, or he shrinks from the big moment. Not so with West, who loves big shots. Instead, his contact avoidance is not based in fear or laziness, but self preservation. At 240 pounds he’s actually smaller than LeBron James and Ron Artest, and as Kareem Adul-Jabbar once said, you try running into 280-300-pound men for two hours with no padding and see how much you like it.
Doesn’t sound like he’s living in the paint to me!
jhan
September 13th, 2012
4:48 pm
The Truth – it makes sense that Al’s arm length is shorter than those listed. He’s only taller than Bass from what I can tell. Did you see the picture of Al & JT that Ken posted? JT comes up to Al’s nose. If he’s really 6′10″ then JT is probably 6′5″ or better. I don’t think either is true.
AG
September 13th, 2012
4:51 pm
jhan – wow maybe I should have said it that way. The NBA is different. There are very few post up centers. Outside of Bynum and Cousins, – can’t think of any centers with a strong post up game. Howard is pure muscle. His post up game is pathetic.
I really never followed D. West, but why did his average drop so bad this year? Was it because he was not playing with CP3?
Astro Joe
September 13th, 2012
4:53 pm
If we’re going to evaluate “skills”, why not formulate a list of 5-8 skills to use as a measuring stick. And are there stats to measure those skills? For example, would looking at FG% in the 3-9 foot area be an indicator of a player’s low post skill?
Buddy Grizzard
September 13th, 2012
4:57 pm
“Not saying thats an excuse BUT it COULD have been a reason too.
”
I think Josh, Al, Jeff, Devin Harris (contract year) and Lou Williams will all come in to camp in good shape and ready to go. That’s our top 5 players. I’m really less concerned about Al than I am about getting Ivan under contract and see if he has gained or lost weight. He would be a LOT more explosive if he dropped 10 lbs. But Ivan has been a man of mystery all summer. Have not heard peep 1 about him. So if he’s going to be a Hawk this season and build on his breakout rookie campaign, he needed to handle his business this summer.
AG
September 13th, 2012
4:59 pm
brigadierjerry – quite of few bloggers post links of articles written about the Hawks (i.e most unappreciated player in the NBA Al and how will Lou and Teague coexist.
AG
September 13th, 2012
5:00 pm
Buddy, you are acting a little like LD. Why do you have DH over JT? In the NBA rankings, were was DH ranked?
Rod from College Park
September 13th, 2012
5:02 pm
“Rod, West is a jump-shooting PF who is exceptional as a pick and pop player.
My guess is that at least half of West’s shots when he played with CP3 were from 10+ feet out. You act like dude is Karl Malone, I think he is much closer to a “stretch 4″
I would argue that your guess is wrong. In 3 of West Best years, where he averaged over 17 ppg he shot over 50 percent from the field. I highly doubt that the majority of those points were scored from 10 feet and out. He is a very skilled post player who also has a above average mid range game.
“And to say that a PG has little impact on low post scoring is absolutely silly.”
I never said that. I said Chris Paul throwing the ball to David West in the post, and West scoring out of the post had little to do with Chris Paul. David West has been doing that since college.
“Horford is a far better man defender, pick and rool help defender, rebounder and at least as good at the mid-range shot.”
I disagree again. Horford is an active defender, but would have no chance defending some 4’s, especially stretch 4’s. West can step out and guard 4’s and also plays much tougher defensively in the post than Horford does now (Horford played better earlier in his career). Horford is a better help defender, and for his career he is only a 2 rbg better rebounder which I attribute to him playing the center position and mostly never leaving the paint defensively.
“The best PG Horford has played with was Bibby in his decline. West played with CP3 in his prime. Big difference.”
Has nothing to do with the skill level of each player.