Johnson, Woodson get hammered by national media

$6 for Hawks tickets on Stub Hub? I would rather go to McDonalds for a value meal

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You will have to pay me to go to any NBA game.

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NOW YOU KNOW!

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I realize Josh complains all the time but at least he cares enough to get upset. I think Josh will be fine and everyone loves Horford and Crawford. IMO, let Johnson go as he is a solid citizen but we need some fire. If he is out there get a mean azz inside presence and a new coach and lets go to work. This team needs a major face lift not a head amputation.

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I got an email from the Hawks after the game saying that they had discounted may seats to $10 or $20. I already had a gotten a “complimentary” ticket that they had offered to season ticket holders before last night’s game. Especially after Joe’s comment, I’m thinking about not using it. I’m sorry I paid $85 to see that sorry display last night.

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I don’t understand why everyone is singling out Josh Smith for criticism. He actually played one of the better games last night with 15 and 10.

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So long Joe. Adios Woody. Call us when you develop a half court offense. It is a sad day. I have have been a fan since Hubie Brown was coach, and this really stinks.

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** JOE JOHNSON IS POISON AND DETRIMENTAL TO THE HAWKS! **

- He is the antithesis of leader with the emotional motivation of a slug. He never smiles or shows any positive emotion. How can he even be considered a team leader?! With his unmotivated example, he literally de-motivates the team. Who designated him the team leader anyway?!?

- His offensive move is predictable and easy to defend against. He dribbles too much and makes his offensive intent too obvious to defenders and therefore very easy to double-team. Plus, I’ve never seen an NBA player miss so many layups!!

- The fans ultimately make him a star and pay his exorbitant salary. If he is dumb enough to openly dis the fans after a dismal performance in the most crucial game of the season, then he is a certified fool. He should have profusely apologized.

If I was the hawks owner, I would have canned Joe Johnson last season. We have some great players in Horford, Josh Smith, Crawford, Williams. Get rid of Joe—he is poison!

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Joe Johnson showed his true colors on the fan remark. Maybe that is why he doesn’t open his mouth much. He might make the globetrotters even more fun as I will admit he is a good dribbler. Playoff choker is Joe Johnson. Told you 2 weeks ago they would get swept.
The worst part is they will never be any better. As that one scribe said ” They are nothing but an AAU team.” Good atheletes but no concept of team basketball. Joke to watch!!! Football is right around the corner

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It is the NBA! Why does anybody care?

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They are who we thought they were. The only people happy about this are the potential Hawks-buyers in Seattle.

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joe the quiter johnson how in the hell do u think the fans suppose to feel hell u suppose to be the leader but u not no leader because a leader will not talk to the fans that pay u hell dont forget u talking like this u is a free agent after monday & the atl will be glad u leave & now i thru talk about a quiter now lets talk about the dam coach my friends use to dog u out but i stay on ur bamdwagon until the hawks start playing like quiter but i have to get off ur soft ass wagon because the hawks play like u coach u will be a free agents after mondat to & take the uncoachable josh smith with u

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I agree w/ Beatscape we really do have good players in Al Josh & Marvin it’s just that we don’t have a leader nor coach to push them to be better because they are. Joe is dirt, scum of the earth cause I have lost all of my respect for him once he dissed us all as fans! You don’t deserve money like Wade James and the other free agents because you’re hot one min then cold I am disgusted by his comments

Joe got to go and let’s bring in D-WADE!! if we had D-WADE and down by 20 we would have come back and put in effort but Joe only wants a check not a ring!!

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I always liked Joe Johnson…until now.

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Please beg DWade to come here. ATL will never go further with this current team as JJ is no better than John Long and probably a step below Steve Smith.

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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Joe Salome and brad cottrill, Jeff Schultz. Jeff Schultz said: Johnson, Woodson get hammered by national media http://bit.ly/bidSTj [...]

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Trade Josh Smith, Marvin, and anyone else but Horford to Dallas for Nowitzki. Then try to sign Wade. Hire Kevin Loughery as coach. Then they’ll sell some tickets.

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And yes, Loughery is 70, but he wants back into coaching according to some NBA officials I know here in China.

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Pi$$onaDAWG , why don’t you go back to your Tech site and whine there. If you don’t like the NBA, just go away-please.

reese mayfield , what the heck are you trying to say? Learn to write-please.
We spell it this way: YOU, not U.

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Boycott the Hawks!!!!

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SWAT@ 11:27AM….GOD BLESS YOU PARDNER BUT I WOULD HAVE NEVER IN A THOUSAND YEAR’S ADMITTED THAT!!! I WAS TOLD ON THESE BLOG’S THAT I WASN’T A FAN B/C I SAID AT BEST THIS SERIES WOULD GO 5 GAME’S!!! SADLY I WAS WRONG…. IT’LL BE ONLY 4 IT APPEAR’S!!! THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUAL’S ARE THE POSTER CHILDREN FOR QUITTER’S!!! JOE JOHNSON YOU CAN KISS MY ARSS NAMELY B/C I DEFENDED THE ASG FOR BRINGING YOU ONBOARD BUT IT APPEAR’S BELKIN WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG!!! YOU SIR ARE NOTHING MORE THAN “THE TIN MAN” YOU SIR ARE 3 OZ CHARACTER’S IN 1!!! NOOOO BRAIN,NOOOO COURAGE,NOOOOOO HEART!!!! GOODBYE & GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!

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yes somebody please bring in D-wade and u know dwayne wants to stay around hot weather and atlanta has some great weather bring him in and also he has great players to play around he’s a leader got a ring and damn sure wants another one

and people we still do need josh smith b/c even though he walked during game 2 and didn’t box out last night somewhat joe is suppose to be the leader and as the scorer leader and leader he was suppose to tell josh about that

Joe leave

SOMEBODY PLEASE BRING IN DWYANE WADE PLEASE!!

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As I wrote on Jeff’s earlier blog, some–the ignorant Vick Supporter in particular–have criticized the Hawks’ fans. That’s way out of line given the history of this sorry franchise, which once again embarrassed the city on national television last night. No surprise whatsoever that the national media is taking the team, and in one case the arena’s atmosphere, to task. It’s about winning CHAMPIONSHIPS, and NEVER has the Atlanta version of this team made it past even the second round of the playoffs–IN 40-PLUS YEARS of competition–let alone won it all. And those shameful results can be applied to every other major pro team this town has ever fielded in nearly a half-century of play–the ONLY exception being the ‘95 Braves. No, Vick Supporter and others of your ilk, don’t lay this huge stinking egg on the fans. It’s about the players, the coaches, the ownerships, and the losing mentality that has plagued this town’s major pro sports franchises since their establishment in the mid 60s. It’s about a long and DISGRACEFUL history of performances that sadly have earned our city the pitiful but painfully appropriate label of “LOSERSVILLE.” And that’s all it’s about.

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A ticket for $6? Hell, I wouldn’t go to see these loafers if you gave me a ticket.

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Princess’s Own

SOMEBODY PLEASE BRING IN DWYANE WADE PLEASE!!

***********************

Princess . . . unless you can coax Miami to do a dual sign and trade involving JJ + a filler, for a maxed-out signed D-Wade . . . or unless you’re willing to trade Josh Smith and Jamal Crawford for Wade . . . there’s no way in hell that we can get Wade.

A lot of you need to understand how the NBA system works, and the rules of the salary cap. We don’t have enough cap room to sign Wade flat out. The only way we can get him, is to trade for him. We all know Miami is going to throw max money at him, so we have to come up with a trade that comes close to matching his contract, to make the numbers work.

Matter of fact, we can’t get any of the big name free agents, unless a sign and trade is involved. From a star standpoint this season, it was JJ or bust.

Wade isn’t coming to Atlanta, if the roster is depleted of talent. He has that in Miami already. He’d stay in Miami . . or go to Chicago . . or go play with Lebron . . before he’d come to Atlanta.

So wishing for D-Wade, or any other star, is simply a pipe dream that people need to let go.

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They need baby bottles & diapers

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Everybody thinks Joe Johnson is a star player in the NBA, he is not, but the main problem is that he thinks he is. As much as a dislike Kobe and Lebron, they would NEVER i repeat NEVER say they could care less if the fans show up. I was thinking about going to the game on monday just to go, thinking maybe they would give away free stuff or something, it being the last game, but not anymore. Al Horford is the star of this team yet no one realizes it, he has the potential to be one of the best big men in the league, he can shoot, he can post up, he defends well, and most importantly, he plays hard all the time, even in the all-star game, but right now he’s not because Woody just wants to let Joe do his thing so he doesn’t have to actually coach. We need a coach with some fire, an in-your-face kind of guy that can get on Josh Smith’s case every time he pouts. If Josh would just play hard all the time and quit sulking, he would be a star too. Time for a new coach and we need to build this team from inside-out with Al and Josh.

p.s. and get rid of Marvin Williams

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its the NBA……most people in Atlanta don’t care…..

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THIS TEAM WOULD HAVE WON 60 GAMES WITH A MIKE FRATELLO OR DOC RIVERS COACHING THIS TEAM- MIKE WOODSON HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HORRIBLE COACH. YOU GUYS REMEMBER BEFORE THE SEASON HIM BRAGGING ABOUT FINALLY HAVING SUCH A DEEP TEAM AND BEING ABLE TO PLAY PLAYERS MORE LIKE JOE SMITH, ETC AND GO FIVE DEEP ON THE BENCH. ANY ONE OF US CAN PLAY OUR TOP 6-7 PLAYERS AND LET THEM GO WILD-

THEY WON 53 GAMES ON TALENT FROM JOE, JOSH SMITH, AL HORFORD ETC. BUT THESE GUYS ARE WORN OUT NOW FROM PLAYING SO MANY MINUTES AND THIS WAS THE PROBLEM EVERY BODY POINTED OUT TO MIKE YOU CAN’T ALWAYS COUNT ON YOUR TOP 5-7 TO BE ON EVERY NIGHT YOU NEED A BENCH THAT CAN REST THESE GUYS OR GIVE YOU STARTER MINUTES

GUESS WHAT IF YOU ONLY PLAYING CRAWFORD REALLY ANY MINUTES THE REST ITS LAUGHABLE 8 MINUTES, 6 MINUTES, ETC- DONT EXPECT TO WIN LIKE THAT- LOOK AT ORLANDO’S BENCH AND HOW MANY MINUTES THEY GET-

IT KEEPS YOUR STARTERS FRESH PLUS IT MAKES GUESS HUSTLE MORE WHEN THEY ARE CONTINUALLY BEING CHALLENGED FOR MINUTES. PLUS THERE ARE GOING TO MISMATCHES FROM TIME TO TIME THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFLY AS A COACH AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

WHEN JOE IS OFF LIKE THAT HE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN HIM OUT AND BROUGHT IN SOMEONE ELSE- YOU HAVE TO APPROACH IT PROFESSIONALLY LIKE THAT-

LET ME PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE FOR YOU- JOE SMITH IS GOOD ENOUGH LAST YEAR TO PLAY 20 MINUTES A NIGHT FOR THE CLEVELAND CAVIELERS AND HE CAN’T MAKE IT IN A PLAYOFF GAME WHEN YOUR GETTING BLOWN OUT?

DUDE THIS IS PERFECT FOR US WOODY HAS BEEN GETTING TOO MUCH CREDIT FOR IMPROVING THIS TEAM- THIS TEAM IMPROVED EVERY YEAR ON YOUNG TALENT LEARNING THE GAME AND GETTING OLDER TOGETHER NOT ON WOODSONS COACHING IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENDED REGARDLESS.

THIS TEAM WILL BE MUCH BETTER WHEN YOU GET A GOOD COACH THAT CAN COACH UP JOSH SMITH, MARVIN WILLIAMS AND AL HORFORD AND JEFF TEAGUE AND RUN SET PLAYS- I GUARANTEE YOU JOE JOHNSON COST THEM MORE GAMES THAN YOU THINK BY HIM NOT PASSING THE BALL AND THEM NOT RUNNING PLAYS FOR AL, JOSH, MARVIN, AND TEAGUE.

PUT IN CRAWFORD WHRE JOHNSON IS- BRING IN A KNOWN SHOOTER FOR CRAWFORDS SPOT OFF THE BENCH THAT CAN OPEN THE FLOOR LIKE ORLANDO- AND RUN MORE PLAYS FOR JOSH, MARVIN, AND TEAGUE, AND AL HORFORD AND YOU FINALLY HAVE A TEAM!!!!

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I’d trade JOE for a sick horse then shoot the horse.

Let’s face it. There is no such thing of “Integrity” & “Professionalism” in the NBA. Just “Show me da money.” These guys have no pride or else they would not lose games by 30 or 43 points in a Playoff game. Bring on College Football!

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Atlanta sports IS this.

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For anyone who thinks there is some context in which JJ’s “care less” comment make sense, you are way off base. You don’t have to buy a ticket to be a fan. In fact MOST fans don’t buy tickets. And sure, Atlanta, being the transient and transplant filled town it is, will have it’s fair share of people who root for other teams that they grew up with before coming to Atlanta. Does that make Atlanta fans somehow bad fans? The very idea is ridiculous on it’s face. As an Atl native of 43 years, how dare you question my loyalty to the home team? Do you question other cities fans when they show disappointment in their teams play? Hell we in Atlanta should probabaly get some sort of super fan award for sticking around through 50 or so years of professional baseball, basketball, football, and even hockey, with just one championship to show for it. So stop all the nonsense about complaining about fans. I don’t care if one or 30,000 people show up, JJ and everyone else gets their full paycheck for every game. He doesn’t have to care about us, and we don’t have to cater to him. he gets shown love when he deserves it, just like everyone else.

In tribute to Mother’s Day, and the mother and grandmother who tried, with varying degrees of success, to teach me that if I didn’t have something good to say about someone that I shouldn’t say anything at all, here’s my two cents. Mike Woodson got the Hawks to play good team defense. He managed to get far more success out of the switching defense than anyone probably would have imagined. Joe Johnson has a great shooting touch, and can often be a very effective defender against any guard or forward.

I said something nice, so now I feel free to say something else. FIRE MIKE WOODSON. I say this with no malice. He has simply done all he can do here. And by all means offer JJ another contract, maybe 3 years, in the neighborhood of $8-$10 million. Under another coach, one who doesn’t think ISO Joe is the 11th commandment, Joe might even flourish on a steady diet of screens and pick and pops. He could even play his self back into some decent trade bait for us in the next year or so

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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Steven Jones. Steven Jones said: Johnson, Woodson get hammered by national media http://shar.es/m6RJH [...]

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Oh yeah and I am the idiot that put down $400 bucks for tickets for Mondays game. I have made it a tradition of taking my son to a playoff game. Now I am told I could have bought tickets for a saving of $388? I am feeling sick!

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To fix this team, woodson has got to go! Furthermore, I was never on this side of the fence, but this playoffs has proved Joe Johnson is not a max player and I wouldn’t mind seeing him go. I so wish we would have got Cleveland in the second round, I really believe we’ve had given them a better fight. Orlando is just to good. If your rick sund make as much of a push as you can for wade (dreaming), but chris bosh would be an excellent fall back plan. By the way jamal crawford hasn’t been so great in these playoffs either!!!!

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As a Hawks fan (from days of Lou Hudson and Zelmo Beatty and Walt Hazzard and Bill Bridges) I find all the stupid negative comments by the fans here in Atlanta totally unneccessry. The Magic have a better team without a doubt. Dwight Howard beat Lebron James last year and will beat him this year. And even if we win the East we have to beat the Lakers. People forget that Mr. Howard could not beat the Lakers last year.
Thus less use our head people. Quit being stupid. We need a big man. We will have to draft a center in the draft and let him develop. Being in East means having to beat Howard first, James second and then Kobe, Gasol, Artest, and Bynum third. Not happening this year. Instead we draft a young center and let him develop over the years. No hurry people! We want Kobe and Artest and Odom and Fisher to retire! Because of the free agency rules James will soak up most of the money and flexibiltiy on his team, whether it is the Cavaliers, or the Knicks, or the Nets. Lastly it is down to Hawks and the Magic every year after the Lakers stats retire.
Now if Howard is better than our new center we will just have to end up like San Francisco Warriors and Nate Thurmond were in the late sixties ansd early seventies, very good , but no ring. What the ignorant people in Marthasville, Georgia do not realize is that no team can win the NBA without a very good center and we do not yet have the center we need to win the NBA. Also we are in time in the NBA where other teams, the Celtics, the Lakers, the Cavaliers, the Bulls, and the Magic either are better now or in the past since 1968 when the Hawks came from St. Louis. Misouri.
Marthasville fans, quit critizing Mr. Johnson and Mr. Woodson. We never should have traded Mr. Wilkins the year Jordan played basketball!!!!
Our mistake was trading

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I think I will make a killing on Monday night selling paper bags for $1 each at the gate….if people show up.

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The ignorance shown in some of these posts is hilarious. The Hawks don’t have the money to pay D Wade, and no one would be stupid enough to trade for any of these chumps besides Horford anyway. That’s not enough, and it’s never going to happen. This team is doomed for years, and no one like Wade will come here because they realize this, unlike some people on this blog.

Oh, and watching J. Smith is some top-notch comedy. How anyone can play hoops their entire lives and still have no real idea how to play or realize that in order to maximize natural ability one must give maximum effort is just plain funny. Please unload this idiot if you can find someone dumb enough to take him off your hands.

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Joe’s gotta go. No way he desrves max money. Woody’s gotta go. He’s been outcoached twice now in the playoffs. I think Josh would be fine with a little more of a disciplinarian. We’ve got some good young talent (Al, Teague, Josh) and some good backups (Zaza, Crawford). Need a five, a point and a coach!!!!

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The product on the court does not approximate the payroll. This is true of the vast majority of NBA teams and most professional sport franchises in general. Fans can only change this by not buying tickets, not watching them on TV, and not buying their logo merchandise.

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I’d give Woodson bonus points if he benched Johnson.

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HAWKS SUCK simple as that.

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Re-signing Woodson would be a an icebergian blunder
even moreso than the drafting of Sheldon Williams
rather than Candace Parker.

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So sick of folks joining the bandwagon, bashing the city & it’s fans. Let’s be logical, if possible…objective, if possible: Could you commit, wholeheartedly, to following a team that’s so schizo that it wins 50 games during the regular season & then (after barely avoiding 1st round elimination to a lesser-talented team) limps out of the 2nd round after losing it’s first 3 games by an average of 29 points? Really?

And I don’t want to hear the “fairweather fan” accusations. In this economy, folks are (rightfully so) a bit more choosy as to how they spend their hard-earned money. The frustrating thing about the Hawks is that you frankly don’t know what you’re getting. It’s too much of an emotional roller coaster…too frustrating. For all the cities with teams that lose consistently, at least their team is consistent & they know what they’re getting. Our team goes from dominant to pitiful in matters of days. Could you, in all seriousness, invest your money in a team that’s a sickening version of NBA mystery meat?

For all of you making noise, if you call yourself a Hawks fan, I’m going to assume you have season tickets & regularly (again, that’s regularly) go to games.

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mike woodson countdown finally down to 48 minutes. thank god!

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The Atlanta Spirit need to spend money on the Thrashers. In the NBA, if you aren’t in posession of one of the “chosen few” you cannot become an elite team because they won’t let you. Thus, the Hawks have paid out big money to reach their highest achievable level – a round 2 disaster.

Open your eyes – the Atlanta Hawks are ZERO FOR FORTY in their 40 seaosns in the East trying to reach the Eastern Finals. This year was no different, their ceiling is the East Semi’s – PERIOD.

Only ONE non-division winning team from the East has made it to the NBA finals since 1999. If you aren’t a division winner, you have virtually no chance.

Now then, in hockey, it isn’t run for the glory of the Gods (James, Koby, etc.) – you can take a half ass team, invest some $$ and they can compete. The Eastern representative in the NHL playoffs has been the 4 seed in 2 of the last 3 years, winning the Stanley Cup once.

The current NHL playoffs? The 4 remaining Eastern teams are seeded 4, 6, 7 & 8 – so a 4 or worse seed will be in the Cup finals now for 3 of the last 4 years.

I’d rather be a team like the Stanley Cup champions like Tampa Bay or Carolina that turn around and stink not long after WINNING IT ALL than a good team that has no shot other than winning in the first round in 7 games.

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I’ve had respect for JJ all along but for the man to say he doesn’t care If we show up speaks volumes to me.I’M DONE.The Atlanta Hawks Fans have backed these clowns all season and for him to say something like that Is about as disrespectful as a person can be.JJ hasn’t done nothing In the playoffs in 2 years and he makes a comment like that.JJ let me show you the door and It was pretty puzzling to hear Mike Woodson take up for J Smoove’s play also.Don’t let the door hit you In tha a$$ as you walk out JJ and Mr. Woodson!

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Peaople forget Billy KNight is the one responsible for terrible draft picks and orchestrating the current mix. Thank God he was fired. But the damage lives on.

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Joe Johnson is a punk. Let him play elsewhere next year.

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joe said forget those fans who are double minded, not all fans; he lost by 30 yeah it hurts git a grip atl

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2 PLAYERS. 1ST TRADE JOE JOHNSON ,MARVIN WILLIAMS, BIBBY AND CASH FOR DWAYNE WADE. 2ND TRADE JOSH SMITH AND AND IF WE HAVE TWO JAMAL CRAWORD TO RAPTORS FOR CHRIS BOSH. YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP SOME TO GET THE BEST OUT THERE. WE CAN PICK UP ANOTHER SIX MAN AND THERE ARE SOME GOOD ONES OUT THERE. NEXT STOP FINALS…….

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Serious question that hopefully someone out there can answer: If the Hawks let Joe go, how much money will we have available to spend on other free agents? I don’t think that we can sign someone from another team to a max contract, but I could be wrong about that. Would love it if someone can help clarify.

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Mike Woodson is the one who ruined Joe Johnson’s game. If Joe gets a chance to play with a coach who knows what he’s doing, he will rise again…

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ATL. THE FIRST TRADE SOUNDS NICE. BUT THE 2ND ONE DOESNT MAKE ANY SINCE. J.SMOOVE AND J.CRAWFORD ACTUALLY PLAYS HARD ALMOST EVERY GAME. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE POTENTIAL. KEEP THOSE, BUT DO THE FIRST TRADE IF MONEY PERMITS

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THIS IS YOUR TEAM ATL????

I would move….

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Sorry (above)

Hawks are a good team. Orlando may be a great team. The Magic could win it all this year. So, perhaps the Hawks have improved. Last year they were swept by the second best team in the East. This year, 50+ wins and a lopsided series loss to the eventual Champs?

Folks, we are all disappointed (at least those who are Hawks fans). Joe Johnson is a really good player. Not a max money player but if he could be the second best player on your team, that would be enviable. He’s a very good defender in addition to being a very good scorer. He’s not Kobe / LeBron level and never will be. The Hawks are very soft mentally and also physically – this series has made that glaringly apparent. Get tough and get serious.

For the future, how about:
For sure Keepers – Horford, Josh, Jamal
Deal or dump – Marvin (why doesn’t anybody mention what a huge under achiever MW is?), Bibby, Mo Evans.
Via draft, trades or free agency, get -
1) Chris Bosh, or the best available inside scorer/defender
2) a point guard who is ultra quick, can drive with boths hands, and can defend (a la Brandon Jennings or Ty Lawson) and
3)a serviceable 7′ center.
Send Coach Woodson on his way. Nothing personal, he rebuilt the franchise but is unable to get the team to the elite level. Thanks for the ride, Woody.
See if Joe Johnson fits the plan and budget. If not, adios.

Figure out whether the rest of the fellas fit the new mold – Pachulia, Teague, etc.

See ya Monday night. go hawks.

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whatever- If joe leaves we don’t have 80 mil waiting for a new guy b/c we have more money tied up to other players.Let’s say the cap is 60 mil(i’m not sure what the nba cap is) we can go over the cap by re-signing our guys,but if we are at 59 mil and joe leaves then we only have a mil to spend.We can sign and trade Joe or just re-sign him.

Teams that are over the cap don’t sign free agents unless it’s a sign and trade.

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jj was so stupid & foolish. the team went out of the way to bring him in for a huge amount of money,he could have paid that loyality back by signing for 70 mil/4 years. he put the team & him self in a lousy situation because of greed & ego. it is obvious that he cant take the pressure. woody has never helped him or the team by letting joe play iso joe

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Out with Joe, Josh, and Woody and in with Dirk, Wade, and Avery Johnson. Instant contenders with a ton of heart

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Out with Marvin and resign Childress

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I think it’s fine for the Hawks fans to be upset with the blowout losses but in reality the Hawks are right where they should be. This team is not to the level talent-wise where it’s realistic to advance past the second round. Teams that win titles have great players. The Hawks do not have any great players. They have some really good players and that’s what really good players can do for a team. That is, get it to the second round. The last time I looked, Lebron was not wearing a Hawks jersey, neither was Koby, Steve Nash, Shaq, Garnett or Pierce, etc. Since Dominique the Hawks have never had a GREAT player. One that makes everyone around him better and hits big shots in big games. Wasn’t it Cliff Levingston that ended up with the final shot back in the late ’80’s in the Omni when the Hawks were up 3-2 in their series with the Celtics? To me, that about sums up Hawks post-season basketball. Go out, spend the money and get a great player to build around and move into the upper echelon of the NBA or be happy with Joe Johnson and a team that’s good enough to reach the second round.

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Oh Jeff Schultz, let it go, it is what defines the Atlanta sports, political, cultural and social landscape… Trying to make it otherwise is fruitless…

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@Gwinnett Fred
Atlanta fans personalize their dislike… They did it to Rico Carty, Randy Johnson, Deion Sanders, Jon Koncak, Hubie Brown, Mike Fratello, Brad Komminisk, David Justice, Daniel Brouchard, Chris Reistma, Brad Clontz, Darrell Evans, Rick Mahler, Rolland Lawrence, Chan Gailey, Jim Donnan and Martin Luther King, Jr. & on and on… It is a Atlanta character flaw…

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Have you noticed how when a well coached team like the Spurs or Celtics have a time out or quarter break, the players come to sideline and look at the coach and seem to listen to what he is saying. Not the Hawks, they walk to sideline like a bunch of street punks and look off into space. Get a coach that demands their attention or keep on looking like a bunch of street punks.

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At the end of the day, this team is still headed in the right direction,” Woodson said Sunday. “If we can bring Joe back and hopefully I’m able to stay, we can complete the process we started six years ago. If we can add a couple of more pieces, good pieces, then anything can happen. I sure hope they don’t go back the other way and bust it up.

If I have ever seen desperation – this is it. How about NO Woody! Six years was plenty of time to prove this core belonged together and you be their coach. Fourth place in the east was not the goal for this season. (God I hope not!) I guess if they give you another three years we will be number two at this pace? No ones buying it anymore so C-Ya!

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Be forewarned, what didn’t you people learn from imploding a team in 1999? I’m reconciled with the fact that Woodson and Johnson will no longer be with this franchise. This is a performance relationship field. Once you reach this level, that is the benchmark. However, I’ll be damned if I’m going through another one of those strip it to the skeleton rebuilds. Go ask the Knicks where that gets you?

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If I’m going to pay six dollars for Black Loafers, I’ll go to K-MART!!!!

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First, it is amazing how many people come on this hawks blog and you never here comments from them until Joe and Woody make these comments after getting blowed out in the third game of the second round of the playoffs. I have been stating all season dating back to last summer that M. Bibby should have never been resigned and Woody should have been let go. Watching the Spurs play tonight, I see a team that is old but still competes and fights with plenty of effort, why not the Hawks, one word – coaching; another good deal would be to trade Joe and Jeff Teague for George Hill, excellent point guard for the Spurs, and Manu Ginobili. Start Manu or J. Crawford and start George Hill at the point. Draft or find a big man through free agency. Hire a good coach. All of you guys talking about getting D-Wade can forget it. Not coming here, 1st he lives in South Beach and hangs out with a lot of famous people, totally different atmosphere than Atlanta. 2nd he has an owner with deep pockets who will spend money to win, something we lack. 3rd he has Pat Riley at the helm of his organization, look at the heads of our organization, enough said.

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When:

1) Your ownership is spending 8m per year less on players than the next lowest paid playoff team, and

2) You draft Shelden Williams at no.6 and Acie Law at no.11 in the draft, and

3) Let another no. 6 draft pick go to Europe – It is amazing the Hawks are this good!

And too those who make up trade scenarios of Bibby to somebody – at 6mill. a year for the next 2 years, nobody is going to take him unless it is sign and realease or something of that nature. We’re stuck with him mentoring Teague – not a bad role however.

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What will be Atl’s draft position in the draft next year? Who’s a possible but decent center coming out of college to fill the 5 spot to get our current players in their natural positions?

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This is like the 70’s with the Hawks, Braves and Flames all horrible. Maybe the Thrashers will move, as did the Flames. Maybe the Hawks will move, too. It’s the NBA, it’s not that big a deal. Maybe the Braves will show the fans just how little they care, and let Bobby coach the entire year. Any other franchise would let him go midseason, regardless of how good his teams were half a decade ago. Tom Landry, Dan Reeves in Denver, Joe Torre in New York, etc…his teams have been various shades of awful for four years now. It’s time for a change.

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The best offensive player on the team is Joe Johnson.

The best defensive player on the team is Josh Smith.

BUT…and here is where the problem with this team lies….THEY ARE QUITTERS.

when the going gets tough….they quit. They are very unprofessional and unfortunately for Mike Woodson….he is inept at trying to coach these 2 players. Oh sure they are incredibly talented and when things go there way…they are great to watch and they can easily lead a team to 53 wins. BUT…when things get tough…like on the road where the opposing team elevates its game…Smith and Johnson refuse to give the extra effort to meet the adversity head on. They are lazy and mentally weak.

So who’s fault is it? I dont think Woodson is a bad coach. He just lacks the ability to reach players like Smith and Johnson…who have piss poor mental attitudes about the game of basketball.

Please….get rid of Johnson and Smith and then….lets rebuild as best we can with what we still have. I would rather go 29-53 and lose with heart than go 53-29 and see a gutless and historically bad playoff performance like the one we are having to endure.

These guys make millions…they are living the dream. At some point…they need to give back and display a positive mental approach to the game that has so generously rewarded them.

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time to trade Josh while his value is up. he will never grow up as long as he is in Atl with all his homies. he needs to go to another city where he will not have all his hangers on telling him how great he is . he needs to go to another city where he can GROW UP and stop crying and whining and pouting and just stfu and do his dam job.

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The Hawks made it to Disney World and their heart ran into the “You must be this tall …” sign. Oh well, better luck next year with a new coach and no iso-Joe.

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Let’s get this team to Seattle!!!

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The Hawks need to let Joe Johnson go and fire Woody. Sign either Amare Stoudamire or Chris Bosh. Not drafting Chris Paul is looking like a gigantic mistake of unmeasurable proportions about now. Hawks need a point guard and center to compete. If the Hawks keep Joe Johnson then they are settling for mediocrity. Any player that insults the fans who were booing him justifiably because of HIS poor play should be removed from the team.

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Joe shouldnt have said what he said about the fans true!! BUT Joe isnt the only reason we are down 3 games. Bibby i love the guy but he cant gaurd anyone and its really costing the hawks since they love to switch on defense. Josh Smith game 2 with all the crying and NOT getting back on DEFENSE how many times did he stay at the other end of the court arguing with the refs or pretending like he’s hurt while the magic go 4 on 5 and drop 3 pointers.. Marvin is the worst of them all he disappears so many times during a game he plays a little better at home but hasnt done anything on the road. The only bright spot this playoffs has Been Horford. we are the 3rd seed in the east people..If we lose joe and woody back to the bottom of the pile we go. we need to add to this team not take anything away from it. i will say that if woody cant get some real offensive plays called besides iso then maybe he should go. and to the Hawks team we (the fans) know the MAGIC is the BETTER TEAM. but damn show some effort the body language says you guys have already packed it up and thats where the boo’s come in.

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can you blame fans Joe, it ain’t like we showed up to boo you, you EARNED IT. I was a big fan of yours, came to a lot of games to watch you play, but how can I root for you if you don’t care about the city, I was born here so I cheer for the Home team, always have always will, jjust wish you had more pride when you put on an Atlanta jersey, but hey it our fault, we don’t do the things YOU would want us to, but you don’t step up when it’s on the line either and I don’t get paid to be a fan, you get payed to win games, I spend money to watch, you turn down contract extentions cause you wanna get paid, I turn down showing up on time cause I know you won’t dunk on nobody, it’s sad cause it feels like I got a gun to my head forcing me to cheer for ya’ll right now.

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HEY TO: WE LOSE YOU SNOOZE.. MARK CUBAN?? REALLY?? his team was eliminated last round. atleast we made it to the 2nd round. Mark Cubans team hasnt done anything but get eliminated early every year they got to the finals that one year and blew it. LOl fail u have no clue. You proved my point though people who dont know the game leaving dumb comments. fake fans

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oh I dont mind if they lost 4-0 against the Magic but not by 30+ points a game. I would be excited if they loss by less than 10 poitns each game and COMPETED. The Spurs lost 4-0 and Jazz might lose 4-0 too but they are competing something the Hawks arent doing.

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OJ The Truth: MArk Cuban’s team played the Spurs in first round. IMO: I am a big Hawks fan but I dont think they could have beaten any team in the West. They struggled against the BUCKS!! I would love to have MArk Cuban as owner. He would spend money and demand the players to play 48 mins not 20 minutes

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The events of the last three weeks exposed something Hawks leadership has to own up to and deal with immediately: the core chemistry of this team is broken and it can’t be fixed without major changes from the top down.

Good athletes without high basketball IQ’s, integrity and leadership qualities don’t achieve superior results in today’s extremely competitive (and parity-driven) NBA. Great talent may breed regular season success but, more often than not, the ‘intangibles’ become equally important in the pressure-driven playoffs.

In that respect, the Hawks got suckered by the ‘beauty contest’ looks of Joe and Josh, in particular. Great physical specimens at their positions with athletic talent to spare….but very little else in the way of a cereberal game once you get under the hood. Not a full requirement for success but it really helps.

Note to Hawks management and Joe….in case you didn’t realize it, today’s NBA is as much about entertainment as it is about sports. Major competition for your customer dollars comes from video games, movies, TV, Ipads, Ipods, computers and the like.

That said, imagine Bill Gates or Steve Jobs telling consumers they don’t care whether we buy their products…or Stephen Spielberg saying he didn’t care whether we showed up for the movie he just spent 66 million dollars making, “cause it’s all about the actors in their trailers”.

For the absurdity of that statement alone, JJ doesn’t deserve max money. While he may be able to shoot a three (sometimes!), max money means you will, inherently, become the face of any franchise. In today’s complex market, is this the kind of guy you want as the lead face for your franchise?

Does Hawks management really have the ability to assess what intangibles lie under a players (or coaches) hood? Extensions to Mike W and big money to Smoove, marvin and keeping bibby would suggest not.

In the words of Michael Ray Richardson, “the ship be sinkling”.

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OJ the truth……You are right, some of us are not now NBA fans. Can you blame us? There was a time that this town had a ton of basketball fans. The players have poisened the well and we can no longer drink the water. Look around, there are fewer and fewer of you left. It is just not fun to watch and when the players do not care about you few that are left, Maybe it is time to rethink how you spend your entertainment dollars. Many of us have already done so.

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MEMO TO RICK SUND: Sir you better break down this team and start over. The whole team is expendable. You need to shop every player on your team.. I would suggest you go to the “D” league, go to Europe or Latin America to find skilled fundamentally sound basketball players!!! Every player under your helm should be required to have a jump shot!! At least a freakin mid range jumper. Use Orlando as your blue print.. It can be done. Talk to the GM/Vice President for Orlando, Pat Williams for motivation!!! He appears to be a really nice guy and extremely smart!! There’s hope just not with this team that Billy Knight put together. It’s a rap!!! I feel bad for you tonight because its going to be a basketball abomination!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For the whole world to see!!!!! Wow!!!!!!!

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From my perch the trouble is in the front court. We have two plyers(Williams and Smith) who lack basketball fundamentals. One had one year of college and the other is a high school players. Some players can overcome this lack of training but these two may not be able to. Neither has a outside shot worth respecting. Smith can only play with his left hand. Al Horford is undersized but he can overcome this by being a deadly outside shooter(Issel, Reed and Lanier come to mind). If he could be a twenty foot shooter all of a sudden Dwight Howard has to guard him outside and that negates his defensive prowess. The Hawks are just not built for playoff basketball.

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I’d watch Dacing with the Stars than watch the Hawks tonight!!!

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Joe Johnson has not been the first athlete (nor the last) to be booed… but I don’t know many “so called superstars” react the way he did. If he wants to be classified as a max contract super star… then play like one and handle yourself accordingly. Kobe has been booed before, but if he stunk up the court that way… his response is not I don’t care if the fans show up (it would be – I stunk it up and deserved to be booed; then he would come back the next game and light it up). That there is the difference between a super star and a wanna be super star.

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The Hawks have been an incomplete team for over 40 years!!!!
Joe Johnson is done in the ATL!!!!
Woody is a pretender like his former Boss Billy “I think I am smarter than everybody else but in reality I am willfully ignorant” Knight……

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Its really disappointing to read the fans blogs. I know Hawks fans are upset at their play against the Magic and have every right to be but give it a break. The Magic are the better team and the Hawks have not played them well all year. The Magic are playing insane right now and although I definitely question the Hawks mental toughness I think they are only a player or 2 away. Joe’s comments were unfortunate and were inappropriate but to ignore what he has done for our Hawks has been very good. He has been the glue on the Hawks, our only solid performer year in and year out. To lose 21pts, 5rb & 5assists will be hard to replace. Every superstar is not a leader. Would you call Carmelo Anthony a leader. We need a center and a Woody to play the bench. In the playoffs you have to play 9 or 10 guys consistently. To bring Joe Smith in and not use him is a waist. I am not a Woody hater but not playing Joe S. and Teague flies in the face of reason. Look at what Phoenix bench did to San Antonio. When your starters don”t have energy you need a bench to feel the void. I wish everyone would calm down, become a little less emotional and cynical and above all keep supporting our team!!! Are we true fans or what? I understand the frustration, I’ve been a fan since Dan Roundfield in company and no matter what Joe or anybody else says I will remain committed to the Hawks. That’s my team. We need some tweaks but we are on our way up. Dallas got put out in the 1st round, San Antonio just got sweep!!! Strange things happen in the playoffs. Let’s not be down on the home team. Getting a serviceable Bigman in the middle who can rebound and block shots, move Marvin to the bench to shore it up, play Teague more and find another older playoff tested veteran will make us much more prepared for the Orlando’s, Cleveland’s & Boston’s of the league.

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Chris E, I don’t disagree with you. I have no problem with saying the Magic are a better team. Thats a fact. I look at it like this, the Bucks knew/know the hawks are a better team. Yet they took the hawks to 7 games without their top 2 players. My point is I don’t care if they lost this series in a sweep, what I care about is the ZERO HEART shown in any of these games. I mean, it’s tough to root for gutlessness. Every person wants a team that plays their guts out, win or lose. Personally I dont feel that this team does it.
And you’re right they’re a player or 2 away and a solid coach. Nothing un-fixable.

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All I read is more excuses about the Hawks play! This team is way more than two players away from a championship run. You will never make that type of run with Bibby at the one, Marvin at the three and Josh at the four… That’s three players right there…The fans have the right to be totally upset about this debacle and total complete meltdown.. How can you lose by and average of almost 30 pts. a game and be optimistic about the ish???????????????????????????????????????? On National televised T.V.?? This happens in High school and college not the Pro’s.. The Hawks players have QUIT!!!!!! What a shame. Fans, don’t even bother to show up because the players will not. EXPECT a 40 to 50 point lose tonight!!…

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WHY isn’t Rick Sund on the hook?

Fire Woody? Screw JJ! To Hell w/ Smoove! Blah, blah, blah…but why is Rick Sund teflon?

Wasn’t he duped into re-signing a washed up Mike Bibby, to an absurd contract?

Didn’t he trade for regular season 6th man, but playoff no-show, Jamal Crawford?

Didn’t he sign Mo “WTF” Evans?

And stop the BS, why did he draft Jeff Teague? Is that the best he could do?

I won’t mention Mario West, but dude, please…

We are moon walking under his leadership – where’s the improvement? Tonight we get heckled nationally by Kenny and Chuck and everyone will get panned except Sund. WHY?

What has he done right? Oh, he doesn’t talk to the press. Hip, hip, hurray….Other than that he’s a collossal turd. He played hardball and lost with Childress, he gave 7′0 Euroleague MVP David Anderson away for absolutely nothing.

WHAT HAS THE GUY DONE????

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Tyger, you have made some excellent points!!!!!! I have been so mad at that idiot Billy Knight, To be honest with you Sund has got a pass from me. But you woke my butt up Dude!!!!! Thanks.. I hope this guy does not turn out to be another version of Billy Knight the screw up!!!!! Thanks to your observations it does not look for the Hawks Fans……

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Slimjr that’s real positive. Are you embarrassed about their performance on national TV? What a fan!!! You are obviously hurt or don’t know much about basketball. The Hawks have a great nucleus and Josh is a budding superstar. Even Charles B. & Kenny S. admit to that. Get a center and move Marvin to the bench and he will become more productive. He is arguably our best defender. As for Bibby, yeah he is older ans slower but accomplished too. His career speaks for itself. Need I point back to his Sacramento days. His acquisition a couple of years ago alone made the Hawks infinitely better. His tutelage of Teague is definitely needed not to mention his perimeter shot. Yes he is a liability on defense but you so is Nash. Plus the Hawks have proven that they can play with anybody. They need a Center and a better bench!!!

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Memo to Chris E, Marvin the “Tin Man” Williams is a Bust, can’t defend his shadow, Mike Bibby is done.. Jeff T. can’t shoot the rock along with Josh S. Rick Sund better step up his game or he will be in the lottery within 2-3 years…We need shooters and a decent seven footer who can hold his own in the paint…

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It’s bad!! I am one of the Most Die Hard Hawks Fans in Atlanta. Joe has to go! Period! I dont understand his actions. Can we still win? Anything possible, But How do you play as a Team when two of your best players dont get along Joe & Josh. You must have team work and chemsity, you can’t just push a button and start playing like Champs. We are a ((Paper Playoff Team))). (Paper Champs) If they dont show up tonight and compete. Fire everybody!!!!! The only way out is for Joe to score 40pts the next 4 games and get the Hawks to a game 7 and WIN! Only way out!! Period!

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Josh is not the Hawks best player and he’s a major liability in crunch time on offense because he has a very unreliable jump shot and no post up game. also he cant finish around the rim. U cant teach that.Either you got it or you don’t. He does not. He is over rated by the media but the coaches know whats up. He should have went to college to gain some fundamentals….

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Josh Smith is not the problem here people, he actually gets the crowd into and increases the energy of the game, but Joe Johnson, Max player? Yeah right, maybe when nobody guards him and he’s having a good night. He’s been ghost every time we need him. I guess Hawks fans are suppose to cheer? I struggled to get to two games against the Bucks in the playoffs, but after seeing the first 2 games of this series, no thanks. It’s not even competitive and nobody on the Hawks can make a shot.

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Here’s positive, the Falcons will make the playoff’s this season! Go FALCONS!!!!

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Remember when Marvin Williams was the “most athletic player in the draft”?? HOLY COW, is his butt to big now or what??? He certainly doesn’t appear athletic at all. Pretty funny in my mind!!

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That’s okay Chris it’s all good!! I am gonna go ahead and set my DVR to record the Hawks game any way and see what happens…

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I said it before the playoffs started and somebody told me to be quiet. Now it seems that everybody is saying now, Let him Joe. Changing Joe johnson out for a decent scorer that is hungry to play and fearless wil lift this same team a great deal even if we can’t get wade. marvin can score if he gets more than 8 attempts a game and you give him some plays. Pa”P”U”la needs to stay at his restraunt and find a real center.

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Mike Wliborn of PTI on ESPN just said the Hawks are an EMBARRASSMENT and the league should stop the game tonight!!! Wow!

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[...] ♦ Johnson, Woodson get hammered by national media [...]

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[...] Johnson, Woodson get hammered by national media Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) Let me try to get this straight: In one of the final games this highly talented player will perform in before becoming an unrestricted free agent July 1, … http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/05/09/johnson-woodson-get-hammered-by-national-media/?cx... [...]

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