Live from Hawks-Mavericks, and Big Z’s not in the house
Big game tonight. Fourth-best team in the West against the team tied for third in the East. ESPN on hand. Nice little midseason test for the Hawks. And we’ll get around to it momentarily. But first …
A few words about Big Z.
Michael Gearon Jr. admitted to Charles Odum of the Associated Press that the Hawks are “definitely interested” in Zydrunas Ilgauskas and plan to be “very competitive” in the pursuit. But Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News wrote yesterday that “almost everyone in the league expects [Big Z] to return to Cleveland.” (The Mavericks likewise have an interest.)
Having spoken with some folks in the Hawks’ locker room, there’s no question the team would welcome the Z-man. “I hope we get him,” Josh Smith said. And there’s even a thought the addition of Ilgauskas might — I said “might” — lead Mike Woodson to change his longstanding starting five to make Big Z the center, Al Horford the power forward and Smith the 3-man.
Me, I wouldn’t. Ilgauskas is basically a jump shooter, and if you move Horford farther from the goal you lessen your post presence. And if you deploy Smith on the perimeter, you halve his value. (I do think, however, that Marvin Williams would best be used as a sub. He’d get more shots with the second unit.)
The trouble with such speculation, alas, is that it’s probably moot. A Cleveland radio station reported Friday that Ilgauskas will re-up with Cleveland after he sits out his mandated 30 days. (Big Z was traded from Cleveland to Washington but bought out his contract this week.) It’s silly the NBA allows such a trade-and-return, but it does.
So, long story short, this whole Hawks’ flirtation with Big Z could wind up being just a big zzzzzzz. (Sort of like the Braves’ not-very-assertive move to land Johnny Damon.) And with that, we turn to tonight’s titanic tilt.
The Hawks have a nice starting lineup. But check out the Mavs’: Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, Jason Kidd, Brendan Haywood and Caron Butler. (Not to mention Jason Terry as the sixth man.) I must confess that I proposed a deal — a sign-and-trade with Washington that would have sent Marvin there and brought Butler here — last summer, and I submit that with Butler at small forward the Hawks wouldn’t be tied for third in the East. They’d be second to the Cavs, and not a distant second.
But Dallas did the deal at the trade deadline — it also included Haywood, not to be confused with Jason Heyward — and many now regard the Mavs as the only real challenger to the Lakers in the West. I’m looking forward to seeing this team tonight, and I’m looking forward to your company as I watch, report and attempt to crack wise. Join me, won’t you?
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206 comments Add your comment
LY Munz
February 26th, 2010
10:04 pm
That loss was even worse than the Golden State loss. Blowing a 13 point lead in the span of 90 seconds in the 4th quarter is absolutely inexcusable. Just such a disgrace. Mark, please give me some reasons why we should be behind this team when it is so clear where their deficiencies are and when it is so obvious that they will once again flame out in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Anybody seriously considering a trip to the Eastern Conference finals is fooling themselves big time.
Woodson’s lack of a brain hurt this team again even if Kidd’s actions were bush league, if Bibby had done that to Carlisle we would be praising him. Never calling a timeout during their run was so atypical of Woodson that I was shocked, and of course this time it hurt us whereas when he does call to’s they normally hurt us.
Marvin once again did nothing but hit some wide open shots. Anytime he attempts to penetrate I would be willing to in game wager my house on him losing the ball or getting blocked.
Crawford missed numerous wide open 3’s. Bibby got shy after hitting 2 huge ones in the 4th.
JJ once again failed to show up when the game was on the line.
Woodson once again failed to draw up proper plays. Smoove and Horford our the only guys on our team who you know will give you certain things every night, even if they struggle every now and then I can live with it.
The rest of this team is useless, and as Hubie said, Joe smith needs more minutes as do numerous others on the bench(See: Teague, Jeff; Evans, Maurice) . Just a brutal brutal loss.
Mark, if you do write a column on this game, please ask Moron Sund how he can be confident that this core can ever compete for a title. I am so tired of this city’s organizations being content with a good but not great team. This team has ZERO chance of a title in the next 5 years especially after JJ leaves, yet Sund likes to say “we like our core” as if there is some future success readily apparent. SO disgusted and so disappointed.
I will never lose faith in ATL teams, but at the same time, I hope people stop bashing the fans here and start understanding that we have been conditioned to not get to high about any team and basically realize that they will eventually accomplish nothing.
Mike Woodson
February 26th, 2010
10:07 pm
Tell JKidd to meet me @Magic City. I’ll kick his @#@##@# real good! He don’t want any of this Big Bald Headed Coach with no ebrows!
NJ Hawks Fan
February 26th, 2010
10:07 pm
Oh boy. That contract extenison for Woody is looking less and less likely. Team has been under-performing since that initial hot start.
In all honesty the more I see of Woodson with controls of this team, the better I feel that Sund did not extend him last year.
Mark Bradley
February 26th, 2010
10:11 pm
I’m writing something for print now, but I’ll be back. Players are stunned. Woodson is stunned.
Angus
February 26th, 2010
10:19 pm
Losing a lead in the 1st or 2nd quarter is completely different than losing it in the 4th. Even a mentally challenged person knows that.
dstdeelite
February 26th, 2010
10:41 pm
MB if you’re going to blog from the game, get your facts straight. Woody did not bump Kidd. Kidd initiated the contact. The commentators concurred as well.