If the Hawks don’t make a playoff run, will Josh be jettisoned?
No. 55 is Jordan Crawford. Check his numbers since he got traded. (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
The Thrashers fired their coach, changed their general manager, imported a goodly roster chunk from the Stanley Cup champions … and will miss the playoffs yet again. They finished 10th in the Eastern Conference last season; with four games remaining, they’re 11th now. And should we be upset?
Nah. They’re the Thrashers.
As for the Thrashers’ corporate brethren: That’s different. The Hawks have made the playoffs three seasons running and have won a series the past two years. They didn’t opt for change over the offseason. They chose continuity, albeit with a twist. They fired their coach but promoted his assistant. (Message: “We’ve changed, but not really.”)
The Hawks won 53 games last season and finished third in the East. The best they can do this time is 49 victories, and they’re all but certain to be the No. 5 seed. In no way can this be seen as progress — the only reason to fire a coach while keeping his players is because you believe they’re capable of more — but there’s still a chance to get it right. The NBA playoffs, at least the Eastern half thereof, are where goofy happens: Only once since 2002 has the East’s No. 1 seed reached the finals.
A nice playoff run — one that carries into the Eastern finals, where the Atlanta Hawks have never ever been — would allow them to wag their fingers at all us doubters and say, “See? We knew what we were doing.” And there’s no reason they can’t, even without the homecourt edge, beat Orlando in Round 1. (The Magic isn’t half the team it was, which can happen when you trade away half your team in December.)
For discussion purposes, let’s say the Hawks upset Orlando and lose routinely to Chicago in the conference semis. Even the easily satisfied Atlanta Spirit would have trouble framing that as progress. How could you give Larry Drew rave reviews if his team falls at the same hurdle as Mike Woodson’s? And if dissimilar-in-demeanor coaches wind up with the same result, is it even the coach at all?
Since taking ownership in 2004, the easily addled Spirit has been consistent in its willingness to be patient with “the growing young core” of its basketball team. But here it is 2011, and three of the Core Four — Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and Joe Johnson — have been in place for nearly six years, and Al Horford arrived in 2007. Over time, the Hawks have gone from wretched (13-69 in 2004-2005) to rather good (53-29 last season). But now the graph, at least the regular-season part of it, shows its first dip since the inglorious days of Terry Stotts and Chris Crawford.
The loose definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. If the Hawks fall in Round 2 again, the only logical tack would be to try something else, and this doesn’t mean promoting a different assistant. Given that their No. 1 pick was sent to Washington for Kirk Hinrich, we can expect no help from the draft. Even worse, last year’s No. 1 pick — Jordan Crawford, also shipped to D.C. – has scored 20-plus points the past four games. Heck, he even had a triple double. (And the Hawks’ record with Hinrich? It’s 10-9.)
There’s a chance Jamal Crawford, who’ll be an unrestricted free agent, could be packaged in a sign-and-trade, but the greater issue is the Core Four. If this season yields nothing better (or even as good as) the past two, why stay the course? Which brings us to names:
Johnson can’t be traded because nobody wants to pay his massive salary through 2016. Horford can’t be traded because this franchise would collapse without him. Williams can’t be traded for anyone of significance because every NBA team already has a Marvin Williams. By process of elimination, that leaves …
Josh Smith.
It would be tough saying goodbye to someone this talented, tougher still watching him become an All-Star — which he surely would — wearing a different uniform. But if this spring becomes another fizzle, what choice would the Spirit have?
(Well, it could sell the team and leave such decisions to someone else. That could happen, too. Never a dull moment, huh?)
By Mark Bradley
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154 comments Add your comment
JSS
April 4th, 2011
1:38 pm
Josh won’t be sent elsewhere unless they find some real post defenders who protect the basket. That is secondary to them finding some players who are not adverse to guarding the perimeter…
W/E
April 4th, 2011
1:40 pm
Crazy idea, how about trade Joe to the Cavs for their #1 overall (would work they have a trade exception and are desperate for a headline name) and draft Kyrie Irving with that. (a real PG finally) and then spend the remaining on JR Smith and a real Center/ Small Forward.
Make me GM, I’ll do it for a 5th of the price and build a title contender whilst remaining under the cap
Judge Judy
April 4th, 2011
1:41 pm
Speaking of Hawks and ex hawks to be, anyone rember when Nique was in trouble wit the law for writing bad checks when he was on top of his career? The old C & S bank I believe, his mon was handling his money and he was throwing it away to family and friends and cr@@ he didn’t need and couldn’t afford. Seem to remmeber him in trouble at UGA also. Now he owes a dude a bunch of money, he pushes the dude first then slugs him and the other dude gets arrested? HUH? And nique still owes him the money. For those of you that forget nique was the ultimate chucker, one of the all time leaders in shots taken -(even though he was a poor shooter), lousy rebounder and defender, and poor assist totals for someone that had the ball so much. As they say check it out -other than taking lots of shots -hence scoring points -why is he a Hall of Famer?
Tlaw
April 4th, 2011
1:48 pm
Trade this summer to rid us of Joe’s contract
Joe to Utah for Okur( and his expiring contract) Raja Bell, Jeremy Evans and their 2011 top 5 pick. We get okur for one year at center.. bench help in Bell and Evans, start over with a Utah’s Top 5 pick
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=3ers3bc
gomabman2
April 4th, 2011
1:48 pm
What I hear over and over again is players this and players that. These guys are professional ball players and have earned that in one way or another. JS is a legitimate pro ball player. It is easy to point fingers at the players, but any group without a leader is like a chicken with its head cut off. Really and truthfully, mgmt did not supply Woody with the players he needed. He led the Hawks back to the playoffs with what he had to work with. Good job considering the Eastern conference. Spirit, or lack their of, hires Drew who promised some sort of pseudo change. He is not Woody, but an under experienced coach who should not have been hired. The problem is the coach and owners who have no commitment/experience to win. We need a wholesale substitution in the front office. Let’s call for that change so that we do not get rid of valuable talent, stupid trades/drafts, and bad coaching.
Glenn
April 4th, 2011
1:50 pm
@ Walker Texas Ranger
I think your post is spot on except we took Josh Childress instead of L Deng & took Sheldon Williams over Brandon Roy . Marvin Williams over Chris Paul or Deron Williams was the kicker though . A really good point I’m thinking is the best way to add wins immediately . But yeah we traded Steve Smith for JR Rider who was nothing but a headache & a couple years before that we traded Dominique for Danny Manning . Both trades were reaches . In each instance we traded futilely to get over the proverbial hump . The thinking on Joe Johnson I believe was he would be tradable in couple of years & if ASG wanted to sell the team he would look like an asset . I’m not ready to bury Rick Sund yet but both Pete Babcock & Billy Knight were not very good evaluators of talent & now we don’t really seem to be able to develop it anyhow . The best investment ASG could make would be on a top flite coach . A motivator type that could get this team playing harder .
SK
April 4th, 2011
1:59 pm
Player changes and perhaps a coaching change will have to occur. Get rid of Smith, Williams, Johnson and possibly Drew by whatever means necessary. The hawks organization must put a better product on the floor to win games and attract fans. Mediocrity and fan apathy will continue until a more effective and cohesive team is produced.
JeJe
April 4th, 2011
2:01 pm
It’s sad because Josh, when he tries, can probably be about 80% as good as LBJ, which would make him a top 10 player
Unfortunately, he does not try most of the time
W/E
April 4th, 2011
2:01 pm
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine
Najeh Davenpoop
April 4th, 2011
2:04 pm
Trading Smoove would be the uncreative and ultimately ineffective thing to do. Trading Joe would be the creative and correct move. And seeing as how we are in the midst of a season that saw Rashard Lewis, Gilbert Arenas, and Baron Davis all get traded (all players with contracts just as bad and production worse than Joe) trading Joe is by no means out of the question.
Trade Joe/Kirk/Marvin for whatever short term contracts you can get, build the team in the short term around Teague/Smoove/Al, and bring Dwight Howard home in 2012.
Jackets 2011
April 4th, 2011
2:05 pm
If one had been a Hawks fan the whole time they have been in Atlanta, mostly you’d have spent lots of time screaming “no, no, no” concerning their trades. (not to mention…)
I hope ASG loses their shirt if they haven’t already.
W/E
April 4th, 2011
2:10 pm
For the Win
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine
Zing
April 4th, 2011
2:17 pm
I’m with Najeh @2:04. Totally correct path to take. Can you imagine Howard with Josh and Horford?? My God, that would be a seriously killer front court. Ship out JJ– not JS.
chem
April 4th, 2011
2:27 pm
Brad, I told you the Hawks got hosed in that trade, and I stand by my assessment. Bibby for Hinrich would have been close to even. Hinrich’s defense isn’t that much better. Sund sold all the living room furniture to get a new coffee table.
gomabman2
April 4th, 2011
2:28 pm
Quite honestly, we have become a little to obsessed with how much a player makes. We can forget about the financial implications of it all because pros are going to get whatever their agents manage to get from the owners. Some contracts good, some bad. If we do not like that part of the business, then maybe some should resort to their local community park and cheer on t-leaguers. The problem in Atlanta is poor management, and bad coaching. As a result, the mgmt and coaching staff have shown too much favoritism toward certain players without the sheer commitment to win. We must embrace our group of players and call for mgmt to either sell the team, or get busy on the draft/free agent board, or find a suitable coach.
Atl1netime
April 4th, 2011
2:28 pm
I DONT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS IN ATLANTA…BUT….ALL FAIR-WEATHER ATLANTA FANS….PLEASE EXIT….STAGE RIGHT….Let me be the first to say that some of the trades and pick-ups I found a little perplexing and I cant say that I even agreed with them but what I am seeing on blogs for the Hawks and previously with the Falcons is simply upsetting. The Hawks have gotten better. I’m sorry if it has not come as quickly as many would like but they are better. They had multiple seasons where they couldnt win 30 games…yet…in the past 3 seasons they make the playoffs. The falcons same thing with 3 winning seasons in a row…but THE FANS…….YES ANY AND ALL WHO ARE IN THE MIDST OF READING THIS COMMENT…THE FANS HAVE BEEN AWFUL. Who goes from the cellar to the penthouse in 3 years…..heres the answer….NOBODY. NOT THE LAKERS, BOSTON, NOBODY. This franchise has come from the bottom of not only building a team…or a franchise….but simply to the point of having a winning tradition. We have to become winners before we can become champions, and our fan base does nothing to help. We dont help our teams become winners we simply wait for something to point at….a chink in the armor…so we can say ah..haa…thats the reason. Even it the Hawks go in the first round it is better now than it was for 15 years. Shame on any and all of the Fair-weather fans…as for me…..WIN OR LOSE…..GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!! (STILL MY TEAM!!!) DOGGONE FAIRWEATHER HATERS….
Astro Joe
April 4th, 2011
2:31 pm
In a perfect world, you would find a way to get rid of Josh and Joe. Short of that, move Josh. Watching him become an All-Star with another team would not nearly be as difficult as watching him spend 18 years in a Hawks uniform and never get out of the second round.
Did Dwight and Josh win anything as AAU teammates (where their athleticism and limited skills would have been most useful)?
wxwax
April 4th, 2011
2:44 pm
I’m just not convinced that Rick Sund is the kind of guy who engineers a smart, big trade.
He’a a maintenance engineer, not an architect.
CavilierJones
April 4th, 2011
2:46 pm
The Hawks blew it in the Hinrich trade. The Hawks have a history of making bad trades. As someone pointed out, Hinrich for Bibby straight up would have been fair and equitable and we would still have Jordan Crawford AND Mo Evans. We gave up far, far too much for Hinrich and Hinrich appears to be a complete BUST. Hinrich has trouble scoring most of the times and when he shoots a 3-pointer it usually ends up being an airball. For the three players we gave up to get Hinrich, we should have landed a superstar in return, maybe someone like a Dwight Howard. The Hawks management is stupid and they will continue to ruin our team until it is depleted and completely void of talent.
Najeh Davenpoop
April 4th, 2011
2:46 pm
“Quite honestly, we have become a little to obsessed with how much a player makes. ”
What players make wouldn’t matter if the salary cap didn’t exist and the ownership wasn’t financially limited. I don’t begrudge Joe (or Marvin or anyone else) for getting his money at all. More power to him. But the fact is that those long term bloated deals limit the Hawks’ ability to improve the roster. This isn’t baseball where you can sign Kenshin Kawakami to a long term deal and run business as usual as if nothing happened.
coachx
April 4th, 2011
2:48 pm
I don’t think teams will give you much for #5 given his attitude and reputation around the league for being a lound cry baby during games.
The rumors that #5 cussed out both Drew and Hinrich in the 3rd quarter of the Celtics game does not help his value………especially considering how well ZaZa played in that 4th quarter come back win vs. The Celtics. Besides his attitude his shot selection and decision making are just plain awful on court. You don’t see contenders with a key player who makes as many menatl mistakes on the floor as Josh Smith.
Astro Joe
April 4th, 2011
2:54 pm
Any long-term roster plan that calls for Josh playing more than 2 minutes at SF is a fundamentally flawed roster plan.
Zing
April 4th, 2011
3:03 pm
Anyone who thinks that a Howard-Josh pairing would be deficient in some way is taking generous helpings from the happy pipe. Who cares what they did as AAU teammates?? I mean, seriously? I remember watching a high school all star game matchup between Howard and Randolph Morris, and Morris kicked his butt. So, the Hawks should run out and give Morris a go again, right? Good grief.
Zing
April 4th, 2011
3:05 pm
I only “obsess” about the amount of money players are making from a GM-what-do-we-have-to-work-with perspective. Frankly, if the big tv contracts, expensive tix, corporate sponsorships and etc. create a big pool of money, let ‘em have a big chunk of it. Spread the wealth around a little.
The Kiss
April 4th, 2011
3:11 pm
Keep Horford. Dump the rest. Maybe keep ZaZa as an able backup for whichever underachieving Center we run out there, and he is buddies with Al. The main reason the Hawks are a playoff team at all is Al Horford. Somebody has to get those rebounds and putbacks after Joe Johnson does his usual “1 on 5″ isolation shots. Sigh. Don’t even get me started on Josh. If only we could put him in for defensive purposes only, but alas we have to keep him in on the offensive side and watch him shoot low-percentage rainbows from 4-point range.
Veteran Fan
April 4th, 2011
3:15 pm
Fine trade Marvin, JJ, Zaza, and our #1 to Orlando for Dwight! Just PLEASE break up the CORE!
Coach D
April 4th, 2011
3:40 pm
I’m tired of seeing Josh’s “Ole’” defense instead of taking a charge. He’s a hell of an athlete, and a good basketball player but the Hawks will not go anywhere if he is one of their top 3 players.
Astro Joe
April 4th, 2011
3:40 pm
Zing, are you suggesting that Howard and Josh would have no deficiencies? Are you kidding? Did you watch Dwight struggle against Collins? Dude can’t adapt to the defense being played against him. Have you watched Josh lose focus within games (not to mention from game-to-game)? No deficiencies? If you’re paying these guys big money and neither can shoot beyond 16 feet (consistently), then who is stretching the defense (or haven’t you noticed that Dwight isn’t quite as good without elite shooters around him)? Oh, maybe Teague, Sy and Gladyr are providing that sharp-shooting skill in the dream that has us landing Dwight to join with Horford and Smith.
Jo Bling
April 4th, 2011
3:51 pm
I love these posts about trading players because it’s always entertaining to read all the comments about “trade Josh for ____” or “trade Joe for ____” or “trade Marvin for ____”. To all of those commenters I would say, get real people. A trade is a two-way transaction. You can’t just unload your trash on someone else and expect to get something worthwhile in return. The real world doesn’t work that way.
Do you really think the TWolves would trade Kevin Love for Josh Smith? Why in the world would they do that? That’s insanity. It’s no secret to the rest of the league that despite his obvious talent, JSmoove is still more of a liability than an asset. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again and again. Josh Smith will never, ever win a championship with anyone. Why? Because he refuses to play to his strengths, which is what the Hawks desperately need him to do. And the coach and the critics simply cannot make him change. If he would take the ball to the hole every time he touched it he could dominate the league. But he won’t, and I’m convinced now that he never will.
And do you really think the Cavaliers would give up a shot at Kyrie Irving or Kemba Walker for an aging and increasingly ineffective Joe Johnson and his massive contract? Are you crazy? Not going to happen.
The only way to unload your trash is to get a lot less in return, hence the disastrous Bibby trade where we lost two first-round picks for another aging and increasingly ineffective player. Sund should be fired for giving up two first-round picks and not making the team any better. That’s just incompetence.
gomabman2
April 4th, 2011
4:50 pm
Najeh, it is no doubt what long term contracts do, even in baseball (i.e. Mike Hampton). But the focus is often on how much someone is getting…you are right, these contracts are given due to the ridiculous mgmt some teams have. This isnt just an Atlanta problem. Fans should look more to the owners and mgmt, for they hold the golden pen. Who can fault a guy for negotiating as much money as he can from his boss? I surely cant. And if many of these bloggers would dig within themselves they wouldnt either. So the call goes out to ASG to really consider the fans and the pride that some of us have in our teams, and just sell. Not to just anybody, but a fan of the game!
ScoopJackson
April 4th, 2011
5:12 pm
What the Hawks gave up for Hinrich is utterly ridiculous! We literally gave up approximately 53 points of scoring for about 3 points (Hinrich) per game given the recent surge in Jordan Crawford’s game. I saw on ESPN the other day that Jordan Crawford is averaging about 28.9 points over his last four games or so (UNBELIEVABLE!). Then when you add Bibby’s 14.0 points and Mo Evans 10+ points per game we literally gave up about 53 points per game in scoring for 3 points in return. THAT IS NOT ONLY HIDEOUS ITS STUPIDITY IN THE NTH AND HIGHEST DEGREE.
Zing
April 4th, 2011
5:14 pm
Astro Joe:
Any GM in the league would do cartwheels for a tandem of Josh and Dwight. Seriously.
Perhaps deficient wasn’t exactly the right word–no player is perfect. But there wouldn’t be a better defensive team in the league… and defense, as we all know thanks to Charles Barkley… wins championships.
welikebaseball2
April 4th, 2011
5:29 pm
So…some of you think Josh is what’s wrong with this team? I wonder how anyone with common basketball sense could think we’d actually be BETTER without him….particularly as a defensive team. Management is delusional, ownership is an embarrassment, & coaching is inept. I guarantee that if you put Josh in a system in which the coach has a clue & management/ownership doesn’t make boneheaded roster decisions, he’d reach his potential.
gomabman2
April 4th, 2011
5:32 pm
Right, Welikebaseball2
Jo Bling
April 4th, 2011
5:36 pm
“I guarantee that if you put Josh in a system in which the coach has a clue & management/ownership doesn’t make boneheaded roster decisions, he’d reach his potential.”
You guarantee? I’d be willing to bet my entire retirement savings on that, and not least because no team where the coach and management have a clue would ever have him.
gomabman2
April 4th, 2011
5:43 pm
Bingo Jo Bling! I would also like to see the fans band together and petition this ASG, or ABC, or whatever Sesame Street bunch they represent to sell the team to a sports fan, a basketball fan. And oh yeah, a coach would be nice come draft day?
andrea
April 4th, 2011
6:59 pm
We are the most stupid team of all nba ….from coach to owner …but we play eastern where even me and my friends can win some games…ther s no way out , nobody will take jj because the most stupid have him already….but we have the secret weapon for play off…….POWELL …..the only player that in a minute make 2 foul 1 turnover and traveling …….amazing !!!!! 1 million …….!!!!!
Big Ray
April 4th, 2011
7:53 pm
Mark ,
That’s why you’re the real writer, and why I’m the fan hack, LOL.
Just wait for the piece I intend to write when the playoffs are over. The core has to change, and I’ve got a few ideas, as I’m sure you do as well.
Big Ray
April 4th, 2011
7:54 pm
Man, is that Pape Sy a long-armed sonofagun or what? Billy Knight would be proud…
Mark Bradley
April 4th, 2011
8:47 pm
I don’t know, Big Ray. I can’t hold a candle to the things you write. I’m a fan, sir.
Buddy Grizzard
April 5th, 2011
3:49 am
Also agree w/ Najeh. I’ve suggested more than once on MC’s blog that Josh is the most trade-able player because he’s talent, could command significant assets in return, and has the same role on the Hawks as Al Horford (power forward who likes to shoot jumpers… Al is just better at it).
However, Najeh is correct on both points: Joe Johnson is *NOT* untrade-able; and trading Joe instead of Josh would do more to help this franchise. Joe’s production and accuracy have already fallen off significantly this year. This will only get worse the farther into the contract he goes.
Now is the time to find a sucker like the Nets, who are on a deadline to surround Deron Williams with significant talent before he walks away as a free agent after next season. We would have to take back some of their garbage, i.e. Travis Outlaw, Jordan Farmar, Johan Petro. We’d have to absorb some of those contracts to make the numbers work, but they are all signed for fewer years than Joe Johnson.
And if the traded netted the Hawks an unprotected first-round pick in 2012, we could both mitigate the disaster that Joe’s contract is for the franchise’s future aspirations, and take a shot at drafting a future all star who will be paid on the rookie scale.
Cedric
April 5th, 2011
7:42 am
Nobody on this team should not be considered for a trade. Also, why doesn’t anyone call Horford for his tendency to bring the ball up court?
DS
April 5th, 2011
10:22 am
Mark and/or MC should be hired as Hawks GM!
JJ acts like a va-jay-jay
April 5th, 2011
10:27 am
thats our history hawks fans. we trade away a young asset and he promptly starts ballin and throwin up a triple double. tell me you are not surprised. i have watched enuf hawks games and followed these clowns enuf to know that one thing has stayed consistent these 20 years i have been watching the hawks. we r below average at drafting, very below average at developing talent and even further below average when it comes to making trades and signing free agents. for thses reasons i will continue to jump on and off this rollercoater ride we call hawks history.
WreckingBall
April 5th, 2011
12:06 pm
Next year (Michael) JORDAN CRAWFORD will be the MVP of the ENTIRE LEAGUE. (Michael) Jordan Crawford will beat out D-Wade, LaBron, Kobe, Derrick Rose, Carmello, Dirk, and Durant in the MVP voting.
WreckingBall
April 5th, 2011
1:49 pm
Jordan Crawford was ballin so HARD and so STRONG against the Miami Heat last week that the three kings were reduced to being three queeens. The QUEENS were as soft as tissue paper. As good as LaBron, D-Wade and Bosh are, they were no match for the new Sheriff in town–JORDAN CRAWFORD–39PTS–WOW–. i STILL CANNOT BELIEVE IT! D-Wade, Chris Bosh and Labron (King) James, COLLECTIVELY COULD NOT STOP JORDAN CRAWFORD FROM MAKING FOOLS OF THEM AND SCORING 39 POINTS AGAINST THEM. Believe it or not, Jordan Crawford is now the best player in the game today. And the sad part is that, like former falcon Brett Farve, Jordan Crawford was langiuishing on the end of the hawks bench, toiling in complete and unmitigated obscurity just waiting and begging to be discovered (similarly to what Jeff Teague is going through now with the Hawks).
MJC
April 5th, 2011
3:07 pm
I bet if we had D-Wade, the so-called “fans” on here would let him shoot as many threes as he wanted.
Oh, wait, what’s that? D-Wade is a worse 3-point shooter than Josh? Nevermind then, nothing to see here.
Realsquawk
April 5th, 2011
5:51 pm
I am pretty sure the Hawks could trade Joe Johnson.
MitchC
April 5th, 2011
10:00 pm
Mark, the problem is this, and it has been a continuing theme through more than three decades, and three generations of Hawks personnel.
Simply put, this team, whether as constructed, their on court demanor, or both, doesnt have that closer, killer instinct. They’ve never had Magic, Bird, Kareem, Jordan, Kobe, Shaq, or Dewayne. What they have had through the years, when successful, is a group of decent players, and maybe one great one, (Dominique) that got them to a point, and then the team fizzled. That point, so far, is the Eastern Semis.
In the 1980s, we couldn’t beat Boston. In the 1990s, it was most often Jordan that ended our season. Then, we had seven bad seasons, and “rose again”, only to reach the same plateau we always have.
While you describe the Magic as “beatable”, I’m not sure we will beat them without home court. It would not surprise me a bit to see the Hawks bow rather meekly in Round 1 in five or six games. As well as the Bulls have played this year, I would be shocked if we beat them in a Semi series.
I dont know if trading Josh Smith is the answer. What do they get for him, and if they do trade him, what happens from there? Whoever we get, isn’t going to make Wade, James, or the Celtics go away.
I’ve said for a couple of years, I believe this team has reached it’s plateau. They are a good team,, not great, that can’t stand up to the big boys come playoff time.
Unfortunately, with the East as it currently is, especially in Miami, I dont see this circumstance changing anytime soon.
Anonymous
April 5th, 2011
11:42 pm
I have the solution ASG does not want to hear.
They can sell the team to someone who cares….
OR
They can fire Sund, fire Drew, get a center, get a good GM, get a good coach, hopefully the coach will be good at developing players (Doc Rivers), help Teague.
OR
Go back in time: draft Chris Paul and Brandon Roy, bring the prime of Dominique back to the future, and make Doc Rivers be the coach.