The Hawks proved they aren’t a mess, but they lack a mesh

Teague is the truth.

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Nice try, here we go again.

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Mark, do you see Trey Thompkins as a possibility for the Hawks in the upcoming draft?

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Is Marvin even an NBA player? I say no.

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What are some possible players the Hawks could add? I think if they don’t sign Crawford (I believe he made 10 million this season), and they find a trade for Marvin (maybe package him with a future pick) then we can add someone like JR Smith, Andrew Bynum, or Marc Gasol.

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Argh, so close. And yes, I agree you have to keep Teague. JJohnson has our hands tied I’m afraid. I can’t see us getting any further than we’ve gotten over the past couple seasons because he’s just not a next-level elite player/leader and you can’t trade him thanks to that stupid contract. The hawks did with him the same thing the braves did with derek lowe “maybe if you pay him like a superstar, he’ll magically turn into one!”

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Teague: Too small of a sample-size.

Horford: The most overrated, yet undercriticized player and “leader” since Keith (ankle-grabs-eight-yards-downfield) Brooking.

The rest: Not worth much.

In sum, trade all–ALL–that you can and start the construction process completely over and hope for better ‘luck’ and decision-making next time. No one should be immune from the trading/cutting block.

This will be a repeat of the early- to mid-90s Hawks, good enough to make the playoffs but not to threaten the elites….with a resulting draft pick which is never high enough to get that true impact player (which is usually reserved for the top-two spots).

It is what it is. The seeds of bad-decisions are in full blossom. Time to replant.

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I like Teague but no matter what we talk about we need a true center. There are a lot of power forwards that can play with their back to the basket and shoot jump shots when needed. Tim Duncan, Zach Randolph even KG and Pau Gasol. The problem is we have two good power forwards no small forward and no Center. I like Josh Smith, but if you have to trade either him or Horford, Smith is the one that would have to go.

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Good riddance to this season, to watching this “team,” to the highlight factory and hopefully to Josh watch me lose smooth Smith.

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Mark, good work. I razz you a lot, but I will say you DO know your hoops brotha. I thought I would never say this, but I believe that either Joe J or Al need to be moved in order to put the missing pieces together. Smoothe really showed me that he is the type of talent that could move this team through the playoffs. Joe Johnson is so confounding….I feel like the same thing happened last year in the playoffs…how he can mysteriously disappear. He also used to be our best on ball defender, but he was a liability in this series covering Deng. Overall, good work Hawks in the playoffs –this team is really close.

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FIRE MARK RICHT

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What is this infatuation with Al Horford? When it was time to bang with Boozer and Noah, he was no where to be found. He likes to hang around the perimeter to much for me. And where is this “back to the basket” game you speak of Mark? It is nonexistent. Josh Smith has a better back to the basket game than Horford. Josh Smith is the only player that came out with some fire last night. I like Teague too. Joe Johnson just needs a kick in a$$. Everyone else is expendable. Including Larry Drew. He has no idea how to draw up plays to get his scorers easy looks. Hubie Brown said it best last night. “As you go deeper into the playoffs, defenses get tougher. Coaches have to find ways to put their scorers in situations where they can get their shot.” I agree 100%. Our coach cannot do that. That along with our lack of rebounding is what cost us this series. Plain and simple!!

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Sage: Get some new material – you post the same thing every time (even the Brooking line).

As for Smith – get him out of here. We do not need a Jeckyl-Hyde player like that. If “meshing” is indeed the biggest thing needed, that type of player, almost by definition, is a contradiction of terms.

Here are a couple things I’m not sure of and need answers.
1-If we just flat cut Williams, does that increase our cap room?
2-Do we even have a first round pick this year?
3-Who on the team is a free agent?

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Let me ask you genious’ this. If we trade Josh Smith, who is going to defend the basket, i.e., block shots? Al Horford? Zaza? Collins? This franchise would be foolish to trade Josh. This team will not go anywhere until we find a small forward (Al Thornton??), a center, and a coach (Drew is not the answer fans).

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dont be surprised if Jamal Crawford signs with some other team. His comment about ” They play hard every second”, may be pointed at his fustration with some of his teammates and their lack of 100% effort every time.

Some other thoughts:

1) Joe Johnson’s dribbling exhibitions are a bad as my typing skills.Hawks dont pay you millions for your dribbling.

2) Josh Smith….you are all star material in the paint. Like Will Smith told Kevin James in “hitch” , ” dont you dare do the Qtip, or the Pizza man, or the sprinkler on the dance floor”, someone needs to get it in your head that you are NOT a three point shooter. You are a beast around the basket and in the paint, you are an eunch at the three point line.

3) Teague….take your playoff performance and build a career out of playing that way every game, regular season and playoff for the next 10 years or so.

4) For God’s sakes Hawks, get a true center.

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A team that has been together since 2007 does not complement each other well? How does that happen. Obviously this team has the Scralet Letter in JJ. No where near a max guy. To nice, laid back player. Defers to the teammates to often, dribbles pass of late in shot clocking put Smith/Horford in tough shot selections. Smith not able to play with any time of consistent energy. The team is nice, will get in the playoffs but will NEVER make it to the Conference Finals with this collection of players.

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So if we trade Smith, would you finally be willing to move Al to the power forward position where he belongs? Noah completely dominated him on the boards. Al just doesn’t have the length to be a center. Your rationale in the article stated that the problem with moving Horford to pf means moving Smith away from the basket. Then you stated Smith is the piece the Hawks need to trade. So that becomes a moot point no?

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1. Al Horford shots to many jumpshots and was afraid to bang with Boozer, Noah, and Taj Gibson;
2. Jeff Teague is a real PG;
3. Joe Johnson needs a kick in the pants by a real coach (see #4);
4. Larry Drew is not a real coach;
5. We had our backup-pg/sg for next year in Jordan Crawford and traded him;
6. Marvin Williams is a terrible;
7. The Hawks do not run any semblance of an offense;
8. Why don’t our players ever cut to the basket; and
9. Why didn’t our fans put on the white t-shirts like the OKC fans?

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No doubt about it, Horford was the biggest disappointment in the series with the Bulls. He’s a keeper but he can’t be the main big man. He’s just not a big enough force offensively.

Marvin is a non-factor who seems bound to spending more and more time on the bench.

Josh Smith needs a new scene, a new city, a new start.

Teague’s time has come and should be projected as next year’s starting point guard.

The Hawks need to offer a package deal that includes Josh and Marvin and get the best return possible. And be aggressive as they can in the free agent market if they can’t get a solid big guy in the Josh/Marvin trade (and that trade has to be made).

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agreed Marvin has sucked for many years. Yet the Atl Spirit locked him up with 7- 8 million a year for some completely moronic reason. No one wants him now.
Marvin will be skipping to the bank until his contract ends and then he will be getting ready for his role as “Grady” in the remake of Sanford & Son. LMAO!

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Just a thought and I will first admit that I have complained about Teague not playing too. But MAYBE he is playing so well NOW because he did sit and watch and learn on the bench and in practice as well.

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@Gwinnett Fred

You hope we get a player that can defend the basket? True Josh needs to cut down on the jumpers. But tell me this, why is this offense designed so he is standing behind the three point line? Did you see Jamal last night pass up a jump shot only to give it to Josh with the shot clock running down? It happens all the time. It all comes down to coaching. This is not a well coached team.

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BirdDirty, I agree. JJ, Josh and even Marvin can be coached-up by the right guy. LD managed to coach down all of our players. The only reason our play improved during the playoffs was Orlando’s inability to knock down open jumpers and the play of Josh Teague during the second round.

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Joe Johnson is the most overpaid athlete in all of pro sports. He disappears in every big game..heck he didnt compete in all 4 quarters of any single game all year. The Hawks will never win if he is our best player..trade him even if the Hawks have to pick up half of his salary..I would rather pay half of his contract for nothing in return that ALL of his contract when we are also getting absolutely nothing.

I would tell Josh Smith that for every 3 pt shot he takes, there will be a $5000 fine..and trade him if he doesnt like it..

I woud beg Al Horford to get more physical. How can an undersized center NEVER foul anybody? He all of a sudden seems afraid to get rough.

Pay Crawford whatever he needs to stay and make Teague the starter next year..I dont know Hinrichs contract situation but if it is up..let him go.

and most of all

FIRE LARRY DREW . HE IS AWFUL. You cant win when you hire a coach just because you dont have to pay him much. You get what you pay for. And the “players choice” coach never ever works out..

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1. Disagree, Drew needs to go, get rid of any ties to this era.
Hawks need a tough, new, very solid head coach who is a proven winner.
2. Dump Williams, somehow, some way, same for all other driftwood, needs to be off the team, no matter what.
3. Trade Josh Smith; too erratic, world of talent, but too inconsistent
4. Keep everyone who appears to have their head on straight, and are willing to do what it takes to win. Horford, Hinrich, Teague, Pachulia
5. Add a true, aggressive leader!

Mainly, need some player changes, but mostly, leadership is extremely needed, there is none.

Fingers crossed: the big #1 would be to have an ownership change, because nothing is going to happen that is real positive or makes sense, unless a new owner comes in and wants to really win, and who has the financial ability to do so, not just a bunch of talk, and posturing like most of the owners have done over the years with Atlanta sports franchises.

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True Center? The Hawks have talent to win without a true center. Name a team remaining in the NBA playoffs that has a true center?….waiting?….still waiting? Bulls, no. Heat, no. Mavs, No. Thunder, no. Ok, Grizzlies have Marc Gasol. You don’t have to have a true center to win an NBA title. You need a Superstar that knows he’s a Superstar and makes his teammates better and other players that know their role. Joe Johnson is paid like a Superstar but does not play or understand that. Josh Smith has the skill set to be a superstar, but forgets what he’s best at. The Hawks need changes, and I believe they will. Whether that makes them a threat, remains to be seen.

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In a matter of days (if not tonight), we’ll get to see yet another city (OKC or Memphis) enjoy what we never have; a playoff run to the conference finals. That bothers me and it should bother each and every Hawk fan who had to endure the days of Eddie Johnson and John Drew’s cocaine addictions, Koncak’s extension, Nique for Manning, Bob Weiss, Alan Henderson’s extension, Pete Babcock, Adam Keefe, Lon Kruger, J.R. Rider, and a pair of top-5 picks being spent on the Williams boys (Marvin and Shelden). Watching this squad get thumped in the second round over and over again makes me wonder whether the old Omni/Philips Arena was built on ancient Indian burial grounds or something. Considering that they haven’t advanced beyond the second round in over half a century, it’s no small wonder why so many folks proudly walk around town with Kobe/Lebron/Rose/Dwight jerseys on instead of the hometown gear. I can see why you’d hear ‘MVP’ chants when one of those guys are in the building, much less if their team is winning.

Seriously, when will our payoff come? Where is our championship banner? Where’s the title run? Where was that time in Hawks history when this bunch got to the Finals and nearly won it all? In St. Louis? For all the years of them being here, what have they really accomplished? I can hear Warrior fans in Oakland laughing at us last night because for all of their buffoonery, they still have a world title. So does Houston, Milwaukee, Portland, and Detroit. Even as bad as Cleveland got after ‘the decision’, they can still pop in a DVD of their run to the Finals; can we?

I read all of these plans about rebuilding, reloading, retooling, and I really think it’s a load of crapola. Last I checked, there is still a CBA to be negotiated; who knows when we’ll see NBA basketball again after the Finals. Even more important than that, when has this bunch ever got a rebuilding/reloading/retooling plan done right? When they’re in position to tank a season and have the ping-pong balls to draft a franchise-changer in Dwight Howard or at least a serviceable Emeka Okafor, they allow Bobby Sura to play for a contract, thereby winning a bunch of unnecessary games and screw themselves up in the process. And even when they are in position to get an impact player, our Doctor Frankenstein of a GM draft guys who couldn’t win a game at the Run ‘N Shoot. Only in our town can a GM skate by with drafting a small forward who can’t play over two All-World point guards. And how much could our team have used Luol Deng last night instead of a guy who they ended up giving away for a pint of Stroh’s (see Childress, Joshua)?

This version of the Hawks is no closer than Roundfield’s teams, the Nique era, or Smitty, Deke, Mookie and the gang. And with an ownership group that can’t lie its way out of a wet paper bag dipped in battery acid, I don’t really see it changing anytime soon. It’s sad because they could really have the city on its ear if they ever made a serious committment by bringing in more competent guys to run the show. The Thrashers wouldn’t be ordering moving vans for Winnepeg if someone other than Don Waddell was in charge for the first decade. We’d be laughing at teams like the Bulls and Bucks coming in to our building if the Notorious A.S.G. had hired someone from Peachtree Hoops, Hawksquawk, or RealGM to do the drafting instead of Billy Knight. But alas….

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Tyson Chandler is a true Center.

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whats funny is that all of you all say we dont have a super star, but if you listen to ALL the players and coaches they will tell you that jj is a superstar. I would listen to the players and coaches before listening to most of you so call fans. Also if he was no good how come he is always being double teamed? you dont double sorry players, for example marvin williams.

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I have no idea how to get the Hawks over the Eastern semis hump. Problem is, seems those who are getting paid to know don’t know either.

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Clutch, the fact that you and the Hawks players think JJ is a superstar does not speak well of your evaluation of talent. The guy would not be a superstar on any of the teams that made the playoffs this year. At best he would be there #2 or 3 guy. Where did he rank in scoring leaders this year?

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Horford For Bynum will be a good trade.
Horford is real soft,always has been since he was drafted.
He’s not a good rebounder at the 4,its almost seems like since hes playing the 4 he doesn’t have to do anything he was doing at the 5.Al shoots too many jump shots and barely blocks any shots.He obviously didn’t know he had a advantage at center because other centers don’t like to step out and guard his jumper that he likes to take.
Points:
Horford=Smith
Better Rebounder:
Smith>Horford
Better Defense:
Smith>Horford
My point

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Jerry Sloan????

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I would move Johnson for Bynum or Gasol straight up. I think LA would do it to give Kobe a couple of more years.

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I’ve long been a supporter of Josh Smith and been against trading him. When he’s on, he’s a top player. The problem is he doesn’t do it often enough. He abandons his teammates on defense because he’s too busy complaining about the call he didn’t get on the other end. He seems so determined to silence the critics about his jumpshot that he intentionally stays away from the basket.

The Hawks need to make a change that amounts to more than just re-arranging deck chairs. As you said, MB, by process of elimination, Josh is the only tradeable asset the Hawks have. (Oh, and this is exactly why those who were critical of giving JJ this contract were critics. JJ, Marvin and Bibby were all overpaid by the Hawks.) And the argument you presented against trading Josh is also the reason why the Hawks need to trade him – because I strongly doubt he will ever fulfill his potential here.

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Horford is Cliff Levingston and Antoine Carr combined, minus just a little….We need him. That much is clear. We need JJ to score some points, even though his lazy defense and bad attitude don’t help much of the time either….Teague might be worth a toot but we won’t know until he plays a full year next year, if he can…he looks kind of puny to me and acts retarded whenever someone throws a pick on him….won’t fight through em well enough to suit me….we could certainly use a 12 point, 10-15 rebound per game center….none exist anymore basically…

Time to dump Jamal Crawford…thanks but you tanked when it mattered and you’re not getting any younger and you’ll want too much money….besides, the tatoos all over your body clearly show how little sense you possess….same with Marvin Williams….what a total waste of a draft pick….dump him now!

Meanwhile, Mike Bibby moves on, laughing at us as he goes….

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Was really hoping you might make the next leap in logic and actually provide some names out there that would be a better fit to bring in for Josh. How about we go Josh Smith Jamal crawford and Hinrich for Dwight Howard. Horford goes to PF, Dwight in the middle, Teague, Johnson, Hinrich. WIN

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It’s pathetic to have writers try to convince people on who to trade, and what not. I rather have heart, emotion, & athleticism over someone is really confused, undersized, and stiff at their position. Say Horford moves to 4 spot, does he get better? Why? I say no. Horford is way to slow and has no post moves what so ever. If he’s not fast enough agaisnt most of the centers, imagine him playing against the 4 spot; where they are more athletic & faster. Jump shots? He hit those well because Centers didnt go out there to contest them. I bet those numbers will drop if had played the 4 all season. Josh takes to many jumpshots? Yes, that’s Josh for ya. I have seen him grown as a person through this Chicago Bull series, and hoping it carries on to the next season. Keep the hometown boy!

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This is piece is insightful but too narrowminded. If Teague is the guy and if his game is to drive and attract defenders, then you absolutely need guys who can finish at the basket… Josh Smith. He and Horford can co-exist in the right system. And even if they both start, you could manage the rotation such that they only spend about the first 7-8 minutes or so together on the floor (given that in close games you manage frequent O/D substitutions at the end of the game.)

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Sadly, the Hawks are still feeling the ill affects of Billy Knightmare. It will take years to get over what that man did with his wasted drafts picks.
As I watched last night I kept wondering who we picked just in front of Chicago taking Deng. Was it Childress or Shelden Williams?
But even so, to get to the 2nd round of the playoffs is a decent season. It could be worse. Ask LA Clippers fans about how bad management can screw you.

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No heart to this team, it says a lot when your backup center has the video bite to start the second half and fire up the crowd. Zaza plays hard and leaves it on the floor.

What happened to this offense that we were going to use our athleticism to generate quick scoring?

Did anyone notice how Rose got his points and assists? He got them through the flow of the offense, The hawks have none of that, the ball gets to Joe or Josh and just stops, it takes 8 seconds to get them the ball and then they dribble it for ten more, realize they are covered and then pass it to a guy who has 6 seconds to get off a one on one crummy shot.

Josh Smith fans, forget about it, he has to go. He is a whiner and complainer and take himself out of the game mentally. Until he can get over it, he will be a question mark every night. He will never be the star the he has the talent to become if he just played to his strengths.

Joe has the Hawks hog tied. He’s a good shooting guard, but the Hawks could have two or three pieces to the puzzle if they were smarter than to sign the big money deal. He’s certainly a guy you want, but the price was so high there are limits the options, which would only help his game.

I think you keep Teague and give him some more time to prove himself. He needs to get more aggresive on the offensive side ofthe floor. He has to be a threat. You have to keep Joe, You try to keep Crawford, keep Horford and Zaza, Everyone else is expendable.

You need to find a way to have Teague, Crawford, and Joe on the floor together. You need Horford at the power forward and you need a big man of note that is a force. If you can’t play the inside game they will double up on your shooters.

Need to get the big man through free Agency, and get your depth through the draft.

Did you notice how half the time on offence collins didn’t even post up, just stood there watching.

Need a coach that will not settle for mediocrity, whining, bad shooting, lazy defense.

Ownership, do you want to do what it takes to win or just make you short term money. The status quo will result in a diminishing fan base and less revenue. This city is starving for a championship caliber team, make it happen and see the rewards.

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Josh Smith has a very low basketball IQ. There were times doing the season when he looked as if he didn’t have a clue what he was doing out on the floor. I agree it would be ashamed to trade him and see him become a star someplace else, but how much longer do you stick with this guy waiting on him to mature as a player and play to his strengths? That trade for Hinrich will come back to haunt the Hawks. Not only will Jordan Crawford will be a good player in this league, but we don’t have a viable replacement for Jamal in case he goes, which by the way, I think he should. I agree with everyones comments on Marvin Williams, he is a empty uniform.

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In a matter of days (if not tonight), we’ll get to see yet another city (OKC or Memphis) enjoy what we never have; a playoff run to the conference finals. That bothers me and it should bother each and every Hawk fan who had to endure the days of Eddie Johnson and John Drew’s cocaine addictions, Koncak’s extension, Nique for Manning, Bob Weiss, Alan Henderson’s extension, Pete Babcock, Adam Keefe, Lon Kruger, J.R. Rider, and a pair of top-5 picks being spent on the Williams boys (Marvin and Shelden). Watching this squad get thumped in the second round over and over again makes me wonder whether the old Omni/Philips Arena was built on ancient Indian burial grounds or something. Considering that they haven’t advanced beyond the second round in over half a century, it’s no small wonder why so many folks proudly walk around town with Kobe/Lebron/Rose/Dwight jerseys on instead of the hometown gear. I can see why you’d hear ‘MVP’ chants when one of those guys are in the building, much less if their team is winning.

Seriously, when will our payoff come? Where is our championship banner? Where’s the title run? Where was that time in Hawks history when this bunch got to the Finals and nearly won it all? In St. Louis? For all the years of them being here, what have they really accomplished? I can hear Warrior fans in Oakland laughing at us last night because for all of their buffoonery, they still have a world title. So does Houston, Milwaukee, Portland, and Detroit. Even as bad as Cleveland got after ‘the decision’, they can still pop in a DVD of their run to the Finals; can we?

I read all of these plans about rebuilding, reloading, retooling, and I really think it’s a load of crapola. Last I checked, there is still a CBA to be negotiated; who knows when we’ll see NBA basketball again after the Finals. Even more important than that, when has this bunch ever got a rebuilding/reloading/retooling plan done right? When they’re in position to tank a season and have the ping-pong balls to draft a franchise-changer in Dwight Howard or at least a serviceable Emeka Okafor, they allow Bobby Sura to play for a contract, thereby winning a bunch of unnecessary games and screw themselves up in the process. And even when they are in position to get an impact player, our Doctor Frankenstein of a GM draft guys who couldn’t win a game at the Run ‘N Shoot. Only in our town can a GM skate by with drafting a small forward who can’t play over two All-World point guards. And how much could our team have used Luol Deng last night instead of a guy who they ended up giving away for a pint of Stroh’s (see Childress, Joshua)?

This version of the Hawks is no closer than Roundfield’s teams, the Nique era, or Smitty, Deke, Mookie and the gang. And with an ownership group that can’t lie its way out of a wet paper bag dipped in battery acid, I don’t really see it changing anytime soon. It’s sad because they could really have the city on its ear if they ever made a serious committment by bringing in more competent guys to run the show. The Thrashers wouldn’t be ordering moving vans for Winnipeg if someone other than Don Waddell was in charge for the first decade. We’d be laughing at teams like the Bulls and Bucks coming in to our building if the Notorious A.S.G. had hired someone from Peachtree Hoops, Hawksquawk, or RealGM to do the drafting instead of Billy Knight. But alas….

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How much longer do you wait on Al Horford to get a set and toughen up?

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I think the Hawks should keep Johnson, Horford, Teague, and Pachulia. Everyone else is expendable. They should bring in new faces to blend in with the core of those four players.

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i meant the 4 of the worst contracts (Hedo, Hibachi, Lewis, and Davis)

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Guys, the NBA draft lottery is May 17 for those who weren’t lucky enough to enjoy the playoffs like us….ugh.

Perhaps we start working the phone lines and look towards getting a Top 2-3 pick? Is Sund under agreement for now?

Would it surprise you if the ASG just turned away from this opportunity and publicly state, “We like what we have”?

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Josh will fit and be an all star with the Miami Heats.

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Blame for this group of so-so talent needs to be directed first at Billy Knight for not having a clue and second – this horribly-run ownership. I can’t fault Marvin… he didn’t ask to be chosen that high in the first round. Billy crippled this team for years to come.

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Why are we not placing blame for this mediocre team where it belongs? BILLY KNIGHT?

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Make a real run Howard. Josh’s stock is up. Cut bait. Send Marvin anywhere. Lose the salary. Why not play Joe at the 3? How would this look?

1 – Teague
2 – Hinrich
3 – Johnson
4 – Horford
5 – Howard

I also think that they have given up on Wilkins too quick. If you put him on the Bulls he is contributing in some fashion.

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The blame for this falls group of mediocrity falls squarely on the ignoramus – BILLY KNIGHT. Thanks for spending all those draft picks on so-so talent!! WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT !

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Hawks need an overhaul. Maybe they need to reinvent themselves.

JJ needs an attitude adjustment & a defined role. We need to take the ball out of his hands, he can’t get it done over 48 minutes pounding the damn ball for most of the shot clock. Too easy to defend. JJ is a given that he will be a Hawk next year. He is not tradeable, due to contract & limited production in big games.

Transformation: He needs to become a RAY ALLEN type of player…catch and shoot, run off picks, and work outside in, occassionally post up or drive the lane. Before coming to Hawks, thats what he did for Phoenix.

Teague needs to prepare to be the starter next season. Teague played most of the season with brakes on. He has to take advantage of his speed. I would love to see an offense that takes advantage of that speed and ability to create shots for others. He has to own the basketball, he should own the first 5 seconds of the shot clock on every possesion while he is on the floor, going end to end looking for his shot.

Transformation: He should become a player like TONY PARKER, push the pace up the floor and stop deferring to his teammates & maybe even his coach. LD is using his tentativeness as a reason he was not playing Teague major minutes, while Teague showed during playoffs he has the goods…he must push pace & perfect his tear drop like Tony Parker.

Josh Smith, is a stat stuffer for the Hawks. Probably is the only player on the team that can approach a triple double stats on a nightly basis. However, he is just as likely to not give you impactful moments on the court, as he teases you with stats like 23 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assist, 3 blocks, 1 steal, but be 6 of 19 from the field, 2 offensive rebounds, 0 for 4 from 3 point land. He can keep you in a game or play you out of a game with his in game decisions and still have a decent stat line. Highly inconsistent and thus his trade value is questionable.

Transformation: He needs to locate himself in the paint on offense & defense. He needs to get his lunch pale and go to work in the paint like Zach Randolph of Memphis. The guy can’t jump 2 inches, but he maximizes his talents. He has to get his game in line like Noah on defense & maybe Elton Brand/Zach Randolph on offense. He is not a point guard or Dirk, give up the ball fill a lane or go to work in the PAINT!

Horford, has to get tougher in the paint with his back to the basket. He has to get stronger with his handle. He has to develop a consistent right & left hand jump hook, with the occassional 15 foot jumpshot. When to use either is based on foot speed of his defender. His game is a bit robotic, he has to get work on his agility & foot work. He has to become the leader of this team and tell it like it is…get in teammates faces, not this after game talking head he is becoming…he is our only Mr Accountability!

Transformation: He needs to become the unquestioned leader of team. His game to develop a game like TIM DUNCAN. Steady & dependalble for a double double every night out. He has to foot speed to beat his man, but he has to become automatic at a certain spot on the floor… like Duncan with that shot off the glass…his shot is also robotic but effective.

The above four guys will be with the Hawks next year due to contract or trade limitations. So, if all guy could make the transformations suggested: Would you take a team made up of Tony Parker, Ray Allen, Zach Randolph, Tim Duncan, all in their prime as your CORE guys?

If so, if you added as your Center, say in free agency… a Tyson Chandler, JaVale McGhee to anchor your defense!! Would the team get even better.

Now I know you need a small forward, but those core guys are interchangeable, except for PG Teague.

Now add Pachulia, who will also be under contract, and a value asset off the bench as an Enforcer, Rebounder, and Energy Guy. Can back up Center & Power Forward positions.

Transformation: Bang and get rebounds, be like …Pachulia. You know what he brings to the table & will accept his role.

Now add, Damien Wilken, bring him back and give him a key role of SHUT DOWN DEFENDER and provide opportunistic offense. Deploy him to guard the SG & SF and on occassion the taller slower point guards. He provides an agression off the bench…let him be your attack dog!

Transformation: Give him the MINUTES and give him the game to game assignment…turn him to a player like Shane Battier. Let him go in to put out fires or prevent them in the first place with harrassing defense like we just saw Keith Bogans shut down JJ in his one on one displays.

Take the rest of the contracts on the bench and redeploy those dollars to fill out the bench with ROLE PLAYERS.

NEEDS PENDING:

Knock Down Shooter…like a JJ Reddick, Kyle Korver type

Slasher…like a Thaddeus Young type

A Young Highlight Player in Waiting…say like JC2..Jordan Crawford :{

Back Up Point Guard: a veteran with speed like Barea with Dallas; give us the ability to sendout a back court like Denver has in Ty Lawson & Raymond Felton

A Defensive PG… like Hinrich, provided we don’t package him.

Beef & Height on the Bench; to provide spot substitutions & fouls & rebounds.

All of this to say we don’t mesh, because guys don’t have defined roles and they can’t adjust on the fly, which means the Coach has to be superior in X’s & O’s, to get the players to be the suggested transformations listed above. If players are one dimentional, the coach has to put them in the position to use their skill advantage.

We just got beat by such a team, in Chicago. They have one true SCORER in D Rose, supported by the SLASHER in Deng, and a cast of ROLE PLAYERS, with a DEFINED team principle in DEFENSE!!!

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Draft Chris Paul….oops

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Always like Drew but he is not the Coach for Hawks. Hawks have no heart and guts….Josh is good only every other game. etc.Need more than one trade to clean this mess up.

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he sure did…………..

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I have never seen a team pass the ball so LITTLE and so many guys on the perimeter, just backing in to their defender with the ball trying to play one-on-one. Worst looking offense I have seen from a motion, effort and passing standpoint.

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What wrong with the Hawks trading Josh Smith for Greg Oden……I think thats a risk worth taking and we get to dump his salary!!

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I don’t know if this core can do it, but the simple formula to a great team is : 1) play very good team / help defense (i.e. the Bulls) 2) have a player that has to be double teamed (D. Rose) 3) have some guys that can hit the open shot and one or two quality post up players (Boozer) I know that sounds like a lot to ask, but maybe just maybe we are 1 quality player away, but can we really get this team committed to team defense? We could really use a quality post up player and or a big man that can knock down a 12-15 footer. The Hawks of 1987-1988 were the only team I have watched in 30+ years that really had a chance to be great. Unfortunately the Celtics and Pistons were just a little bit better. Really hate to beat a dead horse, but those misfired draft picks with Shelden and Marvin really were our downfall.

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The Hawks need a true center in the paint and let Al Horford play is position PF! Teague is the future plus the hawks don’t have the money to spend on a PG unless they can get Chris Paul. Trade Marvin and another player to be named and see what we can get for him or get a center in the draft. I wish they could get rid of J.Johnson (wasted too much money on a 6 man).

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Sue Billy Knight to reclaim everything he was paid while here!

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SUE BILLY KNIGHT FOR EVERYTHING WE PAID HIM!!

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The Hawks shot 36% for the game. NOW, that’s professional and one of the reasons “pro” (it’s all about me) basketball sucks.

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lol some of y’all are idiots, Al Horford played PF the ENTIRE playoffs ?? And what did he do ?? shoot 40 %, he’s not the player everyone makes him out to be.. MArk writes yet another stupid article, way to go !!

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Mark Bradley said…
“You had to ask: Should a guy who has been in the NBA since 2004 not yet know where his strengths lie?”
Ask LA Clippers fans, sounds like what they said about Lamar Odom
Ask Boston Celtics fans, sounds like what they said about Antoine Walker
Ask Minnesota Timberwolves fans, sounds like what they said Kevin Garnett
Ask Memphis Grizzlies fans, sounds like what they said about Pao Gasol
and ask Portland Trail Blazers fans, sounds like what they said about Rasheed Wallace

One person’s distraction is another one’s opportunity…

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Here is the lineup: 1. DWIGHT HOWARD 2. KEVIN LOVE 3. J. TEAGUE. 4. TRACY MCGRADY 5. BRANDON BASS. Everyone else is expendable.

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Jeff Teague showed flashes of what he can do if allowed to be in the game. Jamal Crawford, Damien Wilkins and Josh Powell made meaningful contributions also. Al Horford needs to watch film of James Worthy, Rick Mahorn, Kevin McHale, Charles Oakley and Bill Laimbeer to see how to play tough basketball inside the lane.
Unfortunately the Hawks are stuck with Joe “The Dribbler” Johnson, Josh “The Moper” Smith and Marvin “Lost In Space” Williams unless some miraculous trades can be done.

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Hawk fans you guys are morons if you really think the Orlando Magic or Lakers are going to trade you Bynum or Howard for your crap!!!! Plus why would Howard sign long term with the Hawks? The Lakers are going to hold or trade Bynum only for Howard remember they would not trade him for Carmello who although is as selfish and plays the same one on one style that jj,crawford and jsmooth and horford play along with their crappy defense he is just better selfish talant than your players. You better figure out some realistic trades which would include not getting equal talent back but shedding salary and rebuild correctly. You are stuck with Johnson due to salary restrains even if you pick up part of his salary. Blow them up and legitimately rebuild for 2 years from now. The bulls dumped Heinrich for nothing to use his salary to help build a team of players that will play as a team and fit a style. We traded our problem draft pick from a couple year ago in Tyrus Thomas(as bad as Marvin is for you)we choose to let Ben Gordon go for nothing and not overpay to be able to sign team guys and guys that a fit a system and work hard. That is how you build a team.

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Same old Hawks.

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Keep Horford and trade everybody else. Clean it up.

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The Hawks greatest problem is Joe Johnson thinks he is E.M. Johnson and his uncles and his early training put this in his head and when the Hawks recruited him to Atlanta they told him the ball would be in his hand and he and Mike Woodson took Billy Knight’s dream of having a athletic running team into a jump shot shoopting mess.When the Group chose Woodson over Knight the end of what probably was going to be a Team The ATL would really,I believe been something to behold.When JJ played with S.Nash he played without the ball and he was pretty darn good,but when he got to The ATL he wanted to be a point guard and messed up not only Teague,but Bibby,who said the ball was not in his hand,but with Woody every legit PG that came to The ATL. JOE JOHNSON,THE WANT TO BE E.M.JOHNSON! The Hawks real problem and he also stunted Marvin,Josh,and now you see it doing the same to AL.

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@ airjordan

So how do you know all this are you Dwight Howard himself? Unless you are then you’re like the rest of us you don’t know where he’s going. Everyone keeps screaming lakers or knicks, but honestly my bet is Orlando. I’d love if he came back home to us here in Atlanta to at least to give us something to cheer about in times like this.

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Stop with the New York pipe dream Howard isnt going there either. Howard and Paul if they dont sign extensions will be traded to a team they will sign with but sorry the Knicks wont be getting either they have nothing to trade. I am a life long Hawk fan that lives in NY (How did that happen lol. Bynum is overated as wel. He is always hurt and cant even take his game to the enxt level playing with Kobe dont see it happening playing with JJ.

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All that needs to be said!! SI column

http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011/05/13/hawks-have-big-decisions-in-offseason/

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With that being said trade eitehr Big Al or Josh it dont matter they both have differnt things they bring to the table and are still good players and yet still both have good value.. You dont want to trade Josh and him finally stop jacking up jump shots and play like he has the last 3 games that for sure and you dont wont Al to get better at going left either. IM not sure if they both are here with the type of caoches we have though that we can get either to work on this stuff b/c they know they playing and the coach has no merit to sit them on the bench for playing they way they do..

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Mojo I agree with you New York is not a trade option only if he becomes a free agent and as far as Bynums goes you are correct as well that being said It seems like most teams are enamored with his talent. My only point is Howard if he leaves as a free agent or does not resign he want to go to a big city and that would be LA/New York/Chicago which I would love but doubt it could ever happen without us trading the very players who he would want to play with(drose in particular and I would not do that if I were the Bulls).

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Lets trade Williams and a draft pick for Jordan Crawford of the Wizards. I hear he’s an up and comer.

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Heres something would you guys consider Horford and Teague for Paul? Or better yet would the Hornets consider it?

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“Still at issue is whether Teague is as good as he looked against the Bulls”

Yes.

“and if so, why both Drew and Mike Woodson failed to play him before this.”

Because they are incompetent.

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We need to get rid of Marvin’s contract, trade for a big. Then sign a good shooting SG. Let JJ play the 3. Let Hinrich play PG and SG. Have a running team. Get a coach that CAN coach up a player.

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“The problem with moving Horford to power forward is that it curtails his back-to-the-basket work, which is quite good”

If anything that’s the weakest part of Al’s game. He is a very good face-up player who just doesn’t have the confidence in his own ability to use that part of his game all the time. He’s at worst the second best shooting big man in the league. But back to the basket? Come on. Did you see these playoffs? Smoove is no Kevin McHale in the post but his back to the basket game is head and shoulders above Al’s at this point.

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“The reason to trade him is that he has become a hugely gifted distraction. He played very well in Games 4,5 and 6, but it took so much coaxing and prodding from Drew that you had to ask: Should a guy who has been in the NBA since 2004 not yet know where his strengths lie?”

I guess our All Star center failing to put together one good all around game in the playoffs and saying he needs to work on his 3 point shooting doesn’t require that you “have to ask” anything.

I hate to be the guy who picks on Al, because I actually like him a lot. I hate that articles like this put me in the position to have to do so. But I’m not going to keep my mouth shut when I see some players being held to different standards than other players. Bottom line is Smoove had to deal with a position change in the playoffs just like Al and ended up having a much better all around playoffs than Al did. Maybe LD should have “coaxed and prodded” Al to quit passing up every open shot he gets and play some help defense. This idea that Smoove is some cancerous distraction while Al is the untouchable rock of the team, perpetuated by Mark Bradley among others, should have been shattered after these playoffs. Nobody on this team is untouchable.

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What would you get for smith in a trade? I say a downgrade. Its most likely hopeless until JJ’s contract expires.

What if Smith is paired w/a coach that resonates w/him and along with different players, he might be special. That doesn’t mean you don’t trade him because its not gonna happen here.

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“What if Smith is paired w/a coach that resonates w/him and along with different players, he might be special. That doesn’t mean you don’t trade him because its not gonna happen here.”

Not to pick on you in particular, because many others have voiced a similar sentiment, but this defeatist attitude is part of the problem in ATL. Why is it “not gonna happen here”? Is there some secret pollutant in the air in ATL that prevents players and teams from reaching their full potential? No, it’s just that incompetent owners don’t hire the right coaches and personnel people to make it happen. Why trade Smoove to watch him blossom somewhere else? Call up whatever coach is going to allow him to reach his full potential elsewhere and hire him to coach this team. I hate the idea of trading great talent to accommodate mediocre coaching and ownership.

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“Also if he was no good how come he is always being double teamed? ”

Joe gets double teamed in large part because he is so slow at making decisions out of the double team. Other teams know that doubling him essentially stagnates the entire Atlanta offense. Joe is a pretty good one on one player who can usually get his when only one guy is checking him, but he is consistently pretty bad out of double teams when facing quality opponents. Why wouldn’t opponents use that strategy?

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As good as Teague looked, i say you resign Jamal, trade him, Teague, Marvin, & this years one for CP3 & either Marco Belinelli or Willie Green.

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Or we could trade Marvin for picks & $, not resign Jamal, cut a few other loose ends, even Kirk if we need to, & do whatever we have to do to go after D. Howard. Coupling him with AL & Joe would give us a unique Big three & would allow Teague to grow as Boston allowed Rondo to do so much to the point that they’re really a Big 4, well they’re olld now, so not as much but the idea remains the same. This would really be great if somehow Josh could stay around, but if not that’s fine too, i’m willing to sacrifice him to bring D. Howard home.

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WOW! Boy this fan base is horrible and know nothing about basketball
This was Marvins best year ‘07-’08 ATL 424-918 .462 ..Notice the good FG%..He was hurt in 08-09, but look at his attempts in ‘09-’10 ATL 302-664 .455 ..thats 300 less shots…look at Jamal stats 09-10 ATL 496-1,105 0.410%..Marvin production only went down due to JAMAL jacking up more shots…Jamal jacked up over 1000 shots and the regulars wonder why Marvin stats dropped!

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Everyone is looking at the players to blame, but guess what? We knew what we needed last year and it wasn’t addressed. The players did what they could with what they had. Everyone know that we were going into the season and we didn’t have a true center that could control the paint. Did we go out a sign someone for that? No, we didn’t change a thing. Is that the players fault, No.

Late Thursday the Hawks’ general manager offered this appraisal. “We had a chance to go from good to great and we fell short,” Rick Sund said. “We made some progress, but we didn’t finish it.”

We had a chance to get help to go from good to great in the off season, but we fell short because we didn’t sign a center.

Don’t blame the players. I’m a season ticket holder and watched throughout the season these guys playing as hard as they could, I would get frustrated and quit at times if I knew I hadn’t been supported by management to get the right pieces to the puzzle also.

Also, fan support. Yes the stands were full during the playoffs, but where were you during the season. It’s sad to see some many other teams fans taking over our arena because we don’t support our team, but we sure can criticize them when they lose.

Atlanta needs to support our teams and harrass management to get these guys some help.

Good job Hawks!!! How many other teams can say to made it to the second round with limited fan support and lack of management support.

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@Najeh Davenpoop
Yeah, i changed my name, He still was a good pick..lol

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We need to make a run at Dwight Howard first and foremost. We also need to keep Josh – he is extremely talented and we could easily turn him into an asset if we can hire a competent coach who knows how to mold players into what they need to be. If someone can do that with Josh he will become an irreplaceable piece instead of a liability. Teague is our starting PG – I don’t care how many of you fools “aren’t sold on him.” Get your heads out of your arses and acknowledge that Kirk as much as I love him does not represent the future, he’s just too old to work long term. We will never take another step unless we take a risk and put the team into Teague’s hands. Things aren’t working without him entirely, he was too inexperienced to live up to his potential in this series, and the definition of insanity is doing the same thing (not playing Teague) and expecting different results, so Teague’s detractors really have nothing to stand on.

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Nothing gets me all worked up then reading everyones stupid unrealistic trade scenarios… Let’s focus on the REAL problem with the team… the coach. Larry Drew had a few good game plans that eventually made the Hawks win 2 more games in the 2nd round. Don’t forget the blow out losses during the regular season AT HOME. We need a new coach.. someone who can get these guys to give 110% every game.. it’s embarrassing when ESPN/AJC/NBATV have to guess which Hawks team is going to show up. Fire Larry Drew! Get a new coaching staff in there with new ideas.

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I’m probably the least knowledgable BB fan here, but when you do the same thing over and over and expect different results, then maybe that’s insanity. Why not pick the best two or three palyers that can complement each other and go from there. From what I have read, Horford and Teague might be the two to build upon. Why is Marvin still in the league? Of course, you’ve got cheap ownership so go figure.

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These are some of the dumbest observations I’ve ever read!!!!! Too many fans are “BAND WAGON JUMPERS”!! When we won those games it was good coaching and great team effort that won them, totally clear. No one said, or could they have said Drew coached a horrible game. When we lost it wasn’t because he did any less of a coaching job, it was clearly mental lapses, execution, and play makers not making plays. It wasn’t Drew that lost these games for us. It wasn’t as if he didn’t call time outs that needed to be called to try to fix things, he wasn’t like he didn’t switch to a more effective line-up with Collins than with Marvin! Everyone only sees bad when we loose and thats when fingers start pointing, fingers should not be pointing at Drew for this loss. Only thing Drew is guilty of that was upsetting was playing Marvin too much and NOT PLAYING Damien enough!

As far as changes that should be made/trades:

1) Joe Johnson
We can’t trade Joe, his contract is too steep and this series kind of showed he cant take over a game like a big time player. So we’re pretty much stuck with that. And I’m not really mad with being stuck with Joe because he actually played “well” if he had more help and players that took some heat off him he’ll be fine.
2) Josh Smith
Josh is a headache more often than not, but just as he can be a headache for coaches and fans he’s more of a headache for the opposing team. He has game changing talent that NO ONE on our team has. When he is playing within himself and to HIS game OUR ENTIRE TEAM IS BETTER. In saying that he may be the player we may have to trade in order to bring about some change that nets some positive return. Josh is outrageously talented and comes with out an outrageous price tag.
3) Al Horford
Al REALLY disappointed me, HURT MY HEART! He played a complete dumb mans brand of basketball every game except one. He took shot after shot, many that were outside his range, and he wasn’t making them most times. He committed WAAAY too many dumb, careless turnovers. Al is effective but it showed in this round of playoffs that he isn’t a difference maker, so all you screaming send Josh off remember how “awesome” Al was protecting the paint for us whenever Josh was out the game. Al should be considered in making changes while he’s still considered hot.
4) Marvin Williams
Marvin AKA Mr. Disappear, AKA Old Man Legs, AKA I’ll Shoot My Team Out the Game! Marvin is totally awful, he is a non factor when he’s on the court, you might as well be playing 4 on 5. In either a trade or release Marvin shouldn’t still be here.

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Can someone explain to me why the Hawks gave J.Johnson $120 million? Okay for 82 games…could have signed 3 players who would have played for that…again same ole hawks

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Don’t bring back Rick Sund & bring in Kevin Pritchard to make the necessary changes.

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In order to change the culture you need to change the leadership at the top. The problem starts with the ASG, as they are content on not putting the leadership in place necessary to win championships. For years Atlanta has dealt with third-rate leadership since the 80’s and has never had a dominating force that can take this franchise to titles.

Much like Nique, Josh Smith is pretty much a dunk machine that entertains fans but can’t man up against elite talent when it matters most. They say that in the NBA a franchise has at least a 4 to 5 year window to win a title. Look at it this way, this team has been together since 2007-2008 and hasn’t advanced past the second round. What makes anyone think they can actually ever go past that point?

Josh Smith is the heart of this team: inconsistent and selfish at best. It takes a real coach to make this team stop relying on talent and use their IQ to win titles.

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Man, keep Teague and trade all the other BUMS. 73 in a home playoff elimination game is unacceptable. If we have the same team, I will never support the hawks again. Fucin pathetic.

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BigTimeTECHFan

I can tell you are a REAL Hawks fan! Hey, remember Tom McMillen, Charlie Chris and Armond Hill? What about Scott Hastings and Rory Sparrow, Coached by Hubie Brown, that was before the Mike Fratello and Air Force days! LOL!

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Not a bad team, but trade Marvin Williams, a bust!! He gives you nothing!! Jason Collins gives you more and what’s that say?! TWO WORDS, DWIGHT HOWARD!! Get the mayor, his uncle; Paul Howard, and the rest of the city to roll out the red carpet; do whatever it takes and the Hawks will be on their way.

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Bradley at his best!

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Thats what happens when you dedicate your whole season to beat one team . the Orlando Magic , the Hawks are losers and always will be. Atlanta = Looooooooooooosers.

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I would love to get Varejao to start at center for us. How about Jamal Crawford does a sign and trade for Varejao? Or is Jamal completely unrestricted. We need a high energy, high effort center. Varejao would match up pretty well against Noah I think.

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TRADE JOSH SMITH IS HE TERRIBLE. IF LARRY DREW WAS SMART HE WOULD HAVE SAT JOSH SMITH ON THE BENCH FOR TAKING ALL THOSE TERRIBLE 2/3 POINT SHOTS. ALSO TRADE MARVIN,ZAZA,AND A FEW OTHERS PLAYERS. THE OFFENSE NEED MORE PASSING AND MOVING WITHOUT THE BALL. ATLANTA SHOULD GO AFTER DWIGHT HOWARD.

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I can’t believe some of this garbage posted here. We have a true center, a bonafide 3rd team all NBA center who still has considerable upside. We have an extremely talented, but immature PF who is a coach’s nightmare. Drew and his crew have proven not to be up to the task of effectively coaching the front court starters or the SG position, at least not yet. The way they handled the PG position was a disaster until Hinrich got hurt. Double team JJ and JC1 and the team can barely break 80 PPG. You can’t win scoring 73, 77 or 82 pts a game. Make adjustments.

The coaching and front office moves have not met expectations yet, but no need to panic.

The Marvin issue and SF issue needs to be addressed. Smoove is no SF. Guy can’t shoot. He is a beast, especially on defense as a PF. Josh and Horford need to work within the top of the key exclusively. No more playing outside giving JJ an outlet pass after his hold-the-ball ISO play predictably fails. Honestly I am sick of the deer in the headlight looks Horford and JJ gives us when the defense keys on them. Coach the tinmen to move the ball, cut down on hesitation moves, pass the rock, move the ball, show aggression on offense, draw some fouls and move the ball. Did I say move the ball? I said it before, and it is still true, this team is just a piece or two away, but coaching has to improve. Fire Marvin….the guy couldn’t crack the UNC lineup the way he is playing. Oh yeah he never cracked the starting lineup there either.

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What? No article about me? But, I’m the greatest!

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Mark, these Hawks need a proven leader. A true superstar. All great teams which win championships have one. Magic Johnson led the Lakers to so many championships. Michael Jordan did the same for the Bulls. And now those same Bulls have Derrick Rose, who showed in this series against the Hawks why he is the MVP of the league. The Boston Celtics won so many rings led by Larry Bird. Let’s face it. The Hawks don’t have any one player who can truly take over a game and make all other guys around him better. It might require a major trade over the season to get a big name player. You mentioned possibly dealing Josh Smith. The Hawks just don’t have a true leader. That is the main weakness I see at this point.

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How can you blame JJ for being overpaid like he paid himself, yall need to get over that please LOL…If you move JJ Im pretty sure ATL will not be getting equal value in return…He’s a willing passer and ATLs best passer if you ask me…He’s the only player on the team that gets double/triple teamed…JJ didn’t disappear, the other teams knew that if they loaded up on him, ATL has no other players that can beat them…ATL management needs to put better players around him to where if they load up on him they will pay for it…We need a “No BS” coach and management if you ask me, then go on from there…Like always blame JJ for everything, nobodys doing that to Kobe and they got swept, plus they are far superior than ATL…How about talk to Horford about playing like he didn’t wanna hurt his Noahs feelings by beating him or Crawford for disappearing…Theres a reason why JJ was a top free agent last season, because he’s a top 10 SG with 30 teams in the league, be grateful for what you got because you will never know until its gone…Teams need 2 stars to even try to make some noise and thats what this team and city is missing…GET JJ SOME REAL HELP!!!!!!

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I would trade Smith or Horford, for a stud…Which ever one brings back the most value!!!!

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D-E-F-E-N-S-E wins championships! Now look at the Hawks. Who plays defense? Who cares or plays with passion? I don’t listen to what guy’s say I watch what they do! Who plays defense? Who cares when the team wins or loses?

Hawks need a coach. Bulls did not play that well in Game 1 but last night they played like their coach talked. A coach’s job is too motivate the team. Too many times this season the Hawk’s players have been unmotivated. An indictment of Larry Drew.
1st- Get a quality coach.
2nd- Let Jamal walk. For all of his talent he will never guard anyone.
3rd- Go back to what I said originally and ask yourself who plays defense, who cares about this team with what they do on the floor?

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Teague can make a good point guard. He has to be the leader, though. Are the veterans going to be aboard when he decides not to pass to JS from 30 feet away? A point guard is the QB, and has to establish control. That is his biggest challenge. A good PG will not pass to JS camped away from the basket. Will penetrate and create easy baskets for teammates if they will move. Marvin, just buy him out, and let him walk–anywhere.

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Bring back Dominique Wilkins and sign Mutombo.

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Yo whats up everyone ? just wanted to let you guys know the Hawks are my first choice . now lets keep this on a down low . we dont need this getting out . I will promise you this after my next contract with Orlando is finish , I will be somewhere around 36 years old and my playing days will be almost over , i will not be able to jump anymore or block shots . it might take at least the MLE , but i will be there to support my home town . so be patient my little trolls . out!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Tezo, I can name a couple of free agents I would have signed before Joe… starting with the three down in Miami, Amare, even Boozer…

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Teezo -

I don’t blame JJ for him being overpaid. I blame Hawks’ management for that.

I blame JJ for repeatedly refusing to step up when this team needs him or shoulder any responsibility for this team. “I don’t get all the credit when we win, so I shouldn’t take all the blame when we lose.” Complaining about being double-teamed.

Great players find a way to be effective despite good defense (LD even challenged JJ saying he had to fight through Chicago’s defense). Great players hate losing more than their fans do. JJ’s a skilled player who lacks the heart of a champion. The problem is he’s a 2nd banana, but the Hawks have tried to make them his star. The only way he’ll get to the Finals is if he plays on a team with someone better than him leading it.

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In the movie Wolverine, Silverfox cursed Stryker tell him to walk until his feet bleed or something very close. Marvin, we like you dude, but you gotta go!

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GT Alum

May 13th, 2011
7:51 pm
Teezo -

I don’t blame JJ for him being overpaid. I blame Hawks’ management for that.

I blame JJ for repeatedly refusing to step up when this team needs him or shoulder any responsibility for this team. “I don’t get all the credit when we win, so I shouldn’t take all the blame when we lose.” Complaining about being double-teamed.

Great players find a way to be effective despite good defense (LD even challenged JJ saying he had to fight through Chicago’s defense). Great players hate losing more than their fans do. JJ’s a skilled player who lacks the heart of a champion. The problem is he’s a 2nd banana, but the Hawks have tried to make them his star. The only way he’ll get to the Finals is if he plays on a team with someone better than him leading it.

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I hear exactly what you are saying…Im upset at the way JJ plays also, yes he needs to be a more vocal leader and more aggresive on the court…What Im saying is that he’s far from the problem…Its ATLs system, we cannot continue to rely on JJ to get us over the mountain, he’s one person on a team full of nuckleheads…We need players that will take over when JJ is being hounded, Josh and JT did that, but who else showed up??? We need a bonified sidekick for JJ, getting rid of him will not solve a thing…I don’t blame him for his comments because I see a players who is frustrated that management will not do what it will take to make the team better…I would rather it been him starting than having Crawford launching crazy shots all game without even looking to pass…Im pretty sure if there was another JJ type of player along side him, this team would be championship material…

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I hate to say it, but i think that somehow Noah was in Al’s mind almost instantly from the time Game 1 started. I think it probably reflects back from them being teammates at Florida and Noah probably abusing him during practice. Just a thought. Al did not stand up against him whatsoever and Noah had his way and he had no fear of Al.
Thoughts?????

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I hope the Hawks join the Thrashers and move to Winnipeg.

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And one more thing… only a true dumbass would trade Josh Smith (which is why it might just happen!). He might miss shots here and there, but he still has a better field goal percentage than Joe Johnson. Josh Smith is not just a big part of our defense – he IS our defense!!! Trade Williams, lose Johnson, and feel free to trade some of the other half performers / ballplayer wannabes like Armstrong and Thomas that we really don’t rely on. Zaza has a cool name, and I do like and respect him as a player, but he may need to pack his bags too so we can get a good performing Center.

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I have enjoyed this Hawks team and its players over the past few years. However, the reason the Hawks will never get farther than they have is all due to the overall mental attitude of the team. If this team is to improve a trade is necessary. And it would be worth the risk at this point to give up talent for a player(s) who can help this team believe they can achieve and understand that reaching full potential comes from playing hard every minute of every game, or atleast the meaningful ones.

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The team chemistry is not there…Those dudes do not mesh well together, not saying they are bad players, but this team has no identity…ASG needs to be open to all offers this summer including looking for a no-nosense type of coach…Josh and/or Horford can go and replace him with a dominant big man that can comand double teams..I think which ever one would flourish in that situation…Keep JJ and Teague because that would help them out dramatically…Toss Marvin in the dirty clothes hamper and ship him out…Add some shooters and some reliable bigs as role players…But of course that won’t happen because it makes too much sense for the ASG…

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Marvin Williams: JAFN — Just another………..

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Only three NBA teams have managed to reach the second round in each of the last three years, Atlanta, Boston,& La. This year Atlanta won more games in the second round then La & Boston combined. Early in the first half of game six, with the game undecided,and Hinrich injured, Geof Teague badly sprained his right wrist.(apparently,an event of little merit, in the minds of the AJC writers)
In spite of Teague’s gutsy return, Larry Drew, for all practical puposes had lost BOTH his point guards and yet he still had won two more second round play off games then Phil Jackson and his World Champion Lakers.

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Josh Smith is the anti Micheal Jordan. Smith came right out of high school, while Jordan went to North Carolina a real university, blending in well still does, learn to play golf. Jordan has friends from this university and real life that are every bit as successful as he is. He doesn’t run in a posse, he pushes the bounties of his life, he is his own man in a positive way. For this Jordan has been greatly criticized by his own culture as a man that does not give back. To me he is a man that gets it, he would be a great model for a Josh Smith or any young man basketball or not. I think that is too late, Josh has fallen into the garden variety of NBA players that have pass through the years, usually ending up in a mess at the end. He hurts a team just like MJ helped one. His competitive spirit is mired in immaturity and selfishness. He even has effected older players like Johnson and Crawford. If he becomes all pro the word means nothing.

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JJ is right on the money. Cut the walking the ball up the court, this is pro basketball there is a time clock ticking stop being so cool.

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I disagree with what seems to be the consensus. I think Drew made great strides with this group and needs another year to continue the change in mind set from selfish individual play to “team” ball. In past years under Woodson all I saw was 4 guys watching one guy try to score. Game 5 in the Bulls series tells the whole tale….the first 3 quarters we had great ball movement and got good shots and played outstanding defense; we were right in the game. Then came the 4th quarter and we went right back to selfish shoot it up style basketball. Drew made changes to the mentality but he needs more time and this is a very talented group if they play team ball.

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Late Thursday the Hawks’ general manager offered this appraisal. “We had a chance to go from good to great and we fell short,” Rick Sund said. “We made some progress, but we didn’t finish it.

Isn’t it nice to see bluntness of this sort. I don’t recall hearing anything equally blunt from the Falcons brass after their humiliation in January.

In general, this series showed the ghosts of Loserville don’t necessarily still have to pull an ATL franchise under right from the get-go, in the most pathetic fashion, like they did in January, but they’re still there and they linger on. Complete playoff collapse for a team in this city is always just lurking out ahead. Hence, we natives will always be un-fair weather fans.

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Management deserves a lot of blame, but winning a title in any pro sport also takes a measure of luck. In the end, good management, talent, and some luck wins championships, unless you are so overwhelmingly more talented than the competition that luck becomes a non-factor (i.e. Bulls and Lakers dynasties, Yankees 2000s run, 49ers, Cowboys, Patriots, Steelers). Atlanta teams, in addition to having historically poor management, just seem flat unlucky. Jim Leyritz? Eric Gregg’s diminishing strikezone? Eugene Robinson? Michal Vick? 80’s Hawks catch Celtics, Pistons, and Bulls at their peak? Only 1995 had the right mixture, with luck being the shortened season and drawing inexperienced Cleveland in the WS.

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I think you package Josh Smith and Marvin Williams together to bring in a real center. Who can score and play defense. You have to bring in a Super star preferably one who has won a title.

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I think Suud should Marvin Williams for Kevin Love. Why doesn’t he pull the trigger?

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

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“just keep the team.” thats probably the only option. Then just hope the player have an epiphany.

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Stupid is as Stupid does

Get real guys.

Yes Al is 6′ 10 1/2 ” but he plays 6′ 5″ maybe 6′4″ with a wing spam of 7 or 8 inches

Some of you have notice that Al doesnt like to block shots or get physical under the basket. As Slimjr pointed out Al seems to be an escort or a valet for players going to the rim. Choosing to get a up close view of the dunk rather than try to stop it with a block or a hard foul. The consensus is that Al is a very weak defender. So here are 2 questions that you should ask yourself:

Is AL soft?

Does a wild bear chit in the woods?

For the intellectually challenged let me help you, the answer is the same for both questions.

KevinM in my opinion has come up with a realistic base in which to build.

Its quite clear that this bunch will never get past the second round. Alot of you whined about ISO Joe ISO Crawford, not understanding the game. Outside of JJ JC and JSmoove nobody can create much offense. Al Horford needs to be set up to get a shot off which stagnates things further.In fact most of Al’s career 12 ppg average comes from garbage plays, like josh blocks a shot and finds that Al, who wasnt down on the defensive end (cherry picking) is standing by his self under the basket. Or 3 guys attack JJ or Josh and nobody is playing horford and josh finds him out of a triple team. Those type of garbage plays can be done by almost any body. Heck Sautee can do that. The hawks need defensive play makers first and offensive play makers second. Thats Chicago’s model with 5 players in the top 40 for block shots during this playoff run. Blocking shots and getting it done should be a team effort not a Josh Smith Jeff Teague effort. Where the puck was AL?

Hawks need the right attitude. Guys like Al Horford who refuses to gain weight get stronger and more physical for the sake of the team is not only wasting his 6′10 1/2″ frame (his 7ft daddy should be ashamed of him), but breeding a Me Me Me attitude.

All this whining about being given responsibility to take over the center position is sick. Real leaders rise up to the challenge and lead by example which encourages everyone. Thats leadership. Boston players except the challenges with out whining and thats why they are always serious contenders. This Al whining is affecting the team and moral. The attitude is “if Al is looking out for Al why shouldnt I look out for me?” Hes not giving it up for the team so why should I? This cancer has attached itself to the Hawks and only the youthfulness of Jeff Teague and Josh Smith has kept hope Alive.

So as I was saying earlier. KevinM is absolutely right. This team is not going anywhere. They changed directions alright. Now they are going down Build around youth with Josh and Teague, the only 2 guys that showed up in the playoffs, and the two youngest. Josh has an attitude of “no matter where you put me Im going to give it my best” He and Teague have have tremendous upsides and are hungry. Everybody else have been over come with selfishness, particularly Horford who, when not begging for the ball on offense is doing his prima dona act before the press running his mouth and begging for brownie points. JJ doesnt go to the rack anymore and is bitter about not being featured in Drew’s Princeton offense what ever the hell that gimmick is.Crawford is playing like his already on another team and just trying not to get hurt. He felt that its was either Him or Al for the contract extension. I did not see him going to the rack either but choose a lot of lazy jump shots. Like I said before The only two that showed up was Josh and Jeff.

Cut fire trade or demote everybody else and lets build about Josh and Jeff. Go after D Howard who would love to play at home and with his buddy Josh. One thing you can count on, is Josh Teague and Howard would show up! Teague will drive the ball Josh will pass,dunk,block and slash with intensity. Howard would also block and dominate the paint. Between Josh and Howard every opposing team would become Jump shooters.

If you want to get the fans back (how can you not sell out a pivotal playoff game at home?) make these moves.

Otherwise you are just pissing in the wind.

T. S.

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IF I TOUCH ON WHAT COST THE HAWKS GAME 6 LOSS, IT WON’T SET WELL WITH LD….

I NEVER REALLY EXPECT THE HAWKS TO WIN THE SERIES VS. THE BULLS BUT I DID EXPECT THEM TO PLAY GAME 7…..LD’S LACK OF VISION AS A COACH IS WHAT COST THE HAWKS A LOSS IN GAME 6….

WHEN A TEAM HAVE SHOOTERS AND SCORERS AS JOE JOHNSON, JAMAL AND JEFF TEAGUE THEN THE COACH MUST INSTALL 12-16secs OFFENSIVE SETS…ESPECIALLY WHEN THE OPPONENTS STRENGTH IS DEFENSE; AS IT IS WITH THE BULLS.

THE HAWKS SHOULD HAVE PLAYED GAME 6 TO THEIR STRENGHT BY USING LESS TIME ON SHOT-CLOCK FORCING THE BULLS TO PLAY AN UP TEMPO DEFENSIVELY AND OFFENSIVELY…..LD LACK OF VISION AS HEAD COACH COST THE HAWKS GAME 6.

WHAT DOES LD REALLY HAVE AGAINST JEFF TEAGUE?

AND WHY DOES HE CONTINUE TO PLAY MARVIN WILLIAMS MORE THAN DAMIEN WILKENS?

THE FAN-BASE CAN POINT OUT THE HAWKS PLAYERS WEAKNESSES AND STRENGTHS, SO I CAN’T EXCEPT LD NOT SHOWING THE INSIGHT TO DO THE SAME….ESPECIALLY DURING GAMES……

THE HAWKS ARE A CENTER-PLAYER AWAY FROM CHALLENGING FOR EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP…..THE PLAYER DON’T NEED TO BE DWIGHT HOWARD BUT HAVE DWIGHT HOWARD LIKENESS……THEN NO TEAM COULD FORCE THE HAWKS HAND TO PLAY ONE WAY OFFENSIVELY OR DEFENSIVELY…..

SOMEWHERE OUT THERE IS A YOUNG PLAYER BITING AT THE BIT, WAITING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE HIS TALENTS…..

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THE HAWKS ARE A CENTER-PLAYER AWAY FROM CHALLENGING FOR EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP…?

Thats were they were last year. Duh? What ever happened to the Princeton offense? I wonder whats the next gimmick.

This franchise is going backwards. Woodsons teams would have crushed these guys

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u cant trade smith because hes the key to getting howard to come play in ATL there best friends..n that would make ATL a solid FC..but i think we need a tru small F..which smith is not.so that leave hawks kinda mess up..but vs the bulls joe n jamal was a noshow so maybe go out on the line trade joe, teague for pual in which u free up cap room n hope smith talk howard to come play in ATL..maybe try to pick up jr smith in a trade so the lineup would look this
paul
jr
josh
hartford
howard..but the only thing about we need somebody to step up n be a leader on the floor

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Where are all these “real centers” that everyone has been talking about for years. There are like 4-5 impact centers in the league and we are not getting any of them.

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