Hawksquawk

Josh Smith - Paul Pierce

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:33:34 +0000

I noticed a some articles the last couple days (Rumor Sites) talking about the possibility of this trade. Does anyone think this would be a good deal for Atlanta?

http://sports.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981085226

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/1052079-nba-rumors-4-moves-boston-celtics-need-to-make/page/2

How can Marvin Williams lead the team in Per and not get any playing time

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:31:31 +0000

And how can Josh Smith stink up the Joint and play the majority of the game. Is LD losing it...You are down 18 in the 4th quarter and your best 3 point shooter and argubly your best perimeter defender is on the bench? Can anyone explain the rational behind playing Vlad over Marvin tonight?

It's Time

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:29:55 +0000

What's up everyone. I just wanted to take time after sleeping on it to express my concerns with the players and staff of this team after last night's game....

I actually went last night with a buddy of mine who is a 76ers fan, and for the most part it was pretty fun. There was a marriage proposal on the kiss cam, the high flyers came in around mid 4th qtr, and a couple of average joes got a chance to win some money from SunTrust bank. As for the on court product, to say I was dissapointed would be an understatement...

I don't know HOW we stick with Josh Smith, and how the staff or even the players don't come out and tell him to STOP TAKING JUMP SHOTS! He was 0-8 until he made a freaking layup midway through the 3rd. Hell, if i'm not mistaken, he missed like his first two free throws as well. The sad part is, I would say 90% of his jump shots he was WIDE OPEN on and he missed them with relative ease. Yet, when there was a stoppage in play, he would take a jump shot and make it. I even saw him drain a one handed shot from just inside the 3 PT line during halftime warm ups.

The only reason why I believe he is still on this team is because of his blocking ability. Other than his blocking ability, there were countless times where he would take a jump shot, miss it, or drive the lane and miss and instead of getting back on defense he would cry to the refs leaving the team at a 5 on 4 disadvantage. I think the Hawks should do what they can to move on from Josh Smith and try and get a lottery pick for him at the All-Star Game. Forget the Dwight Howard dreams, forget getting our own "big 3", and just focus on getting guys that can shoot the J, since that seems to be what we want to do. We RARELY posted up down low and took it to the hoop. The 76ers are not a big team, and we should have at least made more of an attempt to get down in the paint.

Ivan, Ivan, Ivan...I swear if he is not starting within the next 2 games, Larry Drew needs to take a hike (not that I don't think he needs to take a hike anyways)... Last night just pushed the envelope further with this young man. Every time Ivan would energize this team with his outstanding play, Larry Drew would sub him out for Zaza who played so incredibly soft last night. Why can't we have the Zaza from the Boston playoff series every game? But I digress... Ivan has done MORE than enough to earn more playing time. To see Drew basically pull Ivan out mid 1st qtr and not put him in until about 56 seconds left was just flat out embarassing. Ivan could EASILY supplant Josh Smith as our 4. He has a jumper, he gets down and dirty in the paint, and he grabs boards like crazy. The only thing he needs to work on is his shot blocking ability. However, given the offensive philosophy of this team, I would take Ivans jumpshot and lack of blocking, over Josh Smith's horrid jump shot and cry baby attitude any day.

I would make my comments about Joe Johnson, but Joe Johnson seems to be the Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Hawks. He's the "saving grace" of this team, and anyone who criticizes him clearly "doesn't watch games close enough." He shows flashes of Brilliance at times, but regardless of that fact, he is not deserving of his current contract. He's not Lebron, Wade, Melo, Amare, or any other superstar. He's good, not great. I would say more, but I don't want to get flamed.

I think it's time to blow this team up. We've hit our ceiling with this group of guys. Keep Teague and Horford, and let's shake this roster up. Sure we could do worse, but we've essentially been running with the same squad now for how long? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. We are teetering on insanity right now. Thanks for letting me rant, and if you made it through all of this congratulations lol... I think i'm done ranting. Flame away

The Hawks theme song

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:25:45 +0000

Poll: Make a big trade and have it blow up or stick with the status quo?

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:09:29 +0000

I'd like to get a colletive pulse of Hawksquawk and see how we feel about what the team should do. My thinking obviously revolves around us making a BIG trade that could backfire on us big time, such as the Rider / Jackson fiasco or the Nique trade. Basically if you believe that we should make a big trade then you have to be able to live with the results that could put us back in the lottery or possibly even worse, teetering on the brink of the lottery with a shell of the team we have now... or we could make that big trade and have big time success and convince the aquired player(s) to stick around long term.

Changing of the guard: Philly's speed and athleticism make ATL look like old team

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:30:37 +0000

For years, people talked about Atlanta being known for its youth and athleticism, but I don't believe we have that distinction anymore.

This is not a blip, but a trend... Philly is significantly better than the Hawks and may be a worse matchup than Miami.

Miami was able to handle Philly, but Atlanta matches up better against Miami.

When I look at Memphis, Philly, Indiana and even the Clippers, this Hawks' team has lost something.

Philly has absolutely killed the Hawks and they seem to be getting better despite their youth.

The Hawks have lost four games in a row to the Sixers, and even though Atlanta has some injuries, there has been a disturbing trend in which Philly has OWNED the Hawks on the road and at Phillips Arena. Last year the Hawks lost by 34 points at Phillips to Philly which was one of the most embarrasing losses of the season.

Josh Smith isn't the same player against a team such as the Sixers. Smith looked a little lost offensively against Memphis.

Smith had a lot of blocks tonight, but he and Marvin and others just couldn't compete offensively and Iggy has always played Joe Johnson tough.

Smith is uncomfortable in the halfcourt and is prone to turnovers, and others such as Joe is guilty of this as well holding onto the basketball too long and the Philly defense captializes.

Teague is really the only player with the speed that can blow by people, but he plays tentative and even though Jeff had 21 points (most of it late in the game), he was non-existent during a stretch during the second quarter in which Philly ran past the Hawks. This happened against Memphis as well when the Grizzlies had a strong second quarter and took the heart out of the Hawks.

Ivan Johnson really makes Josh look pitiful

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:19:55 +0000

Ivan doesn't have a quarter of the athleticism of Josh but look at the hard work he's done

I will always be a fan of players like him and never be a fan of players like Josh

I will be honest, I just do not like this team

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:59:07 +0000

I like the fact that they play hard. Made good bench signings. Have a good coach. Want to win. Marvin has improved greatly.

I don't like the fact that they have NO shot at winning a title. I don't like the fact that they will never fit. I don't like the fact that Teague is a very talented player but he can't create for others at all and he's mentally fragile. I don't like that Joe isn't talented enough to ever be more than Robin. I don't like the fact that Horford needs a PnR PG and those are almost impossible to get. I still wish we would have drafted Ty Lawson. He would be perfect. I still don't like that Josh is an extremely talented guy who has low offensive IQ and has the worst consistency for a player of his caliber in the NBA. I don't like the fact that we have no true center and all of the reasonable centers cost a lot more than they should. I don't like that Marvin doesn't live this sport. I can see that Al, Joe, and Josh want to be great but Marvin mentally is like Hinrich but with more talent and higher expectations without Hinrich's toughness. Marvin just wants to do a job but with his talent, he could do a lot more.

I could like this team more than any other but I can hate this team more than any other. The only thing that's a fact is we aren't winning a title or getting to the NBA Finals. We play ugly Basketball. We have no true PG. We don't have fit outside of the 2nd unit with starters are healthy. I really think we need a superstar. I think everyone knows that on here. I don't care what it takes, just get one. ASG rep would be much better if they tried(did). I hear Dwight reps say that this rental thing will only make you look stupid since he only wants Dal, NJN, or LAL. That's cool, take the risk. Force Dwight to choose: Atlanta or Die. This isn't Cleveland. He has the talent and we will spend if we could sell tickets. Clearly Dwight is that type of player. Atlanta would show up ASAP with Dwight as a Hawk. ASG knows that too. Dwight knows Atlanta would treat him like Vick who owned the city. Dwight knows this, he knows if he leaves he can never come back again. It is just simple as that. He will be like Will Smith to Philly in Fresh Prince of Bel Air. It's all up to Dwight in that regard. ASG could keep this team together but why? The attendance figures is awful. It won't get any better. No one thinks this team can win. Even your diehards think this team has no shot. No one ever thought this team can be contenders. They just say any given night, Atlanta can beat anybody. That's like smashing hot chicks when drunk but you can't get her in a relationship when sober.

ASG needs to make a decision. Dwight might be a lost but would the chance of winning a title as well as contending might be enough to keep Dwight in Atlanta away from New Jersey. Teague could use Dwight especially for his own offense. Joe is no Batman, he needs Dwight. Josh is Josh, he is probably traded as well. Al can't stay for one reason outside of injury. He is our best piece bar none and one of the best players in the NBA especially given the right personnel. Marvin is Marvin, I don't expect much change with or without Dwight for him.

ATL - CLE - NOH

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:42:34 +0000

Really sick of this mofo bastard who just won't play to his potential and won't play for the team. We're in a bad need for a big who WILL PLAY like a big and do the dirty work in the paint. Yes we have our goons Zaza and IVAN but let's get real, this isn't gonna cut it.

We need a player who will not be afraid to bang and will not disrupt our offense by thinking he's a PG in transition or a SG hovering next to the 3-pt line. We have NO need for players who are automatic turnovers when shooting (especially players who have a tendency to shoot A LOT).

So I came up with this playing with the trade machine. It wouldn't work right now because of the trade restriction on Kaman, but it would be possible sooner rather than later.

http://games.espn.go...tradeId=6r6yucq

ATL: BIRDBRAIN / HINRICH / 2012 1st -for- VAREJAO / JACK / ARIZA

Adds a top rebounder big and decent backups in PG and SF. Loses "top talent" (brainless talent, that is), a big expiring, and a pick which probably won't become anything special.

CLE: VAREJAO / JAMISON -for- KAMAN / SMOOVE

Adds a good (yet injury-prone) center who'll probably sign for far less than what he's making in his current expiring contract, and "God's gift to Earth" Josh Smith. Loses Varejao and a huge expiring in Jamison. Kaman's expiring is just as big.

NOH: KAMAN / JACK / ARIZA -for- HINRICH / JAMISON

Adds two big expirings for Kaman and some role players. Gets A LOT of cap space and Hawks pick as a sweetener, things that never hurt a rebuilding team. Doesn't get what they're supposedly wanting for Kaman, but until now there were no takers for him anyway.

Hawks would become

Teague / Jack / Pargo
JJ / Green
Marvin / T-Mac / Ariza
Horford / IVAN / Vlad
Varejao / Zaza / Collins

That's a hell of a defensive squad. No, we don't get no shot at the championship this year (mostly because we have a bad coach and Al is injured), but I believe (pending a coaching staff change) we could get close to it in the next two seasons. Our window is closing, we gotta do something to try and win now. And I don't think we can do it with brainless players and coach.

Thoughts?

GO HAWKS!

Game day!

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:00:34 +0000

We must win this game and it starts with Joe. I didn't realize that in the last 3 games against them he has only averaged 9 ppg. I am a huge JJ fan but that is unacceptable. He needs to earn that check tonight.

Facing Philly at a Crossroads: An Un-sarcastic Look Ahead

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:47:01 +0000

Came across this article while searching for relative Hawks news. I don't know the writer or if he normally is a Hawk basher; but this was a good read. Here's the link:

http://www.hoopinion...ssroads-un.html

ESPN Pregame show tonite

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:37:05 +0000

Unless I missed something the guys went over the pretenders and contenders in the east. The Hawks were not mentioned.

I'm done................................

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:34:19 +0000

NO MORE NEGATIVE TALK!!!!!!!!!

Not from me...I'm gonna bite my tongue until it bleeds! Won't even say toldjaso. Nope.

...and I'm gonna spend some money, and I'm gonna drive a couple hundred miles, and I'm gonna watch them play somebody like.....like....like the damn Golden State Warriors!

Why? Because this is my TEAM dammit!!

I'm getting sucked in...after decades of watching this team. Discouraged by a lack of an ECF appearance. Deflated by wins we should have had. Dejected by boneheaded, lifeless, uninspired play. Defeated by the media that doesn't even know we exist. But I am a Hawks fan dammit! And I'm not throwing in the towel! I'm just gonna stuff it down...ignore the bubbling aggravation...and stick it out.

I was here in 03/04 at the beginning of this rebuild. Through it all....watching us lose all those games. Watching the young birds grow into a 50 win team. Hoping all along the way that one of those lottery picks would be the next Kobe, Mail Man, or James Worthy with a Jumpshot... Hoping that we would finally be relevant...

I'm not giving up hope dammit! The f*** else am I gonna do if I don't have basketball to look forward to!?!!? I didn't even know who's playing in the Superbowl! Needed some high school chick in Publix to tell me...

Been a Hawks fan since 1985!
I'm not quitting!
Not now!
No!

I'm coming to the bright side!

(Times like these I wish there was a Peanut Butter Jelly Time Smiley.)

Collins Out 2+ Weeks

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:22:12 +0000

From MC:

"#Hawks say C Jason Collins (left elbow sprain) to miss at least 2 weeks."

Zaza better stay out of foul trouble...

Kirk/Marvin for Kaman.

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:20:55 +0000

I think the deal is more than N.O. could have asked for. They get Marvin... Marvin is having a decent year and under a different system... who knows.

We get Kaman. IF he's in good bball shape, he's what we need for a playoff run.
Kaman = Better than Collins and Zaza.