BornandDieHawks

I think it's just like a star in the league gets the calls against a rookie. The Hawks will ever get the call in their favor until they gain respect around the league. Until that happens you will see a more balance game by the refs.

We have won a couple of nail biters. We need to blowout a team to get the boys confidence really high.

I agree...Ivery and Smith needs more time at the guard position which is one our #1 concern.

You're right but he needs a lot of time at the position. Right now he will be more efective coming off the bench and giving our second unit a push.

It's a piece written by Peter Vecsey. He only gets a trade right two days after it has been completed and sometimes he's still wrong. Not a credible source....

With our youth, we have a fragile team mentality and Patterson would come in and ruin any team chemistry we are trying to build.

We did te same thing with JT when he was here. He is still learning the PG position but he can hold his own now in the league, but like Salim they have a scoring mentality first. Everyone is so big on who starts for the team, I for one cares more who finish the game and who provides the lift we need during the game. Salim will be more effective for us coming off the bench....

The boys did play hard tonight and they did not let late calls get them down. The whole team get treated like rookies with the refs and I guess they will continue until we get more respect around the league. JJ game was plagued with fouls early but he came trough when it counted. I am so pump about the win I could not evaluate the play last night because I was doing too much screaming at the TV. I played the whole 48 minutes myself. The one area which disappointed me was the defense. We should have never let a team playing on the tail end of a back to back to back shoot 54% from the field. Right now I will take it but I hope Woody do not overlook the part of the game because of the win. Go Hawks!!!!! Now the Falcons can make my Thanksgiving complete!!!

I can finally put the bottle away...that is a good thing right!!! GO HAWKS

According to the AJC here is what we are going after...... HAWKS REPORT Hawks pursue ex-Grizzly Thomas By SEKOU SMITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 11/23/05 The Hawks are pursuing center John Thomas, who was released by the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday. Thomas, a 6-foot-9, 265-pound four-year NBA veteran, played in just three games with the Grizzlies. But he averaged 2.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in limited minutes off the bench in Minnesota last season. He could help fill a huge void for the Hawks behind starting center Zaza Pachulia, whose backup, Jason Collier, died last month of a heart attack. "We're talking to his agent and trying to see if we can possibly get something done" Hawks general manager Billy Knight said before Wednesday night's game against Boston. "[Hawks assistant coach] Greg Ballard had him in Minnesota and speaks highly of him. He's a big guy and good locker room guy, a guy who sets good screens and loves to bang and work inside. So we definitely have an interest in him." The Hawks couldn't claim Thomas off waivers Wednesday because the NBA office shut down at 2 p.m. for the Thanksgiving break. And other than the scheduled games for today, teams aren't allowed to conduct business on the holiday. They're not even allowed to practice. THANKSGIVING SPIRIT: Hawks coach Mike Woodson and his family will take part in the Hosea Williams Feed the Hungry Thanksgiving Dinner today at Turner Field. Woodson volunteered at the all-day affair last year, where he said countless volunteers serviced between 15,000 and 20,000 of Atlanta's homeless and hungry. "Out of all the years I've been a part of Christmas or Thanksgiving events, that event is the most awesome I've ever seen," Woodson said. "It's sad on one hand to see that many people come to a facility to get fed, bathed, clothed, haircuts and their hair done. They have spiritual counseling. They do it all. And I think what they're doing is unbelievable. I spent half a day there last year, and I went home raving to my wife and daughters about what I experienced and thought it would be great for them to experience it as well." Woodson said Knight and his family would join his at the event this morning. Woodson also encouraged his players to come out as well. "It's something I think everybody needs to experience for themselves at least once in their life," he said. "It's really unbelievable." LINEUP STILL IN FLUX: Woodson said he still hasn't settled on a permanent starting lineup. And he won't until he sees significant progress from a particular group. "I think when you're 0-9, you've just got to keep pushing until you find the right buttons," Woodson said. "I've just got to keep juggling guys until we get the right combination to help us win. I'm not saying these guys aren't playing hard. They are playing hard. We just haven't come to grips with the little things. We might go a game where we turn it over or can't make free throws. We just haven't had a game where we've put it all together.

He lost 55 lbs and reports say he is looking good. Shawn Kemp: The Reign-Man Is Back November 22, 2005 By Eric Johnson Video : KOMO 4 NEWS The former Sonic is on the road to recovery after a myriad of problems that plagued him through his career. Watch Video Video requires the use of the free QuickTime Player. Tools Email This Story Printer-friendly Version HOUSTON - He knows he screwed up. And he knows what you think the moment you hear the name "Shawn Kemp". He grew up right before our very eyes -- we met him when he was just 18. We watched a supernova of raw talent explode, and then collapse back into itself like a black hole. We saw him turn his back on Seattle, and then ultimately on himself. He can't take it back. It doesn't work that way. But he desperately wants to change the last chapter; the final act. And that's why Shawn Kemp is back. "When all that stuff was going on, I never got a chance to talk to anybody... no one really asked me... there was so many things written about me that wasn't true... talked about me that wasn't true... and that's the thing as a person that bothers me the most," Kemp said. "Like I said, when you're in that spotlight, and when something like that happens, you get sent off to this rehab place... all these people talking about you as a drug addict... what you find is you kind of go into a shell. You don't want to talk about it because you already know what the person is thinking about it." Do you remember what it was like before he left? Or have you forgotten that the Reign-Man, the man-child, did things on a basketball court that few, if any, ever did before -- or since. If you loved what he was, then you were disappointed by what he became: overweight, overpaid, and then overnight, just over. The last time we saw him was in a courtroom. He'd been picked up in a car with a friend, and a bag of marijuana, a little cocaine, and a loaded pistol. "I've definitely learned from this," Kemp said. "It's not a place I'm familiar with, and you shall not see me back in this position again." Today he swears he didn't know about any of the drugs, and promises the incident changed him forever. "I had already planned to get in shape; I was already working out at that time. And then that happened... "Of all the things I've done -- been out drinking, used drugs... to never be caught, then all the sudden to be caught when you're not doing something... if that don't change you, nothing will ever change you." And so he dropped everything 6 months ago and moved to Houston with a trainer. No drinking. No partying. Just sweat and resolve -- and oatmeal 3 times a day. He's lost 55 pounds. "If you're a professional athlete and you've been to the top, you...you know how to get back there," he said. Still larger than life, Shawn talks openly now about things he's kept locked up for years. Like cocaine. "If anything I could do all over again, I probably should have come out and talked about it a little bit more," he said. "Maybe been a little bit more open. The drug problem has never been that bad. I'm not gonna say I've never done drugs, because I have. But I think my personal demons were more of just my life... mismanaging my life, not just with drugs." Back when everything was falling apart, Sports Illustrated did a cover story that claimed he had 7 children with multiple women. Shawn said nothing. "I mean there's no doubt about it, I have kids. I'm not gonna sit here and deny that," Kemp said. "But I never talked to S.I....they never called me to ask any questions. They put that story in the magazine without getting contact or anything, so... "I'm sitting her in front of you guys and I'm gonna tell you this: Man, when you're growing up as a kid and they tell you this, they say, 'Hey, if you get in trouble and you have a lot of people around, 10 friends, people close to you and you think they're gonna help you out if something goes sour, everybody goes away.' Yeah...and I mean that." To see him walk on a basketball court now, is to believe that he can make it back to the top of the mountain. His face lights up; he grins like a kid, plays hoops like a kid. He's changed. He's the Reign-man again. Very soon, he'll work out for a handful of NBA teams. The motive is not money. Shawn's been wise -- he's financially set. He turns 36 next week, and he says the comeback's not about reputation or redemption. It's strictly between the man and his game. "I'm shooting for the Hall of Fame Eric; that's what I'm going for," Kemp said. "Obviously I owe something to the game of basketball at this point and that's what I'm gonna try to do. "You live and you learn...that's what I've learned. I can't go back and change things...or change myself. But I accept things for what they are, the mistakes I've made, the good things I've done...I'm just a kid that grew up and uh, I'm a grown man now and I mean that, I've strived to get where I'm at now, and I'm gonna try to get better." He's in great shape, he's cleaned up his messes, and he's happy again. And believe this: whether he ever plays another minute in the NBA or not, the Reign-man is back.

I am with you on the substitutions. I believe the personnel we have does not make it easy to run a system. The one position we need to make any offense go is a PG and we do not have a true one on the team.

Your arguement is exactly why Chill should come in with the second unit. He may need to be on the floor when he is looked at as a main scoring option.

Before I would go for a trade like this, I would have to know the contracts for these players. I know Villanueva is a rookie, but Miller and Wilcox contracts could be up soon. We can't keep gutting our team every year and hope we turn this thing around.

Can someone tell me what kind of offense we run? I see all the trade post but no one ever say if the trade would work in our system. I notice all kinds of players being mention but will they actually fit? Are we a half-court offense or run and gun? I know BK like big, long, athletic players because it causes matchup problems but sometime I feel this team was built for a pick-up game at Run and Shoot.

I agree...the Hawks have been really hurt by one position so far this year and that's the guard play. With the exception of JJ who plays 39 mins per and Salim who actually comes off the bench, the Hawks Guards have been terrible. D Smith and Ivey are not ready for the NBA at all. Both need to take their game overseas where they would fit in with the talent level. Childress so far have not lived up to the hype and who knows when Delk will be back (after a few games he would back on the DL). J Williams (if healthly) would be an upgrade.

I think this is how the Hawks went into the Hornets game thinking this game would be easlier to win than their previous eight. Their game showed the were not agressive, lazy, and playing with no heart when the Hornet ran away with the game. It took a couragous effort from Salim to get back into the game. The Falcons has the same problem letting a team jump all over them before they start playing.

This is the team second year under his system. I watch the Lakers last week and they looked bad because no one knows Jackson's system but Kobe. I will be the first to say I am not sure what is Woody's system most of the time. I know they are running the triangle in LA. But... We have had the biggest turnover of personnel in the past two years.....I do not see where he has had a fair shake at the job

Every team is going to win eventually, but I honest thought the Hawks would win first. We have a more complete team without all the distractions. I bet no one would have put their money on them against Miami.

First of all, I would like to let everyone know how I have enjoyed reading your posts. I have not engaged with some of you since the old Hawks Vent in the AJC. It's good to talk to real Hawks fans because there is not a lot of us out there and everyday we are losing fans because of our horrible play. The real problem with the Hawks is we all (Owners, GM, Coach, and Fans) thought we built a good foundation last year with Childers, Smith, and Harrington. So our management went out and attempted to build on that for the future. With the exception of Harrington for the most part Childers and Smith have not live up to expectations. JJ will never be the point we are looking for if he has to carry the scoring load every night. I know Smith gained muscle in the off season and provide us with some defense inside some nights, but everyone was counting on him being a scoring option this year. For you all who say Woody has not develop these players, tell me who developed Kobe (Jackson), Lebron (New coach this year so you can't give him the credit) AI (Larry Brown, who admittly did not talk to AI much during his day in Philly, the point is these player have to develop their game on their own and it's obvious our players did not do that. Until these players who we entrusted so much our the future of the Hawks on start to produce some results on a consisted basic we are doomed to another long year being the butt of all NBA jokes.