Inside_Man

1) Lots of minutes for the young'uns. 2) A high lotto pick - (because we're lucky, not lousy) 3) Some signs of Chemistry between the players. 4) Evidence that we drafted well this year. 5) Offense from Boris.

ED GRAY!!!!!!!

"Clemens has won the big games " 0-1 postseason in 9 post season starts in his first 10 years. He always sucked in big games with Boston. Peak four years. Maddux '94 thru '97 (69-23 75%WP) Martinez '97 thru '00 (77-25 75%WP) Koufax '63 thru '66 (87-27 75%WP) Clemens '84 thru '88 (60-22 73%WP) his first 4 years. Lifetime era+ Martinez 174 Maddux 143 Clemens 140 Koufax 130 As a hard thrower, his best years were his early years, but then he could win the bigguns. For durability, no one has been better.

ESPN story

He's an idiot for opting out of 2 years and whatever$$ at GS. He's an idiot for not taking the most money on the table now. If he's injured in a year, he'll wake up some day and say, "I'm an idiot." I don't want idiots on this team.

Sure sounds like Damp wants to be in NY. Though his options are limited.

I like the deal. And for one reason only. We get rid of Hendu now. Whether AW plays for us this year, or there is more deals to come. Hendu's 8 mil of salary will be working on the floor, not sitting in street clothes on the bench. Sure, there will be more shoes to drop. Maybe this is what Damp needed to get off his a$$ and sign. But the bottom line is it means we have a lot more $$$ on the floor this year instead of in street clothes.

We Open on the West Coast! Sheesh!!! 2004-05 Hawks Schedule!

If I'm right, then everybody's waiting to see if Damp goes for an MLE offer or if GS gets a S&T offer from someone other than Memphis. If that happens, then the Hawks and Griz may go to a bidding war for Swift. But if Damp caves and signs with the Hawks, I bet Memphis signs Swift within days.

Let's say there are two possible outcomes. Outcome 1 is Damp does a S&T with Memphis with Swift going to GS. Outcome 2 is Swift signs cheap with Memphis because he gets no other offers and Damp signs cheap with Atl because he gets no other offers, then in Dec, the Swift for Damp trade goes down. Outcome #1, Memphis gets Damp loses Swift and pays a lot. Outcome #2 Memphis gets Damp loses Swift and pays cheap. Why should we offer Swift a rich contract now if we might get him cheap later? The 'come quick' teams have already overpaid for the FAs they wanted. It's now time for the savvy playahs, BK and West, to run the show. What's the rush? Training camp isn't opening anytime soon. Let these boys play poker.

Damp is one step closer to the ATL Chad Ford story here

AMEN What excites me though not only his potential, but the fact that we seem to have a coach and a GM who have a very specific plan for the type of team they're going to field, which will make their instruction of Josh S both easier and more productive. Face it, a lot of great young talents are going to be busts, and for a lot of different reasons. Yet the coach and GM can be one of those reasons so a lot of responisbility and pressure is on their shoulders to grow Josh Smith to his potential. I have a lot of confidence in both BK and Mike Woodson to pull it off.

Bite me, Bilas!!! story here

We know that if damp had an offer he liked, he'd ink it. We know that our offer is low, so he musn't like it much. The more time passes, the more likely it is that we get him.

"...and eventually, you'll see JT pop up at the top." Thanks, I figured that out about 5 seconds after I made the post. It just seems like I've gotten about 10 Travis Hansen's in a row until then.

I think it will be Woodson or McLeod.

Point #1. Detroit has broken the mold. For the past 15 years the belief was only a superstar can bring a championship. Detroit showed how perimeter defense can bring a championship. Point #2. An article last year made the case that the most effective way to bring offense back to the NBA would be to widen the court. The narrow court makes it easier to close off passing and penetration lanes. Of course, a wider court won't happen, as it would cost owners too much seat revenue in the short run, even if a better game made for more revenue in the long run. Point #3. The way you play the new perimeter defense game is with wingspan. The court is 34 feet wide. If you equally space 3 players with 7 ft wingspans across the court, what is the space between each other's fingertips, and for the guys on the ends, their fingertips and the edge of the court? Answer --- Fifteen measly inches. That's why Livingston went #4 and Nelson went #whocares. If you can field a gifted defensive team with 7ft wingspans at the 1, 2 and 3 spots, then you're playing the NBA game of the future. And the future is now. That's why it would have been awesome to get Livingston, but even though we didn't, BK's picks showed he understands the future of the NBA. If in a couple of years we have Diaw at the 1, Childress and the 2, and Smith at the 3, then we can have championship perimeter defense, assuming we get a coach who can get the players there. Speaking of the future, did you notice JT's pick isn't on the top of the Hawk's home page? It's Travis Hansen. JT's days are numbered I suspect.

What about Ekezie?

" it sounds like our perimeter Defense could be phenomenal down the road. " Yup. And Detroit showed that perimeter Defense is the future. Bk wants a court full of Tayshun Price's.

It sounds dogmatic, but I don't want the third PG drafted. I remember what happened last time we did that. Third best wasn't good enough.

I'm concerned the Clips take Livingston at #4. I also think Josh Smith is gone by #17. I like Humphries there though.

NBA contracts are guaranteed, NFL are not. Can you imagine how many YEARS ago Hendu would have been cut if he didn't have a guaranteed contract? Hoop salaries are a joke. Q. If you cut salaries in half and cut ticket prices in half, how much would attendance climb in Atl?

But why would he asked to be waived? Is he giving up his paycheck? Or if no one claims him are the Hawks still paying him?