HAWKEYE

Quote: I think with JJ it is more about him avoiding contact than not whining to the refs. For example, instead of going strong to the hole where someone is going to send him to the line he likes to use the tear drop shot that avoids contact and is unlikely to draw fouls. He also doesn't really try to do the Reggie Miller pump your guy in the air and jump into him technique that I think would be effective. No he doesn't have that Reggie Miller- Walt Frazier- Earl "The Pearl" pump move and the tear drop does avoid contact but he was "deserving" of "more" calls with his "present game" that you see on a nightly basis since he has been with the Hawks. Until he played for the Hawks where he has taken his game more inside being our primary option and ball handler he was more of a perimeter player with Phoenix. Teams have ganged up on him thinking if you stop him you stop the team and he has been roughed up, bumped and fouled in the process. Steve Smith has pointed this out, in fact the radio and TV announcers have.

JJ REALLY needs to step up his aggressiveness in getting to the line. I think we can agree that JJ is very passive when it comes to working the refs or stating his case and thats why he does not and maybe will not get his fair share of calls. I know some people on this board hate the whiners on this team but if its directed to the refs to keep their heads in the game somebodies got to do it. The refs can effectively tune Woody out ranting up and down the sideline but when your captain on the floor doesn't speak up what are you left to do?

"Swat" you probably remember the final drill after the scrimmage where all the players lined up from end to end the length of the court. They raced across the width of the court and touched the other side and ran back and forth. It was obviously a drill to see who had something left in their tank at the end of the scrimmage. I would guess they ran appx. 10 times back and forth. Well appx. half way thru this drill Shell led everyone with his long powerful strides and it wasn't until the last 2 or three laps that the guards (Lue, Chalmers, and ??Ivey maybe) caught up with him and past him and finished together. Shell does have some stamina and some speed.

Whats the world coming to !! LA Clippers beaten by CSKA Moscow Saturday 94-75 !! Philadelphia 76ers lost to FC Barcelona 104-99 Thursday !! No US Heavyweight Boxing Champions !!. All 4 are Russian or Eastern European !!

Quote: how did shelden look? It's obvious that no plays are drawn up for Shell. To me it seemed he was JJ's designated picker trying to open inside lanes for JJ and any other offensive traffic lanes. He is learning his way around on the inside. He is more a glue guy right now which won't help his stat sheet. He is getting bottled up inside and his strength is not dominant yet. His points will come slowly in the flow of the offense. This is not the summer league team and he has only officially been with our core guys one week.

Hey "V" it was great meeting you at the practice. As I stated before on another post I remember Josh rainbowing 3's from each corner and from the top of the key. He did show he can drill from all over.

As our team keeps more games within striking distance. How many games were decided in the NBA by 5 pts. or less. If JJ does not get those calls which can be 3pts.+ swings if the opposition takes it down and scores. That can make a difference each time that it happens. The cumulative effect that it happens can make a huge difference at the end of the game. Marvins game needs those calls too. The new guy generally does not get those calls but JJ should deserve more.

Any one who watched yesterdays scrimmage at the open practice I think can see how those two can play off each other. JJ is our unquestioned 1st option. Lue and Josh took quick kickouts at the perimeter for open looks. Marvin with that killer crossover with those super long arms if his man hesitates for a second he has that giant step and he's in and around him. His inside outside and midrange game is coming around rather smoothly. Even though he was playing for the other team in the scrimmage one could see the possibilities for the 2nd option. No question, Josh Smith is still a possibility. Everything is still open as this team finds an identity. Marvins man to man coverage with those arms will create turnovers (deflections, blocks, steals). Is it just me, I think JJ is not getting near the calls he should get when he gets roughed up inside because he does not (work) the refs. He is a little too gracious. Even scrimmage refs did not give him calls he should have gotten.

Esteban is still like a human wrecking ball. If he gets anything close to 20 minutes in a game he can be counted on for some very hard fouls to soften things up inside. Shell was JJ's designated screener on many plays following him on either side and in front to free him up. Everyone there might have their own highlights but one for me was Marvin completely smothering a drive by JJ at the basket on the left side and cramming the ball in JJs hands going up and coming down in one long motion. The crowd went wild on that one.

Hey it was great meeting you at the scrimmage. I agree Andreas Glyniadakis (I call him "Andres the Giant") maybe a keeper along with Freije who still has great range on his shot. None of the the other guards distinguished themselves i.e. Chalmers or Boseman.

Sorry I duplicated the post.Was not aware of the other one.

Good to meet some of the Squawkers at the open practice. Long lines for the autograph session for Dominique and the players. Lots of interest among the public who are not familiar with this site but are very much interested in it. Lets get the word out! Observations... Marvin is looking good. Its only practice but I see him improving on the defensive end with more deflections, more blocks, and more steals. The offensive end improvement looks for real too. The plan I guess for the game was to have him go against Josh Smith and he did well. Josh Smith rained 3 pointers from both corners and at the top of the key. His stroke is very smooth now and shows he has been working on it. I hope he doesn't fall in love with the perimeter because there is lots of damage he could cause inside potentially. Zaza did not play. Still has that huge bandage covering those stitches over his eye. Solomon Jones has a large boot on one foot. Did he break a ankle of foot? Salim has lost lots of weight while he is faster he looks a little frail. The two teams to start the game were Lue- JJ - Shell - Lo Wright- Josh Smith against Salim - J Chill - Andres the Giant the 7 ft Greek guy - Andre Brown - Marvin.

LOL! LOL! SWAT you're a riot !! My drink or drown days are in the distant past. I'm really looking forward to the open practice. The last one I made it to was when SAR was with the team and the Hawks had it at his old high school in Marietta. I'm hoping we can meet after the doors open at Woodward and for the Squawkers who are still fired up maybe get together afterwards.

Great idea Diesel! But when do they open on a saturday morning. Malones is on Virginia Ave. near I-85 near the airport.

HAWKSQUAWKERS UNITE !! Let's meet for the Hawks open practice at Woodward Academy this saturday Oct. 7th. It is from 10-12 am. Doors open at 9. It is the day before my birthday and I'll be in da house. "Swat Guy" that school should be near you. How should we identify each other for the ones who don't want to be ghost writers on this forum.

Any word on our #3PG Ivey. He is listed on the training camp roster as 6'4" 215 lbs. Move over Josh Smith, Ivey must be growing still and working out. He has been listed at 6'3" 200 lbs. With Claxton out a few weeks he might get a "little" time again at starter or move up to 2nd. Does Bozeman work himself into the mix?

We needed a veteran back up with a mean streak last season to help Z and his game might be a little further along the line to improve upon. Some times he would be tough and other times going to into that silly flopping that even the TV commentators would laugh at it. Sometimes he would keep Steve Smith in stitches. Lets get more serious. I expect 14 and 8 from him.

Quote: i dont understand why vick passing has not improved since coming in the league. we will not go any where in post season if we cant pass the ball. He has to be more consistent. He looked lost in the New Orleans game and I've seen that same look occassionally in every season that he has been in the league. I'm sure he is tough on himself but he needs to always inspire and motivate his teammates and not have that mentally beat look especially early in the game after he makes a bad play.

Quote: You're right on. Those red zone problems might come back to bite us big time against better opponents. We definitely need to get Jerious Norwood more touches. He is a game changer and I have not heard an explanation on why he only had 1 carry in the New Orleans game when we needed something like that. Its obvious when they interview anyone on the team that they get immediately excited about what he can do. We need to channel into what he brings. The thing that we do miss about having traded Duckett is the way he would just level some folks and batter his way in the red zone to the end zone. The Falcons have a WIN NOW mentality and these things need to be addressed next game rather than evolving over the season. I remember the old Chicago Bears made up their minds to just hand the ball over to their biggest lineman "The Refrigerator" and just bust their way into the endzone and laughed their way to some scoring. "Perish the thought" the thought of Grady Jackson carrying the ball. Most of the red zone would be his jersey. lol

You're right on. Those red zone problems might come back to bite us big time against better opponents. We definitely need to get Jerious Norwood more touches. He is a game changer and I have not heard an explanation on why he only had 1 carry in the New Orleans game when we needed something like that. Its obvious when they interview anyone on the team that they get immediately excited about what he can do. We need to channel into what he brings.

I know Woody will get all the heat but what do you think of the job our assistants are doing. They are responsible for much of the one on one workouts, player development, practice, in game adjustments and head coach suggestions. Larry Drew -- Herb Brown -- Bob Bender -- Greg Ballard-- David Fizdale -- Pete Radulovic . Some very successful teams have former NBA coaches with lots of experience. Herb Brown, Larry Brown's older brother, has the most experience. Do some "seem" to be little more than clip board carriers.

Powder Springs,Ga.

Quote: Chill would not be able to crack the 5 but if he flipped the script with some dread locks he would get noticed more. I have to say that I am surprised at how many are listing Chill. For me, he needs a mean streak. Dreadlocks, goggles and/or some muscle mass needed. See I did not mention shot technique until last. lol 1 JJ -smooth-under control-deserves more calls from refs 2 Lue -mean streak-last year a 4th quarter contributor

Chill would not be able to crack the 5 but if he flipped the script with some dread locks he would get noticed more.

Quote: Quote: I think Grundy is the better defender. He picked people's pockets all day in the Summer leagues. [/indent] His offense is definitely superior to Ivey's. He did well in the developmental league leading his team with 19+ pts a game. When allowed to play his game he's got a blend of mid-range, slashing and a little perimeter to get inside. A good insurance policy for Speedy and Lue. We would miss their scoring. Correction -- Couldn't line that up properly