FrankWhite

And Ford is way too smug criticizing someone else's draft picks considering his pre-draft touting of Darko and Pavel Podkolzin.

It's just childish, "I know more than anyone" nonsense. There's not even an attempt to actually analyze the basketball being played (of course, it's highly doubtful Ford has watched the Hawks play one minute of basketball this year). He insults the team's play, saying we're "backing into the playoffs" (wtf?), instead of making even the tiniest concession that maybe the length and athleticism of the players Knight drafted is helping us win games. Not to mention Knight hasn't been GM here for 8 years.

Quote: Tyger, Atlanta: Are you going to lick Billy Knights boots when the Hawks make the playoffs? Chad Ford: Ummm . ... no. It only took them 8 years and a horde of high lottery picks. Had they drafted Chris Paul, they would've been there two years earlier. Ditto had they drafted Luol Deng or Andre Iguodala over Josh Childress. And let's not even get started with Shelden Williams. At some point, with enough high draft picks ... you'll back into the playoffs one way or the other. I"m not sure Billy Knight should get a ton of credit for the league's longest playoff drought. This is why ESPN and especially Chad Ford are jokes.

The Wizards just match up well with the Hawks. The way I see it, though, if Smith can neutralize Jamison's production and Marvin can do the same to Butler, I think the edge, sans Gilbert, goes to us.

Quote: I think one of the biggest assets of AJ is his talking. He yells, he talks, he coaches out on the floor. And he doesnt mind telling someone who is a bigger star if they mess up. And that seems to be spreading. Horford was asked after the game if Woodson said anything to him before that last free throw, and he said Coach really didn't tell him anything but AJ and Joe propped him up after the huddle. Gotta love that.

Quote: Who is totally expendable? Solomon or Lue.

Just prepare yourself whenever Bennett Salvatore or Violet Palmer are officiating our games for every 2 out of 3 calls to go against the Hawks. They are the worst officials in the league and get starstruck by superstars.

If we could get him for next to nothing, I'd have no problem with it.

Quote: Just remember that he plays on your favorite team and he's a vital part of our current return to respectability and our future chances of becoming a legit contender. +1

It was a dirty play, the kind you used to see Karl Malone and John Stockton pull all the time. Hmm.

I'd argue AJ's been our MVP the last 2 games.

Quote: Marvin had 20 against a pretty average team. I think he can get to 26 or 27 potential if he moves more on offense. I was at the game last night and watched Marvin on EVERY SINGLE possession. He stands in the corner and doesn't try get the ball--the person passes it to him when he's in the vicinity. I love he's getting to the FT line, but I want Marvin to start shooting 3's and to try be more eager to get the ball. Why do you want him to shoot outside of his range?

Let's put the superstar label aside for a second: a simple fact is many all stars have developed at around the same pace as Marvin, including Joe Johnson. It seems now that some people can't call him a bust, they strive to find new ways to knock him. Now he has to be a "superstar" to please them.

Quote: Quote: Quote: EVERY FREAKING TIME HE GETS THE BALL, HE DOESN'T DRIBBLE, DOESN'T LOOK TO SHOOT. LOL what game were you watching? Marvin got to the ft line 10 times, more than anyone on either team. Meanwhile Smith was 4-16 with 5 turnovers. That's kinda' what I was thinking. Marvin is way more aggressive this year. Did you guys not see him try that dunk on Sheed? How is that not aggressive? Apparently, Marvin is supposed to force things that aren't there.

Well, the suspension and injuries kind of tied our hands, but I see your point. Once you get past our top 8 guys, this team is very thin, without almost no scorers. Right now it seems like we'd be better off taking a flyer on a shooter from the D-league than keeping Solo or West on the active roster.

Quote: Wow he got FT's--big deal. If he was as aggressive as he could have been, he would've scored 28. This is why he gets 16 every game...he get to the line a few times and hits a few jumpers Getting to the free throw line means you're getting a step on your man and beating him to the rim, resulting in fouls, instead of forcing the issue and throwing up prayers, which is what Josh was doing all night. Marvin isn't timid. He may be unselfish to a fault but he takes his shots when he's open and drives when he knows he can beat his man. He also is always looking to get out on the break. He sparked the team's 3rd quarter run. The problem is the offense almost never goes through him.

Wright played a good game.

I think because it's Ford and his injury history that you see people on message boards making ridiculous assertions that Horford had no business going up to contest the shot. When you're making the case that opposing players shouldn't go 100% on a given play because of the size and history of who they're playing, that's a problem.

The severity of the situation plus Mitchell's over the top reaction is the only reason that was called a flagrant 2. It's simple to see Horford was trying to make a play on the ball and just got fooled. Freak play. I'm glad Ford is okay, but anything more than a 1 game suspension and small fine for Horford would be ridiculously punitive to our team. However, I don't think Stern would want to erroneously send out the message that a good kid like Horford is dirty by handing out an excessive punishment here.

To update, Sekou's reporting in the AJC that Ford has been medically cleared and released from the hospital and will rejoin his team. Great news.

In case anyone needed confirmation... Horford’s a class act! By Sekou K Smith | Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 12:52 AM The Atlanta Journal-Constitution If I’ve learned nothing else about Al Horford the past six months, it’s that he’s a class act. That was clear the first day I met him and it was never more clear than last night, after his hard fouls sent Toronto point guard T.J. Ford crashing to the floor late in the Hawks’ loss to the Raptors at Philips Arena. I’ll be the first person to sound off in defense of this guy, because long before everyone else had vacated the premises Tuesday night, Horford made his way to Piedmont Hospital to check on Ford, who remained under observation overnight but reportedly had movement in all of his extremities. Horford was one of several people affiliated with the Hawks to go directly to the hospital to check on Ford - Dominique Wilkins and Josh Smith’s father Pete Smith were there, too - and make sure he knew that what happened was purely accidental. Horford, I’m told, waited quite a while for Ford to get done with tests just to make sure he got the chance to speak with him personally. And when told that Horford came to check on him and wanted to speak with him, Ford let it be known that he knew Horford’s lick wasn’t intentional and that he welcomed Horford to stop by and visit. None of that will make it on the highlight shows. But it’s just an example of the class shown by all involved in what was a frightening sequence, particularly for a guy (in Ford) who has dealt with spine, neck and back issues in his past. All the Hawks were concerned about Ford after the game. And you know his teammates and coaches were rightfully concerned and worried about their floor leader. I think that’s what no doubt played into the reaction of Sam Mitchell, who could have caused even more ruckus to ensue were it not for the level-headed reaction of so many of the players, from both teams, and Hawks coach Mike Woodson, all of whom tried to calm Mitchell down. It was a sobering end to a rough night for the Hawks. But the aftermath was handled with class, from Horford and everyone else involved. And, of course, prayers and well wishes for T.J. Ford are welcome here.

I agree. We catch more grief for passing on Paul than Cleveland and Denver get for drafting guys who aren't in the league anymore over Amare or Detroit gets for taking Darko over Melo, Wade and Bosh. It's ridiculous. Marvin is a good player. Childress is a good player. Were there better players on the board? Yes, but that doesn't mean we should be embarrassed with the guys we got. And with Paul here instead of Marvin and Horford and Law and with Woody still coaching, we'd probably be right where we are now.

His shot isn't falling and he's still rusty from the injury. I think he's consciously trying not to force things and just set up his teammates. He's still a rookie and he's going to have nights where he looks bad, even against non-elite competition. Have some patience.

Pathetic.

Yeah, I read where Durant is averaging the most shots per game for any rookie since Michael Jordan. The difference is Jordan hit more than 50% of his shots and averaged 28 ppg and Durant is hitting less than 40% of his. He's obviously a special talent, but I think a lot rookies would average over 20 a game if they were allowed to shoot 20 times every night.