Atlantaholic

The Josh Smith era in Atlanta needs to end. There have been some nice moments for sure, but now the whole thing has run its course. I can't even watch games anymore because it turns my stomach to see Josh play offense. He looks like the reincarnation of Toine.

I don't know. This trade would just diminish my interest in the sport. Rivals can't just switch teams like that IMO. So now the Hawks will be the Celtics and the Celtics will be the Hawks. I can't wrap my head around this.

Hmmm... Cleveland has one of the worst rosters I've ever seen in my life. Hard to expect Kyrie to get many assists (or wins) passing to Alonzo Gee, Daniel Gibson, Triston Thompson, and Don Waivers. You take Karie and Varejao (who's injured) out of that lineup and you are talking about a legitametly NBDL type of roster. Furthermore Kyrie is only 20 years old and it is extremely common for young PGs to pile on the turnovers. I also don't understand how you say there are a lot of signs that point towards him being the problem since he leads his team in almost every single statistical category, including offensive win shares, TS% (by a mile), points, assists, steals etc. While the turnovers are ugly, you have to consider that they are at least somewhat inflated since Kyrie is pretty much asked to be the teams leading scorer, only ball-handler, and passer. On the other hand, while Kyrie may not have figured out just yet how to run the point effectively (and probably won't until Cleveland signs at least one other starting caliber NBA player) the man can score at an incredible level. He has more 30 points game this week than Horford does in his entire career. And don't give me the "anyone can score 30 on a bad team" line, because there aren't many players in the NBA right now who can average 27 points on 50% field goal shooting (43% on threes, 90% from the line) for a whole month on ANY team. We are talking about Lebron / Durant type of numbers here. (his team is 7-7 during that stretch including a thrashing of the Hawks, and that's without Varejao) What's funny to me is that when we were a perennial bottom feeders we would get mad over our players getting snubbed based off of the teams' record. Now we want our players in because of our record. Horford is nothing more than a role player who occasionally strings together superb games. After three straight seasons of 15-16 points and 9-10 rebounds a game we should just accept the fact Horford is a Christian Laettner type of player and nothing more, and just be grateful as fans that he got into multiple All Star games as it is. If Horford was so incredibly valuable how do you explain us basically not missing a beat all of last season and finishing with the fourth seed without him?? As for Josh, he doesn't deserve to be anywhere near the conversation for All Star this year, as all he has done this year is give the NBA one of the most embarrassing offensive seasons since Toine rocked a Hawks Jersey.

I have small hands and was a lights out shooter in highschool. The size of my hands never affected me. Maybe both you and Josh just need to tweak your shot until you find one that works consistently. I know that before my coach began tutoring me and showing me correct form, my shot was also wildly inconsistent. Now, even six - seven years removed from my playing days (hardly play at all due to knee issues) I can still knock it down from pretty much anywhere. Once you've got a shot that works down, small hands or no, you've got it down IMO. Problem with Josh is he's never been good at it. At least not good enough at the pro level.

The NBA is on the downside of its talent cycle right now and the east is as bad as I can ever remember it. Good thing is it gives the current team a chance to contend which makes the season interesting for Hawks fans.

He gives effort for sure, but the moment he goes in the game his man gets open at will. Looks like he is running on sand on defense. I have no problem with him playing though, I mean, he isn't Bibby bad so you can have him out there just for his shooting to give us an offensive boost off the bench. He ain't even close to starter material right now though IMHO.

Problem with Jenkins is his defense is an abomination. The dude can't get within three feet of his man it seems. As a shooter, yeah, he is as pure as it gets. A year or two of seasoning and he will be a great rotation player for us, even possibly a starting caliber player.

I agree with you mostly, but if you look at his production this year there's more going on than just suffering from lesser coaching. I mean, even compared to last year's numbers with the Nets Deron is struggling big time. At some point you have to start questioning his health or preparation. Coaching doesn't explain the dudes inability to make plays this season IMHO. More worrying still is his complete lack of leadership during this stretch for his team. I mean, can you ever imagine Chris Paul coming out and saying the things Deron said the way he said them? Blaming his play on the system? Chris Paul is playing under the freaking Vinny Del Negro system and still gets it done.

Morrow is horrible on Defense. That's the biggest problem. The only thing I give him the edge over Korver is when putting the ball on the floor, but he isn't exactly great at that either. When he is on his game he is equal to Korver as a shooter, but I feel Korver is probably a bit more consistent.

Josh Smith's jumper is like a box of chocolates - You'll get anything from absolutely laughable - Pretty on any given shot. He definitely has some of the most inconsistent mechanics on his shot that I have ever seen at the professional level.

His game has really regressed since leaving for Greece. Let this be a lesson that playing against lesser competition isn't gonna help you improve your game.Honestly, he wasn't good to begin with but now he is Mario West without defense. I'd rather sign any random guy off of the waiver wire.

I can't believe a debate existed about whether Deron or Chris Paul was the better point guard.

A frontline of Josh, Al, and Noah would be epic defensively and on the boards - Teague/Lou Williams Korver /John Jenkins Josh Smith/Stevenson Horford/Ivan Johnson Noah/ Pachulia We could be the next Detroit-esque championship team.

We really are playing as good as this current generation of Hawks has ever played. What I love the most is that players are always moving without the ball on offense. That is a sign of effective coaching (see Spurs, Jazz, Bulls), and keeps us for the most part from taking bad shots. On defense, we have a surprisingly effective blend of quickness and length, and It's fun seeing Larry Drew play mad doctor with the pieces he has available and alternate between a guard heavy lineup and a forward heavy lineup within the same game, keeping teams on their heels and forcing them to adjust on how to attack us. Our bench is also easily the best it's ever been. As weak as the East is this season with Chicago missing D-Rose and Orlando gutting the team, while other up and coming teams still to raw or with too many holes on their roster, there is no reason to think we can't continue being a top 3 team this season. If you ask me, when Carmelo finally comes down to earth a little bit (he ain't shootin 46% from three all season) it will be Miami and us vying for the number one spot in the East.

Since we are in the mid 20's as far as RPG in the league, I'm guessing in those 5 games we were out-rebounded very handily. In the games we rebound the ball well though, I'm sure we are as good as anyone outside of OKC and SA right now. We pass the ball well, score at a good clip and defend very, very well so as long as we continue to improve our rebounding we should continue to stay close to the top in the EC

Joe is stinking something awful in New Jersey. So far, he is making Ferry look like a genius.

Hopefully those rankings stay that way. I'm done with watching Josh Smith play basketball. In fact, I'm not watching another game this season until that "basketball" player is traded. What this man is doing so far this year is an insult to the game, the fans, and to himself.

Jeff Teague is the best player on this team HANDS DOWN. Horford is second place. The fact he only gets around 26 minutes a game while Josh, I don't have a single shooting percentage over 40% from anywhere on the field despite the fact I'm a PF, Smith is getting close to 40 minutes a game is a testament to how much of a complete moron Larry Drew is. Josh AND Drew both need to be removed from this team if we ever want to be anything other than first or second round playoff fodder.

Alas, it seems like that is the only Josh that exists right now. Aka = the worst offensive player in the NBA, maybe in the history of the NBA. He makes Dennis Rodman look like Alex English.

Getting Gasol for him right now would be a complete steal.

Josh Smith has been a complete and utter abomination this season so far. I'd trade him for Cal Bowdler.

Teague has played amazing really. Hard to figure he can keep producing at this pace (18 and 9 per 36 minutes) but he has looked better at running the point so far than I ever thought he'd look at this stage. Finally looks like we drafted a project that is working out for once.

The nickname "Smoove" is sheer irony at this point.

It's also valuable to use a guy who has been in the playoffs with three different teams, playing three different roles. The guy is a veteran and he has been in big moments in good teams. Morrow has put up decent numbers in cellar dwellars, Jenks is a rookie. Huge difference.