khaos7

Did anybody catch Woody jawing with the ref during the game telling him, "You're going to get a nice note from me...when you watch the tape, you'll [see I'm right]!" I'm paraphrasing, but it was too funny. Guess the ref was making too many bad calls and Woody said the league would here from him.

Way to avoid the trap!

I agree. No excuse for us not to crash the boards. The only way this team outrebounds us is if we don't hustle. Plain and simple.

Asking for Acie to get extended minutes on a Woody coached team may be asking too much. If we throw up a bunch of jumpers and leave guys like Noceni unguarded behind the arc (as we've been prone to do) this game can be more interesting than it should be. I wouldn't play around with these guys. I'd treat them the way we were accustomed to being treated when we were at the bottom of the heap: toy with them and blow'em out of the water. Some of the good will the team gained in the past few games would be lost if we lost to this team. Don't let Kevin Martin become the second coming of Oscar Robinson!

Sac Newspaper This is not a game for the Hawks to revert back to their old ways. We need to impose our will on this team early. I forgot we only beat these cats by 5 points...after the trade....when we last played them. We can't play down to their level. We played down to Indiana's level in the first half of that game. Let's not mess around. Let's beat them and send them on their merry way.

My question would be, in light of the Jermaine O'Neil/Shawn Marion trade, do we need to respond by making a trade for another big? Granted O'neil doesn't stay healthly. However, suppose he does? Also, after the injuries to Smith and Horford, would it hurt to get another big? Perhaps we should try and trade our first rounder (which won't be that high) and an expiring contract for a Chris Wilcox? After losing Smith and Horford, it's clear that Solo and especially Randolph aren't what we need. Granted Solo played solid minutes. However he stayed in foul trouble, Woody didn't really install any confidence in him, and he was that much of a scoring threat. Plus, Woody would prefer a veteren big anyway. I know cap space is limited, the Thunder would have to want to make that deal, and we'd have to have attractive pieces to tempt them. That said, we know Wilcox is open to be traded and the Thunder is willing to do a deal. Why not initiate the conversation? Sund has ties to the Thunder. That may give him the inside track.

Defending home court will be crucial. During the playoff run, teams are protecting their home court and stealing wins on the road. We've got to keep up the pace at the Highlight Factory.

Here are our thirty remaining games: @ Lakers @Sacramento @Portland @Utah @Denver Miami Cleveland @Washington @Knicks @Charlotte Detroit New Orleans Utah Indiana Portland Sacramento Dallas @Cleveland Minnesota San Antonio Boston Lakers @Philly @Boston Orlando @Toronto @Milwaukee Indiana Miami @Memphis

There are several variables at play. 1) Woodson has to design plays to match his skillset. I believe that this has been an issue from day one. 2) Marvin must improve his game and become more aggressive He's been doing that. Granted, I'd like to see him finish around the rim better. That said, he's improved his three point stroke, he gets to the line better than just about everyone on the team with the exception of Josh Smith. He's developed a little sweeping hook type shot. 3) The distributors on the team have to do a better job finding him. Again, point one comes into play with this one. Remember two years ago when Joe went out for the season? Josh and Marvin's play went up substantially. That's not a knock on Joe. However, I think Woodson puts so much pressure on Joe and the team to get Joe the ball (which can be justified given he's our purest scorer) that plays aren't drawn up to exploit the unique talents of the guys around him. I'm not knocking Woody (which is easy to do), but I think putting your players in position to succeed is crucial to winning. Case in point: Josh Smith has been playing better ball. One, because he's not taking long jumpers and two Woody has actually been drawing up plays for him in the post. It's paying off. It's a two way street. Marvin is very coachable. I just think he has to be utilized properly. I believe Marvin is doing his part. It is time for Woody to do his.

I remember Sekou had a blog very recently saying Josh worked with Mark Price before and after a practice on his FT's. See the link below: [email=http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/hawks/entries/2009/01/29/numbers_game.html]AJC...Sekou 1/29 I'm not a Josh apologist. However, I really believe dude is frustrated by what's going on with his FT's. He's never been Reggie Miller at the line. However, he was reliable. I think he's in a funk. Granted, it hurts towards the end of games. That said, I think based off Sekou's blog from last week, he's just as frustrated (if not more) than we are. As long as this thing doesn't escalate into a Chuck Knoblauch throw to first issue, he'll be okay.

We need to come out with a sense of urgency against this team. They've embarrassed us the last 3-4 games (going back to last year's push for the playoffs). Devin Harris will be at his explosive best and undoubtedly, soft a$# Vince Carter will be motivated (I can't stand this cat). We need to make a statement tonight against this team.

Vince Carter will be motivated tonight. Click here...

I'm with you on this 1000%. 790 does a fair job...at best. They are supposed to be the flagship station. Yet, after 6:30pm in most areas in the metro area, you can't hear them (let alone a Hawks game at 7:00pm or later). 680 treats them as an after thought. It's a joke. Unlike most ATL natives, I'm not a part of the majority that clamors for college football (Georgia Bulldogs football more specifically) and its ridiculous BCS Bowl System. The Hawks fanbase is severely underserved. This city actually loves basketball. The ratings prove it. The way the city embraced the Hawks in the 80's and parts of the 90's proves it as well. The abundance of losing turned a lot of people off. That coupled with the influx of people moving in from other cities (with loyalties to teams from their hometowns) play a major role in the attendance. That said, we are on the upswing. You'd think the team would get more pub from local stations. Funny thing is, when Hawks talk comes up on the local stations, its hard to call in. At least that has been my experience.

I agree. All four will be tough. If we play defense like we've done (with the exception of the Bulls game, which I think was meant to be a shoot out based off the kind of shots both teams were hitting) I can see us going at least 2 and 2 on this next stretch. I can live with that. For all of my criticism towards Woody, he has the guys playing good D during important stretches. We do that, we'll win. We just have to stop the Lopezes, Dieners, Daniels, and Hayes of this world from looking like the second comings of Kareem, Stockton, Pippen, and Jordan. No knock on those guys, but we have a tendency to allow bench/role players look like All Stars.

I agree. Fortunately for us, Ford is out (and I think Dunleavy). That said, we can't make Jack and Diener the next coming Kidd and Magic. We need to stamp out these two teams.

I'm as thrilled as anybody about our Hawks. However our next four games (Indy, NJ, Orlando and Houston) will be telling. Believe it or not, Houston and Orlando don't concern me as much as Indy and NJ. Our worst losses of the year (Indy blew us out and NJ beat us back to back nights) came against the Nets and Pacers. Clearly, these teams aren't as good as us. However, dating back to last year, we have fits against these teams. It will be interesting to see how we respond. Conseco gives us nightmares. I honestly believe we need to beat those two teams. We can't stop Granger, but we must contain him. The same thing goes for Devin Harris. It's time to make a statement against these little sisters in the the East.

Exactly. I believe Joe conceded 2008-09. Selling rebuilding to that fanbase may have been a bitter pill to swallow. Bringing Iverson was a money saving move, under the guise of "look we're still trying to win." Iverson sells tickets and he's competitive. Remember, a GM's responsiblity is putting a good product on the floor to inspire fan interest and profitiblilty. Trading Billups for draft picks (ie Billy Knight) may have wrecked whatever chemistry the current team has and discouraged fans from coming out. Do you think Rasheed would go for rebuilding? Although the Pistons aren't championship contenders, they are still a decent team, they have star power, and they still can sell tickets. Thus, unlike our rebuilding process, they are still profitable. The move created major cap flexiblity without turning fans away by saying outright "we're rebuilding and going young." In the long run, if the Pistons land Wade, Bosh, or James and pairs one of them with the core of the team (Hamilton, Prince, Stuckey), Dumars will look like a genius.

My bad Traceman...I did say automatic! lol! I still think we should win the game...

Ah...you got me! Seriously though, I think we should win the game! Gots to be more careful...

Nobody said the win should be automatic. However, if a team loses THREE STARTERS and the expectation for any team competing for a playoff berth is a REASONABLE expectation. We shouldn't play down to their level. I wasn't pleased with our showing against the Wiz or the Bobcats...I felt the same way about those games. If this team is what we think it is, we should win. If we lose, I think we have to question where this team is.

Lets pray that scrub isn't T-Lue. Although Sessions isn't a scrub, let's pray he doesn't go for 40. Guys seem to have career nights on us.

Bogut is out. Inside presence taken away. Redd is out. First offensive weapon taken away. Ridenour is expected to be out. Main facilitator expected to be out. Richard Jefferson and Ramon Sessions better not out hustle and beat us. Smoove or no Smoove, we should win this game. If not, Woody's days should be numbered. No excuses tonight. "We weren't ready to play." "We didn't show up." "Our guys got out hustled." "We didn't show up on the defensive end." None of that. This should be an automatic W. It shouldn't even be close.

We also could have had the win if the refs didn't call tick tack fouls.

Lets call it like it is...this was a poorly officiated game. Period. I commend our guys for hanging tough. But we played against the world champs, the crowd and the refs. Granted we made some stupid fouls (Morris, Solo). However, Joe Johnson barely got any calls. And he's an All-Star! I don't believe in consolation prizes. The refs aided their cause. but we'll be back...

If the Hawks win tonight (or lose), people shouldn't throw them under the bus or anoint them the NBA champions. It's easy for fans to experience to either want to jump off the bandwagon or "nut up." But, it's still early in the season. I don't like the matchup on the back to back. However, if they lose, lets not start the "fire Woody" "Solo needs more time" and "We suck without Smooth" topics. Let's stay even keeled and enjoy this team. I can't believe I'm saying it, but we actually have a good NBA team in this city! Where art thou, Mookie Blaylock?