PoppaFritz

What happened to JJ when he was a Hawk? Did they just not resign him?

Hello!!!! I was saying he wouldn't make the All-Star team playing in Chicago.

I don't think we are going to get any where on this, but you underestimate what KG does. Lifting=making his teammates better. KG consistently does this. KG would do this for any team, including NJ. I agree Kidd is the best point guard in the game and he makes his teammates better but KG is just as valuable to his teammates. I think NJ would still be a playoff team without Kidd, especially in the weak Eastern conference. Without KG, Minnesota is about as good as the Grizzlies.

I think you are wrong saying Wally would be an All-Star in Chicago. Wally needs a player like KG to draw the defense to create his shot and get open looks. Jalen isn't going to get the attention KG does. The attention KG gets from opposing defenses makes his teammates better. And he is talented enough and unselfish enough to find the open man. i.e. making his teammates better.

KG is not only the engine of the T-Wolves "car", he is also the driver, mechanic and would wash the car if it would help them win. Their team, "car" goes no where without him.

He absolutely lifts the players around him. Put Jason Kidd on this team and they don't make the playoffs. He attracts so much attention, players like J.Smith, Nesterovic, Hudson, even Wally would have trouble scoring without him. What other 7 footers rank in the top 15 in the league in assists and still average 23 points a game. I don't see anyone in the league that does more for his team. Talent wise this team is toward the bottom of the league, KG makes them as good as they are, period!

Besides Shaq, no one changes the game like KG. The intangibles that he brings to that team or he would bring to any other team in the league are indispensible. He's one of the only players in the game that you can't put a value on.

It's frustrating as a Hawks fan because we are more talented than Minnesota but they have KG and he forces his teammates to lift their level of play. The fact that they are consistently in the playoffs with that roster and the punishment handed down by the league for the Joe Smith debacle, is a great testiment to the type of player and teammate KG is.

Good point. I agree they are very similar in almost eveery statistical category, except for one area....3pt shooting. I think Ira is a liability from the perimeter. Often times he finds himself not being guarded and this isn't a break down defensively, teams want him to shot. Bowen has been shooting a solid 45% from 3pt range. I agree that economically it's not a huge upgrade but overall I think Bowen's better.

I've liked the idea of getting Brent Barry for a while now. He just helps in so many areas. What would be the possibility of adding either Bruce Bowen or Eduardo Najera? I don't know their current contract situations but both of them are good defensively and are role players that help to make their teams better without demanding the ball on offense.

It shows that they get up for the bigger games and better teams. Teams that can turn it on and off are usually not that successful (except Lakers). It makes it so frustrating when they are obviously talented enough but don't have the heart to show up every night.

I think both can help a team in spurts off the bench but having to rely on either of them to play major minutes is not the answer for a playoff team. Look at the other two guards on Eastern Conference playoff teams...

1.Detroit-Rip Hamilton

2.NJ-Kittles

3.Phila-Iverson

4.Indy-Miller

5.Boston-Pierce

6.N.O.-Wesley

7.Orlando-Mcgrady

8.Milwaukee-Payton

9.Washington-Stackhouse

There's really not too many other 2 guards in the league worse than these two. This area needs to be looked at closely in the off-season.

I agree I think people get too wrapped up in offensive production but that isn't why Theo is on the floor. When he plays his role and blocks shots, rebounds, and runs the floor he is a great asset to have. There really aren't that many quality big men in the league. On a team that plays poor team defense can you imagine how bad it would be without Theo. If he can play with a mentality similar to Ben Wallace by not looking to score and just control the paint then we are much better off.

As the season started you thought the gap had closed between Conferences. Just curious what your thoughts are now.

Also, who do you and eveyone else see matching up in this years NBA Finals?

I'm glad everyone enjoyed the spirited play of a bunch of guys that will be out of the NBA in 2-3 years. I was glad to see Shareef and Terry have success and hopefully they continue to play with coinfidence. But in all honesty....Denver played us close, that's scary! Can I remind anyone that this is the 2nd worst team in the league. Our last two wins came against the Bulls and the Nuggets. I guess we can only go up from here.

Some of the main problems that everyone has with this team is chemistry, ballhandling, and perimeter shooting. I don't see how Crawford, Sprewell, and especially Fizer help us improve in these areas. The only improvement would be at 2 guard but Spree can be a cancer that won't help improve the chemistry.

If anyone needs more time to make up their mind about Terry by now they are retarded. Whether you like him or not, at least you know what he is going to give you. As far as seeing what Glover can give us let me enlighten you, he's a truck!

I would like to see JT and Dickau play more minutes together. I realize that there are many times that the match ups just won't allow this to work. Playing Ira and Dion most of the minutes at the 2 hasn't really helped us on the defensive end, like it should. Plus, the perimeter shooting and ball movement suffers. Why not try some different things, especially when the game is already out of hand and the starters look like they've given up. But that's a whole different subject that I don't want to talk about.

I will be at the game tonight and I must say I'm a little worried that the game will be a blow out. The Hawks just don't match up well with Portland. Dion and Ira will have to play alot because of the Blazers size in the backcourt. That isn't a good sign for our offense. Hopefully, Theo controls the middle and our outside shots are falling. Otherwise it will be a long night.

The good news is I will be in Seattle and I like our chances there much better. I think a .500 record for the remaining 4 road games would be a success.

I agree. There isn't enough leadership, outside shooting and what I think is most important to this team, players willing to move the ball to get good, open looks. Toni brought all of that. At the time of the trade I thought Atlanta got a steal but now it just shows how important chemistry is.

I think Musselman did a fabulous job this summer and solidified himself as one of the brightest young coaches in the league. I don't think he wanted to wait for the Hawks job to open up. And probably didn't think it would open up this soon. Heck, none of us thought we would be this bad.

Watching the Hawks lately it has been very disappointing to see them get down early and not even try to fight back. They seem content to give up when things go bad, especially if they aren't hitting shots. They don't believe they can stop anybody and feel they have to outscore opponets.

If we are looking toward next year I think we need to sign veterans who are proven winners. Look at the Lakers bench when they won their first title. They weren't the most talented group in the league but they instilled a winning attitude into a team that had never won before. Also, the Hawks need some attitude. We need players that are fighters and willing to go to war every night. It's frustrating to watch a rebound go up and only one player battling four opponets for the ball. The Hawks best players Shareef and Big Dog just don't play with emotion. If we are going to continue to rely on them for offense, we need to surround them with some players with attitude. Look at one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, Detroit. They don't have much skill but they all go to war TOGETHER every night.

I don't know who we could get or when these guys contracts are up but give me Doug Christie, Bruce Bowen, Eduardo Najera, Michael Curry, or Ron Artest anyday.

I enjoy the thoughts and ideas that everyone comes up with on this post but I think that people are expecting way to much out of Big Dog, SAR, and even JT. For the most part they have given us what should be expected. Of course it would be nice to have them play flawless basketball, but most of the time they put up very respectible numbers and even occasionally they can dominant stretches of games.

I think it is time to look at other areas of improvement. When you look around the league the top teams not only have guys that put up numbers they also have guys that compliment the "stars". Our role players are very suspect, any team that is forced to give players like Ira, Dion, Nazr, Ham, & E-mail significant minutes isn't going to be successful on a consistent basis.

It might not be possible this year but the Hawks must address their perimeter shooting, especially at the 2 guard. Ira is a sound defender but in this league he can play incredible defense and still give up 25-30 points to the other teams best scorer. The thing is he will never be able to score as much as he gives up. I don't think the Hawks need a superstar to fill this role but someone that can knock down open perimeter jumpers will allow the offense to run smoothly. And allow the main offensive weapons to find easier ways to score.

If you scroll up a couple of posts you will see when I mentioned that Ira is hurting us? F**k, Millers softness, I'll take a soft player for 25 minutes a game if it will help our scorers avoid double teams.

I don't blame you I wouldn't pay much to watch them.

But what if you paid $10 to sit in the upper deck and then at half time for an additional $1 you could move down to the lower section and sit behind the visitors basket. S**t not only are the strangest, most enthusiastic fans sitting in the upper deck but [censored] the visting team might miss a free throw toward the end of the game and the Hawks might win a close game.

Now that would be a home court advantage!

I agree but let's be honest Miller would be easier to get.

Diesel, my man. You are probably right about Kruger. A change will eventually be made. But until that happens lets talk about the players we have.

I like the idea of adding Barry, he adds ballhandling and perimeter shooting but I don't see Seattle trading him unless something incredible is thrown their way. So, how about this? Orlando has to move Mike Miller, he is too good to sit behind T-Mac and G.Hill. I would like to see teams double off of him like they do against Newble. So, get those wheels turning and figure out a trade for Miller.

I truely think Ira is a good basketball player. I don't want this to come off as an Ira bashing, but he is one of the problems with the team.

Fact is everyone's job is a little bit harder when Ira's man is roaming the court doubling the ball or sitting in the passing lane. It's interesting to see teams devote entire game plans to stopping Big Dog and Shareef, while Ira is consistently wide open. I think it is wonderful that he is shooting 46% from the floor and playing sound defense. Those are great stats for someone shooting by himself in an empty gym (Phillips Arena).

I really don't see the Hawks making any improvements without a consistent perimeter shooter at the 2 guard. Like I said Ira is not to blame for all of the problems, I think he could really help a contender. But, if this team wants to be as good as everyone thought. They need to address glaring weaknesses like Ira's shooting. Just think about the opposing teams scouting report it might go something like this???

*Apply pressure to JT, he's a good shooter but his decesion making is suspect.

*Don't guard Ira, ever!

*Let Big Dog handle the ball and wait for a poor decesion, but contest around 12-19 ft. His mid-range game is money.

*Shareef is solid, but the Hawks never put him in positions to score, so what's there to worry about?

*Theo is a fantastic shot blocker. But, completely inept on the offensive end, unless the ball falls into his hands under the basket.

*Bench: The chemistry is so poor on this teams starting 5, no need to worry about the bench, except for stretches.