Jody79

If David Anderson can defend, rebound and be a prescense defensively that makes other teams not want to drive the ball and shoot jump shots, then I'm all for him. However, if he's soft, can't jump and only offers a spot up jump shot, we NEED to look elsewhere. We need better interior and team defense. Finding a center who will solidify our front court DEFENSIVELY is what will make the hawks better and give them more opportunities to run. It's clear that Marvin should come of the bench next year.

Agreed. If the Hawks think that they can win anything meaningful long term by being a one trick pony (only a running team), then they're fooling themselves. They need a couple of low priced centers because when the game slows down, you have to score in the half court and you can't do that without a dominant post prescense. When Horford is moved back to the 4 and Smith to the 3, we'll have two of them and it will make the game so much easier in the half court set.

You're right. Size is not the only factor. However, all those guys you mentioned were very strong, LOVED contact in the paint, had big frames and had banger's mentalities. You can't simply give a guy this type of mentality. Either they have it or they don't. Josh is no banger. He's more successful when he faces up and dives to the basket. He's not a physical player. Al Horford on the other hand is a guy who fits right in with the players you mentioned. Horford will become a STAR at his natural position of power forward. Does that mean Josh has to go? Of course not. Many claim that playing him at the three would be a disaster. Not true. He came into the league playing that position and did VERY well for a kid straight out of high school. He even started at the two guard spot in a game against Detroit in which they blew the Pistons out in Detroit. He blocked 10 shots in a game against Dallas playing the small forward. If the hawks could improve their interior defense and rebounding (which is critical to winning) by adding a couple of decent big men, why not do it? Josh can play some power forward but, why should he have to when he's not a true power forward? I would think adding a couple of decent centers would give the hawks more depth. Why force guys to battle bigger guys every night when they don't have to.

Good point but, there's only been one Dennis Rodman and Josh Smith isn't that. We need more size.

I agree and understand your points but, without Mr. Smith, the hawks are at home watching this game on t.v. He does have things to work on but CLEARLY, his positives far outweigh any negatives.

I agree. It's not likely that Josh gets traded due to his restricted free agent status and value. That said, there have been some talking about trading him for Biedrins or Okafor. It's nonsense. This guy has played big in big games all year. The hawks need to add two solid centers to go with Horford and Smith up front. They don't have to be offensive minded centers. Just two guys who will play like they're 6'10 and 6'11 instead of like they're 6'1. Controlling the paint and the boards improves everything especially when you have the size to do it. Just ask the Celtics.

That maybe true but, the REAL reason that the Hawks won this game again is because they limited the 2nd chance points and controlled the boards. ALOT of that has to do with size on most nights. The hawks got it done tonight because Josh Smith and Al Horford played really well on the boards. People ask why they can't do this everynight and a big reason why they can't is because they have problems controlling the paint and glass and that's directly related to them being undersized. Bottom line, it's not all about what he has to work on. The kid has HEART and plays big in big games. You can't teach that. We can talk about all the developing of other guys and all, but if they don't have the HEART to step up in big games, it doesn't matter. Let them be role players. Josh is a keeper.

There should be no more talk about trading Josh Smith for this and that. All season long, this guy has been huge for the hawks playing out of position. When the heat was on, he came up big. He's got HEART. You can't teach that. Take a very close look at just exactly who came up big in this game and who was no where to be found. Who was on the floor at the end and what guys made the difference. A key point for tonight's win: the hawks (despite being much smaller up front) limited the celtics to one shot and didn't allow them to get second chance points. The celtics reverted to shooting long jump shots. That worked out well for the hawks. I can't say it enough but, if the hawks can get two solid centers (one to start and one to come off the bench) who will just defend the lane and box out for boards while moving Horford and Josh Smith off of having to guard bigger guys, we're going to be seeing ALOT MORE WINS like this.

Trade Marvin for a lottery pick? No offense to Marvin but, where do I sign? If you're the Hawks and that offer is made to you, you HAVE to take it. Truth be told, even though many like to exaggerate his ability, Marvin is a role player. The hawks should have realized that by now. Unfortunately, they'd rather play Horford and Smith out of position just accomadate him in the starting lineup.

I'm a hawks fan and yet, I think that should be criticized more for the decision they made to take Marvin over Chris Paul. The decision was EXTREMELY QUESTIONABLE at best. To begin with, you drafted two guys the year before who played the small forward position. They wanted to say Josh Childress was a two guard, fine. But, Josh Smith came straight outta high school and did an EXCELLENT JOB playing that position his rookie year and was clearly the future at that position. To turnaround and draft another small forward with that high of pick showed an utter lack of appreciation for what Josh did his rookie year and a lack of confidence in his ability to get better. Secondly, Chris Paul PROVED himself the best point guard for three years in the ACC. He came in and gave the hawks HIS BEST WORKOUT and even publicly made it known that he was PRAYING for the hawks to take him. On top of that, the hawks needed a point guard so bad, it was even funny. For those reasons alone, the hawks will continue to be criticized for such a poor decision. It's not Marvin's fault, but managements. I think Billy Knight's supposed comments about moving Josh Smith to the 3 and moving Marvin to the bench if they get a decent center next year is an admitance that he made a very poor decision there. But hey, we all make mistakes. However, we have to deal with the fallout when we do and especially when we make ones that fly in the face of common sense. That's the way it is.

I've seen Josh Smith match up with perimeter players many times this year, and he's done a good job. He had Josh Howard literally scared to drive the ball on him in that game against Dallas(in Dallas) earlier this year. What's more is, Josh's perimeter defense is going to get better. The fact that he plays big in big games shows he's a keeper no matter what forward spot he plays. Al Horford just happens to be a very good player and will be a GREAT player at the 4 spot. I think moving Josh over to the three spot( something BK mentioned) is the hawks best bet next year. You can't teach size and you can't teach heart. In these final games that decide the hawks fate, we're seeing just exactly who the big game players are that the hawks need to keep, and which players are not. We're seeing the difference between guys who show up and take the lead and guys who just come along for the ride. Josh Smith is a keeper.

I have to disagree here. Josh Smith set the tone in this game with his play. He's a HUGE reason we won this game along with JJ, Bibby and Horford. Josh's play in the last two games speak volumes. The guy brings it, especially in BIG games. He's the only one who showed up in the Indy game which set the team back. I hope he brings it tonight because the hawks have no chance to win without him.

Josh struggles at times because he's playing true power forwards. For a small forward playing power forward, I'd say he's done a good job defensively for the most part this year. The two guys mentioned (Drew Gooden and Carlos Boozer) are both true power forwards. The fact that he's banging with these guys night in and night out has to be taken into consideration when analyzing Josh's performance defensively this year.

Since I have not seen it yet, props to Josh Smith for making the big plays to win the game at the end tonight. Nobody could guard Rudy Gay in the third and much of the fourth and then, Josh Smith comes in and puts the clamps on(I thought he wasn't supposed to be able to guard small forwards. I guess that claim is nonsense). I truly hope the hawks can get a decent center to put along side Smith and Horford. Those two are going to be one of the best forward combos in the league on both sides of the ball. Speaking of Horford, great game for him too. I wonder if I was the only one that heard Steve Smith(before the Orlando game) say that when Al Horford moves back to his natural position of power forward that he would put up even better numbers than he does now. I think I agree with him.

I agree. Why would a team who has the money to pay Josh Smith and their own good talent want to do a sign and trade where they give up their talent when they don't have to? If a team with cap space made Josh Smith a big offer in the offseason and the hawks approached them about a sign and trade, the most that team is going to give up is some future pick and bad or expiring contracts. That would mean the Hawks take a BIG step backward. Same thing with Chillz. Billy Knight would be run out of town if he went for that. If anyone gets traded, it won't be Josh Smith or Childress(especially with the way he's closing out the season). More than likely, it will be other guys who will be entering the last year of their deals to teams looking to start over.