00Blink

This is an asinine remark and one of the most unintelligent posts I have EVER read on this board since I've been here. As Josh said in the playoffs, he takes too much criticism from Hawks fans. The Hawks are still being competitive without Horford and Joe (missing significant amount of time) and fans are still making stupid comments like this. More than 80+% of the time, Josh will have at least 15 and 8 to go along with a stat line that he doesn't even TRY to pad. Horford has pretty much been gone for THE SEASON and Joe is averaging WHAT? Not to mention, Joe doesn't bring ANYTHING else to the table...no perimeter defense (HIGHLY OVERRATED), no passing game, no rebounding game, and no leadership. For the disdain for Josh, he brings a lot more than given credit for. Yes he has his nights...it is his passion to win and his love for the city that he has...he plays with heart and passion.

I agree with exception that the heat wouldn't be able to drive the ball. They still would get penetration just to try to get Howard in foul trouble. But I DEFINITELY think that we could easily turn them into a jumpshooting team and beat them. I disagree with Ben hill boy on the fact that I would take Josh over Bosh. I know Bosh bball IQ and jumper is better, but rebounding, defense, and passing, is Josh all day and Josh and score with Bosh in the playoffs. For the most part, Josh shows up in the playoffs. I understand he has a bad game here/there in the post-season, but he still brings it. And Dwight is just the player to make them a jumpshooting team. That dude's athleticism and wingspan is ridiculous. It's like Shawn Kemp vertical (not quite) with a 7'7 wingspan.

I'm in my office at work and that made me LMAO!! Literally! That is exactly what Nique would have said.

From the combine video, you can tell he was nervous and was not accustomed to the lights, attention, and giving interviews. He seems very humble and quiet. Some of his answers were a little scripted and too politically correct. I like him as a player. I think he is going to have value, especially at #48. I can see him getting double-double in the next 3 years. He does have a soft touch around the basketball and seems to have good body control with athleticism. Get him a legitimate big man's coach (Josh, when you go see Hakeem this summer, take him with you), and I think he can flourish. He can finish, run the floor, and play above the rim. He showed a bit of range out there. Maybe he can develop into a Chris Bosh. I looked at his comparables table and he and Bosh statistically mirrored with the same flaws, to soft on the interior. But Chris' game is more polished and the talent level of competitiion is different. His defense seems to be significantly better than Bosh. I think we might have a nice player on our hands. DEVELOP him Hakeem. A man can dream can't he!

Thank you! Anything other than what he publicly states is somewhat obsolete because on MANY occassions this dude has said nothing but how he loves Atlanta and wants to finish his career here...he ADDRESSED the rumor of him wanting to leave, head-on, immediately, and publicly...what more do you want him to say That was Diesel-esque...hilarious and entertaining, BUT probably somewhat truth

“Right now I think this is only a deal that Atlanta’s exploring, that Josh Smith is heavily interested in. I’m not sure what the level of interest is on Boston’s side right now,” Mannix said. “And if you’re the Celtics, be very careful with taking Josh Smith. He is incredibly inconsistent. There’s a reason Atlanta hasn’t gotten out of the second round for the last few years.“Josh has incredible talents. He’s a high-flier, he’s a great rebounder, when he attacks the rim, he’s one of the better power forwards in the entire league. The problem is, he only does that about 60 percent of the time. He’s a massive head case. There’s a reason Atlanta is willing to part with him. So, I would be real careful about any kind of deal — believing any kind of deal, and being willing to talk about and accept any kind of deal for Josh Smith.” So this is the credible source. No offense to you for taking this guy as a source over me, but this LOSES credibility to me. And it seems he doesn't follow the Hawks much. Every playoff we have been in since Josh's arrival, dude have shown up...who disappears is Joe Johnson annually (a you can bet your money on that, aside from that 2008 Hawks/Celtics home games) and Horford this season but still has not been 'a force' in the playoffs...dude if you can't see the bias and blame that Josh takes for Atlanta's downfall then I can't beat it into you... Josh needs a real coach...7 yrs in in the league and he has been able to do what he wants from the start with no real coach or development...Josh is PARTIAL blame for his own development but to say he hasn't developed or worked on his game is asinine...the kid just has heart and wants to win and is passionate. Well, so am I I would be pissed if I continually get blackballed while Joe gets pass after pass when our 'leader' disappears in the most essential games of the season and Al gets a pass because he won two NC, well do something special at this level...2 All-Star appearances, well Josh gets robbed in those because of the bad reps and Al gets those because of the good rep and the wave of 2 NC (which fuels the fable of him being a leader, HS and that doesn't mean hawk-squawk or high school), Josh had better numbers ALL ACROSS THE BOARD with more competitition at his position than Horford...KG (couple of yrs ago), PP, Bron, Bosh, Granger, Iggy (combo), vs Horford's comp-Howard, Bogut (better numbers and player-worse team and wins), and Lopez (see Bogut minus better player), not even close...if Al played PF during this time, he would not even be mentioned of being an AS...dispute that...I have a rebuttal

Where did you hear Josh wants out? I am not calling BS, but I am calling SMOKE! (see what I did there) Since Day 1 Who is the face of this team? Who is in the nationally televised commercials? Addidas, NBA 2K10 (or eleven, one of them), Gillette (or was that Schick), and pretty much, the most talked about player on the Hawks, not just with Hawks fans BUT the media as well, good or bad (which I think the bad rep is wayyy overrated), not Joe, not Al... Joe disappears for periods (months) and even the most critical times (playoffs, ain't nothing changed) and Horford to me is mediocre, nothing special (this perception that AL is a natural leader is exaggerated) sure he won 2 NC in college but so did Noah and Brewer and Green (I think that was the PGs name) and that doesn't make him a leader. Al calls people out when it is convenient, when he has a good game and they have a bad game or slump...he just didn't show up in the playoffs and I think his ceiling is 15/9-16/10 and no more...his game is too robotic and predictable...he is no low post presence just as much as Josh is and at least Josh has an athletic advantage some of his opponents (first step, hops, and left-handed but uses his right so effectively when penetrating) Please dispute any of the above, I feel like a nice debate today...and don't give me these TS% and eFG%...I watch the games to decide that

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. If he goes to Orlando, I would throw away over 20 years of fandom. Not because Josh left, but the dumb trades that would be made to diminish the talent and competitiveness of this team. We have been around this one time too many. WHAT could Orlando give us that we would want? Are you freaking serious, Jameer Nelson, JJ Reddick and Ryan freakin' Anderson. We have Teague an Heinrich, so Jameer is moot. Another era of regression. I would be done. If this goes down, we might as well face it, Atlanta is who we thought they were, bottom-dweller managment, not bottom-dweller fans (we get a bad rep).

White owners, with a 90% black team? I'm sorry I see trouble in them getting any support (except for playoffs and marquee teams) from anyone, metro and statewide. :friends: I keed, I keed!! I'm just saying that I think that if a winning product is put on the court, the race of ownership is the last thing fans are going to worry about. :drinks:

Well, this is a much better scenario than the current ownership situation. The potential group consists of only 2 people, the CEOs of their respective companies. And to top it all off, one of them has basketball experience at a high level, an LSU championship contending team in the late 70s early 80s. I would think that he would still have a competitive fire to win a championship, if not as a player, why not as an owner. The fact that the Thrashers are no longer a part of the bid, that makes it even better. The $500 million for all three ventures can be had for two of the venture at, say $350 million. That extra $150 million can be put forward for the future and to continue building a championship caliber team, not just a playoff team. The overhead is now cheaper because they would only have to maintain one professional team instead of two. This is a perfect scenario for the ownership. As for the fans and the team, the future has yet to unfold. To be continued... :yahoo:

You better run before the mob come looking for you with fire and pitch forks.

Even still when he did, was the guy tired and took 'a play' off? For anyone who combats that with, 'no matter what, you never take a play off or a break', GET REAL!! The dude clearly hussles his azz off. This is not to bash Joe but when Joe threw the ball away (Noah cut off the passing lane) and Teague and I think Watson was in a foot race for the ball, when Teague contested, Watson passed the ball to the trailer, you could see Joe in the background not even trotting down the court. Then Larry Drew called a timeout and got on Jeff Teague, I think for not SPRINTING to recover the ball/pass from Noah to Watson. I was like, 'wrong person to be getting on Drew.' This is not to bash Joe but I'm just saying that it happens. People do get tired on the court and if only for a moment, they 'slack' off to get a breather. After every turnover, do the WHOLE team SPRINTS down court. Nope!! Please don't act like they do. ^^^THIS^^^ At least this is what I seen. Bad games happen, but timing and clutch is what counts.

Thank you for the thread sir. This was excellent and a nice gesture. Maybe we as fans should let them know that we still have love for them and support them. Give them something even better to look forward to next year. Give them a better motivation and inspiration. Don't let them feel like a let down. This can be done by just commenting positively in the local media, the radio stations, blogs, ajc, and around the web in other forums. There is nothing like a bit of inspiration. Ask Teague. This will probably give Ted Turner more inspiration and confidence to purchase the team as he see it as a marketable product with more and more fans in the media speaking proudly of their team and how they are ready to support them and look forward to next season with this season not even being over. Just imagine how that sounds and would feel to the players and organization and hopefully potential new buyer if he hears while the season is still ongoing, how we are looking forward to next season and how we are ready to support the team next year to hush up the media and how Atlanta fans are fickle. It lights and fire and inspire. I'm looking forward to next year. LET'S GO HAWKS!!

Is it a coincidence that Ted Turner was visibly on the front row of every home game (he could have lounged and partied in the sky box)? Especially with all the talk of selling the Thrashers and then moving them out of town. Maybe he is thinking of purchasing the team. I don't recall seeing him come to past games THIS season. Maybe he wanted to see what the team was made of in the playoffs and if the fans are what the media say about not supporting the team. If so, he probably knows now that the fans will support the team if a winning and competitive product is on the court. He walked off pretty steamed last night. Maybe he was emotionally attached to the team because of his dilemma of the purchase. I sure hope so. I hope he stormed off thinking, I could take this team a step or two further and become the new Arthur Blank of Atlanta.

You guys are harsh. This is exactly what I was speaking on yesterday. Because he bashes JJ, you guys get emotionally charged. Why not well wishes? It is not like he was not a legitimate 'true' Hawks fan. After all, he did endure the rollercoaster and blowouts faithfully and still managed to stick around and critique the team. Albeit, one player and Marvin on occassion. But a lot of the times, they seemed justified gripes. He always backed up his opinions with examples and highlights. They just seemed a bit exaggerated and harsh at times. I think a lot of people could not take the bold and harsh statements. I actually agreed with a lot of his statements that he made about Joe, as I do with a lot of posters make on Josh, Marvin, Al, Zaza, and Teague and Crawford. The thing is, I accept every player for who they are, what they are. With anyone, there are going to be cons. The key is balancing out the pros and cons with proper personnel and coaches so that they can gel. Nobody seen this 2nd coming of Chicago with Thibs. Everyone was like yeah, he deserves a 'shot' a coaching but no one knew he could make the Bulls this dynamic of a team. It was monumental/historical. But I digress because I can relate to his pain and suffering. H*ll, we all can. We all have our say it what can/should be done to improve this team, but I will not look at any one of you guys and just be like, 'GET THE H*LL ON!' He's a fellow Squawk brother who should be embraced for his pros and his cons. We have all been going through this together. Especially if you've been a fan for a significant amount of time. Say bruh, I hate to see you go. Your incite and perspective was different at times and to me spot on at times. Some people just wear their heart and soul on their sleeves and act like they are the players agent.

I think because he is robotic, predictable and limited.

My kind sir, what is it that you disagree with? I respect and welcome debates (not arguments). BTW, your interests are pretty entertaining.

I disagree with the comment. 1. Bulls haven't tried to lock in on Teague, but DRose started out the series guarding Teague. They were going head to head up until mid game 3. They probably didn't want to tire out Rose on the defensive end. They couldn't put Rose on Joe, too small. When Joe got the bucket and the fall, they immediately switched. They put Rose on Crawford when we have the line-up with Teague and Jamal. So yes, the Bulls may not be locking 'in' on Teague, but they are 'game planning' him as to not tire Rose. 2. Joe's double teams happens when he dribbles too long. They do not trap him coming over half-court, or even TRY to prevent him from getting the ball. They WANT him to get the ball in order to trap him because he has a delayed reaction to the trap. Hence, Kenny Smith and his dribble, dribble, dribble rants and passing at tthe end of the shot clock. It is a method to the madness of doubling Joe. I'm not criticizing you for not seeing this, as it is my opinion. But I do feel that Joe brings double teams to himself. Notice how they wait like 5 seconds in to Joe dribbling before a double team comes. He takes too llong. As a coach, if I know how and when to double, that is how I do it. In college and high school, they do full court and half court traps because they know teams/their opponents weakenesses, that they can't handle the pressure or the double teams. This is obviously something they see in Joe. He can't handle double teams because he dribbles too much, takes too long to make a pass, or takes a rushed/unwanted shot. Joe is big enough to see this coming and react BEFORE the double teams get there. Why don't teams double Lebron, Kobe or Wade. Because they know they will react before the double gets there. Either by not hesitating til the double comes to penetrate or passing the ball right when they see the double comes, or taking the shot they want while it is a one on one scenario. It is what it is my man. So true..*sigh*

Why thank you sir. I apologize for the read being so long, but I had to vent, vent on the team and vent on some posters.

cute!

^^^THIS^^^ I don't get too much into the player bashing, trade scenarios, or even comment on things too much because honestly, too many of you guys act like they are your lovers with the way you try to defend to h*ll's end. The word is CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM. Like a player or not, this is our team and we have to live with it. There are people in your family that you just don't like or agree with or even HATE to be around, like it or not, they're family. YOUR family. Nothing you can do about it but move on, live with it deal with it. It is already a rollercoaster to be a fan of this team, we should not have to deal with the added stress from the negativity and straight hate from our fellow 'Hawks fans'. EVERYONE on this team has their moments (good and bad) for even stretches of the season. Ride the rollercoaster or get off the ride. Please can we stop being negative nancies ALL the time and give some constructive criticism. I get Joe dribbles too much, too long. For the people saying he is always doubled...well, it's because he give teams time to double him by taking TOO long to make a decision. As soon as he sees the double coming, he's big enough to see it and pass out of it before it arrives or make his move before they arrive. This can make our ball rotation and motion offense so much better and take so much pressure off of him. If your shots are not falling, contribute in other ways. Keep the offense flowing smoothly. Have your move planned before you get the ball...make a quick move or pass the ball within 5 seconds. I get Josh needs to stop shooting from outside 15 feet. Get a mid-range and only use that game to change up your shot selection. STAY-IN-THE-PAINT or drive. He is hard to stop when he drives. QUIT complaining to refs after every call or non-call. Pat the ref on the back and say good call ref (good call or bad call) and the ref will respect him more and show him love more. Me myself, I hate a cry baby. Practice what you preach in your interviews besides, 'I'm going to keep playing my game [shot selction] and ignore the fans.' (besides this parenthesised quote, he actually sounds intelligent in interviews, like a coach almost). We don't HATE you, we just see how you can reach your full All-Star potential and be unstoppable. Apparently, everyone including media, fans, 'analysts/experts', former players, players, and coaches ALL realize this but you. Horford needs to STEP UP. I understand the mid-range game has become A PART of his arsenal, but he has literally made it his ENTIRE arsenal, unless he gets an open dunk. He needs to MAN-THE-PAINT on Noah. Noah is not Dwight or Dikembe. Take him. Only resort to that when they plan on containing you in the post with a double. That hasn't happened at all so, BANG! For points and for the rebound. There is NO WAY Loozer, Gibson, and Asik should be in there grabbing all of those boards. But they do play fundamental. Boozer came from Fundaments-R-Us academy in the Jazz (a given), but he is not tall, big, athletic or overpowering. Gibson is the same as Loozer without the fundamentals but Thibs is giving him fundamentals and he is giving the effort. Asik is playing off of inspiration, the same as Jeff Teague is now (it's a thing of beauty). Control the paint Horford. You have the ability, especially if King Z can do it off of effort and hustle without an athletic bone in his body. I take hustle and effort any day of the week (see Noah). Jamal, Jamal, Jamal...the tricky AND 1 dribble is getting old, not necessarily tired but not needed or condoned at this point in the season. It is nice and fascinating, but this is the second round of the playoffs and we have the opportunity to do something that has not been done since we were in St. Louis Hawks, and that is to make it to the ECF. Quit being fancy and go to the hole. I know you can take your man off the dribble at any time, but stop trying to be so fancy doing it, it takes too much time off the clock and leads to showboating, bad shots, bad passes, and turnovers. Play the game like it is the NBA Finals and it is Game 7 for your FIRST EVER CHAMPIONSHIP. Quit shooting the ball out of rhythm and the flow of the offense. Do not shoot the ball if it has not been touched by any other player or if you are not just wide open, or if you are not in transition or have a clear path to the lane. SHARE THE BALL. Zaza Pa-CHUUULIA... :kingchris: keep hustling homie. Keep being physical because here is where Chicago is winning like Charlie Sheen (I love that quote). Horford is running away from it, Josh seems to be getting a clue, and Collins just does not have the skillset or mobility (to think I can say the EXACT same thing about Zaza, but he is younger and lighter and gives effort and hustle, sounds like a downgraded version of Noah). Teague... :boxing: do your thing boy. Keep giving the the sucker punch they continually do not see coming, especially to all the analysts, media, fans, and coaches who think you are going to wane. Bring the bite with the bark. Show them you are going to be a big dawg in this league. I'm convinced. Marvin... :notme: it's not your fault. :resent: It is the fault of 'experts' and analysts, pundits and scouts, coaches and teammates. Just keep your head up my man and let the game come to you. Explode when you can or are REALLY needed to. :ok: LD...practice what you preach in the news conferences and media. Mean every word and don't be afraid to stick it to your stars who are not performing; Joe, Jamal, Al, Josh. Keep the intensity up on both ends. Play at a comfortable pace. Share the ball, move the ball. Hustle and give effort. TRUST in each other in everyone attributes and abilities and be unselfish enough to know when to pass the ball and when to find the shooter's touch. Play in the paint and rebound. And for God sake, we know we can't touch or breathe on DRose. So if we ARE going to foul him, make the foul count. Make him feel it. I'm not saying hurt him, just punish him. Make the refs call the foul and it not be questionable. They are fouling us with no calls, pushing and tripping and hacking with no calls, return the favor 10-fold. With that being said, I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERYONE of our rotation players for what they bring to the table. (in my Ray Lewis voice) We've come too far and with too much blood, sweat, and negativity to let this opportunity slip away. We've battled the media, the analysts/experts, opponents and their derogatory/condescending comments, the odds, and most importantly...EACH OTHER. None of that matters right now! What matters, is the here, the now. We are still here baby! We are still standing! THIS IS OUR MOMENT. THIS IS OUR TIME!! F the Falcons (football season's not in now)...RISE UP and FLY HIGH! LET'S GO HAWKS!! This post has been promoted to an article

What is trolling? Is it someone having a different opinion of players, coaching, and/or ownership? I'm just asking. If you don't like post by certain posters, don't click on the thread or don't respond to their posts, or just use the ignore function. Too many sensitive people on this board and message boards in general. It is one thing to just bash a team as a whole, but it is another to vent, rant, state differences in opinions and theories. Whatever the case, people are quit to call a poster a troll or claim of trolling on the board. P.S. you do not have to respond to this thread. :wink:

The question was about Blank's praise and credibility as an NFL owner. What's has Blank done to warrant the praise?

I disagree. Blank gave Vick the money, but Vick was a winning QB in his non-injury seasons and then the sky falls. He showed a willingness to spend the money, FROM THE START. He went and got the GM and coach HE WANTED, not a clearance GM and scapegoat of a coach (no knock on Sund and LD) because we know both their hands are tied by the ASG. Blank doesn't do that. He paid McKay and let him run the team as a GM. He saw McKay wasn't getting it done, he replaced him, but to show loyalty, he kept McKay around as team President. He actively pursued players that he thought would help this team (players the coaches wanted, ie Hartwell, Price, Tony G, Turner, D. Robinson). Some didn't pan out but he didn't cripple the GM, he let him go after them and pay a good penny for them. Can't say the same thing with ASG. As it has been mentioned, the marketing and promotion of the team is BY FAR greater. And now, the product is BY FAR greater. As far as a mediocre team, we can't blame Blank for Vick's mishaps and shenanigans, for Quitrino's departure. He continued to try to field a winning product. And now that he spent the money for the best that he could buy, Abe, Turner, Tony G, D. Robinson, a winning product is now on the field. And mediocrity? PSSHHH!! As OchoCinco would say...Chile Please!! Other teams message boards are talking of the Falcons championship capabilities and possibilities, media heads and analysts, coaches, and other players are speaking of the Falcons and their possible run and the pieces they have in place. Do more research boss man. Just sayn. Sorry for the long rant, but ASG and Blank are in different dimensions.