hawks21

Teague should have received more playing time during the regular season, but Woody's lack of trust in rookie point guards has come back to haunt him. Now he got Bibby riding the pine as well. So in essence there is no TRUE point guard on the floor... and no one who can guard smaller players.. Woody gambled and now he is about to loss his job..

Your scenerio is very reasonable. However, I think we agree JOSH SMITH has to go, and the Hawks got to get to the top of the draft and get a player such as Evan Turner or maybe a John Wall or a Greg Monroe.

Something has to be done to change the core of this team. Josh Smith has his flaws, but not hustling during the first few minutes of the 3rd quarter vs. the Magic was bothersome. Josh Smith became part of the problem instead of the solution, and I think Josh Smith has hit his ceiling as a player. He complains about not getiing foul calls, but misses almost half his free throws. Hubie Brown was constantly criticizing Josh Smith for his LACK OF EFFORT in the most important game of their careers thus far. Josh Smith, as a starter, is not going to help Atlanta get to the next level. Smith's temperment isn't going to change and will always keep him from being the best he can be. Smith still has value and Marvin does as well, but the Hawks have to change the core and find other players who are able to play more consistently and play 48 minutes. Minnesota would be an interesting trade partner. Evan Turner can help the Hawks bring a Dwayne Wade-type presence to the team. He would be what Boris Diaw didn't want to be when the Hawks drafted him. Bibby can be a mentor, but Turner can help the Hawks.

Maybe not. Bring in a coach who can develop young point guards, and let's find a legit 7 footer or two who can do a better job against Howard... or try to trade for one of the Lopez Brothers or sign Stoudamire.

Most definitely, a NEW VOICE IS NEEDED AND EVAULATOR OF TALENT. This team definitely needs an upgrade at small forward and the need for an emerging young fast PG who plays like Russell Westbrook or George Hill or even Darren Collison would be ideal.

Losing by 20 at the half on the road to a team that has been resting for days is not good. Things may turn around, but it looks like last year's second round playoff series versus Cleveland. Smaller quick guards continue to run around the Hawks, and if this series continues the way it has, CHANGES STILL HAVE TO BE MADE BY GM SUND. INTERVIEW AVERY JOHNSON OR SAM MITCHELL OR BYRON SCOTT. The Hawks can't go another year of having another young point guard fail, and the lack of a scoring small forward. Woodson had his chance.

Marvin has a few moments per game, but that is usually it. That has happened virtually all year long. Marvin needs to score more consistently from the small forward position, and especially ON THE ROAD. There have been too many times he is just floating out there on the perimeter doing nothing. And even when he isn't scoring, we don't see block shots or the great assist. Josh Smith has low scoring nights, but he has more TOTAL ASSISTS than Bibby during the regular season and had averaged more assist per game 4.2 or Bibby's 3.9 and of course we all know about the blocks. Marvin hasn't provided those intangibles for the Hawks..and that's a problem. There are too many nights that Marvin is too ordinary and doesn't provide anything that consistently impacts games. THAT HAS TO CHANGE AGAINST ORLANDO.

J.J. Reddick has received more and more playing time over the course of the Magic season, and has been making shots for them and it is likely we will see a lot of him in this series. Why not use Mario West for about 15-17 minutes a game? Mario is one of the better defensive players on the team and brings energy that the teams needs --especially on the road.

In the Milwaukee series, it appears Josh has been trying to shoot more long jumpers instead of using his 6'8 240 lb frame and battling for rebounds, and this can be problematic in a seven-game series against Dwight Howard. Howard is great, but if Horford and Josh aren't bringing energy and battling for the rebounds, it makes things even more easier for Howard to get offensive rebounds or defensive rebounds, and set up easier opportunities for his teammates. Josh needs to let Marvin, Bibby or Jamal handle the jumpers from outside 15 feet.

For whatever reason, Marvin has really under-performed against Orlando for his WHOLE CAREER. Marvin's worst statistical year doesn't even match his career stats vs. Orlando. Marvin will be matched up against Vince Carter and probably Ryan Andersonor Matt Barnes at times, he is has to use his 6'9 frame and create fouls-- even against Dwight Howard. For all the criticism Marvin has endured, he has to muster enough energy in this Orlando series to be a spark--especially on the road. The Hawks were able to get away with Marvin being virtually non-existent except for Game 5 in which he scored a playoff-high 22. The Hawks need more of what he did in Game 5, but he needs to be a more reliable three-point shooter..have a game like the Suns' Jason Richardson did when he hit 8 three-pointers or what the Spurs' George Hill did when he hit 5 three-pointers in a Spurs win. Marvin will need to have type of game(s) in which he is a threat for all FOUR QUARTERS.

1. Avery Johnson 2. Sam Mitchell 3. Byron Scott All three are a definite upgrade over Woodson, but the Hawks need to pull the plug on Woodson as soon as possible.

Mike Bibby deserves a lot of credit for helping to get the Hawks in a position to make the playoffs in 2008, but when he was Sacramento he was part of those Kings' teams that ALWAYS came up short. Brandon Jennings is a blur to Mike Bibby, and Woodson had to keep him on the bench for awhile, but when Bibby sits, the offense REALLY STALLS. The Cleveland road game in which the Hawks scored ZERO POINTS in the final eight minutes tells the whole story when either Jamal or Joe are leading an offense for an extended period of time. Bibby at 32 can't play defense nor does he get to the free throw line. He knows it. The coach knows it. The team knows, and the opposing team knows it. Jamal Crawford has never been known to play great defense, but a solid shooter. And the same goes for Joe Johnson. However, Johnson is 6'8 240, and Jamal is 6'5 barely 200. Crawford and Joe Johnson are not team leaders, and can't direct a team in pressure situations. So many fourth quarter blown leads. Can't direct a half-court offense. Remember the close losses to Cleveland at home and away this season. The bad home loss to Dallas, and the road losses to Phoenix, Milwaukee, Chicago and even woeful Golden State? Johnson was billed as a combo guard in 2005 who can play POINT GUARD. Johnson isn't Dwayne Wade, and can't cover up for Bibby's weakness on defense. GM SUND has to find two young, fast point guards who can LEAD A TEAM.

Not getting to the FT line at all on your own homecourt is highly unusual. Not even one attempt in the FOURTH QUARTER... How is this possible?

Brandon Jennings. 20 years old Russell Westbrook. 21 years old George Hill. 23 years old Deron Williams. 25 years old I am not asking for an All-star, but a productive player who can be a leader and be a difference-maker... It's a little deflating to see these young guys have great success at a young age and contributing with their respective playoff teams, and the Hawks can't develop a young, productive, emerging PG. Doc Rivers had flaws, but he managed to make an All-Star team in 1988. However, its remarkable,this franchise has had a tough time developing a PG. The Hawks need to try to STEAL somebody's young PG..Devin Harris, Darren Collison, etc.

It is a DONE DEAL, regardless if Joe stays or not, Woodson is OUT.

Delfino has been a difference-maker, and Marvin has been the guy defending him most of the time, and Marvin is doing nothing to get Delfino in foul trouble... Marvin has to show up at some point, and make his presence felt..

Woody is lazy in developing players and cuts corners by importing veterans such as Joe Johnson, Bibby and Jamal Crawford.. Short-term it is beneficial, but this team still can't win consistently on the road during the regular reason or the playoffs. If a team can't win on the road, its impossible to win a championship. The lack of a young PG and a productive small forward is the proverbial 6000 lb elephant in the room.. Acie, Royal Ivey, Salim have been Woodson's legacy in developing young PGs.

Oklahoma City has taken the mantle from as youngest, most talented and athletic team in the NBA...They have everything the Hawks don't have: an athletic, productive and defense-oriented point guard and a dominating slashing small forward who gets to the free-throw line.. The Hawks have an older backcourt, and inconsistent frontcourt. And this team could lose their best player next year... with the possiblity of the Hawks being BACK AT SQUARE ONE.. Oklahoma lost on Los Angeles but didn't fold up like a cheap chair...especially in their first experience in the playoffs... The Hawks have been to the playoffs three consectutive years and when they get on the road they play like scared rookies..

These road blowouts got to stop. Mike Bibby goes into a shell. Marvin Williams floats around on the perimeter--doing nothing. Jeff Teagues sits on the bench while Brandon Jennings makes threes and steals the ball from Bibby. Right now, not making a trade to upgrade the small forward position and finding a veteran back-up guard who can play defense, is hurting the Hawks. Nobody is putting pressure on John Salmons offensively or defensively... if we only had Stacey Augmon right now.

You're right Diesel. It happens vs. Dwight and Orlando and it happens vs. Cleveland. Big Al and Josh lose their aggressiveness and have a tendency to throw up fadeaways or rushed jumpers. Josh started to go to the basket in the 3rd quarter, and had a TWO THREE-POINT PLAYS, but this was after the Cavs built a 10-pt. lead in the 3rd quarter. Big Al has to have a plan to attack those big centers, but in the 4th quarter, we really needed a POINT GUARD to handle the pressure and DIRECT THE OFFENSE, play defense vs. Mo williams and hit a few timely jumpers.... Bibby has SAT in two of three games, and the HAWKS SEEMS LOST AS A TEAM (i.e. spacing on the floor, not being able to get solid shots).. This is where having a QUICK PG llike a Rondo or Westbrook or Chris Paul can CLOSE OUT GAMES... Cleveland was VULNERABLE, but the Hawks just said UNCLE or gave up first.

He turned the ball over a few times, a big example just before halftime Lebron stole a lazy pass from Marvin for a 3-point play. During a critical stretch of the second half, Marvin didn't look to score and there was one play Horford tried to give Marvin the ball and Marvin got rid of it immediately which led to a bad turnover. Marvin played better in spurts, but the guy still hasn't put together a WHOLE GAME all year, except three or four times. He still has a tendency to hide in the corner and not be an active part of the offense, and for the Hawks to beat the Cavs, Marvin has to maintain an aggressive, confident attitude for the WHOLE GAME... Maybe Lebron can turn it on or off, but Marvin has to keep his mind focused on making offensive plays for 48 minutes.

I am happy we didn't get blown out, but the lack of leadership on the floor in the 4th quarter ESPECIALLY ON THE ROAD IS THE HAWKS' ACHILLES HEEL. Bibby is slow and can't keep up with Mo WIlliams and Coach Woodson doesn't trust JEFF TEAGUE. So Jamal and JJ are the pseudo PGs and it leads to these LONG STRETCHES OF NO POINTS. Marvin plays well for a few minutes, but he STILL LOOKS LOST OUT THERE...especially offensively. The lack of floor leadership is a problem, and the Hawks have to figure this out. I look at other YOUNG PGs around the league on winning teams such as Russell Westbrook or Brandon Jennings, and see how Darren Collison is playing, and it really comes back to hurt the Hawks...and speaks to Coach Woodson's inability to DEVELOP YOUNG PGs.

You're correct. Our frontcourt is very uncomfortable handling the basketball. Marvin is no Kevin Durant. Al is no Amare Stoudamire. I remember during Bibby's days in Sacramento, Chris Webber was one of the best post players in basketball who can pass the ball in traffic to open teammates.

His playing time has declined, but he is still averages 28 minutes a game, and played nearly 31 minutes against Orlando. We see an older Jason Kidd and Steve Nash still putting up solid assist numbers, but it seems Bibby is more of our three-point specialist than our point guard.

Bibby has 283 assists for the year. Josh has 305 assists for the year. This is a very unusual stat for a power forward nearly leading a NBA team in assists. Joe leads the team, barely over Josh with 333 assists (including tonight's Orlando game).