Randy

Maybe we need to look at letting DMC go if we are really this hamstrung by the cap. Is the problem here now that the cap is not as "soft' as it used to be - we have new owners with lots of $. Can't they just pay some tax? Or did the last CBA do make that a lot harder? Anyway, DMC had a great year, and until his injury a great playoff series. But maybe he's just not worth $11 million with such limited cap space. (I'm not saying I know - really just asking.)

BTW - probably means little or nothing, but Carlos Boozer was at the Dream game Friday night. NBA FA starting right around the corner.......?

I'd rather have his brother the UniLopez. We can have more fun watching him beat up other teams mascots, and I would think he's a lot cheaper. Doesn't have all the parts that keep breaking either, I think, but I'm no doctor.

Exciting game, and it looks that little by little the team is rediscovering its defensive DNA. In the past we had 3 or 4 players who could steal the ball, play hard d, and create havoc on the opposing team, and an offense that could make up for missed shots by getting lots of rebounds. Those ingredients were all there last night. Ajavon and Wheeler seem like our PG team for now and maybe the rest of the year. It looks like Ajavon has regained her form somewhat and is figuring out how to transition from a shoot to much SG to a bit of a penetrating PG. Both Matee and Erica are pests on defense. Sancho and Angle, of course, were the key, and this was probably our best game of the season. Shoni is either in Cooper's doghouse, or maybe a roster move is in the works - we have to remove two players from the roster soon, I imagine since Hayes and Henry should be back any day, and I don't see much point in keeping player around just for practice purposes. Burdick seems to have gotten a job. Not a scorer, but she actually plays good d - her cover (Messeman and Malott) didn't score much when she was on the job, which is probably why she got so many minutes. If she can hit and open shot once in a while to keep defense honest or drive to the hoop, that's a lot better than we've had. I don't think Colhado has seen more than a minute or two, if any, since Burdick arrived. They may be trying to trade Shoni or Logic, but market value for both is probably way below what it was in pre-season. At times Shoni has looked like Shoni, other times terrible. Logic always looked ok but the sample size is so small you can't really tell anything. A trade to a team for rights to a suspended or overseas player that wouldn't be on the team this year? (Cambage? Tulsa pretty stocked now and doing great, so probably not.) Shoni's dog house residency may be like when Woodie put Jeff in the doghouse. I think Woody just had the idea that you never let rookies play until absolutely necessary and then they would be so hungry that they would work their ass off. Maybe that's Cooper's idea too. I think probably Carter is the first to go - but bringing her in at least motivated Wheeler to step it up. So that means one of Shoni, Logic, Colhado, Milton-Jones are probably looking for a job soon. They may as well just make Milton-Jones an assistant coach since Cooper likes having her around to school the kids. So big decisions ahead for the Dream. But at least, for now, it looks like Cooper is done experimenting with lineups probably because he's desperate to win some games.

Sounds like he was working on defensive improvement by doing things to improve lateral quickness. I think strength probably helps on the defensive side too. Hopefully he can get with the Hawks and get some direction on this. Seeing his pop regularly can't hurt either.

Its a good sign he was miserable after losses. Probably didn't fit in the NY culture. Had we picked him up last season, coming off making the All Rookie team probably this deal would look better. Plus, isn't he related to someone famous.....

I'm ok with the trade, but I didn't like Oubre anyway. My complaint though was the second round picks. Yeah - we likely get nobody, but at least if a guy shows up you have a chance. We have examples like Moose and Mike Scott, Mack of guys who have contributed. They are certainly better than all those guys stashed away in Neverland. Trading 15 for 19 to get two second rounders is ok (just going by numbers) but you can't then continually throw away the 2nd round picks. (At least we didn't throw away the No. 4 pick like NY) As for THJr being disgruntled in NY. I'd be more worried if he was happy there.

Hey Diesel, I think that description doesn't fit most Hawks fans, and the fans who post on forums are not ordinary fans anyway. We are all wannabee owners, gm's, coaches and players who think we know more than the guys who get paid to do what we would do for free. I think the main problem is that this group (like most I think) are kind of all or nothing types - win a championship or nothing else matters. Might as well finish last as second or 3rd. I also think the playoffs ending so badly (even with the problems we faced) was a bitter pill to swallow for all of us. Add in a draft night that ends up without a real drafted player and it wasn't what people where hoping for. Still - if what we need is a superstar (that's what everyone says) he wasn't there at No. 15 anyway. If what we need is depth and a little more cap space - we probably got a guy ready to help us a lot sooner, and without all the trips to d-league a real rookie would have needed. So I'm ok with how it has played out, but also see the reasons for the disappointment that has been voiced. And since my name isn't Ressler - it doesn't matter if I trust Bud.

He does offer a few things no one else does. Having lived in NY for a couple of years, he will know which bars to avoid and probably know where the really dangerous NYPD cops hang out looking to break some legs. Should keep our guys out of trouble.

I've questioned Oubre all along, and Hardaway at least has name recognition. But hell, what do I know? So I won't say it was an A or and F. But, it was a pragmatic trade for the Hawks. They ought to know by now that they either don't have a scouting department at all, or if they do it sucks. So trade your draft for a known quantity. Kind of a defeatest attitude for draft night, but heck Adreian Payne, BeBe, John Jenkins and the list goes on and on. (Take out Teague (Sund era) and Dennis (Ferry era) and we've got little to show for in first rounders since the no-brainer, that even Billy Knight couldn't screw up - Al Horford. When Obre came out like he's trying for role of Dorothy in an all Male "Wizard of Oz" production, clicks the heels of his ruby glass slippers three times and says "There's no place like DC, there's no place like DC. I'm off to be a Wizard!!" It was just surreal. But I'm ok with that. I'll wait till he burns us a few time before regretting and then hope no one remembers this post.

Saprota is on Gearon's payroll. The undermining begins.....

Guys we now have 2 hockey teams in Atlanta. Just FYI. :-) http://na3hl.com/news/story.cfm?id=14979

Main thing is its draft day! The one night a year you can believe all the hype if only for a few hours, and imagine we pick up that player with unlimited upside who is going to put us over the top!!! Hopefully we won't be left disappointed or angry. (But I always remember the night at the Pacer's draft party when the boo'd picking Reggie Miller over Steve Alford.)

Uh, Paul - remember who renounced you. That's like getting disavowed if you were a spy.

2 Most important questions. 1.) Are they going to use muzzles or pacifiers to keep the remaining old owners from talking. 2.) Are they going to spend money like no tomorrow and the luxury tax be damned.

But why would they make a trade? He's a UFA - just sign him. If he knows the plan is to send him a back to Utah, why would he sign with the Hawks? (Can they pay him more?) Sorry if this is dumb question time. I'd get it if he was a RFA.

This wasn't nearly as discouraging as the Indiana and NY blowout losses. It could have become a blowout, but the Dream turned it around in the 4th quarter. Ajavaon and Hodges had their best games in Dream uniforms. They playing time has probably helped Hodges get into the swing of things. She will shore up the bench when Hayes returns. There were some other positives. Turnovers were way down, and Ajavon's stat line did start to resemble something like that of a PG. Even though she's not one, maybe she can become sort of this year's version of Jasmine. Even Wheeler had some dimes and no turnovers (unless you count the 8 shots she took that didn't go in as TO's, which you just might.) Wheeler does play some D, as does Matee so maybe things will improve. At the end of the OT period, though, you are right Gray Mule - another loss. Its way to early to think the Dream won't make the playoffs yet but with a long road trip coming up it could become a real mess if they don't turn it around before this upcoming 4 game homestand is over. DC and Seattle should be winnable games, but Tulsa will be a lot tougher, and NY always gives us fits. If we win 2 we would be 5-8 before a 6 game road trip. If we win 1 or none - could be playoff hopes are toast. (3-10 or 4-9). But this team has been in holes before so anything is possible. This would be a perfect time for a 4 game winning streak to start. Hitting the road 7-6 would be a lot better way to start the trip. Shoni's career seems to be in free fall right now. Roster cuts or moves will be needed when Hayes and Henry return from their new home country. Cooper seems pretty happy with Burdick, but I don't see anyone in the front court getting cut, so it looks like it comes down to two of the following will have to go: Shoni, Logic, Carter, Wheeler. Cooper seems to have more confidence in Wheeler than the other 3. (I suppose its possible they make DMJ an assistant coach, or something like that if they don't think she will ever really play.) I think Carter goes, and Shoni or Logic end up with a new address. (Its times like this it would be nice if there was a WNBA d-league.) Also in the mix of possibilities. Lindsey Harding will finish up the Euro tournament and has been playing pretty well. She recently tweeted some comments about how much she missed Atlanta. Was that a sign of something to come?

Well considering how this ownership group has treated the fans, turnabout would be fair play......Perhaps each square of the ASG toilet paper should have a picture of a different ASG member in his clown suit.

So I've noticed the last few times I've been to the hat there's a Ted Turner owner flag hanging from the rafters. This got me thinking. What are we going to do to honor the great ASG years, now that they are about to end. I've got a few ideas, perhaps others will s well. 1.) Banner from the rafters. Maybe with a skull and crossbones on it. 2.) ASG group statue. Featuring Gearon turning on his tape recorder. 3.) Special ASG booblehead nights. Half shaking there heads yes, half shaking their heads no. 4.) A plaque showing an artist depiction of the knives they used to stab each other in the back. 5.) A copy of the letter from Bruce Levenson to Rachael Dolazal offering her the job of ASG Chief Diversity Officer.

Hopefully a game by the Dream worthy of your writings lw3. I'm wondering that since Tamera Young is not around to pester Anglel, if a big game from Angel can offset a possible small game from our guard corps? I don't know about Erika on Elena, she's usually too buy covering whoever our guards are supposed to defending. I think Angel actually did a really good job on Elena until she got in foul trouble in the final game of the playoffs. That would leave Erika on Breland and Sancho on Quigley. Ok, so that doesn't work. So back to the drawing board. I guess the Sky have figured out a 3 guard lineup is a matchup nightmare for us. Let's put Angel on Cappie, Sancho on Elena and Erika on Breland. Anyway, there's probably little point in covering Elena anyway now that she gets two points and a free thrown for a missed shot on a charging foul...... Kids days are fun. The kids we had did great on the DEFENSE chants. Not so good on thundersticks - seemed to use them whenever we were shooting....They should have a pregame video explaining the proper use of thundersticks.....

I'd sober up first before going to a tattoo parlor.

This is getting depressing. We are seeing the team disintegrate before our eyes. Truly distressing. lw3- have you done any coaching? How about being a GM? Gray Mule - I think the reason the rule is you can't review a missed shot is that no one in their right mind ever thought that an official would give two points for a missed shot. Ever since they peach basket went up, its been zero. I guess now refs are giving style points.

Finally a game, and and ending worthy of your preview lw3! Angel undoes the absurd 2 point missed basket call and the Dream find hope in a Lady Vol apparently waived by the Sparks as part of their tanking scheme. A lot of fans left the game when Del Santos went to line. Bet they are sorry now. Without last second heroics from Angel we would be 1-6 now. BTW - Angel's shot should make the Top 10 and the Officials call should make the Not Top 10.

Is this deja vu? I'm thinking you change the name to Marvin Williams, and the position to forward the report would be about the same. Lots of potential, didn't play much as a freshman, didn't put up big numbers, lots of potential, great wingspan (doesn't every guy drafted in the NBA have condor sized wingspan?), great athleticism, lots of potential......... Fortunately, once you get past about 8-10 (and usually less) its almost impossible for a mock draft to be right.

The reinforcements have arrived. Cierra Burdick and Syney Carter signed. Don't know if either will stick, but the way the team, and especially the guard corps is playing it seems possible. The front court bench players haven't been awesome either, so who knows. http://dream.wnba.com/news/dream-signs-burdick-and-carter/