johnnyde

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/ian_thomsen/06/23/hawks.sale/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a3&eref=sihp The Atlanta Hawks are on the verge of being sold, two league sources told SI.com Thursday. One of the sources confirmed that the sale is about to be consummated, but declined to identify the buyer. The news was expected to come as a surprise to team officials of the Hawks, who were not aware a sale was imminent as they prepared for the NBA draft. SI.com learned of the sale hours before the draft, though the news is not expected to influence the Hawks' decisionmaking during the draft. There have been reports of potential trades regarding Hawks forward Josh Smith, but no such deal is viewed as imminent. The Hawks ownership group last month sold the Atlanta Thrashers to a group that will relocate the franchise to Winnipeg next season. The Hawks owners have spent the last two to three years seeking minority investors in the NBA team. Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/ian_thomsen/06/23/hawks.sale/index.html#ixzz1Q8EJrFOY

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/213669/Rose_LeBron_Kobe_Durant_Howard_Named_To_All_NBA_First_Team Now if that isn't inspiration/motivation for him tonight, I don't know what is.

Wow, I was not expecting this. I went to bet on the spread for Game 2 and take the Hawks cause they were getting +8.5 points. After you make a bet the "Quick Tips" comes up showing you trends in betting on the game you are betting on so they can entice to you to make more bets. Lo and behold, 86% of people are taking the Hawks to win STRAIGHT UP!???! Nevermind the point spread....STRAIGHT UP!!! Again, another one of these situations that is almost never heard of when an underdog of 8.5 points is overwhelmingly being chosen to win STRAIGHT UP!! And it's not like it's from a small sample size. This line has been out for over 24 hours now. Anyway, thought I'd share. Hawk's getting respect in Vegas.

Yeah, I got the Hawks at +400 for the Magic series(put down $100). The way they owned the Magic in the regular series and those odds for that payout was just too good. I was going to stay away from the +700 in the Bulls series with the Hinrich injury, but if he was not injured then those odds at that payout are just wayyyyyy to good for the same reason you mentioned about Da Bulls having not proven anything yet in the playoffs. As an aside to my original post, it is normal for money lines to move in increments of 10 (i.e. +700 to +710 to +720, etc.) before games (or series) as Vegas balances out the money but to move an increment of 150 is straight crazy or like I said before, Vegas knows something.

For those of you who are familiar with sports betting, in most sport's playoffs you can get a bet that is called a "series price". Basically you pick which team will win that series. In order to go on, I should explain a money line. It's all based on a bet of $100 and you just do simple math from there if you bet more or less that $100. If you see +(some number), that means that is how much you would win if you bet $100. If you see -(some number), then that is how much you would have to put up to win $100. It's the most basic way to explain it. The Hawks started out as +700 to win the series with the Bulls. Which means, if you put down $100 then you would win $700. The Bulls were -1200 which means someone would have to put up $1200 just to make $100. Now, even if you don't understand all that, the thing I just noticed tonight is that the money line for the Hawks shifted to +550. Which is VERY odd. Which now means if I put up $100, I would only make $550 if the Hawks win the series. A lot of things affect the money line and how much it moves. But to go from +700 to +550 means Vegas knows something(these boys do their homework) or there is just wayyyyyyyy too many people putting money on the Hawks(Vegas is all about evening out the odds/money) but I highly doubt that because it would have to be an absurd amount of people leaning heavily on the Hawks winning. Normally, the line would have shifted from +700 to +550 AFTER game 1 if the Hawks would have won. Since the Hawks increase their chance of winning with each win obviously. But, this just makes no sense. Public perception also influences the money lines but if anything with the news of Hinrich being out the whole series should have shifted the perception even more to Bulls winning, so I would expect the Hawks to be like +800. OK, maybe I'm looking into things too much and am just bored. But I have been betting on sportsbooks for 15 years and I have never seen a series price shift like this before the games are even played or there was a huge injury. Thoughts from other "gamblers"? P.S. Just as I was about to hit submit I checked another sportsbook website and they have competely taken the series price off(the bets aren't even available to bet)...hmmmm....

I found it while on the ESPN Hawks team page: http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/atl/atlanta-hawks

A tweet from Broussard: Chris Broussard In addition to Chicago, San Antonio, Dallas and ATL interested in Rasual Butler. http://twitter.com/#!/Chris_Broussard I'm not sure how to delete...so if a mod wants to delete go ahead since there is a similar post.

I highly doubt it is the Hawks but you do have to wonder with them being so thrifty and not wanting to get into luxury tax land as well as all the rumors of them selling the team(although they say they are only looking for minority owners).

An investment group seeking to build an arena on the Las Vegas Strip claims it is on the cusp of purchasing an NBA team to play in the facility. For the deal to go through, said Chris Milam, CEO of International Development Management LLC, the group must strike a deal with the county to fund construction of the arena — dubbed the Silver State Arena — slated for the old Wet ’n Wild water park site. “We have an NBA team under contract,” Milam said, declining to name the franchise. But the deal will take effect only if “other pieces of the puzzle fall into place: One of those pieces will be that a building (arena) is approved,” he said. Here is the link for the rest of the story: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/jul/14/nba-team-under-contract-if-las-vegas-builds-arena/ Edit: Sorry mods, I just realized should have put this is Around the NBA forum.

Abso-frickin-lutely.

IMO, regardless of how we all feel about Marvin, this would be a bad move. Lose our only true small forward(unless they sign one in FA) for a guy who has a lot of concerns about how he would fit in. Plus, is Shaq really gonna make that much more money if Marvin's 6.7 million is the right figure? So they are (supposedly according to some) offering 5.8 and he won't take that because he wants maybe a million more? Seems like he is being really picky for someone who has made over 200 million in his NBA career.

http://www.nba.com/news/features/aldridge.2010.freeagency/ The Cleveland Cavaliers' pursuit of Hawks swingman Marvin Williams centers at the moment on trying to convince the Hawks to do a sign-and-trade deal that would send Shaquille O'Neal to Atlanta, according to a league source. The Hawks do have an interest in the 38-year-old O'Neal, who is not likely to return to Cleveland next season. But Atlanta has budget limitations after agreeing to give guard Joe Johnson a $124 million max contract, with ownership unlikely to approve a deal for O'Neal or any other backup center that goes much above the veteran minimum. The Hawks are also interested in free agent center Brad Miller and Bucks free agent center Kurt Thomas. Cleveland got a $14.5 million trade exception by agreeing to a sign-and-trade deal for LeBron James to Miami, in addition to two future draft picks from the Heat. The Cavs could use part of the exception to absorb Williams's $6.7 million salary for next season. Atlanta also got a trade exception, worth about $2.9 million, when it agreed to a sign-and-trade deal that will send free agent forward Josh Childress to the Phoenix Suns for a future draft pick, and can use that exception to acquire a player making that much money. O'Neal made $20 million last year in the final year of his contract but knows he will have to take a major pay cut next season. He has expressed an interest in playing for the Spurs, though it is not known if San Antonio's interest, if any, is reciprocal. The Cavaliers' interest in the 24-year-old Williams, first reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, would make sense. The Cavs' new general manager, Chris Grant, was working as the Hawks' assistant GM when Atlanta took Williams with the second pick overall in the 2005 Draft, opting to take him over point guards Deron Williams (who went third to Utah) and Chris Paul (fourth to New Orleans). Williams started 81 games for the Hawks last season, averaging 10 points per game. It would also be in line with new coach Byron Scott's desire to have a more up-tempo attack next season with James departed to Miami. Scott has already indicated that J.J. Hickson will be the full-time starter at power forward next season, and said during Tuesday's NBA TV Las Vegas Summer League game between the Cavaliers and the D-League Select Team that he is contemplating bringing veteran forward Antawn Jamison off the bench. "That's always been my M.O.," Scott said afterward. "I always want to go up and down the floor. For so many years, that's been such an effective way of playing basketball. But not forgetting that you still have to defend people and you've still got to rebound the ball if you want to be successful. That's been my goal from day one as a coach. And I had a lot of success in Jersey doing just that, and a lot of success in New Orleans doing that. So I figure if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it." Cleveland's commitment to a faster squad was also clear in its four-year offer sheet late Tuesday night to Rockets' restricted free agent guard Kyle Lowry, who had next to no luck getting an offer from Houston during the first week of free agency. The Rockets have indicated that they'll match any offer for either Lowry or forward Luis Scola, also a restricted free agent. The Rockets lost out in their pursuit of Chris Bosh, who they wanted to pair next to Yao Ming next season. Yao is back on the practice court and is expected to be ready for training camp after missing all of last season following foot surgery.

Bower's recently willingness to trade Chris Paul created tensions between him and ownership, sources say. 12 minutes ago via web Bower and the Hornets "mutually agreed" to part ways. 23 minutes ago via web http://twitter.com/DarnellMayberry

Oh, and I was not impressed by Pape Sy. I don't see where the "diamond in the rough" stuff is coming from. There wasn't one thing he did or one special skill or attribute he had that stood out. Maybe he was just nervous? Edit: Should mention that I didn't see a lot of the 3rd quarter where a lot of people are saying that Sy played better.

Some initial impressions: Augustine actually stood out to me. He did all the little things that a big should be doing - seems like a very competent big man. And everytime I looked at him I kept thinking Rony Seikaly(not game, just looks). Crawford knows how to play and seems to just have that natural feel for the game. I don't think he is gonna have a problem scoring. Flip Murray as his floor? Scouting reports had doubts about his commitment to defense but he was very aware on team defense. How he will do man to man defense in the NBA we won't know til he goes up against the big boys and not these SL scrubs. I'm so used to seeing Teague in limited minutes where he never seemed like he had any direction other than maybe trying to drive to the hole and putting up an awful shot. It was much nicer to see him "slow down" and play his game. A few mistakes with unforced turnovers(bad pass on pick and roll comes to mind) and still seems like he needs to get better at finishing at the hoop but he definitely looks like he is in control when he has the ball. Aminu looks like he could accomplish the same things as Childress(not saying he would even make the team). Very active and long. Morris is 6'11.

Also noticed he takes the hugest strides. You'll always know he's on the court just by the way he dribbles....

IT'S ON!! WHOOHOOO!!

Anyone able to get the feed on ESPN3.com yet?

Sounds like he is gearing up to drive to the hole quite a bit and the added muscle should help him finishing at the hoop hopefully.

Everything being said sounds like the panacea to all the problems most fans have complained about. Of course this is the off-season and EVERY team in EVERY sport always says the right things in the off-season. Hopefully it's not all lip-service. I do like the "Princeton-ish" motion offense they want to incorporate. The Hawks may not have 1 or 2 superstars but they do have multiple above average players who can score effectively as well as play defense well(when they feel like it...). Hopefully we see scoring balance like the Pistons of a few years back. I would like to think that when Marvin, Josh, Al, Jeff feel more involved in the offense it will give them more reason to want to be involved in the defense also.

http://twitter.com/hawksvoice Augustine might be a sleeper big for fall camp. First game in Vegas is Monday night. Sergiy Gladyr can shoot it. Never can have enough! about 3 hours ago via Twitterrific 6-10 James Augustine is in camp (former ORL). played in OSL Friday morning and got here to practice last night. I like that. about 3 hours ago via Twitterrific Pape Sy is a ways away..but plays hard! My goodness. They went 2.5 hours and he had plenty left in the tank. appears to be a combo 1/2. about 3 hours ago via Twitterrific Jordan Crawford is an impressive shooter...easy stroke from NBA 3pt range..Jeff Teague has hit the weights, and is playing with confidence. about 3 hours ago via Twitterrific Just back from Hawks summer league practice...very efficient and well-run by Coach Drew and staff. (Welcome Lester Connor!) about 3 hours ago via Twitterrific

Yeah, I wasn't sure on how to take what he said. When he mentioned the contracts having "strings" attached it made me think of incentives. But the rest of his wording could sound like how you explained it also.

OK, here is what Bucher just said in an interview on ESPN in regards to all the money being handed out to current free agents: "One of the things they'll(owners) be looking for in this next collective bargaining agreement is to take this money back. That all these contracts out there - they have strings attached and that the owners are going to go very hard and harshly and say 'we want the ability in the next cba to reduce every contract not just the ones that we are signing from this point forwards but to be able to do a reduction on even the existing contracts'...apparently that's what the owners have in mind." Sounds like they want to do something along the lines of what would be the opposite of paying incentives in contracts - meaning as well as paying a player extra for achieving certain goals (all-nba, making playoffs, etc.) that they would have something in contracts saying that if the player doesn't meet a certain minimum goal then they can pay them less? I don't see how the player's union would agree to this but this would change the face of the NBA. But if somehow it did maybe more or these slackers actually start playing up to their contracts.

Hepatitis B crashed his draft stock. He's gonna be OK though. RT @introcollapse: Is this medical issue with Alabi going to stay under wraps. From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com/twitter.php#ixzz0rsQXvOKc'>http://www.draftexpress.com/twitter.php#ixzz0rsQXvOKc http://www.draftexpress.com