JETSET

1 minute ago, Lurker said:

I hope Baze is not. It isn't going to be pretty if they try to start the three guard lineup vs Cleveland.

The more bodies the better.  Not sure how any one could wish Baze would be inactive.  We need his 3 pt shooting and high energy.

28 minutes ago, macdaddy said:

This was one of the two games that Hawks gave tickets to honor roll students in Atlanta Public Schools.   That might have helped a good wednesday turnout.   I'm guessing there were a ton  of people in the 300s on the corners and ends.

The 300 ends were kinda slack. I sit in the section behind the Hawks bench so I don't get a good look at the 200s and 300s above me. The 100s were solid last night and the crowd got pretty loud at times. 

Here's a more achievable target.  He's playing out of his mind this season and will be an unrestricted free agent next season iirc. 

Nic Batum is averaging 17 pts 6 rebs 3.8 assts. 43.8% from 3 on 5 attempts per game while playing quality defense.  He could be the perfect wing for us since he can create for himself and others, make the 3 and defend/rebound.   He is only 26 years old so a 4 year contract would run through his prime.

Comparing George to Harden? C'mon son! Harden is a cancer while George was having to deal with Lance and Hibbert.  I have no doubts that George can be a good leader and he's a top 3-5 defensive player in this league.  A trio of thabo/george/Millsap would be deadly defensively.  Add in George's steal of a contract and I think this is a deal that I would prefer over the Favors deal.  If we are trading 2 of our best pieces, I would like a potential superstar in return and George seems like a better bet than Favors to reach that status.  George's strengths resemble Kawhi's more than any other player in this league. 

Unfortunately, the Pacers would decline this offer in a second.

I hope Teague and Baze are back vs cleveland.  That would be our best win of this young season and we don't see them again until the end of the year. 

Thought I would add a positive message about the Atlanta crowd last night since I have been hard on them other nights.  Great showing on a yucky Wednesday night.  

I think we can safely put to rest the debate between sap or horford.  

And Lamar needs more PT. He seems as confident and composed as any one else on the bench.

10 minutes ago, benhillboy said:

Damn, I never even thought about him.  He'd be good for about 2 wins about now.  We're looking real soft now.  At least the Warriors are on.  Their bigs are out there man-handling the Raptors for rebounds.

It's funny how the Warriors have came out so hungry, after winning the title, while the Hawks, who were swept, seem to think they can slouch around in the 1st half and then turn it on in the 4th quarter for a win.  

I just really miss the beautiful display of offense and team defense we saw on a regular basis last year.  Maybe tonight's loss will give them the same motivation as the Lakers loss did last year.

6 minutes ago, benhillboy said:

I don't want to get half the board in an uproar, but I think we miss Pero.  

Al is foolishly taking the threes he used to instead of his patented mid range pick and pop at the team's peril, yet Pero had a much better body type than Splitter defensively down low and is a much better, wider screener than both.  Our screen game without he and Demarre has taken a huge hit and it's hurting Dennis and  Kyle a great deal.

Splitter has been a big disappointment.  I would love to have Zaza back at backup center right now.  He's a tough big body center who can actually rebound and make an open shot.  He has a cheaper price tag and he can give you more than 20 minutes per game. 

I would like to see a sample of Bud using Dennis like Sef.  When Teague is out, have Mack start with Dennis being the first off the bench and possibly finishing with more minutes played.  It's a waste of offense when Dennis is over-dribbling while on the court with Horf/Sap/Korver.  It doesn't hurt us as much when he is doing it while on the court with Thabo/Holiday/Splitter

6 hours ago, macdaddy said:

From last year.  I mean we're not going to be the Cubs or Yankees overnight or maybe at all but to say nothing has changed in the value or perception of this franchise is very far from the truth.  

 

 So our attendance increase was even more than that of the city getting the best player in the world and favorite son back.   Not to mention we increased 21 percent with a team that was already a playoff team the year before.   

That's only because the Cavs were 8% better in attendance the year before while being one of the worst teams in the league.  It wasn't possible for them to increase more since their attendance last year was 100%

33 minutes ago, rd79 said:

Much hate for Dennis in the chat, but...

... he had 10 dimes
... he had as much rebounds as our All-Star center (and 1 defensive rebound more, than our All-Star center and our All-Star PF together)
... yes he had 3 turns, but there have been 17 more of 'em

I'd say the main problems of the Hawks are

1. Kyle isn't the same he was last year (yet?) and he is chased all over the court by his defenders - so he can't create the spacing he did last year
2. Defensive rebounding by our bigs. 
(3. Bonus - no Antić for inbound plays)

Additionally tonight's game was a bad matchup because Al and Dennis always struggle vs the much stronger Lopez and Jack

Stats aren't everything, wins are.  I don't care how many assists he had, it's clear as day that he is not ready to be a reliable PG in this league.  He's a combo guard who struggles to initiate the offense for others. 

Bud with a classic bozo sidelines play.  When will he ever learn.  Since when has Thabo been a reliable passer.

Dennis is straight trash. He has no clue how to run an offense.

I'm interested to see how the big lineup works against Thad and Brook since they always have good games against us.  Slow those two down and we should be happy come 10:00. 

46 minutes ago, macdaddy said:

The price tag on the sale begs to differ.  That price would have been laughed at just 2-3 years ago.  

You can thank the new TV deal for that one.

If opinions had changed, the media wouldn't have predicted the Hawks to take a big step back and you may actually see the Hawks logo while traveling in the city and state.

16 minutes ago, Spud2Nique said:

I'm still not too worried, but dropping a game to the Celtics on the road, then having a day off, coming home and dropping another to Utah isn't great. Let's get THJ some burn.

Let's not forget giving up 72 1st half points to Minny and 56 to a Davis-less Pelicans squad in the two games before those.  This team has looked straight bad and even disinterested over the past 4 games.

We really need this win tonight since we have a tough matchup with Sacramento tomorrow.  Cousins may drop 40 on Al and Splitter.

Unfortunately I'm here and can't just turn it off. What a trainwreck. US mailing it in + them making every shot they take gets you this result. 

Well my journey for a Bazemore jersey T failed since they are SOLD OUT of the blacks. 

1 hour ago, kg01 said:

I vote me ... wait, no.  I say .... @JETSET

 

I voice my opinions way too much for it to be me.  I'm going with @jody23 and his short but sweet "on to the next one" after every W.

1 hour ago, LucastheThird said:

Can't seem to find the picture you're talking about

Just do a google image search of indians train

1 hour ago, LucastheThird said:

The Bazewagon....to Photoshop I go @JETSET

The pic from India with everyone all over the train would be perfect.

15 minutes ago, hazer said:

Blaze rapidly becoming my favorite Hawk...

I agree.  I think my newest piece of Hawks merch is going to be a new Baze jersey shirt tomorrow. 

The Bazewagon is going to be filling up quick if he keep this up.

1 hour ago, hawksfanatic said:

 

Am I supposed to put up a picture of Kermit drinking tea or something?

I'm glad Dolf had a great time which is pretty much all that matters here. I don't think Dolf proves my point on the issue because it's just one instance. Just like going to a "crazy" Charlotte game is one instance.

Pretty cool that Koonin is reaching out about the experience, although geez man what is wrong with the ticketing people? That is a theme of incompetence around these parts.

I want a good crowd experience more than anyone here. I'm glad they were active last night and I hope it begins to happen more consistently since this team certainly deserves it. 

2 hours ago, jpj2112 said:

Technically the first line is "I like what I see out of the gates." LOL. But not thinking those teams got better is a bit short-sighted.  About 95 percent of the East has been mired in mediocrity for so long, including us. Some of these teams have no where to go but up. 

My preliminary assessment to address the original question is that it's still early and I don't exactly expect it to be a cakewalk. 

I will say that we have made a larger improvement from last year than just about every team in the East.  Our depth this year is insane.