phoostal

Because he doesn't show flashes of taking over the game. He can't create his own shot. Star players can do that. He is great at hustling and picking up garbage points. Garbage points are put backs and layups on the fast break. The three he hit against Boston was set up by AW. Childress will never be able to get off his own shot. He will always have to have a person set him up for a shot or get offensive put backs or run the break. This is a definition of a role player. Not good for your 6th pick. P

Actually, I could make an argument for Deng. With as bad as this team is they could have used Deng. Our front line of the future could be Deng and Smith. When you are bad you need all the good players that you can get. If you are overloaded in a position than you can make trades to get players you need. However you can't make those trades if the players you have aren't that good. P

Which players were picked between 7 - 12 those years? I have a feeling there were some stars, teams missed on with that 6th pick. P

I'm sure in those recent years that picks 7 - 12 had a star player drafted that teams missed on with the 6th pick. This year is too early to tell, but you can see that Deng would have been the better pick for us (at least the way it stands right now). I don't have the time to look up the 7 to 12 picks from the last 5 years, but I'm sure there were star players selected in those slots that could have been picked with the 6th pick. P

I hope people can start to realize we drafted the wrong guy with the 6th pick. Childress is nothing more than a role player and you should be getting an impact player with that pick. Please don't hand me this he needs more minutes excuse. He is not going to be a star in this league. He hasn't shown flashes during any of his games. You may bring up the Boston game, yes he played good. However, his points come off running the break and put backs. He can not create his own shots. Something a 6th pick in the draft should be able to do. As for the other Hawks, Grant Long nailed it last night. This team is a bunch of softies. They don't play physical, commit hard fouls, and give up to easily. If you ask me this a reflection on the coach. Now it maybe to early to dog out Woodson (I am not saying he should go), however I can not help but wonder what a Fratello would have done to get this team more discipline. It is strange because Woodson has the background of playing for Bobby Knight a strict disciplinarian. I just don't see it in this team. I think it is also a reflection of Billy Knight. Who wanted to bring in his own guys. As popular a choice was for either Fratello or Musselman. Knight wanted to do it his way. Which is fine, but some of his moves I have to question. It seems to me he is so stubborn with changing things and putting his own stamp on things that he refuses to look at the players we had on this team and the history of this team. The reason he didn't hire Fratello or Musselman. Simple, they were the favorites by everyone in the city of Atlanta and they represented the good years of Atlanta. With the exception of Musselman. Musselman represented the Babcock era, which Knight hates as well. It's evident to me that Knight has a big ego and does things just so he can get the credit. If he chose Fratello or Musselman it would look like he is giving in to public opinion instead of making his own decision. The same with all the players from the Babcock era. He got rid of them because they were Babcock's players. The only one he kept was Crawford and that was because he is in the last year of his contract. I know this team wasn't going to the playoffs with the players it had before Knight got here. However, I still think there were some decent pieces that could have been kept. The one I'm thinking about now is Dickau. He sure would solve our point guard problem now. A lot of people praise Knight for clearing salary cap. Well, it's not that hard to do. Let only he has nothing to show for it. No free agents are going to come here. Also, don't worry about Chris Paul coming out this year. If he decides to stay in school we will have a shot at him next year and if he decides to stay in the following year we will have a shot at him that year as well. You get the point. I think there has to be a time where you start holding Knight and Woodson accountable. Along with these players. The only one that seems to have a future is J. Smith. This is the only thing I can give Knight credit for. Well, that and making us the laughing stock of the NBA. He has to do it his way. We will see what happens over the next couple of years, but if he keeps picking studs like Childress with the 6th pick. I will probably be typing this same post every 3 years. I'm willing to give Knight and Woodson some more time. However, they aren't off to a good start. Let's hope Knight can make the right pick this year and sweet talk free agents or more people will be clamoring for Knight's resignation. P Just my opinion.

Be careful what you say about Chill on this site. You might ruffle some feathers. A lot of people think he is the next Marion or Pippen, even though he hasn't proven anything yet. I would think it is safe to say that with the 6th pick we should have gotten a player with more impact. However, you will have people screaming bloody murder for making a statement like that. He is a good hustler and defender. I guess in some eyes that is worthy of the 6th pick. P Just my opinion.

Denver has been looking to dump this guy ever since last year. The only reason they didn't was the fact they made the playoffs. If they wouldn't have made the playoffs, Denver would have fired him this off-season. It stinks! If an organization doesn't want you, then the first sign that things look bad you know you are going out the door. I'm sure he will bounce back. P

The problem with your comparison is that Miller and Marion have proven themselves in this league. Childress hasn't. I don't like comparing rookies with proven veterans. That is silly. Until they do something in this league, lets hold the comparisons. Right now Childress is reminding me more of Dermarr Johnson than Miller or Marion. You can project out stats and that is fine, however that doesn't mean what you project is what is actually going to happen. That's the problem with projections. They are stats that show what could happen, it doesn't mean it will. If Woodson and Knight loved this guy so much, especially Knight he would have already traded Harrington and Walker to get him more playing time. Let me ask you this, what if we don't trade Walker, Harrington, or Smith? So Childress still isn't getting playing time. What would that say about what Knight and Woodson think of Childress? If a guy can help your team, you play him. Walker is going to be a free agent after this year anyways. What does it matter if you cut his minutes to play Childress. Heck you can cut Harrington's as well to get Childress into the game. When a team is 4 and 20. Why would you keep the same pattern of minutes for the guys on the team? Don't you think you would change guys minutes if it could help you win more or help you in the future. So why would Woodson and Knight not want to play this guy more? I don't think you are going to hurt Walker or Harrington's trade value by playing them 5 minutes less a game. It could accomplish Chill getting the 25 minutes a game you are looking for. However, Woodson doesn't necessarily agree with that for one reason or another. Maybe his thought process will change or maybe he knows more since he sees Childress's game everyday and we don't. P

When I compare the two it is off their production. They give us the same amount of production. That is something you are missing in their similarities. I know if we project their stats out then he would give us more. Look I want him to succeed and I have seen every Hawks game this year thanks to the NBA package (plug). What I see from the guy doesn't impress me. If he was this stud that everyone thinks, I would think that Woodson would have a place for him on the floor. P Once again my opinion.

How many games has he got over 20 minutes (I really don't know, if it's only handful that doesn't prove much)? Did you ever think there is a reason he isn't playing 20 minutes. If Woodson knew he was going to produce the stats you are projecting, why wouldn't he play him 20 minutes or more? I think the proof is in the pudding if you watch him play he doesn't show much on the court. Listen I'm not a stat head. I go by what I see on the court. Yes, this guy busts his rump when he is out there. That doesn't mean he is good. I look at Childress and I see Diaw. The only difference we didn't get Diaw with the 6th pick. For you to project those numbers is crazy. I'm sure I could find a guy on every team that averages 1pt, 1 asst and 1 rebound a game over 2 minutes of play. Guess what if he were to play 40 minutes a game he would 20 pts, 20 asst, and 20 rebounds a game. Stats are very misleading. Look at the way Childress shoots the ball, it is god awful. He may have been a stud in college, however that doesn't mean you are great in the pros. I wish the guy the best, because I want the Hawks to succeed. Let's not compare him to Garnett. He can't even hold Garnett's jock. You can make stats look anyway you want and to compare his production to Garnett is ridiculous. Just look at his game. The only thing I see night in and night out from Chill is great hustle and decent defense. Is that worthy of the 6th pick? If it is I guess I'm dumb. Also, how come Billy Knight jumped the gun on this guy. It was never mentioned that the Hawks had an interest in this guy. Maybe because most projected him higher (man I wish someone would have taken him before us)and I don't think we ever had him in for a workout. So why are we drafting him in the first place? Overall, I want the kid to succeed. That would mean in the long run the Hawks succeed. However, for anybody watching he just doesn't look good out there. Ivey and Smith look a lot better. One went in the second round and the other never played in college. Let's watch his play and not project stats. That will tell us the true story. Like I mentioned, I'm sure if he was a stud like you project Woodson would play him more. P Just my opinion.

I'm all for getting these guys, just don't spend all of our cap space to get them. Leave some cash to get us a big name guy down the road.

Listen I don't mind signing those guys, however if use all of our cap space for just those two guys and our draft picks. Then I really don't see that as being a wise investment. Swift has just as much promise as Dalembert and in my opinion has more of an upside. Ray Allen is better than any of these guys. There other free agents this upcoming this year that could do the same as these guys that we should be throwing all of our money at before Watson and Dalembert. Just my opinion. P

They have been journey men, but they showed more than both Watson and Dalembert. Let's not even bring up Childress, the only thing he has proven is that he shouldn't have been picked with the 6th overall pick.

We got all that cap space to sign Watson and Dalembert? What a waste. Watson and Dalembert have been okay players, but nothing great. I would prefer us spending money on known commodities. Players that have established themselves in this league. If we blow all our money on these two, we better start winning in the next few years or we should just get rid of Knight now. Is he going to stake his job as Atlanta GM on the signings of Dalembert and Watson? These signings I'm sure will get the city of Atlanta excited about next year. I can see the promotions now, "Don't miss your exciting Hawks in 2005 with Earl Watson and Samual Dalembert. Get your tickets today." I know they want to win with the team concept, but come on even the Pistons got decent players. Billups and Ben Wallace were good players in this league and showed flashes of what they can do. Rasheed Wallace is a star in this league. My point is I can not beleive we are staking our future on these two free agents that have proven very little in this league. We are going on potential, well you better be right with that potential. Right now, it seems like it will be a waste of money. Maybe I can overlook this if we sign both of these guys and still have money to go after a premiere player. P

I have to agree on D2's views. Tell me what free agents are going to want and come play for this organization. None. We are probably going to have to overpay marginal players to get them to come. Hoping that they will turn out to be star players. No marquee player will want to come here. We are labled as a losing franchise that can't get it right. We are the running joke in the NBA with every organization and media outlet. Yes, we have some good young talent. Meaning J. Smith and Harrington. I would not be excited about Childress. The only thing he has proved is that he should have not been drafted with our 6th pick. The way it sits right now is that we blew a great opportunity to get an impact player with our 6th pick. Ivey looked good early, but has struggled as of late. Diaw is nothing to right home about. So please don't tout him as something special. He is okay, that's it. Until he starts making jumpers on a consistent basis, he is an average player at best. Let's not talk about him as a good young player to build around. Next year we get the 1st pick, give me a break. We are the Hawks we will end up picking 3rd. Thanks to the lottery. Not to mention the last two years the team with the worst record won the lottery. So that means somebody other than the owner of the worst record will probably win this year. It can't keep going to the worst record, it's a lottery. Besides this is the Hawks. We should have kept some players from last year and freed some cap space. A combination of the two. Instead we chose to get rid of everything. This rebuilding process is going to take another 10 years. We are now going to be known as the Clippers of the east. Also, has anyone thought about when our young guys get good why would they stay in Atlanta? Why stay on a losing team? I think if they get their chance they would want to split in a second. The only thing that will change this is winning, but that is a pipe dream right now. P

I bash this team often, but I wanted to give them credit for a good win tonight. Still a lot of flaws with this team, but it is good to get a win. They don't come often with this squad. So let's enjoy the win tonight. Who knows when it will happen again. P

I got a tell you all of you guys on this site (with the exception of a few) are right on the money. I love this team. I'm so excited about the future of this organization. Billy Knight and Mike Woodson really have this team heading in the right direction. I don't know what can say it more than the stat (for you stat guys)worst start in Atlanta history. I see guys on this team that I want to have on our roster for years to come. I must have been on crack to think you guys didn't know what your were talking about. This a wonderful team with loads of potential. They show it every night. No this isn't the same old Hawks. These guys are so good they find new ways each night to get it done. Which I'm told is improvement. The only thing I can't figure out, that maybe you experts can help me with, is if we are going to be so good (or on our way back to respectability) and there is all this potential/excitment why are we 2 - 13. Oh wait a minute maybe we suck. Go Hawks. At least I can see this team for what it is. Can we all please be realistic now. Great performance tonight against the Wizards. It's time you guys start to be more critical of the team. Instead of pretending all is right with the direction we are going. P

What's funny is that you can make stats say whatever you want? I haven't sat and searched every possible lineup that the Hawks have had this year. I'm not really a geek that likes to do that. What I do know is what I see every game on the court. Yes, Ivey is good and I like him. I think it is very skeptical thinking on your part to put him up there as being the best PG we have. I will agree he needs to be on the floor more than Anderson. However, I would like to go with Delk. He can score more, play decent defense, and seems to get the team flowing better. You also have to remember this is first real action in two years. Give him time to play. Anyways about the stats. Football for example, name a qb you want for you team. The last name that is usually mentioned is T. Brady. His stats aren't that great. Guess what though, the guy wins. That's the bottom line. If you have a proven winner on your team that produces wins who gives damn about stats. It's all about W's and L's. Sometimes we get to caught up in stats. Right now I think Ivey would help, however I think Delk is doing just fine replacing him. If not better given the time. We should have a decent combo with Delk and Ivey manning the point. Still this team stinks and needs to get better. That's the remaining fact. P

I got Jackets back to a degree on this subject. This team stinks. Bottom line. There isn't much improvement at all. I love how you think Ivey is an all star and is going to shut down Marbury. Are you on crack? Gimme a break. Drobs has played better than expected, but once again you are on something if you think he is the answer. Next, you guys talk about improvement with this guy and that guy. However, there is no improvement with this team. That's the bottom line. I don't care how much a guy improves if it isn't helping the team win. It also seems that win one guy improves another goes back in the S@!$er. Case in point Diaw and Childress. These guys switch every couple of weeks. For all you guys that talk about how great it is that these young guys are getting experienced. One example for you Chicago Bulls. Those guys have been getting experienced for the last three years and what have they accomplished. Nothing. This team is horrible at the line and their defense sucks. The funny thing is that these should be the first two things a team learns to play. Make free throws and play defense. For some reason the Hawks can't grasp this. I know the season is young. Please don't throw the Pistions were 17 and 24 and look what happen in our faces. This team is no where in that league. Let's not pretend they are. We need a center and we need a point guard. Ivey is good, but can you really say he is better than Delk. If you are honest, the answer will be no. This team is frustrating to watch it is the same old same old each night. Maybe its time to look at most people's god "Billy Knight". Just maybe he didn't bring the right mix of players together. Maybe he drafted the wrong guys. Maybe he didn't make all the right trades. As Hotlanta said earlier this year. Why is he genius, anyone can dump players for cap space? We will see how this season turns out. I still support my team from thick through thin. I just think it is time for you guys to open up your eyes and realize what is going on. As giddy as you get with a J. Smith dunk and block (even I do). There he is getting beat like a drum on the defesenive end. A. Walker as good as he was last night, he still can't make free throws and turns the ball over way to much. Let only in overtime he had the offense becoming stagnant by holding the ball until 5 seconds on the shot clock. Harrington is not consistent for an entire game (except Indiana). Diaw had his first big game last night. 14 games into the season. Hopefully that will jump start him. K. Anderson needs to retire. We have no center and the stiffs we have aren't really that good. Drobs has been a pleasant surprise on offense, defense sucks though. It is kind of sad when people actually start to think Drobs is good. He didn't even start for his country's team. Anyways you guys get the picture with this team too many flaws. Improvement slightly. Definently nothing to get all excited about as most on this site do. Just let the season play out and don't try to cram this nonsense about how wonderful this team is improving. Until they start getting some wins, making free throws, and playing defense. This team isn't making any great strides. Hey it's just my opinion. P

What are you talking about Jackson clocked the guy that threw the beer right in Artest's face. While three guys were holding Artest a guy walked right up to Artest and threw a beer in his face and started laughing. Then Jackson came in and cold cocked the guy. I think that is doing something. Anyways it was a horrible incident that took place. Let's hope the NBA can put it behind and move on. P

Maybe the fans should think twice about throwing S@#$ at players. Did you ever look at that way? I understand your concerns about your children. However, remember this would have never taken place if the fan didn't throw the beer. Easy as that. It's easy to blame the players. On the other hand it would be nice for people to look at these poor fans that we should have pity for. I'm not saying what the players did was right. Just gimme a break on how innocent these poor fans are. They got what they deserve. Yes, I saw the kid crying. That is a sad situation. As in life sometimes things aren't always puppy dogs and ice cream. I'm sure his parents will explain what took place. I think it would start by them saying "When an idiot throws something from the stands this could happen" It doesn't excuse what took place and it should have never escalated to that extreme. I just don't think that the players should be crucified. Call Artest what you want and you very well could be justified in doing so. In this case I don't feel Artest was in the wrong. Should he have gone into the stands, No. He did though and I personally thought the fans got what they deserved. I have seen a lot worse from players and I'm sure you have too. So, to blame the players for something they didn't start is silly to me. Do they share in the blame, of course they do. P

I'm not saying they shouldn't be punished. I'm just saying it didn't bother me that they went up into the stands to handle their business. Was it uncalled for? Yes. Oh well, maybe the fans will think twice next time they throw something on to the court. Hell, I would have tried to break it up. Secretly I would probably hope that I got knocked in the face myself. That way I would sue these players and get somehting out of it. P

Don't you think the fans should have turned the other cheek? It should work both ways before you just blame the players. For a guy that loves the teachings of the bible, you should pick up the bible and read it. I doubt it says to hate someone. I believe it says love thy brother. So why do you have to hate on people? Just my opinion, but I will leave between you and gambit99. P

3 Huge Guys throwing sucker punches - Give me a break! Those fans got what they deserved. None of the punches Jackson, Artest, and O'Neal threw were sucker punches. Was it fair when a guy was sucker punching Artest in a headlock or when he was getting held back by fans as they threw drinks in his face? Jackson was sticking up for his teammate. As was O'Neal. F' those fans. They acted like animals! When the players were walking back to the locker room throwing everything and anything at them. I guess that is cool too, right? There were women and men doing it. Ridiculous. You may get upset at those players. However, I ask you what would have you done? You say no big deal if someone throws a beer on you, what would you do? I have a hard time beleiving you would walk away. If you did, you probably don't have any sac. Any person would stand up for themselves because it is uncalled for. Did I think the players went overboard, of course I did. Yet, I don't blame them. Those fans were throwing more sucker punches and cheap shots than any players. P By the way I love how chubby who ran on to the court laid out by Artest. Then chubby got up and got laid out by O'Neal. Sit your ass down fatso .

Is this team going to compete this year? Once again I'm not asking this team to actually win. However, can they please keep a game close. This maybe the worst team in Hawks history. I'm guessing the Lakers are going to blow this team right off the floor Sunday. Too bad I'm not going out on a limb with that prediction. How many times am I going to hear this one from Hawk fans? "It's only (fill in the blank with the game total)" I wish some of you would open your eyes and see what is going on. I know we aren't going to win a lot of games, but there is no reason to not compete and give teams a game. Right now the only positive you can take is that the young guys are playing. Thats it. P