ThomasCredle

And before it gets pointed out I know KD is in OKC one more year. Just my dream fit player. I also think that line up above could be solid. Lopez has a lot of the skill set we need rim protect & rebounding. Injury history worries me a bit as he gets older but he would probably be CAP friendly, or as friendly as a true big can be. I have a hunch Paul is gone next year though

We all know the trouble the Hawks have had getting a top level FA to sign. With solid new ownership group with extremely deep pockets, Grant Hill with near universal respect from most players, the reigning coach of the year, 60 wins last year, and a offensive system that players seem to love playing under, and a great city to live in is playoff success the one thing we need to get a top level FA to sign? Do people think another second round exit, and the accompanying told you so on ESPN, would discourage players or have we finally gotten over the hump even without a super deep playoff run? I know it's a pipe dream at this point and I have no idea if he has any interest or if the Cap would even make it feasible but KD seems like the perfect fit for our offense and his personality seems from a distance to mesh well with the teams persona. Just dreaming but......

I think KK will do much better if our bugs can get back to hitting their mid range shots. If Horford is drilling that top of the key and inside corner J and Paul is threat to catch and shot or drive the post inlet pass Washington's big must come out to challenge like game 2 and the 4th QTR yesterday. Right now they are clogging the lane and denying dribble penetration. The drive and dish is a huge part of KK'a game because he is so active. When the D breaks down under penetration he slips loss and gets a good look. Right now the off guard has no need to cheat any to defend penetration and can just trust his bigs and stay glued to Kyle. The thought of having him attack the mid range area could help though by having a similar effect of pulling a big to him. Beal is pretty good and sticking to him though so getting the ball to KK inside the arc could be tough and KK doesn't have the foot speed to take him off the dribble and create his own shot in the mid range.

I completely agree with you there PSSS. The next two games are huge for this Hawks team. Psychologically this team needs to reassert and put some doubt in the Wizards. Game four as in almost all series is pivotal an Atlanta win I feel good coming home for game 5 a loss and I could see a game 5 collapse. One thing we haven't seen from this team is there mental toughness with their back to wall and historically we know the Hawks have struggled. These are not your same ole Hawks so they may surprise but Bud better have the boys ready to play like game 7 on Monday night.

Also, thanks for the support Ruckus!!!

I just posted my thoughts on how this thug could turn out in my "negativity post". Check it out if you like wont double post it here. I think there are a lot factors though that still give us a great shot at winning. Probably going 7 but I think we will still make the ECF

I was really just trying to give my thoughts on how this series will go. Maybe the negativity is more my friends on Facebook and in the AJC than here. To any other posters that feel the start of post was over stated chalk it up to frustration and me dealing with a boat load of casual Hawks fans that finally wanted to watch a game with me for a change. To the hard core believers here I'm sure most agree with me.

Gotta agree about Paul. I had the flu and wouldn't get out of bed to do anything but puke or sit the throne. If he had a high fever it would result in significant cardio drop off thus fatigue. He also would lack strength if his caloric intake and electrolyte balance was reduced from vomiting. The Flu kills thousands of people every year it's a serious illness. Playing threw it yesterday and still giving the Hawks anything just showed me he is tough as nails. Paul's game is also really premised on his quickness, effort, and ability to move without the ball. He's not A big banger that camps under the rim and could catch their breath a little. Having the flu may be the worst thing that could happen to Paul as it limited all his best attributes. Now I hope Pero is cleaning up his puke and serving him hand and foot while he recovers. If he hadn't suck a big fat one Paul might not have had to play so do many minutes yesterday. He did look like he didn't want to be out there kept shooting when he couldn't hit water falling out of a boat, killed our ball movement, and made some of the dumbest fouls. I used to be a Pero apologist but now I'm done with that dude. Moose needs his minutes he brought everything a reserve big should, energy, effort, rebounding, and even showed some range and good close to the basket game.

To all the Hawk fans freaking out declaring this series over after today. Please calm down. The Wizards played lights out and Atlanta had 4 truly retched quarters and barely win both games. Milsap will be healthier Monday, Dennis should get more minutes, Muscala and Scott will take a lot minutes from Pero. I also just can't see Korver, DMC, Teague, and Milsap struggling from three this bad consistently. One of them at least will have some hit games over the next four. Hawks will be highly motivated in game 4. Hawks will be healthier, I have faith in coach Bud to adjust the switches on defense. Also, Scott, Muscala, and Bazemore should all play more minutes. Moose helps counter Wizards size, Scott will stretch their bigs if he keeps shooting like today. Dennis looked like he is finally adjusting to playoff intensity. John Jenkins proved he could still be a sniper. Above all Moose should start to take Pero's minutes in a big way. He showed three ball range yesterday and brings energy, intensity, and rebounding the Hawks desperately need. Milsap will pull Nene away from basket again in game 4 (just like games 1 & 2) and won't get beat to loss balls and make fatigue settle shots healthy. That was really where you could tell he was sick was lack of energy and ability to beat bigger players with quickness and effort. Teague broke out in game three second half and will shot with more confidence in game 4. Also I think Porter will miss some threes in a couple games for Wizards, PP legs are 37 he will slow some as well. Also emotional hangover from game 3 will weigh on Wiz for game 4. If Paul Pierce did aggregate (highly unlikely damn cry baby BITCH) shoulder it may bother him in game 4. I also don't think that Bynum can give them 4 more games like yesterday, there's a reason he was available on a ten day contract. Sessions is a turn over machine and a streaky shooter so Beal has to handle the ball set the offense and then work his ass off running after all on defense. That's a lot to ask and he will fatigue in a seven game series being asked to do that much. Probably will try to do to much in a couple games too. Korver will get a couple more shoots, Muscala will help on the boards, Milsap will be much better, Dennis and Teague will have better confidence, Scott, Bazemore, Moose, and Jenkins could give us another 8 - 12 a game jointly. Pero will hopefully get water for the guys as the come to the bench. The Hawks played about as bad as a team could for three quarters and did play as bad as a team can play in a qtr in two loses and still barely lost. They will reduce the turn overs, let the bench that is hitting shots carry a bit more offense, Milsap will be back and stronger in game 4, DMC will keep playing great and should start just shadowing PP (That last second shot is where we really missed Thabo) Hell I would make sure PP gets an MVP invite to to the Cheetah maybe he can get stabbed again!!!! The wizards have come to play but I really see a Hawk game 4 win and a Hawk game five win. This one may go seven but I like our chances close out at home. Now Horford has to hit his long twos again and start to blow buy Nene and Gortat. Yesterday the Wiz bigs were giving him those shots and not closing out on Paul either and clogged the lanes which really hindered the drive and dish element to our offense. When Moose and Scott started hitting shots they had to come out in the 4th and Dennis got penetration and offense clicked again. This series is far from over. Minus a miracle shot and a train wreck in a fourth quarter are all that separates this series from a 3 - 0 Hawks lead. They got to go now but this series is still very very winnable.