Wretch

I love that the Championship has come home to the East. I love that Detroit at least TRIED to make the Lakers work. I love that it was a team effort that won the championship. I love that it has taught all the superstars a lesson: no free rides, you got to earn it. I love that defense was highlighted in this series... BUT IT WON'T WORK FOR ATLANTA Again, this isn't a city rich in basketball tradition. We have VERY little inspiring basketball history. The only teams that this city has ever rallied around were the 'Nique led teams (who has not been forgetten); but, anything less exciting than that will not cause a stir. Not posting a winning season... Not making the playoffs... Not competing in the playoffs... We had that with Smitty/Mookie/Hendu/Corbin/Laet/Deke/and Lenny. We had empty playoff arenas and OUT OF TOWN fans OWNING our arena BOOING the home team off the court WHILE THEY WERE WINNING. These chants by local "fans" for the opposition that comes in, it didn't start recently. This has been going on ever since the Hawks slid into mediocrity. Mediocre does not have to mean unsuccessful. It can be used to describe a team, this team, that does very little to inspire a fan base. Putting a functional, fundamental, competitive, half-court, defensive-minded team on the floor will work in any NBA city (except maybe LA), but it will not work here. Atlanta needs a STAR and a team that appeals to the mainstream. Anything less will not turn the franchise around.

How many of those teams will you face in the games that count? Still with a 6'3" SG, give up height to every team in the NBA; above average SGs are NUMEROUS and at 6'5" and above: Finley Rip Pierce Kobe TMac Richardson Jefferson Houston LeBron Vince Carter Allen Ginobili Stackhouse And don't forget the G/F swingmen like Marion and Artest... Guys don't come in the league shorter than 6'5" projected at SG's, which means we will continue to put ourselves at a height disadvantage as long as we've built our team around a 6'3" SG. I don't think there is any way around it. If we draft a 6'3" guard with the intention of starting him, then we have to be looking at new role for JT or MOVING him.

The only one of those guys that you could realistically pair JT with would be Livingston. A 6'3" PG paired against a 6'5" SG is one thing, but when you start looking at long, atheletic guys at over 6'6"...you don't want a short guy guarding him, no matter how long his reach is. They'll get abused by guys like Rip, TMac, Richardson, and Pierce. It'll REALLY get ugly with teams that can go big. That's what'll happen. That's what has happened... So... You either put JT at the point and put a guy next to him who can handle the ball like Sura...or you put JT at the 2 and bring in a guy 6'5" and above at PG. I wouldn't put the future of the franchise on the shoulders of a 6'2"/6'3" shoot first back court. Good for small ball/quick scoring stretches...not good for an entire season...suicidal to build a team around. If we are looking at a 6'3" PG in the draft, with a top pick, it can only indicate a shift in our interest in JT...which basically means moving him in a trade or moving him into a backup role. You don't draft a guy that high with the intent of building a strong bench. And we can't invest in a backcourt that small.

...and not going up against a 6'5" PG with skills (how many of those are there again?)

I think LA can pull a win out tonight. I think the chances are more than good. These guys are former champions, they still have two of the most dominant players in the game, and they still have a decent supporting cast. Plus, they've got Phil working on a gameplan. Question is, more important than if the Lakers win tonight, what happens if this thing goes back to LA? Pistons in 6? If not, do you take the Pistons in game 7 in LA? Pistons need to close this thing out tonight or end it at Game 6 in LA. MAN THIS SH#T IS BEAUTIFUL!!!! This is the way that the Finals should play out EVERY year. I'm just not ready to see it end yet. I want to see a game 6 or could you imagine the magnitude of a game 7? When is the last time a finals had this kind of story?

I just posted like, the same thing. Maaaaaaaaaaaaaann...if we could get Livingston AND Howard? OMG! And it's possible too...

Quote: What is the goal of rebuilding? Playoffs, Championship, Profitability, Full arena, other? What many people don't realize is that the Atlanta Hawks are a different kind of franchise. I don't know that there is another professional sports team with an equally apethetic fan base. The Hawks are NON-EXISTENT, and nothing short of an exciting, championship calibur team is going to wake up the city to their pro basketball team. So, playoffs is good, but it is not enough to get profitability and a full arena. Not unless the team is young and exciting. That's what we should be shooting for right now...getting players in here that perform AND can be marketed. Down the road (3 to 4 years) we need to make sure these guys can take the team over the top. Quote: How long should it take for the Hawks to rebuild? Rebuilding the image of the Hawks is most important right now. The Hawks need an identity in the worst way. There isn't a team in the NBA that has suffered for an identity as long as we have...since the early 90's. This isn't hard to do. Change the owners (done) change the GM (done) change the coach (good as done) remove the players identified with the losing atmosphere (mostly done). Bring in talented, exciting players with potential (?) Within 2 years, we should have a team on the floor capable of playing for an 8 seed - but competing, playing hard, and exciting non-the-less. We should have a personality to center the team's identity around too. Quote: Where should the draft fit into the overarching rebuilding plan? The Hawks do not have an identity that is marketable to free agents. If we want them here, we'll have to overpay them. It's great that we have the money to go after a KMart or Kobe, but realistically, we shouldn't put our hopes into being able to recruit them. It'll take more than just money and a "nice" city to live in. We have to have a talented team on the floor, to make high profile FAs take notice. But the same guys that we are willing to throw 6 to 13 million dollars at are the same guys taken 1 through 13 in the NBA draft - that come for no more than around 3 million dollars, that we lock up for 5 years if we want, that we have the opportunity to protect should they try to sign with someone else. The draft should be the focus of our rebuilding. Quote: What are the must haves coming out of this draft for the Hawks? The Hawks must acquire a personality out of this draft. Someone with game AND flair. Howard is the perfect fit with local ties to boot. The ability to entertain as well as play is another must. We can't build a team like the Pistons and expect the fans to come out nor can we rally our fanbase around a robotic personality like Tim Duncan. We need a KG, 'Nique, or Kidd type of potential. Outside of a specific player, I feel that one goal for this draft should be to acquire at least 2 1st rounders, preferably snagging another lottery pick. Best case scenario would be Howard at 2 and Livingston at 3. Diesel has got a nice proposal for getting the #3 here), but I think we should keep it and look at trying to work with the Clips on that #2. Quote: What are the must haves coming out of next year's draft? Too early to say. This will be known once the draft is over, if we've taken on any contracts, and who we resign. Quote: Does anyone care to share a complete plan? Use Diesel's trade proposal (and the mafia if neccessary) to wrestle that #3 out of Chicago. Use #6/#17/something to inspire the Clippers or just call their bluff on keeping Howard or dealing with someone else. Keep an eye on Phoenix with that #7, but try to come away with Howard and Livingston. We should take a look at Duhon in the 2nd Round. Re-sign Jack (6 - 7 mill) if he goes because JT goes f#ck 'em. Re-sign Sura (3 mill) Re-sign Collier and Pryz (bread/water). 6-7 mill for bad contract from Chi or Phoe (for the #3/#7 deal) 6 mill for our rookies this season Plus 10 million for Hendu, Crawford Boris at about 1.5 Million Hansen at the minimum ____________ Around 34-36M, around 9 - 10 under the 45M cap with 11 more falling off in 2005. PG Livingston/Duhon/ SG Jack/Sura SF Sura/Boris/FA (?) PF Howard/FA (Swift?) C Collier/Pryz/FA (Blount?Foyle?) We could also package some picks to move up into the late teens...maybe pick up a big body like Ramos or Jefferson (*shudder* 3 Hssrs?). Whatever we do, keep enough change to sign a possible lottery pick next season + a Max FA; we've got a good FA year coming up plus another draft where we are likely to be drafting high - no sense in burning ourselves out in one off-season.

But do we really know if he's going to be more like JT or more like Francis? JT is a tweener by ill management, not neccessarily by talent. PG is the most demanding position on the court and most guys coming in struggle to adapt - even if they play the point 3 or 4 years in college. It is rare that you see PGs come into the league and exhibit dominant (or sometimes even decent) playmaking ability right away. JT was just another "score first" guard when he came to Atl. His problem was that no one allowed him to take his lumps as a PG. This was the fault of two coaches: Lenny and Kruger. Lenny sheltered JT, and benched him EARLY in his career, rather than let him get out there and take his lumps. What we thought was a genious move by Kruger probably was more damaging that what Lenny did. By moving JT to the 2, all of a sudden it becomes his "natural" position and everyone assumes this is where he should be playing. The team tries to pair him with taller PG's, ball handling 2's, point forwards - while JT develops the mentality that he'd be better off just worrying about shooting the ball. I'm sure that if Francis or Marbury were faced with the same type of ill management that JT has undergone, they would be faced with similar problems; perhaps not to that degree...because everyone develops differently, but certainly they'd have some issues in their game. All that being said, I believe that Ben Gordon will not be a JT clone. JT is the posterboy for how NOT to groom a PG prospect; nobody is going to allow a talent like Gordon to become the next one. He'll be used exclusively at the point and playmaking will be drilled into his head. In 2 or 3 years, he may not be a Jason Kidd...but he will be something closer to the plethora of non-traditional PG's in the league.

That was in line with Blunt's comments; still, Crawford isn't on my radar. He's a good player that would come for (realitively) cheap, but you still have to question are we going after this guy because he's tall and can play combo guard or is he truly the kind of talent we want? My thing is, I am done trying to find the flavor of the month that mixes with JT. We've started over and it's time to move forward.

This is what happened around the trade deadline. Remember all the reports that Atlanta was "desperately" trying to dump salary? Anyone who posts over on RealGM can attest to the atrocious trade proposals that were made to us; we couldn't believe it, but look at how it went down. When teams know what you want, they do all that they can to get the most out of you. So we stand at the threshold of the draft and *surprise* everyone has Dwight Howard penciled into our draft plans. He's big, talented, and from Atlanta...why not? The problem here is that everyone thinks that we are desperate to draft the kid so everyone is playing an angle for us. Orlando simply wants to get an ear in what the Hawks have to offer. Obviously, they are looking at our available cap space to dump some players into. The sports media spinning this too. Never underestimate their power. They have as much interest in this as the teams do. Where there is intrigue, there is the media there to spin it. What you really have to do is read between the lines. The game is Poker, and it would be foolish to put your cards in plain sight. So anything that we've seen in the press was meant to be in the press - meaning the only people who know what's going on have given specific information to sports reporters. Orlando is looking at Okafor. They do not want to invest in a HS project that will not help keep TMac in Flordia. The Clippers do not need another front court prospect and want the best possible deal for the #2. Dwight Howard wants to play for the Atlanta Hawks and he DOES NOT want to play for the Clippers. The Hawks need Dwight Howard. Not neccessarily the talent in Howard, but in the buzz that he would create. He is talented though, and a PF prospect which is always good to build around, so he is likely their #1 candidate. I also believe that the Hawks know that the #17 pick will have to be dealt to someone to get what they want out of this draft, but the Hawks are looking to select two 1st round guys. Having all this cap space available makes it easier to do. When it's all said and done, I expect the Magic to select Okafor - who Magic Fans, Magic press, as well as the rest of the world seems to be leaning on. I expect the Hawks to end up with Dwight Howard and there is a better than average chance that we will end up with two 1st round selections.

Then you've lost the PG spot. That's the problem with JT, you have to compensate for him; essentially, linking him to the 2 spot and creating a potential weakness. We needn't build a team around JT or for him. We need to go after players that are the best possible investment for us...not neccessarily because they compliment Terry.

Peja, Reggie Miller (my personal long distance favorite), Bird, or Hodges...? No, he was no more dominant behind the arc, in relation to those guys, as he was dominant with his passing in relation to guys like Magic or Kidd. So if you are comparing him to the great 3pt shooters, no he wasn't a threat in that regard. Though as far as knocking it down, yes. He still did it well. Jordan was good from all over the court. You couldn't give him space anywhere. He took plenty from 20' on in and they couldn't stop his jumper, but they still repected him behind the arc. Most importantly, Jordan was clutch. If it's a 3 pointer that's needed and he's the guy taking it there aren't many people in the building that don't think it has a better than average chance of falling.

That's exactly what happened to MJ. He took on different aspects of the game. He made it a point to be good at everything he did - like a genetic super soldier or something *LOL*. Though it wasn't just the situations he went up against, it was his will to overcome them and the knowledge of what he had to do.

What I'm saying is that Jordan would beat this Pistons defense and why.

Michael Jordan was the most complete player in the history of the game. That is what made him so good. There was nothing that he didn't or couldn't do well. He could hit the shot, from any angle, from anywhere on the court first of all...but he had to develop that shot. He did and he perfected it. Before that, he was a dribbler and a penetrator. He's good in the post, behind the arc, getting into the lane...nobody could stop him. And if he were having an off night, he would beat you doing something else. He was an all-defensive 1st teamer, he could get into guys' game and their heads. He played team defense, individual defense, transition defense...didn't matter. If he wasn't scoring, he would rebound, hustle, and dig in deeper. And when they threw 2 or 3 guys at him, he would find open guys...not just people spotting up either - but guys cutting, guys posted up behind a tricky passing angle... Michael Jordan has gone up against some of the toughest defensive schemes. He beat them because he could do EVERYTHING. His teammates knew it and were ready to play off of him; and there was nothing really special about any of his teammates - except Pippen and Rodman. You put Jordan out there with this Lakers team...WITH SHAQ???? and this series gets ugly from the game one tip.

No matter how much people cry about ugly, low-scoring games. This series creates drama - and that makes sports all the more interesting. Each game becomes important, each possesion critical, and the waning minutes of each game have a profound impact on how the series plays out. And should the Lakers storm back in game 5, the reaction of Laker fans (and sympathizers) will be all the more excited. Triumph in the face of adversity is always a good story and works better than stomping all over the competition. This is just great for the NBA regardless of who comes out on top. Detroit has turned this into a series. I don't really care who wins, I would just like to see the Lakers play a little better and tighten these games up. Detroit has been the better team, but the Lakers are just coming apart at the seams. Regardless, I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad that this isn't the Spurs and the Pistons. Could you imagine the blog-fest...

'cak

...but he owns a medical supply company that does business with the doctor's office that my wife works for. He comes through there all the time and I've talked to him on the phone about basketball stuff. Just thought I'd throw that in there.

...that we use the 6th/something to acquire the #2 and the #17/something to acquire the #7. I thought about it too. Work out a deal to get the #2 from LAC and the #7 from Phoenix. I'd take it a step further and try to move up to the #3 to snatch Livingston. Either way, I think we can get that #7 out of Phoenix AND come away with a deal for the #2 as well.

Because that pick would probably be lottery protected. Otherwise, it would be like giving up a 1st round draft pick, albiet a mid 1st rounder, for nothing.

"Don't draft me." He wants to play for the Hawks. There is no doubt about that. Orlando is mentioned because Okafor is being penciled into the #1 spot and if the Hawks can't work out a deal for him then he could end up jammed into the Clippers roster. There is also the possiblity that he shows more promise than any of the Clips PF prospects... Dwight doesn't want anything to do with the Clippers besides passing through their draft selection on the way to a Hawks jersey.

Don't go mixing and matching what the two biggest "rigged lottery" proponents were saying. I stated what I believed would happen right before the draft, just like everyone else, but I didn't guarantee anything; and I don't recall Diesel saying anything about the Clippers or Bulls. Again, I said that if the draft was rigged the team that got the 1st pick would likely be inclined to take Okafor. I believed that Orlando would land that top pick, or we would and select Howard - with each scenario changing what would follow dramatically. I said that Chicago would not land in the top 2 and that the Clippers would not land in the top 3. I also said look for a Western Conference team to be thrown in there just to make things look legit. I thought that as bold as Stern has been in the past (assuming the lottery was rigged then) that he wouldn't give a sh#t and throw some deserving teams into the mix - like Atlanta or Philly and a wildcard WC team like Utah or Seattle - with Okafor going to the team that needs him the most in ANY situation. For conspiracies sake, giving Atlanta a top 2 pick would look VERY suspicious; but giving the Clippers (WHO CLEARLY DON'T NEED THAT PICK) does not. Is there a better team to have win the #2 pick? They almost have to deal it. I said that if things didn't fall into our favor, or if Chicago was given a top 2 pick, or if the Clippers landed ANYWHERE in the top 3...that I would be less convinced that the draft is rigged. I said that I'm not a conspiracy nut who runs around and bends the results to suit my arguement nor do I simply find a bunch of things that could happen so that I can play on them when it does. I said that there is NO WAY to know how Stern wants things to play out if the lottery was rigged. I admitted where I was mistaken...but I still am not totally convinced that it is legit. After watching the lottery for all these years, one lottery will not do that. What keeps my eyebrows raised is the fact that Orlando did with the lottery, Chicago did not land in the top 2, one digit separated the Clippers from us winning, and that we will likely walk away with Howard through the Clippers anyway. Though, if any fan (probably including Clipper fans) in the league had a choice to award a top pick in the draft to someone - there is no way in Hell they'd do it for the Clippers. I'd rather screw the Hawks than give the Clippers anything. Anyway, that's my take on it. I'm about 70/30 for legitimacy right now and I believe that IF the lottery is legit then it is because David Stern wants it to be. And not for any other reason.

The search would have ended long ago. And what if Sura goes down (if he decide to resign him) as he has been known to do? We're back to square one - a team without an on the floor leader, no one that can get the rest of the team involved. If we could get a decent return on JT, I'd do it. I would sever the link between our 1 and 2 that has been handicapping us.

But I don't want to give him up for nothing. I think that JT is a great shooter, that he's very quick, and that he could learn (eventually) to play the point effectively. But I think it's taking too much out of us in our search to find his perfect compliment...so in effect, you have two players that define one position; and if you don't have that complimentary player, then you don't have that position. It's a liability. I'm not so down on JT's turnovers or his defense. For one, I know he can defend, but we haven't had a decent defensive scheme in place since Lenny left. No one has been preaching any kind of defense to this team (another reason I'm hoping we'll pick up the Czar) - so I wouldn't put it all on JT that he's a poor defender. I'd say he's been allowed to be lazy. And playing in front of a clean up player like Theo only encouraged it. I like that JT can shoot and that he can get his shot off. I believe that with a PG by committee type team his weaknesses would be covered up. But I would rather this team not spend years trying to find the right players to put around JT - in effect, building a team around him. If we can get equal value out of him, I'm all for a trade. If not, we can't just let him go for nothing. I don't feel it's a get rid of him at all costs type of scenario.

Is that this is sh#t that we talk about in our homes, in here, on the street...where ever y'know? It's just casual conversation. But should someone on TV say the same thing that many of us discuss "down on Earth" then all of a sudden you hear a collective... *gasp* From around the nation. Did Larry just say what I think he said? Then the media makes a point to drag a few choice statements out of a conversation while posting a mug shot of LB: ) and it needs heady black players. If for nothing more than to break the stereotypes and taboo subjects. I'm black, african-american, negroid...whatever; sh#t just doesn't make sense to me. Much in the same way KG makes a light hearted war analogy, and the world overreacts (with me bein' a desert vet who didn't), I find this whole LB issue to be blown way out of proportion. What I find far more disturbing is the fact that no one has yet to staple Jim Grey's mouth shut. I'd pay billions of dollars (if I had it) to put him and Stephen A. Smith in a real celebrity death match.