JTFan31

Very good point, Dolfan. I agree 100%, we know, the management knows, the league knows and his teammates knows what Theo Ratliff can do on the court when healthy. He doesn't need to prove anything in those summer leagues which are basically only for rookies to earn some reputation and free agents to show their stuff. Is not for players like Theo especially him having injury problems. He will have enough training when training camp starts and if they say he is doing a great job in practice plus he also went to mini camp before the summer league started then there is NO reason for him to go to summer league. I rather have stay home and spend time with his family and practice with the guys, than go to the summer league and get injured since he is so injury prone. It's a good decision by Him and management, because we all know with him in the lineup we will be much more successful, he is the key. No many teams have an intimidator inside like Theo. We need that this year, especially with the guarantee of making the playoffs.

Yes it does kind of suck. Thats like a slap in the face for us having G.S. and Nugs play 5 games on national TV and us only 1. There is definitely no respect there. Reason being because the spotlight will be on Mike Dunleavy and the Nuggets because of Nene Hilario. How about us with Reef and JT and with Theo coming back. Guys what really counts is wins, thats all that matter we will have enough televised games when playoffs comes around while Nugs and Warriors be at home sitting and watch us play, . I guess thats why the NBA gave those 2 teams 5 games each on national TV, they figured that they wont make the playoffs,

Yea but now except Iverson. I'm pretty sure he won't be available.

Who from the summer league has impressed the coaches enough to fill in roster space from the departures of Cal, Leon & Hanno. I have really fallen in love with Haslem's work ethic. This guy can really get in there and push people around to get easy lay ins. He sure looks like he is in great shape and he was doing a great job on the fullcourt and halfcourt presses. I say he's a keeper. What yall think? Another guy I like is Louis Bullock, IMO I rather have louis Bullock take E-mails place in the roster, but I seriously doubt that will happen. I think these are the 2 guys that has a serious chance on making our team. Maybe another guy will be Mario Bennett, but it depends on the rumor of trading Nazr. IMO will desperately need Nazr off the bench as our center. Maybe our roster will look like this: JT/Dickau/E-mail (I rather have Bullock) DJ/Dion Ira/Kukoc Reef/Hendu/Haslem Theo/Nazr Crawford on Inj. list

Well damn thats news to me also, thanks Dolfan. Dolfan you must remember hawksfreak is an insider so he knows all this stuff already, :P

It is on ESPN 2, Traceman

ESPN 2, Good thing I was given permission to go home early today, said I had a Dr.'s appointment. Very eager to see DJ, Dion and Dan, as well as Haslem.

I must agree, JT will run circles around Best. Best won't even outplay Dickau and Aldridge is talking that best might be going to Atlanta, hahaha. Is he also trying to say that Jay Williams is a better PG than JT and thats why Best has to move to a team without a PG, and that is teh Hawks, hahaha, Thats really funny, sometimes I ask myself.....How in the hell did Aldridge become an insider.....Heck even Hawksfreak does a better job, lol

Oh yea how convenient, now is your last day in Boston. Why can't you just say the truth, that you never were in Boston. We here at hawksquawk are very so tired of all your lies, little man. Just be honest and have some integrity. If you can apologize and say the truth I think every here in Hawksquawk will accept you again, other than that it will be the same old story. Ignoring your posts

Thank you very much, thecampster, you rpoved my point and others. He really tried to hard to actually believe himself that he is an insider and the last straw was that he was at the game in boston and he was at the same time in the internet. That was definitely the last straw and everyone doubted him, I definitely doubted him way before. Thank you, man

Hell man I'll take the rookie Haslem over Hanno and Bowdler anyday. I knew coming into the draft the kid had talent. I was very surprised he wasn't chosen, maybe because some people thought he might of been another Robert "Tractor" Traylor. He is really improving his chances and putting pressure on Babs to sign him and make the roster, and honestly I would love to have him in our second unit. He can come in and bang inside. I sure can't wait to see them play tomorrow against the Bucks on ESPN 2. Thats gonna be awesome and exciting. I like to add that I hope that Dan Dickau is not a little feisty one. Although I sure would love to see him aggressive, but I have heard that he is very competitive.

If you are at the game with your laptop, then how are you able to connect your computer to the internet?

I love them both, but no way....thats an overstatement. But tell you what though, they can very easily be the best scoring combo in the East.

Right here, I remember those days and I am damn glad we got a 200% improved messageboard, but back then that wasn't that bad.

Most definitely, right now we are very thin at the shooting guards & small forwards position positions. In reality if we do make that tarde that is rumored getting B. Russell, we get a guy with playoff experience, but already going down on his career and we give a guy like Dion that is filled with potential. He just have been unfortunate with the injuries. Most probably the Hawks management are tired of looking at the future and they want to concentrate on the present and excel NOW, and maybe thats why they want an experience 3 or 2. They did guarantee playoffs and they figure with an experienced 2 or 3 we have a better chance than with say a guy like Dion, but of course IMO I like Dion's game much better than a guy like Russell.

I definitely agree. This summer league Dion is under a microscope by the management and also by other team managers with interests. Babs has always invisioned, JT at the 1, Dion at the 2 and DJ at the 3. DJ has put 15 extra pds to his body and he can add some more before the season start. He is a true small forward, that can shoot, pass, drive and defend. Dion is a true shooting guard that can do all those as well. If we give these 2 the confidence and start them when the season open, I honestly think they will pan out well. So far both of them had a pretty damn good first game, and the more I think about the lineup the more I like it. JT-pg Dion-sg DJ-sf Reef-pf Theo-c Thats a pretty damn good lineup, everyone can score adn can defend and I think if Kruger shows Dion that he has confidence in him, then I think Dion will prove him right and step up.

Im done arguing with you, kiddo. Word of advise though, just be yourself. By the way what part of Boston are you part so I can come visit you? P.S. I must admit thats one damn awesome picture of JT, lol

Like I said, they dont let 12 year old fly alone these days.

The problem is you with all these lies. How can a 12 year old be in boston all by himself, first of all they dont let minors fly in plane alone and you certainly cant drive. You dont need to prove yourself for us to accept you, we accept all hawks fans, but not the ones that come in here and start throwing BS all around our messageboards. Just start being yourself kiddo.

Very poor, I think you are lying to all of us with your suppose insider info and spelling needs work. But then again you are only 12 years old, spelling will come in time.

I just hope he is not lying about being in Boston, and telling us all those remarks that supposely Haslem and Dickau said. I know how a 12 year old kid is these days, they all want to look good and be accepted by doing something spectacular. By him saying being in Boston would really put the nail in the coffin by trying to prove to us that he is one of the best hawk fans. Did you bring a camera to Boston? Who are you there with? Sorry guys but I truly dont think he is in Boston. I remember him once saying that he was a Hawks insider and his post are better than Jay Walker. Ever since he made that comment I truly dont believe a word he says. He is in the stage of dealing with tremendous peer pressure and he just want us to accept him and believe everything he says.

See my concern of trading Nazr is now even greater. Leon wont probably be brought back and we will be very skinny at the center position and at big men if we trade Nazr. Honestly I rather keep Nazr than trade him for someone say like Mike Miller. With the development of DJ, we dont someone say like Mike Miller, I much rather have the size where there is a lack of than another swing man. The Cristofferson dude was big, real big and maybe Atlanta thought that they could use him as a backup, but I am very still very skeptical about Theo.......How about if he does goes down again? At least we have Nazr and we all know what he can do and what to do expect from him......without quality big men we definitely wont make the playoffs. We need big bodies and with Theo and Nazr and good enough. Imagine without both fo them, we will another losing season.

In honesty I dont mind to see Dion go.. With the development of DJ and then having Ira coming off the bench or even starting is pretty good, but we do need maybe another swing player, if Kukoc and Dion are traded. So if we do make that trade sending Toni and Dion, we need to bring in a pretty damn good swing player. Does anyone know if Latrell is available, because I think a deal like Toni & Dion for Latrell wouldnt look so bad. New york gets 2 scorers, one young one and one with playoff experience and we get the shooting guard with tenadious defense that we desperately seek and move DJ to the 3. Thoughts?

I couldnt agree with Dolfan more. The point was proven, JT knows whats right and whats wrong and AI is just an immature thug that needs to act like a professional and a role model for all those kids that look up to him. AI needs to find his way and the right way because right now he is just hanging around with the wrong crowd and start acting like a true professional that he susppose to be.

ESPN report: The Hawks may have seen the last of F-C Leon Smith, the Journal Constitution reported July 14. The young center abruptly left the team and returned to his home in Chicago last week "to deal with personal issues," general manager Pete Babcock said. Smith has not worked out with the squad in several weeks, Babcock added, and would not be in condition to play in the summer league. Looks like Leon wont be a Hawk. It's kind of sad to see all that talent go to waste. The kid has immensable talent, but it looks like he can't put the past away just yet. Will the Hawks be looking for another big man now? or will that open the door maybe for someone like Udonis Haslem? Also on the Hawks website of ESPN, it also states that the Hawks will have their eyes on Dion during the Shaw Summer League, and possibly use him for trade bait. Jay Walker you got some insight on this on maybe using Dion as trade bait? I figured that Dion will be used for trade bait and package him with maybe another player or 2 from our present squad.