falc82

Have more faith, the game isn't over yet.

We sure are fouling them a lot late considering we have the lead. It's just good that they can't hit a single free throw.

We could still have a chance to make the playoffs, but it would take us winning out for the remainder of our Jan. schedule. Chicago/Orlando are the only tough games while the back to back Bobcat games and the 76ers games should be easily won while the T-wolves game and 2nd boston one are very winnable. However, that is 7 more games, and the Hawks winning 9 straight...well I can't remember the last time we had such a streak.

I got a chance to see this movie the other day, and I have to say that it was a great movie. I was hesitant going in because I thought it had the makings of IV #2 but I was wrong. Great movie, good story line, and a very good and fitting ending.

Good post and all very true, and I'm sure that has something to do with it, but Smoove played well (FTs aside) against the Bulls with both of those players back and starting..albeit a very small sample size. But numbers aside, he is taking less 3 pointers and driving the ball much more. Also, he is improving his finishing skills and picking up his all around game. I'd say that's enough of an encouraging sign.

Yeah Speedy may be hurt, but he is still looking to be a horrible signing just like Lo was.

The MAIN problem to me is that outside JJ we really don't have anyone who creates shots for others. It's an offensive struggle with him not in the game as we've seen, and neither of our PGs have PG skills.

Lue has the offense, Speedy the defense, and neither the passing. And I am sick and tired of seeing our backcourt under 6'2''.

Wow because # of post = Basketball IQ...

I'm sure many of who have under 200 post either have been fans of the Hawks longer, or know the team better. Perhaps if I had the time to type up 500 A.I. post a day then I'd know basketball and the Hawks a bit better? Surely that's how it works.

From what I've seen the past couple of games that I've been able to watch..There are a few players on our team that as soon as they enter bad things happen.

Salim - dominates the ball too much, subpar defense, doesn't allow teammates to get involved.

Freije - enough said.

Lo - doesn't play like a big man, commits too many turnovers, and weak interior defense.

THEN theres the next group who do contribute but have some serious hole(s) in their game that hurt our chances:

Lue: Good offense, bad defense, and weak PG skills in general.

ZaZa: Once again, good offense, bad defense, a lot of turnovers.

Speedy: I know he is hurt right now but so far he has shown:

Good defense, decent PG skills, very weak offensive skills.

You could also put Salim here but I feel he really hurts the teams chances to win overall.

THEN you have those who help us win, and those who also should be getting the most mins. Those who have hole(s) in their game but very small ones that are outweighed by what they bring to the game:

Johnson: The overall player, makes all around him better.

Josh Smith: Some question his man to man defense, but he is a difference maker and his shot selection has really improved lately yet no one seems to notice on here.

Marvin: Bit rusty at the moment but has an all around game that will continue to grow.

Chillz: Another all around great player with very few holes in his game, contributes and makes a difference when he is out on the floor.

Shelden: Being a rookie he gets into foul trouble and doesn't really get in the offensive flow of the game, but our best interior defender and he and Smoove are our best rebounders.

S. Jones: We'll see, has shown flashes.

So there it is, all personal opinions of course but as you can see we don't have a PG right now who doesn't hurt us in some way when he is on the court. The greatness of JJ covers that up, but with him out it's really showing. Also with Shelden unable to get major mins. the center play is horrible. So we have weak interior defense and no offensive flow..leads to what you see tonightand previous nights.

I can only watch the gamecast to this one, but it seems like every time it updates I see one of two things:

ZaZa/Lo Turnover or

(NYK player)makes dunk/layup.

So my question is..is it the interior defense thats losing us this game for us, or do my gamecast observation skills betray me?

Wright so far hasn't worked out as a signing by Billy, but Jones is looking like a very good 2nd round pick. I wish Woody's substitutions made sense because we'd see more Shelden-ZaZa-Jones.

JJ has more personal fouls (5) than free throw attemps (3)..its time for the refs to give the man more respect.

True, but I have to believe that with 3 superior players back that Wrights minutes would have to be cut into somehow. Perhaps by running a smaller lineup. Smoove would be forced to play better, because if he did not then in comes Marvin/Chillz and Smoove heads to the bench.

BUT what really needs to happen is that Shelden needs to get more playing time imo.

Kind of off topic, but am I the only one who can never get the chat room to work?

Oh really? You mean Bozeman, Wright, Stoudamire rebound more and turnover the ball less? And while Smoove is rebounding at a nice rate I promise Chillz and Marvin and Speedy turn the ball over much less.

Bring in Chillz, Marvin, and Speedy and this is an easy win. That's arguably 3 of our top 4 players. Hawks remain a good team, it's not just JJ out there, but staying healthy is a part of being consistent.

Hmm..how many ''experts'' still think that the Hawks got robbed on the JJ trade? Where would we be in this game without him. The only consistent (and healthy) Hawk this year.

With that said, Atlanta fights hard in games. We haven't seen a lot of it yet, but watch for this one to appear winnable late in the 4th. I could see us coming back and sneaking out a win or losing it by 5 or less.

This is what happens when a team that relies on its great depth has 3 of their key players out.

Question: When Marvin and Childress come back, do we cut Freije? I see nothing that he bring to the team that Salim can't already do much better.

I'm not being negative towards the Hawks, because they played very well for the majority of the game considering the circumstances. However, Freije is a liability while on the court and played 21 mins while a healthy Jones played 4 mins and contributed more in those 4 mins than Freije did in his 21 mins. Something negative should be said about that.

I'll blame both, fair enough?

Freije should not play anywhere close to 15 mins in a game, even if Josh Smith is hurt and Shelden is in foul trouble you still have Solomon Jones who ended up playing 5 mins in the entire game yet contributing more than Freije. Horrible substitutions yet again by our coach.

My top 10 would have to be

1. Kobe

2. Lebron

3. Duncan

4. Wade

5. AI

6. Dirk

7. Nash

8. McGrady (much higher when not hurt obviously)

9. Gilbert Arenas

10.Brand (or KG here)

11. Shaq (only because I can't leave him out of the conversation of best NBA players)

Let me fix this a bit, Rondo can't be traded until August 4th, but we could wait till then or substitute Telfair in there instead. Also I read on realgm that Indiana isn't interested in Bonzi anymore yet still remain interested in AL.

Switch in Telfair for Rondo, and include the Bucks and GS (Magloire and a 1st from them, big contract from GS, and one of their young players.) And probably one more player from Boston and Philly and that equals 16. But after thinking all that out..I don't see a 16 player trade ever happening.

You may be right about most of the players involved but I really don't think Lebron is being traded. If he signed the contract then the Cavs won't trade him. It would honestly cause riots. Besides I think the delay was based on him and his agent tweaking a 3 year counter offer rather than him wanting to leave.

I do think this would be our best option to be involved in such a huge deal because trading AL could net us Rondo or Telfair in return. Both seem to be doing really well in Summer league and both duplicate each other too much.

Potential problems would be that Philly would want a PG if they are giving up Iversion and they wont want Francis in return since they are seeking youth. Boston probably would rather keep Rondo than Telfair, with BK wanting Rondo over Telfair. Still if we could get one of the Boston combo then that would be ideal if Ellis isn't an option.

Perhaps:

NYK: gets Harrington and Boston 1st (lotto protected)

Philly: gets Francis and Frye

Boston: gets Iverson

Atl: gets Rondo and Foster

Ind: gets Bonzi Wells

Sac: gets Taylor (expiring contract) and Ind 1st (lotto protected)

I dont know if that is enough for Iverson from Boston or if it works under the cap, but that would be interesting for sure. If I had to guess it would come close to working under the cap since every team receives some player that should have a high contract. Including the picks that only adds up to 10 players, perhaps GS gets involved somehow.