jones32

Josh Smith should play at least 25 to 30 minutes a game, but I want like to see what Dontae can do if he is given 30 to 35 minutes a game...What do we have to lose?

However, I believe Diaz has more potential than Terry does and Diaz's game can transition faster on the next level... I had seen a quote about Coach Woodson telling Boris Diaw to 'take more shots'... You wouldn't have to tell that to Diaz..Diaz is going to make mistakes, but he will learn from those mistakes more quickly due to his personal confidence in himself and his maturity level.. Dewayne Wade wasn't seen to make a big impact by "experts", but he did.. The Hawks have had players over the years DerMarr, Boris and to a certain degree Josh Smith.. who are very 'tentative', but with Diaz I belive it would be different...

Guillermo Diaz would be a great pick for the Hawks. He's athletic, creative and isn't afraid to "take the big shot" at the end of games... Coach Woodson, who was a guard himself, may be more inclined to draft a player like Diaz. Diaz has intangibles that Dwayne Wade had coming out of college. There is a sense of maturity and confidence about him that he knows he "belongs" in the league. Jason Terry has had a semi-productive career, but he wasn't a "true leader" and disappeared to often in the 4th quarter of games... The Hawks need a leader in that backcourt... and Guillermo Diaz is probably the best pick the ATL can get...

That photo is probably one of the best. His head is ABOVE THE RIM !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Josh Smith Dunk Photo [image]http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050220/483/dxa12202200515[/image]

I just feel Guillermo Diaz will have the most impact.. Felton may be good (it would be nice to have BOTH!!!)

I like to see Nate Robinson get drafted by the ATL.. The guy plays with a heart and can make plays... Robinson being 5'9 can pe a little problematic, but I think he can "play a role" on a NBA team...

Critics tried to pick at Wade's game, but Wade is versatile as one or two guard... ... And I believe Diaz is from that same mold.. That guy is a player...

When Coach Woodson was first named head coach of the Hawks, I thought this team was going to be a run and gun type team, but it hasn't worked out that way...Phoenix had a bunch of athletes, not necessarily great shooters , but confident finishers and they are the best team in the NBA.. We don't have the personnel to pull this off at the moment, but I hope the draft gives the ATL a chance to draft they type of players we need for this 'run and gun system': Players who don't fit: 1. Peja 2. Jason Collier 3. Antione Walker 4. Kenny Anderson Players who can excel if we had a Steve Nash type guard: 1. Josh Smith 2. Josh Childress 3. Donta Smith This team needs athletic players with height: whether its Stromile Swift, Dalmert or BOTH... or Tyson Chandler or Kwame Brown... From the guard position, I would like to see the ATL draft Miami's Guillermo Diaz (he will declare most likely) and Rashad McCants... and if JJ Reddick declares..he would be good choice as well..

Diaz may be a better fit for the ATL than the smaller Chris Paul or Raymond Felton... Over the last couple of years, I have seen guards who may not seem great, but it is something about their game that can easily transition to the NBA: Players like Amare Stoudamire, Dewayne Wade , LeBron James and Allen Iverson.. This guy is sort of a mix between Allen Iverson and DeWayne Wade, and has more upside than Felton, in my opinion.. and would be a better fit for the Atlanta style of play... Dwayne Wade wasn't getting a whole lot of pub, but you can see the maturity and confidence in his game.. ''Diaz is a once-in-a-lifetime type player. He has courage and confidence to go along with his unusual ball-handling skills and athleticism. He uses finesse when he has to, and explosiveness to create shots for himself and his teammates. He has a confident air about him, never gets rattled, and takes on all challenges. That is a rare set of tools, and people are going to be surprised when they get a chance to play him to see how special he is.'' -- Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton.[/ Stats from Diaz (Feb.4) MIN PTS REB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P% 33.9 18.4 4.5 2.5 2.1 1.2/1 1.6 0.4 1.6 .470 .692 .398 Stats from Felton (as of Feb. 4) MIN PTS REB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P% 29.4 11.2 3.9 7.4 3.8 1.9/1 1.9 0.5 1.8 .490 .679 .458 Stats from Chris Paul (as of Feb. 4) MIN PTS REB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P% 33.1 15.7 4.4 6.5 2.7 2.4/1 2.1 0.0 2.3 .468 .835 .550 Diaz rises to top of ACC crop BY MICHELLE KAUFMAN mkaufman@herald.com Guillermo Diaz, at first glance, looks like a lot of other speedy college basketball guards, slicing and spinning his way through defenders, eyes darting around the court, bouncing the ball like a yo-yo, head bobbing as if to say, ''Yeah, I got the ball, and I've got big plans . . .'' . . . And then, his feet leave the ground. And they soar. And soar. To heights that seem impossible for a sophomore who stands barely 6-2. At times, you would swear he is leaping off a trampoline, not a hardwood floor. It is at that moment, when he becomes airborne, that it's clear this is not just another speedy guard. This is a fearless guy with a 41-inch vertical leap, a human pogo stick who once starred on the Puerto Rican junior national volleyball team, a freak of nature who spent his teen years winning bets by grabbing dollar bills off the top of the backboard. And it is this kid from Miami Christian High, not an All-American from Duke or Wake Forest, who leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring after four games with 24.5 points per game -- 27 against Georgia Tech, 26 against N.C. State, 26 against Virginia, and 19 against Florida State, including the game-winner with less than 10 seconds to go. Fourth-ranked Duke (13-0, 3-0) is in town tonight for a sold-out, nationally televised game against the upstart Hurricanes (12-3, 3-1), and you can bet Diaz's name is highlighted all over the scouting report. The ACC is finding out what Diaz's teammates and diehard Hurricane fans have known for about a year now -- this guy is unique. ''If I had to pick one word, it would be unbelievable,'' teammate Will Frisby said. 'The kid is a prodigy. He does things that make your jaw drop. There isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't do something that makes me say, 'How'd he do that?' It's not human what he does. That shot he took against Georgia Tech [shaking his head], that was unbelievable. We see him do that all the time. It's just that was the first time ESPN took notice.'' The shot Frisby describes is a twisting, airborne behind-the-back flip-in that brought the UM bench to its feet and earned a spot on ESPN's plays of the day. TERRIFIC TRIO All three of UM's starting guards have played well this year, and their collective success is a big reason the Hurricanes are tied for third in the ACC. Versatile Rob Hite averages 19 points per game, and point guard Anthony Harris, with 12.4 points and 4.7 assists, is proving he probably was worthy of more playing time last season, when he spent all but 74 minutes on the bench. But it is Diaz who has leaped -- literally -- onto the ACC radar screen. • ''Diaz is terrific. He was maybe the best nonpublicized player I've seen. He's really, really good. I don't know how much notoriety he had before the season, but I can assure you everyone knows who he is now.'' -- N.C. State coach Herb Sendek. • ''Diaz is a once-in-a-lifetime type player. He has courage and confidence to go along with his unusual ball-handling skills and athleticism. He uses finesse when he has to, and explosiveness to create shots for himself and his teammates. He has a confident air about him, never gets rattled, and takes on all challenges. That is a rare set of tools, and people are going to be surprised when they get a chance to play him to see how special he is.'' -- Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton. • ''Diaz is an offense onto himself. He makes hard plays look easy. He is freakish athletically, has terrific range and tremendous confidence. He can get over you in the lane with his athleticism, a terrific player. He has got to be a focal point of your scouting report. We tried to recruit him at USF [south Florida]. You watch him work out one day, see his armpit at the rim, and you knew this kid had special athleticism.'' -- Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg. • ''I haven't seen him the past few weeks, but some guys are saying he's the best guard in the ACC, and that includes [Chris] Paul and [Jarrett] Jack.'' -- NBA scout. BRANCHING OUT Diaz, who is much more shy off the court than on, smiles and shrugs at the compliments. He is just doing what it takes to win, he says. It's easy when you have two other guards beside you like Hite and Harris, he insists. The only difference from last year is his level of confidence. ''Last year, I was behind Darius Rice and Rob, but this year, I feel like one of the leaders, and I'm playing with a lot more confidence,'' he said. ''It's normal for a freshman to be a little timid, which I was at times. But now, I'm calm and feeling like I belong out there.'' He also is feeling more comfortable off the court. He took intensive English classes last summer to help him communicate better on the court and the classroom. And, his new girlfriend, UM basketball player Katie Hayek, has been a calming influence, as well. NBA scouts are beginning to take note of Diaz, but he said the only thing on his mind right now is Duke and helping his team reach the postseason. ''Every player dreams of the NBA, and if that offer comes, of course I'd take it, but it is way too early to be talking like that,'' Diaz said. ''Right now, we want to prove we can play with the best teams. I can't wait for Duke.''

The Hawks are 9 and 36, and we are not making the playoffs.. I saw Donta Smith come off the bench in the waning minutes of the Sixers-Hawks game. I would like to see what he can do if he had 28 minutes on the floor and how he responds to increased playing time. We have seen Josh Smith, Childress respond somewhat. However, its time to "test" Donta and put in a position to either succeed or fail.. It seems he has some talent, and could be a productive player if given the chance... I think he would be more aggressive moreso than Diaw in terms of shooting the basketball...

Depending on our draft position, I believe Brandon Bass would be a solid pick for the ATL...just as good or better than Marvin Williams...Plus, I believe Miami PG Guillermo Diaz would be a solid choice for ATL... Brandon Bass Birthdate: 4/30/85 NBA Position: Power Forward College: LSU Class: Sophomore Ht: 6-8 Wt: 252 NBA Comparison: Malik Rose Strengths: Bass has a muscular frame. His upper body strength is exceptional for a player his age. Has very soft hands in the post, and if the ball is in his area, it's his. Uses his body and understands how to establish and keep posistion in the paint. Has nice post moves but they are still developing. On defense he plays with good awareness, which makes for a lot of blocked shots and steals. His big body allows him to keep positions for rebounds. He hits the glass hard and excels on the offensive boards. Runs the floor well for a bigman. He has a very good peritmer game, possibly due to the fact that he was a guard most of his high school career. He did not begin to grow until his junior year, when he made the switch to the 4 spot. An above average free throw shooter. Has an exceptional wingspan making him virtually a 6-8 to 6-9 player.

When Woodson criticizes, I don't think he expects him to score 20 a game, but as a 6'8 swingman with some skills, one would be able to take advantage of mismatches... Diaw apparently doesn't do that enough... Desmond Mason is a very good defender, but not a very good shooter..however in the open court or if he sees a mismatch, he is trying to "attack the basket" or dunk over someone... Or someone like a Paul Pierce or Michael Redd: They are generally outside shooters, but will dunk over you if they see the opportunity... I think thats what Woodson wants out of Diaw...

If you are a star player, one expects for you to play in the fourth quarter where games are usually decided... and if you are shooting 52.7 percent from the FT line... YOU ARE LIABILITY... it's almost a like a "turnover" of sorts.. like i said before in regards to antione: "addition by subtraction"...

I have been reading these posts for a while...

Employee 8, How can any "consistent" winning team want someone like Antione Walker at crunch time on their team... Playoff and championship teams don't have many 52 percent FT shooters on the floor in the 4th quarter, unless they are Shaquille O'Neal, Dennis Rodman or Ben Wallace... For someone who's game is based on the perimeter, and shoot that poorly (and he has been in the league NINE SEASONS) is very disappointing... ... And I have been an Atlanta Hawk fan since 1985, and for a guy like Antione to be in the league as long he has with his FT problem is something that shouldn't be tolearated and the ATL need to unload him as soon as possible--- Addition by subtraction!!!!!