thecampster

Quickly setting the record for the quickest derailed topic in the history of the squawk. I should have known better. My apologies.

Has anyone else noticed a much more lenient whistle the last 2 games?

Has anyone else noticed a lot less complaining to the refs, a lot less looking for whistles?

Has anyone else noticed the opposing teams whining more, looking for a whistle?

Now some of this could be attributed to who is winning, who is losing but I've seen a much more fair whistle being called and I'm wondering how much of it is....."The Refs do not like Trae".

Thoughts?

5 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

Luka played like he party hard..

- 

Dude, Luka played like he was 350 and 2 sheets to the wind. He was moving so slow my wife asked what was up with him.

God bless him. Trae nutmeg on KD. He is so not self aware.

15 hours ago, NBASupes said:

Hawks, I am not sure we will have the SAC pick. Their playoffs odds are slipping 

Current order is 18, full 2 games ahead of the 14 slot. 

Also remember additional draft capital may come our way pre-draft through trades.

On 2/14/2024 at 5:53 PM, NBASupes said:

Zach Edey Conumdum

I usually don't do threads on a specific college kid outside of Zion Williamson that aren't Hawks. But this kid is different. What if I told you this kid's 22 years old. He's elite around the rim, he can rebound at an elite level, he has good agility for his size who is 7'4 300 pounds and he can protect the paint and the rim at a decent level and he's completely disciplined on D. This is the story of the likely two time CPOY, Zach Edey. 

Zach Edey scores a lot of points, and he does so with ridiculous efficiency. His 45.1 points per 100 possessions number is outrageous, topping what the likes of Trae Young and Zion Williamson did during their pre-draft seasons. Most of his work is done inside. Per Synergy, he’s converting 75.4% of his shots around the basket in the halfcourt, a strong mark for a center prospect.

The issue is he's the most polarizing prospect in the NBA. My impact rates him at 10 wins but if he translates which it's not expecting has him at a per10. If he translates, he's per36 and he compares favorably to Yao Ming. His defensive projection is +0 which isn't good for a modern-day center. Back in the day, this was fine but not anymore. +5 is seen as the min for a center and teams want +10. +15 are hard to find and only Gobert is +20 for the modern NBA. Is he athlete enough, while his improvement agility-wise raised his profile massively, he's still slow for an NBA center and he's of no use in transition. The other negative is transition defense which is already bad for us due to Trae being even worse with Edey and can he play in today's NBA with the pace and the required movements of today's game? 

Also, he needs to be your #1 option or play in an offense that spams centers. It's unlikely any team will make him a #1 option so the best fits are Denver and SAC which are run via Jokic and Sabonis so he will feel comfortable. As far as spam centers, that honor goes to the king of spamming 5s, Mr. Trae Young. Because of this, his per36 is more likely than elsewhere. This is massive for these teams and his evaluation should be elevated for these three teams. 

What is it that makes Edey good? As I said, his per10 says he's a better Boban and should crush per36 but is a 10 MPG player. His per36 says he's the best offensive scoring big in the last 40 years in college basketball. What makes him so good? Hands, touch around the basket, ability to score an easy basket in traffic, movement skills, screening, length and using his length with high BBIQ, Elite FT drawing skills comparable to Alonzo Mourning, great feel for the game, high BBIQ, good passer but not a playmaker, he's a great roller and understands spacing for the roll like Clint. Offensively, this might be one of the best prospects in the last 40 years at this stage on offense. Sometimes they develop into this in time in the NBA but as a prospect, it's been a long time since we got a polished offensive prospect. 

https://tankathon.com/players/compare?players=zach-edey--hakeem-olajuwon--alonzo-mourning--shaquille-o-neal--tim-duncan

 My impact grades him at 10 wins but if he translates, he's at 45 wins which is equal to Capela in our ECF year when his impact was top tier. 

I am truly in a strange place with Edey. He has the making of a top 15 NBA player but he also can be playing Bruno's role for the next 10 NBA seasons. So much just depends on where he lands. If there was a Giannis or Gobert in this class as it's comparable to 2013, Edey is my bet for if there was an MVP in this class, who would it be. I have Sheppard and Edey as those two guys in five seasons if they land in the right spots. Edey is still 4th tier on my BB because he's a boom-or-bust guy. That said, the reason I created this thread is because if there was a player that could elevate Trae, I think this is the kid. 

My impact grades have a love/hate with prospects Haliburton, Brunson, Tyler Ulis, Trae Young, Kendall Marshall, S. Cooper, Jax. Hayes, Edey, Bassey, and a lot of NBA centers. So PGs and Cs who don't meet the reqs for what a center or PG has to have are boom or bust guys. There is NO in-between.  

I have put a serious Hawks BB but Edey is my top prospect for the Hawks. His offensive value if he hits is so massive, it would change Trae's projection and remove his off-ball responsibilities which is basic +10 added to Trae offensively. That's a massive change. 

Hawks BB 2024 

1. Edey - https://tankathon.com/players/zach-edey
2. Riscasher - https://tankathon.com/players/zaccharie-risacher
3. Sheppard - https://tankathon.com/players/cody-williams
4. Walter - https://tankathon.com/players/ja-kobe-walter
5. Flip - https://tankathon.com/players/kyle-filipowski
6. Clingan - https://tankathon.com/players/donovan-clingan
7. Missi - https://tankathon.com/players/yves-missi - I think he needs to return back to college but his upside is there. 
8. Knecht - https://tankathon.com/players/dalton-knecht
9. T. Shannon
10. Dunn - https://tankathon.com/players/ryan-dunn

Cam Reddish is a low-floor, high-ceiling prospect we took with hopes we can get him to superstardom. 5 years later, he's on a vet min contract and might have to learn Chinese next year. We took a massive risk drafting Trae Young. Someone who didn't have the measurements many NBA teams find useful. He not only translated but he's been a top-30 player for years and he still has upside. So a big part of this is on the player but he needs a good fit as well. Who knows how good Cam would be today if he started his career with LeBron? 

Here are some short films on Edey

 

 

2023 cuts

 

 

 

" https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10108174-2024-nba-mock-draft-full-2-round-predictions-post-trade-deadline

13 hours ago, AHF said:

Flagg feels like an overhype moment waiting to happen to me. We’ll see.  

Flagg is going to be very, very good....but you are right....he is not going to be great year 1 out of Duke.  He's going to need to put some meat on his bones and he's got a few minor things to work on. 

He can't main handle the ball more than 10% of the time. He has unicornish skills and I'd love to have him but I wouldn't expect him to come in like Trae or Luka and lead day 1.

34 minutes ago, hawkman said:

JJ seems to be allergic to finishing at the rim tonight.

At least get fouled. He's shying away from contact.

See my thread on what I want to start seeing from JJ. Been noticing this for a while. It's just manifesting tonight.

Hunter shooting looks so much more comfortable than Bey.

20 hours ago, sturt said:

 I love me some Squawker friends to exchange the occasional love poem or whatever with.

(And Jeff knows that... we've had that conversation... hehe.)

 

You've been writing Jeff poems? 

Highlighted a few things....1st...poor vit, he didn't get paid for his 16 games missed.

2nd, the Hunter/Johnson/Matthews injuries had some overlap that probably cost us more games than anything else.

The Bufkin thumb, Bogi playing through injury and a few other small things (like Griffin/Bey shooting woes) cost us a few more games.

I think we're better than our 22-27 record but after looking at this list, I'm not sure how much better.

How many wins did the JJ/Hunter injuries cost us?

I wish evil on Draymond. I just can't stand him.

On 1/25/2024 at 5:02 PM, JayBirdHawk said:

 

 

Should have been the hire after his interim role!

3 hours ago, Diesel said:

I've seen him dribble it off of his foot too many times this year to agree.   But if it makes you feel better.. I hate the fact that Bey steps out of bounds or travels every game. 

 

Good news is I don't need your approval in a hypothetical.

1 hour ago, terrell said:

lol Dre as a possible ball handler.....

 

Dre has developed the ability to ISO, handle the ball for himself and score. I mean nothing more than that with him.

43 minutes ago, Diesel said:

They'd prolly take it.

1.  To get out of Ben's contract. 
2. To get some insurance in case they can't resign Claxton.
3. Bogi's shooting. 

Why would we do it off of the strength of 1 game played.  Don't get me wrong. I was a big proponent of getting Simmons a while back.  I still like his defense.   Looks like he shut down Markenenn.  I was waiting on the playback.  However,:

1. back injury that required surgery? 
2. Where is his head?
3. We get him move JJ to 3... what happens to DHunt?
4. Or does he become a small ball Center?

I hadn't consider this until now... At 6'10 240..  He matches CC perfectly and we could put him at Center.  To have a great passer at the 5 a good passer at the 4 and Trae and DJ.. we'd be dangerous whipping the ball around.  However, we would miss the hell out of Bogi's shooting.  If Bey were a consistent 38% 3 pt shooter... this could be a good possibility. If we deemed his health to be OK... But I have doubts about that.   We don't need 2 guys sitting in the sand playing with 1 having a max contract and the other holding 20 Million dollars. 

 

Playing the silly game....Hunter plays some 2.

You could easily have lineups like the following with Simmons on the floor.

Bogi Hunter JJ Simmons, Bruno (if you want to go huge on folks)

Trae Bogi JJ Simmons OO (if you want to punish people wanting to trap Trap Trae

Trae Bogi Hunter JJ Simmons (if you want 5 possible ball handlers on the floor at the same time (the hands team)).

Simmons Trae Bogi OO Bruno (against big lineups)

The hard part to remember with Simmons is he was traditionally a point guard and can pass over the top of double teams. You have a lot of options with Simmons on the floor. Its not a terrible idea, I just think he can be had for less.

But yes, the idea of playing JJ next to Simmons, next to OO is very intriguing defensively.

Patty Mills is my spirit animal!

18 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

Or maybe it's DJ's protest?

LA is in town next. East/West trades happen a lot before.the teams play so teams can use those players right away. I have feelers out.

So everyone knows I've been a Jalen stan longer than @kg01 has used humor to deflect.  I've got some things I want to see going forward. Some opportunities for improvement.

Lets start with some defending of Jalen and then move into the criticisms.

1) Folks have criticized him getting burnt on defense. He is not as much as you think.  He is funneling to bigs who are out of position due to many of the things DJM's X message stated.  If you watch Jalen on D, there are times it looks like he's getting crossed or giving up the hard right lead dribble.  Jalen is attempting to give up one hand to overplay to the other, taking away the opponents favorite pullup. In most of these cases, the drive is coming to either side of the foul line or straight down the lane. If OO/Clint are playing in position, these should be drives right into them. If you want when Jalen is playing with Bruno on the floor, Bruno is getting blocks.  Bruno is playing to the scheme, OO/Clint are still covering for Trae.  I have done a 180 on Bruno. His team scheme positioning has been extremely solid.

2) Folks are criticizing Jalen passing up jumpers.  This is also by design.  Jalen is supposed to be forcing rotations as the 2/3rd ball handler. This means a quick pass, or an insta drive kick.  Again, Jalen is playing scheme. 

The above 2 tells you that Jalen is getting coached and he's listening to the coaching (see any Bey sucks thread for the alternative).

Now what I want to see.  

1) Jalen gives up on the offensive end too quickly after a shot, taking the coaching advice to get back early on D.  F' the coaches here. I want Jalen to start crashing the glass after every Bogi ISO, DJM ISO and every 3 no matter who is taking it. He is legit leaving 3 offensive rebounds a game on the floor (because he can outjump everyone). This is my number 1 disappointment with him. Crash the offensive glass, defensive scheme be damned. Let Bogi, Matthews, Trae, DJM, Bey, others get back. I want to see JJ go for the offensive rebound and if he doesn't get it, I want to see him pressure whoever does and force a turnover/slow pace.  We give up far too many runouts giving up on offensive boards.  JJ should be top 5 in the league on the offensive boards based on athleticism/instinct alone.  And if he does get the offensive board, I want to see him try to dunk that donut every time trying to draw a foul. That kid should be going to the line 5 times a game.

2) I want to see him getting more contact on his post attempts. Free throws, free throws, free throws. I want him trying to go right into people's chests like Giannis. Make the refs blow the whistle. Take the occasional offensive foul for it but stop letting people get away with slapping at your wrists. Punish someone so they start playing you different. Guards should not be stopping you from dunking...period.

3) I want to see him start bodying people up at the 3 point line. When the pick is coming, get right up the ball carrier with the body. Make the pick person stick to you so his man can trap. Stop trying to play the pick n roll like a small guard. Make them go around that 7 foot reach. Force the pick setter into some moving picks.  Make some folks nervous. Less finesse, more terrifying.

4) Start calling for the ball in on the block, back to the basket and use that to kick it out.  Get the ball out of DJM/Trae's hands so they stop getting doubled.  Become the center of the in/out game. Don't just sit in the corner and if the coaches complain, just tell them I told you to under penalty of a 3 hour lecture every time one of guards gives up a turnover due to getting doubled.

5) Learn to do interviews. He is almost as bad as Ebby Calvin (Nuke) Laloosh.  You come off the floor at half time, get a mic shoved in your face, make a joke, talk slower and use some canned responses. I actually heard him give a 1 word answer last week to a multi-part question.


See @Spud2nique I can want people to improve without recommending yoga/meditation.

JJ 4-4 for 9 points.  I love this kid.

Anyone else bothered that if it wasn't for Herro and Robinson we'd be blowing them out?  How are those the 2 guys keeping them in it?

35 minutes ago, deester11 said:

I want no part of any of the trash the Lakers are peddling.

Russell would be a pass through to a 3rd team.  Rui probably comes in the deal and is not trash.

https://hoopshype.com/rumor/lakers-package-for-dejounte-murray-would-include-dangelo-russell/

This is the trade I shared in the Insider thread as the most likely 2 days ago. It still is. This would be a 3 for 3 or 4 for 4 trade with picks coming to Atlanta.