None of you see...

[y2kenta]

Even though I have only seen him this season and it's very early right now. You guys can call me crazy but, I DO see a little potential in John Edwards. OK, I know you are in awww a little bit, but close your mouth (before you drool) for just a second....

Now, don't get it twisted, he does suck right now and I don't see the heart, the mean streak, the strength, or the athleticism for him to be an allstar center, but...

I DO SEE THAT:

- (basketball IQ) he knows how to use his height effectively

- (very coachable) he listens and makes changes in the game

- (size) very big at 275 and is somewhat agile like Gasol

- he is very weak right now, but with training and development, how many (non-Shaq) centers could push around 7'1/ 275lbs?

- (starter potential) he may develop a desire to be good and that's when he'll make strides but he may not and just remain at the end of every bench he rides

- (athleticism) he doesn't really need to be very athletic because of his size

- (offense) he has a very soft touch and he has a few moves on the post

- (defense) he could easily block shots just by trying, but he hasn't gotten much time to show that yet

HE NEEDS TO:

- be very agressive and play hard/ strong

- polish the moves that he has and add a couple more on both sides kinda like "go-to" moves

- really "want it" and really enforce his will and want to be dominant

- contest any shot near him until he develops shotblocking timing and instincts

- he'll definately need a little mean streak

HIS CEILING:

-(safe comparisons) if he develops all the above he may develop a R. Smits/ K. McHale "kinda" game but more like J. Pryzbilla

-(stat projections) at best: 14pts/8reb/2bpg starter that looks good next to a Big Ben-type PF but without work + mean streak he'll probably end up being more like a 4pts/3reb/.5bpg backup

Either way, I think he's a decent bargain at $1million per. I'm not promising anything from him, I just think BK and the coaches see some of these things in him and grabbed him for those reasons. But just like with Smoove, they both need to have a coach drive them acheive as much of their potential as possible. Woodson tries to, but I think the problem may simply be that he just doesn't know how.

[Gray Mule]

What did we expect?? Another Shaque O"Neal? For what

the Hawks are paying, they are getting their money's worth.

He ain't great. We know that. But, onm the other hand,

he ain't as bad as some would have us believe.

He has the size, both tall enough and heavy enough, to

handle the position. He picks up a lot of touch fouls.

I agree, those need to be turned into tough fouls if he

is going to make them. He sure needs to learn how to

eliminate those soft, easy fouls. Either let the guy go

and score and hope to do better next time or put a little

fear into him to keep him out of where you are - That's

being or having a mean streak.

Some of this comes with experience. Most of the big men

know how this works. Most don't get those silly, tick tack

fouls called on them. Shaq would die if the refs called

some of the fouls on him that they call on Edwards.

He CAN score some and rebound some. He needs someone

to work with him to bring out his best. He CAN be

a better player than he has shown.

[y2kenta]

He basically outplayed our so-called "leader" Al in the game tonight vs. MEM.

AL's punk-@ss line: 6pts/ 5reb/ 1stl and 3 TOs in 25 mins.

JOHN's line: 6pts/ 4reb (3 off)/ 1stl/ 1blk in only 13 mins.

That's RE-DAYUM-DICULOUS!!!!!!!