Hawks beat the Kings

[KB21]

This is two games in a row the Hawks have given great effort on the floor.

I hope Jason Terry continues his play. Two double doubles for him. 23 points and 11 assists vs Portland. 23 points, 13 assists, and only 2 turnovers tonight against Mike Bibby.

This Corey Benjamin kid is athletic as [censored]!! That's what he had when he came into the league. This kid was a sophomore when he left Oregon State. He came into the league with a lot of athletic ability but no polish on his game. This guy could be a find.

Glenn Robinson had a great night.

[Admin]

This kid will be with the team for many years if he continues to play this way. Ira is going to lose his starting spot to Benjamin, at least I wouldnt be shocked if it happened. We are just too stagnant in our backcourt and too anemic of a shooting team with Ira as our starting SG. This was an incredibly fun game to watch after the first quarters early dismal start anyways.

Did you hear JT after the game call Corey a young fella, that was funny. You might expect to hear that from a Stockton or GP, but not a young guy like JT, but I couldnt agree more with him that he is an exciting young player.

[Guest]

There was one play were the ball was rotating and

Corey slashed and took it too the hole.This is what

the team has needed,

I doubt Ty Corbin JR will be back.lol

[KB21]

Well, Benjamin is a better defender against shooting guards than Newble is. He is also A LOT more athletic and brings a nice offensive game to the table. IMO, Ira Newble has a place on the team, but it is off the bench. He can give us good defensive effort as a SMALL FORWARD.

And even though Shareef didn't shoot well, you can tell that his presence forces teams to defend him with double teams at times. Shareef seems to be developing a bit more offensive presence with his vision, because he's doing a much better job of kicking the ball back out to JT or Big Dog when he faces those double teams.

Our offense, since the 3rd quarter of the Portland game, has really picked up. I hope they can keep up the intensity, because that's what has been missing along with some chemistry. This team has played 43 games. They were 14-27 at the halfway point. The paper said they would have to go 28-13 the rest of the way to get to the record the 8th place playoff team was at last year of 42-40. If they can keep up this intensity and play to their ability, then that isn't out of the realm of possibility. I don't expect it, but I'm not going to write it off.

[Guest Walter]

Honestly, I haven't seen either game, but my understanding is that JT has been starting at the point (finally) under Stotts the last two or three games. Geeze! He never should have left there. We must find out his ability at that position and we cannot judge that from his play under one coach (he won't be playing for) for the few, inconsistent times he has played point the last 2 and 1/2 years.

W

[KB21]

He's been starting there most of the time anyway. There's only be a few games where Wilks has gotten the start next to him. Most of the time, the back court is Terry and Newble as the starters, but Terry will switch to the shooting guard position as the game goes a long. That's what hasn't happened in the last two games. Glover and Benjamin has given the Hawks more offensive fire power at the shooting guard than Newble gave/gives them, and I think Jason has responded with his two best efforts on the year with those two in the backcourt with him.

[Admin]

at the end of the game when Stinger was talking to him and he said something about how do you feel going back between PG and SG and he said "leave me at PG"........point blank. Hey I can completely agree with that because JT deserves a chance to run a team with a good SG in the backcourt with him to decide once and for all whether he can do it. I [censored] sure hope he can because I like JT a ton, but its going to take a lot to convince me that we can be a championship caliber team with him as our PG.

Tonight we can thank JT, Corey, and Nazr for the win........they were huge.

[JTFan31]

Exactly, what did JT do last year with DJ next to him, we all thought he was gonna be one the leagues best PG. I still consider him a PG and a very d@mn good on too. He has now to guys that can score Dion and Corey. The more I mention him, the more I like this Benjamin kid. He is fantastic.

[Guest Walter]

Sorry KB. Stotts came in game 1 and jerked JT's Pg chain by starting a 10 day contract CBAer!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can anyone in their right mind believe someone would choose to do this?!? JT may always slide to the 2, because he is very effective there in short spurts (despite being a huge defensive liability there) and because of personel (we have Dickau for 3-4 years), but we shouldn't pick up personel out of the CBA just so that we can jerk his Pg chain and slide him to the two WITHOUT EVEN A CHANCE!!!

JT has gotten a reasonable amount of MPG 2 and 1/2 years out of his 3 and 1/2 years, all with one coach. That coach's ability was long questioned here. 1 and 1/2 of JT's 2 and 1/2 years were played at Pg. Even of those 1 and 1/2 years at Pg he has not always started at Pg. Of those 1 and 1/2 years at Pg, some of which has not been starting at Pg, JT has rarely if ever had a healthy secondary ball-handler (i.e. Kukoc).

At least for this year under Stotts, even though it still may not be ideal for JT in that he may not have a good handling Sg O-R Sf beside him, "leave him at Pg"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

W

Stotts was dead WRONG in jerking JT's Pg chain in favor of mini-me backcourt II: Version 10-day contract CBA. NO WAY AROUND IT!

[Guest]

We also need to drop bums like Darvin Ham and

Mike Wilks.These guys have too limited of a game

to play every game.

Terry

Corey(We need better in offseason)

Puppy Dog

Reef

Theo

Dickau

Glover

Hendu

Nazr

Only play those guys.This is if for some stupid reason

they keep these underachievers together.

[Diesel]

That's good to hear. From the NO game, I remember Jason's father saying Jason Prefers to play SG. And he does well there. To hear that he says Leave him as PG is good news.

Also....

Changing the face of the team to one that looks to outscore works huh? I mean... Glover/Benjamin and Nazr works better than Theo and Ira?

Question is... Do we keep Theo or do we go for a Banger like Dale Davis?

[Admin]

Why do you have such a jones for these older players? I mean it seems that every trade you want to do will bring us a 30something player with only a year or two of being effective left. Like in the above post you mentioned should we trade Theo for a banger like Dale Davis, [censored] no we shouldnt. Theo is an intimidating shotblocker and a good midrange shooter. He is just now starting to round back into his old form, or at least close to it. If we trade him its got to be for a young prototypical center.

-I would trade him Khandi/pick or filler if he agreed to a contract extension.

-I would trade him straight up for Brad Miller.

-Even though he isnt a prototype player yet I would trade him for Gadzuric and our pick back.

-I would trade him for Magloire/pick.

There may be a player or two I am forgetting, but for the most part thats about the only centers I would trade Theo for. D I dont mind trading Theo because I really think Nazr has a chance to be a very good center himself, but I wouldnt just give Theo away because he is a specialist and those are always worth a pretty penny in the NBA.

[Guest]

Theo's a sissy...Davis had like 20 rebounds againet

him the other night.

[Diesel]

In reply to:

---

Like in the above post you mentioned should we trade Theo for a banger like Dale Davis, [censored] no we shouldnt. Theo is an intimidating shotblocker and a good midrange shooter/

---

Notice what I said above... I said Theo for a BANGER.... Not an experienced older, seasoned player but a Banger....

They have similar stat numbers... But two things.

Theo is not an "intimidator"? Where did he get that Label. I see Cs and opposing gaurds and PFs challenge Theo all the time. An intimidator is somebody like Deke or Mourning in their good years. Theo is a shot blocker.. But that by finesse not power.

What SAR needs is a Banger.

I'd take Heywood.

I'd take Khandi

I'd take Magloire

I'd take Miller

[censored], I'd even take Brochardt if you give me Kirlenko to go with him

.

[KB21]

What's the attraction with Olowokandi?

This is a 7-0, 270 lbs center with athletic ability, yet he plays more like Benoit Benjamin than a legitimate center.

This is a guy who is averaging 12 ppg and 9 rebounds per game, is only shooting 43% from the field (a 7 foot center that can't hit more than half his shots from point blank range), and is asking for a max deal in the offseason. Let some other brain dead GM make a play for this guy. Atlanta is better off with Nazr, who can put up comparable numbers to Olowokandi for less than half the price.

[hawkszone]

No question about it - we are much better of with Nazr at his contract level rather than overspend on an underperforming center in Olawakandi.

Remember Lorenzon Wright - he was an exciting player but not exactly a steal at close to the max.

My thinking is that a 3 way deal will soon be in the works that involves Robinson, Glover & Hendu.

Just a guess, but Nazr will stay out of it.

http://www.hawkszone.net

[Admin]

Diesel I would trade Theo for a "banger" anyday of the week, but they are few and far between. No way in the world would I trade for Davis, even though he is a "banger", because of his age and impending decline. In fact there isnt anyone on the Blazers I would want to see on the Hawks team. We already lost out big time trading with them the last time. Thats enough for me to learn my lesson if I am Babs.

I also said that Theo is intimidating and maybe I should have been more precise with my statement so that it wouldnt lead to confusion. Yes Theo is intimidating! He is an intimidating shotblocker, but not a defender. He makes people change more shorts than Deke or Mourning ever did in their prime. He isnt close to the overall defensive player that those guys were, but they dont even compare to him as far as changing shots goes. Theo makes people think twice about coming into the lane because he is such a terrific help defender. Neither Zo nor Deke were ever that good at help defense.

[chillzatl]

Diesel has been infatuated with Kandi for the last year or so. Despite the fact of Kandi has never been more than overhyped, average stats. I don't know where he gets the idea that Kandi is a banger either. Kandi-man? More like Kandi-ass. I mean look at the guys offensive rebounds? 1.5 per game? YAH, THOSE ARE BANGER NUMBERS! Bangers actually get offensive rebounds because they fight in the paint (bang) for put backs. He tries to be a shooting C. Look at his FG% (43%). You think he's dunking the ball a lot? He avoids contact. Watch him play against a big front line, he's not muscling anyone.

I think it's more that he likes him so he brings him up a lot.

[Diesel]

Well, try this....

Name the top 5 7'0ers in the game.

Shaq is going around calling himself the LCL...

"Last Center Left".

If I had my way, I would take Brendan Heywood. However, of all the 7'0ers available... This is how they rank to me.

1. Big Z - Cleveland. Aside from his injuries, this guy can make a team. I would readily trade Theo/Ham/Email/and Ira for Big Z and his injured feet.

2. Brendan Heywood. He has ability and size. The guy has good movement.

3. Brad Miller. He's not yet available but may be. He's not a great defensive player but he gets by.

4. Khandi. [censored] 7'0 270... What else do you need. This guy has good footwork. He needs to polish up some of his other things.

5. Jamaal Magloire. I don't know if he's a legit 7'0er but I'd take him just the same.

6. Leon Smith. I'd give this guy one last chance on a 10 day. He worked hard while he was here. Plus, he has size and ability.

7. Brochardt? Why not. Can't be too bad, I mean he's built solidly.

908. Loren Woods. If Minn released him... I'd give him a 10 day. He was a heck of a shot blocker at Zona.