Solo chomping at the bit

[Vesper]

Solo Chomping at the Bit

Solo chomping at the bit

By Sekou K Smith | Friday, September 12, 2008, 01:20 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

So you think you’re the only one anxious for the start of the Hawks’ season?

Anxious can’t do justice to what Solomon Jones has been feeling since the Hawks’ Game 7 loss to Boston in May.

Like most of his teammates who have been working together at the team’s practice facility the past two weeks, Jones has been chomping at the bit all summer in anticipation of the start of training camp, which is just weeks away.

Jones played sparingly in his first two seasons with the Hawks. But he is angling for an expanded role this year.

With 20 extra pounds packed on his 6-10½ frame and a much more aggressive attitude, Jones is eager to make his case on the court as opposed to anywhere else.

And that’s why his decision to skip summer league at a time when the post minutes would have been plentiful, seemed so bizarre.

“I did two years in summer league and I wanted to take this summer to hit the weights hard and it paid off,” Jones said. “Right now I’m up to 250 and I want to play this season anywhere from 245 to 250. I thought [skipping summer league] was the best choice for me to make at the time, even though some people didn’t think it was the best decision. But I think people watching me right now would agree that I did the right thing.”

It’s no secret that this is a huge season for Jones, the one-time second round pick who has outlasted the fifth overall pick of the same draft, Shelden Williams ( who was jettisoned in the Mike Bibby trade last year).

And Jones knows that better than anyone.

“Man, hungry isn’t the word to capture how I’m feeling,” he said. “I’ve had opportunities and I thought I made the best of those. But now I have to come out and prove to people, to people everywhere that I can play in this league. And that’s what I’m doing right now. That’s what working so hard this summer was all about, proving that I belong.”

BIG BODIES ABOUND: The difference in available bodies for the Hawks during the playoffs was stark.

On one end the guards were working, with more players in the mix than playing time to be dispensed. On the other end of the floor there was Al Horford, Josh Smith, Zaza Pachulia and Jones - the Hawks’ paper-thin frontcourt rotation without any margin for error.

“I think it’s fair to say we were a little thin,” Horford said.

That shouldn’t be a problem in the future (and the Hawks might not be done procuring big man talent, per at least one of my spies who insists they are still searching for perhaps one more big to add to the mix).

When you add Randolph Morris, Othello Hunter and a thicker Marvin Williams to that mix, it does appear that the Hawks will have a few more bodies to work with compared to what they had in the playoffs.

“I feel like Solo has improved a great deal over this summer,” Horford said. “Josh has gotten a lot stronger and the addition of Randolph and Othello allows us to throw more bodies out there and gives us some serious depth.”

The surprise of the group could be Hunter, a player whose name plenty of people are familiar with from his time at Ohio State but a player whose game his new teammates are just starting to fully understand.

“We played his team in high school when I was at Oak Hill and we blew ‘em out by 30, but we did that to a lot of people,” Smith said and then laughed. “So I didn’t realize it before but I’ve actually gone against him before. He was a good player then but as you might expect, he’s so much better now. He has that good touch around the basket, he’s got good hands, and he has a face up game, too. And he plays a lot bigger than he is, which is basically the standard for all of us.”

Horford faced off against Hunter in college, when he was starring for Florida and Hunter was backing up Greg Oden at Ohio State.

“It’s different for guys in Othello’s case, like my case, when you come from winning programs. It’s all about the team concept so you can’t always show what you can do individually,” Horford said. “I know that was the case for me at Florida. I could always do more than I showed, but you play a role and sacrifice shooting face up jumpers for the good of the team and for the ultimate goal, which is winning. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. But when you get to this level you get to open up your game a bit more and I think we’ll see the same thing from Othello. He’s got pretty good hands and I suspect he’ll really open some eyes in [training] camp.”

The added bodies means increased competition and a mood heading into training camp that no one will be allowed to rest on what they’ve done in the past.

“My rookie year we had some guys but we had injuries and then last year we had trades that moved some guys out,” Jones said. “Right now we’re back up to where you figure a frontcourt needs to be. And I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a [expletive] of a training camp and honestly, I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait for it to get started.”

ROLL CALL: The only players yet to make an appearance at the pickup games are veterans Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, Mo Evans and Pachulia (who has been in and out of the practice facility all summer). But all are expected to be in the fold within the week - as they arrive other pros that reside in Atlanta during the offseason and were mainstays on the Hawks’ practice court will head out to their respective cities.

[AnakinJoe]

I'm anxious to see if Solo is ready to compete for playing time. No one doubts his physical tools and even though he was light in the pants last year, he still showed that his physical abilities could provide a meaningful contribution to the team. While I recognize that Woody has poorly used his resources in the past, I can't help but wonder if Solo has done what it takes to rid himself of the "raw" label. That reputation is usually more about your experience and maturity and less about physical strength or ability. So while he was doing the gym-thing, I'm hoping that he was also spending some time praciticing the nuances of the game that will earn him some consistent time on the floor.

[OGRat]

Solo Chomping at the Bit

ROLL CALL: The only players yet to make an appearance at the pickup games are veterans Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, Mo Evans and Pachulia (who has been in and out of the practice facility all summer). But all are expected to be in the fold within the week - as they arrive other pros that reside in Atlanta during the offseason and were mainstays on the Hawks’ practice court will head out to their respective cities.

I wonder if that means Speedy was there.

[crimedog]

I'm anxious to see if Solo is ready to compete for playing time. No one doubts his physical tools and even though he was light in the pants last year, he still showed that his physical abilities could provide a meaningful contribution to the team. While I recognize that Woody has poorly used his resources in the past, I can't help but wonder if Solo has done what it takes to rid himself of the "raw" label. That reputation is usually more about your experience and maturity and less about physical strength or ability. So while he was doing the gym-thing, I'm hoping that he was also spending some time praciticing the nuances of the game that will earn him some consistent time on the floor.

Yeah it goes both ways with this though. Solo is a naturally skinny guy, Marv and Josh put on muscle pretty quickly because both were so young and less developed when they came into the A. Solo wasn't, he might have been fully developed when he came to the Hawks and his skinniness was/is a legitimate obstacle to him being even a moderately productive player. His rawness is also a problem but the amount of work it would take for him to put on those 20lbs could be as much as it would take for him to develop a new skill set.

I'm fine with him putting on weight because SL didn't work out for him last season. Its a real shame that we never sent him to the D-League because if anyone should have been there it was him. He might just not be cut out for it no matter what he does.

[Boomer]

I wish Sekou would post some pictures with these articles. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[capstone21]

I like that we are still looking to maybe add another big to the mix. I wonder who it would be.

[Cwell]

I wonder if that means Speedy was there.

yes,he posted further down that Speedy has made multiple appearances.

[Diesel]

IF Sekou continues to put out good interest articles, then I might have to stop picking on him.

This was a good job by Sekou.

It's good to hear that Solo wants to come out and prove something. He should... it's his contract year!!!

And I wouldn't doubt it if Hunter has taken his spot so far.

[Swish]

Someone needs to start a "Diesel for AJC" campaign. Not that I like Sekou OR Diesel, but without a doubt D is way more entertaining and engaging.

[DrReality]

Someone needs to start a "Diesel for AJC" campaign. Not that I like Sekou OR Diesel, but without a doubt D is way more entertaining and engaging.

Please!!!

[DrReality]

Two thinkgs. I wonder if this is just before the season starts rah rah stuff that you hear every year? going to conquer the world.

On the other hand Solo had only played three years of basketball going into college? Not a lot of time to develop, so he's going to be a late bloomer. But I'm with you. Would love to see him with the extra weight. That would be very interesting.

[DrReality]

By Sekou K. Smith

September 12, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this

Speedy has made multiple appearances and all those guys you mentioned are scheduled to attend training camp Joe.

[Swatguy]

Two thinkgs. I wonder if this is just before the season starts rah rah stuff that you hear every year? going to conquer the world.

On the other hand Solo had only played three years of basketball going into college? Not a lot of time to develop, so he's going to be a late bloomer. But I'm with you. Would love to see him with the extra weight. That would be very interesting.

Yes it is pre-training camp and it is always gonna be "rah rah". Solomon hopefully is a late bloomer. Intriguingly he is perhaps the most athletic player on the team. So you gotta wait on him a little longer.

Edited September 13, 2008 by Swatguy

[frankthetank966]

Wow 20 pounds is huge!

[Vol4ever]

I like that we are still looking to maybe add another big to the mix. I wonder who it would be.

I wonder too because most of the remaining free agents have signed with someone else.

[capstone21]

I wonder too because most of the remaining free agents have signed with someone else.

It would be nice to get a veteran but you are right I don't think there is anything left. I am really hoping Morris or Solo can step up this year. We need one of them to.

[DrReality]

Jake Voshkul????

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Solo at 6-10 . . 250 . . could make a guy like ZaZa expendible next year. Instead of paying 3 yr - 16 mill to retain ZaZa, we could get away with paying 3yr - 7 mill for Solo.

[Swatguy]

Solo at 6-10 . . 250 . . could make a guy like ZaZa expendible next year. Instead of paying 3 yr - 16 mill to retain ZaZa, we could get away with paying 3yr - 7 mill for Solo.

I believe Zaza at 3yr. and 16mil. is very favorable.

Question: Is Anderson Vareyao a better player than Zaza? How about Kwame or Dampier or Diop?

Solo?

[DrReality]

I want to see a picture of Solo all bulked up.