Lack of frontcourt depth was obvious last night.

[crimedog]

So "perspective" is using one game against a team with only one legitimate frontcourt player?

No but the premise of your thread would imply that we have a frontcourt disadvantage that was seriously exposed last night but the All-NBA first teamer didn't do anything beyond his averages from last season and almost fouled out himself.

It makes as much sense as me saying, "last night was proof that we are going to be consistently torched by the three ball"

It could be true but last night had nothing to do with it.

The teams with deep talented front courts are going to be better than us, thats true and those teams usually win titles. We need a banger off the bench. If Zaza can consistently play like he did last night, or like he did in 05-06/06-07, than we have one of the more solid frontcourt rotations out of the teams qualified as fring playoff contenders.

[Peoriabird]

GS plays a fast-paced style, and has yet to win a playoff game against a team that plays any defense.

By the way, The Hawks had 17 fast break points to GS 12 last night.

[Peoriabird]

The teams with deep talented front courts are going to be better than us, thats true and those teams usually win titles.

Do you think that New york had a deeper front court? What about Indy last year? Milwaukee? Charlotte? The point is that teams that have the most talent wins period

[crimedog]

Do you think that New york had a deeper front court? What about Indy last year? Milwaukee? Charlotte? The point is that teams that have the most talent wins period

... that's why I said deep and talented...

and Milwaukee, Indy, and Charlotte were all thinner up front than us for most of the year.

[mrhonline]

No but the premise of your thread would imply

The title of my thread implies nothing other than I think the Hawks don't have much depth in the frontcourt. I've said nothing about the Hawks' talent level in the frontcourt except to say it's not as good as the Lakers', which isn't exactly a criticism.

While I was mistaken about Smith's fouls, I know there were many times when Zaza and Horford were carrying some fouls. In fact, there was a long section of time when Woody wouldn't play them together because he needed to save one in case the other fouled out.

Woodson is either going to have to trust Morris or Jones, or he's going to have to play Horford/Zaza even if they're in foul trouble (which is what he did last night).

[exodus]

By the way, The Hawks had 17 fast break points to GS 12 last night.

Baron is gone and Ellis is hurt so i don't expect GS to be as potent on the break.

It was definitely nice to see the Hawks push the ball when they had the chance. However even if they don't have a break opportunity i will still rather they bring the ball up more quickly so they have more clock to work with.

[BusBoyIsBack]

Did anyone else notice that Smith, Horford, and Pachulia were all in foul trouble at various points last night?

I know playing against guys like Dwight Howard is the exception not the norm, but the Hawks are going to have to get something out of Morris or Jones to be successful IMHO.

{Jones did give a few quality minutes last night}.

The fact that Solomon Jones got so many minutes in a game that wasn't out of hand is what is so encouraging to me. We have to play that kid.

And the more minutes he plays perhaps the more respect he gets.

Is it me or do other teams get away with like 5 offensive fouls a game against Solomon Jones???? He is always getting pushed in the back with no call.

Then again it doesn't matter what side of the ball he was on. I remember he went up for a dunk last year and the guy got all forearm but there was no call.

I think the refs maybe think he is a no name loser and they try to ref him like he isn't deserving of drawing a foul.

Perhaps if he starts logging double digit minutes 10-11+ a game, he'll start to get respect.

And it could only make him better. He has potential to be a solid rebounder and shot contester off the bench. And someone who could eat up fouls and minutes at the least.

Edited October 30, 2008 by BusBoyIsBack

[BusBoyIsBack]

It was obvious before the season too which is why some media outlets aren't showing the Hawks much love. Just think what would happen if Smith or Horford gets hurt.

The same all knowing media that thought we would be a top 3 bottom team in the league last season.

They are a joke. THey aren't bashing us because of our front court, they thought our backcourt would be garbage without Childress. THe media doesn't know jack about the Hawks. The only people that have a clue about this team is a few people on TNT and NBA TV because their studios are in Atlanta and they actually watch the games.

[skyhawk]

It was obvious before the season too which is why some media outlets aren't showing the Hawks much love. Just think what would happen if Smith or Horford gets hurt.

The same thing would happen if Howard, Bynum, Bosh etc..get hurt for their respective teams...

[exodus]

The same thing would happen if Howard, Bynum, Bosh etc..get hurt for their respective teams...

Bynum did get hurt last year but the Lakers made the finals anyway.

Bosh and Howard aren't just their bigs but also their best players. Any team will struggle if their franchise player goes down.

[Gray Mule]

Question: Just what constitutes a "true" center? What or who do we decide is the

# uno, the pattern? Is is Shaq? He's big enough.

Perhaps our worthy opponent last night. Is he the # uno, "true" center now? If so,

what makes him the tops?

Maybe it's the size. Maybe it's the athletic ability AND the size. Does one only qualify

for the handle, "true center" if he has reached a certain weight and height AND has

great hands, leaping ability, feather touch with his shot and solid as an oak tree

planted in the lane.

To decide WHO qualifies, first we must determine what qualities are absolutely necessary.

I'm clueless. Tell me. Educate me. I want to know. Seriously.

:question:

[AtLaS]

GS plays a fast-paced style, and has yet to win a playoff game against a team that plays any defense.

Actually Dallas was a very good defensive team that year. They were in the top 10 in overall defensive rating all season long.

[HawkItus]

the thing is after Howard who did the Magic have? Our big guys clearly outplayed there bench guys, and we didn't even use Marvin(susp) or Randolph Morris. I think our depth is fine. Yes it could be better, but name one team that runs more than 3 deep at center or power forward?

[capstone21]

I think Kwame would have been an excellent signing, but unfortunately he would have cost us Mo and perhaps Flip as well since he wanted more money than he should get.

IMO Mo + Flip > Kwame

I didn't realize he was getting 4 million. I thought they got him for the min.

[TruJerz]

You seemed to answer your own question. Playing Howard is not the norm. I fully expected Horford and Pachulia to be in foul trouble especially since Dwight struggles to hit FT's. Had the game been closer and Pachulia had fouled out, I expect we would have seen more of Solo or Morris.

thats the Hawks biggest downfall we need one more quality big off the bench who is better than Solo and Morris..there gotta be some out there somewhere lol if we can get that big man, Hawks could be one of the more complete teams in the league!

P.S. and I agree that Kwame would of been an excellent signing...big body who can defend and rebound pretty well. not much offense tho but we have enough already..o well

[crimedog]

thats the Hawks biggest downfall we need one more quality big off the bench who is better than Solo and Morris..there gotta be some out there somewhere lol if we can get that big man, Hawks could be one of the more complete teams in the league!

P.S. and I agree that Kwame would of been an excellent signing...big body who can defend and rebound pretty well. not much offense tho but we have enough already..o well

If I felt comfortable with our pg rotation, I'd be fine with overpaying a defensive minded big to come off the bench.

A guy like Diop, Pryz, or Kwame...

Our "defensive specialist" is Solo I guess but we haven't seen enough of him for one reason or another to be confident.

[bonethugz]

3 good big men is not enough? so what exactly are we? title contender?

[Admin]

I didn't realize he was getting 4 million. I thought they got him for the min.

Yep and that's why I think he was grossly overpaid. I think if all he could get was the minimum that he would have signed in Atlanta.

[Dexmethylphenidate]

The fact that Solomon Jones got so many minutes in a game that wasn't out of hand is what is so encouraging to me. We have to play that kid.

And the more minutes he plays perhaps the more respect he gets.

Is it me or do other teams get away with like 5 offensive fouls a game against Solomon Jones???? He is always getting pushed in the back with no call.

Then again it doesn't matter what side of the ball he was on. I remember he went up for a dunk last year and the guy got all forearm but there was no call.

I think the refs maybe think he is a no name loser and they try to ref him like he isn't deserving of drawing a foul.

Perhaps if he starts logging double digit minutes 10-11+ a game, he'll start to get respect.

And it could only make him better. He has potential to be a solid rebounder and shot contester off the bench. And someone who could eat up fouls and minutes at the least.

Take the words out of my mouth. I was encouraged to see Solo got 7 minutes. He wouldn't have gotten those minutes when the games were blown out last season. Let's hope Woody got smarter in the offseason and continues to develop the bench.

Edited October 30, 2008 by DeerPark