Hawks News (8-31-03)

[HawkTodd]

NBA RUMOR MILL - Trading a Big Man? (8-31-03).

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_5091.shtml

LATRELL OR ROBINSON?

Two players on the way down got a chance at new life this summer. The question is did Latrell Sprewell get the better deal or is it Glenn Robinson?

Glenn Robinson slides into the 2nd gun spot in Philly, Allen Iverson says “Big Dog” Robinson is the answer, but looking over the 76ers roster, the point still belongs to Eric Snow, Iverson remains the two guard, Big Dog slides into the 3 spot, Derrick Coleman re-signed to be the 4 or with he play the 5? The 76ers landed Marc Jackson, who could compete for the starters spot at the 5, or do you go DC at the 5 and undersized Kenny Thomas at the 4? They paid KT a lot of money to park him on the bench. In the game of wins and losses, the Sprewell and the Wolves should win more games. In the game of individual stats, Big Dog should clearly have more opportunities, who’s got the better chance at renewing their careers, let’s talk about it in 82 games.

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Statistically Speaking (8-31-03).

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_5092.shtml

Now let me briefly describe the ratings. I use 8 categories: FG%, FT%, 3’s made, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, Blocks and Points scored. I give each of the 6 raw categories a range of 0 to 200. I average the players stats for the prior year as to numbers per game (ie 7.8 rebounds per game). I then rank them top to bottom.

Jason Terry finished #11 with a solid 663 points. With Big Dog gone, he will likely have an even better year scoring if he stays in Atlanta. He had a big prior year also, so there is no reason to expect him to drop. He gets steals, 3’s and shoots great FT% while getting a lot of assists.

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HoopsHype.com Power Rankings (8-30-03).

http://hoopshype.com/power_rankings.htm

27. Atlanta Hawks

The Philips Arena was already quite a depressing place to play last year. With the kind of offseason the Hawks are having, there is no reason to believe it won't get worse.

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Manning officially on staff (8-30-03).

http://www.kusports.com/news/mens_basketball/story/107708

A No. 1 pick of the Los Angeles Clippers, Manning played for seven teams -- the Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons. He had career averages of 14.0 points and 5.2 boards a game.

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Killing the cap softly (8-27-03).

http://www.sportingnews.com/voices/sean_de...y/20030827.html

Unfortunately for some players, what they're taking to the bank does not match what they do on the floor. In honor of those players, we bring you our annual list of the guys who do the most damage to the salary cap while doing the least damage on the floor -- also known as the Bryant Reeves Memorial List.

8. Alan Henderson, Hawks. Contract: Two years, $16 million. Henderson showed some flashes of his old self last year -- he even averaged 12.3 rebounds in three starts. But by midseason, it was all too obvious that he lacks both the stamina and the interest for an 82-game season.

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POSITION BATTLES: Central Division (8-21-03).

http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=1605770

Atlanta Hawks

Is there a team in the NBA who seem to have less of a game plan than the Hawks? Despite their lack of direction, the team is just about set at all five positions. The only question is in the backcourt, where the Hawks have two options: play Jason Terry at PG and start rookie Boris Diaw-Riffiod at SG or play Jason Terry at SG and start Dan Dickau at PG.

Both Diaw-Riffiod and Dickau are raw with high ceilings, so the question is really about Terry, and the Hawks have always preferred him at SG. Therefore, I expect the team to start Dickau at PG and Terry, where he belongs, at SG. Both should have good value in fantasy leagues, especially Terry. As for Diaw-Riffiod, he may get a chance next year, but this year he will spend some time on the pine.

[dickaufan12]

It would make my year if they started Dickau and Terry. I know he's raw, like the article says, but Dan is more NBA experienced than Diaw, and it will give Boris time to develop, rather than throwing him right into an unfamiliar situation. I know he's been in the French league, and he's participated in International competition, but that and the NBA are very different, as evidenced by the U.S.'s performance with good players in that one tourney last year. Also, I think that giving Dickau a shot at starting a few games will give him a boost by raising his confidence.

[Traceman]

at SG with DD at the point. It would really be unfair to both players. That duo has NO chance to be competitive with the better backcourts because they are simply too small as a combo. It MIGHT be different if we were bigger at Center, PF and SF but we are undersized at those positions as well.

[dickaufan12]

Yeah, and I definitely realize that. While it would work against a few teams from the East, it wouldn't always work.

[Diesel]

Getting Harpring and an unconditional first would be fair compensation.

[Traceman]

I would play him and DD together.