Joe Johnson sees no need for Hawks to make trade

[pimp]

Joe Johnson sees no need for Hawks to make trade

Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2011-02-18/joe-johnson-sees-no-need-for-hawks-to-make-trade#ixzz1EMvVEqbZ

LOS ANGELES -- We’re less than a week from the trading deadline, a time of year when rumored deals are nothing new. One team that has been the subject of much speculation has been the Hawks, especially because they’ve been oddly inconsistent this year -- suffering some embarrassing blowout losses, allowing a historic comeback to the Bobcats and yet still on pace to win 50 games.

And then there’s Atlanta’s fate in the last two postseasons, when the Hawks were able to sneak into the second round with wins in seven-game opening series (beating Miami in 2009 and Milwaukee in 2010), only to get swept in the second round.

Joe Johnson sees no need for Hawks to make trade The Atlanta Hawks have been long-rumored to be a team intent on making a deal. Joe Johnson tells Sean Deveney the Hawks must play better with what they have.

The Hawks could look for big-time change by trading sixth man Jamal Crawford or star forward Josh Smith, but both of those players are almost guaranteed to stay put. More likely, sources say, the Hawks will target an upgrade at point guard, with players like Cleveland’s Ramon Sessions and Houston’s Aaron Brooks on the radar. Of course, if the Suns were to put Steve Nash on the market, the Hawks would leap, but that won’t happen until the summer, if at all.

All-Star two-guard Joe Johnson, though, isn’t sure any such move is needed, especially not after the Hawks made an offseason coaching change, going from Mike Woodson to former assistant Larry Drew. “I think we have made some changes already, whether it’s changing some players here and there, or the coaching change,” Johnson told Sporting News. “We are out of excuses and we have to just step up to the plate and make a play.”

In addition to adding Drew, who has altered the team’s offense to make it less reliant on Johnson, there is the hope that simply having gone through the playoff grind the last three seasons will have the Hawks more prepared, should they reach the second round and play a team like Boston or Miami. “I think experience definitely helps, because we have been through adversity the last two years,” Johnson said. “I think now is the time for us to really take that next step up. Like I said, we have run out of excuses.”

Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2011-02-18/joe-johnson-sees-no-need-for-hawks-to-make-trade#ixzz1EMv04pSU

[tonegully]

“We are out of excuses and we have to just step up to the plate and make a play.”

Thats the best quote I have ever heard Joe Johnson say. Now WHEN are they gonna step up to the plate? I still hope we can get Sessions for cheap.

[supermariowest]

My favorite part: "...changing some players here or there..."

That's just laughable. It's like he's not sure.

Anyway, I think the prevailing line of thought is that we very much do need to make a move, else we'll be ousted in the second (or first) round of the playoffs again. I find it hard to believe that Joe disagrees.

[Supporter]

Joe's not Kobe what do you expect him to say.

[supermariowest]

Joe's not Kobe what do you expect him to say.

Would it be wrong of Joe to say: I think we need to make a move. -- ?

You may disagree, but I do not think it would be wrong. In fact, I would love to hear him say that.

[MaceCase]

These guys are making tens of millions on a team with little expectations and in a great party city, why would they want a trade?

[Supporter]

Joes not the type of person that would say that

[capstone21]

We are in desperate need of a point guard that can at least try to guard our opponents

[supermariowest]

We are in desperate need of a point guard that can at least try to guard our opponents

Is it possible that Joe really doesn't see this?

[Randy]

“We are out of excuses and we have to just step up to the plate and make a play.”

Thats the best quote I have ever heard Joe Johnson say. Now WHEN are they gonna step up to the plate? I still hope we can get Sessions for cheap.

Uh, Joe, you realize this is not baseball.....

[lethalweapon3]

Joe Johnson sees no need for Hawks to make trade

Neither does Stevie Wonder.

~lw3

[Wretch]

Reporter: So Joe, what do you think of all the speculation that the Hawks need to make a trade?

Joe: We good. Well...I'M good anyway.

[TheTruth]

Reporter: So Joe, what do you think of all the speculation that the Hawks need to make a trade?

Joe: We good. Well...I'M good anyway.

Man, I just HAD to +1 this gem.

[niremetal]

Jamal said roughly the same thing recently. But honestly, you can't expect them to say otherwise. If they say "nah man, we suck. We need to make a move or else we're dead in the water," there probably would be more than a little tension between them and the other guys in the locker room, regardless of whether a trade is made.

Edited February 19, 2011 by niremetal

[HawkNJersey]

We are in desperate need of a point guard that can at least try to guard our opponents

:help wanted3:

I've heard of "lookout blocks" in football. What do you call our PG defense?

[Buzzard]

Jamal said roughly the same thing recently. But honestly, you can't expect them to say otherwise. If they say "nah man, we suck. We need to make a move or else we're dead in the water," there probably would be more than a little tension between them and the other guys in the locker room, regardless of whether a trade is made.

Yep, JJ saying we need to shore up our PG, SF, or Center situation would be bad team pr. Not to far removed from throwing a player under the bus.

[CBAreject]

Actually, making a trade might mean that Joe Johnson has to play as many as 24 additional playoff games, so I think he is praying we don't make a move. I think JJ is more than happy to pack it in early for the summer where he can go spend his 8 figure riches.

My math: least games = 1st round sweep = 4 games, most games = 4 7 game series = 28 games

[DjGrizz]

Actually they do still have an excuse. And it starts with Bibby.