SHAQ SPEAKS ON THE NEW ATLANTA HAWKS

[CODHAWKSFAN]

I can actually agree with Shaq on this.http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2012/09/29/atl-hawks-2012-13-season-preview.nba/?ls=iref:nbahpt2

[HawkItus]

Goodness Shaq looks like he had some dental work done or something. Face looks swollen.

[macdaddy]

Wow. I thought oh geez why is Shaq commenting on anything. But he summed it up perfectly. Nice job.

[hazer]

Nail. Head.

[Guest]

I rarely agree with Shaq but he was succinct and spot on in his analysis.

[TheFuzz]

On point.

[TheNorthCydeRises]

For Josh to raise his PPG 4 points to 23+ ppg, he's going to have to give that ball up and become even more of a monster in transition as a FINISHER. Then he needs to crash the offensive boards and put that ball back in the hole. Because for him to average 23 PPG, he'll have to make at least 8+ shots per game and 5 FTs.Can he do it?If he eliminated 50% of the long jumpers he takes ( and just about all of his 3 point attempts ), he could be a 50+% FG shooter overall. He got lead scorer all-star type usage last year ( 28.4% ) and took almost 17 shots a game . . and averaged a little less than 19 ppg. So if he makes 50%, that's 8.5 FG makes on 17 shots.At best, he's a 70 - 75% FT shooter, so he'll have to take 7+ FTs a game just to make 5 of them.Honestly, I don't see how you justify Josh getting 28% usage and that many shots per game , when Al Horford has been a guy who has made 50% of his shots his entire career in the NBA. Without JJ here, Horford's usage has to rise to over 20% ( which it has never been over that his entire career ) and Josh's may have to come down to around 23% ( which is his career average ). Add to that all of the so-called shooters and PGs we have on the team now, Josh may not get enough shots and scoring chances to up his PPG by 4 points.Josh is a 5-tool player ( points - rebounds - assists - blocks - steals ). He's not a 23 ppg type of scorer.

[Dragitoff]

For Josh to raise his PPG 4 points to 23+ ppg, he's going to have to give that ball up and become even more of a monster in transition as a FINISHER. Then he needs to crash the offensive boards and put that ball back in the hole. Because for him to average 23 PPG, he'll have to make at least 8+ shots per game and 5 FTs. Can he do it? If he eliminated 50% of the long jumpers he takes ( and just about all of his 3 point attempts ), he could be a 50+% FG shooter overall. He got lead scorer all-star type usage last year ( 28.4% ) and took almost 17 shots a game . . and averaged a little less than 19 ppg. So if he makes 50%, that's 8.5 FG makes on 17 shots. At best, he's a 70 - 75% FT shooter, so he'll have to take 7+ FTs a game just to make 5 of them. Honestly, I don't see how you justify Josh getting 28% usage and that many shots per game , when Al Horford has been a guy who has made 50% of his shots his entire career in the NBA. Without JJ here, Horford's usage has to rise to over 20% ( which it has never been over that his entire career ) and Josh's may have to come down to around 23% ( which is his career average ). Add to that all of the so-called shooters and PGs we have on the team now, Josh may not get enough shots and scoring chances to up his PPG by 4 points. Josh is a 5-tool player ( points - rebounds - assists - blocks - steals ). He's not a 23 ppg type of scorer.

I don't think Josh has to be any better at PPG in order for the team to win. I think he has to be smarter and more efficient. He needs to live on the blocks. This will not only help our offensive rebounds, but also allow him to possibly command some double teams down low to leave one of those deadly shooters open. This should be his gameplan if he really cares about this team improving and not just his own stats. Josh can average 17-19PPG, 10RPG, 4APG, 2SPG and 2BPG and we'd be tough to beat.

[PSSSHHHRRR87]

Man oh man it is sooo refreshing to here someone in the media say exactly what has been said here... He was on point with his analyst of Joe and what the Hawks can do. We are waaay better than ESPN wants to say we are. We will be playing a better type of ball next season. Go Hawks!

[MrMeltdown]

Nothing here of depth. For all of Joe's flaws he was the focal point of the defense. Josh has never been that and does not have a defined enough game to handle being that guy. Horford needs too much help and we don't have a elite PG. People are selling Joe short.

[DrReality]

If we play the outside in game it should open up things for josh and al

[Jody23]

If we play the outside in game it should open up things for josh and al

Problem is the Hawks reallu don't have an inside game. Josh likes to play on the perimeter on offense and at the 5, Al's offensive game also becomes more perimeter oriented.