Josh Howard

[Plainview1981]

17 points 13 rebounds 3assist...Wish the hawks would

have drafted him and they wouldn't be playing chumps

like Dion and Stephen Jackson.

[KB21]

So, you think a guy who is shooting 35% from the field on the year is a big improvement?

Atlanta made the right pick when they took Boris Diaw.

[capstone21]

Plus, when u find yourself on the floor with Dirk, Nash, Jamison, Walker and/or Finley I am sure you will find yourself open a lot.

Diaw was a steal at 21. Other then scoring he is providing all things we needed. The fact that he is a rookie and playing the way he is showing that we have a good player for the future.

Howard would have been a nice pick too but I prefer Diaw. Just imagine if we had gotten Reece Gaines....doh.

[KB21]

Boris is a rookie, and he's already the best man up defender on the team.

Last week, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony shot a combined 9 for 32 while being guarded by Boris.

[Plainview1981]

You guys make all kinds of excuses and such to avoid

the truth. You might like Diaw...but make no mistake

that he has no potential beyond being a role player.

Howard has the potential to be a 20PPG 6RPG type

of player and Boris doesn't have that. I know it's the

flavor of the day to go with euro's with strange names

over proven 4 year college players, but it's not always

the best of things.

Boris will be nothing more than 10PPG 5RPG 3APG player

because that's all he has the talent to be.

As far as Mello goes....last time I looked he shot below

40% so I guess it doesn't take much to hold him to a

bad percentage. When Diaw shuts down Kobe or Tmac

then we'll talk about it.

And you talk about shooting percentages...the only reason

Diaw has a FG% above 30% is because of a few tip-ins here and there....Not to mention the low ammount of

shots. He and that 3PPG he is averaging.

"Boris is a rookie, and he's already the best man up defender on the team. "

Considering the team sucks on defense(well offense

aswell) that isn't all that hard.

[KB21]

Howard doesn't have that potential because he has weaknesses as a ball handler and a perimeter shooter, not to mention that his size is a detriment for the position he plays. He's a small forward with limited perimeter skills, and Howard is going to be one of those players who can give a team a spark off the bench. He will never be starting quality.

Boris Diaw's only weakness is his perimeter shooting. His ball handling ability is terrific, and he has no size limitations. His future may very well be as a point guard because he has tremendous court vision and that 6th sense, two other things Josh Howard lacks.

Boris Diaw is currently one of the top 5 rookies in the NBA, along with Anthony, James, TJ Ford, and Dwayne Wade.

[Plainview1981]

Perimeter shooting can be improved. Remember, Vince

was pretty much limited to dunking his first year or

so...Or what about Scottie Pippen?

"Boris Diaw's only weakness is his perimeter shooting."

Postup ability? Can he create his own shot? Does he

have the instincts to be a respectable scorer?

Boris isn't even a top 10 in the rookie class...He only

averages 3.9PPG and a lousy 2.1APG......There is nothing

impressive about that.....

Boris will never been anything more than a limited role

player Theo Crapliff.

[Plainview1981]

Boris is a player actually that Dallas or the Lakers could

use because those teams have lots of talent and a guy

like Boris can just step in and be a role player...Here the

Hawks need lots of talent in the scoring, rebounding department and Boris doesn't really do these things.

[Weez]

It's time's/posts like these where you become infuriating...because you constantly harp on how "stats don't mean anything" any yet you selectively use them, all the time.

remember earlier in the season, when Diaw was getting some minutes, less production. Well we're slightly further into the season, and those avg.'s you're throwing out are just that...averages. Meaning, if you look at the last five, or the last ten games...then you get a slightly different look.

The same with Carmelo. Go read the insider report on him (who you called easy to guard/can't shoot) when you throw out his first month averages...

Or what about Reef being 5th in the League in total rebounds?

Hots, you simply use numbers or refute them at your whim, however you see fit.

[NYK_UNLV]

Sorry... Bosh is better than Diaw, and I still would say Howard is better, he gets less minutes than Diaw as well. Diaw is a superb talent, no doubt about it, but I don't think he is a top rookie right now. He will be a great player in this league, like other underperforming rookies, like Milicic, Sweetney, Pietrus, Collison, Banks and Lampe.

[chillzatl]

He always has such insightful analysis. What a joy...

It's pretty good that you say he only has the talent to be a 10/5/3 player. When in his rookie season he's arleady averaging 3/4/2. Points aren't everything and Diaw doesn't even try to score, yet.

Lets just hope he has the talent or the luck to average one more rebound and assist per game... [censored] it would have to be luck right?

[chillzatl]

Bosh is definitely better. Howard I don't think so. He's a chucker. The only reason he's averaging more points than Diaw is the fact that he's chucked up 40 some odd more shots.

But I don't judge Diaw on how he does compared to other rooks. I judge him on how he contributes to this team. If all he ever becomes is a 13/6/4 player, which he can easily be. That will be fine with me. THat will be enough to give this team a much better chance to win and give him a long, solid career in the league.

[KB21]

I forgot about Bosh, but I still consider Diaw one of the better rookies in the league when you consider everything. His defense sets him apart from some of the other rookies.

Over Boris's last 5 games, all of which he started, his numbers look like this:

7.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.8 apg, 0.8 spg, 1.2 bpg, and 46.9% FG percentage. Not to mention that he has played excellent defense on the guy he guards.

[JB20]

They're too different of players to compare...

Diaw is a pass first point forward that plays great D and is sort of timid on the offensive end. That will come around. He's going to end up being a great pick, especially with some work on his shot and overall offensive game. I think his timidness is what is hurting him... He's going to end up coming around on the offensive end by the end of the season, and he'll probably show that he's really got some offensive game.

Josh Howard is a shoot first player. He's not a great defender, but the long arms help him out. He's a scorer, but I think he has a low basketball IQ. He never really seems to see anything except for his own shot. If you watch him play...and he does pass...it normally takes a year for him to find the open man. He will probably also end up a good player.

Howard could develop into a guy that scores 18 a game playing the 2 and 3. He could grab 6 boards a game.

Diaw will score less, but have a better all around game. I see him being a 15 pts, 5 boards, and 6 assist type player, especially if the Hawks keep JT for the long run.

[Plainview1981]

When your a team like the Hawks and you suck so bad

with no future you need more than a 12PPG 5RPG 4APG

player(If that is what he becomes) this franchise needs

a player with star potential.

It's about what the Hawks need. They need a real star

potential player right now instead of role players. It's

really not about Diaw or him being not being a solid

player. It's about the Hawks needing a superstar or

an explosive player. Diaw really doesn't have the

potential to be either.

" Points aren't everything and Diaw doesn't even try to score, yet."

Seeing his lack of offensive game I'd say it would be

better if he didn;t try and score. Look at that sorry

ft shooting.

If the Hawks had other young player with SUPERSTAR

or even STAR potential I'd rather have Boris than Howard.

But as the team looks right now, the Hawks are in alot

more need of an explosive player rather than a role player

or little above average role player.

[Plainview1981]

Oh and as of right now, Howard is rebounding better than

Diaw and is scoring more. He also bests Diaw is blocking

and steals despite playing 7MPG less. Diaw is averaging

1APG more in 7MPG more.

[swolehawk2]

I see how you that you leave out the fact that when Boris is on the floor he is running the team...when Howard is out there he is running around chucking up shots like the rest of the Mavs of course he is scoring more....much more has been asked of Boris ...we have asked Boris a 6'8 French rookie to run our team lately...that is a lot to ask....while Howard is asked to run around and fling up shots ....much easier to do don't you think....sometimes you have to look below the surface...Howard will be lucky to have a Walt Williams type career.

[Gray Mule]

I'm with you! What these Hawks need is a superstar!

One who can score, rebound, pass, play great defense

and, singlehanded, carry the team to victory after victory!!

Someone like Michael Jordan, in his prime.

Someone who will lead the league in steals, points, assists,

blocks and any thing else you can think of.

I'm all for it! Let's go get him!! Who is he? Where is he?

How can the Hawks get him?? Will he come here to

Atlanta and play?

If we get him, will we have to pay him anything, or will

he simply play for the love of the game??

If such a player existed, wouldn't Hawks need at least

four other players, these "role" players we keep talking

about, so we could have the manditory five on the floor?

I, too, get flustrated by all this loosing. We begin the

game with renewed hope. We play close, for the most

part, then, just when we think, "Hawks may win this one"

we see them fall apart again.

With the exception of the Lakers, who have everything,

N.B.A. teams MUST have these "role players" to make

the team complete.

Boris Diaw is a role player. He's the youngest and best

role player that the Hawks have. Also, he's the cheapest

role player we could possibly have.

In search of a "Super Star" which, I agree, we need, don't

"Throw out the baby with the bathwater." Hawks don't

need to loose Boris Diaw. He is the best part of this

sorry team and will only get better.

[Plainview1981]

WOW! Boris is running the team in pointless junk games.

This changes NOTHING. The Hawks don't need a Point

Forward that can't score...They need a player with STAR

POtential.

[swolehawk2]

The Hawks do need a superstar...but Boris or Howard ain't it...Howard is just like Boris.... a role player.....so Boris or Howard... its all the same.....if Howard played for the Hawks you would want Boris.