Starting at SMALL FORWARD...JOSH SMITH

[tontoz]

I don't think people realize that Chil plays half an hour every night and manages only 2.6 defensive rebounds.

I have repeated that a few times here but then again people may be tuning me out lol.

[conleyorbust]

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They are, but they have to devote themselves to it all the time. The Celtics POUNDED us on the glass at home. Rondo/Perkins/KG/Powe got many offensive rebounds against us in Boston it was terrible. We had many letdown games this season with rebounding, very inconsistent. Smith is the X-factor, some games he'd pull in 10+ then the next game he'd have 4 rebounds.

Fair enough... we did actually get more offensive boards in 2 of the 4 away games in that series so I wouldn't get too worked up about it. The reason we lost was because they had a great gameplan to shut down Joe and Josh and turn us into a jumpshooting team in the halfcourt. They also forced a lot of TOs.

Regardless:

Smith definitely could be a better rebounder and Horford probably will get better from getting used to the league and having an NBA offseason to condition.

My initial point was a response to the suggestion that we need Horford at the 4 and Smith at the 3 because we aren't a good defensive rebounding team. We are a bad defensive rebounding team but not because of that.

[NDaATL]

The reason we lost was because they had a great gameplan to shut down Joe and Josh and turn us into a jumpshooting team in the halfcourt.

Exactly, and we can't shoot, thus we can't make teams pay for doubling Joe. That's why I want to get rid of Marvin and possibly Childress as well. We need shooters to space the floor. That's unless Marvin can add 3pt range. We will NEVER be a good half court team unless we get that fixed. There isn't one successful team in the NBA that doesn't have at least 2 legit 3pt shooters on the floor most of the time.

My initial point was a response to the suggestion that we need Horford at the 4 and Smith at the 3 because we aren't a good defensive rebounding team. We are a bad defensive rebounding team but not because of that.

Agreed, I'd never move Smith to the 3 and Horf to the 4. If we keep Smith and Horford, they will HAVE to play primarily 4/5 because Smith at the 3 means we're the worst shooting team in the league. Teams will double Joe (again) and force us to make open jumpers which we can't do. That does not spell success.

[lunarblues]

our problem isn't with the frontcourt, our problem is the bench, we have law, childress, and zaza. none of them are good defensive rebounders. that's why why we lost alot of games last year, we couldn't get rebounds in the once horford and smith came out the game. i remember the lakers destroying us on the boards, it was embarrassing.

sign kwame, diop, andersen, even jackie butler. either way we have to have a more viable option on the bench.

[NDaATL]

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Childress' assist numbers argue that he doesn't spend much time at the point. And considering our starting 2 is second in the league in minutes played that doesn't leave much time at the 2 for Childress.

I think Childress plays point forward alot. I've seen him take the ball up the court plenty of times when Bibby or Law are in the game. That probably leads me to believe he plays PG more when he really doesn't. Same with JJ. His assists don't reflect it because he basically just passes it off after he dribbles up the court. He doesn't ever set anyone up. Regardless, I agree he should rebound better on defense.

[parson]

What's so good about Marvin that he deserves to start at SF over Josh Smith.. before you answer.. I know the reasoning behind it, but I'm talking about the 2008-2009 Season..

I don't think it has much to do with Marvelous. I think Smoove plays better at the 4 than the 3.

Smoove's not quick enough to defend 3 (Marvin's much better there defensively). On offense, he can't drive past 3s the way he abuses 4s. And we've all mentioned his jumper.

The biggest problem with Smoove at the 3 is we'd be taking him away from the basket defensively. The best aspect of his defense is his blocked shots. He'd receive much fewer opportunities to intimidate if we took him outside.

Of course, we could go to a full-time zone defense, allowing Smoove to play the 3, but we'd still lose his advantages on offense.

I'm not against moving him to the 3, eventually. But, right now, he'd lose some important advantages.

[conleyorbust]

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Smoove's not quick enough to defend 3 (Marvin's much better there defensively). On offense, he can't drive past 3s the way he abuses 4s. And we've all mentioned his jumper.

I thought that before this season but changed my mind. Marv shows potential to be a good defender but isn't close yet. Could be a confidence thing. Smith did a much better job of locking in on the perimeter this season and when he did get beat he could still alter the shot.

[lunarblues]

he's going to have to keep working on his game. he's still only what, 22? maybe even 21. i want to see this team in 5-6 years. i think that is the real purpose of this team.

[Master8492]

^^ Smith also has the tendency to go after the block if he's guarding a perimeter player, which leaves the guy he's guarding wide open. I've seen this strategy use by other coaches to limit the Hawks defense.

[DonJuanCapistro]

I think that with all the D provided by Horford smith and chill that Eddy Curry would fit in very nicely on this roster. Anyone agree?

[NDaATL]

I think that with all the D provided by Horford smith and chill that Eddy Curry would fit in very nicely on this roster. Anyone agree?

Eddy Curry wouldn't help any team. He flat out doesn't try. He's fat, and he doesn't rebound or play defense at all. He never passes the ball and is a complete black-hole. No thanks.

[Rip2137]

The reason we get smaked on the defense rebounds is because we play zone with smaller players. Rebounding out of a zone defense is hard enough, becuase its tough to get a body on people. then we are doing it with smaller players, so its even tougher.