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I remember a comment a few months back that Zaza was the only player who went to support Jamal when he received the 6th man of the year award. I've seen interviews with some players who are in Vegas to support the summer league team like Jarrett Jack for Toronto. So far the only Hawk vet that I've heard is in Vegas is Jamal. It got me wondering about team unity and bonding. For as long as our core has been together on the floor they don't feel together like some other teams. Has anyone heard of anything the Hawks are doing to support togetherness? Or is it too expensive to try to get your vets to bond?

I know Jameer Nelson in Orlando flies all the teammates up to Philly every year in the off-season for a week of bonding. They go bowling, and other stuff. Seems to have helped them over the past couple of years with chemistry. Wouldnt hurt for Joe Johnson (he definitely has the money) or someone else to do something like that.

I blame Joe Johnson.

Correction: Jamal may not be in Vegas either. The announcers confused me with their banter.

Chemistry issues on our team have been reported from time to time. Kevin Durant, Derek Rose, and Shawn Marion are just a couple of the names that have supported their organizations summer league teams. We have no idea what Joe's obligations are during the off-season, so I prefer to not comment, but Kevin Durant seems to have a very flexible schedule, and Shawn Marion was in Vegas to play in the WSOP.

I think there's a problem when your best player is the oldest yet possesses no leadership attributes, your team leader is a young guy, and your team's emotional state mirrors a somewhat volatile player.

I'm not specifically calling out Joe or anyone. Just noting what I see from some other teams. As for team unity building I think the team could start something there. If they need help they can contact me, I've done morale and social planning for an office of 60-70 people for years in my spare time (not my primary job in the office).

I'd like to think someone on the team would fly to Vegas and add least try to encourage Teague and Jordan Crawford (come on it's Vegas). Joe's in LA it would be a short flight, but I don't know his commitments either.

One comment about Joe though: the team has committed to you in a big way for a long time (unless my prediction comes true). You can't just do what you've done in the past. You know that doesn't get you the success you should want. I don't want to hear about not liking the locker room atmosphere. You have to set the tone. Whether you like it or not you accepted the biggest contract in the NBA and with that comes responsibility to lead your squad actively not passively.

I almost completely agree with you, but it has to be taken into account that JJ was already a max player with no indication of leadership before this summer. One thing is to shoot in every complicated possesion and a very different one is showing leadership, which can be done even without shooting the ball.

I do not think JJ is the kind of person to be involved in a Summer League supporting cast. I just prefer he is in LA working out. Especially, his mind. He has to overcome all that problem with his public and also creata a better state of mind, because we the fans will be demanding a little bit more this season.

Summer league was just an example. I'm more pointing this out for the upcoming season. Joe needs to realize that he can't just complain anymore that's he got to set the tone. He should have already been doing that and it was one the reasons I argued he wasn't worthy of a max offer. Now that he's taken the even bigger money he needs to live up to the responsibilities of the position (all of them).

Bret LaGree at Hoopinion said that Mo Evans stopped by the game yesterday. He's in Vegas at the Players' Association meeting but I appreciate him taking the time to stop by the game.

I always thought that this liked each other. There antics before and during games lead me to the though. It could be different in the locker room and outside of the arena but they look like they enjoy each other at the arena.

JJ is an outcast for the most part. Hes a shy, reserved guy. Asking him to be someone different after this contrract is probably to much too ask.

Then again, we could be all wrong. These guys could be best friends and might hang out all the time. I just wish we heard things like what Jameer did for his team. No one really knows.

I do know for a fact that Josh and Mike Bibby are good friends.