Sekou K Smith: 5 Things (4 clarity

[evildallas]

I feel like I work for the Obama campaign, screaming for change around here all the time.

Well, it

[evildallas]

I'm happy to hear that the team hasn't quit and has too much character to quit. I thought they had tuned out Woodson after the way the West Coast trip ended, but as I occasionally point out I have no special insight or inside info just what I observe. It's not that I want to save Woodson, I've been clear it isn't the case. It alleviates a little of my fear that if the team doesn't make the playoffs that the Josh-Josh-Marvin group will become jaded like Jason Terry had become before he got moved.

I am a little worried that the type of acquisition I've been pushing is on the top of Sekou's list also (Shooter to stretch the D and pick up the slack in half court). I dislike most of what he writes and don't like being lumped in with him. I don't share his opinion that we're fine at PG. It is my 2nd most important acquisition. The big man I wrote off as nothing good really being available. I didn't see Aaron Williams as an option so maybe I hadn't considered all options.

The concern about maintaining current team chemistry seems to blast my Artest suggestion out of the water. They sound too risk adverse to consider it.

[conleyorbust]

I see a (good) point guard as having a bigger impact than getting a shooter. The reason being we don't need to make any bigger personnel adjustments by adding a point guard because all of the players would benefit: Joe would be able to move off the ball and stretch the D, Marv could work screens better and get open for the midrange J, the Joshes and Horford could run the court, etc.

Getting a guy like Miller would certainly help a lot but then you really do have to ask Woody to manage a talented rotation with Chil, Joe, Marv, and Miller but you still have a crappy pg situation. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be upset if Mike Miller was a Hawk, I'd just rather see Dre if I'm getting a Miller.

I'm suprised Sekou thinks this rotation is workable. AJ has been decent for stretches, but thats about it. When he puts up starter numbers, the team does OK, thats about half the time. Lue has become a strictly situational player at this point, and Law gives you a 15% chance of a productive game. We have consistency from almost every other position, not depth, but consistency from the starters.

[jagstang76]

I agree with most of what Sekou says here, but I also believe that PG should be a major need. I would put it up with needing a shooter. Yeah, we could use a big like Williams to play solid where others have been shaky. However, all of our bigs should be capable of handling their business. Right now, I'd say they aren't getting the job done, so it does make sense to potentially do something.

The one thing I want to point out though is while we have a shooter (Salim) who could fill that role and bigs who could handle the post, we do not have a PG that can be expected to consistently play at the level needed. AJ and Lue are in the same boat in that they are a bit over the hill and are better backups than go-to PGs. Law is too young to be ready to contribute either. That leaves us with a hole that we are using a tarp and duct tape to keep the rain out, and we're often getting soaked anyways.

I've said this a few times recently, but I'll say it briefly here. BK MUST DO SOMETHING! Considering that, what area is addressed will be very important. IMO, getting a good PG like Miller would make us so much better than the other options could. We might even be able to get one of the other areas addressed as well. Then again, 'Dre might just make someone like Salim a much better shooter or Sheldon more productive.

[evildallas]

My shooter argument is buoyed because I feel that the team either let's Chill go for nothing in the offseason, sign him for too much of a commitment, or pick up less than attractive pieces in a S&T to avoid getting nothing. I like the way Chill plays, but I see the lack of stretching the D from that spot in the rotation as something that will haunt us long term (not just this season). As Marvin develops more range it will be less of a factor, but will never totally go away.

Also, I want to acquire help at both positions. Helping the shooting might get us into the playoffs easier, but alone it doesn't make us a great challenger to the top teams in the East. AJ has had some really good games and Lue has even had 1 or 2 good games. How many games have they both played well in? If nothing else I want to replace Lue in the rotation from a defensive point of view. Sekou's logic is flawed with respect to PG. He points out that Boston and Orlando don't have great PGs, so it isn't a drawback for us. However if you stack us up against Boston or Orlando they dominate at many other positions. You can't afford a draw at PG when you can't match the other spots.

[conleyorbust]

^Well its flawed for other reasons too. We don't have a low post monster like Dwight to put shooters around and we don't have the best passing big man since Walton like the Cs do. We do however have an incredibly athletic team full of finishers with no one to get them the ball in scoring position. Bball isn't just one on one at every position, our team is made for a good point guard.

Just how I see it, I also see where another shooter would be really useful but we'd have to make sure his contributions could replace Chil because even though he doesn't fill it up from the outside, his contributions are pretty amazing.

[conleyorbust]

Another analyst chimed in:

John Hollinger: (3:08 PM ET ) Hawks aren't prohibited from making deals, but if it adds salary there's a question as to whether ownership would approve it. (Though they have approved at least one deal like that with the Trashers, so it is possible). The need for a shooter is glaring, but it won't make much difference unless that shooter can also play point guard -- the other three spots on the outside are pretty well manned I'd say.