Suns/Hawks

[HoopsGuru25]

A lot of the guys who went straight from HS to the pros seem to burn out in their early 30's. I think the mileage, not the age, is the real issue. And Amare's odometer has been turning for a while.

Secondly, 15 extra points when Steve Nash is your PG is not so impressive. Ask yourself, what would Horford score if he were receiving Nash's passes?

And that one knee problem is a very troubling one; not a simple concern.

I don't think his knee problem is troubling at all considering he's only missed 3 games in 2 years and is probably coming off his best overall year. Amare's numbers are padded a little bit because he plays with a great point guard...but that doesn't mean he isn't the best offensive big man in the league. He averaged 20 a game in his second year on a horrible team.

Amare's 25 ppg would probably stay the same on the Hawks...the only difference is that his FG percentage(which is amazing)would go down into the low 50's(which is still good) instead of the high 50's because the number of easy dunks would go down. Horford's biggest problem on offense is that he doesn't take it upon himself to attack the defense and get to the free throw line...no one can change that(including Nash) but him.

[Rip2137]

The Atlanta are Hawks players are one of two things = Either extremely overrated for trade value due to their stand against the Celtics. Or they will come back next year and be a top 5 seed.

I think Amare would make this place go crazy he is so electric, but if Amare isnt happy then no one is, theres a tight rope excitement and potential crash with Amare.

You would think if Josh Smith, Al Horford, and JJ are so good why did this team struggle so much in one of the weakest conferences in NBA history. (i do know the conference as a whole is on its way back).

I dont make the trade even though Im a proponent of the best talent and team chemistry wins normally..

oh, i missed this. The East was not a weak conference. The West had more beat up teams and could pad their records basically. The East had more parity than anything. For all the talk about how bad some of the teams that made the East playoffs, the Hawks, Sixers, Wizards and Raptors would all kick the crap out of the Nuggets, Warriors, Dallas and a few other teams out west that were in or near the playoffs in a series.

The East had the most competitive series of the playoffs and the East team won the title. I really don't see how anyone can still be clinging to the "the east was SOO weak this year" after the playoffs came and went.

[HoopsGuru25]

The Hawks lost all 4 road games in the playoffs and lost both critical road games in the regular season(New Jersey & Indiana)when we had a chance to solidify a playoff spot. What have you seen to make you believe the Hawks would win a 7 game series against 48 plus win teams when they didn't win one critical road game all year?

[conleyorbust]

For Smith or Horford + anyone on the team not named Joe Johnson, you almost have to do it. For both of them, just can't.

I'd like to see Smith with Nash. He's got the same aggressiveness going towards the hole that Amare has.

[MikeRice]

I only bring up the injury problems because so much of Amare's game (just like Josh Smith) is pure jumping and athleticism.... Another reason I wouldn't give up Al for him, could you imagine a worse shooting frontcourt than Josh Smith and Amare Stoudamire. While Horford isn't a marksman his ability to hit an midrange jumper when called upon is a necessity when playing next to josh smith and with joe getting double teams

[MikeRice]

not to mention I would say Al is already a better defender than Amare and while 15 points a game would be nice I think Al will be a more complete, hardworking player

[HoopsGuru25]

Mike I'm sorry but you come off as some one who has never seen Amare play in the last 4 years. Have I ever seen a worst shooting front court than Josh Smith and Amare? Yes..Josh Smith and Al Horford(although he's not a bad shooter)or Josh Smith and Zaza Pachulia. Amare's midrange jumpshot ranks among the top big men in the league. We all love Horford(well most of us)but Amare is just simply too good to pass up on.

[Rip2137]

Yeah, I am not sure what that "worse shooting front court" means. Amare is twice the jumpshooter smith and horford are(I am pretty sure that sentence is completely screwed up gramatically but I just don't feel like figuring out the right way to say it so...)

HG, my reply to you earlier got lost in the ether of the internet apparently, but to answer your question, Golden State, Dallas, and Denver were all horrible defensive teams by the end of the year. The Hawks thrive on teams that play little defense and try to open up the court. That forces Woodsons had and make him to play the style that fits our team best. Plus none of those teams have anyoen that matchup well with Smith or Johnson, and only dallas has a big that can bang arond Al Horford as he simply out beefs Golden States and Denvers bigs.

And I think there is a big deference between playing the Leagues best home team, best defensive team, best record having team, NBA champions at home during the playoffs and playing Devner, Golden State, Portland or Dallas at home.

[HoopsGuru25]

I just get upset when people start the "maybe we overrated this conference/league) when a team from the worse conference wins the title. If the reason the East teams playoff teams(Hawks/ Raptors/ Sixers)had such weak record is parity...then the East wouldn't have gotten owned in the head to head against the West this year. I just don't see how the Hawks would beat ANY of the top 9 teams in the West in a 7 game series. The only road games the Hawks won against the West were Minnesota,Memphis,Seattle and Golden State who was missing two starters. The Hawks lost every critical "do or die" road game of the season(and the Indy/4 Boston games weren't even close)which leads me to believe they couldn't win in Dallas,Golden State,Denver,or Portland either in the playoffs.