Atlanta Hawks vs Toronto Raptors, Tribute to Dr. King

[joe56755]

A win is a win. I hope Teague will grow from games like that. Josh has been playing very well. JJ is still JJ when he wants to be lol ... I'm at that point where every win is important, cause I think the Hawks will need every single one of them to make the playoffs. I know we'll lose in the 1st round but it's always good to be in the mix of the best and financially it's never too bad to host a couple of playoff games.

i think the the hawks can get past the first round . if horford and kirks back and they dont get matched up against chicago or miami . atlanta when healthy can beat orlando indiana and sixers .

[HMFFL]

Josh Smith's ‘different state of mind'

“I think I’m in a different state of mind,” Smith said. “I’m playing as hard as I’ve ever played. I dedicate all this to my offseason work ethic and the amount of effort I put in knowing how big of a season this is and wanting to get better.”

“I’m not surprised because we have guys in this locker room who can play,” Smith said. “We have veteran leadership, guys who have been there and done that before. All we need is to keep flying under the radar. The media is definitely not creating a magnet on us and showing everybody how under rated this team is.” http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks ... 04838.html

[Ruhiel]

I'm laughing my azz off. The only way this team keeps having any success is if the league is littered with bad teams. Injuries to other teams have helped us how many times so far when praising Josh? Thats petty to see Smith as not really improved but maintaining as the league regresses.


I mean is the rest of the league this bad as the raptors?
Kleiza at PF. Amir and stringbean PF playing C in Ed Davis?

If so, sure then book Smith an All Star bid. But its not like hes beating up guys we havent seen him abuse before.

Credit Smith for consistency destroying puny and unskilled frontcourts but sooner or later one team will must have skill and size.

Someone should make a list of undersized/underskilled froncourts that Smith can beat up/

[Rip2137]

That's ridiculous. Please let me know who the skilled big front courts of the league are. I will snow you smith putting up good numbers on them.

[Ruhiel]

That's ridiculous. Please let me know who the skilled big front courts of the league are. I will snow you smith putting up good numbers on them.

But without the 6'10 skilled big in Horford? I am not sure how much negative/positive impact Al or Marvin have on Smith. is it no effect?

I dont know yet but is starting Collins despite old age just the answer because he's bigger than 6'10? That would be sad if Horford had 0 effect on this team winning and I refuse to believe that right now.

[HMFFL]

Terrible attendance numbers for this one. 11,050 was the count and the Minny games was around 13k.

[Ruhiel]

Terrible attendance numbers for this one. 11,050 was the count and the Minny games was around 13k.

Describing Current Hawks Situation- "Hey the Hawks are 10 and 4, they just beat the Raptors and the Timberwolves in the last week since their center went down."
Response: So?

If Hawks beat Heat:

Hawks injury to Horford + them beating "real" teams without Horford would be the next step for making attendance rise.

I'm not buying the you need a superstar theory. If you win and compete then fans will come. Buzz and thus attendance would also presumably generate via good trades.

Hawks are not the talk of the town. And losing AL took some sail out of the press so Hawks arent getting public buzz .

Aside from overall record I dont know what we've done to generate buzz and warrant attendance. Casual fans dont keep track of overall record. They just see ball go in hoop and see points. This new Horford-less team gets the house rocking against the Heat Thunder teams like that and blow them out then you get buzz. People will come.

But can't have letdowns. Can't be fundamentally abused and outrebounded by bigger guys.

[dms269]

Terrible attendance numbers for this one. 11,050 was the count and the Minny games was around 13k.

Are we really surprised? This game was a mid-afternoon tip-off on a day where a lot of people are working (schools were off but most other people weren't).

But people don't just come to games. There are too many games and this city isn't built for it. We will come to football games but there are only a handful of homes games for that. Atlanta might be a basketball city, but most of the suburbs aren't.

[baseline33]

I'm laughing my azz off. The only way this team keeps having any success is if the league is littered with bad teams. Injuries to other teams have helped us how many times so far when praising Josh? Thats petty to see Smith as not really improved but maintaining as the league regresses.


I mean is the rest of the league this bad as the raptors?
Kleiza at PF. Amir and stringbean PF playing C in Ed Davis?

If so, sure then book Smith an All Star bid. But its not like hes beating up guys we havent seen him abuse before.

Credit Smith for consistency destroying puny and unskilled frontcourts but sooner or later one team will must have skill and size.

Someone should make a list of undersized/underskilled froncourts that Smith can beat up/

oh my god, it is like this is the first year you have ever watched the NBA. either that or you are another "Jay Mariotti" homer

nobody is arguing that losing Hoford is going to hurt or that the Hawks are worst without Horford, just by alittle bit.

but Josh and Joe are still good enough to beat bad teams and go .400 against playoff teams.

i don't know why Josh haters are dimensioning what Josh is doing. Joe and Josh are professionals and they are doing their job, they are holding the fort down until Horford gets back, and beating bad teams like they are suppose to and being competitive against good teams.

with Horford, the Hawks are an elite team. with only Josh and Joe, the Hawks are a strong playoff team....... no need to cry like a little baby, this is how pro sports works

[DirtybirdGA]

In past MLK games the crowd usually looks better, despite whoever was the opponent.

[Superiorblogman]

Josh and Joe are both just stat padding since Al went out. We will see now. The rest of this month will be different we are going 3-5 at best the rest of this month. Instead of stat padding they should be making others better or playing more within team instead of just taking more shots and wanting to handle the ball more to get themselves more shots.

[HMFFL]

In past MLK games the crowd usually looks better, despite whoever was the opponent.

Most have been sold out or close to it in my experience.

[Bucked19]

Josh and Joe are both just stat padding since Al went out. We will see now. The rest of this month will be different we are going 3-5 at best the rest of this month. Instead of stat padding they should be making others better or playing more within team instead of just taking more shots and wanting to handle the ball more to get themselves more shots.

Well Josh and Joe do need to shoot more and Joe's assists have went up the last few games

[Ruhiel]

Josh and Joe are both just stat padding since Al went out. We will see now. The rest of this month will be different we are going 3-5 at best the rest of this month. Instead of stat padding they should be making others better or playing more within team instead of just taking more shots and wanting to handle the ball more to get themselves more shots.

Well Josh and Joe do need to shoot more and Joe's assists have went up the last few games

making what others better? who? Marvin? A pig with makeup on is still a pig. Aint no 2 ways to look at it.

But I do expect us to lose to better teams ie Portland. Starting Collins for size and minimal skill or stamina (as was starting Horford for skill stamina and minimal size) is putting a bandaid on an axe wound. We need a true center. with Skill and Size and Stamina. to battle the few 30mpg centers that are playing. Give us an edge on MIA's Joel Anthony/Curry. And battle Dwight.

[Superiorblogman]

Josh and Joe are both just stat padding since Al went out. We will see now. The rest of this month will be different we are going 3-5 at best the rest of this month. Instead of stat padding they should be making others better or playing more within team instead of just taking more shots and wanting to handle the ball more to get themselves more shots.

Well Josh and Joe do need to shoot more and Joe's assists have went up the last few games

making what others better? who? Marvin? A pig with makeup on is still a pig. Aint no 2 ways to look at it.

But I do expect us to lose to better teams ie Portland. Starting Collins for size and minimal skill or stamina (as was starting Horford for skill stamina and minimal size) is putting a bandaid on an axe wound. We need a true center. with Skill and Size and Stamina. to battle the few 30mpg centers that are playing. Give us an edge on MIA's Joel Anthony/Curry. And battle Dwight.

Making everyone better I thought that is what top tier players do. They are putting up top tier stats for themselves since Al going out but whoelse is looking better? No-one, Teague is looking okay; but he is turning it over more without Al. Joe and Josh are just stat padding that's the best way I can put it. When we play better teams they are going to either take a bunch of bad shots or tense up and start deferring to others who they have killed there mojo by padding stats over the last few games. I think we beat Portland at home though, then it gets rough.

[Ruhiel]

"Joe and Josh are just stat padding that's the best way I can put it. When we play better teams they are going to either take a bunch of bad shots or tense up and start deferring to others who they have killed there mojo by padding stats over the last few games."

How are they stat padding...

Jeff Teague.Joe Johnson.Josh Smith. Marvin Williams. Jason Collins. They started against TOR.

Jason Collins should have gone for 10 and 10? Its clear your calling for Marvin Williams. Think Marvin should have dropped 30?

You want to give more touches to Marvin?


All Marvin Williams Touches: 1st Quarter (Atlanta vs Toronto MLK Day)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wzi_IlEQBo

All Marvin Williams Touches 2nd Quarter (Atlanta vs Toronto MLK)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOdzjgt_tuc

All Marvin Williams Touches 3rd Quarter (DNP in 4th)(Atlanta vs Toronto MLK)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYOtXvdTeZM


Its clear Marvin skills is not a complement to Joe or Josh.

All we need from that spot is a pressure release who can help defense or earn us some extra possessions, thru offense and defense.

Its clear a low maintenance stretch 4 would fit better than simply starting a volume mid range jump shooter in Marvin Williams.

Williams skillset size and lack of quickness means he's going to be chased off the 3 point line and shoot contested mid range jumpers.

He is just not a good pressure release.

[baseline33]

^ who the hell gives an F about "stat padding "..... all i care about are wins!!!!!

Hawks are doing what a good NBA teams is suppose to be doing, they are beating bad and staying competitive against good teams, that is how pro sports works.

Hawks will easily make the playoffs at #5 or #6, you can be alittle baby and cry about Horford and not making #3 or #2, but geez grow up. Horford, Joe, and Josh will all still be healthy when the playoffs starts.

[Ruhiel]

The question Hawks FO has always faced was whether Josh and Al can play together. It is clear to me that Josh Smith causes more havoc for opposing teams and is clearly more talented.

Horford is bigger and can affect the game without scoring. Problem being with Marvin Williams you need scoring. Then we got Vlad and we were fine mixing matchups.

I would just trade Al for a center who can affect the game without scoring.

This is the end of the core. We can't wait this year and some of next year to ease Horford into his repaired shoulder.

To me it has always been Marvin for shooter. A guy with more size than Marvin good form and quicker more confident shooting than Marvin.

Horford for a true center. Low maintenance, Finishing inside, defense, keep the ball alive.
A Pachulia upgrade. A Collins upgrade. Those were the guys playing the "center" last year when we won.

Biggest problem has always been Marvin. A tweener with a slow release, is easily chased off the 3 point line due to loadup time on jumper and inconsistent knocking down open 3s. In this fashion