Spurs @ Hawks: A moment of Silence for Sweet Lou

Post #1 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 2:18 am

Taking a note from MaceCase and recycling this thread for the last time this week.

Spurs @ Hawks

AL's in.

Lou's out...indefinitely.

Post #2 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:01 pm

This seemed like it deserved it's own thread. JJ's coming home. At the worst possible time. His team is on fire, winning 9 of their last 10 since the coaching change. We...have been slightly less successful of late.

After a rough stretch, JJ has been instrumental to their winning streak. He's 20 of 42 from 3-point range while averaging 20.1 points in the last seven. The Nets are 14-3 when he scores at least 18, compared to going 9-12 when he gets 17 or fewer.

I had a feeling Brooklyn would be a major player in the East this year. They have All-Star caliber talent at the most important spots (PG & Center). Their SG is pretty good also.

This would be a tough matchup for us, even if we were playing well.

Any predictions?
How do you guys think JJ will be received?
How SHOULD his reception be considering his role in our run of success?
What lineup changes do you guys predict L Drew is gonna make? (And will it matter?)
Any thoughts on Brooklyn not making JJ available to ATLANTA media before the game? Is there that much bad blood?

Hawk4Playoffs · Post #3 » by **Hawk4Playoffs** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 4:59 pm

I think JJ will get a nice reception from the crowd. He helped us to the playoffs the last 5 years. He deserves a hand from the crowd.

Smoove got suspended for tonights game.

My guess for starting line-up
PG: Harris
SG: Jenkins - will guard bogans
SF: Deshawn - will guard JJ
PF: Horford
C: Zaza

Rip2137 · Post #4 » by **Rip2137** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:06 pm

I don't know what shakeup Drew could come up with. EVERYONE played horribly in the Chicago game. Not one player had a game they could point at and say "maybe he should start". As bad as Teague was, Williams was just as bad when he came in the game. As bad as Harris was, Jenkins was just as bad.

The "shakeup" needs to be going back to the early season big lineup. Force JJ to go 1-1 mode with Korver(he will score but it will hurt the offensive flow of Jersey).

Teague
Korver
Tolliver
Horford
Zaza

Skyhawk1 · Post #5 » by **Skyhawk1** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:47 pm

If it wasn't for his comments about not caring if fans showed up or not a couple of years ago, he'd deserve a standing ovation. With all the flaws and imperfections, JJ is a very good player. He was the leader of this team for so long and while we didn't win a championship, he got us back on the winning track after some bad seasons. Exclude his humongous contract, courtesy of R. Sund, and he's a very good piece to have on a basketball team.

Rip2137 · Post #6 » by **Rip2137** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:18 pm

Oh there are more reasons to dislike him. He threw teammates under the bus for his underperforming, his shot at the fans, HIS body language(something you constantly rail on Smith about)...

I am a Suns/Hawks fan so I have had to deal with his whining for a LONG time and I am HAPPY he is finally on a team I don't love. He whined in Phoenix because his backup was playing too well(seriously, he whined he had to look over his shoulder because Hardaway was playing well off the bench so that affected his focus), he whined that he wanted to be the man, then whined that he didn't have help(in a offseason where we went undefeated in the preseason and every player got better, he said the Hawks didn't give him the help to win...in the PRESEASON). His "give me the ball" when he had the highest usage on the team and constantly had the ball as an excuse for his postseason suckage last year...

I have plenty of reasons not to like him. plus his shots at Teague when he went to Jersey just put it over the top. Screw that guy.

Hawk4Playoffs · Post #7 » by **Hawk4Playoffs** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 7:27 pm

What did he say about teague? I don't remember that.

N Ireland Nets · Post #8 » by **N Ireland Nets** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 7:42 pm

Rip2137 wrote:Oh there are more reasons to dislike him. He threw teammates under the bus for his underperforming, his shot at the fans, HIS body language(something you constantly rail on Smith about)...

I am a Suns/Hawks fan so I have had to deal with his whining for a LONG time and I am HAPPY he is finally on a team I don't love. He whined in Phoenix because his backup was playing too well(seriously, he whined he had to look over his shoulder because Hardaway was playing well off the bench so that affected his focus), he whined that he wanted to be the man, then whined that he didn't have help(in a offseason where we went undefeated in the preseason and every player got better, he said the Hawks didn't give him the help to win...in the PRESEASON). His "give me the ball" when he had the highest usage on the team and constantly had the ball as an excuse for his postseason suckage last year...

I have plenty of reasons not to like him. plus his shots at Teague when he went to Jersey just put it over the top. Screw that guy.

He also signed for ATL at a time when no major free agent would go near the place while leading you to the playoffs every year.

I don't understand the JJ hate to be honest.

Post #9 » by **ATL Boy** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 8:10 pm

I'm going to the game and I'll be cheering when they call his when announcing the starting lineups

Post #10 » by **ATL Boy** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 8:11 pm

N Ireland Nets wrote:
Rip2137 wrote:Oh there are more reasons to dislike him. He threw teammates under the bus for his underperforming, his shot at the fans, HIS body language(something you constantly rail on Smith about)...

I am a Suns/Hawks fan so I have had to deal with his whining for a LONG time and I am HAPPY he is finally on a team I don't love. He whined in Phoenix because his backup was playing too well(seriously, he whined he had to look over his shoulder because Hardaway was playing well off the bench so that affected his focus), he whined that he wanted to be the man, then whined that he didn't have help(in a offseason where we went undefeated in the preseason and every player got better, he said the Hawks didn't give him the help to win...in the PRESEASON). His "give me the ball" when he had the highest usage on the team and constantly had the ball as an excuse for his postseason suckage last year...

I have plenty of reasons not to like him. plus his shots at Teague when he went to Jersey just put it over the top. Screw that guy.

He also signed for ATL at a time when no major free agent would go near the place

? Of course he's gonna come back, we gave him a max contract, he wouldn't have made anywhere near that amount of money.

Hawk4Playoffs · Post #11 » by **Hawk4Playoffs** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:03 pm

N Ireland is talking about when we got Joe from Phoenix. Phoenix decided to match but Joe said no to them.

MaceCase · Post #12 » by **MaceCase** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:20 pm

N Ireland Nets wrote:
Rip2137 wrote:Oh there are more reasons to dislike him. He threw teammates under the bus for his underperforming, his shot at the fans, HIS body language(something you constantly rail on Smith about)...

I am a Suns/Hawks fan so I have had to deal with his whining for a LONG time and I am HAPPY he is finally on a team I don't love. He whined in Phoenix because his backup was playing too well(seriously, he whined he had to look over his shoulder because Hardaway was playing well off the bench so that affected his focus), he whined that he wanted to be the man, then whined that he didn't have help(in a offseason where we went undefeated in the preseason and every player got better, he said the Hawks didn't give him the help to win...in the PRESEASON). His "give me the ball" when he had the highest usage on the team and constantly had the ball as an excuse for his postseason suckage last year...

I have plenty of reasons not to like him. plus his shots at Teague when he went to Jersey just put it over the top. Screw that guy.

He also signed for ATL at a time when no major free agent would go near the place while leading you to the playoffs every year.

I don't understand the JJ hate to be honest.

And I don't understand revisionist historians. Let's not make Joe out to be Tim Duncan leaving in his prime to come to the Hawks. He was the 4th option on a stacked and contending Suns team but he preferred to leave to go elsewhere and be treated and paid like the man instead. He didn't bless the Hawks with his presence, the Hawks gave him both the opportunity and developed him into the player that he became and only then, with the additions of Mike Bibby and Al Horford, did the Hawks start making playoff runs.

Post #13 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 10:32 pm

What's the difference between JJ leaving PHX for Atlanta and:

Harden leaving OKC for Houston?

Nash leaving Dallas for a last place PHX team?

We were one of the worst teams in the league before him. We doubled our win total with him on board.
Brooklyn was one of the worst teams in the league last year, this year they are one of the top teams in the East.

Before JJ, we couldn't get any free agents to even look our way. We got shot down by Kenyon Martin and Erick friggin' Dampier. We weren't even a laughingstock, we were irrelevant. Back then our games didn't get highlights on Sportscenter or NBA2Night. We got scores displayed only.

Over the years we traded for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Glenn Robinson, Antoine Walker, Isaiah Rider. And our teams went nowhere. We signed Stephen Jackson and AL Harrington. Our team went nowhere. We traded for Gary Payton and he refused to even show up, forcing us to buy out his contract.

Those were bad years. Possibly the lowest in franchise history. Bibby, Marvin and JJ weren't the greatest players in the world; but they made us a competitive, solid, productive team. Can't we just appreciate that?

Post #14 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 10:43 pm

Hawk4Playoffs wrote:What did he say about teague? I don't remember that.

JJ made a comment at his Introductory press conference in Brooklyn that Deron Williams was probably the best PG he's played with in his career. (Or maybe it was nice to be playing with a top point guard.)

It was a compliment to Deron and maybe a back handed slap at Bibby/Teague/Hinrich/Speedy Claxton/Tyronne Lue/Royal Ivey.

It was also the truth.

HelloBrooklyn · Post #15 » by **HelloBrooklyn** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:46 am

Why is JJ getting booed on? Did he force his way out or something?

Post #16 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:59 am

Because he made too much money and didn't win us a championship.

Also, Atlanta fans are ungrateful.

Rip2137 · Post #17 » by **Rip2137** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 1:51 am

And because he insulted the fans when he was here, said he was excited to play in front of real fans when he got to Brooklyn and routinely didn't TRY in the playoffs. Yeah...ungrateful fans.

ANyway, this offense is looking great on the break and that is something that gets hampered with Josh in the game. When he rebounds he tends to not push and look to run the offense which is...well..dumb most times.

I am loving the energy though.

Rip2137 · Post #18 » by **Rip2137** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 1:51 am

And because he insulted the fans when he was here, said he was excited to play in front of real fans when he got to Brooklyn and routinely didn't TRY in the playoffs. Yeah...ungrateful fans.

ANyway, this offense is looking great on the break and that is something that gets hampered with Josh in the game. When he rebounds he tends to not push and look to run the offense which is...well..dumb most times.

I am loving the energy though.

Post #19 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 1:53 am

Hawks up 16 at the half. Every starter is shooting at or above 50% from the field.
Teague has 6 first half assists.
AL has a double-double in the first half. (10pts, 10 rbs)
Zaza with some J-Smoove like production: 5 pts, 6 rbs, 4 assists in the first half.

The arena is ridiculously empty tonight, but the fans at the game are booing JJ every time he touches the ball. Not surprisingly.

Nets shooting 9% from 3-pt range.

Post #20 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 1:58 am

Rip2137 wrote:And because he insulted the fans when he was here, said he was excited to play in front of real fans when he got to Brooklyn and routinely didn't TRY in the playoffs. Yeah...ungrateful fans.

ANyway, this offense is looking great on the break and that is something that gets hampered with Josh in the game. When he rebounds he tends to not push and look to run the offense which is...well..dumb most times.

I am loving the energy though.

Present company excluded, most Hawks fans are fairweather only. If even then. Just look at the attendance tonight. Or any other night.

Fastbreak is humming along tonight. I honestly think Josh has played his last game in a Hawks uni.