Hawks at Mavericks (2/11)

[Jamaaliver]

Big games tonight by the big 3. (Plus Devin.)

A much needed victory.

[Rip2137]

Keeping J-Smoove. I say a firm No to the Nets

Relax, there's no way Ferry would take Humphries or Wallace. That's insane. It's just the NY papers talking. Now, if they offered Lopez...

I would announce it to the press before I hung up the phone so they couldn't back out.

I had my doubts about Lopez(mostly because his foot injuries scared me) but the dude is looking healthy and solid.

[Jamaaliver]

Keeping J-Smoove. I say a firm No to the Nets

You ever wonder how Josh has so many amazing, high scoring, stat stuffer games yet still only avg 17 ppg and 8 rpg?

[Rip2137]

Because we have a deep team and a lot of guys that score?

[Jamaaliver]

Because he's streaky and inconsistent. Noone takes more shots on this team than Josh. NO ONE.

Josh took more 3's tonight than Korver. That should never happen. The only difference is today he made them.

70% of the time....he does not.

[Skyhawk1]

You ever wonder how Josh has so many amazing, high scoring, stat stuffer games yet still only avg 17 ppg and 8 rpg?

It's all about consistency my friend, and that is something Josh just doesn't have in his game. He had a good game tonight, that doesn't take away the fact he still took some bad shots that luckily went in. This Mavs team is a mess. They don't have an identity, play at a slow pace, and lack athleticism and versatility inside. I am a HUGE Nowitzki fan but he's just not the same. Those of us who watched him in his prime were truly blessed. I doubt there will ever be a big man with such shooting skills.

[Rip2137]

Because he's streaky and inconsistent. Noone takes more shots on this team than Josh. NO ONE.

Josh took more 3's tonight than Korver. That should never happen. The only difference is today he made them.

70% of the time....he does not.

Oh you guys. I need to live in magical basketball land with you guys sometimes, where every other team has these players that hit every shot every night, never miss, never have an off night and are just perfect.

While I am sure that every other team in the world is full of players like the team from Pleasantville, I seem to be missing it in all the hours of basketball I watch.

The guy had a good night. He shot 37.5 percent from 3 for the first 27 games of the year, had a bad January, and is shooting it well so far in February. He'll have good nights, he will have bad nights. And you know what will happen if you trade him for another player? That player will have good nights and he will have bad nights. Shocking...I know.

[Jamaaliver]

I just want a PF and a Center who actually play in the paint.

I don't want a PF who shoots pull up 3pointers with 20 seconds left on the shot clock in a tight game.

On the season, he's shooting 60% from the paint. Yet he lived on the perimeter tonight. WHY?

10 years here and he basically just gives us the same production as AL. Only with more turnovers and worse shooting.

What's weird, is we all criticize Josh for the exact same thing you criticized JJ for. yet you don't understand our gripes.

[Rip2137]

I criticized Joe for over dribbling, refusing to pass the ball to open teammates in a effort to get himself a shot, sulking when he didn't get shots, not helping on rebounds, not getting back on defense, whining to the press about not getting enough touches, not giving a consistant effort on defense, etc.

Josh is a VERY willing passer(sometimes too much) and you know that. Josh gets his little hissy fits when he feels he isn't getting a call, but there are plenty of games where he barely has a shot in the game but still swings that ball the way its supposed to go.

I have never ONCE heard Josh hint that his teammates weren't good enough(like Joe did) blame the rest of the team for his struggles(like Joe did) tell the fans he doesn't care if they show up(like Joe did). I also don't think you can question Josh's defensive effort while Joe would only play D when he felt like it (which was not very often after his first 2 seasons here).

Same production as Al is a weird statement. Basically your statement says "10 years here and he is basically gives the same production as an All-Star Center." ...um....good? You also are discounting how much of Al's offense comes from Josh's passing ability.

People like yourself look at stats more than you watch the game. Does it count that Josh had at least 5 passes that led to fouls and 2 freethrows last night? Does it matter how many challenges at the rim led to missed layups? that doesn't fill a stat sheet but he does things like that.

That said, Josh's presence is not irreplaceable. For the right piece or pieces I will trade ANYONE on this team to get it better. I don't care who it is. but I also don't blindly bash a player. You are, right now, bashing the player that had more to do with us winning last night than anyone. You would have rather loss the game than have Josh have the night he had, which to me is just insane.

[Jamaaliver]

For the record, RIP, I have nothing but the utmost respect for you. I enjoy our debates very much. Your reasoning is very concise, well thought out, clearly written and relevant. You never make (or take) things personally.

With that said, I disagree with pretty much everything you say.

When I coach my kids I only ask two things of them:

1. Play Hard
2. Play Smart

Always hustle and play as a team.

Josh drives me crazy because he so often does neither of these things. As a fan of basketball, he's made watching my favorite team unbearable for the last decade. The Hawks have never been great, often been terrible. But Josh is so up-and-down, it's unbearable. His shot selection is horrible considering his skillset, and he openly undermines the coach. Often.

Josh is not in the league as a scorer. Lou Williams is. JJ is.
Josh is not in the league as a 3 point shooter. Korver is. John Jenkins is.
Josh is not in the league as a primary ball handler. Teague is. Devin Harris is.

So when I see Josh do these things poorly and repeatedly when there is often no reason to, it enrages me.
Because he's not playing smart.

When I see Josh miss a shot in the paint, it's okay. That happens. but when he doesn't get back on Defense and his man scores an easy transition basket with Josh nowhere in the picture, it enrages me.
Because he's not playing hard.

I bench players for less. I discipline them so it never happens again.
In almost a decade. A decade. A DECADE later he still makes these same transgressions.

I just want my team back.