<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> Q. You've been the hardest player of all to get in touch with this summer. Where have you been?</p> A. Well, I've been in Atlanta the past month. I was in Tucson before that for summer school. And I also went to Jamaica, to Negril, just to be away from everything and get my mind clear and to be around some true positivity.</p> </p> Q. You're back now in workouts before training camp begins next month. Are you positive about where you stand and your role on this team?</p> A. I definitely am. I came to the conclusion that I'm a necessity and as long as I'm putting in the work and keeping my game right and displaying that to everybody, good things will happen. I don't think I had that mentality the past two years. I think I always tried to control things that were uncontrollable, and that caused things to go into disarray. Now, I'm just letting the cards fall where they may because there is no reason to be stressed in life, period.</p> </p> Q. You and Hawks coach Mike Woodson have had a well-documented rocky relationship in your first two NBA seasons. Have you two had a chance to sit down and smooth things out?</p> A. Absolutely. I've definitely tried to build that relationship and open up the lines of communication. I'd say our relationship is the best it's ever been. He even comes out of his way to speak to me now, which is a nice change to the relationship we had before.</p> </p> Q. What was it like before?</p> A. We never talked before. It's not like I was acting like an angel either. I'm an emotional player and a perfectionist, so I think the frowning and facial expressions were possibly taken the wrong way.</p> </p> Q. Did not having to worry about what type of work environment you'd be returning to allow you to attack your offseason training with more vigor and just focus on that task for a change?</p> A. That's never been a problem for me. I hope people realize that there's not a guy on this team that isn't a total gym rat. We spend more time than people ever know working on our games. Me, I just go in and do whatever is necessary to improve, whatever I feel in my heart that day is most important. This summer, it really wasn't just about basketball for me. It was about myself, some time to do some introspection, look at myself as a whole and doing some things to rediscover my passion for what life has to offer, as well as basketball.</p> </p> Q. It's almost like a summer theme now for you and your teammates, this idea that you needed to mature beyond just the game. Some fans, as you might expect, get nervous when they hear guys aren't locked in a gym somewhere shooting 5,000 jumpers a day. Can you understand those concerns? </p> A. Of course. But we've spent the past two years working like crazy. Things don't go the way you want them to just because you're working like that. There's obviously more to all this than just working hard. Every team in the league works hard. You always hear veterans talk about being prepared mentally and the more time you spend in the league the more sense that makes. I was preparing mentally all summer. I just wanted to get myself in a good space mentally and emotionally to tackle the challenge we all have in front of us if we're going to realize our collective goals.</p> </p> Q. For two years now the Hawks have experimented with you at point guard, with varying degrees of success. Is that lab experiment over and are you glad?</p> A. I wouldn't say that. I wouldn't say that at all. And I think it depends on what kind of point guard you want me to be, your point guard or the kind I should be, which is a scoring point guard. I think we're in a different time now. It used be the era where people wanted pure distributors, guys that were set-up men and scored when necessary. Now you see teams playing with guys who are aggressive scorers that use their ability to create shots not just for themselves but also for everybody on the floor. I think I'm capable of playing either way.</p> </div></p> Source: AJC.com</p>
Well, I think he just needs more time, but he is just a shooter, which hurts his game. I wanna see him improve though. He is a dangerous outside threat and could help a team by keepdefenders honest. I think this could be a big year for him, but I doubt it. With Childress, Smith, Law, Claxton, I just don't see any room for him. I can see him being traded, to a team that can use him properly.
The problem Ihave with him is he's strictly a chucker and not much more, and a very streaky player. He;s a good 3 string guard, but not a player that should be depended on much.
Well, the thing is, he won't be depended on much. We have a deep SG position and the PG position is pretty good. I mean, Salim could come in for garbage time, or if he is progressing, which I think he is, he can play more minutes.</p> I just think we shouldn't give up on him because he can shoot well. He just needs to add more to his game to be able to produce more. To be strictly a shooter, is not enough for him, because like you said, he is streaky.</p>
The problem is that expectations of Salimbecomming a true NBA PG were never realistic. He is and will always be a combo guard playing SG or PG. He is effective with the ball in his hands, in transition, and delivering a quick catch and shoot. He is a decent ball handler, but he isnt a good passer. I like Salim and his game, but I dont think the Hawks situation is where he needs to be in order to develop and show off his true skill set. I think he would do wonders on a team like Golden State or Toronto, but the Hawks are not an ideal situation for him, because he needs to play with a true PG.
Salim was the best shooter in college his senior year, he should definitely have a pretty good pro career.
I like Salim's' game. I just think he does need a different team for his game to work out better. I don't really agree with the Raptors, because we already have tons of SG's, so we don't need him. But Golden State, Boston even, another team that can use his shooting better then the Hawks have.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake)</div><div class='quotemain'>I like Salim's' game. I just think he does need a different team for his game to work out better. I don't really agree with the Raptors, because we already have tons of SG's, so we don't need him. But Golden State, Boston even, another team that can use his shooting better then the Hawks have.</div></p> I just think of the Raptors because of their style of play. he would be deadly in an uptempo system like that, because he is great at pulling up and shooting or a quick catch and shoot. Obviously, he would fit well on the Suns, but about 90% of the players in the NBA fall in that catagory as well.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>You just know Salim looks at Monta Ellis and goes, I could do that</div></p> More importantly he looks at JJ Redick and laughs or in Salim's case, gives him a scrowl.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TucsonClip)</div><div class='quotemain'> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake)</div><div class='quotemain'>I like Salim's' game. I just think he does need a different team for his game to work out better. I don't really agree with the Raptors, because we already have tons of SG's, so we don't need him. But Golden State, Boston even, another team that can use his shooting better then the Hawks have.</div></p> I just think of the Raptors because of their style of play. he would be deadly in an up tempo system like that, because he is great at pulling up and shooting or a quick catch and shoot. Obviously, he would fit well on the Suns, but about 90% of the players in the NBA fall in that category as well.</p> </p></div> I agree with you in sense of the style, of course. It is because Sam Mitchell runs a very "play your way" kind of game, which can help us or kill us. Almost anyone can play on the Suns, except for maybe Tony Parker or Time Duncan. </p>
