<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Shake the haters off! By Sekou K Smith | Thursday, January 31, 2008, 10:31 PM The Atlanta Journal-Constitution SMYRNA - As much as I love LA and all the spots visited during the Western Conference road trip the past 10 days, I can’t say I’m sad to be back on Georgia soil. Don’t know if I can say the same for the Hawks, who move from the anonymity of the hotel lobby, the mall and the restaurants they’ll visit maybe once or twice a year back to the scrutiny of the hometown fans. Feeling the heat from afar is quite a bit different from feeling it up close and personal. And there is no question the heat is one the Hawks right now. People want to know what’s going to be done about this slide. We’ll no doubt learn more over the next 48 hours. If changes come it shouldn’t surprise anyone. If not, again, why would any of be surprised, this is largely the same crew that started the 2005-06 season together. The only real surprise to me is that they’ve been allowed to travel this far without any seismic changes other than the addition of draft picks. But I think it would be wise for us all to be braced for whatever does or does not happen, because either way, it’s going to be a hot topic around here. On to one other bit of news that seems to have landed your boy Blog-Z in hot water with the good folks at the in NBA-land. It seems my story announcing Joe Johnson’s selection to the Eastern Conference All-Star team was a bit out of line. Well, I’d apologize if the league would do the same about crappy refereeing, the crappy seating arrangement for beat writers at various arenas and 7:30 start times. Since they’re probably not going to budge, I’m not either. Didn’t meant to get anyone in trouble. But if a locker room full of guys are congratulating their teammate on making the All-Star team, any beat writer worth his laptop is going to break that story if he can. Even more perplexing to me is this sentiment that JJ somehow isn’t worthy this year of an All-Star nod (I’ve seen it here and elsewhere). Even one of his fellow All-Stars has already weighed in on the subject. Rather than celebrating his own selection, Boston’s Paul Pierce took a few digs at JJ’s selection. According to the Boston Globe Pierce’s reaction to the news was, “Joe Johnson?” “I felt like (Allen) probably should have been over Joe Johnson,” Pierce told the Globe. “That’s just my opinion though. They don’t have a good record. They are not a .500 team. If that’s the case, I think you should be on a .500 team or better. No knock on Joe Johnson. He’s definitely an All-Star. He’s definitely put numbers and he is definitely a great talent in the NBA. But I think it also should do a lot with what you do as a team.” Pierce went on to suggest that because the Celtics are leading the Eastern Conference they deserve multiple All-Stars, as the Pistons did a couple years back when four of their five starters made the team. “I thought Ray should have been there also based on record and what we were doing team-wise,” Pierce said. “I remember two years ago when the Pistons had four guys and they have a similar record to what we have now.” I won’t dip down to the level of the haters and knock his argument for Allen (who by the way has posted the lowest field goal percentage and scoring average since his rookie year), mostly because I know the transition he’s had to make joining two other All-Stars as the third option. Ray Allen is the real deal. Everyone knows that. And anyone trying to knock his effort, performance and game-day prowess would be nuts (remember, I’m the one who praised his work ethic here after spying him in the gym three hours before tip of the Hawks-Celtics game early in the season getting his shots up with no one else around). All these cats belong. But for Pierce to suggest that JJ doesn’t deserve his spot on the team this year because the Hawks aren’t .500 or better is hypocritical, seeing as how he earned All-Star nods twice on sub. 500 teams in his career - the Celtics were 36-46 during the 2003-04 season and 33-49 during the 2005-06 season. If there was a debate about whether he belonged on the All-Star team those years, I don’t remember it. And if I’d have been in one of those verbal scraps, I’d have argued for Pierce (no matter his team’s record) over the third best player on the team with a monster record.</div> What a moron, while I don't agree with Joe getting in, Pierce has no right to specifically attack Joe. Cause he's not on a good team? Okay so if that's the reason, then why are D. Wade and Jason Kidd playing in the ASG, are you to scared to tell them something? What a pussy, he never said anything, when he was voted in on those bad Celtics teams. And as of right now Hawks if the playoffs were to end today, the Hawks would be the 7th seed.
This should be interesting. They're going to be playing on the same team. I wonder if they'll give each other the cold shoulder or something. I don't really think Pierce was trying to put Joe Johnson down, he just wanted to his buddy Ray Allen make the ASG. I don't blame him, I kind of wanted to see the big three in the ASG as well. lol
You really take things way too seriously and out of context. That was not an attack on Johnson whatsoever - in fact, he complimented him. He just felt "hey, if Detroit got 4 All-Stars for having the best record in the NBA, why can't we get 3?" That was not even close to a "personal attack."
This is pretty dumb IMO. If we wanna be so technical, how about we say that because Allen is playing with Garnett and Peirce, he looks better than he really is?
Umm, it looked more like he was complimenting him to me. I mean, he gave his opinion that Ray should have been on the team over JJ, but at no point did he say anything negative about him. He simply stated that a player on a losing team should make the ASG. Hell, he proceeds to say that JJ IS an All Star. Don't see anything wrong with his comments personally.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Feb 1 2008, 12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You really take things way too seriously and out of context. That was not an attack on Johnson whatsoever - in fact, he complimented him. He just felt "hey, if Detroit got 4 All-Stars for having the best record in the NBA, why can't we get 3?" That was not even close to a "personal attack."</div> I agree with the both of you. It was not an attack but incredibly hypocritical and stupid to say.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 1 2008, 12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This is pretty dumb IMO. If we wanna be so technical, how about we say that because Peirce is playing with Garnett and Allen, he looks better than he really is?</div> He has made 6 All-Star appearances in the last 7 years, and the only reason it isn't 7 in a row is because he was hurt last year. He is one of the best players in the NBA, and that has been clear over the past 7 years. Having Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen would make any basketball player look better. What's you're angle?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Feb 1 2008, 12:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 1 2008, 12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This is pretty dumb IMO. If we wanna be so technical, how about we say that because Peirce is playing with Garnett and Allen, he looks better than he really is?</div> He has made 6 All-Star appearances in the last 7 years, and the only reason it isn't 7 in a row is because he was hurt last year. He is one of the best players in the NBA, and that has been clear over the past 7 years. Having Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen would make any basketball player look better. What's you're angle? </div> Dee dee deeeeee!! Peirce definitely deserved it. I meant Ray Allen, haha. "because Allen is playing with Garnett and Peirce, he looks better than he really is" My angle is that last year, Ray ray made it, but his team sucked. So maybe he just plain old didn't deserve it. How bout that?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (o.iatlhawksfan @ Jan 31 2008, 11:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>What a moron, while I don't agree with Joe getting in, Pierce has no right to specifically attack Joe. Cause he's not on a good team? Okay so if that's the reason, then why are D. Wade and Jason Kidd playing in the ASG, are you to scared to tell them something? What a pussy, he never said anything, when he was voted in on those bad Celtics teams. And as of right now Hawks if the playoffs were to end today, the Hawks would be the 7th seed.</div> hey damn, check out o.iatl discarding subjectivity and bias in order to make an informed, objective opinion! Good post!
Of course he's not gonna directly diss Joe, he probably not man enough to do it. It's pretty obvious he has beef with the Joe selection tho, out of all the all-stars, why did he specifically have to single out Joe?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 1 2008, 12:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Feb 1 2008, 12:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 1 2008, 12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This is pretty dumb IMO. If we wanna be so technical, how about we say that because Peirce is playing with Garnett and Allen, he looks better than he really is?</div> He has made 6 All-Star appearances in the last 7 years, and the only reason it isn't 7 in a row is because he was hurt last year. He is one of the best players in the NBA, and that has been clear over the past 7 years. Having Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen would make any basketball player look better. What's you're angle? </div> Dee dee deeeeee!! Peirce definitely deserved it. I meant Ray Allen, haha. "because Allen is playing with Garnett and Peirce, he looks better than he really is" My angle is that last year, Ray ray made it, but his team sucked. So maybe he just plain old didn't deserve it. How bout that? </div> My fault, misunderstood your post. I thought you were directing it towards Pierce. And your comment below helps Paul Pierce's argument more than your own. Ray made it last year in the Western Conference on one of the worst teams in the NBA. Now, he is on the very best team in the NBA and got snubbed for a player who is inconsistently leading a sub-.500 team. Ray hasn't had his best year either, no doubt, and part of me is actually happy that Ray didn't make it because he gets a 4-day weekend to rest. But Paul has a strong case, and his comment about Detroit is absolutely correct. If Detroit got 4, why can't we get 3? If you want my honest opinion, neither Ray or Joe Johnson were defiantly deserving. But if you are going to reward winning, reward us.
Josh Smith should have made it over J.J and Allen. He'd actually bring some excitement to the all-star game.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (o.iatlhawksfan @ Feb 1 2008, 12:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Josh Smith should have made it over J.J and Allen. He'd actually bring some excitement to the all-star game.</div> Some much needed excitement at that.
o.ialhawksfan I thought you didn't think JJ deserved it either (which he does)? Didn't you want J Smith or Horford at the allstar game instead?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Feb 1 2008, 12:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>If you want my honest opinion, neither Ray or Joe Johnson were defiantly deserving. But if you are going to reward winning, reward us.</div> Yeah, I like that. How about rewarding the 3rd best team in the East? Hedo, anyone...?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 1 2008, 12:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah, I like that. How about rewarding the 3rd best team in the East? Hedo, anyone...?</div> Yeah, I'm not going to argue that. Hedo was deserving, and it's unfortunate for him because this may have been his only chance to ever make the team.
Altanta's Record 2007-2008 as of Feb 1.: 18-24 Boston's Record in 2003-2004 as of Feb 1: 22-27* Boston's Record in 2004-2005 as of Feb. 1: 21-24* Boston's Record in 2005-2006 as of Feb. 1: 18-28* *Paul Pierce selected to All-Star game <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>“That’s just my opinion though. They don’t have a good record. They are not a .500 team. If that’s the case, I think you should be on a .500 team or better. No knock on Joe Johnson. He’s definitely an All-Star. He’s definitely put numbers and he is definitely a great talent in the NBA. But I think it also should do a lot with what you do as a team.”</div>
