Hawks Remain Undefeated

Discussion in 'Atlanta Hawks' started by Shapecity, Nov 7, 2008.

  1. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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  2. Moo2K4

    Moo2K4 NBA West Producer

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    I'd be lying if I said I expected this. The Hawks have certainly surprised so far this season, and to be honest, I think they could keep it up. I mean, they're doing this without Marvin making a significant impact. If he can find a way to step it up and be more consistent, I think the Hawks could be even better.
     
  3. DynastYWarrioR6

    DynastYWarrioR6 JBB SmurfY

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    At first I seriously thought last year was a lucky fluke, but they are proving me wrong, and I'm glad cause they are entertaining to watch.
     
  4. o.iatlhawksfan

    o.iatlhawksfan ROFLMFAO!!!!

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    5 and ooooooooo
     
  5. Iron Shiek

    Iron Shiek Maintain and Hold It Down

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    Here are the reasons why the Hawks are legit:

    1.) They have a premier player in the league in Joe Johnson. Joe Johnson is durable, intelligent, confident, and self assured. His number one priority is winning and he is willing to do all of the little things to do it. I knew that he was a good player but now that I get to see him on a daily basis I am beginning to feel like he is a top 10 (or higher) talent in the league. He takes on the toughest assignments defensively and goes right back at all of them on the other end. He is a quick step and some "hops" away from being the league's best two guard.

    2.) Defense. Everyone of the Hawks, with the exception of Mike Bibby, is committed to defense. They have a big and athletic frontline that can change shots and guards on the perimeter who are strong enough to hold their own against more physical guards. Plus they are a very good rebounding team too. Which means that even when they aren't making shots they are going to have an opportunity to win games....just like they did against OKC and Philadelphia.

    3.) Depth. Everyone talked this year about how much the loss of Josh Childress was going to hurt the Hawks but the bottom line is that Rick Sund did a fabolous job bringing in veterans that could come in and immediately make an impact on the program's success. Holdovers Pachulia and Jones are bringing a ton of energy and physicality off of the bench on their frontline. Mo Evans is playing solid perimeter defense and making timely shots. Acie Law is not turning the ball over. And the frontrunner for 6th man of the year Flip Murray is making big play after big play down the stretch of all of these games to take pressure off of Joe Johnson. Flip has finally found a place where he knows his role and he is thriving in it. There is not a guard in the league that can keep Flip out of the lane and the way that he is playing defense right now the Hawks have truly found a dependable 2nd option outside of Joe Johnson.

    4.) Coaching. I heard a lot of negative things about Mike Woodson coming into the year but everything that he has done in the early season has been positive in my eyes. He has a set rotation. He is holding players accountable for defense and shot selection. And most importantly he is putting the best players on the floor during crunch time regardless of their contractual status with the Hawks. He has faith in his reserves and they are proving their worth. Plus he is running plays through Joe Johnson who is as good of a playmaker as the Hawks have.

    I know it's early but I am extremely excited about how far this Hawks team can go this year. This team has a lot of similarities with Rick Sund's 2004-2005 Seattle Sonics who won the NW division crown and took eventual champs San Antonio to the brink of elimination without Rashard Lewis. As long as they remain healthy (Josh Smith ankle injury doesn't help) I believe that they are the frontrunners to win the Southeast Division. They are not at the level of Boston or Cleveland but they can be competive in a seven game series with any team in the league.

    They are doing things right. It starts with Rick Sund and he has given Mike Woodson all of the pieces that he needs to be successful. And to Woody's credit he is making it happen.

    Go Hawks!
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2008
  6. Chutney

    Chutney MON-STRAWRRR!!1!

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    How much credit can you really give to Rick Sund? I mean, the entire starting lineup is composed of players Billy Knight either traded for or drafted. The coach was handpicked by him. And the majority of the bench is still his creation. Rick Sund did bolster the bench with a couple of nice free agent acquisitions (Flip Murray and Mo Evans), but that's about all he's done. And he is to blame for his handling of the Josh Childress fiasco. The Hawks have gotten over his departure, but that still doesn't excuse him for not understanding the situation properly and letting a very talented young player get away.
     
  7. Iron Shiek

    Iron Shiek Maintain and Hold It Down

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    So not overpaying for a role player is being a bad general manager. The Hawks still have the rights to Josh Childress so if he ever wants to play in the NBA again he will have to agree to a sign and trade with the Hawks. I thought that the situation was handled the way it should from Sund's standpoint. Make an offer, if they don't like the offer then look around the league to see if you can get a better one. If not then sign a qualifying offer. Josh Smith was in the same situation and it worked great for both sides.

    Granted Sund did not put this team together but the moment that he stepped in he has put everyone on notice that they will be accessed and held accountable for their play. Marvin Williams still does not have a contract, Mike Bibby knows that he can be traded at any moment, and he most certainly has improved the depth of this roster.

    None of this would be possible without Joe Johnson but I can't criticize any moves at all by Sund. If Childress would have resigned then he wouldn't have had the money to spend on Evans and Flip. This team needed Flip a hell of lot more than they need Josh Childress and Sund most certainly gets the credit for bolstering the depth of the Hawks.

    Life moves on after Josh Childress. The Hawks undefeated start is evidence of that.
     
  8. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    I've been saying for the past 3 years that the Hawks are the dark horse team to be most improved each season and that they're the real deal. Everyone's been hyping the Blazers for the past two seasons, yet the Hawks are right up there with them talent-wise.

    Johnson is obviously one of the top talents and is the type of player the Bulls, for example, lack. I like Roy a lot, but I like Johnson better.

    The team surrounds him with a bunch of lotto picks earned over several seasons of putrid records. Even if those guys aren't stars, they're going to be at the better athletes end of the spectrum as far as new NBA talent goes.

    When Josh Smith fully learns to let the game come to him, this team will be a real contender. They already gave the Celtics a scare in the playoffs last season!
     
  9. o.iatlhawksfan

    o.iatlhawksfan ROFLMFAO!!!!

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    Josh Childress was a nice young player, but I prefer Flip and Evans have not only equal what he would have done, but exceeded his contribution for the team. It was also at a cheaper price.
     
  10. o.iatlhawksfan

    o.iatlhawksfan ROFLMFAO!!!!

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    6 and oooooo now!!!!!!!!


    I bet when Childress left to Greece, he waz like " yea those guyz are gonna regret screwing me over", I bet he feels stupid now!!!!!
     
  11. DynastYWarrioR6

    DynastYWarrioR6 JBB SmurfY

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    Still undefeated!
     
  12. Moo2K4

    Moo2K4 NBA West Producer

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    6-0...wow. I didn't see this coming, at all. Mike Bibby was absolutely clutch tonight for them. He hit some big shots from the three point range and that was, in my eyes, what propelled them to the win in the 4th. Horford was also an absolute monster. This team is going to be dangerous this year, especially once Smith gets back.
     
  13. Moo2K4

    Moo2K4 NBA West Producer

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    Completely agree. If Joe Johnson didn't play in Atlanta, he might be considered a top 10 talent in this league. He's a great shooter, can get to the rim, plays good defense and sets up his teammates as well...he really is one of the most well-rounded players in the NBA.

    I also agree about Josh Smith. I think he's a consistent jumper from being one of the best overall players in the NBA. His athleticism is absolutely off the charts, he's a very good defender and he can get to the rim. He just needs to develop his jumper. And, to his credit, it has come a long way from his rookie season, where half of his baskets were scored off dunks.

    If the FO can keep this team together, they could be scary good down the line with a core of Horford, Smith and Johnson.
     
  14. Celtic Fan

    Celtic Fan Well-Known Member

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    It's good to see a long struggling franchise like the Hawks doing good.

    But Joe Johnson a top ten talent?? Let's not go overboard here.

    There's still 3 SG's who are better than him right now in Kobe, Wade and Manu Ginobilli.

    He's a very good player and probably top 20-25 in the league is a more realistic approach. He's a good not great defender IMO too.

    A quick top ten list:

    Lebron
    CP3
    Kobe
    KG
    Amare
    Dwight Howard
    Deron Williams
    Yao
    Tim Duncan
    Dwade

    I can't see JJ being considered any better than those guys.
     
  15. Moo2K4

    Moo2K4 NBA West Producer

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    So maybe I did go overboard...but you do have to give him his due. He is definitely a great player that doesn't get nearly enough credit since he's in Atlanta.
     
  16. DynastYWarrioR6

    DynastYWarrioR6 JBB SmurfY

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    Well the run was nice boys...lost by 1 to Boston....oh well. Great, unexpected run by the Hawks.
     
  17. Celtic Fan

    Celtic Fan Well-Known Member

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    I definitely agree to that. Wasn't certain 2 yrs ago if he was a volume scorer on a bad team who wouldn't be as good on a good team, but I think his experiences in Phoenix really helped him to be a good player on a winning team.

    He was an all-star last year and I fully expect him to be one this year too.
     
  18. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    He's up there with at least those two, arguably with Amare, too.

    He's 7th in the league in scoring (that's top 10), 24th in assists (from the SG spot, it's impressive), and 14th in steals.
     

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