Hawks Future PG
by Buzzsaw on Mar 7, 2009 1:24 PM EST
26 comments
I'm surprised I haven't heard that much talk about the future of the Hawks at the point guard position. I love Bibby this year, don't get me wrong, but we can't be having an old PG that plays no defense when Marvin, Josh Smith, and Horford are entering their prime. I think all but one of us would agree that Acie Law is not the answer, so, let's look at next year's free agents.
Steve Nash- Everything I said about old PG's that play no defense? Forget it. The Suns have a team option on him for 13 million, but they're cheap and have no future. They've also got Leandro Barbosa behind him who needs a shot at starting. Nash would be perfect for the Hawks, assuming he doesn't completely fall off a cliff physically. If anyone could force the Hawks into the running offense we all crave, it's him. Alas, if he is let go, he's probably going to end up with the New York Pants.
Allen Iverson- Another old PG that plays no defense. Hmmm, I'm noticing a trend. Could the 2009 FA class and 2010 FA class be any different? I don't think so. Anyway, the Pistons aren't resigning him, and I think he'd be a perfect fit in Atlanta. Iverson is still one of the most popular players in the NBA, and he could add some much needed personality to this team. ESPN and TNT would no longer be able to deny the Hawks their coveted national TV spots. He'd also help from a basketball standpoint because, unlike Bibby, Iverson can still create his shot with the best of them. This will open up Joe Johnson and would leave one of the most athletic trios in the league, Marvin, Josh, and Horford, to clean up their scraps. I'm actually getting pretty excited about this possibility.
Andre Miller- An old PG that DOES play defense. This is truly and odd species, and should be cherished. Now that I think about it, I don't mind the "old" part of any of these guys, we actually need a veteran PG with this group. If you haven't noticed, Andre Miller has been playing out of his mind lately. He's also played in more consecutive games than anyone, over 500 in a row. I don't think the Sixers are going to let him go, but if they do, it'd be great if the Hawks got him. He's an unbelievable passer and would be smart enough to never pass it to Josh Smith outside the foul line.
Jason Kidd- Attack of the elderly point guards! This is getting weird. What's gonna happen when all these guys retire? Will there be anyone left to distribute basketballs? This worries me. When I'm not thinking about basketball Armageddon, I'm dreaming about Jason Kidd only taking good shots, getting 6+ rebounds a game, and passing the ball to a cutting Josh Smith. Mark Cuban already said he was planning on resigning Kidd, so it probably won't work out, and I'm OK with that.
Raymond Felton- Finally, a young guy. He's a restricted FA, but the Bobcats are probably going to let him go with DJ Augustin ready to start. I'm actually shocked that they didn't trade him, but, that's the Bobcats. They're mortgaging their future to make the playoffs. They're like the Celtics, but with low self-esteem. MJ sure has lowered his standards. Anyway, Felton would be nice, but I'd be a little worried about bringing in another streaky shooter. Kidd can at least hit threes consistently. We'd have to give Felton a longer contract, so, I'd rather give one of the vets a shorter deal.
Those are the guys that I'd rather have than Bibby for next year. I'm confident they will all fit within the Hawks budget, even after re-signing Marvin. What do you guys think is the Hawks' best option next year?
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To answer you final question
Fire Woodson, that’s the best option for the Hawks next year. But more to the point of you post, the best option for the organization as a whole would be to let Bibby walk and trust our first round pick of Acie Law. He’s had two solid years to learn from veteran PG’s in the league and he’s proven, even in somewhat limited minutes, that he is capable of putting up decent numbers.
With cap space an issue and with our ownership group being what it is, spending for another veteran PG seems like something that isn’t likely to happen. Sticking with a player we are already paying for and letting Bibby walk to clear up cap space would be the best option.
Also, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that we all think Acie is not the answer. Saying that we all are not completely sure would be closer to the truth, and only because Woodson refuses to play him more. I’m hoping Rick Sund forces Woody’s hand more next year if he doesn’t fire Woodson outright, which he should.
woodson and acie
I understand that you don’t like Woodson, but why do you think he should be fired as a coach? Ever since Woodson took over the Hawks have consistently gotten better. Last year’s playoff berth was the culmination of hard work and diligence by him as a coach and the players. This season he has the hawks in position to earn their best record in probably over a decade.
Also, I don’t agree with your thoughts on Acie Law. Over the past two years he has not developed like Al Horford has. I understand that Horford has had a lot more playing time than Law has. If you watch Acie play, he doesn’t seem to understand the offense and he is usually out of control. He is good at driving to the basket, but he usually doesn’t want to pull the trigger and take the shot. If he would drive and shoot lay ups rather than kick the ball out for someone to shoot a three then he would probably get more playing time. Right now I think Bibby is the best choice for point guard this season as well as next season. He understands the offense, both half court and full court. He is very good at defense and he is a veteran in the league who finally got his three point shot back.
Many reasons
Woodson uses horrible sub rotations, lacks the ______ (insert whatever word you want here; intelligence, fortitude, vision, etc) to recognize and take advantage of match-ups, he does not react to anything in the game, nor does he learn from any of his mistakes. He, himself, has lacked progression as a coach and has stymied the progression of the players. His offensive sets are predictable at best and downright lazy at worst.
I think you over estimate his importance in the Hawks making the playoffs last year. The Hawks won less than 40 games and barely made it in as the 8th seed. If anything, it was a because Billy Knight traded for Bibby and Horford’s immediate impact as a rookie. There are many other reasons I could list, but ultimately it comes down to Woodson is squandering the talent he allows to play, and not utilizing other talent, basically holding this team back from reaching its true potential.
As for Acie, you can’t compare Acie to Horford because of the limited sample size; you pretty much state that yourself. Their progression as players are not tied to each other, especially so because they play different position, with the PG being the most difficult to adapt to coming from the college game to the pro level. And exactly how do you fault a PG for driving and kicking to an open teammate? Isn’t that what you want from a PG, someone who has the vision and intelligence to know when to pass and when to shoot?
But really, your last statement really gave it all away. In regards to Bibby:
He is very good at defense..
I think you are just trolling. Good game sir, you got me!
I don’t think we are going to agree with Woodson as a coach. In regards to Acie kicking to a wide open team mate, I am all for that. I was commenting on the fact that he is very good at driving and cutting to the basket, but he passes up his easy lay ups and kicks the ball out to somebody else. Regardless if they are open or not, if someone has a wide open lay up you should probably take it. I understand there are certain times when you need a certain shot, but when Acie plays the quarter is usually coming to a close or the game is out of reach. I’m not sure what that comment about Bibby meant or you’re comment about my statement but oh well.
Now I'm confused
I was quoting you, so are you saying you don’t know what your own comment about Bibby meant? You stated that Bibby is very good at defense. By that statement alone I was assuming that the rest of your post was merely an attempt to get a response, or a rise, because anyone who has watched Bibby play at all knows full well he is anything but very good at defense.
You are most likely correct in that we are not going to agree on Woodson and I would say that we probably aren’t going to agree on Acie either. I would like you to note that the times Acie gets in the game is because Woodson dictates it, so that is not a reflection on how Acie plays.
What about Hinrich?
Hey guys, I’m a Hornets fan. Just checking out the site. I think you guys should really go after Kirk Hinrich. He is a good defender who can shoot the three. He’s not the best point guard in the world, but he really goes with your strengths of active agressive defense and players who are big for their position which allows you guys to switch on d. I love that aspect of the Hawks, because I used to hate so hard on you guys for drafting what seemed to be the same player over and over again. Now it seems like it may actually work.
Also, his weaknesses are minimized because of Johnson’s passing ability. I think a first round pick or maybe the rights to Childress plus cap space would do it. And you get a contract that declines each year. The Bulls are determined to stay under the luxury tax as always, and resigning Gorndon works better for that team, because it takes away any tension about who the real lead dog point guard is. Anyways, what do y’all think? And good luck tonight.
Hinrich's signed for like 4 more years.
I wouldn’t want to give anything up for his contract. I’d rather have Bibby.
But why
This deal would give you some consistency from the position. Something the Hawks havent had for a long time, and it would be frist time that you’d be strong defensively at all 5 positions while still giving Johnson the additional 3 point shooter that is critical to the team’s success.
Not really
We would still have Woodson as the head coach, and I seriously doubt he would play Hinrich over Flip Murray. Have you not noticed how he treats Acie?
None of those guys can shoot the three
The high price tage is more then an understandable point, but none of those guys can hit the three except for J Kidd and he’s getting pretty old. Who knows, maybe the chance to push the break with the younguns would do him so good. Oh well, just a suggestion. Why isn’t sessions on the list? He’s my favorite FA Pg for 09. Kids a baller. Good win guys. Did you think you’d be able to say that you were able to rely o nyour bench for a win before the season started?
The Hawks need to let Acie man the point next year, resign Marvin and Zaza, play hardball with Flip, try and unload Speedy’s contract, draft really well to improve our shitty bench, and maybe sign a veteran big who can rebound to come off the bench…
I don’t really know if any of this will happen because the Atlanta Spirit is a fucking joke, but I can hope.
by get swoll yunel on Mar 10, 2009 12:04 AM EDT reply actions
+1 on that ASG comment
I could not agree more. What this team need to do to win will almost never happen because of our retarded ownership group.
don't know where he's suppose to be selected
Marquette’s Jerel McNeal plays defense unlike Bibby and he can score somewhat.
http://49ersboard.blogspot.com/
Nash
Nash would be nice. Other than Nash I would rather get Flynn or Lawson. I think both Lawson and Flynn would demand playing time unlike Law.
Draft Toney Douglas
He’s good, plays D, can score, can create his own shot, can handle the rock, and his bro plays for the Falcons.
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