buckeye242424

Comparing and offense ran by UCLA in the 60's as opposed to a current NBA team 50 years later is apples to oranges. I'm not saying that the Hawks "offense" isnt bad. JJ is asked to do way too much. However, my argument is that our offense is still a team game. No matter what sets, motion, flex, post, whatever, it's still a team oriented philosophy. Let's not put the other 4 guys out on the floor, and JJ can do the same thing correct? That's your reasoning.

Everything about basketball is a team sport! LOL. That's why there are five players on the court at the same time! We may not look like it offensively, but offense is a team concept...granted it appears JJ is our offense, but you still need five guys out there to guard!!!

It doesn't matter being at home? Home court ADVANTAGE plays nothing into our current streak? I disagree. If there is no significant meaning to playing at home, then why do teams fight for HC in the playoffs? Teams play better, statistically, wins vs. losses at home. We're 13-17 on the road, what 26/26-5 at home?? Those numbers speak for themselves.

JJ scoring 30+ all week is what happened.

Winning at home has shown our progress. It's nice to be able to think and say, "we can play with anyone at home"...and actually mean it.

Good point. I hope Mo is just superstitious about starting. He should not be lobbying to be starting over a healthy Marvin.

From SI: The key to their success is ... Maurice Evans? There might be something to it. They are 12-1 with Evans in the starting lineup, a spot that is his to lose with Marvin Williams out indefinitely with an ailing back. In Saturday's win over Indiana, Evans scored 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting. "We're going to have to lose three or four in a row before somebody can convince me that [starting] is anything but a positive thing," Evans told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Meanwhile, the Hawks are 5-0 on their seven-game homestand.

There's no reason to think Woody can't continue to utilize the bench the way he has the last 5 games. Throw Marvin into the mix and rotation and go from there. He's too valuable to the Hawks to not play if he's healthy. The recent turnaround after Marvin went done has to do with our bench contributing solid minutes - Rio, Flip, Zaza, Solo - JJ's unbelievable shooting, and we're playing at home. We've only lost 5 times at home all year.

"We know what Joe is capable of," Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "He made some tough shots in isolation today. You have to bring energy and more scrap when you play on the road. We have to play with more energy than we did." The offense has not changed since Marvin has been out. We're still doing the same things, or the same thing...JJ iso. It's all good when the jumpers are falling down, which is the bottom line. We may look more productive because of the personnel on the floor, but the philosophy still rings true. ...put the ball in JJ's hands and hope he scores or gets someone else a good look.

Being coached or taking it upon himself to have more of a scoring mentality doesn't change his role? If he keep playing the way he is, the team is going to expect his contiributions every game.

FLip has been more aggressive/selfish since Marvin's been out., if that's possivble. 14 points is 14 points, I'm sure Flip sees him having to make that up and them some for us.

I would be extremely happy if we get to 47. I know another man would be too, Woody. We win 47, he's extended. No question.

Adidas is continuing its "Brotherhood" campaign during March Madness with a series of new commercial spots featuring its roster of NBA stars and endorsers. In the new "March is a Brotherhood" series Howard, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady and Josh Smith link up with perennial powers UCLA, Kansas, Louisville, and Pittsburgh respectively to get a glimpse of what could have been. Gripping a No. 12 Jayhawks' jersey Howard sings Kansas' fight song. In other videos Garnett speaks to the UCLA's history, McGrady makes his Louisville tournament prediction, and Smith represents Pitt.

Zaza has always had the "bull in a China shop" mentality as far as being aggressive and physical. He has been much more active and playing hard, doing all the little things...a grinder so to speak. I hope it continues...he's an important cog in this machine, we will need him come playoff if were going to have any success. I don't think we can expect much more of an effort from Smoove than we have seen the last two games. He's played with about as much heart as I have ever seen him play. Decision making, now that's another story and continually a work in progress.

How bout them Hawks!!

I anticipate a bit of a let down in the first half of this game. On paper, it is a game that we should win, at home. After the two emotional wins we had vs. the Hornets and Jazz, it wouldn't surprise me that we are flat to begin. Woody will call his TO's at mind scratching times, and the chat room will be buzzing with why we are playing so bad against a team we should beat. In the end, we'll pull out the win, albeit closer than the fans want. The schedule is brutal this month as far as teams, just glad all but two are on the road.

We play Miami in our second to last game of the season at home. Shaping up to be one of the most important regular season games in a long, long time. I know every game is important, but it would be exciting if it comes down to us having home court or not!

I hope you're right. If Woody feels comfortable playing Mo and Rio significant minutes vs. the Cavs on LeBron, I hope it works.

I'll go out on a limb here and say when we play Cleveland a week from tomorrow, JJ will be guarding LeBron the bulk of the time. One because he's the best match up available and our best option there, an two, Marvin won't be playing. We will be putting our best player in the way.

Staying in front of your man is not easy to do in the NBA. Especially staying in front of the gifted players. Stats don't measure being able to guard one-on-one. Containment is crucial in the NBA. Add to that he's 6'9 with a long reach and the ability to jump and contest shots makes him an asset on defense. I'm not buying that JJ would be given these duties if he could stay out of foul trouble. Maybe to keep him rested so he is more effective offensively because he IS our scoring option. People like LeBron, Wade, Kobe,...you can't lock them down. Impossible. But you can make them work and frustrate them, force them into contested shots.

After last year, the way were playing now, and the playoffs to come...we won't be a true contender in the East next year?

Just the fact Marvin is given the assignment to guard the better players makes it special! Do you think JJ would prefer to guard LeBron and exert the energy? My guess is no. The coach is going assign his best defender to defend the oppositions best scoring threats, if the match-up is reasonable (height, quickness, etc.) Marvin does this. It's important.

The bottom line is JJ has been scorching the last two games. All players go through hot and cold streaks. JJ is hot now, and it's a coincidence that Marvin isn't playing, not because he's not playing. JJ is taking the same shots now as he has taken all year. They're just dropping now. Marvin has nothing to do with JJ's shot selection.

I believe expending the energy to guard the other teams' best player would elevate the team's morale on defense. Nobody wants to constantly guard LeBron and Wade, that would be exhausting!

I would disagree with one thing. I would say Bibby is our least important starter. Marvin's defense is solid, and he's our best one-on-one defender. Bibby is a liability on defense. We have capable back-ups in Acie and Flip that could run this team if needed. Most PG's in this league could manage the Hawks. It's not like our offense is hard to learn. Give it to Joe and get out of the way! lol