TheNorthCydeRises

He needs a team too. #TrueBaller

Now if that were your starting lineup, could you win an NBA title with that?

( screeeechhhhh )

LOL .. I 100% agree. Having said that, every SEC arena goes into a frenzy everytime big, bad UK comes to town. The so-called "super teams" are going to RAISE everyone's level of play, even if they do go to the Finals. This is how it was in the past. The Lakers in the 80s were a "super team", going to 8 out of 10 NBA Finals in that decade. Boston made 5 NBA Finals, 4 in a row, during the 80s. Despite their dominance, teams like Philadelphia, Detroit, Houston, Portland, Dallas, and even your Atlanta Hawks, all raised their level of play during the LA - Boston domination years. Chicago went to 6 NBA Finals and won them all. That didn't stop the Knicks and Pacers from fighting to the death to try to beat them. And with no dominant team in the West, Portland, Seattle, Phoenix, and Utah had their crack at the Bulls. And in Jordan's hiatus, Houston stepped up and won 2 titles. Even the Shaq-Kobe Lakers run of 4 out of 5 NBA Finals saw Sacramento, Portland, and San Antonio answer the bell and fight. And Detroit took them out, and essentially ended the Shaq-Kobe era. Now we're in the Lebron era, with his 6 straight NBA Finals appearances. Mark my words, even if Golden State reaches the NBA Finals, it isn't going to be a cakewalk for them. Unlike the rest of NBA bloggers and talking heads that want to "crown their ass", teams will rise to the occasion to battle them. And as much as the rest of the league's fans would hate it ... Cleveland - Golden State III would be EPIC for the popularity of the league.

I so wish that the Hawks would've won on Thursday, because watching these Summer League tourney games have been great today. Someone wasn't thrilled though ... Her: "I thought basketball was over with?" Me: "This is Summer League, where the rookies and young players are playing." Her: "Summer League? So they play year round now?" Me: "No, it's like practice games. Preseason games, but it's not preseason until like October. Then they'll play real games around Halloween." Her: "Ugh. You're a basketball crackhead." Me: ( laughing ) But as I'm watching these games, it just reaffirms how great a Draft Lottery tournament in Vegas would be. No matter what format they choose, having a 3 - 5 day tourney before the playoffs start, to determine who gets the #1 pick, would be a great way to do it. I personally would let the 2 teams that make the Tournament Finals get the top 2 picks, with the winner getting the top pick. Then have slots 3 - 14 go in order of record. The issue would come with playoff teams who also have a lottery pick. Do they forfeit their spot, or do they send their scrubs to play in the Tourney? Anything but the non dramatic ping pong balls, that you never see. How cool would it have been for Kobe's last gift to the Lakers to win the Draft Lottery Tournament and give the Lakers the #1 pick? Or see one of the teams whose playoff bubble burst, like a Utah, win that thing and get the top pick? The entertainment value would be like watching a college conference tournament.

LOL .. Yall went from cussing out Dennis last year, to wanting to keep him over a Hall of Famer? OK.

Any reason for that?

8 = Dwight 8 x 3 --- 24 = Baze 8/2 --- 4 = Millsap

The Hawks have become bigger, faster, and stronger.

LOL. Chill was a good player as a Hawk. Just got money hungry and killed his own career.

!Reallu good game by the Hawklings. Cotton lived up to his name, because that's all his shots were drawing ... straight cotton. Bembry looked like baby Josh Childress, with his all around game. Edy did his job, and the team was much better with he and Bembry on the floor. And Edy with the no hesitation hook to seal the game. Even got a Dikembe finger wag in with that block out of bounds. 2 - 0. Ready to see Prince with these guys.

She's our new "capologist". Or at the very least, the "cap interpreter".

Getting players back in return for a good player is overrated as hell. You simply need a GM who has somewhat of an eye for talent, to replace that player. I'm not a Ferry fan, but he does get credit for immediately snatching up Millsap. That move alone made a guy like Josh Smith expendible. Imagine Sap playing with the JJ era teams instead of Josh. Teague had to be moved to see just how good Dennis could be. I have no problem with that move. And we did get a lottery pick out of that. But if we were to let Sap walk next season, we'd have the option to blow it up or add another piece ( Westbrook, Griffin, Ibaka, Monroe, Tony Allen )?

LOL ... It does write like a greeting card post.

Quentin Miller wrote that. Nah, Quentin would've done a better job. I have to agree that this is one of the most detached thank you letters I've ever seen. An 8 year old could've written something better. After 9 years, you'd think the letter would be more specific. But when you look at this + Horford's brief statement + the Celtic Pride tweet, it's pretty easy to draw the conclusion that he's emotionally gone from Atlanta. At this point, I wish he'd address what really drove him to this decision. Be honest about his feelings, not this fake compassion. Surely one of those Boston writers can get it out of him.

Did anybody nominate Danny Ferry yet? If not, let's toss him in the battle royale too. Toss Pero in there too. And no nominations for Woody? Oh how far we have come.

Nothing we can do about it now. Wish he would've stayed, but sometimes we have to move on. Regardless of how people are feeling now, I'll never forget this game. I'm not going to let his departure take this memory away from me. He's gone. Let's hope Dwight takes us to a higher level.

Great gesture by Baze. He's appreciative of the opportunity Atlanta gave him, like Demarre was. Hopefully he has a breakout season next year.

So what if Al came out with a full 1 page letter tomorrow in the AJC? It's only been 3 days since the announcement. If it seemed to be heartfelt, would you guys forgive him?

LOL .... yall are on a roll.

4 years later, Barkley was right on the money about the Hawks .... again.

If Korver says something negative about Howard, trade Kyle immediately. If he's not on board, it won't work with him here. Just move on. We need Dwight as comfortable as possible here, while Bud tries to mold him back to a great center.

Superteams forming everywhere. Can we trade Splitter, Scott, Korver, and about 10 of Atlanta's best strippers to Miami, so that we can get our hands on Dwyane Wade? The Heat will get more shooting, and the King of Diamonds will get more talent. A win-win for Miami. Hawks get another veteran star, and we can promote our young stripper talent out of the hood spots and move them up to the big clubs.