Packfill

I agree with your analysis. The only thing I would add is the potential a true drive and dish point guard could have on the team. With the Hawks undersized but athletic frontcourt it would seem a point guard that can really get to the hole - and that has the passing accumen to hit the open man while in traffic - could lead to a huge increase in frontcourt productivity. Of course, we all know who that guy should be. :angel19:

I could see someone throwing $5+ his way.

What type of contract do you guys think Zaza gets in the off-season?

I agree, Portland would laugh at a Marvin for Aldridge trade proposal.

This has been obvious for years now.

I think we would all like a better defensive player at point then Bibby, but I am not sure there are many options available to the team this off-season. Law has not demonstrated that he can be relied upon - both because of his play and injury history. Wasn't the pick the Celtics ultimately used to select Rajon Rondo part of the compensation the Hawks gave to the Suns for JJ?

Hunter didn't play because he is not very good. Woody would be stupid to play JJ in the finale.

Agreed.

You are probably right but he scares me. He has enough talent where if he gets just a little help, watch out.

The Hawks will be in a good position for the foreseeable future provided they are smart this off-season and next.

I still think LBJ, going to the Nets with Harris and Lopez would be scary. All they would need would be some shooters and watch out. That being said, I think it is more likely he stays in Cleveland.

Not bad at all!

Thanks AHF. Looks like best case scenario is he is back for the playoffs, but chances are he potentially misses the first series as well.

Do we know what the prognosis is on Marvin? Will he be able to return for the playoffs?

Hopefully he can make it back for the playoffs. My biggest concern now is Woody's tendency to play guys too many minutes - I hope he doesn't wear down Al and Josh.

Another way to look at things is, if they lose tonight, they will be exactly .500 since the 6-0 start.

Really?

The team is 7-7 since!

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Hawks will have a chance against almost anyone if the teams shooters are on target. If Bibby or Joe are off target then winning a series becomes a much more difficult endeavor.

Wasn't Josh Smith arguably the teams most effective player for the month of January?

Who is the ASGs counsel? It seems every contract that have prepared for the ASG is full of ambiguity.

The real questions is since it will be at least two years before the frontcourt begins to max out, does it make sense to bring Bibby back knowing that he will be on the downside when the frontcourt is finally ready? Another thing to think about is whether it is the backcourt that is driving the teams success, and if so, does it make sense to part with one of the young front court players in exchange for a veteran (the idea being two young guys is o.k., but another vet might help maximize results in the here and now) and go into "win now" mode. My biggest fear going forward is that Brook Lopez keeps developing and the Nets bring in LeBron to team with Lopez and Devin Harris and surround them with shooters (power forwars with range like Anderson and Yi then make sense) and hustle guys. That could lock up the east for a while.

Oden doesn't have the fluidity to be a great offensive player. That said, is there a team in the league that couldn't use a "Mutumbo-lite"?

Beasley hasn't been a world beater but to call him a "bust" seems pretty far from the truth. The fact is he is a teenager contributing on a winning team. Heck, if Beasley is a bust what exactly was Marvin (also a #2 pick with one year of college experience)?

I think you are giving Woody too much credit for "defining roles." I honestly think he starts out every game giving the ball to JJ to see how he is going, and if he is not on fire, tells JJ to pass and Bibby to look for his shot. He is reactive.