Wurider05

ATLANTA - Joe Johnson averaged more than 20 points last season. He played on the U.S. team at the world championships. And he can still walk the streets of Atlanta without being bothered. "I love to go out in the city and have nobody recognize me," he said. "If I could have it like that throughout my career, I would love it." Such are the perks of playing for the Atlanta Hawks, the city's forlorn NBA team and perhaps the worst franchise in all of pro sports. Granted, there's stiff competition from teams such as baseball's Tampa Bay Devil Rays and football's Arizona Cardinals. But the Hawks can make a pretty good - or should we say bad - case for themselves in several key categories: - Seven consecutive losing seasons. The Hawks haven't made the playoffs since 1999, the second-longest drought in the league behind the Golden State Warriors. Two years ago, they managed to win all of 13 games, the worst season in franchise history. - Apathetic fan base. The Hawks usually rank at or near the bottom of the league in attendance. Last season, only woeful Portland drew fewer fans at home than the Hawks, who often announce turnouts that are in no way reflective of how many people attended. - Bad luck, bad karma, bad trades. Did you know that Julius Erving once suited up for the Hawks? Dr. J played for the team during the 1972 preseason, but a legal injunction forced him back to the American Basketball Association and the rest is history. The Hawks lost first-round picks David Thompson and Marvin Webster to the ABA in '75 - one year before the upstart league was absorbed by the NBA. With that sort of track record, it's little wonder hardly anyone is paying attention. "Nobody likes a losing team," Johnson said bluntly. "The Hawks haven't made the playoffs in who knows how long. It's tough. Nobody likes to really root for a losing team. We've got to develop some respect. You don't get respect just on paper." Back in the 1980s, the Hawks seemed on the verge of carving out a lasting legacy. Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins led the team to four consecutive 50-win seasons, attendance soared over 15,000 for the first time and the city went wild for the Hawks during a classic 1988 playoff series against the powerful Boston Celtics. After a stunning Game 5 win at Boston Garden, Atlanta returned home with a chance to wrap up a spot in the Eastern Conference finals. But the Celtics escaped with a 102-100 win at the Omni, then returned to Boston for another two-point victory in Game 7 Atlanta has collected some promising young players - Johnson, Josh Smith and Marvin Williams - who talk of leading the team back to the playoffs. "This is the team of the future," Smith said. "We can't look in the past." Of course, that's wishful thinking. No matter how good these youngsters are, it's going to take a while to escape the dark cloud that has hovered over this franchise for nearly four decades. ATLANTA HAWKS PREVIEW A look at the 2006-07 Atlanta Hawks: LAST SEASON: 26-56, missed playoffs. POTENTIAL STARTERS: G Speedy Claxton (12.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 4.8 apg), G Joe Johnson (20.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 6.5 apg), F Josh Smith (11.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.4 apg), F Marvin Williams (8.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.8 apg), C Zaza Pachulia (11.7 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.7 apg). KEY ADDITIONS: Claxton (free agent, Hornets), C Shelden Williams (draft, No. 5). KEY LOSSES: F Al Harrington (free agent, Pacers). COACH: Mike Woodson, third season, 39-125. OUTLOOK: Just as Claxton was set to return, the Hawks lost Marvin Williams to same injury. He's expected to be out 6-8 weeks. Hawks actually doubled their win total last season. If they do it again they'll win 52 games. Don't count on it. From the Sunday, October 29, 2006 edition of the Augusta Chronicle

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/102906/nba_102357.shtml Man it never lets up!! We have got to make the playoffs this season. We got to!!

As of right now I am thinking that Shelden will have to have one hell of a preseason to be given the starter position. I think that MW and JS should be the starters. In the scrimmage I saw something that I didn't realize and that was how aggressive MArvin can be on the Defensive end. He blocked JJ's dunk attempt and a JS jump shot.If MW can give us 1.5 to 2.5 blocks a game coupled with 8-10 rebounds and we get equal production from JS 2.5+ bpg and 8-10 rebounds we could be in business. Remember that Al was a poor rebounder/shot blocker and that Zaza while not a blocking machine he was third in the league in steals for the Center position at 1.14 a game.so we should expect 30-45+ ppg 24-30+ rpg 3-6 bpg and 2-3 steals from the three of them combined. If these three can be aggressive the sky is the limit for us and the playoffs can be possible this season.

It seemed as if he shoots the 3 ball naturally without hesistation. I remember last season he would alsways pause for 1-2 seconds before he shot it.Now it seems that he is more comfortable with his stroke.

Marvin is scary good. DId you notice how he stayed aggressive the enitire scrimmage. Right now from what I saw today he has to start. Freige looks like a keeper as well. Ty Lues whines alot as does Josh SMith. MArvin has the killer instinct!!

link

I been through Sylvester a time or two.

Quote: Quote: Carpet Capital of the world! You mean Dalton is the carpet capital of the world or that is where you live? Never Mind I just saw a carpet commercial with Jeff Gordon and the company was in Dalton, GA. LOL

Quote: Carpet Capital of the world! You mean Dalton is the carpet capital of the world or that is where you live?

Dalton is a beautiful place.

Hey dude I maybe the only person on this board other than yourself that can say that I have been to Hazlehurst,Ga.

I hear that the traffic in downtown Marietta is nearly as bad as Atlanta!! But honestly is there a better place to live in the metro area than Cobb County. I love it here!!

I hope that you already got that Falcons ticket.

Hey dude I am originally from Augusta.

It's not that bad living in Metro Atlanta. You just got to know when to go out into the traffic.

I am just curious to see where some of you guys live. I live in Marietta,Ga on a good day I can get to Phillips Arena in 15-18 minutes.

I agree with not bringing him in. He has had problems everywhere he has went and I find it strange that after the performance in the playoffs Sac town lowballed him. I don't think that they want himback but they had to make it look like they made an offer for him. Just Say No!!

How can he be playing in the shadow of CP when CP was never going to be a Hawk to begin with.

For once and for all why can't you guys just remember these four things and shut the hell up forever. 1. We drafted Marvin Williams not Chris Paul. 2. If we would have gotten the first pick we would have drafted Bogut. Marvin was a lock to go 1 or 2 in the draft. 3. From what was being said at the time we were going to draft Deron Williams over CP anyway. 4. If we would have drafted CP, who's to say that we were going to get JJ. So now could we please just move on. SOme of you guys act as if whining would transport us back in time so we could do the draft over. Yeah CP had a good season and is a good player but don't act as if he is perfect. He got exposed on defense and that was why we would have taken Deron Williams over him. It has been a year and some of you guys just need to accept. I know that it is hard but we need to show alittle more support for our team.

I just love how the word potential is thrown around here. We do not need to look forward to the draft everyyear to get better. The time is now. Right now we know what minimum amount of production we can get from J SMooth but you are ready to get rid of that for another player full of potential. I say F*CK the draft and lets strictly deal with players can produce now. If we did get OJ Mayo how many years would he need to become a good player if ever. He will probably get exposed in college. I agree with you that Marvin will probably be better than Smoove but let's see them start together and play together before we start talking about trading one of them. No more draft picks.

I am really starting to realize that this probably the most important season ever for Atlanta. There are alot of questions that must be answered this season because if we are not in playoff contention than some major changes need to be made. Among the queestions that must be answered is: 1. Can JJ be the superstar/leader we need him to be? 2. Can Marvin become worthy of being the second pick if he gets the minutes. 3. Can Josh Smith take his game to another level? 4. Will ZAZA/CHillz improve their production? *all these things are quite possible* The excuse that we are young just won't cut it anymore. We are young because we want to be. We are young because that is the path that BK chose for the team. So that can't be an excuse this year and should not be used a crutch. I know that we are not a championship caliber team (maybe 07-08 season)but the losing has got to stop. People laugh at me because I am a Hawks fan. My wife cracks jokes such " did the Hawks make the playoffs or "that coach (Woodson) looks confused". This madness has got to end!!!! We got to make the playoff or be a 9th seed in the east.

Those look like MVP numbers. DOn't pu ttoo much pressure on the kid.

If he is to take the next step and become a all-star caliber player what things does he need to improve on versus last season? I think that he needs to improve his 3pt shot to around the 37-40%+ so he could spread the floor because with Al gone and SPeedy such a poor shooter we are going to need his shooting to spread the floor (if not him then maybe Marvin).

I wonder what are they going to do to win us iver this year!!

I didn't mean that we would have kept him. I meant that we should have got him for the purpose of trading him this summer.