OT: Hmm...Fratello fired in Memphis.

[Packfill]

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Get real.

Mike Fratello getting fired in Memphis has very little to do with them holding him accountable for the Grizzlies poor season and everything to do with Jerry West not being able to admit that he made drastic mistakes in putting together that team. Fratello is simply the next fall guy for Jerry West and his inability to build upon what Billy Knight had built in Memphis.

Unlike the Grizzlies, the Hawks realize that there aren't many, if any, coaches in the league that would have done better than Mike Woodson if put into the Hawks situation during his first two years on the job. This is the first year that Mike has had a team that could compete night in and night out, and he just happens to run into the worst run of luck any coach could have. I bet the Hawks have more player games missed than any other team in the NBA at this point.

This is why fans don't make the decisions. If it were up to the fans, the coach would be changed every year.

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Dude you constantly harp on what BK built in Memphis, but what did he build? He built a fringe playoff team at best and that was only with some decent player signings/trades by West in the interim (i.e., Posey (who was awesome that first year they made the playoffs, Gooden for Miller, etc.).

Essentially the great building job you speak of involved one draft in which BK acquired Gasol and Battier. Big freakin deal. He fleeced Babcock. If that is his greatest achievement the guy does not deserve the meager salary he earns.

[Diesel]

IF anything, Fratello's firing is Jerry West trying to cover his ass.

He traded away a vital part of their team (Shane Battier). I'm not saying that Gay won't be good, I'm saying that he's young.

Fratello, did good work getting that team to the playoffs last year with Lazy Lo as the Center.

However, West don't have a clue as to what he's putting together.

If you want to talk about bad building... Look at West.

[Sothron]

Did anyone really think the Grizz could compete with Gasol missing the first what 24 games or so of the season? That team is built around him on offense and defense. There was no way they could have a winning record in the tough West with him missing.

[Diesel]

You could say the same about Houston and Yao... but they got Battier and somehow, they win.

Gasol missed 26 games 2 years ago and they made the playoffs.

But you know, Ren was a 10 ppg, 7 rpg Center back then too!

[Sothron]

IIRC the Gasol injury two years ago did not come before the season. The Grizz got off to a bad start this year but with a healthy Gasol they (should) finish stronger. Fratello was also missing his "glue guy" in Battier.

[DJ_Money]

So...hypothetically, if BK was to fire Woodson in the next few weeks and replace him with Herb Brown for the remainder of the season, what would this board do?

I'm sure many would be glad to see Woody go, but would they also see it as "BK making Woody the fall guy?"

[Diesel]

This board wouldn't be happy if Both BK and Woody were gone and they were replaced with Greg Poppivich and Phil Jackson. Those who cry tank tank tank don't care about the Hawks. It's hard for somebody to consider the situation and say tank tank tank right now.

[Sothron]

Speak for yourself. I would be thrilled to have Pops as our head coach.

Only a fool would want this team to scrape by with enough wins to hand Phoenix our pick in the most loaded draft in many, many years and guarantee more seasons of awful mediocrity of Hawks basketball. The only hope this franchise has until the ownership fiasco is settled is to strike it big in the drafts. So far Knight is zero for three. Only a fool of a fan would want more of that.

[Diesel]

Tanking says to the current stash of players, we don't believe in you. Tanking with 54 games to go says... YOU Suck.

If you really want to tank...

You should suggest, trading JJ, trading JS, trading JC, trading Marvin, and trading Shelden and getting back draft picks and ending contracts. Because that's what you're saying... THEY SUCK.

[TexasPete]

The Hawks tank every year. Whats the point?

[Sothron]

We've really accomplished alot with those Knight draft picks, yep. One day we may break the mythical thirty wins in a season mark. Only in a dream!

[DJlaysitup]

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We've really accomplished alot with those Knight draft picks, yep. One day we may break the mythical thirty wins in a season mark. Only in a dream!

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Only 21 to go !!

[macdaddy]

Yep, all those other teams that rely heavily on their 5 draft picks from the last 3 years are doing great while we still suck.