What do you think about this

[Admin]

ESPN is saying that NJ might look to do a SnT for K-Mart rather than just letting him go. If Denver isnt willing to SnT Nene, maybe we could offer them JT in the SnT deal. He would give them some cap flexibility and an exciting backcourt player for NJ. He makes a little more than half of what K-Mart will make so that saves us quite a bit of cap room. We would still have 6-7 mil left over after doing a deal like this. I would then use that money on Troy Hudson, Bob Sura or Damon Jones and then try and sign a C with the rest.

It would suck losing JT, but with Donta Smith, Diaw, and Ivery all capable of playing the point for us plus a possible PG signing, we could live without JT........especially since Woodson said JT is a SG and we just drafted Childress there and have Hansen growing up quickly.

Just a thought, but it would give us the player we want plus provide some cap flexibility. I dont even know if NJ would do it, but if they couldnt get Nene and didnt want to max out K-Mart.......they just might.

[thatsmydawg]

Since when did we find out that Ivey or D. Smith could play the point in the NBA. I think I'm going to need a link or some kind of proof before I can believe those 2 guys could produce at that position......

[TROUBLEMAN69]

I really wish you guys would stop saying Boris Diaw can play point. He is a great ballhandler for a small forward, but believe me, he is not a point guard.

TROUBLEMAN

[Admin]

Why believe you? What proof do you have that he cannot play the point? I watched almost every Hawks game every year and I have seen Diaw run this offense many times. The ONLY time he had trouble was running the break and that is something he was getting better at as the year went on. He is VERY capable of playing the point. Anyone on here with a knowledge of the Hawks will tell you that Diaw CAN play the point.

Also for the other guy......Donta Smith said that Billy has mentioned to him playing the point and he said he thinks that he can do it.

[TROUBLEMAN69]

Quote:

---

Why believe you? What proof do you have that he cannot play the point? I watched almost every Hawks game every year and I have seen Diaw run this offense many times. The ONLY time he had trouble was running the break and that is something he was getting better at as the year went on. He is VERY capable of playing the point.

Anyone on here with a knowledge of the Hawks will tell you that Diaw CAN play the point.

Also for the other guy......Donta Smith said that Billy has mentioned to him playing the point and he said he thinks that he can do it.

---

Oh, because I don't post on here everyday, that means I don't have knowledge of the Hawks? Anybody with basketball sense will tell you that Boris Diaw cannot play the point fulltime at this point in his career. He has great handles for a small forward, but playing point is totally different. Name a true point guard in the NBA that cannot run the fastbreak? Hell, that is the easiest thing for a freakin point guard to do.

Hell, KG sometimes runs the offense for the T'Wolves, does that mean he can play point fulltime too? Lamar Odom started at point for the Clippers several times, but you see that they wanted a real point guard to replace him. Boris Diaw gives the Hawks another ballhandling option on the court, which means sometimes during the game he will run the offense, but there is no way in hell that he can do it fulltime.

TROUBLEMAN

[DominiqueWilkins]

DOL,

We are on the same page, because I also saw Boris Diaw play point many times last season, and he didn't do that bad of a job at it. He brought the ball down face, and looked for the open man.

He wasn't trying to become Jason Kidd, but Boris did his job when he was called on to run point. I remember Jason Terry even passed Boris the ball many times so he could run the point.

I'm willing to see Boris Diaw become a 1 year point guard, just to see how things go. I think he would learn, and gain alot of knowledge from that role. Boris Diaw could always return to being a small forward/shooting guard, if point didn't work out for him.

[Admin]

It doesnt matter how many posts you have. The FACT is that you dont know anything about Diaw......just as I dont and nobody else does who is just a fan. Billy has said that Diaw can play the point, just as he did with Donta Smith. Diaw has PLAYED the point for us, and he did very well. Most people on this board who watch the team will tell you that he can play the point effectively as we have seen him do it. In fact when the team was most successul was when either Sura or Diaw was in control of the team and not JT. So I would say that at worst he can run the team as good as JT but I would say he can do it much better. He can his team in France and there is no reason to think that he cant here as well. I mean for God's sake the kid was a rookie last year playing in a new country, in the worlds most elite basketball league and had to learn an entire new style......and he did pretty well. With an entire offseason and an actual system to play in he should thrive.

All I am going to say is dont be shocked when Diaw becomes our PG.....or at least point forward who controls the offense.

[Admin]

Exactly. Of course he will never be JKidd but who will? I have seen him make many BEAUTIFUL passes and that speaks to his court vision which is something you cannot teach. Once he learns how to play in a more uptempo style he will be perfect for us. He is getting better at shooting and attacking the rim and honestly, at PG......who is going to guard him in this league? What PG can get around him with his length and defensive ability?

[KB21]

I heard Billy Knight say that on a radio interview. He stated that due to his court vision, passing ability, and ball handling, the Hawks were going to stick him at the point spot and see what happens. Donta brings the ability to play the point and the wing guard positions. I don't see him moving to the three, because as Jason Walker tells me, Donta is a lot closer to 6'5" than his listed 6'7".

[Wretch]

I watched him play all season long VERY closely. He's not a flashy, playmaking wizard like Kidd. But as far as a guy who you can plug into the point and have him effectively execute the offense? Yeah, he can do that.

He knows how to find the open guy, and he makes excellent passes. He's got good handles and he's atheltic and on a few occasions, I've seen him attack the basket. If he's going to be more effective at the one, he needs to break down the defense more often. I've seen him make some NICE plays off the dribble; and he's made some great passes to guys that couldn't finish.

Boris needs time playing point. If he works at it, and they give him PT at the 1, I am 100% confident that he can be a better than average PG. He's got the instincts, the court vision, and the physical ability to do it. His aggressiveness will be the determining factor.

[Wretch]

Is that point guard is THE most demanding position on the floor and is THE hardest thing for young players to pick up. VERY few guys come into the league with the ability to effectively control an offense. VERY FEW.

There is so much to learn and so much to do; and each coach has a billion and one different plays and expectations. Topping it all off is the torrid pace of the NBA game. These guys have to think on the fly. It's crazy...

But as the focus of pro basketball shifted away from the team concept (toward individual play), so did the role of point guards. Scoring PGs like Iverson and Davis are now the model and people nowadays have forgotten how difficult it is for the young guy coming in who dreams of running the offense and making his teammates better.

Give the guy time and I am positive Boris will be quite serviceable at the point.

[Diesel]

I think that Boris has a pass first mentality and he dribbles well, but that is only a small amount of what the point is expected to do. When it comes to calling defenses, setting tempo, serving as a leader, Boris fails. Can he overcome? Maybe but why make him learn to do something that he doesn't have the natural instinct for. Everybody was relieved last year when Sura came on. Sura actually showed how to run an offense, control tempo and make several pieces work together from the 2 guard spot. I understand that Boris is a rookie and these things take time, but I would rather we teach Boris to be a Sf and his ball handling be an extra... So as it stands, I see Boris as a specialty off the bench. A defensive specialist. His value is not that high right now, but I realize what he can do.

However, it makes me laugh to hear all these prognostications of Boris being a PG. He's no more a PG than JT.

As far as Ivey. He has a good pedigree and we will see. As for Smith... I don't know...

[TROUBLEMAN69]

If Boris Diaw is the point guard for the Hawks, they are in a world of trouble. Playing the point every now and then is different than playing it on a full-time basis. Diaw doesn't have point guard handles, he has great handles for a small forward, and hell I might be throwing that great term around too much. I have no problem with Diaw running the offense every now and then, hell lot's of players do that, but as the full-time point, hell no.

TROUBLEMAN

[Weez]

Sura kept the ball moving, didn't hold it for all that long, and was athetic enough/with hustle to force defenders out of their rotations, thus allowing for easier passes. He was the perfect fit for Stotts' motion offense, which doesn't need a true pg as much, and in that he could make decisions quickly, knew wehre guys were without having to think it out (like JT).

Boris does a very good job at running a halfcourt offense...as that's what they play overseas, deliberate, controlled offense. He's not good on the break, as they were rare when he was playing as a youth. I'd be completely fine with his running the offense on halfcourt sets, esp. if he became slightly more aggressive in driving to the basket for the kickout/dish...but not in bringing the ball up the court and trying to initiate it off the fly/immediately. He doesn't, or hasnt' exhibited, that sort of ability.

[DominiqueWilkins]

That is what I like about Boris Diaw is his vision of the court, and he is able to play defense. The thing I wish Boris Diaw would change about his game is having the cofidence in his shot, instead of just looking for the pass all the time.

I'm fine with him giving it a try at the point, but seems as if many people on this board missed him being the point guard last season.

[thatsmydawg]

Just because he said he can play PG. That's what you're going with. Childress SAID he can play the 2 but is there any PROOF or LINK to back that up. I didn't think so...

[Wretch]

It is the ability to control the offense. Point guards do not come into the NBA ready to run a club. It RARELY happens. Guys come in and make flashy playground passes and allyoops, but executing an offense is what makes you efficient at the 1.

All of these kids can dribble. It's all they do. It's all they've been doing for as long as they've been playing ball and they probably do it in their sleep. Even the slowest 7 foot pro basketball giants on the court can show the average couch coach like most of us how to move with the ball. It's fundamental and Boris can do it. He's got excellent handles. He's doesn't have tiny little legs and arms, so he doesn't dribble like a machine gun; however, he has no problems putting the ball on the floor.

His handles are less important in his development. What IS important is that Boris has the instincts, court vision, and awareness to play the point. In other words, he wants to get guys involved...he sees where people are on the floor...and he is knows when someone is in position to make the shot.

BEING GOOD AT THAT IS WHAT MAKES YOU A POINT GUARD. Not how well you handle the ball - but as a bonus, Boris is quite sound at that too. Will he learn the sets? Can he control the offense? Will his instincts, vision, and awareness improve? Will he realize his potential and become a star PG? That is debateable. Whether or not he can actually play point guard is not.

He can.

[Diesel]

I have to disagree with one distinction.

I agree that Boris had better court vision than JT... But is that really saying much.

My disagree comes from court instincts. I disagree here and here's why. Boris showed over and over that he can't run the break and that he can't play an uptempo style. That's all about instincts. What made us appluad Bobby Sura is that he did have the instincts. He did know how to get everybody involved. Now, JT has no instincts. I wonder sometimes does JT understand the plays that he calls. And it's been 5 years. And it's not improving. In the motion offense, Boris can move with the ball and make a post pass. However, for now, that's the extent of his talent. Does that make him special? Not really. Does that make him a PG, certainly not. I think time has to pass. As you said correctly, these guys come in with the knowledge of how to dribble... And where as Diaw may have good court vision, he still doesn't have the full package to make him a PG. For instance, how many times have we seen Boris work against token pressure? How many times have we seen Boris operate a 2 man game? How many times have we watched Boris play the pick and roll? On offense does Boris automatically position himself near the top of the key in order to be back first on defense? How many times did we see Boris give in game direction to another player to set up a play? Just being a pass first kind of guy who can dribble does not make you a PG.

[jezmund]

I agree that it seems sometimes that JT has no idea how to play basketball. That's why I wouldn't mind to see him gone. If he stays, that means Woodson thinks he can turn him around so that will be fine.

[TROUBLEMAN69]

Quote:

---

It is the ability to control the offense.

Point guards do not come into the NBA ready to run a club. It RARELY happens. Guys come in and make flashy playground passes and allyoops, but executing an offense is what makes you efficient at the 1.

---

You are correct,it is the ability to control the offense, but in order to do that you also have to be able to control the ball, which is where the ability to handle the ball like a point guard comes in. Who mentioned anything about being flashy with the dribble, or making flashy passes? Mark Price was a pretty good point guard, and he didn't do any of that, but he could handle the ball.

Quote:

---

All of these kids can dribble. It's all they do. It's all they've been doing for as long as they've been playing ball and they probably do it in their sleep. Even the slowest 7 foot pro basketball giants on the court can show the average couch coach like most of us how to move with the ball. It's fundamental and Boris can do it. He's got excellent handles. He's doesn't have tiny little legs and arms, so he doesn't dribble like a machine gun; however, he has no problems putting the ball on the floor.

---

You are wrong here. Not everyone in the NBA can handle the ball. Sure, they can handle it better than you and I, hell they should because they are professionals, but can they handle it against NBA pressure? Can Diaw handle the ball with Chauncey Billups applying fullcourt pressure? Can he handle the ball, with Jason Kidd providing full court pressure? I don't believe so, but I guess we might find out.

Quote:

---

His handles are less important in his development. What

IS

important is that Boris has the

instincts, court vision, and awareness

to play the point. In other words, he wants to get guys involved...he sees where people are on the floor...and he is knows when someone is in position to make the shot.

---

Again I disagree. His handles are just as important as his development. You can have all of the instincts in the world, but if you can't penetrate, or you have to start the offense with 10 seconds left on the shot clock, then I don't want you as my point guard. It's great that he wants to get others involved, but like handles, that is not the only aspect of the game. It's a package deal, and handles are an important part of it.

Quote:

---

BEING GOOD AT THAT IS WHAT MAKES YOU A POINT GUARD.

Not how well you handle the ball - but as a bonus, Boris is quite sound at that too. Will he learn the sets? Can he control the offense? Will his instincts, vision, and awareness improve? Will he realize his potential and become a star PG? That is debateable. Whether or not he can actually play point guard is not.

---

Whether he can actually play point is debatable, regardless of what you have to say on it. You question my ability to judge, and I also question yours. As I have proven in my other posts, many other players have run half court sets, but that doesn't make them point guards. You say handles aren't that important, but what good is all that other stuff, if you are constantly turning the ball over under pressure from other guards. You say the Hawks started playing better when Diaw and Sura started running the offense, which is only partially accurate. As someone else pointed out, it had more to do with Sura than Diaw. I like Diaw, but I would prefer that he plays small forward, and helps a real point guard when needed.

TROUBLEMAN