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ATLien · 08-14-2006, 02:28 PM

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/sha..._for_john.html

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— All those people who smirked last spring when I wrote about Joe Johnson being a candidate for the national team roster (and there were at least a half dozen of them, I still have the emails) know much less about basketball than I realized even then. Dude is not only legit, he’s one of the game’s truly unique talents in that he has no discernable weakness. He can basically do everything well and on most occasions he does them better than that. It’s a treat watching a player of his caliber come off the bench in international competition with the humble attitude and no-nonsense attitude he plays with no matter the circumstance. It’s funny, a writer friend from Boston called me last summer and panned the Hawks’ pursuit of Joe (basing his entire opinion on the 40 some odd games JJ played there before the Celtics goofed and traded him to Phoenix). I told my friend that I liked his game and was willing to give JJ the benefit of the doubt and not base my entire opinion on him from the brief time he spent in a Celtics uniform. I’m feeling pretty good about that stance right about now.

—- After yet another week of Al Harrington rumors from places near and far, no one seems to really know what other teams are itching for a chance to land the free agent forward. The fact is, Indiana remains the most obvious suitor because of the $7.5 million trade exception they own and Harrington’s obvious connections to the franchise (one of his best friends – Jermaine O’Neal — is the Pacers’ captain, his father works for the organization and is mother lives in Indy as do scores of his friends and acquaintances from his first six years in the league spent in a Pacers uniform). But if Harrington has learned anything from this trying summer it has to be that this is truly about BUSINESS, for both he and the Hawks. No one wants to feel like they’ve been slighted so all options are being exhausted. A six-year, $57 million sign-and-trade deal is serious business however you look at it (and my spies tell me the Hawks have backed off of their demands for the $3 million in cash and are willing to take back a draft pick and nothing else to avoid unwanted contracts with so many young players already on the roster approaching contract years themselves). Now it has to happen, though. The six weeks we’ve waited for this entire affair to be completed has produced a few gray hairs for us all, I’ve certainly spotted a least two new ones. And if it doesn’t happen Monday morning, those other options Harrington and his new agent, Arn Tellem, have been talking about the past two weeks become the new reality. The Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves, just for starters, are all ready to swap ideas should the Hawks and Pacers fail to come to an agreement. And yes, until the sides agree and actually sign the papers, all those other teams are still in the mix.

— Seeing Josh Smith twice in the past three weeks at Philips Arena has made me realize whatever offseason workout plan I’ve utilized isn’t working anywhere near as well as his plan. He’s noticeably bigger physically and my spies have told me he’s been terrorizing people on the court everywhere he’s been this summer (MVP of the Atlanta Pro-City League and rocking the house in both Antoine Walker’s benefit game in Chicago and Eduardo Najera’s benefit game in Chihauhau, Mexico the past few weeks). I wise NBA executive told me recently that the constant evolution of current players is more important than whatever hopes teams and fans pin on incoming players (draftees, free agents and the like) because you’re talking about a known commodity. We all saw the strides Josh Smith made after the February All-Star break. He’ll have had five months to refine, work on and improve his game from one season to the next. Toss in the natural maturation process for a 20-year-old guy and it’s obvious to me why so many people close to the situation (mainly Joe Johnson) are so excited about the promise of what’s to come from Josh Smith. With Harrington’s pending departure, there is room on this Hawks team for another player to assume that second scorer’s role and become the Yang to Johnson’s Yin. I think that guy is Josh Smith. Time will tell.

— Back to the national team for a minute here, and a topic myself and several other writers from around the globe have been debating since we all watched a week’s worth of training camp in Vegas last month. One guy seemed to think that this current crop of talent on the national team could challenge the original Dream Team (san Kobe even). Being the cautious dispenser of praise (OK, cynic) I’ve become over the years, I didn’t want to bestow that kind of love on this team before they even win a medal (gold or otherwise). But the argument was an interesting one nonetheless. The matchups, the different eras, the perceived much higher level of international competition this current team will face, it all makes for a great debate. I don’t like comparing eras in anything, especially sports. And if you look at it based strictly on what each team did while they were together, no one could argue that the hypothetical competition would be anything other than must-see-TV (the best point I heard was from my man CP, who argued that the Dream Team was largely a group of aged stars while this bunch is on the rise, thus giving the newbies an edge). But I’m still not ready to anoint this current team or any other team since the original Dream Team an edge over Mike, Magic and the rest of the crew. Call me old fashioned. But I just don’t see a more complete or more dominant team. Plus, they had Mike in his prime and Barkley at his all-time best.

Josh ready to terrorize.

ATLien · 08-14-2006, 02:34 PM

I think he's right. The development of Josh & Marvin is infinetly more important to team success than Shelden/Lorenzo/Speedy/whoever else we may add.

master8492 · 08-14-2006, 03:22 PM

I hope they get the rotation straighten out between him and Marvin so he can get the minutes he deserves.

ATLien · 08-14-2006, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by master8492

I hope they get the rotation straighten out between him and Marvin so he can get the minutes he deserves.

Would what make you think otherwise?

Josh was getting plenty of minutes at the end of last season when he started to play well.

o.iatlhawksfan · 08-14-2006, 05:02 PM

All I know is all is Marvin and Josh are ready for a breakout year. If Josh, and Marvin, amd Zaza have very good year how much better do y'all think the Hawks will be?

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