Comments on: Hawks’ Billy Knight shouldn’t be fired http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/ Atlanta news and views, one slice at a time Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:52:37 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ken Edelstein http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/comment-page-1/#comment-71341 Ken Edelstein Mon, 05 May 2008 21:13:44 +0000 http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/#comment-71341 Harsh but true, Matt: Hiring Woodson was a bad move and apparently it was Billy Knight's decision (on the other hand, he did try to fire him). Knight gave Dallas a 2nd round pick for Anthony Johnson but he had to because of Claxton's injury -- a reasonable price for a desperation move; nobody knew Glen Davis would available a year later at that point in the draft, so it's just not fair to dis Knight because of that. The 2008 draft pick was part of the Joe Johnson trade, wasn't it? You gotta give him credit for the good along with the bad, and the Johnson deal was definitely good for the franchise. OK, I'll knock Johnson down to an 8 -- but maybe Josh Smith ought to be a 9? He was a steal at No. 17 in the draft. Give the man credit, Matt. Marvin was a bad pick (both because he's not a No. 2 pick player and because Knight missed both Chris Paul AND Deron Williams). But Marvin is a legit NBA starter -- so there's some value there. That's why I placed him higher than Shelden, who was a terrible pick. Harsh but true, Matt: Hiring Woodson was a bad move and apparently it was Billy Knight’s decision (on the other hand, he did try to fire him).
Knight gave Dallas a 2nd round pick for Anthony Johnson but he had to because of Claxton’s injury — a reasonable price for a desperation move; nobody knew Glen Davis would available a year later at that point in the draft, so it’s just not fair to dis Knight because of that.
The 2008 draft pick was part of the Joe Johnson trade, wasn’t it? You gotta give him credit for the good along with the bad, and the Johnson deal was definitely good for the franchise. OK, I’ll knock Johnson down to an 8 — but maybe Josh Smith ought to be a 9? He was a steal at No. 17 in the draft. Give the man credit, Matt.
Marvin was a bad pick (both because he’s not a No. 2 pick player and because Knight missed both Chris Paul AND Deron Williams). But Marvin is a legit NBA starter — so there’s some value there. That’s why I placed him higher than Shelden, who was a terrible pick.

]]> By: Hotlanta Matt http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/comment-page-1/#comment-71316 Hotlanta Matt Mon, 05 May 2008 18:34:55 +0000 http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/#comment-71316 Mike Woodson should be on that list as a 0- he still does not seem to have a good game plan, and does not do a good job of reaching the young players on this team. The Marvin Williams pick should be a -10. Chris Paul is one of the best players in the league AND would have filled a position need for the team. You could also include the fact that we don't have a 2008 draft pick (3) or the Anthony Johnson trade (5) that cost us the draft pick that could have been Big Baby (moderately effective against the Hawks in their series). All that aside, on what planet is 5.1 on a scale of 0 to 10 "respectable"? I'd say that anything below 7 should warrant being replaced. Mike Woodson should be on that list as a 0- he still does not seem to have a good game plan, and does not do a good job of reaching the young players on this team.

The Marvin Williams pick should be a -10. Chris Paul is one of the best players in the league AND would have filled a position need for the team.

You could also include the fact that we don’t have a 2008 draft pick (3) or the Anthony Johnson trade (5) that cost us the draft pick that could have been Big Baby (moderately effective against the Hawks in their series).

All that aside, on what planet is 5.1 on a scale of 0 to 10 “respectable”? I’d say that anything below 7 should warrant being replaced.

]]> By: Scott Freeman http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/comment-page-1/#comment-70968 Scott Freeman Fri, 02 May 2008 19:25:22 +0000 http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/#comment-70968 At least Knight hasn't drafted any slow white guys named Jon Koncak. The players the Hawks passed over to draft Koncak at No. 5 in the 1985 draft: Karl Malone Chris Mullin Detlef Schrempf Charles Oakley Joe Dumars Terry Porter A.C. Green At least Knight hasn’t drafted any slow white guys named Jon Koncak.

The players the Hawks passed over to draft Koncak at No. 5 in the 1985 draft:

Karl Malone
Chris Mullin
Detlef Schrempf
Charles Oakley
Joe Dumars
Terry Porter
A.C. Green

]]> By: atlpaddy http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/comment-page-1/#comment-70967 atlpaddy Fri, 02 May 2008 18:41:51 +0000 http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/#comment-70967 Watching Marvin Williams "play" makes me want to rip both of my arms out of their sockets Watching Marvin Williams “play” makes me want to rip both of my arms out of their sockets

]]> By: Ken Edelstein http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/comment-page-1/#comment-70963 Ken Edelstein Fri, 02 May 2008 18:19:42 +0000 http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/#comment-70963 Scott: I don't disagree on your ratings of Shelden, Marvin, Horford and Childress. My point, though, is to rate Knight's JUDGMENT and MOVES, not the flat-out quality of the various players: I LOVE Al Horford, but one could argue that he was the no-brainer pick, so Knight only gets a "7" there. I like Childress, too, but he's not at all a steal as the number 7 pick in the draft. And the Williamses both turned out to be poor choices (and lower-than-expectation players), even if Marvin can make it as a starter in the league. Scott: I don’t disagree on your ratings of Shelden, Marvin, Horford and Childress. My point, though, is to rate Knight’s JUDGMENT and MOVES, not the flat-out quality of the various players: I LOVE Al Horford, but one could argue that he was the no-brainer pick, so Knight only gets a “7″ there. I like Childress, too, but he’s not at all a steal as the number 7 pick in the draft. And the Williamses both turned out to be poor choices (and lower-than-expectation players), even if Marvin can make it as a starter in the league.

]]> By: Scott Freeman http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/comment-page-1/#comment-70962 Scott Freeman Fri, 02 May 2008 18:10:06 +0000 http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/#comment-70962 I think Josh Childress and especially Al Horford are rated low on this list. Horford has turned out to be a stud, a strong presence in the paint and a buding team leader. He ranks at least an 8. But Knight also passed on Chris Paul in the 2005 draft in order to select Marvin Williams, who has never played up to a No. 2 pick in the draft. And point guard has been Atlanta's biggest need during the entire Knight era. The following year, he selected Sheldon Williams and the less said about that, the better. The top point guard in that draft might be familiar to Hawks' fans. It was Rajon Rondo, who has spent several games in this year's playoffs out-playing Mike Bibby. The distressing thing is that no matter how bad Knight has been (what was it, 20 straight 1st round draft picks of forwards who were 6-9?), his record in the draft is certainly better than Pete Babcock's. I think Josh Childress and especially Al Horford are rated low on this list. Horford has turned out to be a stud, a strong presence in the paint and a buding team leader. He ranks at least an 8.

But Knight also passed on Chris Paul in the 2005 draft in order to select Marvin Williams, who has never played up to a No. 2 pick in the draft. And point guard has been Atlanta’s biggest need during the entire Knight era.

The following year, he selected Sheldon Williams and the less said about that, the better. The top point guard in that draft might be familiar to Hawks’ fans. It was Rajon Rondo, who has spent several games in this year’s playoffs out-playing Mike Bibby.

The distressing thing is that no matter how bad Knight has been (what was it, 20 straight 1st round draft picks of forwards who were 6-9?), his record in the draft is certainly better than Pete Babcock’s.

]]> By: DaleC http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/comment-page-1/#comment-70952 DaleC Fri, 02 May 2008 16:24:04 +0000 http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2008/05/02/hawks-billy-knight-shouldnt-be-fired/#comment-70952 How does a 37-45 team make the playoffs? I don't follow the NBA, do they have a wild card or something? They just felt sorry for the Hawks? Conspiracy to get the Celtics to the Finals? How does a 37-45 team make the playoffs? I don’t follow the NBA, do they have a wild card or something?

They just felt sorry for the Hawks? Conspiracy to get the Celtics to the Finals?

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