Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 at 3:11 pm  |  153 responses

Links: The Dirty Thirty

“Please God, don’t let us be ranked behind the L-Wolves…”

by Lang Whitaker

Week Two! My Hawks are still flying high, so I had to give them a reward here, though I suspect this week is going to be a tougher run for them. You can check last week’s Dirty Thirty here. Otherwise, the Lake Show is still starring, the Celts are finding their ubuntu, the Spurs are floundering…let’s get Dirty…

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  • namik Posted: Nov.11 at 3:13 pm
    Lakers are going for 7-0. And Lang could you not bash the one non-awkward Kobe commercial? Please?

  • Ryan Jones Posted: Nov.11 at 3:17 pm
    For those wondering when we’d open a Slamonline post with a photo of Dave Mustaine… wonder no more.

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Nov.11 at 3:21 pm
    Biiiiggg rise for the Heat. I was wrong about Beasley, he’ll be a very good player–but All-Star? I don’t see it.

  • Khalid Salaam Posted: Nov.11 at 3:22 pm
    Regarding the photo…i thought halloween was 2 weeks ago?

  • Khalid Salaam Posted: Nov.11 at 3:23 pm
    ryne has faith in ron artest but not michael beasley. interesting

  • namik Posted: Nov.11 at 3:23 pm
    7 games Ryne. 7 games!!! I really expected more from the Clippers but again, its only been 7 games.

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 3:26 pm
    Renaldo Balkman era. Lang made a smart. There haven’t been many surprises in these first two weeks except for the Hawks and the Spurs.

  • joints Posted: Nov.11 at 3:30 pm
    @namik : how is that commercial “non-awkward?” do you and your friends usually play video games in pink shirts and your underwear?

  • Jukai Posted: Nov.11 at 3:32 pm
    Swift looks more and mroe like a serial killer every year

  • namik Posted: Nov.11 at 3:35 pm
    Swift looks like Charlize Theron in Monster.

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.11 at 3:35 pm
    I was about to ask who the heck that was.

  • Kid Presto Posted: Nov.11 at 3:37 pm
    How does Bosh go from 30 and 15 to 9 and 7? Everytime I start to believe in the guy…oh nevermind, he was playing KG.

  • Z Posted: Nov.11 at 3:38 pm
    Ryne, you meant all star this year, right? Dude is a talent, he scores EASY.

  • witness Posted: Nov.11 at 3:38 pm
    this dirty thirty sucks i only agree on the top 5 and the bottom 5.

  • afleischer Posted: Nov.11 at 3:39 pm
    Watching the Thunder game last night, I actually got a look at Robert Swift for the first time in a very long time. Wow.

  • Ryan Jones Posted: Nov.11 at 3:43 pm
    Iverson is ranked way too low…

  • Jacob Posted: Nov.11 at 3:44 pm
    swift is getting scary looking…

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.11 at 3:49 pm
    Ugliest WNBA player I ever saw. P.S. Don’t hate on Aaron Gray—he’s the best low-post option on the Bulls. Sigh.

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 3:52 pm
    Russ, Sam Cassell. I think that Gheorge Muresan could challenge Sam I Am as well.

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 3:52 pm
    Crap, just caught the “W” part. Sorry . . .

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.11 at 3:53 pm
    WNBA.

  • Co Co Posted: Nov.11 at 3:55 pm
    Lang, be a bit more optimistic about the Joshless Hawks…

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Nov.11 at 3:57 pm
    Yes, I jumping the gun on Beasley because I’m big on first impressions. It’s easy to determine the players with the brightest future from the moment they play their first quarter, and *definitely* their first seven games, namik. In my opinion, two rookies are obvious perennial All-Stars: Derrick Rose and O.J. Mayo. The rest–Beasley, Oden, Fernandez, Love, Westbrook–don’t give the impression of truly great players. Of course, we’ll have to wait and see.

  • Myles Brown Posted: Nov.11 at 3:57 pm
    Enjoy yourselves Hawks fans, but remember the “L Wolves” have seen a Conference Finals much more recently that you ever have. Or will?

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 4:00 pm
    Russ, Diana Taurasi is pretty ugly. The real question is: Who is the hottest WNBA player?

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Nov.11 at 4:01 pm
    No one’s questioning the Pistons’ ranking this time around…Smart move.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.11 at 4:01 pm
    Incidentally, this is the first time the Knicks have been in the top 15 since 1836.

  • Myles Brown Posted: Nov.11 at 4:05 pm
    “When the Golden State Warriors qualified for the 2007 NBA Playoffs, the Hawks acquired the dubious distinction of being the NBA team that had gone the most consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance. (Eight in a row, see Active NBA non-playoff appearance streaks). They also held the dubious distinctions of most consecutive 50-loss seasons (four) and the having the 2nd longest run (behind the Rochester/Cincinnati/Kansas City/Sacramento Kings) of not winning an NBA title (49 years). All of the franchise’s NBA Finals appearances and lone NBA championship took place over 40 years ago when the team resided in St. Louis. Meanwhile, they have yet to advance beyond the second round of any playoff format in their entire Atlanta existence, which now spans 39 seasons.”

  • Sparker Posted: Nov.11 at 4:05 pm
    who was the dude who played the (scary) villain in children of the corn? now you know

  • Myles Brown Posted: Nov.11 at 4:05 pm
    Gotta love that Wikipedia.

  • Z Posted: Nov.11 at 4:07 pm
    Ryne, you’re being harsh on Beasley. What makes you think that this is not a 25 ppg guy? The jury is still out on Oden, he’s like one injury away from being Mr. Glass. Love was never discussed as an all-star (outside of Ryan’s mind, that is).

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.11 at 4:07 pm
    If I may politely disagree, seven games isn’t enough time to tell much of anything. Yao Ming didn’t score at all in his first game, and TOTALLED 30 points and 24 rebounds through his first seven. Then he had 30 and 16 in his 10th game. Gotta give these guys until the All-Star break at least.

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 4:08 pm
    Oh yeah Russ, do you check the comments on your blog?

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.11 at 4:09 pm
    Blogs are for losers.

  • Co Co Posted: Nov.11 at 4:09 pm
    What’s your point Myles?

  • Sparker Posted: Nov.11 at 4:09 pm
    and if jo scored 19 in the 1st half, are we that surprised that chris didn’t do much? boston’s plan was to leave everyone else open… for 2 and a half quarters. i have no memory of what happened next

  • Myles Brown Posted: Nov.11 at 4:12 pm
    That despite their recent ‘success’ (which barely fits the definition as I understand it) Hawks fans certainly don’t have enough to brag about yet that they should so smug towards any other NBA Franchise.

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 4:13 pm
    Look who’s talking, TAD. BTW, when is SKO gonna get an update?

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.11 at 4:15 pm
    I’m a loser. What can I say? As for your last question…no clue.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.11 at 4:15 pm
    Also, it’s worth noting that Michael Beasley (who doesn’t turn 20 for another two months, by the way) has scored 117 points through his first seven games—including 25 in just his second. Back in ’03, Dwyane Wade managed just 74 points through his first seven, and didn’t top 25 until his 12th. Let’s not write the kid off quite yet.

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.11 at 4:16 pm
    Robert Swift?!?!? Looks like Birdman and Carrot Top had a love child.

  • Co Co Posted: Nov.11 at 4:17 pm
    Who says you have to hae success to be smug? That’s no fun.

  • Lang Whitaker Posted: Nov.11 at 4:17 pm
    @myles: We won 13 games FOR THE SEASON four years ago. The last time we were 5 games over .500 was in 1997. Last year we made the Playoffs and took the Celts to 7 games, and this year we’re starting off pretty well. I think it’s OK for Hawks fans to be excited.

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Nov.11 at 4:18 pm
    All I’m saying is you just *know* with rookies. It’s a feeling. With his energy and athleticism, Kevin Garnett was going to be a beast. DWade’s fire and drive made you believe he would be a Top 5 player in the League although his rookie season was lackluster. His size was underwhelming, but Chris Bosh could do things on the court that no other big in his Draft Class was capable of doing. You understood players like Allen Iverson and Tim Duncan could do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted for their entire careers.
    …When Michael Beasely has the ball, none of these thoughts come to mind.

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 4:18 pm
    I agree with Lang. Prediction for tomorrow night’s matchup, Lang?

  • Eboy Posted: Nov.11 at 4:19 pm
    Ryne is just crushin’ on Beasley’s understated ginger folicles.

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 4:19 pm
    And TADOne, I guess you ain’t that much of a loser, because you haven’t been reading the new Hibachi stuff (sorry, Russ). Comment, dude!

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 4:20 pm
    Eboy, one question: I’m going to the December 23 Warriors @ Heat game in Miami, anything you can tell me about American Airlines Arena?

  • mutoni Posted: Nov.11 at 4:20 pm
    i’m amused that the thunder and wolves rank below the wiz, despite having won more games. yes, greatly amused.

  • Myles Brown Posted: Nov.11 at 4:20 pm
    I hear you, and I’d certainly be excited too. I’ve just gotta stick up for my local team since you’re so intent on beating a dead, um, wolf.

  • Eboy Posted: Nov.11 at 4:21 pm
    And you are severley mistaken about Beasley, Ryne. We can talk it out face to face in a week or so when I’m in town to prod your “convincing” sense if you’d like.

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.11 at 4:21 pm
    Joe Johnson and Brandon Roy deserve to be in the MVP race just as much as LeBron right now.

  • Eboy Posted: Nov.11 at 4:22 pm
    Moose in the MIA? Uh oh……I will have to email you to give you the most SAFE route making your way around the arena’s surrounding areas.

  • Lang Whitaker Posted: Nov.11 at 4:23 pm
    @moose: Tomorrow night? Celts.

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.11 at 4:23 pm
    Moose is gonna get shanked.

  • Anton Posted: Nov.11 at 4:23 pm
    silly SLAM, that’s no Dave Mustaine

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 4:23 pm
    Very reassuring, E. Thanks. Glad to know I’m loved down south :)

  • Eboy Posted: Nov.11 at 4:23 pm
    Also love where Lang’s “darkhorse” team sits this week…..BETCATS 4 life!

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.11 at 4:24 pm
    Is Mike Brown really still coaching the Cavs? Really?

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 4:24 pm
    yeah, I have to go with that one too, Lang. With J-Smoov in I’d make it closer, though. But he ain’t, so I’m sorry for yall.

  • Co Co Posted: Nov.11 at 4:24 pm
    I agree with Ryne about Beasley. I’m not moved when he touches the ball, but that’s mainly because I haven’t seen him play.

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 4:25 pm
    And you too, B. Long. Ain’t seen you commenting on the new Hibachi stuff either. Congrats on your LA boys, too.

  • Eboy Posted: Nov.11 at 4:26 pm
    Moose, I’m just trying to be upfront with you…..go to the parking lot, directly to the arena, do not pass go, do not pass the 11 bums 2 blocks west, do not venture 3 blocks north to the 17 couldbegangbangersmaybejusttryingoutforaroleinBadBoys3.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.11 at 4:26 pm
    Just for fun: KG totalled 58 points through his first seven games and didn’t have a 20-point game until his 52nd game (he only had three double-digit scoring games before January 1). And he only topped 25 once as a rook, with 33 in his 67th game. Kobe Bryant didn’t score in his first game, and totalled 26 points through his first seven. It took him 25 games to crack 20, and he didn’t have a single game with 25 or more points as a rookie.

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.11 at 4:26 pm
    Beasley plays like a slightly smaller version of a young C-Webb but seems to have more range. He’ll be backing up LeBron in all-star games for years to come.

  • Eboy Posted: Nov.11 at 4:27 pm
    Co Co just doesn’t think Beas is cute enough.

  • Z Posted: Nov.11 at 4:28 pm
    That was a weird statement, Co Co.

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 4:28 pm
    Cool, E. Got it. Anything you can tell me bout the venue? I went last year to the Heat-Jazz game around the same time (DWade hit a game winning buzzer beater, my first NBA game) and I thought AA arena was pretty good. Anything special about it?

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.11 at 4:29 pm
    You’ll get love on Biachi soon enough Mighty Moose. You need to watch the biting of the follower a little bit though.

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 4:29 pm
    Well, look who’s talking, B! J/K (kinda). Aight, I got it. I’m done.

  • Eboy Posted: Nov.11 at 4:31 pm
    Naw……although if you can somehow make your way down to the floor and get DJ Irie’s attention (the arena DJ who will play every Miami related pop song in history), he might hook you up if you mention me or my boy, local rapper, CJack.

  • Z Posted: Nov.11 at 4:32 pm
    This one’s for you Eboy since you’re the one that prolly saw him the most this year. Can Beasley be a 3 on a full-time basis? It’s mad early and all but I think he has the Durant syndrome : people who rebound like crazy in college and cant get boards in the pros. Your 4 snatching 6-7 boards a game just won’t do it. Can he evolve into a Melo ? One of those old school 3s that can make a living down low. His j and his handle seem fine but I’m not sure if he can d up and not give dribble penetration.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.11 at 4:32 pm
    I’m gonna go ahead and say you don’t just “know” with rookies. Two years into his career with the Raptors, we were cracking wise in NOYZ that Tracy McGrady was a complete bust who’d be lucky to get another NBA contract. Jermaine O’Neal couldn’t get off the bench in Portland, yet he worked his butt off and became a six-time All-Star. Dirk Nowitzki looked completely lost. Steve Nash was a disposable backup. Meanwhile, Beasley scores 25 in his second NBA game ever, and he’s not gonna ever be an All-Star in the EAST? Sheesh.

  • Co Co Posted: Nov.11 at 4:33 pm
    It was a joke Z. And yeah E you’re probably right.

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 4:33 pm
    Eboy, I’ll try and do that. You have connections with DJ Irie? Should I say that you’re “Eboy” or do you go by a different name with him?

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.11 at 4:34 pm
    This draft class so far looks like it could be a classic like 96 and 03. Slam killed it with that cover.

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 4:34 pm
    Out, y’all. Peace!

  • Khalid Salaam Posted: Nov.11 at 4:35 pm
    As i stated yesterday, When you guys get tired of cliched thinking, just let me know. Its still 2 weeks(!) from thanksgiving and people are already talking MVP and busts. Relax! We don’t know anything for sure yet (except for OKC i suppose).

  • Khalid Salaam Posted: Nov.11 at 4:36 pm
    And the Beasley hate is outrageous btw. Seriously.

  • Co Co Posted: Nov.11 at 4:38 pm
    And we know Philly won’t win 52 games……. :P

  • Eboy Posted: Nov.11 at 4:38 pm
    Z, I’ve watched him in eveery summer league, preseason and regular season game so far. his stand up J is on par with KG’s, right now. He’s almost automatic from 15 to 18. That’s ridiculous for a guy that young and that big. His back to the basket game is nowhere near as good as his face up from the same spots, but once he get’s in the lane his touch around the basket is great, his second jumps are really quick for misses and he can finish with both hands better than most guys playing his position for 5 years. Where he lacks at the moment is in keeping a body on his man for boards and not taking forced drives from the top of the key, because his handle is good enough to get into the lane without much effort, but the NBA defenses he faces collapse much quicker than the lesser talents of the NCAA, so he get’s caught up at times. He is a true combo of Sheed and KG in my eyes on the offensive end. If he can develop some of their habits (more of KG’s) on the defensive side, he’s going to be ridiculous.

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.11 at 4:38 pm
    Co-sign Kha.

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.11 at 4:40 pm
    @Moose: When you drop Eboys name to DJ Irie make sure to refer to E as “Grease Lightning”. That’s his real world alias.

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Nov.11 at 4:40 pm
    Beasley is going to be a very nice player, and I need to see more of what he can do. I’d love for you all to be right and Beasley to be an All-Star, but I just don’t see it.

  • Co Co Posted: Nov.11 at 4:42 pm
    I literally don’t see it Ryne. :)

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.11 at 4:44 pm
    Ryne is Nastradamus if he can predict this after 7 games.
    Hey Ryne, what is the Mega Millions numbers for tonight?

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.11 at 4:47 pm
    Because I just had to check: T-Mac didn’t break 25 until the 44th game of his second season. JO didn’t get there until December 16, 2000—the start of his FIFTH season.

  • Khalid Salaam Posted: Nov.11 at 4:49 pm
    Co Co, chill. Really. As mentioned earlier on the board hawks “fans” need to calm the eff down.

  • Co Co Posted: Nov.11 at 4:50 pm
    That comment has nothing to do with me being a Hawks fan.

  • Z Posted: Nov.11 at 4:50 pm
    Playing Devil’s advocate here, but JO is truly an exception. Kwame averaging 20-10-3 for the next 6-7 years wouldn’t even be as surprising as the turn around in JOs career.

  • Z Posted: Nov.11 at 4:51 pm
    The guy was an afterthought in Portland.

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.11 at 4:54 pm
    Z….um…if Kwame does that, i’ll run naked thru downtown Detroit.

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Nov.11 at 4:54 pm
    Haha, TAD. You may not want to admit it, but don’t tell me similar thoughts haven’t crossed your mind.

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.11 at 4:56 pm
    Ryne: Regarding Kwame or what I said to you earlier?

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.11 at 5:01 pm
    Did you see Tracy McGrady being an All-Star after seven games? Jermaine O’Neal? Yao Ming? Dirk Nowitzki? One of the coolest things about sports is that you DON’T know what’s going to happen. Things are unpredictable. Can’t-miss guys do, and nobodies turn into somebodies. There was no way anyone knew that Steve Nash—who didn’t even get recruited out of high school and couldn’t break into the rotation in Phoenix—would wind up a two-time MVP and lock Hall of Famer. Certainly not after his first seven games in the NBA. Ben Wallace didn’t get drafted at all. A young Chauncey Billups got passed around like a bong at Damon Stoudamire’s house. As a rookie, Jermaine O’Neal’s warm-ups actually grew into his skin. At one point, the Robert Traylor for Dirk Nowitzki trade looked unfair to the MAVERICKS. Judging Beasley’s entire future from a seven-game sample is absurd—I mean, he’s 19 years old! I’m glad no one predicted MY professional future when I was 19.

  • Z Posted: Nov.11 at 5:01 pm
    The problem with Kwame is I don’t know if you can really teach someone to have better hands… He can’t catch it clean, what are you gonna do…

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.11 at 5:02 pm
    BMX was big back then, Russ.

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.11 at 5:03 pm
    *WAS’NT big

  • Z Posted: Nov.11 at 5:03 pm
    Ryne v. SLAM Online. Take the L and keep moving, partner. lol

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.11 at 5:04 pm
    Exactly Z. Hence, Motown won’t be seeing my bare essentials and the world is a better place for it.

  • Khalid Salaam Posted: Nov.11 at 5:04 pm
    “hawks fan”, lol

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Nov.11 at 5:05 pm
    @TAD, my comment was in regards to that whole ‘I can see the future, Michael Beasley will not be a superstar’ deal. But yes, it could also apply to your comment about Kwame as well. Haha.

  • Jukai Posted: Nov.11 at 5:17 pm
    Khalid is right, guys. Stop making uninformed comments based off seven games. It’s ridiculous. Teams are still learning, players are still growing. Give it time.

  • Jukai Posted: Nov.11 at 5:17 pm
    BTW, Phili is missing the playoffs, YOU HEARD IT HERE

  • Z Posted: Nov.11 at 5:21 pm
    Philly is not looking too good at the moment though, I’ll say that much. I’m still waiting to see if Iggy can become a bonafide scorer in this league. Where are the shooters, though?

  • its just alex Posted: Nov.11 at 5:24 pm
    Un grande vince per i Knicks, ma non c’è un vero po di difesa. Ma due partite sopra di .500 per il primo tempo in tre anni!

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.11 at 5:35 pm
    “Michael is a very good offensive player but not an overpowering one. He’s not the kind of guy who will singlehandedly turn around a franchise, and I’d never ask him to do that.” Rod Thorn, after the Bulls drafted some kid from North Carolina.

  • ClydeSays Posted: Nov.11 at 5:52 pm
    2 of the Lake Show wins were over the Clips. C’mon! C’s bested Rockets and Pistons on the road. They get #1.

  • Dacre Posted: Nov.11 at 6:02 pm
    Suns still a spot or two too low. IMO…
    Leandro broke out, Shaq’s relevant again and STAT should probably be all NBA 1st team this year.

  • Z Posted: Nov.11 at 6:10 pm
    Ahaha, Russ just owned the board with that quote.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Nov.11 at 6:19 pm
    worst pic ever

  • JoeBasketball Posted: Nov.11 at 6:20 pm
    hehehe, if you sort by comment, the Wolves are 5th and the Hawks 30th!

  • ciolkstar Posted: Nov.11 at 6:20 pm
    Man that rock band comersh is SO Ghey. Ridiculously. I mean terrible, but ghey too.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Nov.11 at 6:30 pm
    I actually think Melo is a fair comparison for where beasley’s game is going. I don’t think BEasy is completely comnfortable yet, he’s picking spots to assert himself. Then it works, and he’s not exactly surprised, but he looks like “Ok, Ok that works here too” The ball goes in really easy for him, too easy. He’ll be an all star soon enough.

  • Jones Posted: Nov.11 at 6:31 pm
    How can you put Chicago, Portland and Orlando ahead of Miami?

  • Moose Posted: Nov.11 at 6:35 pm
    Jones, it’s EARLY. Miami will earn their spot in the bottom 15 eventually, don’t worry about it ;) .

  • ciolkstar Posted: Nov.11 at 6:38 pm
    I’m trying to apply that philosphy to my fantassy squad right now. Its just a 1o team league, so the FA pool is deep. But I just need to wait it out for some of these guys to get an accurate picture of where this season is going. In other words: Get it together David Lee! I don’t really have the roster space for Wilson Chandler but he might be taking Lee’s job in reality AND fantasy soon enough. Bogut too. Why did I draft so many white bigs? I’ve even had to scoop hawes off of waivers. Sigh.

  • TheMC5 Posted: Nov.11 at 6:40 pm
    Robert Swift is my new favorite player.

  • Chris Posted: Nov.11 at 6:46 pm
    Is Robert Swift the new Cherokee Parks?

  • RV Posted: Nov.11 at 8:02 pm
    No video of KG taunting Calderon last night?

  • Myung Posted: Nov.11 at 8:02 pm
    I’m not sure why you call us Hawks “fans,” Khalid? There aren’t too many who frequent SLAMonline, but I’m pretty sure those of us who do… have stuck with this team through the worst of times. Isn’t that enough to make the quotation marks moot?

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.11 at 8:04 pm
    I’ll throw a “true dat” to Myung. These guys have been like Cubs fans. If they win a playoff series this year cars will be lit on fire.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.11 at 8:08 pm
    Robert Swift might very well be the new Cherokee Parks. Bet his sister isn’t nearly as cool as Cherokee’s, though. (Um, and he’s not named Cherokee.)

  • Myung Posted: Nov.11 at 8:13 pm
    Thanks, B Long. We’ve been through TWO back to back rebuilding phases without any success in between (even the Clips and Bulls flirted with success in the past decade before entering their respective 2nd rebuilding phases). We went through the Jason Terry/ Shareef Abdur Rahim phase; then we had the Joe Johnson phase (the current one). In between that, we had the Al Harrington/Stephen Jackson phase (that wasn’t really a rebuilding phase; it actually reminded me of the movie Major League… it’s as if we WANTED to lose). There aren’t too many hardcore Hawks fans out there, but those who have stuck with the team through the past decade are FINALLY being rewarded a little for our loyalty. None of us are saying we’re going to the Finals, nor are we pretending to be a top 5 team in the League (in spite of the Dirty 30 rankings). We’re just excited to be off to a great start, and we’re happy about how energetic we’ve been on defense. We’ve been the butt of jokes for the past decade, so can’t we be a little happy for the modest gains we’ve made as a team and as a franchise?

  • Myung Posted: Nov.11 at 8:37 pm
    I mean, I’ll back Khalid on one thing… probably over 50% of those who packed Philips Arena for those 3 playoff games in May never gave a crap about the Hawks prior to making the playoffs… so you can call them “fans.” In that sense, I get it.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.11 at 9:34 pm
    Um, addressing something said earlier, it wasn’t a “turnaround” for Jermaine. Portland drafted him out of high school, and he was behind Rasheed Wallace, Gary Trent, Brian Grant and Stacey Augmon on the depth chart. The Blazers were really good, and they weren’t ready to entrust a frontcourt position to a teenager. He played well when he did get minutes, and everything I heard indicated he was terrific in practice and scrimmages, but he hardly ever got to show it in real games. When he got traded to Indiana, all he needed was minutes. And he got them.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.11 at 9:40 pm
    Not to say he didn’t learn a lot in those first four NBA years. His old high school coach joked that Jermaine went to Portland University, where he got a degree in basketball and graduated cum laude.

  • CP34MVP Posted: Nov.11 at 9:57 pm
    Dont get the L-Wolves.. :(

  • CP34MVP Posted: Nov.11 at 9:57 pm
    Dont get the L-Wolves.. :(

  • CP34MVP Posted: Nov.11 at 9:57 pm
    Dont get the L-Wolves.. :(

  • CP34MVP Posted: Nov.11 at 9:57 pm
    Dont get the L-Wolves.. :(

  • CP34MVP Posted: Nov.11 at 9:57 pm
    Dont get the L-Wolves.. :(

  • Myung Posted: Nov.11 at 11:02 pm
    Line of the night? Al Horford: 27 pts, 17 rebs, and 6 blocks. Hawks are 6-0. Good night…

  • Lang Whitaker Posted: Nov.11 at 11:08 pm
    Holler, Myung.

  • Anton Posted: Nov.11 at 11:12 pm
    lol KG reminds me of Rodman in that taunting clip

  • Luigi Posted: Nov.11 at 11:14 pm
    as my need for a wizard win is imminent. ITL be a while for us Wizards fans as the Hibachi stays stashed away. =’(

  • what Posted: Nov.11 at 11:26 pm
    Co-sign Myung @8:13.

  • what Posted: Nov.11 at 11:27 pm
    Al Horford is a monster. A-Town Biatch.

  • Darksaber Posted: Nov.11 at 11:30 pm
    Lang, you forgot to sneak a HOWEVA!! in there somewhere :-)

  • what Posted: Nov.11 at 11:32 pm
    Also, I don’t know whether it says more about Derrick Rose or about the Bulls that Rose is BY FAR the Bulls’ best player.

  • Elyse Posted: Nov.11 at 11:47 pm
    Russ, You mentioned earlier about KG and Kobe and their rookie seasons, but I think when they were rookies there was a lot more apprehension about playing rookies too much. Kobe only averaged 15 min his rookie year and only started 6 games. KG averaged 28 min, and started 43 games, but still same idea. It would be pretty hard to get more than 25 points in 15 min coming off the bench as a rookie. That being said, I agree. It takes time for rookies to develop and adjust and I think showing promise is really what you can hope for.

  • Arek Posted: Nov.12 at 12:31 am
    Loved the marc stein comment on the Lakers.. that guy is a freaking idiot for that.

  • Jones Posted: Nov.12 at 1:10 am
    @Moose. Your name is apt.

  • Lang Whitaker Posted: Nov.12 at 1:11 am
    @Darksabre: It’s in the Knicks comment in Italian.
    @Arek: Stein’s not an idiot, he’s a good guy.

  • namik Posted: Nov.12 at 2:57 am
    Russ killed it. Beas will be an All-Star pretty soon. And once he gets comfortable with his role on the team, he will make a serious run at ROY. Lakers 6-0 baby! LeBron’s lost his damn mind.

  • Darksaber Posted: Nov.12 at 3:55 am
    @Lang. Scusi signor, and that’s sabER to you my dear. :-)

  • [...] Well, we’re 1-3 in our last four which can only mean a 9 point drop in The Dirty 30. Our opponent tonight is 6 spots below us and looking like a failed experiment. They’re having serious issues trying to figure out how to use Elton Brand’s post strengths while not marginalizing Andrea Iguodala. This has resulted in their offense being almost as bad as ours (22nd, 23rd), so look for tonight to be much like the first encounter – a battle of attrition that’s won by the team that finds their offensive groove. Of course we can’t afford to be out-rebounded by a 56-33 margin again and have to once again force Philly into those perimeter jumpers they can’t make. [...]

  • Moose Posted: Nov.12 at 6:43 am
    @ Jones: How does what I said earlier make me like a moose?

  • Myung Posted: Nov.12 at 8:43 am
    ^ Moose-like tendencies? I guess? Because as we know, Moose have certain tendencies.

  • H to the Izzo Posted: Nov.12 at 9:02 am
    Robert Swift is my new favorite thing in the world right now.

  • Dma Posted: Nov.12 at 11:33 am
    he is one ugly mo fo!

  • Dacre Posted: Nov.13 at 12:46 am
    http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/Melimel74/CoreyParks.jpg CHEROKEE PARKS SISTER?!?!?!??!
    @ RUSS.

  • [...] Welcome to Week Three of the Dirty Thirty, where the more things change, the more they stay the same. Last week’s rankings are here. This week’s rankings are ready for your perusal below… [...]

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