I was at the Hawks vs. Bulls game this week and sat in section 117. During the second half of the game when LD pulled ZaZa out the game, he began a shouting match with LD. It was so bad, both had to be separated. Not sure if the camera's picked it up or not. Did anyone else see it?

I hate it because ZaZa is the ONLY person on our team that is consistently taking the ball to the basket right now. He is really doing his best Kendrick Perkins impression. He can't jump high, but he is being physical around the basket when he is in there. When was the last time you remember that someone on the other team got into foul trouble? Is more ZaZa what the Hawks need?

Before I go I must admit. I lost my voice calling Larry Drew an idiot and demanding to put Teague in the game. Of course when Teague gets in the game somehow magically Rose and Watson start to miss shots :-/ I hate the fact that he used Teague to get the job, then once he got the job, game him his a** to kiss. All Teague has to do is play defense, give the ball to josh under the basket, Al at the free throw line and Joe anywhere else. That's an automatic 5 game difference this year. My gut feeling is that he wants Teague to sit so that the Hawks can draft his son in the second round. Any thoughts?

3 Words... Want to guess what they are?

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Usually we hear about different players on the team working on an area of their game to enhance for next season. Below are my suggestions of the areas that I hope each starter focuses on to really help the team improve for next season. Let me know if you agree or give your own list....

Joe Johnson - becoming a more vocal leader

Josh Smith - Free throws

Al Horford - Back to the basket post moves

Jeff Teague - Mid-range jumper & drive and dish

Marvin Williams - becoming a defensive specialist (i.e. Artest, Battier)

I need some help with the rest of the lineup...

(Editor's Note: We don't think it's crazy, and wanted to offer a more positive outlook on this offseason than we offered thus far. Nice job.)

Please fellow Hawks fans, before you think I am crazy  and have lost my mind let me explain my reasoning on this scenario by scenario...

1) Joe Johnson contract - Like it or not he was going to get a max contract offer from multiple teams. You don't think once the Clippers, Knicks, Chicago and Jersey missed out on Lebron, Wade and Bosh; Joe wasn't next on their radar? For some reason people think that only superstars get max contracts. That's true if other teams are not waiting to give Joe the max. This year was a players market so 2 other players that aren't superstars got them as well. For those who don't know, he is only the 16th highest paid player in the league this year. Everyone wants to be down on Joe based off the playoffs last season. If Joe goes to NY then the Hawks ARE NOT a playoff team and folks are bashing the ASG for being cheap. No way another superstar comes here if Joe leaves.

2) Not Trading Marvin for Shaq - Correct again. 1) Shaq's focus is on TV shows and endorsements until the playoffs come. 2) You don't ship away one of your starters for a guy that wants to start over your decade younger, All Star center.  3) His production: Shaq only gives you 12 ppg last year playing with Lebron AND in the starting lineup. What does he give you a year older  and only playing bench minutes? What do you do with ZaZa, let him ride the pine? He is only 26 (on paper) and still bigger than D. Howard.

3) Not signing Shaq straight up - If Shaq wanted ATL to pay an inflated price just to sign him when he would take the minimum to go to Boston or San Antonio, I rather him walk. Even if we did sign him, that makes us less flexible for any trades during the season.

4) Selling the draft pick - Just because the ASG didn't overspend on a bench player this summer, doesn' t mean they don't plan on using that 3 mill they got for that extra draft pick. They could make another major move during the trade deadline. With the extra cash and less signed draft pics, the Hawks will have more flexibility.

5) Not going in the luxury tax.... yet. - If you look at the teams with the highest payrolls, most of them are not close to a championship. Indiana, Philly, NO and the Charlotte all have a higher payroll than Atlanta now. Even with Joe's max deal. Let's let Orlando blow their payroll on guys like Brandon Bass and plant them on the bench.

6) Keeping Jamal Crawford - This man is an All-NBA player who is an assassin at the 3, and can blow by any man in front of him. Why in the H would people suggest trading him for anything less than an all-star? Who could you get that could score like him? ASG need to go ahead and give him the extension. 

Not saying that the ASG is perfect, but they didn't do anything this year make the Hawks go in the wrong direction. If Teague turns out to be a average starter, the Hawks are the 3rd best team in the East this year.

I know fellow Hawks fans that things look pretty bad right now. If we sign Shaq now for what he is asking for, then everyone will complain that they overpaid him. Lets say we play the waiting game for a minute. You don't sign Shaq unless you think you can contend right away. How many teams exist now that Shaq is willing to play for and will be contenders next year......?

Exactly. You all don't think Shaq wants to be in the same division to spar against his foes: StanVan, D. Howard and the Miami Heat? What team would he make the biggest impact? If Shaq wanted to go somewhere then why hasn't he signed yet? Even if he signs with a team, who says we can't trade for him later. For that matter, make an in season trade for another big that can slow down D. Howard? My guess is that Sund may be thinking about making a trade during the year like he did with J.Crawfard.

I also want to thank the ASG for NOT signing Brad Miller. Can he stop D. Howard? NO! Is he any better that ZaZa? Not really. I rather have Mbenga from the Lakers on the cheap than brad miller.

For those of you who didn't watch the summer league game, let me tell you that the player that shined the most tonight was Alade Aminu for the Hawks. He's 6'10" that can handle the ball, takes high quality shots and runs the court like a gazelle. He was 6 of 8 from the floor, the high scorer for most of the game and for some reason was on the bench the entire last quarter. Around the basket, he's a finisher. He puts me in mind of a smoother J.J. Hickson.

In addition, he played really well with Teague and JC2.

I take this kid over Joe Smith as the backup PF 10 times out of 10!

Did anyone else notice that, or was it just me? Anyone have any other background on him?

Okay everyone, before I get attacked just hear me out.

If we can sign J-Chill and start him at Shooting Guard (what he is playing now in Greece), move JJ to the 3, Teague at the point and have Marvin as another option off the bench (at the #3 or the #4) - I would feel very comfortable going into next season with that lineup. I know that everyone thinks that Joe is going to get this HUGE deal from NY, Miami or Chicago but those teams saw the same series we all saw where Joe couldn't buy a bucket when we needed him the most. I think its a real chance that he get resigned with the Hawks for a deal that is reasonable.

Any thoughts?