2017: The Most Pivotal Season in Atlanta Hawks History

The new look Atlanta Hawks are ready to take on the
league and sink or swim in 2017
(Illustration courtesy of @sole_workz on Instagram)

I already know what you are thinking: "Exaggerate much?"

That is a fair opinion, but please hear me out. The 2016-17 Atlanta Hawks season is without a doubt, the most pivotal and important in the 49 seasons this franchise has been in Georgia.

As to the "Why" behind this proclamation? One word explains it all: CHAMPIONSHIP

Atlanta Hawks fans need, want, desire, and are clamoring for a title. Not just a division title, which the team earned in their record breaking 2015 season, but a World Title. One which would give the city only it's second in its professional sports existence (assuming the Falcons are gonna Falcons)

These aspirations are not just limited to the fan-base either. Hawks ownership has put their two cents in as well. In a recent podcast, Hawks minority owner, Jesse Itzler boldly made his intentions known as an owner.

"I want a (bleepin') parade" - Jesse Itzler on Jeff Shultz' podcast

Hawks Majority Partner, Tony Ressler is
all in with Hawks financially and on the court

Majority partner, Tony Ressler echoed those same sentiments in June. This is certainly a 180 from what Hawk fans were accustomed to hearing from "ownership" during the tumultuous Atlanta Spirit Group days. That group was more known for being in the courtroom and derogatory remarks about the fanbase than uttering the word CHAMPIONSHIP. And the organization is better for it.

Speaking on it is the easy part, the hard part is navigating the minefield of LeBron James, the Golden State Warriors and the rest of National Basketball Association to get said championship. For the past nine seasons, playoff basketball has been a staple in Atlanta, but numerous early round exits have soured those berths. Blame has been placed on a litany of players and coaches as to why the Hawks could not get the job done. 

Two of those players, Al Horford and Jeff Teague have, in their own ways, been jettisoned. Insert new-comer and home-comer, Dwight Howard along with new starting point, Dennis Schroder and this Hawks team has a totally different look Sure, plenty of key components still remain in Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver and Kent Bazemore, but the Hawks dynamic is undoubtedly changing.

 After being embarrased by Cleveland in the last two playoffs, something HAD to change. 

When Ressler and his group purchased the Hawks in June of 2015, he outlined specific details on how he would turn them from a run of the mill NBA franchise into a world class organization. 

Rendering of the new Hawks Practice Facility, which is under
construction and will be completed in 2017
(Photo by HAWKS.COM)

Priority Number One: Build a state of the art practice facility that would be key in retaining and recruiting players as well as have cutting edge training and rehab centers: Check. Construction of the venue is well underway in nearby Brookhaven.

Priority Number Two: Renovate Philips Arena and bring it to current NBA standards: Check. The team and city formally announced today of a two-phased plan to give the 17 year old arena a much needed makeover and develop the surrounding areas. This keeps the Hawks in the ATL for the next 25 plus years.

Newly released Philips Arena remodel images
(Photo by HAWKS.COM) 

Priority Number Three: Attract Prime Time talent to Atlanta and make it a destination for future free agents. Check??? The jury is still out on this one, though one cannot accuse the Hawks for lack of effort. They did land Howard (and even courted him pre-Ressler in 2013) and were vocal about going after the summer's biggest prize, Kevin Durant, though he did not take an interview with the team. It remains to be seen what happens in future summers with salaries skyrocketing and television money flowing for the league, but the front office appears to be relentless on improving a roster who has won 60 and 48 games respectively in the last two seasons.

With a 3-0 start to begin the 2016-17 campaign, Atlanta appears to be well on its way to a tenth consecutive playoff berth, but Atlanta sports fans are unimpressed with multiple post-season appearances. Ask the Hawks' sports brethren, the Braves. Fourteen consecutive division titles were great, but only winning one World Series has put an asterisk next to their dominance in the 90s and early 2000s. And it showed with playoff games being played at turner field with sections upon sections of seats being unsold.

Despite what a certain four-letter network wants you to believe, Atlantans want winners. They want champions, not also rans. 

The Hawks have a tall order in front of them. Not only do they have to battle the Eastern Conference, but they must prove to themselves that this particular roster is unlike the last 48 who tried and failed to bring one to the A. Questions will be asked all season. Will Dwight work here? Can Dennis Schroder make the jump from sixth man to leader? Or, to paraphrase Mike Tirico  from last season's Game 3 versus Cleveland: Who's The Star?

Who will take the shot when all bets are off and Budenholzer's game plan is not working? 

There are 79 regular season games to go and, give or take, 10-20 playoff games thereafter. Hopes are that the Hawks will still be standing in late June, exercising all demons of Pac Past and restoring hope to a city who is accustomed to holding L's like they are the Sesame Street Letter of the Day. If we are using Cleveland, Ohio as a blueprint, it is a good one--and a similar one for the Hawks. 

Dwight Howard has returned to his native Atlanta intent on
bringing the city its 2nd pro championship in history
(Illustration courtesy of @sole_workz on Instagram)

A lost son (Dwight Howard) comes home to shoulder the burden of expectations of a starving fanbase. He embraces it by words and actions in the community (sounds familiar?). The following chapters will play out over the next seven months. If this story has a sad (and familiar) ending, changes WILL be made in Atlanta. 

It will be time to re-evaluate who and what the Hawks organization aims to be. Staples like Paul Millsap (opt-out clause), Kyle Korver, will be able to leave the organization. Dwight Howard may become impatient with the rebuilding process and seek greener pastures. If this happens, the Hawks must react swiftly. 

They cannot afford to go through the doldrums that plagued the franchise between 1999 and 2007. They have come too far.

They have worked too hard to establish respectabilty, not only in the NBA, but in the city of Atlanta. Atlanta, a town who has only been able to call themselves a champion once. Twenty-one years and four days to the date when the Braves finally gave this city sports credibility, it is time to reach the top of the mountain again. 

A parade down Peachtree is well past due. Ownership wants it, and we damn sure want it. Time to get it done, Hawks!

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Artwork by:
Twitter @bhogan1781
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Ivan Johnson Returns to Atlanta on 10 Day Deal

Ivan Johnson guards LeBron James in a 2013 matchup

The Atlanta Hawks are going all in in their quest for an Eastern Conference Title. One which would be the team's first since moving to Georgia in 1968. In the process, they have brought back an old friend. Forward Ivan Johnson, who played two season in Atlanta between 2011-2013, has been signed to a ten-day contract according to inside team sources. The deal will make Johnson available for Friday's home game against Cleveland.

Atlanta (45-31) is currently involved in a tightly contested race for home-court advantage with trailing Miami, Boston, and Charlotte. With six games remaining and a playoff berth secure, the Hawks are looking to add more muscle and toughness to the roster.

Johnson became a fan-favorite in Atlanta for his hard-working mentality and knack for mixing it up with opponents. He occasionally had reported run ins with teammates and coaches as well. Since being released from Atlanta following the 2012-13 campaign, Johnson, 31, has bounced around the professional basketball circuit. His stops have included stints in China, the Philippines and the Developmental League. He most recently suited up for Petrochimi Bandar Imam, and Iranian franchise.

Hawks Head Coach/President, Mike Budenholzer, was not available for comment, but he did hint at a move being made for the Cleveland showdown after the Hawks demoralizing 105-97 loss in Toronto Wednesday night.

Johnson may qualify to be part of Atlanta's playoff first round roster if a player is waived before April 12th.

Got Eem, Jr.

Ready or Not! The Atlanta Hawks' Culture is Changing...For Good

 By Jamaal Price (@dirtywordshow)


The Always Rowdy Kia Sixth Man Section at Philips Arena

Hawks guard Jeff Teague scored a crucial basket in the fourth quarter of the Atlanta Hawks' nationally televised MLK Day matinee against the charging Detroit Pistons, earning a foul and receiving a chant that no home Hawk has heard since the days of 'Nique...maybe never. "M-V-Teague! M-V-Teague!" (a play off Teague's name and a customized MVP chant).

I know what you're thinking right now. "An Atlanta Hawk received MVP love? In Philips Arena? On ESPN?" 

Why, yes. These chants were audible enough that color analyst Jon Barry acknowledged them during the broadcast. A far cry from the way patrons of Atlanta Hawks games have conducted themselves in prior years.

Only four short years ago in an embarrassing 114-81 blowout loss to the Chicago Bulls, Atlanta's arena sounded more like it had grown wheels and moved to Illinois. The few Hawk fans that were in the building were, for lack of a better term, "Deebo'd" by Chicago fans who showered guard Derrick Rose with MVP chants. In that late March contest, he powered the Bulls over the uninspired Hawks, scoring 30 points and dishing ten dimes. He was electric on the court that night, which catered to the superstar-hungry fanbase that Atlanta has been labeled as.

This has been an issue since the beginning of time, it seems, in the ATL. Any opposing player who came in and played an exceptional game would get as much, if not more, appreciation than any Hawk who netted 30. It goes back to fans longing for a player or players to identify with and rally behind since the departure of the aforementioned Dominique Wilkins in 1994. The trade of the franchise's best player did more than just sever ties between player and team, it alienated a generation of fans past and present who felt betrayed by the classless handling of Wilkins. Worst of all, it did irreparable damage to the Atlanta Hawk brand and identity; one which the 2014-15 version is doing a damn good job of restoring.

Atlanta's 35-8 start has surprised the NBA and those fringe fans inside and outside the perimeter who, by now, would be more invested in Braves pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training. They have grabbed headlines in the city by doing one thing, and one thing only...WIN. The team is, at the time of article submittal, riding a 14 game winning streak, beating elite teams and taking names. More importantly however, the turnstiles at Philips are reaping the benefits. The Hawks have sold out five of their last six contests at home, and the people inside the arena are not only supporting the Hawks, but creating a strong homecourt advantage. Creating this has been a systematic process for team CEO Steve Koonin.

Koonin was hired last spring by the Hawks to team his marketing genius with the basketball expertise of Head Coach Mike Budenholzer and on-leave General Manager Danny Ferry. The franchise hoped to combination of on-court success with the right amount of selling would translate into butts in the seats, cash in the registers, and a restored brand.

Mission accomplished.

However, in true Hawks fashion, the scenic route was taken to get to this point. And what ugly scenery it was. Not long after Koonin go to work, some very disturbing details about the Atlanta front office were being uncovered. First, outgoing ownership partner Bruce Levenson "self reported" to the NBA a scathing email he wrote to incoming General Manager Ferry in 2012 about the demographics of the crowds that frequent Hawks games. He was concerned that middle-aged white men, who he considered to spend more money, did not attend games because the attendance was majority black and it was not an inviting atmosphere. If it couldn't get worse, it did. Not long after Levenson's revelation and subsequent self-removal from the ownership group, Ferry was under fire for reading or paraphrasing an egregiously written scouting report on free agent prospect Luol Deng in the 2014 offseason. Among other things, the report described Deng as having 'A little African in him'. Ferry was placed on indefinite leave, which he's still on. By mid-September, the Hawks were not only considered a dormant, irrelevant franchise with no identity and no true support within its own city, but now they were labeled by some as racist and bigoted. Not a good look in a city who's metropolitan area is littered with people of different races and cultures.

But in true Steve Koonin fashion, he did not let this kill the momentum he started back in May by re-introducing one of the main staples people associate with the Atlanta Hawks...The Pacman logo. Almost immediately after the Levenson and Ferry debacle, he put boots to the ground and scoured the city and metro area reaching out to fans of all races, genders and ages. He went on any radio show that would have him, apologizing to people in the city and was obviously shaken by the controversy. He reached out to local hip-hop artists, namely T.I. to perform at the Hawks' home opener. Coining the hashtag phrase #TrueToAtlanta, he sought to bring the town together to support this Hawks squad. He is a must-follow on Twitter and he will reply back, even to the most basic question. That accessibility coming from a member of the Hawks front office is a far cry from the days of Billy Knight. There is still the question of "Who will own the Hawks?" lingering as the team recently went 100% up for sale, finally delivering us from the dysfunction that is the Atlanta Spirit Group.

Ownership limbo and unsupported relocation rumors aside, the Atlanta Hawks are trending upwards. Not only on the basketball court, but in the court of public opinion. The Kia Sixth Man Section has grown exponentially since it's inception in 2010. They do a great job of keeping the arena loud and engaged.  If you have watched a Hawks game in Philips, you may have noticed the collegiate like atmosphere they create by standing the entire game and chanting in unison.

Yes, I said chanting.
And no, not for the opposing player.

Hawks fans, I only have one other thing to say.

Damn, it feels good!







A Smoove Return? How Atlanta Fans should greet Josh Smith

By J. Terrell Price (@dirtywordshow)


Josh Smith soaring in the 2008 Playoffs

On Wednesday night, the Detroit Pistons will visit the Atlanta Hawks in Philips Arena. Usually, a mid-November game between two middle of the pack Eastern Conference teams will not draw much attention on the NBA radar. However, this is no ordinary early season game. This contest will mark the return of one of Atlanta's own --Mr. Josh Smith.

In the summer of 2013, Smith and the Hawks ended their nine, often-tumultuous, years of marriage as the 6 foot 9 forward inked a four year, $54 million deal with the Detroit.  For Atlanta fans, the departure of "J-Smoove" was bittersweet. Afterall, he can largely be credited for the Hawks' arena being nicknamed The Highlight Factory due to his high flying dunks and exciting chase down blocks. He was there in 2008 when an upstart Atlanta squad took the mighty Boston Celtics to the brink in an thrilling seven game series.

He was Atlanta through and through, down to the ink on his left bicep -- an old school Hawks logo. With all of this as a backdrop, one would think the return of Smith would be a celebratory occasion in Atlanta....Right?

Not so fast, my friend!

Anyone who consumed a good amount of Atlanta Hawks basketball between 2004 and 2013 is aware of the immense talents Josh Smith possesses. Over his Atlanta tenure he became one of the most versatile players in the league. Smith's career averages of 15.3 PPG, 3.2 APG, 8.0 RPG, and 2.1 BPG indicate how well-rounded his game was. He ranks among the Hawks' franchise leaders in nearly every statistical category and became the youngest player in NBA history to record 500 and 1000 blocked shots.

Yet, with all of these accolades, Smith never quite received "key to the city" status from his hometown faithful. As much as Hawks fans enjoyed the good things Josh could do, they equally lamented how good he could've been . Gifted athletically and physically, he was notorious for settling for long range jump shots and 3-pointers that were the antitheses of what he was expected to do -- wreck havoc in the paint. Smith was capable from three, but never a threat (.283% career). Things got so bad from there that when Smith would load up for a trey in Philips Arena, fans would collectively groan or yell "NO!!!".

Consequently, Hawks fans grew weary of waiting on Smith to mature into a franchise player or even a perennial All-Star. They grew tired of the wasted possessions that resulted in an ill-advised shot or turnover. They were fed up with his bickering with officials while play was going on. The novelty of the baby-faced 18 year old kid who had crazy hops and gave tribute to Dominique Wilkins in the Dunk Contest of 2005 wore off. After six straight playoff appearances, Hawks fans thirsted for a title contender, but Smith's team was regressing and blame needed to be placed on someone.

Conveniently, with Smith entering free agency in the summer of 2013, Atlanta had an out clause in the arrangement with the hometown kid. General Manager Danny Ferry had plans of completely remaking the Hawks roster. He began by dumping the salaries of Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams in 2012, then replacing Head Coach Larry Drew with Spurs' assistant Mike Budenholzer. For Smoove, the handwriting may have been on the wall.

Atlanta extended a courtesy hello to Smith in Los Angeles during the free agency interview process, but according to Smith, that was the extent of the conversation.

The only time I saw the Hawks during free agency was when they came to one of my workouts just to say hello. I think they were meeting with Dwight Howard that day. They never came in or sat down with me during the free agency period to offer me anything.” - Josh Smith on 92.9FM Atlanta

Whatever the case, the decision to let Smith walk may have been the best for all three parties involved; that being Josh Smith, the Atlanta Hawks, and Hawks fans.
Outside of one year playing at Oak Hill Academy in high school, Smoove had spent his entire life in the ATL. A native of nearby College Park, he couldn't escape the pressures and expectations of being the savior of his hometown franchise. When things went sour (as they sometimes did) his home fans would often boo or criticize him during games or take their frustrations out on local sports talk radio. It's safe to assume that being in new surroundings, away from the bubble that is Atlanta, Georgia has to be somewhat of a relief for Smith.

The Hawks organization can now move forward into a new beginning. As long as Josh Smith was employed with the team, he would naturally carry the burden of being "The Man" whether justified or not. Now players like Al Horford and Jeff Teague, who were equally responsible for Atlanta's past playoff misfortunes, will be front and center and will have to answer the questions if the Hawks can't get it done in the postseason. The Hawks also have the opportunity to sign free agents and seek that true franchise player it's been in need of for nearly 20 years with their cap flexibility.

As for Hawks fans you ask?

Quite frankly, we should thank Josh Smith. In nine seasons as a Hawk he brought smiles to faces young and old. He helped resurrect the Hawks from being a laughing stock to respectability. He played often played hurt. By all accounts he was a model citizen and never got in trouble with the law. Those are all great qualities any fan should want in an athlete.

The questions are, Should we boo Josh Smith Wednesday? Of course not.
Should we give him a standing ovation? That may be too extreme.
Should we cheer when he loads up for a three? He's shooting .314% from three this season. Hell yes!

Welcome home, Smoove!  You'll forever be an ATLien.

James Dolan: "The Guarantee" and his 'Foot in Mouth' syndrome

Over the years professional sports owners have uttered some bizarre words. Some would say, bordering on asinine. Add James Dolan to the litany of those bosses who, quite frankly, don't know when to zip it.

A disappointed James Dolan during a recent Knicks loss

Mired in an early season funk, losing four of their first six games, the New York Knicks have been a disappointment thus far. Their MVP Carmelo Anthony has had a slow start, defensive anchor Tyson Chandler is out four to six weeks with a foot injury, and head coach Mike Woodson has felt the heat from fans and New York media.

And just when it didn't seem like things could get any worse; they did on Sunday afternoon. New York was obliterated by the San Antonio Spurs, losing 120-89 in front of a frustrated home crowd and an even more perturbed Dolan. Before the start of the 2013/14 season, the Knicks owner put lofty expectations on his team by stating he expected them to win a championship. When the team didn't respond in the first few games, Dolan went on a tirade, allegedly scolding General Manager Steve Mills and ordering the Knicks City Dancers to limit their in game routines.

Now comes the latest episode.

After the loss to San Antonio, Dolan guaranteed a Knicks win over the Atlanta Hawks in their Wednesday night tilt in Philips Arena.

We’re going to win the next game. That’s a guarantee.’’ - James Dolan

Yes. It has come to this for the CEO of Madison Square Garden. He's guaranteeing wins in November. One would understand if the guarantee was made in a do-or-die Game 7 or even in a matchup with a premier team such as the Spurs. To bloviate in this manner about a game against the traditionally mediocre Atlanta Hawks screams desperation.

It's no secret that the arrival of the Brooklyn Nets to the New York metropolitan area has flustered Dolan. The Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has assembled a squad that desires nothing less than a championship. This season alone he is spending an inordinate amount in luxury tax dollars, unconcerned about the new ramifications from the NBA's recent collective bargaining agreement. On the flip side, the Knicks are struggling early with a team that is somewhat handicapped financially due to the cap-killing contracts of Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire . For years the Knicks have had NYC all to themselves and they want to stay at the top of the discussion when it comes to NBA Basketball in the city -- But Brooklyn is coming.

The pressure is undoubtedly being felt in Manhattan as the watchful eye of Dolan is squarely on this team, particularly Melo and Woodson. Carmelo Anthony has made no bones about wanting the test the free agent waters in the summer of 2014. He's told Knicks brass that he wants to return to the Big Apple, but only under the conditions of them building a championship contender around him.
Woodson has drawn criticism early for his lack of in-game adjustments and defensive strategy which is mostly predicated on switching assignments on pick and roll situations. Wednesday's game will be important for Woody as he returns to Atlanta, where his head coaching days began. In some ways he believes he was underappreciated for his time with the Hawks as he led them from ping pong purgatory to playoff prominence. He will be motivated to turn the Knicks fortunes around by beating his former squad and averting more talks of a dismissal.

However, the "guarantee game" on Wednesday night won't be walk in the park for the Knicks. The Atlanta Hawks have been one of the most efficient offenses in the league through the first two weeks of the season. They have scored at least 102 points in each of their first seven games and lead the league in assists per game at 28. Al Horford and Jeff Teague have elevated their level of play under new coach Mike Budenholzer. Free agent addition Paul Millsap has proven to be a solid replacement for Josh Smith. The Hawks will look to take advantage of the absence of Chandler in the middle and with their quickness in the backcourt with Teague and Dennis Schröder against the more pedestrian Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni.

All of these elements combined with the unpredictability of Dolan could be a recipe for disaster or a rallying point. The Knicks are at a crossroads. The Hawks look to be trending upward. This should make for an exciting watch Wednesday night on ESPN.

"Get ya popcorn ready!"

The week I almost gave up watching sports for life

By J. Terrell Price (@dirtywordshow)

Even Ugga is sad on this day (photo courtesy
of latimes.com)

I know what you're saying.

He just named this post like this to get views and clicks.

Believe what you may, but the views and opinions in the beginning of this piece ring true and are shared by many a fan in the state of Georgia this second week of October, 2013.

For those who may have been comatose since the beginning of the month, let me give you a brief synopsis of the tragic sports events that have happened in the Peach State this week.

Sunday Night: The Atlanta Dream, entering their third WNBA Finals in four seasons, were dismantled in Game 1 by the Minnesota Lynx. This would start a downward spiral to a week where fans of Georgia teams must've felt like the Sports Gods were exacting revenge for some egregious act unbeknownst to us.

Monday Night: Possibly the worst day/night in Atlanta Sports history, only rivaled by October 9, 2005, the Falcons and Braves would take turns pulling at our heartstrings. The Braves, down two games to one in their Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, wasted no time falling behind in Game Four. They gave up two solo home runs to Carl Crawford of L.A. to trail 2-0 by the end of the third inning. The Bravos would, however, fight back and eventually take the lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning.

Meanwhile back in Atlanta, the Falcons found themselves trailing the once dysfunctional New York Jets 27-14 heading into the fourth quarter of their Monday Night tilt. The Falcons, already at an appalling 1-3 record could ill-afford to lose this game. With that in mind, they gathered themselves and nosed ahead of the Jets 28-27 with a little under two minutes left to play. Unfortunately for them and Rise Up Nation, their defense would disappoint as Geno Smith led the Jets on an eight play, 55 yard drive to set themselves up for a game winning field goal.

Kick Good. Game Over. 1-4 is the Falcons new record.

To find some sense of hope, I and many others returned back to the baseball game only to watch the Braves find a way to break our hearts again by giving up a go ahead homer to Juan Uribe in the eighth, essentially shutting the door to any chance of returning home for a decisive Game 5.

What compounded the agony of the loss for Braves fans was the visual of lights out closer Craig Kimbrel ready and waiting in the bullpen to kill any Dodger rally. A managerial mistake by Fredi Gonzalez? Who knows, but he wasn't the only Atlanta head man getting criticized on this horrible night.

Mike Smith of the Falcons made a few questionable decisions (adding to his list) on Monday night. Most notably was electing to try for a touchdown at the end of the first half at the one yard line rather than take the points on a field goal. The decision failed and proved to be the difference as Atlanta ended up losing by two, 30-28

And if these things weren't bad enough, the Hawks lost their preseason opener to the Miami Heat, giving SportsCenter some more ammo to ridicule and belittle our poor Georgia teams.

Just flat out disrespectful, huh?

The rest of the week would prove to be just as disastrous. Falcons wideout Julio Jones would be sidelined for the rest of the 2013 season with a foot injury. Erroneous rumors of future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez being traded because of the Falcons' dwindling title hopes arose. The Dream would go on to lose their third Finals by being swept--for the third time.

And then, if that wasn't enough to send you over the edge, Saturday afternoon occurred.

The Georgia Bulldogs entered Saturday's pivotal game against Missouri ranked number seven in the nation and having a slim, but possible, chance to play for  National Championship. Mizzou entered the game undefeated and was even picked by a few prognosticators to upset the Dawgs. With injuries to both of their star running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall--a season ender for the latter, Georgia was a depleted team. Missouri took advantage and with that had a 28-13 lead late in the third quarter. the Dawgs, like the Falcons on Monday, fought back to get within striking difference-to no avail. Quarterback Aaron Murray threw two critical interceptions towards the end and that's all she wrote as the boys from GA lose 41-26. With their second loss this season, all hopes for a title are dashed for Georgia.

That's nothing new as they are essentially the fourth team (Braves, Falcons, Dream, Dawgs) in the state of Georgia to have their season end in the span of six days.

Rough ain't it? Enough to make myself consider abstaining from sports until further notice.

But my loyalty to these teams and their quest for a title will have me still there on Sundays as the Falcons play. It will have me there on Saturdays as the Dawgs sick em'. I will still do the chop at a moment's notice. I will still blog about the Hawks and be there come opening night.

Being a sports fan isn't quite like marriage, but the conditions are similar.

In sickness and in health
Til' death do us part
For better of for worse

The last part as in a marriage is the most difficult to abide by, but to say a popular phrase these days "it is what it is". As easy as it is to walk away and give my allegiance to teams in other states and municipalities, I will not and I will continue to be there for the long haul. The question is, will you?

If you enjoyed this article, comment or send me a tweet.

The Death of the Traditional NBA Point Guard

By J. Terrell Price (@dirtywordshow)


Cover of the NBA Entertainment Video, Superstars

I can vividly remember back in 1990, my father buying a fresh new copy of the NBA Entertainment Video, Superstars. As a young kid back then, I had recently begun a courtship with the game of basketball. Each and every aspect about this sport was as fresh as a new pair of Air Jordan V's still in the box, laces untouched. So one could envision how watching career highlights of greats such as Magic, Bird, MJ, Akeem (before he changed it to Hakeem), Nique, Barkley and Dr. J, with popular music hits from the 1980s as a backdrop, was hoops heaven for a young man like myself.

As much as I was in awe of the greatness of the aforementioned stars, a little man from Detroit caught my attention more than the rest. Isiah Thomas' brilliance jumped off my television set and made a lasting impression.

The man that they affectionately called "Zeke" was unlike any point guard I had ever seen play the game at that point. Not only was he the general of the Detroit Pistons' offense, but he also had a fearlessness about himself, unafraid to attack the hoop amongst the trees. Consistently leading his team in scoring and assists, Thomas was a dual threat. He was truly an anomaly, ahead of his time. Until that point, I only associated point guards with being facilitators and playmakers for other teammates.

Fast forward to 2013, and the evolution of the point guard in the National Basketball Association has undoubtedly taken place. Players like Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving, John Wall and a host of others have redefined the role of the position today. They have no issue taking a majority of their team's shots, all while being expected to perform traditional point guard duties.  But in between Isiah and Westbrook & company, there certainly was a progression in the league from "pass first" to "let me get mine".

The question is, when did the mentality change?

The answer has multiple layers to it, but let me simply tackle the issue in three parts.

Part One: Primetime and Showtime

The 1980s were a time of change. Not only in life itself, but in sports; basketball particularly. The NBA exited the 1970s with a reputation so bad, they could've used intervention from Lindsay Lohan. Overwhelmed with a rampant drug problem and declining ratings, the Association needed a boost--and quick.

Enter Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. As if on cue, the two transcendent stars improved the image of the league overnight and made games become "Must See TV". Having Finals games on Taped Delay up until 1983, the NBA was fortunate enough to have Magic and Bird's teams meet the following year, just in time for their permanent move to live, prime time championship action. Legendary players on legendary teams in an epic series equaled a ratings skyrocket, which propelled the NBA to unforeseen popularity. 

More games were televised, as the NBA inked a deal with Turner Broadcasting in 1984, and David Stern became commissioner that same year. Stern's visionary thinking included showcasing the league's stars in All-Star events and exhibitions. The Slam Dunk Competition and Three Point Shootout gave players, who otherwise would not get any shine, an outlet to showcase their talents to the world and make a name for themselves.

This platform appealed to the younger generation of basketball players who now were enticed by the thought of having their name and face on television sets worldwide, all because they could dunk or shoot long range jumpers. This was no more evident than in 1986, when a diminutive Spud Webb won the Slam Dunk Competition. Standing at only 5 feet 7 inches "tall", Spud mesmerized the crowd in Dallas by taking down his more imposing competition, including teammate, Dominique Wilkins. His triumph alone motivated smaller players to improve their jumping abilities and reach for the rim instead of practice their bounce pass. More and more, as the eighties gave way to the nineties, point guards around the league were comfortable with becoming more offensive minded. Kevin Johnson, Mark Price, Mahmoud Abdul Rauf (also known as Chris Jackson) and even All-Time Assist Leader John Stockton became legitimate scoring threats.

However, as much as the little men of those times contributed to the revolution of the point guard position, one man ,who is almost as big as the game itself, deserves acknowledgement.

Part Two: Michael Jeffrey Jordan

No introduction needed, Michael Jordan was, and is, revered by basketball fans around the globe. His popularity, which was a byproduct of Magic and Bird, brought him to commercial success that arguably exceeds his on-court success. Jordan was never confused for a point guard (though he briefly experimented with it in Chicago), but his style of play influenced young kids to this day. His ability to score at will with a grace and flair had five year olds attempting trick shots on their Nerf hoop at home, trying to simulate the degree of difficulty. Though fundamentally sound, Jordan specialized in making an impossible shot look possible.

This, combined with MJ's marketability and advertising genius, made being an offensive juggernaut the thing to be in the early nineties. Passing and playmaking was no long en vougue as advertisers and companies were not beating down the doors of assist and steals leaders. Ballers wanted to "Be Like Mike" and less like Magic, though the latter contributes to the next theory. 

Part Three: The Role Reversal

Earvin "Magic" Johnson is perhaps the most unique basketball player the world has ever witnessed. At 6 feet 9, his game was unconventional and has not quite been equaled since. To have natural point guard skills at the size of a power forward, Johnson often dominated players at his position due to the height advantage alone. His ability to play the perimeter, along with Jordan's brilliance, and the influx of European basketball created a culture change in the NBA in the 90s.

All of a sudden, big players (even centers) became proficient at long range jump shots and ball handling. A far cry from the exclusively interior play of bigs from times gone by. With the taller players being long range shooting threats, they drew their defenders out further away from the hoop, allowing smaller guys to penetrate the lane undeterred.

In the late 90s and into the new millennium, it was not uncommon to see power forwards like Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace comfortably shooting from seventeen feet and beyond, while small guys like Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, and Steve Francis attack the rim with reckless abandon.

Iverson in particular, was the epitome of the anti-establishment of the NBA. His corn-rows, street credibility, and somewhat rebellious attitude towards traditional league standards helped create himself a cult-like following from young players, only surpassed by Jordan in his prime. "The Answer" had no issue calling his own number during Sixer games, even if his shots weren't falling or he was double and triple teamed. Each of Iverson's coaches over 14 seasons pleaded with him to become more of a facilitator and trust his comrades on the floor--to no avail.

But by the time Iverson laced his sneakers up for his final NBA contest in 2010, his impact on the game and the definition of point guard was truly felt. That year, John Wall was selected first in the draft by Washington. Many have compared his game to A.I.'s, as Wall has the tendency to look for his own shot first before allowing teammates to get into the game.

That seems to be the norm in today's NBA. Some would argue it's just a changing of the guard in a literal sense, while others would deduce it's a consequence of the "me first" nature of the professional athlete in the present.

In either case, the current day description of an NBA point guard entails more than what it did thirty years ago. Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook can throw down ferocious dunks with the best in the league, and Stephen Curry is considered to be the best shooter in the league.

Conventional point guard play has not totally left the association as veterans like Chris Paul, Tony Parker, and Rajon Rondo still make table setting for their teammates a top priority.

However, those men are in the minority as the others who have chosen to redefine the position of the point guard have assisted in changing the game of basketball and how teams are constructed in the NBA.

I guess you can say assisting is still in their DNA somewhere!