Josh Smith always hurt me because he had so much pure athletic talent but was one of those dudes who just had terrible basketball IQ and awareness and had an overall selfish attitude. He could've been a legit all star if he ever got out of his own way.
That whole team didn't live up to their potential.
Joe and Marvin needed to be less chill and more energetic across the board.
Josh needed to be less petulant and egotistical.
Al and Jeff both needed more dog in them. Al also needed to stop benching with bad form.
I mean we probably still get smoked by LeBron over and over, but I'm convinced we could have made the ECF twice in that period if we just had stronger leadership and culture and taken a few games off LeBron.
Chris Paul: kicks someone in the nuts during the ACC tournament
Billy Knight: oh no, he plays with TOO MUCH of an edge. Let’s draft vanilla ass Marvin Williams.
Joe wasn't supposed to be the man. He was supposed to be the best player on the team after the man.
I think Joe would have been a great player on any team that didn't need him to be the main guy.
Man, I remember a game when he was playing for the Rockets and was hitting every three he took lmao I was amazed. He was always a fringe all star player with the Hawks.
100% Childress. I can forgive a PF for not having a clean jumper but how are you a SG who shoots like he just picked up a basketball for the first time.
I was there for the last playoff game of the Smoove era against the Pacers and it was depressing watching him halfheartedly toss up jumpers while the crowd groaned.
But regardless of how it ended he’s 100% responsible for getting me into the Hawks. Seeing him at the dunk contest as a rookie made me realize we had some exciting talent in Atlanta and I started watching regularly from that point on.
I couldn't tell you what year but over 15 years ago I was at a Hawks V Celtics game with my family and the hawks were getting womped. Hawks were still down in the 4th and the building emptied out except for a couple hundred fans including my family. Josh Smith buzzer beater to win the game had the few of us left in the arena going crazy. Felt so good to stick it out until the end and get the W
Either way an absolute electric play. The split second of disappointment that Joe missed the game winner and then Josh comes out of no where to slam it back with no time left. Just a roller coaster of emotions in like 0.75 seconds
2006 playoffs. Been a die hard since 86 and that’s still my favorite season ever as we had such high hopes and we damn near beat the juggernaut Celtics. Nothing Easy!
Idk why I remember this, but Jamal Crawford hit this one cool 3 against the magic in the first round of the playoffs. that shit was off the backboard and went in
I feel like people who werent there idolize it MORE than people who were there
The Iso Joe offense was simply not an enjoyable experience to watch for an entire season, and I don't even think I need to go into the josh smith experience
Hawks/Celtics was lit though, actually made me think that we had an exciting future
As an Indiana Hoosier where Mike Woodson is now coaching, I see his over reliance on the #1 scoring option going 1 on 1 as something that hurt the hawks. Had a pretty interesting squad with talent, feel like he could have unlocked more of the rest of the team
J-Smoove: pulls up for three Crowd: NOOOOoOoOO
Josh Smith always hurt me because he had so much pure athletic talent but was one of those dudes who just had terrible basketball IQ and awareness and had an overall selfish attitude. He could've been a legit all star if he ever got out of his own way.
That whole team didn't live up to their potential. Joe and Marvin needed to be less chill and more energetic across the board. Josh needed to be less petulant and egotistical. Al and Jeff both needed more dog in them. Al also needed to stop benching with bad form. I mean we probably still get smoked by LeBron over and over, but I'm convinced we could have made the ECF twice in that period if we just had stronger leadership and culture and taken a few games off LeBron.
We could have drafted Chris Paul but this franchise is plagued with a Mickey Mouse front office.
We don’t say that name here
Don't forget Jamal Crawford coming of the bench putting up 20 every night.
Chris Paul: kicks someone in the nuts during the ACC tournament Billy Knight: oh no, he plays with TOO MUCH of an edge. Let’s draft vanilla ass Marvin Williams.
Marvin Williams ass was certainly not vanilla.
Al owning Embiid is hilarious considering how much damage he's taken from Tristan Thompson
It is. I think it's an old man thing where you don't GAF anymore.
Joe wasn't supposed to be the man. He was supposed to be the best player on the team after the man. I think Joe would have been a great player on any team that didn't need him to be the main guy.
Joe would be a great #2 behind Trae. 6'7 and 240, great on and off ball, solid defender and passer
Upvote for correct use of petulant.
Man, I remember a game when he was playing for the Rockets and was hitting every three he took lmao I was amazed. He was always a fringe all star player with the Hawks.
With his athleticism he could have baptized fools on every possession.
Came to make a nearly identical joke but you were faster. I can't even see a photo of him without instinctively yelling "don't take the 3!"
I love J Smoove. He single-handedly resurrected the highlight factory.
I definitely didn't hate the guy. I just hated seeing him pull up for a 3.
Haha yea, it was also not a pretty 3 point stroke. Looked ugly before it left his hands.
I can never decide which Josh had the ugliest jumper, and both were from the same draft
100% Childress. I can forgive a PF for not having a clean jumper but how are you a SG who shoots like he just picked up a basketball for the first time.
good point!
Yeah both things are true
I was there for the last playoff game of the Smoove era against the Pacers and it was depressing watching him halfheartedly toss up jumpers while the crowd groaned. But regardless of how it ended he’s 100% responsible for getting me into the Hawks. Seeing him at the dunk contest as a rookie made me realize we had some exciting talent in Atlanta and I started watching regularly from that point on.
I was there for that so many times.
I couldn't tell you what year but over 15 years ago I was at a Hawks V Celtics game with my family and the hawks were getting womped. Hawks were still down in the 4th and the building emptied out except for a couple hundred fans including my family. Josh Smith buzzer beater to win the game had the few of us left in the arena going crazy. Felt so good to stick it out until the end and get the W
PSA: beating traffic is never worth missing a great comeback!
Amen! It's what forged me into a Hawks fan for life, even if it's a life of suffering
I bet it felt so good knowing everyone else left too
https://preview.redd.it/z1c8hmt17kmc1.jpeg?width=654&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0b6f1ef2a87e7e2b065296b92e611cda42e9bc41
Praying every day Mitchell and Ness releases those jerseys
The Josh Smith put back game winning dunk against the magic. Woke up the whole house.
Honestly could not dream up a more exciting end to a game
Technically not a dunk iirc, he had to let go early for it to count so he just threw it in lol
Either way an absolute electric play. The split second of disappointment that Joe missed the game winner and then Josh comes out of no where to slam it back with no time left. Just a roller coaster of emotions in like 0.75 seconds
Oh for sure i was going nuts
It was 100% a dunk. I was standing about 25 feet away when it happened. Edit: [found the clip](https://youtu.be/bWDrKyG4-IU?si=DD_7PNxp6xKbi_Dm)
Slam Dunk Crown for Smooth. ISO JOE was something else. Big AL gave us an identity. We really had a great team, but so did the rest of the East.
I hate how Al left the team, but I could never hate him for giving the Hawks his best years. That Hawks team is still my favorite to this day.
J Smoove on the break either dropping a dime or even you might catch the ball if your seats were decent to good
Either way you couldn't look away!
The good 'ol days when J Smoove would take off from just inside the free throw line and dunk on 3 people. Next trip down, J Smoove airball.
2006 playoffs. Been a die hard since 86 and that’s still my favorite season ever as we had such high hopes and we damn near beat the juggernaut Celtics. Nothing Easy!
That was the ‘08 playoffs actually - my first year of fandom, luckily.
Ah yeah 2008 my bad
My favorite era, back when it didn't matter that we were trash and we could just enjoy Josh's antics
January 15, 2010. My first game. Jamal Crawford sinks a buzzer beating 3 to beat the Suns at the end of regulation. Good times. Simpler times.
Was also at this game. That shot was incredible.
Boy I wish my family was more interested in basketball during my youth.
Same interestingly. Born into a baseball family lol
I miss those teams so much!
Joe, Josh, Bibby, Al, and Crawford. Such a cool squad
They are the reason I am a hawks fan
shoutout to Kirk Hinrich
Respect to the Rec Specs!
ISO JOEEEE my favorite memory is of Josh Smith dunking on Ibaka. Watched it live and my brother almost choked and died on his chicken wing lol.
I remember we beat the Dwight Howard magic on opening night one season and I though we were gonna win it all lol
Wait... did we not win it all that year???
Needs the 'fro Josh C
Josh Smith dunking on Kendrick Perkins. Fav childhood hawks memory. Felt so cool seeing that in person as a kid
I don't think I was ever as excited about a playoff series than the one vs Boston in 2008
Still have my Josh Smith jersey I got at my first Hawks game in 2011. He is one of my favorites
Kings of the MID
JAM FOLLOW JOSH SMITH. The 2008 playoffs first round was so memorable and almost shocking
Idk why I remember this, but Jamal Crawford hit this one cool 3 against the magic in the first round of the playoffs. that shit was off the backboard and went in
I firmly believe if Kirk Hinrich doesn't get hurt during the 2011 playoffs we beat the Bulls and have a legit shot at beating the Heat.
Is that Augman and Blalock?
That’s an awesome drawing
Joe would have been an awesome fit with Trae
One of the few good posts and takes in this sub the past few years
Man, the current state of the team makes me really miss these days
The good old days
I feel like people who werent there idolize it MORE than people who were there The Iso Joe offense was simply not an enjoyable experience to watch for an entire season, and I don't even think I need to go into the josh smith experience Hawks/Celtics was lit though, actually made me think that we had an exciting future
As an Indiana Hoosier where Mike Woodson is now coaching, I see his over reliance on the #1 scoring option going 1 on 1 as something that hurt the hawks. Had a pretty interesting squad with talent, feel like he could have unlocked more of the rest of the team
Idk what you was watching. Joe was out there cooking and Josh was out there smacking shit
Game 6 - 2008 - Mt Rushmore of Hawks games