It's time for a change.

Look, times are hard for everyone. From CEO's to custodians, everyone is feeling the effects of this weak economy. I certainly don't want to be one of those fans who is always calling for the coach to be fired, but I think it's time for this coach to be fired.

The team has quit on him and he's quit on the team. How can you just give up in the 3rd qtr? Why even bother to show up at all? Every time they put the camera on him he's standing or sitting on the bench with that same disinterested look on his face. You know the look I'm talking about.

Maybe it's not a look of disinterest so much as it's a look of cluelessness. This isn't even about last night's game. This has been an issue for years. The team has checked out on him. There's nothing anyone can say to convince me otherwise.

I really don't understand how or why people don't think he's been given an adequate chance. He is 138-246. 108 games under .500 and he's the guy who gets the benefit of doubt. Are you kidding me?

Rick Sund is adamant that this season is a barometer. I don't know how much more he needs to see. There has to be a change somewhere and since they missed the trade deadline, they need to look at a coaching change. Teams who have had far greater success than the Hawks have let coaches who consistently produced 50 win seasons go without batting an eyelash. It's time for the Spirit to man up and make a change.

Update: It's really unfair for me to say a man deserves to be fired and not give several reasons.

1. His offense is offensive. To appreciate how truly ineffective the offense really is, you need only watch our opponents run their offense. Trust me it will make you jealous.

2. His inability to develop players. We are almost two years in and we still have no idea if Acie Law is a legitimate NBA player. It's very easy to say when a player gets a chance he has to produce, but let's be realistic for one moment. I don't know of any player who can play 3 or 4 minutes in one game then not play the next 3 or 4 games at all and still produce. It doesn't work like that.

3. He's taken about 3 or 4 years off of Joe Johnson's career. Okay that's probably not true. But at this point he has to be able to find minutes for Joe to rest. There was no reason at all for Joe to have been in that game last night in the 4th quarter when the team was down 20 something points. No reason at all!

4. The players do not respond to him. They just don't. If you've watched a game you know this.

5. His substitutions and rotations suck.

6. He clearly doesn't watch the game as it unfolds which is directly related to #5.

7. He's 108 games under .500. I mentioned this earlier, but it needs to be repeated.

Hawks/Blazers

The Hawks lost to the Blazers. If you simply must know why, you should go see

Drew

Larry or

Bret.

This Should Be Common Knowledge

Al Horford needs more touches.

That is all.

Random Thoughts Typed Into My Palm Treo About Last Night's First Half

Random thoughts about this Hawks/Lakers game.
Why does the two fouls and you're out rule only apply to starters?
Moe, Acie, Solo Za Za and Marvin. Really?
Sometimes I don't think Woody even watches the game as it unfolds.
the lakers are not only getting second chance opportunities they are getting 4th and 5th chance opportunities.
yay Joe, Acie and Mike at the same time, as if rebounding weren't already a problem its probably going to be an extremely exaggerated problem now.
Sasha is willing to shoot and we are apparently willing to let him.
If Josh finishes this game with more than 4 fouls I will write Paul Pierce a love letter.
Larry Drew's son Landon is adorable!
my little brother who doesn't normally get to watch Hawks games noticed tonight the Hawks have no identity. I've known this for going on 5 years.
things started off so well and then Phil took a timely 20 second timeout with the Hawks leading by 9 in the first and its been all Lakers ever since.
Joe is off and on a night when Mr instant offense Flip Murray isn't available they can't afford to have Joe off.
Why in the hell is Dick Bavetta still so animated at his age?
Kobe is not nice to Joe.
well we had a one point lead at the end of the first qtr, we turned that into a 9 point deficit going into the half.
I'm going to sleep.

Who Would You Rather Lose?

Okay, not that the Hawks are players in the Amare trade, but if they were they'd more than likely have to give up either Josh, Marvin or Al. My question to my 3 loyal readers...

Which player can you live with us moving?

You all know I have a very strange attachment to Josh. I really can't explain it so I'm not even going to bother to try.

When they drafted Marvin, I was disappointed because they needed a point guard and there were two quality guards available in the draft. You already know who they are and if you don't then I apologize for making such an assumption. Having said that, I'm still not naming them. Good thing I don't get paid to write.

Anyway, Marvin is a good player. He may never be an All Star or a household name, but he brings a lot to the table and he'd be an asset to almost any team in the NBA.

Al is dripping potential and at some point he's going to have a coach who knows how to utilize him. (fingers crossed).

In my mind Al is the untouchable one of the three, and while my heart says keep Josh and move Marvin, my brain honestly feels like Marvin would be the more useful player if the team were able to swing a trade for Amare. Marvin knows his role and he straight up accepts it, no questions asked.

Josh is tremendously talented, but he doesn't always make the right basketball play. I'd hate to lose Josh, but Marvin is a player more capable of adapting to his surroundings. He's good for 14 per game right now and he's the 4th or 5th option (depending on if Flip is in the game) on offense.

He's the perfect role player and every team needs that guy who you don't really have to run plays for and he'll still be effective.

So there, I've put aside my affection. If we had to lose one I'd say Josh is the more expendable one, but only for a legitimate low post player.

Mike Bibby Gets To Shoot Threes In Phoenix

Not the All Star appearance I had hoped for, but I'll take it.

Hopefully he'll shoot like he did in December as opposed to January.

Joe Johnson Is OUT!

So let me get this straight, we get Al back tonight, but we lose Joe.......
Great way to start February.