Q. What measures did the Hawks take before the season tipped off to get past Bruce Levenson & Danny Ferry's controversial comments in an email from two years ago?
A. Unfortunately, due to my position and the ongoing transition, I cannot comment.
Q. What do you think of Coach Budenholzer's coaching scheme so far into his second season?
A. I think Coach Bud has done an excellent job keeping our guys focused as a unit with a singular vision to just get better every day. There will always be growing pains and player adjustments as a new coach. Bud has done an amazing job. Coach of the year this season?
Q. How did the Hawks benefit with the acquisitions of Thabo Sefolosha and Kent Bazemore in the offseason after trading Lou Williams?
A. Lou is a heck of an athlete and basketball player. We are very fortunate in replacing him with the experience Sef brings and the athleticism and dynamic play of Kent. They both are tremendously valuable components to the team.
Q. What factors are key to the Hawks' success in an Eastern Conference that dramatically improved this offseason?
A. Well first and foremost, the East has been shaken up in a way that really spreads the opportunity to succeed. The teams in the East this year have a done a great job positioning themselves to win and build great organizations much like we have been doing the past three years. Change doesn’t come overnight unless you do what Cleveland did and bring in the best player in the world. For us this season, we just have to focus on energy and intensity for a full 48 minutes. Every game, every quarter, every minute counts.
Q. What steps must be taken for Atlanta to overcome their recent first round playoff woes?
A. Just believing. We have the talent, the experience, the youth, the energy. We need our city of Atlanta to support us as they have been and turn up the intensity as we build on last year.
Q. How far can the Hawks go in the playoffs with a healthy Al Horford? We know that Atlanta was third in the East last season before Horford went down.
A. I am hopeful and confident if we stay healthy we will put everyone in the East on notice. But it’s a long season...we’re only 8 games in.
Q. Do you believe that Jeff Teague will ever be an All-Star? We've seen his points per game average increase every year along with his performance on the court and basketball IQ.
A. Well isn’t that up to the fans? There is no denying the talent Jeff has and his shear ability to control a game with his play.
Q. How does the physicality of the NBA in today's era compare to your playing days in the 80's and 90's?
A. Coincidentally, I get asked this question a million times. There is simply no comparison...that’s all I’ll say about that. I know the young fans today don’t really have a measuring stick to compare today verses the 80’s and 90’s. The game is changed that’s no denying, but that doesn’t mean for better or worse. It’s just a different game now and the athletes we look nightly are just awesome to see. The days of true position players are pretty much gone.
Q. Do you think the Hawks will ever have another player inducted into the hall of fame?
A. Well, I sure hope so. The first priority is getting this team back to playoff prominence. We’ll let Hall of Fame hopes rest in the players' hands.