What you'll get here ...

• My sports opinions, most notably on the Atlanta sports teams, the local college teams, the SEC, the ACC and everything else that catches my interest.
• Statistics that support my sports opinions.
• Anything else that supports my sports opinions.
• If I must admit that I am wrong, don't expect me to be happy about it.
• Statistics and other evidence that expose fallacies in sports (or at least that my buddies are wrong on occasion).
• The award-winning "Reasoning with a Moron" blog posts (the first of which shall be part of this post).
• Ramblings about my life and my family.
• Links to articles, videos, blogs and other stuff which makes me laugh or might prove interesting/useful.

That's a good start. Who knows where this thing will go, but at least I've got an outlet now for my thoughts.

Reasoning with a Moron:

As always the names and identities of the Morons have been changed. Quoting Ricky Bobby in Talledega Nights, "That just happened!" ... And now, you can share in my desire to bang my head against a wall after the following conversation.

-----Original Message-----
From: Today's Moron
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 9:16 AM
To: Atlanta Sports Genius
Subject: ESPN.com: Ford: Hawks smart to match $58 million offer for Smith

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=smithhawks-080809

I thought you might enjoy this story from ESPN.com. J-Smooth is da man and gets props here

----- Original Message -----
From: Atlanta Sports Genius
Sent: 08/09/2008 09:38 AM
To: Today's Moron
Subject: RE: ESPN.com: Ford: Hawks smart to match $58 million offer for Smith

I fail to see it. The article applauds the Hawks for matching the offer sheet.

-----Original Message-----
From: Today's Moron
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 9:44 AM
To: Atlanta Sports Genius
Subject: Re: ESPN.com: Ford: Hawks smart to match $58 million offer for Smith

It also rates him higher than Deng and Iguadola in a major statistical category

----- Original Message -----
From: Atlanta Sports Genius
Sent: 08/09/2008 09:44 AM
To: Today's Moron
Subject: RE: ESPN.com: Ford: Hawks smart to match $58 million offer for Smith

Smith's position is power forward and Horford's position is power forward. If we play both of them at the same time, we have no center. How does that rate in your book?

----- Original Message -----
From: Today's Moron
To: Atlanta Sports Genius
Sent: Sat Aug 09 10:17:50 2008
Subject: Re: ESPN.com: Ford: Hawks smart to match $58 million offer for Smith

Your logic makes no sense. Their positions have nothing to do with us not getting a center. We need to get rid of Stinky Marvin, he is a waste of a starter and get a real center as a result.

----- Original Message -----
From: Atlanta Sports Genius
Sent: 08/09/2008 10:24 AM
To: Today's Moron
Subject: Re: ESPN.com: Ford: Hawks smart to match $58 million offer for Smith

Today's Moron, if you think Smith can play small forward, you need to be in a mental hospital.

----- Original Message -----
From: Today's Moron
To: Atlanta Sports Genius
Sent: Sat Aug 09 10:43:09 2008
Subject: Re: ESPN.com: Ford: Hawks smart to match $58 million offer for Smith

He can definitely play small forward. He is super quick and athletic. He would certainly be a true small forward (3) on at least 20 times in the NBA.

----- Original Message -----
From: Atlanta Sports Genius
Sent: 08/09/2008 11:27 AM
To: Today's Moron
Subject: Re: ESPN.com: Ford: Hawks smart to match $58 million offer for Smith

Super quick and athletic do not make one a small forward. You have to be able to shoot from outside 5 feet. Consistently.

-----Original Message-----
From: Today's Moron
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 11:53 AM
To: Atlanta Sports Genius
Subject: Re: ESPN.com: Ford: Hawks smart to match $58 million offer for Smith

You are right and that is why Smith more than qualifies. He is a bonafide shhoter from minimum of 15 ans beyond, mark it down and everything else that has been aforementioned.

----- Original Message -----
From: Atlanta Sports Genius
Sent: 08/09/2008 01:42 PM
To: Today's Moron
Subject: Josh Smith CANNOT shoot beyond 5 feet

Today's Moron,
Just once I'd like you to actually be right so I wouldn't have to bitchslap you repeatedly (I've got the hand ready, please present me with your face). In regards to your contention that Josh Smith is "a bonafide shooter from minimum of 15 feet and beyond, mark it down" (quoting you from the previous email), let's turn to 82games.com, which keeps incredibly detailed statistics on all things NBA.

So, last season 52% of Josh Smith's shots were inside shots (defined by 82games.com as either close-range, a dunk or a tip -- in other words, shots taken within 5 feet). On those shots, he is a respectable 61.8%, placing him in the middle of the NBA among players who took 100 or more FG attempts last year. (see: http://www.82games.com/FGSORT12.HTM)

However, roughly 48% of Smith's jump shots are taken from outside close range, i.e. beyond 5 feet. It is there where Smith is a fucking disaster.

Last year, he took over 39% of his shots from outside close range but inside the 3-pt line. Care to guess how he fared? Come on, Today's Moron, take a guess. ... Ok, give up. It's 29.1%. That's right, less than 3 out of every 10 jump shots he takes inside the arc fail actually go in the basket. By way of comparison, that ranks him 242 out of 249 qualifiers, i.e. people who took 100 or more FG attempts this past NBA season. (http://www.82games.com/FGSORT7.HTM) That's right, I said 242 out of 249. I believe the term for that is shitty and they spell that J-S-M-O-O-V-E.

Outside of the arc it is even worse. (I know, that's truly impossible to believe) Among the 210 NBA players who took 50 or more 3-pt shots last season, Smith's 3-pt FG % is ranked 205th. His 25.3% shooting from 3-pt range came on more than 8% of the FG attempts he hoisted. (http://www.82games.com/FGSORT2.HTM) Again, I am pretty sure we know how to spell this, N-O-T A S-M-A-L-L F-O-R-W-A-RD.

Remember what I said all along -- the Hawks would be better off letting Smith go, playing Horford at his natural power forward position and signing a center and another small forward. You can't have a team where Horford and Smith play on the floor at the same time which is successful. It's not possible. It forces Horford to play out of position and doesn't allow for him to develop into the All-Star power forward he can and should be.

This reality check has been brought to you by Statistics, making the world a more logical place one example at a time.

----- Original Message -----
From: Today's Moron
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 2:10 PM
To: Atlanta Sports Genius
Subject: Re: Josh Smith CANNOT shoot beyond 5 feet

Stats, Stats, Stats!!!! That is your whole life and basis of every argument. You need to separate yourself from that attorney mentality. There is more to life than stats and numbers. As far as I remember, he makes them in the clutch anbd when it counts, so you are wrong once again. You are just bitter plain and simple that not only did the Hawks resign him, but he got the huge $$$$ that I knew he would get and you have claimed all along he would not get, boo yah, Atlanta Sports Genius you are wrong once again. They paid the man that deserved it. He is the best Hawks pick ever outside of a lottery (I.e) in the past 20 years or so. He repeatey made them in big games against the Lakers and Celtics. Atlanta Sports Genius, the truth hurts, J-Smooth was rewarded for his amazing and talented ability despite what you thought!