Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > June > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USKeeping Woodson is another mistake by Hawks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By moving to keep Mike Woodson, the Hawks have opted to err on the side of continuity. Still to be determined is what exactly will continue. Is it the rush of good will from beating Boston three times in seven days, or is it the flailing that resulted in a conspicuously gifted team slipping into the playoffs at 37-45?
If it’s the former, then this is a reasonable decision. The Hawks under Woodson played hard and well and even cleverly in those epic victories. But should three playoff games override a body of work that has now run to 106 regular-season wins against 222 losses?
There’s a case to be made for retaining this coach after four losing seasons, and he made it before Game 5 in Boston: “We’ve improved every year,” Woodson said. The belief here, however, is that the Hawks didn’t improve as much or as soon as they should have. The belief is that a team with a new general manager could have benefited from a new coach.
As has been clear for some time, ownership believed otherwise. Michael Gearon Jr., the Atlanta Spirit’s principal basketball voice, said three days after the Hawks played their last game that Woodson “deserves an opportunity to see what he can do with this team,” and the hope among all of us who care about basketball is that we haven’t already seen it.
Offering an incumbent two more contractual years isn’t so much an endorsement as a deferral. (Three years would have been a validation; one year would have been tantamount to repudiation.) The length of the extension suggests Rick Sund isn’t sold on Woodson but isn’t entrenched enough to defy the owners who rebuffed his predecessor’s attempts to depose this coach.
Said Woodson, speaking Thursday of upper management: “They’ve made that clear [that his services are desired] by bringing me back.”
The issue with Woodson isn’t so much tactics — his X’s and O’s are no less OK than most coaches’ — as temperament. So often did the Hawks give what both he and his players deemed substandard efforts that you wonder if a more upbeat personality wouldn’t be seen as an upgrade. He has had spats with Josh Smith, who’s about to become a free agent, and Zaza Pachulia, who regressed this regular season, and there’s no guarantee these players will pay more attention next time.
Still, it’s worth noting that Woodson expressed his gratitude Thursday. “I appreciate my players voting for me to be their coach,” he said, and then: “You might not know this, but I love coaching and I love my players.”
That’s nice to hear, and it will be even nicer if the Hawks use the Boston series as the springboard it could and should be. If they play the way they did in Games 3, 4 and 6 — the road dates were, as we know, rather different — they’ll win enough to make any coach look smart. Those were big-time efforts by a team that could and should blossom with time and seasoning.
But you also wonder if time mightn’t work against Woodson. This is the NBA, where familiarly breeds contempt. The core of this group — Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams and the Joshes — have played for him since 2005, and a far more successful band of Hawks began to tune out Mike Fratello after a similar stretch two decades ago.
We can only hope that the success tasted in Games 3, 4 and 6 will have a transforming effect on all concerned: That Woodson will be less dour and that his players will be more receptive, and that the sour refrain — “We weren’t ready to play” — will, from this day forward, remain unsung. But hope isn’t quite faith, is it?
Permalink | Comments (67) | Post your comment | Categories: Hawks/NBA
Comments
By Soriarmo
June 12, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this
Aren’t you the same genius that proclaimed the Braves would be in first place by July 4th?
By Michael
June 12, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
By freddie
June 12, 2008 6:21 PM | Link to this
i agree mark good
By pj
June 12, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
Look, getting Josh Smith back is the #1 key to this season. With Joe J. and Marvin you have proven shooters/scorers now. Between Bibby and Acie I feel ok about the point position. Al Horford is an amazing 4 or 5 guy who will continue to grow into an all star… but we HAVE to have that athletic long swing guy who can put some charge into the team.
I like Childress off the bench, but if not signing him means we can get a better free agent to beef up the middle, I’m all for it. Here are some PF/C guys who are free agents going into next season…
Theo Ratliff (yes him) Jermaine O’Neal Elton Brand Corey Maggette Kwame Brown
Whatever happens, just keep Josh Smith. He’s the heart and soul of the team. He made that playoff series exciting. Do. not. let. him. go.
By Harry Hawk
June 12, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this
Congratulations on the contract extension, Woody. I look forward to you getting canned during next season.
By SlimG
June 12, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this
Mark, I thought it was the correct move. We finally play defense and resemble some for of team concept.
Please sign a center who can dominate and we’ll beat the C’s next year. Feel what the city has become so Woodson must be doing something right. Finally some discipline.
Good Move Spirit!
By Proud dawg
June 12, 2008 7:47 PM | Link to this
And why does atlanta have underperforming professional teams? because we bring in new general managers, yet everything else stays the same… Its the definition of insanity… keep doing the same thing but expecting different results!
By Najeh Davenpoop
June 12, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this
Keeping Woodson is a bad move, but I totally disagree on the reasons why. It is absolutely X’s and O’s that make Woodson below average. He may not be Santa Claus but you can’t have a so-called “players’ coach” coaching a team as young as the Hawks. It’s his Greg Knapp-esque inability to coordinate a pro-caliber offense that makes extending him a stupid decision.
By Don
June 12, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this
X’s and O’s. Yes that was a brilliant move on the road in Boston. Let’s see, get two fouls and sit out the quarter/half. He really does have all the bases covered, but now who is he going to blame. The guy has no clue and neither does ownership. One would think that Mike Gearon Jr., would have learned at least something from his father, but it looks like all he has is the name. SAD!
By tp
June 12, 2008 8:32 PM | Link to this
atlanta sports owners r just plan clueless. woodson is the winningless coach in hawks history! what is wrong with these owners!
if i had this team we would have a championship by now. they would better off if they had hired their gm off the streets.
every sports teams should hire a gm who has had championship success either as a player or coach.
history shows that majority of the nba players who have won championships also have won championships as coaches.
why don’t these narrow minded owners understand that!
if they don’t have championship experience don’t hire them donnit!!
‘
By Ted Striker
June 12, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this
The biggest problem with Woodson is lack of urgency. He’s too willing to justify stepping backward — even last regular season — as natural. Add lack of urgency to his demeanor & fans don’t see a clear-cut vision for improvement.
In Woodson’s defense, he’s sold the people who sign his paychecks. Whether that will equate to improvement next year remains to be seen.
By Alex
June 12, 2008 9:18 PM | Link to this
Woody has developed and nurtured this team from its infancy. He deserves this extension and hopefully he will springboard this exciting team back to respectability.
By NumbaOneFan
June 12, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this
This is utterly ridiculous, propostrous and totally unacceptable. The only thing woody deserves is to get hus AZZ fired for impersonating an NBA Head coach. This is it…. I will not support the Lame Azz Atlanta Spirit.
By NumbaOneFan
June 12, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this
This is utterly ridiculous, propostrous and totally unacceptable. The only thing Woody deserves is to get his AZZ fired for impersonating an NBA Head coach. This is it…. I will not support the Lame Azz Atlanta Spirit Group anymore, instead I will spend my hard earned cash on hookers…. simply put. In my opinion it’s a better return of my entertainment budget.
By Kev
June 12, 2008 10:14 PM | Link to this
Good for Woody I wonder if he is going to invite Billy over for dinner? Woody is good for the Hawks.Give the man a bench to work with. Ratliff would be a good start.
By Sean
June 12, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
By Bk Hawk
June 12, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this
new gm is a yes man.. he had to keep woody, remember the old gm couldn’t fire him. it sucks.
By Manny
June 12, 2008 10:32 PM | Link to this
I can see why many of you are not heading up any organizations, especially sports organizations. Whew!
Keeping Mike Woodson as head coach is not only the right thing to do, but it’s the only logical thing for the Hawks to do. Even though the Hawks’ regular season was terrible, it wasn’t as terrible as some others in the NBA. They DID make the playoffs. And they were the youngest team to make the playoffs.
But what kept Woodson’s job is his performance during the playoffs. Those same young Hawks took, what is probably the #1 team in the NBA to 7 games. If, during the beginning of the season, we told the Hawks fans that they would make the playoffs and take the NBA Eastern Champs all the way to a game 7, many wouldn’t have believed it.
But what also kept his job was all of the intangibles. These young Hawks actually saw and felt a real playoff series, with real Hawks fans tearing the Philips Arena apart. And they felt the heat of playing and getting hit in the mouth and eyes gouged, while the refs told them to play on. It was the first NBA playoff appearance by the Atlanta Hawks in 9 years?
That experience is something that these young guys can build upon next season. This is Al Horford’s team. For him to experience what he experienced will make him play even harder. And with a couple of player changes, the Hawks could go back to the playoffs with a record above .500.
But in order to build, you need continuity- especially with a young team. These guys aren’t the Detroit Pistons. You don’t just roll some balls out on the court, and let the veterans run the practice. Young teams needs to see the same coach that they’ve had some, albeit minor, successes with. They need someone who yells and get mad at them. They need someone who can coach a young team and knows them.
Mike Woodson coached the Hawks well during that playoff series. The issues that the Hawks have aren’t coaching issues- they’re player issues. That’s why the owners got rid of the old GM. And gave their coach an extension.
But you all would have gotten rid of the coach too, and would have been mad because they wouldn’t have made the playoffs next year with Avery Johnson (or some other coach.) And then you guys would have blamed the players. And it would be another 5 years before the Hawks reached the playoffs again…
By Clyde
June 12, 2008 11:22 PM | Link to this
FIRE WOODY
By Harpie
June 12, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this
Woodson stinks as a coach.
By preston
June 12, 2008 11:56 PM | Link to this
HELLLLLLLL NAWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By darrell starks
June 13, 2008 12:13 AM | Link to this
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE THIS CITY HAS TO BE THE WORST WHEN IT COME TOO SPORTS HOW CAN YOU GIVE A CONTRACT TO A COACH THAT WON 106 AND LOSS 222 GAMES WITH A 32 WINNING PERCENTAGE IN TILL THE HAWKS OWER SHIP SELL THIS FRANCHISE THEY WILL ALL WAYS BE LOOSER TED TURNER MUST BUY THIS TEAM BACK THE SAME FOR THE BRAVES THEY WILL DECLINE A* WELL RUMOR HAS IT THAT ARTHUR BLANK IS THINKING ABOUT BUYING THE BRAVES IN TILL WE GET OWERNER SHIP IN HERE THAT CARES ABOUT THIS CITY AND DOES NOT MIND SPENDING MONEY THE HAWKS AND THE BRAVES WILL BECOME LOOSER THIS CITY IS NOW BECOMING NICK NAME LOOSER VILL.
By preston
June 13, 2008 12:28 AM | Link to this
After 8 yrs of George Bush, whom I regret to say that I actually voted for…..and 4 yrs of Woodson, plus an additional 2……it is safe to say that Armaggedon is right around the corner……time to run for the hills, and take cover!!
By Pete
June 13, 2008 12:31 AM | Link to this
2 Years is fine!!!!! If they are losing mid-year he gets axed and they only have to pay one more year. Smart move!!!!! If he is winning he gets more years. I like the deal. As for Chris Paul Woodson wanted him Billy signed off on Marvin. Billy never gave Woodson a full team until this season.
Look at the past rosters Woodson was given in his tenure. He was given some bad teams.
By no id
June 13, 2008 1:14 AM | Link to this
It’s beyond being mad now.The ASG needs to read these blogs and see how upset the public is.Most of us want Woody gone while you have a very small portion that believes he deserves to be here..Maybe i should apply for a job with the ASG since they retain employees with low performance.
By no id
June 13, 2008 1:24 AM | Link to this
lol@preston
By black bee
June 13, 2008 2:20 AM | Link to this
This is a good move-two year contract is not something you can’t eat if things aren’t headed in the right direction. But you must admit there is a chance-we sign the Josh’s and get a few solid veterans like Mutombo and Ratliff who can give quality leadarship and a few good minutes. One problem with WOODY is until the playoffs he didn’t seem like the kind of COACH who could inspire this team to championships. Was that the team that took it on their own backs or THE cOACH? HE DOESN’T SEEM TO BE IN CONTROL OF THIS TEAM-HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CHANGE
By morris
June 13, 2008 7:16 AM | Link to this
I pray that Belkin wins that lawsuit to get this team under his control. Belkin is arrogant and can be aloof but he is one hell of a smart business man. He has more brains that all of those other idiots combined.
By Maniac is accurate
June 13, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
Dwane Casey. Flip Saunders. Doug Collins. Mike Woodson. Who is fourth in that group?
ASG fails spectacularly again.
Any of the other three would have already had a couple of 50 win seasons with the group Woodson has had. The Hawks are young? So were the Celtics when one young player and a good coach took them from 29 wins to 61 wins in one year in 1980. Woodson should have this team about five miles further up the road by now. The fact he doesn’t is the reason he needed to go.
By ndadome
June 13, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this
If Phil Jackson, supposedly the best in the business, can let his team blow a 24 point lead in the finals, at home, maybe who’s coaching the team doesn’t really matter all that much. Players win games, not coaches.
By Paul
June 13, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this
The goal of the organization is to have the best possible product on the floor and that means having the best players possible and the best coaching possible. Are they saying that they think Woodson is the best coach we could have gotten? I would tend to disagree when comparing to coaches such as Avery Johnson and Flip Saunders. Which means in my opinion, they did it because of money reasons…..Bad move.
By Paul
June 13, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
The goal of the organization is to have the best possible product on the floor and that means having the best players possible and the best coaching possible. Are they saying that they think Woodson is the best coach we could have gotten? I would tend to disagree when comparing to coaches such as Avery Johnson and Flip Saunders. Which means in my opinion, they did it because of money reasons…..Many times fans call for the head of the coach and it’s unfounded. This is NOT one of those times. Bad move.
By Mychelfromatl
June 13, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
I think this was the right move to keep Woodson, I’ll never forget those three wins the at Phillips…Amazing!!! plus the players wanted hime back. Now we just need to sign the Joshes back and add a few piecies and the Celtics will be going down next year!!! Dare I say a starting 5 that consist of:
C - Al Horford PF - Jermaine O’Neal SF - Josh Smith SG - Joe Johnson PG - Mike Bibby (Which will be healthy this year)
By winger
June 13, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
Plus, he screws chickens in the off seasons.
By Ben
June 13, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
Winning those 3 playoff games was the worst thing that could’ve happened. It glossed over the ATROCITY that has been the last 3-4 seasons. We competed at home and won close games but were HUMILIATED in Boston. Not even close to competitive. I am in disbelief Woodson was brought back. Now the Josh Smith contract becomes the biggest decision that this “ownership” has had to make. Either decision is bad. Overpay him max money and let him play for a coach he doesn’t listen to and OPENLY has contempt for or let him go and be out a potential all star. Only the freaking Hawks could put themselves in this position.
By gthawksfan99
June 13, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
All too often, professional sports teams get greedy and change from a formula that’s working. I couldn’t believe that the Pistons fired Flip Saunders when he has repeatedly taken them to the conference finals; you catch some bad breaks, or somebody gets injured, or you face somebody who just has bigger guns. I would much rather see my team be perennial conference contenders than watch an little needed rebuilding process.
A two year extension is right for Mike Woodson. I think he earned his right to keep his job during the playoffs, and he can show marked improvement each year that he has been with the Hawks. There is no reason to mess with the chemistry of the team while they are on the rise. Blockbuster trades like the one the Celtics made early this season don’t happen very often, and their meteoric rise to the top is far from normal. I think Hawks fans should be satisfied with the steady, if slow, progress our team has made. If the playoffs have shown us anything, it’s that the Hawks are unbeatable when they have the support of Atlanta fans. To push the Celtics, the probable champions, to seven games and Josh Smith’s unbelievable performances at home was an undeniable consequence of rabid fan support.
I think Hawks fans should be satisfied with this deal and excited for the next season. In addition to signing back Josh Smith, Atlanta’s golden boy and reigning most exciting player in the NBA, the fans need to climb back on board and keep Phillips packed.
By Rutuger
June 13, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Where do these people come from who are satisfied—and I dare say, even EXCITED—about rehiring a failure?
People with this mentality represent everything that’s wrong with this franchise and this town. Happy with a .300 winning percentage?
You people should be ashamed.
By Mark Bradley
June 13, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
Another consideration to ponder: It was surely cheaper to keep Woodson than to hire a Doug Collins or an Avery Johnson or a Flip Saunders.
By Rutuger
June 13, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
Ben @ 9:05—you nailed it. I thought the same thing in the wake of those playoff wins. While I was certainly excited and glad we won, there was a lingering cloud over them because of the very reasons you stated.
Horrible!!!
By josh
June 13, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
Next season when they fire Mike Woodson I’m going to be the first person to post on this blog saying i told your dumb a* so. This is ridiculous if it wasnt for the fan’s those hawks would have never won those playoff games at home. Mike Woodson has no clue about basketball and i will not step foot inside that building until he is gone. The hawks players don’t want a new coach because they know the losing would have to stop and they would have to play hard every game. Rick Sund has already made the 1st bad mood. Two weeks into the job. NICE JOB RICK.
By Cwynn
June 13, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
I agree with Manny. Woody did coach a good playoff. I think people have forgotten that these young guys struggle with pressure. Lebron and Detroit struggled with Boston. The Hawks could used some additions to the team. I think the way they played in the playoffs will make a free agent want to come here. Hell the Nuggets have a slue of talent and can’t get it done. I am a true Hawks fan born and raised in the ATL. Be a true fan and stop looking for a team to bandwagon on. No one was a BOSTON fan until they started winning.
By Dean
June 13, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
I can’t believe this is actually happening. Then again, it’s the Hawks. This reeks of a money saving measure to try and keep both Joshs in the ATL.
We’ll continue to see a dismal offense with nothing but one-on-one individual play. Yeah the defense might keep us close, but Woodie’s in over his head - three playoff games notwithstanding. And if anyone says we came close to beating the (probable) NBA champs, so did Cleveland. So what? We were never going to win that series.
I can tell you one thing - I will not fully support this team until the last piece of dead wood is cleared out. The first piece was Knight. The second is Woodie. Auuuuuugggggghhhhh!!!!
By Bill G
June 13, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
I can see no reason why Woodson should be allowed to coach a team with great potential when the team’s defense is as bad as it is and their fundamentals even worse. Bring in a new, veteran coach. Someone who knows how to win like Avery Johnson!
By MannyT
June 13, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
Please note that Manny & MannyT are different folks.
The rehire sucks, but it is not a surprise for the ownership team that still hasn’t figured out how to hire a hockey coach.
How do you hire to get better if you are overwhelmed hiring anyone?
Bottom line is that players (especially bench players) don’t get better with his coaching. Say whatever you want, but look at the evidence.
Diaw - better in Phoenix than here.
Zaza - gets worse every year save his Rocky moment in the playoffs.
Salim - Steady decline in his years under Woody.
AC Law - very good talent. His rookie year was worse than Salim’s rookie year. Check the numbers.
INCOMPLETE ratings for:
Mario (all is do is hustle) West. I think I heard him telling Woody that he could hustle for more than 3.4 seconds at the end of the 2nd quarter.
Jeremy (would I be here if NBA rules did not require that you have a minimum number of players on the roster) Richardson. Rumor has it that he can shoot the ball. A clear weakness that the team had. Might be worth developing?
WAFFLE Woody’s Arms Folded - Feeding Lower Expectations
By Ryder
June 13, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
Avery Johnson, a guy who has been outcoached the past two seasons in the first round? You mean the guy who is known as a micromanager whom today’s players whom were quick to tune out? That Avery Johnson? Sure he may sound entertaining because of his voice, but funny sound bites nor his style of coaching are getting Atlanta to the next level.
Getting players who can mesh well on the court will do just that, and Sund had better re-sign Josh Smith quick or this whole process will have to restart itself.
Sadly, I do see Childress being shown the door, and that’s a shame because he is the kind of player you need in the postseason, especially when Atlanta’s offense becomes stagnant.
Sund, PLEASE do the right thing and keep Afro Power in the ATL! Even if that means Atlanta has to spend their mid-level exception (which is all they’ll have left) on Kwame Brown. Gag me with a spoon!
By josh
June 13, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
I don’t buy that crap it would have been cheaper to keep Woodson instead of paying Flip Sanders LOL you get what you pay for. I Promise the ownership saw the same thing we have saw the last 5 years and the still pick this idiot who can’t even call a time out when the game is on the line. Until we get a good coach these kids will continue to play 50% of the time.
By James
June 13, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Well…if the other options out there are Doug Collins, Flip Saunders or Avery Johnson…then I’m VERY glad we resigned Woodson. At least the players (surprising to me, I admit) support him. And, the spark they showed against Boston is more than I’ve ever seen from a team coached by those other three men.
By gthawksfan99
June 13, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
What’s the point of being a fan if you don’t get excited about the next season? Who knows, once Bibby gels more with the team, Acie is completely rehabilitated, Josh Smith and Al Horford improve even more over the summer, the Hawks could explode. I get so irritated with all the negativity splashed on every Hawks discussion board and all over the AJC. It’s the reason people don’t go to the games, not to mention why people are told they should be ashamed of their favorite team when they try to put it in a positive light.
Also, bolding your letters and twisting other people’s words don’t constitute a valid argument.
By brian
June 13, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
THEY FIRED HERB BROWN LARRY BROWN BROTHER YESTERDAY. WOODSON BROUGHT HIM HERE AND USED HIM, THE BOYS REALLY RESPECT HERB AND LISTENS TO HIM MORE THEN WOODSON.
By Roger
June 13, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this
1, 2 or 3 years…. your analysis is correct. With a 2 year deal, if the regular season starts as a disaster then firing Woodson is not too costly economically. No question he is not a good head coach even if ownership ignores the entire body of work.
Too often the team was unprepared, and it looked as if the entire staff had not broken down film. Execution out of time outs was horrible. I have never seen a coach stand on the sidelines with his arms crossed (or chin in hand) for 48 minutes not giving his team any play calling or defensive assignment. Why the players support him is beyond my comprehension.
However, given how ownership leads this falls within the category of ‘ok for now’ let’s see what Rick Sund can do to change the attitude.
By Sunds an idiot
June 13, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
I just don’t understand how you can bring this guy back with his record? He has no X’s and O’s, other than clear out for Joe Johnson as the shot clock is almost up. He gets those STUPID looks on his face, then looks to his assistants almost for assurance that he’s an IDIOT. Not really a suprise, I wish I could do such a bad job and keep working, much less making a million or so a year. Sad day for the Hawks. They will go backwards next season and back to the lotto. NICE. Can we fire Sund yet? hahahhhahhaha
By Andy G
June 13, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
Woodson better start developing these young guys on the bench. The Atlanta Spirit cannot effectively evaluate the free agent market (e.g. Speedy Claxton) and there is not a draft pick this year to add on young talent. He is going to have to work with what he has. To do so, he must get the young guys more minutes and give the starters a break every once in a while. Solomon and Salim need more in game experience. Solo CAN be a defensive threat in the middle if he can get on the floor. The offense also needs some serious work. Isolation for Joe will not work with double teams anymore. I heard Larry Drew is an offensive genious, so maybe Woody should hand over the offensive reigns and just concentrate on defense. By the way, Larry Drew Jr. is playing for Roy Williams at UNC this year so keep an eye out.
By ben
June 13, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
Once again shows we are a second class organization. The Pistons fired their coach after 3 straight trips to the conference finals. They expect great. Same for the Suns and the Mavericks. This is common sense, what other job would you be able to keep of you were 100 games under .500?
By Crazy Diamond
June 13, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
Sure the Pistons expect greatness. they have great players for the coach to coach. But even if Superman was the coach of this team when they won 13 and 26 games a season he could not have done any better.
This is really a one year deal. No need to rid ourselves of a coach that may actually be a good one given good players. If Sund is wrong on keeping Woody, he’ll move on real quick - like maybe mid season next year. The rest of the moves that Sund must make are the moves that will determine if we even make the playoffs next year.
We don’t need another rookie project - we need real NBA experience that will make an impact.
By BA
June 13, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
Yeah, Bradley. You’re right. Would’ve made more sense to let the guy go, since all he did was put us in the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Do you really get paid to write half-baked articles like this? I say keep Woodson, and get us a columnist that isn’t a babbling retard like you and Terence (race-baiter) Moore.
By travis
June 13, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
Mark Bradley, NOOKAH, KEN S., NAJEH, SEKOU, ANDO… oh don’t mind me, i am just taking the names of all of the people who didn’t want woody back, so when we turn things around next year, i don’t want to hear all of y’all talkin’ about…”Oh, I knew he was a helluva of a coach, the way he kept his arms folded, while looking pensively at his players.”
This year, Doc Rivers is a genius, last year he was reviled by Boston. I hate woody just as much as most of you, but his winning continued going up from 13, 26, 30, 37 plus a deep run in the playoffs. Hard to fire someone who is continually improving.
We had no point guard to start the season last year law was a rook. wit’ we was 15-15 wit’ bibby, imagine starting the season wit’ him.
GO HAWKS!!
By Mychelfromatl
June 13, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
@ Ben and other fools…so for the Hawks to show they’re moving in the right direction, they should fire the coach thats developed them to the playoff, the coach that the players want and sign a coach that was just fired??? FYI: Avery Johnson, Doug Collins (might as well be fired) or Flip Saunders (who was fired for not developing his young players!!) Wooww. I say this was a good decision by the Hawks. Now sign the Joshes back and lets work some-kinda magic in free agency.
By 74 Dawg
June 13, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
Hey guys, it could be worse - they got rid of Billie Knight .The Hawks have a brighter fture than the Falcons,who are being run by Arthur Blank and a couple of bobble head dolls .
By Antonio Gramsci
June 14, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Excuse me.
Did some intelligent fellow above really say
KWAME BROWN??????
By joebrave
June 14, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
N.egroid B.all.A.ssociation… What a useless unneccesary waste of T.V. time….What a load of $hit!!!! This never-ending game of Garbage is worse than that Gayfer game called GOLF!!!!!
By bwa
June 14, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
The Hawks won three games in the playoffs not because of Mike Woodson, but because of the energy of us the FANS!
The rehire was a bad move because hiring an Avery Johnson would have put more fans in the seats at Phillips.
Rehiring Woodson has cost the team fans.
By SalimFan
June 14, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
BA, Are you serious???
Man….what happend to you? Have you been smoking the hippie letuce with Woodson again?
By RaJaH
June 14, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
I keep hearing people say Woody deserves another chance because he put the Hawks in the playoffs. That’s not true! The Hawks had one of the easiest schedules remaining in the league and STILL couldn’t take the 8th seed! It just so happened that Indiana couldn’t win out either.
Anyways, what kind of organization rehires a coach with a 30% winning percentage? What kind of organization rehires a coach that coaches to his team’s weakness. What kind of organization rehires a coach that never holds himself accountable.
Sure we took Boston to a 7 game series but that doesn’t mean Woody deserves an extension.
Remember: -Woody is the same coach that runs the same play out of EVERY time out.
-Woody is the same coach that we see getting out coached by other coaches AS WELL AS his own players(how many times did we see Anthony Johnson and Mike Bibby get flustered in huddles?)
-Woody is the same coach that called the time out when Josh Smith was leading a fast break!
-Woody is the same coach that refuses to develop his bench, make smart in-game substitutions, and make any half time adjustments!
Like someone said earlier the goal for anyone making decisions for the Hawks is to put the best product on the floor. If the best is Woody then……
By bigeasy830
June 14, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
Ok, look at the record over the last 5 years,but also look at the team. No one could have won with that team. He was basically coaching a college team. Even Joe Johnson was and still is very young when we signed him, so was Al Harrington (very young). If you listen to Coach Woodson he is preaching defense and rebounding and runing opportunistically, that is what will eventually win you championships. Ok, we can run and not worry about defense, but we will look like the Suns. A team with a great record but we all knew would not win a title because they did not play D under D’Antoni. That is why he is no longer there as coach. Coach Woodson is trying to get the Hawks to win the right way. He gets into it with J-Smoove and ZAZA because he is basically coaching these guys as if they are in college. Now lets hope that they have gotten it into their heads that their coach was right and hopefully have bought into the system. Lets ride this thing out and see where it carries us. It would have been an injustice not only to Coach Woodson but to all the fans to have it otherwise. Also if Coach Woodson would have stayed in Detroit and coached the Pistons, I doubt if he would have had a losing record.
Mark you have missed the mark on several key issues in Atlanta sports lately. The Drafting of Matt Ryan and now this. Nothing against Ryan, I love the kid but we should have drafted Baby Warren Sapp.
By HHoops
June 14, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this
The Hawks are on the way UP! Giving Woodson a 2 year contract was the right thing to do. He is making progress with this team! If that progress does not continue, then a 2 year deal is not too much to correct.
We need to sign both Josh’s and see if we can get a BIG in free agency to play defense and rebound. That will allow Horford to play 4. Horford is developing into a MONSTER! I think Woodson is going to have to give S. Jones a serious look in the post. He is athletic and can make some things happen on defense. Zaza can help the Hawks if Woodson can figure out what motivates him. If he would light a fire under his butt, we could have a great season next year!
I don’t care what level of basketball you are dealing with, motivating players to do their best and giving them big goals to work toward, will pay huge dividends. Hopefully this playoff run this season is the fire that this team needs to realize it’s potential!
GO HAWKS!!!
By Keeping It Real
June 14, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this
JoeBrave,
I GUESS YOUR SHORTS ARE REALLY IN A TIGHT NOW THAT TIGER IS LEADING THE US OPEN. I THOUGHT PEOPLE LIKE YOU WERE EXTINCT. DO US ALL A FAVOR AND GO BACK UNDER THE ROCK FROM WHICH YOU CAME.
By KillaCrossover
June 16, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
I guess the fact that us getting a new coach would pretty much seal the fate of one if not both of the joshes to another franchise considering the amount of money we would have to pay to get one of the big name coaches, or the fact that for once the Atlanta fan base is satisfied with a management decision never crossed this guys mind…. is this a letter to the editor or does the ajc pay you?
I’m pretty sure every sports team has quarrels in the locker room among players and coaches….look at the NBA mvp, whats his face, anyway i heard he wanted a trade early in the season because of problems with personnel… oh thats right his name is Kobe Bryant