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Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2009 > February > 07 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDespite clunker, Hawks on right course
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rick Sund arrived in town three weeks after the Hawks took the Celtics to a Game 7 and proceeded to tamp down any lingering euphoria. This was not yet a powerhouse, he said, and the new general manager set this modest goal: “To get back to the playoffs and improve on our record.”
Sund’s team played its 50th game Saturday night, and it was, sad to say, what the new GM calls “a clunker — you’re going to have three of those a year, and you hope no more.”
Let’s hope. The Hawks were beaten by 24 points at home by a terrible Clippers team. But one game, wretched as it was, cannot eclipse what has become a bright, shiny season. The Hawks still hold the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference and are on pace to go 48-34, which would represent a clear upgrade from the eighth-place finish and the 37-45 record of last season.
And the GM is beginning, ever so warily, to believe. “We’ve had so many injuries, and we’ve handled it,” Sund said. (For the record, he spoke Saturday morning.) “That’s a real endorsement of this team.”
True, the Hawks are only 8-11 since New Year’s Day, but circumstances have grown exceedingly extenuating. Their starting five has been intact for only 20 of the 50 games. Al Horford missed a dozen games in January with a bruised knee. Marvin Williams missed two with a concussion, and Joe Johnson missed two this week with the flu. And then, just as Johnson returned, Mike Bibby sat out Saturday’s game with a sprained foot.
And still the Hawks have risen from fifth in the East to fourth over the past month. Said Mike Woodson, the coach: “Our guys just keep fighting … I don’t know if I’m surprised, but I’m excited.”
It wasn’t so long ago that folks doubted if they’d raise even a whimper this winter. ESPN.com pegged them to go 32-50, and Sports Illustrated rated them 11th-best in the 15-team conference. Said Sund: “We’ve proved to be a little better than I thought we’d be,” he said, “and I’m a pretty even-keeled guy … I was thinking something like 42-40, or 46 or 47 wins … A lot of people in the league didn’t think that was reasonable.”
At the rate they’re traveling, the Hawks will better last season’s record by 11 games. That sort of upgrade usually coincides with a major personnel infusion, but all the Hawks did was swap subs Flip Murray and Mo Evans for the Grecian earner Josh Childress. This would suggest that, at long last, the young core has ripened.
“We’ve grown from the time I inherited five years ago,” Woodson said. “I doubt we do anything at the [Feb. 19] trade deadline — I don’t know. But I’m very happy with where we are. If we stay status quo … hey, that’s OK.”
(Those were also pregame comments. Afterward Woodson said: “We just didn’t compete — that’s the first time I’ve seen that happen this year at home.”)
Last February the Hawks remade themselves by trading for Bibby. This season began amid speculation that the point guard, who’s due to become a free agent, would himself be exported. There’s no chance of that happening now. You saw what happened without him Saturday, didn’t you?
If the Hawks made even a minor move these next 10 days, it will constitute an upset. Sund seems content to wait until summer, when he’ll work to keep Bibby, to re-up Williams, perhaps even to make a mid-level move using the rights to Childress. “The real game plan is to see this [season] through and then evaluate our club,” Sund said. “That seems to make the most sense.”
And it does. Truth to tell, there’s no player available who’s apt to lift these Hawks past Boston or Cleveland this spring. But, just as this season has been better than the last, the next one should be better still.
Permalink | Comments (39) | Post your comment | Categories: Hawks/NBA
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By brewdawg
February 7, 2009 7:36 PM | Link to this
Mark
Good stuff. I am curious though: Have you changed your stance on the magnitude of letting Childress get away? I remember you were less than enthused when it happened.
Now, IF we keep the fourth or fifth seed, AND we win the first round… who do we want, Cleveland or Boston? (Magic are not going to jump either of them for one of the top two spots). My votes with Cleveland. I just like our chances of winning there more than I do at Boston. Besides, how good would a Boston-Atlanta rematch be in the conference finals?
By scottbravesfan
February 7, 2009 7:39 PM | Link to this
They’ve shown that they can compete with the Cavs and even beat them at Philips. The problem with the Hawks is that they are still a young team and young teams have problems winning on the road. That will come in time with maturity. I like this team, keep the core together and bring in complementary pieces.
Go Hawks, Braves,Thrashers, and Falcons!
By LAWTON
February 7, 2009 7:41 PM | Link to this
pooleease. there are two names off the bat that are keeping the hawks AWAY from being elite, mike woodson and josh smith. woodson will not or cannot develop a bench or offense or defense and smith sabotages any effort at creating a cohesive offense. everybody knows he is a walking turnover, and cant shoot but thinks he is a mark price clone. bradley, you change with the wind on how you feel about teams. research dude, research.
By Mark Bradley
February 7, 2009 8:21 PM | Link to this
I’ll admit the Hawks aren’t looking too elite at the moment. They’re down 55-41 at the half against the Clippers, and they’ve had to rally to be that close. (They trailed by 19.) Acie Law IV has started in Bibby’s stead and hasn’t exactly seized the moment. Nobody has.
But there’s still a second half, and this is basketball. And the home team always makes a big run.
By Ron Roberts
February 7, 2009 8:29 PM | Link to this
I think the play of Marvin Williams has finally reached the level we were hoping for when we drafted him; he’s peaking at the right time, obviously, for his own reasons, eh? :) Seriously, though, while he’s brought his game to another level, you have to be concerned about Acie Law’s inability to stake a claim for a larger role.
By NoLaSlim
February 7, 2009 8:48 PM | Link to this
Dude, put the Kool-Aid down and walk away… You’ve had enough.
By Mark Bradley
February 7, 2009 9:07 PM | Link to this
No runs are coming tonight, I fear. Zach Randolph and Al Thornton are making every shot, and the Hawks are just awful.
The good news — the only good news — is that it’s just one game.
By Sage of Bluesland
February 7, 2009 9:11 PM | Link to this
When has Mark Bradley been correct about anything? Next, he’ll be espousing that his former buddy, Pete Babcock, be reinstated as the Hawks’ GM to help them ‘get over the top’…Yes, remember that bumbling, idiotic, buffoon who ran the Hawks into the ground in the 1990s…and then our local shill blamed Billy Knight for slowly building from the absolute mess left by the pretty boy who gave Mark something to sell out so cheaply for…
From defending such buffoons as Babcock, Don Waddell, and Keith Brooking, it’s a wonder that Mark even has a job. Well, on second thought, it’s not…It’s the AJC, after all…
Here’s to hoping that the subsization of that organization’s incompetence (led by Mark Bradley) finally ends and these clowns have to work for a living…
What did you sell out for, Mark, in your continued defenses of the indefensible (pertaining to Babcock and Waddell)? I wish you would enlighten us…
By Mark Bradley
February 7, 2009 9:43 PM | Link to this
Sometimes I think that, in my advancing years, I’m losing my kiss-of-death touch. Then along comes a night like this — I write a fairly complimentary early something, after which the home team goes out and stinks to high heaven — and I know I’ve still got the old black magic.
Anybody else you’d like me to hex? Urban Meyer? Lane Kiffin? The Phillies? The Mets?
I’m available. Just give me a call.
By LAWTON
February 7, 2009 9:46 PM | Link to this
i rest my case.
By Mark Bradley
February 7, 2009 9:49 PM | Link to this
In fact, I had a really nice run going in the ’80s. Whatever team I picked to be No. 1 in college basketball would lose its first or second game. Illinois did it in 1984. Syracuse did it in 1987. Louisville lost its first two in 1988. And LSU, with Chris Jackson and Shaquille O’Neal, lost its first game to Kansas in 1989.
So I got smart(er). I started picked North Carolina No. 1. We all know the Heels don’t blow it until March.
Hey, it’s a joke! I’m kidding! I’m a kidder!
By LAWTON
February 7, 2009 10:02 PM | Link to this
what makes me upset about the hawks is the fix is simple. they need a defensive center, a developed bench and a philosophy. the center problem could be solved by someone like marcus camby. get rid of josh smith for a defensive center. this frees up horford to move back to power forward where he can concentrate on scoring and rebounds and not being all everything underneath. this also gets rid of the chemistry problem with josh smith being gone. now, develop a.c. law and play him more with flip mo to give bibby and johnson REST FOR THE PLAYOFFS, and now you have everything you need. the philosophy should be more of a motion offense, which would be more fluid now with smith gone, and camby with horford takes care of the defense. zaza comes off the bench with solomon to rest up the big guys. simple fix.
By Het
February 7, 2009 10:06 PM | Link to this
I agree with Lawton. Woodson and Smith are the weak links.
By Mark Bradley
February 7, 2009 10:10 PM | Link to this
Not to quibble, Lawton, but Josh Smith is a terrific talent who’s becoming a terrific player. Acie Law was awful tonight (and that hurts me to say because I like him a lot). And if you rest Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby for the playoffs, you might end up with the eighth seed again.
And I’m sorry, but I’ve never bought that Horford-isn’t-a-center line. I think he’s exactly what passes for a center in contemporary basketball. He can play with his back to the hoop, and he can face the goal and make a shot.
Granted, he didn’t do much of that tonight. Nobody did anything tonight. But it’s just one game. (The worst game in the history of sports, but one game just the same.)
By Mark Bradley
February 7, 2009 10:12 PM | Link to this
Woodson was, as you’d imagine, less than enthused about this one. He had a funny line — not that he laughed or anything — about his team’s defense, but I’ve promised esteemed colleague Sekou Smith sole quotation rights to Woodson’s acerbic comment. So please read Sekou’s story for a hearty guffaw.
By ROLLINS TREE
February 7, 2009 10:17 PM | Link to this
This is not a team that will make it past the first round of playoffs. Sad because of all the talent we have. Hawks front office wants to play nice guys and not fire Woodson. Ha!
Good luck with that.
By ROLLINS TREE
February 7, 2009 10:19 PM | Link to this
This is not a team that will make it past the first round of playoffs. Sad because of all the talent we have. Hawks front office wants to play nice guys and not fire Woodson. Ha!
Good luck with that.
By Mark Bradley
February 7, 2009 10:20 PM | Link to this
Oh, I don’t know. I think the Hawks can win a first-round series. Unless they play the Clippers, in which case they’ll get swept. (Another joke!)
That’s it for tonight, folks. I’m headed home. Anybody want anything from Taco Bell?
By Tim
February 7, 2009 10:25 PM | Link to this
The Hawks are definitely a better team than they were 2 years ago. Reason? Mike Bibby. The lack of a point guard was the main reason the Hawks sucked over the last 10 years or so. By the way, Bibby is an unrestricted free agent after this season. Law is not the answer. Front office needs to be thinking about who they can sign. Otherwise, its back to Suckville.
By LAWTON
February 7, 2009 10:26 PM | Link to this
mark, i agree that horford CAN play the middle, but i think he is more effective at power forward. thats just a difference of opinion on where he would benefit the hawks most. as far as smith, i disagree whole heartedly. smith reminds me of everything that the hawks were a couple years ago, raw talent but no brains or fundamentals. he SINGLEHANDLY destroys most hawks rally’s. mike fratello has a good quote i read on how he developed nique into a 30 point a night shooter: get 3 more offensive rebounds a game, improve your free throw shooting and get out on the break at least 3 times a game. nique did that and added 14 points to his 17 point rookie average, and thats how he became a 30 point a night scorer. woodson, for whatever reason, fails smith in that regard. if you cannot get thru to smith, then woodson either is trying or cannot, either way, woodson needs to be gone on just that one point right there. then, his constant yanking of flip mo and mo evans after they rescue the hawks, his yanking of law as if he is a stepchild whenever the kid makes a mistake. i cant stand woodson. he is a reminder of the ineptness of atlanta spirit.
By Whopper Dawg
February 8, 2009 12:14 AM | Link to this
I am glad they are fielding a competitive team after decades of woe. But unless they can do something real imaginative and real correct from the GM spot, they will flounder at about this level until the current cast disbands. Then they will descend into the depths and maybe make something again out of top five draft choices. In the NBA and to a lessor degree, the NFL, you have only very rare chances to make a choice of player that can put you into the championship discussion. The Falcons MAY have made such a choice with Matt Ryan (a selection I opposed by the way, I wanted Dorsey). The Bulls did when they took Jordan. The Spurs did when they took Duncan. I am afraid the Hawks did not when they passed on Paul. You put him on this team and we are probably No 1 in the east. Most times you don’t recover from misses like that. Imagine the Falcons with Dorsey rather than Ryan. Imagine the Hawks with Paul rather than Marvin Williams.
The Whopper
By danroundfield
February 8, 2009 3:27 AM | Link to this
family day @ the hawks game and UGH we were sickened!!Tthings will get better though, this team doesn’t have enough consistent parts to miss bibby or horford and win a couple games. The hawks just looked really, really tired out there today.listless! We could use a center who block a few shots and provide a defensive presence cause ZAZA aint gettin it..I like his hustle, but um no..Acie played like he was expecting to to get pulled out at any time, but hey, that’s how it usually happens.Hawks win tuesday vs wizards!! GO HAWKS!!!
By danroundfield
February 8, 2009 3:32 AM | Link to this
oh yeah not a bad read, bradley..
By Eric
February 8, 2009 8:54 AM | Link to this
I AM THE BIGGEST HAWKS FAN IN ATLANTA , IT’S IN MY DNA. I JUST THINK THIS TEAM IS NEVER GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH MIKE WOODSON AT THE HELM. THIS TEAM IS OUT PLAYING HIS BAD COACHING, PLAYING STARTERS TO MANY MINUTES, INABILITY TO MOTIVE, AND STAGNATE OFFENSIVE PLAYS. THIS TEAM HAS A VERY BAD TREND OF LOSING ON THE ROAD AND NOT EVEN SHOWING UP ON BACK TO BACK GAMES LIKE LAST NIGHT!!! THAT POINTS RIGHT BACK TO MIKE WOODSON, GOOD COACHES MOTIVE PLAYERS!!! WITH THE TALENT THIS TEAM HAS WE SHOULD BE PUSHING ORLANDO FOR THE 3RD SEED IN THE EAST, INSTEAD WE ARE HANGING ON TO THE 4TH SEED WHICH WE WILL LOSE TO DETROIT AND MIAMI IN TWO WEEKS. I AM HOPING FOR BETTER, BUT I SEE US FINISHING AS A 7TH OR 8TH SEED AND A FIRST ROUND CASUALTY. IF ONLY WE HAD A COACH WHO KNOWS ???
By falconfan42
February 8, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this
Mark,
First I wanted to let you know that I have been reading the AJC for at least 30 years and you are by far my favorite writer. I like the positive spin on the Hawks and most of your articles. I would like to believe they are on the right track. I was at the game last night and noticed something while Woodson was coaching them courtside. HE HAS LOST THIS TEAM Period…. They don’t even look him in the face when he is giving them direction. It’s like they are out there just going thru the motions. Marvin Williams doesn’t even look him in the eye when he is given directions. This is an every night occurance. I am finally ready to believe AC is a bust. He was given a great opportunity to step up and make a difference tonight and did not. Maybe it is caused by lack of quality playing time. As I have said before WOODY plays his starters way too many minutes. We will make the playoffs but,lack of quality developed depth will get us kicked out in the first round. I honestly believe that until a coaching change is done, this team will renain what it is, mediocre at best. GO Hawks someday…….
By Eric
February 8, 2009 9:50 AM | Link to this
ESPN THE MAG, REPORTED THAT MIKE WOODSON HAS ALREADY LOST THIS TEAM. IT’S ALMOST LIKE THE SITUATION WITH JOHN GRUDEN AND THE BUCS, PLAYERS KEEP IT CIVIL UNTIL THE COACH FINALLY GETS THE AXE AND IT COMES OUT THAT ALL OF THE PLAYERS HATED THE GUY. WHY NOT JUST GET RID OF MIKE WOODSON RIGHT NOW, PLEASE!!!!
By stendec
February 8, 2009 10:29 AM | Link to this
Will not post again for a long time. Lost fire for sports. Only son of niece murdered. The Heavenly angel was only a few months old.
A parting gift for all my Hawk friends. Yes, I said friends:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Pete-Maravich-Pictorial
“There’s a place…where I can go…when I feel low…when I feel blue…when I’m alone.” The Beatles.
God bless.
By Condolences
February 8, 2009 11:06 AM | Link to this
Peace Stendec
By Mark Bradley
February 8, 2009 11:11 AM | Link to this
Stendec, I’m sorry for your loss. I’ll say a prayer.
By falconfan42
February 8, 2009 3:51 PM | Link to this
Stendec,
I am very sorry for your loss. My prayers go out to you and your family.
By BA
February 8, 2009 4:06 PM | Link to this
We’ll pray for ya’ll, Stendec.
By Kurt
February 8, 2009 4:19 PM | Link to this
Amazing how fast expectations rise. Good playoff series last year, now potentially 50 wins isn’t enough for Woodson to deserve to keep his job. Geez, he would have been better off getting swept in the playoffs.
Hawks are steadily improving. Patience…
By micah
February 9, 2009 7:32 AM | Link to this
Should of, could of, would of. This is all we talk about. We don’t know how Chris Paul would’ve been on this team. We don’t know how Deron Williams would’ve been on this team. We can only speculate. The way the team is made up now allows for fewer mismatches that opposing teams can put on us. Our 2,3,4, and sometimes even 5 can not only guard their man but the other guys as effectively. The offense runs through Joe Johnson. Chris Paul runs his offense. He would not be the same in Atlanta.
Fire Woodson? For who in the middle of the season. The team gets better and you want him fired? How would some of you feel if you were in his position and things were getting better. You have a better record, better rankings in most of the offensive and defensive catergories, but then everybody wants you fired?
Society has changed som much. We expect everything now and patience is no longer an option. AC is in his 2nd year. Not everybody is an an all-star in their second year. The PG is the hardest spot to play and for those who just watch sports and never played an actual competitive game, it’s harder than you backyard yards you played growing up. I live up here in Detroit now and this team has been on top for awhile and this year they haven’t been doing well, but I don’t hear anybody saying fire the coach, or GM, and I would think people up here seeing their team get worse would be more upset, but it’s these fair weather fans in Atlanta that are getting mad and the team is better. Go figure
By Thinkwell
February 9, 2009 9:46 AM | Link to this
Daytona 500! I like Jeff Gordon this year. I like Dale Earnheart this year. i like jimmy johnson this year. i like carl edwards this year. I like both busch’s. I like…..
Even the pro bowl was exciting this year. Watching the best play in a sandlot atmosphere! You almost felt as if you could run a play. You could tell (1080p) that the players were obviously having as much fun as we were. (or as we did when we played sorta important backyard football.) Go long.
By Mark Bradley
February 9, 2009 9:56 AM | Link to this
I believe we can stipulate that the Hawks would have been better faster had they picked Chris Paul or Deron Williams. But they didn’t. But they’ve still gotten to be pretty good, and Marvin Williams is playing quite well.
By KevinA
February 9, 2009 12:19 PM | Link to this
Don’t trade the future for short term gains. A player’s prime is usually 27-32. JJ is just entering his prime. Marvin, ZaZa, Acie, Al, Josh and (Childress?) are 3 years from the beginning of their prime. Will Acie be the point guard of the future? We have a couple of years to decide. Until then Bibby is great short term solution. ZaZa and Al will continue to get better. I agree we need a true starting center but I would not trade either of these guys. Our future center can come from draft picks and Speedy when he comes off the books. We have a couple of years to decide on Acie and a starting center. I see no reason to make big deals at this time. 3-4 years from now is the time frame for a big push for being an elite team. This is not a race, but a process. Give these kids a few years with all the bumps and lumps that come with it. We may end up with 8 or 9 years watching a great team in the making.
By KevinA
February 9, 2009 12:20 PM | Link to this
Don’t trade the future for short term gains. A player’s prime is usually 27-32. JJ is just entering his prime. Marvin, ZaZa, Acie, Al, Josh and (Childress?) are 3 years from the beginning of their prime. Will Acie be the point guard of the future? We have a couple of years to decide. Until then Bibby is great short term solution. ZaZa and Al will continue to get better. I agree we need a true starting center but I would not trade either of these guys. Our future center can come from draft picks and Speedy when he comes off the books. We have a couple of years to decide on Acie and a starting center. I see no reason to make big deals at this time. 3-4 years from now is the time frame for a big push for being an elite team. This is not a race, but a process. Give these kids a few years with all the bumps and lumps that come with it. We may end up with 8 or 9 years watching a great team in the making.
By KevinA
February 9, 2009 12:20 PM | Link to this
Don’t trade the future for short term gains. A player’s prime is usually 27-32. JJ is just entering his prime. Marvin, ZaZa, Acie, Al, Josh and (Childress?) are 3 years from the beginning of their prime. Will Acie be the point guard of the future? We have a couple of years to decide. Until then Bibby is great short term solution. ZaZa and Al will continue to get better. I agree we need a true starting center but I would not trade either of these guys. Our future center can come from draft picks and Speedy when he comes off the books. We have a couple of years to decide on Acie and a starting center. I see no reason to make big deals at this time. 3-4 years from now is the time frame for a big push for being an elite team. This is not a race, but a process. Give these kids a few years with all the bumps and lumps that come with it. We may end up with 8 or 9 years watching a great team in the making.
By KevinA
February 11, 2009 6:13 PM | Link to this
Sorry I didn’t think the puter was responding.